Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current and future perspectives of chimeric antigen receptors against glioblastoma

Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant form of cancer in the central nervous system; even with treatment, it has a 5-year survival rate of 7.2%. The adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) has shown a remarkable success against hematological malignancies, namely leukemia and multiple myeloma. However, CAR T cell therapy against solid tumors, and more specifically GBM, is still riddled with challenges preventing its widespread adoption. Here, we first establish the obstacles in ACT against GBM, including on-target/off-tumor toxicity, antigen modulation, tumor heterogeneity, and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We then present recent preclinical and clinical studies targeting well-characterized GBM antigens, which include the interleukin-13 receptor α2 and the epidermal growth factor receptor. Afterward, we turn our attention to alternative targets in GBM, including less-explored antigens such as B7-H3 (CD276), carbonic anhydrase IX, and the GD2 ganglioside. We also discuss additional target ligands, namely CD70, and natural killer group 2 member D ligands. Finally, we present the possibilities afforded by novel CAR architectures. In particular, we examine the use of armored CARs to improve the survival and proliferation of CAR T cells. We conclude by discussing the advantages of tandem and synNotch CARs when targeting multiple GBM antigens.
Optimal Oscillations and Chaos Generation in Biologically-Inspired Systems

Biological systems display a variety of complex dynamic behaviors, ranging from periodic orbits to chaos. Regular rhythmic behavior, for instance, is associated with locomotion, while chaotic behavior is observed in neural interactions. Both these cases can be mathematically expressed as the interaction of a collection of coupled bodies or oscillators that are actuated to behave with a desired pattern. In animal locomotion, this desired pattern is the periodic body motion (gait) that interacts with the environment to generate thrust for motion. By contrast, the observed behavior of a network of neurons is possibly chaotic and flexible. This research focuses on the design and analysis of these two types of behaviors in biologically-inspired systems. A fundamental problem in animal locomotion is determining a gait that optimizes an essential performance while satisfying a desired velocity constraint. In this study, a functional model is developed for a general class of three dimensional locomotors with full (six) degrees of freedom, in addition to arbitrary finite degrees of freedom for body shape deformation. An optimal turning gait problem is then formulated for a periodic body movement that minimizes a quadratic cost function while achieving a steady turning motion with prescribed average linear and angular velocities. The problem is shown to reduce equivalently to two separate and simpler minimization problems that are both solvable for globally optimal solutions. Optimal gait theory can also be utilized in order to determine analytical justifications for observed behavior in biological systems. In this study, a simple body-fluid fish model is developed, and steady swimming at various speeds is analyzed using optimal gait theory. The results show that the gait that minimizes bending moment over tail movements and stiffness matches data from observed swimming of saithe. Furthermore, muscle tension is reduced when undulation frequency matches the resonance frequency, which maximizes the ratio of tail-tip velocity to bending moment. The final task is to design the interconnections in a network of Andronov-Hopf oscillators in order to generate desired chaotic behavior. Due to the structure of the oscillators, it is possible to generate chaos by using weak linear coupling to destabilize the phase difference between the oscillators. To this end, a set of sufficient conditions are determined to guarantee the instability of a desired periodic solution through phase destabilization. Subsequently, a condition is found to guarantee the absence of any stable harmonic orbit. Finally, additional properties are considered, where small variations in a parameter can lead to chaotic behavior. With additional research, these results can be expanded to the design of a chaotic neural controller to generate adaptive locomotion for a mechanical rectifier.
Nonreciprocal photonic management for photovoltaic conversion: design and fundamental efficiency limits

Abstract. Significant progress in the development of nonreciprocal optical components with broken Kirchhoff symmetry paves the way for increasing the photovoltaic (PV) conversion efficiency beyond the Shockley–Queisser limit due to reuse of emitted photons. Recent papers have analyzed the PV converter with several or an infinite number of multijunction cells, in which the cells are coupled via nonreciprocal filters (optical diodes) in such a way that the light emitted by one cell is absorbed by another cell. We proposed and investigated a single cell converter with nonreciprocal external photon recycling, which provided reabsorption and reuse of the emitting light by the same cell. We considered properties of photons in the sunbeam in terms of ergodicity, disorder, energy availability, information entropy, and coherence, and established fundamental limitations imposed by endoreversible thermodynamics on conversion efficiency at maximal power output. Our results show that the nonreciprocal converter with an ideal multijunction cell can approach the Carnot efficiency, whereas operating exactly at the Carnot limit requires an infinite number of photon recycling processes. This requirement resolves the famous thermodynamic paradox of the optical diode because any small dissipation in the cell or optical system enhanced by infinite recycling will stabilize the converter operation below the Carnot limit. We generalized endoreversible thermodynamics to photonic distributions with nonzero chemical potential and derived the limiting efficiency of the nonreciprocal single-junction PV converter. The performance of this converter with available GaAs solar cells was evaluated.
Missed connections? Everyday mobility experiences and the sociability of public transport in Amsterdam during COVID-19

