Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global Warming and Its Implications on Nature Tourism at Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

The past decade recorded the highest number of high impact extreme weather events such as flooding, rainfall events, fires, droughts, and heatwaves amongst others. One of the key features and drivers of extreme weather events has been global warming, with record temperatures recorded globally. The World Meteorological Organization indicated that the 2010–2020 decade was one of the warmest on record. Continued global warming triggers a chain of positive feedback with far-reaching adverse implications on the environment and socio-economic activities. The tourism industry fears that increased global warming would result in severe challenges for the sector. The challenges include species extinction, disruption of tourism aviation, and several tourism activities. Given the extent of climate variability and change, this study examines the impacts of rising temperatures on tourism operations at Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa. The study adopts a mixed-method approach that uses secondary, archival, and primary data collected through interviews and field observations to investigate the impacts. Data analysis was done using XLSTAT and Mann–Kendall Trend Analysis to analyse climate trends, while content and thematic analyses were used to analyse primary data findings. The study found that increasing temperature is challenging for tourists and tourism employees as it affects productivity, sleeping patterns, tourism operations, and infrastructure. High temperatures are a considerable threat to water availability and animal sightings, adversely affecting the game drive experience. Increased heatwaves resulted in bird mortality and hatching mortality for turtles; this is a significant conservation challenge. The study recommends that heat stress be treated as a health and safety issue to protect tourists and employees.
A Pyroptosis-Related Gene Signature Associated with Prognosis and Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Gliomas

Background Pyroptosis is a novel form of cell death that plays a significant role in cancer, while the prognostic values of pyroptosis-related genes in gliomas have not been revealed. Methods We analyzed the RNA-seq and clinical data of gliomas from the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Xena database to determine differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes. Based on these genes, a pyroptosis genes signature was constructed after univariate Cox analysis and Lasso Cox analyses. The sensitivity and specificity of pyroptosis genes signature were verified by the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) dataset. Finally, we explored the association of risk signatures with tumor microenvironment and immune cell infiltration. Results Of 15 differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes, three genes of BCL2 associated X (BAX), caspase 3 (CASP3), and caspase 4 (CASP4) were used to construct the risk signature. The effectiveness of risk signature for predicting survival at 1, 3, 5 years was performed by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), and the area under curves (AUC) was 0.739, 0.817, and 0.800, respectively. Functional enrichment results showed signal transduction, cell adhesion, immune response, and inflammatory response were enriched. The immune analysis revealed that pyroptosis had a remarkable effect on the immune microenvironment. Conclusion In this study, we constructed a pyroptosis-related gene signature, which can serve as a potential biomarker for predicting the survival of glioma patients. Additionally, we suggested that pyroptosis may promote gliomas development by inducing chronic inflammation microenvironment.
Digitalisierung von Bestandsbauwerken mit KI

Der Zustand eines Bauwerks ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er sich mit zunehmendem Alter immer schneller verschlechtert. Eine vorbeugende Maßnahme gegen die Alterung ist umso erfolgreicher, je früher sie ergriffen wird. Um die Nutzung komplexer Bauwerke zu verlängern, sind umfassende Informationen zu einem möglichst frühen Zeitpunkt erforderlich. Auf dem Weg zu einer vorausschauenden Instandhaltung ist Grundlagenforschung zu den Methoden der Erfassung, Zusammenführung und Auswertung aller Geometrie‐, Material‐, Spannungs‐ und Alterungsdaten erforderlich. Die Digitalisierung im Sinne der Erzeugung eines Digitalen Zwillings erhält in diesem Zusammenhang eine völlig neue Bedeutung. Sie ermöglicht die Zusammenführung und Echtzeitauswertung aller für Betrieb und Instandhaltung erforderlichen Daten. Die Bauwirtschaft steht hier jedoch vor besonderen Herausforderungen. Bauwerke, insbesondere in der Verkehrsinfrastruktur, sind einzigartige Objekte. Sie zeichnen sich durch enorme Dimensionen aus und haben eine wesentlich längere Lebensdauer als andere technische Anlagen. Die Veränderungen im Sinne einer Zustandsverschlechterung sind sehr gering und daher kaum messbar. Die Basis eines umfassenden Zustandsmonitorings ist eine umfassende und komplette digitale Repräsentation des Bauwerks. Dies bedeutet eine Abbildung der kompletten äußeren und inneren Struktur in einer digitalen Form, inkl. Informationen zu Materialien, Schadstellen etc. Daraus lässt sich die Forschungsfrage ableiten, ob sich eine solche Abbildung effizient umsetzen lässt und in welcher Form und mit welchen Methoden dies möglich ist. Der vorliegende Beitrag gibt einen Überblick, wie die Umsetzung auch für komplexe Objekte gelingt und wie das generierte Modell mit semantischer Information angereichert werden kann.
Reduced Cross-Frequency Coupling and Daytime Sleepiness in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients

Simple Summary Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common breathing-related sleep disorders. The processes that take place in specific areas of the brain during distinct sleep stages and specific respiratory events are suspected to be impaired in OSA patients. These brain processes may be described in complex (mathematical) terms. Using one of these descriptions (phase–amplitude cross-frequency coupling), we demonstrated in electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings of OSA patients that the process sequences in certain areas of the brain are altered in distinct sleep stages of OSA patients compared to patients who do not suffer from clinically relevant OSA. In addition, we were able to find a physiological marker that assesses the severity of daytime sleepiness, one of the main symptoms of OSA. This study supports the hypothesis that OSA is a neuronal/neuromuscular disorder. Thus, it contributes to a better understanding of the so-far-unexplained cause for the development of OSA and opens new possibilities for the exploration of alternative therapeutic approaches. Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with sleep-stage- and respiratory-event-specific sensorimotor cortico-muscular disconnection. The modulation of phase–amplitude cross-frequency coupling (PACFC) may influence information processing throughout the brain. We investigated whether sleep-stage-specific PACFC is impaired at the sensorimotor areas in OSA patients. C3 and C4 electrode EEG polysomnography recordings of 170 participants were evaluated. Different frequency band combinations were used to compute CFC modulation index (MI) to assess if MI differs between OSA and non-significant OSA patients in distinct sleep stages. We tested if the CFC-MI could predict daytime sleepiness in OSA. Theta–gamma CFC-MI at cortical sensorimotor areas was significantly reduced during all sleep stages; the delta–alpha CFC-MI was significantly reduced during REM and N1 while increasing during N2 in patients with respiratory disturbance index (RDI) > 15/h compared to those with RDI ≤ 15/h. A sleep stage classification using MI values was achieved in both patient groups. Theta–gamma MI during N2 and N3 could predict RDI and Epworth Sleepiness Scale, while delta–alpha MI during REM predicted RDI. This increase in disconnection at the cortical sensorimotor areas with increasing respiratory distress during sleep supports a cortical motor dysfunction in OSA patients. The MI provides an objective marker to quantify subjective sleepiness and respiratory distress in OSA.
Perceptions of White-Collar Crime Seriousness: Unpacking and Translating Attitudes into Policy Preferences

Objectives Test the role of individual and crime characteristics on public opinions of white-collar crime seriousness and support for crime reduction policy; consider the relationship between perceptions of crime seriousness and support for public policies to reduce white-collar crime. Methods Data from a nationally-representative survey. Respondents (n = 2,050) rated ten white-collar crimes, relative to a street crime (burglary) and also indicated their relative support (i.e., willingness to pay) for 16 policies to reduce various types of white-collar crime. Models incorporate respondent-level random effects to account for multiple ratings per respondent. Results Crimes committed by organizations are perceived more seriously than those committed by individuals. Perceptions of a white-collar crime as more serious than burglary increase the likelihood of supporting prevention programs. Race and political party are related to both perceptions of crime seriousness and support for prevention policy. Conclusions There may be less consensus around perceptions of white-collar crime seriousness than for other crime types. Perceptions of crime seriousness are a function of both individual and crime characteristics that structure assessments of risk, harmfulness, and wrongfulness. Group differences may be related to differences in awareness of the scope, harms, and perceived victimization risk associated with particular crime types.
Compromised endothelial progenitor cell exosomal communication with endothelial cells in hypertension ischemia conditions

