Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Graph Neural Networks with Multiple Feature Extraction Paths for Chemical Property Estimation

Feature extraction is essential for chemical property estimation of molecules using machine learning. Recently, graph neural networks have attracted attention for feature extraction from molecules. However, existing methods focus only on specific structural information, such as node relationship. In this paper, we propose a novel graph convolutional neural network that performs feature extraction with simultaneously considering multiple structures. Specifically, we propose feature extraction paths specialized in node, edge, and three-dimensional structures. Moreover, we propose an attention mechanism to aggregate the features extracted by the paths. The attention aggregation enables us to select useful features dynamically. The experimental results showed that the proposed method outperformed previous methods.
Influence of Blending of Nonionic Emulsifiers Having Various Hydrophilic Head Sizes on Lipid Oxidation: Investigation of Antioxidant Polarity—Interfacial Characteristics Relationship

The purpose of this study was to deliver insights into the effect of interfacial composition and antioxidant polarity on the lipid oxidation of emulsions. Emulsions were created using blends of nonionic ethoxylated fatty acid alcohol surfactants with different hydrophilic head sizes, and lipophilic (TBHQ) and amphiphilic (lauryl gallate) antioxidants were incorporated into the emulsions. At the same surfactant concentration, emulsion stabilized with surfactant with a smaller hydrophilic head was more susceptible to lipid oxidation than that stabilized with surfactant with a larger hydrophilic head. When surfactants with a similar hydrophilic head size were used, lipid oxidation in emulsion containing more surfactant was slightly faster than that containing less surfactant. When emulsions were created with a 1:1 molar ratio mixture of surfactants with small and large hydrophilic heads, surfactant concentration (1.00 and 2.932 mM) had little effect on lipid peroxide generation rate. However, the concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARSs) in the emulsion prepared at 1.00 mM increased faster than that prepared at 2.93 mM. Alteration of interfacial composition and surfactant concentration did not affect antioxidant ability, regardless of antioxidant polarity, to inhibit lipid peroxide generation. However, the ability of lauryl gallate and TBHQ to prevent TBARS generation was elevated by mixing surfactants with small and large hydrophilic heads and by decreasing surfactant concentration. In most emulsions, lauryl gallate showed a more effective antioxidant ability than TBHQ.
Overview of the Use of Probiotics in Poultry Production

Simple Summary Probiotics are feed additives that have gained popularity in poultry production following the ban of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP). They are one of the more universal feed additives and can be easily combine with other additives. Probiotics, above all, have many advantages, including stimulation of the host microflora or immunomodulation. The statement “immunity comes from the intestines” has become more important in the poultry industry because probiotics have proven helpful in the fight against diseases of bacterial origin and against zoonoses. Positive effects on the organism have already been studied at the cellular level, where probiotics were responsible for changes in gene expression, leading to alleviation of heat stress. In addition to the health benefits, the utility value of the animals increases. The numerous advantages are overshadowed by a few drawbacks, which include the possibility of lowering semen quality in roosters and the diversity of production processes affecting the persistence of the probiotic. In addition to bird health, probiotics have improved the taste and quality of poultry products. Future prospects are promising as scientists are working to maximize the positive effects of probiotics by increasing the integrity of probiotics within the bird organism, taking into account, among others, bacterial metabolites. Abstract In recent years, probiotics have become more popular in the world of dietary supplements and feed additives within the poultry industry, acting as antibiotic substitutes. Above all, probiotics are universal feed additives that can be used in conjunction with other additives to promote improved performance and health. Their positive effects can be observed directly in the gastrointestinal tract and indirectly in immunomodulation of the poultry immune system. Nutritional effects seen in flocks given probiotics include increased laying and egg quality, increased daily increments, and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR). There has also been an improvement in the quality of meat. This suggests producers can improve production results through the use of probiotics. In addition to these production effects, bird immunity is improved by allowing the organism to better protect itself against pathogens and stress. The lack of accuracy in the formulation of non-European preparations needs to be further developed due to unknown interactions between probiotic bacteria strains as well as their metabolites. The versatility of probiotics and the fact that the bacteria used in their production are an integral part of animal digestive tracts make them a safe feed additives. Despite restrictions from the European Union, probiotics have potential to improve production and health within the poultry industry and beyond. The following article will review the use of probiotics in poultry production.
Social Sensing of Heatwaves

