Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuroendocrine and metabolic responses of Pacific whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei exposed to hypoxia stress

Neuroendocrine mechanisms involved in crustacean stress response are different and less understood than those of vertebrates. Although indirect evidence suggests the participation of catecholamines (CA), few studies have analyzed their levels during stress response in crustaceans. This study examined CA levels in hemolymph and tissue of whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei besides other biochemical indicators in response to hypoxia (0.8-1.0 mg L -1 ). Shrimp were stressed by hypoxia exposure, and their responses were analyzed at several intervals (10-480 min). Hemolymph glucose levels decreased gradually due to a higher demand not compensated by the gluconeogenesis process from hepatopancreas or muscle after 10 min. Lactate levels in hemolymph showed a 5-fold increase after 10 min, and a correlation with CA levels in hemolymph was observed suggesting its possible role in signaling catecholaminergic activation from eyestalk in a period from 10 to 120 min. Protein levels in muscle and hepatopancreas increased gradually throughout the trial indicating the possible use of another energetic substrate as arginine phosphate. A decrease in triacylglyceride levels denotes its preferential utilization as an immediate energy source in the scape response during the first minutes of hypoxia exposure. Heart adrenaline and noradrenaline levels increased rapidly at the beginning of the trial showing a correlation with the use of triacylglycerides and carbohydrates in hepatopancreas and muscle (r = 0.89 and r = 0.93, P ˂ 0.05, respectively). This manuscript reports evidence of CA participation in response to stress due to hypoxia and discusses possible adaptation mechanisms. Normal 0 21 false false false ES-MX JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabla normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
Optimal Terminations for a Single-Input Multiple-Output Resonant Inductive WPT Link

This paper analyzes a resonant inductive wireless power transfer link using a single transmitter and multiple receivers. The link is described as an (N+1)–port network and the problem of efficiency maximization is formulated as a generalized eigenvalue problem. It is shown that the desired solution can be derived through simple algebraic operations on the impedance matrix of the link. The analytical expressions of the loads and the generator impedances that maximize the efficiency are derived and discussed. It is demonstrated that the maximum realizable efficiency of the link does not depend on the coupling among the receivers that can be always compensated. Circuital simulation results validating the presented theory are reported and discussed.
The Effect of Auditory and Tactile Stimulation by a Family Member on the Level of Agitation in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury and Decreased Consciousness: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: Agitation in mechanically ventilated patients with decreased consciousness is a challenge in the ICU and a threat to the process of mechanical ventilation. On the other hand, controlling agitation through medication and imposing physical limitations is associated with a number of undesirable side effects. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of auditory and tactile stimulation by a family member on the level of agitation in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and decreased consciousness. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 80 TBI patients with decreased consciousness who were admitted to the ICU of two teaching hospitals in southeastern Iran in 2019. Qualified patients were selected by convenience sampling and then randomized into the intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups. Data collection tools included a demographic form and the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS). For patients in the intervention group, the researcher first completed the demographic form and the RASS. Then, they underwent the experiment, which consisted of auditory and sensory stimulation by a family member for 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the agitation level was measured again. This experiment was performed for seven consecutive days between 16:00 and 18:00 o’clock. Patients in the control group, however, did not receive any intervention other than routine care in the ICU. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 21 by using descriptive statistical tests and independent t-test, paired t-test, [analysis of] covariance, and chi-square test at the significance level of P < 0.05. Results: The results indicated no significant difference in the level of agitation in the intervention and control groups between the first and fifth days; however, independent t-tests and analysis of covariance revealed that the patients who received auditory and tactile stimulation on the sixth and seventh days experienced significantly lower levels of agitation than the control group (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Auditory and tactile stimulation by family members is effective in decreasing the agitation of TBI patients with decreased consciousness. Therefore, it is suggested as a helpful intervention in nursing care programs.
Design and analysis of electro-optic modulators based on high contrast gratings in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

Recently high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) inspired III-V electro-optic modulator topologies were proposed for realizing high speed electro-optic modulators leveraging plasma dispersion effect due to the 2D electron gas (2DEG) present at the III–V heterostructure interface. The 2DEG is highly confined at the interface, extending to very low depths in the bulk (≈10 nm) and therefore has limited spatial overlap with the optical mode. In this paper, we propose a novel modulator design to boost the 2DEG-light interaction, wherein the HEMT is embedded within a high contrast grating (HCG) mirror. We present an analytical model extending the conventional HCG model to multi-layer structures and observe good agreement with rigorous coupled-wave analysis. We explore the design space for identifying optimal device topology and present geometries that produce a change in reflectivity as large as 70% for C- and L-band wavelengths. We also present results of sensitivity analysis and observe low variation in device performance due to geometry variation arising from device fabrication imperfections. The device platforms presented here are suitable for designing high efficiency electro-optic modulators by incorporating the HEMT HCG into a Fabry–Perot cavity.
Crystallizing the Parkinson’s Disease Protein LRRK2 Under Microgravity Conditions

