Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of 13 C (cid:1) H and 15 NH backbone dynamics in protein GB1

This study presents a site-resolved experimental view of backbone C (cid:1) H and NH internal motions in the 56-residue immunoglobulin-binding domain of streptococcal protein G, GB1. Using 13 C (cid:1) H and 15 NH NMR relaxation data [ T 1 , T 2 , and NOE] acquired at three resonance frequencies ( 1 H frequencies of 500, 600, and 800 MHz), spectral density functions were calculated as F ( (cid:2) ) (cid:1) 2 (cid:2) J ( (cid:2) ) to provide a model-independent way to visualize and analyze internal motional correlation time distributions for backbone groups in GB1. Line broadening in F ( (cid:2) ) curves indicates the presence of nanosecond time scale internal motions (0.8 to 5 nsec) for all C (cid:1) H and NH groups. Deconvolution of F ( (cid:2) ) curves effectively separates overall tumbling and internal motional correlation time distributions to yield more accurate order parameters than determined by using standard model free approaches. Compared to NH groups, C (cid:1) H internal motions are more broadly distributed on the nanosecond time scale, and larger C (cid:1) H order parameters are related to correlated bond rotations for C (cid:1) H fluctuations. Motional parameters for NH groups are more structurally correlated, with NH order parameters, for example, being larger for residues in more structured regions of (cid:3) -sheet and helix and generally smaller for residues in the loop and turns. This is most likely related to the observation that NH order parameters are correlated to hydrogen bonding. This study contributes to the general understand-ing of protein dynamics and exemplifies an alternative and easier way to analyze NMR relaxation data.
Role of Serum, a Biological Cue, in Adherence of Enterococcus faecalis to Extracellular Matrix Proteins, Collagen, Fibrinogen, and Fibronectin

Background— Most previous reports have found that Enterococcus faecalis isolates do not show significant adherence to fibronectin and fibrinogen Methods— The influence of various conditions on E. faecalis adherence to ECM proteins was evaluated using a radiolabeled adherence assay. Results— Among conditions studied, growth in 40% serum, a biological cue with potential clinical relevance, elicited adherence of all 46 E. faecalis strains tested to fibronectin and fibrinogen, but not to elastin; the adherence levels were independent of strain source and was eliminated by treating cells with trypsin. As previously reported, serum also elicited collagen adherence. While prolonged exposure to serum during growth was needed for enhancement of adherence to fibrinogen, brief exposure (<5 min) to serum had an immediate, although partial, effect on adherence to fibronectin and collagen. Pre-treatment of bacteria with chloramphenicol did not decrease the enhanced fibronectin and collagen adherence, indicating that protein synthesis is not required for the latter effect. Conclusion— Together, these data suggest that serum components may serve i) as host environmental stimuli to induce production of extracellular matrix protein binding adhesin(s), as previously seen with collagen adherence, and also ii) as activators of adherence, perhaps by forming bridges between ECM proteins and adhesins.
Final report project B.LSM.0051 Nutritional management to reduce embryo mortality in short-term flushed ewes

Elevated intakes of protein and energy may increase embryo mortality, but it is not clear whether fresh lucerne (Medicago sativa) pasture poses a risk. A two-year pen study using oestrous synchronised and artificially inseminated Merino ewes (n = 175 in 2013 and 215 in 2014) evaluated whether feeding freshly cut lucerne pasture (mean crude protein 19.7%, metabolisable energy 9.4 MJ/kg DM) at maintenance or ad libitum during different periods around insemination altered reproductive performance in comparison with ewes fed a Control diet (mean crude protein 7.8%, metabolisable energy 9.0 MJ/kg DM) of pelleted faba bean hulls and oat grain hulls at maintenance. The proportion of pregnant ewes carrying multiple fetuses was reduced (P=0.026) when ewes were fed lucerne ad libitum between days 0 and 17 after insemination compared with the Control diet (0.18 and 0.34, respectively), but not when ewes were fed lucerne ad libitum between days 0 and 7 after insemination (0.22). Reproductive performance, including the proportion of ewes pregnant and the proportion with multiple fetuses, was not different (P>0.05) when ewes were fed lucerne at maintenance between days 0 and 7 compared with the Control diet. While reproductive performance was similar when ewes were fed lucerne at maintenance between 0 and 17 days after artificial insemination compared with pellets at maintenance, fetal numbers per pregnant ewe were reduced by feeding lucerne ad libitum after insemination.
Renal Replacement Therapy in AKI

