Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New materials for improving catches of horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Nzi traps

New materials in 85 configurations were tested relative to standard fabric Nzi traps to improve catches of tabanids based on artificial visual cues that mimic those used in nature for locating hosts or water. Colour‐fast synthetic fabrics and photo‐selective horticultural mesh were tested to facilitate insecticide impregnation and for improved durability. Many plastics were explored to document how flies react to polarized and visible vs. ultraviolet light. Lastly, sticky horizontal, linearly polarizing ground‐level shiny plastic targets were tested for capturing water‐seeking tabanids relative to traps and vertical fabric targets. Based on the capture of 281 786 female Tabanidae (Tabanus Linnaeus, Hybomitra Enderlein, Chrysops Meigen), four alternative formats provided higher catches and/or durability. They were substituting: (1) phthalogen turquoise for phthalogen blue, (2) solution‐dyed fabrics for blue and black cotton, (3) clear/white horticultural mesh for mosquito netting, and (4) clear, reflective plastic for some or all netting. A Sunbrella/BioNet fabric trap (portable) and a blue‐black Plexiglas®/netting trap (fixed applications) consistently performed best (1.5–3 × higher catches). Ground‐level targets captured many male and gravid female Hybomitra but were ineffective for Tabanus. Traps and vertical fabric or transparent sticky targets captured mainly unfed females.
Validity of point-mass model in off-resonance dynamic atomic force microscopy

The quantitative measurement of viscoelasticity of nano-scale entities is an important goal of nanotechnology research and there is considerable progress with advent of dynamic atomic force microscopy. The hydrodynamics of cantilever, the force sensor in AFM measurements, plays a pivotal role in quantitative estimates of nano-scale viscoelasticity. The point-mass (PM) model, wherein the AFM cantilever is approximated as a point-mass with mass-less spring is widely used in dynamic AFM analysis and its validity, particularly in liquid environments, is debated. It is suggested that the cantilever must be treated as a continuous rectangular beam to obtain accurate estimates of nano-scale viscoelasticity of materials it is probing. Here, we derived equations, which relate stiffness and damping coefficient of the material under investigation to measured parameters, by approximating cantilever as a point-mass and also considering the full geometric details. These equations are derived for both tip-excited as well as base-excited cantilevers. We have performed off-resonance dynamic atomic force spectroscopy on a single protein molecule to investigate the validity of widely used PM model. We performed measurements with AFMs equipped with different cantilever excitation methods as well as detection schemes to measure cantilever response. The data was analyzed using both, continuous beam model and the PM model. We found that both models yield same results when the experiments are performed in truly off-resonance regime with small amplitudes and the cantilever stiffness is much higher than the interaction stiffness. Our findings suggest that a simple PM approximation based model is adequate to describe the dynamics, provided care is taken while performing experiments so that the approximations used in these models are valid.
RápidoPGS: a rapid polygenic score calculator for summary GWAS data without a test dataset

Abstract Motivation Polygenic scores (PGS) aim to genetically predict complex traits at an individual level. PGS are typically trained on genome-wide association summary statistics and require an independent test dataset to tune parameters. More recent methods allow parameters to be tuned on the training data, removing the need for independent test data, but approaches are computationally intensive. Based on fine-mapping principles, we present RápidoPGS, a flexible and fast method to compute PGS requiring summary-level Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets only, with little computational requirements and no test data required for parameter tuning. Results We show that RápidoPGS performs slightly less well than two out of three other widely used PGS methods (LDpred2, PRScs and SBayesR) for case–control datasets, with median r2 difference: -0.0092, -0.0042 and 0.0064, respectively, but up to 17 000-fold faster with reduced computational requirements. RápidoPGS is implemented in R and can work with user-supplied summary statistics or download them from the GWAS catalog. Availability and implementation Our method is available with a GPL license as an R package from CRAN and GitHub. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Relationship between peripapillary vessel density and visual function based on Garway-Heath sectorization in open-angle glaucoma

