Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Sequence-to-Sequence Deep Learning Architecture Based on Bidirectional GRU for Type Recognition and Time Location of Combined Power Quality Disturbance

In this paper, a sequence-to-sequence deep learning architecture based on the bidirectional gated recurrent unit (Bi-GRU) for type recognition and time location of combined power quality disturbance is proposed. Especially, the proposed methodology can determine the type of each element in input sequence, which is different from existing sequence-to-sequence model employing encoder–decoder network. First, the input sequence is normalized and batched. Second, deep features are extracted from input sequence by constructing Bi-GRU recurrent neural network, where multiple Bi-GRU layers are stacked together in both forward direction and backward direction. Third, according to aforementioned extracted features, fully connected layer and Softmax are employed to calculate the corresponding probability indicating the category that each element in input sequence is classified to. Fourth, Argmax or Top_K operation is further integrated to determine the type of each element in input sequence by selecting the maximal probability. Finally, the type is recognized, and meanwhile, starting–ending times of disturbances are also located just at the moment when the type is changed. The proposed model is further validated and tested by synthetic signals and practical field signals, respectively. Experimental results demonstrate that the accuracy of type recognition is over 98% for 96 kinds of disturbances including single and combined disturbances with signal-to-noise ration being 20 dB. Besides, the starting–ending times are also located with the absolute error less than six sampling points when sampling frequency is 256 points per cycle with noisy environment.
A Graphical-User-Interface-Based Azimuth-Collection Method in Autonomous Auditory Localization of Real and Virtual Sound Sources

Auditory localization of spatial sound sources is an important life skill for human beings. For the practical application-oriented measurement of auditory localization ability, the preference is a compromise among (i) data accuracy, (ii) the maneuverability of collecting directions, and (iii) the cost of hardware and software. The graphical user interface (GUI)-based sound-localization experimental platform proposed here (i) is cheap, (ii) can be operated autonomously by the listener, (iii) can store results online, and (iv) supports real or virtual sound sources. To evaluate the accuracy of this method, by using 12 loudspeakers arranged in equal azimuthal intervals of 30° in the horizontal plane, three groups of azimuthal localization experiments are conducted in the horizontal plane with subjects with normal hearing. In these experiments, the azimuths are reported using (i) an assistant, (ii) a motion tracker, or (iii) the newly designed GUI-based method. All three groups of results show that the localization errors are mostly within 5–12°, which is consistent with previous results from different localization experiments. Finally, the stimulus of virtual sound sources is integrated into the GUI-based experimental platform. The results with the virtual sources suggest that using individualized head-related transfer functions can achieve better performance in spatial sound source localization, which is consistent with previous conclusions and further validates the reliability of this experimental platform.
Genetic differentiation of populations of the threatened saproxylic beetle Rosalia longicorn, Rosalia alpina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Central and South‐east Europe

Knowledge of patterns of genetic diversity in populations of threatened species is vital for their effective conservation. Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina) is an endangered and strictly protected beetle. Despite a marked decline in part of its range, the beetle has recently expanded to the lowlands of Central Europe. To facilitate a better understanding of the species' biology, recent expansion and more effective conservation measures, we investigated patterns of genetic structure among 32 populations across Central and South-east Europe. Eight microsatellite loci and a partial mitochondrial gene (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) were used as markers. Both markers showed a significant decline in genetic diversity with latitude, suggesting a glacial refugium in north-western Greece. The cluster analysis of the nuclear marker indicated the existence of two genetically distinct lineages meeting near the border between the Western and Eastern Carpathians. By contrast, one widespread mtDNA haplotype was dominant in most populations, leading to the assumption that a rapid expansion of a single lineage occurred across the study area. The genetic differentiation among populations from the north-western part of the study area was, however, surprisingly low. They lacked any substructure and isolation-by-distance on a scale of up to 600 km. This result suggests a strong dispersal capacity of the species, as well as a lack of migration barriers throughout the study area. That the lowland populations are closely related to those from the nearby mountains indicates repeated colonization of the lowlands. Our results further suggest that R. alpina mostly lives in large, open populations. Large-scale conservation measures need to be applied to allow for its continued existence.
The Foundation of a New Conservation Movement: Professional Society Positions on Economic Growth

