Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Recent Ten-Year Perspective: Bile Acid Metabolism and Signaling

Bile acids are important physiological agents required for the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of nutrients. In addition, bile acids act as sensors of intestinal contents, which are determined by the change in the spectrum of bile acids during microbial transformation, as well as by gradual intestinal absorption. Entering the liver through the portal vein, bile acids regulate the activity of nuclear receptors, modify metabolic processes and the rate of formation of new bile acids from cholesterol, and also, in all likelihood, can significantly affect the detoxification of xenobiotics. Bile acids not absorbed by the liver can interact with a variety of cellular recipes in extrahepatic tissues. This provides review information on the synthesis of bile acids in various parts of the digestive tract, its regulation, and the physiological role of bile acids. Moreover, the present study describes the involvement of bile acids in micelle formation, the mechanism of intestinal absorption, and the influence of the intestinal microbiota on this process.
Data and Process Quality Evaluation in a Textual Big Data Archiving System

The article presents a textual Big Data analytics solution developed in a real setting as a part of a high-capacity document digitization and storage system. A software based on machine learning techniques performs automated extraction and processing of textual contents. The work focuses on performance and data confidence evaluation and describes the approach to computing a set of indicators for textual data quality. It then presents experimental results.
Anaerobic Reactor Filling for Phosphorus Removal by Metal Dissolution Method

A commonly indicated drawback of anaerobic wastewater treatment is the low effectiveness of phosphorus removal. One possibility to eliminate this disadvantage is the implementation of active fillings that contain admixtures of metals, minerals, or other elements contributing to wastewater treatment intensification. The aim of the research was to present an active filling produced via microcellular extrusion technology, and to determine its properties and performance in anaerobic wastewater treatment. The influence of copper and iron admixtures on the properties of the obtained porous extrudate in terms of its functional properties was also examined. The Barus effect increased with the highest content of the blowing agent in the material from 110 ± 12 to 134 ± 14. The addition of metal powders caused an increase in the extrudate density. The modification of PVC resulted in the highest porosity, amounting to 47.0% ± 3.2%, and caused the tensile strength to decrease by about 50%. The determined values ranged from 211.8 ± 18.3 MPa to 97.1 ± 10.0 MPa. The use of the filling in anaerobic rectors promoted COD removal, intensified biogas production, and eliminated phosphorus with an efficiency of 64.4% to 90.7%, depending on the type of wastewater and applied technological parameters.
The Effect of Toothpastes Containing Natural Extracts on Bacterial Species of a Microcosm Biofilm and on Enamel Caries Development

This study investigated the effects of herbal toothpaste on bacterial counts and enamel demineralization. Thirty-six bovine enamel samples were exposed to a microcosm biofilm using human saliva and McBain saliva (0.2% sucrose) for 5 days at 37 °C and first incubated anaerobically, then aerobically–capnophilically. The following experimental toothpaste slurries (2 × 2 min/day) were applied: (1) Vochysia tucanorum (10 mg/g); (2) Myrcia bella (5 mg/g); (3) Matricaria chamomilla (80 mg/g); (4) Myrrha and propolis toothpaste (commercial); (5) fluoride (F) and triclosan (1450 ppm F), 0.3% triclosan and sorbitol (Colgate®, positive control); (6) placebo (negative control). The pH of the medium was measured, bacteria were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enamel demineralization was quantified using transverse microradiography. The total bacterial count was reduced by toothpaste containing Myrcia bella, Matricaria chamomilla, fluoride, and triclosan (commercial) compared to the placebo. As far as assessable, Myrcia bella, Matricaria chamomilla, and Myrrha and propolis (commercial) inhibited the outgrowth of S. mutans, while Lactobacillus spp. were reduced/eliminated by all toothpastes except Vochysia tucanorum. Mineral loss and lesion depth were significantly reduced by all toothpastes (total: 1423.6 ± 115.2 vol% × μm; 57.3 ± 9.8 μm) compared to the placebo (2420.0 ± 626.0 vol% × μm; 108.9 ± 21.17 μm). Herbal toothpastes were able to reduce enamel demineralization.
Bipartite Consensus of Nonlinear Agents in the Presence of Communication Noise

In this paper, a Distributed Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion (DNDI)-based consensus protocol is designed to achieve the bipartite consensus of nonlinear agents over a signed graph. DNDI inherits the advantage of nonlinear dynamic inversion theory, and the application to the bipartite problem is a new idea. Moreover, communication noise is considered to make the scenario more realistic. The convergence study provides a solid theoretical base, and a realistic simulation study shows the effectiveness of the proposed protocol.
Association between Protein Intake and the Risk of Hypertension among Chinese Men and Women: A Longitudinal Study

