Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of bacterial biomarkers enable fast and accurate monitoring in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affect millions of people worldwide with increasing incidence. Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) are the two most common IBDs. There is no definite cure for IBD, and response to treatment greatly vary among patients. Therefore, there is urgent need for biomarkers to monitor therapy efficacy, and disease prognosis. We aimed to test whether qPCR analysis of common candidate bacteria identified from a patient’s individual fecal microbiome can be used as a fast and reliable personalized microbial biomarker for efficient monitoring of disease course in IBD. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of 16S rRNA gene region identified species level microbiota profiles for a subset of UC, CD, and control samples. Common high abundance bacterial species observed in all three groups, and reported to be associated with IBD are chosen as candidate marker species. These species, and total bacteria amount are quantified in all samples with qPCR. Relative abundance of anti-inflammatory, beneficial Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Streptococcus thermophilus was significantly lower in IBD compared to control samples. Moreover, the relative abundance of the examined common species was correlated with the severity of IBD disease. The variance in qPCR data was much lower compared to NGS data, and showed much higher statistical power for clinical utility. The qPCR analysis of target common bacterial species can be a powerful, cost and time efficient approach for monitoring disease status and identify better personalized treatment options for IBD patients.
Pre-Service EFL Teachers and Faculty Members' Views on the Challenges and Complexities of Online Research Supervision amid COVID-19

Undergraduate research supervision has long been one of the most intricate learning issues due to its complexities and challenges. The policy to learn from home during COVID 19 pandemic could have increased the complexities and challenges. This study aimed at discovering the nature of problems and challenges of undergraduate research supervision in the English Education Department of Universitas Kristen Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia. Employing a qualitative method using a content analysis approach, this study was conducted in October to November 2020 involving 5 faculty members and 15 students who participated in the research supervision held amid COVID 19. Data from the faculty members were gathered through a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews, and data from the students were gathered using a questionnaire and focus group discussions. The obtained data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis technique. The results revealed that the students viewed the online undergraduate supervision during COVID as very complex and challenging due to their limited research and writing skills, inability to access the research fields, inadequate ICT skills for research, absence of face-to-face communication, and ICT constraints. Both supervisees and supervisors generally viewed the online research supervision was more complex and challenging than the traditional face-to-face research supervision.
Local structure of the lead-free relaxor ferroelectric (KxNa1-x)0.5Bi0.5TiO3

The local environment of Bi and Ti atoms in the lead-free relaxor ferroelectric solid-solution (K{sub x}Na{sub 1-x}){sub 0.5}Bi{sub 0.5}TiO{sub 3} has been studied as a function of K concentration and as a function of temperature for the x=0 end member by x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS). It is found that the local environment of Bi is much more distorted than that determined from conventional diffraction experiments. The shortest Bi-O distances are determined to be 2.22 A, and are 0.3 A shorter than those calculated from the crystallographic data. Several possible models of the Bi coordination environment, which are consistent with the XAFS data and provide bond-valence sums for Bi that are closer to the theoretical values, are proposed. The Ti displacement from the center of the oxygen octahedron increases with K concentration while the shortest Bi-O distance shows no compositional dependence. In K{sub 0.5}Bi{sub 0.5}TiO{sub 3} the value of the Ti displacement is determined to be 0.18 A. The changes of the macroscopic symmetry at the phase transition points in Na{sub 0.5}Bi{sub 0.5}TiO{sub 3} do not lead to changes of the radial atomic distribution around Ti, which is well off-center over the whole temperature range up to and including themore » paraelectric cubic phase. The results can be explained by assuming the presence of structural disorder. « less
PRIMUS: CONSTRAINTS ON STAR FORMATION QUENCHING AND GALAXY MERGING, AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE STELLAR MASS FUNCTION FROM z = 0–1

We measure the evolution of the stellar mass function (SMF) from z = 0–1 using multi-wavelength imaging and spectroscopic redshifts from the PRism MUlti-object Survey (PRIMUS) and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). From PRIMUS we construct an i < 23 flux-limited sample of ∼40, 000 galaxies at z = 0.2–1.0 over five fields totaling ≈5.5 deg2, and from the SDSS we select ∼170, 000 galaxies at z = 0.01–0.2 that we analyze consistently with respect to PRIMUS to minimize systematic errors in our evolutionary measurements. We find that the SMF of all galaxies evolves relatively little since z = 1, although we do find evidence for mass assembly downsizing; we measure a ≈30% increase in the number density of ∼1010 galaxies since z ≈ 0.6, and a ≲ 10% change in the number density of all ≳ 1011 galaxies since z ≈ 1. Dividing the sample into star-forming and quiescent using an evolving cut in specific star formation rate, we find that the number density of ∼1010 star-forming galaxies stays relatively constant since z ≈ 0.6, whereas the space density of ≳ 1011 star-forming galaxies decreases by ≈50% between z ≈ 1 and z ≈ 0. Meanwhile, the number density of ∼1010 quiescent galaxies increases steeply toward low redshift, by a factor of ∼2–3 since z ≈ 0.6, while the number of massive quiescent galaxies remains approximately constant since z ≈ 1. These results suggest that the rate at which star-forming galaxies are quenched increases with decreasing stellar mass, but that the bulk of the stellar mass buildup within the quiescent population occurs around ∼1010.8 . In addition, we conclude that mergers do not appear to be a dominant channel for the stellar mass buildup of galaxies at z < 1, even among massive (≳ 1011 ) quiescent galaxies.
THE COLD DUST CONTENT OF THE OXYGEN-RICH SUPERNOVA REMNANT G292.0+1.8

