Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial Dysfunction in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are characterized by increased cardiovascular risk. Endothelial dysfunction, a mechanism implicated in those processes, may constitute the missing link in this interaction. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association of endothelial dysfunction, assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, with NAFLD. We conducted a systematic literature search for studies assessing the difference in FMD between patients with NAFLD and controls. Exclusion criteria consisted of preclinical studies, studies in children/adolescents, no FMD assessment, and the absence of an NAFLD/control group. The database search identified 96 studies. Following the application of the exclusion criteria, 22 studies were included in the meta-analysis (NAFLD: 2164 subjects; control: 3322 subjects). Compared with controls, patients with NAFLD had significantly lower FMD% values (SMD: −1.37, 95% CI −1.91 to −0.83, p < 0.001, I2: 98%). Results remained unaffected after exclusion of any single study. Subgroup analysis revealed significantly decreased FMD in NAFLD subjects diagnosed with liver ultrasound or liver biopsy compared with method combination or other methods, while no differences were observed according to the chosen cuff inflation threshold, the presence of a significant difference in obesity measures between the groups, or the type of the control group (age- and sex-matched vs. other). Funnel plot asymmetry was not observed. Finally, compared with patients with pure steatosis, individuals with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis had significantly lower FMD (SMD: −0.81, 95% CI −1.51 to −0.31, p = 0.003, I2: 81%). In conclusion, FMD of the brachial artery, indicative of endothelial dysfunction, was significantly reduced in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis might be facing a more pronounced endothelial impairment.
Spatiotemporal evolution of melt ponds on Arctic sea ice

Melt ponds on sea ice play an important role in the Arctic climate system. Their presence alters the partitioning of solar radiation: decreasing reflection, increasing absorption and transmission to the ice and ocean, and enhancing melt. The spatiotemporal properties of melt ponds thus modify ice albedo feedbacks and the mass balance of Arctic sea ice. The Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition presented a valuable opportunity to investigate the seasonal evolution of melt ponds through a rich array of atmosphere-ice-ocean measurements across spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we characterize the seasonal behavior and variability in the snow, surface scattering layer, and melt ponds from spring melt to autumn freeze-up using in situ surveys and auxiliary observations. We compare the results to satellite retrievals and output from two models: the Community Earth System Model (CESM2) and the Marginal Ice Zone Modeling and Assimilation System (MIZMAS). During the melt season, the maximum pond coverage and depth were 21% and 22 ± 13 cm, respectively, with distribution and depth corresponding to surface roughness and ice thickness. Compared to observations, both models overestimate melt pond coverage in summer, with maximum values of approximately 41% (MIZMAS) and 51% (CESM2). This overestimation has important implications for accurately simulating albedo feedbacks. During the observed freeze-up, weather events, including rain on snow, caused high-frequency variability in snow depth, while pond coverage and depth remained relatively constant until continuous freezing ensued. Both models accurately simulate the abrupt cessation of melt ponds during freeze-up, but the dates of freeze-up differ. MIZMAS accurately simulates the observed date of freeze-up, while CESM2 simulates freeze-up one-to-two weeks earlier. This work demonstrates areas that warrant future observation-model synthesis for improving the representation of sea-ice processes and properties, which can aid accurate simulations of albedo feedbacks in a warming climate.
Experimental study on stress transfer of alfalfa during vibration compression

To reveal the mechanistic role of vibration in the compression of alfalfa stalk, the stress transfer of alfalfa compression process under the action of vibration force field was evaluated with a self-developed vibration compression test system. The internal stress in the upper layer of the compressed material was gradually transmitted to the lower layer. The stress transfer rate between the upper and lower material varied with the vibration frequency. Within the experimental vibration frequency range, when the frequency was 15 Hz, the stress transfer rate was the smallest. Compared with ordinary compression, the stress transfer rate and maximum pressure during vibration compression were small, but the relaxation density was high, indicating that vibration is beneficial to alfalfa compression. Comprehensive analysis of stress transfer, maximum pressure and relaxation density, when the vibration with vibration amplitude of 0.5 mm and frequency of 15 Hz was introduced, a denser alfalfa block was obtained with less pressure.
The influence of individual and cultural factors on perceptions of alcohol control strategies among university students in Europe

