Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preoperative oral carbohydrate loading: Effects on intraoperative blood glucose levels, post-operative nausea and vomiting, and intensive care unit stay

Background and Aims: Preoperative fasting imparts safety to patients from aspiration of gastric contents, but undue fasting may predispose to hypoglycemia and dehydration. Preoperative carbohydrate drink reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Primary objective of the present study was to assess effect of carbohydrate drink given 2h before surgery on intraoperative blood glucose levels as compared to those who did not receive it. Secondary objectives included assessment of incidence and severity of PONV and duration of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay. Material and Methods: It was a prospective randomized study done in 52 non-diabetic patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Group A received 39gm of carbohydrate in 250 mL of apple juice (tetrapack) and Group B patients were given equivalent volume of plain water 2 h prior to surgery. Random blood glucose (RBS) levels were checked before fluid administration, preinduction, 1 h postinduction, and at the end of surgery. PONV was assessed using PONV Impact Scale Score (ISS) and rescue drugs, if needed, were noted. Paired t-test, sample t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Fisher's exact test were used as applicable. Results: The fasting, preinduction, and postoperative RBS values were comparable in both groups. Group B had significantly higher RBS at 1h intraoperatively. Group A patients had less vomiting, dry retching, or nausea and required less rescue therapy compared to Group B. Conclusion: Compared to patients who received carbohydrate drink 2 h before surgery, those who did not receive it had significantly higher blood glucose values intraoperatively with a higher incidence and severity of PONV and comparable ICU stay.
Resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock using normal saline does not damage the glycocalyx in the immediate resuscitation phase

OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to study the effect of aggressive resuscitation using normal saline on hemodynamics, serum atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), syndecan-1 (marker of endothelial glycocalyx shedding), and extravascular lung water index (ELWI) following hemorrhagic shock. METHODS: Eleven male piglets (Sus scrofa) underwent blood drawing to create 20% drop in mean arterial pressure (MAP). Two-phase resuscitation was performed: Phase 1 using normal saline of an equal volume of blood drawn to create shock and Phase 2 using 40 ml/kg BW of normal saline to simulate hypervolemia and hemodilution. Heart rate, MAP, cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index, oxygen delivery (DO2), global end-diastolic volume index, ELWI, hemoglobin (Hb), lactate, ANP, and syndecan-1 at each phase and up to 60 min following Phase 2 resuscitation were recorded. RESULTS: Phase 2 resuscitation significantly decreased Hb concentration (P = 0.006), however, DO2 was maintained (P = 1.000). CI increased from shock to Phase 1 (P = 0.029) and further increase in Phase 2 resuscitation (P = 0.001). Overall, there was a transient increase of ANP following Phase 1 resuscitation, from 85.20 ± 40.86 ng/L at baseline to 106.42 ± 33.71 ng/L (P = 0.260). Serum syndecan-1 and ELWI change at all phases were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate compensatory protective mechanism despite overzealous fluid resuscitation. Compensatory increased CI despite decreased Hb maintained DO2. In the absence of inflammation, serum ANP did not increase significantly, no glycocalyx shedding occurred, subsequently no change in ELWI. We show that factors other than volume overload are more dominant in causing glycocalyx shedding.
Intravenous morphine plus ibuprofen or ketorolac versus intravenous morphine alone in reducing renal colic pain intensity in emergency department: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of intravenous (IV) morphine plus ibuprofen or ketorolac versus IV morphine alone in controlling renal colic pain in the emergency department. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted during November 2018 and March 2019 in Iran. Patients aged 18–65 years with acute renal colic and numerical rating scale (NRS) score of higher than 6 of 10 were enrolled to the study. They were randomly assigned to I, K, and control groups receiving 5 mg morphine with 800 mg ibuprofen (n = 65), 5 mg morphine with 30 mg ketorolac (n = 65), or only 5 mg morphine (n = 65) intravenously, respectively. NRS was evaluated 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min after injection. RESULTS: A total of 195 participants took part in the study. The presence of stone in pelvis area was higher in I group (P = 0.027). The mean rescue analgesic dose was higher in the control group and lower in K group (P = 0.031). From the 15th min, the NRS reduction in I and K group was higher than the control group (P < 0.001), but the difference between I and K group was not statistically significant in total (P = 1.0) or in the all follow-up time intervals (15th P = 0.864, 30th P = 0.493, 60th P = 0.493, and 120th min P = 1.0). The largest difference in pain reduction was observed in 120th min and mean of NRS was 2.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.6–3.3), 2.9 (95% CI: 2.6–3.3) and 7.0 (95% CI: 6.7–7.4) in I, K and control group, respectively. The adverse effects showed in 18.5%, 20.0%, and 13.8% of I, K, and control group, respectively. CONCLUSION: IV ibuprofen plus morphine and IV ketorolac plus morphine had similar effects in reducing renal colic pain but were more effective than IV morphine alone.
Problematic of Online Learning Viewed from Personality Traits of Students in Elementary Teacher Education Program

