Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Training on Basic AR Interactions: Bi-Variate Metrics and Neuroergonomic Evaluation Paradigms

Augmented Reality (AR) training is a cost-effective and safe alternative to traditional instructional methods. However, training novices in basic mid-air AR interactions remains challenging. To address this, we aimed to: (a) develop a robust metric to evaluate user performance across different AR interaction techniques and develop adaptation models to predict additional training requirements; (b) evaluate the adaptation models using a neuroergonomics approach. We conduct a two-phase study during which, novice participants perform simple AR interactions: poking and raycasting. In Phase-I, twenty-seven participants’ data is used to identify a bi-variate performance metric based on median completion time and consistency. Unsupervised models are trained using this metric to classify participants as low/high performers. In Phase-II, we evaluate the models on twenty-one new participants and analyze the differences in performance, neural activity and heart-rate variability between low/high performers. Our study showcases the effectiveness of our models and further discusses the potential of integrating neuroergonomics for advanced AR-based training applications.
Koa (Acacia koa) ecology and silviculture

Baker, Patrick J.; Scowcroft, Paul G. ; Ewel, John J. 2009. Koa (Acacia koa) ecology and silviculture. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-211. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 129 p. Koa (Acacia koa) is a tree species endemic to Hawaii that is of immense ecological and economic importance. This species has been mined from local forests for its wood for more than 100 years, and extensive areas of koa-dominated forests have been converted to grazing lands. Today, in recognition of the great importance and value of koa and the forests in which it is found, there is substantial interest in restoration and management of koa forests. This report brings together knowledge on the biogeography, physiology, ecology, and silviculture of koa in an effort to assist landowners and resource stewards in making sound decisions about restoring and managing koa forests.
A constitutive serine protease inhibitor suppresses herbivore performance in tea (Camellia sinensis)

Abstract Protease inhibitors promote herbivore resistance in diverse plant species. Although many inducible protease inhibitors have been identified, there are limited reports available on the biological relevance and molecular basis of constitutive protease inhibitors in herbivore resistance. Here, we identified a serine protease inhibitor, CsSERPIN1, from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). Expression of CsSERPIN1 was not strongly affected by the assessed biotic and abiotic stresses. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that CsSERPIN1 strongly inhibited the activities of digestive protease activities of trypsin and chymotrypsin. Transient or heterologous expression of CsSERPIN1 significantly reduced herbivory by two destructive herbivores, the tea geometrid and fall armyworm, in tea and Arabidopsis plants, respectively. The expression of CsSERPIN1 in Arabidopsis did not negatively influence the growth of the plants under the measured parameters. Our findings suggest that CsSERPIN1 can inactivate gut digestive proteases and suppress the growth and development of herbivores, making it a promising candidate for pest prevention in agriculture.
RAZÕES DE RISCO E RENTABILIDADE NA DESTRUIÇÃO DE RECURSOS FLORESTAIS: O CASO DE CASTANHAIS EM LOTES DE COLONOS NO SUL DO PARÁ

O trabalho analisa a destruição das castanheiras em lotes de colonos no Sul do Pará como decorrente de riscos de invasões de terra, coleta clandestina de castanha-do-pará e cupuaçu e da entrada acidental de fogo. Um modelo conceptual foi desenvolvido demonstrando que, como consequência da aversão ao risco, os colonos passam a efetuar as derrubadas e proceder à venda de madeira e utilizar a terra para o plantio de culturas anuais e pastagens. A atual ênfase em colocar as reservas extrativistas como maneira de proteger a biodiversidade da Amazônia pode resultar em efeitos contrários aos esperados.
Modelling the pathology and treatment of cardiac fibrosis in vascularised atrial and ventricular cardiac microtissues

