Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antidiarrhoeal Activities of Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) Extract in Experimentally-Induced Diarrhoea Model

This study investigated the effects of Lime on Diarrhoea in Wistar rats. A total of 60 Wistar rats were procured and randomly divided into 3 groups of 20 animals each for each of the three t-test models. The twenty healthy Wistar rats for each diarrhoea model were fasted for 6 hours prior to the experiment but allowed free access to water. The twenty animals were randomly divided into 5 groups of 4 animals each for each experiment. Established antidiarrhea models were followed. The test groups received various doses (97.65mg/kg, 195.3mg/kg, and 390.6mg/kg) of Citrus aurantiifolia juice extract; whereas positive controls received Loperamide (2.5mg/kg) and negative controls received distilled water (1ml/kg). The administration was done once daily for 15 days, and the faeces of each animal was collected on the 5th, 10th and 15th day. The result of this study showed that medium and high dose Citrus aurantiifolia has an anti-diarrhoeal effect on castor oil-induced diarrhoea over repeated administration for a minimum of 15 days as it prolonged the onset of diarrhoea, decreased the frequency of defecation and gastrointestinal transit time in Wistar rats. This study shows that Citrus aurantiifolia demonstrates significant anti-diarrhoeal activity and can be used as an anti-diarrhoea agent.
Effect of Implementation of Chat Room-Based Blended Learning on Self-Efficacy and Student Learning Outcomes on Human Movement System Material

Self efficacy has an important role in student achievement, high self efficacy will encourage students to excel and low self efficacy makes it difficult for students to achieve achievements in their studies. This study aims to determine the effect of implementing chat room-based blended learning on self-efficacy and student learning outcomes and the relationship between self-efficacy and learning outcomes. This study used a Quasi-Experimental method with a pretest-posttest Non-Equivalent Control Group Design. Sampling used a purposive sampling technique with a total sample of 134 students consisting of the experimental group and the control group. The instrument used to measure self-efficacy uses a questionnaire containing 45 statements, while learning outcomes are measured using 40 multiple choice questions. Data analysis used covariance analysis at a significant level of 0.05, while analysis of the relationship between self-efficacy and learning outcomes used Pearson's Product Moment correlation analysis. The results showed that there was an effect of self-efficacy and student learning outcomes (p <0.05) and there was a significant relationship between self-efficacy and student learning outcomes after implementing chat room-based blended learning. The conclusion of the study is that there is a positive influence on the implementation of chat room-based blended learning on self-efficacy and student learning outcomes in the human movement system material and there is a positive and significant relationship between self-efficacy and student learning outcomes.
Dynamics of isolated quantum many-body systems far from equilibrium

This thesis addresses different aspects of the dynamics of isolated quantum many-body systems far from equilibrium, ranging from transient phenomena at short times to questions about relaxation and equilibration at late times. The first part deals with nonequilibrium critical phenomena. Dynamical quantum phase transitions are characterized in a two-dimensional spin system by studying the distribution of Fisher zeros in the complex time plane. Moreover, a new topologically driven transition in the nonequilibrium steady state of quenched Chern insulators is investigated, resulting in the identification of universal nonanalytic behavior of the Hall conductance as a function of the quench parameter. The second part of the thesis comprises a study of transient dynamics of the transverse-field Ising model in two and three dimensions based on a perturbative derivation of classical networks to encode the time-evolved wave function; this construction is also applicable to represent the state as an artificial neural network. In the last part of the thesis a possible definition of the irreversibility of quantum many-body dynamics is introduced, which is based on the echo dynamics of observables under imperfect effective time reversal. Echo dynamics is studied in generic and integrable quantum systems as well as in the semiclassical limit. The relation to out-of-time-order correlators is explored, which were recently introduced to probe the quantum butterfly effect.
Noise contrastive estimation: Asymptotic properties, formal comparison with MC-MLE

