Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Secure Communication Scheme of Three-Variable Chaotic Coupling Synchronization Based on DNA Chemical Reaction Networks

Three-variable chaotic synchronization has been implemented based on DNA chemical reaction networks (CRNs) in previous works. However, it is still difficult to realize the encryption and decryption of continuous signals. A scheme of secure communication is proposed based on chaotic coupling synchronization by DNA CRNs in this paper. Firstly, the CRNs of two three-variable chaotic systems are constructed using bimolecular representation. Secondly, according to the design principle of the coupling term and the theory of stability, the CRNs of the coupling term are designed to realize the synchronization of two chaotic systems. Finally, the oblique wave, square wave, and staircase wave signals are added into chaotic systems to realize encryption and decryption. The dynamic behavior of a three-variable chaotic system is verified by Visual DSD and MATLAB software. The synchronization proof and the experimental results of encryption and decryption are given. The results indicate that the proposed secure communication scheme is effective. This paper provides an application method for studying secure communication in the DNA field.
Energy Extraction from a Slider-Crank Wave Energy under Irregular Wave Conditions: Preprint

A slider-crank wave energy converter (WEC) is a novel energy conversion device. It converts wave energy into electricity at a relatively high efficiency, and it features a simple structure. Past analysis on this particular WEC has been done under regular sinusoidal wave conditions, and suboptimal energy could be achieved. This paper presents the analysis of the system under irregular wave conditions; a time-domain hydrodynamics model is adopted and a rule-based control methodology is introduced to better serve the irregular wave conditions. Results from the simulations show that the performance of the system under irregular wave conditions is different from that under regular sinusoidal wave conditions, but a reasonable amount of energy can still be extracted.
Bank Competition, Credit Risk, and Foreign Bank Penetration: Empirical Evidence from Indonesia

This study examines the relationship between bank competition and credit risk with foreign bank penetration as a moderating variable. The research sample used was 79 commercial banks listed in the Indonesian Banking Directory published by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) during the 2014-2019 period with a total of 474 observations. The results of this study indicate that the higher the bank's competition, the higher the bank's credit risk, which is in accordance with the competition-fragility theory. Furthermore, from the results of the Moderated Regression Analysis, the results show that foreign bank penetration has not been able to moderate the relationship between bank competition and bank credit risk, however, if it stands as an independent variable on its own, foreign bank penetration will reduce bank credit risk. The results of this study contribute to providing useful information for parties in the banking industry that increasing foreign bank penetration can reduce bank credit risk.
Nutritionists’ Practices and Knowledge about the Risks of Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy: An Israeli Survey

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are lifelong disabilities and the leading preventable cause of developmental disabilities. Antenatal care providers may influence pregnant women’s dietary practices and their awareness of the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. This study aimed to assess nutritionists’ self-reported knowledge about the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, professional practices in this respect, and self-perceived competence to assess and guide women about alcohol consumption during pregnancy in Israel. A sample of 526 professional nutritionists completed an anonymous online questionnaire. Results showed significant differences between the nutritionists’ knowledge and professional practices scores. About 349 (66.3%) of the sample agreed (to any degree) that they did not have enough knowledge to guide pregnant women regarding drinking alcohol. The number of years of experience, combined with self-perceived competence and the mean knowledge score, explained 18% of the variance in professional practices. Nutritionists and other health professionals may have a crucial role in preventing FASD and should prioritize appropriate screening for prenatal alcohol use. Eliminating alcohol consumption at any point in pregnancy would reduce the risk for FASDs.
Multi-population genetic neural network model for short-term traffic flow prediction at intersections

As the basis and a key issue of intelligent transportation system (ITS), researches on approaches for traffic flow prediction are significant. To adapt to the real-time characteristics and nonlinear feature of short-term traffic flow prediction at intersections, this paper presents a Multi-Population Genetic Neural Network (MPGNN) model for traffic flow prediction. MPGNN model combines the ability of BP neural network for solving nonlinear problem and the ability of genetic algorithm (GA) for global optimization. And in this model, multiple populations of GA are built to search an optimized structure of BP network. A case study using this model is conducted at the intersection of Luoyu Road, Wuluo Road, South Luoshi Road and North Luoshi Road. This study shows that the predicted short-term traffic flow is accurate and the MPGNN model is effective. Based on the predicted results to control and reassign the traffic flow on these roads, the traffic pressure of these roads in rush hours can be greatly alleviated.
Speaking Challenges in a Life Skill Program for Islamic Boarding School Students: A Case Study

