Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cannabidiol and Cannabigerol Inhibit Cholangiocarcinoma Growth In Vitro via Divergent Cell Death Pathways

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare and highly lethal disease with few effective treatment options. Cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) are non-psychedelic components extracted from cannabis. These non-psychoactive compounds have shown anti-proliferative potential in other tumor models; however, the efficacy of CBD and CBG in CCA is unknown. Furthermore, two cell death pathways are implicated with CBD resulting in autophagic degeneration and CBG in apoptosis. HuCC-T1 cells, Mz-ChA-1 cells (CCA cell lines) and H69 cells (immortalized cholangiocytes), were treated with CBD and CBG for 24 to 48 h. The influence of these cannabinoids on proliferation was assessed via MTT assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle were evaluated via Annexin-V apoptosis assay and propidium iodide, respectively. The expression of proliferation biomarker Ki-67, apoptosis biomarker BAX, and autophagic flux biomarkers LC3b and LAMP1 were evaluated via immunofluorescence. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated via wound healing assay and trans-well migration invasion assays, respectively. The colony formation was evaluated via colony formation assay. In addition, the expression of autophagy gene LC3b and apoptosis genes BAX, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3 were evaluated via Western blot. CBD and CBG are non-selective anti-proliferative agents yielding similar growth curves in CCA; both cannabinoids are effective, yet CBG is more active at lower doses. Low doses of CBD and CBG enhanced immortalized cholangiocyte activity. The reduction in proliferation begins immediately and occurs maximally within 24 h of treatment. Moreover, a significant increase in the late-stage apoptosis and a reduction in the number of cells in S stage of the cell cycle indicates both CBD and CBG treatment could promote apoptosis and inhibit mitosis in CCA cells. The fluorescent expression of BAX and LC3b was significantly enhanced with CBD treatment when compared to control. LAMP1 and LC3b colocalization could also be observed with CBD and CBG treatment indicating changes in autophagic flux. A significant inhibition of migration, invasion and colony formation ability was shown in both CBD and CBG treatment in CCA. Western blot showed an overall decrease in the ratio of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 with respect to pro-apoptotic protein BAX with CBG treatment. Furthermore, CBD treatment enhanced the expression of Type II cell death (autophagic degeneration) protein LC3b, which was reduced in CBG-treated CCA cells. Meanwhile, CBG treatment upregulated Type I cell death (programmed apoptosis) protein cleaved caspase-3. CBD and CBG are effective anti-cancer agents against CCA, capable of inhibiting the classic hallmarks of cancer, with a divergent mechanism of action (Type II or Type I respectively) in inducing these effects.
Outcome of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) During Peripartum Period: A Hospital-Based Observational Study

Objective: 1. To study the clinical profile, progression and outcome of GBS during peripartum period in a tertiary care hospital. 2. To identify the determinants of outcome in GBS during peripartum period. Background: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an acute, autoimmune disorder of the peripheral nervous system triggered by a bacterial or viral infection or other antecedent events. Modern day critical care has dramatically improved the outcome of GBS. GBS during pregnancy is rare with an annual incidence of 2.8/100,000 population. Pregnancy itself is a life-threatening condition and full of complications. GBS during pregnancy makes its more complicated in terms of both maternal and fetal care during peripartum period. Methods: This was a prospective study conducted by the Department of Neurology, Gauhati Medical College including 36 patients of GBS presenting during peripartum period in between December 2019 and November 2021. Their clinical and electrophysiological features were analyzed. Hughes grading, EGRIS, mEGOS, MRC sum score were used. The fetal outcome was observed and patients were followed up for GBS outcome at 3 months and 6 months. Results: The mean age of patients was 25.97 years. AIDP was the most common subtype found in 21 (58.33%) patients followed by AMAN in 7 (19.4%), AMSAN in 3 (8.33%). In 3 cases NCS was equivocal and in 3 cases inexcitable. Respiratory distress was found in 13 (36.1%) cases, out of which 4 (11.1%) required mechanical ventilation and 1 (2.8%) died. The pre-term birth rate and stillbirth rate were 35.7% (n = 10) and 8.33% (n = 3), respectively with 66.7% (n = 24) spontaneous vaginal delivery(SVD). At 3 month 26 (72.2%) had complete recovery. 5 (13.9%) and 4 (11.1%) had partial and poor recovery, respectively. 78.9% of primigravidae had complete recovery in comparison to 64.7% in multigravidae indicating better outcome in primigravidae in this study. Conclusion: The outcome of GBS during peripartum period is favorable. Primigravidae are more commonly affected but have better outcome than the multigravidae. The risk of developing GBS in pregnancy decreases significantly after delivery and is minimal after 2 weeks. GBS is not an indication for LSCS. Stillbirth rate and preterm birth rate is higher in pregnancy associated with GBS without fearsome neonatal complications.
The Influence of Working Conditions on Teachers` Job Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Bukombe District, Geita Region, Tanzania

