Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Linear Constraint Satisfaction Approach for Abductive Reasoning

Abductive explanation has been formalized in AI as the process of searching for a set of assumptions that can prove a given observation. A basic problem which naturally arises is that there may be many different possible sets available. Thus, some preferential ordering on the explanations is necessary to precisely determine which one is best. Unfortunately, any model with sufficient representational power is in general NP-hard. Causal trees and scAND/ scOR graphs are among the most commonly used for representing causal knowledge. Consequently, finding a best explanation has been treated as some heuristic search through the graph. However, this approach exhibits an expected exponential run-time growth rate. In this thesis, we present a new approach to modeling abductive reasoning which admits an extremely efficient implementation. We treat the problem in terms of constrained optimization instead of graph traversal. Our approach models knowledge using linear constraints and finds a best explanation by optimizing some measure within these constraints. Although finding the best explanation remains NP-hard, our approach allows us to utilize the highly efficient tools developed in operations research. Such tools as the Simplex method and Karmarkar's projective scaling algorithm form the foundations for the practical realization of our approach. Experimental results strongly indicate that our linear constraint satisfaction approach is quite promising. Studies comparing our approach against heuristic search techniques has shown our approach to be superior in both time and space, and actually exhibiting an expected polynomial run-time growth rate. Our goal is to show that our framework is both flexible and representationally powerful. We can model both cost-based abduction and Bayesian networks. Furthermore, it is possible for us to handle difficult problems such as alternative explanations, continuous random variables, consistency, partial covering and cyclicity which are commonly encountered in abductive (diagnostic) domains.
Versatile Optical Fiber Nanoprobes: From Plasmonic Biosensors to Polarization-Sensitive Devices

We have recently proposed a valuable fabrication route for the integration and patterning of functional materials at nanoscale onto optical fibers, posing the basis for a new technological vision named “Lab-on-Fiber”. The validation of the proposed process has been carried out through the realization, directly onto the fiber tip, of 2D metallo-dielectric nanocrystals supporting localized surface plasmon resonances. In this work, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology to realize optical nanoprobes for label-free chemical and biological sensing as well as basic components for novel polarization sensitive photonic devices. Specifically, we first demonstrate how it is possible to tailor the field distribution of the plasmonic mode enabling the control on the refractive index sensitivity. With a view toward surface sensitivity, we experimentally observe that the proposed device is able to detect the formation of nanosized overlays over very limited active areas. Moreover, we demonstrate h.
The threshold of a non‐autonomous SIRS epidemic model with stochastic perturbations

In this paper, we investigate a stochastic non‐autonomous SIRS (susceptible‐infected‐recovered‐susceptible) model. The extinction and the prevalence of the disease are discussed, and so, the threshold is given. Especially, we show there is a positive nontrivial periodic solution. At last, some examples and simulations are provided to illustrate our results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of the relationship between urbanization and environment in the Jiulong river basin based on coupling coordination degree model

Rapid urbanization has placed the sustainable development of some watershed ecosystems in jeopardy. In order to achieve sustainable urban development, it is vital to identify the coupling mechanisms between urbanization and the ecological environment quality. This study establishes indicators to evaluate the Jiulong River Basin’s urbanization and ecological environment systems. These are utilized to analyze spatial and temporal changes and build a coupling coordination degree model. This research investigates the level of development coordination between urbanization and the ecological environment quality in the basin. The data sources include nighttime lighting and Landsat data from 2000 to 2020. The findings indicated the following: 1) Urbanization levels in the basin rise annually, and the years 2010–2020 represent a stage of high urbanization growth. In addition, the development levels are spatially heterogeneous, with high levels in the south and low levels in the north. 2) The ecological environment quality category for the basin is generally Excellent; however, many facets of the climate and human activity drastically lowered this grade in 2005. 3) In the basin, there is a basic coordination relationship between urbanization and environmental quality, but the number of cities falling into the moderate imbalance category has grown. 4) Increasing the urbanization level raises the coordination between urbanization and the ecological environment more than improving environmental quality, but antagonistic effects make it necessary to strengthen the protection of the ecological environment alongside economic development. From the viewpoint of counties, this study examines the long-term interactions between the ecological environment and urbanization in Fujian Province, China. Recommendations for balancing urban development and environmental concerns in coastal watersheds are presented, providing references to the fact that the future of this area of China can be sustainable.
Preparation of terminal blend/ grafting activated crumb rubber composite modified asphalt based on response surface methodology