Abstract Alcohol control strategies vary between countries and reflect differences in drinking cultures. This study explored how perceived effectiveness of alcohol control strategies varies according to individual characteristics and country of residence. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 1910 university students in Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Switzerland. It assessed the perceived effectiveness of 11 alcohol control strategies. Correlates included sensation-seeking, alcohol outcome expectancies, drink refusal self-efficacy, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores. Bivariate analysis using mixed-measures MANOVA and Pearson correlations were followed by linear regression to identify multivariate correlates. These analyses revealed that educational strategies (e.g. teaching people skills to resist peer pressure) were considered more effective than restrictive strategies (e.g. raising the legal drinking age). Perceived effectiveness was greater among women and lighter drinkers. Country of residence also explained unique variance. The findings highlight the need to consider the potential impact of drinking culture in alcohol-related harm-reduction strategies.
Gambogic Acid and Piperine Synergistically Induce Apoptosis in Human Cholangiocarcinoma Cell via Caspase and Mitochondria-Mediated Pathway

Most cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients undergo chemotherapy as a therapeutic approach due to the disease's frequently late diagnosis. However, because CCA is resistant to currently available treatments, the prognosis for this cancer is still quite poor. Combination therapy has emerged as a novel and promising strategy in cancer treatment, as monotherapy frequently results in tumor recurrence and drug resistance. Gambogic acid has been shown to have a synergism with other compounds in combating certain cancer cells. Moreover, piperine has been shown to improve the efficacy of numerous chemotherapy drugs and other anticancer natural substances. However, no research has been done on the combination of these two compounds in the treatment of bile duct cancer. In this study, the cytotoxic activity was determined by using the MTT assay, and then, the combined effect was assessed by using the combination index (CI). We found that the combination of gambogic acid and piperine inhibited cell viability more effectively than either treatment alone, and it also demonstrated a synergistically cytotoxic effect against CCA cells. Interestingly, the findings allowed the use of lower concentrations of gambogic acid in cancer treatment when combined with piperine, which could reduce its adverse effect on normal cholangiocytes. Furthermore, the combination of the two compounds increased CCA cell death by inducing apoptosis via both the extrinsic and intrinsic or mitochondria-mediated pathways, as determined by caspase-3, -8, and -9 activity and the reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm). It is possible that the use of these two natural compounds together could be a promising strategy for the treatment of bile duct cancer.
A Review of Interaction Techniques for Immersive Environments

The recent proliferation of immersive technology has led to the rapid adoption of consumer-ready hardware for Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). While this increase has resulted in a variety of platforms that can offer a richer interactive experience, the advances in technology bring more variability in display types, interaction sensors and use cases. This provides a spectrum of device-specific interaction possibilities, with each offering a tailor-made solution for delivering immersive experiences to users, but often with an inherent lack of standardisation across devices and applications. To address this, a systematic review and an evaluation of explicit, task-based interaction methods in immersive environments are presented in this paper. A corpus of papers published between 2013 and 2020 is reviewed to thoroughly explore state-of-the-art user studies, which investigate input methods and their implementation for immersive interaction tasks (pointing, selection, translation, rotation, scale, viewport, menu-based and abstract). Focus is given to how input methods have been applied within the spectrum of immersive technology (AR, VR, XR). This is achieved by categorising findings based on display type, input method, study type, use case and task. Results illustrate key trends surrounding the benefits and limitations of each interaction technique and highlight the gaps in current research. The review provides a foundation for understanding the current and future directions for interaction studies in immersive environments, which, at this pivotal point in XR technology adoption, provides routes forward for achieving more valuable, intuitive and natural interactive experiences.
An Improved Cluster Based Energy Efficient Algorithm to Enhance Network Lifetime in Wireless Network

Rapid growth in wireless sensor network (WSN) has been observed because of advancement in micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS). A wireless sensor network is a group of tiny sensor nodes which are randomly deployed over a particular area in order to sense the environment for over a long period of time. So energy preservation is always a challenging issue. In the present work, a new scheme is proposed that uses fuzzy logic for energy efficient cluster head election. Simulation results show that proposed scheme improves network lifetime as compared to the LEACH and CLENER methods.
The Sources, Molecular Compositions, and Light Absorption Properties of Water‐Soluble Organic Carbon in Marine Aerosols From South China Sea to the Eastern Indian Ocean

