Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi-omics reveals deoxycholic acid modulates bile acid metabolism via the gut microbiota to antagonize carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic liver injury

ABSTRACT Deoxycholic acid (DCA) serves essential functions in both physiological and pathological liver processes; nevertheless, the relationship among DCA, gut microbiota, and metabolism in chronic liver injury remain insufficiently understood. The primary objective of this study is to elucidate the potential of DCA in ameliorating chronic liver injury and evaluate its regulatory effect on gut microbiota and metabolism via a comprehensive multi-omics approach. Our study found that DCA supplementation caused significant changes in the composition of gut microbiota, which were essential for its antagonistic effect against CCl4-induced chronic liver injury. When gut microbiota was depleted with antibiotics, the observed protective efficacy of DCA against chronic liver injury became noticeably attenuated. Mechanistically, we discovered that DCA regulates the metabolism of bile acids (BAs), including 3-epi DCA, Apo-CA, and its isomers 12-KLCA and 7-KLCA, IHDCA, and DCA, by promoting the growth of A.muciniphila in gut microbiota. This might lead to the inhibition of the IL-17 and TNF inflammatory signaling pathway, thereby effectively countering CCl4-induced chronic liver injury. This study illustrates that the enrichment of A. muciniphila in the gut microbiota, mediated by DCA, enhances the production of secondary bile acids, thereby mitigating chronic liver injury induced by CCl4. The underlying mechanism may involve the inhibition of hepatic IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways. These findings propose a promising approach to alleviate chronic liver injury by modulating both the gut microbiota and bile acids metabolism.
Impact of Drought on Land Cover Changes in Diné Bikéyah – A Study through Remote Sensing

This study identifies land cover changes associated with a ten-year drought period and discusses the importance of vegetation change in Diné Bikéyah, a semi-arid land located in a remote part of the southwestern United States (US). This study concludes that drought produced slight changes in vegetation within a 540 km2 study area in the Tselani-Cottonwood Chapter (TCC) in Diné Bikéyah. The data for this study consist of three Landsat images for the years 1998, 2002, and 2009. The methods used to analyze these Landsat images included image pre-processing, calculation of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images, and supervised (maximum likelihood) classification of land cover. The classification analysis yielded five land-cover categories; land-cover change was assessed using standard change-detection techniques, followed by accuracy assessment of the results. Land-cover change was minimal over the ten-year study period in the TCC, which suggests that vegetation in the study area is resilient to
Energy drinks consumption in Erbil city: A population based study

Background and objective: Energy drinks have become increasingly prevalent among young adults and adolescents in recent years, particularly young students and athletes who see the consumption of energy drinks as an easy and quick way to boost academic and athletic performance. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of consumption of energy drinks in a sample of adolescent and adults in Erbil city as well as perceived benefits and its health hazards. Methods: A convenience sample of 600 individuals from different sectors and social groups of Erbil city was selected. Data was obtained through direct interview. The data was managed through SPSS program version 18, using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The prevalence of energy drinks consumption among the study population was 42.7%, especially adolescents and young adults (those ≤ 25 years) and was more common among males than females (55.7% and 29.8%, respectively). The main reasons for its consumption were related to getting energy and improving the mood and performance (66.0% and 30.4%, respectively). 62.7% of participants think that it is harmful and could have adverse effects such as heartbeat irregularity and blood pressure swinging, addiction, and osteoporosis (46.2%, 33.7% and 13.2%, respectively). Televisions were the major source of advertisement (71.45). A significant statistical association had been found between the age, gender and educational status of the participants and consuming energy drinks (P = 0.001, 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Energy drinks consumption found to be highly prevalent in adolescents and young adults in Erbil city, which calls for review and regulating the sale of these drinks including adolescents' education, raising community’s awareness, banning selling it in public places and increasing taxes.
Sexual selection and mate limitation shape evolution of species' range limits.

