Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Different Intermolecular Interactions Drive Nonpathogenic Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation and Potentially Pathogenic Fibril Formation by TDP-43

The liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins has been found ubiquitously in eukaryotic cells, and is critical in the control of many biological processes by forming a temporary condensed phase with different bimolecular components. TDP-43 is recruited to stress granules in cells and is the main component of TDP-43 granules and proteinaceous amyloid inclusions in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TDP-43 low complexity domain (LCD) is able to de-mix in solution, forming the protein condensed droplets, and amyloid aggregates would form from the droplets after incubation. The molecular interactions regulating TDP-43 LCD LLPS were investigated at the protein fusion equilibrium stage, when the droplets stopped growing after incubation. We found the molecules in the droplet were still liquid-like, but with enhanced intermolecular helix–helix interactions. The protein would only start to aggregate after a lag time and aggregate slower than at the condition when the protein does not phase separately into the droplets, or the molecules have a reduced intermolecular helix–helix interaction. In the protein condensed droplets, a structural transition intermediate toward protein aggregation was discovered involving a decrease in the intermolecular helix–helix interaction and a reduction in the helicity. Our results therefore indicate that different intermolecular interactions drive LLPS and fibril formation. The discovery that TDP-43 LCD aggregation was faster through the pathway without the first protein phase separation supports that LLPS and the intermolecular helical interaction could help maintain the stability of TDP-43 LCD.
“Must you make an app?” A qualitative exploration of socio-technical challenges and opportunities for designing digital maternal and child health solutions in Soweto, South Africa

Participatory and digital health approaches have the potential to create solutions to health issues and related inequalities. A project called Co-Designing Community-based ICTs Interventions for Maternal and Child Health in South Africa (CoMaCH) is exploring such solutions in four different sites across South Africa. The present study captures initial qualitative research that was carried out in one of the urban research sites in Soweto. The aim was twofold: 1) to develop a situation analysis of existing services and the practices and preferences of intended end-users, and 2) to explore barriers and facilitators to utilising digital health for community-based solutions to maternal and child health from multiple perspectives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 participants, including mothers, other caregivers and community health workers. Four themes were developed using a framework method approach to thematic analysis: coping as a parent is a priority; existing services and initiatives lack consistency, coverage and effective communication; the promise of technology is limited by cost, accessibility and crime; and, information is key but difficult to navigate. Solutions proposed by participants included various digital-based and non-digital channels for accessing reliable health information or education; community engagement events and social support; and, community organisations and initiatives such as saving schemes or community gardens. This initial qualitative study informs later co-design phases, and raises ethical and practical questions about participatory intervention development, including the flexibility of researcher-driven endeavours to accommodate community views, and the limits of digital health solutions vis-à-vis material needs and structural barriers to health and wellbeing.
A new species of Odontophrynus (Anura, Odontophrynidae) from the southern portion of the Mantiqueira mountains

Using an integrative approach (morphology of the adult and larvae, bioacoustics, osteology, karyotype, and molecular data), we described a new tetraploid species of Odontophrynus to the Mantiqueira mountain range, in southeastern Brazil. The data suggest that Odontophrynus toledoi sp. nov., O. juquinha and Odontophrynus sp. (aff. juquinha) comprise a clade with specimens distributed along three distinct mountain ranges in Brazil: Mantiqueira (O. toledoi sp. nov.) and Espinhaço (O. juquinha) mountains, both in southeastern Brazil, and Diamantina Plateau (O. aff. juquinha), in northeastern Brazil. The new species is morphologically similar and closely related to O. juquinha, but is distinguished in morphology (both adult and larval), karyotype (O. toledoi sp. nov. is tetraploid and O. juquinha is diploid), and corroborated by phylogenetic inferences. We also show that these species do not exchange haplotypes in the 16s gene. Furthermore, although the raw acoustic parameters of Odontophrynus toledoi sp. nov. and O. juquinha overlap at the limits of their ranges, we found a clear difference in the acoustic space structure.
Equivalent circuit extraction from the measured S-parameters of electronic packages

A technique of constructing an equivalent circuit of high-performance electronic packages with the measured s-parameters is presented. First, the robust rational functions for the imaginary and the real parts of the z-parameters transformed from the measured s-parameters are obtained by using the linear rational function approximation. With the rational function expanding into partial fraction, the poles and zeroes of the z-parameters are calculated. And then equivalent circuits of the package are extracted from the poles, the zeroes and the coefficients of the rational functions. In order to verify the equivalent circuits, the s-parameters calculated from the equivalent circuits are compared with the measured ones.
Economic Improvement of Artisanal Fishing by Studying the Survival of Discarded Plectorhinchus mediterraneus

