Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Role of Gaze Tracking in Optimizing Humans-In-The-Loop Telerobotic Operation Using Multimodal Feedback

A key challenge in achieving effective robot teleoperation is minimizing teleoperators’ cognitive workload and fatigue. We set out to investigate the extent to which gaze tracking data can reveal how teleoperators interact with a system. In this study, we present an analysis of gaze tracking, captured as participants completed a multi-stage task: grasping and emptying the contents of a jar into a container. The task was repeated with different combinations of visual, haptic, and verbal feedback. Our aim was to determine if teleoperation workload can be inferred by combining the gaze duration, fixation count, task completion time, and complexity of robot motion (measured as the sum of robot joint steps) at different stages of the task. Visual information of the robot workspace was captured using four cameras, positioned to capture the robot workspace from different angles. These camera views (aerial, right, eye-level, and left) were displayed through four quadrants (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, and bottom-right quadrants) of participants’ video feedback computer screen, respectively. We found that the gaze duration and the fixation count were highly dependent on the stage of the task and the feedback scenario utilized. The results revealed that combining feedback modalities reduced the cognitive workload (inferred by investigating the correlation between gaze duration, fixation count, task completion time, success or failure of task completion, and robot gripper trajectories), particularly in the task stages that require more precision. There was a significant positive correlation between gaze duration and complexity of robot joint movements. Participants’ gaze outside the areas of interest (distractions) was not influenced by feedback scenarios. A learning effect was observed in the use of the controller for all participants as they repeated the task with different feedback combination scenarios. To design a system for teleoperation, applicable in healthcare, we found that the analysis of teleoperators’ gaze can help understand how teleoperators interact with the system, hence making it possible to develop the system from the teleoperators’ stand point.
Methylsulfonylmethane Increases the Alveolar Bone Density of Mandibles in Aging Female Mice

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory compound that effectively treats multiple degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis and acute pancreatitis. Our previous studies have demonstrated the ability of MSM to differentiate stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous (SHED) teeth into osteoblast-like cells. This study examined the systemic effect of MSM in 36-week-old aging C57BL/6 female mice in vivo by injecting MSM for 13 weeks. Serum analyses showed an increase in expression levels of bone formation markers [osteocalcin (OCN) and procollagen type 1 intact N-terminal propeptide (P1NP)] and a reduction in bone resorption markers [tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collag (CTX-I)] in MSM-injected animals. Micro-computed tomographic images demonstrated an increase in trabecular bone density in mandibles. The trabecular bone density tended to be higher in the femur, although the increase was not significantly different between the MSM- and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-injected mice. In mandibles, an increase in bone density with a corresponding decrease in the marrow cavity was observed in the MSM-injected mice. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analyses of the mandibles for the osteoblast-specific marker – OCN, and the mesenchymal stem cell-specific marker – CD105 showed a significant increase and decrease in OCN and CD105 positive cells, respectively. Areas of bone loss were observed in the inter-radicular region of mandibles in control mice. However, this loss was considerably decreased due to stimulation of bone formation in response to MSM injection. In conclusion, our study has demonstrated the ability of MSM to induce osteoblast formation and function in vivo, resulting in increased bone formation in the mandible. Hence, the application of MSM and stem cells of interest may be the right combination in alveolar bone regeneration under periodontal or other related diseases that demonstrate bone loss.
Systematic Construction and Validation of a Prognostic Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Immune-Related Genes

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a highly aggressive tumor, has high incidence and mortality rates. Recently, immunotherapies have been shown to be a promising treatment in HCC. The results of either the CheckMate-040 or IMbrave 150 trials demonstrate the importance of immunotherapy in the systemic treatment of liver cancer. Thus, in this study, we tried to establish a reliable prognostic model for liver cancer based on immune-related genes (IRGs) and to provide a new insight for immunotherapy of HCC. In this study, we used four datasets that incorporated 851 HCC samples, including 340 samples with complete clinical information from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database, to establish an effective model for predicting the prognosis of HCC patients based on the differential expression of IRGs and validated the prognostic model using the data from International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC). The top 6 characteristic IRGs identified by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, MMP9, FOS, CAT, ESR1, ANGPTL3, and KLKB1, were selected for further study. In addition, we assessed the correlations of the six characteristic IRGs with the tumor immune microenvironment, clinical stage, and sensitivity to anti-cancer drugs. We also explored whether the differential expression of the characteristic IRGs was specific to HCC or present in pan-cancer. The expression levels of the six characteristic IRGs were significantly different between most tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues. In addition, these characteristic IRGs showed a strong association with immune cell infiltration in HCC patients. We found that MMP9 and ESR1 were independent prognostic factors for HCC, while CAT, ESR1, and KLKB1 were associated with the clinical stage. We collected HCC paraffin sections from 24 patients from Xijing hospital to identify the differential expression of the five genes (MMP9, ESR1, CAT, FOS, and KLKB1). Finally, the results of decision curve analysis (DCA) and nomogram revealed that our models provided a prognostic benefit for most HCC patients and the predicted overall survival (OS) was consistent with the actual OS. In conclusion, we systemically constructed a novel prognostic model that provides new insights into HCC.
Isolation, Identification, and Selection of Bacteria With Proof-of-Concept for Bioaugmentation of Whitewater From Wood-Free Paper Mills

