Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants Impacting the Assimilation Stages of E-commerce in SMEs: A Modified TOE Framework

This article aims to examine the factors affecting e-commerce assimilation in Indian SMEs. It proposes a research model based on the technology, organization, and Environment (TOE) framework that includes technological, organizational, environmental, and individual determinants of e-commerce adoption and assimilation. Survey data from 384 SMEs in North India reveals that technological, organizational, environmental, and individual (TOEI) determinants explain e-commerce adaptation . The results show that although Indian SMEs are adopting e-commerce, they cannot reach the final integration stage. Although all factors significantly influence the e-commerce assimilation in SMEs, technological factors have emerged as the most influential predictors of e-commerce adoption among the other elements, viz. The technological context directly affects e-commerce adaptation through organizational, environmental, and individual compatibility. In contrast, technological cost and perceived risk are the most crucial factors inversely impacting e-commerce adaptation. Therefore, managers, policymakers, and government should focus on developing technical infrastructure and providing technical support to SMEs to promote e-commerce integration. It will help them to take advantage of the opportunities that e-commerce offers.
Do markers of adiposity and glycaemia mediate the association between low carbohydrate diet and cardiovascular risk factors: findings from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008–2016

Objectives To examine the associations between low carbohydrate diet (LCD) and conventional cardiovascular risk factors and investigate whether these associations are mediated by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) applying causal mediation analyses. Methods We included 3640 adults aged 45–80 years from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey programme (2008–2016) with data on dietary intake, anthropometric and biochemical parameters. Four hypothetical interventions were examined: (1) LCD, (2) Low carbohydrate (LC) and high fibre diet (LCHF), (3) LC and high saturated fat diet (LCHS) and (4) LC and high unsaturated fat diet (LCHU). BMI and WC were used as markers of obesity. Biochemical markers included HbA1c, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and C reactive protein (CRP). BMI, WC and HbA1c were used as a mediator of the effects. The analysis was adjusted for sociodemographic characteristic, smoking, estimated total energy intake, alcohol consumption and antihypertensive medication. To identify a potential causal effect of LCD on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, we estimated the average treatment effect, and corresponding p values and CI for the total, indirect and direct effect of the treatment on the outcome. Results BMI, WC and HbA1c fully mediated the association between LCD and triglycerides and fully mediated the effects of LCHF on LDL, although BMI and WC were not sufficient to fully mediate the effects of LCHF on triglycerides and CRP. BMI alone fully mediated the effects of LCHS on HbA1c, triglycerides, LDL and CRP. None of these mediators explained the effect of LCHU on CVD risk markers. Conclusion The causal hypotheses tested in this study demonstrate that individuals on LCD with high fibre intakes improved their CVD markers as expected, but those on LCD who increase fat intake had no effects on CVD markers mediated by obesity and diabetes.
Clinical and Dermoscopic Findings of Nevi after Photoepilation: A Review

Atypical clinical and dermoscopic findings, or changes in pigmented melanocytic lesions located on body areas treated with lasers or intense pulsed light (IPL) for hair removal (photoepilation), have been described in the literature. There are three prospective studies in a total of 79 individuals with 287 melanocytic nevi and several case reports reporting the dermoscopic findings and changes after photoepilation. Clinical changes have been reported in 20–100% of individuals, while dermoscopic changes have been observed in 48% to 93% of nevi. More frequent dermoscopic changes included bleaching, the development of pigmented globules, and irregular hyperpigmented areas and regression structures, including gray areas, gray dots/globules, and whitish structureless areas. The diagnostic approach for pigmented lesions with atypical dermoscopic findings and changes after photo-epilation included reflectance confocal microscopy, sequential digital dermoscopy follow-up, and/or excision and histopathology. Challenges pertaining to these diagnostic steps in the context of photoepilation include the detection of findings that may warrant a biopsy to exclude melanoma (ugly duckling, irregular hyperpigmented areas, blue-gray or white areas, and loss of pigment network), the potential persistence of changes at follow-up, and that a histopathologic diagnosis may not be possible due to the distortion of melanocytes or complete regression of the lesion. Furthermore, these diagnostic approaches can be time-consuming, require familiarization of the physician with dermoscopic features, may cause anxiety to the individual, and highlight that avoiding passes of the laser or IPL devices over pigmented lesions is key.
Tuning physio-mechanical properties of graded micropillar polydimethylsiloxane substrates for cellular attachment and guided migration

