Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Placental Growth Factor and Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A as Potential Early Predictors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common pregnancy complications and one of the main causes of adverse pregnancy outcomes. An early diagnosis of GDM is of fundamental importance in clinical practice. However, the major professional organizations recommend universal screening for GDM, using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test at 24–28 weeks of gestation. A selective screening at an early stage of pregnancy is recommended only if there are maternal risk factors for diabetes. As a result, the GDM diagnosis is often delayed and established after the appearance of complications. The manifestation of GDM is directly related to insulin resistance, which is closely associated with endothelial dysfunction. The placenta, the placental peptides and hormones play a pivotal role in the manifestation and progression of insulin resistance during pregnancy. Recently, the placental growth factor (PlGF) and plasma-associated protein-A (PAPP-A), have been shown to significantly affect both insulin sensitivity and endothelial function. The principal function of PAPP-A appears to be the cleavage of circulating insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 while PlGF has been shown to play a central role in the development and maturation of the placental vascular system and circulation. On one hand, these factors are widely used as early predictors (11–13 weeks of gestation) of complications during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and fetal aneuploidies, in most countries. On the other hand, there is increasing evidence for their predictive role in the development of carbohydrate disorders, but some studies are rather controversial. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the available literature about the potential of serum levels of PlGF and PAPP-A as early predictors in the diagnosis of GDM.
Evaluation of Physical Egg Quality Parameters of Commercial Brown Laying Hens Housed in Five Production Systems

Simple Summary Avian welfare has become a highly debated issue for many activist groups and legislators over the past several years. Recently, the EU and several US states have banned the use of traditional cage environments. Therefore, it is important for producers and researchers to understand how this shift toward extensive environments will affect the quality of eggs being produced. The objective of this study was to identify how the five most used environments (cages, barren colony cages, enriched colony cages, cage-free, and free-range) affects the egg quality of brown egg layers (shell color, Haugh unit, yolk color, vitelline membrane, and shell strength). This study found that free-range eggs had superior egg quality parameters while, in most cases, eggs from both colony cages had inferior quality parameters. It was also found that both barren and enriched colony cages were not different in production parameters, indicating that simply adding enrichments to a cage environment will not change egg quality. This information shows that, as the egg industry moves toward greater adoption of extensive environments, egg quality will improve for brown egg layers, possibly allowing some of the costs to be offset. Abstract This study evaluates the effect of housing environment on the egg quality characteristics of brown egg layers as many different environments are currently used in the industry. Battery cages, barren colony cages, enriched colony cages, cage-free, and free-range environments were evaluated. Overall, all egg quality measurements were affected by housing environment (p < 0.01) except for vitelline membrane strength, elasticity, and egg solids. Eggshells and yolks were lightest in barren colony cages and darkest from free-range hens (p < 0.0001). Free-range eggs were heavier than eggs from all other environments (p < 0.0001). Cage-free eggs had lower albumen height and Haugh units than other environments (p < 0.0001). Lastly, cage-free and free-range eggs had stronger eggshells than the other environments (p < 0.0001), and free-range eggs had more elastic eggshells than eggs from conventional battery cages and barren colony cages (p < 0.01). Access to the range seemed to give free-range hens different nutritional advantages, which allowed for the darker yolks and shells. Furthermore, eggs from barren colony cages seemed to exhibit more negative characteristics. Simply adding enrichments to colony cages did not improve or detract from egg quality. From this research, it appears that, as the industry moves toward extensive environments, the egg quality of brown egg layers will improve.
Effects of fitspiration on believability and intention to exercise

Introduction Although Fitspiration is purportedly intended to motivate people to be fit and healthy, a body of research has demonstrated negative effects of these media in men and women. Understanding mechanisms can help create more targeted interventions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of Fitspiration. This research examined if selected implicitly or explicitly measured constructs moderated or mediated the effects of Fitspiration. The purposes were to examine the believability (finding the media truthful) of Fitspiration (study one; data from 139 women and 125 men aged 18–33 years were analyzed), the effects of Fitspiration on exercise intention (study two; data from 195 women and 173 men aged 18–30 years were analyzed), and whether these effects were moderated by exercise-related cognitive errors (negatively biased perception of exercise) or mediated by implicit (evaluative responses to stimuli) or explicit (reasoned evaluation of stimuli) attitudes. Methods In two separate studies, self-identified men and women first completed a measure of exercise-related cognitive errors, then viewed gender-specific Fitspiration media, followed by measures of implicit attitudes, explicit attitudes, believability, and demographics. In study two, participants were randomly assigned to Fitspiration or control media conditions and also completed measures of fitspiration-related cognitive errors and intention to exercise. In the first study, one model was tested for each gender sample. It was hypothesized that implicit and explicit attitudes would be positively related to believability, and that exercise-related cognitive errors would moderate these relationships. In study two, separate models were tested with exercise-related or Fitspiration-related cognitive errors as the moderators with each gender sample. It was hypothesized that implicit attitudes, explicit attitudes, and believability would be positively related to intention, that the control media would lead to greater intention to exercise than the Fitspiration media, and that exercise-related cognitive errors and Fitspiration-related cognitive errors would moderate these relationships. Results The majority of hypothesized relationships were not supported. A negative relationship between exercise-related cognitive errors and believability was found. Discussion Overall, these studies identify and exclude factors that predict Fitspiration believability and the role that factors such as cognitive errors and attitudes may play in that.
Effect of pairing correlations on nuclear properties

