Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Meta-Teacher For Face Anti-Spoofing

Face anti-spoofing (FAS) secures face recognition from presentation attacks (PAs). Existing FAS methods usually supervise PA detectors with handcrafted binary or pixel-wise labels. However, handcrafted labels may are not the most adequate way to supervise PA detectors learning sufficient and intrinsic spoofing cues. Instead of using the handcrafted labels, we propose a novel Meta-Teacher FAS (MT-FAS) method to train a meta-teacher for supervising PA detectors more effectively. The meta-teacher is trained in a bi-level optimization manner to learn the ability to supervise the PA detectors learning rich spoofing cues. The bi-level optimization contains two key components: 1) a lower-level training in which the meta-teacher supervises the detector’s learning process on the training set; and 2) a higher-level training in which the meta-teacher’s teaching performance is optimized by minimizing the detector’s validation loss. Our meta-teacher differs significantly from existing teacher-student models because the meta-teacher is explicitly trained for better teaching the detector (student), whereas existing teachers are trained for outstanding accuracy neglecting teaching ability. Extensive experiments on five FAS benchmarks show that with the proposed MT-FAS, the trained meta-teacher 1) provides better-suited supervision than both handcrafted labels and existing teacher-student models; and 2) significantly improves the performances of PA detectors.
Predictors of prolonged hypotension requiring vasopressor support after resection of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Prolonged hypotension is a common complication after resection of pheochromocytoma (PCC) or paraganglioma (PGL). The objective of our study was to identify preoperative or intraoperative clinical factors that can predict prolonged hypotension after PCC/PGL resection.
SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Vaccines

Summary Viral variants of concern may emerge with dangerous resistance to the immunity generated by the current vaccines to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Moreover, if some variants of concern have increased transmissibility or virulence, the importance of efficient public health measures and vaccination programs will increase. The global response must be both timely and science based.
Minimal access rectal cancer surgery: an observational study of patient outcomes from a district general hospital with over a decade of experience with robotic rectal cancer surgery

Robotic surgery for colorectal cancer has become established more slowly than in other specialities. The aim of this study was to assess the risks and benefits of the use of robotic rectal cancer surgery in comparison with laparoscopic surgery within the confines of a subspecialist rectal cancer service in a district general hospital.
Challenges and Assets of Older Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa: Perspectives of Gerontology Scholars

ABSTRACT Life expectancy is increasing globally, with the biggest gains expected in sub-Saharan Africa. Using an online survey, we investigated the perspectives of gerontology scholars on the challenges of aging in sub-Saharan Africa as well as the assets of older adults. Respondents (n = 72) from 17 countries, primarily in Africa, and representing 16 disciplines, identified the top issues facing African older adults as: poverty, lack of trained geriatric professionals, food insecurity, disability/health issues, and long-term care. Older adults’ unique strengths were noted as indigenous knowledge systems, being holders of cultural heritage, and their contributions to development. Respondents’ biggest concerns about older adults in sub-Saharan Africa were the lack of government attention to aging issues (63%) and a lack of social services targeted to older adults’ needs (57%). Government funding (77.8%) and international partnerships (38.9%) were noted as resources needed to support aging research in sub-Saharan Africa. The response or non-response of governments in sub-Saharan Africa will determine whether the growing number of older adults will increasingly experience unmet needs and whether their assets will be considered in development efforts. Establishing professional networks of gerontology scholars in the region will help to document the challenges faced by older adults, to plan for the coming demographic shift, and to empower older adults to thrive as valued community members.
TOR and MAP kinase pathways synergistically regulate autophagy in response to nutrient depletion in fission yeast

