Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deciphering the Genetic Architecture of Color Variation in Whole Grain Rice by Genome-Wide Association

Whole grain rice is recommended in a natural healthy diet because of its high nutritional and healthful benefits compared to polished or white rice. The whole grain contains the pericarp with many assorted colors (such as brown, red, and black) associated with taste and commercial quality. The color attributes of whole grain or brown rice are usually undesirable and need to be improved. To decipher the genetic basis of color variation in the whole grain rice, we conducted a genome-wide association analysis of three parameters of grain colors (brightness, redness, and yellowness) in a panel of 682 rice accessions. Twenty-six loci were identified for the color parameters, implying that grain color is under polygenic control. Among them, some major-effect loci were co-localized with the previously identified genes such as Rc and Rd. To eliminate the possible mask of Rc on other loci influencing grain color, we performed the association analysis in a subset of the panel that excluded the pigmented (red and black) rice. Eighteen loci or SNPs were detected to be associated with grain color in the subpopulation, many of which were not reported before. Two significant peak SNP regions on chromosomes 1 and 9 were validated using near-isogenic lines. Based on differential expression analysis of annotated genes within the SNP regions and metabolic analysis of pooled extreme samples, we found at least three annotated genes as potential candidates involved in the flavonoid metabolic pathway related to pericarp color. These results provide insights into the genetic basis of rice grain color and facilitate genomic breeding to improve appearance and commercial quality of whole grain rice.
Deep Learning-Based Intelligent Apple Variety Classification System and Model Interpretability Analysis

In this study, series networks (AlexNet and VGG-19) and directed acyclic graph (DAG) networks (ResNet-18, ResNet-50, and ResNet-101) with transfer learning were employed to identify and classify 13 classes of apples from 7439 images. Two training datasets, model evaluation metrics, and three visualization methods were used to objectively assess, compare, and interpret five Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based models. The results show that the dataset configuration had a significant impact on the classification results, as all models achieved over 96.1% accuracy on dataset A (training-to-testing = 2.4:1.0) compared to 89.4–93.9% accuracy on dataset B (training-to-testing = 1.0:3.7). VGG-19 achieved the highest accuracy of 100.0% on dataset A and 93.9% on dataset B. Moreover, for networks of the same framework, the model size, accuracy, and training and testing times increased as the model depth (number of layers) increased. Furthermore, feature visualization, strongest activations, and local interpretable model-agnostic explanations techniques were used to show the understanding of apple images by different trained models, as well as to reveal how and why the models make classification decisions. These results improve the interpretability and credibility of CNN-based models, which provides guidance for future applications of deep learning methods in agriculture.
Numerical Simulations for Large Deformation of Granular Materials Using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Method

AbstractApplication of the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method to the simulation of granular materials under large deformation is presented. The Drucker–Prager constitutive model with nonassociated flow rule is implemented in the SPH formulations to model granular flow in a continuum framework. The model developed is validated by experiments on the collapse of two-dimensional granular columns as reported in the literature. Simulations of the collapse of three-dimensional axisymmetric sand columns with various aspect ratios are also conducted. Numerical results of the granular flow pattern, final runout distance, final deposit height, and nondeformed region are in good agreement with the experimental observations as reported in the literature. It is suggested that despite being a continuum-scale model, the SPH model developed can be used to effectively simulate large deformation and dense flow of granular materials, and geomaterials in general, if proper constitutive models are implemented. The mo.
Assessment of Patients’ Experience and Perception Toward Dentinal Hypersensitivity for Its Diagnosis and Management: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) is a common clinical finding that varies greatly in prevalence. An appropriate impulse that detonates noxious stimuli in the pulp/dentin boundary causes the typical DH pain, which is sudden, short, sharp, and of rapid onset. The objective of this research was to ascertain the incidence of DH in Keralites and evaluate some contributory factors, along with other initiating stimuli. Methodology Over three months, from June 2022 to August 2022, a cluster sampling technique was employed to conduct the study in 14 districts of Kerala. Patients from five clinics from each district who reported having DH and were aged 25 to 65 years were chosen at random. Using Google Survey forms, a 20-question, closed-ended survey was mailed to patients. The data were collected, evaluated, and analyzed using SPSS Version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The statistical difference in the distribution of DH and the patient’s age was determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). A chi-square test was carried out to test the association between dentinal hypersensitivity, gender, and other parameters; P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results Among the 2,520 persons to whom questionnaires were mailed, 2,321 responded, with an unresponsive rate of 7.89%. The study revealed a sensitivity predilection among females (54%), although statistically insignificant. Respondents aged 25 to 35 years (41.01%) were commonly reported to have DH, the age distribution of which was found to be highly significant statistically (P < 0.01). Teeth whitening resulted in 82.98% of the sensitivity, whereas 47.99% accepted poor oral hygiene as an additional contributory factor. DH was reported in 52.01% of the patients with gastritis and 63.03% of the patients with gingival recession. Further, blame for poor dental treatment (88.88%) and climate change (82.92%) were also found relevant. The quality of life was claimed to be afflicted in 90.99% of the patients. Desensitizing agents were used by 68.97% of the patients, with which 68.03% reported satisfaction. Of the subjects who underwent professional treatment, 87.03% reported being satisfied. Oral prophylaxis-induced sensitivity was reported in 57.99%, indicating enhanced oral health awareness among Kerala residents. There was a statistically highly significant difference in the patient distribution based on the exposure to DH, and their perception of the causes and factors affecting DH (P < 0.01). Conclusions DH is a frequently and widely prevalent dental malady. Respondents demonstrated that they were conversant with DH. The quality of life and enjoyment of daily activities are both impacted by dentin hypersensitivity, and many patients are unaware that it is a treatable illness. Various desensitizing substances are also available and can be applied quickly to sensitive areas. Patients prefer this procedure as it is simpler to apply these agents and the effects are pleasant and beneficial.
Conformational Dependence of the First Hyperpolarizability of the Li@B10H14 in Solution

