Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A betacoronavirus multiplex microsphere immunoassay detects early SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion and antibody cross reactions

Sensitive and specific SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays remain critical for community and hospital-based SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. Here, we developed and applied a multiplex microsphere-based immunoassay (MMIA) for COVD-19 antibody studies that incorporates spike protein trimers of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and the seasonal human betacoronaviruses, HCoV-HKU1 and HCoV-OC43, that enables measurement of off-target pre-existing cross-reactive antibodies. The MMIA performances characteristics are: 98% sensitive and 100% specific for human subject samples collected as early as 10 days from symptom onset. The MMIA permitted the simultaneous identification of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion and the induction of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody cross reactions to SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. Further, synchronous increases of HCoV-OC43 IgG antibody levels was detected with SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in a subset of subjects for whom early infection sera were available prior to their SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion, suggestive of an HCoV-OC43 memory response triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A Journey Through Myeloma Evolution: From the Normal Plasma Cell to Disease Complexity

Abstract The knowledge of cancer origin and the subsequent tracking of disease evolution represent unmet needs that will soon be within clinical reach. This will provide the opportunity to improve patient's stratification and to personalize treatments based on cancer biology along its life history. In this review, we focus on the molecular pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM), a hematologic malignancy with a well-known multi-stage disease course, where such approach can sooner translate into a clinical benefit. We describe novel insights into modes and timing of disease initiation. We dissect the biology of the preclinical and pre-malignant phases, elucidating how knowledge of the genomics of the disease and the composition of the microenvironment allow stratification of patients based on risk of disease progression. Then, we explore cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic drivers of MM evolution to symptomatic disease. Finally, we discuss how this may relate to the development of refractory disease after treatment. By integrating an evolutionary view of myeloma biology with the recent acquisitions on its clonal heterogeneity, we envision a way to drive the clinical management of the disease based on its detailed biological features more than surrogates of disease burden.
Quantitatively Monitoring In Situ Mitochondrial Thermal Dynamics by Upconversion Nanoparticles

Temperature dynamics reflect the physiological conditions of cells and organisms. Mitochondria regulates temperature dynamics in living cells, as they oxidize the respiratory substrates and synthesize ATP, with heat being released as a by-product of active metabolism. Here, we report an upconversion nanoparticles based thermometer that allows in situ thermal dynamics monitoring of mitochondria in living cells. We demonstrate that the upconversion nanothermometers can efficiently target mitochondria and the temperature responsive feature is independent of probe concentration and medium conditions. The relative sensing sensitivity of 3.2% K−1 in HeLa cells allows us to measure the mitochondrial temperature difference through the stimulations of high glucose, lipid, Ca2+ shock and the inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation. Moreover, cells display distinct response time and thermal dynamic profiles under different stimulations, which highlights the potential applications of this thermometer to study in situ vital processes related to mitochondrial metabolism pathways and interactions between organelles.
Production of ethanol from Carica papaya (pawpaw) agro waste: effect of saccharification and different treatments on ethanol yield

A study was carried out on yeast fermentation of carica papaya (pawpaw) agricultural waste using dried active baker's yeast and brewer's yeast strain (Sacchromyces cerevisiae). The pawpaw considered as an agricultural waste was the tapped ripe pawpaw fruit harvested after the tapping of papain. Effect of different yeast strains on the percentage yield of ethanol was investigated. The effects of yeast concentration, saccharification and different nutrient supplements as they relate to the optimization of the ethanol yield were also carried out. The fermented pawpaw yielded ethanol contents of 3.83 to 5.19% (v/v). The reducing sugar in the pawpaw was determined before and after saccharification. The reducing sugar was highest after 48 h of saccharification using Aspergillus niger. The value recorded was 7.6 to 13.6 g/100g. Brewers yeast gave a higher ethanol yield than bakers yeast. Saccharification for 48 h coupled with nutrient supplements significantly increased the ethanol yield. Key words: Paw-paw agrowaste, bakers yeast, brewers yeast, fermentation, pH, temperature, saccharification.
Thymocytes trigger self-antigen-controlling pathways in immature medullary thymic epithelial stages

