Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T Lymphocyte Subsets Profile and Toll-Like Receptors Responses in Patients with Herpes Zoster

Purpose Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and 20% of healthy humans and 50% of people with immune dysfunction have a high probability of suffering from HZ. This study aimed to screen dynamic immune signatures and explore the potential mechanism during HZ progression. Patients and Methods Peripheral blood samples from 31 HZ patients and 32 age-sex-matched healthy controls were collected and analyzed. The protein levels and gene levels of toll-like receptors (TLRs) were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by flow cytometry and quantitative real-time PCR. Further, the characteristics of T cell subsets and cytokines were detected via a cytometric bead array. Results Compared to healthy controls, the mRNA levels of TLR2, TLR4, TLR7, and TLR9 mRNA in PBMCs were significantly increased in HZ patients. The protein level of TLR4 and TLR7 was significantly increased in HZ patients, but the levels of TLR2 and TLR9 were dramatically decreased. The CD3+ T cells were constant in HZ and healthy controls. CD4+ T cells were decreased in HZ patients, while CD8+ T cells were increased, resulting in an improved CD4+/CD8+ T cells ratio. Further, it was found that Th2 and Th17 were not changed, but the decreased Th1 and upregulated Treg cells were found in HZ. The Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg ratios were significantly decreased. Last, the levels of IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ were significantly increased, but IL-2, IL-4, and IL-17A had no significant changes. Conclusion The dysfunction of host’s lymphocytes and activation of TLRs in PBMCs were the important mechanism in varicella-zoster virus induced herpes zoster. TLRs might be the core targets for the therapy drug development in treating HZ.
Gender differences in the stability of trust and risk-taking

The individual willingness to trust is compared to the inclination to take lottery risk in six distinct scenarios, controlling the return distributions. Trust responds to changes in the admissible return levels, but exhibits significantly smaller responsiveness to return expectations compared to parallel risk-taking. Paired comparisons suggest that the investors sacrifice 5% of the expected payoff to trust anonymous responders. Trust is more calculated and volatile for males, while appearing relatively stable for females. The results connect with evidence regarding physiological differences between trust and risk-taking, and in addition suggest that trust is more of a distinctive trait for females compared to males. The paper broadly discusses the results and their implications, connecting to diverse streams in the trust literature.
Toward the Systematic Integration of Naturalistic Inquiry in LSP Research

In this paper, the author presents a case for the systematic integration of naturalistic inquiry in language for specific purposes (LSP) research. Naturalistic inquiry (NI), in the context of LSP, is an empirical approach to better understand human behavior in natural settings such as classrooms, workplaces, healthcare facilities, criminal justice, community service, and other venues for the purpose of designing courses, training, and instructional materials on behalf of LSP students. NI, which includes the use of diary studies, single-researcher ethnography, team ethnography, and mixed methods, is one approach answering to Doyle’s call (2012) for the teaching of LSP based on empirical research. To make the case, the author illustrates the impact of several NI studies on LSP curriculum development and then proposes a five-step program to educate, train, fund, and mentor future NI researchers. The paper concludes with an overview of challenges to conducting NI, coupled with a description of a key funding source to support NI training and research in LSP.
LINC00659 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Malignant Progression by Blocking Aerobic Glycolysis through FUS Recruitment and SLC10A1 Modulation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant type of liver cancer that poses severe threat to human health worldwide. Aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of HCC and facilitates its progression. Solute carrier family 10 member 1 (SLC10A1) and long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 659 (LINC00659) were detected to be downregulated in HCC cells, yet their potential functions underlying HCC progression remained unidentified. In the current work, colony formation and transwell assays were used to detect HCC cells (HepG2 and HuH-7) proliferation and migration in vitro study. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot assays were used for gene/protein expression determination. Seahorse assay was performed for aerobic glycolysis assessment. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays were conducted for detection of the molecular interaction between LINC00659 and SLC10A1. The results showed that overexpressed SLC10A1 significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and aerobic glycolysis in HCC cells. Mechanical experiments further demonstrated that LINC00659 positively regulated SLC10A1 expression in HCC cells by recruiting fused protein in sarcoma (FUS). Our work elucidated that LINC00659 inhibited HCC progression and aerobic glycolysis via the FUS/SLC10A1 axis, revealing a novel lncRNA–RNA-binding protein–mRNA network in HCC, which might provide potential therapeutic targets for HCC.
Simulation of a rapid dropout event for highly relativistic electrons with the RBE model

