Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Alternative Methods of Tunnel Composting (submitted by the European Composting Network)

Abstract Two alternative methods for the production of compost from certain category 3 animal by‐products (catering waste and processed foodstuffs of animal origin) were assessed. The first proposed a minimum temperature of 55°C for 72 h; the second 60°C for 48 h, each with a maximum particle size of 200 mm. The proposed composting processes were assessed by the BIOHAZ Panel for their efficacy to achieve a reduction of 5 log10 of Enterococcus faecalis or Salmonella Senftenberg (775W, H2S negative) and a 3 log10 reduction of the infectivity titre of thermoresistant viruses, such as parvovirus, in the composted material, as set out in Annex V, Chapter 3, Section 2 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011. The assessment of the BIOHAZ Panel exclusively focused on the ABP raw materials (catering waste and processed foodstuffs) intended for human consumption. The applicant did not provide any validation experiments with direct measurement of the reduction of viability of endogenous indicators or spiked surrogate bacteria. However, from thermal inactivation parameters reported in the literature, it can be concluded that the proposed composting standards can achieve at least a 5 log10 reduction of Enterococcus faecalis or Salmonella Senftenberg 775W. The applicant did not consider thermoresistant viruses as a relevant hazard and therefore did not provide any data from direct measurements of the reduction of infectivity of spiked thermoresistant viruses, nor provide data from validation studies undertaken at national level or data from literature supporting the efficacy of the proposed composting standards on thermoresistant viruses. However, thermoresistant viruses should be considered to be a relevant hazard in this context and validation data should have been provided accordingly. The BIOHAZ Panel considers that the evidence provided by the applicant does not demonstrate that the requirements of Annex V, Chapter 3, Section 2 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 are achieved.
Altered Regulatory B Cell Subsets in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

B regulatory cells (Breg) refer to characteristic subsets of B cells that generally exert anti-inflammatory functions and maintain peripheral tolerance mainly through their ability to secrete interleukin-10 (IL10). Dysregulation in the function of Breg cells was reported in several autoimmune diseases. However, the relation between Breg and children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is poorly understood. Thus, this study is aimed at determining whether Breg cells play a role in T1D in children or not, so we hypothesized that an altered phenotype of B cell subsets is associated with T1D in children. Children with T1D (n = 29) and control children with normal blood glucose levels (n = 14) were recruited. The percentages of different circulating IL10-producing Breg subsets, including B10, immature transitional, and plasmablasts were determined using flow cytometry analysis. Furthermore, the association between different IL10-producing B cells and patient parameters was investigated. The percentage of circulating IL10+CD24hiCD27+ (B10) and IL10+CD24hiCD38hi (immature transitional) subsets of Breg cells was significantly lower in T1D patients than in healthy controls. Moreover, these cells were also negatively correlated with fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels. Breg cells did not correlate with autoantibody levels in the serum. These findings suggest that certain Breg subsets are numerically deficient in children with T1D. This alteration in frequency is associated with deficient islet function and glycemia. These findings suggest that Breg cells may be involved in the loss of auto-tolerance and consequent destruction of pancreatic cells and could, therefore, be a potential target for immunotherapy.
Suboptimal Blood Pressure Control, Associated Factors, and Choice of Antihypertensive Drugs among Type 2 Diabetic Patients at KCMC, Tanzania

Background Hypertension (HTN) can be present in up to two-thirds of patients living with diabetes mellitus (DM). It is a risk factor for the development of diabetes as well as complications like coronary artery disease (CAD), nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Hypertension is treatable, and the degree to which it is controlled determines the risk of development of cardiovascular diseases and other complications in a given individual patient. Even though antihypertensive drugs are available and issued to hypertensive diabetic patients, the rate of control of HTN is often inadequate. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of suboptimal blood pressure (BP) control, its associated factors, and the choice of antihypertensive drugs among type 2 DM patients at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC). Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the KCMC diabetes clinic from October 2018 to March 2019 among type 2 DM patients with HTN based on the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, and written informed consent was obtained. Suboptimal BP was defined as BP levels ≥ 140/90 mmHg according to the American Diabetes Association guideline published in 2018. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Chi-square analysis was done to identify the independent predictors of BP control, and a p value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results The data of 161 participants was analysed; the mean age was 63.9 ± 20.2 years, with the majority being females (67.1%). Despite all participants being on different classes of antihypertensives, 57.8% had suboptimal BP control. Among the participants with good BP control, 52.7% were on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I). Poor diabetes control was observed in 50.1% participants as indicated by elevated glycated haemoglobin. Conclusion This study demonstrated that BP control in type 2 DM patients was suboptimal in more than half of the participants. The study showed that the use of ACE-I or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in the majority of DM patients has a good impact in the control of blood pressure. The early initiation of ACE-I or ARBs among the diabetic patients will improve the optimal BP control.
Portfolio optimisation under the tracking error constraint

