Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring joint HPA-inflammatory stress response profiles in adolescent girls: Implications for developmental models of neuroendocrine dysregulation.

Prior research has struggled to differentiate cortisol stress response patterns reflective of well-regulated versus dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function among adolescents. Here, we show how exploring profiles of joint HPA-inflammatory stress responsivity, and linking those profiles to pubertal development and peer stress exposure may aid such distinction. Adolescent girls (N = 157, Mage = 14.72 years, SD = 1.38) at risk for psychopathology completed assessments of salivary cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6) prior to and following the Trier Social Stress Test. Adolescents, a close friend, and a caregiver completed questionnaire measures of peer stress and pubertal status. Multitrajectory modeling of adolescents' cortisol and cytokine levels revealed three profiles: low cortisol response-stably low cytokine (n = 75), high cortisol response-stably moderate cytokine (n = 47), and low cortisol response-stably high cytokine (n = 35). Relative to low cortisol response-stably low cytokine, adolescents exhibiting the high cortisol response-stably moderate cytokine profile were more advanced in their pubertal development, but presented with similarly low levels of peer stress exposure. Despite showing cortisol responses that were indistinguishable from low cortisol response-stably low cytokine, adolescents exhibiting the low cortisol response-stably high cytokine profile were more pubertally advanced, but also more likely to have experienced chronic peer strain (self-report) and relational peer victimization (close friend-report). These findings thus illustrate the potential value of taking a multisystem approach to studying adolescent stress responsivity and underscore the importance of considering developmental and social factors when interpreting cortisol stress response patterns. Ultimately, such work may help inform developmental models of neuroendocrine dysregulation and related risk for psychopathology.
The growth trajectories of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico: a comparative view through the framework space lens

This paper discusses different growth trajectories in a selection of Latin American economies, namely Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, comparing the phase of import substitution growth strategies with the more recent period of financial integration into the world economy. Our working hypothesis is that different growth trajectories result from the linkages between macroeconomic conditions and changes in production structures. When policy space becomes narrower, long-term growth performance is impaired and structural change will not usually enhance growth potential. We carry out an analysis based on the framework space methodology, which serves to compare phases of growth described as an evolving coupling of the dynamic profile of productivity growth (a supply-side condition) with the behaviour of capital accumulation (a demand-side condition). In light of the framework space comparative analysis, our main conclusion is that economic opening in the 1990s did nothing to further the catching-up process in any of the four economies.
Fisheries yields and species declines in coral reefs

Negative trade-offs between food production and biodiversity and the positive functional diversity–productivity relationships are potentially conflicting paradigms that are frequently evoked in conservation and sustainability science and management. While the complementary niches of species could potentially increase fisheries yields, stark food-diversity trade-offs have been proposed for wild-caught fisheries. Nevertheless, this first evaluation of stock biomass, yields, and species relationships in 115 coral reef locations in the Western Indian Ocean found that management for multispecies-maximum sustained yield (MMSY) will increase both food production and numbers of species relative to open access fisheries. A precipitous loss of >50% of species did not occur until >70% of the fishable and target biomasses was depleted. At MMSY, 6%–15% of total predicted number of fish species were lost indicating a need for other conservation mechanisms. These patterns occurred because the best-fit to the yield-numbers of species relationship was either a saturation or convex parabolic relationship. Fishing at MMSY in coral reefs should provide considerable diversity required to support many ecosystem services. Low biomass and overfishing were common and around 80% of studied locations were losing ∼2.0–2.5 tons km−2 yr−1 and 15%–40% of their species relative to MMSY.
The Resonant Modular Multilevel DC–DC Converter Adopting Switched-Inductor Cells for High Step-Up Ratio

With the prosperous development of distributed renewable energy power generation, high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) system has evolved into large-scale practical applications from the initial stage, and high step-up conversion dc–dc converters have become a core technology to promote the development of HVDC system. This article proposes a new resonant modular multilevel dc–dc converter (MMDC) based on the conventional boost converter. The single-switch and diode of the conventional boost topology are replaced by submodules (SMs), which are clamped by floating capacitors, and the inductor is replaced by switched-inductor (SL) cells. The phase-shifted pulsewidth modulation (PS-PWM) is applied to regulate the state of SMs, i.e., inserted state or bypassed state, to ensure that there is a constant number of SMs supporting the output voltage at any time. The converter is operated in resonant mode with resonance between capacitors of SMs and the upper arm inductor. The step-up conversion ratio is dependent on the inductors charging ratio, the number of SMs, and SL cells. Hence, more regulation schemes are available. The proposed converter possesses the advantages of MMDC and has the inherent-balancing capability of SM capacitor voltages without additional complex balancing control. The structure of the converter, operating mode analysis, parameter design, and comparison with other MMDCs are presented, which have been verified by simulated and experimental results.
QUINTANO ROO MEXICO MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS FAILURE: AN MULTI VARIABLE ANALYSIS, EL FRACASO DE LAS MICRO, PEQUENAS Y MEDIANAS EMPRESAS EN QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO: UN ANALISIS MULTIVARIANTE

