Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Critically Endangered marsupial calls residential gardens home

Urbanization is one of the biggest global threats to biodiversity. However, urban areas can offer opportunities for biodiversity conservation because of the assortment of resources and numerous taxa that occur in these habitats. While the use of gardens by animals is well documented, the ability of native fauna to exclusively use (i.e. reside in) them is largely uninvestigated and therefore constrains our current understanding of their conservation ‘value’. We aimed to determine whether individuals of a threatened species can exclusively reside in gardens for several months of their life, and the frequency that novel resources (i.e. non‐natural) are used compared to natural ones. We predicted that individuals captured in gardens would use both bushland and residential habitat, and use natural resources more frequently than novel resources because of the assumption that remnant habitat is more suitable than modified gardens. Using the Critically Endangered western ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) as a case study, we captured 20 individuals in gardens and radio‐tracked them for a period of 95 ± 3.3 days to determine their habitat use. Contrary to our predictions, for the duration of our study individuals exclusively resided within gardens, irrespective of proximity to bushland, and used novel resources more frequently than natural resources for all behaviours. We also found that over half (53%) of all the captured female possums had pouch young, and at the conclusion of the study, male possums were on average 43 g heavier. Our results exemplify that gardens can be of sufficient quality to support individuals, and that these modified habitats should be incorporated into conservation policy in urban landscapes. Given the extensive number of threatened species located within cities globally, our finding that a threatened species can reside exclusively within gardens further highlights the conservation opportunity that residential landscapes and cities offer wildlife.
The Comparability of Measures in the Ageism Module of the Fourth Round of the European Social Survey, 2008-2009

Age is an important dimension that is used by people to categorize others. Age-based discrimination is directed toward specific age groups (young and old). In spite of their importance, attitudes toward the elderly have hardly been studied from a cross-country perspective. The fourth round of the European Social Survey (ESS) from 2008-2009 offers, for the first time, the opportunity to study ageism and attitudes toward age groups from a cross-country perspective (European Social Survey Round 4 Data, 2008). However, this opportunity also bears the risk of drawing wrong conclusions, if the scales measuring ageism are not comparable across the countries under study. Such comparisons require measurement equivalence across countries. In the current study, utilizing ESS fourth round data from 29 European countries we examine the cross-country measurement equivalence properties of two concepts that are measured by multiple indicators in the module: (1) competence and warmth and (2) experience of age discrimination. We test for measurement equivalence using two analytical methods: multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) and the alignment optimization. Our findings suggest that cross-country comparisons of these measures are trustworthy. We briefly discuss cross-country differences in competence and warmth and experience of age discrimination. Finally, we underline the importance of testing the cross-group equivalence of measurement instruments before using them in different groups (such as countries) so that meaningful substantive conclusions can be drawn.
Perceived and sources of occupational stress in surgical intensive care nurses

Aim: The study aimed to determine sources of stress and stress levels of nurses working in surgical intensive care units in addition to understanding the stress level in nurses, drawing attention and raising awareness. Material and methods: The study was conducted using a descriptive design with the participation of nurses (n=132) working in surgical intensive care units of a university hospital. The data were collected through the source of stress identification form and perceived stress scale. The data obtained in the study were transferred to a computer environment, and for statistical analyses, the package for social sciences for Windows 25 software was used. In the analyses of the data, descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and regression analysis, and the Bonferroni test were employed. Results: It was also determined that 28.8% of the surgical nurses were working in an organ transplant intensive care unit and 25% worked in an anaesthesia intensive care unit, that 49.3% had professional experience of between 6 and 11 years and that 92.4% worked on both day and night shifts. In the study, the rate of nurses who perceived a high level of stress was found to be 45.5%, and it was identified that 78.8% needed training in stress management. Conclusion: Imperative funding and human resources should be provided in order to give nurses problem-solving abilities and a stress management course. The financial support of the managers and spiritual support of health professionals and organising regular meetings with nurses can help nurses to experience less stress.
A study of clinical and dermoscopic features in alopecia areata at a tertiary referral center