Mutations in the gene coding for leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are a considerable cause for Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the high- resolution 3D structure of the protein is still lacking. This structure will not only help to understand PD etiology but will also enable rational drug design. We have established a reliable method to produce LRRK2 crystals for the first time. However, the limited resolution of the diffraction data prevented structure determination using crystallographic methods. Herein we describe our efforts to improve the crystal quality by crystallizing under microgravity conditions aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Our method features diffusive sample mixing in capillaries and controlled crystal formation by transporting the samples in a frozen state. The crystallisation was successfully repeated under microgravity conditions. However, comparison of earth-grown and microgravity-grown LRRK2 crystals did not reveal any differences in diffraction quality. Here we present the established protocol and our experience adapting crystallization condition to the requirements necessary for successful crystallization of large and sensitive biomolecules under microgravity.
Physician and Patient Perceptions of Physical Touch in Primary Care Consultations in Lebanon: A Qualitative Study

Background: Verbal and non-verbal communications are an inherent component of physician-patient interactions. The psychological and physiological benefits of non-verbal communication such as gestures, expressions, eye contact, and particularly physical touch in healthcare have been previously explored by the scientific community, albeit insufficiently in the primary care context. Objective: This study aims to address this gap by investigating physician and patient perceptions of expressive touch and its effect on patient satisfaction in primary care consultations in Lebanon. Methods: We recruited 12 physicians and 13 patients and subjected them to audiotaped semi-structured interviews. We selected the patients from three hospitals, while physician responders were from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Lebanese University. We translated the survey instrument into Arabic and validated it using back translation sustained by a pilot study. We performed constant comparative qualitative analysis for obtained relevant data. Results: Patient satisfaction and trust were associated with good verbal and non-verbal communication. Patient and physician responders recognized the benefit of empathy in building long-term relationships. Social and non-intimate expressive touches were positively perceived by patients, although within ethical and religious boundaries. Male physicians expressed clear apprehension for the use of touch, especially towards female patients, due to religious considerations. On the other hand, touch from female physicians was reportedly accepted by patients of both genders, while touch from their male counterparts was associated with more uneasiness. Discussion and Conclusions: Religious concerns are prevalent among Lebanese physicians and patients alike. However, the use of reassuring physical touch is still a cornerstone of the patient-physician relationship in Lebanon, albeit with some limitations. The potential therapeutic effect of verbal and non-verbal communication is evident and warrants further investigation. Communication training efforts should emphasize the importance of religiously and ethically appropriate expressive touch in healthcare. This would serve to promote positive physician and patient perceptions of this practice and improve clinical communication and expressiveness.
Circuit Modeling and Statistical Analysis of Differential-to-Common-Mode Noise Conversion Due to Filter Unbalancing in Three-Phase Motor Drive Systems

This work deals with circuit modeling of noise mode conversion due to system asymmetry in a three-phase motor drive system. In fact, it is well-known that in case of system asymmetry (e.g., slightly asymmetrical LC filter parameters), differential-mode noise can convert into common-mode noise, resulting in increased level of conducted electromagnetic interference. This phenomenon has been observed with measurements and reported in previous works, but a clear and rigorous analytical description is still a challenging point. The main novelty proposed in the paper is a rigorous analytical description of differential-to-common-mode noise conversion based on the Clarke transformation and the eigenvalue analysis. In particular, the magnitude and the frequency location of the differential-mode resonances injected into the common-mode circuit are derived in closed form. Moreover, since system asymmetry is usually uncontrolled (e.g., component tolerance and parasitic elements), a statistical analysis is also presented by treating the parameters of the LC filter as random variables. Thus, a second contribution proposed in the paper is the analytical derivation in closed form of the probability density function, the mean value, and the standard deviation of the random frequency location of the resonance peaks injected into the common-mode circuit. The importance of the analytical results derived in the paper is two-fold. First, a deep theoretical understanding of the phenomenon in terms of circuit theory concepts is achieved. Second, the impact of differential-to-common-mode noise conversion is described in quantitative terms. Thus, the obtained analytical results can be used to predict or explain the noise conversion impact on the frequency-domain measurements of common-mode currents. Theoretical derivations are validated through a time-domain Simulink implementation of a three-phase motor drive system, and a frequency-domain analysis through the discrete Fourier transform.
Healthspan pathway maps in C. elegans and humans highlight transcription, proliferation/biosynthesis and lipids

