Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calibration between trigger and color: Neutralization of a genetically encoded coulombic switch and dynamic arrest precisely tune reflectin assembly

Reflectin proteins are widely distributed in reflective structures in cephalopods. However, only in loliginid squids are they and the subwavelength photonic structures they control dynamically tunable, driving changes in skin color for camouflage and communication. The reflectins are block copolymers with repeated canonical domains interspersed with cationic linkers. Neurotransmitter-activated signal transduction culminates in catalytic phosphorylation of the tunable reflectins' cationic linkers; the resulting charge neutralization overcomes coulombic repulsion to progressively allow condensation, folding, and assembly into multimeric spheres of tunable well-defined size and low polydispersity. Here, we used dynamic light scattering, transmission EM, CD, atomic force microscopy, and fluorimetry to analyze the structural transitions of reflectins A1 and A2. We also analyzed the assembly behavior of phosphomimetic, deletion, and other mutants in conjunction with pH titration as an in vitro surrogate of phosphorylation. Our experiments uncovered a previously unsuspected, precisely predictive relationship between the extent of neutralization of a reflectin's net charge density and the size of resulting multimeric protein assemblies of narrow polydispersity. Comparisons of mutants revealed that this sensitivity to neutralization resides in the linkers and is spatially distributed along the protein. Imaging of large particles and analysis of sequence composition suggested that assembly may proceed through a dynamically arrested liquid–liquid phase-separated intermediate. Intriguingly, it is this dynamic arrest that enables the observed fine-tuning by charge and the resulting calibration between neuronal trigger and color in the squid. These results offer insights into the basis of reflectin-based biophotonics, opening paths for the design of new materials with tunable properties.
Household Health and Cropland Abandonment in Rural China: Theoretical Mechanism and Empirical Evidence

Prior studies have fully explored the impacts of rural labor migration on land use forms. In contrast to prior studies, this study focuses on the health status of rural households and its quantitative impacts on cropland abandonment (CA). More specifically, under the guidance of the theoretical mechanism of “household health affects CA by labor supply”, this study employs survey data from 8031 households collected in 27 Chinese provinces in 2014 to explore the quantitative impacts of household health on CA. The results are as follows. (1) The higher the level of household health is, the less CA there is. (2) Compared with males, the impact of female health status on CA is more obvious. Thus, the relationship between household health and CA matters, not only because it may help to theoretically enhance the understanding of the importance of health in peasant households, but also because it may help to practically provide references for effective policies of CA from the perspective of rural medical services.
Effect of dietary digestible lysine level on growth performance, blood metabolites and meat quality of broilers 23-38 days of age.

This study was done to evaluate the effects of different dietary digestible lysine (dig Lys) levels on growth performance, blood metabolites, carcass and breast yield, and breast meat quality of broilers 23-38 days of age. Three hundred 23-day-old Cobb-500 male broiler chickens were allocated to a completely randomized design with five treatments (finisher diet containing 0.88%, 0.94%, 1.00%, 1.06% and 1.12% dig Lys) and six replicates of 10 birds each. Feed intake (FI) was not affected by different dietary dig Lys levels. Weight gain (WG) linearly increased and feed conversion ratio (FCR) linearly decreased with an increasing dietary dig Lys levels. With increasing dietary dig Lys levels, carcass and breast yield and breast meat hue angle (h* ) linearly increased, but abdominal fat decreased quadratically, whereas breast meat lightness (L* ) and ether extract composition linearly decreased. Dietary dig Lys levels did not show any significant effect on serum metabolites, breast meat cooking loss and water holding capacity. Based on the linear broken-line regression models, the weight gain, feed conversion ratio and breast yield were optimized when dietary dig Lys levels were 0.95%, 1.01% and 1.02% respectively. It is concluded that Lys requirements vary according to what productive parameter is taken for optimization. A minimum of 1.02% dig Lys concentration in the finisher diet is suggested to optimize breast yield, feed efficiency and performance in broiler chickens.
Can idea generation techniques impede effective ideation

Purpose: To establish whether the findings of Belski et al. (2015) and Valentine et al. (2017) may be expanded to incorporate a secondary simple ideation techniques such as Size-Time-Cost Operator, or whether the findings may only be limited to the Fields of MATCEMIB technique. Recent research has demonstrated that simple idea generation (ideation) techniques can assist students to generate a significantly higher number of ideas relative to an equivalent control group (Belski et al., 2015), and that students can learn to effectively apply ideation techniques using either a pen-and-paper or computer-based approach (Valentine, Belski, & Hamilton, 2017). This raises the question of how applicable the findings of these studies may be to other ideation techniques in general, and whether certain ideation techniques may actually demonstrate no effective increase in performance, or demonstrate a difference in performance between pen-and-paper or web based approaches. In order to adopt ideation techniques into courses covering creativity or problem-solving, educators should ideally ensure that the techniques in question have been shown to be effective, based upon the outcome of empirical studies.
Control over single-cell distribution of G1 lengths by WNT governs pluripotency

