Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influential factors of stroke: depression, Alzheimer's disease

The research on risk factors and influencing factors of stroke is a hot field of current research. Important progress has been made in the study of stroke-related risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol abuse. However, there are still gaps in the study of immutable risk factors such as age, sex, race, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and psychological factors that are important triggers of stroke. In addition, it has been demonstrated that stroke poses a danger for developing Alzheimer's disease, but there is still a lack of uniform explanation as to whether Alzheimer's disease is a risk factor for stroke. Therefore, combining previous research and relevant literature, this article mainly analyzes two parts: The first part analyzes the causes of the high incidence of stroke in the elderly from a psychological perspective, mainly analyzing the impact of depression, and the second part explores whether Alzheimer's disease poses a danger for developing stroke by analyzing the potential common pathway between Alzheimer's disease and stroke. The elderly is more likely to have negative emotions such as depression, which can directly induce stroke, or indirectly increase the risk of stroke by increasing the risk of hypertension, diabetes, etc. The susceptibility to negative emotions is one of the psychological factors that contributes to the high incidence of stroke in the elderly. Alzheimer's disease can induce or exacerbate stroke. The dementia and cognitive impairment brought on by Alzheimer's disease can raise the chance of stroke. There are potential mechanism connections between the two on amyloid proteins β (Aβ) toxicity, Tau protein, and oxidative stress.
Research on intelligent driving technology based on acoustic vision fusion

Aiming at the actual traffic driving environment, this paper proposes an acoustic perception method of intelligent vehicle based on microphone array, and combines the visual perception method of monocular camera to study the acoustic visual fusion perception method. The main research contents are as follows: Firstly, an acoustic simulation environment for intelligent vehicles is designed. Secondly, a sound source localization algorithm based on time delay estimation is proposed. Based on the geometry of the microphone array, the sound source localization problem is abstracted as a time delay estimation problem, and the sound source localization is realized. The received signal of the microphone is added by weighted delay to form a beam with a certain direction, which is visualized as a spatial SRP power map. The passive sound reception is transformed into an active search for space, which improves the positioning accuracy in low SNR and reverberation environment. Thirdly, a sound source perception localization algorithm combining deep learning network and delay algorithm is developed. Based on SELDnet neural network, the SRP power map is used as input, and the cyclic convolution layer is replaced by the temporal convolution layer. The simulation results show that the positioning accuracy of the fusion positioning network is 65.04 % higher than that of the SELDnet network in the ideal environment and 76.19 % higher in the low SNR environment. The feasibility verification experiment and simulation experiment of the algorithm are carried out, and the sensor data in the real vehicle environment is collected for the real vehicle data verification experiment. The results show that the average positioning error of the acoustic vision fusion algorithm is 0.1 m at the 60 m scale. At the same time, the algorithm also has strong adaptability to visual blind spots, which proves the deployment potential of the algorithm in the actual environment.
Research on university students’ diet affect the quality of sleep

University students are at high risk of developing sleep problems, and poor sleep quality is often a cause of poorer academic performance. The quality and length of sleep can affect health to a great extent and can lead to several diseases, such as obesity. Dietary factors can also affect the quality of sleep. So how to eat well while maintaining the quality of sleep is something that students need to worry about in addition to their studies. This research study is conducted by collecting and analyzing data through a questionnaire sent to UBC undergraduate students via email. The answers are analyzed using the Qualtrics, and some basic demographic data can be analyzed as a bar chart automatically. The rest of the data will be exported to Excel to calculate scores based on the Diet Quality Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for further analysis. The results show that there is no strong correlation between the quality of diet and the quality of sleep. However, caffeinated beverages have been shown to have a potential relationship with sleep quality (p=0.0922). This study may provide insight into future research directions, such as the extent to which caffeinated beverages may affect sleep quality.
The single-cell RNA sequencing technology and its application

