Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Influencing the Continued Intent to Use Virtual Interactive Platforms in Korean Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises for Remote and Hybrid Work

Virtual interactive platforms have gained popularity in remote and hybrid work settings. However, limited research exists regarding factors that explain employees’ continued use of these platforms, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study aims to introduce a comprehensive research model that elucidates the relationships among platforms’ technological characteristics, individual motivations, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions in the context of virtual interactive platforms. The authors conducted an empirical study involving 353 employees from SMEs in Daegu, South Korea, who utilized virtual interactive platforms for work. The study identified the platform features that enhance users’ intention to continue using the service, and examined the impact of different motivations on users’ behavioral intentions. The findings revealed that while telepresence and interactivity significantly influenced user satisfaction, they did not directly affect continued use intentions. User satisfaction and extrinsic motivation were positively associated with users’ intention to continue using the platform. Among the identified motivations, extrinsic motivation had the strongest impact on continued use intention, whereas intrinsic motivation had the weakest impact. This study has important implications for managers aiming to optimize the benefits of virtual interactive platforms in hybrid work environments. Additionally, it offers insights for platform providers seeking to enhance their services. By understanding the factors that drive user satisfaction and continued use intention, organizations can develop strategies to maximize the sustainability advantages of virtual interactive platforms.
Quantum Cryptography Simulation of Entanglement and Quantum Teleportation

: The objective of this article is to present a simulation of quantum information. We take advantage of quantum entanglement to ensure the spontaneous transfer of a state from one qubit to another similar qubit. Similarly, the principle of quantum teleportation is conceived in the application; it is not about transfer of matter, but of information. Indeed, two systems already exist, and at the end of the teleportation, the process is destructive—the ﬁrst system will no longer be in the same state as the initial state and the second system takes the state of the ﬁrst, which does not contradict the no-cloning theorem.
Spermidine Attenuates High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Damage in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells by Inhibiting Production of ROS and NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of vision loss and a critical complication of diabetes with a very complex etiology. The build-up of reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to hyperglycemia is recognized as a primary risk factor for DR. Although spermidine, a naturally occurring polyamine, has been reported to have antioxidant effects, its effectiveness in DR has not yet been examined. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether spermidine could inhibit high glucose (HG)-promoted oxidative stress in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The results demonstrated that spermidine notably attenuated cytotoxicity and apoptosis in HG-treated RPE ARPE-19 cells, which was related to the inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production. Under HG conditions, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18’s release levels were markedly increased, coupled with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling activation. However, spermidine counteracted the HG-induced effects. Moreover, the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome multiprotein complex molecules, including TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1, increased in hyperglycemic ARPE-19 cells, but spermidine reversed these molecular changes. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that spermidine can protect RPE cells from HG-caused injury by reducing ROS and NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activation, indicating that spermidine could be a potential therapeutic compound for DR treatment.
An Exponentiated Skew-Elliptic Nonlinear Extension to the Log-Linear Birnbaum-Saunders Model with Diagnostic and Residual Analysis

In this paper, we propose a nonlinear regression model with exponentiated skew-elliptical errors distributed, which can be fitted to datasets with high levels of asymmetry and kurtosis. Maximum likelihood estimation procedures in finite samples are discussed and the information matrix is deduced. We carried out a diagnosis of the influence for the nonlinear model. To analyze the sensitivity of the maximum likelihood estimators of the model’s parameters to small perturbations in distribution assumptions and parameter estimation, we studied the perturbation schemes, the case weight, and the explanatory and response variables of perturbations; we also carried out a residual analysis of the deviance components. Simulation studies were performed to assess some properties of the estimators, showing the good performance of the proposed estimation procedure in finite samples. Finally, an application to a real dataset is presented.
Investigation of Delafloxacin Resistance in Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Strains and the Detection of E. coli ST43 International High-Risk Clone

