Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liraglutide Improves Cognitive and Neuronal Function in 3-NP Rat Model of Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor, psychiatric, and cognitive abnormalities. The antidiabetic drug liraglutide possesses a neuroprotective potential against several neurodegenerative disorders; however, its role in Huntington’s disease (HD) and the possible mechanisms/trajectories remain elusive, which is the aim of this work. Liraglutide (200 μg/kg, s.c) was administered to rats intoxicated with 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) for 4 weeks post HD model induction. Liraglutide abated the 3-NP-induced neurobehavioral deficits (open field and elevated plus maze tests) and histopathological changes. Liraglutide downregulated the striatal mRNA expression of HSP 27, PBR, and GFAP, while it upregulated that of DARPP32. On the molecular level, liraglutide enhanced striatal miR-130a gene expression and TrKB protein expression and its ligand BDNF, while it reduced the striatal protein content and mRNA expression of the death receptors sortilin and p75NTR, respectively. It enhanced the neuroprotective molecules cAMP, p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-CREB, besides modulating the p-GSK-3β/p-β-catenin axis. Liraglutide enhanced the antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2, abrogated TBARS, upregulated both Bcl2 and Bcl-XL, and downregulated Bax along with decreasing caspase-3 activity. Therefore, liraglutide exerts a neurotherapeutic effect on 3-NP-treated rats that is, besides the upturn of behavioral and structural findings, it at least partially, increased miR-130a and modulated PI3K/Akt/CREB/BDNF/TrKB, sortilin, and p75NTR, and Akt/GSK-3β/p-β-catenin trajectories besides its capacity to decrease apoptosis and oxidative stress, as well as its neurotrophic activity.
Effects of 15-Day Head-Down Bed Rest on Emotional Time Perception

Accurate time perception is clearly essential for the successful implementation of space missions. To elucidate the effect of microgravity on time perception, we used three emotional picture stimuli: neutral, fear, and disgust, in combination with a temporal bisection task to measure 16 male participants’ time perception in 15 days of –6° head-down bed rest, which is a reliable simulation model for most physiological effects of spaceflight. We found that: (1) participants showed temporal overestimation of the fear stimuli in the middle phase (day 8), suggesting that when participants’ behavioral simulations were consistent with the action implications of the emotional stimuli, they could still elicit an overestimation of time even if the subjective arousal of the emotional stimuli was not high. (2) Participants’ temporal sensitivity tends to get worse in the bed rest phase (days 8 and 15) and better in the post-bed rest phase, especially for neutral and fear stimuli, suggesting that multiple presentations of short-term emotional stimuli may also lead to a lack of affective effects. This reduced the pacemaker rate and affected temporal perceptual sensitivity. Also, this may be related to changes in physiological factors in participants in the bed rest state, such as reduced vagal excitability. These results provide new evidence to support the theory of embodied cognition in the context of time perception in head-down bed rest and suggest important perspectives for future perception science research in special environments such as microgravity.
Adherence and Psychosocial Well-Being During Pandemic-Associated Pre-deployment Quarantine

Background: With the purpose of preventing SARS-Cov-2 traveling with the troops, pre-deployment and post-deployment quarantine are mandatory for the German military. This study investigates which factors could be addressed in order to facilitate adherence and mental health during isolation. Method: Six hundred three soldiers completed questionnaires at the beginning and at the end of pre-deployment quarantine: Mini-SCL (BSI), Perceived Social Support (FSozU-K22), Unit Cohesion, Military Quarantine Adherence Questionnaire (MQAQ), and quarantine-associated factors including informedness about Covid-19, perceived individual risk, benefit of quarantine, clarity of quarantine protocol, need of intimacy, social norms, stigma, practicality of the quarantine, financial disadvantages, boredom, and health promoting leadership. Results: Using stepwise regression analyses, up to 57% of the quarantine adherence was explained by social norms, boredom, perceived benefit/effectiveness of the quarantine, clear communication of the quarantine protocol and perceived risk of an infection, with social norms explaining 43%. In respect to mental health (Mini-SCL) at the beginning of quarantine, only 15% is explained by being in a partnership, (un)fulfilled need for bonding/intimacy, perceived unit cohesion, and perceived social support. Up to 20 % of the variance in mental health at the end of quarantine is explained by accumulated days of isolation before pre-deployment quarantine, age, clear communication of the quarantine protocol, perceived social support, fulfilled need for bonding/intimacy and perceived stigma. Mental health and quarantine adherence did correlate significantly, but to a slight extent. No differences between the beginning and the end of pre-deployment quarantine were found for the overall group in respect to mental health, quarantine adherence, perceived social support and perceived unit cohesion, while their trajectories differed for different subgroups including age, gender, rank, and accumulated days of quarantine: With increasing accumulated days of isolation prior to pre-deployment quarantine, mental health declined over the course of quarantine, though to a small degree. Conclusion: Findings suggest that addressing the norms of fellow soldiers and dependents alike could contribute to quarantine adherence in pre-deployment quarantine. Ongoing research should examine long-term effects on mental health, including these of accumulated days of quarantine, also taking into account post-deployment quarantine.
Neural Networks for Estimating the Productivity of Concreting Activities

