Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a Macrophage-Related Risk Model for Metastatic Melanoma

As a metastasis-prone malignancy, the metastatic form and location of melanoma seriously affect its prognosis. Although effective surgical methods and targeted drugs are available to enable the treatment of carcinoma in situ, for metastatic tumors, the diagnosis, prognosis assessment and development of immunotherapy are still pending. This study aims to integrate multiple bioinformatics approaches to identify immune-related molecular targets viable for the treatment and prognostic assessment of metastatic melanoma, thus providing new strategies for its use as an immunotherapy. Immunoinfiltration analysis revealed that M1-type macrophages have significant infiltration differences in melanoma development and metastasis. In total, 349 genes differentially expressed in M1-type macrophages and M2-type macrophages were extracted from the MSigDB database. Then we derived an intersection of these genes and 1111 melanoma metastasis-related genes from the GEO database, and 31 intersected genes identified as melanoma macrophage immunomarkers (MMIMs) were obtained. Based on MMIMs, a risk model was constructed using the Lasso algorithm and regression analysis, which contained 10 genes (NMI, SNTB2, SLC1A4, PDE4B, CLEC2B, IFI27, COL1A2, MAF, LAMP3 and CCDC69). Patients with high+ risk scores calculated via the model have low levels of infiltration by CD8+ T cells and macrophages, which implies a poor prognosis for patients with metastatic cancer. DCA decision and nomogram curves verify the high sensitivity and specificity of this model for metastatic cancer patients. In addition, 28 miRNAs, 90 transcription factors and 29 potential drugs were predicted by targeting the 10 MMIMs derived from this model. Overall, we developed and validated immune-related prognostic models, which accurately reflected the prognostic and immune infiltration characteristics of patients with melanoma metastasis. The 10 MMIMs may also be prospective targets for immunotherapy.
Bullying Toward Individuals with Mild Intellectual Disabilities in the Saudi Arabia Workplace

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between bullying in the workplace toward people with mild intellectual disabilities in Saudi Arabia and demographic factors (i.e., variables such as age, education levels, gender, years of work experience, and the employment positions of assistant supervisor, assistant manager, area manager, and co-worker). This study utilized the Workplace Psychologically Violent Behaviors tool, and multiple regression analysis. Results found a significant relation between high school and lower bullying levels among three dimensions: isolation, attack on professional status, and attack on personality. Also, the study found that 11 to 15 years of work experience was associated with high levels of bullying among three dimensions: isolation, attack on professional status, and attack on personality. The variable of age (18 to 43) was associated with a high level of bullying among three dimensions: isolation, attack on professional status, and direct negative behaviors in the workplace toward people with intellectual disabilities. In addition, findings showed that three employment positions (i.e., assistant manager, area manager, and co-workers) were related to bullying against workers with intellectual disabilities. These findings prompt the recommendation that human resources personnel pay attention to work policies on bullying prevention, and that every workplace hire specialists to assist companies in supporting workers with disabilities. Received: 5 July 2023 / Accepted: 23 August 2023 / Published: 5 September 2023
What controls the entrainment rate of dry buoyant thermals with varying initial aspect ratio?

This study uses theory and numerical simulations to analyze the non-dimensional spreading rate α (change in radius with height) of buoyant thermals as they rise and entrain surrounding environmental fluid. A focus is on how α varies with initial thermal aspect ratio Ar, defined as height divided by width of the initial buoyancy perturbation. An analytic equation for thermal ascent rate wt that depends on α is derived from the thermal volume-averaged momentum budget equation. The thermal top height when wt is maximum, defining a critical height zc, is inversely proportional to α. zc also corresponds to the thermal top height when buoyant fluid along the thermal’s vertical axis is fully replaced by entrained non-buoyant environmental fluid rising from below the thermal. The timescale for this process is controlled by the vertical velocity of parcels rising upward through the thermal’s core. This parcel vertical velocity is approximated from Hill’s analytic spherical vortex, yielding an analytic inverse relation between α and Ar. Physically, this α-Ar relation is connected to changes in circulation as Ar is modified. Numerical simulations of thermals with Ar varied from 0.5 to 2 give α values close to the analytic theoretical relation, with a factor of ~3 decrease in α as Ar is increased from 0.5 to 2. The theory also explains why α of initially spherical thermals from past laboratory and modeling studies is about 0.15. Overall, this study provides a theoretical underpinning for understanding the entrainment behavior of thermals, relevant to buoyantly-driven atmospheric flows.
The Effect of a Single Off-Center Shallow Donor Atom on the Binding Energy and Diamagnetic Susceptibility in a GaAs Horn Torus Quantum Dot

