Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation and cloning of ech36 gene from Trichoderma harzanium

A lab experiment was conducted to screen for the presence of ech36 gene in 80 isolates of Trichoderma. Further, using gene specific primers ech36 gene were cloned into pTZ57R/T from Trichoderma harzanium IABT1042. The clone was confirmed through PCR amplification and restriction analysis. The clone were sequenced and analyzed for homology at nucleotide and protein level to find out conserved domains of the putative gene and protein. The gene encoding endochitinase from the species have 99 and 100% homology with reported sequences both at nucleotide and protein level. The cloned ech36 has a size of 1212 bp, of which 12 bp corresponds to the 3' untranslated region, with a 1030 bp open reading frame. The amino acid sequence of gene has signal peptide sequence ranges from1 to 25. The nucleotide sequence analysis using GENETOOL software revealed presence of three exon and introns and has unique restriction sites for HindIII, BglII, and HaeIII at 908, 387 and 672 positions respectively
High-Sensitivity, Quantified, Linear and Mediator-Free Resonator-Based Microwave Biosensor for Glucose Detection

This article presents a high-sensitivity, quantified, linear, and mediator-free resonator-based microwave biosensor for glucose sensing application. The proposed biosensor comprises an air-bridge-type asymmetrical differential inductor (L) and a center-loaded circular finger-based inter-digital capacitor (C) fabricated on Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) substrate using advanced micro-fabrication technology. The intertwined asymmetrical differential inductor is used to achieve a high inductance value with a suitable Q-factor, and the centralized inter-digital capacitor is introduced to generate an intensified electric field. The designed microwave sensor is optimized to operate at a low resonating frequency that increases the electric field penetration depth and interaction area in the glucose sample. The microwave biosensor is tested with different glucose concentrations (0.3–5 mg/ml), under different ambient temperatures (10–50 °C). The involvement of advanced micro-fabrication technology effectively miniaturized the microwave biosensor (0.006λ0 × 0.005λ0) and enhanced its filling factor. The proposed microwave biosensor demonstrates a high sensitivity of 117.5 MHz/mgmL-1 with a linear response (r2 = 0.9987), good amplitude variation of 0.49 dB/mgmL-1 with a linear response (r2 = 0.9954), and maximum reproducibility of 0.78% at 2 mg/mL. Additionally, mathematical modelling was performed to estimate the dielectric value of the frequency-dependent glucose sample. The measured and analyzed results indicate that the proposed biosensor is suitable for real-time blood glucose detection measurements.
Transcription Analysis of Recombinant Trichoderma reesei HJ-48 to Compare the Molecular Basis for Fermentation of Glucose and Xylose

Profiling the transcriptome changes involved in xylose metabolism by the fungus Trichoderma reesei allows for the identification of potential targets for ethanol production processing. In the present study, the transcriptome of T. reesei HJ-48 grown on xylose versus glucose was analyzed using nextgeneration sequencing technology. During xylose fermentation, numerous genes related to central metabolic pathways, including xylose reductase (XR) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH), were expressed at higher levels in T. reesei HJ-48. Notably, growth on xylose did not fully repress the genes encoding enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid and respiratory pathways. In addition, increased expression of several sugar transporters was observed during xylose fermentation. This study provides a valuable dataset for further investigation of xylose fermentation and provides a deeper insight into the various genes involved in this process.
Attentional conditions differentially affect early, intermediate and late neural responses to fearful and neutral faces

Abstract The processing of fearful facial expressions is prioritized by the human brain. This priority is maintained across various information processing stages as evident in early, intermediate and late components of event-related potentials (ERPs). However, emotional modulations are inconsistently reported for these different processing stages. In this pre-registered study, we investigated how feature-based attention differentially affects ERPs to fearful and neutral faces in 40 participants. The tasks required the participants to discriminate either the orientation of lines overlaid onto the face, the sex of the face or the face’s emotional expression, increasing attention to emotion-related features. We found main effects of emotion for the N170, early posterior negativity (EPN) and late positive potential (LPP). While N170 emotional modulations were task-independent, interactions of emotion and task were observed for the EPN and LPP. While EPN emotion effects were found in the sex and emotion tasks, the LPP emotion effect was mainly driven by the emotion task. This study shows that early responses to fearful faces are task-independent (N170) and likely based on low-level and configural information while during later processing stages, attention to the face (EPN) or—more specifically—to the face’s emotional expression (LPP) is crucial for reliable amplified processing of emotional faces.
Hysteresis parameter identification of hybrid dynamical systems

