Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Artificial Ultraviolet B Radiation on Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Concentrations in Juvenile Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii)

Abstract Vitamin D is an essential hormone that can be acquired via the diet, exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, or a combination of both. Studies in reptiles suggest that the acquisition of vitamin D can vary between species; thus, species-specific evidence-based research should be pursued to develop appropriate husbandry recommendations. The objective of this study was to determine whether artificial UVB could be used to increase circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3) concentrations in juvenile Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). Sixteen juvenile Blanding's turtles from an ongoing headstart program at the DuPage County Forest Preservation District (Wheaton, IL, USA) were used for this study. The Blanding's turtles were randomly divided into two groups of eight by using a random number generator. The treatment group was exposed to light from three compact UVB 23-W fluorescent bulbs 12 h/day for 6 months, whereas the control group was not provided supplemental UVB lighting. Bulbs were placed 15.2 cm (6 in) from the water surface. A radiometer was used to measure UVB radiation 15.2 cm from the bulb surface on days 0 and 180. Blood samples were collected at a single time point (day 180) to measure 25-OHD3 concentrations. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in plasma 25-OHD3 concentrations between groups, with 25-OHD3 concentrations being 5.5 times higher in the UVB group than in the controls. Based on the results of this study, we recommend exposing juvenile Blanding's turtles to artificial UVB as part of their standard care.
Linearolactone Induces Necrotic-like Death in Giardia intestinalis Trophozoites: Prediction of a Likely Target

Linearolactone (LL) is a neo-clerodane type diterpene that has been shown to exert giardicidal effects; however, its mechanism of action is unknown. This work analyzes the cytotoxic effect of LL on Giardia intestinalis trophozoites and identifies proteins that could be targeted by this active natural product. Increasing concentrations of LL and albendazole (ABZ) were used as test and reference drugs, respectively. Cell cycle progression, determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis/necrosis events were evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). Ultrastructural alterations were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ligand–protein docking analyses were carried out using the LL structure raised from a drug library and the crystal structure of an aldose reductase homologue (GdAldRed) from G. intestinalis. LL induced partial arrest at the S phase of trophozoite cell cycle without evidence of ROS production. LL induced pronecrotic death in addition to inducing ultrastructural alterations as changes in vacuole abundances, appearance of perinuclear and periplasmic spaces, and deposition of glycogen granules. On the other hand, the in silico study predicted that GdAldRed is a likely target of LL because it showed a favored change in Gibbs free energy for this complex.
Clinical and hematological evaluation of geriatric anemia

Background: Anemia in the elderly is a cause of concern. It is not merely physiological due to aging and requires appropriate evaluation. Anemia has a significant negative impact on cardiac function, cognition, sleep, frequent hospitalization, mobility, morbidity, and mortality. Anemia in the elderly is attributable to many causes: nutrient deficiencies, chronic inflammatory diseases, thyroid disorders, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal (GI) tumors and bleeding, chemotherapy-induced anemia, and drug-induced hemolysis. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the clinical and hematological profile of anemia in 100 patients aged above 60 years. Methods and Material: We performed a cross-sectional type of study in a tertiary care center including male and female patients aged 60 years and above and whose hemoglobin was less than 13 g/dl and less than 12 g/dl, respectively. Clinical history, complete blood picture, and peripheral smear were obtained in all patients. Serum iron profile was done in patients with micro-normocytic anemia. Vitamin B12 and folate assays were done in patients with normo-macrocytic anemia and those with pancytopenia. Bone marrow studies and endoscopies were done in cases wherever deemed appropriate. Results: The majority of the patients had either severe or moderate anemia. 49% of the patients had normocytic anemia. The commonest cause for anemia was nutritional deficiencies (45%) followed by anemia of chronic inflammation (40%) and unexplained anemia (8%). Conclusions: It is essential that anemia deserves its due attention in clinical practice in older patients and is not normal always.
Effects of soil internal forces on splash detachment and transport of aggregate fragments in Mollisols of Northeast China