A flux dropout is a sudden and sizable decrease in the energetic electron population of the outer radiation belt on the time scale of a few hours. We simulated a flux dropout of highly relativistic >2.5 MeV electrons using the Radiation Belt Environment model, incorporating the pitch angle diffusion coefficients caused by electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves for the geomagnetic storm event of 23–26 October 2002. This simulation showed a remarkable decrease in the >2.5 MeV electron flux during main phase of the storm, compared to those without EMIC waves. This decrease was independent of magnetopause shadowing or drift loss to the magnetopause. We suggest that the flux decrease was likely to be primarily due to pitch angle scattering to the loss cone by EMIC waves. Furthermore, the >2.5 MeV electron flux calculated with EMIC waves correspond very well with that observed from Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle EXplorer spacecraft. EMIC wave scattering is therefore likely one of the key mechanisms to understand flux dropouts. We modeled EMIC wave intensities by the Kp index. However, the calculated dropout is a several hours earlier than the observed one. We propose that Kp is not the best parameter to predict EMIC waves.
Assessment of economic impacts in flood events in Lages/SC, Brazil

Flood processes become increasingly harmful to communities due to factors such as climate change and land use. This study aims to evaluate the economic damages of flood events in an area of the urban basins of Lages/SC. Thus, four plans were considered for economic evaluation: one referring to conditions without protective measures and three with the application of elevation of structures at different heights, as well as two scenarios of the evolution of urban occupation. The rainfalls were obtained through the Gumbel probabilistic model to estimate the maximum accumulated precipitations over 5 days, with the hydrological modeling carried out at the HEC-HMS. The hydrodynamic modeling was performed in HEC-RAS through the simulation of a 1D model. The HEC-FDA model was used to perform the risk reduction analysis of damage caused by floods, where the expected annual damages (EAD) were calculated for the four proposed plans as well as for the urban growth scenarios. The results showed that the application of the mitigating measure of raising the structures reduced the EAD by up to 83.10%. As for the scenario of the evolution of urban growth, there was an increase in EAD of 62.09%, in the interval of 20 years. The HEC-FDA model has been demonstrated as good software for assessing the economic damage of floods in different scenarios, showing results that can help decision-makers in the development of public policies.
β-TCP/S53P4 Scaffolds Obtained by Gel Casting: Synthesis, Properties, and Biomedical Applications

The objective of this study was to investigate the osteogenic and antimicrobial effect of bioactive glass S53P4 incorporated into β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds in vitro and the bone neoformation in vivo. β-TCP and β-TCP/S53P4 scaffolds were prepared by the gel casting method. Samples were morphologically and physically characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). In vitro tests were performed using MG63 cells. American Type Culture Collection reference strains were used to determine the scaffold’s antimicrobial potential. Defects were created in the tibia of New Zealand rabbits and filled with experimental scaffolds. The incorporation of S53P4 bioglass promotes significant changes in the crystalline phases formed and in the morphology of the surface of the scaffolds. The β-TCP/S53P4 scaffolds did not demonstrate an in vitro cytotoxic effect, presented similar alkaline phosphatase activity, and induced a significantly higher protein amount when compared to β-TCP. The expression of Itg β1 in the β-TCP scaffold was higher than in the β-TCP/S53P4, and there was higher expression of Col-1 in the β-TCP/S53P4 group. Higher bone formation and antimicrobial activity were observed in the β-TCP/S53P4 group. The results confirm the osteogenic capacity of β-TCP ceramics and suggest that, after bioactive glass S53P4 incorporation, it can prevent microbial infections, demonstrating to be an excellent biomaterial for application in bone tissue engineering.
SPECTRUM AND COMPACTNESS OF THE CESÀRO OPERATOR ON WEIGHTED $\ell _{p}$ SPACES

An investigation is made of the continuity, the compactness and the spectrum of the Cesàro operator $\mathsf{C}$ when acting on the weighted Banach sequence spaces $\ell _{p}(w)$, $1<p<\infty$, for a positive decreasing weight $w$, thereby extending known results for $\mathsf{C}$ when acting on the classical spaces $\ell _{p}$. New features arise in the weighted setting (for example, existence of eigenvalues, compactness) which are not present in $\ell _{p}$.
HAS STOCK MARKET DEVELOPMENT ENGENDERED SHORT AND LONG-RUN INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN NIGERIA?

