Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization and biological evaluation of new PLGA/fibrin/lignin biocomposite electrospun scaffolds

In this study, we produced electrospun scaffolds from 10% pure PLGA solution, and 10% polyblend solutions of PLGA/Fibrin, PLGA/Lignin, and PLGA/Fibrin/Lignin with proportions of 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 7:2:1, 6:2:2, and 5:2:3 and characterized them physiochemically and biologically. FTIR and EDX results verified the chemical composition of the fibers. All scaffolds exhibited homogenous nanostructures with fiber diameters ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 μm and the highest average fiber diameter belonged to PLGA/Lignin fibers. Increasing the lignin proportion led to a decrease in fibers diameter and a change in color to brown. Fibrin improved the hydrophobicity of the scaffolds, and the incorporation of fibrin, lignin, or fibrin/lignin improved the absorption capacity of the scaffolds (up to 91.7%). From day 45 onwards, fibrin-containing scaffolds started to degrade much faster. By day 90, PLGA/20%Fibrin/30%Lignin showed the highest degradation ratio of 82%, while PLGA/10%Lignin showed the lowest at 51.4%. All scaffolds exhibited high porosity percentage (over 78%), with porosity enhanced by increasing fibrin and decreasing lignin. The pure PLGA scaffold and PLGA/10%Lignin showed the highest stiffness and tensile strength, respectively. The addition of natural components gradually decreased the scaffolds’ tensile strength and fracture strain. MTT results showed higher absorbance reading at 490 nm for PLGA, PLGA/10%Fibrin, and all three PLGA/Lignin scaffolds from day 3 to day 7. On day 7, PLGA/10%Fibrin exhibited the highest cell viability, followed by PLGA/10%Lignin and PLGA/20%Fibrin/10%Lignin. SEM micrographs revealed the presence of h-ADSCs with spindle-like morphologies, attached and proliferated well on all scaffolds. PLGA/10%Fibrin, PLGA/10%Lignin, and PLGA/20%Fibrin/10%Lignin were selected as the preferred options from each set of scaffolds. Among them, PLGA/20%Fibrin/10%Lignin exhibited superior physical features and actively enhanced the biological responses of the cells due to its physio-mechanical signals and the advanced features of lignin, making it suitable for tissue engineering, wound dressing, drug delivery, and other biomedical applications.
Exploration of Optimal High-beta Operation Regime by Magnetic Axis Swing

In Large Helical Device (LHD), the volome averaged beta value as high as 5.1 % was achieved in FY2007-2008 experiments. High beta operation regime was explorated by the programmed control of magnetic axis position, which characterizes MHD equilibrium, stability and transport. This control became enable by increasing capability of poloidal coil power supply. The experiments made clear the effect of magnetic hill on MHD activities in high-beta plasmas with more than 4 %. Also it enabled to access the ideal stability boundary with keeping high-beta state. The strong m/n = 2/1 mode leading minor collapse in core plasma appeared with the inward shift of the magnetic axis.
Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol Use in Parkinson’s Disease: An Observational Pilot Study

Background: There is a need for more research examining the use of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabidiol (CBD) products in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), especially given the recent increase in the use of these products. Objectives: Given the recent increase in over-the-counter CBD use as well as the prescription of medical cannabis by treating physicians, the utilization method, effects on motor and non-motor symptoms, side effects, and attitude toward cannabis use were examined in a naturalistic sample of patients with PD. Methods: A total of 15 individuals with PD, eight of whom were prescribed CBD/THC treatment and seven who were not taking any CBD/THC product, were assessed cross-sectionally. Participants completed structured neuropsychological testing, motor assessment, and questionnaires regarding mood, subjective cognition, and symptom levels. T-tests were completed for quantitative measures and descriptive data were examined and described. Due to the small sample size, Shapiro-Wilk tests for normality were utilized and Mann-Whitney U analyses were completed when appropriate. Results: We found a wide range of prescribed products and methods as well as variability in perceived benefits and untoward effects, even in our small sample. Individuals with PD who were taking a CBD/THC product had lower global cognition scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) but no detectable differences among more specific neuropsychological measures. They also had more non-motor symptoms of PD but no differences in motor symptom levels. Qualitatively, some participants with PD who were taking CBD/THC reported improved pain levels, sleep, and reductions in anxiety. A few negative effects were endorsed, including sleepiness, concentration difficulties, and forgetfulness. Conclusion: CBD/THC utilization in PD is varied. In our small sample, individuals who utilized the treatment had lower MoCA scores, more non-motor symptoms, and descriptively reported improvements in sleep, anxiety, and pain, and had side effects of sleepiness and cognitive difficulty. Future studies should focus on clinical trials with standardized CBD/THC methods of use.
Advances in epigenetic research of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and congenital scoliosis