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between peripapillary vessel density (pVD) and visual field sensitivity (VFS) and between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFLT) and VFS, based on Garway-Heath sectorization in open-angle glaucoma patients. Methods: Sixty-six eyes of healthy subjects and 84 eyes of glaucoma subjects were included. All subjects underwent several eye examinations, including standard automated perimetry and optical coherence tomography angiography. Sectoral structure-function relationships based on the Garway-Heath sectorization were compared among normal subjects, the 'mild glaucoma,' and 'moderate-to-severe glaucoma' group. Multivariate analyses were performed for each sector to determine the factors related to VFS. The diagnostic abilities of vessel density parameters and RNFLT were evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC). Results: The correlation between pVD-VFS and pRNFLT-VFS was statistically significant in the glaucoma group independent of the VFS sector. In the glaucoma group, VFS in the temportal sector was statistically related in a multivariate model to pVD, pRNFLT and age (R2 = 0.721; P = 0.007, < 0.001, .15, respectively). We found pRNFLT and age were significantly associated with VFS in glaucoma. The AUROC values of pVD in the inferotemporal sector of the total, mild, and moderate-to-severe glaucoma (0.843, 0.714, and 0.972, respectively) were comparable to pRNFLT in this sector (0.833, 0.718, 0.948, respectively). Conclusion: Since the relationship between pVD and VFS in the papillomacular area was significant, measuring pVD and RNFLT in the corresponding area will be valuable in expanding our pathophysiologic knowledge of the paracentral field defects in glaucoma.
Application of an Experimental Design to Modelling the Hydrogen Peroxide Stage in TCF Bleaching of Eucalypt Pulp

Eucalyptus globulus kraft pulp was bleached in a totally chlorine-free (TCF) sequence (OXZP). The P stage was modelled using a four-variable sequential statistical plan over the following ranges: 0.5 to 2.5% hydrogen peroxide on o.d. pulp, 1 to 3 h reaction time, 70 to 90 C temperature, and 0.2 to 2.2% sodium hydroxide on o.d. pulp. The models defined from the results obtained predicted variations in ISO brightness, viscosity and hydrogen peroxide consumption of 84.6 to 90.5%, 890 to 819 mL/g and 10 to 99% on o.d. pulp, respectively. The best results were obtained for reaction times and hydrogen peroxide charges in the higher values of the experimental area, and temperatures and sodium hydroxide doses in the medium values. The variable most strongly influencing the pulp properties was found to be the hydrogen peroxide dose. It is possible to obtain TCF bleached eucalypt pulp of brightness over 90% ISO and viscosities over 800 mL/g. Finally, the pulp, paper and effluent properties of the sequence were also studied.
Phenotypic diversity, disease progression, and pathogenicity of MVK missense variants in mevalonic aciduria

Mevalonic aciduria (MVA) and hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome (MKD/HIDS) are disorders of cholesterol biosynthesis caused by variants in the MVK gene and characterized by increased urinary excretion of mevalonic acid. So far, 30 MVA patients have been reported, suffering from recurrent febrile crises and neurologic impairment. Here, we present an in‐depth analysis of the phenotypic spectrum of MVA and provide an in‐silico pathogenicity model analysis of MVK missense variants. The phenotypic spectrum of 11 MVA patients (age range 0‐51 years) registered in the Unified European Registry for Inherited Metabolic Disorders database was systematically analyzed using terms of the Human Phenotype Ontology. Biochemical, radiological as well as genetic characteristics were investigated. Six of eleven patients have reached adulthood and four have reached adolescence. One of the adolescent patients died at the age of 16 years and one patient died shortly after birth. Symptoms started within the first year of life, including episodic fever, developmental delay, ataxia, and ocular involvement. We also describe a case with absence of symptoms despite massive excretion of mevalonic acid. Pathogenic variants causing MVA cluster within highly conserved regions, which are involved in mevalonate and ATP binding. The phenotype of adult and adolescent MVA patients is more heterogeneous than previously assumed. Outcome varies from an asymptomatic course to early death. MVK variants cluster in functionally important and highly conserved protein domains and show high concordance regarding their expected pathogenicity.
E2A Modulates Stemness, Metastasis, and Therapeutic Resistance of Breast Cancer

