Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dietary Patterns and Weight Status of Primary School Children in Serbia

The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to examine dietary patterns and the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among Serbian children. Furthermore, the study analyzed the association between dietary patterns and weight status. A nationally representative sample of 6–9-year-old children (n = 3,067) was evaluated as part of the Fifth Round World Health Organization European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative. The children's height and weight were measured by trained field examiners, while their parents or guardians filled paper versions of the food frequency questionnaire to collect information related to the child's breakfast habits and food and beverage intake. According to the International Obesity Task Force cut-off points, the overall prevalence of overweight (including obesity) and underweight were 28.9 and 8.1%, respectively. The majority of parents reported that their children (84.5%) had breakfast every day, while only 39.5 and 37% of children had daily fruit and vegetable consumption, respectively. The children who do not eat breakfast every day are more likely to be obese (OR = 1.50), while a higher intake frequency of nutrient-poor beverages such as soft drinks increases the risk of being not only overweight (OR = 1.32) but also underweight (OR = 1.39). Regular monitoring and understanding of dietary patterns and weight status is crucial to inform, design, and implement strategies to reduce national and global diet and obesity-related diseases. Urgent actions need to be taken from public policymakers to stop and reverse the increasing trend of overweight (including obesity) among Serbian children.
Overexpression of BnPCS1, a Novel Phytochelatin Synthase Gene From Ramie (Boehmeria nivea), Enhanced Cd Tolerance, Accumulation, and Translocation in Arabidopsis thaliana

Phytochelatins (PCs) play important roles in the detoxification of and tolerance to heavy metals in plants. The synthesis of PCs is catalyzed by phytochelatin synthase (PCS), which is activated by heavy metal ions. In this study, we isolated a PCS gene, BnPCS1, from the bast fiber crop ramie (Boehmeria nivea) using the RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) method. The full-length BnPCS1 cDNA is 1,949 bp in length with a 1,518 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 505 amino acid protein. The deduced BnPCS1 protein has a conserved N-terminus containing the catalytic triad Cys58, His164, Asp182, and a flexible C-terminal region containing a C371C372QETC376VKC379 motif. The BnPCS1 promoter region contains several cis-acting elements involved in phytohormone or abiotic stress responses. Subcellular localization analysis indicates that the BnPCS1-GFP protein localizes to the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Real-time PCR assays show that the expression of BnPCS1 is significantly induced by cadmium (Cd) and the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA). Overexpression lines of BnPCS1 exhibited better root growth and fresh weight, lower level of MDA and H2O2, and higher Cd accumulation and translocation factor compared to the WT under Cd stress. Taken together, these results could provide new gene resources for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils.
Construction of a High-Density Genetic Map and Identification of Leaf Trait-Related QTLs in Chinese Bayberry (Myrica rubra)

Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra) is an economically important fruit tree that is grown in southern China. Owing to its over 10-year seedling period, the crossbreeding of bayberry is challenging. The characteristics of plant leaves are among the primary factors that control plant architecture and potential yields, making the analysis of leaf trait-related genetic factors crucial to the hybrid breeding of any plant. In the present study, molecular markers associated with leaf traits were identified via a whole-genome re-sequencing approach, and a genetic map was thereby constructed. In total, this effort yielded 902.11 Gb of raw data that led to the identification of 2,242,353 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 140 F1 individuals and parents (Myrica rubra cv. Biqizhong × Myrica rubra cv. 2012LXRM). The final genetic map ultimately incorporated 31,431 SNPs in eight linkage groups, spanning 1,351.85 cM. This map was then used to assemble and update previous scaffold genomic data at the chromosomal level. The genome size of M. rubra was thereby established to be 275.37 Mb, with 94.98% of sequences being assembled into eight pseudo-chromosomes. Additionally, 18 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with nine leaf and growth-related traits were identified. Two QTL clusters were detected (the LG3 and LG5 clusters). Functional annotations further suggested two chlorophyll content-related candidate genes being identified in the LG5 cluster. Overall, this is the first study on the QTL mapping and identification of loci responsible for the regulation of leaf traits in M. rubra, offering an invaluable scientific for future marker-assisted selection breeding and candidate gene analyses.
Zircon Genesis and Geochronology for the Zhangbaoshan Super-Large Rubidium Deposit in the Eastern Tianshan, NW China: Implication to Magmatic-Hydrothermal Evolution and Mineralization Processes

