Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and construction of a new biosynthetic pathway for the production of curcuminoids in Escherichia coli

Curcuminoids are plant phenolic compounds with great anti-cancer potential. This thesis addresses the construction of an artificial biosynthetic pathway for curcuminoids production in Escherichia coli. This production was triggered by chemical or thermal induction to be used in industrial applications or bacterial therapies, respectively. To produce curcuminoids, including curcumin, from tyrosine, caffeic acid was produced as an intermediate in the pathway. The caffeic acid pathway design included tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL) from Rhodotorula glutinis to convert tyrosine to p-coumaric acid and 4-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (C3H) from Saccharothrix espanaensis or cytochrome P450 CYP199A2 from Rhodopseudomonas palustris to convert p-coumaric acid to caffeic acid. TAL was able to efficiently convert tyrosine to p-coumaric acid and CYP199A2 exhibited higher catalytic activity towards p-coumaric acid than C3H. This is the first study that shows caffeic acid production using CYP199A2 and tyrosine as the initial precursor; 280 mg/L of caffeic acid was produced. After validating the first steps of the pathway, curcuminoids production was studied. The best results were obtained with Arabidopsis thaliana 4-coumaroyl-CoA ligase (4CL1) and Curcuma longa diketide-CoA synthase (DCS) and curcumin synthase (CURS1), yielding 70 mg/L of curcumin from ferulic acid. To produce curcumin through the caffeic acid pathway, caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase from Medicago sativa was used to convert caffeoyl-CoA to feruloyl-CoA. Using caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid or tyrosine as a substrate, 3.90 mg/L, 0.26 mg/L and 0.20 mg/L of curcumin were produced, respectively. Finally, caffeic acid and curcumin production was induced by heat using the dnaK heat shock promoter. Caffeic acid was successfully produced from tyrosine using TAL, C3H or CYP199A2 and the highest production was 14.41 mg/L. Regarding curcumin, 0.37 mg/L was produced from ferulic acid using 4CL1, DCS and CURS1. This is the first report on the in vivo use of DCS and CURS1 to produce curcuminoids. It was also demonstrated that curcumin can be produced from tyrosine using a pathway through the caffeic acid production. This alternative pathway represents a significant improvement in the heterologous production of curcuminoids using E. coli. In addition, caffeic acid and curcumin production in E. coli can be triggered by heat, thus suggesting its potential for the development of new bacterial therapies.
Understanding cancer.

Life is for an engaging and concise way into a key biological topic. Offering a multidisciplinary perspective, these accessible common misconceptions and misunderstandings in a thoughtful way to help stimulate debate and encour-age a more in-depth understanding. by these are for anyone wanting an expert overview that enable clearer thinking on each ‘ Understanding Cancer is a fascinating and engaging perspective on the evolution of cancer research and treatment. Dr Hesketh provides insight into the key clinicians and scientists, following their discoveries in clinical care and research. It is clear that achievements in cancer treatments are rooted in basic research, and the book highlights the collaborations required between scientists and oncologists in order to make the next leap of advances in treating cancer. Dr Hesketh over-views the likely mutagenic causes of cancer spurring on the oncogenic transitions leading to a cancer cell that can replicate uncontrollably. He also highlights new avenues in cancer research, such as studies on components of the tumor microenvironment (i.e. blood vessel cells, immune cells), which can then lead to the development of additional ‘ ammunition ’ to battle cancer. Dr Hesketh conveys that preventive measures and advances in early cancer detection could make an impact on cancer incidence and patient outcomes/survival. This book is certainly a triumph and a must-read for all current and future scientists, physicians at any stage of their professional careers and anyone interested in cancer research and the quest for effective anti-cancer treatments.
Offense is the best defense: the impact of workplace bullying on knowledge hiding

Workplace bullying is a common negative event suffered by employees in the workplace. The harm it brings to the organization has become the focus of the field of organizational behavior. The purpose of this study was to explore whether workplace bullying has an impact on employee knowledge hiding and to discover the underlying mechanism between the two. ,Based on the conservation of resource theory and the cognitive-affective personality system theory, this paper surveys 327RD emotional exhaustion and organizational identification play a mediation role between workplace bullying and knowledge hiding, and both variables play a chain mediation role in that relationship; and forgiveness climate moderates the positive impact of workplace bullying on emotional exhaustion, further moderating the chain mediation role of emotional exhaustion and organizational identification. ,The findings of this study can not only complement the existing researches on the influence of negative workplace events on employees’ knowledge hiding behaviors but also strengthen scholars’ attention and understanding of the internal mechanism between workplace bullying and knowledge hiding.
What Do We Know About Individual Equity Options?

