Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genome Annotation for Pinkcreek, a C1 Subcluster Mycobacteriophage from New Orleans, Louisiana

The mycobacteriophage Pinkcreek (C1 subcluster) was extracted from soil collected on the Dr. Norman C. Francis Parkway Bike Trail in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is a member of the family Myoviridae and infects Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155. The Pinkcreek genome is 153,184 bp and contains 216 predicted protein-coding genes, 29 tRNAs, and 1 transfer-messenger RNA. ABSTRACT The mycobacteriophage Pinkcreek (C1 subcluster) was extracted from soil collected on the Dr. Norman C. Francis Parkway Bike Trail in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is a member of the family Myoviridae and infects Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155. The Pinkcreek genome is 153,184 bp and contains 216 predicted protein-coding genes, 29 tRNAs, and 1 transfer-messenger RNA.
Near‐Infrared‐II Light Induced Mild Hyperthermia Activate Cisplatin‐Artemisinin Nanoparticle for Enhanced Chemo/Chemodynamic Therapy and Immunotherapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an effective cancer treatment that uses Fenton reaction to induce cancer cell death. Current clinical applications of CDT are limited by the dependency of external supply of metal ions as well as low catalytic efficiency. Here, a highly efficient metal‐free CDT by using endoperoxide bridge‐containing artesunate as free radical‐generating substance is developed. A Pt(IV) prodrug (A‐Pt) containing two artesunate molecules in the axial direction is synthesized, which can be decomposed into cisplatin and artesunate under reducing intracellular environment in tumor cells. To improve the catalytic efficiency for Fenton reaction, a near‐infrared‐II (NIR‐II) photothermal agent IR1048 is incorporated to achieve a mild hyperthermia effect. By encapsulating the A‐Pt and IR1048 with human serum albumin, A‐Pt‐IR NP are formulated for efficient drug delivery in 4T1 tumor‐bearing mice. NIR‐II light irradiation of A‐Pt‐IR NP treated mice show accelerated Fenton reaction. In addition, A‐Pt‐IR NP could also induce strong immunogenic cell death, which effectively reverses the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and augments antitumor immunity. This study demonstrates that A‐Pt‐IR NP are potent biodegradable NIR‐II active chemotherapy/CDT nanomedicine for clinical translation.
Left bundle branch area pacing outcomes: the multicentre European MELOS study

Abstract Aims Permanent transseptal left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) is a promising new pacing method for both bradyarrhythmia and heart failure indications. However, data regarding safety, feasibility and capture type are limited to relatively small, usually single centre studies. In this large multicentre international collaboration, outcomes of LBBAP were evaluated. Methods and results This is a registry-based observational study that included patients in whom LBBAP device implantation was attempted at 14 European centres, for any indication. The study comprised 2533 patients (mean age 73.9 years, female 57.6%, heart failure 27.5%). LBBAP lead implantation success rate for bradyarrhythmia and heart failure indications was 92.4% and 82.2%, respectively. The learning curve was steepest for the initial 110 cases and plateaued after 250 cases. Independent predictors of LBBAP lead implantation failure were heart failure, broad baseline QRS and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. The predominant LBBAP capture type was left bundle fascicular capture (69.5%), followed by left ventricular septal capture (21.5%) and proximal left bundle branch capture (9%). Capture threshold (0.77 V) and sensing (10.6 mV) were stable during mean follow-up of 6.4 months. The complication rate was 11.7%. Complications specific to the ventricular transseptal route of the pacing lead occurred in 209 patients (8.3%). Conclusions LBBAP is feasible as a primary pacing technique for both bradyarrhythmia and heart failure indications. Success rate in heart failure patients and safety need to be improved. For wider use of LBBAP, randomized trials are necessary to assess clinical outcomes.
Bacillus megaterium HgT21: a Promising Metal Multiresistant Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria for Soil Biorestoration

