Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of skinfold equations and alternative methods for the determination of fat-free mass in young athletes

Intoduction To cross-validate skinfold (SKF) equations, impedance devices, and air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) for the determination of fat-free mass (FFM). Methods Male and female youth athletes were evaluated (n = 91[mean ± SD] age: 18.19 ± 2.37 year; height: 172.1 ± 9.8 cm; body mass: 68.9 ± 14.5 kg; BMI: 23.15 ± 3.2 kg m−2; body fat: 19.59 ± 6.9%) using underwater weighing (UWW), ADP, and SKF assessments. A 3-compartment (3C) model (i.e., UWW and total body water) served as the criterion, and alternate body density (Db) estimates from ADP and multiple SKF equations were obtained. Validity metrics were examined to establish each method's performance. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), and the SKF equations of Devrim-Lanpir, Durnin and Womersley, Jackson and Pollock (7-site), Katch, Loftin, Lohman, Slaughter, and Thorland differed from criterion. Results For females, Pearson's correlations between the 3C model and alternate methods ranged from 0.51 to 0.92, the Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) ranged from 0.41 to 0.89, with standard error of the estimate (SEE) ranges of 1.9–4.6 kg. For SKF, the Evans 7-site and J&P 3 Site equations performed best with CCC and SEE values of 0.82, 2.01 kg and 0.78, 2.21 kg, respectively. For males, Pearson's correlations between the 3C model and alternate methods ranged from 0.50 to 0.95, CCC ranges of 0.46–0.94, and SEE ranges of 3.3–7.6 kg. For SKF, the Evans 3-site equation performed best with a mean difference of 1.8 (3.56) kg and a CCC of 0.93. Discussion The Evans 7-site and 3-site SKF equations performed best for female and male athletes, respectively. The field 3C model can provide an alternative measure of FFM when necessary.
Assessing tree crown fire damage integrating linear spectral mixture analysis and supervised machine learning on Sentinel-2 imagery

ABSTRACT Crown fire damage is a mixture of three principal fire-related components: charred material, scorched foliage, and unaltered green canopy. This study estimated the abundance of these physical alterations in two immediate post-fire Mediterranean forest contexts (Portugal and Italy) by applying linear spectral mixture analysis (LSMA) on Sentinel-2 imagery. The tree crowns fire damage was subsequently mapped, integrating fractional abundance information in a random forest (RF) algorithm, comparing the accuracy resulting from the adoption of generic or image spectral libraries as the primary investigative goal. Although image-derived endmembers resulted in more effectiveness in terms of fire-related components abundance quantification (LMSA-derived RMSE < 0.1), the F-scores always were ≥ 90% whether generic endmembers or image endmembers derived information was employed. The environmental heterogeneity of the two study areas affected the fire severity gradients, with a prevalence of the charred (PT) (45–46%) and green class (IT) (44–53%). Post-fire temporal monitoring was initialized by applying the proposed strategies, and the preliminary results showed a positive recovery trend in forest vegetation from the first year following the fire event, with a reduced charcoal predominance and an increasing proportion of green components.
METFORMIN IS LINKED TO REDUCED MORTALITY IN TYPE 2 DIABETES WITH COMORBID CKD AND CHF: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Introduction: Due to DM diagnosis criteria, determining its incidence is difficult. Diabetes affects 10.2 million Americans. Due to conflicting data on mortality and antihyperglycemic therapy benefits, managing hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients at risk of cardiovascular problems is difficult. The aim: This article showed about metformin is Linked to reduced mortality in type 2 diabetes with comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD) and congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods: By comparing itself to the standards set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020, this study was able to show that it met all of the requirements. So, the experts were able to make sure that the study was as up-to-date as it was possible to be. For this search approach, publications that came out between 2013 and 2023 were taken into account. Several different online reference sources, like Pubmed and SagePub, were used to do this. It was decided not to take into account review pieces, works that had already been published, or works that were only half done. Result: In the PubMed database, the results of our search brought up 85 articles, whereas the results of our search on SagePub brought up 57 articles. The results of the search conducted for the last year of 2013 yielded a total 34 articles for PubMed and 21 articles for SagePub. In the end, we compiled a total of 19 papers, 13 of which came from PubMed and seven of which came from SagePub. We included five research that met the criteria. Conclusion: Metformin use was found to be related with a reduced risk of death from any cause as well as progression toward ESRD in patients with CKD and CHF in the current investigation.
Effect of different housing systems (cages versus floor) on energy efficiency analysis of meat type Japanese quails

