Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Habit learning supported by efficiently controlled network dynamics in naive macaque monkeys

Primates display a marked ability to learn habits in uncertain and dynamic environments. The associated perceptions and actions of such habits engage distributed neural circuits. Yet, precisely how such circuits support the computations necessary for habit learning remain far from understood. Here we construct a formal theory of network energetics to account for how changes in brain state produce changes in sequential behavior. We exercise the theory in the context of multi-unit recordings spanning the caudate nucleus, prefrontal cortex, and frontal eyefields of female macaque monkeys engaged in 60-180 sessions of a free scan task that induces motor habits. The theory relies on the determination of effective connectivity between recording channels, and on the stipulation that a brain state is taken to be the trial-specific firing rate across those channels. The theory then predicts how much energy will be required to transition from one state into another, given the constraint that activity can spread solely through effective connections. Consistent with the theory's predictions, we observed smaller energy requirements for transitions between more similar and more complex trial saccade patterns, and for sessions characterized by less entropic selection of saccade patterns. Using a virtual lesioning approach, we demonstrate the resilience of the observed relationships between minimum control energy and behavior to significant disruptions in the inferred effective connectivity. Our theoretically principled approach to the study of habit learning paves the way for future efforts examining how behavior arises from changing patterns of activity in distributed neural circuitry.
Weighing the Neutrinos with the Galaxy Shape-Shape Correlations

The galaxies form and evolve in the early epochs through the anisotropic merging process along the primary narrow filaments, in the direction of which their shapes become elongated and intrinsically aligned. The nonlinear evolution of the cosmic web broadens the primary filaments, by entangling them with multiple secondary filaments, which has an effect of reducing the anisotropy of the merging process and in consequence weakens the galaxy shape-shape correlations in the later epochs. Assuming that the degree of the nonlinearity and complexity of the cosmic web depends on the nature of dark matter, we propose a hypothesis that the galaxy shape-shape correlation function, $\eta(r)$, may be a powerful complimentary probe of the total neutrino mass, $M_{\nu}$. Testing this hypothesis against a high resolution N-body simulation, we show that the $M_{\nu}$-dependence of $\eta(r)$ at $z=0$ is sensitive enough to distinguish between $M_{\nu}=0.0$ eV and $M_{\nu}=0.1$ eV. We also show that the differences in $\eta(r)$ at $r\le 5\,h^{-1}$Mpc between the models with massless and massive neutrinos cannot be explained by their differences in the small-scale density powers, $\sigma_{8}$, which implies that the galaxy shape-shape correlation function has a potential to break the notorious cosmic degeneracy between $M_{\nu}$ and $\sigma_{8}$.
Real-Time Prediction of BITCOIN Price using Machine Learning Techniques and Public Sentiment Analysis

Bitcoin is the first digital decentralized cryptocurrency that has shown a significant increase in market capitalization in recent years. The objective of this paper is to determine the predictable price direction of Bitcoin in USD by machine learning techniques and sentiment analysis. Twitter and Reddit have attracted a great deal of attention from researchers to study public sentiment. We have applied sentiment analysis and supervised machine learning principles to the extracted tweets from Twitter and Reddit posts, and we analyze the correlation between bitcoin price movements and sentiments in tweets. We explored several algorithms of machine learning using supervised learning to develop a prediction model and provide informative analysis of future market prices. Due to the difficulty of evaluating the exact nature of a Time Series(ARIMA) model, it is often very difficult to produce appropriate forecasts. Then we continue to implement Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) with long short-term memory cells (LSTM). Thus, we analyzed the time series model prediction of bitcoin prices with greater efficiency using long short-term memory (LSTM) techniques and compared the predictability of bitcoin price and sentiment analysis of bitcoin tweets to the standard method (ARIMA). The RMSE (Root-mean-square error) of LSTM are 198.448 (single feature) and 197.515 (multi-feature) whereas the ARIMA model RMSE is 209.263 which shows that LSTM with multi feature shows the more accurate result.
Study on the Anticancer Effect of an Astragaloside- and Chlorogenic Acid-Containing Herbal Medicine (RLT-03) in Breast Cancer

