Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of ALK5 inhibition and simultaneous inhibition or activation of HIF-1α in melanoma tumor growth and angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND Hypoxia is the most common signature of the tumor microenvironment that drives tumorigenesis through the complex crosstalk of a family of transcription factors called hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), with other intercellular signaling networks. Hypoxia increases transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) expression. TGF-β and HIF-1α play critical roles in several malignancies and their interactions in melanoma progression remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of inhibiting activin receptor-like kinase-5 (ALK5), a TGF-β receptor, on the response to HIF-1α activation or inhibition in melanoma tumor progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tumors were induced in C57BL/6J mice by subcutaneous inoculation with B16F10 melanoma cells. Mice were divided into HIF-1α inhibitor, ALK5 inhibitor (1 mg/kg) and HIF-1α inhibitor (100 mg/kg), ALK5 inhibitor, HIF-1α activator (1000 mg/kg), HIF-1α activator and ALK5 inhibitor, and control groups to receive inhibitors and activators through intraperitoneal injection. The expression of E-cadherin was evaluated by RT-qPCR. Vessel density and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR)-β+ cells around the vessels were investigated using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The groups receiving HIF-1α inhibitor and activator showed lower and higher tumor growth compared to the control group, respectively. E-cadherin expression decreased in all groups compared to the control group, illustrating the dual function of E-cadherin in the tumor microenvironment. Vascular density was reduced in the groups given HIF-1α inhibitor, ALK5 inhibitor, and ALK5 and HIF-1α inhibitor simultaneously. The percentage of PDGFR-β+ cells was reduced in the presence of HIF-1α inhibitor, ALK5 inhibitor, HIF-1α and ALK5 inhibitors, and upon simultaneous treatment with HIF-1α activator and ALK5 inhibitor. CONCLUSION Despite increased expression and interaction between TGF-β and HIF-1α pathways in some cancers, in melanoma, inhibition of either pathway alone may have a stronger effect on tumor inhibition than simultaneous inhibition of both pathways. The synergistic effects may be context-dependent and should be further evaluated in different cancer types.
LRRK2 Attenuates Antioxidant Response in Familial Parkinson’s Disease Derived Neural Stem Cells

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, characterized by the loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons which leads to impaired motor and cognitive functions. PD is predominantly an idiopathic disease; however, about 5% of cases are linked to hereditary mutations. The most common mutation in both familial and sporadic PD is the G2019S mutation of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2). Currently, it is not fully understood how this mutation leads to PD pathology. In this study, we isolated self-renewable, multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) harboring the G2019S LRRK2 mutation and compared them with their isogenic gene corrected counterparts using single-cell RNA-sequencing. Unbiased single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed perturbations in many canonical pathways, specifically NRF2-mediated oxidative stress response, and glutathione redox reactions. Through various functional assays, we observed that G2019S iPSCs and NSCs exhibit increased basal levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We demonstrated that mutant cells show significant increase in the expression for KEAP1 and decrease in NRF2 associated with a reduced antioxidant response. The decreased viability of mutant NSCs in the H2O2-induced oxidative stress assay was rescued by two potent antioxidant drugs, PrC-210 at concentrations of 500 µM and 1 mM and Edaravone at concentrations 50 µM and 100 µM. Our data suggest that the hyperactive LRRK2 G2019S kinase activity leads to increase in KEAP1, which binds NRF2 and leads to its degradation, reduction in the antioxidant response, increased ROS, mitochondria dysfunction and cell death observed in the PD phenotype.
Parallel Computing Method of Commonly Used Interpolation Algorithms for Remote Sensing Images

Parallel computing is a common method to accelerate remote sensing image processing. This article briefly describes six commonly used interpolation functions and studies three commonly used parallel computing methods of the corresponding nine interpolation algorithms in remote sensing image processing. First, two kinds of general parallel interpolation algorithms (for CPU and GPU, respectively) are designed. Then, in two typical application scenarios (data-intensive and computing-intensive), four computing methods (one serial method and three parallel methods) of these interpolation algorithms are tested. Finally, the acceleration effects of all parallel algorithms are compared and analyzed. On the whole, the acceleration effect of the parallel interpolation algorithm is better in computer-intensive scenario. In CPU-oriented methods, the speedup of all parallel interpolation algorithms mainly depends on the number of physical cores of CPU, whereas in GPU-oriented methods, a speedup is greatly affected by the computation complexity of an algorithm and the application scenario. GPU has a better acceleration effect on the interpolation algorithms with bigger computation complexity and has more advantages in the computing-intensive scenarios. In most cases, GPU-based interpolation is ideal for efficient interpolation.
Maximizing VMs' IO Performance on Overcommitted CPUs with Fairness

