Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Genomics of Members of the Genus Defluviicoccus With Insights Into Their Ecophysiological Importance

Members of the genus Defluviicoccus occur often at high abundances in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants designed to remove phosphorus, where biomass is subjected to alternating anaerobic feed/aerobic famine conditions, believed to favor the proliferation of organisms like Ca. Accumulibacter and other phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAO), and Defluviicoccus. All have a capacity to assimilate readily metabolizable substrates and store them intracellularly during the anaerobic feed stage so that under the subsequent famine aerobic stage, these can be used to synthesize polyphosphate reserves by the PAO and glycogen by Defluviicoccus. Consequently, Defluviicoccus is described as a glycogen-accumulating organism or GAO. Because they share a similar anaerobic phenotype, it has been proposed that at high Defluviicoccus abundance, the PAO are out-competed for assimilable metabolites anaerobically, and hence aerobic P removal capacity is reduced. Several Defluviicoccus whole genome sequences have been published (Ca. Defluviicoccus tetraformis, Defluviicoccus GAO-HK, and Ca. Defluviicoccus seviourii). The available genomic data of these suggest marked metabolic differences between them, some of which have ecophysiological implications. Here, we describe the whole genome sequence of the type strain Defluviicoccus vanusT, the only cultured member of this genus, and a detailed comparative re-examination of all extant Defluviicoccus genomes. Each, with one exception, which appears not to be a member of this genus, contains the genes expected of GAO members, in possessing multiple copies of those for glycogen biosynthesis and catabolism, and anaerobic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthesis. Both 16S rRNA and genome sequence data suggest that the current recognition of four clades is insufficient to embrace their phylogenetic biodiversity, but do not support the view that they should be re-classified into families other than their existing location in the Rhodospirillaceae. As expected, considerable variations were seen in the presence and numbers of genes encoding properties associated with key substrate assimilation and metabolic pathways. Two genomes also carried the pit gene for synthesis of the low-affinity phosphate transport protein, pit, considered by many to distinguish all PAO from GAO. The data re-emphasize the risks associated with extrapolating the data generated from a single Defluviicoccus population to embrace all members of that genus.
Metric Rectification of Spherical Images

This paper describes a method for metric recording based on spherical images, which are rectified to document planar surfaces. The proposed method is a multistep workflow in which multiple rectilinear images are (i) extracted from a single spherical projection and (ii) used to recover metric properties. The workflow is suitable for documenting buildings with small and narrow rooms, i.e., documentation projects where the acquisition of 360 images is faster than the traditional acquisition of several photographs. Two different rectification procedures were integrated into the current implementation: (i) an analytical method based on control points and (ii) a geometric procedure based on two sets of parallel lines. Constraints based on line parallelism can be coupled with the focal length of the rectified image to estimate the rectifying transformation. The calculation of the focal length does not require specific calibrations projects. It can be derived from the spherical image used during the documentation project, obtaining a rectified image with just an overall scale ambiguity. Examples and accuracy evaluation are illustrated and discussed to show the pros and cons of the proposed method.
Raging Hormones: Why Age-Based Etiological Conceptualizations of the Development of Antisocial Behavior Are Insufficient

Developmental science, particularly developmental neuroscience, has substantially influenced the modern legal system. However, this science has typically failed to consider the role of puberty and pubertal hormones on development when considering antisocial behavior. This review describes major theoretical positions on the developmental neuroscience of antisocial behavior and highlights where basic developmental neuroscience suggests that the role of puberty and pubertal hormones should be considered. The implications of the current state of the science with respect to developmental neuroscience is considered, particularly what is known in light of development beyond puberty. This review shows that development continues to an older age for many youth than the legal system typically acknowledges. The plasticity of the brain that this continued development implies has implications for the outcome of interventions in the legal system in ways that have not been explored. Future directions for both developmental scientists and legal professions are recommended.
A Low-Cost High Power Factor Battery Charger based on Standard Peak-Current Mode Integrated Controllers

