Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Magnetite Nanoparticles Coated with Aspartic Acid on the Growth, Antioxidant Enzymes Activity and Chlorophyll Content of Maize

In recent decades, magnetite nanoparticles received greater attention in nanobiotechnology due to wide applications. This study presents the influence of the oxidative stress caused by magnetite nanoparticles coated with aspartic acid (A-MNP) of 9.17 nm mean diameter size, on maize (Zea mays) seedlings, in terms of growth, enzymatic activity and chlorophyll content as evaluated in exposed plant tissues. Diluted suspensions of colloidal magnetite nanoparticles stabilized in water were added to the culture medium of maize seeds, such as to equate nanoparticle concentrations varying from 0.55 mg/L to 11 mg/L. The obtained results showed that the growth of maize was stimulated by increasing the level of A-MNPs. Plant samples treated with different concentrations of A-MNP proved increased activities of catalase and peroxidase, and chlorophyll content, as well. The exposure of plants to magnetite nanoparticles may induce oxidative stress, which activates the plant defense/antioxidant mechanisms.
Risk factors associated with gallstone disease

Background: Gallstone disease is one of the most common abdominal conditions for which patients are admitted in surgical wards of hospitals. Aim & Objective: The study was conducted to understand the association between behavioral and personal factors and gall stone disease among study subjects. Settings & Design: a case-control study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of New Delhi. Material & Methods: 120 each of cases and controls of over 20 years, matched for age and sex were recruited in the study. Data collection was done on a self-designed pretested “interview schedule. ” Statistical analysis: The observations have been described in terms of mean and standard deviation for continuous data. To measure the strength of association simple Odd’s Ratio (OR) was calculated and McNemar’s test was used for matched pair analysis. Binary logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis to find out different correlates and analyses the independent effects of these correlates on GSD. Results: weight (59.20±9.57), height (159.67±6.25), BMI (23.20±3.15), waist circumference (75.79±7.07) and W/H ratio (0.80±0.06) were significantly higher [as seen by applying student t test] in cases as compared to controls 54.84±7.02, 156.58±4.93, 21.95±2.81, 73.49±6.09 and 0.77±0.05 respectively. High parity [OR-5.75, 95% CI 1.99-16.63] had the strongest association followed by high W/H ratio [OR-5.25, 95% CI 1.80-15.29], sedentary physical activity [OR-4.75, 95% CI 2.22-10.18], smoking [OR-3.4, 95% CI 1.25-9.21], consumption of smokeless tobacco [OR-2.36, 95% CI 1.17-4.78] and high BMI [OR-1.71, 95% CI1.03-2.83]. Conclusion: High parity, High W/H ratio, Physical inactivity, Current smoking, Smokeless tobacco and high BMI were found to be risk factors for the development of gallstone disease.
Number of Teeth and Nutritional Status Parameters Are Related to Intima-Media Thickness in Dalmatian Kidney Transplant Recipients

Although kidney transplantation significantly improves the quality of life of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) remains high. Atherosclerosis, post-transplantation metabolic changes, immunosuppressive therapy, and periodontitis contribute to elevated cardiovascular risk in this population. The aim of the study was to evaluate carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis and to analyze the possible risk factors for IMT in Dalmatian KTRs. Ninety-three KTRs were included in this study. Data on clinical and laboratory parameters, body composition, anthropometry, advanced glycation end-product (AGE) measurements, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness were collected. All participants underwent ultrasound examination of IMT and evaluation of periodontal status. KTRs with carotid IMT ≥ 0.9 were significantly older, had a lower level of total cholesterol, fat mass, end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and had fewer teeth. They also had significantly higher values of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and resistive index (RI). We found positive correlations between carotid IMT and duration of dialysis, age, PWV, AGE, RI, and average total clinical attachment level (CAL). The regression model showed that IMT in KTRs is associated with higher PWV, lower fat mass, and fewer teeth. The results of our study suggest that nutritional and periodontal status are associated with carotid IMT in KTRs.
Pulse shaping and ultrashort laser pulse filamentation for applications in extreme nonlinear optics.

