Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing forecast accuracy using combination methods for the hierarchical time series approach

This study aims to investigate whether combining forecasts generated from different models can improve forecast accuracy rather than individual models using the hierarchical time series. Various approaches of hierarchical forecasting have been considered; a bottom-up, top-down, and an optimal combination approach. Autoregressive moving averages (ARIMA) and exponential smoothing (ETS) were used as forecasting models in creating forecasting for all levels in the hierarchy to show the effect of different forecasting methods for each hierarchical model. The results indicated that the Minimum Trace Sample estimator (MinT-Sample) and the bottom-up approaches with the ARIMA model have good predictive performance than other approaches. Moreover, the forecasts from the MinT-Sample and bottom-up approaches were combined using five different combining methods. The experimental results showed that the (AC) method is superior to all other combining methods and more accurate than other individual models at level zero (international total trade in Egypt) and level one (total exports, and total imports). So, combining forecasts generated from different models by hierarchical time series leads to more accurate forecasting of the value of imports and exports which will improve the overall international trade performance, and that is through using the forecasting values of imports and exports to plan for improving the trade balance and drawing up a more efficient production policy. Finally, the study recommends using hierarchical forecasting methods in the areas of international trade, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry could adopt the results of this study to produce precise forecasts for international trade. Moreover, the results of this study are to be a guide for the researchers to apply these approaches in other fields to improve the performance of forecasting.
The Drosophila Nab2 RNA binding protein inhibits m6A methylation and male-specific splicing of Sex lethal transcript in female neuronal tissue

The Drosophila polyadenosine RNA binding protein Nab2, which is orthologous to a human protein lost in a form of inherited intellectual disability, controls adult locomotion, axon projection, dendritic arborization, and memory through a largely undefined set of target RNAs. Here, we show a specific role for Nab2 in regulating splicing of ~150 exons/introns in the head transcriptome and focus on retention of a male-specific exon in the sex determination factor Sex-lethal (Sxl) that is enriched in female neurons. Previous studies have revealed that this splicing event is regulated in females by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification by the Mettl3 complex. At a molecular level, Nab2 associates with Sxl pre-mRNA in neurons and limits Sxl m6A methylation at specific sites. In parallel, reducing expression of the Mettl3, Mettl3 complex components, or the m6A reader Ythdc1 rescues mutant phenotypes in Nab2 flies. Overall, these data identify Nab2 as an inhibitor of m6A methylation and imply significant overlap between Nab2 and Mettl3 regulated RNAs in neuronal tissue.
- Swansea University Open Access

In this paper we present a novel interface for collaborative creation of evolving audio-visual documents. PaperChains allows users to sketch on paper and then augment with digital audio, allowing both the physical and digital objects to evolve simultaneously over time. The technique we have developed focuses on affordability and accessibility in its design, using standard cameraphones and telephone connections, which allow it to be used in regions where literacy, technological experience and data connections cannot necessarily be taken for granted. The main use-case that we focus on in this paper is for collaborative storytelling, an area which has been well studied and previously proven to be of value in resource constrained environments. To investigate the relevance of the approach in these contexts, we undertook two usability evaluations in India and South Africa. Results from these investigations indicate users’ ability to both create and interpret stories using the software, as well as demonstrating high overall usability and enjoyment. We end with a discussion of the implications of our design and opportunities for use in other contexts.
Neko or Sh¯ojo? Aligning Word Embeddings by Enforcing Isomorphism . Association for Computational Linguistics , 2019, 6 pages

Cross-lingual word embeddings ( CLWE ) underlie many multilingual natural language processing systems, often through orthogonal transformations of pre-trained monolingual embeddings. However, orthogonal mapping only works on language pairs whose embeddings are naturally isomorphic. For non-isomorphic pairs, our method (Iterative Nor-malization) transforms monolingual embed-dings to make orthogonal alignment easier by simultaneously enforcing that (1) individual word vectors are unit length, and (2) each lan-guage’s average vector is zero. Iterative Nor-malization consistently improves word translation accuracy of three CLWE methods, with the largest improvement observed on English-Japanese (from 2% to 44% test accuracy).
3D Printing, Photonics and the IoT

3D-printing is changing the way research is being conducted. By enabling the ready demonstration of prototype devices and instruments, 3D printing accelerates the adaptation of IoT technologies going beyond simple, latency-enhancing sensors. Prototyping and custom packaging is easier, rapid and increasingly low cost, circumventing traditional approaches, disrupting manufacture. Direct 3D printing of transmission and optical technologies such as optical fibres and waveguides is revolutionising research, enabling accessible and affordable capability to a much wider audience space.
Agarose‐based 3D Cell Confinement Assay to Study Nuclear Mechanobiology

