Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Hybrid Attention-Based EMD-LSTM Model for Financial Time Series Prediction

In order to improve the accuracy of financial time series prediction, a hybrid model is proposed in this paper which consists of the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and the attention-based long short-term memory (LSTM-ATTE). EMD can effectively decompose financial time series into many inherent mode functions (IMFs) of multiple levels and input these IMFs into LSTM-ATTE for prediction. The attention mechanism can adaptively extract input features of the IMF and improve the accuracy of the LSTM-ATTE prediction. Finally, the predicted results are combined to obtain the final predicted results. The predictive performance of the proposed model is verified by linear regression analysis of the stock market index. In addition, by comparing the prediction results with other models, the proposed model has better performance in prediction accuracy.
Optimal System Performance in Multihop Energy Harvesting WSNs Using Cooperative NOMA and Friendly Jammers

In this paper, we investigate the system performance of multihop energy harvesting (EH) wireless sensor networks (WSNs) with imperfect channel state information (CSI) using cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and friendly jammers in the presence of multiple passive eavesdroppers (EAVs). Specifically, we propose a two-phase communication protocol consisting of EH and information transmission (IT). In the first phase, relays in all clusters harvest energy from power transfer station (PTS) signals. In the first time slot of the second phase, the gateway simultaneously broadcasts information and interference signals. In the subsequent time slots, a relay acting as a friendly jammer in each cluster uses the harvested energy to send an interference signal. Simultaneously, another EH relay applies the NOMA technique to transmit the information signal according to an optimal scheduling scheme based on the maximum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of a far user (MSm) and a near user (MSn). To ensure security performance, we propose an algorithm for determining the EH time constraint for a friendly jammer. Additionally, closed-form expressions for the outage probability and throughput of the considered system are derived. Accordingly, an optimal power allocation coefficient algorithm is proposed to achieve throughput fairness for pairs of users. The results of the mathematical analysis are verified by Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, the numerical results demonstrate that the MSn scheme is recommended for guaranteeing throughput fairness for pairs of users.
Monomeric structure of an active form of bovine cytochrome c oxidase

Significance X-ray crystallographic analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) have been based on its dimeric form. Recent cryo-electron microscopy structures revealed that CcO exists in its monomeric form in the respiratory supercomplex. This study, using amphipol-stabilized CcO, shows that the activity of monomer is higher than that of the dimer. The crystal structure of monomer determined here shows that the local structure of one of the proton transfer pathways differs from that in the dimer. The crystal structure also shows that cardiolipins are located at the interface region in the supercomplex. Taken together, these results suggest that CcO in the monomeric state, dimeric state, and supercomplex state depending on cardiolipins are involved in regulation of respiratory electron transport. Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), a membrane enzyme in the respiratory chain, catalyzes oxygen reduction by coupling electron and proton transfer through the enzyme with a proton pump across the membrane. In all crystals reported to date, bovine CcO exists as a dimer with the same intermonomer contacts, whereas CcOs and related enzymes from prokaryotes exist as monomers. Recent structural analyses of the mitochondrial respiratory supercomplex revealed that CcO monomer associates with complex I and complex III, indicating that the monomeric state is functionally important. In this study, we prepared monomeric and dimeric bovine CcO, stabilized using amphipol, and showed that the monomer had high activity. In addition, using a newly synthesized detergent, we determined the oxidized and reduced structures of monomer with resolutions of 1.85 and 1.95 Å, respectively. Structural comparison of the monomer and dimer revealed that a hydrogen bond network of water molecules is formed at the entry surface of the proton transfer pathway, termed the K-pathway, in monomeric CcO, whereas this network is altered in dimeric CcO. Based on these results, we propose that the monomer is the activated form, whereas the dimer can be regarded as a physiological standby form in the mitochondrial membrane. We also determined phospholipid structures based on electron density together with the anomalous scattering effect of phosphorus atoms. Two cardiolipins are found at the interface region of the supercomplex. We discuss formation of the monomeric CcO, dimeric CcO, and supercomplex, as well as their role in regulation of CcO activity.
The Effect of Multimedia Technology Integration on Students’ Academic Achievement

