Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation on Musculoskeletal Injury and Psychological Empowerment of Reflexologists in Taiwan: Analysis of the Recognition to Alternative Therapy

Many studies have proven that reflexology has been used as a complementary medical treatment. Therefore, the government has started to plan an examination system for reflexology personnel to ensure the quality of service. Reflexologists work long hours, have heavy workloads, and perform poses that do not conform to human factors, which often cause musculoskeletal fatigue. The purpose of this study is to understand the musculoskeletal pain conditions of reflexologists, the psychological empowerment status, and the perceptions of complementary medicine therapy. The data for this study were obtained in two ways: (1) 59 practitioners were surveyed by using a face-to-face questionnaire and (2) a semi-structured interview was carried out for 10 practitioners. This study discovered the following: (1) Reflexology practitioners have musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms in body parts, including the left shoulder (25.4%), left hand or wrist (25.4%), lower back (25.4%), right shoulder (23.7%), left elbow or forearm (22%). (2) Reflexology practitioners are highly psychologically empowered to work. (3) The practitioners of foot therapy hold a positive attitude towards foot therapy and believe that foot therapy is a natural therapy, which is self-serving and can help others. (4) Most reflexologists support the government’s desire to promote the reflexology examination system and are willing to help develop the policy. (5) The height of most reflexologist work chairs does not match the height of the guest’s seat and is not ergonomic.
Microbiome in Nasal Mucosa of Children and Adolescents with Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review

The human upper respiratory tract comprises the nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx regions and offers distinct microbial communities. However, an imbalance and alterations in the nasal mucosa microbiome enhance the risk of chronic respiratory conditions in patients with allergic respiratory diseases. This is particularly important in children and adolescents once allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory disorder of the nasal mucosa, often associated with an increase in pulmonary allergic inflammation. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to collect scientific data published concerning the microbial community alterations in nasal mucosa of children and adolescents suffering from AR or in association with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (AH) and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC). The current study was performed using the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Publications related to microbiome alterations in the nasal mucosa in pediatric age, studies including next-generation sequencing platforms, and studies exclusively written in the English language were some of the inclusion criteria. In total, five articles were included. Despite the scarcity of the published data in this research field and the lack of prospective studies, the genera Acinetobacter, Corynebacterium, Dolosigranulum, Haemophilus, Moraxella, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus dominate the nares and nasopharyngeal microbiome of the pediatric population regardless of their age. However, an imbalance in the resident bacterial community in the nasal mucosa was observed. The genera Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas were more abundant in the nasal cavity of AR and AH children, while Streptococcus and Moraxella were predominant in the hypopharyngeal region of AR infants. An abundance of Staphylococcus spp. was also reported in the anterior nares and hypopharyngeal region of children and adolescents suffering from AR passive smoke exposure and ARC. These records suggest that different nasal structures, ageing, smoke exposure and the presence of other chronic disorders shape the nasal mucosa microbiome. Therefore, the establishment of adequate criteria for sampling would be established for a deeper understanding and a trustworthy comparison of the microbiome alterations in pediatric age.
Inventory of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Used in the Non-Operative Care of Scoliosis: A Scoping Review

It is unclear which patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) can assess non-operative care for scoliosis. Most existing tools aim to assess the effects of surgery. This scoping review aimed to inventory the PROMs used to assess non-operative scoliosis treatment by population and languages. We searched Medline (OVID) as per COSMIN guidelines. Studies were included if patients were diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis or adult degenerative scoliosis and used PROMs. Studies without quantitative data or reporting on fewer than 10 participants were excluded. Nine reviewers extracted the PROMs used, the population(s), language(s), and study setting(s). We screened 3724 titles and abstracts. Of these, the full texts of 900 articles were assessed. Data were extracted from 488 studies, in which 145 PROMs were identified across 22 languages and 5 populations (Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Adult Degenerative Scoliosis, Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis, Adult Spine Deformity, and an Unclear category). Overall, the most used PROMs were the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, 37.3%), Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22, 34.8%), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36, 20.1%), but the frequency varied by population. It is now necessary to determine the PROMs that demonstrate the best measurement properties in the non-operative treatment of scoliosis to include in a core set of outcomes.
Formation and photoluminescence property of PbS quantum dots in silica optical fiber based on atomic layer deposition

