Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting Optimal Antimalarial Drug Combinations from a Standardized Plasmodium falciparum Humanized Mouse Model

The development of new combinations of antimalarial drugs is urgently needed to prevent the spread of parasites resistant to drugs in clinical use and contribute to the control and eradication of malaria. In this work, we evaluated a standardized humanized mouse model of erythrocyte asexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum (PfalcHuMouse) for the selection of optimal drug combinations. ABSTRACT The development of new combinations of antimalarial drugs is urgently needed to prevent the spread of parasites resistant to drugs in clinical use and contribute to the control and eradication of malaria. In this work, we evaluated a standardized humanized mouse model of erythrocyte asexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum (PfalcHuMouse) for the selection of optimal drug combinations. First, we showed that the replication of P. falciparum was robust and highly reproducible in the PfalcHuMouse model by retrospective analysis of historical data. Second, we compared the relative value of parasite clearance from blood, parasite regrowth after suboptimal treatment (recrudescence), and cure as variables of therapeutic response to measure the contributions of partner drugs to combinations in vivo. To address the comparison, we first formalized and validated the day of recrudescence (DoR) as a new variable and found that there was a log-linear relationship with the number of viable parasites per mouse. Then, using historical data on monotherapy and two small cohorts of PfalcHuMice evaluated with ferroquine plus artefenomel or piperaquine plus artefenomel, we found that only measurements of parasite killing (i.e., cure of mice) as a function of drug exposure in blood allowed direct estimation of the individual drug contribution to efficacy by using multivariate statistical modeling and intuitive graphic displays. Overall, the analysis of parasite killing in the PfalcHuMouse model is a unique and robust experimental in vivo tool to inform the selection of optimal combinations by pharmacometric pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling.
Judgment Model of Cock Reproductive Performance based on Vison Transformer

With the improvement of people's living standards, the demand for poultry has further increased. The screening of cock reproductive performance according to semen quality has become one of the attention directions. It is time-consuming to screen the breeding performance of cocks based on human vision, and there will be recognition errors. In this study, combined with the hypothesis that there is a correlation between cockscomb characteristics and semen quality, a scheme based on computer vision is proposed to avoid this problem. The collected cockscomb data are input into our model, which can automatically judge the breeding performance of cocks. We use transfer learning and change the weight ratio of the latest fine-grained visual classification algorithm Transfg at different depths to improve the accuracy of our data set. The average accuracy of the model in the test set is 44.6% (the data set contains 2053 pictures in the training set and 505 pictures in the test set), which is 1% better than the original vision transformer and 1.3% better than the convolution network model.
Identification of the acoustic response in the irrotational near-field of an excited subsonic jet

Analysis and understanding of the noise generation processes in high-speed, high-Reynolds number jets are hampered by the broad range of turbulent scales and the disparate fluctuation intensities of the acoustic response hidden under the hydrodynamic source. Towards providing insight into these processes, the irrotational near-field of an unheated, Mach 0.9 jet is decomposed into its constitutive hydrodynamic and acoustic components using three separate filters in the present work. Previous work had decomposed the full near-field pressure signal into its hydrodynamic and acoustic components using a linear filter in Fourier space. The presence of numerical artifacts in the results prompted the current study, in which a new algorithm is developed to filter the pressure field in wavelet space. Results from the new method are then compared against those obtained using the standard Fourier-based algorithm, as well as another algorithm based upon the empirical mode decomposition. The ability of the wavelet-based algorithm to decompose the broadband irrotational pressure field into its constitutive components, as well as to identify and extract individual events, is found to be superior to that of the other two decomposition methods.
Exploring metaphorical polysemy with Multiple Correspondence analysis: A corpus-based study on the predicative hei ‘black’ in Chinese

