Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metagenomic Analysis of Antarctic Biocrusts Unveils a Rich Range of Cold-Shock Proteins

Microorganisms inhabiting Antarctic biocrusts develop several strategies to survive extreme environmental conditions such as severe cold and drought. However, the knowledge about adaptations of biocrusts microorganisms are limited. Here, we applied metagenomic sequencing to study biocrusts from east Antarctica. Biocrusts were dominated by cyanobacteria, actinobacteria and proteobacteria. Furthermore, the results provided insights into the presence and abundance of cold shock proteins (Csp), cold shock domain A proteins (CsdA), and antifreeze proteins (AFP) in these extreme environments. The metagenomic analysis revealed a high number of CsdA across the samples. The majority of the Csp recorded in the studied biocrusts were Csp A, C, and E. In addition, CsdA, Csp, and AFP primarily originated from proteobacteria and actinobacteria.
Efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of psychogenic erectile dysfunction: study protocol for a randomized control trial

Acupuncture is widely used in China for various conditions. Recently, due to the limitations of conventional treatment, many patients with psychogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) tend to choose acupuncture therapy, which is more commonly applied in countries such as China. The present clinical trial protocol aimed to initially verify the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of psychogenic ED. Our study is a prospective, randomized control trial (RCT). The protocol for this RCT is based on the standard protocol items: recommendations for interventional trials (SPIRIT) 2013 statement. After the participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria sign an informed consent form, the investigator will schedule them for the trial. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups (acupuncture and sham acupuncture). Both groups will receive 18 sessions of interventions for 6 continuous weeks and will be followed up for 10 weeks. At five time points (0, 2, 4, 6 and 10 weeks), We will measure the primary and secondary outcomes. Emerging evidence support acupuncture therapy for improving male sexual function and its application in andrology. However, its efficacy on patients diagnosed with psychogenic ED has not been extensively studied. With our study, we anticipate to fill the knowledge gap in acupuncture as treatment for psychogenic ED.
One-pot Preparation of Porphyrin-Sensitized ZIF-8 as a Visible Light Photocatalyst

Tetraaminoporphyrin (TAPP) sensitized ZIF-8 was successfully prepared by one-pot method as an efficient visible light photocatalyst. The prepared photocatalyst TAPP/ZIF-8 was characterized by XRD and SEM. The combination of TAPP and ZIF-8 enhances the absorption of visible light, effectively improves the electron-hole separation, and improves the photocatalytic activity under visible light. In the photocatalytic experiment, TAPP/ZIF-8 showed good photocatalytic performance for the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light. Therefore, our work provides an efficient green photocatalyst for water treatment.
FPGA-Based Machine Learning: Platforms, Applications, Design Considerations, Challenges, and Future Directions

Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have emerged as a promising platform for accelerating machine learning tasks due to their high parallelism, low latency, and hardware customization ability. In this paper, the authors provide an overview of popular FPGA platforms for machine learning and compare the tradeoffs among FPGAs, GPUs, and CPUs for machine learning. The authors also present specific applications of machine learning based on FPGAs, including those in autonomous driving and healthcare. Additionally, the paper explores FPGA design considerations, such as architecture, resource utilization, and power consumption. Nonetheless, obstacles persist in the realm of FPGA-based machine learning that require attention. Identifying the ideal balance between adaptability and performance, considering factors such as space, energy usage, and latency, is still challenging. As the capabilities of FPGAs expand, there is a significant need for devices that have a smaller footprint, reduced power consumption, and minimized delays. The paper emphasizes the necessity of ongoing research in the field of FPGA-based machine learning to address these issues and continue enhancing the performance and effectiveness of machine learning systems.
Polymeric Denture Base Materials: A Review

An ideal denture base must have good physical and mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and esthetic properties. Various polymeric materials have been used to construct denture bases. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is the most used biomaterial for dentures fabrication due to its favorable properties, which include ease of processing and pigmenting, sufficient mechanical properties, economy, and low toxicity. This article aimed to comprehensively review the current knowledge about denture base materials (DBMs) types, properties, modifications, applications, and construction methods. We searched for articles about denture base materials in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. Journals covering topics including dental materials, prosthodontics, and restorative dentistry were also combed through. Denture base material variations, types, qualities, applications, and fabrication research published in English were considered. Although PMMA has several benefits and gained popularity as a denture base material, it has certain limitations and cannot be classified as an ideal biomaterial for fabricating dental prostheses. Accordingly, several studies have been performed to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of PMMA by chemical modifications and mechanical reinforcement using fibers, nanofillers, and hybrid materials. This review aimed to update the current knowledge about DBMs’ types, properties, applications, and recent developments. There is a need for specific research to improve their biological properties due to patient and dental staff adverse reactions to possibly harmful substances produced during their manufacturing and use.
Learning to Live Together: Measuring Global Perspective Through Roommate Pairing

