Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial dysfunction in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders and its changes in the course of polychemotherapy

The article is dedicated to contemporary views on the change of endothelial function in the patients with lymphoproliferative disorders prior to, and in the process of, chemotherapeutic treatment. Considering that possibilities of standard examination do not always help identifying subclinical endothelial dysfunction, it is necessary to use specific methods, in particular, to determine the levels of endothelin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor to monitor endothelial function. The objective of this review is to identify problems and prospects for recognizing early subclinical changes of endothelial function in the patients with lymphoproliferative disorders before and after chemotherapy. Assessing presence and severity of endothelial dysfunction may be useful for determining subclinical stages of cardiovascular damage, stratifying the risk of the patients with confirmed cardiovascular disease, and reducing the likelihood of cardio- and endotheliotoxic effects in patients long after chemotherapy. That is why early detection and immediate therapy of cardiovascular toxicity is currently the most important task in the patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, receiving chemotherapy.
SETNDS: A SET-Based Non-Dominated Sorting Algorithm for Multi-Objective Optimization Problems

Non-dominated sorting, used to find pareto solutions or assign solutions to different fronts, is a key but time-consuming process in multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs). The best-case and worst-case time complexity of non-dominated sorting algorithms currently known are O(MNlogN) and O(MN2); M and N represent the number of objectives and the population size, respectively. In this paper, a more efficient SET-based non-dominated sorting algorithm, shorted to SETNDS, is proposed. The proposed algorithm can greatly reduce the number of comparisons on the promise of ensuring a shorter running time. In SETNDS, the rank of a solution to be sorted is determined by only comparing with the one with the highest rank degree in its dominant set. This algorithm is compared with six generally existing non-dominated sorting algorithms—fast non-dominated sorting, the arena’s principle sort, the deductive sort, the corner sort, the efficient non-dominated sort and the best order sort on several kinds of datasets. The compared results show that the proposed algorithm is feasible and effective and its computational efficiency outperforms other existing algorithms.
Norwegian Kindergarten Children’s Knowledge about the Environmental Component of Sustainable Development

Although kindergarten children are the group of citizens who will face the consequences of today’s environmental challenges, research on their knowledge about environmental sustainability is limited. In June 2019, we interviewed 56 children (five to six years old) from eight kindergartens in Norway and asked kindergarten staff and the children’s parents to fill out a short questionnaire. The aim of the study was to investigate children’s knowledge of how our actions affect the natural environment and children’s self-declared sense of belonging to nature. Our results show that upon completing kindergarten, many children had gained an early understanding of environmental sustainability. Garbage disposal, deforestation, and air pollution from vehicles were the environmental issues children were most aware. We detected a positive association between time spent in nature with parents and children’s knowledge; this emphasizes the importance of children spending time in nature with their parents.
A semantic‐enabled and context‐aware monitoring system for the internet of medical things

The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the medical field has led to the massive deployment of a myriad of medical connected objects (MCOs). These MCOs are being developed and implemented for remote healthcare monitoring purposes including elderly patients with chronic diseases, pregnant women, and patients with disabilities. Accordingly, different associated challenges are emerging and include the heterogeneity of the gathered health data from these MCOs with ever‐changing contexts. These contexts are relative to the continuous change of constraints and requirements of the MCOs deployment (time, location, state). Other contexts are related to the patient (medical record, state, age, sex, etc.) that should be taken into account to ensure a more precise and appropriate treatment of the patient. These challenges are difficult to address due to the absence of a reference model for describing the health data and their sources and linking these data with their contexts. This article addresses this problem and introduces a semantic‐based context‐aware system (IoT Medicare system) for patient monitoring with MCOs. This system is based on a core domain ontology (HealthIoT‐O), that is, designed to describe the semantic of heterogeneous MCOs and their data. Moreover, an efficient interpretation and management of this knowledge in diverse contexts are ensured through SWRL rules such as the verification of the proper functioning of the MCOs and the analysis of the health data for diagnosis and treatment purposes. A case study of gestational diabetes disease management is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented IoT Medicare system. An evaluation phase is provided and focuses on the quality of the elaborated semantic model and the performance of the system.
Development of tools to investigate resistance of HCV genotype 3 to NS5A inhibitors

