Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proteome in regrowth cycles of sugarcane: Absence of proteins to tolerate adverse growth conditions may be related to reduced agricultural productivity

One of the main objectives of sugarcane plantations is to increase their longevity without decreasing agricultural productivity. In the present study, we analyzed the proteome of the axillary buds of ‘RB966928’ to investigate possible changes in the number of proteins at different cutting stages. Using tryptic digestion followed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry, 122 proteins were identified from the proteome of the axillary buds of ‘RB966928’. Of the 122, respectively 97 and 95 proteins were detected at the first and fifth cutting stages, of which 27 and 25 proteins were unique to the respective stage. Proteins that prevent the misfolding of polypeptides generated under stress were exclusively detected at the first cutting stage. Meanwhile, proteins associated with stress responses and disease resistance were exclusively detected at the fifth cutting stage. The present proteomic analysis in the regrowth cycles and axillary bud development of ‘RB966928’ significantly advanced our understanding of the biological processes linked to the reduction of agricultural productivity of sugarcane with the advancement of cutting age. Absence of proteins to tolerate adverse growth conditions at the fifth cutting stage may be related to reduced agricultural productivity, in addition to environmental stress, soil compaction, nutrient availability, cultural practices, and pests or pathogen attacks at different phenological stages of crops.
Use of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Strategies by Community-Dwelling Adults to Manage Migraine: A Systematic Review

Migraine is a prevalent disease associated with high levels of disability and is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. This systematic literature review aimed to identify the types of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies that community-dwelling adults report using to manage migraine. A systematic literature review of relevant databases, grey literature, websites, and journals was conducted from 1 January 1989 to 21 December 2021. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were completed independently by multiple reviewers. Data were extracted on migraine management strategies and categorized as opioid and non-opioid medications and medical, physical, psychological, or self-initiated strategies. A total of 20 studies were included. The sample sizes ranged from 138 to 46,941, with a mean age of 34.7 to 79.9 years. The data were typically collected using self-administered questionnaires (nine studies), interviews (five studies), online surveys (three studies), paper-based surveys (two studies), and a retrospective database (one study). Community-dwelling adults with migraine reported they primarily used medications, specifically triptans (range 9–73%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (range 13–85%) to manage migraine. Except for medical strategies, the use of other non-pharmacological strategies was low. Common non-pharmacological strategies included consulting physicians (range 14–79%) and heat or cold therapy (35%).
Research Progress in High-Efficiency Utilization of Nitrogen in Rapeseed

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important mineral elements for plant growth and development and a key factor for improving crop yield. Rapeseed, Brassica napus, is the largest oil crop in China, producing more than 50% of the domestic vegetable oil. However, high N fertilizer input with low utilization efficiency not only increases the production cost but also causes serious environmental pollution. Therefore, the breeding of rapeseed with high N efficiency is of great strategic significance to ensure the security of grain and oil and the sustainable development of the rapeseed industry. In order to provide reference for genetic improvement of rapeseed N-efficient utilization, in this article, we mainly reviewed the recent research progress of rapeseed N efficiency, including rapeseed N efficiency evaluation, N-efficient germplasm screening, and N-efficient physiological and molecular genetic mechanisms.
Prediction of Axial Compressive Load–Strain Curves of Circular Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Columns Using Long Short-Term Memory Network

No study has been reported to use machine learning methods to predict the full-range test curves of circular CFST columns. In this paper, the long short-term memory (LSTM) network was introduced to calculate the axially compressive load–strain curves of the circular CFST columns according to an experiment database of limited scale. To improve the feasibility of input data for the recurrent neural network algorithm, data preprocessing methods and data configurations were discussed. The prediction results indicate that the LSTM network provides more accurate estimations compared with the artificial neural networks, random forest and support vector regression. Meanwhile, this method can be used to calculate the mechanical properties including the elastic modulus, ultimate bearing capacity, and the ductility of the columns with acceptable accuracy for engineering practice (the prediction error within 20%). For future research, it is expected that the machine learning method will be applied to predict the structural response of different members under various loading conditions.
Analysis of a Surface Front during the Early Summer Rainy Season over Taiwan