Abstract In recent years, several low-cost Power Factor Corrector (PFC) control techniques operating in Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM) have been proposed to simplify traditional control strategies based on a multiplier. This simplification makes sense in the case of relatively low-power, low-cost and wide input voltage range applications. These techniques revolve above the Boost converter as a first stage of a.c. -d.c. power supplies, because their application in other topologies is more expensive and complex. In some applications, however, a PFC can be used as a one-stage power supply. This paper presents a new low-cost control strategy suitable for the Flyback family of PFCs (e.g., Buck-Boost, Flyback, SEPIC, Cuk and ZETA). Control is carried out by a standard Peak Current-Mode Integrated Controller (PCMIC) for d.c.-d.c. converters. Neither an analog multiplier nor an input voltage sensor is needed to achieve quasi-sinusoidal line waveforms, which makes this method very attractive for low-cost applications. In fact, this method is the simplification of One Cycle Control (OCC), also called Linear Peak Current Mode Control (LPCMC), applied to the Flyback family of PFCs. In this case, the use of a simple exponential compensation ramp instead of linear ramp is the proposed solution for reducing the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). Moreover, the line current is cycle-by-cycle controlled and therefore the input current feedback loop is extremely fast, thus allowing the use of this type of control with high frequency lines. Finally, an experimental prototype of a battery charger was developed as a high Power Factor (PF) power supply to verify the viability of the new control strategy.
Adaptive Aggregation-Transformation Decoupled Graph Convolutional Network for Semi-Supervised Learning

Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) has achieved significant success in many graph representation learning tasks. GCN usually learns graph representations by performing Neighbor Aggregation (NA) and Feature Transformation (FT) operations. Deep Adaptive Graph Neural Network (DAGNN) improves NA operation in the aggregation-transformation decoupled GCN, which enables the model to obtain a large receiver field. However, the problem with GCN is that when the model is trained to a deeper level, the performance decreases. In particular, the influence of NA and FT on model degradation has not been fully considered. In this work, we propose a new decoupled GCN architecture to enhance the performance of deep GCN. First, we conduct an experimental analysis of the impact of NA and FT operations on the degradation of the deep GCN model. Subsequently, we propose an Adaptive Aggregation-Transform Decoupled Graph Convolutional Network (AATD-GCN) which divides the model into two depths DNA and DFT, and proposes improved approaches in NA and FT, respectively. The AATD-GCN reduces the influence of NA and FT operations on performance degradation of deep GCN, and obtains a large receiver field while extracting complex feature information. We investigate the requirements of model depth DNA and DFT for graphs of different structures and sizes. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed architecture is verified through extensive experiments on real-world datasets, the experimental results show that AATD-GCN is superior in terms of accuracy and robustness.
15-Year-Old Patient with an Unusual Alpha-Fetoprotein-Producing Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor of Ovary

Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs) are extremely rare ovarian sex-cord stromal tumors. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) production by SLCTs is a rare event generally linked to the presence of hepatocytes or intestinal mucinous epithelium as heterologous elements. We report here a case of a 15-year-old female complaining about abdominal pain, constipation, and spaniomenorrhea with high level of serum AFP leading to a clinical suspicion of malignant germ cell tumor. Final histopathological diagnosis was a moderately differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor of the ovary with alpha-fetoprotein-producing cells without hepatocytic or intestinal epithelium differentiation. NGS analysis showed mutation in DICER1 gene. SLCTs occur in patients at any age with a mean age of 25 years. The presence of alpha-fetoprotein-producing cells is an important tool in the differential diagnosis of germ cell tumors and challenging in this case of SLCT because of its rarity in this context. An adequate sampling and exhaustive immunohistochemical analyses are mandatory to make the correct differential diagnosis and confirm the presence of alpha-fetoprotein-producing cells and also define the differentiation because of therapeutic strategies between conservative surgery and/or chemotherapy.
Measuring Embedded Human-Like Biases in Face Recognition Models

: Recent works in machine learning have focused on understanding and mitigating bias in data and algorithms. Because the pre-trained models are trained on large real-world data, they are known to learn implicit biases in a way that humans unconsciously constructed for a long time. However, there has been little discussion about social biases with pre-trained face recognition models. Thus, this study investigates the robustness of the models against racial, gender, age, and an intersectional bias. We also present the racial bias with a different ethnicity other than white and black: Asian. In detail, we introduce the Face Embedding Association Test (FEAT) to measure the social biases in image vectors of faces with different race, gender, and age. It measures social bias in the face recognition models under the hypothesis that a speciﬁc group is more likely to be associated with a particular attribute in a biased manner. The presence of these biases within DeepFace, DeepID, VGGFace, FaceNet, OpenFace, and ArcFace critically mitigate the fairness in our society.
Formability of Aluminum in Incremental Sheet Forming

Single point incremental forming (SPIF) process is used to deform complex shapes. Through SPIF process metallic sheet is formed. The formability of a AA5052 is evaluated using SPIF method for industry level product. The utility of SPIF is broad in industries because of the simple operating system of manufacturing and designing metal substances throughout computer design combined with the CNC machine. While forming Mantellic sheet there are many benefits. This process is extensively adopted in automobile, aeronautical, and medical industries for engineering complex parts. In this paper, the main objective is to examine the formability of AA5052 aluminum alloy raw material with various wall angles and operating boundaries using the modified computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine. Here, the shape correctness and the surface roughness are focused for computing the forming depth, wall angle, and spring-back for obtaining improved parts with a proper material with finish surface. For verifying the real-time experiments and evaluating the existence of stress, strain, and thickness variations.
Fire Needling Acupuncture Suppresses Cartilage Damage by Mediating Macrophage Polarization in Mice with Knee Osteoarthritis