We present far-infrared images of the Galactic oxygen-rich supernova remnant (SNR) G292.0+1.8, acquired with the PACS and SPIRE instruments of the Herschel Space Observatory. We find that the SNR shell is detected in the PACS blue (100 μm) band, but not in the red (160 μm) band, broadly consistent with results from AKARI observations. There is no discernible emission from G292.0+1.8 in SPIRE imagery at 250, 350 and 500 μm. Comparing the 100 μm emission to that observed with Spitzer at 24 and 70 μm, we find a very similar appearance for G292.0+1.8 at all three wavelengths. The infrared emission is dominated by dust from non-radiative circumstellar shocks. In addition, the radiatively shocked O-rich clump known as the “Spur” on the eastern side of G292.0+1.8 is clearly detected in the PACS blue images, with marginal detection in the red. Fitting the existing 14–40 μm IRS spectra of the Spur together with photometric measurements from 70 μm MIPS and 100 μm PACS photometry, we place an upper limit of M⊙ of ejecta dust mass in the Spur, under the most conservative assumption that the ejecta dust has a temperature of 15 K. Modeling the dust continuum in the IRS spectra at four positions around the rim, we estimate post-shock densities ranging from cm−3 to 11 cm−3. The integrated spectrum of the entire SNR, dominated by swept-up circumstellar dust, can be fitted with a two-component dust model with a silicate component at 62 K and graphite component at 40 K for a total dust mass of 0.023 M⊙.
Symmetric informationally complete positive-operator-valued measures: A new computer study

We report on a new computer study of the existence of d2 equiangular lines in d complex dimensions. Such maximal complex projective codes are conjectured to exist in all finite dimensions and are the underlying mathematical objects defining symmetric informationally complete measurements in quantum theory. We provide numerical solutions in all dimensions d≤67 and, moreover, a putatively complete list of Weyl–Heisenberg covariant solutions for d≤50. A symmetry analysis of this list leads to new algebraic solutions in dimensions d=24, 35, and 48, which are given together with algebraic solutions for d=4,…,15, and 19.
Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Meridional Oscillations Over East Asia and Their Influences on Precipitation

The intraseasonal meridional wave trains are the major features of East Asia summer monsoon (EASM), but the complete physical pictures of dynamic pathways from tropical and mid‐high latitudes and their climate impacts have not been fully illustrated. With NCEP‐DOE Reanalysis‐II daily data set, two boreal summer intraseasonal meridional oscillations (ISMOs) are isolated and identified by extended EOF of zonal wind anomalies along the coast of East Asia on 10‐ to 30‐day timescale, that is, ISMO1 and ISMO2. They both demonstrate obvious quasi‐biweekly oscillations with an equivalent barotropic structure in troposphere, and ISMO1 represents the southward propagating wave train with large variances in upper level, which is initiated from the West Europe and primarily forced by the soil moisture anomalies over mid‐high latitudes of Eurasian continent, whereas ISMO2 propagates northward in mid‐lower troposphere from the tropical western North Pacific to East Asia that is closely related to BSISO2. The two ISMOs are capable of explaining a large fraction of the total intraseasonal variances of EASM, wherein, ISMO1 is responsible for a meridional dipole pattern of precipitation anomalies over eastern China, while ISMO2 has major influence in southern China. Generally, ISMO‐caused changes of extreme precipitation probability are in good accordance with the spatial pattern of its related 10‐ to 30‐day intraseasonal precipitation anomalies. Since ISMO1 and ISMO2 can clearly separate the tropical and extratropical‐origin meridional oscillations and further have robust influences on precipitation over East Asia, they can be used as the new monitoring and predicting factors to the intraseasonal variations of EASM and their associated extreme precipitation.
Comparing Experts and Novices for AI Data Work: Insights on Allocating Human Intelligence to Design a Conversational Agent

