Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of evidence-based practice among Vietnamese psychology students

Evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP) improves public health and makes it easier for psychologists to do their jobs well by using case formulation, intervention, and therapeutic relationship principles that have been shown to work in the real world. The utilization of evidence-based practice in the field of psychology has been widely regarded as the most effective approach for researchers and practitioners to incorporate current data into their therapeutic practice and decision-making processes. The objective of this study was to investigate attitudes towards EBPP and assess the level of exposure to evidence-based practice and evidence-based therapies in the corresponding training program among students. A cohort of 250 undergraduate students pursuing a degree in psychology were enlisted to participate in the survey. The research employed quantitative methodologies, specifically one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis, to examine and interpret the collected data. The favorable influence of students' judgments of the sufficiency of training in different components of clinical expertise and exposure to evidence-based practice (EBP) and evidence-based treatments (EBTs) in their respective training program can be observed in students' experiences and attitudes towards EBP in psychology. The findings derived from the present study provide compelling evidence supporting the imperative of implementing educational interventions aimed at enhancing the research knowledge and skills of psychology students, as well as their ability to effectively utilize research in their academic pursuits.
Dielectric Breakdown Strength of Polypropylene Blended with Ethylene Octene Elastomers

Polymer blends have become a major focus of research in exploring the potential for new dielectric material applications, particularly in the insulation of high voltage systems. In the current research area, polypropylene (PP) is being investigated as an insulation material for high voltage alternating current and direct current power cables. However, PP must be treated with rubbery materials such as elastomers to lessen its overall stiffness for power cable extrusion. While various promising results have been published on the potential use of PP/elastomer blends as dielectric materials, the dielectric effects of adding ethylene octene elastomer to PP have been less explored. This paper discusses the alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) breakdown strength of PP that contains different amounts of ethylene octene elastomer (10, 30, and 50 wt%). The addition of ethylene octene elastomer to PP affects the breakdown performance of the blend systems under both AC and DC fields. Significantly, an increase in elastomer contents results in a notable reduction in the AC and DC breakdown strength. A discussion is presented on the mechanisms underlying the change in the breakdown strength caused by the different amounts of ethylene octene elastomer blended with PP.
G1-S4 or G2-S16 carbosilane dendrimer in combination with Platycodin D as a promising vaginal microbicide candidate with contraceptive activity

Purpose HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) represent two of the most relevant sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) worldwide. Moreover, each year there are >200 million pregnancies worldwide, and more than half are unintended. Continued high rates of unintended pregnancies and spread of HIV-1 and HSV-2 require new approaches to address these problems. G1-S4 and G2-S16 dendrimers emerge as potential candidates for the development of a topical microbicide due to their safety and effectivity against HIV-1 and HSV-2 infection, both in vitro and in vivo. Our goal is to develop a dual topical microbicide to prevent the transmission of STDs and unintended pregnancies. Platycodin D (PD) was selected for its great spermicidal activity, topical application, and biocompatibility. Materials and methods Toxicology and inhibitory profile of G1-S4/PD and G2-S16/PD were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Spermicidal activity was assessed by a computer-assisted sperm analysis system (CASA). Results G1-S4/PD and G2-S16/PD presented >95% of HIV-1 inhibition in TZM-bl cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CASA assessment determined that 0.25 mM of PD with therapeutic concentrations of G1-S4 or G2-S16 was able to induce 100% immobilization of the sperm in 30 seconds. To evaluate the toxicity in vivo, a vaginal toxicity assay was performed in BALB/c mice. No significant changes or damage to the vaginal epithelium after 7 consecutive days of application were observed. Conclusion Our data indicate that G1-S4/PD and G2-S16/PD combinations are promising candidates to be developed for vaginal microbicides with contraceptive activity.
Chromosomes of Symphyta (Hymenoptera): current state and perspectives of research

The current state and perspectives of karyotype research on the suborder Symphyta (Hymenop-tera), or saw ﬂ ies and horntails, are discussed. The haploid chromosome number (n) in the studied members of the group can vary from 5 to 35, although the ancestral state of this character is apparently closer to n = 25. Metacen-trics and submetacentrics prevail in the karyotypes of the majority of Symphyta, but subtelocentrics and/or acro-centrics are often present in the chromosome sets of species with higher chromosome numbers. In the process of karyotype evolution, most horntails and saw ﬂ ies retained higher n values, but this variable decreased in the super-family Tenthredinoidea down to n = 10 and less. Prospective directions of chromosome research of the Symphyta imply a detailed investigation of the karyotype structure of these insects, including preparation of karyograms and morphometric analysis of chromosomes, as well as the chromosome study of horntails and saw ﬂ ies by using techniques of molecular cytogenetic analysis.
Menarche in Scoliotic and Non-Scoliotic Balkan Girls and the Relationship between Menarche and the Laterality of Scoliotic Curves