: A statistical model is said to be un-normalised when its like- lihood function involves an intractable normalising constant. Two popular methods for parameter inference for these models are MC-MLE (Monte Carlo maximum likelihood estimation), and NCE (noise contrastive esti-mation); both methods rely on simulating artiﬁcial data-points to approx- imate the normalising constant. While the asymptotics of MC-MLE have been established under general hypotheses (Geyer, 1994), this is not so for NCE. We establish consistency and asymptotic normality of NCE estimators under mild assumptions. We compare NCE and MC-MLE under several asymptotic regimes. In particular, we show that, when m → ∞ while n is ﬁxed ( m and n being respectively the number of artiﬁcial data-points, and actual data-points), the two estimators are asymptotically equivalent. Con-versely, we prove that, when the artiﬁcial data-points are IID, and when n → ∞ while m/n converges to a positive constant, the asymptotic variance of a NCE estimator is always smaller than the asymptotic variance of the corresponding MC-MLE estimator. We illustrate the variance reduction brought by NCE through a numerical study.
Comparison of methods for repeated measures binary data with missing values

Missing data is common in health and medical experiments including controlled clinical trials. Using only the complete cases for analysis may cause biased inferences or even controversial results. Assuming that the data are missing at random (MAR), various methods have been developed to handle missing data. Among them, GEE, non-linear mixed effects and multiple imputation (MI-GEE and MI-NLME) methods based on GEEs and NLMEs are considered the most efficient methods. However, these guidelines are too limited to apply generally. We evaluated their performance on various missing data mechanisms with repeated measurement binary data using a simulation study. We considered two different levels of correlation (ρ=0.3, 0.7) with three cases of repeated measures (T=2, 4, 6) with sample sizes of 40, 80, 200 under different missing data mechanisms, MCAR (Missing Completely at Random), MAR (Missing At Random) and MNAR (Missing Not At Random). Based on obtained empirical size control, power level and bias of each method, we conclude that the NLME based multiple imputation (MI-NLME) method performs the best.
Event-Related Potentials in Assessing Visual Speech Cues in the Broader Autism Phenotype: Evidence from a Phonemic Restoration Paradigm

Audiovisual speech perception includes the simultaneous processing of auditory and visual speech. Deficits in audiovisual speech perception are reported in autistic individuals; however, less is known regarding audiovisual speech perception within the broader autism phenotype (BAP), which includes individuals with elevated, yet subclinical, levels of autistic traits. We investigate the neural indices of audiovisual speech perception in adults exhibiting a range of autism-like traits using event-related potentials (ERPs) in a phonemic restoration paradigm. In this paradigm, we consider conditions where speech articulators (mouth and jaw) are present (AV condition) and obscured by a pixelated mask (PX condition). These two face conditions were included in both passive (simply viewing a speaking face) and active (participants were required to press a button for a specific consonant–vowel stimulus) experiments. The results revealed an N100 ERP component which was present for all listening contexts and conditions; however, it was attenuated in the active AV condition where participants were able to view the speaker’s face, including the mouth and jaw. The P300 ERP component was present within the active experiment only, and significantly greater within the AV condition compared to the PX condition. This suggests increased neural effort for detecting deviant stimuli when visible articulation was present and visual influence on perception. Finally, the P300 response was negatively correlated with autism-like traits, suggesting that higher autistic traits were associated with generally smaller P300 responses in the active AV and PX conditions. The conclusions support the finding that atypical audiovisual processing may be characteristic of the BAP in adults.
Effect of In Vitro Addition of Melatonin and Glutathione on Seminal Parameters of Rams in Diluted Semen and after Thawing