Water‐soluble organic carbon (WSOC) is a substantial component of carbonaceous aerosols in South/East Asia. However, the poorly constrained sources, molecular compositions, and light absorption properties of WSOC over South/East Asian marine regions lead to large uncertainty in climate effects. Herein, we collected marine aerosol samples from South China Sea to the eastern Indian Ocean to investigate the sources, molecular compositions, and light absorption properties of WSOC. The δ13C of Marine‐influenced WSOC (−20.6 ± 1.4‰) was higher than those in Continent‐influenced (South Asia‐influenced: −24.4 ± 1.1‰ and Southeast Asia‐influenced: −22.7 ± 1.0‰, p < 0.01) regions. Additionally, combining with 5‐day back trajectories and the relationships of δ13C‐WSOC with chemical tracers (Cl−/Na+ and nonsea salt K+/K+), we found that the Marine‐influenced WSOC was mostly related to oceanic emissions, which was more enriched in saturated primary marine biological compounds with lower oxidation level. In contrast, the Continent‐influenced WSOC was significantly affected by C3 biomass burning and secondary organic aerosols formation, and it has a higher fraction of aromatic and highly oxidized compounds. Moreover, the high aromatic level of Continental‐influenced WSOC may result in high mass absorption efficiency at 365 nm (MAE365) but low absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) values. Taken together with previous WSOC light absorption properties studies, we found that the MAE365 of WSOC in urban, rural and background, and marine regions correlated well with AAE. However, the response and correlation coefficients of MAE365 to AAE were highest in urban regions, followed by rural and background and marine regions, which is likely associated with different aromatic compound contents. Therefore, in the future, more attention should be paid to the sources and atmospheric processes of condensed aromatic compounds.
Cipargamin could inhibit human adenosine receptor A3 with higher binding affinity than Plasmodium falciparum P-type ATPase 4: An In silico study

Aim: This study aimed to predict the molecular targets of cipargamin in humans and estimate the structural dynamics and binding affinity of their interactions compared to that of Plasmodium falciparum P-type ATPase 4 (PfATP4). Methods: In silico methods were used in this study which include target prediction, structure modeling and dynamics, and molecular docking. Results: The results showed that cipargamin had 100% probability of binding to the human adenosine A3 receptor (ADORA3) and about 15% for other human targets which include tyrosine-protein kinase JAK2, adenosine A2a receptor, phosphodiesterase 5A and cathepsin K. The results of molecular docking showed that binding energy of cipargamin to PfATP4 and hADORA3 were-12.40 kcal/mol-1 and-13.40 kcal/mol-1 respectively. The docking was validated by the binding of enprofylline and fostamatinib to PfATP4 and hADORA3. Overall, the binding of cipargamin was closely similar to that of fostamatinib. This study shows the potential of cipargamin to modulate the activities of PfATP4 of the parasite (P. falciparum) as well as ADORA3 of the host (Homo sapiens). Conclusion: All the previous studies of cirpagamin have not implicated its action on hADORA3, thus this study provides an insight into a possible role of hADORA3 in the mechanism of malarial infection.
High flow nasal cannula therapy in children: working principles and treatment failure predictors

High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) delivers high flowrates of a heated air/oxygen fresh gas breathing mixture, in an open system, at the exact amount of fraction inspired oxygen, and at the optimum hydration level. By definition, due to high flow rates, higher than 2 L/min, it produces a wash out of the anatomic dead space and the End-tidal Carbon dioxide (EtCO2), and augments thus effective alveolar ventilation at the same rate of minute ventilation, helping reduce partial arterial pressure of Carbon dioxide (PaCO2) levels. Although depending on mouth closure and the relative size of the nasal cannula prongs related to nares, it produces a minimum Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) level, which is especially helpful in keeping unstable alveoli open, recruiting lung volume, and increasing the functional residual capacity. It reduces respiratory resistance and the high work of breathing which is a common feature in patients with respiratory failure. But its most important characteristics are the ease of implementation and good patient tolerance. It has emerged as a promising support mode in the last decade, and its use is being continuously expanded. Although it started from neonates, it expanded to children and adults, and tested in all causes of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, especially in bronchiolitis, and in post-extubation respiratory failure as well, starting from Emergency Department (ED), Pediatric Ward (PW), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and during transportation. Comparisons and meta-analyses, although not of equal modalities, have shown that it is definitely better than Standard Oxygen Therapy (SOT), and rather inferior to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). The aim of the present study is to explore the HFNC position in the timeline of recommendations for mechanical ventilation in critically ill children. We present a review on HFNC literature evidence in patients aged 1 month to 18 years, focusing on its mechanism of action, clinical effects, and timely recognition of treatment failure predictors.
Influencia de tres volúmenes de contenedor en el almácigo y cultivo de coliflor Influence of three plug tray cell volumes on the growth of cauliflower

