Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reelin Signaling Pathway and Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: A Causative Link

Introduction: Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most frequent form of partial epilepsy. Granule cell dispersion, resulting from aberrant neuronal migration in the hippocampus, is pathognomonic of MTLE. Reelin, a secreted neurodevelopmental glycoprotein has a crucial role in controlling the radial migration of neurons. Several animal studies have implicated Reelin in the MTLE pathogenesis Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most frequent form of partial epilepsy. Granule cell dispersion, resulting from aberrant neuronal migration in the hippocampus, is pathognomonic of MTLE. Reelin, a secreted neurodevelopmental glycoprotein has a crucial role in controlling the radial migration of neurons. Several animal studies have implicated Reelin in the MTLE pathogenesis. Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the Reelin signalling pathway in the MTLE patients. Therefore, we studied each step in the Reelin signalling pathway for the gene and protein expressions, in the hippocampal tissue obtained from patients undergoing surgery for MTLE and compared it with age matched normal autopsy cases. Results: We found statistically significant decrease (P<0.001) in the Reelin mRNA expression in MTLE patients. Among the two reelin receptors, apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2) was significantly increased whereas very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) was decreased among the patients. Disabled 1 (Dab1), the downstream target of reelin, was found to be decreased. Dab1 in turn inhibits Cofilin, which is responsible for cytoskeletal reorganization, thus limiting aberrant neuronal migration. Statistically significant over expression of Cofilin protein was found in the patient group. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases-1 (TIMP-1), both of which are involved in processing of Reelin, were down regulated in 70–85% of cases. Conclusion: The whole pathway was found to be deranged in MTLE. These results indicate that Reelin signalling pathway is disturbed at various points in the MTLE patients and might be involved in the pathogenesis & progression of MTLE. Our results extend the existing information regarding the components of the Reelin pathway and further, establish a link between pathway disturbance and MTLE.
Two-Dimensional Ti3C2Tx MXene Nanosheets for Efficient Copper Removal from Water

The performance of two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets in the adsorption and copper removal from aqueous media was investigated. Delaminated (DL)-Ti3C2Tx exhibited excellent Cu removal ability, because of their large specific surface area, hydrophilicity, and unique surface functional properties. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed to analyze the structural changes in Ti3C2Tx MXene and its interaction with Cu ions. Oxygenated moieties in the layered structure of MXene facilitated reductive adsorption of Cu2+ forming Cu2O and CuO species. DL-Ti3C2Tx exhibited a higher and faster Cu uptake, compared to multilayer (ML)-Ti3C2Tx. The maximum experimental adsorption capacity (Qexp,max) was 78.45 mg g–1, and 80% of the total content of metal ions was adsorbed within 1 min. A pseudo-second-order k.
Paradox of Deadwood Circular Bioeconomy in Kenya’s Public Forests

With the rising demand for energy, the forest-based circular bioeconomy is gaining recognition as a strategy for sustainable production and consumption of forest resources. However, the forest-based bioeconomy remains underexplored from the perspective of deadwood conservation in public forests. While conducting a literature review and examining the case of Kenya, this study fills a gap in the literature to provide policy suggestions for sustainable forest resource utilization. The results from global literature indicate that deadwood performs essential social, economic, and environmental functions in the circular bioeconomy and sustainable development. Similarly, in Kenya, deadwood resources provide many socially beneficial bioproducts and services. However, the absence of scientific research and detailed guidelines for deadwood conservation may lead to the distortion of the ecological balance in public forests because of the legally sanctioned removal of deadwood, particularly firewood. Moreover, if the status quo remains, with approximately 70% of the growing population consuming deadwood for domestic use and the demand increasing, as shown by the current wood deficit in the country, there will be a major dilemma concerning whether to conserve deadwood for biodiversity or energy. Therefore, averting crisis and providing maximum deadwood value to society requires guidelines and comprehensive research in addition to a cultural and behavioral shift in energy consumption in a manner that embraces the forest-based circular bioeconomy of deadwood.
Iron isotope effect on the superconducting transition temperature and the crystal structure of FeSe1−x

The Fe isotope effect (Fe-IE) on the transition temperature Tc and the crystal structure was studied in the Fe chalcogenide superconductor FeSe1−x by means of magnetization and neutron powder diffraction (NPD). The substitution of natural Fe (containing ≃92% of 56Fe) by its lighter 54Fe isotope leads to a shift in Tc of 0.22(5) K corresponding to an Fe-IE exponent of αFe=0.81(15). Simultaneously, a small structural change with isotope substitution is observed by NPD, which may contribute to the total Fe isotope shift of Tc.
Fostering Self-Protection against Impacts of Heavy Rain at the Municipal Level