Simple Summary Artisanal fishing constitutes a subsistence activity in much of the world. Changes in fishing legislation can damage the sector if rapid adaptations are not achieved. As Europe demands landing of all catches, except those whose survival is scientifically proven, this study proposes possible improvements for the sector through a pilot study. We evaluated the survival of discarded fish and the possible recapture once they have reached a commercially profitable size. Abstract Europe calls for the end to fisheries discards, which means bringing all caught fish (subject to minimum sizes or quotas) to land. This decision is beneficial to the ecosystem, since it forces the selectivity of the fishing gears to improve. However, artisanal fishermen find themselves in a vulnerable situation where their subsistence depends on catches with small profit margins. An exemption to this landing obligation exists, as it is also ruled that those animals whose survival is scientifically guaranteed may be returned to the sea. Here we study the survival of Plectorhinchus mediterraneus captured by hookline and gillnet, as well as their physiological recovery. Survival exceeds 93% in both cases. The physiological assessment of primary (cortisol) and secondary (energy mobilization, acid-base and hydromineral balance, and immune system) stress responses indicates that surviving animals are able to recover after fishing. Thus, we propose the optimal size of capture of this species to achieve greater economic benefit. For this, we rely on the prices according to size in recent years, as well as on the growth curves of the species. In this way, by releasing fish of less than 1 kg, the current benefits could be multiplied between 2.3 and 9.6 times. This pilot study lays the groundwork for regulating artisanal fisheries through scientific data related to survival of discards along with information on the sale prices.
Generalized Appended Product Indicator Procedure for Nonlinear Structural Equation Analysis

Interest in considering nonlinear structural equation models is well documented in the behavioral and social sciences as well as in the education and marketing literature. This article considers estimation of polynomial structural models. An existing method is shown to have a limitation that the produced estimator is inconsistent for most practical situations. A new procedure is introduced and defined for a general model using products of observed indicators. The resulting estimator is consistent without assuming any distributional form for the underlying factors or errors. Identification assessment and standard error estimation are discussed. A simulation study addresses statistical issues including comparisons of discrepancy functions and the choice of appended product indicators. Application of the new procedure in a substance abuse prevention study is also reported.
Government Expenditure and Economic Growth of Nepal

This paper investigates the effects of public spending on Nepalese GDP growth from the fiscal year 1990/91 to 2019/20. This study has applied Stationary Test along with ordinary least square method to investigate the role of explanatory variables on GDP growth of Nepal. Agriculture, education, health and transportation and communication are all included in government spending. All explanatory variables have made favorable effect on Nepal's GDP growth. The multivariate regression analysis confirms that community expenditure in health sector as well as education sector leads to uplift the human capital which have ultimately positive influence on theeconomic growth of the country.
Plasmapheresis as an Alternative Treatment of Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Pancreatitis: A Case Report

Hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis is a relatively common form of acute pancreatitis that may represent up to 10% of all etiologies of this condition. Due to its specific pathogenic mechanisms related to high serum triglyceride levels, different treatment options have been proposed, including insulin perfusion, heparin perfusion, and plasmapheresis. Although the superiority of plasmapheresis in this clinical setting has not been demonstrated in randomized clinical trials, many centers have reported its effectiveness and considered this as a possible alternative according to the current guidelines. We report a case of a young patient diagnosed with hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis that was successfully treated with plasmapheresis. Since complications associated with plasmapheresis are rare and other therapeutic options may not be so effective or safe, we believe that this should be a valid alternative treatment that may be offered to these patients. More studies are still needed to further evaluate its effectiveness and to elucidate if there is a subset of patients in whom treatment with plasmapheresis may be more beneficial.
Motivating factors for tourists to adopt and recommend vaccine tourism

Abstract Vaccine tourism is a new type of medical tourism that allows tourists to travel internationally to receive the vaccine occultation while they are traveling. There are strong possibilities that vaccine tourism will grow in popularity due to recent COVID-19 vaccine discrepancy between rich and poor countries and uncertainty of the current and future variation in diseases. Vaccine tourism can play important role to revive the stagnant tourism industry resulted from COVID-19 pandemic and serve as possible alternative type of tourism package for the future. This study aims to investigate factors that influence potential tourists to adopt vaccine tourism. Two hundred and fifty-four questionnaires were collected through tourism social media sites in Thailand. PLS-SEM was conducted to examine the causal relationships. The findings show that innovative and informative users are more likely to adopt vaccine tourism. The study confirms the need to consider personal attitudes when studying behavioral intentions. Furthermore, it highlights opportunities for the tourism industry to further promote the new type of medical tourism to the innovative and informative tourists.
Muscle measurements in daily clinical practice: correlations between ultrasound, bioelectrical impedance analysis and hand grip strength