Abstract A case study of a relatively dry front during TAMEX IOP-4 is presented. At 0000 UTC 27 May, the broad cloud band extended from the China plain and southern Japan to east of 150°E, along and north of the surface front. This front possessed appreciable baroclinity. As the midtropospheric trough moved eastward, the surface front advanced southeastward and eventually separated from the quasi-stationary cloud band. The depth of the cold air decreased as it penetrated to the subtropics. In the vicinity of Taiwan, the frontal surface was shallow with a depth ≈ 1 km. The convection occurred in two different regimes; the large-scale cloud band associated with the eastward-moving trough, and cumuli along the surface front. As the surface front approached Taiwan, the southwest flow started to increase, and a mesolow formed over the southeastern coast due to the interaction between the southwest flow and the mountainous topography. The air moved over the mountains and descended adiabatically. During the fron.
Exponential convergence estimates for neural networks with multiple delays

Componentwise estimates of (global) exponential convergence are obtained for a class of neural networks with multiple delays by com- parison method for delay differential equations. The method is simple and straightforward and does not resort to any Lyapunov functional. The main result shows explicitly the effect of time delays on exponential decay rate of the networks and is hence of practical interest in designing a fast and stable neural network. Compared with some existing results for stability of the Hopfield network model and delayed cellular neural network model via Lyapunov method, the present results can provide further detailed charac- terization of the convergence behavior for the systems under the same or similar conditions.
Synergistic Effect between SARS-CoV-2 Wave and COVID-19 Vaccination on the Occurrence of Mild Symptoms in Healthcare Workers

Background: Since the beginning of the pandemic, five variants of epidemiological interest have been identified, each of them with its pattern of symptomology and disease severity. The aim of this study is to analyze the role of vaccination status in modulating the pattern of symptomatology associated with COVID-19 infection during four waves. Methods: Data from the surveillance activity of healthcare workers were used to carry out descriptive analysis, association analyses and multivariable analysis. A synergism analysis between vaccination status and symptomatology during the waves was performed. Results: Females were found at a higher risk of developing symptoms. Four SARS-CoV-2 waves were identified. Pharyngitis and rhinitis were more frequent during the fourth wave and among vaccinated subjects while cough, fever, flu syndrome, headache, anosmia, ageusia, arthralgia/arthritis and myalgia were more frequent during the first three waves and among unvaccinated subjects. A correlation was found between vaccination and the different waves in terms of developing pharyngitis and rhinitis. Conclusion: Vaccination status and viruses’ mutations had a synergic effect in the mitigation of the symptomatology caused by SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers.
Electrochemistry Study of Bio-Based Composite Biopolymer Electrolyte—Starch/Cardol

The environmental problems generated by pollution due to polymers of petrochemical origin have led to the search for eco-friendly alternatives such as the development of biopolymers or bio-based polymers. The aim of this work was to evaluate the electrochemical behavior of a biopolymer composite made from cassava starch and cardol extracted from cashew nut shell liquid. The biopolymers were prepared using the thermochemical method, varying the synthesis pH and the cardol amounts. The biopolymers were synthesized in the form of films and characterized by cyclic voltamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The biopolymers showed a rich electroactivity, with three oxidation–reduction processes evidenced in the voltamperograms. On the other hand, the equivalent circuit corresponding to the impedance behavior of biopolymers integrated the processes of electron transfer resistance, electric double layer, redox reaction process, and resistance of the biopolymeric matrix. The results allowed us to conclude that the cardol content and the synthesis pH were factors that affect the electrochemical behavior of biopolymer composite films. Electrochemical processes in biopolymers were reversible and involved two-electron transfer and were diffusion-controlled processes.
Molecular Basis of TcdR-Dependent Promoter Activity for Toxin Production by Clostridioides difficile Studied by a Heterologous Reporter System

The alternative σ factor TcdR controls the synthesis of two major enterotoxins: TcdA and TcdB in Clostridioides difficile. Four potential TcdR-dependent promoters in the pathogenicity locus of C. difficile showed different activities. In this study, we constructed a heterologous system in Bacillus subtilis to investigate the molecular basis of TcdR-dependent promoter activity. The promoters of the two major enterotoxins showed strong TcdR-dependent activity, while the two putative TcdR-dependent promoters in the upstream region of the tcdR gene did not show detectable activity, suggesting that the autoregulation of TcdR may need other unknown factors involved. Mutation analysis indicated that the divergent -10 region is the key determinant for different activities of the TcdR-dependent promoters. Analysis of the TcdR model predicted by AlphaFold2 suggested that TcdR should be classified into group 4, i.e., extracytoplasmic function, σ70 factors. The results of this study provide the molecular basis of the TcdR-dependent promoter recognition for toxin production. This study also suggests the feasibility of the heterologous system in analyzing σ factor functions and possibly in drug development targeting these factors.
Effect of Girdling and Cincturing on Setting and Yield in Balady Mandarin Trees