Heatwaves cause thousands of deaths every year, yet the social impacts of heat are poorly measured. Temperature alone is not sufficient to measure impacts and “heatwaves” are defined differently in different cities/countries. This study used data from the microblogging platform Twitter to detect different scales of response and varying attitudes to heatwaves within the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (US) and Australia. At the country scale, the volume of heat-related Twitter activity increased exponentially as temperature increased. The initial social reaction differed between countries, with a larger response to heatwaves elicited from the UK than from Australia, despite the comparatively milder conditions in the UK. Language analysis reveals that the UK user population typically responds with concern for individual wellbeing and discomfort, whereas Australian and US users typically focus on the environmental consequences. At the city scale, differing responses are seen in London, Sydney and New York on governmentally defined heatwave days; sentiment changes predictably in London and New York over a 24-h period, while sentiment is more constant in Sydney. This study shows that social media data can provide robust observations of public response to heat, suggesting that social sensing of heatwaves might be useful for preparedness and mitigation.
Shear Wave Elastography of the Plantar Fascia: Comparison between Patients with Plantar Fasciitis and Healthy Control Subjects

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate plantar fasciae of healthy subjects and patients with plantar fasciitis by shear wave velocity (SWV) and stiffness with correlation to B-Mode and color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and to establish cut-off values. Methods: This observational study was conducted with the approval of the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) of our institution. 108 unilateral plantar fasciae were evaluated by including 87 consecutive patients (mean age 51.7; range: 29–82) (66 women and 21 men) with plantar fasciitis and 21 asymptomatic age matched healthy volunteers (mean age 47.3; range: 32–58) (15 women and 6 men). All patients were prospectively imaged between July 2018 and March 2019. B-mode US was used to measure thickness and CDUS to grade vascularity. SWE measurements were repeated 3 times and mean was used for statistical analysis. Results: Mean SWV value in healthy subjects was 6.94 m/s and in patients 4.98 m/s with a mean stiffness value of 152.88 kPa and 93.54 kPa respectively (p < 0.001). For SWV a cut-off value of 6.16 m/s had a specificity of 80.95% and sensitivity of 79.31%. For stiffness a cut-off value of 125.57 kPa had a specificity of 80.95% and sensitivity of 80.46%. No correlation to CDUS was found. The mean thickness of healthy fascias was 3.3 mm (range 2.4–3.9) compared to 6.1 mm (range 2.0–22.0) in plantar fasciitis (p < 0.001) with no correlation to SWV or to stiffness (r² = 0.02, p = 0.06). Conclusion: SWE allows quantitative assessment of plantar fascia stiffness, which decreases in patients with plantar fasciitis. No correlation to the thickness of the plantar fascia was found, therefore it represents an independent factor for the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis and could be helpful in addition to thickness measurement in unclear cases.
Precision medicine on the fly: using Drosophila to decipher gene-environment interactions in Parkinson's disease.

Big data approaches have profoundly influenced state-of-the-art in many fields of research, with toxicology being no exception. Here we use Parkinson's disease as a window through which to explore the challenges of a dual explosion of metabolomic data addressing the myriad environmental exposures individuals experience and genetic analyses implicating many different loci as risk factors for disease. We argue that new experimental approaches are needed to convert the growing body of omics data into molecular mechanisms of disease that can be therapeutically targeted in specific patients. We outline one attractive strategy, which capitalizes on the rapid generation time and advanced molecular tools available in the fruit fly, Drosophila, to provide a platform for mechanistic dissection and drug discovery.
Residential district multi-hazard risk is associated with childhood undernutrition: evidence from Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Child undernutrition and natural disasters are major public health concerns in Bangladesh, but research into their relationship is lacking. This study assessed the association between residential district multi-hazard-risk and undernutrition among children aged less than 5 years (under-5) in Bangladesh. Data for 22,055 under-5 children were extracted from the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of Bangladesh. Multi-hazard risk was categorized as low (score<10), moderate (score 10–20), and high (score>20) using a combined score of four major hazards: tornado, cyclone, earthquake, and flood. We found that children from high multi-hazard risk districts were 19% more likely to be stunted and 23% more likely to be underweight compared to low-risk districts. However, wasting was not associated with multi-hazard risk. Strategies such as agricultural adaptation and coping mechanisms, long-term post-disaster nutritional response, extended periods of relief supports, and enhanced quality maternal and child care services may help to reduce undernutrition burdens in Bangladesh.
A Dual Role of Vanadium in Environmental Systems—Beneficial and Detrimental Effects on Terrestrial Plants and Humans

The importance of vanadium (V) in the functioning of land systems is extremely diverse, as this element may exert both positive and harmful effects on terrestrial organisms. It recently become considered an element of beneficial character with a range of applications for human welfare. The health-ameliorative properties of this transition element depend on its degree of oxidation and on optimal concentration in the target cells. It was found that a similar relationship applies to vascular plants. However, excessive amounts of vanadium in the environment contaminate the soil and negatively affect the majority of living organisms. A significantly elevated level of V results in the destabilization of plant physiological balance, slowing down the growth of biomass which significantly reduces yield. In turn, low doses of the appropriate vanadium ions can stimulate plant growth and development, exert cytoprotective effects, and effectively enhance the synthesis of some biologically active compounds. We present the scientific achievements of research teams dealing with such topics. The issues discussed concern the role of vanadium in the environment, particular organisms, and highlight its dualistic influence on plants. Achievements in the field of V bioremediation, with the use of appropriately selected microorganisms and plant species, are emphasized.
Machine Learning in Agriculture: A Comprehensive Updated Review

