Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing human learning via spaced repetition optimization

Significance Understanding human memory has been a long-standing problem in various scientific disciplines. Early works focused on characterizing human memory using small-scale controlled experiments and these empirical studies later motivated the design of spaced repetition algorithms for efficient memorization. However, current spaced repetition algorithms are rule-based heuristics with hard-coded parameters, which do not leverage the automated fine-grained monitoring and greater degree of control offered by modern online learning platforms. In this work, we develop a computational framework to derive optimal spaced repetition algorithms, specially designed to adapt to the learners’ performance. A large-scale natural experiment using data from a popular language-learning online platform provides empirical evidence that the spaced repetition algorithms derived using our framework are significantly superior to alternatives. Spaced repetition is a technique for efficient memorization which uses repeated review of content following a schedule determined by a spaced repetition algorithm to improve long-term retention. However, current spaced repetition algorithms are simple rule-based heuristics with a few hard-coded parameters. Here, we introduce a flexible representation of spaced repetition using the framework of marked temporal point processes and then address the design of spaced repetition algorithms with provable guarantees as an optimal control problem for stochastic differential equations with jumps. For two well-known human memory models, we show that, if the learner aims to maximize recall probability of the content to be learned subject to a cost on the reviewing frequency, the optimal reviewing schedule is given by the recall probability itself. As a result, we can then develop a simple, scalable online spaced repetition algorithm, MEMORIZE, to determine the optimal reviewing times. We perform a large-scale natural experiment using data from Duolingo, a popular language-learning online platform, and show that learners who follow a reviewing schedule determined by our algorithm memorize more effectively than learners who follow alternative schedules determined by several heuristics.
Liquid biopsy in breast cancer: A comprehensive review

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Due to its complexity in nature, effective breast cancer treatment can encounter many challenges. Traditional methods of cancer detection such as tissue biopsy are not comprehensive enough to capture the entire genomic landscape of breast tumors. However, with the introduction of novel techniques, the application of liquid biopsy has been enhanced, enabling the improvement of various aspects of breast cancer management including early diagnosis and screening, prediction of prognosis, early detection of relapse, serial sampling and efficient longitudinal monitoring of disease progress and response to treatment. Various components of tumor cells released into the blood circulation can be analyzed in liquid biopsy sampling, some of which include circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), cell‐free RNA, tumor‐educated platelets and exosomes. These components can be utilized for different purposes. As an example, ctDNA can be sequenced for genetic profiling of the tumors to enhance individualized treatment and longitudinal screening. CTC plasma count analysis or ctDNA detection after curative tumor resection surgery could facilitate early detection of minimal residual disease, aiding in the initiation of adjuvant therapy to prevent recurrence. Furthermore, CTC plasma count can be assessed to determine the stage and prognosis of breast cancer. In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the various components of liquid biopsy used in breast cancer diagnosis and will expand on aspects that require further focus in future research.
Design of radio frequency integrated circuits for ultra wide band communications

En el presente trabajo de investigacion se presentan diferentes alternativas para la implementacion de amplificadores de bajo ruido (LNA), para sistemas de comunicaciones de ultra banda ancha que siguen las especificaciones del estandar ECMA-368 / ISO/IEC 26907. En la implementacion de los diferentes LNAs desarrollados, se ha prestado especial atencion en la optimizacion del consumo de potencia de los mismo asi como el area ocupada. Despues de una introduccion a las caracteristicas del estandar de comunicaciones ECMA-368 / ISO/IEC 26907. El desarrollo de los LNAs comienza con los amplificadores distribuidos, una de las estructuras mas clasicas en comunicaciones de banda ancha. De cara a solucionar los problemas de los amplificadores distribuidos (su elevado consumo y area), se han explorado diferentes alternativas de amplificadores de banda ancha basados en estructuras cascodo, mejorando considerablemente el consumo de potencia y area ocupada. Para continuar mejorando las prestaciones de los circuitos, se ha llevado a cabo una exploracion de las tecnicas de realimentacion que mejoran considerablemente tanto el consumo de potencia como el area ocupada por los LNAs, gracias al uso de novedosas estructuras de inductores integrados. Finalmente, de cara a conseguir el menor consumo de area posible, se han estudiado las tecnicas sin bobinas, consiguiendo desarrollar LNAs con el minimo area posible y con unas prestaciones aceptables para sistemas de comunicacion de ultra banda ancha.
Temporal trends of the in vitro activity of tigecycline and comparator antibiotics against clinical aerobic bacterial isolates collected in Germany, 2006–2014: results of the Tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trial (TEST)

