Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heart Size Corrected Electrical Dyssynchrony and Its Impact on Sex-specific Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Background - Women are less likely to receive cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), yet, they are more responsive to the therapy and respond at shorter QRS duration. The present study hypothesized that a relatively larger left ventricular (LV) electrical dyssynchrony in smaller hearts contributes to the better CRT response in women. For this the vectorcardiography-derived QRS area is used, since it allows for a more detailed quantification of electrical dyssynchrony compared to conventional electrocardiographic markers. Methods - Data from a multicenter registry of 725 CRT patients (median follow-up: 4.2 years [IQR: 2.7-6.1]) were analyzed. Baseline electrical dyssynchrony was evaluated using the QRS area, and the corrected QRS area for heart size using the LV end-diastolic volume (QRSarea/LVEDV). Impact of the QRSarea/LVEDV-ratio on the association between sex and LV reverse remodeling (end-systolic volume change: ΔLVESV) and sex and the composite outcome of all-cause mortality, LV assist device implantation or heart transplantation was assessed. Results - At baseline, women (n=228) displayed larger electrical dyssynchrony than men (QRS area: 132±55μVs vs 123±58μVs, p=0.043) which was, even more pronounced for the QRSarea/LVEDV-ratio (0.76±0.46μVs/ml vs 0.57±0.34μVs/ml, p<0.001). After multivariable analyses female sex was associated with ΔLVESV (β 0.12, p=0.003) and a lower occurrence the composite outcome (HR 0.59 (0.42-0.85), p=0.004). A part of the female advantage regarding reverse remodeling was attributed to the larger QRSarea/LVEDV-ratio in women (25-fold change in Beta from 0.12 to 0.09). The larger QRSarea/LVEDV-ratio did not contribute to the better survival observed in women. In both volumetric responders and non-responders, female sex remained strongly associated with a lower risk of the composite outcome (adjusted HR 0.59 (0.36-0.97), p=0.036 and 0.55 (0.33-0.90), p=0.018, respectively). Conclusions - Greater electrical dyssynchrony in smaller hearts contributes in part to more reverse remodeling observed in women after CRT, but this does not explain their better long-term outcomes.
Fostering Engagement and Creativity through Programming: The Beauty and Joy of Computing in a First-year Engineering class

There is a growing interest in learning computer programming even among students from majors other than computer science (CS). Many universities offer a common Introduction to Programming (CS1) course, but this approach is usually detrimental to those who are not pursuing a CS major. This article is an experience report that summarizes the results of adapting and implementing the course "The Beauty and Joy of Computing" (BJC) in an Engineering in Product Design first-year class, a group that showed below-average performance in the past. BJC is a course for undergraduate non-CS majors at UC Berkeley, designed to broaden student participation in Computer Science. After a fully online semester of BJC at UTFSM, students showed greater responsibility and commitment when compared to previous cohorts. They also reported greater satisfaction with programming while having a lower attrition rate and comparable final grades to students in the regular CS1 class.
Intramuscular and Intradermal Electroporation of HIV-1 PENNVAX-GP® DNA Vaccine and IL-12 Is Safe, Tolerable, Acceptable in Healthy Adults

Background: Several techniques are under investigation to improve the immunogenicity of HIV-1 DNA vaccine candidates. DNA vaccines are advantageous due to their ease of design, expression of multiple antigens, and safety. Methods: The HVTN 098 trial assessed the PENNVAX®-GP DNA vaccine (encoding HIV env, gag, pol) administered with or without plasmid IL-12 at 0-, 1-, 3-, and 6-month timepoints via intradermal (ID) or intramuscular (IM) electroporation (EP) in healthy, adult participants. We report on safety, tolerability, and acceptability. Results: HVTN 098 enrolled 94 participants: 85 received PENNVAX®-GP and nine received placebo. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores immediately after each vaccination were lower in the ID/EP than in the IM/EP group (medians 4.1–4.6 vs. 6–6.5, p < 0.01). IM/EP participants reported greater pain and/or tenderness at the injection site. Most ID/EP participants had skin lesions such as scabs/eschars, scars, and pigmentation changes, which resolved within 6 months in 51% of participants (24/55). Eighty-two percent of IM/EP and 92% of ID/EP participant survey responses showed acceptable levels of discomfort. Conclusions: ID/EP and IM/EP are distinct experiences; however, HIV-1 DNA vaccination by either route was safe, tolerable and acceptable by most study participants.
Orbital giant cell myositis is an unusual and potentially lethal cause of bilateral ophthalmoplegia – A case report and literature review

