Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calprotectin and Imbalances between Acute-Phase Mediators Are Associated with Critical Illness in COVID-19

The trajectory from moderate and severe COVID-19 into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) necessitating mechanical ventilation (MV) is a field of active research. We determined serum levels within 24 h of presentation of 20 different sets of mediators (calprotectin, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, interferons) of patients with COVID-19 at different stages of severity (asymptomatic, moderate, severe and ARDS/MV). The primary endpoint was to define associations with critical illness, and the secondary endpoint was to identify the pathways associated with mortality. Results were validated in serial measurements of mediators among participants of the SAVE-MORE trial. Levels of the proinflammatory interleukin (IL)-8, IL-18, matrix metalloproteinase-9, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B and calprotectin (S100A8/A9) were significantly higher in patients with ARDS and MV. Levels of the anti-inflammatory IL-1ra and IL-33r were also increased; IL-38 was increased only in asymptomatic patients but significantly decreased in the more severe cases. Multivariate ordinal regression showed that pathways of IL-6, IL-33 and calprotectin were associated with significant probability for worse outcome. Calprotectin was serially increased from baseline among patients who progressed to ARDS and MV. Further research is needed to decipher the significance of these findings compared to other acute-phase reactants, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or ferritin, for the prognosis and development of effective treatments.
Prevalence of responsible research practices among academics in The Netherlands

Background: Traditionally, research integrity studies have focused on research misbehaviors and their explanations. Over time, attention has shifted towards preventing questionable research practices and promoting responsible ones. However, data on the prevalence of responsible research practices, especially open methods, open codes and open data and their underlying associative factors, remains scarce. Methods: We conducted a web-based anonymized questionnaire, targeting all academic researchers working at or affiliated to a university or university medical center in The Netherlands, to investigate the prevalence and potential explanatory factors of 11 responsible research practices. Results: A total of 6,813 academics completed the survey, the results of which show that prevalence of responsible practices differs substantially across disciplines and ranks, with 99 percent avoiding plagiarism in their work but less than 50 percent pre-registering a research protocol. Arts and humanities scholars as well as PhD candidates and junior researchers engaged less often in responsible research practices. Publication pressure negatively affected responsible practices, while mentoring, scientific norms subscription and funding pressure stimulated them. Conclusions: Understanding the prevalence of responsible research practices across disciplines and ranks, as well as their associated explanatory factors, can help to systematically address disciplinary- and academic rank-specific obstacles, and thereby facilitate responsible conduct of research.
Thermodynamic Losses in Multi-effect Distillation Process

The multi-effect distillation (MED) is one of desalination technologies. It is also applied in chemical engineering and other industries for evaporation, distillation, crystallization, etc. In a large multi-effect distillation plant, some tiny thermodynamic losses might have a great influence to the performance and design parameters. For the detailed analysis and design of a MED desalination plant, a series of experiments were carried out. The thermodynamic losses in a MED desalination plant is analyzed as an example to show its effect on the performance and structure parameters. The thermodynamics losses have a cumulative effect. With the increase of effect number and the concentration ratio, the thermodynamic losses shall be a dominant factor for the operation performance of a MED plant.
Breaking Age Barriers With Automatic Voice-Based Depression Detection

Adults over the age of 60 years are a rising population at-risk for depression, and there is a need to create automatic screening for this illness. Most existing voice-based depression datasets comprise speakers younger than 60 and variations in speech due to age and depression are not well understood. In this study, which uses Patient Health Questionnaires for depression severity ground-truth, automatic depression detection is explored using acoustic-based prosodic, spectral, landmark, and voice quality features derived from smartphone recordings from 152 speakers in four different age ranges (e.g., 18–34, 35–48, 49–62, and 63–79). An age-dependent modeling paradigm for voice-based depression detection is proposed and evaluated. Results show that age-dependent models improve voice-based automatic depression classification accuracy with up to 10% absolute gains when compared with an age-agnostic model. Further, when compared with age-agnostic and gender-dependent models, age-dependent models often produced greater depressed class identification f-score sensitivity (up to 0.39 absolute gains). While automatically extracted acoustic voice features lead to statistically significant depression detection accuracy gains over the age-agnostic modeling baseline (4%–9% absolute), manually extracted voice quality features also are useful (4%–7% absolute gains over baseline). This investigation demonstrates the benefits of implementing age modeling to improve voice-based depression screening via smart devices.
Certificate Pinning Extension for HSTS