This paper provides a corpus-based, statistical analysis to explore the semantic (dis)similarities of four metaphorical meanings of the Chinese color term hēi ‘black’ regarding its predicative usages. With the Behavioral Profiles approach, 379 instances were manually annotated with 35 contextual features proposed from three categories, including lexical-collocational, morphosyntactic and semantic, and discourse information, to capture the contextual variations of hēi . Based on the annotated data, the Multiple Correspondence analysis (MCA) technique is then used to visualize the semantic distribution of the four meanings of hēi and their strength of associations with the distinctive features. It is found that the semantic (dis)similarities of the four meanings of hēi are well profiled by the MCA results, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the MCA method in studying metaphorical polysemy.
Perceptual Overlap in Classification of L2 Vowels: Australian English Vowels Perceived by Experienced Mandarin Listeners

This paper presents a study examining the role of classification overlap in second language (L2) vowel perception. Eighteen experienced L1 Mandarin Chinese (MC) listeners completed a classification task on twelve Australian English (AusE) monophthongal vowels. It was found that the AusE vowels were not equally difficult for the MC listeners, and the vowels also showed various overlapping patterns in the classification space. Correlation tests revealed that for individual L2 vowels, the classification accuracy was negatively correlated with the mean reaction time (RT), r = -0.817, p = 0.001; the level of classification overlap was negatively correlated with the mean accuracy, r = -0.860, p < 0.001, while positively correlated with the mean RT, r = 0.760, p = 0.004. The findings suggest that classification overlap can inform how experienced L2 listeners’ first language (L1) phonology influences vowel perception in a non-native language.
Speaker Identification of Quotes in Japanese Novels based on Gender Classification Model by BERT

In the Japanese language, particles and auxiliary verbs in utterances tend to vary depend-ing on the speaker’s gender. Thus, the linguistic expressions within the utterance are an important hint in identifying the speaker. This research proposes a method for identifying the speaker in novels using linguistic expressions within the utterances that reﬂect the gender. We constructed a dataset of utterances with gender-speciﬁc linguistic expressions by automatically collecting utterances from novels that contained the ﬁrst-person pronouns “ 俺 (ore)” or “ 私 (watashi)”, considering that “ 俺 (ore)” is primarily used by males and “ 私 (watashi)” is primarily used by females. We ﬁne-tuned a BERT (Devlin et al., 2019)-based gender-speciﬁc language model that classiﬁes the gender of the speaker of a given utterance using this dataset as the training data. The ﬁne-tuned gender classiﬁcation model achieved an accuracy of 87.9% when evaluating the utterances of two main characters in a Japanese romance novel, demonstrat-ing that this gender classiﬁcation model is effective in speaker identiﬁcation.
Rejoicing of the hearts: Turkish constructions of Muslim whiteness in Africa south of the Sahara

Abstract This article analyses the racial framing of the humanitarian encounter between Turkish and African Muslims as a trope of first contact. Intensifying humanitarian relations with Africa south of the Sahara, in tandem with the foreign policy of the AKP (Justice and Development Party), has led to the emergence of a racialized affective regime in Turkey that endows Islamic philanthropy with new racial meanings. This article argues that racial subjects such as the White Muslim and the Black Muslim are produced through the affective labour of humanitarian volunteers and others, who narrativize and circulate experiences of first contact in Turkey. Based on a multi-sited ethnography in Turkey, Tanzania, Senegal, Gambia and Benin, this article explores race-making as affective labour. Taking on Berg and Ramos-Zayas’s call for an anthropological theorization of race and affect, it develops a critical framework to examine how humanitarian voluntarism produces differently racialized subjects. In order to do so, this analysis draws on James Baldwin’s insights into the racial and affective politics of the first contact to discuss how Turkish humanitarians build on and alter the racialized affective regime Baldwin describes.
The catalytic effect of near-inertial waves on $\beta$-plane zonal jets

