Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First-line csDMARD monotherapy drug retention in psoriatic arthritis: methotrexate outperforms sulfasalazine

Abstract Objectives Conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) are the first-line treatment for PsA, but there is conflicting data regarding their efficacy and scarce reports describing the duration of use (drug retention) of csDMARD in this population. Their position in treatment recommendations is a matter of growing debate due to the availability of alternative treatment options with higher levels of evidence. We aimed to study drug retention and predictors for drug retention among PsA patients receiving first-line csDMARD monotherapy. Methods Retrospective cohort study in DMARD-naïve adult PsA patients in whom a first csDMARD was prescribed as monotherapy primarily to treat PsA-related symptoms. The main outcome was time to failure of the csDMARD (i.e. stopping the csDMARD or adding another DMARD). Results A total of 187 patients were included, who were mainly prescribed MTX (n = 163) or SSZ (n = 21). The pooled median drug retention time was 31.8 months (interquartile range 9.04–110). Drug retention was significantly higher in MTX (median 34.5 months; interquartile range 9.60–123) as compared with SSZ-treated patients (median 12.0 months; interquartile range 4.80– 55.7) (P =0.016, log-rank test). In multivariable Cox regression, the use of MTX and older age were associated with increased retention. The main reasons for treatment failure were inefficacy (52%) and side effects (28%). Upon failure, MTX treated patients were more commonly, subsequently treated with a biologic DMARD compared with SSZ (P < 0.05). Conclusion MTX outperforms SSZ as a first-line csDMARD in DMARD-naïve PsA patients with respect to monotherapy drug retention in daily clinical practice.
FORUM: Unique Far-Infrared Satellite Observations to Better Understand How Earth Radiates Energy to Space

The outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) emitted to space is a fundamental component of the Earth’s energy budget. There are numerous, entangled physical processes that contribute to OLR and that are responsible for driving, and responding to, climate change. Spectrally resolved observations can disentangle these processes, but technical limitations have precluded accurate space-based spectral measurements covering the far infrared (FIR) from 100 to 667 cm−1 (wavelengths between 15 and 100 µm). The Earth’s FIR spectrum is thus essentially unmeasured even though at least half of the OLR arises from this spectral range. The region is strongly influenced by upper-tropospheric–lower-stratospheric water vapor, temperature lapse rate, ice cloud distribution, and microphysics, all critical parameters in the climate system that are highly variable and still poorly observed and understood. To cover this uncharted territory in Earth observations, the Far-Infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring (FORUM) mission has recently been selected as ESA’s ninth Earth Explorer mission for launch in 2026. The primary goal of FORUM is to measure, with high absolute accuracy, the FIR component of the spectrally resolved OLR for the first time with high spectral resolution and radiometric accuracy. The mission will provide a benchmark dataset of global observations which will significantly enhance our understanding of key forcing and feedback processes of the Earth’s atmosphere to enable more stringent evaluation of climate models. This paper describes the motivation for the mission, highlighting the scientific advances that are expected from the new measurements.
Nano/Microparticles Encapsulation Via Covalent Drug Conjugation

Advancement in chemistry holds a great promise in improving drug encapsulation that leads to superior drug delivery efficiency and the therapeutic efficacy of nano/micro-delivery systems. Drugs are being designed to specifically access the infection sites via covalent conjugation to nano/micro-delivery systems. This chapter focuses on techniques for achieving covalent encapsulation of drugs in nano/micro-delivery systems, how conjugation is applied to selectively influence pharmacokinetic profile, intracellular, and extracellular uptake, specific targeting to disease sites, binding to specific receptors, and controlled/sustained release. In addition, the effect of conjugation on drug efficacy and biosafety of the micro/nanoparticulate drug delivery systems are discussed.
Assessing the biodiversity of deep-sea large crustaceans through fishing ports

The biodiversity of the deep-sea fauna is being assessed worldwide. Most related studies have been based on scientific cruises using research vessels to conduct samplings, including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and human-occupied vehicles (HOVs) or fishing boats. In coastal regions with steep continental slopes, deep-sea fisheries have often developed. Catches in fish markets in these regions can provide an economical approach to assessing deep-sea biodiversity. A key concern is determining the number of samplings of fish markets required to obtain representative samples for measurements of biodiversity. We describe techniques for sampling large crustaceans in fish markets by analysing the results of daily visits (up to 30 days) to two deep-sea fishing ports in Taiwan. It is shown that when the study area has a high biodiversity, at least 15–20 samplings will be required to obtain representative data.
Effect of extreme climatic events resulting in prolonged precipitation on the reproductive output of sea turtles

