Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Poly(acrylamide/vinylsulfonic acid) hydrogel for invertase immobilization

Poly (acrylamide/vinylsulfonic acid) PA/VSA and poly (acrylamide) PA hydrogels were prepared by free radical polymerization in the presence of a crosslinker, to be used as a support for the invertase enzyme. Spectrophotometric, thermal analysis methods, swelling, and diffusion experiments were used for the characterization of hydrogels. SEM images show that the hydrogels have a smooth, homogeneous, highly porous and spongy morphology. The swelling of PA/VSA was higher than that of PA in water. The diffusion of water within the hydrogel was found to be non‐Fickian. Invertase was immobilized onto PA and PA/VSA (immobilized invertases named PA‐I and PA/VSA‐I, respectively). The optimum pH values were found to be; 5.0, 3.0, and 3.0 for free invertase, PA‐I, and PA/VSA‐I, respectively. The optimum temperature values were 40°C, 50°C, and 60°C for free invertase, PA‐I and PA/VSA‐I respectively. Michaelis Constant, Km; for free invertase and PA‐I and PA/VSA‐I were found to be 11.80, 21.40, and 18.42 mM, respectively. Maximum reaction rate; Vmax value for free invertase and PA‐I and PA/VSA‐I were found to be 7.46 μmol min−1, 5.91 μmol min−1, and 6.35 μmol min−1, respectively. PA/VSA‐I showed excellent thermal, operational, storage, and pH stability.
Histologic evaluation of mandibular and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes during staging of oral malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To assess histologic evaluation of mandibular lymph nodes (MLNs) and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes (MRLNs) for metastatic disease during tumor staging for dogs with oral malignant melanoma (OMM) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). DESIGN Retrospective multi-institutional study. ANIMALS 27 dogs with OMM and 21 dogs with OSCC. PROCEDURES Medical record databases of 8 institutions were searched to identify dogs with OMM or OSCC that underwent unilateral or bilateral extirpation of the MLNs and MRLNs during the same procedure between January 2004 and April 2016. Information extracted from the records included signalment, primary mass location and size, diagnostic imaging results, histologic results for the primary tumor and all lymph nodes evaluated, and whether distant metastasis developed. RESULTS Prevalence of lymph node metastasis did not differ significantly between dogs with OMM (10/27 [37%]) and dogs with OSCC (6/21 [29%]). Distant metastasis was identified in 11 (41%) dogs with OMM and was suspected in 1 dog with OSCC. The MRLN was affected in 13 of 16 dogs with lymph node metastasis, and 3 of those dogs had metastasis to the MRLN without concurrent metastasis to an MLN. Metastasis was identified in lymph nodes contralateral to the primary tumor in 4 of 17 dogs that underwent contralateral lymph node removal. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated histologic evaluation of only 1 MLN was insufficient to definitively rule out lymph node metastasis in dogs with OMM or OSCC; therefore, bilateral lymphadenectomy of the MLN and MRLN lymphocentra is recommended for such dogs.
Coaching and Education for Diabetes Distress (CEDD): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Diabetes distress (DD), a type of psychological distress specific to people with diabetes, is strongly associated with difficulties in performing self-care and inability to meet glycemic targets. Despite increased recognition of the need to manage DD, interventions that are both feasible and effective for reducing DD in routine care settings are not yet known. A pilot study showed that health coaching (HC) has some efficacy in addressing DD, but no adequately powered study has implemented a pragmatic research design capable of assessing the real-world effectiveness of HC in reducing DD. Objective The aim of this study is to describe the rationale and design of an ongoing clinical trial, Coaching and Education for Diabetes Distress trial, that seeks to assess whether HC effectively reduces DD among primary care patients with diabetes and whether HC is more effective than an educational program targeting DD. Methods The 2-arm randomized controlled trial is taking place at an academic family medicine practice in Houston, Texas. Both arms will receive usual care, which includes education about DD. In addition, the intervention arm will receive 8 HC sessions over a 5-month period. The primary outcome measure is reduction in DD over a 6-month period. Additional outcome measures include changes in hemoglobin A1c and self-care practices (medication-taking, dietary, and physical activity behaviors). Results As of March 2019, screening and recruitment are ongoing, and the results are expected by July 2020. Conclusions HC is feasible in primary care and has been successfully applied to improving chronic disease self-management and outcomes. This study will provide evidence as to whether it has significant value in addressing important unmet psychological and behavioral needs of patients with diabetes. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03617146; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03617146 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/76Va37dbO) International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/12166
The Influence Of Transformational Leadership, Work Environment And Workloads On Intention To Leave And Employee Performance

