Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design, Implementation, and Characterization of a Signal Acquisition Chain for SADino: The Precursor of the Italian Low-Frequency Telescope Named the Sardinia Aperture Array Demonstrator (SAAD)

Low-frequency aperture arrays represent sensitive instruments to detect signals from radio astronomic sources situated in the universe. In Italy, the Sardinia Aperture Array Demonstrator (SAAD) consists of an ongoing project of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) aimed to install an aperture array constituted of 128 dual-polarized Vivaldi antennas at the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) site. The originally envisaged 128 elements of SAAD were re-scoped to the 16 elements of its precursor named SADino, with the aim to quickly test the system with a digital beam-former based on the Italian Tile Processing Module (iTPM) digital back-end. A preliminary measurements campaign of radio frequency interference (RFI) was performed to survey the less contaminated spectral region. The results of these measurements permitted the establishment of the technical requirements for receiving a chain for the SADino telescope. In this paper, the design, implementation, and characterization of this signal acquisition chain are proposed. The operative frequency window of SAAD and its precursor, SADino, sweeps from 260 MHz to 420 MHz, which appears very attractive for radio astronomy applications and radar observation in space and surveillance awareness (SSA) activities.
The Moderating Role of Ethical Leadership in the Relationship between Emotional Exhaustion and Service Sabotage Behaviour: An Applied study on Employees of Travel Agencies in Egypt

: This research aims to investigate the relationship between emotional exhaustion and service sabotage behaviour by examining the moderating role of ethical leadership, with a focus on category A travel agents in Egypt. To this end, a moderation model was developed, applied to frontline employees in travel agencies, and validated to examine the moderating effects of prevention-based ethical leadership and promotion-based ethical leadership. The results showed that emotional exhaustion has a positive impact on service sabotage behaviour. The research further found that ethical leadership (promotion-based ethical leadership and prevention-based ethical leadership) is a key tool for reducing service sabotage behaviour. Furthermore, it is shown that promotion-based ethical leadership has a significant moderating impact on reducing the positive relationship between emotional exhaustion and service sabotage behaviour. Emotional exhaustion interacted with promotion-based ethical leadership to reduce service sabotage behaviour, such that service sabotage behaviour is highly reduced when leaders apply high levels of promotion-based ethical leadership when compared to leaders who apply low levels of promotion-based ethical leadership. However, prevention-based ethical leadership has no significant moderation impact.
Association of Genetic Variant in MC4R (rs17782313) Gene with Obesity and Other Health Behaviors among Selected Bangladeshi Population: A Population-based Case-control Study

Background and Aims: This study aim to investigate the influence of a gene polymorphism (rs17782313) on obesity-related traits and biochemical parameters in the Bangladeshi population and the association between this polymorphism and lifestyle-related risk factors. Methods: The study was carried out with 320 samples of which 160 were obese and 160 were healthy people. BMI, MUAC, waist and hip circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipid profile, and other socio-demographic and anthropometric profile were accounted for to assess the metabolic properties which are associated with obesity. The tetra-primer Amplified Refractory Mutation System Polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) was used to genotype rs17782313 in the MC4R gene by using the isolated DNA from collected peripheral blood from the selected sample. Result: The prevalence of hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes were significantly higher among the case group (p<.05) as compared with healthy people. BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference were significantly higher among people carrying minor allele C (p<.05). We also found a significant difference in dominant (CC vs. CT+TT), co-dominant (CC vs. CT and TT), and recessive (TT vs. CC+CT) model between case and control group (p<.05), which may indicate that rs17782313 in MC4R significantly predict obesity. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study shows the significant association of rs17782313 in MC4R with obesity and obesity-related other health problems. The study has to be conducted further in a broad population to establish a strong association.
Guiding the design of well-powered Hi-C experiments to detect differential loops

Abstract Motivation Three-dimensional chromatin structure plays an important role in gene regulation by connecting regulatory regions and gene promoters. The ability to detect the formation and loss of these loops in various cell types and conditions provides valuable information on the mechanisms driving these cell states and is critical for understanding long-range gene regulation. Hi-C is a powerful technique for characterizing 3D chromatin structure; however, Hi-C can quickly become costly and labor-intensive, and proper planning is required to ensure efficient use of time and resources while maintaining experimental rigor and well-powered results. Results To facilitate better planning and interpretation of human Hi-C experiments, we conducted a detailed evaluation of statistical power using publicly available Hi-C datasets, paying particular attention to the impact of loop size on Hi-C contacts and fold change compression. In addition, we have developed Hi-C Poweraid, a publicly hosted web application to investigate these findings. For experiments involving well-replicated cell lines, we recommend a total sequencing depth of at least 6 billion contacts per condition, split between at least two replicates to achieve the power to detect differences in the majority of loops. For experiments with higher variation, more replicates and deeper sequencing depths are required. Values for specific cases can be determined by using Hi-C Poweraid. This tool simplifies Hi-C power calculations, allowing for more efficient use of time and resources and more accurate interpretation of experimental results. Availability and implementation Hi-C Poweraid is available as an R Shiny application deployed at http://phanstiel-lab.med.unc.edu/poweraid/, with code available at https://github.com/sarmapar/poweraid.
Interaction between host cell proteins and open reading frames of porcine circovirus type 2