Cells in living tissues are exposed to substantial mechanical forces and constraints imposed by neighboring cells, the extracellular matrix, and external factors. Mechanical forces and physical confinement can drive various cellular responses, including changes in gene expression, cell growth, differentiation, and migration, all of which have important implications in physiological and pathological processes, such as immune cell migration or cancer metastasis. Previous studies have shown that nuclear deformation induced by 3D confinement promotes cell contractility but can also cause DNA damage and changes in chromatin organization, thereby motivating further studies in nuclear mechanobiology. In this protocol, we present a custom‐developed, easy‐to‐use, robust, and low‐cost approach to induce precisely defined physical confinement on cells using agarose pads with micropillars and externally applied weights. We validated the device by confirming nuclear deformation, changes in nuclear area, and cell viability after confinement. The device is suitable for short‐ and long‐term confinement studies and compatible with imaging of both live and fixed samples, thus presenting a versatile approach to studying the impact of 3D cell confinement and nuclear deformation on cellular function. This article contains detailed protocols for the fabrication and use of the confinement device, including live cell imaging and labeling of fixed cells for subsequent analysis. These protocols can be amended for specific applications. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
MeerGAL: the MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey

Radio surveys of the Milky Way galaxy have transformed our understanding of star formation and stellar evolution. However, due to strong dependence of ``survey cost'' on frequency most large area surveys have so far been carried out at low frequencies ($\sim$ a few GHz). Unfortunately these surveys select against dense plasma as the free-free turnover frequency scales directly with electron density which means that there are significant biases against the detection of the youngest and densest HII regions, Young Stellar Objects, jets, winds and Planetary Nebulae. Here we describe the MeerKAT Large Project MeerGAL, which aims to address this issue by making the first sensitive high frequency, high resolution multi-epoch survey of the Galactic Plane. Together with its Northern Hemisphere sister project KuGARS (the Ku-band Galactic Reconnaissance Survey), MeerGAL will revolutionise the study of massive star formation and stellar evolution, Galactic structure, and variability.
Resting-state Connectivity Dynamics in the Human Brain using High-speed fMRI

Resting-state fMRI using seed-based connectivity analysis (SCA) typically involves regression of the confounding signals resulting from movement and physiological noise sources. This not only adds additional complexity to the analysis but may also introduce possible regression bias. We recently introduced a computationally efficient real-time SCA approach without confound regression, which employs sliding-window correlation analysis with running mean and standard deviation (meta-statistics). The present study characterizes the confound tolerance of this windowed seed-based connectivity analysis (wSCA), which combines efficient decorrelation of confounding signal events with high-pass filter characteristics that reduce sensitivity to drifts. The confound suppression and the strength of resting-state network (RSN) connectivity were characterized for a range of confounding signal profiles as a function of sliding-window width and scan duration, using simulation and in vivo data. The connectivity strength in six resting-state networks (RSNs) and artifactual connectivity in white matter were compared between wSCA and conventional regression-based SCA (cSCA). The wSCA approach demonstrated scalable confound suppression that increased with decreasing sliding-window width and increasing scan duration in both simulations and in vivo. The confound suppression for sliding-window widths ≤ 15 s was comparable to that of cSCA. Twenty-eight RSNs that were previously reported in a groupICA study were detected in real-time at scan durations as short as 30 s and with sliding-window widths as short as 4 s. The interand intranetwork connectivity dynamics of the 28 resting-state networks were studied in real-time and self-repeating connectivity patterns were identified.
Balanced truncation for temporal- and spatial-LPV interconnected systems based on the full block S-procedure

ABSTRACT This paper presents a technique for model order reduction of exponentially stable temporal- and spatial-LPV (Linear Parameter Varying) interconnected systems represented in linear fractional transformation form, based on the application of full block S-procedure. The first stage of the proposed technique is to balance the system. The balancing transformation is applied to the nominal system; the reduced system is connected with the same scheduling block as the original system. The reduced models preserve exponential stability and the spatial structure of the system. The proposed approach simplifies the problem of model order reduction for LPV systems in the sense of avoiding gridding over the scheduling parameter range. The results are illustrated with the application to an experimentally identified spatially interconnected model of an actuated beam. In addition, extended reachability and observability matrices are presented.
Some New Results on l1-Minimizing Nullspace Kalman Filtering for Remote Sensing Applications.