Anthropogenic climate change is predicted to increase the variation in storm patterns in some areas in the coming decades. This variation in mean rainfall and increase in mean temperature could increase the extinction risk of species with temperature‐dependent sex determination. Taking into account that sea turtle reproductive output depends on climatic conditions, such as precipitation and temperature, extreme climatic events could affect the mortality of eggs and hatchlings. Our main goal was to assess the effects of extreme climatic events resulting in prolonged precipitation episodes on the reproductive output of leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea and how these events might reduce hatchling production. To study how short periods of protracted rainfall affect leatherback turtle reproductive output, we recorded (1) the hatching success of n = 48 nests located at 50, 75 and 90 cm depths under sun and shaded treatments from 2013 to 2015 at the Pacuare Reserve in Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, (2) the water table level and (3) sand moisture at 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 cm depths. In addition, we assessed changes in seasonal precipitation, nest abundance and the annual hatching success of leatherbacks over time. The results show that prolonged precipitation significantly influenced hatching success. Protracted rainfall increased the water table levels and sand moisture in some places, which consequently increased egg mortality in deeper nests. These effects may be higher considering the expected increase in storm frequency. Thus, the assessment of the effects of these extreme events on nesting grounds is necessary to predict the potential extinction risk of sea turtle populations.
Advanced Performance Metrics and Sensitivity Analysis for Model Validation and Calibration

High quality generator dynamic models are critical to reliable and accurate power systems studies and planning. With the availability of PMU measurements, measurement-based approach for model validation has gained significant prominence. Currently, the model validation results are analyzed by visually comparing real--world PMU measurements with the model-based response measurements, and parameter adjustments rely mostly on engineering experience. This paper proposes advanced performance metrics to systematically quantify the generator dynamic model validation results by separately taking into consideration slow governor response and comparatively fast oscillatory response. The performance metric for governor response is based on the step response characteristics of a system and the metric for oscillatory response is based on the response of generator to each system mode calculated using modal analysis. The proposed metrics in this paper is aimed at providing critical information to help with the selection of parameters to be tuned for model calibration by performing enhanced sensitivity analysis, and also help with rule-based model calibration. Results obtained using both simulated and real-world measurements validate the effectiveness of the proposed performance metrics and sensitivity analysis for model validation and calibration.
Applications of CRISPR in microbial cell factory: From genome re-construction to metabolic network re-programming.

The well-designed microbial cell factory finds wide applications in chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries due to its sustainable and environmentally friendly features. Recently, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) systems have been developed into powerful tools to perform genome editing and transcriptional regulation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Accordingly, these tools are useful to build microbial cell factories not only by re-constructing the genome but also by re-programming the metabolic network. In this review, we summarize the recent significant headway and potential usages of the CRISPR technology in the construction of efficiency microbial cell factories. Moreover, the future perspectives on the improvement and upgradation of CRISPR-based tools are also discussed.
A native parasitic plant affects the performance of an introduced host regardless of 24 environmental variation across field sites.

There is increasing evidence that native hemiparasitic plants can have significant 31 impacts on performance and growth of introduced host plants. However, most of this 32 evidence has been obtained from glasshouse studies. We investigated the effect of the native 33 Australian hemiparasite, Cassytha pubescens R. Br. , on the physiology of the introduced 34 shrub Ulex europaeus L. , at three field sites in South Australia. Parasite infection 35 significantly decreased Φ PSII and maximum electron transport rates of U. europaeus across 36 sites. The impact of C. pubescens on photosynthetic performance of U. europaeus may have 37 been due to infected plants having significantly lower nitrogen and potassium, but higher iron 38 and aluminium than uninfected plants at all three sites. At two of the three sites C. pubescens 39 had a significant impact on host F v / F m indicating chronic photoinhibition in response to 40 infection. The impact of infection on F v / F m was greatest at the wettest site, in line with a 41 previous experiment where C. pubescens had a greater impact on this host under high water 42 availability. At this site infected plants also had the highest foliar Fe and Al. δ 13 C of infected 43 plants was significantly lower than uninfected plants at only one of the three sites. Unusually, 44 δ 13 C of the parasite was either the same as or significantly higher than hosts. There were no 45 site effects on parasite F v / F m or Φ PSII , however ETR max and δ 13 C did vary across sites. The 46 results suggest that this native parasite has negative effects on U. europaeus in the field, as 47 has previously been found for glasshouse studies. Thus, the survival and abundance
Risk to North American birds from climate change‐related threats