Introduction Recent advances in human cardiac 3D approaches have yielded progressively more complex and physiologically relevant culture systems. However, their application in the study of complex pathological processes, such as inflammation and fibrosis, and their utility as models for drug development have been thus far limited. Methods In this work, we report the development of chamber-specific, vascularised human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac microtissues, which allow for the multi-parametric assessment of cardiac fibrosis. Results We demonstrate the generation of a robust vascular system in the microtissues composed of endothelial cells, fibroblasts and atrial or ventricular cardiomyocytes that exhibit gene expression signatures, architectural, and electrophysiological resemblance to in vivo-derived anatomical cardiac tissues. Following pro-fibrotic stimulation using TGFβ, cardiac microtissues recapitulated hallmarks of cardiac fibrosis, including myofibroblast activation and collagen deposition. A study of Ca2+ dynamics in fibrotic microtissues using optical mapping revealed prolonged Ca2+ decay, reflecting cardiomyocyte dysfunction, which is linked to the severity of fibrosis. This phenotype could be reversed by TGFβ receptor inhibition or by using the BET bromodomain inhibitor, JQ1. Discussion In conclusion, we present a novel methodology for the generation of chamber-specific cardiac microtissues that is highly scalable and allows for the multi-parametric assessment of cardiac remodelling and pharmacological screening.
Distribution and origin of organic carbon in the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Formation and Sharon Springs Member of the Pierre Shale, Western Interior, United States

The Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Formatioii and the overlying Sharon Springs Member of the Pierre Shale are two of several organic-carbon (CX3) rich units deposited in the Western Interior seaway. A key to assessing the validity of models proposed to account for OC enrichment in these units is understanding the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of OC within these units. Within the study area abundant subsurface data in the form of geophysical well logs are available. These logs were used in two key ways; (1) to divide the Niobrara and Sharon Springs into regionally correlatable chronostratigraphic horizons and (2) to estimate OC-content. By combining these elements a 3D picture of the OC-distribution was obtained. This distribution was compared to changes in lithology, sedimentation rate, and tectonic activity. The Niobrara and Sharon Springs contain local and regional disconformities which indicate water depths were near an estimated storm-wave base depth of 100 m. Local disconformities in the Niobrara are indicative of basinal tectonic activity that may be linked to Sevier thrusting to the west. There is a regular vertical pattern of OC enrichment in the Niobrara, but no pronounced regional patterns are evident. Estimated paleoproductivities are moderate, except to the southeast where higher productivities may have been a consequence of upwelling. Small-scale chalk/marl cycles result from alternation of high productivity during periods of fairly vigorous circulation (chalks) with low productivity during periods of more sluggish circulation (maris). The regional diachroneity of the Sharon Springs facies was a result of clastic dilution associated with progradation from the west and the paleobathymetry.
Factors Influencing Nurses’ Job Performance in Korea and Mongolia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing job performance among Korean and Mongolian nurses.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the factors affecting job performance among Korean and Mongolian nurses. In Korea, data collected using paper questionnaires from 129 nurses in wards caring for cancer patients were analyzed. In Mongolia, data from 131 individuals collected through an online questionnaire were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 25.0 were utilized for data analysis.Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that based on the Korean data, grit (β=.35, p<.001) and social support (β=.29, p=.001) were the main variables explaining job performance. The explanatory power of the model was approximately 41%. Meanwhile, multiple regression analysis of the Mongolian data revealed grit (β=.37, p=.001) and age (β=-.19, p=.027) as the main variables explaining job performance. The explanatory power of the model was approximately 8%. Conclusion: Grit strongly affected the job performance of nurses in both countries. Their grit may be improved by developing educational programs that help nurses clearly set self-development goals and ultimately improve their job performance. As social support also significantly affected the job performance of Korean nurses, this factor may be considered in improving the job performance of nurses in Mongolia.
The Depiction of Human Nature through Allegory: An Analysis of Golding's Lord of the Flies

