Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Near‐term phytoplankton forecasts reveal the effects of model time step and forecast horizon on predictability

Abstract As climate and land use increase the variability of many ecosystems, forecasts of ecological variables are needed to inform management and use of ecosystem services. In particular, forecasts of phytoplankton would be especially useful for drinking water management, as phytoplankton populations are exhibiting greater fluctuations due to human activities. While phytoplankton forecasts are increasing in number, many questions remain regarding the optimal model time step (the temporal frequency of the forecast model output), time horizon (the length of time into the future a prediction is made) for maximizing forecast performance, as well as what factors contribute to uncertainty in forecasts and their scalability among sites. To answer these questions, we developed near‐term, iterative forecasts of phytoplankton 1–14 days into the future using forecast models with three different time steps (daily, weekly, fortnightly), that included a full uncertainty partitioning analysis at two drinking water reservoirs. We found that forecast accuracy varies with model time step and forecast horizon, and that forecast models can outperform null estimates under most conditions. Weekly and fortnightly forecasts consistently outperformed daily forecasts at 7‐day and 14‐day horizons, a trend that increased up to the 14‐day forecast horizon. Importantly, our work suggests that forecast accuracy can be increased by matching the forecast model time step to the forecast horizon for which predictions are needed. We found that model process uncertainty was the primary source of uncertainty in our phytoplankton forecasts over the forecast period, but parameter uncertainty increased during phytoplankton blooms and when scaling the forecast model to a new site. Overall, our scalability analysis shows promising results that simple models can be transferred to produce forecasts at additional sites. Altogether, our study advances our understanding of how forecast model time step and forecast horizon influence the forecastability of phytoplankton dynamics in aquatic systems and adds to the growing body of work regarding the predictability of ecological systems broadly.
Tumor FAK orchestrates immunosuppression in ovarian cancer via the CD155/TIGIT axis

Significance High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is an immunotherapy-resistant lethal cancer. An HGSOC hallmark is elevated checkpoint pathway ligand expression that limits antitumor immune responses. Computational, preclinical, and patient tumor multiplexed analyses revealed that tumor-associated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation regulates CD155 expression, a checkpoint ligand for TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domains). Using an aggressive mouse ovarian tumor model, we find that combined oral FAK inhibitor plus function-blocking TIGIT antibody immunotherapy reduced tumor burden, prolonged mouse survival, and led to immune cell activation and tertiary lymphoid structure formation, hallmarks of an antitumor immune response. As FAK is commonly overexpressed in HGSOC tumors, targeting FAK and TIGIT may limit tumor immune evasion.
Differences in Multiple-Choice Questions of Opposite Stem Orientations Based on a Novel Item Quality Measure

Objective. To determine whether there are differences in the performance and quality of multiple-choice items with opposite stem orientations (positive or negative), based on a novel item quality measure and conventional psychometric parameters. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted on multiple-choice assessment items used in years two and three of pharmacy school for pharmacotherapy and related courses administered between August 2018 and December 2019. Conventional psychometric parameters (difficulty and discrimination indices), average response time, nonfunctional distractor percentage, and a novel measure of item quality of negatively worded items were compared with those of control items, namely positively worded items (n=103 each). This novel measure uses difficulty and discrimination in tandem for the decision to reject, review, or retain items in an assessment. Statistical analyses were performed on continuous and categorical variables, on the relationship between difficulty and discrimination, and on differences in correlation coefficients between positively and negatively worded items. Results. Stem orientation was not significantly associated with the novel measure of item quality. Also, there were no significant differences between positively and negatively worded items in any of the psychometric parameters. There were significant, negative correlations between difficulty and discrimination indices in both groups, and the correlation coefficients were significantly stronger in positively versus negatively worded items. Conclusion. Items with opposite stem orientations show no differences in the novel item quality measure nor in conventional measures of performance and quality, except in difficulty-discrimination relationships. This suggests that negatively worded items should be used when necessary, but cautiously.
Effects of Biosolids Application on Temporal Variations in SoilPhysical and Unsaturated Hydraulic Properties

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of biosolids on temporal variability of physical and hydraulic properties of a calcareous soil. The biosolids was added to the soil at 0, 25, 50 and 100 Mg ha–1. Soil physical properties including aggregate stability, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, final infiltration rate and available water capacity were determined at 28, 85, 145, 221, 441 and 530 days after the biosolids application. The soil physical properties significantly changed in different sampling dates showing a significant temporal variation following the biosolids application. The unsaturated hydraulic properties were estimated using van Genuchten (1980) and Mualem (1976) equations. Unsaturated hydraulic properties significantly change following biosolids application and sampling dates. The soil moisture characteristic and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity are key parameters in water flow and solute transport modeling processes. Thus, the temporal variations in soil physical and hydraulic properties should be considered in solute transport modeling and studies following biosolids application.
Adhesion G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Structure, Signaling, Physiology and Pathophysiology.