This research aims to analyze the influence of transformational leadership, work environment, and workloads on an intention to leave and employee performance in Bank Jatim Headquarters. The sample in this study is 84 employees of Bank Jatim headquarters using simple random sampling. Method of data collection using survey technique with questioners as instruments and methods of data analysis using PLS (Partial Least Square). The results of this study indicate that transformational leadership applied in the company has a significant effect on the intention to leave employees. However, the work environment and Workload gave to employees considerable impact does not affect the intention to leave of employees. Otherwise, transformational leadership does not significantly influence employee performance, and work environment, workloads, and intention to leave employees have a significant effect on employee performance.
Acquired Ocular Motor Nerve Palsy in Neurology Clinics: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Background and Purpose This study aimed to determine the patterns and etiologies of acquired ocular motor nerve palsy (OMNP) diagnosed in neurology clinics. We also investigated the clinical features that may predict the causes other than microvascular ischemia in isolated OMNP. Methods We performed a prospective multicenter study that had recruited 298 patients with acquired OMNP from the neurology clinics of referral-based 9 university hospitals in Korea. We finally selected 235 patients with isolated OMNP and divided them into older (age ≥50 years, n=188) and younger (age <50 years, n=47) groups. We investigated the underlying etiologies of acquired OMNP. We also estimated the frequency of microvascular ischemia and other causes in isolated OMNP, and sought to determine the clinical features that can predict the causes other than microvascular ischemia. Results Abducens nerve palsy was the most common (40%) of the acquired OMNPs, followed by oculomotor nerve palsy (27%), trochlear nerve palsy (23%), and multiple OMNPs (10%). The etiologies included microvascular ischemia (47%), inflammatory (21%), stroke (5%), trauma (5%), neoplasm (3%), and others (2%), with the cause not being determined in 13% of the patients. Microvascular ischemia was the most common cause (83%) in patients aged ≥50 years with isolated OMNP, followed by inflammation (6%), stroke (6%), neoplasm (3%), and aneurysm (1%). Microvascular ischemia was more common in the older than the younger group (83% vs. 49%, p<0.001). The intensity of headache was the only risk factor for causes other than microvascular ischemia in isolated OMNP. Conclusions Vascular and inflammatory disorders are the most common causes of acquired OMNP diagnosed in neurology clinics. Microvascular ischemia was the predominant cause of isolated OMNP. Severe headache indicates causes other than microvascular ischemia in isolated OMNP.
Nitrosopumilus adriaticus sp. nov. and Nitrosopumilus piranensis sp. nov., two ammonia-oxidizing archaea from the Adriatic Sea and members of the class Nitrososphaeria.

