Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disrupted remapping of place cells and grid cells in knock-in model of Alzheimer’s disease

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) frequently suffer from spatial memory impairment and wandering behavior, but brain circuits causing such symptoms remain largely unclear. In healthy brains, spatially-tuned hippocampal place cells and entorhinal grid cells represent distinct spike patterns in different environments, a circuit function called “remapping” that underlies pattern separation of spatial memory. We investigated whether a knock-in manipulation to mutated amyloid precursor protein affects the remapping of place cells and grid cells. We found that the remapping of hippocampal place cells was severely disrupted although their spatial tuning was only mildly diminished. Entorhinal grid cells were severely impaired, sending disrupted remapping signals to the hippocampus. These results point to the link between grid cell impairment and remapping disruption as a circuit mechanism causing spatial memory impairment in AD.
Predictors of non-adherence to oral chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Overall survival for pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A.L.L.) treated with contemporary therapy now exceeds 85%; however, approximately 20% will experience relapse. Since A.L. L. is the most common malignancy in children, relapsed patients comprise a large proportion of the total number of children with cancer. The prognosis for long-term survival following relapse is generally poor; thus, relapsed A.L. L. is a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality in children. Poor adherence to oral medication is a substantial problem in contemporary health care and may contribute to unexplained relapses in children with A.L. L. Therapy for pediatric A.L. L. includes a prolonged “maintenance” phase that requires daily 6mercaptopurine (6MP), a selfor parent/caregiver-administered oral chemotherapy agent given for approximately two years. 6MP has been shown to be a critical component of the curative regimen for A.L. L. ; thus, children with A.L. L. who fail to adhere to oral 6MP chemotherapy as prescribed may be at increased risk of leukemia relapse. This study used extant questionnaire data from a cohort of children with A.L. L enrolled on a Children’s Oncology Group study (AALL03N1) to determine the prevalence of self/parent-reported non-adherence to oral 6MP during the maintenance phase of A.L. L. therapy, and to identify sociodemographic and behavioral predictors of non-adherence to oral 6MP. Twenty-two percent of children in the cohort were non-adherent to oral chemotherapy, defined as missing more than one dose of 6MP for non-medical reasons over the 112-day observation period. The risk of non-adherence was significantly
"THERAPY - IT'S A TWO-WAY THING" WOMEN SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE DESCRIBE THEIR THERAPY EXPERIENCES

