Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adherence to clinical trial registration in countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2015

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the prevalence of clinical trial registration in the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (ICTRP) for studies from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and to identify the key characteristics that lead to prospective and retrospective registration. Methods A cross-sectional study identified published, clinical trial studies through a search of PubMed, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Studies were included if published on 1 January – 31 December 2015, at least one author was affiliated with at least one LAC country, the clinical trial was conducted in at least one LAC site, and the full text of the article was available. A manual search of reference lists was also conducted. ICTRP registration information and key trial characteristics were compared. Results Of 1 502 CT references that met inclusion criteria, 297 were randomly-selected, 90.9% of which were published in English, 65% from Brazil, and 76.8% had a LAC author as the first author. The proportion of CT registered in the ICTRP was 59.9 %, of which 51.7% were registered prospectively. Clinicaltrials.gov was most frequently used registry (84.8%), followed by the Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos and the Registro Público Cubano de Ensayos Clínicos. Key characteristics that favored registration were being in study phase 3 or 4 or being a multi-center study. Data was compared to a similar study from 2013 that reported a registration rate of only 19.8%. Conclusions Registration adherence and prospective registration have increased in LAC in recent years, but the proportion of unregistered CT remains high. While there are still many challenges to overcome, the adherence strategies implemented in recent years have proven effective.
Integrating in situ measurements of an index of connectivity to assess soil erosion processes in vineyards

ABSTRACT In this research, we survey soil erosion processes using an index of connectivity and a non-invasive and long-term assessment in situ technique: the improved stock unearthing method (ISUM), for which the vineyard of Castilla La Mancha under tillage management was selected. Our results show, that in 10 years, the total average soil surface level decreased by – 1.6 cm and the total soil mobilization was up to 17.7 Mg ha−1 year−1. The surrounding lands of the survey plot showed meagre connectivity; however, smaller linear features with higher values were found as possible locations for potential rill generation. The survey plot is traversed by one of these linear features. In this inter-row survey, we found relatively low connectivity values. As a conclusion, we confirm that both methods can be useful to assess soil erosion processes in vineyards and detect areas that could increase the desertification as a consequence of non-sustainable soil erosion rates.
A Genome-Wide Screen for Genes Affecting Spontaneous Direct-Repeat Recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Homologous recombination is an important mechanism for genome integrity maintenance, and several homologous recombination genes are mutated in various cancers and cancer-prone syndromes. However, since in some cases homologous recombination can lead to mutagenic outcomes, this pathway must be tightly regulated, and mitotic hyper-recombination is a hallmark of genomic instability. We performed two screens in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for genes that, when deleted, cause hyper-recombination between direct repeats. One was performed with the classical patch and replica-plating method. The other was performed with a high-throughput replica-pinning technique that was designed to detect low-frequency events. This approach allowed us to validate the high-throughput replica-pinning methodology independently of the replicative aging context in which it was developed. Furthermore, by combining the two approaches, we were able to identify and validate 35 genes whose deletion causes elevated spontaneous direct-repeat recombination. Among these are mismatch repair genes, the Sgs1-Top3-Rmi1 complex, the RNase H2 complex, genes involved in the oxidative stress response, and a number of other DNA replication, repair and recombination genes. Since several of our hits are evolutionary conserved, and repeated elements constitute a significant fraction of mammalian genomes, our work might be relevant for understanding genome integrity maintenance in humans.
Description of Acoustic and Articulatory Parameters of Vowels in Mapudungun Speakers. Pilot Study

Description of acoustic and articulatory parameters of vowels in Mapudungun speakers. Pilot study. Int. J. Odontostomat. , 14(2) :205-212, 2020. ABStRAct: Mapudungun is a language used by Mapuche people in some regions of Chile and Argentina. The aim of this study was to describe the vowel phonemes with regard to the articulatory parameters (position of the tongue with respect to the palate and jaw opening) and acoustic parameters (f0, F1, F2 and F3) in Mapudungun speakers in the Region of La Araucanía. The vocalic phonemes of Mapudungun are six, where the first five are similar to those used in Spanish (/a e i o u/), to which is added a sixth vowel (/ɨ/) with its vocalic allophones (/ɨ/) and [Ә]. Three Mapudungun speakers were evaluated. The tongue movements were collected by Electromagnetic Articulography 3D and the data were processed with MATLAB and PRAAT software. It was possible to describe the trajectory of each third of the tongue during the production of the vowels. It was observed that the sixth vowel /Ә/ had minimal jaw opening during its pronunciation. In addition, the characteristic of /Ә/ as an unrounded mid-central vowel was corroborated. In this study, the tongue of mapudungun speakers was in a more posterior position than the found in other studies.
Sustaining behavior change to enhance micronutrient status: community- and women-based interventions in Thailand.