Simple Summary The cryopreservation of semen has numerous advantages but decreases sperm quality, compromising its viability and functionality. Oxidative stress is considered the main cause of this decrease, so using antioxidants such as glutathione (GSH) and melatonin (MLT) may be a way to overcome this problem. We aimed to evaluate whether adding 1 mM MLT, 5 mM GSH, or both improves ram semen quality after thawing. We observed that, in fresh semen, the separate addition of MLT and GSH had a negative effect on sperm motility parameters. In thawed semen, MLT increased progressive sperm motility and combined with MLT, attenuated the negative effects of GSH. This study provides valuable information for selecting antioxidants or possible associations to be added to ram freezing-semen extenders. Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin (MLT), glutathione (GSH), and their combination on ram semen quality after thawing. During eight weekly sessions, semen from three Merino rams was pooled, diluted with an egg-yolk-based semen extender, and divided into four groups: control, 1 mM MLT, 5 mM GSH, and 1 mM MLT + 5 mM GSH. Diluted semen was evaluated before and after the freezing process. The supplementation of diluted semen with GSH at 5 mM had a deleterious effect on total motility progressive (TPM), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), average-path velocity (VAP), linearity (LIN), and straightness (STR) and increased slow spermatozoa (%). MLT at 1 mM also had a negative effect on TPM, VSL, and STR in diluted semen. In thawed semen, 1 mM MLT increased the TPM compared with the control group. VSL was lower in the 5 mM GSH group than in the 1 mM MLT group. Additionally, the combination of both antioxidants attenuated the negative effect of 5 mM GSH on TPM, VSL, and BCF. These results indicate that 5 mM GSH impairs or does not improve sperm kinetic parameters in either diluted or thawed semen. They also suggest that MLT combined with GSH plays a protective role against these effects.
ESTRUTURA GENÉTICA EM POPULAÇÕES DE Tabebuia cassinoides

Em um prévio estudo, os efeitos do manejo florestal sobre a estrutura genética de Tabebuia cassinoides, foram avaliados com base em estruturas de progênies. Visando complementar esse prévio estudo, aqui são analisados esses efeitos com base na amostragem de indivíduos adultos das mesmas populações anteriormente avaliadas. Para tanto, avaliou-se por eletroforese de isoenzimas 56 árvores adultas em uma população natural e 57 em uma manejada. A distribuição da variabilidade genética entre e dentro de populações revelou que mais de 95% da variabilidade genética encontra-se distribuída dentro das populações, e somente menos do que 5% entre populações. Entretanto, comparando-se as freqüências alélicas das populações, observa-se que o manejo realizado levou à perda de alelos raros (freq. < 5%) por deriva genética. Também foram detectadas, na população manejada, reduções nas heterozigosidades e porcentagem de ! ocos polimórficos e aumento no coeficiente de endogamia. A avaliação da estrutura das progênies evidenciou que estas foram compostas por misturas de meios-irmãos, irmãos completos e indivíduos de autofecundação. A comparação do índice de fixação (f) entre a geração de plântulas e as árvores aduítas, mostrou mdícios de seleção contra homozigotos. Com base no tamanho efetivo determinou-se que para efetivar o manejo sustentável da Tabebuia cassinoides, considerando o componente genético, é necessária a manutenção de pelo menos 67 árvores porta-sementes por hectare. No final do trabalho sugere-se a estratégia de conservação in e ex situ para minimizar os danos causados pela prática de manejo.
Modifiable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Risk Factors

This study aims to summarize the modifiable risk factors for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) that have been known for a long time, as well as information from the most recent reports. As a cancer with a late diagnosis and poor prognosis, accurate analysis of PDAC risk factors is warranted. The incidence of this cancer continues to rise, and the five-year survival rate is the lowest with respect to other tumors. The influence of cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and chronic pancreatitis in increasing the risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is continually being confirmed. There are also newly emerging reports relating to the impact of lifestyle, including physical activity, the gut and oral microbiome, and hepatotropic viruses. A precise understanding of PDAC risk factors can help to identify groups of high-risk patients, and this may contribute to population awareness and education as well as earlier diagnoses with possible better treatment outcomes.
Analysis of flame curvature evolution in a turbulent premixed bluff body burner

