Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
International reputation and alliance portfolios: How unreliability affects the structure and composition of alliance treaties

Why do states ever form military alliances with unreliable partners? States sign offensive and defensive military alliances to increase their fighting capabilities in the event of war and as a signal to deter potential aggressors from initiating a crisis. Yet, signing an alliance with an unreliable partner is at odds with both of these rationales. This should be particularly concerning for peace scholars and policymakers, since the uncertainty generated by unreliable partners may increase system-wide conflict. This article provides an answer to this puzzle by arguing that states continue to form alliances with unreliable partners because they can adopt rational portfolio-diversification strategies. Drawing on well-developed models from portfolio theory, we present evidence that states design their overall alliance portfolios to minimize the risks posed by allies with a reputation for being unreliable. Specifically, we show that unreliable allies are more likely to be pooled into multilateral alliances that dilute risk rather than bilateral alliances, and that states allied with unreliable partners form a greater number of alliances to hedge against the added risk of default. Together, our results demonstrate why unreliable partners may not lead to increased conflict initiation, while also providing a novel explanation for previously unexplained variation in the structure of alliance portfolios. The article contributes to the literatures on international reputation and the rational design of international institutions by demonstrating how international reputation matters in subtle and often overlooked ways.
Comparative seedling morphology of four species of Sida (Malvaceae) from Tripura, India and their taxonomic implications

Comparative seedling morphology of four Sida species occurring in Tripura were investigated. Seedling characters (germination pattern, position of cotyledon, hypocotyl, epicotyl and paracotyledon and eophylls development) were found to be important and promising from the taxonomic as well as evolutionary point of view. These characters provide important diagnostic character of the species of the genus. Phenogram based on UPGMA method has been prepared and correlation between the characters of seedling of four Sida species were studied.
An Insight Into the Association of Sclerostin With Insulin Sensitivity and Glycemic Parameters in Male Indian Prediabetic and Diabetic Population

Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing day by day and creating a huge financial and social burden on the Indian population. Insulin resistance results in hyperglycemia, a condition that eventually causes prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. The etiopathogenesis of T2D is still not clearly defined. Wnt signaling pathway is involved in pancreas development, islet function, insulin production, and secretion. Recent studies show that sclerostin, a Wnt signaling inhibitor, is associated with diabetes. The sclerostin level is altered as a function of race and ethnicity. However, no study has been conducted to observe the sclerostin level in prediabetic and diabetic individuals in the Indian population. Objectives The main objectives of the study are: to determine whether sclerostin is associated with glycemic parameters, serum insulin levels, insulin resistance/ sensitivity, beta-cell function, and adipose tissue insulin resistance (Adipo-IR). Methods This observational study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital, in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. Individuals with T2D and prediabetes and healthy references were included in this study. Sclerostin and free fatty acids (FFA) were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and blood sugar, insulin, and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured by the hexokinase, chemiluminescent, and chromatography methods, respectively. Messenger RNA (mRNA) was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the SYBR Green protocol. Adipo-IR, homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-B), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), and single point insulin sensitivity estimator (SPISE) indices were calculated. Results A total of 171 study participants were enrolled in type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and controls groups, having 57 each in the group. There was a gradual increase in sclerostin levels from healthy [242.12(158.44)] to prediabetes [256.06(299.65)] and diabetes [465.76 (735.71)] with a significant (<0.001) difference from healthy reference. Sclerostin showed a significant positive correlation with fasting blood sugar (r=0.200; p=0.009), HbA1c (r=0.394; p<0.001) and free fatty acids (r=0.205; p=0.007) in total study participants. The SPISE index showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.269, p=0.043) in the prediabetic group. SOST, GLUT4, and insulin receptor (IR) mRNA expression all corroborate with the glycemic status. Conclusion Significantly higher expression of sclerostin (both protein and gene) in newly diagnosed T2D and prediabetes male patients, as well as significant association with SPISE index, suggest that sclerostin might be an indicator of pathophysiology related to insulin resistance, which is a characteristic feature of diabetes mellitus. However, the identification of causal relationships would warrant a large-scale prospective cohort study.
An energy-efficient UAV deployment scheme for emergency communications in air-ground networks with joint trajectory and power optimization

