Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of Electronic Course as the Element of Adaptive Training System

The article studies the development of an electronic course as an element of the suggested interactive adaptive training system. The authors define the main structural elements of the system and consider their mutually relationships. The article describes the training algorithm providing adaptivity to learners' needs and capabilities. In the frame of the suggested adaptive training system, the paper demonstrates some examples of interactive tools which help students to learn the course materials better. In particular, the article considers a set of developed interactive programs for practices in studying economic and mathematical methods and models.
Oxytocin neuron activation by acute infusion of Montanoa genus plants in the Wistar rats

In traditional Mexican medicine, plants from the Montanoa genus, family Asteraceae (Montanoa tomentosa, Montanoa grandiflora, and Montanoa frutescens) have been used to induce labor owing to their uterotonic properties like those produced by oxytocin (OXT). However, whether infusions of these plants can activate hypothalamic OXT-producing neurons is unknown. To test this possibility, five independent groups of Wistar rats (n=4) were included: intact, vehicle, and three groups that received 50 mg/kg p.o. of M. tomentosa, M. grandiflora, and M. frutescens infusions, respectively. Ninety min after treatment, the brains were obtained and processed using double-labeled immunohistochemistry for Fos protein and oxytocin (Fos/OXT-ir). Rats that received Montanoa infusions had significantly greater number of Fos/OXT-ir cells in the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei, with respect to intact and vehicle groups. These findings demonstrate that Montanoa infusions activated OXT neurons, an effect that may be related to the reported pharmacological properties.
GFS-BASED MOS WIND FORECAST GUIDANCE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC ISLANDS

This Technical Procedures Bulletin (TPB) describes the new Global Forecast System (GFS)-based Model Output Statistics (MOS) wind guidance for island locations in the western Pacific Ocean. The forecast equations used to generate the guidance are linear regression equations that relate observed wind data at stations (predictands) to predictors, which include NWP model output of various meteorological variables interpolated to stations, observed weather elements, and geoclimatic variables. MOS guidance for these islands has not been developed for any meteorological element before. This new guidance is focused on tropical locations and provides forecasts for a station in the Southern Hemisphere, which is unique among the MOS guidance packages. The Model Output Statistics (MOS) technique (Glahn and Lowry 1972), specifically, multiple linear regression with forward selection, is used in the development of the guidance equations. Other MOS wind guidance packages for the contiguous United States (CONUS), Alaska, and Hawaii have been developed by the staff of Meteorological Development Laboratory (MDL); see, for example, Miller 1993 and Sfanos 2001. The GFS (see Alpert et al. 1991) is an improved version of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) aviation model (AVN) (Kanamitsu 1989). This document describes development of the forecast equations, post-processing procedures, operational products, and verification results.
Spirituality and Marital Satisfaction as Predictors of Subjective Happiness in Married Couples

Every individual wants to achieve subjective happiness, which is characterized by feelings of happiness and joy in assessing their life. Marital satisfaction and spirituality are factors that can affect a person's subjective happiness. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of marital satisfaction and spirituality on subjective happiness and to see the influence of demographic factors. This research uses the causality correlation method, which involves 160 participants with the characteristics of a married couple domiciled in Bandung city and the age range of 20-40 years. The measuring instruments used are the Subjective Happiness Scale from Lyubomirsky (2008), the ENRICH Marital Scale from Fowers & Olson (1993), and the Spirituality Transcendence Scale from Piedmont (2001). The validity and reliability test results show that the three instruments have validity in the range of 0.81-0.89, 0.45-0.83, and 0.53-0.83. The reliability test results of the three instruments are 0.81, 0.91, and 0.75. The data processing in this study used hierarchical multiple regression. The analysis results show that marital satisfaction and spirituality affect subjective happiness. The results of the influence test involving demographic factors showed that ethnicity and absence of disease were predictors of subjective happiness. It is suggested to the next researcher to homogenize ethnicity, which is Sundanese. Married couples are expected to maintain their marital satisfaction and spirituality.
Ultrasound Guided Complete Thoracentesis, Precluding Residual Pleural Thickening in Pleural Tuberculosis: A Case-Control Study

