Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribuição das chuvas no município de Tangará da Serra, médio norte do Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil - doi: 10.4025/actasciagron.v33i2.5838

It is of great importance to know the rain distribution in the region of Tangara da Serra (latitude 14°37’55”S, longitude 57°28’05”W and altitude 488 m), as it is an agricultural region, which makes such information essential for an adequate planning, maximization of agricultural potential and optimization of hydric resources. Thus, this work was aimed at evaluating the annual, monthly and ten-day pluviometric variability, and also quantifying the number of dry and rainy days and different levels of rain probability for the region. Pluviometric data provided by ‘Agencia Nacional de Aguas’ (ANA) were used to analyze a period of 38 years (from January 1970 to December 2007). Precipitation behavior in Tangara da Serra has annual and monthly variations, constituting two well defined seasons – a dry one from May to September, and a rainy one from October to April. Annual variability during the analyzed period corresponds to the maximum value of 2,861, minimum of 1,404 and average of 1,830 mm, respectively. The incomplete gamma function adequately expresses precipitation probability in Tangara da Serra. Precipitation averages range from 40 to 50% probability for rainy months and from 30 to 40% for dry ones. According to the results, this type of research might help the elaboration and development of irrigation projects in this region.
Chronic Heart Failure in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Prior to Basic Antirheumatic Therapy

Aim. To study the clinical manifestations and factors associated with the presence of chronic heart failure (CHF) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prior to anti-inflammatory therapy. Material and methods. The study included 74 patients with valid diagnosis of RA (criteria ACR/EULAR, 2010), 56 women (74%), median age – 54 [46;61] years, disease duration – 7 [4;8] months; seropositive for IgM rheumatoid factor (87%) and/or antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (100%) prior to taking disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and glucocorticoids. CHF was verified in accordance with actual guidelines. The assessment of traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging, carotid artery ultrasound, were carried out before the start of therapy in all patients with early RA. The concentration of NT-proBNP was determined by electrochemiluminescence. The normal range for NT-proBNP was less than 125 pg/ml.Results. CHF was diagnosed in 24 (33%) patients: in 23 patients – CHF with preserved ejection fraction, in 1 patient – CHF with reduced ejection fraction. 50% of patients with RA under the age of 60 were diagnosed with CHF. NYHA class I was found in 5 (21%) patients, class II – in 15 (63%), class III – in 1 (4%). Positive predictive value of clinical symptoms did not exceed 38%. All patients with early RA were divided into two groups: 1 – with CHF, 2 – without CHF. Patients with RA+CHF compared with patients without CHF were older, had higher body mass index, frequency of carotid atherosclerosis, of ischemic heart disease (IHD), hypertension, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and intima media thickness. Independent factors associated with the presence of CHF were identified by linear regression analysis: abdominal obesity, CRP level, systolic blood pressure, dyslipidemia, carotid intima thickness, IHD. The multiple coefficient of determination was R2=57.1 (R-0.76, p<0.001). Level of NT-proBNP in RA patients with CHF (192.0 [154.9; 255.7] pg/ml) was higher than in RA patients without CHF (77 [41.1; 191.2] pg/ml) and in control (49.0 [33.2; 65.8] pg/ml), p<0.0001 and p=0.01, respectively. To exclude CHF in patients with early RA, the optimal NT-proBNP level was 150.4 pg/ml (sensitivity – 80%, specificity – 79%), the area under the ROC curve = 0.957 (95% confidence interval 0.913-1.002, p<0.001). Conclusion. CHF was detected in a third of RA patients at the early stage of the disease. Factors associated with the presence of CHF were abdominal obesity, CRP level, systolic blood pressure, dyslipidemia, intima media thickness, IHD.
Rehabilitation Hand Exercise System with Video Games

