Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BertAA : BERT fine-tuning for Authorship Attribution

Identifying the author of a given text can be useful in historical literature, plagiarism detection, or police investigations. Authorship Attribution (AA) has been well studied and mostly relies on a large feature engineering work. More recently, deep learning-based approaches have been explored for Authorship Attribution (AA). In this paper, we introduce BertAA, a ﬁne-tuning of a pre-trained BERT language model with an additional dense layer and a softmax activation to perform authorship classiﬁcation. This approach reaches competitive performances on Enron Email, Blog Au-thorship, and IMDb (and IMDb62) datasets, up to 5.3% (relative) above current state-of-the-art approaches. We performed an exhaustive analysis allowing to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed method. In addition, we evaluate the impact of including additional features (e.g. stylometric and hybrid features) in an ensemble approach, improving the macro-averaged F1-Score by 2.7% (relative) on average.
Biologging reveals individual variation in behavioral predictability in the wild.

1. Recent research highlights the ecological importance of individual variation in behavioral predictability. Individuals may not only differ in their average expression of a trait, i.e. their behavioral type, and in their ability to adjust behavior to changing environmental conditions, i.e. individual plasticity, but also in their variability, i.e. predictability, around that average. However, quantifying behavioral predictability in the wild has been challenging due to limitations of acquiring sufficient repeated behavioral measures. 2. We here demonstrate how common biologging data can be used to detect individual variation in behavioral predictability in the wild and reveal the coexistence of highly predictable individuals along with unpredictable individuals within the same population. 3. We repeatedly quantified two behaviors - daily movement distance and diurnal activity - in 62 female brown bears (Ursus arctos) tracked across 187 monitoring years. We calculated behavioral predictability over the short-term (50 consecutive monitoring days within one year) and long-term (across monitoring years) as the residual intra-individual variability (rIIV) of behavior around the behavioral reaction norm. We tested whether predictability varies systematically across average behavioral types and whether it is correlated across functionally distinct behaviors, i.e. daily movement distance and amount of diurnal activity. 4. Brown bears showed individual variation in behavioral predictability from predictable to unpredictable individuals. For example, the standard deviation around the average daily movement distance within one monitoring year varied up to fivefold from 1.1 km to 5.5 km across individuals. Individual predictability for both daily movement distance and diurnality was conserved across monitoring years. Individual predictability was correlated with behavioral type. Individuals which were on average more diurnal and mobile were also more unpredictable in their behavior. In contrast, more nocturnal individuals moved less and were more predictable in their behavior. Finally, individual predictability in daily movement distance and diurnality were positively correlated, suggesting that individual predictability may be a quantitative trait in its own regard that could evolve and is underpinned by genetic variation. 5. Unpredictable individuals may cope better with stochastic events and unpredictability may hence be an adaptive behavioral response to increased predation risk. Coexistence of predictable and unpredictable individuals may therefore ensure adaptable and resilient populations.
Effect of Beta 3 Adrenoreceptor Modulation on Patency of the Ductus Arteriosus

β3-adrenoreceptor (β3-AR), a G-protein coupled receptor, has peculiar regulatory properties in response to oxygen and widespread localization. β3-AR is expressed in the most frequent neoplasms, also occurring in pregnant women, and its blockade reduces tumor growth, indicating β3-AR-blockers as a promising alternative to antineoplastic drugs during pregnancy. However, β3-AR involvement in prenatal morphogenesis and the consequences of its blockade for the fetus remain unknown. In this study, after the demonstrated expression of β3-AR in endothelial and smooth muscle cells of ductus arteriosus (DA), C57BL/6 pregnant mice were acutely treated at 18.5 of gestational day (GD) with indomethacin or with the selective β3-AR antagonist SR59230A, or chronically exposed to SR59230A from 15.5 to 18.5 GD. Six hours after the last treatment, fetuses were collected. Furthermore, newborn mice were treated straight after birth with BRL37344, a β3-AR agonist, and sacrificed after 7 h. SR59230A, at the doses demonstrated effective in reducing cancer progression (10 and 20 mg/kg) in acute and chronic mode, did not induce fetal DA constriction and did not impair the DA ability to close after birth, whereas at the highest dose (40 mg/kg), it was shown to cause DA constriction and preterm-delivery. BRL37344 administered immediately after birth did not alter the physiological DA closure.
A Parent-Implemented Language Intervention for Late Talkers: An Exploratory Study on Low-Risk Preterm and Full-Term Children