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional structural deformity of the spine; more than 80% of scoliosis has no specific pathogenesis but is understood to be closely related to genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. In recent years, the epigenetic alterations observed in scoliosis have been analyzed in numerous studies to determine the pathogenesis and progression of this condition, however, there is currently no comprehensive review of the epigenetic factors to date. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for relative studies without language and date restrictions in March 2023. Twenty-five studies were included in this review and analyzed from the four main aspects of epigenetic alteration: DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling. The relationship between DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs, and scoliosis was considerably reported in the literature, and the corresponding related signaling pathways and novel biomarkers observed in scoliosis provide insights into innovative prevention and treatment strategies. However, the role of histone modifications is rarely reported in scoliosis, and few studies have investigated the relationship between scoliosis and chromatin remodeling. Therefore, these related fields need to be further explored to elucidate the overall effects of epigenetics in scoliosis.
Tools for Scaffolding the Development of L2 Speaking in English-medium Higher Education: Lessons from Poland and Australia

Participating in oral L2 communication may be challenging for English-medium higher education students. While literature suggests that scaffolding facilitates the development of L2 speaking, research has not addressed the notion of tools for scaffolding its development. The aim of this study is twofold: (1) to investigate how scaffolding can be embodied in tool design to support L2 speaking and (2) to obtain and analyse student perceptions of the tools. We draw on questionnaire data gathered in two iterations of a larger design-based research study conducted in two contexts: English Studies students in Poland (N = 26) and culturally and linguistically diverse L2 learners in Australia (N = 12). This study illustrates how features of scaffolding were applied to map instructor, peer- and technology-based tools in terms of learning activities, resources, technology and feedback. The results suggest that these tools may cater to the multiple levels of student understanding and skill with regard to the development of L2 speaking found in modern L2 classrooms.
Protected from harm, harmed by protection: ethical consequences of the exclusion of pregnant participants from clinical trials

Pregnancy is a frequently applied exclusion criteria for many forms of research. Common justifications for this exclusion include the potential for teratogenicity, as well as the potential for physiologic changes in pregnancy to impact the research itself. The systematic exclusion of pregnant persons from clinical studies has created a significant gap in knowledge regarding medication safety and efficacy in pregnancy, which continues to cause significant harm to pregnant persons in need of medical therapy. To produce meaningful data and facilitate effective knowledge translation to the clinical setting, special consideration to the pharmacology of pregnancy, as well as to outcomes of concern for this population is essential. The exclusion of pregnant participants from research is not ethically justifiable, as it violates the principles of autonomy, justice and nonmaleficence. While the inclusion of pregnant patients in research presents it’s own challenges, with appropriate methodological, ethical, and clinical considerations, we may be able to narrow the knowledge gap and improve drug availability and safety for pregnant patients and their children.
‘It shouldn’t be necessary, but it happens a lot’: Undergraduate contemporary dancers’ perceptions of pain, injury, and fatigue

Contemporary dancers are at risk for musculoskeletal injury due to the choreographic, artistic, and physical demands of the form. Group norms such as persevering through and normalization of pain and injury have been demonstrated within dance contexts and may contribute to the high prevalence of reported injury among dancers. The purpose of this study was to explore contemporary dancers’ perceptions of pain, injury, and fatigue. Ten undergraduate contemporary dance students, self-identifying as women (18-23 years), participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were generated: (1) It’s more abnormal for people to sit out than to dance through their injuries; (2) Pain, injury, and fatigue aren’t just physical; (3) Safe dancing environments are important; (4) Implementing dancer health knowledge into practice is complicated. Participants described training and performing through pain and injury, and not always feeling comfortable expressing these experiences to instructors. Pain, injury, and fatigue impacted participants physically and psychologically. Safe dance practice education was viewed as important but challenges implementing knowledge into practice were noted. Continued efforts to integrate safe dance practices into university dance curriculum are needed to help minimize the high prevalence of pain, injury, and fatigue among university contemporary dancers.
Health care seeking behaviors of pregnant women in rural Amhara, Ethiopia: a qualitative study of perceptions of pregnant women, community members, and health care providers