Delafloxacin is a novel fluoroquinolone agent that is approved for clinical application. In this study, we analyzed the antibacterial efficacy of delafloxacin in a collection of 47 Escherichia coli strains. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the broth microdilution method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined for delafloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and imipenem. Two multidrug-resistant E. coli strains, which exhibited delafloxacin and ciprofloxacin resistance as well as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) phenotype, were selected for whole-genome sequencing (WGS). In our study, delafloxacin and ciprofloxacin resistance rates were 47% (22/47) and 51% (24/47), respectively. In the strain collection, 46 E. coli were associated with ESBL production. The MIC50 value for delafloxacin was 0.125 mg/L, while all other fluoroquinolones had an MIC50 value of 0.25 mg/L in our collection. Delafloxacin susceptibility was detected in 20 ESBL positive and ciprofloxacin resistant E. coli strains; by contrast, E. coli strains that exhibited a ciprofloxacin MIC value above 1 mg/L were delafloxacin-resistant. WGS analysis on the two selected E. coli strains (920/1 and 951/2) demonstrated that delafloxacin resistance is mediated by multiple chromosomal mutations, namely, five mutations in E. coli 920/1 (gyrA S83L, D87N, parC S80I, E84V, and parE I529L) and four mutations in E. coli 951/2 (gyrA S83L, D87N, parC S80I, and E84V). Both strains carried an ESBL gene, blaCTX-M-1 in E. coli 920/1 and blaCTX-M-15 in E. coli 951/2. Based on multilocus sequence typing, both strains belong to the E. coli sequence type 43 (ST43). In this paper, we report a remarkable high rate (47%) of delafloxacin resistance among multidrug-resistant E. coli as well as the E. coli ST43 international high-risk clone in Hungary.
Use of Selected Lactic Acid Bacteria and Carob Flour for the Production of a High-Fibre and “Clean Label” Plant-Based Yogurt-like Product

Carob, an underutilized crop with several ecological and economic advantages, was traditionally used as animal feed and excluded from the human diet. Yet, nowadays, its beneficial effects on health are making it an interesting candidate as a food ingredient. In this study, a carob-based yogurt-like product was designed and fermented with six lactic acid bacteria strains, whose performances after fermentation and during shelf life were assessed through microbial and biochemical characterization. The strains showed different aptitudes to ferment the rice–carob matrix. Particularly, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum T6B10 was among the strains with the lowest latency phase and highest acidification at the end of fermentation. T6B10 also showed discrete proteolysis during storage, so free amino acids were up to 3-fold higher compared to the beverages fermented with the other strains. Overall, fermentation resulted in the inhibition of spoilage microorganisms, while an increase in yeasts was found in the chemically acidified control. The yogurt-like product was characterized by high-fiber and low-fat content; moreover, compared to the control, fermentation decreased the predicted glycemic index (−9%) and improved the sensory acceptability. Thus, this work demonstrated that the combination of carob flour and fermentation with selected lactic acid bacteria strains represents a sustainable and effective option to obtain safe and nutritious yogurt-like products.
Secure and Efficient Code-Based Cryptography for Multi-Party Computation and Digital Signatures

: Code-based cryptography is a promising candidate for post-quantum cryptography due to its strong security guarantees and efﬁcient implementations. In this paper, we explore the use of code-based cryptography for multi-party computation and digital signatures, two important cryptographic applications. We present several efﬁcient and secure code-based protocols for these applications, based on the McEliece cryptosystem and its variants. Our protocols offer strong security guarantees against both classical and quantum attacks, and have competitive performance compared to other post-quantum cryptographic schemes. We also compare code-based cryptography with other post-quantum schemes, including lattice-based and hash-based cryptography, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
Large-Scale Mapping of Inland Waters with Google Earth Engine Using Remote Sensing

: Water resources are becoming scarce due to climate change and anthropogenic activities, necessitating immediate action. The ﬁrst step in conserving our water supplies is to manage them mindfully and sustainably. To achieve this, water sources must be monitored, mapped, and evaluated regularly. Updating national water maps using conventional methods can be a challenging task. Most of the obstacles have been addressed due to recent breakthroughs in the remote sensing ﬁeld. In this study, we employed remote sensing data integrated into Google Earth Engine (GEE) to develop an application for mapping Turkey’s national inland water bodies. To achieve this aim, we explored the recently developed Multi-Band Water Index (MBWI) in GEE using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and then applied it throughout the research area. The results showed that GEE is a promising application for handling large amounts of satellite data and can accurately extract water bodies on a national scale. The results of this study could be helpful for various administrative applications that require up-to-date water information. The developed application can be used for different study areas and for spatiotemporal analysis.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Nordic Walking and a Resistance Indoor Training Program: Anthropometric, Body Composition, and Functional Parameters in the Middle-Aged Population