This thesis gives a voice to women who have been sexually abused and subsequently received therapy. It contributes to the scarce international literature on evaluations of therapy by women survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA). It is hoped that policies and clinical practices for survivors of CSA will be improved as a result of this research. The study was advertized in the general public to women survivors of CSA who were over the age of 20, who had had at least five therapy sessions but were not currently in therapy. One hundred and ninety-one women completed a postal questionnaire that included open and closed questions about their CSA and disclosure experiences and about what they found helpful and unhelpful in therapy. Twenty respondents took part in follow-up interviews of up to two hours. Themes from the questionnaires and the interviews were analysed using EpiInfo6 and the data management tool NVivo. The majority of participants (91%) experienced CSA to the level of genital contact, or attempted penetration or penetration. Participants took over 16 years on average to disclose the CSA. The majority of participants (86%) reported that, overall, therapy was either somewhat or very helpful. Participants who had over 50 sessions of therapy were significantly more likely to report improved emotional well-being compared with those who had 50 sessions or less. Obstacles to participants gaining sufficient therapy for their needs included the cost of therapy and/or a restricted number of therapy hours subsidized by ACC. Participants reported that helpful therapy included a supportive, interactive therapy relationship with a therapist who was knowledgeable about the dynamics and effects of CSA and of abuse-focused therapy. Acknowledgement, understanding, normalisation and assistance to talk about the CSA and work through the effects on their lives were valued. Unhelpful therapy included a therapy relationship where the therapist was not affectively available or knowledgeable about the dynamics and effects of CSA. Therapists who were unable to support participants to talk about the CSA and work through the effects on their lives were criticized. There were also a few examples of harmful practices. The limitations of the study are the lack of a control group, the fact that participants were self-selected and the retrospective nature of their reports. It was concluded that most therapists were doing an effective job in difficult circumstances. However, some therapists need to develop a more open therapeutic relationship that would allow clients to give feedback about the impact of the therapy.
Evaluation of Acute Phase Proteins, Some Cytokines and Hemostatic Parameters in Dogs with Sepsis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations in acute phase proteins, cytokines and hemostatic parameters in dogs with sepsis and to determine the importance of these parameters in diagnosis of the sepsis. Thirty dogs with sepsis and 9 healthy dogs were used in this study. Anorexia, depression, lethargy, hyperthermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, congestion in the mucosal membranes, prolonged capillary refill time, and leukocytosis or leucopenia were identified in the dogs with sepsis. The serum interleukin-1s (IL-1s), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interferon γ (INF-γ), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), antithrombin III (AT III), fibrinogen, protein C (PC), and D-dimer levels were measured in all dogs. We found that the serum IL-1s, TNF-α, INF-γ, CRP and SAA concentrations were significantly elevated in dogs with sepsis as compared with healthy controls. In addition, the plasma PT and APTT levels were notably prolonged, the plasma fibrinogen, D-dimers and protein C concentrations were significantly increased. However, the antithrombin III activity was significantly decreased in the dogs with sepsis. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that the SAA, IL-1s and TNF-α parameters play important roles in the inflammatory process in dogs with sepsis. The hemostatic abnormalities observed in dogs with sepsis may be due to the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
A New Baenid Turtle, Saxochelys gilberti, gen. et sp. nov., from the Uppermost Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation: Sexual Dimorphism and Spatial Niche Partitioning within the Most Speciose Group of Late Cretaceous Turtles

ABSTRACT The uppermost Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation in North America has yielded a diverse assemblage of fossil turtles dominated by baenids. A population of over 30 individual skeletons from the Hell Creek Formation of North Dakota comprises a new baenid turtle, Saxochelys gilberti, increasing the number of recognized Hell Creek turtles to at least 26, 11 of which are baenids. Saxochelys gilberti is differentiated from all other baenids based on the presence of a nuchal scale, finely sculptured shell, absence of an omega-shaped femoral-anal sulcus, presence of an omega-shaped extragular-humeral sulcus, a cavum tympani that is relatively smaller than the diameter of the orbit, presence of a robust single scale on the posteromedial portion of the parietals, and jugal exclusion from the orbital margin. Two distinct plastral morphologies, concave (N = 8) and flat (N = 9), are interpreted as representing male and female individuals, respectively. A ca. 10% size difference between the sexes indicates that S. gilberti is a sexually size-dimorphic turtle with larger females. This suggests female mate choice in this baenid turtle. A referred S. gilberti skeleton from above the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary provides evidence for the survival of yet another species of turtle across this extinction event. The type locality of S. gilberti is close both stratigraphically and geographically to another locality consisting of a completely different assortment of baenid species, suggesting a fine degree of spatial niche partitioning in baenid turtles that may help explain the extremely high diversity of the group within the Hell Creek Formation.
Characterization and Immobilization of A Novel Hyaluronidase Produced By Streptomyces roseofulvus

