Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dry eye disease in patients with type II diabetes mellitus: A retrospective, population-based cohort study in Taiwan

Purpose To investigate the risk and protective factors of dry eye disease (DED) in patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM). Design A retrospective cohort study using Chang- Gung research database collecting data from 2005 to 2020. Methods Patients with type II DM were included, and those with previous ocular diseases were excluded. Ten thousand twenty nine developed DED (DED group), and 142,491 didn't (non-DED group). The possible risk and protective factors were compared and analyzed using the logistic regression model. Results A majority of the DED group were female with significantly higher initial and average glycated hemoglobin levels, and higher incidence of diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy. In conditional logistic regression model, advanced age was a risk factor. After adjusting for sex, age, and DM duration; average glycated hemoglobin level, diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy with eGFR 30 ~ 59 and intravitreal injection, vitrectomy, pan-retinal photocoagulation, and cataract surgery were contributing factors of DED. Considering antihyperglycemic agents, DPP4 inhibitor, SGLT2 inhibitor, GLP-1 agonist, and insulin monotherapy and dual medications combining any two of the aforementioned agents were protective factors against DED compared with metformin alone. In the monotherapy group, SLGT2 inhibitor had the lowest odds ratio, followed by GLP1 agonist, DPP4 inhibitor, and insulin. Conclusions DED in patients with DM is associated with female sex, advanced age, poor diabetic control, microvascular complications and receiving ocular procedures. GLP-1 agonist, SGLT-2 inhibitor, DPP4 inhibitor, and insulin are superior to metformin alone in preventing DM-related DED. A prospective randomized control trial is warranted to clarify our results.
Patched-Related Is Required for Proper Development of Embryonic Drosophila Nervous System

Patched-related (Ptr), classified primarily as a neuroectodermal gene, encodes a protein with predicted topology and domain organization closely related to those of Patched (Ptc), the canonical receptor of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway. To investigate the physiological function of Ptr in the developing nervous system, Ptr null mutant embryos were immunolabeled and imaged under confocal microscopy. These embryos displayed severe alterations in the morphology of the primary axonal tracts, reduced number, and altered distribution of the Repo-positive glia as well as peripheral nervous system defects. Most of these alterations were recapitulated by downregulating Ptr expression, specifically in embryonic nerve cells. Because similar nervous system phenotypes have been observed in hh and ptc mutant embryos, we evaluated the Ptr participation in the Hh pathway by performing cell-based reporter assays. Clone-8 cells were transfected with Ptr-specific dsRNA or a Ptr DNA construct and assayed for changes in Hh-mediated induction of a luciferase reporter. The results obtained suggest that Ptr could act as a negative regulator of Hh signaling. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation assays from cell culture extracts premixed with a conditioned medium revealed a direct interaction between Ptr and Hh. Moreover, in vivo Ptr overexpression in the domain of the imaginal wing disc where Engrailed and Ptc coexist produced wing phenotypes at the A/P border. Thus, these results strongly suggest that Ptr plays a crucial role in nervous system development and appears to be a negative regulator of the Hh pathway.
In-situ radon-in-water detection for high resolution submarine groundwater discharge assessment

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), including both land-based fresh groundwater that enters the ocean from coastal aquifers as well as recirculated seawater that is continuously recharged and discharged on the seabed, has been considered as an important component of the global water and biogenic element (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon and carbon) sources and a significant pathway for material exchange at the land-sea interface of coastal ecosystems. Some researchers reported that SGD associated nutrient additions to coastal waters have caused unwanted ecological issues, including red tides, coastal acidification and hypoxia. Natural radon isotope (222Rn, t1/2 = 3.8 d) is an excellent tracer for studying SGD and other oceanographic processes including air-sea gas exchange, sediment-water diffusion, and earthquake prediction. However, the conventional radon measurement methods suffer many technical disadvantages. We consequently developed a convenient submersible radon determination approach (“OUC-Rn”) using a commercial pulsed ionization chamber (PIC) radon sensor and gas extraction membrane module to produce high precision and high resolution observations. We demonstrate the radon degassing efficiency of the membrane contactor is comparable to the shower-head type air-water exchanger but is independent of operating position. The radon measurement efficiency of the PIC is 2-fold higher than the RAD7 detector and is far less influenced by moisture. We successfully deployed the system in 2.5 meters water depth over a 100 hours period in an anthropogenic influenced bay. Based on our high temporal resolution observations, the SGD flux was estimated to be 0-43.0 cm/d (mean: 25.4 ± 14.5 cm/d). The SGD fluxes pattern plotted together with the tidal variations revealed that tidal pumping may be the main force driving seawater recirculation into aquifers and thus affecting nutrient, carbon and other dissolved matters dynamics in coastal regions.
The main component of the aphid alarm pheromone (E)-β-farnesene affects the growth and development of Spodoptera exigua by mediating juvenile hormone-related genes