Understanding what processes shape the formation of species' geographic range limits is one central objective linking ecology and evolutionary biology. One potentially key process is sexual selection; yet, theory examining how sexual selection could shape eco-evolutionary dynamics in marginal populations is still lacking. In species with separate sexes, range limits could be shaped by limitations in encountering mates at low densities. Sexual selection could therefore modulate mate limitation and resulting extinction-colonisation dynamics at range margins, through evolution of mate encounter ability and/or mate competition traits, and their demographic consequences. We use a spatially explicit eco-genetic model to reveal how different forms of sexual selection can variably affect emerging range limits. Larger ranges emerged when sexual selection acted exclusively on traits increasing mate encounter probability, thus reducing female's mate limitation towards the range margins. In contrast, sexual selection via mate competition narrowed range limits due to increased trait-dependent mortality in males and elevated mate limitation for females. When mate encounter coevolved with mate competition, their combined effects on range limits depended on the mating system (polygyny versus monogamy). Our results demonstrate that evolution of species' ranges may be importantly shaped by feedbacks between sexual selection and spatial population demography and dynamics.
ANALISIS TINGKAT KEPUASAN PENGUNJUNG TERHADAP LAYANAN REKREASI DUNIA FANTASI PT TAMAN IMPIAN JAYA ANCOL JAKARTA UTARA

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kualitas pelayanan dan untuk mengetahui kepuasan pengunjung yang berekreasi di Dunia Fantasi PT Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Jakarta Utara, selain itu penulis berharap agar pembaca lebih dapat mengetahui bagaimana kepuasan pengunjung terhadap layanan rekreasi Dunia Fantasi PT Taman Impian Jaya Ancol Jakarta Utara. Penelitian ini bersifat kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner yang disebarkan kepada pengunjung sesuai dengan keadaan subjek yang sebenarnya, metode rentang skala untuk mengetahui kualitas pelayanan dan metode analisis GAP untuk mengetahui kepuasan pengunjung. Setelah penulis mengetahui kepuasan pengunjung terhadap layanan rekreasi Dunia Fantasi akhirnya penulis menarik kesimpulan bahwa kualitas pelayanan yang ada di Dunia Fantasi sudah sangat baik, kualitas pelayanan yang sudah sangat baik membuat pengunjung merasakan sangat puas karena telah berekreasi di DuniaFantasi.
Investigation of in-vitro Anti-Cancer and Apoptotic Potential of Garlic-Derived Nanovesicles against Prostate and Cervical Cancer Cell Lines.

OBJECTIVE Investigate the anti-cancerous potential of garlic-derived nanovesicles (GDNVs), exploring their cytotoxic effects on HeLa and PC-3 cell lines, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms, including apoptosis induction and inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). METHODS GDNVs were isolated using differential centrifugation and ultracentrifugation. Characterization was performed through dynamic light scattering (DLS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Cytotoxicity assessments on HeLa and PC-3 cell lines using MTT assay. Apoptosis induction was evaluated through nuclear morphology changes and quantification of apoptotic cells using DAPI and PI/annexin V analysis. Western blot of apoptosis-related proteins (bcl-2, bax, caspase-3) was analysed. Anti-metastatic potential was assessed using wound healing assay and EMT transition inhibition. RESULTS Garlic-derived nanovesicles (GDNVs), characterized by a size of 134.2 nm, demonstrated a substantial and dose- as well as time-dependent anti-proliferative impact on HeLa and PC-3 cell lines. The induction of apoptosis was unequivocally established through discernible modifications in nuclear morphology. The apoptotic cell count in HeLa and PC-3 cells increased by 42.4 ± 4.2% and 38.2 ± 3.2%, respectively. Comprehensive Western blot demonstrated alterations in the expression of key apoptotic regulators, namely bcl-2, bax, and caspase-3, providing robust evidence for the initiation of apoptosis. Furthermore, GDNVs exerted a significant inhibitory effect (p < 0.001) on the migratory potential of both HeLa and PC-3 cells. Moreover, there was a discernible association between GDNVs and the suppression of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), emphasizing their role in impeding the metastatic potential of these cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION This study establishes, for the first time, the anti-cancerous potential of GDNVs. The observed dose- and time-dependent anti-proliferative effects, selective cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction, and anti-migratory potential highlight GDNVs as a promising candidate for cancer treatment.
The Use of Distributed Acoustic Sensing for 4D Monitoring Using Vertical Seismic Profiles: Results from the Aquistore CO2 Storage Project

