Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Silico-Based Design of a Hybrid Peptide with Antimicrobial Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Using a Spider Toxin Peptide

The escalating prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses an immediate and grave threat to public health. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained significant attention as a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics. Animal venom comprises a diverse array of bioactive compounds, which can be a rich source for identifying new functional peptides. In this study, we identified a toxin peptide, Lycotoxin-Pa1a (Lytx-Pa1a), from the transcriptome of the Pardosa astrigera spider venom gland. To enhance its functional properties, we employed an in silico approach to design a novel hybrid peptide, KFH-Pa1a, by predicting antibacterial and cytotoxic functionalities and incorporating the amino-terminal Cu(II)- and Ni(II) (ATCUN)-binding motif. KFH-Pa1a demonstrated markedly superior antimicrobial efficacy against pathogens, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, compared to Lytx-Pa1a. Notably, KFH-Pa1a exerted several distinct mechanisms, including the disruption of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, the generation of intracellular ROS, and the cleavage and inhibition of bacterial DNA. Additionally, the hybrid peptide showed synergistic activity when combined with conventional antibiotics. Our research not only identified a novel toxin peptide from spider venom but demonstrated in silico-based design of hybrid AMP with strong antimicrobial activity that can contribute to combating MDR pathogens, broadening the utilization of biological resources by incorporating computational approaches.
Age and growth of bogue, Boops boops, in Tunisian waters

The age and growth of bogue (Boops boops), collected in four areas off the Tunisian coast, were determined by studying growth marks on cross-sectioned otoliths. This calcified structure was chosen because the legibility and regularity of its growth mark patterns appeared to be more reliable than those of other skeletal elements. Opercula and fin rays were rejected because of intense bone remodeling, vertebrae because of numerous minute marks unrelated to cyclic events, and scales because counting of annuli seemed very unreliable, particularly in old specimens. Scales consistently had the highest average percent of error. Marginal zone analysis indicated that the hyaline zone in bogue otoliths was deposited yearly from November to April. Increase of length was determined and length-age data were fitted to Von BERTALANFFY equations. Comparisons of length increases of specimens from the four areas suggest two growth pools with greater increases in the north and east than in the Gulf of Tunis and the south. Relationships between growth and geographical distribution indicated the importance of environmental conditions especially water temperature and food availability, although the role of genetic and/or epigenetic factors could not be excluded.
MULTIMEDIA DATA IN LAND RECORDS SYSTEMS: FIELD TRIALS IN NIGERIA

Multi-media data in the form of videos, sound recordings and still photographs are a means of c ollecting and recording land tenure related information in uncertain situations such as a postconflict situation or in situations where land rights are contested. Multimedia may also be useful in recording claims to land rights in societies where oral traditions rather than documentary evidence forms the basis of the land tenure system and the property rights associated with it. Land records systems can use multimedia data on their own as the sole record of land rights, as a start up system where the data is used for adjudication purposes, and as data to augment existing documentary evidence such as cadastral survey plans and deeds or titles. Field trials in Nigeria over a period of eight weeks suggest that, in a supportive environment, multimedia records should be useful in improving land tenure security and may be used increasingly as information and communication technology becomes more readily available in rural areas in developing countries.
Neutron imaging with Micromegas detectors with optical readout

Optical readout of Micromegas gaseous detectors has been achieved by implementing a Micromegas detector on a glass substrate with a glass anode and a CMOS camera. Efficient X-ray radio-graphy has been demonstrated due to the integrated imaging approach inherent to optical readout. High granularity values have been reached for low-energy X-rays from radioactive sources and X-ray generators taking advantage of image sensors with several megapixel resolution. Detector characterization under X-ray radiography opens the way to different applications from beta imaging to neutron radiography. Here we will focus on one application: neutron imaging for non-destructive examination of highly gamma-ray emitting objects. This article reports the characterization of the detectors when exposed to a low activity neutron source. The response of the detector to thermal neutrons has been studied with different field configurations and gap thicknesses.
Pre-treatment inflamed tumor immune microenvironment is associated with FOLFIRINOX response in pancreatic cancer

