Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting visual working memory with multimodal magnetic resonance imaging

The indispensability of visual working memory (VWM) in human daily life suggests its importance in higher cognitive functions and neurological diseases. However, despite the extensive research efforts, most findings on the neural basis of VWM are limited to a unimodal context (either structure or function) and have low generalization. To address the above issues, this study proposed the usage of multimodal neuroimaging in combination with machine learning to reveal the neural mechanism of VWM across a large cohort (N = 547). Specifically, multimodal magnetic resonance imaging features extracted from voxel‐wise amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations, gray matter volume, and fractional anisotropy were used to build an individual VWM capacity prediction model through a machine learning pipeline, including the steps of feature selection, relevance vector regression, cross‐validation, and model fusion. The resulting model exhibited promising predictive performance on VWM (r = .402, p < .001), and identified features within the subcortical‐cerebellum network, default mode network, motor network, corpus callosum, anterior corona radiata, and external capsule as significant predictors. The main results were then compared with those obtained on emotional regulation and fluid intelligence using the same pipeline, confirming the specificity of our findings. Moreover, the main results maintained well under different cross‐validation regimes and preprocess strategies. These findings, while providing richer evidence for the importance of multimodality in understanding cognitive functions, offer a solid and general foundation for comprehensively understanding the VWM process from the top down.
Genome evolution of blind subterranean mole rats: Adaptive peripatric versus sympatric speciation.

Speciation mechanisms remain controversial. Two speciation models occur in Israeli subterranean mole rats, genus Spalax: a regional speciation cline southward of four peripatric climatic chromosomal species and a local, geologic-edaphic, genic, and sympatric speciation. Here we highlight their genome evolution. The five species were separated into five genetic clusters by single nucleotide polymorphisms, copy number variations (CNVs), repeatome, and methylome in sympatry. The regional interspecific divergence correspond to Pleistocene climatic cycles. Climate warmings caused chromosomal speciation. Triple effective population size, N e , declines match glacial cold cycles. Adaptive genes evolved under positive selection to underground stresses and to divergent climates, involving interspecies reproductive isolation. Genomic islands evolved mainly due to adaptive evolution involving ancient polymorphisms. Repeatome, including both CNV and LINE1 repetitive elements, separated the five species. Methylation in sympatry identified geologically chalk-basalt species that differentially affect thermoregulation, hypoxia, DNA repair, P53, and other pathways. Genome adaptive evolution highlights climatic and geologic-edaphic stress evolution and the two speciation models, peripatric and sympatric.
How Supplementary or Night-Interrupting Low-Intensity Blue Light Affects the Flower Induction in Chrysanthemum, a Qualitative Short-Day Plant

This research examined the effects of the supplementary or night-interrupting (NI) blue (B) light supplied at a low intensity on the flowering, gene expression, and morphogenesis of chrysanthemum, a qualitative short-day plant. White (W) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were used to provide light with a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 180 μmol·m−2·s−1 during the photoperiod to grow the plants in a plant factory. The control group was constructed with plants that were exposed to a 10-h short day (SD10) treatment without any blue light. The B light in this research was used for 4 h to either (1) extend the photoperiod for plants at the end of a 9-h short day (SD) treatment as the sole light source (SD9 + 4B), (2) provide night interruption (NI) to plants in the 13-h long-day (LD) treatment (LD13 + NI − 4B), (3) provide NI to plants in the 10-h SD treatment (SD10 + NI − 4B), or (4) supplement the W LEDs at the end of a 13-h LD treatment (LD13 + 4B). Blue LEDs were used to provide the supplementary/NI light at 10 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD. The LD13 + NI − 4B treatment resulted in the greatest plant height, followed by LD13 + 4B. Plants in all treatments flowered. It is noteworthy that despite the fact that chrysanthemum is a qualitative SD plant, chrysanthemum plants flowered when grown in the LD13 + 4B and LD13 + NI − 4B treatments. Plants grown in the LD13 + 4B had the greatest number of flowers. Plants grown in the LD13 + 4B treatment had the highest expression levels of the cryptochrome 1, phytochrome A, and phytochrome B genes. The results of this study indicate that a 4-h supplementation of B light during the photoperiod increases flower bud formation and promotes flowering, and presents a possibility as an alternative method to using blackout curtains in LD seasons to practically induce flowering. The B light application methods to induce flowering in SD plants requires further research.
LncRNA-PCAT1 controls the growth, metastasis and drug resistance of human colon cancer cells.