This thesis deals with numerical studies of the properties and applications of spatio-temporally coupled pulses, conical wavepackets and laser filaments, in strongly nonlinear processes, such as harmonic generation and pulse reshaping. We study the energy redistribution inside these wavepackets propagating in gases and condensed media, in the linear and nonlinear regime. The energy flux constitutes a diagnostic for space-time couplings that we applied to actual experimental results. We analyze the spectral evolution of filaments in gases and derive the conditions for the generation of ultrashort pulses in the UV range. We study high harmonic generation in a gas from ultrashort conical wavepackets. In particular, we show how their propagation properties influence the harmonic output. We also study the interference of different electron trajectories. Finally, we derive the shape of stationary Airy beams in the nonlinear regime. For each topic, we present experimental results that motivated our works or were motivated by our simulations.
Survival Modelling for Data From Combined Cohorts: Opening the Door to Meta Survival Analyses and Survival Analysis Using Electronic Health Records

Non‐parametric estimation of the survival function using observed failure time data depends on the underlying data generating mechanism, including the ways in which the data may be censored and/or truncated. For data arising from a single source or collected from a single cohort, a wide range of estimators have been proposed and compared in the literature. Often, however, it may be possible, and indeed advantageous, to combine and then analyse survival data that have been collected under different study designs. We review non‐parametric survival analysis for data obtained by combining the most common types of cohort. We have two main goals: (i) to clarify the differences in the model assumptions and (ii) to provide a single lens through which some of the proposed estimators may be viewed. Our discussion is relevant to the meta‐analysis of survival data obtained from different types of study, and to the modern era of electronic health records.
Age and Sex Differences in COVID-19 Clinical Symptom: Analysis of 19,588 Indonesian Cases

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases are potential for SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks source, yet the feasible predictive factors are unclear. AIM: Our study aimed to determine the age and sex differences in the presence of COVID-19 clinical symptoms at the initial diagnosis. METHODS: We examined the results of individual first-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (q-RT-PCR) of 19,588 COVID-19 positive cases registered at the Center for Diagnostic and Research on Infectious Disease Laboratory (PDRPI Lab), Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia, from April 2020 to December 2020. Asymptomatic cases were those who had no symptoms at the initial confirmation while symptomatic had. The differences of age (classified into five age groups) and sex (female or male) were evaluated in both cases to see their significance. RESULTS: A total of 12,790 (65.30%) of COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic. The COVID-19 patients had average age (mean ± SD) of 37.12 ± 17.22 years old (y.o.). Younger adults (20–39 y.o.; 42.01%; average age (mean ± SD) 29.51 ± 5.52 y.o. ) were the most affected, followed by adults (40–59 y.o.; 32.09%; average age (mean ± SD) 49.29 ± 5.63 y.o. ), children (≤19 years; 15.30%; average age (mean ± SD) 11.82 ± 5.70 y.o. ), older adults (60–79 years; 9.90%; average age (mean ± SD) 65.76 ± 4.86 y.o. ), and elderly (≥80 years; 0.71%; average age (mean ± SD) 83.31 ± 3.65 y.o. ). Female cases (53.23%; average age (mean ± SD) 34.92 ± 16.57 y.o. ) were more prevalent than males (46.77%; average age (mean ± SD) 41.26 ± 17.65 y.o. ), with a significant mean age difference (P < 0.001). The odds of being asymptomatic were increased in the younger age group (adults OR as the reference; children OR 0.471, 95% CI 0.426–0.519; younger adults OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.639–0.734; older adults OR 1.766, 95% CI 1.594–1.957; and elderly OR 1.981, 95% CI 1.412–2.780; P < 0.001). Females were more likely than males to be asymptomatic (OR 1.105, 95% CI 1.042–1.172). Conclusions: The younger age and the female sex are associated with asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in the earliest molecular diagnosis.
Climatological aspects and mechanism of spring persistent rains over central China