M AXIMUM hyaluronidase production by Streptomyces roseofulvus S10 (LC314796) was attained when it was cultured in submerged fermentation process under favorable conditions, pH 5 at 40oC for 6 days. Hyaluronidase was purified to its homogeneity by 9.2 fold with molecular weight of 97kDa under denaturing SDS- PAGE. Mg+2 exerted highly stimulatory effect on S. roseofulvus S10 hyaluronidase activity and was significantly reduced in presence of Mn+2, Zn+2, and EDTA. Optimum reaction was attained at pH 9 and the pH stability of enzyme ranged between 9-10 at 35°C. To protect the intrinsic activity and half-time of hyaluronidase, several carriers and immobilization of hyaluronidase were investigated. The immobilized enzyme had higher thermal stability than free one with Tm values; 46.1°C and 24.7°C, respectively. Maximum affinity of free and immobilized hyaluronidase was for hyaluronic acid followed by bovine albumin. Free enzyme had a high catalytic affinity of hyaluronic acid compared with immobilized enzyme. Our results demonstrated that S. roseofulvus S10 hyaluronidase was highly stable to pH and high temperature. These properties of long-term stability facilitate its wide range of applications.
Determinantes da mortalidade neonatal e pós-neonatal no Município de São Paulo

INTRODUCTION: Child Mortality (mortality of children less than five years) has declined considerably in the developing world in the 1990s, but the Infant Mortality has declined less. Therefore, to further reduce child mortality it is important to understand the determinants of neonatal and post-neonatal mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We probabilistically matched 209628 live births and 3842 infant death records from the City of Sao Paulo, birth cohort of 1998. Data came from SINASC and SIM. We then used logistic regression to analyze the following risk factors of neonatal and post-neonatal mortality: birth weight, gestational age, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, delivery mode, plurality, sex, maternal education, maternal age, number of prior losses, prenatal care, race, parity and community development. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Infants of older mothers were less likely to die in the neonatal period; infants of adolescent mothers were more likely to die in both periods. Parities four or higher increased the likelihood of post-neonatal death. Cesarean delivery was not found to be associated with infant mortality. Low number of prenatal care visits, low birth weight, preterm birth and low Apgar scores were associated with neonatal death; Low number of prenatal care visits, low birth weight, and low Apgar scores were associated with post-neonatal death. Finally, having a mother live in a highest developed community decreased the likelihood of infant death, suggesting that unmeasured factors are behind such association.
Genotype x environment interaction analysis of multi-environment wheat trials in India using AMMI and GGE biplot models

Fifty wheat genotypes were evaluated at nine diverse locations in India to identify high-yielding and stable genotypes. The analysis of variance based on additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) indicated significant genotype, environment and genotype environment (GE) interactions, with a total variation of 5.99, 20.23 and 73.77%, respectively. A biplot-AMMI analysis and yield stability index incorporating the AMMI stability value and yield in a single non-parametric index were used to discriminate the genotypes with highest and stable yield; the genotypes G135, G125, G104, G112 and G144 were found to be promising. Two mega environments (ME) were identified based on GGE (genotype and GE interaction) biplot analysis and the genotypes G119 and G120 and G107, G148 and G146 performed best in the mega-environments ME I and ME II, respectively. Both approaches allowed the identification of stable genotypes (G112 and G135), which can be included in the national testing program, with a view to release a new variety.
Prevalence of Bovine Demodicosisin Gondar Zuria District, Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted commencing from September 2011 to April, 2012in Gondar Zuria District, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia to determine the effect and the prevalence of bovine demodicosis. A total of 206 cattle were examined and skin scrapings were used for samples. SPSS version 19 was used for chi-square test and P-values 0.05) even 2 though the highest prevalence was observed from those greater than 3 years old, 26 (18.43 %) while the lowest, 5 (10 %) in those 1 up to 3 years old cattle. However, there was a statistically insignificant variation detected between sexes (x =3.372; p >0.05) even if it was higher in female, 23 (17.82%) than male, 9 (11.68 %). 2 Likewise, there was statistically insignificant variation detected among the different sites of infestation (x =1.398; p >0.05). However, the highest prevalence were found on shoulder and neck, 14 (6.79 %), 6(2.91) 2 respectively while the lowest on the back and forelimb (0.48 %). Higher prevalence was observed on cattle taken from semi-intensive 12 (22.22%) than extensive 20 (13.15%) management systems. In conclusion the highest overall prevalence (15.5%) of Demodexbovis infestation was recorded. This indicates that despite many eff9.orts were tried to study infectious diseases prevalence in the study area, demodicosis has been given lesser attention to be treated as a separate health problem. Therefore, preventive measures should be undertaken rather than treating demodicosis.
The transcriptional landscape of plasmacytoid dendritic cell differentiation