R ehabilitation hand exercises for stroke patients are continuing develop which assist with new technology. Some hospital still used manual coaches while exercising. Recent technology did discover assisted these activities with games and video are good for stroke patients to recover from the stroke. This paper presents a designed of game assists, motivates and helps stroke patients with hand movement problems. The game was interactively design with controllers and sensors for stroke patient rehabilitation process. A system consists of a controller that monitors the movement of hand by stroke patients is developed that interactively shows when patients handling games. It is embedded with heartbeat, hall and ultrasonic sensor to measure heartbeat rate, speed of hand movement and distances of hand pull from an object. A data analytics platform on SAS Viya is designed which presents real time data on heartbeat, speed, distance and movement of hands of the patient’s exercised. Data is collected by sensors and the results able to analyze the progress of stroke patients which able to view online on cloud platform. This research is significant for patients and medical officers in monitoring stroke patients on hand problem for their rehabilitation progress.
Self-esteem, Self-efficacy and Academic performance among Adolescents

Background: Adolescence is one of the vital stages of human development. This key stage is associated with developing new aptitude, talents, skills, self-confidence, and performances while they encounter enormous physical, cognitive, social, and psychological changes. During this transition, value for self and confidence in self enhance better academic performance, which is foundational for career choice among adolescents. Thus, academic performance plays a crucial role in providing prospective direction to adolescents. Aim: The present study aimed at finding the level of difference in self-esteem, self-efficacy, and academic performance among adolescents as well as to determine the relationship between the three variables. Methods: This research is ex-post facto in nature. The sample comprised of 355 adolescents (13-16 years), including 175 females and 180 males, selected conveniently from English medium schools. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the General Self-Efficacy Scale were used to assess self-esteem and self-efficacy, respectively. Results: T-test and ANOVA test results showed a significant difference in self-esteem (p<0.05), self-efficacy (p<0.05), and academic performance (p<0.01) with respect to gender and significant difference in self-esteem (p<0.05) with respect to the family income. A significant positive relationship (p<0.01) was found between self-esteem, self-efficacy, and academic performance among adolescents. Conclusion: Females are better at self-esteem, self-efficacy, and academic performance. Family income influences self-esteem. Self-esteem and self-efficacy are positively related to academic performance.
Influence of a Reef Flat on Beach Profiles Along the Atlantic Coast of Morocco

The North Atlantic coast of Morocco is characterised by a flat rocky outcrop in the south (Asilah Beach) and a sandy beach free of rocky outcrops in the north (Charf el-Akab). These natural beaches were monitored for a period of two years (April 2005–January 2007) and two different profiles (one for each beach) were analysed based on differences in the substrate. Topographic data were analysed using statistics and empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) to determine beach slope and volumetric changes over time. Several morphologic phenomena were identified (accretion/erosion and seasonal tilting of beach profiles around different hinge points), attesting to their importance in explaining variability in the data. Periods of accretion were similar in both profiles, but the volumetric rate of change was faster in the sand-rich (SR) profile than in the reef flat (RF) profile. Moreover, the erosion rate for the SR profile was greater than the RF profile (135.18 m3/year vs. 55.39 m3/year). Therefore, the RF acted as a geological control on the evolution of its profile because of wave energy attenuation. Thus, special attention should be given to the RF profile, which has larger slopes, less amounts of mobilised sand, and slower erosion/accretion rates than the SR profile.
Determinants of hypertension among adults living in Bole Sub-city, Addis Ababa