The link between single-cell variation and population-level fate choices lacks a mechanistic explanation despite extensive observations of gene expression and epigenetic variation among individual cells. Here, we found that single human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have different and biased differentiation potentials toward either neuroectoderm or mesendoderm depending on their G1 lengths before the onset of differentiation. Single-cell variation in G1 length operates in a dynamic equilibrium that establishes a G1 length probability distribution for a population of hESCs and predicts differentiation outcome toward neuroectoderm or mesendoderm lineages. Although sister stem cells generally share G1 lengths, a variable proportion of cells have asymmetric G1 lengths, which maintains the population dispersion. Environmental Wingless-INT (WNT) levels can control the G1 length distribution, apparently as a means of priming the fate of hESC populations once they undergo differentiation. As a downstream mechanism, global 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels are regulated by G1 length and thereby link G1 length to differentiation outcomes of hESCs. Overall, our findings suggest that intrapopulation heterogeneity in G1 length underlies the pluripotent differentiation potential of stem cell populations.
Physician characteristics associated with treatment initiation patterns in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Pirfenidone and nintedanib are oral antifibrotic agents approved for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Real-world data on factors that influence IPF treatment decisions are limited. Physician characteristics associated with antifibrotic therapy initiation following an IPF diagnosis were examined in a sample of US pulmonologists. An online, self-administered survey was fielded to pulmonologists between April 10, 2017, and May 17, 2017. Pulmonologists were included if they spent >20% of their time in direct patient care and had ≥5 patients with IPF receiving antifibrotics. Participants answered questions regarding timing and reasons for considering the initiation of antifibrotic therapy after an IPF diagnosis. A total of 169 pulmonologists participated. The majority (81.7%) considered initiating antifibrotic therapy immediately after IPF diagnosis all or most of the time (immediate group), while 18.3% considered it only some of the time or not at all (delayed group). Pulmonologists in the immediate group were more likely to work in private practice (26.1%), have a greater mean percentage of patients receiving antifibrotic therapy (60.8%), and decide to initiate treatment themselves (31.2%) versus those in the delayed group (16.1%, 30.5%, and 16.1%, respectively). Most pulmonologists consider initiating antifibrotic treatment immediately after establishing an IPF diagnosis all or most of the time versus using a “watch-and-wait” approach. Distinguishing characteristics between pulmonologists in the immediate group versus the delayed group included practice setting, percentage of patients receiving antifibrotic therapy, and the decision-making dynamics between the patient and the pulmonologist.
Robust Spin-Gapless Behavior in the Newly Discovered Half Heusler Compound MnPK

Spin gapless semiconductors have aroused high research interest since their discovery and a lot of effort has been exerted on their exploration, in terms of both theoretical calculation and experimental verification. Among different spin gapless materials, Heusler compounds stand out thanks to their high Curie temperature and highly diverse compositions. Especially, both theoretical and experimental studies have reported the presence of spin gapless properties in this kind of material. Recently, a new class of d0 − d Dirac half Heusler compound was introduced by Davatolhagh et al. and Dirac, and spin gapless semiconductivity has been successfully predicted in MnPK. To further expand the research in this direction, we conducted a systematical investigation on the spin gapless behavior of MnPK with both generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA + Hubbard U methods under both uniform and tetragonal strain conditions by first principles calculation. Results show the spin gapless behavior in this material as revealed previously. Different Hubbard U values have been considered and they mainly affect the band structure in the spin-down channel while the spin gapless feature in the spin-up direction is maintained. The obtained lattice constant is very well consistent with a previous study. More importantly, it is found that the spin gapless property of MnPK shows good resistance for both uniform and tetragonal strains, and this robustness is very rare in the reported studies and can be extremely interesting and practical for the final end application. This study elaborates the electronic and magnetic properties of the half Heusler compound MnPK under uniform and tetragonal strain conditions, and the obtained results can give a very valuable reference for related research works, or even further motivate the experimental synthesis of the relative material.
Proteomic Biomarkers of Retinal Inflammation in Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a sight-threatening neurovasculopathy, is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world. DR arises as the result of prolonged hyperglycemia and is characterized by leaky retinal vasculature, retinal ischemia, retinal inflammation, angiogenesis, and neovascularization. The number of DR patients is growing with an increase in the elderly population, and therapeutic approaches are limited, therefore, new therapies to prevent retinal injury and enhance repair are a critical unmet need. Besides vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced vascular proliferation, several other mechanisms are important in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, including vascular inflammation. Thus, combining anti-VEGF therapy with other new therapies targeting these pathophysiological pathways of DR may further optimize treatment outcomes. Technological advancements have allowed for high-throughput proteomic studies examining biofluids such as aqueous humor, vitreous humor, tear, and serum. Many DR biomarkers have been identified, especially proteins involved in retinal inflammatory processes. This review attempts to summarize the proteomic biomarkers of DR-associated retinal inflammation identified over the last several years.
Cross-cultural adaptation and inter-rater reliability of the Swedish version of the Chelsea critical care assessment tool (CPAX-Swe) in critically ill patients