This paper describes some new results on recursive l_1-minimizing by Kalman filtering. We consider the l_1-norm as an explicit constraint, formulated as a nonlinear observation of the state to be estimated. Interpretiing a sparse vector to be estimated as a state which is observed from erroneous (undersampled) measurements we can address time- and space-variant sparsity, any kind of a priori information and also easily address nonstationary error influences in the measurements available. Inherently in our approach we move slightly away from the classical RIP-based approaches to a more intuitive understanding of the structure of the nullspace which is implicitly related to the well understood engineering concepts of deterministic and stochastic observability in estimation theory
Neoadjuvant Therapy and Axillary Lymph Node Status in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Abstract Based on an estimating model, the aim of our study was to evaluate the axillary lymph node involvement of patients with primary invasive early human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer before receiving neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). Patients with primary surgery (n = 63) were compared with patients who had received NAT (combined chemo/HER2-targeted antibody therapy) before surgery (n = 152). In patients receiving NAT, a positive N stage was estimated in 73.2 (49.8%) tumors resulting in a conversion (positive N stage-ypNpositive) of 35.5%. In 126 cases with ypN0 stage, a positive N stage was estimated in 41.4%.
Psychological distress 35 years after the Chornobyl accident in the Lithuanian clean-up workers

ABSTRACT The adverse effects on the health of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident clean-up workers have been reported previously. However, there is a lack of studies on the mental health of Chornobyl clean-up workers. The current study explored psychological distress in a sample of Lithuanian clean-up workers 35 years after the accident. In total, 107 Lithuanian Chornobyl clean-up workers (Mage = 62.5) and 107 controls were included in the study. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) was used for the assessment of anxiety and depression. The depression symptoms were significantly higher in the clean-up workers compared to the control group. The prevalence of severe depression symptoms was 23.4% and 4.7% in the Chornobyl clean-up workers and control groups, respectively. The risk for severe depression was associated with Chornobyl clean-up work (adjusted OR = 5.9). No differences in the anxiety symptoms were found between clean-up workers and controls. The study revealed the deteriorated mental health of the Lithuanian Chornobyl clean-up workers 35 years after the disaster – in particular, high levels of depression. Psychosocial support programmes for clean-up workers should be provided to mitigate the adverse effects of the disaster.
Heterozygous CARD9 mutation favors the development of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Abstract Background: Previous research demonstrated that a homozygous mutation of g.136372044G>A (S12N) in caspase recruitment domain family member 9 (CARD9) is critical for producing Aspergillus fumigatus-induced (Af-induced) T helper 2 (TH2)-mediated responses in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). However, it remains unclear whether the CARD9S12N mutation, especially the heterozygous occurrence, predisposes the host to ABPA. Methods: A total of 61 ABPA patients and 264 controls (including 156 healthy controls and 108 asthma patients) were recruited for sequencing the CARD9 locus to clarify whether patients with this heterozygous single-nucleotide polymorphisms are predisposed to the development of ABPA. A series of in vivo and in vitro experiments, such as quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, and RNA isolation and quantification, were used to illuminate the involved mechanism of the disease. Results: The presence of the p.S12N mutation was associated with a significant risk of ABPA in ABPA patients when compared with healthy controls and asthma patients, regardless of Aspergillus sensitivity. Relative to healthy controls without relevant allergies, the mutation of p.S12N was associated with a significant risk of ABPA (OR: 2.69 and 4.17 for GA and AA genotypes, P = 0.003 and 0.029, respectively). Compared with patients with asthma, ABPA patients had a significantly higher heterozygous mutation (GA genotype), indicating that p.S12N might be a significant ABPA-susceptibility locus (aspergillus sensitized asthma: OR: 3.02, P = 0.009; aspergillus unsensitized asthma: OR: 2.94, P = 0.005). The mutant allele was preferentially expressed in ABPA patients with heterozygous CARD9S12N, which contributes to its functional alterations to facilitate Af-induced TH2-mediated ABPA development. In terms of mechanism, Card9 wild-type (Card9WT) expression levels decreased significantly due to Af-induced decay of its messenger RNA compared to the heterozygous Card9S12N. In addition, ABPA patients with heterozygous CARD9S12N had increased Af-induced interleukin-5 production. Conclusion: Our study provides the genetic evidence showing that the heterozygous mutation of CARD9S12N, followed by allele expression imbalance of CARD9S12N, facilitates the development of ABPA.
Understanding Drug Skin Permeation Enhancers Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Our skin constitutes an effective permeability barrier that protects the body from exogenous substances but concomitantly severely limits the number of pharmaceutical drugs that can be delivered transdermally. In topical formulation design, chemical permeation enhancers (PEs) are used to increase drug skin permeability. In vitro skin permeability experiments can measure net effects of PEs on transdermal drug transport, but they cannot explain the molecular mechanisms of interactions between drugs, permeation enhancers, and skin structure, which limits the possibility to rationally design better new drug formulations. Here we investigate the effect of the PEs water, lauric acid, geraniol, stearic acid, thymol, ethanol, oleic acid, and eucalyptol on the transdermal transport of metronidazole, caffeine, and naproxen. We use atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in combination with developed molecular models to calculate the free energy difference between 11 PE-containing formulations and the skin’s barrier structure. We then utilize the results to calculate the final concentration of PEs in skin. We obtain an RMSE of 0.58 log units for calculated partition coefficients from water into the barrier structure. We then use the modified PE-containing barrier structure to calculate the PEs’ permeability enhancement ratios (ERs) on transdermal metronidazole, caffeine, and naproxen transport and compare with the results obtained from in vitro experiments. We show that MD simulations are able to reproduce rankings based on ERs. However, strict quantitative correlation with experimental data needs further refinement, which is complicated by significant deviations between different measurements. Finally, we propose a model for how to use calculations of the potential of mean force of drugs across the skin’s barrier structure in a topical formulation design.
The mitophagy receptor NIX induces vIRF-1 oligomerization and interaction with GABARAPL1 for the promotion of HHV-8 reactivation-induced mitophagy