Two mesophilic, neutrophilic and aerobic marine ammonia-oxidizing archaea, designated strains NF5T and D3CT, were isolated from coastal surface water of the Northern Adriatic Sea. Cells were straight small rods 0.20-0.25 µm wide and 0.49-2.00 µm long. Strain NF5T possessed archaella as cell appendages. Glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers with zero to four cyclopentane moieties (GDGT-0 to GDGT-4) and crenarchaeol were the major core lipids. Menaquinone MK6 : 0 was the major respiratory quinone. Both isolates gained energy by oxidizing ammonia (NH3) to nitrite (NO2-) and used bicarbonate as a carbon source. Strain D3CT was able use urea as a source of ammonia for energy production and growth. Addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavengers (catalase or α-keto acids) was required to sustain growth. Optimal growth occurred between 30 and 32 °C, pH 7.1 and 7.3 and between 34 and 37‰ salinity. The cellular metal abundance ranking of both strains was Fe>Zn>Cu>Mn>Co. The genomes of strains NF5T and D3CT have a DNA G+C content of 33.4 and 33.8 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that both strains are affiliated with the class Nitrososphaeria, sharing ~85 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with Nitrososphaera viennensis EN76T. The two isolates are separated by phenotypic and genotypic characteristics and are assigned to distinct species within the genus Nitrosopumilus gen. nov. according to average nucleotide identity thresholds of their closed genomes. Isolates NF5T (=JCM 32270T =NCIMB 15114T) and D3CT (=JCM 32271T =DSM 106147T =NCIMB 15115T) are type strains of the species Nitrosopumilusadriaticus sp. nov. and Nitrosopumiluspiranensis sp. nov., respectively.
Estimation of total arsenic contamination and exposure in Brazilian rice and infant cereals

Abstract Arsenic (As) causes health effects, especially cancer. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) can contain high As concentrations. Using ICP-MS, we quantified the total As (tAs) levels in the main brands of rice (n = 103) and infant cereals (n = 27) consumed by Brazilians. The levels were compared to the maximum limits prescribed by regulatory agencies. We estimated the daily intake (EDI) of As by Brazilians by combining the mean As concentration determined in the white rice samples with per capita daily consumption divided by the average body weight as reported by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics in 2010. The possible health risk for consumers was assessed by calculating the margin of exposure (MOE) as prescribed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Moreover, tAs was determined in 11 pesticides used by Brazilian farmers. The tAs levels in the rice ranged from 0.003 to 1.3 mg kg−1. Approximately 27% of the white rice contained tAs levels above the limit set by Mercosul (0.3 mg kg−1) and 45% were above the limit set by the European Commission (0.2 mg kg−1). In the infant cereals, tAs levels ranged from 0.003 to 0.243 mg kg−1. In the pesticides, tAs levels ranged from 0.005 to 0.315 mg L−1. The EDI showed that, on average, Brazilians consume 4.13 µg As kg−1 BW weekly. In addition, a low MOE was observed, demonstrating that high use of rice presents a risk of high inorganic (iAs) exposure, which represents a public health concern.
Prolonged lung cancer screening reduced 10-year mortality in the MILD trial: new confirmation of lung cancer screening efficacy

Abstract Background The National Lung Screening Trial showed that lung cancer (LC) screening by three annual rounds of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) reduces LC mortality. We evaluated the benefit of prolonged LDCT screening beyond 5 years, and its impact on overall and LC specific mortality at 10 years. Design The Multicentric Italian Lung Detection (MILD) trial prospectively randomized 4099 participants, to a screening arm (n = 2376), with further randomization to annual (n = 1190) or biennial (n = 1186) LDCT for a median period of 6 years, or control arm (n = 1723) without intervention. Between 2005 and 2018, 39 293 person-years of follow-up were accumulated. The primary outcomes were 10-year overall and LC specific mortality. Landmark analysis was used to test the long-term effect of LC screening, beyond 5 years by exclusion of LCs and deaths that occurred in the first 5 years. Results The LDCT arm showed a 39% reduced risk of LC mortality at 10 years [hazard ratio (HR) 0.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39–0.95], compared with control arm, and a 20% reduction of overall mortality (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.62–1.03). LDCT benefit improved beyond the 5th year of screening, with a 58% reduced risk of LC mortality (HR 0.42; 95% CI 0.22–0.79), and 32% reduction of overall mortality (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.49–0.94). Conclusions The MILD trial provides additional evidence that prolonged screening beyond 5 years can enhance the benefit of early detection and achieve a greater overall and LC mortality reduction compared with NLST trial. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02837809.
High Academic Self-Efficacy and Dispositional Empathy in Future Teachers