The PbS Quantum Dots (QDs)-doped silica optical fiber is fabricated using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique in combination with modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) technology. PbS materials are introduced into the fiber core and then formed to QDs in the optical fiber materials during the preparation process. Its structure features and optical properties are investigated. The element distribution and stoichiometry of the core materials are revealed by μ-X-ray absorption near edge structure (μ-XANES), μ-X-ray fluorescent (μ-XRF) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analysis. The experiment results indicate that PbS QDs are distributed at the region between core and cladding layers with the concentration about 0.11 mol%. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) further reveals the dispersion of PbS QDs is uniform and its nanocrystalline size is about 2-6 nm. This is basically in agreement with the evolution results with effective-mass method. Additionally, PbS QDs-doped optical fiber pumped with 980 nm exhibits photoluminescence property in the 1050-1350 nm range. The special doping fibers will show application potential in optical fiber amplifiers, fiber lasers and optical sensing.
Biochemical, Histological, and Ultrastructural Studies of the Protective Role of Vitamin E on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Male Rats

Background: Cyclophosphamide (CP) (Cytoxan or Endoxan) is an efficient anti-tumor agent, widely used for the treatment of various neoplastic diseases. The study aimed to investigate the protective role of vitamin E (vit E) in improving cardiotoxicity in rats induced by CP. Materials and methods: Forty male Wistar rats were divided randomly into four experimental groups (each consisting of ten rats); the control group was treated with saline. The other three groups were treated with vit E, CP, and the combination of vit E and CP. Serum lipid profiles, enzyme cardiac biomarkers, and cardiac tissue antioxidants were evaluated, as well as histological and ultrastructure investigations. Results: CP-treated rats showed a significant increase in serum levels of cardiac markers (troponin, CK, LDH, AST, and ALT), lipid profiles, a reduction in the antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, and GPx), and an elevation in the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO). The increase in the levels of troponin, LDH, AST, ALP, and triglycerides is a predominant indicator of cardiac damage due to the toxic effect of CP. The biochemical changes parallel cardiac injuries such as myocardial infarction, myocarditis, and heart failure. Vitamin E played a pivotal role, as it attenuated most of these changes because of its ability to scavenge free radicals and reduce LPO. In addition, vit E was found to improve the histopathological alterations caused by CP where no evidence of damage was observed in the cardiac architecture, and the cardiac fibers had regained their normal structure with minimal hemorrhage. Conclusions: As a result of its antioxidant activity and its stabilizing impact on the cardiomyocyte membranes, vit E is recommended as a potential candidate in decreasing the damaging effects of CP.
A dynamo wave in an inhomogeneous medium

Abstract The Maximally-Efficient Generation Approach (MEGA) for an αω-dynamo is investigated based on the simplest model of the Parker Migratory Dynamo. The α-effect is supposed inhomogeneous. The equations which govern the magnetic field are solved with the use of a WKB method. Turning points and the behavior of the solution in their vicinity are derived. The point of maximum dynamo wave amplitude is shown to be shifted from the point where the generation sources are maximum towards the direction of the dynamo wave propagation. For the solar dynamo the obtained direction of the dynamo wave propagation reverses over the subpolar domains. Dynamo waves with a poleward migration are observable over the polar regions of the Sun. The generation threshold is calculated. The properties of the dynamo waves are compared with observational data for the solar cycle. An asymptotic solution for oscillating modes of the galactic disk dynamo is also obtained.
Numerical analysis of hybrid adaptive optics system for correcting beacon anisoplanatism and thermal blooming