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (AGPCRs) are a family of thirty-three receptors in humans exhibiting a conserved general structure but diverse expression patterns and physiological functions. The large N-termini characteristic of AGPCRs confer unique properties to each receptor and possess a variety of distinct domains that can bind to a diverse array of extracellular proteins and components of the extracellular matrix. The traditional view of AGPCRs, as implied by their name, is that their core function is the mediation of adhesion. In recent years, though, many surprising advances have been made regarding AGPCR signaling mechanisms, activation by mechanosensory forces, and stimulation by small-molecule ligands such as steroid hormones and bioactive lipids. Thus, a new view of AGPCRs has begun to emerge in which these receptors are seen as massive signaling platforms that are crucial for the integration of adhesive, mechanosensory, and chemical stimuli. This review article describes the recent advances that have led to this new understanding of AGPCR function and also discusses new insights into the physiological actions of these receptors as well as their roles in human disease.
The immune response to COVID‐19: Does sex matter?

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has created unprecedented challenges worldwide. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) causes COVID‐19 and has a complex interaction with the immune system, including growing evidence of sex‐specific differences in the immune response. Sex‐disaggregated analyses of epidemiological data indicate that males experience more severe symptoms and suffer higher mortality from COVID‐19 than females. Many behavioural risk factors and biological factors may contribute to the different immune response. This review examines the immune response to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in the context of sex, with emphasis on potential biological mechanisms explaining differences in clinical outcomes. Understanding sex differences in the pathophysiology of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection will help promote the development of specific strategies to manage the disease.
Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes With Regular Yoga and Heartfulness Meditation Practice: Results From a Multinational, Cross-sectional Study

Background Although the benefits of yoga are well established across the world, there are limited studies exploring the long-term interrelation between yoga, meditation, and health. Specifically, there is limited research exploring the differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among regular meditators and nonmeditators. Objective This study explored the differences in 7 domains of HRQOL (including quality of life, ability to adopt a healthy lifestyle, ability to relax, frequency of nervousness and stress, coping with day-to-day stress, workplace productivity, and staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic) among practitioners of yoga and meditation. Methods A cross-sectional, online survey was distributed to all members who participated in a 100-day yoga and meditation program, culminating in the International Day of Yoga event, organized by the Heartfulness Institute in partnership with the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, Ministry of Ayush, SVYASA Yoga University, and Patanjali Yoga Institute, India. The program consisted of daily virtual yoga, meditation, and speaker sessions. The data were analyzed by nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis tests for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables. Results A total of 3164 participants from 39 countries completed the survey. Mean age was 33.8 (SD 13.6) years. The majority of the participants were female (n=1643, 52%) and students (n=1312, 41.5%). Regular yoga and meditation practice was associated with a positive impact on all 7 domains of HRQOL (Mann-Whitney P<.05 and χ2 P<.05). Notably, experienced Heartfulness (≥2 years) meditators reported better outcomes in all the domains of HRQOL as compared to those not currently practicing this form of meditation and participants with ≤1 year of Heartfulness meditation experience (P<.05). Conclusions This is one of the first cross-sectional studies to explore HRQOL outcomes among participants of a 100-day virtual yoga and meditation program. Overall, a yoga and meditation practice was found to be an effective tool for promoting HRQOL. Regular yoga and meditation practice was associated with factors promoting health and well-being, with long-term meditation practice associated with increased benefits.
Development of a Monoclonal Antibody PMab-292 Against Ferret Podoplanin.

Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) have been used as small animal models to investigate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) infections. Pathological analyses of these tissue samples, including those of the lung, are, therefore, essential to understand the pathogenesis of SARS-CoVs and evaluate the action of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against this disease. However, mAbs that recognize ferret-derived proteins and distinguish between specific cell types, such as lung epithelial cells, are limited. Podoplanin (PDPN) has been identified as an essential marker in lung type I alveolar epithelial cells, kidney podocytes, and lymphatic endothelial cells. In this study, an anti-ferret PDPN (ferPDPN) mAb PMab-292 (mouse IgG1, kappa) was established using the Cell-Based Immunization and Screening (CBIS) method. PMab-292 recognized ferPDPN-overexpressed Chinese hamster ovary-K1 (CHO/ferPDPN) cells by flow cytometry and Western blotting. The kinetic analysis using flow cytometry showed that the KD of PMab-292 for CHO/ferPDPN was 3.4 × 10-8 M. Furthermore, PMab-292 detected lung type I alveolar epithelial cells, lymphatic endothelial cells, and glomerular/Bowman's capsule in the kidney using immunohistochemistry. Hence, these results propose the usefulness of PMab-292 in analyzing ferret-derived tissues for SARS-CoV-2 research.
Identification of candidate genes involved in salt stress response at germination and seedling stages by QTL mapping in upland cotton

