Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A protocol for retrospective translational science case studies of health interventions

Abstract The critical processes driving successful research translation remain understudied. We describe a mixed-method case study protocol for analyzing translational research that has led to the successful development and implementation of innovative health interventions. An overarching goal of these case studies is to describe systematically the chain of events between basic, fundamental scientific discoveries and the adoption of evidence-based health applications, including description of varied, long-term impacts. The case study approach isolates many of the key factors that enable the successful translation of research into practice and provides compelling evidence connecting the intervention to measurable changes in health and medical practice, public health outcomes, and other broader societal impacts. The goal of disseminating this protocol is to systematize a rigorous approach, which can enhance reproducibility, promote the development of a large collection of comparable studies, and enable cross-case analyses. This approach, an application of the “science of translational science,” will lead to a better understanding of key research process markers, timelines, and potential points of leverage for intervention that may help facilitate decisions, processes, and policies to speed the sustainable translational process. Case studies are effective communication vehicles to demonstrate both accountability and the impacts of the public’s investment in research.
Prevalence and morphotype diversity of Trichuris species and other soil-transmitted helminths in captive non-human primates in northern Nigeria

A study to determine the prevalence and morphotype diversity of soil-transmitted helminths in captive non-human primates (NHPs) in northern Nigeria was conducted. Simple flotation and sedimentation methods were used to examine fecal samples. A Morphometric analysis was done on Trichuris spp. eggs to determine the diversity of whipworm circulating in NHPs in the study area. High prevalence (60%) of infection was recorded in captive NHPs; Patas Monkey (n=17), Tantalus Monkey (n=9), Mona Monkey (n=7), Vervet Monkey (n=2), Mangabey Monkey (n=1), Baboon (n=14), and Chimpanzee (n=8) from parks and zoological gardens located in four Nigerian states (Borno, Gombe, Kano, and Plateau) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Captive NHPs examined were infected with helminths either as single, double or triple infections. Four zoonotic soil transmitted helminth (STH) genera, Trichuris, Strongyloides, Ancylostoma, and Enterobius were detected in the examined animals. Eggs of Trichuris spp. were the most prevalent with four morphotypes suggesting several morphotypes of whipworm were circulating among the NHPs in this region. Further studies are required to elucidate the epidemiologic and public health implications of these findings.
Delineando a Arqueologia Afro-Latino-Americana

Nos dias 15 e 16 de setembro de 2017, o Instituto de Pesquisa Afro-Latino-Americana do Centro Hutchins da Universidade de Harvard abrigou um workshop com vinte arqueólogas e arqueólogos das Américas e do Caribe. As conferências demonstraram como o foco na arqueologia afro-latino-americana desafia preocupações centrais da arqueologia. Mostraram ainda que a arqueologia contribui à transformação da antropologia e dos estudos afro-latino-americanos, incluindo-se a compreensão aprofundada das dinâmicas da diáspora africana, crioulização, gênese das economias modernas, hierarquias sociais e escravidão, consumo, ontologias, biopolítica, estética, patrimônio cultural e lutas contemporâneas pela soberania. Nesse ensaio, valendo-nos sobretudo dos debates ocorridos em nosso workshop, delinearemos o campo da arqueologia afro-latina-americana. Nossa intenção é, também, assinalar como ele pode contribuir com a antropologia, os estudos afro-latino-americanos e as políticas afro-reparatórias.
The Effect of Post-Fire Disturbances on a Seasonally Thawed Layer in the Permafrost Larch Forests of Central Siberia

We examined and simulated the consequences of the degradation of the litter and the moss–lichen layer after fire impact, which could affect the seasonal temperature of the soil and the depth of the seasonally thawed layer (STL) in the permafrost zone. According to the analysis of satellite imagery for 2000 to 2019, the fire-disturbed area in the region of interest amounted to 20%. The main aims of the study included quantitative evaluation of the variation range of summer temperature anomalies at fire-damaged plots, summarizing the statistical norm of the STL depending on natural conditions, and numerical simulation of the response of the STL. Using Terra and Aqua/MODIS imagery, we analyzed surface temperature (in bands of λ = 10.780–11.280 and 11.770–12.270 μm) coupled with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for non-disturbed and fire-damaged sites under the same natural conditions of larch forests in Central Siberia. Heat transfer, freezing and thawing processes were numerically simulated for two extreme cases of soil conditions: dry soil and water-saturated soil. The model was also applied to soil with non-homogeneous water content. As input parameters, we used data on the properties of cryogenic soils collected in larch forests (Larix gmelinii) in the flat-mountainous taiga region of the Evenkia (Central Siberia). For post-fire plots, surface temperature anomalies observed during summer months remained significant for more than 15–20 years after fire impact, while the NDVI values were restored to the statistical norm within 7–10 years of the fire. According to the results of numerical simulation, the thickness of the STL could show a 30–50% increase compared to the statistical norm. In the first approximation, we showed the annual soil temperature dynamics at various depths in disturbed and non-disturbed plots.
MXene-PVA thin film for efficient all-optical modulator and all-optical signal processing with high performances

