Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Omega‐3 fatty acid supplements and recurrent miscarriage: A perspective on potential mechanisms and clinical evidence

Abstract Recurrent miscarriage (RM) affects approximately 1%–5% of couples worldwide. Due to its complicated etiologies, the treatments for RM also vary greatly, including surgery for anatomic factors such as septate uterus and uterine adhesions, thyroid modulation drugs for hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, and aspirin and low molecular weight heparin for antiphospholipid syndrome. However, these treatment modalities are still insufficient to solve RM. Omega‐3 fatty acids are reported to modulate the dysregulation of immune cells, oxidative stress, endocrine disorders, inflammation, etc., which are closely associated with the pathogenesis of RM. However, there is a lack of a systematic description of the involvement of omega‐3 fatty acids in treating RM, and the underlying mechanisms are also not clear. In this review, we sought to determine the potential mechanisms that are highly associated with the pathogenesis of RM and the regulation of omega‐3 fatty acids on these mechanisms. In addition, we also highlighted the direct and indirect clinical evidence of omega‐3 fatty acid supplements to treat RM, which might encourage the application of omega‐3 fatty acids to treat RM, thus improving pregnancy outcomes.
Analyzing Related Strategic Behavior Through Strictly Alternating Interactions with Two-Memory Length

Reciprocal altruism can often be modeled through the iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma game in which players take turns in the roles of donor and recipient. Several late studies were based on memory alteration in the repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma game. This prompted us to study this alteration in a strictly alternating iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma game. In our work, we represented the repeated games played by finite states of automata. Also, we supposed that there is relatedness between the players in this game. A relatedness average degree r considered between players, where 0 ≤ r ≤ 1. The effect of noise on the relatedness degree among players can be examined with regard to the behavior of the strategies in their competitions.
Impacts of Corn Straw Compost on Rice Growth and Soil Microflora under Saline–Alkali Stress

Saline–alkali soil seriously inhibits crop growth and yields and threatens the sustainable development of agriculture. Corn straw compost can alleviate saline–alkali stress and improve crop growth and development. In this study, we demonstrate that corn straw compost (CSC) improved soil physicochemical properties, e.g., decreased pH and electrical conductivity (EC), but increased soil nutrients, e.g., available nitrogen and phosphorus, and soluble organic carbon, as well as activities of sucrase and urease in saline–alkali soil. CSC affected the structure of water-stable aggregates (WSA) and the composition of soil microflora in saline–alkali soil. With the increase in the content of CSC, the abundances of some genera, e.g., Thermobacillus, Thermopolyspora, and Thermobispora, were significantly increased, suggesting that they play an important role in improving soil nutrient components and physicochemical properties, which subsequently improved plant growth and development. Consequently, the biomass and yields of rice grown in saline–alkali soil were greatly improved. In conclusion, CSC can improve saline–alkali soil activities and microbial communities, thus improving crop growth and yields. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for the sustainable development of modern agriculture.
Application Study of Novel Eggshell/Ag Combined with Pit and Fissure Sealants

Objective The study aims to enhance the anti-caries performance of pit and fissure sealants through the synthesis of novel silver nanocomposites, and to evaluate their mechanical properties and biological safety in vitro and in vivo. Methods The antibacterial properties of synthetic eggshell/Ag were detected by bacterial inhibition zone, minimum bacteriostatic concentration, fluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy. The synthetic products were then combined with pit and fissure sealants to prepare specimens, and their effects on mechanical properties, antibacterial properties and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Furthermore, an oral mucosal contact model of golden hamsters was established according to the ISO10933 standard to evaluate local stimulation and systemic effects. Results The novel nanocomposite eggshell/Ag was confirmed to exhibit strong broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, and that the eggshell/Ag-modified pit and fissure sealant had strong antibacterial properties against common dental caries bacterial biofilms, without any significant change in mechanical properties. The gradient dilution extract showed acceptable cytotoxicity, and in the golden hamster oral contact model, there were no visible abnormalities in local mucosal tissues, blood indices, or liver and kidney histopathology. Conclusions These findings suggest that eggshell/Ag combined with pit and fissure sealants has strong antibacterial activity and excellent biosafety in vitro and in vivo, making it a promising candidate for clinical applications.
The Impact of Human DNA Glycosylases on the Activity of DNA Polymerase β toward Various Base Excision Repair Intermediates