In this work, we have studied an electron confined in a GaAs Horn torus quantum dot in the presence of a shallow donor impurity. Using the effective mass approximation and by considering an infinite confinement potential, the Schrödinger equation was calculated by the finite difference method. The electron-impurity binding energy and the diamagnetic susceptibility are studied for different geometric sizes of the Horn torus. In addition, the effect of the radial and angular positions of the shallow donor impurity on the binding energy and the diamagnetic susceptibility are examined. The results show that the binding energy is much higher at small sizes of the nano system. Also, the diamagnetic susceptibility exhibits a symmetric behavior as a function of the angular position of the shallow impurity donor unlike that when the impurity moves radially. The influences of these parameter variants help us to better understand the effects of the size of the quantum dot and the position of the donor impurity, which improve the sensitive of the opto-electronic devices.
Green Marketing, Lifestyle, and the Purchase Intention of Bottled Water among Generation Z

This research aims to analyze the influence of green marketing and lifestyle on the purchase intention of Ades mineral water in Surabaya, particularly among Generation Z and millennials. The population in this study consists of consumers of packaged drinking water who are familiar with the Ades brand and are aged between 17 to 43 years. The sampling technique used to determine the sample is non-probability sampling with the purposive sampling method, involving 112 respondents. The analysis method employed is Smart PLS software with the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique. The results of this study indicate that: (1) Green marketing has a positive influence on purchase intention, with a value of 0.590; (2) Lifestyle has a positive influence of 0.131 on purchase intention.
Low thalamic activity during a digit-symbol substitution task is associated with symptoms of subjective cognitive decline

Introduction Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may represent the earliest preclinical stage of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) for some older adults. However, the underlying neurobiology of SCD is not completely understood. Since executive function may be affected earlier than memory function in the progression of AD, we aimed to characterize SCD symptoms in terms of fMRI brain activity during the computerized digit-symbol substitution task (DSST), an executive function task. We also explored associations of DSST task performance with brain activation, SCD severity, and amyloid-ß (Aß) load. Methods We analyzed data from 63 cognitively normal older individuals (mean age 73.6 ± 7.2) with varying degree of SCD symptoms. Participants completed a computerized version of DSST in the MR scanner and a Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB)-PET scan to measure global cerebral Aß load. Results A voxel-wise analysis revealed that greater SCD severity was associated with lower dorsomedial thalamus activation. While task performance was not associated with brain activation nor Aß load, slower reaction time was associated with greater SCD severity. Discussion The observed lower dorsomedial thalamus activation may reflect declining familiarity-based working memory and the trans-thalamic executive function pathway in SCD. SCD symptoms may reflect altered neural function and subtle decline of executive function, while Aß load may have an indirect impact on neural function and performance. Self-perceived cognitive decline may serve as a psychological/subjective marker reflecting subtle brain changes.
Humoral and Cellular Immune Response Elicited by the BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccine Booster in Elderly

Although the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in older people are critical to their success, little is known about their immunogenicity among elderly residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted: a total IgG antibody titer, neutralizing antibodies against Wild-type, Delta Plus, and Omicron BA.2 variants and T cell response, were measured eight months after the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine (T0) and at least 15 days after the booster (T1). Forty-nine LTCF residents, with a median age of 84.8 ± 10.6 years, were enrolled. Previous COVID-19 infection was documented in 42.9% of the subjects one year before T0. At T1, the IgG titers increased up to 10-fold. This ratio was lower in the subjects with previous COVID-19 infection. At T1, IgG levels were similar in both groups. The neutralizing activity against Omicron BA.2 was significantly lower (65%) than that measured against Wild-type and Delta Plus (90%). A significant increase of T cell-specific immune response was observed after the booster. Frailty, older age, sex, cognitive impairment, and comorbidities did not affect antibody titers or T cell response. In the elderly sample analyzed, the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine produced immunogenicity regardless of frailty.
Measurement of Knowledge of Farmers on Chickpea Demonstration at Adola Rede District, Guji Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Chickpea is important as food and feed crop for farmers. The crop is also significant for generating income due to its high market demand. Guji Zone has potential of chickpea production, but the yield of chickpea is low due to absence of improved seed and lack of knowledge on chickpea production. Thus, this study was instigated to demonstrate new varieties of chickpea to local farmers aligned to measure farmers’ knowledge on chickpea production. To measure farmers’ knowledge on chickpea the issue of capacity building such as trainings, field visit, exchange visit and field days were organized to capacitate farmers’ knowledge on chickpea demonstrated varieties. 36 items test were prepared on chickpea production and administrated to 24 farmers who were participants during the demonstration of chickpea on their land. Items contains yes or no, true or false and explain types. Each correct answer was given ‘1’ score while wrong answer was awarded ‘0’ mark. Finally, 15 knowledge items test were selected based on the difficulty index which ranges from 45 to 92, discrimination index above 0.20 and point bi-serial correlation coefficient significant at 0.1%, 0.05 and 0.001% level for final knowledge test. The reliability of the knowledge test was measured by split-half method and reliability coefficient (r=0.969) which indicates that this knowledge test is quite reliable. The result of this study revealed that majority of farmers (83.33%) owned moderate level of knowledge on chickpea production. Farmers Training Center established in each Kebele should be functioned to increase farmers’ knowledge on chickpea production.
Past, present and future rainfall trends in Queensland

