Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sulfate-radical Induced Removal of Organic Micro-pollutants from Aqueous Solution- Influence of Natural Water Constituents

Sulfate radical (SO4•-) based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) has been proved to be effective for the removal of many contaminants. In this thesis, we investigated the oxidation processes of iodinated X-ray contrast media diatrizoate (DTZ), s2-adrenoceptor agonists salbutamol (SAL) and terbutaline (TBL) by reaction with SO4•- generated from the activation of persulfate (PS); in addition, the reactivity of SO4•- with natural organic matter (NOM) was also estimated.Specifically, to determine the reactivity of SO4•- with NOM, laser flash photolysis (LFP) technique was applied to monitor the SO4•- decay and the formation of the transients from organic matters. Reaction rate constants comprised between 1530 and 3500 s-1 mgC-1 L were obtained by numerical analysis of differential equations and the weighted average of the extinction coefficient of the generated organic matters radicals between 400 and 800 M-1 cm-1.In the decomposition process of DTZ by UV-activated PS, major oxidation pathways include deiodination-hydroxylation, decarboxylation- hydroxylation and side chain cleavage. Results also indicated that DTZ degradation rate increased with increasing PS concentration. The presence of NOM inhibited DTZ removal rate, while, bicarbonate enhanced it, and chloride ions induced a negative effect above 500 mM. For the degradation of SAL and TBL, phenoxyl radicals were proven to play a very important role from the initial step. Chloride exhibited no effect on the oxidation efficiencies of SAL and TBL, while bromide, bicarbonate and NOM all showed inhibitory effects
Effect of Contraceptive Methods on Female Sexual Function

Background: Female sexual function is the ability to achieve sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction, which results in a state of wellness and a life with good quality. Some women experience sexual dysfunction (SD), which is an important public health problem. Objective: To study the effect of commonly used contraceptive methods on female sexual function. Patients and methods: A cross sectional-controlled study on 314 female divided into two groups, study group of 164 females taking one of the common contraceptive methods and a control group of 150 females were not on any method. Each one answered the questions of the female sexual function index questionnaire (FSFI) and a female sexual dysfunction (FSD) was diagnosed when the FSFI total score was< 26.55. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between FSFI scores of the study group (28.40±5.92) with that of the control group (31.34±4.83) in each domain except pain. And a significant lower FSFI scores among depomedroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA) and progestin only pills (POP) subgroups in comparison to controls and other subgroups. However, no significant difference was found between FSFI scores of the combined oral contraceptive (COC) subgroup and control group in each domain except for satisfaction, also no difference was found between the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) subgroup scores and control group in each domain. Moreover, large percent of impaired sexual function (40%, 16.9%) was in DMPA and POP group. 53% of good sexual function cases had not any contraception and 15% were on IUCD. Conclusion: Progestin only contraceptives were associated with impairment of FSF; the injectable was worse than the POP while neither IUDs users nor participants on combined oral pills (COP) suffered from impaired sexual function.
05 Preschool education quality in Russia: Trends and relations

The results of a Russian national study of the quality of preschool education (2016–2017, Nkindergartens = 1,301) are discussed with a focus on possible predictors of quality dynamics on the relations between Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale–Revised scores and group size, number of teachers in a group, child/adult ratio, teachers’ qualifications and working experience, and enrollment of teachers into in-service training. The child/adult ratio was found to be a stronger predictor of process quality than the group size and the number of teachers. No connection was revealed between process quality and teachers’ age and working experience. The impact of in-service training depends on the evidence- based orientation.
Determination of accumulated heavy metals in benthic invertebrates found in Ajiwa Dam, Katsina State, Northern Nigeria

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe and Cd concentrations in various aquatic invertebrate species; Two classes of invertebrate were caught and identified {i.e. three (3) Mullusc: Bivalvia, Turbonilla and Monodonta while the other class are (2) Arthropods:Dysticus and lethocerus americana. } from the Ajiwa Dam at the three (3) Sampling stations using atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) method. The result obtained showed that Fe had the highest concentration with average of 0.212mg/g and Pb which has the lowest concentration with 0.051mg/g. The study revealed the accumulation of Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd and Pb by aquatic invertebrates from Ajiwa Dam. The concentration of metals are Fe>Cu>Zn>Cd>Pb while their mean values were 0.04032mg/g, 0.0122mg/g, 0.02266mg/g, 0.0110mg/g and 0.0092mg/g respectively.
SHORT FILM ADVERTISING CREATIVE STRATEGY IN POSTMODERN ERA WITHIN SOFTWARE VIDEO EDITING