The space-air-ground integrated network (SAGIN) has gained widespread attention from academia and industry in recent years. It is widely applied in many practical fields such as global observation and mapping, intelligent transportation systems, and military missions. As an information carrier of air platforms, the deployment strategy of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is essential for communication systems' performance. In this paper, we discuss a UAV broadcast coverage strategy that can maximize energy efficiency (EE) under terrestrial users' requirements. Due to the non-convexity of this issue, conventional approaches often solve with heuristics algorithms or alternate optimization. To this end, we propose an iterative algorithm by optimizing trajectory and power allocation jointly. Firstly, we discrete the UAV trajectory into several stop points and propose a user grouping strategy based on the traveling salesman problem (TSP) to acquire the number of stop points and the optimization range. Then, we use the Dinkelbach method to dispose of the fractional form and transform the original problem into an iteratively solvable convex optimization problem by variable substitution and Taylor approximation. Numerical results validate our proposed solution and outperform the benchmark schemes in EE and mission completion time.
Phylogenetic prioritization of HIV-1 transmission clusters with viral lineage-level diversification rates

Abstract Background and objectives Public health officials faced with a large number of transmission clusters require a rapid, scalable and unbiased way to prioritize distribution of limited resources to maximize benefits. We hypothesize that transmission cluster prioritization based on phylogenetically derived lineage-level diversification rates will perform as well as or better than commonly used growth-based prioritization measures, without need for historical data or subjective interpretation. Methodology 9822 HIV pol sequences collected during routine drug resistance genotyping were used alongside simulated sequence data to infer sets of phylogenetic transmission clusters via patristic distance threshold. Prioritized clusters inferred from empirical data were compared to those prioritized by the current public health protocols. Prioritization of simulated clusters was evaluated based on correlation of a given prioritization measure with future cluster growth, as well as the number of direct downstream transmissions from cluster members. Results Empirical data suggest diversification rate-based measures perform comparably to growth-based measures in recreating public heath prioritization choices. However, unbiased simulated data reveals phylogenetic diversification rate-based measures perform better in predicting future cluster growth relative to growth-based measures, particularly long-term growth. Diversification rate-based measures also display advantages over growth-based measures in highlighting groups with greater future transmission events compared to random groups of the same size. Furthermore, diversification rate measures were notably more robust to effects of decreased sampling proportion. Conclusions and implications Our findings indicate diversification rate-based measures frequently outperform growth-based measures in predicting future cluster growth and offer several additional advantages beneficial to optimizing the public health prioritization process.
On the Design of a Heterogeneous Mechanical Test Using a Nonlinear Topology Optimization Approach

Numerical simulation is nowadays increasingly used to avoid the costs and time associated with the development and optimization of metal forming processes. However, the accuracy of the numerical results is still an issue. Material behavior and characteristics are required by simulation software, and these are usually obtained by performing a considerable number of classical mechanical tests. To improve this procedure, heterogeneous tests have been used instead. More and richer information can be obtained with a single test due to the heterogeneous displacement and strain fields that are induced. This work aims at designing a heterogeneous mechanical test using a topology-based optimization methodology. Highly heterogeneous displacement fields are induced on the sheet specimen by applying an extended version of the theory of compliant mechanisms. To account for large deformations, a geometrically nonlinear finite element analysis is proposed together with a consistent topology optimization approach. The material behavior is considered linear elastic. The performance of the obtained solutions is evaluated considering the heterogeneity of stress states using a mechanical indicator. Validation of the developed methodology is performed and an optimal mechanical test is obtained presenting a high diversity of stress states.
Farmer’s Awareness and Use of Different ICT Tools

