Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study of the Status of Certain Island Forms of the Genus Salpinctes

OF SCARCELY less interest than those susceptible types of animals which, covering a vast expanse of territory, show wide variation in response to the difference in surroundings at different points, are the forms occasionally observed, just as wide ranging, and over a similarly varied region, but still remaining uniform in appearance over most or all of their habitat. Perhaps as striking an example of the latter class as exists in North America is the Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), the unyielding nature of whose characteristics is in strong contrast to the adaptability shown by other members of the same family of somewhat similar distribution, Thyromanes for instance.
Preclinical Evidence of Curcuma longa and Its Noncurcuminoid Constituents against Hepatobiliary Diseases: A Review

Hepatobiliary disease currently serves as an important public health issue due to the fact that it is one of the major causes of death among economically active individuals and can easily progress to chronic diseases. Despite the development of vaccines and numerous drugs, a definite treatment remains lacking owing to different stages of the disease itself, its intricate pathogenesis, an effect uncertainty for long-term use, resistance, and side effects. Curcuma longa (C. longa), which belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and the genus Curcuma, has long been used not only as spice for curry or dye but also as a constituent of herbal formula for the treatment of different diseases due to its bioactive activities. Recently, many studies on the experimental results of C. longa have been published relative to hepatobiliary diseases such as fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and tumors. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to summarize the pharmacological effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of C. longa and its four compounds, β-elemene, germacrone, ar-turmerone, and bisacurone, against hepatobiliary diseases. C. longa exhibited antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antisteatotic, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, antitumor, and cholagogic effects by regulating apoptosis, CYP2E1, Nrf, lipid metabolism-related factors, TGF-β, NF-κB, CYP7A1, and so on. In particular, β-elemene could be an attractive compound owing to its remarkable hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antitumor activities. Altogether, the present review provides a preclinical basis for the efficacy of C. longa as an effective therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of hepatobiliary diseases, despite the need for further studies to establish the extraction conditions and separation of active constituents with high bioavailability, and warrants further evaluation in clinical trials.
Applying Complex Network and Cell-Cell Communication Network Diagram Methods to Explore the Key Cytokines and Immune Cells in Local Acupoint Involved in Acupuncture Treating Inflammatory Pain

Manual acupuncture (MA) can effectively treat a variety of diseases, but its specific mechanism remains unclear. The “acupoint network” activated by MA participates in MA signal transduction, in which immune-related cells and cytokines play an important role. However, which cells and cytokines in the acupoint have changed after MA? What is the network relationship between them? Which cells and cytokines may play the most important role in MA effect? These problems are unclear. In this study, on the basis of affirming the analgesic, detumescence, and anti-inflammatory effect of MA, the concentration of 24 cytokines in ST36 acupoint in rats with inflammatory pain after MA treatment was detected by multiplex immunoassay technology. Then, using statistical and complex network and cell-cell communication (CCC) network diagram method to analyze the detected data depicts the network relationship between the cytokines and related cells objectively and establishes cytokine connection network and CCC network, respectively. The results showed that MA reinforced communication intensity between cells while reducing the overall correlation intensity. On this basis, the key cytokines and key cells at three MA time-points were screened out, cytokines IL-6, MCP-1, fibroblasts cell, and monocyte macrophage screened by the three methods at three MA time-points might be the key cytokines or key cells. After that, we detected the macrophages in ST36 acupoint by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence and found that the relative amount of macrophages increased significantly after MA, especially the macrophage of the dermis of skin. This study provided a basis for revealing the initiated mechanism of MA effect.
DFEW: A Large-Scale Database for Recognizing Dynamic Facial Expressions in the Wild

Recently, facial expression recognition (FER) in the wild has gained a lot of researchers' attention because it is a valuable topic to enable the FER techniques to move from the laboratory to the real applications. In this paper, we focus on this challenging but interesting topic and make contributions from three aspects. First, we present a new large-scale 'in-the-wild' dynamic facial expression database, DFEW (Dynamic Facial Expression in the Wild), consisting of over 16,000 video clips from thousands of movies. These video clips contain various challenging interferences in practical scenarios such as extreme illumination, occlusions, and capricious pose changes. Second, we propose a novel method called Expression-Clustered Spatiotemporal Feature Learning (EC-STFL) framework to deal with dynamic FER in the wild. Third, we conduct extensive benchmark experiments on DFEW using a lot of spatiotemporal deep feature learning methods as well as our proposed EC-STFL. Experimental results show that DFEW is a well-designed and challenging database, and the proposed EC-STFL can promisingly improve the performance of existing spatiotemporal deep neural networks in coping with the problem of dynamic FER in the wild. Our DFEW database is publicly available and can be freely downloaded from https://dfew-dataset.github. io/.
Lumbar Endoscopic Bony and Soft Tissue Decompression With the Hybridized Inside-Out Approach: A Review And Technical Note