This report summarizes the findings from the intervention research project implemented by Mahidol University’s Institute of Nutrition in Thailand. The team built on experiences from an earlier social marketing intervention that increased production and consumption of the ivy gourd plant and other foods rich in vitamin A. Women who were community leaders were trained in problem-solving methods and community mobilization techniques. The women then organized their communities to develop and implement plans of action to improve iodine iron and vitamin A status. The project provided small seed grants to support the costs for implementing some of the community-based actions including food production local preparation and sale of iodized salt and health and nutrition education. (excerpt)
Analysis of Recruitment Strategies: Enrolling Veterans With PTSD Into a Clinical Trial

This analysis evaluated the efficacy of a variety of recruitment methods employed in a medication trial in a veteran population. Recruitment and demographic data were collected over the course of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing the efficacy of an experimental medication for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify demographic and recruitment variables predictive of consenting to participation in the trial. Data were collected for 1,050 potential study participants. As compared with individuals contacted by mail based on chart review, potential participants who were referred by a clinician were 3 times more likely to consent to participate, and individuals who responded to an advertisement were 5 times more likely to consent to participate. Females were more likely to respond to advertisements, whereas males were more likely to be referred. Those who were referred were significantly older than potential participants identified via the directed mailing. Clinician referral was the method most likely to lead to identifying an eligible and willing participant. When designing a recruitment plan for a clinical trial, factors such as the target sample and available staff should be carefully considered.
The Role of Prenatal Care and Systematic HIV Testing in Preventing Perinatal Transmission in Tanzania, 2011-2012

In 2012, the prevalence of HIV infection among Tanzanian women was 6.3%, and 18% of Tanzanian children were born infected with HIV. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of prenatal care attendance on comprehensive knowledge of HIV mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), HIV testing and counseling, and awareness of HIV testing coverage services in Tanzania. The study population was Tanzanian women of childbearing. Guided by the health belief model, this cross-sectional survey design used secondary data from the 2011–2012 Tanzania Demographic Health Survey. Factors of interest were comprehensive knowledge of HIV MTCT, HIV testing and counseling, and awareness of HIV testing coverage services; the outcome was prenatal care visit (PNCV) attendance. Findings showed that 69% of women had their first PNCV in the second trimester, meaning fewer than four visits. Multinomial logistic regression modeling assessed the association between factors of interest and outcome. Findings denoted that the factors of interest after controlling for married versus never married, maternal age, and wealth were associated with PNCV. These findings have positive social change implications by informing efforts to identify at-risk pregnant women through systematic HIV testing and counseling for early medical intervention and encourage them to start their PNCVs as scheduled.
A Langendorff-perfused Mouse Heart Model for Delayed Remote Limb Ischemic Preconditioning Studies

Remote ischemic preconditioning (rIPC) through transient limb ischemia induces potent cardioprotection against ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. I examined the delayed phase of protection that appears 24 hours after the initial rIPC stimulus. The primary objective of this study was to establish a mode of sedation and control treatment for delayed rIPC experiments. I used an ex-vivo, Langendorff isolated-mouse heart preparation of IR injury to examine the delayed effects of an intra-peritoneal (IP) injection, sodium-pentobarbital (SP), halothane and nitrous oxide (N2O) anesthesia on post-ischemic cardiac function. Each anesthetic method improved left-ventricular function after IR injury. SP and halothane anesthesia also reduced LV infarct size. Delayed cardioprotection after IP injections was associated with an increase in phosphorylated-Akt levels. The present study shows that IP injections and inhalational anesthesia invoke cardioprotection and, therefore, indicates that these modes of sedation should not be used as control treatments for studies examining the delayed rIPC phenotype.
Quantum properties and applications of 2D Janus crystals and their superlattices