Given the rapidly changing landscape of antimicrobial resistance, continuous monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility in clinically relevant bacterial isolates plays an important role in the management of infectious diseases. The Tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trial (TEST) is an ongoing worldwide surveillance programme monitoring the in vitro activity of tigecycline and a panel of representative comparator antibiotics. We report longitudinal susceptibility data on a large set of isolates (n=36,044) from clinically significant bacterial species collected in 25 microbiological laboratories from 2006 to 2014. Trends include a strong increase of carbapenem and levofloxacin resistance in Acinetobacter spp. , and smaller increasing rates of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Across the reporting period, the tigecycline minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) at which 50% and 90% of isolates were inhibited remained stable and susceptibility rates were consistently high (93–100%) for all bacterial species.
Scanning MEMS Mirror for High Definition and High Frame Rate Lissajous Patterns

Scanning MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) mirrors are attractive given their potential use in a diverse array of laser scanning display and imaging applications. Here we report on an electrostatic MEMS mirror for high definition and high frame rate (HDHF) Lissajous scanning. The MEMS mirror comprised a low Q-factor inner mirror and frame mirror, which provided two-dimensional scanning at two similar resonant scanning frequencies with high mechanical stability. The low Q inner mirror enabled a broad frequency selection range. The high definition and high frame rate (HDHF) Lissajous scanning of the MEMS mirror was achieved by selecting a set of scanning frequencies near its resonance with a high greatest common divisor (GCD) and a high total lobe number. The MEMS mirror had resonant scanning frequencies at 5402 Hz and 6702 Hz in x and y directions, respectively. The selected pseudo-resonant frequencies of 5450 Hz and 6700 Hz for HDHF scanning provided 50 frames per second with 94% fill factor in 256 × 256 pixels. This Lissajous MEMS mirror could be utilized for assorted HDHF laser scanning imaging and display applications.
What Quantity of Photosystem I Is Optimum for Safe Photosynthesis?1

Plant leaves optimize the quantity of PSI to maintain P700 oxidation to protect PSI against photo-oxidative damage. PSI has the potential to generate reactive oxygen species and be oxidatively inactivated by the reactive oxygen species. The photo-oxidative damage of PSI (also called PSI photoinhibition) causes the inhibition of the plant growth and is a lethal event for plants. It has been reported that PSI photoinhibition does not occur as long as the reaction-center chlorophyll (P700) remains oxidized, even in excess light conditions. This process is termed P700 oxidation and is supported by various regulatory mechanisms and likely also by the stoichiometric quantities of photosynthetic apparatus. In this study, we assessed how decreased photochemically active PSI in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) affected a variety of photosynthetic parameters, including P700 oxidation. Inactivation of PSI was rapidly and selectively induced by repetitive short-pulse illumination. PSI photoinhibition correlated linearly with decreases in effective quantum yield of PSII and nonphotochemical quenching; however, the photosynthetic CO2 assimilation rate was less affected, as exemplified by ∼50% of the normal CO2 assimilation rate maintained with an 80% loss in PSI photochemical activity. In contrast, effective quantum yield of PSI was enhanced following PSI photoinhibition, mainly owing to a decrease in the electron donor-side limitation of PSI. Based on these results, we propose that the stoichiometric quantity of PSI is optimized to induce P700 oxidation for dissipating excess light energy in PSI, thus avoiding inhibition of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation caused by PSI photoinhibition.
Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress in high-fat-diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice: Efficacy of a novel extract from mulberry (Morus alba) leaves fermented with Cordyceps militaris

