Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genomic Characterization and Initial Insight into Mastitis-Associated SNP Profiles of Local Latvian Bos taurus Breeds

Simple Summary Cows are one of the oldest livestock that are bred for both meat and milk. There are only two local cow breeds in Latvia—Latvian Brown and Latvian Blue—which, until now, have not been genetically characterized. This study examined the genetic background of both local breeds in Latvia and identified genetic factors associated with mastitis, a common inflammation of the mammary gland that affects animal welfare and the quality of milk. Whole genome sequencing was performed on blood and semen samples, and the results from the obtained data show that both breeds had similar levels of genetic diversity compared with other breeds. The Latvian Blue breed showed a higher genetic variance compared with the Latvian Brown breed. Specific mastitis-associated genome regions were identified for each breed. This study provides fundamental insights into the genetics of local Latvian cow breeds and provides the first insight into the hereditary factors of mastitis in dairy cows. It may also facilitate the development of genetic tests to aid breeders in their attempts to maintain and improve local and foreign Latvian cattle breeds. Abstract Latvia has two local Bos taurus breeds—Latvian Brown (LBG) and Latvian Blue (LZG)—characterized by a good adaptation to the local climate, longevity, and high fat and protein contents in milk. Since these are desired traits in the dairy industry, this study investigated the genetic background of the LBG and LZG breeds and identified the genetic factors associated with mastitis. Blood and semen samples were acquired, and whole genome sequencing was then performed to acquire a genomic sequence with at least 35× or 10× coverage. The heterozygosity, nucleotide diversity, and LD analysis indicated that LBG and LZG cows have similar levels of genetic diversity compared to those of other breeds. An analysis of the population structure revealed that each breed clustered together, but the overall differentiation between the breeds was small. The highest genetic variance was observed in the LZG breed compared with the LBG breed. Our results show that SNP rs721295390 is associated with mastitis in the LBG breed, and SNPs rs383806754, chr29:43998719CG>C, and rs462030680 are associated with mastitis in the LZG breed. This study shows that local Latvian LBG and LZG breeds have a pronounced genetic differentiation, with each one suggesting its own mastitis-associated SNP profile.
A novel computation method for 2D deformation of fish scale based on SURF and N-R optimisation

Fish scales were unique structural materials that served as a form of natural armour and affected the mechanical properties which had important applications in bionics. Digital image correlation (DIC) method was used to determine the mechanical properties, but it took a long time to calculate the uniaxial tensile deformation. In this investigation a DIC optimisation algorithm method based on speeded-up robust features (SURF) and Newton-Raphson (N-R) was conducted on specimens prepared from the scales. First, the SURF algorithm was used to detect the matched points and their coordinate values in the digital images before and after deformation. Then, the initial displacement of the interest point was estimated from the affine transformation fitted to the matched feature points inside the subset area. Last, the zero-mean normalised sum of squared differences (ZNSSD) metric function was optimised by the N-R iterative method, and the optimised displacement value of the interest points would be gained. The numerical translation experiments and simulation results showed that this method improved the search speed and the measurement accuracy effectively. So the deformation of fish scales for axial tension would be calculated by this method.
Enhancing Cataract Detection Precision: A Deep Learning Approach

Cataracts, characterized by the opacification of the eye lens leading to visual deterioration, pose a significant global health issue. Timely and accurate detection of cataracts is pivotal for halting disease progression and augmenting the patients' quality of life. However, conventional diagnostic approaches for cataract detection and grading rely heavily on the expertise of ophthalmologists, a solution that can be unduly costly and inaccessible for certain population segments seeking early intervention. Addressing this challenge, the present study introduces a computer-assisted diagnostic strategy for the detection and grading of cataracts, drawing on fundus retinal images. The proposed approach capitalizes on a deep convolutional neural network to extract features from fundus images, which are subsequently evaluated via three distinct classification algorithms: Support Vector Machine, Naive Bayes, and Decision Tree. The resultant categorization stratifies the images into four severity levels: mild, moderate, normal, and severe. Further enhancing the classifier's prediction accuracy, an Ensemble (ES) learning mechanism via a Majority Voting Scheme (MVS) process is incorporated into the study. A total of 1600 fundus images, sourced from various open-access databases and classified into four categories by an expert ophthalmologist, were utilized for the study. The proposed methodology demonstrated a commendable accuracy rate of 97.34% in the four-stage cataract classification and grading, outperforming existing methodologies. This research advances the field by introducing a reliable, cost-effective, and accessible solution for early cataract detection, contributing significantly to global health improvements.
Empowering frail older adults: multicomponent elastic-band exercises and BCAA supplementation unleash physical health and preserve haematological biomarkers