Using the ASEC-FEG approach in combination with atomistic simulations, we performed geometry optimizations of a Cs conformer of the lithium decahydroborate (Li@B10H14) complex in chloroform and in water, which has been shown to be the most stable in the gas phase and calculated its first hyperpolarizability. At room temperature, ASEC-FEG calculations show that this conformer is stable only in chloroform. However, it is found that the nonlinear response of the Cs conformer in chloroform is mild, and the result for the hyperpolarizability is markedly decreased in comparison with the result of the C2v conformer.
Effective pathway for hydrogen atom adsorption on graphene

We investigate and discuss the interaction of a hydrogen atom (H) with graphene based on the density functional theory (DFT). Our calculation results show that reconstructions of carbon atoms play an important role in the H adsorption on graphene. When constituent carbon atoms are held rigid, endothermic H adsorption is about 0.2 eV, and the activation barrier is 0.3 eV for H adsorption, due to the strong π-bonding network of the hexagonal carbon. On the other hand, when carbon atoms are allowed to relax, the carbon atom directly below the H atom moves 0.33 A upward towards the gas phase, and an s p 3 -like geometry is formed between the H and carbon atoms of graphene. This relaxation stabilizes the hydrogen–carbon interaction, and the exothermic hydrogen adsorption on the graphene has a binding energy of 0.67 eV. We also show that the effective pathway for H adsorption on graphene, which gives an activation barrier for the H adsorption on graphene of 0.18 eV.
A generalized formulation of the linear sampling method with exact characterization of targets in terms of farfield measurements

We propose and analyze a new formulation of the linear sampling method that uses an exact characterization of the targets shape in terms of the so-called farfield operator (at a fixed frequency). This characterization is based on constructing nearby solutions of the farfield equation using minimizing sequences of a least squares cost functional with an appropriate penalty term. We first provide a general framework for the theoretical foundation of the method in the case of noise-free and noisy measurements operator. We then explicit applications for the case of inhomogeneous inclusions and indicate possible straightforward generalizations. We finally validate the method through some numerical tests and compare the performances with classical linear sampling method and the factorization methods.
Neutralization Effect of Sera against Delta and Omicron in Patients Recovering from COVID-19 and Inactivated Vaccine Recipients

This study aims to analyze the serum neutralization capacity against Delta and Omicron variants in three clusters of individuals, including those who had recovered from COVID-19 and those who had received two and three doses of inactivated vaccine. Pseudovirus neutralization tests were performed on serum samples. The neutralizing titers between different groups were compared using the Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test. Among the two-dose vaccinees, the neutralization titers of the Omicron variant were reduced by approximately 3.1-fold compared to the wild-type virus (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, among the three-dose vaccinees, the neutralization titers for Delta and Omicron variants were 3.5-fold (p < 0.05) and 5.0-fold (p < 0.05) lower, respectively, as compared to the wild-type virus. In addition, among the recovering patients, the neutralization titers for Delta and Omicron variants were 3.9-fold (p < 0.05) and 29.1-fold (p < 0.05) lower, respectively, as compared to the wild-type virus. Overall, only 12.0% (11/92) of participants showed neutralizing titers against Omicron above the detection limit. The ability to neutralize wild-type pseudovirus was significantly boosted in three-dose vaccinees as compared to two-dose vaccinees. Sera from recovered patients showed greater neutralizing titers for the wild-type and Delta pseudoviruses than the two- and three-dose inactivated vaccine groups. The present study revealed a loss of neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant in almost all samples. Moreover, the immunization effect obtained through natural infection is more robust than that from the active immunization method of vaccination.
17β-Estradiol-Loaded Exosomes for Targeted Drug Delivery in Osteoporosis: A Comparative Study of Two Loading Methods