A concept of a Hybrid Wavefront-based Stochastic Parallel Gradient Decent (WSPGD) Adaptive Optics (AO) system for correcting the combined effects of Beacon Anisoplanatism and Thermal Blooming is introduced. This system integrates a conventional phase conjugate (PC) AO system with a WSPGD AO system. It uses on-axis wavefront measurements of a laser return from an extended beacon to generate initial deformable mirror (DM) commands. Since high frequency phase components are removed from the wavefront of a laser return by a low-pass filter effect of an extended beacon, the system also uses off-axis wavefront measurements to provide feedback for a multi-dithering beam control algorithm in order to generate additional DM commands that account for those missing high frequency phase components. Performance of the Hybrid WSPGD AO system was evaluated in simulation using a wave optics code. Numerical analysis was performed for two tactical scenarios that included ranges of L = 2 km and L = 20 km, ratio of aperture diameter to Fried parameter, D/r0, of up to 15, ratio of beam spot size at the target to isoplanatic angle, θB/θ0, of up to 40, and general distortion number characterizing the strength of Thermal Blooming, Nd = 50, 75, and 100. A line-of-sight in the corrected beam was stabilized using a target-plane tracker. The simulation results reveal that the Hybrid WSPGD AO system can efficiently correct the effects of Beacon Anisoplanatism and Thermal Blooming, providing improved compensation of Thermal Blooming in the presence of strong turbulence. Simulation results also indicate that the Hybrid WSPGD AO system outperforms a conventional PC AO system, increasing the Strehl ratio by up to 300% in less than 50 iterations. A follow-on laboratory demonstration performed under a separate program confirmed our theoretical predictions.
Model Predictive Control for a Voltage Sensorless Grid-Connected Inverter With LCL Filter Using Lumped Disturbance Observer

This article introduces a disturbance observer-based model predictive control (MPC) for a voltage sensorless grid-connected inverter (GCI), which minimizes the number of sensor measurements and eliminates the steady-state error by estimating the lumped disturbance in the presence of grid impedance variations. A full-state estimation and a lumped disturbance observer are obtained based on the Luenberger observer and gradient steepest descent method, respectively. A cost function, which consists of state error, is used for controller gain design. An optimal full-state observer and controller gains are obtained by solving an optimization problem based on linear matrix inequality (LMI). The discrete-time frequency responses analysis of open-loop and closed-loop systems is presented to demonstrate the filter resonance suppression. The robustness of the proposed control against grid impedance variation is analyzed through the pole-zero map approach. Simulations and experiments are conducted for a GCI under the grid impedance variation to demonstrate the theoretical analysis and the efficacy of the proposed control schemes.
Spectrum Widths from Echo Power Differences Reveal Meteorological Features

Abstract A new Doppler spectrum width estimator using the absolute power differences (APDs) at lag one is presented, and its performance is evaluated using simulated signals as well as those recorded from the National Severe Storms Laboratory's Research and Development WSR-88D. The APD estimate bias, its standard error of estimation, and the frequency of complex widths are compared with that obtained with other single lag estimators [e.g., the pulse-pair logarithm (PPL) estimator]. For narrow spectra and signal-to-noise ratios more than 15 dB, the APD estimator has lower bias, lower standard deviation, and a lesser number of complex width estimates than the PPL estimator. Spectrum width fields, observed when this estimate technique is applied to the logarithms of echo power from an X-band radar, reveal meteorologically significant features that are not often seen in weather radar displays in regions of relatively small spectrum widths.
Genesis of Typhoon Chanchu (2006) from a Westerly Wind Burst Associated with the MJO. Part I: Evolution of a Vertically Tilted Precursor Vortex