Local governments are highly relevant actors when it comes to mitigating climate change impacts such as flooding. Not only do they need to implement regulatory and infrastructural measures, but they also need to promote complementing self-protective measures at the household level. The individual motivation of municipal actors to pursue climate adaptation can be important for the implementation of such measures, obviously alongside several other factors, such as financial and administrative issues. A questionnaire survey with a non-random sample of 77 local government actors from 15 of the 16 German federal states was conducted, focusing on potential key factors concerning the motivation to implement adaptation measures against hazardous impacts of heavy rain. Additionally, the perceived effectiveness and realizability of selected municipal structural measures and of activation measures promoting self-protective behavior were collected. It can be shown that the perceived realizability of adaptation measures as well as knowledge of risk and adaptation may be key factors in the motivation to implement both activation and structural measures, while motivation and implementation are only partially related. The results imply a need for the evaluation of activation measures and a need for further research on the motivation of municipal actors to implement activation measures.
What drives generation-y women to buy fashion items online?

ABSTRACT Fashion retailers, marketers, and app designers must captivate their dominant consumers: Generation-y women. Nevertheless, existing research and design practice is grounded in older apps and older generations: Generation-x. Through 27 semi-structured interviews, we define generation-y’s unique interaction with – and perception of – fashion m-commerce to enhance fashion retailers’ ability to design apps targeted at their dominant consumers. We prove that efficiency and convenience drive app engagement, official marketing social media is more effective than friend’s social media posts, and interactive design features are irrelevant in purchase motivation. We finish by communicating our findings through six design recommendations, subdivided by market sector.
Price premiums for certified roundwood: evidence from auction sales in Turkey

ABSTRACT Around 6.5 million ha state-owned forests are certified by Forest Stewardship Council in Turkey. Roundwood originated from certified forests has been in the market for nearly a decade. Little is known about the impact of forest certification on the roundwood price. Price models were constructed to explore the price premium for certified roundwood using sales data collected from state forest enterprises in Bolu. Full sample models for sawlog and pulpwood revealed that forest certification provided a limited premium. Sawlogs had a 0.54% premium while pulpwood had none. In tree-type models, scots pine sawlog received a price premium of 1.74%, while black pine pulpwood and scots pine pulpwood fetched price premium by 1.9% and 2.2% respectively. Results of the study provide useful information to forest policymakers.
A QM/MM Evaluation of the Missing Step in the Reduction Mechanism of HMG-CoA by Human HMG-CoA Reductase

Statins are important drugs in the regulation of cholesterol levels in the human body that have as a primary target the enzyme β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR). This enzyme plays a crucial role in the mevalonate pathway, catalyzing the four-electron reduction of HMG-CoA to mevalonate. A second reduction step of this reaction mechanism has been the subject of much speculation in the literature, with different conflicting theories persisting to the present day. In this study, the different mechanistic hypotheses were evaluated with atomic-level detail through a combination of molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations. The obtained Gibbs free activation and Gibbs free reaction energy (15 kcal mol−1 and −40 kcal mol−1) show that this hydride step takes place with the involvement of a cationic His405 and Lys639, and a neutral Glu98, while Asp715 remains in an anionic state. The results provide an atomic-level portrait of this step, clearly demonstrating the nature and protonation state of the amino acid residues involved, the energetics associated, and the structure and charge of the key participating atoms in the several intermediate states, finally elucidating this missing step.
Exploring the Factors Affecting the Recycling Behavior of Primary School Students

Education on recycling must be provided during the first school years because environmentally aware students are more likely to become environmentally aware citizens. The aim of the present study is to investigate the factors affecting the recycling behavior of students attending the last grade of primary school in the regional unit of Evros in Greece. To select the sample, multistage sampling was used, and to collect the research data, a questionnaire with closed-ended items was designed. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the non-parametric Friedman test, and categorical regression. Our results showed that the students had positive views, attitudes, and behaviors in relation to recycling and were actively involved in it. Categorical regression analysis indicated that the other family members affected students’ recycling behavior to a high degree, whereas students’ parents’ occupation and students’ participation in environmental education programs at school exerted a lower influence on their recycling behavior.
The Use of Audio-Visual Materials in the Education of Students with Hearing Loss