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common chronic inflammatory disease causing unpredictable non scarring form of hair loss. Dermoscopy is a clear cut as well as valuable method done in a noninvasive manner to study the signs of alopecia areata. Aim was to elucidate the various clinical characteristics and dermoscopic findings of alopecia areata. Methods: A total of 150 patients were examined using a dermlite dermoscope at dermatovenereology OPD of Vydehi Hospital. Detailed history, clinical features, associated changes, severity and dermoscopic findings were noted. Results: In our study males (54.7%) were more than females (45.35%) with the ratio of 1.2:1. Mean age of the patients was 25 years. Mean duration of the disease was around 6 months. The most common type noted in our study was patchy alopecia (76%) and most common affected site was scalp (frontal and parietal region) (49.35%). 28% of the people have itching, otherwise it is mostly asymptomatic. Stress was a triggering factor in 24.70% patients. Nail changes in the form of pitting seen in 20.7% patients. The various dermoscopic findings observed in our study are yellow dots (80%), short vellus hair (74.7%), exclamation hair (34%), black dots (28%), broken hair (25.3%). Conclusions: Short vellus hair and yellow dots are seen in most cases of our study. They vary according to the activity of the disease and treatment. Yellow dots, black dots and tapering hair indicate active disease, while short vellus hairs indicate remission.
EFFECT OF FEEDING PALM OIL SLUDGE AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF MAIZE IN GROWING-FINISHING PIGS ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND BLOOD PROFILES

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of palm oil sludge (POS) as partial replacement of maize in growing-finishing pigs on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and blood profiles. Twenty four crossbred (Large White Yorkshire x Hampshire) pigs of mixed sex (3-4 months of age) with initial body weight of 40.09±1.01 kg were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a randomised block design. Palm oil sludge was included in the diets at 0% (Group-1, control), 10% (Group-2), 20% (Group-3) and 30% (Group-4) to replace maize as energy source. The body weight gain, average daily feed intake, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were similar across the treatment groups. The inclusion of POS in the diets had no effect on the haematological parameters, serum metabolites and lipid profile. The digestibility coefficient adverse of ether extract (EE) and crude fibre (CF) were not affected by dietary POS supplementation but dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), CF and nitrogen free extract (NFE) revealed significant (p<0.05) difference among the various treatment groups. In conclusion, POS can replace maize up to 30% in the concentrate diets without any detrimental effects on the growth performance, nutrient utilisation and blood biochemical parameters of growing-finishing pigs.
Disruptive Behavior Programs on Primary School Students: A Systematic Review

The objective of this study was to review the existing international literature on research and programs for the reduction of disruptive behavior in primary school students. For this purpose, according to PRISMA-ScR, a mixed systematic review was performed in six databases in order to obtain wide and extensive information related to the subject under study. The studies obtained were analyzed through a table which emphasized the data related to: Author(s), year, educational stage, location, objectives, instruments, and results. As for the selection of studies, the UNESCO Thesaurus and the ERIC Thesaurus terminology was used. In addition to specifying the search for studies performed between 2004 and 2020 (both inclusive), articles written in Spanish and English were selected. Furthermore, in a final phase among the articles analyzed, those that were not or did not contain intervention programs were discarded. Therefore, a total of thirty-five articles out of more than twenty thousand were analyzed in depth. The results showed that a majority of programs were implemented in the primary education stage, as well as a predominance of the use of instruments, such as questionnaires and observation charts. In addition, it is important to underline that 77.14% of the programs analyzed were effective, hence, they met the proposed objectives. In summary, although the number of intervention programs for the reduction of disruptive behavior that can be found in the international scientific literature is growing, there is still a long way to go in order to create a large network that can serve as a foundation for interventions in primary education students.
Institutional factors, entrepreneurship capital types, and economic growth in Asian countries

The study investigates the relationship between institutional factors, entrepreneurial types, and economic growth. The analysis is based on an unbalanced panel data of 18 Asian countries over 2006-2018 using a 3SLS estimation method. The study extends the neoclassical growth model with entrepreneurship capital types as an endogenous variable to the economic growth function. Findings/Originality : The results show that new business density and productive entrepreneurship are found to have a significant effect on GDP per capita. Additionally, a reverse impact of economic growth on entrepreneurship is revealed. Institution's constructs, namely corruption control and the rule of law, are crucial to entrepreneurship, which in turn stimulate economic growth. The results also confirm the significant role of human capital, accumulating domestic investment, economic openness, and controlling inflation in the economic growth model of the Asian countries.
THE ROLES OF CHEMOKINES AND CHEMOKINE RECEPTORS IN TUMOR METASTASIS

