Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flexible Endoscopy Versus Rigid Endoscopy or Surgery for the Management of Zenker’s Diverticulum: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Zenker's diverticulum treatment options range from endoscopic rigid or flexible procedures to surgery. There are limited studies available comparing these techniques. Frequently, the choice of treatment depends on the physician's preference or experience, as well as the institution's resources and capacity. Therefore, this study aims to define the best approach based on the highest efficacy and the lowest severe adverse events. In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive search was performed. Only comparative studies were included, analyzing flexible endoscopy versus rigid endoscopy or surgery. The outcomes analyzed were clinical and technical success, severe adverse events, length of stay, and duration of the procedure. Analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4. 1 (RevMan 5.4, The Cochrane Collaboration, The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark). Eight retrospective cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 1281 patients were identified, 492 underwent flexible endoscopy, 453 underwent rigid endoscopy, and 336 underwent surgery. There was no difference in clinical success [risk difference (RD), 0.07 (95% CI -0.05 to 0.19%); P = 0.26], technical success [RD, 0.07 (95% CI -0.03 to 0.16); P = 0.18], severe adverse events [RD, -0.03 (95% CI -0.13 to 0.07; P = 0.052), perforation [RD, 0.07 (95% CI -0.04 to 0.19); P = 0.22] or procedure time [mean difference (MD), - 10.03 (95% CI -26.93 to 6.88); P = 0.24). There was lower length of stay with flexible endoscopy compared to the other approaches [MD, -1.98 (95% CI -3.56 to -0.40); P = 0.001]. Based on the current evidence, the three main techniques are effective for the treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum. Although there was no significant difference in the safety of each technique in this meta-analysis, this result should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited data and the risk of vies between the techniques, considering that the results tend to favor flexible endoscopy, mainly explained by the newer and safer devices. Length of stay is lower with flexible endoscopy versus the other techniques, which can be beneficial considering the geriatric populations where Zenker’s diverticulum mainly occurs.
STUDY ON THE PREVALENCE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM IN CALVES SUFFERING FROM DIARRHEA IN NORTHWESTERN SYRIA

Cryptosporidium is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in calves worldwide, and the risk factors contributing to its control and prevention are extensively studied. This epidemiological study was conducted in an unstable breeding environment. Ninety-six (96) calves suffering from diarrhea were studied from five regions in northwestern Syria. The goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of cryptosporidium in fecal samples and to measure the expected risk and regression for assumed risk factors that may cause diarrhea in calves up to 60 days old. Fecal samples were tested using direct ELISA. The results showed 9.1% (1/11) cases in the western Aleppo countryside, 21.1% (4/19) in the eastern Idlib countryside, 13.6% (3/22) in the Northern Idlib countryside, 2.9% (1/35) in the Jisr Al-Shughur countryside, while no positive case was recorded in the western countryside. This is the first study conducted in the region showing the incidence, regression, and risk rates, and it accentuates the need for a broader study on the effect of certain drugs used in the treatment of diarrhea and its consequences.
Caral-Supe y su entorno natural y social en los orígenes de la civilización

We began our archaeological research on the origins of civilization in Peru in 1994 with exploration in the Supe Valley and excavations in Caral in 1996; in both cases this work stemmed from a personal initiative and was supported by of a team of archaeologists. Subsequently, in 1999, in view of the first results that had been published in Peru and abroad, the University of San Marcos added its financial support to the funds already being provided by the Municipalities of Supe and Barranca. Once Caral was officially recognized as a site of national interest in 2001, two years later the Caral-Supe Special Archaeological Project (PEACS) was created; excavation work in Caral and three other sites has been intensified, and consolidation and restoration work is now under way. In addition, we have drawn up a Master Plan and there are projects currently in execution to ensure that the important cultural heritage of Caral is presented in the most appropriate natural and social context.
Murciélagos (Chiroptera) y ratones silvestres (Rodentia) de la zona protectora Cerros de La Carpintera, Costa Rica

Sampling was performed in bats and mice in Iztaru sector of the Protected Zone Cerros de La Carpintera, Costa Rica. We recorded 17 species of bats, among which the most captured were Sturnira hondurensis (N = 61) and Carollia sowelli (N = 25). Among the mice were 4 species, the most captured Scotinomys teguina (N = 79) and Heteromys desmarestianus (N = 9). Previous sampling record at least 4 species of this group of mammals. The conservation of this area is interesting because it is one of the Central Valley areas that still have forest and is subject to strong anthropogenic pressure.
The Prevalence of Visual Acuity Impairment among Children in Nigeria – A Systematic Review