Growing citrus fruit trees became more expensive over the last few years as a result of rising production costs. Thus, less environmentally harmful methods were employed in an effort to find a technique to lower these costs while obtaining a high yield and quality of fruits free from any chemical residues. This study was carried out during two consecutive seasons of 2020 and 2021 on 15 uniformed Balady Mandarin trees, 20 years old, budded on sour orange rootstock, and planted at a distance of 5×5 m in the productive farm at the Agricultural Research Center in Shandawel Island, Sohag Governorate. The experiment aims to study the influence of girdling and cincturing on the fruit setting and yield of Balady mandarin trees. The results showed that all girdling and cincturing treatments (girdling or cincturing the trunk or branches) had a positive effect on flowering, fruiting, leaves content of carbohydrates, yield, and some fruit quality properties (TSS and TSS/acid ratio), while they led to a decrease in the leaves content of nitrogen in Balady mandarin trees under the climatic conditions of Sohag Governorate. The study recommends the importance of girdling the branches and trunk of the Balady mandarin trees under Sohag conditions to enhance the yield and quality of the fruits .
The Effects of Social Presence and Familiarity on Children–Robot Interactions

In children–robot interactions, an impression of a robot’s “social presence” (i.e., an interactive agent that feels like a person) links positively to an improved relationship with the robot. However, building relationships takes many exposures, and there is an intellectual gap in how social presence and familiarity collaborate in modulating children–robot relationships. We investigated whether social presence altered over time, how repeated exposure and social presence affected rapport, and how social presence would modulate children’s attitudes toward the robot. Fourteen children (four female, age = 10.79 ± 1.12) interacted with a companion robot for four days in spontaneous interactions. The findings revealed that children who perceived the robot as having a higher social presence developed a stronger rapport than those who perceived a lower social presence. However, repeated encounters did not change the children’s perceptions of the robot’s social presence. Children rated higher rapport after repeated interactions regardless of social presence levels. This suggests that while a higher social presence initially elevated the positive relationship between children and the robot, it was the repeated interactions that continued solidifying the rapport. Additionally, children who perceived a higher social presence from the robot felt less relational uneasiness about their relationship with robots. These findings highlight the importance of robots’ social presence and familiarity in promoting positive relationships in children–robot interaction.
Determinants of Corporate Sustainability in the Malaysian Construction Industry

Corporate sustainability is a key concern for corporation. This research intends to evaluate: (1) the influences of training and development and the components of human governance (i.e., transformational leadership, integrity and collectivism) on the corporate sustainability; (2) the impact of the components of human governance on training and development; and (3) the role of training and development in mediating the relationship between the components of human governance and corporate sustainability. Through an online questionnaire survey, 283 responses were collected from the Malaysia construction industry by using non-probability sampling technique. Statistical inferential analyses were carried out by utilising both SPSS Version 25.0 and SmartPLS 3.0. The results represented a significant positive relationship between the components of human governance, training and development, and corporate sustainability. This research also found that only transformational leadership and integrity (but not collectivism) have positive relationship on training and development. The research findings likewise evinced that training and development partially mediates the relationship between the components of human governance (i.e., transformational leadership and integrity but not collectivism) and corporate sustainability. This research contributes an unabridged theoretical perspective on corporate sustainability by providing a deeper understanding of how training and development and the components of human governance determine corporate sustainability as well as the relationships between transformational leadership, integrity and collectivism with corporate sustainability through the mediating role of training and development. Lastly, this research also promotes a better system and policies for organisations to achieve their goals of corporate sustainability.
Tree-based censored regression with applications in insurance

In this paper, we propose a regression tree procedure to estimate the conditional distribution of a variable which is not directly observed due to censoring. The model that we consider is motivated by applications in insurance, including the analysis of guarantees that involve durations, and claim reserving. We derive consistency results for our procedure, and for the selection of an optimal subtree using a pruning strategy. These theoretical results are supported by a simulation study, and two applications to insurance datasets. The first one concerns income protection insurance, while the second deals with reserving in third-party liability insurance.
Immunostaining of βA-Activin and Follistatin Is Decreased in HPV(+) Cervical Pre-Neoplastic and Neoplastic Lesions