Abstract Although previous studies have shown the relationship between the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and tropical cyclogenesis (TCG), many scale-interactive processes leading to TCG still remain mysterious. In this study, the larger-scale flow structures and evolution during the pregenesis, genesis, and intensification of Typhoon Chanchu (2006) near the equator are analyzed using NCEP’s final analysis, satellite observations, and 11-day nested numerical simulations with the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecast model (ARW-WRF). Results show that the model could reproduce the structures and evolution of a synoptic westerly wind burst (WWB) associated with the MJO during the genesis of Chanchu, including the eastward progression of a WWB from the Indian Ocean into the Pacific Ocean, the modulation of the associated quasi-symmetric vortices, the initial slow spinup of a northern (pre-Chanchu) disturbance at the northeastern periphery of the WWB, and its general track and intensification. It i.
Estimating Dynamic Panel Data Discrete Choice Models with Fixed Effects

In this paper, I consider the estimation of dynamic binary choice panel data models with fixed effects. I use a Modified Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MMLE) that reduces the order of the bias in the Maximum Likelihood Estimator from O(T-1) to O(T-2), without increasing the asymptotic variance. I evaluate its performance in finite samples where T is not large, using Monte Carlo simulations. In Probit and Logit models containing lags of the endogenous variable and exogenous variables, the estimator is found to have a small bias in a panel with eight periods. A distinctive advantage of the MMLE is its general applicability. Identification issues about policy parameters of interest that arise in this kind of models are also addressed. In contrast with linear models, parameters of interest typically depend on the distribution of the individual effects. I discuss the relevance of mean effects across individuals and show an instance in which the entire distribution is needed. Compared with simple MLE, simulation results show that MMLE improves significantly the estimation of the distribution of the effect of interest.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: A Narrative Review

Abstract Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common respiratory viruses. It not only affects young children but also the elderly and immunocompromised patients. After the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, a dramatic reduction in RSV activity was found, which coincided with the implementation of public health and social measures (PHSMs). However, the correlation is more complicated than we initially thought. After PHSMs were gradually lifted, a seasonality shift and a delayed RSV outbreak with greater number of infected patients were found in numerous countries, such as Israel, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, France, United States, and Japan. Several hypotheses and possible reasons explaining the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and RSV were mentioned. Since RSV vaccinations are still under investigation, administration of palivizumab should be considered in high-risk patients. In the post-COVID-19 era, greater attention should be paid to a further resurgence of RSV. In this narrative review, we conducted a thorough review of the current knowledge on the epidemiology of RSV during the COVID-19 era, the out-of-season outbreak of RSV, and the data on co-infection with RSV and SARS-CoV-2.
Gamma Distribution in Acceptance Sampling Based on Life Tests

Abstract The gamma distribution is assumed as a model for lifetime. The problem of acceptance sampling when the life test is truncated at a pre- assigned time is discussed. For various acceptance numbers, various confidence levels, and various values of the ratio of the fixed experiment time to the specified mean life, the tables of this paper give the minimum sample sizes necessary to assure the specified mean life. The operating characteristic functions of the sampling plans are obtained and these are graphed for a few selected cases. Producer's risk is discussed and a small table is given for the ratio of true mean life to a specified mean life which insures acceptance with a probability of P* = . 95. An approximation is given for the minimum sample size problem. Failure rates for the gamma distribution are tabulated. The use of the tables is illustrated by examples in most cases.
Simultaneous observations of ESF irregularities over Indian region using radar and GPS

