Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simple sugar and sugar-sweetened beverage intake during adolescence and risk of colorectal cancer precursors: Adolescent sugar intake and colorectal polyp.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Recent increasing trends in early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) strongly supports that early-life diet is involved in CRC development. However, data are lacking on the relationship with high sugar intake during early-life. METHODS We prospectively investigated the association of adolescent simple sugar (fructose, glucose, added sugar, total sugar) and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake with CRC precursor risk in 33,106 participants of the Nurses' Health Study II who provided adolescent dietary information in 1998 and subsequently underwent lower gastrointestinal endoscopy between 1999 and 2015. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression for clustered data. RESULTS During follow-up, 2,909 conventional adenomas (758 high-risk) and 2,355 serrated lesions were identified (mean age at diagnoses, 52.2±4.3 years). High sugar and SSB intake during adolescence was positively associated with risk of adenoma, but not serrated lesions. Per each 5% increment in calorie/day of total fructose intake, multivariable ORs were 1.17 (95% CI 1.05-1.31) for total and 1.30 (95% CI 1.06-1.60) for high-risk adenoma. By subsite, ORs were 1.12 (95% CI 0.96-1.30) for proximal, 1.24 (95% CI 1.05-1.47) for distal, and 1.43 (95% CI 1.10-1.86) for rectal adenoma. Per 1 serving/day increment in SSB intake, ORs were 1.11 (95% CI 1.02-1.20) for total and 1.30 (95% CI 1.08-1.55) for rectal adenoma. Contrary to adolescent intake, sugar and SSB intake during adulthood was not associated with adenoma risk. CONCLUSIONS High intake of simple sugars and SSBs during adolescence was associated with increased risk of conventional adenoma, especially rectal adenoma.
Predictive value of the atherogenic index of plasma for chronic total occlusion before coronary angiography

The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is calculated by logarithmic transformation of the ratio of triglyceride (TG) and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) concentrations. Although previous studies have demonstrated that the AIP is associated with coronary artery disease, its association with chronic total occlusion (CTO) requires elucidation.
Low-Level Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus among Camel Handlers, Kenya, 2019

Although seroprevalence of Middle East respiratory coronavirus syndrome is high among camels in Africa, researchers have not detected zoonotic transmission in Kenya. We followed a cohort of 262 camel handlers in Kenya during April 2018–March 2020. We report PCR-confirmed Middle East respiratory coronavirus syndrome in 3 asymptomatic handlers.
Deep Artificial Neural Networks Reveal a Distributed Cortical Network Encoding Propositional Sentence-Level Meaning

Understanding how and where in the brain sentence-level meaning is constructed from words presents a major scientific challenge. Recent advances have begun to explain brain activation elicited by sentences using vector models of word meaning derived from patterns of word co-occurrence in text corpora. These studies have helped map out semantic representation across a distributed brain network spanning temporal, parietal, and frontal cortex. However, it remains unclear whether activation patterns within regions reflect unified representations of sentence-level meaning, as opposed to superpositions of context-independent component words. This is because models have typically represented sentences as “bags-of-words” that neglect sentence-level structure. To address this issue, we interrogated fMRI activation elicited as 240 sentences were read by 14 participants (9 female, 5 male), using sentences encoded by a recurrent deep artificial neural-network trained on a sentence inference task (InferSent). Recurrent connections and nonlinear filters enable InferSent to transform sequences of word vectors into unified “propositional” sentence representations suitable for evaluating intersentence entailment relations. Using voxelwise encoding modeling, we demonstrate that InferSent predicts elements of fMRI activation that cannot be predicted by bag-of-words models and sentence models using grammatical rules to assemble word vectors. This effect occurs throughout a distributed network, which suggests that propositional sentence-level meaning is represented within and across multiple cortical regions rather than at any single site. In follow-up analyses, we place results in the context of other deep network approaches (ELMo and BERT) and estimate the degree of unpredicted neural signal using an “experiential” semantic model and cross-participant encoding. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A modern-day scientific challenge is to understand how the human brain transforms word sequences into representations of sentence meaning. A recent approach, emerging from advances in functional neuroimaging, big data, and machine learning, is to computationally model meaning, and use models to predict brain activity. Such models have helped map a cortical semantic information-processing network. However, how unified sentence-level information, as opposed to word-level units, is represented throughout this network remains unclear. This is because models have typically represented sentences as unordered “bags-of-words. ” Using a deep artificial neural network that recurrently and nonlinearly combines word representations into unified propositional sentence representations, we provide evidence that sentence-level information is encoded throughout a cortical network, rather than in a single region.
Analysis of blocking antibodies and lymphocyte subsets in patients with recurrent reproductive failure

