Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multispecies transcriptomes reveal core fruit development genes

During angiosperm evolution there have been repeated transitions from an ancestral dry fruit to a derived fleshy fruit, often with dramatic ecological and economic consequences. Following the transition to fleshy fruits, domestication may also dramatically alter the fruit phenotype via artificial selection. Although the morphologies of these fruits are well documented, relatively less is known about the molecular basis of these developmental and evolutionary shifts. We generated RNA-seq libraries from pericarp tissue of desert tobacco and both cultivated and wild tomato species at common developmental time points and combined this with corresponding, publicly available data from Arabidopsis and melon. With this broadly sampled dataset consisting of dry/fleshy fruits and wild/domesticated species, we applied novel bioinformatic methods to investigate conserved and divergent patterns of gene expression during fruit development and evolution. A small set of 121 orthologous “core” fruit development genes show a common pattern of expression across all five species. These include key players in developmental patterning such as orthologs of KNOLLE, PERIANTHIA, and ARGONAUTE7. GO term enrichment suggests that these genes function in basic cell division processes, cell wall biosynthesis, and developmental patterning. We furthermore uncovered a number of “accessory” genes with conserved expression patterns within but not among fruit types, and whose functional enrichment highlights the conspicuous differences between these phenotypic classes. We observe striking conservation of gene expression patterns despite large evolutionary distances, and dramatic phenotypic shifts, suggesting a conserved function for a small subset of core fruit development genes.
Teachers’ demographic and occupational attributes predict feelings of hopelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many emotional consequences for teachers, including feelings of isolation, loneliness, and hopelessness. However, evidence on the prevalence of hopelessness and the associated factors in teachers during the pandemic is limited. The purpose of this research was to examine the prevalence of hopelessness in public school teachers and identify risk factors associated with it. A sample of 168 teachers aged 25–49 years participated in the study by completing the Socio-Demographic Questionnaire, the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The results revealed a moderate level of experienced hopelessness in teachers. Hopelessness prevalence was also significantly different across teacher gender (males = 79%), age groups (>40 = 77%), socioeconomic status (poor socioeconomic status = 70%), educational level (high school teachers = 79%), professional experience (experienced teachers = 82%), and perceived social support (low perceived social support = 79%). The results of a logistic regression analysis confirmed the effects of these demographic and occupational attributes on hopelessness by explaining ~71% of the variance in hopelessness feelings. Higher odds ratios were associated with age, socioeconomic status, and perceived social support, signifying the prominence of these factors in predicting hopelessness. The study contributes to identifying and screening teachers at risk of hopelessness in public schools and recommends promoting collegial/superior support as well as a positive school climate as the protective factors against hopelessness.
Associations between maternal adiposity and appetite-regulating hormones in human milk are mediated through maternal circulating concentrations and might affect infant outcomes

Background Appetite-regulating hormones (ARH) in human milk (HM) are suggested to affect infants’ milk intake and possibly infant growth. Maternal adiposity might contribute to higher levels of ARH in HM, either from the mammary gland or from raised circulating levels due to higher adiposity. Counterfactual-based mediation analysis can define indirect and direct effects between HM ARH and maternal and infant factors, and might be an important tool when investigating the mother-milk-infant triad. Objective We aim to investigate whether potential associations between (1) maternal adiposity and HM ARH and (2) HM ARH and infant milk intake and growth are mediated through maternal and infant plasma ARH, respectively. Materials and methods Maternal and infant anthropometry and body composition, HM and blood samples were collected from 223 mother-infant dyads participating in the Mother, Infant and Lactation Quality study at three postpartum visits from 1 to 8.49 months. Leptin, insulin and adiponectin were analyzed using immunoassays. Mediation analyses using linear mixed-effect models were applied to investigate the direct and indirect effects through maternal and infant plasma hormone concentrations. Results A positive association between maternal body-mass-index (BMI) and HM leptin was mediated by maternal plasma leptin by 29% when fixing BMI to < 25 kg/m2, and through 51% when fixing BMI to ≥ 25 kg/m2 (pinteraction < 0.01). There was no mediated effect through plasma insulin in the association between BMI and HM insulin (p = 0.068). We found negative and positive associations between HM insulin and total milk intake and infant weight, respectively, however, these diminished in mediation analyses with reduced sample sizes. Conclusion Our main results suggest that the association between maternal adiposity and HM leptin was mediated through circulating leptin to a stronger degree for mothers with overweight compared to mothers with normal-weight. This indicates that excess maternal adiposity, and the resulting rise of circulating leptin and possible concomitant low-grade inflammation, may be reflected in HM composition. Clinical trials registry number NCT03254329.
Impacts of primary tumor location on outcomes in patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis vary according to tumor burden