The present study examined the role of global perspective development on college students, focusing on international and domestic student roommate pairings. The literature review explored the role of global citizen development among college students, international student transitions, and the role of residence life in college student development, as well as how all these aspects inform and impact development of global perspective. The methodology utilized a mixed methods approach including both quantitative pretest and posttest surveys and qualitative interview questions. The quantitative data utilized the Global Perspective Inventory (GPI), while the qualitative included two email interview questions. According to the key findings, domestic students both quantitatively and qualitatively proved to have an increased global perspective, while international students’ global perspective both quantitatively and qualitatively did not increase.
Analysis of technological pedagogical content knowledge in teachers of mathematics and language and literature subjects

The aim of this research is to analyses the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK) of teachers of Mathematics and Language and Literature subjects in a secondary school in Nicaragua, specifically in the three dimensions of this theoretical model: Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), Technological Content Knowledge (TCK) and Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK). The study was developed under a comparative descriptive approach, with the participation of 11 teachers (5 Mathematics and 6 Language and Literature). For the data collection, an online questionnaire was applied to the teachers and analyzed through comparative tables of the three dimensions of the TPCK. The results indicate that there is more evidence of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Mathematics teachers than in Language and Literature teachers. It is concluded that there is a need to support teachers in both disciplines in specific areas of the TPCK to improve their skills.
A comparison of FDML and GMM for estimation of dynamic panel models with roots near unity

This thesis compares the performance of the first-differenced maximum likelihood estimator (FDML) and the Blundell-Bond continuously-updating system GMM estimator of the autoregressive parameter in an AR(1) dynamic panel model without exogenous covariates, particularly focusing on the close-to-non-stationary case. This case is far from trivial, as a high degree of persistence is the norm rather than the exception in economic panels. The results of the Monte Carlo simulations show that the absolute mean and median biases of the FDML are higher for low values of N and T in the close-to-non-stationary case. However, the biases become negligible for both estimators as $N$ and $T$ increase. The power of the GMM is generally higher than that of the FDML, while, on the other hand, the GMM suffers from severe size distortions. This problem is magnified both when T increases, as well as when the process approaches non-stationarity. Finally, the GMM estimator is shown to display Cauchy properties when the process is very close to non-stationarity. This produces some peculiar bias results for certain combinations of N and T when using the GMM.
Temporal high-pass filter non-uniformity correction based on guided bilateral filter for IRFPA

In order to solve the problem of ghost artifacts in the traditional nonuniformity correction(NUC) method, a new scene-based guided bilateral filter(GBF) nonuniformity correction was proposed. In this paper, the original input image sequences are processed by the guided bilateral filter firstly, then the expected output imagine with the boundary information was estimated recursively only by using high spatial-frequency part of the image which contains most of the noise and nonuinformity. The method was verified with several infrared image sequences, and several experimental results show that the proposed method can significantly reduce the ghosting artifacts in temporal high-pass filter(THPF) and achieve a better nonunifotmity correction effect.
Government loudspeakers: How Indonesian media amplifies the state's narrative towards the Free West Papua movement

In early 2021, the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security, Mahfud MD, made a statement that all armed actions in West Papua carried out by individuals or groups with the aim of liberating themselves are ‘acts of terrorism’. This was the moment when the Indonesian government formally labelled the Free West Papua Movement as ‘terrorist suspects’ and ‘terrorist organisations’. Indonesian online media responded by providing extensive coverage of Mahfud MD’s statement and the excesses after this statement. Indonesian online media tend to use the term ‘terrorist’ in their reporting to label ‘separatist’ West Papua movements, those seeking independence or self-determination. The term ‘terrorist’ replaces Armed Criminal Group—Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata (KKB). This study shows how six Indonesian mass media organisations frame cases of labelling terrorists against West Papuan pro-independence groups. This study, using quantitative framing analysis, examines framing conducted by six national online media which are dominant in Indonesia and have the most audience share: Okezone, Detik, Kompas.com, Tribunnews, CNN Indonesia and Tirto. This study also elaborates the experiences and perceptions of journalists who write on the issue of West Papua, particularly in terms of labelling West Papuan ‘separatist’ groups as ‘terrorists’ by the government and how the media frames West Papua. The findings of this study show that the media tend to only be a ‘loudspeaker’ for the government, use all discourses issued by the government, and even participate in using the term terrorist to replace the KKB.
Combined Therapy of Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis by a Dual-Drug Nanocomposite Formulation with Berberine and Dexamethasone

