Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LITERACY PROFICIENCY AND SCIENCE FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

The purpose of this article is to describe program alternatives in science for students with learning disabilities and their implications for reading and writing. We review opportunity to learn, the science performance of students with learning disabilities, science textbook instruction, literacy and science, and alternatives to reading-dependent science programs. Finally, we present an alternative framework for science and literacy as related to students with learning disabilities. The proposed alternative emphasizes the teaching of science with only minimal dependency on literacy skills and processes. In addition, we recommend the integration of the teaching of literacy skills and processes into the content of science after the science has been learned.
Depletion of WNT10A Prevents Tumor Growth by Suppressing Microvessels and Collagen Expression

Background: We recently reported that WNT10A plays a pivotal role in wound healing by regulating collagen expression/synthesis, as the depletion of WNT10A dramatically delays skin ulcer formation. WNT signaling also has a close correlation with the cancer microenvironment and proliferation, since tumors are actually considered to be 'unhealing' or 'overhealing' wounds. To ascertain the in vivo regulatory functions of WNT10A in tumor growth, we examined the net effects of WNT10A depletion using Wnt10a-deficient mice (Wnt10a-/-). Methods and Results: We subjected C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) or Wnt10a-/- mice to murine melanoma B16-F10 cell transplantation. Wnt10a-/- mice showed a significantly smaller volume of transplanted melanoma as well as fewer microvessels and less collagen expression and more necrosis than WT mice. Conclusions: Taken together, our observations suggest that critical in vivo roles of Wnt10a-depleted anti-stromagenesis prevent tumor growth, in contrast with true wound healing/scarring.
Clonally Diverse Methicillin and Multidrug Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci Are Ubiquitous and Pose Transfer Ability Between Pets and Their Owners

Sixty-eight owners and 66 pets, from 43 unrelated pet-owning households were screened for methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCoNS), potential cases of MRCoNS interspecies transmission (IT), and persistence. MRCoNS isolates were identified by microbiological and molecular tests. MLST-based phylogenetic analysis was performed in Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using phenotypic and molecular methods. SCCmec type and the presence of biofilm-related ica locus was PCR-tested. Isolates suspected for MRCoNS IT cases were subjected to SmaI-PFGE analysis and individuals from positive households were followed-up for 1 year for carriage dynamics (every 3 months, T0–T4). Nineteen MRCoNS isolates from owners (27.9%) and 12 from pets (16.7%) were detected, coming from 20 households (46.5%). S. epidermidis was predominant (90 and 67% of human and animal strains, respectively), showing high phylogenetic diversity (16 STs among 24 strains). Methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE) strains belonged to CC5 (75%), CC11 (12.5%), singleton S556 (8.3%), and S560 (4.17%). Significant host-associated differences were observed for resistance to aminoglycosides, co-trimoxazole, chloramphenicol (higher in animal isolates) and tetracycline (higher among human strains). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was common (68.4%) and associated with human strains. Great diversity of ccr and mec complexes were detected, most strains being non-typeable, followed by SCCmecIV and V. Over one third of isolates (most from owners), carried the ica locus, all MRSE CC5. Two sporadic IT cases (T0) were identified in owners and dogs from two households (4.7%), with diverse interspecies-exchanged clones detected along the sampling year, especially in dogs. A comparative analysis of all MRCoNS, with all nasal coagulase positive staphylococci (CoPS) recovered from the same individuals at T0, revealed that CoPS alone was predominant in owners and pets, followed by co-carriage of CoPS and MRCoNS in owners but single MRCoNS in pets. Statistical analyses revealed that owners are more prone to co-carriage and that co-existence of IT cases and co-carriage are positively interrelated. MRCoNS from healthy owners and their pets are genetically heterogeneous MDR strains that are spread in the community. Therefore, pets also contribute to the dissemination of successful human clones. Owner-pet inhabitancy increases the risk for staphylococcal temporal concomitance with its subsequent risk for bacterial infection and genetic exchange.
Natural Killer Cells in Kidney Health and Disease

