Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ionic Strength Is a Barrier to the Habitability of Mars.

UNLABELLED The thermodynamic availability of water (water activity) strictly limits microbial propagation on Earth, particularly in hypersaline environments. A considerable body of evidence indicates the existence of hypersaline surface waters throughout the history of Mars; therefore it is assumed that, as on Earth, water activity is a major limiting factor for martian habitability. However, the differing geological histories of Earth and Mars have driven variations in their respective aqueous geochemistry, with as-yet-unknown implications for habitability. Using a microbial community enrichment approach, we investigated microbial habitability for a suite of simulated martian brines. While the habitability of some martian brines was consistent with predictions made from water activity, others were uninhabitable even when the water activity was biologically permissive. We demonstrate experimentally that high ionic strength, driven to extremes on Mars by the ubiquitous occurrence of multivalent ions, renders these environments uninhabitable despite the presence of biologically available water. These findings show how the respective geological histories of Earth and Mars, which have produced differences in the planets' dominant water chemistries, have resulted in different physicochemical extremes which define the boundary space for microbial habitability. KEY WORDS Habitability-Mars-Salts-Water activity-Life in extreme environments. Astrobiology 16, 427-442.
Fixed-Charge Atomistic Force Fields for Molecular Dynamics Simulations in the Condensed Phase: An Overview

In molecular dynamics or Monte Carlo simulations, the interactions between the particles (atoms) in the system are described by a so-called force field. The empirical functional form of classical fixed-charge force fields dates back to 1969 and remains essentially unchanged. In a fixed-charge force field, the polarization is not modeled explicitly, i.e. the effective partial charges do not change depending on conformation and environment. This simplification allows, however, a dramatic reduction in computational cost compared to polarizable force fields and in particular quantum-chemical modeling. The past decades have shown that simulations employing carefully parametrized fixed-charge force fields can provide useful insights into biological and chemical questions. This overview focuses on the four major force-field families, i.e. AMBER, CHARMM, GROMOS, and OPLS, which are based on the same classical functional form and are continuously improved to the present day. The overview is aimed at readers entering the field of (bio)molecular simulations. More experienced users may find the comparison and historical development of the force-field families interesting.
Participation of relatives in the care of cancer patients in hospital—A scoping review

The purpose of the review was to describe what kind of research has been conducted concerning relatives' participation in the care of cancer patients in hospital and how relatives have participated in the care. Data (n = 9) were identified through a manual search and by searching the electronic databases (n = 8) Cinahl, PubMed and Cochrane Library and analysed with deductive content analysis. According to the review, participation in the concrete care appeared as taking care of comprehensive care and the quality of care, helping with daily activities and helping the healthcare professionals. Emotional support appeared as protecting, supporting and visiting the patient and discussing with the patient. Participation in decision-making appeared as acting as an advocate for the patient, participating in the discussion concerning the decision-making and participating in the discussion concerning the decisions of end of life. According to the review, research concerning this topic seems to be rare. While hospital periods are shortening and homecare is increasing, the role of relatives as a supporter of the cancer patient is becoming even stronger. In the future, more research should be conducted how the patients experience participation and what are their wishes.
Physical and Mechanical Properties of a Highly Filled Old Corrugated Container (OCC) Fiber/Polyethylene Composite

Physical and mechanical properties of a new composite of 70% (by weight) old corrugated container recycled fibers, 27% high-density polyethylene, and 3% compatibilizer (maleic anhydride polyethylene) were evaluated with a focus on dimensional stability. Maximum water absorption, thickness swelling, width swelling, and length swelling were 25, 14, 5, and 1.5%, repectively. Relationships between water absorption and dimensional swelling were established using nonlinear curve fitting and statistically significant relationships were obtained. Swelling rate constants were determined for the 3D swelling behavior of the composite material using a previously published model which showed decrease in swelling rate in width and length directions. In all directions, the swelling model satisfactorily predicted the swelling behavior. Mechanical properties of the composite material were evaluated prior to and after exposure to simulated freeze—thaw cycling and it was concluded that the cycling was ineffective on mechanical performance.
Mechanisms Controlling Glucose-Induced GLP-1 Secretion in Human Small Intestine