Background Although surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy are widely used in clinical practice for breast cancer treatment, herbal medicines (HMs) are considered as an alternative to palliative treatments because of their coordinated intervention effects and relatively low side effects. Astragaloside (AS) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) are major active ingredients of Radix Astragali and Lonicera japonica, which have shown antitumorigenic properties in certain cancers, but the role of HMs containing both AS and CGA remains unclear in breast cancer. In this study, we explored an AS- and CGA-containing HM (RLT-03) extracted from Radix Astragali, Lonicerae Japonicae Flos, Trichosanthin, and Rhizoma imperatae. Methods RLT-03 was extracted using water and n-butanol, and the AS and CGA ingredients in RLT-03 were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD). 4T1, EMT6, BT-549, and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were used, and an EMT6 xenograft model was established. Cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were measured in vitro, and tumor volume and weight were observed in vivo. The expression of VEGF, EGF, IL-10, TGF-β, and CD34 and cell apoptosis in tumors were examined. Results RLT-03 inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In vivo, tumor volume and weight were reduced, and the expression of VEGF, EGF, IL-10, TGF-β, and CD34 was suppressed in the tumor microenvironment, while cell apoptosis was induced. Conclusion RLT-03 exhibited therapeutic effects against breast cancer by regulating the expression of ligands of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and inflammatory factors. Thus, RLT-03 represents a potential supplementary HM that can be used in breast cancer therapy.
Biological and molecular variability within seven populations of Plutella xylostella (L.) from Benin

Plutella xylostella (L). Lepidoptera Plutellidae is the principal pest of Brassicaceae in Benin. Plutella populations from different localities in Benin exhibited differences in biological behaviour. The number of eggs per female and length of oviposition period differed significantly between some populations. (Resume d'auteur)
Chronic rhinosinusitis in patients with cystic fibrosis—Current management and new treatments

The purpose of this article is to provide a state‐of‐the‐art review of the literature and summarize the latest publications on medical and surgical treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), with an emphasis on describing recent advancements in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies.
STUDIES ON GONOCOCCUS INFECTION

The four colony types of several different strains of gonococci were isolated by selective transfers on agar. These colony variants differed in the degree of autoagglutination which occurred when they were grown in fluid medium. It was found that this clumping behavior was related to the colonial type, with type 2 isolates exhibiting the greatest autoagglutination followed by types 3, 1, and 4. Electron microscopic examination of thin sections indicated that the clumping in fluid medium was mediated by peculiar zones of adherence of the outer membranes of gonococci. These resembled the gap junctions seen in animal cell systems but differed in that the gonococcal membranes involved in the zone of adherence did not bear typical surface modifications. Electron microscopic study of negatively stained specimens of gonococci revealed that pili with a diameter of approximately 85 A and a length up to 4 µ were present on the surfaces of all type 1 and type 2 gonococci examined, and were not seen on any type 3 or 4 gonococci. The consistent presence of pili on type 1 and type 2 gonococci which are virulent colony forms and the lack of pili on avirulent colony types 3 and 4 suggests a relationship between the gonococcal pili and pathogenetic potential of the organisms.
Leguminosas del norte del estado de Nuevo León, México

A study of the diversity of legumes in the northern part of the state of Nuevo Leon was undertaken. 38 genera, 94 species and 26 infraspecific taxa of legumes were recorded. The family Fabaceae comprises 18 genera and 42 species, Mimosaceae 10 and 30 and Caesalpiniaceae 10 and 22 respectivelly. The genera with highest number of species are Acacia (12), Dalea (10), Mimosa (6), Senna (5), Caesalpinia (4) and Bauhinia (4). Shrubby legumes are the most abundant in the zone, representing 47% (46 species); the herbaceous ones constitute 46% (45) and the arboreal ones comprise 7% (7). The highest number of taxa was recorded on semithorn shrubland (52) piedmont scrub (48), oak-pine forest (44), while the mezquite shrublands shelter the lowest number of species (23).
Characterization of heat waves affecting mortality rates of broilers between 29 days and market age

Climate may affect broiler production, especially where there are heat waves, which may cause high mortality rates due to the heat stress. Heat wave prediction and characterization may allow early mitigation actions to be taken. Data Mining is one of the tools used for such a characterization, particularly when a large number of variables is involved. The objective of this study was to classify heat waves that promote broiler chicken mortality in poultry houses equipped with minimal environmental control. A single day of heat, a heat-shock day, is capable of producing high broiler mortality. In poultry houses equipped with fans and evaporative cooling, the characterization of heat waves affecting broiler mortality between 29 days of age and market age presented 89.34% Model Accuracy and 0.73 Class Precision for high mortality. There was no influence on high mortality (HM) of birds between 29 and 31 days of age. Maximum temperature humidity index (THI) above 30.6 oC was the main characteristic of days when there was a heat wave, causing high mortality in broilers older than 31 days. The high mortality of broilers between 31 and 40 days of age occurred when maximum THI was above 30.6 oC and maximum temperature of the day was above 34.4 oC. There were two main causes of high mortality of broilers older than 40 days: 1) maximum THI above 30.6 oC and minimum THI equal or lower than 15.5 oC; 2) maximum THI above 30.6 oC, minimum THI lower than 15.5 oC, and the time of maximum temperature later than 15:00h. The heat wave influence on broiler mortality lasted an average of 2.7 days.
PALEOPHYLOGEOGRAPHY: THE TEMPO OF GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENTIATION IN MARMOTS (MARMOTA)