This article critically analyzes Golding's Lord of the Flies to investigate how human nature was allegorically depicted by constructing an almost parallel fictional world to his contemporary time. In this paper, I argued that Golding allegorically exhibited the basic human nature of his contemporary time by experimenting with the schoolboys on the Pacific Ocean, which unveiled the brutal and uncivilized nature of schoolboys, and that such activities as depicted in the novel resembled the brutal and savage nature of the men of his time. The methodology I employed in this study was a close analysis of the primary text to examine how Golding used allegory to uncover the basic nature of human beings, and I analyzed secondary resources related to the study to support my arguments. The analysis identified that Golding depicted savagery and animalistic human nature through allegory, which questioned the traditional understanding of human nature as civilized and moral, and his experience of involving himself in the war and working as a school teacher helped him in reflecting such brutal and uncivilized events of his time. He provided a wider space and various layers of secondary meanings for characters, setting, and events in the story, which resonated in many respects with the events of his contemporary time. In addition, this study unpacked the fact that savagery existed inside the human heart and manifested in a lack of guardianship and civilizational forces in human beings. This paper will be useful in exploring the novel for a better understanding of human nature.
Reduction of pressure losses and increase of mixing in laminar flows through channels with long-wavelength vibrations

Pressure losses and mixing in vibrating channels were analysed. The vibrations in the form of long-wavelength travelling waves were considered. Significant reduction of pressure losses can be achieved using sufficiently fast waves propagating downstream, while significant increase of such losses is generated by waves propagating upstream. The mechanisms responsible for pressure losses were identified and discussed. The interaction of the pressure field with the waves can create a force which assists the fluid movement. A similar force can be created by friction, but only under conditions leading to flow separation. An analysis of particle trajectories was carried out to determine the effect of vibrations on mixing. A significant transverse particle movement takes place, including particle trajectories with back loops. The downstream-propagating out-of-the phase waves provide a large reduction of pressure gradient and significant potential for mixing intensification. Analysis of energy requirements demonstrates that it is possible to identify waves which reduce power requirements, i.e. the cost of actuation is smaller than the energy savings associated with the reduction of pressure gradient. The fast forward moving waves provide an opportunity for the development of alternative propulsion methods which can be more efficient than methods based on the pressure difference.
Risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in agricultural soils and bioconcentration in rice grains from Faridkot District, India

Abstract Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil pose significant risks to both ecology and human health. Therefore, to understand the effect of PTEs in agricultural soils of Faridkot District, Punjab, India, 36 soil samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties, contents of PTEs (aluminum, arsenic, nickel, boron, uranium, barium, chromium, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, cobalt, manganese, selenium, and zinc), possible ecological and human health risks and bioconcentration in rice grains. Soils showed high mean contents (mg/kg) of potassium (906.65), sodium (760.78), and chlorides (247.13) with cadmium, copper, zinc, arsenic, and selenium contents (mg/kg) in 55.56%, 33.33%, 25.00%, 16.67%, and 13.89% of samples exceeding their safe limits (0.06, 20.00, 50.00, 20.00, and 0.20, respectively). Individual and multi-element indices suggested extremely high-soil enrichment of arsenic, cadmium, and selenium and low to moderate ecological risk. Multivariate analyses revealed the contribution of both geogenic and anthropogenic activities to soil contamination. Mean bioconcentration factors of chromium (4.48), boron (1.24), and copper (2.69) were >1.00 in rice. Residents had higher cancer risk (TCR) due to arsenic (3.64E-05) and chromium (4.04E-06) in soil, mainly through ingestion and dermal contact. This work could serve as baseline database for further research and designing the strategy to alleviate soil contamination.
Fragments of libertarianism and neoliberal ascendancy: ideological features and limitations of the liberal breakthrough in Finland

