Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of TALE Transcription Factor Family and Expression Patterns Related to Fruit Chloroplast Development in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

The TALE gene family is an important transcription factor family that regulates meristem formation, organ morphogenesis, signal transduction, and fruit development. A total of 24 genes of the TALE family were identified and analyzed in tomato. The 24 SlTALE family members could be classified into five BELL subfamilies and four KNOX subfamilies. SlTALE genes were unevenly distributed on every tomato chromosome, lacked syntenic gene pairs, and had conserved structures but diverse regulatory functions. Promoter activity analysis showed that cis-elements responsive to light, phytohormone, developmental regulation, and environmental stress were enriched in the promoter of SlTALE genes, and the light response elements were the most abundant. An abundance of TF binding sites was also enriched in the promoter of SlTALE genes. Phenotype identification revealed that the green shoulder (GS) mutant fruits showed significantly enhanced chloroplast development and chlorophyll accumulation, and a significant increase of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in the fruit shoulder region. Analysis of gene expression patterns indicated that six SlTALE genes were highly expressed in the GS fruit shoulder region, and four SlTALE genes were highly expressed in the parts with less-developed chloroplasts. The protein-protein interaction networks predicted interaction combinations among these SlTALE genes, especially between the BELL subfamilies and the KNOX subfamilies, indicating a complex regulatory network of these SlTALE genes in chloroplast development and green fruit shoulder formation. In conclusion, our result provides detailed knowledge of the SlTALE gene for functional research and the utilization of the TALE gene family in fruit quality improvement.
Mean arterial pressure-embedded model for real-time simulation and controller validation

The lack of models for automatic control of mean arterial pressure (MAP), in real-time, associated with variability in response to sodium nitroprusside infusion, makes it impossible to validate automatic MAP controllers. Therefore, this Letter presents a low-cost innovative real-time model to MAP. Therefore, the authors used a variation of the mathematical model of Slate, implemented in MATLAB®. The system was developed with the capabilities of Simulink® and deployed to a single-board computer. The results showed that the embedded model presented an error <3% for a target MAP of 100 mmHg, allowing the use of this model, in real time, for validation of embedded MAP controllers.
RGS20 Promotes Tumor Progression through Modulating PI3K/AKT Signaling Activation in Penile Cancer

Regulator of G protein signaling 20 (RGS20) plays an important role in regulating neuronal G protein-coupled receptor signaling; however, its expression and oncogenic function in penile cancer (PC) remains unclear. Here, we observed high RGS20 expression in PC tissues compared to normal/adjacent penile tissues, which was closely associated with tumor stage, nodal status, and pelvic metastasis in our PC cohort. The cellular functional analysis of RGS20 revealed that manipulation of the RGS20 expression markedly affected cell viability, BrdU incorporation, soft agar clonogenesis, caspase-3 activity, and cell migration/invasion in PC cell models. Moreover, RGS20 could interact with PI3K p85α subunit and regulate PI3K/AKT signaling activation in PC cell lines. Knockdown of the PI3K p85α or p110α subunit attenuated cell viability, BrdU incorporation, soft agar clonogenesis, and cell migration/invasion in PC cell lines. In contrast, the overexpression of constitutively activated PI3K p110α mutant restored cell proliferation and cell migration/invasion caused by RGS20 depletion in PC cells. Consistent with the in vitro findings, RGS20 depletion attenuated PI3K/AKT signaling activation and suppressed tumor growth in a murine xenograft model. Importantly, the high RGS20 expression was associated with PI3K/AKT signaling activation and unfavorable progression-free/overall survival, highlighting the clinical relevance of RGS20/PI3K/AKT signaling in PC. In conclusion, the aberrant RGS20 expression may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for PC. RGS20 may promote PC progression through modulating PI3K/AKT signaling activation, which may assist with the development of RGS20-targeting therapeutics in the future.
Agent-Based Modeling for Predicting Pedestrian Trajectories Around an Autonomous Vehicle

This paper addresses modeling and simulating pedestrian trajectories when interacting with an autonomous vehicle in a shared space. Most pedestrian–vehicle interaction models are not suitable for predicting individual trajectories. Data-driven models yield accurate predictions but lack generalizability to new scenarios, usually do not run in real time and produce results that are poorly explainable. Current expert models do not deal with the diversity of possible pedestrian interactions with the vehicle in a shared space and lack microscopic validation. We propose an expert pedestrian model that combines the social force model and a new decision model for anticipating pedestrian–vehicle interactions. The proposed model integrates different observed pedestrian behaviors, as well as the behaviors of the social groups of pedestrians, in diverse interaction scenarios with a car. We calibrate the model by fitting the parameters values on a training set. We validate the model and evaluate its predictive potential through qualitative and quantitative comparisons with ground truth trajectories. The proposed model reproduces observed behaviors that have not been replicated by the social force model and outperforms the social force model at predicting pedestrian behavior around the vehicle on the used dataset. The model generates explainable and real-time trajectory predictions. Additional evaluation on a new dataset shows that the model generalizes well to new scenarios and can be applied to an autonomous vehicle embedded prediction.
A Non-Anthropomorphic Bipedal Walking Robot with a Vertically Stabilized Base

