Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MetCCS predictor: a web server for predicting collision cross‐section values of metabolites in ion mobility‐mass spectrometry based metabolomics

Summary: In metabolomics, rigorous structural identification of metabolites presents a challenge for bioinformatics. The use of collision cross‐section (CCS) values of metabolites derived from ion mobility‐mass spectrometry effectively increases the confidence of metabolite identification, but this technique suffers from the limit number of available CCS values. Currently, there is no software available for rapidly generating the metabolites’ CCS values. Here, we developed the first web server, namely, MetCCS Predictor, for predicting CCS values. It can predict the CCS values of metabolites using molecular descriptors within a few seconds. Common users with limited background on bioinformatics can benefit from this software and effectively improve the metabolite identification in metabolomics. Availability and Implementation: The web server is freely available at: http://www.metabolomics‐shanghai.org/MetCCS/. Contact: jiangzhu@sioc.ac. cn Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Explicit Performance in Girls and Implicit Processing in Boys: A Simultaneous fNIRS–ERP Study on Second Language Syntactic Learning in Young Adolescents

Learning a second language (L2) proceeds with individual approaches to proficiency in the language. Individual differences including sex, as well as working memory (WM) function appear to have strong effects on behavioral performance and cortical responses in L2 processing. Thus, by considering sex and WM capacity, we examined neural responses during L2 sentence processing as a function of L2 proficiency in young adolescents. In behavioral tests, girls significantly outperformed boys in L2 tests assessing proficiency and grammatical knowledge, and in a reading span test (RST) assessing WM capacity. Girls, but not boys, showed significant correlations between L2 tests and RST scores. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and event-related potential (ERP) simultaneously, we measured cortical responses while participants listened to syntactically correct and incorrect sentences. ERP data revealed a grammaticality effect only in boys in the early time window (100–300 ms), implicated in phrase structure processing. In fNIRS data, while boys had significantly increased activation in the left prefrontal region implicated in syntactic processing, girls had increased activation in the posterior language-related region involved in phonology, semantics, and sentence processing with proficiency. Presumably, boys implicitly focused on rule-based syntactic processing, whereas girls made full use of linguistic knowledge and WM function. The present results provide important fundamental data for learning and teaching in L2 education.
Material Discrimination Based on K-edge Characteristics

Spectral/multienergy CT employing the state-of-the-art energy-discriminative photon-counting detector can identify absorption features in the multiple ranges of photon energies and has the potential to distinguish different materials based on K-edge characteristics. K-edge characteristics involve the sudden attenuation increase in the attenuation profile of a relatively high atomic number material. Hence, spectral CT can utilize material K-edge characteristics (sudden attenuation increase) to capture images in available energy bins (levels/windows) to distinguish different material components. In this paper, we propose an imaging model based on K-edge characteristics for maximum material discrimination with spectral CT. The wider the energy bin width is, the lower the noise level is, but the poorer the reconstructed image contrast is. Here, we introduce the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) criterion to optimize the energy bin width after the K-edge jump for the maximum CNR. In the simulation, we analyze the reconstructed image quality in different energy bins and demonstrate that our proposed optimization approach can maximize CNR between target region and background region in reconstructed image.
SnS2 Nanoplates with Specific Facets Exposed for Enhanced Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalysis

A facile hydrothermal strategy is developed for the synthesis of SnS2 nanoplates with specific exposed facets. The crystallographic structure and the specific exposed facets of as-prepared SnS2 are confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and TEM analysis, and the surface electronic state and the chemical composition of samples are investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The band gaps of SnS2 nanoplates are directly measured from UV/Vis absorption spectra, and their detailed band alignments are determined by Mott–Schottky plots and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) analysis, which are well supported by DFT calculations. Significant transient photocurrent responses under visible-light irradiation from photoelectrochemical analysis reveal that SnS2 samples are active and stable visible-light-driven photocatalysts and that SnS2 nanoplates dominated by {101} exposed facets should be better photocatalysts than those dominated by {100} exposed facets. The photocatalytic activities of SnS2 nanoplates are examined in two typical reactions, that is, rhodamine B (RhB) degradation and hydrogen production from water splitting. As expected, SnS2 nanoplates dominated by {101} exposed facets exhibit distinctly higher activity than those dominated by {100} exposed facets in the photocatalytic RhB degradation. For hydrogen production from water splitting, SnS2 nanoplates dominated by {101} exposed facets exhibit significant photocatalytic activity resulting from their suitable band edges to realize the photocatalytic redox reaction, in great contrast to the inactive SnS2 nanoplates dominated by {100} exposed facets.
World population in a grid of spherical quadrilaterals.