Background: Menarche, as an important parameter in the assessment of scoliosis progression in girls, is proven to be dependent on geographical latitude. The aim of this study was to determine whether the age of menarche differs in scoliotic and non-scoliotic Balkan girls and the relationship between menarche and the laterality of scoliotic curves. Participants and Methods: This is a retrospective study with three groups: scoliotic, non-scoliotic, and control. Patient data collection and analysis were approved by the Ethical Committee of the Institute. Statistical Analysis: The SPSS 24 program was used, and we employed One-way ANOVA, Fisher’s, and Chi-squared tests to compare different groups. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: No statistically significant difference was found in the age of menarche between the three groups (p = 0.168). In the scoliotic postmenarchal group, the primary right curve was dominant in 54.80%, while in the scoliotic premenarchal group, the primary left curve was dominant in 60.09% (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In Balkan girls from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, there was no significant difference in the age of menarche between scoliotic and non-scoliotic girls. A significant difference was found in the laterality of the primary curve in premenarchal and postmenarchal scoliotic girls.
Urbanization and economic growth in Punjab (India): an empirical analysis

When several cross-country and country level studies investigate the relevant determinates of urbanization and its impact on economic growth, the present paper focuses on micro level analysis by considering Indian states of Punjab. The empirical results show that urban population in Punjab is concentrated in and around Class I cities as in India. The distance to the nearest railway station from a city, city-wise rainfall have a negative effect while basic infrastructural facilities (i.e., number of schools, latrines, hospital, water availability) have a positive impact on urbanization. Finally, it finds a positive link between urbanization and economic growth in Punjab.
Optimization Of CIPP Evaluation Model as An Escalation of Educational-Industrial Collaboration Program

The importance of industrial and vocational collaboration in producing competent graduates is evident. However, there are still issues with the collaboration between industry and educational institutions, including the lack of appropriateness in the collaboration, the mismatch between student competencies in vocations and industry requirements, and inadequate alignment of graduate outcomes with industry needs. This research aims to explore the differing perspectives of universities, vocational schools, and industries in West Sumatra, Bandung, and Malang on the formation of CIPP components. Additionally, it seeks to reveal the direct and indirect influences between CIPP components—context, input, process, and product—to enhance the quality of cooperation and collaboration between industry and universities in Indonesia. The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The samples include vocational schools, involving teachers and leaders, and universities, involving lecturers and leaders in West Sumatra, Bandung, and Malang. The research instruments consist of a questionnaire and an interview guide. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques are applied, including descriptive analysis, difference tests using two-way ANOVA, and factor analysis tests using the SMART PLS application. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the evaluation results encompass the Context, Input, Process, Product (CIPP) variables in an ideal vocational school-university-industry collaboration model. The results indicate a direct and indirect positive influence between CIPP components. However, the evaluation results also highlight existing problems, necessitating improvements. This research contributes by providing recommendations for the collaboration program to enhance input capacity and generate relevant outcomes. In terms of input, the value is classified as very good, emphasizing the need for improvement in the dimensions of the context components, especially the competency environment, stakeholders, and policies that support optimal cooperation. Recommendations in the product section aim to increase student competency achievement.
Four essays in agricultural and development economics

In the first paper, I introduce a new framework to estimate household climate risk exposure based on a combination of climate and microeconomic data. I apply it to the Ethiopian Rural Household Survey (1994-2009) and find that households living at low altitudes are the most vulnerable to weather shocks. The second paper is based on a combination of open and double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCT) conducted in Tanzania in 2013 with 560 farmers. By comparing the results between the participants in the open and double-blind groups, we find that more than 50% of the total effect of improved seeds estimated in traditional open RCTs depends on farmers’ behaviour. The third paper, based on the RCT mentioned above (only the open one is used), tests the hypothesis that farmers try to escape forced solidarity when facing favourable conditions. We find that farmers having received the improved seeds decrease their number of social interactions. We interpret this as a sign that farmers seek to hide from the pressure to redistribute. In the fourth paper, I leave Africa for the Republic of Ireland and show that a large Irish agri-environmental scheme does not increase farmers’ risk exposure.
Exploring the Central Mechanisms of Botulinum Toxin in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review from Animal Models to Human Evidence