Learning is the process of restructuring mental schemas through adaptation to new experiences. Instructional materials help form a suitable and individualized educational environment for students with hearing loss while facilitating lexical development and comprehension of academic content. This case study aims to demonstrate the contribution of visual and audiovisual materials to the efficiency of the Social Studies Course for 4th-grade students with hearing loss. Findings of the study have been collected through video recordings of the lessons, validity meetings, the research log, realia, photographs/images, graphic organizers, and educational videos/documentaries. Data analysis demonstrates that the use of visual and audiovisual materials contributes substantially to students’ (a) comprehension of the questions and explanations, (b) participation in and drawing conclusions from classroom discussions, and (c) understanding of new vocabulary and concepts. Based on the results, it can be argued that the use of visual and auditory materials presented so as to cater to the individual needs of the students, together with various educational strategies, provides significant advantages in the acquisition of academic knowledge by students with hearing loss.
Evolution of IMF By Induced Asymmetries: The Role of Tail Reconnection

North‐south asymmetries arise in the magnetosphere‐ionosphere system when a significant east‐west (By) component is present in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). During such conditions, a By component with the same sign as the IMF By component is induced in the magnetosphere, and the locations of conjugate magnetic footpoints are displaced between the two hemispheres. It has been suggested that these asymmetries are introduced into the closed magnetosphere by tail reconnection. However, recent studies instead suggest that asymmetric lobe pressure induces the asymmetries, which are then reduced during periods of enhanced tail reconnection. To address this, we use the Lyon‐Fedder‐Mobarry (LFM) model and initiate a loading‐unloading cycle in multiple runs by changing the IMF. Asymmetries are induced during the loading phase and reduced during the unloading phase. The model results thus suggest that asymmetries arise during periods with low tail reconnection and are reduced during periods with enhanced tail reconnection.
Aspiration Pneumonia in Adults Hospitalized With Stroke at a Large Academic Hospital in Zambia

Background and Objectives Preventing complications of stroke such as poststroke aspiration pneumonia (PSAP) may improve stroke outcomes in resource-limited settings. We investigated the incidence and associated mortality of PSAP in Zambia. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of adults with stroke at University Teaching Hospital (Lusaka, Zambia) between December 2019 and March 2020. NIH Stroke Scale, Glasgow Coma Scale, and Modified Rankin Scale scores and 9 indicators of possible PSAP were collected serially over each participant's admission. PSAP was defined as ≥4 indicators present, and possible PSAP as 2%–3% present. T tests and χ2 tests were used to compare clinical parameters across PSAP groups. Logistic regression was used to assess the relative effects of age, sex, PSAP status, and initial stroke severity on inpatient mortality. Results We enrolled 125 participants. Mean age was 60 ± 16 years, 61% were female, 55% of strokes were ischemic, and the baseline NIH Stroke Scale score was 19.7 ± 8.7. Thirty-eight (30%) had PSAP, and 32 (26%) had possible PSAP. PSAP was associated with older age and more adverse stroke severity scores. Fifty-nine percent of participants with PSAP died compared with 39% with possible PSAP and 8% with no PSAP. PSAP status independently predicted inpatient mortality after controlling for age, sex, and initial stroke severity. Swallow screening was not performed for any participant. Discussion PSAP is common and life threatening in Zambia, especially among older participants with severe stroke presentations. PSAP was associated with significantly increased mortality independent of initial stroke severity, suggesting that interventions to mitigate PSAP may improve stroke outcomes in Zambia and other resource-limited settings.
Sociotechnical view of electric bike issues in China: Structured review and analysis of electric bike collisions using Rasmussen's risk management framework

Following a thriving delivery business and constantly improving road infrastructure and vehicle technologies, electric bicycles (e‐bikes) are becoming one of the most popular modes of road transport in China. Although e‐bikes are flexible and cost efficient, they contribute significantly to on‐road collisions in China. Therefore, this study focuses on the traffic safety of e‐bikes in China. Rather than following conventional engineering approaches, this study applies a sociotechnical analysis of the system, while focusing on the entities that significantly influence e‐bike safety. Applying Rasmussen's risk management framework (RMF) and its associated Accimap methodology shapes the systematic analysis of e‐bike collisions in China. This study identifies and discusses a general pattern of the contribution of social entities to e‐bike collisions. As such, the authors developed a generic model of e‐bike collisions in China. Couriers were considered important in this domain, and their status in the system was discussed. Moreover, recommendations have been proposed to improve e‐bike traffic safety in China.
Determinants of Burundi fertility differentials: Evidence from the 2016-17 Burundi Demographic and Health Survey.