Teaching and learning curriculum requires more effective transformation and methodology to improve the minds of students, particularly for moderate students to enable them to be ready in the technical fields. Therefore, an experiment that include pre-test and post-test with control group design has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of the integration of multimedia during teaching and learning in technical subjects. This study was conducted in a Vocational College in Johor, Malaysia which involved 30 students in experimental group and 30 students in control group. Experimental group were taught using multimedia elements while the control group was taught with the ordinary or normal teaching and learning method. The data were analysed using mean score, standard deviation and an independent T-test. The pre-test min score is 2.55 (SD=1.00) and the post-test min score is 4.35 (SD=0.75), the result indicated significant different between groups. Therefore, it can be concluded that integration of multimedia as a teaching aid increase the student’s interaction and promotes the mastery learning among them. A multimedia-based learning seems able to create an exciting and effective impact in teaching and learning.
Continuity of care for TB patients at a South African hospital: A qualitative participatory study of the experiences of hospital staff

Background Ensuring effective clinical management and continuity of TB care across hospital and primary health-care services remains challenging in South Africa. The high burden of TB, coupled with numerous health system problems, influence the TB care delivered by hospital staff. Objective To understand factors from the perspectives of hospital staff that influence the clinical management and discharge of TB patients, and to elicit recommendations to improve continuity of care for TB patients. Design Participatory action research was used to engage hospital staff working with TB patients admitted to a central public hospital in the Western Cape province, South Africa. Data were collected through eight focus group discussions with nurses, junior doctors and ward administrators. Data analysis was done using Miles and Huberman’s framework to identify emerging patterns and to develop categories with themes and sub-themes. The participants influenced all phases of the research process to inform better practices in TB clinical management and discharge planning at the hospital. Results The emerging themes and sub-themes were categorized into two overall sections: The clinical care management process and the discharge and referral process. Nurses expressed a fear of exposure to TB and MDR-TB due to challenges in clinical and infection-prevention control. Clinical hierarchies, poor interdisciplinary teamwork, limited task shifting and poor communication interfered with effective clinical and discharge processes. A high workload, staff shortages and inadequate skills resulted in insufficient information and health education for TB patients and their caregivers. Despite awareness of the patients’ socio-economic challenges, some aspects of care were not patient-centered, and caregivers were not included in discharge planning. Communication between the hospital and referral points was inefficient and poorly supported by information systems. Hospital staff recommended improved infection prevention and control practices and interdisciplinary teamwork in the hospital, that TB education for patients be integrated with hospital staff functions, with more patient-centered discharge planning, and improved communication across hospitals and primary health care levels. Conclusions Interdisciplinary teamwork, more patient-centered care, and better communication within the hospital and with primary health-care services are needed for improved continuity of care for TB patients. Further studies on factors contributing to, and interventions to improve, continuity of TB care in similar hospital settings are needed.
Genetic profiling of fatty acid desaturase polymorphisms identifies patients who may benefit from high-dose omega-3 fatty acids in cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction—Post-hoc analysis from the OMEGA-REMODEL randomized controlled trial

Background The double-blind OMEGA-REMODEL placebo-controlled randomized trial of high-dose omega-3 fatty acids (O-3FA) post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) reported improved cardiac remodeling and attenuation of non-infarct myocardial fibrosis. Fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) gene cluster encodes key enzymes in the conversion of essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids into active arachidonic (ArA) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA), which influence cardiovascular outcomes. Methods and results We tested the hypothesis that the genotypic status of FADS2 (rs1535) modifies therapeutic response of O-3FA in post-AMI cardiac remodeling in 312 patients. Consistent with known genetic polymorphism of FADS2, patients in our cohort with the guanine-guanine (GG) genotype had the lowest FADS2 activity assessed by arachidonic acid/linoleic acid (ArA/LA) ratio, compared with patients with the adenine-adenine (AA) and adenine-guanine (AG) genotypes (GG:1.62±0.35 vs. AA: 2.01±0.36, p<0.0001; vs. AG: 1.76±0.35, p = 0.03). When randomized to 6-months of O-3FA treatment, GG patients demonstrated significant lowering of LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVi), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and galectin-3 levels compared to placebo (-4.4 vs. 1.2 ml/m2, -733 vs. -181 pg/mL, and -2.0 vs. 0.5 ng/mL; p = 0.006, 0.006, and 0.03, respectively). In contrast, patients with either AA or AG genotype did not demonstrate significant lowering of LVESVi, NT-proBNP, or galectin-3 levels from O-3FA treatment, compared to placebo. The odds ratios for improving LVESVi by 10% with O-3FA treatment was 7.2, 1.6, and 1.2 in patients with GG, AG, and AA genotypes, respectively. Conclusion Genetic profiling using FADS2 genotype can predict the therapeutic benefits of O-3FA treatment against adverse cardiac remodeling during the convalescent phase of AMI. Clinical trial registration information clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00729430.
Cross-Reactive Antigen Expressed by B6 Splenocytes Drives Receptor Editing and Marginal Zone Differentiation of IgG2a-Reactive AM14 Vκ8 B Cells