Abstract Zonal jets and inertia–gravity waves are ubiquitous on planets such as Earth, Jupiter and Saturn. Motivated by the modification of energy flux of balanced flow by inertia–gravity waves, this paper studies the impact of near-inertial waves (NIWs) on zonal jets on a $\beta$-plane. Using a two-dimensional quasi-geostrophic and NIW coupled system on a $\beta$-plane (Xie & Vanneste, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 774, 2015, pp. 143–169), we find NIWs catalytically impact several features of zonal jets. The NIWs inhibit jet formation due to the waves’ catalytic induction of downscale mean energy flux. As the strength of NIWs increases, a critical point exists beyond which zonal jets are annihilated. The jet spacing is captured by the Rhines scale $L\sim \sqrt {U/\beta }$ with $U$ estimated from the upscale energy flux induced by the mean flow alone, which again shows that the NIWs’ impact is catalytic. Also, the temporal asymmetry of NIWs leads to the spatial asymmetry of jet dynamics. The jet profiles are asymmetric with a stronger shear on the left flank. And similar to the left turning of vortex dipole under the impact of NIWs, the NIW-modified jets migrate poleward. The NIWs also show a catalytic role in jet migration: the net momentum flux directly induced by NIWs is of secondary importance in the zonal mean momentum dynamics and impedes jet migration, while the advective effect of NIW-modified mean flow dominates the jet migration velocity.
Does Data Weighting Improve Propensity Scores

Propensity Score Matching (PSM) is the current popular method used to evaluate an impact of the programmes compared to other non-experimental methods. The method is the most widely used type of matching in which the comparison group is matched with the treatment group on the basis of a set of observed characteristics or by using the propensity score (PS). Although it has emerged as the most widely used method in measuring non-experimental design, it suffers from the debates. One of the major debates of PSM is its functional form. The paper intended to analyse the effects of weighted data in generating PS. The data were collected through the mixed approach as the data collected were both numerical and textural from five Tanzania regions namely: Kagera, Mwanza, Mara, Simiyu and Kigoma. PS was generated using the Logistic Regression (LR) model. The findings show that the weighted data slightly improves propensity scores than unweighted data. Basing on the findings, it can be concluded that the representative sample for the population produce better PS compared to unrepresentative samples. As the weighted data provides better PS compared to unweighted data, the efficiency of PSM is improved. For better results of an impact of the programme, the logistic regression model with the sample data which is representative of the population should be used.
The Impact of the Belt and Road Infrastructure Development on the Economic Growth of the Partner Countries

As of July 2022, China has signed more than 200 cooperation agreements on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with 149 countries and 32 international organizations. This research aims to explore the impact of the infrastructure development of this initiative on the economic growth of countries participating in the BRI. Based on the panel data of 130 participating countries and 46 other countries from 2006 to 2019, the difference-in-difference (DID) model and multiple robustness tests were used for empirical evaluation. We found a positive correlation between BRI and the economic growth of BRI-cooperating countries. The heterogeneity test results show that BRI has a more prominent role in promoting the economic growth of upper-middle-income and high-income countries with relatively good industrial foundations. The impact of improved infrastructure development through BRI accounted for 88.42% of the total mediating effect, which is much more significant than promoting industrial upgrading and enhancing innovation capacity. These results support the view that BRI should continue to advance infrastructure development to boost the economic growth of developing countries.
Impact of an Elementary School-Based Wellness Initiative on Child Obesity Prevalence: LiveWell Kids

