Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of curcumin and zinc co‐supplementation on glycemic parameters in overweight or obese prediabetic subjects: A phase 2 randomized, placebo‐controlled trial with a multi‐arm, parallel‐group design

Management of prediabetes is a critical step to prevent type‐2 diabetes. Curcumin and zinc have been studied as an antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antidiabetic agents. In this clinical trial, 84 subjects were randomized into curcumin (500 mg), zinc (30 mg), zinc and curcumin, and placebo groups for 90 days. At the baseline and the end of the study, the outcomes (fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2‐hour postprandial glucose (2hpp), HbA1C, insulin, insulin sensitivity (IS), insulin resistance (IR), β‐cell function (BCF), weight, body mass index (BMI), dietary intake, and physical activity (PA)) were measured. A hypocaloric diet and PA were recommended for all subjects. In total, 82 subjects completed the study. After the intervention, dietary intake, PA, weight, and BCF% did not show a significant difference among the groups. However, subjects taking only zinc and zinc and curcumin groups experienced decreased BMI compared to the placebo (p = .01 and .007, respectively). The three treated groups had improved FPG (p = .01), 2hpp (p = .003), HbA1C (p = .004), insulin (p = .001), IS% (p = .001), and IR (p < .001) compared to the placebo. Based on these results, zinc and curcumin supplementation exerted a beneficial effect on several key glycemic parameters.
A unified atlas of CD8 T cell dysfunctional states in cancer and infection

CD8 T cells play an essential role in defense against viral and bacterial infections and in tumor immunity. Deciphering T cell loss of functionality is complicated by the conspicuous heterogeneity of CD8 T cell states described across different experimental and clinical settings. By carrying out a unified analysis of over 300 ATAC-seq and RNA-seq experiments from twelve independent studies of CD8 T cell dysfunction in cancer and infection we defined a shared differentiation trajectory towards terminal dysfunction and its underlying transcriptional drivers and revealed a universal early bifurcation of functional and dysfunctional T cell activation states across models. Experimental dissection of acute and chronic viral infection using scATAC-seq and allele-specific scRNA-seq identified state-specific transcription factors and captured the early emergence of highly similar TCF1+ progenitor-like populations at an early branch point, at which epigenetic features of functional and dysfunctional T cells diverge. Our atlas of CD8 T cell states will facilitate mechanistic studies of T cell immunity and translational efforts.
Face masks reduce emotion-recognition accuracy and perceived closeness

Face masks became the symbol of the global fight against the coronavirus. While face masks’ medical benefits are clear, little is known about their psychological consequences. Drawing on theories of the social functions of emotions and rapid trait impressions, we tested hypotheses on face masks’ effects on emotion-recognition accuracy and social judgments (perceived trustworthiness, likability, and closeness). Our preregistered study with 191 German adults revealed that face masks diminish people’s ability to accurately categorize an emotion expression and make target persons appear less close. Exploratory analyses further revealed that face masks buffered the negative effect of negative (vs. non-negative) emotion expressions on perceptions of trustworthiness, likability, and closeness. Associating face masks with the coronavirus’ dangers predicted higher perceptions of closeness for masked but not for unmasked faces. By highlighting face masks’ effects on social functioning, our findings inform policymaking and point at contexts where alternatives to face masks are needed.
Mental health disorders research in the countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), 2008–17, and the disease burden: Bibliometric study

The 57 countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation are suffering from an increasing burden from mental health disorders. We investigated their research outputs during 2008–17 in the Web of Science in order to compare them with the burden from different mental health disorders and in different countries. The papers were identified with a complex filter based on title words and journals. Their addresses were parsed to give fractional country counts, show international collaboration, and also reveal country concentration on individual disorders and types of research. We found 17,920 papers in the decade, with output quadrupling. Foreign contributions accounted for 15% of addresses; they were from Europe (7%), Canada + USA (5%) and elsewhere (3%). They were much greater for Qatar and Uganda (> 60%), but less than 10% for Iran and Turkey. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were over-researched, but suicide and self-harm were seriously neglected, relative to their mental health disorder burdens. Although OIC research has been expanding rapidly, some countries have published little on this subject, perhaps because of stigma. Turkey collaborates relatively little internationally and as a result its papers received few citations. Among the large OIC countries, it has almost the highest relative mental health disorders burden, which is also growing rapidly.
Comparison of four high-throughput, automated immunoassays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