This study aims to describe the online learning problems faced by students of the PGSD study program, the State University of Malang in terms of personality types of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness. The research method used is qualitative research with the type of case study. The research technique used interviews, observation, documentation, and questionnaires. The results of the study indicate that each type of personality that exists will bring up different online learning problems according to each personality
Redescription of two endemic Neotropical species of Bosminopsis Richard, 1895 (Cladocera: Bosminidae) with discussion of the genus monophyly

The end of the 20th century was marked by a rejection of the cosmopolitanism concept in the Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) biogeography [Frey, 1982, 1987a–b]. It was apparent that most previously established taxa were poorly described [Korovchinsky, 1996]. The general level of previous morphological descriptions was inadequate in terms of recent taxonomy. Since the end of the 20th century molecular studies commenced, and they have demonstrated that the Cladocera species diversity is strongly underestimated [Adamowicz, Purvis, 2005; Elías-Gutiérrez et al., 2008; Adamowicz et al., 2009; Crease et al., 2012; Kotov et al., 2021]. But most genetic studies have concentrated on a single genus, Daphnia O.F. Müller, 1776 [Adamowicz et al., 2009], with few exclusions [Xu et al., 2010; Neretina et al., 2020; Garibian et al., 2021]. Many questions remain unresolved in the taxonomy of different cladoceran families. Family Bosminidae Baird, 1845 sensu Sars, 1865 is among the macrotaxa attracting attention of few taxonomists, although some interesting data on it were published recently [Kotov et al., 2009; Faustová et al., 2010, 2011; Wang et al., 2019]. The family consists of two genera only, Bosmina Baird, 1845 and Bosminopsis Richard, 1895 [Birge, 1918; Lieder, 1996]. In 1895, the famous French carcinologist Jules Richard described from the La Plata Delta (Argentna) a new, remarkable cladoceran, Bosminopsis deitersi Richard, 1895 (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) belonging to a separate genus Bosminopsis [Richard, 1895]. Subsequently this genus was recorded in the tropical and subtropical regions of all continents [Daday, 1903, 1905; Brehm, 1913, 1939; Smirnov, Timms, 1983], and all these populations were found to be basically ABSTRACT. Family Bosminidae Baird, 1845 sensu Sars, 1865 (Crustacea: Cladocera) is among the macrotaxa attracting attention of few recent taxonomists. The aim of this paper is to redescribe two endemic Neotropical species, B. negrensis Brandorff, 1976 and B. brandorffi Rey et Vásquez, 1989 in detail and to check the monophyly of the genus Bosminopsis Richard, 1895. Our study confirmed a remarkable similarity of the thoracic limbs in all known species from this genus, supporting the genus monophyly. At the same time, morphology of valves is different in different species of Bosminopsis, analogously to differences between taxa of the second bosminid genus, Bosmina Baird, 1845. How to cite this paper: Kotov A.A. , Garibian P.G. 2021. Redescription of two endemic Neotropical species of Bosminopsis Richard, 1895 (Cladocera: Bosminidae) with discussion of the genus monophyly // Arthropoda Selecta. Vol.30. No.4. P.430–442. doi: 10.15298/arthsel.30. 4.02
Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Key Genes and Pathways Involved in Seed Germination of Maize Tolerant to Deep-Sowing

