Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of C-reactive protein in breast cancer by enzyme linked immunoassay technique.

OBJECTIVE To explore the serum levels of C-reactive protein in breast cancer patients, and to investigate the relationship between inflammation and progression of breast cancer. METHODS The case-control study was conducted at Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, from September 2015 to December 2018, and comprised breast cancer patients in group A and and an equal number of age-matched healthy women in control group B. C-reactive protein levels were evaluated in serum samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in both the groups and micro ribonucleic acid levels in serum were quantified using real time polymerase chain reaction. Data was analysed using SPSS 16. RESULTS Of the 170 subjects, 85(50%) were in each of the two groups. C-reactive protein and micro ribonucleic acid expression were significantly different in group A (p<0.001). There was no correlation (r = 0.162, p>0.01) between the tumour markers in group B (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Significantly raised C-reactive protein levels showed there was a link between inflammation and breast cancer.
Microbiological Assessment of the Different Hand Drying Methods and Washroom Environment Cross-Contamination

Proper hand drying is a fundamental part of the hand hygiene process looking at optimizing the elimination of potentially pathogenic microbes. This research compared the effectiveness of three different hand drying methods—paper towels, the use of warm air dryers in stationary hands position, and the use of air drying while hand rubbing—and their potential for cross-contamination of other users and the surrounding environment. One hundred sixty samples were collected from finger pads and palms, before and after drying. The outlet of the air dryers, air current emitted from the air dryers, and washroom environment air were also tested. The study reported that paper towels were more successful in eliminating bacteria and lead to less contamination to the washroom environment compared to the air dryers. The average number of bacteria obtained from volunteers using hand air dryer while hand rubbing was significantly higher than drying with air dryer while holding hands stationary. Plates exposed to the turned-off dryer for 5 minutes gave an average of only 25 colonies/plate, while plates exposed to the air outlet of the turned-on warm air dryers provided 292 colonies/plate. Placing Petri dishes at least one meter away from the dryer in the washroom for 30 minutes gave 72.5 colonies/plate. The current research also documented frequent contamination of public washroom environments and showed dissemination of potential pathogens, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella species, Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and coagulase-negative Staphylococci. Over 70.0% of Staphylococci were resistant to at least three antibiotics and 50.0% revealed coresistance to at least four antibiotics including penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and co-trimoxazole. The method of hand drying may serve as a risk factor of cross-contamination from users to the environment and subsequent users and as reservoirs of drug-resistant bacteria in public washrooms.
The Compound Eye Possesses a Self-Sustaining Circadian Oscillator in the Cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

Many insects show daily and circadian changes in morphology and physiology in their compound eye. In this study, we investigated whether the compound eye had an intrinsic circadian rhythm in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. We found that clock genes period (per), timeless (tim), cryptochrome 2 (cry2), and cycle (cyc) were rhythmically expressed in the compound eye under 12-h light/12-h dark cycles (LD 12:12) and constant darkness (DD) at a constant temperature. After the optic nerves were severed (ONX), a weak but significant rhythmic expression persisted for per and tim under LD 12:12, while under DD, tim and cyc showed rhythmic expression. We also found that more than half of the ONX compound eyes exhibited weak but significant circadian electroretinographic rhythms. These results clearly demonstrate that the cricket compound eye possesses an intrinsic circadian oscillator which can drive the circadian light sensitivity rhythm in the eye, and that the circadian clock in the optic lobe exerts its influence on the oscillator in the eye.
Photonic Bound States in the Continuum: From Basics to Applications

