Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PGC-1α overexpression is not sufficient to mitigate cancer cachexia in either male or female mice

Cancer cachexia (CC) accounts for 20%–40% of cancer-related deaths. Mitochondrial aberrations have been shown to precede muscle atrophy in different atrophy models, including cancer. Therefore, this study investigated potential protection from the cachectic phenotype through overexpression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 α (PGC-1α). First, to establish potential of mitochondria-based approaches we showed that the mitochondrial antioxidant MitoTEMPO (MitoT) attenuates myotube atrophy induced by Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cell conditioned media. Next, cachexia was induced in muscle-specific PGC-1α overexpressing (MCK-PCG1α) or wildtype (WT) littermate mice by LLC implantation. MCK-PCG1α did not protect LLC-induced muscle mass loss. In plantaris, Atrogin mRNA content was 6.2-fold and ~11-fold greater in WT-LLC vs WT-phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for males and females, respectively (p < 0.05). MitoTimer red:green ratio for male PGC was ~65% higher than WT groups (p < 0.05), with ~3-fold more red puncta in LLC than PBS (p < 0.05). Red:green ratio was 56% lower in females WT-LLC vs PGC-LLC (p < 0.05). In females, no change in red puncta was noted across conditions. Lc3 mRNA content was ~73% and 2-fold higher in male and female LLC mice, respectively, vs PBS (p < 0.05). While MitoT could mitigate cancer-induced atrophy in vitro, PGC-1α overexpression was insufficient to protect muscle mass and mitochondrial health in vivo despite mitigation of cachexia-associated signaling pathways.
Let's Talk About It: A Narrative Review of Digital Approaches for Disseminating and Communicating Health Research and Innovation

Best health practice and policy are derived from research, yet the adoption of research findings into health practice and policy continues to lag. Efforts to close this knowledge-to-action gap can be addressed through knowledge translation, which is composed of knowledge synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and application. Although all components warrant investigation, improvements in knowledge dissemination are particularly needed. Specifically, as society continues to evolve and technology becomes increasingly present in everyday life, knowing how to share research findings (with the appropriate audience, using tailored messaging, and through the right digital medium) is an important component towards improved health knowledge translation. As such, this article presents a review of digital presentation formats and communication channels that can be leveraged by health researchers, as well as practitioners and policy makers, for knowledge dissemination of health research. In addition, this article highlights a series of additional factors worth consideration, as well as areas for future direction.
A Rare-Earth Free Magnetically Geared Generator for Direct-Drive Wind Turbines

A novel Vernier type magnetically geared direct-drive generator for large wind turbines is introduced in this paper. Conventional Vernier-type machines and most of the direct-drive wind turbine generators use excessive amount of permanent magnet, which increases the overall cost and makes the manufacturing process challenging. In this paper, an electrically excited (PM_less) claw-pole type Vernier machine is presented. This new topology has the potential of reducing mass and cost of the generator, and can make the construction easy in manufacturing and handling. Analytical designs are verified using 3D finite-element simulations and several designs are evaluated to find the optimum design for a 7.5 MW, 12 rpm wind turbine application. It is shown, that the required torque can be achieved with an outer diameter of 7.5 m, and with a mass of 172 t (including the structural mass). The proposed generator is compared with commercial direct-drive generators, and it is found that the proposed generator has the highest torque density with 34.7 kNm/t.
The transient expression of recombinant proteins in plant cell packs facilitates stable isotope labelling for NMR spectroscopy

Summary Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can be used to determine the structure, dynamics and interactions of proteins. However, protein NMR requires stable isotope labelling for signal detection. The cells used for the production of recombinant proteins must therefore be grown in medium containing isotopically labelled substrates. Stable isotope labelling is well established in Escherichia coli, but bacteria are only suitable for the production of simple proteins without post‐translational modifications. More complex proteins require eukaryotic production hosts, but their growth can be impaired by labelled media, thus reducing product yields and increasing costs. To address this limitation, we used media supplemented with isotope‐labelled substrates to cultivate the tobacco‐derived cell line BY‐2, which was then cast into plant cell packs (PCPs) for the transient expression of a labelled version of the model protein GB1. Mass spectrometry confirmed the feasibility of isotope labelling with 15N and 2H using this approach. The resulting NMR spectrum featured a signal dispersion comparable to recombinant GB1 produced in E. coli. PCPs therefore offer a rapid and cost‐efficient alternative for the production of isotope‐labelled proteins for NMR analysis, especially suitable for complex proteins that cannot be produced in microbial systems.
PreTP-Stack: Prediction of Therapeutic Peptides Based on the Stacked Ensemble Learing

