Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
World cancer report 2014.

The impacts of tobacco, obesity, and infections are just part of a broad spectrum of other agents and risk factors that contribute to cancer development and that, together, influence the striking geographical heterogeneity in incidence rates. Certain of these risk factors are non-modifiable, for example race, familial genetic background, and reproductive and hormonal history. Exposure to carcinogens may result from what are often characterized as lifestyle choices, which include alcohol consumption and behaviour in relation to avoidable sun exposure. Includes chapters: 2.2 Tobacco smoking and smokeless tobacco use. Genetic susceptibility to tobacco-related cancers p.88 2.3 Alcohol consumption p.96 4.1 Changing behaviours – tobacco control Australia’s plain packaging of tobacco products Tobacco and China p.268
The Effects of Birth Spacing on Nutritional Status in the form of Stunting of Under Five Children in Bangladesh: Evidence Based on BDHS, 2014 Data

In this paper, it has been examined the effect of preceding birth interval on nutritional status in the form of Stunting of the children aged under 5 years of age in Bangladesh.For the purpose of the analysis, Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2014 data has been used. The study cases are the children under 5 years aged born during last delivery of their mother. The response variable is Nutritional Status of under 5 year children in the form of stunting. The key independent variables is the length of the preceding birth interval, measured as the number of months between the births of the child under study.Bivariate analysis along with a Chi-square test has been performed to examine the association between preceding birth interval and stunting of the children. To determine the effect of preceding birth interval, three different logistic regression models (Model-I: considering only the preceding birth intervals, Model-II: covariate of model-I along with demographic and socioeconomic factors and Model-III: covariates of model-II along with health related factors) were considered. The occurrence of stunting has been found to be inversely related with the preceding birth interval for the children aged under 5 years in Bangladesh. This inverse association has been found statistically significant for three models.After adjusting the demographic, socio-economic and health-related factors, the OR (odds ratio) shows that the percentage of being stunted is 73% higher for the children whose preceding birth interval is less than 24 (<24) while it is 37% higher for the children whose preceding birth interval is between months compared to whose birth interval is more than 60 (60>) months with 99% confidence interval (1.27, 2.36)***and (1.07, 1.45)***respectively. Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 67(2): 139-144, 2019 (July)
Thyroid and androgen receptor signaling are antagonized by CRYM in prostate cancer

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains a key approach in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). However, PCa inevitably relapses and becomes ADT resistant. Besides androgens, there is evidence that thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) and its active form 3,5,3’-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) are involved in the progression of PCa. Epidemiologic evidence indicates a higher incidence of PCa in men with elevated thyroid hormone levels. The thyroid hormone binding protein μ-Crystallin (CRYM) mediates intracellular thyroid hormone action by sequestering T3 and blocks its binding to cognate receptors (TRa/TRb) in target tissues. We show in this study that low CRYM expression levels in PCa patient samples are associated with early BCR and poor prognosis. Moreover, we found a disease stage-specific expression of CRYM in PCa. CRYM counteracted thyroid and androgen signaling and blocked intracellular choline uptake. CRYM inversely correlated with [18F]fluoromethylcholine (FMC) levels in PET/MRI imaging of PCa patients. Our data suggest CRYM as a novel antagonist of T3 and androgen-mediated signalling. The role of CRYM could therefore be an essential control mechanism for the prevention of aggressive PCa growth. Highlights Thyroid and androgen hormone driven pathways in prostate cancer (PCa) are antagonized by μ- Crystallin (CRYM). [18F]fluoromethylcholine uptake and prognostic values in PCa correlate with CRYM protein levels. Reduced CRYM expression predicts early biochemical recurrence (BCR) in PCa patients.
On interaction between carbon spot prices and Czech steel industry