The introduction of bound states in the continuum (BICs) to photonics has revolutionized the way cavity design and light–matter interactions are thought about in general. BICs can have very high quality factors, even in open structures where access to radiation is permissible. Now, BICs found applications in a large class of areas, including nonlinear enhancement, coherent light generation, sensors, filters, integrated circuits, and many others. In this review, the different types of BICs in photonic systems, as well as their physics and formation mechanisms are briefly overviewed. The rest of the review focuses on the current and emerging applications of photonic BICs and their role in shaping the interaction of light and matter.
QUALIDADE DE BISCOITOS FORMULADOS COM DIFERENTES TEORES DE FARINHA DE AMÊNDOA DE BARU (Dipteryx alata Vog.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of cookie biscuits formulated with different levels of baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) nut flour in substitution of wheat and manioc flours. The quality criteria were the sensory preference, chemical composition, and particles from breakage of biscuits under vibration conditions. It was observed that there was no difference (p > 0.05) among samples regarding the formation of fine particles between 2.5% in the biscuit with 8% of baru nut flour and 3.3% in the biscuit with 2% of baru nut flour. The panelists considered the biscuits with 4% and 8% of baru nut flour with the same appearance as control treatment (p > 0.05). Regarding flavor, the biscuit with no baru nut flour was not different (p > 0.05) from other treatments. The texture also was not different (p > 0.05) among the treatments. The gradual addition of baru nut flour to the biscuits increased the level of protein, lipid, iron, calcium, and fiber, and reduced the level of total carbohydrates. The conclusion was that addition of 8% of baru nut flour enhances the nutritional quality of the biscuit, not interfering with consumers' sensory preference and with resistance to vibration. KEY-WORDS: Cookies; sensory evaluation.
Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Measure Knowledge of and Attitude toward COVID-19 among Nursing Students in Greece

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing students have had a key role in supporting the healthcare sector. They can join healthcare professionals in clinical practice or provide information to increase citizens’ levels of knowledge and their compliance with the restriction measures. The study aimed to develop and validate a tool to measure knowledge of and attitudes toward COVID-19 among nursing students in Greece. Methods: A questionnaire was developed through theoretical research and expert consultation. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 348 undergraduate nursing students of the Department of Nursing, Hellenic Mediterranean University, recruited by convenient sampling. Validity and reliability were analyzed. Results: The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure was 0.84, indicating that the sample size was adequate for factor analysis. In addition, the p-value for Bartlett’s test of sphericity was <0.001, denoting that the correlation matrix was suitable for factor analysis. The construct validity of the questionnaire was determined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), which revealed that 16 items lead to four factors: knowledge, attitude toward restriction measures, compliance with them, and volunteering. One of the key findings of this study was that participants preferred to receive information from valid sources rather than social media during the crucial period of the “infodemic”. Conclusions: The questionnaire was shown to have satisfying psychometric properties and, therefore, can be used as a tool in future research in the area of nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes, compliance, and volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Influences of Participatory Management and Corporate Governance on the Reduction of Financial Information Asymmetry: Evidence from Thailand

The purposes of this research were: 1) to investigate the effect of participatory management on financial information asymmetry, 2) to investigate the effect of corporate governance on financial information asymmetry, 3) to examine the influences of benefits incentives on financial information asymmetry, and 4) to test the mediating effects of benefits incentive that influences the relationship between participatory management, corporate governance, and financial information asymmetry. The research sample consisted of 388 Thai-listed firms. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, Multiple Regression Analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling were used for the data analysis. The results revealed: 1) participatory management and participation in evaluation had a negative influence on financial information asymmetry. 2) Corporate governance and the rights of shareholders had a negative influence on financial information asymmetry. 3) Benefits incentive was negatively associated with financial information asymmetry. 4) The model’s influences of participatory management, corporate governance on the reduction of financial information asymmetry through benefits incentive as mediator fit the empirical data (Chi-square = 104.459, df = 84, p = 0.065, GFI = 0.967, RMSEA = 0.025). The variables in the model explained 78.00% and 4.70 % of the variance of benefits incentive and financial information asymmetry, respectively.
Artificial Insemination Training Program for Smallholder Pig Farms in Gauteng Province, South Africa

