Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacological mechanism of mylabris in the treatment of leukemia based on bioinformatics and systematic pharmacology

ABSTRACT Leukemia is a common blood cancer, whose treatment usually necessitates chemo/radiotherapy and bone marrow transplant. Hence, safer and more effective options are urgently needed. Mylabris, the dried body of blister beetles, has been used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine. This study applied bioinformatics and systematic pharmacology to investigate the mechanism of action of mylabris in the treatment of leukemia. Five effective components and 35 corresponding target proteins were identified by screening the TCMSP database; whereas 776 genes related to leukemia were selected using OMIM, GeneCards, and the Therapeutic Target Database. Eight genes common to mylabris and leukemia were identified. Protein-protein interaction network analysis and a component-target-pathway diagram identified TP53 and PTEN as key gene targets of mylabris in the treatment of leukemia. GO enrichment analysis pointed to DNA damage and cell cycle disorder caused by p53 signaling as the most significant processes; whereas KEGG enrichment pointed to the p53 signaling pathway. In summary, mylabris may exert a therapeutic effect on leukemia by triggering DNA damage, inducing apoptosis, as well as inhibiting the growth and proliferation of tumor cells through the regulation of TP53 and PTEN. These findings provide a mechanistic rationale for the treatment of leukemia with traditional Chinese medicine. Graphical abstract
Lysobacter enzymogenes antagonizes soilborne bacteria using the type IV secretion system.

Soil microbiome comprises numerous microbial species that continuously interact with each other. Among the modes of diverse interactions, cell-cell killing may play a key role in shaping the microbiome composition. Bacteria deploy various secretion systems to fend off other microorganisms and Type IV Secretion System (T4SS) in pathogenic bacteria was shown to function as a contact-dependent, inter-bacterial killing system only recently. The present study investigated the role played by T4SS in the killing behaviour of the soilborne biocontrol bacterium Lysobacter enzymogenes OH11. Results showed that L. enzymogenes OH11 genome encompasses genes encoding all the components of T4SS and effectors potentially involved in inter-bacterial killing system. Generation of knock-out mutants revealed that L. enzymogenes OH11 uses T4SS as the main contact-dependent weapon against other soilborne bacteria. The T4SS-mediated killing behaviour of L. enzymogenes OH11 decreased the antibacterial and antifungal activity of two Pseudomonas spp. but at the same time, protected carrot from infection by Pectobacterium carotovorum. Overall, this study showed for the first time the involvement of T4SS in the killing behaviour of L. enzymogenes and its impact on the multiple interactions occurring in the soil microbiome. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Prenatal Exercise and Cardiovascular Health (PEACH) Study: Impact on the Vascular System

ABSTRACT Purpose Healthy pregnancy is typically associated with favorable vascular adaptations to both structure and function of the peripheral arteries. Exercise is independently associated with improvements in peripheral vascular health; however, the impact of exercise on prenatal adaptations is unclear. Therefore, we hypothesized that a structured aerobic exercise intervention between the second and third trimesters (TM2 and TM3, respectively) of pregnancy would augment the already-positive changes in vascular outcomes. Methods We recruited 59 inactive pregnant women (<20 wk of gestation) and randomized them into control (standard care; n = 28) or exercise (moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, 3–4 d·wk−1, 25–40 min, 14 ± 1 wk; n = 31) conditions. Before and after the intervention, all women completed the comprehensive peripheral vascular assessment, which included blood markers of vascular health, carotid distensibility metrics, measures of arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity), and [superficial] femoral artery reactivity during cold pressor test. Results Carotid artery diameter increased from 6.5 to 6.9 mm (P < 0.001), and strain (%) decreased from 9.9% to 8.4% (P < 0.001). Carotid artery blood flow, compliance and distensibility coefficients, stiffness (β), distensibility (1/β), and elastic modulus were not different across gestation. Pulse wave velocity was not different across gestation. Superficial femoral artery diameter was increased from 5.4 to 5.6 mm (P = 0.004), whereas blood flow, conductance, and resistance at rest and during the cold pressor test were not different across gestation. None of our measures of vascular health were impacted by exercise. Conclusions We did not observe an impact of aerobic exercise on altering the changes across pregnancy in blood vessel health. However, the present study was conducted in women who were overall at low risk for developing gestational hypertension and should be interpreted with caution. Future work in high-risk women is needed.
Relationships between dyadic coping, intimate relationship and post-traumatic growth in patients with breast cancer: A cross-sectional study.