Climate change is a significant threat to biodiversity globally. Here, we assessed the risk to 544 birds in the United States from future climate change‐related threats under a mitigation‐dependent global warming scenario of 1.5°C and an unmitigated scenario of 3.0°C. Threats considered included sea level rise, human land cover conversion, and extreme weather events. We identified potential impacts to individual species by overlaying future bird ranges with threats to calculate the proportion of species' ranges affected, and mapped a place‐based index of risk based on hazard (coincident threats), exposure (potential species richness), and vulnerability (potential richness of vulnerable species). Extreme weather events had the most extensive spatial coverage and contribution to risk, but urbanization and sea level rise also had disproportionate impacts on species relative to their coverage. With unmitigated climate change, multiple coincident threats affected over 88% of the area of the conterminous United States, and 97% of species could be affected by two or more climate‐related threats. Some habitat groups will see up to 96% of species facing three or more threats. Species of conservation concern also faced more threats regardless of climate change scenario. However, climate change mitigation would reduce risk to birds from climate change‐related threats across over 90% of the US.
In situ Molecular Hybridization of Kaposi, s Sarcoma Associated Virus (Human Herpes Virus 8) in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Tissues

Background: Viral, dietary and genetic factors are implicated in the etiology ofnasopharyngeal cancer, a rare type of head and neck cancers. Unlike other viruses, HHV-8 encodes several human cytokines homologues and regulatory genes that play important roles in the viral pathogenesis. Objective: To analyze the rates of HHV-8 infection in tissues obtained from a group of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and inflammatory nasal polyps (INP) . Patients and Method: One hundred- thirty formalin-fixed, paraffin- embedded nasopharyngeal carcinoma and nasal inflammatory polyps tissues enrolled in this study; 65 nasopharyngeal tissue biopsies from nasopharyngeal carcinoma; 35 tissue biopsies from nasal inflammatory polyps and 30 nasopharyngeal tissues with unremarkable pathological changes, as apparently healthy tissuecontrol. Detection of HHV-8 was done by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) technique detection system. Results: In nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, the HHV-8- DNA positive CISH reactions were detected in 23.1% while in nasal inflammatory polyps tissues HHV-8-positive CISH reactions were found in 8.6% of the examined tissues. The correlation between HHV-8 and NPC & INP was highly significant (P= 0.001). Conclusion: Significant HHV-8 detection in nasopharyngeal carcinoma & inflammatory nasal polypstissues could point for their possible role in either pathogenesis or carcinogenesis of both these lesions.
Enhancement of carotenoid biosynthesis and antioxidant responses in diatoms by light modulation

The ecological success of diatoms is mostly attributed to their ability to adjust biological performances to the variable environmental conditions they experience in the water column. While the efficient photoacclimative and photoprotective mechanisms in diatoms are already reported, the involvement of the antioxidant network in lowering or repairing light stress or damage is poorly understood. My thesis consists of the concomitant investigation of the photoprotective and antioxidant network functioning in the coastal diatom Skeletonema marinoi, and during an experiment at sea in the Gulf of Naples. The aims of my work are to explore the antioxidant network in diatoms to better understand its activation in coping with light variation, and the functional link between antioxidant molecules synthesis/activity and photoprotection. Results showed the spectral light dependent activity of antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. They act in complementarity of the antioxidant molecules synthesis. A high concentration of ascorbic acid, phenolics compounds and among them flavonoids were found in diatoms. These molecules respond to light variations in terms of spectral composition, photon flux density, daily light dose, light shape distribution and photoperiod duration. Also, in a natural microalgal community, these molecules were found at high concentration following a dynamics that relied on light, nutrient stress and photosynthetic regulation. The photoprotective xanthophyll cycle, involving the pigments diatoxanthin and diadinoxanthin, is activated by light and modulated in concordance with antioxidant molecules synthesis. Indeed, under different light climates, a link between these two defense processes was found. I also show that the xanthophyll cycle pigments have a high antioxidant activity. This feature explains why they increase together with antioxidant molecules during cell senescence. More generally, the physiological state of the cells modulates the antioxidant and photoprotective network in diatoms.
Avian Influenza in Egypt

Conditions that favor genetic changes in the virus via antigenic shift (mutation) and drift (re assortment) are most likely to favor the emergence of HPAI viruses. The natural tendency for influenza viruses to regularly undergo point mutations, an inherent characteristic of RNA viruses, means that new viruses are continually being produced, with differences in genetic fitness [7]. Conditions that exert selective pressure on circulating viruses at both the host and population level act to increase the rate of mutation of viruses and therefore favour the appearance and establishment of dominant virus strains [8]. Thus, intensive poultry production systems in which a continuous and easily accessible source of susceptible hosts are present are considered prime conditions under which pathogenicity may emerge. Other cited conditions have been the inadequate use of vaccinations or incomplete vaccination coverage that has allowed field strains to reassort with vaccinal strains [9].
Intensifying forage legumes strata system technology through dairy cattle production