HCV infection leads to liver failure. Genotype 3 (GT3) is known to respond poorly to newly-developed direct-acting antivirals, especially inhibitors of the multifunctional NS5A protein. This work reports the establishment of efficient transient replication of the S52 GT3 sub-genomic replicon (SGR) by further culture adaptation of S52 in the context of an optimised luciferase reporter. Also documented is the development of hepatoma cells with immune-attenuating modifications and expressing the lipid binding factor hSEC14L2 to support transient replication of S52. In parallel, stable replication of S52 in SGR-harbouring cells was used to investigate the differences between early and established replication. Differences in sensitivity to the NS5A inhibitor Daclatasvir (DCV) in both transient and stable S52 were observed compared to other genotypes, and between transient and stable replication. In addition, it is shown here that the resistance-associated substitution (RAS) Y93H conferred a significant fitness cost which is not apparent for stable S52 selected with DCV, despite this RAS being detected. This thesis explores the molecular basis of such an observation and highlights a potential mechanism which warrants further research. The role of RAS in the development of resistance is still unclear though this work reports that the presence of a RAS within a mixed population greatly influenced the development of resistance to DCV in vitro. Moreover, this work identified that a cellular metabolism-regulating factor, AMP-mediated protein kinase (AMPK), may be differentially regulated during GT3 infection compared to other GTs. This thesis presents the hypothesis that AMPK regulation by HCV may contribute to hepatic steatosis as a direct consequence of viral infection, which is unique to GT3. More insight into the propensity of GT3 to develop resistance can aid further antiviral design, and an understanding of the molecular basis of steatosis offers a rationale for treating the symptoms of HCV in addition to direct targeting of the virus.
Twin Least Square Support Vector Regression Model Based on Gauss-Laplace Mixed Noise Feature with Its Application in Wind Speed Prediction

In this article, it was observed that the noise in some real-world applications, such as wind power forecasting and direction of the arrival estimation problem, does not satisfy the single noise distribution, including Gaussian distribution and Laplace distribution, but the mixed distribution. Therefore, combining the twin hyperplanes with the fast speed of Least Squares Support Vector Regression (LS-SVR), and then introducing the Gauss–Laplace mixed noise feature, a new regressor, called Gauss-Laplace Twin Least Squares Support Vector Regression (GL-TLSSVR), for the complex noise. Subsequently, we apply the augmented Lagrangian multiplier method to solve the proposed model. Finally, we apply the short-term wind speed data-set to the proposed model. The results of this experiment confirm the effectiveness of our proposed model.
Unravelling Seascape Patterns of Cryptic Life Stages: Non-Reef Habitat Use in Juvenile Parrotfishes

Juvenile fish often use alternative habitats distinct from their adult phases. Parrotfishes are an integral group of coral reef fish assemblages, are targeted in fisheries, are sensitive to reef disturbances, and have been documented as multiple-habitat users. Considering the abundance of research conducted on parrotfishes, very little is known about their juvenile ecology at the species level due to their cryptic and variable coloration patterns. We collected juvenile parrotfishes in non-reef habitats (macroalgal beds, seagrass beds, and lagoons) in the Philippines and used DNA analysis to determine species composition. The results were then compared with data on adult parrotfish abundance from underwater visual census (UVC) surveys in coral reef and non-reef habitats. Collections identified 15 species of juvenile parrotfishes in non-reef habitats, and of these, 10 were also recorded in UVCs as adults. Informed by adult surveys, 42% of the 19 parrotfish species observed as adults were classified as multi-habitat users based on their presence in coral reef and non-reef habitats. When accounting for the occurrence of species as juveniles in non-reef habitats, 93% of the species collected as juveniles would be considered multi-habitat users. Species identified as juveniles in non-reef habitats comprised 50% of the average adult parrotfish density on coral reefs and 58–94% in non-reef habitats. The species richness of juveniles in non-reef habitats was greater than that of adults occupying the same habitats, and the most common adult species observed in UVCs was not collected as juveniles in non-reef habitats. Finally, UVC suggested that 97% of juvenile parrotfish <10-cm total length was present in non-reef habitats compared to coral reefs. These results provide further evidence for ontogenetic movement across habitat boundaries for parrotfish species in a diverse and highly connected tropical seascape. This is one of the few studies to quantify links between nursery and adult habitat in parrotfishes, highlighting the importance of including non-reef habitats in ecological studies of an iconic group of coral reef fish.
Discovering underlying sensations of human emotions based on social media

Analyzing social media has become a common way for capturing and understanding people's opinions, sentiments, interests, and reactions to ongoing events. Social media has thus become a rich and real‐time source for various kinds of public opinion and sentiment studies. According to psychology and neuroscience, human emotions are known to be strongly dependent on sensory perceptions. Although sensation is the most fundamental antecedent of human emotions, prior works have not looked into their relation to emotions based on social media texts. In this paper, we report the results of our study on sensation effects that underlie human emotions as revealed in social media. We focus on the key five types of sensations: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. We first establish a correlation between emotion and sensation in terms of linguistic expressions. Then, in the second part of the paper, we define novel features useful for extracting sensation information from social media. Finally, we design a method to classify texts into ones associated with different types of sensations. The sensation dataset resulting from this research is opened to the public to foster further studies.
Temporal expression of protein mediators during PGF2alpha-induced luteolysis in sheep

