Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deep learning system for distinguishing optic neuritis from non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy at acute phase based on fundus photographs

Purpose To develop a deep learning system to differentiate demyelinating optic neuritis (ON) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) with overlapping clinical profiles at the acute phase. Methods We developed a deep learning system (ONION) to distinguish ON from NAION at the acute phase. Color fundus photographs (CFPs) from 871 eyes of 547 patients were included, including 396 ON from 232 patients and 475 NAION from 315 patients. Efficientnet-B0 was used to train the model, and the performance was measured by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Also, Cohen’s kappa coefficients were obtained to compare the system’s performance to that of different ophthalmologists. Results In the validation data set, the ONION system distinguished between acute ON and NAION achieved the following mean performance: time-consuming (23 s), AUC 0.903 (95% CI 0.827–0.947), sensitivity 0.796 (95% CI 0.704–0.864), and specificity 0.865 (95% CI 0.783–0.920). Testing data set: time-consuming (17 s), AUC 0.902 (95% CI 0.832–0.944), sensitivity 0.814 (95% CI 0.732–0.875), and specificity 0.841 (95% CI 0.762–0.897). The performance (κ = 0.805) was comparable to that of a retinal expert (κ = 0.749) and was better than the other four ophthalmologists (κ = 0.309–0.609). Conclusion The ONION system performed satisfactorily distinguishing ON from NAION at the acute phase. It might greatly benefit the challenging differentiation between ON and NAION.
Functional roles of two novel P450 genes in the adaptability of Conogethes punctiferalis to three commonly used pesticides

Introduction: Insect cytochrome P450 (CYP450) genes play important roles in the detoxification and metabolism of xenobiotics, such as plant allelochemicals, mycotoxins and pesticides. The polyphagous Conogethes punctiferalis is a serious economic pest of fruit trees and agricultural crops, and it shows high adaptability to different living environments. Methods: The two novel P450 genes CYP6CV1 and CYP6AB51 were identified and characterized. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) technology was used to study the expression patterns of the two target genes in different larval developmental stages and tissues of C. punctiferalis. Furthermore, RNA interference (RNAi) technology was used to study the potential functions of the two P450 genes by treating RNAi-silenced larvae with three commonly used pesticides. Results: The CYP6CV1 and CYP6AB51 genes were expressed throughout various C. punctiferalis larval stages and in different tissues. Their expression levels increased along with larval development, and expression levels of the two target genes in the midgut were significantly higher than in other tissues. The toxicity bioassay results showed that the LC50 values of chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate and lambda-cyhalothrin on C. punctiferalis larvae were 0.2028 μg/g, 0.0683 μg/g and 0.6110 mg/L, respectively. After treating with different concentrations of chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate and lambda-cyhalothrin (LC10, LC30, LC50), independently, the relative expressions of the two genes CYP6CV1 and CYP6AB51 were significantly induced. After the dsRNA injection, the expression profiles of the two CYP genes were reduced 72.91% and 70.94%, respectively, and the mortality rates of the larvae significantly increased when treated with the three insecticides independently at LC10 values. Discussion: In the summary, after interfering with the CYP6CV1 and CYP6AB51 in C. punctiferalis, respectively, the sensitivity of C. punctiferalis to chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate and lambda-cyhalothrin was significantly increased, indicating that the two CYP6 genes were responsible for the adaptability of C. punctiferalis to the three chemical insecticides in C. punctiferalis. The results from this study demonstrated that CYP6CV1 and CYP6AB51 in C. punctiferalis play crucial roles in the detoxification of chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate and lambda-cyhalothrin.
Uncovering water quality and evaluating vulnerabilities of small-scale fisheries in Chilika Lagoon, India

Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) play a strong role in sustaining millions of livelihoods, food security, nutrition, and income globally but the fishers engaged in this sector simultaneously experience high levels of vulnerability and processes of marginalisation. Several factors are attributed to the multidimensional vulnerabilities the small-scale fishers experience, spanning both natural (e.g., natural disasters, ecosystem change) and anthropogenic (e.g., policy change, hydrological interventions, aquaculture) pressures. While there is much literature on various natural and human drivers of vulnerability in small-scale fishery communities, an absence of research connecting vulnerability with water quality is evident. Fisher communities often talk about fish in relation to the health of their aquatic habitats wherein water quality is seen as a key parameter. The link between healthy fish and good quality water has significant implications for strong and viable fishing communities. This paper examines these links further by focusing on the nature of vulnerabilities caused by water quality changes in the small-scale fishery system of Chilika Lagoon in India. We undertake detailed analysis of the invasive shrimp aquaculture activities and hydrological interventions for opening of a lagoon inlet with the Bay of Bengal as two dominant drivers adversely impacting water quality and increasing vulnerabilities of the entire small-scale fisheries social-ecological system. Our analysis suggests that there are strong interconnections between changes in water quality and the levels of vulnerabilities in the SSFs of Chilika Lagoon. Pollutants such as pesticides, and organic compounds accumulate in fish tissues and affect their growth, reproduction, and overall health. This led to declines in fish populations, making it more difficult for fishers to make a living. In addition to direct impacts on fish populations, poor water quality also has indirect effects on the social and economic vulnerability of SSFs. For example, contamination of water sources led to the reduced number of fish species reducing the amount of time fishers can spend on fishing activities. This also affected the marketability of fish products, reduced income and increased poverty. To fully understand the interconnections between water quality and vulnerability in SSFs in Chilika Lagoon, it is important to consider both environmental and social factors, as well as the complex feedback loops between these factors. The study helps in bridging a crucial gap in our understanding of the role of water quality in vulnerability analysis within resource dependent communities. We conclude with key insights on possible coping responses and adaptive capacity necessary for the small-scale fisheries communities to transition toward viability.
Extremely chaotolerant and kosmotolerant Aspergillus atacamensis – a metabolically versatile fungus suitable for recalcitrant biosolid treatment

Obligate halophily is extremely rare in fungi. Nevertheless, Aspergillus atacamensis (strain EXF-6660), isolated from a salt water-exposed cave in the Coastal Range hills of the hyperarid Atacama Desert in Chile, is an obligate halophile, with a broad optimum range from 1.5 to 3.4 M of NaCl. When we tested its ability to grow at varied concentrations of both kosmotropic (NaCl, KCl, and sorbitol) and chaotropic (MgCl2, LiCl, CaCl2, and glycerol) solutes, stereoscopy and laser scanning microscopy revealed the formation of phialides and conidia. A. atacamensis EXF-6660 grew up to saturating levels of NaCl and at 2.0 M concentration of the chaotropic salt MgCl2. Our findings confirmed that A. atacamensis is an obligate halophile that can grow at substantially higher MgCl2 concentrations than 1.26 M, previously considered as the maximum limit supporting prokaryotic life. To assess the fungus’ metabolic versatility, we used the phenotype microarray technology Biolog FF MicroPlates. In the presence of 2.0 M NaCl concentration, strain EXF-6660 metabolism was highly versatile. A vast repertoire of organic molecules (~95% of the substrates present in Biolog FF MicroPlates) was metabolized when supplied as sole carbon sources, including numerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene derivatives, dyes, and several carbohydrates. Finally, the biotechnological potential of A. atacamensis for xenobiotic degradation and biosolid treatment was investigated. Interestingly, it could remove biphenyls, diphenyl ethers, different pharmaceuticals, phenols, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Our combined findings show that A. atacamensis EXF-6660 is a highly chaotolerant, kosmotolerant, and xerotolerant fungus, potentially useful for xenobiotic and biosolid treatments.
Assessing executive functions in free-roaming 2- to 3-year-olds

Introduction Core aspects of executive functions (EFs) are known to be related to academic skills such as literacy and numeracy. However, school outcomes may also be related to higher-level functions such as planning. Nevertheless, few studies have considered assessing natural manifestations of higher-level EFs in children who are on the cusp of entering formal schooling. One reason for this is the difficulty of obtaining ecologically valid measures of EFs in preschool-aged children. Method We describe a novel task - building a striped Duplo tower subject to two constraints - designed to assess planning in real-world multi-action situation. Children were instructed to build a tower to a certain height by alternating between two different colors of blocks. Results Performance on one of the constraints in this task was found to vary with age. Importantly, distinct components of multiple constraints planning performance predicted laboratory-based measures of inhibitory control and working memory efficacy. Discussion Thus, this task provides a simple, cheap and effective way of assessing executive function in toddlers through the observation of natural behavior. It also opens up possibilities to investigate the neurodevelopment of EF in the real world.
What makes people adapt together? An empirically grounded conceptual model on the enablers and barriers of collective climate change adaptation

Coping with and adapting to climate change impacts are collective action problems that require broad joint efforts to reduce current and future risks. This is most obvious for highly vulnerable and exposed individuals, whose capacities to adapt to recurrent environmental threats are mostly bound in their ability to work together – not only in the immediate disaster situation but also in the long-term to secure their livelihoods. While there are explanatory models for collective action in the context of climate change, there is still a need to validate them further for vulnerable residents in high-risk contexts that prioritize cultural values of collective self-understanding, mutual support, and reciprocity. Additionally, the identified factors that facilitate collective climate action are currently quite abstract and may not be very useful for practical application and policy development. Addressing these gaps, we build on existing collective action models and a qualitative analysis of empirical data from kampung cooperatives in Jakarta to develop a conceptual framework explaining what triggers individuals to start acting collectively and which factors motivate them to keep being engaged in long-term collective adaptation action. It highlights the need to differentiate between what we will call initial triggers and long-term motivators to better understand and advance collective adaptation efforts in high-risk contexts. This novel differentiation of motivation factors enhances our conceptual understanding of collective adaptation. Furthermore, the findings may inform practice and policy-making toward enhancing and maintaining collective adaptation initiatives.
Feeling the beat: a smart hand exoskeleton for learning to play musical instruments

