Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gout Arthritis Progression in Treatment with Herbal Therapy: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Gout is a common arthritis condition due to deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) and is closely related to hyperuricemia. The goal of gout treatment in the acute stage of gouty arthritis mainly focuses on relieving pain while slowing down or stopping progression and further gout flares in the chronic stage, ultimately improving joint function, and increasing the quality of life. Materials and Methods: A literature search was carried out to determine potential studies for this review up to November 2022. The search was performed using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases including keywords that matched the MeSH rule and the term used for herbal therapy and gout arthritis. Results: The search strategy generated several diverse literatures presenting a variety of randomized control trial of herbal therapy in gout arthritis patient. A total of eight studies were included in the review. Satisfactory pain relieve and decreasing of serum uric acid level were found in most of the studies. Decreasing of serum uric acid level statistically significantly found in six of the eight studies studied. Furthermore, significant fewer incident of adverse event found in four studies. Conclusion: Herbal therapy or medication are potentially more effective than western medications or placebos at slowing the progression of pain, lowering blood uric acid levels, and preventing some adverse events in gout patients. Keywords: Arthritis, gout, herbal therapy, progression, uric acid level.
Word-level Confidence Estimation for CTC Models

Measuring confidence in Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is important for ensuring the reliability of downstream applications. Previous works proposed Confidence Estimation Module (CEM) for predicting confidences for autoregressive attention-based and neural transducer architectures. However, CEM for connectionist temporal classification (CTC) models have not been explored. In this work, we expand the idea of CEM to CTC models and further propose considering surrounding words for estimating confidences. Our experiments on four test sets in two languages demonstrate that our proposed method significantly reduces calibration errors of both common and rare words compared to naive confidences from CTC softmax. Moreover, we show that the approach is also effective for hard words and out-of-domain test sets, indicating its potential to be used as a reliable trigger for human intervention.
Vocabulary Breadth and Depth in Early School-Aged Children with Developmental Language Disorder – Evidence from Serbian Speaking Children

Objectives. Taking into account the positive association observed between lexical abilities and academic performance in children, this research aims to compare the expressive vocabulary skills and the organization of the lexical-semantic network in early school-aged children diagnosed with developmental language disorder (DLD) and their typically developing (TD) peers. Method. The sample included 57 participants (aged 7 and 8 years), 27 children diagnosed with DLD and 30 TD children. The Boston Naming Test and Word Association Task were employed to assess lexical abilities. Results. The findings revealed that children with DLD produced significantly fewer correct answers and a higher number of errors during the naming task when compared to their typically developing peers. Moreover, children with DLD provided significantly fewer developmentally mature types of associations and significantly more developmentally immature ones. Conclusion. The study results indicate that children with DLD continue to display significant lexical deficits during school-age, encompassing both vocabulary breadth and depth. These findings highlight the importance of implementing additional intervention approaches that focus on semantic aspects to prevent further language deterioration and mitigate the potential negative impact of lexical impairments on the academic achievements of these children.
Listener sensitivity to deviating obstruents in WaveNet

This paper investigates the perceptual significance of the deviation in obstruents previously observed in WaveNet vocoders. The study involved presenting stimuli of varying lengths to 128 participants, who were asked to identify whether each stimulus was produced by a human or a machine. The participants’ responses were captured using a 2-alternative forced choice task. The study found that while the length of the stimuli did not reliably affect participants’ accuracy in the task, the concentration of obstruents did have a significant effect. Participants were consistently more accurate in identifying WaveNet stimuli as machine when the phrases were obstruent-rich. These findings show that the deviation in obstruents reported in WaveNet voices is perceivable by human listeners. The test protocol may be of wider utility in TTS.
Determination of Urban Public Transport Demand by Processing Electronic Travel Ticket Data