This paper examines the empirical literature on individual equity options, discussing results in areas of consensus, showing findings in areas of disagreement and providing a guide for future research (especially highlighting analyses that cannot be performed with index options). Key topics include the impact of equity option listings on the underlying stock market, option market efficiency, anomalies in equity option returns, option market microstructure, investors' behavioural biases, option price discovery and private information revealed in equity option markets. Some directions for future research include the determinants of equity option returns and the effect of algorithmic trading in option markets.
Design and Performance Comparison of Vernier and Conventional PM Synchronous Wind Generators

In recent years, the permanent magnet vernier machine (PMVM) has attracted much attention in the research community. Many studies have shown that PMVMs possess superior torque density and are suitable for high-torque and low-speed applications. Some of them compared PMVMs with the direct-drive permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs), but these studies focused mainly on sub-kW power levels. There is little work in the literature that conducted the comprehensive evaluation of PMVM technology for more specific applications. This article presents the design optimization of a 15-kW surface-mounted PMVM and its comparison with an equivalent conventional PMSM for wind generator applications. It attempts to objectively weigh the relative merits of the two wind generator systems and outline their respective advantages and disadvantages. For validation purposes, an optimally designed 15-kW PMVM was constructed and experimentally evaluated, which is one of the largest PMVM prototypes ever reported in the literature. It shows that the PMVM can be a competitive alternative to the PMSM for this application.
Opportunity Costs, Leadership, and Cooperation in Strategic Alliances

This paper presents a model of behaviour in strategic alliances, the iterated assurance game model with an exit option. From the literature review and the derived model, several hypotheses are proposed and then tested using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Data was collected from self-administered questionnaires sent to emails of manufacturing firms in Russia. Results show there is no leadership effect on cooperation in dyadic alliances. Results also show that firms with high opportunity costs are more cooperative than firms with low opportunity costs. These results corroborate previous theoretical findings but challenge previous studies in laboratory experiments. They also suggest new avenues for further research on alliance partners’ behaviour.
Shear thickening in dense non-Brownian suspensions: Viscous to inertial transition

We present an experimental study on the viscous to inertial mode of shear thickening in dense non-Brownian suspensions. We design a model suspension consisting of monosized spherical particles within a Newtonian suspending fluid. We develop a protocol for the rheological characterization of dense suspensions using the conventional rheometry technique. Our results provide constitutive laws for suspensions with solid volume fractions close to jamming when both viscous and inertial effects at the particle scale are present. We perform atomic force microscopy to measure forces between the particles immersed in the suspending fluid and show that our system of study corresponds to the frictionless regime of dense suspensions in which viscous and collisional forces dissipate the energy. Finally, we show that the proposed empirical constitutive laws, when approaching jamming, predict the dynamics of dense suspensions in a transient boundary driven flow.We present an experimental study on the viscous to inertial mode of shear thickening in dense non-Brownian suspensions. We design a model suspension consisting of monosized spherical particles within a Newtonian suspending fluid. We develop a protocol for the rheological characterization of dense suspensions using the conventional rheometry technique. Our results provide constitutive laws for suspensions with solid volume fractions close to jamming when both viscous and inertial effects at the particle scale are present. We perform atomic force microscopy to measure forces between the particles immersed in the suspending fluid and show that our system of study corresponds to the frictionless regime of dense suspensions in which viscous and collisional forces dissipate the energy. Finally, we show that the proposed empirical constitutive laws, when approaching jamming, predict the dynamics of dense suspensions in a transient boundary driven flow.
Distributed Secondary Voltage Control in Islanded Microgrids With Consideration of Communication Network and Time Delays

The extensive usage of open communication mechanisms in distributed secondary control of islanded microgrids (MGs) suggests that the effects of the communication network and time delays on system performance cannot be negligible. Based on the relationship between convergence and algebraic connectivity, this paper proposes an optimal design for a directed communication topology and pinning location through the mirror operation and global propagation rates, respectively. Alternatively, a small-signal dynamic model of an MG equipped with time-delayed distributed secondary voltage control is derived, to investigate the delay-dependent stability of MG system in terms of the controller, network and pinning conditions. An analytical formula is then developed to determine the individual delay margins with respect to different sets of controller gains and pinning. Through a series of trials, the qualitative effects of controller parameters and pinning conditions on delay margins can be used to guide the design of both controllers and pinning for the improved system performance. The effectiveness of proposed methodology is verified via the real-time hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations.
Improved analytical modeling and mechanical characterization of gas diffusion layers under compression load

Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are the most rigid layers in a 5‐layer or 7‐layer membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Therefore, in the fuel cell analysis, the mechanical properties of GDLs have a great impact on the stress distribution of the membrane as well as the performance of the whole cell. However, the mechanical properties of GDLs are not sufficiently studied. Nonlinear behavior of GDLs under cyclic compression is discussed rarely in literature. The existing model takes both constraints into consideration, but due to a geometrical oversimplification of the carbon paper microstructure, it shows some deviation, which cannot be overcome by selecting appropriate parameters. In this paper, the geometry of carbon paper microstructure has been reanalyzed. Based on the improved geometry formula, a modified model of carbon paper GDL is presented and verified by experimental data. Furthermore, both the experimental mechanical characteristics are achieved as support data for the improved model.
Mindful, Neurotic, or Both: Efficacy of Online Single-session Mindfulness

With the popularity of online websites and apps that use mindfulness audio recording to teach mindfulness practice, it piqued our interest to examine how online mindfulness practice like Headspace can be helpful to the non-clinical population. In response to the limitations outlined in previous studies, we also examine the moderation effect of two individual differences (i.e., neuroticism and dispositional mindfulness). The current study aimed to investigate the efficacy of brief (15 min) single-session mindfulness on attention regulation (as measured by word-colour Stoop task) and to assess the moderation effect of individual differences. This experimental design randomly assigned the participants into either the experimental (Headspace) or control group (audiobook recording). Their level of neuroticism and dispositional mindfulness were measured by using the IPIP-NEO-120 and MAAS scale respectively. Results indicate that, in the experiment group, participants’ attention regulation on different levels of neuroticism varied across different level of dispositional mindfulness. However, the patterns of the results were not as expected. This study has shown that in general a single-session mindfulness might not be efficacious in enhancing attention regulation. However, there are specific groups of personality traits that benefitted from it.
THE ISOLATION OF ESTRONE FROM THE BILE OF PREGNANT COWS

Although estrogenic material has been demonstrated to be present in the bile of several mammalian species (1,2), the chemical nature and quantity of the biliary estrogens of endogenous origin have not been determined. Such information might contribute to a better understanding of the rale of the liver in the metabolism of estrogens and might have a bearing on a current theory (3) of an enterohepatic circulation of estrogens. The bile of corns in an advanced stage of pregnancy was deemed to be suitable experimental material for this study, inasmuch as the level of estrogen production during pregnancy is relatively high and because the bile of this species is readily obtainable in quantities adequate for isolation purposes. Butanol extracts were made of an 8.0 liter and of a 23.0 liter pooled specimen (designated as Batches I and II) which had been previously assayed for estrogenic activity. Most of the estrogenic material in the butanol residues was removed by extraction with ao the latter were fractionated into ketones and non-ketones. The ether-insoluble, water-soluble material of the butanol extracts lx-as subjected to acid hydrolysis, followed by extraction with ether. The ethereal extract n-as part’itioned into acid, phenol, and neutral fractions. The estrogenic activity of the phenolic a,ncl acidic fractions was determined by bioassay on spayed adult mice by a vaginal smear technique (4). The results are summarized in Table I. Most of the estrogenic material in the bile of pregnant cows appears to be in an uncombined form, a finding which is similar to that reported for the exogenous estrogen of dog bile (3).
Diatomáceas cêntricas de rios na região de abrangência da usina hidrelétrica de Salto Caxias, PR, (Bacia do rio Iguaçu)

The survey is a floristic inventory of centric diatoms from the region to be flooded by the construction of the Salto Caxias hydroelectric power plant reservoir, in southeast Parana State, Brazil. Planktonic sampling was carried out monthly, from March/97 to February/98. Nineteen infrageneric taxa were identified. Aulacoseira ambigua var. ambigua, A. granulata var. granulata, A. granulata var. angustissima and Melosira varians being the most common taxa, occuring in 85% of the 171 samples studied. Aulacoseira agassizii var. agassizii and Melosira undulata var. normanii are new records for the State of Parana, and Terpsinoe musica var. musica registered for the first time in freshwater environments in this state.
Assessing Mortality Inequality in the U.S.: What Can be Said about the Future?

This paper investigates longevity inequality across U.S. states by modelling and forecasts mortality rates via a forecast reconciliation approach. Understanding the heterogeneity in state-level mortality experience is of fundamental importance, as a key challenge of multi-population mortality modeling is the curse of dimensionality, and the resulting complex dependence structures across sub-populations. Moreover, when projecting future mortality rates, it is important to ensure that the state-level forecasts are coherent with the national-level forecasts. We address these issues by first obtaining independent state-level forecasts based on classical stochastic mortality models, and then incorporating the dependence structure in the forecast reconciliation process. Both traditional bottom-up reconciliation and the cutting-edge trace minimization reconciliation methods are considered. Based on the U.S. total mortality data for the period 1969-2017, we project the 10-year-ahead mortality rates at both national-level and state-level up to 2027. We found that the geographical inequality in the longevity levels is likely to continue in the future, and the mortality improvement rates will tend to slow down in the coming decades.
Quality of ‘Royal Gala’ cut apple during osmotic dehydration