The activin–follistatin system regulates several cellular processes, including differentiation and tumorigenesis. We hypothesized that the immunostaining of βA-activin and follistatin varies in neoplastic cervical lesions. Cervical paraffin-embedded tissues from 162 patients sorted in control (n = 15), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1 (n = 38), CIN2 (n = 37), CIN3 (n = 39), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; n = 33) groups were examined for βA-activin and follistatin immunostaining. Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection and genotyping were performed by PCR and immunohistochemistry. Sixteen samples were inconclusive for HPV detection. In total, 93% of the specimens exhibited HPV positivity, which increased with patient age. The most detected high-risk (HR)-HPV type was HPV16 (41.2%) followed by HPV18 (16%). The immunostaining of cytoplasmatic βA-activin and follistatin was higher than nuclear immunostaining in all cervical epithelium layers of the CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and SCC groups. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the cytoplasmic and nuclear immunostaining of βA-activin was detected in all cervical epithelial layers from the control to the CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and SCC groups. Only nuclear follistatin immunostaining exhibited a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in specific epithelial layers of cervical tissues from CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and SCC compared to the control. Decreased immunostaining of cervical βA-activin and follistatin at specific stages of CIN progression suggests that the activin–follistatin system participates in the loss of the differentiation control of pre-neoplastic and neoplastic cervical specimens predominantly positive for HPV.
Robust fault diagnosis of quayside container crane gearbox based on 2D image representation in frequency domain and CNN

To accurately diagnose the quayside container crane (QCC) gearbox faults, this article proposes a method that combines the frequency-domain Markov transformation field (FDMTF) and multi-branch residual convolutional neural network (MBRCNN). Firstly, the gearbox vibration signal is converted into the frequency domain to reveal the components and amplitude of signals stably and concisely. Then, the one-dimensional frequency signal is encoded into the two-dimensional image by the Markov transformation field to capture the dynamic characteristics of signals. Thirdly, the MBRCNN network is constructed, which can extract multi-scale features and alleviate the problems caused by the deep network structure. Finally, the FDMTF image is fed into the constructed MBRCNN model for pattern recognition. The effectiveness of the proposed FDMTF–MBRCNN method is verified by two case studies. In Case 1, the diagnosis results of a benchmark dataset achieve 100% accuracy, better than seven state-of-the-art methods published in recent 3 years. In Case 2, the diagnosis results of the dataset collected from a 1:4 scaled test rig achieve 98.85% accuracy, better than eleven encoding methods and four convolutional neural network methods. It also can obtain a recognition accuracy of more than 94% under the conditions of small sample, different network hyper-parameters, or variable loads, which verifies its robustness. These case studies show that the FDMTF–MBRCNN method is expected to be applied to the actual fault diagnosis of QCC gearboxes.
Multiple Introductions and Distinct Genetic Groups of Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) in China Revealed by Genomic Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms

Despite numerous studies reported in the context of ecology, the introduction history of the infamous invasive plant Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) remains elusive. In the present study, we explored the sources and the number of introduction events of this species from its native areas into China. Using the genotyping-by-sequencing approach, we identified 34,035 selectively neutral single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to infer the evolutionary trajectories of 77 S. canadensis individuals. Both the principal component analysis and the ADMIXTURE analysis revealed two genetic groups that are sympatric to each other in China and suggested the absence of genetic admixtures. The phylogenetic analysis indicated three feasible introduction routes and multiple introduction events of Canada goldenrod into China. Specifically, the one from the USA directly into China, the other from the USA into China through Japan, and the third from the USA into China through Europe. Based on the site frequency spectrum of these identified SNPs, we inferred strong bottleneck events for both genetic groups, and that the multiple introductions did not rescue the decline of genetic diversity. To conclude, multiple introduction events, genetic bottlenecks, and potential human-mediated spread characterize the introduction history of Canada goldenrod in China. The present study harnesses the power of SNP data in deciphering the evolutionary trajectory of invasive plants and paves the way for future studies concerning the invasion mechanism of Canada goldenrod.
Experimental demonstration of equalization with phase lock loops against Doppler shifts of multipath signals on underwater acoustic communications

In mobile underwater acoustic (UWA) communication, such as communication between autonomous underwater and surface vehicles, the motion of terminals causes a time-varying phase shift to each multipath signal, degrading demodulation performance in a manner difficult to address through conventional signal processing. To suppress the effects of phase shifts, equalization with loops for the compensation of multipath signal phase shifts has previously been proposed. Although the improvement yielded by the proposed equalization has been confirmed through simulations in the previous study, the applicability of this approach to actual data in an at-sea experiment has never been reported. In this study, the proposed method’s improvement yield was evaluated by application to acoustic data obtained in a prior marine experiment with an autonomous surface vehicle. Consequently, the equalization was demonstrated to improve demodulation performance in UWA channels with nonuniform Doppler shifts and multipath signals.