Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DHQ: Digital Humanities Quarterly: Transdisciplinary Analysis of a Corpus of French Newsreels: The ANTRACT Project

The ANTRACT project is a cross-disciplinary apparatus dedicated to the analysis of the French newsreel company Les Actualités Françaises (1945-1969) and its film productions. Founded during the liberation of France, this state-owned company filmed more than 20,000 news reports shown in French cinemas and throughout the world over its 24 years of activity. The project brings together research organizations with a dual historical and technological perspective. ANTRACT's goal is to study the production process, the film content, the way historical events are represented and the audience reception of Les Actualités Françaises newsreels using innovative AI-based data processing tools developed by partners specialized in image, audio, and text analysis. This article focuses on the data processing apparatus and tools of the project. Automatic content analysis is used to select data, to segment video units and typescript images, and to align them with their archival description. Automatic speech recognition provides a textual representation and natural language processing can extract named entities from the voice-over recording; automatic visual analysis is applied to detect and recognize faces of well-known characters in videos. These multifaceted data can then be queried and explored with the TXM text-mining platform. The results of these automatic analysis processes are feeding the Okapi platform, a client-server software that integrates documentation, information retrieval, and hypermedia capabilities within a single environment based on the Semantic Web standards. The complete corpus of Les Actualités Françaises, enriched with data and metadata, will be made available to the scientific community by the end of the project. 1. Implementing a Transdisciplinary Research Apparatus on a Film Archive Collection: Opportunities and Challenges The ANTRACT[1] project brings together research organizations with a dual historical and technological perspective, hence the reference to the transdisciplinary in the project's name. It applies to a collection of 1262 newsreels (mostly black and white footage) shown in French movie theaters between 1945 and 1969. These programs were produced by Les Actualités Françaises newsreel company during the French Trente Glorieuses era. The project develops automated tools well suited to analyze these documents: automatic speech recognition, image classification, facial recognition, natural language processing, and text mining. This software is used to produce metadata and to help organize media files and documentation resources (i.e. titles, summaries, keywords, participants, etc.) into a manageable and coherent corpus usable within a dedicated online platform.
The role of gameful perception as a mediator for intrinsically motivating gamification

Scientific studies have shown that the use of gamification is effective in promoting motivation and behavior. However, reasons for the effectiveness of the implemented game elements are analyzed insufficiently. The following article therefor addresses the issue of gameful perception induced through gamification by using an experimental, single factor between-subjects design. First, we draw on Self-Determination Theory to derive a grounded research model. Then, we investigate two groups by using a learning application with a gamified and non-gamified version to test our hypotheses. Our results show that the users gameful perception of an activity mediates the motivational outcomes. We discuss our findings and relate these to design to outline pitfalls and the importance of evoking a conscious gameful experience.
On the Extensive and Intensive FDI Margins: Does European Cohesion Policy Matter?

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to the literature discussing the effects of the European Cohesion Policy (ECP) on recipients’ foreign direct investment (FDI). Unlike previous studies, we closely examine the ECP effects not only on total FDI but also on both the extensive and intensive FDI margins. The analysis on the EU 28 countries, conducted using system GMM estimation, suggests ECP plays a role in promoting FDI on the extensive margin only. Moreover, the ECP’s positive marginal effect on total FDI is neutralized in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, implying an increase in their attractiveness through other ways than implementing market-oriented structural reforms.
Numerical modeling of a high power triode-based self-excited oscillator: a path forward more efficient designs and a better frequency stability of low cost high power RF sources

Abstract Triode-based circuits are still the less expensive and more reliable high power sources for industrial applications between 13.56 and 40.68 Mhz. Among them, self-excited oscillators feature the lower cost but with a frequency stability preventing them to address all ISM frequencies and applications. This article demonstrates the possibility to model numerically self-excited oscillators with power triodes using a class-C practical circuit. Advantages over existing analytical calculations and graphical derivations are shown. A method is proposed to evaluate the frequency stability in presence of internal imperfections and external perturbations. These tools offer the possibility to design and analyze more efficiently this family of oscillators especially for demanding applications regarding frequency stability.
An efficient algorithm to compute the RCS of UAV swarmbased on spherical harmonic transform

ABSTRACT It is time-consuming to simulate the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm by the Multi-Level Fast Multipole Algorithm (MLFMA). This paper proposes a method to accelerate the simulation by neglecting the coupling among UAVs and computing the scattered field by Spherical Harmonic Transform (SHT). The key point is evaluating the scattered electric field of a UAV on an eccentric sphere by changing the order of summation of the spherical harmonics and then accelerating the summation by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The example of a swarm of 6 UAVs shows that the bistatic Radar Cross Section (RCS) obtained by the proposed method is in good agreement with the RCS obtained by MLFMA, and the proposed method requires 4.76 times less memory and is 10.93 times faster than MLFMA.
The health impacts of a 4-month long community-wide COVID-19 lockdown: Findings from a prospective longitudinal study in the state of Victoria, Australia