Abstract This study aimed to explore the relationship between recurrent reproductive failure (RRF) and blocking antibody (BA) and lymphocytes, to explore the difference of immune status between recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and recurrent implantation failure (RIF) patients. We undertook a retrospective analysis of BA and lymphocyte subsets detected by flow cytometry in 720 RRF patients (411 RSA and 309 RIF patients) who were treated at Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital from April 2015 to October 2019. The BA negative rate of RRF patients was 81.80%, which was significantly higher than that of normal women (23.46%) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in BA negative rates between RSA and RIF patients. Compared with the normal value, the percentage of CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes in RRF patients were 71.1% (65.9–76.0) and 36.8% (32.5–41.9) respectively, which were significantly lower than the normal value (p < 0.05). The percentage of B cells in RSA patients [11.0 (8.8–13.9)] was significantly lower than that in RIF patients [11.9 (9.4–14.8)]. The occurrence of RRF is related to the lack of BA and the change of lymphoid subsets. There are some differences in immune status between RSA and RIF patients.
Non‐invasive prenatal testing for the prenatal screening of sex chromosome aneuploidies: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies

There is little evidence on the performance of non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for the detection of fetal sex chromosomal imbalances. In this review, we aimed to appraise and synthesize the literature on the performance of NIPT for the prenatal detection of fetal sex chromosome aneuploidies.
Impact of Site-Specific Weed Management in Winter Crops on Weed Populations

This work is focused on evaluating the effects of site-specific weed management (SSWM) on weed populations over a 4-year period. SSWM was used on a 3.07 ha experimental field during 2011-2014 in a rotation of winter wheat and winter oilseed rape. The area was split into application cells of 6 × 10 m and weed abundance was evaluated manually in each cell. Four different herbicide treatments were tested. Standard whole-field herbicide application (blanket spraying) was treatment 1. Treatments 2, 3 and 4 comprised SSWM using different thresholds for post-emergent herbicide applications. SSWM resulted in herbicide savings of 6.3-100% for Galium aparine , 0-84.4% for other dicotyledonous weeds, and 31.3-90.6% for annual monocotyledonous weeds. SSWM led to significantly increased density of G. aparine and Tripleurospermum inodorum in the final experimental year when compared to the blanket treatment. Negative correlation coefficients between 2011 and 2014 plant densities found in SSWM treatments (−0.237 to −0.401) indicate that Apera spica-venti does not establish a long-term soil seed bank.
Polyvinyl Alcohol Melt Processing

The melt processing behavior of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) acquired by polyvinyl acetate solution and suspension hydrolysis is studied. It is found that the PVOH obtained by suspension hydrolysis is much more suitable for melt processing because of the shape and size of the particles and of the chemical and morphological homogeneity. These advantages increase the practical importance of the suspension hydrolysis technology as compared to the solution.
Advances in spaceborne hyperspectral remote sensing in China

ABSTRACT With the maturation of satellite technology, Hyperspectral Remote Sensing (HRS) platforms have developed from the initial ground-based and airborne platforms into spaceborne platforms, which greatly promotes the civil application of HRS imagery in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and environmental monitoring. China is playing an important role in this evolution, especially in recent years, with the successful launch and operation of a series of civil hyperspectral spacecraft and satellites, including the Shenzhou-3 spacecraft, the Gaofen-5 satellite, the SPARK satellite, the Zhuhai-1 satellite network for environmental and resources monitoring, the FengYun series of satellites for meteorological observation, and the Chang’E series of spacecraft for planetary exploration. The Chinese spaceborne HRS platforms have various new characteristics, such as the wide swath width, high spatial resolution, wide spectral range, hyperspectral satellite networks, and microsatellites. This paper focuses on the recent progress in Chinese spaceborne HRS, from the aspects of the typical satellite systems, the data processing, and the applications. In addition, the future development trends of HRS in China are also discussed and analyzed.
Afterlives of Anticolonial Dissent: Performances of Public Memory within and against the United States of América

ABSTRACT Examining how Puerto Rican nationalist icon Lolita Lebrón is celebrated through artistic performances of public memory, this essay investigates how social movement rhetorical histories are used to propel contemporary sovereignty struggles in Puerto Rico. In it, I argue that situating the afterlives of Lebrón’s anticolonial dissent requires that scholars and activists pay specific attention to the unique interlocking systems of oppression and privilege distinctive to the Caribbean territory, influenced by centuries of colonialism. Describing “la trinchera cultural” – or “the cultural trenches” – as the battleground for the urgency of sovereignty for Puerto Ricans, I describe how Las Lolitas, the group responsible for Lebrón’s centennial celebration, engaged in performances of public memory that took place in spaces that would showcase a Puerto Rican nationalist rhetorical repertoire. This repertoire emphasizes networks of solidarity, feminist concerns, and revolutionary spirit across time, highlighting resistance to past colonial transgressions to aid in present/future struggles over Puerto Rican self-determination.
A Triangle Design Framework for Functional Footwear for Chinese Older Adults