Introduction: Pleural effusion is the commonest extra-pulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis in endemic populations. This is managed in routine, by diagnostic aspiration and treated with anti-TB medicines. A significant number of treated patients remain visiting pulmonology and thoracic surgery departments, for chest pain, abnormal chest x-ray, and shortness of breath due to residual pleural thickening (RPT). Aims &Objectives: The study was conducted to determine the usefulness of complete thoracentesis under ultrasound guidance over diagnostic aspiration in preventing residual pleural thickening. Place and duration of study: This case-control study was conducted from 01-07-21 to 30-06-2022 at Pulmonology- OPD of Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital Lahore-Pakistan. Material & Methods: After approval from IRB and informed consent, 300 consecutive patients with age 14-85 years, diagnosed TB-pleural effusion, willing for intervention and participation in study were included in the study while pediatric patients, non-TB effusions and unwilling for aspiration or participation were excluded. Two groups of 150 each were allocated through odd and even numbers. Therapeutic aspiration under ultrasound guidance for interventional group and diagnostic aspiration of 50-100 ml for control group was performed. All patients were treated with same standard and followed up according to the principles of DOTS. Pleural thickness was measured utilizing ultrasonography at day 0, 60 and 180. Outcome was compared in both groups. SPSS-24, software was utilized for analysis. p ? 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Only 31/150 patients (20.66%) from interventional group displayed residual pleural thickening while148/150 cases (98.66%) with residual pleural thickening were noted in control group. The P-value was 0.00001 Conclusion: Complete thoracentesis under ultrasound guidance is a tremendous tool for precluding residual pleural thickening in tubercular pleural effusions.
Advancing chemical safety assessment through an omics-based characterization of the test system-chemical interaction

Assessing chemical safety is essential to evaluate the potential risks of chemical exposure to human health and the environment. Traditional methods relying on animal testing are being replaced by 3R (reduction, refinement, and replacement) principle-based alternatives, mainly depending on in vitro test methods and the Adverse Outcome Pathway framework. However, these approaches often focus on the properties of the compound, missing the broader chemical-biological interaction perspective. Currently, the lack of comprehensive molecular characterization of the in vitro test system results in limited real-world representation and contextualization of the toxicological effect under study. Leveraging omics data strengthens the understanding of the responses of different biological systems, emphasizing holistic chemical-biological interactions when developing in vitro methods. Here, we discuss the relevance of meticulous test system characterization on two safety assessment relevant scenarios and how omics-based, data-driven approaches can improve the future generation of alternative methods.
Description of three new species of the jumping spider Chira Peckham & Peckham, 1896 (Araneae: Salticidae) from Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil, with a provisional identification key to the species of the genus

Abstract We present a taxonomic study with the description of three new species of Chira Peckham & Peckham, 1896: C. stolari sp. nov. (♂♀) from Pernambuco, Brazil; C. ivyatenea sp. nov. (♂♀) from Misiones, Argentina and Santa Catarina, Brazil; and C. hanagarthi sp. nov. (♀) from La Paz, Bolivia; and a tentative identification key for 12 (of 14 known) species of this Central and South American genus. Some misidentifications of C. lanei Soares & Camargo, 1948 and C. lucina Simon, 1902 are resolved.
Effect of different doses of local anesthetics on outcomes in spinal anesthesia: A meta-analysis

This work compares the effect of different doses of local anesthetics in spinal anesthesia on the death rate, incidences of pneumonia, urinary infection, and drug consumption like ephedrine. We conduct a statistical analysis of research studies known as meta-analysis. Data values from four studies were collected, aggregated, and compared by the sample means and sample standard deviations of the two groups of patients with ‘low doses’ and ‘high doses’ of used local anesthetics. Our analysis found that there is no statistically significant difference between the lower and higher doses of local anesthetics for spinal anesthesia in terms of death rate (the risk ratio (RR) with a 95% CI is 0.87 [0.12, 6.53]), incidences of pneumonia (RR with 95% CI is 0.93 [0.74, 1.16]), incidences of urinary infection (RR with 95% CI is 1.25 [0.16, 9.56]), and the doses of used ephedrine (SMD with 95% CI is –0.31 [–1.19, 0.56]). Findings suggest that the choice of local anesthetic dose in spinal anesthesia may not significantly impact the above-mentioned outcomes.
EMG-Based Intention Detection Using Deep Learning for Shared Control in Upper-Limb Assistive Exoskeletons

In the field of human-robot interaction, surface electromyography (sEMG) provides a valuable tool for measuring active muscular effort. While numerous studies have investigated real-time control of upper extremity exoskeletons based on user intention and task-specific movements, the prediction of body joint positions based on EMG features has remained largely unexplored. In this letter, we address this gap by proposing a novel approach that leverages Convolutional Neural Networks and Long-Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM) models to generate exoskeleton joint trajectories. Our methodology involves collecting data from three channels of EMG and three degrees-of-freedom (DoF) joint angles and enables us to position control a pneumatic cable-driven upper-limb exoskeleton, thereby assisting users in various tasks. Through extensive experimentation, our intention-based model demonstrates robust performance across different speeds and is capable of detecting variations in payload and electrode placement. The empirical results yielded from our study underscore the efficacy of our approach, particularly in reducing the EMG levels of the user during different tasks by providing exoskeleton assistance as needed.
Energy-Limited Joint Source–Channel Coding of Gaussian Sources over Gaussian Channels with Unknown Noise Level