The paper deals with the proposed concept of a biped robot with vertical stabilization of the robot’s base and minimization of its sideways oscillations. This robot uses 6 actuators, which gives good preconditions for energy balance compared to purely articulated bipedal robots. In addition, the used linear actuator is self-locking, so no additional energy is required for braking or to keep it in a stable position. The direct and inverse kinematics problems are solved by means of a kinematic model of the robot. Furthermore, the task is aided by a solution for locomotion on an inclined plane. Special attention is focused on the position of the robot’s center of gravity and its stability in motion. The results of the simulation confirm that the proposed concept meets all expectations. This robot can be used as a mechatronic assistant or as a carrier for handling extensions.
Review on Computational Models for Prostate Segmentation from Ultrasound Medical Images

The segmentation method plays an important character to obtain region of interest from Prostate Ultrasound (US) image. Segmentation of the prostate ultrasound image is a tough task, and the challenges significantly differ from one imaging modality to another. The partition tool is utilized to segregate an image into multiple slices for easy evaluation. The design of automatic segmentation is a challenging task to obtain a required portion of the image, due to auditory intervention and artifacts like shadow acquire in prostate US image. This research article reviews the methods so far developed for prostate segmentation using ultrasound images. The main objective of this review work is to contemplate the key similarities and contrasts among the various methods, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to assist in the choice of an appropriate prostate ultrasound image segmentation methodology. The prime task of the analysts working in the field of image processing and analysis is to build up a technique for effective and better image segmentation. This paper focuses on the different techniques that are broadly used for prostate image segmentation. Key words: Ultrasound Prostate Image; Segmentation methods; Region of Interest (RoI); Region Growing; Edge Detection; Similarity Detection.
Adaptation Needed: Eye-Tracking Study of Cross-Cultural Differences in Perception of B2B Websites

It has been widely acknowledged that products, services as well as marketing communications need to match the taste of local markets, even in globalized industries. So far, the theme of website adaptation has been largely limited to translation and language issues. For B2B industries in particular, it seemed that customers tend to be more homogenous globally and lower degree of adaptation might be sufficient. The study contributes to the discussion about the need for website adaptation for globalized industries. The study depicts differences in perception of visual attractiveness of B2B websites across international audiences. The study observes this phenomenon in cross-cultural context utilizing eye-tracking. A series of experiments was conducted with 2 groups of relevant audiences: Russian and German speakers. Experiments include the combination of survey and eye-tracking study during which participants were evaluating the aesthetical characteristics of different B2B websites for global players targeting German-speaking and Russian-speaking audiences. Experimental data was analyzed and significant conclusions were drawn. The data analysis has provided an opportunity to observe various differences in on-line behavior, general aesthetical preferences and an overall manner of judgment. Certain differences were noticed in a visual behavior of participants. Results of eye-tracking experiments showed, that on average both cultural groups have the same number of gaze paths per web-site session, however the amount of areas of visual concentration per web-site differs. Thus, German-speakers have on average more areas of concentration per website, than Russian-speakers. In certain cases these areas differ in its position.In addition, it was shown that German-speakers change their initial judgment of website attractiveness rarely, than Russian-speakers do. German-speakers have a certain tendency to value the website that has been representing a company from their country of origin. Differences in overall evaluation and perception of attractiveness were identified as well. Thus, Russian-speakers perceive a website with a clear and simple layout to be rather attractive and trustworthy, meanwhile German-speakers gave their preference to websites that are innovative in design and are interesting context-wise. Study resulted in several managerial and academic implications. First, experimental models that were used during the study have shown their efficiency in the given context, and could be recommended for further research in a field of cross-cultural web-design. Moreover, the study results could be applied in a business context, namely in the field of B2B website design. The research outcome can provide a ground for consideration during the process of website adaptation for a different country or language.
Fusion Model for forecasting the Major Indicator of Leading Industries

