Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
i2APP: A Two-Step Machine Learning Framework For Antiparasitic Peptides Identification

Parasites can cause enormous damage to their hosts. Studies have shown that antiparasitic peptides can inhibit the growth and development of parasites and even kill them. Because traditional biological methods to determine the activity of antiparasitic peptides are time-consuming and costly, a method for large-scale prediction of antiparasitic peptides is urgently needed. We propose a computational approach called i2APP that can efficiently identify APPs using a two-step machine learning (ML) framework. First, in order to solve the imbalance of positive and negative samples in the training set, a random under sampling method is used to generate a balanced training data set. Then, the physical and chemical features and terminus-based features are extracted, and the first classification is performed by Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) to obtain 264-dimensional higher level features. These features are selected by Maximal Information Coefficient (MIC) and the features with the big MIC values are retained. Finally, the SVM algorithm is used for the second classification in the optimized feature space. Thus the prediction model i2APP is fully constructed. On independent datasets, the accuracy and AUC of i2APP are 0.913 and 0.935, respectively, which are better than the state-of-arts methods. The key idea of the proposed method is that multi-level features are extracted from peptide sequences and the higher-level features can distinguish well the APPs and non-APPs.
Sing or Jam? Density-Dependent Food Competition Strategies in Mexican Free-Tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis)

Organisms compete for food in many ways, but it is often difficult to know why they use certain competition strategies over others. Bats compete for food either through aggression coupled with food-claiming signals or by actively interfering with a competitor’s sensory processing during prey pursuit (i.e., jamming). It is not known why these different behaviors are exhibited. I studied food competition between Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) at foraging sites in Arizona and New Mexico using passive acoustic recording, insect sampling and 3-D infrared videography with or without supplemental lighting that concentrated prey. Bat activity was quantified by the number of recorded echolocation calls, while feeding behavior was indicated by feeding buzzes. Two competitive behaviors were observed—song, which was produced by bats chasing conspecifics, and sinFM calls, which jam echolocation of competitors pursuing prey. Song production was most common when few bats were present and feeding at low rates. In contrast, jamming signals were most common with many bats present and feeding at high rates. Supplemental lighting increased the numbers of bats, feeding buzzes and sinFM calls, but not song. These results indicate that bats employ different strategies—singing and chasing competitors at low bat densities but jamming competitors at high bat densities. Food claiming signals (song) may only be effective with few competitors present, whereas jamming can be effective with many bats at a foraging site. Multiple competition strategies appear to have evolved in bats that are used under different densities of competitors.
Industrial Flexibility as Demand Side Response for Electrical Grid Stability

Electricity markets are currently experiencing a period of rapid change. The intermittent nature of renewable energy is disrupting the conventional methods used in operational planning of the electrical grid, causing a shift from a day-ahead forecast policy to a real-time pricing of delivered electric power. A path towards a more renewable, robust and intelligent energy system is inevitable but poses many challenges to researchers and industry. In the field of process industry, strategies based on demand side response are receiving attention and could represent a partial solution for this challenge. Coordination between production scheduling and procurement of electric power is of high importance and can contribute to reducing cost and emissions associated with production. A methodology to quantify such benefits is presented here with a case study, which reveals the potential benefits of flexible operation. In this case, the minimum compensation for flexibility services ranges between 5 and 20 € per unit (MWh) of restricted power. However, such a compensation depends on geographic location (electricity prices) and the frequency of restrictions. The method follows a rolling scheduling approach that provides optimization of the short-term schedule. This work introduces the concept of representing flexible processes as ‘equivalent batteries’ which store electricity from low-cost periods as intermediate products and consume the embedded energy during high-cost periods. Cost related to providing flexibility combined with the profits from optimized process scheduling contribute toward monetization of flexibility as an ancillary service for the grid. Balancing this service with the cost of implementing DSR solutions provides a means for calculating a pricing strategy for grid flexibility.
Mechanism of Sugarbeet Seed Germination Enhanced by Hydrogen Peroxide

