Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ACE2 Expression in Kidney and Testis May Cause Kidney and Testis Infection in COVID-19 Patients

In December 2019, a new type of pneumonia caused by SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) occurred in Wuhan and has been discovered in many countries around the world. ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) has been shown to be one of the major receptors that mediate the entry of SARS-Cov-2 into human cells. Here in this study, we used the online datasets to analyze ACE2 expression in different human organs. The results indicated that ACE2 highly expresses in renal tubular cells, Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and cells in seminiferous ducts in testis. Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (RBD) domain and ACE2 of RPTEC/SerC cell-binding assays confirmed that SARS-Cov-2 can bind to ACE2 on the surface of these cells. Our results suggest that ACE2 expression could contribute to kidney and testis infection after COVID-19 infection. Renal function evaluation and special care should be performed during clinical work. Clinicians should also pay attention to the risk of testicular lesions in patients during hospitalization and later clinical follow-up, especially the assessment and appropriate intervention in young patients' fertility.
Evaluation of Cardiac Circadian Rhythm Deconditioning Induced by 5-to-60 Days of Head-Down Bed Rest

Head-down tilt (HDT) bed rest elicits changes in cardiac circadian rhythms, generating possible adverse health outcomes such as increased arrhythmic risk. Our aim was to study the impact of HDT duration on the circadian rhythms of heart beat (RR) and ventricular repolarization (QTend) duration intervals from 24-h Holter ECG recordings acquired in 63 subjects during six different HDT bed rest campaigns of different duration (two 5-day, two 21-day, and two 60-day). Circadian rhythms of RR and QTend intervals series were evaluated by Cosinor analysis, resulting in a value of midline (MESOR), oscillation amplitude (OA) and acrophase (φ). In addition, the QTc (with Bazett correction) was computed, and day-time, night-time, maximum and minimum RR, QTend and QTc intervals were calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted, comparing: (1) the effects at 5 (HDT5), 21 (HDT21) and 58 (HDT58) days of HDT with baseline (PRE); (2) trends in recovery period at post-HDT epochs (R) in 5-day, 21-day, and 60-day HDT separately vs. PRE; (3) differences at R + 0 due to bed rest duration; (4) changes between the last HDT acquisition and the respective R + 0 in 5-day, 21-day, and 60-day HDT. During HDT, major changes were observed at HDT5, with increased RR and QTend intervals’ MESOR, mostly related to day-time lengthening and increased minima, while the QTc shortened. Afterward, a progressive trend toward baseline values was observed with HDT progression. Additionally, the φ anticipated, and the OA was reduced during HDT, decreasing system’s ability to react to incoming stimuli. Consequently, the restoration of the orthostatic position elicited the shortening of RR and QTend intervals together with QTc prolongation, notwithstanding the period spent in HDT. However, the magnitude of post-HDT changes, as well as the difference between the last HDT day and R + 0, showed a trend to increase with increasing HDT duration, and 5/7 days were not sufficient for recovering after 60-day HDT. Additionally, the φ postponed and the OA significantly increased at R + 0 compared to PRE after 5-day and 60-day HDT, possibly increasing the arrhythmic risk. These results provide evidence that continuous monitoring of astronauts’ circadian rhythms, and further investigations on possible measures for counteracting the observed modifications, will be key for future missions including long periods of weightlessness and gravity transitions, for preserving astronauts’ health and mission success.
Exploring the Association Between Sialic Acid and SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Through a Molecular Dynamics-Based Approach