The digital transformation of agriculture has evolved various aspects of management into artificial intelligent systems for the sake of making value from the ever-increasing data originated from numerous sources. A subset of artificial intelligence, namely machine learning, has a considerable potential to handle numerous challenges in the establishment of knowledge-based farming systems. The present study aims at shedding light on machine learning in agriculture by thoroughly reviewing the recent scholarly literature based on keywords’ combinations of “machine learning” along with “crop management”, “water management”, “soil management”, and “livestock management”, and in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Only journal papers were considered eligible that were published within 2018–2020. The results indicated that this topic pertains to different disciplines that favour convergence research at the international level. Furthermore, crop management was observed to be at the centre of attention. A plethora of machine learning algorithms were used, with those belonging to Artificial Neural Networks being more efficient. In addition, maize and wheat as well as cattle and sheep were the most investigated crops and animals, respectively. Finally, a variety of sensors, attached on satellites and unmanned ground and aerial vehicles, have been utilized as a means of getting reliable input data for the data analyses. It is anticipated that this study will constitute a beneficial guide to all stakeholders towards enhancing awareness of the potential advantages of using machine learning in agriculture and contributing to a more systematic research on this topic.
Magneto-Primed Triticale Seeds Studied by Micro-Raman Spectra

The spectroscopy technique of Micro-Raman is an appropriate method to investigate the microscopic structure of internally heterogeneous (i.e., composed of multiple layers) agro-food products. The effects of applying magnetic fields (magneto-priming technique) and imbibition on the chemical makeup of Triticale seed were studied, particularly in its pericarp, germ and endosperm parts, with the help of Micro-Raman. In light of the results obtained, the magneto-primed seeds soaked in water presented a greater number of chemical compounds than the control seeds, although those treatments were not as effective as the ones with only magneto-priming. The effects of the magneto-priming treatment were especially noticeable in the endosperm due to the large number of chemical compounds identified. The seed composition differences among treatments showed that the use of Micro-Raman jointly with magneto-priming is an appropriate method to obtain and analyse information of the key components of Triticale seeds, notably regarding their pericarp and endosperm.
Two New Haplotypes of Bartonella sp. Isolated from Lipoptena fortisetosa (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) in SE Poland

Simple Summary Lipoptena fortisetosa is a hematophagous ectoparasite of game animals feeding accidentally on companion animals and humans. Since the presence of numerous pathogenic microorganisms has been described in this species, monitoring its geographic distribution is of great epidemiological importance. To the best of our knowledge, we present two new haplotypes of Bartonella sp. isolated from L. fortisetosa in south-eastern Poland and confirm the presence of this invasive species in Lublin Voivodeship since 2013. Abstract Insects of the genus Lipoptena are parasitic arthropods with a broad host range. Due to the type of parasitism (hematophagy), their potential role as vectors of pathogens, i.e., Bartonella sp. , Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. , and Borrelia burgdorferi is considered. As the range of their occurrence has been changing dynamically in recent years and infestations of humans have increasingly been reported, these organisms are now the subject of numerous studies. Our research aimed to present the molecular characteristics of Bartonella sp. detected in Lipoptena fortisetosa parasitizing wild cervids in south-eastern Poland. Adults of Lipoptena spp. were collected from carcasses of roe deer and red deer between spring and autumn in 2013. The PCR method was used to detect Bartonella sp. in the insects. We report two new haplotypes of the rpoB gene of Bartonella sp. isolated from L. fortisetosa feeding on wild cervids in south-eastern Poland and the presence of this invasive ectoparasitic species in the studied area since 2013. Phylogenetic analyses of newly obtained Bartonella sp. haplotypes confirmed their unique position on the constructed tree and network topology. The rpoB gene sequences found belonging to lineage B support the view that this phylogenetic lineage represents a novel Bartonella species.
Induction of the Proinflammatory Chemokine Interleukin-8 Is Regulated by Integrated Stress Response and AP-1 Family Proteins Activated during Coronavirus Infection