Natural killer (NK) cells are a specialized population of innate lymphocytes that have a major effector function in local immune responses. While their immunological functions in many inflammatory diseases are well established, comparatively little is still known about their roles in kidney homeostasis and disease. Our understanding of kidney NK cells is rapidly evolving, with murine studies highlighting the functional significance of NK cells in acute and chronic forms of renal disease. Recent progress has been made in translating these murine findings to human kidneys, with indications of NK cell subset-specific roles in disease progression in both native and allograft kidneys. Clearly, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving NK cell activation and importantly, their downstream interactions with intrinsic renal cells and infiltrating immune cells is necessary for the development of targeted therapeutics to halt disease progression. In this review, we discuss the properties and potential functions of kidney NK cells.
Evidence of Unprecedented High Electronic Conductivity in Mammalian Pigment Based Eumelanin Thin Films After Thermal Annealing in Vacuum

Melanin denotes a variety of mammalian pigments, including the dark electrically conductive eumelanin and the reddish, sulfur-containing, pheomelanin. Organic (bio)electronics is showing increasing interests in eumelanin exploitation, e.g., for bio-interfaces, but the low conductivity of the material is limiting the development of eumelanin-based devices. Here, for the first time, we report an abrupt increase of the eumelanin electrical conductivity, revealing the highest value presented to date of 318 S/cm. This result, obtained via simple thermal annealing in vacuum of the material, designed on the base of the knowledge of the eumelanin chemical properties, also discloses the actual electronic nature of this material's conduction.
Experimental Demonstration of Ultrafast THz Modulation in a Graphene-Based Thin Film Absorber through Negative Photoinduced Conductivity

We present an experimental demonstration and interpretation of an ultrafast optically tunable, graphene-based thin film absorption modulator for operation in the THz regime. The graphene-based component consists of a uniform CVD-grown graphene sheet stacked on an SU-8 dielectric substrate that is grounded by a metallic ground plate. The structure shows enhanced absorption originating from constructive interference of the impinging and reflected waves at the absorbing graphene sheet. The modulation of this absorption, which is demonstrated via a THz time-domain spectroscopy setup, is achieved by applying an optical pump signal, which modifies the conductivity of the graphene sheet. We report an ultrafast (on the order of few ps) absorption modulation on the order of 40% upon photoexcitation. Our results provide evidence that the optical pump excitation results in the degradation of the graphene THz conductivity, which is connected with the generation of hot carriers, the increase of the electronic temperature, and the dominant increase of the scattering rate over the carrier concentration as found in highly doped samples.
Eddies: Fluid Dynamical Niches or Transporters?–A Case Study in the Western Baltic Sea

Fluid flows in the ocean have a strong impact on the growth and distribution of planktonic communities. In this case study we apply a Lagrangian eddy detection and tracking tool and a transfer operator approach to data from a coupled hydrodynamical-chemical-biological model of the Western Baltic Sea and study the effects of eddies on plankton in the blooming period March to October 2010. We investigated the residence times of water bodies inside these eddies using a tracer analysis and found that eddies can act in two different ways: They can be transporters of an enclosed water body embodying nutrients and the plankton community and export them from the coast to the open sea and they can act as fluid dynamical niches enhancing the growth of certain species or functional groups by providing optimal temperature and nutrient composition.
Amphiphilic Modified Galactomannan as a Novel Potential Carrier for Hydrophobic Compounds

