Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mice Lacking Gpr75 are Hypophagic and Thin

Purpose Humans with haploinsufficiency of GPR75, an orphan GPCR, are thin. Gpr75 knockout (KO) mice are also thin with improved glucose homeostasis. We wanted to confirm these findings in Gpr75 KO mice and determine whether decreased energy intake and/or increased energy expenditure contributed to the thin phenotype. Methods Gpr75 KO mice were generated by homologous recombination. All studies compared female and male Gpr75 KO mice to their wild type (WT) littermates. Body composition was measured by DXA and QMR technologies. Glucose homeostasis was evaluated by measuring glucose and insulin levels during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). Food intake was measured in group-housed mice. In singly housed mice, energy expenditure was measured in Oxymax indirect calorimetry chambers, and locomotor activity was measured in Oxymax and Photobeam Activity System chambers. Results In all 12 cohorts of adult female or male mice, Gpr75 KO mice had less body fat; pooled data showed that, compared to WT littermates (n = 103), Gpr75 KO mice (n = 118) had 49% less body fat and 4% less LBM (P < 0.001 for each). KO mice also had 8% less body fat at weaning (P < 0.05), and during the month after weaning as the thin phenotype became more exaggerated, Gpr75 KO mice ate significantly less than, but had energy expenditure and activity levels comparable to, their WT littermates. During OGTTs, Gpr75 KO mice showed improved glucose tolerance (glucose AUC 23% lower in females, P < 0.05, and 26% lower in males, P < 0.001), accompanied by significantly decreased insulin levels and significantly increased insulin sensitivity indices. Conclusion Gpr75 KO mice are thin at weaning, are hypophagic as the thin phenotype becomes more exaggerated, and exhibit improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity as healthy-appearing adults. These results suggest that inhibiting GPR75 in obese humans may safely decrease energy intake and body fat while improving glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.
The Impact of Remittance toward Indonesia’s Economic Growth

This paper aims to find the impact of remittance on Indonesia’s economic growth. Variable used are remittance, PMTB, import, and economic growth obtained from World Development Indicator (WDI) from 1988 to 2018. Regression analysis of ARDL Cointegration is utilized in finding out remittance, PMTB, and import toward economic growth both for short-term and long-term. The result of the analysis shows that remittance affects long-term economic growth. PMTB variable can increase economic growth both for the short-term and long-term. Import variables can increase economic growth in the short term, but it decreases economic growth in the long term. The result shows that external factors need to be paid attention to more by the government because they can contribute toward national economic growth.
Asymptotics for some discretizations of dynamical systems, application to second order systems with non-local nonlinearities

In the present paper we study the asymptotic behavior of discretized finite dimensional dynamical systems. We prove that under some discrete angle condition and under a Lojasiewicz's inequality condition, the solutions to an implicit scheme converge to equilibrium points. We also present some numerical simulations suggesting that our results may be extended under weaker assumptions or to infinite dimensional dynamical systems.
Investigation of an Autonomous Tracking System for Localization of Radio-Tagged Flying Insects

The tracking of flying insects is one of the main challenges in the field of ecosystem and biodiversity protection. In the case of invasive insects such as Asian hornets, extensive considerations must be made in estimating the habitat because of the limitations of available sensors and environmental uncertainty. In this study, we propose an approach for localizing and autonomously tracking radio-tagged flying insects and developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based robotic system. The extended Kalman filter is applied to the received signal strength emitted from a radio telemetry transmitter to estimate the insect’s position while reducing the measurement error and noise. The proposed autonomous tracking strategy involves a method in which the UAV rotates around one point to measure the signal strength and control its position in relation to the direction of the strongest signal. We also designed a system architecture that includes a tracking sensor system and a UAV system for radio-tagged flying insects. The effectiveness of the proposed system for estimating and autonomously tracking the target position was evaluated via numerical dynamics simulation. Furthermore, feasibility tests with unmanned ground vehicle replacements for insects and UAVs were performed to validate the proposed approach. Finally, to verify the UAV system, field tests were conducted to track a fixed radio-tagged flying target on a vast flatland. This study is unique because we propose and validate a novel mobile robot-based tracking system to localize radio tags of flying insects.
Validation of a novel range of motion assessment tool for the cervical spine: the HALO© digital goniometer.

