Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sodium Butyrate Alleviates Free Fatty Acid-Induced Steatosis in Primary Chicken Hepatocytes via Regulating the ROS/GPX4/Ferroptosis Pathway

Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) in laying hens is a nutritional metabolic disease commonly observed in high-yielding laying hens. Sodium butyrate (NaB) and ferroptosis were reported to contribute to the pathogenesis of fatty liver-related diseases. However, the underlying mechanism of NaB in FLHS and whether it mediates ferroptosis remains unclear. A chicken primary hepatocyte induced by free fatty acids (FFAs, keeping the ratio of sodium oleate and sodium palmitate concentrations at 2:1) was established, which received treatments with NaB, the ferroptosis inducer RAS-selective lethal 3 (RSL3), and the inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). As a result, NaB increased biochemical and lipid metabolism indices, and the antioxidant level, while inhibiting intracellular ROS accumulation and the activation of the ferroptosis signaling pathway, as evidenced by a reduction in intracellular iron concentration, upregulated GPX4 and xCT expression, and inhibited NCOA4 and ACSL4 expression. Furthermore, treatment with Fer-1 reinforced the protective effects of NaB, while RSL3 reversed it by blocking the ROS/GPX4/ferroptosis pathway, leading to the accumulation of lipid droplets and oxidative stress. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that NaB protects hepatocytes by regulating the ROS/GPX4-mediated ferroptosis pathway, providing a new strategy and target for the treatment of FLHS.
Spice Production, Marketing, and Value Chain in Ethiopia

The purpose of this paper was to document and organize spice production, marketing, and value chain in Ethiopia. Spice is the most essential farming product. Several native and exotic spices are grown by smallholder farmers across the country because Ethiopia has diverse agroecology and favorable climate conditions. The spice subsector has great potential for the country's economic development and poverty alleviation, cultivation, preparation, transport, and merchandising of spices and herbs. Spice market indicates the commodity value of spices. The major problems regarding the marketing system of spices were lack of communication between farmers and users, lack of linkage between sellers and buyers, and lack of postharvest management, storage facilities, regulated and cooperative markets, transportation, and knowledge of market news. The escalating value of spices is superficially envisioned, extending from smallholder production to partial handling, which seems to be the everyday value chain.
Effect of biostimulation and estrus synchronization on estrus response and fertility rate in primiparous and multiparous Kundhi buffaloes

Anestrus and unobserved estrus are one of the crucial managemental lapses in the livestock business. This research was planned to assess the efficiency of different estrus synchronization procedures with bull exposed and with non-bull exposed groups in primiparous and multiparous buffaloes at Kundhi buffalo farm Rorhi and its surroundings. Total 40 (n=20 primiparous, n=20 multiparous) buffaloes were used in this study. The chosen buffaloes were divided into two main groups, A (BE, Bull-Exposed) and group B (NE, Non-Exposed). Based on the treatments A group was further sub-divided into two sub-groups, OvSynch bull-exposed (OBE) A1 and prostaglandin bull exposed (PBE) A2. Also, B group was parted into dual sub-groups Ovsynch non-exposed (ONE) and prostaglandin non-exposed (PNE) group B2. Results of the present study showed that estrus response differed significantly among the primiparous and multiparous Kundhi buffalo in all groups (P<0.05). The overall estrus response (50% and 100%) and pregnancy rates (40% and 70%) were higher in both primiparous and multiparous animals of BE groups as compared to primiparous (60% and 70%), and multiparous animals (30% and 60%) of NE groups. The overall estrus, duration was also higher in the primiparous (22 ± 0.66 hours) and multiparous animals (20 ± 2.05 hours) of BE groups, in contrast to 16 ± 0.95 hours and 14 ± 0.84 hours of NE groups. These findings suggested that the use of bull with OvSynch protocol it could efficiently be used to improve the estrus incidence and pregnancy rate in primiparous and multiparous buffaloes as compararion double prostaglandin protocol.
Circulation et transport des masses d'eau sur le plateau Est-Antarctique au large de la Terre Adélie

