Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The association between caffeine intake and risk of kidney stones: A population-based study

Background Although many studies have proven the beneficial effects of caffeine on human health, the association between caffeine intake and the risk of kidney stones is limited in large epidemiologic studies. Objectives We aimed to investigate the association between caffeine intake and the risk of kidney stones. Methods A total of 30,716 participants (with weight numbers of 204, 189, and 886) with a history of kidney stone were included in this analysis. All data were survey-weighted, and corresponding logistic regression models were performed to examine the associations between caffeine intake and the risk of kidney stones. Results In a fully adjusted model, a per-quartile increase in caffeine intake was associated with a 5.32% decreased risk of kidney stones. In the subgroup analysis, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the risk of kidney stones for per-quartile increments in caffeine intake were 0.9650 (0.9643, 0.9656) for men, 0.9320 (0.9313, 0.9327) for women, 0.9384 (0.9378, 0.9389) for white race individuals, 1.0281 (1.0270, 1.0292) for nonwhite race individuals, 0.9460 (0.9455, 0.9465) for overweight/obese individuals, and 0.9314 (0.9303, 0.9324) for non-overweight individuals, 0.9100 (0.9094, 0.9105) for caffeine from coffee, and 1.0021 (1.0013, 1.0029) for caffeine from non-coffee sources. Conclusion Caffeine intake was negatively associated with the risk of kidney stones. In subgroup analyses, the negative association of caffeine with kidney stone risk was only found in white individuals. In addition, the decreased risk was found higher in women and non-overweight individuals. Especially for women, white individuals and non-overweight individuals. The protective effect of caffeine intake from coffee on stone formation was more significant than that of caffeine from non-coffee sources.
An assessment of influential factors developing the intention to use social media sites: A technology acceptance model based approach

The aim of this study is to elaborate the different factors which attract users to use social media sites. These main factors are subjective norms, image, efficiency and satisfaction along with the mediating role of perceived usefulness. Survey method was used to collect data from B2B fashion brands in Pakistan. Convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from targeted respondents. Collected data was analyzed using Smart-PLS 3.3 version. Results express that subjective norms, image, efficiency and satisfaction have positive and significant impact on perceived usefulness and intention to use social media sites in B2B context within Pakistani fashion brands. Results further reveal that perceived usefulness partially mediates the relationship between subjective norms, image, efficiency, satisfaction and intention to use social media sites. This study will enhance the available literature in the area of technology acceptance model (TAM) and will provide useful insights to B2B managers to use efficiently use social media sites for the promotion of their brands. This study is limited to fashion brands, future researchers can expand this model to other area of business.
Antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of essential oil components, EDTA and HLE disinfectant solution on Enterococcus, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus sp. multiresistant strains isolated along the meat production chain

The spread of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria and resistance genes along the food chain and the environment has become a global, but silent pandemic. To face this challenge, it is of outmost importance to develop efficient strategies to reduce potential contamination by these agents. In the present study, 30 strains of Enterococcus sp. , Staphylococcus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. isolated from various surfaces throughout the meat production chain in a goat and lamb slaughterhouse were characterized as MDR bacteria harboring several antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The antimicrobial efficacy of natural essential oil components “EOCs” (carvacrol “CA,” cinnamaldehyde “CIN,” eugenol “EU,” geraniol “GE,” limonene “LI” and thymol “TH”), HLE disinfectant solution (3–6% H2O2; 2.2–4.4% lactic acid and 12.5–25 mM EDTA in water) and EDTA was tested against these MDR bacteria. Results showed that Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) were compound and strain dependent. In addition, the synergistic effect of these antimicrobials was evaluated at 1/2 MIC. Here our study showed particularly promising results regarding the inhibitory effect at sub-inhibitory concentrations, which were confirmed by the analysis of bacterial growth dynamics over 72 h. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of EOCs, HLE disinfectant solution and EDTA or their combinations was studied in developing and established biofilms of MDR bacteria obtaining variable results depending on the morphological structure of the tested strain and the phenolic character of the EOCs. Importantly, the combination of EOCs with HLE or EDTA showed particularly positive results given the effective inhibition of biofilm formation. Moreover, the synergistic combinations of EU and HLE/EDTA, TH, CA, GE, LI or CIN + EDTA/HLE caused log reductions in established biofilms of several strains (1–6 log10 CFU) depending on the species and the combination used, with Pseudomonas sp. strains being the most susceptible. Given these results, we propose novel antimicrobial formulations based on the combination of sub-inhibitory concentrations of EOCs and HLE or EDTA as a highly promising alternative to currently used approaches. This novel strategy notably shows great potential to efficiently decrease the emergence and spread of MDR bacteria and ARGs in the food chain and the environment, thus supporting the decrease of resistomes and pathogenesis in clinical and industrial areas while preserving the antibiotic therapeutic action.
Model-based analysis of concept maps