The present work aims at developing and characterizing a modified galactomannan for the production of nano-sized micelles through the solvent diffusion method and its evaluation as a new carrier for hydrophobic compounds. Guar gum galactomannan was acetylated and a new polymer with different degrees of acetylation was obtained. The acetylation and substitution degree of the polymer was determined and characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Galactomannan acetate (GA) was evaluated for development of micelles through the solvent diffusion method. Critical micellar concentration (CMC) was evaluated through dynamic light scattering where the effect of a wide range of GA concentrations in the micelle formation was studied. Results showed that CMC is around 0.2 mg mL-1 and an increase of GA concentration leads to the formation of monodisperse micelles with low values of polydispersity. The influence of the degree of acetylation was evaluated in terms of size average, polydispersity (PdI) and zeta potential. Transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate micelles’ morphology. It was shown that GA can be used to form micelles for the encapsulation of curcumin (used as model compound) with an encapsulation efficiency higher than 99 % and a loading capacity ranging from 5.5 to 7.7 %. Results showed that the degree of acetylation can be used to control particle size: micelles produced from GA with the lowest degree of acetylation have a diameter which is around 25 % smaller than that of micelles produced from GA with the highest degree of acetylation. This study provides information concerning the preparation of polymeric micelles based on a modified natural galactomannan for application in the food and pharmaceutical industry. To our knowledge, it is the first work dealing with galactomannans’ modification.
A Fixed-Dose Combination, QXOH/Levobupivacaine, Produces Long-Acting Local Anesthesia in Rats Without Additional Toxicity

QXOH, a QX314 derivative with longer duration and lesser local toxicity, is a novel local anesthetic in preclinical drug development. Previous studies demonstrated that bupivacaine can prolong the effects of QX314. So, we attempted to combine QXOH with levobupivacaine to shorten the onset time and lengthen the duration. In this study, we investigated the efficacy, local and systemic toxicity in rats. In subcutaneous infiltration anesthesia, the inhibition of cutaneous trunci muscle reflex for QXOH-LB was greater than QXOH and levobupivacaine in the first 8 h (QXOH-LB vs. QXOH, P = 0.004; QXOH-LB vs. LB, P = 0.004). The completely recovery time for QXOH-LB (17.5 ± 2.5 h) was significantly longer than levobupivacaine (9.0 ± 1.3 h, P = 0.034) and QXOH (9.8 ± 0.9 h, P = 0.049). In sciatic nerve block, QXOH-LB produced a rapid onset time, which was obviously shorter than QXOH. For sensory, the time to recovery for QXOH-LB was 17.3 ± 2.6 h, which was statistically longer than 6.0 ± 1.8 h for QXOH (P = 0.027), and 4 h for levobupivacaine (P = 0.001). Meanwhile, the time to motor recovery for QXOH-LB was 7.9 ± 2.8 h, significantly longer than 4 h for levobupivacaine (P = 0.003) but similar to 6.0 ± 1.7 h for QXOH (P = 0.061). In local toxicity, there was no significant difference of histological score regarding muscle and sciatic nerve in QXOH-LB, QXOH, levobupivacaine and saline (P < 0.01). In the combination, the interaction index of LD50 was 1.39, indicating antagonistic interaction between QXOH and levobupivacaine in terms of systemic toxicity. In this study, we demonstrated that QXOH-LB produced cutaneous anesthesia which was 2-fold greater than that produced by QXOH or LB alone, and elicited sciatic nerve block with a potency that was 5- and 3-fold that of LB and QXOH, respectively. Local tissue inflammation by QXOH-LB was mild, similar to that induced by LB. This fixed-dose combination led to an antagonistic interaction between QXOH and LB in terms of systemic toxicity. These results suggested that QXOH-LB induced a long-lasting local anesthesia, likely, avoiding clinically important local and systemic toxicities.
Editorial