PURPOSE The long non-coding (lnc) RNAs have been shown to exhibit profound regulatory roles in maintaining the growth and proliferation of human cancer cells. Taking this fact into consideration, the current research work was scheduled to explore the regulatory control of lncRNA-PCAT1 in maintaining the growth and progression of human colon cancer cell. METHODS The expression of lncRNA-PCAT1 was assessed through qRT-PCR method. DAPI and acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) staining protocols along with the colony formation protocols were performed to evaluate the viability of cancer cells. The migratory and invasion properties of cancer cells were examined by the wound-healing and transwell assays, respectively. Western blotting was used to assess the expression of proteins of interest. MTT assay was used for the assessment of cell proliferation. RESULTS lncRNA-PCAT1 was highly up-regulated in the colon cancer tissues and cancer cell lines. The repression of lncRNA-PCAT1 in colon cancer cells reduced their viability through induction of Bax/Bcl-2 mediated apoptosis. The inhibition of lncRNA-PCAT1 expression further declined the migration and invasion of colon cancer cells along with the decline of cell proliferation and enhanced the chemosensitivity of colon cancer cells. CONCLUSION lncRNA-PCAT1 expression may be utilized as a vital prognostic tool in colon cancer and highlighted its regulatory effects in maintaining the colon cancer growth and proliferation.
Concurrent versus sandwich treatment in adjuvant treatment in high risk operated gastric cancer: A single center experience.

PURPOSE In this study we compared postoperative early vs sandwich chemoradiotherapy in operated stage IIA-IIIC gastric cancer patients in terms of effectiveness and outcome. METHODS The data of 201 gastric cancer patients treated in the same center between December 2006 and June 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. One hundred forty nine patients who were eligible for the study criteria were divided into two groups according to the postoperative treatment modality. The first group included 85 patients who were given chemoradiotherapy simultaneously (ETG) and the second group icluded 64 patients who received sandwich (chemotherapy-chemoradiotherapy-chemotherapy) (STG) treatment. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated as primary endpoints. RESULTS The median follow-up time for all patient groups was 26.7 months (1.3 -136.5 months). Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were initiated concurrently in patients receiving concomitant therapy. Half of the planned chemotherapy, then chemoradiotherapy and then the remaining chemotherapy treatments were given to the sandwich treatment group. A total of 50.4 Gy radiotherapy was given to the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group and a total of 45 Gy radiotherapy to the group receiving the sandwich treatment. OS was 30.6 months (23.7-37.5) in all groups, 30.4 months (23.7-35.0) in concurrent therapy (ETG) and 35.6 months (26.3-45) in sandwich therapy (STG) (p=0.73). DFS was 26.6 months (21.3-32.0) in all groups and 24.5 months (18.1-31.0) in the group receiving ETG, 32.5 months (22.2-42.8) in STG. (p=0.46). The most common grade 3 and above toxicities were; acute upper gastrointestinal toxicity (19.1% in ETG vs. 9.0% in STG, p=0.01) and hematological toxicity (31.8% in ETG vs. 13.9% in STG; p=0.002). Early cessation of treatment was similar in both groups. In multivariate analysis, female gender (p=0.01), stage III disease, grade III disease were seen as negative predictive factors for overall survival. In DFS multivariate analysis, there was no difference between the groups in terms of gender, T stage, N stage, and AJCC stage. CONCLUSION In this study, superiority of sandwich treatment over concurrent treatment was observed in patients with operated stage IIB-IIIC gastric cancer, but the difference was not statistically significant. If this study is performed in larger patient series, the difference of sandwich treatment may become meaningful.
The WOX family transcriptional regulator SlLAM1 controls compound leaf and floral organ development in Solanum lycopersicum.

