Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel smart coating with hexacyanoferrate intercalated layered double hydroxides nanoadditive for early detection of carbon steel corrosion

The detection of corrosion at early stages could increase the service life of metal-based infrastructures in a cost-effective manner. Despite the recent progress in “smart” self-reporting corrosion sensing coatings, the development of environmentally friendly systems appropriate for steel substrate used in offshore applications remains a relevant challenge. In this study, a novel smart corrosion sensing coating, based on hexacyanoferrate intercalated Mg-Al LDH nanoadditive, was developed, aiming at the detection of early-stage corrosion of carbon steel. The detection mechanism is based on the ability of hexacyanoferrate ions to react with iron cations generated during the corrosion process, giving rise to a colorimetric signal, while LDH carriers provide a controlled release of active ions under corrosion conditions. The sensing nanoadditive was embedded into a commercial pigment-free water-based acrylic polyurethane coating. The nanomaterial was characterized structurally (XRD) and morphologically (STEM). The compatibility of the additive with the polymer formulation and its influence on the resulting coating performance was investigated in terms of rheological behavior, structure (FTIR), morphology (SEM/EDS), thermal (TGA, DSC) and mechanical (adhesion, hardness) properties. The corrosion protection ability of the coating was evaluated via EIS, while the sensing functionality was analyzed by visual analysis of the surface. The developed coating successfully detects early-stage corrosion of steel substrate at a lab scale, in conditions relevant to the use of metallic structures in offshore applications, demonstrating a correlation between the level of material degradation and the spectroscopic signal associated with the presence of the LDH functional nanoadditive. Furthermore, the observed decrease in coating barrier properties, caused by the presence of LDH, was overcome by the subsequent development of a multilayer coating system. Two different topcoats (epoxy- and polyurethane-based) were surveyed for this purpose, showing an improvement in the coating barrier properties without influencing the corrosion detection functionality of the sensing layer. The results were successfully validated by standard salt spray tests. The multilayer approach opens up the possibility to model coatings with different characteristics for various operating conditions.
Effects of workplace stress, perceived stress, and burnout on collegiate coach mental health outcomes

Introduction Given the continuously changing job demands of coaches, coach burnout continues to be an important area of study. Coaching literature highlights the role occupational stressors play in the development and management of burnout. However, research highlights the potential need for the field to differentiate feelings of burnout from those of other sub-clinical mental health indicators (e.g., anxiety, depression). This study sought to examine the relationship between workplace stress, perceived stress, coach burnout, coach well-being, and sub-clinical health issues (anxiety, stress, depression). Methods One hundred forty-four NCAA collegiate coaches completed online questionnaires measuring the proposed variables. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed hypothesis that burnout would serve as a partial mediator between workplace and perceived stress and mental health indicators (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being). Results Workplace stress and perceived stress were positively associated with both burnout subscales. Additionally, perceived stress alone exhibited a positive association with depression, anxiety, and stress and a negative association with well-being. While there was a positive significant relationship between disengagement and depression in the model and a negative significant relationship between disengagement and well-being, most relationships between the two burnout subscales and mental health outcomes were negligible. Discussion It can be concluded that while workplace and perceived life stressors may impact feelings of burnout and mental health indicators directly, burnout does not appear to exhibit a strong effect on perceptions of mental health and well-being. In line with other research studies, it may be worth considering whether burnout should be considered another type of clinical mental health issue instead of as a direct contributor to coach mental health.
Regulation of Nicotiana benthamiana cell death induced by citrus chlorotic dwarf-associated virus-RepA protein by WRKY 1

Citrus chlorotic dwarf-associated virus (CCDaV) is a Citlodavirus species in the Geminiviridae family that causes tremendous economic loss to the citrus industry in China. Some proteins encoded by geminiviruses are crucial for the interaction between the virus and its host plant. However, the exact functions of CCDaV-encoded proteins such as CCDaV-RepA have not been investigated. This study presents evidence that CCDaV-RepA elicits a hypersensitive response (HR)-like cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana that was accompanied by the production of H2O2 and ion leakage, which suggested that CCDaV-RepA is a potential recognition target for inducing host defense responses. Furthermore, the rolling-circle replication motifs of CCDaV-RepA are associated with triggering HR-like cell death in N. benthamiana. Confocal microscopy and deletion mutagenesis assays showed that CCDaV-RepA was located in the nucleus, while the first eight amino acids (aa) at the N terminus and two regions located between aa residues 122-263 and 220-264 of RepA were not associated with nuclear localization. Tobacco rattle virus-induced gene silencing of the key signaling cascade components revealed that HR-like cell death induced by RepA was inhibited in WRKY1-silenced N. benthamiana. Moreover, WRKY1 expression was upregulated in RepA-GFP infiltrated Overall, the results suggest that NbWRKY1 positively regulated CCDaV-RepA -induced cell death in N. benthamiana. These findings provide novel information for further research on the interactions between CCDaV and the host plant.
Genomic prediction of hybrid performance in grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

