Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding the adoption of autonomous vehicles in Thailand: an extended TAM approach

Abstract Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are receiving attention in many countries, including Thailand. However, implementing an intelligent transport system has many challenges, such as safety and reliability and the lack of policy supporting such technology use, leading to hazards for passengers and pedestrians. Hence, factors affecting the adoption of autonomous vehicles require better understanding. This research proposes and employs an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by integrating ethical standards, legal concerns, and trust to predict the intended use of autonomous vehicles by Thai citizens. A total of 318 questionnaires were collected from online panel respondents. Research hypotheses were tested using a structural equation modelling approach. The study results suggest that ethical standards have a significant positive effect on the intention to use the technology. Meanwhile, the intention was negatively affected by perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and legal concerns. On the other hand, the results indicate that perceived ease of use directly affected trust, leading to AV adoption. However, other factors influenced trust insignificantly. This study demonstrates the vital role of trust in AV adoption. The study also suggests ideas for further study and discusses the implications for the government and autonomous vehicle companies. The article aims to forecast a success factor that the Thai government should use to consider the policy for autonomous vehicle adoption in Thailand. This paper relies on the technology acceptance model to assess and forecast autonomous vehicle adoption. The theoretical model also includes ethical issues, legal concerns and trust in technology. The model was analysed using the structure equation modelling technique to confirm the factor affecting Thailand’s successful autonomous vehicle adoption. This research confirmed that ethical standards, legal concerns, and trust in technology are the factors significantly affecting the intention to use an autonomous vehicle in Thailand. On the other hand, the perceived ease of use significantly affects the trust in autonomous vehicle technology. This research found that such social factors as ethical standards, legal concerns, and trust in technology affect technology adoption significantly, especially technology related to AI operation. Therefore, the technology acceptance model could be modified to confirm technology adoption in terms of social factors. The government could use the research results to develop a public policy for the regulation and standard supporting autonomous vehicle adoption in Thailand.
Position: The Case Against Case-Based Explanation

Case-based explanation ( CBE ) goes by many names, and in this paper I will argue why we should tend towards alternative choices when designing XAI systems. My argumentation for the stated claim rests on four broad points: (1) people seem to dislike CBE ; (2) CBE relies on weak semantic linkage; (3) CBE is epistemically outmatched; (4) CBE is restrictive. This paper expounds on these arguments and concludes with thoughts about characteristics of possible alternatives.
Automated Requirement Formalization Using Product Design Specifications

Assuring the quality of complex and highly configurable software systems is a demanding and time-consuming process. Especially for safety-critical systems, extensive testing based on requirements is necessary. Methods for model-based test automation in agile software development offer the possibility to overcome these difficulties. However, it is still a major effort to create formal models from functional requirements in natural language on a large scale. In this paper, we present and evaluate automated support for the requirements formalization process to reduce cost and effort. We present a new approach based on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and textual similarity using requirements and product design specifications to generate human-and machine-readable models. The method is evaluated on an industrial use case from the railway domain. The recommended requirement models for the considered propulsion system show an average accuracy of more than 90% and an exact match of the entire models of about 55%. These results show that our approach can support the requirements formalization process, which can be further used for test case generation and execution, as well as for requirements and design verification.
CalBERT - Code-Mixed Adaptive Language Representations Using BERT

A code-mixed language is a type of language that involves the combination of two or more language varieties in its script or speech. Code-mixed language has become increasingly prevalent in recent times, especially on social media. However, the exponential increase in the usage of code-mixed language, especially in a country like India which is linguistically diverse has led to various inconsistencies. Analysis of text is now becoming harder to tackle because the language present is not consistent and does not work with prede-ﬁned existing models which are monolingual. We propose a novel approach to improve performance in Transformers by introducing an additional step called ”Siamese Pre-Training”, which allows pre-trained monolingual Trans-formers to adapt language representations for code-mixed languages with a few examples of code-mixed data. Our studies show that Cal-BERT is able to improve performance over existing pre-trained Transformer architectures on downstream tasks such as sentiment analysis. Multiple CalBERT architectures beat the state of the art F 1 -score on the Sentiment Analysis for Indian Languages (SAIL) dataset, with the highest possible improvement being 5.1 points. CalBERT also achieves the state-of-the-art accuracy on the IndicGLUE Product Reviews dataset by beating the benchmark by 0.4 points.
Short-Term Effects of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Combination on Glucose Tolerance in Young People With Cystic Fibrosis—An Observational Pilot Study

