Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leptin Receptor Gln223Arg Polymorphism of Human Spermatozoa Associated with Male Infertility in a Chinese Population

Background Leptin (LEP) is believed to play a crucial role in male reproduction, while the molecular mechanisms through which LEP affects the male reproductive system are unclear. LEP acts by binding to a leptin receptor (LEPR) which mediates its physiological action, but there are only limited studies on the function of LEPR in human sperm. Purpose This study aimed to determine the Gln223Arg polymorphisms of the LEPR gene in human spermatozoa and evaluate their possible relationship with semen variables. Methods The study was performed on Chinese men: 115 healthy subjects and 108 patients with primary and 98 with secondary infertility. Semen samples were obtained from all patients, and semen variables were analyzed. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of Gln223Arg polymorphism in spermatozoa were determined by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square test, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and the Mann–Whitney test. Results There were no significant differences in genotypic or allelic frequency distributions of Gln223Arg polymorphism among men with primary infertility, secondary infertility, and controls. Similarly, semen volume and sperm concentration did not differ with the different genotypes in all groups of men. The percentages of motile sperm for AA + AG genotypes in men with primary infertility (31.98%) were significantly lower than those in secondary infertility, and control men with GG genotypes were 34.41% and 59.36%, respectively. At the same time, the percentages of normal morphology sperm for AA + AG genotypes in men with primary infertility (2.93%) were significantly lower than those in secondary infertility and control men with GG genotypes 3.71% and 6.54%, respectively. Conclusion This study reveals a possible association between the Gln223Arg polymorphism of the LEPR gene in spermatozoa affecting spermatozoal membrane integrity and having a direct role in sperm motility.
Making Versus Viewing Art: Effects on Affect, Enjoyment, and Flow

In two studies, we compared whether making and viewing art improved affect and whether the affective benefits were due to participants’ experience of enjoyment and flow. In Study 1, participants engaged in an art-making and art-viewing activity separated by one week. In Study 2, participants were randomly assigned to an art-making or art-viewing activity. In both studies, we induced a negative mood in participants by having them watch a sad film clip. We measured positive and negative affects before and after the mood induction and after the activity. In Study 2, participants rated levels of enjoyment and flow experienced during the activity. Both making and viewing art reduced negative affect equally. However, making art improved positive affect more than viewing art, and making art was associated with greater enjoyment than viewing art. Actively making art is a potentially more powerful way to improve affect than passively viewing art.
Event-Based Predefined-Time Second-Order Practical Consensus With Application to Connected Automated Vehicles

In this study, an event-based control strategy is proposed for second-order disturbed multi-agent systems (MASs) to achieve predefined-time practical consensus. In comparison to the finite/fixed-time control, the predefined-time consensus (PTC) control can be achieved in a completely pre-specified time. For the predefined-time second-order practical consensus, the global information of the system is not required to calculate the estimate of the convergence time, including the initial states and communication topology. In addition, the singular problem and the communication loop problem are also avoided. Moreover, an event-based control strategy is developed to obtain the predefined-time second-order practical consensus, which can effectively reduce the operating frequency and wear of actuator under the predefined-time convergence. Furthermore, the control input and the measurement error are designed by utilizing the hyperbolic tangent function, then the non-differential problem and Zeno behavior can be excluded. Finally, an example of connected automated vehicles is given to validate the effectiveness of our results.
DEFORMATION-BASED EXCAVATION SUPPORT SYSTEM DESIGN METHOD

Development in urban areas around the world has steadily increased in recent years. This rapid development has not been matched by the ever decreasing open space commonly associated with urban centers. Vertical construction, thus, lends itself a very useful solution to this problem. Deep excavation is often required for urban construction. Unfortunately, the ground movements associated with deep excavation can result in damage to adjacent buildings. Thus, it is critically important to accurately predict the damage potential of nearby deep excavations and designing adequate support systems. A new design method is proposed, as an attempt, to address the problem. The method is semi-empirical and directly links excavation-induced distortions experienced by nearby buildings and the components of the excavation support system. Unlike, the traditional limit equilibrium approach, the method is driven by the distortions in adjacent buildings. It goes further to propose a preliminary cost chart to help designers during the design phase. The benefit is that initial cost is known real time and will help speed up making business decisions. A new design flowchart is proposed to guide the designer through a step-by-step procedure. The method is validated using 2D Plaxis (the finite element program) simulation. Though the nature of deep excavation is three-dimensional, a plane strain condition is valid when the length of the excavation is long. Hence, two-dimensional finite element simulation was considered appropriate for this effort. Five hypothetical cases were compared and the model performed very well. The lack of available literature on this approach made verification difficult. It is hoped that future case histories will be used to ascertain the veracity of the deformation-based design method.
PERFORMANCE OF TWO SOYBEANS ( Glycine MaxL. Merr) CULTIVARS IN DIFFERENT WEEDING T IMES UNDER NO TILLAGE