The Zhangbaoshan (ZBS) super-large Rubidium deposit, located in the Eastern Tianshan, is a typical granite-type Rb deposit. The ZBS deposit is mainly hosted in the highly evolved Baishitouquan (BST) pluton enriched in F and Rb, which exhibits five lithological zones from the bottom to the top: leucogranite (zone-a), amazonite-bearing granite (zone-b), amazonite granite (zone-c), topaz-bearing amazonite granite (zone-d) and topaz albite granite (zone-e), as well as minor small lodes of amazonite pegmatite. Two types of zircon were identified from the BST pluton. Type-I zircons mainly occur in the zone–a, are characterized by obvious oscillatory zoning, high Zr contents (47.4–67.3 wt% ZrO2) and Zr/Hf ratios (21.72–58.23), low trace element concentrations, and heavy rare earth elements (HREE)–enriched patterns with prominent positive Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* = 1.21–385) and strong negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.008–0.551), indicative of early magmatic zircon. Type–II zircons mainly occur in the upper zones (zone-c to zone-e), exhibit porous and dark Cathodoluminescence images, inhomogeneous internal structure, plenty of mineral inclusions, low Zr (38.7–51.0 wt% ZrO2) and Zr/Hf ratios (3.35–11.00), high Hf (34,094–85,754 ppm), Th (718–4,980 ppm), U (3,540–32,901 ppm), Ta (86.7–398 ppm), Y (1,630–28,890 ppm) and rare earth elements (REEs) (3,910–30,165 ppm), as well as slightly HREE–enriched patterns and significant M–type tetrad patterns with t3 values (quantification factor of tetrad effect) of 1.51–1.69. It is suggested that the type–II zircons are crystallized from a deuteric F–rich fluid coexisted with the highly evolved residual magma during the transition from the magmatic to the F–rich hydrothermal stage of the BST pluton. The F–rich fluid exsolution during the magmatic–hydrothermal transition is one of the most important factors controlling the modification of highly evolved granite and related Rb enrichment and mineralization. The type–I zircon samples from zone–a yield concordant ages of 250 ± 2.5 Ma and 250.5 ± 1.7 Ma, respectively, indicating that the BST pluton was emplaced in the Early Triassic. The type–II zircons from zone–c to zone–e yield lower intercept U–Pb ages between 238 and 257 Ma, which may represent the age of F–rich fluid–melt interaction during the transition from the magmatic to the hydrothermal stage. The mineralization of the ZBS super–large Rb deposit should have occurred shortly after emplacement of the BST pluton in the Early Triassic. Combined with available data, it is suggested that the Triassic is an important period for granitic magmatism and rare metal metallogeny in the Eastern Tianshan.
Risk Factors for Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients With Undifferentiated Arthritis and Inflammatory Arthralgia

Currently, there is an increasing interest in treating patients at risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to prevent the development of this chronic disease. In this sense, research has focused attention on the early identification of predictive factors of this disease. Autoantibodies and markers of systemic inflammation can be present before clinical arthritis and RA development. So, the phase of inflammatory arthralgia preceding clinical arthritis is an important part of the window of opportunity and, starting treatment might prevent progression to chronic arthritis. Additionally, the early diagnosis and treatment initiation, in patients with inflammatory arthritis at risk of persistence and/or erosive progression, are fundamental because may allow optimal clinical responses, better chances of achieving sustained remission, preventing irreversible organ damage and optimizing long-term outcomes. This review aims to give an overview of clinical risk factors for developing RA, both in suspected arthralgia and in undifferentiated arthritis. Besides taking into consideration the role of serological markers (immunological and acute phase reactants) and clinical features assessed at consultation such as: articular affection and patient's clinical perception. Other features as sociodemographic and environmental factors (lifestyle habits, microbiota, periodontal disease among others), have been included in this revision to give an insight on strategies to prevent development of RA and/or to treat it in early stages.
Personality and Motives for Social Media Use When Physically Distanced: A Uses and Gratifications Approach