All-optical modulation has been regarded as an effective method to solve the electrical bandwidth bottleneck problems existing in the current telecommunication network. By taking advantage of high photothermal conversion of two-dimensional (2D) MXene, a high-performance all-optical modulator is demonstrated. The polarization-dependent all-optical modulator exhibits a broadband intensity modulation behavior with a modulation depth of 15 dB. The response time of such all-optical modulator is approximately ten times than that of fiber-type MZI/MI-assisted all-optical modulator based on the thermal-optic effect. Besides, an all-optical information loading with a bit rate of 400 bit s−1 is successfully achieved. Therefore, it is anticipated that the all-optical modulator with the advanced optical structures and excellent 2D materials has extraordinary potentials for future optical information processing.
Correlation of Cognition and Fall Risk in Elderly

Introduction: Cognition declines with age which is one of the key factor of fall risk. Falls in advanced age have serious impact on physical, mental, and socioeconomic consequences. As age increases there is affection of executive function, attention, problem solving, concentration and memory. Aims: The purpose of this present study is to investigate the correlation of cognition and fall risk in elderly. Method: It was correlational, cross sectional study carried out for a period of 6 months on 60 elderly. Cognitive status assed using by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale and fall risk assessment done by using Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale. Results: Total numbers of participants were 60. After adjusting age and gender they from a linear regression it shows that one unit increase in MoCA there is increase in FAB value by 0.28 and vice versa. 95% confidence interval is 0.12 _ 0.43, p value < 0.01. Result shows positive correlation between FAB and MoCA (r = 0.498, p= 0.0001). Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between, MoCA (cognition) and FAB (fall risk) thus as cognition declines, the fall risk in elderly increases.
Plant Polyphenolic Compounds Potentiates Therapeutic Efficiency of Anticancer Chemotherapeutic Drugs: A Review.

BACKGROUND Scientific research continues to develop more efficacious drugs to treat and cure cancer, the dreadful disease threatening the human race. Chemotherapy is an essential means in cancer therapy, however, plant drugs having pharmacological safety, can be used alone or as additions to current chemotherapeutic agents to enhance therapeutic efficacy and minimize chemotherapy-induced adverse effects. OBJECTIVE A combination therapy where the synergistic effect on multiple targets is possible has gained significance, because since a one-drug one-target approach fails to yield the desired therapeutic effect. Therefore, a detailed description of important plant polyphenolic compounds with anticancer activity and their role in potentiating chemotherapeutic efficiency of existing anticancer drugs is provided in this review. Systematically screening combinations of active pharmaceutical ingredients for potential synergy with plant compounds may be especially valuable in cancer therapy. METHODOLOGY We extensively have gone through reviews and research articles available in the literature. We made use of databases such as Google Scholar, Research Gate, PubMed, Science Direct, etc. The following keywords were used in our literature search: "Chemotherapy, drug development, cancer drugs, plant-derived polyphenolics, synergistic studies, combination therapy, diagnosis and genetics. " CONCLUSION Systematic research studies on screening combinations of plant phytochemicals with potential chemotherapeutic pharmaceuticals throws light on their synergistic effects, mechanisms of actions paving the way to develop more efficient anticancer therapeutics to treat and cure the cancer menace, to nullify chemotherapy-induced adverse effects and our review substantially contributes in this direction.
Polaroid-PET: a PET scanner with detectors fitted with Polaroid for filtering unpolarized optical photons—a Monte Carlo simulation study