In this study we examine the large-scale atmospheric circulation associated with the spring persistent rains (SPR) over Central China in March and April based on the climatological means and we propose a physical explanation of this rainy season. Low-level southwesterlies to the south of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (souther China) are responsible for SPR. Low-level southwesterlies are identifed over southern China on the climatological mean wind fiel in SPR, and the appearance of the southwesterlies at the end of February is consistent with the onset of SPR. The southerlies, which are limited to southern China, the Indochina Peninsula and the South China Sea, are important for moisture transport to Central China and the moisture convergence there. Seasonal evolutions of low-level temperature, geopotential height and wind fields suggest that the low-level southerlies over southern China, the Indonesia Peninsula and the South China Sea in SPR are caused by the westward pressure gradient associated with the eastward temperature gradient around the region from the Indochina Peninsula to the western North pacific to east of the Phillipines. The southerlies are the geostrophic winds associated with the westward pressure gradient. The eastward temperature/westward pressure gradients are most evident in March and April, and they are a result of the time-lag in the seasonal warming between the Indochina Peninsula and the western North Pacific to east of the Philippines. In addition, the coincidences of spatial distributions and seasonal evolutions from February through May between the low-level temperatures and the surface sensible heat flux (SHF) suggest that the differential heating due to SHF between the two regions is likely responsible for the east-west thermal contrast. Much higher correlations than the 99% significance level among the year to year fluctuations of SPR, the eastward temperature/westward pressure gradients over the region from the Indochina Peninsula to the western North Pacific to east of the Philippines are identified. The close relationship between SPR and the eastward temperature/westward pressure gradients on both the seasonal and interannual bases strongly suggests that the east-west thermal contrast in spring between the Indochina Peninsula and the western North Pacific to the east of the Philippines plays the primary role in SPR formation.
On a fast-track to adulthood: social integration and identity formation experiences of young-adults of 1.5 generation immigrants

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the dynamic nature of social integration and local identity formation as experienced by young-adult immigrants who arrived in Israel as children or adolescents (1.5 generation) from the former Soviet Union (FSU). 1.5 generation immigrants (1.5GI) are versed in the cultures of both origin and host countries while not fully belonging to either, and as young adults are challenged by both cultural and developmental transitions. Young adults in industrialized societies nowadays experience a stage of ‘emerging adulthood’ characterized by uncertainty and inquiry. However, it is not clear how 1.5GI experience this stage. Based on in-depth interviews with 25 FSU 1.5GI, thematic analysis of the data led to four categories: 1) Segregation in childhood and adolescence; 2) Military service as a turning point, where their substantial integration and Israeli identity began to form; 3) A fast-track to adulthood on their own: 1.5GI cannot fully enjoy the emerging adulthood period, and move rapidly into adulthood; and 4) A spectrum of identities: varying degrees of dominance of Israeli vs. FSU identity. The study examines identity formation as an ongoing process, stresses specific stages in the lives of young immigrants, and their implications for 1.5GI identity and integration.
Temporal Characterization of Behavioral and Hippocampal Dysfunction in the YAC128 Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms. Emerging evidence suggests that emotional and cognitive deficits seen in HD may be related to hippocampal dysfunction. We used the YAC128 HD mouse model to perform a temporal characterization of the behavioral and hippocampal dysfunctions. Early and late symptomatic YAC128 mice exhibited depressive-like behavior, as demonstrated by increased immobility times in the Tail Suspension Test. In addition, YAC128 mice exhibited cognitive deficits in the Swimming T-maze Test during the late symptomatic stage. Except for a reduction in basal mitochondrial respiration, no significant deficits in the mitochondrial respiratory rates were observed in the hippocampus of late symptomatic YAC128 mice. In agreement, YAC128 animals did not present robust alterations in mitochondrial ultrastructural morphology. However, light and electron microscopy analysis revealed the presence of dark neurons characterized by the intense staining of granule cell bodies and shrunken nuclei and cytoplasm in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of late symptomatic YAC128 mice. Furthermore, structural alterations in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus were detected in the hippocampal DG of YAC128 mice by electron microscopy. These results clearly show a degenerative process in the hippocampal DG in late symptomatic YAC128 animals.
Impact of the Structural Modifications of Potato Protein in the Digestibility Process under Semi-Dynamic Simulated Human Gastrointestinal In Vitro System

