Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Parents in the Use of Antibiotics: A Case Study in a Mexican Indigenous Community

The rise and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a global health problem. At the community level, bacterial resistance has been linked to antibiotic misuse practices. These practices are related to social factors such as education level, poverty, ethnicity, and use of traditional medicine. Through a survey, this study aims to analyse the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of antimicrobial use, in an indigenous community in the south of Oaxaca, Mexico. It was observed that the population had a low socioeconomic profile, poor access to healthcare services, low academic level, little knowledge of antibiotics, the use of traditional medicine, and proper attitudes and practices regarding antibiotics use. Therefore, social factors are related to bacterial resistance only if they make the population prone to the use of antimicrobials. Lack of medical access and cultural factors drives this population to use ancestral alternatives such traditional medicine to treat conditions that in other contexts could be treated with antibiotics. This is an example of how the population can reduce the consumption of antimicrobials in infections if they have a reliable alternative that improves their symptoms.
Luminescent Bacteria as Bioindicators in Screening and Selection of Enzymes Detoxifying Various Mycotoxins

Interest in enzymes capable of neutralizing various mycotoxins is quite high. The methods used for the screening and selection of enzymes that catalyze the detoxification of mycotoxins should be sensitive and fast. However toxic compounds can be generated under the action of such enzymes. Thus, the assessment of the overall reduction in the toxic properties of reaction media towards bioluminescent bacteria seems to be the most reasonable control method allowing a quick search for the effective enzymatic biocatalysts. The influence of a wide range of mycotoxins and glucanases, which hydrolyze toxins with different chemical structures, on the analytical characteristics of luminescent photobacteria as a biosensing element has been studied. Different glucanases (β-glucosidase and endoglucanase) were initially selected for reactions with 10 mycotoxins based on the results of molecular docking which was performed in silico with 20 mycotoxins. Finally, the biorecognizing luminescent cells were used to estimate the residual toxicity of reaction media with mycotoxins after their interaction with enzymes. The notable non-catalytic decrease in toxicity of media containing deoxynivalenol was revealed with luminous cells for both types of tested glucanases, whereas β-glucosidase provided a significant catalytic detoxification of media with aflatoxin B2 and zearalenone at pH 6.0.
The Role of the Board of Directors in the Implementation of Enterprise Risk Management in Malaysian Private Higher Educational Institutions

Unconsciously, all human activities have the potential to be exposed to uncertainties. These uncertainties are risks that could interrupt business growth and, consequently, influence better performance achievement. These risks can be overcome with the implementation of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) within organisations. In Malaysia, few private higher educational institutions (PHEIs) were in trouble due to many causes such as management, finance and marketing. Concerning these issues, this study aims to develop a conceptual framework of ERM drivers and their impact on the performance of Malaysian PHEIs. The questionnaires were distributed to 510 respondents and 217 were returned. Results indicated that both internal factors and size and types of institutions were related to performance in the particular institutions, and the external factor showed a negative relationship with performance. It was also found that all drivers were moderated by the Board of Directors (BODs) and performances. It was suggested for future research to use multiple methods to avoid any possibility of common method bias and to enhance the findings to be generalised, which can prevent overestimating the structural model. At present, research in ERM is well established, but it is still in its infancy for educational institutions.
Monitoramento de resíduos de agrotóxicos em leite consumido pela população do estado de São Paulo, Brasil, 2000 e 2002

