Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Involvement of IDA-HAE Module in Natural Development of Tomato Flower Abscission

The unwanted detachment of organs such as flowers, leaves, and fruits from the main body of a plant (abscission) has significant effects on agricultural practice. Both timely and precise regulation of organ abscission from a plant is crucial as it influences the agricultural yield. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) has become a model system for research on organ abscission. Here, we characterized four tomato natural abscission variants named jointless (j), functionally impaired jointless (fij), functionally impaired jointless like (fij like), and normal joint (NJ), based on their cellular features within the flower abscission zones (AZ). Using eight INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (SlIDA) genes and eight HAESA genes (SlHAE) identified in the genome sequence of tomato, we analyzed the pattern of gene expression during flower abscission. The AZ-specific expression for three tomato abscission polygalacturonases (SlTAPGs) in the development of flower AZ, and the progression of abscission validated our natural abscission system. Compared to that of j, fij, and fij like variants, the AZ-specific expression for SlIDA, SlIDL2, SlIDL3, SlIDL4, and SlIDL5 in the NJ largely corelated and increased with the process of abscission. Of eight SlHAE genes examined, the expression for SlHSL6 and SlHSL7 were found to be AZ-specific and increased as abscission progressed in the NJ variant. Unlike the result of gene expression obtained from natural abscission system, an in silico analysis of transcriptional binding sites uncovered that SlIDA genes (SlIDA, SlIDL6, and SlIDL7) are predominantly under the control of environmental stress, while most of the SlHSL genes are affiliated with the broader context in developmental processes and stress responses. Our result presents the potential bimodal transcriptional regulation of the tomato IDA-HAE module associated with flower abscission in tomatoes.
Speeding Task Allocation Search for Reconfigurations in Adaptive Distributed Embedded Systems Using Deep Reinforcement Learning

A Critical Adaptive Distributed Embedded System (CADES) is a group of interconnected nodes that must carry out a set of tasks to achieve a common goal, while fulfilling several requirements associated with their critical (e.g., hard real-time requirements) and adaptive nature. In these systems, a key challenge is to solve, in a timely manner, the combinatorial optimization problem involved in finding the best way to allocate the tasks to the available nodes (i.e., the task allocation) taking into account aspects such as the computational costs of the tasks and the computational capacity of the nodes. This problem is not trivial and there is no known polynomial time algorithm to find the optimal solution. Several studies have proposed Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) approaches to solve combinatorial optimization problems and, in this work, we explore the application of such approaches to the task allocation problem in CADESs. We first discuss the potential advantages of using a DRL-based approach over several heuristic-based approaches to allocate tasks in CADESs and we then demonstrate how a DRL-based approach can achieve similar results for the best performing heuristic in terms of optimality of the allocation, while requiring less time to generate such allocation.
Phytoecdysteroids and Anabolic Effect of Atriplex dimorphostegia: UPLC-PDA-MS/MS Profiling, In Silico and In Vivo Models

Atriplex dimorphostegia (Saltbush) is an annual halophytic shrub that is widely distributed across various parts of Asia. The current study is the first to report the metabolites profile of the total ethanol extract of the aerial parts of A. dimorphostegia (TEAD), and its anabolic activity together with the isolated 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE) in orchidectomized male rats. TEAD was analyzed and standardized utilizing UPLC-PDA-ESI–MS/MS and UPLC-PDA-UV techniques, resulting in tentative identification of fifty compounds including polyphenols, steroids and triterpenoids. In addition, 20-HE was quantified, representing 26.79 μg/mg of the extract. Phytochemical investigation of TEAD resulted in the isolation of 20-HE from the ethyl acetate fraction (EFAD) and was identified by conventional spectroscopic methods of analysis. Furthermore, the anabolic effect of the isolated 20-HE and TEAD was then evaluated using in silico and in vivo models. Molecular docking experiments revealed in vitro selectivity of 20-HE towards estrogen receptors (ERs), specifically ERβ over ERα and androgenic receptor (AR). The anabolic efficacy of TEAD and 20-HE was studied in orchidectomized immature male Wistar rats using the weight of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. The weights of ventral prostate and seminal vesicles were used as indicators for androgenic activity. Rats administered 20-HE and TEAD showed a significant increase (p = 0.0006 and p < 0.0001) in the net muscle mass compared to the negative control, while the group receiving TEAD showed the highest percentage among all groups at p < 0.0001. Histopathological investigation of skeletal muscle fibers showed normal morphological structures, and the group administered 20-HE showed an increase in cross sectional area of muscle fibers comparable to methandienone and testosterone groups at p > 0.99. A. dimorphostegia exhibited promising anabolic activity with minimal androgenic side effects.
A Novel Sodium Alginate-Carnauba Wax Film Containing Calcium Ascorbate: Structural Properties and Preservative Effect on Fresh-Cut Apples