Purpose Macrophage polarization contributes to the mechanisms of treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). In previous studies, fire needling acupuncture has been shown to affect KOA favorably. However, the mechanism of fire needling acupuncture on macrophage polarization is not well-defined. Thus, this study was conducted to determine that fire needling acupuncture exerts a therapeutic role in KOA by modulating macrophage polarization. Methods Thirty mice were allocated at random into three groups of ten. The groups were labeled as “control”, “model”, and “fire needling acupuncture”. Each group consisted of ten mice. From the second day of intra-articular injection MIA, the right “xiyan” (EX-LE5), “dubi” (ST35), “liangqiu” (ST34), and “xuehai” (SP10) acupoints were manipulated once every other day for two weeks in the fire needling acupuncture group. Mechanical withdrawal threshold and weight distribution were evaluated for behavioral testing in each group. The synovial morphology was monitored by HE staining. Pathological morphology was observed by HE staining, Saf-O staining, and toluidine blue staining. The polarization of macrophages in synovial tissue was detected using immunofluorescence (F4/80, CD86, and CD206). Results Fire needling acupuncture increased the percentage weight-bearing difference and the mechanical withdrawal threshold, and improved synovial inflammation and cartilage damage in MIA-induced KOA mice. F4/80 and CD86 expression were downregulated by fire needling acupuncture, but CD206 was increased. Conclusion Fire needling acupuncture decreases pain behaviors in KOA mice and improves synovial membrane injury and pathological cartilage damage. The macrophage polarization is involved in the mechanism of fire needling acupuncture’s amelioration of articular cartilage damage.
Pesticide Exposure in Fruit-Growers: Comparing Levels and Determinants Assessed under Usual Conditions of Work (CANEPA Study) with Those Predicted by Registration Process (Agricultural Operator Exposure Model)

Knowledge of pesticide exposure levels in farmers is necessary for epidemiological studies and regulatory purposes. In the European pesticide registration process, operators’ exposure is predicted using the Agricultural Operator Exposure Model (AOEM), created in 2014 by the European Food Safety Authority based on studies conducted by the pesticide industry. We compared operators’ exposures during treatment days in the apple-growing industry under non-controlled working conditions and AOEM-predicted values. The dermal exposure of thirty French apple-growers from the CANEPA study when applying two fungicides was measured using body patches and cotton gloves. For each observation, the corresponding exposure was calculated by means of the AOEM, using data recorded about the operator, spraying equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) used. A significant linear correlation was observed between calculated and measured daily exposures. The model overestimated the daily exposure approximately 4-fold and the exposure during application 10-fold. However, exposure was underestimated during mixing/loading for 70% of the observations when the operator wore PPE. The AOEM did not overestimate exposures in all circumstances, especially during mixing/loading, when operators handle concentrated products. The protection provided by PPE appeared to be overestimated. This could be due to the optimal working conditions under which the “industrial” studies are conducted, which may not be representative of real working conditions of operators in fruit-growing.
Corral fishing in the Algodoal-Maiandeua Environmental Protection Area (Maracanã, Brazilian Amazon)

Corral fishing is one of the most traditional ways of fishing in the coastal zone of Brazilian northern state of Pará. It is a very productive activity, which point out the cultural characteristics, the traditional knowledge and the social profile of the fishermen who perform it. This paper characterizes Corral fishing in the Algodoal-Maindeua Environmental Protection Area (APA Algodoal-Maiandeua), verifying the geographical positions of the corrals and the situation in which they are (active or inactive), considering the type of corral, the vegetal resources used for its construction, its origins, the assembly, the periodicity of the construction and the harvest. The results were obtained through field trips in order to map and define the area of study; identify corral fishermen and apply semi-structured interviews. Based on field surveys, we show that there are 111 corrals in the area, being in greater numbers in the village of Algodoal. The activity is mainly performed by men aged 52 and 85 years. The vegetable resources frequently used for the manufacture of the corrals are bacuri (Platonia insignis), caraipé (Licania sp.), jarana (Lecythis lurida) and buiuçú (Ormosia coutinhoi). The fish species most captured are Gó (Macrodon ancylodon), Piramutaba [Catfish] (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii), Dourada (Brachyplatystoma flavicans; Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) and Uritinga (Arius proops), whereas species considered scarce in the region are the Mero (Epinephelus itajara), Tainha (Mugil spp.) and Xaréu (Caranx spp.). The research results provide support for the improvement of the management plan of the APA Algodoal-Maiandeua, as instrument capable of promoting the community and sustainable management of fisheries resources in the protected area.
Challenging Artificial Intelligence with Multi-Opponent and Multi-Movement Prediction for the Card Game Big2