We consider the problem of transmitting a Gaussian source with minimum mean square error distortion over an infinite-bandwidth additive white Gaussian noise channel with an unknown noise level and under an input energy constraint. We construct a universal joint source–channel coding scheme with respect to the noise level, that uses modulo-lattice modulation with multiple layers. For each layer, we employ either analog linear modulation or analog pulse-position modulation (PPM). We show that the designed scheme with linear layers requires less energy compared to existing solutions to achieve the same quadratically increasing distortion profile with the noise level; replacing the linear layers with PPM layers offers an additional improvement.
Utilizing 3D Printing Technology to Create Prosthetic Irises: Proof of Concept and Workflow

Purpose: There are currently limited treatment options for aniridia. In this context, 3D printed iris implants may provide a cost-effective, cosmetically acceptable alternative for patients with aniridia. The purpose of this study was to develop a proof-of-concept workflow for manufacturing 3D printed iris implants using a silicone ink palette that aesthetically matches iris shades, identified in slit lamp images. Methods: Slit lamp iris photos from 11 healthy volunteers (3 green; 4 blue; 4 brown) were processed using k-means binning analyses to identify two or three prominent colors each. Candidate silicone inks were created by precisely combining pigments. A crowdsourcing survey software was used to determine color matches between the silicone ink swatches and three prominent iris color swatches in 2 qualifying and 11 experimental workflows. Results: In total, 54 candidate silicone inks (20 brown; 16 green; 18 blue) were developed and analyzed. Survey answers from 29 individuals that had passed the qualifying workflow were invited to identify “best matches” between the prominent iris colors and the silicone inks. From this color-match data, brown, blue, and green prototype artificial irises were printed with the silicone ink that aesthetically matched the three prominent colors. The iris was printed using a simplified three-layer five-branch starburst design at scale (12.8 mm base disc, with 3.5 mm pupil). Conclusions: This proof-of-concept workflow produced color-matched silicone prosthetic irises at scale from a panel of silicone inks using prominent iris colors extracted from slit lamp images. Future work will include printing a more intricate iris crypt design and testing for biocompatibility.
Two-Layer Large Scale Fading Precoding for Cell-Free Massive MIMO: Performance Analysis and Optimization

In this paper, a two-layer large scale fading precoding (LSFP) method is proposed in a downlink cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO) system. In the first LSFP layer, the access points are responsible for designing distributed precoding and power control coefficients for each user equipment (UE). While for the second LSFP layer, the central processing unit performs the proposed zero forcing LSFP (ZF-LSFP) for the copilot UEs in order to mitigate the interference caused by pilot contamination. To address power constraints and enhance the system's spectral efficiency (SE), we introduce the copilot power scaling factors. Specifically, we derive closed-form expressions for the lower-bound achievable SE under distributed precoding schemes. These expressions are versatile and applicable to downlink SE irrespective of the availability of ZF-LSFP. Based on the derived closed-form results, we formulate a sum SE maximization problem with respect to copilot power scaling factors. Two approaches are designed to solve this problem, i.e. the weighted minimum mean square error (W-MMSE) based approach and the geometric programming (GP) based approach. While the W-MMSE-based approach is suitable for various systems, the GP-based approach is specifically tailored for systems with high signal-to-noise ratios, offering fast running speed. Finally, we validate all theoretical analyses and assess the effectiveness of the proposed two-layer LSFP method through numerical simulations.
Avoiding affect in intergroup relations: The roles of dispositional and intergroup empathy in the relationship between alexithymia and prejudice

Alexithymia, that is, difficulties in recognizing, communicating, and processing one's own emotions, is associated with poorer interpersonal relations. Emotional processes are key drivers and mechanisms of prejudice and its reduction, and alexithymia is thought to influence individuals' empathic responses. This research examined the relationship between alexithymia and prejudice, and the role of empathy in this relationship. Three studies were conducted in three intergroup contexts to test whether alexithymia is also associated with poorer intergroup relations with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender+ individuals (Study 1, N = 126 heterosexual late adolescents) and Asian British people (Study 3, N = 300 White adults) in the United Kingdom, and immigrants in Italy (Study 2, N = 381 Italian adults). Participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS‐20), measures on dispositional and intergroup empathic concern (EC) and perspective taking (PT) as well as measures of prejudice (anti‐outgroup hostility, anti‐outgroup attitudes, and anti‐outgroup behavioral intentions). Lower dispositional EC (Studies 1, marginal effect in Study 2) and intergroup EC and PT (Study 3) mediated the relationship between the Externally Oriented Thinking subscale of the TAS‐20 (i.e., avoiding emotions and affective thinking) and greater prejudice. The findings are important for understanding the challenges of late adolescents and adults with alexithymia in intergroup relations, highlighting the role of dispositional and intergroup empathy for individual differences such as alexithymia in endorsing prejudice.
Acetylcholine, Another Factor in Breast Cancer