Complications of hypertension account for 9.4 million deaths world wide every year. Evidences indicated that hypertension and elevated blood pressure are increasing partly due to increase in determinants. In Addis Ababa, there is limited information on determinants of hypertension among adults. Hence, this study aimed to assess determinants of hypertension among adults living in Bole Sub-city, Addis Ababa. Community based unmatched case-control study was conducted. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 122 cases and 244 controls. Data were collected using interviewer administered structured questionnaire and measurement of blood pressure, weight and height. Binary logistic regression model was used for data analysis. A total of 348 adults were included in the study with 95% response rate. The study showed that age (AOR=7.68, 95% CI: 2.31–25.48), average family monthly in come (AOR=6.39, CI: 1.60-25.55), family history of hypertension (AOR=4.50, CI: 1.14-17.62), body mass index (AOR=3.76, CI: 1.49-9.48), physical activity (AOR=3.66, CI: 1.21–11.07), tobacco use (AOR=8.99,CI:2.02-39.86), salt consumption (AOR=5.22, CI: 1.47-18.48), stress (AOR=5.18, CI:2.42–11.09), knowledge (AOR=8.82, CI: 3.14-24.72) and diabetic mellitus (AOR=8.42, CI: 1.44-48.97) were significantly associated with hypertension. Cases had higher exposure to risk factors of hypertension than controls. Age, average family monthly income, physical activity, saltcon sumption, diabetic mellitus, stress, tobacco use, body mass index, family history of hypertension and knowledge were associated with hypertension. There is a need to health education to prevent tobacco use, regular exercise, reduce salt consumption and other life style modifications to reduce hypertension.
Molecular Mechanism of Nucleotide Excision Repair Deficiency in Novel Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Deficiency of DNA repair has been shown to lead to cancer in multiple human disease states. We therefore hypothesized that deficiency of Nucleotide Excision Repair is involved in the etiology of breast cancer. This work was carried out using a novel in vitro culture system for both normal and cancerous breast tissue developed in the Latimer laboratory. Primary cultures of non-diseased and tumor tissue were utilized in functional studies, and cell lines generated from these primary cultures were used for expression analysis. Cell lines were generated from the Latimer primary culture system without the use of exogenously transforming agents. Using the Unscheduled DNA Synthesis Assay, we have shown that stage I and stage II breast tumors are deficient in functional NER capacity as compared to non-diseased controls. Analysis of the steady-state mRNA expression levels of 20 genes in the NER pathway using an RNase Protection kit showed that 7 genes (CSB, XPA, XPB, TFIIHp52, TFIIHp44, TFIIHp34, and Cdk7) also showed a loss of expression in early stage tumor cell lines. Microarray analyses corroborated these trends and protein expression was also lost in early stage tumor cell lines for the XPA and CSB genes. In contrast to the loss of DNA repair capacity manifested in early stage tumors, stage III tumors showed an increase in repair capacity. Gain of mRNA expression and protein expression was seen for our candidate genes in late stage tumors. Because loss of expression was reversible and occurred in multiple genes and cell lines, we hypothesized that the mechanism responsible was epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Two early stage cell lines that demonstrated loss of expression of these candidate genes were treated with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine, resulting in the re-expression of 3 genes: TFIIHp52, TFIIHp34, and Cdk7. In contrast, two of the candidate genes that were not reactivated by azacytidine treatment (CSB and XPA) showed a 7-element transcription factor framework that may begin to explain their coordinate regulation. The functional loss of NER capacity in early stage tumors is consistent with a transcriptional regulatory mechanism including both methylation and other transcription factor based functions.
Ocular delivery of natamycin based on monoolein/span 80/poloxamer 407 nanocarriers for the effectual treatment of fungal keratitis

A 32 factorial design was used to develop Natamycin cubosome nanoparticles with enhanced corneal permeation, so as to effectively treat ocular fungal keratitis. Probe sonication technique was deployed to disperse the dry lipidic film to obtain colloidal dispersion. The colloidal dispersion was characterized for critical quality attributes such as particle size, poly dispersibility index (PDI), zeta potential and entrapment efficiency. The optimized batch exhibited a particle size of 158.2 nm, zeta potential -40 mV, PDI 0.328 in addition, entrapment efficiency of 99.85%. The in vitro drug release of natamycin from optimized cubosome demonstrated a cumulative %drug release of 84.29% at the end of 8 hours. The optimized cubosomal dispersion exhibited enhanced in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus as compared to a pure drug suspension. The optimized formulation was further analyzed for polarized light microscopy (PLM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle Xray scattering (SAXS) to state the morphology of formed cubosome nanoparticles and was noted to be Im3m bicontinous cubic mesophasic structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies affirmed the complete encapsulation of natamycin into cubosome vesicles. Ex vivo corneal permeation studies of optimized formulation revealed enhanced corneal permeation in comparison to a pure drug suspension. The ocular irritation studies performed on rabbits indicated the cubosome to be non-irritant. Finally, the developed natamycin cubosome nanoparticles demonstrated sustained drug release and increased corneal penetration. Thus, these cubosome nanocarriers present a propitious delivery system for effective management of ocular fungal keratitis.
Addressing inclusive education for learners with disabilities in the integrated education system: the dilemma of public primary schools in Kenya