Background: Blindness is a major health problem, and there is an increasing trend of visual acuity impairment among children in developing countries. Vision loss in childhood has serious implications in all stages of a child's growth and development. It poses social, educational and occupational challenges, with affected children being at greater risk of developing behavioural, psychological and emotional problems, lower self-esteem and poorer social integration. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of visual impairment among children in Nigeria. Method: A systematic review of papers published on the prevalence of visual acuity impairment among children in the country was carried out. We covered works published in Google Scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, and African Journals Online. Primary search terms included the combination of the following keywords; “prevalence”, “visual acuity”, “visual impairment”, “children”, “Nigeria”. The database search for published articles was done without date restriction till 1st December 2021. The review was restricted to primary research published in English and peer-reviewed journals. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria out of the 56 studies reviewed. In Nigeria, the prevalence of visual acuity impairments ranged from 1.7% to 26.1%. Conclusion: The prevalence of visual acuity impairment among children in Nigeria is in epidemic proportions. There is a need to pay attention to proper health education; early detection and appropriate management of impaired vision to fight against this health disorder.
Efisiensi Produksi Usahatani

This study aimed to analyze the production efficiency of cassava farming consisting of technical, economic, and price efficiency and cassava farmer’s income in Lampung Province. This research was conducted in Central Lampung Regency as a cassava production center in Lampung Province using a survey method. Determining the number of samples using stratified random sampling to obtain a total sample of 100 farmers. Data collection was carried out in August 2020. The production function and the stochastic frontier production cost function were used to analyze the production efficiency level. Farming income was analyzed using the R/C ratio. The results showed that cassava farming was technically inefficient, with the influencing factors being variable land area (X1), seeds (X2), urea fertilizer (X4), pesticides (X8)
The spatial averaging of disparities in brief, static random-dot stereograms

Visual images from the two eyes are transmitted to the brain. Because the eyes are horizontally separated, there is a horizontal disparity between the two images. The amount of disparity between the images of a given point depends on the distance of that point from the viewer's point of fixation. A natural visual environment contains surfaces at many different depths. Therefore, the brain must process a spatial distribution of disparities. How are these disparities spatially put together? Brief (about 200 msec) static Cyclopean random-dot stereograms were used as stimuli for vergence and depth discrimination to answer this question. The results indicated a large averaging region for vergence, and a smaller pooling region for depth discrimination. Vergence responded to the mean disparity of two transparent planes. When a disparate target was present in a fixation plane surround, vergence improved as target size was increased, with a saturation at 3-6 degrees. Depth discrimination thresholds improved with target size, reaching a minimum at 1-3 degrees, but increased for larger targets. Depth discrimination showed a dependence on the extent of a disparity pedestal surrounding the target, consistent with vergence facilitation. Vergence might, therefore, implement a coarse-to-fine reduction in binocular matching noise. Interocular decorrelation can be considered as multiple chance matches at different disparities. The spatial pooling limits found for disparity were replicated when interocular decorrelation was discriminated. The disparity of the random dots also influenced the apparent horizontal. alignment of neighbouring monocular lines. This finding suggests that disparity averaging takes place at an early stage of visual processing. The following possible explanations were considered: 1) Disparities are detected in different spatial frequency channels (Marr and Poggio, 1979). 2) Second-order luminance patterns are matched between the two eyes using non-linear channels. 3) Secondary disparity filters process disparities extracted from linear filters.
ERAD 2014-THE EIGHTH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON RADAR IN METEOROLOGY AND HYDROLOGY

Circular depolarization ratio (CDR) is a polarimetric variable which was historically among the first measured by dualpolarization weather radars transmitting and receiving waves with circular polarization. One of its advantages is that it is primarily determined by the shape and phase composition of atmospheric particles and weakly depends on particle orientation as opposed to linear depolarization ratio (LDR) which is also considerably lower than CDR and difficult to measure for low signal-to-noise ratio. It was shown in the series of studies by Matrosov et al. (2001, 2012) that the CDR dependency on antenna elevation angle can be used to distinguish between planar and columnar types of crystals in the ice parts of clouds.
The Spanish Colonial Settlement Landscapes of New Mexico, 1598-1680

Presented for the first time is a detailed picture of the Spanish settlement landscape of New Mexico during the period from the beginning of colonisation in 1598 up to 1680 when the colonists were forced to retreat for a time. Despite scarcity of documentation, Barrett has pulled together the disparate material available from collections of published documents as well as genealogical and archaeological findings to craft a fine- grained analysis of the location of Spanish landholdings in the context of existing Pueblo village lands and the resources of the natural environment. Her study also includes discussion of the demographic dynamics of the period, the founding and settling of Santa Fe, and the activities of Spanish civil and religious establishments related to land, labour, and tribute. Barrett's work adds a much-needed dimension to colonial studies of this period.
Relationship between Urinary Parameters and Double-J Stent Encrustation