Intestinal glucose stimulates secretion of the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). The mechanisms underlying this pathway have not been fully investigated in humans. In this study, we showed that a 30-min intraduodenal glucose infusion activated half of all duodenal L cells in humans. This infusion was sufficient to increase plasma GLP-1 levels. With an ex vivo model using human gut tissue specimens, we showed a dose-responsive GLP-1 secretion in the ileum at ≥200 mmol/L glucose. In ex vivo tissue from the duodenum and ileum, but not the colon, 300 mmol/L glucose potently stimulated GLP-1 release. In the ileum, this response was independent of osmotic influences and required delivery of glucose via GLUT2 and mitochondrial metabolism. The requirement of voltage-gated Na+ and Ca2+ channel activation indicates that membrane depolarization occurs. KATP channels do not drive this, as tolbutamide did not trigger release. The sodium–glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) substrate α-MG induced secretion, and the response was blocked by the SGLT1 inhibitor phlorizin or by replacement of extracellular Na+ with N-methyl-d-glucamine. This is the first report of the mechanisms underlying glucose-induced GLP-1 secretion from human small intestine. Our findings demonstrate a dominant role of SGLT1 in controlling glucose-stimulated GLP-1 release in human ileal L cells.
Genetic variants in mRNA untranslated regions

Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have mapped thousands of genetic variants associated with complex disease risk and regulating quantitative traits, thus exploiting an unprecedented high‐resolution genetic characterization of the human genome. A small fraction (3.7%) of the identified associations is located in untranslated regions (UTRs), and the molecular mechanism has been elucidated for few of them. Genetic variations at UTRs may modify regulatory elements affecting the interaction of the UTRs with proteins and microRNAs. The overall functional consequences include modulation of messenger RNA (mRNA) transcription, secondary structure, stability, localization, translation, and access to regulators like microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs). Alterations of these regulatory mechanisms are known to modify molecular pathways and cellular processes, potentially leading to disease processes. Here, we analyze some examples of genetic risk variants mapping in the UTR regulatory elements. We describe a recently identified genetic variant localized in the 3′UTR of the TNFSF13B gene, associated with autoimmunity risk and responsible of an increased stability and translation of TNFSF13B mRNA. We discuss how the correct use and interpretation of public GWAS repositories could lead to a better understanding of etiopathogenetic mechanisms and the generation of robust biological hypothesis as starting point for further functional studies.
Functional Morphology and Design Constraints of Smooth Adhesive Pads

Smooth adhesive pads are found among the arthropods, amphibians (particularly tree frogs), and in some mammals. They are used for dynamic adhesion when an animal is climbing steep or overhanging smooth surfaces. There is a need for strong attachment to avoid falling and easy detachment to enable the animal to move. This article describes the morphology and physical properties of smooth adhesive pads, stressing how there is little variation in structure, within tree frogs at least, even among pads that have evolved independently. This is clear evidence of an optimum design; best adhesion occurs when there is a continuous, thin film of fluid between the pad and the surface. Smooth adhesive pads adhere by wet adhesion, the main force component being capillarity, produced by the air/liquid interface (meniscus) around the edge of each pad. Smooth adhesive pads also produce substantial friction forces, probably because of actual contact between the pad surface and substrate (tree frogs) or non-Newtonian properties of the secreted fluid (insects). This is possible because the fluid layer beneath the pad has an average thickness of only a few nanometers. The article also discusses the scaling of adhesive force with size and, finally, implications for biomimetics.
Associations of Perceived Discrimination With Impaired Functioning in a Population Sample With Psychological Distress

Objective: To test associations between perceived discrimination based on mental health status and impaired functioning in a population sample with psychological distress. Methods: Interviews were conducted with a sample of respondents to the California Health Interview Survey with mild, moderate, or severe psychological distress. Perceived discrimination was assessed using 14 items covering four domains in which discrimination is reported: social, partner, institutional, and work. Associations of perceived discrimination scores (total score and domain scores) with impaired functioning, measured by the likelihood and number of days out of role, were estimated with statistical adjustment for demographic characteristics and serious psychological distress. Results: Discrimination domain scores are significantly correlated (r ranging from .34 to .65). Total discrimination score is associated with having days out of role (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.10–1.30) and with number of days out of role (5.5 days) after adjustment for demographics and psychological distress. The high correlation among the domain scores makes the attribution of association to particular domains uncertain. Removal of the effect of discrimination using model-based simulation reduces past-year days out of role by 39.4 (SE 11.3) days. Conclusions: This observational study supports the suggestion that discrimination against people with mental illness contributes to their impaired functioning in a diverse range of social roles. The results provide preliminary evidence that reduction in discrimination against people with mental illness could improve social functioning and work productivity. Correlations among domain scores make it difficult to draw conclusions about domain-specific associations.
Activated Expression of an Arabidopsis HD-START Protein Confers Drought Tolerance with Improved Root System and Reduced Stomatal Density[W][OA]

