Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of biochemical and antioxidant dynamics during the co-fermentation of dehusked barley with Rhizopus oryzae and Lactobacillus plantarum.

Barley is an ancient and important functional crop. In this study, the biochemical and antioxidant dynamics of dehusked barley during co-fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Rhizopus oryzae were investigated. Results showed that amino acid nitrogen, soluble protein, <10 kDa peptide, and free phenolic contents increased with fermentation time; whereas the lactic acid bacteria count, reducing sugar, and free flavonoid contents showed a tendency to increase first and then decrease. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that bands at >25 and <18.4 kDa were shown with improved intensity with time, whereas bands at 18.4-25 kDa were disappeared. Additionally, fermentation time led to an increase in DPPH, hydroxyl, ABTS+ radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. Thus, this study demonstrated that co-fermentation with L. plantarum and R. oryzae could improve nutrition and potential bioactivity of barley, and use barley as a good solid-state food carrier for probiotics. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Barley is rich in nutrition and has a huge production. However, due to its high-fiber and special protein composition, there is a certain palatability problem whether it is used to produce flour or other products. Therefore, most of the barley is destined to animal feed and malt, and only a small part is used directly for human consumption. Aiming at this problem, on the basis of the optimization of the fermentation process at early stage, our results further demonstrated co-fermentation with L. plantarum and R. oryzae could enhance the nutritional value and potential bioactivity of barley, thus providing a novel approach to develop functional barley food and improve the direct utilization rate of barley in food processing.
Sleep Spindles: Mechanisms and Functions.

Sleep spindles are burst-like signals in the electroencephalogram (EEG) of the sleeping mammalian brain and electrical surface correlates of neuronal oscillations in thalamus. As one of the most inheritable sleep EEG signatures, sleep spindles probably reflect the strength and malleability of thalamocortical circuits that underlie individual cognitive profiles. We review the characteristics, organization, regulation and origins of sleep spindles and their implication in non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS) and its functions, focusing on human and rodent. Spatially, sleep spindle-related neuronal activity appears on scales ranging from small thalamic circuits to functional cortical areas, and generates a cortical state favoring intracortical plasticity while limiting cortical output. Temporally, sleep spindles are discrete events, part of a continuous power band, and elements grouped on an infraslow time scale over which NREMS alternates between continuity and fragility. We synthetize diverse and seemingly unlinked functions of sleep spindles for sleep architecture, sensory processing, synaptic plasticity, memory formation and cognitive abilities into a unifying sleep spindle concept, according to which sleep spindles a) generate neural conditions of large-scale functional connectivity and plasticity that outlast their appearance as discrete EEG events, b) appear preferentially in thalamic circuits engaged in learning and attention-based experience during wakefulness c) enable a selective re-activation and routing of wake-instated neuronal traces between brain areas such as hippocampus and cortex. Their fine spatiotemporal organization reflects NREMS as a physiological state coordinated over brain and body and may indicate, if not anticipate and ultimately differentiate, pathologies in sleep and neurodevelopmental, -degenerative and -psychiatric conditions.
Proteasome inhibition creates a chromatin landscape favorable to RNA Pol II processivity

Proteasome activity is required for diverse cellular processes, including transcriptional and epigenetic regulation. However, inhibiting proteasome activity can lead to an increase in transcriptional output that is correlated with enriched levels of trimethyl H3K4 and phosphorylated forms of RNA polymerase (Pol) II at the promoter and gene body. Here, we perform gene expression analysis and ChIP followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG132, and we further explore genome-wide effects of proteasome inhibition on the chromatin state and RNA Pol II transcription. Analysis of gene expression programs and chromatin architecture reveals that chemically inhibiting proteasome activity creates a distinct chromatin state, defined by spreading of the H3K4me3 mark into the gene bodies of differentially-expressed genes. The distinct H3K4me3 chromatin profile and hyperacetylated nucleosomes at transcription start sites establish a chromatin landscape that facilitates recruitment of Ser-5- and Ser-2–phosphorylated RNA Pol II. Subsequent transcriptional events result in diverse gene expression changes. Alterations of H3K36me3 levels in the gene body reflect productive RNA Pol II elongation of transcripts of genes that are induced, underscoring the requirement for proteasome activity at multiple phases of the transcriptional cycle. Finally, by integrating genomics data and pathway analysis, we find that the differential effects of proteasome inhibition on the chromatin state modulate genes that are fundamental for cancer cell survival. Together, our results uncover underappreciated downstream effects of proteasome inhibitors that may underlie targeting of distinct chromatin states and key steps of RNA Pol II–mediated transcription in cancer cells.
Perceptual and Objective Assessment of Envelope Enhancement for Children With Auditory Processing Disorder