The aim of this study was to explore students’ speaking challenges in a life skill program at an Islamic boarding school - Al-Fahd, South Sumatra, Indonesia. Through using a qualitative case study, we collected data by using in-depth interviews with participants at the research site. Our qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analyses by identifying, describing, organizing, and reporting them within a set of data in the form of themes. We structured our discussion around their viewpoints and the settings in which challenges they met appear. An exploration of the manuscripts or data revealed that major themes related to facing language boundaries, enjoying using mother tongue, coping with psychological issues, looking for interesting topics of conversation. The results of the study indicated that students were challenged by a variety of issues that had prevented them from having a good speaking skill in English although they were involving in a life skill program. Teachers and school leaders should provide them with a well-designed program in order to prepare them to face real life situations after finishing their program.
TRAP1 regulates the response of colorectal cancer cells to hypoxia and inhibits ribosome biogenesis under conditions of oxygen deprivation

Metabolic rewiring fuels rapid cancer cell proliferation by promoting adjustments in energetic resources, and increasing glucose uptake and its conversion into lactate, even in the presence of oxygen. Furthermore, solid tumors often contain hypoxic areas and can rapidly adapt to low oxygen conditions by activating hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α and several downstream pathways, thus sustaining cell survival and metabolic reprogramming. Since TNF receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) is a HSP90 molecular chaperone upregulated in several human malignancies and is involved in cancer cell adaptation to unfavorable environments and metabolic reprogramming, in the present study, its role was investigated in the adaptive response to hypoxia in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and organoids. In the present study, glucose uptake, lactate production and the expression of key metabolic genes were evaluated in TRAP1-silenced CRC cell models under conditions of hypoxia/normoxia. Whole genome gene expression profiling was performed in TRAP1-silenced HCT116 cells exposed to hypoxia to establish the role of TRAP1 in adaptive responses to oxygen deprivation. The results revealed that TRAP1 was involved in regulating hypoxia-induced HIF-1α stabilization and glycolytic metabolism and that glucose transporter 1 expression, glucose uptake and lactate production were partially impaired in TRAP1-silenced CRC cells under hypoxic conditions. At the transcriptional level, the gene expression reprogramming of cancer cells driven by HIF-1α was partially inhibited in TRAP1-silenced CRC cells and organoids exposed to hypoxia. Moreover, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of TRAP1-silenced HCT116 cells exposed to hypoxia demonstrated that TRAP1 was involved in the regulation of ribosome biogenesis and this occurred with the inhibition of the mTOR pathway. Therefore, as demonstrated herein, TRAP1 is a key factor in maintaining HIF-1α-induced genetic/metabolic program under hypoxic conditions and may represent a promising target for novel metabolic therapies.
NPM1 and DNMT3A mutations are associated with distinct blast immunophenotype in acute myeloid leukemia

ABSTRACT The immune system is important for elimination of residual leukemic cells during acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapy. Anti-leukemia immune response can be inhibited by various mechanisms leading to immune evasion and disease relapse. Selected markers of immune escape were analyzed on AML cells from leukapheresis at diagnosis (N = 53). Hierarchical clustering of AML immunophenotypes yielded distinct genetic clusters. In the absence of DNMT3A mutation, NPM1 mutation was associated with decreased HLA expression and low levels of other markers (CLIP, PD-L1, TIM-3). Analysis of an independent cohort confirmed decreased levels of HLA transcripts in patients with NPM1 mutation. Samples with combined NPM1 and DNMT3A mutations had high CLIP surface amount suggesting reduced antigen presentation. TIM-3 transcript correlated not only with TIM-3 surface protein but also with CLIP and PD-L1. In our cohort, high levels of TIM-3/PD-L1/CLIP were associated with lower survival. Our results suggest that AML genotype is related to blast immunophenotype, and that high TIM-3 transcript levels in AML blasts could be a marker of immune escape. Cellular pathways regulating resistance to the immune system might contribute to the predicted response to standard therapy of patients in specific AML subgroups and should be targeted to improve AML treatment.
Extraction and Characterization of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Lagenaria siceraria Fruit Pedicles

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a versatile polymer commonly employed in food, chemical, and biomedical formulations. Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd) fruit is consumed in many parts of the world, and its pedicle is discarded as waste. In the quest for a novel renewable source of the MCC, the present study investigates the extraction and characterization of MCC from the pedicle of Lagenaria siceraria fruits. The MCC was extracted by sequentially treating pedicles with water, alkali, bleaching (sodium chlorite), and dilute sulfuric acid (acid hydrolysis). The removal of associated impurities from pedicle fibers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analyses. The extracted MCC exhibited a characteristic crystalline structure of cellulose in X-ray diffraction with a 64.53% crystallinity index. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the variation in the morphology of the fibers and the formation of MCC of approximately 100 µm. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated higher thermal stability of MCC. MCC production from biowaste (pedicle) holds potential for application as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries.
Population genomic analyses reveal hybridization and marked differences in genetic structure of Scurria limpet sister species with parapatric distributions across the South Eastern Pacific