The study of cell–substrate interaction and cellular behavior is critical in tissue engineering and microfluidic research. Since the substrate properties affect the cellular response, it is essential to tune the properties of the polymeric substrate to mimic the native microenvironment for cells. Due to its tunable physical and mechanical properties, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely used to study cellular mechanics. This study focused on investigating the effects of substrate stiffness and wettability of PDMS micropillar substrates on cellular response. Mixing different base-to-curing agent ratios of PDMS resulted in different stiffness, while the corona discharge increased the surface wettability. By culturing 3T3 fibroblast cells, it was found that cells preferred a stiffer and more hydrophilic substrate (5:1) compared to the softer and less hydrophilic substrate (20:1) for long-term cell adhesion and migration. This study proves that biomaterials with appropriate stiffness should be chosen to study the cell mechanobiology of this cell line.
Drug Reprofiling to Identify Potential HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors

The use of protease inhibitors in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) treatment is limited by adverse effects, including metabolic complications. To address these challenges, efforts are underway in the pursuit of more potent and less toxic HIV-1 protease inhibitors. Repurposing existing drugs offers a promising avenue to expedite the drug discovery process, saving both time and costs compared to conventional de novo drug development. This study screened FDA-approved and investigational drugs in the DrugBank database for their potential as HIV-1 protease inhibitors. Molecular docking studies and cell-based assays, including anti-HIV-1 in vitro assays and XTT cell viability tests, were conducted to evaluate their efficacy. The study findings revealed that CBR003PS, an antibiotic currently in clinical use, and CBR013PS, an investigational drug for treating endometriosis and uterine fibroids, exhibited significant binding affinity to the HIV-1 protease with high stability. Their EC50 values, measured at 100% cell viability, were 9.4 nM and 36.6 nM, respectively. Furthermore, cell-based assays demonstrated that these two compounds showed promising results, with therapeutic indexes higher than 32. In summary, based on their favorable therapeutic indexes, CBR003PS and CBR013PS show potential for repurposing as HIV-1 protease inhibitors.
Kruppel homolog 1 modulates ROS production and antimicrobial peptides expression in shrimp hemocytes during infection by the Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain that causes AHPND

Shrimp aquaculture has been seriously affected by acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), caused by a strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus that carries the Pir toxin plasmids (V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND)). In this study, the transcription factor, Kruppel homolog 1-like of Peneaus vannamei (PvKr-h1), was significantly induced in shrimp hemocytes after V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND) challenge, suggesting that PvKr-h1 is involved in shrimp immune response. Knockdown of PvKr-h1 followed by V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND) challenge increased bacterial abundance in shrimp hemolymph coupled with high shrimp mortality. Moreover, transcriptome and immunofluorescence analyses revealed that PvKr-h1 silencing followed by V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND) challenge dysregulated the expression of several antioxidant-related enzyme genes, such as Cu-Zu SOD, GPX, and GST, and antimicrobial peptide genes, i.e., CRUs and PENs, and reduced ROS activity and nuclear translocation of Relish. These data reveal that PvKr-h1 regulates shrimps’ immune response to V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND) infection by suppressing antioxidant-related enzymes, enhancing ROS production and promoting nuclei import of PvRelish to stimulate antimicrobial peptide genes expression.
Vertical Flow Immunoassay Based on Carbon Black Nanoparticles for the Detection of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein in Human Serum: Proof-of-Concept

Point-of-care tests play an important role in serological diagnostics of infectious diseases and post-vaccination immunity monitoring, including in COVID-19. Currently, lateral flow tests dominate in this area and show good analytical performance. However, studies to improve the effectiveness of such tests remain important. In comparison with lateral flow tests, vertical flow immunoassays allow for a reduction in assay duration and the influence of the hook effect. Additionally, the use of carbon black nanoparticles (CNPs) as a color label can provide a lower detection limit (LOD) compared to conventional colloidal gold. Therefore, we have developed a vertical flow immunoassay for the detection of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in human serum samples by applying a conjugate of CNPs with anti-human IgG mouse monoclonal antibodies (CNP@MAb). The vertical flow assay device consists of a plastic cassette with a hole on its top containing a nitrocellulose membrane coated with spike protein and an absorbent pad. The serum sample, washing buffer, and CNP@MAb flow vertically through the nitrocellulose membrane and absorbent pads, reducing assay time and simplifying the procedure. In positive samples, the interaction of CNP@MAb with anti-spike antibodies leads to the appearance of black spots, which can be visually detected. The developed method allows for rapid visual detection (5–7 min) of IgG vs. spike protein, with a LOD of 7.81 BAU/mL. It has been shown that an untrained operator can perform the assay and visually evaluate its results. Thus, the presented assay can be used in the further development of test systems for the serological diagnostics of COVID-19 or post-vaccination immunity monitoring.
Study on geographical characteristics and influencing factors of scarlet fever based on Bayesian hierarchical spatio-temporal model and geodetector

