Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Micropropagation of the therapeutic-honey plants Leptospermum polygalifolium and L. scoparium (Myrtaceae)

Demand for therapeutic honey is driving establishment of Leptospermum plantations. This study developed micropropagation methods for two species – Leptospermum polygalifolium Salisb. and L. scoparium J.R. Forst. & G.Forst. The study determined how shoot proliferation and adventitious rooting were influenced by the original explant position on the seedling and the concentration of benzyladenine (BA) in the proliferation medium. Hormone-free node culture was highly effective for both species. Nodal explants often formed roots in the absence of BA and developed elongated axillary shoots. Median shoot numbers of 584 and 659 were formed in 31–32 weeks from a single L. polygalifolium or L. scoparium seed, respectively. A low BA dose was effective for callogenesis and shoot proliferation of L. polygalifolium, but not L. scoparium. The median number of shoots produced from a single L. polygalifolium seed was 630 using 2.22-μM BA. This dose induced extremely high shoot numbers in some clones because explants often produced extensive callus and multiple short shoots. Shoots formed adventitious roots without indole-3-butyric acid and plantlets were acclimatised to nursery conditions. The original explant position did not influence shoot proliferation or adventitious rooting. Leptospermum polygalifolium and L. scoparium proved amenable to micropropagation, facilitating rapid establishment of nectar plantations.
The Mono/Bistatic SAR Imaging Simulation of Sea Surface with Breaking Waves Based on a Refined Facet Scattering Field Model

In order to analyze the scattering characteristics of sea surface under high sea state, a complete scattering model of sea surface considering breaking wave is established in this study based on the refined facet scattering field model (RFSFM) and the scattering theory of breaking wave. On the basis of this model, the influence of breaking waves on the mono/bistatic SAR imaging of sea surface at HH and VV polarization is studied. The results show that with the increase in wind speed, the coverage of breaking wave increases obviously and the consideration of breaking wave has a good correction for the scattering coefficient at HH polarization under grazing incidence; however, for VV polarization, the effect of breaking wave is very small.
Three species of Exorchis Kobayashi, 1921 (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae) in the East-Asian region: morphological and molecular data

Abstract New data have been obtained for three representatives of Exorchis; Exorchis convictus sp. n. , Exorchis oviformis and Exorchis sp. , from fish in the East-Asian region. For the first time, based on combined sequences of the ITS2 rDNA region and the 28S rRNA gene, Exorchis is confirmed to belong Cryptogonimidae. Based on analysis of a mitochondrial marker (cox1), the ‘Japanese’ and ‘Russian’ haplogroups are identified for E. oviformis isolated from Silurus asotus. One specimen of E. oviformis obtained in Japan is identical to the ‘Russian’ haplotype. Haplotype patterns are also observed for metacercariae of Exorchis sp. from Tanakia lanceolata and Carassius sp. fish in Kyushu Island (Japan).
Spectra of Ga-Like to Cu-Like Praseodymium and Neodymium Ions Observed in the Large Helical Device

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectra of highly charged praseodymium (Pr) and neodymium (Nd) ions have been investigated in optically thin high-temperature plasmas produced in the Large Helical Device (LHD), a magnetically confined torus device for fusion research. Discrete spectral lines emitted mainly from highly charged ions having 4s or 4p outermost electrons were observed in plasmas with electron temperatures of 0.8–1.8 keV. Most of the isolated lines of Ga-like to Cu-like Nd ions were identified by a comparison with the recent data recorded in an electron beam ion trap (EBIT). The isolated lines of Pr ions corresponding to the identified lines of Nd ions were easily assigned from a similarity of the spectral feature for these two elements. As a result, some of the lines of Pr ions have been newly identified experimentally for the first time in this study.
Diagnostic of lingual tonsil hypertrophy with lateral soft tissue cervical X-ray on laryngopharyngeal reflux

Background: Lingual tonsil hypertrophy (LTH) evaluation could be performed by flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy, lateral soft tissue cervical roentgen, CT scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Lateral soft tissue cervical roentgen examination was considered as substitutes for diagnostic testing of LTH, which, aside from being cheaper, the examination could also be conducted in all hospitals and easy to be performed on children. Objective: To compare the lingual tonsil enlargement with examination procedure using lateral soft tissue cervical roentgen as an LTH diagnosis measure compared to the flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy examination as the gold standard examination. Methods: A cross-sectional design study on 30 respondents of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) patients whose conducted routine ENT physical examination, followed by flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy examination along with lateral soft tissue cervical roentgen. Results: The sensitivity level of 65.38% was acquired from the statistical tests, along with specificity level of 100%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 30.37%. Conclusions: Based on sensitivity and specificity, lateral soft tissue cervical roentgen examination could already be used as a diagnostic measure and have an accurate capability to diagnose LTH.
Cloud and Aerosol Distributions From SAGE III/ISS Observations