Objectives. To determine health impacts during, and following, an extended community lockdown and COVID-19 outbreak in the Australian state of Victoria, compared with the rest of Australia. Methods. A national cohort of 898 working-age Australians enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study, completing surveys before, during, and after a 112-day community lockdown in Victoria (8 July - 27 October 2020). Outcomes included psychological distress, mental and physical health, work, social interactions and finances. Regression models examined health changes during and following lockdown. Results. The Victorian lockdown led to increased psychological distress. Health impacts coincided with greater social isolation and work loss. Following the extended lockdown, mental health, work and social interactions recovered to an extent whereby no significant long-lasting effects were identified in Victoria compared to the rest of Australia. Conclusion. The Victorian community lockdown had adverse health consequences, which reversed upon release from lockdown. Governments should weigh all potential health impacts of lockdown. Services and programs to reduce the negative impacts of lockdown may include increases in mental health care, encouraging safe social interactions and supports to maintain employment relationships.
Comparison of Different Test Systems for the Detection of Antiphospholipid Antibodies in a Chinese Cohort

Background Diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is based on the positivity of laboratory criteria antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). Test results for aPLs could be contradictory among different detection methods as well as commercial manufacturers. This study aimed to assess and compare the diagnostic and analytic performances of four commercial assays prevalently used in China. Methods A total of 313 patients including 100 patients diagnosed with primary APS, 52 with APS secondary to SLE, 71 with SLE, and 90 health controls were recruited. Serum IgG, IgM, and IgA for aCL, and aβ2GPI antibodies were detected with two ELISA and two CLIA systems, and test system with the best diagnostic value was explored of its correlation with key clinical features. Results CLIA by YHLO Biotech Co. was considered as the system with the best predictive power, where 58.55 and 57.89% of APS patients were positive for aCL or aβ2GPI for at least one antibody (IgG or IgM or IgA). Overall, CLIA showed better performance characteristics than traditional ELISA test systems. Conclusion CLIA was considered as a better platform for aPL detection in APS diagnosis. A combination of other detection platforms could assist in differential diagnosis as well as in identifying high-risk patients.
Development of High-Resolution Regional Climatology in the East/Japan Sea With a Primary Focus on Meridional Temperature Gradient Correction

In this study, we developed a new high-resolution regional climatology (0.1° by 0.1° by 19 levels) in the East/Japan Sea. National Centers for Environmental Information and Korea Oceanic Data Center already released the regional climatology of East Asian seas including the East/Japan Sea with 0.1° by 0.1° resolution. It provides a reliable temperature and salinity structure compared to previous 1° or 0.25° climatologies. However, this study found an abnormal meridional temperature gradient problem when calculating geostrophic currents based on this new climatology. Geostrophic currents show a strong repetitive eastward flow along the 1° latitudinal band especially in the East/Japan Sea, which corresponds with abnormal meridional temperature gradients at the same areas. This problem could be related to the objective analysis procedure generating the high-resolution climatology. Here, we reproduced a high-resolution climatology without the abnormal meridional temperature gradient problem by using the optimal interpolation method. Results show that the meridional gradient problem can partly be attributed to both the use of the World Ocean Atlas background field on the 1° grid, and the spatial distribution of World Ocean database observation data; however, these are not the primary causes. We corrected the abnormal temperature gradient by increasing the meridional decorrelation length scale without losing the meso-scale feature in the East/Japan Sea, as shown by the wavelet analysis. Improvement of the new gridded field is also validated by using serial hydrographic data and the altimetry-derived surface current product.
Structural and Functional Characterization of a Testicular Long Non-coding RNA (4930463O16Rik) Identified in the Meiotic Arrest of the Mouse Topaz1–/– Testes

Spermatogenesis involves coordinated processes, including meiosis, to produce functional gametes. We previously reported Topaz1 as a germ cell-specific gene highly conserved in vertebrates. Topaz1 knockout males are sterile with testes that lack haploid germ cells because of meiotic arrest after prophase I. To better characterize Topaz1–/– testes, we used RNA-sequencing analyses at two different developmental stages (P16 and P18). The absence of TOPAZ1 disturbed the expression of genes involved in microtubule and/or cilium mobility, biological processes required for spermatogenesis. Moreover, a quarter of P18 dysregulated genes are long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and three of them are testis-specific and located in spermatocytes, their expression starting between P11 and P15. The suppression of one of them, 4939463O16Rik, did not alter fertility although sperm parameters were disturbed and sperm concentration fell. The transcriptome of P18-4939463O16Rik–/– testes was altered and the molecular pathways affected included microtubule-based processes, the regulation of cilium movement and spermatogenesis. The absence of TOPAZ1 protein or 4930463O16Rik produced the same enrichment clusters in mutant testes despite a contrasted phenotype on male fertility. In conclusion, although Topaz1 is essential for the meiosis in male germ cells and regulate the expression of numerous lncRNAs, these studies have identified a Topaz1 regulated lncRNA (4930463O16Rik) that is key for both sperm production and motility.
AID and APOBECs as Multifaceted Intrinsic Virus-Restricting Factors: Emerging Concepts in the Light of COVID-19

The AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase)/APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit) family with its multifaceted mode of action emerges as potent intrinsic host antiviral system that acts against a variety of DNA and RNA viruses including coronaviruses. All family members are cytosine-to-uracil deaminases that either have a profound role in driving a strong and specific humoral immune response (AID) or restricting the virus itself by a plethora of mechanisms (APOBECs). In this article, we highlight some of the key aspects apparently linking the AID/APOBECs and SARS-CoV-2. Among those is our discovery that APOBEC4 shows high expression in cell types and anatomical parts targeted by SARS-CoV-2. Additional focus is given by us to the lymphoid structures and AID as the master regulator of germinal center reactions, which result in antibody production by plasma and memory B cells. We propose the dissection of the AID/APOBECs gene signature towards decisive determinants of the patient-specific and/or the patient group-specific antiviral response. Finally, the patient-specific mapping of the AID/APOBEC polymorphisms should be considered in the light of COVID-19.
The Role of Fatty Acid Metabolites in Vaginal Health and Disease: Application to Candidiasis

Although the vast majority of women encounters at least one vaginal infection during their life, the amount of microbiome-related research performed in this area lags behind compared to alternative niches such as the intestinal tract. As a result, effective means of diagnosis and treatment, especially of recurrent infections, are limited. The role of the metabolome in vaginal health is largely elusive. It has been shown that lactate produced by the numerous lactobacilli present promotes health by limiting the chance of infection. Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) have been mainly linked to dysbiosis, although the causality of this relationship is still under debate. In this review, we aim to bring together information on the role of the vaginal metabolome and microbiome in infections caused by Candida. Vulvovaginal candidiasis affects near to 70% of all women at least once in their life with a significant proportion of women suffering from the recurrent variant. We assess the role of fatty acid metabolites, mainly SCFA and lactate, in onset of infection and virulence of the fungal pathogen. In addition, we pinpoint where lack of research limits our understanding of the molecular processes involved and restricts the possibility of developing novel treatment strategies.
Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Current Perspective on Function and Potential for Therapeutic Targeting

The role of the tumour microenvironement (TME) in cancer progression and resistance to therapies is now widely recognized. The most prominent non-immune cell type in the microenvironment of oral cancer (OSCC) is cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). Although CAF are a poorly characterised and heterogenous cell population, those with an “activated” myofibroblastic phenotype have been shown to support OSCC progression, promoting growth, invasion and numerous other “hallmarks of malignancy. ” CAF also confer broad resistance to different types of therapy, including chemo/radiotherapy and EGFR inhibitors; consistent with this, CAF-rich OSCC are associated with poor prognosis. In recent years, much CAF research has focused on their immunological role in the tumour microenvironment, showing that CAF shield tumours from immune attack through multiple mechanisms, and particularly on their role in promoting resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors, an exciting development for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic oral cancer, but which fails in most patients. This review summarises our current understanding of CAF subtypes and function in OSCC and discusses the potential for targeting these cells therapeutically.
Bacterial Community Spacing Is Mainly Shaped by Unique Species in the Subalpine Natural Lakes of China

Bacterial communities have been described as early indicators of both regional and global climatic change and play a critical role in the global biogeochemical cycle. Exploring the mechanisms that determine the diversity patterns of bacterial communities and how they share different habitats along environmental gradients are, therefore, a central theme in microbial ecology research. We characterized the diversity patterns of bacterial communities in Pipahai Lake (PPH), Mayinghai Lake (MYH), and Gonghai Lake (GH), three subalpine natural lakes in Ningwu County, Shanxi, China, and analyzed the distribution of their shared and unique taxa (indicator species). Results showed that the species composition and structure of bacterial communities were significantly different among the three lakes. Both the structure of the entire bacterial community and the unique taxa were significantly influenced by the carbon content (TOC and IC) and space distance; however, the structure of the shared taxa was affected by conductivity (EC), pH, and salinity. The structure of the entire bacterial community and unique taxa were mainly affected by the same factors, suggesting that unique taxa may be important in maintaining the spatial distribution diversity of bacterial communities in subalpine natural freshwater lakes. Our results provide new insights into the diversity maintenance patterns of the bacterial communities in subalpine lakes, and suggest dispersal limitation on bacterial communities between adjacent lakes, even in a small local area. We revealed the importance of unique taxa in maintaining bacterial community structure, and our results are important in understanding how bacterial communities in subalpine lakes respond to environmental change in local habitats.
Chemoresistance and Metastasis in Breast Cancer Molecular Mechanisms and Novel Clinical Strategies