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are a broad range of technological tools and resources to create, stockpile, produce value and manage information. Radio and television broadcasting, computer hardware, software services, and electronic media could all be included. ICTs have seen significant changes in recent years and are developing as a significant tool for speeding agricultural growth in a developing country like India. The objective of study was to know awareness and use of different ICT tools by farmers. The study was conducted in village Gudli of Mavli block of Udaipur district of Rajasthan. The information was collected through Participatory Rural Appraisal using interview technique by group and individual contact method. Each farmer was critically interviewed about awareness & use of ICT tools including e-mail, radio, kiosk, computer, mobile etc. For this, the data was collected from 100 farmers. Result revealed that 100 per cent respondents having mobile without internet, were aware about calling from mobile, SMS and memory stick, and were also using them (calling, 82%) (SMS service 68 %). It was observed that 82 per cent respondents answered to all calls. Majority of the respondents (48-88%) were not using e-mail, radio, kiosk & computer. About one third of the respondents i.e. 36-48 per cent knew about accessing different internet sites, office documents & presentations. This is an ICT era, but till today, half of the farming community are suffering from various types of problems due to the gap between ICT and its use without need assessment and participation of farming community although farmers are using mobile phone for calling, gathering and exchange of information, entertainment etc. Now a day it has been observed that farmers are using different ICT tools i.e. mobile, kiosk etc. for gathering information about their crop production, daily wholesale rates in mandi market, information about climate, various crop diseases and other information related to agriculture.
Engineered Microphysiological Systems for Testing Effectiveness of Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapies

Simple Summary Cell therapy has transformed oncology and drug development, yet better model systems are needed to recapitulate the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Microphysiological systems (MPS) can comprehensively model the human TIME, including immune cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, matrix, and cytokines. This review discusses current barriers to developing cell therapies for solid tumors from the perspective of MPS model design approaches. Overcoming current limitations in model systems and advancing MPS engineering will facilitate oncology drug development. Abstract Cell therapies, including adoptive immune cell therapies and genetically engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T or NK cells, have shown promise in treating hematologic malignancies. Yet, immune cell infiltration and expansion has proven challenging in solid tumors due to immune cell exclusion and exhaustion and the presence of vascular barriers. Testing next-generation immune therapies remains challenging in animals, motivating sophisticated ex vivo models of human tumor biology and prognostic assays to predict treatment response in real-time while comprehensively recapitulating the human tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). This review examines current strategies for testing cell-based cancer immunotherapies using ex vivo microphysiological systems and microfluidic technologies. Insights into the multicellular interactions of the TIME will identify novel therapeutic strategies to help patients whose tumors are refractory or resistant to current immunotherapies. Altogether, these microphysiological systems (MPS) have the capability to predict therapeutic vulnerabilities and biological barriers while studying immune cell infiltration and killing in a more physiologically relevant context, thereby providing important insights into fundamental biologic mechanisms to expand our understanding of and treatments for currently incurable malignancies.
INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES ON AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO EMBEDDING WELLBEING IN HIGHER EDUCATION

"Supporting student mental health and wellbeing continues to be a foremost concern in Higher Education (HE), as rates of students presenting with mental health conditions, distress and poor wellbeing increase and as demand for counselling and support services exceeds supply. The age range of students in third level education often coincides with the challenging transitional period of emerging adulthood, where instabilities are further compounded by academic, financial, and social pressures. As HE institutes are distinct settings where academic work, hobbies, social life, as well as health and other services are often integrated, HE presents a unique opportunity to address this wider societal concern through a systems-based lens. Despite calls for holistic, whole of institution approaches, a transformation of student wellbeing has yet to be realised. During a national initiative for valuing teaching and learning in HE in Ireland, the authors hosted an engaged online event to mobilise learning and action in the student wellbeing community. The event included case study presentations from existing examples of wellbeing in the curriculum, a panel discussion on the national landscape, and an open discussion on the future of wellbeing in HE. Attendees included academic faculty, HE management, researchers, staff from health and counselling services and health promotion, student representatives, careers and support services, and others. Data were collected via the recorded oral contributions, Zoom chat, and an anonymous survey. A deductive thematic analysis was completed with the guiding concept of an institution as a system that supports wellbeing. Findings proposed shared values as the compass for organisational culture, leaders and decision makers as key enablers of change, academic structures as both a vehicle to promote positive wellbeing and mitigate negative impacts, academic staff as the embodiment of the institution and its values, and the student voice as a guide for informed decision making. Recognising an institution as part of a wider system of HE which is influenced by political and economic climates, there is a requirement for HE to set out its stall with respect to its purpose and responsibility to wellbeing. This affirmation could enable a shared understanding of and commitment to wellbeing across the sector, through which collaborative and system-based efforts to support wellbeing can be actioned. "
Pedestrian-Vehicle Interaction in a CAV Environment: Explanatory Metrics