This memo describes an extension to the HTTP Strict Transport Security specification allowing web host operators to instruct UAs to remember ("pin") hosts' cryptographic identities for a given period of time. During that time, UAs will require that the host present a certificate chain including at least one public key whose fingerprint matches one or more of the pinned fingerprints for that host. By effectively reducing the scope of authorities who can authenticate the domain during the lifetime of the pin, we hope pinning reduces the incidence of man-in-the-middle attacks due to compromised Certification Authorities and other authentication errors and attacks.
Novel MicroRNA-Regulated Transcript Networks Are Associated with Chemotherapy Response in Ovarian Cancer

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is a highly lethal gynecologic cancer, in part due to resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy reported among 20% of patients. This study aims to generate novel hypotheses of the biological mechanisms underlying chemotherapy resistance, which remain poorly understood. Differential expression analyses of mRNA- and microRNA-sequencing data from HGSOC patients of The Cancer Genome Atlas identified 21 microRNAs associated with angiogenesis and 196 mRNAs enriched for adaptive immunity and translation. Coexpression network analysis identified three microRNA networks associated with chemotherapy response enriched for lipoprotein transport and oncogenic pathways, as well as two mRNA networks enriched for ubiquitination and lipid metabolism. These network modules were replicated in two independent ovarian cancer cohorts. Moreover, integrative analyses of the mRNA/microRNA sequencing and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed potential regulation of significant mRNA transcripts by microRNAs and SNPs (expression quantitative trait loci). Thus, we report novel transcriptional networks and biological pathways associated with resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy in HGSOC patients. These results expand our understanding of the effector networks and regulators of chemotherapy response, which will help to improve the management of ovarian cancer.
Focusing of a Laser Beam Passed through a Moderately Scattering Medium Using Phase-Only Spatial Light Modulator

The rarely considered case of laser beam propagation and focusaing through the moderately scattering medium was researched. A phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM) with 1920×1080 pixel resolution was used to increase the efficiency of focusing of laser radiation propagated through the 5 mm layer of the scattering suspension of 1 µm polystyrene microbeads in distilled water with the concentration values ranging from 105 to 106 mm−3. A CCD camera with micro-objective was used to estimate the intensity distribution of the far-field focal spot. A Shack-Hartmann sensor was used to measure wavefront distortions. The conducted experimental research demonstrated the 8% increase in integral intensity and 16% decrease in diameter of the far-field focal spot due to the use of the SLM for laser beam focusing.
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria increased canola yield and root system

Abstract Decreasing the use of synthetic chemicals including nitrogen fertilizers is a top priority worldwide for the establishment of sustainable agriculture and high productivity. Using plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can help in this regard. Identification of PGPRs associate with canola can be of great importance to produce sustainable and low-cost biodiesel also in less favored areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth, and grain yield of canola grown with five different PGPRs. The treatments Azospirillum brasiliense, Methylobacterium komagatae, Rhizobium sp. , Azomonas sp. , mixture of microorganisms from 1 to 4, and control (no inoculation), in the canola (Brassica napus L) were evaluated. The experiment was performed in a clay soil with six replicates. Plants height and diameter were evaluated at 15, 50, 80, and 110 days after the sowing. At the end of the cycle, root area and grain yield were also calculated. The PGPRs significantly affect root development, shoot dry weight, and grain yield of canola. M. komagacae increased rooting area in 44%. M. komagacae and A. brasiliense resulted in 56 e 53% more grain yield compared to un-inoculated canola, respectively, indicating that PGPRs holds high potential to promote canola productivity.
Investigating the relationship between learning channel sets during the mathematical practice of autistic students

Learning channels refer to the way students receive instruction and respond to it. We examined the relationship between See- Say and See- Write learning channel sets during the mathematical practice of four male autistic students, aged 8 to 14 years. Participants received practice in the ×7 and ×8 tables across both channel sets. Lessons included untimed practice, timed practice, graphing and goal- setting. A multiple treatments design, embedded in a multiple baseline across participants design, was used. When practice on a set was completed, an assessment of endurance, stability, application, generalisation to the other set and maintenance was conducted. Practice led to improvements that were maintained. Participants achieved learning rates above 30% per week, which is a minimum expectation in Precision Teaching. Practice on one set affected performance on the other, and the order of practice was an important variable. The See- Say channel set led to better generalisation outcomes while performance was stronger on the See- Write.
Beyond Competencies: Associations between Personality and School Grades Are Largely Independent of Subject-Specific and General Cognitive Competencies