Soil internal forces can affect aggregate breakdown, and then impact splash detachment and transport of aggregate fragments. However, currently, the processes of soil splash detachment and transport under different soil internal forces are still not fully understood. Thus, to determine the effects of soil internal forces on the splash transport process, two soils (Binxian soil and Keshan soil) in the Mollisols (black soil) of Northeast China were selected to analyse the detachment and transport characteristics of aggregate fragments under different splash distances (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40 and 40–50 cm) through simulated rainfall experiments. Different concentrations of KCl electrolyte (from 1 to 10−5 mol L−1) were employed as rainfall materials to regulate soil internal forces. The results revealed that the net pressure of soil internal forces and splash amount presented the same trend with decreasing electrolyte concentration, that is, increased initially (from 1 to 10−2 mol L−1), followed by levelling off (from 10−2 to 10−5 mol L−1). The splash amount and net pressure had an exponential relationship (p < 0.01). Under the same electrolyte concentration, Binxian soil had a higher net pressure and splash amount than Keshan soil. The splash amount for the two soils was mostly distributed at a splash distance of 0–20 cm, and it exponentially decreased with increasing splash distance (p < 0.01). An empirical expression in our study was developed to predict the splash amount (M) based on the net pressure (N) and splash distance (S). The size distribution of splashed aggregates could be affected by the net pressure of soil internal forces, the greater the net pressure, the smaller size aggregates splashed. At each splash distance, the highest mass percentage was observed for the fragments <0.053 mm and accounted for 35.5% to 82.1% of the total splash amount. This study provides valuable information to better understand the processes and mechanisms of rainfall splash erosion in the Chinese Mollisol region.
SMEs’ Strategies for Improving Financial Performance Through Competitive Advantages

This study aims to examine the direct effect of entrepreneurial orientation and innovation on competitive advantage and the impact of competitive advantage on the performance of SMEs. Furthermore, this study will also examine the indirect influence of entrepreneurial orientation and innovation variables on financial performance through competitive advantage. This is quantitative research using a survey method. The respondents are SMEs owners in the field of cultivation industry in Jember regency, Indonesia. This study uses the Structural Equation Model (SEM) as a data analysis technique, which is assisted by Warp PLS software. Statistical results show that entrepreneurial orientation and innovation have a direct effect on competitive advantage. Other results show that there is a direct effect of competitive advantage on financial performance. A company is said to have a competitive advantage if it can outperform other companies to create higher economic value. The results of the indirect effect test show that entrepreneurial orientation also has an indirect effect on financial performance through competitive advantage. Furthermore, the results of this study also prove that innovation affects financial performance through competitive advantage.
Trajectory of problematic smartphone use among adolescents aged 10–18 years: The roles of childhood family environment and concurrent parent–child relationships

Abstract Background and aims Adolescence is a period of high incidence of problematic smartphone use. Understanding the developmental trajectory of problematic smartphone use in adolescence and its influencing factors could guide the choice of timing for prevention and intervention. This study fitted the growth trajectory of problematic smartphone use among adolescents and examined its associations with the childhood family environment and concurrent parent–child relationships. Methods Using a cohort sequential design, we investigated 2,548 Chinese adolescents and their parents three times in three years. Multiple group multiple cohort growth models were used to fit the growth trajectory. Results The quadratic growth trajectory of problematic smartphone use in adolescents aged 10–18 years showed a clear increasing trend, with a possible decreasing trend in late adolescence or early adulthood. Early life socioeconomic status, childhood family unpredictability, and the concurrent parent–child relationship had unique impacts on the development of problematic smartphone use during adolescence. Discussion and conclusions Early adolescence is a favorable time for problematic smartphone use prevention and intervention. A supportive family environment should be maintained throughout the different developmental stages of children and adolescents.
Estrogen Receptor and Claudin-6 Might Play Vital Roles for Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With Luminal A Breast Cancer Who Underwent Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Purpose It is well-known that the pathological complete response (pCR) rate in patients with luminal A cancer (LAC) is lower than those of other subtypes of breast cancer. The phenotype of cancer often alters after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) which may be related to hypoxia, and the latter might induce the drift of the estrogen receptor (ER). The phenotype drift in local advanced LAC after NAC might influence the long-term prognosis. Methods The oxygen concentration of cancer tissues during NAC was recorded and analyzed (n = 43). The expression of ER and claudin-6 was detected in pre- and post-NAC specimens. Results NAC might induce the cycling intracanceral hypoxia, and the pattern was related to NAC response. The median follow-up time was 61 months. Most of the patients (67%) with stable or increased ER and claudin-6 expression exhibited perfect prognosis (DFS = 100%, 61 months). About 20% of patients with decreased claudin-6 would undergo the poor prognosis (DFS = 22.2%, 61 months). The contrasting prognosis (100% vs. 22.2%) had nothing to do with the response of NAC in the above patients. Only 13% patients had stable claudin-6 and decreased ER, whose prognosis might relate to the response of NAC. Conclusion NAC might induce cycling intracanceral hypoxia to promote the phenotype drift in local advanced LAC, and the changes in ER and claudin-6 after NAC would determine the long-term prognosis.
Social support among persons with depressive disorders during COVID-19 pandemic