Abstract The study of sister species that occur in parapatry around biogeographic transition zones can help understand the evolutionary processes that underlie the changes in species composition across biogeographic transition zones. The South Eastern Pacific (SEP) coast is a highly productive coastal system that exhibits a broad biogeographic transition zone around 30–35°S. Here, we present a comparative genome‐wide analysis of the sister species Scurria viridula and Scurria zebrina, that occur in parapatry and whose poleward and equatorward range edges intersect in the 30–35°S SEP biogeographic transition zone. We sampled 118 specimens sourced from nine sites from Tocopilla (22°S) to Chiloé (41°S) including one site where both species overlap and analyzed over 8000 biallelic single nucleotide polymorphisms. We found evidence of hybridization between these species in the contact zone and found significant but contrasting population structures for both species. Our results indicate that the genetic structure in S. viridula, which is currently expanding its range poleward, follows a simple isolation by distance model with no traces of natural selection (no evidence of outlier loci). In contrast, S. zebrina, which has its equatorward range edge at the transition zone, displayed a pronounced genetic break approximately at 32–34°S, along a region of marked environmental heterogeneity in association with a semi‐permanent coastal upwelling regime. For S. zebrina we also found 43 outlier loci associated with this genetic break, with a significant proportion of them clustering in a single linkage group. This marked difference in the presence of outlier loci between species suggests that they could be responding differently to local environmental challenges found at their overlapping geographic range edges, thus providing important new insights about genomic changes around biogeographic transition zones in sister species and the forces that shape genetic diversity in intertidal marine species.
Immune Reconstitution in Pediatric Aplastic Anemia after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-cell Transplantation

Background: Previous studies had revealed that immune reconstitution (IR) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) affected the clinical prognosis of patients. However, few studies were based on pediatric patients and patients with aplastic anemia (AA). The purpose of this research was to analyze IR of pediatric AA after HSCT and further explore its clinical prognostic value. Methods: The whole of 61 pediatric patients with AA who underwent HSCT were enrolled. Lymphocyte subsets count in peripheral blood, CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio, and serum concentration of immunoglobulins were detected using flow cytometry at regular intervals after HSCT. Results: Innate immunity recovered faster than adaptive immunity, T lymphocytes recovered faster than B lymphocytes. The number of transfused CD34+ cells and the implantation time of ANC significantly affected the early rapid IR of CD3+ T cells. The degree of HLA site coincidence significantly affected the early rapid IR of CD19+ B cells. The number of transfused MNC and CD34+ cells significantly affected the early rapid IR of CD56+ NK cells. The overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) of CD56+ NK cells in early rapid IR group were higher than those in non-IR group. The CD3+ T cell early rapid IR group and CD8+ T cell early rapid IR group had higher OS than the non-IR group. Conclusion: Early rapid IR after HSCT is a good predictor of clinical prognosis in children with AA. This study provides a reasonable prediction for early rapid IR, which may improve clinical outcomes of children.
Output Divergence in Fixed Exchange Rate Regimes: Is the Euro Area Growing Apart?

Can fixed exchange rate regimes cause output divergence among member states? We show that such divergence is a long-run equilibrium characteristic of a two-region model with fixed exchange rates, heterogeneous labor markets, and endogenous growth. Under flexible exchange rates, monetary policy closes output gaps and realizes the associated maximum TFP growth in both regions. Upon fixing exchange rates, the region with higher structural wage inflation falls into a low-growth trap. When calibrated to the euro area, the model implies a slowdown in the TFP growth rate of the euro area’s periphery relative to its core. An empirical analysis confirms that the periphery’s higher structural wage inflation rate contributed to its lower TFP growth in the aftermath of joining the euro.
Biopriming of Durum Wheat Seeds with Endophytic Diazotrophic Bacteria Enhances Tolerance to Fusarium Head Blight and Salinity