Queensland and much of eastern Australia have had significant rainfall declines since ~1951, causing economic hardship on rural and urban communities. However, no significant attempt has been made to identify and understand the physical causes of the rainfall declines over southeast Queensland (SE QLD) and whether they are likely to continue into the 21st century under higher levels of global warming. In this research, climate observations, models and global climate data as well as palaeoclimate information are used to investigate past, present and future rainfall trends in SE QLD. Five global climate models (GCMs) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC–AR4) show a significant decrease in rainfall will occur over the SE QLD region during the 21st century. Observations since ~1951 show the mean sea level pressure (MSLP) has been increasing over much of Queensland, indicating the subtropical ridge has been expanding. This study attributes the increase in the MSLP and some of the rainfall decline to changes in the subtropical ridge and the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). Projections show increases in the MSLP over the region are likely to continue during the 21st century associated with the positive polarity of SAM. Land cover changes over SE QLD were investigated using a regional climate model and show rainfall decreases with higher surface albedo values. Finally, a palaeoenvironmental record developed using lake sediments from Lake Broadwater in SE QLD, indicates a gradual rainfall decline has occurred during the last ~3.2 kyr B.P. Hence SE QLD has undergone a slow rainfall decline since the late Holocene and also since ~1951, with these conditions likely to continue and intensify during the 21st century.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapies for Weight-Loss in Adults: A Scoping Review Protocol

Obesity and being overweight are very important public health issues due to their increasing prevalence worldwide. Third-wave cognitive behavioural therapies (3wCBT) have emerged in the last few years to promote weight loss. However, the scientific evidence identifying the most commonly used 3wCBT in weight-loss interventions in adults is still needed. The objective of this scoping review will be to identify the most widely researched 3wCBT used to facilitate weight loss in an adult population who are overweight and obese, according to the published scientific literature. The search will be carried out independently by two authors in PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, using search equations that contain keywords related to our search question: (1) population: adult and elderly population, (2) intervention: terms related to 3wCBT, and (3) results: weight loss or weight management. The data extraction will be performed following the indications of the Cochrane manual, and the results will be presented in three tables. The 3wCBTs have shown promising results for weight loss, but it is not yet known which of them is the most widely used to achieve weight loss in the adult population. Thus, the results of this scoping review could guide professionals in the psychological treatment of obesity and being overweight.
Direct Measurement of the W Production Charge Asymmetry in pp Collisions at √s = 1.96 Te V

We present the first direct measurement of the W production charge asymmetry as a function of the W boson rapidity y W in pp collisions at √s = 1.96 TeV. We use a sample of W → ev events in data from 1 fb ―1 of integrated luminosity collected using the CDF II detector. In the region |y W | < 3.0, this measurement is capable of constraining the ratio of up- and down-quark momentum distributions in the proton more directly than in previous measurements of the asymmetry that are functions of the charged-lepton pseudorapidity.
Fuzzy Supervised Learning-Based Model-Free Adaptive Fault-Tolerant Spacecraft Attitude Control With Deferred Asymmetric Constraints