Parent-implemented language interventions have been used for children with expressive language delays, but no study has yet been carried out using this intervention for low-risk preterm children. The current study examined the effect of a parent-implemented dialogic book reading intervention, determining also whether the intervention differently impacted low-risk preterm and full-term children. Fifty 31-month-old late talkers with their parents participated; 27 late talkers constituted the intervention group, and 23 constituted the control group. The overall results indicated that more children in the intervention group showed partial or full recovery of their lexical expressive delay and acquired the ability to produce complete sentences relative to the control group. Concerning full-term late talkers, those in the intervention group showed a higher daily growth rate of total words, nouns, function words, and complete sentences, and more children began to produce complete sentences relative to those in the control group. Concerning low-risk preterm late talkers, children in the intervention group increased their ability to produce complete sentences more than those in the control group. We conclude that a parent-focused intervention may be an effective, ecological, and cost-effective program for improving expressive lexical and syntactic skills of full-term and low-risk preterm late talkers, calling for further studies in late talkers with biological vulnerabilities.
Molecular characterization of beta-lactamase genes produced by community-acquired uropathogenic Escherichia coli in Nouna.

INTRODUCTION Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL) are a common mechanism of bacterial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. The purpose of this study is to characterize the ESBL genes produced by community-acquired uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains in the Nouna District, in the West-African country, Burkina Faso. METHODOLOGY Samples were collected from non-hospitalized patients who came for consultation at the CMA (Centre Médical avec Antenne chirurgicale) in Nouna and were sent to the laboratory for a urine culture test. The detection of ESBL production by the bacteria was carried out with the double-disc synergy test and the extraction of the ESBL genes with the heat shock method. Molecular characterization of ESBL genes was performed with three sequential multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. RESULTS One hundred and eighty-two (182) bacteriological cultures were analyzed and 29 E. coli isolated, between 01/07/2017 and 01/07/2018. The ESBL phenotype was found in 13/29 (44.8%). Multiplex PCR yielded many beta-lactamase genes, predominantly blaCTX-M-1,3,15 (12/13; 92.3%) followed by beta-lactamase genes blaOXA-1,4,30 (8/13; 61.5%) and beta-lactamase genes blaTEM-1,2 (7/13; 53.8%). CONCLUSION This study showed that the blaCTX-M-1,3,15 genes produced by uropathogenic E. coli were predominant. Sequencing of these genes would be needed to better characterize the different types of ESBL circulating in Nouna.
DIAGNOSIS AND STUDY OF YEAST USED IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND THE EFFECT OF SERIAL MUTATION ON THEIR VITALITY

The present study includes identified isolate is used as a medication in traditional depending on morphological, cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. Moreover, their identification was confirmed by API 20 C (Analytic Profile Index) test. The results revealed that isolate belonged to the yeast Candida colliculosa. The results of combination effects of MNNG and UV study revealed that the killing intensity increased after mutagenesis with 0.2 mg/ml of MNNG and increasing UV period to 20 min, which reached to 100%. The ability of the strain C. colliculosa for resistance of 20 antibiotics. Results showed that the studied strain was resistant to Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Candizole and Cephalexin monohydrate, Clindamycin, Erythromycin, Fluconazole, Gentamicin, Fluconazole, Lamisil, Neomycin, Penicillin, Rifampin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline, Trimethoprim and Vancomycin while it showed sensitivity to Chloramphenicol, Clotrimazol, Ketoconazole and Nystatin. After mutation with MNNG and UV, results revealed that the strain was resistant to Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Candizole, Cephalexin monohydrate, Clindamycin, Erythromycin, Gentamicin, Neomycin, Penicillin, Rifampin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline, Trimethoprim.
School Nurses’ Experiences of Health Promotion for School-Age Asylum Seekers

The number of school-age asylum seekers and refugees worldwide is increasing. Health promotion provided by school nurses can be crucial for the well-being of young asylum seekers, yet research on these nurses’ experiences is limited. This qualitative study aims to describe school nurses’ experiences of providing health promotion to school-age asylum seekers. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 school nurses, and inductive content analysis was then used. The results were grouped under the following themes: (1) difficulties in providing health services to school-age asylum seekers, (2) considering the vulnerable circumstances of asylum seekers, (3) the importance of family-centered health promotion, and (4) the importance of time management. School nurses face challenges that stem from individual asylum seekers’ unique circumstances, nursing competency, and the school health care system. To deepen the existing knowledge, further research is needed from the perspective of asylum seekers.
Targeting histone K4 trimethylation for treatment of cognitive and synaptic deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease

This study has found a novel epigenetic mechanism and a potential therapeutic strategy for AD and related diseases. Epigenetic aberration is implicated in aging and neurodegeneration. Using postmortem tissues from patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD mouse models, we have found that the permissive histone mark H3K4me3 and its catalyzing enzymes are significantly elevated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Inhibiting H3K4-specific methyltransferases with the compound WDR5-0103 leads to the substantial recovery of PFC synaptic function and memory-related behaviors in AD mice. Among the up-regulated genes reversed by WDR5-0103 treatment in PFC of AD mice, many have the increased H3K4me3 enrichment at their promoters. One of the identified top-ranking target genes, Sgk1, which encodes serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1, is also significantly elevated in PFC of patients with AD. Administration of a specific Sgk1 inhibitor reduces hyperphosphorylated tau protein, restores PFC glutamatergic synaptic function, and ameliorates memory deficits in AD mice. These results have found a novel epigenetic mechanism and a potential therapeutic strategy for AD and related neurodegenerative disorders.
Hydrogels as Drug Delivery Systems: A Review of Current Characterization and Evaluation Techniques

Owing to their tunable properties, controllable degradation, and ability to protect labile drugs, hydrogels are increasingly investigated as local drug delivery systems. However, a lack of standardized methodologies used to characterize and evaluate drug release poses significant difficulties when comparing findings from different investigations, preventing an accurate assessment of systems. Here, we review the commonly used analytical techniques for drug detection and quantification from hydrogel delivery systems. The experimental conditions of drug release in saline solutions and their impact are discussed, along with the main mathematical and statistical approaches to characterize drug release profiles. We also review methods to determine drug diffusion coefficients and in vitro and in vivo models used to assess drug release and efficacy with the goal to provide guidelines and harmonized practices when investigating novel hydrogel drug delivery systems.
Understanding the pathophysiological changes via untargeted metabolomics in COVID‐19 patients

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is an infectious respiratory disease caused by a new strain of the coronavirus. There is limited data on the pathogenesis and the cellular responses of COVID‐19. In this study, we aimed to determine the variation of metabolites between healthy control and COVID‐19 via the untargeted metabolomics method. Serum samples were obtained from 44 COVID‐19 patients and 41 healthy controls. Untargeted metabolomics analyses were performed by the LC/Q‐TOF/MS (liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry) method. Data acquisition, classification, and identification were achieved by the METLIN database and XCMS. Significant differences were determined between patients and healthy controls in terms of purine, glutamine, leukotriene D4 (LTD4), and glutathione metabolisms. Downregulations were determined in R‐S lactoglutathione and glutamine. Upregulations were detected in hypoxanthine, inosine, and LTD4. Identified metabolites indicate roles for purine, glutamine, LTD4, and glutathione metabolisms in the pathogenesis of the COVID‐19. The use of selective leukotriene D4 receptor antagonists, targeting purinergic signaling as a therapeutic approach and glutamine supplementation may decrease the severity and mortality of COVID‐19.
Evaluating Different Measures of Low Back Pain Among U.S. Manual Materials Handling Workers: Comparisons of Demographic, Psychosocial, and Job Physical Exposure

Objective To examine differences in demographic, psychosocial, and job physical exposure risk factors between multiple low back pain (LBP) outcomes in a prospective cohort of industrial workers. Background LBP remains a leading cause of lost industrial productivity. Different case definitions involving pain (general LBP), medication use (M-LBP), seeking healthcare (H-LBP), and lost time (L-LBP) are often used to study LBP outcomes. However, the relationship between these outcomes remains unclear. Method Demographic, health status, psychosocial, and job physical exposure risk factors were quantified for 635 incident-eligible industrial workers. Incident cases of LBP outcomes and pain symptoms were quantified and compared across the four outcomes. Results Differences in age, gender, medical history, and LBP history were found between the four outcomes. Most incident-eligible workers (67%) suffered an LBP outcome during follow-up. Cases decreased from 420 for LBP (25.4 cases/100 person-years) to 303 for M-LBP (22.0 cases/100 person-years), to 151 for H-LBP (15.6 cases/100 person-years), and finally to 56 for L-LBP (8.7 cases/100 person-years). Conversely, pain intensity and duration increased from LBP to H-LBP. However, pain duration was relatively lower for L-LBP than for H-LBP. Conclusion Patterns of cases, pain intensity, and pain duration suggest the influence of the four outcomes. However, few differences in apparent risk factors were observed between the outcomes. Further research is needed to establish consistent case definitions. Application Knowledge of patterns between different LBP outcomes can improve interpretation of research and guide future research and intervention studies in industry.
Strengthening Laboratory Diagnostic Capacity to Support Cancer Care in Uganda.