This project employs total mRNA sequencing to define the transcriptional networks that control murine plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) differentiation. A member of the Fox familiy of transcription factors was identified as a novel putative regulator of DC differentiation, which was further investigated in vitro using a loss of function approach. In addition, toll-like receptor stimulation triggered a pDC specific activation program in precursors and accelerated their differentiation.
Relationship Between Fire and Forest Cover Loss in Riau Province, Indonesia Between 2001 and 2012

Forest and peatland fires occur regularly across Indonesia, resulting in large greenhouse gas emissions and causing major air quality issues. Over the last few decades, Indonesia has also experienced extensive forest loss and conversion of natural forest to oil palm and timber plantations. Here we used data on fire hotspots and tree-cover loss, as well as information on the extent of peat land, protected areas, and concessions to explore spatial and temporal relationships among forest, forest loss, and fire frequency. We focus on the Riau Province in Central Sumatra, one of the most active regions of fire in Indonesia. We find strong relationships between forest loss and fire at the local scale. Regions with forest loss experienced six times as many fire hotspots compared to regions with no forest loss. Forest loss and maximum fire frequency occurred within the same year, or one year apart, in 70% of the 1 km2 cells experiencing both forest loss and fire. Frequency of fire was lower both before and after forest loss, suggesting that most fire is associated with the forest loss process. On peat soils, fire frequency was a factor 10 to 100 lower in protected areas and natural forest logging concessions compared to oil palm and wood fiber (timber) concessions. Efforts to reduce fire need to address the underlying role of land-use and land-cover change in the occurrence of fire. Increased support for protected areas and natural forest logging concessions and restoration of degraded peatlands may reduce future fire risk. During times of high fire risk, fire suppression resources should be targeted to regions that are experiencing recent forest loss, as these regions are most likely to experience fire.
Ecology, phylogeny, and the evolution of developmental duration in birds

The duration of the developmental period represents a fundamental axis of life history variation in animals, yet broad insights regarding the drivers of this diversity are currently lacking. Here using embryological data combined with information on incubation and fledging periods for 3096 species, we test key mechanistic and adaptive explanations for the evolutionary diversification of developmental durations in birds. First, using data on embryonic development for 20 model species, we show that developmental phases associated primarily with growth are longer and more variable than earlier phases, consistent with a role for allometric constraint in determining the duration of development. Second, using phylogenetic comparative methods, we find that avian developmental durations retain a strong imprint of deep evolutionary history, and that after accounting for these effects, body size differences among species explain less variation (5-22%) in developmental period lengths than previously thought. Finally, by collecting data for a suite of potential explanatory variables, our analyses reveal broad-scale ecological correlates of developmental durations, including variables associated with the relative safety of the developmental environment (e.g. nest height, insularity) and pressures of breeding phenology (e.g. migration). Overall, our results reveal that the combined effects of species’ body size, ecology, and phylogenetic history can account for 62-93% of the variation in developmental durations across birds, providing broad-scale quantitative insight into the relative importance of mechanistic constraints, adaptive evolution and evolutionary constraints in shaping the diversification of this key life-history trait.
The ownership and clinical use of smartphones by doctors and nurses in the UK: a multicentre survey study

