Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasma concentration of leptin is related to food addiction in gambling disorder: Clinical and neuropsychological implications

Abstract Background Data implicate overlaps in neurobiological pathways involved in appetite regulation and addictive disorders. Despite different neuroendocrine measures having been associated with both gambling disorder (GD) and food addiction (FA), how appetite-regulating hormones may relate to the co-occurrence of both entities remain incompletely understood. Aims To compare plasma concentrations of ghrelin, leptin, adiponectin, and liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2) between patients with GD, with and without FA, and to explore the association between circulating hormonal concentrations and neuropsychological and clinical features in individuals with GD and FA. Methods The sample included 297 patients diagnosed with GD (93.6% males). None of the patients with GD had lifetime diagnosis of an eating disorder. FA was evaluated with the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. All patients were assessed through a semi-structured clinical interview and a psychometric battery including neuropsychological tasks. Blood samples to measure hormonal variables and anthropometric variables were also collected. Results From the total sample, FA was observed in 23 participants (FA+) (7.7% of the sample, 87% males). When compared participants with and without FA, those with FA+ presented both higher body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001) and leptin concentrations, after adjusting for BMI (p = 0.013). In patients with FA, leptin concentrations positively correlated with impulsivity, poorer cognitive flexibility, and poorer inhibitory control. Other endocrine measures did not differ between groups. Discussion and conclusions The present study implicates leptin in co-occurring GD and FA. Among these patients, leptin concentration has been associated with clinical and neuropsychological features, such as impulsivity and cognitive performance in certain domains.
Immuno-Modulatory Effects of Korean Mistletoe in MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells and THP-1 Macrophages

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) has been traditionally used as a remedy for cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. This study investigated the immuno-modulatory effects of Korean mistletoe water extract, specifically on MDA-MB-231 cells, a highly metastatic breast cancer cell line, when co-cultured with THP-1 human macrophage cells. When compared to MDA-MB-231 cells cultured alone, the co-culture of MDA-MB-231/THP-1 cells treated with mistletoe extract showed a significant reduction in IL-6 secretion. Additionally, these co-cultures exhibited elevated levels of IL-4, TGF-β, and IFN-y. These results suggest that water extracts from mistletoe have the potential to induce mitochondria-targeted apoptosis in MDA-MB 231 cells stimulated by THP macrophages. Regarding apoptosis, in MDA-MB-231 cells co-cultured with THP-1 macrophages, mistletoe water extract treatment triggered a significant increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 activation, and PARP inactivation. In addition, there was a significant increase in E-cadherin and a decrease in N-cadherin. Treatment of Korean mistletoe also led to significant reductions in both MMP-2 and -9. Furthermore, inhibition of cell migration in MDA-MB-231/THP-1 co-cultured cells was observed. In summary, this study highlights the potential of Korean mistletoe as a prospective drug for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer, particularly through its ability to regulate human immunity.
Living Arrangements of Young Adults in Europe

Comparative research suggests that there are great cross-national and cross-temporal differences in living arrangements of young adults aged 18-34 in Europe. In this paper, we examine young adults’ living arrangements (1) across several European countries and different national contexts, and (2) by taking into account cross-time variability. In doing so, we pay careful attention to a comprehensive conceptualisation of living arrangements (including extended and non-family living arrangements). The aim of this paper is to deepen our understanding of family structure and household arrangements in Europe by examining and mapping the cross-national and cross-temporal variety of young adults’ living arrangements. For our analysis we use data from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International (IPUMSi) for the census rounds 1980, 1990, and 2000 for eight European countries (Austria, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, and Switzerland). We employ log-linear models to ascertain the influence of individual and contextual factors on living arrangements. The analyses lend further support to a North/West – South/East divide in living arrangements and general gender differentials in extended family living. Other interesting results are the heterogeneity in the living arrangements of single mothers across geographic areas, and the upward trend of extended household living for young men and women between 1980 and 2000.
The Trend of Research Critical Thinking Skills in Physics Education Journal Evolution in Physics Education Journals across Indonesia: From Research Design to Data Analysis