The aim of the present study was to make an energy efficiency analysis of Japanese quails reared under cage and floor conditions in Bingöl province of Turkey. Japanese quails (1,000) were utilized for trials and measurements. Energy use efficiency, energy productivity, specific energy and net energy calculated under cage system was 0.11; 0.01 kg/MJ; 76.18 MJ/ kg and –12868.38 MJ/ (1,000 bird), respectively; and 0.09; 0.01 kg/MJ; 89.79 MJ/ kg and –13488.06 MJ/ (1,000 bird), respectively, under floor conditions. The total direct energy input was 17.11 and 16.61%, and indirect 82.29 and 83.39% under cage and floor conditions, respectively. The total renewable energy input was 79.65 and 83.33%, non-renewable as 20.35 and 16.67% under cage and floor conditions, respectively. Hence, the Japanese quail production under cage and floor conditions is not a viable activity in terms of energy usage. Modern and well established scientific practices should be used to obtain more energy efficiency and maximum economic benefits without overstressing the energy consumption. Further, using solar energy to warm up poultry house may be useful in increasing the energy usage ratio. Since, feed had the highest rate of total energy input, it may be reduced by keeping the chicks stress-free.
Omics Technologies Improving Breast Cancer Research and Diagnostics

Breast cancer (BC) has yielded approximately 2.26 million new cases and has caused nearly 685,000 deaths worldwide in the last two years, making it the most common diagnosed cancer type in the world. BC is an intricate ecosystem formed by both the tumor microenvironment and malignant cells, and its heterogeneity impacts the response to treatment. Biomedical research has entered the era of massive omics data thanks to the high-throughput sequencing revolution, quick progress and widespread adoption. These technologies—liquid biopsy, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, pharmaco-omics and artificial intelligence imaging—could help researchers and clinicians to better understand the formation and evolution of BC. This review focuses on the findings of recent multi-omics-based research that has been applied to BC research, with an introduction to every omics technique and their applications for the different BC phenotypes, biomarkers, target therapies, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, to provide a comprehensive overview of the possibilities of BC research.
Dynamic-object-aware simultaneous localization and mapping for augmented reality applications

Realidade Aumentada (RA) e uma tecnologia que permite combinar objetos virtuais tridimensionais com um ambiente predominantemente real, de forma a construir um novo ambiente onde os objetos reais e virtuais podem interagir uns com os outros em tempo real. Para fazer isso, e necessario encontrar a pose do observador (câmera, HMD, oculos inteligentes, etc.) em relacao a um sistema de coordenadas global. Geralmente, algum objeto fisico conhecido e usado para marcar o referencial para as projecoes e para a posicao do observador. O problema de Localizacao e Mapeamento Simultâneo (SLAM) se origina da comunidade de robotica como uma condicao necessaria para se construir robos verdadeiramente autonomos, capazes de se auto localizarem em um ambiente desconhecido ao mesmo tempo que constroem um mapa da cena observada a partir de informacoes capturadas por um conjunto de sensores. A principal contribuicao do SLAM para a RA e permitir aplicacoes em ambientes despreparados, ou seja, sem marcadores. No entanto, ao eliminar o marcador, perdemos o referencial para a projecao dos objetos virtuais e a principal fonte de interacao entre os elementos reais e virtuais. Embora o mapa gerado possa ser processado a fim de encontrar uma estrutura conhecida, como um plano predominante, para usa-la como referencial, isso ainda nao resolve a questao das interacoes. Na literatura recente, encontramos trabalhos que integram um sistema de reconhecimento de objetos ao SLAM e incorporam tais objetos ao mapa. Frequentemente, assume-se um mapa estatico, devido as limitacoes das tecnicas envolvidas, de modo que o objeto e usado apenas para fornecer informacoes semânticas sobre a cena. Neste trabalho, propomos um novo framework que permite estimar simultaneamente a posicao da câmera e de objetos para cada quadro de video em tempo real. Dessa forma, cada objeto e independente e pode se mover pelo mapa livremente, assim como nos metodos baseados em marcadores, mas mantendo as vantagens que o SLAM fornece. Implementamos a estrutura proposta sobre um sistema SLAM de ultima geracao a fim de validar nossa proposta e demonstrar a potencial aplicacao em Realidade Aumentada.
Composite Hydrogels of Ultrasound-Assisted-Digested Formic Acid-Decellularized Extracellular Matrix and Sacchachitin Nanofibers Incorporated with Platelet-Rich Plasma for Diabetic Wound Treatment