Infection induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-6. Although they facilitate local antiviral immunity, their excessive release leads to life-threatening cytokine release syndrome, exemplified by the severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In this study, we investigated the roles of the integrated stress response (ISR) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) family proteins in regulating coronavirus-induced IL-8 and IL-6 upregulation. The mRNA expression of IL-8 and IL-6 was significantly induced in cells infected with infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a gammacoronavirus, and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, an alphacoronavirus. Overexpression of a constitutively active phosphomimetic mutant of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), chemical inhibition of its dephosphorylation, or overexpression of its upstream double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) significantly enhanced IL-8 mRNA expression in IBV-infected cells. Overexpression of the AP-1 protein cJUN or its upstream kinase also increased the IBV-induced IL-8 mRNA expression, which was synergistically enhanced by overexpression of cFOS. Taken together, this study demonstrated the important regulatory roles of ISR and AP-1 proteins in IL-8 production during coronavirus infection, highlighting the complex interactions between cellular stress pathways and the innate immune response.
Healthy dietary patterns and common pregnancy complications: a prospective and longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND Adherence to alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), alternate Mediterranean diet (AMED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) has been linked to lower risks of chronic diseases. However, their associations with common pregnancy complications are unclear. OBJECTIVES This study investigates the associations of AHEI, AMED, and DASH during periconception and pregnancy with common pregnancy complication risks. METHODS The study included 1887 pregnant women from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Growth Studies-Singletons. Women responded to an FFQ at 8-13 gestational weeks, and they performed a 24-h dietary recall at 16-22 and 24-29 wk. Gestational diabetes (GDM), gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery were ascertained using medical records. RESULTS Healthier diet indicated by higher AHEI, AMED, and DASH scores was generally related to lower risks of pregnancy complications. Significant inverse associations were observed between AHEI score reported at 16-22 wk and GDM risk [adjusted RR (95% CI), highest (Q4) vs. lowest quartile (Q1): 0.32 (0.16, 0.66), P-trend = 0.002]; DASH score reported at both 8-13 [adjusted RR (95% CI), Q4 vs. Q1: 0.45 (0.17, 1.17), P-trend = 0.04] and 16-22 wk [adjusted RR (95% CI), Q4 vs. Q1: 0.19 (0.05, 0.65), P-trend = 0.01] and gestational hypertension risk; AHEI score reported at 24-29 wk and preeclampsia risk [adjusted RR (95% CI), Q4 vs. Q1: 0.31 (0.11, 0.87), P-trend = 0.03]; AMED score reported at 8-13 wk [adjusted RR (95% CI), Q4 vs. Q1: 0.50 (0.25, 1.01), P-trend = 0.03] and DASH score reported at 24-29 wk [adjusted RR (95% CI), Q4 vs. Q1: 0.50, (0.26, 0.96), P-trend = 0.03] and preterm delivery risk. CONCLUSIONS Adherence to AHEI, AMED, or DASH during periconception and pregnancy was related to lower risks of GDM, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery.This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT00912132.
Mechanical Performance and Dimensional Stability of Bamboo Fiber-Based Composite

The bamboo fiber-based composite (BFBC) has high-performce in terms of mechanical properties and dimensional stability. In this study, BFBCs were prepared with different hot-pressing temperatures (150 °C, 160 °C, 170 °C, 180 °C, 190 °C, and 200 °C) and designed with different densities (1.05 g/cm3, 1.10 g/cm3, 1.15 g/cm3 and 1.20 g/cm3), and their selected properties were evaluated. Temperature affected BFBC performance, which, with a general increase in temperature, showed a decrement in mechanical properties and an improvement in dimensional stability. Holocellulose content significantly decreased, and the color of BFBC became darker with the increasing of the press temperature. As the density of BFBC increased, the modulus of elasticity (MOE) significantly increased from 23.09 GPa to 27.01 GPa with the increase in temperature. The thickness swelling ratio (TSR), width swelling ratio (WSR) and water absorption ratio (WAR) declined by more than 30% with the increase in density. Overall, the results of this study provide a theoretical basis and a source of technical support to promote the design, application, and popularization of BFBC in different fields.
De Novo Transcriptome Meta-Assembly of the Mixotrophic Freshwater Microalga Euglena gracilis

Euglena gracilis is a well-known photosynthetic microeukaryote considered as the product of a secondary endosymbiosis between a green alga and a phagotrophic unicellular belonging to the same eukaryotic phylum as the parasitic trypanosomatids. As its nuclear genome has proven difficult to sequence, reliable transcriptomes are important for functional studies. In this work, we assembled a new consensus transcriptome by combining sequencing reads from five independent studies. Based on a detailed comparison with two previously released transcriptomes, our consensus transcriptome appears to be the most complete so far. Remapping the reads on it allowed us to compare the expression of the transcripts across multiple culture conditions at once and to infer a functionally annotated network of co-expressed genes. Although the emergence of meaningful gene clusters indicates that some biological signal lies in gene expression levels, our analyses confirm that gene regulation in euglenozoans is not primarily controlled at the transcriptional level. Regarding the origin of E. gracilis, we observe a heavily mixed gene ancestry, as previously reported, and rule out sequence contamination as a possible explanation for these observations. Instead, they indicate that this complex alga has evolved through a convoluted process involving much more than two partners.