Objectives: Muscle ultrasound is gaining importance as a measurement tool to evaluate sarcopenia in daily clinical practice. This study sought to collect reference values of the biceps brachii (BB) in healthy subjects, and to correlate them to bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and hand grip strength (HGS). Methods: Ultrasound was used to measure muscle thickness (MT), cross-sectional area (CSA) and muscle stiffness (EG). Lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM) and phase angle (PhA) were measured by BIA. HGS was measured using a Jamar dynamometer. Intra-rater reliability was calculated using intraclass correlation (ICC). Correlations were investigated using Pearson correlation (PCC). Results: One-hundred-twenty-three Caucasian individuals (51 male and 72 female subjects) between 18 and 69 years old were included. ICC for ultrasound was 0.99 (CI 0.98-0.99). LM, PhA and HGS showed significant correlations with MT and CSA in the entire population (PCC>0.684). These correlations were more significant and stronger in male than in female subjects (PCC>0.419 and >0.279 resp.). Significant correlations with respect to FM and EG were seen exclusively in female subjects. Conclusion: Significant correlations were observed between parameters of muscle quantity measured by ultrasound, BIA and HGS. Intra-rater reliability was excellent. Future studies in larger populations are needed to clarify the observed gender differences.
SPECIFICATION OF PRECIPITATION FROM THE 700-MILLIBAR CIRCULATION

Abstract Five-day precipitation amounts observed during 10 recent winters in 40 equal-area circles covering the United States are assigned a numerical index according to the proportion of light, moderate, or heavy precipitation falling within each circle. The synoptic climatology of precipitation is investigated through construction of correlation fields between this index and the simultaneous 5-day mean 700-mb. height departure from normal in North America and adjacent ocean areas. On the basis of the analogy between lines of equal correlation and lines of equal height anomaly, inferences are drawn concerning the association between precipitation and other meteorological factors. Schematic models are then constructed showing preferred portions of the long-wave pattern for heavy and light precipitation in different parts of the nation. By use of a screening program on the IBM 7090, the field of 700-mb. height is found to be more effective than that of either sea level pressure or 700–1000-mb. thickness in.
Robust Hurwitz stability conditions of polytopes of bivariate polynomials

The necessary and sufficient conditions of robust Hurwitz stability of polytopes of bivariate polynomials have been established. Since the root domain of bivariate polynomials is in C/sup 2/, whose dimension is 4, to be different from that of 1-D polynomials, the analysis for robust stability of polytopes of 2-D polynomials is much more complicated than 1-D case. We develop an edge test for robust Hurwitz stability of 2-D polytopes. An example has been given to demonstrate the applicability of our new approach.
Chemical enrichment and feedback in low metallicity environments: constraints on galaxy formation

Abstract Chemical evolution models for dwarf metal poor galaxies, including dwarf irregulars and dwarf spheroidals will be presented. The main ingredients necessary to build detailed models of chemical evolution including stellar nucleosynthesis, supernova progenitors, stellar lifetimes and stellar feedback will be discussed. The stellar feedback will be analysed in connection with the development of galactic winds in dwarf galaxies and their effects on the predicted abundances and abundance ratios. Model results concerning α-elements (O, Mg, Si, Ca), Fe and s-and r-process elements will be discussed and compared with the most recent observational data for metal poor galaxies of the Local Group. We will show how the study of abundance ratios versus abundances can represent a very powerful tool to infer constraints on galaxy formation mechanisms. In this framework, we will discuss whether, on the basis of their chemical properties, the dwarf galaxies of the Local Group could have been the building blocks of the Milky Way.
Development of Biodegradable GQDs-hMSNs for Fluorescence Imaging and Dual Cancer Treatment via Photodynamic Therapy and Drug Delivery

Recently, nano-based cancer therapeutics have been researched and developed, with some nanomaterials showing anticancer properties. When it comes to cancer treatment, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) contain the ability to generate 1O2, a reactive oxidative species (ROS), allowing for the synergistic imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. However, due to their small particle size, GQDs struggle to remain in the target area for long periods of time in addition to being poor drug carriers. To address this limitation of GQDs, hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (hMSNs) have been extensively researched for drug delivery applications. This project investigates the utilization and combination of biomass-derived GQDs and Stöber silica hMSNs to make graphene quantum dots-hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (GQDs-hMSNs) for fluorescent imaging and dual treatment of cancer via drug delivery and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Although the addition of hMSNs made the newly synthesized nanoparticles slightly more toxic at higher concentrations, the GQDs-hMSNs displayed excellent drug delivery using fluorescein (FITC) as a mock drug, and PDT treatment by using the GQDs as a photosensitizer (PS). Additionally, the GQDs retained their fluorescence through the surface binding to hMSNs, allowing them to still be used for cell-labeling applications.
Metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors on GaAs with high-k gate oxide and amorphous silicon interface passivation layer