A concept map is a data collection tool developed in psychology and education to obtain information about mental representations of concept associations. This methodology has recently been introduced to marketing to study consumers’ brand perceptions (John et al. (23); Joiner (24)) and attitudes towards health risk (e.g., Huang et al. (21)). In conjunction with other more established methods (e.g., Multidimensional scaling), concept maps provide an additional valuable tool for researchers to understand consumers’ structural knowledge about di(cid:11)erent important marketing concepts. Building on the introduction by John et al. (23), we propose a descriptive probability model of concept map formation, along with concept map analyses based on parameter estimates. In particular, we demonstrate how to test hypotheses about di(cid:11)erences between two groups of maps, and how to aggregate across individual concept maps to form a \consensus map. " To demonstrate our methodology, we apply our model to a dataset that uses concept maps to study college students’ perceptions of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), an important topic of growing interest in health marketing (e.g., Hill (20); LaTour and Pitts (28); Raghubir and Menon (40); Treise and Weigold (46)). Though parsimonious in nature, our model adequately recovers map-level, concept-level, and link-level summary statistics commonly considered by other researchers, yet rarely modeled directly.
Why isn’t each cell its own cell type? Diminishing returns of increasing cell type diversity can explain cell type allometry

Since the discovery of cells by Robert Hooke and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th century, thousands of different cell types have been identified, most recently by sequencing-based single-cell profiling techniques. Yet, for many organisms we still do not know, how many different cell types they are precisely composed of. A recent survey of experimental data, using mostly morphology as a proxy for cell type, revealed allometric scaling of cell type diversity with organism size. Here, I argue from an evolutionary fitness perspective and suggest that three simple assumptions can explain the observed scaling: Evolving a new cell type has, 1. a fitness cost that increases with organism size, 2. a fitness benefit that also increases with organism size but 3. diminishes exponentially with the number of existing cell types. I will show that these assumptions result in a quantitative model that fits the observed cell type numbers across organisms of all size and explains why we should not expect isometric scaling.
Environmental wellbeing in the context of sustainable development: Evidence from post-communist economies

Considering diverse national contexts, there are differences in the capacity of countries in terms of their ability to attain sustainability in its three main dimensions. The present study puts the economic, social, and environmental indicators face-to-face from 19 post-communist economies across the 2006–2020 period. It emphasizes the main vulnerabilities at the level of the analyzed countries, concentrates on these weak points, and offers concrete explanations regarding the main social and economic factors, exerting a negative influence on them. Consequently, placing climate and energy, with their major components, i.e., energy use, energy savings, greenhouse gases, and renewable energy, at the center of the analysis, as the major weak points of environmental wellbeing within the analyzed group of countries, the nature of the influence of human and economic wellbeing upon each of them is evidenced using panel data-specific methods (pooled, fixed, and random effects). The general results obtained showed the following: 1) the components of environmental wellbeing registered a different evolution among post-communist economies; 2) climate and energy components were the main vulnerabilities in terms of environmental sustainability; 3) these environmental components were closely linked to both components of economic and social dimensions; and 4) the determinants of energy use, energy savings, greenhouse gases, and renewable energy were different in the selected group of countries. This study draws attention to the fact that the patterns of development applied in the group of post-communist economies seem to strengthen sustainable goals, especially with regard to economic and human wellbeing. Moreover, while directing its focus on the main urgent environmental vulnerabilities and encouraging their strengthening by not putting the economic dimension in the center of interest, it supports the theoretical perspective of sustainable wellbeing, based on sustainability and ecological economics.
EXPLORING THE CORRELATIONS BETWEEN GLOBULAR CLUSTER POPULATIONS AND SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES IN GIANT GALAXIES