Abstract Quantitative analysis of molar shape may provide a metric for paleontological phylogeography or the study of intraspecific relationships in the fossil record. In this study, outlines of the lower 3rd molars (m3) of North American Marmota were analyzed as between-shape distances after ordination with eigenshape analysis. Based on comparisons with cytochrome b, quantitative divergence in molar shape appears to be a reasonable proxy for phylogenetic reconstruction at the level of populations, subspecies, and the most closely related species of marmots. Phylogeographic analysis of living North American marmots and middle Pleistocene fossils from Porcupine Cave, Colorado, revealed that the latter were more closely related to extant Marmota monax than they are to M. flaviventris, which currently inhabits the Porcupine Cave area, suggesting that the origin of living species occurred in regions different from those they inhabit today. Change in molar shape was significant from level to level through the Porcupine Cave section, which spans a glacial–interglacial cycle, but was not correlated with environmental change. The amount of morphological difference among conspecific populations of living M. monax suggested that they differentiated over many glacial cycles, whereas morphological differences between M. caligata and M. flaviventris were smaller and may have evolved over fewer cycles.
Using Traditional Chinese Medicine to Treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting Tumor Immunity

As the leading cause of cancer-related death, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) threatens human health and limited treatments are available to cure the disease efficiently and effectively. The particularly immunotolerant environment of the liver lowers the efficacy of current therapies in patients with advanced HCC. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is gathering increasing interest due to the immunoregulatory properties of certain compounds. In advanced HCC, TCM can restore immunosurveillance to promote antitumor effects in several ways, including the upregulation of immunostimulatory factors and the downregulation of immunosuppressive factors. The characteristic multitarget regulation of TCM compounds may provide new insights regarding effective HCC immunotherapies. Here, we review the immunoregulatory potency of TCMs for treating HCC and explain how individual TCM drugs and complex formulas remodel the immune environment in various cell- and cytokine-dependent manners.
The Effects of Low Levels of Calcium in the Diet of Laying Chickens

Abstract A FEW reports on the effects of a lack of supplementary calcium in the diet of laying chickens have appeared in the literature. Buckner and Martin (1920) reported that restricting the quantity of calcium in the diet of laying chickens markedly decreased their egg production, and caused the shells of their eggs to become thinner. When no calcium supplement was included in the feed, production soon ceased. Later, Buckner et al. (1929) observed that when a calcium supplement was not included in the feed, egg production, egg size, and weight of shell decreased appreciably, and hatchability was reduced to zero. Deobald et al. (1936) found that the sudden withdrawal of calcium from the diet of laying chickens caused them to cease laying after twelve days. The shells of their eggs became progressively thinner until the chickens stopped laying, but no shell-less eggs were laid. These workers concluded that, in general,…
The Vacuolating Autotransporter Toxin (Vat) of Escherichia coli Causes Cell Cytoskeleton Changes and Produces Non-lysosomal Vacuole Formation in Bladder Epithelial Cells

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect more than 150 million people, with a cost of over 3.5 billion dollars, each year. Escherichia coli is associated with 70–80% of UTIs. Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) has virulence factors including adhesins, siderophores, and toxins that damage host cells. Vacuolating autotransporter toxin (Vat) is a member of serine protease autotransporter proteins of Enterobacteriaceae (SPATEs) present in some uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains. Vat has been identified in 20–36% of UPEC and is present in almost 68% of urosepsis isolates. However, the mechanism of action of Vat on host cells is not well-known. Thus, in this study the effect of Vat in a urothelium model of bladder cells was investigated. Several toxin concentrations were tested for different time periods, resulting in 15–47% of cellular damage as measured by the LDH assay. Vat induced vacuole formation on the urothelium model in a time-dependent manner. Vat treatment showed loss of the intercellular contacts on the bladder cell monolayer, observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. This was also shown using antibodies against ZO-1 and occludin by immunofluorescence. Additionally, changes in permeability of the epithelial monolayer was demonstrated with a fluorescence-based permeability assay. Cellular damage was also evaluated by the identification of cytoskeletal changes produced by Vat. Thus, after Vat treatment, cells presented F-actin distribution changes and loss of stress fibers in comparison with control cells. Vat also modified tubulin, but it was not found to affect Arp3 distribution. In order to find the nature of the vacuoles generated by Vat, the Lysotracker deep red fluorescent dye for the detection of acidic organelles was used. Cells treated with Vat showed generation of some vacuoles without acidic content. An ex vivo experiment with mouse bladder exposed to Vat demonstrated loss of integrity of the urothelium. In conclusion, Vat induced cellular damage, vacuole formation, and urothelial barrier dysregulation of bladder epithelial cells. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of these vacuoles induced by Vat and their relationship with the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection.
Analysis of the Surface Dispersion in the Mediterranean Sub-Basins

