Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Macro‐ and micro‐scale culture environment differentially regulate the effects of crowding on macrophage function

Macrophages hold vital roles in immune defense, wound healing, and tissue homeostasis, and have the exquisite ability to sense and respond to dynamically changing cues in their microenvironment. Much of our understanding of their behavior has been derived from studies performed using in vitro culture systems, in which the cell environment can be precisely controlled. Recent advances in miniaturized culture platforms also offer the ability to recapitulate some features of the in vivo environment and analyze cellular responses at the single‐cell level. Since macrophages are sensitive to their surrounding environments, the specific conditions in both macro‐ and micro‐scale cultures likely contribute to observed responses. In this study, we investigate how the presence of neighboring cells influence macrophage activation following proinflammatory stimulation in both bulk and micro‐scale culture. We found that in bulk cultures, higher seeding density negatively regulated the average TNF‐α secretion from individual macrophages in response to inflammatory agonists, and this effect was partially caused by the reduced cell‐to‐media volume ratio. In contrast, studies conducted using microwells to isolate single cells and groups of cells revealed that increasing numbers of cells positively influences their inflammatory activation, suggesting that the absolute cell numbers in the system may be important. In addition, a single inflammatory cell enhanced the inflammatory state of a small group of cells. Overall, this work helps to better understand how variations of macroscopic and microscopic culture environments influence studies in macrophage biology and provides insight into how the presence of neighboring cells and the soluble environment influences macrophage activation.
Epipaleolithic and Neolithic Subsistence and Settlement in the Fayyum Oasis of Egypt

AbstractRecent research suggests that subsistence changes in NE Africa between 11,000 and 7000 B.P. have significant implications for general models of the origins and spread of agricultural economies. In the research reported here, surface collections and excavations were used to investigate the origins of agricultural economies in the Fayyum area of Egypt at about 7000 B.P. The Fayyum data are considered in relation to evidence from other areas and various reconstructions of NE African agricultural origins are discussed.
Tectonic setting and regional implications of ca 2.2 Ga mafic magmatism in the southern Hamersley Province, Western Australia

Although the presence of post-Hamersley Group mafic intrusive and extrusive rocks in the southern Hamersley province of Western Australia has been known since the area was first mapped in the early 1960s, details of the age, tectonic setting and significance of these rocks have only recently been determined, and are still controversial. These rocks are most commonly interpreted as the products of two temporally distinct periods of continental extension, separated by a hiatus of ∼370 m.y. represented by the unconformity at the base of the Wyloo Group. However, the integration of published geochronological and geochemical data with detailed field observations documented in this study shows that ca 2.2 Ga dolerite sills pre- and post-date this unconformity, and were intruded during Ophthalmian orogenesis in a retroarc foreland basin. Furthermore, ca 2.2 Ga mafic magmatism is interpreted to include the Cheela Springs Basalt and is related to subduction beneath the southern Hamersley province, most likely resulting in accretion of part of the Gascoyne Province to the Pilbara Craton.
Efficacy and safety of tolvaptan in cirrhotic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Tolvaptan has been approved for the management of cirrhosis-related complications according to the Japanese and Chinese practice guidelines, but not the European or American practice guidelines in view of FDA warning about its hepatotoxicity. This study aimed to systematically evaluate its efficacy and safety in cirrhosis. Methods The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and/or safety of tolvaptan in cirrhosis. Risk ratios (RRs) and weight mean differences (WMDs) were calculated. The incidence of common adverse events (AEs) was pooled. Results Eight RCTs were included. Tolvaptan was significantly associated with higher rates of improvement of ascites (RR = 1.49, P < 0.001) and hyponatremia (RR = 1.80, P = 0.005) and incidence of any AEs (RR = 1.18, P = 0.003), but not serious AEs (RR = 0.86, P = 0.410). Tolvaptan was significantly associated with reductions in body weight (WMD = −1.30 kg, P < 0.001) and abdominal circumference (WMD = −1.71 cm, P < 0.001), and increases in daily urine volume (WMD = 1299.84 mL, P < 0.001) and serum sodium concentration (WMD = 2.57 mmol/L, P < 0.001). The pooled incidences of dry mouth, thirst, constipation, and pollakiuria were 16%, 24%, 6%, and 17%, respectively. Conclusion Short-term use of tolvaptan may be considered in cirrhotic patients with ascites who have inadequate response to conventional diuretics and those with hyponatremia.
The role of glycosaminoglycans in blood pressure regulation

