Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Minimal Residual Disease Detected by the 7NB-mRNAs ddPCR Assay Is Associated with Disease Progression in High-Risk Neuroblastoma Patients: A Prospective Multicenter Observational Study in Japan

Simple Summary Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common pediatric tumor, and less than 50% of children with high-risk (HR)-NB can achieve long-term survival. This is mainly due to a tumor relapse caused by the activation of therapy-resistant minimal residual disease (MRD). Several assays measuring different sets of MRD markers by quantitative PCR (qPCR) or droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) were reported to have a significant prognostic value for MRD in HR-NB patients. The 7NB-mRNAs ddPCR assay was reported to outperform other qPCR assays by a retrospective in-house observational study. In the present study, the Japan Children’s Cancer Group (JCCG) Neuroblastoma Committee conducted a prospective multicenter observational study to evaluate a prognostic value of MRD in bone marrow (BM-MRD) and peripheral blood (PB-MRD) measured by the 7NB-mRNAs ddPCR assay. A total of 19 BM and 19 PB samples were collected from seven HR-NB patients. BM-MRD and PB-MRD estimated area under curve (AUC) of 0.767 and 0.800 with a significant accuracy (AUC > 0.7), validating a prognostic value of BM-MRD obtained by a previous study (AUC 0.723). The present study will pave the way to introduce a MRD assay into HR-NB patients’ clinical practice. Abstract High-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) patients remain far from obtaining optimal outcomes, with more than 50% relapse/regrowth rate despite current intensive multimodal therapy. This originated from the activation/proliferation of chemoresistant minimal residual disease (MRD). MRD with a significant prognostic was reported by several quantitative PCR (qPCR) or droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assays quantitating different sets of NB-associated mRNAs (NB-mRNAs). The 7NB-mRNAs ddPCR assay quantitating CRMP1, DBH, DDC, GAP43, ISL1, PHOX2B, and TH mRNAs was reported to outperform other qPCR assays by a retrospective in-house observational study. In the present study, the Japan Children’s Cancer Group (JCCG) Neuroblastoma Committee conducted a prospective multicenter observational study aimed at evaluating a prognostic value of MRD in bone marrow (BM-MRD) and peripheral blood (PB-MRD) detected by 7NB-mRNAs ddPCR assay. Between August 2018 and August 2022, 7 HR-NB patients who registered for JCCG clinical trials (JN-H-11 and JN-H-15) were enrolled. A total of 19 BM and 19 PB samples were collected, and 4/15 BM and 4/15 PB samples were classified as progressive disease (PD)/non-PD samples. BM-MRD and PB-MRD estimated area under curve (AUC) of 0.767 and 0.800 with a significant accuracy (AUC > 0.7). The present study validated a prognostic value of BM-MRD obtained by a previous study (AUC 0.723) and revealed the significant accuracy of PB-MRD as well as BM-MRD.
MRI with generalized diffusion encoding reveals damaged white matter in patients previously hospitalized for COVID-19 and with persisting symptoms at follow-up

