Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nudges in Technology-Mediated Knowledge Transfer: Two Experimental Designs

Recent advances in technologies now allow us to learn almost anything in virtual environments, be it via Internet forums or websites, telephone apps, video games, and many more. Such technology-mediated learning can be enhanced with the use of embedded nudges, i.e., devices in the architecture of choice to encourage (nudge) the users towards one choice rather than the other without limiting their freedom of choice. This paper presents an overview of how nudges can help improve knowledge acquisition, as well as a two ongoing projects. Ethical issues are also highlighted.
Instance-Based Continual Learning: A Real-World Dataset and Baseline for Fresh Recognition

Real-time learning on real-world data streams with temporal relations is essential for intelligent agents. However, current online Continual Learning (CL) benchmarks adopt the mini-batch setting and are composed of temporally unrelated and disjoint tasks as well as pre-set class boundaries. In this paper, we delve into a real-world CL scenario for fresh recognition where algorithms are required to recognize a huge variety of products to facilitate the checkout speed. Products mainly consists of packaged cereals, seasonal fruits, and vegetables from local farms or shipped from overseas. Since algorithms process instance streams consisting of sequential images, we name this real-world CL problem as Instance-Based Continual Learning (IBCL). Different from the current online CL setting, algorithms are required to perform instant testing and learning upon each incoming instance. Moreover, IBCL has no task boundaries or class boundaries and allows the evolution and the forgetting of old samples within each class. To promote the researches on real CL challenges, we propose the first real-world CL dataset coined the Continual Fresh Recognition (CFR) dataset, which consists of fresh recognition data streams (766 K labelled images in total) collected from 30 supermarkets. Based on the CFR dataset, we extensively evaluate the performance of current online CL methods under various settings and find that current prominent online CL methods operate at high latency and demand significant memory consumption to cache old samples for replaying. Therefore, we make the first attempt to design an efficient and effective Instant Training-Free Learning (ITFL) framework for IBCL. ITFL consists of feature extractors trained in the metric learning manner and reformulates CL as a temporal classification problem among several most similar classes. Unlike current online CL methods that cache image samples (150 KB per image) and rely on training to learn new knowledge, our framework only caches features (2 KB per image) and is free of training in deployment. Extensive evaluations across three datasets demonstrate that our method achieves comparable recognition accuracy to current methods with lower latency and less resource consumption. Our codes and datasets will be publicly available at https://github.com/detectRecog/IBCL.
“Who Said That?” Applying the Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique to Social Telepresence

As with all remotely controlled robots, successful teleoperation of social and telepresence robots relies greatly on operator situation awareness; however, existing situation awareness measurements, most being originally created for military purposes, are not adapted to the context of social interaction. We propose an objective technique for telepresence evaluation based on the widely accepted Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique, adjusted to suit social contexts. This was trialled in a between-subjects participant study (n = 56) comparing the effect of mono and spatial (binaural) audio feedback on operator situation awareness during robot teleoperation in a simulated social telepresence scenario. Subjective data were also recorded, including questions adapted from Witmer and Singer’s Presence Questionnaire, as well as qualitative feedback from participants. No significant differences in situation awareness measurements were detected; however, correlations observed between measures call for further research. This study and its findings are a potential starting point for the development of social situation awareness assessment techniques, which can inform future social and telepresence robot design decisions.
TOR coordinates Cytokinin and Gibberellin signals mediating development and defense

Plants constantly perceive and process environmental signals and balance between the energetic demands of growth and defense. Growth arrest upon pathogen attack was previously suggested to result from a redirection of the plants’ metabolic resources towards the activation of plant defense. The energy sensor Target of Rapamycin (TOR) kinase is a conserved master coordinator of growth and development in all eukaryotes. Although TOR is positioned at the interface between development and defense, little is known about the mechanisms in which TOR may potentially regulate the relationship between these two modalities. The plant hormones cytokinin (CK) and gibberellin (GA) execute various aspects of plant development and defense. The ratio between CK and GA was reported to determine the outcome of developmental programs. Here, investigating the interplay between TOR-mediated development and TOR-mediated defense in tomato, we found that TOR silencing resulted in rescue of several different aberrant developmental phenotypes, demonstrating that TOR is required for the execution of developmental cues. In parallel, TOR inhibition enhanced immunity in genotypes with a low CK/GA ratio but not in genotypes with a high CK/GA ratio. TOR-inhibition mediated disease resistance was found to depend on developmental status, and was abolished in strongly morphogenetic leaves, while being strongest in mature, differentiated leaves. CK repressed TOR activity, suggesting that CK-mediated immunity may rely on TOR downregulation. At the same time, TOR activity was promoted by GA, and TOR silencing reduced GA sensitivity, indicating that GA signaling requires normal TOR activity. Our results demonstrate that TOR likely acts in concert with CK and GA signaling, executing signaling cues in both defense and development. Thus, differential regulation of TOR or TOR-mediated processes could regulate the required outcome of development-defense prioritization.
The X chromosome of insects predates the origin of Class Insecta