Introduction Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive tumor with limited response to both chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Pre-treatment tumor features within the tumor immune microenvironment (TiME) may influence treatment response. We hypothesized that the pre-treatment TiME composition differs between metastatic and primary lesions and would be associated with response to modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX) or gemcitabine-based (Gem-based) therapy. Methods Using RNAseq data from a cohort of treatment-naïve, advanced PDAC patients in the COMPASS trial, differential gene expression analysis of key immunomodulatory genes in were analyzed based on multiple parameters including tumor site, response to mFFX, and response to Gem-based treatment. The relative proportions of immune cell infiltration were defined using CIBERSORTx and Dirichlet regression. Results 145 samples were included in the analysis; 83 received mFFX, 62 received Gem-based therapy. Metastatic liver samples had both increased macrophage (1.2 times more, p < 0.05) and increased eosinophil infiltration (1.4 times more, p < 0.05) compared to primary lesion samples. Further analysis of the specific macrophage phenotypes revealed an increased M2 macrophage fraction in the liver samples. The pre-treatment CD8 T-cell, dendritic cell, and neutrophil infiltration of metastatic samples were associated with therapy response to mFFX (p < 0.05), while mast cell infiltration was associated with response to Gem-based therapy (p < 0.05). Multiple immunoinhibitory genes such as ADORA2A, CSF1R, KDR/VEGFR2, LAG3, PDCD1LG2, and TGFB1 and immunostimulatory genes including C10orf54, CXCL12, and TNFSF14/LIGHT were significantly associated with worse survival in patients who received mFFX (p = 0.01). There were no immunomodulatory genes associated with survival in the Gem-based cohort. Discussion Our evidence implies that essential differences in the PDAC TiME exist between primary and metastatic tumors and an inflamed pretreatment TiME is associated with mFFX response. Defining components of the PDAC TiME that influence therapy response will provide opportunities for targeted therapeutic strategies that may need to be accounted for in designing personalized therapy to improve outcomes.
Phenobarbital does not worsen outcomes of neonatal hypoxia on hippocampal LTP on rats

Introduction Neonatal hypoxia is a common cause of early-life seizures. Both hypoxia-induced seizures (HS), and the drugs used to treat them (e.g., phenobarbital, PB), have been reported to have long-lasting impacts on brain development. For example, in neonatal rodents, HS reduces hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), while PB exposure disrupts GABAergic synaptic maturation in the hippocampus. Prior studies have examined the impact of HS and drug treatment separately, but in the clinic, PB is unlikely to be given to neonates without seizures, and neonates with seizures are very likely to receive PB. To address this gap, we assessed the combined and separate impacts of neonatal HS and PB treatment on the development of hippocampal LTP. Methods Male and female postnatal day (P)7 rat pups were subjected to graded global hypoxia (or normoxia as a control) and treated with either PB (or vehicle as a control). On P13-14 (P13+) or P29-37 (P29+), we recorded LTP of the Schaffer collaterals into CA1 pyramidal layer in acute hippocampal slices. We compared responses to theta burst stimulation (TBS) and tetanization induction protocols. Results Under the TBS induction protocol, female rats showed an LTP impairment caused by HS, which appeared only at P29+. This impairment was delayed compared to male rats. While LTP in HS males was impaired at P13+, it normalized by P29+. Under the tetanization protocol, hypoxia produced larger LTP in males compared to female rats. PB injection, under TBS, did not exacerbate the effects of hypoxia. However, with the tetanization protocol, PB – on the background of HS – compensated for these effects, returning LTP to control levels. Discussion These results point to different susceptibility to hypoxia as a function of sex and age, and a non-detrimental effect of PB when administered after hypoxic seizures.
Genetic breakthroughs in the Brassica napus–Sclerotinia sclerotiorum interactions

