Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Mechanisms and Efficacy of Photobiomodulation Therapy for Arthritis: A Comprehensive Review

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients around the world, causing significant pain and disability. Furthermore, the drugs used to treat these conditions frequently have side effects that add to the patient’s burden. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has emerged as a promising treatment approach in recent years. PBM effectively reduces inflammation by utilizing near-infrared light emitted by lasers or LEDs. In contrast to photothermal effects, PBM causes a photobiological response in cells, which regulates their functional response to light and reduces inflammation. PBM’s anti-inflammatory properties and beneficial effects in arthritis treatment have been reported in numerous studies, including animal experiments and clinical trials. PBM’s effectiveness in arthritis treatment has been extensively researched in arthritis-specific cells. Despite the positive results of PBM treatment, questions about specific parameters such as wavelength, dose, power density, irradiation time, and treatment site remain. The goal of this comprehensive review is to systematically summarize the mechanisms of PBM in arthritis treatment, the development of animal arthritis models, and the anti-inflammatory and joint function recovery effects seen in these models. The review also goes over the evaluation methods used in clinical trials. Overall, this review provides valuable insights for researchers investigating PBM treatment for arthritis, providing important references for parameters, model techniques, and evaluation methods in future studies.
Autonomy-Based Listening: Vietnamese University Students’ Perceptions of Self-Access Web-Based Listening Practices

Self-access language learning (SALL) can promote autonomy among language learners. It is a practical means for creating comfortable, personalized environments in which learners can take a more active part in making decisions and choices in their language learning trajectories. In the domain of second language (L2) listening, self-access work can fulfill the individual needs of learners whose listening processes are supposed to be respected. However, in countries where English is taught as a foreign language (EFL), this is not always the case due to traditional teacher-led large-sized listening classrooms and test-oriented curricula. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate Vietnamese students’ perceptions of a self-access listening platform (SALP) which was built to facilitate L2 beginners to get familiar with the fast delivery of speech and to involve their personal interpretations of the input into the comprehension process. The study also aimed to examine whether this self-access approach can cultivate autonomous listening. Qualitative data were gathered through interviews with 15 non-English major university students whose disciplines were business management, marketing, communication, and public relations. They completed a six-week listening course on this online listening platform. The major findings indicate that students had positive listening experiences with the SALP regarding time flexibility and practicality. Despite students’ full awareness of the potential benefits of the SALP, a few of them still showed resistance to the self-access listening approach as a substitution for traditional classroom-based listening. The results reported here shed new light on the possibilities of implementing autonomy-based listening in a virtual self-access environment in L2 listening pedagogy.
The four C’s model of thematic analysis. A critical realist perspective

ABSTRACT This article provides a critical realist (CR) alternative to the standard approaches to Thematic Analysis (TA) in qualitative research, namely the Braun-Clarke approach (reflexivity while coding themes), the Attride-Sterling approach (clustering basic, global and organizing themes), and Boyatzis' approach (clarifying criteria for assessing the absence/presence of themes in the raw material). In the CR traditions, the experiential themes /inferential themes /dispositional themes and the data/codes/themes distinctions have been proposed recently as the methodological device for answering the question “what is the theme”. The aim of this article is threefold. First, I bring to light the inconsistencies of the non-CR approaches to TA, second, I discuss critically the CR approaches to TA and finally I offer a CR-based approach to TA which builds upon them by introducing specific innovations from social network analysis which make abductive and retroductive reasoning a shareable procedure for answering “what is the theme? ”.
Salon nail care with superficial self-disclosure vitalizes psychological state

Physical attractiveness has long been established as a desirable trait in society. Physically attractive individuals are considered more competent, successful, and sociable. Numerous studies have examined the influence of makeup on physical attractiveness and its subjective psychological effects. However, the effect of nail care has not yet been examined. This study aimed to explore the psychological effects of nail care. Female Japanese participants (N = 334) completed an online questionnaire. The results showed that nail care positively elevated three aspects: positive emotions, relaxation, and vitalization. Moreover, they confirmed significant differences between receiving nail care from salon manicurists and self-performed nail care in terms of positive emotions and relaxation. The results indicated that nail care altered the appearance of the recipients’ nails and their self-esteem, including their feelings, mood, and motivation. Furthermore, this study indicates that it may be preferable for both manicurists and clients not to self-disclose in-depth, as this would negate the positive effects of nail care. The study concludes with recommendations for future research.
Seasonal variations in the properties and structural composition of sea ice and snow cover in the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas, Antarctica