"We report on a project that converted subnational population data to a raster of cells on the earth. We note that studies using satellites as collection devices yield results indexed by latitude and longitude. Thus it makes sense to assemble the terrestrial arrangement of people in a compatible manner. This alternative is explored here, using latitude/longitude quadrilaterals as bins for population information. The results to date of putting world boundary coordinates together with estimates of the number of people are described. The estimated 1994 population of 219 countries, subdivided into 19,032 polygons, has been assigned to over six million five minute by five minute quadrilaterals covering the world. "
Reduced glutathione alleviates tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in mouse preimplantation embryos

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, a dysfunction in protein-folding capacity, is involved in many pathological and physiological responses, including embryonic development. This study aims to determine the developmental competence, apoptosis, and stress-induced gene expression in mouse preimplantation embryos grown in an in vitro culture medium supplemented with different concentrations of the ER stress inducer tunicamycin (TM) and the antioxidant glutathione (GSH). Treatment of zygotes with 0.5 µg/ml TM significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the rate of blastocyst formation, whereas 1 mM GSH supplementation improved the developmental rate of blastocysts. Furthermore, TM treatment significantly increased (P < 0.05) the apoptotic index and reduced the total number of cells, whereas GSH significantly increased the total number of cells and decreased the apoptotic index. The expression levels of ER chaperones, including immunoglobulin-binding protein, activating transcription factor 6, double-stranded activated protein kinase-like ER kinase, activating transcription factor 4, and C/EBP homologous protein were significantly increased (P < 0.05) by TM, but significantly decreased (P < 0.05) by GSH treatment. A similar pattern was observed in the case of the pro-apoptotic gene, B cell lymphoma-associated X protein. The expression level of the anti-apoptotic gene B cell lymphoma 2, was decreased by TM, but significantly increased after co-treatment with GSH. In conclusion, GSH improves the developmental potential of mouse embryos and significantly alleviates ER stress.
Consumer Preferences for Product Information and Price Comparison Apps

Product information and price comparison apps on smartphones play an increasing role in consumers’ purchase decision process. Consumers are able to choose from a variety of product information search applications (apps) which mainly differ with respect to the information that is provided to consumers during their search process. The goal of this study is to analyze preferences regarding different information types that such apps provide. We conduct an adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis combined with a between subject experiment for a sample of 330 consumers. We identify differences between highand lowinvolvement products. Individual differences are explained using psychometric latent constructs. Our results reveal heterogeneous preferences which also depend on the product category. Consumer attitudes like quality vs. price consciousness and green consumer values influence the valuation of certain information types.
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Ambiguous human papillomavirus status, elevated p16, and deleted retinoblastoma 1

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is potentially curable, but treatment planning remains a challenge. Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV)‐positive disease is often associated with a good prognosis compared with HPV‐negative disease. However, some HPV‐positive HNSCC recurs, often with distant metastases and significant treatment resistance.
Provider and Site‐Level Determinants of Testosterone Prescribing in the Veterans Healthcare System

Context: Testosterone prescribing rates have increased substantially in the past decade. However, little is known about the context within which such prescriptions occur. Objective: We evaluated provider‐ and site‐level determinants of receipt of testosterone and of guideline‐concordant testosterone prescribing. Design: This study was cross‐sectional in design. Setting: This study was conducted at the Veterans Health Administration (VA). Participants: Study participants were a national cohort of male patients who had received at least one outpatient prescription within the VA during fiscal year (FY) 2008 to FY 2012. A total of 38,648 providers and 130 stations were associated with these patients. Main Outcome Measure: This study measured receipt of testosterone and guideline‐concordant testosterone prescribing. Results: Providers ranging in age from 31 to 60 years, with less experience in the VA [all adjusted odds ratio (AOR), <2; P < 0.01] and credentialed as medical doctors in endocrinology (AOR, 3.88; P < 0.01) and urology (AOR, 1.48; P < 0.01) were more likely to prescribe testosterone compared with older providers, providers of longer VA tenure, and primary care providers, respectively. Sites located in the West compared with the Northeast [AOR, 1.75; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.45‐2.11] and care received at a community‐based outpatient clinic compared with a medical center (AOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.20‐1.24) also predicted testosterone use. Although they were more likely to prescribe testosterone, endocrinologists were also more likely to obtain an appropriate workup before prescribing compared with primary care providers (AOR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.54‐2.97). Conclusions: Our results highlight the opportunity to intervene at both the provider and the site levels to improve testosterone prescribing. This study also provides a useful example of how to examine contributions to prescribing variation at different levels of the health care system.
Even mild reversible myocardial perfusion defects predict mortality in patients evaluated for kidney transplantation