Dans cette these, nous etudions la dynamique du plateau antarctique a l'aide d'observations in situ. Nous presentons la circulation de l'eau circumpolaire profonde modifiee (MCDW) sur le plateau, en Antarctique de l'est, au large de la Terre Adelie. Le plateau Adelie est actuellement presente comme la seconde source majeure d'eau antarctique de fond (AABW). La MCDW est une source de chaleur, de sel et de nutriments pour le plateau Antarctique. Ameliorer la connaissance de la circulation de la MCDW et le transport de chaleur associe sur le plateau Antarctique est primordial pour mieux comprendre la formation d'AABW, la fonte des glaciers et des plateformes glaciaires ; et l'activite biologique du plateau. Grâce a la mise en ? uvre d'un modele inverse sur le plateau Adelie, nous avons propose un schema de la circulation moyenne pendant l'ete et nous avons estime les flux de chaleur et d'eau douce associes depuis l'entree du plateau jusqu'aux region cotiere proche du glacier du Mertz. Nous avons pu mettre en evidence des interactions potentielles entre les masses d'eau intermediaires et profondes, d'une part, et le glacier, d'autre part, mettant en jeu des taux de fonte compatibles avec des estimations anterieures. Une seconde partie de ce travail s'est concentree sur la variabilite du courant de la frequence inertielle a l'echelle de temps saisonniere. Nous avons montre avec des observations in situ un fort cycle saisonnier de l'intensite et de la structure du courant sur le plateau Adelie, deja suggere dans des etudes anterieures basees sur des simulations numeriques. Le cycle saisonnier doit donc etre apprehende pour bien comprendre les processus sur le plateau.
Randomized controlled trials of mind–body interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review

Mind–body interventions (MBIs) include mindfulness-based interventions (MiBIs), meditation- and mantra-based interventions (MMIs), and movement-based interventions (MoBIs). These approaches have demonstrated preliminary efficacy in improving posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have noted that this area of research is limited by inadequate comparator conditions, heterogeneity of measurement, and absence of objective outcome measures. For these reasons, an updated review of the highest-quality evidence available is warranted. We used the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)-funded evidence tables for the PTSD-Repository to identify relevant studies and assess the risk of bias as follows: The search was conducted between June 2018 and June 2022, and databases included PTSDpubs (formerly PILOTS), Ovid® MEDLINE®, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase®, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL®), SCOPUS, and PsycINFO®. Twenty-six randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria. After identifying studies and retrieving risk of bias information from the PTSD-Repository evidence tables, we extracted additional data and synthesized the evidence. The strength of evidence was rated as low for MiBIs and MMIs, largely due to contradicting results, inconsistent use of active versus passive comparators, and high risk of bias. The strength of evidence for MoBIs was rated as moderate due to individual studies consistently favoring the intervention and a relatively large number of studies and participants. Of the 26 included studies, only two included objective outcome measures. Implications for future MBI research and clinical applications for treating PTSD are discussed.
The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in SARS-CoV-2-Induced Acute Kidney Injury: An Overview

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected millions worldwide since its outbreak in the winter of 2019. While extensive research has primarily focused on the deleterious respiratory effects of SARS-CoV-2 in recent years, its pan-tropism has become evident. Among the vital organs susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection is the kidney. Post SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients have developed coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), with reported incidences of COVID-19 patients developing acute kidney injury (AKI). Given COVID-19’s multisystemic manifestation, our review focuses on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection within the renal system with an emphasis on the current hypotheses regarding the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Emerging studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect the kidney, whereas EVs are involved in the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 particles to other neighboring cells. Once the viral particles are within the kidney system, many proinflammatory signaling pathways are shown to be activated, resulting in AKI. Hence, clinical investigation of urinary proinflammatory components and total urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) with viral particles have been used to assess the severity of AKI in patients with COVID-19. Remarkedly, new emerging studies have shown the potential of mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs (MSC-EVs) and ACE2-containing EVs as a hopeful therapeutic tool to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 RNA replication and block viral entry, respectively. Overall, understanding EVs’ physiological role is crucial and hopefully will rejuvenate our therapeutic approach towards COVID-19 patients with AKI.
Youth empowerment in Africa: Lessons for U. S. youth development programs