To improve resource utilization and reduce costs many Cloud providers adopt virtual machines (VMs) overcommitment. While effective, this strategy may lead to adverse outcomes, significantly affecting a VM IO performance when one virtual CPU (vCPU) is preempted by another vCPU within the same runqueue of the VM scheduler -- i.e., same physical CPU (pCPU). Additionally, the responsiveness of a VM is reduced during the inactive time of the vCPU, and it necessitates an extra schedule timeslice to react to any IO event. While such problems have been studied in academia and industry, no previous solution has been deployed in production. This is because for example certain solutions require modifications of the guest VM, which is in contrast with industry requirements. We propose Anubis, a new IO-aware VM scheduler targeting Linux KVM, the most popular VMM in today's Clouds, without requiring any guest VM modifications. Anubis shortens the IO event pending time by lightweight monitoring IO events including interrupt delivery and KVM exit. For the vCPU running the IO activity, Anubis provides an accurate boost, which is exclusively active only during the period when the vCPU has IO activity. While the IO performance is maximized, Anubis still guarantees fairness among VMs. The vCPU that doesn't have IO activity and belongs to the same VM will voluntarily yield the computing resources to counterbalance the unfairness created by the vCPU that has been given a performance boost. Overall, Anubis is a practical solution that provides close-to-non-overcommit performance for IO workloads in VM overcommitted scenarios.
The Language Communities as Active Partners in Technology Provisions: the Irish ABAIR Experience

The impact of speech and language technology for the endangered language depends on the extent to which the language community engages with its development. In this paper, the range of speech technologies and applications developed for Irish in the ABAIR initiative in Trinity College Dublin is presented, along with reflections on the many ways in which the language community has come to play an increasingly central role. Community involvement and buy-in is essential for all aspects – not only for the development of core technologies, such as speech synthesis and recognition systems – but to prompt development directions, to determine priorities for the most important and urgently needed applications and to collaborate in their provision. In order for technology to achieve its potential for the endangered language, developers need a knowledge of the language and an understanding of the socio-linguistic context in which the technologies will be used.
Influence of Social Media on the Behavioral Formation of Digital Natives: a Moderation Approach

Purpose: This study examined the influence of social media on the behavioural formation of digital natives in Lagos, Nigeria, with a specific focus on the accessibility and pattern of social media usage, the online experience, and the influence of social media on the behavioural formation of digital natives. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a stratified proportionate sample strategy, 450 social media users who grew up in the digital age across 10 local government areas in Lagos, Nigeria, provided the data for this quantitative study, where the heuristic model for the relationship was subjected to a string of tests using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. Findings: Discovery revealed that social media has a favourable impact on the behavioural formation of digital natives, whereby digital natives’ nature moderates the structural relationship between social media and behavioural formation. Original/Value: The study novelty appears on the side of Technological Determinism Theory postulated on social media as extremely popular among Nigerian digital natives and is one of the key contributors to the deterioration of digital natives’ behavioural formation in terms of morality, secretive information accessing, online insecurity, as well as the propagation of rumor and propaganda. Practical implications: Because of the established dialectical connection between society and technology, widespread social media literacy is now possible, even among the humblest of households.
Anatomy-Specific Optimization of a Multi-Contact-Aided Continuum Manipulator

Surgical endoscopes deployable through natural orifices are necessary to facilitate further reduction in invasiveness. However, the constant curvature deflection shapes of conventional instruments may result in tissue damage while navigating narrow tortuous variable curvature anatomy. A multi-contact-aided (MCA) continuum manipulator comprising spatial anisotropic bending shapes was developed previously. In this paper, an efficient numerical solution of the inverse kinematics considering variable joint limitations for real-time motion planning is proposed. Then, an anatomy-specific design optimization framework of the MCA continuum manipulator is also proposed to lower intraoperative injury further. Structure parameters optimization is implemented to obtain the most similar shape to the anatomical airways. The optimized single-section MCA continuum manipulator is capable of executing ”path-following” motion in three dimensional airways with minimal path deviation. Simulated and experimental deployments toward targeted bronchus are conducted to validate the feasibility of the optimization framework of the MCA continuum manipulator. Consequently, the endobronchial intervention experiments over the targeted airway indicate a mean tip deviation error of 6.2% with respect to manipulator length.
The nature and significance of the Carthage-Colton Shear Zone and related late-to-post tectonic granites and ore deposits; Adirondack Mountains, New York

