Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advances on Bacterial and Fungal Biofilms for the Production of Added-Value Compounds

Simple Summary The production of bio-based materials, including organic acids, antibiotics, enzymes, ethanol, and hydrogen, is generally done by the cultivation of suspended cells rather than using immobilized cells. However, several studies suggest the application of productive biofilms as a reliable alternative for biocatalysis, with many advantages over suspended-growth systems. This review gives an overview of the breakthrough in the application of biofilm platforms for the sustainable production of valuable compounds, with particular insight into the latest advances in the production of recombinant proteins. Productive biofilms are shown to improve production rates and product yields, demonstrating great potential for industrial applications. Abstract In recent years, abundant research has been performed on biofilms for the production of compounds with biotechnological and industrial relevance. The use of biofilm platforms has been seen as a compelling approach to producing fine and bulk chemicals such as organic acids, alcohols, and solvents. However, the production of recombinant proteins using this system is still scarce. Biofilm reactors are known to have higher biomass density, operational stability, and potential for long-term operation than suspended cell reactors. In addition, there is an increasing demand to harness industrial and agricultural wastes and biorefinery residues to improve process sustainability and reduce production costs. The synthesis of recombinant proteins and other high-value compounds is mainly achieved using suspended cultures of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. This review discusses the use of biofilm reactors for the production of recombinant proteins and other added-value compounds using bacteria and fungi.
Clinical Evaluation of Cement-Retained Implant-Supported CAD/CAM Monolithic Zirconia Single Crowns in Posterior Areas: Results of a 6-Year Prospective Clinical Study

Background: Different technologies and materials can be used for implant-supported restorations in posterior areas. Our study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of CAD/CAM implant-supported monolithic zirconia single crowns (ZrSCs) cemented onto titanium abutments with a dual-curing resin cement after 6 years of use. Methods: Fifty patients in need of one single crown in posterior regions were enrolled. The patients were recalled for a follow-up after 6 months and then yearly for a total observation period of 6 years. The biological and technical complications were examined using criteria set by the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), whereas visual analogue scales (VASs) were used to evaluate the patients’ aesthetic and functional satisfaction. Results: No patient was lost at follow-up; both the survival and success rates were 100%. No fractures, decementation, peri-implantitis, or soft tissue inflammation were recorded. Forty-six restorations were rated Alpha in each evaluated parameter of the USPHS’s criteria. According to the patients’ VASs assessments, the overall function of the ZrSCs was 8.4 (±2.1), whereas the overall aesthetic was 8.7 (±0.7). Conclusions: Monolithic zirconia single crowns cemented with dual-curing resin cements onto titanium abutments can be considered an effective clinical option in posterior regions after 6 years of function.
Association between Adequate Fruit and Vegetable Intake and CVDs-Associated Risk Factors among the Malaysian Adults: Findings from a Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adequate fruit and vegetable intake, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)-associated risk factors (i.e., diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia) among Malaysian adults without history of chronic diseases. We analyzed the data from 11,172 Malaysian adults (i.e., 5554 male and 5618 female), who participated in the population-based National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015. Multiple logistic regression was employed to determine the relationship between adequate daily intake of fruit and vegetables (i.e., ≥5 servings per day) and undiagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed hypertension, and undiagnosed hypercholesterolemia, after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle risk factors. The mean age (±SE) of these participants was 40.79 (±0.17) years old. Our data demonstrated an adequate daily intake of fruit and vegetables was inversely associated with undiagnosed hypercholesterolemia (adjusted OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.51–0.98). Further analyses demonstrated an inverse association between the adequate daily intake of vegetables alone and undiagnosed hypertension (adjusted OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.51–0.98). The findings from this study suggest the need for a holistic public health approach to reinforce public awareness about diet-related diseases, which will eventually aid in the prevention of CVDs among Malaysian adults in the long run.
Characterization Clustering of Educational Technologists Achievement in Higher Education Using Machine Learning Analysis

