Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metformin Improves Insulin Secretion and Reduces Insulin Resistance in People at High Risk for Development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of metformin on insulin secretion and insulin resistance in hyperinsulinaemic normal glucose tolerant people with metabolic syndrome who represent a high-risk group for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Fifty two participants of mean age 40.1±14.2 yrs were included in an open-label prospective one year observational clinical study in which plasma glucose, serum insulin during a 3-h oral glucose tolerance test, Glucose/Insulin ratio (G/I), Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) at three months intervals following metformin treatment were evaluated. The results showed that fasting serum insulin, 3-h post glucose load (PGL) serum insulin and HOMA-IR significantly reduced at 6, 9 month and at 1 year. Fasting plasma glucose, 1-h and 2-h PGL serum insulin significantly decreased at 3, 6, 9 month and at 1 year. Fasting G/I significantly increased at 9 month and at 1 year. 1-h G/I and QUICKI significantly increased at 3, 6, 9 month and at 1 year. 2-h and 3-h G/I significantly increased at 6, 9 month and at 1 year of metformin treatment (all p<0.001). In conclusion, metformin restores physiological insulin secretion and reduces insulin resistance in hyperinsulinaemic normal glucose tolerant people with metabolic syndrome and could be considered as a therapeutic option for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease.
Learning from the margins: Enabling effective occupational therapy

Introduction This study investigated the practice of occupational therapy in marginal settings to see if it could offer anything to take forward the development of occupational therapy theory and practice. Method The study began with the assumption that occupational therapy consists of an idea and a practice, both embedded in particular times, places and contexts. An interpretive methodology was selected to explore how the idea and practice develop as practitioners try to make sense of their practice. A multiple case study design was employed, using qualitative interview methods to explore the perceptions of practitioners working in marginal settings. The research design was not fully specified from the beginning, but emerged during the course of the study. Findings The practice of occupational therapists working on the margins differed from that in the mainstream in several features, but the differences tended to be of degree. Practitioners shared five characteristics which enabled them to practise effectively in resource-poor conditions: agency; openness; commitment; responsiveness; and resourcefulness. Conclusion Developing these enabling characteristics in occupational therapy students and practitioners has the potential to make them better able to make an effective contribution to meeting complex health and social care needs in developed and developing countries.
Scalable Localization and Coordination of Robot Swarms

As the capabilities of robots and their control systems improve, applications involving the use of large robot swarms in semi-structured environments become increasingly viable. Such applications include the progressive automation of warehouses, factories, mine sites and hospitals. Despite differences in context and application, these problems all require accurate localization and timely coordination of large fleets of robots. In outdoor applications, satellite-based localization (e.g. GPS) is a core technology driving the development of autonomous vehicles and facilitating the progressive robotization of industries such as agriculture, mining, inspection and freight. Satellite-based localization enables such applications by providing robots with the ability to quickly and independently measure their absolute position. In indoor environments, satellite-based localization is unavailable, making absolute positioning in such environments challenging. The first contribution of this thesis is the development of a scalable, “indoor GPS”-like system using ultra-wideband radio technology. The topology of this system is similar to that of GPS: fixed-position radio modules installed in the environment regularly transmit radio signals, fulfilling a similar role to that of GPS satellites; while mobile robots move within the coverage area and localize themselves based on the received signals. Much like GPS, the system therefore scales to support an unlimited number of robots. Theoretical developments presented in this thesis are supported by experimental results, including a demonstration of the system’s functionality, in which multiple nano-quadcopters are flown simultaneously within a space. Generating collision-free trajectories for large swarms of robots operating in close proximity is a similarly challenging problem, since robot trajectories are coupled through collision avoidance constraints, making the problem computationally expensive and time consuming to solve using classical optimization techniques. The second contribution of this thesis is a method to quickly generate such trajectories by leveraging the parallelcomputation architecture of modern graphics processing units. The effectiveness and scalability of this method is demonstrated in two simulation-based case studies: a benchmark problem requiring a swarm of 200 quadcopters to traverse a maze; and an example in which a fleet of 100 robots with bicycle dynamics must change their formation. In both cases, the method easily handles nonlinear dynamics and constraints, and generates feasible, collision-free trajectories for the entire swarm in a matter of seconds. The developments and contributions presented in this thesis provide a pathway towards the application of these technologies to the localization and coordination of large robot swarms in indoor environments.
Addressing societal discourses: negotiating an employable identity as a former refugee