Seed germination is a critical first stage of plant development but can be arrested by factors including dormancy and environmental conditions. Strategies to enhance germination are of interest to plant breeders to ensure the ability to utilize the genetic potential residing inside a dormant seed. In this study, seed germination in two sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris L.) lines F1004 and F1015 through incubating seeds in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solution was improved over 70% relative to germinating seeds through water incubation. It was further found that low germination from water incubation was caused by physical dormancy in F1015 seeds with initial seed imbibition blocked by the seed pericarp, and physiological dormancy in F1004 seeds with germination compromised due to the physiological condition of the embryo. To identify genes that are differentially expressed in response to cellular activities promoted by H2O2 during overcoming different type of dormancies, an RNA-Seq study was carried out and found H2O2 treatment during germination accelerated the degradation of seed stored mRNAs that were synthesized before or during seed storage to provide protections and maintain the dormant state. Comparison of transcripts in H2O2-treated seeds between the two sugarbeet lines identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were higher in F1004 for alleviating physiological dormancy were known to relative to gene expression regulation. The research established that H2O2 overcomes both physical and physiological dormancies by hastening the transition of seeds from dormancy into germination. More DEGs related to gene expression regulation were involved in relieving physiological dormancy which provides new knowledge about the role of exogenous H2O2 as a signaling molecule for regulating gene activities during germination. Moreover, the protocol using H2O2 to promote germination will be useful for rescuing plant germplasms with poor germination.
Right Cortical Activation During Generation of Creative Insights: An Electroencephalographic Study of Coaching

Coaching as a human development methodology has been demonstrating its results for more than four decades. Even so, the level of confusion about its essence and its lack of a definitive theoretical and methodological framework has caused its effectiveness to be questioned. Although studies on coaching with neuroimaging methodologies have been developed, there is no recent evidence about the brain changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity during a coaching session. The present research aims to make a comparison between EEG measurements of three different conditions, namely, rumination (R), directive (DC), and non-directive coaching (NDC), during the process of problem solving and goal achievement. Our hypothesis was that the use of the meta-competencies of NDC should induce a higher activation of brain mechanisms that facilitate the insight process, therefore causing an improvement in creative capacity. Results showed significant changes in alpha and theta frequencies in the right temporal region, and alpha, theta, and gamma in the right parietal region in the NDC condition compared to other experimental conditions. The correct use of the meta-competencies of NDC facilitates the rise of insight and the generation of creativity processes at the brain level. Thus, the application of the methodological framework of the NDC was related, in a specific way, to the creativity and the development of human knowledge.
Physicochemical and Biochemical Evaluation of Amorphous Solid Dispersion of Naringenin Prepared Using Hot-Melt Extrusion

Naringenin (NRG) is a plant-derived flavonoid. Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities it is beneficial to human health and is often used as a functional food ingredient; however, it has poor water solubility and low in vivo bioavailability. Therefore, the efficacy of NRG can be improved by enhancing its water solubility to increase gastrointestinal absorption. Conventional methods for the formulation of NRG are very complex and use toxic organic solvents, making them impractical for the production of functional foods. The objective of this study was to develop a safe and effective NRG-based functional food material. Previously, we established a technology to prepare amorphous solid dispersions (SDs) from functional food ingredients with poor water solubility and used hot-melt extrusion technology that is comparatively simple and does not involve the use of organic solvents. In this study, we prepared NRG SD and evaluated them both physicochemically and biochemically. NRG SD had superior water solubility and gastrointestinal absorption relative to native NRG and showed higher analgesic efficacy in rats than crystalline NRG. NRG SD was administered to mice in a mixed diet for 28 days, and organ weights and hematological/clinical biochemical parameters were assessed. NRG SD did not demonstrate severe adverse effects. The results suggest that NRG SD is a safe and highly efficacious formulation that can be used as a functional food material in the future.
Systems Biology in Periodontitis

Systems biology is a promising scientific discipline that allows an integrated investigation of host factors, microbial composition, biomarkers, immune response and inflammatory mediators in many conditions such as chronic diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, and periodontitis. This concept utilizes genetic decoding, bioinformatic, flux-balance analysis in a comprehensive approach. The aim of this review is to better understand the current literature on systems biology and identify a clear applicability of it to periodontitis. We will mostly focus on the association between this condition and topics such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, as well as contextualize delivery systems for periodontitis treatment, biomarker detection in oral fluids and associated systemic conditions.
Impacts of School Communication on Job Satisfaction in Australian Primary Schools: A Structural Equation Model