The research purpose was to develop a model for predicting cluster achievement of educational technologists. There are three research objectives: 1) to study the context of educational technologists’ achievements in higher education, 2) to construct a model for predicting learning achievement of educational technologists in higher education, and 3) to evaluate a model for predicting learning achievement of educational technologists in higher education. The research scope was to study the success cluster of educational technologists in Thailand. The research data were 98 students from the Bachelor of Arts Program in Educational Technology and Communications during the academic year 2015 to 2017. Research tools consist of two main parts: statistical tools and machine learning analysis tools. The results showed that most of the students in the program had a high-grade point average with a grade point average of 3.11. In addition, the educational technologists’ achievement cluster prediction model has an accuracy of 68.37%. The research results can be used to improve education programs to develop effective educational technologists where it is necessary to understand the context of the barriers and success factors of academic achievement.
Relaxing channel separation: Integrating a virtual store into the supply chain via transshipments

Many established companies have started to use virtual stores as a direct distribution channel in addition to their existing indirect retail channels. These companies must now decide on how to integrate these channels. The alternatives are to operate dedicated distribution channels for the virtual store and the retail stores or to tightly integrate the virtual store into the existing distribution channels. In such an integrated supply chain, retail stores would continue to serve all in-store customers, but excess stock at retail stores could be used to fill some online orders. We analyze this problem from a supply chain perspective by developing and solving mathematical models for both dedicated and integrated supply chains. We characterize the optimal inventory policy and quantify the expected cost savings that can be achieved by using an integrated supply chain over a dedicated supply chain. We show that the cost savings can be significant and that both retailers and customers benefit from an integrated supply chain. We also analyze how the optimal solutions depend on the characteristics of the supply chain and identify conditions under which it would be optimal to operate the virtual store without dedicating any inventory to the virtual store. Throughout the paper, we illustrate our analytical results with numerical examples.
Vicious Circles: On the Mathematics of Non-Wellfounded Phenomena

Part I. Background: 1. Introduction 2. Background on set theory Part II. Vicious Circles: 3. Circularity in computer science 4. Circularity in philosophy 5. Circularity and paradox Part III. Basic Theory: 6. The solution dilemma 7. Bisimulation Part IV. Elementary applications: 8. Graphs 9. Modal logic 10. Streams 11. Games 12. Modeling the semantic paradoxes Part V. Further Theory: 13. Greatest fixed points 14. Uniform operators 15. Corecursion Part VI. Further Applications: 16. Some applications 17. Modeling partial information 18. Circularity and the notion of set 19. Conclusions and future directions.
The Understanding Level of Students toward the Various Values of Character Education in Civics Courses of Elementary School

The objective of this study is to know the understanding level of the various values of character education in Civics courses in Elementary School (PPKN SD) toward the students of Elementary School Teacher Education (ESTE), Education Faculty, at a state university in Yogyakarta. This is a descriptive quantitative study with a survey method. The population of this research are 307 ESTE students in the 2019 academic year. The samples were taken using random sampling, including 174 students. The instrument used was a multiple-choice test through a google form link. The instrument was validated by expert judgement. The data analysis technique used was descriptive analysis in a percentage. The result of the study shows that the understanding level of various values in character education in Civics courses of the elementary school toward ESTE students were categorized as "low" 6.90% (12 students), "enough" 39.65% (69 students) and "high" 53.45% (93 students). Based on the average value, 76.99, ESTE students' understanding level was categorized as High.
Yoga as a Mindfulness Practice on Music Educators’ Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of yoga as a mindfulness practice on music educators’ stress and stress management. We designed this multiple-case study through the conceptual framework of practicing yoga to reduce teachers’ stress because yoga reduces stress in some populations. Participants attended a weekly virtual yoga class for 45 min and answered weekly reflection questions from the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale. Findings indicated that yoga positively impacted participants in terms of improving mood, reducing stress, feeling more relaxed, remembering to breathe, and maintaining more focus while teaching. Participants also indicated that they were bringing yoga and mindfulness practices into their teaching and focusing on their breath to help with stress management.
Stock Market Volatility and Persistence: Evidence from High-Income and Middle-Income Economies

This study examines the volatility of stock market indices in high-income and middle-income economies. Relying on daily closing prices from January 4, 2005 to May 4, 2021 and using the Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic (GARCH) model with one ARCH term and one GARCH term, the study finds evidence of long memory and mean reversion, suggesting that volatility persists but that it returns to its mean. In addition, the study finds that the latest news and prior information about volatility influence the volatility of indices, but prior information exerts greater influence. By providing a deeper understanding of stock market volatility in high-income and middle-income economies, this study contributes to the literature and provides investors, policymakers, and regulators additional insight.
Predicting COVID-19 Infections in Eswatini Using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation Method

