Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peripheral blood flow estimated by laser doppler flowmetry provides additional information about sleep state beyond that provided by pulse rate variability

Pulse rate variability (PRV), derived from Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) or photoplethysmography, has recently become widely used for sleep state assessment, although it cannot identify all the sleep stages. Peripheral blood flow (BF), also estimated by LDF, may be modulated by sleep stages; however, few studies have explored its potential for assessing sleep state. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether peripheral BF could provide information about sleep stages, and thus improve sleep state assessment. We performed electrocardiography and simultaneously recorded BF signals by LDF from the right-index finger and ear concha of 45 healthy participants (13 women; mean age, 22.5 ± 3.4 years) during one night of polysomnographic recording. Time- and frequency-domain parameters of peripheral BF, and time-domain, frequency-domain, and non-linear indices of PRV and heart rate variability (HRV) were calculated. Finger-BF parameters in the time and frequency domains provided information about different sleep stages, some of which (such as the difference between N1 and rapid eye movement sleep) were not revealed by finger-PRV. In addition, finger-PRV patterns and HRV patterns were similar for most parameters. Further, both finger- and ear-BF results showed 0.2–0.3 Hz oscillations that varied with sleep stages, with a significant increase in N3, suggesting a modulation of respiration within this frequency band. These results showed that peripheral BF could provide information for different sleep stages, some of which was complementary to the information provided by PRV. Furthermore, the combination of peripheral BF and PRV may be more advantageous than HRV alone in assessing sleep states and related autonomic nervous activity.
A Method for Studying the Homogeneity of Test Items with Respect to Other Relevant Variables

Drawing on recently developed methodology for structural equation modeling with categorical data, this article proposes a new approach for investigating the behavior of a set of dichotomously scored test items in relation to a set of other relevant (observed) variables. This is achieved by considering a linear structural model relating the latent ability variable to a set of observed scores. The approach gives information on hypothesized unidimensionality and homogeneity of items with respect to these other variables. Some examples are given where a set of biology anchor items is related to a set of other related test scores obtained from the examinees.
Understanding employee creativity from the perspectives of grit, work engagement, person organization fit, and feedback

Purpose Drawing on the growing emphasis in the literature on the importance of creativity in the workplace, the present study examines the effect of personal and organizational level factors that influences employee creativity. Precisely, we examine how grit, work engagement, person-organization fit, and feedback influence creativity in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach We sampled data from 422 research assistants who are professional workers at top-notch Universities in China. They were recruited to participate in the survey through an online medium known as WeChat. We empirically tested the effect of grit, work engagement, person-organization fit, and feedback on employee creativity. These hypotheses were supported by confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis, and path analysis. Findings The results show that work engagement strengthens the relationship between grit and creativity. In addition, the results proved that person-organization fit positively moderates the link between grit and work engagement. Feedback also had a positive mediating effect on the link between work engagement and creativity. Practical implications Based on the appropriateness of an individual work environment, a gritty person will likely become engaged and creative with task execution. Consequently, a person’s organizational fit will strongly interact with grit, work engagement, and creativity. Originality/value We shed light on the blended value of personal and organizational-level factors that positively affect creativity in the workplace. Specifically, grit being both a personal and organizational factor influences employee creativity via work engagement. This research explored the effect of work engagement as a mechanism that serves as a motivational feature enhancing creativity. We also simultaneously identify the moderation conditions of person-organization fit and feedback. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed in detail. The study makes a theoretical contribution through its assessment of the impact of grit on employee creativity. The trait activation theory portrays how grit can be expressed through feedback and person-organization fit. In terms of practice, grit can be an important consideration in hiring decisions, and feedback should be given to make the workplace more creative.
Initiation of genomics-assisted breeding in Virginia-type peanuts through the generation of a de novo reference genome and informative markers

Introduction Virginia-type peanut, Arachis hypogaea subsp. hypogaea, is the second largest market class of peanut cultivated in the United States. It is mainly used for large-seeded, in-shell products. Historically, Virginia-type peanut cultivars were developed through long-term recurrent phenotypic selection and wild species introgression projects. Contemporary genomic technologies represent a unique opportunity to revolutionize the traditional breeding pipeline. While there are genomic tools available for wild and cultivated peanuts, none are tailored specifically to applied Virginia-type cultivar development programs. Methods and respective results Here, the first Virginia-type peanut reference genome, “Bailey II”, was assembled. It has improved contiguity and reduced instances of manual curation in chromosome arms. Whole-genome sequencing and marker discovery was conducted on 66 peanut lines which resulted in 1.15 million markers. The high marker resolution achieved allowed 34 unique wild species introgression blocks to be cataloged in the A. hypogaea genome, some of which are known to confer resistance to one or more pathogens. To enable marker-assisted selection of the blocks, 111 PCR Allele Competitive Extension assays were designed. Forty thousand high quality markers were selected from the full set that are suitable for mid-density genotyping for genomic selection. Genomic data from representative advanced Virginia-type peanut lines suggests this is an appropriate base population for genomic selection. Discussion The findings and tools produced in this research will allow for rapid genetic gain in the Virginia-type peanut population. Genomics-assisted breeding will allow swift response to changing biotic and abiotic threats, and ultimately the development of superior cultivars for public use and consumption.
Minimally invasive versus open McKeown esophagectomy for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy

