Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrating TAM and ISSM Theories to Investigate Social Media Factors on Students' Satisfaction and Academic Performance

Based on the emerging students' usage of social media in numerous nations, including Indonesia, Microsoft Forms was used to gather data from 410 respondents, and SmartPLS 4.0 was applied to the data analysis in accordance with the research criteria. The questionnaire was distributed in November 2023, and the survey results showed that two hypotheses were rejected, specifically in terms of system quality and perceived ease of use in terms of utilizing social media for educational purposes. Meanwhile, others were accepted and had, directly or indirectly, a substantial effect on the academic achievement and satisfaction of students.
Teachers' Accounts of Their Perceptions and Practices of Providing Written Feedback to Nursing Students on Their Assignments

Written feedback can facilitate students’ learning in several ways. However, the teachers’ practices of written feedback may be affected by various factors. This study aimed to explore the nurse teachers’ accounts of their perceptions and practices of providing written feedback. A descriptive exploratory design was employed in the study. A purposive sample of 12 teachers from nursing institutions in Karachi, Pakistan, participated in the study. Using a semi-structured guide, in-depth interviews were conducted with the participants, between January-September, 2013. The interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim and were manually content analyzed. The analysis of findings led to three sections: teachers’ conceptions about written feedback, teachers’ practices of providing written feedback, and factors that affect the teachers’ practices of providing written feedback to their students. The findings indicated that although the teachers realize the importance of written feedback and its impact on students’ learning, several factors, including teachers’ competence and commitment, students’ receptivity, and contextual barriers, affected their practices. To actualize the potential power of teachers’ written feedback in students’ learning, both teachers and institutional administrators need to realize the importance of written feedback. Moreover, concerted efforts including teachers’ development and policies are required to overcome the factors that negatively influence the practices of written feedback.
Role of Cytokine Signaling during Nervous System Development

Cytokines are signaling proteins that were first characterized as components of the immune response, but have been found to have pleiotropic effects in diverse aspects of body function in health and disease. They are secreted by numerous cells and are used extensively in intercellular communications to produce different activities, including intricate processes engaged in the ontogenetic development of the brain. This review discusses factors involved in brain growth regulation and recent findings exploring cytokine signaling pathways during development of the central nervous system. In view of existing data suggesting roles for neurotropic cytokines in promoting brain growth and repair, these molecules and their signaling pathways might become targets for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative processes due to diseases, toxicity, or trauma.
Relation between different methods for analysing ST segment deviation and infarct size as assessed by positron emission tomography

Objective: To study the relation between resolution of ST segment deviation and infarct size using positron emission tomography. Methods: 45 patients with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention were studied prospectively. An ECG was taken before and at (mean (SD)) 100 (45) min after reperfusion therapy. ECGs were analysed by three methods. Residual ST segment deviation, obtained from the ECG immediately after completion of reperfusion therapy, was defined by summation for each of the three methods. Relative resolution of ST segment deviation was defined as the absolute resolution divided by the ST segment deviation score at baseline × 100 (%). After 29 (14) hours, myocardial blood flow was measured with 13NH3. For each patient, the regions with a myocardial blood flow < 80% of normally perfused myocardium ( = hypoperfusion) and < 50% ( = no reflow) were automatically delineated. Results: Substantial differences were found between different ECG analysis methods. There were moderate correlations between the area with myocardial hypoperfusion and ST segment deviation scores at baseline and after reperfusion therapy. After reperfusion therapy, residual ST segment deviation in the single lead with maximum ST segment deviation was as good at discriminating between tertiles of myocardial damage as summed ST segment elevation. Relative ST segment resolution did not discriminate between different degrees of myocardial damage. Conclusions: In the individual patient, residual ST segment deviation after reperfusion in the single lead with maximum ST segment deviation is at least as good as summed ST elevation in predicting final myocardial damage.
Iterative Feature Boosting for Explainable Speech Emotion Recognition

In speech emotion recognition (SER), using predefined features without considering their practical importance may lead to high dimensional datasets, including redundant and irrelevant information. Consequently, high-dimensional learning often results in decreasing model accuracy while increasing computational complexity. Our work underlines the importance of carefully considering and analyzing features in order to build efficient SER systems. We present a new supervised SER method based on an efficient feature engineering approach. We pay particular attention to the explainability of results to evaluate feature relevance and refine feature sets. This is performed iteratively through feature evaluation loop, using Shapley values to boost feature selection and improve overall framework performance. Our approach allows thus to balance the benefits between model performance and transparency. The proposed method outperforms human-level performance (HLP) and state-of-the-art machine learning methods in emotion recognition on the TESS dataset. The source code of this paper is publicly available at Iterative-Feature-Boosting-for-Explainable-Speech-Emotion-Recoanition.
Neurocognitive Function in HIV-Infected Patients: Comparison of Two Methods to Define Impairment