We describe our Solar Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III/ISS cloud detection algorithm and observations. We identify three types of clouds: visible cirrus (extinction coefficient > 3 x 10−2 km−1), subvisible cirrus (extinction coefficient between 3 x 10−2 km−1 and 10−3 km−1), and very low extinction cloud‐aerosol mixtures (extinction coefficient between 10−3 km−1and 10−4 km−1). Visible cirrus cannot be quantitatively measured by SAGE because of its high extinction, but we infer the presence of cirrus through the termination of the SAGE vertical scan. We then assume that cirrus layers extend 0.5 km below the scan termination height. SAGE cirrus cloud fraction estimated in this way is in qualitative agreement with Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) measurements. Analyzing 2018–2020 SAGE III/ISS data, we find that visible cirrus and subvisible cirrus have nearly equal abundance in the tropical upper troposphere and the average cloud fraction is about 25%. At 16 km, the highest concentration of visible cirrus and subvisible cirrus is over the Tropical West Pacific, central Africa, and central South America during boreal winter. Latitudinal gaps in zonal mean cloud fraction are aligned with descending branch of the residual mean circulation. Using tropopause relative coordinates, we show that maximum cloud‐top heights are consistently restricted to a narrow region near the tropopause. The aerosol extinction fields also show the latitudinal gaps coincident with the descending residual circulation. We identify four anomalous aerosol extinction periods that can be tentatively assigned to significant volcanic or fire events.
Diagnostics and prognostics for complex systems: A review of methods and challenges

Diagnostics and prognostics have a significant role in the reliability enhancement of systems and are focused topics of active research. Engineered systems are becoming more complex and are subjected to miscellaneous failure modes that impact adversely their performability. This ever‐increasing complexity makes fault diagnostics and prognostics challenging for the system‐level functions. A significant number of successes have been achieved and acknowledged in some review papers; however, these reviews rarely focused on application to complex engineered systems nor provided a systematic review of diverse techniques and approaches to address the related challenges. To bridge the gap, this paper first presents a review to systematically cover the general concepts and recent development of various diagnostics and prognostics approaches, along with their strengths and shortcomings for the application of diverse engineered systems. Afterwards, given the characteristics of complex systems, the applicability of different techniques and methods that are capable to address the features of complex systems are reviewed and discussed, and some of the recent achievements in the literature are introduced. Finally, the unaddressed challenges are discussed by taking into account the characteristics of automotive systems as an example of complex systems. In addition, future development and potential research trends are offered to address those challenges. Consequently, this review provides a systematic view of the state‐of‐the‐art and case studies with a reference value for scholars and practitioners.
Psychometric Properties of a French-Canadian Version of the Test of Gross Motor Development – Third Edition (TGMD-3): A Bifactor Structural Equation Modeling Approach

ABSTRACT The objective was to assess the psychometric properties of a French-Canadian version of the third edition of the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-3). Participants were 127 French-speaking Canadian children. Results supported the validity-reliability of a bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling representation of the TGMD-3. Additionally, results supported a lack of differential item functioning as a function of age, body mass index (BMI), physical activity/sport practice (PA/SP), and sex. Finally, latent mean differences showed that: (a) older children score lower on specific skills and higher on the global motor skills factor than younger children; (b) children with a higher BMI score lower on locomotor skills than children with a lower BMI; (c) children with higher weekly frequency of PA/SP score higher on the global motor skills factor than children with a lower weekly frequency of PA/SP; and (d) boys score higher on ball skills and lower locomotor skills than girls.
Is individual- and school-level teacher burnout reduced by proactive strategies?

ABSTRACT There is provisional evidence that burnout may be contagious within professional communities via the crossover effect, referring to an inter-individual transmission of stress or strain. However, our understanding of effective means for tackling stressors is scarce. We tested a two-level path model to explore the interrelation between teachers’ proactive self- and co-regulative strategies and experienced burnout. The study sample comprised 1531 Finnish in-service teachers from 75 schools. The results showed that burnout symptoms varied both between individual teachers and between professional communities. Self- and co-regulative strategies serve partly different functions in regulating teacher burnout symptoms.
In-silico analysis of Human miRNAs in SARS-CoV-2 Genome

