Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Limited adaptive evolution of Staphylococcus aureus during transition from colonization to invasive infection

Staphylococcus aureus carriage is a risk factor for invasive infections. Unique genetic elements favoring the transition from colonizing to invasive phenotype have not yet been identified and phenotypic traits are understudied. We therefore assessed pheno- and genotypic profiles of eleven S. aureus isolate pairs sampled from colonized patients simultaneously suffering from invasive S. aureus infections. Ten out of 11 isolate pairs presented the same spa and MLST suggesting colonization as origin for the invasive infection. Systematic analysis of colonizing and invasive isolate pairs showed similar adherence, hemolysis and reproductive fitness properties, minimal genetic differences, identical antibiotic tolerance and bacterial virulence in Galleria mellonella. Our results provide insights into the similar phenotype associated with limited adaptive genetic evolution between the colonizing and invasive isolates. Disruption of the physical barriers mucosa or skin were identified in the majority of patients further emphasizing colonization as a major risk factor for invasive disease. Importance S. aureus is a major pathogen of humans causing a wide range of disease. The failure to develop a vaccine and antibiotic warrant the exploration of novel treatment strategies. Asymptomatic colonization of the human nasal passages is a major risk factor for invasive disease and decolonization procedures have shown efficacy in preventing invasive infections. However, the transition of S. aureus from a benign colonizer of the nasal passages to a major pathogen is not well understood and host as well as bacterial properties have been discussed as being relevant for this behavioral change. We conducted a thorough investigation of patient-derived strain pairs reflecting colonizing and invasive isolates in a given patient. Although we identified limited genetic adaptation in certain strains as well as slight differences in adherence capacity of colonizing and invasive isolates, our work suggests that barrier breaches are a key event in the disease continuum of S. aureus.
How should reflection be supported in higher education? — A meta-analysis of reflection interventions

ABSTRACT The present study adopted a meta-analytic approach to evaluate reflective interventions that were conducted with the intention to promote learning outcomes in higher education, using controlled experimental designs. A systematic search of the extant literature yielded 23 articles, comprising 23 effect sizes and a total of 2010 participants. Under a random-effects model, the results showed that reflective interventions had a positive and significant medium-sized effect (g = 0.56, SE = 0.06) on learning outcomes. The moderator analyses revealed that the effect varied as a function of intervention duration, peer interaction and reflective activities. These findings underscore the importance of fostering reflective thinking and refining design principles for reflective scaffolding.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND This study analyzes and compares the efficacy of using catheter ablation (CA) and traditional drug treatments for atrial fibrillation (AF). Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, it seeks to provide a theoretical basis for using clinical CA for patients with AF. METHODS We searched through articles detailing randomly controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the surgical effect of CA on the treatment of AF. These articles were published before January 31, 2000 in various English databases, including PubMed, Embase, Medline, Ovid, Springer, and Web of Sciences. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention 5.0. 2 was adopted for the bias risk assessment, and Review Manager 5.3 software was used for the meta-analysis of the articles. RESULTS A total of 2,098 patients drawn from 13 articles were included in the study. For patients in the experimental group (Exp. group), the meta-analysis showed an increase in the effects of clinical treatment [mean deviation (MD) =3.91; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.15-4.85; Z=12.36; P<0.00001], an improvement in daily life function (MD =1.45; 95% CI, 1.03-1.87; Z=6.82; P<0.00001), a decrease in body weakness (MD =-2.84; 95% CI, -3.24 to -2.45; Z=14.16; P <0.00001), and an increase in quality of life score (MD =14.15; 95% CI, 7.24-21.05; Z=4.01; P<0.0001). The Exp. group also experienced a reduction in postoperative pain level (MD =-2.5; 95% CI, -3.11 to -1.89; Z=8.04; P<0.00001), reoccurrence of symptomatic AF (OR =0.27; 95% CI, 0.11-0.67; Z=2.82; P=0.005), rehospitalization (MD =0.15; 95% CI, 0.07-0.31; Z=5.11; P<0.00001), other arrhythmia (MD =0.33; 95% CI, 0.18-0.6; Z=3.62; P=0.0003), and pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) (MD =0.32; 95% CI, 0.14-0.72; Z=2.74; P=0.006). However, in contrast to patients in the control group (Ctrl group), the 'bleeding' mentioned above showed no statistical difference. DISCUSSION CA has a good postoperative clinical effect on AF patients, reducing incidences of pain, adverse reactions, and rehospitalization. For this reason, CA is a suitable treatment for AF patients who do not effectively respond to drug therapy.
Cyanobacteria reduction in the integrated culture of Pacific white shrimp and West India pointed venus in a biofloc system