This scholarly investigation delves into the realm of youth empowerment in Africa, aiming to distill pivotal lessons for enhancing youth development programs in the United States. Anchored in a comparative framework, the study meticulously juxtaposes African and U.S. youth empowerment paradigms, unraveling the intricate tapestry of socio-economic, cultural, and educational dynamics that shape these programs. The study meticulously analyzes various case studies of successful youth empowerment initiatives across diverse African nations. These case studies were selected based on stringent criteria, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the continent's youth empowerment landscape. The methodology eschews statistical or fieldwork analysis, instead focusing on a critical review of existing literature and program reports to glean insights into the efficacy and impact of these initiatives. Central to the findings is the burgeoning demographic of African youth, poised as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation. Despite facing formidable challenges, the study highlights how African youth empowerment programs have triumphed in fostering educational, vocational, and community engagement outcomes. These successes offer a reservoir of strategies and insights applicable to the U.S. context, particularly in enhancing community involvement and resilience among youth. The conclusion synthesizes these insights, emphasizing the transformative potential of youth empowerment in socio-economic development. Recommendations advocate for the integration of African models into U.S. youth programs, emphasizing community-centric approaches, entrepreneurship, and technological integration. This study bridges a crucial knowledge gap and serves as a beacon for future youth empowerment strategies, both in Africa and globally. It underscores the universality of youth aspirations and the power of tailored empowerment strategies in realizing these aspirations.
A comparison of Aqua MODIS ice and liquid water cloud physical and optical properties between collection 6 and collection 5.1: Cloud radiative effects

In our companion study, we show how cloud property products change from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) collection 5.1 (C51) to collection 6 (C6) for both ice and liquid water clouds through a pixel‐to‐pixel comparison. However, the question remains as to the full impacts of these cloud property differences between collections on the inference of cloud radiative effects (CREs). In this study, we address this question from a modeling perspective using one year (2012) of MODIS gridded annual‐averaged ice/liquid water cloud properties at 0.5° × 0.5° spatial resolution. The rapid radiative transfer model for general circulation model applications is used to simulate the broadband radiative fluxes at the top of the atmosphere under clear‐sky and cloudy‐sky conditions. The shortwave, longwave, and net radiative effects of ice, liquid water, and total clouds are derived individually assuming different cloud optical property parameterization schemes. The results provide quantifications of ice and liquid water CRE contributions to the total CRE. We find significant differences in the simulated CREs between C6 and C51 for ice clouds (up to 23 W m−2 for the shortwave CRE) and liquid water clouds (approximately −4.5 W m−2 for the shortwave CRE). The C6 total CRE provides the closest match with the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Energy Balanced And Filled product. Sensitivity studies are performed to estimate the impacts of different ice optical parameterization schemes and multilayer cloud overlap assumptions. Results show that the C6–C51 CRE differences are larger than the CRE variations caused by the other factors.
Retrospective analysis of Suomi NPP VIIRS radiometric bias for reflective solar bands due to operational calibration changes

