Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Modulation of Mouse Intestinal Organoids with Fecal Luminal Factors from Obese, Allergic, Asthmatic Children

Asthma is a multifactorial condition that can be associated with obesity. The phenotypes of asthma in lean and obese patients are different, with proinflammatory signatures being further elevated in the latter. Both obesity and asthma are associated with alterations in intestinal barrier function and immunity, and with the composition of the intestinal microbiota and food consumption. In this study, we aimed to establish an organoid model to test the hypothesis that the intestinal content of lean and obese, allergic, asthmatic children differentially regulates epithelial intestinal gene expression. A model of mouse jejunum intestinal organoids was used. A group of healthy, normal-weight children was used as a control. The intestinal content of asthmatic obese children differentially induced the expression of inflammatory and mitochondrial response genes (Tnf-tumor necrosis factor, Cd14, Muc13-mucin 13, Tff2-Trefoil factor 2 and Tff3, Cldn1-claudin 1 and 5, Reg3g-regenerating family member 3 gamma, mt-Nd1-NADH dehydrogenase 1 and 6, and mt-Cyb-mitochondrial cytochrome b) via the RAGE-advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor, NF-κB-nuclear factor kappa b and AKT kinase signal transduction pathways. Fecal homogenates from asthmatic normal-weight and obese children induce a differential phenotype in intestinal organoids, in which the presence of obesity plays a major role.
Gum and resin bearing dryland forests of Somali region, Southeastern Ethiopia: Diversity, structure and spatial distribution

Despite its ecological and socio-economic contributions, the lowland dry forests of Ethiopia have been experiencing severe deforestation and degradation challenges. It is, therefore, crucial to assess the status of the dry forest resources to formulate an appropriate management strategy and its sustainable utilization. This study was formulated to determine spatial distribution, species composition, structure, and regeneration of the gum and resin species bearing dry forests in the Somali regional state of Ethiopia. The recent Sentinel-2A image was procured and used to classify the area, using a supervised Random Forest Algorithm, into different land covers and vegetation types. Inside the two key vegetation types (Acacia dominated woodland and Mixed woodland), forest inventory was conducted by establishing 30 m x 30 m size quadratic sample plots. The results revealed that the study area was divided into settlement (0.2%), bare land (6.0%), undifferentiated forest (0.5%), acacia woodland (36.3%), mixed woodland (54.1%) and scrubland (2.9%). Thirty-four woody species were identified and recorded with a Shannon diversity of 3.03. The population structure showed a lack of sufficient natural regeneration. It is, therefore, imperative to say that the forest containing the gum and resin-bearing species is not replacing itself. On the other hand, the forest has the potential to produce Oleo-gum resin in various kinds and amounts. Thus, implementing appropriate restoration measures is urgent to enhance natural regeneration. Moreover, formulating sustainable utilization while creating product market of gum and resins are important considerations for the future development of the sector. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 13(2): 6-13, Dec 2023
The new problem of Chinlestegophis and the origin of caecilians (Amphibia, Gymnophionomorpha) is highly sensitive to old problems of sampling and character construction

The description of the small Late Triassic temnospondyl Chinlestegophis ushered in a potentially radically new understanding of the origins of the extant amphibian clades. Together with the fragmentary Rileymillerus, Chinlestegophis was argued to link extant caecilians to Permo-Triassic stereospondyl temnospondyls rather than to frogs and salamanders (and through them to amphibamiform temnospondyls or to brachystelechid and lysorophian “lepospondyls”). We critically review the comparative description of Chinlestegophis and phylogenetic analyses of previous studies. Most of the features previously interpreted to be shared by caecilians, Chinlestegophis and/or other stereospondyls have different distributions than scored in the analysis. We also find no evidence for an incipient tentacular sulcus in Chinlestegophis, and note that its vertebrae, unreduced ribs and dermal shoulder girdle are unlike those of any extant amphibians (nor their likely sister group, Albanerpetidae). Furthermore, the original matrices contain misscores accreted over more than a decade that likewise influence the results. Some features are coded as multiple redundant characters: the double toothrow of Chinlestegophis, other stereospondyls, and caecilians is represented as seven characters. Analysis of the unmodified matrix yields much less resolution than originally reported, and tree topology is altered by a small change to the taxon sample (the addition of Albanerpetidae), limited revisions of irreproducible scores, and ordering the most obviously clinal characters; any one of these changes removes Chinlestegophis from Lissamphibia, and confirms it as a stereospondyl.
HLA Polymorphisms and Clinical Manifestations in IgA Vasculitis