Although the use of renal replacement therapy (RRT) to support critically ill patients with AKI has become routine, many of the fundamental questions regarding optimal management of RRT remain. This review summarizes current evidence regarding the timing of initiation of renal replacement therapy, the selection of the specific modality of RRT, and prescription of intensity of therapy. While absolute indications for initiating RRT such as hyperkalemia and overt uremic symptoms are well recognized, the optimal timing of therapy in patients without these indications continues to be the subject of debate. There does not appear to be a difference in either mortality or recovery of kidney function associated with the various modalities of RRT. Finally, providing higher doses of RRT is not associated with improved clinical outcomes.
Radiofrequency versus Microwave Ablation after Neoadjuvant Transarterial Bland and Drug Eluting Microsphere Chembolization for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Aim— To retrospectively compare the initial response, local recurrence, and complication rates of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) vs microwave ablation (MWA) when combined with neoadjuvant the and of this data. bland transarterial embolization (TAE) or drug eluting microsphere chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods— A total of 35 subjects with BCLC very early and early stage HCC (range 1.2 – 4.1 cm) underwent TAE (23) or TACE (12) with RFA (15) or MWA (20) from 1/2009–6/2015 as either definitive therapy or a bridge to transplant. TAE and TACE were performed with 40–400 μm particles and 30–100 μm plus either Doxorubicin or Epirubicin eluting microspheres respectively. Initial response and local progression were evaluated using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). Complications were graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. Results— Complete response (CR) rates were 80% (12/15) for RFA + TAE/TACE and 95% (19/20) for MWA + TAE/TACE (p value 0.29). Local recurrence (LR) was 30% (4/12) for RFA + TAE/TACE and 0% (0/19) for MWA + TAE/TACE. Durability of response (DR), defined as local disease control for duration of the study, demonstrated a significant difference in favor of MWA (p value 0.0091). There was no statistical difference in complication rates (3 vs 2). Conclusions— MWA and RFA when combined with neoadjuvant TAE or TACE have similar safety and efficacy in the treatment of early stage HCC. MWA provided more durable disease control in this study, however, prospective data remains necessary to evaluate superiority of either modality.
Evaluation of the effects of glucosamine sulfate on poly(3- hydroxybutyrate) -chitosan/carbon nanotubes electrospun scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering applications

ABSTRACT Blend nanofibres composed of synthetic polymers with biological macromolecules, such as natural biopolymers, and 3D structures created via electrospinning technique, have a high potential for modification to promote cell growth and function. In this study, 5 and 7 wt% of glucosamine sulfate (GAS), as one of the key components in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of natural cartilage tissue, were added to poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)-chitosan (PHB-CS)/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) solution (100:20:1) for production of electrospun scaffolds. Prepared fibrous scaffolds are characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and DSC. Tensile tests are used to study their mechanical properties and their hydrophilicity is also assessed. subsequently, the drug release profile of the scaffolds, adipose stem cell proliferation, cell viability, and the differentiation of adipose stem cells to chondrocyte cells were evaluated for further cartilage tissue engineering application. Our results showed that the addition GAS has a positive effect on the hydrophilicity of the fibers and the initiation of chondrogenic differentiation. Without, effects on tensile strength of the scaffolds by adding 5%. So, that PHB-CS/f-MWCNTs scaffold containing GAS has more acceptable properties than the PHB or PHB-CS for cartilage tissue engineering. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT GRAPHICAL ABTRACT
Assessing and Enhancing Adversarial Robustness of Predictive Analytics: An Empirically Tested Design Framework

ABSTRACT As predictive analytics increasingly applies supervised machine learning (SML) models to inform mission-critical decision-making, adversaries become incentivized to exploit the vulnerabilities of these SML models and mislead predictive analytics into erroneous decisions. Due to the limited understanding and awareness of such adversarial attacks, the predictive analytics knowledge and deployment need a principled technique for adversarial robustness assessment and enhancement. In this research, we leverage the technology threat avoidance theory as the kernel theory and propose a research framework for assessing and enhancing the adversarial robustness of predictive analytics applications. We instantiate the proposed framework by developing a robust text classification system, the ARText system. The proposed system is rigorously evaluated in comparison with benchmark methods on two tasks extensively enabled by SML: spam review detection and spam email detection, which then confirmed the utility and effectiveness of our ARText system. Results from numerous experiments revealed that our proposed framework could significantly enhance the adversarial robustness of predictive analytics applications.
Examining the Impact of Algorithmic Control on Uber Drivers’ Technostress

ABSTRACT This study examines how the use of algorithmic control within gig economy platforms relates to the well-being and behavior of workers. Specifically, we explore how two different forms of algorithmic control—gatekeeping and guiding—correspond with (positive) challenge technostressors and (negative) threat technostressors experienced by Uber drivers. We also examine the moderating impact of algorithmic control transparency on these relationships, as well as the outcomes of technostressors in terms of continuance intentions and workaround use. Based on a survey of 621 U.S.-based Uber drivers, we find that gatekeeping and guiding algorithmic control positively relate to both challenge and threat technostressors. The study bridges the literature on control and technostress by conceptualizing algorithmic control as a condition that puts workers under stress. This stress is found to contribute to important behavioral consequences pertaining to both continuance intentions and workaround use. Findings from our work suggest that gig economy organizations can use algorithmic control to enhance challenge technostressors for their workers, thereby contributing to the cultivation of a more committed workforce. Furthermore, we find evidence disputing the assumption that algorithmic control transparency can mitigate the negative effects of threat technostressors.
School meals as a resource for low-income families in three European countries: a comparative case approach