Plant specific WOX family transcription factors play important roles from embryogenesis to lateral organ development. The WOX1 transcription factors, belonging to the modern clade of WOX family, are found to regulate leaf blade outgrowth specifically in the mediolateral axis. However, the role of WOX1 in compound leaf development is still unknown. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole WOX family in tomato indicates that there are 10 members that represent the modern, intermediate, and ancient clades. Using phylogenetic analysis and a reverse genetic approach, we identified the modern clade SlLAM1 gene from tomato and analyzed its function and tissue specific expression pattern. Here, we show that knocking out SlLAM1 via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing led to narrow leaves, and reduced number of secondary leaflets. Overexpression of tomato SlLAM1 could rescue the defect of tobacco lam1 mutant. Anatomical and transcriptomic analyses demonstrated that floral organ development, fruit size, secondary leaflet initiation, and leaf complexity were altered due to loss-of-function of SlLAM1. These findings elucidate that tomato SlLAM1 plays an important role in the regulation of secondary leaflet initiation, in addition to its conserved function in blade expansion.
Deep Neural Network for Slip Detection on Ice Surface

Slip-induced falls are among the most common causes of major occupational injuries and economic loss in Canada. Identifying the risk factors associated with slip events is key to developing preventive solutions to reduce falls. One factor is the slip-resistance quality of footwear, which is fundamental to reducing the number of falls. Measuring footwear slip resistance with the recently developed Maximum Achievable Angle (MAA) test requires a trained researcher to identify slip events in a simulated winter environment. The human capacity for information processing is limited and human error is natural, especially in a cold environment. Therefore, to remove conflicts associated with human errors, in this paper a deep three-dimensional convolutional neural network is proposed to detect the slips in real-time. The model has been trained by a new dataset that includes data from 18 different participants with various clothing, footwear, walking directions, inclined angles, and surface types. The model was evaluated on three types of slips: Maxi-slip, midi-slip, and mini-slip. This classification is based on the slip perception and recovery of the participants. The model was evaluated based on both 5-fold and Leave-One-Subject-Out (LOSO) cross validation. The best accuracy of 97% was achieved when identifying the maxi-slips. The minimum accuracy of 77% was achieved when classifying the no-slip and mini-slip trials. The overall slip detection accuracy was 86% with sensitivity and specificity of 81% and 91%, respectively. The overall accuracy dropped by about 2% in LOSO cross validation. The proposed slip detection algorithm is not only beneficial for footwear manufactures to improve their footwear slip resistance quality, but it also has other potential applications, such as improving the slip resistance properties of flooring in healthcare facilities, commercial kitchens, and oil drilling platforms.
Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Children with Hematological Malignancies: Diagnosis and Approaches to Management

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic infection that mostly affects children with suppressed cellular immunity. PJP was the most common cause of infectious death in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia prior to the inclusion of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis as part of the standard medical care in the late 1980s. Children with acute leukemia, lymphomas, and those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, especially allogeneic transplantation, are also at high risk of PJP. Persistent lymphopenia, graft versus host disease, poor immune reconstitution, and lengthy use of corticosteroids are significant risk factors for PJP. Active infection may be due to reactivation of latent infection or recent acquisition from environmental exposure. Intense hypoxemia and impaired diffusing capacity of the lungs are hallmarks of PJP, while computerized tomography of the lungs is the diagnostic technique of choice. Immunofluorescence testing with monoclonal antibodies followed by fluorescent microscopy and polymerase chain reaction testing of respiratory specimens have emerged as the best diagnostic methods. Measurement of (1-3)-β-D-glucan in the serum has a high negative predictive value in ruling out PJP. Oral cotrimoxazole is effective for prophylaxis, but in intolerant patients, intravenous and aerosolized pentamidine, dapsone, and atovaquone are effective alternatives. Ιntravenous cotrimoxazole is the treatment of choice, but PJP has a high mortality even with appropriate therapy.
Heritability of Teat Condition in Italian Holstein Friesian and Its Relationship with Milk Production and Somatic Cell Score