ABSTRACT This paper explores the challenges and prospects of inclusive education for learners with disabilities in the integrated education system in Kenyan primary schools. Data were collected in five and nine public schools in Nairobi and Marsabit respectively, by means of questionnaires administered to 126 teachers, semi-structured interviews with 14 head teachers or their deputies, and one focus group discussion. County education officials were also interviewed. The findings reveal that although the integrated education system is dominant in Kenya, local schools that accommodate learners with disabilities put much effort into creating an inclusive setting. This paper appreciates the challenges and potential associated with inclusive education and thus recommends deeper reflection on the operationalisation of inclusive policies in the context of Kenya.
IDENTIFICACIÓN DE HEMOPARÁSITOS PRESENTES EN LA HERPETOFAUNA DE DIFERENTES DEPARTAMENTOS DE COLOMBIA.

Colombia es un pais altamente diverso en flora y fauna, siendo el 4to pais con mayor biodiversidad de reptiles en el mundo. Sin embargo, los estudios relacionados con parasitos sanguineos que infectan animales en vida silvestre son limitados. Apicomplexa es un phylum de protozoarios que agrupa parasitos obligados, como los hemoparasitos que infectan mamiferos, aves y reptiles. Este estudio evaluo la diversidad de hemoparasitos presentes en reptiles de diferentes departamentos, utilizando la determinacion morfologica e informacion del marcador molecular citocromo b, para los generos Plasmodium y Haemocystidum, y del fragmento de 18S rRNA, para el genero Haemogregarinas. Se analizaron 225 individuos, encontrando 148 infectados con Haemogregarinas spp, cuatro con Plasmodium spp. , y tres con Haemocystidium spp. Para Plasmodium kentropyxi y Plasmodium carmelinoi, encontrados en Cnemidophorus cf. gramivagus y Ameiva ameiva, respectivamente, se reporto por primera vez linajes de cytb que puden ser usados como BarCode (Capitulo 1). Se reporta la presencia de Haemocystidium sp en Podocnemis vogli (Capitulo 2). Se identificaron 14 secuencias de 18S rRNA asociados a dos morfotipos de Haemogregarinas spp. en Podocnemis vogli, y una secuencia asociada al unico morfotipo en Podocnemis unifilis (Capitulo 3). El marcador citocromo b es util para usarse como BarCode para identificar especies de haemosporidos; en el caso de las Haemogregarinas, la informacion obtenida con el marcador 18S rRNA, debe complementarse, por lo que sugiere la busqueda de nuevos marcadores, que contribuyan a mejorar la resolucion de las relaciones filogeneticas y la diferenciacion entre e intra especies del suborden Adeleorina.
Vase life of Eustoma grandiflorum as affected by aluminum sulfate

A floral preservative solution containing aluminum sulfate at 150 mg L^(-1) under 25℃, extended cut eustoma (Eustoma grandiflorum Shinn. cv. Hei Hou) vase life. The vase life was about 15 days for cut flowers supplied with aluminum sulfate, whereas the vase life of the water controls was only 8 days. The fresh weight of cut eustoma flowers treated with aluminum sulfate continued to increase up to 8 days after vase treatment, then declined thereafter. By contrast, the fresh weights of cut eustoma flowers in water controls began to reduce at the 6th day after vase treatment. The water loss from cut eustoma flowers treated with aluminum sulfate was lower than that of water controls during vase period, and the reverse was true for water uptake.
THE NECTAR-INHABITING YEASTS AND THEIR EFFECT ON POLLEN GERMINATION IN COMMON MILKWEED, ASCLEPIAS SYRIACA L.

ABSTRACT In Asclepias, nectar is secreted by the stigmatic chamber and has two functions: (i) it is a carbohydrate reward for pollinating insects required by the plants for sexual reproduction and (ii) it is the germination medium for pollen at the onset of pollen tube growth. The nectar easily becomes infected by yeasts, mostly Metschnikowia reukaufii Griiss, which are vectored by pollinators. Nectar from flowers which opened in the laboratory was yeast-free and did not inhibit pollen germination, but samples of nectar from older, open flowers from the field were almost always (94–98%) inhibitory and supported populations of yeast When nectar samples from buds which opened in the laboratory or artificial nectars (solutions of D-glucose and sucrose which normally support vigorous germination of pollen) were contaminated with yeast-infected nectar, they did not support pollen germination. Yeast-infected nectar or sugar solutions were inhibitory even when filtered to remove the yeast cells. Laboratory yeast.
Struggles and Strategies in Constructing Professional Identity: The First-Year Teaching Experiences of Indonesian EFL Novice Teachers