While there has been research into the ways some aspects of organizational communication may influence job satisfaction, it has not been comprehensive, and very little work has been conducted in schools. This study investigates the influences of a comprehensive range of aspects of organizational communication on job satisfaction of school staff. Participants in the study were 1,575 staff members from schools across Australia. A questionnaire survey was the primary instrument. Data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to validate constructs and multiple regression analyses, followed by structural equation modeling, to investigate effects. A 10 factor model of aspects of organizational communication and six-factor model of job satisfaction dimensions were identified and validated. Multiple regression analyses revealed that all 10 aspects of organizational communication have associations with job satisfaction. However, structural equation modeling revealed five aspects of organizational communication, to do with openness, support-giving, principal direction, and participation in decision making to have the most important effects on job satisfaction. This study contributes to our knowledge of communication by confirming a 10-factor model of organizational communication that can be used in other research. Implications for practice include the need for school leadership to foster open communication and facilitate school climates that encourage supportiveness, democracy, and collegial direction.
Aging Leads to Increased Monocytes and Macrophages With Altered CSF-1 Receptor Expression and Earlier Tumor-Associated Macrophage Expansion in Murine Mesothelioma

Increased cancer incidence occurs with the emergence of immunosenescence, highlighting the indispensability of the immune system in preventing cancer and its dysregulation with aging. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are often present in high numbers and are associated with poor clinical outcomes in solid cancers, including mesothelioma. Monocytes and macrophages from the bone marrow and spleen can respond to tumor-derived factors, such as CSF-1, and initiation of the CSF-1R signaling cascade results in their proliferation, differentiation, and migration to the tumor. Age-related changes occur in monocytes and macrophages in terms of numbers and function, which in turn can impact tumor initiation and progression. Whether this is due to changes in CSF-1R expression with aging is currently unknown and was investigated in this study. We examined monocytes and macrophages in the bone marrow and spleen during healthy aging in young (3–4 months) and elderly (20–24 months) female C57BL/6J mice. Additionally, changes to these tissues and in TAMs were examined during AE17 mesothelioma tumor growth. Healthy aging resulted in an expansion of Ly6Chigh monocytes and macrophages in the bone marrow and spleen. CSF-1R expression levels were reduced in elderly splenic macrophages only, suggesting differences in CSF-1R signaling between both cell type and tissue site. In tumor-bearing mice, Ly6Chigh monocytes increased with tumor growth in the spleen in the elderly and increased intracellular CSF-1R expression occurred in bone marrow Ly6Chigh monocytes in elderly mice bearing large tumors. Age-related changes to bone marrow and splenic Ly6Chigh monocytes were reflected in the tumor, where we observed increased Ly6Chigh TAMs earlier and expansion of Ly6Clow TAMs later during AE17 tumor growth in the elderly compared to young mice. F4/80high TAMs increased with tumor growth in both young and elderly mice and were the largest subset of TAMs in the tumor. Together, this suggests there may be a faster transition of Ly6Chigh towards F4/80high TAMs with aging. Amongst TAM subsets, expression of CSF-1R was lowest in F4/80high TAMs, however Ly6Clow TAMs had higher intracellular CSF-1R expression. This suggests downstream CSF-1R signaling may vary between macrophage subsets, which can have implications towards CSF-1R blockade therapies targeting macrophages in cancer.
Risk of Stroke Among Different Metabolic Obesity Phenotypes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Purpose Overweight/obesity is a modified risk factor for stroke. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of different obesity phenotypes on stroke risk in adults. Methods The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from their inception to 7 March 2021 to identify the prospective cohort studies investigating stroke risk among different metabolic overweight/obesity phenotypes. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Results A total of eleven prospective cohorts (n = 5,609,945 participants) were included in the systematic review, nine of which were included in the meta-analysis. All metabolically unhealthy phenotypes had a higher risk of stroke than the metabolically healthy normal-weight phenotypes, including metabolically unhealthy normal weight (HR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.41–1.89, I2 = 89.74%, n = 7 cohort studies, 1,042,542 participants), metabolically unhealthy overweight (HR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.58–2.40, I2 = 91.17%, n = 4 cohort studies, 676,166 participants), and metabolically unhealthy obese (HR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.66–2.40, I2 = 93.49%, n = 6 cohort studies, 1,035,420 participants) phenotypes. However, no risk of stroke was observed in the populations with metabolically healthy overweight (MHOW) (HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00–1.14, I2 = 69.50%, n = 5 studies, 4,171,943 participants) and metabolically healthy obese (MHO) (HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.99–1.16, I2 = 54.82%, n = 8 studies, 5,333,485 participants) phenotypes. The subgroup analyses for the MHO studies suggested that the risk of stroke increased only when the MHO participants were mainly females, from North America, and when the World Health Organization standard was applied to define obesity. In the subgroup analysis of the risk of stroke in MHOW, a longer follow-up duration was also associated with a higher risk of stroke. Conclusion The risk of stroke increase for all metabolically unhealthy phenotypes irrespective of the body mass index (BMI). The associated risk of stroke with metabolic health but high BMI shows substantial heterogeneity, which requires future research considering the impact of sex and transition of the metabolic status on the risk of stroke. Systematic Review Registration The study protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (No. CRD42021251021).
A Comprehensive Study of Late Materialization Strategies for a Disk-Based Column-Store