Background: In Dec. 2019, a new virus (Coronavirus) was discovered in Wuhan city (China), indicating its potential for rapid fatal outbreaks in confined and cross borders areas. Statistics showed the fatality rate as about 1.4 %. Till now, there is no successful therapy for SARS-CoV-2. Method: The miRNAs from genome (Coronavirus/SARS-CoV-2) were analyzed using various computational approaches in this study. The complete genome sequence was retrieved from NCBI. Results: We investigated potential antiviral treatment for the SARS-CoV-2 virus using host miRNAs, which could slow down the expression of viral genes to suppress viral replication. The result of our study highlighted that hsa-miR-3675-3p (MD19), hsa-miR-363-5p (MD220), hsa-miR-325 (MD306), hsa-miR-2114-5p (MD306), hsa-miR-744-3p (MR186) and hsa-miR-448 (MR186), can be used as anti-viral treatment to quell the replication of SARS-CoV-2 virus in human. Conclusion: The findings and observations of our study opened new possibilities to explore both the pathogenesis function of miRNA and in the development of novel antiviral drugs.
HIV-associated lymphoma—advances in clinical management

The association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and lymphoma was observed early in the HIV epidemic in the 1980s. Lymphoma incidence remains significantly higher than in the general population. Previously people living with HIV (PLWH) had advanced immune suppression, organ dysfunction and consequently poor performance status (PS). The advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to improved immune reconstitution and significantly enhanced the outlook of PLWH, influenced the incidence of lymphoma subtypes and improved tolerability of treatment. However lymphoma still remains the most common cause of cancer related death. We describe the multidisciplinary management of HIV-associated lymphomas and outline recent advances. Challenges include the advanced stage at presentation, propensity for extranodal sites including the central nervous system (CNS), potential drug interactions and increased incidence of opportunistic infections (OIs). Overall management now focusses less on HIV-related factors and more on lymphoma characteristics, with favourable outcomes. Representation in lymphoma clinical trials however is lacking, as a positive serostatus is an exclusion criterion for the majority. Data is scant for the rarer subtypes. A number of small phase I/II trials have successfully recruited patients living with HIV. Immunotherapy trial and safety data will be essential in understanding toxicity and efficacy of this promising targeted treatment. We welcome the recent more permissive inclusion criteria for clinical trials and support the expansion of understudied targeted therapies particularly for rarer subtypes. Broadening access will provide better equity for those living with HIV.
Ethnic Identity, Implicit Associations, and Academic Motivation of Hispanic Adolescents

One of the major tasks of adolescence is to integrate the different aspects of identity into a coherent sense of self. Prior research has found that under certain circumstances, students who identify as members of groups about which there are negative stereotypes can experience a disassociation between their academic identity (i.e., academic self-concept) and the aspect of their identity that is negatively stereotyped (i.e., their ethnic or gender identity). In this study, we examined the association between ethnic identity, academic self-concept, valuing of school, and feelings of belonging among a sample of Hispanic high school students attending a majority-Hispanic high school. In addition, we used an Implicit Associations Test (IAT) to assess their implicit associations between success and ethnic group (Hispanic or white). Results indicated that centrality of ethnic identity was positively correlated with academic self-concept and the regard dimension of ethnic identity was associated with feelings of belonging. The IAT indicated that Hispanic students had implicitly associated success more with being white than with being Hispanic.
Effect of rubber aggregate size on static and dynamic compressive properties of rubberized concrete

This study experimentally examines the effect of rubber aggregate size on the static and dynamic behavior of rubberized concrete. Rubberized concrete specimens were prepared with different maximum rubber aggregate sizes ranging from 1 to 3 mm to 3 to 5 mm while the rubber content was kept constant at 15% by volume. The dynamic compressive behavior of rubberized concrete was investigated by using split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) tests. The experimental results have shown that rubberized concrete with smaller rubber aggregates showed higher static compressive strength as compared to that with larger rubber aggregates. Meanwhile, the rubber aggregate size did not considerably affect the density of rubberized concrete. The use of smaller rubber aggregate size mitigated the slump reduction of rubberized concrete. Rubberized concrete exhibited obvious sensitivity to strain rate and those with larger rubber aggregates showed higher strain rate sensitivity. The progressive damage of rubberized concrete showed more ductile behavior with bulging failure, which was different from the typical concrete under compression. In general, the use of smaller rubber aggregate size was beneficial to the static compressive strength but less effective to the dynamic compressive strength of rubberized concrete as compared to those with larger rubber aggregates.
In media we trust? A comparative analysis of news trust in New Zealand and other Western media markets