Two-dimensional (2D) Janus materials are a new class of materials with unique physical, chemical, and quantum properties. The name “Janus” originates from the ancient Roman god which has two faces, one looking to the future while the other facing the past. Janus has been used to describe special types of materials which have two faces at the nanoscale. This unique atomic arrangement has been shown to present rather exotic properties with applications in biology, chemistry, energy conversion, and quantum sciences. This review article aims to offer a comprehensive review of the emergent quantum properties of Janus materials. The review starts by introducing 0D Janus nanoparticles and 1D Janus nanotubes, and highlights their difference from classical ones. The design principles, synthesis, and the properties of graphene-based and chalcogenide-based Janus layers are then discussed. A particular emphasis is given to colossal built-in potential in 2D Janus layers and resulting quantum phenomena such as Rashba splitting, skyrmionics, excitonics, and 2D magnetic ordering. More recent theoretical predictions are discussed in 2D Janus superlattices when Janus layers are stacked onto each other. Finally, we discuss the tunable quantum properties and newly predicted 2D Janus layers waiting to be experimentally realized. The review serves as a complete summary of the 2D Janus library and predicted quantum properties in 2D Janus layers and their superlattices.
Effect of Water Deficit on Morphoagronomic and Physiological Traits of Common Bean Genotypes with Contrasting Drought Tolerance

Water deficit is considered one of the most limiting factors of the common bean. Understanding the adaptation mechanisms of the crop to this stress is fundamental for the development of drought-tolerant cultivars. In this sense, the objective of this study was to analyze the influence of water deficit on physiological and morphoagronomic traits of common bean genotypes with contrasting drought tolerance, aiming to identify mechanisms associated with tolerance to water deficit. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, arranged in a randomized complete block 4 × 2 factorial design, consisting of four common bean genotypes under two water regimes (with and without water stress), with six replications. The morphoagronomic and physiological traits of four cultivars, two drought-tolerant (IAPAR 81 and BAT 477) and two drought-sensitive (IAC Tybatã and BRS Pontal), were measured for 0, 4, 8, and 12 days, under water deficit, initiated in the phenological stage R5. Water-deficit induced physiological changes in the plants, altering the evaluated morphoagronomic traits. The drought tolerance of cultivar BAT 477 is not only a direct result of the low influence of water deficit on its yield components, but also a consequence of the participation of multiple adaptive physiological mechanisms, such as higher intrinsic water use efficiency, net photosynthesis rate, transpiration, carboxylation efficiency, stomatal conductance, and intracellular concentration of CO2 under water deficit conditions. On the other hand, cultivar IAPAR 81 can be considered drought-tolerant for short water-deficit periods only, since after the eighth day of water deficit, the physiological activities decline drastically.
REVIEW ARTICLE/EDUCATIONAL PANEL How to plan an experiment I. Randomization: current fad or (ever)lasting fashion?

All those who like experimentation are sooner or later faced with a need of random selection of elements or objects of interest that they want to study (persons, patients, animals, cells, etc.). Randomization, a basic requirement in appropriate planning of experiment, may be performed either to select series of randomly assigned elements/objects or to allocate the studied objects to a given group, medical or diagnostic procedure, treatment protocol, etc. The principal advantage of random selection is to minimize effects of bias and confounding variables, two fundamental threats known to weaken research credibility. Simple, unrestricted random selection can lead to undesirable imbalance in baseline characteristics, thus affecting any credible reasoning. Restricted randomization (with blocking or stratification) includes procedures used along with random sampling that help to achieve balance between study groups in their baseline characteristics or in size. For all researchers conducting biomedical studies randomization ensures a straightforward and reliable analysis of the outcomes, and enables any further generalization of their findings.
Phytochemical Analysis of Drugs used in Herbal Creak Cream

: Skin diseases are numerous and a frequently occurring health problem affecting all ages from the neonates to the elderly and cause harm in number of ways. If the cracks in the heels are deep, they can be painful, hurting when a person stands up, and they may sometimes bleed. Some wild plants and their parts are frequently used to treat these diseases. Herbal crack cream contains the extracts of the plant consists of five ingredients viz., extract of Daruharida (Berberis aristata DC.), Pashanbheda (Bergenia ligulata (Wall.) Engl. ), Jivanti (Leptadenia reticulata W. & A.), kampilak (Mallotus philippensis Muell.-Arg.), Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia Linn.) were used for the phytochemical analysis to find out the phytochemical constituents in the plants. The main objective of the research work was to check the presence or absence of the phytochemical constituents in all the selected medicinal plants and formulated cream. The results of the phytochemical analysis of medicinal plants and formulated cream showed that the tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids were found to be present. Results indicate that Daruharidra extract contains alkaloids. Pashanbheda extract contains tannins and terpenoids. Kampilak extract contains Resins and terpenoids. Manjistha extract contains glycosides, saponins and terpenoids. Jivanti extracts contains glycosides, tannins, saponins and terpenoids. Jivanti extract contains alkaloids, saponins, flavonoid and terpenoids.
Source-Separated Urine Nitrification and Ion Accumulation in Sub-Irrigated Planters Using Domestic Wastewater

