Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Actin architecture steers microtubules in active cytoskeletal composite

Cytoskeletal motility assays use surface-immobilised molecular motors to propel cytoskeletal filaments. These assays have been widely employed to characterise the motor properties and interactions of cytoskeletal elements with themselves or with external factors. Moreover, the motility assays are a promising class of bio-inspired active tools for nanotechnological applications. While effective utilisation of these assays involves controlling the filament direction and speed, either as a sensory readout or a functional feature, designing a subtle control embedded in the assay is an ongoing challenge. Here we investigate the interaction between motor-propelled microtubules and networks of actin filaments. We demonstrate that the microtubules respond to a network of actin filaments and that this response depends on the network’s architecture. Both linear actin filaments and a network of actin branched by the Arp2/3 complex decelerate microtubule gliding; however, an unbranched actin network provides additional guidance and effectively steers the microtubules. This effect, which resembles the recognition of cortical actin architecture by microtubules, is a conceptually new means of controlling the filament gliding in the motility assay with potential application in the design of active materials and cytoskeletal nano-devices.
The Association Between Uric Acid Levels and GRACE Score in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients at H. Adam Malik Medan Central General Hospital

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a combination of clinical symptoms that indicate acute myocardial ischemia, consisting of unstable angina pectoris (unstable angina pectoris = UAP), ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), and Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI). Various factors are considered to be related to the incidence of ACS, one of the predisposing factors which is still being debated about its effect on ACS, namely uric acid levels. A previous study showed that adding serum uric acid values to the GRACE score may be better at identifying patients in the low-risk group. Objective: To determine the relationship between uric acid levels and GRACE scores in ACS patients at H. Adam Malik Hospital, Medan. Methods: This study is a retrospective analytic study. The study population was patients with acute coronary syndrome who were treated at H. Adam Malik Hospital Medan and the research subjects were 65 people who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using univariate and bivariate analysis. The correlation test was carried out using the Spearman correlation test to see the relationship between uric acid levels and the GRACE score in ACS patients. Results: There were 65 samples who participated in this study. There was a significant difference (p = 0.008) in the mean uric acid levels in subjects with UAP, NSTEMI, and STEMI, while the GRACE score did not show a significant difference between the three ACS diagnoses. For the relationship between uric acid levels and GRACE scores for all subjects, the Spearman correlation test showed that there was a significant correlation between uric acid levels and GRACE scores (p < 0.001) with a correlation value (r) of 0,634. Conclusion: From the results of this study, it can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between serum uric acid levels and the GRACE score and the higher the uric acid level, the higher the GRACE score will be.
Earthquake forecasting model for Albania: the area source model and the smoothing model

Abstract. We proposed earthquake forecasting models for Albania, one of the most seismogenic regions in Europe, to give an overview of seismic activity by implementing area source and smoothing approaches. The earthquake catalogue was first declustered to remove foreshocks and aftershocks when they are within the derived distance windows and time windows of mainshocks. Considering catalogue completeness, the events with M≥4.1 during the period of 1960–2006 were implemented for the learning forecast model. The forecasting is implemented into an area source model that includes 20 sub-regions and a smoothing model with a cell size of 0.2∘ × 0.2∘ to forecast the seismicity in Albania. Both models show high seismic rates along the western coastline and in the southern part of the study area, consistent with previous studies that discussed seismicity in the area and currently active regions. To further validate the forecast performance of the two models, we introduced the Molchan diagram to quantify the correlation between models and observations. The Molchan diagram suggests that the models are significantly better than a random distribution, confirming their forecasting abilities. Our results provide crucial information for subsequent research on seismic activity, such as probabilistic seismic hazard assessment.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of Argentine breast cancer prevention campaigns disseminated by still images on social networks during October 2019.

OBJECTIVES To quantitatively document the degree of compliance of institutional messages broadcast on social networks with the recommendations of the National Cancer Institute (INC) in Argentina during October 2019, in the context of breast cancer prevention campaigns, and to qualitatively analyze the pictorial and textual elements that make up their dissemination pieces. MATERIALS AND METHODS Quantitative and qualitative analysis of 171 dissemination pieces issued during October 2019 by 54 institutions, based on the evaluation of their compliance with INC recommendations, the description of the main discordant recommendations (quantitative analysis) and the qualitative analysis of 30 pieces. RESULTS None of the issued messages mentioned potential screening harms. Only the messages of the National Ministry of Health complied completely with the INC recommendations, while the remaining ones recommended mammograms at younger ages or at shorter intervals. Breast self-examination was the most frequent recommendation among those who didn't comply. The images of female bodies linked to common stereotypes of sex and beauty, and paternalistic discourses appealing to fear and guilt were predominant. CONCLUSIONS The messages broadcasted in the analyzed diffusion pieces did not comply with the INC recommendations, despite the fact that the latter are supported by scientific evidence. On the other hand, the messages reinforce sex and beauty stereotypes, guilt and the medical-hegemonic model.
The Promise and Challenges of Implementing ICT in Indian Agriculture