Background Much interest has arisen around the use of smartphones, tablet devices and related apps in the healthcare context. It has been suggested that increasing numbers of healthcare professionals are using these technologies in the workplace. We have performed an up-to-date UK-based, multicentre, cross-sectional survey study exploring the ownership rates and uses of these technologies among doctors and nurses, specifically focusing on the clinical environment. Methods After initial piloting, all doctors (n=2107) and nurses (n=4069) at 5 hospital sites were invited to complete a 36-item (nurses) or 38-item (doctors) survey. Exploratory descriptive statistics were calculated and the χ2 test was used to compare differences in categorical data between groups. Statistical significance was taken at a level of p<0.05. Results 98.9% of doctors and 95.1% of nurses owned a smartphone, while 73.5% and 64.7% owned a tablet device, respectively. Also, 92.6% of the doctors and 53.2% of nurses found their smartphone to be ‘very useful’ or ‘useful’ in helping them to perform their clinical duties, while 89.6% of doctors and 67.1% of nurses owning medical apps were using these as part of their clinical practice. Doctors and nurses were using short-message-script messaging (64.7% and 13.8%, respectively), app-based messaging (33.1% and 5.7%), and picture messaging (46.0% and 7.4%) (p=0.0001 for all modalities) to send patient-related clinical information to their colleagues. Therefore, 71.6% of doctors and 37.2% of nurses wanted a secure means of sending such information. Conclusions Compared to earlier studies, we have demonstrated much higher smartphone ownership among doctors and nurses, who perceive these devices to be useful when performing their clinical duties. Large numbers of staff are sending patient related clinical information using smartphone messaging modalities. Care must be taken by doctors and nurses to ensure that no identifiable patient data is transmitted in this way, and healthcare organisations must develop strategies and policies to support the safe and secure use of these technologies by front-line staff.
Coffee Pulp Waste as a Functional Ingredient: Effect on Salty Cookies Quality

Dry coffee pulp obtained from the residue of the wet processing of Coffea arabica was used as a source of antioxidant dietary fibre to develop “high in fibre” salty cookies. Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and ORAC) were quantified in cookies and physiological extracts from an in vitro digestion. Enriched cookies’ phenolic content (94.42 ± 1.00 mg GAE/30g) and ABTS antioxidant capacity (1168.58 ± 23.50 µmol TE/30g) were found to be significantly higher than those of control cookies, ORAC antioxidant capacity remained similar. Physiological extracts after in vitro digestion showed higher values of total phenolic content (191.53 ± 9.29 mg GAE/30g) and antioxidant capacity (5617.49 ± 211.87 µmol TE/portion in ABTS and 3362.60 ±262.58 µmol TE/portion in ORAC), which were also superior to the antioxidant characteristics of the physiological extracts of control cookies. Cookies were evaluated by consumers who rated the degree of liking on tasting the samples under blind and informed conditions. Results indicated that label had effect on consumers’ hedonic perception. Formulation of cookies with dry coffee pulp was successful; an acceptable product with functional properties was obtained.
Chemical composition of kidney stones obtained from a cohort of Sri Lankan patients

Introduction Evaluating the composition of kidney stones is important for the treatment and prevention of nephrolithiasis. Objectives The aims of our study were to determine the composition of the renal stones in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients and to compare the composition of staghorn calculi with non-staghorn calculi. Methods Kidney stones removed from adult patients were analysed using chemical methods. Patients residing in different climate zones of Sri Lanka were analysed separately and comparisons made. Results A total of 50 renal stones from adults (male: female = 2.6:1) were included in the study. There were 21 staghorn calculi. The male to female ratio among patients with staghorn calculi was 3.2:1. There was no statistically significant difference in distribution of staghorn calculi and non-staghorn calculi among males (p=0.17) and among females (p=0.06). Oxalate stones constituted 86% of renal stones. Ten percent were mixed stones. Phosphate and struvite calculi contributed 2% each. Even among staghorn calculi, 76% were oxalate stones. There was no statistically significant difference between contents of staghorn and non-staghorn calculi. The composition of stones in three climatic zones of Sri Lanka was similar except for phosphorus. Conclusion The majority of renal stones (86%) in Sri Lanka are calcium oxalate stones. Contrary to the traditional view based on studies done in the western world, only 5% of staghorn calculi removed from patients in Sri Lanka are struvite or infection stones. The Sri Lanka Journal of Surgery 2015; 33(2): 14-19