Introduction The purpose of this study was to compare short and mid-term outcomes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients undergoing open or minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy (MIE) after neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy. Methods Patients with locally advanced ESCC underwent open or minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy after neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy were retrospectively included from June 2019 to June 2021. The baseline characteristics, pathological data, short-and mid-term outcomes were collected and compared based on the surgical approach. Results A total of 35 patients were included in the study. An open procedure was performed for 13 patients (37.1%), and 22 (62.9%) patients underwent MIE after neoadjuvant therapy. Compared with open group, MIE group had shorter operative times (350.8± 117.8 vs. 277.9 ± 30.2 min, P = 0.009). The total number of resected lymph nodes was not significantly different, but more left recurrent laryngeal lymph nodes were harvested from the Open group (2.6 ± 3.2 vs. 0.9 ± 1.7, P = 0.047). The median follow-up time was 1.42 years (range, 0.35–2.59 years) from the first day of treatment. Three patients (8.6%) died during follow-up, one in the open surgery group and two in the MIE group. There were six (17.1%) patients developed recurrence, three in each group. The 2-year cumulative survival rates were 92.3 ± 7.4% and 89.5 ± 7.1% for the open and MIE groups, respectively. Overall survival was not different between the two surgical approaches. Conclusions MIE might be safe and feasible for patients with locally advanced ESCC undergoing neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy.
Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection in patients undergoing cutaneous ureterostomy

Objective Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an inflammatory response of the urothelium to bacterial invasion and is a common complication in patients with cutaneous ureterostomy (CU). For such patients, accurate and efficient identification of pathogens remains a challenge. The aim of this study included exploring utility of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in assisting microbiological diagnosis of UTI among patients undergoing CU, identifying promising cytokine or microorganism biomarkers, revealing microbiome diversity change and compare virulence factors (VFs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) after infection. Methods We performed a case-control study of 50 consecutive CU patients from December 2020 to January 2021. According to the clinical diagnostic criteria, samples were divided into infected group and uninfected group and difference of urine culture, cytokines, microorganism, ARGs and VFs were compared between the two groups. Results Inflammatory responses were more serious in infected group, as evidenced by a significant increase in IFN-α (p=0.031), IL-1β (0.023) and IL-6 (p=0.018). Clinical culture shows that there is higher positive rate in infected group for most clinical pathogens like Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida auris etc. and the top three pathogens with positive frequencies were E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis. Benchmarking clinical culture, the total sensitivity is 91.4% and specificity is 76.3% for mNGS. As for mNGS, there was no significant difference in microbiome α- diversity between infected and uninfected group. Three species biomarkers including Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Enterobacter cloacae are enriched in infected group based on Lefse. E. cloacae were significantly correlated with IL-6 and IL-10. K. oxytoca were significantly correlated with IL-1β. Besides, the unweighted gene number and weighted gene abundance of VFs or ARGs are significantly higher in infected group. Notablely, ARGs belonging to fluoroquinolones, betalatmas, fosfomycin, phenicol, phenolic compound abundance is significantly higher in infected group which may have bad effect on clinical treatment for patients. Conclusion mNGS, along with urine culture, will provide comprehensive and efficient reference for the diagnosis of UTI in patients with CU and allow us to monitor microbial changes in urine of these patients. Moreover, cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-a) or microorganisms like C. freundii, K. oxytoca or E. cloacae are promising biomarkers for building effective UTI diagnostic model of patients with CU and seriously the VFs and ARGs abundance increase in infected group may play bad effect on clinical treatment.
Efficacy of ixekizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and prediabetes or type 2 diabetes