Active portfolios subject to tracking error constraints are the typical setup for active managers tasked with outperforming a benchmark. The risk and return relationship of such constrained portfolios is described by an ellipse in traditional mean-variance space and the ellipse's flat shape suggests an additional constraint which improves the performance of the active portfolio. Although subsequent work isolated and explored different portfolios subject to these constraints, absolute portfolio risk has been consistently ignored. A different restriction – maximisation of the traditional Sharpe ratio on the constant tracking error frontier in absolute risk/return space – is added here to the existing constraint set, and a method to generate this portfolio is explained. The resultant portfolio has a lower volatility and higher return than the benchmark, it satisfies the tracking error constraint and the ratio of excess absolute return to risk is maximised (i.e. maximum Sharpe ratio in absolute space).
LAS ANTOCIANINAS COMO COLORANTES NATURALES Y COMPUESTOS BIOACTIVOS: REVISIÓN

En la actualidad existe una demanda considerable de colorantes naturales alternativos a los colorantes sinteticos, como el rojo No. 40, debido a su toxicidad en alimentos, cosmeticos y productos farmaceuticos. Las antocianinas son pigmentos vegetales con gran potencial para el reemplazo competitivo de colorantes sinteticos; por tanto es de gran importancia conocer los aspectos bioquimicos que enmarcan estos pigmentos. El objetivo de esta revision es ofrecer un esquema actualizado sobre el potencial de las antocianinas como colorantes de origen natural, y de sus propiedades quimicas y bioactivas. Las antocianinas son pigmentos responsables de la gama de colores que abarcan desde el rojo hasta el azul de muchas frutas, vegetales y cereales. El interes en estos pigmentos se ha intensificado gracias a sus posibles efectos terapeuticos y beneficos, dentro de los cuales se encuentran la reduccion de la enfermedad coronaria, los efectos anticancerigenos, antitumorales, antiinflamatorios y antidiabeticos; ademas del mejoramiento de la agudeza visual y del comportamiento cognitivo. Las propiedades bioactivas de las antocianinas abren una nueva perspectiva para la obtencion de productos coloreados con valor agregado para el consumo humano
The Patient's Gender Influencing the Accuracy of Diagnosis and Proposed Sepsis Treatment in Constructed Cases

Background Male sex is an independent risk factor for sepsis development. In addition to immunological gender differences, women less often receive sepsis treatment once diagnosed. Gender differences have also been described in other medical conditions, such as acute coronary syndrome. Aim To study whether the gender of patients influenced physicians' tendency to suspect sepsis and propose correct initial sepsis treatment in constructed cases. Method Four cases were constructed to fulfil the sepsis-3 criteria as well as raise clinical suspicions of other common medical differential diagnoses. Two of the cases were drafted in two versions, only differing in the gender of the patient. The two versions were randomly distributed to all clinical physicians in a medical region in Sweden. The responding physicians were asked to state the three most important diagnoses and the three most important initial treatments for each case. If sepsis were among the stated diagnoses together with fluids and antibiotics, the case was considered as correctly identified and initially treated sepsis. Results 120 hospital physicians answered the cases. In the case the patient was a female, the respondents correctly identified and treated sepsis significantly more often than if the patient was of the male sex (Case 1: 12/58 vs 2/62, p < 0.01 and Case 2: 25/62 vs 13/58, p < 0.05). Conclusion A low proportion of Swedish physicians identified and proposed treatment for sepsis in four constructed cases. In the case the patient strongly mimicked other diagnoses common in the male sex, the male cases were less often correctly identified and treated for sepsis.
Acute and chronic effects of resistance training on skeletal muscle markers of mitochondrial remodeling in older adults

We investigated the acute and chronic effects of resistance training (RT) on skeletal muscle markers of mitochondrial content and remodeling in older, untrained adults. Sixteen participants (n = 6 males, n = 10 females; age = 59 ± 4 years) completed 10 weeks of full‐body RT (2 day/week). Muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis were obtained prior to RT (Pre), 24 hr following the first training session (Acute), and 72 hr following the last training session (Chronic). Protein levels of mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes I–V (+39 to +180%, p ≤ .020) and markers of mitochondrial fusion Mfn1 (+90%, p = .003), Mfn2 (+110%, p < .001), and Opa1 (+261%, p = .004) increased following chronic RT. Drp1 protein levels also increased (+134%, p = .038), while Fis1 protein levels did not significantly change (−5%, p = .584) following chronic RT. Interestingly, protein markers of mitochondrial biogenesis (i.e., PGC‐1α, TFAM, and NRF1) or mitophagy (i.e., Pink1 and Parkin) were not significantly altered (p > .050) after 10 weeks of RT. In summary, chronic RT promoted increases in content of electron transport chain proteins (i.e., increased protein levels of all five OXPHOS complexes) and increase in the levels of proteins related to mitochondrial dynamics (i.e., increase in fusion protein markers) in skeletal muscle of older adults. These results suggest that chronic RT could be a useful strategy to increase mitochondrial protein content in older individuals.
Permutational analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae regulatory elements