Sedentary behaviors are increasing in the population, so strategies for the increment of physical activity levels are needed. The use of green space seems to be a valid support to be more active. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a period of outdoor training (Nordic walking (NW)) with indoor resistance training (GYM) in a nonclinical population based on anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and functional parameters. This study was conducted on 102 participants (77 middle-aged people performed NW and 25 performed indoor training). Participants were measured twice: at baseline and after three months. Anthropometric measurements (weight, BMI, skinfolds, perimeters), body composition, bioelectrical impedance, vectorial analysis (BIA and BIVA), and physical tests were carried out. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to evaluate the effect of the treatments, groups, and sexes. There were several intervention effects linked to a decrease in fat parameters (such as skinfolds, fat mass, and percentage of fat mass). Considering the type of intervention, NW showed a higher increase in muscle mass and a higher decrease in fat parameters than the GYM group. In conclusion, the two types of training could represent a good way to remain active and prevent sedentary behaviors.
Best Procedures for Leaf and Stem Water Potential Measurements in Grapevine: Cultivar and Water Status Matter

The pressure chamber is the most used tool for plant water status monitoring. However, species/cultivar and seasonal effects on protocols for reliable water potential determination have not been properly tested. In four grapevine cultivars and two times of the season (early season, Es; late season, Ls, under moderate drought), we assessed the maximum sample storage time before leaf water potential (Ψleaf) measurements and the minimum equilibration time for stem water potential (Ψstem) determination, taking 24 h leaf cover as control. In ‘Pinot gris’, Ψleaf already decreased after 1 h leaf storage in both campaigns, dropping by 0.4/0.5 MPa after 3 h, while in ‘Refosk’, it decreased by 0.1 MPa after 1 and 2 h in Es and Ls, respectively. In ‘Merlot’ and ‘Merlot Kanthus’, even 3 h storage did not affect Ψleaf. In Es, the minimum Ψstem equilibration was 1 h for ‘Refošk’ and 10 min for ‘Pinot gris’ and ‘Merlot’. In Ls, ‘Merlot Kanthus’ required more than 2 h equilibration, while 1 h to 10 min was sufficient for the other cultivars. The observed cultivar and seasonal differences indicate that the proposed tests should be routinely performed prior to experiments to define ad hoc procedures for water status determination.
Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Pattern of MYB Gene Family in Melastoma candidum

The MYB gene family is significant in plants, playing a role in numerous plant development processes, including metabolism, hormone signal transduction, cell identity, and biotic and abiotic stresses. Due to the recent availability of the Melastoma candidum genome, this is the first time that the MYB gene family has been identified in this species. This study identified 421 MYB gene members in the M. candidum genome using the HMMER search and BLASTp method. These MYBs were further divided into 10 sub-types, including R2R3, R-R, CPC-like, CCA1-like, TBP-like, R1R2R3, I-box, atypical MYB, MYB-CC, and MYB-like. Domain and conservation analyses revealed that each type of MYB was characterized by a different number and combination of SANTs/myb DNA-binding domains. Collinearity analysis revealed several gene duplication events within the MYB gene family. The Ka to Ks ratio suggested that most of the MYB genes underwent purifying selection during the evolution process. Phylogenetic analysis among three species confirmed our findings and displayed the evolutionary relationship of MYB genes in different species. RNA-seq of three developmental stages of flowers and WGCNA analysis identified McMYB113h, McMYB21b, and McGLK1c as playing a pivotal role during flower development in M. candidum. Finally, we conducted qRT-PCR experiments for 20 flower-development-related MYBs across 9 tissues to illustrate their expression patterns in M. candidum. This study establishes a foundation for exploring MYB gene resources and their potential applications in related industries of M. candidum.
An Improved Toeplitz Approximation Method for Coherent DOA Estimation in Impulsive Noise Environments

Direction of arrival (DOA) estimation is an important research topic in array signal processing and widely applied in practical engineering. However, when signal sources are highly correlated or coherent, conventional subspace-based DOA estimation algorithms will perform poorly due to the rank deficiency in the received data covariance matrix. Moreover, conventional DOA estimation algorithms are usually developed under Gaussian-distributed background noise, which will deteriorate significantly in impulsive noise environments. In this paper, a novel method is presented to estimate the DOA of coherent signals in impulsive noise environments. A novel correntropy-based generalized covariance (CEGC) operator is defined and proof of boundedness is given to ensure the effectiveness of the proposed method in impulsive noise environments. Furthermore, an improved Toeplitz approximation method combined CEGC operator is proposed to estimate the DOA of coherent sources. Compared to other existing algorithms, the proposed method can avoid array aperture loss and perform more effectively, even in cases of intense impulsive noise and low snapshot numbers. Finally, comprehensive Monte-Carlo simulations are performed to verify the superiority of the proposed method under various impulsive noise conditions.
Artificial Intelligence in Automated Detection of Disinformation: A Thematic Analysis