By allowing operations on positions (row IDs, offsets), column-stores increase the overall number of admissible query plans. Their plans can be classified into a number of so-called materialization strategies, which describe the moment when positions are switched to tuples. Despite being a well-studied topic with several different implementations, there is still no formal definition for it, as well as no classification of existing approaches. In this paper we review and classify these approaches. Our classification shows that, for disk-based systems, none of the existing implementation variants efficiently combines position manipulation inside both selections and joins. For this reason, we propose such an approach which we name “ultra-late materi-alization”. Further, we describe recent modifications of PosDB — a distributed, disk-based column-store. These modifications allowed us to implement a flexible query processing model. Relying on it, we have implemented a number of late materialization variants, including our approach. Finally, we empirically evaluate the performance of ultra-late materialization and classic strategies. We also compare it with two industrial-grade disk-based systems: PostgreSQL and Mari-aDB Column Store. Experiments demonstrate that our variant of late materialization outperforms the closest competitor (Mari-aDB Column Store) by 50% which makes further investigation worthwhile.
Mathematical Epistemic Beliefs: Through the Gender Lens

This large survey study set out to ascertain whether gender differences in teachers’ mathematical epistemic beliefs exist, and the extent to which teachers’ gender as well as their teaching experience level, education level, and socio-economic setting of the schools can predict these beliefs. Specifically, the study examined teachers’ beliefs concerning the structure, stability, and source of mathematical knowledge. This is crucial given that previous research have demonstrated the potential role of teachers’ mathematical epistemic beliefs in shaping their mathematics teaching, and hence their students’ mathematics learning outcomes and perceptions of the subject. The current study drew on survey data collected from 745 primary teachers using items from the Thai Teachers’ Mathematics Education-related Beliefs (TTMEB) questionnaire. The data were analysed using Independent-samples t-test and multiple regression. The findings reveal a very limited to no effect of gender on teachers’ mathematical epistemic beliefs, and also alert us to the fact that when it comes to exploring factors that shape one’s beliefs, their exogenous characteristics, such as the socio-economic setting of where they live and work, should too be taken into account. Overall, the study helps to dispel any myths about gender differences in the way male and female teachers perceive mathematics, specifically the nature of mathematical knowledge.
Antibacterial Cellulose Nanocrystal-Incorporated Hydrogels With Satisfactory Vascularization for Enhancing Skin Regeneration

Wound healing of skin defects remains a significant clinical problem due to inflammation, infection, and dysangiogenesis; especially, the promotion of microvasculature formation in healing of chronic wound or deep skin defects is critical as it supplies oxygen and nutrients to the impaired tissue, relieving uncontrolled inflammatory responses. The cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in the liquid crystalline phase, which facilitates cell proliferation and migration, has been shown to improve vascularization effectively. Therefore, we developed a novel injectable hydrogel based on Schiff base and coordination of catechol and Ag. The obtained hydrogels (CCS/CCHO-Ag) exhibited in situ forming properties, satisfactory mechanical performance, controlled release of Ag, antibacterial capacity, and biocompatibility. In addition, the hydrogels could also entirely cover and firmly attach wounds with irregular shapes, so as to reduce the re-injury rate. More importantly, experiments in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that CCS/CCHO-Ag hydrogels can promote neovascularization and tissue regeneration, thanks to their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. In conclusion, these multifunctional hydrogels are well on the way to becoming competitive biomedical dressings, which show tremendous potential application in the field of tissue engineering.