Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RPM-Net

We introduce RPM-Net, a deep learning-based approach which simultaneously infers movable parts and hallucinates their motions from a single, un-segmented, and possibly partial, 3D point cloud shape. RPM-Net is a novel Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), composed of an encoder-decoder pair with interleaved Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) components, which together predict a temporal sequence of pointwise displacements for the input point cloud. At the same time, the displacements allow the network to learn movable parts, resulting in a motion-based shape segmentation. Recursive applications of RPM-Net on the obtained parts can predict finer-level part motions, resulting in a hierarchical object segmentation. Furthermore, we develop a separate network to estimate part mobilities, e.g., per-part motion parameters, from the segmented motion sequence. Both networks learn deep predictive models from a training set that exemplifies a variety of mobilities for diverse objects. We show results of simultaneous motion and part predictions from synthetic and real scans of 3D objects exhibiting a variety of part mobilities, possibly involving multiple movable parts.
The Effects of Reprocessing and Fiber Treatments on the Properties of Polypropylene-Sugarcane Bagasse Biocomposites

This study explores the reprocessing behavior of polypropylene-sugarcane bagasse biocomposites using neat and chemically treated bagasse fibers (20 wt.%). Biocomposites were reprocessed 5 times using the extrusion process followed by injection molding. The mechanical properties indicate that microfibers bagasse fibers addition and chemical treatments generate improvements in the mechanical properties, reaching the highest performance in the third cycle where the flexural modulus and flexural strength increase 57 and 12% in comparison with neat PP. differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and TGA characterization show that bagasse fibers addition increases the crystallization temperature and thermal stability of the biocomposites 7 and 39 °C respectively, without disturbing the melting process of the PP phase for all extrusion cycles. The rheological test shows that viscosity values of PP and biocomposites decrease progressively with extrusion cycles; however, Cole–Cole plots, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), width at half maximum of tan delta peaks and SEM micrographs show that chemical treatments and reprocessing could improve fiber dispersion and fiber–matrix interaction. Based on these results, it can be concluded that recycling potential of polypropylene-sugarcane bagasse biocomposites is huge due to their mechanical, thermal and rheological performance resulting in advantages in terms of sustainability and life cycle impact of these materials.
The Relation of Anxiety and Avoidance Dimensions of Attachment to Intimate Partner Violence: A Meta-Analysis About Perpetrators

Objective: The attachment theory is a useful framework for interpreting the phenomenon of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. Although several studies have examined the relationship between attachment and IPV perpetration, a meta-analysis of these results has yet to be conducted. Method: After a search on five databases (PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed) and a screening of 3,852 records recruited, 52 studies comprising 13,653 individuals met the inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. Results: Results showed a significant effect size for both the anxiety and avoidance dimensions of attachment. However, while the effect sizes for anxiety were consistent (r = .19–.35) for all types of violence considered, the effect size for avoidance was not significant for generic violence (r = .07), low for physical (r = .12) and psychological violence (r = .14), and medium for sexual violence (r = .20). Only a few of the examined moderators were significant. Conclusions: The findings highlight some differences in the roles of the two attachment dimensions in IPV. The results underscore the need for additional research to explore the role of other potential moderating and mediating variables in the relationship between attachment and IPV perpetration in order to better support the development of prevention and treatment interventions.
Positive Predictive Values of 2 Algorithms for Identifying Patients with Intravenous Drug Use-Associated Endocarditis Using Administrative Data.