Big2 is one of the most popular card games in Chinese residential regions; however, there is lack of advanced computer players with challenging artificial intelligence. In this study, we propose the Big2 artificial intelligence (Big2AI) framework consisting of card superiority analysis, dynamic weight adjustment, game feature learning, and multi-opponent movement prediction based on Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) and Information Set Monte Carlo Tree Search (ISMCTS). According to our review of relevant research, this is the first artificial intelligence framework that can perform self-playing with various computer players, improve win rates through historical game features, and predict multiple movements of multiple opponents in the card game Big2. An Android-based prototype of four-player Big2 game is implemented to verify the feasibility and superiority of Big2AI. Experimental results show that Big2AI outperforms existing artificial intelligence and can achieve the highest win rate and the least losing points against computer and human players in Big2 games.
RANKL Impairs the TLR4 Pathway by Increasing TRAF6 and RANK Interaction in Macrophages

High serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) are found in patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes, sepsis, or septic shock and are associated with a high mortality rate in stroke. The primary known function of OPG is to bind to the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), and by doing so, it inhibits the binding between RANKL and its receptor (RANK). TLR4 signaling in macrophages involves TRAF6 recruitment and contributes to low-grade chronic inflammation in adipose tissue. LPS is a classical activator of the TLR4 pathway and induces the expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. We have previously observed that in the presence of RANKL, there is no LPS-induced activation of TLR4 in macrophages. In this study, we investigated the crosstalk between RANK and TLR4 pathways in macrophages stimulated with both RANKL and LPS to unveil the role of OPG in inflammatory processes. We found that RANKL inhibits TLR4 activation by binding to RANK, promoting the binding between TRAF6 and RANK, lowering TLR4 activation and the expression of proinflammatory mediators. Furthermore, high OPG levels aggravate inflammation by inhibiting RANKL. Our findings elect RANKL as a candidate for drug development as a way to mitigate the impact of obesity-induced inflammation in patients.
The Effect of a Web-Based Cervical Cancer Survivor’s Story on Parents' Behavior and Willingness to Consider Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Daughters: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Providing adequate information to parents who have children eligible for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is essential to overcoming vaccine hesitancy in Japan, where the government recommendation has been suspended. However, prior trials assessing the effect of brief educational tools have shown only limited effects on increasing the willingness of parents to vaccinate their daughters. Objective The aim of this trial is to assess the effect of a cervical cancer survivor’s story on the willingness of parents to get HPV vaccination for their daughters. Methods In this double-blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) implemented online, we enrolled 2175 participants aged 30-59 years in March 2020 via a webpage and provided them with a questionnaire related to the following aspects: awareness regarding HPV infection and HPV vaccination, and willingness for HPV vaccination. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to see a short film on a cervical cancer survivor or nothing, stratified by sex (male vs female) and willingness for HPV vaccination prior to randomization (yes vs no). The primary endpoint was the rate of parents who agreed for HPV vaccination for their daughters. The secondary endpoint was the rate of parents who agreed for HPV vaccination for their daughters and the HPV vaccination rate at 3 months. The risk ratio (RR) was used to assess the interventional effect. Results Of 2175 participants, 1266 (58.2%) were men and 909 (41.8%) were women. A total of 191 (8.8%) participants were willing to consider HPV vaccination prior to randomization. Only 339 (15.6%) participants were aware of the benefits of HPV vaccination. In contrast, 562 (25.8%) participants were aware of the adverse events of HPV vaccination. Although only 476 (21.9%) of the respondents displayed a willingness to vaccinate their daughters for HPV, there were 7.5% more respondents in the intervention group with this willingness immediately after watching the short film (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.20-1.66). In a subanalysis, the willingness in males to vaccinate daughters was significantly higher in the intervention group (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.25-1.81); however, such a difference was not observed among females (RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.88-1.66). In the follow-up survey at 3 months, 1807 (83.1%) participants responded. Of these, 149 (8.2%) responded that they had had their daughters receive vaccination during the 3 months, even though we could not see the effect of the intervention: 77 (7.9%) in the intervention group and 72 (8.7%) in the control group. Conclusions A cervical cancer survivor’s story increases immediate willingness to consider HPV vaccination, but the effect does not last for 3 months. Furthermore, this narrative approach to parents does not increase vaccination rates in children eligible for HPV vaccination. Trial Registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000039273; https://tinyurl.com/bdzjp4yf