With the improvement of living standards, health issues are particularly concerned by people. Scarlet fever is an infectious disease with high incidence among children. The research direction of scarlet fever has gradually shifted from clinical research to spatial-temporal analysis of geography. In this study, the number of scarlet fever cases from 2013 to 2018 was obtained from China Public Health Science Data Center, combined with social factor data as relevant variables, and analyzed using spatial autocorrelation, Bayesian hierarchical spatio-temporal models, and Geodetector. Research shows that scarlet fever presents regional characteristics in China with the Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River Line as the boundary, and the cities north of the line have a higher risk of disease than cities south of the line. At the same time, traffic factors are the most important non-weather factors affecting the risk of scarlet fever. Therefore, the cities north of the boundary need to pay more attention to the risk of scarlet fever and take preventive measures when traveling to reduce the risk of infection.
Adolescence in flux: Unmasking 30 years of change in subnational parity-specific adolescent fertility in Mexico

BACKGROUND In 2015 Mexico set a goal to halve its adolescent fertility rate and eliminate childbearing among girls 14 years and younger, but the ambitious goal is severely off track. National estimates show stagnation, and while implementation is targeted at the municipal level, little is known about adolescent fertility in Mexican municipalities. OBJECTIVE This study estimates trends in subnational parity-specific fertility from 1990 to 2020 at all adolescent ages in 2,469 Mexican municipalities. Importantly, the estimates include the fertility of younger adolescents, and parity progression ratios offer a more accurate picture of the true risk of repeat adolescent childbearing.
Assessing the Sustainability of the Most Prominent Type of Marine Diesel Engines under the Implementation of the EEXI and CII Regulations

The wide spread of the Diesel engine has been instrumental in the development of modern shipping. Marine Diesel engines dominate today as an option for the propulsion of commercial ships. While replacing Diesel engines with alternative propulsion engines is difficult to achieve, companies, in light of the new EEXI regulations, are turning to improvements, such as operating at lower rotational speeds, higher maximum combustion pressures, and more efficient overcrowding systems. Τhe purpose of this research paper is (i) to present the basic operating principles of marine Diesel engines, (ii) to study the main differences between electronically controlled Diesel engines and their mechanically controlled counterparts, and (iii) to evaluate their performance under newly introduced IMO’s EEXI regulations. Thus, after comparing Wärtsilä RTA and WinGD WX, the paper concluded that WinGD WX, being electronically controlled, will perform more effectively under new EEXI regulations, as it offers (i) reduced fuel consumption in low-load mode, (ii) zero-smoke emission at all operating speeds, (iii) very stable operation at low speed, (iv) more straightforward engine setup leading to less maintenance, (v) more extended periods between maintenance, mainly due to better load distribution between cylinders and more perfect combustion. From a regulatory perspective, the new limitations installed by the newly implemented EEXI and CII regulations will cause fewer implications in electronically controlled engines, while from an economic standpoint, the electronically controlled engines decrease OPEX and require fewer personnel, due to their efficiency at low loads and overall flexibility.
Geology of Nevada

Geology plays a central role in Nevada’s human history, economy, and future. Cordilleran tectonics have created the Basin and Range landscape and interior drainage of the Great Basin, provided a rain shadow to make Nevada the nation’s driest state, and generated frequent earthquakes along normal and strike-slip faults. Geology is key to reducing risks from Nevada’s natural and anthropogenic hazards (earthquakes, flash floods, drought, land subsidence, erosion after wildland fires, landslides, swelling and collapsing soils, radon, arsenic, and others). Nevada’s geologic fortunes make it the leading state in the production of gold, barite, diatomite, and mercury and currently the only state that produces magnesite, lithium, and the specialty clays, sepiolite and saponite. Nevada is also a major producer of geothermal power and gypsum. The metals are primarily related to igneous activity, with major pulses of magma during the Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary. Barite is mined from Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, and gypsum occurs in sedimentary beds of Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, and Tertiary age. Lithium is extracted from brine beneath an unusual playa. Geothermal power production primarily occurs along Quaternary faults. We are in the midst of the biggest gold-mining boom in American history. The Carlin trend is one of the world’s premier gold-mining regions, and reserves along the trend and elsewhere in Nevada will sustain the boom for at least two more decades. Nevada’s booming population will continue to increase demands for construction raw materials and for geological information to help manage growth while minimizing losses from geological hazards.
Nanocomposites Based on Pyrolyzed Polyacrylonitrile Doped with FeCoCr/C Transition Metal Alloy Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Structure, and Electromagnetic Properties