Determination of transport demand is one of the key factors to solve many transportation problems. Existing methods for obtaining information about passenger mobility have significant shortcomings; currently, methods based on the collection, integration and analysis of big data (Urban computing, big data) are being increasingly used.Within the framework of this approach, a methodology has been developed for determining the passenger traffic by public transport from the operations of validating electronic travel tickets: smart cards, transport cards, magnetic cards, mobile phones or other electronic devices (Electronic Gadgets), their details are recorded in the Automated Fare Collection (AFC). In this work we have taken into account that the passenger can travel one, two or more segments before paying for the trip. On some routes, payment is made at the end of the trip.The article presents a methodology based on defining and evaluating the set of acceptable variants of the connectedness of the passenger trips' sequence, which takes into account many factors that influence the choice of travel routes by the passenger. For example, unlike existing solutions, the possibility of paying for travel at any point of the route is taken into account, not necessarily immediately after boarding the vehicle.Approbation of the considered methodology was carried out on the data of the Krasnoyarsk public transport system for April 2019. It has been proved that passenger traffic from the validation of electronic travel tickets allows us to estimate the parameters of public transport demand within the limits of acceptable statistical errors.
Endogenous Digitalis-like Factors as a Key Molecule in the Pathophysiology of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and a Potential Therapeutic Target in Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE), the most severe presentation of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, is the major cause of morbidity and mortality linked to pregnancy, affecting both mother and fetus. Despite advances in prophylaxis and managing PE, delivery of the fetus remains the only causative treatment available. Focus on complex pathophysiology brought the potential for new treatment options, and more conservative options allowing reduction of feto-maternal complications and sequelae are being investigated. Endogenous digitalis-like factors, which have been linked to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia since the mid-1980s, have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases, including congestive heart failure and chronic renal disease. Elevated levels of EDLF have been described in pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders and are currently being investigated as a therapeutic target in the context of a possible breakthrough in managing preeclampsia. This review summarizes mechanisms implicating EDLFs in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and evidence for their potential role in treating this doubly life-threatening disease.
Metastasis Associated in Colorectal Cancer 1 (MACC1) mRNA Expression Is Enhanced in Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma and Correlates to Deafness

Simple Summary Vestibular schwannoma (VS), benign cranial nerve sheath tumors of the vestibulocochlear nerve, lack efficacious systemic therapies, especially if they develop in a NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2) background. They cause hearing loss, tinnitus and balance problems. Metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) is a key driver of metastasis. Although MACC1 expression is associated with highly malignant tumors and VS are considered benign, both are attached to the HGF/MET signaling pathway and MACC1 is a candidate gene localized at a hearing loss-related gene locus. Therefore, it was investigated whether MACC1 might be involved in VS pathogenesis. Surprisingly, MACC1 expression was not increased in the more aggressive NF2-associated VS but in sporadic VS. Its expression correlated with deafness of the patients during their clinical course. Thus, these data are a rationale for further investigation of the putative role of MACC1 in VS pathogenesis, especially VS cell invasion and concomitant deafness of patients. Abstract Vestibular schwannoma (VS) are benign cranial nerve sheath tumors of the vestibulocochlear nerve. Their incidence is mostly sporadic, but they can also be associated with NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2), a hereditary tumor syndrome. Metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) is known to contribute to angiogenesis, cell growth, invasiveness, cell motility and metastasis of solid malignant cancers. In addition, MACC1 may be associated with nonsyndromic hearing impairment. Therefore, we evaluated whether MACC1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of VS. Sporadic VS, recurrent sporadic VS, NF2-associated VS, recurrent NF2-associated VS and healthy vestibular nerves were analyzed for MACC1 mRNA and protein expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. MACC1 expression levels were correlated with the patients’ clinical course and symptoms. MACC1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in sporadic VS compared to NF2-associated VS (p < 0.001). The latter expressed similar MACC1 concentrations as healthy vestibular nerves. Recurrent tumors resembled the MACC1 expression of the primary tumors. MACC1 mRNA expression was significantly correlated with deafness in sporadic VS patients (p = 0.034). Therefore, MACC1 might be a new molecular marker involved in VS pathogenesis.
Salicylic Acid and Superabsorbent Polymers Could Alleviate Water Deficit Stress in Camelina (Camelina Sativa L.)

ABSTRACT Agronomic management and application of growth regulators mitigated the negative effects of water deficit and improved seed oil yield and other traits in camelina. This study assessed the effects of salicylic acid (SA) foliar application and soil application of superabsorbent polymer hydrogel (SPH) on the growth and antioxidant production of camelina (Camelina sativa L.) in 50% and 75% field capacity (FC) groups, as well as in a well-watered treatment. Application of SA and SPH significantly increased camelina yield and its components in 75% FC and well-watered treatments. In the control (no SA or SPH), water deficit reduced seed oil by 13% and 35% in 75% FC and 50% FC, respectively. Application of SA and SPH increased seed oil by 5% and 11%, respectively. Photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and chlorophyll content decreased in the 75% FC and 50% FC treatments. Application of SA and SPH increased in A (26% and 19%) and gs (17% and 12%) compared to the control. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidases (POD), catalases (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity increased with increased drought stress. The activity of these enzymes increased when SA was applied. Generally, foliar application of SA was more effective than soil application of SPH in camelina to alleviate the injurious effects of drought stress.
The effects of planning and task on Chinese high school students’ English language performance

