Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do migrant remittances have state de-legitimizing tendencies? A micro-survey based evidence from Africa

Abstract This paper examines the micro-level link between migrant remittances and state legitimacy. The paper argues that there are two theoretical channels through which remittances may ultimately erode state legitimacy. First, remittance income earners may use remittance income to bribe state institutions, and thus may feel that they do not need to abide by the laws those state institutions enact. Second, remittances provide funds for political mobilization and thus may enhance uprisings against autocratic states. I test these claims using individual-level pooled data from 3 rounds of the Afrobarometer surveys. For the quantitative analysis, I use multiple linear regression, propensity score matching, and an informal method of testing for omitted variables bias. Overall, the findings of the study show that remittance-receiving Africans hold de-legitimizing behavior towards the state.
Thyroid Metastasis from Primary Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC), the most commonly diagnosed malignancy, frequently metastasizes to the bone, lungs, brain and liver at advanced stages, whereas the thyroid gland represents a rare target site for secondary disease. We examined the most recent literature about thyroid metastasis (TM) from BC after we encountered a peculiar case of a 71-year-old woman who developed sudden dysphagia, severe hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism due to TM 18 years after the diagnosis of her primary cancer. Based on published data, the prevalence of TM in BC ranges from 3% to 34%, with a median onset time of 48.2 months, although longer time intervals are not infrequent. TM negatively impacts the prognosis of these patients, however thyroid surgery can limit the local disease burden. Therefore, we suggest that clinicians involved in the follow-up care of BC patients should consider a differential diagnosis of secondary thyroid malignancy when incidental lesions are diagnosed during radiological evaluations or local symptoms affect the cervical region, even many years after the diagnosis of the primary cancer.
Chemical Characterization of Trichoderma spp. Extracts with Antifungal Activity against Cocoa Pathogens

Ecuador is one of the major cocoa producers worldwide, but its productivity has lately been affected by diseases. Endophytic biocontrol agents have been used to minimize pathogenic effects; however, compounds produced by endophytes are minimally understood. This work presents the chemical characterization of the Trichoderma species extracts that proved inhibition against cocoa pathogens. Solid–liquid extraction was performed as a partitioning method using medium with the fungal mycelia of Trichoderma reesei (C2A), Trichoderma sp. (C3A), Trichoderma harzianum (C4A), and Trichoderma spirale (C10) in ethyl acetate individually. The extract of T. spirale (C10) exhibited the growth inhibition (32.97–47.02%) of Moniliophthora perniciosa at 10 µg/mL, while a slight stimulation of Moniliophthora roreri was shown by the extracts of T. reesei (C2A) and T. harzianum (C4A) at higher concentrations. The inhibitory activity could be related to alkaloids, lactones, quinones, flavonoids, triterpenes, and sterols, as indicated by chemical screening and antifungal compounds, such as widdrol, β-caryophyllene, tyrosol, butyl isobutyrate, sorbic acid, palmitic acid, palmitelaidic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid, which were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the extracts, particularly T. spirale (C10), have the potential as biocontrol agents against witches’ broom disease; however, further studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness.
Advancements in 2D/3D Image Registration Methods

In this paper, we present methods for identifying an image from a given set of Radon projections. Given a suitably regular 2-D or 3-D function, we form a new function <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$g$ </tex-math></inline-formula> from <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$f$ </tex-math></inline-formula> using a linear transformation. We show how the Radon projections of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$f$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$g$ </tex-math></inline-formula> can be used to determine the transformation. The proposed algorithms introduce three major contributions: 1) Improvements on the 2-D setting using the moments of the Radon projections with only two orthogonal projections. 2) A natural extension of the 2-D setting to work with the 3-D setting. In particular, reducing the 3-D problem to a 2-D problem so that we can recover a translation, a scaling, or a rotation transformation of a 3-D object in the Radon domain. 3) An efficient method of recovering a rotation of a 3-D image around an arbitrary axis and an angle of rotation.
Coxsackievirus and Adenovirus Receptor (CAR) Expression in Autopsy Tissues: Organ-Specific Patterns and Clinical Significance

Coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) homologs have been identified in many species, and their proteins appeared to be highly conserved in evolution. While most of the human studies are about pathological conditions, the animal studies were more about the physiological and developmental functions of receptors. The expression of CAR is developmentally regulated, and its tissue localization is complex. Hence, we planned to study CAR expression in five different human organs at autopsy in different age groups. CAR expression was analyzed in the pituitary, heart, liver, pancreas, and kidney by immunohistochemistry, and CAR mRNA expression in the heart and pituitary by real-time PCR. In the current study, CAR expression was strong in cells of the anterior pituitary, hepatocytes, and bile ducts in the liver, acini, and pancreas and distal convoluted tubule/collecting duct in the kidney, with uniform expression in all age groups. We have noted high CAR expression in fetuses and infantile hearts, which get reduced drastically in adults due to its presumed developmental role in intrauterine life studied in animal models. In addition, the receptor was expressed in glomerular podocytes around the period of fetus viability (37 weeks) but not in early fetuses and adults. We have hypothesized that this intermittent expression could be responsible for the intercellular contact normally formed between the podocytes during the developmental phase. Pancreatic islets also showed increased expression after the emergence of the viability period but not in early fetuses and adults, which might be related to an increase in fetal insulin secretion at that particular age group.
Note on Strong Product of Graphs

Let G and H be graphs. The strong product G⊠H of graphs G and H is the graph with vertex set V (G) × V (H) and u = (u1, v1) is adjacent with v = (u2, v2) whenever (v1 = v2 and u1 is adjacent with u2) or (u1 = u2 and v1 is adjacent with v2) or (u1 is adjacent with u2 and v1 is adjacent with v2). In this paper, we study some properties of this operation. Also, we obtain lower and upper bounds for Wiener and hyper-Wiener indices of Strong product of graphs.
Chapter 12: Generic Diagnostic Issues for a Burning Plasma Experiment

Abstract In this chapter, we consider generic issues affecting the implementation of diagnostics in a burning plasma experiment (BPX). These are, directly or indirectly, caused by the radiation environment. In the first instance, handling nuclear radiation issues becomes a dominant factor in the choice of machine and diagnostic layout, construction, and maintenance. We discuss these integration issues first as they set the background against which more specific issues must be addressed. These include nuclear radiation effects on specific types of components and assemblies such as cables, fibers, and mirrors, and also thermal and mechanical degradation issues that must be considered in all component designs. One important consequence of the maintenance challenges brought about by the radiation environment is that degradation of front-line optical components by particle bombardment, normally handled by component replacement, also becomes far more challenging and in situ mitigation techniques must be sought. For the same reason, recalibration techniques become more difficult. At the same time, BPX operation time is precious and extracting the optimum performance from the device may require the use of more sophisticated diagnostic techniques. Therefore, the requirements on reliability and data availability are more stringent and must be applied more widely than is common on present devices. An important goal of BPX operation is to enable the design of future power plants. We consider briefly the development needs for diagnostics for these and conclude with an assessment of the present state of readiness of the diagnostic community for the detailed design and construction of a full diagnostic set for a BPX.
The Current Landscape of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy for Primary and Metastatic Brain Tumors

Antibodies against immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of multiple aggressive malignancies, including melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. ICIs for the treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors have been used with varying degrees of success. Here, we discuss the available evidence for the use of ICIs in the treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors, highlighting challenges and opportunities for furthering this type of cancer immunotherapy in neuro-oncology.
Association between Preoperative Hand Grip Strength and Postoperative Delirium after Cardiovascular Surgery: A Retrospective Study

The association of frailty with postoperative delirium has not been fully investigated in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether preoperative hand grip strength is associated with postoperative delirium. This retrospective study included patients aged >65 years who had undergone elective cardiovascular surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass at a Japanese university hospital between April 2020 and February 2022. We defined low hand grip strength as hand grip values of <275 n and <177 n for men and women, respectively. Postoperative delirium was assessed using the confusion assessment method during patients’ intensive care unit stay. The odds ratio of low hand grip strength for postoperative delirium was estimated using multiple logistic analysis, which was adjusted for prominent clinical factors. Ninety-five patients with a median age of 74 years were included in the final analysis, and 31.5% of them had low hand grip strength. Postoperative delirium occurred in 37% of patients, and the odds ratio of low preoperative hand grip strength for postoperative delirium was 4.58 (95% confidence interval: 1.57–13.2). Thirty-seven patients experienced postoperative delirium after cardiovascular surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass, and low preoperative hand grip strength was positively associated with its occurrence.
International addiction researchers’ perspectives on the needs of persons with addictions, the use of neuroscientific research for prevention and treatment, and future foci in addictions research