To overcome the variability and the impact of subjective factors on the cost of concrete-related activities in developing countries, neural networks can offer a guiding tool. In this study, three neural networks were developed to estimate the productivity, within a developing market, for formwork assembly, steel fixing, and concrete pouring activities. Eighteen experts working in six projects were carefully selected to gather the data for the neural networks. Ninety-two data surveys were obtained and processed for use by the neural networks. Commercial software was used to perform the neural network calculations. The processed data were used to develop, train, and test the neural networks. The results of the developed framework of neural networks indicate adequate convergence and relatively strong generalization capabilities. When used to perform a sensitivity analysis on the input factors influencing the productivity of concreting activities, the framework has demonstrated a good potential in identifying trends of such factors.
Movement Ecology of the Imperiled Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in a Lower Hudson River Watershed

Abstract. Knowledge of the spatial ecology of many turtle species is lacking or limited by small sample sizes of study animals, short study periods, or incomplete representation of the species' geographic range, all of which can present barriers to science-based management and conservation. The wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) is a declining North American freshwater turtle that is now listed as threatened or endangered in several US states and Canadian provinces. Local-scale knowledge of wood turtle movement patterns and home range sizes is needed for more effective management and regulatory protection, yet the spatial ecology of this species remains undescribed in large portions of its range. We radiotracked 31 wood turtles for 1–5 yrs each in a stream system along the border of New York and Connecticut to describe their movement behavior and inform management efforts in this previously unstudied region. Annual and multiyear 95% minimum convex polygon home range sizes averaged 2.8 (± 3.79 SD) ha and 5.2 (± 7.36 SD) ha, respectively. Males had significantly larger annual and multiyear home ranges than did females, often by severalfold. Overlap of home ranges from one year to the next ranged from 10.5% to 99.7% and averaged 62.6% (± 22.86% SD). Home range centroids shifted 3.8–328.1 m (x̄ = 70.3 ± 80.31 m SD) from year to year and averaged 41.2 m (± 40.56 m SD) from the stream and 138.4 m (± 70.66 m SD) from the nearest road across all individuals. Most turtles' home ranges spanned one or both of the major roads in our study area, illuminating the threat of vehicle collision mortality to the viability of this population. Hibernaculum fidelity was low, with only 15% of turtles hibernating in the same location as in the previous year. Our results suggest that management efforts for wood turtles in western Connecticut and the adjacent region of New York should consider that males (the wider-ranging sex) use an average of 5.3 ha to meet their resource requirements over the course of one annual cycle, buffers of at least 116 m surrounding streams should be protected, habitats that are distant from roads should be prioritized for conservation, and measures that facilitate safe passage beneath roads should be implemented whenever roads are present near occupied wood turtle habitat.
A New Species of Amazon Freshwater Toad-Headed Turtle in the Genus Mesoclemmys (Testudines: Pleurodira: Chelidae) from Brazil

Abstract. We describe a new extant species of freshwater turtle from Brazil: Mesoclemmys sp. nov., a medium-sized toad-headed turtle (mean carapace length = 189.5 ± 25.8 mm), which to date has only been found in the Brazilian Amazon Basin, western Pará State, Central Amazon, and the lower Amazonas River Basin. It is easily distinguished from its sympatric congeners by differences in body size, head size, carapace shape, and coloration. The head is triangular and completely black, with large red eyes positioned anteriorly and a pair of long, light yellow barbels positioned anteriorly close the mandible. The carapace is oval and colored dark reddish brown. The plastron is black in the central region and burnt-yellow along the edges and ventral aspects of the marginal scutes and bridge, with dark seams. The plastral formula is 3-5-7-4-1-6-2. The new species inhabits temporary rainwater ponds under closed-canopy rainforest and has a known geographic range of 2183 km2. Sequences of fragment mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S) of the new species were determined and compared with the available GenBank sequences. Our phylogenetic results indicate that the specimens represent a divergent taxon within Mesoclemmys and a robust analysis of morphological data corroborates the existence of a new distinct species of Mesoclemmys, described herein.
Safety and biodegradability of a synthetic dural sealant patch (Liqoseal) in a porcine cranial model