ABSTRACT Various measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 have altered mobility flows worldwide and caused people to adopt new ways of being and moving in public space. These changes have been considerably pronounced across modes of public transportation. This paper explores the experiences of individuals who continued riding and working in public transport throughout the pandemic to yield insight into changing mobility meanings and grounded realities of urban mobility processes in the context of COVID-19 and beyond. Through the combined analysis of ethnographic fieldwork, participant observations and interviews, the paper unpacks lived experiences of riding and working in public transport in the city of Amsterdam during lockdown by addressing the changed nature of embodied encounters and mobile sociability in public transit. Findings denote that COVID-19 has altered the conditions of mobile sociability in spaces of public transport, and has produced complex experiences of daily travel with others involving mutually negative and positive impressions. As a result, we argue that when challenged by COVID-19 related restrictions, mobile sociability and fleeting encounters on the move significantly shape the experience of traveling with others in ways that call into question how we think of public transport as a social space in cities.
Self-Crosslinkable Oxidized Alginate-Carboxymethyl Chitosan Hydrogels as an Injectable Cell Carrier for In Vitro Dental Enamel Regeneration

Injectable hydrogels, as carriers, offer great potential to incorporate cells or growth factors for dental tissue regeneration. Notably, the development of injectable hydrogels with appropriate structures and properties has been a challenging task, leaving much to be desired in terms of cytocompatibility, antibacterial and self-healing properties, as well as the ability to support dental stem cell functions. This paper presents our study on the development of a novel self-cross-linkable hydrogel composed of oxidized alginate and carboxymethyl chitosan and its characterization as a cell carrier for dental enamel regeneration in vitro. Oxidized alginate was synthesized with 60% theoretical oxidation degree using periodate oxidation and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. Then, hydrogels were prepared at three varying weight ratios of oxidized alginate to carboxymethyl chitosan (4:1, 3:1, and 2:1) through Schiff base reactions, which was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. The hydrogels were characterized in terms of gelation time, swelling ratio, structure, injectability, self-healing, antibacterial properties, and in vitro characterization for enamel regeneration. The results demonstrated that, among the three hydrogels examined, the one with the highest ratio of oxidized alginate (i.e., 4:1) had the fastest gelation time and the lowest swelling ability, and that all hydrogels were formed with highly porous structures and were able to be injected through a 20-gauge needle without clogging. The injected hydrogels could be rapidly reformed with the self-healing property. The hydrogels also showed antibacterial properties against two cariogenic bacteria: Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. For in vitro enamel regeneration, a dental epithelial cell line, HAT-7, was examined, demonstrating a high cell viability in the hydrogels during injection. Furthermore, HAT-7 cells encapsulated in the hydrogels showed alkaline phosphatase production and mineral deposition, as well as maintaining their round morphology, after 14 days of in vitro culture. Taken together, this study has provided evidence that the oxidized alginate-carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels could be used as an injectable cell carrier for dental enamel tissue engineering applications.
The Pyroptosis-Related Gene Prognostic Index Associated with Tumor Immune Infiltration for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most fatal malignancies. Pyroptosis, a type of inflammatory cell death, likely plays a critical role in the development and progression of tumors. However, the relationship between pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) and prognosis and immunity to PC is not entirely clear. This study, aimed at identifying the key PRGs in PC, highlights their prognostic value, immune characteristics, and candidate drugs for therapies. We screened 47 differentially expressed PRGs between PC and normal pancreas tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) datasets. Afterwards, a pyroptosis-related gene prognostic index (PRGPI) was constructed based on eight PRGs (AIM2, GBP1, HMGB1, IL18, IRF6, NEK7, NLRP1 and PLCG1) selected by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis and LASSO regression analysis, and verified in two external datasets from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. We found that the PC patients in the PRGPI-defined subgroups not only reflected significantly different levels of infiltration in a variety of immune cells, such as M1 macrophages, but also showed differential expression in genes of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) family and immune checkpoints. Additionally, molecular characteristics and drug sensitivity also stayed close to the PRGPI risk scores. Therefore, PRGPI may serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker and may potentially provide guidance toward novel therapeutic options for PC patients.
Can linguistics and semiotics conceive man without language?