Weeds are the main problem in soybean production due to their harmful effects and its need to control properly in the right time for effective control andmaintain yield. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of weeding time on density of weeds and yield of soybean under no tillage system. Five weeding times (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 weeks after sowing) and two soybean cultivars (Sindoro and Slamet) were tested in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The h ighest summed dominance ratio (SDR) of weeds was Cynodon dacylon and Cyperus rotundusthan other weedsat different time of weeding. Weeding at two weeks after sowing under no tillage gave the higher soybean yield than other weeding time.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease as a Paradoxical Reaction to Anti-TNF-α Treatment—A Review

TNF-α inhibitors (TNFis) have revolutionized the treatment of certain chronic immune-mediated diseases, being widely and successfully used in rheumatic inflammatory diseases, and have also proved their efficacy in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, among the side effects of these agents are the so-called paradoxical effects. They can be defined as the appearance or exacerbation of a pathological condition that usually responds to this class of drug while treating a patient for another condition. A wide range of paradoxical effects have been reported including dermatological, intestinal and ophthalmic conditions. The causal mechanism of occurrence may implicate an imbalance of cytokines, but is still not fully understood, and remains a matter of debate. These paradoxical reactions often show improvement on discontinuation of the medication or on switching to another TNFi, but in some cases it is a class effect that could lead to the withdrawal of all anti-TNF agents. Close monitoring of patients treated with TNFis is necessary in order to detect paradoxical reactions. In this study we focus on reviewing IBD occurrence as a paradoxical effect of TNFi therapy in patients with rheumatological diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis).
The Chemosensing Role of CatSper in Mammalian Sperm: An Updated Review

After sperm enter the female reproductive tract, the physicochemical and biochemical microenvironment undergoes significant changes. In particular, the large changes in various ions encountered by sperm may alter the physiology of sperm, ultimately compromising capacitation and fertilization. Thus, the rapid response to environmental variations is vital for sperm functions. For example, Calcium, the most crucial ion for sperm functions, enters into sperm via Ca2+ permeable ion channels. The cation channel of sperm (CatSper) is a sperm-specific, pH-sensitive, and Ca2+-permeable ion channel. It is responsible for the predominant Ca2+ entry in mammalian sperm and is involved in nearly every event of sperm to acquire fertilizing capability. In addition, CatSper also serves as a pivotal polymodal chemosensor in mammalian sperm by responding to multiple chemical cues. Physiological chemicals (such as progesterone, prostaglandins, β-defensins, and odorants) provoke Ca2+ entry into sperm by activating CatSper and thus triggering sperm functions. Additionally, synthetic and natural chemicals (such as medicines, endocrine disrupting chemicals, drugs of abuse, and antioxidants) affect sperm functions by regulating CatSper-dependent Ca2+ signaling. Therefore, understanding the interactions between CatSper and extracellular ligands sheds light on the mechanisms underlying male infertility and offers innovative diagnostic and treatment approaches. This underscores the importance of CatSper as a crucial regulatory target in male reproduction, linking sperm function with the extracellular environment. In conclusion, this review comprehensively summarizes the relevant studies describing the environmental factors that affect CatSper in humans and rodents.
Adolescents’ Perceptions of a Relapse Prevention Treatment for Problematic Gaming—A Qualitative Study

