Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deeply Unsupervised Patch Re-Identification for Pre-Training Object Detectors

Unsupervised pre-training aims at learning transferable features that are beneficial for downstream tasks. However, most state-of-the-art unsupervised methods concentrate on learning <italic>global</italic> representations for <italic>image-level</italic> classification tasks instead of discriminative local region representations, which limits their transferability to <italic>region-level</italic> downstream tasks, such as object detection. To improve the transferability of pre-trained features to object detection, we present <italic>Deeply Unsupervised Patch Re-ID</italic> (DUPR), a simple yet effective method for unsupervised visual representation learning. The <italic>patch Re-ID</italic> task treats individual patch as a pseudo-identity and contrastively learns its correspondence in two views, enabling us to obtain <italic>discriminative local features</italic> for object detection. Then the proposed <italic>patch Re-ID</italic> is performed in a <italic>deeply unsupervised</italic> manner, appealing to object detection, which usually requires multi-level feature maps. Extensive experiments demonstrate that DUPR outperforms state-of-the-art unsupervised pre-trainings and even the ImageNet supervised pre-training on various downstream tasks related to object detection.
Life history of oysters influences Vibrio parahaemolyticus accumulation in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

Summary Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection in humans is associated with raw oyster consumption. Evaluation of V. parahaemolyticus presence in oysters is of most interest because of the economic and public health issues that it represents. To explore V. parahaemolyticus accumulation and depuration in adult Crassostrea gigas, we developed a GFP‐tagged V. parahaemolyticus strain (IFVp201‐gfp +), as well as a rapid and efficient quantification method in C. gigas oysters haemolymph by flow cytometry. Impact of the life history of C. gigas on accumulation and depuration of V. parahaemolyticus IFVp201 was subsequently investigated. We found that naive oysters, i.e. grown in controlled facilities with UV treated seawater, accumulated significantly more IFVp201 than environmental oysters, i.e. grown in intertidal environment. We hypothesized that environmental oysters could have been immune primed, thus could limit V. parahaemolyticus accumulation. Meanwhile, both naive and environmental oysters had similar depuration rates.
Quiet Eye as a Mechanism for Table Tennis Performance under Fatigue and Complexity

Abstract QE is the final ocular fixation that precedes critical athletic movements and that enables athletes to gather relevant information and organize their subsequent movement. Although little is known about the factors sustaining performance in table tennis, to date there has been no investigation to assess QE as a contributor to table tennis performance. Furthermore, there is limited research regarding the influence on QE of factors that are known to impact performance, such as task complexity and fatigue. In a within-subjects experimental design, we manipulated fatigue (high vs low) and task complexity (high vs low). Eleven elite table tennis players (mage =14.72 years, mexperience = 7.27 years) underwent each of the four resulting conditions. Athletes made longer QE before hit versus missed shots (p <.001, η2p = .795) and QE and performance decreased under fatigue (p = 0.02, η2 p = .628; p = .002, η2 p = .62), but we did not detect a significant effect of complexity on QE (p = .352, η2 p = .087). This study is one of the first to show that QE sustains performance in a dynamic sport, that is table tennis, and that QE is affected by fatigue.
Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism influence on lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a multifaceted pathology that is the main morphological cause of lower back pain. This study aimed to determine the link between the vitamin D receptor gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and degenerative processes of the lumbar spine. The complete lumbar spinal columns were collected from 100 Caucasian cadavers via ventral dissection. The specimens for the histological analysis were harvested from the L5/S1 IVDs and endplates. Then, the tissues were cut into slices, inserted into paraffin blocks, and stained. The histology was evaluated according to the Boos' protocol. Moreover, TaqI(rs731236), FokI(rs2228570), and ApaI(rs7975232) genotyping were performed. Lastly, the histological scores for different genotypes were analyzed. The overall Boos' score in the study group was 12.49. It consisted of a mean IVD score of 7.46 and endplate score of 5.39. The determination of the SNPs was successful in 99 specimens and had a distribution of all alleles in accordance with the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. No significant differences in overall histological degeneration scores were found between samples from donors with different genotypes. However, in subgroup analysis of specific regions on the IVD, the significant difference was found in posterior inner anulus fibrosus for ApaI. The results of this study suggest that one must be careful when interpreting the results of the clinical and/or radiological studies on vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and lumbar spine degeneration risk, because such a relationship, if present, is likely to be very subtle.
Knockout of Sf‐Caspase‐1 generates apoptosis‐resistant Sf9 cell lines: Implications for baculovirus expression