We propose and evaluate the performance of an improved preclinical positron emission tomography (PET) scanner design, referred to as Polaroid-PET, consisting of a detector equipped with a layer of horizontal Polaroid to filter scintillation photons with vertical polarization. This makes it possible to improve the spatial resolution of PET scanners based on monolithic crystals. First, a detector module based on a lutetium-yttrium orthosilicate monolithic crystal with 10 mm thickness and silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) was implemented in the GEANT4 Monte Carlo toolkit. Subsequently, a layer of Polaroid was inserted between the crystal and the SiPMs. Two preclinical PET scanners based on ten detector modules with and without Polaroid were simulated. The performance of the proposed detector modules and corresponding PET scanner for the two configurations (with and without Polaroid) was assessed using standard performance parameters, including spatial resolution, sensitivity, optical photon ratio detected for positioning, and image quality. The detector module fitted with Polaroid led to higher spatial resolution (1.05 mm FWHM) in comparison with a detector without Polaroid (1.30 mm FHWM) for a point source located at the center of the detector module. From 100% of optical photons produced in the scintillator crystal, 65% and 66% were used for positioning in the detectors without and with Polaroid, respectively. Polaroid-PET resulted in higher axial spatial resolution (0.83 mm FWHM) compared to the scanner without Polaroid (1.01 mm FWHM) for a point source at the center of the field of view (CFOV). The absolute sensitivity at the CFOV was 4.37% and 4.31% for regular and Polaroid-PET, respectively. Planar images of a grid phantom demonstrated the potential of the detector with a Polaroid in distinguishing point sources located at close distances. Our results indicated that Polaroid-PET may improve spatial resolution by filtering the reflected optical photons according to their polarization state, while retaining the high sensitivity expected with monolithic crystal detector blocks.
Exploring the leadership knowledge base: evidence, implications, and challenges for educational leadership in Wales

ABSTRACT This article draws upon the educational leadership knowledge base to explore central concepts, questions, and issues of relevance to the contemporary policy context in Wales. The article is not a review of the leadership literature, but rather it explores the empirical evidence to address three key questions that are critical to school and system improvement. The aim of this article is to present evidence, implications and challenges concerning leadership preparation, leadership development and leadership learning.
Pressurized DNA state inside herpes capsids—A novel antiviral target

Drug resistance in viruses represents one of the major challenges of healthcare. As part of an effort to provide a treatment that avoids the possibility of drug resistance, we discovered a novel mechanism of action (MOA) and specific compounds to treat all nine human herpesviruses and animal herpesviruses. The novel MOA targets the pressurized genome state in a viral capsid, “turns off” capsid pressure, and blocks viral genome ejection into a cell nucleus, preventing viral replication. This work serves as a proof-of-concept to demonstrate the feasibility of a new antiviral target—suppressing pressure-driven viral genome ejection—that is likely impervious to developing drug resistance. This pivotal finding presents a platform for discovery of a new class of broad-spectrum treatments for herpesviruses and other viral infections with genome-pressure-dependent replication. A biophysical approach to antiviral treatment such as this is also a vital strategy to prevent the spread of emerging viruses where vaccine development is challenged by high mutation rates or other evasion mechanisms.
Aquatic herbicide applications for the control of aquatic plants in Canada: effects to nontarget aquatic organisms

Nuisance growths of aquatic plants in Canadian surface waters continue to be problematic. Only diquat, a contact herbicide that is used to control many free-floating plants (but is less effective at controlling emergent plants), is registered in Canada for general aquatic use. Other herbicides are currently only permitted under “emergency registration. ” Recent emergency registrations have been granted to glyphosate and imazapyr, and these two herbicides are likely candidates to be proposed for full registration for direct application to water in Canada in the foreseeable future. These herbicides have been extensively studied in laboratory conditions and have provided a benchmark for ecotoxicity for a variety of aquatic organisms, yet the inherent toxicity of these herbicides derived from tests does not always translate into their environmental toxicity in natural aquatic ecosystems as the fate (e.g., removal from the water body via binding to sediments and suspended solids, degradation, volatization, etc.) and exposure (i.e., continuous in the laboratory versus “pulsed” in the field) of herbicides in the natural environment is very different from their fate and exposure in laboratories. These differences will likely result in field studies having lower biological effects than laboratory studies, even if the initial exposure concentrations were similar. This review details the current knowledge based on field studies that examine the effects of the direct application of diquat, glyphosate, and imazapyr to aquatic environments on aquatic organisms. The studies of the effects of the aquatic formulations of diquat, glyphosate, and imazapyr that are reviewed here generally found negligible or short-lived impacts on fish and aquatic invertebrates in situ, whereas they found that the application of these herbicides was often beneficial through the physical modification of available habitat (i.e., an increase in open water outweighs any potential toxic effects). Conversely, certain surfactants used to increase herbicide efficacy have been suggested to be more toxic than the herbicide itself. We thus suggest monitoring the effects associated with controlled applications of diquat and other aquatic herbicides including glyphosate and imazapyr and their surfactants, as this would be a means of accumulating information that may guide future uses of herbicides in Canadian waterways.
Mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) stem residue on growth performance, meat quality, antioxidant status and lipid metabolism of broilers