ABSTRACT This article explores the fragmentary history of libertarianism in Finland. We identify actors who have advanced libertarian ideas and agendas between 1970 and 2000 and discuss the purposes for which they have been mobilized in a Finnish context. Theoretically, we emphasize the primacy of local political cultures and context in the transnational circulation of political ideologies. In Finland, the introduction of libertarianism was contingent particularly upon foreign policy developments. Empirically, we proceed from the observation that Finland was a Nordic latecomer. Programmatic libertarian views, or serious discussions of Ayn Rand or Murray Rothbard, were conspicuously absent in Cold War Finland, and even in the 1990s they figured primarily as a subculture on the nascent World Wide Web. However, when more broadly understood as a positive emancipatory promise of individual freedom, libertarian ideas were important in pushing for a liberal turn in Finnish politics and society in the 1980s and 1990s. In the end, however, anti-statist and cultural libertarianism were subsumed by statist and economic neoliberalism.
Dynamic Changes in miRNA Expression during the Generation of Expanded and Activated NK Cells

Therapies based on allogenic Natural Killer (NK) cells are becoming increasingly relevant, and our laboratory has produced expanded and activated NK (eNK) cells that are highly cytotoxic against several hematological cancers when used alone or in combination with currently approved therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. In order to produce eNK cells, healthy human donor NK cells undergo a 20-day expansion protocol with IL-2, IL-15 and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid feeder cells. In order to produce an even more potent eNK-based therapy, we must elucidate the changes our protocol produces within healthy NK cells. To understand the post-transcriptional changes responsible for the increased cytolytic abilities of eNK cells, we performed microRNA (miRNA) expression analysis on purified NK cells from day 0 and day 20 of the protocol using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Of the 384 miRNAs profiled, we observed changes in the expression of 64 miRNAs, with especially significant changes in 7 of them. The up-regulated miRNAs of note were miRs-146a, -124, -34a, and -10a, which are key in the regulation of cell survival through the modulation of pro-apoptotic genes such as PUMA. The down-regulation of miRs-199a, -223, and -340 was also detected and is associated with the promotion of NK cell cytotoxicity. We validated our analysis using immunoblot and flow cytometry studies on specific downstream targets of both up- and down-regulated miRNAs such as PUMA and Granzyme B. These results corroborate the functional importance of the described miRNA expression patterns and show the wide variety of changes that occur in eNK cells at day 20.
Analytical and semi-analytical approaches to the third-body perturbation in nearly co-orbital regimes

This paper studies a range of formulations for third-body motion, based on the disturbing function derived from the Hamiltonian of the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP). The main one is the well known Keplerian Map (KM), derived from a first-order Picard iteration on the Lagrange Planetary Equations. Three additional strategies to model the third-body effect are generated. The first is the Periapsis-Apoapsis-Periapsis Keplerian Map (PAPKM), a semi-analytical formulation using the eccentric anomaly as the independent variable. The second is the Euler Keplerian Map (EK Map), a model for long time propagation that uses an Euler method to obtain an accurate evolution of the orbital elements throughout the motion. Finally, the third method is an approximate analytical solution for the evolution of the semi-major axis of the motion, obtained via a Taylor expansion of the eccentricity. These formulations are contrasted with the original KM model and show similar dynamical behaviour, with a decrease in computational time. Furthermore, all of them prove to be more accurate within their application limits.
Assessment of the Psychometric Characteristics of the Italian Version of the Nurse Manager Actions Scale

Nurse managers play a vital role in healthcare organizations, wielding the ability to substantially enhance work environments, foster nurses’ autonomy, and bolster retention within workplaces. In this context, this study focuses on the Nurse Manager Actions scale, aiming to evaluate its items’ scalability as well as the scale’s validity and reliability among nurses and nurse managers operating within the Italian healthcare context. The study protocol was not registered. To ensure linguistic and cultural alignment, an iterative and collaborative translation process was undertaken. Subsequently, a multi-center cross-sectional design was adopted. Using a web-survey approach, data were collected among 683 nurses and 188 nurse managers between August 2022 and January 2023. The Nurse Manager Actions scale was found to be a valid and reliable instrument in Italian after a Mokken Scale Analysis. For nurses (HT = 0.630, Molenaar–Sijtsma rho = 0.890), the scale included 6 items, while 11 items were confirmed for nurse managers (HT = 0.620, Molenaar–Sijtsma rho = 0.830). Nurse Manager Actions scale scores were correlated with increased satisfaction and decreased intention to leave for both nurses and nurse managers. The employed validation process enhanced the scale validity for use in Italy and provided a model for other researchers to follow when assessing similar measures in different populations. Measuring and empowering nurse manager actions in work contexts is essential to improve the general well-being and retention of nurses, especially in the current nursing shortage.
Determining Temperatures of Deformation in Mylonites from the Scandinavian Caledonides, with Implications for the Thermal and Kinematic Evolution of Orogens