Drought is one of the most important environmental constraints limiting plant growth and agricultural productivity. To understand the underlying mechanism of drought tolerance and to identify genes for improving this important trait, we conducted a gain-of-function genetic screen for improved drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. One mutant with improved drought tolerance was isolated and designated as enhanced drought tolerance1. The mutant has a more extensive root system than the wild type, with deeper roots and more lateral roots, and shows a reduced leaf stomatal density. The mutant had higher levels of abscisic acid and Pro than the wild type and demonstrated an increased resistance to oxidative stress and high levels of superoxide dismutase. Molecular genetic analysis and recapitulation experiments showed that the enhanced drought tolerance is caused by the activated expression of a T-DNA tagged gene that encodes a putative homeodomain-START transcription factor. Moreover, overexpressing the cDNA of the transcription factor in transgenic tobacco also conferred drought tolerance associated with improved root architecture and reduced leaf stomatal density. Therefore, we have revealed functions of the homeodomain-START factor that were gained upon altering its expression pattern by activation tagging and provide a key regulator that may be used to improve drought tolerance in plants.
Online Harassment and Content Moderation

Online harassment is a complex and growing problem. On Twitter, one mechanism people use to avoid harassment is the blocklist, a list of accounts that are preemptively blocked from interacting with a subscriber. In this article, we present a rich description of Twitter blocklists – why they are needed, how they work, and their strengths and weaknesses in practice. Next, we use blocklists to interrogate online harassment – the forms it takes, as well as tactics used by harassers. Specifically, we interviewed both people who use blocklists to protect themselves, and people who are blocked by blocklists. We find that users are not adequately protected from harassment, and at the same time, many people feel that they are blocked unnecessarily and unfairly. Moreover, we find that not all users agree on what constitutes harassment. Based on our findings, we propose design interventions for social network sites with the aim of protecting people from harassment, while preserving freedom of speech.
Current status of additive manufacturing for tissue engineering scaffold

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the current status of additive manufacturing (AM) used for tissue engineering (TE) scaffold. AM processes are identified as an effective method for fabricating geometrically complex objects directly from computer models or three-dimensional digital representations. The use of AM technologies in the field of TE has grown rapidly in the past 10 years. Design/methodology/approach – The processes, materials, precision, applications of different AM technologies and their modified versions used for TE scaffold are presented. Additionally, future directions of AM used for TE scaffold are also discussed. Findings – There are two principal routes for the fabrication of scaffolds by AM: direct and indirect routes. According to the working principle, the AM technologies used for TE scaffold can be generally classified into: laser-based; nozzle-based; and hybrid. Although a number of materials and fabrication techniques have been developed, each AM technique is a proce.
Construction of a detailed molecular map of the mouse X chromosome by microcloning and interspecific crosses.

A large number of microclones obtained by microdissection of the mouse X chromosome have been mapped using an interspecific Mus domesticus/Mus spretus cross. Clones displaying close linkage to a number of loci of known phenotype but unknown gene product, such as mdx (X‐linked muscular dystrophy), have been obtained. Over a central 30 cM span of the mouse X chromosome, 17 clones have been mapped and ordered at a sufficient density to contemplate the complete physical mapping of this region that will aid in the isolation of a number of unidentified genes. Some of the mapped microclones detect moderately repetitive sequences that were clustered in several discrete regions of the mouse X chromosome.
Some Properties of TiO 2/Au Nanocomposite Thin Films Produced by Spincoating Method for Application in Plasmonic Solar Cells

The TiO 2/Au nanocomposite thin films play a very important role in the plasmonic solar cell. In such as composite systems, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of embedded metal nanoparticles determines the light absorption enhancement of the semiconductive part (TiO 2); hence, enhances the efficiency of the plasmatic solar cell. The characterizations of the TiO 2/Au nanocomposite thin films - such as light absorption, scattering and LSPR capacities - depend on many parameters: sizes, weight ratio of metal nanoparticles, thickness of the thin film layers and the arrangements of TiO 2/Au composite in integrated-matrix system. In this work, we outline the preparation method of the TiO 2/Au nanocomposite thin films, then we investigate the effect of technological conditions - such as TiO 2/Au mixture solution concentration, TiO 2/Au weight ratio and number of spin-coating layers - to the surface morphology of the nanocomposite to find out the optimum fabrication conditions. Some experimental results of thin film such as structural property (X ray diffraction, thin film morforlogy…) and optical property (absorption coefficience concerning LSPR…) will also be shown and discussed.
A Novel Tool for Detecting Indirect Normative Conflicts in Multi-agent Systems

Norms are usually applied in Multi-Agent Systems to regulate the behavior of software agents and maintain social order. Those systems can be regulated by multiple norms and require a mechanism to verify whether the set of norms is conflict-free or not. The detection of indirect normative conflicts is not a trivial task since they only can be identified when the detection mechanism is able to infer that different elements that compose two norms are related in some way. In this research, we propose a mechanism to detect normative conflicts by combining two different approaches. The former uses information from a domain ontology that stores relationships that are exclusive of the MAS. The latter uses information from a lexical database called WordNet that stores relationships among concepts of the real world. This research results in the implementation of a tool with a robust mechanism for normative conflict detection that can be used during the design of a MAS.
Influence of Dietary Patterns on Plasma Soluble CD14, a Surrogate Marker of Gut Barrier Dysfunction