The aim of this study was to facilitate artificial insemination training to enhance sustainable pig production within the developing smallholder pig production sector in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Eighteen smallholder pig farmers with requisite structures (pig house, pens), pigs (large white, landrace duroc or South African indigenous) and management (feeding, cleaning and record keeping) capacity were trained on routine pig management and artificial insemination procedures in a “learning by doing” on-farm supervised programme administered by Agricultural Research Council, Animal Production pig training team. Following estrus detection, 96 sows were artificially inseminated and 31 naturally served (NS). Farrowing rates (FR), total born (TB) and born alive (BA) piglets were recorded. The occurrence ccurrence of mummified fetuses (0.019 vs. 0.022%) and weak piglets (0.038 vs. 0.049%) did not differ between artificially inseminated sows and naturally mated sows. Born alive, birth weight and weaning weight were higher for artificial inseminated sows. The average litter size was 15± and 13±, birth weight 1.98±0.79 kg and 1.48±0.58 kg and weaning weight 9.89±0.87 kg and 7.23±0.71 kg for the AI and NS litters, respectively. Farmer demographic factors (age, gender and educational level) had no effect on farrowing rate, total born and piglets born alive. Therefore, implementation of artificial insemination techniques and pig production training was feasible under a smallholder pig production system.
Seasonal variation of the hydro-environmental factors and phytoplankton community around waters in Tincan Island, Lagos State, Nigeria

The phytoplankton diversity, pigment, abundance and distribution in relation to physico-chemical parameters were studied from four stations for a period of five months (May – September 2018) and were analysed using standard procedures. Rainfall was highest (329.5 mm) in September and lowest (142.7 mm) in July. The total suspended solid (TSS) had a mean value of 63.10±12.81 mg/L and the total dissolved solids (TDS) had the highest value of 15189 mg/L in May which was not significantly different around the sampling points {P > 0.05}. The pH and nitrate level recorded had a mean value of 7.25±0.33 and 3.11±1.33 mg/L respectively. Microscopic identification revealed a total of 129 species belonging to 62 genera, 22 families and five divisions in the following order of specie abundance: Bacillariophyceae (65 taxa) > Cyanophyceae (27 taxa) > Chlorophyta (20 taxa) > Dinophyceae (10 taxa) > Euglenophyceae (7 taxa). The high dominance of Microcystis aeruginosa observed was indicative of organic pollution. The range of community structure indices were as follows: Margalef Index (0.1406 – 5.295) and Shannon – Weiner Index (0.02644 - 0.4979). The relatively high nutrient status favours the high abundance of phytoplankton which is understood to be deleterious to the ecosystem. Municipal wastes must be treated or recycled before discharge and a continuous environmental surveillance is required to maintain the biological integrity of this area. Keywords: Phytoplankton, Physicochemical Parameters, Nutrient Status and Tincan Island
Phenomological Happiness of the History and Geography Teacher in Rural

The purpose of this research was to describe, analyze and interpret the essence of the experience lived by teachers of the specialties of History and Geography in Huanca Sancos Ayacucho. Reflective and empirical methods of hermeneutical phenomenology were developed; the latter is responsible for addressing reality based on the subject's consciousness in understanding the meaning of what has been experienced; research was oriented from the qualitative approach and interpretive paradigm. The information was obtained from a sample made up of teachers who narrated their experiences through anecdotes. Close observation and a conversational interview were also used as instruments and techniques. The analysis and interpretation of the information allowed to discover individual and group meanings such as happiness, reflection, satisfaction, and tranquility; thus building as a general thematic unit of this study: the happiness of the teacher, understood as fullness, well-being and satisfaction; it is actually the source of all pedagogical transformation. To conclude, it can be stated that the study has the character of stimulation and satisfaction in the practice of pedagogical happiness as a habit that leads to making thinking more flexible and discovering better options for a change
In vivo antiplasmodial and toxicological studies of Dialium angolense Welw. Ex Oliv. (Fabaceae) leaves extracts, a medicinal plant from Eastern Congo