Several studies have recorded the increasing number of teachers who left the profession in the first year of teaching in recent years. The main cause is the difficulties over the first year of teaching and the unsatisfactory construction and growth of professional identity. This qualitative study attempted to reveal the struggles faced during their first year of teaching by EFL novice teachers working in Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia and how they coped with those struggles regarding their development of professional identity. The struggles are split into internal and external struggles based on the result. The internal struggles are linked to how teachers controlled their emotions self-efficacy, and ability to teach, their jobs and their personal opinions. The external challenges related to the management of the classroom, the abilities, and attitudes of the students, the lack of resources and facilities in the school, the relationships with their colleagues and their salaries. This research is intended to provide more insight into the realities of teachers working in an underdeveloped province like East Nusa Tenggara, in particular how they establish their professional identity in a lack of facilities and learning resources. Keywords : East Nusa Tenggara; Novice Teachers; Professional Identity; Struggles and Strategies
Another one bites the dust: taxonomic sampling of a key genus in phylogenomic datasets reveals more non-monophyletic groups in traditional scorpion classification

Historically, morphological characters have been used to support the monophyly, composition, and phylogenetic relationships of scorpion families. Although recent phylogenomic analyses have recovered most of these traditional higher-level relationships as non-monophyletic, certain key taxa have yet to be sampled using a phylogenomic approach. Salient among these is the monotypic genus Caraboctonus Pocock,1893, the type species of the family Caraboctonidae Kraepelin, 1905. Here, we examined the putative monophyly and phylogenetic placement of this family, sampling the library of C. keyserlingi Pocock, 1893 using high throughput transcriptomic sequencing. Our phylogenomic analyses recovered Caraboctonidae as polyphyletic due to the distant placement of the genera Caraboctonus and Hadrurus Thorell, 1876. Caraboctonus was stably recovered as the sister-group of the monotypic family Superstitioniidae Stahnke, 1940, whereas Hadrurus formed an unstable relationship with Uroctonus Thorell, 1876and Belisarius Simon, 1879. Four-cluster likelihood mapping revealed that the instability inherent to the placement of Hadrurus, Uroctonus and Belisarius was attributable to significant gene tree conflict in the internodes corresponding to their divergences. To redress the polyphyly of Caraboctonidae, the following systematic actions have been taken: (1) the family Caraboctonidae has been delimited to consist of 23 species in the genera Caraboctonus and Hadruroides Pocock, 1893; (2) Caraboctonidae, previously included in the superfamily Iuroidea Thorell, 1876 or as incertae sedis, is transferred to the superfamily Caraboctonoidea (new rank); (3) the superfamily Hadruroidea (new rank) is established and the status of Hadrurinae Stahnke, 1973 is elevated to family (Hadruridae new status) including 9 species in the genera Hadrurus and Hoffmannihadrurus Fet & Soleglad, 2004 and (4) we treat Uroctonus and Belisarius as insertae sedis with respect to superfamilial placement. Our systematic actions engender the monophyly of both Iuroidea and Caraboctonidae. Future phylogenomic investigations should target similar taxon-poor and understudied lineages of potential phylogenetic significance, which are anticipated to reveal additional non-monophyletic groups.
Rice processing - effect on dietary fibre components and in vitro starch digestibility

Effects of processing on total dietary fibre (TDF), resistant starch (RS) and in vitro starch digestibility (IVSDI of three popular rice varieties were investigated. The processes tested were parboiling, puffing and parboiling-boiling. The TDF values of raw polished rice ranged from 3.2 to 3.6%. Parboiling-boiling process increased TDF significantly. followed by boiling, whereas there was no increase in TDF on puffing. The same trend was observed in case of resistant starch (RS). In vitro starch digestibility values of puffed, boiled and parboiled-boiled rice were significantly higher than raw and parboiled rice samples.