Background The effect of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) on glucose tolerance and/or cystic-fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is not well understood. We performed an observational study on the short-term effects of ELX/TEZ/IVA on glucose tolerance. Methods Sixteen adolescents with CF performed oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) before and 4–6 weeks after initiating ELX/TEZ/IVA therapy. A continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system was used 3 days before until 7 days after starting ELX/TEZ/IVA treatment. Results OGTT categories improved after initiating ELX/TEZ/IVA therapy (p = 0.02). Glucose levels of OGTT improved at 60, 90, and 120 min (p < 0.05), whereas fasting glucose and CGM measures did not change. Conclusion Shortly after initiating ELX/TEZ/IVA therapy, glucose tolerance measured by OGTT improved in people with CF. This pilot study indicates that ELX/TEZ/IVA treatment has beneficial effects on the endocrine pancreatic function and might prevent or at least postpone future CFRD.
Effect of Cognitive Reappraisal on Archery Performance of Elite Athletes: The Mediating Effects of Sport-Confidence and Attention

Through empirical studies or laboratory tests, previous studies have shown that sport-confidence, attention, and emotion regulation are key factors in archery performance. The present study aims to further identify the effects and pathways of sport-confidence, attention, and cognitive reappraisal (a specific emotion regulation strategy) on real-world archery performance by constructing a hypothesized model to provide a basis for scientific training of athletes to improve sport performance. A survey design was utilized on a sample of 61 athletes (12 international-level athletes, 30 national-level athletes, and 19 first-class athletes) from the Chinese National Archery Team to test the model. The measurement and hypothesized models were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that the model fit well and explained 33.6% of the variance in archery performance. Sport-confidence (total effects = 0.574, p < 0.001) and attention (total effects = 0.344, p = 0.009) were important predictive indicators of archery performance, while the relationship between cognitive reappraisal and archery performance showed considerable complexity (direct effects = −0.268, p = 0.020; total effects = −0.007, p = 0.964). We conclude that the development of sport-confidence and attention of archery athletes should be strengthened, but athletes who use cognitive reappraisal in archery competition should be mindful of its potential appropriation of cognitive resources and should be directed to improve sport-confidence or develop a positive orientation to arouse excitement.
Prevalence of Prefrailty and Frailty Among Older Adults in Germany: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

Background Various studies have identified the prevalence of prefrailty and frailty among older adults in Germany. Nevertheless, there is no review systematically synthesizing these studies. Thus, our aim was to close this gap in knowledge. Moreover, another aim was to perform a meta-analysis to synthesize the pooled prevalence of prefrailty and frailty. A further aim was to explore potential sources of heterogeneity based on a meta-regression. Methods A number of three electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) were searched (plus an additional hand search). The observational studies that determine the prevalence of frailty among older adults aged 65 years and above in Germany were included, whereas disease-specific samples were excluded. Data extraction included the description of the sample, operationalization of frailty, statistical analysis, sample characteristics and main findings. The established Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) standardized critical appraisal instrument for prevalence studies was used for evaluating the quality of the studies. Important steps were performed by two reviewers. Results In sum, a number of 12 studies were included. The prevalence of frailty varied from about 2.4 to 25.6%. The pooled prevalence of frailty was 13.7% (95% CI: 9.0 to 18.5%). There was a significant heterogeneity among the studies (I2 = 98.9%, p < 0.001). The pooled prevalence of prefrailty was 40.2% (95% CI: 28.3 to 52.1%; I2 = 99.6%, p < 0.001). Some evidence of a publication bias exists. Meta-regressions showed that some of the heterogeneity was explained by the tool to quantify frailty and the average age of the respective sample. Conclusion Particularly, the high prevalence of prefrailty should be highlighted since it is important to prevent individuals in old age from developing to frail status. This knowledge is important for the German society as a whole and for relevant stakeholders. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42021293648.
The Relationship of Redox With Hallmarks of Cancer: The Importance of Homeostasis and Context

Redox homeostasis is a lifelong pursuit of cancer cells. Depending on the context, reactive oxygen species (ROS) exert paradoxical effects on cancers; an appropriate concentration stimulates tumorigenesis and supports the progression of cancer cells, while an excessive concentration leads to cell death. The upregulated antioxidant system in cancer cells limits ROS to a tumor-promoting level. In cancers, redox regulation interacts with tumor initiation, proliferation, metastasis, programmed cell death, autophagy, metabolic reprogramming, the tumor microenvironment, therapies, and therapeutic resistance to facilitate cancer development. This review discusses redox control and the major hallmarks of cancer.
Inhibition of Human Sulfotransferases by Phthalate Monoesters