ABSTRACT A comprehensive analysis of Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) radiometric bias relative to Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) collection 6 data has been performed since early 2012 for selected reflective solar bands. The study suggests that VIIRS bias trends changes over time mainly due to calibration updates and anomalies. Results show nearly consistent biases of 1.7% for M5 (0.672 µm) and 2% for M7 (0.865 µm) throughout the mission. However, M1 (0.412 µm) and M4 (0.555 µm) biases are less consistent. While biases for both M1 and M4 fluctuates mostly around 0%, M1 shows most frequent short-term changes in bias trends, as high as 4%. When the bias trends are compared with VIIRS on- board-calibration-based gain trends, there exists a high correlation. In addition, the operational VIIRS data product of NOAA and the reprocessed NASA Land Product Evaluation and Test Element (PEATE) data were compared by trending the radiance ratio. The ratio trends show calibration differences that agree well with bias trends. The comparison of bias with F-factors and ratio trends indicates that the frequent changes observed in VIIRS bias trends are primarily caused by calibration updates and anomalies in VIIRS operational calibration. The study suggests that even though the operational VIIRS data archive meets the specification of ±2% radiometric uncertainty, reprocessing can improve data quality needed for rigorous scientific applications.
The Hazards of Probiotics on Gut-Derived Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sepsis in Mice Undergoing Chemotherapy

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a leading cause of nosocomial infections associated with a high mortality rate and represents a serious threat to human health and the increasing frequency of antimicrobial resistance. Cancer patients are more vulnerable to invasive infection due to ulcerative lesions in mucosal surfaces and immune suppression secondary to chemotherapy. In our in vitro study, we observed that probiotics have the potential to yield beneficial effects on intestinal epithelial cells infected with P. aeruginosa. Additionally, probiotics were found to confer advantageous effects on the innate immunity of mice suffering from Salmonella-induced colitis. As a result, we sought to investigate the impact of probiotics on gut-derived P. aeruginosa sepsis induced by chemotherapy. Following chemotherapy, gut-derived P. aeruginosa sepsis was induced in female C57BL/6 mice aged 6–8 weeks, which were raised under specific-pathogen-free (SPF) conditions in an animal center. Prior to the induction of the sepsis model, the mice were administered 1 × 108 colony-forming units (CFU) of the probiotics, namely Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and Bifidobacterium longum (BL) via oral gavage. We observed that LGG or BL amplified the inflammatory mRNA expression in mice undergoing chemotherapy and suffering from gut-derived P. aeruginosa sepsis. This led to a heightened severity of colitis, as indicated by histological examination. Meanwhile, there was a notable decrease in the expression of antimicrobial peptide mRNA along with reduced levels of zonulin and claudin-2 protein staining within mucosal tissue. These alterations facilitated the translocation of bacteria to the liver, spleen, and bloodstream. To our astonishment, the introduction of probiotics exacerbated gut-derived P. aeruginosa sepsis in mice undergoing chemotherapy. Conclusively, we must be prudent when using probiotics in mice receiving chemotherapy complicated with gut-derived P. aeruginosa sepsis.
Nurse Who Had MERS-CoV Complications with A Near-Death Experience during Pregnancy: A Narrative Analysis

Background: According to prevailing views in neuroscience, near-death experiences (NDE) occurring after severe head trauma, critical illness, or coma are often life-transforming experiences in which no awareness or sensory experience of any kind is possible. Although there are general patterns, each case is quite different from the other and requires accurate recording and reporting to potentially explain the phenomenon. Aim: This narrative study aimed to explore a pregnant woman’s NDE due to complications from MERS-CoV. Methods: This was a qualitative narrative study with the administration of two unstructured interviews. After the second interview, the participant completed the Greyson NDE scale, presented through descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed using Labov’s model of narrative analysis through abstract, orientation, complicating action, evaluation, resolution, and coda. Results: The Greyson scale resulted in a total score of 12, confirming that the patient had experienced an NDE. Labov’s model of narrative analysis revealed that the patient’s experience was not limited to the NDE but had implications for her recovery and life. The patient experienced all three types of NDEs: out-of-body, transcendental, including the transition of consciousness to another dimension, and a combined experience. She also suffered from prolonged hallucinations, neuropathy, and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). At the same time, the patient experienced what is known as NDE aftereffects, which are caused by a change in beliefs and values; she began to lead a more altruistic life and became interested in the meaning of life. Conclusions: NDE survivors should be encouraged to talk more and share their stories with others if they wish. This study not only investigates the NDE but also considerably adds to the existing literature by integrating a unique cultural view from a country outside of the US and other Western nations, and it highlights the significant role of healthcare providers in NDEs and the importance of communication with comatose patients. It underscores the need for compassion when dealing with patients with NDEs.
Design of Virtual Hands for Natural Interaction in the Metaverse