Context: The extent of depressive disorders is wide in the Indian population as reported by epidemiological studies, warranting a necessary area of intervention to cover the rampant treatment gap. Social support is known to vary as per the community-level changes, which may be attributed to events kickstarted by COVID-19. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the social support among persons with depressive disorders. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 75 individuals of age ranging from 18 to 46 years from multi-ethnic communities across India. We used the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results: This sample had a mean age of 32 years (SD: 7.88 years), and recurrent depressive disorder was the larger prevalent psychopathology diagnosed during their routine clinical consultation in the hospital (69.3%). The majority of the respondents experienced moderate depression (n = 42), followed by mild depression (n = 14) and severe depression (n = 5). Social support and resilience were found to be mildly correlated with each other for persons with mild depression (r = 0.620; P = 0.018). Conclusion: Persons with mild depressive features may benefit from low-cost and community-based interventions directed to enhance social support and thus impact resilience. Psychosocial interventions must address the impact of moderate depression and recurrent depressive disorder and include social support at all spousal, family, and societal levels.
Associations of Macronutrient Intake Determined by Point-of-Care Human Milk Analysis with Brain Development among very Preterm Infants

Point-of-care human milk analysis is now feasible in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and allows accurate measurement of macronutrient delivery. Higher macronutrient intakes over this period may promote brain growth and development. In a prospective, observational study of 55 infants born at <32 weeks’ gestation, we used a mid-infrared spectroscopy-based human milk analyzer to measure the macronutrient content in repeated samples of human milk over the NICU hospitalization. We calculated daily nutrient intakes from unfortified milk and assigned infants to quintiles based on median intakes over the hospitalization. Infants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging at term equivalent age to quantify total and regional brain volumes and fractional anisotropy of white matter tracts. Infants in the highest quintile of energy intake from milk, as compared with the lower four quintiles, had larger total brain volume (31 cc, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5, 56), cortical gray matter (15 cc, 95%CI: 1, 30), and white matter volume (23 cc, 95%CI: 12, 33). Higher protein intake was associated with larger total brain (36 cc, 95%CI: 7, 65), cortical gray matter (22 cc, 95%CI: 6, 38) and deep gray matter (1 cc, 95%CI: 0.1, 3) volumes. These findings suggest innovative strategies to close nutrient delivery gaps in the NICU may promote brain growth for preterm infants.
Improved Ophthalmic Outcomes Following Venous Sinus Stenting in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Background Ophthalmic outcomes following venous sinus stenting (VSS) in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) are not well characterized. Materials and Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted on 86 consecutive patients with IIH who underwent venous sinus stenting at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota and Stanford Medical Center, Palo Alto, California between May 2015 and October 2021. Patients with raised intracranial pressure from a non-IIH etiology were excluded. Clinical symptoms and neuro-ophthalmological data, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual field mean deviation, papilledema, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL), were analyzed. Baseline measurements before VSS and 3 months or more postoperatively were compared. Results Eighty-six subjects (82 female) were included in this study, with a median age of 33 (16–68) years and a median body mass index of 36.69 (22.30–62.00) kg/m2. 85/86 (98.8%) had attempted prior management with medication, and 12/86 (14%) had prior surgical management with optic nerve sheath fenestration, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, or bariatric surgery. Prior to VSS, 67/86 (77.9%) had papilledema, 85/86 (98.8%) had headaches, and 68/86 (79.1%) had pulsatile tinnitus. For patients with both pre- and post-VSS data available, the average papilledema grade was 1.76 (0–5) (n = 74) and the average OCT pRNFL was 186.34 (52.00–588.00) µm (n = 70), prior to VSS. A median of 4.0 (interquartile range 3.3–5.4) months after VSS, the average papilledema grade improved to 0.39 (0–2), p <0.001, and OCT pRNFL improved to 96.86 (47.00–168.00) µm, p <0.001. 28/86 (32.6%) patients no longer required medication for high intracranial pressure. 14/85 (16.5%) patients reported complete resolution of their headache and 55/71 (77.5%) reported improvement in headache quality. 40/68 (66.7%) reported complete resolution of pulsatile tinnitus. OCT GC-IPL, BCVA, and visual field mean deviation did not significantly change pre- vs post-VSS. Conclusions Our large consecutive case series corroborates smaller prior studies in demonstrating the overall efficacy of VSS for patients with IIH. We found both ophthalmic improvements, as demonstrated by the significantly reduced papilledema and pRNFL, and overall clinical symptom improvement.
Analysis of popular pesticide residues in Mekong Delta vegetables using a modified QuEChERS method and UPLC-MS/MS