Abstract There is mounting evidence of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the central nervous system, with patients experiencing diverse symptoms, often suggesting brain involvement. Conventional brain MRI of these patients shows unspecific patterns, with no clear connection of the symptomatology to brain tissue abnormalities, whereas diffusion tensor studies and volumetric analyses detect measurable changes in the brain after COVID-19. Diffusion MRI exploits the random motion of water molecules to achieve unique sensitivity to structures at the microscopic level, and new sequences employing generalized diffusion encoding provide structural information which are sensitive to intravoxel features. In this observational study, a total of 32 persons were investigated: 16 patients previously hospitalized for COVID-19 with persisting symptoms of post-COVID condition (mean age 60 years: range 41–79, all male) at 7-month follow-up and 16 matched controls, not previously hospitalized for COVID-19, with no post-COVID symptoms (mean age 58 years, range 46–69, 11 males). Standard MRI and generalized diffusion encoding MRI were employed to examine the brain white matter of the subjects. To detect possible group differences, several tissue microstructure descriptors obtainable with the employed diffusion sequence, the fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, microscopic anisotropy, orientational coherence (Cc) and variance in compartment’s size (CMD) were analysed using the tract-based spatial statistics framework. The tract-based spatial statistics analysis showed widespread statistically significant differences (P < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons using the familywise error rate) in all the considered metrics in the white matter of the patients compared to the controls. Fractional anisotropy, microscopic anisotropy and Cc were lower in the patient group, while axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, mean diffusivity and CMD were higher. Significant changes in fractional anisotropy, microscopic anisotropy and CMD affected approximately half of the analysed white matter voxels located across all brain lobes, while changes in Cc were mainly found in the occipital parts of the brain. Given the predominant alteration in microscopic anisotropy compared to Cc, the observed changes in diffusion anisotropy are mostly due to loss of local anisotropy, possibly connected to axonal damage, rather than white matter fibre coherence disruption. The increase in radial diffusivity is indicative of demyelination, while the changes in mean diffusivity and CMD are compatible with vasogenic oedema. In summary, these widespread alterations of white matter microstructure are indicative of vasogenic oedema, demyelination and axonal damage. These changes might be a contributing factor to the diversity of central nervous system symptoms that many patients experience after COVID-19.
Perceptibility of programmable softness displays using magnetorheological elastomers

While often focused on our visual system, adding touch to VR/AR environments can help render more immersive, richer user experiences. One important touch percept to render is compliance, or ‘softness. ’ Herein, we evaluate the perceptibility of soft, magnetorheological elastomers (MRE) in bare-finger interactions. Such materials can be reprogrammed to distinct states of compliance. We fabricated MRE samples over elastic moduli from 23–173 kPa and measured that small 0.25 T magnetic fields increased modulus by 10–60 kPa. MRE interfaces less and more compliant than finger skin were evaluated in discrimination experiments with and without a magnetic field. The results indicate changes in modulus of 11 kPa are required to reach a 75% threshold of discrimination, although greater differences are required when an MRE’s elasticity is about the same as skin. The perceptual results with these magnetically-induced materials are similar to those with non-actuated, solid silicone-elastomers that mimic naturalistic interactions.
Progress in Nanostructured Mechano-Bactericidal Polymeric Surfaces for Biomedical Applications

Bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance remain significant contributors to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite recent advances in biomedical research, a substantial number of medical devices and implants continue to be plagued by bacterial colonisation, resulting in severe consequences, including fatalities. The development of nanostructured surfaces with mechano-bactericidal properties has emerged as a promising solution to this problem. These surfaces employ a mechanical rupturing mechanism to lyse bacterial cells, effectively halting subsequent biofilm formation on various materials and, ultimately, thwarting bacterial infections. This review delves into the prevailing research progress within the realm of nanostructured mechano-bactericidal polymeric surfaces. It also investigates the diverse fabrication methods for developing nanostructured polymeric surfaces with mechano-bactericidal properties. We then discuss the significant challenges associated with each approach and identify research gaps that warrant exploration in future studies, emphasizing the potential for polymeric implants to leverage their distinct physical, chemical, and mechanical properties over traditional materials like metals.
CHATBOTS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE: A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Customer service oriented technical support is common, but it has a high demand of users who need to be attended to simultaneously and at any time. This paper presents a systematic literature review showing a broad perspective on chatbots applied to customer service. Searches were conducted in: IEEE Xplore, Taylor & Francis, ETHzurich, Wiley Online Library, Science Direct, ERIC, ERIC, Microsoft Academic, Google Scholar, ACM Digital Library, and ARDI. This review presents discussions on the feasibility of implementing chatbots in customer service. The results of the systematic review conclude that chatbots are constantly improving with respect to the technologies used for their implementation, consequently, there is an improvement in the application of customer service, which has also caused the expansion of the scope of application reaching sectors such as health, transportation, education, among others. This application is booming in all countries of the world; however, the United States is the one that has more research, due to the great demand of customers and the great technological advancement, therefore, this country is the one who is at the forefront when it comes to chatbots.
A Conserved Domain of HCV E2 Glycoprotein Interacts with Human CD81 and Induces Interferon-Gamma Secretion from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health threat to the public, and vaccines against it are not yet available. The HCV envelope glycoprotein E2 is a key target for anti-HCV vaccines. The majority of previous studies have focused on the hypervariable region and the glycosylation sites of the_HCV structural protein. This study aims to investigate a conserved domain of HCV E2 glycoprotein and explore its potential to induce an immune response against HCV. METHODS HCV E2 conserved domain (encompassing amino acids 505-702) was prepared in Escherichia coli (E. coli). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from patients with HCV or healthy controls. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay was conducted to examine the HCV E2-specific immune response as reflected by IFN-γ-secreting cells/106 PBMCs. RESULTS HCV E2 conserved domain was highly conserved among 25 HCV subtypes, and its recombinant soluble production in E. coli was recognized by anti-HCV E2 monoclonal antibodies. This study characterized in vitro direct interaction between bacterially expressed HCV E2 conserved domain and human CD81 (hCD81). Furthermore, the recombinant HCV E2_conserved domain markedly induced the production of IFN-γ by PBMCs from patients with HCV. Its stimulated specific immune response was significantly different from non-specific peptide controls or PBMCs isolated from healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS HCV E2 conserved domain directly binds hCD81 and activates the production of IFN-γ in the PBMCs of patients with HCV. Therefore, the conserved domain of HCV E2 glycoprotein may be a new candidate for developing an HCV vaccine.
Online Training Flow Scheduling for Geo-Distributed Machine Learning Jobs Over Heterogeneous and Dynamic Networks

