Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bacteriological profile of asymptomatic bacteriuria among diabetic patients

Introduction: Prevalence ofasymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) among diabetic patients is high compared to patients without diabetes. The present study was aimed at determining the prevalence asymptomatic bacteriuria with diabetes and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated uropathogens. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a rural tertiary care teaching hospital, in the department of microbiology to study the prevalence of ASB among patients with diabetes mellitus. Clean catch method was used to collect urine samples. All the urine specimens were processed according to standard microbiological procedures. Results: A total of 150 diabetic patients (81 females and 69 males) were included in the study. 25 urine specimens yielded significant bacterial growth and accounted for 16% Asymtomatic bacteriuria (ASB). Urine specimens collected from female 17 (11.3%) diabetic patients yielded growth predominatly. Urine samples collected from both male and female patients between the age group 51-60 (36%) years and 61-70 (24%) predominatly yielded the growth. In control group, Out of 150 urine samples from non diabetic patients, 7 urine specimens yielded growth and accounted for 4-6% asymptomatic bacteriuria. Escherichia coli was the predominant bacteria isolated in both study group and control group which accounted for 44% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: Asymptomatic bacteriuria among diabetic patients found to be high (16%) compared to healthy control group (4.6%). E,coli was the predominantly isolated bacteria from both diabetic patients and healthy control group. All Gram negative bacteria showed 100% susceptibility to imipenam. Good susceptibility was observed against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria by amikacin (90-100%) and nitrofurantoin (71-100%). Keywords: Asymptomatic bacteriuria, Diabetes, Escherichia coli, Amikacin, Nitrofurantoin.
The Influence of Instructional Leadership on Learning Organisation At High Performing Primary Schools in Malaysia

Transforming a school into a learning organization requires a significant cultural shift, change of mind-sets and a school-wide commitment to self-reflection and evaluation. The headmaster’s presence and drive in the school are urgently needed to bring the school to its intended purpose. Various styles of leadership will characterize the behaviour of a leader in performing their duties. It is essentially crucial for headmasters to increase competencies and skills in their practice of instructional leadership at the school. This study was conducted to identify the influence of instructional leadership on learning organization. It involved 286 teachers from 14 high-performing primary schools in the northern zone of Peninsular Malaysia. The modified Principal Instructional Management Rating Skills (PIMRS), and Middle School Teacher Survey (MSTS) were applied as research instruments. Data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) aided program AMOS 24. Findings indicated that instructional leadership was significantly related to learning organization. Results showed that loadings were significantly fit based on all index values tested with SEM and achieved the required level of the Goodness-of-Fit. Hence, findings could potentially benefit educational practitioners in planning, designing, implementing and evaluating future training such as professional development programs to sustain and enhance the leadership excellence of school leaders in Malaysia. Considerable time, efforts, and resources, however, will need to be allocated strategically, to turn any school into a successful and sustainable learning organization. What is important in bringing change and improvement is the collective agreement of the vision and objectives of the school. Keywords: High Performing School, Instructional Leadership, Learning Organisation,
Romantic Relationship Quality of Youth with Two Biological Parents and Stepfathers

This study uses data from a sample of 7,404 respondents from Waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine how the quality of relationships between parents (mother–father) and relationships between parents and children during adolescence (mother–adolescent and resident father–adolescent) influence children’s romantic relationship quality in young adulthood. This study also examined whether these family of origin factors operate similarly or differently for children raised with biological fathers and married stepfathers. Results indicate that mother–(step)father, mother–adolescent, and resident (step)father–adolescent relationship quality are all positively associated with adult children’s romantic relationship quality. However, the association between mother–(step)father relationship quality and young adult children’s romantic relationship quality was stronger for those who resided in stepfamilies.
The Business Side of Ecosystem Services of Soil Systems