Abstract Sixty-three ice cores were collected in the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas in August and September 1993 during a cruise of the R.V. Nathaniel B. Palmer. The structure and stable-isotopic composition (18O/16O) of the cores were investigated in order to understand the growth conditions and to identify the key growth processes, particularly the contribution of snow to sea-ice formation. The structure and isotopic composition of a set of 12 cores that was collected for the same purpose in the Bellingshausen Sea in March 1992 are reassessed. Frazil ice and congelation ice contribute 44% and 26%, respectively, to the composition of both the winter and summer ice-core sets, evidence that the relatively calm conditions that favour congelation-ice formation are neither as common nor as prolonged as the more turbulent conditions that favour frazil-ice growth and pancake-ice formation. Both frazil- and congelation-ice layers have an av erage thickness of 0.12 m in winter, evidence that congelation ice and pancake ice thicken primarily by dynamic processes. The thermodynamic development of the ice cover relies heavily on the formation of snow ice at the surface of floes after sea water has flooded the snow cover. Snow-ice layers have a mean thickness of 0.20 and 0.28 m in the winter and summer cores, respectively, and the contribution of snow ice to the winter (24%) and summer (16%) core sets exceeds most quantities that have been reported previously in other Antarctic pack-ice zones. The thickness and quantity of snow ice may be due to a combination of high snow-accumulation rates and snow loads, environmental conditions that favour a warm ice cover in which brine convection between the bottom and top of the ice introduces sea water to the snow/ice interface, and bottom melting losses being compensated by snow-ice formation. Layers of superimposed ice at the top of each of the summer cores make up 4.6% of the ice that was examined and they increase by a factor of 3 the quantity of snow entrained in the ice. The accumulation of superimposed ice is evidence that melting in the snow cover on Antarctic sea-ice floes ran reach an advanced stage and contribute a significant amount of snow to the total ice mass.
Performance of crossbred dairy cattle under commercial farming conditions in the Chattogram district, Bangladesh

The study was conducted in 10 different farms under 6 upazilas, i.e., Hathazari, Patiya, Anwara, Boalkhali, Bakalia and Patenga of Chattogram district. The records of 50 crossbred dairy cattle (CDC) were collected for two crossbred dairy breeds, i.e., Holstein Friesian × Jersey (HF × J) and Holstein Friesian × Local (HF × L) from March to June 2019. Farms having ≥50 CDC with complete records of each cattle were selected for the study purpose. Results indicated that the genotype, supply of green roughage and concentrate, and feeding of CDC immediate before milking had significant (p<0.001) positive linear effect on average daily milk yield (ADMY). Supply of green roughage and concentrate had further positive quadratic and cubic effects (p<0.001) on ADMY. Postpartum period quadratically influenced the ADMY (p<0.05) although linear and cubic effects were nil (p>0.05). Parity and genotype had significant (p<0.05) positive effect on lactation period of the CDC. Among the HF × J crossbreds, 75%+25% genotypes resulted in greater milk yield than the others. Similarly, the 87.5% + 12.5% HF × L produced more milk than the other genotypes. However, the farm type, housing systems, grass type, milking system, parity, service per conception, lactation period, age at puberty, age at first calving, and the dry period had no effect (p>0.05) on ADMY in the CDC. Overall, HF × J performed better than the HF × L. It was concluded that both HF × J and HF × L crossbreds were well adapted under medium-scale commercial farming conditions of Bangladesh.
Deep Learning Technique for Congenital Heart Disease Detection Using Stacking-Based CNN-LSTM Models From Fetal Echocardiogram: A Pilot Study

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are a leading cause of death in infants under 1 year of age. Prenatal intervention can reduce the risk of postnatal serious CHD patients, but current diagnosis is based on qualitative criteria, which can lead to variability in diagnosis between clinicians. Objectives: To detect morphological and temporal changes in cardiac ultrasound (US) videos of fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) using deep learning models. A small cohort of 9 healthy and 13 HLHS patients were enrolled, and ultrasound videos at three gestational time points were collected. The videos were preprocessed and segmented to cardiac cycle videos, and five different deep learning CNN-LSTM models were trained (MobileNetv2, ResNet18, ResNet50, DenseNet121, and GoogleNet). The top-performing three models were used to develop a novel stacking CNN-LSTM model, which was trained using five-fold cross-validation to classify HLHS and healthy patients. The stacking CNN-LSTM model outperformed other pre-trained CNN-LSTM models with the accuracy, precision, sensitivity, F1 score, and specificity of 90.5%, 92.5%, 92.5%, 92.5%, and 85%, respectively for video-wise classification, and with the accuracy, precision, sensitivity, F1 score, and specificity of 90.5%, 92.5%, 92.5%, 92.5%, and 85%, respectively for subject-wise classification using ultrasound videos. This study demonstrates the potential of using deep learning models to classify CHD prenatal patients using ultrasound videos, which can aid in the objective assessment of the disease in a clinical setting.
Quantitative structure of Hediste diversicolor (O. F. Muller) in estuary zones of the southern Baltic Sea (Poland's central coastline)