Planning is the core of writing process and the key to successful English writing. This study examines the effects of planning type on language complexity, accuracy and fluency in two different English writing tasks (practical writing and integral writing) of Chinese high school students. The results show that online planning promotes students’ language complexity and accuracy, while pre-task planning improves fluency. Planning and task types have an interactive effect in writing accuracy. This study promotes an understanding of planning mechanisms in high school students’ English writing and has implications for high school English instruction.
Evaluation of Effects of Bimaxillary Anchored Fixed Functional Appliance on Temporomandibular Joint and Maxillomandibular Complex in Late Adolescents: An MRI Study

Objective To evaluate and assess changes in temporomandibular joint (TMJ), dental, skeletal and soft tissue changes following bimaxillary anchored fixed functional appliance (FFA) treatment of skeletal Class II malocclusion using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Methods The prospective single-arm clinical trial included 15 patients (8 males, 7 females; mean age 15.71 + 1.81years) with Class II Division 1 malocclusion treated with bimaxillary anchored Forsus FRD. Four miniplates were placed bilaterally in maxilla and mandible. Then Forsus FRD L pin module was attached to miniplates without levelling of the arches. Pre-treatment (T1) and post-functional (T2) lateral cephalograms and MRI of TMJ were recorded. A total of 7 parameters were used to assess TMJ in all the 3 planes using MRI. Student’s t-test was carried out to compare pre- and post-treatment-induced changes. Results The mandible significantly moved forward (SNB, 3.71 + 0.91°; SND, 3.21 + 1.25°; Pg-OLp, 2.61 + 0.66 mm, p < 0.001) and there was distalizing effect on maxilla (SNA, –0.79 + 0.89°; A-OLp, –0.57 + 0.47mm, <0.001). Mean overjet correction of 4.43mm was achieved, of which 71.8% were skeletal changes. 65% of skeletal changes contributed to molar relationship correction. The forward positioning of mandible seems to be because of condylar and glenoid fossa remodelling, with condyle moving in anterior position within glenoid fossa (3.28 + 2.29) and articular disc moved posteriorly relative to condylar head (2.27 + 1.62°). Conclusion Significant skeletal changes and TMJ remodelling were observed with bimaxillary anchored FFA in correcting skeletal Class II malocclusion.
A Theoretical Framework for Relative Localization

Exploring the relative positions is a key issue in many emerging location-aware applications such as autonomous driving and formation control, where there exists no infrastructure to provide the absolute position information. In this paper, we establish a theoretical framework to address the state estimation problems in relative localization networks. In particular, we introduce the relative error for state estimates based on the concept of the equivalent state class, and apply the Fisher information analysis to derive the performance bounds. Then we present how measurement uncertainties influence the performance limits in the relative localization networks with self-measurements, after which our framework is extended to the scenarios with clock asynchronization and temporal cooperation. Finally, the connection between the theoretical foundation and the algorithm design is illustrated to provide insights into the operations in practical relative localization networks.
Bioactive Polyetheretherketone with Gelatin Hydrogel Leads to Sustained Release of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 and Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is one of the most promising implant materials for hard tissues due to its similar elastic modulus; however, usage of PEEK is still limited owing to its biological inertness and low osteoconductivity. The objective of the study was to provide PEEK with the ability to sustain the release of growth factors and the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. The PEEK surface was sandblasted and modified with polydopamine (PDA). Moreover, successful sandblasting and PDA modification of the PEEK surface was confirmed through physicochemical characterization. The gelatin hydrogel was then chemically bound to the PEEK by adding a solution of glutaraldehyde and gelatin to the surface of the PDA-modified PEEK. The binding and degradation of the gelatin hydrogel with PEEK (GPEEK) were confirmed, and the GPEEK mineralization was observed in simulated body fluid. Sustained release of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 was observed in GPEEK. When cultured on GPEEK with BMP-2, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) exhibited osteogenic differentiation. We conclude that PEEK with a gelatin hydrogel incorporating BMP-2 is a promising substrate for bone tissue engineering.
Deformation-Induced Surface Roughening of an Aluminum–Magnesium Alloy: Experimental Characterization and Crystal Plasticity Modeling