This paper discusses the identification of a class of hybrid dynamical systems whose discrete states have hysteresis phenomenon. The identification model is piecewise affine model along with hysteresis switching law. The first step of the proposed identification method is the estimation of the local parameter vectors for small neighbourhood of each measured data point. Then the local parameter vectors are clustered. Finally, the threshold levels of the hysteresis function which defines the discrete state are estimated.
Novel Approaches for Assessing Circadian Rhythmicity in Humans: A Review

The temporal organization of molecular and physiological processes is driven by environmental and behavioral cycles as well as by self-sustained molecular circadian oscillators. Quantification of phase, amplitude, period, and disruption of circadian oscillators is essential for understanding their contribution to sleep-wake disorders, social jet lag, interindividual differences in entrainment, and the development of chrono-therapeutics. Traditionally, assessment of the human circadian system, and the output of the SCN in particular, has required collection of long time series of univariate markers such as melatonin or core body temperature. Data were collected in specialized laboratory protocols designed to control for environmental and behavioral influences on rhythmicity. These protocols are time-consuming, expensive, and not practical for assessing circadian status in patients or in participants in epidemiologic studies. Novel approaches for assessment of circadian parameters of the SCN or peripheral oscillators have been developed. They are based on machine learning or mathematical model-informed analyses of features extracted from 1 or a few samples of high-dimensional data, such as transcriptomes, metabolomes, long-term simultaneous recording of activity, light exposure, skin temperature, and heart rate or in vitro approaches. Here, we review whether these approaches successfully quantify parameters of central and peripheral circadian oscillators as indexed by gold standard markers. Although several approaches perform well under entrained conditions when sleep occurs at night, the methods either perform worse in other conditions such as shift work or they have not been assessed under any conditions other than entrainment and thus we do not yet know how robust they are. Novel approaches for the assessment of circadian parameters hold promise for circadian medicine, chrono-therapeutics, and chrono-epidemiology. There remains a need to validate these approaches against gold standard markers, in individuals of all sexes and ages, in patient populations, and, in particular, under conditions in which behavioral cycles are displaced.
Improved HPLC Conditions to Determine Eumelanin and Pheomelanin Contents in Biological Samples Using an Ion Pair Reagent

Alkaline hydrogen peroxide oxidation (AHPO) of eumelanin and pheomelanin, two major classes of melanin pigments, affords pyrrole-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (PTCA), pyrrole-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (PDCA) and pyrrole-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid (PTeCA) from eumelanin and thiazole-2,4,5-tricarboxylic acid (TTCA) and thiazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (TDCA) from pheomelanin. Quantification of these five markers by HPLC provides useful information on the quantity and structural diversity of melanins in various biological samples. HPLC analysis of these markers using the original method of 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 2.1):methanol = 99:1 (85:15 for PTeCA) on a reversed-phase column had some problems, including the short lifetime of the column and, except for the major eumelanin marker PTCA, other markers were occasionally overlapped by interfering peaks in samples containing only trace levels of these markers. These problems can be overcome by the addition of an ion pair reagent for anions, such as tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (1 mM), to retard the elution of di-, tri- and tetra-carboxylic acids. The methanol concentration was increased to 17% (30% for PTeCA) and the linearity, reproducibility, and recovery of the markers with this improved method is good to excellent. This improved HPLC method was compared to the original method using synthetic melanins, mouse hair, human hair, and human epidermal samples. In addition to PTCA, TTCA, a major marker for pheomelanin, showed excellent correlations between both HPLC methods. The other markers showed an attenuation of the interfering peaks with the improved method. We recommend this improved HPLC method for the quantitative analysis of melanin markers following AHPO because of its simplicity, accuracy, and reproducibility.
Forty years of attacks on the RSA cryptosystem: A brief survey

Abstract RSA public key cryptosystem is the de-facto standard use in worldwide technologies as a strong encryption/decryption and digital signature scheme. RSA successfully defended forty years of attack since invention. In this study we survey, its past, present advancements and upcoming challenges that needs concrete analysis and as a counter measure against possible threats according to underlying algebraic structure. Past studies shows us some attacks on RSA by inspecting flaws on relax model using weak public/private keys, integer factorization problem, and some specific low parameter selection attacks. Such flaws can not hamper the security of RSA cryptosystem by at large, but can explore possible vulnerabilities for more deep understanding about underlying mathematics and improper parameter selection. We describe a brief survey of past findings and detail description about specific attacks. A comprehensive survey of known attacks on RSA cryptosystem shows us that a well implemented algorithm is unbreakable and it survived against a number of cryptanalytic attacks since last forty years.
Characterization of six microsatellite markers in Trillium camschatcense using a dual‐suppression‐polymerase chain reaction technique