This paper presents an analysis of the correlation between the number of globular clusters (NGC) in giant galaxies and the mass of the galaxies' central supermassive black hole (MSMBH). I construct a sample of 20 elliptical, spiral, and S0 galaxies with known SMBH masses and with accurately measured GC system properties derived from wide-field imaging studies. The coefficients of the best-fitting NGC–MSMBH relation for the early-type galaxies are consistent with those from previous work but in some cases have smaller relative errors. I examine the correlation between NGC and MSMBH for various subsamples and find that elliptical galaxies show the strongest correlation, while S0 and pseudobulge galaxies exhibit increased scatter. I also compare the quality of the fit of the numbers of metal-poor GCs versus SMBH mass and the corresponding fit for metal-rich GCs. I supplement the 20 galaxy sample with 10 additional galaxies with reliable NGC determinations but without measured MSMBH. I use this larger sample to investigate correlations between NGC and host galaxy properties like total galaxy luminosity and stellar mass, and bulge luminosity and mass. I find that the tightest correlation is between NGC and total galaxy stellar mass. This lends support to the notion that NGC and MSMBH are not directly linked but are correlated because both quantities depend on the host galaxy potential. Finally, I use the NGC–MSMBH relation derived from the 20 galaxy sample to calculate predicted MSMBH values for the 10 galaxies with accurate NGC measurements but without measured SMBH masses.
Review of prostate cancer genomic studies in Africa

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed in men worldwide and one of the most frequent cancers in men in Africa. The heterogeneity of this cancer fosters the need to identify potential genetic risk factors/biomarkers. Omics variations may significantly contribute to early diagnosis and personalized treatment. However, there are few genomic studies of this disease in African populations. This review sheds light on the status of genomics research on PCa in Africa and outlines the common variants identified thus far. The allele frequencies of the most significant SNPs in Afro-native, Afro-descendants, and European populations were compared. We advocate how these few but promising data will aid in understanding, better diagnosing, and precisely treating this cancer and the need for further collaborative research on the genomics of PCa in the African continent.
The influencing factors of individual interest in physical education based on decision tree model: A cross-sectional study

To identify the key influencing factors and analyze the internal relationship among the factors of individual interest in PE, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a large sample of Chinese young students based on the decision tree model. A total of 3,640 young students (Mage = 14.16; 7–18 years; SD = 2.66, 47% boys) were investigated by using six questionnaires, including individual interest in physical PE, self-efficacy, achievement goals, expectancy value in PE, PE knowledge and skills and PE learning environment. Results showed there were a total of seven variables entered into the decision tree model, which was 3 layers high, including 38 nodes. The root node was expectancy value which was divided by sports knowledge and skills and self-efficacy. The third layer included mastery-approach goal, family sports environment, performance-avoidance goal and gender. The results depict that expectancy value of PE was the most important influencing factors of adolescent students’ individual interest in PE in this study, and the other important factors were sports knowledge and skills, self-efficacy, mastery-approach goal, family sports environment, performance-avoidance goal, and gender, respectively. The implications for PE are: (1) Improve the status of the PE curriculum and enhance students’ recognition of the value of PE; (2) Strengthen the teaching of knowledge and skills to avoid low-level repetitive teaching; (3) Enhance success experience and foster sports self-efficacy; and (4) Establish reasonable sports goals to foster individual interest in sports learning.
Analysis of plant cell death-inducing proteins of the necrotrophic fungal pathogens Botrytis squamosa and Botrytis elliptica

Fungal plant pathogens secrete proteins that manipulate the host in order to facilitate colonization. Necrotrophs have evolved specialized proteins that actively induce plant cell death by co-opting the programmed cell death machinery of the host. Besides the broad host range pathogen Botrytis cinerea, most other species within the genus Botrytis are restricted to a single host species or a group of closely related hosts. Here, we focused on Botrytis squamosa and B. elliptica, host specific pathogens of onion (Allium cepa) and lily (Lilium spp.), respectively. Despite their occurrence on different hosts, the two fungal species are each other’s closest relatives. Therefore, we hypothesize that they share a considerable number of proteins to induce cell death on their respective hosts. In this study, we first confirmed the host-specificity of B. squamosa and B. elliptica. Then we sequenced and assembled high quality genomes. The alignment of these two genomes revealed a high level of synteny with few balanced structural chromosomal arrangements. To assess the cell death-inducing capacity of their secreted proteins, we produced culture filtrates of B. squamosa and B. elliptica that induced cell death responses upon infiltration in host leaves. Protein composition of the culture filtrate was analysed by mass spectrometry, and we identified orthologous proteins that were present in both samples. Subsequently, the expression of the corresponding genes during host infection was compared. RNAseq analysis showed that the majority of the orthogroups of the two sister species display similar expression patterns during infection of their respective host. The analysis of cell death-inducing proteins of B. squamosa and B. elliptica provides insights in the mechanisms used by these two Botrytis species to infect their respective hosts.
English as a foreign language learners’ strategy awareness across proficiency levels from the perspective of self-regulated learning metafactors