Botulinum toxin (BoNT) is an effective and safe therapy for the symptomatic treatment of several neurological disturbances. An important line of research has provided numerous pieces of evidence about the mechanisms of action of BoNT in the central nervous system, especially in the context of dystonia and spasticity. However, only a few studies focused on the possible central effects of BoNT in Parkinson’s disease (PD). We performed a systematic review to describe and discuss the evidence from studies focused on possible central effects of BoNT in PD animal models and PD patients. To this aim, a literature search in PubMed and SCOPUS was performed in May 2023. The records were screened according to title and abstract by two independent reviewers and relevant articles were selected for full-text review. Most of the papers highlighted by our review report that the intrastriatal administration of BoNT, through local anticholinergic action and the remodulation of striatal compensatory mechanisms secondary to dopaminergic denervation, induces an improvement in motor and non-motor symptoms in the absence of neuronal loss in animal models of PD. In human subjects, the data are scarce: a single neurophysiological study in tremulous PD patients found that the change in tremor severity after peripheral BoNT administration was associated with improved sensory–motor integration and intracortical inhibition measures. Further clinical, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging studies are necessary to clarify the possible central effects of BoNT in PD.
PHYTOREMEDIATION OF CADMIUM AND CHROMIUM CONTAMINATED SOILS BY CYPERUS ROTUNDUS. L

Toxic trace elements are increasing in all compartments of the biosphere including air, water and soil, as a result of anthropogenic processes. Environmental heavy metal pollution is mainly of anthropogenic origin and results from activities such as fossil fuels, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, landfill leachates, fertilizers, sewage and municipal wastes. Phytoremediation consists of mitigating pollutant concentrations in contaminated soils, water, or air, with plants able to contain, degrade, or eliminate metals, pesticides, solvents, explosives, crude oil and its derivatives, and various other contaminants from the media that contain them. Cyperus rotundus is a perennial plant, commonly known as coco-grass or nut grass. A pot experiment was conducted using Cyperus rotundus for the removal of chromium and cadmium contaminated soils. In the experimental period Cyperus accumulated chromium and cadmium in their plant body. Bioconcentration factor was calculated. The BCF of cadmium was 44.18 and the BCF of chromium was 4.42. Based on BCF values the grass species was a good accumulator of cadmium and chromium and the grass species was recommended for remediation of cadmium and chromium contaminated soils.
Neuroplasticity and Microglia Functions Applied in Dense Wireless Networks

This paper presents developments in the area of brain-inspired wireless communications relied upon in dense wireless networks. Classic approaches to network design are complemented, ﬁrstly, by the neuroplasticity feature enabling to add the learning ability to the network. Secondly, the microglia ability enabling to repair a network with damaged neurons is considered. When combined, these two functionalities guarantee a certain level of fault-tolerance and self-repair of the network. This work is inspired primarily by observations of extremely energy eﬃcient functions of the brain, and of the role that microglia cells play in the active immune defense system. The concept is veriﬁed by computer simulations, where messages are transferred through a dense wireless network based on the assumption of minimized energy consumption. Simulation encompasses three diﬀerent network topologies which show the impact that the location of microglia nodes and their quantity exerts on network performance. Based on the results achieved, some algorithm improvements and potential future work directions have been identiﬁed.
Vehicle Handling Evaluation Models Using Artificial Neural Networks

Stability of vehicle handling is of great importance for measuring the safety of vehicles. According to the current evaluation method, this crucial property is usually determined by technicians using existing impact factors and the evaluation is always generated by subjective judgments because there are no united criterion that can simplify the evaluation. However, this evaluation process is very hard to achieve because of the large scale of independent variables. Here, we aim at presenting a novel method based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) to aid the evaluation process for the tests of stability of vehicle handling. We set different impact factors of the tests as the independent variables, while the scores of the tests were set as the dependent variables. Using the existing data, we trained it using linear predictor, general regression neural network (GRNN) and multi-layer feedforward network (MLFN) during the machine learning process. Results show that ANN models can be used for aiding the subjective evaluation of stability in vehicle engineering. Our research can offer a novel insight for the vehicle evaluation in future studies.
Inflammation-Associated Cytotoxic Agents in Tumorigenesis