ABSTRACT General autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process in eukaryotes, by which intracellular materials are transported into and degraded inside lysosomes or vacuoles, with the main goal of recycling those materials during periods of starvation. The molecular bases of autophagy have been widely described in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the specific roles of Atg proteins in the process were first characterized in this model system. Important contributions have been made in Schizosaccharomyces pombe highlighting the evolutionary similarity and, at the same time, diversity of Atg components in autophagy. However, little is known regarding signals, pathways and role of autophagy in this distant yeast. Here, we undertake a global approach to investigate the signals, the pathways and the consequences of autophagy activation. We demonstrate that not only nitrogen but several nutritional deprivations including lack of carbon, sulfur, phosphorus or leucine sources, trigger autophagy, and that the TORC1, TORC2 and MAP kinase Sty1 pathways control the onset of autophagy. Furthermore, we identify an unexpected phenotype of autophagy-defective mutants, namely their inability to survive in the absence of leucine when biosynthesis of this amino acid is impaired. Abbreviations: ATG: autophagy-related; cAMP: cyclic adenosine monophosphate; cDNA: complementary deoxyribonucleic acid; GFP: green fluorescence protein; Gluc: glucose; Leu: leucine; MAP: mitogen-activated protein; MM: minimal medium; PI: propidium iodine; PKA: protein kinase A; RNA: ribonucleic acid; RT-qPCR: real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; S. cerevisiae: Saccharomyces cerevisiae; S. pombe: Schizosaccharomyces pombe; TCA: trichloroacetic acid; TOR: target of rapamycin; TORC1: target of rapamycin complex 1; TORC2: target of rapamycin complex 2; YE5S: yeast extract 5 amino acid supplemented.
Improved Calibration for Estimating Soil Properties with a Multifunctional Heat Pulse Probe

ABSTRACT A multifunctional heat pulse probe (MFHPP) can measure soil thermal and hydraulic properties. Though its successful implementation has been documented, previous studies have reported some limitations. One specific cause of the limitations is the absorption of the generated heat pulse within the probe itself, which creates error in the measurements. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a new calibration method to account for measurement error due to heat loss to the probe. A MFHPP was constructed and tested in six soil types using both a traditional method and the newly developed calibration method. The new calibration utilizes heat pulse response curves from real soils with thermal conductivities similar to that of the MFHPP rather than the traditional agar-stabilized water solution. This new approach significantly reduced average measurement errors from 9.1% to 2.4% for heat capacity and 13.5% to 4.5% for volumetric water content.
Vibration–rotation spectroscopic database on acetylene, X ˜ 1 Σ g + (12C2H2)

A complete set of calculated vibration–rotation energies of 12C2H2 ( X ˜ 1 Σ g + ) is provided for all vibrational states up to 13 000 cm−1 and some at higher energies, with rotational (J) and vibrational angular momentum (l) quantum numbers such that 0 ≤ J ≤ 100 and 0 ≤ |l| ≤ 20, respectively. The calculation is performed using a global effective Hamiltonian and related spectroscopic constants from the literature [B. Amyay et al., J. Mol. Spectrosc. 267, 80 (2011)], based on the polyad model. The numerical values of all related polyad matrix elements are also provided. The model and equations for the Hamiltonian matrix elements are gathered. The experimental acetylene database used for determining the parameters is listed.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a Chinese renal transplant recipient: a case report

Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus that caused viral pneumonia broke out and became global pandemic. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Reports on the clinical manifestations in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are rare. We report the clinical features and treatment of a Chinese renal transplant recipient with COVID-19. A 46-year-old Chinese woman, who had a renal transplant in 2006 due to chronic glomerulonephritis, was admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University for fever, cough, and expectoration for more than 10 days and diarrhea for 3 days. At admission, her body temperature was 38.2 °C and pulse oxygen saturation was 96% under oxygen inhalation. There were decreased breath sounds bilaterally. Laboratory data revealed normal leucocyte count, a normal percentage of neutrophils, a normal percentage of lymphocytes, decreased lymphocyte count, elevated procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP), and increased levels of urea, creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. COVID-19 was confirmed by nasopharyngeal swab and sputum which were positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Chest CT revealed multiple patchy and flake ground-glass shadows in bilateral lung fields, and strip shadows in bilateral lower lobes. Treatment included antiviral (umifenovir, hydroxychloroquine), antibacterial (moxifloxacin), and other support therapies. Her symptoms, laboratory data, and chest CT showed trends of gradual improvement, while nasopharyngeal swabs were always positive for SARS-CoV-2. She was finally discharged from hospital on her 70th day of hospitalization when 2 consecutive nasopharyngeal swabs were negative for SARS-CoV-2. This is a rare report on COVID-19 in a renal transplant recipient, which can help enhance the understanding and treatment of COVID-19 in renal transplant recipients.
A meta-analysis of cohort studies: Traumatic brain injury and risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction Recently, some epidemiological studies have reported that cognitive disorders in elderly people is accelerated with traumatic brain injury. But the causal relationship between traumatic brain injury and AD is still an area of controversy. Aims Our review was conducted to estimate the relation between traumatic brain injury and risk of AD. Methods All longitudinal population-based studies comparing incidence of AD between subjects with and without traumatic brain injury from their inception to September 2020 were searched in The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science without restriction of language. The meta-analysis was conducted using Stata software. Results A total of 17 studies involving 4289,548 individuals were included. After pooling these 17 studies, subjects with traumatic brain injury had significant higher incidence of AD than those without traumatic brain injury (RR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.05–1.29). When considering the severity of traumatic brain injury, this elevated risk of AD was still significant comparing subjects with moderate and severe traumatic brain injury and those with no traumatic brain injury (RR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01–1.59). Conclusion Traumatic brain injury, especially moderate and severe traumatic brain injury may be associated with increased risk of AD.
Gas and Liquid Axial Mixing in the Column Packed with Mellapak 250Y, Pall Rings 25, and Intalox Saddles 25 under Flow Conditions Prevailing in Distillation Columns

The axial dispersions of gas and liquid phase in a column of inner diameter 0.297 m packed with random packing of metal Pall rings 25 and Intalox saddles 25 and structured packing of Mellapak 250Y were measured using a dynamic method under hydraulic conditions common in distillation columns, i.e., liquid flow rate from 6.94 × 10−4 to 0.0111 m/s and gas flow rate from 0.25 to 2 m/s. The two-response method with a diffusion-type model was used to reproduce the experimental response curves. Axial mixing in the gas increases with gas and liquid rates for both random and structured packings, but the dependence on the gas rate is very weak for the structured packing. The largest gas mixing was found for the Pall rings at the highest gas rate; the least was found for the structured packing at the lowest gas and liquid rates. Liquid-phase axial mixing increases with decreasing liquid flow rate and is independent of gas flow rate for both random and structured packings. The largest liquid mixing was found for the .
Field-Realistic Tylosin Exposure Impacts Honey Bee Microbiota and Pathogen Susceptibility, Which Is Ameliorated by Native Gut Probiotics