Simple Summary Mammary infections in dairy cattle are still a major problem which impair animal health and jeopardize breeders’ efforts to attain sustainable production. The first natural protection against pathogens ‘access to udder tissue is the teat canal. Teat canal morphology can be influenced by several environmental factors but the present study confirmed the existence of a genetic component. Moreover it was observed that the teat canal morphology is related to milk production and somatic cell count, the latter being an indirect indicator of mammary infections. Considering that the current selection objectives implemented in dairy cattle worldwide have shifted toward a more balanced breeding goal, with a larger emphasis on health traits, a further genetic deterioration in teat condition is not expected. Abstract In spite of the impressive advancements observed on both management and genetic factors, udder health still represents one of most demanding objectives to be attained in the dairy cattle industry. Udder morphology and especially teat condition might represent the first physical barrier to pathogens’ access. The objectives of this study were to investigate the genetic component of teat condition and to elucidate its relationship with both milk yield and somatic cell scores in dairy cattle. Moreover, the effect of selection for both milk yield and somatic cell scores on teat condition was also investigated. A multivariate analysis was conducted on 10,776 teat score records and 30,160 production records from 2469 Italian Holstein cows. Three teat scoring traits were defined and included in the analysis. Heritability estimates for the teat score traits were moderate to low, ranging from 0.084 to 0.238. When teat score was based on a four-classes ordinal scoring, its genetic correlation with milk yields and somatic cell score were 0.862 and 0.439, respectively. The scale used to classify teat-end score has an impact on the magnitude of the estimates. Genetic correlations suggest that selection for milk yield could deteriorate teat health, unless more emphasis is given to somatic cell scores. Considering that both at national and international level, the current selection objectives are giving more emphasis to health traits, a further genetic deterioration in teat condition is not expected.
Defining the Inflammatory Plasma Proteome in Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma

Simple Summary Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a common type of cancer that is characterized by rare, malignant cells among an inflammatory microenvironment. Specific systemic, inflammatory plasma proteins have demonstrated prognostic significance in adult HL; however, systemic inflammation has not been well-characterized in childhood HL. The aim of our study was to better define the inflammatory pre-therapy plasma proteome and identify plasma proteins associated with clinical features of childhood HL. We measured plasma concentrations of 135 proteins in 56 pediatric subjects with newly diagnosed HL and 47 healthy pediatric controls. We found that the plasma protein profile was distinct from controls, and unique proteins were associated with high-risk disease (IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-8), slow early therapy response (CCL13, IFN-λ1, IL-8), and relapse (TNFSF10). These proteins could be used to improve risk stratification, and thus optimize outcomes and minimize unnecessary toxic exposures for those with childhood HL. Abstract Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) histopathology is characterized by rare malignant Reed–Sternberg cells among an inflammatory infiltrate. We hypothesized that characteristics of inflammation in pediatric HL lesions would be reflected by the levels of inflammatory cytokines or chemokines in pre-therapy plasma of children with HL. The study objectives were to better define the inflammatory pre-therapy plasma proteome and identify plasma biomarkers associated with extent of disease and clinical outcomes in pediatric HL. Pre-therapy plasma samples were obtained from pediatric subjects with newly diagnosed HL and healthy pediatric controls. Plasma concentrations of 135 cytokines/chemokines were measured with the Luminex platform. Associations between protein concentration and disease characteristics were determined using multivariate permutation tests with false discovery control. Fifty-six subjects with HL (mean age: 13 years, range 3–18) and 47 controls were analyzed. The cytokine/chemokine profiles of subjects with HL were distinct from controls, and unique cytokines/chemokines were associated with high-risk disease (IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-8) and slow early response (CCL13, IFN-λ1, IL-8). TNFSF10 was significantly elevated among those who ultimately relapsed and was significantly associated with worse event-free survival. These biomarkers could be incorporated into biologically based risk stratification to optimize outcomes and minimize toxicities in pediatric HL.
Overexpressed miR‐335‐5p reduces atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque formation in acute coronary syndrome