Recycling waste tires, crushing them into crumb rubber (CR) and adding them to asphalt can effectively improve the performance and prolong the service life of asphalt pavement. However, the crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA) prepared by aforementioned process is prone to segregation during storage and transportation. The terminal blend rubber asphalt (TB) prepared with fine rubber powder by high-speed shearing at high temperature for long time, which effectively improves the storage stability and working performance of crumb rubber modified asphalt, but reduces the high-temperature performance. In this study, grafting activated crumb rubber (GACR) was incorporated into TB to improve its high temperature performance without impairing storage stability. Using shearing temperature, shearing time and grafting activated crumb rubber content as influencing factors, the response surface method (RSM) was carried out to optimize the preparation process. The results indicated that 180°C was a critical temperature, and the swelling of crumb rubber dominated with the temperature below it, but the desulfurization prevailed with the temperature above it. The extension of time favored the swelling of crumb rubber at low temperature but promoted desulfurization at high temperature. With the increase of crumb rubber content, the high temperature performance of modified asphalt improved whereas the storage stability deteriorated. According to the determination of response values and the prediction of optimal values, the suitable preparation conditions and parameters were recommended as shearing temperature of 190°C, shearing time of 90 min, and GACR content of 15%. The composite modified asphalt prepared through the optimized process showed good high temperature stability and storage stability.
Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy for radically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with radically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods Patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy at our hospital from 2010 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Only patients with radically resected ESCC who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy or adjuvant radiotherapy were enrolled in this study. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to balance the baseline. Results A total of 1,249 patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study, and 263 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. After matching, 260 pairs were analyzed. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 93.4%, 66.1% and 59.6%, respectively, for patients with adjuvant chemotherapy compared with 83.8%, 58.4% and 48.8%, respectively, for patients with surgery alone (P = 0.003). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 82.3%, 58.8% and 51.3%, respectively, for patients with adjuvant chemotherapy compared with 68.0%, 48.3% and 40.8%, respectively, for patients with surgery alone (P = 0.002). In multivariate analyses, adjuvant chemotherapy was found to be an independent prognostic factor. In subgroup analyses, only the patients in certain subgroups were found to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, such as patients who underwent right thoracotomy, pT3 diseases, pN1-pN3 diseases, or pTNM stage III and IVA diseases. Conclusions Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy can improve the OS and DFS of ESCC patients after radical resection but may only work for patients in certain subgroups.
Coating of manganese functional polyetheretherketone implants for osseous interface integration

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has been used extensively in biomedical engineering and it is highly desirable for PEEK implant to possess the ability to promote cell growth and significant osteogenic properties and consequently stimulate bone regeneration. In this study, a manganese modified PEEK implant (PEEK-PDA-Mn) was fabricated via polydopamine chemical treatment. The results showed that manganese was successfully immobilized on PEEK surface, and the surface roughness and hydrophilicity significantly improved after surface modification. Cell experiments in vitro demonstrated that the PEEK-PDA-Mn possesses superior cytocompatibility in cell adhesion and spread. Moreover, the osteogenic properties of PEEK-PDA-Mn were proved by the increased expression of osteogenic genes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and mineralization in vitro. Further rat femoral condyle defect model was utilized to assess bone formation ability of different PEEK implants in vivo. The results revealed that the PEEK-PDA-Mn group promoted bone tissue regeneration in defect area. Taken together, the simple immersing method can modify the surface of PEEK, giving outstanding biocompatibility and enhanced bone tissue regeneration ability to the modified PEEK, which could be applied as an orthopedic implant in clinical.
Tubeimuside I improves the efficacy of a therapeutic Fusobacterium nucleatum dendritic cell-based vaccine against colorectal cancer

Introduction Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) infection has been confirmed to be associated with the development, chemoresistance, and immune evasion of colorectal cancer (CRC). The complex relationship between the microorganism, host cells, and the immune system throughout all stages of CRC progression, which makes the development of new therapeutic methods difficult. Methods We developed a new dendritic cell (DC) vaccine to investigate the antitumor efficacy of CRC immunotherapy strategies. By mediating a specific mode of interaction between the bacteria, tumor, and host, we found a new plant-derived adjuvant, tubeimuside I (TBI), which simultaneously improved the DC vaccine efficacy and inhibited the F. nucleatum infection. Encapsulating TBI in a nanoemulsion greatly improved the drug efficacy and reduced the drug dosage and administration times. Results The nanoemulsion encapsulated TBI DC vaccine exhibited an excellent antibacterial and antitumor effect and improved the survival rate of CRC mice by inhibiting tumor development and progression. Discussion In this study, we provide a effective strategy for developing a DC-based vaccine against CRC and underlies the importance of further understanding the mechanism of CRC processes caused by F. nucleatum.
Reliability and validity study of the Thai adaptation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey among preclinical medical students at a medical school in Thailand