In the wood-free paper industry, whitewater is usually a mixture of additives for paper production. We are currently lacking an efficient, cost-effective purification technology for their removal. In closed whitewater cycles the additives accumulate, causing adverse production problems, such as the formation of slime and pitch. The aim of our study was to find an effective bio-based strategy for whitewater treatment using a selection of indigenous bacterial isolates. We first obtained a large collection of bacterial isolates and then tested them individually by simple plate and spectrophotometric methods for their ability to degrade the papermaking additives, i.e., carbohydrates, resin acids, alkyl ketene dimers, polyvinyl alcohol, latex, and azo and fluorescent dyes. We examined correlation between carbon source use, genera, and inoculum source of isolates using two multivariate methods: principal component analysis and FreeViz projection. Of the 318 bacterial isolates, we selected a consortium of four strains (Xanthomonadales bacterium sp. CST37-CF, Sphingomonas sp. BLA14-CF, Cellulosimicrobium sp. AKD4-BF and Aeromonas sp. RES19-BTP) that degrade the entire spectrum of tested additives by means of dissolved organic carbon measurements. A proof-of-concept study on a pilot scale was then performed by immobilizing the artificial consortium of the four strains and inserting them into a 33-liter, tubular flow-through reactor with a retention time of < 15 h. The consortium caused an 88% reduction in the COD of the whitewater, even after 21 days.
Effects of Natural and Anthropogenic Stressors on Fucalean Brown Seaweeds Across Different Spatial Scales in the Mediterranean Sea

Algal habitat-forming forests composed of fucalean brown seaweeds (Cystoseira, Ericaria, and Gongolaria) have severely declined along the Mediterranean coasts, endangering the maintenance of essential ecosystem services. Numerous factors determine the loss of these assemblages and operate at different spatial scales, which must be identified to plan conservation and restoration actions. To explore the critical stressors (natural and anthropogenic) that may cause habitat degradation, we investigated (a) the patterns of variability of fucalean forests in percentage cover (abundance) at three spatial scales (location, forest, transect) by visual estimates and or photographic sampling to identify relevant spatial scales of variation, (b) the correlation between semi-quantitative anthropogenic stressors, individually or cumulatively (MA-LUSI index), including natural stressors (confinement, sea urchin grazing), and percentage cover of functional groups (perennial, semi-perennial) at forest spatial scale. The results showed that impacts from mariculture and urbanization seem to be the main stressors affecting habitat-forming species. In particular, while mariculture, urbanization, and cumulative anthropogenic stress negatively correlated with the percentage cover of perennial fucalean species, the same stressors were positively correlated with the percentage cover of the semi-perennial Cystoseira compressa and C. compressa subsp. pustulata. Our results indicate that human impacts can determine spatial patterns in these fragmented and heterogeneous marine habitats, thus stressing the need of carefully considering scale-dependent ecological processes to support conservation and restoration.
The Serendipity of Viral Trans-Neuronal Specificity: More Than Meets the Eye

Trans-neuronal viruses are frequently used as neuroanatomical tools for mapping neuronal circuits. Specifically, recombinant one-step rabies viruses (RABV) have been instrumental in the widespread application of viral circuit mapping, as these viruses have enabled labs to map the direct inputs onto defined cell populations. Within the neuroscience community, it is widely believed that RABV spreads directly between neurons via synaptic connections, a hypothesis based principally on two observations. First, the virus labels neurons in a pattern consistent with known anatomical connectivity. Second, few glial cells appear to be infected following RABV injections, despite the fact that glial cells are abundant in the brain. However, there is no direct evidence that RABV can actually be transmitted through synaptic connections. Here we review the immunosubversive mechanisms that are critical to RABV’s success for infiltration of the central nervous system (CNS). These include interfering with and ultimately killing migratory T cells while maintaining levels of interferon (IFN) signaling in the brain parenchyma. Finally, we critically evaluate studies that support or are against synaptically-restricted RABV transmission and the implications of viral-host immune responses for RABV transmission in the brain.
The Importance of Environmentally Acquired Bacterial Symbionts for the Squash Bug (Anasa tristis), a Significant Agricultural Pest