Base excision repair (BER) is one of the important systems for the maintenance of genome stability via repair of DNA lesions. BER is a multistep process involving a number of enzymes, including damage-specific DNA glycosylases, apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease 1, DNA polymerase β, and DNA ligase. Coordination of BER is implemented by multiple protein–protein interactions between BER participants. Nonetheless, mechanisms of these interactions and their roles in the BER coordination are poorly understood. Here, we report a study on Polβ’s nucleotidyl transferase activity toward different DNA substrates (that mimic DNA intermediates arising during BER) in the presence of various DNA glycosylases (AAG, OGG1, NTHL1, MBD4, UNG, or SMUG1) using rapid-quench-flow and stopped-flow fluorescence approaches. It was shown that Polβ efficiently adds a single nucleotide into different types of single-strand breaks either with or without a 5′-dRP–mimicking group. The obtained data indicate that DNA glycosylases AAG, OGG1, NTHL1, MBD4, UNG, and SMUG1, but not NEIL1, enhance Polβ’s activity toward the model DNA intermediates.
Multi-Class Retinal Diseases Detection Using Deep CNN With Minimal Memory Consumption

Machine Learning (ML) such as Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Deep learning, Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), Alex Net, and ResNet can be considered as a broad research direction in the identification and classification of critical diseases. CNN and its particular variant, usually named U-Net Segmentation, has made a revolutionary advancement in the classification of medical diseases, specifically retinal diseases. However, because of the feature extraction complexity, U-Net has a significant flaw in high memory and CPU consumption while moving the whole feature map to the corresponding decoder. Furthermore, it can be concatenated to the unsampled decoder feature map avoids reusing pooling indices. In this research work, a convolutional neural network (CNN) model is proposed for multi-class classification problems with the efficient use of memory consumption. The proposed model has been evaluated on a standard benchmark dataset of Eye Net, having 32 classes of retinal diseases. From experimental evaluation, it has been concluded that the proposed model performs better regarding memory management and accuracy. The overall comparison has been performed based on precision, recall, and accuracy with different numbers of epochs and time consumption by each step. The proposed technique achieved an accuracy of 95% on the Eye-net dataset.
In Vitro Stability of the Biological Activity of Voriconazole against Acanthamoeba castellanii

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a rare cornea disease caused by species of the Acanthamoeba genus. The antifungal voriconazole blocks the ergosterol synthesis in the protozoan membrane and is active against the cysts and trophozoites of Acanthamoeba spp. Due to the low stability of voriconazole, its options for eye drops are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the stability of the biological activity of voriconazole against two strains of Acanthamoeba castellanii and one clinical isolate from a patient with AK. To evaluate the stability of the biological activity of voriconazole, strains of A. castellanii (ATCC 50492) were exposed to different periods and voriconazole concentrations stored at 4 °C for 7, 15, and 30 days. The cytotoxicity assays were performed using SIRC (ATCC CCL-60™) cell line. The results indicated the amoebicidal effect of voriconazole against Acanthamoeba spp. within 24 h and 48 h of exposure, and the voriconazole solution was stable and retained antiamoebic activity when stored at 4 °C for up to 30 days. In the cytotoxicity test, the result demonstrated low cytotoxicity of the drug to the corneal rabbit cell line. However, there is a need to carry out further synergistic effects with other antiamoebic drugs and then in vivo experiments in the AK animal model.
Parameter Estimation Using an Improved Genetic Algorithm

The parameter estimation based on the maximum likelihood method is actually a complicated nonlinear optimization problem The traditional optimization algorithms are apt to be trapped into local minimum and the computation efficiencies are quite low.However,the genetic algorithm is a directed random search method,which has a good probability converge to global optimum.In this paper,an improved parallel genetic algorithm combining with the simplex method is proposed,which could prevent premature convergence effectively and improve the computation efficiency.The proposed algorithm was applied to the parameter estimation problem with unknown initial states of system and satisfactory results are obtained.
Fast optoelectronic responsivity of metal-oxide-semiconductor nanostructures

Abstract. The frequency dependence of the capacitance variation between dark and near-infrared-modulated illumination conditions is measured for metal-oxide-semiconductor structures with germanium nanocrystals embedded in a thick SiO2 film grown on a silicon substrate. The results have shown that the device is expected to be sensitive at high frequencies (up to 111 GHz) making it a good candidate for optoelectronic high-speed use and for optical communication applications.
Fusion model for rumor detection based on time series and propagation structure

In the information era, rumor detection has gradually become a technology that people urgently need. Rumor detection with a single feature dimension is often not suitable for more complex scenarios. This paper proposes a model based on time series-propagation structure fusion, which can achieve better performance by extracting the characteristics of rumors in the time dimension and the potential features in the propagation process. Experiments are currently carried out on two public Twitter datasets, and the results show that the fusion model in this paper has achieved better performance than the previous method.
Radiation-induced trapped charge in metal-nitride-oxide-semiconductor structure