Genomic selection is expected to improve selection efficiency and genetic gain in breeding programs. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of predicting the performance of grain sorghum hybrids using genomic information of parental genotypes. One hundred and two public sorghum inbred parents were genotyped using genotyping-by-sequencing. Ninty-nine of the inbreds were crossed to three tester female parents generating a total of 204 hybrids for evaluation at two environments. The hybrids were sorted in to three sets of 77,59 and 68 and evaluated along with two commercial checks using a randomized complete block design in three replications. The sequence analysis generated 66,265 SNP markers that were used to predict the performance of 204 F1 hybrids resulted from crosses between the parents. Both additive (partial model) and additive and dominance (full model) were constructed and tested using various training population (TP) sizes and cross-validation procedures. Increasing TP size from 41 to 163 increased prediction accuracies for all traits. With the partial model, the five-fold cross validated prediction accuracies ranged from 0.03 for thousand kernel weight (TKW) to 0.58 for grain yield (GY) while it ranged from 0.06 for TKW to 0.67 for GY with the full model. The results suggest that genomic prediction could become an effective tool for predicting the performance of sorghum hybrids based on parental genotypes.
Association between pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on PISQ-12—an analysis of data from a multicenter cross-sectional study on 735 nulliparae during pregnancy

Background Pelvic floor muscle strength is well-known to be associated with female sexual function. However, there were a few studies that reported on the relationship between pelvic floor muscle strength and female sexual function in pregnant women, and the presented results were inconsistent. Nulliparae represent a specific cohort with simplicity to exclude confounding factors that are caused by parity. The present study aimed to explore the association of pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) of nulliparae during pregnancy. Methods This is the second analysis of the baseline data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT), which aimed to study the protective efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training on stress urinary incontinence at 6th week postpartum (registration number: ChiCTR2000029618). Nulliparae aged 20–40 years with singleton pregnancy before 16 weeks of gestation were enrolled in this study, and data, including participants' demographic information, the Modified Oxford Scale (MOS), and PISQ-12, were collected. Eligible nulliparae were divided into two groups: Group MOS > 3 and Group MOS ≤ 3. Demographic information of the two groups was compared. Sexual function based on the PISQ-12 scores of the two groups was compared. A comparison of the PISQ-12 scores between the two groups was calculated by the Mann–Whitney U-test using SPSS version 23.0. Results A total of 735 eligible nulliparae were enrolled in this study. Along with MOS grading up, PISQ-12 scores tended to get lower. Of the 735 nulliparae, there were 378 and 357 participants included in Group MOS > 3 and Group MOS ≤ 3, respectively. The PISQ-12 scores of Group MOS > 3 were significantly lower than those of Group MOS ≤ 3 (11 vs. 12, p < 0.001). The scores of the frequency of feeling sexual desire, orgasm achievement, sexual excitement, sexual activity satisfaction, sexual intercourse pain, fear of urinary incontinence, and negative emotion reactions with the sexual intercourse of Group MOS > 3 were lower than those of Group MOS ≤ 3 (p < 0.05). Conclusion Pelvic floor muscle strength was positively associated with sexual function based on the questionnaire of young nulliparae during their first trimester. Up to half of the nulliparae during the first trimester were suffering from weak pelvic floor muscle strength and nearly a quarter of the nulliparae were facing this weakness combined with sexual dysfunction. Trial registration This study has been registered at http://www.chictr. org.cn (registration number: ChiCTR2000029618).
Adaptive and innate immune responses in multiple sclerosis with anti-CD20 therapy: Gene expression and protein profiles