Geo-Distributed Machine Leaning (Geo-DML) has been a promising technology, which performs collaborative learning across geographically dispersed data centers (DCs) with privacy-preserving over Wide Area Networks (WANs). Unfortunately, the limited and heterogeneous WAN bandwidth poses significant challenges to the performance of Geo-DML systems, leading to increased communication overhead and affecting the revenue of ISPs eventually. In particular, when multiple online jobs coexist in Geo-DML systems, the competition for bandwidth between training flows of different jobs aggravates this negative impact. To alleviate it, this paper investigates the problem of online training flow scheduling for Geo-DML jobs. We first formulate the studied problem as an Linear Programming (LP) model with the objective of maximizing the revenue of ISPs. Then, we propose an online traffic scheduling algorithm called Training Flow Adaptive Steering (TFAS), which exploits a primal-dual framework, tailored for efficient resource allocation of jobs to schedule training flows, such that system resources are maximally utilized and training procedures can be expedited and completed in a timely manner. Meanwhile, we conduct rigorous theoretical analysis to guarantee that the proposed algorithm can achieve a good competitive ratio. Extensive evaluation results demonstrate that our algorithm performs well and outperforms commonly adopted solutions 36.2%-49.4% in average.
Wireless Control of Active Gate Drivers for Silicon Carbide Power MOSFETs

Active gate drivers (AGDs) enhance the controllability and monitoring of switching devices, especially for fast switching silicon carbide (SiC) power metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (mosfets). To support information flow between gate driver, converter, and grid control units, high-performance digital infrastructure is required. This article proposes a practical strategy of assessing the benefits of using wireless communication technologies (WCTs) in power electronics systems (PESs) employing AGDs. First, information transmission routes (ITRs) are identified and located within a PES. Second, an ITR taxonomy is proposed, classifying ITRs and describing both application scenarios and requirements for every class. After presenting general advantages of WCTs over wired alternatives, seven specific WCTs are individually characterized. Subsequently, the benefits of using WCTs are evaluated for each ITR class, resulting in a specific recommendation for or against the use of WCTs, and at least one appropriate WCT for each ITR. Experimental results demonstrate that the wireless control of AGDs for SiC power mosfets is feasible using Bluetooth low energy. It is shown that an exemplary AGD can be effectively controlled with an information transmission delay of less than 45 ms, which is sufficient for the intended target applications.
3D seismic modeling using staggered-grid OcTree mesh

