Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Probiotic Weizmannia coagulans MTCC 5856 as adjunct therapy in children's acute diarrhea—a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Objectives Acute diarrhea in children is generally managed by replacing the lost fluid with oral rehydration solution (ORS). Probiotic supplementation has been reported to reduce the severity of diarrhea. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Weizmannia coagulans (Bacillus coagulans) MTCC 5856, along with ORS on acute diarrhea of all causes in non-hospitalized children. Methods A total of 110 children of ages between 1 and 10 were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled study and were randomly allocated to receive W. coagulans MTCC 5856 (4 × 108 spores, N = 54) + ORS and zinc (Zn) or a placebo (N = 56) + ORS and (Zn) for 5 days. The consistency of the stool, mean duration of diarrhea in hours, mean diarrhea frequency per day, and the dehydration status were collected as efficacy endpoints. Safety was evaluated by the occurrence of adverse events. Results The mean age of the children was 5.55 ± 2.57 years (61 boys and 49 girls). The mean duration of diarrhea was 51.31 ± 20.99 h in the W. coagulans MTCC 5856 group and 62.74 ± 24.51 h in the placebo (p = 0.011) group. The frequency of diarrhea was lower in children supplemented with the probiotic, but the difference was not statistically significant. The perceived efficacy score and dehydration status improved significantly in the W. coagulans MTCC 5856 group compared with the placebo group. No adverse events were recorded. Conclusion The results of the study suggest that W. coagulans MTCC 5856 could be supplemented along with ORS and zinc to reduce the duration of diarrhea in non-hospitalized children. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier CTRI/2022/06/043239.
Biomineralization in cement and concrete research

Biomineralization refers to the biological processes through which living organisms produce minerals. In recent years, biomineralizing microorganisms have been used to stabilize soil or to impart a self-healing or self-sealing mechanism to damaged cement and concrete materials. However, applications of biominerals in cement and concrete research can extend far beyond these applications. This article focuses on the biomineralization of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) and their past, present, and future potential applications in cement and concrete research. First, we review the mechanisms of CaCO3 and SiO2 biomineralization and the micro- and macroorganisms involved in their production. Second, we showcase the wide array of biomineral architectures, with an explicit focus on CaCO3 polymorphs and SiO2 morphologies found in nature. Third, we briefly summarize previous applications of CaCO3 and SiO2 biomineralization in cement and concrete research. Finally, we discuss emerging applications of biominerals in cement and concrete research, including mineral admixtures or raw meal for portland cement production, as well as other applications that extend beyond self-healing.
DEVELOPMENT OF SERUM WITH 4-N-BUTYLRESORSINOL IN THE TRANSETOSOMES VESICULAR SYSTEM

Objective: The study aimed to develop a transetosome system as a delivery system of 4-n-Butylresorcinol (4nBR) and evaluate their physicochemical characteristics and skin penetration capacity compared with another vesicles system. Methods: Transethosomes were prepared through cold methods and the optimization of the formulation was carried out using “Box–Behnken design” approach from Design-Expert software (version 13.0. 3. 0, State-Ease Inc., Minneapolis, MN). The independent variables were soya lecithin, surfactant (Tween 80: Span 80 with a ratio of 1: 3) and Ethanol. The prepared formulations were characterized for vesicle size, polydispersity (PDI), zeta potential using a particle size analyzer and entrapment efficiency. Furthermore, transethosomes were formulated in serum preparations that tested for in vitro penetration test compared to serum with ethosomes, transfersomes and non-vesicles system. Results: Transethosomes formula optimization using box benhken approach produced a formula of 5.53 % soya lecithin, 3 % surfactant (Tween 80: Span 80 with a ratio of 1: 3) and 30 % Ethanol. The optimized formulation obtained particle size result of 197.4 nm; Polydispersity Index 0.421; zeta potential-56.8 mV and entrapment efficiency 98.40 %. Transethosomes serum met physical stability tests and in vitro penetration test showed better results compared to serum with ethosomes, transfersomes and non-vesicles system; the percentage of cumulative penetrated amounts of transethosomes serum, transfersomes, ethosomes and non-vesicle serum, respectively, was 41.43%; 23.59%, 19.85% and 2.43%. Conclusion: Development of 4nBR transethosomes using surfactant as edge activators and ethanol as an enhancers through optimization with box Behnken design resulted in transethosomes composition as ultra-deformable vesicles that fulfiled the physical characteristics, stability and permeability of 4nBR.
The Implementation of Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) in ELT Classroom: A Systematic Literature Review from 2012-2023

Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) turns speech audio streams into text. The use of computer-based voice recognition is beneficial for teaching pronunciation. It may also be used to evaluate a learner's speech in a broader context and set up the potential for creating aural interactions between the learner and the computer. The study is aimed to investigate the use of ASR in speaking assessment using a systematic literature review. Automated scores should be considered based on their validity and any potential issues or mistakes with employing technology (ASR) to evaluate speaking. Although some research has been carried out on the use of technology in speaking assessment, there have been few empirical studies using systematic literature reviews to explore more about ASR in education. Therefore, this study is aimed to provide an updated and comprehensive review of the implementation of Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) in education. Ten studies from journals cited in the Taylor Francis, Wiley, and Springer databases were selected. The results show the benefits of ASR in education including students' progress, interaction, and pedagogical contributions. Pedagogical contributions provide collaboration between the human and automated scores. Teachers can use this study to improve speaking assessments using ASR in the classroom.
Theoretical Investigation of a Simple Design of Triple-Band Terahertz Metamaterial Absorber for High-Q Sensing

This paper presents a simple metamaterial design to achieve the triple-band near-perfect absorption response that can be used in the area of sensor application. The introduced absorber consists of an array of Au strip and a bulk flat Au film separated by an insulator dielectric layer. Three narrow-band resonance absorption peaks are obtained by superposing three different modes (a fundamental mode resonance and two high-order responses) of the Au strip. These resonance modes (in particular of the last two modes) have large sensitivity to the changes of the surrounding index, overlayer thickness and the refractive index of the overlayer.
A Robust End-to-End Speckle Stereo Matching Network for Industrial Scenes

The detection capability of deep learning-based stereo matching in industrial applications is inherently limited due to challenges posed by weak texture and inconsistent reflectance, making it difficult to accurately recover complex surface details. To achieve accurate measurements, this paper presents an end-to-end speckle stereo matching network that incorporates fringe, Gray code, and speckle projection patterns. The model is trained using a high-precision dataset consisting of thousands of pairs generated through binocular Gray code-assisted phase shifting. After establishing local correspondences between the left and right images using speckle patterns, the images are used as inputs to the network. The proposed network consists of two siamese 2D feature extraction networks. One network is dedicated to cost volume computation, while the other focuses on weight refinement feature extraction. The former network incorporates a lightweight module for extracting high-dimensional fusion features. These features are obtained from different dilation scales and randomly concatenated along the channel dimension. Patch convolution is utilized to effectively adapt to pixel features at various levels, reducing redundancy within the cost volume and improving the network’s capacity to learn from ill-posed regions. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed network achieves a significant improvement of approximately 10.7% in matching accuracy compared to state-of-the-art networks on public datasets. Furthermore, this method exhibits outstanding matching results when applied to diverse industrial scenarios. The reconstruction error for the radius of optical standard spheres is below 0.06-mm, which meets the demands of the majority of industrial applications.
Study on the Anti-Ulcerative Colitis Effect of Pseudo-Ginsenoside RT4 Based on Gut Microbiota, Pharmacokinetics, and Tissue Distribution

The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect of the oral administration of pseudo-ginsenoside RT4 (RT4) on ulcerative colitis (UC), and to determine the rate of absorption and distribution of RT4 in mice with UC. Balb/c mice were induced using dextran sulfate sodium salts (DSS) to establish the UC model, and 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg of RT4 was subsequently administered via gavage. The clinical symptoms, inflammatory response, intestinal barrier, content of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and gut microbiota were investigated. Caco-2 cells were induced to establish the epithelial barrier damage model using LPS, and an intervention was performed using 4, 8, and 16 µg/mL of RT4. The inflammatory factors, transient electrical resistance (TEER), and tight-junction protein expression were determined. Finally, pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies following the intragastric administration of RT4 in UC mice were performed. According to the results in mice, RT4 decreased the disease activity index (DAI) score, restored the colon length, reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β), and boosted the levels of immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10, increased the content of SCFAs, improved the colonic histopathology, maintained the ultrastructure of colonic mucosal epithelial cells, and corrected disturbances in the intestinal microbiota. Based on the results in caco-2 cells, RT4 reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β; protected integrity of monolayers; and increased tight-junction protein expression. Additionally, the main pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, Tmax, t1/2, Vd, CL, AUC) were obtained, the absolute bioavailability was calculated as 18.90% ± 2.70%, and the main distribution tissues were the small intestine and colon. In conclusion, RT4, with the features of slow elimination and directional distribution, could alleviate UC by inhibiting inflammatory factors, repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier, boosting the dominant intestinal microflora, and modulating the expression of SCFAs.
Cardiometabolic Changes in Sirtuin1-Heterozygous Mice on High-Fat Diet and Melatonin Supplementation