The Sf9 cell line, originally isolated from the insect Spodoptera frugiperda, is commonly used alongside the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) to produce recombinant proteins and other biologics. As more BEVS‐derived vaccines and therapeutics are approved by regulators and manufactured at scale, there is increasing interest in improving the Sf9 cell line to improve bioprocess robustness and increase product yields. CRISPR‐Cas9 is a powerful genome‐editing tool with great potential to improve cell line characteristics. Nevertheless, reports of genome‐editing in Sf9 cells are scarce, and targets for engineering are elusive. To evaluate the effectiveness of CRISPR‐Cas9 to improve BEVS yields, we generated Sf9 cell lines with functional knockouts in the Sf‐Caspase‐1 gene, which encodes an effector caspase involved in the execution of apoptosis. Deletion of Sf‐Caspase‐1 abolished the hallmarks of apoptotic cell death including plasma membrane blebbing and effector caspase activity. Following infection of Sf‐Caspase‐1 knockout Sf9 cultures with a recombinant baculovirus expressing β‐galactosidase, we did not observe any differences in cell death kinetics or increases in productivity. Similar results were obtained when Sf‐Caspase‐1 expression was suppressed via RNA interference. We anticipate that the CRISPR‐Cas9 workflow reported here will spur future efforts to rationally engineer Sf9 cells for improved baculovirus expression.
Risankizumab for the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis: A multicenter, retrospective, 1 year real‐life study

Several new biologic agents targeting IL23/Th17 axis, such as risankizumab, have been developed for the treatment of psoriasis. The aim of the present study was to analyze the efficacy and safety of risankizumab in patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis over a 52‐week period. A multicentric retrospective study was conducted in patients who initiated risankizumab between July 2019 and December 2020. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index—PASI was measured at baseline and after 4, 16, 28 and 52 weeks. Clinical responses were evaluated by PASI75, PASI90 and PASI100 at the same timepoints. Potential safety issues and adverse events (AEs) were collected. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed for variables predicting clinical response. One hundred and twelve patients with psoriasis were included. PASI90 response was achieved by 17.86% of patients at week 4, 72.22% at week 16, 91.0% at week 28 and 95.24% at week 52 (as observed analysis). No associations between the considered variables and the efficacy endpoints were retrieved, influence of variables such as Body Mass Index (BMI), baseline PASI or previous biologics were not shown. No serious safety issues or discontinuations related to adverse events were reported. Risankizumab showed high efficacy and a favorable safety profile, regardless of patient‐ and disease‐related factors.
Face Lift Practice Patterns: An American Society of Plastic Surgeons Member Survey, 2000 and 2020. How Much Have We Changed?