We have previously demonstrated that endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) derived exosomes (EPC-EXs) can protect endothelial cells (ECs) against hypoxia injury. Given that EX function varies upon the cellular status and EPC function is declined in hypertension, we speculate the function of EPC-EXs is altered in hypertension-ischemia conditions. Here, we studied the EPC-EX mediated communications of EPCs with ECs in hypertension-ischemia conditions. EPC-EXs were prepared from the bone marrow EPCs of wild-type (WT) and hypertensive renin transgene (R+) mice (WT-EPC-EXs and R-EPC-EXs, respectively). To mimic hypertension-ischemia injury, ECs were challenged with angiotensin II (Ang II; 10−6 M) plus hypoxia (1% O2 for 6 h) and reoxygenation (21% O2 for 24 h). To determine the function of EPC-EXs, ECs were co-cultured with EXs during the reoxygenation period. EX uptake efficiency, EC viability, and angiogenic function were assessed. We found that: (1) The incorporation efficiency of R-EPC-EXs by ECs was significantly decreased compared to the WT-EPC-EXs. (2) Ang II plus hypoxia reoxygenation-injured ECs displayed decreased cell viability, increased cell apoptosis, and compromised angiogenic ability, which were alleviated by R-EPC-EXs. (3) WT-EPC-EXs elicited better effects than R-EPC-EXs on protecting ECs from hypertension plus hypoxia injury. In conclusion, our data have demonstrated that EPC-EXs mediated communication of EPCs and ECs is compromised in hypertension-ischemia conditions, suggesting that impairment of EPC exosomal communication might contribute to the exaggerated cerebral ischemia injury in hypertension-associated ischemic stroke.
Indoor CO2 and Thermal Conditions in Twenty Scottish Primary School Classrooms with Different Ventilation Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Healthy indoor environments influence the comfort, health and wellbeing of the occupants. Monitoring the indoor temperature, relative humidity and CO2 levels in primary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic was mandated by a local authority in Scotland. The aim was to investigate the comfort and safety of the teachers and their pupils. This paper presents the measurements of indoor climate in 20 classrooms in four different primary schools in Scotland. The schools were of different architypes. The classrooms were of different sizes, orientations and occupancy, and had different ventilation systems. Ventilation was achieved either by manually opening the windows, or by a mechanical ventilation system. Indoor air temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations were continuously monitored for one week during the heating season 2020/21. Occupancy and opening of the windows were logged in by the teachers. The ventilation rates in the classrooms were estimated by measuring the CO2 concentrations. On the 20 classrooms of the study, data of 19 were analysed. The results show that four of the five mechanically ventilated classrooms performed better than natural ventilation, which indicates that opening the windows depended on the customs and habits. Classrooms in naturally ventilated Victorian buildings have the worst average ventilation rate (4.38 L/s per person) compared to the other classrooms (5.8 L/s per person for the more recent naturally ventilated ones, and 6.08 L/s per person for the mechanically ventilated ones). The results of this preliminary study will be used as the basis to find ways to ensure adequate ventilation in natural ventilated classrooms.
Automatic Selection of Time Points Based on AVL Data