Background Prior studies have used International Classification of Disease (ICD) diagnosis codes in administrative data to identify patients with infective endocarditis (IE) associated with intravenous drug use (IVDU). Little is known about the accuracy of ICD codes for IVDU-IE. Methods We used 2 previously described algorithms to identify patients with potential IVDU-IE admitted to 125 Veterans Administration hospitals from January 2010 through December 2018. Algorithm A identified patients with concurrent ICD-9/10 codes for IE and drug use during the same admission. Algorithm B identified patients with drug use coded either during the IE admission or during outpatient or other visits within 6 months of admission. We reviewed 400 randomly selected patient charts to determine the positive predictive value (PPV) of each algorithm for clinical documentation of IE, any drug use, IVDU, and IVDU-IE, respectively. Results Algorithm A identified 788 patients, and B identified 1314 patients, a 68% increase. PPVs were high for clinical documentation of diagnoses of IE (86.5% for A and 82.6% for B) and any drug use (99.0% and 96.3%). PPVs were lower for documented IVDU (74.5% and 64.1%) and combined diagnoses of IVDU-IE (65.0% and 55.2%), partly because of a lack of ICD codes specific to IVDU. Among patients identified by algorithm B but not A, 72% had clinical documentation of drug use during the IE admission, indicating a failure of algorithm A to capture cases due to incomplete recording of inpatient ICD codes for drug use. Conclusions There is need for improved algorithms for IVDU-IE surveillance during the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Association between Prenatal Exposure to Household Pesticides and Neonatal Weight and Length Growth in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

The effects of prenatal exposure to household pesticides on fetal and neonatal growth have not been fully clarified. The present study aims to determine the effects of prenatal exposure to pesticides on neonates’ body size and growth during the first month. This study included 93,718 pairs of pregnant women and their children from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. Participants completed self-reporting questionnaires during their second or third trimesters on their demographic characteristics and frequency of pesticide use during pregnancy. Child weight, length, and sex were obtained from medical record transcripts. Birth weight and length, as well as weight and length changes over the first month, were estimated using an analysis of covariance. Frequency of exposure to almost all pesticides had no effects on birth weight and length. However, we found small but significant associations (i) between the use of fumigation insecticides and decreased birth weight, and (ii) between frequencies of exposure to pyrethroid pesticides, especially mosquito coils/mats, and suppression of neonatal length growth. Prenatal exposure to household pesticides, especially those containing pyrethroids, might adversely influence fetal and postnatal growth trajectories.
Wearable Fixation Device for a Magnetically Controllable Therapeutic Agent Carrier: Application to Cartilage Repair

Recently, significant research efforts have been devoted toward the development of magnetically controllable drug delivery systems, however, drug fixation after targeting remains a challenge hindering long-term therapeutic efficacy. To overcome this issue, we present a wearable therapeutic fixation device for fixing magnetically controllable therapeutic agent carriers (MCTACs) at defect sites and its application to cartilage repair using stem cell therapeutics. The developed device comprises an array of permanent magnets based on the Halbach array principle and a wearable band capable of wrapping the target body. The design of the permanent magnet array, in terms of the number of magnets and array configuration, was determined through univariate search optimization and 3D simulation. The device was fabricated for a given rat model and yielded a strong magnetic flux density (exceeding 40 mT) in the region of interest that was capable of fixing the MCTAC at the desired defect site. Through in-vitro and in-vivo experiments, we successfully demonstrated that MCTACs, both a stem cell spheroid and a micro-scaffold for cartilage repair, could be immobilized at defect sites. This research is expected to advance precise drug delivery technology based on MCTACs, enabling subject-specific routine life therapeutics. Further studies involving the proposed wearable fixation device will be conducted considering prognostics under actual clinical settings.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Polyacrylamide Adsorption on Cellulose Nanocrystals

Classical molecular dynamics simulations of polyacrylamide (PAM) adsorption on cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) in a vacuum and a water environment are carried out to interpret the mechanism of the polymer interactions with CNC. The structural behavior of PAM is studied in terms of the radius of gyration, atom–atom radial distribution functions, and number of hydrogen bonds. The structural and dynamical characteristics of the polymer adsorption are investigated. It is established that in water the polymer macromolecules are mainly adsorbed in the form of a coil onto the CNC facets. It is found out that water and PAM sorption on CNC is a competitive process, and water weakens the interaction between the polymer and CNC.
Design, Preparation and Thermal Characterization of Polystyrene Composites Reinforced with Novel Three-Cages POSS Molecules