The emergence of the Metaverse is raising important questions in the field of human–machine interaction that must be addressed for a successful implementation of the new paradigm. Therefore, the exploration and integration of both technology and human interaction within this new framework are needed. This paper describes an innovative and technically viable proposal for virtual shopping in the fashion field. Virtual hands directly scanned from the real world have been integrated, after a retopology process, in a virtual environment created for the Metaverse, and have been integrated with digital nails. Human interaction with the Metaverse has been carried out through the acquisition of the real posture of the user’s hands using an infrared-based sensor and mapping it in its virtualized version, achieving natural identification. The technique has been successfully tested in an immersive shopping experience with the Meta Quest 2 headset as a pilot project, where a transactions mechanism based on the blockchain technology (non-fungible tokens, NFTs) has allowed for the development of a feasible solution for massive audiences. The consumers’ reactions were extremely positive, with a total of 250 in-person participants and 120 remote accesses to the Metaverse. Very interesting technical guidelines are raised in this project, the resolution of which may be useful for future implementations.
Shelfbreak Primer: Shelfbreak Frontal Structure from Seasoar

Abstract : LONG-TERM GOALS: The overall goal of the Shelfbreak PRIMER frontal component is to investigate the physical variability of the shelfbreak front during both winter and summer stratification in order to understand better the oceanographic environment through which sound propagates between the continental slope and shelf. OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives are to relate the shelfbreak frontal variability to the forcing mechanisms such as offshore ring motions and wind stress, under the influence of the seasonally-varying stratification
PISA Science Score: A Good Indicator of Competence in S & T?

In this study, the data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) are used to investigate whether the PISA science test score is a good indicator of competence in science and technology. The researcher uses a number of scientific and technical journal articles per million people as a measure instrument to represent the competence of science and technology. A regression model analysis suggests that the PISA science scores would significantly predict competence in S & T, even when controlling the number of researchers in R&D per million people and the R&D expenditure (% of GDP). Moreover, it shows that R&D expenditure (% of GDP) is another important determinant of the competence in S & T. Multicollinearity is also found between the R&D expenditure (% of GDP) and the number of researchers in R&D per million people. The policy implication is clear.
AGI-P: A Gender Identification Framework for Authorship Analysis Using Customized Fine-Tuning of Multilingual Language Model

In this investigation, we propose a solution for the author’s gender identification task called AGI-P. This task has several real-world applications across different fields, such as marketing and advertising, forensic linguistics, sociology, recommendation systems, language processing, historical analysis, education, and language learning. We created a new dataset to evaluate our proposed method. The dataset is balanced in terms of gender using a random sampling method and consists of 1944 samples in total. We use accuracy as an evaluation measure and compare the performance of the proposed solution (AGI-P) against state-of-the-art machine learning classifiers and fine-tuned pre-trained multilingual language models such as DistilBERT, mBERT, XLM-RoBERTa, and Multilingual DEBERTa. In this regard, we also propose a customized fine-tuning strategy that improves the accuracy of the pre-trained language models for the author gender identification task. Our extensive experimental studies reveal that our solution (AGI-P) outperforms the well-known machine learning classifiers and fine-tuned pre-trained multilingual language models with an accuracy level of 92.03%. Moreover, the pre-trained multilingual language models, fine-tuned with the proposed customized strategy, outperform the fine-tuned pre-trained language models using an out-of-the-box fine-tuning strategy. The codebase and corpus can be accessed on our GitHub page at: https://github.com/mumairhassan/AGI-P