O leite é um importante constituinte da dieta alimentar do homem e apresenta um consumo elevado, principalmente pela população infantil. Os resíduos de agrotóxicos não intencionais e seus metabólitos podem ser encontrados no leite em decorrência do consumo de água, pastagens e rações com resíduos pelo gado ou pelo uso de agrotóxicos para controle de ectoparasitas. Com o objetivo de avaliar os níveis desses resíduos foram analisadas 73 amostras de leite, coletadas pela Vigilância Sanitária em diversos estabelecimentos comerciais do Estado de São Paulo nos anos de 2000 e 2002. A análise dos agrotóxicos foi efetuada por cromatografia a gás e cromatografia a líquido de alta eficiência. Para verificar a exatidão e precisão do método foram realizados estudos de recuperações cujos resultados variaram de 71 a 105%, todos dentro dos limites aceitáveis, com coeficientes de variação entre 1,2 e 17,8%. O limite de quantificação do método foi de 0,01mg/kg para hexaclorobenzeno, α HCH, β HCH, γ HCH, aldrin, heptacloro, heptacloro epóxido, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, sulfato de endosulfan, dieldrin, endrin, pp’DDE, pp’DDD, op’DDT, pp’DDT; 0,02 mg/kg para λ cialotrina, a cipermetrina, deltametrina e 0,10 mg/kg para carbendazim e tiabendazol. Nenhum dos agrotóxicos avaliados foram encontrados na amostras de leite analisadas.
Ovine Mesenchymal Stem Cell Chondrogenesis on a Novel 3D-Printed Hybrid Scaffold In Vitro

This study evaluated the use of silica/poly(tetrahydrofuran)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (SiO2/PTHF/PCL-diCOOH) 3D-printed scaffolds, with channel sizes of either 200 (SC-200) or 500 (SC-500) µm, as biomaterials to support the chondrogenesis of sheep bone marrow stem cells (oBMSC), under in vitro conditions. The objective was to validate the potential use of SiO2/PTHF/PCL-diCOOH for prospective in vivo ovine studies. The behaviour of oBMSC, with and without the use of exogenous growth factors, on SiO2/PTHF/PCL-diCOOH scaffolds was investigated by analysing cell attachment, viability, proliferation, morphology, expression of chondrogenic genes (RT-qPCR), deposition of aggrecan, collagen II, and collagen I (immunohistochemistry), and quantification of sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The results showed that all the scaffolds supported cell attachment and proliferation with upregulation of chondrogenic markers and the deposition of a cartilage extracellular matrix (collagen II and aggrecan). Notably, SC-200 showed superior performance in terms of cartilage gene expression. These findings demonstrated that SiO2/PTHF/PCL-diCOOH with 200 µm pore size are optimal for promoting chondrogenic differentiation of oBMSC, even without the use of growth factors.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Increased the Incidence of New-Onset Type One Diabetes in Children

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence rate of childhood type 1 diabetes (T1D) is controversial. Our aim was to analyze the incidence of new-onset T1D among children aged 0–17 before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. Methods: Data obtained from the national T1D registry for children aged 0–17 were analyzed for the pre-pandemic (1997–2019) and pandemic (2020–2022) periods. In the pre-pandemic period, 7246 children with newly diagnosed T1D were compared with 1490 children diagnosed during the pandemic period. Results: T1D incidence significantly increased in the 0–17 age group from a mean of 12.9/105 (pre-pandemic) to 17.7/105 and 16.7/105 during the first two years of the pandemic (2020 and 2021, respectively) (p = 0.0001). Stratifying by age group (0–4, 5–9, 10–14, and 15–17) revealed a significant increase in the 5–9, 10–14, and 15–17 groups, both in 2020 (p = 0.0001) and in 2021 (p = 0.0001). The incidence rate in the 0–4 age group showed no change in the first year of the pandemic (2020) (p = 0.4). However, in the second year of the pandemic (2021), there was a significant increase from 6.3/105 in the pre-pandemic period to 9.1/105 (p = 0.001). Anti-COVID-19 vaccination in 2022 led to a significant decrease in the incidence rates in the 10–14 and 15–17 age groups (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant increase in the incidence of new-onset T1D in prepubertal and pubertal children. Anti-COVID-19 vaccination decreased the incidence rate significantly only in pubertal children.
TETRAPOD TRACKS TAPHONOMY IN EOLIAN FACIES FROM THE PERMIAN OF ARGENTINA

