Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ANALYSIS OF PLASMODIUM LINEAGES IDENTIFIED IN CAPTIVE PENGUINS (SPHENISCIFORMES SPP.), EIDERS (SOMATERIA SPP.), AND INCA TERNS (LAROSTERNA INCA) IN A NORTH AMERICAN ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTION

Abstract: Vector-borne Plasmodium spp. infect a wide range of bird species. Although infections may be asymptomatic, certain genera, especially those that evolved in regions without endemic malaria, appear particularly susceptible to symptomatic disease, leading to morbidity and mortality. High mortalities associated with malaria infections have been documented in captive species of Sphenisciformes, Somateria, and Larosterna, all genera that evolved in climates with low mosquito exposure. To better characterize trends in Plasmodium-related mortality in a zoological collection in New York, necropsy reports for birds of all three genera that died between 1998 and February 2018 were analyzed; comparisons were made between birds that died with or without evidence of malaria infection. A seasonal peak in deaths was observed in birds regardless of their malaria status. There was no significant difference in the age of birds at death between malaria-positive and malaria-negative animals. These results suggest that age and season of death were not associated with malaria status. To investigate an association between parasite lineage and clinical outcome, polymerase chain reaction was used to identify parasite lineage in necropsied birds as well as healthy birds sampled as part of surveillance studies. Twelve different Plasmodium lineages were identified. The relative prevalence of parasite lineages was compared between necropsy and surveillance samples. A single parasite lineage, SGS1 (species: Plasmodium relictum), was significantly more likely to be found in surveillance samples; it was detected in a plurality of surveillance data but found in only one necropsy case. Other parasite lineages were more likely to be found in necropsies than in surveillance samples, most notably SEIAUR01 (species: Plasmodium cathemerium). These data may be consistent with a difference in virulence between parasite lineages. This investigation has implications for the monitoring and care of vulnerable avian species.
Sphingosine Kinase 1 in Breast Cancer—A New Molecular Marker and a Therapy Target

It is now well-established that sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) plays a significant role in breast cancer development, progression, and spread, whereas SK1 knockdown can reverse these processes. In breast cancer cells and tumors, SK1 was shown to interact with various pathways involved in cell survival and chemoresistance, such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB), Notch, Ras/MAPK, PKC, and PI3K. SK1 is upregulated by estrogen signaling, which, in turn, confers cancer cells with resistance to tamoxifen. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) produced by SK1 has been linked to tumor invasion and metastasis. Both SK1 and S1P are closely linked to inflammation and adipokine signaling in breast cancer. In human tumors, high SK1 expression has been linked with poorer survival and prognosis. SK1 is upregulated in triple negative tumors and basal-like subtypes. It is often associated with high phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, SFK, LYN, AKT, and NFκB. Higher tumor SK1 mRNA levels were correlated with poor response to chemotherapy. This review summarizes the up-to-date evidence and discusses the therapeutic potential for the SK1 inhibition in breast cancer, with emphasis on the mechanisms of chemoresistance and combination with other therapies such as gefitinib or docetaxel. We have outlined four key areas for future development, including tumor microenvironment, combination therapies, and nanomedicine. We conclude that SK1 may have a potential as a target for precision medicine, its high expression being a negative prognostic marker in ER-negative breast cancer, as well as a target for chemosensitization therapy.
Automatic Classifications and Recognition for Recycled Garbage by Utilizing Deep Learning Technology

The increasingly serious environmental problems have posed new challenges to the survival of human beings, an average of 1269 tons of garbage is produced every day in Kwangju, South Korea. Most of them can be recycled, however, it costs a lot of manpower and resources and satisfactory classification efficiency was not achieved. Therefore, how to classify recycled garbage efficiently and accurately has become an important research direction. This paper proposes a novel classification method to automatically identify the type of garbage by utilizing deep learning technology. Deep learning technology is wildly utilized for image classification. Therefore, it also applies to the classification of recycled garbage. It not only saves a lot of manpower and resources but also improves the utilization of recycled resources.
Multi-task Learning for Animal Species and Group Category Classification

Accurate animal sound classification is an important task in automated animal monitoring system. Such monitoring system is essential for preventing epidemics caused by animal disease. Based on such needs, there has been a variety of efforts to develop an accurate system performing animal sound classification in deep learning framework. Although many research issues and methods to address the issues were introduced, no one has yet to address overcoming the machine learning barriers induced by a single objective function. As learnable parameters only consider a single penalty at the output prediction for training, they cannot capture other characteristics contained in the dataset to extract more generalized prediction. This paper proposes a deep learning based multi-task learning framework for animal sound classification. Both animal species and group classification are performed in an end-to-end learning process. Experimental results show that the proposed multi-task method outperforms single-task method in our recorded animal sound dataset.
The Fabrication and in vitro Evaluation of Retinoic Acid-Loaded Electrospun Composite Biomaterials for Tracheal Tissue Regeneration