Liqoseal consists of a watertight layer of poly(ester)ether urethane and an adhesive layer containing polyethylene glycol‐N‐hydroxysuccinimide (PEG‐NHS). It is designed to prevent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage after intradural surgery. This study assessed the safety and biodegradability of Liqoseal in a porcine craniotomy model.
From the Lab to the Last Mile: Deploying Transgenic Approaches Against Mosquitoes

Ingenious exploitation of transgenic approaches to produce malaria resistant or sterile mosquitoes, or hypervirulent mosquito pathogens, has produced many potential solutions to vector borne diseases. However, in spite of technological feasibility, it has not been determined how well these new methods will work, and how they should be tested and regulated. Some self-limiting transgenic fungal pathogens and mosquitoes are almost field ready, and may be easier to regulate than self-sustaining strategies. However, they require repeat sales and so must show business viability; low-cost mass production is just one of a number of technical constraints that are sometimes treated as an afterthought in technology deployment. No transgenic self-sustaining approach to anopheline control has ever been deployed because of unresolved ethical, social and regulatory issues. These overlapping issues include: 1) the transparency challenge, which requires public discourse, particularly in Africa where releases are proposed, to determine what society is willing to risk given the potential benefits; 2) the transboundary challenge, self-sustaining mosquitoes or pathogens are potentially capable of crossing national boundaries and irreversibly altering ecosystems, and 3) the risk assessment challenge. The polarized debate as to whether these technologies will ever be used to save lives is ongoing; they will founder without a political answer as to how do we interpret the precautionary principle, as exemplified in the Cartagena protocol, in the global context of technological changes.
The Impact of Maternal Anxiety on Early Child Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Maternal prenatal anxiety is among important public health issues as it may affect child development. However, there are not enough studies to examine the impact of a mother's anxiety on the child's early development, especially up to 1 year. Objective: The present prospective cohort study aimed to examine whether maternal trait anxiety, perceived social support, and COVID-19 related fear impacted speech-language, sensory-motor, and socio-emotional development in 12 months old Serbian infants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This follow-up study included 142 pregnant women (Time 1) and their children at 12 months (Time 2). Antenatal maternal anxiety and children's development were examined. Maternal anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Child speech-language, sensory-motor, and socio-emotional development were assessed using the developmental scale in the form of an online questionnaire that examined the early psychophysiological child development. Information on socioeconomic factors, child and maternal demographics, clinical factors, and perceived fear of COVID-19 viral infection were collected. Multivariable General Linear Model analysis was conducted, adjusted for demographic, clinical, and coronavirus prenatal experiences, maternal prenatal anxiety levels, perceived social support, speech-language, motor skills, and cognitive and socio-emotional development at the infants' age of 12 months. Results: The study revealed the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal trait anxiety. The association between selected independent factors and infants' development was found in a demographically unified sample except for employment and the number of children. There was a correlation between all observed developmental functions. Univariate General Linear model statistical analysis indicated that linear models with selected independent factors and covariates could account for 30.9% (Cognition) up to 40.6% (Speech-language) of variability in developmental functions. It turned out that two-way and three-way interactions had a dominant role on models, and STAI-T Level and COVID-19 related fear were present in all interaction terms. Conclusion: Our findings reveal important determinants of child developmental outcomes and underline the impact of maternal anxiety on early child development. These findings lay the groundwork for the following interdisciplinary research on pregnancy and child development to facilitate and achieve positive developmental outcomes and maternal mental health.
Shape Memory Alloys for Seismic Response Modification: A State-of-the-Art Review

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a remarkable class of metals that can offer high strength, large energy dissipation through hysteretic behavior, extraordinary strain capacity (up to 8%) with full shape recovery to zero residual strain, and a high resistance to corrosion and fatigue—aspects that are all desirable from an earthquake engineering perspective. Their various physical characteristics result from solid-solid transformation between austenite and martensite phases of the alloy that may be induced by stress or temperature. The most commercially successful SMA is a binary alloy of nickel and titanium (NiTi). Although SMAs are expensive relative to most other materials used in seismic engineering, in certain forms their capacity for high energy loss per unit volume means that comparatively small quantities can be made to be especially effective, for example when used in wire form as part of a seismic bracing system. This state-of-the-art paper presents current materials science aspects, material models, and mechanical behavior of SMAs relevant to seismic engineering, and examines the current state of design of SMA-based seismic response modification devices and their use in buildings and bridges. SMA-based devices offer promising advantages for development of next-generation seismic protection systems.
Mapping the Substrate-Binding Sites in the Phosphatidylserine Synthase in Candida albicans