Studies concerning the genetic background of IgA vasculitis (IgAV), a small-vessel vasculitis occurring predominantly in childhood, have confirmed that the HLA-DRB1 gene showed a strong association with disease susceptibility. The objective was to investigate human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms among Croatian patients with IgAV and their influence on disease susceptibility and clinical heterogeneity. Thus, 130 children with IgAV and 202 unrelated healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole peripheral blood, and HLA-A, -B, -DRB1 and -DQB1 gene polymorphism analysis was performed. HLA-A*03 (21.4% vs. 12.38%, p = 0.0092), HLA-B*37 (2.9% vs. 0.2%, p = 0.0054) and HLA-DRB1*12 (3.1% vs. 0.7%, p = 0.0216) alleles were significantly more frequent in IgAV patients than in controls. High-resolution typing revealed significantly higher frequency of HLA-DRB1*10:01 and -DRB1*11:03 among IgAV patients with gastrointestinal manifestations of the disease in comparison to controls (p = 0.0021 and p = 0.0301, respectively), while HLA-DRB1*14:01P occurred significantly more often in the group of patients who developed nephritis during the course of the disease (17.5% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.0006). Our results demonstrated that there is an association of HLA-A*03, HLA-B*37 and HLA-DRB1*12 alleles with susceptibility to IgAV in the examined Croatian pediatric population. Studies which aim to determine the HLA profile may contribute to the elucidation of the genetic background of autoimmune diseases, including IgAV.
Relationship between the m-FI 11 score and 2-year survival in octogenarians undergoing colorectal cancer resection

Introduction: The modified Frailty Index (m-FI) offers a simple scoring tool, predicting short-term outcomes in elderly colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, links between m-FI scores and 2-year postoperative mortality in octogenarian CRC resection patients remain underexplored. A streamlined frailty index can aid in preoperative assessments to identify elderly patients who are likely to live longer after curative resection surgery to then tailor postoperative care. Our study aims to assess the association between m-FI scores and 2-year postoperative mortality in elderly CRC surgery patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of consecutive patients aged older than or equal to 80 years who underwent colorectal cancer resection at a tertiary referral centre between 2010 and 2017. The m-FI-11 scores less than or equal to two denoted the non-frail category, whereas m-FI scores equal to or exceeding 3 were categorised as frail. The primary outcome measure was defined as 2-year all-cause mortality. Results: A total of 337 patients were studied. The 2-year overall survival rate was 83% with an overall median survival time of 84 months (95% CI: 74–94 months). Patients with m-FI scores less than or equal to 2 had a 2-year survival rate of 85% and a median survival time of 94 months (95% CI: 84–104 months). Conversely, patients with m-FI scores greater than or equal to 3 had a 2-year survival rate of 72% and a median survival time of 69 months (95% CI: 59–79 months). An m-FI score greater than or equal to 3 showed a hazard ratio of 1.73 (95% CI: 0.92–3.26, P=0.092) for 2-year mortality compared to an m-FI score less than or equal to 2. Conclusion: Higher m-FI scores significantly correlate with an increased 2-year mortality risk among octogenarian CRC resection patients. This highlights the potential of the m-FI as a preoperative tool for identifying patients likely to survive longer post-surgery. Its integration aids in tailored postoperative care strategies, ensuring efficient recovery to functional baselines in this cohort.
Impact of normal faulting and pre‐rift salt tectonics on the structural style of salt‐influenced rifts: the Late Jurassic Norwegian Central Graben, North Sea