Although relatively rare, major trauma to the tracheal region of the airways poses a significant clinical challenge with few effective treatments. Bioengineering and regenerative medicine strategies have the potential to create biocompatible, implantable biomaterial scaffolds, with the capacity to restore lost tissue with functional neo-trachea. The main goal of this study was to develop a nanofibrous polycaprolactone-chitosan (PCL-Chitosan) scaffold loaded with a signaling molecule, all-trans retinoic acid (atRA), as a novel biomaterial approach for tracheal tissue engineering. Using the Spraybase® electrospinning platform, polymer concentration, solvent selection, and instrument parameters were optimized to yield a co-polymer with nanofibers of 181–197 nm in diameter that mimicked tracheobronchial tissue architecture. Thereafter, scaffolds were assessed for their biocompatibility and capacity to induce mucociliary functionalization using the Calu-3 cell line. PCL-Chitosan scaffolds were found to be biocompatible in nature and support Calu-3 cell viability over a 14 day time period. Additionally, the inclusion of atRA did not compromise Calu-3 cell viability, while still achieving an efficient encapsulation of the signaling molecule over a range of atRA concentrations. atRA release from scaffolds led to an increase in mucociliary gene expression at high scaffold loading doses, with augmented MUC5AC and FOXJ1 detected by RT-PCR. Overall, this scaffold integrates a synthetic polymer that has been used in human tracheal stents, a natural polymer generally regarded as safe (GRAS), and a drug with decades of use in patients. Coupled with the scalable nature of electrospinning as a fabrication method, all of these characteristics make the biomaterial outlined in this study amenable as an implantable device for an unmet clinical need in tracheal replacement.
Identity Authentication Chain based on Encrypted Database in Heterogeneous Alliance Network

In this paper, a chain structure of identity authentication based on encrypted database in heterogeneous alliance network was constructed to implement the cross domain access. For preventing the member with lower level from reaching the member with higher level, two judgement nodes were designed in a whole chain. One is the node between III sub chain and II sub chain. The other one is between II sub chain and I sub chain. Moreover, the information of chains was saved in the encrypted database. These strategies could resist general network attacks. In addition, we design the protocols of identity association and cross domain access. The analysis of security can illustrate that the chain was feasible and protected.
Decreased B1 and B2 Lymphocytes Are Associated With Mortality in Elderly Patients With Chronic Kidney Diseases

Aim: Loss of renal function is associated with immune deficiency; however, few studies have addressed the role of B lymphocytes in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this study, we examined the distribution and the relationship of the B lymphocyte subpopulation with clinical outcomes in elderly CKD patients. Methods: In this study, a total of 380 patients (312 CKD patients and 68 non-CKD controls) were recruited. Venous blood samples were analyzed by flow cytometry to determine the following B cell subsets: total B cells (CD19+), innate B1 cells (CD19+CD5+), and conventional B2 cells (CD19+CD5–). Correlations between the B cell subsets with clinical features and patient prognosis were analyzed. Results: A total of 380 patients (mean age 82.29 ± 6.22 years, 76.3% male) were included. The median follow-up time was 37.0 months (range, 1–109 months); 109 (28.7%) patients died. The main causes of death were infections (59.6%) and cardiovascular diseases (22.9%). Correlation analysis showed that levels of serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and CKD were negatively associated with B1 cells. However, lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were positively correlated with B1 cells (all P < 0.05). B2 cells were negatively associated with age, SCr, cystatin C, BUN, and CKD, and were positively correlated with hemoglobin, lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, NK cells, and eGFR (all P < 0.05). Patient survival was significantly better in patients with B cells > 0.05 × 109/L, B1 cells > 0.02 × 109/L, and B2 cells > 0.04 × 109/L. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that B1 cells > 0.02 × 109/L [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.502, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.297–0.851, P = 0.010] and B2 cells > 0.04 × 109/L (HR = 0.536, 95% CI: 0.319–0.901, P = 0.019) were independent protective factors for all-cause mortality. Conclusions: Our results showed that B1 and B2 cells exhibited a significantly negative correlation with the progression of CKD in elderly patients. Moreover, B1 and B2 cells were independent prognostic factors for survival, which indicates that the decrease in B cells may be associated with the progression of kidney diseases.
A Call for Collaborative CS + IS HCI Studies

As a researcher who started in theoretical AI and now leads a research group called Interactive Visualizations for Real-Life Systems at a business university, I have worked and published with people from the Computer Science and the Information Systems communities. My journey from theoretical AI to applied HCI has taught me the value of methods and contributions of both the CS and the IS fields. They are highly complementary. In my own research, I have been combining different methods and contribution types using design research methodology as a framework. While most impactful projects in HCI can arise from CS + IS collaboration, they are rare and should be promoted and encouraged.
Appropriate referral and selection of patients with chronic pain for spinal cord stimulation: European consensus recommendations and e‐health tool