A few clues about correlation between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mulberry (Morus alba) leaves were investigated in only the experimental autoimmune myocarditis and streptozotocin-induced diabetes. To investigate whether a novel extract of mulberry leaves fermented with Cordyceps militaris (EMfC) could suppress ER in fatty liver, alterations in the key parameters for ER stress response were measured in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese C57L/6 mice treated with EMfC for 12 weeks. The area of adipocytes in the liver section were significantly decreased in the HFD+EMfC treated group as compared to the HFD+Vehicle treated group, while their level was higher in HFD+Vehicle treated group than No treated group. The level of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 beta (IRE1α) phosphorylation and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) expression were remarkably enhanced in the HFD+Vehicle treated group. However, their levels were restored in the HFD+EMfC treated group, although some differences were detected in the decrease rate. Similar recovery was observed on the ER stress-induced apoptosis. The level of Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were decreased in the HFD+EMfC and HFD+orlistat (OT) treated group compared to the HFD+Vehicle treated group. The results of the present study therefore provide first evidence that EMfC with the anti-obesity effects can be suppressed ER stress and ER stress-induced apoptosis in the hepatic steatosis of HFD-induced obesity model.
The Disparity of Impairment of Neurogenesis and Cognition After Acute or Fractionated Radiation Exposure in Adolescent BALB/c Mice

The effect of acute X-ray irradiation with 2 Gy or fractionated exposure with 0.2 Gy continuously for 10 days (0.2 Gy × 10 = 2 Gy) was evaluated in the postnatal day 21 (P21) BALB/c mouse model. Both acute and fractionated irradiation induced impairment of cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus labeled by Ki67 and doublecortin, respectively. Parvalbumin immunopositive interneurons in the subgranular zone were also reduced significantly. However, the 2 patterns of irradiation did not affect animal weight gain when measured at ages of P90 and P180 or 69 and 159 days after irradiation. Behavioral tests indicated that neither acute nor fractionated irradiation with a total dose of 2 Gy induced deficits in the contextual fear or spatial memory and memory for novel object recognition. Animal motor activity was also not affected in the open-field test. The disparity of the impairment of neurogenesis and unaffected cognition suggests that the severity of impairment of neurogenesis induced by acute or fractionated irradiation with a total dose of 2 Gy at P21 may not be worse enough to induce the deficit of cognition.
Parent Feeding Practices in the Australian Indigenous Population within the Context of non-Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Populations in Other High-Income Countries-A Scoping Review.

Although extensive literature on parent feeding practices among the general Australian population exists, Australian Indigenous populations are generally overlooked. A systematic scoping review was carried out to map any source of literature showing Indigenous parent feeding practices in Australia in the context of what is known about parent feeding practices among broader Australian populations and Indigenous populations in other high-income countries.A search of 8 electronic health databases was conducted. Inclusion criteria were children aged <12 y and reporting ≥1 child outcome related to childhood overweight and/or obesity, body mass index, dietary intake, or eating behavior in the context of parent feeding practices. Studies were grouped according to Indigenous status of the population for data extraction and synthesis.A total of 79 studies were identified; 80% (n = 65) were conducted among the general Australian population and <20% (n = 14) focused on Indigenous populations. Although a wide range of feeding practices were identified among the general Australian population, Indigenous practices most closely aligned with highly responsive and permissive parenting dimensions. The highly valued child autonomy in Indigenous parenting is sometimes criticized by researchers when viewed through a Western lens because the child has agency in deciding what and when to eat.Evidence-based understanding and knowledge of Indigenous parent feeding practices in Australia are limited. Indigenous worldviews are expressed distinctly differently than the general Western worldview in parent feeding practices. How worldviews are represented in parent-child relationships is important to consider for the way in which research with Indigenous populations is conducted and the evidence it generates to inform policy and practice.
Bayesian variable selection based on clinical relevance weights in small sample studies—Application to colon cancer