Saussure’s refusal to adopt a biological perspective in linguistics and to consider the problem of the origin of language does not imply a struggle against the natural and biological aspects of language. Rather, it derives from the awareness that it is impossible to look at language “from the outside” if one wants (as Saussure considers obligatory for the linguist) to drop into the perspective of the speaking subjects. This tendency to consider the nature of language “from within” has a strong philosophical importance.
A Review of Wavelet Analysis and Its Applications: Challenges and Opportunities

As a general and rigid mathematical tool, wavelet theory has found many applications and is constantly developing. This article reviews the development history of wavelet theory, from the construction method to the discussion of wavelet properties. Then it focuses on the design and expansion of wavelet transform. The main models and algorithms of wavelet transform are discussed. The construction of rational wavelet transform (RWT) is provided by examples emphasizing the advantages of RWT over traditional wavelet transform through a review of the literature. The combination of wavelet theory and neural networks is one of the key points of the review. The review covers the evolution of Wavelet Neural Network (WNN), the system architecture and algorithm implementation. The review of the literature indicates the advantages and a clear trend of fast development in WNN that can be combined with existing neural network algorithms. This article also introduces the categories of wavelet-based applications. The advantages of wavelet analysis are summarized in terms of application scenarios with a comparison of results. Through the review, new research challenges and gaps have been clarified, which will serve as a guide for potential wavelet-based applications and new system designs.
Indonesian Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii): Extraction, Flavonoid Content, Antioxidant Activity, and Stability in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii) is a potential source used in cosmetics to prevent skin aging due to its flavonoids and antioxidant properties. This research aims to determine the best solvent for extracting flavonoids, to conduct a large-scale isolation of flavonoids, and to evaluate the effect of ascorbic acid and temperature on the extract’s stability for 16 weeks. Various solvents for small-scale extraction were screened based on the polarity index, and one of the best for use in large-scale maceration was selected based on the AlCl3 colorimetric flavonoid content and DPPH antioxidant activity. The stability test was performed by treating cinnamon with and without ascorbic acid at selected temperatures. This test measured physical stability, evaluated flavonoid content and antioxidant activity, and analyzed volatile and non-volatile compounds using GC-MS and LC-MS. The most excellent solvent to extract flavonoids was ethanol due to its high yield (21.50%), flavonoid content (0.01749 ± 8.0 × 10−5 mg QE/g extract), and antioxidant activity (IC50 0.0162 + 7.5 × 10−4 mg/mL). The ascorbic acid addition at both temperatures affected the stability of the pH and chemical constituents. The vast majority of the extract’s flavonoid content and antioxidant activity continued to increase until the end of the observation week. This study revealed that ethanol was the best extraction solvent, and ascorbic acid can be recommended as a stabilizer of cinnamon extract for use in cosmetics for further application.
On the use of email in further education

The benefits and drawbacks of email have been widely researched using a number of approaches in a variety of contexts. Whilst there has been a general consensus regarding these there has been no unified approach to tackling the issues presented. Methodological limitations, contextual differences and focus on recipient behaviour have limited toe tools that have been presented to users to enhance use. A mode was proposed to overcome these limitations and provide a basis upon which email use can be enhanced and the effectiveness maximised. A large scale study was undertaken in the Welsh Further Education sector which included all institutions both pre and post-merger. A total of 1198 survey responses were received with 1010 used for analysis. A follow up exercise comprised of fifteen in depth interviews to build upon the survey responses. Descriptive and content analysis was undertaken along with Chi Square, ANOVA and Bivariate Correlation tests. Results have demonstrated that role culture has a significant part to play in the use email. This analysis has also used email to demonstrate the divide between managers and non-managers. Usage statistics have shown an upward trend in the volume of email use and the extent to which it exceeds perceived manageability, an indicator of overload. The importance of working relationships has been investigated and linked to email behaviour. The future perceptions of email have been explored to show how users perceive unsustainable increases to be likely and that behavioural modification is necessarily. Finally, the proposed conceptual framework has been refined and justified along with recommendations for the development of appropriate and robust training to replace current training which is poorly engaged with.
Long Noncoding RNA MIAT Regulates Hyperosmotic Stress-Induced Corneal Epithelial Cell Injury via Inhibiting the Caspase-1-Dependent Pyroptosis and Apoptosis in Dry Eye Disease