Critical thinking skill is important that needs to be developed in 21st-century education. This research aims to conduct a content analysis of articles published in physics education journals throughout Indonesia from 2017 to 2022, with a focus on critical thinking skills. The findings of this study show an increase in the number of publications related to critical thinking skills each year. The most used research design is quantitative research, with the main research subjects being high school students in grades X dan XI. The most frequently used physics material topic is fluid and mechanics. The analysis method most used by researchers is N-gain and t-test. Therefore, the findings of this research recommend that future critical thinking skills research consider variations in research design, research subject, data analysis method, and physics material topic.
Ethyl Carbamate in Fermented Food Products: Sources of Appearance, Hazards and Methods for Reducing Its Content

Ethyl carbamate, the ethyl ester of carbamic acid, has been identified in fermented foods and alcoholic beverages. Since ethyl carbamate is a probable human carcinogen, reduction of its content is important for food safety and human health. In alcoholic beverages, ethyl carbamate is mostly formed from the reaction of ethanol with urea, citrulline and carbamyl phosphate during fermentation and storage. These precursors are generated from arginine metabolism by wine yeasts and lactic acid bacteria. This review summarizes the mechanisms of ethyl carbamate formation, its impact on human health and methods used in winemaking to minimize its content. These approaches include genetic modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine strains targeting pathways of arginine transport and metabolism, the use of lactic acid bacteria to consume arginine, direct degradation of ethyl carbamate by enzymes and microorganisms, and different technological methods of grape cultivation, alcoholic fermentation, wine aging, temperature and duration of storage and transportation.
Time Effect on Bearing Capacity of Jacked Piles Using the Back-Analysis Method

The mechanism of the time effect on pile capacity can be interpreted as thixotropic recovery and soil consolidation around the pile. Based on the final installation or jacking force and subsequent reload or re-jacking force, the final load capacity of the pile can be estimated. A parametric inversion was conducted to determine the increasing load capacity curve of the jacked pile, which can be used to estimate the increasing load capacity curve of other piles installed in the same subsurface conditions. The results of this paper are instructive and constructive to the design and construction of jacked piles.
Efficacy of Bluetooth-Operated Heart Rate Monitors for Use in Construction

In the construction industry, workers are constantly exposed to different environmental and other hazards that pose risks to their health. Bluetooth-connected devices host the potential to reduce health risks to workers by tracking heart rate (HR), particularly upon implementation into an Internet of Things (IoT) framework. An Internet of Things (IoT) system is one in which multiple devices are connected to transmit information to each other in real-time. A literature and industry review has been conducted to determine which devices would be most applicable to monitor HR in an IoT system to accurately portray real-time worker conditions. Experimentally, the most applicable devices found were then put under field tests imitating traditional work conditions through the performance of specific activities. The performance and accuracy of the devices under these conditions were then evaluated from the data collected. The study has been designed to determine whether chest, finger, and wrist devices could be used to actively track HR. The devices used included the Viatom Wellue O2Ring finger monitor, Polar Ignite GPS Fitness Watch wrist monitor, and the Polar H10 chest monitor, serving as test cases to see if and by how much the location of the device on the body differed with the HR found. All three devices could connect to the IoT system and transmit data within a specific timeframe correctly. Covariance and standard deviations measured by the Viatom Wellue O2Ring finger monitor and the Polar Ignite GPS Fitness Watch trials among participants were above the normal thresholds, indicating non-negligible differences around the mean and showing disparities in the accuracy of these devices. Furthermore, the results were found to be too inaccurate for widespread commercial deployment for tracking mid to high HR levels while performing construction-related labor. Overall, the use of Bluetooth-connected devices to track workers’ HR and other vitals has the potential applicability to improve safety in hazardous environments. However, future technological development must occur before implementing predictive safety systems into real-time monitoring to effectively monitor laborers performing strenuous tasks in harsh environments.
An artificial rainfall experiment based on the seeding of liquid carbon dioxide by aircraft on December 27, 2013, at Saijo, Ehime, in the Inland Sea of Japan