Individuals who have suffered neurotrauma like a stroke or brachial plexus injury often experience reduced limb functionality. Soft robotic exoskeletons have been successful in assisting rehabilitative treatment and improving activities of daily life but restoring dexterity for tasks such as playing musical instruments has proven challenging. This research presents a soft robotic hand exoskeleton coupled with machine learning algorithms to aid in relearning how to play the piano by ‘feeling’ the difference between correct and incorrect versions of the same song. The exoskeleton features piezoresistive sensor arrays with 16 taxels integrated into each fingertip. The hand exoskeleton was created as a single unit, with polyvinyl acid (PVA) used as a stent and later dissolved to construct the internal pressure chambers for the five individually actuated digits. Ten variations of a song were produced, one that was correct and nine containing rhythmic errors. To classify these song variations, Random Forest (RF), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithms were trained with data from the 80 taxels combined from the tactile sensors in the fingertips. Feeling the differences between correct and incorrect versions of the song was done with the exoskeleton independently and while the exoskeleton was worn by a person. Results demonstrated that the ANN algorithm had the highest classification accuracy of 97.13% ± 2.00% with the human subject and 94.60% ± 1.26% without. These findings highlight the potential of the smart exoskeleton to aid disabled individuals in relearning dexterous tasks like playing musical instruments.
PainVision-based evaluation of brain potentials: a novel approach for quantitative pain assessment

Introduction: The complex and multidimensional nature of pain poses a major challenge in clinical pain assessments. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a novel approach combining quantitative sensory testing (QST) with event-related potential measurements for assessment of experimental pain in healthy individuals. Methods: QST was performed with a commercial device (PainVision, PS-2100), and numeric rating scale (NRS) scores after exposure to different sensory stimuli were reported by the participants. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) was simultaneously performed to capture the cortical responses to peripheral stimulation. Results: Pain scores increased with the intensity of stimuli, with mean NRS scores of 2.7 ± 1.0 after mild stimuli and 5.6 ± 1.0 after moderate stimuli. A reproducible, significant P2-N2 complex was evoked by both mild and moderately painful stimuli, but not by non-painful stimuli. The latency of pain-related potentials was not significantly different between stimuli. The amplitudes of both P2 and N2 components significantly increased when intense nociception was applied, and the increments mainly originated from theta oscillations. Conclusion: The combination of QST with EEG was feasible for subjective and objective pain assessment. Distinct patterns of brain potentials were associated with the phenotype of the peripheral stimuli (e.g., noxious versus. innoxious, high versus. low pain intensity).
Research and improvement of denoising method based on K-neighbors

An improved method for denoising the point clouds with noises and outliers acquired by a 3D scanner was presented.The method established the topology connection of the scattered points by searching the K-neighbors of each point.The Gaussian function was used as a kernel function to estimate the current point's effect on its neighbors,so the noises could be restricted and the outliers could be removed.The concept of density entropy and how to optimize the parameter of Gaussian function are the emphases.The method solves the problem of window-width's uncertainty in application.The results of emulation experiments show that the method can detect outliers easily,and it avoids mistaking points on the model as outliers.
Fabrication of functional ameloblasts from hiPSCs for dental application

Tooth formation relies on two types of dental cell populations, namely, the dental epithelium and dental mesenchyme, and the interactions between these cell populations are important during tooth development. Although human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can differentiate into dental epithelial and mesenchymal cells, organoid research on tooth development has not been established yet. This study focused on the hiPSC-derived human ameloblast organoid (hAO) using a three-dimensional (3D) culture system. hAOs had similar properties to ameloblasts, forming enamel in response to calcium and mineralization by interaction with the dental mesenchyme. hAOs simultaneously had osteogenic and odontogenic differentiation potential. Furthermore, hAOs demonstrated tooth regenerative potential upon interaction with the mouse dental mesenchyme. Our findings provide new insights into a suitable hiPSC-derived dental source and demonstrate that hAOs can be beneficial not only for tooth regeneration but also for the study of various dental diseases for which treatment has not been developed yet.
Prospects of snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production and commercialization in Benin