Many AI system designers grapple with how best to collect human input for different types of training data. Online crowds provide a cheap on-demand source of intelligence, but they often lack the expertise required in many domains. Experts offer tacit knowledge and more nuanced input, but they are harder to recruit. To explore this trade off, we compared novices and experts in terms of performance and perceptions on human intelligence tasks in the context of designing a text-based conversational agent. We developed a preliminary chatbot that simulates conversations with someone seeking mental health advice to help educate volunteer listeners at 7cups.com. We then recruited experienced listeners (domain experts) and MTurk novice workers (crowd workers) to conduct tasks to improve the chatbot with different levels of complexity. Novice crowds perform comparably to experts on tasks that only require natural language understanding, such as correcting how the system classifies a user statement. For more generative tasks, like creating new lines of chatbot dialogue, the experts demonstrated higher quality, novelty, and emotion. We also uncovered a motivational gap: crowd workers enjoyed the interactive tasks, while experts found the work to be tedious and repetitive. We offer design considerations for allocating crowd workers and experts on input tasks for AI systems, and for better motivating experts to participate in low-level data work for AI.
Urban morphology and prediction models of microclimatic phenomena in dry atmospheric context

The morphological configuration of cities has a direct influence on microclimatic variation. The predominant built composition in certain areas, the high rates of waterproofed surfaces, vegetation scarcity and water surfaces can have a significant impact on the temperature and humidity values on inhabited areas, often exposing the population on unhealthy environments. The aim of this paper is to elaborate a prediction microclimatic model variation of four different Local Climate Zones (LCZ) exposed to a dry atmospheric condition in an altitude tropical region. The method was developed on three stages, the first one, refers to a collect campaign of temperature and humidity variation in four different urban environments, LCZ D, LCZ 1, LCZ 5 and LCZ 9 in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. The representative microclimatic behavior of each area of ​​the city in relation to the performance of a dry air mass was recorded. The second stage involved the microclimatic collected data, which were submitted to a statistical analysis with ANOVA tests, serving as the basis for the development of prediction microclimatic models variation for each LCZs. After validating the models, it was verified, in the third stage, the urban area that presented morphological characteristics that allow the occurrence of high temperature waves and reduced indexes of relative humidity. The produced models for predicting urban microclimatic show a very high capacity of representation to estimate the temperature values in different areas of the city, since in all cases values of R exceed 80%. The results showed that the area with LCZ5 presents the longest periods of heat exposure, which should receive more attention from planners in relation to investments in urban green infrastructure.
Prevalence of haemoparasites and influence on haemato-biochemical parameters of polo horses in Ibadan, Nigeria

Parasitic diseases, which can reside inside or outside the host, have a devastating impact on human and animal health worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Little is known about the current haemoparasitic status of polo horses in Ibadan, Nigeria. This study aims to find out the scope and extent of haemoparasites and their associated haematological and serum biochemical changes in polo horses in Ibadan, Nigeria. Blood samples were randomly collected from 52 horses from Ibadan polo stable. Haemoparasites identification, haematology and serum biochemistry parameters were evaluated according to standard procedures. The overall prevalence of haemoparasitic infection in the sampled horses was 13.5%. The haemoparasites found were Theileria equi (85.7%) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (14.3%). The haematology result showed that infected horses presented a significant decrease (P<0.05) in PCV, WBC counts and significant elevation (P<0.05) of eosinophils. The serum biochemical values revealed that infected horses had significantly higher (P<0.05) levels of AST and creatinine kinase whereas the glucose level was significantly lower (P<0.05) when compared with the uninfected horses. To reduce the threat of haemoparasitic infection, it is recommended that vector control, as well as prophylactic therapy, be carried out in stables.
Meta-analysis of dimension of autonomy on the psychological well-being measurement in Indonesia

Since it was raised more than two decades ago, research on Psychological Well-Being (PWB) in Indonesia has invited many interested people to follow up. This situation is in line with the development of the overall orientation of Positive Psychology as a form of renewal from conventional psychological orientation. A large number of PWB studies carried out in Indonesia provides quite broad theoretical and practical implications. In general, the data obtained through these studies use group norms on respondents who are relatively small in size, so that their findings are not accurate in providing a description of PWB in the group of respondents studied. Among the six dimensions psychological well-being (self-acceptance, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, environmental mental mastery, and autonomy), dimensions autonomy often show findings with lower scores than other dimensions. The purpose of this study was to find a profile of the dimensions of autonomy. The research method used is a meta-analysis and confirmation analysis of approximately 100 results of existing research, with a respondent size of around 3,000 people. After getting the score standard autonomy from the meta-analysis study, it will be continued by distributing the PWB questionnaire to around 844 respondents emerging adulthood. This research moved from the basic assumption that Indonesian culture was different from a western culture where the initial research of this PWB was developed. These cultural differences will then form different behaviors in displaying dimensions autonomy in everyday life
Nutritional status research in Uganda: A critical review and trend analysis