Abstract: Ancient desert deposits preserve a copious ichnofossil record, particularly Permian-age deposits where the record of tetrapod footprints is present and abundant in almost all desert settings. We propose to analyze, from a taphonomic perspective, Permian footprints preserved in eolian deposits from Argentina with a detailed sedimentological study of the trackway-bearing levels, in order to find evidence of processes that may have enhanced their preservation. We defined four taphonomic modes based on preservation quality, and the morphological and extra-morphological features of the footprints. Mode 1 includes footprints with detailed impressions of the palm, digits and claws. Mode 2 includes tracks with palm and digit impressions associated with small bulbous-shape marginal rims. Mode 3 includes tracks characterized by large, bulbous, marginal rims and randomly preserved palm impressions. Mode 4 includes footprints with shallow digit and palm impressions associated with sand-crescent marginal rims. The Los Reyunos footprints suggest preservation in: (1) dry sand, evidenced by sediment slipping down-slope structures and (2) subsurface damp sand, evidenced by digit impressions and claw drag traces. Also, we found vertical water content variations along the dune foresets, evidenced by a varying amount of sediment slipping down-slope in the same trackway. Moreover, differences in the time of entombment are suggested by the morphology of rims (bulbous-shape or sand-crescent). The stratigraphic genetic framework resulting from the Los Reyunos taphonomic analysis supports changes in the interstitial subsurface water and rapid entombment of the tracking surface due to a high rate of sediment supply as the main factor for footprint preservation.
17β-Estradiol Effects in Skeletal Muscle: A 31P MR Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) Study of Young Females during Early Follicular (EF) and Peri-Ovulation (PO) Phases

The natural variation in estrogen secretion throughout the female menstrual cycle impacts various organs, including estrogen receptor (ER)-expressed skeletal muscle. Many women commonly experience increased fatigue or reduced energy levels in the days leading up to and during menstruation, when blood estrogen levels decline. Yet, it remains unclear whether endogenous 17β-estradiol, a major estrogen component, directly affects the energy metabolism in skeletal muscle due to the intricate and fluctuating nature of female hormones. In this study, we employed 2D 31P FID-MRSI at 7T to investigate phosphoryl metabolites in the soleus muscle of a cohort of young females (average age: 28 ± 6 years, n = 7) during the early follicular (EF) and peri-ovulation (PO) phases, when their blood 17β-estradiol levels differ significantly (EF: 28 ± 18 pg/mL vs. PO: 71 ± 30 pg/mL, p < 0.05), while the levels of other potentially interfering hormones remain relatively invariant. Our findings reveal a reduction in ATP-referenced phosphocreatine (PCr) levels in the EF phase compared to the PO phase for all participants (5.4 ± 4.3%). Furthermore, we observe a linear correlation between muscle PCr levels and blood 17β-estradiol concentrations (r = 0.64, p = 0.014). Conversely, inorganic phosphate Pi and phospholipid metabolite GPC levels remain independent of 17β-estradiol but display a high correlation between the EF and PO phases (p = 0.015 for Pi and p = 0.0008 for GPC). The robust association we have identified between ATP-referenced PCr and 17β-estradiol suggests that 17β-estradiol plays a modulatory role in the energy metabolism of skeletal muscle.
Clean Enzymatic Oxidation of 12α‐Hydroxysteroids to 12‐Oxo‐Derivatives Catalyzed by Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase

The C12 specific oxidation of hydroxysteroids is an essential reaction required for the preparation of pharmaceutical ingredients like ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), which can be synthesized by Wolff-Kishner reduction of the obtained 12-oxo-hydroxysteroids. 12α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (12α-HSDHs) have been shown to perform this reaction with high yields, under mild conditions and without the need of protection and deprotection steps, required in chemical synthesis. Here, the recombinant expression and biochemical characterization of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + )-dependent HSDH from Eggerthella lenta (El12α-HSDH) are reported. This enzyme shows comparable properties with the well-known nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP + )-dependent enzyme from Clostridium sp. 48–50. In order to perform a viable and atom efficient enzymatic hydroxysteroid oxidation, NAD(P)H oxidase (NOX) was employed as cofactor regeneration system: NOX uses oxygen (O 2 ) as sacrificial substrate and produces only water as side product. 10 mM of cholic acid was fully and selectively converted to 12-oxo-CDCA in 24 h. The possibility to employ this system on UCA and 7-oxo-deoxycholic acid (7-oxo-DCA) as substrates was additionally investigated. The performance of the El12α-HSDH was evaluated also in combination with a “classical” regeneration system (oxaloacetate/malate dehydrogenase) showing full conversion in 4 h. Finally, the feasibility of a catalytic aerobic-NAD + -dependent enzymatic oxidation was shown on a preparative scale (oxidation of CA to 12-oxo-CDCA) employing the El12α-HSDH-NOX system in a segmented-flow-reactor. (Figure presented.).
Teaching Materials Using the Discovery Learning Learning Model to Facilitate the Mathematical Communication Skills of Junior High School Students