This paper evaluated the performance of an envelope enhancement (EE) algorithm subjectively by children with auditory processing disorder (APD), and objectively through computational models. Speech intelligibility data was collected from children with APD, for unprocessed and envelope-enhanced speech in the presence of stationary and non-stationary background noise at different signal to noise ratios (SNRs), both with and without noise reduction (NR) algorithms as a front-end to the EE algorithm. Furthermore, intrusive and non-intrusive objective speech intelligibility metrics were derived to predict the perceptual impact of this EE algorithm. Subjective data for stationary noise conditions revealed that the combination of NR and EE algorithms significantly improved the speech intelligibility scores at poor SNRs. In contrast, the same combination was ineffective in improving speech intelligibility in non-stationary noise conditions. Taken together, subjective results suggest that exaggerating the envelope cues improves speech identification scores for children with APD. However, the benefit obtained varies depending upon the type and level of the background noise. Both intrusive and non-intrusive objective speech intelligibility estimators exhibited good correlation with the subjective data, with the intrusive metric demonstrating better generalization capabilities. Implications of these results for hearing aid applications for children with APD is discussed.
Development of Human Serum Albumin Selective Fluorescent Probe Using Thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-5(4H)-one Fluorophore Derivatives

The level of human serum albumin (HSA) in biological fluids is a key health indicator and its quantitative determination has great clinical importance. In this study, we developed a selective and sensitive fluorescent HSA probe by fluorescence-based high-throughput screening of a set of fluorescent thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-5(4H)-one derivatives against major plasma proteins: HSA, bovine serum albumin (BSA), globulin, fibrinogen, and transferrin. The fluorophore chosen finally (4) showed noticeable fluorescence enhancement in the presence of HSA (160-fold increase), and it exhibited rapid response, high sensitivity (detection limit 8 nM), and the ability to clearly distinguish HSA from BSA in pH 9 buffer condition. Moreover, the probe could be applicable to detect trace amounts of HSA in an artificial urine sample; further, it might be applied to the determination of the HSA concentration in complex biological samples for pre-clinical diagnosis.
Noteworthy prognostic value of phospholipase C delta genes in early stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy and potential molecular mechanisms

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the prognostic value of phospholipase C delta (PLCD) genes in early stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its potential molecular mechanisms. The prognostic value of PLCD genes in early stage PDAC was assessed using the Kaplan‐Meier method and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. Genome‐wide correlation analysis was performed on PLCD3 to identify the highly correlated genes in the transcriptome. Then, PLCD3 and these correlated genes together underwent a bioinformatics analysis to elucidate the potential molecular biological functions of PLCD3 in PDAC. PLCD1 and PLCD3 are significantly overexpressed in PDAC. In PDAC patients, PLCD3 is overexpressed in certain groups of people with a history of alcoholism (P = .032). High expression of PLCD3 was found to be associated with lower overall survival (OS) of patients with early stage PDAC (P = .020; adjusted P = .016). A combination of PLCD3 and clinical variables was able to better predict the outcome of patients with early stage PDAC. These clinical variables are histological grade (P = .001; adjusted P = .001), targeted molecular therapy (P < .001; adjusted P < .001), radiation therapy (P = .002; adjusted P = .039), and residual resection (P = .001; adjusted P = .002). The bioinformatics analysis revealed that PLCD3 is associated with angiogenesis, intracellular signal transduction, and regulation of cell proliferation. In conclusion, PLCD3 may be a potential prognostic biomarker for early stage PDAC.
Vision-based human facial synthesis for video-conference

Facial expressions play an important role in communication. In many cases where anonymity is a high priority, the identity of a person has to be hidden or replaced by another one. There are many advancements in facial expression analysis technology and several attempts to duplicate facial expression of a human with an avatar. However, a 3D avatar does not convey the same feeling as a real human. This thesis documents an exploratory study made on how vision-based facial analysis can be used to match someone’s facial expressions and head movements with pre-recorded video segments of another person. As a result of these efforts the identity of that person can be replaced with another person in real-time for video conference supported communication. The proposed technical solutions have been implemented and tested in real-time communication on the Internet with ten users.
Application of a Topic Model Visualisation Tool to a Second Language

We explored adaptions required for applying a topic modelling tool to a language that is very different from the one for which the tool was originally developed. The tool, which enables text analysis on the output of topic modelling, was developed for English, and we here applied it on Japanese texts. As white space is not used for indicating word boundaries in Japanese, the texts had to be pre-tokenised and white space inserted to indicate a token segmentation, before the texts could be imported into the tool. The tool was also extended by the addition of word translations and phonetic readings to support users who are second-language speakers of Japanese.
Risk of Preterm Birth and Newborn Low Birthweight in Military Women with Increased Pregnancy-Specific Anxiety.