The increasing prevalence of disinformation has led to a growing interest in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for detecting and combating this phenomenon. This article presents a thematic analysis of the potential benefits of automated disinformation detection from the perspective of information sciences. The analysis covers a range of approaches, including fact checking, linguistic analysis, sentiment analysis, and the utilization of human-in-the-loop systems. Furthermore, the article explores how the combination of blockchain and AI technologies can be used to automate the process of disinformation detection. Ultimately, the article aims to consider the integration of AI into journalism and emphasizes the importance of ongoing collaboration between these fields to effectively combat the spread of disinformation. The article also addresses ethical considerations related to the use of AI in journalism, including concerns about privacy, transparency, and accountability.
Tire Wear Sensitivity Analysis and Modeling Based on a Statistical Multidisciplinary Approach for High-Performance Vehicles

One of the main challenges in maximizing vehicle performance is to predict and optimize tire behavior in different working conditions, such as temperature, friction, and wear. Starting from several approaches to develop tire grip and wear models, based on physical principles, experimental data, or statistical methods available in the literature, this work aims to propose a novel tire wear model that combines physical and statistical analysis on a large number of high-performance vehicle telemetries, tracks, and road data, as well as tires’ viscoelastic properties. Another contribution of this multidisciplinary study is the definition of the functional relationships that govern the tire–road interaction in terms of friction and degradation, conducting a thorough analysis of the car’s telemetry, the track and asphalt features, and the viscoelastic properties of the tires.
Using Machine Learning to Evaluate Coal Geochemical Data with Respect to Dynamic Failures

Dynamic failure events have occurred in the underground coal mining industry since its inception. Recent NIOSH research has identified geochemical markers that correlate with in situ reportable dynamic event occurrence, although the causes behind this correlative relationship remain unclear. In this study, NIOSH researchers conducted machine learning analysis to examine whether a model could be constructed to assess the probability of dynamic failure occurrence based on geochemical and petrographic data. Linear regression, random forest, dimensionality reduction, and cluster analyses were applied to a catalog of dynamic failure and control data from the Pennsylvania Coal Sample Databank, cross-referenced with accident data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Analyses determined that 7 of the 18 geochemical parameters that were examined had the biggest impact on model performance. Classifications based on logistic regression and random forest models attained precision values of 85.7% and 96.7%, respectively. Dimensionality reduction was used to explore patterns and groupings in the data and to search for relationships between compositional parameters. Cluster analyses were performed to determine if an algorithm could find clusters with given class memberships and to what extent misclassifications of dynamic failure status occurred. Cluster analysis using a hierarchal clustering algorithm after dimensionality reduction resulted in four clusters, with one relatively distinct dynamic failure cluster, and three clusters mostly consisting of control group members but with a small number of dynamic failure members.
Planetary space weather: scientific aspects and future perspectives

In this paper, we review the scientific aspects of planetary space weather at different regions of our Solar System, performing a comparative planetology analysis that includes a direct reference to the circum-terrestrial case. Through an interdisciplinary analysis of existing results based both on observational data and theoretical models, we review the nature of the interactions between the environment of a Solar System body other than the Earth and the impinging plasma/radiation, and we offer some considerations related to the planning of future space observations. We highlight the importance of such comparative studies for data interpretations in the context of future space missions (e.g. ESA JUICE; ESA/JAXA BEPI COLOMBO). Moreover, we discuss how the study of planetary space weather can provide feedback for better understanding the traditional circum-terrestrial space weather. Finally, a strategy for future global investigations related to this thematic is proposed.
Effect of abdominal binder on shoulder pain after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery: A randomized, controlled trial

Background: To evaluate the impact of abdominal binder (AB) use on postoperative shoulder pain in patients recovering from laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Methods: This was a prospective randomized study conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital. Overall, 144 patients underwent laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. The postoperative use of an AB for 24 hours was added to the pulmonary recruitment maneuver. Results: Of 144 consenting patients, 72 patients each were allocated to the AB and control groups, respectively, and 14 patients were excluded. Finally, 130 patients were analyzed, with 68 in the AB group and 62 in the control group. There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative shoulder pain between the 2 groups (55.9% vs 56.5%, P = 1.000). The severity of the worst shoulder pain, measured using a numerical rating scale, did not differ between the 2 groups (Median [interquartile range] 2 [0–5] vs 2 [0–5]; P = .865). The severity of surgical site pain, pain and nausea medications, and the ambulation time were not different in the 2 groups. Conclusion: The use of an AB was not beneficial for postoperative shoulder pain following laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Surgical site pain, ambulation time, and postoperative nausea and vomiting were not improved with the use of an AB.