Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase II metabolism of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine : synthesis, analysis, and enantioselective in vitro and in vivo kinetics

In the presented studies, the phase II metabolism of MDMA was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, evaluation with respect to a possible stereoselective phase I and II metabolism was performed. The in vitro data indicated that sulfation is the major conjugation step with regioselective preferences for position 3 of DHMA. Both MDMA phase I metabolites, DHMA and HMMA, showed inhibition potential towards dopamine sulfation with IC50 values likely to be reached after recreational MDMA doses. Inhibition of dopamine degradation occurring in the central nervous system could be another reason for the drug-induced irreversible damage to central nerve terminals associated with MDMA consumption. Enantioselectivity was observed for DHMA sulfation and HMMA glucuronidation, but not for HMMA sulfation. In vivo urinary data obtained from 10 participants following controlled placebo, low and high dose MDMA administration supported the results from the in vitro experiments. HMMA sulfate was shown to be the major urinary metabolite providing the longest detection time for MDMA consumption. Enantiomeric ratios of all metabolites showed steady increases of R-isomers as a function of ingestion time which should allow distinguishing between recent or earlier MDMA ingestion, at least after a single MDMA dose. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation wurde der Phase II Metabolismus von MDMA in vitro und in vivo untersucht. Daruber hinaus wurden die Daten auf einen moglichen stereoselektiven Phase I und II Metabolismus hin ausgewertet. Die in vitro- Experimente haben gezeigt, dass die Sulfatierung die Hauptkonjugationsreaktion darstellt, wobei fur DHMA eine Regioselektivitat fur die 3 Position beobachtet wurde. Es wurde ebenfalls gezeigt, dass DHMA und HMMA die Sulfatierung von Dopamin hemmen konnen, mit IC50-Werten wie sie nach ublichem Gebrauch von MDMA erwartet werden. Diese Inhibition konnte, wenn sie im Zentralnervensystem auftritt, eine weitere Ursache fur die MDMA-induzierte irreversible Schadigung von Neuronen sein. Die Sulfatierung von DHMA und die Glucuronidierung von HMMA, nicht aber die HMMA-Sulfatierung waren enantioselektiv. Die Ergebnisse der in vitro-Experimente wurden bestatigt durch in vivo Daten von 10 Teilnehmern, die im Rahmen einer kontrollierten MDMA-Studie jeweils ein Placebo, eine Niedrig- oder eine Hochdosis erhalten haben. HMMA-Sulfat war in vivo der Hauptmetabolit, der die langste Nachweisbarkeit einer MDMA Einnahme ermoglicht. Die Enantiomerenverhaltnisse aller untersuchter Verbindungen zeigten eine stetige Zunahme der R-Enantiomere uber die Zeit, was es erlauben sollte zwischen rezentem und langer zuruckliegendem MDMA Konsum zu unterscheiden, zumindest nach einmaliger Einnahme.
The Spelling Detective Project: A Year 2 Explicit Instruction Spelling Intervention

Teaching spelling is controversial because teaching approaches vary considerably in the contemporary classroom. Teachers may privilege visual over linguistic strategies, select words based around themes or let students choose spelling words, rather than focus on the explicit teaching of phono-morphological structures of words. A nine-week intervention spelling project that included the phono-morphological structure of words and contextualised sentence dictation was designed to support Year 2 students in a NSW school and is described here. The intervention aimed to support all students including those with learning difficulties and an English as an Additional Language (EALD) background, within a mainstream setting. The high-impact instruction was cumulative in design; it provided simple to more difficult target spellings; massed practice during instruction; distributed practice during generalisation; editing and dictation tasks; and continuous formative and summative assessment. Post-sentence dictation results showed that the students who received the intervention had improvements with modest to strong effect sizes.
Functional analyses of the horizontally acquired Phytophaga glycoside hydrolase family 45 (GH45) proteins reveal distinct functional characteristics