In order to improve the mechanical properties, nutritional value and fresh-keeping ability of conventional sodium alginate edible composite membranes, a new type of edible composite film was prepared by adding water-blocking agent carnauba wax, plasticizer glycerin, antioxidant and nutritional enhancer sodium ascorbate on a basis of traditional sodium alginate composite film. In this study, the physical, mechanical and structural properties of different film components were investigated. The results showed the components did not simply combine, but produced interaction forces which improved the stability and mechanical properties of composite film. When the amount of calcium ascorbate was 0.4%, the water vapor transmittance of the composite film reached a minimum of 0.65 g·mm/(cm2·d·kPa), and the tensile strength and elongation at break reached the maximum, which were 398.64 MPa and 17.93%, respectively. Additionally, the sodium alginate-carnauba wax film exhibited better performance on the preservation of fresh-cut apples. Compared with other composite films, the color and hardness of fresh-cut apples coated with this composite film were better maintained, and the losses of titration acid content and soluble solid content were reduced. Moreover, the weight loss rate, increase in polyphenol oxidase activity and total colony count were inhibited. All results determined that the edible film has good application value in the field of fresh-cut fruit preservation, which provides a theoretical basis for further research on edible film.
Synthesis and Characterization of Benzene- and Triazine-Based Azo-Bridged Porous Organic Polymers