A method analogous to that developed in the new theory of superconductivity is applied to nuclei in order to investigate the influence of the coherent pairing interaction on various nuclear properties, especially on colleetive motion. The finite size effects, in particular the shell structure of the single-particle levels, are considered. The pairing correlation between two nucleons in states of opposite angular momentum projections is taken into account by means of a canonical transformation from the original interacting nucleons to new independent quasi-particles. For strongly deformed nuclei, the moment of inertia is rather sensitive to the effect of pairing correlations and is found to be reduced from the value for rigid rotation by a factor of the order of that observed. For nuclei in regions near closed shells, the pairing correlations give rise to a spherical equilibrium shape and low energy vibrational modes of excitations. Thc vibrational frequencies and inertial parameters obtained from the present model are in qualitative agreement with experimental data and fit the observed trends. (auth)
Correlation between NLR and PLR with the Severity of COVID-19 Inpatients

When the COVID-19 outbreak is ongoing, the classification of COVID-19 patients based on the severity assessment is necessary to optimize the allocation of existing resources and early management interventions to improve prognosis. Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) are two of the most common, simple, inexpensive, rapid, and widely available tests in all health facilities, which indirectly indicate the inflammatory status of COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between NLR and PLR with the severity of COVID-19 inpatients. This cross-sectional study was conducted retrospectively using medical record data of COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Al Islam Hospital, Bandung, from January to March 2021. COVID-19 patients involved in this study were classified into moderate, severe, and critical degrees. Statistical analysis was carried out using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman with a significant value of p < 0.05. The median NLR and PLR results based on the severity were 3.49; 6.27; 8.4 (p<0.001) and 159.2; 202.6; 250.9 (p<0001), respectively. There was a correlation between NLR and PLR and the severity with r= 0.415 (p<0.001) and r=0.216 (p<0.001), respectively. The correlation between NLR and the severity was stronger than PLR. Therefore, it was concluded that there was a correlation between NLR and PLR with the severity of COVID-19 patients.
Possible solution to the problem of the extreme mass ratio W UMa-type binaries

When the total angular momentum of a binary system is at a critical (minimum) value, a tidal instability occurs (Darwin’s instability), eventually forcing the stars to merge into a single, rapidly rotating object. The instability sets in at some critical separation which in the case of contact binaries corresponds to a minimum mass ratio depending on dimensionless gyration radius k1. If one considers n = 3 polytrope (fully radiative primary with � 1 = 4/3), k 2 = 0.075 and qmin ≈ 0.085–0.095. There appears to be, however, some W UMa-type binaries with q values very close, if not below these theoretical limits, implying that primary in these systems is probably more centrally condensed. We try to solve the discrepancy between theory and observations by considering rotating polytropes. We show by deriving and solving a modified Lane–Emden equation for n = 3 polytrope that including the effects of rotation does increase the central concentration and could reduce qmin to as low as 0.070–0.074, more consistent with the observed population.
A Hybrid Stainless-Steel SPME Microneedle Electrode Sensor for Dual Electrochemical and GC-MS Analysis

A mechanically robust in-tube stainless steel microneedle solid phase microextraction (SPME) platform for dual electrochemical and chromatographic detection has been demonstrated. The SPME microneedle was fabricated by layer-by-layer (LbL) in-tube coating, consisting of carbon nanotube (CNT)/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) film layered with an electrically conductive polyaniline (PANI) hydrogel layer (PANI@CNT/CNC SPME microneedle (MN)). The PANI@CNT/CNC SPME MN showed effective analysis of caffeine by GC-MS with an LOD of 26 mg/L and excellent precision across the dynamic range. Additionally, the PANI@CNT/CNC SPME MN demonstrated a 67% increase in sensitivity compared to a commercial SPME fiber, while being highly robust for repeated use without loss in performance. For electrochemical detection, the PANI@CNT/CNC SPME MN showed excellent performance for the detection of 3-caffeoylquinic acid (3-CQA). The dynamic range and limits of detection (LOD) for 3-CQA analysis were 75–448 mg/L and 11 mg/L, respectively. The PANI@CNT/CNC SPME MN was demonstrated to accurately determine the caffeine content and 3-CQA in tea samples and dark roast coffee, respectively. The PANI@CNT/CNC SPME MN was used for semiquantitative antioxidant determination and composition analysis in kiwi fruit using electrochemistry and SPME-coupled GC-MS, respectively.
Genome-Wide Identification, Classification, and Expression Analyses of the CsDGAT Gene Family in Cannabis sativa L. and Their Response to Cold Treatment