Recent experimental evidence demonstrated the capability of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein to bind sialic acid molecules, which was a trait not present in SARS-CoV and could shed light on the molecular mechanism used by the virus for the cell invasion. This peculiar feature has been successfully predicted by in-silico studies comparing the sequence and structural characteristics that SARS-CoV-2 shares with other sialic acid-binding viruses, like MERS-CoV. Even if the region of the binding has been identified in the N-terminal domain of Spike protein, so far no comprehensive analyses have been carried out on the spike-sialic acid conformations once in the complex. Here, we addressed this aspect performing an extensive molecular dynamics simulation of a system composed of the N-terminal domain of the spike protein and a sialic acid molecule. We observed several short-lived binding events, reconnecting to the avidic nature of the binding, interestingly occurring in the surface Spike region where several insertions are present with respect to the SARS-CoV sequence. Characterizing the bound configurations via a clustering analysis on the Principal Component of the motion, we identified different possible binding conformations and discussed their dynamic and structural properties. In particular, we analyze the correlated motion between the binding residues and the binding effect on the stability of atomic fluctuation, thus proposing regions with high binding propensity with sialic acid.
The Effects of Emotional Working Memory Training on Trait Anxiety

Background Trait anxiety is a pervasive tendency to attend to and experience fears and worries to a disproportionate degree, across various situations. Decreased vulnerability to trait anxiety has been linked to having higher working memory capacity and better emotion regulation; however, the relationship between these factors has not been well-established. Objective This study sought to determine if participants who undergo emotional working memory training will have significantly lower trait anxiety post-training. The study also sought to determine if emotion regulation mediated the relationship between working memory training and trait anxiety. Method An experimental group comprising of 49 participants underwent 20 days of computerized emotional working memory training, which involved viewing a continuous stream of emotionally-charged content on a grid, and then remembering the location and color of items presented on the grid. The control group comprised of 51 participants. Results Participants of the experimental group had significantly lower trait anxiety compared to controls, post-training. Subsequent mediation analysis determined that working memory training capacity gains were significantly related to anxiety reduction as measured by form Y2 of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y2). Emotion regulation, as measured by the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), was found not to mediate between working memory capacity gains and trait anxiety reduction. Conclusion Working memory capacity gains and reductions in levels of trait anxiety were observed following emotional working memory training. The study may therefore be useful in informing interventions targeted at improving working memory capacity, and reducing levels of trait anxiety. Moreover, it proposes for future research to further look into the mediating role of emotion regulation via the development or utilization of more comprehensive measures of emotion regulation.
Interdecadal Change in the Relationship Between the Bay of Bengal Summer Monsoon and South China Sea Summer Monsoon Onset

The interdecadal change of the BOBSM–SCSSM relationship around the late 1970s is investigated in this paper. We found that the correlation between the BOBSM and SCSSM is 0.22 in 1958–1979, while it is 0.66 in 1980–2018. Further analyses showed that the strength of the South Asian High (SAH) at upper troposphere circulation experiences an interdecadal enhancement around the late 1970s; meanwhile its meridional shift exhibits a wider range in the second subperiod. Both the interdecadal change of the strength and meridional shift of the SAH contribute to a closer relationship of the BOBSM and SCSSM through modulating the divergent field at upper troposphere. As for the external forcing, the basin warming of the Indian Ocean after the late 1970s may serve as a relatively primary factor, which could induce a consistent background flow that may favor a closer BOBSM–SCSSM relationship in the second period. It is noted that the Indian Ocean warming is related to high pressure anomaly widely lying to the south of 20°N at upper troposphere, accompanied by the low pressure anomaly center to the north of 20°N. And this kind of upper-level circulation may result in strong westerly anomaly at the domain where the pressure gradient is large and then modulate the onset of the BOBSM and SCSSM in 1980–2018 through changing the upper-level divergent field. Besides, the low troposphere circulation associated with Indian Ocean warming is featured by the zonal-elongated high pressure anomaly spanning from the BOB and SCS to the northwest Pacific. The above coupling of the upper and lower troposphere, as a larger-scale consistent background flow controls the BOB and SCS, can modulate the interannual variation of the BOBSM and SCSSM synchronously and contributes to the closer relationship of the BOBSM and SCSSM in the second subperiod.
A Population of Radio-Resistant Macrophages in the Deep Myenteric Plexus Contributes to Postoperative Ileus Via Toll-Like Receptor 3 Signaling