The evolution of integrated communication has given many opportunities for advertisers to market their products through internet, one of which is to make advertisements prepared in the form of short film advertising. Autodesk® Inc as one of the foremost producers of video editing software in America uses short film advertising entitled “Fix It In Post” as the form of its marketing communication media. The short film advertising “Fix It In Post” uses iconic signs in communicating its products through USP - Unique Selling Proposition creative strategy. The objective of this research is to find signs visualized as a description of the sophistication of software video editing, and to impart brand image to Autodesk® Smoke® as a sophisticated brand software video editing. Based on the result of research a Semiotics of of the Cinema Christian Metz analysis, it was found out that there were signs visualized to describe the sophistication of software video editing namely various features used by the video editor. Each feature of software describing such sophistication is represented in a series of scene forming a sequence, so that it can convey a brand image to the Autodesk® Smoke® as a sophisticated brand software video editing.
The use of culturally adapted and translated depression screening questionnaires with South Asian haemodialysis patients in England

Background Depression is common amongst patients receiving haemodialysis (HD). Assessment and intervention when faced with language and cultural barriers is challenging. To support clinician decisions, we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the use of culturally adapted and translated versions of commonly-used depression screening questionnaires with South Asian patients receiving HD in England. Methods Patients completed adapted versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). All questionnaires were available in Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu, and Bengali. A comparative sample of white-Europeans completed the questionnaires in English. The research was based across 9 National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in England. Structural validity of translated questionnaires was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. Diagnostic accuracy was explored in a subgroup of South Asians against ICD-10 categories using the Clinical Interview Schedule Revised (CIS-R) with receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. Results 229 South Asian and 120 white-European HD patients participated. A single latent depression factor largely accounted for the correlations between items of the PHQ-9, CESD-R and BDI-II. Issues with measurement equivalence implied that scores on the translations may not be comparable with the English language versions. Against CIS-R based ICD-10 diagnosis of depression, sensitivity was modest across scales (50–66.7%). Specificity was higher (81.3–93.8%). Alternative screening cut-offs did not improve positive predictive values. Conclusions Culturally adapted translations of depression screening questionnaires are useful to explore symptom endorsement amongst South Asian patients. However, data indicate that standard cut-off scores may not be appropriate to classify symptom severity. Use of the CIS-R algorithms for optimal case identification requires further exploration in this setting. Strategies to encourage recruitment of under-represented groups in renal research are also warranted, especially for in-depth discussions related to psychological care needs.
Effect of nitrogen sources on the yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in western Kenya

ABSTRACT Depletion of soil nutrients due to continuous cultivation without adequate external fertilization is one of the challenges facing many smallholder farmers in western Kenya. This study was conducted to assess the effects of organic (water hyacinth compost), inorganic (urea) nitrogen (N) sources, and commercial Rhizobia inoculant on the yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) for two consecutive seasons in the short rains (2013) and long rains (2014). The experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated four times. Triple superphosphate was applied to all treatments except those with compost to ensure that the soil had adequate phosphorus (P). Yellow and Rose coco bean varieties grown with urea and inoculated with commercial Rhizobia inoculant gave significantly higher yield of 382 kg ha−1 and 341 kg ha−1, respectively in the short rains (SR) season. In the long rains (LR) season bean yield was high in water hyacinth compost (1526 kg ha−1) and control with non-limiting P (1300 kg ha−1) treatments. Commercial Rhizobia inoculant did not significantly increase in yield in the SR and LR seasons. There was no significant influence on soil properties after two seasons of continuous cultivation of common bean and application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. These results demonstrate that water hyacinth compost improved bean yield in the LR season. However, longer field testing and economic analysis are required for it to be recommended as a substitute for inorganic N source among smallholder farmers.
Race/Ethnicity, Delay of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Initiation Following Breast Cancer Surgery and Associated Patient Survival: An Analysis of the United States National Cancer Database 2004-2016

Introduction: The relationship between survival and time to the start of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) among breast cancer patients is unclear. Most breast cancer patients start adjuvant chemotherapy within a few weeks after surgery, but it is still unclear whether a delay in the initiation of chemotherapy will lead to adverse outcomes.Methods: Women diagnosed between 2004 and 2016 with invasive breast cancer (stages I-III) and treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy were selected from the National Cancer Database (n= 443,100). We evaluated factors associated with prolonged time to start adjuvant chemotherapy (≥60, ≥90, and ≥120 days after surgical resection) using multivariable log binomial models to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs. Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the effect of delay on survival.Results: The average time to adjuvant chemotherapy was 47.93 days (±29.17 days). Non-Hispanic African American patients had higher risk of 60-day delay (RR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.38 to 1.43), 90-day delay (RR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.50 to 1.60), and 120-day delay (RR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.61 to 1.78) compared with non-Hispanic white patients. Early initiation of chemotherapy, less than 1 month (RR, 0.893; 95% CI, 0.86 to 0.92), 1-2 month (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.82), and 2-3 month (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.84 to 0.90); was associated with decreased overall mortality. Non-Hispanic African Americans (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.19) were associated with increased overall mortality compared to non-Hispanic whites. Conclusion: Black breast cancer patients experience clinically relevant delays in the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy more often than white patients, which may in part explain the increased mortality observed among black patients. Efforts should be made to reduce the time to surgery when possible to enhance overall survival.
How does habit form? Guidelines for tracking real-world habit formation