Abstract The present work aimed to evaluate quality parameters of ‘Royal Gala’ apple cubes during osmotic dehydration (OD). We investigated the following OD conditions: osmotic agent, pressure, and temperature. The osmotic agent, being lower after OD with sorbitol than sucrose solutions, mainly influenced the water activity of the product. The color changes increased with increased temperature and were higher in vacuum experiments than at atmospheric pressure. In general, we recommend OD at 25 °C and atmospheric pressure for the preservation of the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA) of apple cubes during the process. Peleg’s model was found to provide the best fit of TPC and AA data.
Variations in soil bacterial communities and putative functions in a sugarcane soil following five years of chemical fertilization

ABSTRACT Chemical fertilizers are often applied to increase soil nutrient contents and improve crop yields. However, the impact of chemical fertilizers on abiotic and biotic characteristics of soil is unclear. Here, we investigated the variations in soil chemical properties and bacterial communities of sugarcane soil after a five-year chemical fertilization period with five different regimes, namely, Control (no fertilizer), PK (phosphorus plus potassium fertilizer), NK (nitrogen plus potassium fertilizer), NP (nitrogen plus potassium fertilizer), and NPK (combined nitrogen, phosphorus plus potassium fertilizer). We found that N-addition fertilizer treatments resulted in lower bacterial biodiversity as estimated by Chao1 and Shannon’s indexes. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Actinobacteria were the predominant phyla in all of the fertilizer treatments. The concentrations of different N forms (TN, NH4 +-N, and NO3 –N) were the most important factors in shaping bacterial community structure. Functional groups involved in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling significantly increased or decreased with chemical N-related fertilizer treatments (NK, NP, and NPK). The community composition and functions related to element cycling of soil bacteria were strongly affected by N-containing fertilizer treatments. The results suggest that bacterial communities in sugarcane soil may have been phylogenetically and functionally altered in response to chemical fertilization.
Disorders of Sex Development and Germ Cell Cancer: genetics and microenvironment

textabstractThe ultimate purpose of sexual reproduction, which depends on specialized male and female anatomy and physiology, is to enable continuation of a species and introduction of genetic diversity. In mammals the developmental path towards a male or a female is in principle determined at the moment of fertilization, when either a Y- or an X-chromosome is inherited from the father. The subsequent chromosomal constitution, either XY (male) or XX (female) (referred to as chromosomal sex), will eventually drive formation of a testis or an ovary (the so called gonadal sex). This in turn will result in the next step in sex determination (the phenotypic sex), ultimately leading to a phenotypical male or female respectively. Because of the relevance of the general principles related to this phenomenon in understanding the various levels in which pathological gonadal processes can occur, the next paragraphs will explain these issues in more detail. These are schematically shown in Figure 1 and 2. Some of the items to be discussed are (partially) presented in Chapter 3.
Mediation effect of financial attitude on financial knowledge and financial behavior

In this study, 396 university students in Turkey are surveyed online regarding their attitudes towards financial issues, their level of financial knowledge, and their financial behavior. The latest version of OECD/INFE Financial Literacy Survey (2018) is used in the study. Using SPSS and LISREL. Factor analysis, Cronbach's Alpha, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) are used to analyze the relationship between financial knowledge of the participants with their financial attitude and behavior as well as the mediation effect of financial attitude in this relationship. In line with the common wisdom that the relationship between knowledge and behavior is higher if knowledge is better reflected in the attitude of the individual, the mediation effect of financial attitude strengthens the financial knowledge and financial behavior relationship.
Effects of Vitamin C supplementation on the glycemic control and cardiovascular risk in type II Diabetes Mellitus

The oral hypoglycaemic agents as well as injectable insulin does not significantly alter the oxidative stress in the diabetes mellitus patients. Being an antioxidant Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) might help in tackling the adversities of reactive oxygen species. A randomized placebo controlled study was carried out with parallel assignment of both the test group and control group of patients. The intervention model included metformin 500mg twice daily and a placebo once daily for control group. Alternatively, Vitamin C chewable tablets were given for the other group along with metformin 500mg twice daily. Our study postulates that there is a significant reduction in the fasting blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin levels, troponin T levels and Framingham risk score in participants who received ascorbic acid supplementation along with regular metformin. The supplementation of Vitamin C along with Metformin was well tolerated and did not cause any serious adverse drug reactions. The cheaper cost adjuvant approach with Vitamin C may be beneficial in patients in reducing the cardiovascular risk as well as to maintain an appropriate glycaemic control