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a highly destructive fungal pathogen that seriously damages the yield and quality of Brassica napus worldwide. The complex interaction between the B. napus and S. sclerotiorum system has presented significant challenges in researching rapeseed defense strategies. Here, we focus on the infection process of S. sclerotiorum, the defense mechanisms of rapeseed, and recent research progress in this system. The response of rapeseed to S. sclerotiorum is multifaceted; this review aims to provide a theoretical basis for rapeseed defense strategies.
Multi-view information fusion using multi-view variational autoencoders to predict proximal femoral strength

Background and aim: Hip fracture can be devastating, and it occurs when an applied force exceeds the force that the proximal femur can support. The proximal femoral strength can be computed by subject-specific finite element (FE) analysis (FEA) using quantitative CT images. The proximal femoral strengths are influenced by bone mineral density, genetic factors and clinical variables. The aim of this paper is to design a deep learning-based model for hip fracture prediction with multi-view information fusion. Method: We developed a multi-view variational autoencoder (MMVAE) for feature representation learning and designed the product of expert model (PoE) for multi-view information fusion. With an analytical solution of the product of Gaussian distribution, we adopt variational inference to train the designed MMAVE-PoE model to common latent variable extraction. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to select the most relevant genetic features with proximal femoral strengths and integrated genetic features with DXA-derived imaging features and clinical variables for proximal femoral strength prediction. Results: The designed model achieved the mean absolute percentage error of 0.2050 , 0.0739 and 0.0852 for linear fall, nonlinear fall and nonlinear stance fracture load prediction, respectively. For linear fall and nonlinear stance fracture load prediction, integrating genetic and DXA-derived imaging features were beneficial; while for nonlinear fall fracture load prediction, integrating genetic features, DXA-derived imaging features as well as clinical variables, the model achieved the best performance. Conclusion: The proposed model is capable of predicting proximal femoral strengths using genetic features, DXA-derived imaging features as well as clinical variables. Compared to performing FEA using QCT images to calculate proximal femoral strengths, the presented method is time-efficient and cost effective, and radiation dosage is limited. From the technique perspective, the final models can be applied to other multi-view information integration tasks.
CATARINA: THE FIRST SOUTH ATLANTIC HURRICANE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH VERTICAL WIND SHEAR AND HIGH LATITUDE BLOCKING

Tropical cyclones (TCs), hurricanes or typhoons are generic terms for synoptic-scale low pressure systems without fronts, occurring over tropical or subtropical waters with organized thunderstorm activity (Anthes, 1982; Holland and Lander, 1993). Their typical diameter is 300-800 km, with a minimum central pressure around 950 hPa but dropping below 880 hPa in some extreme cases (Hoarau, 2000). By definition, a TC must have sustained winds greater than 33 m/s to be classified at least as a weak hurricane (category I), according to the Saffir-Simpson scale.
The oxygen fugacity of olivine‐phyric martian basalts and the components within the mantle and crust of Mars

Abstract— The oxygen fugacity of olivine‐phyric martian basalts is estimated using olivine‐pyroxene‐spinel equilibria, supported by detailed petrography. Results are plotted, along with previous oxygen fugacity estimates, against La/Yb, which is used as a proxy for long‐term incompatible‐element depletion or enrichment in martian basalt reservoirs. In general, the correlation between oxygen fugacity and La/Yb observed by Herd et al. (2002a) holds for the olivine‐phyric basalts. The implications of the correlation are re‐evaluated in light of work by Borg et al. (Forthcoming), which indicates that the variations in radiogenic isotopic composition can be modeled by mixing of mantle sources established by 4.5 Ga through crystallization of a magma ocean in lieu of assimilation of crustal material. The results demonstrate that the crust‐like component, interpreted as trapped liquid in a magma ocean cumulate pile, must be oxidized to explain the oxygen fugacity of the martian basalts. Consequently, the pre‐eruptive water contents of the more oxidized basalts are expected to be higher, although water is not called upon as the cause of the oxidation. Unmixing of mantle components provides an important context for the interpretation of oxygen isotopes, demonstrated here, and of samples returned from the martian surface.
Prevalence of and Gender Differences in Psychiatric Disorders among Juvenile Detainees in South Korea: A Comparative Study