Abstract Brain-based explanations of addiction have been promoted for several decades. Their utility, however, is controversially discussed in the scientific community. While existing literature documents how stakeholders such as treatment providers, affected persons, and the public view their utility, views of the addiction research community are rarely represented. We aimed to complement existing studies by surveying researchers on their perspectives on the needs of addicted individuals, the utility of neuroscientific research for prevention and treatment, and future research priorities. 1440 international addiction researchers from many disciplines were invited to participate in a LimeSurvey. Their views on the treatment requirements of persons with addictions were assessed with a Likert scale and an open-ended question. The utility of neuroscientific research for prevention and treatment and the desired future priorities in addiction research were surveyed with open-ended questions. Quantitative items were analyzed descriptively. The qualitative content analysis of the free-text contributions followed an iterative inductive approach. Additionally, future research priorities were categorized deductively according to the underlying direction. 190 researchers from 29 countries participated (13.2%). Most considered various treatment and support options helpful and approaches tailored to the needs of individuals to be the most promising. The utility of neuroscientific research was evaluated critically by several, but benefits in terms of pharmacological treatment and the possibility to identify risk groups were acknowledged. Future areas of inquiry for addiction research mentioned were heterogenous and included neuroscientific/genetic/medications development (13%), psychosocial aspects (19%), and integrated bio-psycho-social approaches (45%). A corresponding reconsideration of treatment, support, and research seems warranted.
Modulation of Cellular Senescence in HEK293 and HepG2 Cells by Ultrafiltrates UPla and ULu Is Partly Mediated by Modulation of Mitochondrial Homeostasis under Oxidative Stress

Protein probes, including ultrafiltrates from the placenta (UPla) and lung (ULu) of postnatal rabbits, were investigated in premature senescent HEK293 and HepG2 cells to explore whether they could modulate cellular senescence. Tris-Tricine–PAGE, gene ontology (GO), and LC–MS/MS analysis were applied to describe the characteristics of the ultrafiltrates. HEK293 and HepG2 cells (both under 25 passages) exposed to a sub-toxic concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 300 μM) became senescent; UPla (10 μg/mL), ULu (10 μg/mL), as well as positive controls lipoic acid (10 μg/mL) and transferrin (10 μg/mL) were added along with H2O2 to the cells. Cell morphology; cellular proliferation; senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-X-gal) activity; expression of senescence biomarkers including p16 INK4A (p16), p21 Waf1/Cip1 (p21), HMGB1, MMP-3, TNF-α, IL-6, lamin B1, and phospho-histone H2A.X (γ-H2AX); senescence-related gene expression; reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels; and mitochondrial fission were examined. Tris-Tricine–PAGE revealed prominent detectable bands between 10 and 100 kDa. LC–MS/MS identified 150–180 proteins and peptides in the protein probes, and GO analysis demonstrated a distinct enrichment of proteins associated with “extracellular space” and “proteasome core complex”. UPla and ULu modulated senescent cell morphology, improved cell proliferation, and decreased beta-galactosidase activity, intracellular and mitochondrial ROS production, and mitochondrial fission caused by H2O2. The results from this study demonstrated that UPla and Ulu, as well as lipoic acid and transferrin, could protect HEK293 and HepG2 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage via protecting mitochondrial homeostasis and thus have the potential to be explored in anti-aging therapies.
EFL PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ PERCEPTION IN MANAGING THE LEARNING PROCESS DURING KAMPUS MENGAJAR PROGRAM

Kampus Mengajar program as one of Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) programs initiated by the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia in 2020 is one of the programs that increase the professionalism of students as prospective teachers in Indonesia. Therefore, this study aims to determine the Perception of EFL Pre-service Teachers in Managing the Learning Process during Kampus Mengajar Program. By using a qualitative descriptive design, six pre-service teachers of the English education study program at the Muhammadiyah University of Kendari were interviewed as alumni of Kampus Mengajar program batch I. The results of this study indicate that participants have a positive perception of Kampus Mengajar program to improve their competence as pre-service EFL teachers. However, in the results of the study, there were also many obstacles faced by participants such as difficulties in designing learning caused by differences between basic education taken during lectures and subjects taught during teaching, difficulties in classroom management, and also difficulties in communication caused by differences culture. Despite that, Kampus Mengajar program is highly recommended to be implemented in teacher education by students and should be encouraged by universities.
Experimental Investigation on Reversible Swelling Mechanisms of Lithium-Ion Batteries under a Varying Preload Force