To study dynamic in vivo biochemical changes within the corpus luteum (CL) during luteolysis, a physiological model mimicking the onset of natural luteolysis was established, in which sheep received sequential systemic pulses of PGF2alpha (20ug/min/lhr) at mid-luteal phase of the estrous cycle. We previously demonstrated that after one pulse of PGF2alpha, the protein levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) regulators, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) -1 and -2 decreased dramatically within one hour of PGF2alpha infusion, while matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity increased 4 hrs post infusion. In summary, the early and dramatic decrease in TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 proteins, accompanied by an increase in MMP-2 activity, indicate an extension and amplification by the second pulse of PGF2alpha on regulators of the ECM within the CL. These findings confirm a critical role for regulators of the ECM in mediating both structural and steroidogenic changes during physiological PGF2alpha-induced luteolysis in sheep. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).
Bartering as a Blind Spot: A Call to Action from COVID‐19

Bartering is a common form of negotiation, and COVID-19 may have heightened its occurrence at least temporarily Yet, bartering has received little attention in the negotiation literature After defining bartering and describing its relevance and prevalence in the COVID-19 era, this article suggests that an understanding of bartering would significantly enhance our understanding of negotiation in general Two broad research questions illustrate the importance of better understanding bartering, with important theoretical, pedagogical, and practical implications
Understanding the Entrepreneurial Intention in the Light of Contextual Factors: Gender Analysis

Entrepreneurial intention is receiving immense recognition in entrepreneurship researches, as it motives an individual to become an entrepreneur. Still, the interplay between gender perspective and contextual factors (i.e., access to capital, business information, social network, educational support, structural support) are not fully investigated in understanding the entrepreneurial intention in developing countries like Bangladesh. Therefore, the paper aims to examine the gender difference and educational discipline difference in the university’s students’ entrepreneurial intention in relation to contextual factors in Bangladesh. In this study, sample has been particularly taken from the different disciplinary students of private universities. Five-point Likert scale-based survey questionnaire was developed based on past researches. 280 online survey forms were distributed among the university students and finally 225 students’ response were found correct as the study sample size (final survey response rate = 80%), after eliminating the incorrect survey responses. For statistical analysis SPSS 23.0 version is used. One-way ANOVA is used to measure the gender and discipline difference on entrepreneurial intention among male and female students. The results show that business information and social network will have more influence on male students’ entrepreneurial intention, and comparatively, business students have more willingness to become entrepreneurs than other departmental students.
Generation and characterisation of human embryonic stem cells deficient in ZDHHC8, a gene deleted in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

The 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome is caused by a deletion on the chromosome 22q11.2. Individuals carrying 22q11.2 deletion have an increased risk to develop schizophrenia and Parkinson disease. However, how this deletion leads to the development of these diseases and the specific role of the individual 22q11.2 genes remains largely unknown. In order to understand the neuronal cell types and developmental stages in which the 22q11.2 genes may function, we investigated the temporal and spatial expression profile of the genes located in the 22q11.2DS by RT-PCR. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) was used to generate excitatory projection neurons, cortical interneurons, GABAergic medium spiny neurons (MSN) and dopaminergic neurons. This study revealed that several genes appear to exhibit a specific temporal expression profile. Moreover, another group of genes were found to be preferentially expressed in dopaminergic neural lineage. Within the 22q11.2 deletion region, ZDHHC8 is an interesting candidate due to its implication in the physiology and morphology of the neurons. I generated a hESCs cellular model carrying a heterozygous deletion of ZDHHC8. These cells can be induced toward cortical projection neuron fate in a comparable temporal kinetics to that of the parental control cells. However, phenotypic characterisation revealed that ZDHHC8 mutation altered the motility and the spontaneous calcium activity in ZDHHC8+/- neurons. Interestingly, transcriptomic analysis of excitatory progenitors identified altered expression of genes regulating calcium activity and axonal growth (motility). Furthermore, this study suggests that ZDHHC8 may also be involved in neuronal development, patterning and synaptic signalling. In conclusion, this thesis provides further knowledges regarding the expression of the 22q11.2DS genes which would be valuable to guide future studies either in cellular or animal models. Furthermore, this study indicates that ZDHHC8 function is involved in several aspects of neuron development that potentially plays a role in the aetiology of 22q11.2DS.
Sea bream (Sparus aurata) intensive larval rearing : effects of microalgae and phages addition on the performance of the larvae

Master Oficial en Cultivos Marinos. Trabajo presentado como requisito parcial para la obtencion del Titulo de Master Oficial en Cultivos Marinos, otorgado por la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), el Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas (ICCM), y el Centro Internacional de Altos Estudios Agronomicos Mediterraneos de Zaragoza (CIHEAM)
Inter- and intra-domain functional redundancy in the rumen microbiome during plant biomass degradation