Single-cell RNA sequencing provides a methodology to analyse a specific type of cell’s gene expression under certain states simultaneously. It provides high resolution, high sensitivity and is able to detect rare cell types in order to achieve different experiment goals in clinical trials, at the same time illustrating the cell development trajectories, which allows scientists to reveal heterogeneity between different types of cells, and horizontally compare differences of genes in same cell type at its developmental stages. As a cutting-edge technology, single-cell RNA sequencing can be widely used in different types of experimental research, such as bioinformatics and molecular science, it has a promising future for development. This article introduced the development of Single-cell RNA sequencing, and it’s various approaches to encounter different purposes of using with specific types of collected sample, and discussed the applications in laboratory and why scientists prefer to use it.
Research progress in relationship between gut microbiota and Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a type of dementia brought on by the central nervous system (CNS)'s chronic, progressive, irreversible degeneration. Its etiology is numerous and unclear. Currently, there is no effective cure for the disease. With the aging of the population, Alzheimer's disease is receiving increasing attention. A complex ecology of thousands of bacteria make up the intestinal microbiota, both beneficial and harmful bacteria. According to recent in-depth research on intestinal flora, it has been found that it can participate in signal transmission involving the brain and the gut. The crucial role of gut microbiota in the CNS is further illustrated by the fact that intestinal microflora can affect the central nervous system in a number of different ways, such as the release of neurotransmitters. By modifying the makeup and composition of the gut microbiota, there are numerous methods to enhance cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients. This article introduces the relevant research progress in order to provide references for further research and studying of the part gut microbiota plays in Alzheimer's disease.
Preliminary Investigations of the Role of Smoke Aerosols on Carbon Uptake of a Northern Australian Tropical Savanna

K.D. Kanniah, N. Tapper, J Beringer, and X. Zhu School of Geography and Environmental Science Monash University Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia C. Long Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Programme Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, Washington L. Hutley Tropical Savanna CRC and School of Science and Primary Industries Charles Darwin University Darwin, Australia
Rosetta Energy Analysis of AlphaFold2 models: Point Mutations and Conformational Ensembles

There has been an explosive growth in the applications of AlphaFold2, and other structure prediction platforms, to accurately predict protein structures from a multiple sequence alignment (MSA) for downstream structural analysis. However, two outstanding questions persist in the field regarding the robustness of AlphaFold2 predictions of the consequences of point mutations and the completeness of its prediction of protein conformational ensembles. We combined our previously developed method SPEACH_AF with model relaxation and energetic analysis with Rosetta to address these questions. SPEACH_AF introduces residue substitutions across the MSA and not just within the input sequence. With respect to conformational ensembles, we combined SPEACH_AF and a new MSA subsampling method, AF_cluster, and for a benchmarked set of proteins, we found that the energetics of the conformational ensembles generated by AlphaFold2 correspond to those of experimental structures and explored by standard molecular dynamic methods. With respect to point mutations, we compared the structural and energetic consequences of having the mutation(s) in the input sequence versus in the whole MSA (SPEACH_AF). Both methods yielded models different from the wild-type sequence, with more robust changes when the mutation(s) were in the whole MSA. While our findings demonstrate the robustness of AlphaFold2 in analyzing point mutations and exploring conformational ensembles, they highlight the need for multi parameter structural and energetic analyses of these models to generate experimentally testable hypotheses.
Neuronal FOS reports synchronized activity of presynaptic neurons

The immediate early gene FOS is frequently used as a marker for highly active neurons. Implicit in this use is the assumption that there is a correlation between neuronal spiking and FOS expression. Here we use optogenetic stimulation of hippocampal neurons to investigate the relation between spike frequency and FOS expression, and report several surprising observations. First, FOS expression is cell-type specific, spiking CA2 pyramidal neurons rarely express FOS. Second, FOS has a U-shaped dependence on frequency: Spiking at 0.1 Hz is more effective than high frequency spiking (50 Hz) while intermediate frequencies do not induce FOS. Third, the pathway from spiking to FOS is not cell-autonomous. Instead, transmitter release and metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation are required and, at 0.1 Hz, FOS is induced independently of CREB/calcineurin/MEK pathways. We propose that FOS does not primarily encode a neuron’s own spike frequency but indicates repeated participation in highly synchronized activity, e.g. sharp wave ripples.
Exercise training adaptations in liver glycogen and glycerolipids require hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase in mice