The effectiveness of Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) supplementation on enhancing exercise performance in both young and older adults remains a topic of debate. Recent research suggests that BCAAs combined with regular exercise might have an impact on human erythropoiesis, blood dynamics, and iron homeostasis. Given the increasing longevity of the global population, it is crucial to investigate the potential benefits of BCAA supplementation and regular exercise as non-pharmacological interventions for improving the overall health of frail older adults. To assess the influence of a 40-week multicomponent exercise intervention (MEP) combined BCCA supplementation on the haematological indicators of frail older adults (83–93 years old) residing in nursing homes. A prospective, naturalistic, controlled clinical trial employing an intervention-washout-intervention was conducted for this purpose. The study included four experimental groups: MEP plus BCAA supplementation (MEP + BCAA, n = 8), MEP only (n = 7), BCAA supplementation only (n = 7), and control group non exercising (CG, n = 13). Fried's physical frailty (PF) protocol was employed to stratify the participants. Additionally, the assessment included the evaluation of nutritional status, comorbidities, and anthropometric measurements. Among the several haematological markers examined, only mean cellular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCH) [F = 4.09; p < 0.03] and Mean Cell haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) [F = 10, 323; p < 0,0001] showed significant effects of time group. Our findings demonstrate that a long-term intervention with BCAA plus MEP did not lead to significant alterations in the haematological profile. An 8-week withdrawal from interventions did not affect the frailty status in the MEP and MEP + BCAA groups, whereas the control group exhibited an increase in PF status. The findings, demonstrating the potential pro-immune effect and maintenance of MCH and MCHC levels, highlight the relevance of incorporating exercise and nutritional strategies to promote healthy aging. This study contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and well-being) and 10 (reduced Inequalities) for all.
Green revolution to genome revolution: driving better resilient crops against environmental instability

Crop improvement programmes began with traditional breeding practices since the inception of agriculture. Farmers and plant breeders continue to use these strategies for crop improvement due to their broad application in modifying crop genetic compositions. Nonetheless, conventional breeding has significant downsides in regard to effort and time. Crop productivity seems to be hitting a plateau as a consequence of environmental issues and the scarcity of agricultural land. Therefore, continuous pursuit of advancement in crop improvement is essential. Recent technical innovations have resulted in a revolutionary shift in the pattern of breeding methods, leaning further towards molecular approaches. Among the promising approaches, marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, omics-assisted breeding, genome-wide association studies and genome editing have lately gained prominence. Several governments have progressively relaxed their restrictions relating to genome editing. The present review highlights the evolutionary and revolutionary approaches that have been utilized for crop improvement in a bid to produce climate-resilient crops observing the consequence of climate change. Additionally, it will contribute to the comprehension of plant breeding succession so far. Investing in advanced sequencing technologies and bioinformatics will deepen our understanding of genetic variations and their functional implications, contributing to breakthroughs in crop improvement and biodiversity conservation.
Healthcare Quality by Specialists under a Mixed Compensation System: an Empirical Analysis

We analyze the effects of a mixed compensation (MC) scheme for specialists on the quality of their healthcare services. To do so, we exploit a major reform that was implemented in Quebec (Canada) in 1999. The government introduced a payment mechanism combining a fixed per diem with a reduced fee per clinical service. Using panel patient-doctor data covering the period 1996-2016 and including 320,441 patients, we estimate a multi-state multi-spell hazard model with correlated heterogeneity, analogous to a difference-in-differences approach. We compute three output-based quality indicators from our model. Our results suggest that the reform reduced the quality of MC specialist services as measured by the risk of re-hospitalization within 30 days after discharge and the risk of mortality within one year after discharge. These effects vary depending upon the specialty of the treating doctor.
Quantitative Network Comparisons of REM Sleep Without Atonia Across the α-Synucleinopathy Spectrum: A Systematic Review

Purpose Isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is characterized by REM sleep without atonia (RWA) and is regarded as the prodromal stage of α-synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). RWA is also associated with neurodegeneration driven by α-synucleinopathy. However, the level of RWA across the α-synucleinopathy spectrum remains elusive. We aimed to rate the percentage of RWA across the α-synucleinopathy spectrum, encompassing prodromal and overt phenotypes. Methods A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. We included cohort, cross-sectional, and case–control studies comparing the RWA percentage during REM sleep evaluated by tonic chin activity (RWA%-T) or by phasic chin activity (RWA%-P) across the α-synucleinopathy spectrum. Bayesian network meta-analysis was used to combine both direct and indirect evidence regarding the group differences in the RWA%-T and RWA%-P. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve was used to estimate the ranked probability. Results Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria. The investigations included 204 iRBD, 295 PD with RBD (PDwtRBD), 187 PD without RBD (PDwoRBD), 42 MSAwtRBD, 9 DLBwtRBD patients, and 246 controls. MSAwtRBD ranked first in RWA%-T, whereas iRBD ranked first in RWA%-P. RWA% in PDwoRBD patients was comparable to that in the controls and was lower than that in PDwtRBD patients. Conclusion Overt phenotypes such as MSAwtRBD and PDwtRBD ranked high in RWA%-T, whereas iRBD, a prodromal type, ranked highest in RWA%-P. Taken together, our data suggest that the percentage of neurodegeneration in RBD patients may be associated with RWA%-T rather than RWA%-P. Prospero Registration Number CRD42021276445.
Quasi-Elliptic Higher-Order Tunable Bandpass Filter With Constant Absolute Bandwidth Using Synchronously Tuned Dual-Mode Resonators