Cellulose, a major polysaccharide of the plant cell wall, consists of β-1,4-linked glucose moieties forming a molecular network recalcitrant to enzymatic breakdown. Although cellulose is potentially a rich source of energy, the ability to degrade it is rare in animals and was believed to be present only in cellulolytic microbes. Recently, it has become clear that some animals encode endogenous cellulases belonging to several glycoside hydrolase families (GHs), including GH45. GH45s are distributed patchily among the Metazoa and, in insects, are encoded only by the genomes of Phytophaga beetles. This study aims to understand both the enzymatic properties and the evolutionary history of GH45s in these beetles. To this end, we tested the enzymatic abilities of 37 GH45s derived from five species of Phytophaga beetles and learned that beetle-derived GH45s degrade three different substrates: amorphous cellulose, xyloglucan and glucomannan. Our phylogenetic and gene structure analyses indicate that at least one gene encoding a putative cellulolytic GH45 was present in the last common ancestor of the Phytophaga, and that GH45 xyloglucanases evolved several times independently in these beetles. The most closely related clade to Phytophaga GH45s contained fungal sequences, suggesting this GH family was acquired by horizontal gene transfer from fungi. Other than in insects, arthropod GH45s do not share a common origin and appear to have emerged at least three times independently.
Births and deaths in Sidama in southern Ethiopia: findings from the 2018 Dale-Wonsho Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS)

ABSTRACT Background Sidama is one of the most densely populated areas in Ethiopia. Information about the demographic characteristics is scarce, and most studies were census based on interviews. Earlier population studies from Ethiopia did not sufficiently address the validity of measuring births, deaths, and age-composition. Objective To investigate the population characteristics in Sidama with an emphasis on fertility estimates, age, and death reporting. Methods This is a mixed-method cross-sectional study, conducted in Sidama in southern Ethiopia, using baseline data of newly established Dale-Wonsho Health and Demographic Surveillance System site in 2018. We used quantitative data of 5179 randomly selected households having 25,144 individuals. We collected information on deaths in the same study period and population from the traditional burial associations (Iddir). Qualitative data were collected using focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews. Life tables, age reliability indices and logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results The total fertility rate was 2.9 children/woman, the crude birth rate was 22.8/1000 population and the crude death rate was 5.2/1000 population. The dependency ratio was 66/100 working-age population. Urban residents had higher birth rates (OR = 1.4 (95% CL: 1.05–1.78), and women with basic education had lower birth rates (OR = 0.6 (95% CL: 0.46–0.78) compared to those with no education. The age accuracy indices showed unreliable age reporting. The number of deaths increased from 29 to 132 when death reports from the Iddirs were included. There was under-reporting of neonatal and deaths of young children. Substituting national and regional mortality estimates, the life expectancy declined to an average of 53 years (range 48–58 years). Conclusion The fertility rate in Sidama is lower than previously reported and is affected by age, residence and education. As we have identified important measurement and reporting errors, future demographic surveillance sites should consider these limitations.
Detection of scale drop disease virus from non-destructive samples and ectoparasites of Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer.

Non-destructive sampling methods offer practical advantages to detection and monitoring of viral pathogens in economically important farmed fish and broodstock. Here, we investigated whether blood, mucus and fin can be used as non-lethal sample sources for detection of scale drop disease virus (SDDV) in farmed Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer. Detection of SDDV was performed in parallel from three non-destructive and seven destructive sample types, collected from both clinically sick fish and subclinical fish obtained from an affected farm. The results showed that SDDV was detectable in all 10 sample types with the percentage ranging from 20% to 100%. Blood was the best non-destructive sample source exhibited by the fact that it yielded 100% SDDV-positive tests from both sick (n = 12, 95% CI: 69.9-99.2) and clinically healthy fish (n = 4, 95% CI: 39.6%-97.4%) and is considered a "sterile" sample. This study also revealed concurrent infection of SDDV and two ectoparasites Lernanthropus sp. and Diplectanum sp. , in all affected fish (n = 8, 95% CI: 46.7-99.3) during the disease outbreak. These ectoparasites also tested positive for SDDV by PCR, indicating that they were potential sample sources for PCR-based detection of SDDV and possibly other viruses infecting Asian sea bass.
Stability Despite Reduction: Flower Structure, Patterns of Receptacle Elongation and Organ Fusion in Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae: Poales)