Metal-polluted environments are natural sources of a wide variety of PGPB adapted to cope with toxic metal concentrations. In this work, the bacterial strain Bacillus megaterium HgT21 was isolated from metal-contaminated soil and is proposed as a model for the study of metal multiresistance in spore-forming Gram-positive bacteria due to the presence of a variety of metal resistance-associated genes similar to those encountered in the metal multiresistant Gram-negative Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34. ABSTRACT The environmental deterioration produced by heavy metals derived from anthropogenic activities has gradually increased. The worldwide dissemination of toxic metals in crop soils represents a threat for sustainability and biosafety in agriculture and requires strategies for the recovery of metal-polluted crop soils. The biorestoration of metal-polluted soils using technologies that combine plants and microorganisms has gained attention in recent decades due to the beneficial and synergistic effects produced by its biotic interactions. In this context, native and heavy metal-resistant plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) play a crucial role in the development of strategies for sustainable biorestoration of metal-contaminated soils. In this study, we present a genomic analysis and characterization of the rhizospheric bacterium Bacillus megaterium HgT21 isolated from metal-polluted soil from Zacatecas, Mexico. The results reveal that this autochthonous bacterium contains an important set of genes related to a variety of operons associated with mercury, arsenic, copper, cobalt, cadmium, zinc and aluminum resistance. Additionally, halotolerance-, beta-lactam resistance-, phosphate solubilization-, and plant growth-promotion-related genes were identified. The analysis of resistance to metal ions revealed resistance to mercury (HgII+), arsenate [AsO4]³–, cobalt (Co2+), zinc (Zn2+), and copper (Cu2+). Moreover, the ability of the HgT21 strain to produce indole acetic acid (a phytohormone) and promote the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings in vitro was also demonstrated. The genotype and phenotype of Bacillus megaterium HgT21 reveal its potential to be used as a model of both plant growth-promoting and metal multiresistant bacteria. IMPORTANCE Metal-polluted environments are natural sources of a wide variety of PGPB adapted to cope with toxic metal concentrations. In this work, the bacterial strain Bacillus megaterium HgT21 was isolated from metal-contaminated soil and is proposed as a model for the study of metal multiresistance in spore-forming Gram-positive bacteria due to the presence of a variety of metal resistance-associated genes similar to those encountered in the metal multiresistant Gram-negative Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34. The ability of B. megaterium HgT21 to promote the growth of plants also makes it suitable for the study of plant-bacteria interactions in metal-polluted environments, which is key for the development of techniques for the biorestoration of metal-contaminated soils used for agriculture.
Clinical presentation and etiology of Cushing's syndrome: Data from ERCUSYN

This review presents the data on clinical presentation at diagnosis in 1564 patients included in the European Registry on Cushing's syndrome (ERCUSYN), of whom 1045 (67%) had pituitary‐dependent Cushing's syndrome (CS) (PIT‐CS), 385 (25%) had adrenal dependent CS (ADR‐CS) and 89 (5%) had ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome (ECT‐CS). The most frequent symptoms in the overall series were weight gain (83%), hypertension (79%), skin alterations (76%) and myopathy (70%). Diabetes mellitus was present in 32% and depression in 35% of patients. Skin alterations, menstrual irregularities and reduced libido were more prevalent in PIT‐CS patients compared to ADR‐CS patients, whereas patients with ECT‐CS more frequently had diabetes mellitus, myopathy, hirsutism and vertebral fractures compared to the other etiologies, consistent with a more severe clinical scenario. Reduced libido and bone fractures were more prevalent in men compared to women. Quality of life was poor at diagnosis, irrespective of the etiology of CS, and also associated with the presence of depression at baseline. A delay of 2 years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was also observed, with a high number of specialists consulted, who often missed the correct diagnosis. To develop strategies aimed at shortening the time elapsed to diagnosis, it is important to rapidly start treatment and reduce the burden of the disease on patient psychophysical health and longevity.
Assessment of Automatic and Controlled Retrieval Using Verbal Fluency Tasks