Studies of salt‐influenced rift basins have focused on individual or basin‐scale fault system and/or salt‐related structure. In contrast, the large‐scale rift structure, namely rift segments and rift accommodation zones and the role of pre‐rift tectonics in controlling structural style and syn‐rift basin evolution have received less attention. The Norwegian Central Graben, comprises a complex network of sub‐salt normal faults and pre‐rift salt‐related structures that together influenced the structural style and evolution of the Late Jurassic rift. Beneath the halite‐rich, Permian Zechstein Supergroup, the rift can be divided into two major rift segments, each comprising rift margin and rift axis domains, separated by a rift‐wide accommodation zone – the Steinbit Accommodation Zone. Sub‐salt normal faults in the rift segments are generally larger, in terms of fault throw, length and spacing, than those in the accommodation zone. The pre‐rift structure varies laterally from sheet‐like units, with limited salt tectonics, through domains characterised by isolated salt diapirs, to a network of elongate salt walls with intervening minibasins. Analysis of the interactions between the sub‐salt normal fault network and the pre‐rift salt‐related structures reveals six types of syn‐rift depocentres. Increasing the throw and spacing of sub‐salt normal faults from rift segment to rift accommodation zone generally leads to simpler half‐graben geometries and an increase in the size and thickness of syn‐rift depocentres. In contrast, more complex pre‐rift salt tectonics increases the mechanical heterogeneity of the pre‐rift, leading to increased complexity of structural style. Along the rift margin, syn‐rift depocentres occur as interpods above salt walls and are generally unrelated to the relatively minor sub‐salt normal faults in this structural domain. Along the rift axis, deformation associated with large sub‐salt normal faults created coupled and decoupled supra‐salt faults. Tilting of the hanging wall associated with growth of the large normal faults along the rift axis also promoted a thin‐skinned, gravity‐driven deformation leading to a range of extensional and compressional structures affecting the syn‐rift interval. The Steinbit Accommodation Zone contains rift‐related structural styles that encompass elements seen along both the rift margin and axis. The wide variability in structural style and evolution of syn‐rift depocentres recognised in this study has implications for the geomorphological evolution of rifts, sediment routing systems and stratigraphic evolution in rifts that contain pre‐rift salt units.
Toxic Effects of Bisphenol AF Exposure on the Reproduction and Liver of Female Marine Medaka (Oryzias melastigma)

Simple Summary Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is a common environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) that can potentially affect the growth and development of aquatic organisms. EDCs in the aqueous environment can be deposited in estuaries through runoff or diffused into the marine environment. The toxicity of the EDCs is related to exposure dose and duration. In this study, we used marine medaka as the experimental subject to dynamically observe the response of fish in terms of growth, reproduction and antioxidant immune system during BPAF exposure, providing new insights into understanding the marine ecological risk of BPAF. Abstract In recent years, bisphenol AF (BPAF) in aquatic environments has drawn attention to its ecological risks. This study aims to investigate the toxic effects of BPAF (188.33 μg/L) exposure for 30 days on female marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma). On the 10th and 30th day of exposure, the toxicity was evaluated using histological analysis of the liver and ovaries and the transcription levels of genes related to the antioxidant system, immune system, and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Findings revealed that (1) BPAF exposure caused vacuolation, karyopyknosis and karyolysis in the liver of marine medaka, and the toxic impact augmented with duration; (2) exposure to BPAF for 10 days facilitated the growth and maturation of primary ova, and this exposure had a comparatively inhibitory effect after 30 days; (3) exposure to BPAF resulted in a biphasic regulation of the transcriptional abundance of genes involved in antioxidant and inflammatory response (e.g., il-8, cat), with an initial up-regulation followed by down-regulation. Additionally, it disrupted the transcriptional pattern of HPG axis-related genes (e.g., 3βhsd, arα). In conclusion, 188.33 μg/L BPAF can alter the expression levels of functionally related genes, impair the structural integrity of marine organisms, and pose a threat to their overall health.
Boardroom Alchemy: Unravelling the Debt and Agency Costs in Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan

The current study aims to investigate boardroom diversity and its varying characteristics by using agency theory to examine the effect of debt and agency costs in the manufacturing sector of Pakistan. Precisely, it seeks to examine how board size, independence, and gender diversity affect the financial matrices of a firm’s profitability. Therefore, the study utilized an imbalanced panel of 105 manufacturing companies that were listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) 2003 to 2022. Furthermore, the study utilized static and dynamic panel models to examine and evaluate the proposed hypotheses. The findings of this study indicated that there is a positive relationship between board size, gender diversity, and debt and agency costs for manufacturing enterprises in Pakistan. Conversely, it was observed that board independence has a negative impact on the debt and agency costs of firms. Future research can use experimental or longitudinal approaches, including varied businesses, to investigate qualitative research for deeper insights. Cross-cultural comparisons would support the findings. Consequently, this study highlighted the importance of exercising caution when evaluating the influence of board composition on debt and agency costs. The results of the study also prompted inquiries regarding the financial ramifications of initiatives aimed at promoting gender diversity.
Desertification Process and Its Driving Forces in the Dune-activation Region between the Badain Juran and Tengger Deserts

The Badain Juran and Tengger deserts are ones of the three main sources of sandstorm in China.With the increasing frequency and intensity of sandstorm occurrence in China,more and more attention has been paid to the merging status of deserts in the dune-activation region(DAR for short) between the Badain Juran and Tengger deserts.Based on Landsat TM/ETM+ images in 1989,1999 and 2007 respectively,the desertification process in the DAR was investigated using the methods of dynamic change,transferred matrix and landscape pattern indexes.Its driving forces including natural factors and human activities were explored as well.The main conclusions are as follows:(1) During the period of 1989-2007,the areas of sandy land and cropland were expanded,while those of grasslands,saline land and wetland were shrunk.The dynamic change of grasslands,wetland,sandy land and saline land was higher than that of other land use types in the DAR.The transition among the land use types was remarkable,particularly between sandy land and grasslands.The landscape pattern indexes in the DAR demonstrated an obvious tendency of intensified fragmentation.The patch centroid of sandy land was moved northwestward,which could be regarded as a merging direction of deserts in the DAR from the northwest marginal zone of the Tengger Desert to the southeast marginal zone of the Badain Juran Desert.The analysis revealed that the land desertification,soil salinization,the degradation of grasslands and shrinkage of wetland were aggravated during the period of 1989-2007.Consequently,the Badain Juran Desert and the Tengger Desert tended to merge;(2) The expansion of sandy land,degradation of grasslands and the shrinkage of wetland were driven by both the natural factors and human activities,which resulted in the merging of deserts in the DAR between the Badain Juran and Tengger deserts.Thereinto,the warming-drying trend was the precondition of desertification.Population growth and overgrazing sped up the desertification process.Although the related national policy and measures,e.g.,the project of returning the grain plots to forests or grasslands,have been implemented to prevent land desertification and regenerate grasslands in the arid and semiarid regions of China,the desertification situation in the DAR between the Badain Juran and Tengger deserts is still serious.It is suggested to stabilize and sustain the policy support,ecological projects and long-term field observation and monitoring so as to guarantee the environmental protection and the ecological regeneration in the DAR between the Badain Juran and Tengger deserts.
Attention-based 3D convolutional recurrent neural network model for multimodal emotion recognition