Novel polystyrene (PS)/polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxanes (POSSs) nanocomposites were designed and prepared by in situ polymerization, using, for the first time, three-cage POSS molecules. The synthesized compounds were first characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 1H NMR spectroscopy to verify the obtaining of the designed products before their thermal performance was evaluated and compared with those of pristine PS and the corresponding single-cage POSSs nanocomposites. The thermal behaviour was checked by the means of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to confirm the hypothesis about the dispersion/aggregation of the POSS molecules into the polymer matrix. The parameters chosen to evaluate the thermal stability of the investigated compounds, namely temperature at 5% of mass loss (T5%) and solid residue at 700 °C, showed a significant increase in the stability of the polymers reinforced with the three-cages POSS, in comparison to both PS and single-cage POSS reinforced PSs, which therefore turn out to be promising molecular fillers for nanocomposite production.
KRASQ61H Preferentially Signals through MAPK in a RAF Dimer-Dependent Manner in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

These findings show that oncogenic KRASQ61H forms a cooperative RAS–RAF ternary complex, which renders RAS-driven tumors vulnerable to MEKi and RAFi, thus establishing a framework for evaluating RAS biomarker-driven targeted therapies. Assembly of RAS molecules into complexes at the cell membrane is critical for RAS signaling. We previously showed that oncogenic KRAS codon 61 mutations increase its affinity for RAF, raising the possibility that KRASQ61H, the most common KRAS mutation at codon 61, upregulates RAS signaling through mechanisms at the level of RAS assemblies. We show here that KRASQ61H exhibits preferential binding to RAF relative to PI3K in cells, leading to enhanced MAPK signaling in in vitro models and human NSCLC tumors. X-ray crystallography of KRASQ61H:GTP revealed that a hyperdynamic switch 2 allows for a more stable interaction with switch 1, suggesting that enhanced RAF activity arises from a combination of absent intrinsic GTP hydrolysis activity and increased affinity for RAF. Disruption of KRASQ61H assemblies by the RAS oligomer–disrupting D154Q mutation impaired RAF dimerization and altered MAPK signaling but had little effect on PI3K signaling. However, KRASQ61H oligomers but not KRASG12D oligomers were disrupted by RAF mutations that disrupt RAF–RAF interactions. KRASQ61H cells show enhanced sensitivity to RAF and MEK inhibitors individually, whereas combined treatment elicited synergistic growth inhibition. Furthermore, KRASQ61H tumors in mice exhibited high vulnerability to MEK inhibitor, consistent with cooperativity between KRASQ61H and RAF oligomerization and dependence on MAPK signaling. These findings support the notion that KRASQ61H and functionally similar mutations may serve as predictive biomarkers for targeted therapies against the MAPK pathway. Significance: These findings show that oncogenic KRASQ61H forms a cooperative RAS–RAF ternary complex, which renders RAS-driven tumors vulnerable to MEKi and RAFi, thus establishing a framework for evaluating RAS biomarker-driven targeted therapies.
Potential impact of edible tropical legumes on crop productivity in the small-holder sector in Sub-Saharan Africa

Agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa are dominated by the small-holder types of production. The small-holder sector (SHS) is characterized largely by resource-poor farmers with small farms averaging about 0.4 ha per household. The farmers are constrained by lack of capital to purchase production inputs or lack of the pre-requisite technical and managerial skills to produce and market commodities successfully. Crop production systems in the SHS are predominantly subsistence, consisting of largely cereals and a limited proportion of tropical legumes in spite of the importance of legumes in these cropping systems. The objective of this paper was to explore the potential impact of edible tropical grain legumes on household food security and poverty alleviation in the SHS production systems in sub-Saharan Africa. The legumes provide food for human consumption, improve soil fertility and can be traded to generate income. The potential yield advantage of tropical legumes over that of cereals is high particularly under low soil fertility conditions. From a nutritional standpoint, the legumes contain a broad range of amino acids and vitamins. Because of the high protein levels (≥20%) in the grain, the legumes are valuable sources of affordable protein particularly in rural small-holder communities that largely depend on cereal based diets and face high risks of malnutrition. The legumes can also be used in the production of stock feeds. Therefore, the tropical legumes offer flexible options for improving food production as well as income generation for the small-holder farmers in Africa thereby contributing to household food security and poverty alleviation.
Metabolic Activation of CsgD in the Regulation of Salmonella Biofilms