The (E)-β-farnesene (EβF) is one of the most important secondary metabolites in some plants and provides indirect defense against aphids. However, the direct effect of EβF against pests is still unclear. In this study, various concentrations of EβF (0.16, 0.8, and 4 g/kg) were provided in an artificial diet to determine the direct effects of EβF on Spodoptera exigua. The results showed that an artificial diet containing 4 g/kg of EβF reduced the final survival of the S. exigua larvae and per female fecundity of adults significantly when compared with CK and SC controls (p < 0.05), then ultimately it also significantly affected the intrinsic rate of increase (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the results of the EβF bioassay in an artificial diet also indicated that the proliferation of the S. exigua population was inhibited by the ingestion of EβF in a dose-dependent manner. Combined differential RNA-seq data and RT-qPCR analysis, it was found that four key genes involved in juvenile hormone degradation significantly upregulated in S. exigua larvae treated by EβF at a dose of 0.8 and 4 g/kg when compared with two controls (p < 0.05). This indicated that EβF could disturb the normal function of juvenile hormones and reduce the survival rate of S. exigua larvae. Additionally, two key genes that regulate per fecundity of S. exigua females, including SeVg and SeVgR, were significantly downregulated in adult females (p < 0.05) when they were treated with 0.8 and 4 g/kg of EβF at the larval stage, relative to the expression of these genes after treatment with controls. These findings suggested that EβF first disturbed the normal function of juvenile hormone by upregulating key degradation genes, and then inhibited the expression of SeVg/SeVgR genes and proteins, thus reducing the population size of S. exigua by increasing larval mortality and inhibiting per female fecundity.
The impact of symmetry design of intangible cultural heritage souvenir on tourists’ aesthetic pleasure

Souvenirs play an important role in tourism development. They act not only as mementos, enabling tourists to relive and retain the memory of a particular journey, but also as main income sources for tourism destinations and stakeholders. Many intangible cultural heritages (ICH) have been developed into souvenirs, especially products made by traditional craftsmanship. ICH souvenirs facilitate cultural value that is understandable to tourists, who appreciate the design of the ICH souvenirs and their contributions to a pleasure and memorable journey. Based on the theory of beauty and the preference-for-prototypes theory, this study explored how symmetry design of ICH souvenirs influences tourist’s aesthetic pleasure. As ICH souvenirs development is a commercialization process, and over-commodification would lead to cultures being lost and tourists’ disappointment, the authenticity concept is applied in order to address over-commodification. Thus, this study analyzed the moderating role of tourists’ authenticity perception of ICH souvenirs. Two lab-based between-subjects design experiments were employed to test the proposed hypotheses. Data analysis entailed multiple regression analysis, one-way ANOVA, and two-way ANOVA. The findings showed that symmetry of ICH souvenir design had a positive impact on tourists’ aesthetic pleasure. Under the symmetric-design condition, tourists’ typicality perception of ICH souvenirs positively mediated the main relationship, while under the asymmetric-design condition, tourists’ novelty perception had a negative mediating effect. The moderated mediation effects were in accord with hypotheses to some extent; at a relatively high level of authenticity perception (above mean value), the indirect effect of symmetry on aesthetic pleasure via typicality perception increased as authenticity perception rose; at a relatively low level of authenticity perception (under mean value), the indirect effect of symmetry on aesthetic pleasure via novelty perception declined as authenticity perception rose. This study identified critical factors influencing tourists’ aesthetic pleasure with ICH souvenirs, and it revealed the internal influencing mechanisms and moderating effects under different design conditions. These findings give some insights to ICH practitioners for using souvenir design to improve tourists’ aesthetic pleasure.
A potential herbal therapeutic for trichinellosis