Dialium angolense is used in traditional medicine in Bagira-Bukavu in the management of malaria. In this study, in vivo antiplasmodial and in vitro antioxidant activities, phytochemical screening of secondary metabolic and in vivo toxicological studies where carried out on aqueous and methanolic extracts of its leaves. The plant was selected following an ethnobotanical survey conducted in DR Congo and focusing on antimalarial plants. Extracts’ phytochemical secondary metabolites were determined using standard procedures and the antiplasmodial activity was evaluated using 4-day suppressive test, while antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay. In acute toxicity, eighteen animal (6/group) were given orally singular 2000 mg of extract/kg body weight (BW) then observed for 14 days. In sub-acute toxicity assay, 150 or 300 mg/kg BW/Day were given orally, and animals (6/group) were observed for 28 days. The total phenolic (0.89 0.98 mg GAEg-1), total flavonoid (0.42 0.44 mg QEg-1) and total tannin contents (0.080 – 0.098 mg GAEg-1) were in the same rate in the two extracts as well as the antioxidant activity with IC50 value 6.1 and 6.8 μg/mL. At the highest oral dose, 300 mg/kg body weight, all extracts produced 70.4–70.8% chemo-suppression against P. berghei ANKA and 28 survival days. No deaths were recorded during the acute toxicity assay suggesting the LD50 > 2000 mg/kg and no abnormal behavior or variation in toxicity biomarkers were observed during the subacute toxicity assessment. D. angolense leaves extracts showed a great antiplasmodial and a very good antioxidant activity. It can be used to prepare antimalarial recipe or isolate antimalarial compounds in the future.
Analysis on Acoustic Disturbance Signals Expected During Partial Discharge Measurements in Power Transformers

This paper presents comparative analysis of various acoustic signals expected during partial discharge (PD) measurements in operating power transformer. Main purpose of the paper is to yield relevant and reliable method to distinguish between various acoustic emission (AE) signals emitted by PD and other sources, with particular consideration of real-life results rather than laboratory simulations. Therefore, selected examples of real-life AE signals registered in seven different power transformers, under normal operation conditions, within few years are showed and analyzed. Five scenarios are investigated, which represent five types of AE sources: PD generated by artificial sources, and next four real-life sources (including PD in working transformer, oil flow, oil pumps and core). Several different signal processing methods are applied and compared in order to identify the PD signals. As a result, an energy patterns analysis based on the wavelet decomposition is found as the most reliable tool for identification of PD signals. The presented results may significantly support the process of interpretation of the PD measurement results, and may be used by field engineers as well as other researchers involved in PD analysis using AE method. Finally, observed properties also provide a solid basis for establishing or improving complete classification method based on the artificial intelligence algorithms.
‘To be a slut is to be free’: women in favela funk, performances of racialised femininity, and celebrity media