The deformation-induced surface roughening of an Al-Mg alloy is analyzed using a combination of experiments and modeling. A mesoscale oligocrystal of AA5052-O, obtained by recrystallization annealing and subsequent thickness reduction by machining, that contains approx. 40 grains is subjected to uniaxial tension. The specimen contains one layer of grains through the thickness. A laser confocal microscope is used to measure the surface topography of the deformed specimen. A finite element model with realistic (non-columnar) shapes of the grains based on a pair of Electron Back-Scatter Diffraction (EBSD) scans of a given specimen is constructed using a custom-developed shape interpolation procedure. A Crystal Plasticity Finite Element (CPFE) framework is then applied to the voxel model of the tension test of the oligocrystal. The unknown material parameters are determined inversely using an efficient, custom-built optimizer. Predictions of the deformed shape of the specimen, surface topography, evolution of the average roughness with straining and texture evolution are compared to experiments. The model reproduces the averaged features of the problem, while missing some local details. As an additional verification of the CPFE model, the statistics of surface roughening are analyzed by simulating uniaxial tension of an AA5052-O polycrystal and comparing it to experiments. The averaged predictions are found to be in good agreement with the experimentally observed trends. Finally, using the same polycrystalline specimen, texture–morphology relations are discovered, using a symbolic Monte Carlo approach. Simple relations between the Schmid factor and roughness can be inferred purely from the experiments. Novelties of this work include: realistic 3D shapes of the grains; efficient and accurate identification of material parameters instead of manual tuning; a fully analytical Jacobian for the crystal plasticity model with quadratic convergence; novel texture–morphology relations for polycrystal.
Tensor actions and locally complete intersections

We introduce a relative version of Balmer’s tensor triangular geometry by considering the action of a tensor triangulated category on another triangulated category. Several of Balmer’s results are extended to this relative setting giving rise to, among other things, a theory of supports for objects of a category upon which a tensor triangulated category acts. In the case that a rigidly-compactly generated tensor triangulated category acts on a compactly generated category we describe a version of the local-toglobal principle of Benson, Iyengar, and Krause, and a relative version of the telescope conjecture. We prove the local-to-global principle holds quite generally which is new even in the case that a tensor triangulated category acts on itself as in Balmer’s theory. We are also able to give sufficient conditions for the relative telescope conjecture to hold. As an application we study the stable injective category of a noetherian separated scheme X, as introduced by Krause, in terms of an action of the derived category D(X). We give a complete classification of the localizing subcategories of this category in the case that X is the spectrum of a hypersurface ring and prove that the telescope conjecture holds. Our methods allow us to extend these results, suitably modified, to certain complete intersection schemes of arbitrary codimension.
Closed Beta Testing on Filariasis Treatment Monitoring Applications

Monitoring applications for filariasis treatment have been developed to overcome the problem of elephantiasis or filariasis, one of which is the lack of monitoring during the distribution of elephantiasis medicines. One of the stages of application development is testing. Testing is conducted to ensure the application is ready to be implemented. In this study, closed beta testing was conducted to determine the feasibility of the application. The results of the validity test and reliability test showed that the results obtained were that all items on the questionnaire were declared valid and reliable. While the results of the feasibility test on the questionnaire results stated that the application was very feasible to be implemented.
The modification of the tourism area life cycle model for (re)inventing a destination: the case of the Opatija Riviera, Croatia.

In the rich tourism literature on TALC, many studies have demonstrated the general validity of observing tourism development within an evolutionary framework. In this study, the life cycle model is used to determine the stages and to analyse the market position of the Opatija Riviera, a destination that has been developing tourism from more than 150 years. The TALC is applied to identify four distinct stages and it is argued that those stages could also be analysed as separate life cycles. The study also discusses how the strategic options proposed by the original model could help destination managers and planners to reinvent this heritage resort on the Adriatic coast.
Detection of Anti-Rift Valley Fever Virus Antibodies in Serum Samples of Patients with Suspected Arbovirus Infection

The definitive diagnosis of the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) requires a form of testing that is available only in reference laboratories. It includes indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), the serum neutralization assay (NA), and real-time PCR. Therefore, often, no attempts are made to detect it, even among travelers from endemic areas. In this study, the presence of anti-RVFV IgG and IgM was retrospectively screened in stored serum samples from people who were admitted with arbovirus symptoms at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (INMI) L. Spallanzani, Rome, Italy. Overall, 80 residual serum samples were anonymized, and sub-aliquots were prepared and tested for anti-RVFV IgG and IgM. A serum neutralization assay was used as a confirmatory test. There was a positive result in eight out of 80 samples (10%) for anti-RVFV IgG, with titers ranging from 1:40 up to 1:1280. Three of eight (2.6%) samples were confirmed as seropositive through an in-house serum neutralization assay, with antibody titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:160. All samples resulted negative for anti-RVFV IgM and RVFV RNA when tested by IFA and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. Our data highlight that several RVFV infections can possibly escape routine virological diagnosis, which suggests RVFV testing should be set up in order to monitor virus prevalence.
Sofia: urban agriculture in an economy in transition.

Bulgaria is located on the Balkan peninsula in the Black Sea. The surface of Bulgaria covers 111,000 km. In general, the natural conditions in Bulgaria are favourable for agriculture. Summers are pleasant, autumn is windless, sunny and colourful, and the winters cold. The average winter temperature is 1.6°C, summer average is 21°C, mean annual temperature is 10°C. The mean annual rainfall is 813.6 mm.