This study aimed to evaluate the integrated culture of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and the West Indian pointed venus (Anomalocardia flexuosa) reared in a biofloc system. The performance of both species and the phytoplankton community were evaluated. Shrimp monoculture and three stocking densities of West Indian pointed venus (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 Kg m-3) were evaluated in 0.05 m3 tanks. First of all, the addition of A. brasiliana did not affect the water quality parameters of the culture. Regarding the phytoplankton community, 13 taxa were found: 5 cyanobacteria, 4 dinoflagellates, 3 diatoms and 1 green algae. Although diatoms were dominant at the beginning of cultivation, in the middle and at the end a cyanobacterial dominance was observed (proven by ANOSIM and nMDS). The taxa that most contributed to the abundance of cyanobacteria were Aphanocapsa sp. and Pseudanabaena sp. Regarding the performance of the shrimp, all integrated treatments present the higher growth performances (final weight, yield and survival) when compared to shrimp monoculture. Moreover, gradual mortalities of A. brasiliana were observed, probably due to the high concentration of cyanobacteria. Thus, it can be observed that the integration of molluscs in shrimp culture can reduce the concentration of harmful algae and improve the zootechnical performance of the shrimp.
Growing trees: The acquisition of the left periphery

We suggest here a Growing Trees approach for the description of the acquisition of various syntactic structures in Hebrew, based on the main results reported in Friedmann and Reznick (this volume) and on our own research on a corpus of natural productions. The heart of our account is that stages of acquisition follow the geometry of the syntactic tree, along the lines of the cartographic analysis of the clause, with early stages of acquisition corresponding to small portions of the adult syntactic tree, which keeps growing with the growth of the child. The lower parts of the tree are acquired first, and higher parts are acquired later. We propose three stages of acquisition connected to the development of functional layers of the syntactic tree. In the first stage, the IP is acquired, including the lexical and inflectional layers. This allows for the appearance of A-movement structures, including SV/VS alternations with unaccusative verbs, alongside SV sentences with unergative/transitive verbs. The second stage involves the acquisition of the lower part of the left periphery, up to QP, which allows for the acquisition of subject and object Wh questions, some adjunct questions, yes/no questions, and sentence-initial adverbs. In the third stage, the rich structure of the left periphery is completely acquired, including the higher CP field. This is the stage in which sentential embedding (of finite declarative and interrogative clauses), subject and object relative clauses, why questions, and topicalization appear. A further, different type of stage, which occurs on the already-grown tree and which is independent of structure building, is the acquisition of intervention configurations, allowing for the mastery of structures involving movement of a lexically-restricted object across an intervening lexically-restricted subject. The paper illustrates the fruitful dialogue between the science of syntax acquisition and the cartography of syntactic structures.
The combined use of gamma-aminobutyric acid and walnut peptide enhances sleep in mice.

BACKGROUND γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a naturally occurring non-protein amino acid in the nervous system and has a wide range of physiological functions in the body. Walnut peptide (WP) contains high levels of arginine, aspartic acid, and glutamate, and has been shown to improve cognitive deficits and memory impairment in mice, while restoring antioxidant enzyme levels and reducing brain inflammatory mediators. METHODS This study investigated the effects of GABA and WP, either alone or in combination, on sleep disturbances in mice. The pentobarbital-prolonged sleep test, pentobarbital-threshold sleep test, and barbital-induced sleep test were conducted to assess the effects of GABA and WP on sleep quality by gavage for 30 days as follows: GABA (102.25 mg/kg), WP (102.25 mg/kg), GABA (33.95, 102.25, 306.75 mg/kg)/WP (102.25 mg/kg) mixture. Furthermore, neurotransmitter tests were performed using mice brain tissue to investigate the possible mechanisms of GABA and WP on sleep status. RESULTS The results showed that the combined use of GABA and WP significantly increased sleep duration compared with single administration of either WP or GABA. Increasing doses of GABA in mice treated with combined GABA and WP elevated the sleep rate to 50.00%, 64.28%, and 64.28%, respectively, compared to mice treated with GABA alone (35.71%) or mice treated with WP alone (28.57%). In mice that received a combination of GABA and WP orally, the latency time was significantly decreased after 30 days compared to control mice (P<0.05). Additionally, in mice treated with GABA, WP, or the combination of GABA and WP, the concentrations of GABA and acetylcholine (Ach) in the brain were significantly elevated and the concentration of serotonin (5-HT) was decreased compared to untreated mice. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrated that the combined administration of GABA and WP could prolong the sleep duration, increase sleep rate, and shorten the sleep latency more effectively than the administration of either GABA or WP alone. The mechanisms of action may be related to the regulation of neurotransmitters in the brain tissue by the combination of GABA and WP.
Cryptography for Trusted Artificial Intelligence in Medicine