Purpose The purpose of this study was to verify whether the prognostic value of primary tumor location (PTL) for patients undergoing resection for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is affected by tumor burden. Methods Patients who underwent a first curative-intent surgery for CRLM from 2006 to 2017 were enrolled. The imaging tumor burden score (TBS) was calculated as TBS2 = (maximum tumor diameter in cm)2 + (number of lesions)2. Then, the prognostic role of PTL was assessed in different TBS zones. Results The patient population consisted of 524 left-sided (LS) and 118 right-sided (RS) primary tumors. The distribution of TBS in the patient cohort was: Zone1: TBS <3 [n = 161 (25.1%)], zone 2: TBS ≥3 to <7 [n = 343 (53.4%)], and zone 3: TBS ≥7 [n = 138 (21.5%)]. In the whole cohort, the 5-year overall survival (OS) in the RS group was worse than that in the LS group (35.6% vs. 45.4%). However, after adjustment for known prognostic confounders, the RS group was not independently associated with a poorer OS (HR 1.18, p = 0.247). Among patients with TBS <7, OS in the RS group was significantly shorter than that in the LS group in both univariate and multivariate analyses. The prognostic role of PTL remained significant after propensity score matching or excluding patients who received anti-EGFR agents. Conversely, the association between PTL and OS was no longer evident in patients with TBS ≥7. Conclusion The current study demonstrates that the prognostic value of PTL varies by TBS, and RS tumors are only associated with shorter survival in patients with low or medium TBS.
Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of WXFL10203614 in healthy Chinese subjects: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase Ⅰ study

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics (PK) of WXFL10203614 after single and multiple oral doses in healthy Chinese subjects. Methods: A single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase Ⅰ study was performed on healthy Chinese subjects. In the single-dose study, Subjects were randomized into 7 dose levels of WXFL10203614 (1 mg group, n = 2; 2, 5, 10, 17, 25 and 33 mg groups with placebo, 8 subjects per group, 2 of them given placebo). In the multiple-dose study, subjects received 5 or 10 mg WXFL10203614 once daily (QD), 5 mg twice daily (BID) or placebo for 7 consecutive days. Safety, tolerability and PK of WXFL10203614 were all assessed. Results: A total of 592 subjects were screened, 50 subjects were enrolled in the single-dose study and 30 in the multiple-dose study. All adverse events (AEs) were mild or moderate and resolved spontaneously. No Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) or deaths were reported during the study. WXFL10203614 was absorbed rapidly after dosing with Tmax of 0.48–0.98 h, Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ were all increased in a dose-related manner over the range of 1–33 mg. Renal excretion was the major route of elimination of WXFL10203614. Steady-state PK parameters (Cmax,ss, AUC0-t,ss and AUC0-∞,ss) were elevated after once-daily administration of 5–10 mg WXFL10203614 and non- and weak drug accumulations were observed, whereas moderate drug accumulation occurred in the 5 mg BID group. Conclusion: WXFL10203614 exhibited good safety, tolerability and favorable PK profiles in healthy Chinese subjects, supporting further clinical development in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical Trials Registration Number: http://www.chinadrugtrials. org.cn/index.html, #CTR20190069 and CTR20200143.
Effect of the application of vermicompost and millicompost humic acids about the soybean microbiome under water restriction conditions