Among groups in a society that are divided by some obvious difference, whether it be language, skin colour or physiognomic characteristics, there is a tendency for these differences to be drawn upon as a source of imagery and language in the discourse of the ‘other’ that inevitably develops through cross-group interaction. This tendency is perhaps strongest when that difference is based on religious identity: man’s religious nature leads him to ascribe cosmological significance to his daily existence. Communal tensions rooted in economic and political concerns, therefore, may become enmeshed with religious discourse. Russia, the Balkans and Central Asia are no exception to this rule, as the tensions between Orthodox Christians and Muslims indicate. Many of the conflicts that have erupted in these regions have had distinct religious components, with battle-lines drawn along the borders of Islam and Orthodoxy, and with religious language often invoked on both sides (Marsh, 2007). While the communal tension and ethnic conflicts that have been witnessed across the postcommunist world certainly present a discernible pattern, one must be careful not to conclude that peace and cohabitation between Islam and Orthodoxy is impossible or even unlikely, despite the popularity of some contemporary theories that postulate precisely that. Samuel Huntington’s ‘clash of civilizations’ is the most well-known and ascribed to of such theories. In its earlier formulation, Bernard Lewis (1990) wrote of the clash of civilisations as being centred on the incompatibility of Islam and the West. Huntington took the idea and expanded it to explain relations between all civilisations, but it is again the confrontation between Islam and Christian societies that seems to have been picked up as a model for understanding the post-9/11 world. Despite the great differences between what Huntington actually wrote and the nature of post-Cold War international relations, it is his thesis more than any other that is being put forth as an explanation for Christian–Muslim violence. Andrei Tsygankov, for example, has even gone so far as to blame the course of Russian politics and foreign policy after the Soviet collapse as attributable to the theses of Francis Fukuyama and Samuel Huntington (Tsygankov, 2004). Religion, State & Society, Vol. 36, No. 4, December 2008
Early Dyskinesias in Parkinson’s Disease Patients With Parkin Mutation: A Primary Corticostriatal Synaptopathy?

Mutations in the PARKIN gene cause early-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD). Despite the high proportion of still missing phenotyping data in the literature devoted to early-onset PD, studies suggest that, as compared with late-onset PD, PARKIN patients show dystonia at onset and extremely dose-sensitive levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). What pathophysiological mechanisms underpin such early and atypical dyskinesia in patients with PARKIN mutations? Though the precise mechanisms underlying dystonia and LID are still unclear, evidence suggests that hyperkinetic disorders in PD are a behavioral expression of maladaptive functional and morphological changes at corticostriatal synapses induced by long-term dopamine (DA) depletion. However, since the dyskinesia in PARKIN patients can also be present at onset, other mechanisms beside the well-established DA depletion may play a role in the development of dyskinesia in these patients. Because cortical and striatal neurons express parkin protein, and parkin modulates the function of ionotropic glutamatergic receptors (iGluRs), an intriguing explanation may rest on the potential role of parkin in directly controlling the glutamatergic corticostriatal synapse transmission. We discuss the novel theory that loss of parkin function can dysregulate transmission at the corticostriatal synapses where they cause early maladaptive changes that co-occur with the changes stemming from DA loss. This hypothesis suggests an early striatal synaptopathy; it could lay the groundwork for pharmacological treatment of dyskinesias and LID in patients with PARKIN mutations.
Assessment of vaccine coverage and associated factors among children in urban agglomerations of Kochi, Kerala, India

Context: Urban population in India is growing exponentially. The public sector urban health delivery system has so far been limited in its reach and is far from adequate. Aims: This study aims to estimate routine immunization coverage and associated factors among children (12–23 months and 60–84 months) in the urban Kochi Metropolitan Area of Kerala. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kochi Metropolitan area. Materials and Methods: A cluster sampling technique was used to collect data on immunization status from 310 children aged between 12 and 23 months and 308 children aged between 60 and 84 months. Statistical Analysis: Crude coverage details for each vaccine were estimated using percentages and confidence intervals. Bivariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to identify factors associated with immunization coverage. Results: Among the children aged 12–23 months, 89% (95% CI 85.5%-92.5%) were fully immunized, 10% were partially immunized, and 1% unimmunized. Less than 10 years of schooling among mothers (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.20–4.81) and living in a nuclear family (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.06–3.14) were determinants associated with partial or unimmunization of children as per multivariate analysis. The coverage of individual vaccines was found to decrease after 18 months from 90% to 75% at 4–5 years for Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus (DPT) booster. Bivariate analysis found lower birth order and belonging to the Muslim religion as significant factors for this decrease. Conclusion: Education of the mother and nuclear families emerged as areas of vulnerability in urban immunization coverage. Inadequate social support and competing priorities with regard to balancing work and home probably lead to delay or forgetfulness in vaccination. Therefore, a locally contextualized comprehensive strategy with strengthening of the primary health system is needed to improve the immunization coverage in urban areas.
New Paradigm in the Role of Regulatory T Cells During Pregnancy