Therapeutic peptide prediction is critical for drug development and therapeutic therapy. Researchers have developed several computational methods to identify different therapeutic peptide types. However, most computational methods focus on identifying the specific type of therapeutic peptides and fail to accurately predict all types of therapeutic peptides. Moreover, it is still challenging to utilize different properties features to predict the therapeutic peptides. In this study, a novel stacking framework PreTP-Stack is proposed for predicting different types of therapeutic peptide. PreTP-Stack is constructed based on ten different features and four predictors (Random Forest, Linear Discriminant Analysis, XGBoost and Support Vector Machine). Then the proposed method constructs an auto-weighted multi-view learning model as a final meta-classifier to enhance the performance of the basic models. Experimental results showed that the proposed method achieved better or highly comparable performance with the state-of-the-art methods for predicting eight types of therapeutic peptides A user-friendly web-server predictor is available at http://bliulab.net/PreTP-Stack.
Residual Physics and Post-Posed Shielding for Safe Deep Reinforcement Learning Method

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) has been researched for computer room air conditioning unit control problems in data centers (DCs). However, two main issues limit the deployment of DRL in actual systems. First, a large amount of data is needed. Next, as a mission-critical system, safe control needs to be guaranteed, and temperatures in DCs should be kept within a certain operating range. To mitigate these issues, this article proposes a novel control method RP-SDRL. First, Residual Physics, built using the first law of thermodynamics, is integrated with the DRL algorithm and a Prediction Model. Subsequently, a Correction Model adapted from gradient descent is combined with the Prediction Model as Post-Posed Shielding to enforce safe actions. The RP-SDRL method was validated using simulation. Noise is added to the states of the model to further test its performance under state uncertainty. Experimental results show that the combination of Residual Physics and DRL can significantly improve the initial policy, sample efficiency, and robustness. Residual Physics can also improve the sample efficiency and the accuracy of the prediction model. While DRL alone cannot avoid constraint violations, RP-SDRL can detect unsafe actions and significantly reduce violations. Compared to the baseline controller, about 13% of electricity usage can be saved.
Advanced quiz development for students’ self-learning in power generation, transmission and distribution

Students’ learning can be improved by using online quizzes with a valuable feedback, especially in large groups, making it very interesting for engineering subjects which are based on mathematics. This paper presents the evaluation of an online quiz experience based on a case study in two university subjects. Quizzes were created by using Wiris Quizzes (WQ) that can register the complete solution with all the steps involved. WQ has a calculator that allows us to solve the mathematical part of the quiz. The first aim of the online WQ experience is to provide feedback to students through automatic grading and clues to find the correct answers. The second aim is to promote autonomous student learning. The teachers also have excellent feedback about faulty interpretations or weaknesses in the students’ understanding. Consequently, teachers can provide corrective information to clarify ideas about what they want to be understood and what is understood by students. WQ allows teachers to develop algorithms for the quizzes by using random data, figures realized through programming, and multiple solutions that depend on the values of a table. The teaching experience of using WQ has shown that this tool can be useful in university technological subjects with large groups that require advanced and customized quizzes.
An engineered multicellular stem cell niche for the 3D derivation of human myogenic progenitors from iPSCs

Fate decisions in the embryo are controlled by a plethora of microenvironmental interactions in a three‐dimensional niche. To investigate whether aspects of this microenvironmental complexity can be engineered to direct myogenic human‐induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) differentiation, we here screened murine cell types present in the developmental or adult stem cell niche in heterotypic suspension embryoids. We identified embryonic endothelial cells and fibroblasts as highly permissive for myogenic specification of hiPSCs. After two weeks of sequential Wnt and FGF pathway induction, these three‐component embryoids are enriched in Pax7‐positive embryonic‐like myogenic progenitors that can be isolated by flow cytometry. Myogenic differentiation of hiPSCs in heterotypic embryoids relies on a specialized structural microenvironment and depends on MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and Notch signaling. After transplantation in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, embryonic‐like myogenic progenitors repopulate the stem cell niche, reactivate after repeated injury, and, compared to adult human myoblasts, display enhanced fusion and lead to increased muscle function. Altogether, we provide a two‐week protocol for efficient and scalable suspension‐based 3D derivation of Pax7‐positive myogenic progenitors from hiPSCs.
Symptoms of COVID-19 in children

The aim of this study was to review the symptomatic manifestations of COVID-19 in children in the scientific literature. An integrative review of studies published between December 2019 and September 5, 2021, from the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Web of Science, Scopus, Literatura Latino-Americana em Ciência de Saúde, and Base de Dados de Enfermagem databases, was carried out to answer the following research question: What symptomatic manifestations does COVID-19 cause in children? ”. Twenty articles were included. The main symptoms described were fever, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, sore throat, dyspnea, headache, abdominal pain, malaise, and weakness or tiredness. The findings of this review can contribute to the diagnosis and clinical decision-making of the health team by providing information that facilitates the identification of COVID-19 in the target population, favoring early identification, better care, and consequently a better prognosis.
CCID_A_269909 601..609