Background A number of immunoassays have been developed to measure antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2. More data is required on their comparability, particularly among those with milder infections and in the general practice population. The aim of this study was to compare four high-throughput automated anti-SARS-CoV-2 assays using samples collected from hospitalized patients and healthcare workers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, we collected general practice samples to compare antibody results and determine seroprevalence. Methods Samples were collected from 57 hospitalized patients and nine healthcare workers at 14 days and at 28 days following confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Samples were also collected from 225 patients presenting to general practice. Four assays were used: Abbott Architect IgG, Beckman Coulter DxI 800 IgG, Roche Cobas e801 total antibody and Siemens Advia Centaur XPT total antibody. Results All four assays showed concordance at 14 days in 83.9% of hospitalized patients and in 66.7% of healthcare workers. All four assays showed concordance at 28 days in 88.4% of hospitalized patients and 77.8% of healthcare workers. The sensitivity to detect recent infection was higher for the IgG assays than the total assays. All four assays showed concordance of 95.1% in the general practice population. Seroprevalence ranged from 4.9 to 5.8% depending on the assay used. Conclusions All four assays showed excellent comparability, but it may be possible to obtain a negative result for any of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 assays in patients with confirmed previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. An equivocal range would be useful for all anti-SARS-CoV-2 assays.
Recombinant apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage protein reduces delayed graft function in a murine model of kidney transplantation

Reperfusion injury following cold and warm ischemia (IRI) is unavoidable during kidney transplantation and contributes to delayed graft function (DGF) and premature graft loss. Death of tubular epithelial cells (TECs) by necrosis during IRI releases pro-inflammatory mediators (e.g. HMGB1), propagating further inflammation (necroinflammation) and tissue damage. Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) is a phagocytic receptor upregulated on proximal TECs during acute kidney injury. We have previously shown that renal KIM-1 protects the graft against transplant associated IRI by enabling TECs to clear apoptotic and necrotic cells, and that recognition of necrotic cells by KIM-1 is augmented in the presence of the opsonin, apoptosis inhibitor of macrophages (AIM). Here, we tested whether recombinant AIM (rAIM) could be used to mitigate transplant associated IRI. We administered rAIM or vehicle control to nephrectomised B6 mice transplanted with a single B6 donor kidney. Compared to grafts in vehicle-treated recipients, grafts from rAIM-treated mice exhibited significantly less renal dysfunction, tubular cell death, tissue damage, tubular obstruction, as well as local and systemic inflammation. Both mouse and human rAIM enhanced the clearance of necrotic cells by murine and human TECs, respectively in vitro. These data support testing of rAIM as a potential therapeutic agent to reduce DGF following kidney transplantation.
Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus and Phosphate-Solubilizing Fungus on the Nutrient Uptake and Growth of Beach Plum (Prunus Maritima) Seedlings under NaCl Stress

The objective of this work was to study the effects of inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus mosseae, and/or a phosphate-solubilising fungus (PSF), Mortierella sp. SM-1, on the nutrient uptake and growth of beach plum (Prunus maritima) when grown under 1% (w/v) NaCl stress. High concentration of NaCl (200 mMol) treatments adversely inhibited colonizations and spore densities by AMF or/and PSF, as well as the nutrient uptake of N, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn nutrient acquisition, resulting in an important reduction in shoot and root dry biomass. Plants inoculated with AMF or/and PSF strongly promoted AM colonization and spore density, plant dry biomass and nutrient uptake by P. maritima. Dual inoculation of AMF and PSF showed significant higher effects on variation of the ion concentration (N, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn) and plant growth indexes. It is concluded that AMF inoculation with PSF application could synergistically enhance the nutrient uptake and growth of plants.
Botany is the root and the future of invasion biology.

Although botanists have been at the center of invasion biology since its inception, few botanists identify as invasion biologists. Of those few, many primarily ally with associated disciplines such as weed science and agronomy. The modern field of invasion biology— the study of the introduction, establishment, evolution, and control of nonnative species— was formally established when zoologist Charles Elton proposed his biodiversityinvasibility hypothesis (Elton, 1958) and has since been largely dominated by zoologists. However, plants have proven to be tractable systems for both experimental and observational studies and have played an outsized role in addressing longstanding hypotheses in invasion biology (Fig. 1). Here, we briefly review the historic and contemporary contributions that botanists have made in invasion biology and argue that botanists will continue to play a critical role in revolutionizing invasion biology. The work of botanists on plant invasions arguably began with 17th century Linneaus protégé, Pehr Kalm, first noting naturalized European species in North America. Early naturalists including Charles Lyell, Alfred Russel Wallace, and Charles Darwin commonly observed nonnative plants (Simberloff, 2013); Darwin’s naturalization hypothesis, one of the first attempts to understand the invasion process, made use of these observations. Twentieth century botanists like Charles Baker and George Ledyard Stebbins avoided the terminology of invasion biology, but studied plant colonizations as natural evolutionary experiments and helped merge invasion biology with the modern synthesis (Barrett, 2015). In the 1980s and 1990s, botanists played consequential roles in understanding invasibility, inferring the population dynamics underlying invasions, and studying the consequences of invasions across communities, food webs, and ecosystems (Levine et al., 2003; Pyšek and Richardson, 2007). Many of these studies leveraged the experimental tractability of plants (i.e., immobility, flexible reproductive strategies, and easy propagation within manipulative experiments)— traits that continue to make plants uniquely pragmatic models for invasion research today. Genetic analyses of plant invasions during the 2000s overturned many longstanding assumptions of invasion dynamics, revealing that introductions are often repeated, admixture is frequent, and selection is common during invasions (Dlugosch and Parker, 2008; Colautti and Lau, 2015). Recently, advances in genomics have provided a more nuanced understanding of the invasion process. Below, we highlight four areas where plants are uniquely suited for studying invasions and where botanists have recently made consequential contributions to invasion biology: colonization dynamics, admixture, hybridization, and plasticity.
Continuous Monitoring of Tau-Induced Neurotoxicity in Patient-Derived iPSC-Neurons