Background and Objectives: High rates of psychiatric disorders and comorbidities have been reported in juvenile detainees, which have been associated with repeat offenses. However, research into this topic has been limited to Asian countries. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and sexual differences among juvenile detainees in a detention center in South Korea. Materials and Methods: The participants comprised 54 males and 46 females, with a minimum intelligence score of 80. Psychiatric diagnosis was determined using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID). The Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Version 2 (MAYSI-2) was used to investigate gender differences. Results: Using the MINI-KID, the most frequent diseases were conduct disorder (CD), alcohol dependence, suicidal tendency, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with statistically significant differences between men and women. Only alcohol abuse was higher in males, while the rest were higher in females. The items with a statistically significant gender difference in MAYSI-2 were alcohol/drug use, feeling depressed/anxious, somatic complaints, suicidal ideation, and traumatic experiences. All items for which gender difference was statistically significant were higher in the proportion of women. Conclusions: Juvenile detainees exhibit high rates of psychiatric disorders and comorbidities. CDs, alcohol dependence, and ADHD are the most common psychiatric disorders among juvenile detainees in South Korea. Assessment of and intervention in psychiatric disorders may help prevent further offenses. These findings highlight the importance of diagnosing and intervening in psychiatric disorders within juvenile detention systems.
Habitat change on Horn Island, Mississippi, 1940-2010, determined from textural features in panchromatic vertical aerial imagery

Abstract Habitat-type land cover on Horn Island, Mississippi, northern Gulf of Mexico, was estimated for the years 1940 and 2010 using a combination of panchromatic imagery and 2010 ground survey data. A grey-level co-occurrence matrix was applied to compute reflectance coefficient of variation (CV) and texture indices. The relationships of 2010 CV ranges with known habitat types defined training regions of interest in the 1940 imagery as a substitute for 1940 ground data. Texture indices contrast, correlation, energy and entropy then served as input bands for maximum likelihood classifications which produced 1940 and 2010 habitat maps. Analysis determined that wetter habitats on Horn expanded linearly over the seven-decade period. This is attributed to constraints on sediment supply and the impacts of severe storms which led to decreases in soil depth to the water table. If this trend continues, marsh habitat will cover 31% of Horn Island’s land area by 2050.
Attacking Defocus Detection With Blur-Aware Transformation for Defocus Deblurring

Previous fully-supervised defocus deblurring has made significant progress. However, training such deep models requires abundant paired ground truth, which is expensive and error-prone. This paper makes an attempt to train a defocus deblurring model without using paired ground truth and any other unpaired data. Related reblur-to-deblur schemes generally use physics-based reblur or GAN-based reblur, suffering from the robustness of blur kernel and hallucination generated by GAN. Besides, the domain gap between the realistic blurred image and reblurred image hinders deblurring performance. Addressing these challenges, we propose a weakly-supervised defocus deblurring framework via defocus detection attack. On one hand, we build a focused area detection attack (FADA) to enforce the focused area to reblur, thereby reversing its detection result by a pretrained defocus blur detection network. Moreover, we introduce a blur-aware transfer modulated from the defocused region to help FADA render a robust reblurred region. On the other hand, we implement a defocused region detection attack to guide the realistic blurred region to deblur in the process of training deblurring network with simulated-paired areas. Extensive experiments on three widely-used datasets verify the effectiveness of our framework.
Mediterranean meteotsunamis of May 2021 and June 2022