Abstract Well-designed functional footwear can reduce health hazards in various environments. Considering the particular needs of older adults, the design of footwear must address multifunctional demands, which requires the use of the latest technology and extensive research. Focusing on Chinese older adults, this paper proposed a triangle design framework to single out critical research functions of design. It contributes to user-centered design literature by mapping out a logical, comprehensive design flow that integrates a service platform in the framework, in addition to the foci on designers and older users. The main functions of the service platform included surveying and analyzing demand, creating an empathic experience for the designers, capturing the perceptual cognition of older adults, and evaluating the product. The users’ requirements are classified according to the physiological function of older adults as well as usage scenarios. The suggested design flow is user-centered and demand-oriented, and the empathy concept is incorporated into all aspects of design. Both physical and mental health are expected to be improved to promote active aging for older adults as a result of implementing this design framework.
Co-creating Value in Desert Tourism Experiences

ABSTRACT This study investigates the determinants of value co-creation in desert camps in Oman from both the customers' and the camp managers' perspectives. The concept of value co-creation in hospitality and tourism has been investigated in a range of ways in the extant literature. However, limited attention has been paid in the process of value co-creation in remote and unique destinations such as desert camps. This research focuses on 5 aspects of value co-creation which are then explored both quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings of the study indicate that within the context of desert camps, value co-creation is influenced by authenticity, engagement, place attachment, and marketing though the value-in-use concept. However, the level of this influence varies between the customers and the camp managers. Finally, findings are discussed in the light of this variance to identify and provide recommendations that enhance value co-creation in the desert camps of Oman.
Philip George Burke. 18 October 1932—4 June 2019

The development of theoretical and computational atomic and molecular physics in the second half of the twentieth century owes a great deal to Phil Burke. His knowledge and insight, his enthusiasm and encouragement, his vision and determination were essential characteristics for the success of his work and that of many others. He developed and used the R-matrix method in the study of the interaction between, on the one hand, atoms and molecules and their ions and, on the other, light or electrons. He published many original research papers and was author or editor of a number of books. Especially significant and far-reaching was his setting up of the journal Computer Physics Communications to enable an international field of scientists, initially to share computer codes, but subsequently also to discuss and develop methods in computational physics. While based at the Daresbury Laboratory, he established a number of Collaborative Computational Projects, thus providing a forum for scientists working in specific scientific disciplines to meet periodically to discuss current issues and in particular how the ever advancing cutting-edge of high-end computing could begin to address previously intractable problems. A consequence was his clarity of thinking about which new computer architectures were needed to make significant advances in each field of study, expertly guiding the UK's provision of high-end computers to academia for over 20 years. He was a clear and methodical teacher, at both graduate and undergraduate level, and was generous with the time he gave to his students. In short, he demonstrated a balanced level of excellence in all aspects of his career. He was a consummate academic and a fine role model for his colleagues.
Computational investigations of the immune response to repeated influenza infections and vaccinations

Previous studies have shown that repeated influenza vaccination can enhance susceptibility to subsequent infection with a drifted influenza virus strain. This paper seeks to further understanding of the interactions between influenza viruses and specific immune cells that accompany this phenomenon. The paper argues that repeated vaccination increases susceptibility to infection only in the context of a residual immunity induced by prior vaccination or infection. The results of computational analysis indicate that this is a dynamic consequence of interactions between vaccines, influenza viruses and specific immune cells. In particular, mathematical modelling was used to show that in the presence of residual immunity conferred by a vaccine administered in Canada in the 2013–2014 influenza season, the 2014–2015 season vaccine enhanced susceptibility to infection. Such infection enhancement occurs when the 2014–2015 vaccine boosts suppressive T-regulatory cells induced by the 2013–2014 vaccine, decreasing the strength of antibody responses to the infecting strain. Overall, the study suggests probable characteristics of infecting viruses and vaccines that make repeated influenza infections and vaccinations detrimental.
Cool birds: facultative use by an introduced species of mechanical air conditioning systems during extremely hot outdoor conditions