Objective To compare two definitions of neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in a large clinical trial of effectively-treated HIV-infected adults at baseline. Methods Hopkins Verbal Learning test-Revised (HVLT-R), Colour Trail (CTT) and Grooved Pegboard (GPT) tests were applied exploring five cognitive domains. Raw scores were transformed into Z-scores and NCI defined as summary NPZ-5 score one standard deviation below the mean of the normative dataset (i.e. <−1SD) or Z-scores <−1SD in at least two individual domains (categorical scale). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to explore the contribution of individual tests to the total variance. Results Mean NPZ-5 score was −0.72 (SD 0.98) and 178/548 (32%) participants had NPZ-5 scores <−1SD. When impairment was defined as <−1SD in at least two individual tests, 283 (52%) patients were impaired. Strong correlations between the two components of the HVLT-R test (learning/recall) (r = 0.73), and the CTT and (attention/executive functioning) (r = 0.66) were observed. PCA showed a clustering with three components accounting for 88% of the total variance. When patients who scored <−1SD only in two correlated tests were considered as not impaired, prevalence of NCI was 43%. When correlated test scores were averaged, 36% of participants had NPZ-3 scores <−1SD and 32% underperformed in at least two individual tests. Conclusion Controlling for differential contribution of individual test-scores on the overall performance and the level of correlation between components of the test battery used appear to be important when testing cognitive function. These two factors are likely to affect both summary scores and categorical scales in defining cognitive impairment. Trial registration EUDRACT: 2007-006448-23 and ISRCTN04857074.
Cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: an American Heart Association scientific statement from the Council on Clinical Cardiology (Subcommittee on Exercise, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Prevention) and the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism (Su

This article updates the 1994 American Heart Association scientific statement on cardiac rehabilitation. It provides a review of recommended components for an effective cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention program, alternative ways to deliver these services, recommended future research directions, and the rationale for each component of the rehabilitation/secondary prevention program, with emphasis on the exercise training component.
Building a Multilevel Inflection Handling Stemmer to Improve Search Effectiveness for Urdu Language

Stemming is an essential step in various Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications and is used to reduce different variants of the query words to a standard form to avoid the vocabulary mismatch issue in Information Retrieval (IR) systems. Due to specific grammatical rules and complex morphological structures, finding an effective stemming algorithm in Urdu is a challenging task. Although, several stemming algorithms have been proposed for the Urdu text stemming; however, none of them extract the stem from multilevel inflected forms. In this context, according to the best of our knowledge, this is a first effort towards the proposition and evaluation of a novel Urdu Text Stemmer (UTS) that can deal with multi-level inflection forms in Urdu text. The experimental evaluation of the proposed scheme has been conducted on the text-based and word-based custom-developed corpus. The proposed stemming technique is rigorously evaluated and compared with state-of-the-art stemming algorithms. Experimental results demonstrate that UTS outperforms existing Urdu stemmers and achieves an accuracy of 94.92% and 91.8% on word corpus and text corpus, respectively. We also evaluated our proposed system in an Information Retrieval application for Urdu, using the Collection for Urdu Retrieval Evaluation (CURE) dataset. Our approach for information retrieval outperformed and improved both recall and precision metrics.
Trust in Buyer-Supplier Relationships: Supplier Competency, Interpersonal Relationships and Outcomes

In this paper, we develop a model that links the antecedents of trust, trust itself and outcome success. We test the model using data from a questionnaire and present the path analytical results. The data suggest that performance outcomes are based on both direct effects from objective supplier performance and indirect effects through trust. However, many of the “people oriented” trust enablers (e.g. engineering personnel exchange) have no bearing on the establishment of trust. Additional discussion and a number of suggestions for future research are provided.
Validation and Cross-cultural Adaptation of the Korean Version of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire in Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Study Design. Linguistic and psychometric validation of a translated questionnaire. Objective. To validate the Korean version of Zurich claudication questionnaire (ZCQ) both linguistically and psychometrically. Summary of Background Data. The ZCQ is considered as a disease specific and gold standard measure for evaluation of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). However, there has been no validated Korean version of the ZCQ. Methods. The ZCQ was translated forward and backward, culturally adapted by 2 independent translators, and approved by an expert committee. The final version of the Korean ZCQ was added to a routine questionnaire including a visual analog pain scale (VAS) for back and leg pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the European Quality of Life-5 dimensions (EQ-5D). Psychometric validation included reliability by internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha, the test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and concurrent validity by comparing the Korean ZCQ to VAS for back/leg pain, ODI, and EQ-5D using Pearson correlation. Results. A total of 109 patients were included in this study. The test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the ZCQ was shown to have good reliability for all three domains: the ICCs for symptom, function, and satisfaction domains were 0.79, 0.84, and 0.91, respectively. Internal consistency of the Korean ZCQ for the symptom, function, and satisfaction domains was also excellent (Cronbach &agr; = 0.894, 0.939, and 0.961, respectively). For concurrent validity, all three domains of the Korean ZCQ were significantly correlated with external criteria including VAS for back/leg pain, ODI, and EQ-5D. In the assessment of responsiveness, 21 patients who completed the ZCQ both before and after surgery demonstrated significantly different scores for symptom and disability domains. Conclusion. The validated Korean version of the ZCQ is a transculturally equivalent, reliable, and valid tool for use in assessing symptoms, function, and satisfaction with treatment in patients with LSS. Level of Evidence: 3
Robust Global Exponential Stability of Fuzzy Neural Networks with Bis-Disturbances