Abstract Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) is caused by a systemic inflammation after porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection. It was one of the most economically important pathogens affecting pig production worldwide before PCV2 vaccine was first introduced in 2006. After the development of a vaccine against PCV2a type, pig farms gradually restored enormous economic losses from PMWS. However, vaccine against PCV2a type could not be fully effective against several different PCV2 genotypes (PCV2b – PCV2h). In addition, PCV2a vaccine itself could generate antigenic drift of PCV2 capsid. Therefore, PCV2 infection still threats pig industry worldwide. PCV2 infection was initially found in local tissues including reproductive, respiratory, and digestive tracks. However, PCV2 infection often leads to a systemic inflammation which can cause severe immunosuppression by depleting peripheral lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid tissues. Subsequently, a secondary infection with other microorganisms can cause PMWS. Eleven putative open reading frames (ORFs) have been predicted to encode PCV2 genome. Among them, gene products of six ORFs from ORF1 to ORF6 have been identified and characterized to estimate its functional role during PCV2 infection. Acquiring knowledge about the specific interaction between each PCV2 ORF protein and host protein might be a key to develop preventive or therapeutic tools to control PCV2 infection. In this article, we reviewed current understanding of how each ORF of PCV2 manipulates host cell signaling related to immune suppression caused by PCV2.
Rapid flapping and fibre-reinforced membrane wings are key to high-performance bat flight

Bats fly using significantly different wing motions from other fliers, stemming from the complex interplay of their membrane wings’ motion and structural properties. Biological studies show that many bats fly at Strouhal numbers, the ratio of flapping to flight speed, 50–150% above the range typically associated with optimal locomotion. We use high-resolution fluid–structure interaction simulations of a bat wing to independently study the role of kinematics and material/structural properties in aerodynamic performance and show that peak propulsive and lift efficiencies for a bat-like wing motion require flapping 66% faster than for a symmetric motion, agreeing with the increased flapping frequency observed in zoological studies. In addition, we find that reduced membrane stiffness is associated with improved propulsive efficiency until the membrane flutters, but that incorporating microstructural anisotropy arising from biological fibre reinforcement enables a tenfold reduction of the flutter energy while maintaining high aerodynamic efficiency. Our results indicate that animals with specialized flapping motions may have correspondingly specialized flapping speeds, in contrast to arguments for a universally efficient Strouhal range. Additionally, our study demonstrates the significant role that the microstructural constitutive properties of the membrane wing of a bat can have in its propulsive performance.
Evolutionary rescue on genotypic fitness landscapes

Populations facing adverse environments, novel pathogens or invasive competitors may be destined to extinction if they are unable to adapt rapidly. Quantitative predictions of the probability of survival through adaptation, evolutionary rescue, have been previously developed for one of the most natural and well-studied mappings from an organism’s traits to its fitness, Fisher’s geometric model (FGM). While FGM assumes that all possible trait values are accessible via mutation, in many applications only a finite set of rescue mutations will be available, such as mutations conferring resistance to a parasite, predator or toxin. We predict the probability of evolutionary rescue, via de novo mutation, when this underlying genetic structure is included. We find that rescue probability is always reduced when its genetic basis is taken into account. Unlike other known features of the genotypic FGM, however, the probability of rescue increases monotonically with the number of available mutations and approaches the behaviour of the classical FGM as the number of available mutations approaches infinity.
A fluidization transition of the cell envelope sets up a universal volume expansion pacemaker