Purpose: Exosomes are natural nanoparticles that participate in intercellular communication through molecular transport. Recently, due to their membrane vesicular structure and surface proteins, exosomes have been used extensively in the research field of drug delivery. Osteoporosis is an inflammation in which the cellular balance of bone tissue is disturbed that reduces bone density and making bone prone to abnormal fractures with small amount of force. Utilizing estrogen is one of the main therapeutic strategies for osteoporosis. Despite the positive effects of estrogen on bone tissue, changes in the natural estrogen levels of the body can cause a number of diseases such as different types of cancer. Therefore, designing a therapeutic system which controls more accurate tissue targeting of estrogen seems to be a rational and promising practical approach. Methods: In this study, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs)-derived exosomes were loaded by estradiol using two different methods of drug loading, namely incubation and sonication methods and then the survival effects of the drug loaded exosomes on BMMSCs was investigated. Results: Examination of size, shape, and surface factors of exosomes in different states (pure exosomes and drug-loaded exosomes) showed that the round morphology of exosomes was preserved in all conditions. However, the particles size increased significantly when loaded by sonication method. The increased survival of BMMSCs was noted with estradiol-loaded exosomes when compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results suggest that estradiol-loaded exosomes have potential to be used as nano-drug carriers in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells and their derivatives in common skin inflammatory diseases: Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis

Chronic skin inflammatory diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis have been considered uncontrolled inflammatory responses, which have usually troubled patients around the world. Moreover, the recent method to treat AD and psoriasis has been based on the inhibition, not regulation, of the abnormal inflammatory response, which can induce a number of side effects and drug resistance in long-term treatment. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and their derivatives have been widely used in immune diseases based on their regeneration, differentiation, and immunomodulation with few adverse effects, which makes MSCs a promising treatment for chronic skin inflammatory diseases. As a result, in this review, we aim to systematically discuss the therapeutic effects of various resources of MSCs, the application of preconditioning MSCs and engineering extracellular vesicles (EVs) in AD and psoriasis, and the clinical evaluation of the administration of MSCs and their derivatives, which can provide a comprehensive vision for the application of MSCs and their derivatives in future research and clinical treatment.
Expanded Glass for Thermal and Acoustic Insulation from Recycled Post-Consumer Glass and Textile Industry Process Waste

The production of glass foams obtained by recycling post-consumer glass and textile industry processing waste is presented. The mechanical, thermal and acoustic properties were characterized as a function of process temperature and time. The results showed that it is possible to produce glass foams with thermal and acoustic insulation properties from a mixture consisting of 96.5% of glass waste, 1% of textile waste and 2.5% of manganese dioxide, processed at temperatures between 800 and 900 °C for a time between 30 and 90 min. The samples had density in the range of 200–300 kg m−3, porosity of 87–92%, thermal conductivity of 85–105 mW m−1 K−1, noise-reducing factors of 0.15–0.40 and compressive strength of 1.2–3.0 MPa. Although their insulation performance was not as outstanding as that of polymer foams, these materials can emerge as competitive candidates for applications requiring non-flammability and high-temperature load bearing capacity in combination with low weight, mechanical strength, and thermal and acoustic insulation properties. The use of secondary raw materials (which accounted for 97.5% by weight of the synthetic blend) limits the energy required compared to that needed for the extraction, transportation and processing of primary raw materials, making these foams attractive also in terms of environmental footprint.
Recurrences of Atrial Fibrillation Despite Durable Pulmonary Vein Isolation: The PARTY-PVI Study

Background: Recurrences of atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) are mainly due to pulmonary vein reconnection. However, a growing number of patients have AF recurrences despite durable PVI. The optimal ablative strategy for these patients is unknown. We analyzed the impact of current ablation strategies in a large multicenter study. Methods: Patients undergoing a redo ablation for AF and presenting durable PVI were included. The freedom from atrial arrhythmia after pulmonary vein-based, linear-based, electrogram-based, and trigger-based ablation strategies were compared. Results: Between 2010 and 2020, 367 patients (67% men, 63±10 years, 44% paroxysmal) underwent a redo ablation for AF recurrences despite durable PVI at 39 centers. After durable PVI was confirmed, linear-based ablation was performed in 219 (60%) patients, electrogram-based ablation in 168 (45%) patients, trigger-based ablation in 101 (27%) patients, and pulmonary vein-based ablation in 56 (15%) patients. Seven patients (2%) did not undergo any additional ablation during the redo procedure. After 22±19 months of follow-up, 122 (33%) and 159 (43%) patients had a recurrence of atrial arrhythmia at 12 and 24 months, respectively. No significant difference in arrhythmia-free survival was observed between the different ablation strategies. Left atrial dilatation was the only independent factor associated with arrhythmia-free survival (HR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.13–2.23]; P=0.006). Conclusions: In patients with recurrent AF despite durable PVI, no ablation strategy used alone or in combination during the redo procedure appears to be superior in improving arrhythmia-free survival. Left atrial size is a significant predictor of ablation outcome in this population.
Preclinical In Vitro Investigation of MDM2 Inhibition in Combination with Antiangiogenic Therapy for Breast Cancer Treatment