Background Ruminant livestock is a major source of the potent greenhouse gas methane (CH4), produced by the complex rumen microbiome. Using an integrated approach, combining quantitative metatranscriptomics with gas- and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiling, we gained fundamental insights into temporal dynamics of the cow rumen microbiome during feed degradation. Results The microbiome composition was highly individual and remarkably stable within each cow, despite similar gas emission and VFA profiles between cows. Gene expression profiles revealed a fast microbial growth response to feeding, reflected by drastic increases in microbial biomass, CH4 emissions and VFA concentrations. Microbiome individuality was accompanied by high inter- and intra-domain functional redundancy among pro- and eukaryotic microbiome members in the key steps of anaerobic feed degradation. Methyl-reducing but not CO2-reducing methanogens were correlated with increased CH4 emissions during plant biomass degradation. Conclusions The major response of the rumen microbiome to feed intake was a general growth of the whole community. The high functional redundancy of the cow-individual microbiomes was possibly linked to the robust performance of the anaerobic degradation process. Furthermore, the strong response of methylotrophic methanogens is suggesting that they might play a more important role in ruminant CH4 emissions than previously assumed, making them potential targets for CH4 mitigation strategies.
A Cladopus Species (Podostemaceae) Rediscovered from Hong Kong

unusual aquatic angiosperms that grow on submerged rocks in rapids and waterfalls (van Steenis 1981). The family is distributed primarily in the tropics and subtropics (Kato 2013, 2016). Southern and southeastern China, southwestern Japan, and southeastern Canada are at the northernmost limits of its distribution. The Podostemaceae of China were first investigated by Chao (1948), who described Lawiella chinensis H.C. Chao, L. fukienensis H.C. Chao (as ‘fukiensis’), and Terniopsis sessilis H.C. Chao. Since then, Cladopus (Chun & Tsiang 1963) and Hydrobryum (Tao 1983) have been added, Terniopsis was redescribed (Chao 1980), and the two species of Lawiella were combined with Cladopus H. A. Möller (Chao 1982). Wu (1988) classified the family into three genera and three species in China; Terniopsis sessilis in Fujian, Hydrobryum griffithii Tul. in Yunnan, Cladopus nymanii H. A. Möller sensu lato [including C. fukienensis (H.C. Chao) H.C. Chao and C. chinensis (H.C. Chao) H.C. Chao, and C. japonicus Imamura] in Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan. Qiu et al. (2003) recognized three genera and four species in China; Dalzellia sessilis (C.H. Chao) C. Cusset & G. Cusset, Hydrobryum griffithii, Cladopus nymanii s.l. , and C. chinensis. Kato & Kita (2003) recognized three genera and six species in China, Terniopsis sessilis, Hydrobryum griffithii, H. japonicum Imamura from Yunnan, Cladopus austrosinensis M. Kato & Y. Kita from Guangdong and Hainan, C. fukienensis and C. japonicus including C. chinensis [= C. doianus (Koidz.) Koriba (Kato 2008)]. In 1963, the Japanese bryologist Zennoske Iwatsuki collected the first specimen of Cladopus (Z. Iwatsuki 63 [TI]) in Hong Kong on Tai Mo Shan, Kowloon Peninsula. It was identified as C. nymanii s.l. by Cusset (1992) and later as C. austrosinensis by Kato & Kita (2003) based on the few bracts on a short floriferous shoot. Because the specimen comprises dried fragments, its identity remains uncertain. Kato & Kita’s (2003) treatment is followed in the Flora of Hong Kong (Deng & Xia 2008). Additional specimens have A Cladopus Species (Podostemaceae) Rediscovered from Hong Kong
Bark chewing reveals a nutrient limitation of leaves for a specialist folivore

Mineral micronutrients are critical for basic physiological function, and variable availability of minerals over the landscape can influence foraging decisions. Sodium is essential for nerve function and osmotic balance; however, it can be limiting in some environments, such as those at high elevations. Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) living in subalpine regions have been observed eating Eucalyptus mannifera bark, an unusual food choice for a folivore. We hypothesized that sodium may be deficient in leaves at high-elevation sites, and that the bark from trees could be a potential sodium source. We compared the mineral content of eucalypt bark and leaves in 3 areas where koalas chew bark and in leaves of a preferred food tree of koalas, E. viminalis, across a range of elevations. Individual chewed trees were rare compared to non-chewed conspecifics and patchily distributed. Bark from chewed E. mannifera trees had significantly higher concentrations of sodium than plant parts from non-chewed neighboring conspecifics and other Eucalyptus species trees. We also found that E. viminalis foliage had significantly less sodium at higher elevations than lowland populations. We propose that koalas have developed the unusual bark-eating behavior to meet sodium requirements in an otherwise sodium-poor landscape. Given the physiological importance of sodium, behavioral adaptations such as these may be critical to the ability of mammalian herbivores to survive in nutrient-deficient landscapes.