Key Points The AM14 Vκ8 BCR recognizes a B6-derived cross-reactive Ag. This B6 self-antigen induces anergy, receptor editing, and MZ B cell development. Anergic AM14 Vκ8 B cells can be fully activated by nucleic acid containing ICs. The AM14 BCR, derived from an autoimmune MRL/lpr mouse, binds autologous IgG2aa/j with low affinity, and as a result, AM14 B cells only proliferate in response to IgG2a immune complexes that incorporate DNA, RNA, or nucleic acid–binding proteins that serve as autoadjuvants. As such, AM14 B cells have served as a useful model for demonstrating the importance of BCR/TLR coengagement in the activation of autoreactive B cells. We now show that the same receptor recognizes an additional murine-encoded Ag, expressed by B6 splenocytes, with sufficient avidity to induce a TLR-independent proliferative response of BALB/c AM14 Vκ8 B cells both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, detection of this cross-reactive Ag by B6 AM14 Vκ8 B cells promotes an anergic phenotype as reflected by suboptimal responses to BCR cross-linking and the absence of mature B cells in the bone marrow. The B6 Ag further impacts B cell development as shown by a dramatically expanded marginal zone compartment and extensive receptor editing in B6 AM14 Vκ8 mice but not BALB/c AM14 Vκ8 mice. Despite their anergic phenotypes, B6 AM14 Vκ8 B cells can respond robustly to autoantigen/autoadjuvant immune complexes and could therefore participate in both autoimmune responses and host defense.
Epileptic seizure recognition using EEG wavelet decomposition based on nonlinear and statistical features with support vector machine classification

Abstract Epileptic seizure (ES) is a neurological brain dysfunction. ES can be detected using the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal. However, visual inspection of ES using long-time EEG recordings is a difficult, time-consuming and a costly procedure. Thus, automatic epilepsy recognition is of primary importance. In this paper, a new method is proposed for automatic ES recognition using short-time EEG recordings. The method is based on first decomposing the EEG signals on sub-signals using discrete wavelet transform. Then, from the obtained sub-signals, different non-linear parameters such as approximate entropy (ApEn), largest Lyapunov exponents (LLE) and statistical parameters are determined. These parameters along with phase entropies, calculated through higher order spectrum analysis, are used as an input vector of a multi-class support vector machine (MSVM) for ES recognition. The proposed method is evaluated using the standard EEG database developed by the Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, Germany. The evaluation is carried out through a large number of classification experiments. Different statistical metrics namely Sensitivity (Se), Specificity (Sp) and classification accuracy (Ac) are calculated and compared to those obtained in the scientific research literature. The obtained results show that the proposed method achieves high accuracies, which are as good as the best existing state-of-the-art methods studied using the same EEG database.
The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase TBK1 Mediates the Degradation of Multiple Picornavirus VP3 Proteins by Phosphorylation and Ubiquitination

TBK1 is an important adaptor protein required for innate immune response to viruses, but its other functions were unknown. In this study, we found that TBK1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that undergoes self-ubiquitylation in vitro in the presence of the E2 enzyme UbcH5c. In addition, multiple picornavirus VP3 proteins were degraded by TBK1 through its kinase and E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Our report provides evidence that TBK1 plays a role in viral protein degradation. ABSTRACT TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is essential for interferon beta (IFN-β) production and innate antiviral immunity. However, other, additional functions of TBK1 have remained elusive. Here, we showed that TBK1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that undergoes self-ubiquitylation in vitro in the presence of the E2 enzyme UbcH5c. Further evidence showed that TBK1 could also be self-ubiquitylated in vivo. Importantly, multiple picornavirus VP3 proteins were degraded by TBK1 through its kinase and E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Mechanistically, TBK1 phosphorylated multiple picornavirus VP3 proteins at serine residues and ubiquitinated them via K63-linked ubiquitination at lysine residues. In addition, the C426 and C605 residues of TBK1 were not essential for TBK1 innate immunity activity; however, these residues were required for degradation of multiple picornavirus VP3 proteins and for its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Hence, our findings identified a novel role of TBK1 in regulating the virus life cycle and provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of TBK1-mediated antiviral response. IMPORTANCE TBK1 is an important adaptor protein required for innate immune response to viruses, but its other functions were unknown. In this study, we found that TBK1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that undergoes self-ubiquitylation in vitro in the presence of the E2 enzyme UbcH5c. In addition, multiple picornavirus VP3 proteins were degraded by TBK1 through its kinase and E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Our report provides evidence that TBK1 plays a role in viral protein degradation.
Current Status of Parasite Infections in Indonesia: A Literature Review