ABSTRACT Rio de Janeiro’s favela funk movement has been one of Brazil’s most important contemporary cultural and musical expressions. Favela funk arose out of Rio’s slums and combines diverse Brazilian and other beats from the African diaspora, and lyrics are performed with an aggressive, mocking tone, filled with sexual references. Poor women of colour in favela funk, also known as funkeiras, have been responsible for much of the celebrity media attention the movement enjoys, and with feminism’s recent renewed popularity, the women have been more frequently confronted with questions of feminism, considering most of them perform songs about gendered relationships. This essay investigates how and why once some funkeiras begin to call themselves feminists, they tend to engage in a more palatable (meaning, white and middle class) version of their femininity. As their performances of femininity become more conforming, their positive visibility as feminists in celebrity media increases – a drastic change, considering that celebrity media often portrays funkeiras in demeaning and scornful ways. I conclude that celebrity culture and mainstream celebrity feminism push funkeiras into normative performances of femininity that, though not necessarily traditional, are infused with norms that privilege whiteness and middle-classness.
Frailty impact on postoperative complications and early mortality rates in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the prevalence of frailty, a status of vulnerability to stressors leading to adverse health events, in bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC), and test the impact of frailty measurements on postoperative adverse outcomes. Methods: A systematic review of English-language articles published up to April 2020 was performed. Electronic databases were searched to quantify the frailty prevalence in RC patients and assess the predictive ability of frailty indexes on RC-related outcomes as postoperative complications, early mortality, hospitalization length (LOS), costs, discharge dispositions, readmission rate. Results: Eleven studies were selected. Patients’ frailty was identified by Johns Hopkins indicator (JHI) in two studies, 11-item modified Frailty Index (mFI) in four, 5-item simplified FI (sFI) in three, 15-point mFI in one, Fried Frailty Criteria in one. Considering all the frailty measurements applied, 8% and 31% of patients were frail or pre-frail, respectively. Frail (43%) and pre-frail patients (35%) were more at risk of major complications compared to non-frail (27%) using sFI; with JHI the percentages of frail and non-frail were 53% versus 19%. According to JHI and mFI frailty was related to longer LOS and higher costs. JHI identified that 3% of frail patients experience in-hospital mortality versus 1.5% of non-frail. Finally, using sFI, frail (28%), and pre-frail (19%) were more likely to be discharged non-home compared to non-frail patients (8%) and had a higher risk of 30-day mortality (4% and 2% versus 1%). Conclusions: Almost half of RC patients were frail or pre-frail, conditions significantly related to an increased risk of postoperative adverse events with higher rates of major complications and early mortality. The most-used frailty index was mFI, while JHI and sFI resulted the most reliable to predict early postoperative RC-related adverse outcomes and should be routinely included in clinical practice after better standardization throughout prospective comparative studies. Abbreviations: ACG: Adjusted Clinical Groups; ACS: American College Surgeons; AUC: area under the curve; BCa: bladder cancer; CCI: Charlson Comorbidity Index; CSHA-FI: Canadian Study of Health and Aging Frailty Index; CCS: Clavien-Dindo Classification Score; ERAS: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery; FFC: Fried Frailty Criteria; (e)(m)(s)FI: (extended) (modified) (simplified) Frailty Index; ICU: intensive care unit; IQR: interquartile range; (p)LOS: (prolonged) length of hospital stay; NSQIP: National Surgical Quality Improvement Program; OR: odds ratio; (O)PN: (open) partial nephrectomy; PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses; (O)(RA)RC: (open)(robot-assisted) radical cystectomy; (O)RN: (open) radical nephrectomy; ROC: receiver operating characteristic; RNU: radical nephroureterectomy; (R)RP: (retropubic) radical prostatectomy; RR: relative risk; THCs: total hospital charges; nephrectomy; UD: urinary diversion
Bendamustine plus rituximab for the treatment of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia: Patient outcomes and impact of bendamustine dosing

Bendamustine and rituximab (BR) therapy is commonly used in the treatment of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM). The impact dose of Bendamustine dose on response and survival outcomes is not well‐established, and the impact of its use in different treatment settings is not clear. We aimed to report response rates and survival outcomes following BR, and clarify the impact of depth of response and bendamustine dose on survival. A total of 250 WM patients treated with BR in the frontline or relapsed settings were included in this multicenter, retrospective cohort analysis. Rates of partial response (PR) or better differed significantly between the frontline and relapsed cohorts (91.4% vs 73.9%, respectively; p < 0.001). Depth of response impacted survival outcomes: two‐year predicted PFS rates after achieving CR/VGPR vs PR were 96% versus 82%, respectively (p = 0.002). Total bendamustine dose was predictive of PFS: in the frontline setting, PFS was superior in the group receiving ≥1000 mg/m2 compared with those receiving 800–999 mg/m2 (p = 0.04). In the relapsed cohort, those who received doses of <600 mg/m2 had poorer PFS outcomes compared with those who received ≥600 mg/m2 (p = 0.02). Attaining CR/VGPR following BR results in superior survival, and total bendamustine dose significantly impacts response and survival outcomes, in both frontline and relapsed settings.