Background Vegetables and fruits are highly recommended in diets because of their nutritional importance. Among those, leguminous vegetables are more important, for low-income countries, because of their protein, mineral contents and potential to increase food security and income. In Benin, snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are the most consumed leguminous vegetables; however, their production is declining, driving the need to understand the current status of its industry to propose solutions for the revival of the sector. This paper assessed the production system, market value, marketing channels, seed systems, and the constraints associated with Benin’s snap bean production from a gender lens. Methods A semi-structured interview was conducted with 602 bean producers and traders, randomly selected from 12 major vegetable-producing areas across Benin. Results The study found a drastic decline in the production of snap beans, with more than 60% abandonment over the last decade. As a consequence, Benin gets supplied through importations, with the highest importation flow coming from Togo (51%), followed by Burkina Faso (25%), and Ghana (12%). Only 13% of the beans traded are locally produced. The leading causes of the decline were pests and diseases that affected the crops’ yield and quality, causing the local produce to be less valued than the imported ones. Women are heavily involved in marketing but cannot expand their business due to low production and high importation. Discussion The study recommends that integrated pest management (IPM) and new varieties with tolerance to major pests and diseases be developed to address market demand and producers trained in agronomic practices.
FBXO5 acts as a novel prognostic biomarker for patients with cervical cancer

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) remains one of the most common and deadly malignancies in women worldwide. FBXO5, a protein-coding gene, is highly expressed in a variety of primary tumors and promotes tumor progression, however, its role and prognostic value in CC remain largely unknown. Methods: A key differential gene, FBXO5, was screened according to WGCNA based on immunohistochemical assays of clinical samples, multiple analyses of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases, including survival analysis, tumor mutational burden, GO, KEGG, tumor immune infiltration, and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity, to explore the expression and prognostic value of FBXO5 in CC. The migration and invasiveness of cervical cancer cells following FBXO5 knockdown and overexpression were examined using wound healing and transwell assays, and the viability of cancer cells was assessed using CCK8 and EdU assays. Results: FBXO5 was discovered to be substantially expressed in CC tissues using data from our CC cohort and the TCGA database, and a survival analysis indicated FBXO5 as a predictive factor for poor overall survival in CC patients. In vitro, CC cells were more inclined to proliferate, migrate, and invade when FBXO5 was upregulated as opposed to when it was knocked down.
Soil amendment and rhizobacterial inoculation improved Cu phytostabilization, plant growth and microbial activity in a bench-scale experiment

Mine driven trace elements’ pollution entails environmental risks and causes soil infertility. In the last decades, in situ techniques such as phytostabilization have become increasingly important as ways to tackle these negative impacts. The aim of this study was to test the individual and combined effects of different aided phytostabilization techniques using substrate from barren tailings of a Cu mine, characterized by extreme infertility (high acidity and deficiency of organic matter and nutrients). The experiment analyzed the growth of Populus nigra L. planted alone (P) or in co-cropping with Trifolium repens L. (PT), in pots containing mine soil amended with compost (1, 10, compost, soil, w/w) non inoculated (NI) or inoculated with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGP), mycorrhizae (MYC) or a combination of bacterial and fungal inocula (PGPMYC). Non-amended, non-planted and non-inoculated reference ports were also prepared. Plants were harvested after 110 days of plant development and several biometric and phytopathological parameters (stem height, aerial biomass, root biomass, wilting, chlorosis, pest and death) and macro and micronutrient composition were determined. The growth substrate was analyzed for several physicochemical (pH, CECe, and exchangeable cations, total C and N, P Olsen and availability of trace elements) and microbiological (community level physiological profiles: activity, richness and diversity) parameters. The use of the amendment, P. nigra plantation, and inoculation with rhizobacteria were the best techniques to reduce toxicity and improve soil fertility, as well as to increase the plant survival and growth. Soil bacterial functional diversity was markedly influenced by the presence of plants and the inoculation with bacteria, which suggests that the presence of plant regulated the configuration of a microbial community in which the inoculated bacteria thrive comparatively better. The results of this study support the use of organic amendments, tolerant plants, and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria to reduce environmental risk and improve fertility of soils impacted by mining.
Advances in understanding of the pathogenesis and therapeutic implications of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms: an updated review

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms or drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DRESS/DIHS) is one type of severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR). It is featured by fever, widespread skin lesions, protracted clinical course, internal organ involvement, and possibly long-term autoimmune sequelae. The presence of high-risk human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, hypersensitivity reaction after culprit drug ingestion, and human herpesvirus reactivation may all contribute to its complex clinical manifestations. Some recent studies focusing on the roles of involved cytokines/chemokines and T cells co-signaling pathways in DRESS/DIHS were conducted. In addition, some predictors of disease severity and prognosis were also reported. In this review, we provided an update on the current understanding of the pathogenesis, potential biomarkers, and the relevant therapeutic rationales of DRESS/DIHS.