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an established treatment for chronic neuropathic, neuropathic‐like and ischaemic pain. However, the heterogeneity of patients in daily clinical practice makes it often challenging to determine which patients are eligible for this treatment, resulting in undesirable practice variations. This study aimed to establish patient‐specific recommendations for referral and selection of SCS in chronic pain.
An mHealth HIV prevention programme for youth: lessons learned from the iloveLife.mobi programme in South Africa

ABSTRACT A mobile-based behavioural change program iloveLive.mobi was implemented to prevent HIV among young people (12–24 years) in South Africa. The mobile site offered access to sexual and reproductive health and psychosocial information through interactive learning. The site provided incentives for positive behaviour (such as HIV testing). The research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the iloveLife.mobi site in promoting protective behaviour of users. A mixed-methods approach was used, including document review, KAPB survey (n = 1882), group discussions (n = 68) and telephonic interviews (n = 175) with users and interviews with 46 project and community stakeholders. The SRH and psychosocial information on the site was age-appropriate and useful to young people (82.2%). The site reached young men who are generally difficult to reach with SRH information. High-frequency users reported more confidence related to condom use and HIV testing and more protective behaviour (condom use, VMMC) compared to low-frequency users. Users also reported more protective behaviour (HIV testing, VMMC, condom use) than a comparable national sample. iloveLife.mobi became a repository for learning to reach young people with health information. The research highlights key issues to consider when implementing an mHealth platform in a low- or middle-income country, where literacy levels and technical infrastructure may cause challenges.
Functional study of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) in keratinocytes: microarray integrating bioinformatics approaches

Abstract The function of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) has been gradually elucidated in several diseases, especially in various cancers. However, the role of ALDH1 in skin-related diseases has been mostly unknown. Previously, we found that ALDH1 is involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, we used high-throughput screening (HTS) approaches to identify critical factors associated with ALDH1 in human keratinocytes to reveal its functions in skin. We overexpressed ALDH1 in human HaCaT keratinocytes and then conducted serial HTS studies, a DNA microarray and antibody array integrated with bioinformatics algorithms. Together, those tests identified several novel genes associated with the function of ALDH1 in keratinocytes, as well as AD, including CTSG and CCL11. In particular, GNB3, GHSR, TAS2R9, FFAR1, TAS2R16, CCL21, GPR32, NPFFR1, GPR15, FBXW12, CCL19, EDNRA, FFAR3, and RXFP3 proteins were consistently detected as hub proteins in the PPI maps. By integrating the datasets obtained from these HTS studies and using the strengths of each method, we obtained new insights into the functional role of ALDH1 in skin keratinocytes. The approach used here could contribute to the clinical understanding of ALDH1-associated applications for the treatment of AD. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Investigating bifidobacteria and human milk oligosaccharide composition of lactating mothers.

Human milk is known to carry its own microbiota, of which the precise origin remains obscure. Breast-feeding allows mother-to-baby transmission of microorganisms as well as transfer of many other milk components, such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which act as metabolizable substrates for particular bacteria, such as bifidobacteria, residing in infant intestinal tract. In the current study, we report HMO composition of 249 human milk samples, in 163 of which we quantified the abundance of members of the Bifidobacterium genus using a combination of metagenomic and flow cytometric approaches. Metagenomic data allowed us to identify four clusters dominated by Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Bifidobacterium crudilactis, or Bifidobacterium dentium, as well as a cluster represented by a heterogeneous mix of bifidobacterial species such as Bifidobacterium breve and Bifidobacterium longum. Furthermore, in vitro growth assays on HMOs coupled with in silico glycobiome analyses allowed us to elucidate that members of the Bifidobacterium bifidum and B. breve species exhibit the highest ability to degrade and grow on HMOs. Altogether these findings indicate that the bifidobacterial component of the human milk microbiota is not strictly correlated to their ability to metabolize HMOs.
Terpenoids from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Penicillium thomii YPGA3 and Their Bioactivities

A chemical study of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract from the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium thomii YPGA3 led to the isolation of a new austalide meroterpenoid (1) and seven known analogues (2−8), two new labdane-type diterpenoids (9 and 10) and a known derivative (11). The structures of new compounds 1, 9, and 10 were determined by comprehensive analyses via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopy (MS) data. The absolute configurations of 1, 9, and 10 were determined by comparisons of experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) with the calculated ECD spectra. Compound 1 represented the third example of austalides bearing a hydroxyl group at C-5 instead of the conserved methoxy in other known analogues. To our knowledge, diterpenoids belonging to the labdane-type were discovered from species of Penicillium for the first time. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity toward MDA-MB-468 cells with an IC50 value of 38.9 μM. Compounds 2 and 11 exhibited inhibition against α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 910 and 525 μM, respectively, being more active than the positive control acarbose (1.33 mM).
Daily energy balance and eating behaviour during a 14-day cold weather expedition in Greenland.