Background Trichinellosis is a helminthic disease caused by Trichinella spiralis via the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat of infected animals. Current estimates indicate that 11 million humans have trichinellosis, worldwide. The effective use of anti-trichinella medications is limited by side effects and resistance which highlight the critical need for safe and effective drugs, particularly those derived from medicinal plants. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the ethanolic extract of Artemisia annua (A. annua) in treatment of experimentally induced trichinellosis. Materials and methods Trichinellosis was induced experimentally in male 6–8 weeks BALB/c mice. BALB/c mice were divided into four groups, 10 mice each. One group was left uninfected and untreated, whereas three groups were infected with T. spiralis. One infected group of mice was left untreated (negative control) while the remaining two infected groups received either 300 mg/kg of the ethanolic extract of A. annua or 50 mg/kg of albendazole (positive control). All treatments started from the third day post-infection (dpi) for 3 successive days. All animals were sacrificed on the 7th dpi for evaluation of treatment efficacy. Results Our findings showed that A. annua treatment reduced the T. spiralis adult-worm count in the intestine of infected animals. Moreover, treatment with A. annua restored the normal intestinal architecture, reduced edema, alleviated inflammation as demonstrated by reduced inflammatory infiltrate and expression of TGF-β in intestinal tissues of A. annua-treated animals compared to infected untreated animals. Conclusions Our findings show that A. annua extract is effective in treating experimentally induced trichinellosis which highlight the therapeutic potential of A. annua for intestinal trichinellosis.
FERONIA functions through Target of Rapamycin (TOR) to negatively regulate autophagy

FERONIA (FER) receptor kinase plays versatile roles in plant growth and development, biotic and abiotic stress responses, and reproduction. Autophagy is a conserved cellular recycling process that is critical for balancing plant growth and stress responses. Target of Rapamycin (TOR) has been shown to be a master regulator of autophagy. Our previous multi-omics analysis with loss-of-function fer-4 mutant implicated that FER functions in the autophagy pathway. We further demonstrated here that the fer-4 mutant displayed constitutive autophagy, and FER is required for TOR kinase activity measured by S6K1 phosphorylation and by root growth inhibition assay to TOR kinase inhibitor AZD8055. Taken together, our study provides a previously unknown mechanism by which FER functions through TOR to negatively regulate autophagy.
Ω, Age, and H0 Implications of Recent Hubble Space Telescope Data in the Coma Cluster