An artificial rainfall experiment was conducted using an aircraft to seed liquid carbon dioxide ( LCD ) under particular weather and topographic conditions near the northern area of Saijo, Ehime, with the climatic type of the Inland Sea of Japan on Dec. 27, 2013. Following the seeding, a convective cloud developed quickly above Saijo between 11:30 and 11:50, and rain fell within a short time. A high cumulus cloud was dissipated by the rain, and the cloud over a mountainous area had rapidly and almost completely disappeared by around 12:30, approximately one hour after seeding. The rain at 5 mm/h was observed for 5−6 minutes at around 11:50 at the Saijo City office area, and 0.5 mm of rain was observed up until 13:00 at the Saijo Fire Station. This rainfall was believed to be artificial, and it was significant in the southern mountainous area of Niihama and could be clearly observed visually throughout the area from the aircraft at around 12:10. The artificial rainfall was expected to be observed at amounts of 0.5 mm and 4.0 mm at Ohjoin and Besshiyama of Niihama Fire Station, respectively, and at 0.5 mm during the period from 11:50−12:00 at AMeDAS Tomisato located south of Shikokuchuo. Rainfalls of 0.5 mm from 14:20−14:30 at AMeDAS Ikeda, 2.0 mm from 13:30−15:00 at AMeDAS Kyojo, and 1.0 mm from 13:00−15:00 in the areas of Miyoshi, Tokushima, and Ohtoyo, Kochi, were thought to be artificial con-sidering the seeding time, seeding position, wind direction, and wind speed. The main line of the rainfall area was Sai-jo−Besshiyama−Kyojo, and the effect of the artificial rainfall expanded up to 70 km of the lee side. The amount of rain was estimated at roughly 1.3 million tons in the areas of Saijo, Ikeda, Sugeo, and Kurotakigawa. Thus, the artificial rainfall experiment conducted through the seeding of LCD at Saijo was clearly successful.
Food Is Medicine for Individuals Affected by Homelessness: Findings from a Participatory Soup Kitchen Menu Redesign

Health disparities among people experiencing homelessness are likely exacerbated by limited access to healthy, fresh, and minimally processed foods. Soup kitchens and shelters serve as essential food safety nets for preventing hunger in this population, and community interest is growing in the potential of “food is medicine” interventions to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of people who receive meals from these providers. This study describes our two-phase approach to first identify and prioritize nutrition needs within an urban soup kitchen community and then test and implement new recipes and menu guidelines to help the standard soup kitchen menu better align with those priorities. We began by first conducting a nutrition needs assessment, including a collection of intercept surveys from a convenience sample of soup kitchen guests to better understand their nutrition-related health needs, dental issues, food preferences, and menu satisfaction (n = 112), as well as a nutrition analysis of the standard menu based on seven randomly selected meals. Most respondents reported at least one chronic health condition, with depressive disorders (50.9%) and cardiovascular diseases (49.1%) being the most common. Nearly all guests requested more fruits and vegetables at mealtimes, and results from the menu analysis revealed opportunities to lower meal contents of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars and to raise micronutrient, fiber, and omega-3 content. We then applied these nutrition needs assessment findings to inform the second phase of the project. This phase included the identification of new food inventory items to help support cardiovascular and mental health-related nutrition needs, taste test sampling of new healthy menu items with soup kitchen guests, and hands-on culinary medicine training to kitchen staff on newly-developed “food is medicine” guidelines to support menu transformation. All taste tests of new menu items received over 75% approval, which exceeded satisfaction ratings of the standard menu collected during the phase 1 needs assessment. Findings from this community-based participatory research project confirm the great potential for hunger safety net providers to support critical nutrition needs within this vulnerable population through strategic menu changes. However, more research is needed on the longitudinal impacts of such changes on health indicators over time.
Histological Evaluation of A unilateral Critical-Sized Mandibular Defect Reconstruction using human dental pulp stem cells by Light Microscope and Real-Time Quantitative PCR