Category and letter verbal fluency assessment is widely used in basic and clinical research. Yet, the nature of the processes measured by such means remains a matter of debate. To delineate automatic (free-associative) versus controlled (dissociative) retrieval processes involved in verbal fluency tasks, we carried out a psychometric study combining a novel lexical-semantic retrieval paradigm and structural equation modeling. We show that category fluency primarily engages a free-associative retrieval, whereas letter fluency exerts executive suppression of habitual semantic associates. Importantly, the models demonstrated that this dissociation is parametric rather than absolute, exhibiting a degree of unity as well as diversity among the retrieval measures. These findings and further exploratory analyses validate that category and letter fluency tasks reflect partially distinct forms of memory search and retrieval control, warranting different application in basic research and clinical assessment. Finally, we conclude that the novel associative-dissociative paradigm provides straightforward and useful behavioral measures for the assessment and differentiation of automatic versus controlled retrieval ability.
Using systems-mapping to address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma: A qualitative study of stakeholder experiences

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma have been linked to decreased psychosocial and physiological health functioning. While various individual and community-level interventions to address ACEs have been reported, one novel approach that has not been explored in detail is a community-engaged causal loop diagramming project, or systems mapping project (SMP), in which diverse stakeholders work together to document the forces that are creating the outcomes and patterns within the community. To better document and understand the impact of participation in an SMP, we conducted in-depth, qualitative interviews with 16 stakeholders who were involved in a systems-mapping process facilitated by a local nonprofit in Eastern North Carolina. We used an iterative, content analysis coding process to generate and analyze themes from these interviews. Three major themes emerged: 1) Recognition and understanding of own trauma, 2) Trauma as both a community issue and an individual issue, and 3) Systems-mapping as a conceptual tool with practical benefits. All participants strongly recommended the systems-mapping approach to other communities and believed that it is a valuable tool for empowerment and provided several considerations for future organizers of similar systems-mapping projects. Our findings suggest that systems mapping is a feasible, transferable, and promising modality for understanding and addressing ACEs at the individual, interpersonal, and community-levels, as well as for putting community voices at the forefront of efforts to address ACEs.
Professional perspectives on serodiscordant family service provision in the context of blood-borne viruses

ABSTRACT In recognition of the broader relational aspects of viral infections, family support is considered important when someone is diagnosed with a blood-borne virus (BBV), such as HIV, hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV). However, families’ own support needs are often not a priority in service provision within the BBV sector. In this article, we draw on qualitative interviews with 20 key informants working in various professional capacities in health, social policy, care and advocacy sectors in Australia, and explore their experiences and perspectives on family inclusivity in their services. Overall, key informants acknowledged the diversity of what constitutes family, and consistently viewed family engagement as beneficial to both diagnosed individuals and the wider familial networks affected by a diagnosis. However, prioritising individual care in support services presented barriers to engaging families, which are further complicated by the role of stigma in shaping the social realities of living with a BBV. Increasing understanding in service provision settings that serodiscordance can be a family experience has the potential to widen this analytic lens to consider the support needs of families in their own right.
MCP-1/CCR2 axis inhibition sensitizes the brain microenvironment against melanoma brain metastasis progression

Development of resistance to chemo- and immunotherapies often occurs following treatment of melanoma brain metastasis (MBM). The brain microenvironment (BME), particularly astrocytes, cooperate toward MBM progression by upregulating secreted factors, among which we found that monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and its receptors, CCR2 and CCR4, were overexpressed in MBM compared with primary lesions. Among other sources of MCP-1 in the brain, we show that melanoma cells altered astrocyte secretome and evoked MCP-1 expression and secretion, which in turn induced CCR2 expression in melanoma cells, enhancing in vitro tumorigenic properties, such as proliferation, migration, and invasion of melanoma cells. In vivo pharmacological blockade of MCP-1 or molecular knockout of CCR2/CCR4 increased the infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and attenuated the immunosuppressive phenotype of the BME as shown by decreased infiltration of Tregs and tumor-associated macrophages/microglia in several models of intracranially injected MBM. These in vivo strategies led to decreased MBM outgrowth and prolonged the overall survival of the mice. Our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of inhibiting interactions between BME and melanoma cells for the treatment of this disease.
Genetic Analyses Reveal High Connectivity among Populations of the Honduran White Bat Ectophylla alba in the Caribbean Lowlands of Central Eastern Costa Rica