Indonesian students are in the low category where students only have basic mathematical abilities. It is caused by difficulties in learning mathematics in the circle material, requires teacher creativity in developing learning, namely in terms of teaching materials, media, and methods used in the learning process. Learning materials that are integrated with good learning models are needed to facilitate students in learning mathematics. Therefore this study aims to develop teaching materials using the discovery learning model to improve students' mathematical abilities in the circle material for class VIII junior high school. This type of research is development research with reference to the ADDIE development model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation). The subjects of this study were teachers and students of class VIII junior high school. Based on the subject teacher and student questionnaires, it can be concluded that the teaching materials have good criteria. Students' response to the media was positive, this can be seen from the value of students' positive responses which reached 83.83%. When viewed from the students' mathematical abilities, it can be said to be quite good, that is, seen from the score of the students' completeness test results reaching 44%. Based on all this, it can be concluded that these teaching materials can facilitate the improvement of students' mathematical abilities.
Hydrocarbon Sorption in Flexible MOFs—Part III: Modulation of Gas Separation Mechanisms

Single gas sorption experiments with the C4-hydrocarbons n-butane, iso-butane, 1-butene and iso-butene on the flexible MOFs Cu-IHMe-pw and Cu-IHEt-pw were carried out with both thermodynamic equilibrium and overall sorption kinetics. Subsequent static binary gas mixture experiments of n-butane and iso-butane unveil a complex dependence of the overall selectivity on sorption enthalpy, rate of structural transition as well as steric effects. A thermodynamic separation favoring iso-butane as well as kinetic separation favoring n-butane are possible within Cu-IHMe-pw while complete size exclusion of iso-butane is achieved in Cu-IHEt-pw. This proof-of-concept study shows that the structural flexibility offers additional levers for the precise modulation of the separation mechanisms for complex mixtures with similar chemical and physical properties with real selectivities of >10.
Improving Link Prediction Accuracy of Network Embedding Algorithms via Rich Node Attribute Information

Complex networks are widely used to represent an abundance of real-world relations ranging from social networks to brain networks. Inferring missing links or predicting future ones based on the currently observed network is known as the link prediction task.Recent network embedding based link prediction algorithms have demonstrated ground-breaking performance on link prediction accuracy. Those algorithms usually apply node attributes as the initial feature input to accelerate the convergence speed during the training process. However, they do not take full advantage of node feature information. In this paper,besides applying feature attributes as the initial input, we make better utilization of node attribute information by building attributable networks and plugging attributable networks into some typical link prediction algorithms and naming this algorithm Attributive Graph Enhanced Embedding (AGEE). AGEE is able to automatically learn the weighting trades-off between the structure and the attributive networks. Numerical experiments show that AGEE can improve the link prediction accuracy by around 3% compared with link prediction framework SEAL, Variational Graph AutoEncoder (VGAE), and Node2vec.
A Comprehensive Study on Tear Meniscus Height Inter-Eye Differences in Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye Diagnosis