ABSTRACT We present a case of orbital giant cell myositis (OGCM), presenting with bilateral subacute progressive ophthalmoplegia and optic nerve dysfunction. An early extraocular muscle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis and guided appropriate management. Comprehensive investigation excluded any underlying systemic disease, including myocarditis. Twenty two months after presentation, the patient remains well on azathioprine with complete resolution of orbital signs.
SrTa2O6 thin films for high-K dielectric applications grown by chemical vapor deposition on different substrates

SrTa2O6 thin films with thickness between 6 and 150 nm were deposited by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition in a multiwafer planetary reactor. The monomolecular precursor, strontium-tantalum-(methoxyethoxy)-ethoxide, was dissolved in toluene and injected by a liquid delivery system. A rather narrow process window for the deposition of stoichiometric SrTa2O6 was found for this precursor at low pressures and a susceptor temperature around 500 °C. Films were grown on Pt∕TiO2∕SiO2∕Si, TiNx∕Si, and SiO2∕Si substrates. The as-deposited films were x-ray amorphous and could be crystallized by postannealing at a temperature ⩾700°C. The distorted tetragonal tungsten bronze phase of SrTa2O6 was dominating within a broad range of compositions (Sr∕Ta: 0.4–0.7) and a perovskite-type phase was additionally observed for Sr∕Ta>0.7 and predominated for Sr∕Ta>1. The electrical properties have been investigated with metal-insulator-metal and metal-insulator-semiconductor capacitors after sputter deposition of Pt top ele.
Tracing mobility patterns through the 6th-5th millennia BC in the Carpathian Basin with strontium and oxygen stable isotope analyses

The complexity of Neolithic population movements and their interpretation through material culture have been the subject of archaeological research for decades. One of the dominant narratives proposes that groups from the Starčevo-Körös-Criş complex spread from the central towards the northern Balkans in the Early Neolithic and eventually brought the Neolithic lifestyle into present-day Hungary. Broad geographical migrations were considered to shape the continuous expansion of Neolithic groups and individuals. However, recent archaeological research, aDNA, and isotope analyses challenged the synchronous appearance of specific material culture distributions and human movement dynamics through emphasizing communication networks and socio-cultural transformation processes. This paper seeks to retrace the complexity of Neolithic mobility patterns across Hungary by means of strontium and oxygen stable isotope analyses, which were performed on a total of 718 human dental enamel samples from 55 Neolithic sites spanning the period from the Starčevo to the Balaton-Lasinja culture in Transdanubia and from the Körös to the Tiszapolgár cultural groups on the Great Hungarian Plain (Alföld). This study presents the largest strontium and oxygen isotope sample size for the Neolithic Carpathian Basin and discusses human mobility patterns on various geographical scales and throughout archaeological cultures, chronological periods, and sex and gender categories in a multiproxy analysis. Based on our results, we discuss the main stages of the Neolithisation processes and particularly trace individual movement behaviour such as exogamy patterns within extensive social networks. Furthermore, this paper presents an innovative differentiation between mobility patterns on small, micro-regional, and supra-regional scales, which provides new insights into the complex organisation of Neolithic communities.
Fuzzy Logic Based Control System for Automated Guided Vehicle