Vagility, ecological requirements, and forest patches can all influence gene flow among populations. These aspects are critical for the maintenance of genetic diversity in populations. Ectophylla alba is a fruit bat belonging to the family Phyllostomidae with specialized feeding and habitat requirements. Studies examining population genetics in this specialist bat are lacking. In this study, ten microsatellite loci were used to evaluate the current genetic structure of this bat species. Six localities in Costa Rica were evaluated. These localities are included in a landscape with remnants of lowland forests surrounded by cattle pastures, plantations, urban areas, and roads. Our results suggest a genetic population with moderate genetic diversity that was observed at most studied loci, with a statistically non-significant difference between the observed and expected heterozygosity. Most of the genetic variation was observed within rather than among sampled populations. The Mantel test showed a non-significant correlation between genetic diversity and geographic distance. These results suggest that E. alba populations have not shown an effect of habitat fragmentation in the studied area. We argue that the increase of forest patches is too recent to alter genetic diversity among sampled localities. Current migration among populations appears to be high enough to balance allele frequencies among localities.
Ethogram of Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas) Behaviours and Associated Social Vocalisations

The ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) is a carnivorous species of bat endemic to northern Australia that roosts in colonies of up to 1,500 individuals. The ghost bat produces a number of social vocalisations, but little is known about the species' behaviour and what role social vocalisations play in interactions between conspecifics. The aim of this study was to construct an ethogram of ghost bat behaviours and to determine the associations between behaviours and social vocalisations. To achieve our aims, we filmed the behaviour of a captive ghost bat colony (one male, five females) using four trail cameras installed within the enclosure over a six-week period, coinciding with the estimated mating season. Video recordings were examined by eye, and solitary and social behaviours were catalogued into distinct behavioural units (e.g. hang-alert, chew, wing-groom, etc.) along with social context and associated social vocalisations, if applicable. To assess the associations between behavioural interactions and social vocalisation types, we combined each of the catalogued social behavioural units into six behavioural classes (eating, grooming, mating, huddling, flying, and fighting) and used generalised linear models to determine which social behavioural classes significantly predicted the production of each vocalisation. There was a strong association between flight behaviour by a member of the colony and the production of the ‘Chirp-trill’ vocalisation by the male member of the colony, suggesting a territorial or mate attraction function. There was also a strong association between fighting behaviour and the production of the ‘Squabble’, ‘Rasp’ and ‘Grumble’ vocalisations, with the Squabble and Rasp likely representing levels of agonistic vocalisations produced by aggressive bats during altercations. The Grumble, on the other hand, was produced by the target of the aggressor and so may function as an appeasement call. The ethogram with its associated social vocalisations provides a formal basis for future behavioural studies in this species and can serve as a template for such studies in other echolocating bats. Our study revealed an unexpected degree of complexity in the behaviour and associated vocalisations in this species and highlights the need for studies of this kind in other bats.
Star forming galaxies in the AKARI deep field south : identifications and spectral energy distributions