The previous three decades have seen a growing body of research into language learners’ self-regulated learning (SRL), language learning strategy (LLS) use, and their possible effects on proficiency. This study thus provides insights into the relationship between elementary and low intermediate learners’ perceptions of their self-regulated strategy use in English as a foreign language (EFL) and their attitude to English in relation to their proficiency level. Nine hundred and sixty-six higher proficiency students and 399 lower proficiency students in Year 8 participated in the research. A revised Self-Regulated Foreign Language Learning Strategy Questionnaire (SRFLLSQ), a version of Oxford’s Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), was completed by the participants. Our findings shed light on higher proficiency learners’ significantly higher level of strategy use. Learners at higher levels relied more strongly on their metacognitive strategies, such as planning, organizing and monitoring their cognitive processes. Our analysis also showed a high correlation between the different factors of metastrategy use (metacognitive, meta-affective, metasocial, and metamotivational) and cognitive, affective, social, and motivational strategy use in relation to attitude and proficiency. A path analysis also reinforced our assumption that metafactors significantly determine learners’ proficiency across strategy use and attitude in both higher and lower-level students. The positive contribution of the metastrategies on their corresponding regulated strategy fields appeared to be robust, thus underlining recent LLS research that emphasizes the role of metafactors in the language learning process.
The extinction law at high redshift and its implications

We analyze the optical-near infrared spectra of 33 quasars with redshifts 3.9 ≤ z ≤ 6.4 to investigate the properties of dust extinction at these cosmic epochs. The SMC extinction curve has been shown to reproduce the dust reddening of most quasars at z 4, both by performing a simultaneous fit of all quasars and by averaging the extinction curves inferred for individual quasars. In the case of broad absorption line quasars (which are generally more absorbed by dust and possibly in a younger evolutionary stage), the mean extinction curve deviates from the SMC at a confidence level ≥95%. The difference between extinction curves in quasars at z > 4 and in quasars at lower redshift is indicative of either a different dust production mechanism at high redshift, or a different mechanism for processing dust into the ISM. We suggest that the same transitions may also apply to normal, star-forming galaxies at z > 4. In particular, the observed change in the average spectral slope of galaxies at z > 4m ay be partially ascribed to a variation in the extinction curve, rather than a lower dust content at high redshift. In this scenario, the extinction curve inferred at z > 4 would imply a cosmic star-formation corrected for dust attenuation a factor of ∼2 higher than estimated in the past.
The characteristics of thoracic aortic dissection in autopsy-diagnosed individuals: An autopsy study

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death associated with aortic diseases. The age of TAD victims in forensic studies is significantly younger than hospitalized patients with TAD, while only a few studies have been conducted on autopsy-diagnosed TAD deceased. A retrospective study was conducted at the Medicolegal Center of Sun Yat-sen University from 1999 to 2019 to address the characteristics of TAD victims. A total of 200 deceased from spontaneous rupture of TAD were assessed, with 165 (82.5%) males and 175 (87.5%) Stanford type A deceased. Our main results showed that compared with patients with TAD diagnosed during their lifetime, individuals diagnosed with TAD until an autopsy showed an earlier onset (43.80 years old) and less accompanied hypertension (<50%). Sudden death was the initial symptom of 32 decedents. Instead of chest/back pain (40 decedents), abdominal pain (59 decedents) was the most common initial symptom, and 42 decedents presented with no accompanying pain. A higher proportion of abdominal pain and the painless symptom was associated with a higher risk of misdiagnosis. Women showed a more atypical clinical presentation and rapid progression than men. Younger decedents showed more pronounced left heart changes. The present study implicated the TAD individuals diagnosed until an autopsy as a particular entity, indicating the urgent need for further investigation on early diagnosis and pathogenesis of patients with TAD with atypical pain and painless or with younger age to reduce the burden of TAD-related sudden death.
Ginkgo biloba leaf extract EGb 761® as a paragon of the product by process concept

It is an often-neglected fact that extracts derived from the very same plant can differ significantly in their phytochemical composition, and thus also in their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties which are the basis for their clinical efficacy and safety. The Ginkgo biloba L. [Ginkgoaceae] special extract EGb 761® is one of the best-studied plant extracts in the world. In the present review, using that extract as a paradigm, we describe insights how climate, the harvest region, processing of the plant material, the drying process, the extraction solvents, and the details of the subsequent process steps substantially impact the quality and uniformity of the final extract. We highlight the importance of regulating active constituent levels and consistent reduction of undesired substances in herbal extracts. This is accomplished by a controlled production process and corresponding analytical specifications. In conclusion, since extracts derived from the same plant can have very different phytochemical compositions, results from pharmacological, toxicological and clinical studies gained with one specific extract cannot be extrapolated to other extracts that were generated using different production processes. We propose that the heterogenous nature of extracts should be meticulously considered when evaluating the efficacy and safety of plant-derived remedies.