High perceived academic self-efficacy influences both subject performance and emotions of the subject. In turn, dispositional empathy implies a social and emotional adaptability towards the subject itself and those around them. This study aimed to analyze the differences in the mean dispositional empathy factors (i.e., perspective taking, fantasy, empathic concern and personal distress) between future teachers with high and low perceived academic self-efficacy, as well as the predictive capacity of dispositional empathy on high perceived academic self-efficacy, and the correlations between both dimensions. For this, a sample of 805 Spanish students of the Faculties of Education of the Universities of Alicante and Murcia was recruited. The Escala de Autoeficacia Percibida Especifica de Situaciones Academicas was used to assess perceived academic self-efficacy and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used to analyze the dimensions of dispositional empathy. It was observed that high academic self-efficacy is more likely to present in people with a high level of perspective taking and fantasy ( OR = 1.06 and 1.09, respectively) and less for those with personal discomfort ( OR = 0.86). The other analyzes provided the same conclusions. In conclusion, it is important to develop perceived academic self-efficacy in undergraduates and future teachers due to the consequences that can lead to their classrooms.
Treatment‐resistant depression as risk factor for substance use disorders—a nation‐wide register‐based cohort study

Abstract Background and aims Treatment‐resistant depression (TRD) is common among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). MDD may increase the risk for developing substance use disorders (SUD). The aim of this study was to investigate the risk for developing SUD among patients with TRD compared with other depressed patients. Design Observational cohort study. Setting Nation‐wide governmental health registers in Sweden. Participants All patients aged 18–69 years with an MDD diagnosis in specialized health care who had received at least one antidepressant prescription during 2006–14 were identified. Patients with at least three treatment trials within a single depressive episode were classified with TRD. Measurements Patients with TRD were compared with the whole MDD cohort regarding risk for obtaining a SUD diagnosis or medication using survival analyses adjusted for socio‐demographics and comorbidities. Findings Of 121 669 MDD patients, 13% were classified with TRD. Among the patients without any history of SUD, patients with TRD had a risk increase for any SUD both ≤ 1 and > 1 year after antidepressant initiation [> 1 year hazard ratio (HR) = 1.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3–1.5]. Risks were elevated for the subcategories of opioid (HR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.4–2.5) and sedative SUD (HR = 2.7, 95% CI = 2.2–3.2). Patients with a history of SUD had a risk increase for any SUD ≤ 1 year after start of treatment (HR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1–1.4), and both ≤ 1 year and > 1 year for sedative (> 1 year HR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.3–3.0) and multiple substance SUD (HR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.4–2.5). Conclusions Patients with treatment‐resistant depression may be at greater risk for substance use disorders compared with other patients with major depressive disorder. Patterns may differ for patients with and without a history of substance use disorders, and for different categories of substance use disorder.
Evaluating the self‐domestication hypothesis of human evolution

“Self‐domestication” has been invoked to understand important aspects of human evolution, integrating physiological, behavioral, and morphological information in a novel way. It proposes that selection for reduced aggression on animals undergoing domestication provides a model for selection favoring prosocial behaviors in humans and for a set of seemingly independent features, which arose as a result of developmental correlation. We review the history of the idea and examine patterns of domestication. A lack of empirical studies on evolutionary rates and variation thwarts meaningful comparison with domestication. The neural crest hypothesis for domestication has great explanatory power but it is difficult to test. We suggest a scenario in which the morphological byproducts of domestication can act as an honest signal of reduced xenophobia. Future studies should test if alternative explanations for the features deemed to result from self‐domestication are mutually exclusive and generate data to test predictions of these hypotheses.
Non-Financial Information Disclosures and Environmental Protection—Evidence from Romania and Greece