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may induce cardiovascular death. The correlation of mast cells related microRNAs (miRs) with risk of ACS has been investigated. We explored regulatory mechanism of miR‐335‐5p on macrophage innate immune response, atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque formation, and revascularization in ACS in relation to Notch signaling.
The Impact of Childhood and Adult Educational Attainment and Economic Status on Later Depressive Symptoms and Its Intergenerational Effect

This study aimed to investigate a process accounting for the socioeconomic inequality in depressive symptoms from generation to generation. To examine the process, this study utilized data from three generations of grandparents, mothers, and daughters. This study employed data from the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families, collected from a large-scale national representative sample in South Korea. Conducting pathway analysis, the study tested direct and indirect pathways between mother’s socioeconomic status (SES) experienced in childhood and their offspring’s depressive symptoms through maternal SES and depressive symptoms in adulthood. This study found that early economic hardship increased the risk of depressive symptoms in daughters through maternal low education and depressive symptoms (β = 0.03, p < 0.05), which was consistent with the theoretical framework, which relied on a life-course model highlighting that early life experiences affect later adult health and can potentially have effects across generations. This finding suggests that interventions that work with maternal education and depression may benefit from efforts to break the likelihood of continuity of depressive symptoms into the next generation, especially for their own daughters.
The Beta3 Adrenergic Receptor in Healthy and Pathological Cardiovascular Tissues

The third isotype of beta-adrenoreceptors (β3-AR) has recently come (back) into focus after the observation of its expression in white and beige human adipocytes and its implication in metabolic regulation. This coincides with the recent development and marketing of agonists at the human receptor with superior specificity. Twenty years ago, however, we and others described the expression of β3-AR in human myocardium and its regulation of contractility and cardiac remodeling. Subsequent work from many laboratories has since expanded the characterization of β3-AR involvement in many aspects of cardiovascular physio(patho)logy, justifying the present effort to update current paradigms under the light of the most recent evidence.
Infant Cardiac Orienting Responses Predict Later FASD in the Preschool Period.

BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been identified as one of the leading preventable causes of developmental disabilities but early identification of those impacted has been challenging. This study evaluated the use of infant cardiac orienting responses (CORs), which assess neurophysiological encoding of environmental events and are sensitive to the impact of PAE, to predict later Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) status. METHODS Mother-infant dyads from Ukraine were recruited during pregnancy based on the mother's use of alcohol. Participants (n = 120) were then seen at 6 and 12 months when CORs were collected and in the preschool period when they were categorized as having (1) fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), (2) partial FAS (pFAS), (3) alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), (4) PAE and no diagnosis, or (5) no PAE and no diagnosis. To assess CORs, stimuli (auditory tones and pictures) were presented using a fixed-trial habituation/dishabituation paradigm. Heart rate (HR) responses were aggregated across the first 3 habituation and dishabituation trials and converted to z-scores relative to the sample's mean response at each second by stimuli. Z-scores greater than 1 were then counted by condition (habituation or dishabituation) to compute a total risk index. RESULTS Significant group differences were found on total deviation scores of the CORs elicited from visual but not auditory stimuli. Those categorized as pFAS/FAS had significantly higher total deviation scores than did those categorized as ARND or as having no alcohol-related diagnosis with or without a history of PAE. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the visual response yielded an area under the curve value of . 765 for predicting to pFAS/FAS status. CONCLUSIONS A score reflecting total deviation from typical HR during CORs elicited using visual stimuli in infancy may be useful in identifying individuals who need early intervention as a result of their PAE.