ABSTRACT In the age of misinformation, trust and trustworthiness – core values of journalism – have become more important as news companies reeling from the pandemic seek emergency funding for their operations from the public and funders look for trusted brands to support. Earlier studies indicated people are more willing to pay for trusted news brands, and recently, the public funding of news has been directed to institutions that are regarded as trustworthy news outlets, and provide information that is in the public interest. While the concept of trust is complicated and measuring it is challenging, trust has rapidly become a key inquiry in academia. However, New Zealand lacks in this research, and this study aims to start to fill that gap. The paper is based on our survey of 1204 New Zealanders, and comparable data from 38 countries surveyed in the Reuters Digital News Report 2019. The paper finds that trust in news in New Zealand is high when compared internationally, but a large proportion (47%) of citizens don’t trust the news. It also finds New Zealanders are more concerned about misinformation and disinformation than respondents in other Western societies.
Baseline Liver Function and Subsequent Outcomes in the Phase 3 REFLECT Study of Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Introduction: Baseline liver function among patients starting treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) impacts survival and could impact efficacy outcomes and safety profiles of treatments. This post hoc analysis of the phase 3 REFLECT study examined the efficacy and safety outcomes for lenvatinib and for sorafenib in patients with uHCC, assessed by Child-Pugh score (CPS) and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade. Methods: Efficacy and safety were assessed in patient cohorts from REFLECT according to study entry baseline ALBI grade and CPS. Results: Lenvatinib treatment generally provided survival benefits in all groups. Median overall survival (OS) among patients with an ALBI grade of 1 was consistently higher than among patients with an ALBI grade of 2 for both the lenvatinib and sorafenib arms (lenvatinib: 17.4 vs. 8.6 months; sorafenib: 14.6 vs. 7.7 months, respectively). Median OS among patients with a CPS of 5 was consistently higher than among patients with a CPS of 6 (lenvatinib: 15.3 vs. 9.4 months; sorafenib: 14.2 vs. 7.9 months, respectively). Progression-free survival and objective response rates for these ALBI grades and CPS demonstrated similar patterns. Among patients who received lenvatinib and experienced a treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse event leading to withdrawal, 6.6% had an ALBI grade of 1, while 13.3% had an ALBI grade of 2, and 7.9% had a CPS of 5, while 12.1% had a CPS of 6. Conclusions: Better liver function at baseline, as measured by ALBI grade or CPS, may be prognostic for better survival outcomes in patients with uHCC undergoing treatment with lenvatinib or sorafenib.
Differences of expected intervention effects between participant-led and facilitator-led preventive care services in Japan

Objective To examine the effect of different management methods on the effectiveness of care preventive programmes for community-dwelling older adults. Methods This study comprised two facilitator-led (FL) and one participant-led (PL) preventive care classes in Japan. All participants received the intervention for approximately 12 weeks. Functional assessments, occupational dysfunctions, and subjective health were measured before and after the interventions. A two-way mixed design analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was adopted to examine the effect of the interventions, adjusted for previous experiences with preventive care services. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results Fourteen participants in the PL group (76.64 ± 6.48 years, 92.9% women) and 29 participants in the FL group (76.55 ± 5.75 years, 75.9% women) were included in the statistical analysis. ANCOVA showed significant group × time interaction effects in the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), the Timed Up & Go (TUG), occupational deprivation of the Classification and Assessment of Occupational Dysfunction Scale, and self-rated health. Simple main effect tests showed that the TUG decreased significantly in the PL group, while occupational deprivation and self-rated health scores improved significantly. In contrast, FTSST scores significantly improved in the FL group. Conclusion PL-type management may be more appropriate for preventing social isolation and withdrawal, while FL-type management may be more appropriate for preventing physical frailty. Selecting not only adequate programmes but also an appropriate management type that matches the service purpose can help provide more effective care preventive services.
A systematic review of the psychological distance of climate change: Towards the development of an evidence-based construct

The construct of psychological distance has gained traction as an explanation of why climate change is difficult to act on; it often feels far removed, with impacts arising in remote locations to other people or in an uncertain future. However, recent studies and narrative reviews have pointed out inconsistencies in the conceptualisation, operationalisation and results regarding the psychological distance of climate change, with research evidently struggling to develop the construct and determine its place in explaining and promoting pro-environmental behaviour. This paper presents a systematic review of the literature aimed at building an evidence base on which to develop research on psychological distance. Following a systematic search of three databases, 73 records with 84 individual studies were identified, which measured or manipulated the concept in relation to climate change. We find that psychological distance in the context of climate change is a dynamic, context-specific, multidimensional construct, which may be leading to current challenges in measurement and manipulation. We identify inconsistencies in cross-sectional and experimental studies and develop ideas for how these can be addressed. We recommend that researchers focus on specific aspects of climate change rather than a general notion of psychological distance towards climate change (e.g., studying different framings of the same event, policy or mitigation project). In doing this, it would be most effective to employ a bottom-up approach to developing the concept, with the further aims of determining how this more specific psychological distance is related to other variables such as identity or concern, and introducing more diversity in sample selection and research design.