Simple Summary Our previous work established that organophosphorus pesticides increased acetylcholine (ACh) levels and promoted mammary gland tumor development in rats. This suggests that ACh could modulate ERα activity. In this study, we demonstrated that ACh has functional effects in breast cancer cell lines—specifically, activating the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways, inducing p-ERα, and eliciting its nuclear translocation. However, ACh did not induce the upregulation of estrogen-responsive genes, suggesting a mechanistic distinction from the effects of 17β-estradiol. Furthermore, ACh enhanced cell viability and induced the overexpression of specific EMT markers. These findings suggest that ACh and muscarinic receptors could be emerging regulators of breast cancer. Abstract Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter that regulates multiple functions in the nervous system, and emerging evidence indicates that it could play a role in cancer progression. However, this function is controversial. Previously, we showed that organophosphorus pesticides decreased the levels of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in vivo, increasing ACh serum levels and the formation of tumors in the mammary glands of rats. Furthermore, we showed that ACh exposure in breast cancer cell lines induced overexpression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), a key protein described as the master regulator in breast cancer. Therefore, here, we hypothesize that ACh alters the ERα activity through a ligand-independent mechanism. The results here reveal that the physiological concentration of ACh leads to the release of Ca+2 and the activity of MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways. These changes are associated with an induction of p-ERα and its recruitment to the nucleus. However, ACh fails to induce overexpression of estrogen-responsive genes, suggesting a different activation mechanism than that of 17ß-estradiol. Finally, ACh promotes the viability of breast cancer cell lines in an ERα-dependent manner and induces the overexpression of some EMT markers. In summary, our results show that ACh promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and ERα activity, possibly in a ligand-independent manner, suggesting its putative role in breast cancer progression.
The spatial dissimilarities and connections of the microbiota in the upper and lower respiratory tract of beef cattle

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) causes morbidity and mortality in cattle. The critical roles of the respiratory microbiota in BRD have been widely studied. The nasopharynx was the most popular sampling niche for BRD pathogen studies. The oral cavity and other niches within the respiratory tract, such as nostrils and lung, are less assessed. In this study, oropharyngeal swabs (OS), nasal swabs (NS), nasopharyngeal swabs (NP), and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were collected from calves located in four countries and analyzed for investigation of the dissimilarities and connections of the respiratory microbiota. The results showed that the microbial diversity, structure, and composition in the upper and lower respiratory tract in beef cattle from China, the USA, Canada, and Italy were significantly different. The microbial taxa for each sampling niche were specific and associated with their local physiology and geography. The signature microbiota for OS, NS, NP, and BAL were identified using the LEfSe algorithm. Although the spatial dissimilarities among the respiratory niches existed, the microbial connections were observed in beef cattle regardless of geography. Notably, the nostril and nasopharynx had more similar microbiomes compared to lung communities. The major bacterial immigration patterns in the bovine respiratory tract were estimated and some of them were associated with geography. In addition, the contribution of oral microbiota to the nasal and lung ecosystems was confirmed. Lastly, microbial interactions were characterized to reveal the correlation between the commercial microbiota and BRD-associated pathogens. In conclusion, shared airway microbiota among niches and geography provides the possibility to investigate the common knowledge for bovine respiratory health and diseases. In spite of the dissimilarities of the respiratory microbiota in cattle, the spatial connections among these sampling niches not only allow us to deeply understand the airway ecosystem but also benefit the research and development of probiotics for BRD.
The Role of Small Airway Disease in Pulmonary Fibrotic Diseases

Small airway disease (SAD) is a pathological condition that affects the bronchioles and non-cartilaginous airways 2 mm or less in diameter. These airways play a crucial role in respiratory function and are often implicated in various pulmonary disorders. Pulmonary fibrotic diseases are characterized by the thickening and scarring of lung tissue, leading to progressive respiratory failure. We aimed to present the link between SAD and fibrotic lung conditions. The evidence suggests that SAD may act as a precursor or exacerbating factor in the progression of fibrotic diseases. Patients with fibrotic conditions often exhibit signs of small airway dysfunction, which can contribute to worsening respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function. Moreover, individuals with advanced SAD are at a heightened risk of developing fibrotic changes in the lung. The interplay between inflammation, environmental factors, and genetic predisposition further complicates this association. The early detection and management of SAD can potentially mitigate the progression of fibrotic diseases, highlighting the need for comprehensive clinical evaluation and research. This review emphasizes the need to understand the evolving connection between SAD and pulmonary fibrosis, urging further detailed research to clarify the causes and potential treatment between the two entities.