Wastewater reuse is a field at the crux of the food-energy-water nexus. This nexus is a modern attempt at qualifying relationships between resource availability and stewardship, and the choices and needs of market-driven culture. This study aims to develop simple low-tech systems to use domestic wastewater or source-separated urine, treated onsite, for domestic container garden water and nutrient supply. Four experiments were conducted to assess specific aspects of this technology to help develop relevant stages in this reuse chain. The objective of the first experiment was a proof of concept to assess compatibility of subirrigated planters (SIP) with treated domestic effluent. Domestic blackwater was treated with aeration; random sampling values ranged between 0.34-0.57 mg/L DO and had a hydraulic residence time (HRT) of about seven days. This effluent was used in two SIPs as the sole source of water and nutrients. After one successful growing season, soil samples showed transport of elements from planter reservoir through the capillary fringe, in addition to plant uptake in the rhizosphere.
Ensemble model output statistics as a probabilistic site-adaptation tool for satellite-derived and reanalysis solar irradiance

Suppose a location is within the spatial coverage of m gridded solar irradiance products, there is very little reason to rely on a single product, even if that product is known to be superior to its peers. In this paper, I discuss the ensemble performance of gridded irradiance estimates. First, I show the optimal convex combination of gridded irradiance estimates from different products almost always outperforms the best individual estimate under squared loss. Then, I extend the problem to the probability space and demonstrate how to construct predictive distributions for gridded irradiance estimates. Since the sample ensemble variances are often over- or under-dispersed, depending on the location, an ensemble model output statistics (EMOS) technique is used to correct such behaviors. The EMOS technique aims at minimizing the ignorance score, which is equivalent to maximizing the log-likelihood function of the underlying statistical model. In the language of solar engineers, EMOS is a probabilistic site-adaptation technique. At this point, this is the first work that (1) performs probabilistic site adaptation, (2) uses ensemble approaches for site adaptation, and (3) demonstrates formal probabilistic verification on site-adaptation problems.Suppose a location is within the spatial coverage of m gridded solar irradiance products, there is very little reason to rely on a single product, even if that product is known to be superior to its peers. In this paper, I discuss the ensemble performance of gridded irradiance estimates. First, I show the optimal convex combination of gridded irradiance estimates from different products almost always outperforms the best individual estimate under squared loss. Then, I extend the problem to the probability space and demonstrate how to construct predictive distributions for gridded irradiance estimates. Since the sample ensemble variances are often over- or under-dispersed, depending on the location, an ensemble model output statistics (EMOS) technique is used to correct such behaviors. The EMOS technique aims at minimizing the ignorance score, which is equivalent to maximizing the log-likelihood function of the underlying statistical model. In the language of solar engineers, EMOS is a probabilistic site-a.
International Grocery Retailers' Country Environment, Resources and Local Performance. A Cross-classified Multi-level Approach

This study aims to shed light on the often-neglected effects of host country environments on firms’ local performance. We chose this topic, because host country environment is known to affect firms’ internationalization decisions (e. g., market selection or entry mode choice) while it is rarely regarded as an antecedent of local performance after a market entry. Still, country environments are expected to have substantial performance implications by international business scholars, while we know from national research that local performance is attributed to the local environment, especially in the retail industry. We hence aim to contribute to international retailing research by conceptualizing and testing such effects across nations. Because retail firms’ resources may help to overcome environmental dependencies, such resources are conceptualized as moderators of the effects of the host country environment on local performance. We thus make a second contribution by providing novel insights on the context specificity of resources. We chose the grocery retailing industry to analyze these topics for several reasons. First, grocery retailing is an important industry (e. g., market volumes of 770 billion USD in the US, 680 in China, or 280 in Germany) which is highly sensitive to host country environments. Furthermore, in this industry different levels of the environment need to be differentiated: country-level environment specific to all firms and store format-level environment specific to store formats like hypermarkets vs. discounters. We thus consider three levels of analysis: store-formats, countries and firms. We apply cross-classified multi-level modeling, which allows us to treat the complex data structure appropriately and has rarely been used in business literature so far. A Bayesian estimation is used. We thus make a methodological contribution to literature, by showing a way to treat such data structures appropriately. The results show that purchasing power and rule of law (country level) enhance local performance, whereas local intra-format competition (format level) diminishes it. Important resources in retailing (firm level) do not affect local performance directly but the results support a context-specificity of resources, i. e. , a moderation role of the environment-local performance links. In particular, country level effects are moderated by retailers’ degree of internationalization, while surprising interactions occur of the format level environment. We provide important insights for managers and applicate the novel cross-classified multi-level approach that accounts for increasing complexities in data structures in international business research.