Essential hypertension (HT) is the global health problem and is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and kidney disease. High salt intake has been associated with HT and impaired kidney sodium excretion is considered to be a major mechanism for the development of HT. Although kidney has a very important role in regulation of BP, this traditional view of BP regulation was challenged by recent findings suggesting that nonosmotic tissue sodium deposition is very important for BP regulation. This new paradigm indicates that sodium can be stored and deposited nonosmotically in the interstitium without water retention and without increased BP. One of the major determinants of this deposition is glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). By binding to GAGs found in the endothelial surface layer (ESL) which contains glycocalyx, sodium is osmotically inactivated and not induce concurrent water retention. Thus, GAGs has important function for homeostatic BP and sodium regulation. In the current review, we summarized the role of GAGs in ESL and BP regulation.
Regulatory T cells in lung disease and transplantation

Abstract Pulmonary disease can refer to the disease of the lung itself or the pulmonary manifestations of systemic diseases, which are often connected to the malfunction of the immune system. Regulatory T (Treg) cells have been shown to be important in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing inflammatory damage, including lung diseases. Given the increasing amount of evidence linking Treg cells to various pulmonary conditions, Treg cells might serve as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of lung diseases and potentially promote lung transplant tolerance. The most potent and well-defined Treg cells are Foxp3-expressing CD4+ Treg cells, which contribute to the prevention of autoimmune lung diseases and the promotion of lung transplant rejection. The protective mechanisms of Treg cells in lung disease and transplantation involve multiple immune suppression mechanisms. This review summarizes the development, phenotype and function of CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells. Then, we focus on the therapeutic potential of Treg cells in preventing lung disease and limiting lung transplant rejection. Furthermore, we discussed the possibility of Treg cell utilization in clinical applications. This will provide an overview of current research advances in Treg cells and their relevant application in clinics.
Computational analysis of an electrostatic separator design for removal of volatile organic compounds from indoor air

ABSTRACT Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air can be reduced in electrostatic separators where VOCs are ionized using ion-molecule reactions, extracted using electric fields, and eliminated in a waste flow. Embodiments for such separator technology have been explored in only a few studies, despite the possible advantage of purification without adsorbent filters. In one design, based on ionization of VOCs in positive polarity with hydrated protons as reactant ions, efficiencies for removal were measured as 30–40% . The results were fitted to a one-dimensional convective diffusion model requiring an unexpectedly high production rate of reactant ions to match both the model and data. A realistic rate of reactant ion production was used in finite element method simulations (COMSOL) and demonstrated that low removal efficiency could be attributed to non-uniform patterns of sample flow and to incomplete mixing of VOCs with reactant ions. In analysis of complex systems, such as this model, even limited computational modeling can outperform a pure analytical approach and bring insights into limiting factors or system bottlenecks. Implications: In this work, we applied modern computational methods to understand the performance of an air purifier based on electrostatics and ionized volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These were described in the publication early 2000s. The model presented was one-dimensional and did not account for the effects of flow. In our multiphysics finite element models, the efficiency and operation of the filter is better explained by the patterns of flow and flow influences on ion distributions in electric fields. In general, this work helps using and applying computational modelling to understand and improve the performance bottlenecks in air purification system designs.
Differential diagnosis of fever and rash cases negative for measles and rubella to complement surveillance activities

In the quest to eliminate measles virus (MV) and rubella virus (Ruv), every suspected case must be properly identified and diagnosed. Since 2017, in Milan (Italy), a total of 978 measles and rubella suspected cases (fever and rash) were investigated and 310 were not laboratory confirmed (discarded cases). To improve surveillance activities, we investigated the presence in discarded cases of 8 other viral pathogens commonly associated with rash: human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) and 7 (HHV‐7), parvovirus B19 (B19V), enterovirus (EV), Epstein−Barr virus (EBV), human adenovirus (HAdV), cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and SARS‐CoV‐2. Differential diagnosis was carried out on 289 discarded cases by multiplex real‐time PCR assays. At least one pathogen was detected in 188 cases (65.1%) with HHV‐7 being the most frequently detected virus. No difference in the number of detected infections overtime was observed and infections were identified in all age groups. As expected, most HHV‐6, EV, HAdV, and HCMV‐positive cases were found in children aged 0−4 years and HHV‐7 was most frequent in the 15−39 age group. In light of the World Health Organization measles elimination goal, the introduction of laboratory methods for differential diagnosis is required for the final classification of clinically compatible cases. The used screening panel allowed us to increase the percentage of virus‐positive cases to 87.5%, allowing us to clarify viral involvement and epidemiology, improve diagnosis, and strengthen surveillance activities. As all investigated pathogens were detected, this diagnostic panel was a suitable tool to complement MV and RuV surveillance activities.
Southern Africa Summer Drought and Heat Waves: Observations and Coupled Model Behavior