This study examines the impact of capital market performance on economic growth. Time series data obtained from the official publications of the Securities Exchange Commission, Nigerian Stock Exchange and Central Bank of Nigeria were analyzed using regression estimation technique, in which we related the proxies of stock market performance indicators (such as stock market capitalization, value of new issues and value of shares traded) to economic growth (represented by the Gross Domestic Product). Results show that both market capitalization and the value of new issues have a positive relationship with economic growth while value and the volume of shares traded had negative relationships with economic growth . It was therefore recommended that the stock market should be made more liquid in order for turnover rate to increase. This will boost investors' confidence and awareness and would make funds available for long-term development of the industrial sector and the economy. Keywords: Stock Market Development, Long-Run, Inclusive Economic Growth.
Potential Benefits of Epidermal Growth Factor for Inhibiting Muscle Degrative Markers in Rats with Alcoholic Liver Damage

This study investigated the beneficial effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on muscle loss in rats with chronic ethanol feeding. Six-week-old male Wistar rats were fed either a control liquid diet without EGF (C group, n = 12) or EGF (EGF-C group, n = 18) for two weeks. From the 3rd to 8th week, the C group was divided into two groups. One was continually fed with a control liquid diet (C group), and the other one was fed with an ethanol-containing liquid diet (E group); moreover, the EGF-C group was divided into three groups, such as the AEGF-C (continually fed with the same diet), PEGF-E (fed with the ethanol-containing liquid diet without EGF), and AEGF-E (fed with the ethanol-containing liquid diet with EGF). As a result, the E group had significantly higher plasma ALT and AST, endotoxin, ammonia, and interleukin 1b (IL-1b) levels, along with liver injuries, such as hepatic fatty changes and inflammatory cell infiltration. However, plasma endotoxin and IL-1b levels were significantly decreased in the PEGF-E and AEGF-E groups. In addition, the protein level of muscular myostatin and the mRNA levels of forkhead box transcription factors (FOXO), muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MURF-1) and atorgin-1 was increased considerably in the E group but inhibited in the PEGF-E and AEGF-E groups. According to the principal coordinate analysis findings, the gut microbiota composition differed between the control and ethanol liquid diet groups. In conclusion, although there was no noticeable improvement in muscle loss, EGF supplementation inhibited muscular protein degradation in rats fed with an ethanol-containing liquid diet for six weeks. The mechanisms might be related to endotoxin translocation inhibition, microbiota composition alteration as well as the amelioration of liver injury. However, the reproducibility of the results must be confirmed in future studies.
EdgeCompress: Coupling Multidimensional Model Compression and Dynamic Inference for EdgeAI

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have demonstrated encouraging results in image classification tasks. However, the prohibitive computational cost of CNNs hinders the deployment of CNNs onto resource-constrained embedded devices. To address this issue, we propose EdgeCompress, a comprehensive compression framework to reduce the computational overhead of CNNs. In EdgeCompress, we first introduce dynamic image cropping (DIC), where we design a lightweight foreground predictor to accurately crop the most informative foreground object of input images for inference, which avoids redundant computation on background regions. Subsequently, we present compound shrinking (CS) to collaboratively compress the three dimensions (depth, width, and resolution) of CNNs according to their contribution to accuracy and model computation. DIC and CS together constitute a multidimensional CNN compression framework, which is able to comprehensively reduce the computational redundancy in both input images and neural network architectures, thereby improving the inference efficiency of CNNs. Further, we present a dynamic inference framework to efficiently process input images with different recognition difficulties, where we cascade multiple models with different complexities from our compression framework and dynamically adopt different models for different input images, which further compresses the computational redundancy and improves the inference efficiency of CNNs, facilitating the deployment of advanced CNNs onto embedded hardware. Experiments on ImageNet-1K demonstrate that EdgeCompress reduces the computation of ResNet-50 by 48.8% while improving the top-1 accuracy by 0.8%. Meanwhile, we improve the accuracy by 4.1% with similar computation compared to HRank. The state-of-the-art compression framework. The source code and models are available at https://github.com/ntuliuteam/edge-compress.
Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Unconditional Self-Kindness Scale (USKS)

Western psychology and social sciences have long emphasized the value of a positive attitude toward oneself. Previous research had developed psychometric tools assessing self-compassion, defined as being open to and moved by one’s own suffering. However, self-compassion did not describe whether people actually applied such protective factors when acutely faced with threats. The Unconditional Self-Kindness Scale (USKS) was developed as a tool to measure the behavioral response of self-kindness during an acute presence of threat to the self and not just as a general attitude when threat is absent. Since it can be experienced even in the most challenging situations and may promote resilience, this kindness may be defined as unconditional. We validated the Italian version of the USKS and found that the scale retained a one-factor structure. The USKS showed sound psychometric properties and good convergent validity since it was found to show very strong correlations with the Self-Compassion Scale-Short-Form and the Reassure Self subscale of the Forms of Self-criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS). In addition, the USKS showed good discriminant validity since it was found to show a negative moderate correlation and a negative strong correlation with the HS subscale and with the IS subscale of the FSCRS, respectively. Finally, the USKS showed good test–retest reliability and its use is encouraged in clinical and research settings in which the assessment of a positive attitude toward oneself during an acute presence of threat to the self is of interest.
Single-bolus dexmedetomidine in prevention of emergence delirium in pediatric ophthalmic surgeries: A randomized controlled trial