Porous organic polymers incorporating nitrogen-rich functionalities have recently emerged as promising materials for efficient and highly selective CO2 capture and separation. Herein, we report synthesis and characterization of new two-dimensional (2D) benzene- and triazine-based azo-bridged porous organic polymers. Different synthetic approaches towards the porous azo-bridged polymers were tested, including reductive homocoupling of aromatic nitro monomers, oxidative homocoupling of aromatic amino monomers and heterocoupling of aromatic nitro monomers and a series of aromatic diamines of different lengths and rigidity. IR spectroscopy, 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen adsorption–desorption experiments and computational study were used to characterize structures and properties of the resulting polymers. The synthesized azo-bridged polymers are all amorphous solids of good thermal stability, exhibiting various surface areas (up to 351 m2 g−1). The obtained results indicated that the synthetic methods and building units have a pronounced effect on the porosity of the final materials. Reductive and oxidative homocoupling of aromatic nitro and amino building units, respectively, lead to 2D azo-bridged polymers of substantially higher porosity when compared to those produced by heterocoupling reactions. Periodic DFT calculations and Grand-canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations suggested that, within the used approximations, linear linkers of different lengths do not significantly affect CO2 adsorption properties of model azo-bridged polymers.
Increased LC PUFA Levels in the Serum of Pregnant Women and Their Children as a Result of Dietary Supplementation with ‘Omega’ Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids (EFA) and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA) are considered the most valuable bioactive fatty acids (FA) of the greatest importance for the mother’s and child’s health (e.g., placentation process, labor course, development of the central nervous system, visual acuity, cognitive functions), which results in dietary recommendations concerning EFA and LC PUFA intake in the diet of pregnant women. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of different food products consumption and ‘omega’ dietary supplements usage in groups of pregnant women. We also measured n-3 and n-6 FA content in serum samples of pregnant women and their children with the GC-FID technique, estimated the efficacy of applied supplementation, and compared the usefulness of different dietary supplements dedicated for pregnant women. ‘Omega’ dietary supplements effectively increased LC PUFA in the maternal blood (EPA, p = 0.0379; DHA p < 0.0001; n-3 PUFA, p < 0.0001), which penetrated the umbilical cord (EPA, p = 0.0131; DHA, p = 0.0288). If fish and seafood consumption is not enough, dietary supplements of the highest quality may provide sufficient LC PUFA without apprehension of MetHg contamination. ‘Omega’ dietary supplementation seems the most efficient way of providing an optimal supply of LC PUFA for the developing child from the earliest stages of development, which will bring advantages in the child’s future life and its health.
The Effect of Powder and Emulsion Binders on the Tribological Properties of Particulate Filled Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Investigations into polymer composites are mainly focused on properties dependent on glass fiber reinforcement and particulate fillers. In the present study, the effect of the binder was examined. The specimens were produced with two types of epoxy resin, with similar numbers of glass mat layers and similar proportions of quartz powder added. However, one group was fabricated with an emulsion binder in the glass mats and another group with a powder binder. Attention was concentrated on the tribological properties of the as-prepared composites, though their strength was examined as well. The hardness of the Sikafloor matrix was found to be much more sensitive to the applied binder than that of the MC-DUR matrix. No direct correlation between the microhardness and the specific wear rate was observed and increasing the particulate filler proportion did not cause a direct increase of the specific wear rate. In particular, the highest specific wear rate, around 350 J/g, was reached for both matrices with a 1% quartz addition when the emulsion binder was applied, while in the case of the powder binder it was with 6% quartz with the MC-DUR matrix, and there was no quartz addition with the Sikafloor matrix. The highest microhardness, HV0.5 = 25, in turn, was reached for the mats with the emulsion binder in the Sikafloor matrix with an addition of 10% quartz powder, while the highest friction coefficient was exhibited in the composite with the MC-DUR matrix, when 1% of the quartz powder and the emulsion binder were applied.
PCL/Collagen/UA Composite Biomedical Dressing with Ordered Microfiberous Structure Fabricated by a 3D Near-Field Electrospinning Process

In this work, a functionalized polycaprolactone (PCL) composite fiber combining calf-type I collagen (CO) and natural drug usnic acid (UA) was prepared, in which UA was used as an antibacterial agent. Through 3D near-field electrospinning, the mixed solution was prepared into PCL/CO/UA composite fibers (PCUCF), which has a well-defined perfect arrangement structure. The influence of electrospinning process parameters on fiber diameter was investigated, the optimal electrospinning parameters were determined, and the electric field simulation was conducted to verify the optimal parameters. The addition of 20% collagen made the composite fiber have good hydrophilicity and water absorption property. In the presence of PCUCF, 1% UA content significantly inhibited the growth rate of Gram-positive and negative bacteria in the plate culture. The AC-PCUCF (after crosslinking PCUCF) prepared by crosslinking collagen with genipin showed stronger mechanical properties, water absorption property, thermal stability, and drug release performance. Cell proliferation experiments showed that PCUCF and AC-PCUCF had no cytotoxicity and could promote cell proliferation and adhesion. The results show that PCL/CO/UA composite fiber has potential application prospects in biomedical dressing.
Enhancing the Antifungal Activity and Ophthalmic Transport of Fluconazole from PEGylated Polycaprolactone Loaded Nanoparticles