Humic substances (HSs) are constituent fractions of organic matter and are highly complex and biologically active. These substances include humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA), and humin. HS are known to stimulate the root system and plant growth and to mitigate stress damage, including hydric stress. Humic acids have already been reported to increase microbial growth, affecting their beneficial effect on plants. However, there is scarce information on whether HA from vermicompost and millicompost, along with Bradyrhizobium, improves the tolerance of soybean to water restriction. This study aimed to evaluate the responses of soybean plants to the application of vermicompost HA (HA-V) and millicompost (HA-M) along with Bradyrhizobium sp. under water restriction. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, and the treatments received Bradyrhizobium sp. inoculation with or without the application of HA from vermicompost and millicompost with or without water restriction. The results showed that HA provided greater soybean growth and nodulation than the control. The application of HA-M stimulated an increase in the richness of bacterial species in roots compared to the other treatments. After the application of water stress, the difference between the treatments disappeared. Microbial taxa were differentially abundant in plants, with the fungal fraction most affected by HA application in stressed roots. HA-V appears to be more prominent in inducing taxa under stress conditions. Although the results showed slight differences between HA from vermicompost and millicompost regarding plant growth, both humic acids promoted an increase in plant development compared to the control.
Liver tissue remodeling following ablation with irreversible electroporation in a porcine model

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a method of non-thermal focal tissue ablation characterized by irreversibly permeabilizing the cell membranes while preserving the extracellular matrix. This study aimed to investigate tissue remodeling after IRE in a porcine model, especially focusing on the extracellular matrix and hepatic stellate cells. IRE ablation was performed on 11 female pigs at 2,000 V/cm electric field strength using a versatile high-voltage generator and 3 cm diameter parallel-plate electrodes. The treated lobes were removed during surgery at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after IRE. Tissue remodeling and regeneration were assessed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Throughout the treated area, IRE led to extensive necrosis with intact collagenous structures evident until day 1. From then on, the necrosis progressively diminished while reparative tissue gradually increased. During this process, the reticulin framework and the septal fibrillar collagen remained in the necrotic foci until they were invaded by the reparative tissue. The reparative tissue was characterized by a massive proliferation of myofibroblast-like cells accompanied by a complete disorganization of the extracellular matrix with the disappearance of hepatic architecture. Hepatic stellate cell markers were associated with the proliferation of myofibroblast-like cells and the reorganization of the extracellular matrix. Between 2 and 3 weeks after IRE, the lobular architecture was almost completely regenerated. The events described in the present study show that IRE may be a valid model to study the mechanisms underlying liver regeneration after extensive acute injury.
Influence of cognitive abilities on literacy skills in a Korean–Japanese bilingual child with developmental dyslexia

Some individuals with developmental dyslexia show dissociation in reading skills between languages. The occurrence of dissociation depends on differences in the orthographic characteristics and cognitive demands of languages. This article reports on a Korean–Japanese bilingual and biliterate boy, SJ, with developmental dyslexia (aged 11 years), who displayed dissociation between Korean and Japanese in reading and writing accuracy. This study aimed to discuss possible accounts for the profile of his literacy skills from orthographic and cognitive perspectives. To accomplish this aim, we measured SJ’s literacy skills, receptive vocabulary, and cognitive abilities (i.e., phonological skills, naming speed, and visual skills) in both Korean and Japanese. Then, we compared his skills to those of monolingual and bilingual children. In terms of accuracy, his reading skills in Korean did not differ significantly from those of bilinguals, although they were lower than Korean monolinguals. His spelling skills were within the average range for Korean monolinguals and bilinguals. In contrast, his reading and writing accuracy levels in Japanese were low compared to both Japanese monolinguals and bilinguals. Moreover, his reading and writing deficits were more remarkable in Japanese kanji. However, his cognitive profile was similar between languages. Specifically, he showed deficits in phonological skills and naming speed in both languages, as well as deficits in visual skills. These results were explained by the facts that visual skills are one of the significant predictors of reading and writing accuracy in Japanese but not in Korean, and that visual skills are a key in learning kanji. Thus, our case, SJ, supports the cognitive account, namely, the idea that different cognitive demands on the development of literacy skills can cause dissociation in literacy skills (especially in terms of accuracy) in bilingual children.
Phonon-induced quadrupolar ordering of the magnetic superconductor TmNi 2 B 2 C