Hempseed is a nutrient-rich natural resource, and high levels of hempseed oil accumulate within hemp seeds, consisting primarily of different triglycerides. Members of the diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) enzyme family play critical roles in catalyzing triacylglycerol biosynthesis in plants, often governing the rate-limiting step in this process. As such, this study was designed to characterize the Cannabis sativa DGAT (CsDGAT) gene family in detail. Genomic analyses of the C. sativa revealed 10 candidate DGAT genes that were classified into four families (DGAT1, DGAT2, DGAT3, WS/DGAT) based on the features of different isoforms. Members of the CsDGAT family were found to be associated with large numbers of cis-acting promoter elements, including plant response elements, plant hormone response elements, light response elements, and stress response elements, suggesting roles for these genes in key processes such as development, environmental adaptation, and abiotic stress responses. Profiling of these genes in various tissues and varieties revealed varying spatial patterns of CsDGAT expression dynamics and differences in expression among C. sativa varieties, suggesting that the members of this gene family likely play distinct functional regulatory functions CsDGAT genes were upregulated in response to cold stress, and significant differences in the mode of regulation were observed when comparing roots and leaves, indicating that CsDGAT genes may play positive roles as regulators of cold responses in hemp while also playing distinct roles in shaping the responses of different parts of hemp seedlings to cold exposure. These data provide a robust basis for further functional studies of this gene family, supporting future efforts to screen the significance of CsDGAT candidate genes to validate their functions to improve hempseed oil composition.
A Contemporary Report of Low-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer Using MRI for Risk Stratification: Disease Outcomes and Patient-Reported Quality of Life

Simple Summary This study describes the outcomes of 149 men with prostate cancer treated at a single center with Iodine-125 low dose rate brachytherapy (also known as radioactive seed implant). A total of 98% of men were considered biochemically controlled 7 years after implant. Men without clear extra-prostatic extension of disease on MRI had very high rates of control, suggesting that MRI can be used to safely select men with “unfavorable intermediate risk” disease to be treated with an implant alone, rather than a combined course of external beam radiation with brachytherapy, as some guidelines recommend. Severe late side effects to the bladder and rectum were uncommon, and quality of life was well preserved, with mild changes in urinary and sexual health, particularly within the first 2 years after the implant. A table describing symptom distress over time is provided to help guide patient expectations regarding quality of life after brachytherapy. Abstract Purpose: We examined a prospective consecutive cohort of low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy for prostate cancer to evaluate the efficacy of monotherapy for unfavorable-intermediate risk (UIR) disease, and explore factors associated with toxicity and quality of life (QOL). Methods: 149 men with prostate cancer, including 114 staged with MRI, received Iodine-125 brachytherapy alone (144–145 Gy) or following external beam radiation therapy (110 Gy; EBRT). Patient-reported QOL was assessed by the Expanded Prostate Index Composite (EPIC) survey, and genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity were prospectively recorded (CTC v4.0). Global QOL scores were assessed for decline greater than the minimum clinically important difference (MCID). Univariate analysis (UVA) was performed, with 30-day post-implant dosimetry covariates stratified into quartiles. Median follow-up was 63 mo. Results: Men with NCCN low (n = 42) or favorable-intermediate risk (n = 37) disease were treated with brachytherapy alone, while most with high-risk disease had combined EBRT (n = 17 of 18). Men with UIR disease (n = 52) were selected for monotherapy (n = 42) based on clinical factors and MRI findings. Freedom from biochemical failure-7 yr was 98%. Of 37 men with MRI treated with monotherapy for UIR disease, all 36 men without extraprostatic extension were controlled. Late Grade 2+/3+ toxicity occurred in 55/3% for GU and 8/2% for GI, respectively. Fifty men were sexually active at baseline and had 2 yr sexual data; 37 (74%) remained active at 2 yr. Global scores for urinary incontinence (UC), urinary irritation/obstruction (UIO), bowel function, and sexual function (SF) showed decreases greater than the MCID (p < 0.05) in UC at 2 mo, UIO at 2 and 6 mo, and SF at 2–24 mo, and >5 yr. Analysis did not reveal any significant associations with any examined rectal or urethral dosimetry for late toxicity or QOL. Conclusion: Disease outcomes and patient-reported QOL support LDR brachytherapy, including monotherapy for UIR disease.
Maternal obesity and ovarian failure: is leptin the culprit?