Burnout syndrome is characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and lack of professional efficacy. A considerable proportion of medical students experience burnout syndrome during their educational training. Therefore, this issue has become a major concern in the medical education community. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) is the most widely used assessment of burnout syndrome among college students, including preclinical medical students. Therefore, our objective was to culturally modify and validate the MBI-SS in a Thai context for use with preclinical medical students. The MBI-SS comprises 16 items, including five items for emotional exhaustion, five items for cynicism, and six items for academic efficacy. Four hundred and twenty-six preclinical medical students participated in this study. We randomly divided the samples into two equivalent subsamples of 213 participants. The first subsample was used to calculate McDonald’s omega coefficients to assess internal consistency and to perform exploratory factor analysis. McDonald’s omega coefficients for exhaustion, cynicism, and academic efficacy were 0.877, 0.844, and 0.846, respectively. The scree plot from the unweighted least squares estimation and a direct oblimin rotation, supplemented with Horn’s parallel analysis and the Hull method, revealed three major factors of the Thai MBI-SS. Due to the violation of the multivariate normality assumption in the second subsample, we performed a confirmatory factor analysis with the unweighted least squares with a mean and variance adjusted estimation approach. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed favorable goodness-of-fit indices. Data from 187 out of 426 participants (43.9%), who completed a second questionnaire, were utilized to evaluate test–retest reliability. The correlation coefficients for test–retest reliability with a three-week period between tests were 0.724, 0.760, and 0.769 for the exhaustion, cynicism, and academic efficacy domains, respectively (all p < 0.05). This indicates that the Thai MBI-SS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess burnout syndrome in our Thai preclinical medical student population.
Disease tolerance: a protective mechanism of lung infections

Resistance and tolerance are two important strategies employed by the host immune response to defend against pathogens. Multidrug-resistant bacteria affect the resistance mechanisms involved in pathogen clearance. Disease tolerance, defined as the ability to reduce the negative impact of infection on the host, might be a new research direction for the treatment of infections. The lungs are highly susceptible to infections and thus are important for understanding host tolerance and its precise mechanisms. This review focuses on the factors that induce lung disease tolerance, cell and molecular mechanisms involved in tissue damage control, and the relationship between disease tolerance and sepsis immunoparalysis. Understanding the exact mechanism of lung disease tolerance could allow better assessment of the immune status of patients and provide new ideas for the treatment of infections.
Effects of EMG-based robot for upper extremity rehabilitation on post-stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: A growing body of research shows the promise and efficacy of EMG-based robot interventions in improving the motor function in stroke survivors. However, it is still controversial whether the effect of EMG-based robot is more effective than conventional therapies. This study focused on the effects of EMG-based robot on upper limb motor control, spasticity and activity limitation in stroke survivors compared with conventional rehabilitation techniques. Methods: We searched electronic databases for relevant randomized controlled trials. Outcomes included Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and activity level. Result: Thirteen studies with 330 subjects were included. The results showed that the outcomes post intervention was significantly improved in the EMG-based robot group. Results from subgroup analyses further revealed that the efficacy of the treatment was better in patients in the subacute stage, those who received a total treatment time of less than 1000 min, and those who received EMG-based robotic therapy combined with electrical stimulation (ES). Conclusion: The effect of EMG-based robot is superior to conventional therapies in terms of improving upper extremity motor control, spasticity and activity limitation. Further research should explore optimal parameters of EMG-based robot therapy and its long-term effects on upper limb function in post-stroke patients. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/PROSPERO/; Identifier: 387070.
Characterization of two novel HIV-1 second-generation recombinants (CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC) identified in Hebei Province, China

Introduction The unique recombinant forms (URFs) of HIV-1 consist of a mixture of subtypes, and each URF has a unique breakpoint. In this study, we identified the near fulllength genome (NFLG) sequences of two novel HIV-1 URFs (Sample ID: BDD034A and BDL060) isolated during HIV-1 molecular surveillance in 2022 in Baoding city, Hebei Province, China. Methods The two sequences were aligned with subtype reference sequences and CRFs from China using MAFFT v7.0, and the alignments were adjusted manually using BioEdit (v7.2.5.0). Phylogenetic and subregion trees were constructed using MEGA11 with the neighbor-joining (N-J) method. Recombination breakpoints were identified by SimPlot (v3.5.1) based on Bootscan analyses. Results Recombinant breakpoint analysis revealed that the NFLGs of BDD034A and BDL060 were composed of CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC, containing seven segments, respectively. For BDD034A, three CRF01_AE fragments were inserted into the CRF07_BC main framework, whereas for BDL060, three CRF07_BC fragments were inserted into the CRF01_AE main framework. Discussion The emergence of the CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC recombinant strains indicates that HIV-1 co-infection is common. The increasing genetic complexity of the HIV-1 epidemic in China warrants continued investigation.
Combined associations of vitamin D and cognitive function with all-cause mortality among older adults in Chinese longevity areas: A prospective cohort study