In this study, an ultrasound-assisted digestion method of a formic acid-decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) of porcine skin was developed and optimized to form UdECM hydrogels for diabetic wound healing. Results demonstrated that ultrasonication improved the extraction rate of collagen from dECM samples, preserved the collagen content of dECM, reduced residual cells, and extracted greater DNA contents. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were performed, which demonstrated the optimal porosity on the surface and density of the cross-section in the hydrogel structure, which could control the release of growth factors embedded in UdECM hydrogels at desirable rates to boost wound healing. A wound-healing study was conducted with six different composite hydrogels, both empty materials and materials enriched with rat platelet-rich plasma (R-PRP), sacchachitin nanofibers (SCNFs), and TEMPO-oxidized sacchachitin in diabetic rats. The assessment based on scars stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson’s trichrome (MT), and a cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) staining showed that the UdECM/SC/R-PRP treatment group had the most significant efficacy of promoting healing and even recovery of diabetic wounds to normal tissues. UdECM/R-PRP and UdECM/SCNFs demonstrated better healing rates than UdECM hydrogel scaffolds, which had only recovered 50% resemblance to normal skin. Treatment with both UdECM/TEMPO 050 and UdECM/TEMPO 050/R-PRP hydrogel scaffolds was ranked last, with even poorer efficacy than UdECM hydrogels. In summary, formulated UdECM and SCNF hydrogels loaded with PRP showed synergistic effects of accelerating wound healing and ultimately stimulating the wound to recover as functional tissues. This newly UdECM/SCNF composite hydrogel has promising potential for healing and regenerating diabetic wounds.
Relationship of extractive content, ash and basic density of wood to the attack of termites Nasutitermes sp.

An important characteristic for the use of wood is its natural resistance. The objective of the research was to evaluate the natural resistance of the species Plathymenia reticulata, Kielmeyera speciosa and Casearia sp. to the attack of Nasutitermes sp termites and relate it to the content of extractives, ash and basic wood density. The basic density was determined in accordance with NBR 11941 (ABNT 2003) and the extractive and ash contents in accordance with TAPPI T 204 and TAPPI T 211 standards, respectively. The food preference test was performed using the Completely Randomized Design (DIC) method. As a result, P. reticulata showed statistical difference in the basic density in relation to the other species that did not differ among themselves, and the ashes did not present a significant difference between the species, at the 5% level of significance. P. reticulata obtained 0.33% of mass loss, 24.54% of extractive and basic density of 780 kg m-³, in addition to presenting the highest ash content of 2.06%. It is concluded that this is the most resistant species, in relation to its chemical and physical constituents. K. speciosa showed the lowest resistance, followed by Casearia sp. , having no relationship with the extractive content.
Determinants associated with adherence to ironfolic acid supplementation among pregnant women in kasulu communities, north-western, Tanzania