COVID-19 country spikes have been reported at varying temporal scales as a result of differences in the disease-driving factors. Factors affecting case load and mortality rates have varied between countries and regions. We investigated the association between socio-economic, weather, demographic and health variables with the reported cases of COVID-19 in Eswatini using the maximum likelihood estimation method for count data. A generalized Poisson regression (GPR) model was fitted with the data comprising 15 covariates to predict COVID-19 risk in the whole of Eswatini. The results show that the variables that were key determinants in the spread of the disease were those that included the proportion of elderly above 55 years at 98% (95% CI: 97–99%) and the proportion of youth below the age of 35 years at 8% (95% CI: 1.7–38%) with a pseudo R-square of 0.72. However, in the early phase of the virus when cases were fewer, results from the Poisson regression showed that household size, household density and poverty index were associated with reported COVID-19 cases in the country. We then produced a disease-risk map of predicted COVID-19 in Eswatini using variables that were selected by the regression model at a 5% significance level. The map could be used by the country to plan and prioritize health interventions against COVID-19. The identified areas of high risk may be further investigated to find out the risk amplifiers and assess what could be done to prevent them.
Thief plates: the mediation of extortion in the rickshaw business in Dhaka, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Around half a million rickshaws ply the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh. To deal with the problem of theft, owner associations started to issue ‘thief plates’. These allow owners to get their rickshaws back at a reduced price. They also offer a protection against theft. This article argues that these plates form material mediators brokering relations between rickshaw owners and drivers, and thieves. Building on the literature on state-citizen brokerage, bureaucratic materialities and Anton Blok’s work on mafia, it wants to highlight the centrality of mediation in understanding practices of protection/extortion. It also aims to contribute to the literature on mafia in South Asia, showing the need to pay attention to norms of non-violence when dealing with violent or criminal strongmen.
Factors Affecting the Business Performance of the Companies: Evidence from Vietnam Listed Banks

The study was meant to investigate factors affecting the business performance at Vietnam listed joint stock commercial banks. The study aimed at finding out how clientele, source of funds, leadership and promotional strategies, government regulations, macroeconomics factors influenced the business performance of Vietnam listed commercial banks. The study adapted a descriptive research design as a major method of research where questionnaires were used to collect data from a sample of Vietnam listed joint stock commercial banks. Data collection was both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected using questionnaires distributed to the banks’ employees. They were designed to obtain broad range of answers from respondents which were used to answer the research questions. They comprised of close ended questions and secondary data was gathered from previous studies and annual reports of banks. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data and the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS 21.0) and advanced Excel were used. Reports were tabulated using frequency tables for clarity. The results established the relationship between business performance as a dependent variable and the independent variables including clientele, and source of funds, promotional strategies and leadership. The study findings showed a great influence of funds and clientele on the performance of commercial banks, followed by promotional strategies. Leadership was found to have less influence on performance of the bank. The study suggests to the financial sector players to maintain a sufficient clientele base and embrace healthy competition. The findings should draw the attention of scholars, the government and the private sector to help in ensuring economic stability of this country as banking is a major sector of the economy.
Examining Cognitive-Based Stress Management Interventions in Private Sector Workplaces

Objective: Review literature regarding the efficacy of stress management interventions in the private sector workplace. As stress is deemed to have a cognitive variable, the paper focuses exclusively on interventions that had a cognitive-based program. This is the first review paper to examine the private sector workplace exclusively. Method: Search from 2000 to date for any studies evaluating cognitive-based stress management interventions in the private sector workplace. Studies can include either an in-person/group delivery or individual/via web delivery. Sixteen studies were identified. Results: There is high heterogeneity across the studies in demographics, design, population samples, and program length. Except for one study, all programs showed me-dium to high significance effect sizes on the primary measure of reduced perception of stress. A select number of studies showed greater increases at six months+ follow-up data collection points. There was no consistent data regarding whether online or in-person delivery was more effective. Conclusions: Stress management interventions can be a useful tool to provide employees with the cognitive skills required to combat and prevent stress. The choice of the correct tool for the organization’s specific needs may be of significance for efficacy. Thorough consideration of implementation and evaluation of the program is advised for maximum efficacy. With consistent usage of the skills learned, employees may see not only an increase in their stress management skills over time but also an increase in their sense of self-efficacy. Increased self-efficacy may lead to positive improvements in other areas of their life beyond the professional sphere.
Distributed consensus control for networked Euler–Lagrange systems over directed graphs: A dynamic event‐triggered approach