The safety of lithium-ion batteries has to be guaranteed over the complete lifetime considering geometry changes caused by reversible and irreversible swellings and degradation mechanisms. An understanding of the pressure distribution and gradients is necessary to optimize battery modules and avoid local degradation bearing the risk of safety-relevant battery changes. In this study, the pressure distribution of two fresh lithium-ion pouch cells was measured with an initial preload force of 300 or 4000 N. Four identical cells were electrochemically aged with a 300 or 4000 N preload force. The irreversible thickness change was measured during aging. After aging, the reversible swelling behavior was investigated to draw conclusions on how the pressure distribution affected the aging behavior. A novel test setup was developed to measure the local cell thickness without contact and with high precision. The results suggested that the applied preload force affected the pressure distribution and pressure gradients on the cell surface. The pressure gradients were found to affect the locality of the irreversible swelling. Positions suffering from large pressure variations and gradients increased strongly in thickness and were affected in terms of their reversible swelling behavior. In particular, the edges of the investigated cells showed a strong thickness increase caused by pressure peaks.
Therapeutic Potential of Molecular Hydrogen in Metabolic Diseases from Bench to Bedside

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation have been implicated in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM), metabolic syndrome (MS), fatty liver (FL), atherosclerosis (AS), and obesity. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has long been considered a physiologically inert gas. In the last two decades, accumulating evidence from pre-clinical and clinical studies has indicated that H2 may act as an antioxidant to exert therapeutic and preventive effects on various disorders, including metabolic diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying the action of H2 remain unclear. The purpose of this review was to (1) provide an overview of the current research on the potential effects of H2 on metabolic diseases; (2) discuss the possible mechanisms underlying these effects, including the canonical anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects, as well as suppression of ER stress, activation of autophagy, improvement of mitochondrial function, regulation of gut microbiota, and other possible mechanisms. The potential target molecules of H2 will also be discussed. With more high-quality clinical trials and in-depth mechanism research, it is believed that H2 will eventually be applied to clinical practice in the future, to benefit more patients with metabolic disease.
Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 Is Associated with Age-Related Choroidal Neovascularization

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of severe vision loss in older individuals in developed countries. Despite advances in our understanding of AMD, its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been proposed to play a role in AMD development. In this study, we aimed to characterize MMP-13 in AMD. We used retinal pigment epithelial cells, a murine model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization, and plasma samples from patients with neovascular AMD to conduct our study. Our results show that MMP13 expression significantly increased under oxidative stress conditions in cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells. In the murine model, MMP13 was overexpressed in both retinal pigment epithelial cells and endothelial cells during choroidal neovascularization. Additionally, the total MMP13 levels in the plasma of patients with neovascular AMD were significantly lower than those in the control group. This suggests a reduced diffusion from the tissues or release from circulating cells in the bloodstream, given that the number and function of monocytes have been reported to be deficient in patients with AMD. Although more studies are needed to elucidate the role of MMP13 in AMD, it could be a promising therapeutic target for treating AMD.
DSiV: Data Science for Intelligent Vehicles

Data science (DS) devotes to extract useful data from noisy one to form actionable insights. It has broad applications in many domains such as internet search, tourism and social media. However, less systematic studies related to DS have been done in the field of intelligent vehicles (IV). As the size of data in IV becomes more enormous than ever before, it is necessary to give a high-level view on how to utilize DS for achieving better IV. After briefly retrospecting the history of DS, we shed light on the potential and prospects of DS in the IV domain through discussing data management, trusted data, interpretability, high-order relationship of intelligent vehicle data and so on. We also analyze the relationship between DS and several practical intelligent vehicle applications including self-driving system, data visualization, parallel intelligent vehicle system.
Rolling bearing fault diagnosis using an optimization deep belief network

The vibration signals measured from a rolling bearing are usually affected by the variable operating conditions and background noise which lead to the diversity and complexity of the vibration signal characteristics, and it is a challenge to effectively identify the rolling bearing faults from such vibration signals with no further fault information. In this paper, a novel optimization deep belief network (DBN) is proposed for rolling bearing fault diagnosis. Stochastic gradient descent is used to efficiently fine-tune all the connection weights after the pre-training of restricted Boltzmann machines (RBMs) based on the energy functions, and the classification accuracy of the DBN is improved. Particle swarm is further used to decide the optimal structure of the trained DBN, and the optimization DBN is designed. The proposed method is applied to analyze the simulation signal and experimental signal of a rolling bearing. The results confirm that the proposed method is more accurate and robust than other intelligent methods.