Scientific and technological progress affects all areas of human activity. Application of modern technologies in production leads to delegating human functions to equipment and automatic devices. Automation allows to partially or completely relieve human from the execution of cyclic processes and processes performed according to a strictly specified algorithm. The paper describes the use of fuzzy logic control for the high-level control systems of the Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), using in the mechanical engineering. One of the primary functions of AGVs is the automatic motion planning required for their autonomous navigation. A mathematical model of fuzzy control of the AGV was developed by software control of the electric motor powerof the AGV depending on the speed and distance to the obstaclein order to achieve smooth and precise stopping. The Mamdani algorithm is proposed and implemented in the MATLAB software product as a fuzzy inference algorithm. The rules of the fuzzy inference system are formulated based on the knowledge and experience of experts, as well as modeling the operator's work. Formalization of the description of the speed of AGV, the distance to the obstacle and the electric motor power are carried out by specifying of linguistic variables. The proposed mathematical model can be used in the design of control systems for other types of AGVs.
How Does the Development of the Internet Affect Green Total Factor Productivity? Evidence From China

Green total factor productivity is not merely an inevitable choice to continuously increase the quality of China’s economy, but also a booming demand to promote global development. With the fast development of the new generation information technology represented by world comprehensive web technology, Internet growth may well play a more crucial role in enhancing green total factor productivity in China. Based on 2009-2017 China’s inter-provincial panel data, this article uses the threshold regression model and fixed-effect model to empirically investigate the influence intensity and internal mechanism of green total factor productivity in areas affected by the Internet development. We ultimately come to the following conclusions. First, there is a digital divide between the regions of China. Second, many factors such as Internet development, human capital, urbanization, energy efficiency, and external dependence all exert a positive influence on China’s green total factor productivity. At the same time, government intervention is not conducive to green total factor productivity. Third, the influence of Internet growth on China’s green total factor productivity is non-linear, based on the significant double threshold effect of human capital. As the level of human capital continues to exceed the threshold value, the effect of Internet expansion on the green total factor productivity of China has undergone a structural change. The result has changed from a weak negative influence to a positive one, and the significance is increasing. To advance the smart, green, and coordinated development among regions, it is necessary to bring “Internet +” into full play in promoting China’s green total factor productivity, strengthen the deep integration of Internet development and industrial development, and improve the level of clean production utilizing network information.
The genome of Shanputao (Vitis amurensis) provides a new insight into cold tolerance of grapevine.

Vitis amurensis (Shanputao) is the most cold tolerant Vitis species and so is of great interest to grape breeders and producers in areas with low winter temperatures. Here, we report its high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly based on a combination of sequence data from Illumina and PacBio platforms, BioNano optical mapping and high-throughput chromosome conformation Capture (Hi-C) mapping. The 604.56 Mb genome contains 32,885 protein coding genes. Shanputao was found to share a common ancestor with PN40024 (V. vinifera) approximately 2.17 - 2.91MYA, and gene expansion observed in Shanputao might contribute to the enhancement of cold tolerance. Transcriptome analysis revealed seventeen genes involved in cold signal transduction, suggesting that there were different response mechanism to chilling temperature and freezing conditions. Furthermore, a genome wide association study uncovered a phosphoglycerate kinase gene that may contribute to the freezing resistance of buds in the winter. The Shanputao genome sequence not only represents a valuable resource for grape breeders, but also is important for clarifying the molecular mechanisms involved in cold tolerance.
Cytoprotective effects of creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) and Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) extracts against toxicity induced by venom of the black-tailed rattlesnake (Crotalus ornatus)