A hypercaloric fatty diet predisposes an individual to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular complications. Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) belongs to the class III histone deacetylase family and sustains anabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, and fat distribution. Epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) is involved in inflammation, whilst interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) drives metabolism in obese rodents. Melatonin, a pineal indoleamine, acting as a SIRT1 modulator, may alleviate cardiometabolic damage. In the present study, we morphologically characterized the heart, eWAT, and iBAT in male heterozygous SIRT1+/− mice (HET mice) on a high-fat diet (60%E lard) versus a standard rodent diet (8.5% E fat) and drinking melatonin (10 mg/kg) for 16 weeks. Wild-type (WT) male C57Bl6/J mice were similarly fed for comparison. Cardiomyocyte fibrosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response worsened in HET mice on a high-fat diet vs. other groups. Lipid peroxidation, ER, and mitochondrial stress were assessed by 4 hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE), glucose-regulated protein78 (GRP78), CCAA/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), and mitofusin2 immunostainings. Ultrastructural analysis indicated the prevalence of atypical inter-myofibrillar mitochondria with short, misaligned cristae in HET mice on a lard diet despite melatonin supplementation. Abnormal eWAT adipocytes, crown-like inflammatory structures, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and iBAT whitening characterized HET mice on a hypercaloric fatty diet and were maintained after melatonin supply. All these data suggest that melatonin’s mechanism of action is strictly linked to full SIRT1 expression, which is required for the exhibition of effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Study on the Mechanism of Interaction between Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 and Inhibitory Peptides Based on Gaussian Accelerated Molecular Dynamic Simulation

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors can effectively inhibit the activity of DPP4, increasing the concentrations of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which allows for them to effectively contribute to the reduction of blood sugar levels. Leu-Pro-Ala-Val-Thr-Ile-Arg (LPAVTIR) and Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu-His-Asp-Trp-Arg (LPPEHDWR) were the two peptides with the strongest inhibitory activity against DPP4 selected from silkworm pupa proteins. In this study, four systems were established: Apo (ligand-free DPP4), IPI (IPI-bound DPP4), LPAVTIR (LPAVTIR-bound DPP4), LPPEHDWR (LPPEHDWR-bound DPP4), and Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamic (GaMD) simulation was conducted to investigate the mechanism of action of two inhibitory peptides binding to DPP4. Our study revealed that the LPAVTIR peptide possessed a more stable structure and exhibited a tighter binding to the Ser630 active site in DPP4, thus exhibiting a favorable competitive inhibition effect. In contrast, the LPPEHDWR peptide caused the horizontal α-helix (residues 201–215) composed of Glu205 and Glu206 residues in DPP4 to disappear. The spatial arrangement of active sites Ser630 relative to Glu205 and Glu206 was disrupted, resulting in enzyme inactivation. Moreover, the size of the substrate channel and cavity volume was significantly reduced after the binding of the inhibitory peptide to the protein, which was an important factor in the inhibition of the enzyme activity. A similar effect was also found from IPI (our positive control). By stabilizing the active site of DPP4, the IPI peptide induced the disappearance of the horizontal α-helix and a notable reduction in the active cavity volume. In conclusion, our study provided a solid theoretical foundation for the inhibitory mechanisms of IPI, LPAVTIR, and LPPEHDWR on DPP4, offering valuable insights for advancing the development of drug targets for type 2 diabetes.
Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Contaminating Plumbing Components and Sanitary Installations of Hospital Restrooms

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses several issues concerning the management of hospital-acquired infections, leading to increasing morbidity and mortality rates and higher costs of care. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria can spread in the healthcare setting by different ways. The most important are direct contact transmission occurring when an individual comes into physical contact with an infected or colonized patient (which can involve healthcare workers, patients, or visitors) and indirect contact transmission occurring when a person touches contaminated objects or surfaces in the hospital environment. Furthermore, in recent years, toilets in hospital settings have been increasingly recognised as a hidden source of MDR bacteria. Different sites in restrooms, from toilets and hoppers to drains and siphons, can become contaminated with MDR bacteria that can persist there for long time periods. Therefore, shared toilets may play an important role in the transmission of nosocomial infections since they could represent a reservoir for MDR bacteria. Such pathogens can be further disseminated by bioaerosol and/or droplets potentially produced during toilet use or flushing and be transmitted by inhalation and contact with contaminated fomites. In this review, we summarize available evidence regarding the molecular features of MDR bacteria contaminating toilets of healthcare environments, with a particular focus on plumbing components and sanitary installation. The presence of bacteria with specific molecular traits in different toilet sites should be considered when adopting effective managing and containing interventions against nosocomial infections potentially due to environmental contamination. Finally, here we provide an overview of traditional and new approaches to reduce the spreading of such infections.
How to develop a focused research question for a rapid evidence review