We assessed energy compensation, appetite and reward value of foods during a 14-day military expedition in Greenland realized by 12 male French soldiers during which energy compensation was optimized by providing them with easy-to-eat palatable foods in excess. Although daily energy expenditure (estimated by accelerometry) stayed relatively constant throughout the expedition (15 ± 9 MJ.d-1), energy intake (EI estimated by self-reported diaries) was 17% higher during the D8-D14 than D1-D7 period, leading to a neutral energy balance (EB). Body fat mass (BFM) significantly decreased (-1.0 ± 0.7 kg, p<0.001) but not body mass (BM). Neither hunger scores (assessed by visual analog scales), nor components of the reward value of food (explicit liking [EL] and food preference) were significantly altered. However, changes in EL at D10 positively correlated with changes in BM (r=0.600, p<0.05) and BFM (r = 0.680, p < 0.05) and changes in hunger with the EI of the relevant period (r=0.743, p<0.01 for D1-D7, r=0.652, p<0.05 for D8-14). This study shows that the negative EB and BM loss can be attenuated by an appropriate food supply and that subjective components of eating behaviour, such as hunger and EL, may be useful to predict the magnitude of energy compensation.
Human CD27+ memory B cells colonize a superficial follicular zone in the palatine tonsils with similarities to the spleen. A multicolor immunofluorescence study of lymphoid tissue

Background Memory B cell (mBC) induction and maintenance is one of the keys to long-term protective humoral immunity. MBCs are fundamental to successful medical interventions such as vaccinations and therapy in autoimmunity. However, their lifestyle and anatomic residence remain enigmatic in humans. Extrapolation from animal studies serves as a conceptual basis but might be misleading due to major anatomical distinctions between species. Methods and findings Multicolor immunofluorescence stainings on fixed and unfixed frozen tissue sections were established using primary antibodies coupled to haptens and secondary signal amplification. The simultaneous detection of five different fluorescence signals enabled the localization and characterization of human CD27+CD20+Ki67- mBCs for the first time within one section using laser scanning microscopy. As a result, human tonsillar mBCs were initially identified within their complex microenvironment and their relative location to naïve B cells, plasma cells and T cells could be directly studied and compared to the human splenic mBC niche. In all investigated tonsils (n = 15), mBCs appeared to be not only located in a so far subepithelial defined area but were also follicle associated with a previous undescribed gradual decline towards the follicular mantle comparable to human spleen. However, mBC areas around secondary follicles with large germinal centers (GCs) in tonsils showed interruptions and a general widening towards the epithelium while in spleen the mBC-containing marginal zones (MZ) around smaller GCs were relatively broad and symmetrical. Considerably fewer IgM+IgD+/- pre-switch compared to IgA+ or IgG+ post-switch mBCs were detected in tonsils in contrast to spleen. Conclusions This study extends existing insights into the anatomic residence of human mBCs showing structural similarities of the superficial follicular area in human spleen and tonsil. Our data support the debate of renaming the human splenic MZ to ‘superficial zone‘ in order to be aware of the differences in rodents and, moreover, to consider this term equally for the human palatine tonsil.
Self-perceptions of ageing, GP visits and frequent attendance. Longitudinal findings from the German Ageing Survey

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to clarify the link between self-perceptions of ageing and the number of general practitioner (GP) visits, as well as frequent GP visits, longitudinally. Methods In this study, longitudinal data with n = 7,062 observations from 2014 (wave 5) to 2017 (wave 6) were taken from the German Ageing Survey (representative sample of middle aged and older individuals residing in private households). The five-item Attitudes Toward Own Ageing subscale of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS) was used to quantify self-perceptions of ageing. The frequency of GP visits in the past 12 months served as outcome measure (first model: measured continuously; second model: top 10% were defined as frequent attenders). To exploit the features of panel data, and to mitigate the problem of unobserved heterogeneity, fixed effects regressions were used. Results Adjusting for predisposing characteristics, enabling resources and need-factors, regressions showed that an increase in self-perceptions of ageing was associated with decreases in the number of GP visits (IRR= .83 (95% CI: .77-.91)), and a decreased likelihood of becoming a frequent attender (OR= .44 (95% CI: .29-.66)). Conclusions Using data from a longitudinal study and exploiting the longitudinal data structure, the current study adds to our current knowledge by demonstrating that self-perceptions of ageing contribute to the frequency of GP visits as well as frequent attendance. Since self-perceptions of ageing are modifiable, this may help to manage health care use.