Objective This study aimed to investigate the inhibition of human important phase II metabolic enzyme sulfotransferases (SULTs) by phthalate monoesters, which are important metabolites of phthalate esters (PAEs). Method Recombinant SULT-catalyzed metabolism of p-nitrophenol (PNP) was employed as the probe reactions of SULTs to investigate the inhibition of 8 kinds of phthalate monoesters towards SULT isoforms. An in vitro incubation system was utilized for preliminary screening, and 100 μM of phthalate monoesters was used. Inhibition kinetics were carried out to determine the inhibition of SULTs by phthalate monoesters. Result Multiple phthalate monoesters have been demonstrated to exert strong inhibition potential towards SULT1A1, SULT1B1, and SULT1E1, and no significant inhibition of phthalate monoesters towards SULT1A3 was found. The activity of SULT1A1 was strongly inhibited by mono-hexyl phthalate (MHP), mono-octyl phthalate (MOP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBZP), and mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP). Monobutyl phthalate (MBP), MHP, MOP, mono-cyclohexyl phthalate (MCHP), and MEHP significantly inhibited the activity of SULT1B1. MHP, MOP, and MEHP significantly inhibited the activity of SULT1E1. MOP was chosen as the representative phthalate monoester to determine the inhibition kinetic parameters (K i) towards SULT1B1 and SULT1E1. The inhibition kinetic parameters (K i) were calculated to be 2.23 μM for MOP-SULT1B1 and 5.54 μM for MOP-SULT1E1. In silico docking method was utilized to understand the inhibition mechanism of SULT1B1 by phthalate monoesters. Conclusions All these information will be beneficial for understanding the risk of phthalate monoester exposure from a new perspective.
Effective suppression of nonlinear distortion in optical phase conjugation of optical OFDM signals using backward Raman pumping

ABSTRACT The use of backward Raman amplification to mitigate nonlinear distortion in optical phase conjugation (OPC) of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signals in a fibre communication system is investigated in this paper. A ∼29 dB reduction in the nonlinear distortion is achieved, while comparable conjugated output signal power is maintained through the Raman gain. By numerically solving the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) along the fibre, a detailed theoretical model is developed to elaborate the mechanism in Raman-assisted OPC. Different optical network scenarios have been analysed using this model. The mechanism of Raman-assisted OPC is further explained by comparing the power profiles of both the conjugated signal and the nonlinear distortion with those in the conventional scheme. In addition to investigating the nonlinear distortion caused by spurious four-wave mixing (FWM) products, the waveform distortion resulting from pump depletion in the OPC system is also analysed. The linearity in Raman-assisted and conventional OPC systems is characterised and compared. The result shows a power deviation reduction of ∼14 dB through Raman amplification.
The Yin and Yang of Pneumolysin During Pneumococcal Infection

Pneumolysin (PLY) is a pore-forming toxin produced by the human pathobiont Streptococcus pneumoniae, the major cause of pneumonia worldwide. PLY, a key pneumococcal virulence factor, can form transmembrane pores in host cells, disrupting plasma membrane integrity and deregulating cellular homeostasis. At lytic concentrations, PLY causes cell death. At sub-lytic concentrations, PLY triggers host cell survival pathways that cooperate to reseal the damaged plasma membrane and restore cell homeostasis. While PLY is generally considered a pivotal factor promoting S. pneumoniae colonization and survival, it is also a powerful trigger of the innate and adaptive host immune response against bacterial infection. The dichotomy of PLY as both a key bacterial virulence factor and a trigger for host immune modulation allows the toxin to display both “Yin” and “Yang” properties during infection, promoting disease by membrane perforation and activating inflammatory pathways, while also mitigating damage by triggering host cell repair and initiating anti-inflammatory responses. Due to its cytolytic activity and diverse immunomodulatory properties, PLY is integral to every stage of S. pneumoniae pathogenesis and may tip the balance towards either the pathogen or the host depending on the context of infection.
Diversity of Giant Viruses Infecting Vermamoeba vermiformis

The discovery of Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus in 2003 using the free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba polyphaga caused a paradigm shift in the virology field. Twelve years later, using another amoeba as a host, i.e., Vermamoeba vermiformis, novel isolates of giant viruses have been discovered. This amoeba–virus relationship led scientists to study the evolution of giant viruses and explore the origins of eukaryotes. The purpose of this article is to review all the giant viruses that have been isolated from Vermamoeba vermiformis, compare their genomic features, and report the influence of these viruses on the cell cycle of their amoebal host. To date, viruses putatively belonging to eight different viral taxa have been described: 7 are lytic and 1 is non-lytic. The comparison of giant viruses infecting Vermamoeba vermiformis has suggested three homogenous groups according to their size, the replication time inside the host cell, and the number of encoding tRNAs. This approach is an attempt at determining the evolutionary origins and trajectories of the virus; therefore, more giant viruses infecting Vermamoeba must be discovered and studied to create a comprehensive knowledge on these intriguing biological entities.
Transcriptome-Wide Dynamics of m6A Methylation in Tumor Livers Induced by ALV-J Infection in Chickens