Rapid reviews are emerging as an alternative to systematic reviews, and they are now widely used to inform decision-making in healthcare. During COVID-19 pandemic, rapid reviews became more widespread. Some teams prepare reviews in a matter of days, instead of several weeks using streamlined systematic review methods. There are multiple roles for librarians within the evidence review process. As an expert searcher, the librarian must interact with the researchers, clinicians, and decision makers. A well-defined research question needs extreme specificity and preciseness which guides rest of the review. Developing a focused question workshop provided an overview of rapid review methods. Discussion and activities on developing a focused research question. How to start with broad topic and narrow it down to a question that is clear, relevant and answerable.
The Use of the Ritual Drawing of Lots for the Selection of the 11th Panchen Lama

This chapter analyzes the circumstances and the historical and political context in which this ritual could be developed and made acceptable for the Tibetan authorities. It focuses on the communication of this Manchu regulation to the Tibetan authorities and the communication by the Tibetan authorities to the Tibetans in charge of the determination of incarnations. The chapter then presents various modifications that took place in the practice of this ritual between the 18th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Finally, in view of the example of the recognition of the 11th Panchen Lama, the question of the legitimacy of this ritual in the current political context is examined. Keywords:Panchen Lama; rituals; Tibet
Swine Pudendal Nerve as a Model for Neuromodulation Studies to Restore Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction

Lower urinary tract dysfunction, such as incontinence or urinary retention, is one of the leading consequences of neurological diseases. This significantly impacts the quality of life for those affected, with implications extending not only to humans but also to clinical veterinary care. Having motor and sensory fibers, the pudendal nerve is an optimal candidate for neuromodulation therapies using bidirectional intraneural prostheses, paving the way towards the restoration of a more physiological urination cycle: bladder state can be detected from recorded neural signals, then an electrical current can be injected to the nerve based on the real-time need of the bladder. To develop such prostheses and investigate this novel approach, animal studies are still required since the morphology of the target nerve is fundamental to optimizing the prosthesis design. This study aims to describe the porcine pudendal nerve as a model for neuromodulation studies aiming at restoring lower urinary tract dysfunction. Five male farm pigs were involved in the study. First, a surgical procedure to access the porcine pudendal nerve without muscle resection was developed. Then, an intraneural interface was implanted to confirm the presence of fibers innervating the external urethral sphincter by measuring its electromyographic activity. Finally, the morphophysiology of the porcine pudendal nerve at the level of surgical exposure was described by using histological and immunohistochemical characterization. This analysis confirmed the fasciculate nature of the nerve and the presence of mixed fibers with a spatial and functional organization. These achievements pave the way for further pudendal neuromodulation studies by using a clinically relevant animal model with the potential for translating the findings into clinical applications.
The Existence of Social Media Users: Working or Playing? (Information Capitalism Analysis)

Indonesian people spend an average of 3 H 18 M per day for using social media. The activitiescarried out are very diverse, such as keeping in touch with friends and family, finding sparetime, reading news stories, watching live streaming, finding products to purchase, postingabout self-activities, etc. In Fuchs' view, social media users are part of digital labour. They areexploited by social media corporations, such as Facebook, Google, and others. Exploitationoccurs by commodifying and selling data from social media activity to advertising companies.This is not realized by the users. The aims of research are the first, to explore awareness andperceptions of IKBP students about their activities in social media. Second, to deconstruct userawareness regarding their existence when surfing social media. This research uses descriptivequalitative methods. The data in this research is accumulated through observation and FGD.This research took a sample of students from the The Christian Institute of Technology andBusiness of Bukit Pengharapan Tawangmangu, Karanganyar, Central Java. The resultsof this research indicate that users perceive that surfing in social media is part of playing,recreational activities and only to fill spare time. Meanwhile, if examined from Fuchs' theoryof information capitalism, social media users are digital labour that be exploited by digitalcorporations. This research is important so that users can use social media constructively, suchas accumulating capital and developing creativity. Don't waste time.
Cosmogenic 10Be surface exposure dating of ‘Little Ice Age’ glacial events in the Mount Jaggang area, central Tibet

The timing and extent of ‘Little Ice Age’ (LIA) glacial advances on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are critical for understanding climate during the past millennium. However, the lack of LIA chronologies in central Tibet makes it difficult to fully understand the nature of LIA throughout the TP. In this study, two presumed LIA moraines in the east of Mount Jaggang, Xainza range, the central TP, were examined and dated using 10Be surface exposure dating. Eight boulders from the two moraines yielded apparent 10Be exposure-ages ranging from 41 ± 31 to 529 ± 130 years. These 10Be exposure-ages indicate that glaciers advanced at least once in the Mount Jaggang area during the LIA. A relatively extensive glacial advance occurred around 267 ± 36 years, a relatively humid period as indicated by proxy data from lake sediments in the central TP. A glacial standstill might have occurred around 151 ± 36 years. The two LIA glacial events are comparable with those across the TP. However, much more efforts should be made on dating of LIA moraines in the Mount Jaggang area to elucidate the relationships between glacial advances and climate changes during the LIA.