Fungal eye infections are caused mainly by an eye injury and can result in serious eye damage. Fluconazole (FLZ), a broad-spectrum antifungal agent, is a poorly soluble drug with a risk of hepatotoxicity. This work aimed to investigate the antifungal activity, ocular irritation, and transport of FLZ-loaded poly (ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles using a rabbit eye model. Three formulation factors affecting the nanoparticle’s size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency were optimized utilizing the Box-Behnken design. Morphological characteristics and antifungal activity of the optimized nanoparticles were studied. The optimized nanoparticles were loaded into thermosensitive in situ hydrogel and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) hydrogel ophthalmic formulations. The rheological behavior, in vitro release and in vivo corneal transport were investigated. Results revealed that the percentage of poly (ε-caprolactone) in the nanoparticle matrix, polymer addition rate, and mixing speed significantly affected the particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency. The optimized nanoparticles were spherical in shape and show an average size of 145 nm, a zeta potential of −28.23 mV, and a FLZ entrapment efficiency of 98.2%. The antifungal activity of FLZ-loaded nanoparticles was significantly higher than the pure drug. The developed ophthalmic formulations exhibited a pseudoplastic flow, prolonged the drug release and were found to be non-irritating to the cornea. The prepared FLZ pegylated nanoparticles were able to reach the posterior eye segment without eye irritation. As a result, the developed thermosensitive in situ hydrogel formulation loaded with FLZ polymeric nanoparticles is a promising drug delivery strategy for treating deep fungal eye infections.
Ionized Gas in the Halos of Edge-on, Starburst Galaxies: Data and Results

We present narrowband H-alpha and broadband R images, as well as long-slit spectra oriented along the minor and major axes of a sample of about 50 edge-on (a/b greater than or equal to 2), infrared-warm (S(sub 60 microns)/S(sub 100 microns) greater than 0.04), infrared-bright S(sub 60 microns) greater than or equal to 5.4 Jy galaxies. The infrared luminosity of the sample ranges over 10(exp 10) - 10(exp 12) solar luminosity. The spatially resolved spectroscopy includes the measurement of velocity relative to the nuclear velocity, full width at half-maximum, total integrated flux in the profile (for those spectra taken under photometric conditions) for the lines (N II) lambda lambda 6548, 6583, (O I) lambda 6300, H-alpha, and (S II) lambda lambda 6716, 6713 and line ratios as a function of slit position along both the major and minor axes. The resolution of the spectra are between about 3 and 5 A. The spectroscopic data are presented for 5 bins along each axis -- a nuclear bin that is a sum of the CCD rows that cover the half-light diameter centered on the nucleus of the galaxy, two near-nuclear bins which are sums of the CCD rows that cover from one to two half-light radii on each side of the nucleus, and two off-nuclear bins which are sums of the rows at nuclear distances greater than two half-light radii on each side of the nucleus. Additionally, we present recession velocities, nuclear line asymmetries, rotation speeds, minor axis velocity shears, H-alpha luminosities, R-band absolute magnitudes, minor axis H-alpha `excess' and effective radii of the galaxies in h-alpha and the R continuum. We defer discussion of the properties of the emission-line gas and their correlation with the infrared properties of this sample of galaxies to a later paper and limit ourselves to a presentation of the data and analysis.
Five U.S. Dietary Patterns and Their Relationship to Land Use, Water Use, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Implications for Future Food Security

The U.S. agri-food system is a driver of climate change and other impacts. In order to achieve environmental targets that limit global mean temperature rise ≤2 °C, a shift in American dietary patterns is critical. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to determine the environmental impact (i.e., land use, water use, and GHG emissions) related to consumption of five U.S. dietary patterns (i.e., Current U.S., the Healthy U.S., Mediterranean, Healthy Vegetarian, and Vegan), and (2) to determine the specific impact of each food group in each dietary pattern on the three environmental indicators. This study utilized existing datasets to synthesize information related to the study’s environmental indicators and food production and connected these data to the current U.S. diet and the USDA-defined diets. Results indicate that the three omnivore diets contributed the greatest to GHG emissions, land use and water use. The Vegan diet scored the lowest across all indicators, although the water required for plant-based protein nearly offset other water gains. For the omnivore diets, red meat and dairy milk contributed the most to each environmental indicator. By considering sustainability as well as health outcomes in their recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines, the USDA can have a critical role in shifting diets necessary to alter climate change trends.
Relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index Score and Cytokine Levels in Chinese Pregnant Women during the Second and Third Trimesters