ABSTRACT This paper explores a critical area of refugee resettlement, namely securing stable, desirable employment in host nations. When telling their ‘narratives of flight’, our analytic focus, refugees demonstrate discursive agency and identities that conflict with a societal stereotype of vulnerability and helplessness that employers might expect. Insights suggest opportunities for new ways of supporting former refugees to find appropriate employment in a context in which their agency may be constrained and their strengths overlooked. This includes challenges to wider societal discourses and a two-way strategy where onus is placed on ‘hosts’ as much as on newcomers.
Hidden in the DNA: How multiple historical processes and natural history traits shaped patterns of cryptic diversity in an Amazon leaf‐litter lizard Loxopholis osvaldoi (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae)

To investigate the cryptic diversity and diversification timing in the putatively low‐dispersal Amazonian leaf‐litter lizard Loxopholis osvaldoi, and to ask how geography (rivers, isolation by distance, IBD), ecological drivers (isolation by environment, IBE) and historical factors (climatic refugia) explain intraspecific genetic variation.
Caught in a Deadlock: Small Ruminant Farming on the Greek Island of Samothrace. The Importance of Regional Contexts for Effective EU Agricultural Policies

Sedentary extensive small ruminant farming systems are highly important for the preservation of High Nature Value (HNV) farmland. Both the abandonment of grazing and overgrazing have led to environmental degradation in many Mediterranean regions. On the Greek island of Samothrace, decades of overgrazing by sheep and goats has caused severe degradation of local ecosystems. The present study highlights the importance of regional contexts for national and EU agricultural policies in regard to sustainable development of sedentary extensive livestock systems. By utilizing the conceptual framework of socio-ecological systems research, we analyze the interdependencies of environmental, economic and social factors on a local island level. Results show that between 1929 and 2016, the livestock and land-use system of Samothrace transformed from a diverse system towards a simplified system, solely used for small ruminant production. Total livestock units increased from 2200 in 1929 to 7850 in 2002, declining to 5100 thereafter. The metabolic analysis conducted for the years 1993–2016 shows that 80–90% of the feed demand of small ruminants was covered by grazing, exceeding available grazing resources for at least a decade. The regional implementation of CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) continues to support excessively high animal numbers, while farmers are highly dependent on subsidies and find themselves in an economic deadlock.
Physics instructors’ views about supporting learner variation: Modifying the Inclusive Teaching Strategies Inventory

Every person has abilities across a multidimensional spectrum; however, previous research has indicated that postsecondary faculty are unaware of how to support students with a broad range of abilities in their courses and receive little training about inclusive teaching strategies. On average, STEM faculty have demonstrated more negative views toward students with disabilities than instructors from other disciplines. As such, we want to better understand physics instructors’ beliefs about people with disabilities and their inclusive teaching practices. The Inclusive Teaching Strategies Inventory (ITSI) was developed to measure postsecondary instructors’ beliefs and practices related to disability and supporting people with disabilities across disciplines. Through a pilot administration of this survey, we found that STEM faculty experienced difficulties in responding to the survey. Thus, we modified the ITSI for use with STEM faculty. We present our modification process, describe specific modifications made to the ITSI, and discuss preliminary interview and survey data.
Metabolic and Epigenomic Regulation of Th17/Treg Balance by the Polyamine Pathway

Cellular metabolism can orchestrate immune cell function. We previously demonstrated that lipid biosynthesis represents one such gatekeeper to Th17 cell functional state. Utilizing Compass, a transcriptome-based algorithm for prediction of metabolic flux, we constructed a comprehensive metabolic circuitry for Th17 cell function and identified the polyamine pathway as a candidate metabolic node, the flux of which regulates the inflammatory function of T cells. Testing this prediction, we found that expression and activities of enzymes of the polyamine pathway were enhanced in pathogenic Th17 cells and suppressed in regulatory T cells. Perturbation of the polyamine pathway in Th17 cells suppressed canonical Th17 cell cytokines and promoted the expression of Foxp3, accompanied by dramatic shift in transcriptome and epigenome, transitioning Th17 cells into a Treg-like state. Genetic and chemical perturbation of the polyamine pathway resulted in attenuation of tissue inflammation in an autoimmune disease model of central nervous system, with changes in T cell effector phenotype.
The Influence of Macroeconomic on Optimal Portfolio Returns from Banking Shares

The purpose of this study is to determine the macroeconomic effect on optimal portfolio returns formed from banking stocks with the Elton-Gruber single index model. The use of banking stocks in the formation of portfolios is due to the many risks inherent in the charged industry caused by the movement of macroeconomic indicators. The test conducted in this study uses the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method to see the long-term and short-term relationship of the independent variables to the dependent variable. The macroeconomic variables used in this study are the BI rate, inflation, money supply and the exchange rate of US Dollar-Rupiah. The results of the study show that there is a long-term and short-term relationship between the BI rate, inflation, money supply, and the US Dollar-Rupiah exchange rate jointly towards optimal portfolio return. This result shows partially only the previous 1-month portfolio return that affects portfolio return growth in long-term relationships. Whereas in the short term, only a change in the BI rate of the previous 3 months and a change in inflation in the previous 1 month which affected the optimal portfolio return growth.
Managing Heart Failure On the Go: Usability Issues with mHealth Apps for Older Adults