Background: Combining antiangiogenic drugs with other chemotherapeutic drugs has been found to produce superior therapeutic outcomes and prevent drug resistance in a variety of cancers. Methods: Experimental assays such as the MTT assay, flow cytometry, western blotting, and qPCR have been used to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy. Results: When compared to controls and monotherapies, the combination treatment of axitinib and idasanutlin demonstrated a substantial decrease in cell viability at lower doses, a significant decrease in migration, and a shift toward early and late apoptosis. This study examined major apoptotic, metastatic, and angiogenic factors, including MDM2, p21, BCL-2, BCL-XL, and MMP9, which have showed differential expressions at the protein and mRNA levels after combination. Axitinib and idasanutlin decreased tumorigenesis and migration in vitro in the MCF-7 cell line when compared to other chemotherapeutic medications. The suggested mechanisms of the antitumorigenic effect of the combination therapy may depend on its capacity to promote the production of apoptotic markers and reduce antiapoptotic markers. Conclusions: Treatments with axitinib and idasanutlin demonstrated effective therapeutic targeting of the primary angiogenic growth factor and, consequently, the pro-metastatic arbitrators. This will not only eliminate cancer cells but also stop other malignant processes and ultimately reduce the metastatic cascade.
Molecular and Serological Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Dogs from Germany (2008–2020)

Simple Summary The bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum can cause granulocytic anaplasmosis in domestic animals, wildlife, and humans. The pathogen is transmitted by ticks and is predominantly endemic in Central and Northern Europe. We discuss the percentages of dogs that tested positive for A. phagocytophilum by direct detection of the pathogen (4.9%) and by detecting antibodies (23.3%). We found a statistically significant impact of seasonality and years of testing on PCR results as well as sex, age, years of testing and seasonality on antibody results. The dynamics of infections with A. phagocytophilum in dogs in Germany are consistent with peaks in vector activity. There is a notable increase in canine granulocytic anaplasmosis in Germany over the time of this study, which calls for increased attention and demonstrates its rising importance in clinical practice. Abstract Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes granulocytic anaplasmosis in domestic animals, wildlife, and humans and is primarily transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes persulcatus complex. This retrospective study aims to determine the percentages of dogs that tested positive for A. phagocytophilum in Germany. It included the results of direct (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) and indirect (immunofluorescence antibody test [IFAT], antibody-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) detection methods performed in the laboratory LABOKLIN on canine samples provided by German veterinarians from 2008 to 2020. Out of a total of 27,368 dogs tested by PCR, 1332 (4.9%) tested positive, while 24,720 (27.4%) of the 90,376 dogs tested by IFAT/ELISA had positive serology. High rates of positive PCR results were observed in months with known peaks in vector activity, showing that the dynamics of A. phagocytophilum infections in dogs in Germany are consistent with vector activity. In dogs with a positive PCR result, peaks in serology could be observed four weeks after initial testing. Male and senior dogs had higher rates of positive serology. A possible impact of environmental factors such as changes in climate should be investigated further. Overall, the upward trend in positive test results over the years indicates that canine granulocytic anaplasmosis will continue to become increasingly important for veterinary medicine.
FOPID Controller Design for Load Frequency Mitigation of Power Systems Using SBL and BB-BC Algorithm with Communication Time Delay

Load frequency control (LFC) is a very critical problem of modern interconnected power systems in the new restructured scenario. It is further aggravated in the presence of communication time delay since communication channels while transferring the control signals between control center and power system are prone to time delay. In view of this, this paper presents a maiden approach for designing of fractional order proportional integral derivative (FOPID) controller to tackle the LFC problem of power systems in the presence of communication time delay. In this new proposed approach, PID gain parameters are obtained by using stability boundary locus (SBL) technique in the presence of communication time delay and fractional parameters are tuned utilizing Big Bang-Big Crunch (BB-BC) optimization algorithm. The proposed designed controller is implemented on the single-area power system consisting of non-reheated thermal turbines. The efficacy of the designed FOPID controllers is further investigated realistically in the presence of system parametric uncertainties. The thorough simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the designed FOPID controllers over other schemes available in the literature.