This study aimed to examine the relationship between hypertension risk and protein intake in Chinese individuals. Our analysis included 7007 men and 7752 women from 9 China Health and Nutrition Survey waves (1991–2015). The main outcome was incident hypertension. Dietary intake was recorded using a combination of 3 consecutive 24-h recalls and a household food inventory survey. Energy-adjusted cumulative average intakes were analyzed, and Cox proportional hazards regression models were built. After 143,035 person-years of follow-up, 2586 and 2376 new male and female hypertension cases were identified, respectively. In multivariate-adjusted models with dietary protein intakes included as categorical variables, higher animal protein intake was associated with lower hypertension risk in women (p-trend = 0.01), whereas non-significant in men. Plant protein intake showed a significant positive correlation with hypertension risk, while non-significant for total protein. On a continuous scale, restricted cubic spline curves visually revealed L-, J-, and U-shaped associations between hypertension risk and animal-, plant-, and total-protein intakes, respectively, in both sexes (all p-nonlinearity < 0.0001). Our results suggest a beneficial association between intakes of animal, plant, and total proteins and hypertension risk at lower intake levels, and excessive intake of plant or total protein may increase the hypertension risk in the Chinese population.
Recent advances of algae-bacteria consortia in aquatic remediation

Abstract Algae-bacteria consortia treatment has been found to be a promising method for the remediation of aqueous systems. Given the scope of previous reviews on algae-bacteria interactions, the sections on chemical signaling between algae and bacteria don’t cover the current knowledge gap, and recent advances of algae-bacteria consortia in aqueous remediation don’t explore the full depth. Accordingly, the specific aim of this review was to thoroughly screen and summarize recent peer-reviewed literature on (1) the mechanism of algal selection and enrichment in wastewater treatment; (2) interactions between algae and bacteria in ecological niche environments; (3) chemical signaling between algae and bacteria; (4) aqueous remediation using the algae-bacteria consortia; and (5) advanced treatment techniques combined with algae-bacteria systems for improved aqueous remediation. The main current challenges and future perspectives in algae-bacteria consortia wastewater treatment are proposed, including: (i) comprehensively establishing the network of interactions between algae and bacteria, especially quorum sensing and phycospheric interactions; (ii) developing a detailed understanding of the chemical exchange between microbial species based on molecular diffusion processes; (iii) tracking complex algae-bacteria interactions in aquatic environments using machine learning (ML), providing a potential tool for the design of beneficial and customizable synthetic microbial communities for wastewater treatment; (iv) integrating advanced treatment techniques (e.g., MBRs, UV photolysis and biological activated carbon) with algae-bacteria consortia systems, increasing the sustainability and applicability of treatment processes. Therefore, this review provides guidance and insights on the future development of algae-bacteria consortia treatment systems and their potential application for aqueous remediation. Graphical abstract
Overview of Lung Ultrasound in Pediatric Cardiology

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is increasing in its popularity for the diagnosis of pulmonary complications in acute pediatric care settings. Despite the high incidence of pulmonary complications for patients with pediatric cardiovascular and congenital heart disease, especially in children undergoing cardiac surgery, the use of LUS remains quite limited in these patients. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview and list of current potential applications for LUS in children with congenital heart disease, post-surgery. We herein describe protocols for LUS examinations in children, discuss diagnostic criteria, and introduce methods for the diagnosis and classification of pulmonary disease commonly encountered in pediatric cardiology (e.g., pleural effusion, atelectasis, interstitial edema, pneumothorax, pneumonia, and diaphragmatic motion analysis). Furthermore, applications of chest ultrasounds for the evaluation of the retrosternal area, and in particular, systematic search criteria for retrosternal clots, are illustrated. We also discussed the potential applications of LUS, including the guidance of interventional procedures, namely lung recruitment and drainage insertion. Lastly, we analyzed current gaps in knowledge, including the difficulty of the quantification of pleural effusion and atelectasis, and the need to differentiate different etiologies of B-lines. We concluded with future applications of LUS, including strain analysis and advanced analysis of diaphragmatic mechanics. In summary, US is an easy, accurate, fast, cheap, and radiation-free tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of major pulmonary complications in pediatric cardiac surgery, and we strongly encourage its use in routine practice.
Taurine Supplementation as a Neuroprotective Strategy upon Brain Dysfunction in Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes

Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and their associated comorbidities impact brain metabolism and function and constitute risk factors for cognitive impairment. Alterations to taurine homeostasis can impact a number of biological processes, such as osmolarity control, calcium homeostasis, and inhibitory neurotransmission, and have been reported in both metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Models of neurodegenerative disorders show reduced brain taurine concentrations. On the other hand, models of insulin-dependent diabetes, insulin resistance, and diet-induced obesity display taurine accumulation in the hippocampus. Given the possible cytoprotective actions of taurine, such cerebral accumulation of taurine might constitute a compensatory mechanism that attempts to prevent neurodegeneration. The present article provides an overview of brain taurine homeostasis and reviews the mechanisms by which taurine can afford neuroprotection in individuals with obesity and diabetes. We conclude that further research is needed for understanding taurine homeostasis in metabolic disorders with an impact on brain function.
CVD-Synthesis of N-CNT Using Propane and Ammonia