AIM To investigate the relationships and pathways between dyadic coping, intimate relationship and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in Chinese patients with breast cancer. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. METHODS Between November 2019 and November 2020, 133 patients with breast cancer who received therapy in tertiary grade-A hospitals at Dalian, China completed questionnaires including demographic and clinical questionnaires, Locke-Wallace Marriage Adjustment Test, Chinese version of the Dyadic Coping Inventory and Chinese version of the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the pathways. RESULTS Dyadic coping was positively interrelated with PTG and intimate relationship (r = .355, p < .01; r = .213, p < .05); intimate relationship was negatively interrelated with PTG (r = -.207, p < .05). The structural equation model demonstrated adequate fit. Dyadic coping and intimate relationship directly affected PTG (β = .469, p < .05; β = -.309, p < .05). Dyadic coping indirectly affected PTG through intimate relationship (β = -.066, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Dyadic coping was a stimulus factor, but intimate relationship was an obstructive factor in enhancing PTG for the Chinese patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, intimate relationship may have significant mediating effects in the link between dyadic coping and PTG. Strategies that improve dyadic coping level and avoid excessive intimacy relationships between couples contribute to the development of PTG among patients with breast cancer. IMPACT The research provides new ideas and intervention entry points for global nurses and psychotherapists so that they can enact and implement targeted PTG intervention plans for patients with breast cancer worldwide.
Impact of SGLT2 inhibitors in comparison with DPP4 inhibitors on ascites and death in veterans with cirrhosis on metformin

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) may have favourable neurohumoral and metabolic effects in patients with chronic liver disease. However, studies examining SGLT2i in this population have been limited to patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and have focused on surrogate biomarkers. Our aim was to evaluate whether SGLT2i can reduce the incidence of ascites and death over a period of 36 months in patients with cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus. Using electronic health data from Veterans Affairs hospitals in the United States, we conducted a propensity score matched intention‐to‐treat analysis among veterans on metformin who subsequently received either SGLT2i or dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors. Among 423 matched pairs (in total, 846 patients), we found no significant difference in the risk for ascites (hazard ratio 0.68 for SGLT2i, 95% confidence interval 0.37‐1.25; p = .22) but did find that SGLT2i users had a reduced risk for death (adjusted hazard ratio 0.33, 95% confidence interval 0.11‐0.99; p < .05). In comparison with dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors, SGLT2i may improve survival for patients with cirrhosis who require additional pharmacotherapy for diabetes mellitus beyond metformin, but confirmatory studies are necessary.
Silver nanoparticles’ impact on the gene expression of the cytosolic adaptor MyD-88 and the interferon regulatory factor IRF in the gills and digestive gland of mytilus galloprovincialis

Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been reported as stressors for the bivalves' immune system at different regulatory levels, impacting the detection step and receptors, and other mediators, as well as effector molecules. However, studies on how AgNPs impact the transmission of signals from receptors and whether they have an effect on mediators and transcription factors are still scarce. This study aims to investigate the effect of 12 hours of in vivo exposure to 100 µg/L of AgNPs on the gene expression of the cytosolic adaptor Myeloid, the differentiation protein 88 (MgMyD88-b), and the interferon regulatory factor (Me4-IRF) in the gills and digestive gland of Mytilus galloprovincialis, before and after blocking two major uptake pathways of nanoparticles (clathrin- and caveolae-mediated endocytosis). The results illustrate a tissue-specific gene expression of the MgMyD88-b and the Me4-IRF in the gills and digestive gland of M. galloprovincialis. In the gills, AgNPs did not significantly impact the expression of the two genes. However, blocking the caveolae-mediated endocytosis decreased the expression of Me4-IRF. However, inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in the digestive gland recorded a significant decrease in the expression of MgMyD88-b. Overall, the inhibition of the AgNPs’ uptake routes have highlighted their potential interference with the immune response through the studied mediators’ genes, which need to be studied further in future investigations.
Dysphotopsia and functional quality of vision after implantation of an intraocular lens with a 7.0 mm optic and plate haptic design

This clinical study provides information about the influence of an IOL design with a 7.0 mm optic diameter and plate haptics on dysphotopsia, contrast sensitivity, and visual acuity. Purpose: To determine the impact of an intraocular lens (IOL) with a 7.0 mm optic and plate haptic design on incidence of dysphotopsia and visual functions after cataract surgery. Setting: Day-care clinic. Design: Prospective monocentric randomized patient-blinded comparative clinical study. Methods: Following preoperative measurements, patients underwent cataract surgery with implantation of 2 IOL designs—with 7.0 mm optic and plate haptics (Group 1) or with 6.0 mm optic and C-loop haptics (Group 2). In month 1, 3, and 12 follow-ups, patients were examined, answered a questionnaire regarding satisfaction, spectacle dependence, frequency, and extent of positive and negative dysphotopsia, and underwent contrast sensitivity (CS), mesopic vision, and glare sensitivity testing. The data were analyzed as nominal, ordinal, and metric with chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon, and t tests. Results: Out of a total number of 120 eyes (86 patients), Group 1 comprised 57 eyes (43 patients), Group 2 comprised 63 eyes (43 patients). Corrected distance visual acuity was the same between groups throughout the study. Group 1 showed significantly lower incidence of positive and negative dysphotopsia in month 1 follow-up (P = .021 and .015, respectively) and a higher satisfaction rate in month 3 follow-up (P = .006). Mean CS and mesopic vision with and without glare were the same in both groups. Positive dysphotopsia cases in month 12 follow-up revealed lower photopic CS (P = .005, .036, and 0.047, respectively), longer axial length, and greater preoperative pupil dynamics (P = .04 and .06). Conclusions: The IOL design with 7.0 mm optic diameter and plate haptics reduced dysphotopsia and provided good visual acuity, CS, mesopic vision with and without glare, and high patient satisfaction.
A shared mechanism for facial expression in human faces and face pareidolia

Facial expressions are vital for social communication, yet the underlying mechanisms are still being discovered. Illusory faces perceived in objects (face pareidolia) are errors of face detection that share some neural mechanisms with human face processing. However, it is unknown whether expression in illusory faces engages the same mechanisms as human faces. Here, using a serial dependence paradigm, we investigated whether illusory and human faces share a common expression mechanism. First, we found that images of face pareidolia are reliably rated for expression, within and between observers, despite varying greatly in visual features. Second, they exhibit positive serial dependence for perceived facial expression, meaning an illusory face (happy or angry) is perceived as more similar in expression to the preceding one, just as seen for human faces. This suggests illusory and human faces engage similar mechanisms of temporal continuity. Third, we found robust cross-domain serial dependence of perceived expression between illusory and human faces when they were interleaved, with serial effects larger when illusory faces preceded human faces than the reverse. Together, the results support a shared mechanism for facial expression between human faces and illusory faces and suggest that expression processing is not tightly bound to human facial features.
Comparison of dendroclimatic relationships using multiple tree-ring indicators (tree-ring width and δ13C) from Masson pine