We demonstrate the electrical properties of metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors on molecular beam epitaxial GaAs in situ passivated with ultrathin amorphous Si (a-Si) layer and with ex situ deposited HfO2 gate oxide and TaN metal gate. Minimum thickness of the Si interface passivation layer of 1.5 nm is needed to prevent the Fermi level pinning and provide good capacitance-voltage characteristics with equivalent oxide thickness of 2.1 nm and leakage current of ⩽1.0mA∕cm2. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the Si layer was oxidized up to 1.4 nm during ex situ processing while the interface between the GaAs and a-Si remained atomically sharp without any sign of interfacial reaction.
Paneth Cell Hyperplasia and Metaplasia in Hirschsprung-associated Enterocolitis in An Aganglionosis Rat Model

BACKGROUND: Many hypotheses regarding the pathophysiology of enterocolitis in aganglionic megacolon or Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) has been proposed. Paneth cells are columnar intestinal epithelial cells that have an important role in maintaining of intestinal homeostasis as a bactericide. Since enterocolitis in HSCR may have association with Paneth cells metaplasia and hyperplasia, current study investigated Paneth cells metaplasia and hyperplasia in the sigmoid colon of HSCR rat model and its products, namely a-defensins and IL-1b, in the sigmoid colon tissues.METHODS: Aganglionosis-induced and control Sprague-Dawley rats were euthanized on Day (D)-7, -14, -17, -19, -21, -23, -25, and -28. Sigmoid colon tissue was isolated at each time point, and degree of enterocolitis as well as Paneth cells metaplasia and hyperplasia were analyzed by Hematoxylin-eosin staining, then protein levels of a-defensins and interleukin (IL)-1b were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Enterocolitis scores increased with time. The Paneth cells metaplasia and hyperplasia were observed on D14 until D28 (p<0.01 vs. control group) followed by an increased in the levels of IL-1b. The levels of a-defensins protein expression were initially increased (D7-D14; p<0.01 vs. control group) but then undergo reciprocal changes on D19 until D28 (p<0.01 vs. D7 and D14). Positive correlations between the degree of enterocolitis and Paneth cells number were detected in the sigmoid colon (r=0.42). CONCLUSION: Paneth cells underwent metaplasia and hyperplasia in the sigmoid colon of HSCR rats corresponding to an increase in the degree of enterocolitis, but not followed by an increase in the level of a-defensins as well as IL-1b, suggesting that there is an involvement of Paneth cells in the pathophysiology of enterocolitis due to HSCR.KEYWORDS: Hirschsprung, enterocolitis, defensins; metaplasia, Paneth cell, animal model
Symmetry in mixture experiments

Two types of symmetry can arise when the proportions of mixture components are constrained by upper and lower bounds. These two types of symmetry are shown to be useful for blocking first-order designs, as well as for finding the centroid of the experimental region. Orthogonal blocking of first-order mixture designs provides a method of including process variables in the mixture experiment, with the mixture terms orthogonal to the process factors. Symmetric regions are used to develop spherical and rotatable response surface designs for mixtures. The central composite design and designs based on the icosahedron and the dodecahedron are given for four-component mixtures. The uniform shell designs are three-level designs when applied to mixture experiments.
Moderating Role of Commercial Capabilities on Firm Performance Through Innovative Capability in Manufacturing Msmes

Purpose: Manufacturing MSMEs are in need to identify new ideas and work on ideas to implement them into their process to create new or improved products. Innovation management is a prerequisite and has a direct effect on a firm’s performance. Innovation allows firms to secure a market position and create value by making new customers. This study attempts to find the relationship between innovative capabilities and the firm’s performance in manufacturing MSMEs and how the commercial capabilities of the firm moderate the relationship. Theoretical Framework: Several studies have been reviewed to identify the relationship between innovation, firm performance, and commercial capabilities. A necessitated gap in the literature was identified and the factors were established. Design/Methodology/approach: This study was done among the manufacturing MSMEs in India. A structured questionnaire was circulated to the top performing MSMEs in every state of India and the responses were collected through email. A total of 384 responses were collected at the end of the data collection period. The scale of the measure was adopted and it has measured reliability and validity scores to get to be used in this study. Findings: The results of the study showed that the innovative capability of manufacturing MSMEs has a significant positive relationship with the firm’s performance. The moderation analysis showed that the manufacturing capability and marketing capability significantly moderate the relationship between innovative capability and a firm’s performance. Research, Practical & Social Implications: This study provides the managers of the manufacturing MSMEs to rely on investment in innovation however they are moderately influenced by networking, R&D, and commercial capabilities of the business. Originality/Value: Contributes to the existing body of knowledge theoretically and empirically by including diverse demographic respondents the results obtained were unique and universally applicable.