This paper explores individuals’ motives for using social media when living under ‘social distancing’ conditions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they were instructed to physically distance from other people. Adopting a ‘uses and gratifications’ approach, and using a previously established five-factor scale, we examine the relationship between individuals’ motives for using social media and their personality traits. Hundred and eighty-nine social media users living in the United Kingdom completed surveys assessing their motives for using social media and their personality. Our findings demonstrate that participants were generally motivated to use social media to ‘pass time’ and to ‘maintain relationships. ’ Further, we find that those high in extraversion in particular use social media to ‘maintain relationships. ’ By comparing our findings to previous studies where face-to-face interaction was not restricted, our findings indicate that individuals’ motives for using social media change when they are placed under physical distancing restrictions. We reflect on the potential application of our findings for others experiencing similar conditions, such as those working in remote locations, as well as the potential implications for living in a post-pandemic world with increased virtual ‘meetings’ using social media.
Role of Cortisol and Testosterone in Risky Decision-Making: Deciphering Male Decision-Making in the Iowa Gambling Task

Despite the widely observed high risk-taking behaviors in males, studies using the Iowa gambling task (IGT) have suggested that males choose safe long-term rewards over risky short-term rewards. The role of sex and stress hormones in male decision-making is examined in the initial uncertainty and the latter risk phase of the IGT. The task was tested at peak hormone activity, with breath counting to facilitate cortisol regulation and its cognitive benefits. Results from IGT decision-making before and after counting with saliva samples from two all-male groups (breath vs. number counting) indicated that cortisol declined independent of counting. IGT decision-making showed phase-specific malleability: alteration in the uncertainty phase and stability in the risk phase. Working memory showed alteration, whereas inhibition task performance remained stable, potentially aligning with the phase-specific demands of working memory and inhibition. The results of hierarchical regression for the uncertainty and risk trials indicated that testosterone improved the model fit, cortisol was detrimental for decision-making in uncertainty, and decision-making in the risk trials was benefitted by testosterone. Cortisol regulation accentuated hormones’ phase-specific effects on decision-making. Aligned with the dual-hormone hypothesis, sex, and stress hormones might jointly regulate male long-term decision-making in the IGT.
From Bed to Bench and Back: TNF-α, IL-23/IL-17A, and JAK-Dependent Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Psoriatic Synovitis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory immune-mediated disease with a burdensome impact on quality of life and substantial healthcare costs. To date, pharmacological interventions with different mechanisms of action, including conventional synthetic (cs), biological (b), and targeted synthetic (ts) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), have been proven efficacious, despite a relevant proportion of failures. The current approach in clinical practice and research is typically “predictive”: the expected response is based on stratification according to clinical, imaging, and laboratory data, with a “heuristic” approach based on “trial and error”. Several available therapeutic options target the TNF-α pathway, while others are directed against the IL-23/IL-17A axis. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis), instead, simultaneously block different pathways, endowing these drugs with a potentially “broad-spectrum” mechanism of action. It is not clear, however, whether targeting a specific pathway (e.g., TNF-α or the IL-23/IL-17 axis) could result in discordant effects over other approaches. In particular, in the case of “refractory to a treatment” patients, other pathways might be hyperactivated, with opposing, synergistic, or redundant biological significance. On the contrary, refractory states could be purely resistant to treatment as a whole. Since chronic synovitis is one of the primary targets of inflammation in PsA, synovial biomarkers could be useful in depicting specific biological characteristics of the inflammatory burden at the single-patient level, and despite not yet being implemented in clinical practice, these biomarkers might help in selecting the proper treatment. In this narrative review, we will provide an up-to-date overview of the knowledge in the field of psoriatic synovitis regarding studies investigating the relationships among different activated proinflammatory processes suitable for targeting by different available drugs. The final objective is to clarify the state of the art in the field of personalized medicine for psoriatic disease, aiming at moving beyond the current treatment schedules toward a patient-centered approach.
COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Current Challenges and Health Concern