INTRODUCTION Prenatal maternal anxiety and depression have been implicated as possible risk factors for preterm birth (PTB) and other poor birth outcomes. Within the military, maternal conditions account for 15.3% of all hospital bed days, and it is the most common diagnostic code for active duty females after mental disorders. The majority of women (97.6%) serving on active duty are women of childbearing potential. Understanding the impact that prenatal maternal anxiety and depression can have on PTB and low birthweight (LBW) in a military population is critical to providing insight into biological pathways that alter fetal development and growth. The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of pregnancy-specific anxiety and depression on PTB and LBW within a military population. MATERIAL AND METHODS Pregnancy-specific anxiety and depression were measured for 246 pregnant women in each trimester. Individual slopes for seven different measures of pregnancy anxiety and one depression scale were calculated using linear mixed models. Logistic regression, adjusted and unadjusted models, were applied to determine the impact on PTB and LBW. RESULTS For each 1/10 unit increase in the anxiety slope as it related to well-being, the risk of LBW increased by 83% after controlling for parity, PTB, and active duty status. Similarly, a 1/10 unit rise in the anxiety slope related to accepting pregnancy, labor fears, and helplessness increased the risk of PTB by 37%, 60%, and 54%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy-specific anxiety was found to significantly increase the risk of PTB and LBW in a military population. Understanding this relationship is essential in developing effective assessments and interventions. Results emphasize the importance of prenatal maternal mental health to fetal health and birth outcomes. Further research is needed to determine the specific physiological pathways that link prenatal anxiety and depression with poor birth outcomes.
Large Scale Circulation and boundary layer structure in a rough Rayleigh-Bénard cell filled with water

We report Particle Image Velocimetry of the Large Scale Circulation and the viscous boundary layer in turbulent thermal convection. We use two parallelepipedic Rayleigh-Benard cells with a top smooth plate. The first one has a rough bottom plate and the second one has a smooth one so we compare the rough-smooth and the smooth-smooth configurations. The dimensions of the cell allow to consider a bi-dimensional mean flow. Lots of previous heat flux measurements have shown a Nusselt–Rayleigh regime transition corresponding to an increase of the heat flux in presence of roughness which is higher than the surface increase. Our velocity measurements show that if the mean velocity field is not clearly affected by the roughness, the velocity fluctuations rise dramatically. It is accompanied by a change of the longitudinal velocity structure functions scaling. Moreover, we show that the boundary layer becomes turbulent close to roughness, as it was observed recently in the air [Liot et al., JFM, vol. 786, pp. 275-293]. Finally we discuss the link between the change of the boundary layer structure and the ones observed on the Large Scale Circulation.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON FECUNDITY OF LITTLE TUNNY (EUTHYNNUS ALLETTERATUS) IN THE TUNISIAN WATERS

The little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) is one of the most abundant small tuna species in the Tunisian waters. To estimate batch and relative fecundity, samples of little tunny were collected during the spawning period in 2010 (June to September) off Tunisian waters. The microscopic appearance of the oocytes and the oocyte size frequency distribution had been used to define the spawning pattern shown by these species. A total of 34 female LTA ranged between 45.5 and 91.2 cm, average 63.34 ± 3.5 cm were analyzed. Little tunny is a multiple spawner with asynchronous and indeterminate spawning strategy. Batch fecundity was determined using the "hydrated oocytes" method. Average batch fecundity obtained was 451484 and ranged from 73662 to 748062. The relative batch fecundity, a parameter particularly useful to compare female of different size class, ranged from 54 to 223 oocytes g, with an average value of 116 ± 35 eggs g.
The 2000 Tottori (Japan) earthquake: triggering of the largest aftershock and constraints on Dc

The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of the static and dynamic stress changes on the triggering of faults under slip-dependent friction law. We specifically focus on the 2000 Western Tottori (Japan) earthquake and on the triggering of its largest aftershock. To this end we compute the dynamic and static stress changes caused by the 2000 Western Tottori (Japan) earthquake for which a good knowledge of the rupture history and aftershock sequence exists. We compute the coseismic stress evolution caused by the mainshock fault, on the fault plane of the largest aftershock located 20 km SW of the mainshock. The static stress changes cannot explain the occurrence of the largest aftershock, located in a stress shadow whatever the friction coefficient that we use. Hence we propose that dynamic stresses have promoted the triggering of the largest aftershock. Using the discrete wavenumber and the reflectivity methods we compute the complete time-dependent coulomb failure function CFF(t). We investigate the influence of the adopted coefficient of friction μ′, the depth and the location of the hypocenter on the shape of the CFF(t). Finally, using a non-linear slip dependent friction law with a stability/instability transition, we constrain the frictional properties of the largest aftershock fault plane knowing the state of stress on the fault and the time delay of 48 hours. We propose that Dc must be greater than
The Financial and Non-Financial Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures - An Empirical Analysis from India