These findings identify key functions of E2A factors in breast cancer cell stemness, metastasis, and drug resistance, supporting a therapeutic vulnerability to targeting E2A proteins in breast cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are considered responsible for tumor initiation, therapeutic resistance, and metastasis. A comprehensive knowledge of the mechanisms governing the acquisition and maintenance of cancer stemness is crucial for the development of new therapeutic approaches in oncology. E2A basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors are associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor progression, but knowledge of their functional contributions to cancer biology is still limited. Using a combination of in vivo and in vitro analyses in a novel PyMT-E2A conditional knockout mouse model and derived primary tumor cell lines, we report here an essential role of E2A in stemness, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance in breast cancer. Targeted deletion of E2A in the mammary gland impaired tumor-initiating ability and dedifferentiation potential and severely compromised metastatic competence of PyMT-driven mammary tumors. Mechanistic studies in PyMT-derived cell lines indicated that E2A actions are mediated by the upregulation of Snai1 transcription. Importantly, high E2A and SNAIL1 expression occurred in aggressive human basal-like breast carcinomas, highlighting the relevance of the E2A–Snail1 axis in metastatic breast cancer. In addition, E2A factors contributed to the maintenance of genomic integrity and resistance to PARP inhibitors in PyMT and human triple-negative breast cancer cells. Collectively, these results support the potential for E2A transcription factors as novel targets worthy of translational consideration in breast cancer. Significance: These findings identify key functions of E2A factors in breast cancer cell stemness, metastasis, and drug resistance, supporting a therapeutic vulnerability to targeting E2A proteins in breast cancer. Graphical Abstract
Phlpp1 is induced by estrogen in osteoclasts and its loss in Ctsk-expressing cells does not protect against ovariectomy-induced bone loss

Prior studies demonstrated that deletion of the protein phosphatase Phlpp1 in Ctsk-Cre expressing cells enhances bone mass, characterized by diminished osteoclast activity and increased coupling to bone formation. Due to non-specific expression of Ctsk-Cre, the definitive mechanism for this observation was unclear. To further define the role of bone resorbing osteoclasts, we performed ovariectomy (Ovx) and Sham surgeries on Phlpp1 cKOCtsk and WT mice. Micro-CT analyses confirmed enhanced bone mass of Phlpp1 cKOCtsk Sham females. In contrast, Ovx induced bone loss in both groups, with no difference between Phlpp1 cKOCtsk and WT mice. Histomorphometry demonstrated that Ovx mice lacked differences in osteoclasts per bone surface, suggesting that estradiol (E2) is required for Phlpp1 deficiency to have an effect. We performed high throughput unbiased transcriptional profiling of Phlpp1 cKOCtsk osteoclasts and identified 290 differentially expressed genes. By cross-referencing these differentially expressed genes with all estrogen response element (ERE) containing genes, we identified IGFBP4 as potential estrogen-dependent target of Phlpp1. E2 induced PHLPP1 expression, but reduced IGFBP4 levels. Moreover, genetic deletion or chemical inhibition of Phlpp1 was correlated with IGFBP4 levels. We then assessed IGFBP4 expression by osteoclasts in vivo within intact 12-week-old females. Modest IGFBP4 immunohistochemical staining of TRAP+ osteoclasts within WT females was observed. In contrast, TRAP+ bone lining cells within intact Phlpp1 cKOCtsk females robustly expressed IGFBP4, but levels were diminished within TRAP+ bone lining cells following Ovx. These results demonstrate that effects of Phlpp1 conditional deficiency are lost following Ovx, potentially due to estrogen-dependent regulation of IGFBP4.
Effect of Cardinium Infection on the Probing Behavior of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) MED

Abstract Facultative endosymbionts can affect the growth, physiology, and behavior of their arthropod hosts. There are several endosymbionts in the invasive whitefly Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED, Q biotype) that influence host fitness by altering stylet probing behavior. We investigated the probing behavior of B. tabaci MED infected with the facultative endosymbiont Candidatus Cardinium hertigii (Cardinium (Sphingobacteriales: Flexibacteraceae)). We generated genetically similar Cardinium-infected (C*+) and uninfected (C-) clonal sublines and analyzed the probing behavior of newly emerged adult on cotton (Malvales: Malvaceae), Gossypium hirsutum L. , using electropenetrography (EPG). The C- subline demonstrated a longer duration of E2 (2.81-fold) and more events of E2 (2.22-fold) than the C*+ subline, indicating a greater level of sustained ingestion of plant phloem. These findings provide insight into the fitness costs (fitness of a particular genotype is lower than the average fitness of the population) of the Cardinium-infected B. tabaci.
基於Seq2Seq模型的中文文法錯誤診斷系統(A Chinese Grammatical Error Diagnosis System Based on Seq2Seq Model)