The role of small business in the Mexican economy suggests that an understanding of why enterprises fail is important to the stability of the Mexican economy. The purpose of this research is to determinate the factors causes of small business failure in Quintana Roo, MA©xico. The result indicates the most important factor is strategic planning.
EVALUATION OF QUALITY OF LIFE-RELATED TO ORAL HEALTH AFTER DIFFERENT PROSTHETIC TREATMENTS IN EDENTULISM PATIENTS

Background: The impact of edentulism on oral health status is an important public health issue. Conventional complete dentures, implant-supported removable dentures and implant-supported fixed dentures are evidence-based treatment IRPtions in the treatment of complete edentulism. Quality of life may be compromised due to various reasons such as functional problems, diseases, nutritional deficiency, physiological and psychosocial problems in individuals using prostheses.Objectives: Our aim in this study is to evaluate patient satisfaction of completely edentulous patients treated with conventional complete dentures, implant-supported removable dentures and implant-supported fixed dentures, oral health-related quality of life and to compare the effects on quality of life.Methods: In this study, total of 140 patients involved, 49 female and 91 males, aged between 40 and 90 who were completely edentulous and treated at least 6 months ago in the Prosthetic Dentistry Clinic.Patients were divided into 3 groups as conventional complete denture (CD), implant retained overdenture (IRP) and implant supported fixed prosthesis (ISFP). By Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), Oral Health-Related Quality of Life-United Kingdom (OHQoL-UK) questionnaires oral health-related quality of life was measured analyzed and obtained parameters were compared.Results: When all findings were evaluated, the oral health-related quality of life of the group treated with implant-supported fixed prosthesis were found to be higher than the conventional complete denture and implant-supported fixed prosthesis group. In addition, it was determined that implant-supported fixed and removable treatments had positive effects on patient satisfaction, quality of life compared to conventional complete denture treatment.Conclusions: Support from dental implants while making a prosthetic treatment plan in edentulous patients will contribute positively to the stability and retention of the prosthesis. This will increase the quality of life of the person by supporting patient satisfaction, adaptation to the prosthesis and nutrition
Short-Term Functional and Morphological Changes in the Primary Cultures of Trigeminal Ganglion Cells

Several studies have proved that glial cells, as well as neurons, play a role in pain pathophysiology. Most of these studies have focused on the contribution of central glial cells (e.g., microglia and astrocytes) to neuropathic pain. Likewise, some works have suggested that peripheral glial cells, particularly satellite glial cells (SGCs), and the crosstalk between these cells and the sensory neurons located in the peripheral ganglia, play a role in the phenomenon that leads to pain. Nonetheless, the study of SGCs may be challenging, as the validity of studying those cells in vitro is still controversial. In this study, a research protocol was developed to examine the potential use of primary mixed neuronal–glia cell cultures obtained from the trigeminal ganglion cells (TGCs) of neonate mice (P10–P12). Primary cultures were established and analyzed at 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h. To this purpose, phase contrast microscopy, immunocytochemistry with antibodies against anti-βIII-tubulin and Sk3, scanning electron microscopy, and time-lapse photography were used. The results indicated the presence of morphological changes in the cultured SGCs obtained from the TGCs. The SGCs exhibited a close relationship with neurons. They presented a round shape in the first 4 h, and a more fusiform shape at 24 h and 48 h of culture. On the other hand, neurons changed from a round shape to a more ramified shape from 4 h to 48 h. Intriguingly, the expression of SK3, a marker of the SGCs, was high in all samples at 4 h, with some cells double-staining for SK3 and βIII-tubulin. The expression of SK3 decreased at 24 h and increased again at 48 h in vitro. These results confirm the high plasticity that the SGCs may acquire in vitro. In this scenario, the authors hypothesize that, at 4 h, a group of the analyzed cells remained undifferentiated and, therefore, were double-stained for SK3 and βIII-tubulin. After 24 h, these cells started to differentiate into SCGs, which was clearer at 48 h in the culture. Mixed neuronal–glial TGC cultures might be implemented as a platform to study the plasticity and crosstalk between primary sensory neurons and SGCs, as well as its implications in the development of chronic orofacial pain.
Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation with or without Chemolipiodolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity-Score-Matched Analysis