Avian Leukosis Virus Subgroup J (ALV-J) is a tumorigenic virus with high morbidity and rapid transmission. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a common epigenetic modification that may be closely related to the pathogenicity of ALV-J. Currently, there are no reports on whether m6A modification is related to ALV-J induced tumor formation. In this study, we used methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to examine the differences in m6A methylation and gene expression in normal livers and ALV-J-induced tumor livers systematically, with functional enrichment and co-expression analysis. The results identified 6,541 m6A methylated peaks, mainly enriched in CDS, and more than 83% of the transcripts contained 1-2 m6A peaks. For RNA-seq, 1,896 and 1,757 differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs were identified, respectively. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that they may be involved in biological processes and pathways such as immunology-related and apoptosis. Moreover, we identified 17 lncRNAs, commonly existing in differently expressed methylome and transcriptome. Through co-expression analysis, 126 differentially expressed lncRNAs, and 18 potentially m6A-related methyltransferases were finally identified and connected, suggesting that m6A modifications might affect gene expression of lncRNAs and play a role in ALV-J induced tumor formation. This study provides the first comprehensive description of the m6A expression profile in tumor livers induced by ALV-J infection in chickens, which provides a basis for studying the role of m6A modification in ALV-J induced tumorigenesis. This study provides clues for studying the epigenetic etiology and pathogenesis of ALV-J.
Early Comprehensive Kidney Care in Dialysis-Requiring Acute Kidney Injury Survivors: A Populational Study

Background For patients with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), a strong and graded relationship exists between AKI severity and mortality. One of the most severe entities of AKI is Dialysis-Requiring Acute Kidney Injury (D-AKI), which is associated with high rates of mortality and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). For this high-risk population group, there is a lack of evidence regarding optimal post-AKI care. We propose that post-AKI care through the combined efforts of the nephrologist and the multidisciplinary care team may improve outcomes. Our aim here is to study for survivors of dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury, the effects of implementing early comprehensive kidney care. Methods This is a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of Taiwanese through analyzing the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). We included patients with acute dialysis during hospitalization from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018. Propensity match was done at 1:1, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on CKD-EPI which was performed due to large initial disparities between these two cohorts. Results After the propensity match, each cohort had 4,988 patients. The mean eGFR based on CKD-EPI was 27.5 ml/min/1.73 m2, and the mean follow-up period was 1.4 years. The hazard ratio for chronic dialysis or ESRD was 0.55 (95% CI, 0.49–0.62; p < 0.001). The hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.57–0.88; p < 0.001). Both outcomes favored early comprehensive kidney care. Conclusions For survivors of dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury, early comprehensive kidney care significantly lowered risks of chronic dialysis and all-cause mortality.
Exploring the Influence of Potential Entrepreneurs’ Personality Traits on Small Venture Creation: The Case of Saudi Arabia

This study examined the impact of selected personality traits—innovativeness, internal locus of control, need for achievement and propensity to take risks—on the entrepreneurial intention of Saudi students (young entrepreneurs). The study sample included 165 students from an applied college affiliated with King Faisal University. The participants completed an online self-administered questionnaire, the data from which were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The findings revealed that the characteristics of innovativeness, internal locus of control and propensity to take risks had a positive relationship with entrepreneurial intention. However, the need for achievement had no relationship with entrepreneurial intention. The study model predicted approximately 25% of the total variance in entrepreneurial intention. It is recommended that in future studies, the sample size should be increased and the scope of the study should be broadened.
Evaluating Mixed-Initiative Creative Interfaces via Expressive Range Coverage Analysis

We introduce expressive range coverage analysis (ERaCA): a technique for evaluating mixed-initiative creative interfaces (MICIs) in which creative responsibility is shared between a human user and a generative model. ERaCA revolves around the examination of a small number of human-created artifacts in the context of a visualization of the broader expressive range from which these artifacts were sampled. As a pilot study of our approach, we apply ERaCA to the evaluation of Redactionist—a MICI for erasure poetry creation—and find that ERaCA allows us to visually answer questions about how thoroughly users explore the underlying model’s expressive range; whether users produce artifacts that are typical or unusual from the underlying model’s perspective; whether different users of a single MICI tend to produce similar or different artifacts; whether a MICI tends to promote divergent or convergent thinking; and how a single user’s artifacts evolve as they continue to use a MICI over time.