Postoperative ileus (POI) is triggered by an innate immune response in the muscularis externa (ME) and is accompanied by bacterial translocation. Bacteria can trigger an innate immune response via toll-like receptor (TLR) activation, but the latter’s contribution to POI has been disproved for several TLRs, including TLR2 and TLR4. Herein we investigated the role of double-stranded RNA detection via TLR3 and TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) signaling pathway in POI. POI was induced by small bowel intestinal manipulation in wt, TRIF-/-, TLR3-/-, type I interferon receptor-/- and interferon-β reporter mice, all on C57BL/6 background, and POI severity was quantified by gene expression analysis, gastrointestinal transit and leukocyte extravasation into the ME. TRIF/TLR3 deficiency reduced postoperative ME inflammation and prevented POI. With bone marrow transplantation, RNA-sequencing, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry we revealed a distinct TLR3-expressing radio-resistant MHCIIhiCX3CR1- IBA-1+ resident macrophage population within the deep myenteric plexus. TLR3 deficiency in these cells, but not in MHCIIhiCX3CR1+ macrophages, reduced cytokine expression in POI. While this might not be an exclusive macrophage-privileged pathway, the TLR3/TRIF axis contributes to proinflammatory cytokine production in MHCIIhiCX3CR1- IBA-1+ macrophages during POI. Deficiency in TLR3/TRIF protects mice from POI. These data suggest that TLR3 antagonism may prevent POI in humans.
Hole spin surfaces in A3B5 semiconductors

Properties of spin surfaces of heavy‐mass, light‐mass and split‐off bands of GaAs, InAs, GaP, InP, GaSb, and InSb are presented under various approximations. A simple two‐band, analytically solvable model is used as a starting point and the reference. It is shown that the strongest deviation from the simple spherical and parabolic two‐band model comes from the valence band nonparabolicity and nonshpericity. The spin‐splitting in all three valence bands was found to have negligible influence on shape of the spin surfaces at thermal hole energies. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Algorithmic of curves in the context of bilinear and post-quantum cryptography. (Algorithmique des courbes destinées au contexte de la cryptographie bilinéaire et post-quantique)

This thesis studies the algorithmic of several cryptographic applications related to elliptic curves and isogenies of elliptic curves. On the one hand, we study the tradeoff between efficiency and security in pairing-based cryptography at the 128-bit security level. The threat of the recent improvements on the discrete logarithm computation over specific finite fields lead us to study new pairing-friendly curves. We give a comparison of efficiency between our new curves and the state-of-the-art curves by estimating the measurement in practice. On the other and, we present isogeny-based cryptography, considered to be post-quantum resistant. We look at a concrete implementation of cryptanalysis based on connecting ideals between maximal orders of quaternion algebras. Finally, we present two constructions of verifiable delay functions based on computations of pairings and isogenies of large smooth degree. These functions are not considered to be post-quantum resistant, but bring several new properties compared to the current constructions. We analyse their security and give a comparison of all the known functions at the 128-bit security level.
Reviewing the Contributing Factors and Benefits of Distributed Collaboration

Distributed collaboration has become increasingly common across domains ranging from software development to information processing, the creative arts, and entertainment. As of early 2020, distributed collaboration has entered the limelight as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced employees across the world to work from home. However, while researchers have applied myriad terms to define these operations, we first address this issue by defining distributed collaboration in a way that represents all its forms. Existing research has identified several factors that contribute to distributed collaborations’ success. Yet, researchers and practitioners typically discuss these factors in modular theoretical terms, which means that they often struggle to identify and synthesize literature that spans multiple domains and perspectives. In this paper, we systematically review the literature to synthesize core findings into one amalgamated model. This model categorizes the contributing factors for distributed collaboration along two axes 1) whether they are social or material and 2) whether they are endemic or relational. We also explicitly discuss the relationships between factors in the model. The model further links these contributing factors to different collaborative outcomes, specifically mutual learning, relationship building, communication, task completion speed, access to skilled personnel, and cost savings.
Review of Network on Chip Routing Algorithms