Current applications of the Ecosystems Services (ES) framework to soils are narrowly defined (e.g., soil-based, pedosphere-based, etc.), and focus on soil properties while treating soil as a closed system. Because soil is an open system, it receives and loses matter across its boundaries within Earth’s spheres (atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, ecosphere, and anthroposphere), which also need to be accounted for in economic analysis. In market economies, the market transforms resources from the Earth’s pedosphere and related spheres into goods and services for societal welfare with non-market institutions mediating human and environmental interactions. These transformations and mediations can result not only in welfare but damages as well. The concept of soil ES and ecosystem disservices (ED) is a human-centered framework, which can be a useful tool in business decision-making. Soil ES (e.g., provisioning, regulation/ maintenance, and cultural) are used to produce goods and services, but the value of these ES and ED are not always accounted for as a part of business decision-making. The objective of this review is to illustrate the monetary valuation of ecosystem services of soil systems (SS) with examples based on the organizational hierarchy of soil systems. The organizational hierarchy of soil systems can be used in economic valuations of soil ES by scale (e.g., world, continent), time (e.g., soil, geologic), qualitative and quantitative degrees of computation (e.g., mental, verbal, descriptive, mathematical, deterministic, stochastic), and degree of complexity (e.g., mechanistic, empirical). Soil survey databases, soil analyses, Soil Data Systems (SDS), and Soil Business Systems (SBS) provide tools and a wide range of quantitative/qualitative data and information to evaluate goods and services for various business applications, but these sources of soil data may be limited in scope due to their static nature. Valuation of soil resources based on soil and non-soil science databases (e.g., National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) databases, etc.) is critically needed to account for these ES/ED as part of business decision-making to provide more sustainable use of soil resources. Since most ecosystems on Earth have been modified by human activity, “soil systems goods and services” (SSGS) may be a more applicable term to describe soil contributions (benefits/damages) to economic activity, compared to a term such as “soil ecosystem goods and services. ”
Study on Optimization of Wet Milling Process for the Development of Albendazole Containing Nanosuspension with Improved Dissolution

The main objective of this work was to show the potential of the optimization of top-down wet planetary bead milling process parameters (milling speed, process time and size of the milling medium) by Design Of Experiments (DOE) approach for the development of albendazole (ABZ) containing nanosuspension with improved dissolution. In addition, the influence of process parameters (capacity of milling container, applied volume of milling beads, size of the milling medium, milling speed, milling time) on ABZ polymorphic transition has also been investigated. The optimized, milled formula yielded ~ 145.39 times reduction in mean particle size (182.200 ± 1.3130 nm) compared to unmilled dispersion, which demonstrated 13.50 times gain in mean dissolution rate value compared to the unmilled dispersion in medium at pH = 1.2. No lag time values were observed in the dissolution kinetics of the nanosuspension in comparison with the unmilled samples. Moreover, maximal mean solubility value was also improved by 1.45 times compared to the unmilled suspension, in medium at pH = 6.8, supporting the significance of the Ostwald-Freundlich equation. Diffraction pattern comparisons have indicated a polymorphic transition of albendazole to Form II, which was more pronounced in smaller container at high milling speed values and prolonged operations.
IRF8 deficiency in colonic epithelial cells promotes inflammation-mediated colon tumorigenesis and myeloid-derived suppressor cell differentiation.