Introduction Multimodal emotion recognition has become a hot topic in human-computer interaction and intelligent healthcare fields. However, combining information from different human different modalities for emotion computation is still challenging. Methods In this paper, we propose a three-dimensional convolutional recurrent neural network model (referred to as 3FACRNN network) based on multimodal fusion and attention mechanism. The 3FACRNN network model consists of a visual network and an EEG network. The visual network is composed of a cascaded convolutional neural network–time convolutional network (CNN-TCN). In the EEG network, the 3D feature building module was added to integrate band information, spatial information and temporal information of the EEG signal, and the band attention and self-attention modules were added to the convolutional recurrent neural network (CRNN). The former explores the effect of different frequency bands on network recognition performance, while the latter is to obtain the intrinsic similarity of different EEG samples. Results To investigate the effect of different frequency bands on the experiment, we obtained the average attention mask for all subjects in different frequency bands. The distribution of the attention masks across the different frequency bands suggests that signals more relevant to human emotions may be active in the high frequency bands γ (31–50 Hz). Finally, we try to use the multi-task loss function Lc to force the approximation of the intermediate feature vectors of the visual and EEG modalities, with the aim of using the knowledge of the visual modalities to improve the performance of the EEG network model. The mean recognition accuracy and standard deviation of the proposed method on the two multimodal sentiment datasets DEAP and MAHNOB-HCI (arousal, valence) were 96.75 ± 1.75, 96.86 ± 1.33; 97.55 ± 1.51, 98.37 ± 1.07, better than those of the state-of-the-art multimodal recognition approaches. Discussion The experimental results show that starting from the multimodal information, the facial video frames and electroencephalogram (EEG) signals of the subjects are used as inputs to the emotion recognition network, which can enhance the stability of the emotion network and improve the recognition accuracy of the emotion network. In addition, in future work, we will try to utilize sparse matrix methods and deep convolutional networks to improve the performance of multimodal emotion networks.
An Empirical Study on Personalized Product Recommendation Based on Cross-Border E-Commerce Customer Data Analysis

Thanks to the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce platforms, numerous cross-border items are now available to customers. Several serious issues with cross-border e-commerce platforms related to item promotion and consumer product screening have arisen. Particular importance should be placed on studying and implementing personalized recommendation systems based on international e-commerce. In light of the quick expansion of commodities, when making individualized suggestions, traditional recommendation algorithms have had to deal with issues such as scant data, a chilly start to the market, and trouble identifying user preferences. To automatically mine the implicit and latent relationships between users and objects in recommendation systems, this study employs deep learning with nonlinear learning capabilities, which resolves the challenges of user interest mining. The weaknesses of the existing global recommendation research are emphasized, the study of conventional recommendation algorithms mixed with deep learning technology is deep factorization machine (DeepFM) and neural matrix factorization (NeuMF) models. Both models excel in recommending implicit feedback data. The DeepFM model yields the lowest loss function values, while the NeuMF model outperforms the competing models in terms of HR@20 (a commonly used indicator to measure the recall rate) and loss functions. In summary, this research addresses critical issues in cross-border e-commerce by developing personalized recommendation systems and integrating deep learning with traditional recommendation algorithms to enhance global recommendations.
Brazilian short prose in German

This article investigates the post-editing workflow and types of edits made in the context of a real-life literary translation project. The source text is a short narrative by Brazilian author Lima Barreto. The text was first machine-translated into German by DeepL and subsequently postedited by a literary translator, using a keylogger to capture edits and intermediate versions.
Evaluation of the safety quality of automotive pyrotechnic articles following their exposure to triaxial vibrations with predetermined thermal conditioning cycles

Pyrotechnic articles fall into the field of dangerous products, Risk Class 1 - explosives, thus requiring the assurance of their security quality in order to make them available on the market. The family of pyrotechnic articles also includes pyrotechnic articles for vehicles. The main types of pyrotechnic articles intended for vehicles are: actuators (triggers), airbag gas generators, airbag modules, igniters, micro gas generators, semifinished products and seat belt pretensioners safety. Since pyrotechnic articles for vehicles are only used in the composition of security devices in vehicles, they must meet the essential security requirements, being subjected to trials and tests based on harmonized standards for this field. The paper highlights the results of the experimental tests that were obtained using the latest generation specialized equipment intended for the determination of the triaxial vibration parameter and under conditions of variable temperature with predetermined cycles, in order to evaluate the security quality of pyrotechnic articles intended for automobiles (pyrotechnic actuator for automotive use, seat belt pre-tensioner) included in category P1.