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt Purpose: Patient-reported measures are of importance in chronic dermatological conditions where psychosocial consequences and quality of life impairment are common. The current study aimed to evaluate patient-reported disease severity and quality of life in Arabic patients with psoriasis. Patients and Methods: Arabic psoriatic patients were invited to complete an online survey that collected patients’ demographics, self-assessed Simplified Psoriasis Index (saSPI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Disease severity and quality of life were compared in relation to patients’ demographics. Correlation between patient-reported measures was calculated using Spearman’s rank correlation test. Results: A total of 221 patients with psoriasis, from 12 Arabic-speaking countries, participated in the study. The mean (95% CIs) saSPI-severity score was 10.9 (9.6–12.2). Female patients reported higher saSPI-psychosocial impact scores compared to males (P=0.04) while patients with longer disease duration reported higher saSPI-past history and interventions scores (P=0.0001). The mean (95% CIs) DLQI score was 11.2 (10.2–12.1). Patients with severe disease reported significantly higher DLQI scores [18.5 (10.5–2)] (P=0.0001). DLQI was strongly correlated with saSPI-psychosocial impact score (rho= 0.63). Conclusion: Arabic psoriatic patients participating in this study showed mild to moderate disease severity which had a very large impact on patients’ quality of life. Higher disease severity was associated with more impaired quality of life.
Perceived social support and help-seeking among U.S. Chinese older adults who reported elder mistreatment

ABSTRACT This study aimed to examine the associations between perceived social support and help-seeking among U.S. Chinese older adults who reported elder mistreatment (EM). Data were from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago. Perceived social support and informal/formal help-seeking intentions and behaviors were measured. Descriptive statistics, multiple linear regressions, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed. A total of 450 participants reported EM. Mean age of the sample was 72.73 ± 8.03 years old. Perceived social support was associated with an increase in intentions of seeking help from informal sources. Compared with not seeking help, older Chinese-American adults with any EM who perceived social support were more likely to seek help from informal and formal sources. The potential role of social support in increasing help-seeking was highlighted. Culturally tailored interventions that provide social support might promote help-seeking among U.S. Chinese elder immigrants who experienced EM.
A Four-Quadrant Single-Phase Grid-Connected Converter With Only Two High-Frequency Switches

This paper presents a new four-quadrant (4Q) boost-type converter with the use of active virtual ground (AVG) technology. The presented topology can step up the ac grid voltage to a regulated dc voltage under a stable bidirectional current flow and support the power transmission in either real power or reactive power delivery. With the use of the proposed modulation method, only two high-frequency switches are required through the 4Q operation. Under a full-bridge converter structure, an efficient system can be guaranteed. Also, benefiting from the AVG technology, an LCL filter is formed at the system input over the 4Q operation. Both magnitude of leakage current and grid current ripple are also minimized to a small value. Thus, a high-efficiency and low-noise 4Q converter is guaranteed. The presented topology is successfully implemented on a 750 VA prototype and the performance is experimentally verified on it, which shows good agreement with the theoretical knowledge.
Morphology-Controlled Versatile One-Pot Synthesis of Hydrophobic Gold Nanodots, Nanobars, Nanorods, and Nanowires and Their Applications in Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Many previously reported syntheses of gold nanoparticles required lengthy reaction times, complicated operations, high temperatures, or multi-step manipulations. In this work, a morphology-controlled versatile one-pot synthesis of hydrophobic gold nanodots, nanobars, nanorods, and nanowires has been developed. A series of gold nanomaterials ranging from round nanodots, short nanobars, and long nanorods to ultrathin and ultralong nanowires (diameter <2 nm, length >2 μm) have been readily prepared by simply adjusting the feeding ratio of chloroauric acid to oleylamine, oleic acid, and triphenylsilane. The silk-like ultralong and ultrathin nanowires were found to have a single crystalline structure and may have significant potential applications in microelectronics and biosensors. Large sizes of gold spherical nanoparticles were obtained from gold nanodots via a seed-mediated growth approach. These nanoparticles and ultralong nanowires showed excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity in organic solvents and, therefore, were employed as efficient organic-soluble SERS substrates for the detection of hydrophobic food toxicants, such as 3,4-benzopyrene, and carcinogens, such as benzidine.
Thrombus formation during ECMO: Insights from a detailed histological analysis of thrombus composition