Interactions of developing T cells with Aire+ medullary thymic epithelial cells expressing high levels of MHCII molecules (mTEChi) are critical for the induction of central tolerance. In turn, thymocytes regulate the cellularity of Aire+ mTEChi. However, it remains unknown whether thymocytes control Aire+ mTEChi-precursors that are contained in mTEClo cells or other mTEClo subsets that have recently been delineated or identified by single-cell transcriptomic analyses. Here, using three distinct transgenic mouse models, in which antigen-presentation between mTECs and CD4+ thymocytes is perturbed, we show by high-throughput RNA-seq that self-reactive CD4+ thymocytes induce in mTEClo the expression of tissue-restricted self-antigens, cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules important for T-cell development. This gene activation program is combined with a global increase of the active H3K4me3 histone mark. Finally, we show that these interactions induce key mTEC transcriptional regulators and govern mTEClo subset composition, including Aire+ mTEChi-precursors, post-Aire and tuft-like mTECs. Our genome-wide study thus reveals that self-reactive CD4+ thymocytes control multiple unsuspected facets from immature stages of mTECs, which determines their heterogeneity.
Molecular dynamics and dissipative particle dynamics simulations for prediction of miscibility in polyethylene terephthalate/polylactide blends

The miscibility of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/polylactide (PLA) blends is studied through atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) and mesoscale dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation. Five PET/PLA blends (with the weight ratio at 90/10, 70/30, 50/50, 30/70 and 10/90) as well as pure PET and PLA are examined. The solubility parameter values obtained by using the MD simulation are in good agreement with the reference data. The Flory–Huggins parameters, χ, which are computed for different blends and determined from the cohesive energy densities, with the radial distribution functions g(r) of the inter-molecular atoms, suggest that PET is completely miscible with PLA over the entire composition range. This is further proved by the mesoscopic morphologies of PET/PLA blends. All the simulation results are qualitatively consistent with the experimental results, and demonstrate that the modelling strategies in this study may serve as a powerful tool for predicting miscibility and mesoscopic morphology of polymer blends.
Combining Seed Dressing and Foliar Applications of Phosphorus Fertilizer Can Give Similar Crop Growth and Yield Benefits to Soil Applications Together With Greater Recovery Rates

Phosphorus (P) fertilizers have a dramatic effect on agricultural productivity, but conventional methods of application result in only limited recovery of the applied P. Given the increasing volatility in rock phosphate prices, more efficient strategies for P fertilizer use would be of economic and environmental benefit in the drive for sustainable intensification. This study used a combination of controlled-environment experiments and radioisotopic labeling to investigate the fertilizer use efficiency of a combination of seed (grain) dressing and foliar applications of P to spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Radioisotopic labeling showed that the application of foliar P in the presence of photosynthetic light substantially increased both P-uptake into the leaf and P-mobilization within the plant, especially when an adjuvant was used. When compared with soil application of inorganic P buried into the rooting zone, a combination of a 3 μmol seed dressing and three successive 46.3 μmol plant−1 foliar applications were far more efficient at providing P fertilization benefits in P-limiting conditions. We conclude that a combination of seed dressing and foliar applications of P is potentially a better alternative to conventional soil-based application, offering greater efficiency in use of applied P both in terms of P-uptake rate and grain yield. Further work is required to evaluate whether these results can be obtained under a range of field conditions.
Altered Reward Processing System in Internet Gaming Disorder

Converging evidence indicates that addiction involves impairment in reward processing systems. However, the patterns of dysfunction in different stages of reward processing in internet gaming addiction remain unclear. In previous studies, individuals with internet gaming disorder were found to be impulsive and risk taking, but there is no general consensus on the relation between impulsivity and risk-taking tendencies in these individuals. The current study explored behavioral and electrophysiological responses associated with different stages of reward processing among individuals with internet gaming disorders (IGDs) with a delayed discounting task and simple gambling tasks. Compared to the healthy control (HC) group, the IGD group discounted delays more steeply and made more risky choices, irrespective of the outcome. As for the event-related potential (ERP) results, during the reward anticipation stage, IGDs had the same stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN) for both large and small choices, whereas HCs exhibited a higher SPN in large vs. small choices. During the outcome evaluation stage, IGDs exhibited a blunted feedback-related negativity for losses vs. gains. The results indicate impairment across different stages of reward processing among IGDs. Moreover, we found negative correlation between impulsivity indexed by BIS-11 and reward sensitivity indexed by SPN amplitude during anticipation stage only, indicating different neural mechanisms at different stages of reward processing. The current study helps to elucidate the behavioral and neural mechanisms of reward processing in internet gaming addiction.
Treatment of Whole-Plant Corn Silage With Lactic Acid Bacteria and Organic Acid Enhances Quality by Elevating Acid Content, Reducing pH, and Inhibiting Undesirable Microorganisms