Designing a higher-order tunable bandpass filter (BPF) with constant absolute bandwidth (ABW) and identical passband response at every passband frequency tuning state is considered a challenge. In this paper, we propose quasi-elliptic higher-order tunable BPFs that use synchronously tuned dual-mode resonators, which can achieve identical passband frequency response and constant ABW. To achieve identical passband frequency response and constant ABW, all frequency-dependent coupling coefficient and external quality factor are physically realized using series capacitor and shunt varactor. To achieve quasi-elliptic response, transmission zeros are generated at lower and upper sides of passband through cross-coupling between dual-mode resonators. For experimental validation, a prototype of 4th and 6th-order BPFs are designed and fabricated. Experimental results reveal that the passband center frequency of the 4th-order tunable BPF can be tuned from 1.35 to 1.75 GHz (25.82%) with identical passband return loss (RL) of 20 dB and 1-dB constant ABW of 92 ± 1.3 MHz. Similarly, the passband center frequency of 6th-order BPF can be tuned from 1.38 to 1.77 GHz (27.76%) with an identical passband RL of 20 dB and 1-dB constant ABW of 98 ± 1.5 MHz.
Association of oceanic-atmospheric oscillations and hydroclimatic variables in the Colorado River Basin

Association of Oceanic-Atmospheric Oscillations and Hydroclimatic Variables in the Colorado River Basin by Ajay Kalra Dr. Sajjad Ahmad, Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Nevada, Las Vegas With increasing evidence of climatic variability, there is a need to improve forecast for hydroclimatic variables i.e., precipitation and streamflow preserving their spatial and temporal variability. Climatologists have identified different oceanic-atmospheric oscillations that seem to influence the behavior of these variables and in turn can be used to extend the forecast lead time. In the absence of a good physical understanding of the linkages between oceanic-atmospheric oscillations and hydrological processes, it is difficult to construct a physical model. An attractive alternative to physically based models are the Artificial Intelligence (AI) type models, also referred to as machine learning or data-driven models. These models do not employ traditional forms of equations common in physically based models, but instead have flexible and adaptive model structures that can extract the relationship from the data. With this motivation this research focuses on increasing the precipitation and streamflow forecast lead times and enhancing the temporal resolution of precipitation within the Colorado River Basin (CRB). An AI-type data-driven model, Support Vector Machine (SVM), was developed incorporating oceanic-atmospheric oscillations to increase the precipitation and streamflow forecast lead times. The temporal resolution of precipitation was improved using the stochastic nonparametric K-Nearest Neighbor
Sexting is not always wanted: consequences on satisfaction and the role of sexual coercion and online sexual victimization

The understanding of sexting as a new form of interpersonal communication is increasing; however, little is known about whether the incidence, correlates, and outcomes of sexting vary depending on whether such behavior is done willingly or not. In this non-experimental study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence, predictors, and consequences of sexting among 310 Spanish young adults, who completed an online survey regarding their previous experiences of wanted and unwanted sexting behaviors, their sexual coercion and online sexual victimization experiences, and their levels of sexual and life satisfaction. The results showed that more than half and one third of the sample had been involved in wanted and unwanted sexting behaviors, respectively. Additionally, sexual coercion and online sexual victimization predicted a higher probability of engaging in unwanted sexual behaviors and, with that, a decrease of life satisfaction. Finally, having experienced more instances of sexual coercion was associated with lower life satisfaction by increasing the likelihood of suffering online sexual victimization experiences and engaging in additional unwanted sexting behaviors. Our findings show the importance of discerning between wanted and unwanted sexting and how doing so differently conditions the predictors and consequences of this phenomena. La comprensión del sexting como una nueva forma de comunicación interpersonal es cada vez mayor; sin embargo, poco se sabe sobre si la incidencia, correlatos y resultados del sexting varían en función de si se realiza de forma voluntaria o no. En este estudio no experimental, nos proponemos investigar la prevalencia, los predictores y las consecuencias del sexting entre 310 jóvenes españoles, que completaron una encuesta online sobre sus experiencias previas de sexting deseado y no deseado, coerción sexual y victimización sexual online, así como sus niveles de satisfacción sexual y vital. Los resultados mostraron que la mitad y un tercio de la muestra habían estado involucrados en comportamientos de sexting deseados y no deseados, respectivamente. Además, la coerción sexual y la victimización sexual online predijeron una mayor probabilidad de participar en conductas sexuales no deseadas y, con ello, una disminución de la satisfacción vital. Por último, haber experimentado mayor coerción sexual se asoció con menor satisfacción vital al aumentar la probabilidad de sufrir victimización sexual online y de participar en conductas adicionales de sexting no deseado. Nuestros hallazgos muestran la importancia de discernir entre el sexting deseado y el no deseado y cómo el hacerlo de forma diferente condiciona los predictores y las consecuencias de este fenómeno.
Research on Offloading Strategy of Twin UAVs Edge Computing Tasks for Emergency Communication