Abstract Observations of daily maximum temperature (Tx) and monthly precipitation and their counterpart fields from three coupled models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (CMIP3) archive have been used for exploratory research into the behavior of heat waves, drought, and their joint occurrence across the southern Africa subcontinent. The focus is on seasonal drought and heat waves during austral summer [December–February (DJF)] for land areas south of 15°S. Observational results (Tx available only for South Africa) are compared with those based on CMIP3 twentieth-century climate runs for a common analysis period of 1961–2000 while climate projections for the twenty-first century are also considered using the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A1B forcing scenario. Heat waves were defined when daily Tx values exceeded the 90th percentile for at least 3 consecutive days, while drought was identified via a standardized index of seasonal precipitation. When assessed over the en.
Roles of long noncoding RNA in triple‐negative breast cancer

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating various hallmarks in cancers. Triple‐negative (Estrogen receptor, ER; Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, HER2; Progesterone receptor, PR) breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive form of breast cancers with a poor prognosis and no available molecular targeted therapy.
Asymmetric response of aboveground and belowground temporal stability to nitrogen and phosphorus addition in a Tibetan alpine grassland

Anthropogenic eutrophication is known to impair the stability of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), but its effects on the stability of belowground (BNPP) and total (TNPP) net primary productivity remain poorly understood. Based on a nitrogen and phosphorus addition experiment in a Tibetan alpine grassland, we show that nitrogen addition had little impact on the temporal stability of ANPP, BNPP, and TNPP, whereas phosphorus addition reduced the temporal stability of BNPP and TNPP, but not ANPP. Significant interactive effects of nitrogen and phosphorus addition were observed on the stability of ANPP because of the opposite phosphorus effects under ambient and enriched nitrogen conditions. We found that the stability of TNPP was primarily driven by that of BNPP rather than that of ANPP. The responses of BNPP stability cannot be predicted by those of ANPP stability, as the variations in responses of ANPP and BNPP to enriched nutrient, with ANPP increased while BNPP remained unaffected, resulted in asymmetric responses in their stability. The dynamics of grasses, the most abundant plant functional group, instead of community species diversity, largely contributed to the ANPP stability. Under the enriched nutrient condition, the synchronization of grasses reduced the grass stability, while the latter had a significant but weak negative impact on the BNPP stability. These findings challenge the prevalent view that species diversity regulates the responses of ecosystem stability to nutrient enrichment. Our findings also suggest that the ecological consequences of nutrient enrichment on ecosystem stability cannot be accurately predicted from the responses of aboveground components and highlight the need for a better understanding of the belowground ecosystem dynamics.
Intrapyloric Botulinum Toxin Injection for Refractory Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Patients

Objectives: Chronic nausea and vomiting may be associated with gastroparesis or other conditions. Poor mechanistic understanding of symptoms often precludes targeted therapy. Numerous case series suggest that intrapyloric botulinum toxin injection (IPBI) may be beneficial in treating gastroparesis and dyspepsia in children. We hypothesized that nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms, independent of gastroparesis, may improve with IPBI. We sought to identify gastric emptying (GE) and manometric patterns in IPBI responders versus nonresponders. Methods: Electronic records of 25 pediatric patients who received IPBI for refractory nausea, vomiting, or both were retrospectively reviewed. We assessed symptom improvement post-IPBI and compared symptoms, GE, and antroduodenal manometry (ADM) findings between IPBI responders and nonresponders. Results: At least one major symptom improved in 19 patients (76%) after IPBI. Of 22 patients completing a GE study, 14 had delayed GE with no significant difference between IPBI responders and nonresponders. Of 22 patients who underwent ADM, 18 had normal fasting peristalsis, 5 had postprandial antral hypomotility, 4 had neuropathic findings, and 19 had pylorospasm. IPBI responders, compared to nonresponders, demonstrated higher antral pressures with feeding (P < 0.0001) and shorter duration of pylorospasm (P = 0.0036). Antral pressures did not differ significantly with fasting or following motilin agonists. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that IPBI may have therapeutic benefit in pediatric patients with chronic nausea and/or vomiting, independent of gastroparesis. ADM findings of intact antral peristalsis and elevated antral pressures, in conjunction with efficacy of IPBI, support pyloric non-relaxation as a potential contributor to nausea and/or vomiting in pediatric patients.
Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on diabetic foot ulcers: A meta‐analysis