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China, was triggered and unfolded quickly throughout the globe by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The new virus, transmitted primarily through inhalation or contact with infected droplets, seems very contagious and pathogenic, with an incubation period varying from 2 to 14 days. The epidemic is an ongoing public health problem that challenges the present global health system. A worldwide social and economic stress has been observed. The transitional source of origin and its transport to humans is unknown, but speedy human transportation has been accepted extensively. The typical clinical symptoms of COVID-19 are almost like colds. With case fatality rates varying from 2 to 3 percent, a small number of patients may experience serious health problems or even die. To date, there is a limited number of antiviral agents or vaccines for the treatment of COVID-19. The occurrence and pathogenicity of COVID-19 infection are outlined and comparatively analyzed, given the outbreak’s urgency. The recent developments in diagnostics, treatment, and marketed vaccine are discussed to deal with this viral outbreak. Now the scientist is concerned about the appearance of several variants over the globe and the efficacy of the vaccine against these variants. There is a need for consistent monitoring of the virus epidemiology and surveillance of the ongoing variant and related disease severity.
308-nm Excimer Lamp vs. Combination of 308-nm Excimer Lamp and 10% Liquor Carbonis Detergens in Patients With Scalp Psoriasis: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, Controlled Trial

Background: Scalp psoriasis is usually refractory to treatment. Excimer devices have been proved to be a promising therapeutic option in psoriasis. Greater efficacy of phototherapy can be achieved by concurrent use of coal tar derivatives. Objective: We aimed to compare efficacy and safety between 308-nm excimer lamp monotherapy and a combination of 308-nm excimer lamp and 10% liquor carbonis detergens in the treatment of scalp psoriasis. Methods: In this randomized, evaluator-blinded, prospective, comparative study, 30 patients with scalp psoriasis received either 308-nm excimer lamp monotherapy or a combination of 308-nm excimer lamp and 10% liquor carbonis detergens twice per week until complete remission of the scalp or for a total of 30 sessions. Efficacy was evaluated by the improvement of Psoriasis Scalp Severity Index (PSSI) score, itch score, and Scalpdex score. Results: Both treatments induced significant improvement in PSSI score with greater reduction observed in the combination group. At 30th visit, a 75% reduction in PSSI (PSSI75) was attained by 4 (28.6%) and 9 (69.2%) patients treated with monotherapy and combination therapy, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Excimer lamp is well-tolerated in patients with scalp psoriasis and liquor carbonis detergens can be used as a combination therapy to improve the efficacy of excimer lamp.
Automated Assistance for Data modelers: a Heuristics-based Natural Language Processing Approach

Identifiers of model elements convey semantics of conceptual models essential to interpretation by human viewers, e.g., the identifier ‘Customer’ labeling an entity type in an Entity-Relationship diagram. Devising meaningful and purposeful identifiers has proven a particular challenge for data modelers, and has repeatedly been observed among the most common difficulties learners of conceptual data modeling face. The Automated Assistant reported in this paper provides data modelers with modeling-time suggestions on identifying and signifying entity types, relationship types, and attributes with meaningful and expedient identifiers. Different from earlier approaches, the Automated Assistant implementation does not rely on fixed reference solutions for modeling tasks, and works with (m)any natural language descriptions of a universe of discourse. We report on the design artifact, the Automated Assistant, highlight two selected design iterations, demonstrate practical applications, and evaluate its performance in typical application cases.
Exploring the Relationship between Perceived Input Control and Complementors' Perceived Performance: An Empirical Study on Amazon

