FADEL: Ensemble Learning Enhanced by Feature Augmentation and Discretization.

In recent years, data augmentation techniques have become the predominant approach for addressing highly imbalanced classification problems in machine learning. Algorithms such as the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) and Conditional Tabular Generative Adversarial Network (CTGAN) have proven effective in synthesizing minority class samples. However, these methods often introduce distributional bias and noise, potentially leading to model overfitting, reduced predictive performance, increased computational costs, and elevated cybersecurity risks.

Interaction of human neutrophils with Trichomonas vaginalis protozoan highlights lactoferrin secretion.

Background: Neutrophils are vital constituents of the immune response in the vaginal environment, playing a pivotal role in the defense against trichomoniasis. Earlier studies have shown that Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) can release leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a molecule that attracts and activates neutrophils.

The core exosome proteome of Trichomonas vaginalis.

Background: Trichomonas vaginalis is parasitic protozoan that causes human urogenital infections. Accumulated reports indicated that exosomes released by this parasite play a crucial role in transmitting information and substances between cells during host-parasite interactions. Current knowledge on the protein contents in T.

Homeostasis of cellular amino acids in Acanthamoeba castellanii exposed to different media under amoeba-bacteria coculture conditions.

Background: Acanthamoeba castellanii is a free-living protist that feeds on diverse bacteria. A. castellanii has frequently been utilized in studies on microbial interactions.

Metabolomics analysis reveals changes related to pseudocyst formation induced by iron depletion in Trichomonas vaginalis.

Background: Iron is an essential element for cellular functions, such as energy metabolism. Trichomonas vaginalis, a human urogenital tract pathogen, is capable of surviving in the environment without sufficient iron supplementation. Pseudocysts (cyst-like structures) are an environmentally tolerated stage of this parasite while encountering undesired conditions, including iron deficiency.

Molecular characterization of multidrug-resistant non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae with high-level resistance to cefuroxime, levofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Background: Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) has become the major cause of invasive H. influenzae diseases in the post-H. influenzae type b vaccine era.

Molecular characterization of cefepime and aztreonam nonsusceptibility in Haemophilus influenzae.

Background: Cefepime and aztreonam are highly efficacious against H. influenzae, and resistant strains are rare. In this study, we isolated cefepime- and aztreonam-nonsusceptible H.

Dissecting the Transcriptomes of Multiple Metronidazole-Resistant and Sensitive Strains Identified Distinct Genes and Pathways Associated with Drug Resistance and Cell Death.

is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Metronidazole (MTZ) is the mainstay of anti-trichomonal chemotherapy; however, drug resistance has become an increasingly worrying issue. Additionally, the molecular events of MTZ-induced cell death in remain elusive.

Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Jet (DBDjet) Processed Reduced Graphene Oxide/Polypyrrole/Chitosan Nanocomposite Supercapacitors.

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and/or polypyrrole (PPy) are mixed with chitosan (CS) binder materials for screen-printing supercapacitors (SCs) on arc atmospheric-pressure plasma jet (APPJ)-treated carbon cloth. The performance of gel-electrolyte rGO/CS, PPy/CS, and rGO/PPy/CS SCs processed by a dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet (DBDjet) was assessed and compared. DBDjet processing improved the hydrophilicity of these three nanocomposite electrode materials.

Vaginal Microbiota of the Sexually Transmitted Infections Caused by and in Women with Vaginitis in Taiwan.

The three most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are (CT), (GC) and (TV). The prevalence of these STIs in Taiwan remains largely unknown and the risk of STI acquisition affected by the vaginal microbiota is also elusive. In this study, a total of 327 vaginal swabs collected from women with vaginitis were analyzed to determine the presence of STIs and the associated microorganisms by using the BD Max CT/GC/TV molecular assay, microbial cultures, and 16S rRNA sequencing.

Helminth egg analysis platform (HEAP): An opened platform for microscopic helminth egg identification and quantification based on the integration of deep learning architectures.

Background: Millions of people throughout the world suffer from parasite infections. Traditionally, technicians use manual eye inspection of microscopic specimens to perform a parasite examination. However, manual operations have limitations that hinder the ability to obtain precise egg counts and cause inefficient identification of infected parasites on co-infections.

Electropolymerized Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/Screen-Printed Reduced Graphene Oxide-Chitosan Bilayer Electrodes for Flexible Supercapacitors.

An electropolymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/screen-printed reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-chitosan (CS) bilayer material was coated on carbon cloth to form electrodes for gel-electrolyte flexible supercapacitors. The conductive polymer and carbon-based materials mainly contribute pseudocapacitance (PC) and electrical double-layer capacitance (EDLC), respectively. The high porosity and hydrophilicity of the PEDOT/rGO-CS bilayer material offers a large contact area and improves the contact quality for the gel electrolyte, thereby enhancing the capacitive performance.