The radiation-induced trapped charge in the insulation layer of metal-nitride-oxide-semiconductor (MNOS) structure has been investigated. The mechanism of charge trapping under irradiation is studied by the radiation-induced mid-gap voltage shift using a simple charge trap model. The depth profile of fixed charge in the insulator before irradiation was evaluated by the mid-gap voltage of MNOS structures with varying insulator thicknesses using slanted etching. The irradiation tests were carried out using a Co-60 gamma ray source up to 1 Mrad(Si) with a gate voltage of +6 or -6 V. The calculated results using the model can be fitted well to the experimental results, and we confirmed the model is very useful to discuss the radiation-induced trapped charge. By simulating the mid-gap voltage shift of MNOS structures, we considered the possibility of a radiation hardened device.
Differential average daily gain of pregnant Holstein × Gyr dairy heifers causes placental adaptations to support fetal growth and development.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of differential average daily gain targets of dairy heifers throughout gestation on placental hemodynamics, uterine involution, colostrum production of the heifers, and impacts on newborn calf weight and immunity transfer. Fourteen Holstein × Gyr heifers with an average body weight of 446 ± 46.7 kg and age of 25 ± 3.9 mo were randomly assigned to the following treatments: moderate body weight gain (MOD, n = 7), where heifers were fed to achieve 0.50 kg/d; and high body weight gain (HIG, n = 7), where heifers were fed to achieve 0.75 kg/d. Target average daily gains were established based on common tropical dairy production systems. The heifers received a total mixed ration feed twice daily starting at 70 d of gestation. Placentome vascularization was assessed using a color Doppler ultrasound at 180, 210, and 240 d of gestation. After calving, cotyledons were counted and sampled to analyze the mRNA expression of placental angiogenesis markers. After birth, calves were weighed and fed colostrum, and transfer of passive immunity efficiency was assessed. A significant increase in cotyledons was detected for MOD placenta soon after expulsion (81.5 ± 12.91 vs. 63.6 ± 10.52). Placentome vascularization at the final third of gestation increased for MOD heifers compared with HIG. Greater mRNA expression after membrane expulsion of VEGFB and IGFR1 in cotyledons and a greater estradiol concentration in circulation 1 d before calving was found for MOD heifers compared with HIG heifers, however, uterine involution postpartum was not different between treatment groups. Greater colostrum production was observed in HIG heifers (3.9 ± 1.05 vs. 2.2 ± 1.57 L) but with lower quality (25.2 ± 0.51 vs. 29.5 ± 0.65 Brix). No differences were observed in birth weight or transfer of passive immunity efficiency between treatments; however, HIG calves had significantly greater vitality scores than MOD calves. The results of this study indicate that a moderate feeding regimen enhances placental blood flow by increasing angiogenesis, which suggests improved nutrient transfer to the fetus without major impacts on its development during the neonatal stage, colostrum production, or uterine involution in the heifers.
Continuous Structural Displacement Monitoring Using Accelerometer, Vision, and Infrared (IR) Cameras

With the rapid development of computer vision, vision cameras have been used as noncontact sensors for structural displacement measurements. However, vision-based techniques are limited to short-term displacement measurements because of their degraded performance under varying illumination and inability to operate at night. To overcome these limitations, this study developed a continuous structural displacement estimation technique by combining measurements from an accelerometer with vision and infrared (IR) cameras collocated at the displacement estimation point of a target structure. The proposed technique enables continuous displacement estimation for both day and night, automatic optimization of the temperature range of an infrared camera to ensure a region of interest (ROI) with good matching features, and adaptive updating of the reference frame to achieve robust illumination–displacement estimation from vision/IR measurements. The performance of the proposed method was verified through lab-scale tests on a single-story building model. The displacements were estimated with a root-mean-square error of less than 2 mm compared with the laser-based ground truth. In addition, the applicability of the IR camera for displacement estimation under field conditions was validated using a pedestrian bridge test. The proposed technique eliminates the need for a stationary sensor installation location by the on-site installation of sensors and is therefore attractive for long-term continuous monitoring. However, it only estimates displacement at the sensor installation location, and cannot simultaneously estimate multi-point displacements which can be achieved by installing cameras off-site.
A multifrequency composite ultrasonic transducer system

A multifrequency composite ultrasonic transducer system is described that comprises piezoelectric ceramic rods embedded in a polymer matrix. By selecting the appropriate thickness and width of ceramic rod, the transducer assembly can be made to resonate at a number of frequencies, as predicted by the mode coupling theory. One of the resonance frequencies is determined by the width of the ceramic rod; other resonance frequencies are determined by the width-to-thickness ratio of the ceramic rods. A batch of five 2-MHz and 5-MHz dual-frequency transducers was fabricated. The results correlate well with the theoretical prediction. <<ETX>>
Trade Patterns of Latin America and the Caribbean: Evidence from the agri-food sector