Rapid climate change across the globe is having dramatic effects on wildlife. Responses of organisms to shifting thermal conditions often include physiological and behavioural accommodations, but to date these have been largely viewed and studied as naturally evolved phenomena (e.g. heat avoidance, sweating, panting) and not necessarily as strategies where animals exploit other anthropogenic conditions or resources. Moreover, the degree to which native versus introduced species show thermal plasticity has generated much conservation and ecological interest. We previously have observed introduced rosy-faced lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) perching in the relief-air vents on building faces in the Phoenix, Arizona, USA, metropolitan area, but doing so only during summer. Here, we show that such vent-perching events are significantly associated with extreme outdoor summer temperatures (when daily local highs routinely exceed 40°C). In fact, the temperature threshold at which we detected lovebirds starting to perch in cool air vents mirrors the upper range of the thermoneutral zone for this species. These results implicate novel, facultative use of an anthropogenic resource—industrial air-conditioning systems—by a recently introduced species (within the last 35 years) to cool down and survive extremely hot conditions in this urban ‘heat-island' environment.
Variable dosage compensation is associated with female consequences of an X-linked, male-beneficial mutation

Recent theory has suggested that dosage compensation mediates sexual antagonism over X-linked genes. This process relies on the assumption that dosage compensation scales phenotypic effects between the sexes, which is largely untested. We evaluated this by quantifying transcriptome variation associated with a recently arisen, male-beneficial, X-linked mutation across tissues of the field cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus, and testing the relationship between the completeness of dosage compensation and female phenotypic effects at the level of gene expression. Dosage compensation in T. oceanicus was variable across tissues but usually incomplete, such that relative expression of X-linked genes was typically greater in females. Supporting the assumption that dosage compensation scales phenotypic effects between the sexes, we found tissues with incomplete dosage compensation tended to show female-skewed effects of the X-linked allele. In gonads, where expression of X-linked genes was most strongly female-biased, ovaries-limited genes were much more likely to be X-linked than were testes-limited genes, supporting the view that incomplete dosage compensation favours feminization of the X. Our results support the expectation that sex chromosome dosage compensation scales phenotypic effects of X-linked genes between sexes, substantiating a key assumption underlying the theoretical role of dosage compensation in determining the dynamics of sexual antagonism on the X.
Flight Performance of Migrating Juvenile Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica in Relation to Fat Load and Wing Morphology

Abstract. Migratory birds have evolved the ability to accumulate fat reserves to fuel their migratory journeys. However, increased fuel load leads to an increased body mass, which is expected to impair flight performance and increase predation risk. Results of previous research are contradictory, with some studies reporting detrimental effects of fat load on flight performance, while others showing no such influences. Furthermore, no studies have investigated the relationship between fat load and flight performance in obligate aerial insectivores, which are known to accumulate only moderate fat loads while migrating overland and not crossing wide ecological barriers such as oceans or deserts. In this study we investigated the inter-individual variation in short-term flight performance (flight manoeuvrability, velocity and acceleration) in juvenile Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica in relation to fat load in Poland (central Europe), during the initial stages of autumn southward migration. We evaluated individual swallow fat loads by means of a Total Body Electrical Conductivity (TOBEC) scanner. In order to evaluate short-term flight performance in a standardised manner we used flight tunnels. We controlled statistically for the independent effect of wing morphology, which can be expected to influence flight performance. Juvenile fat loads were on average 7.5% (range 0.2–20.5) of lean body mass, but we found no negative effect of the fat mass on short-term flight performance traits. Individuals with larger fat mass reached higher velocity compared to leaner ones, which is in line with theoretical expectations. However, fat mass did not significantly predict flight manoeuvrability or acceleration. The results indicate that relatively small fat loads accumulated by juvenile Barn Swallows during overland migration do not impair short-term flight performance.
Aggregations of Polistes Wasps Over-Wintering in Artificial Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Cavities

Abstract - We document blockage of artificial Dryobates borealis (Red-cockaded Woodpecker) cavities by family Sphecidae (mud daubers) and large mixed-species aggregations of wintering Polistes (paper wasps) in cavity inserts at Great Dismal Swamp NWR in southeast Virginia. The large aggregations that we encountered are the only known cases of more than 2 paper wasp species cohabitating. Activity of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers within a cluster lessened the likelihood that paper wasps will aggregate in cavities, but not the likelihood that mud daubers will nest in cavities. The moist and saturated soils that predominate our field site may explain why these insects are more abundant compared to drier, upland habitats. Additionally, removal of hardwood trees may increase the breeding season habitat quality for paper wasps that hunt and nest in areas that are more open, while simultaneously limiting potential winter hibernacula habitat, typically found in mature hardwood tree cavities for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Common cavity management and translocation techniques may need to be altered to mitigate greater paper wasp and mud dauber activity at Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity inserts in Pinus serotina (Pond Pine) pocosin habitat. We suggest using graduated rubber stoppers rather than screens that fail to exclude insect taxa or conducting translocations prior to the formation of winter aggregations of paper wasps.