Sex chromosomes have evolved independently multiple times, but why some are conserved for more than 100 million years whereas others turnover rapidly remains an open question. Here, we examine the homology of sex chromosomes across nine orders of insects, plus the outgroup springtails. We find that the X chromosome is shared among all insect orders and springtails; the only exception is in the Lepidoptera, which has lost the X and now has a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system. Therefore, the ancestral insect X chromosome has persisted for more than 450 million years – the oldest known sex chromosome to date. Further, we suggest that the shrinking of gene content the Dipteran X chromosome has allowed for a burst of sex-chromosome turnover that is absent from other speciose insect orders.
Alterations in cortical excitability during pain: A combined TMS-EEG Study

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been used to examine inhibitory and facilitatory circuits during experimental pain and in chronic pain populations. However, current applications of TMS to pain have been restricted to measurements of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from peripheral muscles. Here, TMS was combined with electroencephalography (EEG) to determine whether experimental pain could induce alterations in cortical inhibitory/facilitatory activity observed in TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs). In Experiment 1 (n = 29), multiple sustained thermal stimuli were administered to the forearm, with the first, second and third block of thermal stimuli consisting of warm but non-painful (pre-pain block), painful (pain block) and warm but non-painful (post-pain block) temperatures respectively. During each stimulus, TMS pulses were delivered while EEG (64 channels) was simultaneously recorded. Verbal pain ratings were collected between TMS pulses. Relative to pre-pain warm stimuli, painful stimuli led to an increase in the amplitude of the frontocentral negative peak ∼45ms post-TMS (N45), with a larger increase associated with higher pain ratings. Experiments 2 and 3 (n = 10 in each) showed that the increase in the N45 in response to pain was not due to changes in sensory potentials associated with TMS, or a result of stronger reafferent muscle feedback during pain. This is the first study to use combined TMS-EEG to examine alterations in cortical excitability in response to pain. These results suggest that the N45 TEP peak, which indexes GABAergic neurotransmission, is implicated in pain perception and is a potential marker of individual differences in pain sensitivity.
Gaze-centered gating and reactivation of value encoding in orbitofrontal cortex

During economic choice, we often consider options in alternation, until we commit to one. Nonetheless, neuroeconomics typically ignores the dynamic aspects of deliberation. We trained macaques to perform a value-based decision-making task where two risky offers were presented in sequence at different locations of the visual field, each followed by a delay epoch where offers were invisible. Subjects looked at the offers in sequence, as expected. Surprisingly, during the delay epochs, we found that subjects still tend to look at empty locations where the visual offers were formerly presented; and, moreover, longer fixation to given empty location increases the probability of choosing the associated offer, even after controlling for the offer values. We show that activity in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) reflects the value of the gazed offer, but also the value of the offer associated to the gazed spatial location, even if it is not the most recently viewed. This reactivation reflects a reevaluation process, as fluctuations in neural spiking during offer stimuli presentation and delays correlate with upcoming choice. Our results suggest that look-at-nothing gazing triggers the reactivation of a previously seen offer for further reevaluation, revealing novel aspects of deliberation.
Apolipoprotein B and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist: reversing the risk of coronary heart disease

Background Epidemiological evidence for the link of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and its inhibition with coronary heart disease (CHD) remains controversial. We aim to investigate the cardiovascular effects of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and underlying mechanisms, as well as the potential interaction with lifestyle factors. Methods A comprehensive multivariable Mendelian randomization study was performed. Genetic variants identified from a genome-wide association study involving 30,931 individuals were used as instrumental variables for the serum IL-1Ra concentrations. Genetic associations with CHD (60,801 cases and 123,504 controls) were extracted from the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortium. Inverse-variance weighted method was utilized to derive effect estimates, while supplementary analyses employing various statistical approaches. Results Genetically determined IL-1Ra level was associated with increased risk of CHD (odds ratio (OR), 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03-1.17) and myocardial infarction (OR, 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04-1.21). The main results remained consistent in supplementary analyses. Besides, IL-1Ra was associated with circulating levels of various lipoprotein lipids, apolipoproteins and fasting glucose. Interestingly, observed association pattern with CHD was reversed when adjusting for apolipoprotein B (OR, 0.84; 95%CI: 0.71-0.99) and slightly attenuated on accounting for other cardiometabolic risk factors. Appropriate lifestyle intervention was found to lower IL-1Ra concentration and mitigate the heightened CHD risk it posed. Conclusions Apolipoprotein B represents the key driver, and a potential target for reversal of the causal link between serum IL-1Ra and increased risk of CHD/MI. The combined therapy involving IL-1 inhibition and lipid-modifying treatment aimed at apolipoprotein B merit further exploration.
Vascular Endothelial Cells Perform Distinct Sensing and Signaling of Laminar and Disturbed Flows across Plasma Membranes and Mitochondria

BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) experience two different blood flow patterns: laminar and disturbed flows. Their responses to laminar flow contribute to vascular homeostasis, whereas their responses to disturbed flow result in EC dysfunction and vascular diseases. However, it remains unclear how ECs differentially sense laminar and disturbed flows and trigger signalings that elicit different EC responses. We aimed to investigate EC flow-sensing and signaling mechanisms, focusing on the role of the plasma membrane and mitochondria. METHODS We exposed cultured human aortic ECs to laminar flow and disturbed flow in flow-loading devices and used real-time imaging with optical probes to examine changes in the lipid order of the plasma and mitochondria membranes and the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) release. RESULTS The lipid order of EC plasma membranes immediately decreased in response to laminar flow, while it increased in response to disturbed flow. Laminar flow also decreased the lipid order of mitochondrial membranes and increased mitochondrial ATP production. In contrast, disturbed flow increased the lipid order of mitochondrial membranes and increased the release of H2O2 from mitochondria. Addition of cholesterol to the cells increased the lipid order of both membranes and abrogated the laminar flow-induced ATP production, while treatment of the cells with a cholesterol-depleting reagent, methyl-β cyclodextrin, decreased the lipid order of both membranes and abolished the disturbed flow-induced H2O2 release, indicating that the changes in the membrane lipid order are closely linked to the flow-induced changes in the mitochondrial functions. CONCLUSIONS ECs differentially sense laminar and disturbed flows by altering the lipid order of their plasma and mitochondrial membranes in opposite directions, which result in distinct changes in the mitochondrial functions, namely, increased ATP production for laminar flow and increased H2O2 release for disturbed flow, leading to ATP- and H2O2-mediated signalings, respectively.
Reduction of Paraoxonase Expression Followed by Inactivation across Independent Semiaquatic Mammals Suggests Stepwise Path to Pseudogenization

Convergent adaptation to the same environment by multiple lineages frequently involves rapid evolutionary change at the same genes, implicating these genes as important for environmental adaptation. Such adaptive molecular changes may yield either change or loss of protein function; loss of function can eliminate newly deleterious proteins or reduce energy necessary for protein production. We previously found a striking case of recurrent pseudogenization of the Paraoxonase 1 (Pon1) gene among aquatic mammal lineages - Pon1 became a pseudogene with genetic lesions, such as stop codons and frameshifts, at least four times independently in aquatic and semiaquatic mammals. Here, we assess the landscape and pace of pseudogenization by studying Pon1 sequences, expression levels, and enzymatic activity across four aquatic and semiaquatic mammal lineages: pinnipeds, cetaceans, otters, and beavers. We observe in beavers and pinnipeds an unexpected reduction in expression of Pon3, a paralog with similar expression patterns but different substrate preferences. Ultimately, in all lineages with aquatic/semiaquatic members, we find that preceding any coding level pseudogenization events in Pon1, there is a drastic decrease in expression, followed by relaxed selection, thus allowing accumulation of disrupting mutations. The recurrent loss of Pon1 function in aquatic/semiaquatic lineages is consistent with a benefit to Pon1 functional loss in aquatic environments. Accordingly, we examine diving and dietary traits across pinniped species as potential driving forces of Pon1 functional loss. We find that loss is best correlated with diving activity and likely results from changes in selective pressures associated with hypoxia and hypoxia-induced inflammation.
Extreme structural heterogeneity rewires glioblastoma chromosomes to sustain patient-specific transcriptional programs

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) encompasses brain malignancies marked by phenotypic and transcriptional heterogeneity thought to render these tumors aggressive, resistant to therapy, and inevitably recurrent. However, little is known about how the spatial organization of GBM genomes underlies this heterogeneity and its effects. Here, we compiled a cohort of 28 patient-derived glioblastoma stem cell-like lines (GSCs) known to reflect the properties of their tumor-of-origin; six of these were primary-relapse tumor pairs from the same patient. We generated and analyzed kbp-resolution chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) data from all GSCs to systematically map >3,100 standalone and complex structural variants (SVs) and the >6,300 neoloops arising as a result. By combining Hi-C, histone modification, and gene expression data with chromatin folding simulations, we explain how the pervasive, uneven, and idiosyncratic occurrence of neoloops sustains tumor-specific transcriptional programs via the formation of new enhancer-promoter contacts. We also show how even moderately recurrent neoloops can help us infer patient-specific vulnerabilities. Together, our data provide a resource for dissecting GBM biology and heterogeneity, as well as for informing therapeutic approaches.
Functional lung imaging using novel and emerging MRI techniques