Abstract At the time of its discovery and characterization in 1994, leptin was mostly considered a metabolic hormone able to regulate body weight and energy homeostasis. However, in recent years, a great deal of literature has revealed leptin’s pleiotropic nature, through its involvement in numerous physiological contexts including the regulation of the female reproductive tract and ovarian function. Obesity has been largely associated with infertility, and leptin signalling is known to be dysregulated in the ovaries of obese females. Hence, the disruption of ovarian leptin signalling was shown to contribute to the pathophysiology of ovarian failure in obese females, affecting transcriptional programmes in the gamete and somatic cells. This review attempts to uncover the underlying mechanisms contributing to female infertility associated with obesity, as well as to shed light on the role of leptin in the metabolic dysregulation within the follicle, the effects on the oocyte epigenome, and the potential long-term consequence to embryo programming.
Estimation of Impacts of Global Factors on World Food Prices: A Comparison of Machine Learning Algorithms and Time Series Econometric Models

It is a well-felt recent phenomenal fact that global food prices have dramatically increased and attracted attention from practitioners and researchers. In line with this attraction, this study uncovers the impact of global factors on predicting food prices in an empirical comparison by using machine learning algorithms and time series econometric models. Covering eight global explanatory variables and monthly data from January 1991 to May 2021, the results show that machine learning algorithms reveal a better performance than time series econometric models while Multi-layer Perceptron is defined as the best machine learning algorithm among alternatives. Furthermore, the one-month lagged global food prices are found to be the most significant factor on the global food prices followed by raw material prices, fertilizer prices, and oil prices, respectively. Thus, the results highlight the effects of fluctuations in the global variables on global food prices. Additionally, policy implications are discussed.
Development, Validation, and Measurement Invariance of the Body Image Bidimensional Assessment (BIBA) in Italian and Spanish Children and Early Adolescent Samples

Body dissatisfaction (BD) is an important public health issue as it negatively influences the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of children/early adolescents. Available measures of BD for this population are scarce, have a significant bias, or only evaluate weight-related dissatisfaction. This study, through the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), aims to develop and validate the Italian (Study 1) and Spanish (Study 2) versions of a new tool, the Body Image Bidimensional Assessment (BIBA), which is not subject to sex–age–race biases and is able to identify BD related to weight and height among children/early adolescents. Study 3 regards the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), testing the measurement of invariance across sex and country. The BIBA has a two-factor structure (i.e., weight and height dissatisfaction) according to studies 1 and 2. McDonald’s ω ranged from 0.73 (weight) and 0.72 (height) with good reliability. CFA confirmed the two-factor model as a good fit for the Italian and Spanish samples. Finally, partial metric and scalar invariance of the BIBA dimensions across sexes and nations emerged. The BIBA has proven to be an easy-to-use tool that identifies two BD dimensions among children/early adolescents who could benefit from prompt educational interventions.
Pain modulates early sensory brain responses to task‐irrelevant emotional faces

Pain can have a significant impact on an individual's life, as it has both cognitive and affective consequences. However, our understanding of how pain affects social cognition is limited. Previous studies have shown that pain, as an alarm stimulus, can disrupt cognitive processing when focal attention is required, but whether pain also affects task‐irrelevant perceptual processing remains unclear.
Elite Feminist Adherence and Framing: Women Nobel Laureates Speak Out against Gender Inequality

ABSTRACT As feminist movements have become more diffuse, feminisms have increasingly emerged from and thrived within unexpected, “other” spaces. Elites have the potential to be powerful feminist adherents in social movement organizations as well as in these “other” spaces, yet we know little about the heterogeneity of their feminisms. We examined an understudied group of elites – women Nobel laureates – and the ways they forward a variety of feminisms across a range of historical and professional contexts. Drawing on a content analysis of 76 speeches, we examined if laureates express feminist adherence, how adherents frame gender inequality, and how adherence and framing vary over time and across award categories. Of all women Nobel laureates analyzed, nineteen expressed feminist adherence, framing gender inequality as: 1) women’s underrepresentation among laureates, 2) women’s oppression under patriarchy, and/or 3) not just a women’s issue. Feminist adherence became more common over time, and use of the third, most expansive and intersectional frame was especially concentrated within recent decades (more so than the other two frames). Peace and Literature laureates were more likely than Science laureates to express feminist adherence and to frame issues beyond the gender disparity among laureates. We argue that the variation in adherence and framing correspond to differences in laureates’ historical context and field of work. Our analysis responds to calls for more comparative research on framing, and we contribute to scholarship about variation in feminist attitudes by showing how historical conditions and professional communities can both influence adherence to and articulations of feminism.