Objective Patients with psoriasis have an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes when compared to the general population. Research suggests that type 2 diabetes (T2D) as well as obesity may have an impact on patients' response to treatment. This post-hoc analysis reports the efficacy of ixekizumab in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis in patients with prediabetes or T2D. Method and materials UNCOVER-1, UNCOVER-2, and UNCOVER-3 were three Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy and safety of ixekizumab in adult patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Patients were aged ≥18 years with chronic moderate-to-severe psoriasis (defined as ≥10% body surface area affected, static Physician Global Assessment ≥3, and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] ≥12 at screening and baseline) who were candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy. UNCOVER-1, UNCOVER-2, and UNCOVER-3 participants received ixekizumab as per label (that is, an initial dose of two subcutaneous injections [160 mg in total] at Week 0, followed by 80 mg every 2 weeks through Week 12 and 80 mg every 4 weeks thereafter through Week 60). Results The proportions of patients with prediabetes, T2D and normoglycemia that achieved PASI75, PASI90, and PASI100 at Week 60 were similar. Results suggest that patients with T2D were slower to achieve PASI100 than patients with prediabetes or those with normoglycemia. Ixekizumab had no effect on any metabolic markers in patients receiving the treatment. Conclusions Despite the higher rate of obesity and extreme obesity in patients with prediabetes and T2D, ixekizumab was an efficacious treatment in treating patients with psoriasis.
(St)aging in place: Information and communication technologies for a health-centered agile dwelling unit

As the number of older adults is growing rapidly in the U.S., the need for personalized, innovative, and sustainable Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) solutions is critical to support individuals' social, emotional, and physical health. Such technology can significantly help older adults' ability to live independently in their homes despite the challenges the aging process may present, referred to as aging or staging in place. In this study, we explored ways to integrate ICTs into Agile Dwelling Units (AgDUs) through affordable, innovative, technology-enabled tools and practices that can be adapted to respond to individual's needs while supporting independent, secure, and engaged healthy living. The technology-enabled and human-centered AgDUs organically transform in response to users' needs. This approach offers a viable solution for older adults at different stages throughout their lifespan to transition into an intimate, technologically-enhanced living environment while allowing for (1) customization to user's needs; (2) cost optimization and maintenance; and (3) accessibility that minimizes gaps in compliance from a provider and user perspectives. Integrating ICTs in AgDUs to support health monitoring and management could reduce forthcoming pressure on the healthcare system and care providers to accommodate the needs of older adults. This approach is described through a collaborative multidisciplinary lens that highlights a partnership between academia, industry experts, and key stakeholders to advance healthy living and extend lifespan through design-build and technology integration. The main goal of this approach is to increase access to health services and optimize healthcare costs.
Occipital and parietal cortex participate in a cortical network for transsaccadic discrimination of object shape and orientation

Saccades change eye position and interrupt vision several times per second, necessitating neural mechanisms for continuous perception of object identity, orientation, and location. Neuroimaging studies suggest that occipital and parietal cortex play complementary roles for transsaccadic perception of intrinsic versus extrinsic spatial properties, e.g., dorsomedial occipital cortex (cuneus) is sensitive to changes in spatial frequency, whereas the supramarginal gyrus (SMG) is modulated by changes in object orientation. Based on this, we hypothesized that both structures would be recruited to simultaneously monitor identity and orientation across saccades. To test this, we merged two previous neuroimaging protocols: 21 participants viewed a 2D object and then, after sustained fixation or a saccade, judged whether the shape or orientation of the represented object changed. We, then, performed a bilateral region-of-interest analysis on identified cuneus and SMG sites. As hypothesized, cuneus showed both saccade and feature (i.e., orientation vs. shape change) modulations, and right SMG showed saccade-feature interactions. Further, the cuneus activity time course correlated with several other cortical saccade / visual areas, suggesting a ‘functional network’ for feature discrimination. These results confirm the involvement of occipital / parietal cortex in transsaccadic vision and support complementary roles in spatial versus identity updating.
High-temperature gradient effect on a turbulent channel flow using thermal large-eddy simulation in physical and spectral spaces

This paper studied nonisothermal plane channel flows using the method of thermal large-eddy simulations (TLES). Several temperature ratios (TR =TH /TC ) were investigated, where TC and TH are the temperatures of the cold and hot sides, respectively. Each TR case is further considered for two wall Reynolds numbers (Re τm ), 180 and 395, where the wall Reynolds number was defined as the average of the local wall Reynolds number values obtained for the cold and hot sides, Re τC and Re τH . For a given wall Reynolds number Re τm , it was demonstrated that the increased temperature ratio directly led to an enhanced disparity between the local wall Reynolds numbers of the cold and hot sides. Essentially, the wall Reynolds number for the cold side (Re τC ) is increased, but its companion value for the hot side (Re τH ) is decreased. In the case of large temperature ratio, the asymmetry of the mean velocity and temperature profiles is also increased. The major findings are that for high-temperature ratios, the fl.
Impact Of Social Media Influencers’ Credibility on The Purchase Intention: Reference to The Beauty Industry