Imaging plays a central role in the diagnosis and treatment planning of brain neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson and more. Currently, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is an important tool to identify the functional activities of brain metabolism. An accurate segmentation is critical, especially when the brain functional changes are difficult to assess by clinical examination. Basically, in clinical environment segmentation is done by manually. However, segmentation in PET brain images has many challenges with regards to characteristics of an image, which is solved by preprocessing step. Here, segmentation is performed using the process of clustering. Clustering means the homogeneous intensity particles are grouped together. The intensity value is compared with threshold value. This paper presents a cluster based performance analysis of PET scan image for Alzheimer's disease. Here, Euclidean distance and Chebyshev distance measure is compared to identify the suitable K value for clustering. It has demonstrated its effectiveness by testing it for real world patient data sets. The experiment was compiled in MATLAB environment and an experimental result supports the comparative study.
Extracting the Features of Heart Sounds and Identifying Murmurs Based on Mel Frequency Ceptral Coefficients

This paper examines the use of Mel-frequency Ceptral Coefficients in the identification of PCG (phonocardiography) signal. Various Heart sounds are analyzed to extract their coefficients. These coefficients are reduced using principal component analysis. Multi-layered Perceptron is trained using principal components. The network is trained for MFCC values of normal heart sound. This trained network is then used to classify different input heart hound samples. By training and testing the network on a different number of coefficients, the optimum number of coefficients to include for identifying abnormality with heart functioning is identified. We conclude that using 4 principal components from 13 coefficients gives more accurate classification results.
Multi-Omics Analysis of Western-style Diet Increased Susceptibility to Experimental Colitis in Mice

Background Western-style diet (WSD) is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) prevalence. However, the impact of WSD on IBD development and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. Transcriptomics and metabolomics could be beneficial for identifying key factors in WSD-related experimental IBD susceptibility. However, no such study has been conducted yet. We aimed to analyze the implications of WSD for experimental colitis susceptibility in mice and its underlying mechanism using these high-throughput technologies. Methods We fed experimental mice a WSD and a control diet from weaning. After 9 weeks, the mice were treated with 2,4,6 trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid to induce colitis, and the control group was treated with 50% ethanol (commonly used IBD animal model). Genome-wide microarray and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were used to identify the differential transcripts and metabolites of experimental colitis with and without pre-illness WSD. Results WSD induced more severe inflammation in experimental colitis than the control diet. We found 2540 up-regulated genes and 2737 down-regulated genes in experimental colitis with WSD compared with those for the control diet. In addition, levels of 41 colonic tissue metabolites and 56 serum metabolites showed significant differences. Integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic data, we found major co-expression networks through which WSD promoted experimental IBD susceptibility, including enzymes of biotransformation, glycan synthesis and metabolism, steroid hormone metabolites. Conclusion Pre-illness WSD increased experimental colitis susceptibility. Our results could provide important evidences for the potential mechanisms and assist dietary recommendations to better manage IBD.
Study on AgCl/Al2O3 Catalyst Coating on Metal Workpiece Surface by Electrophoretic Deposition and Its Overall Catalytic Performance

This paper is a study of the coating technique of AgCl/Al2O3 catalyst on metal-based surfaces. In order to remove nitrogen oxides from the exhaust of marine diesel engines, this paper proposes a method of electrophoretic deposition and designs an electrophoretic deposition apparatus according to the coating conditions. An in-house developed catalyst was coated on a specific stainless-steel workpiece by the electrophoretic deposition method under the conditions of appropriate voltage and catalyst solution concentration. The surface and cross section of AgCl/Al2O3 coating on stainless steel were observed by scanning electron microscope, and the thickness of catalyst coating after coating was determined. In this study, an exhaust gas evaluation system was built, and a removal test of nitrogen oxides from diesel exhaust gas was conducted under the environment of temperature cyclic change, and repeated experiments proved that the coated workpiece could still effectively remove harmful nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas. Converting them to N2 provides a new idea for ship exhaust gas purification.
Intersubunit and intrasubunit interactions driving the MukBEF ATPase