DeepVariant-on-Spark: Small-Scale Genome Analysis Using a Cloud-Based Computing Framework.

Although sequencing a human genome has become affordable, identifying genetic variants from whole-genome sequence data is still a hurdle for researchers without adequate computing equipment or bioinformatics support. GATK is a gold standard method for the identification of genetic variants and has been widely used in genome projects and population genetic studies for many years. This was until the Google Brain team developed a new method, DeepVariant, which utilizes deep neural networks to construct an image classification model to identify genetic variants.

Protein cysteine S-nitrosylation provides reducing power by enhancing lactate dehydrogenase activity in Trichomonas vaginalis under iron deficiency.

Background: Iron plays essential roles in the pathogenesis and proliferation of Trichomonas vaginalis, the causative agent of the most prevalent non-viral human sexually transmitted infection. We previously demonstrated that under iron deficiency, the endogenous nitric oxide (NO) is accumulated and capable of regulating the survival of T. vaginalis.

Proteomic signatures of metronidazole-resistant Trichomonas vaginalis reveal novel proteins associated with drug resistance.

Background: Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Metronidazole (MTZ) is a widely used drug for the treatment of trichomoniasis; however, increased resistance of the parasite to MTZ has emerged as a highly problematic public health issue.

Methods: We conducted iTRAQ-based analysis to profile the proteomes of MTZ-sensitive (MTZ-S) and MTZ-resistant (MTZ-R) parasites.

Pathogenic Protist Transmembranome database (PPTdb): a web-based platform for searching and analysis of protist transmembrane proteins.

Background: Pathogenic protist membrane transporter proteins play important roles not only in exchanging molecules into and out of cells but also in acquiring nutrients and biosynthetic compounds from their hosts. Currently, there is no centralized protist membrane transporter database published, which makes system-wide comparisons and studies of host-pathogen membranomes difficult to achieve.

Results: We analyzed over one million protein sequences from 139 protists with full or partial genome sequences.

Primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate in a hormone naive patient: A case report from Taiwan.

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the prostate is extremely rare. Previously reported cases in the literature were almost exclusively developed in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate adenocarcinoma. We herein present a case of de novo LCNEC: A 66-year-old male was incidentally diagnosed as LCNEC after he underwent transurethral resection of prostate.

Metabolic reprogramming of hydrogenosomal amino acids in Trichomonas vaginalis under glucose restriction.

Background: Glucose is the major energy source that is converted to pyruvate for ATP generation in the trichomonad hydrogenosome. Under glucose restriction (GR), the regulation of amino acids metabolism is crucial for trichomonad growth and survival. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis has been used to identify differentially expressed genes in Trichomonas vaginalis under GR, leading to significant advances in understanding adaptive responses of amino acid metabolism to GR.

γ-Carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase: a novel cell cycle-related basal body protein in the early branching eukaryote Trichomonas vaginalis.

Background: γ-Carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase (CMD) participates in the β-ketoadipate pathway, which catalyzes aromatic compounds to produce acetyl- or succinyl-CoA, in prokaryotes and yeast. Our previous study demonstrated that expression of a CMD homologue that contains two signatures (dualCMD) is negatively regulated by iron in Trichomonas vaginalis. However, we were not able to identify the components of the β-ketoadipate pathway in the parasite's genome.

Responding to a Zoonotic Emergency with Multi-omics Research: Pentatrichomonas hominis Hydrogenosomal Protein Characterization with Use of RNA Sequencing and Proteomics.

Pentatrichomonas hominis is an anaerobic flagellated protist that colonizes the large intestine of a number of mammals, including cats, dogs, nonhuman primates, and humans. The wide host range of this organism is alarming and suggests a rising zoonotic emergency. However, knowledge on in-depth biology of this protist is still limited.

Novel insights into the molecular events linking to cell death induced by tetracycline in the amitochondriate protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis.

Trichomonas vaginalis colonizes the human urogenital tract and causes trichomoniasis, the most common nonviral sexually transmitted disease. Currently, 5-nitroimidazoles are the only recommended drugs for treating trichomoniasis. However, increased resistance of the parasite to 5-nitroimidazoles has emerged as a highly problematic public health issue.

Nitric oxide maintains cell survival of Trichomonas vaginalis upon iron depletion.

Background: Iron plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Trichomonas vaginalis, the causative agent of highly prevalent human trichomoniasis. T. vaginalis resides in the vaginal region, where the iron concentration is constantly changing.