This study aimed to showcase the authors’ preferred technique of a hybrid of modern “inside-out” and “outside-in” endoscopic decompression. A case series of 411 patients consisting of 192 females (46.7%) and 219 males (53.3%) with an average age of 54.84 ± 16.32 years and an average of 43.2 ± 26.53 months are presented. Patients underwent surgery for low-grade spondylolisthesis (13 of 411, 3.2%), herniated disc (135 of 411, 32.8%), foraminal spinal stenosis (101 of 411, 24.6%), or a combination of the latter 2 conditions (162 of 411, 39.4%). The preoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for leg pain were 49.8 ± 17.65 and 7.9 ± 1.55, respectively. Postoperative ODI and VAS leg were 12.2 ± 9.34 and 2.41 ± 5 1.55 at final follow-up (p < 0.0001). MacNab outcomes were excellent in 134 (32.6%), good in 228 (55.5%), fair in 40 (9.7%), and poor in 9 patients (2.2%), respectively. There was end-stage degenerative vacuum disc disease in 304 of the 411 patients (74%) of which had 37.5% had excellent and 50% good MacNab outcomes. Patients without vacuum discs had excellent and good 18.7% and 71.0% of the time. Direct visualization of pain generators in the epidural- and intradiscal space is the authors’ preferred transforaminal decompression technique and is supported by their reliable clinical outcomes.
The effect of parental depression on the problem behaviour and academic performance of children with asthma

Abstract Aim This study attempts to determine the factors affecting problem behaviour and academic performance of children with asthma. Design This is a cross‐sectional study used actor and partner interdependence model. Methods Data of 236 children and their parents from the 10th Panel Study on Korean Children were used, and analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. We have received panel data from the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education on April 10th, 2019. Results Parental depression had actor and partner effects on marital conflict, and marital conflict perceived by the father had actor and partner effects on parent–child interactions, while marital conflict perceived by the mother had only actor effect on parent–child interactions. Parent–child interaction perceived by both fathers and mothers was found to affect the problem behaviour of children. The problem behaviour of children affects academic performance.
Normocalcemic Hyperparathyroidism: A Heterogeneous Disorder Often Misdiagnosed?

Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (NHPT) was first described over 10 years ago, but uncertainties still remain about its definition, prevalence, and rates of complications. As a result, consensus management guidelines for this condition have not yet been published. Several hypotheses have been proposed for the pathophysiology of NHPT, but it may be a heterogeneous disorder with multiple causes, rather than a single etiology that explains this biochemical phenotype. A common clinical concern is whether NHPT should be treated surgically when complications are already present at first recognition of the disorder, rather than following patients clinically over time. The literature on NHPT is based mostly on larger studies of population‐based cohorts and smaller studies from referral centers. Lack of rigorous diagnostic criteria and selection bias inherent in populations seen at tertiary referral centers may explain the heterogeneity of reported rates of bone and renal complications in relation to consistently mild laboratory alterations. Unresolved questions remain about the significance of NHPT when it is diagnosed biochemically without evident bone or kidney complications. Moreover, its natural history remains to be elucidated because a proportion of what is classified as NHPT may revert to normal spontaneously, thus revealing previously unrecognized secondary hyperparathyroidism. These issues indicate that caution should be used in recommending surgery for NHPT. This review will focus on recent issues regarding the pathophysiology, evaluation, and management of NHPT. © 2020 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Level of Adherence to the Dietary Recommendation and Glycemic Control Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Dietary modification is the cornerstone and initial recommendation in the management of diabetes mellitus. Adhering to the recommended dietary practice has a significant role in diabetic control, but not uniformly practised. Objective To assess dietary adherence and glycemic control among type 2 diabetic patients on follow-up at Dilchora Referral Hospital (DRH), Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 22 August to 23 October 2019, at DRH. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The Perceived Dietary Adherence Questionnaire (PDAQ) was used to estimate the level of dietary adherence. Glycemic control was measured using fasting blood glucose. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with dietary adherence. Results Of the 307 included patients, 62.5% were poorly adherent to the recommended diet. Lack of dietary education (83.38%) and inability to afford a healthy diet (71.33%) were the perceived barriers to practice dietary recommendation. More than half (54.7%) failed to achieve the recommended fasting blood glucose target. In multivariate logistic regression, patients who were adherent to dietary recommendations were 3.56 times more likely to have good glycemic control. Those patients living in urban areas, having monthly income greater than 1000 Ethiopia Birr, family history of the disease, duration of treatment greater than 10 years and who received counseling were more likely to have good dietary adherence. Conclusion The level of adherence to the dietary recommendation and glycemic control was low. Healthcare providers should be proactive in tackling the barrier for non-adherence and should promote adherence to dietary recommendations in T2DM patients.
Effect of plasma substitutes on the velocity of erythrocyte aggregation.