The basic tools of cryptography are suited for securing communication of the different steps in the deployment of an IA system. We will focus here on the sub-area of machine learning. For such systems, a first step consists in harvesting data to learn the model. The communications between the source of data and the learning model have to be secured ad minima by using classical cryptographic tools. The following steps can constitute an example:
Social entrenchment influences the amount of areal borrowing in contact languages

Aims and objectives: Social factors in language contact are not well understood. This study seeks to establish and explain the role of social entrenchment in the evolution of contact languages. It also aims to contribute to a broader perspective on areality that can account for social and linguistic factors in contact outcomes involving all languages present in multilingual ecologies, including contact languages. Methodology: The copula system was singled out for a detailed analysis. A corpus of primary data of the three African English-lexifier contact languages, Pichi, Cameroon Pidgin, and Ghanaian Pidgin, their ancestor Krio, and of their African adstrates (Bube, Mokpe, Akan) and European superstrates (Spanish, English) was investigated and compared. Data and analysis: Relevant features were selected for a dissimilarity matrix. A quantitative analysis was done with SplitsTree4. The resulting distance matrix and phylogenetic network were investigated for signals of genealogical transmission and areal diffusion and interpreted on their social background. Findings/conclusions: The copula systems of the three contact languages carry a genealogical signal of their ancestor Krio as well as an areal signal from the adstrates and superstrates spoken in their respective ecologies. The amount of areal borrowing increases in the order Pichi < Cameroon Pidgin < Ghanaian Pidgin, reflective of the depth of social entrenchment of each variety from left to right. Originality: Previous studies do not describe the copula systems of the English-lexifier contact languages of Africa and the Caribbean at a similar level of granularity and mostly focus on their emergence during creolization. This study attempts to explain their subsequent areal differentiation and links it to differences in social ecologies. Significance/implications: Areal borrowing can lead to significant departures from genealogically inherited structures within a short time if social entrenchment is shallow. Conversely, even languages of wider communication can remain remarkably stable if social entrenchment is deep.
Surgical Treatment of Endo-periodontal Lesion – A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Periapical lesions are a pаthological changes that occur in most of poorly endodontically treated teeth. Endodontic and periodontal diseases are caused by a mixed anaerobic infection. Periodontal disease produces lesions in the tooth-supporting tissues. Generalized periodontitis comprises hard and soft tissue at the whole dentition. Surgical methods of treatment include etiological and pathogenetic methods – removal of pathological tissue, destruction of the bacterial causative agent, and recovery of lost tissue. Recognition and management of risk factors (local and general) increase the chances of a successful treatment outcome. The combined surgical protocol presented in this article is the last step before extraction. Especially in the frontal area, dentist should try to keep the esthetics, maintaining the tooth and the surrounding bone. CASE REPORT: The presented patient is a 59-year-old lady with generalized periodontal disease and periodontitis apicalis chronica dentis 21. Bone graft covered by soft-tissue graft was used to fill the defects around the apex and surrounding the teeth. After 5 months, the apical lesion was in very good condition according to radiological and clinical examination. The periodontal lesion was almost at the same vertical condition as the initial situation, but this surgery method aims to make bone thicker for support of the mucosa. The risk factors were smoking, average level of oral hygiene, and osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: The combination of different clinical protocols is a necessity in surgical practice. Knowledge of the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease allows the application of adequate methods of treatment. The result was satisfactory.
The Pedagogical Model of Hybrid Teaching: Difficulties of University Students in the Context of COVID-19

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has led to changes in many areas, with educational scenarios being affected. In this sense, university education has undergone significant changes owing to the impossibility of following the fully face-to-face mode of teaching. Given this situation, the general objective of this study is to analyze the university educational scenario in the context of COVID-19 and, more specifically, to identify the difficulties perceived by students. Using a mixed quantitative–qualitative methodological approach, an ad hoc questionnaire was designed, and data were collected from a sample of 238 students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching during the 2020/2021 academic year. The results obtained have shown that students have experienced numerous difficulties in adapting to the hybrid teaching model. In this sense, it is worth highlighting the decrease in motivation, the feeling of loneliness, technical connection problems, and less interaction with the teaching staff and other students. The degree of satisfaction with the teaching received is also moderate. As a conclusion, it can be stated that the difficulties identified recommend the introduction of actions to improve the application of the teaching model implemented in favor of university excellence.
On stochastic accelerated gradient with non-strongly convexity

In this paper, we consider stochastic approximation algorithms for least-square and logistic regression with no strong-convexity assumption on the convex loss functions. We develop two algorithms with varied step-size motivated by the accelerated gradient algorithm which is initiated for convex stochastic programming. We analyse the developed algorithms that achieve a rate of $ O(1/n^{2}) $ where $ n $ is the number of samples, which is tighter than the best convergence rate $ O(1/n) $ achieved so far on non-strongly-convex stochastic approximation with constant-step-size, for classic supervised learning problems. Our analysis is based on a non-asymptotic analysis of the empirical risk (in expectation) with less assumptions that existing analysis results. It does not require the finite-dimensionality assumption and the Lipschitz condition. We carry out controlled experiments on synthetic and some standard machine learning data sets. Empirical results justify our theoretical analysis and show a faster convergence rate than existing other methods.
Deep Neural Network to Accurately Predict Left Ventricular Systolic Function Under Mechanical Assistance