Despite major public health investments over the past several decades, little progress has been made in reducing the prevalence of obesity among school-aged children in the United States. In 2007, the Redondo Beach Unified School District (RBUSD) and the Beach Cities Health District launched a wellness initiative, LiveWell Kids, that included multi-level interventions to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. The initiative also included annual measurements of height and weight among all kindergartners and first, third, and fifth graders in the eight elementary schools in the RBUSD. To assess trends in obesity prevalence, we analyzed height and weight data collected during the 2008 to 2009 to 2018 to 2019 school years. To more fully assess the impact of the initiative, we conducted a least-squares regression difference-in-differences analysis of data from the California Physical Fitness Testing Program on measured height and weight among fifth graders from the RBUSD, three neighboring school districts, and Los Angeles County overall. Among elementary school students in the RBUSD, obesity prevalence decreased from 13.9% in 2008 to 2009 to 6.4% in 2018 to 2019. Significant declines in prevalence were observed in all eight elementary schools, and across all grade levels and demographic groups. Among fifth graders, a similar decline in obesity prevalence was not observed in the other school districts or the county overall. The findings suggest that interventions that adhere to the socio-ecologic model and engage students, parents, and school personnel at all levels while also addressing school and community environments may reduce obesity prevalence among elementary school-aged children.
Long-term Outcomes After Arthroscopic Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement for Patients With Borderline Dysplasia

Background: Outcomes after isolated hip arthroscopic surgery for patients with dysplasia have been unfavorable. Results have included iatrogenic instability and conversion to total hip arthroplasty at a young age. However, patients with borderline dysplasia (BD) have shown more favorable results at short- and medium-term follow-up. Purpose: To assess long-term outcomes after hip arthroscopic surgery for femoroacetabular impingement in patients with BD (lateral center-edge angle [LCEA] = 18°-25°) compared with a control group of patients without dysplasia (LCEA = 26°-40°). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We identified a group of 33 patients (38 hips) with BD who were treated for FAI between March 2009 and July 2012. An age- and sex-matched control group of 83 patients (96 hips) was also identified. Patient-reported outcome scores were collected preoperatively and subsequently at a mean of 9.6 years postoperatively. Results: The mean LCEA and Tönnis angle were 22.42°± 2.02° and 6.27°± 3.23° in the BD group, respectively, and 31.71°± 3.52° and 2.42°± 3.02° in the control group, respectively (P < .001). At a mean follow-up of 9.6 years (range, 8.2-11.6 years), there was a significant improvement in all patient-reported outcome scores in both groups (P < .001). There were no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative scores or rates of achieving the minimal clinically important difference between the BD and control groups. Bilateral surgery was noted to be a risk factor for any revision during the follow-up period (P < .001). There were 2 hips (5.3%) that underwent revision surgery in the BD group and 10 hips (10.4%) in the control group; of these, 1 patient in the BD group underwent total hip arthroplasty, and 1 patient who had undergone bilateral surgery in the control group underwent bilateral hip resurfacing. Conclusion: Durable outcomes (>9 years) with low revision rates can be expected after hip arthroscopic surgery with an approach that involves labral preservation where possible and careful attention to capsular closure in patients with BD. The observed outcomes were similar to those of a femoroacetabular impingement group with normal coverage. These results highlight the importance of classifying patients into impingement or instability categories and tailoring treatment appropriately with arthroscopic surgery or periacetabular osteotomy, respectively.
Evaporation of rain falling from convective clouds as derived from radar measurements

Abstract The rainshafts of about 3000 summer afternoon convective rain cells in the semiarid region of central south Africa were tracked and measured with a volume scanning radar. The area and time integrated rain volume of each individual rain cell was obtained at the cloud base level and at a lower level, assuming a fixed radar reflectivity-rain intensity (Z-R) relationship. The ratio of the rain volumes at the two levels arid, thereby, the cumulative fractional evaporation of the failing rain was found to depend on the rain intensity at the cloud base level and on the fall distance from the cloud base. With a small lifetime peak rain intensity at the cloud base (1.0 mm h−1), about 50% of the rain evaporated by 1 km below the cloud base and all of the rain evaporated by 1.6 km. With a medium rain intensity (10 mm h−1), about 25% evaporated by 1 km and 50% by 1.6 km. With very heavy rain intensity (80 mm h−1), about 15% evaporated by 1 km and 30% by 1.6 km below the cloud base level. These must be regard.
A moving target. EU actorness and the Russian invasion of Ukraine