There is growing interest in the use of bio inoculants based on plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) to promote plant growth under biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we provided a detailed account of the effectiveness of a number of endophytic PGPB strains, isolated from the roots of the halophyte Salicornia brachiata in promoting durum wheat growth and enhancing its tolerance to salinity and fusarium head blight (FHB) disease. Bacillus spp. strains MA9, MA14, MA17, and MA19 were found to have PGPB characteristics as they produced indole-3-acetic acid, siderophores, and lytic enzymes, fixed free atmospheric nitrogen, and solubilized inorganic phosphate in vitro. Additionally, the in vivo study that involved in planta inoculation assays under control and stress conditions indicated that all PGPB strains significantly (p < 0.05) increased the total plant length, dry weight, root area, seed weight, and nitrogen, protein, and mineral contents. Particularly, the MA17 strain showed a superior performance since it was the most efficient in reducing disease incidence in wheat explants by 64.5%, in addition to having the strongest plant growth promotion activity under salt stress. Both in vitro and in vivo assays showed that MA9, MA14, MA17, and MA19 strains were able to play significant PGPB roles. However, biopriming with Bacillus subtilis MA17 offered the highest plant growth promotion and salinity tolerance, and bioprotection against FHB. Hence, it would be worth testing the MA17 strain under field conditions as a step towards its commercial production. Moreover, the strain could be further assessed for its plausible role in bioprotection and growth promotion in other crop plants. Thus, it was believed that the strain has the potential to significantly contribute to wheat production in arid and semi-arid regions, especially the salt-affected Middle Eastern Region, in addition to its potential role in improving wheat production under biotic and abiotic stresses in other parts of the world.
Finnish University Students’ Views of the Strengths of Foreign Language Courses

Compared with younger language learners, adult learners are assumed to have greater difficulty with language learning, for instance, in reaching native-like proficiency. Most studies in the area of second language acquisition and foreign language education have focused on younger learners, with the research on adult language learning being very limited. Through an analysis of previous studies on adult language learning and small-scale empirical research, this article examines students’ views of the strengths and good practices of foreign language courses in university language courses other than English. The questionnaire data collected from university students (N = 53) learning French, German and Italian as L3/L4 at the language centre of a Finnish university were analysed in a qualitative and quantitative way. The strongest evidence from our study was the indispensable role of teachers in university language courses. The analysis results indicate a mismatch between teacher-led and student-centred pedagogy. On the one hand, adult learners seemed to need strong guidance from the teacher, yet on the other hand, the best practices in the courses were those activities in which the adult learners could produce the target language in interactions with their peers. Finally, the factors that enhance adult language learning in higher education are reflected upon.
WELL-BEING AND PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN: THE ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, SELF-COMPASSION AND RUMINATION

The COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying restrictions, apart from the destructive global economic and social impact, brought negative psychological consequences to the world. The aim of the current study is to investigate the factors that help individuals maintain psychological well-being under the condition of self-isolation, a global restriction against the spread of the pandemic. Specifically, the role of trait emotional intelligence, self-compassion, and rumination was explored in order to determine how these variables relate to psychological well-being. According to the results, trait emotional intelligence and self-compassion positively correlate with psychological well-being, while rumination is negatively correlated. Self-compassion mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and well-being. The relationship between rumination and well-being is affected by emotional intelligence and self-compassion: Self-compassion mediates the relationship between depression related rumination and well-being, while self-control and emotionality factors of trait emotional intelligence moderate the relationship between reflection rumination and well-being. The findings of the current study provide insight about self-compassion, rumination, and emotional intelligence as different contributing factors to the individuals’ well-being in self-isolation, suggesting further implications about the use of these strategies to help people cope with this stressful situation.
A study on wheat crop for estimation of potassium efficiency, effect on growth, potential yield under agricultural and botanical practices

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the important crops of human diet around the globe. Purify flour of wheat contains less vitamins and causes constipation and malnourishment. The experiment was designed to study on wheat crop, botanical and agricultural parameters and advances in plant sciences and accomplished in Randomized Complete Block Design. Sowing was done in field with plot size of 216 m2. LAI is very crucial growth index which directly controls the interception of solar radiation and consequently dry matter production and accumulation. The LAD exhibits the tenacity of leaves to remain photo synthetically active during the growth season of a crop. The NAR indicates the dry matter accumulation in plants per unit canopy area. Recorded data was subjected to analysis of variance by using Statistix 8.1 software. It presented mean values of all treatments for crop growth rate. Maximum results for CGR observed under T3 with 14.3 mean values. While minimum observations had been shown by T1 that is 13.4. It showed mean values for all applied treatments and wheat showed maximum value of leaf area index of (3.3367) under treatment (T4) and minimum value of leaf area index that is 3.0233 was shown by plants under treatment (T7). Maximum results for flag leaf area observed under T4 with 114.73 mean values. While minimum observations had been shown by T1 that is 88.03. It is recommended that the farmers should use split dose of potassium fertilizer for better growth and yield of wheat and it may also be helpful in future prospects.