T American Fisheries Society, American Society of Mammalogists, and Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) are contemplating position statements on the conflict between economic growth and conservation of fish, mammals, and biodiversity, respectively. Similar considerations are bubbling up in the Ecological Society of America, Society for Range Management, and International Society for Ecological Economics. Positions have already been taken by The Wildlife Society, SCB’s North America Section, and the US Society for Ecological Economics, complemented by numerous position statements and endorsements from nonprofessional conservation organizations and individuals. The proponents of this movement have overcome some high hurdles, and the finish line beckons.What prize awaits, not only for the proponents but also for the conservation community at large? The prize is a foundation of solidarity upon which to build a new, grounded, more socially relevant conservation movement. This new conservation movement won’t dance to the seductive political tune, cantillated from right and left, that “there is no conflict between economic growth and environmental protection. ” This new movement goes beyond the oxymoronic “smart growth” to a smarter approach of development without growth. This movement won’t allow itself to be miscast as a “socialist” agenda. Rather, this movement is about clarifying—for the public, the firm, and the policymaker—the trade-offs society faces between increasing production and consumption of goods and services and protecting the environment. Clarification will lead to political accountability, policy reform, and a more responsible consumer ethic. Like all good things, this new conservation movement won’t come easy. Taking a position can be a daunting task; fears abound, and sometimes the struggle doesn’t seem worth it. The objectives of this article are to uproot unwarranted political fears and provide an overview of how positions on economic growth may be used. This article does not address technical matters. Those have been addressed elsewhere and adequately enough, for example, to empower an organization as cautious as The Wildlife Society to identify a “fundamental conflict between economic growth and wildlife conservation” (Wildlife Society 2003). “Skeptical environmentalists”and others who would yet argue that there is no conflict should address their objections to the burgeoning literature on that conflict.
Improving Breastfeeding by Empowering Mothers in Vietnam: A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Mobile App

Breastfeeding provides benefits to the infant and mother; however, the rates of breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding, remain below optimal levels in many Asian countries. The aim of this study is to review the benefits of breastfeeding to mothers and infants and current rates of breastfeeding in Vietnam, and to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application on exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Vietnam. A two-arm, parallel triple-blinded randomised controlled trial will be conducted among 1000 mothers in Hanoi City, Vietnam, during 2020–2021. Eligible participants are pregnant women who will seek antenatal care from health facilities at 24–36 weeks of gestation and plan to deliver at two participating hospitals, own a smartphone, and carry a singleton foetus. Permuted-block randomisation method stratified by maternal age, education and parity will be used to ensure an equal number of participants in each group. A smartphone app will be developed to deliver breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding information to the intervention and control group, respectively. Data will be collected at baseline, before hospital discharge, and at 1, 4, and 6 months postpartum. This study envisages demonstrating whether a smartphone-based intervention can be effective at improving breastfeeding in Vietnam. Trials registration: ACTRN12619000531112.
Application of Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis to the Characterization of Microbial Communities in Rhizospheric Soils of the Bt Transgenic Chrysanthemum

In the present study, we examined the feasibility of using a simplified ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA) technique to investigate the impact of chrysanthemum genotypes, including Bt transgenic lines, the control parental line and a wild species, on microbial communities in their rhizospheric soils. Differential bands among the plant genotypes were identified from RISA profiles. Sequence data revealed that some bands showed high levels of similarity to known species, such as a fungal group of Exidiopsis and Exidia and a protozoan, Tetrahymena tropicalis. None, however, shared homology to either pathogenic or beneficial microbes that have previously been identified in association with both animals and plants.
Grappling With the COVID-19 Health Crisis: Content Analysis of Communication Strategies and Their Effects on Public Engagement on Social Media

Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has posed an unprecedented challenge to governments worldwide. Effective government communication of COVID-19 information with the public is of crucial importance. Objective We investigate how the most-read state-owned newspaper in China, People’s Daily, used an online social networking site, Sina Weibo, to communicate about COVID-19 and whether this could engage the public. The objective of this study is to develop an integrated framework to examine the content, message style, and interactive features of COVID-19–related posts and determine their effects on public engagement in the largest social media network in China. Methods Content analysis was employed to scrutinize 608 COVID-19 posts, and coding was performed on three main dimensions: content, message style, and interactive features. The content dimension was coded into six subdimensions: action, new evidence, reassurance, disease prevention, health care services, and uncertainty, and the style dimension was coded into the subdimensions of narrative and nonnarrative. As for interactive features, they were coded into links to external sources, use of hashtags, use of questions to solicit feedback, and use of multimedia. Public engagement was measured in the form of the number of shares, comments, and likes on the People’s Daily’s Sina Weibo account from January 20, 2020, to March 11, 2020, to reveal the association between different levels of public engagement and communication strategies. A one-way analysis of variance followed by a post-hoc Tukey test and negative binomial regression analysis were employed to generate the results. Results We found that although the content frames of action, new evidence, and reassurance delivered in a nonnarrative style were predominant in COVID-19 communication by the government, posts related to new evidence and a nonnarrative style were strong negative predictors of the number of shares. In terms of generating a high number of shares, it was found that disease prevention posts delivered in a narrative style were able to achieve this purpose. Additionally, an interaction effect was found between content and style. The use of a narrative style in disease prevention posts had a significant positive effect on generating comments and likes by the Chinese public, while links to external sources fostered sharing. Conclusions These results have implications for governments, health organizations, medical professionals, the media, and researchers on their epidemic communication to engage the public. Selecting suitable communication strategies may foster active liking and sharing of posts on social media, which in turn, might raise the public’s awareness of COVID-19 and motivate them to take preventive measures. The sharing of COVID-19 posts is particularly important because this action can reach out to a large audience, potentially helping to contain the spread of the virus.
In silico identification of widely used and well-tolerated drugs as potential SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease and viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors for direct use in clinical trials

Abstract Despite strict measures taken by many countries, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to be an issue of global concern. Currently, there are no clinically proven pharmacotherapies for coronavirus disease 2019, despite promising initial results obtained from drugs such as azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine. Therefore, the repurposing of clinically approved drugs for use against SARS-CoV-2 has become a viable strategy. Here, we searched for drugs that target SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease (3CLpro) and viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) by in silico screening of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved drug library. Well-tolerated and widely used drugs were selected for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to evaluate drug-protein interactions and their persistence under physiological conditions. Tetracycline, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, dutasteride, nelfinavir, and paliperidone formed stable interactions with 3CLpro based on MD simulation results. Similar analysis with RdRp showed that eltrombopag, tipranavir, ergotamine, and conivaptan bound to the enzyme with high binding free energies. Docking results suggest that ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, bromocriptine, dutasteride, conivaptan, paliperidone, and tipranavir can bind to both enzymes with high affinity. As these drugs are well tolerated, cost-effective, and widely used, our study suggests that they could potentially to be used in clinical trials for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Pharmacokinetics of Tildipirosin in Ewes after Intravenous, Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Administration

Simple Summary Pneumonia is a significant cause of death in sheep flocks. Thus, antibiotics are essential for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia to reduce morbidity and mortality, but few drugs are specifically labeled for clinical use in sheep. Many of the antimicrobial clinical prescriptions that occur in sheep are classified as extra-label use, with dosage, administration frequency, indications, and drug withdrawal times usually being extrapolated from information reported in other species. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the disposition kinetics of tildipirosin after intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous administration in sheep. Throughout the experiment, all ewes were healthy and no adverse reactions were recorded. The apparent volume of distribution was high, indicating a wide distribution in the body, which can be attributed to a significant fraction of tildipirosin inside the cells, and its expected activity against intracellular bacteria. Following intramuscular administration, tildipirosin was rapidly absorbed even to a greater extent when compared to subcutaneous administration. Most of the adsorbed tildipirosin after intramuscular and subcutaneous administrations were available in the body (>70%). In brief, the excellent tolerability of this formulation and the suitable disposition of tildipirosin in the body makes it an alternative for sheep use, in conditions where the administration of antibiotics is needed to observe desired effects with the benefits of scant manipulation of animals. Abstract A single-dose disposition kinetics for tildipirosin was evaluated in clinically healthy ewes (n = 6) after intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC) administration of a commercial formulation. Tildipirosin concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Plasma concentration-time data was calculated by non-compartmental pharmacokinetic methods. The apparent volume of distribution (Vz) of tildipirosin after IV administration was 5.36 ± 0.57 L/kg suggesting a wide distribution in tissues and inside the cells. The elimination half-life (t½λz) was 17.16 ± 2.25, 23.90 ± 6.99 and 43.19 ± 5.17 h after IV, IM and SC administration, respectively. Following IM administration, tildipirosin was rapidly absorbed (tmax = 0.62 ± 0.10 h) even to a greater extent than after SC administration. Time to reach peak concentration (tmax) and peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) differed significantly, but both parameters showed a more significant variability after SC than after IM administration. Bioavailabilities after extravascular administration were high (>70%). Therefore, given general adverse reactions that were not observed in any ewe and favourable pharmacokinetics, tildipirosin could be effective in treating bacterial infections in sheep.
Strain Dependence of Energetics and Kinetics of Vacancy in Tungsten