Abstract The meta‐analysis aimed to assess the effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on diabetic foot ulcers. Using dichotomous or contentious random or fixed effect models, the outcomes of this meta‐analysis were examined and the odds ratio (OR) and the mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. 17 examinations from 1992 to 2022 were enrolled for the present meta‐analysis, including 7219 people with diabetic foot ulcers. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment had a significantly higher healed ulcer (OR, 14.39; 95% CI, 4.02–51.52, p < 0.001), higher adverse event (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.11–4.11, p = 0.02), lower mortality (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.07–0.71, p = 0.01) and higher ulcer area reduction (MD, 23.39; 95% CI, 11.79–34.99, p < 0.001) compared to standard treatment in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. However, hyperbaric oxygen treatment and standard treatment had no significant difference in amputation (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.22–1.75, p = 0.37), major amputation (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.18–1.92, p = 0.38), minor amputation (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.15–2.66, p = 0.54) and healing time (MD, −0.001; 95% CI, −0.76 to 0.75, p = 0.99) in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. The examined data revealed that hyperbaric oxygen treatment had a significantly higher healed ulcer, adverse event, and ulcer area reduction and lower mortality, however, there was no significant difference in amputation and healing time compared to standard treatment in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Yet, attention should be paid to its values since most of the selected examinations had a low sample size and some of the comparisons had a low number of selected studies.
Spuriosity Rankings: Sorting Data to Measure and Mitigate Biases

We present a simple but effective method to measure and mitigate model biases caused by reliance on spurious cues. Instead of requiring costly changes to one's data or model training, our method better utilizes the data one already has by sorting them. Specifically, we rank images within their classes based on spuriosity (the degree to which common spurious cues are present), proxied via deep neural features of an interpretable network. With spuriosity rankings, it is easy to identify minority subpopulations (i.e. low spuriosity images) and assess model bias as the gap in accuracy between high and low spuriosity images. One can even efficiently remove a model's bias at little cost to accuracy by finetuning its classification head on low spuriosity images, resulting in fairer treatment of samples regardless of spuriosity. We demonstrate our method on ImageNet, annotating $5000$ class-feature dependencies ($630$ of which we find to be spurious) and generating a dataset of $325k$ soft segmentations for these features along the way. Having computed spuriosity rankings via the identified spurious neural features, we assess biases for $89$ diverse models and find that class-wise biases are highly correlated across models. Our results suggest that model bias due to spurious feature reliance is influenced far more by what the model is trained on than how it is trained.
Macroscopic quantum-mechanical scattering

In certain conditions a macroscopic quantum-mechanical scattering may occur, which may lead to a coherent cross-section on a macroscopic scale in a monocrystal. The conditions are satisfied by neutrinos, but not satisfied by other projectiles, with a higher cross-section. This may explain Weber-type experiments of neutrino detection by a perfect, stiff sapphire monocrystal. The occurrence of coherence domains for quantum-mechanical scattering and classical diffraction is analyzed, and the force exerted upon a macroscopic target is estimated. It is concluded that neutrinos exhibit a distinctive feature in this respect, due precisely to their very small cross-section.
Balancing Autonomy and Alignment: A Multi-Dimensional Taxonomy for Autonomous LLM-powered Multi-Agent Architectures

Large language models (LLMs) have revolutionized the field of artificial intelligence, endowing it with sophisticated language understanding and generation capabilities. However, when faced with more complex and interconnected tasks that demand a profound and iterative thought process, LLMs reveal their inherent limitations. Autonomous LLM-powered multi-agent systems represent a strategic response to these challenges. Such systems strive for autonomously tackling user-prompted goals by decomposing them into manageable tasks and orchestrating their execution and result synthesis through a collective of specialized intelligent agents. Equipped with LLM-powered reasoning capabilities, these agents harness the cognitive synergy of collaborating with their peers, enhanced by leveraging contextual resources such as tools and datasets. While these architectures hold promising potential in amplifying AI capabilities, striking the right balance between different levels of autonomy and alignment remains the crucial challenge for their effective operation. This paper proposes a comprehensive multi-dimensional taxonomy, engineered to analyze how autonomous LLM-powered multi-agent systems balance the dynamic interplay between autonomy and alignment across various aspects inherent to architectural viewpoints such as goal-driven task management, agent composition, multi-agent collaboration, and context interaction. It also includes a domain-ontology model specifying fundamental architectural concepts. Our taxonomy aims to empower researchers, engineers, and AI practitioners to systematically analyze the architectural dynamics and balancing strategies employed by these increasingly prevalent AI systems. The exploratory taxonomic classification of selected representative LLM-powered multi-agent systems illustrates its practical utility and reveals potential for future research and development.