Time points are the essential elements of time-tables.The selection of appropriate time points is impartment for bus service reliability measurement and it affects the on-time probability of a schedule.However,this process is normally conducted by manual according to the designers' experiences.This paper presents an automatic method to select time points based on the advanced vehicle location(AVL) data.The characteristics of time points are first extracted from bus service process from the view of passengers,schedulers and operators,respectively.Then,the segment running time,dwell time and headway are measured based on the AVL data and the characteristic value of each time point is also calculated.Then,the appropriate time points are automatically selected by analytic hierarchy process(AHP). This time point selection approach has been successfully applied to a demonstration project in Shiyan,Hubei province of China.
Bi-directional evolutionary topology optimization based on stress minimization under design-dependent surface loads

This article proposes an approach for structural topology optimization based on stress, under design-dependent surface loads. The algorithm has been developed by adapting the stress minimization version of the bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization method, with the inclusion of surface loads. The P-norm of von Mises stress is used as an aggregate function and volume constraints are employed. The stresses have been obtained using the finite element method applied to the continuum bi-dimensional elastic structures. The sensitivity analysis has been carried out by the adjoint method, including design-dependent surface loads. Three examples have been investigated. The first is the piston head problem, a benchmark for design-dependent pressure loads. In this example, the algorithm convergence is demonstrated. The other two are benchmarks for stress-based problems: the simply supported beam and the L-bracket. The proposed method is shown to be effective in reducing the maximum stress, generating easily manufacturable topologies.
Food-Derived β-Carboline Alkaloids Ameliorate Lipid Droplet Accumulation in Human Hepatocytes

Lipid droplet accumulation (LDA) in hepatocytes is the initial stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In the search for natural compounds for the prevention of NAFLD, a series of β-carboline alkaloid derivatives, inspired by flazin and its derivative, newly identified in Crassostrea gigas Thunberg. extracts, were examined for LDA inhibition (LDAI) activity in oleic acid–loaded hepatocytes (HepG2). Eight compounds with a piperidine or pyridine C-ring were chemically synthesized (1–8). Among them, compounds 2 and 4 (flazin) with a carboxy group at C-3 and furfuryl alcohol moiety at C-1 showed low cytotoxicity and they exhibited significant LDAI activity. Compound 2 with piperidine C-ring was identified for the first time in C. gigas extract, and ameliorated the lipid accumulation with the LDAI value of 25.4%. Active compounds 2 and 4 significantly inhibited triacylglycerol species accumulation in cells. These compounds upregulated ATGL and downregulated SREBP1, FASN, and SCD1 genes, suggesting that they activated lipolysis and suppressed lipogenesis, respectively. These results suggest that β-carboline alkaloids, especially compounds 2 and 4, might be potentially useful for preventing NAFLD.
Development and Characterization of MYB-NFIB Fusion Expression in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Simple Summary Chromosomal t(6;9) translocation is commonly found in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary gland. This genetic rearrangement results in the fusion of MYB and NFIB genes. Despite the frequent occurrence of t(6;9) translocation and MYB-NFIB gene fusion, the nature of chimeric MYB-NFIB proteins and their potential relevance in the development and behavior of ACC remains poorly understood. The lack of validated ACC cell lines, harboring the t(6;9) translocation with defined MYB-NFIB fusion protein, has restricted fusion-specific functional studies. Hence, we sought to characterize and establish in vitro and in vivo models of a MYB-NFIB fusion protein expressing system in ACC. Defining the nature and functional aspect of MYB-NFIB fusion proteins may not only improve our understanding of the disease but also contribute to the identification of molecular targets that are druggable and can be developed for future therapeutic purpose. Abstract Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the second most common cancer type arising from the salivary gland. The frequent occurrence of chromosome t(6;9) translocation leading to the fusion of MYB and NFIB transcription factor genes is considered a genetic hallmark of ACC. This inter-chromosomal rearrangement may encode multiple variants of functional MYB-NFIB fusion in ACC. However, the lack of an ACC model that harbors the t(6;9) translocation has limited studies on defining the potential function and implication of chimeric MYB-NFIB protein in ACC. This report aims to establish a MYB-NFIB fusion protein expressing system in ACC cells for in vitro and in vivo studies. RNA-seq data from MYB-NFIB translocation positive ACC patients’ tumors and MYB-NFIB fusion transcript in ACC patient-derived xenografts (ACCX) was analyzed to identify MYB breakpoints and their frequency of occurrence. Based on the MYB breakpoint identified, variants of MYB-NFIB fusion expression system were developed in a MYB-NFIB deficient ACC cell lines. Analysis confirmed MYB-NFIB fusion protein expression in ACC cells and ACCXs. Furthermore, recombinant MYB-NFIB fusion displayed sustained protein stability and impacted transcriptional activities of interferon-associated genes set as compared to a wild type MYB. In vivo tumor formation analysis indicated the capacity of MYB-NFIB fusion cells to grow as implanted tumors, although there were no fusion-mediated growth advantages. This expression system may be useful not only in studies to determine the functional aspects of MYB-NFIB fusion but also in evaluating effective drug response in vitro and in vivo settings.
Pannexin-1 Activation by Phosphorylation Is Crucial for Platelet Aggregation and Thrombus Formation