N-CNT is a promising material for various applications, including catalysis, electronics, etc., whose widespread use is limited by the significant cost of production. CVD-synthesis using a propane–ammonia mixture is one of the cost-effective processes for obtaining carbon nanomaterials. In this work, the CVD-synthesis of N-CNT was conducted in a traditional bed reactor using catalyst: (Al0,4Fe0,48Co0,12)2O3 + 3% MoO3. The synthesized material was characterized by XPS spectroscopy, ASAP, TEM and SEM-microscopy. It is shown that the carbon material contains various morphological structures, including multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), bamboo-like structures, spherical and irregular sections. The content of structures (bamboo-like and spherical structure) caused by the incorporation of nitrogen into the carbon nanotube structure depends on the synthesis temperature and the ammonia content in the reaction mixture. The optimal conditions for CVD-synthesis were determined: the temperature range (650–700 °C), the composition (C3H8/NH3 = 50/50%) and flow rate of the ammonia-propane mixture (200 mL/min).
Powder Reuse in Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion of Ti6Al4V—Changes in Mechanical Properties during a Powder Top-Up Regime

The properties of Extra Low Interstitials (ELI) Ti6Al4V components fabricated via the laser-based powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process are prone to variation, particularly throughout a powder reuse regime. Interstitial pick-up of interstitial elements within the build chamber during processing can occur, most notably, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen, which can impair the mechanical properties of the built component. This study analyses ELI Ti6Al4V components manufactured by the L-PBF process when subjected to a nine-stage powder reuse sequence. Mechanical properties are reported via hardness measurement and tensile testing. Results showed that from 0.099 wt. % to 0.126 wt. % oxygen content, the mean hardness and tensile strength increased from 367.8 HV to 381.9 HV and from 947.6 Mpa to 1030.7 Mpa, respectively, whereas the ductility (area reduction) reduced from around 10% to 3%. Statistical analysis based on the empirical model from Tabor was performed to determine the strength–hardness relationship. Results revealed a significant direct relationship between tensile strength and Vickers hardness with a proportionality constant of 2.61 (R-square of 0.996 and p-value of 6.57 × 10−6).
Integrative Alternative Tactics for Ixodid Control

Simple Summary Hard ticks are important for economic and health reasons, and control has mainly relied upon use of synthetic acaricides. Contemporary development of resistance and concerns relating to health and environmental safety have elicited exploration into alternative tactics for hard tick management. Some examples of alternative tactics involve biological control, desiccant dusts, growth regulators, vaccines, cultural methods, and ingested medications. Abstract Ixodids (hard ticks), ectoparasitic arthropods that vector the causal agents of many serious diseases of humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, have become increasingly difficult to control because of the development of resistance against commonly applied synthetic chemical-based acaricides. Resistance has prompted searches for alternative, nonconventional control tactics that can be used as part of integrated ixodid management strategies and for mitigating resistance to conventional acaricides. The quest for alternative control tactics has involved research on various techniques, each influenced by many factors, that have achieved different degrees of success. Alternative approaches include cultural practices, ingested and injected medications, biological control, animal- and plant-based substances, growth regulators, and inert desiccant dusts. Research on biological control of ixodids has mainly focused on predators, parasitoid wasps, infective nematodes, and pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Studies on animal-based substances have been relatively limited, but research on botanicals has been extensive, including whole plant, extract, and essential oil effects on ixodid mortality, behavior, and reproduction. The inert dusts kaolin, silica gel, perlite, and diatomaceous earth are lethal to ixodids, and they are impervious to environmental degradation, unlike chemical-based toxins, remaining effective until physically removed.
Enhanced Fe-TiO2 Solar Photocatalysts on Porous Platforms for Water Purification