We present synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies revealing that the lattice of thulium borocarbide is distorted below ${T}_{Q}\ensuremath{\simeq}13.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ at zero field. ${T}_{Q}$ increases and the amplitude of the displacements is drastically enhanced by a factor of 10 at 60 kOe when a magnetic field is applied along [100]. The distortion occurs at the same wave vector as the antiferromagnetic ordering induced by the $a$-axis field. A model is presented that accounts for the properties of the quadrupolar phase and explains the peculiar behavior of the antiferromagnetic ordering previously observed in this compound.
X-Ray Supercavities in the Hydra A Cluster and the Outburst History of the Central Galaxy’s Active Nucleus

A 227 ks Chandra X-ray image of the hot plasma in the Hydra A cluster has revealed an extensive cavity system. The system was created by a continuous outflow or a series of bursts from the nucleus of the central galaxy over the past 200-500 Myr. The cavities have displaced 10% of the plasma within a 300 kpc radius of the central galaxy, creating a swiss-cheese-like topology in the hot gas. The surface brightness decrements are consistent with empty cavities oriented within 40° of the plane of the sky. The outflow has deposited upward of 1061 ergs into the cluster gas, most of which was propelled beyond the inner ~100 kpc cooling region. The supermassive black hole has accreted at a rate of approximately 0.1-0.25 M☉ yr-1 over this time frame, which is a small fraction of the Eddington rate of a ~109 M☉ black hole, but is dramatically larger than the Bondi rate. Given the previous evidence for a circumnuclear disk of cold gas in Hydra A, these results are consistent with the AGN being powered primarily by infalling cold gas. The cavity system is shadowed perfectly by 330 MHz radio emission. Such low-frequency synchrotron emission may be an excellent proxy for X-ray cavities and thus the total energy liberated by the supermassive black hole.
1D Aging

We derive exact expressions for a number of aging functions that are scaling limits of non-equilibrium correlations, R ( t w , t w + t ) as t w → ∞ , t/t w → θ , in the 1 D homogenous q -state Potts model for all q with T = 0 dynamics following a quench from T = ∞ . One such quantity is h ~σ 0 ( t w ) · ~σ n ( t w + t ) i when n/ √ t w → z . Exact, closed-form expressions are also obtained when one or more interludes of T = ∞ dynamics occur. Our derivations express the scaling limit via coalescing Brownian paths and a “Brownian space-time spanning tree,” which also yields other aging functions, such as the persistence probability of no spin ﬂip at 0 between t w and t w + t . 05.40. -a,
Calculations of Hubbard U from first-principles

The Hubbard $U$ of the $3d$ transition metal series as well as $\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, $\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, Ce, and Gd has been estimated using a recently proposed scheme based on the random-phase approximation. The values obtained are generally in good accord with the values often used in model calculations but for some cases the estimated values are somewhat smaller than those used in the literature. We have also calculated the frequency-dependent $U$ for some of the materials. The strong frequency dependence of $U$ in some of the cases considered in this paper suggests that the static value of $U$ may not be the most appropriate one to use in model calculations. We have also made comparison with the constrained local density approximation (LDA) method and found some discrepancies in a number of cases. We emphasize that our scheme and the constrained local density approximation LDA method theoretically ought to give similar results and the discrepancies may be attributed to technical difficulties in performing calculations based on currently implemented constrained LDA schemes.
48Ti(n,xnypzαγ) Reactions for Neutron Energies up to 250 MeV