Background Cervical spine range of motion (ROM) assessment has long been carried out via use of the universal goniometer (UG) as an objective tool in the evaluation of patient rehabilitation pre- and post-operatively. The advent of novel ROM assessment technology, such as HALO digital goniometer (DG), presents an avenue for research and potential application within clinical and surgical settings. The objective of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the HALO DG in the assessment of the active ROM of the cervical spine. Methods One hundred healthy subjects were recruited for the study and were split into two groups to be assessed by either physiotherapists or medical students. The methodology for cervical spine ROM assessment was carried out per the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) guidelines. The reliability analysis was completed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25, calculating the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) to determine both the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the device. Results Inter-rater reliability within the physiotherapist cohort with the DG (ICCr =0.477, 0.718, 0.551) was higher compared to the UG (ICCr =0.380, 0.510, 0.255) for active cervical flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation, respectively. The UG (ICCr =0.819) showed better reliability versus the DG (ICCr =0.780) when assessing cervical extension. Similarly, in the medical student cohort, the DG outperformed the UG in all movement except cervical lateral flexion. When assessing for intra-rater reliability, the DG (ICCm =0.507, 0.773, 0.728, 0.691) performed better than the UG (ICCm =0.487, 0.529, 0.532, 0.585) in cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation, respectively. Conclusions The present validation study identified the DG as a reliable substitute for the UG.
Anti-tumor Mechanisms of Short-chain Fatty Acids, and the Relationship between the Gut Microbiome, Carcinogenesis, Tumor Growth, and Proliferation in Colorectal Carcinoma

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by the gut microbiome have been reported to have anti-tumor effects in several experimental systems [1-3]. Previously, we investigated the inhibitory effects of SCFAs (butyric acid, isobutyric acid, and acetic acid) on cell growth and proliferation in cultured human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cell lines (DLD-1 cells, WirDr cells), and found that butyric acid displayed the strongest inhibitory effect [4]; however, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. To investigate the anti-tumor mechanisms of SCFAs, we performed an in silico analysis of their inhibitory mechanism on tumor cell growth and proliferation in an experimental system in which SCFAs were added to cultured human CRC cell lines [5]; the results revealed that SCFAs suppress genes and transcription factors that participate in tumor cell growth, proliferation, and turnover, but do not affect genes involved in carcinogenesis, or genomes and factors associated with carcinogenic pathways.
The impact of COVID-19 on house prices in Northern Ireland: price persistence, yet divergent?

ABSTRACT The recent onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a pervasive impact on all economies and indeed housing markets. This research investigates the regional impact of the pandemic on the Northern Ireland housing market and provides a unique opportunity to measure short-term reactions to epidemic shocks. Applying a unique dataset, the research measures whether price switching effects are evident as a consequence of the epidemic, and to what extent. In order to achieve this, the research applies spatial lag models to account for the effect of COVID-19 on housing market pricing behaviour. The findings show that the autocorrelation of house prices increased after COVID-19, revealing price persistence driven by behavioural changes. The results further show that a price divergent effect is observable, with the detached sector ‘leading’ the price changes. This price divergence is also apparent for rural dwellings and for neighbourhoods with higher socio-economic standing making them more resistant to the outbreak of COVID-19. This is an important finding as it reveals that epidemics of this nature impact upon housing markets in a heterogeneous way in the short-term, with a clear premium observed for larger housing in healthier and wealthier areas, which may serve to reinforce housing market inequalities.
Determinants of resource use efficiencies among lowland rice farmers of Enugu State, Nigeria