Mobile apps for self-managing chronic health conditions are widely available for download from online app stores. Mobile health (mHealth) apps provide a convenient way of managing health conditions (e.g., congestive heart failure); however, little is known about their design specifications with respect to older adult users. We conducted a 3-phase assessment of human factors issues for common mHealth apps designed for managing congestive heart failure. In Phase 1, we identified two apps often used by older adults. In Phase 2, we evaluated these apps according to standard human factors principles. In Phase 3, we conducted usability testing of the apps with six older adults. We report design issues identified in the apps that limit usability by older adults. We encourage mHealth app designers to improve usability by: 1) providing easier navigation, 2) streamlining data entry processes, 3) providing clear recovery from errors, and 4) simplifying visualizations of data patterns.
Frequency, Harmfulness and Vulnerability (FHV) Multicriteria Method for Integrated Analysis of Illegal Exploitations and Strategic Participatory Management of Protected Areas in Africa

1 Center for Environmental Research, Training and Expertise for Development in Africa, Kigali, Rwanda. 2 Department of Natural Resources and Environment Management, Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences, Rwanda. College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Rwanda. 4 Department of Forest Resources Management, Rwanda Polytechnic Integrated Polytechnic Regional College Kitabi (RP-IPRC), Rwanda. 5 Department of Rural and Community Development, Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences, Rwanda. Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, Rwanda.
Structure and function of yeast Lso2 and human CCDC124 bound to hibernating ribosomes

Cells adjust to nutrient deprivation by reversible translational shut down. This is accompanied by maintaining inactive ribosomes in a hibernation state, where they are bound by proteins with inhibitory and protective functions. In eukaryotes, such a function was attributed to Stm1 (SERBP1 in mammals), and recently Lso2 (CCDC124 in mammals) was found to be involved in translational recovery after starvation from stationary phase. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of translationally inactive yeast and human ribosomes. We found Lso2/CCDC124 accumulating on idle ribosomes in the non-unrotated state, in contrast to Stm1/SERBP1-bound ribosomes, which display a rotated state. Lso2/CCDC124 bridges the decoding sites of the small with the GTPase-activating center of the large subunit. This position allows accommodation of the Dom34-dependent ribosome recycling system, which splits Lso2-containing but not Stm1-containing ribosomes. We propose a model in which Lso2 facilitates rapid translation reactivation by stabilizing the recycling-competent state of inactive ribosomes.
Building stable predictive models for healthcare applications: a data-driven approach

Analysing health related data enable us to transform data into predictive models. These models can be used to accurately make diagnosis or prognosis about states of a patient, which cannot be investigated directly. The scope of this thesis lies within the realm of biomedical informatics, an interdisciplinary field at the crossroads of medicine and computer science.
Detection Of Hemoglobinopathies In Hypochromic, Microcytic And Sickeled Cell Blood Films By Hemoglobin Electrophoresis

background: The hemoglobin molecule (Hb) is protein carries a negative charge that render it attracts to anode pole causing separate it and moving toward the positive pole of electric current, affected by the movement of this type of charge (negative or positive) and strength as well as the molecular weight of hemoglobin type. Until these days, there are more than 300 known genetic mutation may occur in hemoglobin molecule. Some of them with clear clinical implications that threat health, especially for heterozygous states. Objective: To detect some of hemoglobinopathies such as βthalassemia and sickle cell anemia cases by hemoglobin electrophoresis technique in population sample identified from Nassiriyah governorate in Iraq. Methods: Eighty samples of blood were drawn from subjects who suspected to have hemoglobinopathies and examined by Hb electrophoresis technique in College of medicine – Thiqar University. The diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies was made on the basis of hemoglobin electrophoresis, sickling tests, and family studies. Persons, who have low level of hemoglobin concentrations, accompanied with elevation of abnormal hemoglobin percentage, were involved in this study. Fifty eight cases of hemoglobinopathies were diagnosed, 30 of ٨0 (٣٧.5%) as βthalassemia, and 28 of ٨0(35%) as sickle cell disease carriers. Results: Iraqi β-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia carriers were identified in hematology sections in Nasseriah governorate hospitals. Recent hemoglobin protein study revealed the presence of different common defected hemoglobin types associated with these disorders, distributed as the following: 15 subjects (18.7 %) were (HbAS) and 8 (10%) were (HbFS) sickle cell minor carriers, 7(8.8%) were (HbS) sickle cell disease, while thalassemic major were: 9 (11.3%) with (HbF) , and 12 (15%) with (HbAF) type. Thalassemia minor hemoglobin (HbA2) type represents 7 (8.8%). However, there are also 22 subjects were have normal Hb electrophoresis. Conclusion: The investigations described below manifested a rapid and simple method which allows quantitative analysis of the proportions of the various hemoglobins forms present. Hemoglobin gel electrophoresis is a simple and convenient technique for the study of the hereditary hemoglobimiopathies in alkaline pH (4.8 to 6.8). We suggest extending its usage to the detection of other hemoglobin disorders.
PROTOCOL: Parenting interventions to support parent/child attachment and psychosocial adjustment in foster and adoptive parents and children: A systematic review