Over the last few decades, a number of studies, mostly in the western countries, have investigated the nature and frequency of corporate social responsibility disclosures, their patterns and trends, and their general relationships with corporate size and profitability. This study seeks to extend the knowledge regarding the relationship between a number of financial and non-financial corporate characteristics and the level of social responsibility disclosures based on an extensive sample of top Indian companies. Corporate size and industry category are found to correlate with the corporate social disclosures of the companies and the corporate reputation as recognised through awards and social ratings have also been observed to be a significant factor that influences the social disclosures made by the Indian companies.
Both Multi-Segment Light Intensity and Extended Photoperiod Lighting Strategies, with the Same Daily Light Integral, Promoted Lactuca sativa L. Growth and Photosynthesis

With the rise of plant factories around the world, more and more crops are cultivated under artificial light. Studies on effects of lighting strategies on plant growth, such as different light intensities, photoperiods, and their combinations, have been widely conducted. However, research on application of multi-segment light strategies and associated plant growth mechanisms is still relatively lacking. In the present study, two lighting strategies, multi-segment light intensity and extended photoperiod, were compared with a constant light intensity with a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle and the same daily light integral (DLI). Both lighting strategies promoted plant growth but acted via different mechanisms. The multi-segment light intensity lighting strategy promoted plant growth by decreasing non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of the excited state of chlorophyll and increasing the quantum yield of PSII electron transport (PhiPSII), quantum yield of the carboxylation rate (PhiCO2), and photochemical quenching (qP), also taking advantage of the circadian rhythm. The extended photoperiod lighting strategy promoted plant growth by compensating for weak light stress and increasing light-use efficiency by increasing chlorophyll content under weak light conditions.
Diversity and Functional Potential of Soil Bacterial Communities in Different Types of Farmland Shelterbelts in Mid-Western Heilongjiang, China

The diversity and function of surface soil bacterial community in farmland shelterbelts of five forest types and one abandoned wilderness area were analyzed by collecting 36 soil samples at depths of 0–10 cm (the upper soil layer) and 10–20 cm (the lower soil layer), extracting DNA from the samples and amplifying and sequencing the bacterial 16S rDNA V3~V4 region. Dominant bacterial phyla in forest soils included the Actinomycetes, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chlorobacteria, and Bacillus. The number of unique bacterial OTUs (operational taxonomic units) was higher in the upper versus lower soil layer and greater in the abandoned cropland than in the shelterbelts. The number of total bacterial OTUs was highest in the mixed Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica Litv. and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. forest. At the phyla level, Actinomycetes showed the greatest variation in abundance among forest types, while at the genus level, Actinoplanes varied most among forest types in the upper soil layer and Krasilnikovia varied most in the lower soil layer. Soil bacteria were more strongly correlated and more intense competition in the upper soil layer than in the lower soil layer; Actinoplanes and Krasilnikovia were key genera in bacterial networks. Functional predictions for bacterial community genes indicated that soil fertility potential was strong in the mixed Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. forest, weak in the mixed Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica Litv. and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. forest, and in the Populus×xiaohei forest, and intermediate in the Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. and Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica Litv. forests. This study provides a new theoretical basis for the sustainable management of soil fertility in the agroforestry system.
Modeling an Unstructured Driving Domain: A Comparison of Two Cognitive Frameworks

This paper outlines a comparison between two cognitive modeling frameworks: Atomic Components of Thought – Rational (ACT-R; Anderson & Lebiere, 1998) and a framework under development at Sandia National Laboratories. Both frameworks are based on the cognitive psychological literature, although they represent different theoretical perspectives on cognition, with ACT-R being a production-rule-based system and the Sandia framework being a dynamical-systems or connectionist-type approach. This comparison involved a complex driving domain in which both the car being driven and the driver were equipped with sensors that provided information to each framework. The output of each framework was a classification of the real-world situation that the driver was in, e.g., being overtaken on the autobahn. Comparisons between the two frameworks included validation against human ratings of the driving situations via videotapes of driving sessions, along with twelve creation and performance metrics regarding the method and ease of framework population, processor requirements, and maximum real-time data sampling rate.