本文將以中文句子的錯誤診斷為實例,說明如何利用深度學習演算法序列對序列 (Seq2Seq)模型[1],使用其中的編碼器與解碼器架構,實作出能夠從學習者的句子當中 生成出修改過後的句子,並且識別錯誤的類型。 一個句子是由許多詞所組成,我們透過 修正前與修正後的兩個句子配成一對讓演算法進行學習,盡可能的使模型識別原始與正 確之間的關係,並將有錯誤或是不通順的句子加以修正與改正。 此研究利用 Pytorch 所 提供的範例更改為我們所想要的功能,以此理論作為基礎的中文文法錯誤診斷系統;此 研究分為兩部分:首先利用 NLP-TEA2 至 NLP-TEA5 的 Shared Task 所提供的資料訓練 模型。 其次因應資料集數量不夠讓機器充分學習,所以我們利用 Ge 等人[2]所提出的方 式來擴大訓練的資料集。 過去 Chen [3]在 NLP-TEA3 的 Shared Task 使用條件隨機域 [4](Conditional Random Field,CRF)得到當時最佳的準確度與精確度。 所以我們主要針 對 NLP-TEA3 當時所完成的任務結果來做比較,另外為了確保我們所使用的序列對序 列的可行性與公平性,在此我們重新訓練 CRF 不做任何的調整與現在的序列對序列一 樣做比較。
探究端對端語音辨識於發音檢測與診斷(Investigating on Computer-Assisted Pronunciation Training Leveraging End-to-End Speech Recognition Techniques)

電腦輔助發音系統(Computer assisted pronunciation techniques, CAPT),任務可分為錯誤 發音檢測(Mispronunciation detection)以及錯誤發音診斷(Mispronunciation diagnosis)。 在 過往的研究中,這兩種任務主要依賴於傳統語音辨識系統的強制對齊(Forced alignment) 方法,並利用強制對齊產生的音素(Phone)段落與觀測到的全部音素或較混淆的音素計 算 GOP (Goodness of pronunciation)分數,並以此作為發音好壞的依據。 然而傳統語音辨 識系統的訓練流程既冗長且複雜。 近年來,端對端語音辨識系統不僅大幅簡化此問題, 且效能也有追上傳統語音辨識的趨勢。 因此,本論文將基於端對端架構下,分別探討(1) 基於辨識產生的信心分數(Confidence score);(2) 基於語音辨識結果,兩者對於發音檢 測任務的影響。 實驗結果顯示,使用端對端架構進行發音檢測與診斷,不僅相較於以往 基於傳統語音辨識架構有更少的訓練流程,也大幅提升檢測與診斷的效果。 Abstract
An Environmentally Friendly Recycled-Polyethylene Composite Reinforced by Diatomaceous Earth and Wood Fiber

This study aims to develop a new wood-plastic composite (WPC) material from recycled thermoplasctics. The recycled low-density polyethylene (rLDPE) and high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) were used as matrix, whereas the diatomaceous earth waste (D) and wood fiber (WF) as filler. Recycled-LDPE and rHDPE were recovered and pelletized by a plastic recycling process. The 10-30wt. % diatomaceous earth waste was heat-treated at 200°C to remove impurities. The diatomaceous earth, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE), CaCO3, slip agent, antioxidants and WF were then mixed at 160°C, for 10 minutes, at stirring speed 50 rpm to produce wood-plastic composite material. The mechanical strength and thermal properties of the composites were investigated. The composite containing D and rLDPE results in an increase the hardness of the material which is higher than that of the virgin-LDPE. The tensile and impact strengths of the composite material prepared by rLDPE and D were higher than those of the rHDPE composite material. It is found that LDPE has excellent fluidity, which is helpful for subsequent processing. In addition, the diatomaceous earth waste can be used to reduce the cost of the raw material, and the product has both effects of environmental protection and marketability.
Biomaterial Properties of Femur Implant on Acetabulum Erosion: A Review