Among human food-borne pathogens, gastroenteritis-causing Salmonella strains have the most real-world impact. Like all pathogens, their success relies on efficient transmission. Biofilm formation, a specialized physiology characterized by multicellular aggregation and persistence, is proposed to play an important role in the Salmonella transmission cycle. In this manuscript, we used luciferase reporters to examine the expression of csgD, which encodes the master biofilm regulator. We observed that the CsgD-regulated biofilm system responds differently to regulatory inputs once it is activated. Notably, the CsgD system became unresponsive to repression by Cpx and H-NS in high osmolarity conditions and less responsive to the addition of amino acids. Temperature-mediated regulation of csgD on agar was altered by intracellular levels of RpoS and cyclic-di-GMP. In contrast, the addition of glucose repressed CsgD biofilms seemingly independent of other signals. Understanding the fine-tuned regulation of csgD can help us to piece together how regulation occurs in natural environments, knowing that all Salmonella strains face strong selection pressures both within and outside their hosts. Ultimately, we can use this information to better control Salmonella and develop strategies to break the transmission cycle.
A NEW SPECIES OF FROG FROM NORTHEASTERN COLOMBIA (GENUS ELEUTHERODACTYLUS: LEPTODACTYLIDAE)

A new species of frog from the Eleutherodactylus nigrovittatus group is described from cloud forests in northern Santander. The new species is most similar to E. nigrovittatus of the Amazon basin but is equally closely related to the Andean E. latens and E. mantipus found on the Central and Western cordilleras. Based on a phylogenetic analysis, the primitive habitat for frogs of this species group is páramo with subsequent downward movement.
Can Managers Bank on Seed Banks When Restoring Pinus taeda L. Plantations in Southwest Georgia?

In the southeastern United States, private forestland managers are under increased pressure to provide wildlife habitat and biodiversity in addition to commercial products such as timber. This study used a stand classification scheme based on vegetation biodiversity from Hedman et al. to compare seed bank composition of benchmark (BM) and nonbenchmark (NBM) Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands. In the Hedman et al. study, BM stands contained species associated with Longleaf pine (P. palustris)/Wiregrass (Aristida stricta) communities, whereas NBM stands contained species associated with disturbed sites. The current vegetation of the BM and NBM stands had an average cover of 7.9%/m2 and an average richness of 11 species/m2. The intent for this study was to assist in understanding the potential role of the seed bank during stand development and restoration. We collected seed bank samples from six pine plantations in the winter of 2006. Seed bank samples yielded 2,885 germinants representing 56 unique species but only 4 were found in both current herbaceous vegetation plots and seed bank. The seed bank was dominated by native dicots. In BM stands, 76% of species were native, whereas in NBM stands, 69% were native. Seed bank samples from NBM stands had greater species richness (p= 0.03) and total germinants (p= 0.03) than BM stands. Although the seed bank in all stands was dominated by native species, our data suggest that the seed bank under P. taeda stands should not be viewed as the sole source of native species for most restoration goals.
Look ahead mate selection schemes for multi-breed beef populations