Abstract Gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated at multiple levels. Genomic and epigenomic mapping of transcription factors and chromatin factors has led to the delineation of various modular regulatory elements—enhancers (upstream activating sequences), core promoters, 5′ untranslated regions (5′ UTRs) and transcription terminators/3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTRs). However, only a few of these elements have been tested in combinations with other elements and the functional interactions between the different modular regulatory elements remain under explored. We describe a simple and rapid approach to build a combinatorial library of regulatory elements and have used this library to study 26 different enhancers, core promoters, 5′ UTRs and transcription terminators/3′ UTRs to estimate the contribution of individual regulatory parts in gene expression. Our combinatorial analysis shows that while enhancers initiate gene expression, core promoters modulate the levels of enhancer-mediated expression and can positively or negatively affect expression from even the strongest enhancers. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that enhancer and promoter function can be explained by a single principal component while UTR function involves multiple functional components. The PCA also highlights outliers and suggest differences in mechanisms of regulation by individual elements. Our data also identify numerous regulatory cassettes composed of different individual regulatory elements that exhibit equivalent gene expression levels. These data thus provide a catalog of elements that could in future be used in the design of synthetic regulatory circuits.
Inhibition of miR-17~92 Cluster Ameliorates High Glucose-Induced Podocyte Damage

The loss and damage of podocytes is an early feature of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The miR-17∼92 cluster was dysregulated in diabetic and polycystic kidney disease patients, but its role in DN is unclear. Hence, an in vitro study on the high glucose- (HG-) treated mouse podocytes (MPC5) was designed to elucidate the effect of miR-17∼92 cluster downregulation on cell viability, apoptosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and podocyte function. The results suggested that the miR-17∼92 cluster members miR-17-5p, miR-18a, miR-19a, miR-19b, miR-20a, and miR-92a were upregulated in the renal biopsy tissue of DN patients and HG-treated MPC5. The downregulation of the miR-17∼92 cluster effectively suppressed the cell apoptosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and podocyte dysfunction in HG-stimulated MPC5 cells. The bioinformatics analysis and rescue experiments showed that ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1) is an effector of the miR-17~92 cluster. Silence of ABCA1 inhibited the protective effect of the miR-17∼92 cluster downregulation on podocyte damage. In summary, this research indicated that the downregulation of the miR-17∼92 cluster ameliorates HG-induced podocyte damage via targeting ABCA1.
Structure of Furin Protease Binding to SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein and Implications for Potential Targets and Virulence

The COVID-19 pandemic is an urgent global health emergency, and the presence of Furin site in the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein alters virulence and warrants further molecular, structural, and biophysical studies. Here we report the structure of Furin in complex with SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, demonstrating how Furin binds to the S1/S2 region of spike glycoprotein and eventually cleaves the viral protein using experimental functional studies, molecular dynamics, and docking. The structural studies underline the mechanism and mode of action of Furin, which is a key process in host cell entry and a hallmark of enhanced virulence. Our whole-exome sequencing analysis shows the genetic variants/alleles in Furin were found to alter the binding affinity for viral spike glycoprotein and could vary in infectivity in humans. Unravelling the mechanisms of Furin action, binding dynamics, and the genetic variants opens the growing arena of bona fide antibodies and development of potential therapeutics targeting the blockage of Furin cleavage.
Relevant Applications of Generative Adversarial Networks in Drug Design and Discovery: Molecular De Novo Design, Dimensionality Reduction, and De Novo Peptide and Protein Design

A growing body of evidence now suggests that artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques can serve as an indispensable foundation for the process of drug design and discovery. In light of latest advancements in computing technologies, deep learning algorithms are being created during the development of clinically useful drugs for treatment of a number of diseases. In this review, we focus on the latest developments for three particular arenas in drug design and discovery research using deep learning approaches, such as generative adversarial network (GAN) frameworks. Firstly, we review drug design and discovery studies that leverage various GAN techniques to assess one main application such as molecular de novo design in drug design and discovery. In addition, we describe various GAN models to fulfill the dimension reduction task of single-cell data in the preclinical stage of the drug development pipeline. Furthermore, we depict several studies in de novo peptide and protein design using GAN frameworks. Moreover, we outline the limitations in regard to the previous drug design and discovery studies using GAN models. Finally, we present a discussion of directions and challenges for future research.
Stand dynamics, regeneration patterns and long-term continuity in boreal old-growth Picea abies swamp-forests