This paper presents a way of finding mutually consistent values of ΩM, t0, and H0. This approach is illustrated using recent Coma Cluster distance data, together with recent Hipparcos data for RR Lyrae stars. The age of the universe is derived by two completely independent methods, both linked to the RR Lyrae stars. The two methods can be made to yield the same answer by adjustment of the RR Lyrae magnitude zero point. One of these two age determinations is based on stellar evolution in globular clusters, and the other is based on the Hubble constant derived from globular clusters as distance indicators calibrated in the Milky Way. If, for example, RR Lyrae stars are brighter than previously thought, the stellar evolution age is shortened, whereas the Hubble age is increased, so one can determine the RR Lyrae magnitude zero point that would make the stellar evolution age coincide with the Hubble age, and ask whether it is a reasonable value. The answer depends strongly on the mass density of the universe, ΩM, which can therefore be derived simply by demanding that the two age determinations agree. For each straw-man value of ΩM, we find the RR Lyrae zero point MV(RR)0 for which the two age determinations coincide. We then choose the ΩM value for which the implied RR Lyrae zero point best agrees with observations. In the present paper, the mean of six recent Hipparcos values, MV(RR)0 = 0.61 ± 0.15, is used for illustration. For that choice, the coinciding of ages occurs at 12.5 ± 1.5 Gyr. The corresponding value of the Hubble constant is H0 = 61 ± 5 km s-1 Mpc-1. In a zero-Λ universe, the implied mass density is ΩM = 0.41 with only weak constraints on either higher or lower ΩM values. In a flat universe with ΩM + ΩΛ = 1, however, the implied mass density is ΩM = 0.62, and the uncertainty in it is asymmetric. For example, a critical-density universe with ΩM = 1.0 and ΩΛ = 0.0 (for which H0 = 57 km s-1 Mpc-1 and t0 = 11.4 Gyr) differs by only 0.7 σ, and is therefore not strongly negated, whereas a low-density universe with ΩM = 0.1 and ΩΛ = 0.9 (for which H0 = 74 km s-1 Mpc-1 and t0 = 17.0 Gyr) differs by 3 σ, and therefore appears unlikely.
The impact of pulmonary tuberculosis on immunological and metabolic features of diabetic patients

Impaired immune responses have been observed in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which increases susceptibility to tuberculosis infection. However, the effect of the tuberculosis infection on the immunological and metabolic features of T2DM is largely unknown. To investigate this question, age- and sex-matched patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), T2DM, or T2DM combined with PTB were recruited from the Infectious Disease Hospital of Heilongjiang Province between January and September 2020. Healthy subjects were used as controls. Cytokines and chemokines in fasting serum samples were determined using the Quantibody Inflammation Array. Compared with T2DM alone, patients with T2DM combined with PTB have higher fasting blood glucose levels and monocyte counts in circulation. Among the four groups, circulating IL-10 levels peaked in patients with T2DM and PTB (p<0.05). Univariate linear analysis showed that serum IL-10 levels were positively associated with myeloid cells but negatively correlated with lymphocyte counts in these patients (p<0.05). Serum IL-6 levels were 1.6-fold higher in patients with T2DM plus PTB than in those with T2DM alone. In conclusion, PTB infection in patients with T2DM had distinct inflammatory profiles and sustained hyperglycaemia compared with PTB or T2DM alone. IL-10 levels and elevated monocyte counts could be hallmarks of patients with T2DM infected with PTB.
FSI Analysisof Carangiform Three Dimensional Multi-Link Biomimetic Robotic Fish

Anahtar kelimeler Robot balık; Hidrodinamik analiz; HAD (Hesaplamalı Akışkanlar Dinamiği); FSI (Akışkan-Yapı Analizi) Özet Bu çalışmada akışkan içerisinde hareket eden carangiform yüzüş moduna sahip üçboyutlu ve çokeklemlibir robot balık modeline etki eden hız, basınç ve girdap değerlerinin bulunması amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda HAD (Hesaplamalı akışkanlar dinamiği) yazılımlarından biri olan Ansys paket programı ileüç boyutlu robot balığın hidrodinamik analizi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu analizde FSI (akışkan-yapı analizi) yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Analiz sırasında kullanılan üç boyutlu ve çok eklemli robot balık modelinin SolidWorks paket programında tasarımı gerçekleştirilmiştir. Analizin ilk aşamasında robot balık sabit tutularak sınırları belirli bir havuz içerisinde akışkan olarak seçilen suya farklı hız değerleri uygulanmıştır ve bu değerler için balığa etki eden hız, basınç ve girdap değerleri incelenmiştir. Analizin ikinci aşamasında ise durgun akışkan ortamında robot balığın farklı iki yüzüş modeline ait (düz yüzüş ve dönüş)açı değerleri eklemlere uygulanarak balığın hareketleri sağlanmıştır. Buçalışma ile carangiform üç boyutlu ve çok eklemli biomimetik birrobot balığın deneysel gerçeklemesinden önce Ansys ortamına yansıtılmasıyla sınırları belirli bir havuz içerisinde hız, basınç ve girdap değerlerinin bulunması hedeflenmiştir.
Monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) in anticipatory action—earth observation as a game changer