Eriocaulaceae (Poales) differ from potentially related Xyridaceae in pattern of floral organ arrangement relative to subtending bract (with median sepal adaxial). Some Eriocaulaceae possess reduced and non-trimerous perianth, but developmental data are insufficient. We conducted a SEM investigation of flower development in three species of Eriocaulon to understand whether organ number and arrangement are stable in E. redactum, a species with a highly reduced calyx and reportedly missing corolla of female flowers. Early flower development is similar in all three species. Male and female flowers are indistinguishable at early stages. Despite earlier reports, both floral types uniformly possess three congenitally united sepals and three petals in E. redactum. Petals and inner stamens develop from common primordia. We assume that scanning electron microscopy should be used in taxonomic accounts of Eriocaulon to assess organ number and arrangement. Two types of corolla reduction are found in Eriocaulaceae: suppression and complete loss of petals. Common petal–stamen primordia in Eriocaulon do not co-occur with delayed receptacle expansion as in other monocots but are associated with retarded petal growth. The ‘reverse’ flower orientation of Eriocaulon is probably due to strictly transversal lateral sepals. Gynoecium development indicates similarities of Eriocaulaceae with restiids and graminids rather than with Xyridaceae.
Anakinra Reduces Epileptogenesis, Provides Neuroprotection, and Attenuates Behavioral Impairments in Rats in the Lithium–Pilocarpine Model of Epilepsy

Temporal lobe epilepsy is a widespread chronic disorder that manifests as spontaneous seizures and is often characterized by refractoriness to drug treatment. Temporal lobe epilepsy can be caused by a primary brain injury; therefore, the prevention of epileptogenesis after a primary event is considered one of the best treatment options. However, a preventive treatment for epilepsy still does not exist. Neuroinflammation is directly involved in epileptogenesis and neurodegeneration, leading to the epileptic condition and cognitive decline. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the effect of treatment with a recombinant form of the Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (anakinra) on epileptogenesis and behavioral impairments in rats using the lithium–pilocarpine model. We found that anakinra administration during the latent phase of the model significantly suppressed the duration and frequency of spontaneous recurrent seizures in the chronic phase. Moreover, anakinra administration prevented some behavioral impairments, including motor hyperactivity and disturbances in social interactions, during both the latent and chronic periods. Histological analysis revealed that anakinra administration decreased neuronal loss in the CA1 and CA3 areas of the hippocampus but did not prevent astro- and microgliosis. The treatment increased the expression level of the solute carrier family 1 member 2 gene (Slc1a2, encoding excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2)) in the hippocampus, potentially leading to a neuroprotective effect. However, the increased gene expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes (Interleukin-1β (Il1b) and tumor necrosis factor α (Tnfa)) and astroglial marker genes (glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 (Itpr2)) in experimental rats was not affected by anakinra treatment. Thus, our data demonstrate that the administration of anakinra during epileptogenesis has some beneficial disease-modifying effects.
Structural and Textural Characteristics of 3D-Printed Protein- and Dietary Fibre-Rich Snacks Made of Milk Powder and Wholegrain Rye Flour