Regular exercise elicits adaptations in glucose and lipid metabolism that allow the body to meet energy demands of subsequent exercise bouts more effectively and mitigate metabolic diseases including fatty liver. Energy discharged during the acute exercise bouts that comprise exercise training may be a catalyst for liver adaptations. During acute exercise, liver glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis are accelerated to supply glucose to working muscle. Lower liver energy state imposed by gluconeogenesis and related pathways activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which conserves ATP partly by promoting lipid oxidation. This study tested the hypothesis that AMPK is necessary for liver glucose and lipid adaptations to training. Liver-specific AMPKα1α2 knockout (LAKO) and wild type (WT) mice completed sedentary and exercise training protocols. Liver nutrient fluxes were quantified at rest or during acute exercise following training. Liver metabolites and molecular regulators of metabolism were assessed. Training increased liver glycogen in WT mice, but not in LAKO mice. The inability to increase glycogen led to lower glycogenolysis, glucose production, and circulating glucose during acute exercise in trained LAKO mice. Deletion of AMPKα1α2 attenuated training-induced declines in liver diacylglycerides. In particular, training lowered the concentration of unsaturated and elongated fatty acids comprising diacylglycerides in WT mice, but not in LAKO mice. Training increased liver triacylglycerides and the desaturation and elongation of fatty acids in triacylglycerides of LAKO mice. These lipid responses were independent of differences in tricarboxylic acid cycle fluxes. In conclusion, AMPK is required for liver training adaptations that are critical to glucose and lipid metabolism. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study shows that the energy sensor and transducer, AMP-activated protein kinase, is necessary for an exercise training-induced: i) increase in liver glycogen that is necessary for accelerated glycogenolysis during exercise, ii) decrease in liver glycerolipids independent of TCA cycle flux, and iii) decline in the desaturation and elongation of fatty acids comprising liver diacylglycerides. The mechanisms defined in these studies have implications for use of regular exercise or AMPK-activators in patients with fatty liver.
Mechanosensing through talin 1 contributes to tissue mechanical homeostasis

It is widely believed that tissue mechanical properties, determined mainly by the extracellular matrix (ECM), are actively maintained. However, despite its broad importance to biology and medicine, tissue mechanical homeostasis is poorly understood. To explore this hypothesis, we developed mutations in the mechanosensitive protein talin1 that alter cellular sensing of ECM stiffness. Mutation of a novel mechanosensitive site between talin1 rod domain helix bundles 1 and 2 (R1 and R2) shifted cellular stiffness sensing curves, enabling cells to spread and exert tension on compliant substrates. Opening of the R1-R2 interface promotes binding of the ARP2/3 complex subunit ARPC5L, which mediates the altered stiffness sensing. Ascending aortas from mice bearing these mutations show increased compliance, less fibrillar collagen, and rupture at lower pressure. Together, these results demonstrate that cellular stiffness sensing regulates ECM mechanical properties. These data thus directly support the mechanical homeostasis hypothesis and identify a novel mechanosensitive interaction within talin that contributes to this mechanism.
Rho of plant GTPases with geranylgeranylation motif modulate monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus

Rho Of Plant (ROP) GTPases function as molecular switches that control signaling processes essential for growth, development, and defense. However, their role in specialized metabolism is poorly understood. Previously, we demonstrated that inhibition of protein geranylgeranyl transferase (PGGT-I) negatively impacts the biosynthesis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIA) in Catharanthus roseus, indicating the involvement of prenylated proteins in signaling. Here, we show through biochemical, molecular and in planta approaches that specific geranylgeranylated ROPs modulate C. roseus MIA biosynthesis. Among the six C. roseus ROP GTPases (CrROPs), only CrROP3 and CrROP5, having a C- terminal CSIL motif, were specifically prenylated by PGGT-I. Additionally, both of their transcripts showed higher expression in most parts compared to other CrROPs. Protein- protein interaction studies revealed that both CrROP3 and CrROP5, but not CrROP2 (lacking CSIL motif), interacted with CrPGGT-I. Further, CrROP3 and CrROP5 exhibited nuclear localization, whereas CrROP2 was localized to plasma membrane. In planta functional studies revealed that silencing of CrROP3 and CrROP5 negatively affected MIA biosynthesis, while their overexpression upregulated MIA formation. In contrast, silencing and overexpression of CrROP2 had no effect on MIA biosynthesis. Moreover, overexpression of ΔCrROP3 and ΔCrROP5 mutants lacking the CSIL motif failed to enhance MIA biosynthesis. Taken together, these results implicate that CrROP3 and CrROP5 have positive regulatory role on MIA biosynthesis and thus shed light on how geranylgeranylated ROP GTPases mediate the modulation of specialized metabolism in C. roseus.
The association between Dioscorea sansibarensis and Orrella dioscoreae as a model for hereditary leaf symbiosis