MukBEF, an SMC-like protein complex, is the bacterial condensin. It is likely that it compacts DNA via an ATP hydrolysis-dependent, DNA loop-extrusion reaction as has been demonstrated for the yeast SMC proteins condensin and cohesin. MukB also interacts with the ParC subunit of the cellular chromosomal decatenase topoisomerase IV, an interaction that is required for proper chromosome condensation and segregation in E. coli, although it suppresses the MukB ATPase activity. We have investigated the MukBEF ATPase activity, identifying inter- and intra-subunit interactions by protein-protein crosslinking and site-specific mutagenesis. We show that interactions between the hinge of MukB and its neck region are essential for the ATPase activity, that the ParC subunit of Topo IV inhibits the MukB ATPase by preventing this interaction, that MukE interaction with DNA is likely essential for viability, and that interactions between MukF and the MukB neck region are necessary for ATPase activity and viability.
Population biological traits of Periophthalmus chrysospilos Bleeker, 1853 in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Periophthalmus chrysospilos is an amphibious fish living in mudflats from eastern India to Indonesia, including the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Population biological traits play an important role in fishery assessment, but understanding is limited for this species. In total 1,031 specimens were caught in two regions covering four provinces, including the TVST (Duyen Hai, Tra Vinh and Tran De, Soc Trang) and BLCM (Dong Hai, Bac Lieu and Dam Doi, Ca Mau). Results found that the sex ratio was close to 1:1. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy in TVST were L∞ = 12.8 cm, K = 0.41 yr−1, t0 = −0.10 yr and in BLCM were 12.7 cm, 0.38 yr−1 and −0.08 yr, respectively. Although the growth coefficient (Φ′) in BLCM (1.79), was lower than that in TVST (1.83), the species shared a similar size at first capture (7.9 cm in TVST and 7.9 cm in BLCM). The species suffered from heavy pressure of fishing in TVST as fishing mortality in TVST (2.32 yr−1) was higher than that in BLCM (1.38 yr−1), leading to the higher total mortality (Z = 3.60 yr−1) in TVST compared to BLCM (Z = 2.59 yr−1). By contrast, the species showed similar natural mortality over both sites (1.20 yr−1 in TVST and 1.22 yr−1 in BLCM). The Periophthalmus chrysospilos population was reasonably exploited because E values (0.64 in TVST and 0.53 in BLCM) were lower than E10 (0.706 in BTTV and 0.705 in STBL). Nonetheless, to avoid the consequences of overfishing, some sustainable fisheries practices should be implemented, such as protecting mangrove forests, restricting fishing during the recruitment period, using appropriate fishing tools and increasing mesh size.
Immunoinformatics and Biophysics Approaches to Design a Novel Multi-Epitopes Vaccine Design against Staphylococcus auricularis

Due to the misuse of antibiotics in our daily lives, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a major health problem. Penicillin, the first antibiotic, was used in the 1930s and led to the emergence of AMR. Due to alterations in the microbe’s genome and the evolution of new resistance mechanisms, antibiotics are losing efficacy against microbes. There are high rates of mortality and morbidity due to antibiotic resistance, so addressing this major health issue requires new approaches. Staphylococcus auricularis is a Gram-positive cocci and is capable of causing opportunistic infections and sepsis. S. auricularis is resistant to several antibiotics and does not currently have a licensed vaccine. In this study, we used bacterial pan-genome analysis (BPGA) to study S. auricularis pan-genome and applied a reverse immunology approach to prioritize vaccine targets against S. auricularis. A total of 15,444 core proteins were identified by BPGA analysis, which were then used to identify good vaccine candidates considering potential vaccine filters. Two vaccine candidates were evaluated for epitope prediction including the superoxide dismutase and gamma-glutamyl transferase protein. The epitope prediction phase involved the prediction of a variety of B-Cell and T-cell epitopes, and the epitopes that met certain criteria, such as antigenicity, immunogenicity, non-allergenicity, and non-toxicity were chosen. A multi-epitopes vaccine construct was then constructed from all the predicted epitopes, and a cholera toxin B-subunit adjuvant was also added to increase vaccine antigenicity. Three-dimensional models of the vaccine were used for downward analyses. Using the best-modeled structure, binding potency was tested with MHC-I, MHC-II and TLR-4 immune cells receptors, proving that the vaccine binds strongly with the receptors. Further, molecular dynamics simulations interpreted strong intermolecular binding between the vaccine and receptors and confirmed the vaccine epitopes exposed to the host immune system. The results support that the vaccine candidate may be capable of eliciting a protective immune response against S. auricularis and may be a promising candidate for experimental in vitro and in vivo studies.
Exploring the effects of community disadvantage and remoteness on Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples’ risk of reincarceration

Community disadvantage and a person's residential geographical location are believed to be risk factors for crime. This research aimed to go beyond examining individual-level risk factors for reincarceration and explored the impact of community disadvantage and residential geographical location on Australia's Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples’ risk of reincarceration post-release. Descriptive analyses, logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were conducted using survey and linked administrative data for 1238 prisoners. We found no relationship between residential geographical location and reincarceration for either Indigenous or non-Indigenous people. Moreover, no relationship between community disadvantage and reincarceration was found for non-Indigenous people, however, results indicated community disadvantage to be a protective factor for Indigenous people. Potential explanation for this perplexing finding is discussed, as are potential implications for how we view and measure community disadvantage for Australian Indigenous people.