Objective: To evaluate the osteogenic differentiation potential of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) isolated from the dental pulp of third molar teeth in vitro cultures, and to evaluate the bone regenerative capacity of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) when transplanted into a unilateral critical-sized bone defect in the mandibular bone in vivo after receiving a hydroxyapatite matrix and polylactic-polyglycolic acid (HA/PLGA) scaffold. Material and methods: A total of 18 mandibular defects were made, and three groups (each n = 6) were created. The first group: the transplanted DPSCs implanted in the critical-sized bone defect after receiving (HA/PLGA) scaffold. The second group received only (HA/PLGA) scaffold. The third group, which served as the control, had a critical-sized defect left empty. After characterization, Von Kossa [VK] and Alizarin red staining were employed to identify differentiated osteoblasts at the 14th and 21st days, and histological analyses, as well as polymerase chain reactions (PCR), were also used. Results: It showed that DPSCs had high proliferation potential and typical fibroblastic shape. Additionally, osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs was validated by morphological alterations, histological examination, and the expression of lineage-specific genes confirmed osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs. Conclusion: High proliferation potential and the capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts are two characteristics of DPSCs taken from impacted third molars.
A Tectonic Origin for the Largest Marsquake Observed by InSight

The S1222a marsquake detected by InSight on 4 May 2022 was the largest of the mission, at MwMa ${M}_{w}^{Ma}$ 4.7. Given its resemblance to two other large seismic events (S1000a and S1094b), which were associated with the formation of fresh craters, we undertook a search for a fresh crater associated with S1222a. Such a crater would be expected to be ∼300 m in diameter and have a blast zone on the order of 180 km across. Orbital images were targeted and searched as part of an international, multi‐mission effort. Comprehensive analysis of the area using low‐ and medium‐resolution images reveals no relevant transient atmospheric phenomena and no fresh blast zone. High‐resolution coverage of the epicentral area from most spacecraft are more limited, but no fresh crater or other evidence of a new impact have been identified in those images either. We thus conclude that the S1222a event was highly likely of tectonic origin.
Study on the Physicochemical Properties of Some Commercial Soaps Available in Bangladeshi Market

The quality of soaps depends on their physicochemical properties. We can determine the competency and cleaning properties of soaps by knowing the physicochemical properties. The quality of the soaps remains indistict that are sold in the local markets of Bangladesh and thus the need to assess them. Nine commercial soaps were taken for moisture content, total alkali, total fat substance, free caustic alkaly and pH according to documented methods of analysis. Values of moisture content ranged between 9.64% to 21.06%, total alkali ranged between 0.00% to 6.20%, free caustic alkali was found between 0.00% to 0.99%, total fat substance was found between 68.33% to 100%, pH for 5% solution ranged between 9.69 to 10.13 and pH for 10% solution ranged between 9.63 to 10.32.
Importance of Mapping Design Earthquakes: Insights for the Southern Apennines, Italy

Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis is currently the soundest basis for the rational evaluation of ground-motion hazard for site-specific engineering design and assessment purposes. An increasing number of building codes worldwide ac- knowledge the uniform hazard spectra as the reference to determine design actions on structures and to select input ground motions for seismic structural analysis. This is the case, for example, in Italy where the new seismic code also requires the seismic input for nonlinear dynamic analysis to be selected on the basis of dominating events, for example, identified via disaggregation of seismic hazard. In the present study, the design earthquakes expressed in terms of representative magnitude (M), distance (R), and e were investigated for a wide region in the southern Apennines, Italy. To this aim, the hazards corresponding to peak ground acceleration and spectral acceleration at 1 sec with a return period of 475 yr were disaggregated. For each of the disaggregation variables the shape of the joint and marginal probability density functions were studied. The first two modes expressed by M, R, and e were extracted and mapped for the study area. The results shown provide additional information, in terms of source and ground-motion parameters, to be used along with the standard hazard maps to better select the design earthquakes. The analyses also allow us to assess how var- ious frequency ranges of the design spectrum are differently contributed by seismic sources in the study area.
Exploring the relationship between tree diversity and carbon storage in aboveground biomass of coffee agroforestry systems in southern Manabí, Ecuador