This study addressed the potential of 3D printing as a processing technology for delivering personalized healthy eating solutions to consumers. Extrusion-based 3D printing was studied as a tool to produce protein- and dietary fibre-rich snack products from whole milk powder and wholegrain rye flour. Aqueous pastes were prepared from the raw materials at various ratios, grid-like samples printed from the pastes at ambient temperature and the printed samples post-processed by oven baking at 150 °C. Printing pastes were characterized by rheological measurements and the baked samples by X-ray micro tomography, texture measurements and sensory analysis. All formulations showed good printability and shape stability after printing. During baking, the milk powder-based samples expanded to a level that caused a total collapse of the printed multiple-layer samples. Shape retention during baking was greatly improved by adding rye flour to the milk formulation. Sensory evaluation revealed that the volume, glossiness, sweetness and saltiness of the baked samples increased with an increasing level of milk powder in the printing paste. A mixture of milk powder and rye flour shows great potential as a formulation for healthy snack products produced by extrusion-based 3D printing.
Muscle Antioxidant Activity and Meat Quality Are Altered by Supplementation of Astaxanthin in Broilers Exposed to High Temperature

This study investigated the effect of dietary astaxanthin (AST) on the meat quality, antioxidant status, and immune response of chickens exposed to heat stress. Four hundred and eighty male broilers were assigned to four treatments including AST0, AST20, AST40, and AST80 with 0, 20, 40, and 80 ppm astaxanthin supplementation levels, respectively. There was a linear decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA) in leg muscle. Catalase and superoxide dismutase levels in the plasma were linearly increased. There was a linear increase in the level of total antioxidant capacity in the leg muscle. The 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate reducing activity of leg muscle was significantly increased in the AST80 treatment. The AST40 treatment showed an increase in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity of leg muscles. Breast meat redness and yellowness were linearly increased. The astaxanthin-supplemented treatments exhibited lower drip loss and MDA concentration of leg muscle compared with the AST0 treatment at days 3 and 9 of storage. Supplementation of 40 or 80 mg/kg astaxanthin significantly decreased heat shock protein (HSP)27, HSP70, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-6 expression in the livers. The feather corticosterone was significantly lower in the astaxanthin-supplemented treatments than in the AST0 treatment. In conclusion, astaxanthin decreased the hyperthermic stress level and improved meat quality, and antioxidant status of chickens exposed to heat stress.
Choosing a career in Saudi Arabia: the role of structure and agency in young people's perceptions of technical and vocational education

Although the Saudi education system has provided an opportunity to pursue varying pathways for young people, there is a limited understanding of young people’s post-secondary education and employment trajectories in Saudi Arabia. Challenges to implementing educational strategies and reforms include a large youth population, diverse stakeholders, economic diversification and limited education and employment opportunities. With the launch of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, education and labour policy efforts included an expansion to the vocational education and training (TVET) sector to stimulate economic growth and increase the employment of young Saudi citizens in place of foreign employees. However, the relatively low enrolment in vocational education and training (TVET) and its weak status can provide insight into the way young people make decisions about their education to work transitions and highlights a variety of individual and structural challenges young people continuously negotiate in the rapidly changing country. Quantitative empirical research studies fall short in explaining the motivations behind young people’s choices and the extent to which choice is available. This research addresses this gap, employing a qualitative constructivist methodology. Through 18 focus groups and 16 individual interviews, this thesis shares the sentiments of 152 young men and women in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia who were enrolled in initial TVET as well as secondary students at a transition point where TVET became an option. The findings indicate that ‘choice’ is often illusionary, as youth aspirations are not always in line with opportunities and are influenced by the dominant characteristics of the education pathways and the labour market. Young people are influenced by embedded cultural factors such as social networks, family and gender. In making choices that are socially acceptable, young people minimise potential risks and social sanctions by ‘colouring within the lines’ of social acceptability rather than re-drawing them.
Investigation into the Dosimetric Effects of Abutting Multi- Leaf-Collimated Photon Fields with Extended Source-to- Surface Electron Fields