To improve our understanding of the mechanism of maize seed germination under deep sowing, transcriptome sequencing and physiological metabolism analyses were performed using B73 embryos separated from ungerminated seeds (UG) or seeds germinated for 2 d at a depth of 2 cm (normal sowing, NS) or 20 cm (deep sowing, DS). Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that “response to oxidative stress” and “monolayer-surrounded lipid storage body” were the most significant GO terms in up- and down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of DS. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis suggested that “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis” and “starch and sucrose metabolism” were critical processes in maize seed germination under deep-sowing conditions. Consistent with DEGs, the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidases and α-amylase, as well as the contents of gibberellin 4, indole acetic acid, zeatin and abscisic acid were significantly increased, while the jasmonic-acid level was dramatically reduced under deep-sowing stress. The expressions of six candidate genes were more significantly upregulated in B73 (deep-sowing-tolerant) than in Mo17 (deep-sowing-sensitive) at 20 cm sowing depth. These findings enrich our knowledge of the key biochemical pathways and genes regulating maize seed germination under deep-sowing conditions, which may help in the breeding of varieties tolerant to deep sowing.
Wood anatomical features of some Nigerian species of Acacia Mill and their suitability for paper making

A comparative wood anatomical study of six species of the genus Acacia commonly found in Nigeria was carried out. Wood samples were collected from matured branches of plants in different locations in Mazah and Shere Hills, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Transverse, tangential and radial longitudinal sections as well as wood macerates were prepared and mounted unto microscopic slides using standard anatomical methods. All the species had diffused porous wood, heterogeneous rays, aseptate fibres and predominantly solitary vessels with simple perforation plate, few pore clusters and pore multiples. Banded paratracheal axial parenchyma was common in all taxa except in A. senegal which was predominantly paratracheal without bands. Multiseriate rays were common features in all taxa except in A. nilotica which had predominantly uniseriate rays. Quantitative wood anatomical characters such as fibre length, fibre diameter, fibre lumen diameter, fibre wall thickness, vessel length, vessel diameter, ray length, ray diameter and pore diameter were of taxonomic importance in the delimitation of the studied taxa. The Runkel ratio of A. senegal (0.99µm) compared favourably with some hardwood species in the Nigerian rainforest ecosystem hence this taxon could be exploited for pulp and paper in Nigeria.
Drug Delivery Challenges and Current Progress in Nanocarrier-Based Ocular Therapeutic System

Drug instillation via a topical route is preferred since it is desirable and convenient due to the noninvasive and easy drug access to different segments of the eye for the treatment of ocular ailments. The low dose, rapid onset of action, low or no toxicity to the local tissues, and constrained systemic outreach are more prevalent in this route. The majority of ophthalmic preparations in the market are available as conventional eye drops, which rendered <5% of a drug instilled in the eye. The poor drug availability in ocular tissue may be attributed to the physiological barriers associated with the cornea, conjunctiva, lachrymal drainage, tear turnover, blood–retinal barrier, enzymatic drug degradation, and reflex action, thus impeding deeper drug penetration in the ocular cavity, including the posterior segment. The static barriers in the eye are composed of the sclera, cornea, retina, and blood–retinal barrier, whereas the dynamic barriers, referred to as the conjunctival and choroidal blood flow, tear dilution, and lymphatic clearance, critically impact the bioavailability of drugs. To circumvent such barriers, the rational design of the ocular therapeutic system indeed required enriching the drug holding time and the deeper permeation of the drug, which overall improve the bioavailability of the drug in the ocular tissue. This review provides a brief insight into the structural components of the eye as well as the therapeutic challenges and current developments in the arena of the ocular therapeutic system, based on novel drug delivery systems such as nanomicelles, nanoparticles (NPs), nanosuspensions, liposomes, in situ gel, dendrimers, contact lenses, implants, and microneedles. These nanotechnology platforms generously evolved to overwhelm the troubles associated with the physiological barriers in the ocular route. The controlled-drug-formulation-based strategic approach has considerable potential to enrich drug concentration in a specific area of the eye.
Lymphatics constitute a novel component of the intestinal stem cell niche

Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) depend on niche factors for their proper function. However, the source of these ISC niche factors and how they support ISCs remain controversial due to their redundant expression patterns. Here, we report that the maintenance of ISCs depends on both lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and Rspo3+Grem1+ fibroblasts (RGFs). We found that LECs are surrounded by RGFs and located in close proximity to Lgr5+ ISCs. RSPO3 production is restricted to LECs and RGFs and they can partially compensate for each other; however, RSPO3 loss in both of LECs and RGFs drastically compromises ISC numbers, villi length, and repair after irradiation-induced injury. Mechanistically, irradiation-induced damage expands LEC and RGF numbers and enhances the latter’s generation of RSPO3 through IL-1 receptor activation. We propose that LECs represent a novel component of the ISC niche, which together with RGFs, provide essential RSPO3 to sustain ISCs in homeostasis and regeneration.
Research on Extraction, Structure Characterization and Immunostimulatory Activity of Cell Wall Polysaccharides from Sparassis latifolia

The cell wall polysaccharides were extracted from Sparassis latifolia fruit bodies by acid–alkali and superfine-grinding assisted methods, and the chemical characterization and in vitro immunity activities of these polysaccharide fractions were studied and compared. Results showed that superfine-grinding assisted extraction exhibited the highest yield of polysaccharides (SP, 20.80%) and low β-glucan content (19.35%) compared with alkaline extracts. The results revealed that the 20% ethanol precipitated fraction (20E) from SP was mainly composed of β-(1→3)-glucan and α-(1→4)-glucan. With the increase of ethanol precipitation, the fractions (30E, 40E, 50E) were identified as α-(1→4)-glucan with different molecular weights and conformations. Cell wall polysaccharides extracted through NaOH (NSP) and KOH (KSP) extraction had similar yields with 8.90% and 8.83%, respectively. Structural analysis indicated that the purified fraction from KSP (KSP-30E) was a β-(1→3)-glucan backbone branched with β-(1→6)-Glcp, while the purified fraction from NSP (NSP-30E) mainly contained β-(1→3)-glucan with a small number of α-linked-Glcp. The two fractions both exhibited rigid chain conformation in aqueous solutions. All polysaccharide fractions exerted the activity of activating Dectin-1 receptor in vitro, and the KSP-30E mainly identified as β-(1→3)-glucan with the terminal group via 1→6-linkage attached at every third residue exhibited a stronger enhancing effect than other fractions. Results suggested that KOH extraction could be efficient for the preparation of bioactive β-(1→3, 1→6)-glucan as a food ingredient.
Structural and economical impacts of heavy truck loads on bridges

The study included in this dissertation assesses the strength, serviceability, and economic impact of overweight trucks on Louisiana bridges. Truck load configurations FHWA 3S2 and FHWA 3 S3 were applied to bridge models that were originally designed for HS20-44 truck configuration to determine the effects of heavy truck loads on bridges. Behaviors of bridge components including bridge girder, deck, and diaphragm were evaluated separately. AASHTO linear approach and finite element analysis were employed to evaluate bridge girder behaviors under the heavy truck load. Bridge models with different geometric configurations were considered. Both short term and long term effects on simple span and continuous bridges were determined based on AASHTO LRFD specifications. Results indicated that the AASHTO linear approach was more conservative than the finite element approach. Results based on finite element analysis showed that the short term effect of heavy truck load on selected bridge models was limited, while the long term effect was significant. Finite element analysis was used to perform the bridge deck evaluation. Longitudinal, transverse, and shear stress states at top and bottom surfaces of decks were obtained and evaluated. The researcher determined that bridge decks were overstressed and might experience cracks.
Left Gastric Vein Width Is an Important Risk Factor for Exacerbation of Esophageal Varices Post Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration for Gastric Varices in Cirrhotic Patients