ABSTRACT The war in Ukraine sends mixed signals about the capacity of the EU to be a relevant actor. Despite steps forward over defense, strategic autonomy has been seen as a ‘pipe dream’ that has encountered a ‘reality check’. Key member states are in a similar predicament. Despite talk of a Zeitenwende, Germany has been deemed a ‘reluctant giant’. France has allegedly seen discourse on European sovereignty vindicated, but at the same time has managed to alienate a few EU countries. We interpret this ambivalence as an effect of the fragmentation of the liberal international order, accelerated by war in Ukraine, and claim that this process is increasing the requirements for EU actorness. We then identify a range of reactions to such situation. We map them and leverage the mapping to offer a research agenda on the politics of EU foreign policy.
Orchid seed germination through auto-activation of mycorrhizal symbiosis signaling regulated by gibberellin

Orchids parasitically depend on external nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination. Previous findings suggest that orchids utilize a genetic system of mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis to establish parasitic symbiosis. In AM symbiosis, recent studies have revealed that the plant hormone gibberellin (GA) negatively affects fungal colonization and development. Although previous studies imply that GA is important for orchid mycorrhizal symbiosis, the molecular mechanism of seed germination in which mycorrhizal symbiosis co-occurs remains unclear because, in AM plants, GA regulates seed germination and symbiosis positively and negatively, respectively. To elucidate this conflict, we investigated the effect of GA on Bletilla striata seed germination and mycorrhizal symbiosis using asymbiotic and symbiotic germination methods. Additionally, we compared the transcriptome profiles between asymbiotically and symbiotically germinated seeds. Exogenous GA negatively affected seed germination and fungal colonization, and endogenous bioactive GA was actively converted to the inactive form during seed germination. Transcriptome analysis showed that B. striata shared many of the induced genes between asymbiotically and symbiotically germinated seeds, including GA metabolism- and signaling-related genes and AM-specific marker homologs. Our study suggests that orchids have evolved in a manner that they do not use bioactive GA as a positive regulator of seed germination and instead, auto-activate the mycorrhizal symbiosis pathway through GA inactivation to accept the fungal partner immediately during seed germination.
Embedding stochastic dynamics of the environment in spontaneous activity by prediction-based plasticity

The brain learns an internal model of the environment through sensory experiences, which is essential for high-level cognitive processes. Recent studies show that spontaneous activity reflects such learned internal model. Although computational studies have proposed that Hebbian plasticity can learn the switching dynamics of replayed activities, it is still challenging to learn dynamic spontaneous activity that obeys the statistical properties of sensory experience. Here, we propose a pair of biologically plausible plasticity rules for excitatory and inhibitory synapses in a recurrent spiking neural network model to embed stochastic dynamics in spontaneous activity. The proposed synaptic plasticity rule for excitatory synapses seeks to minimize the discrepancy between stimulus-evoked and internally predicted activity, while inhibitory plasticity maintains the excitatory-inhibitory balance. We show that the spontaneous reactivation of cell assemblies follows the transition statistics of the model’s evoked dynamics. We also demonstrate that simulations of our model can replicate recent experimental results of spontaneous activity in songbirds, suggesting that the proposed plasticity rule might underlie the mechanism by which animals learn internal models of the environment. Significance Statement While spontaneous activity in the brain is often seen as simple background noise, recent work has hypothesized that spontaneous activity instead reflects the brain’s learnt internal model. While several studies have proposed synaptic plasticity rules to generate structured spontaneous activities, the mechanism of learning and embedding transition statistics in spontaneous activity is still unclear. Using a computational model, we investigate the synaptic plasticity rules that learn dynamic spontaneous activity obeying appropriate transition statistics. Our results shed light on the learning mechanism of the brain’s internal model, which is a crucial step towards a better understanding of the role of spontaneous activity as an internal generative model of stochastic processes in complex environments.