Meteorological tsunamis (i.e., tsunami-like waves of atmospheric origin) are regularly observed in the Mediterranean Sea. During a single event, destructive flooding usually occurs in one location or limited area. However, in May 2021 and June 2022, strong meteotsunamis hit several Mediterranean locations up to 500 km apart. In the morning hours of the 24th of May 2021, a meteotsunami hit Bonifacio on the island of Corsica (western Mediterranean, France) and in the afternoon hours of the same day, another meteotsunami hit Široka Bay on the island of Ist (Adriatic Sea, Croatia), 500 km away. About 13 months later, on the 26th of June 2022, a meteotsunami hit Ciutadella on the island of Menorca (Spain) and two days later Bonifacio, 400 km away. Sea-level and atmospheric pressure data and satellite imagery, as well as synoptic conditions, associated with both events were analysed in detail. It has been confirmed that in the Mediterranean, meteotsunamis occur when meteotsunamigenic synoptic conditions prevail over the area, with a strong southwesterly jet stream embedded in dynamically or convectively unstable atmospheric layers standing out as the most important condition. The meteotsunamigenic potential of each of the three bays (Ciutadella, Bonifacio, Široka Bay) was investigated by considering: (1) the potential for Proudman resonance on the shelves offshore of the bays, (2) the orientation of the mouth of the bay and (3) the frequency of meteotsunamigenic synoptic conditions over the area. The strongest and most frequent meteotsunamis occur at locations where the shelf characteristics (width, depth, orientation), bay mouth orientation and distribution of general synoptic conditions, have characteristics that support the amplification of long-ocean waves and their propagation toward the bay mouth.
LATERAL VARIATIONS AND AZIMUTHAL ISOTROPY OF PN VELOCITIES BENEATH BASIN AND RANGE PROVINCE

Travel time tomography was used to obtain the lateral variations in Pn velocities and Pn velocity azimuthal anisotropy beneath the Basin and Range Province. We used 1226 Pn arrivals from 184 earthquakes recorded by 113 stations. The tomographic image shows the lateral variation in Pn velocity from 7.9 km s−1 in the northern Province to 7.6 km s−1 in the southern Province. Azimuthal variations in Pn velocities are less than one percent as determined from the travel time residuals after taking out the contribution of the lateral velocity variations of the Pn tomography. Although the standard errors of the azimuthal variations are ∼ 2%, there is no reason to believe the existence of the Pn azimuthal anisotropy in the uppermost mantle beneath the Basin and Range Province. Beghoul and Barazangi's (1990) suggestion of more than 3% azimuthal anisotropy is the result of the lateral heterogeneity and mantle velocity gradient. Before tomographic inversion, we refined the Pn travel times by considering the lateral variations in the crustal thickness and velocities in the region based on the numerical experiment and theoretical development given in this paper. These refinements are crucial in obtaining an accurate velocity image. The average velocity is 7.72 ± 0.16 km s−1, and an average vertical mantle velocity gradient is 8.0 ′ 10−4 s−1. The resolution for Pn velocity image is generally within 2° to 5°.
The interface-scale mechanism of reaction-induced fracturing during serpentinization

Peridotite serpentinization has first-order effects on geochemical and petrophysical processes in the lithosphere. This process induces intensive fracturing, generating fluid pathways to facilitate the hydration of vast amounts of originally impermeable rocks, but the mechanism linking interfacial reaction processes with fracture propagation has not been understood. By combining microstructural characteristics of olivine lizardite-serpentinization with fundamental aspects of interface-coupled dissolution-precipitation and crack growth theory, we propose a microstructurally consistent, self-propagating fracturing mechanism. Fracturing is driven by stress generated from the growth and transformation of a metastable amorphous proto-serpentine phase, where stress is localized within surface perturbations (etch pits and coalesced etch pits) that originate from the anisotropic dissolution of olivine. Water migration into fractures reiterates the process, resulting in hierarchical olivine grain segmentation. Our results indicate that the advancement of serpentinization at the grain scale is independent of solid-state diffusion and does not rely on external forces.