ABSTRACT In the context of successive global crises and rising household food insecurity in wealthy European countries there is renewed attention to the role of school meals as a welfare intervention. However, little is known about the extent to which school meals are a resource for low-income families living in different contexts. Drawing on a mixed methods study of food in low-income families in three European countries, this paper adopts a realist ontological stance and an embedded case study approach to address this question. The research concerns low-income families with children aged 11–15 years in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis in the UK, Portugal and Norway. Based on a comparative, multi-layered analysis of macro-, meso- and micro-level contexts, we argue that publicly funded, nutritious school meals protect children from the direct effects of poverty on their food security, whilst underfunded and weakly regulated school food provision compounds children’s experiences of disadvantage and exclusion. The paper concludes with recommendations for public policies that conceptualise school meals as a collective resource, like education, to which young people as bearers of the right to food are entitled.
Does Techno-invasion Lead to Employees’ Deviant Behaviors?

ABSTRACT Techno-invasion refers to constant connectivity of being “always exposed” that blurs desired boundaries between work and personal life and represents an emerging phenomenon of scholarly investigation. As work-related use of information technology (IT) during non-work time leads to techno-invasion, a minimal amount is known about whether techno-invasion may engender employees’ deviant behaviors, a behavior that violates organizational norms and may be intended to harm the organization, its members, or both. Drawn upon the self-regulation theory, this study examines this relationship by focusing on psychological processes. Based on time-lagged survey data collected from customer service teams from two financial service companies in China, our results show that (1) techno-invasion is associated with self-regulation impairment (i.e., the reduction of one’s self-regulatory resources needed to control undesirable impulses), which in turn provokes employee’s deviant behavior; (2) perceived team bottom-line mentality (i.e., mindset to prioritize the team bottom-line outcomes) reinforces the relationship between techno-invasion and self-regulation impairment; and (3) IT mindfulness (i.e., employees’ focus in being creative using IT, and learning and discovering new and more efficient ways of using IT) negatively moderates the relationship between techno-invasion and self-regulation impairment, thus serving as a remedy to alleviate or prevent self-regulation impairment and employee’s deviant behavior. We explain theoretically and test empirically the impact of techno-invasion on employees’ deviant behavior, emphasizing the intermediate psychological processes and the boundary conditions that affect this relationship.
The challenges of sustainable construction projects delivery – evidence from the UAE

ABSTRACT Research into the delivery of sustainable construction projects has been gaining a lot of attention worldwide. Previous studies have shown that several countries embrace sustainable construction projects, but the uptake faces several delivery challenges. This research evaluates the factors that constitute challenges of sustainable construction projects delivery. A questionnaire survey was developed and distributed to construction professionals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to evaluate the significance of the challenges of sustainable construction projects delivery. Eighty-two questionnaires were returned and analysed. Out of the 33 challenges extracted from literature, factor analysis revealed seven clusters named, in other of significance, as financial, sustainable materials and technology, contractual, design, lack of experience, regulations, limited organizational awareness. This study recommends that mitigating these challenges will require modifying traditional project management practices, designing with a whole team approach, introducing contractual incentives, using an integrated project team and improving sustainability knowledge among stakeholders.
The Secrecy Resilience of Access Control Policies and Its Application to Role Mining

We propose a notion that we call the secrecy resilience of an access control policy that, to our knowledge, has not been explored in prior work. We seek to capture with this notion the property inherent to an access control policy that measures its resistance to disclosure. We motivate and then propose a definition for secrecy resilience that is based on the notion of entropy from information theory. We focus on policies expressed in Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), and contrast RBAC from the access matrix from the standpoint of secrecy resilience. We observe that similar to other objectives such as the minimization of the number of roles, an RBAC policy with the best secrecy resilience can be a desirable objective of bottom-up role-mining, with which we seek to compute an RBAC policy given as input an access matrix. We have carried out an empirical assessment of several role-mining algorithms from the standpoint of secrecy resilience for two underlying distribution-events pairs each of which captures a kind of best-case from the standpoint of a defender. Towards carrying out the empirical assessment, we make an additional contribution to role-mining: we propose new reductions for the two problems of minimizing the number of roles and the number of edges, and discuss the manner in which our reductions are superior to reductions in existing work.
Colloidal photonic crystals formation studied by real-time light diffraction