In the last decade, the development of new materials that absorb electromagnetic radiation (EMR) has received research interest as they can significantly enhance the performance of electronic devices and prevent adverse effects caused by electromagnetic pollution. Electromagnetic radiation absorbers with a low weight and small thickness of the absorber layer, good absorption capacity, and a wide frequency response bandwidth are highly demanded. Here, for the first time, the properties of polymer nanocomposites FeCoCr/C synthesized by doping FeCoCr alloy nanoparticles into a polymer matrix of pyrolyzed polyacrylonitrile are investigated. An analysis of the magnetic properties of FeCoCr/C nanocomposites showed that increasing the synthesis temperature increased the specific magnetization and coercive force values of the FeCoCr/C nanocomposites. The dependence between the ratio of metals in the precursor of pyrolyzed polyacrylonitrile and the electromagnetic and wave-absorbing properties of FeCoCr/C nanocomposites is considered, and the results of complex dielectric and magnetic permeability measurements are analyzed. It is found that the most promising of all the studied materials are those obtained at T = 700 °C with the ratio of metals Fe:Co:Cr = 35:35:30.
Association of mindfulness on state-trait anxiety in choking-susceptible athletes: mediating roles of resilience and perceived stress

Introduction It is a well-documented psychological phenomenon for athletes to experience abnormal performance on the field, often called choking. Negative emotions such as perceived stress and state-trait anxiety have been linked to this phenomenon. In an effort to delve into the intricate relationship between mindfulness and state-trait anxiety among athletes susceptible to choking, this study was conducted in Central China during the period from October to November 2022. Methods The sample selection process employed a combination of cluster sampling and random sampling, resulting in a total of 377 viable samples encompassing choking-susceptible athletes who frequently grapple with state-trait anxiety and demonstrate performance deviations. The data analysis was executed utilizing AMOS v.26. Results The results indicate a negative association between mindfulness and perceived stress (standardized coefficient = −0.224, p < 0.001), resilience and perceived stress (standardized coefficient = −0.237, p < 0.001), as well as perceived stress and state-trait anxiety (standardized coefficient = 0.510, p < 0.001). The positive impact of mindfulness on state-trait anxiety is mediated by resilience and perceived stress (standardized indirect effect = 0.237, p < 0.001). The explanatory power of this study is R2 = 0.35. Discussion Drawing from these substantial findings, a key recommendation is to implement mindfulness training programs for athletes prone to choking. This proactive measure, facilitated by sports departments, clubs, and coaches, could potentially alleviate state-trait anxiety, enhancing athletes’ mental well-being and optimizing their performance outcomes during competitions.
Short-term clinical outcomes of primary total knee arthroplasty with a new-type kinematic retaining implant: A comparison with preexisting cruciate retaining prosthesis

Despite the success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), current implant designs could not consistently restore the physiological knee kinematics, especially in cruciate-retaining (CR) implants. This study aimed to investigate the short-term clinical outcomes, particularly patient satisfaction, of primary TKA employing a new-type kinematic retaining (KR) implant. We analyzed 149 cases applied the KR implant at our institutions during June 2017 to May 2019. The effectiveness of this implant design was compared with another CR one (171 cases). Both groups underwent primary TKA in the same period and all patients completed 2 years of follow-up. Perioperative changes in range of motion (ROM), Knee Score, function score, and patient satisfaction by Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12) method were evaluated. Postoperative ROM, Knee Score, and function score were significantly improved at 1 year after surgeries and maintained for another year in both KR and CR groups. The improvement rate of ROM in KR group (108.1%) was substantially higher than that in CR (104.5%), even 4% increase could have affected patients’ satisfaction in a real-world setting. Regarding the patient satisfaction, such 4 items as climbing stairs, walking on a bumpy road, doing housework or gardening, and taking a walk or hiking were significantly enhanced in KR cases compared to CR. There were no loosening or revision cases and the short-term survivorships of both implants were 100%. In addition, there has been no case of obvious complications in both groups during and after surgeries. The results of the present study suggest that this novel KR prosthesis can reproduce physiological knee kinematics, recover its functions, and contribute to pain relief after TKA. TKA procedure using the KR implant should be a good surgical option to improve postoperative outcomes.