ABSTRACT The study was conducted at three sampling sites in the province of Manabí, Ecuador, designated for coffee production under an agroforestry system (AFS). A total of 21 plant species were recorded, and the carbon stored in live aboveground biomass was estimated. The results showed that coffee-based AFS has a high potential for carbon storage, and species diversity is related to the structural parameters and diversity of each sampling site. The implementation of coffee-based AFS is an effective strategy for the conservation of native flora and climate change mitigation in the area.
Impact of Positive Stress on Job Performance with Reference To Public Sector of Pakistan: A Case Study of Healthcare Workers

The concept of positive stress, commonly referred to as eustress, is a phenomenon where we interpret a situation as challenging but view it as an opportunity to perform well. This positive attitude helps us cope with the task at hand and achieve better outcomes. In contrast, if we perceive a stressful situation as a potential threat or danger, it leads to negative stress or anxiety, which can have detrimental effects. Positive stress or eustress has been found to have a positive impact on work performance, by driving motivation and enhancing job satisfaction. With that in mind, a recent study aimed to investigate the effect of job-related positive stress on the job performance of healthcare professionals. The research focused on examining how positive stressors in the workplace can influence the performance of healthcare workers, and whether this effect could be sustained over time. The study's findings shed light on the importance of positive stress in the workplace and its contribution to the overall job performance of healthcare professionals.
Assessment of Crown-Heel length, Head Circumference, and Mid-Arm Circumference for Estimation of Small for Gestational Age in Rural Area

Background: The burden of having small for gestational age (SGA) children is high in low- and middle-income countries, mainly in South Asia. Identifying these low birth weight and SGA infants and referring them to higher centers for effective intervention will help reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity. Anthropometric measurements of the neonatal population, especially birth weight measurements, constitute an important scientific research tool for studying the determinants and consequences of impaired or excessive fetal growth. Objective: To find an alternative anthropometric procedure, the present study was done to measure and compare birth weight with crown heel length (CHL), head circumference (HC), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as predictors of birth weight in small for gestational age (SGA). Methods: This cross-sectional, analytical study was done in the Department of Anatomy, Rangpur Medical College, Rangpur from July 2020 to June 2021 on 200 newborns of both sexes with gestational age between 37 and 42 weeks. The newborn was selected and measured within 24 hours of birth. 100 term newborns weighted <2.5 kg regarded as SGA were the subjects of the study. Another 100-term newborns weighted >2.5 kg regarded as AGA served as control. The birth weight, head circumference, mid-upper arm circumference, and crown heel length were measured and a comparison of all the variables was done between AGA and SGA newborns. Data was analyzed by using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 26). Result: The mean± SD of birth weight in AGA and SGA groups was 2.99 ±0.31 and 2.10±0.24 respectively; it was observed that the mean± SD of crown heel length, head circumference, and mid-upper arm circumference and Ponderal index in AGA group was significantly higher than SGA group; however the MAC/HC ratio was almost similar between AGA and SGA groups. All the above variables were significantly correlated with birth weight in both AGA and SGA groups. Conclusion: Some simple and inexpensive measurements of newborns especially the head circumference of SGA newborns are as effective as birth weight measurement; crown heel length, and mid-upper arm circumference could also be used to predict birth weight in SGA newborns. J Rang Med Col. September 2023; Vol. 8, No. 2: 14-19