The impact of dietary inflammatory potential on serum cytokine concentrations in second and third trimesters of Chinese pregnant women is not clear. A total of 175 pregnant women from the Tianjin Maternal and Child Health Education and Service Cohort (TMCHESC) were included. The dietary inflammatory index (DII) was calculated based on 24-h food records. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein (CRP), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in the second and third trimesters were measured. The mean DII scores (mean ± SD) were −0.07 ± 1.65 and 0.06 ± 1.65 in the second and third trimesters, respectively. In the third trimester, IL-1β (p = 0.039) and MCP-1 (p = 0.035) levels decreased and then increased with increasing DII scores. IL-10 concentrations decreased in pregnant women whose DII scores increased between the second and third trimesters (p = 0.011). Thiamin and vitamin C were negatively correlated with MCP-1 (β = −0.879, and β = −0.003) and IL-6 (β = −0.602, and β = −0.002) levels in the third trimester. In conclusion, the DII score had a U-shaped association with cytokine levels during the third trimester. Changes in DII scores between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were correlated with cytokine levels during the third trimester.
Daucosterol Alleviates Alcohol−Induced Hepatic Injury and Inflammation through P38/NF−κB/NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is caused by chronic excessive alcohol consumption, which leads to inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid accumulation, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. However, there are currently no effective drugs for ALD. Herein, we report that a natural phytosterol Daucosterol (DAU) can effectively protect against liver injury caused by alcohol, which plays anti−inflammatory and antioxidative roles in many chronic inflammatory diseases. Our results demonstrate that DAU ameliorates liver inflammation induced by alcohol through p38/nuclear factor kappa B (NF−κB)/NOD−like receptor protein−3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway. Briefly, DAU decreases NF−κB nuclear translocation and inhibits NLRP3 activation by decreasing p38 phosphorylation. At the same time, DAU also protects against hepatic oxidative stress and lipid accumulation. In conclusion, our research provides a new clue about the protective effects of naturally active substances on ALD.
Advances in the Mechanistic Understanding of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles’ Radiosensitizing Properties

Among the plethora of nanosystems used in the field of theranostics, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) occupy a central place because of their biocompatibility and magnetic properties. In this study, we highlight the radiosensitizing effect of two IONPs formulations (namely 7 nm carboxylated IONPs and PEG5000-IONPs) on A549 lung carcinoma cells when exposed to 225 kV X-rays after 6 h, 24 h and 48 h incubation. The hypothesis that nanoparticles exhibit their radiosensitizing effect by weakening cells through the inhibition of detoxification enzymes was evidenced by thioredoxin reductase activity monitoring. In particular, a good correlation between the amplification effect at 2 Gy and the residual activity of thioredoxin reductase was observed, which is consistent with previous observations made for gold nanoparticles (NPs). This emphasizes that NP-induced radiosensitization does not result solely from physical phenomena but also results from biological events.
Effect of Recurrent Salt and Drought Stress Treatments on the Endangered Halophyte Limonium angustebracteatum Erben

Limonium angustebracteatum is an endemic halophyte from the Spanish Mediterranean coastal salt marshes. To investigate this species’ ability to cope with recurrent drought and salt stress, one-year-old plants were subjected to two salt stress treatments (watering with 0.5 and 1 M NaCl solutions), one water stress treatment (complete irrigation withholding), or watered with non-saline water for the control, across three phases: first stress (30 days), recovery from both stresses (15 days), and second stress (15 days). Growth and biochemical parameters were determined after each period. The plants showed high salt tolerance but were sensitive to water deficit, as shown by the decrease in leaf fresh weight and water content, root water content, and photosynthetic pigments levels in response to the first water stress; then, they were restored to the respective control values upon recovery. Salt tolerance was partly based on the accumulation of Na+, Cl− and Ca2+ in the roots and predominantly in the leaves; ion levels also decreased to control values during recovery. Organic osmolytes (proline and total soluble sugars), oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and H2O2), and antioxidant compounds (total phenolic compounds and flavonoids) increased by various degrees under the first salt and water stress treatments, and declined after recovery. The analysed variables increased again, but generally to a lesser extent, during the second stress phase, suggesting the occurrence of stress acclimation acquired by the activation of defence mechanisms during the first stress period.