Abstract Objectives To translate and culturally adapt the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool into Swedish and to test the inter-rater reliability of the Swedish version in critically ill patients. Design This is an observational study. Methods Translation and cross-cultural adaptation was performed in line with international recommendations, including forward and backward translation and expert round table discussions. The inter-rater reliability of the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool – Swedish was then explored in 50 critically ill adult patients, pragmatically recruited, in a University Hospital clinical setting. Reliability was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficient for aggregated scores and quadratic weighted Cohen’s kappa analysis for individual items Results The expert round table discussion group agreed that the translation was a satisfactory equivalent to the original version and applicable for use within the clinical setting. Reliability of aggregated scores and individual items were very good (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.97 and quadric weighted kappa values ranging from 0.88 to 0.98). The measurement error for aggregated scores was low, with a standard error of measurement of 1.79, smallest detectable change of 4.95, and limits of agreement of 5.20 and −4.76. The percentage agreement for individual items ranged from 64% to 88%. Conclusion The Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool – Swedish was found applicable and appropriate for assessment of functioning in critically ill patients in an acute setting in Sweden, and it displayed high inter-rater reliability. This implies that the Swedish version can be used as assessment tool within intensive care and acute wards in Sweden. Implications for rehabilitation There is a lack of validated instruments to test the functional status of critically ill patients in Sweden. The Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool is validated and reliable in English. The Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool – Swedish is considered reliable for use by physiotherapist in intensive care settings in Sweden. The Swedish version is feasible for use within clinical practice due to its simplicity and strong clinical relevance.
Evidence of the Presence of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza A Viruses in Wild Waterfowl in 2018 in South Africa

Avian influenza viruses are pathogens of global concern to both animal and human health. Wild birds are the natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses and facilitate virus transport over large distances. Surprisingly, limited research has been performed to determine avian influenza host species and virus dynamics in wild birds on the African continent, including South Africa. This study described the first wild bird surveillance efforts for influenza A viruses in KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa after the 2017/2018 outbreak with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N8 in poultry. A total of 550 swab samples from 278 migratory waterfowl were tested using real-time RT-PCR methods. Two samples (0.7%) were positive for avian influenza virus based on the matrix gene real-time RT-PCR but were negative for the hemagglutinin subtypes H5 and H7. Unfortunately, no sequence information or viable virus could be retrieved from the samples. This study shows that avian influenza viruses are present in the South African wild bird population, emphasizing the need for more extensive surveillance studies to determine the South African avian influenza gene pool and relevant local host species.
Aversive Training Induces Both Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Suppression in Drosophila

The α′β′ subtype of Drosophila mushroom body neurons (MBn) is required for memory acquisition, consolidation and early memory retrieval after aversive olfactory conditioning. However, in vivo functional imaging studies have failed to detect an early forming memory trace in these neurons as reflected by an enhanced G-CaMP signal in response to presentation of the learned odor. Moreover, whether cellular memory traces form early after conditioning in the mushroom body output neurons (MBOn) downstream of the α′β′ MBn remains unknown. Here, we show that aversive olfactory conditioning suppresses the calcium responses to the learned odor in both α′3 and α′2 axon segments of α′β′ MBn and in the dendrites of α′3 MBOn immediately after conditioning using female flies. Notably, the cellular memory traces in both α′3 MBn and α′3 MBOn are short-lived and persist for <30 min. The suppressed response in α′3 MBn is accompanied by a reduction of acetylcholine (ACh) release, suggesting that the memory trace in postsynaptic α′3 MBOn may simply reflect the suppression in presynaptic α′3 MBn. Furthermore, we show that the α′3 MBn memory trace does not occur from the inhibition of GABAergic neurons via GABAA receptor activation. Because activation of the α′3 MBOn drives approach behavior of adult flies, our results demonstrate that aversive conditioning promotes avoidance behavior through suppression of the α′3 MBn–MBOn circuit. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Drosophila learn to avoid an odor if that odor is repeatedly paired with electric shock. Mushroom body neurons (MBns) are known to be major cell types that mediate this form of aversive conditioning. Here we show that aversive conditioning causes a reduced response to the conditioned odor in an axon branch of one subtype of the MBn for no more than 30 min after conditioning, and in the dendrites of postsynaptic, MB output neurons (MBOns). Because experimenter-induced activation of the MBOn induces approach behavior by the fly, our data support a model that aversive learning promotes avoidance by suppressing the MBn–MBOn synapses that normally promote attraction.
Translation and validation of the Revised Dental Beliefs Survey (DBS-R) in China