Using clinical data to model the medical decisions behind sequential treatment actions raises methodological challenges. Physicians often have access to many covariates that may be used when making sequential treatment decisions for individual patients. Statistical variable selection methods may help finding which of these variables are used for this decision in everyday practice. When the sample size is not large, Bayesian variable selection methods can address this setting and allow for expert information to be incorporated into prior distributions. Motivated by clinical practice data involving repeated dose adaptation for Irinotecan in colorectal metastatic cancer, we propose a modification of the stochastic search variable selection (SSVS) method, which we call weight‐based SSVS (WBS). We use clinical relevance weights elicited from physician experts to construct prior distributions, with the goal to identify the most influential toxicities and other covariates used for dose adjustment. We evaluate and compare the WBS model performance to the Lasso and SSVS through an extensive simulation study. The simulations show that WBS has better performance and lower rates of false positives and false negatives than the other methods but depends strongly on the covariate weights.
Isodon rugosus (Wall. ex Benth.) Codd In Vitro Cultures: Establishment, Phytochemical Characterization and In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Activities

Isodon rugosus (Wall. ex Benth.) Codd accumulates large amounts of phenolics and pentacyclic triterpenes. The present study deals with the in vitro callus induction from stem and leaf explants of I. rugosus under various plant growth regulators (PGRs) for the production of antioxidant and anti-ageing compounds. Among all the tested PGRs, thidiazuron (TDZ) used alone or in conjunction with α-napthalene acetic acid (NAA) induced highest callogenesis in stem-derived explants, as compared to leaf-derived explants. Stem-derived callus culture displayed maximum total phenolic content and antioxidant activity under optimum hormonal combination (3.0 mg/L TDZ + 1.0 mg/L NAA). HPLC analysis revealed the presence of plectranthoic acid (373.92 µg/g DW), oleanolic acid (287.58 µg/g DW), betulinic acid (90.51 µg/g DW), caffeic acid (91.71 µg/g DW), and rosmarinic acid (1732.61 µg/g DW). Complete antioxidant and anti-aging potential of extracts with very contrasting phytochemical profiles were investigated. Correlation analyses revealed rosmarinic acid as the main contributor for antioxidant activity and anti-aging hyaluronidase, advance glycation end-products inhibitions and SIRT1 activation, whereas, pentacyclic triterpenoids were correlated with elastase, collagenase, and tyrosinase inhibitions. Altogether, these results clearly evidenced the great valorization potential of I. rugosus calli for the production of antioxidant and anti-aging bioactive extracts for cosmetic applications.
La polysémie régulière dans WordNet

Cette étude propose une analyse et une modélisation des relations de polysémie dans le lexique électronique anglais WordNet. Elle exploite pour cela la hiérarchie des concepts (représentés par des synsets), et la définition associée à chacun de ces concepts. Le résultat est constitué d’un ensemble de règles qui nous ont permis d’identifier d’une façon largement automatisée, avec une précision voisine de 91%, plus de 2100 paires de synsets liés par une relation de polysémie régulière. Notre méthode permet aussi une désambiguïsation lexicale partielle des mots de la définition associée à ces synsets.
Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Children's Hospitals in Japan, 2010-2017.