Metastasis is often a deadly disease but highly inefficient as it involves several complex sequential processes such as invasion, hematogenous dissemination and distant organ colonization. Tumor suppressor E-cadherin, which is the key biomarker for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), plays essential roles in cancer invasion and colonization. Organ colonization has been proposed to be the rate-limiting step of metastasis as most cancer cells undergo apoptosis in these restrictive foreign microenvironments. However, some metastatic cells manage to evade apoptosis by undergoing cellular quiescence and later grow out to form deadly overt metastases. Herein, we investigated the roles of chemokines and chemokine receptors in mediating tumor phenotypic transition during cancer invasion and tumor escape from dormancy during liver colonization. Chemokine receptor CXCR3 mediates immune cell chemotaxis but inhibits adherent cell locomotion. These opposing effects on cellular motility are accomplished via two CXCR3 isoforms. We hypothesized that the anti-migratory isoform CXCR3B promoted Ecadherin expression to allow cancer cell seeding. CXCR3B overexpression induced E-cadherin expression and CXCR3B-knockdown reduced total and membranous E-cadherin. We also found that the correlation between CXCR3B and E-cadherin expression was significantly conserved in human prostate cancer liver metastasis in mice. Next, we utilized in vitro and ex vivo co-culture systems to uncover the soluble factors that mediate tumor emergence from dormancy. In vitro co-culture with hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) significantly elevated tumor growth. Protein analyses of primary liver non-parenchymal cells and immortalized HSCs revealed increased secretion of pro-inflammatory chemokines IL-8 and MCP-1. We further noted that IL-8, not MCP-1, directly augmented cancer cell growth and mediated tumor escape from dormancy, potentially through ERK activation. In summary, we establish novel functions for CXCR3 and IL-8 during tumor metastasis. CXCR3B can induce E-cadherin re-expression that may facilitate cancer cell seeding and protect the cells from drug-induced apoptosis. HSC-derived pro-inflammatory chemokine IL-8 can drive tumor escape from dormancy in the liver. These findings may have substantial implications on the management and treatment of metastatic disease. Targeting IL-8 or inflammation in general, may prove beneficial to curb cancer outgrowth at this rate-limiting step of metastasis.
Spatial Heterogeneity in Particle‐Associated, Light‐Independent Superoxide Production Within Productive Coastal Waters

Abstract In the marine environment, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) superoxide is produced through a diverse array of light‐dependent and light‐independent reactions, the latter of which is thought to be primarily controlled by microorganisms. Marine superoxide production influences organic matter remineralization, metal redox cycling, and dissolved oxygen concentrations, yet the relative contributions of different sources to total superoxide production remain poorly constrained. Here we investigate the production, steady‐state concentration, and particle‐associated nature of light‐independent superoxide in productive waters off the northeast coast of North America. We find exceptionally high levels of light‐independent superoxide in the marine water column, with concentrations ranging from 10 pM to in excess of 2,000 pM. The highest superoxide concentrations were particle associated in surface seawater and in aphotic seawater collected meters off the seafloor. Filtration of seawater overlying the continental shelf lowered the light‐independent, steady‐state superoxide concentration by an average of 84%. We identify eukaryotic phytoplankton as the dominant particle‐associated source of superoxide to these coastal waters. We contrast these measurements with those collected at an off‐shelf station, where superoxide concentrations did not exceed 100 pM, and particles account for an average of 40% of the steady‐state superoxide concentration. This study demonstrates the primary role of particles in the production of superoxide in seawater overlying the continental shelf and highlights the importance of light‐independent, dissolved‐phase reactions in marine ROS production.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of effects of psychosocial interventions on spiritual well‐being in adults with cancer

Spiritual well‐being (SpWb) is an important dimension of health‐related quality of life for many cancer patients. Accordingly, an increasing number of psychosocial intervention studies have included SpWb as a study endpoint, and may improve SpWb even if not designed explicitly to do so. This meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluated effects of psychosocial interventions on SpWb in adults with cancer and tested potential moderators of intervention effects.
DOES CRUDE OIL PRICES HAVE EFFECT ON EXPORTS, IMPORTS AND GDP ON BRICS COUNTRIES? - AN EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

The complexity of the World Oil market has risen significantly in recent years and today’s Oil prices require new methods to consider, model and forecast. In addition to the start of the Oil markets financialization era, structural changes have occurred on the global Oil market. This paper presents a simple framework for understanding the effect of oil prices on BRICS countries’ macroeconomic variables over a period of time from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019 using the Cointegration, vector error correction model (VECM) and granger causality test. Our analysis shows that there is a long-term relationship between the Macroeconomic variables and Crude Oil, and also suggests that there is a uni-directional and bi-directional relationship between the variables in BRICS.
Calving Front Machine (CALFIN): glacial termini dataset and automated deep learning extraction method for Greenland, 1972–2019