Pregnant women are at high risk of iron and folic acid deficiency anemia. Tanzania adopted the WHO recommendation of 2012 that, all pregnant women should consume a dose of 30- 60 mg IFAS 400 μg daily for first six (6) months. Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation is the main cost-effective strategy to control anemia during pregnancy however, adherence to IFAS in Tanzania is low (21%) and more in Kigoma region (7%). Associated determinants with adherence to IFAS have not been well established and studies to assess IFAS in Kasulu district are limited. Participants were selected at the health facility through systematic random sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative information and binary logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with the adherence to IFAS with statistical significance of p-value<0.05 using SPSS software (version 22). Similarly, pregnant and women with children aged 0-6 months were purposively selected from health facilities and allocated in four focus group discussions for qualitative information. In addition, an in-depth interview (IDIs) was conducted among six health care providers who were purposefully selected from two health facilities. Thematic analysis was done for qualitative data and triangulated with quantitative findings. Adherence to IFAS was found to be 20.3%. In a binary logistic regression model, factors associated with adherence to IFAS include distance to health facilities (AOR=0.338, 95% CI:131-886), counseled on the benefits of IFAS (AOR=3.864, 95% CI: 1.422-10.500), knowledge on anemia (AOR=3.840, 95% CI: 1.335-10.685), number of IFAS given at each visit (AOR=15.718, 95% CI: 5.33546.311), Time at first ANC visit (AOR=3.724, 95% CI: 1.417-9.791), number of meals per day (AOR=3.349, 95% CI: 1.184-9.212) and number of the children (AOR=3.462, 95% CI: 1.035-12.070). From the qualitative findings, low knowledge of anemia and benefits of IFAS among women and health care providers, late first ANC, economic factors, less reminded to the uptake of IFAS, negligence and forgetfulness were the main reasons for low adherence. Overall, adherence to IFAS was low. Therefore, strengthening systems to create community awareness, health promotion, education program among health care providers and pregnant women, strengthen supply chain and reminder mechanisms is potential to improve the adherence to IFAS.
Cur ren t Topic : Art icle Vol . 7 , No . 1 107 Eur

The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the intestinal anaerobe bacteria in colonization resistance. Germfree mice were associated with Eschedchia coil C25 and either (a) no other species; (b) enterococcns; (c) Escherichia coli M14 and Proteus mirabilis; or (d) Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides vulgatus. All species colonized the cecum in high numbers, but only enterococcus significantly limited the translocation of Escherichia coli C25 to mesenteric lymph nodes. However, the overall translocation rates were similar in all groups and ranged from 60% to 100%, due to translocation of other intestinal flora in addition to Escherichia coil C25. Conventionally reared mice were given either streptomycin, bacitracin/streptomycin or metronidazole which selectively eliminated facultative gramnegative bacteria, nearly all bacterial species or strictly anaerobic bacteria respectively. Only metronidazole significantly increased the rates of translocation of normal intestinal bacteria into mesenteric lymph nodes. Cohort groups of mice were then orally inoculated with drug resistant Escherichia coli C25, which actively colonized the cecum of all drug treated mice and translocated to the mesenteric lymph nodes of approximately half the streptomycin and metronidazole treated mice and nearly all the bacitracin/streptomycin treated mice. These results indicate that anaerobic bacteria play a pivotal role in limiting the translocation of normal intestinal bacteria, but that other bacterial groups also have a role in preventing the intestinal colonization and translocation of potential pathogens.
Relative expression of proinflammatory molecules in COVID‐19 patients who manifested disease severities