Chemolipiodolization (CL) is less invasive than transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for managing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because it helps avoid embolization. However, the treatment outcomes of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) with or without CL for HCC remain unclear. Herein, we compared the prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) following PRFA with or without CL for HCC using propensity-score-matched analysis. A total of 221 patients with HCC treated with PRFA at Saga Central Hospital between April 2004 and October 2020, with or without CL, were enrolled. No significant difference was observed in OS between PRFA with and without CL cohorts (median survival time (MST): 4.5 vs. 5.4 years; p = 0.0806). To reduce the confounding effects of 12 variables, we performed propensity-score-matched analysis to match patients treated with PRFA with or without CL. No significant difference was observed in OS between PRFA with and without CL cohorts (MST: 4.0 vs. 3.6 years; p = 0.5474). After stratification according to tumor size, no significant difference was observed in OS for patients with tumor size ≥20 mm between PRFA with and without CL cohorts (MST: 3.5 vs. 3.4 years; p = 0.8236). PRFA with CL was not a significant prognostic factor in both univariate and multivariate analyses (p = 0.5477 and 0.9600, respectively). Our findings suggest that PRFA with CL does not demonstrate more favorable prognosis than PRFA without CL for HCC, regardless of tumor size.
Lecciones aprendidas de estudios sobre blended-learning en instituciones de Educación Superior Learned lessons from blended-learning studies in Higher Education Institutions

In this paper, we review one of the most spreading learning modalities at the moment: blended-learning. The contribution of Information and Communication Technologies to the educational world and the needs in the European Higher Education Area seem to introduce the best scenario for the developing of blended learning experiences. In this paper, we go through some important concepts for the understanding of blended-learning as formative modality. After that, we review some researches carried out around this topic in order to study in a wider and deeper way the effect of using these models in Higher Education institutions.
A Novel Deep Learning Framework for Automatic Recognition of Thyroid Gland and Tissues of Neck in Ultrasound Image

Recognition of thyroid glands and tissues of the neck is vital for screening related diseases in ultrasound videos. This task is subjective, challenging, and dependent on the experience of sonographer in current clinical practice. The purpose is to develop a fully automated thyroid gland and tissues of neck recognition framework to assist doctors in distinguishing the boundaries of different tissues. In this paper, we propose a novel deep learning framework that consists of a feature extraction network, region proposal network, object detection head, and spatial pyramid RoIAlign-based segmentation head. Designed spatial pyramid RoIAlign can efficiently capture local and global context features, and aggregates the multiple context information that makes the result much more reliable. A large dataset is constructed to train the proposed method. The performance is evaluated using the COCO metrics. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed deep learning method can effectively realize the automatic recognition of the thyroid gland and tissues of neck in ultrasound videos. Considering the clinical practical application scenarios, we developed an automatic recognition system of thyroid and neck tissue based on edge computing, which can expediently assist doctors in distinguishing the boundaries between different tissues.
Knee osteoarthritis in midlife women: unique considerations and comprehensive management

Abstract Objective: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common musculoskeletal condition that particularly afflicts women in menopause. The purpose of this review is to describe the pathophysiology and treatment considerations for this subset of the population. Methods: Medline/PubMed indexed articles related to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of osteoarthritis were included in this narrative review. Results and Conclusion: Menopause has a multitude of effects that affect KOA, including hormonal shifts; loss of bone mineral density, muscle mass, and tendon strength; and changes to pain perception. Here, we discuss how a practitioner can assess the factors that are known to worsen KOA symptoms, including postural (spine, pelvic, and knee) alignment and functional muscle strength. The development of an effective exercise program is at the forefront of management. Optimizing other lifestyle factors including nutrition and sleep are particularly important in this patient population. Sleep disturbance from vasomotor symptoms can also increase perception of knee pain, for which pharmacologic options such as gabapentin or duloxetine may be pursued. In total, these interventions have large ramifications in decreasing pain and increasing function through improved range of motion, body composition, and walking speed in women with KOA.
Spatial organisation of “therapeutic” spaces for autistic children in special schools: lessons learnt from the united kingdom experience

ABSTRACT Providing calming environments for children with autism spectrum disorders in schools is a common issue in the world as the unique cultures and characteristics of autistic individuals are increasingly revealed. However, in Japan, no architectural guidelines provide specific information to develop autistic friendly spaces in special schools. Consequently, the provision of “therapeutic” spaces such as calm rooms, soft play rooms, sensory rooms or terraces is lagging behind. We conducted field surveys at six special schools in the UK as model cases. We analysed: 1) the types and functions of therapeutic spaces, and 2) the configuration of therapeutic spaces around a classroom. As a result, we identified the spatial organisation of therapeutic spaces based on a classroom suitable for different age groups. In nursery areas, dedicated playgrounds with direct access from classrooms are in high demand. In primary areas, small terraces next to classrooms and calm rooms nearby play a role in maintaining the children’s well-being. In secondary or high school areas, the settings are becoming more similar to mainstream than to special schools as the students become more independent. These findings suggest the importance of supporting individuals and different age groups through the spatial organisation of therapeutic spaces. Graphical Abstract
The effect of mesenchymal stem cell-lyophilizate on the proliferation of A549 cells by regulation of JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway

To examine the effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Lyophilizate (MSC-L) on the proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells and the activities of the JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway in this process. Our study in experimental design utilized A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells as model cells. First, the proliferative effect of the MSC-L cells on the A549 cells was established. Then, the concentration at which the proliferation was most distinct and a lower dilution were selected as the experimental group. In experimental groups, the A549 cells were exposed to the umbilical cord-derived MSC-L cells at two concentrations: 5X105 MSC-L cells/well and 20X105 MSC-L cells/well. In the control group, A549 cells with no exposure (only serum-free DMEM F12 with lyophilization additive used in lyophilization process of MSC-L cells) were used and the proliferation process of all three groups was monitored. The change in the expression levels of p53, c-MYC, p21, and SOCS2 did not statistically significantly different between the experimental group exposed to 5X105 MSC-L cells/well and the control group (p>0.05). On the other hand, the expression level of the Bcl-xL gene was statistically higher than in the control group (p=0.037). The expression level of the P21 gene was statistically higher at the concentration of 20X105 MSC-L cells/well compared to the control group (p=0.037). Similarly, the expression level of the Bcl-xL gene was statistically higher in the experimental group exposed to 20X105 MSC-L cells/well than in the control group (p=0.034). There was no statistically significantly different change in the expression levels of P53, c-MYC, and SOCS2 genes compared to the control group (p>0.05). Our study revealed that A549 cells exhibited an increased cell proliferation upon MSC-L exposure; however, the JAK-STAT3 pathway was not involved in the A549 cell proliferation, suggesting that there might be other signaling pathways involved.
Chemical screening, insecticidal and reprotoxic activities of Tecoma stans ethanolic leaf extract against the vector mosquito Culex pipiens

To select potential plant‐based insecticides, Tecoma stans (Bignoniaceae) leaf extract was screened for its larvicidal and delayed effects against a medically important mosquito species Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae). First, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was conducted on T. stans extract, collected in ethanol for its chemical characterization and detection of active constituents. Second, insecticidal bioassays were made with several concentrations on earlier fourth instar larvae (L4) of Cx. pipiens for 24 h as recommended by WHO, in order to determine the lethality parameters of the tested extract. For that, two concentrations (LC30 and LC50) were applied on L4 for 24 h, and emerged adults were observed for their reproductive performance success like fecundity, percentage of hatching (fertility), body and gonads' volume. The biochemical composition of whole bodies of adults was investigated. Also, the specific activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathion S‐transferase (GST), biomarkers of neurotoxicity and detoxification, respectively, were also determined in L4 at different time intervals. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis (GC–MS) of the extract unveiled nine phytoconstituents with 2‐[4‐cyclohexylbutanoylamino]‐3‐chloro‐1,4‐naphthoquinone (36.24%) and 1,2‐Benzenedicarboxylic acid, mono(2‐ethylhexyl) ester (22.65%) as major components. The early L4 of Cx. pipiens were exposed to LC30 and LC50, and after 24 h, surviving individuals have been further reared until adult emergence. All over, T. stans leaves ethanolic extract impairs adults reproductive traits; it adversely affected gonad's size, fecundity and fertility, which negatively affected the survival of their offspring. Lipids contents were found to increase in both male and female adults. T. stans ethanolic extract increased GST activity and slightly inhibited AChE activity in L4. In conclusion, the ethanolic extract of T. stans could be a potential candidate used as a sustainable botanical insecticide for controlling mosquito.
Psychosocial Experiences of Older Women in the Management of Urinary Incontinence: A Qualitative Study

Introduction Urinary incontinence is a prevalent disorder amongst older women. Identifying the psychosocial experiences of older women in disease management can improve the patient care process. Hence, the present study aimed to determine the psychosocial experiences of older women in the management of urinary incontinence. Methods This qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis. The study data were collected via unstructured in-depth face-to-face interviews with 22 older women suffering from urinary incontinence selected via purposive sampling. Sampling and data analysis were done simultaneously and were continued until data saturation. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. Results The results indicated that the older people with urinary incontinence had various psychosocial experiences while living with and managing this disease. Accordingly, four main themes were extracted from the data as follows: “problem incompatibility with the disease,” “mental impasse,” “facing social restrictions,” and “concealment and social escapism. ” Conclusion The findings demonstrated that older people with urinary incontinence experienced significant psychosocial pressures while living with this disorder, which affected their psychosocial well-being. Thus, paying attention to these psychosocial experiences while supporting and taking care of these patients can positively impact their psychosocial health and quality of life.