Abstract The venom of Crotalus ornatus (vCo) poses a threat to human health, as it contains a mixture of toxins that can cause cytotoxic, necrotic, and hemolytic effects. The present study assessed methanolic and acetone extracts from leaves and flowers of Larrea tridentata, as well as the bark of Quercus virginiana as potential suppressors of the toxic effects of vCo in vitro. The content of total phenols, flavonoids, and tannins of the plant extracts were quantified for the suppression of vCo cytotoxicity in two cell culture models, human lymphocytes and porcine aortic endothelial (PAE) cells. Extracts from Q. virginiana displayed a greater concentration of total phenols, flavonoids, and tannins. Co-incubation of lymphocytes and PAE cells with fixed concentrations of vCo and plant extracts resulted in decreased vCo-induced cytotoxicity. A 24-hour co-incubation of lymphocytes with vCo (2.36 ± 0.17 µg/mL) and 0.5 µg/mL of methanolic leaf extract from L. tridentata (LLM) significantly suppressed the venom-induced cytotoxicity by 37.33 ± 8.33%. Similarly, the LLM extract (4 µg/mL) caused a significant decrease in vCo cytotoxicity after 24 hours in PAE cells. In contrast, while the acetone extract of Q. virginiana bark (QA) suppressed cytotoxicity by 29.20 ± 3.51% (p < 0.001) in lymphocytes, it failed to protect PAE cells against vCo after 24 hours. In PAE cells, a shorter 4-hour co-incubation showed significant suppression of cytotoxicity with both extracts. Our results collectively suggest that LLM and QA possess cytoprotective properties against the in vitro toxic effects of vCo, and thus establish extracts from these plants as potential therapeutic interventions against Crotalus envenomation.
Comparison of normalization methods in clinical research applications of mass spectrometry-based proteomics

Large-scale proteomic studies have to deal with unwanted variability, especially when samples originate from different centers and/or multiple analytical batches are needed. Such variability is typically added throughout all the steps of a clinical study, from biological sample collection and storage, sample preparation, spectral data acquisition, to peptide/protein quantification. In order to remove such diverse variability, normalization of the protein data is performed. There are several published works comparing normalization methods in the -omics field, but reports focusing on proteomic data generated with mass spectrometry (MS) are much fewer. Additionally, most of these studies have only dealt with small datasets. As a case study, we focused on the normalization of a large quantitative MS-based proteomic dataset obtained with isobaric tandem-mass tagging (TMT) of plasma samples from an overweight and obese pan-European cohort. Different normalization methods were evaluated, namely, standardization, quantile sample, removal of unwanted variation (RUV), ComBat, mean and median centering, and single standard normalization; some of these methods are generic while others have been specifically created to deal with genomic or metabolomic data. We checked how relationships between proteins and clinical variables were impacted after normalizing the data with the different methods. We compared the normalized datasets using an array of diagnostic plots. Some methods were well adapted for this particular large-scale shotgun proteomic dataset of human plasma samples. In particular, quantile sample normalization, RUV, mean and median centering showed very good performance, while quantile protein normalization provided results of inferior quality than those obtained with unnormalized data.
Free energy calculations of the functional selectivity of 5-HT2B G protein-coupled receptor

G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) mediate intracellular signaling in response to extracellular ligand binding and are the target of one-third of approved drugs. Ligand binding modulates the GPCR molecular free energy landscape by preferentially stabilizing active or inactive conformations that dictate intracellular protein recruitment and downstream signaling. We perform enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations to recover the free energy surfaces of a thermostable mutant of the GPCR serotonin receptor 5-HT2B in the unliganded form and bound to a lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) agonist and lisuride antagonist. LSD binding imparts a ∼110 kJ/mol driving force for conformational rearrangement into an active state. The lisuride-bound form is structurally similar to the apo form and only ∼24 kJ/mol more stable. This work quantifies ligand-induced conformational specificity and functional selectivity of 5-HT2B and presents a platform for high-throughput virtual screening of ligands and rational engineering of the ligand-bound molecular free energy landscape.
Genomic and Transcriptomic Survey Provides New Insight into the Organization and Transposition Activity of Highly Expressed LTR Retrotransposons of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