The study examined the influence of working conditions on teachers' job performance in public secondary schools in Bukombe District, Geita Region- Tanzania. The objectives of the study were: to examine the extent to which remuneration contributes to teachers' job performance in public secondary schools, to explore the role of school physical facilities on teachers' job performance and to find out the effect of workload on teachers' job performance in Bukombe District. Motivational/Hygiene and Maslow's Hierarchy of needs theories were adopted in this study. The study employed a mixed research approach based convergent parallel research design. The researcher used simple random and purposive sampling techniques to select a sample of 88 respondents. The reliability of the instrument was computed through the split-half method, while content validity and face validity were done in quantitative data and the trustworthiness of qualitative instruments was done through methods of triangulation. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data with the aid of SPSS version 20. Qualitative analysis of data was done through thematic analysis. The study established that working conditions which include remuneration, school physical facilities, and workload, have a significant contribution to teachers' job performance. The study concluded that working conditions such as remuneration, school facilities, and workload affects teachers' ability to perform their duties effectively. The researchers recommended that the government should ensure that teachers working conditions are improved in return, this will improve their morale
Learner variables in the development of intercultural competence: A synthesis of home and study abroad research

To provide insights into a wide array of individual learner variables implicated in intercultural education in home and study abroad contexts, this study systematically reviewed the effects of such variables on the development of intercultural competence. The corpus consisted of 56 journal articles published over the past two decades (2000-2020). The purpose of this study was to explore: (a) learner variables that were described in research on intercultural competence, including, inter alia, their age, gender, first language (L1) background, proficiency level, and attitudinal orientations; (b) settings in which learners’ intercultural development was studied, including both home contexts and study abroad contexts; and (c) effects of learner variables on the development of their intercultural competence. The results of this synthesis indicate that a growing number of studies have started to document intercultural instruction in both home and study abroad contexts. They show how learner variables were considered in conducting these studies and how variation in these variables impacted the effectiveness of instruction that targeted intercultural competence. The findings can considerably broaden our understanding of both opportunities and constraints in intercultural education in terms of learner variables and in particular variables that make the most contribution to intercultural development in home and study abroad contexts.
Charting the river: a case study of English language teaching in Bangladesh

11 Chapter One: Introduction . 13 Purpose of the study . 14 Methodological approach . 17 My personal and professional experiences in the field . 18 The context of Bangladesh . 19 Economy . 20 Urban and rural . 21 Overview of the education system in Bangladesh . 24 ICT in Education . 27 Shortage of skilled workers . 28 Test-driven education system . 28 English Curriculum at Secondary level . 32 English Curriculum reform . 32 Teaching loads . 33 Private tuition . 34 Foreign dependency . 35 Research that addresses English teaching in the Bangladeshi context . 35 Chapter Two: Methodology . 44 Emergent design . 46 A case study . 47
Educational Robotics Intervention to Foster Computational Thinking in Preschoolers: Effects of Children’s Task Engagement