The antibiotic tylosin tartrate is used to treat honey bee hives to control Paenibacillus larvae, the bacterium that causes American foulbrood. We found that bees from tylosin-treated hives had gut microbiomes with depleted overall diversity as well as reduced absolute abundances and strain diversity of the beneficial bee gut bacteria Snodgrassella alvi and Bifidobacterium spp. ABSTRACT Antibiotics have been applied to honey bee (Apis mellifera) hives for decades to treat Paenibacillus larvae, which causes American foulbrood disease and kills honey bee larvae. One of the few antibiotics approved in apiculture is tylosin tartrate. This study examined how a realistic hive treatment regimen of tylosin affected the gut microbiota of bees and susceptibility to a bacterial pathogen. Tylosin treatment reduced bacterial species richness and phylogenetic diversity and reduced the absolute abundances and strain diversity of the beneficial core gut bacteria Snodgrassella alvi and Bifidobacterium spp. Bees from hives treated with tylosin died more quickly after being fed a bacterial pathogen (Serratia marcescens) in the laboratory. We then tested whether a probiotic cocktail of core bee gut species could bolster pathogen resistance. Probiotic exposure increased survival of bees from both control and tylosin-treated hives. Finally, we measured tylosin tolerance of core bee gut bacteria by plating cultured isolates on media with different tylosin concentrations. We observed highly variable responses, including large differences among strains of both S. alvi and Gilliamella spp. Thus, probiotic treatments using cultured bee gut bacteria may ameliorate harmful perturbations of the gut microbiota caused by antibiotics or other factors. IMPORTANCE The antibiotic tylosin tartrate is used to treat honey bee hives to control Paenibacillus larvae, the bacterium that causes American foulbrood. We found that bees from tylosin-treated hives had gut microbiomes with depleted overall diversity as well as reduced absolute abundances and strain diversity of the beneficial bee gut bacteria Snodgrassella alvi and Bifidobacterium spp. Furthermore, bees from treated hives suffered higher mortality when challenged with an opportunistic pathogen. Bees receiving a probiotic treatment, consisting of a cocktail of cultured isolates of native bee gut bacteria, had increased survival following pathogen challenge. Thus, probiotic treatment with native gut bacteria may ameliorate negative effects of antibiotic exposure.
Single‐molecule long‐read sequencing reveals extensive genomic and transcriptomic variation between maize and its wild relative teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis)

Teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis), the wild progenitor of maize (Zea mays L.), is an important germplasm resource for improvement of modern maize lines. However, we have limited genetic and genomic information about teosinte and lack state‐of‐the‐art tools to annotate transcriptomes assembled by single‐molecule long‐read sequencing without a reference genome. Here, we employed single‐molecule long‐read sequencing of cDNA libraries from five tissues of the teosinte inbred line TIL11 and identified 70,044 nonredundant transcript isoforms. We devised a state‐of‐the‐art, machine learning‐based bioinformatics pipeline DenovoAS_Finder to annotate the TIL11 transcriptome without a complete reference genome with an accuracy of up to 91%, providing a robust gene classifier of complex genomes. Additionally, we constructed a draft TIL11 genome with 16,633 high‐quality contigs and a N50 of 112 kb by Nanopore sequencing. Genes from families that expanded from teosinte to maize were significantly enriched in the gene ontology (GO) term “RNA modification pathway” and had more transcript isoforms in TIL11 than in the maize inbred line B73. Genes showed collinearity between TIL11 and B73, and intergenic regions were extensively altered by transposable elements. Our study furthers the understanding of maize domestication and provides a resource for the utilization of wild germplasm in maize breeding.
Development of a social contact self-efficacy scale for ‘third agers’ in Japan

Background “Third agers” are people over retirement age in relatively good health; third agers make up an increasing percentage of the global population as the world’s longevity increases. Therefore, the challenge of prolonging a healthy third age and shortening the unhealthy period during the “fourth age” in the global health and social contexts is important in this process. However, no means to measure and support this has been developed as yet. We developed the Social Contact Self-Efficacy Scale for Third Agers (SET) and evaluated its reliability and validity. Methods We used a self-administered mail survey covering 2,600 randomly selected independent older adults living in Yokohama, Japan. The construct validity of the SET was determined using exploratory factor and confirmatory factor analyses. Its criterion-related validity was assessed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence (JST-IC), and subjective health status. Results In total, 1,139 older adults provided responses. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified eight items within two factors: social space mobility and social support relationship. The final model had a Cronbach’s alpha 0.834, goodness-of-fit index 0.976, adjusted goodness-of-fit index 0.955, comparative fit index 0.982, and root mean square error of approximation 0.050. There was good correlation between scale scores and the GSES (r = 0.552, p < 0.001), JST-IC (r = 0.495, p < 0.001) and subjective health status (r = 0.361, p < 0.001). Conclusions The SET showed sufficient reliability and validity to assess self-efficacy in promoting social contact among third agers. This scale may help third agers in gaining and expanding opportunities for social contact, which can improve their physical health and quality of life and contribute to care prevention and healthy longevity.
Woven EndoBridge device for the treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms: A systematic review of clinical and angiographic results