System on chip (SoC) is an integrated circuit in which components are communicating through the bus interconnection system. Network on chip (NoC) is a communication network for a multiprocessor system on chip (MPSoC). In NoC architecture node/ component of MPSOC are communicating through a network. The performance of NoC architecture depends on topology, routing algorithm and switching technique. In this paper, different NoC routing algorithms are review using basic parameters of NoC architecture and also provide some information about these parameters. It is concluded that most of the researchers are interested in design of the NoC routing algorithm, which efficiently transmits data from source to destination. When the routing algorithm is congestion aware, fault-tolerant, deadlock-free and live-lock free, then the latency of algorithm decreases and throughput increases.
Effect of biomass concentration on the performance of a MBR system: Studies of microbial communities

The performance of a bench-scale submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) equipped with ultrafiltration membranes (Zenon®) was investigated for the treatment of domestic wastewater under different mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) concentration. The results showed the capacity of the MBR systems to remove high concentration in organic matter (COD and BOD5) in order to study the influence of the removal in organic matter enzymatic activities (acid and alkaline phosphatases, glucasidase, protease, esterase and dehydrogenase); and biodiversity of the bacterial community in the sludge was measured. Cluster analysis of the temperature gradient gel electrophoresis profiles demonstrated that the community composition varied significantly in the different experiments. Depending on MLSS and temperature, the bacterial community experienced sequential shifts as the biomass accumulated, as shown by the evolution of the population profiles through time as volatile suspended solids concentration.
Dispersion of soluble matter in solvent flowing slowly through a tube

When a soluble substance is introduced into a fluid flowing slowly through a small-bore tube it spreads out under the combined action of molecular diffusion and the variation of velocity over the cross-section. It is shown analytically that the distribution of concentration produced in this way is centred on a point which moves with the mean speed of flow and is symmetrical about it in spite of the asymmetry of the flow. The dispersion along the tube is governed by a virtual coefficient of diffusivity which can be calculated from observed distributions of concentration. Since the analysis relates the longitudinal diffusivity to the coefficient of molecular diffusion, observations of concentration along a tube provide a new method for measuring diffusion coefficients. The coefficient so obtained was found, with potassium permanganate, to agree with that measured in other ways. The results may be useful to physiologists who may wish to know how a soluble salt is dispersed in blood streams.
Potentiometric and Visual Titrimetric Methods for Analysis of Captopril and Its Pharmaceutical Forms

Abstract Captopril, a new anihypertensive agent, has been assayed in authenitic as well as in tablet (Capoten((R))Manufacture: Squibb and Sons, Inc., Princeton, N.J., U.S.A. dosage forms by applying potentiometric visual, argentometric and oxidometric methods of idoine and cupric ion. Each method of assay involves the determination of captopril in a given weight of sample. Six samples were run for each method and the average percentages of recovery of captopril from its tablets were computed. For the potentiometric and visual silver methods the average percentages of recovery are 103.3 ± 1.2 and 102.3 ± 1.0 respectively. For the oxidometic methods of iodine and cupric ion, the average percentages of recovery are 103.8 ± 1.5 and 104.2 ± 1.4 respectively.
Chelating Polymers for Recovery of Uranium from Seawater

Abstract Despite the low concentration of uranium in seawater (3.3 ppb), a special emphasis has been placed on its recovery. Although the concentration is low, it has been estimated that the world's oceans contain about 4 × 109 tons of uranium—theoretically an unlimited supply of nuclear fuel. Adsorption has been considered to be a technically feasible procedure for a uranium recovery process with regard to economic and environmental impacts. The present paper restricts its coverage to those applications using chelating polymeric resins containing amidoxime groups as the most promising adsorbent. ∗Dedicated to Prof. Iwao Tabushi for his endeavors in the field of “recovery of uranium from seawater. ”
Synthesis of Mesoporous Silica from Commercial Poly(ethylene oxide)/Poly(butylene oxide) Copolymers: Toward the Rational Design of Ordered Mesoporous Materials