Abstract Environmental policy in the European Union is a frequent topic when speaking about a strategic development of national economies, their sectors, or companies. This paper is focused on transmissions between the European carbon market and the Czech steel industry. This relationship is worth exploring for two main reasons – first, iron and steel industry is responsible for a substantial part of CO2 pollution covered by the European Union emissions trading system (EU ETS) and, second, this sector is a traditional and vital industry in the Czech Republic. We use the dynamic Factor Augmented Vector Autoregression (FAVAR) model and Granger causality analysis to identify and assess the interactions between the factors of the EU ETS (prices of emission allowances and grandfathering), and factors of the steel industry like prices and amounts of production. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of the FAVAR model to analyse an industrial sector, and it is also the first analysis of the given topic where so many influencing factors are involved (this is allowed by the FAVAR model). The main results show that steel companies in the Czech Republic pass through the emission costs to customers.
Soil transmitted Helminth infestation in diarrhoeal and non-diarrhoeal children in Mirpur slum area of Dhaka city

Fecal samples (total 707; 290 asymptomatic and 417 symptomatic) were collected during June 2014 to May 2015 from 145 children of Mirpur slum area. In diarrhoeal children, the average prevalence was the topmost for Trichuris trichiura (24.16%); peak among the children aged nine to ten months (38.81%); following Ascaris lumbricoides (7.44%). Overall soil transmitted helminth (STH) infestation was the highest (10.5%) in October, 2014 (non-diarrhoeal) and in diarrhoeal children, it was the highest (14.45%) in April, 2015. Mixed infection was less frequent (23.62%). The STH infestation was significant (p < 0.05) among the discontinuously breast-fed children (96.23%), the children of illiterate mothers (85.19%), living in poor housing (88.46%), having diarrhoea in the family members (84.78%) and among the children who experienced highest frequency (7 to 9 times in a year) of diarrhoea. Efficacy of pentaplex PCR-Luminex assay was evaluated for the simultaneous detection of STH compared to direct microscopy which showed less sensitivity (0 - 11.11%) than PCR-Luminex. Bangladesh J. Zool. 44 (2): 219-228, 2016
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF QUESTIONNAIRE TO ASSESS THE CAREERS CHOSEN BY DENTAL GRADUATES: CPAD-Q

Background : Dentistry faces significant challenges like shortage of practitioners and grossly distorted workforce distribution. This can be worse once the graduates drift away from dentistry owing to a number of reasons. A questionnaire designed for assessing the career pathways help us to check sustainability of dental profession and its long term implications for policy changes. Our study aims to develop and validate a Questionnaire to assess the career pathways of dentists in Bangalore. Methodology: A sequential exploratory design was employed comprising of a qualitative part involving in-depth interviews, followed by a quantitative part of questionnaire validation. The study involved 10 semi-structured in-depth interviews in English for 10 participants, taking 30-45 minutes each over a period of 6 days. Transcripts so obtained were coded, analyzed and thoroughly read to generate themes and subthemes. From the themes and subthemes derived from the transcripts of in-depth interview and thorough literature search, item pool was generated. The final draft version of questionnaire was prepared and subjected to face ,content and construct validation. Results: . Tool was found to have good face validity with an average of 2.3 and Aiken’s index more than 0.81 for all 38 items. After content validation, few questions were added and revised and final questionnaire with a total of 42 items was developed Conclusion: This tool explored the trends in career pathways of dentists and the influence of various factors on their career choice. This aids in conducting a more positive dental manpower oriented research in future
Coparenting, Parenting Stress, and Authoritative Parenting among Hong Kong Chinese Mothers and Fathers

SYNOPSIS Objective. This paper examines whether the effects of spousal coparenting on authoritative parenting are mediated through parenting stress. Design. A total of 166 married, heterosexual couples in Hong Kong with a preschool child provided information about their spouse’s level of cooperation and triangulation in their coparenting relationship at Time 1; their own parenting stress at Times 1 & 2; and their authoritative parenting at Times 1, 2, and 3. Results. Cooperation at Time 1 affected fathers’ authoritative parenting at Time 3 completely mediated through fathers’ parenting stress at Time 2. There were no mediated or direct effects on authoritative parenting for mothers, although triangulation at Time 1 predicted mothers’ parenting stress at Time 2. Conclusion. Parenting stress mediates the relation between coparenting and authoritative parenting for fathers, suggesting the need to encourage cooperation from mothers. In this way fathers’ stress related to their role as parent will decrease, helping to promote their authoritative parenting.
Predicting Students Success in Blended Learning—Evaluating Different Interactions Inside Learning Management Systems