Aims. We investigate the nature and properties of far-infrared (FIR) sources in the AKARI deep field south (ADF-S). Methods. We performed an extensive search for the counterparts to 1000 ADF-S objects brighter than 0.0301 Jy in the WIDE-S (90 μm) AKARI band in the public databases (NED and SIMBAD). We analyzed the properties of the resulting sample: statistics of the identified objects, quality of position determination of the ADF-S sources, their number counts, redshift distribution, and comparison of morphological types, when the corresponding information was available. We performed a simplifield analysis of the clustering properties of the ADF-S sources and compliled spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of objects with the highest quality photometry, using three different models. Results. Among 1000 investigated ADF-S sources, 545 were identified with sources at other wavelengths in public databases. From them, 518 are known galaxies and 343 of these were previously known as infra-red sources. Among the remaining sources, there are two quasars and both infrared and radio sources of unknown origin. Among six stellar identifications, at least five are probably the effect of contamination. We measured the redshifts of 48 extragalactic objects and determined the morphological types of 77 galaxies. We present SED models of 47 sources with sufficiently good photometric data. Conclusions. We conclude that the bright FIR point sources observed in the ADF-S are mostly nearby galaxies. Their properties are very similar to the properties of the local population of optically bright galaxies, except for unusually high ratio of peculiar or interacting objects and a lower percentage of elliptical galaxies. The percentage of lenticular galaxies is the same as in the optically bright population, which suggests that galaxies of this type may frequently contain a significant amount of cool dust. It is possible that source confusion plays a significant role in more than 34% of measurements. The SEDs correspond to a variety of galaxy types, from very actively star forming to very quiescent. The AKARI long wavelength bands data have enabled us to determine for the first time that these galaxies are objects with very cool dust.
Neural Variational Dropout Processes

Learning to infer the conditional posterior model is a key step for robust meta-learning. This paper presents a new Bayesian meta-learning approach called Neural Variational Dropout Processes (NVDPs). NVDPs model the conditional posterior distribution based on a task-speciﬁc dropout; a low-rank product of Bernoulli experts meta-model is utilized for a memory-efﬁcient mapping of dropout rates from a few observed contexts. It allows for a quick reconﬁguration of a globally learned and shared neural network for new tasks in multi-task few-shot learning. In addition, NVDPs utilize a novel prior conditioned on the whole task data to optimize the conditional dropout posterior in the amortized variational inference. Surprisingly, this enables the robust approximation of task-speciﬁc dropout rates that can deal with a wide range of functional ambiguities and uncertainties. We compared the proposed method with other meta-learning approaches in the few-shot learning tasks such as 1D stochastic regression, image inpainting, and classiﬁcation. The results show the excellent performance of NVDPs.
Multi-Critic Actor Learning: Teaching RL Policies to Act with Style

Using a single value function (critic) shared over multiple tasks in Actor-Critic multi-task reinforcement learning (MTRL) can result in negative interference between tasks, which can compromise learning performance. Multi-Critic Actor Learning (MultiCriticAL) proposes instead maintaining separate critics for each task being trained while training a single multi-task actor. Explicitly distinguishing between tasks also eliminates the need for critics to learn to do so and mitigates interference between task-value estimates. MultiCriticAL is tested in the context of multi-style learning, a special case of MTRL where agents are trained to behave with different distinct behavior styles, and yields up to 56% performance gains over the single-critic baselines and even successfully learns behavior styles in cases where single-critic approaches may simply fail to learn. In a simulated real-world use case, MultiCriticAL enables learning policies that smoothly transition between multiple fighting styles on an experimental build of EA’s UFC game.
Thermodynamically consistent mesoscopic fluid particle models for a van der Waals fluid

The GENERIC structure allows for a unified treatment of different discrete models of hydrodynamics. We first propose a finite volume Lagrangian discretization of the continuum equations of hydrodynamics through the Voronoi tessellation. We then show that a slight modification of these discrete equations has the GENERIC structure. The GENERIC structure ensures thermodynamic consistency and allows for the introduction of correct thermal noise. In this way, we obtain a consistent discrete model for Lagrangian fluctuating hydrodynamics. For completeness, we also present the GENERIC versions of the Smoothed Particle Dynamics model and of the Dissipative Particle Dynamics model. The thermodynamic consistency endorsed by the GENERIC framework allows for a coherent discussion of the gas-liquid phase coexistence of a van der Waals fluid.