Five commercial poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(butylene oxide) (PEO/PBO) triblock copolymer surfactants were utilized as structure-directing agents to synthesize mesoporous silica under acidic conditions. The structures of these materials were characterized by using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption analysis, and transmission electron micrographs (TEM). The relationship between the pore sizes of silica mesostructures and hydrophobic block weight as well as block architecture of their block copolymer templates was discussed. From the comparison of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of these PEO−PBO copolymers and the resultant silica mesostructures, it is proposed that the CMC of block copolymers correlates to the final silica mesostructures and can be used as an important criterion for the rational design of ordered mesoporous materials especially when they are synthesized as precipitates from solutions. Such conclusions are useful to fabricate ordered and large pore mesoporous m.
Flow Boiling of n‐Hexane in Small Channels: Heat Transfer Measurements and Flow Pattern Observations

An experimental investigation was conducted to study flow boiling heat transfer to n-hexane. Two different test sections were employed: a single 0.3 12.7 mm 2 rectangular microchannel and a 0.5 mm concentric annulus of 6 mm inner diameter. Both test sections were electrically heated. The examined parameter ranges were: mass fluxes between 50 and 400kg/(m 2 s) and heat fluxes up to 106 kW/m 2 , at an outlet pressure of 0.1 MPa. Infrared thermography was employed to measure the outer wall temperatures of the rectangular channel and to determine the heat transfer coefficients. This measurement method was especially appropriate for the analysis of the transient behavior of boiling in microchannels, which has been often reported in the literature. In addition, flow visualization was carried out under comparable experimental conditions, using an inner heated circular annulus with a narrow gap.
Impact of thermal annealing on nonequilibrium carrier dynamics in single-crystal, freestanding GaAs mesostructures

We report on the impact of thermal annealing to carrier transport and transient, subpicosecond photoresponse of freestanding GaAs mesostructures. Our measurements included micro-photoluminescence and dark current and responsivity studies as well as optical femtosecond characterization. The fabricated GaAs mesostructures consisted of both mesowires and platelets that were integrated into coplanar striplines to form a photoconductive switch. We demonstrate that an optimized annealing process of our mesostructures, performed at 600 °C for 20 min, led to restoring bulklike properties of our freestanding devices. They exhibited dark currents below 600 pA at 10 V bias, responsivity of 0.2 A W−1 at 30 V, and mobility as high as 7300 cm2 V s−1. The annealed freestanding GaAs photodetectors were characterized by subpicosecond carrier relaxation dynamics with negligible trapping and a cutoff frequency of 1.3 THz. The latter characteristics make them excellent candidates for THz-bandwidth optoelectronics.
Interpretation of the electronic absorption spectrum of free-base porphin using time-dependent density-functional theory

The electronic absorption spectrum of free-base porphin has been studied at density-functional theory (DFT) level using the time-dependent perturbation theory approach. The optimization of the molecular structure was carried out using the Becke–Perdew functional and split-valence quality basis sets augmented by polarization functions. In the calculation of the electronic excitation energies, the same functional was employed while the basis set was further augmented by diffuse s, p, and d functions. The calculated absorption spectrum agrees with recent ab initio and DFT calculations and with experiment. The B-band must be assigned to the strong 3 1B2u and the 3 1B3u transitions. Two additional weak transitions (2 1B2u and 2 1B3u) are found below the B band. However, these states have not been obtained at CASSCF (CASPT2) and DFT/MRCI levels and might be an artifact of the functional used. The lowest symmetry-allowed triplet–triplet transition is calculated to be 1.58 eV as compared to the experimental value of 1.56–1.58 eV.