Cross‐section measurements were made of prompt γ‐ray production as a function of incident neutron energy on a 48Ti sample. Partial γ‐ray cross sections for transitions in 45–48Ti, 44–48Sc, 42–45Ca, 41–44K, and 41–42Ar have been determined. Energetic neutrons were delivered by the Los Alamos National Laboratory spallation neutron source located at the LANSCE/WNR facility. The prompt‐reaction γ rays were detected with the large‐scale Compton‐suppressed germanium array for neutron‐induced excitations (GEANIE). Neutron energies were determined by the time‐of‐flight technique. The γ‐ray excitation functions were converted to partial γ‐ray cross sections taking into account the dead‐time correction, target thickness, detector efficiency, and neutron flux (monitored with an in‐line fission chamber). The data will be presented for neutron energies between 1 to 250 MeV. These results are compared with model calculations that include compound nuclear and pre‐equilibrium emission.
Parton Correlations in Double Parton Scattering

Double parton scattering events are directly sensitive to the correlations between two partons inside a proton and can answer fundamental questions on the connections between the proton constituents. In this chapter, the different types of possible correlations, our present knowledge of them, and the processes where they are likely to be important, are introduced and explained. The increasing integrated luminosity at the LHC and the refinements of the theory of double parton scattering, lead to interesting prospects for measuring, or severely constraining, two-parton correlations in the near future.
ML-Based Modeling and Virtualization of Reconfigurable Multi-Accelerator Systems

The work of this thesis focuses on providing reconfigurable multi-accelerator systems with the ability to self-adapt at run-time to the conditions and requirements of an IoT environment in a way that is transparent to the user. To this end, we have been working on an offline characterisation of the power consumption and performance of this type of systems through the development of a monitoring infrastructure and the production of predictive models based on machine learning techniques, obtaining very promising results. Currently the development is focused on converting this characterisation into an online modeling that allows, together with an already developed management infrastructure, to evaluate and validate this approach in a realistic test environment, and in the future we will work on the development of virtualization techniques for reconfigurable multi-accelerator systems that allow sharing the hardware among multiple tenants and applications, managing resources in an optimal and transparent way for the user and guaranteeing the performance, privacy and security of the system.
A Study on Malware Detection and Classification Using the Analysis of API Calls Sequences Through Shallow Learning and Recurrent Neural Networks

Malware detection and classification is a critical issue in cybersecurity. Systems acting through signatures suffer the problem of not being able to detect attacks via zero-day malware. Among the approaches that can detect unknown attacks are the possibilities offered by analyzing the sequence of API calls performed by the executable. Such information can be extracted through static and dynamic analysis methods in a sandbox environment. This work proposes an analysis of different techniques to detect malware and subsequently classify them by identifying the family of belonging. Machine Learning algorithms based on trees are compared with Deep Learning algorithms based on Recurrent Neural Networks. The results obtained lead to choosing an algorithm based on RNNs for malware detection and an algorithm based on trees for malware classification.
Knowledge Graph - Our Secret Recipe for Entity Disambiguation

Being able to correctly disambiguate persons and organizations mentioned in various documents can have a great impact on helping FINRA achieve its mission - protecting investors and ensuring the integrity of U.S. securities markets. Our solution was to disambiguate entities and make connections through FINRA Knowledge Graph [1]. Various text analytics techniques were used to improve data quality. The sparsely populated data led us to a home-grown "seed" algorithm - a bottom-up community detection technique that grows communities around reliable clusters (seeds). We adapted a clustering algorithm used for DNA sequencing to improve the quality of disambiguation. Using these approaches, we were able to find a practical solution for clique detection problem which is foundational for entity disambiguation.