Abstract Mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) stem residue (MSR) is rich with bioactive ingredients. This study aimed to assess the role of mushroom stem residue (MSR) on growth performance, meat quality, antioxidant status, and lipid metabolism of broilers. A total 168 Arbour Acres male broilers were assigned into 3 treatments (7 replications, 8 chicks each) and fed a basal diet as control (CON); 1% mushroom stem residue containing diet (1% MSR); and 2% MSR containing diet. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase value in serum, thigh muscle, breast muscle and liver sample, were higher (linear and quadratic, p < .05) in MSR groups than that of CON. Malondialdehyde content in serum, thigh muscle, breast muscle and liver tissue sample, were lower (linear and quadratic, p < .05) in MSR diets than CON. Compared with control, total cholesterol value of liver sample was lower (linear and quadratic, p < .05) in 2% MSR diet on day 21 and day 42. Triglyceride value was also lower (linear and quadratic, p < .05) in both levels of MSR diets than control on day 21 and day 42. MSR at 2% level can be applied on improving antioxidant status and lipid metabolism of broilers. HIGHLIGHTS Flammulina velutipes mushroom stem residue (MSR) contains different bio-active ingredients which can be used in broiler diets. MSR had no any adverse effects on growth performance and normal meat quality of broilers. MSR could improve different antioxidant enzyme activities in breast muscle, thigh muscle, liver tissue and serum of broilers. MSR could reduce cholesterol levels in liver tissue of broilers. MSR at 2% level can be applied on improving antioxidant status and lipid metabolism in broilers.
Effect of Appeal of Social Products on Product Choice: Evidence from Japan

Abstract Japanese people do not have charitable behavior and volunteerism compared to other countries, including other developing countries . For this reason, this study examines the effect of appeal of social products on the product choice of the Japanese people. The results show that negative messages, negative images, and negative and positive combinations (message × image) have a positive effect, whereas positive messages and images have no effect on the product choice. Additionally, we find that negative combinations are more likely to cause greater psychological reactance than positive combinations. We found that marketers can avoid psychological reactance by emphasizing the positive aspects.
Socioeconomic Data Mining and Student Dropout

This paper aims to analyze the student dropout from a higher education course, in the city of Guarapari, Espírito Santo, Brazil, through the use of the computational tool known as data mining. The objective was to investigate the possible scenarios for the early identification of students with higher risk of dropping out by analyzing socioeconomic data from business school graduates between 2014 and 2018 with the use of information extracted from the academic system. The methodology used was the experimental research, from a quantitative approach through a comparative analysis of data resulting from the processing of computational algorithms. After the analysis, it was concluded that computational techniques can be used to help administrators to plan pedagogical and administrative actions and that the combination of socioeconomic data with school performance information, using the tool, can yield advantageous results, allowing the fight against evasion to be seen as an early and continuous practice.
Plant species richness and functional groups have different effects on soil water content in a decade‐long grassland experiment

The temporal and spatial dynamics of soil water are closely interlinked with terrestrial ecosystems functioning. The interaction between plant community properties such as species composition and richness and soil water mirrors fundamental ecological processes determining above‐ground–below‐ground feedbacks. Plant–water relations and water stress have attracted considerable attention in biodiversity experiments. Yet, although soil scientific research suggests an influence of ecosystem productivity on soil hydraulic properties, temporal changes of the soil water content and soil hydraulic properties remain largely understudied in biodiversity experiments. Thus, insights on how plant diversity—productivity relationships affect soil water are lacking. Here, we determine which factors related to plant community composition (species and functional group richness, presence of plant functional groups) and soil (organic carbon concentration) affect soil water in a long‐term grassland biodiversity experiment (The Jena Experiment). Both plant species richness and the presence of particular functional groups affected soil water content, while functional group richness played no role. The effect of species richness changed from positive to negative and expanded to deeper soil with time. Shortly after establishment, increased topsoil water content was related to higher leaf area index in species‐rich plots, which enhanced shading. In later years, higher species richness increased topsoil organic carbon, likely improving soil aggregation. Improved aggregation, in turn, dried topsoils in species‐rich plots due to faster drainage of rainwater. Functional groups affected soil water distribution, likely due to plant traits affecting root water uptake depths, shading, or water‐use efficiency. For instance, topsoils in plots containing grasses were generally drier, while plots with legumes were moister. Synthesis. Our decade‐long experiment reveals that the maturation of grasslands changes the effects of plant richness from influencing soil water content through shading effects to altering soil physical characteristics in addition to modification of water uptake depth. Functional groups affected the soil water distribution by characteristic shifts of root water uptake depth, but did not enhance exploitation of the overall soil water storage. Our results reconcile previous seemingly contradictory results on the relation between grassland species diversity and soil moisture and highlight the role of vegetation composition for soil processes.