Abstract Advances in understanding how habit forms can help people change their behaviour in ways that make them happier and healthier. Making behaviour habitual, such that people automatically act in associated contexts due to learned context-response associations, offers a mechanism for maintaining new, desirable behaviours even when conscious motivation wanes. This has prompted interest in understanding how habit forms in the real world. To reliably inform intervention design, habit formation studies must be conceptually and methodologically sound. This paper proposes methodological criteria for studies tracking real-world habit formation, or potential moderators of the effect of repetition on formation. A narrative review of habit theory was undertaken to extract essential and desirable criteria for modelling how habit forms in naturalistic settings, and factors that influence the relationship between repetition and formation. Next, a methodological review identified exemplary real-world habit formation studies according to these criteria. Fourteen methodological criteria, capturing study design (four criteria), measurement (six criteria), and analysis and interpretation (four criteria), were derived from the narrative review. Five extant studies were found to meet our criteria. Adherence to these criteria should increase the likelihood that studies will offer revealing conclusions about how habits develop in real-world settings.
Long Follow-up Surgical Results in 284 Cases of Clival Chordomas: The Risk Factors for Outcome and Tumor Recurrence

OBJECTIVE: Skull-base chordoma (SBC) is rare and one of the most challenging diseases to treat. We aimed to assess the optimal timing of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) and evaluate the factors that influence resection and long-term outcomes.METHODS: In total, 284 patients with 382 surgeries were enrolled in this retrospective study. Postsurgically, 64 patients underwent RT before recurrence (pre-recurrence RT), and 47 patients underwent RT after recurrence. During the first attempt to achieve gross-total resection (GTR), when the entire tumor was resected, 268 patients were treated with an endoscopic midline approach, and 16 patients were treated with microscopic lateral approaches. Factors associated with the success of GTR were identified using c2 and logistic regression analyses. Risk factors associated with chordoma-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated with the Cox proportional hazards model.RESULTS: In total, 74.6% of tumors were marginally resected [GTR (40.1%); near-total resection (34.5%)]. History of surgery, large tumor volumes and tumor locations in the lower clivus were associated with a lower GTR rate. The mean follow-up period was 43.9 months. At last follow-up, 181 (63.7%) patients were alive. RT history, histologic subtype (dedifferentiated and sarcomatoid), non-GTR, no postsurgical RT, and the presence of metastasis were associated with poorer CSS. Patients with pre-recurrence RT had the longest PFS and CSS, while patients without postsurgical RT had the worst outcome.CONCLUSION: GTR is the goal of initial surgical treatment. Pre-recurrence RT would improve outcome regardless of GTR.
Dynamics of evoked and spontaneous calcium transients in synaptic boutons of neocortical pyramidal neurons

This thesis presents a characterisation of the dynamics of evoked and spontaneous Ca2+ transients in synaptic boutons of neocortical pyramidal neurons. In response to an action potential (AP), a transient rise in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca]i) causes transmitter release from nerve terminals. As the spatiotemporal dynamics of this Ca2+ rise can affect the efficacy and plasticity of synaptic connections, it is essential to understand their determinants. To characterise factors that shape Ca2+ transients in neocortical synaptic boutons, layer 5 pyramidal cells in the rat somatosensory cortex were filled through the patch pipette with a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator for the measurement of [Ca]i. For accurate calculation of [Ca]i from the fluorescence intensity, the Ca2+ binding affinities (Kd) of the indicators were measured in vitro, in solutions that were similar to the patch-clamp internal solution. These solutions were made with various concentrations of CaCl2, but a constant concentration of a Ca2+ buffer. The resultant free [Ca2+] was measured with a Ca2+-selective macroelectrode. It was found that the Kd values of the Ca2+ indicators were considerably different from those previously published or provided by the manufacturers. Two main determinants of the intracellular Ca2+ dynamics are the capacity of endogenous Ca2+ buffers and the activity of Ca2+ sequestration mechanisms. By measuring the peak amplitude of single AP-evoked Ca2+ transients with different concentrations of OGB-1 or OGB-6F, a value of 7 ± 2 was estimated for the Ca2+ binding ratio of endogenous buffers. Thus, in response to a single AP and in the absence of exogenous buffers, [Ca]i was raised by 5.3 ± 1.3 μM, with a total change of ⇠ 50 μM. The rate constant of Ca2+ sequestration (0.60 ± 0.03 s 1) was
Effect of nutrient supplementation on single cell protein production from watermelon and pineapple peels