Hereditary, or vertically-transmitted, symbioses affect a large number of animal species and some plants. The precise mechanisms underlying transmission of functions of these associations are often difficult to describe, due to the difficulty in separating the symbiotic partners. This is especially the case for plant-bacteria hereditary symbioses, which lack experimentally tractable model systems. Here, we demonstrate the potential of the leaf symbiosis between the wild yam Dioscorea sansibarensis and the bacterium Orrella dioscoreae (O. dioscoreae) as a model system for hereditary symbiosis. O. dioscoreae is easy to grow and genetically manipulate, which is unusual for hereditary symbionts. These properties allowed us to design an effective antimicrobial treatment to rid plants of bacteria and generate whole aposymbiotic plants, which can later be re-inoculated with bacterial cultures. Aposymbiotic plants did not differ morphologically from symbiotic plants and the leaf forerunner tip containing the symbiotic glands formed normally even in the absence of bacteria, but microscopic differences between symbiotic and aposymbiotic glands highlight the influence of bacteria on the development of trichomes and secretion of mucilage. This is to our knowledge the first leaf symbiosis where both host and symbiont can be grown separately and where the symbiont can be genetically altered and reintroduced to the host.
3D human retinal organoid model for the study of early diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a significant complication of diabetes and a primary cause of visual impairment among working-age individuals. DR is a degenerative condition in which hyperglycaemia results in morphological and functional changes in certain retinal cells. Existing treatments mainly address the advanced stages of the disease, which involve vascular defects such as macular edema or neovascularization. However, it is now known that retinal neurodegeneration and inflammation precede these vascular changes. Therefore, there is a pressing need to identify new therapeutic approaches that target the early stages of DR and prevent its progression. In the last decade, the development of reliable in vitro models resembling the complexity of the retinal tissue has significantly improved. Namely, three-dimensional (3D) retinal organoids derived from human induced-pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) recapitulate the cellular organization and complexity of the human retina. Here, we used hiPSCs-derived retinal organoids to generate a model of early DR. In this model, we observe well-established molecular and cellular features of early DR: i) loss of retinal ganglion and amacrine cells; ii) glial reactivity and inflammation, with increased expression of the vascular endothelial-derived growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) secretion; iii) increased levels of reactive oxygen species accompanied by activation of key enzymes involved in antioxidative stress response. The data provided highlight the utility of retinal organoid technology in modelling early-stage DR. This offers new avenues for the development of targeted therapeutic interventions on neurodegeneration and inflammation in the initial phase of DR, potentially slowing the disease’s progression.
Ecosystem Services and Agricultural Production in Latin America and Caribbean

This document discusses Latin America's dual role as a conservator of natural resources and producer of agricultural services. The author addresses the expansion of agriculture across the region and intensification of agriculture in Latin America. The environmental impact of this expansion and intensification is a major focus of this study as well as an assessment of agricultural and ecosystem services.
Deriving Principles for Guiding Service Encounters: A Participative Design Research Approach

Driven by the rising customer expectations and decreasing budgets, organizations are searching for means to improve service encounters with their citizens and businesses. However, many initiatives take an organizational perspective, whereas service encounters emphasize the client perspective. This research follows a participative design research approach that focuses on the derivation, demonstration and infusion of principles for improved service encounters. A role-playing game refers to a situation in which human participants play a certain role and follow a script to simulate complex service encounters. From the perspective of the professional, these principles emphasize â€œdoing the right thingsâ€ in their service encounters with customers. The authors found that the approach for deriving principles not only enables capturing the experience of professionals in a fun and entertaining manner, but also expands their view on customers and the back-office. This paper makes two contributions to existing work: (1) a participative design method based on role-play games and (2) six principles for service encounters resulting from the role-playing game.
Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems ( MCIS ) 10-2008 FIRMS ’ INVOLVEMENT IN OPEN SOURCE PROJECTS : A CONTROVERSIAL ROLE

In this paper, we focus on Community OS projects with the goal of understanding whether the involvement of firms through their professional developers has an impact on the quality of the software product and on its overall success. We distinguish between two main typologies of firms’ involvement: Development firms contributions and Non-development firms contributions. The paper posits that a higher percentage of code contributed by paid developers has a positive impact of project success and size. However, it also puts forward a negative impact of non-development firms contribution on software design quality. Hypotheses are tested on a sample of 643 applications from the SourceForge.net repository, corresponding to 5,335 versions. Data were collected by means of an online questionnaire and a tool developed ad hoc to calculate software design quality metrics. Empirical findings support our hypotheses. Overall, our data confirm that firms are significantly investing in OS projects and that they can play a crucial role in determining projects’ success when they also take active part in code development. However, most of them are taking a short-term perspective that does not focus on quality. This may lead to higher costs and a lower user satisfaction in the long term.
Cross-Layered Security Analysis of Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract : There is an inherent tradeoff between the performance of a network and its security. In this work we explore possible evaluations of security threats versus the cost of prevention and reaction to such threats. We consider different kind of adversaries with different capabilities. We present the effect of these capabilities on the different layers and the network as a whole. Such a study will help identify the importance of layered security in this infrastructure-less wireless setting.