The bacterial cell wall is a complex and resource-intensive biochemical structure that must expand in concert with biomass growth to prevent lysis or molecular crowding. Elegant experiments have shown that cell volume growth continues largely unperturbed in the face of periodic osmotic shocks, raising the question how the pace of cell wall expansion is regulated in E. coli . We discovered a proportional relationship of turgor pressure with growth rate. Remarkably, despite this increase in turgor, cellular biomass density was constant across a wide range of growth rates. In contrast, perturbing turgor away from this scaling directly affected density. To understand these confusing observations, we formulated a mathematical model, in which endopeptidase-mediated cell wall fluidization enables turgor pressure to set the pace of cellular volume expansion. This model not only explains our observations but makes a set of non-trivial predictions that we tested experimentally. As predicted, we found that modulating the effective viscosity of the cell wall was sufficient to control cellular biomass density. We also validated a surprising inverse relationship between cell width and biomass density. A remaining puzzle was what mediates the increase in turgor pressure with growth rate. The picture that emerges is that changes in turgor pressure across growth rates are mediated by changes in the concentration of counterions, balancing the net charge of ribosomal RNA. Profoundly, the coupling between rRNA and pressure simultaneously coordinates cell volume expansion across growth rates and exerts homeostatic feedback control on cytoplasmic density, explaining the rapid adjustment of cell volume to total biomass after perturbations. Physical forces generated via this universal mechanism may drive the expansion of fast-growing, ribosome-dense cells in their local environment, ranging from microbes to aggressive cancers.
Hepatoprotective effects of gentisic acid through its anti-oxidant properties in nicotinamide-streptozotocin induced diabetic mice

Objective(s): Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common metabolic disorder that causes many complications. Liver failure is one of the complications of T2DM. Oxidative stress plays a major role in the development and progression of T2DM-induced liver injury. Gentisic acid (GA) is a metabolite of aspirin and also a phenolic compound found in natural sources that is a highly effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger. So, in this study, the potential preventive benefits of GA against liver damage induced by T2DM were explored. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 24 adult male mice. T2DM was induced by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of streptozotocin (at a dose of 65 mg/kg), 15 min after the injection of nicotinamide (at a dose of 120 mg/kg). The grouping was as follows: 1) Normal Control Group; 2) Diabetic Control Group; 3) Positive Control Group: received metformin (150 mg/kg body weight daily) through gavage; 4) Treatment Group: received GA at the dose of 100 mg/kg body weight daily through gavage. Treatments continued for two weeks. Results: Two weeks of GA treatment in diabetic mice reduced fasting blood glucose, improved plasma levels of hepatic enzymes, and increased liver tissue antioxidant capacity. Histopathological examination revealed that GA administration reduced diabetes-induced liver damage. Furthermore, GA treatment led to the down-regulation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and up-regulation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that GA exerts hepatoprotective effects in STZ-induced T2DM mice.
Current Status of Freshwater Prawn Culture in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam

The Mekong Delta of Vietnam has been well-known as a region rich in aquatic resources with a high potential for aquacultural development. The region harbors an abundance of aquatic species and a wealth of natural water bodies. Widespread commercial aquacultural development in the Mekong Delta has increased greatly starting from the last decade. In this region, the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is a crustacean species of economic significance and a major target of aquaculture activity. M. rosenbergii may be cultured either semi-intensively in canals and ponds, or extensively in a manner integrated with rice farming. This species commands high market value, and its culture has the potential to raise income levels in the Mekong Delta. However, limited supply of natural seed and technological problems relating to artificial seed production are serving as constraints to the further development of this industry. The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences and Cantho University College of Agriculture are currently engaging in collaborative research relating to the improvement of seed production technology for M. rosenbergii. This manuscript addresses the current status of seed production and commercial culture of M. rosenbergii in the Mekong Delta in this context. Additional key words: giant freshwater prawn, aquaculture, farming systems, seed production 90 JIRCAS J No. 6, 1998
Food supply and provisioning behavior of parents: Are small hoopoe nestlings condemned to die?

Abstract Parents might use signals of need or of quality to decide food provisioning among their offspring, while the use of one or another signal might depend on food availability. Begging success of nestlings of different quality (i.e., body size) would also depend on food availability, and we here explore the effect of experimental food supply in begging success of nestlings and in provisioning of female hoopoes (Upupa epops), a species with extreme hatching asynchrony and nestlings size hierarchy. We video-recorded food allocation of females, begging success of nestlings of different size, and the social context (i.e., the size category of the other nestlings that were begging for food) during periods when experimental food supply was or was not available in the same nests. We found that when experimental food supplementation was present, begging success of the intermediate, but not that of large or small-sized nestlings, increased. The experiment, however, did not affect the feeding preferences of females toward nestlings of different size. Moreover, when small nestlings were the only ones that were begging for food, their begging success decreased in the experimental period, and females used supplemented prey to feed themselves. Those results, on one hand, confirm the importance of food availability for the begging success of nestlings of particular sizes and, on the other, indicate that females prefer to use extra food for their own rather than for the smallest nestlings. We discuss possible mechanisms explaining the detected experimental effects and the adaptive and nonadaptive explanations of mothers ignoring the small nestlings.
Validation, Measurement Uncertainty, and Determination of Bixin and Norbixin in Processed Foods of Animal Resources Distributed in Korea