The world fast growing populated countries have presented an increased demand for protein rich food. This exerts great pressure on food and feed industries to produce enough protein with economical value to meet the demand. However, fruit production is on increase worldwide generating large amounts of fruit wastes which lead to pollutions in both Agricultural and fruit processing industries. This problem along with increased worldwide protein requirement stimulates the interest in converting fruit wastes into commercially single cell protein. In the present study, efforts were made to improve growth support capacity of watermelon and pineapple fruit wastes by submerged fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces higher amount of Single Cell Protein by submerged fermentation of pineapple peel hydrolysate (9.8%) as compared to watermelon peel hydrolysate (2.42%). It was also observed that, the combination of the two fruit wastes produce higher Single Cell Protein than watermelon but lower than pineapple fruit waste. However, additions of nutrient supplements (Glucose and Ammonium sulphate) greatly increase Single Cell Protein production in all the fruit combinations and the absence of any of Glucose or Ammonium sulphate greatly affects Single Cell Protein production. This negative effect is higher when Ammonium sulphate is excluded probably due to their low protein content of the fruit wastes (6.40% and 3.50% for watermelon and pineapple wastes respectively) than when Glucose is excluded. This suggested that microbial growth support capacity of fruit wastes can best be improved by addition of Nutrient supplements rather than combining different fruit wastes.
Surgical Outcome of Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Giant Pituitary Adenoma

Background: Pituitary adenomas are benign neoplasms representing 10 to 15% of intracranial lesions. Giant pituitary adenomas describe tumors more than 4 cm in maximum diameter and represent 6-10% of pituitary tumors. The introduction oftruly ‘extended endonasal’ approaches has enabled thepituitary surgeon to achieve a more radical resection safely. The aim of the work: Evaluation of efficacy of the endoscopic endonasal approach in managing giant pituitary adenoma. Patients and methods: Fifteenpatients with giant pituitary adenomas were enrolled. They were submitted to full clinical examination, radiological, visual, and hormonal assessment in the pre and postoperative period. A purely endoscopic endonasal approach was used as the primary surgical management for all the patients. The collected data included preoperative data, tumor characteristics, resection rate, clinical outcome, recurrence rate, and need for adjuvant radiotherapy Results: The mean age was 40.7 [range 16-57] years, with a male predominance [60%]. Visual affection was reported in [86.6%] with pituitary hormonal hypersecretion in 53.3%. There was an improvement in 80% of patients with visual field defects and 83.3% of patients with diminished visual acuity. Prolactin hormone levels normalized in 40%, while growth hormone normalized in 33.3%. Follow-up MRI revealed gross total resection [GTR] in 41.6% of patients with suprasellar extension, subtotal removal [about 80% of the tumor] in 50% of patients, partial tumor resection in one patient [8.4%]. In para-sellar extension, subtotal resection achieved [in 66.6%], and partial resection in 33.3%. Postoperative CSF leak occurred in 13.3% due to uncomplete reconstruction of the sella. They were reoperated for sella repair and augmentation. Three patients [20%] had transient [for 3 weeks] postoperative diabetes insipidus [DI] in the early postoperative period. Conclusion: Endoscopic endonasal approach is an effective and safe approach for managing giant pituitary adenomas.
Non-intubated VATS for lung cancer—a focus on segmentectomy: a narrative review

: Traditionally, lobectomy is the gold standard for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment but in recent years lung segmentectomy is gaining a key role in small-sized or subsolid peripheral lung lesion <2 cm. It can be performed with minimally invasive approaches leading to better pulmonary function preservation, less postoperative pain and shorter hospitalization. Although for decades general anesthesia with tracheal intubation was considered mandatory, non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NiVATS) has been proposed as an alternative to traditional surgery. Its role in more challenging thoracoscopic procedures such as VATS anatomical lung resections is currently being evaluated. NiVATS applied to lung resections for early-stage NSCLC treatment, even if technically more challenging than conventional intubated thoracic surgery, is an innovative and promising surgical strategy allowing less intubation-related adverse effects and a faster recovery; several encouraging results have recently been reported, proving that minimally invasive surgical and anesthetic approaches could be a valid alternative to more invasive procedures in selected patients also in technical challenging anatomical resections. The aim of this review is to describe various technical aspects of NiVATS procedures and to investigate the combination of thoracoscopic segmentectomy and non-intubated anesthesia in terms of feasibility, safety, intra and perioperative complications, short-term outcomes and oncological adequacy.