(1) Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic ocular surface condition that requires precise diagnostic tools. The present study aimed to investigate the diagnostic potential of the absolute inter-eye difference (|OD-OS|) in tear meniscus height (TMH) for the detection of the presence of aqueous deficient dry eye (ADDE). (2) Methods: A sample of 260 participants with dry eye complaints underwent ocular surface examinations thorough diagnostic assessments based on the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society guidelines (TFOS DEWS II). Participants were subsequently categorized as No ADDE and ADDE based on TMH. Statistical analyses to determine the optimal TMH|OD-OS| cut-off value in a randomly selected study group (200 participants) were performed, while a separate validation analysis of the cut-off value obtained in a random cross-validation group (60 participants) was also performed. (3) Results: The significant diagnostic capability of TMH|OD-OS| (area under the curve = 0.719 ± 0.036, p < 0.001) was found. The identified cut-off value of 0.033 mm demonstrated reliable specificity (77.6%) and moderate sensitivity (59.1%). Cross-validation confirmed the cut-off value’s association with the TFOS DEWS II diagnostic criterion (Cramer’s V = 0.354, p = 0.006). (4) Conclusions: The present study provides evidence for the diagnostic potential of TMH|OD-OS| in identifying ADDE. The identified cut-off value enhances the specificity and offers moderate sensitivity, providing an objective tool for clinical decision making.
MYO19 interacts weakly with Miro2 GTPases on the mitochondrial outer membrane

MYO19 interacts with mitochondria through a unique C-terminal mitochondrial association domain (MyMOMA). The specific molecular mechanisms for localization of MYO19 to mitochondria are poorly understood. Using promiscuous biotinylation, we have identified ~100 candidate MYO19 interacting proteins, a subset of which were also identified in via affinity-capture experiments. We chose to further explore the interaction between MYO19 and the mitochondrial GTPase Miro2 by expressing mchr-Miro2 in combination with GFP-tagged fragments of the MyMOMA domain and assaying for recruitment of MYO19-GFP to mitochondria. Co-expression of MYO19 898-970 -GFP with mchr-Miro2 enhanced MYO19 898-970 -GFP localization to mitochondria. Mislocalizing Miro2 to filopodial tips or the cytosolic face of the nuclear envelope did not recruit MYO19 898-970 -GFP to either location. To address the kinetics of the Miro2/MYO19 interaction, we used FRAP analysis and permeabilization-activated reduction in fluorescence (PARF) analysis. MyMOMA constructs containing a putative membrane insertion motif but lacking the complete Miro2 interacting region, MYO19 853-935 -GFP, displayed slow exchange kinetics. MYO19 898-970 -GFP, which does not include the membrane-insertion motif, displayed rapid exchange kinetics, suggesting that the MYO19 and Miro2 interaction is weaker than between MYO19 and the mitochondrial outer membrane. Mutation of well-conserved, charged residues within MYO19 or within the switch I and II regions of Miro2 abolished the enhancement of MYO19 898-970 -GFP localization in cells ectopically expressing mchr-Miro2. Additionally, expressing mutant versions of Miro2 thought to represent particular nucleotide states indicated that the enhancement of MYO19 898-970 -GFP localization is dependent on Miro2 nucleotide state. Taken together, these data suggest a role for Miro2 in regulation and integration of actin- and microtubule-based mitochondrial activities. -GFP cytosolic GFP MYO19 mitochondria p MYO19 898-970 -GFP coexpressed with
The Potential Harmful Effects of Genetically Engineered Microorganisms (GEMs) on the Intestinal Microbiome and Public Health

Gut luminal dysbiosis and pathobiosis result in compositional and biodiversified alterations in the microbial and host co-metabolites. The primary mechanism of bacterial evolution is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and the acquisition of new traits can be achieved through the exchange of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Introducing genetically engineered microbes (GEMs) might break the harmonized balance in the intestinal compartment. The present objectives are: 1. To reveal the role played by the GEMs’ horizontal gene transfers in changing the landscape of the enteric microbiome eubiosis 2. To expand on the potential detrimental effects of those changes on the human genome and health. A search of articles published in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scielo from 2000 to August 2023 using appropriate MeSH entry terms was performed. The GEMs’ horizontal gene exchanges might induce multiple human diseases. The new GEMs can change the long-term natural evolution of the enteric pro- or eukaryotic cell inhabitants. The worldwide regulatory authority’s safety control of GEMs is not enough to protect public health. Viability, biocontainment, and many other aspects are only partially controlled and harmful consequences for public health should be avoided. It is important to remember that prevention is the most cost-effective strategy and primum non nocere should be the focus.