We investigate the influence of hydrostatic/biaxial strain on the formation, migration, and clustering of vacancy in tungsten (W) using a first-principles method, and show that the vacancy behaviors are strongly dependent on the strain. Both a monovacancy formation energy and a divacancy binding energy decrease with the increasing of compressive hydrostatic/biaxial strain, but increase with the increasing of tensile strain. Specifically, the binding energy of divacancy changes from negative to positive when the hydrostatic (biaxial) tensile strain is larger than 1.5% (2%). These results indicate that the compressive strain will facilitate the formation of monovacancy in W, while the tensile strain will enhance the attraction between vacancies. This can be attributed to the redistribution of electronic states of W atoms surrounding vacancy. Furthermore, although the migration energy of the monovacancy also exhibits a monotonic linear dependence on the hydrostatic strain, it shows a parabola with an opening down under the biaxial strain. Namely, the vacancy mobility will always be promoted by biaxial strain in W, almost independent of the sign of strain. Such unexpected anisotropic strain-enhanced vacancy mobility originates from the Poisson effect. On the basis of the first-principles results, the nucleation of vacancy clusters in strained W is further determined with the object kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that the formation time of tri-vacancy decrease significantly with the increasing of tensile strain, while the vacancy clusters are not observed in compressively strained W, indicating that the tensile strain can enhance the formation of voids. Our results provide a good reference for understanding the vacancy behaviors in W.
Role of R-spondin 2 in arterial lymphangiogenesis and atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND Impaired lymphatic drainage of the arterial wall results in intimal lipid accumulation and atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms regulating lymphangiogenesis in atherosclerotic arteries are not well understood. Our studies identified elevated levels of matrix protein R-Spondin 2 (RSPO2) in atherosclerotic arteries. In this study, we investigated the role of RSPO2 in lymphangiogenesis, arterial cholesterol efflux into lesion-draining lymph nodes and development of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS The effect of RSPO2 on lymphangiogenesis was investigated using human lymphatic endothelial cells in vitro and implanted Matrigel plugs in vivo. Cellular and molecular approaches, pharmacological agents, and siRNA silencing of RSPO2 receptor LGR4 were used to investigate RSPO2-mediated signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells. In vivo LDL tracking and perivascular blockade of RSPO2-LGR4 signaling using LGR4-ECD pluronic gel in hypercholesterolemic mice were utilized to investigate the role of RSPO2 in arterial reverse cholesterol transport and atherosclerosis. Immunoblotting and imaging experiments demonstrated increased RSPO2 expression in human and mouse atherosclerotic arteries compared to non-atherosclerotic controls. RSPO2 treatment inhibited lymphangiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. LGR4 silencing and inhibition of RSPO2-LGR4 signaling abrogated RSPO2-induced inhibition of lymphangiogenesis. Mechanistically, we found that RSPO2 inhibits PI3K-AKT-eNOS signaling via LGR4 and inhibits activation of the canonical Wnt-β-catenin pathway. ApoE-/- mice treated with LGR4-ECD developed significantly less atherosclerosis compared with control treatment. Finally, increased arterial lymphatic vessel density and improved lymphatic drainage of fluorescently-labeled LDL to deep cervical lymph nodes were observed in LGR4-ECD-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that RSPO2 inhibits lymphangiogenesis via LGR4 and downstream impairment of AKT-eNOS-NO signaling. These results may also inform new therapeutic strategies to promote lymphangiogenesis and improve cholesterol efflux from atherosclerotic arteries. TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Thus, attenuation of atherosclerotic lesion formation and prevention of its cardiovascular complications is an urgent medical need. The findings of the present study that inhibition of LGR4-mediated signaling increases arterial lymphangiogenesis, improves lymphatic drainage from the vessel wall and attenuates atherosclerosis, provide a framework from which novel therapeutic strategies to augment lymphatic vessel density and reduce atherosclerotic lesion formation can be developed and used for the treatment of patients with atherosclerosis. This pathway may also have important implications in other pathological conditions associated with lymphatic dysfunction, such as lymphedema, obesity, hypertension, and impaired wound healing.