Abstract This research aimed to validate a high-performance liquid chromatography method for the quantitative determination of bixin and norbixin in various foods. The Diode Array Detector (495 nm) technique was used. Method was validated for specificity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, and accuracy, and the measurement uncertainty was assessed. The calibration curve showed excellent linearity (r2≥0.9999) over the tested concentration range of 0.2–25 mg/L. The LOD and LOQ were 0.03–0.11 and 0.02–0.05 mg/L for bixin and norbixin, respectively. The intra- and inter-day accuracies and precisions were 88.0±1.3–97.0±0.5% and 0.2%–2.6% relative SD (RSD) for bixin and 88.2±0.8–105.8±0.8% and 0.3%–2.7% RSD for norbixin, respectively. Inter-laboratory validation for accuracy and precision was conducted in three laboratories, and these results all met the AOAC guidelines. In addition, the relative expanded uncertainty (<22%) satisfied the CODEX recommendation. Furthermore, products distributed in Korea were monitored for annatto extracts using the proposed method to demonstrate its application. The developed analytical method is reliable for quantifying bixin and norbixin in various foods.
World Journal of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney disease. Kidney involvement in patients with diabetes has a wide spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from asymptomatic to overt proteinuria and kidney failure. The development of kidney disease in diabetes is associated with structural changes in multiple kidney compartments, such as the vascular system and glomeruli. Glomerular alterations include thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, loss of podocytes, and segmental mesangiolysis, which may lead to microaneurysms and the development of pathognomonic Kimmelstiel-Wilson nodules. Beyond lesions directly related to diabetes, awareness of the possible coexistence of nondiabetic kidney disease in patients with diabetes is increasing. These nondiabetic lesions include focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, IgA nephropathy, and other primary or secondary renal disorders. Differential diagnosis of these conditions is crucial in guiding clinical management and therapeutic approaches. However, the relationship between diabetes and the kidney is bidirectional; thus, new-onset diabetes may also occur as a complication of the treatment in patients with renal diseases. Here, we review the complex and multifaceted correlation between diabetes and kidney diseases and discuss clinical presentation and course, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic opportunities offered by novel drugs.
The microstructure of intra- and interpersonal coordination

Movements are naturally composed of submovements, i.e. recurrent speed pulses (2–3 Hz), possibly reflecting intermittent feedback-based motor adjustments. In visuomotor (unimanual) synchronization tasks, partners alternate submovements over time, indicating mutual coregulation. However, it is unclear whether submovement coordination is organized differently between and within individuals. Indeed, different types of information may be variably exploited for intrapersonal and interpersonal coordination. Participants performed a series of bimanual tasks alone or in pairs, with or without visual feedback (solo task only). We analysed the relative timing of submovements between their own hands or between their own hands and those of their partner. Distinct coordinative structures emerged at the submovement level depending on the relevance of visual feedback. Specifically, the relative timing of submovements (between partners/effectors) shifts from alternation to simultaneity and a mixture of both when coordination is achieved using vision (interpersonal), proprioception/efference-copy only (intrapersonal, without vision) or all information sources (intrapersonal, with vision), respectively. These results suggest that submovement coordination represents a behavioural proxy for the adaptive weighting of different sources of information within action-perception loops. In sum, the microstructure of movement reveals common principles governing the dynamics of sensorimotor control to achieve both intra- and interpersonal coordination.
Stress in performance-related pay: the effect of payment contracts and social-evaluative threat

Abstract There is some evidence that performance-related pay (PRP) leads to higher levels of stress as it incentivizes employees to work harder for longer. However, PRP in the workplace also typically involves performance monitoring, which may introduce an additional source of stress via social-evaluative threat (SET). The current study examined the effect of PRP on stress while varying the level of performance monitoring/SET. Using an incentivized mixed design experiment, 206 participants completed a simulated work task after being randomly allocated to either a PRP contract (£0.20 per correct response, n = 110) or minimum-performance fixed payment contract (£5 for ≥10 correct responses; £0 for <10, n = 96) condition. All participants completed the task during a high SET (explicit performance monitoring) and low SET (no monitoring) condition. Subjective and objective stress were measured through self-report and salivary cortisol. High SET led to higher levels of self-reported stress but not cortisol, whereas there was no effect of the payment condition on either self-reported stress or cortisol. A statistically significant interaction revealed that high SET-fixed payment participants were significantly more stressed than those in the high SET-PRP group. Estimating the regressions separately for high- and low-performing individuals found that the effect was driven by low-performing individuals. These results suggest that fixed payment contracts that have a minimum performance threshold and which include performance monitoring and SET can be more stressful than traditional piece-rate PRP contracts. The current study suggests that incorporating performance monitoring and SET into payment contracts may affect the well-being of employees.