Abstract Background: Specific foods and nutrients, including alcohol, may contribute to gut barrier dysfunction. However, to our knowledge, the influence of whole diets is currently unknown. Objective: We aimed to cross-sectionally investigate associations of dietary patterns with plasma soluble CD14 (sCD14), which is released by macrophages on stimulation with endotoxin and has been used as a marker of gut hyperpermeability. Methods: We used food-frequency questionnaire data collected from 689 women in the Nurses' Health Study and 509 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Our principal component analysis identified 2 dietary patterns: “Western” (higher intakes of red meat, processed meat, desserts, and refined grains) and “prudent” (higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains). In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses, we estimated ORs and 95% CIs for high (equal to or greater than the median compared with less than the median) sCD14 concentrations in quintiles of each dietary pattern. Using logistic regression, we also investigated the joint association of the Western dietary pattern and alcohol intake or C-reactive protein (CRP) with sCD14 concentrations. Results: Western dietary pattern scores were positively associated with sCD14 concentrations (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.79; P-trend = 0.0005; comparing extreme quintiles). Analyses of joint associations suggested that the strongest associations with higher sCD14 concentrations were for persons with both high Western pattern scores and high alcohol intake compared with participants with low scores for both (OR: 2.96; 95% CI: 1.61, 5.45) or for participants with both high Western pattern scores and high CRP values compared with those with low scores for both (OR: 4.11; 95% CI: 2.57, 6.58). The prudent pattern was not associated with sCD14 concentrations. Conclusions: Higher consumption of the Western dietary pattern is associated with a marker of macrophage activation and gut hyperpermeability, especially when coupled with high alcohol intake and heightened systemic inflammation. Our findings need confirmation in studies with additional markers of gut barrier dysfunction.
A novel 3780-point FFT processor scheme for the time domain synchronous OFDM system

The 3780-point FFT is a main component of the time domain synchronous OFDM (TDS-OFDM) system and the key technology in the Chinese Digital Multimedia/TV Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T) national standard. Since 3780 is not a power of 2, the classical radix-2 or radix-4 FFT algorithm cannot be applied directly. Hence, the Winograd Fourier transform algorithm (WFTA) and the Good-Thomas prime factor algorithm (PFA) are used to implement the 3780-point FFT processor. However, the structure based on WFTA and PFA has a large computational complexity and requires many DSPs in hardware implementation. In this paper, a novel 3780-point FFT processor scheme is proposed, in which a 60×63 iterative WFTA architecture with different mapping methods is imported to replace the PFA architecture, and an optimized CoOrdinate Rotation DIgital Computer (CORDIC) module is used for the twiddle factor multiplications. Compared to the traditional scheme, our proposed 3780-point FFT processor scheme reduces the number of multiplications by 45% at the cost of 1% increase in the number of additions. All DSPs are replaced by the optimized CORDIC module and ROM. Simulation results show that the proposed 3780-point FFT processing scheme satisfies the requirement of the DMB-T standard, and is an efficient architecture for the TDS-OFDM system.
Cross-Linguistic Differences in a Picture-Description Task Between Korean- and English-Speaking Individuals With Aphasia.

Purpose The purpose of the study was to examine cross-linguistic differences in a picture-description task between Korean- and English-speaking individuals with Broca's and anomic aphasia to determine whether a variation exists in the use of verbs and nouns across the language and aphasia groups. Method Forty-eight individuals (male = 29; female = 19) participated in the study (n = 28 for aphasic group and n = 20 healthy controls). Data for English speakers were obtained from the Aphasia Bank Project. We used the picture-description task to obtain connected speech samples and analyzed noun- and verb-related linguistic variables. Results Korean speakers with aphasia produced more verbs per utterance and a lower noun-to-verb ratio than English speakers with aphasia, whereas English speakers produced more nouns than Korean speakers. The Korean anomic group produced more verbs than Korean speakers with Broca's aphasia, whereas no effects were significant for English speakers with aphasia depending on the type of aphasia. Conclusions Aphasia symptoms vary as a function of linguistic features of languages that individuals with aphasia used premorbidly. Furthermore, the linguistic characteristics of the individual's language influenced aphasia symptoms more strongly than the type of aphasia. It is theoretically and clinically important that this cross-linguistic study provides different perspectives, and that noun-verb deficits may vary depending on linguistic features.