This paper provides a sufficient criterion guaranteeing the robust global exponential stability (RGES) of fuzzy neural networks (FNN) with bis-disturbances, i.e., derivative contraction coefficients and piecewise constant arguments. By using the generalized Gronwall inequality and modular inequality, the upper bound of bis-disturbances is derived by solving the binary implicit transcendental equation as well as external spontaneous constraints respectively, ensuring the primitive stable FNN can be stable again in the presence of external bis-disturbances. Furthermore, the feasible boundary derived from the established criterion can guarantee that the mutual restraint and dynamic interconnection effects between the bis-disturbances that allow the system to be stable again can occur instead of being independent. Finally, the validity of the derived theoretical results is verified by simulation.
A Cross-Cultural Comparative Study of Users' Perceptions of a Webpage: With a Focus on the Cognitive Styles of Chinese, Koreans and Americans

This study aims to reveal the relationship between cognitive style and webpage perception. In particular, webpage perception of people with different cognitive styles is compared. Based on Nisbett’s cognitive model of holistic and analytic thought, this study hypothesizes that differences between holistic thought and analytic thought can be reflected in webpage perception. Working with this hypothesis, an experiment was carried out involving Chinese, Korean, and American participants. The users’ eye movements, which can provide specific information about their cognitive processes, were recorded while browsing different language versions of a webpage prototype. In the end, the hypothesis of this study was supported. Findings from the analysis suggest that the Chinese, Korean, and American participants employed different viewing patterns when viewing the webpage, revealing a positive relationship with Nisbett’s cognitive theory. Given that cognitive differences exist among holistically-minded people and analytically-minded people, it is suggested that webpage design should be carried out according to the target audience’s specific cognitive style in order to enhance perception and usage of a webpage.
Towards a mixed NoC/AFDX architecture for avionics applications

An heterogeneous network, where a switched-Ethernet backbone, as AFDX, interconnects several End Systems based on Network-On-Chip (NoC), is a promising candidate to build new avionics architecture. However, current avionics End System includes many functions, as performing a traffic shaping for each Virtual Link (VL) and scheduling the output frames in such a way the jitter on each VL is bounded. This paper describes how the NoC implements these functions in order to compute the worst-case traversal time (WCTT) of avionics frames on a NoC to reach the AFDX network. Besides, we illustrate the problem of guaranteeing a bounded jitter at the output of a NoC. We show that the existing mapping strategies present some limitations to reduce the congestion on the outgoing I/O flows (i.e. going from the NoC to the AFDX network) and so do not reduce the jitter on a given VL. We propose an extended mapping approach which considers the outgoing I/O flows. Experimental results on realistic avionics case studies show significant improvements of the jitter value.
THE WEINSTEIN CONJECTURE FOR PLANAR CONTACT STRUCTURES IN DIMENSION THREE

In this paper we describe a general strategy for approaching the Weinstein conjecture in dimension three. We apply this approach to prove the Weinstein conjecture for a new class of contact manifolds (planar contact manifolds). We also discuss how the present approach reduces the general Weinstein conjecture in dimension three to a compactness problem for the solution set of a first order elliptic PDE.
Elucidation of the profound antagonism of contractile action of phenylephrine in rat aorta effected by an atypical sympathomimetic decongestant