Surface dispersion properties give an immediate characterization of the spreading of passive and active tracers in the ocean, like pollutant and marine species. The Mediterranean sub-basins (Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian, Levantine and Aegean) are known as complex dynamic regions due to the presence of coherent structures on different motion scales. This paper focus on dispersion of the surface Mediterranean flow using the surface current data derived from two different drifter designs: the Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment (CODE) and the Surface Velocity Program (SVP) drifters. The absolute dispersion for small time scales (<2 days) shows similar anisotropic quasi-ballistic regimes in the five sub-basins. For intermediate time scales (2–15 days), the absolute dispersion shows the occurrence of an elliptic regime in all the Mediterranean sub-basins except in the Adriatic Sea, where the dominance of a hyperbolic regime is observed. The relative dispersion statistics show the presence of a non-local exponential regime in the Tyrrhenian sub-basin, with spatial scale smaller than the internal Rossby Radius of deformation DI. For spatial scales close to DI, two local relative dispersion regimes are found due to the influence of sub-basin scale structures: a Richardson regime in the Tyrrhenian and Aegean sub-basins and a shear/ballistic regime in other sub-basins. Furthermore, for large time scale (>15 days) and spatial scale larger than DI, our results emphasize a similarity in all the sub-basins with the presence of a quasi Random-walk regime and a quasi diffusive regime for the absolute and relative dispersion, respectively.
Current Evidences and Future Perspectives for AMPK in the Regulation of Milk Production and Mammary Gland Biology

Activated protein kinase (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) senses the cellular energy status and coordinates catabolic and anabolic processes. Extensive studies have proposed that AMPK regulates energy homeostasis, cell growth, autophagy, mitochondrial biology and inflammation. The biological functions of AMPK vary in different tissues or organs. As a unique organ that produces milk, the mammary gland has recently attracted substantial research attention. This review discusses how AMPK in the mammary gland is activated by energy deprivation and heat stress via the activation of canonical and non-canonical pathways. In addition, the important downstream targets of AMPK and their functions in the mammary gland, especially during milk synthesis, are summarized in the review.
Primary structure of water buffalo α-lactalbumin variants A and B

: A novel electrophoretic alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-la) variant was detected in the Italian water buffalo breed. The isoelectric point of the variant, labelled A, was lower than the most frequent variant B. It presented an allelic frequency of 0.5% compared with the 97.1% of the BB allele. From Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization/Mass spectrometry, the molecular mass of the two alpha-la A and B variants were measured as 14,235.1+/-0.8 and 14,236.1+/-0.9 Da, respectively. The two proteins were sequenced and differentiated from one another by a single amino acid substitution, Asn45(B)-->Asp45(A). As this amino acid substitution altered the N-glycosylation sequence consensus Asn45-X-Ser46 it may be deduced that the protein glycosylation level of the alpha-la A would decrease.
Neurorestorative Effects of a Novel Fas-Associated Factor 1 Inhibitor in the MPTP Model: An [18F]FE-PE2I Positron Emission Tomography Analysis Study

Fas-associated factor 1 (FAF1), a Fas-binding protein, is implicated in neuronal cell death in Parkinson’s disease (PD). We examined the effects of a novel FAF1 inhibitor, KM-819, in dopaminergic neurons in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model using [18F]FE-PE2I positron emission tomography (PET). The MPTP model was generated with subacute MPTP treatment (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 5 consecutive days in C57bl/6J mice. This study included three groups: the control group (treatment with saline only), the MPTP model group with KM-819 treatment (20 mg/kg/day p.o.) for 6 days, and the MPTP model group without KM-819 treatment. [18F]FE-PE2I PET studies were conducted in the same animals before and after MPTP with or without KM-819 treatment to monitor changes in striatal dopamine transporter activity indicated by non-displaceable binding potential (BPND) of [18F]FE-PE2I, and the expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase were assessed using immunohistochemistry before and after KM-819 treatment. After MPTP injection, decreased striatal BPND was observed in the MPTP model group compared with the control group. Striatal BPND increased in the MPTP model group with KM-819 treatment, but not in the MPTP model group without KM-819 treatment. The tyrosine hydroxylase expression levels also significantly increased in the MPTP model group with KM-819 treatment compared with the control group. This study indicates that inhibition of the Fas-mediated cell death pathway by KM-819 has neurorestorative effects in striatal dopamine neurons in the MPTP model. Further studies would be needed to investigate the potential of KM-819 as a therapeutic drug for PD treatment.