The effect of different plug tray cell volumes on the growth and development of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) was evaluated from plant nursery until curd harvest in the Metropolitan Region in 2003. The nursery was maintained under greenhouse conditions. Three container cell volume treatments (10, 18 y 43 cm3) were used in a completely randomized statistical design with three replicates. The transplanting was done in Curacavi (33°25’S, 71°25’W) with the same statistical design and five replicates. The statistical analysis of the obtained result was performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Duncan multiple comparisons test (P < 0.05). At the nursery stage plants grown in 43 cm3 tray cells had the highest root and foliar development, with a total dry matter weight (DM) of 377.2 mg plant–1. Those grown in 18 cm3 tray cells reached 217.2 mg plant–1 and those obtained in 10 cm3 tray cells had 152.7 mg plant–1. The survival rate after transplant did not show statistical differences. Further development maintained the differences coming from the nursery stage until harvest; plants arising from 43 cm3 cells were more precocious, initiating harvest 77 days after transplanting (DAT) with the highest curd weight and diameter. Curd categories were established according to their diameter. Plants grown in 43 cm3 tray cells showed 88% of the curds with a diameter greater than 16 cm, 8% between 14 and 16 cm 4% under 14 cm. Plants coming from 18 cm3 tray cells initiated harvest 80 DAT with 66%, 20% and 14 in these categories, respectively. Plants from 10 cm3 tray cells initiated harvest 86 DAT with 42%, 32% and 26 % in each category.
Adaptive control schemes for mobile robot formations with triangularised structures

The study investigates the leader-follower formation control problem, for which the objective is to control a group of robots such that they move as a rigid formation with a prescribed constant velocity. It is assumed in the study that there are two leader robots, who are the only robots in the group that are informed about the prescribed velocity. All the other robots are followers and do not have the reference velocity information. The authors take the robotic formation as coupled triangular sub-formations and develop adaptive control strategies to enable each follower robot to attain and maintain a stable triangular formation with respect to its two leading neighbours. As a result, the whole group forms a rigid formation. Analyses on convergence and stability properties of equilibrium formations are provided, which show that the desired formation is asymptotically stable. Finally, simulations are given to illustrate our results.
Study on the Prognostication of Crop Diseases using Artificial Intelligence

It is universally accepted fact that crop diseases are one of the major threats in agriculture that ultimately result in drastic reduction of food supply. The present project study aims to use artificial intelligence in building a model which is integrated with a user-friendly web application. The web application is created using the Python-based Django framework. This user interface allows the user to choose a crop name and upload an image of a leaf wherein the trained model then begins the process of feature extraction on the image and tries to make an accurate prediction. The final result is displayed to the user confirming whether the crop may be “healthy” or the “diseased “and even the name of the disease that infects the plant will be displayed. The application also suggests a suitable treatment to combat the disease. Thus, the scope of this project study is very scalable as it can be easily be used by amateur gardeners as well as by farmers. The model itself can also be extended to include more plant types along with any new diseases which may arise due to factors like climate change, pest - resistance etc.
Linking Off-Road Points to Routing Networks

Although graph theory has already been introduced in spatial reasoning, current spatial database systems do not provide out-of-the-box routing on geometric points that are not matched on the graph. Methods that connect new reference locations to the graph render different routing results. Moreover, current solutions break reasoning down to local analysis. We bridge the gap between routing networks and spatial geometry by a global matching of geometric points to routing networks.
Correlation between Psoriasis Severity and Periodontal Pocket Depth in Psoriasis Vulgaris

: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, characterized by erythematous plaques and scales, with Koebner phenomenon and Auspitz sign. One of the trigger factors that contributes is infection. Periodontitis is an infection that occurs in periodontal tissue and can be one of the infection focus. This research aimed to determine the proportion of periodontitis in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and the correlation between psoriasis severity and periodontal pocket depth. This cross-sectional study was conducted in July-November 2017 in Dermatovenereology clinic of dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital, Jakarta. Anamnesis and physical examination of skin lesions were done by investigator, dental and oral examination were done by periodontist. Total of 34 subjects were examined with median age of 37.5 years (range 19-58 years old). The subjects consisted of 20 patients (58.8%) with mild psoriasis and 14 patients (41.2%) with moderate-severe psoriasis. The result showed 16 patients (47.1%) with periodontitis and 18 patients (52.9%) without periodontitis. Periodontitis was obtained in 8 patients (23.53%) in each group of mild and moderate-severe psoriasis. There was no statistically significant correlation between psoriasis severity and periodontal pocket depth (r = 0.126, p = 0.478). The results might be due to counfounding factors that affect both psoriasis severity and pocket depth.
A Machine-Learned Framework for Automatic Content Generation, Evaluation, and Critique

The majority of procedural level research has relied on human authored rules and heuristics. I intend to develop an end-to-end system capable of examining play, understanding levels and generating new content of similar style and playability, and finally offering analysis and critique of levels. The current roadmap utilizes computer vision, causal modeling, and neural network systems. The system should allow a human to step in at any point and make whatever changes they wish and get all downstream benefits.