This study addressed the effects of climate drivers on the tree-ring width (TRW) parameters (total ring width (TR), earlywood width (EW) and latewood width (LW)) and the total ring δ13C series of different wood components (whole wood, α-cellulose and holocelluose) from Masson pine in subtropical China. Pairwise correlation coefficients between three ring width parameters were statistically significant. EW and LW did not reveal much stronger climate sensitivity rather than TR. This indicated that the use of intra-annual ring width has little benefit in extracting more climate information. The mean δ13C series of the three components of the total ring had the strongest climate response to the July–September relative humidity (r = −0.792 (whole wood), −0.758 (holocellulose) and −0.769 (α-cellulose)). There are no significant differences in the dendroclimatic relationships of the δ13C series of different wood components. Through both stationary temporal and spatial-statistical perspectives, the moisture drivers (summer/autumn) had a significant impact on three ring width parameters and three components of Masson pine. Overall, the radial growth and the δ13C series showed different responses to the same climate drivers during the same period. Moreover, the R-squared values of the strongest climate-proxy correlation coefficients were smaller than 50% for TRW. Consequently, the δ13C series of Masson pine may be a more representative climate proxy than TRW parameters for dendroclimatology in subtropical China.
Mechanical properties of a female reproductive tract of a beetle and implications for penile penetration

Coevolution of male and female genitalia is widespread in animals. Nevertheless, few studies have examined the mechanics of genital interactions during mating. We characterized the mechanical properties of the elongated female genitalia, the spermathecal duct, of the small cassidine beetle, Cassida rubiginosa. The data were compared with the mechanical properties of the elongated male genitalia, the flagellum. We analysed the material distributions of the spermathecal duct using a microscopy technique, established a tensile test setup under a light microscope and conducted tensile tests. Diameter and tensile stiffness gradients were present along the spermathecal duct, but its Young's modulus and material distribution were more or less homogeneous. The results confirmed the hypothesis based on numerical simulations that the spermathecal duct is more rigid than the flagellum. In the study species, the penile penetration force is simply applied to the base of the hyper-elongated flagellum and conveyed along the flagellum to its tip. Considering this simple penetration mechanism, the relatively low flexibility of the spermathecal duct, compared to the flagellum, is likely to be essential for effective penetration of the flagellum.
Design of a 40W L+S Band Broadband GaN HEMT Power Amplifier

Based on the 0. 5μm GaN HEMT (High Electron Mobility Transistor) process platform of the Nanjing Electronic Device Institute, the design of a broadband power amplifier in the 1.3 to 4 GHz band is introduced. The design of broadband matching circuit is fully based on the advantage of high power density of GaN devices. Based on load pull test data, circuit simulation and actual circuit layout design are carried out. A small size power amplifier with output power greater than 40dBm and drain efficiency greater than 51.6% has been successfully developed in the operating frequency band.
Social Values and Life Skills as Predictors of Organizational Culture: A Study on Teachers

Organizational culture is crucial for all living institutional structures and has become a critical research topic. Although different variables have been investigated in the literature as predictors of organizational culture, to our knowledge, the role of social values and life skills as mediators hasn’t been investigated before. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the role of social values and life skills as mediators of organizational culture. The hypotheses of the research were tested in the context of this research aim. The present study, which is in the relational survey model, included 370 participants consisting of teachers and school leaders working in 22 different educational institutions. The findings showed that teachers and school leaders had high levels of organizational culture, social values, and life skills. The relationship of organizational culture with social values and life skills is meaningful and high. Also, the findings indicate a partial effect on mediating organizational culture between social values and life skills.
Linguistic Capital in the University and the Hegemony of English: Medieval Origins and Future Directions