Given the increasing prevalence of problematic gaming, in 2013, the diagnosis “Internet gaming disorder (IGD)” was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) as a potential diagnosis. With a new diagnosis, it is important to determine treatment options. The importance of the parent–child relationship has been emphasised in problematic gaming and its treatment. This study aims to provide more knowledge about adolescents’ perceptions of a treatment for problematic gaming and understand whether such treatment may have a bearing on the parent–child relationship. We conducted individual interviews with nine adolescents who completed a treatment for problematic gaming. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The analysis revealed three themes. Theme 1: adolescents’ experiences of the new treatment; Theme 2: adolescents’ perceptions of the effect of the treatment on their gaming behaviour; and Theme 3: adolescents’ perceptions of changes in their parent–child relationships. The adolescents viewed the treatment as a way of gaining control of their gaming, a process in which a therapist played an integral part. For the majority of the adolescents in our study, the main effects of treatment were gaining insight into how their gaming and gaming-related behaviours affected other parts of their lives. The participants felt that the treatment improved their relationship with their parents through reducing everyday conflicts. This new knowledge can be used for the development of future interventions involving children and adolescents.
Rationally Designed Pyrimidine Compounds: Promising Novel Antibiotics for the Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus-Associated Bovine Mastitis

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major pathogens causing bovine mastitis, and antibiotic treatment is most often inefficient due to its virulence and antibiotic-resistance attributes. The development of new antibiotics for veterinary use should account for the One Health concept, in which humans, animals, and environmental wellbeing are all interconnected. S. aureus can infect cattle and humans alike and antibiotic resistance can impact both if the same classes of antibiotics are used. New effective antibiotic classes against S. aureus are thus needed in dairy farms. We previously described PC1 as a novel antibiotic, which binds the S. aureus guanine riboswitch and interrupts transcription of essential GMP synthesis genes. However, chemical instability of PC1 hindered its development, evaluation, and commercialization. Novel PC1 analogs with improved stability have now been rationally designed and synthesized, and their in vitro and in vivo activities have been evaluated. One of these novel compounds, PC206, remains stable in solution and demonstrates specific narrow-spectrum activity against S. aureus. It is active against biofilm-embedded S. aureus, its cytotoxicity profile is adequate, and in vivo tests in mice and cows show that it is effective and well tolerated. PC206 and structural analogs represent a promising new antibiotic class to treat S. aureus-induced bovine mastitis.
The effect of metformin along with high-intensity interval training on gene expression of FoxO1 and Atrogin-1 in type 2 diabetic mice

Background and aims: Muscle atrophy is a complication of type 2 diabetes, in which the expression of atrophy-related genes is increased. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and metformin on gene expression of two atrophy-related genes (i.e., FoxO1 and Atrogin-1) in the skeletal muscle of diabetic mice. Methods: A total of 30 mice (C57BL/6) were assigned to two groups: control (n=6), and high-fat diet (HFD) (n=24). The mice in the HFD group were fed a HDF for 16 weeks. Then, diabetes was induced in mice by HFD. Then, they were divided into 4 groups as follows: (i) diabetic control, (ii) diabetes + metformin (DM), (iii) diabetes + HIIT (DH), and (iv) diabetes + metformin + HIIT (DMH). The DM group took metformin, the HIIT group performed a HIIT program, and the DMH group had both HIIT and metformin. The real-time PCR methods were used to measure the mRNA expression of FoxO1 and Atrogin-1. Results: The findings showed that HFD-induced diabetes caused increases in the expression of FoxO1 (P=0.0006) and Atrogin-1 (P=0.0008), and HIIT could restrain these increments (P=0.086, P=0.041). However, the decreasing effect of metformin on the expression of these genes was not significant (P=0.15) and the combined effect of HIIT and metformin on the expression of these genes was not greater than the individual effect of HIIT (P=0.64). Conclusion: These results indicated that HIIT (but not metformin) may prevent type 2 diabetes-induced downregulation of FoxO1 and Atrogin-1 in skeletal muscle, and metformin could not affect the impact of the training on these atrophy-related genes.
AoI-Based Transmission Scheduling for Cyber Physical Systems Over Fading Channel Against Eavesdropping

This article investigates the transmission scheduling problem of cyber physical systems (CPSs). Specifically, in a CPS, a sensor collects real-time data of the monitoring area and at each decision epoch, the system must determine whether to transmit data packets to the gateway through an unreliable wireless channel. Furthermore, we assume that the CPS is subject to an energy-harvesting (EH) eavesdropper, and the communication channel is wiretapped randomly when the harvested energy of the eavesdropper is sufficient. The objective is to obtain the optimal transmission scheduling to minimize the Age of Information (AoI) of the CPS while keeping the AoI of eavesdropper above a certain level. To achieve this, we first transform the system model into a Markov decision process (MDP). We then prove that the optimal transmission scheduling policy is a threshold behavior on the AoI of both the CPS and the eavesdropper, respectively. Based on the structural properties of the optimal policy, we have developed a new backward induction algorithm to compute the optimal AoI-based transmission scheduling and the performance index function with lower computational costs compared to the conventional induction algorithm. Finally, we verify the validity of the algorithm and the correctness of the theoretical results through simulations.
Analysis of Hand Intra-Finger Couplings During Flexion Movements in the Free Space