This study concerns the distribution of nereid Hediste diversicolor in the Middle Pomerania, near the estuaries of five rivers (Pars ęta, Wieprza, Słupia, Łupawa and Łeba). The highest d nsity of Hediste was observed in the vicinity of the Wieprza estuary while the lowest (7-fold lower) in the estuary of the Łeba River. As for biomass, it was t he highest in the river mouth of Pars ęta and the lowest in the Wieprza estuary. Frequency in the studied estuaries was low and amounted to 32%. Using standard statistical methods (significan ce tests) we indicated differences in average Hediste density and biomass between the eastern and wester n transects. Nereid’s density was 2-fold higher in the eastern transects while biomas s in western. The applied multivariate regression and classification tree method (MR&CT) revealed tha t e density of Hediste was determined only by the depth of a sampling site while biomass by th e distance from the coast. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient analysis indicated significant (p < 0.05) dependence of biomass and density on depth and distance from the shore. Due to ecologica l role of H.diversicolor as a food source for benthivorous fish, including valuable and endangere d species (cod, flatfish), the analysis of food supply can be important in the identification of fi sh feeding grounds.
Les vertebres continentaux du cretace superieur d'europe : paleoecologie, biostratigraphie et paleogeographie

La decouverte et l'exploitation de nouveaux gisements campaniens et maastrichtiens et le reexamen des anciennes collections ameliorent notre connaissance des ecosystemes continentaux europeens du cretace superieur. Un premier essai de biostratigraphie du cretace superieur europeen, sur la base des vertebres continentaux, est propose: il permet de definir une faune du campanien inferieur, une faune du campanien superieur-maastrichtien inferieur et une faune du maastrichtien superieur. Les affinites paleobiogeographiques de la faune europeenne sont mixtes: certains taxons sont issus d'une faune eocretacee cosmopolite; d'autres formes, d'origine sud-tethysienne, ont immigre en europe au cours du cretace; ces echanges se sont produits a plusieurs reprises entre le valanginien et le maastrichtien
The impact of serum and follicular fluid secreted frizzled-related protein-5 on ICSI outcome in Iraqi infertile women with different body mass index

Introduction and Aim: Adipose tissue adipokines and cytokines impede oocyte maturation and endometrial epithelial receptivity. Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (Sfrp5), a novel antagonist adipokine secreted by adipocytes, may have anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing actions, but data is conflicting. This study examined serum and follicular fluid Sfrp5 levels in Iraqi infertile women with varying BMIs undergoing IVF/ICSI, as well as ICSI outcomes. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study comprised 90 infertile females aged 18–45 who underwent IVF/ICSI at the High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies Centre in Baghdad, Iraq. Participants received antagonist ovarian hyperstimulation. All individuals' blood fasting sugar, serum fasting insulin, serum, and follicular fluid SFRP5 were tested on oocyte retrieval day. HOMA-IR was computed. Oocyte maturity and embryo morphology were categorized. Serum B-hCG was measured 14 days after embryo transfer. Results: A notable disparity was observed in the levels of serum and follicular Sfrp5, total oocyte count, mean metaphase II (MII), grade I, and pregnancy rate (p<0.05) among the participants categorized as normal weight, overweight, and obese. A notable disparity was observed in the average germinal vesicles (GV), grade III (GIII) embryos, and HOMA-IR (p < 0.05) among patients with varying body mass index (BMI) values. The study found a positive correlation between the levels of Sfrp5 in both serum and follicular fluid and the total count of oocytes, MII oocytes, grade I embryos, and pregnancy rate. However, there was a negative correlation between Sfrp5 levels and HOMA-IR, with statistical significance at p<0.05. Conclusion: Increased BMI is associated with lower serum and follicular fluid Sfrp5, reduced total oocyte count, reduced metaphase II oocyte count, more germinal vesicle oocytes, reduced embryo quality and lower pregnancy rate. Serum and follicular fluid Sfrp5 levels are negatively correlated with HOMA-IR but positively associated with ICSI outcome.
Effects of different treatment subjects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SCS5 on oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic mice

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different subjects from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SCS5 (L. plantarum SCS5) on type 2 diabetes by modulating oxidative stress levels.The normal group (NG) and the model group (MG) of mice were fed normally, while the three test groups (LP1,LP2,LP3) received 10 ml/kg (body weight) of the L. plantarum SCS5 suspension, intracellular material, or heat-killed intracellular material daily for 10 weeks. The weight loss and the increase in blood glucose were alleviated in the LP2 and LP3 groups. Insulin, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase significantly increased in the LP3 group of mice compared with the MG group. Additionally, the pathological sections showed that the lesions in the LP3 group were less severe than those in the MG group. These findings indicate that the heat-killed intracellular L. plantarum SCS5 material was most effective in alleviating oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic mice.
Timolol Maleate In Situ Ophthalmic Mucoadhesive-Thermosensitive Gel: Development and Characterization