OBJECTIVES An accurate cancer diagnosis is critical to providing quality care to patients with cancer. We describe the results of a laboratory improvement process that started in 2017 to improve access to cancer diagnostics at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI). The overall objective of the project was to build capacity for the provision of quality and timely laboratory diagnostics to support cancer care in Uganda. METHODS A phased multistep approach was used to improve laboratory capacity, including staff training, additional staff recruitment, equipment overhaul, and optimization of the supply chain. RESULTS The program led to the establishment of a pathology laboratory that handled 5,700 tissue diagnoses in 2019. Immunohistochemistry services are now offered routinely. Turnaround time for histopathology has also reduced from an average of 7 to 14 days to 5.4 days. The main clinical laboratory has also increased both the test volume and the test capacity, with the additional establishment of a molecular diagnostics laboratory. CONCLUSIONS Our project shows a pathway to the improvement of laboratory diagnostic capacity in cancer care centers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Improved laboratory diagnostic capacity is critical to improving cancer care in SSA and more rational use of targeted therapies.
Risk factors for residual dizziness in patients successfully treated for unilateral benign posterior semicircular canal paroxysmal positional vertigo

Objective The risk factors for residual dizziness (RD) after successful treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) are poorly characterized. We determined the risk factors for RD in patients with benign unilateral posterior semicircular canal paroxysmal positional vertigo (pc-BPPV) after successful treatment. Methods We conducted a prospective study of patients diagnosed with unilateral pc-BPPV between March 2015 and January 2017. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray bone mineral densitometry. Participants underwent bithermal caloric testing (C-test) using videonystagmography and a canalith repositioning procedure (CRP). The occurrence of RD was the primary outcome. The participants underwent follow-up 1 week, 1 month, and 1 year after successful CRP, consisting of outpatient visits, questionnaires, and telephone interviews. Results We assessed 115 participants with unilateral pc-BPPV (31 men and 84 women) who were 53.2 ± 8.8 years old. RD occurred in 60 (52.2%) participants. The participants who experienced RD were older, had vertigo for longer before treatment, and were more likely to show a positive C-test and significant BMD loss. Conclusions We found that a significant reduction in BMD (T-score < −1 standard deviation), a positive C-test, and older age are independently associated with RD in patients with pc-BPPV after successful CRP.
Unexpected Gene-Flow in Urban Environments: The Example of the European Hedgehog

Simple Summary An urban environment holds many barriers for mammals with limited mobility such as hedgehogs. These barriers appear often unsurmountable (e.g., rivers, highways, fences) and thus hinder contact between hedgehogs, leading to genetic isolation. In our study we tested whether these barriers affect the hedgehog population of urban Berlin, Germany. As Berlin has many of these barriers, we were expecting a strong genetic differentiation among hedgehog populations. However, when we looked at unrelated individuals, we did not see genetic differentiation among populations. The latter was only detected when we included related individuals too, a ‘family clan’ structure that is referred to as gamodemes. We conclude that the high percentage of greenery in Berlin provides sufficient habitat for hedgehogs to maintain connectivity across the city. Abstract We use the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), a mammal with limited mobility, as a model species to study whether the structural matrix of the urban environment has an influence on population genetic structure of such species in the city of Berlin (Germany). Using ten established microsatellite loci we genotyped 143 hedgehogs from numerous sites throughout Berlin. Inclusion of all individuals in the cluster analysis yielded three genetic clusters, likely reflecting spatial associations of kin (larger family groups, known as gamodemes). To examine the potential bias in the cluster analysis caused by closely related individuals, we determined all pairwise relationships and excluded close relatives before repeating the cluster analysis. For this data subset (N = 65) both clustering algorithms applied (Structure, Baps) indicated the presence of a single genetic cluster. These results suggest that the high proportion of green patches in the city of Berlin provides numerous steppingstone habitats potentially linking local subpopulations. Alternatively, translocation of individuals across the city by hedgehog rescue facilities may also explain the existence of only a single cluster. We therefore propose that information about management activities such as releases by animal rescue centres should include location data (as exactly as possible) regarding both the collection and the release site, which can then be used in population genetic studies.
Isoform specific activities of androgen receptor and its splice variants in prostate cancer cells.

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling continues to drive castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in spite of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Constitutively active shorter variants of AR, lacking the ligand binding domain, are frequently expressed in CRPC and have emerged as a potential mechanism for prostate cancer to escape ADT. ARv7 and AR v567es are two of the most commonly detected variants of AR in clinical samples of advanced, metastatic prostate cancer. It is not clear if variants of AR merely act as weaker substitutes for AR or can mediate unique isoform specific activities different from AR. In this study, we employed LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines with inducible expression of ARv7 or AR v567es to delineate similarities and differences in transcriptomics, metabolomics and lipidomics resulting from the activation of AR, ARv7 or AR v567es. While the majority of target genes were similarly regulated by the action of all three isoforms, we found a clear difference in transcriptomic activities of AR versus the variants, and a few differences between ARv7 and AR v567es. Some of the target gene regulation by AR isoforms was similar in the VCaP background as well. Differences in downstream activities of AR isoforms were also evident from comparison of the metabolome and lipidome in an LNCaP model. Overall our study implies that shorter variants of AR are capable of mediating unique downstream activities different from AR and some of these are isoform specific.