The molecular basis of aging and of aging-associated diseases is being unraveled at an increasing pace. An extended healthspan, and not merely an extension of lifespan, has become the aim of medical practice. However, a precise definition of health and healthspan is not straightforward, and the causal molecular basis of health “per se” is largely unknown. Here, we define health based on the absence of diseases and dysfunctions. Based on an extensive review of the literature, in particular for humans and C. elegans, we compile a list of features of health and of the genes associated with them. Clusters of these genes based on molecular interaction data give rise to maps of healthspan pathways for humans, featuring the themes transcription initiation, proliferation and cholesterol/lipid processing, and for C. elegans, featuring the themes immune response, mitochondrion and biosynthesis based on genetic and compound intervention data, and lipids, biosynthesis and transcription based on WormBase compound intervention data. Overlaying healthspan-related gene expression data (describing effects of metabolic intervention associated with improvements in health) onto the aforementioned healthspan pathway maps, we observe the downregulation of Notch signalling in humans and of proliferation/cell-cycle in C. elegans. The former reflects the proinflammatory role of the Notch pathway. We identify transcription, proliferation/biosynthesis and lipids as a common theme on the annotation level, and proliferation-related kinases on the gene/protein level. Our literature-based data corpus, including visualization, is available as a reference for future investigations, at http://www.h2020awe. eu/index.php/pathways/.
Structure and in vitro digestibility on complex of corn starch with soy isoflavone

Abstract Rapid starch digestion rate is negative for the normal level of human blood glucose. This study investigated the protective effects of corn starch (CS) complexed with soy isoflavone (SI) on the control of starch digestibility and glycemic index (GI). The structure of the corn starch–soy isoflavone (CS‐SI) complexes was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the complexes digestibility was evaluated using in vitro digestion model. The results of FT‐IR spectrum showed that, compared with corn starch, new characteristic peaks were not occurred in CS‐SI complexes, and the value of R1047/1022 was decreased, which indicated the short‐range structure of CS‐SI complexes had been reduced. The V‐shaped structure characteristic peaks occurred obviously in CS‐SI complexes detected by XRD patterns, which formed a new crystalline structure. The thermal stability was improved in CS‐SI complexes revealed by TGA and DTG curves that the thermal cracking temperature increased from 315°C to 320°C. The enthalpy (ΔH) of CS‐SI complexes decreased from 2.34 J/g to 1.75 J/g showed by DSC data, which indicated that the ordered structure of starch was destroyed. Furthermore, the content of resistant starch increased from 10.53% to 21.78% and predicted glycemic index (pGI) reduced in CS‐SI complexes. In conclusion, the digestibility and pGI of starch can be improved by complexed with soy isoflavone.
Diversity patterns across 1,800 chloroplast genomes of wild (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) and cultivated rice (O. sativa L.)

Cultivated Asian rice (O. sativa L.) comprises several groups with distinct ecological requirements and culinary uses. While the two subspecies of O. sativa – indica and japonica – have been subjected to a multitude of genetic and genomic analyses, less is known about the origins and diversity of the agronomically marginal groups – aus and aromatic rice. Here we reconstructed complete chloroplast genomes of over 1,800 accessions of wild and cultivated rice, including 240 aus and 73 aromatic varieties, and analysed the haplotype diversity of the taxonomic groups. We confirm the deep phylogenetic divergence between the main chloroplast haplotypes of japonica and indica, and reveal unique profiles of chloroplast diversity in aus and aromatic rice. Our results indicate that the latter two groups are not simple derivatives of indica and japonica, respectively, but originated from independent and/or reticulate domestication processes. Absence of phylogeographic patterns in the wild distribution of chloroplast haplogroups did not allow firm conclusions about geographic origins and the role of inter-group gene flow. Nonetheless, our results suggest that the domestication of indica, japonica, aus and aromatic rice operated on genetically different gene pools and followed different dynamics.
Effect of salinity stress on germination and early seedling growth of different Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) genotypes