Tau aggregation within neurons is a critical feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies. It is believed that soluble pathologic tau species seed the formation of tau aggregates in a prion-like manner and propagate through connected neurons during the progression of disease. Both soluble and aggregated forms of tau are thought to have neurotoxic properties. In addition, different strains of misfolded tau may cause differential neurotoxicity. In this work, we present an accelerated human neuronal model of tau-induced neurotoxicity that incorporates both soluble tau species and tau aggregation. Using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) neurons expressing a tau aggregation biosensor, we develop a cell culture system that allows continuous assessment of both induced tau aggregation and neuronal viability at single-cell resolution for periods of >1 week. We show that exogenous tau “seed” uptake, as measured by tau repeat domain (TauRD) reporter aggregation, increases the risk for subsequent neuronal death in vitro. These results are the first to directly visualize neuronal TauRD aggregation and subsequent cell death in single human iPSC neurons. Specific morphologic strains or patterns of TauRD aggregation are then identified and associated with differing neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that familial AD iPSC neurons expressing the PSEN1 L435F mutation exhibit accelerated TauRD aggregation kinetics and a tau strain propagation bias when compared with control iPSC neurons. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neuronal intracellular aggregation of the microtubule binding protein tau occurs in Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative tauopathies. Tau aggregates are believed to spread from neuron to neuron via prion-like misfolded tau seeds. Our work develops a human neuronal live-imaging system to visualize seeded tau aggregation and tau-induced neurotoxicity within single neurons. Using an aggregation-sensing tau reporter, we find that neuronal uptake and propagation of tau seeds reduces subsequent survival. In addition, human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) neurons carrying an Alzheimer's disease-causing mutation in presenilin-1 undergo tau seeding more rapidly than control iPSC neurons. However, they do not show subsequent differences in neuronal survival. Finally, specific morphologies of tau aggregates are associated with increased neurotoxicity.
Mental Health in Chinese International Students: The Relationship between Test Anxiety, Anxiety Levels and Coping Strategies

Previous studies stated that the association between test anxiety and different coping strategies is varied, but research on Chinese international students in the UK in such relevant fields is insufficient. A total of 82 participants (n=65 females, n=17 males, mean age ranges 22 to 29) were included, the Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale-Revised, the COPE Inventory and the anxiety subscale of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale were used. Results revealed that (1) Cognitive test anxiety was moderate in the target population. (2) Cognitive test anxiety was an important predictor of anxiety; (3) Social-focused coping was a positive predictor for cognitive test anxiety;(4) The target population engage more in problem-focused coping when facing stress; (5) there was no gender differences in CTA and coping strategies.
Assessment for Learning (AfL) in Indonesian Learning in Primary Schools: A Case Study

The objective of the study is to describe the implementation of assessment for learning (AfL) in Indonesian learning in elementary school, particularly in writing skills. The study is a case study with research subjects consisting of a teacher and 28 fourth grade elementary school students in Laweyan, Surakarta. The data was obtained by using questionnaires, tests, and documentation. The study used the triangulation technique as a test of the validity of the data. Data were analyzed using an interactive model with stages of data reduction, data presentation, and concluding. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of AfL in writing skill learning in elementary was completed by the teacher to control completely of students' writing development. Students were assisted to write together until they finished. The results of some of the students' writings were written in a portfolio and at the end of the portfolio programs were exhibited and assessed. This study concludes that writing skills cannot be obtained instantly, it is necessary to implement AfL by utilizing various types of portfolios to improve the quality of the process and the results of writing skill learning in elementary schools.
An Analysis of Innovative Online Learning Facing The 21st Century in The Covid-19 Pandemic in Elementary Schools in Surakarta