The anatomy of the human hand is characterized by intrinsic coupling mechanisms at the level of the tendons and bone structure. The intra-finger constraints, in particular, represent coupled movements of the joints of the same finger. Previous studies verified the existence of intra-finger couplings for circular and prismatic grasps, and hypothesized the existence of such couplings for free flexion-extension movements of the fingers without, however, quantifying them. The aim of this work was: i) to calculate subject-specific intra-finger couplings during flexion movements in the free space by exploiting a marker-based motion capture system and a validated kinematic protocol to guarantee high accuracy of the reconstructed hand kinematics, ii) to understand the effect of the hand size and of the finger on the coupling relations, and iii) to establish generalized coupling coefficients that could be used to simplify the kinematic hand model. To this purpose, ten healthy subjects performed flexion-extension movements of the fingers. Subject-specific couplings were extracted through linear regression analysis on pairs of adjacent joint angle trajectories: proximal couplings represented the relation between the Proximal-Inter-Phalangeal and MetaCarpo-Phalangeal joints for the long fingers and between the MetaCarpo-Phalangeal and Carpo-MetaCarpal joints for the thumb, whereas distal couplings represented the relation between the Distal-Inter-Phalangeal and Proximal-Inter-Phalangeal joints for the long fingers and between Inter-Phalangeal and MetaCarpo-Phalangeal joints for the thumb. The subject-specific coupling coefficients were independent from the hand size, and a difference between the distal couplings of the thumb and of the index, middle and ring fingers was highlighted. Regression analysis on the average flexion trajectories calculated on the ten participants showed a linear trend for both proximal and distal couplings ( $R^{2}>0.97$ ) and small Root Mean Square Errors (1.63 deg on average). Coupling coefficients ranged 1.4 – 1.9 and 0.7 – 0.9 for the proximal and distal couplings respectively. Given its distinctive kinematic structure, the thumb exhibited a particular behaviour, as its proximal and distal couplings were the same. The extracted couplings represent normative coupling values on a population of ten individuals. The obtained results suggest the possibility of simplifying the kinematic hand model by imposing linear relations between the joints of each finger, thus reducing the number of independent degrees of freedom to one for each finger. This could be used to define input design parameters for the development of biomimetic hand prostheses and exoskeletons.
Elicitation of trustworthiness requirements for highly dexterous teleoperation systems with signal latency

Introduction Teleoperated robotic manipulators allow us to bring human dexterity and cognition to hard-to-reach places on Earth and in space. In long-distance teleoperation, however, the limits of the speed of light results in an unavoidable and perceivable signal delay. The resultant disconnect between command, action, and feedback means that systems often behave unexpectedly, reducing operators' trust in their systems. If we are to widely adopt telemanipulation technology in high-latency applications, we must identify and specify what would make these systems trustworthy. Methods In this requirements elicitation study, we present the results of 13 interviews with expert operators of remote machinery from four different application areas—nuclear reactor maintenance, robot-assisted surgery, underwater exploration, and ordnance disposal—exploring which features, techniques, or experiences lead them to trust their systems. Results We found that across all applications, except for surgery, the top-priority requirement for developing trust is that operators must have a comprehensive engineering understanding of the systems' capabilities and limitations. The remaining requirements can be summarized into three areas: improving situational awareness, facilitating operator training, and familiarity, and easing the operator's cognitive load. Discussion While the inclusion of technical features to assist the operators was welcomed, these were given lower priority than non-technical, user-centric approaches. The signal delays in the participants' systems ranged from none perceived to 1 min, and included examples of successful dexterous telemanipulation for maintenance tasks with a 2 s delay. As this is comparable to Earth-to-orbit and Earth-to-Moon delays, the requirements discussed could be transferable to telemanipulation tasks in space.