Trillium camschatcense is a herbaceous perennial plant distributed in Hokkaido and northern Honshu, Japan. Geographical variations in the breeding system (partial selfing or obligate outcrossing) are reported in the populations of Hokkaido. We isolated six polymorphic microsatellite loci from this species. The number of allele per locus ranged from four to 12, whereas the expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.69 to 0.83. These markers may allow further investigations to reveal the evolutionary and ecological processes of mating system in T. camschatcense .
AGRONOMIC AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN SOURCES IN WESTERN KENYA

SUMMARY A better understanding of the agronomic and economic benefits of integrating organic and inorganic fertilizers is essential for their wide-scale dissemination and adoption in smallholder farming systems in developing countries. Field studies were conducted for 10 cropping seasons (1996–2000) on a Kandiudalfic Eutrudox soil to compare the effects of Minjingu phosphate rock (MPR) and triple superphosphate (TSP) on the yield of maize (Zea mays), in combination with three nitrogen (N) sources: urea, Tithonia diversifolia and Sesbania sesban leafy biomass. Urea and tithonia were applied to provide 60 kg N ha−1. Phosphorus (P) from either MPR or TSP was added either once at 250 kg P ha−1 at the beginning of the experiment or annually at 50 kg P ha−1 for five years, the two rates representing two P recapitalization strategies. From the second year, potassium (K) was added to half of each plot to correct for the deficiency that emerged. Over the 10 cropping seasons, the agronomic and economic benefits of the two P recapitalization strategies were similar and were not influenced by the P sources used. With N and K application, both P sources resulted in at least a two-fold maize grain yield increase over the control with no P application that averaged 1.1 tons ha−1. Comparing the N sources, although urea and tithonia had similar net benefits when P was applied, the total cost associated with tithonia was considerably higher. Without P application, sesbania fallow was the most financially attractive option. Sesbania fallows as an N source were also least sensitive to increases in the price of fertilizers and the cost of labour although the financial benefits of this system remained low in the absence of P and K application.
A systematic mapping study of gamification models oriented to motivational characteristics

ABSTRACT Context: Gamification focuses on the improvement of users' engagement when performing tasks by making use of game mechanics and elements in order to increase their motivations. Many researches have developed gamification models supporting a variety of motivational characteristics to provide engagement solutions for different areas. Objective: This paper carries out a systematic mapping in the field of gamification, looking for models with motivational characteristics in an attempt to characterise the state of the art of this field, identifying gaps and tendencies for further research. Method: We carried out a systematic mapping aiming at finding the primary studies in the existing literature, which were later classified and analysed according to twelve criteria. Results: We analysed 70 papers that resulted in 17 primary studies, published until September 2016. Most of them focus on Education, making use of Gamification to increase the motivation of a learning process. The gamification mechanics and elements most used were Badges/Achievements and Points/ExperiencePoints(XP), and most of the studies were not validated, thus not providing empirical evidence of the impact of gamification. Conclusions: Existing research in the field is somehow preliminary, and more research effort to analyse the applicability of the models and their respective evaluations would be needed.
THE SONG REPERTOIRES OF CARDINALS (RICHMONDENA CARDINALIS) AT LONDON, ONTARIO

Twenty-live cardinals (Richmondena cardinalis) living on the campus of the University of Western Ontario at London, Ontario, had a total repertoire of 14 types of sounds, or syllables, which they used in their songs. The birds sang the syllables in various combinations to form song types, but only 10 song types were commonly used by most birds. These 10 types each consisted of only one or two types of syllables. One bird sang its 10 types in varying amounts. The results were based on tape recordings followed by analysis on a sound spectrograph instrument, or sonagraph, and also based on periods of listening.
Photobiomodulation therapy for acute radiodermatitis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The number of clinical trials on the use of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for the management of cancer therapy-related complications is growing steadily. One of the side-effects that is under investigation is acute radiodermatitis (ARD), an inflammatory skin reaction caused by radiotherapy. In this review, an overview is given on the state of art of the application of PBMT for the prevention and management of ARD. RECENT FINDINGS Up to now about seven clinical trials have been performed, investigating the use of PBMT in the prevention and/or management of ARD. Results demonstrate that PBMT can effectively reduce the incidence of severe ARD, decrease the accompanying pain, and improve the patients' quality of life. Moreover, the technique seems to be well tolerated in oncologic patients. SUMMARY On the basis of the available evidence, there could be a strong recommendation to use PBMT in the prevention and management of ARD in cancer patients.
Microfluidic confinement enhances phenotype and function of hepatocyte spheroids.