ABSTRACT While agricultural productivity in the developing world has made tremendous advances in the past half century, productivity still lags well behind the developed world. One particularly promising path to improve agricultural productivity is to employ mobile phones to enable farmers to make better decisions: through advice on input choices, farming decisions, and input and output prices. This paper takes a close look at the potential of ICT to improve input decisions by assisting with the delivery of customized information about soil nutrient status. In South Asia, fertilizers are often overused or applied in inefficient proportions. Governments in India have invested heavily in soil testing, with the goal of distributing 140 million “Soil Health Cards” (SHCs) directly to farmers. Yet with absent additional information, farmers may have difficulty acting on the information provided in SHCs. The primary contribution of this paper is to evaluate the prospects for ICT to assist in the delivery of information about site-specific nutrient management practices. We report on results from a “lab in the field” experiment examining whether a dissemination approach that employs simplified SHCs, supplemented with audio or video messages, can contribute to the understanding of information in SHCs. We begin by examining the reach of traditional extension services in India, and find that they fall far short of universal coverage. If extension agents are not available, many farmers turn to local agricultural sales agents for advice. We describe results from an audit study evaluating the nature and quality of advice from these agents in the field.
Interpolation Processes: Basic Theory and Applications

The classical books on interpolation address numerous negative results, i.e., results on divergent interpolation processes, usually constructed over some equidistant systems of nodes. The authors present, with complete proofs, recent results on convergent interpolation processes, for trigonometric and algebraic polynomials of one real variable, not yet published in other textbooks and monographs on approximation theory and numerical mathematics. In this special, but fundamental and important field of real analysis the authors present the state of art. Some 500 references are cited, including many new results of the authors. Basic tools in this field (orthogonal polynomials, moduli of smoothness, K-functionals, etc.) as well as some selected applications in numerical integration, integral equations, moment-preserving approximation and summation of slowly convergent series are also given. Beside the basic properties of the classical orthogonal polynomials the book provides new results on nonclassical orthogonal polynomials including methods for their numerical construction.
Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment

163 Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-Commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub. com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment
Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of gram-negative bacteria isolated from apron and tables of meat vendors in Elele Market, Rivers State

Because of poor sanitary practices and a lack of knowledge about proper hygiene, meat vendors' aprons and tables could be potential sources of cross-infection of many public health bacteria. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria isolates obtained from meat vendors' aprons and tables. 100 fresh swabs from meat vendors' aprons and tables were streaked on Eosin methylene blue, Cetrimide, and MacConkey agar and identified by the biochemical test. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern was evaluated on Mueller Hinton agar using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Out of the 100 samples processed, 66 Gram-negative bacteria were isolated. Klebsiella pneumoniae (74.24%) was the dominant gram-negative isolates, followed by E. coli (18.18%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.55%), and Proteus sp (3.03%) respectively. The isolates from the tables recorded 100% resistance to Erythromycin and Cloxacillin with the highest sensitivity to Ofloxacin (66.7%) followed by Gentamicin (50%) while the isolates from aprons were 100% resistant to Augmentin and Cloxacillin followed by cefuroxime (93.3%) and Erythromycin (90%) with the highest sensitivity to Ofloxacin (100%) followed by Gentamicin (33.3%). This study confirmed the presence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria on the apron, and the levels of contamination detected on the aprons and tables used by meat vendors in Elele market presented an inadequate microbiological standard and quality. It is critical to implement proper orientation and workshops to educate meat vendors on standard practices to be followed when handling meat.
Approaches in Development of Multi-platform Mobile Applications: State of the Art

Software development teams are faced with the lack of portability and reusability during the development of mobile applications for two or more target platforms. The development of mobile application for second and every subsequent platform usually means a new project with a need to repeat almost all phases defined by a chosen methodology but without the possibility to reuse already defined artifacts. The results and efforts of scientific and professional community have important drawbacks which, along with stated fragmentation problem make the paradigm “code ones – run anywhere” useless for mobile application development. This article aims to summarize these approaches and efforts and to critically observe their advantages and disadvantages. The results show that new approach is needed in solving this reusability, interoperability and development efficiency problem.
Innovative surface bio-functionalization by fungal hydrophobins and their engineered variants