Introduction in Ethiopia, increasing access to basic antenatal and neonatal health services may improve maternal and newborn survival. This study examined perceptions regarding antenatal health seeking behaviors from pregnant women, their families, community members, and health care providers in rural Amhara, Ethiopia. Methods the study was conducted in four rural districts of the Amhara region of Ethiopia. A total of forty participants who were living and working within the catchment areas of the selected health centres were interviewed from October 3rd through October 14th, 2018. A phenomenological qualitative study design was used to understand participants’ perceptions and experiences about pregnant women's health care seeking behaviors. Results early disclosure of pregnancy status was not common in the study area. However, the data from the present study further provided new information, suggesting that some women did disclose their pregnancy status early but preferentially only to their partners and close relatives. Most women did not seek care unless sick or experienced new discomfort or pain. Some reasons for the low utilization of available antenatal services include long distance to health facilities, lack of transportation, difficult topography, and discomfort with male providers. Conclusion despite the rapid expansion of health posts and deployment of health extension workers since 2003, there are still critical barriers to accessing facility-based care that limit women’s health care seeking practices.
Comparison of Different Types of Palatal Expanders: Scoping Review

Maxillary bone contraction is caused by genetics or ambiental factors and is often accompanied by dental crowding, with the possibility of canine inclusion, crossbite, class II and III malocclusion, temporomandibular joint disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS). Transverse maxillary deficits, in which the maxillary growth is unusually modest, are frequently treated with maxillary expansion. The purpose of this study is to compare the dental and skeletal effects of different types of expanders, particularly the Leaf Expander, rapid and slow dental-anchored or skeletal-anchored maxillary expanders. Methods: We chose studies that compared effects determined by palatal expansion using a rapid palatal expander, expander on palatal screws, and leaf expander. Results: Reports assessed for eligibility are 26 and the reports excluded were 11. A final number of 15 studies were included in the review for qualitative analysis. Conclusions: Clinically and radiographically, the outcomes are similar to those obtained with RME and SME appliances; Therefore, it might be a useful treatment choice as an alternative to RME/SME equipment in cases of poor patient compliance or specific situations. Finally, all of the devices studied produce meaningful skeletal growth of the palate. The use of skeletally anchored devices does, without a doubt, promote larger and more successful growth in adolescent patients.
Combination Therapy with Trastuzumab and Niraparib: Quantifying Early Proliferative Alterations in HER2+ Breast Cancer Models

HER2–targeted treatments have improved survival rates in HER2+ breast cancer patients, yet poor responsiveness remains a major clinical obstacle. Recently, HER2+ breast cancer cells, both resistant and responsive to HER2–targeted therapies, have demonstrated sensitivity to poly–(ADP–ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition, independent of DNA repair deficiencies. This study seeks to describe biological factors that precede cell viability changes in response to the combination of trastuzumab and PARP inhibition. Treatment response was evaluated in HER2+ and HER2– breast cancer cells. Further, we evaluated the utility of 3′–Deoxy–3′–[18F]–fluorothymidine positron emission tomography ([18F]FLT–PET) imaging for early response assessment in a HER2+ patient derived xenograft (PDX) model of breast cancer. In vitro, we observed decreased cell viability. In vivo, we observed decreased inhibition in tumor growth in combination therapies, compared to vehicle and monotherapy–treated cohorts. Early assessment of cellular proliferation corresponds to endpoint cell viability. Standard summary statistics of [18F]FLT uptake from PET were insensitive to early proliferative changes. Meanwhile, histogram analysis of [18F]FLT uptake indicated the potential translatability of imaging proliferation biomarkers. This study highlights the potential of combined trastuzumab and PARP inhibition in HER2+ breast cancer, while demonstrating a need for optimization of [18F]FLT–PET quantification in heterogeneous models of HER2+ breast cancer.
Cellular immune response of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in kidney transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Evidence has demonstrated inferior humoral immune responses after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in kidney transplant recipients compared to the general population. However, data on cellular immune responses in this population have not been established. Methods We searched the MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases and included studies reporting cellular immune response rates in kidney transplant recipients after receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Studies that reported factors associated with cellular immune responders or non-responders were also included (PROSPERO: CRD42022375544). Results From a total of 1,494 articles searched, 53 articles were included in the meta-analysis. In all, 21 studies assessed cellular immune response by interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (IFN-γ ELISPOT), 22 studies used interferon-γ release assay (IGRA), and 10 studies used flow cytometric analysis. The pooled response rate after two doses (standard regimen) and three doses of vaccination was 47.5% (95%CI 38.4-56.7%) and 69.1% (95%CI 56.3-80.6%) from IFN-γ ELISPOT, 25.8% (95%CI 19.7-32.4%) and 14.7% (95%CI 8.5-22.2%) from IGRA, and 73.7% (95%CI 55.2-88.8%) and 86.5% (95%CI 75.3-94.9%) from flow cytometry, respectively. Recipients with seroconversion were associated with a higher chance of having cellular immune response (OR 2.58; 95%CI 1.89-3.54). Cellular immune response in kidney transplant recipients was lower than in dialysis patients (OR 0.24; 95%CI 0.16-0.34) and the general population (OR 0.10; 95%CI 0.07-0.14). Age and immunosuppressants containing tacrolimus or corticosteroid were associated with inferior cellular immune response. Conclusion Cellular immune response after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in kidney transplant recipients was lower than in dialysis patients and the general population. Age, tacrolimus, and corticosteroid were associated with poor response. Cellular immune response should also be prioritized in vaccination studies. Systematic review registration https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022375544.
Analysis of trends in extreme rainfall : a regional approach