(1) Background: This study aimed to determine the relationship between metabolic urine conditions and the formation, severity, and composition of encrustations in ureteral stents. (2) Methods: Ninety stone-former patients requiring a double-J stent were prospectively enrolled. We collected 24 h metabolic urine samples and demographic data, including indwelling time and previous stone composition. The total deposit weight was obtained, and a macroscopic classification according to the degree of encrustation (null, low, moderate, and high) was created, allowing for intergroup comparisons. Stereoscopic and scanning electron microscopy were performed to identify the type of embedded deposits (calcium oxalate, uric acid, and infectious and non-infectious phosphates). (3) Results: In total, 70% of stents were encrusted; thereof, 42% had a moderate degree of encrustation. The most common encrustation type was calcium oxalate, but infectious phosphates were predominant in the high-encrustation group (p < 0.05). A direct correlation was observed between the purpose-built macroscopic classification and the encrustation weights (p < 0.001). Greater calciuria, uricosuria, indwelling time, and decreased diuresis were observed in stents with a higher degree of encrustation (p < 0.05). The urinary pH values were lower in patients with uric acid encrustations and higher in those with infectious phosphate encrustations (p < 0.05). When compared to non-encrusted stents, patients with calcium-oxalate-encrusted stent showed greater calciuria, phosphaturia, indwelling time, and reduced diuresis; patients with uric-acid-encrusted stent showed greater uricosuria; and patients with infectious and non-infectious phosphate encrustation showed greater urinary pH (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Metabolic urine conditions play a critical role in the formation, composition, and severity of double-J stent encrustation.
Evaluating the Facial Esthetic Outcomes of Digital Smile Designs Generated by Artificial Intelligence and Dental Professionals

This study evaluates the preference rates for smile designs created by professionals or by Artificial Intelligence (AI) among dentists, dentistry students, and laypeople. Four cases with symmetrical and asymmetrical features were selected based on the Facial Flow (FF) concept from the database of the Smile Designer app regarding anatomical facial points. Two smile designs were created for each selected case: one using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and one created manually. An online survey assessed participants’ preferences for the different smile designs. The chi-square test “Pearson’s and Fisher’s exact test (P)” was used to analyze the survey data. A total of 628 people completed the study. Dentists preferred the manually-created smile design for the first three cases. For Case 4, dentists who used the Smile Designer program preferred the manually-created design (55.88%), while those who did not use the program preferred the AI-generated design (55.84%). There was a significant difference in esthetic perception between dentists and dental students (p = 0.001) and between dentists and laypeople (p = 0.001) for Case 1, only between dentists and dental students (p = 0.003) for Case 2, and only between dentists and laypeople (p = 0.001) for Case 3. Furthermore, we found that females (p = 0.007) and orthodontists (p = 0.025) had a higher preference for the AI-generated design in this case compared to males and other dental specialties for Case 3. While age, education level, and clinical experience did not significantly impact dentists’ preference for manually-created or AI-generated smile designs (p > 0.05), our results suggest that there were some differences in preference for Case 3. Overall, our findings suggest that the use of AI-generated smile designs for symmetric faces is acceptable to both dentists and laypeople and can offer time-saving benefits for clinicians.
Antioxidant Activities, Phenolic Compounds, and Sensory Acceptability of Kombucha-Fermented Beverages from Bamboo Leaf and Mulberry Leaf

Kombucha is traditional drink made from the fermentation of a black tea infusion, and is believed to offer a variety of health benefits. Recently, exploring kombucha made from alternative substrates has become a research hotspot. In this paper, two novel kombucha beverages were produced with bamboo leaf or mulberry leaf for the first time. Moreover, the effects of fermentation with leaf residues (infusion plus residues) or without leaf residues (only infusion) on the antioxidant properties of kombucha were compared. The ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay, Folin–Ciocalteu method, and high-performance liquid chromatography were utilized to measure the antioxidant capacities, total phenolic contents, as well as some compound concentrations of the kombucha. The results showed that two types of kombucha had high antioxidant capacities. Moreover, kombucha fermented with bamboo leaf residues (infusion plus residues) significantly enhanced its antioxidant capabilities (maximum increase 83.6%), total phenolic content (maximum increase 99.2%), concentrations of some compounds (luteolin-6-C-glucoside and isovitexin), and sensory acceptability, compared to that without residues (only infusion). In addition, fermentation with leaf residues had no significant effect on mulberry leaf kombucha. Overall, the bamboo leaf was more suitable for making kombucha with residues, while the mulberry leaf kombucha was suitable for fermentation with or without residues.
Impact of social media influencers on brand awareness: A study on college students of Kolkata