The effect of plasma substitutes composed of polysaccharides on the velocity of erythrocyte aggregation was examined with a rheoscope combined with a video camera, an image analyser and a computer, and the mechanism of polysaccharide-induced erythrocyte aggregation was studied.1) Dextran (Mw 40, 000 and Mw 70, 000) and hydroxyethyl starch (Mw 200, 000) in plasma substitutes increased the velocity of erythrocyte aggregation in 60% diluted plasma. The accelerating effect was marked in the high molecular weight dextran. The accelerating effect by dextran was less in glucose than in saline or lactate Ringer's solution.2) The velocity of erythrocyte aggregation became maximum at an optimal concentration of dextran. The optimal concentration was lower in higher molecular weight dextran, but was not affected by shear rate.3) The aggregation induced by high molecular weight dextran (Mw 70, 400) was inhibited by low molecular weight dextrans (Mw 43, 900 and Mw 10, 300), disaccharides (sucrose, maltose and isomaltose) and glucose. The aggregation induced by fibrinogen, IgG and plasma was affected by low molecular weight dextrans.4) The aggregation induced by pullulan (Mw 70, 000; linear polysaccharide) was more marked than that induced by dextran (Mw 70, 400; branched polysaccharide). 5) The mechanism of polysaccharide-induced erythrocyte aggregation was discussed, and the suitable prescription for plasma substitutes was proposed from the rheological point of view.
Paradoxes of person‐centred care: A discussion paper

Abstract Aim Previous research has mainly focused on the advantages of PCC and less on its disadvantages. Hence, there is a need to further explore the recent research regarding PCC from both sides. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to elucidate the advantages and disadvantages of PCC. Design Discussion paper. Methods We searched relevant literature published January 2000–March 2018 in PubMed, Medline, CHINAL, Scopus and Web of Science. Results The results showed that PCC can contribute to improved health and well‐being, improved mutual interaction in relationships, improved cost‐effectiveness and improved work environment, while the disadvantages can involve increased personal and financial costs, exclusion of certain groups, increased personal and financial costs, exclusion of staff's personhood and unfairness due to empathy. An analysis of the existing literature on PCC showed paradoxes, which call for further investigation.
Hardware Impaired Ambient Backscatter NOMA Systems: Reliability and Security

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and ambient backscatter communication have been envisioned as two promising technologies for the Internet-of-things due to their high spectral efficiency and energy efficiency. Motivated by this fact, we consider an ambient backscatter NOMA system in the presence of a malicious eavesdropper. Under the realistic assumptions of residual hardware impairments (RHIs), channel estimation errors (CEEs) and imperfect successive interference cancellation (ipSIC), we investigate the physical layer security (PLS) of the ambient backscatter NOMA systems with emphasis on reliability and security. In order to further improve the security of the considered system, an artificial noise scheme is proposed where the radio frequency (RF) source acts as a jammer that transmits interference signals to the legitimate receivers and eavesdropper. On this basis, the analytical expressions for the outage probability (OP) and the intercept probability (IP) are derived. To gain more insights, the asymptotic analysis and corresponding diversity orders for the OP in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime are carried out, and the asymptotic behaviors of the IP in the high main-to-eavesdropper ratio (MER) region are explored as well. Finally, the correctness of the theoretical analysis is verified by the Monte Carlo simulation results. These results show that compared with the non-ideal conditions, the reliability of the considered system is high under ideal conditions, but the security is low.
Nondetection of the Gamma-Ray Burst X-Ray Emission Line: The Down-Comptonization Effect