Respiratory diseases are leading causes of death and disability in the world. While early diagnosis is key, this has proven difficult due to the lack of sensitive and non-invasive tools. Computed tomography is regarded as the gold standard for structural lung imaging but lacks functional information and involves significant radiation exposure. Lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has historically been challenging due to its short T2 and low proton density. Hyperpolarised gas MRI is an emerging technique that is able to overcome these difficulties, permitting the functional and microstructural evaluation of the lung. Other novel imaging techniques such as fluorinated gas MRI, oxygen-enhanced MRI, Fourier decomposition MRI and phase-resolved functional lung imaging can also be used to interrogate lung function though they are currently at varying stages of development. This article provides a clinically focused review of these contrast and non-contrast MR imaging techniques and their current applications in lung disease.
Some ARMA models for dependent sequences of poisson counts

A family of models for discrete-time processes with Poisson marginal distributions is developed and investigated. They have the same correlation structure as the linear ARMA processes. The joint distribution of n consecutive observations in such a process is derived and its properties discussed. In particular, time-reversibility and asymptotic behaviour are considered in detail. A vector autoregressive process is constructed and the behaviour of its components, which are Poisson ARMA processes, is considered. In particular, the two-dimensional case is discussed in detail.
Structured exercise programs for higher education students experiencing mental health challenges: background, significance, and implementation

The incidence of mental illness is greatest among young adults, and those enrolled in higher education may be particularly vulnerable compared to the general young adult population. Many higher education institutions employ student support staff tasked with implementing strategies to improve student wellbeing and mental illness. However, these strategies tend to be focused on clinical therapies and pharmacological interventions with limited lifestyle approaches. Exercise is an effective method for addressing mental illness and promoting wellbeing, yet widespread provision of structured exercise services to support treatment options for students with mental health challenges has not been fully realized. In an effort to guide exercise strategies for student mental health, we synthesize considerations for developing and delivering exercise programs in higher education settings. We draw directly from the evidence base on existing exercise programs in higher education; and the broader behavior change, exercise adherence, health psychology, implementation science, and exercise prescription literatures. Our broad considerations cover issues regarding program engagement and behavior change, exercise ‘dose’ and prescription, integration with other on-campus services, and robust research and evaluation. These considerations may provide impetus for widespread program development and implementation, as well as informing research focused on protecting and improving student mental health.
A new pathogenic isolate of Kocuria kristinae identified for the first time in the marine fish Larimichthys crocea

In recent years, new emerging pathogenic microorganisms have frequently appeared in animals, including marine fish, possibly due to climate change, anthropogenic activities, and even cross-species transmission of pathogenic microorganisms among animals or between animals and humans, which poses a serious issue for preventive medicine. In this study, a bacterium was clearly characterized among 64 isolates from the gills of diseased large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea that were raised in marine aquaculture. This strain was identified as K. kristinae by biochemical tests with a VITEK 2.0 analysis system and 16S rRNA sequencing and named K. kristinae_LC. The potential genes that might encode virulence-factors were widely screened through sequence analysis of the whole genome of K. kristinae_LC. Many genes involved in the two-component system and drug-resistance were also annotated. In addition, 104 unique genes in K. kristinae_LC were identified by pan genome analysis with the genomes of this strain from five different origins (woodpecker, medical resource, environment, and marine sponge reef) and the analysis results demonstrated that their predicted functions might be associated with adaptation to living conditions such as higher salinity, complex marine biomes, and low temperature. A significant difference in genomic organization was found among the K. kristinae strains that might be related to their hosts living in different environments. The animal regression test for this new bacterial isolate was carried out using L. crocea, and the results showed that this bacterium could cause the death of L. crocea and that the fish mortality was dose-dependent within 5 days post infection, indicating the pathogenicity of K. kristinae_LC to marine fish. Since K. kristinae has been reported as a pathogen for humans and bovines, in our study, we revealed a new isolate of K. kristinae_LC from marine fish for the first time, suggesting the potentiality of cross-species transmission among animals or from marine animals to humans, from which we would gain insight to help in future public prevention strategies for new emerging pathogens.