The gap in supply and demand of rice could be due to observable differentials in the allocative efficiency of the rice farmers in Nigeria. Therefore, the study focused on the determinants of resource-use efficiencies and profitability of lowland rice farmers of Enugu State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect cross-sectional data from 300 smallholder rice farmers across the six agricultural zones of the State. The gross margin (GM) analysis was used to estimate the profitability while the marginal value productmarginal factor cost (MVP-MFC) was used to evaluate the efficiency of rice farming. The Stochastic Frontier Cost Function was also used to estimate the determinants of resource use efficiency among lowland rice farmers in Enugu state. The results from the GM showed that rice production is profitable with an average rate of returns on investment (ROI) of 2.80. The MVP-MFC analysis showed that all the input factors hypothesized were over-utilised indicating the existence of large-scale resource-use inefficiency among lowland rice farmers of the state. Education and age were the only socio-economic variables that affected the allocative efficiency of the rice farmers. The study recommends a farm-level policy directed towards the encouragement of younger adults since they are more likely to adopt innovation and boost efficiency and investment in extension education for advisory services to facilitate resource-use efficiencies.
Investigating the Links of Social-Emotional Competencies: Emotional Well-being and Academic Engagement among Adolescents

ABSTRACT This cross-sectional study examined the links of social-emotional competencies (SECs: emotional regulation, relationship skills, and planning of schoolwork) with emotional well-being (EWB) and academic engagement (behavioral and emotional) among 1085 lower secondary school students. A latent structural model was tested using Mplus. The model specified the SECs as the independent variables, EWB as the intermediate variable, and behavioral and emotional engagement as the dependent variables. In line with hypotheses, the SECs showed statistically significant links with EWB; the strongest for emotional regulation. In addition, EWB was significantly associated with both dimensions of academic engagement and planning of schoolwork was directly associated with the engagement variables. The findings support the notion that EWB is linked to academic engagement and that SECs, especially emotional regulation can promote academic engagement via EWB. Yet, skills in planning schoolwork emerged as the SECs with the greatest likely potential for promoting academic engagement among adolescent students.
Comparison of fixed versus adjustable-loop device for femoral graft fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a retrospective cohort study

Background: Fixed-loop and adjustable-loop are two types of cortical suspension devices that are used for graft fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). In this study, the authors compared clinical and functional outcomes of these devices in ACLR surgery. Methods: In a retrospective study, 60 patients who underwent ACLR using either fixed-loop (30 patients) or adjustable-loop were included. Clinical measures were Lachman test, pivot shift test, KT-1000, lack of extension, and flexion. Functional measures were 12-item Short-Form Health Survey, including the Physical Component Summary and the Mental Component Summary, International Knee Documentation Committee score, and Lysholm-Tegner activity scale. Results: The mean age of the patients was 31±7.5 yr. The mean follow-up of the patients was 18.5±6.4 mo. The grading of the Lachman test, pivot shift test, and KT-1000 were not significantly different between the study groups (P=0.47, P=1, and P=0.6, respectively). Lack of extension and flexion were not significantly different between the study groups (P=0.79 and P=0.28, respectively). The Physical Component Summary, Mental Component Summary, International Knee Documentation Committee, and Lysholm-Tegner activity scale were statistically comparable between the two study groups (P=0.46, P=0.68, P=0.55, P=0.77, respectively). Graft failure (KT>5 mm) was seen in seven patients (23.3%) of the fixed-loop group and four patients (13.3%) of the adjustable-loop group (P=0.31). Conclusions: Clinical and functional outcomes of fixed and adjustable-loop devices are comparable when used for femoral fixation in patients undergoing ACLR. Level of Evidence: Level IV.
Feeding Practice, Oral Hygiene Habits and Its Relation to Dental Caries among
Sample of School Aged Egyptian Children