Objectives While both vitamin D deficiency and cognitive impairment have individually been linked to a greater risk of all-cause mortality, the combined effects of these two different conditions have not previously been explored in this context. We aimed to investigate the combined impact of vitamin D concentration and cognitive impairment on all-cause mortality in older adults. Methods The analyzed data were collected from community-dwelling adults ≥65 years of age that were enrolled in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (n = 1,673). The Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive function, while the plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] test was used to assess vitamin D status. The associations between vitamin D concentration, cognitive function, and all-cause mortality were assessed with Cox proportional hazards models. We used restricted cubic splines to examine the dose–response relationship between vitamin D and the risk of all-cause mortality and used joint effect testing to explore interactions between vitamin D concentration and cognitive function. Results During a mean (SD) follow-up of 3.8 (1.9) years, 899 (53.7%) deaths occurred. A negative dose–response relationship was observed between 25(OH)D concentration and cognition impairment at baseline, as well as the odds of all-cause mortality during follow-up. Similarly, cognitive impairment was significantly related to all-cause mortality risk (HR 1.81, 95% CI: 1.54 to 2.12). The combined analyses showed positive associations, with the highest mortality risk observed in older adults with both low vitamin D and cognitive impairment (HR 3.04, 95% CI: 2.40 to 3.86). Moreover, the interaction between 25(OH)D concentration and cognitive function was found to be significant in relation to the risk of mortality (p for interaction <0.001). Conclusion Lower plasma 25(OH)D and cognitive impairment were, respectively, associated with increased all-cause mortality risks. The 25(OH)D concentration and cognitive impairment exhibited a combined additive effect on all-cause mortality among older Chinese adults.
Transfer function analysis assesses resting cerebral perfusion metrics using hypoxia-induced deoxyhemoglobin as a contrast agent

Introduction: Use of contrast in determining hemodynamic measures requires the deconvolution of an arterial input function (AIF) selected over a voxel in the middle cerebral artery to calculate voxel wise perfusion metrics. Transfer function analysis (TFA) offers an alternative analytic approach that does not require identifying an AIF. We hypothesised that TFA metrics Gain, Lag, and their ratio, Gain/Lag, correspond to conventional AIF resting perfusion metrics relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), mean transit time (MTT) and relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF), respectively. Methods: 24 healthy participants (17 M) and 1 patient with steno-occlusive disease were recruited. We used non-invasive transient hypoxia-induced deoxyhemoglobin as an MRI contrast. TFA and conventional AIF analyses were used to calculate averages of whole brain and smaller regions of interest. Results: Maps of these average metrics had colour scales adjusted to enhance contrast and identify areas of high congruence. Regional gray matter/white matter (GM/WM) ratios for MTT and Lag, rCBF and Gain/Lag, and rCBV and Gain were compared. The GM/WM ratios were greater for TFA metrics compared to those from AIF analysis indicating an improved regional discrimination. Discussion: Resting perfusion measures generated by The BOLD analysis resulting from a transient hypoxia induced variations in deoxyhemoglobin analyzed by TFA are congruent with those analyzed by conventional AIF analysis.
Gene therapy: an emerging therapy for hair cells regeneration in the cochlea

Sensorineural hearing loss is typically caused by damage to the cochlear hair cells (HCs) due to external stimuli or because of one’s genetic factors and the inability to convert sound mechanical energy into nerve impulses. Adult mammalian cochlear HCs cannot regenerate spontaneously; therefore, this type of deafness is usually considered irreversible. Studies on the developmental mechanisms of HC differentiation have revealed that nonsensory cells in the cochlea acquire the ability to differentiate into HCs after the overexpression of specific genes, such as Atoh1, which makes HC regeneration possible. Gene therapy, through in vitro selection and editing of target genes, transforms exogenous gene fragments into target cells and alters the expression of genes in target cells to activate the corresponding differentiation developmental program in target cells. This review summarizes the genes that have been associated with the growth and development of cochlear HCs in recent years and provides an overview of gene therapy approaches in the field of HC regeneration. It concludes with a discussion of the limitations of the current therapeutic approaches to facilitate the early implementation of this therapy in a clinical setting.