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a rapidly developing technology that employs optical fibers to detect acoustic disturbances in the subsurface. The Aquistore CO2 storage project uses time-lapse DAS VSP's to monitor injected CO2 in a deep geological reservoir (>3200 m) beneath the study site near Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada. Reservoir monitoring is a crucial component to any geological storage project, and aims to ensure the safe and effective containment of the injected fluids, and evaluate the integrity of the storage and sealing units. An assessment of the ability of DAS VSP's to detect the CO2 response has been conducted for the Aquistore site. Prior to injection, fluid flow simulations were performed to predict CO2 distributions in the reservoir. These simulations were used to model the response of the CO2 plume in 2D time-lapse DAS VSP's. The expected responses were compared with estimates of time-lapse noise computed with field data from the baseline survey, and it was demonstrated that the plume would be visible in the reservoir after 27 kt of injection. After 36 kt of CO2 injection, the first monitor dataset was acquired. 4D VSP processing and imaging were applied to produce time-lapse difference volumes of the reservoir. Acceptable repeatability was attained, with normalized root-mean-square (nRMS) values less than 0.4 beneath the observation and injection wells. An anomaly in the lower part of the reservoir near the observation and injection wells was attributed to the replacement of brine with CO2. Updated fluid flow simulations were obtained that better replicated the injection parameters observed at the study site. Forward seismic modeling was then performed for 36 kt and 97 kt injection scenarios that reflected the 3D shot and receiver geometry in the field acquisitions. These data were processed using the same sequence applied to the field data to obtain comparable time-lapse difference volumes. Comparisons between the field and synthetic 36 kt anomalies were used to refine interpretations of the CO2 distribution in the reservoir. However, they also revealed the need to update the geological model to better reproduce the laterally asymmetric plume expansion.
Basin‐axial progradation of a sediment supply driven distributive fluvial system in the Late Cretaceous southern Utah foreland

The Turonian‐Coniacian Smoky Hollow Member of the Straight Cliffs Formation in the Kaiparowits basin of southern Utah records a stratigraphic transition from isolated fluvial channel bodies to increasingly amalgamated channel belts capped by the Calico bed, a sheet‐like sand‐gravel unit. Characteristics of the Smoky Hollow Member are consistent with a prograding distributive fluvial system including: up‐section increases in average grain size, bed thickness, channel‐body amalgamation, a fan‐shaped planform morphology and a downstream increase in channel sinuosity. The system prograded to the northeast based on thickness and facies patterns, and palaeocurrent indicators. This basin‐axial sediment‐dispersal trend, which was approximately parallel to the fold‐thrust belt at this latitude, is supported by provenance data including detrital zircons and modal sandstone compositions indicating sediment derivation mainly from the Mogollon Highlands and Cordilleran magmatic arc to the southwest, with episodic input from the more proximal Sevier fold‐thrust belt to the west. Progradation occurred during a eustatic still‐stand, relatively stable climatic conditions, and continuous tectonic subsidence, thus suggesting increased extrabasinal sediment supply as a primary control on basin‐fill. Progradation of the Smoky Hollow Member fluvial system culminated in a ~2–3 My hiatus at the top of the lower Calico bed. Correlation with the Notom delta of the Ferron Sandstone, 80 km northeast in the Henry basin, is proposed on the basis of facies relationships and geochronology. The Calico bed unconformity is linked to regional tectonically driven tilting and erosion observed in both basins.
Use of Falling Weight Deflectometer Testing in the Pavement ME AC/AC Overlay Design Procedure

Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing consists of applying an impact load to the pavement and recording the deflection of the pavement surface at specified distances from the point of impact. It is used to determine the structural capacity of an existing pavement and to backcalculate the stiffness of each layer in the pavement structure. This research focuses on the use of FWD data when designing asphalt concrete over asphalt concrete (AC/AC) overlays using the Pavement ME design procedure. There are four main components to this study. First, the performance prediction of the Pavement ME AC/AC overlay design procedure is examined in detail and is evaluated using field data from the Long-Term Pavement Performance Program (LTPP). Second, three methods for determining the stiffness of the existing asphalt concrete are compared using field and laboratory data, and the effect that the differences between methods have on design is quantified. Third, additional LTPP data is used to examine the relationship between FWD data and observed pavement distress in order to identify FWD parameters that are correlated with damage in the existing asphalt. Finally, LTPP data is used to develop adjustment factors for the Pavement ME AC/AC overlay design procedure that account for the difference between methods used to determine the stiffness of the existing asphalt.
A scale robust convolutional neural network for automatic building extraction from aerial and satellite imagery

ABSTRACT Identifying buildings from remote sensing imagery has been a challenge due to uncertainties from remote sensing imagery and variations in building structure and texture. In this study, we develop a scale robust CNN structure to improve the segmentation accuracy of building data from high-resolution aerial and satellite images. Based on a fully convolutional network, we introduce two Atrous convolutions on the first two lowest-scale layers, respectively, in the decoding step, aiming at enlarging the sight-of-view and integrate semantic information of large buildings. Then, a multi-scale aggregation strategy is applied. The last feature maps of each scale are used to predict the corresponding building labels, and further up-sampled to the original scale and concatenated for the final prediction. In addition, we introduce a combined data augmentation and relative radiometric calibration method for multi-source building extraction. The method enlarges sample spaces and hence the generalization ability of the deep learning models. We validate our developed methods with an aerial dataset of more than 180, 000 buildings with various architectural types, and a satellite image dataset consists of more than 29,000 buildings. The results are compared with several most recent studies. The comparison result shows our neural network outperformed other studies, especially in segmenting scenes of large buildings. The test on transfer learning from aerial dataset to satellite dataset showed our augmentation strategy significantly improved the prediction accuracy; however, further studies are needed to improve the generalization ability of the CNN model.
A new In-Hospital mortality prediction nomogram for ICU patients with acute pancreatitis

Introduction Acute pancreatitis is a prevalent inflammatory disease that can lead to severe abdominal pain and multiple organ failure, potentially resulting in pancreatic necrosis and persistent dysfunction. A nomogram prediction model was developed to accurately evaluate prognosis and provide therapy guidance to AP patients. Material and methods Retrospective data extraction was performed using MIMIC-IV, an open-source clinical database, to obtain 1344 AP patient records, of which the primary dataset included 1030 patients after the removal of repeated hospitalizations. The prediction of in-hospital mortality (IHM) used the LASSO regression model to optimize feature selection. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to build a prediction model incorporating the selected features, and the C-index, calibration plot, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were utilized to evaluate the discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability of the prediction model.
Cancer risk according to fasting blood glucose trajectories: a population-based cohort study