As the institution of university has evolved into a highly diverse educational community, the language of communication (or linguistic capital) in higher education plays a vital role. Therefore, English as a medium of instruction (EMI) became the dominant characteristic of academia in many parts of a (globalized) world. This growing influence of EMI has affected the scope of both higher education and academic research. Being a linguistic form of capital, the significance of English as a major linguistic resource can be analyzed historically since the institution of university was founded. In fact, EMI seems to have challenged the linguistic diversity and accessibility to higher education in the contemporary world. The case of Canadian higher education highlights new directions in the exploitation of the linguistic capital at university, and the emerging concept of a multilingual university could offer some unique opportunities for knowledge mobilization and access to higher education. Thus, the issue of linguistic capital at the current (globalized) university needs to be re-examined.
Promoting Optimal Induction to Beginning Teachers Using Self-Determination Theory

Reports on drop-out rates and difficulties experienced by beginning teachers require an examination of the motivational processes that characterize teachers at this stage. Support systems for beginning teachers in the induction period in Israel include a workshop and a mentoring process. This study examined how support in beginning teachers’ psychological needs by workshop facilitators and teacher-mentors in schools contributed to their optimal functioning in workshops, schools, and in teaching. Questionnaires were administered to 261 Bedouin Arab and Jewish beginning teachers. Based on structural equation modeling analysis, results indicated that support in teachers’ needs by workshop facilitators predicted a sense of competence and autonomous motivation in the workshops, which in turn predicted autonomous motivation in teaching. Autonomous motivation in teaching was also predicted by the teacher-mentors’ support and in turn predicted teachers’ sense of competence, investment in the school, and sense of self-actualization. The findings have implications regarding the conditions needed to improve the functioning of beginning teachers of various cultural groups and highlight the importance of an environment that supports teachers’ needs during their induction.
Global Financial Crisis, Working Capital Management, and Firm Performance: Evidence From an Islamic Market Index

This research investigates the impact of working capital management (WCM) on the profitability and market performance of firms that constitute an Islamic market index (Karachi Meezan Index [KMI-30]) in Pakistan during 2002–2013. The data have been divided into three parts, that is, preglobal (2002–2007), during (2007–2008), and postglobal financial crisis period (2008–2013), to examine the proposed relationship in different macroeconomic settings. Net trade cycle (NTC) and its components are used to measure the WCM efficiency, while NTC square is used to proxy the impact of excessive holdings of working capital on corporate performance. The econometric models are calculated in a generalized method of moments (GMMs)-based regression environment to ensure the robustness of empirical outcome. The results reveal that, as opposed to conventional businesses, KMI-30 firms are more ethical in their short-term financial management. Besides, such firms adopted a conservative WCM policy during the global financial crisis of 2007–2008. Furthermore, we confirm the presence of a concave relationship between working capital levels and firm performance as NTC is positively, whereas NTC square is negatively, related to firm performance. This article makes a significant contribution to the extant literature as it evaluates the impact of WCM on the profitability and market performance of Islamic market indexed firms under varying macroeconomic conditions.
Managers’ Perceptions Regarding the Effect of Leadership on Organizational Performance: Mediating Role of Green Supply Chain Management Practices

The primary purpose of this research is to test a research model that examines the perceptions of Cihan Group managers regarding the impact of effective leadership in improving organizational performance: Green supply chain management practices as a mediating mechanism. As a data collection method, a survey instrument was considered that included three dimensions of effective leadership, Green supply chain management (GSCM), and organizational performance. The data were analyzed by using partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The research found positive and significant causal relationships among the leading organization, leading people, and leading self with GSCM practices. In addition, GSCM practices positively correlated with organizational performance. The findings confirmed that GSCM practices fully mediate the relationship among the leading organization, leading people, and organizational performance, as the leading organization and leading people constructs indirectly correlated with organizational performance. The findings also showed that GSCM practices partially mediated the relationship between the leading self and organizational performance, as leading self, directly and indirectly, correlated to organizational performance. The research contributes to the literature by indicating that effective leadership via its dimensions—leading organization, people, and self— indirectly improves organizational performance by the mediating role of GSCM practices. Meanwhile, GSCM practices improve social and environmental performance.