Background: Dental caries is a global public health problem and influence the overall health of children. The risk factors for caries include biological, socio-behavioral and environmental factors. This cross-sectional study assessed dental caries and their associations with oral hygiene practices and eating habits among Egyptian children. Methods: This cross sectional study conducted in Cairo Egypt, the sample consisted of 750 primary school children aged 6-12 years, oral examination was done according to WHO criteria, and eating and oral hygiene questionnaires was completed by their parents. Results: Distribution of dental caries was higher in children who ate snacks and sweets and don’t brush their teeth, higher in females than males, and in group I (6-9) than group II (9-12). Conclusion: there was weak positive significant difference between dental caries and dental office consultation and tooth brushing renewal frequency, but there was insignificant correlation between dental caries and other eating and oral hygiene habits.
The effect of breached relay ramp structures on deep‐lacustrine sedimentary systems

Fault relay ramps are important sediment delivery points along rift margins and often provide persistent flow pathways in deepwater sedimentary basins. They form as tilted rock volumes between en‐echelon fault segments, which become modified through progressive deformation, and may develop through‐going faults that ‘breach’ the relay ramp. It is well established that hinterland drainage (fluvial/alluvial systems) is greatly affected by the presence of relay ramps at basin margins. However, the impact on deepwater (deep‐marine/lacustrine) subaqueous sediment gravity flow processes, particularly by breached relay ramps, is less well documented. To better evaluate the complex geology of breached relay settings, this study examines a suite of high‐quality subsurface data from the Early Cretaceous deep‐lacustrine North Falkland Basin (NFB). The Isobel Embayment breached relay‐ramp, an ideal example, formed during the syn‐rift and was later covered by a thick transitional and early post‐rift succession. Major transitional and early post‐rift fan systems are observed to have consistently entered the basin at the breached relay location, directed through a significant palaeo‐bathymetric low associated with the lower, abandoned ramp of the structure. More minor systems also entered the basin across the structure‐bounding fault to the north. Reactivation of basin‐bounding faults is shown by the introduction of new point sources along its extent. This study shows the prolonged influence of margin‐located relay ramps on sedimentary systems from syn‐rift, transitional and into the early post‐rift phase. It suggests that these structures can become reactivated during post‐rift times, providing continued control on deposition and sourcing of overlying sedimentary systems. Importantly, breached relays exert control on fan distribution, characterised by laterally extensive lobes sourced by widespread feeder systems, and hanging walls settings by small‐scale lobes, with small, often line‐sourced feeders. Further characterising the likely sandstone distribution in these structurally complex settings is important as these systems often form attractive hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Dimethyl Fumarate as the Peripheral Blood Inflammatory Mediators Inhibitor in Prevention of Streptozotocin-Induced Neuroinflammation in Aged Rats

Purpose Intracerebroventricular-(ICV)-streptozotocin-(STZ)-induced neuroinflammation is a model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compatible with the inflammation hypothesis of ageing (“inflammaging” state). Previously, we observed age-dependent (young vs aged) dimethyl fumarate (DMF)-induced anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in the brain along with improvement in cognitive functions in rats with the ICV-STZ-induced model of AD. To evaluate whether DMF reduces neuroinflammation based on the peripheral inflammatory response inhibition, we determined peripheral inflammatory mediators in young and aged rats with the ICV-STZ-induced AD pathology following DMF therapy. Materials and Methods Young (4-month-old) and aged (22-month-old) rats were fed with 0.4% DMF rat chow for 21 consecutive days after ICV-STZ (3 mg/ventricle) injections. After behavioral testing, blood and spleens were collected to determine the numbers of leukocytes (WBC), lymphocytes and their subpopulations, haematological parameters, the concanavalin (Con)-A-induced production and plasma concentration of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and corticosterone (COR). Results Age-dependent anti-inflammatory effect of the DMF treatment in rats with ICV-STZ injections manifested as decreased peripheral WBC and lymphocyte numbers, including TCD3+CD4+CD8−, TCD3+CD4−CD8+, B (CD45RA+) and NK (161a+), in aged rats. Furthermore, DMF lowered the blood and spleen lymphocyte production of pro-inflammatory IFN-γ and IL-6 in young and aged rats, whereas it enhanced the plasma level of anti-inflammatory IL-10 and lymphocyte’s ability to produce it in aged rats only. In parallel to changes in peripheral WBC numbers in the model of AD, DMF decreased the red blood cell number, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit and mean platelet volume in aged, but not young, rats. In contrast to controls, DMF did not influence the COR response in STZ groups. Conclusion Besides preventing neuroinflammation, DMF acts on the pro-/anti-inflammatory balance in the periphery and causes an anti-inflammatory shift in T lymphocytes which could contribute to DMF’s therapeutic effects in the ICV-STZ-induced model of AD, in particular, in aged rats.
Influence of urea fertilizer on early growth of African Rose Wood (Pterocarpus erinaceous Poir.) seedlings in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria

Influence of urea fertilizer on early growth and development of Pterocarpus erinaceous seedlings were investigated. Two hundred (200) uniformly growing seedlings were transplanted into polythene pots filled with top soil. Four urea fertilizer rates (0.035; 0.065; 0.095; 0.0125 g) and control were applied to the seedlings in the pots 20 × 25 × 25 cm, filled with 800 g of top soil collected from forest plantation. Assessment on the metrical character of the seedlings was done fortnightly. The fertilization of the selected seedlings with urea fertilizer was done round the seedlings in the nursery pots using ring method. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, and means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test at p < 0.05. The results show that fertilizer rates had significant (p < 0.05) effect on the growth and development of seedlings of P. erinaceous. Seedlings treated with 0.095 g of urea produced the highest mean values of 12.00 ± 0.66 cm; 0.33 ± 0.01 mm; 190 cm2 and 12.65 ± 0.67 for stem height, collar diameter, leaf area (LA) and number of leaves respectively. Seedlings fed with 0.125 g had the lowest values of 11.19 ± 0.61cm for height, 0.32± 0.01 mm for collar diameter 11.54 ± 0.70 for number of leaves and 124 cm2 for the LA. Urea fertilizers had significant effect on the early growth of the seedlings, therefore fertilization at 0.095 g per pot is recommended for raising P. erinaceous seedlings.
Prevalence and risk factors of Eimeria spp. natural infection in sheep from northern Paraná, Brazil

Abstract The present study aimed to perform an epidemiological and morphological identification of Eimeria infection in sheep in Brazil. Fecal samples from sheep were collected from 20 farms in northern Paraná, Brazil. An epidemiological questionnaire was used to evaluate the risk factors. Fecal samples containing oocysts per gram of feces (OoPG) ≥1000 were subjected to the modified Willis-Mollay method to perform oocyst identification. Sporulated oocysts were observed microscopically for morphological identification. A total of 807 fecal samples were collected. Based on the morphological characteristics of the sporulated oocysts, 10 species of Eimeria were identified, with main species observed: Eimeira ovinoidalis (98.1%), Eimeria crandallis (87.6%), Eimeria parva (79.1%), and Eimeria bakuensis (60.8%). Only 2.6% (7/268) of the sheep were infected with a single species, 4.8% (13/268) contained two different species, and 92.5% (248/268) were infected with three or more species. The analysis of risk factors showed that an intensive rearing, no rotation of pasture, dirt, and slatted floors, and age up to 12 months were associated with infection. This study showed a high prevalence of Eimeria natural infection in sheep from northern Paraná, Brazil. Furthermore, based on the risk factors, good management and hygiene practices must be employed to avoid infection.
Research of infrared touch screen's resistance of light interference

Infrared touch screen is sensitive to the background light,because it mainly depends on infrared light to work.So scholars take the resistance of light interfere as an important task.This paper researched infrared receive circuit that contained lock-in-amplifier.The infrared light came from the transmission circuit via photoelectric conversion,and processed by the lock-in-amplifier.Then the useful signal was picked up,while the light interference was filtered.In that case,the resistance of light interference is fulfilled.