Background: In 2000, Matarasso et al. performed a survey of American Society of Plastic Surgeons members’ face lift practice patterns. Since that publication, the aesthetic marketplace has changed dramatically, as have ancillary face lift techniques. In an attempt to detail these changes, we repeated that original survey, adding questions to address more recent technical issues and advances. The goal of this report was to define current face lift practice patterns, compare current patterns to the previous ones, and define recent advances. Methods: A 38-question survey assessing face lift techniques, perioperative management, complications, and concomitant procedures was electronically distributed to a random cohort of American Society of Plastic Surgeons members. Data were recorded and statistically analyzed utilizing the Pearson chi-square test. Results: A total of 251 forms were returned and analyzed. Details of demographics, face lift techniques, ancillary procedures, perioperative care, and complications are presented. Current results were compared to the previously published society member practice patterns delineated in the 2000 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery publication. Conclusions: The basic approach of American Society of Plastic Surgeons members to the face lift operation has not changed dramatically over the past 20 years. The development of operative adjuncts, however, has been positive, including fat grafting techniques, concomitant use of skin resurfacing, and means of minimizing blood loss with tranexamic acid. In certain instances, respondents do not follow evidence-based guidelines for perioperative care. Finally, common complications of practicing members appear to coincide with published retrospective reviews.
Gestational Exposure to Perchlorate in the Rat: Thyroid Hormones in Fetal Thyroid Gland, Serum, and Brain.

Iodine is essential for production of thyroid hormones (TH). Perchlorate is an environmental contaminant that interferes with iodine uptake into the thyroid gland to reduce TH synthesis. As TH are critical for brain development, exposure to perchlorate during pregnancy is of concern for the developing fetal brain. In this study we 1) define profiles of TH in the maternal and fetal compartments of pregnant rats in response to inhibition of the sodium-iodine symporter (NIS) by perchlorate, 2) expand inquiry previously limited to serum to include fetal thyroid gland and brain. Perchlorate was added to the drinking water (0, 1, 30, 300, 1000 ppm) of pregnant rat dams from gestational days (GD) 6-20. On GD20, blood, thyroid gland and brain were collected from the fetus and dam for TH and molecular analyses. Thyroid gland and serum TH were dose-dependently reduced, with steeper declines evident in fetus than the dam. The thyroid gland revealed perturbations of TH-action with greater sensitivity in fetus than dam. TH and TH-responsive gene expression were reduced in the fetal cortex portending effects on brain development. These findings are the first quantitative assessments of perchlorate-induced deficits in the fetal thyroid gland and fetal brain. We provide a conceptual framework to develop a quantitative NIS AOP for serum TH deficits and the potential to impact the fetal brain. Such a framework may also facilitate the translation of in vitro bioactivity to the downstream in vivo consequences of NIS inhibition in the developing fetus.
A Collision Cross Section Database for Extractables and Leachables from Food Contact Materials

The chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs) can migrate into food and endanger human health. In this study, we developed a database of traveling wave collision cross section in nitrogen (TWCCSN2) values for extractables and leachables from FCMs. The database contains a total of 1038 TWCCSN2 values from 675 standards including those commonly used additives and nonintentionally added substances in FCMs. The TWCCSN2 values in the database were compared to previously published values, and 85.7, 87.7, and 64.9% [M + H]+, [M + Na]+, and [M – H]− adducts showed deviations <2%, with the presence of protomers, post-ion mobility spectrometry dissociation of noncovalent clusters and inconsistent calibration are possible sources of CCS deviations. Our experimental TWCCSN2 values were also compared to CCS values from three prediction tools. Of the three, CCSondemand gave the most accurate predictions. The TWCCSN2 database developed will aid the identification and differentiation of chemicals from FCMs in targeted and untargeted analysis.
Built Environment Project and Asset Management Green business models transformation : evidence from the UK construction sector

Purpose – Sustainability has the potential to bring enormous benefits to our built environment. To release this potential, a change in business models is required. The purpose of this paper is to investigate green business models (GBMs) transformation by adopting five essential elements of green value creation and capture: green value proposition (GVP), target group (TG), key activities (KA), key resources (KR), and financial logic (FL). Design/methodology/approach – In this qualitative study, 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Interviewees were selected purposively. The emergent data were analysedwith the aid of themes. Findings – It was observed that significant effort was being made towards enabling the transformation of certain elements pertinent to green value creation: KA and KR. This was particularly so when compared to other elements like GVP, TG, and FL. Practical implications – Findings from this study should encourage construction managers to align their extant BMs to green activities hence enabling new approaches to green value creation and capture. Furthermore, the study will aid in improving the environmental and economic positions of the value chain within the construction sector. Originality/value – This research is one of the few empirical academic works investigating GBMs in the construction sector.
Mechanical stress effect of etch-stop nitride and its impact on deep submicron transistor design