ABSTRACT Patient perceptions of behaviours and attitudes of dentists are associated with dental fear and poor dental attendance in Western countries. However, there is a paucity of research exploring patient perceptions of the dentist in China. One reason for this may be the lack of a valid and reliable scale in Chinese (Standard Mandarin) to measure this. This study aimed to translate the Revised Dental Beliefs Survey (DBS-R) into Chinese and then explore the reliability and validity of this measure (both the short and longer versions) in a Chinese population. We translated the DBS-R using the forwards-backwards method and pilot tested it on a small sample of adults in China. Following this, 480 Chinese adults completed the newly translated scale, as well as well as a standardised dental anxiety questionnaire (the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Chinese version) to test convergent validity. 109 participants completed the DBS-R again 2 weeks later for test-retest reliability. Both versions of the Chinese DBS-R were internally consistent and demonstrated convergent validity; test-retest reliability was also good. Both versions of the scale performed similarly, but for now we would suggest the 28-item version may be superior as items relating to the technical competence of the dentist appear important to Chinese adults.
Quality of life and sexual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a comprehensive review

Abstract Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among women of reproductive age. PCOS is a polysimptomatic disease, the leading manifestations of which are hyperandrogenic dermopathy, menstrual dysfunction, infertility and obesity. Dissatisfaction with one's own appearance, low self-esteem, a feeling of sexual unattractiveness cause chronic psychological discomfort, mood disturbances and problems in the relationship with a partner. The article presents an overview of scientific sources on the effect of polycystic ovary syndrome on the quality of life and the sexual function of women. Data recorded confirm the hypothesis that PCOS is not only an endocrine disorder, but a heterogeneous condition with reproductive, metabolic, and mental manifestations. The association of PCOS manifestations with a decrease in the quality of life and disorders in the sexual sphere of women was well assessed. Data presented in the review ensure the absolute medical and social importance of the study of PCOS.
1H NMR Metabolic Profile to Discriminate Pasture Based Alpine Asiago PDO Cheeses

Simple Summary Nowadays, alpine cheese from grazing dairy herds has a premium market value because consumers perceive its higher degree of healthiness and sustainability. The authenticity of pasture-based cheese should be safeguarded from local hay-based milk analogues. The study aimed at assessing the reliability of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) to discriminate pasture-based alpine Asiago PDO cheeses of different ripening time from similar hay-based samples processed in the same dairy plant. Cheeses were produced from raw milk collected from grazing or hay-fed alpine dairy herds and they were ripened for 2 (Pressato), 4 (Allevo_4), and 6 (Allevo_6) months. Samples of the cheeses were submitted to wet chemistry and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The outcomes of the 1H NMR spectroscopy were used in a multivariate discriminant procedure. Choline, 2,3-butanediol, lysine, and tyrosine and some residual sugar-like compounds were water-soluble biomarkers of cows’ feeding system. However, the application of 1H NMR based metabolomics was an effective fingerprinting method to correctly identify only cheese samples with the shortest ripening period. The classification of more aged cheese samples according to the cows’ feeding system was less accurate likely due to the chemical and biochemical changes induced by a prolonged maturation process. Abstract The study was carried out in an alpine area of North-Eastern Italy to assess the reliability of proton nuclear magnetic resonance 1H NMR to fingerprint and discriminate Asiago PDO cheeses processed in the same dairy plant from upland pasture-based milk or from upland hay-based milk. Six experimental types of Asiago cheese were made from raw milk considering 2 cows’ feeding systems (pasture- vs. hay-based milk) and 3 ripening times (2 months, Pressato vs. 4 months, Allevo_4 vs. 6 months, Allevo_6). Samples (n = 55) were submitted to chemical analysis and to 1H NMR coupled with multivariate canonical discriminant analysis. Choline, 2,3-butanediol, lysine, tyrosine, and some signals of sugar-like compounds were suggested as the main water-soluble metabolites useful to discriminate cheese according to cows’ feeding system. A wider pool of polar biomarkers explained the variation due to ripening time. The validation procedure based on a predictive set suggested that 1H NMR based metabolomics was an effective fingerprinting tool to identify pasture-based cheese samples with the shortest ripening period (Pressato). The classification to the actual feeding system of more aged cheese samples was less accurate likely due to their chemical and biochemical changes induced by a prolonged maturation process.