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in females worldwide. Chemotherapy is the standard breast cancer treatment; however, chemoresistance is often seen in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Owing to high heterogeneity, the mechanisms of breast cancer chemoresistance and metastasis have not been fully investigated. The possible molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance in breast cancer include efflux transporters, signaling pathways, non-coding RNAs, and cancer stem cells. However, to overcome this hurdle, the use of novel clinical strategies such as drug carriers, immunotherapy, and autophagy regulation, are being investigated. The goal of this review is to summarize the current data about the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer chemoresistance and the novel clinical strategies; thus, providing a useful clinical tool to explore optimal treatment for breast cancer.
Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Immune Responses and Inflammatory Diseases by RNA-Binding ZFP36 Family Proteins

Post-transcriptional regulation is involved in the regulation of many inflammatory genes. Zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36) family proteins are RNA-binding proteins involved in messenger RNA (mRNA) metabolism pathways. The ZFP36 family is composed of ZFP36 (also known as tristetraprolin, TTP), ZFP36L1, ZFP36L2, and ZFP36L3 (only in rodents). The ZFP36 family proteins contain two tandemly repeated CCCH-type zinc-finger motifs, bind to adenine uridine-rich elements in the 3’-untranslated regions (3’ UTR) of specific mRNA, and lead to target mRNA decay. Although the ZFP36 family members are structurally similar, they are known to play distinct functions and regulate different target mRNAs, probably due to their cell-type-specific expression patterns. For instance, ZFP36 has been well-known to function as an anti-inflammatory modulator in murine models of systemic inflammatory diseases by down-regulating the production of various pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α. Meanwhile, ZFP36L1 is required for the maintenance of the marginal-zone B cell compartment. Recently, we found that ZFP36L2 reduces the expression of Ikzf2 (encoding HELIOS) and suppresses regulatory T cell function. This review summarizes the current understanding of the post-transcriptional regulation of immunological responses and inflammatory diseases by RNA-binding ZFP36 family proteins.
Rapid and Accurate Data Processing for Silver Nanoparticle Oxidation in Nano-Impact Electrochemistry

In recent years, nano-impact electrochemistry (NIE) has attracted widespread attention as a new electroanalytical approach for the analysis and characterization of single nanoparticles in solution. The accurate analysis of the large volume of the experimental data is of great significance in improving the reliability of this method. Unfortunately, the commonly used data analysis approaches, mainly based on manual processing, are often time-consuming and subjective. Herein, we propose a spike detection algorithm for automatically processing the data from the direct oxidation of sliver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in NIE experiments, including baseline extraction, spike identification and spike area integration. The resulting size distribution of AgNPs is found to agree very well with that from transmission electron microscopy (TEM), showing that the current algorithm is promising for automated analysis of NIE data with high efficiency and accuracy.
Recent Advances in Heterologous Synthesis Paving Way for Future Green-Modular Bioindustries: A Review With Special Reference to Isoflavonoids

Isoflavonoids are well-known plant secondary metabolites that have gained importance in recent time due to their multiple nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. In plants, isoflavonoids play a role in plant defense and can confer the host plant a competitive advantage to survive and flourish under environmental challenges. In animals, isoflavonoids have been found to interact with multiple signaling pathways and have demonstrated estrogenic, antioxidant and anti-oncologic activities in vivo. The activity of isoflavonoids in the estrogen pathways is such that the class has also been collectively called phytoestrogens. Over 2,400 isoflavonoids, predominantly from legumes, have been identified so far. The biosynthetic pathways of several key isoflavonoids have been established, and the genes and regulatory components involved in the biosynthesis have been characterized. The biosynthesis and accumulation of isoflavonoids in plants are regulated by multiple complex environmental and genetic factors and interactions. Due to this complexity of secondary metabolism regulation, the export and engineering of isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathways into non-endogenous plants are difficult, and instead, the microorganisms Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli have been adapted and engineered for heterologous isoflavonoid synthesis. However, the current ex-planta production approaches have been limited due to slow enzyme kinetics and traditionally laborious genetic engineering methods and require further optimization and development to address the required titers, reaction rates and yield for commercial application. With recent progress in metabolic engineering and the availability of advanced synthetic biology tools, it is envisaged that highly efficient heterologous hosts will soon be engineered to fulfill the growing market demand.