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to prepare a sustained delivery mucoadhesive-thermosensitive formulation containing poloxamer 338 (P338), poloxamer 188 (P188) and mucoadhesive agents such as chitosan (CHT) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to increase the ophthalmic bioavailability of Timolol Maleate (TM). Materials and Methods: Gels were prepared by mixing different amounts of P338, P188 and mucoadhesive agents in cold isotonic water with a magnetic stirrer. The sol-gel gelation time of the gels was determined using the test tube inversion method. Viscosity measurements and analysis of mechanical properties of gel formulations were carried out. In vitro release using dialysis membrane and ex vivo permeation studies using fresh cow eyes were performed.
Assessing Alexithymia: Psychometric Properties of the Russian Version of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire

The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) is a recently developed 24-item self-report measure of alexithymia. Originally created in English, the questionnaire was designed to assess all facets of alexithymia and do so across both negative and positive emotions. This study aimed to introduce and examine the psychometric properties of the first Russian version of the PAQ. Our sample was 229 Russian-speaking adults aged 18–60 (M = 28.59, SD = 9.41) from the general population. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to verify the PAQ’s factor structure. The convergent and divergent validity of the questionnaire was assessed via relationships with other measures of alexithymia, emotional reactivity, mental health symptoms, and trait vitality. The questionnaire demonstrated strong factorial validity, and convergent and divergent validity was also empirically supported. Internal consistency reliability was good for all subscales and the total score. Overall, the Russian version of the PAQ therefore appears to have strong psychometric properties, thus supporting the cross-cultural applicability of the alexithymia construct and this instrument. The capacity of the PAQ to assess alexithymia across both negative and positive emotions should usefully advance alexithymia assessments in Russian settings. The clinical relevance of appraising positive emotions seems to be important for future investigations in Russian samples.
Current management and future challenges in salivary glands cancer

Salivary gland cancers (SGCs) are rare, accounting for less than 5% of all malignancies of the head and neck region, and are morphologically heterogeneous. The diagnosis is mainly based on histology, with the complementary aid of molecular profiling, which is helpful in recognizing some poorly differentiated, borderline, or atypical lesions. Instrumental imaging defines the diagnosis, representing a remarkable tool in the treatment plan. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance are the most common procedures used to describe the primary tumour. The treatment of SGCs is multimodal and consists of surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy; each treatment plan is, however, featured on the patient and disease’s characteristics. On 24 June 2022, in the meeting “Current management and future challenges in salivary gland cancers” many experts in this field discussed the state of the art of SGCs research, the future challenges and developments. After the meeting, the same pool of experts maintained close contact to keep these data further updated in the conference proceedings presented here. This review collects the insights and suggestions that emerged from the discussion during and after the meeting per se.
Can Bus Rapid Transit Stimulate Land Development? Evidence from Beijing Southern Axis BRT Line 1

This paper describes how Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has emerged as a cost-effective transport system for urban mobility. However, BRT's potential to stimulate land development remains largely unexplored. This paper examines how the BRT system has influenced land development around the busway corridor in Beijing, where it has been in service for 5 years. The paper makes use of qualitative (interviews with stakeholders) and quantitative analysis (passenger survey and longitudinal analysis of property price data) to investigate land development impact resulting from BRT. The empirical analysis provides evidence that BRT has had a positive impact on the residential and commercial property attractiveness in the southern region. The statistical analysis suggests that accessibility advantage, specifically travel time savings offered by BRT is capitalized into higher property price. The capitalization effect mostly occurs after the full operation of BRT, and is more evident over time and particularly observed in areas that previously lacked the alternative mobility opportunities.
On a Calculation of Decrease of Ship Speed in Actual Seas

Reduction of green house gas from international shipping shall be put forward. For the reduction, it is important to promote to introduce ships of high energy efficiency to the shipping market. In actual seas a ship decreases her speed not only the deterioration and fouling effect but also by natural forces such as winds and waves. By design technique, ship propulsive performance in actual seas is able to improve. Hence ship propulsive performance in actual seas has much scope to improve the energy efficiency. We present a calculation method of decrease of ship speed in actual seas. From the point of accuracy, the method involves correction for added resistance in short waves combined with a tank test. As examples three kind of ship; a container ship, a car carrier and a bulk carrier are examined and the components of external forces acting on the ship are discussed.