Uganda is ranked 77th out of 95 countries in terms of under-nutrition prevalence. Under-nutrition is closely linked to 40% of all mortalities among children below 5 years of age. It is projected that by 2050 malnutrition in all its dimensions combined will cost the country US $ 7.7 billion (19 trillion Uganda Shillings) in lost productivity, yet timely investing in nutrition would translate into an economic gain of US$ 1.7 billion (4.3 trillion Uganda shillings) through enhanced productivity. A critical review and trend analysis, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) approach was carried out. This was aimed at critically assessing the status of nutrition and identifying existing research gaps and intervention options. In addition, the study was focused on generating evidence for nutrition policy discourse. The review mainly focused on peer reviewed publications, covering the period from 2011 to 2022. A total of 215 materials were downloaded, 28 articles were used for literature review and 14 were used for further synthesis and trend analysis. It was found that stunting among children under 5 years was higher in the rural areas (37%) than in the urban areas (34%). Wasting and underweight among the same age group were most rampant in northern region, with prevalence rates of 7.5% and 14.6%, respectively, while stunting was most prevalent in western region (33.2%). Available data showed increasing prevalence of obesity and overweight. The proportion of women 15-49 years who were overweight or obese increased from 17% in 2006 to 19% in 2011 and 24% in 2016. On the other hand, prevalence of thinness among women aged 15-49 years declined from 12% in 2006 and 2011 to 9% in 2016. The review unearthed dearth of literature on nutrition for the elderly, adolescents and young adults. It would be prudent to invest in research to bridge the identified gaps. The outcome of such studies would be instrumental in informing nutrition policy in Uganda. Key words: Stunting, Obesity, Underweight, Overweight, Micronutrient deficiency
What Drives Consumer Purchase Intention on Products Offered by E- Commerce During the Covid-19 Pandemic? An Empirical Study at Tokopedia

The main purpose of this research is to test a model to prove whether perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, cost saving and time saving affect purchase intention directly or indirectly through perceived customer value. The research model was tested in e-commerce contexts at Tokopedia during the Covid-19 pandemic. Primary data were collected by distributing questionnaires to 313 people who had visited Tokopedia website or application but have never made a purchase. The purposive sampling technique is used in this research. Data analyzed using the partial least square method with SmartPLS. The findings indicated that perceived ease of use affects purchase intention, whereas perceived usefulness, cost saving, and time saving do not affect purchase intention. The results of the indirect effect prove perceived customer value mediates the effect of cost saving and time saving on purchase intention, while perceived customer value does not mediate the effect of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on purchase intention. The research findings also show that cost saving and time saving affect perceived customer value, whereas perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use do not affect perceived customer value, and perceived customer value affects purchase intention. Keywords— perceived usefulness; perceived ease of use; cost saving; time saving; perceived customer value; purchase intention.
The Value of SIRT1/FOXO1 Signaling Pathway in Early Detection of Cardiovascular Risk in Children with β-Thalassemia Major

Background: Atherosclerosis represents one of the major causes of morbidity in children with β-thalassemia major (β-TM). Aim: This study was designed to investigate SIRT1-FOXO1 signaling in β-TM children and their role in early detection of premature atherosclerosis. Methods: We equally subdivided 100 Egyptian children aged 6–14 years with β-TM according to carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) into 50 with CIMT < 0.5 mm and 50 with CIMT ≥ 0.5 mm, and 50 healthy children of matched age were included. They were subjected to evaluation of SIRT1, heat shock protein 72 (HSP72), and hepcidin levels via ELISA and forkhead box protein 1 (FOXO1) mRNA expression using real-time PCR in PBMCs; meanwhile, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activities were evaluated spectrophotometrically. Results: Our results show significantly high values for CIMT, β-stiffness, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), MDA, HSP72 and FOXO1, ferritin with significantly low hepcidin, SOD, catalase, and SIRT1 in β-TM as compared to controls with a more significant difference in β-TM with CIMT ≥ 0.5 mm than those with CIMT < 0.5 mm. A significant positive correlation between CIMT and MDA, HSP72, and FOXO1 gene expression was found, while a significant negative correlation with hepcidin, SOD, catalase, and SIRT1 was found. FOXO1 gene expression and HSP72 levels were the strongest independent determinants of CIMT. Conclusion: In β-TM, FOXO1 signaling is activated with low levels of SIRT1, and this is attributed to accelerated atherosclerosis in β-TM, which would be crucial in prediction of atherosclerosis.