Introduction Diabetes mellitus is known to increase the risk of cancer. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels can be changed over time. However, the association between FBG trajectory and cancer risk has been insufficiently studied. This research aims to examine the relationship between FBG trajectories and cancer risk in the Korean population. Research design and methods We analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service–National Health Screening Cohort collected between 2002 and 2015. Group-based trajectory modeling was performed on 256,271 Koreans aged 40–79 years who had participated in health examinations at least three times from 2002 to 2007. After excluding patients with cancer history before 2008, we constructed a cancer-free cohort. The Cox proportional hazards model was applied to examine the association between FBG trajectories and cancer incidence by cancer type, after adjustments for covariates. Cancer case was defined as a person who was an outpatient thrice or was hospitalized once or more with a cancer diagnosis code within the first year of the claim. Results During the follow-up time (2008–2015), 18,991 cancer cases were identified. Four glucose trajectories were found: low-stable (mean of FBG at each wave <100 mg/dL), elevated-stable (113–124 mg/dL), elevated-high (104–166 mg/dL), and high-stable (>177 mg/dL). The high-stable group had a higher risk of multiple myeloma, liver cancer and gastrointestinal cancer than the low-stable group, with HR 4.09 (95% CI 1.40 to 11.95), HR 1.68 (95% CI 1.25 to 2.26) and HR 1.27 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.45), respectively. In elevated-stable trajectory, the risk increased for all cancer (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.16) and stomach cancer (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.43). Significant associations were also found in the elevated-high group with oral (HR 2.13, 95% CI 1.01 to 4.47), liver (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.08) and pancreatic cancer (HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.30). Conclusions Our study highlights that the uncontrolled high glucose level for many years may increase the risk of cancer.
Are epiphytic bryophyte communities characterized by changes along an elevational gradient?—A preliminary study on eastern Viti Levu, Fiji Islands

A comparative study of epiphytic bryophytes on tree trunks was undertaken in three principal vegetation types along an elevational gradient on the windward wet side of the largest island in Fiji, Viti Levu. This ecological study is the first of its kind for Fiji and the islands of the South Pacific and it serves as groundwork for any future ecological research in the region for bryophytes. This study set out to test if elevational range of study sites and height along host tree stem influenced bryophyte species diversity and distribution in Fiji. This was done by assessing bryophyte species presence/absence on the lower stems of the Calophyllum spp. trees and tree fern species at three elevations (~160 m, 590 m, and 1260 m). There were two main findings that emerged from this preliminary assessment. Firstly, there was a hump-shaped distribution of bryophyte diversity with a peak of species richness observed at mid-elevation or in the upland forest; with a dominance of liverworts at each of the three elevations. Secondly, the bryophyte communities showed good separation at both host tree level and at the site level, reflecting the ecological differences between the different host trees and between the three sites along the elevational gradient. The results from this survey alone suggest the need for priority to be given to upland forest protection and conservation. It also demonstrates the usefulness of bryophyte communities in discerning vegetation of different environmental and microclimatic conditions along an elevational gradient.
Qualitative assessment of expectations on the content, form and way of delivery of a prehabilitation programme in patients with lung resection surgery – A Swiss tertiary centre experience

Objective: To assess the interest in a prehabilitation programme of patients awaiting lung resection and to identify expectations from such a programme. Introduction: At present, in Switzerland, there are no multimodal clinical prehabilitation programmes for lung resection patients awaiting surgery. Methods: Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with patients who have had or were awaiting lung resection at a Swiss tertiary centre. Thematic analysis was performed to identify common prespecified themes. Results: Twenty-two patients (45.5% female, age 70.6 ± 16.6 years) were interviewed. Seventy-seven percent were interested in a prehabilitation programme. Sixty-two percent, 67% and 90% were interested in endurance, strength and respiratory training, respectively. Six patients (27%) were active smokers, of whom two (one-third) were interested in a smoking cessation programme. Seventy-six percent were interested in nutrition counselling and 90% in receiving education on risk factor management. Forty percent preferred centre-based training/counselling sessions, 20% preferred home-based training/counselling and 30% found both forms acceptable. Patients were willing to perform prehabilitation activities on 2.6 days/week for a total of 162 min/week. Participating in peer groups was desired by only 25%. Conclusions: Patients with lung resection were highly interested in participating in prehabilitation, albeit only for a mean time cost of 2.7 h per week. Offering a prehabilitation programme with a combination of in-hospital group sessions and home-based training seems feasible.