The physical mechanisms responsible for flame curvature evolution of a methane-air premixed flame attached to a bluff-body burner have been investigated using a high-fidelity flame-resolved three-dimensional simulation database. The contributions to the mean curvature generation due to the fluid flow motion and to a combination of flow and flame propagation induced strain rates have been analyzed in detail and dominant contributions in different zones (reactants, ame and products) of the flame have been identified. The effect of fluid flow on the mean curvature evolution is important on the unburned gas side, whereas the ame propagation dominates the mean curvature evolution in the reaction region and towards the hot products. The statistical contributions of the mean curvature transport equation have been analysed in terms of the iso-scalar surface geometry, characterized by the mean and Gauss curvatures. This information has subsequently been used to provide physical insights into the dominant mechanisms of curvature evolution for different flame topologies. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 706672 - ITPF.
A Fair Generative Model Using LeCam Divergence

We explore a fairness-related challenge that arises in generative models. The challenge is that biased training data with imbalanced demographics may yield a high asymmetry in size of generated samples across distinct groups. We focus on practically-relevant scenarios wherein demographic labels are not available and therefore the design of a fair generative model is non-straightforward. In this paper, we propose an optimization framework that regulates the unfairness under such practical settings via one statistical measure, LeCam (LC)-divergence. Specifically to quantify the degree of unfairness, we employ a balanced-yet-small reference dataset and then measure its distance with generated samples using the LC-divergence, which is shown to be particularly instrumental to a small size of the reference dataset. We take a variational optimization approach to implement the LC-based measure. Experiments on benchmark real datasets demonstrate that the proposed framework can significantly improve the fairness performance while maintaining realistic sample quality for a wide range of the reference set size all the way down to 1% relative to training set.
Targeted Disruption of the MORG1 Gene in Mice Causes Embryonic Resorption in Early Phase of Development

The mitogen-activated protein kinase organizer 1 (MORG1) is a scaffold molecule for the ERK signaling pathway, but also binds to prolyl-hydroxylase 3 and modulates HIFα expression. To obtain further insight into the role of MORG1, knockout-mice were generated by homologous recombination. While Morg1+/− mice developed normally without any apparent phenotype, there were no live-born Morg1−/− knockout offspring, indicating embryonic lethality. The intrauterine death of Morg1−/− embryos is caused by a severe failure to develop brain and other neuronal structures such as the spinal cord and a failure of chorioallantoic fusion. On E8.5, Morg1−/− embryos showed severe underdevelopment and proliferative arrest as indicated by absence of Ki67 expression, impaired placental vascularization and altered phenotype of trophoblast giant cells. On E9.5, the malformed Morg1−/− embryos showed defective turning into the final fetal position and widespread apoptosis in many structures. In the subsequent days, apoptosis and decomposition of embryonic tissue progressed, accompanied by a massive infiltration of inflammatory cells. Developmental aberrancies were accompanied by altered expression of HIF-1/2α and VEGF-A and caspase-3 activation in embryos and extraembryonic tissues. In conclusion, the results suggest a multifactorial process that causes embryonic death in homozygous Morg1 mutant mice, described here, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time.
Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Melatonin Function and Cellular Lymphocyte Apoptosis in Sedentary Middle-Aged Men