Algorithms and programming are some of the most challenging topics faced by students during undergraduate programs. Dropout and failure rates in courses involving such topics are usually high, which has raised attention towards the development of strategies to attenuate this situation. Machine learning techniques can help in this direction by providing models able to detect at-risk students earlier. Therefore, lecturers, tutors or staff can pedagogically try to mitigate this problem. To early predict at-risk students in introductory programming courses, we present a comparative study aiming to find the best combination of datasets (set of variables) and classification algorithms. The data collected from Moodle was used to generate 13 distinct datasets based on different aspects of student interactions (cognitive presence, social presence and teaching presence) inside the virtual environment. Results show there are no statistically significant difference among models generated from the different datasets and that the counts of interactions together with derived attributes are sufficient for the task. The performances of the models varied for each semester, with the best of them able to detect students at-risk in the first week of the course with AUC ROC from 0.7 to 0.9. Moreover, the use of SMOTE to balance the datasets did not improve the performance of the models.
The Effect of a Lifestyle-Based Training Package on Weight Gain and Frequency of Gestational Diabetes in Obese and Overweight Pregnant Females

Background: Obese and overweight females require proper programs for moderating and regulating their weight gain during pregnancy and preventing gestational diabetes. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the eﬀect of a lifestyle-based training package on weight gain and frequency of gestational diabetes in obese and overweight pregnant females. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 140 obese and overweight pregnant females in Tehran, Iran. The training program administered to the intervention group consisted of a 60- to 90-minute session of group training using lectures, booklets, and text messages. A 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed to screen for gestational diabetes at 24 to28 weeksof gestation, andgestationaldiabetes wasdiagnosedbased ontheobtained results. Theweightincrease wascalculated 8 weeks after the intervention compared to the beginning of the study. Results: The test results of fasting blood sugar (FBS) and glucose tolerance test (GTT) showed 15 cases of gestational diabetes in theinterventiongroupand17inthecontrolsaftertheintervention,suggestingnostatisticallysigniﬁcantdiﬀerencesbetweenthe2 groups(P=0.687). Moreover,basedonanalysisofcovariance(ANCOVA)andwithadjustingthebaselinevalues,themeanweightgain was found to be 3.4 kg in the intervention group and 3.8 kg in the control group, suggesting no statistically signiﬁcant diﬀerences between the 2 groups after the intervention (P = 0.634). Conclusions: Although the frequency of gestational diabetes was found to be higher in the intervention group than in the controls, the diﬀerence was insigniﬁcant possibly due to use of a small sample size. Further studies are therefore recommended to be conducted using larger sample sizes.
Redundant and additive functions of the four Lef/Tcf transcription factors in lung epithelial progenitors