Simple Summary This review summarizes the present knowledge of cytotoxic agents and protective systems against these damaging substances in tumors. In tumor cells, enhanced levels of cytotoxic agents are usually counteracted by an overexpression of protective mechanisms. In this manner, tumor cells can even survive therapeutically induced stress situations. Tumor cells also affect immune cells and other cells in their close neighborhood in such a way that cells in this tumor microenvironment change their properties and promote tumor progression. Numerous examples are given for how the disturbed balance between inflammation-associated cytotoxic agents and antagonizing principles is related to tumor growth, tumor cell invasion, and metastasis. A thorough knowledge of these mechanisms is mandatory for the implementation of novel therapeutic approaches against cancers. Abstract Chronic inflammatory processes are related to all stages of tumorigenesis. As inflammation is closely associated with the activation and release of different cytotoxic agents, the interplay between cytotoxic agents and antagonizing principles is highlighted in this review to address the question of how tumor cells overcome the enhanced values of cytotoxic agents in tumors. In tumor cells, the enhanced formation of mitochondrial-derived reactive species and elevated values of iron ions and free heme are antagonized by an overexpression of enzymes and proteins, contributing to the antioxidative defense and maintenance of redox homeostasis. Through these mechanisms, tumor cells can even survive additional stress caused by radio- and chemotherapy. Through the secretion of active agents from tumor cells, immune cells are suppressed in the tumor microenvironment and an enhanced formation of extracellular matrix components is induced. Different oxidant- and protease-based cytotoxic agents are involved in tumor-mediated immunosuppression, tumor growth, tumor cell invasion, and metastasis. Considering the special metabolic conditions in tumors, the main focus here was directed on the disturbed balance between the cytotoxic agents and protective mechanisms in late-stage tumors. This knowledge is mandatory for the implementation of novel anti-cancerous therapeutic approaches.
Antibiotic treatment and survival in non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an effective mode of treatment. Despite their efficacy, responses to ICIs have been shown to differ based on several factors; for example, antibiotic use prior to and/or during immunotherapy has been associated with lower survival in NSCLC patients. The objective of this study is to provide an updated review of the literature and to fill in important knowledge gaps by accounting for potential confounding in the relationship between ICIs and survival. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on peer-reviewed studies that examined the effects of antibiotic use on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in NSCLC patients treated with ICIs. We searched MEDLINE for studies published up to June 30th, 2023 that included NSCLC patients treated with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) agents, who received antibiotics before and/or during immunotherapy, and included a control group who did not receive antibiotics and had available data on the associations between antibiotics and OS and PFS. We calculated aggregated crude OS and PFS for all studies, and only for studies that reported multivariable hazard ratios (HRs). Risk of bias was assessed using a funnel plot. All results were synthesized and displayed using the metaphor statistical package in R, version 4.2. 1. Results Nineteen studies, conducted between 2017 and 2022, met the inclusion criteria, and included 2,932 patients with advanced and/or metastatic NSCLC. Compared to those who did not receive antibiotics, immunotherapy patients who did had a significantly reduced PFS (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03–1.44) and OS (HR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.23–1.99). Adjusted HRs were even more pronounced (OS HRadj: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.23–2.27, PFS HRadj: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.16–2.32). Conclusions NSCLC patients treated with antibiotics have significantly lowered survival compared with patients not treated with antibiotics. These results support the hypothesis that antibiotic use in conjunction with ICI among NSCLC patients lowers survival. Limitations of this analysis include the use of studies available only on a single database, limiting the literature search to NSCLC patients, which may impact the generalizability of results to other cancer patient populations, and the inability to account for and adjust the estimates for the same variables (e.g., age, sex) across all studies. Nevertheless, our findings underscore the importance of taking antibiotic use into consideration when using ICIs to treat NSCLC and suggest that confounders should be taken into account when designing future similar studies.
Prevalence of and risk factors for sarcopenia in community‐dwelling people: The Vietnam Osteoporosis Study

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is a geriatric disease characterized by the progressive and generalized loss of skeletal lean mass and strength with age. The prevalence of sarcopenia in the Vietnamese population is unknown. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for sarcopenia among community‐dwelling individuals in Vietnam. Methods This cross‐sectional study is part of the ongoing Vietnam Osteoporosis Study project. The study involved 1308 women and 591 men aged 50 years and older as at 2015 (study entry). Whole‐body dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry was used to measure the appendicular skeletal lean mass. Anthropometric and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Sarcopenia was defined according to the criteria proposed by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between potential risk factors and sarcopenia. Results The prevalence of sarcopenia in women and men was 14% (n = 183) and 16% (n = 83), respectively. Age (odds ratio [OR] per 10 years = 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26–1.48) and being underweight (OR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.00–2.58) were independently associated with increased risk of sarcopenia. The combination of low physical activity, being underweight and advancing age accounted for ~27% of sarcopenic patients. However, most of the attributable fraction was due to ageing. Conclusions Sarcopenia is common in community‐dwelling Vietnamese adults, particularly those with advancing age, who are underweight and with low physical activity.