Aims The value of single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) in patients with severe chronic kidney disease is controversial, and the implications of SPECT finding with lower level of ischaemia are unknown. We assessed the prognostic value of SPECT in patients evaluated for kidney transplantation. Methods and results Five hundred and forty-eight patients underwent SPECT as a part of routine evaluation for kidney transplantation. During the median follow-up of 43.7 months (IQR 22.4-68.4 months), 112 patients (20.4%) died, 49 of cardiovascular (CV) causes (8.9%). In comparison to those with no perfusion defects, mild perfusion abnormalities (1%-9.9%) had an adjusted Cox hazard ratio (HR) of 1.80 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.02-3.17, P = 0.041] for all-cause mortality, while large perfusion defects (≥10%) demonstrated an HR of 2.20 (95% CI 1.38-3.50, P = 0.001). A competing risk analysis produced a similar prognostic capacity for CV mortality. SPECT also offered incremental prognostic impact with two reclassification methods. Revascularization was performed clearly more often on patients with severely than mildly abnormal or normal SPECT (28.0%, 4.3%, and 1.3%, respectively, P < 0.001). However, revascularization was not linked with better survival. Patients with a normal SPECT received a kidney transplant more often than patients with a mildly or severely abnormal SPECT (50.5%, 36.2%, and 36.6%, respectively, P = 0.010). Conclusion Myocardial ischaemia in SPECT is clearly linked with mortality in patients screened for kidney transplantation. Contrary to populations with coronary artery disease, even a mild perfusion defect in SPECT predicts poor prognosis in this patient population. The finding deserves further attention in forthcoming trials.
Preliminary study between frequency-domain equalizer and 0-ASCET for PLC

Power Line Communications (PLC) have become a successful alternative for broadband links, since their infrastructure, the power grid, is already deployed in most urban and industrial environments. Like other similar broadband standards, PLC is based on the use of a multi-carrier modulation for the transmission. Among the possible multi-carrier approaches, Filter-Bank Multi-Carrier modulation (FBMC) implies the existence of a filter bank that provides some improvements with respect to other schemes. In any case, the performance of the receiver significantly depends on the channel estimation, as well as on the corresponding equalization. In this work, two types of channel equalizers (an Adaptive Sine-modulated/Cosine-modulated filter bank Equalizer for Transmultiplexers-ASCET- and a frequency-domain one) have been analyzed for a FBMC approach in a PLC system, evaluating performances achieved by each one of them in the final system, mainly in terms of the emitted signal recovery.
High variability of dung beetle diversity patterns at four mountains of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt

Insect diversity patterns of high mountain ecosystems remain poorly studied in the tropics. Sampling dung beetles of the subfamilies Aphodiinae, Scarabaeinae, and Geotrupinae was carried out at four volcanoes in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) in the Mexican transition zone at 2,700 and 3,400 MASL, and on the windward and leeward sides. Sampling units represented a forest–shrubland–pasture (FSP) mosaic typical of this mountain region. A total of 3,430 individuals of 29 dung beetle species were collected. Diversity, abundance and compositional similarity (CS) displayed a high variability at all scales; elevation, cardinal direction, or FSP mosaics did not show any patterns of higher or lower values of those measures. The four mountains were different regarding dispersion patterns and taxonomic groups, both for species and individuals. Onthophagus chevrolati dominated all four mountains with an overall relative abundance of 63%. CS was not related to distance among mountains, but when O. chevrolati was excluded from the analysis, CS values based on species abundance decreased with increasing distance. Speciation, dispersion, and environmental instability are suggested as the main drivers of high mountain diversity patterns, acting together at different spatial and temporal scales. Three species new to science were collected (>10% of all species sampled). These discoveries may indicate that speciation rate is high among these volcanoes—a hypothesis that is also supported by the elevated number of collected species with a restricted montane distribution. Dispersion is an important factor in driving species composition, although naturally limited between high mountains; horizontal colonization events at different time scales may best explain the observed species composition in the TMVB, complemented by vertical colonization events to a lesser extent. Environmental instability may be the main factor causing the high variability of diversity and abundance patterns found during sampling. Together, we interpret these results as indicating that species richness and composition in the high mountains of the TMVB may be driven by biogeographical history while variability in diversity is determined by ecological factors. We argue that current conservation strategies do not focus sufficiently on protecting high mountain fauna, and that there is a need for developing and applying new conservation concepts that take into account the high spatial and temporal variability of this system.
A projection‐based image quality measure

Objective image quality measure, evaluating the image quality consistently with human perception automatically, could be employed in image and video retrieval. And the measure with high efficiency and low computational complexity plays an important role in numerous image and video processing applications. On the assumption that any image's distortion could be modeled as the difference between the projection‐based values (PV) of reference image and the counterpart of distorted image, we propose a new objective quality assessment method based on signal projection for full reference model. The proposed metric is developed by simple parameters to achieve high efficiency and low computational complexity. Experimental results show that the proposed method is well consistent with the subjective quality score. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 18, 94–100, 2008
Platelet inhibition by aspirin is diminished in patients during carotid surgery: a form of transient aspirin resistance?