This paper considers the distributed dynamic event‐triggered consensus problem of multi‐agent systems with Euler–Lagrange dynamics over directed graphs in the presence of uncertain disturbances. To achieve consensus, a dynamic triggering law is designed such that consensus of reference model can be achieved. Different from the static triggering mechanism, an extra variable is involved in the proposed dynamic triggering law, which benefits the exclusion of the Zeno behavior. Then, an auxiliary variable is introduced to simplify agent dynamics, which benefits the controller design. Based on the auxiliary variable, a local controller is further proposed to guarantee the tracking ability of the auxiliary variable to the reference model. Owing to this treatment, consensus of agents can be reached in the presence of external disturbances. In addition, no continuous communication is needed in either controller updates or triggering detection. Finally, numerical simulations are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed consensus protocol and its advantage in reducing the communication overhead compared with the relevant static triggering mechanism.
Grown-ups at play: Theorizing quintessential interpersonal experiences of connection, novelty, and mirth

ABSTRACT Adult communicative play is a pervasive interpersonal phenomenon that manifests in myriad forms and serves a variety of intra- and interpersonal functions. Here, a conceptual definition of adult communicative play is presented, and a theory specifying the conditions and processes that give rise to such occasions is developed. Central to this effort is the conception of “quintessential play” as “ideal code-based (verbal and nonverbal) instances of interpersonal engagement, understanding, and coordination, marked by a sense of novelty and enjoyment, that are understood to count as ‘play’ by the participants themselves. ” Experiences of truly quintessential play may be infrequent, but they represent the endpoint of a continuum along which all occasions of play can be seen to fall. The theoretical framework advanced here, then, addresses the role of person factors (e.g., personality traits), relationship factors (e.g., affection, power), dyadic factors (e.g., similarity), contextual factors (e.g., social rules and norms), and properties of interactions themselves, in fostering occasions of quintessential play, and that, by extension, sheds light on instances of failed play (e.g., mean-spirited teasing, bullying).
Lipid Profile, Lp(a) Levels, and HDL Quality in Adolescents with Down Syndrome

The improvement in the lifespan of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) has created interest in the context of the development of age-related diseases. Among them is atherosclerosis-based cardiovascular disease (CVD), which seems to be an especially urgent and important issue. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the lipid markers that may clarify cardiovascular risk profiles in individuals with DS. To this end, we analyzed lipid profile parameters, including lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels, protein composition, and the antioxidative properties of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), in 47 adolescents with DS and 47 individuals without DS. Compared with the control group (C), subjects with DS had significantly increased concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (105 ± 31 vs. 90 ± 24 mg/dL, p = 0.014), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (120 ± 32 vs. 103 ± 26 mg/dL, p = 0.006), and triglycerides (72 [55–97] vs. 60 [50–77] mg/dL, p = 0.048). We found that patients with DS were characterized by significantly higher Lp(a) levels (31.9 [21.5–54.3] vs. 5.2 (2.4–16.1) mg/dL, p < 0.001). In fact, 57% of individuals with DS had Lp(a) levels above 30 mg/dL, which was approximately four times higher than those in the control group (DS 57% vs. C 15%). Apart from decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the subjects with DS (53 ± 11 vs. 63 ± 12 mg/dL, p < 0.001), differences in parameters showing the quality of HDL particles were observed. The concentrations of the main proteins characterizing the HDL fraction, apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II, were significantly lower in the DS group (144 ± 21 vs. 181 ± 33 mg/dL, p < 0.001; 33 ± 6 vs. 39 ± 6 mg/dL, p < 0.001, respectively). No significant differences between the groups were observed for the concentration of paraoxonase-1 (DS 779 ± 171 vs. C 657 ± 340 ng/mL, p = 0.063), enzyme activities toward paraoxon (DS 219 [129–286] vs. C 168 [114–272] IU/L, p = 0.949), or phenyl acetate (DS 101 ± 20 vs. C 93 ± 21 kIU/L, p = 0.068). There were no differences in myeloperoxidase activity between the study groups (DS 327 [300–534] vs. C 426 [358–533] ng/mL, p = 0.272). Our results are the first to demonstrate an unfavorable lipid profile combined with higher Lp(a) levels and quality changes in HDL particles in individuals with DS. This sheds new light on cardiovascular risk and traditional healthcare planning for adolescents with DS.