Online learning has been a demand in the education world. Some platforms are being utilized to support online learning in the Covid-19 pandemic. This research aims to analyse online learning during school from home (SFH) due to the Covid-19 pandemic as the challenge to realize the digitalization era in the education field in the 21st century. This research uses a quasi-experiment method. A quasi-experiment method conducts pre-test - post-test group designs. The populations of this research are all Elementary School teachers in Surakarta which consist of 166 Elementary Schools with a total of 851 teachers. Samples used in this research are the teachers of grade 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th amount of 40 teachers. The samples have been decided through purposive sampling. There are 20 teachers including experiment classes i.e. Elementary Schools in Laweyan and Banjarsari district, amount 20 teachers including control classes i.e. Elementary School in Banjarsari and Pasar Kliwon district. In order to obtain the effectiveness of innovative online learning on the learning quality of the elementary schools, this research counts the normalized n gain score. The result of this research shows that the implementation of innovative online learning 0n the learning process in the elementary school can improve the quality of learning to accelerate the digitalization era in the education field in the 21st century during the Covid-19 pandemic. The learning quality has improved because the teachers implement innovation in online learning with Gain score of 0.72 that belongs to the high category.
The Effectiveness of Convertible Book Media based on Scientific Approach Viewed from Students' Critical Thinking Skill

Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) is the key for children in facing the 4.0 industrial revolution. Support media that is integrated with HOTS is expected to overcome these problems. This study was intended to develop and investigate the effectiveness of a convertible book as an instructional medium to increase students' critical thinking skills in learning. This study used the R & D method based upon Borg and Gall's 10 phases of development. The subjects were fourth-grade students of primary schools in Depok, Indonesia. Data collection techniques were interviews, observation, test questions, and scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and t-test. The results showed that the media was suitable to use as an instructional medium. This was demonstrated by the results of assessments from media and subject matter experts and the responses of teachers and students which obtained the "excellent" category of the score. Importantly, the convertible book was found effective to increase students' critical thinking skills in learning. This was shown by the results of the p-value of t-test: 0.000 and 0.001. In short, this study extended our knowledge that convertible book media based on a scientific approach was an avenue to instill students' critical thinking skills.
The Feasibility of Media, Material, and Language Aspects in the Development of Thematic Teaching Materials Based on Local Wisdom

Teaching material is one important part of the learning process. It's should be designed and written following the rules of learning, that is, adapted learning materials, arranged based on needs, there are evaluation materials, and interesting to be studied by students. This study aims to produce thematic teaching materials based on local wisdom for fourth-grade students in elementary schools. This research method is research and development adapted from Sukmadinata. The research began by conducting (1) a preliminary study to find research findings related to the needs of teachers and students on thematic teaching materials, (2) Developing products in the form of thematic teaching materials based on local wisdom based on the needs of teachers and students, and (3) Validating media, material, and language by experts and make revisions based on expert input and advice. The results of the validation of experts on thematic teaching materials based on local wisdom developed showed that (1) the average results of the validation of media experts showed a percentage of 80.98%. with the category of "very good" in terms of the feasibility of graphics and language worthiness; (2) the average results of the validation of the material experts showed a percentage of 92.78% with the category of "very good" in terms of the feasibility of the content, the feasibility of presentation, and assessment of the language; and (3) the average results of the validation of linguists show a percentage of 78.33% with the category of "good" in terms of the feasibility of the language. Based on the results of validation from media, materials, and language experts, it can be concluded that the thematic teaching materials based on local wisdom developed are worth testing in the field.
Investigating EFL University Students' Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectation in Technology Integration

The use of technology in education gives significant contributions to educational practices in the 21st century. EFL university students as future teachers should adapt to technology development by having a good level of self-efficacy and outcome expectation in technology integration. Both self-efficacy and outcome expectations have received a great deal of attention in the field of educational technology. However, investigating the levels and relationship between EFL university students' self-efficacy and outcome expectation is not the major interest of research in this area. Technology integration self-efficacy and outcome expectations are important since they affect technology integration performance. The purposes of the study were to (1) identify the self-efficacy and outcome expectation of EFL university students, and (2) investigate the relationship between self-efficacy and outcome expectation. The survey research method was employed to achieve the objectives of the study. This study involved a total of 42 EFL university students. The instruments were questionnaires adopted from the Motivation of Technology Integration in Education Scale. The study's findings revealed that the self-efficacy and outcome expectation of EFL university students are at good levels. This study showed that the relationship between self-efficacy and outcome expectation is weak and not statistically significant. This may be a result of working with different sample groups compared to the other similar studies. Providing professional development program, evaluating courses related to technological instruction, and facilitating EFL university students with up-to-date technology, are recommended.