Abstract Salinity is a major abiotic stress at critical stages of seed germination and seedling establishment. Germination rate (GR) and field emergence rate (FER) are the key traits that determine the basic number of plants stand under field conditions. To explore molecular mechanisms in upland cotton under salt stress, a population of 177 recombinant inbred lines, and their parents were evaluated for seed germination traits (GP, germination potential; GR; FW, fresh weight; DW, dry weight; GL, germinal length) and seedling traits (FER; SH, seedling height; NL, number of main stem leaves) in 2016–2018. Based on the linkage map contained 2,859 single nucleotide polymorphism and simple sequence repeat markers, traits under salt stress (E1) and normal conditions (E2), and in the converted relative index (R-value) dataset of 3 years’ trials were used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL). A total of 3 QTL and 2 clusters were detected as salt-tolerant QTL. Three QTL (qGR-Chr4-3, qFER-Chr12-3, and qFER-Chr15-1) were detected under salt stress conditions and R-value dataset, which explained variance of phenotype 9.62–13.67%, and 4.2–4.72%, 4.75–8.96%, respectively. Two clusters (Loci-Chr4-2 and Loci-Chr5-4) harboring the QTL for 4 germination traits (GR, FER, GL, and NL) and 6 seedling traits (GR, FER, DW, FW, SH, and NL) were detected related under salt stress. A total of 691 genes were found in the candidate QTL or clusters. Among them, 4 genes (Gh_A04G1106, Gh_A05G3246, Gh_A05G3177, and Gh_A05G3266) showed expression differences between salt-sensitive and -tolerant lines under salt stress conditions, and were assigned as candidate genes in response to salt stress. The consistent salt-tolerance QTL identified in both germination and seedling stages will facilitate novel insights into effective utilization of cotton genetic resources.
An efficient pipelined architecture for real-valued Fast Fourier Transform

ABSTRACT Real-valued Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) plays an important role in today’s digital world because of the fact that most of the signals contain real values. The FFT computation of real signals using conventional techniques requires more hardware space with high power consumption, which is the most important task for a researcher while designing VLSI architectures. This can be eradicated by clearly analysing the symmetric property of the real-valued signals. In this paper, we have adopted the symmetric property and designed an efficient pipelined architecture for 16-point DIF FFT. The pipeline scheme reduce the processing time at the cost of some registers and in order to contribute efficiently for power reduction we have modified the complex multiplier with reduced internal real multipliers which are in turn replaced by an modified canonic signed digit multiplier (CSDM) with resource-sharing technique. The complete module is synthesised and simulated using Xilinx ISE 14.1 with the target device is Virtex-5 xc5vlx110T. The experimental results verify that our implemented design is more efficient in terms of speed, area and power when comparing with similar works.
Hyperspectral and Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging for Monitoring the Effect of Epinephrine in Local Anesthetics in Oculoplastic Surgery

Purpose: Epinephrine is used in local anesthetics to induce vasoconstriction and thus reduce bleeding and prolong the anesthetic effect. Finding the optimal delay between the administration of the anesthetic and skin incision to ensure vasoconstriction and minimize bleeding is important and has recently become the subject of debate. This is the first study to assess blood perfusion and oxygen saturation (sO2) simultaneously in response to a local anesthetic containing epinephrine in human oculoplastic surgery. Methods: A local anesthetic consisting of lidocaine and epinephrine (20 mg/ml + 12.5 μg/ml) was injected in the eyelids of 9 subjects undergoing blepharoplasty. The perfusion and sO2 of the eyelids were monitored using laser speckle contrast imaging and hyperspectral imaging, respectively. Results: Laser speckle contrast imaging monitoring showed a decrease in perfusion over time centrally at the site of injection. Half-maximum effect was reached after 34 seconds, and full effect after 115 seconds, determined by exponential fitting. The drop in perfusion decreased gradually further away from the injection site and hypoperfusion was less prominent 4 mm from the injection site, with a spatially dependent half-maximum effect of 231 seconds. Hyperspectral imaging showed only a slight decrease in sO2 of 11 % at the injection site. Conclusions: The optimal time delay for skin incision in oculoplastic surgery is approximately 2 minutes after the injection of lidocaine with epinephrine. Longer delay does not lead to a further decrease in perfusion. As sO2 was only slightly reduced after injection, the results indicate that the use of epinephrine is safe in the periocular region. The optimal waiting time for skin incision after injection with a local anesthetic with epinephrine is 2 minutes. Perfusion decreased distinctly during this time, but oxygenation was preserved to a higher extent.
The Value of a 'Failed' R&D Project: An Emerging Evaluation Framework for Building Innovative Capabilities