Significance Paralogs represent genetic redundancy and survive purifying selection by evolving overlapping and distinct functions. In multicellular organisms, such functional diversification can manifest as tissue and cell-type-specific expression, which masks possible selective pressure for genetic redundancy within a single cell type. Using in vivo genetic and genomic analyses, we show that although the four mammalian Lef/Tcf transcription factors have evolved organ-specific functions, they function additively and redundantly, depending on gene dosage, to promote lung epithelial progenitors and do so in a monotonic, positive manner with beta-catenin in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. In multicellular organisms, paralogs from gene duplication survive purifying selection by evolving tissue-specific expression and function. Whether this genetic redundancy is also selected for within a single cell type is unclear for multimember paralogs, as exemplified by the four obligatory Lef/Tcf transcription factors of canonical Wnt signaling, mainly due to the complex genetics involved. Using the developing mouse lung as a model system, we generate two quadruple conditional knockouts, four triple mutants, and various combinations of double mutants, showing that the four Lef/Tcf genes function redundantly in the presence of at least two Lef/Tcf paralogs, but additively upon losing additional paralogs to specify and maintain lung epithelial progenitors. Prelung-specification, pan-epithelial double knockouts have no lung phenotype; triple knockouts have varying phenotypes, including defective branching and tracheoesophageal fistulas; and the quadruple knockout barely forms a lung, resembling the Ctnnb1 mutant. Postlung-specification deletion of all four Lef/Tcf genes leads to branching defects, down-regulation of progenitor genes, premature alveolar differentiation, and derepression of gastrointestinal genes, again phenocopying the corresponding Ctnnb1 mutant. Our study supports a monotonic, positive signaling relationship between CTNNB1 and Lef/Tcf in lung epithelial progenitors as opposed to reported repressor functions of Lef/Tcf, and represents a thorough in vivo analysis of cell-type-specific genetic redundancy among the four Lef/Tcf paralogs.
Comment on “Accuracy in Public Law Enforcement under Political Competition”

In this Comment, I discuss Marie Obidzinski’s (2019) paper considering the effects of political competition on the accuracy of law enforcement and criminal justice. The paper develops an economic model to explain the empirical findings of Lin (2007) and McCannon (2013). The model generates novel insights, showing that political competition does not foster optimal enforcement and accuracy in criminal justice and that distortions are generated by political competition relative to the Becker’s (1968) optimality benchmark by a benevolent social planner. The model shows that when law enforcement actors operate under the pressures of political competition, they engage in lower than optimal levels of enforcement and accuracy for small crimes and a higher than optimal levels of enforcement and accuracy for larger crimes.
Investigation of the Association of HOTAIR Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Risk of Breast Cancer in an Iranian Population

Background: Long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are of functional non coding RNAs which have been shown to be involved in several important pathways in cancer development and progression. Among them is Hox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) whose overexpression has been detected in several cancer types. In addition, its functional polymorphisms have been shown to be associated with breast cancer risk in certain populations. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of three HOTAIR polymorphisms (rs12826786, rs1899663 and rs4759314) and their haplotypes on breast cancer risk in a sample of Iranian population. Methods: This study is a case-control study which consisted of 122 unrelated breast cancer patients from Hamadan University hospital and 200 normal females who were referred to a routine health survey in 2015. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples of all participants using the standard salting out method. Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR method was used for analyses of rs12826786, rs1899663, and rs4759314 genotypes. Comparison of genotype and allele frequency between the breast cancer patients and the control groupwas performed using Pearson chi-square test considering odds ratio (OR)and95 confidence intervals (CI) for calculation of the relative risk. Haplotype frequencies for HOTAIR were calculated using SNPStats online program. Results: No significant difference has been found in allele and genotype frequencies of polymorphisms between case and control groups. Furthermore, no specific HOTAIR haplotype was shown to be associated with breast cancer risk in the analyzed population. Conclusions: These polymorphisms do not seem to be associated with breast cancer risk in this population. However, further research is needed to evaluate the results of the present study in larger patient samples. © 2017, International Journal of Cancer Management.
Detection of the deformed wing virus of bees using the polymerase chain reaction: a review with reference to method performance

The honey bee is of fundamental significance for the ecological balance of the planet and in effect, global crop and animal production. In recent years, the Deformed wing virus (DWV) has been recognised as a major threat to bees, causing an infection that can result in high colony losses. Effectively, the accurate detection of the pathogenic types of the specific virus acquires key-significance. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used for this purpose by many research groups. The specific technology confers speed and sensitivity but is delicate and prone to false reactions. In this respect, it was considered significant to conduct a review of the PCR methods developed to this day for the detection of the DWV, in order to assess their efficiency for their potential use in practice. The record of the reports that were selected to be included in this study consists only of those that are described with reference to pre-, and post-analytical evaluation, and have been reported more than once in the literature, by the team that developed them and others. The relevant publications were organised in seven groups consisting of the reports that refer to the application, the optimisation and/or the validation of the protocols developed originally by an equal number of research teams. This review is concluded with suggestions deducted from the result of the analysis, about how the limitations of the relevant research conducted to this day could be overcome.
Intravenous oxytocin bolus and infusion versus infusion alone on the blood loss during caesarean section