IRF8 is a member of the nine IRF family proteins that was originally identified as a key transcription factor for myeloid cell lineage differentiation. IRF8 deficiency leads to deregulation of myelopoiesis and accumulation of CD11b+Gr1+ immature myeloid cells that phenotypically and functionally resemble tumor-induced myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). It has since been documented that IRF8 also plays important roles in other immune cells, including B, Natural Killer, Dendritic and T cells. IRF8 expression and function has recently been extended to non-hematopoietic cells, including epithelial cancer cells and heart cells. IRF8 is often silenced by its promoter DNA methylation in cancer cells. However, low level of IRF8 is expressed in cancer cells and IRF8 is IFNg inducible in cancer cells. IRF8 acts as an apoptosis inducer. To determine the function of IRF8 in spontaneous tumor development, we generate IRF8 deficient mice with IRF8 KO only in colonic epithelial cells (termed IRF8 CKO mice). Unlike conventional IRF8-deficient mice, IRF8 CKO mice phenotypically resemble WT mice. However, IRF8 CKO exhibited greater susceptibility to AOM-DSS-induced colon cancer formation as compared to WT mice. Although no differences were observed in MDSC profiles between WT and IRF8 CKO mice, tumor-bearing IRF8 CKO mice have significantly higher level of CD11b+Gr1+MDSCs than tumor-bearing WT mice. Our data determine that IRF8 functions in colonic epithelial cells as a spontaneous colon cancer suppressor and also functions in colon carcinoma cells to mediate MDSC differentiation in tumor-bearing host in vivo.
Advantages of bi-cropping field beans (Vicia faba) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) on cereal forage yield and quality

ABSTRACT In organic production systems, penalties in cereal forage yield and low crude protein (CP) concentration are mainly caused by limited soil nitrogen (N) availability, which can be addressed by using cereal/grain legume bi-cropping systems. To confirm this, a bi-cropping experiment with spring wheat cv. Paragon and faba beans cvs. Fuego and Maris Bead were conducted in 2 years, using a randomised complete block design and sowing the crops in a replacement design series. In 2016, the wheat forage yield in sole cropping exceeded that in bi-cropping by 58%. In 2015, the wheat forage harvest index (HI) in bi-cropping was 14% higher than that in sole cropping, but in 2016 it was 7% lower. In both years, bi-cropping increased the CP and the grain N uptake in the wheat compared with that sole cropping, by 25% and 17%, respectively. The chlorophyll concentration index (CCI) in the wheat was 2.2 times higher in bi-cropping than in sole cropping and 34% higher in the alternate rows systems compared with the broadcast system. In 2015, the efficiency of N use (NLER) in bi-cropping was 50.7% higher than that in sole cropping. Alternate row bi-cropping improved NLER over broadcast by 37.9%. Faba bean rust disease was more severe in Fuego than in Maris Bead. In conclusion, bi-cropping in uniform alternate row spacing can improve productivity and nutritional quality of wheat forage, compared with sole cropping. The bi-crop bean cultivars Fuego and Maris Bead can, improve wheat straw CP and reduce rust disease severity, respectively.
Knowledge, attitude and practice among diabetic patients visiting a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore, Karnataka

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic non-communicable disease which has become the epidemic of the 21st century. Once considered a disorder of the elderly, it has now become one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality affecting the youth and middle-aged people. According to WHO 1.6 million deaths were estimated to be directly caused by diabetes in the year 2016 and attributed to be the seventh leading cause of death in the world.
Recalling Open Old Growth Forests in the Southeastern Mixed Forest Province of the United States

ABSTRACT Historical forests in the Southeastern Mixed Forest province of the United States have been less researched than other regions using historical tree surveys. We used 81,000 tree records from surveys during the 1800s to quantify composition of this ecological province. Upland oaks and pines comprised about 75% of all trees, with relatively equal composition. Oak composition may have comprised ≥ 45% to the northern and eastern sides of the province. Hickories were about 10% of composition and a few species were present at 1% to 2% composition. Currently, pine has increased to 49% composition; loblolly pine was 46% of all trees. Upland oaks decreased to 8% composition. Paralleling other historically oak- or pinedominated regions, fire-intolerant species increased to 40% of composition, particularly early-successional sweetgum. Historical oak-pine forests mostly have converted to loblolly pine plantations and broadleaf forests in this region. A large extent of the eastern United States historically was dominated by oak or pine forests, which likely were open old growth forests due to a frequent, low-to-moderate severity fire regime that reduced tree densities and infrequently disturbed overstory trees. Open old growth forests should be recognized as distinct ecosystems with unique characteristics, ecological functioning, and associated management practices.
Insectivorous Birds in Edge and Interior Habitats of Forest Plantation in Gunung Walat, Sukabumi