In this study, polyethylene glycol-modified titanium dioxide (PEG-modified TiO2) nanopowders were prepared using a fast solvothermal method under microwave irradiation, and without any further calcination processes. These nanopowders were further impregnated on porous polymeric platforms by drop-casting. The effect of adding iron with different molar ratios (1, 2, and 5%) of iron precursor was investigated. The characterization of the produced materials was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. Optical characterization of all the materials was also carried out. SEM showed that pure TiO2 and Fe-TiO2 nanostructures presented similar nanosized and spherical particles, which uniformly covered the substrates. From XRD, pure TiO2 anatase was obtained for all nanopowders produced, which was further confirmed by Raman spectroscopy on the impregnated substrates. XPS and UV–VIS absorption spectroscopy emission spectra revealed that the presence of Fe ions on the Fe-TiO2 nanostructures led to the introduction of new intermediate energy levels, as well as defects that contributed to an enhancement in the photocatalytic performance. The photocatalytic results under solar radiation demonstrated increased photocatalytic activity in the presence of the 5% Fe-TiO2 nanostructures (Rhodamine B degradation of 85% after 3.5 h, compared to 74% with pure TiO2 for the same exposure time). The photodegradation rate of RhB dye with the Fe-TiO2 substrate was 1.5-times faster than pure TiO2. Reusability tests were also performed. The approach developed in this work originated novel functionalized photocatalytic platforms, which were revealed to be promising for the removal of organic dyes from wastewater.
Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Hypoxia-Induced Alterations in Bone Remodeling

Bone is crucial for the support of muscles and the protection of vital organs, and as a reservoir of calcium and phosphorus. Bone is one of the most metabolically active tissues and is continuously renewed to adapt to the changes required for healthy functioning. To maintain normal cellular and physiological bone functions sufficient oxygen is required, as evidence has shown that hypoxia may influence bone health. In this scenario, this review aimed to analyze the molecular mechanisms involved in hypoxia-induced bone remodeling alterations and their possible clinical consequences. Hypoxia has been associated with reduced bone formation and reduced osteoblast matrix mineralization due to the hypoxia environment inhibiting osteoblast differentiation. A hypoxic environment is involved with increased osteoclastogenesis and increased bone resorptive capacity of the osteoclasts. Clinical studies, although with contradictory results, have shown that hypoxia can modify bone remodeling.
Modular Clustering of UAV Launch System Architecture Based on HDDSM

Rapid launch is one of the key indicators of UAV swarm operations, and one of the key decisions that determines the ultimate success of launch system development is the choice of its product architecture. The high-definition design structure matrix (HDDSM) method is introduced to model the product architecture of a UAV launch system, which reduces the workload of creating binary DSMs and improves the repeatability of product architecture design matrix (PADSM) creation. On this basis, this paper presents the classification of row (column) elements based on PADSM to correct the clustering objective function, and introduces the network structure clustering algorithm (SCAN). Combined with matrix block processing, a better UAV launch system architecture modular configuration scheme is obtained.
Exploring the Corn Microbiome: A Detailed Review on Current Knowledge, Techniques, and Future Direction

In their natural environment plants are colonized by a plethora of microorganisms. These diverse microorganisms interact with each other and the host to form a complex microbiome community. A growing body of research suggests that the microbiome has a significant impact on plant yield or health by promoting growth, stress tolerance and resistance to pathogens. Although plant microbiomes have a great potential for improving plant health and productivity, studies on crop microbiomes, especially in corn, have only recently started to be performed. During the last few years progress in next-generation sequencing technologies has enabled an increasing number of studies of corn-associated microbiomes and their dynamics with the plant. The composition and differentiation of microbial communities are not only affected by environmental factors and agricultural management, but also by host phenotype and genotype. Although challenges remain in understanding the microbiome, the combination of beneficial plant microbes, microbial community interactions and the optimization of the taxonomic composition of microbiomes determine the overall health and fitness of the plant and thus, lead to more sustainable agriculture. In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge and research on corn microbiomes using traditional culture-based approaches and next-generation amplicon or metagenomic profiling, discuss results from these approaches with emphasis on the influence of environmental and host genetic factors on corn-microbe interactions, and outline future directions and challenges in corn microbiome research. A better understanding of the corn microbiome diversity, function and microbiology will contribute to the improvement of crop health and productivity.
FDI Escapism: the effect of home country risks on outbound investment in the global economy

Over the past few decades, large numbers of literatures in behavior finance have examined firm's internationalization motives, with focused on how host country's risk components affect investment inflow. But the effects of home country risk on investment outflow remain unexamined. Therefore, based on the conceptualization of FDI escapism and the combine frameworks of Dunning's eclectic paradigm and internationalization theory, the objectives of this study are twofold: First, to examine and explain the effects of home country composite risks (which encompasses economic risks, financial risks, political risk) on firms' internationalization motive through outward FDI. Second, to determine which components of home country risk "pushes" firms to initiate the FDI escapism phenomenon in global market. Findings reveal that home country composite risk has moderate adverse effect on investment flow abroad, contributed by both the political and financial risk components, which may give rise to escaping FDI. These findings suggest that firm may initiate outward FDI as a partial escape strategy to address the political and financial challenges in their home country. These results are robust to endogeneity issue and have several substantial implications for policy design to reduce country risks in order to achieve firm's specific objective and government policy goals.