Despite the growing body of research on how control modes shape platform governance, little is known about how and why input control (i.e., the set of mechanisms that screen and sort out complementors and their complements before entering the digital platform’s ecosystem) affects complementors’ perceived performance. Drawing on platform governance literature, we conducted an online survey with 286 sellers on Amazon, one of the largest e-marketplace platforms worldwide. Our results reveal that perceived input control decreases complementors’ performance and that this effect is explained through intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, input control fairness moderates the impact of perceived input control on complementors’ intrinsic motivation. Counterintuitively, perceived input control has no direct effect on complementors’ performance when accounting for intrinsic motivation. Thus, our findings extend literature on platform governance and offer practical insights for platform providers on how to manage their input control mechanisms for the success and sustainability of their digital platforms.
CALCULATING VERSUS HERDING IN ADOPTION AND CALCULATING VERSUS HERDING IN ADOPTION AND CONTINUANCE USE OF A PRIVACY-INVASIVE INFORMATION CONTINUANCE USE OF A PRIVACY-INVASIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM: THE CASE OF COVID-19 TRACING APPS SYSTEM: THE CASE OF COVID-19 TRACING APPS

Along with the promise to make a significant contribution to combatting COVID-19, contact tracing apps face a challenge since their success is preconditioned upon mass and rapid acceptance of the same product. Therefore, the adoption patterns must be carefully examined. So far, the privacy calculus model assumes Internet users act as rational agents weighing up their perceived benefits and privacy risks. Herding literature, however, suggests that people discount their own information and rather imitate others’ behavior. We test these competing concepts with a longitudinal survey among 253 actual users of a mobile tracing app at the pre-adoption and post-adoption stage across two countries. We exhibit that individuals perform risk-benefit calculus in the pre-adoption phase and simultaneously heavily rely on social factors like imitating others. As for continuous use, perceived benefits primarily drive consumer retention; herding magnitude is much lower while privacy risks are neglected. Implications are discussed.
Informal Alliances in Crowdfunding: A Social Network Analysis

This study explores informal alliances among crowd investors, extending recent work on social networks in (equity) crowdfunding. Beyond formal alliances (such as investment syndicates), informal coordination based on social learning has proven highly relevant to the dynamics and outcomes of financing campaigns. Using data from a leading equity crowdfunding platform, we analyze the informal network structures of investors where ties are based on joint investments over time. We benchmark these networks against random network formation processes and find overwhelming evidence for deliberate network formation. Moreover, we explore how certain investor attributes affect the network’s structure. Specifically, this paper supports the notion that homophily drives social network formation, based on personal attributes such as gender and origin, but also on profile attributes (e.g. badges and images). Within the field of crowdfunding, this is one of the first studies to examine crowd investor networks both from an investor-and a cross-campaign perspective.
Towards a Reference Value Catalogue for a Company-Specific Assessment of the IT Business Value - proposing a Taxonomy to Select IT impacts from Existing Catalogues

Despite a general agreement on the business value of information technology (IT), the determination of the link between organizational performance and IT investments is still a challenge. Organizations worldwide heavily invest in IT without evidence of productivity improvements. We propose value catalogues as a starting point for the identification of IT business value in an organization. Since the values vary depending on the organizational context, a company-specific value catalogue is necessary. To avoid the repeated development of a catalogue for each new IT investment, a company-specific reference value catalogue is required. Applying a design science research method, we identified four steps to develop this reference value catalogue: catalogue selection, impact selection, hierarchy establishment, and quantification determination. In this paper, we focus on the first step, which resembles the rigor cycle, and develop a taxonomy for 32 existing IT value catalogues, which form the basis for the next three steps.