Among forest birds, insectivorous birds are known to be most affected by habitat fragmentation. This study aimed at examining insectivorous bird communities in edge and interior habitats of a forest plantation. Monthly observation was conducted from January to June 2010 in Gunung Walat Education Forest, Sukabumi, to record bird community using point count method with a fix radius of 30m for 15 minutes. Observation points were placed in each of edge and interior habitats of broadleaves Schima wallichii and conifer Agathis damara stands. Arthropod sampling was done twice using window traps and yellow panes. A total of 44 bird species of 19 families were identified in the study plots, in which 54% (24 species) were insectivores. A higher bird abundance and richness were recorded in edge habitat. A positive correlation was found between the total number of birds and total number of arthropods. However, the richness of insectivorous species tends to be lower in edge habitats. There were also differences in insectivorous bird community between types of stands, with broadleaves stand had a higher species richness compared to conifer.
Cluster-Related Phenomena in the Properties and Transformations of Transition Metal-Based Glassy Alloys

A survey of the cluster formation tendency and mechanism in transition metal-based glassy alloys is made with an emphasis on their manifestation in various physical properties. The cluster formation is partially inherited from the supercooling of the melt. However, it also develops due to the interaction between dissolved hydrogen and the frozen glassy structure. The glassy state as “cluster assembly” is regarded as a structural background for the interpretation of several anomalous concentration dependences of thermal and magnetic properties in these glasses. We will focus on the manifestation of alloying effects, the relation between irreversible and reversible structural relaxations both in the high, and low temperature range (observed near to the glass transition or after low temperature storage). The development of the cluster assembly is the consequence of the co-existence of various bonding types between the alloy components. These are brought together in the melt, ensuring sufficient glass-forming ability. The nucleation mechanism of the amorphous-nanocrystalline transformation is also explained as a cluster phenomenon, which significantly contributes to the evolution of magnetic ultra-softness in FINEMET-type alloys. Finally, the role of the quenched-in cluster structure in the mechanism of reversible and irreversible H-absorption is discussed. Irreversible H-induced structural rearrangements can appear as microphase separation in multicomponent systems, governed by the affinity difference between the metallic components and the absorbed hydrogen. This kind of H-induced reordering is responsible for the “volume activation” of amorphous H-storage alloys and it also causes the gradual breakdown of storage capacity during cyclic absorption–desorption steps. This article mainly focuses on the cluster phenomena in Fe-based glasses because of its unique combination of high mechanical strength, strong corrosion resistance, good thermal stability and excellent magnetic properties.
Utilization of Vigna mungo flour as fat mimetic in biscuits: Its impact on antioxidant profile, polyphenolic content, storage stability, and quality attributes

In the present study, an effort was made to incorporate Vigna mungo flour (VMF) as a fat mimetic for the development of functional biscuits. Rheological properties of dough, pasting profile, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activities (1, 1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] inhibition and ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP]), shelf life, and nutritional and sensory properties of the samples were analyzed. An increase in DPPH inhibition, FRAP, TPC, and TFC was observed with increase in the concentration of VMF in wheat flour (WF). The addition of VMF resulted in increased water absorption (58.71–72.40%) and dough stability time (6.30–13.11 min). Set back viscosities (479–81 torque) decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05), whereas break down viscosities (378–447 torque) increased. The baking process decreased the IC50 values of DPPH inhibition (255.40–169.21 mg/ml) and FRAP (114.45–34.12 mg/ml), although TPC and TFC decreased. The study of shelf life for 2 months revealed no significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in antioxidant, phenolics, and flavonoids contents of VMF‐WF biscuits. Furthermore, the antioxidants, TFC, and TPC compounds were undetected in control throughout the storage period. The increase in both peroxide value (3.9 mEqO2/kg of fat) and free fatty acid (0.87%) was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) than that of the control biscuits during storage but were in an acceptable range. It correlates to the enhanced activity of natural antioxidants as TPC and TFC in VMF‐WF biscuits, which are responsible for the decrease in the rate of oxidation. Nutritional data of VMF‐WF biscuits revealed that protein (11.20–15.85%), crude fiber (0.21–2.01%), and ash content (0.53–4.01%) significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) and calories (497–430 kcal/100 g) reduced because of the addition of fat mimetic. Biscuits prepared with VMF 15% demonstrated superior quality as compared with control. In conclusion, it could be suggested that the addition of VMF as a fat mimetic in biscuits may increase antioxidant and polyphenolic contents with enhanced storage stability. The reduced calories, increased protein, fiber, mineral contents, and enhanced antioxidant activity considerably increase the nutritional status of the biscuits.
Kidney Transplantation in the Times of COVID-19 – A Literature Review