The Big Five personality traits are established predictors of school grades. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations are not yet well understood. Effects of personality on grades might arise because behavioral tendencies facilitate learning and increase subject-specific competencies. Alternatively, personality effects on grades might be independent of cognitive competencies and reflect otherwise valued behaviors or teachers’ grading practices. In the current study, we drew on large-scale data of 7th and 9th graders in Germany to explore the extent to which personality predicted grades even after accounting for competencies. Controlling for competencies and other key covariates, we cross-sectionally and longitudinally examined personality–grade associations across different school subjects, grade levels, and school types. Results indicate that the predictive power of personality is largely independent of subject-specific and general cognitive competencies. The largest effects emerged for conscientiousness. For openness, associations with grades partly overlapped with competencies, suggesting that openness may operate by fostering competencies. Overall, our results suggest that the associations between personality and grades unfold mostly independently of course mastery. This finding underlines the socioemotional value of personality in the classroom and encourages a more fine-grained view of the interplay between personality, competencies, classroom behavior, and grades.
Blends Based on Poly(ε-Caprolactone) with Addition of Poly(Lactic Acid) and Coconut Fibers: Thermal Analysis, Ageing Behavior and Application for Embossing Process

In this research a biodegradable blend of poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is proposed as a new material for the production of a relief printing plate used for special applications on packaging materials, i.e., the embossing process. Coconut fibers (CFs) were added as a natural filler to PCL/PLA blends to improve the functional properties of the prepared blends. Thermal, mechanical and surface analyses were performed on the unaged and artificially aged blends. The results showed that CF has been proven to optimize the hardness of the blend, which is crucial for the production of relief plate for embossing applications. The lowest hardness was measured on neat PCL (53.30° Sh D) and the highest value on PCL/PLA/CF 70/30/3.0 blend (60.13° Sh D). Stronger interfacial interactions were present at the PLA/CF interface because the interfacial free energy is closer to zero and the work of adhesion and spreading coefficient are higher than for the PCL/CF interface. The results of thermal analysis of unaged and aged blends showed that ageing for 3 weeks resulted in significantly lower thermal stability, especially for neat PCL and PCL/PLA 80/20 blends. Blends with a higher content of PLA and CF showed a slightly increased ageing resistance, which is attributed to the increased crystallinity of PLA after ageing due to the addition of CF showed in the DSC diagrams.
Wealth and Subjective Well-Being in Germany

Wealth in addition to income determines to a large degree an individual’s consumption opportunities and economic situation, which should in turn affect their subjective well-being. We analyse empirically the relationship between life satisfaction as an indicator of subjective well being and households’ wealth. We contribute to the scarce literature on wealth and well-being using micro-data from the German wealth survey, Panel on Household Finances – PHF, for 2010 and 2014. Using panel regression models, we find that (i) individuals’ life satisfaction is statistically significant and positively associated with their households’ wealth holdings, (ii) different components of wealth, such as real and financial assets, as well as debt, have differential effects on life satisfaction, (iii) both wealth levels and wealth holdings relative to other households matter for life satisfaction. Our study shows that it is important to consider wealth, in addition to income, when analysing individuals’ life satisfaction.
To evaluate the clinical characteristics and microbiological findings in children with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis

Aim: The aim of the present study to evaluate the clinical Characteristics and Microbiological Findings in Children with Suspected Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Methods: After receiving clearance from the protocol review committee and the institutional ethics committee, the prospective observational study was carried out at the Department of. This research covered 100 patients. According to the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) guidelines published in the Technical and Operational Guidelines for Tuberculosis Control in India 2016, children aged 6 months to 18 years who present with constitutional symptoms such as persistent fever >2 weeks without a known cause and/or unremitting cough for >2 weeks and/or weight loss of 5% in three months or no weight gain in the previous three months along with any one of the following findings, i.e., his The radiology department performed a chest X-ray and reported findings indicative of tuberculosis, such as hilar and paratracheal lymphadenopathy, parenchymal lesions, and cavitatory lesions. Results: The study covered 100 juvenile patients with an average age of 12.044. 96 years. In the research, 58 percent of the individuals were older than 11 years old. The study had a female predominance. Only 44 (44%) male patients participated in the trial, compared to 56 (56%) female patients. The most prevalent complaint was fever (84 percent), followed by cough (76 percent). Other major symptoms at the start of the disease were weight loss (88 percent), lack of appetite (86 percent), and shortness of breath (16 percent). Haemoptysis, chest discomfort, and shortness of breath were less common. Out of 100 participants, 22% tested positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, whereas the remaining 78 percent tested negative by both ZN staining and CBNAAT. The proportion of CBNAAT positive patients with cavitation on chest X-ray was 63 percent, which was substantially higher than the national average (p-0.0018). Conclusion: We determined that females were more likely than males to be infected with tuberculosis. The study also discovered that patients with clinical findings indicative of pulmonary Koch's do not necessarily have positive sputum CBNAAT. Sputum positivity was shown to be substantially related to a cavitatory lesion on a chest X-ray.
Identification of Known and Novel Arundo donax L. MicroRNAs and Their Targets Using High-Throughput Sequencing and Degradome Analysis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding molecules involved in the regulation of a variety of biological processes. They have been identified and characterized in several plant species, but only limited data are available for Arundo donax L. , one of the most promising bioenergy crops. Here we identified, for the first time, A. donax conserved and novel miRNAs together with their targets, through a combined analysis of high-throughput sequencing of small RNAs, transcriptome and degradome data. A total of 134 conserved miRNAs, belonging to 45 families, and 27 novel miRNA candidates were identified, along with the corresponding primary and precursor miRNA sequences. A total of 96 targets, 69 for known miRNAs and 27 for novel miRNA candidates, were also identified by degradome analysis and selected slice sites were validated by 5′-RACE. The identified set of conserved and novel candidate miRNAs, together with their targets, extends our knowledge about miRNAs in monocots and pave the way to further investigations on miRNAs-mediated regulatory processes in A. donax, Poaceae and other bioenergy crops.
Impact of Bank Profitability on Default Risk: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