Abstract This is the protocol for a Campbell review. The objectives are as follows: 1. To assess the efficacy of attachment‐based interventions on measures of favourable parent/child outcomes (attachment security, dyadic interaction, parent/child psychosocial adjustment, behavioural and mental health problems and placement breakdown) within foster and adoptive families with children aged between 0 and 17 years.2. To identify factors that appear to be associated with more effective outcomes and factors that modify intervention effectiveness (for example, age of the child at placement and at intervention start, programme duration, programme focus)
Upper Mantle Structure of the Southern U.S. Continental Margin From Teleseismic Traveltime Tomography

The southern U.S. continental margin records a rich tectonic history spanning ~1.35 Ga, including two complete Wilson cycles. Due to a thick sediment cover, the paucity of local seismicity, and sparse seismic instrumentation, the tectonomagmatic evolution of this passive margin remains uncertain. The recent USArray seismic network offers an opportunity to address unresolved issues by imaging the crust and upper mantle. Direct teleseismic P and S traveltimes recorded at ~1,600 stations are mapped into 3‐D velocity perturbations. P and S tomography models, although generated independently, are broadly consistent, with a strong correlation between anomaly patterns in the sublithospheric mantle and known crustal features. Fast mantle velocities correspond to the Laurentia Craton and Llano and Grenville terranes, while intracratonic rift systems and Paleozoic arc terranes are marked by slow anomalies in the upper mantle.
Older female mice lacking triggering recepter expressed on myeloid cells-2 have worse post-stroke neurological function and enhanced pro-inflammatory responses

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) is an innate immune receptor that promotes phagocytosis by myeloid cells such as microglia and macrophages. We previously showed that TREM2 deficiency worsened outcomes from experimental stroke and impeded phagocytosis. However, myeloid cells participating in stroke pathology include both brain resident microglia and circulating macrophages. We now clarify whether TREM2 on brain microglia or circulating macrophages contribute to its beneficial role in ischemic stroke by generating bone marrow (BM) chimeric mice. BM chimera mice from TREM2 knockout (KO) or wild type (Wt) mice were used as donor and recipient mice. Mice were subjected to experimental stroke, and neurological function and infarct volume were assessed. Mice with intact TREM2 in brain microglia showed better neurological recovery and reduced infarct volumes, compared with mice lacking microglial TREM2. Myeloid cell activation and numbers of phagocytes were decreased in mice lacking brain TREM2, compared with mice with intact brain TREM2. These results suggest that TREM2 expression is important for post-stroke recovery, and that TREM2 expression on brain resident microglia is more essential to this recovery, than that of circulating macrophages. These findings might suggest a new therapeutic target for cerebrovascular diseases.
Minority stress in nonbinary students in higher education: The role of campus climate and belongingness.

Increasing numbers of studies have begun to focus on minority stress within transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming (TNG) populations. These studies indicate a strong positive relationship between minority stress and increased mental health concerns. However, little research has been conducted on nonbinary students enrolled in institutions of higher education, despite a growing number of young adults and emerging adults identifying with this label. The current study sought to fill this gap by understanding minority stress among nonbinary students in higher education. The sample included nonbinary students ( N (cid:2) 380), who filled out measures that focused on the impact of minority stress experiences, perceived institutional climate, and sense of belonging. The participants in this study reported higher levels of minority stress compared with sexual and gender minority samples using similar measures. A hierarchical linear regression was conducted to test direct relationships among the constructs. The findings revealed that nonbinary students who did not feel as though they belonged on campus or felt that the climate was positive reported more of an impact of minority stress than those who reported more belongingness and a better climate. These results signify the importance of attending to belongingness and climate when considering ways that institutions of higher education can better welcome and nurture nonbinary individuals. Thus, higher education campuses should include training and programming that focus on nonbinary students to ensure smooth transitions and healthy educational environments. This study indicates that it is important for higher education learning environments to focus on an inclusive climate and foster belongingness for nonbinary students. Specifically, students report less of an impact of minority stress when climate and belongingness on campus are improved; this suggests the importance of targeting policies and practices on campus to improve climate and belongingness for nonbinary students.