In literature and R&D organizations alike, project success consists in minimizing the deviations from set targets in terms of quality, cost and time. The main management task is to execute and monitor progress to reduce risks – assuming that project attributes are known, necessary resources can be estimated and a reasonable time table can be agreed upon. In such a context, evaluating project success is easy. However, in an innovative context, setting project targets initially is difficult and the contributions of the projects sometimes are of an unexpected nature. This paper investigates if projects can be evaluated in terms of how they contribute to the building of innovative capabilities of the firm instead of independently. Based on a case study at the Re´gie Autonome des Transports Parisians and the theoretical framework of innovation fields, a framework for evaluating projects from an additional perspective is proposed. Based on the following four criteria: financial resources, the development of a structured, refined and expanded strategic vision, developed competences (with related suppliers) and identification of knowledge gaps (occasionally with related partners for knowledge production), this framework shows how seemingly failed R&D projects can instead be considered as invaluable to the overall innovation process.
Multimodal Single‐Cell Analyses Outline the Immune Microenvironment and Therapeutic Effectors of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) has a significant impact on quality of life, but the etiopathogenesis remains largely unknown. The bladder microenvironment of patients with IC/BPS to obtain biological evidence supporting diagnosis and novel therapy is systematically characterized. Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) and image mass cytometry (IMC) are applied to bladder biopsies of the IC/BPS cohort. A total of 42 distinct cell clusters are identified from different groups. The increased hyperactivated Th1‐biased response, but not Th2‐biased response, and decreased immunosuppressive Treg are elucidated in the bladder microenvironment of non‐Hunner‐type IC (NHIC)/Hunner‐type IC (HIC). M2/M2‐like macrophage extends in the HIC and M1‐like macrophage extends in NHIC, all of which secrete a range of chemokines with different pattern. The pro‐inflammatory mediators, TNF‐α, produced by tissue‐resident macrophages and IL6, by the inflammatory fibroblasts are identified as key mediators of IC/BPS pathogenesis. Additionally, a regulatory network between different cell types is observed as a shift from structural cell communication in unaffected normal bladder to a Macrophage‐Endothelial‐dominated interactome in NHIC/HIC. The results demonstrate the high heterogeneity in NHIC/HIC, and provide an essential resource for diagnosis, and treatment of IC/BPS in the future by highlighting the importance of the microenvironment of bladder mucosa.
Genetic covariance in immune measures and pathogen resistance in decorated crickets is sex and pathogen specific

Abstract Insects are important models for studying immunity in an ecological and evolutionary context. Yet, most empirical work on the insect immune system has come from phenotypic studies meaning we have a limited understanding of the genetic architecture of immune function in the sexes. We use nine highly inbred lines to thoroughly examine the genetic relationships between a suite of commonly used immune assays (haemocyte count, implant encapsulation, total phenoloxidase activity, antibacterial zone of inhibition and pathogen clearance) and resistance to infection by three generalist insect pathogens (the gram‐negative bacterium Serratia marcescens, the gram‐positive bacterium Bacillus cereus and the fungus Metarhizium robertsii) in male and female Gryllodes sigillatus. There were consistent positive genetic correlations between haemocyte count, antibacterial and phenoloxidase activity and resistance to S. marcescens in both sexes, but these relationships were less consistent for resistance to B. cereus and M. robertsii. In addition, the clearance of S. marcescens was genetically correlated with the resistance to all three pathogens in both sexes. Genetic correlations between resistances to the different pathogen species were inconsistent, indicating that resistance to one pathogen does not necessarily mean resistance to another. Finally, while there is ample genetic (co)variance in immune assays and pathogen resistance, these genetic estimates differed across the sexes and many of these measures were not genetically correlated across the sexes, suggesting that these measures could evolve independently in the sexes. Our finding that the genetic architecture of immune function is sex and pathogen specific suggests that the evolution of immune function in male and female G. sigillatus is likely to be complex. Similar quantitative genetic studies that measure a large number of assays and resistance to multiple pathogens in both sexes are needed to ascertain if this complexity extends to other species.