The detection of the gamma-ray burst (GRB) X-ray emission line is important for studying GRB physics and constraining the GRB redshift. Since the line-like feature in the GRB X-ray spectrum was first reported in 1999, several works on line searching have been published over the past two decades. Even though some observations on the X-ray line-like feature were performed, its significance remains controversial to date. In this paper, we utilize the down-Comptonization mechanism and present the time evolution of the Fe Kα line emitted near the GRB central engine. The line intensity decreases with the evolution time, and the time evolution depends on the electron density and the electron temperature. In addition, the initial line with a larger broadening decreases less over time. For instance, when the emission line penetrates material with an electron density above 1012 cm−3 at 1 keV, it generally becomes insignificant enough after 100 s for it not to be detected . The line-like profile deviates from the Gaussian form, and it finally changes to be similar to a blackbody shape at the time of the thermal equilibrium between the line photons and the surrounding material.
Relationship of QTc Interval Prolongation with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Introduction: Many electrocardiographic (ECG) changes have been observed after strokes. We analyzed the QTc interval prolongation following stroke. Aim: The study aimed to assess if the prolongation in QTc interval is related to the occurrence of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2018. We included 100 consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke who were admitted to our emergency department, who were age-matched and gender-matched with a control group of 100 non-stroke patients that visited our outpatients department for diseases other than cerebrovascular or cardiovascular ones. A single 12-lead resting ECG examination was done in all patients at the time of their emergency department admission. Results: No significant difference between the two groups regarding the age distribution and mean age was found. 56.5% of the sample were males but the difference was not significant between both gender groups. The main presenting symptoms of stroke cases were right-sided weakness (47%), left-sided weakness (36%), and right-sided weakness and aphasia (10%). 34% of the cases had prolonged QTc interval while none of the controls had a prolonged interval (p-value<0.001). No significant difference was observed among stroke patients concerning gender (p-value=0.584). Conclusion: Our findings support many previous studies on the brain-heart interaction during acute ischemic strokes and reinforce previous conclusions that assessment of the QTc interval might aid to stratify morbidity and mortality risks in patients with acute ischemic stroke. To accomplish the acute stroke effects on QTc interval prolongation, we need further larger size analytic studies.
Efficiency Wages with Motivated Agents

Many organizations nowadays combine profits with a social mission. This paper reveals a new hidden benefit of the mission: its role in facilitating the emergence of efficiency wages. We show that in a standard gift-exchange principals highly underestimate agents’ reciprocity and, thereby, offer wages that are much lower than the profit-maximizing level. This bias has a high social cost: if principals had correct beliefs and thus offered the profit-maximizing wage, efficiency would increase by 86 percent. However, the presence of a social mission (in the form of a positive externality generated by the agent’s effort), by increasing principals' trust, acts as a debiasing mechanism and, thereby, increases efficiency by 50 percent. These results contribute to our understanding of behavior in mission-oriented organizations, to the debate about the relevance of reciprocity in the workplace and open new questions about belief formation in prosocial contexts.
Inducing Immunity Where It Matters: Orthotopic HPV Tumor Models and Therapeutic Vaccinations

Anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections account for 4.5% of all cancer cases worldwide. So far, only the initial infection with selected high-risk types can be prevented by prophylactic vaccination. Already existing persistent HPV infections, however, can currently only be treated by surgical removal of resulting lesions. Therapeutic HPV vaccination, promoting cell-based anti-HPV immunity, would be ideal to eliminate and protect against HPV-induced lesions and tumors. A multitude of vaccination approaches has been tested to date, many of which led to high amounts of HPV-specific T cells in vivo. However, growing evidence suggests that not the induction of systemic but of local immunity is paramount for tackling mucosal infections and tumors. Therefore, recent therapeutic vaccination studies have focused on how to induce tissue-resident T cells in the anogenital and oropharyngeal mucosa. These approaches include direct mucosal vaccinations and influencing the migration of systemic T cells toward the mucosa. The efficacy of these new vaccination approaches is best tested in vivo by utilizing orthotopic tumor models, i.e. HPV-positive tumors being located in the animal's mucosa. In line with this, we here review existing HPV tumor models and describe two novel tumorigenic cell lines for the MHC-humanized mouse model A2.DR1. These were used for the establishment of an HPV16 E6/E7-positive vaginal tumor model, suitable for testing therapeutic vaccines containing HLA-A2-restricted HPV16-derived epitopes. The newly developed MHC-humanized orthotopic HPV16-positive tumor model is likely to improve the translatability of in vivo findings to the clinical setting.