BACKGROUND The risk factors of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) bloodstream infection (BSI) are not yet known in children. Our aim was to evaluate risk factors and outcomes associated with MDR GNB BSI in children. METHODS Patients with GNB BSI were enrolled between April 2010 and March 2017 at 8 children's hospitals in Japan. Clinical and microbiologic data were collected retrospectively. The risk factors and outcomes of MDR and non-MDR GNB BSI were compared. RESULTS In total, 629 GNB BSI episodes met the case definition. The median age and proportion of males were 2 years (interquartile range, 0.3-8.7) and 50.7%, respectively. An underlying disease was found in 94% of patients. The proportion of BSI cases that developed >48 hours after admission was 76.2%. MDR comprised 24.5% of BSI cases. The MDR rate did not change over time (P = 0.540). The effective coverage rate of the initial empiric therapy for the MDR and non-MDR BSI cases was 60.4% and 83.4%, respectively (P < 0.001). The all-cause mortality rate at 28 days for all BSI, MDR-BSI and non-MDR BSI cases was 10.7%, 13.6% and 9.7%, respectively (P = 0.167). MDR BSI was independently associated with cancer chemotherapy within 30 days (odds ratio [OR] 43.90), older age (OR 1.05) and admission to the neonatal ward (OR 0.019). CONCLUSIONS One-fourth of GNB BSI cases were MDR. Cancer chemotherapy and older age were risk factors for MDR GNB BSI in children's hospitals. MDR did not increase the all-cause mortality rate.
The development of hypocretin deficiency in narcolepsy type 1 can be swift and closely linked to symptom onset: clues from a singular case

Submitted: 9 October, 2018; Revised: 13 November, 2018 © Sleep Research Society 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Sleep Research Society. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com Letter to the Editor The development of hypocretin deficiency in narcolepsy type 1 can be swift and closely linked to symptom onset: clues from a singular case
Herbivorous Caterpillars Can Utilize Three Mechanisms to Alter Green Leaf Volatile Emission

Abstract Green plants emit green leaf volatiles (GLVs) as a general damage response. These compounds act as signals for the emitter plant, neighboring plants, and even for insects in the ecosystem. However, when oral secretions from certain caterpillars are applied to wounded leaves, GLV emissions are significantly decreased or modified. We examined four caterpillar species representing two lepidopteran families for their capacity to decrease GLV emissions from Zea mays leaf tissue. We also investigated the source of the GLV modifying components in the alimentary tract of the various caterpillars. In Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and Manduca sexta (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), we found three distinct mechanisms to modify GLV emission: a heat-stable compound in the gut, a heat-labile enzyme in salivary gland homogenate (previously described in Bombyx mori (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), and an isomerase in the salivary gland homogenate, which catalyzes the conversion of (Z)-3-hexenal to (E)-2-hexenal (previously described in M. sexta). These mechanisms employed by caterpillars to suppress or modify GLV emission suggest a counteraction against the induced indirect volatile defenses of a plant and provides further insights into the ecological functions of GLVs.
WRKYs, the Jack-of-various-Trades, Modulate Dehydration Stress in Populus davidiana—A Transcriptomic Approach

Populus davidiana, native to Korea and central Asian countries, is a major contributor to the Korean forest cover. In the current study, using high-throughput RNA-seq mediated transcriptome analysis, we identified about 87 P. davidiana WRKY transcription factors (PopdaWRKY TFs) that showed differential expression to dehydration stress in both sensitive and tolerant cultivars. Our results suggested that, on average, most of the WRKY genes were upregulated in tolerant cultivars but downregulated in sensitive cultivars. Based on protein sequence alignment, P. davidiana WRKYs were classified into three major groups, I, II, III, and further subgroups. Phylogenetic analysis showed that WRKY TFs and their orthologs in Arabidopsis and rice were clustered together in the same subgroups, suggesting similar functions across species. Significant correlation was found among qRT-PCR and RNA-seq analysis. In vivo analysis using model plant Arabidopsis showed that atwrky62 (orthologous to Potri.016G137900) knockout mutants were significantly sensitive to dehydration possibly due to an inability to close their stomata under dehydration conditions. In addition, a concomitant decrease in expression of ABA biosynthetic genes was observed. The AtHK1 that regulates stomatal movement was also downregulated in atwrky62 compared to the wild type. Taken together, our findings suggest a regulatory role of PopdaWRKYs under dehydration stress.