Vasoconstrictive properties of sympathomimetic drugs are the basis of their widespread use as decongestants and possible source of adverse responses. Insufficiently substantiated practice of combining decongestants in some marketed preparations, such are those containing phenylephrine and lerimazoline, may affect the overall contractile activity, and thus their therapeutic utility. This study aimed to examine the interaction between lerimazoline and phenylephrine in isolated rat aortic rings, and also to assess the substrate of the obtained lerimazoline-induced attenuation of phenylephrine contraction. Namely, while lower concentrations of lerimazoline (10−6 M and especially 10−7 M) expectedly tended to potentiate the phenylephrine-induced contractions, lerimazoline in higher concentrations (10−4 M and above) unexpectedly and profoundly depleted the phenylephrine concentration-response curve. Suppression of NO with NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor Nw-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10−4 M) or NO scavanger OHB12 (10−3 M), as well as non-specific inhibition of K+-channels with tetraethylammonium (TEA; 10−3 M), have reversed lerimazoline-induced relaxation of phenylephrine contractions, while cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (10−5 M) did not affect the interaction between two vasoconstrictors. At the receptor level, non-selective 5-HT receptor antagonist methiothepin reversed the attenuating effect of lerimazoline on phenylephrine contraction when applied at 3×10−7 and 10−6 M, but not at the highest concentration (10−4 M). Neither the 5-HT1D-receptor selective antagonist BRL 15572 (10−6 M) nor 5-HT7 receptor selective antagonist SB 269970 (10−6 M) affected the lerimazoline-induced attenuation of phenylephrine activity. The mechanism of lerimazoline-induced suppression of phenylephrine contractions may involve potentiation of activity of NO and K+-channels and activation of some methiothepin-sensitive receptors, possibly of the 5-HT2B subtype.
Dissociative symptoms are associated with reduced neuropsychological performance in patients with recurrent depression and a history of trauma exposure

Background Although preliminary work suggests that dissociative symptoms may impact neuropsychological performance in trauma-exposed populations, the relation between dissociation and cognitive performance has not been explored in patients with depression. Objective The present study examined dissociative symptoms in relation to neuropsychological performance in participants with a primary diagnosis of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) and a history of trauma exposure. Method Twenty-three participants with MDD and 20 healthy controls who did not differ in age, sex, education, or IQ were assessed. In addition to a standardized neuropsychological battery assessing frontotemporally mediated cognitive processes, participants completed clinical measures assessing dissociative symptoms, illness severity, and past history of trauma exposure. Results Among participants with MDD, greater severity of derealization was associated with reduced performance on measures of delayed visuospatial recall and recognition on a task of verbal memory recognition. In addition, more severe depersonalization was associated with slower processing speed and a response style lending itself toward better performance in a less active environment. Conclusions These findings point toward dissociative symptoms as a transdiagnostic factor associated with neuropsychological dysfunction in patients with depression and a history of trauma. Limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase/Nitric Oxide Synthase Pathway in Liver and Kidney: Protective Effect of Cyanidin 3-O-β-D-Glucoside on Ochratoxin-A Toxicity

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of long-term cyanidin 3-O-β-D-glucoside (C3G) and/or Ochratoxin A (OTA)-exposure on dimethylarginine dimethylamino hydrolase/nitric oxide synthase (DDAH/NOS) pathway in rats. The experiments were performed in rats supplemented with C3G (1 g/kg feed), OTA (200 ppb), and OTA + C3G. After 4 weeks of daily treatment, liver and kidneys were processed for eNOS, iNOS and DDAH-1 Western blotting, nitrite levels evaluation and DDAH activity determination. Results show that OTA is able to induce iNOS both in kidney and liver, whereas OTA is able to induce eNOS and DDAH-1 overexpression and DDAH activation only in kidney, resulting in increased nitrite levels. In kidney of OTA + C3G fed rats, iNOS, eNOS and DDAH-1 expression were less pronounced compared with those observed in the OTA-treated group. Coherent with the decreased iNOS, eNOS and DDAH-1 expression a decrease in nitrite levels and DDAH activity was observed in the OTA + C3G group. Results demonstrate that C3G is able to counteract the deleterious effects of chronic consumption of OTA and also suggest a possible involvement of iNOS-eNOS-DDAH impairment in OTA nephrocarcinogenity.
SIRT6 overexpression induces massive apoptosis in cancer cells but not in normal cells

Emerging evidence suggests that Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) functions as a longevity assurance gene by promoting genomic stability, regulating metabolic processes and attenuating inflammation. Here, we examine the effect of SIRT6 activation on cancer cells. We show that SIRT6 overexpression induces massive apoptosis in a variety of cancer cell lines but not in normal, non-transformed cells. This cell death requires the mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase but not the deacetylase activity of SIRT6 and is mediated by the activation of both the p53 and p73 apoptotic signaling cascades in cancer cells by SIRT6. These results suggest that SIRT6 is an attractive target for pharmacological activation in cancer treatment.