Background Anti-CD20 is a highly effective therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease with multiple abnormalities in function of B and T cells and innate immune cells. Anti-CD20 therapy depletes B cells, which alters antibody production and has diverse effects on B cell immunity. These changes potentially affect immunity beyond B cells in MS. Objective Determine if anti-CD20 therapy effects non-B cell, as well as B cell, gene expression, and serum protein levels. Methods Samples were collected from 10 healthy controls and from clinically stable relapsing–remitting MS – 10 untreated, 9 interferon-β-treated, and 15 ocrelizumab-treated patients were studied before, and 2 weeks and 6 months after, the first anti-CD20 infusion. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analyzed with sensitive, 135,000-transcript RNA expression microarrays, using stringent criteria. Gene expression was compared to 43 MS-relevant serum immune and neurotrophic proteins, using multiplex protein assays. Results Anti-CD20 therapy reduced expression of 413 total genes and 185 B-cell-regulated genes at 2 weeks vs. pre-therapy. Expression of 19 (15%) of these B cell genes returned toward baseline by 6 months, including genes for the B cell activation protein, CD79A, and for immunoglobulin A, D, and G heavy chains. Expression pathways for Th17 and CD4 regulatory T-cell (Treg) development, differentiation, and proliferation also quieted. In contrast, expression increased in Th1 and myeloid cell antiviral, pro-inflammatory, and toll-like receptor (TLR) gene pathways. Conclusion These findings have clinical implications. B cell gene expression diminishes 2 weeks after anti-CD20 antibody infusion, but begins to rebound by 6 months. This suggests that the optimum time for vaccination is soon before reinfusion of anti-CD20 therapy. In addition, at 6 months, there is enhanced Th1 cell gene expression and induction of innate immune response genes and TLR expression, which can enhance anti-viral and anti-tumor immunity. This may compensate for diminished B cell gene expression after therapy. These data suggest that anti-CD20 therapy has dynamic effect on B cells and causes a compensatory rise in Th1 and myeloid immunity.
Aspergillus aculeatus enhances nutrient uptake and forage quality in bermudagrass by increasing phosphorus and potassium availability

Introduction Potassium and phosphorus are essential macronutrients for plant growth and development. However, most P and K exist in insoluble forms, which are difficult for plants to directly absorb and utilize, thereby resulting in growth retardation of plants under P or K deficiency stress. The Aspergillus aculeatus fungus has growth-promoting characteristics and the ability to dissolve P and K. Methods Here, to investigate the physiological effects of A. aculeatus on bermudagrass under P or K deficiency, A. aculeatus and bermudagrass were used as experimental materials. Results and discussion The results showed that A. aculeatus could promote tolerance to P or K deficiency stress in bermudagrass, decrease the rate of leaf death, and increase the contents of crude fat as well as crude protein. In addition, A. aculeatus significantly enhanced the chlorophyll a+b and carotenoid contents. Moreover, under P or K deficiency stress, bermudagrass inoculated with A. aculeatus showed higher N, P, and K contents than non-inoculated plants. Furthermore, exogenous A. aculeatus markedly decreased the H2O2 level and CAT and POD activities. Based on our results, A. aculeatus could effectively improve the forage quality of bermudagrass and alleviate the negative effects of P or K deficiency stress, thereby playing a positive economic role in the forage industry.
Prediction of gastrointestinal cancers in the ONCONUT cohort study: comparison between logistic regression and artificial neural network

Background Artificial neural networks (ANNs) and logistic regression (LR) are the models of chosen in many medical data classification tasks. Several published articles were based on summarizing the differences and similarities of these models from a technical point of view and critically assessing the quality of the models. The aim of this study was to compare ANN and LR the statistical techniques to predict gastrointestinal cancer in an elderly cohort in Southern Italy (ONCONUT study). Method In 1992, ONCONUT was started with the aim of evaluating the relationship between diet and cancer development in a Southern Italian elderly population. Patients with gastrointestinal cancer (ICD-10 from 150.0 to 159.9) were included in the study (n = 3,545). Results This cohort was used to train and test the ANN and LR. LR was evaluated separately for macro- and micronutrients, and the accuracy was evaluated based on true positives and true negatives versus the total (97.15%). Then, ANN was trained and the accuracy was evaluated (96.61% for macronutrients and 97.06% for micronutrients). To further investigate the classification capabilities of ANN, k-fold cross-validation and genetic algorithm (GA) were used after balancing the dataset among classes. Conclusions Both LR and ANN had high accuracy and similar performance. Both models had the potential to be used as decision clinical support integrated into clinical practice, because in many circumstances, the use of a simple LR model was likely to be adequate for real-world needs, but in others in which there were large amounts of data, the application of advanced analytic tools such as ANNs could be indicated, and the GA optimizer needed to optimize the accuracy of ANN.
Automated facial expression analysis of participants self-criticising via the two-chair technique: exploring facial behavioral markers of self-criticism