Aiming to solve the problem of interruption of normal communication service caused by the damage of ground communication facilities after disaster, an Air-Ground Integrated Mobile Edge Network (AWMEN) offloading model was established under the constraints of communication security, energy consumption and coverage. The traditional method needs to be re-iterated every time the preset environmental state changes, which will waste a lot of communication resources and computing resources, greatly reduce the efficiency, and face the risk of data privacy disclosure. However, the deep reinforcement learning method under the federated learning framework will be more flexible and applicable to dynamic scenarios. A Markov decision process model is constructed based on the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and the environment. The experience trajectory is designed by interacting with the external environment, and the optimal offloading strategy is obtained. The Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient of behavior cloning (TD3-BC-R) is compared with baseline method (0-1 mode), Actor-Critic (AC-R), Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG-R) and Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3-R), the experiment shows that, The total time cost of TD3-BC-R is reduced by more than 1/3, and low latency transmission is also achieved.
Short-term changes in microbial communities in the water column around the fish farm in the Bay of Piran

A multidisciplinary approach was used to study the impact of fish farming on coastal bacterial communities in the inner part of the Bay of Piran (northern Adriatic). Differences in bacterial abundance, production and the occurrence of selected bacterial groups were studied in the water column around the cage and at different distances from the centre of the fish cage towards the open water, i.e., reference marine station. We also examined the effect of fish feeding on the surrounding system in a short-term in situ experiment based on the simultaneous collection of seawater samples from different locations around the fish cage before and after feeding of fish. Our study suggests that fish feeding has a moderate short-term effect on water column parameters, including bacterial abundance and production, only at a limited distance from the fish cages. The nitrifying, ammonia-oxidizing bacterial groups, as determined by the fluorescent in situ hybridization method, were represented at a higher percentage in the seawater samples in the middle and around the fish cages. β- Proteobacteria, γ-Proteobacteria and the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium group were represented to a higher percentage at sampling sites in the middle of the Bay of Piran and at the reference marine station. The Vibrio group was detected at all sampling sites. The accumulation of organically enriched fish food and waste products releasedinto the seawater during the short-term experiment resulted in a significant increase in particulate matter, orthophosphate and ammonium. In response to the increase in inorganic nutrients, we observed a significant increase in bacterial production, whileno significant differences were observed in bacterial abundance in such short time.
‘ Poverty , Equity and Growth in Developing and Transition Countries : Statistical Methods and Empirical Analysis

From 1997 to 2005, an astonishing 5,200 million USD was invested to reduce cocaine production in Colombia, the world’s main cocaine producer. However, little is known about the effectiveness of policies targeting coca cultivation. This paper uses a surveybased experiment to evaluate the effects of the two main policies: eradication and alternative development programs. Our results support Becker’s (1968) model of crime participation and in addition shed light on other non-monetary factors that affect the coca cultivation decision: religion, legitimacy, remoteness, and poverty are found to be important. We find that coca cultivation is inelastic to increases in perceived risk and relative profit so eradication and alternative development would have a rather small effect on coca cultivation. A simple simulation exercise predicts that investing additional hundred thousand dollars in eradication decreases coca cultivation in only 1.5%.
Hydrocarbon detection and depositional environment prognosis in the Niger Delta - Integrated insights from log and seismic avo-inversion attributes

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of integrated seismic analysis and petrophysically constrained AVOinversion for reservoir evaluation and assessment of hydrocarbon potential and depositional environment in the Niger Delta. It is aimed at improved prediction of reservoir fluid, lithology, and ultimately the hydrocarbon prospects, with reduced uncertainties. The results delineate the characteristics of the reservoir sands, highlight major facies heterogeneities, unravel prolific stratigraphic features (such as channels, fan lobes), depositional fairways and provide insight into the mapped geology. These are expected to consequently reduce the uncertainties associated with the prospects for economic decision making.