Most insects maintain associations with microbes that shape their ecology and evolution. Such symbioses have important applied implications when the associated insects are pests or vectors of disease. The squash bug, Anasa tristis (Coreoidea: Coreidae), is a significant pest of human agriculture in its own right and also causes damage to crops due to its capacity to transmit a bacterial plant pathogen. Here, we demonstrate that complete understanding of these insects requires consideration of their association with bacterial symbionts in the family Burkholderiaceae. Isolation and sequencing of bacteria housed in the insects’ midgut crypts indicates that these bacteria are consistent and dominant members of the crypt-associated bacterial communities. These symbionts are closely related to Caballeronia spp. associated with other true bugs in the superfamilies Lygaeoidea and Coreoidea. Fitness assays with representative Burkholderiaceae strains indicate that the association can significantly increase survival and decrease development time, though strains do vary in the benefits that they confer to their hosts, with Caballeronia spp. providing the greatest benefit. Experiments designed to assess transmission mode indicate that, unlike many other beneficial insect symbionts, the bacteria are not acquired from parents before or after hatching but are instead acquired from the environment after molting to a later developmental stage. The bacteria do, however, have the capacity to escape adults to be transmitted to later generations, leaving the possibility for a combination of indirect vertical and horizontal transmission.
Identification of Differential Responses of Goat PBMCs to PPRV Virulence Using a Multi-Omics Approach

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute transboundary infectious viral disease of small ruminants, mainly sheep and goats. Host susceptibility varies considerably depending on the PPR virus (PPRV) strain, the host species and breed. The effect of strains with different levels of virulence on the modulation of the immune system has not been thoroughly compared in an experimental setting so far. In this study, we used a multi-omics approach to investigate the host cellular factors involved in different infection phenotypes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from Saanen goats were activated with a T-cell mitogen and infected with PPRV strains of different virulence: Morocco 2008 (high virulence), Ivory Coast 1989 (low virulence) and Nigeria 75/1 (live attenuated vaccine strain). Our results showed that the highly virulent strain replicated better than the other two in PBMCs and rapidly induced cell death and a stronger inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation. However, all the strains affected lymphocyte proliferation and induced upregulation of key antiviral genes and proteins, meaning a classical antiviral response is orchestrated regardless of the virulence of the PPRV strain. On the other hand, the highly virulent strain induced stronger inflammatory responses and activated more genes related to lymphocyte migration and recruitment, and inflammatory processes. Both transcriptomic and proteomic approaches were successful in detecting viral and antiviral effectors under all conditions. The present work identified key immunological factors related to PPRV virulence in vitro.
Confined Monolayer Ice Between CaF2 (111) and Graphene: Structure and Stability

Water monolayer can form in layered confined systems. Here, CaF2 (111) and graphene are chosen as modeling systems to explore the structure and stability of confined monolayer water. First, water molecules tend to intercalate into a confined space between graphene and CaF2, rather than on a bare surface of graphene. Water molecules can move fast in the confined space due to a low diffusion barrier. These water molecules are likely to aggregate together, forming monolayer ice. Four ice phases including ice II, ice III, ice IV, and ice Ih are compared in this confined system. Intriguingly, all the ice phases undergo very small deformation, indicating the 2D monolayer ice can be stable in the CaF2–graphene–confined system. Beyond, projected band structures are also plotted to understand the electronic behavior of these confined ice phases. Nearly all the bands originated from confined ices are flat and locate about 2–3 eV below the Fermi level. Binding energy calculations suggest that the stability sequence in this confined system as follows: Ih-up ≈ Ih-down ≈ II < IV < III. Our results bring new insights into the formation of water monolayer production in such a confined condition.
The Impact Mechanism of Entrepreneurial Team Expertise Heterogeneity on Entrepreneurial Decision