Look ahead mate selection ( LAMS ) schemes have been proposed to improve longer-term genetic merit when both selection and crossbreeding are important. We investigate the performance of a LAMS scheme which includes both predicted progeny merit and predicted grandprogeny merit in a mate selection index ( MSI ). Simulation of a multibreed beef population, with additive breeding values, direct and maternal breed effects and direct and maternal heterosis was used to compare response from the LAMS scheme to mate selection on progeny merit only ( PROG ), selection on estimated breeding value ( EBV ) followed by random mating ( RAND ) and a structured crossbreeding scheme ( CROSS ). An additional strategy, LAMS + CO , was similar to LAMS but included a negative weighting on the coancestry of selected animals in the MSI to reduce inbreeding. LAMS gave up to 3% greater response in generation eight than PROG , 4·5% greater response than RAND , and 15% greater response than CROSS . Results from LAMS + CO were very similar to LAMS but inbreeding was 11% less from LAMS + CO at generation eight. The advantage of LAMS and LAMS + CO over PROG in later generations was hypothesized to be the result of positive assortative mating and greater use of maternal effects. Evidence to support the hypothesis of assortative mating was a positive significant correlation of EBV s of mates (sires and dams) in LAMS and LAMS + CO but not in PROG . Strategies PROG , LAMS and LAMS + CO all created closed populations of animals with optimum composite breed proportions.
Towards an understanding of the distribution of Ilex L. (Aquifoliaceae) on a world-wide scale.

Almost 600 species of Ilex L. (Aquifoliaceae) are now recognized and most of them occur in tropical America and eastern Asia. Only c 30 species are known from North America, four species are found in Europe, a few on Pacific islands, one in northeastern Australia and one in sub-Saharan Africa. Fossil data shows that this genus previously had a much wider distribution. Fossils have been found in Alaska and Iceland, western North America and southern South America, Siberia, New Zealand and southern Australia. Floral morphology of Ilex species is very uniform at an interspecific level, whereas leaf morphology often shows great variability at an intra-specific level resulting in difficulties of discriminating between the different species. We compared reconstructed phylogenies based on chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences, and morphological characters from 47 Ilex species. The plastid phylogeny is strongly correlated with the geographic distribution of extant species. However the plastid and nuclear phylogenies are not congruent. This may be due to frequent inter-lineage hybridization events, a process which could explain the high complexity of this family (i.e. at morphological, genetic, geographical distribution levels). We did not obtain a resolved phylogeny based on morphological characters. A world-wide distribution modelling map has been computed by an Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) based on 826 Ilex occurrences in tropical America and 12 GIS layers describing the environment. The map of the potential distribution obtained is consistent with the distribution of the genus at present. However the model has less predictive probability for the northern hemisphere. Data of pollen fossil records for all Ilex over the world were mapped at world scale at various geological periods. Analyses of extant and past distributions of the genus, and phylogenetic results integrated with climatic patterns have been used to tentatively explain the current distribution pattern of Ilex. Some hypothesis assuming Bering and North Atlantic land bridge connections, Tertiary relict floras, long distance dispersal or morphological stasis are congruent with the current disjunct distribution of the family.
Differences in the total body clearance of lead compounds in the rat and mouse: Impact on pharmacokinetic screening strategy

1. The in vivo clearance (CL) for 498 compounds representing more than 40 lead optimization programmes were compared in the rat and mouse. 2. A total of 278 of the compounds had similar CL values in rat and mouse and 41 compounds had a high CL in one rodent species and a low CL in the other (median seven-fold difference). For this latter subset, comparative in vitro plasma protein binding, liver microsomal or hepatocyte intrinsic CL provided plausible explanations for the observed in vivo differences in many cases. 3. A considerable proportion of compounds with substantially different CL in rodents, and those with a high CL in both rat and mouse, had a low-to-moderate CL in dog and/or monkey (43%). A larger proportion (71%) had promising pharmacokinetics in higher species when CL was low in both rat and mouse. 4. Drug-discovery scientists should consider the potential for there to be substantial differences in the disposition of leads in different rodent species and design screening cascades to explore this possibility.