Aiming at solving the model-free fault-tolerant spacecraft attitude control problem, a data-driven adaptive control scheme is proposed to the spacecraft in the presence of actuator faults and performance constraints. First, the discrete-time attitude dynamic model is transformed into an affine nonlinear system based on local dynamic linearization. Then, a fuzzy logic-based lazily adapted constant kinky inference rule is introduced to predict the arbitrarily continuous nonlinear actuator faults and model uncertainties by supervised learning with insufficient prior knowledge. To satisfy time-varying deferred asymmetric constraints of the attitude tracking error, a virtual control law is proposed in the attitude control loop using the back-stepping approach, which is derived from a deferred switching transformation and barrier Lyapunov function. The stability of the data-driven adaptive fault-tolerant attitude control for the nonlinear discrete-time spacecraft attitude dynamics is analyzed rigorously with the aid of contraction mapping principle and discrete-time Lyapunov theory. Compared with existing methods, the proposed one considers nominal nonglobal Lipschitz nonlinear system with arbitrarily continuous unmodeled uncertainties and time-varying actuator faults, and achieves smaller prediction error bound than general kinky inference scheme and better closed-loop performance by estimating and compensating unknown dynamics. Finally, numerical simulation verifies the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Molecular and immunological mechanisms of clonal evolution in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the proliferation of clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). It is known that early genetic mutations in post-germinal center B/plasma cells are the cause of myelomagenesis. The acquisition of additional chromosomal abnormalities and distinct mutations further promote the outgrowth of malignant plasma cell populations that are resistant to conventional treatments, finally resulting in relapsed and therapy-refractory terminal stages of MM. In addition, myeloma cells are supported by autocrine signaling pathways and the tumor microenvironment (TME), which consists of diverse cell types such as stromal cells, immune cells, and components of the extracellular matrix. The TME provides essential signals and stimuli that induce proliferation and/or prevent apoptosis. In particular, the molecular pathways by which MM cells interact with the TME are crucial for the development of MM. To generate successful therapies and prevent MM recurrence, a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive MM progression and therapy resistance is essential. In this review, we summarize key mechanisms that promote myelomagenesis and drive the clonal expansion in the course of MM progression such as autocrine signaling cascades, as well as direct and indirect interactions between the TME and malignant plasma cells. In addition, we highlight drug-resistance mechanisms and emerging therapies that are currently tested in clinical trials to overcome therapy-refractory MM stages.
Improved Stereo Vision Methods for FPGA-Based Computing Platforms

Improved Stereo Vision Methods for FPGA-Based Computing Platforms Wade S. Fife Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, BYU Doctor of Philosophy Stereo vision is a very useful, yet challenging technology for a wide variety of applications. One of the greatest challenges is meeting the computational demands of stereo vision applications that require real-time performance. The FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a readilyavailable technology that allows many stereo vision methods to be implemented while meeting the strict real-time performance requirements of some applications. Some of the best results have been obtained using non-parametric stereo correlation methods, such as the rank and census transform. Yet relatively little work has been done to study these methods or to propose new algorithms based on the same principles for improved stereo correlation accuracy or reduced resource requirements. This dissertation describes the sparse census and sparse rank transforms, which significantly reduce the cost of implementation while maintaining and in some case improving correlation accuracy. This dissertation also proposes the generalized census and generalized rank transforms, which opens up a new class of stereo vision transforms and allows the stereo system to be even more optimized, often reducing the hardware resource requirements. The proposed stereo methods are analyzed, providing both quantitative and qualitative results for comparison to existing algorithms. These results show that the computational complexity of local stereo methods can be significantly reduced while maintaining very good correlation accuracy. A hardware architecture for the implementation of the proposed algorithms is also described and the actual resource requirements for the algorithms are presented. These results confirm that dramatic reductions in hardware resource requirements can be achieved while maintaining high stereo correlation accuracy. This work proposes the multi-bit census, which provides improved pixel discrimination as compared to the census, and leads to improved correlation accuracy with some stereo configurations. A rotation-invariant census transform is also proposed and can be used in applications where image rotation is possible.
A New Tail-Based Correlation Measure and its Application in Global Equity Markets

The co-dependence between assets tends to increase when the market declines. This paper develops a correlation measure focusing on market declines using the expected shortfall (ES), referred to as the ES-implied correlation, to improve the existing value at risk (VaR)-implied correlation. Simulations which define period-by-period true correlations show that the ES-implied correlation is much closer to true correlations than is the VaR-implied correlation with respect to average bias and root-mean-square error. More importantly, this paper develops a series of test statistics to measure and test correlation asymmetries, as well as to evaluate the impact of weights on the VaR-implied correlation and the ES-implied correlation. The test statistics indicate that the linear correlation significantly underestimates correlations between the US and the other G7 countries during market downturns, and the choice of weights does not have significant impact on the VaR-implied correlation or the ES-implied correlation.