Kidney transplantation at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging. Modifying the immunosuppression protocols is controversial and not evidence based. In this study, we aim to review the published literature of kidney transplant recipients who encountered COVID-19. A literature review was performed using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and World Health Organization databases to identify relevant English-language articles published up to May 7, 2020. There were 24 articles that reported 129 kidney transplant recipients who encountered COVID-19. The age mean was 54.2 years with 73.7% as males. The most commonly reported presentations in order were fever (82.3%), cough (58%), shortness of breath (33.2%), and fatigue (30.7%). Acute kidney injury was observed in 34.1% of patients. Kidney transplant patients encountered COVID-19 were maintained on tacrolimus (Tac, 92%), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF, 78.8%), and prednisone (Pred, 77%) and were manage by holding MMF in 79.1% of patients and holding Tac in 34.4% of patients. In all, 20% of patients needed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and 24.6% of patients required mechanical ventilation. In all, 18.8% of patients had died compared to the reported general population COVID-19 mortality of 3.4%. The clinical presentation of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients may be different from the general population with a higher rate of severe disease, complications including renal failure, and mortality.
Coordination Networks among Local Human Service Organizations: Insights into Super-Connectors and Barriers

Abstract This article examines service coordination patterns across various service areas in Albany, the capital city of the New York State. Based on 42 in-person interviews with executive directors at various human service agencies, inter-organizational network was constructed and analyzed. The network displayed sparse and multipolar connectivity, suggesting that organizations operate in silos, with few organizations holding key positions of structural importance in the network architecture (so-called “super-connectors”). In addition, content analysis drew qualitative insights into perceived challenges to coordinate services. Several factors, both external (e.g., lack of trust or centralized communication system) and internal (e.g., lack of resources or knowledge) might have contributed to the observed structural properties. This finding suggests further examining the role of super-connectors in future research to better understand why these hubs exist and how they can work with other organizations in a cooperative and mutually beneficial manner.
Partial least squares regression with compositional response variables and covariates

ABSTRACT The common approach for regression analysis with compositional variables is to express compositions in log-ratio coordinates (coefficients) and then perform standard statistical processing in real space. Similar to working in real space, the problem is that the standard least squares regression fails when the number of parts of all compositional covariates is higher than the number of observations. The aim of this study is to analyze in detail the partial least squares (PLS) regression which can deal with this problem. In this paper, we focus on the PLS regression between more than one compositional response variable and more than one compositional covariate. First, we give the PLS regression model with log-ratio coordinates of compositional variables, then we express the PLS model directly in the simplex. We also prove that the PLS model is invariant under the change of coordinate system, such as the ilr coordinates with a different contrast matrix or the clr coefficients. Moreover, we give the estimation and inference for parameters in PLS model. Finally, the PLS model with clr coefficients is used to analyze the relationship between the chemical metabolites of Astragali Radix and the plasma metabolites of rat after giving Astragali Radix.