In this paper, we present simultaneous observations of temporal and spatial variability of total electron content (TEC) and GPS amplitude scintillations on L1 frequency (1.575 GHz) during the time of equatorial spread F (ESF) while the MST radar (53 MHz) located at Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E, Dip latitude 6.3° N), a low latitude station, made simultaneous observations. In particular, the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of TEC and L-band scintillations was studied in the Indian region for different types of ESF structures observed using the MST radar during the low solar activity period of 2004 and 2005. Simultaneous radar and GPS observations during severe ESF events in the pre-midnight hour reveal that significant GPS L band scintillations, depletions in TEC, and the double derivative of the TEC index (DROTI), which is a measure of fluctuations in TEC, obtained at low latitudes coincide with the appearance of radar echoes at Gadanki. As expected, when the irregularities reach higher altitudes as seen in the radar map during pre-midnight periods, strong scintillations on an L-band signal are observed at higher latitudes. Conversely, when radar echoes are confined to only lower altitudes, weak scintillations are found and their latitudinal extent is small. During magnetically quiet periods, we have recorded plume type radar echoes during a post-midnight period that is devoid of L-band scintillations. Using spectral slopes and cross-correlation index of the VHF scintillation observations, we suggest that these irregularities could be "dead" or "fossil" bubbles which are just drifting in from west. This scenario is consistent with the observations where suppression of pre-reversal enhancement (PRE) in the eastward electric field is indicated by ionosonde observations of the height of equatorial F layer and also occurrence of low spectral width in the radar observations relative to pre-midnight period. However, absence of L-band scintillations during post-midnight event, when radar observed plume like structures and scintillations were recorded on VHF band, raises questions about the process of evolution of the irregularities. A possible explanation is that whereas small scale (~3 m) irregularities are generated through secondary waves that grow on the walls of km scale size irregularities, in this case evolution of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability itself did not extend to irregularities of scale sizes of a few hundred meters that produce scintillation on a L-band signal.
SKI-1/S1P Facilitates SARS-CoV-2 Spike Induced Cell-to-Cell Fusion via Activation of SREBP-2 and Metalloproteases, Whereas PCSK9 Enhances the Degradation of ACE2

Proprotein convertases activate various envelope glycoproteins and participate in cellular entry of many viruses. We recently showed that the convertase furin is critical for the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, which requires cleavage of its spike protein (S) at two sites: S1/S2 and S2′. This study investigates the implication of the two cholesterol-regulating convertases SKI-1 and PCSK9 in SARS-CoV-2 entry. The assays used were cell-to-cell fusion in HeLa cells and pseudoparticle entry into Calu-3 cells. SKI-1 increased cell-to-cell fusion by enhancing the activation of SREBP-2, whereas PCSK9 reduced cell-to-cell fusion by promoting the cellular degradation of ACE2. SKI-1 activity led to enhanced S2′ formation, which was attributed to increased metalloprotease activity as a response to enhanced cholesterol levels via activated SREBP-2. However, high metalloprotease activity resulted in the shedding of S2′ into a new C-terminal fragment (S2″), leading to reduced cell-to-cell fusion. Indeed, S-mutants that increase S2″ formation abolished S2′ and cell-to-cell fusion, as well as pseudoparticle entry, indicating that the formation of S2″ prevents SARS-CoV-2 cell-to-cell fusion and entry. We next demonstrated that PCSK9 enhanced the cellular degradation of ACE2, thereby reducing cell-to-cell fusion. However, different from the LDLR, a canonical target of PCSK9, the C-terminal CHRD domain of PCSK9 is dispensable for the PCSK9-induced degradation of ACE2. Molecular modeling suggested the binding of ACE2 to the Pro/Catalytic domains of mature PCSK9. Thus, both cholesterol-regulating convertases SKI-1 and PCSK9 can modulate SARS-CoV-2 entry via two independent mechanisms.
Cross-validation criteria for SETAR model selection

Three cross-validation criteria, denoted C, C_c, and C_u are proposed for selecting the orders of a self-exciting threshold autoregressive SETAR) model when both the delay and the threshold value are unknown. The derivatioon of C is within a natural cross-validation framework. The crietion C_c is similar in spirit as AIC_c, a bias-corrected version of AIC for SETAR model selection introduced by Wong and LI (1998). The criterion C_u is a variant of C_c having similar property as AIC_u, a modl selection criterion proposed by McQuarrie et al. (1997) for linear models. In a Monte Carlo study, the performance of each of the criteria C, C_c, C_u, AIC, AIC_c, AIC_u, and BIC is invesigated in detail for various models and various sample sizes. It will be shown that C_u consistently outperforms all other criteria when the sample size is moderate to large.