Intra‐device thrombosis remains one of the most common complications during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Despite anticoagulation, approximately 35% of patients develop thrombi in the membrane oxygenator, pump heads, or tubing. The aim of this study was to describe the molecular and cellular features of ECMO thrombi and to study the main drivers of thrombus formation at different sites in the ECMO circuits.
Candidate genes for anthocyanin pigmentation in rice stem revealed by GWAS and whole‐genome resequencing

Anthocyanin pigment as a phenolic secondary metabolite is accumulated in areal organs of some rice cultivars. Despite several research attempts, the majority of genomic regions and candidate genes for purple‐colored stem (Ps) resulting from anthocyanin pigmentation of rice leaf sheath have not been identified. A genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and whole‐genome resequencing (WGR) analysis was applied for genetic dissection of anthocyanin pigmentation of rice stem. Using GWAS, the genomic regions (on chromosomes 2, 4, and 6) tagged to eight single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified to be significantly associated with purple stem, and in the vicinity of GWAS signals, 19 genes were highlighted as putative candidate genes. To narrow down the genomic regions more highly associated to the trait, a WGR study on recombinant inbred lines (RIL) with opposite phenotypes was conducted. After defining the DNA variation between reference genome, maternal parent and the two sister lines, a narrow genomic region on the short arm of chromosome 6 (4.7–6.2 Mbp interval) was identified to be highly associated with anthocyanin pigmentation of rice stem. In the interval, a few candidate genes with probable role in anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation were identified, which included five structural genes involved in the known pathways [one chalcone isomerase (CHI), two glycosyl transferases, and two UDP‐flavonoid‐3‐O‐glucosyl (UFGT) transferases] and two transcription factors [one basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH)‐ and one myeloblastosis (MYB)‐coding genes]. The identified candidate genes can be used in breeding programs of rice or other Gramineae species for anthocyanin accumulation in areal organs.
Budgetary impact analysis of alteplase - recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) - as a thrombolytic treatment for acute ischemic stroke in Colombia

ABSTRACT Introduction Thrombolysis is effective for treating acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Trials have evaluated its effectiveness at different timepoints after stroke. The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical and budgetary impact of increasing the proportion of thrombolyzed acute ischemic stroke patients in Colombia. Methods The budgetary impact was estimated for a 5-year time horizon from the perspective of the third-party payer. Costs were estimated using local standardized methods and expressed in US dollars of 2020. We compared two scenarios: a current one and an alternative one, with doubled thrombolysis access Results The increase in thrombolyzed patients would decrease the number of patients with sequelae by 1,721, 2,594 and 1,007 in the ranges of 0–90 minutes, 91–180 and 181–270, respectively. The budget effort increase for each of the treatment initiation ranges is of USD$15,525,649(+5.5%), USD$16,665,304(+5.7%) and USD$16,963,231(+7.0%), respectively. Conclusions Doubling the number of patients with AIS who are thrombolyzed would lead to reductions in the number of patients with sequelae and would require a budgetary effort of 5.5–7.0%. The early initiation of treatment gives an additional benefit in reducing the number of sequelae and a lower budgetary impact than initiation within the later time window.
THE CHANDRA SURVEY OF THE SMALL MAGELLANIC CLOUD “BAR”. II. OPTICAL COUNTERPARTS OF X-RAY SOURCES

We present the most likely optical counterparts of 113 X-ray sources detected in our Chandra survey of the central region of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) based on the OGLE-II and Magellanic Clouds Photometric Survey catalogs. We estimate that the foreground contamination and chance coincidence probability are minimal for the bright optical counterparts (corresponding to OB type stars; 35 in total). We propose here for the first time 13 high-mass X-ray binaries, of which four are Be/X-ray binaries (Be-XRBs), and we confirm the previous classification of 18 Be-XRBs. We estimate that the new candidate Be-XRBs have an age of ∼15–85 Myr, consistent with the age of Be stars. We also examine the “overabundance” of Be-XRBs in the SMC fields covered by Chandra, in comparison with the Galaxy. In luminosities down to ∼1034 erg s−1, we find that SMC Be-XRBs are ∼1.5 times more common when compared to the Milky Way even after taking into account the difference in the formation rates of OB stars. This residual excess can be attributed to the lower metallicity of the SMC. Finally, we find that the mixing of Be-XRBs with other than their natal stellar population is not an issue in our comparisons of Be-XRBs and stellar populations in the SMC. Instead, we find indication for variation of the SMC XRB populations on kiloparsec scales, related to local variations of the formation rate of OB stars and slight variation of their age, which results in different relative numbers of Be stars and therefore XRBs.