Characterizing left ventricle (LV) systolic function in the presence of an LV assist device (LVAD) is extremely challenging. We developed a framework comprising a deep neural network (DNN) and a 0D model of the cardiovascular system to predict parameters of LV systolic function. DNN input data were systemic and pulmonary arterial pressure signals, and rotation speeds of the device. Output data were parameters of LV systolic function, including end-systolic maximal elastance (Emax,lv), a variable essential for adequate hemodynamic assessment of the LV. A 0D model of the cardiovascular system, including a wide range of LVAD settings and incorporating the whole spectrum of heart failure, was used to generate data for the training procedure of the DNN. The DNN predicted Emax,lv with a mean relative error of 10.1%, and all other parameters of LV function with a mean relative error of <13%. The framework was then able to retrieve a number of LV physiological variables (i.e., pressures, volumes, and ejection fraction) with a mean relative error of <5%. Our method provides an innovative tool to assess LV hemodynamics under device assistance, which could be helpful for a better understanding of LV-LVAD interactions, and for therapeutic optimization.
Evidence From the Trauma-Film Paradigm That Traumatic and Nontraumatic Memories Are Statistically Equivalent on Coherence

There is contention in the scientific literature about the coherence of people’s memories for trauma: Sometimes, traumatic memories are rated as less coherent than nontraumatic memories; other times, they “look” very similar. But several methodological challenges invite counter-explanations that hinder the interpretation of these findings. We set out to address these challenges by adopting a trauma-film-paradigm approach to examine the coherence of traumatic and nontraumatic memories. We developed a new set of materials for the trauma-film paradigm and then used these materials to examine the relative coherence of traumatic and various nontraumatic memories. We found that traumatic memories were not only fairly coherent but also statistically equivalent to their nontraumatic counterparts. Our hope is that scientists use these materials in experiments that complement the existing autobiographical-memory literature and allow for a greater understanding of the relation between memory and dysfunction.
The Association of Pain Levels and Low Physical Activity among Older Women

There is an integral research gap regarding whether there is a relationship between pain levels and low physical activity among older women. This is a secondary analysis of a longitudinal cohort study, the Women’s Health and Aging Study (WHAS) II. Our analyses included 436 community-dwelling women between the ages of 70 and 79, who were followed for 10.5 years. We employed marginal structural modeling, which controls for time-dependent confounding, with the aim of assessing the potential direct association between pain levels and low physical activity and assess a graded relationship. Compared to women with no pain, those with widespread pain were nearly half as likely to be moderately active versus low active (aOR: 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22, 0.96). A graded association was observed across the four pain levels (no pain or mild pain, other pain, moderate or severe lower extremity pain, and widespread pain) on low physical activity. Our findings indicate that reducing chronic widespread pain in older women may increase moderate physical activity, and therefore reduce the downstream health risks of low physical activity, including morbidity and mortality risk.
Analysis and suppression of thermal effect of an ultra-stable laser interferometer for space-based gravitational waves detection

Guanfang Wang (王观芳), Zhu Li (李 祝), Jialing Huang (黄家玲), Huizong Duan (段会宗), Xiangqing Huang (黄祥青), Hongfan Liu (刘洪凡), Qi Liu (刘 祺), Shanqing Yang (杨山清), Liangcheng Tu (涂良成), and Hsien-Chi Yeh (叶贤基) 1 MOE Key Laboratory of TianQin Mission, TianQin Research Center for Gravitational Physics & School of Physics and Astronomy, Frontiers Science Center for TianQin, CNSA Research Center for Gravitational Waves, Sun Yat-sen University (Zhuhai Campus), Zhuhai 519082, China 2 Shenhe Middle School, Heyuan 517000, China
Prediction of the stiffness of CNTB/polymer composite on the consideration of agglomeration, waviness and porosity

Abstract In this paper, the stiffness of carbon nanotube bundle (CNTB) reinforced composite is predicted by means of the Mori-Tanaka method and Eshelby method. The curvature of one CNTB on uniaxial aligned distributed condition is investigated, and the influence of porosity and agglomeration on the CNTB/polymer composite is discussed in the case of randomly distribution of the CNTB in matrix. Numerical examples and analysis show influence of the contents of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the CNTB, the content of CNTB, agglomeration, waviness, porosity and curvature have great effect on the elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the whole composite.