Introduction As self-rating scales are prone to many measurement distortions, there is a growing call for more objective measures based on physiological or behavioural indicators. Self-criticism is one of the major transdiagnostic factor of all mental disorders therefore it is important to be able to distinguish what are the characteristic facial features of self-criticizing. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no automated facial emotion expression analysis of participants self-criticising via the two-chair technique. The aim of this study was to detect which action units of facial expressions were significantly more often present in participants performing self-criticism using the two-chair technique. The broader goal was to contribute to the scientific knowledge on objective behavioural descriptions of self-criticism and to provide an additional diagnostic means to the existing self-rating scales by exploring facial behavioral markers of self-criticism. Methods The non-clinical sample consisted of 80 participants (20 men and 60 women) aged 19 years to 57 years (M = 23.86; SD = 5.98). In the analysis we used iMotions’s Affectiva AFFDEX module (Version 8.1) to classify the participants’ actions units from the self-criticising videos. For the statistical analysis we used a multilevel model to account for the repeated-measures design. Results Based on the significant results the self-critical facial expression may therefore comprise the following action units: Dimpler, Lip Press, Eye Closure, Jaw Drop, and Outer Brow Raise, which are related to contempt, fear, and embarrassment or shame; and Eye Closure and Eye Widen (in rapid sequence Blink), which are a sign that highly negative stimuli are being emotionally processed. Discussion The research study need to be further analysed using clinical samples to compare the results.
A scalable corneal xenograft platform: simultaneous opportunities for tissue engineering and circular economic sustainability by repurposing slaughterhouse waste

Introduction: Corneal disease is a leading cause of blindness globally that stems from various etiologies. High-throughput platforms that can generate substantial quantities of corneal grafts will be invaluable in addressing the existing global demand for keratoplasty. Slaughterhouses generate substantial quantities of underutilized biological waste that can be repurposed to reduce current environmentally unfriendly practices. Such efforts to support sustainability can simultaneously drive the development of bioartificial keratoprostheses. Methods: Scores of discarded eyes from the prominent Arabian sheep breeds in our surrounding region of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were repurposed to generate native and acellular corneal keratoprostheses. Acellular corneal scaffolds were created using a whole-eye immersion/agitation-based decellularization technique with a widely available, eco-friendly, and inexpensive 4% zwitterionic biosurfactant solution (Ecover, Malle, Belgium). Conventional approaches like DNA quantification, ECM fibril organization, scaffold dimensions, ocular transparency and transmittance, surface tension measurements, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to examine corneal scaffold composition. Results: Using this high-throughput system, we effectively removed over 95% of the native DNA from native corneas while retaining the innate microarchitecture that supported substantial light transmission (over 70%) after reversing opacity, a well-established hallmark of decellularization and long-term native corneal storage, with glycerol. FTIR data revealed the absence of spectral peaks in the frequency range 2849 cm−1 to 3075 cm−1, indicating the effective removal of the residual biosurfactant post-decellularization. Surface tension studies confirmed the FTIR data by capturing the surfactant’s progressive and effectual removal through tension measurements ranging from approximately 35 mN/m for the 4% decellularizing agent to 70 mN/m for elutes highlighting the effective removal of the detergent. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first dataset to be generated outlining a platform that can produce dozens of ovine acellular corneal scaffolds that effectively preserve ocular transparency, transmittance, and ECM components using an eco-friendly surfactant. Analogously, decellularization technologies can support corneal regeneration with attributes comparable to native xenografts. Thus, this study presents a simplified, inexpensive, and scalable high-throughput corneal xenograft platform to support tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and circular economic sustainability.
Microbial community succession in the intestine of mice with deep partial-thickness burns

Introduction Burn injury has been shown to lead to changes in the composition of the gut microbiome and cause other damage in patients. However, little is known about how the gut microbial community evolves in individuals who have recovered from burn injury. Methods In this study, we established a model of deep partial-thickness burn in mice and collected fecal samples at eight time points (pre-burn, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-burn) for 16S rRNA amplification and high-throughput sequencing. Results The results of the sequencing were analyzed using measures of alpha diversity, and beta diversity and taxonomy. We observed that the richness of the gut microbiome declined from day 7 post-burn and that the principal component and microbial community structure varied over time. On day 28 after the burn, the microbiome composition largely returned to the pre-burn level, although day 5 was a turning point for change. Some probiotics, such as the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, decreased in composition after the burn but were restored in the later recovery period. In contrast, Proteobacteria showed an opposite trend, which is known to include potential pathogenic bacteria. Conclusion These findings demonstrate gut microbial dysbiosis after burn injury and provide new insights into the burn-related dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and strategies for improving the treatment of burn injury from the perspective of the microbiota.