The raising consumer demand for plant-derived proteins has led to an increased production of alternative protein ingredients with varying processing histories. In this study, we used a commercially available potato protein ingredient with a nutritionally valuable amino acid profile and high technological functionality to evaluate if the digestibility of a suspension with the same composition is affected by differences in the structure. Four isocaloric (4% protein, w/w) matrices (suspension, gel, foam and heat-set foam) were prepared and their gastrointestinal fate was followed utilizing a semi-dynamic in vitro digestion model. The microstructure was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, protein breakdown was tested by electrophoresis and free amino acids after intestinal digestion was estimated using liquid chromatography/triple-quadruple-mass spectrometry (LC-TQMS). The heat-treated samples showed a higher degree of hydrolysis and lower trypsin inhibitory activity than the non-heat-treated samples. An in vitro digestible indispensable amino acid score was calculated based on experimental data, showing a value of 0.9 based on sulfur amino acids/valine as the limiting amino acids. The heated samples also showed a slower gastric emptying rate. The study highlights the effect of the food matrix on the distribution of the peptides created during various stages of gastric emptying.
Comparison of Rapid Diagnostic Test, Microscopy, and Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in a Low-Transmission Area, Jazan Region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the performances of a rapid diagnostic test (RDT)—the AllTest Malaria p.f. /p.v. , microscopy, and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosing Plasmodium falciparum malaria in 400 febrile patients from a low-transmission region (Jazan) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Diagnostic performance of all three methods was compared using microscopy and nested PCR as reference methods. Overall, 42 (10.5%), 48 (12.0%), and 57 (14.3%) samples were found positive by microscopy, RDT, and PCR, respectively. With PCR as reference method, the RDT showed higher sensitivity (79% vs. 71.9%), similar specificity (99.1% vs. 99.7%), and better NLR (0.20 vs. 0.27) and area under the curve (89.0% vs. 85.8%) than microscopy. The sensitivity of RDT and microscopy decreased as age increased, and false negatives were associated with low parasite density. In addition, the sensitivity of RDT and microscopy was higher in non-Saudi than in Saudi participants. Against microscopy, both RDT and PCR showed high sensitivity (83.3% vs. 97.6%), specificity (96.4% vs. 95.5%), and NPVs (98.0% vs. 99.7%), but reduced PPVs (72.9% vs. 71.9%), respectively. The results showed that the performance of the AllTest Malaria p.f. /p.v RDT was better than that of microscopy in diagnosing P. falciparum malaria among febrile patients in the Jazan region when nested PCR was used as the reference. However, further studies are required to assess malaria diagnostic methods among asymptomatic individuals in the region.
The Role of the Flipped Learning in the English Language Learning and Students’ Motivation: A Systematic Review

In the 21st century, English has become an indispensable part of the educational curriculum in secondary and tertiary education institutions. Much effort is expended in determining the most effective methods for learning English. English language acquisition is a highly complex process and require extraordinary cooperation and effort on the part of both learners and educational institutions. Utilizing Flipped Learning can provide a novel method of receiving this content. Systematic review was adopted as the research methodology and article selection and screening process are described. Articles published between 2018 and April 2022 were reviewed, and 47 articles were included for a detailed analysis and synthesis. The results indicated that flipped learning gained popularity amongst language educators who were documenting the flipped process and sharing students feedback. Future research examining different facets of a flipped learning implementation, framed around sound theoretical frameworks and evaluation methods, is still needed to establish the pedagogy of flipped learning in teaching English language.
Short- and Long-Term Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training vs. Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients Early After ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction—The HIIT-EARLY Randomized Controlled Trial