This thesis reports on the findings of an investigation into the dosimetry resulting from the abutment of en face 6 MeV electron and 6 MV photon beams as applied to the clinical challenge of radiation therapy treatments to head and neck cancer sites. Particular concern is given to the use of multi-leaf collimator (MLC) technology for photon beam definition when abutted to extended source-to-surface (SSD) electron beams. We made dosimetric comparison between MLC and Cerrobend shielding for use in an abutment situation. The effects of extending the SSD of the electron beam were also assessed. We checked the ability of a Pinnacle v7.6 treatment planning system (TPS) to correctly model the dosimetry resulting from this extended electron beam SSD. Volumetric simulations of composite dosimetry resulting in water were conducted in MATLAB for variations of surface abutment gap, and photon beam shielding type and angle. Visualization Toolkit (VTK) script was developed to visualise the resulting dosimetry. The effect of extending the SSD of the electron beam increases the beam penumbra significantly, exacerbating the challenge of matching this field to a photon beam edge. Furthermore, the TPS was shown to inaccurately model the electron beam penumbra for the extended SSD conditions. The employment of MLC shielding provides for some advantages over Cerrobend in terms of overall composite hotspot volumes and coldspot magnitudes, though introduces detrimental dosimetric inhomogeneities in the underlying volume. Distinctly, no combination of abutment gap and shielding variables resulted in dosimetry in the range of 90% to 110% at the depth of dmax for the beam energies considered here. We provided tabulated data across these variables to outline the trade-offs present, and aid clinical decisions regarding this challenging dosimetric situation.
Associations between Dark Triad and Ambivalent Sexism: Sex Differences among Adolescents

The Dark Triad traits (DT; Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) have been repeatedly labeled as a constellation of traits that are characterized by a dishonest and self-focused approach to interpersonal relations. Personality psychologists suggest that these traits make some people more susceptible than others to intergroup bias, threat, and aggression. Thus, in order to delve into a psychological profile prone to accepting and justifying sexist attitudes, the aims of the current study were to analyze the presence of DT and sexist attitudes in a sample of 367 adolescents (Mage = 15.12, SD = 0.88; 50.1% males), find out the relationships that DT has with both hostile and benevolent sexism, and analyze the relevant differences between sexes in these relationships. The results indicated higher scores in DT and Ambivalent sexism for males. The correlations of Machiavellianism with psychopathy, and psychopathy with narcissism revealed significantly higher associations in males than females. The structural equation modeling of the bifactorial model, characterized by a global latent factor that encompasses the common characteristics of DT—along with the three specific factors of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism—showed that the global latent factor of DT was related to both hostile and benevolent sexism in males and females. Singularly, narcissism was related to benevolent sexism in males, and psychopathy was related to hostile sexism in females. Finally, this research discusses the implications of these results on the implementation of positive models of interpersonal relationships in adolescence towards dating violence prevention.
Impact of hypnotic safety on disorders of gut-brain interaction: A pilot study

ABSTRACT Functional gastrointestinal disorders, i.e., abdominal conditions without identifiable structural etiologies, are seen frequently in primary care and specialty practices. As subtle physiological processes have been identified as potential contributing factors to these functional disorders, these disorders have been recently relabeled, Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI). Moreover, some of these processes, e.g., sympathetic nervous system activity and inflammation, are being increasingly related to psychosocial factors such as situational stress and histories of trauma, abuse, and neglect. As the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has been long considered to be a contributory factor for DGBI, the present study utilized a theory-driven model based on the Polyvagal Theory to optimize ANS activity for the promotion of healthy digestive activity. Specifically, a hypnotic intervention to increase neuroception of safety was employed with three female college students diagnosed with functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome in a single-subject design. This intervention was found to be associated with increases in the experience of safe/warm positive affect and decreases in symptoms of functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome as well as depression and anxiety. The hypnotic intervention for the promotion of a sense of safety is recommended for the treatment of other functional somatic disorders as well as trauma-related conditions. Potential complications related to individuals with prolonged trauma and attachment issues also are reviewed.