Background: Physical performance increased by controlled interventions of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT); however, little is known about their influence as anti-aging and antioxidant effects, or their role in mitochondrial biogenesis. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of HIIT for 12 weeks on melatonin function, lymphocyte cell apoptosis, oxidative stress on aging, and physical performance. Methods: Eighty healthy male subjects aged 18–65 years randomly participated in a HIIT-exercise training program for 12 weeks. Anthropometric analysis, cardiovascular fitness, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), lymphocyte count and apoptosis, and serum melatonin and cytochrome c oxidase (COX), were estimated for all subjects before and after HIIT-exercise training. HIIT training was performed in subjects for 12 weeks. Results: Data analysis showed a significant increase in the expression levels of the melatonin hormone (11.2 ± 2.3, p < 0.001), TAC (48.7 ± 7.1, p < 0.002), COX (3.7 ± 0.75, p < 0.001), and a higher percentage of lymphocyte apoptosis (5.2 ± 0.31, p < 0.003). In addition, there was an improvement in fitness scores (W; 196.5 ± 4.6, VO2max; 58.9 ± 2.5, p < 0.001), adiposity markers (p < 0.001); BMI, WHtR, and glycemic control parameters (p < 0.01); FG, HbA1c (%), FI, and serum C-peptide were significantly improved following HIIT intervention. Both melatonin and lymphocyte apoptosis significantly correlated with the studied parameters, especially TAC and COX. Furthermore, the correlation of lymphocyte apoptosis with longer exercise duration was significantly associated with increased serum melatonin following exercise training. This association supports the mechanistic role of melatonin in promoting lymphocyte apoptosis either via the extrinsic mediator pathway or via inhibition of lymphocyte division in the thymus and lymph nodes. Additionally, the correlation between melatonin, lymphocyte apoptosis, TAC, and COX activities significantly supports their role in enhancing physical performance. Conclusions: The main findings of this study were that HIIT exercise training for 12 weeks significantly improved adiposity markers, glycemic control parameters, and physical performance of sedentary older adult men. In addition, melatonin secretion, % of lymphocyte apoptosis, COX activities, and TAC as biological aging markers were significantly increased following HIIT exercise training interventions for 12 weeks. The use of HIIT exercise was effective in improving biological aging, which is adequate for supporting chronological age, especially regarding aging problems. However, subsequent studies are required with long-term follow-up to consider HIIT as a modulator for several cardiometabolic health problems in older individuals with obesity.
Giant cell rich osteosarcoma: A rare case report

Giant cell-rich osteosarcoma is an extremely rare variant of conventional osteosarcoma. It accounts for only 1%-3%. It is an undifferentiated high-grade sarcoma with numerous osteoclast-like giant cells. It also contains variable amount of tumor osteoid. This article aims to present a rare case of Giant cell-rich osteosarcoma involving the right knee joint in a young man.
The Development and Effect of Systemic Hypertension on Clinical and Radiological Outcome in Adult Moyamoya Angiopathy Following Revascularization Surgery: Experience of a Single European Institution

Patients with Moyamoya Angiopathy (MMA) display structurally altered vessels with decreased cerebral autoregulatory capacity, so aggressive lowering of systemic hypertension may aggravate ischemic symptoms, whereas uncontrolled hypertension may promote hemorrhage. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the role of hypertension in adult MMA patients including long-term analysis of clinical and radiological development. In this single-center retrospective analysis of 137 adult MMA patients with 206 surgically treated hemispheres angiographic images, clinical/operative data were reviewed and scored. Univariate Cox-regression analysis was performed to evaluate hypertension as a predictor for negative angiographic and clinical outcomes following revascularization surgery. A total of 50% of patients were being treated for hypertension prior to the first surgery. Patients with and without hypertension did not differ in terms of age, gender, diagnosis, symptom onset or disease severity (Berlin and Suzuki Grades). Although hypertension did not statistically significantly affect postoperative collaterals, moyamoya vessels or STA-MCA bypass patency, patients with hypertension showed higher rates of bypass patency and better bypass filling compared to those without hypertension. No significant differences in adverse events were found in patients with and without systemic hypertension and the presence of systemic hypertension was not found to predict negative clinical or radiological outcomes. In conclusion, the rate of systemic hypertension in MMA patients appears to be higher than the general population; however, this is not associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications or negative angiographic development following revascularization procedures. Systemic hypertension may also positively influence the rate of bypass patency and filling following revascularization procedures.
Dynamics and Stability Analysis of a Brucellosis Model with Two Discrete Delays

We present a mathematical model for brucellosis transmission that incorporates two discrete delays and culling of infected animals displaying signs of brucellosis infection. The first delay represents the incubation period while the second account for the time needed to detect and cull infectious animals. Feasibility and stability of the model steady states have been determined analytically and numerically. Further, the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation has been established. Overall the findings from the study, both analytical and numerical, suggest that the two delays can destabilize the system and periodic solutions can arise through Hopf bifurcation.