Aim Due to insufficient evidence on the safety and effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in patients early after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), we aimed to compare short- and long-term effects of randomized HIIT or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on markers of left ventricular (LV) remodeling in STEMI patients receiving optimal guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Materials and Methods Patients after STEMI (<4 weeks) enrolled in a 12-week cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program were recruited for this randomized controlled trial (NCT02627586). During a 3-week run-in period with three weekly MICT sessions, GDMT was up-titrated. Then, the patients were randomized to HIIT or isocaloric MICT for 9 weeks. Echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed after run-in (3 weeks), end of CR (12 weeks), and at 1-year follow-up. The primary outcome was LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVi) at the end of CR. Secondary outcomes were LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and cardiopulmonary fitness. Results Seventy-three male patients were included, with the time between STEMI and start of CR and randomization being 12.5 ± 6.3 and 45.8 ± 10.8 days, respectively. Mixed models revealed no significant group × time interaction for LVEDVi at the end of CR (p = 0.557). However, there was a significantly smaller improvement in GLS at 1-year follow-up in the HIIT compared to the MICT group (p = 0.031 for group × time interaction). Cardiorespiratory fitness improved significantly from a median value of 26.5 (1st quartile 24.4; 3rd quartile 1.1) ml/kg/min at randomization in the HIIT and 27.7 (23.9; 31.6) ml/kg/min in the MICT group to 29.6 (25.3; 32.2) and 29.9 (26.1; 34.9) ml/kg/min at the end of CR and to 29.0 (26.6; 33.3) and 30.6 (26.0; 33.8) ml/kg/min at 1 year follow-up in HIIT and MICT patients, respectively, with no significant group × time interactions (p = 0.138 and 0.317). Conclusion In optimally treated patients early after STEMI, HIIT was not different from isocaloric MICT with regard to short-term effects on LVEDVi and cardiorespiratory fitness. The worsening in GLS at 1 year in the HIIT group deserves further investigation, as early HIIT may offset the beneficial effects of GDMT on LV remodeling in the long term.
Vitamin D Status and Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex and progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterized by resting tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and postural instability. Furthermore, PD is associated with a wide spectrum of non-motor symptoms that add to overall disability. In recent years, some investigations, from basic science to clinical applications, have focused on the role of vitamin D in PD, often with controversial findings. Vitamin D has widespread effects on several biological processes in the central nervous system, including neurotransmission in dopaminergic neural circuits. Various studies have recorded lower levels of vitamin D in PD patients than in healthy controls. Low vitamin D status has also been correlated with the risk for PD and motor severity, whereas less is known about the effects vitamin D has on cognitive function and other non-motor symptoms. This review aims to better characterize the correlation between vitamin D and PD, clarify the role of vitamin D in PD prevention and treatment, and discuss avenues for future research in this field.
Factors associated with severe permanent first molar caries among adolescents from Acapulco, Guerrero.

Objective: To identify the factors associated with severe caries of the first permanent molar among adolescents from Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study in a sample of 173 adolescents from first to third grade of a public middle school. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic data, socioeconomic level, oral health, toxic and dietary habits. Severe caries was identified based on the combined codes 5-6 of the International Caries Classification and Management System. A multivariate analysis was performed with CIETmap statistical software, which identified factors associated with severe caries with the prevalence ratio and its 95% confidence interval as an estimate of the strength of association. Results: A total of 692 permanent first molars were examined. The 54% of the adolescents (94/173) presented severe caries in at least one molar. Two associated factors were found, consumption of 6 or more cigarettes per day (RPa: 5.48; IC95%a= 2.01 - 17.87), and use of oral hygiene aids (RPa: 0.41; IC95%a= 0.34 - 0.78). Conclusion: The prevalence of severe caries was similar to that reported in other studies. Health promotion actions should be carried out to help reduce caries in this population.