The Titanium-in-quartz (TitaniQ) thermobarometer was evaluated in ductilely sheared rocks (mylonites) from the Scandinavian Caledonides in comparison with several other thermometric methods, including: (1) TitaniQ thermometry in cross-cutting quartz veins, (2) garnet-biotite Fe-Mg exchange thermometry, (3) metamorphic phase equilibria, and (4) quartz microstructures as calibrated experimentally and empirically. In all instances, quartz vein temperatures mimic TitaniQ temperatures of the host rocks. Similarly, TitaniQ temperatures of dynamically recrystallized quartz, ranging from ~210°C at the thrust front to 475°C at the deepest structural levels, reflect the best estimate of the final temperature of deformation. Higher temperatures are also preserved locally and more closely reflect peak metamorphic temperatures derived from metamorphic phase equilibria. Of the two samples analyzed for garnet-biotite Fe-Mg exchange thermometry, one gives results consistent with TitaniQ temperatures and the other gives a higher temperature. A larger sample size would be necessary for more confident comparisons. Lastly, TitaniQ temperatures are mostly consistent with temperatures expected from quartz microstructures. However, TitaniQ temperatures reveal grain boundary migration recrystallization (GBM) occurred at temperatures as low as 340°C, which is much lower than previously published temperatures for GBM (Hirth and Tullis, 1992; Stipp et al., 2002).
The Use of Radiomic Features to Predict Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Status in Head and Neck Tumors: A Review

Head and neck cancers represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality across the world. The individual genetic makeup of each tumor can help to determine the course of treatment and can help clinicians predict prognosis. Non-invasive tools to determine the genetic status of these tumors, particularly p16 (human papillomavirus (HPV)) status could prove extremely valuable to treating clinicians and surgeons. The field of radiomics is a burgeoning area of radiology practice that aims to provide quantitative biomarkers that can be derived from radiological images and could prove useful in determining p16 status non-invasively. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for the use of radiomics to determine the HPV status of head and neck tumors.
Development of a Radiomics-Based Model to Predict Graft Fibrosis in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Pilot Study

Liver Transplantation is complicated by recurrent fibrosis in 40% of recipients. We evaluated the ability of clinical and radiomic features to flag patients at risk of developing future graft fibrosis. CT scans of 254 patients at 3–6 months post-liver transplant were retrospectively analyzed. Volumetric radiomic features were extracted from the portal phase using an Artificial Intelligence-based tool (PyRadiomics). The primary endpoint was clinically significant (≥F2) graft fibrosis. A 10-fold cross-validated LASSO model using clinical and radiomic features was developed. In total, 75 patients (29.5%) developed ≥F2 fibrosis by a median of 19 (4.3–121.8) months. The maximum liver attenuation at the venous phase (a radiomic feature reflecting venous perfusion), primary etiology, donor/recipient age, recurrence of disease, brain-dead donor, tacrolimus use at 3 months, and APRI score at 3 months were predictive of ≥F2 fibrosis. The combination of radiomics and the clinical features increased the AUC to 0.811 from 0.793 for the clinical-only model (p = 0.008) and from 0.664 for the radiomics-only model (p < 0.001) to predict future ≥F2 fibrosis. This pilot study exploring the role of radiomics demonstrates that the addition of radiomic features in a clinical model increased the model’s performance. Further studies are required to investigate the generalizability of this experimental tool.