Purpose: The role of social media influencers is growing in importance, due to their ability to effectively influence. In addition, marketers have identified Instagram as the most important social media channel for influencer marketing, while the concept of credibility has always been significant in the field of influencer marketing. While a few studies have recently focused on how social media influencers influence consumer purchase behavior, research that specifically focuses on influencer credibility and its impact on purchase behavior is still scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of influencer credibility on the purchase intention of beauty products in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach: Quantitative study was conducted using the survey method. The sample consists of 150 Instagram users between the ages of 18 and 34 who live in Colombo, Sri Lanka. To empirically test the conceptual model, single and multiple regression analyses were used. Findings: Results suggest that there’s a positive impact of credibility dimensions towards purchase intention and the most impactful credibility factor towards purchase intention is “trustworthiness” Originality: This research contributed to the current debates about the credibility of social media influencers. Furthermore, this study focuses on the impact of Instagram influencer credibility dimensions, which is still scarce. So, the current paper fills a gap in the limited existing literature on the credibility of social media influencers on purchase intention, with a focus on the beauty industry in the Sri Lankan context. Implications: The findings assist marketers and advertisers in the fashion industry in understanding how influencer marketing affects consumer purchase intent. Additionally, this provides important insights to influencers in order for them to be successful influencers. Keywords: Social media influencers, Influencer Marketing, Instagram Influencers, Influencer Credibility, Beauty Industry.
Exploring Female Enrollment and Outcomes in Chemical Engineering and their Experiences in Pursuit of a Career in STEM

— The need for more engineers in Jamaica has increased in recent times. Recognizing that females are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), more efforts are being made to encourage females to pursue careers in STEM. Although engineering continues to be male dominated, there are a few engineering disciplines with relatively high female participation. Chemical engineering (ChE) is one of these engineering disciplines. In this study, gender differences in enrollment and persistence in ChE, the quality of degree obtained on completion and the job placement of female graduates were investigated. A survey was used to obtain qualitative information on factors that influence females to study ChE, and their gender-related experiences as students and STEM employees. The main findings revealed that females represented 41% of ChE intake, had higher rates of degree completion, were motivated by male role models to pursue engineering, and few females experienced some forms of gender-based discrimination in STEM employment. Based on the study, strategies were suggested to improve the number of females in STEM and to address the issues of gender bias in STEM employment.
Analysis of Landsat-8 OLI imagery for land surface water mapping

The normalized difference water indices (NDWIs) were successfully used in map land surface water mapping (LSWM) from Landsat series multispectral images. This paper evaluates the potential of the recent Landsat satellite (Landsat-8) Operational Land Imager (OLI) multispectral images for LSWM using three NDWI models. We tested the accuracy and robustness of the three OLI NDWI models in the Yangtze River Basin and the Huaihe River Basin in China. The results demonstrate that the three OLI NDWI models achieve an overall accuracy of more than 95%, a kappa coefficient of 0.89 and a producer’s accuracy of 95% for LSWM. The results also demonstrate that the NDWI model using the green band (Band 3) and the SWIR1 band (Band 6) (referred to as NDWIO6,3) of the OLI sensor has a higher LSWM accuracy than the other two NDWI models.
Preference reversal and the observability of preferences by experimental methods

This paper shows that: (1) the "preference reversal" phenomenon can be consistent with transitive preferences if these preferences violate the independence axiom of expected utility theory and (2) for the class of experiments that were used to produce the evidence concerning "preference reversal," the elicitation of certainty equivalents is possible if, and only if, the respondent's preferences can be represented by functionals that are linear in the probabilities. Furthermore, a more general class of experiments is not immune to "preference reversal" if nonexpected utility preferences are admitted. Copyright 1987 by The Econometric Society.
Grain boundary composition and conduction in HfO2: An ab initio study

We investigate the electronic properties of HfO2 grain boundaries employing a simple Σ5 (310)/[001] grain boundary model based on the cubic phase. Our calculations show the emergence of unoccupied defect states 0.4 eV below the conduction band due to the under-coordination of certain Hf ions in the grain boundary. They also show that migration of metal interstitials such as Hf and Ti to the grain boundary is energetically favorable, turning the grain boundary region metallic. This scenario may create leakage paths in poly-crystalline HfO2 or serve as the conduction mechanism in resistive random access memories.