This paper, focusing on the effect of a plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD) nitride contact-etch-stop layer, reports that process-induced mechanical stress affects the performance of short-channel CMOSFETs. We argue that the internal stress in the nitride layer changes transconductance (G/sub m/), thereby degrading NMOSFET performance by up to 8% and improving PMOSFET performance up to 7%. These performance changes are caused by changes of the electron and hole mobilities, so a precise transistor model considering this mobility change is necessary for deep-submicron transistor design.
Assessment of Joint Impact of Iodine, Selenium, and Zinc Status on Women's Third-Trimester Plasma Thyroid Hormone Concentrations

ABSTRACT Background Iodine is essential for synthesizing thyroid hormones, but other micronutrients are also required for optimal thyroid function. However, there is a lack of data on combined micronutrient status in relation to thyroid hormones in pregnancy. Objectives We aimed to assess the joint associations of iodine, selenium, and zinc status with plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in pregnancy. Methods We included 531 pregnant women (aged 22–40 y) participating in a Swedish birth cohort who provided blood and spot urine samples in gestational weeks 27–33 (mean: 29). Associations of urinary iodine concentration (UIC), plasma selenium concentration, and plasma zinc concentration (measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) with plasma hormone concentrations [total and free thyroxine (tT4, fT4), total and free triiodothyronine (tT3, fT3), and TSH] were explored with Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR; n = 516; outliers excluded) and multivariable-adjusted linear regression (n = 531; splined for nonlinear associations). Results Median (IQR) micronutrient concentrations were 112 μg/L (80–156 μg/L) for UIC, 67 μg/L (58–76 μg/L) for plasma selenium, and 973 μg/L (842–1127 μg/L) for plasma zinc; the former 2 median values were below recommended concentrations (150 μg/L and 70 μg/L, respectively). Mean ± SD TSH concentration was 1.7 ± 0.87 mIU/L, with 98% < 4 mIU/L. BKMR showed a positive trend of joint micronutrient concentrations in relation to TSH. Plasma zinc was most influential for all hormones but tT3, for which plasma selenium was most influential. In adjusted linear regression models, zinc was positively associated with tT4, tT3, and TSH, and <1200 μg/L also with fT4 and fT3. Selenium was inversely associated with fT3, and <85 μg/L with tT3. Conclusions Pregnant women's plasma TSH concentrations in the early third trimester increased with increasing joint status of iodine, selenium, and zinc. Zinc and selenium were more influential than iodine for the hormone concentrations. Multiple micronutrients need consideration in future studies of thyroid hormone status.
A nationwide population‐based cohort study of the incidence of severe and rare infections among adults with psoriasis in Denmark

Patients with psoriasis have a high risk for multiple comorbid conditions. However, few studies have examined the association between psoriasis and severe and rare infections. This study reports the incidence of severe and rare infections (considered as rare in Denmark) among Danish patients with psoriasis, compared with the general population.
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor discontinuation in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: eligibility criteria and predictors of success

TKI discontinuation proved to be safe and feasible in patients with CML with deep and durable molecular responses, introducing an additional treatment goal for these patients beyond overall survival. However, treatment interruption is a safe procedure only with appropriate patient selection and monitoring. Clinical and biological factors associated with better outcomes do not yet offer a precise stratification of patients according to their risk of relapse. This article aims at reviewing the leading studies present in the field in order to define eligibility criteria for discontinuation and predictors of success.
Autophagopathies: from autophagy gene polymorphisms to precision medicine for human diseases