A large number of crosswalks are indicated by pavement markings and signs, but are not signalcontrolled. In this paper, such a location is called “semi-controlled. ” At locations where such a crosswalk has moderate amounts of pedestrian and vehicle traffic, pedestrians and motorists often engage in a nonverbal “negotiation” to determine who should proceed first. This paper describes the detailed analysis of video recordings of more than 3,400 pedestrian–motorist interactions at semi-controlled crosswalks. The study also took advantage of a conversion from one-way operation in spring 2017 to two-way operation in spring 2018 on the street chosen for data collection and analysis. This permitted before and after studies at the same location. The pedestrian models used mixed effects logistic regression and binary logistic regression to identify factors that influence the likelihood of a pedestrian crossing under specified conditions. The complementary motorist models used generalized ordered logistic regression to identify factors that impact a driver’s likelihood of decelerating, which was found to be a more useful factor than likelihood of yielding to pedestrian. The data showed that 56.5% of drivers slowed down or stopped for pedestrians on the one-way street. This value rose to 63.9% on the same street after it had been converted to two-way operation. Moreover, two-way operation eliminated the effects of the presence of other vehicles on driver behavior. Relationships were found that can lead to policies and control strategies designed to improve the operation of such a crosswalk. Video recordings were made of pedestrians using crosswalks at locations in West Lafayette, Indiana, where “State Law Yield to Pedestrian Within Crosswalk” signs (Figure 1a) were present. Pedestrians at such crossings theoretically have priority over approaching vehicles in Indiana. Observations indicate that confusion exists among pedestrians and motorists, however, because the sign’s message is subject to varying interpretations. Sometimes drivers stop and let pedestrians standing at the curb cross the street, and sometimes drivers fail to yield to pedestrians entering the crosswalk. Although marked crosswalks can have relatively high fatality rates per pedestrian crossing, no safety issues were observed during the data collection at the locations studied; it was primarily a matter of delay.
Single Fusion Image from Collections of Fruit Views for Defect Detection and Classification

Quality assessment is one of the most common processes in the agri-food industry. Typically, this task involves the analysis of multiple views of the fruit. Generally speaking, analyzing these single views is a highly time-consuming operation. Moreover, there is usually significant overlap between consecutive views, so it might be necessary to provide a mechanism to cope with the redundancy and prevent the multiple counting of defect points. This paper presents a method to create surface maps of fruit from collections of views obtained when the piece is rotating. This single image map combines the information contained in the views, thus reducing the number of analysis operations and avoiding possible miscounts in the number of defects. After assigning each piece with a simple geometrical model, 3D rotation between consecutive views is estimated only from the captured images, without any further need for sensors or information about the conveyor. The fact that rotation is estimated directly from the views makes this novel methodology readily usable in high-throughput industrial inspection machines without any special hardware modification. As proof of this technique’s usefulness, an application is shown where maps have been used as input to a CNN to classify oranges into different categories.
The effect of geraniol dressing obtained from rose oil wound healing in diabetic rats

Introduction: Diabetic foot is one of the most important chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. In this study, the aim was to investigate the healing effect of dressing with geraniol material obtained from rose oil. Materials and Methods: The experimental period of the study was carried out between June 2, 2016, and 27, 2016. Sprague-Dawley rats were used and three experimental, two control groups were formed. In the study conducted with a total of 40 rats, each group consisted of eight rats. Geraniol dressing, isotonic wet dressing, and hydrocolloid wound dressing were applied topically once a day to the first, second, and third groups, respectively. No dressing was applied to the positive and negative control groups. Index of oxidative stress of wound healing was assessed by total antioxidant status/total oxidant status measurements. Results: Due to the macroscopic results, it was determined that wound score was significantly decreased on day 3 in the first group and non-diabetic groups compared with other groups. When the microscopic findings were compared with day 0, in the first group, significant decrease of the level of collagen density and epithelization was observed on day 10. In the first group, increase in fat cells had become significant than other groups. In the CD34, SMA and vimentin staining, the first group showed superiority to other dressings. In the last measurements, the highest drop was seen in geraniol dressed and negative control groups. Conclusion: According to the study, geraniol dressed group provided similar wound healing with negative control group and showed superiority to the other products used as a standard in wound care.