The fungal phosphatidylserine (PS) synthase, a membrane protein encoded by the CHO1 gene, is a potential drug target for pathogenic fungi, such as Candida albicans. However, both substrate-binding sites of C. albicans Cho1 have not been characterized. Cho1 has two substrates: cytidyldiphosphate-diacylglycerol (CDP-DAG) and serine. Previous studies identified a conserved CDP-alcohol phosphotransferase (CAPT) binding motif, which is present within Cho1. We tested the CAPT motif for its role in PS synthesis by mutating conserved residues using alanine substitution mutagenesis. PS synthase assays revealed that mutations in all but one conserved amino acid within the CAPT motif resulted in decreased Cho1 function. In contrast, there were no clear motifs in Cho1 for binding serine. Therefore, to identify the serine binding site, PS synthase sequences from three fungi were aligned with sequences of a similar enzyme, phosphatidylinositol (PI) synthase, from the same fungi. This revealed a motif that was unique to PS synthases. Using alanine substitution mutagenesis, we found that some of the residues in this motif are required for Cho1 function. Two alanine substitution mutants, L184A and R189A, exhibited contrasting impacts on PS synthase activity, and were characterized for their Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The L184A mutant displayed enhanced PS synthase activity and showed an increased V max. In contrast, R189A showed decreased PS synthase activity and increased K m for serine, suggesting that residue R189 is involved in serine binding. These results help to characterize PS synthase substrate binding, and should direct rational approaches for finding Cho1 inhibitors that may lead to better antifungals.
210Pb-Derived Bioturbation Rates in Sediments Around Seamounts in the Tropical Northwest Pacific

To evaluate bioturbation coefficients (DB) and mixing depths (L), 210Pb and 226Ra activity was measured in two sediments cores (from water depths of 5,398 m and 4,428 m), which were collected from seamount areas in the Northwest Pacific. Using a steady-state diffusion mode, we estimated DB values of 16.8 and 24.1 cm2/a, higher than those in abyssal sediments and those predicted by traditional empirical equations. Corresponding L values varied between 19.3 and 23.1 cm. These high values indicate that seamounts are the area of active bioturbation. A one-dimensional model for the transport of total organic carbon (TOC) from the surface layer of sediments to the deep layer was developed using the distribution pattern of the specific activity of excess 210Pb (210Pbex) and its relationship with TOC. The model showed that the TOC flux transmitted downward by bioturbation was 0.09 mmol/(cm2⋅a) and 0.12 mmol/(cm2⋅a).
Dual UMIs and Dual Barcodes With Minimal PCR Amplification Removes Artifacts and Acquires Accurate Antibody Repertoire

Antibody repertoire sequencing (Rep-seq) has been widely used to reveal repertoire dynamics and to interrogate antibodies of interest at single nucleotide-level resolution. However, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification introduces extensive artifacts including chimeras and nucleotide errors, leading to false discovery of antibodies and incorrect assessment of somatic hypermutations (SHMs) which subsequently mislead downstream investigations. Here, a novel approach named DUMPArts, which improves the accuracy of antibody repertoires by labeling each sample with dual barcodes and each molecule with dual unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) via minimal PCR amplification to remove artifacts, is developed. Tested by ultra-deep Rep-seq data, DUMPArts removed inter-sample chimeras, which cause artifactual shared clones and constitute approximately 15% of reads in the library, as well as intra-sample chimeras with erroneous SHMs and constituting approximately 20% of the reads, and corrected base errors and amplification biases by consensus building. The removal of these artifacts will provide an accurate assessment of antibody repertoires and benefit related studies, especially mAb discovery and antibody-guided vaccine design.
Analysis of the effect of laser bandwidth on imaging of memory patterns

Tighter CD control requirements of the smaller devices in modern semiconductor products demand control of all potential sources of change in imaging characteristics. Bandwidth of ArF lasers is known to be one of the important parameters to be controlled to improve CD control of wafers. CD changes of Device Critical Patterns for memory products, for example spacing of DRAM isolation patterns, due to laser bandwidth changes were investigated through simulations. The purpose of the simulation study was to find out if there are optimum combinations of layout and illumination setting, if variations can be compensated by illumination adjustments and if the bandwidth performance of the laser meets requirements. The simulations were carried out using Cymer proprietary methods for high accuracy using improved laser spectrum sampling techniques[1]. Different CD behavior was observed for different combinations of pattern layout, illumination and bandwidth. Preferred illumination settings were found which suppress CD changes caused by bandwidth variation, especially for diffusion layer of DRAM layouts. Adjustment of illumination settings was demonstrated to cancel out CD shifts due to bandwidth change for the diffusion layer case. For all example cases, which demonstrated typical DRAM product conditions, simulation verified that the amount of CD shift can be controlled within allowed tolerances if Cymer's ABS technology was used for bandwidth control.