A number of cell culture approaches have been described for maintenance of primary hepatocytes. Forming hepatocytes into 3D spheroids is one well accepted method for extending epithelial phenotype of these cells. Our lab has previously observed enhanced function of 2D (monolayer) hepatocyte cultures in microfluidic devices due to increased production of several hepato-inductive growth factors, including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In the present study we wanted to test a hypothesis that placing hepatocytes spheroids (3D) into microfluidic devices will also result in enhanced phenotype and function. To test this hypothesis, we fabricated devices with small and large volumes. Both types of devices included a microstructured floor containing arrays of pyramidal wells to promote assembly of single hepatocytes into spheroids with individual diameter of ~100 µm. The hepatocyte spheroids were found to be more functional in low volume compared to large volume devices. Importantly, high functionality of spheroid cultures correlated with elevated levels of HGF secretion. While decay of hepatic function (albumin secretion) was observed over the course three weeks, this behavior could be abrogated by inhibiting TGF-β1 signaling. With TGF-β1 inhibitor, microfluidic hepatocyte spheroid cultures maintained high and stable levels of albumin synthesis over the course of four weeks. To further highlight utility of this culture platform for liver disease modeling, we carried out alcohol injury experiments in microfluidic devices and tested protective effects of interleukin (IL)-22 - a potential therapy for alcoholic hepatitis.
Concussion reporting, return to learn, and return to play experiences in a sample of private preparatory high school students

ABSTRACT Objective The objective of this study is to describe concussion reporting and return to learn and play among high school students. Methods Self-reported survey data of 1,999 New England private preparatory high school students who played sports or engaged in recreational activities were collected in 2018. Descriptive and bivariate statistics are presented. Results Three in ten respondents (31.4%) reported ever sustaining a concussion and 22.0% did not report at least one concussion to an adult. The most common reasons for not reporting included wanting to keep playing their sport (58.0%) and not thinking the injury was that serious (53.6%). Girls and students in higher grades took longer to return to school and sports. A quarter of students reported pretending to have a faster recovery in order to return to school or sports. Conclusion Private school students who play sports or engage in recreational activity may be at risk of sustaining concussions and may not report their symptoms due to a lack of understanding the seriousness of concussion, not wanting to fall behind in school, or out of desire to continue playing their sport. Teachers, coaches, and parents can stress reporting as the first step in recovery.
Moving to Opportunity

In 1994, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development launched the Moving to Opportunity for Fair Housing Demonstration Program (MTO), a lottery that offered poor families vouchers to move out of public housing into private apartments. Drawing on recently collected vote history data, this study reveals that MTO has had the unintended consequence of reducing voter turnout among participating adults. The low turnout may be due to the loss of social ties that accompanied mobility. The findings suggest that residential mobility, a popular tool in the fight against poverty, may strain poor Americans’ weak ties to the political system.
Secure Transmission for Interference Networks: User Selection and Transceiver Design

Interference is usually regarded as a detrimental factor that degrades the performance of a wireless network. However, when it is used properly, the security of transmission can be effectively improved. In this paper, user selection and transceiver design are proposed to guarantee the secure transmission in a multiple-input multiple-output interference network with an eavesdropper. First, user selection is performed to select the most suitable user to transmit confidential information according to the topology and path loss in each time slot among all users. Then, based on user selection, the transceivers of the users are jointly designed to maximize the secrecy rate of the selected user while guaranteeing a minimum transmission rate for other users. Due to the nonconvexity of the optimization problem, it is transformed into a convex second-order cone programming with the help of successive approximations. An alternate iteration algorithm is proposed to obtain the optimal solution. The fairness of the user selection is considered, and a modified scheme is proposed to share the opportunity of secure transmission among users. Finally, simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed schemes.
Paravulvus rhodopensis sp.n. (Nematoda: Nygolaimidae) and three known species from Bulgaria, with notes on the taxonomy of the genus

One new and three known species of the genus Paravulvus Heyns, 1968 from forests in Bulgaria are described and illustrated. Paravulvus rhodopensis sp. n. is a bisexual species characterised by a relatively thick cuticle with fine transverse striation, head region offset by a depression, mural tooth deltoid 6-7 μm long, presence of paravulvae posterior to vulva, tail bluntly conical rounded, 24-28 μm long with 7-10 μm hyaline part. Males with one adanal pair and a row of 11-14 supplements, spicules 31-42 μm and tail 22.0-26.5 μm long. Additional morphological and metrical data for P. acuticaudatus (Thorne, 1930), P. hartingii (de Man, 1880) and P. heynsi Vinciguerra, 1987 are presented. Paravulvus acuticaudatus and P. heynsi are new geographical records. An emended diagnosis and revised classification of the genus Paravulvus are proposed, and an identification key to the species is provided. Paravulvus paraamphigonicus (Altherr, 1950) is regarded as a synonym of P.hartingii.