The hip is one in every of the various joint at intervals the body. The correct operating of this joint is essential. For the aim once the hip is injured whole, a substitution procedure of the entire joint ought to be done to reinstate its operating, that is known as absolute hip surgical process. It is finished with the assistance of inserts of various biomaterials, as an example, polymers, metals, and pottery. The primary issues with regard to the utilization of various biomaterials are the reaction of the body's instrument to wear trash. Throughout this audit, biomaterials that are developing is talked regarding aboard the wear and tear and tear conduct and instrument. To boot, the numerous properties of the biomaterials are talked regarding aboard the expected preferences and drawbacks of their utilization. Further, the blends of various biomaterials at intervals the articulating surfaces are cleft and so the problems regarding their utilization are assessed. This paper hopes to passes away an in depth review of the trauma fringe of bearing surfaces of hip prosthetic devices. Additionally, this paper can offer AN ordered blueprint of the materials nearby their favorable circumstances and detriments and besides the conceivable outcomes of use. Keywords: - Hip implant; Biomaterials; Wear mechanism; Bearing surfaces; Polymers
Removal of cadmium and lead from aqueous solutions using iron phosphate-modified pollen microspheres as adsorbents

Abstract Iron phosphate-modified pollen microspheres (pollen@FePO4) were prepared and applied as sorbents for the removal of heavy metals (Cd2+ and Pb2+) from the aqueous solution. Batch sorption studies were conducted to investigate the effects of solution pH, contact time, sorbent dosage, and metal concentration on the adsorption process. The sorption of Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions on pollen@FePO4 corresponds to the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm, which is similar to the unmodified pollen. At pH 5.92, pollen@FePO4 offers maximum adsorption capacities of 4.623 and 61.35 mg·g−1 for Cd2+ and Pb2+, respectively. The faster sorption kinetics and higher adsorption capacities of Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions onto pollen@FePO4 than pollen indicates that it might be a promising material for the removal of heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. The possible adsorption mechanism involves electrostatic and chemisorption for Cd2+ and mainly complexion for Pb2+.
The Psychological Reach of Culture in Animals’ Lives

Culture—the totality of traditions acquired in a community by social learning from other individuals—has increasingly been found to be pervasive not only in humans’ but in many other animals’ lives. Compared with learning on one’s own initiative, learning from others can be very much safer and more efficient, as the wisdom already accumulated by other individuals is assimilated. This article offers an overview of often surprising recent discoveries charting the reach of culture across an ever-expanding diversity of species, as well as an extensive variety of behavioral domains, and throughout an animal’s life. The psychological reach of culture is reflected in the knowledge and skills an animal thus acquires, via an array of different social learning processes. Social learning is often further guided by a suite of adaptive psychological biases, such as conformity and learning from optimal models. In humans, cumulative cultural change over generations has generated the complex cultural phenomena observed today. Animal cultures have been thought to lack this cumulative power, but recent findings suggest that elementary versions of cumulative culture may be important in animals’ lives.
24-hour blood pressure variability and treatment effect of intravenous alteplase in acute ischaemic stroke

Introduction To assess the association between 24 h blood pressure variability (BPV) on functional outcome and treatment effect of intravenous alteplase in acute ischaemic stroke. Patients and methods In all patients with acute ischaemic stroke of unknown onset randomised in the WAKE-UP (Efficacy and Safety of magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]-based Thrombolysis in Wake-Up Stroke) trial, blood pressure (BP) was measured before randomisation and after initiation of treatment at regular intervals up to 24 hours. Individual BPV was measured by coefficient of variation (CV) of all BP values. Primary outcome measure was favourable outcome defined by a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0 or 1 at 90 days after stroke. Results BP measurements were available for 498 of 503 patients randomised (177 women [35.5%], mean age [SD] of 65.2 [11.5] years). Systolic BPV was not associated with the treatment effect of thrombolysis (test for interaction, p = 0.46). The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for favourable outcome with alteplase, adjusted for age, stroke severity and baseline BP on admission, did not show an association across the quintiles of increasing systolic BPV with an aOR 1.89 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76–4.70) in the lowest quintile to aOR 1.05 (95% CI, 0.43–2.56) in the highest quintile. Higher mean systolic BP was associated with a smaller treatment effect of thrombolysis with a significant interaction (p = 0.033). The aOR for favourable outcome with alteplase decreased with quintiles of increasing mean systolic BP from aOR 3.16 (95% CI, 1.26–7.93) in the lowest quintile to aOR 0.84 (95% CI, 0.34–2.10) in in the highest quintile. Conclusions There was a significant interaction between mean systolic BP and treatment effect of thrombolysis with higher mean systolic BP being associated with poorer outcome. BPV was not associated with outcome after thrombolysis. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01525290.