Currently, sustainability and sustainable development are issues that concern society due to the high degree of pollution and the measures taken that, in many cases, do not prove their efficiency. Economic entities are aware that their involvement in the community has become necessary for the sustainable development of any business. The promotion of responsibility towards the environment is an important principle of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which is becoming an obligation that can no longer be exempted. Our intention in this paper was to study the changes generated by the European Union (EU) Directive 2014/95 regarding the manner in which oil entities listed at the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BSE) and the Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX) between 2014 and 2018, report environment-related information. We also identified whether entities in fields that are known as polluting were more sensitive to environmental factors and if they tended to report more information compared to other business sectors. To achieve these objectives, we used qualitative and quantitative research. Namely, we analyzed the entities’ non-financial reports, to identify their social responsibility actions, and we tested if they were correlated with the environment protection and also with the 2014/95 European directive stipulations. For the entities operating in this polluting area, demonstrating transparency regarding the efforts and investments made to counteract the environmental impacts is important. Non-financial corporate reporting can be an opportunity to integrate sustainability into a company’s business practices and strategies to obtain benefits and to increase efficiency and, thus, to increase stakeholder confidence. The contribution of our study is to highlight the importance of non-financial information for the sustainable development of companies and the environment.
The N‐terminal His‐tag affects the triglyceride lipase activity of hormone‐sensitive lipase in testis

The sterility of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL) knockout mice clearly shows the link between lipid metabolism and spermatogenesis. However, which substrate or product of this multifunctional lipase affects spermatogenesis is unclear. We found that an HSL protein with a His‐tag at the N‐terminus preserved the normal hydrolase activity of cholesteryl ester (CE) but the triglyceride lipase (TG) activity significantly decreased in vitro. Therefore, mice with this functionally incomplete HSL (His‐HSL) were produced on a background of HSL deficiency (HSL−/−h). As a result, HSL−/−h testis has an 8.65‐fold higher CE activity than wild‐type testis but a twofold higher TG activity than wild‐type testis. To compare His‐HSL and wild‐type HSL in vitro and in vivo, we confirmed that the His‐tag significantly suppressed HSL TG activity. From our results, we believe that TG activity was affected by the His‐tag insertion, but CE activity was not influenced. Furthermore, the His‐tag protected HSL from binding to the inhibitor BAY. From our study, TG activity and BAY binding sites were affected by N‐terminal His‐tag insertion.
Osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats and potential menaquinone‐4 inhibiting effect

Vascular calcification (VC) is an active and cell‐mediated process that shares many common features with osteogenesis. Knowledge demonstrates that in the presence of risk factors, such as hypertension, vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) lose their contractile phenotype and transdifferentiate into osteoblastic‐like cells, contributing to VC development. Recently, menaquinones (MKs), also known as Vitamin K2 family, has been revealed to play an important role in cardiovascular health by decreasing VC. However, the MKs' effects and mechanisms potentially involved in vSMCs osteoblastic transdifferentiation are still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of menaquinone‐4 (MK‐4), an isoform of MKs family, in the modulation of the vSMCs phenotype. To achieve this, vascular cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used as an in vitro model of cell vascular dysfunction. vSMCs from Wistar Kyoto normotensive rats were used as control condition. The results showed that MK‐4 preserves the contractile phenotype both in control and SHR‐vSMCs through a γ‐glutamyl carboxylase‐dependent pathway, highlighting its capability to inhibit one of the mechanisms underlying VC process.
Differences in Graduation and Persistence Rates over Time for African-American Students at Texas 4-Year Universities

In this study, the graduation and persistence rates of African-American students at Texas 4-year universities were examined for the 2003-2004 academic year, the 2009-2010 academic year, and the 2014-2015 academic year. Of specific interest was whether the graduation and persistence rates for African-American students changed over an 11-year time period in Texas, from 2003-2004 to 2014-2015. Inferential statistical analyses did not reveal the presence of any statistically significant differences in the 1-year graduation and persistence rates of African-American students over the 11-year time period that were investigated. The 1-year graduation and persistence rates were stable, ranging only from 53% to 56%, over this 11-year time period. Suggestions for policy and for practice, as well as recommendations for future research, were mentioned.