Summary The majority of patients who suffer peri-operative thromboembolic complication while undergoing vascular procedures do so despite taking aspirin. This study examined the antiplatelet effect of aspirin during surgery in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Fifty patients undergoing CEA were standardised to 150 mg aspirin daily for ≥2 weeks. Platelet aggregation in response to arachidonic acid (AA) was measured in platelet rich plasma prepared from blood taken prior to, during, and at the end of surgery. Spontaneous platelet aggregation was also studied, as was the role of physiological agonists (ADP, collagen, thrombin, and epinephrine) in mediating the in vivo and in vitro responses to AA. Eighteen patients undergoing leg angioplasty, also on 150 mg aspirin, without general anaesthesia, served as a control group. In the CEA patients aggregation induced by AA (5 mM) increased significantly from 7.6 ± 5.5% pre-surgery to 50.8 ± 29.5% at the end of surgery (p <0.0001). Aggregation to AA was even greater in samples taken mid-surgery from a sub-set of patients (73.8 ± 7.2%; p = 0.0001), but fell to 45.9 ± 7.4% by the end of surgery. The increased aggregation in response to AA was not due to intra-operative release of physiological platelet agonists since addition of agents that block/neutralise the effects of ADP (apyrase; 4 µg/ml), thrombin (hirudin; 10 units/ml), or epinephrine (yohimbine; 10 µM/l) to the samples taken at the end of surgery did not block the increased aggregation.The patients undergoing angioplasty also showed a significant rise in the response to AA (5 mM), from 5.6 ± 5.5% pre-angioplasty to 32.4 ± 24.9% at the end of the procedure (p <0.0001), which fell significantly to 11.0 ± 8.1% 4 hours later. The antiplatelet activity of aspirin, mediated by blockade of platelet arachidonic acid metabolism, diminished significantly during surgery, but was partially restored by the end of the procedure without additional aspirin treatment.This rapidly inducible and transient effect may explain why some patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery remain at risk of peri-operative stroke and myocardial infarction.
A scalable and efficient method for salient region detection using sampled template collation

We propose a fast method for salient region detection which aims at providing a computationally efficient method for online image processing. It is scalable and can be adjusted on the run to adapt to different computational requirements, which makes it a perfect candidate for time crucial applications. In our approach, we apply a template sampling over the image and compare these templates with each other by calculating a dissimilarity score. Templates with a low overall response are therefore likely to be part of a salient region in the image. This conceptually easy method is simple to implement and still outperforms state-of-the-art salient region detection systems (Our model's AUC(ROC) Score 0.794-AIM 0.772).
Evaluation of the hierarchical control of distributed Energy Storage Systems in islanded Microgrids based on Std IEC/ISO 62264

In this paper, a decentralized control methodology based on hierarchical control levels is investigated. In recent years, efforts have been made to develop standards for Microgrids (MGs), and the decentralized control method evaluated here is based on the IEC/ISO 62264 standard. Since the main challenge to decentralized control in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) is the different levels of stored energy, a modified droop control is used here to share the power between the different storage units, based on the energy level of each unit. The power coefficients of the droop control are set inversely proportionally and directly proportionally, respectively, to the state of charge (SoC) of each battery unit during discharging and charging mode. To evaluate this decentralized method based on the IEC/ISO 62264 standard, PSCAD/EMTDC software is used.
Optimal Decoding Algorithm for Asynchronous Physical-Layer Network Coding

A key issue in physical-layer network coding (PNC) is how to deal with the asynchrony between signals transmitted by multiple transmitters. That is, symbols transmitted by different transmitters could arrive at the receiver with symbol misalignment as well as relative carrier-phase offset. In this paper, 1) we propose and investigate a general framework based on belief propagation (BP) that can effectively deal with symbol and phase asynchronies; 2) we show that for BPSK and QPSK modulations, our BP method can significantly reduce the SNR penalty due to asynchrony compared with prior methods; 3) we find that symbol misalignment makes the system performance less sensitive and more robust against carrier-phase offset. Observation 3) has the following practical implication. It is relatively easier to control symbol timing than carrier-phase offset. Our results indicate that if we could control the symbol offset in PNC, it would actually be advantageous to deliberately introduce symbol misalignment to desensitize the system to phase offset.