This trip will examine the nature and geologic significance of the Carthage-Colton Shear Zone (CCSZ) which forms the boundary between the Adirondack Highlands Central Granulite Terrrane and the Adirondack Lowlands Central Metasedimentary Belt. Recent field mapping, petrologic and geochronologic studies provide critical new data that constrains the ca. 1070-1030 Ma history of ductile and brittle deformation along the CCSZ and its relationship to the collisional tectonism of the Ma Ottawan Orogeny, strike-slip motion along the shear zone and later extensional orogenic collapse (Johnson, et al 2004). Leucogranites of the Lyon Mountain Granite suite are common along the Highlands portion of the CCSZ and intruded synchronously with extensional motion on the CCSZ (Selleck, et al 2005). Low-Ti magnetite ores are found in association with these leucogranites, suggesting that some ore mineralization occurred during motion along the CCSZ. Cl-scapolite and Cl-amphibole mineralization is also associated with the high-strain features within CCSZ. The trip will visit a series of key exposures along the CCSZ that illustrate the range of lithologies and structural features of the zone, and provide a framework for discussion of geothermometric and geochronologic relationships and implications for the evolution of the Grenville Orogen. Stops will include mylonites, ultramylonites and pseudotachylites and ore deposits that are associated with intrusion of ca. 1045 Ma leucogranite, shear zones in the Diana Complex (Baird and MacDonald, 2004), the Valentine wollastonite deposit (Gerdes, 1994), Cl-scapolite/amphibole vein mineralization in the Dana Hill (Johnson, et al 2004) and other metagabbro bodies, Jayville low-Ti magnetite with associated Fe-borate mineralization that may represent the deep-seated zone of an IOCG system, synkinematic 1045 Ma quartz-sillimanite nodular leucogranite (McLelland, et al 2002), and additional localities that illustrate the range of intrusive relationships, deformation fabrics and ore deposits that are topics of ongoing research.
Modeling of microseismicity associated with rock deformation and fracturing

Summary Microseismicity monitoring is a popular tool to assess the effectiveness of hydraulic fracture treatments. Often substantial differences are estimated between the total input energy inferred from fluid injection rates and pressures, the fracture energy to pry apart the walls of a single very large fracture, and the radiated energy observed from recorded seismicity. We use a bonded-particle model to investigate the link between brittle failure and microseismicity. Modeling of well documented laboratory rock fracturing experiments is used for calibration. The first results show a large discrepancy between the total injected energy and the energy retrieved from the microseismic events, just like for large scale hydraulic fracturing of geothermal or oil/gas reservoirs. The failure mechanisms inferred from the breakages of bonds between particles in the model vary between opening and closing with some shearing, like the mechanisms found for large-scale microseismicity, even if no fluid is injected into our model. We find the kinetic energy to be about 5% of the input energy, and the radiated energy to be 50-100 times smaller than the kinetic energy. This suggests that the radiated energy calculated using the GutenbergRichter relationship between moment magnitude and energy may underestimate the energy incurred from brittle failure.
Investigating Recreation Activity Type on College Students’ Subjective Well-being and Leisure Satisfaction

Those working in higher education have a vested interest in understanding how outdoor recreation activities facilitate happiness in students, especially with student well-being at an all-time low. The following study compares indoor versus outdoor recreation activities within the context of the DRAMMA model of leisure engagement and subjective well-being, which includes the psychological mechanisms of meaning, mastery, detachment-recovery, autonomy, and affiliation. In addition, the role of leisure satisfaction is considered as part of the model. Findings indicated a significant difference in the subjective well-being score between outdoor and indoor recreation participants and a higher score in leisure satisfaction for outdoor than indoor recreation participants.Keywords: DRAMMA, Happiness, Leisure Satisfaction, Recreation Activity
Comparative antimicrobial evaluation of socotrine aloe and aloe barbadensis miller