Background and objective The clinical outcome and angiographic outcome data of Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device for the treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are limited. We conducted a meta-analysis of the latest literature on the WEB device in the treatment of ruptured IAs. Methods A comprehensive literature search of 4 databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library, and Embase) was conducted for studies published from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2020. Two reviewers independently extracted variables (aneurysm and patient characteristics) using a prespecified data-collection sheet. Outcomes studied included initial and latest follow-up angiographic outcomes, technical success rate, perioperative mortality, retreated rate, perioperative re-bleeding, complication, intraoperative rupture, favorable neurologic outcome at discharge. We used random-effects model to pool the data. Results We finally presented the results of 7 articles including 276 patients with 283 aneurysms. Initial complete and adequate occlusion rate were 38% (95% CI, 25%–50%) and 98% (95% CI, 95%–100%), respectively. Latest follow-up complete and adequate occlusion rate were 61% (95% CI, 46%–75%) and 91% (95% CI, 84%–98%), respectively.Technical success rate was 99% (95% CI, 98%–100%). Perioperative mortality rates and perioperative re-bleeding rate were 9% (95% CI, 3%–15%) and 1% (95% CI, 0%–2%), respectively. Retreated rate was 6% (95% CI, 3%–10%). Overall and WEB treatment-related thromboembolic complication was 10% (95% CI, 6%–13%) and 7% (95% CI, 2%–12%), respectively. Intraoperative rupture rate was 3% (95% CI, 0%–6%). Conclusion Endovascular treatment of ruptured IAs with the WEB device has a good safety profile and an acceptable aneurysm occlusion rate.
Genotypic and phenotypic analysis in 51 Chinese patients with primary distal renal tubular acidosis

The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic variants of 51 Chinese patients with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) and explore the correlation between their genotype and phenotype. Eight variants of SLC4A1, 19 variants of ATP6V0A4, and 16 variants of ATP6V1B1 have been identified, and of which 14 were novel ones. Eleven patients with autosomal dominant dRTA, and four patients with autosomal recessive dRTA were caused by genetic defects in SLC4A1; 18 and nine patients with recessive dRTA were resulted by defects in ATP6V0A4 and ATP6V1B1 respectively; no causal gene was identified in seven patients. Mutation frequency of SLC4A1 in Chinese populations was more common than Europeans. The incidence of deafness in ATP6V0A4 and ATP6V1B1 groups was 16.7% and 54.5%, respectively. The frequency of CKD in adults, children and infants was 100%, 51%, and 3%, separately. Our study will further expand the mutation spectrum of primary dRTA and provide valuable references to genetic counseling of Chinese populations.
School-based interventions to improve spinal health of children and adolescents: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Background The prevalence of spinal pain is high in children and adolescents attending school. There are no evidence-based guidelines to promote spinal health (spinal pain and spinal well-being) in schools Purpose This study aimed to 1) determine the usefulness of school-based interventions in promoting spinal health in children and adolescents and 2) synthesize the evidence in a user-friendly infographic. Methods A search was performed across eight databases from the inception of the databases to August 2019 for full-text English-language articles which assessed the effect of school-based interventions on spinal health. Spinal health outcomes included pain limited to the spinal area including lower back, upper back, neck, and neck-shoulder pain, and impacts of spinal pain (e.g., absenteeism from school). Studies were appraised for methodological quality (PEDro scale and Johanna Briggs Institute checklist). The usefulness of interventions was based on meta-analyses; calculated effect size; the number of spinal health outcomes; and the direction of the (summary) effect of the intervention. Results Twenty-two studies were included. Four interventions were identified: 1) exercise; 2) education; 3) the combination of exercise and education; and 4) furniture. Conclusion School-based exercise is most useful to promote spinal health in the short term, followed by a combination of exercise and education, and education-only interventions.