Pesticide residues in vegetables (watercress, mustard green, choy sum, daikon, okra, and yam) from Mekong Delta, Vietnam were analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe) extraction, matrix-matched calibration, and dynamic multiple reaction monitoring methods were used. The linear range used was 5 - 200 ng/mL, resulting in R2 > 0.99. The recovery was satisfactory with values within 74.47 - 116.93%, and the RSD was < 15% for most compounds. The percentage of samples with residues above the maximum residue levels (MRLs) was 59%. Pesticide residues were detected above their MRLs in samples of watercress (47%), mustard green (80%), choy sum (83%), daikon (87%), and yam (60%). The results indicated the prevalence of pesticide residues in commonly consumed vegetables in Vietnam, and emphasised the urgent need to develop comprehensive intervention measures to reduce the potential health risk to consumers.
LOSS OF WATER AND NUTRIENTS IN DIFFERENT SOIL TILLAGE SYSTEMS SUBJECTED TO NATURAL RAINFALL IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL

The aim of this study was to evaluate the loss of water and nutrients by laminar runoff in different soil tillage systems subjected to natural rainfall. Five experimental plots were established for the cultivation of cotton in the city of Campo Verde - MT, with the following treatments: CTDP = conventional soil tillage and planting of the cotton in the direction of the slope; CTCP = conventional tillage and contour planting; CP = tillage of soil with a disk harrow and a leveling harrow, followed by contour planting; CoP = tillage by two passes of a leveling harrow followed by contour planting; MTCP = minimum tillage with contour planting. The losses of water by laminar runoff in were determined by the stored volume and samples were taken to quantify nutrient losses in water (nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and potassium). The losses of water by runoff were highest for the CTDP; intermediate for the treatments CTCP, CoP and MTCP, and lowest for the CP. Potassium (K) was the nutrient that had the highest concentrations and losses in water: the highest values were found in the CTDP and CTCP tillage systems, whereas the lowest were observed for the CP, CoP, and MTCP treatments. The concentrations and the losses by water erosion of phosphate (PO43-), nitrite (NO2-), and nitrate (NO3-) were low in all of the soil tillage systems compared to the losses of K in this study.
Auditoria e earnings management: estudo empírico nas empresas abertas auditadas pelas big four e demais

Th is paper investigates the relations between auditing fi rms and their ability to mitigate earnings management. In this context, we analyze if discretionary accruals of publicly-traded companies audited by the "Big Four" (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers) and other auditing fi rms are statistically diff erent. Th e fi nal sample consists of 1,414 observations collected from the 1999-2005 period: 897 observations for publicly-traded companies audited by the "Big Four" and 517 representing other publicly-traded companies audited by other fi rms. Th e information content in the database was obtained from Economatica soft ware and "Divulgacao Externa" available at the BOVESPA website to obtain information from auditing fi rms. We used KS model with instruments and non-parametric tests to verify the diff erence in discretionary accruals between these groups of fi rms. Th e results indicate that companies audited by the "Big
Influence of Nordic walking with poles with an integrated resistance shock absorber on carbohydrate and lipid metabolic indices and white blood cell subpopulations in postmenopausal women

Background Regular and individualised physical activities have been shown to prevent adverse changes associated with the aging process. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and white blood cell (WBC) subpopulations in postmenopausal women participating in Nordic walking (NW) training and to compare the use of poles with an integrated resistance shock absorber (RSA) with the use of classic poles. Materials & Methods A total of 23 postmenopausal women participated in a 8-week programme of systematic physical activity between February and April. Before and after the training programme, somatic features and serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, glucose, and insulin, were assessed, as well as lipid profile and WBC count and its specific subpopulations. Results Analysis of differences in somatic features and biochemical indices before and after training in the group of women who used RSA poles showed significant decreases in fat mass content (p < 0.05), insulin (p < 0.05), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.05), total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and monocytes (p ≤ 0.01). In the group of women who used classic poles (NW), there was a significant decrease in WBC (p ≤ 0.01), lymphocytes (p < 0.05), monocytes (p ≤ 0.01) and granulocytes (p < 0.05). Conclusion Increasing the training load through the use of RSA poles resulted in greater changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolic indices compared to the use of classic NW poles. In turn, the more significant effect on WBC and its specific subpopulations count in the NW, compared to the RSA training programme, may indicate that specificity of training load is an important factor in modifying the immune system response.