ABSTRACT At a time when complex diseases affect globally 280 million people and claim 14 million lives every year, there is an urgent need to rapidly increase our knowledge into their underlying etiologies. Though critical in identifying the people at risk, the causal environmental factors (microbiome and/or pollutants) and the affected pathophysiological mechanisms are not well understood. Herein, we consider the variations of autophagy-related (ATG) genes at the heart of mechanisms of increased susceptibility to environmental stress. A comprehensive autophagy genomic resource is presented with 263 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for 69 autophagy-related genes associated with 117 autoimmune, inflammatory, infectious, cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, and endocrine diseases. We thus propose the term ‘autophagopathies’ to group together a class of complex human diseases the etiology of which lies in a genetic defect of the autophagy machinery, whether directly related or not to an abnormal flux in autophagy, LC3-associated phagocytosis, or any associated trafficking. The future of precision medicine for common diseases will lie in our ability to exploit these ATG SNP x environment relationships to develop new polygenetic risk scores, new management guidelines, and optimal therapies for afflicted patients. Abbreviations: ATG, autophagy‐related; ALS-FTD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal dementia; ccRCC, clear cell renal cell carcinoma; CD, Crohn disease; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; eQTL, expression quantitative trait loci; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; GTEx, genotype-tissue expression; GWAS, genome-wide association studies; LAP, LC3-associated phagocytosis; LC3-II, phosphatidylethanolamine conjugated form of LC3; LD, linkage disequilibrium; LUAD, lung adenocarcinoma; MAF, minor allele frequency; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer; OS, overall survival; PtdIns3K CIII, class III phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase; PtdIns3P, phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SNPs, single-nucleotide polymorphisms; mQTL, methylation quantitative trait loci; ULK, unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase; UTRs, untranslated regions; WHO, World Health Organization.
Influence of couple stress lubricant on the performance of textured two-lobe slot-entry hybrid journal bearing system

This paper concerns with theoretical investigation to predict the combined influence of textured surface and couple stress lubricant behavior on the performance of circular/two-lobe slot-entry hybrid journal bearing. The flow of incompressible couple stress lubricant through the clearance of a textured journal bearing system is governed by the modified Reynolds equation. The modified Reynolds equation has been derived on the basis of Stokes micro-continuum theory and is solved using a finite element method technique for computing the bearing performance characteristics parameters. The static and dynamic characteristics of circular/two-lobe slot-entry hybrid journal bearing have been computed for textured and non-textured bearings with influence of couple stress lubricant. The present study indicates that the influence of couple stress lubricant behavior is significantly more on the values of fluid film stiffness coefficients ( S ¯ 11 , S ¯ 22 ) , critical mass of journal ( M ¯ C ) , and stability threshold speed margin ( ω ¯ th ) for textured surface than that of non-textured surface in case of a slot-entry hybrid journal bearing system.
Can Virtual Simulation Replace Clinical Practical Training for Psychiatric Nursing?

Abstract In Korea, virtual simulation is currently replacing clinical practical training for psychiatric nursing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore the virtual simulation experiences of nursing students through focus-group interviews. Three categories were derived: ‘glad that the patients were not real people’, ‘bridge between the text world and the real world’, and ‘supplementations needed for virtual simulation to replace clinical practice’. Although virtual simulation helped acquire knowledge and skills related to psychiatric nursing practice in a safe environment, there were limitations to replacing clinical practice. To overcome this, a diverse approach between students and professors is required.
HFP‐QSMGAN: QSM from homodyne‐filtered phase images

Homodyne filtering is a standard preprocessing step in the estimation of SWI. Unfortunately, SWI is not quantitative, and QSM cannot be accurately estimated from filtered phase images. Compared with gradient‐echo sequences suitable for computing QSM, SWI is more readily available and is often the only susceptibility‐sensitive sequence acquired in the clinical setting. In this project, we aimed to quantify susceptibility from the homodyne‐filtered phase (HFP), acquired for computing susceptibility‐weighted images, using convolutional neural networks to solve the compounded problem of (1) computing the solution to the inverse dipole problem, and (2) compensating for the effects of the homodyne filtering.