The utilization of herbal medicines, derived from plants and their parts, has experienced a significant resurgence globally. This is attributed to their perceived cost-effectiveness and minimal side effects, particularly in underdeveloped regions where they continue to serve as the primary source of healthcare for a substantial portion of the population. In response to the growing demand, a multitude of companies have emerged to produce herbal remedies. Traditional medicinal systems, such as Ayurveda and Siddha, have long relied on various plant species to combat a wide range of illnesses, driven by concerns about the toxicity and side effects of allopathic treatments. The surge in antibiotic use was anticipated to vanquish infectious diseases, but it inadvertently led to the proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria. Multi-drug resistant strains of pathogens like E. coli, K. pneumoniae , and Candida albicans now pose a grave challenge to healthcare institutions worldwide, resulting in escalating treatment costs and patient fatalities. This study focused on Aloe vera , specifically Aloe barbadensis miller and Socotrine aloe , to assess their antimicrobial properties. Aloe vera gel was extracted and subjected to physicochemical tests to evaluate its bioactivity. The antimicrobial activity of these extracts was examined against a range of clinical bacterial and fungal strains. The findings revealed that both Aloe barbadensis miller and Socotrine aloe possessed noteworthy antimicrobial activity, presenting a potential resource for treating bacterial and fungal infections. Socotrine aloe exhibited superior antimicrobial activity against E. coli, B. subtilis, and S. typhi , while Aloe barbadensis miller excelled against P. Aeruginosa . Additionally, Socotrine aloe displayed heightened antifungal activity, particularly against Candida species. In conclusion, this research underscores the antimicrobial potential of Aloe vera gel , with Socotrine aloe showing greater efficacy in certain cases. These findings indicate the promise of incorporating Socotrine aloe into new antimicrobial formulations, further expanding the utility of herbal remedies in combating infectious diseases. The study provides valuable insights into the growing role of herbal medicines in modern healthcare, where conventional antibiotics face mounting challenges from drug-resistant pathogens.
A fast and reliable change detection feature from bi-temporal amplitude SAR images

In this paper, we propose a change detection feature for an amplitude SAR image pair, based on both information theoretic (IT) assumptions and a CFAR criterion derived from the probabilistic model of the ratio image. In particular, the proposed method aims to introduce two main improvements with respect to the previous IT-based approaches. The first goal is to find a strategy to adaptively quantize the 2-D scatterplot instead of applying clustering. This is carried out by performing a preliminary partition of the image pixels according to a constant false alarm rate criterion that is based on the probabilistic model of the ratio image. The second goal is to test the proposed method in order to assess reliable performances in case of severe speckle noise and in case of small percentage of change within the scene. Therefore, experimental results have been carried out with simulated changes applied to synthetically-generated 1-look SAR images produced from an optical remote sensing image. True Cosmo-SkyMed SAR images have been also considered on a damage assessment scenario.
What Kind of Multi- or Cross-lingual Pre-training is the most Effective for a Spontaneous, Less-resourced ASR Task?

Most languages are under-resourced for Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), and most relevant tasks are related to the transcription of spontaneous speech. The application of cross-or multi-lingual pre-training is inevitable, however, the selection of the best pre-trained model or data/method is not straight-forward. In this paper, we introduce a case study for Hungarian, targeting good quality spontaneous speech while monitoring the ASR performance of read speech. Transformer/conformer-based end-to-end neural models with supervised cross-lingual, self-supervised cross-and (massively) multi-lingual and weakly supervised multi-lingual pre-training are fine-tuned and evaluated. Surprisingly, a relatively small-scale tri-lingual (SSL pre-trained) model won the competition by a large margin over very large-scale models trained on more Hungarian data. The results revealed that the composition of pre-training data in terms of language and speech style was essential, bigger size or higher number of languages did not necessarily come with improvement, and no transcription was required in the pre-training for the best performance.
The Influence of Social and Psychological Factors in the Success of Customer Relationship Management Strategies

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is an important business approach in maintaining a strong relationship between a company and its customers. CRM strategies aim to increase customer satisfaction, build loyalty, and maximise customer value. This study aims to analyse the influence of social and psychological factors in the success of CRM strategies. This research is a literature review that adopts a qualitative method approach, which means that this research will analyse and interpret data by relying on information and text from various sources. The study results show that in a competitive business world, CRM plays an important role in building strong relationships with customers. Social and psychological factors have a crucial influence on the success of CRM strategies. Strong interpersonal relationships with customers are key, and companies should pay special attention to training employees to interact well and empathetically.
Psychometric properties of the affect integration inventory – short form in a sample of patients with personality disorder

Introduction Affect integration comprises the capacity to access and utilize the motivational and signal properties of affects. This capacity is essential for personal adjustment, mental health, and well-being. Affect integration is commonly operationalized through the Affect Integration Inventory. This study examines the psychometric properties of a short-form (AII-SF-42) of the instrument in a sample of patients with personality disorders (n = 87). Methods Analyses of internal-consistency reliability, along with standardized mean differences-, and associations between short- and long-forms are reported. Internal structure was assessed by confirmatory factor analyses and external criterion validity was addressed by tests of associations between the AII-SF-42-scale scores and measures of alexithymia, symptom distress, interpersonal problems and level of personality dysfunction. Results The study demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity for scores derived from the AII-SF-42, including acceptable internal consistency and strong correspondence with long-form scores, a consistent factor structure organized according to discrete affects, and systematic patterns of convergent and discriminant associations with external measures. Conclusion Taken together, the results of the study demonstrate that in clinical settings, including patients with personality disorders the AII-SF-42 is a valid and useful alternative to the full-length version of the instrument.