Computational thinking (CT) is a broadly used term in education to refer to the cognitive processes underlying the application of computer science concepts and strategies of problem-solving. Recent literature has pointed out the value of children acquiring computational thinking skills (i.e., understanding and applying concepts, such as conditionals, iteration, or generalization), especially while learning STEM subjects. Robotics has been used as a tool to introduce computational thinking and STEM knowledge to children. As physical objects, robots have been proposed as developmentally appropriate for the early childhood setting, promoting motivation and allowing young learners to represent abstract ideas in a concrete setting. This study presents a novel educational robotics (ER) intervention using RoboTito, a robot programmable through tangible elements in its environment designed for kindergarteners. We used a quasi-experimental design with an active control group. In addition, we conducted a structured observation of the filmed material of the sessions to gather data on children’s attention and motivation throughout the activities. Fifty-one children (male = 33; mean age = 66 months, SD = 5.49 months) attending level 5 (kindergarten) at a Uruguayan public school participated in the study. Children in our experimental condition participated in an intervention programming RoboTito using tangible elements, while children in our control condition played with the robot through sensory-motor activities using a remote control and did not engage in programming. Motivational and attentional factors were assessed through video-recorded sessions of the ER activities. Four trained observers blind to the experimental conditions participated in the coding. Children’s interactions were assessed in four categories: task engagement, distractibility, oral participation, and objective fulfillment. Our results suggest children’s task engagement mediated their gains in CT after the intervention; post-hoc Tukey contrasts revealed non-significant pre-test to post-test gains for the control and low engagement groups, and significant for the high engagement group. Overall, we conclude task engagement played a central role in children’s learning gains and our robotics intervention was successful in promoting CT for engaged children. We discuss the practical implications of our results for early childhood education and developmentally appropriate ER targeted for young learners.
Severe Radiation-Induced Lymphopenia Affects the Outcomes of Esophageal Cancer: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Simple Summary Radiotherapy is as an important part of esophageal cancer (EC) treatment. However, it often causes severe radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the influence of severe RIL on the outcomes of EC. A systematic review and meta-analysis including 17 studies was performed. Our meta-analysis found that severe RIL was associated with a lower pathologic complete response rate and inferior overall survival and progression-free survival of EC patients. The lymphocyte nadir was found during 4–6 weeks after the start of radiotherapy. A series of dosimetric factors and clinical factors associated with RIL were summarized. Our results provide important evidence for the clinical application of radiotherapy. Minimizing the dosimetric risk factors, especially in patients with clinical risk factors, might benefit their outcomes. Our results might also offer clues for the strategy of combining radiotherapy and immunotherapy in EC patients. Abstract The aim of the current study was to evaluate the influence of severe radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) on the outcomes of esophageal cancer (EC). A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed through the PRISMA guideline. Seventeen studies were included in the current systematic review, with eight included in the meta-analyses. Meta-analyses found that severe RIL was associated with lower pathologic complete response (pCR) rate (odds ratio (OR) = 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.30–0.66, I2 = 0%), inferior overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.29–1.75, I2 = 6%), and worse progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.39–2.07, I2 = 0%) of EC patients. The lymphocyte nadir was found during 4–6 weeks after the start of radiotherapy. The leading dosimetric factors associated with severe RIL included larger PTV, higher dose to heart and body, and higher effective dose to the immune cells (EDIC). Clinical risk factors for RIL mainly comprised lower baseline ALC, higher tumor length and clinical stage, and distal EC. In conclusion, severe RIL might be associated with a lower pCR rate and worse OS and PFS of EC patients. Minimizing the dosimetric risk factors, especially in patients with clinical risk factors, might benefit their outcomes.
RECONSIDERING INDIVIDUALS’ COMPETENCIES IN BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS TOWARD PROCESS EFFECTIVENESS: MEDIATION-MODERATION MODEL

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of individuals’ competencies in business intelligence (BI) and analytics (BA) on process effectiveness (PE). Moreover, to investigate the mediating role of user participation (UP) and the moderating role of gender in this relationship. An empirical analysis based on survey data was conducted. A sample of 215 middle and upper management levels from SMEs located in Jordan was surveyed to collect the data. Structural equation modelling through partial least squares-multi group analysis (PLS-MGA) is used to analyze the data. The results support the direct positive impact of individuals’ competencies in business intelligence (BA) and business analytics (BA). Moreover, user participation has been found to mediate this relationship. Additionally, the results showed that gender moderates the relationship between individuals’ competencies in business intelligence (BI) and analytics (BA) on process effectiveness (PE). The findings improve the understanding of the needed individuals’ competencies in business intelligence (BI) and analytics (BA) that affect process effectiveness (PE). This will help develop and arrange strategies that increase individuals’ competencies in business intelligence (BI) and analytics (BA) among employees. Furthermore, managers and owners should put plans for strategies to augment confidence amongst female employees.
Investigating the place of religion within the professional identity construction of two Muslim English language teachers in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Whereas the topic of “Religion” has garnered considerable scholarly attention in the general education literature, its place within TESOL circles has long been contentious. It is only recently that the religious dimension of the TESOL profession and professionals has seen the light of day. Yet, even when the literature in ELT does engage with these issues, it mostly investigates links between evangelical Christianity and ELT. The relationship between other religions [e.g., Islam] and English language education remains remarkably underexplored . This qualitative multiple case study is an endeavor to address this scholarly gap as it investigates the place of religion within the professional identity construction of two male Saudi Muslim English language teachers in Saudi Arabia. By drawing on in-depth interviews as the primary source of data, and following the principles of an abductive content analysis approach, the study illuminates that Islam was central to the participants’ professional identities in three significant ways, namely: (1) supporting their wellbeing, (2) shaping their relationships with students, and (3) providing them with a sense of duty to safeguard students’ religious values. The study concludes with both theoretical and pedagogical implications as well as future research directions.
Determination of Moisture and Protein Content in Living Mealworm Larvae (Tenebrio molitor L.) Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS)