Intensification of forage legume strata system technology (FLSST) through dairy cattle production was implemented in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and the local government unit of San Jorge, Samar, Republic of the Philippines. The beneficiaries of the program were selected based on specific criteria and qualifications. Farmers were given training on dairy cattle production, and 10 beneficiaries in five communities received one ready-to-breed cow. Each farmer-beneficiary established a 500 sqm pasture area using FLSST. Abundant grasses and leguminous forages helped improve the health of the cattle. Cattle weighing an average of 150 kg grew to an average weight of 300 kg. The cows gave calves through artificial insemination. Evident impacts were observed as follows: Ground-Level Impact: Participants appreciated the transformation of their idle land into productive land, and farmers were motivated to purchase additional ruminants. Five hectares of idle land was utilized. Deep-Level Impact: Individuals developed a positive attitude toward venturing into ruminant production. Attitudinal transformation among family members was valued by the community, especially by the five farmer-adopters of FLSST. External-Level Impact: Nonparticipants of the project planted leguminous forages in their idle land and developed a positive outlook toward pasture development and dairy cattle production.
Culture Wars and City Politics, Revisited: Local Councils and the Australia Day Controversy

Conflicts rooted in questions of morality and values—so-called “culture wars”—pose difficult questions for local governance. Yet, when it comes to culture wars, local governments can be as politically active as other levels of government. This article explores the role of local government in the culture war surrounding Australia’s national holiday, Australia Day. We draw on the pioneering work of Elaine Sharp on urban politics, culture wars, and local government to document and analyze how Australian local governments have responded to the Australia Day controversy. Whereas Sharp’s typology is instructive, the ways in which the Australia Day debate has played out at the local level necessitate additional categories of responsiveness. These additional categories may contribute to the broader rejuvenation of studies on culture wars and local politics in light of new fronts in contemporary culture wars and the changing face of local government.
Ayurveda Tourism: Prescription for Kerala’s Tourism Development

Kerala, for many centuries, has been acknowledged as the land for alternative medical systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Sidha and Naturopathy and also for its medical pluralism. Inspite of the fact that Ayurvedais being practiced as an alternative medicine all over globe, Kerala isthe only place where this stream of medicine still follows age-old traditional texts for treatment and preparation of Ayurvedic medicine and as recently emerged as the hub for Ayurvedic treatment for the wellness seekers across the globe. Kerala has successfully developed a paradigmatic shift in the way Ayurveda is branded globally, from “medication to medicinal services resulting in “wellness” from “illness”. Globally Ayurveda is gaining popularity as many consider this “science of life” as alternative solution for multipleailments due to the side effects of the modern drugs and the levels of their toxicity . The objective of this study is to explore the concept of Ayurveda tourism in Kerala and the competitive advantages of Kerala as an Ayurveda tourism destination.
Evaluation the Redundancy of the IoT System Based on Individual Sensing Probability

SUMMARY In IoT systems, data acquired by many sensors are required. However, since sensor operation depends on the actual environment, it is important to ensure sensor redundancy to improve system reliability in IoT systems. To evaluate the safety of the system, it is important to estimate the achievement probability of the function based on the sensing probability. In this research, we proposed a method to automatically generate a PRISM model from the sensor conﬁguration of the target sys-tem and calculate and verify the function achievement probability in the assumed environment. By designing and evaluating iteratively until the target achievement probability is reached, the reliability of the system can be estimated at the initial design phase. This method reduces the possibility that the lack of reliability will be found after implementation and the redesign accompanying it will occur.
Pengaruh Pendidikan Keuangan Keluarga, Pembelajaran Keuangan di Perguruan Tinggi, Sikap Keuangan dan Teman Sebaya Terhadap Literasi Keuangan Mahasiswa

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menganalisis pengaruh pendidikan keuangan keluarga, pembelajaran keuangan di perguruan tinggi, sikap keuangan dan teman sebaya terhadap literasi keuangan mahasiswa. Sampel penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa aktif manajemen dan akuntansi S1, di tiga perguruan tinggi terbesar Kota Purwokerto, sampel ini berjumlah 93 mahasiswa aktif dengan pengambilan sampel menggunakan teknik purposive sampling. Data penelitian bersumber dari kuesioner kepada responden dengan data ordinal dan metode analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis regresi linier berganda. Hasil analisa menunjukkan pendidikan keuangan keluarga berpengaruh positif signifikan terhadap literasi keuangan, pembelajaran keuangan di perguruan tinggi berperngaruh positif signifikan terhadap literasi keuangan, sikap keuangan tidak berpengaruh terhadap literasi keuangan dan teman sebaya berpengaruh negatif tidak signifikan terhadap literasi keuangan.