Because the grid spacing is fixed in the finite-difference method (FDM), the numerical dispersion usually imposes the use of restrictive small grid spacing (given by the lower velocity) in the whole model. Then, the number of grid points per wave-length is too large in deep layers, resulting in loss of efficiency of the FDM. Although the use of high-order operators allows bigger grid spacing and could make FDM more efficient, this does not solve the problem. In this paper, we develop a new 3D explicit scheme based on finite-volume method (FVM) that addresses the aforementioned problem in an efficient way. The algorithm is constructed using a general formalism with sparse matrices and allows both the use of different grid spacing in layers with different velocities and the refinement in regions of interest using OcTree meshes. OcTree is easy to generate using regular grids, avoiding additional complications in meshing. Computational tools for parallel processing on the GPU were used for the algebraic manipulation of the sparse matrices. The numerical scheme can be seen as an extension of the staggered-grid scheme; actually, it reduces to the classical staggered-grid scheme for the case of regular grids. Finally, an example is presented to show the effectiveness of the method.
Multi-omics analysis reveals interferon-stimulated gene OAS1 as a prognostic and immunological biomarker in pan-cancer

Introduction OAS1(2’-5’-oligoadenylate synthetase 1) is a member of the Interferon-Stimulated Genes which plays an important role in the antiviral process. In recent years, the role of OAS1 in tumors has attracted attention, and it was found to be associated with prognosis in several tumors. However, the mechanism by which OAS1 affects tumors is unclear and pan-cancer study of OAS1 is necessary to better understand its implication in cancers. Methods The expression, prognostic value, genetic alteration, alternative splicing events of OAS1 in pan-cancers were analyzed using TCGA, GTEx, HPA, GEPIA and OncoSplicing databases. OAS1 associated immune cell infiltration was evaluated using the ESTIMATE, xCell, CIBERSORT and QUANTISEQ algorithm. Single cell transcriptome data download using TISH database. Finally, the roles of the OAS1 on apoptosis, migration and invasion were investigated in two pancreatic cancer cells. Results Our results revealed significant differences in OAS1 expression among various tumors, which had prognostic implications. In addition, we investigated the impact of OAS1 on genomic stability, methylation status, and other factors across different types of cancer, and the effects of these factors on prognosis. Notably, our study also demonstrated that OAS1 overexpression can contribute to CTL dysfunction and macrophage M2 polarization. In addition, cell experiments showed that the knockdown of OAS1 could reduce the invasive ability and increased the apoptosis rate of PAAD cells. Discussion These results confirmed that OAS1 could be a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for its potential role in CTL dysfunction and macrophage M2 polarization.
Occurrence of Pseudomonas viridiflava in tomato plants in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais

The bacterium Pseudomonas viridiflava (Burkholder) Dowson is the causal agent of leaf bacterial speck (8) and pith necrosis (2, 10) in tomato plants ( Solanum lycopersicum L.). In 1973, this species was reported by Wilkie et al. (22) causing pith necrosis and leaf speck symptoms and was subsequently associated with symptoms in the fruits (6). Pseudomonas viridiflava was described causing leaf bacterial speck on tomato in Greece (5) and the United States (8), as well as pith necrosis in Greece (2, 12), Argentina (1), Portugal (18), Turkey (3, 21), Macedonia (15) and Serbia (17). In Brazil, symptoms of bacterial speck were reported in Bahia and São Paulo States (13), while pith necrosis was found in Santa Catarina State (16). In 2013, in
The Effects of Experiential Marketing and Store Atmosphere on Customer Loyalty of MSMEs in West Java