Semi-allogenic fetuses are not rejected by the maternal immune system because feto-maternal tolerance induced by CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells is established during pregnancy. Paternal antigen-specific Treg cells accumulate during pregnancy, and seminal plasma priming plays an important role in expanding paternal antigen-specific Treg cells in mouse models. Although paternal-antigen specific Treg cells have not been identified in humans, recent studies suggest that antigen-specific Treg cells exist and expand at the feto-maternal interface in humans. Studies have also revealed that reduction of decidual functional Treg cells occurs during miscarriage with normal fetal chromosomal content, whereas insufficient clonal expansion of decidual Treg cells is observed in preeclampsia. In this review, we will discuss the recent advances in the investigation of mechanisms underlying Treg cell-dependent maintenance of feto-maternal tolerance.
Physical Exercise Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Morphofunctional Cerebellar Damages Induced by the Ethanol Binge Drinking Paradigm from Adolescence to Adulthood in Rats

Ethanol (EtOH) binge drinking is characterized by high EtOH intake during few hours followed by withdrawal. Protection strategies against the damages generated by this binge are poorly explored. Thus, this study is aimed at investigating the protective role of treadmill physical exercise (PE) on the damage caused after repeated cycles of binge-like EtOH exposure in the oxidative biochemistry, morphology, and cerebellar function of rats from adolescence to adulthood. For this, animals were divided into four groups: control group (sedentary animals with doses of distilled water), exercised group (exercised animals with doses of distilled water), EtOH group (sedentary animals with doses of 3 g/kg/day of EtOH, 20% w/v), and exercised+EtOH group (exercised animals with previous mentioned doses of EtOH). The PE occurred on a running treadmill for 5 days a week for 4 weeks, and all doses of EtOH were administered through intragastric gavage in four repeated cycles of EtOH in a binge-like manner. After the EtOH protocol and PE, animals were submitted to open field and beam walking tests. In sequence, the cerebellums were collected for the biochemical and morphological analyses. Biochemical changes were analyzed by measurement of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), reduced glutathione content measurements (GSH), and measurement of nitrite and lipid peroxidation (LPO). In morphological analyses, Purkinje cell density evaluation and immunohistochemistry evaluation were measured by antimyelin basic protein (MBP) and antisynaptophysin (SYP). The present findings demonstrate that the binge drinking protocol induced oxidative biochemistry misbalance, from the decrease of TEAC levels and higher LPO related to tissue damage and motor impairment. In addition, we have shown for the first time that treadmill physical exercise reduced tissue and functional alterations displayed by EtOH exposure.
Stunting and Overweight among 12-24-Month-Old Children Receiving Vaccination in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Introduction Malnutrition and obesity are a double burden on children in developing countries and could induce higher risks of noncommunicable diseases in the long term. In the big cities of Vietnam, both issues are present and share the issue of nutrition problems; the prevalence of malnutrition in children is gradually decreasing while the prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly. The paper aims to identify the prevalence of stunting and overweight/obesity in apparently healthy young children in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Methods A prospective cross-sectional study recruited 12-24-month-old children receiving national vaccination in community health centers in HCMC from February 2016 to July 2017. Sixteen healthcare centers were randomly selected among 8 districts of HCMC. Stunting and overweight were defined by height-for-age z-score <-2 SD and BMI z-score ≥+2 SD. Results A total of 768 children had mean age of 16.8±4.2 months old, 51.7% boys. The prevalence of stunting and overweight/obesity was 8.2% and 10.7%, respectively. Stunting was associated with older age, boys, and low birth weight of children and occupation of mothers (P <0.05). No associated risk factor was observed for overweight/ obesity status. Conclusion The prevalence of overweight/obesity was higher than the prevalence of stunting in 12-24-month-old children in HCMC. Overweight/obesity would be a public health problem for children in big cities.