Purpose: Emergency delirium (ED), a common postoperative neurologic complication, causes behavioral disturbances leading to self-traumas and also has long-term adverse effects in children. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of a single-bolus dose of dexmedetomidine in reducing the incidence of ED. Additionally, pain relief, number of patients who needed rescue analgesia, hemodynamic parameters, and adverse events were assessed. Methods: One hundred and one patients were randomly allocated into two groups: 50 patients received 15 mL of dexmedetomidine 0.4 μg/kg (group D) and 51 patients received volume-matched normal saline (group C). Hemodynamic parameters such as heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were monitored regularly throughout the procedure. ED was assessed with Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium Scale (PAEDS), and pain was measured using the modified Objective Pain Score (MOPS). Results: The incidences of ED and pain were higher in group C than group D (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Group D showed significant decrease in MOPS and PAEDS values at 5, 10, 15, and 20 min (P < 0.05), HR at 5 min (P < 0.0243), and SBP at 15 min (P < 0.0127). There was no significant difference in DBP between the two groups at any time point. The mean blood pressure (MBP) at 10 min was significantly less in group D than group C (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine 0.4 μg/kg as a single bolus over 10 min immediately after intubation is effective for the prevention of ED and significantly reduces the need of rescue analgesia without compromising the hemodynamic parameters in children undergoing ophthalmic surgery.
Dependence of kink oscillation damping on the amplitude

Context. Kink oscillations of coronal loop are one of the most ntensively studied oscillatory phenomena in the solar corona. In the large-amplitude rapidly damped regime these oscillations are observed to have a low quality-factor, with only a few cycles of oscillation detected before they are damped. The specific mechanism responsible for the rapid damping is commonly accepted to be associated with the linear coupling between collective kink oscillations and localised torsional oscillations, the phenomenon of resonant absorption of the kink mode. However, the role of finite amplitude effects is still not clear. Aims. We investigated the empirical dependence of the kink oscillation damping time and its quality factor, defined as the ratio of the damping time to the oscillation period, on the oscillation amplitude. Methods. We analysed decaying kink oscillation events detected previously with TRACE, SDO/AIA and and STEREO/EUVI in the EUV 171A band. Results. We found that the ratio of the kink oscillation damping time to the oscillation period systematically decreases with the oscillation amplitude. The quality factor dependence on the oscillation isplacement amplitude has been approximated by the powerlaw dependence with the exponent of −1/2, however we stress that this is a “by eye”estimate, and a more rigorous estimation of the scaling law requires more accurate measurements and increased statistics. We conclude that damping of kink oscillations of coronal loops depends on the oscillation amplitude, indicating the possible role of nonlinear mechanisms for damping.
Development and characterization of defatted pumpkin seed meal and halloysite nanoclay composite films for food packaging

The valorization of agricultural by‐products into sustainable packaging materials is one of the best strategies to utilize industrial waste efficiently. In this study, defatted pumpkin seed meal (DPSM) has been converted into films by impregnating selected concentrations of halloysite (HS) nanoclay (1%, 2% and 3% w/w). Various analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and barrier property measurements, were employed to characterize the developed films. The appearance of the roughness on the surface of the films was evident from SEM micrographs upon the addition of HS. No change in the crystallinity of DPSM occurred when HS was incorporated; however, the Tg showed a variation with the loading concentration of the clay. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that the decrease in hydrogen bonding was associated with increasing the HS concentrations. The addition of HS improved the tensile strength, stress relaxation percentage and Young's modulus, while the elongation at break was reduced at a similar condition. The biodegradability of the film was excellent within 20 days of the burying period. Overall, the developed films could be a potential candidate for sustainable food packaging.
FACTORIAL DESIGNS WITH MULTIPLE LEVELS

Design and analysis of factorial experiments with randomization restric- tions has received considerable attention in recent years; motivated by studies of multi-stage processes or systems. This has given rise to seemingly unrelated meth- ods of design construction, specific to the layout (e.g., split-plot, split-lot, strip-plot designs). We develop a general approach to this problem that includes most ap- proaches in the literature as special cases, and is easily adaptable to designs which are combinations of different layouts.