Simple Summary Insects are increasingly becoming a new protein source for animal feed and human food. Spectroscopic methods, such as near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy, represent a non-destructive and rapid technique that can be applied to perform an online analysis in chemical composition. The aim of the research was to determine the moisture and protein content of living mealworm larvae using near-infrared spectroscopy as a new technique in analyzing nutritional changes. The prediction results of the near-infrared reflectance measurements of living mealworm larvae are presented in this study. The moisture and protein content of the larvae could be predicted with high accuracy and were specifically manipulated by using different water sources (pure water and carrots) and amounts and varying humidity. It was also determined that the larvae can be optimally provided with pure water as well as carrots. High humidity led to faster growth and a higher final weight, which has a positive effect on reducing the time to harvest. This study can help insect producers to have the possibility to measure the composition of the larvae quickly and easily using near-infrared spectroscopy, modify larval composition with regard to water and protein content and improve rearing conditions in terms of water supply for mealworm larvae. Abstract Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor L.) are a sustainable source of protein for food and feed. This study represents a new approach in analyzing changes in the nutritional composition of mealworm larvae using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with multivariate analysis. The moisture and protein content of living larvae were scanned with a near-infrared spectrometer using wavelengths from 1100 to 2100 nm. Different feeding groups with varying moisture sources and amount and the difference between low (50%) and high (75%) humidity were tested, and the influence on larval moisture and protein content was measured. A calibration was developed, with modified partial least squares as the regression method. The NIR spectra were influenced by the moisture and protein content of the larvae, because the absorbance values of the larval groups differed greatly. The coefficient of the determination of calibration (R2c) and prediction (R2p) were over 0.98 for moisture and over 0.94 for protein content. The moisture source and content also had a significant influence on the weight gain of the larvae. Consequently, significant differences in protein content could be determined, depending on the water supply available. With respect to wet weight, the larvae moisture content varied from 60 to 74% and protein content from 16 to 24%. This investigation revealed that with non-invasive NIRS online monitoring, the composition of insects can be continuously recorded and evaluated so that specific feeding can be carried out in the course of larval development and composition.
COVID-19 induced national lockdown and income inequality: evidence from Pakistan

ABSTRACT COVID-19 posits two risks to developing countries. On the one hand, growing COVID-19 cases exposed the vulnerabilities of the already debilitating health sector, while, on the other hand, policies to control the spread of COVID-19 can exasperate economic disparities. In this article, we examine one such policy response to control the spread of COVID-19 by the Government of Pakistan, the National Lockdown. This study assesses a plausible impact of this policy response on income equality across Pakistan. By exploiting a nationally representative household survey, it is observed that COVID-19 induced national lockdown is associated with increased income inequality in Pakistan. Our estimates show that about a 16 percent increase in income differences between the top 10 and the bottom 10 percent of the population could be associated with national lockdowns. Gini Coefficient also indicates an up to 3 percent increase in inequality after lockdown. At the disaggregated level, the suggestive evidence shows that inequality has increased within the urban population. Interestingly, the lockdown has also increased the inequality within occupations that can be managed remotely from home.
Molecular Mechanisms for Genomic and Chromosomal Rearrangements 1

Thank you, Dave Valle, for that kind introduction and thanks to our Society for this terrific honor of theMcKusick Leadership Award, which has very special meaning coming from the Society in which I grew up professionally. Experiential advice for the students, postdocs, and junior faculty that are present here today is that often some of your most important mentors are not at your institution, but rather sitting next to you here at the American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting; introduce yourself and get involved in your Society.
System-Driven B Cell Clonal Expansion Receptor-Triggered, Innate Immune A p53 Axis Regulates B Cell

Resting mature human B cells undergo a dynamic process of clonal expansion, followed by clonal contraction, during an in vitro response to surrogate C3d-coated Ag and innate immune system cytokines, IL-4 and BAFF. In this study, we explore the mechanism for clonal contraction through following the time- and division-inﬂuenced expression of several pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins within CFSE-labeled cultures. Several ﬁndings, involving both human and mouse B cells, show that a mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway involving p53 contributes to the high activation-induced cell death (AICD) susceptibility of replicating blasts. Activated B cell clones exhibit elevated p53 protein and elevated mRNA/protein of proapoptotic molecules known to be under direct p53 transcriptional control, Bax, Bad, Puma, Bid, and procaspase 6, accompanied by reduced anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Under these conditions, Bim levels were not increased. The ﬁnding that full-length Bid protein signiﬁcantly declines in AICD-susceptible replicating blasts, whereas Bid mRNA does not, suggests that Bid is actively cleaved to short-lived, proapoptotic truncated Bid. AICD was diminished, albeit not eliminated, by p53 small interfering RNA transfection, genetic deletion of p53, or Bcl-2 overexpression. DNA damage is a likely trigger for p53-dependent AICD because susceptible lymphoblasts expressed signiﬁcantly elevated levels of both phosphorylated ataxia telangiectasia mutated-Ser 1980 and phospho-H2AX-Ser 139 . Deﬁciency in activation-induced cytosine deaminase diminishes but does not ablate murine B cell AICD, indicating that activation-induced cytosine deaminase-induced