Under the background of economic globalization and industrial revolution, team entrepreneurship has drawn increased attention. Team entrepreneurship is considered to be advantageous in its capability of integrating more abundant resources and of sharing knowledge, information, and complementary skills among members of the entrepreneurial team, enabling entrepreneurial enterprises to successfully adapt to the highly uncertain entrepreneurial environment. In recent years, the relationship between the heterogeneity of the entrepreneurial team and its decision-making quality has attracted much attention in the management research field. However, the research results on such topic are quite inconsistent. Based on the information processing theory, the greater the market uncertainty the entrepreneurial team faces, the stronger information integration ability a team will be required to possess. This study investigates the mechanism and boundary conditions of the impact of expertise heterogeneity of the entrepreneurial team on entrepreneurial decision-making. It points out that team knowledge integration and team reflexivity have significant impacts on the relationship between entrepreneurial team expertise heterogeneity and entrepreneurial decision-making. This study adopts the multi-source design approach and collects data from 419 academic entrepreneurial teams in the University Science and Technology Park in Zhejiang Province. Hierarchical regression and bootstrapping methods are also employed for data analysis. The results show that team knowledge integration mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial team expertise heterogeneity and entrepreneurial decision-making, whereas team reflexivity moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial team expertise heterogeneity and team knowledge integration. In the final part, the practical implications for entrepreneurial team are discussed.
Increased Sociability in Mice Lacking Intergenic Dlx Enhancers

The Dlx homeodomain transcription factors play important roles in the differentiation and migration of GABAergic interneuron precursors. The mouse and human genomes each have six Dlx genes organized into three convergently transcribed bigene clusters (Dlx1/2, Dlx3/4, and Dlx5/6) with cis-regulatory elements (CREs) located in the intergenic region of each cluster. Amongst these, the I56i and I12b enhancers from the Dlx1/2 and Dlx5/6 locus, respectively, are active in the developing forebrain. I56i is also a binding site for GTF2I, a transcription factor whose function is associated with increased sociability and Williams–Beuren syndrome. In determining the regulatory roles of these CREs on forebrain development, we have generated mutant mouse-lines where Dlx forebrain intergenic enhancers have been deleted (I56i(–/–), I12b(–/–)). Loss of Dlx intergenic enhancers impairs expression of Dlx genes as well as some of their downstream targets or associated genes including Gad2 and Evf2. The loss of the I56i enhancer resulted in a transient decrease in GABA+ cells in the developing forebrain. The intergenic enhancer mutants also demonstrate increased sociability and learning deficits in a fear conditioning test. Characterizing mice with mutated Dlx intergenic enhancers will help us to further enhance our understanding of the role of these Dlx genes in forebrain development.
SPRY4-AS1, A Novel Enhancer RNA, Is a Potential Novel Prognostic Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

A growing number of evidence have demonstrated the involvement of enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) in tumor progression. However, the possible functions of eRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unclear. Our present research aimed to screen critical eRNAs and to further delve into the clinical significance of eRNAs in HCC patients. In this study, we identified 124 prognosis-related eRNAs by analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. Among them, SPRY4 antisense RNA 1 (SPRY4-AS1) may be a key eRNA involved in HCC progression. SPRY4 was a regulatory target of SPRY4-AS1. High SPRY4-AS1 expression was associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) assays revealed that the mainly enriched biological process included Human papillomavirus infection, Hippo signaling pathway, and Proteoglycans in cancer. Besides, RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining confirmed SPRY4-AS1 as an overexpressed eRNA in HCC specimens. The pan-cancer assays revealed that SPRY4-AS1 was associated with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), brain lower grade glioma (LGG) and mesothelioma(MESO). Positive associations were observed between SPRY4-AS1 and SPRY4 (its target gene) in 16 tumor types. Collectively, our findings reveal a novel eRNA SPRY4-AS1 for HCC progression and suggest that SPRY4-AS1 may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
Development and Evaluation of a Fusion Polyprotein Based on HspX and Other Antigen Sequences for the Serodiagnosis of Tuberculosis

Background The lack of suitable diagnostic tools contributes to the high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. Serological tests, based on multiple target antigens, represent an attractive option for diagnosis of this disease due to their rapidity, convenience, and low cost. Methods Measures to reduce non-specific reactions and thereby improve the specificity of serological tests were investigated, including blocking antibodies against common bacteria in serum samples and synthesizing polypeptides covering non-conserved dominant B-cell epitopes of antigens. In addition, a fusion polyprotein containing HspX and eight other antigen sequences was constructed and expressed to increase overall sensitivity of the tests. Results Inclusion of Escherichia coli lysate partially increased the specificity of the serological tests, while synthesis and inclusion of peptides containing non-conserved sequences of TB antigens as well as dominant B-cell epitopes reduced non-specific reactions without a decrease in sensitivity of the tests. A polyprotein fusing HspX and eight other antigen sequences was constructed and displayed 60.2% sensitivity, which was higher than that of HspX and the other individual antigen segments. Moreover, the specificity of the polyprotein was 93.8%, which was not significantly decreased when compared with HspX and the other individual antigen segments. Conclusions The roles of the fusion polyprotein in the humoral immune response against TB infection were demonstrated and provide a potential novel approach for the development of TB diagnostics.