Pannexin-1 (PANX1) is a transmembrane protein that forms ion channels as hexamers on the plasma membrane. Electrophysiological studies prove that PANX1 has a high conductance for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which plays an important role as a signal molecule in platelet activation. Recently, it was shown that PANX1 channels modulate platelet functions. To date, it remains unclear how PANX1 channels are activated and which signaling mechanisms are responsible for impaired hemostasis and thrombosis. Analysis of PANX1 phosphorylation at Tyr198 and Tyr308, and the impact on platelet activation and thrombus formation using genetically modified platelets or pharmacological inhibitors. Platelet activation via immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) coupled, G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCR) and thromboxane receptor (TP)-mediated signaling pathways led to increased PANX1 phosphorylation at Tyr198 and Tyr308. We identified the Src-GPVI signaling axes as the main pathway inducing PANX1 activation, while PKC and Akt play a minor role. PANX1 channels function as ATP release channels in platelets to support arterial thrombus formation. PANX1 activation is regulated by phosphorylation at Tyr198 and Tyr308 following platelet activation. These results suggest an important role of PANX1 in hemostasis and thrombosis by releasing extracellular ATP to support thrombus formation.
Comparative Study of Algal Responses and Adaptation Capability to Ultraviolet Radiation with Different Nutrient Regimes

Frequent outbreaks of harmful algal blooms (HABs) represent one of the most serious outcomes of eutrophication, and light radiation plays a critical role in the succession of species. Therefore, a better understanding of the impact of light radiation is essential for mitigating HABs. In this study, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and non-toxic and toxic Microcystis aeruginosa were mono-cultured and co-cultured to explore algal responses under different nutrient regimes. Comparisons were made according to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), UV-B radiation exerted oxidative stresses, and negative effects on the photosynthesis and growth of three species under normal growth conditions, and algal adaptive responses included extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, the regulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, photosynthetic pigments synthesis, etc. Three species had strain-specific responses to UV-B radiation and toxic M. aeruginosa was more tolerant and showed a higher adaptation capability to UV-B in the mono-cultures, including the lower sensitivity and better self-repair efficiency. In addition to stable μmax in PAR ad UV-B treatments, higher EPS production and enhanced production of photosynthetic pigments under UV-B radiation, toxic M. aeruginosa showed a better recovery of its photosynthetic efficiency. Nutrient enrichment alleviated the negative effects of UV-B radiation on three species, and the growth of toxic M. aeruginosa was comparable between PAR and UV-B treatment. In the co-cultures with nutrient enrichment, M. aeruginosa gradually outcompeted C. pyrenoidosa in the PAR treatment and UV-B treatment enhanced the growth advantages of M. aeruginosa, when toxic M. aeruginosa showed a greater competitiveness. Overall, our study indicated the adaptation of typical algal species to ambient UV-B radiation and the stronger competitive ability of toxic M. aeruginosa in the UV-radiated waters with severer eutrophication.