For many decades, humanitarian assistance relied on emergency response, triggering both funding and operational activities only after disaster impacts had been recorded. In recent years, many humanitarian actors have joined forces to complement traditional, reactive mechanisms with a forward-looking approach that can be activated before a disaster strikes. Anticipatory action (AA) uses forecasts of extreme weather events and combines them with risk information to identify and implement locally-led early actions with the goal of protecting lives and livelihoods more efficiently. AA is still a relatively new approach. Hence, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) is crucial to measure its effectiveness and adjust where necessary, as well as for (government) donors that want to see the added value of their investment maximized. However, evidence-based studies that investigate potential limitations and the exact impact pathway of AA at household level are time-consuming, costly, and therefore scarce. Satellite earth observation can become a game changer in AA by strengthening the evidence base via rapid, low-cost assessments. Both commercial and freely available satellite-derived data have reached an unprecedented level of quality, spatial, and temporal resolution. Simultaneously, there are major uncertainties regarding where, when, how, and under what conditions satellite data can support MEAL for AA at all. We argue that satellite data for an advanced MEAL framework should be considered already in the design phase of AA projects and that the translation of satellite data into actionable information will require a cross-cutting community of practice.
Comparison of mid-term clinical outcome in heart transplantation patients using mycophenolate mofetil vs. enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium

Background Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a prodrug of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and a key immunosuppressant for improving graft survival in patients with heart transplantation (HTx). However, dose reduction or interruption is occasionally needed due to gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) is an alternative form of MPA delivery to improve GI tolerability. In the present study, the efficacy of EC-MPS compared with MMF in HTx patients was investigated. Methods In this retrospective study, the Korean Organ Transplant Registry (KOTRY) data were used to analyze the efficacy and rejection rate of MMF and EC-MPS. A total of 611 patients was enrolled from 2014 to February of 2021. Patients were divided based on the use of MMF or EC-MPS at 6 months post-HTx. Patients who were not prescribed MMF or EC-MPS were excluded. Graft survival, all-cause mortality, and treated rejection were compared between the two groups. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS; characteristics were compared using Pearson chi-square test and survival rate with Kaplan-Meier plot and log-rank test. Results A total of 510 HTx patients was analyzed (mean age: 51.74 ± 13.16 years, males: 68.2%). At 6 months after HTx, 78 patients were taking EC-MPA (12.8%) and 432 patients were taking MMF (70.7%). The median follow-up was 42.0 months (IQR: 21.7–61.0 months). Post-HTx outcomes including overall survival, all cause mortality, acute cell mediated rejection (ACR), acute antibody mediated rejection (AMR), treated rejection, and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) were comparable between the two groups during follow-up. Conclusion Notable differences were not observed in overall survival, all cause mortality, ACR, AMR, treated rejection, and CAV between MMF and EC-MPS groups. Efficacy of EC-MPS was similar to that of MMF in HTx patients during mid-term follow up after HTx.
PE augmented mindfulness: A neurocognitive framework for research and future healthcare

Various well-controlled studies have suggested that practitioners in mindfulness can be prone to patient drop-out (e.g., due to chronic stress, pathology, cognitive reactivity), despite researchers having identified the underlying mechanisms that link mindfulness to mental health. In this article, a framework for physical exercise (PE) augmented mindfulness is proposed, which posits that consistently practiced PE before meditation can support (early-stage) mindfulness. Neurocognitive research shows PE (aerobic exercises or yoga) and mindfulness to impact similar pathways of stress regulation that involve cognitive control and stress regulation, thereby supporting the proposed synergistic potential of PE augmented mindfulness. Research focused on the psychophysiological impact of PE, showed its practice to promote short-term neurocognitive changes that can promote both cognitive control and the attainment of mindful awareness (MA). In order to chart dose responses required for protocol development, further research will be presented. Together these findings are discussed in light of future research on this multidisciplinary topic, protocol development, mindful walking, and further application in healthcare and beyond.