Recently, viruses have been shown to regulate selective autophagy for productive infections. For instance, human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), activates selective autophagy of mitochondria, termed mitophagy, thereby inhibiting antiviral innate immune responses during lytic infection in host cells. We previously demonstrated that HHV-8 viral interferon regulatory factor 1 (vIRF-1) plays a crucial role in lytic replication-activated mitophagy by interacting with cellular mitophagic proteins, including NIX and TUFM. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which these interactions lead to mitophagy activation remain to be determined. Here, we show that vIRF-1 binds directly to mammalian autophagy-related gene 8 (ATG8) proteins, preferentially GABARAPL1 in infected cells, in an LC3-interacting region (LIR)-independent manner. Accordingly, we identified key residues in vIRF-1 and GABARAPL1 required for mutual interaction and demonstrated that the interaction is essential for mitophagy activation and HHV-8 productive replication. Interestingly, the mitophagy receptor NIX promotes vIRF-1-GABARAPL1 interaction, and NIX/vIRF-1-induced mitophagy is significantly inhibited in GABARAPL1-deficient cells. Moreover, a vIRF-1 variant defective in GABARAPL1 binding substantially loses the ability to induce vIRF-1/NIX-induced mitophagy. These results suggest that NIX supports vIRF-1 activity as a mitophagy mediator. In addition, we found that NIX promotes vIRF-1 aggregation and stabilizes aggregated vIRF-1. Together, these findings indicate that vIRF-1 plays a role as a viral mitophagy mediator that can be activated by a cellular mitophagy receptor.
Life’s Essential 8 is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease but not venous thromboembolism in men: a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) shares several risk factors with venous thromboembolism (VTE). The American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 (LS7), which included seven health and behavioural factors for CVD prevention, has recently been upgraded to Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) score. We aimed to examine the prospective association between LE8 and the risks of ASCVD and VTE in Finland. Methods: We utilized data based on 1899 men aged 42–61 years in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease (KIHD) prospective study. The LE8 score was generated from baselines measures of four health behaviours (physical activity, diet, nicotine exposure and sleep health) and four health factors (BMI, blood lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure). Each factor was scored from 0 to 100 and summed into a composite score. Participants were classified into quartiles (Q) based on the total LE8 score – Q1, ≤ 420; Q2, >420 to 485; Q3, >485 to 550; Q4, >550. Multivariable Cox regression models were utilized to determine the hazard ratios (HRs) along with the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for ASCVD and VTE. Results: After median follow-up durations of 24 and 25 years, 889 ASCVD and 127 VTE events were recorded, respectively. The risk of ASCVD was found to be 58% lower in men belonging to the highest LE8 quartile compared to those in the lowest quartile (HR:0.42; 95%CI: 0.34–0.51). There was no significant evidence of an association between LE8 and VTE risk (Q4 vs Q1, HR:1.02; 95%CI: 0.60–1.74). Conclusion: The risk of ASCVD was significantly lower in middle-aged and older Finnish men who had a high LE8 score, but there was no significant association with VTE. Further large-scale prospective studies conducted in women and other population groups are necessary to confirm these findings. Key Messages Men who had total Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) score more than 550 had lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared with those with LE8 score ≤ 420. Increasing LE8 score by 50 can lower the risk of ASCVD, but not venous thromboembolism (VTE). The result supports continuous improvement in combined healthy behaviours and factors in LE8 composite score may lower future risk of heart disease or stroke.