Experiential marketing and store atmosphere are two key factors that can greatly influence customer loyalty through customer satisfaction as a mediating factor. These factors can impact a customer’s perception of a brand and their likelihood of returning to make additional purchases. The research explored the relationship between experiential marketing, store atmosphere, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty, as well as the strategies that businesses could use to enhance these factors and improve customer loyalty. The research focused on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in West Java, Indonesia, which owned physical stores. The research applied causal quantitative methodology. Through a thorough analysis of existing research and empirical research of 384 respondents using Structural Equation Model Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS) methodology, the research provided valuable insights for MSMEs looking to increase customer loyalty and build a loyal customer base. The results show various contributions analyzing how customer loyalty is affected by experiential marketing and store atmosphere. It also implies how customer satisfaction mediates the relationships between those antecedents and customer loyalty. Providing recommendations and implications shows that the research can be a useful contribution to marketing and entrepreneurship topics. The research offers practical recommendations and implications for businesses, emphasizing the importance of implementing effective experiential marketing strategies and creating a welcoming store atmosphere to foster customer satisfaction and loyalty. By understanding the impact of these factors on customer loyalty, MSMEs can develop targeted strategies to improve customer experiences and build long-term customer relationships.
Cognitive Empathy within Patient-AI Communication for Diagnostic Reasoning

Empathy is an essential part of communication in healthcare. For artificial intelligence (AI) to be successfully incorporated as an integral part of healthcare systems, it may need to incorporate cognitively empathetic interactions with patients, meaning it uses the reasoning, the perspectives, and the information of patients as much as possible. In this paper, we discuss four lab experiments in which we tested different aspects of empathy using the AI Cognitive Empathy Scale (AICES). Overall, cognitive empathy elements show promise to create a shared understanding in patients-AI communication that may lead to increased patient satisfaction and willingness to use AI systems for initial diagnosis purposes.
Structured-light 3D Surface Imaging Technology

In this paper we provide a review of recent advances in 3D surface imaging technologies and focus particularly on non-contact 3D surface imaging techniques based on structure illumination.Performance indexes of 3D imaging system are discussed,and various 3D surface imaging schemes are categorized,illustrated,and compared.Calibration techniques are also discussed,since they play critical roles in achieving the required precision.
Differential roles of Cassia tora 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase in trade-off between plant growth and drought tolerance

Due to global climate change, drought is emerging as a major threat to plant growth and agricultural productivity. Abscisic acid (ABA) has been implicated in plant drought tolerance, however, its retarding effects on plant growth cannot be ignored. The reactions catalyzed by 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS) and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) proteins are critical steps within the isoprenoid biosynthesis in plants. Here, five DXS (CtDXS1-5) and two DXR (CtDXR1-2) genes were identified from Cassia tora genome. Based on multiple assays including the phylogeny, cis-acting element, expression pattern, and subcellular localization, CtDXS1 and CtDXR1 genes might be potential candidates controlling the isoprenoid biosynthesis. Intriguingly, CtDXS1 transgenic plants resulted in drought tolerance but retardant growth, while CtDXR1 transgenic plants exhibited both enhanced drought tolerance and increased growth. By comparison of β-carotene, chlorophyll, abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin 3 (GA3) contents in wild-type and transgenic plants, the absolute contents and (or) altered GA3/ABA levels were suggested to be responsible for the balance between drought tolerance and plant growth. The transcriptome of CtDXR1 transgenic plants suggested that the transcript levels of key genes, such as DXS, 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenases (NCED), ent-kaurene synthase (KS) and etc, involved with chlorophyll, β-carotene, ABA and GA3 biosynthesis were induced and their contents increased accordingly. Collectively, the trade-off effect induced by CtDXR1 was associated with redesigning architecture in phytohormone homeostasis and thus was highlighted for future breeding purposes.
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DURING THE POST COVID-19 PANDEMIC: TESTING THE EFFECT OF FOOD QUALITY, PACKAGING, AND CUSTOMER TRUST

This study aimed to assess the impact of food quality and packaging on consumer trust and satisfaction. This study received a total of 84 responses, according to data acquired through the distribution of online questionnaires. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, the data was analyzed. The data is processed using version 8 of WarpPls. The findings of this study reveal that product quality and packaging have a significant impact on customer trust and satisfaction. In addition to these findings, this study demonstrates that high levels of trust during the COVID-19 pandemic will influence customer satisfaction