Purpose Autoimmune uveitis is a kind of sight-threatening ocular and systemic disorders. Recent treatments on autoimmune uveitis still remain many limitations due to extreme complexity and undetermined pathogenesis. In this study, a novel dual-drug nanocomposite formulation is developed to treat experimental autoimmune uveitis by a combined and sustained therapy method. Methods The dual-drug nanocomposite formulation is constructed by integrating berberine (BBR)-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) into dexamethasone (DEX)-loaded thermogel (BBR@MSN-DEX@Gel). The BBR@MSN-DEX@Gel is characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and rheometer. The in vitro drug release profile, cytotoxicity and anti-inflammation effectiveness of BBR@MSN-DEX@Gel on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human conjunctival epithelial cells are investigated. After the in vivo drug release profile and biosafety of the dual-drug nanocomposite formulation are confirmed, its treatment effectiveness is fully assessed based on the induced experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) Lewis rat’s model. Results The dual-drug nanocomposite formulation has good injectability and thermosensitivity, suitable for administration by an intravitreal injection. The BBR@MSN-DEX@Gel has been found to sustainably release both drugs for up to 4 weeks. The carrier materials have minimal in vitro cytotoxicity and high in vivo biosafety. BBR@MSN-DEX@Gel presents obviously anti-inflammatory effectiveness in vitro. After administration of BBR@MSN-DEX@Gel into Lewis rat’s eye with EAU by an intravitreal injection, the nanocomposite formulation significantly suppresses inflammatory reaction of autoimmune uveitis via a dual-drug combined and sustained therapy method, compared with the equivalent dose of single-component formulations. Conclusion BBR@MSN-DEX@Gel serves as a promising dual-drug nanocomposite formulation for future treatment of autoimmune uveitis.
Evaluation of Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Children

Aim: Staphylococcus aureus is the most common infectious agent worldwide which leads to morbidity and mortality. Community and hospital acquired infections can range to skin infections to life-threatening infections. In our study, we attempted to evaluate demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters and the prognosis of children with S. aureus infection. Methods: Children infected with S. aureus at the Department of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, from 2014 to 2022 were analysed retrospectively. Patients were evaluated for MRSA, MSSA, and community or hospital-acquired infections. Results: A total of 116 children's detected specimens were collected; 31.9% contained MRSA and 68.1% contained MSSA. The proportion of community-acquired (CA) infections was 88.8%, while hospital-acquired (HA) infections were 11.2%. MSSA was more common in the CA-S. aureus group, while MRSA was more common in the HA-S. aureus group (p=.025). The most common clinical manifestations included soft tissue infection, lymphadenitis, cutaneous infection, osteomyelitis, and septic arthritis. Each patient was treated with antibiotics, 77.59% of patients was required hospitalization. In 62.9% of the patients, surgical intervention (drainage or debridement) was performed. Despite 86.2% of the patients were cured, infection persisted in nine patients with epidermolysis bullosa, CIPA syndrome, and bone implants. One patient with shunt meningitis died. Conclusions: S. aureus cause both CA and HA superficial or invasive infections, in children. Especially in life-threatening infections, appropriate antibiotic therapy is critical for preventing mortality until an antibiogram culture result is obtained. The patient's clinical condition and regional antibiotic resistance should be considered when prescribing antibiotics empirically.
Recent Advances in Batteryless NFC Sensors for Chemical Sensing and Biosensing

This article reviews the recent advances in the field of batteryless near-field communication (NFC) sensors for chemical sensing and biosensing. The commercial availability of low-cost commercial NFC integrated circuits (ICs) and their massive integration in smartphones, used as readers and cloud interfaces, have aroused great interest in new batteryless NFC sensors. The fact that coil antennas are not importantly affected by the body compared with other wireless sensors based on far-field communications makes this technology suitable for future wearable point-of-care testing (PoCT) devices. This review first compares energy harvesting based on NFC to other energy-harvesting technologies. Next, some practical recommendations for designing and tuning NFC-based tags are described. Power transfer is key because in most cases, the energy harvested has to be stable for several seconds and not contaminated by undesired signals. For this reason, the effect of the dimensions of the coils and the conductivity on the wireless power transfer is thoroughly discussed. In the last part of the review, the state of the art in NFC-based chemical and biosensors is presented. NFC-based tags (or sensor tags) are mainly based on commercial or custom NFC ICs, which are used to harvest the energy from the RF field generated by the smartphone to power the electronics. Low-consumption colorimeters and potentiostats can be integrated into these NFC tags, opening the door to the integration of chemical sensors and biosensors, which can be harvested and read from a smartphone. The smartphone is also used to upload the acquired information to the cloud to facilitate the internet of medical things (IoMT) paradigm. Finally, several chipless sensors recently proposed in the literature as a low-cost alternative for chemical applications are discussed.
Exponential Error Bounds for Block Codes Constructed by Unit Memory Trellis Codes