Research on innovative surface functionalization strategies to develop materials with high added value is particularly challenging since this process is a crucial step in a wide range of fields (i.e., biomedical, biosensing, and food packaging). Up to now, the main applied derivatization methods require hazardous and poorly biocompatible reagents, harsh conditions of temperature and pressure, and are time consuming and cost effective. The discovery of biomolecules able to adhere by non-covalent bonds on several surfaces paves the way for their employment as a replacement of chemical processes. A simple, fast, and environment-friendly method of achieving modification of chemically inert surfaces is offered by hydrophobins, small amphiphilic proteins produced by filamentous fungi. Due to their structural characteristics, they form stable protein layers at interfaces, serving as anchoring points that can strongly bind molecules of interest. In addition, genetic engineering techniques allow the production of hydrophobins fused to a wide spectrum of relevant proteins, providing further benefits in term of time and ease of the process. In fact, it is possible to bio-functionalize materials by simply dip-casting, or by direct deposition, rendering them exploitable, for example, in the development of biomedical and biosensing platforms.
Microalgae growth in ultra-thin steady-state continuous photobioreactors: assessing self-shading effects

To disclose the net effect of light on microalgal growth in photobioreactors, self-shading and mixing-induced light–dark cycles must be minimized and discerned from the transient phenomena of acclimation. In this work, we performed experiments of continuous microalgal cultivation in small-scale photobioreactors with different thicknesses (from 2 to 35 mm): working at a steady state allowed us to describe the effect of light after acclimation, while the geometry of the reactor was adjusted to find the threshold light path that can discriminate different phenomena. Experiments showed an increased inhibition under smaller culture light paths, suggesting a strong shading effect at thicknesses higher than 8 mm where mixing-induced light–dark cycles may occur. A Haldane-like model was applied and kinetic parameters retrieved, showing possible issues in the scalability of experimental results at different light paths if mixing-induced light–dark cycles are not considered. To further highlight the influence of mixing cycles, we proposed an analogy between small-scale operations with continuous light and PBR operations with pulsed light, with the computation of characteristic parameters from pulsed-light microalgae growth mathematical modeling.
Behavioral intention to use distance teaching in the pandemic era

This study aimed at exploring the impact of post-epidemic era on teachers’ behavioral intention of distance education. In this study, purposive sampling method was used to enroll 390 teachers in colleges and universities, high schools and vocational schools, and junior high and elementary schools to be the research subjects for the questionnaire survey. A total of 360 questionnaires were collected for statistics, and AMOS 23.0 statistical software was used to analyze the correlation between variables. Meanwhile, a structural equation model was used to analyze and verify the impact of the technology acceptance model, information system success model, and diffusion of innovations theory. According to the results, the system quality of distance teaching platforms certainly affected perceived usefulness, and perceived usefulness affected teachers’ attitudes toward using distance teaching systems. In addition, perceived ease of use had an impact on perceived usefulness, and trialability had an impact on teachers’ attitudes toward using distance teaching systems. Finally, teachers’ attitude toward using a distance teaching system also affected their behavioral intention. According to the results, suggestions were made in this study to teachers and students for distance teaching. Additionally, the main contribution of this study lies in providing specific strategies for further distance teaching through empirical results in combination with on-site teaching.
The radiographic assessment of lung edema score of lung edema severity correlates with inflammatory parameters in patients with coronavirus disease 2019—Potential new admission biomarkers to predict coronavirus disease 2019 worsening

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has placed enormous pressure on intensive care units (ICUs) and on healthcare systems in general. A deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of the most severe forms of COVID-19 would help guide the development of more effective interventions. Herein, we characterized the inflammatory state of patients with COVID-19 of varying degrees of severity to identify admission biomarkers for predicting COVID-19 worsening. Design Admission blood samples were obtained from 78 patients with COVID-19. Radiographic assessment of lung edema (RALE) scoring was calculated by imaging. Platelet and leukocyte counts were measured by flow cytometry, and plasma levels of C-reactive protein were assessed by immunoturbidimetry, and interleukin (IL)-8/CXCL8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The RALE score correlated with several admission hemogram (platelets, neutrophils, and lymphocytes) and inflammatory (IL-8/CXCL8, MCP-1/CCL2, IL-10, and C-reactive protein) parameters. COVID-19 worsening, based on the need for oxygen (Δoxygen supply) during hospitalization, correlated negatively with admission lymphocyte counts but positively with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and with plasma levels of the inflammatory parameters correlating with RALE score. Conclusion Our data indicate a correlation between the RALE score and Δoxygen supply and admission inflammatory status. The identification of a panel of biomarkers that reflect COVID severity might be useful to predict disease worsening during hospitalization and to guide clinical management of COVID-19-related complications. Finally, therapies targeting IL-8/CXCL8- or IL-10 activity may offer therapeutic approaches in COVID-19 treatment.
Significant metabolic alterations in non-small cell lung cancer patients by epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy and PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy

Background: Cancer-related deaths are primarily attributable to lung cancer, of which non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type. Molecular targeting therapy and antitumor immunotherapy have both made great strides in the treatment of NSCLC, but their underlying mechanisms remain unclear, especially from a metabolic perspective. Methods: Herein, we used a nontargeted metabolomics approach based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze the metabolic response of NSCLC patients to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) or PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Multiple analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and pathway analysis, were used for metabolic data analysis. Additionally, differential metabolites were analysed and identified by publically available and integrated databases. Results: After treatment with EGFR-TKIs or PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, glutamate/glutamine, phenylalanine, n-acetyl-l-leucine, n-acetyl-d-tryptophan, D-n-valine, arachidonic acid, and linoleic acid levels were significantly increased in patients with NSCLC, whereas carnitine, stearyl carnitine, palmitoyl carnitine, linoleic carnitine, and palmitic acid levels were markedly decreased. Compared with newly diagnosed, untreated patients, there were three shared metabolic pathways (phenylalanine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism) in the EGFR-TKIs or PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-treated groups, all of which were related to lipid and amino acid metabolism. Moreover, there were significant differences in lipid metabolism (glycerophospholipid metabolism and phosphatidylinositol signaling) and amino acid metabolism (tryptophan metabolism) between the EGFR-TKI and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor groups. Conclusion: Our results show that EGFR-TKIs and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors induce changes in carnitine, amino acids, fatty acids, and lipids and alter related metabolic pathways in NSCLC patients. Endogenous metabolism changes occur due to drug action and might be indicative of antitumor therapeutic effect. These findings will provide new clues for identifying the antitumor mechanism of these two treatments from the perspective of metabolism.
Cdc42 upregulation under high glucose induces podocyte apoptosis and impairs β-cell insulin secretion

Objectives The progressive impairment of β-cell function results in prolonged deterioration in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Interestingly, the finding on pancreatitis secondary to renal injury suggests that potential communication exists between kidney and pancreas. Therefore, we aimed to investigate cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42)-mediated podocyte apoptosis and its effect on insulin secretion in islet β-cells. Methods Type 2 diabetic nephropathy mouse models were established to identify the expression of Cdc42 in podocytes by immunohistochemistry. An in vitro co-culture of mouse podocyte MPC5 and β-TC6 cells was preliminarily established. Subsequently, podocyte apoptosis induced by high glucose and Cdc42 was detected by TUNEL staining and western blotting. In addition, the JNK pathway was examined to determine the mechanism of apoptosis in MPC5 cells. Finally, insulin secretion and expression in β-TC6 cells as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in both cell types were examined after the regulation of Cdc42 in MPC5 cells. Results Cdc42 was highly expressed in the podocytes of diabetic nephropathy mice. Exposure to 25 mM glucose for 48 h induced a significant upregulation of Cdc42, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 as well as a decreased Bcl-2 expression. In addition, marked apoptosis of MPC5 cells was observed compared to normal glucose treatment. After transfection with Cdc42 plasmid, apoptosis of MPC5 cells was enhanced with an increased expression of p-JNK, whereas inhibition of Cdc42 significantly alleviated podocyte apoptosis accompanied by a downregulation of p-JNK. The glucose-stimulated insulin secretion level of β-TC6 cells decreased after the upregulation of Cdc42 in MPC5 cells. Immunofluorescence staining for insulin showed that co-culture with MPC5 cells carrying the Cdc42 plasmid significantly reduced insulin expression, whereas inhibition of Cdc42 in MPC5 cells alleviated the above-mentioned abnormality of β-TC6 cells. The expression of Cdc42 and p-p38 in β-TC6 cells increased following the upregulation of Cdc42 in MPC5 cells; this was concurrent with augmented MDA levels and decreased SOD activity. The opposite result was observed for Cdc42 knockdown in MPC5 cells. Conclusions Cdc42 in podocytes plays a crucial role in insulin secretion by β-cells, which may provide a new therapeutic target to prevent the vicious cycle of β-cell dysfunction in T2DM.