This empirical study investigates the effect of the bank-specific determinants of bank profitability on the default risk of the banks listed on the Stock Exchange of Pakistan. For this purpose, the study considers balanced panel data covering the period 2009-2018 for the 20 selected commercial banks of Pakistan, and the probability of default is used to measure the default risk of these banks. The bank profitability is measured using bank-specific determinants such as the net interest margin, non-interest income to total assets, return on assets, return on equity, and spread ratios. The empirical findings of the fixed effects model reported that net interest margin, non-interest income, and spread ratio are the significant determinants of default risk. The findings highlight that the bank profitability determinants can act as early warning signs of a bank’s deteriorating stability level. The study recommended that the central bank of Pakistan should guide the commercial banks to disclose the probability of default values in their financial reports. The study also suggested that the risk management department of a bank should consider these bank-specific determinants of profitability to manage default risk.
Fibrosis of Peritoneal Membrane as Target of New Therapies in Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an efficient renal replacement therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease. Even if it ensures an outcome equivalent to hemodialysis and a better quality of life, in the long-term, PD is associated with the development of peritoneal fibrosis and the consequents patient morbidity and PD technique failure. This unfavorable effect is mostly due to the bio-incompatibility of PD solution (mainly based on high glucose concentration). In the present review, we described the mechanisms and the signaling pathway that governs peritoneal fibrosis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition of mesothelial cells, and angiogenesis. Lastly, we summarize the present and future strategies for developing more biocompatible PD solutions.
Induction immunosuppression and outcome in kidney transplant recipients with early COVID-19 after transplantation

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in kidney transplant recipients has a high risk of complications and mortality, especially in older recipients diagnosed during the early period after transplantation. Management of immunosuppression has been challenging during the pandemic. We investigated the impact of induction immunosuppression, either basiliximab or thymoglobulin, on the clinical evolution of kidney transplant recipients developing COVID-19 during the early period after transplantation. We included kidney transplant recipients with ˂6 months with a functioning graft diagnosed with COVID-19 from the initial pandemic outbreak (March 2020) until 31 July 2021 from different Spanish centres participating in a nationwide registry. A total of 127 patients from 17 Spanish centres developed COVID-19 during the first 6 months after transplantation; 73 (57.5%) received basiliximab and 54 (42.5%) thymoglobulin. Demographics were not different between groups but patients receiving thymoglobulin were more sensitized [calculated panel reactive antibodies (cPRAs) 32.7 ± 40.8% versus 5.6 ± 18.5%] and were more frequently retransplants (30% versus 4%). Recipients ˃65 years of age treated with thymoglobulin showed the highest rate of acute respiratory distress syndrome [64.7% versus 37.1% for older recipients receiving thymoglobulin and basiliximab (P < .05), respectively, and 23.7% and 18.9% for young recipients receiving basiliximab and thymoglobulin (P > .05)], respectively, and the poorest survival [mortality rate 64.7% and 42.9% for older recipients treated with thymoglobulin and basiliximab, respectively (P < .05) and 8.1% and 10.5% for young recipients treated with thymoglobulin and basiliximab (P > .05), respectively]. Older recipients treated with thymoglobulin showed the poorest survival in the Cox regression model adjusted for comorbidities. Thus thymoglobulin should be used with caution in older recipients during the present pandemic era.