Regional frequency analysis is often used to reduce the uncertainty in the estimation of distribution parameters and quantiles. In this paper a regional Peaks-Over-Threshold (POT) model is introduced that can be used to analyze precipitation extremes in a changing climate. We use a temporally varying threshold, which is determined by quantile regression for each site separately. The marginal distributions of the excesses are described by Generalized Pareto Distributions (GPDs). The parameters of these distributions may vary over time and their spatial variation is modeled by the Index Flood (IF) approach. We consider different models for the temporal dependence of the GPD parameters. Parameter estimation is based on the framework of composite likelihood. Composite likelihood ratio tests that account for spatial dependence are used to test the significance of temporal trends in the model parameters and to test the IF model. We apply the method to gridded, observed daily precipitation data from the Netherlands for the winter season. A general increase of the threshold is observed, especially along the west coast and northern parts of the country. Moreover, there is no indication that the ratio between the GPD scale parameter and the threshold has changed over time, which implies that the scale parameter increases by the same percentage as the threshold. These positive trends lead to an increase of rare extremes of on average 22% over the country during the observed period. This chapter is based on: M. Roth, T. A. Buishand, G. Jongbloed, A. M. G. Klein Tank, and J. H. van Zanten (2012): A regional peaks-over-threshold model in a nonstationary climate, Water Resources Research, 48, W11533, doi:10.1029/2012WR012214.
CONTROVERSIES IN THE ROLE OF WRITTEN CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK IN L2 WRITING

Truscott has strongly opposed the use of written corrective feedback in second-language writing classes. According to Truscott, written corrective feedback generates pseudo-learning that has a significant impact on the L2 development of learners. In response, experts in Second Language Acquisition and Second Language Writing addressed his argument. This paper examines the debates surrounding the function of written corrective feedback in L2 writing.
Exploring Employees’ Adoption of Sustainable Development Practices in Online Distance Learning Higher Education Institutions: Theory of Planned Behavior

This study examines the implementation of sustainable development practices among employees in online distance-learning higher education institutions. It investigates the underlying principles of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and its application in comprehending the factors that impact sustainable behavior. The study assesses the direct and indirect correlations among variables of leadership styles, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, organizational commitment, intention, and the adoption of sustainable practices. The research sample comprises 392 individuals who participated by completing a survey questionnaire. Employing a causal-effect relationship design, the study employs Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) as the analytical technique. The results indicate that individual aspects, specifically attitudes and perceived behavioral control, significantly influence the intention to embrace sustainable practices. Additionally, the study emphasizes the influential role of
The application and progress of stem cells in auricular cartilage regeneration: a systematic review

Background: The treatment of microtia or acquired ear deformities by surgery is a significant challenge for plastic and ENT surgeons; one of the most difficult points is constructing the scaffold for auricular reconstruction. As a type of cell with multiple differentiation potentials, stem cells play an essential role in the construction of cartilage scaffolds, and therefore have received widespread attention in ear reconstructive research. Methods: A literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles between 2005 and 2023 with the following keywords: stem cells; auricular cartilage; ear cartilage; conchal cartilage; auricular reconstruction, regeneration, and reparation of chondrocytes; tissue engineering in the following databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Ovid. Results: Thirty-three research articles were finally selected and their main characteristics were summarized. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs), perichondrial stem/progenitor cells (PPCs), and cartilage stem/progenitor cells (CSPCs) were mainly used in chondrocyte regeneration. Injecting the stem cells into the cartilage niche directly, co-culturing the stem cells with the auricular cartilage cells, and inducing the cells in the chondrogenic medium in vitro were the main methods that have been demonstrated in the studies. The chondrogenic ability of these cells was observed in vitro, and they also maintained good elasticity and morphology after implantation in vivo for a period of time. Conclusion: ADSC, BMMSC, PPC, and CSPC were the main stem cells that have been researched in craniofacial cartilage reconstruction, the regenerative cartilage performed highly similar to normal cartilage, and the test of AGA and type II collagen content also proved the cartilage property of the neo-cartilage. However, stem cell reconstruction of the auricle is still in the initial stage of animal experiments, transplantation with such scaffolds in large animals is still lacking, and there is still a long way to go.