Social networks have undoubtedly emerged as a powerful mode of communication in which their platforms allow people to set up a personal page or profile to which they could post updates regarding product/service reviews. This has led to the rise of human idols referred to as Social Media Influencers (SMIs) allegedly operating as ‘hidden persuader’ who informs, motivates, and persuades their audience. Influencer marketing is an indispensable aspect of contemporary life, often held as a creative and glamorous area, to create an impact on Generation Z and society in general. Social media is in vogue, enables real-time interaction, and has considerably impacted people's lives worldwide. Every day social media users are confronted with multiple products and services through unsolicited pop-ups, telemarketing, and streaming, which lead to impulse lead purchases. With its ubiquitous and networkable features, social media is popular among youth to share and interact in a virtual environment. This study aims to examine how brand awareness and social media influencers affect the consumers' intention to purchase. Brand awareness reached by influencer appeal is positive and growing faster than digital advertising an insignificant influence on purchase decisions among college students of Kolkata. The findings of this study confirmed the widespread beliefs that media social influencers have a real and favorable influence on raising brand awareness; however, leveraging social media influencers to affect brand recall and awareness did not have a significant impact.
THE EFFECT OF INTENSITY USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PROCRASTINATION

This study aims to determine the effect of the intensity of social media use on academic procrastination of Muhammadiyah University students of Palangkaraya. The research method used is quantitative. The population of this study was 2714, while the sample was 349 students. Data collection techniques were carried out by distributing questionnaires to students. Statistical testing using multiple linear regression analysis. The results of the study indicated that the significance value is 0.013 <0.05, so it can be concluded that there is a significant influence on the intensity of social media use on academic procrastination of Muhammadiyah University students of Palangkaraya.
Effect of dietary supplementation of turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder on the haematological and biochemical constituents of Vana raja birds

An experiment was carried out to study the haematological and biochemical constituents of Vana raja bird provided with turmeric powder supplemented diet following scientific and standard management practices. The experiment was carried out as per Completely Randomized Block Design (CRD). One hundred and twenty (120) numbers of female Vana raja birds of 8 weeks of age were randomly divided into four (4) different groups designated as T 1 , T 2 , T 3 and T 4 with thirty (30) chicks in each group having five replicates of six (6) birds each and were raised under cage system. The trial was conducted for 365 days. The haematological and biochemical parameters were found to have positive effect in the treatment groups than control. On the basis of the findings, it can be concluded that using turmeric as herbal feed additives could help in improvement of health condition of the birds
Biogeography of Fungal Communities Associated with Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. along the Latitudinal Gradient in Europe

We assessed the diversity and composition of fungal communities in different functional tissues and the rhizosphere soil of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies stands along the latitudinal gradient of these tree species distributions in Europe to model possible changes in fungal communities imposed by climate change. For each tree species, living needles, shoots, roots, and the rhizosphere soil were sampled and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that the latitude and the host tree species had a limited effect on the diversity and composition of fungal communities, which were largely explained by the environmental variables of each site and the substrate they colonize. The mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation had a strong effect on root fungal communities, isothermality on needle fungal communities, mean temperature of the warmest quarter and precipitation of the driest month on shoot fungal communities, and precipitation seasonality on soil fungal communities. Fungal communities of both tree species are predicted to shift to habitats with a lower annual temperature amplitude and with increasing precipitation during the driest month, but the suitability of these habitats as compared to the present conditions is predicted to decrease in the future.
Instructors’ Perceptions of Authentic Assessment to Competences Acquisition among Undergraduate Prospective Science Teachers in Tanzania

Authentic assessment is perceived differently by instructors about competence acquisition. Sometimes instructors perceive authentic assessment positively but when it comes to the implementation process they do not do it accordingly implying negative perception. The study involved six (6) instructors from two higher education institutions in Tanzania. The two institutions included; the College of Natural and Mathematics Sciences at the University of Dodoma and Mkwawa University College of Education, a constituent College of the University of Dar es Salaam. Data were collected by using semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. The findings showed that instructors differed in perceptions in terms of the authentic assessment tools used. Instructors in education courses insisted on the use of portfolios, seminar presentation and microteaching as authentic assessment tools. Those in science subjects namely biology and chemistry insisted on the use of practical work and projects as authentic assessment tools. The use of authentic assessment tools was perceived to be both formative and summative though summative use appeared to be dominant. The competences which were perceived by instructors to be acquired from authentic assessment tools included content, pedagogical, and generic competences. The study is concluded by calling for clear policies on authentic assessment for all instructors to have a common perception on their uses concerning competences acquisition.