We investigated the variation in microbial community and fermentation characteristics of whole-plant corn silage after treatment with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and organic acids. The fresh corn forages were treated with a combination of L. acidophilus and L. plantarum (106 CFU/g fresh material) or a 7:1:2 ratio of formic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid (6 mL/g fresh material) followed by 45 or 90 days of ensiling. Silages treated with LAB showed increased lactic acid content and decreased pH after 45 days. Although treatment with LAB or organic acids decreased the common and unique operational taxonomic units, indicating a reduction in microbial diversity, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was elevated after 45 and 90 days compared with control, which was more distinct in the organic acid groups. Moreover, we found higher levels of acetic acid and increased abundance of Acetobacter in silages treated with organic acids whereas undesirable microorganisms such as Klebsiella, Paenibacillus, and Enterobacter were reduced. In summary, the quality of corn silages was improved by LAB or organic acid treatment in which LAB more effectively enhanced lactic acid content and reduced pH while organic acid inhibited the growth of undesirable microorganisms.
German Pre-service Teachers' Evaluations of and Reactions to Interethnic Social Exclusion Scenarios

This study investigated pre-service teachers' evaluations, reactions, and interventions with regard to interethnic exclusion scenarios in Germany. More specifically, we focused on pre-service teachers (N = 145, 99 female, Mage= 21.34) in the role of observers of exclusion among students. Using hypothetical scenarios in which either a German or a Turkish boy was excluded by other children of his class, we assessed teachers' evaluations of this exclusion behavior. This included evaluating how likely teachers were to intervene in the situation and what they would specifically do. The aim of this research was to examine whether the origin of an excluded student represents a relevant category for teachers' evaluations of and reactions to social exclusion. In addition, we aimed to determine whether teachers include aspects related to group functioning in their considerations. The analyses demonstrated that teachers generally reject social exclusion, with female participants rejecting exclusion even more than male participants. Further, participants evaluated the exclusion of a Turkish protagonist as more reprehensible than the exclusion of a German protagonist. Regarding the likelihood of intervention, the origin of the excluded person was only relevant for male participants; i.e., they were less likely to intervene when the excluded person was German than when the excluded person was Turkish. Analyses of teachers' reasoning revealed their strong focus on inclusion as a social norm, especially in cases of interethnic exclusion. That is, when participants reasoned about the exclusion of the Turkish protagonist, they referred to the social norm of inclusion much more than when talking about the German protagonist. In contrast, aspects related to group functioning were scarcely of importance. In terms of the specific actions that participants would undertake as a reaction to the exclusion situation, no differences related to the origin of the excluded person were found. Hence, the origin of the excluded person factored into both the evaluation of the exclusion and the likelihood of intervention, but once the decision to intervene was made, there were no differences in the specific actions. The results are discussed in light of practical implications and teacher training as well as in terms of implications for future research.
Wilms Tumor in Sub-Saharan Africa: Molecular and Social Determinants of a Global Pediatric Health Disparity

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common renal malignancy of childhood. Global disparities in WT have been reported with the highest incidence and lowest overall survival occurring in sub-Saharan African nations. After a detailed search of PubMed, we reviewed available literature on WT in sub-Saharan Africa and summarized findings that explore biologic and social factors contributing to this alarming cancer health disparity. Access to care and treatment abandonment are the most frequently reported factors associated with decreased outcomes. Implementation of multidisciplinary teams, collaborative networks, and financial support has improved overall survival in some nations. However, treatment abandonment remains a challenge. In high-income countries globally, WT therapy now is risk-stratified according to biology and histology. To a significantly lesser extent, biologic features have been studied only recently in sub-Saharan African WT, yet unique molecular and genetic signatures, including congenital anomaly-associated syndromes and biomarkers associated with treatment-resistance and poor prognosis have been identified. Together, challenges with access to and delivery of health care in addition to adverse biologic features likely contribute to increased burden of disease in sub-Saharan African children having WT. Publications on biologic features of WT that inform treatment stratification and personalized therapy in resource-limited regions of sub-Saharan Africa have lagged in comparison to publications that discuss social determinants of health. Further efforts to understand both WT biology and social factors relevant to appropriate treatment delivery should be prioritized in order to reduce health disparities for children residing in resource-limited areas of sub-Saharan Africa battling this lethal childhood cancer.
Inhibition of Embryonic HSP 90 Function Promotes Variation of Cold Tolerance in Zebrafish