Abstract. Sea level contributions from the Greenland Ice Sheet are influenced by the rapid changes in glacial terminus positions. The documentation of these evolving calving front positions, for which satellite imagery forms the basis, is therefore important. However, the manual delineation of these calving fronts is time consuming, which limits the availability of these data across a wide spatial and temporal range. Automated methods face challenges that include the handling of clouds, illumination differences, sea ice mélange, and Landsat 7 scan line corrector errors. To address these needs, we develop the Calving Front Machine (CALFIN), an automated method for extracting calving fronts from satellite images of marine-terminating glaciers, using neural networks. The results are often indistinguishable from manually curated fronts, deviating by on average 86.76 ± 1.43 m from the measured front. Landsat imagery from 1972 to 2019 is used to generate 22 678 calving front lines across 66 Greenlandic glaciers. This improves on the state of the art in terms of the spatiotemporal coverage and accuracy of its outputs and is validated through a comprehensive intercomparison with existing studies. The current implementation offers a new opportunity to explore subseasonal and regional trends on the extent of Greenland's margins and supplies new constraints for simulations of the evolution of the mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet and its contributions to future sea level rise.
In-vitro Antibacterial Activities of Selected Traditional Plants

1MSc Student in Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province, 44150, Thailand. 2Microbiology and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province, 44150, Thailand. 3Agriculture & Countryside, Myerscough College, Bilsborrow, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 0RY, UK.
In vitro modelling of paracrine and endocrine interactions in the human ovary

The corpus luteum is one of the most intriguing and understudied endocrine glands in the human body. Understanding the mechanisms behind corpora lutea development, function and regression will enhance many major unresolved issues in human reproduction, with important consequences on infertility, miscarriage and contraception. Formed at the endstage of folliculogenesis, the corpus luteum has the important role of being the interface between pregnancy and menstruation. This transition involves the terminally differentiated granulosaand theca-lutein cells along with endothelial, fibroblast and immune cells to form the most steroidogenically active tissue in the body. In a non-conception cycle the corpus luteum will experience high cell turnover, intense remodelling and structural and functional demise within a 14-day period, succinctly followed by the initiation of a new cycle. Alternatively, during maternal recognition of pregnancy, the corpus luteum will continue to secrete vast quantities of steroid hormones under the trophic stimulation of conceptus derived-human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), subsequently maintaining structural and functional integrity. Therefore the luteal lifespan is regulated by massive tissue and vascular remodelling that is induced and regulated by gonadotrophins (luteinising hormone (LH) and hCG) which elicit disparate changes in the number and function of cells that do not express hCG/LH receptors. For example, luteolysis in women is associated with an up-regulation of the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) which is inhibited by hCG during maternal recognition of pregnancy. As the primary source of MMP-2 is fibroblasts that do not express LH/hCG receptors, the scope of this thesis was to investigate the regulation of MMP-2 by dissecting out potential paracrine signalling molecules. Women with regular cycles having hysterectomy for non-malignant conditions and women undergoing oocyte retrieval for assisted conception were used in the current study. Novel primary cultures and co-cultures of luteinised granulosa cells and fibroblast-like cells allowed the mechanistic in vivo interactions of the corpus luteum to be mimicked with an in vitro system. Herein, activin A is identified as a regulated molecule that may promote tissue remodelling during luteolysis. Activin A is secreted by luteal steroidogenic cells and at physiological concentrations it up regulates MMP-2 activity and expression in luteal fibroblast-like cells. HCG can inhibit activin A action through several mechanisms including up-regulating activin inhibitors, inhibin A and follistatin.
Alcohol production from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) genotypes in fermentative medium

Ethanol is one of the most promising fuels in Brazil, but its production is centralized in sugarcane cultivation, and is currently in search for other sources alcohol producing biomass to replace sugarcane monoculture. The aim of this study was to study fermentation process variables such as fermentation time (72 and 96 hours), addition of nutrients (with and without addition) and yeasts (dry and fresh organic yeast), employed in ethanol production from two sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. ) genotypes: UGA 05 and UGA 77. Alcohol evaluation content in °GL was performed in a completely randomized design according to two factorial schemes (2 2 and 2 3 ), and results obtained were analyzed using Design Expert® software version 8. Results of the factorial design 2 2 indicate that fermentation time in alcohol production had a significant effect on the process, suggesting that alcohol production is more efficient in 72 hours of fermentation and without the inclusion of nutrients. In factorial design 2 3 , the interactions between time of fermentation with genotypes and between time and inclusion of yeast showed significant effects and altered alcohol production. Fermentation process shows a significant difference as a function of genetic material and yeasts used pointing out fermentation of the flour must of genotype UGA 77 under fresh yeast action and 72 hours of fermentation.