Elevated soil saline levels resulting from natural geological, hydrological and pedological process, and from using salty water for irrigation may inhibit seed germination and seedling establishment of safflower, the prospective oil-seed crops. A germination study on safflower seeds and a short-term toxicity experiment with different concentrations of NaCl (control, 50, 100 and 200 mM) on safflower seedlings were conducted. Percent germination over control decreased significantly with increasing concentrations of NaCl. There were genotypic differences among the test genotypes in response to salt stress exposure. The performance of the G5 (Gilla) was the best among the genotypes. Germination of G5 was not inhibited at all up to 100 mM NaCl treatment. Root tolerance index (RTI) and relative shoot height (RSH) for safflower seedlings decreased with increasing concentrations of NaCl. In general, G5 (Gilla) has more tolerance to NaCl than the other studied genotypes.
Cone opsin gene variants in color blindness and other vision disorders

The long wavelength sensitive (L) and middle wavelength sensitive (M) photopigments are encoded in a tandem array on the X chromosome. Due to their close proximity and high sequence homology, this locus is prone to unequal homologous recombination resulting in intermixing of the L and M opsin genes. This thesis explores the enormous variability in both L and M gene sequence and in total opsin gene copy number that results from this process. In a sample of 1022 normal trichromatic males, there were 89 unique L sequences and 31 unique M sequences. A majority of opsin gene arrays contained extra M opsin genes (55%) and a small number (5%) contained extra L opsin genes. Array structure was found to vary by race: African Americans were more likely to have extra L genes (10%); Caucasians to have extra M genes (64%); and Asians to have arrays without extra genes (54%). A second study of 335 women unselected for color vision phenotype was used to explore the frequency of extra cone types in the retina. Between 42% and 60% had opsin gene arrays indicative of having four cone types and between 2.4% and 11% had arrays indicative of five. The ability of the visual system to make use of these extra cone types to create a new chromatic channel is exceedingly rare though there may be a possibility of training women who have a fourth cone type to use it by creating artificial stimuli that specifically activate the extra cone in isolation of the other three. In a second project, knowledge of the gene mutations and rearrangements that lead to color vision deficiencies underpinned the creation of a genetic assay to find and classify color defects. That assay was tested on 1872 human subjects and its potential for use in clinical diagnosis was evaluated. Our results indicate that information about the underlying pathology of color blindness derived from genetic analyses can be extremely valuable in accurate diagnosis, and that a test incorporating gene analyses supplemented with behavioral testing approaches the ideal color vision test. While most opsin variants lead to normally functioning photopigments, certain variants that encode “toxic” sequences in exon three lead to serious eye diseases with symptoms that include cone dystrophy, diminished ERGs, color blindness, and pathologically high myopia. A virally-mediated gene therapy treatment aimed at curing these diseases was designed using the modified AAV2 capsid 7M8 that has enhanced tropism toward photoreceptors and an optimized expression cassette to drive high expression in cone cells. Initial work in a mouse model shows that this construct is capable of driving high and highly specific expression in cones following minimally invasive intravitreal injections. Further examination of the construct in mice using immunohistochemistry, spectral ERG, and behavioral testing will determine whether this is a viable approach to curing these diseases of the cones in human patients.
The Ecosystem of Competitive Employment for University Graduates with Autism

ABSTRACT There is a growing population of young people with autism entering higher education and successfully completing qualifications, however, their postgraduate outcomes are often some of the poorest. This study responds to the gap in research regarding the transition out of higher education and into the labour market for this group. It outlines a two-phase qualitative research design to examine barriers and pathways to competitive employment for graduates with autism. Findings report the heterogenous experience of autism, the importance of natural supports such as family, universities, or supported employment for success, and the impact of attitudes regarding autism and inclusive practice expressed by employers and wider society. The study further analyses how people, practices and policies often interact contingently to open up or close down opportunities for graduates with autism within the ecosystem of competitive employment.
EFFECTS OF LANDUSE AND LANDCOVER CHANGE ON FLOODING IN KANO METROPOLIS, KANO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT This paper looked at the change in land use land cover (LULC) of Kano metropolis from 2001 to 2012; projected to 2035 and thereby assessing the response of these different land covers to rainfall event using the Hydrologic Engineering Corps- Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS) model. The outcome of the LULC revealed that the built-up areas increased from 19.7% to 34.4% and then to 54.4% in 2001, 2012 and 2035, respectively. The discharge of Jakara basin indicated a rise from 2001, 2012 to 2035 in the order of 443, 585.2 to 609.7 cm3/sec respectively. However, that of Chalawa shows increase between 2001 and 2012 and a decrease in 2035 as a result of canalization within the basin. The paper recommended adherence to the city masterplan and construction of canals within each sub-drainage basin for proper conveyance of run-off discharge.