Purpose The biological role and mechanism of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) in dry eye remain to be illustrated. Pyroptosis is a noticeable form of inflammatory activation, which is characteristic of gasdermin D (GSDMD)-driven cell death. The present study was designed to explore the role of MIAT in pyroptosis and apoptosis induced by hyperosmolarity stress (HS) in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). Methods HCECs were cultured in 70–120 mM hyperosmotic medium for 24 h to create a dry eye model in vitro. The level of the pyroptosis marker GSDMD was measured, and the cell inflammatory response was evaluated by detecting IL-1β and IL-18 levels. Exogenous caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CHO was used. The pyroptosis in HCECs was examined by caspase-1 activity, immunofluorescent staining, and Western blotting. Flow cytometry was performed to test the apoptosis rate of HCECs. Cell migration and proliferation were detected. The expression of the lncRNA MIAT in HCECs was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. MIAT was knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. The effects of caspase-1 inhibition on pyroptosis, apoptosis, migration, and proliferation were observed. Results HS promoted pyroptosis in HCECs by elevating caspase-1, GSDMD, and the active cleavage of GSDMD (N-terminal domain, N-GSDMD), and increased the release of IL-1β, IL-18, LDH and the rate of apoptosis, with reduced cell migration. These changes were prevented by the inhibition of caspase-1. The expression of MIAT was significantly increased in HCECs exposed to a hyperosmotic medium. Silencing MIAT increased the expression of GSDMD, caspase-1, and inflammatory chemokines IL-1β and IL-18, and promoted apoptosis while inhibiting migration and proliferation in HCECs. Conclusion The lncRNA MIAT is involved in HS-induced pyroptosis and apoptosis and the inflammatory response of HCECs and provides a new understanding of the pathogenesis of dry eye.
The Amazon and La Plata River Basins as Moisture Sources of South America: Climatology and Intraseasonal Variability

Land‐atmosphere interactions are critical for precipitation (PPT) over South America where terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) constitutes a significant fraction of moisture for rainfall over the ecologically and socio‐economically vital Amazon (AMZ) and La Plata (LPB) river basins. We quantify the contribution of ET from AMZ and LPB to PPT over the continent with a focus on the intraseasonal time scale. Using numerical water tracers embedded in the Weather Research and Forecasting model we track the moisture originating from the two basins. Our findings indicate that approximately 40% of annual rainfall over the eastern foothills of the Andes originates as AMZ ET, and nearly 30% of rainfall over northern Argentina originates as LPB ET. Analysis of moisture transport during both phases of the dominant intraseasonal oscillation pattern over South America reveals an intraseasonal “sloshing” of LPB moisture between the South Atlantic convergence zone (SACZ) and southeastern South America (SESA) regions. AMZ and LPB each supply approximately 6% of moisture for SACZ PPT during periods of intraseasonal enhancement (positive anomalies), highlighting the importance of moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. For the SESA region, LPB supplies 26% of the moisture for PPT during periods of intraseasonal enhancement while AMZ supplies 5%.
The Effect of Humidity and Temperature on Indoor and Outdoor COVID-19 Infections

Environmental conditions and their association with COVID-19 have significantly attracted scientists’ attention. The current study links COVID-19 with climate indicators by comparing two configurations: indoor infections in a University of Duhok (UOD) building and outdoor infections within the boundaries of the Duhok Governorate (DG). The collected data included temperature and relative humidity (RH) and confirmed cases for indoor and outdoor configurations over 5 and 11 months, respectively. For the indoor infections, data were collected over the period of 5 weekdays, while for the outdoor infections, they were collected on the days when statistics were published. The prospective cross-section design was used for different statistical analyses. The overall indoor infections were very low, and the maximum values for RH and temperature were approximately <24% and <20°C, respectively; in the one-sample t-test, the results were significantly correlated ( p value <0.05) with the confirmed COVID-19 cases. For outdoor infections, using the correlation bivariate method, the study found that the RH and temperature results significantly correlated ( p value <0.05) with the confirmed COVID-19 cases. However, for indoor configuration, other than for Tmax, the results were not associated. As for the outdoor infections, the RH and temperature averages were high enough to put in groups to employ the one-way repeated ANOVA and general linear model with the same results. The means of the RHlow, RHmedium, and RHh groups were significantly correlated ( p value <0.05) with COVID-19. However, the means of the medium RH and high RH groups were not significantly associated with the increasing outdoor infections. This study will contribute to the reduction of overall COVID-19 infections.
Risk and Protective Factors of Mental Health Conditions: Impact of Employment, Deprivation and Social Relationships

This study looks into the relationship between mental health and social exclusion scenarios, paying special attention to employment-related factors. Previous studies have shown the relationship between mental health, social exclusion and poverty. For this study, authors have used data from the VIII Report on social development and exclusion in Spain, with a sample of 11,655 households. The SPSS Statistics programme was used for statistical analysis. Several factors that could pose a risk or be a protection for the presence of mental health conditions were designed. By means of a binary logistic regression the impact of these factors on mental health issues was scored. The results show that a deteriorated social network and a negative interpretation of reality are the most influential factors related to the presence of mental health conditions in a given household. On the contrary, positive social relationships protect households and function as a support when mental health conditions are already present. Thus, the support of positive and committed social relationships is a key element to protect the mental health of households.