The occurrence of macrofossil charcoal (long axis > 0.5 mm) and Picea abies (Norway spruce) pollen in peat stratigraphies, in combination with size and age data from 2976 P. abies trees were used to analyse ecosystem continuity and stand-structure in ten old-growth swamp-forests in northern Sweden. All stands were dominated by P. abies, a species whose abundance increased westwards in Sweden between 3000 and 2000 yr B.P. In three stands no macrofossil charcoal was found and the maximum age of the peat, determined by 14C dating, varied from 1800 to 3600 yr B.P. In the other seven stands the number of levels containing charcoal varied from 1 to 23, but only between 1 and 7 levels were found after the appearance of spruce. Here the maximum age of the peat varied from 400 to 7900 yr B.P. The ten stands had an all-sized stand structure and a stand continuity of ca. 300 yr. The shape of the age structure was similar to an inverse J-curve. This indicates a continuous recruitment over time in a self-perpetuating ecosystem. In a short-term perspective (< 300 yr), the swamp-forests are characterized by individual trees continually emerging while others are dying. it is suggested that internal dynamics of continuous small-scale disturbances in combination with local site-specific factors determine the structure of these forests. in a long-term perspective, some of the present spruce swamp-forests within the northern boreal zone have functioned as true fire-free refugia since the establishment of P. abies populations while others have been affected by recurring fires, although not as frequently as forests on surrounding drier sites. The hypothesis that Scandinavian spruce swamp-forests in general have functioned as true longterm fire-free refugia is thus modified by the present results.
Review of Serum Biomarkers and Models Derived from Them in HBV-Related Liver Diseases

A series of predictive scoring systems is available for stratifying the severity of conditions and assessing the prognosis in patients with HBV-related liver diseases. We show nine of the most popular serum biomarkers and their models (i.e., serum cystatin C, homocysteine, C-reactive protein, C-reactive protein to albumin ratio, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index, fibrosis index based on four factors, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio, albumin-bilirubin score, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to albumin ratio) that have gained great interest from clinicians. Compared with traditional scoring systems, these serum biomarkers and their models are easily acquired, simple, and relatively inexpensive. In the present review, we summarize the latest studies focused on these serum biomarkers and their models as diagnostic and prognostic indexes in HBV-related liver diseases.
Metabolic rate, context‐dependent selection, and the competition‐colonization trade‐off

Metabolism is linked with the pace‐of‐life, co‐varying with survival, growth, and reproduction. Metabolic rates should therefore be under strong selection and, if heritable, become less variable over time. Yet intraspecific variation in metabolic rates is ubiquitous, even after accounting for body mass and temperature. Theory predicts variable selection maintains trait variation, but field estimates of how selection on metabolism varies are rare. We use a model marine invertebrate to estimate selection on metabolic rates in the wild under different competitive environments. Fitness landscapes varied among environments separated by a few centimeters: interspecific competition selected for higher metabolism, and a faster pace‐of‐life, relative to competition‐free environments. Populations experience a mosaic of competitive regimes; we find metabolism mediates a competition‐colonization trade‐off across these regimes. Although high metabolic phenotypes possess greater competitive ability, in the absence of competitors, low metabolic phenotypes are better colonizers. Spatial heterogeneity and the variable selection on metabolic rates that it generates is likely to maintain variation in metabolic rate, despite strong selection in any single environment.
Evaluating Drainage Characteristics of Water Resistive Barriers as Part of an Overall Durable Wall Approach for the Building Enclosure

The most recent model residential building code has been modified to require increased use of water/weather resistive barrier (WRB) materials in construction, and to require some means of draining water from the building enclosure. However, “drainage” performance is not defined, and the Code is unclear about which currently available WRB products and design approaches help provide a durable water-resistant exterior wall enclosure. The present work is a qualitative, “order of magnitude” study of the drainage characteristics of various types of WRB materials (felts, housewraps, drainage wraps, drainage boards, and furring strips), and is a “first step” toward developing an overall durable wall approach for the building enclosure. The ASTM E2273 drainage efficiency test was used in 40 wall assembly mockups to evaluate 11 WRB materials in 8 design configurations. Traditional WRBs and housewraps provided little or no drainage capability to the exterior wall designs tested. Drainage-enhanced housewraps provided an improved level of drainage, but they still retained water. The retained water can migrate through fastener holes to the underlying construction. Best drainage performance was obtained by using WRBs with furring, drainage mats, and profiled sheets (drainage boards). These overall results are in general agreement with similar research by others. These results can guide designers and builders in the proper selection and use of such materials, which should be used as part of an overall durable wall approach to protecting the building enclosure.