Block codes constructed by unit memory trellis codes are discussed from random coding arguments. There are three methods to obtain block codes from trellis codes, i.e., those of (i) Tail Termination (TT), (ii) Direct Truncation (DT), and (iii) Tail Biting (TB). In this paper, we discuss exponential error bounds for block codes constructed by the unit memory (UM) trellis codes based on the above three methods and error exponents for these codes are derived. For a given branch length, the error exponent of the tail biting unit memory (TB-UM) trellis codes is shown to be larger than those of the tail termination unit memory (TT-UM) and the direct truncation unit memory (DT-UM) trellis codes for all rates less than the capacity. Taking into account of the decoding complexity, the TB-UM trellis codes are also shown to have a smaller upper bound on the probability of decoding error than the ordinary block codes for the same rate except for low rates with the same decoding complexity.
Antipsychotics reduces mortality in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective study of psychiatric consultation cases

Objective This study aimed to identify the presence of psychiatric comorbidities as well as investigate the relationship between psychiatric interventions for mental symptoms and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Method We retrospectively evaluated the records of 160 inpatients with SLE who required psychiatric consultation for further therapeutic intervention from 2013 to 2020 in a tertiary general hospital. We collected clinical data, including diagnoses, medications, and mortality rate. We compared clinical characteristics among the diagnosis groups and correlations between variables. Results A total of 138 (86.3%) patients met the diagnostic criteria for at least one mental disorder, with the most common being delirium (54.4%). The average Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score significantly differed among the diagnosis groups (p = 0.003). The mortality rate among patients with delirium was significantly higher than that in the other patient groups (x2 = 12.967, p = 0.024). SLEDAI-2K score was not significantly correlated with mortality (r = 0.123, p = 0.087). Antipsychotics use was associated with mortality (odds ratio 0.053, p = 0.021). Conclusion Antipsychotic use may decrease death risk for patients with NPSLE. Early psychiatric consultation is necessary for patients with SLE who have developed or have suspected psychiatric symptoms in order to establish a comprehensive intervention plan.
Federalism and Policy Design in Two Liberal Welfare State Regimes: Comparing the Politics of Labour Market Policies in Canada and the United States

Abstract This paper explores the relationship between federalism and the policy design of labour market policies in two liberal welfare state regimes – Canada and the United States – addressing the following research question: How do variations in policy design intersect with federalism in both countries and how can these variations provide powerful, self-reinforcing or self-undermining feedback effects over time? Combining the literatures on the varieties of federalism, the liberal welfare regime, and policy design and feedback, the paper shows that paying close attention to federalism is necessary to understand diverse national policy designs that produce self-reinforcing feedback effects over time.
Sour Tamarind Is More Antihypertensive than the Sweeter One, as Evidenced by In Vivo Biochemical Indexes, Ligand–Protein Interactions, Multitarget Interactions, and Molecular Dynamic Simulation

This research investigated the antihypertensive effects of tamarind products and compared their potentials based on an animal model’s data verified by molecular docking, multitarget interactions, and dynamic simulation assays. GC-MS-characterized tamarind products were administered to cholesterol-induced hypertensive albino rat models. The two-week-intervened animals were dissected to collect their serum and organs and respectively subjected to analyses of their hypertension-linked markers and tissue architectures. The lead biometabolites of tamarinds interacted with eight target receptors in the molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies and with multitarget in the network pharmacological analyses. The results show that the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), C-reactive protein (CRP), troponin I, and lipid profiles were maximally reinstated by the phenolic-enriched ripened sour tamarind extract compared to the sweet one, but the seed extracts had a smaller influence. Among the tamarind’s biometabolites, ϒ-sitosterol was found to be the best ligand to interact with the guanylate cyclase receptor, displaying the best drug-likeliness with the highest binding energy, −9.3 Kcal. A multitargeted interaction-based degree algorithm and a phylogenetic tree of pathways showed that the NR3C1, REN, PPARG, and CYP11B1 hub genes were consistently modulated by ϒ-sitosterol to reduce hypertension and related risk factors. The dynamic simulation study showed that the P-RMSD values of ϒ-sitosterol–guanylate cyclase were stable between 75.00 and 100.00 ns at the binding pocket. The findings demonstrate that ripened sour tamarind extract may be a prospective antihypertensive nutraceutical or supplement target affirmed through advanced preclinical and clinical studies.
Near-Miss Clone Detection Based on Two-Stage Clustering Using Neighborhood Hashing

Duplicated code is pointed out as one of the main factors that increase the maintainability of software. So far, much research has been done on clone detection. However, previous detection techniques do not detect near-miss clones derived by the addition or the deletion of statements, or take much computational cost for detecting near-miss clones from large scale software. This paper presents a technique using two-stage clustering for near-miss clone detection, and show the detection time proportional to the size of source code.