Accumulating evidence indicates that heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) plays essential roles in modulation of phenotypic plasticity in vertebrate development, however, the roles of HSP90 in modulation of cold tolerance capacity in fish are still unclear. In the present study, we showed that transient inhibition of embryonic HSP90 function by a chemical inhibitor or low conductivity stress promoted variation of cold tolerance capacity in adult zebrafish. Further work showed that embryonic HSP90 inhibition enhanced cold tolerance in adult zebrafish could be transmitted to their offspring. RNA-seq data showed that embryonic HSP90 inhibition enhanced cold tolerance involves variation of gene expression related to proteasome, lysosome, autophagy, and ribosome. Experiments with zebrafish ZF4 cells showed that two differentially expressed genes atg9b and psmd12 were up-regulated by radicicol treatment and provided protective roles for cells under cold stress, indicating that up-regulation of autophagy and proteasome function contributes to enhanced cold tolerance. The present work sheds a light on the roles of HSP90 in regulation of phenotypic plasticity associated with thermal adaptation in fish.
Lenvatinib-Transarterial Chemoembolization Sequential Therapy as an Effective Treatment at Progression during Lenvatinib Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of additional treatment, especially lenvatinib-transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) sequential therapy, for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Consecutive 56 patients who underwent lenvatinib treatment were reviewed. Oncological aggressiveness of tumor was estimated using a dynamic CT enhancement pattern classification, and clinical impact of subsequent treatment was investigated through analysis of progression-free survival (PFS), post-progression survival (PPS), and multivariate analysis of potential confounders for survival after progression during lenvatinib therapy. Results: Heterogeneous enhancement patterns (Type-3 and -4), which are reportedly associated with higher oncological aggressiveness of HCC, were associated with better objective response to lenvatinib compared to homogeneous enhancement pattern (Type-2) (86 and 85% vs. 53% in modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors), resulting in similar PFS (p = 0.313). Because of significantly worse PPS, overall survival of Type-4 tumor was poor compared to Type-2 or -3 tumors (p = 0.009). However, subgroup of patients who achieved subsequent treatment showed significantly better PPS, regardless of CT enhancement pattern. Multivariate analysis confirmed that use of lenvatinib-TACE sequential treatment after progression during lenvatinib therapy was associated with better PPS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01–0.71; p = 0.023), while Type-4 enhancement pattern was correlated with worse PPS (HR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.06–8.05; p = 0.039). Conclusion: Oncological aggressiveness of HCC estimated by CT enhancement pattern was predictive of PPS after progression during lenvatinib. Successful subsequent treatment with lenvatinib-TACE sequential therapy may offer survival benefit regardless of CT enhancement pattern of HCC.
Assessment of Hypertension Using Clinical Electrocardiogram Features: A First-Ever Review

Hypertension affects an estimated 1.4 billion people and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early diagnosis and intervention can potentially decrease cardiovascular events later in life. However, blood pressure (BP) measurements take time and require training for health care professionals. The measurements are also inconvenient for patients to access, numerous daily variables affect BP values, and only a few BP readings can be collected per session. This leads to an unmet need for an accurate, 24-h continuous, and portable BP measurement system. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) have been considered as an alternative way to measure BP and may meet this need. This review summarizes the literature published from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2020, on the use of only ECG wave morphology to monitor BP or identify hypertension. From 35 articles analyzed (9 of those with no listed comorbidities and confounders), the P wave, QTc intervals and TpTe intervals may be promising for this purpose. Unfortunately, with the limited number of articles and the variety of participant populations, we are unable to make conclusions about the effectiveness of ECG-only BP monitoring. We provide 13 recommendations for future ECG-only BP monitoring studies and highlight the limited findings in pregnant and pediatric populations. With the advent of convenient and portable ECG signal recording in smart devices and wearables such as watches, understanding how to apply ECG-only findings to identify hypertension early is crucial to improving health outcomes worldwide.
Shape perception via a high-channel-count neuroprosthesis in monkey visual cortex

Restoring vision by stimulating the brain Electrical stimulation of the visual cortex has long been proposed as an approach to restoring vision in blind people. Previous studies positioned electrodes on the surface of the brain and thus required delivery of relatively high currents. However, this approach limits the number of electrodes that can be safely stimulated simultaneously, and such surface electrodes activate several millimeters of cortex, which results in a low spatial resolution. Chen et al. demonstrated that the simultaneous stimulation of multiple intracortical electrodes in the monkey primary visual cortex gives rise to the perception of shape and successive stimulation to the perception of motion (see the Perspective by Beauchamp and Yoshor). This major improvement provides proof of concept for the use of electrical microstimulation to create a form of artificial vision in the blind. Science, this issue p. 1191; see also p. 1165 Electrical stimulation of the visual cortex with a neuroprosthetic device allows artificial vision with shape and motion perception. Blindness affects 40 million people across the world. A neuroprosthesis could one day restore functional vision in the blind. We implanted a 1024-channel prosthesis in areas V1 and V4 of the visual cortex of monkeys and used electrical stimulation to elicit percepts of dots of light (called phosphenes) on hundreds of electrodes, the locations of which matched the receptive fields of the stimulated neurons. Activity in area V4 predicted phosphene percepts that were elicited in V1. We simultaneously stimulated multiple electrodes to impose visible patterns composed of a number of phosphenes. The monkeys immediately recognized them as simple shapes, motions, or letters. These results demonstrate the potential of electrical stimulation to restore functional, life-enhancing vision in the blind.