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region is one of the most important players in global agricultural trade, being among the global leaders in the production and exports of agricultural and fisheries commodities and accounting for 15% of the world’s average agri-food export from 1995 to 2019. The region have vast potential to strengthen their position as a result of the region's opportunities to increase agricultural production when combined with growing global demand, which could help the region's economy thrive. The purpose of the dissertation is to provide a consistent analysis of the agri-food trade patterns for Latin America and the Caribbean. determinants of LAC agricultural bilateral export for the period 1995-2019 and export competitiveness of the sector in the same period. This research explored the LAC agricultural trade patterns and export competitiveness through the analysis of the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index formulated by Balassa (1965) and its modifications – SRCA (Symmetric Revealed Comparative Advantage), RTA (Relative Trade Advantage, and RC (Revealed Competitiveness) – in the agricultural sector for the period of 1995-2019, indicating which countries in the region are currently competitive and in what agricultural products. Panel data econometrics was used to identify the conditioning factors lying behind trade flow and the gravity model of trade was employed, by estimating various Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood (PPML) models including zero trade flows, to determine how bilateral cultural characteristics affect LAC agri-food export. Throughout the research period, the results indicated that Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico were the TOP agri-food exporters in LAC. The highest RCA, SRCA, and RTA were found in Guatemala, whereas the greatest RC was found in Argentina. At the product level analysis, oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit, industrial or medicinal plants, and straw and fodder (HS12) were the most exported items at the 2-digit level. Coffee, tea, mate and spices (HS-09) was the most competitive group product in the worldwide agri-market. In terms of agri-trade flow determinants, findings show that importers' GDP of LAC countries had a greater impact on agricultural trade compared to LAC exporters. Cultural similarities (common language) and countries' participation in Southern Common Market [Mercado Común del Sur (MERCOSUR)] stimulated agri-food export. Conversely, distance (transportation), past colonial links, and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) raised trade costs, having a negative impact on the export of agricultural products. The impacts of environmental regulations are ambiguous.
Analytical Inverse Preisach Model and Its Comparison With Inverse Jiles–Atherton Model in Terms of Accuracy and Computational Speed

Inverse hysteresis model with magnetic flux density and magnetic field intensity as input and output, respectively, is more preferred, compared with the forward one, for resolving the electromagnetic issues of electrical equipment in terms of magnetic vector potential or with voltage sources. And an inverse hysteresis model with high accuracy and high computation speed has a broader range of applications. However, the well-known classical Preisach hysteresis model is formulated with the forward form, and has the double integration of its distribution function, making it inconvenient and impractical in electrical engineering. In this article, an analytical inverse Preisach model is proposed for the first time. First, the analytical expressions of permeability of the initial magnetization curve, descending and ascending branches of the hysteresis loop are derived using one closed form of the Everett integral function. Subsequently, the analytical inverse Preisach model is derived by the difference method, considering the reversible magnetization component that the classical Preisach model cannot simulate with an odd function analytically. The experiment of one grain-oriented silicon steel sample and one non-oriented silicon steel sample, under different magnetic excitation levels, is conducted, and the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed analytical inverse Preisach model are confirmed by comparing its simulated hysteresis loops with the experimental ones and that computed with the widely used inverse Jiles–Atherton (J–A) hysteresis model.
High Incidence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children with Community-Acquired Pneumonia from a City in the Brazilian Pre-Amazon Region

Introduction: Although fewer children have been affected by the severe form of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) continues to be the leading global cause of child hospitalizations and deaths. Aim: This study investigated the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well its subtypes (RSV A and B), adenovirus (ADV), rhinovirus (HRV), metapneumovirus (HMPV), coronavirus (NL63, OC43, 229E and HKU1), parainfluenza virus subtypes (PI1, PI2 and PI3), bocavirus and influenza A and B viruses (FluA and FluB) in children diagnosed with CAP during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 200 children with clinically confirmed CAP were initially recruited, of whom 107 had negative qPCR results for SARS-CoV-2 and were included in this study. Viral subtypes were identified using a real-time polymerase chain reaction in the nasopharyngeal swab samples. Results: Viruses were identified in 69.2% of the patients. RSV infections were the most frequently identified (65.4%), with type RSV B being the most prevalent (63.5%). In addition, HCoV 229E and HRV were detected in 6.5% and 3.7% of the patients, respectively. RSV type B was associated with severe acute respiratory infection (ARI) and a younger age (less than 24 months). Conclusions: New strategies for preventing and treating viral respiratory infections, particularly RSV infections, are necessary.