Background and Objectives: Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) could be currently one of the best therapies for patients with gastric varices. This study examined the exacerbation rates for esophageal varices following BRTO for gastric varices in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 91 cirrhotic patients who underwent BRTO for gastric varices. In total, 50 patients were examined for exacerbation rates of esophageal varices following BRTO. Esophageal varices and their associated exacerbation were evaluated by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients were allocated into two groups according to the main inflow tract for gastric varices: (1) 37 patients in the left gastric vein (LGV) group with an LGV width of more than 3.55 mm, and (2) 13 patients in the non-LGV group who had short gastric vein or posterior gastric vein. Moreover, treatment outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: LGV width (p < 0.01) was the major risk factor for the deterioration of esophageal varices post BRTO. In addition, LGV was the most common inflow tract, and the LGV group contained 74% (37/50) of patients. The exacerbation rates of esophageal varices at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years post BRTO were 40%, 62%, 65%, and 68%, respectively. The comparison of the exacerbation rates for esophageal varices following BRTO according to inflow tract showed that the exacerbation rates were significantly higher in the LGV group than those of the non-LGV group (p = 0.03). In more than half of the subjects, LGV was the main inflow tract for gastric varices, and this group experienced more frequent exacerbations of esophageal varices following BRTO compared to patients with different inflow tract sources. Conclusion: Careful attention should be paid to the LGV width when BRTO is performed for gastric varices.
Effectiveness of Contextualization in Science Instruction to Enhance Science Literacy in the Philippines: A Meta-Analysis

A call for students to have a deeper understanding, so that they can make sense of and apply their learning to authentic situations, has reverberated in science teaching in the Philippines. In response, educators, teachers, and policymakers have embraced contextualization as a constructivist approach to bridging the gap between concepts and real-life experiences. Considering the popularity of this approach, it is imperative to examine the overall effectiveness of contextualization in improving students' achievement at all educational levels and in all science domains, compared to the traditional setup. By using a set of inclusion selection criteria, 10 Philippine-based studies conducted from 2017 to 2020 qualified to be included in a meta-analysis. Seven of the studies focused on the secondary level and three on tertiary level. Studies were extracted from several meta-search engines, namely Google Scholar, Science Direct, ERIC, and JSTOR; the search was facilitated by Harzing's Publish and Perish software. Statistical results from these studies were analyzed using Meta-Essentials, version 1.4, to calculate the effect sizes, to conduct subgroup and moderator analyses, and to determine publication bias. Contextualization is an approach to teaching science that could have a positive effect on students' achievement. The variables educational level and science domain were found to have no influence on student achievement. Contextualized instruction used various techniques to maximize achievement of learning outcomes. A further systematic review, covering a wider scope, must be conducted to examine indicators that may influence the implementation of contextualization in the teaching and learning process.
Serum Gastrin and Pepsinogen Levels after Administration of Acid Secretion Inhibitors for Ulcers due to Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Patients with Early Gastric Cancer

Acid secretion inhibitors, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and potassium competitive acid blockers (PCABs), are used to treat ulcers after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer. These drugs can influence serum gastrin and pepsinogen (PG) levels; however, their definite effects remain unclear. This open-label, randomized study investigated the effect of acid secretion inhibitors on the serum gastrin and pepsinogen levels. In total, 76 patients were enrolled in the study. They underwent gastric ESD and received a PPI (n = 21) or PCAB (n = 55). Changes in the serum gastrin and PG levels before and 4 weeks after administration were examined. Patient factors associated with the alteration of serum PG or gastrin levels were identified. The median serum levels of gastrin, PGI, and PGII before the administration of the acid secretion inhibitors were 110.5 pg/mL, 36.4 ng/mL, and 8.9 ng/mL, respectively; after administration, the levels increased to 300 pg/mL, 64.7 ng/mL, and 15.8 ng/mL, respectively (P < 0.01). Univariate analysis revealed that PCABs led to a more significant increase in the serum gastrin and PG levels as compared to PPIs. Furthermore, the PG levels were significantly increased in patients with previous Helicobacter pylori infections than in those with current infections. In conclusion, the serum gastrin and PG levels increased after the use of acid secretion inhibitors. This elevation was affected by the type of drug used, whereas the elevation in PGs was affected by the patient's background as well.