Abstract Colloidal suspensions crystallize by a natural sedimentation process under certain conditions, the initial volume fraction being one of the parameters that govern this process. Here, we have developed a simple in-situ, real-time, optical characterization technique to study silica colloidal suspensions during natural sedimentation in order to shed new light on this crystallization process. This technique monitors small variations in the wavelength of the reflectance features, allowing the analysis of the formation of the first layers of the crystal with sub-nanometer precision, and their dynamics, which is crucial to ensure a high quality in the final sample. The experimental results indicate that, in certain range of volume fraction, spontaneous crystallization of a colloidal fluid occurs at the bottom of the suspension, as a phase change, then through evaporation of the water it compacts to near close-packed and, eventually, dries. Understanding self-assembly at these scales is paramount in materials science and our results will contribute to improve and characterize the quality and crystallinity of the materials used in this process.
Alterations and Mechanism of Gut Microbiota in Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Abstract To explore the role of gut microbiota in Graves’ disease (GD) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Seventy fecal samples were collected, including 27 patients with GD, 27 with HT, and 16 samples from healthy volunteers. Chemiluminescence was used to detect thyroid function and autoantibodies (FT3, FT4, TSH, TRAb, TGAb, and TPOAb); thyroid ultrasound and 16S sequencing were used to analyze the bacteria in fecal samples; KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) and COG (Clusters of Orthologous Groups) were used to analyze the functional prediction and pathogenesis. The overall structure of gut microbiota in the GD and HT groups was significantly different from the healthy control group. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria contents were the highest in the HT group. Compared to the control group, the GD and HT groups had a higher abundance of Erysipelotrichia, Cyanobacteria, and Ruminococcus_2 and lower levels of Bacillaceae and Megamonas. Further analysis of KEGG found that the “ABC transporter” metabolic pathway was highly correlated with the occurrence of GD and HT. COG analysis showed that the GD and HT groups were enriched in carbohydrate transport and metabolism compared to the healthy control group but not in amino acid transport and metabolism. Our data suggested that Bacillus, Blautia, and Ornithinimicrobium could be used as potential markers to distinguish GD and HT from the healthy population and that “ABC transporter” metabolic pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of GD and HT.
Protection of dopaminergic neurons in hemiparkinsonian monkeys by flavouring ingredient glyceryl tribenzoate

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease and this study underlines the significance of a small molecule glyceryl tribenzoate (GTB), a FDA approved food additive, in preventing parkinsonian pathologies in MPTP-induced animal models. The study conducted in MPTP-induced mice demonstrated dose-dependent protection of nigral tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and striatal dopamine level by GTB oral treatment and the optimum dose was found to be 50 mg/kg/d. In the next phase, the study was carried out in MPTP-injected hemiparkinsonian monkeys, which recapitulate better clinical parkinsonian syndromes. GTB inhibited MPTP-driven induction of glial inflammation, which was evidenced by reduced level of GTP-p21Ras and phospho-p65 in SN of monkeys. It led to decreased expression of inflammatory markers such as IL-1β and iNOS. Simultaneously, GTB oral treatment protected nigral TH cells, striatal dopamine, and improved motor behaviour of hemiparkinsonian monkeys. Presence of sodium benzoate, a GTB metabolite and a FDA-approved drug for urea cycle disorders and glycine encephalopathy, in the brain suggests that the neuroprotective effect imparted by GTB might be mediated by sodium benzoate. Although the mechanism of action of GTB is poorly understood, the study sheds light on the therapeutic possibility of a food additive GTB in PD.
Understanding healthcare providers’ experiences with video recording of patient consultations

Abstract Aim: To understand healthcare providers’ experiences with video recording of patient consultations. Background: Video recordings have been recognised to be an effective method to evaluate in situ interactions in clinical practice. The video recordings are often conducted by researchers, but active involvement of healthcare providers into the process of recording is evolving. Still, little is known of how video recordings by healthcare providers may influence daily clinical practice and potentials for direct use to guide practice development. Methods: A qualitative design was used, conducting two focus group interviews including 12 healthcare providers representing eight different healthcare services who provide municipal cardiac rehabilitation. Interpretive description was used as the methodological framework, and symbolic interactionism served as the theoretical lens. Findings: Three themes were identified reflecting healthcare providers’ experiences with video recording of patient consultations: ‘Concerns of compromising primary work tasks’, ‘Exposing professional and personal skills’ and ‘A new learning dimension’. Overall, the three themes represent the process of video recording own practices attached to patient consultations and the personal investment attached to the video data. Also, how the recordings may provide new insights for practice development in terms of individual and team-based performance in patient consultations. Conclusion: Video recordings by healthcaref providers may be a useful source to provide information and learning about patient consultation practice to use in research and supervision, keeping in mind their challenges of implementation into daily clinical practice.