Indonesia and South Korea have become inseparable in various respects since the 2 countries established diplomatic relation in 1973. Indonesia is a tropical region that stretches across the equator, comprised of 5 main islands (Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Papua) and 4 archipelagoes (Riau, Bangka Belitung, Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku). As most population of Eastern Indonesia (Sulawesi, Papua and Nusa Tenggara & Maluku) live in poor areas, it is expected that there will be many parasites. Nevertheless, little is known about the status of parasites in Indonesia. This study examines the prevalences of malaria and lymphatic filaria, which are prevalent in Indonesia, as well as those of soil-transmitted-helminths (STH). As a result, the Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax case loads are almost equal. The current prevalence of P. vivax is uniformly low (<5%) in all age groups and annual parasite incidence (API) showed decreasing tendency as 0.84 per 1,000 population in 2016. However, more than 65 million people still live in malaria epidemic regions. Lymphatic filariasis remains an important public health problem and 236 cities were classified as endemic areas in 514 cities/districts in 2017. It is difficult to ascertain the current prevalence rate of STH in Indonesia, although West Sumba and Southwest Sumba in East Nusa Tenggara reported prevalence rate of more than 20%. The study also considers the (sero) prevalences of other parasites identified in Indonesia. This report should be useful not only to parasitologists but also to travelers and people with business in Indonesia.
Antileishmanial Activity of Niosomal Combination Forms of Tioxolone along with Benzoxonium Chloride against Leishmania tropica

In this study, we carried out extensive in vitro studies on various concentrations of tioxolone along with benzoxonium chloride and their niosomal forms against Leishmania tropica. Niosomes were prepared by the hydration method and were evaluated for morphology, size, release study, and encapsulation efficiency. This study measured leishmanicidal activity against promastigote and amastigote, apoptosis and gene expression levels of free solution and niosomal-encapsulated tioxolone along with benzoxonium chloride. Span/Tween 60 niosome had good physical stability and high encapsulation efficiency (more than 97%). The release profile of the entrapped compound showed that a gradual release rate. The combination of niosomal forms on promastigote and amastigote were more effective than glucantime. Also, the niosomal form of this compound was significantly less toxic than glucantime (P≤0.05). The flowcytometric analysis on niosomal form of drugs showed that higher number of early apoptotic event as the principal mode of action (89.13% in 200 μg/ml). Also, the niosomal compound increased the expression level of IL-12 and metacaspase genes and decreased the expression level of the IL-10 gene, which further confirming the immunomodulatory role as the mechanism of action. We observed the synergistic effects of these 2 drugs that induced the apoptotic pathways and also up regulation of an immunomodulatory role against as the main mode of action. Also, niosomal form of this combination was safe and demonstrated strong anti-leishmaniasis effects highlights further therapeutic approaches against anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in future planning.
Pembrolizumab in Relapsed and Refractory Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome: A Multicenter Phase II Study.

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides (MF) or Sézary syndrome (SS). PATIENTS AND METHODS CITN-10 is a single-arm, multicenter phase II trial of 24 patients with advanced MF or SS. Patients were treated with pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks for up to 24 months. The primary end point was overall response rate by consensus global response criteria. RESULTS Patients had advanced-stage disease (23 of 24 with stage IIB to IV MF/SS) and were heavily pretreated with a median of four prior systemic therapies. The overall response rate was 38% with two complete responses and seven partial responses. Of the nine responding patients, six had 90% or more improvement in skin disease by modified Severity Weighted Assessment Tool, and eight had ongoing responses at last follow-up. The median duration of response was not reached, with a median response follow-up time of 58 weeks. Immune-related adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in four patients. A transient worsening of erythroderma and pruritus occurred in 53% of patients with SS. This cutaneous flare reaction did not result in treatment discontinuation for any patient. The flare reaction correlated with high PD-1 expression on Sézary cells but did not associate with subsequent clinical responses or lack of response. Treatment responses did not correlate with expression of PD-L1, total mutation burden, or an interferon-γ gene expression signature. CONCLUSION Pembrolizumab demonstrated significant antitumor activity with durable responses and a favorable safety profile in patients with advanced MF/SS.
Empowerment Through Reflection : The Narratives of Healthcare Professionals

The demands of the workplace often leave the employee struggling to come to terms with his/her own personality and ability to direct and inform others - those who are senior in rank, those of the same status and junior members of staff. The ability to communicate successfully is a priority in today's working environment and is the subject of this text. Successful communication enables the health care professional to come to terms with decisions concerning his/her role in the health care environment.