Background: PPH is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the world. In India >30% maternal mortality is because of PPH.Methods: 250 females posted for LSCS were randomised into 2 groups. Group A: 5U oxytocin bolus + 40U oxytocin infusion @125 ml/hour in 500 ml saline. Group B: 5 ml Saline bolus + 40 U oxytocin infusionPrimary outcome was to measure blood loss (objective and subjective). Secondary outcomes were time for uterine hardening, additional uterotonic agents, hemodynamic changes, side effects and need for blood transfusion within 24 hours of LSCS.Results: Blood loss was significantly less in Group A in objective as well as subjective assessment (p<0.001). Requirement for additional oxytocin bolus was significantly higher in Group B as compared Group A (p=0.025). Postoperative hematocrit of Group A was higher than that of Group B (p<0.001). Transfusion requirement was significantly higher (p=0.04) in Group B (9.6% versus 3.2%). There was no significant difference in hemodynamics between the groups in the intraoperative period (p>0.05). However, during the postoperative period increase in heart rate was noted in Group B (p<0.05). Vomiting was the only major side effect observed, which was higher in Group A (5.6% versus 3.2%). Conclusions: Combination of 5U oxytocin bolus followed by an infusion of 40 U oxytocin given over 4 hours routinely in ASA grade I and ASA grade II parturient significantly decreases the operative blood loss during LSCS without causing any hemodynamic variability. This regimen provides better uterine contractility, lesser need for additional utero-tonic agents and lesser requirement of blood transfusion.
Superior mesenteric arterybloodflowvelocity in necrotising enterocolitis

Dopplermeasurementsof bloodflow velocity wereobtained fromthesuperior mesenteric artery(SMA),coeliac axis, and anterior cerebral artery(ACA)of 19 infants withsuspected necrotising enterocolitis, whichwasclassified asconfirmed(n=9)or unconfirmed(n=8). Infants withconfirmed disease werecomparedwithcontrols who were either enterally fedorwhowerereceiving intravenousfluids. SMA velocity was significantly higher intheinfants withconfirmed necrotising enterocolitis (36.5 cm/s)thaninunfed controls(20.4cm/s)or infantswith unconfirmed enterocolitis (19.6 cm/s). Threeinfants withconfirmed disease haddatafrombeforetheonsetofsymptoms.OnehadlowSMA velocity onthe firstday oflife, and one showedno increase inSMA velocity afterenteral feeds werestarted. SMA velocity isincreased wheninfants develop symptomsofnecrotising enterocolitis, suggesting thattotalgutischaemia isnotpresentatthetimethatthe disease isclinically apparent, although it may precede theonsetofsymptomsand playapartinthepathogenesis ofthedisorder.
Electrophysiological study of the palmar cutaneous nerves in diabetics

Background: Polyneuropathy in diabetics which may be asymptomatic, targets particularly sensory neurons and their axons, starting in their distal terminals. Aims and Objectives: Aim of the present study was to identify the presence of subclinical neuropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients with the help of sensory nerve conduction studies (NCS). Material and Methods: Diabetic and control groups underwent standard antidromic technique of sensory NCS and recording of sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) of the palmar digital branches of the median and ulnar nerves using Neuro perfect software on windows based computerized electromyographic/nerve conduction velocity/evoked response Mark II system and surface electrodes. Results: On comparing the parameters of NCS it was found that distal latency of both the nerves was higher in diabetics than controls with a statistically significant difference. Results also showed a statistically significant decrease in conduction velocities of both nerves in diabetics. The mean SNAP amplitudes for all tested nerves were found to be decreased significantly in diabetics. Conclusions: Sensory nerves are found affected in diabetics with no clinical sign and symptoms of neuropathy. NCS is a sensitive test which can be used to identify subclinical cases.