LTR retrotransposons (RTEs) play a crucial role in plant genome evolution and adaptation. Although RTEs are generally silenced in somatic plant tissues under non-stressed conditions, some expressed RTEs (exRTEs) escape genome defense mechanisms. As our understanding of exRTE organization in plants is rudimentary, we systematically surveyed the genomic and transcriptomic organization and mobilome (transposition) activity of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) exRTEs. We identified 44 transcribed RTEs in the sunflower genome and demonstrated their distinct genomic features: more recent insertion time, longer open reading frame (ORF) length, and smaller distance to neighboring genes. We showed that GAG-encoding ORFs are present at significantly higher frequencies in exRTEs, compared with non-expressed RTEs. Most exRTEs exhibit variation in copy number among sunflower cultivars and one exRTE Gagarin produces extrachromosomal circular DNA in seedling, demonstrating recent and ongoing transposition activity. Nanopore direct RNA sequencing of full-length RTE RNA revealed complex patterns of alternative splicing in RTE RNAs, resulting in isoforms that carry ORFs for distinct RTE proteins. Together, our study demonstrates that tens of expressed sunflower RTEs with specific genomic organization shape the hidden layer of the transcriptome, pointing to the evolution of specific strategies that circumvent existing genome defense mechanisms.
Simultaneous Estimation of Gender Male and Atrial Fibrillation as Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Accurate outcome prediction following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has gained further importance along with expanding its indication to patients with a lower surgical risk. Although previous studies have evaluated the prognostic impacts of gender and atrial fibrillation (AF) in TAVI patients, these two factors have rarely been addressed simultaneously. This retrospective observational study based on a multicenter TAVI registry involved 1088 patients who underwent TAVI between May, 2010 and February, 2020 at 3 hospitals in Japan. Participants were divided into 4 groups by gender and pre-existing AF, such as Female AF (−) (n = 559), Male AF (−) (n = 266), Female AF (+) (n = 187) and Male AF (+) (n = 76). Primary and secondary endpoints were death due to any and cardiovascular cause, and the composite of all-cause death and heart failure hospitalization, respectively. The median follow-up period was 538 days. Cumulative incidences of primary and secondary endpoints were lower in the Female AF (−) group compared to the other 3 groups. Adjusted multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses showed an independent association of either or both of male gender and AF with adverse outcomes, when compared to the group with none of these (hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals vs. Female AF (−) (reference) for all-cause death of Male AF (−): 2.7, 1.6–4.6, p < 0.001, Female AF (+): 3.5, 2.1–6.0, p < 0.001, and Male AF (+): 3.9, 1.9–7.8, p < 0.001), while there was no evidence of their synergistic prognostic impact. Male gender and being complicated by AF independently, but not synergistically, predicted poor long-term outcomes in patients undergoing TAVI.
Bacterial and fungal profiles as markers of infliximab drug response in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are globally increasing chronic gastro-intestinal inflammatory disorders associating with altered gut microbiota. Infliximab (IFX), a TNF-alpha blocker, is used to treat IBD patients successfully though one third of the patients do not respond to therapy. No reliable biomarkers are available for prediction of IFX response. AIMS Our aim was to investigate the faecal bacterial and fungal communities during IFX therapy and find predictors for IFX treatment response in IBD patients. METHODS 72 IBD patients (25 CD and 47 UC) started IFX therapy and were followed for one year or until IFX treatment was discontinued. Amplicon sequencing approach targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS 1 region separately was used to determine the microbiota profiles in faecal samples collected before IFX therapy, two, six, twelve weeks and one year after initiation of therapy. The response to IFX was evaluated by colonoscopy and clinically at twelve weeks after initiation. RESULTS Both the faecal bacterial and fungal profiles differed significantly between response groups before start of IFX treatment. Non-responders had lower abundances of short chain fatty acid producers, particularly of the class Clostridia and higher abundances of pro-inflammatory bacteria and fungi, such as the genus Candida, compared to responders. This was further indicated by bacterial taxa predicting the response in both CD and UC patients (area under curve > 0.8). CONCLUSIONS Faecal bacterial and fungal microbiota composition could provide a predictive tool to estimate IFX response in IBD patients.