Background Although fertility control remains a major priority for the Burundian government and most of its partners, few studies on Burundi’s fertility determinants are available to guide interventions. Our study aims to examine factors influencing Burundi’s fertility differentials using the latest Burundi Demographic and Health Survey data. Results In our weighted sample size of 17,269 women aged 15–49, the total number of children ever born ranged from 0 to 15 children by women with a mean of 2.7 children (Standard deviation = 2.8). Factors such as residence in rural or in Central-Eastern, western and Southern regions, illiteracy/low level of education of both husband and women, women and husband agricultural professions, household poverty, male headed households, previous experience of infant mortality, early marriage and early childbearing, lack of knowledge of any contraceptive methods, non-use of modern contraceptive methods and desire of a large number of children were identified as factors associated with a high fertility rate in Burundi. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that actions aimed at promoting education, especially female education, and improving child survival, women’s socioeconomic status, agriculture mechanization and increasing number and scope of family planning services could help reduce Burundi’s fertility rate.
The Prevalence and Predictors of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Chinese Bariatric Surgery Candidates: A Single-Center Study

Purpose The purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence and predictors of OSA in Chinese bariatric surgery candidates. Materials and Methods The clinical data were collected from 326 patients evaluated for bariatric surgery and referred for polysomnography. Multiple logistic regression was used for identifying independent predictors of presence of OSA and ROC curve analysis to determine the best cut-off value for continuous variable. Results Baseline BMI and age were 33.3±3.7 kg/m2 and 24.3±3.1 years. 62.9% of the patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for OSA; Of these, 22.7% had mild OSA; 11.3% had moderate OSA, and 28.8% had severe OSA. The prevalence was significantly higher in males (84.2%) than in females (47.3%) (P<0.001). The superobese patients and the obese patients aged older than 50 years that all of those were diagnosed with OSA. A multivariate logistic regression model displayed that increasing age, BMI and neck circumference together with presence of habitual snoring and male sex were identified as risk factors of OSA. The best cut-off values for the presence of OSA for age, BMI, neck circumference were 24.5 years, 39.45 kg/m2, 40.40 cm. Conclusion The prevalence of OSA is very prevalent (62.9%) in Chinese bariatric surgery candidates, especially in male patients (84%). Age, BMI and neck circumference together with presence of habitual snoring and male sex are independent predictors of OSA in these patients. As clinical predictors are not enough to be a properly screening for OSA, routine PSG testing should be recommended to bariatric surgery candidates.
Bullying/Cyberbullying en Quinto y Sexto Curso de Educación Primaria: Diferencias entre Contextos Rurales y Urbanos

The aim of this study is to analyse the differences between bullying and cyberbullying in rural and urban areas. The number of students who have participated in this research is 2,162: 52.7p in their 5th year of Primary Education in Spain (ages 10-11) and 47.3 p in their 6th year (ages 11-12) – 50.7p of them were living in the countryside and 49.3p in the city. Although the results showed that the impact of bullying/cyberbullying in rural and urban schools is very similar, some distinctive features have been identified: for example, in rural schools there are more victims of verbal bullying, exclusion, and cyberbullying, whereas in urban schools there is a clear trend of verbal bullying and exclusion. Depending on the context, there is also a significant pattern regarding the victims: in rural schools, victims of this type of abuse are schoolmates, but in urban schools victims and aggressors do not go to the same school. The results also show that the impact of this abuse depends on the size of the city/town where schools are located.
Star anise extracts modulation of reproductive parameters, fertility potential and DNA fragmentation induced by growth promoter Equigan in rat testes

1Pharmaceutical Science Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2Pharmaceutical Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 3Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 4Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt, 5Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
Comparison of different solvents for extraction of polyhydroxybutyrate from Cupriavidus necator

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHBs) have attracted much attention due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility properties. The main drawback to the commercial production of them is their high cost. The recovery of PHB from bacterial cytoplasm significantly increases total processing costs. Efficient, economical, and environment‐friendly extraction of PHB from cells is required for its industrial production. In the present study, several nonhalogenated organic solvents (ethylene carbonate, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, hexane, propanol, methanol, and acetic acid) were examined for their efficacy regarding recovery at different temperatures from culture broth containing Cupriavidus necator cells. The highest recovery percentage (98.6%) and product purity (up to 98%) were seen to be those of ethylene carbonate‐assisted extraction at 150°C within 60 min of incubation time. Average molecular weight of the recovered PHB (1.3 × 106) was not significantly affected by the extraction solvent and conditions. The melting point of PHB extracted using ethylene carbonate was measured to be 176.2°C with an enthalpy of fusion of 16.8% and the corresponding degree of crystallinity of 59.2%. NMR and GC analyses confirmed that the extracted biopolymer was PHB. The presented strategy can help researchers to reduce the cost to obtain the final product.