Aggressive immune response, due to overexpressed proinflammatory molecules, has been characterized in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients. Some of those mediators have a dual and opposite role on immune systems at play behind differential disease severities. We investigated the expression of some cytokines and chemokines in COVID‐19 patients in Bangladesh. We diagnosed the patients by detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA in nasal swab samples by the real‐time RT‐PCR method. Thirty adult patients were preselected based on their disease severities and grouped into mild, moderate, and severe cases. Nine healthy volunteers participated in this study as a control. Relative expression of nine cytokines/chemokine in total leukocytes was semi‐quantified in SYBRgreen‐based real‐time quantitative reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We performed statistical tests on transformed log data using SPSS 24.0. At the onset of symptoms (Day 1), angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) (p < 0.05) and interleukin (IL)‐6 (p > 0.05) were upregulated in all COVID‐19 groups, although the expression levels did not significantly correlate with disease severities. However, expressions of IL‐6, monocyte chemotactic protein‐1, macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), and ACE2, on Day 14, were positively correlated with disease severities. Relative viral load at Day 1 showed no significant correlation with cytokine expression but had a significant positive correlation with RANTES and ACE2 expression on Day 14 (p < 0.05). Male patients had a higher level of IL‐6 than female patients on Day 1 (p < 0.05). All COVID‐19 patients showed upregulated cytokines and chemokines on Day 14 compared to Day 1 except TNF‐α. Female patients had a higher expression of ACE2 and IL‐12 on Day 14. Upregulated cytokines/chemokines at the convalescent stage, especially IL‐6, may help in targeting anticytokine therapy in post‐COVID‐19 patients' management.
The Assessment of elephant poaching in the population of the Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania

Abstract Elephant poaching is a significant problem in Tanzania and many parts of Africa. This study assess the patterns of elephant poaching for the international ivory trade on the population of the Eastern Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania. Data for assessing the patterns of elephants poaching from 2009 to 2013 were acquired by doing inventory on the demography of poached skulls in the field and assessing confiscated tusks. This is to infer the age and sex of killed elephants; also the season of death were obtained during the field assessment. By combining inferences of age and sex, poaching patterns of African elephants were assessed. Data on the distribution of poached elephants and the effect of poaching on the trophy-quality from tourist hunting were obtained from elephant mortality database of the Selous Game Reserve in the Eastern and North-eastern sectors. The GPS coordinates to determine the distribution of poached elephants were randomly collected by rangers during their daily patrol routine. The poaching patterns in the ESGR were non-selective. The incidences of poaching were higher during the wet season. Hotspots of poaching were identified on the edges of the ESGR. This was attributed by the involvement of local people adjacent the ESGR in poaching activities due to lack of economic opportunities. The patterns of elephant poaching can help to study the impact of poaching on Selous Game Reserve elephant populations. Also, hotspots poaching serve as tool to guide and inform reserve managers involved in wildlife conservation in Tanzania. Improved economic opportunities of local people; enhanced conservation education and research; and improved governance and law enforcement recommended addressing the problem of elephant poaching. Key words: Elephant poaching, poaching patterns, Illegal ivory trade and assessment of poaching
Improving the distribution of antiretroviral medicines through centralised dispensing: perspectives of HIV+ patients and nurses at a chronic dispensing unit in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province, South Africa

Introduction South Africa’s public healthcare facilities are continuously inundated with arduous challenges. A Chronic Dispensing Unit (CDU) can help to alleviate these challenges by reducing the workload of nurses at Primary Health Care clinics, decrease patient waiting time, and enhance accessibility of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV+ patients through the dispensing, packaging, and distribution of chronic medicines to stable patients. Determining the effectiveness of a CDU is therefore critical as it can benefit both the patients and the CDU as a service provider. This study ascertained the efficiency of the Germiston CDU in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province, in distributing ART to clinics in order to make possible recommendations for quality improvement. No such study has so far been conducted at this CDU. Methods an exploratory quantitative research design was adopted. Data collection techniques consisted of researcher-assisted and self-administered questionnaires. The sample included 60 patients and 11 nurses who volunteered to participate in the study. Results main findings showed that patient participants believed there was a noteworthy reduction in patients’ waiting time at clinics. They were also highly satisfied with the CDU’s level of service delivery. Responses from nurse participants indicated an increase in accessibility of ART since the induction of the CDU. However, emerged challenges linked to CDU service delivery warrant a closer inspection of the CDU processes as it revealed shortfalls within the system that may hamper quality of service delivery. Conclusion in general, services rendered by CDU were deemed effective. However, as a recommendation, challenges linked to CDU service delivery must be addressed.