Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TANK-Binding Kinase 1 (TBK1) Serves as a Potential Target for Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Enhancing Tumor Immune Infiltration

Background Numerous cancer types present the aberrant TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) expression, which plays an important role in driving inflammation and innate immunity. However, the prognostic role of TBK1 and its relationship with immune cell infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Methods The expression and prognostic value of TBK1 was analyzed by Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Kaplan-Meier plotter and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) and further confirmed in the present cohort of patients with HCC. The association between TBK1 and HCC immune infiltrates, and its potential mechanism were investigated via analyses of the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource, tumor-immune system interactions database (TISIDB), CIBERSORT, STRING, and Metascape. The effect of TBK1 on immune infiltrates and the therapeutic value of targeting TBK1 were further investigated in a HCC mouse model by treatment with a TBK1 antagonist. Results The level of TBK1 expression in HCC was higher than that measured in normal tissues, and associated with poorer overall survival (GEPIA: hazard ratio [HR]=1.80, P=0.038; Kaplan–Meier plotter: HR=1.87, P<0.001; CPTAC: HR=2.23, P=0.007; Our cohort: HR=2.92, P=0.002). In addition, high TBK1 expression was found in HCC with advanced TNM stage and identified as an independent poor prognostic factor for overall survival among patients with HCC. In terms of immune infiltration, tumor tissues from HCC patients with high TBK1 expression had a low proportion of CD8+ T cells, and TBK1 expression did not show prognostic value in HCC patients with enriched CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, TBK1 expression was positively correlated with the markers of T cell exhaustion and immunosuppressive cells in the HCC microenvironment. Mechanistically, the promotion of HCC immunosuppression by TBK1 was involved in the regulation of inflammatory cytokines. In vivo experiments revealed that treatment with a TBK1 antagonist delayed HCC growth by increasing the number of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Conclusions The up-regulated expression of TBK1 may be useful in predicting poor prognosis of patients with HCC. In addition, TBK1, which promotes the HCC immunosuppressive microenvironment, may be a potential immunotherapeutic target for patients with HCC.
Classification of Drivers' Workload Using Physiological Signals in Conditional Automation

The use of automation in cars is increasing. In future vehicles, drivers will no longer be in charge of the main driving task and may be allowed to perform a secondary task. However, they might be requested to regain control of the car if a hazardous situation occurs (i.e., conditionally automated driving). Performing a secondary task might increase drivers' mental workload and consequently decrease the takeover performance if the workload level exceeds a certain threshold. Knowledge about the driver's mental state might hence be useful for increasing safety in conditionally automated vehicles. Measuring drivers' workload continuously is essential to support the driver and hence limit the number of accidents in takeover situations. This goal can be achieved using machine learning techniques to evaluate and classify the drivers' workload in real-time. To evaluate the usefulness of physiological data as an indicator for workload in conditionally automated driving, three physiological signals from 90 subjects were collected during 25 min of automated driving in a fixed-base simulator. Half of the participants performed a verbal cognitive task to induce mental workload while the other half only had to monitor the environment of the car. Three classifiers, sensor fusion and levels of data segmentation were compared. Results show that the best model was able to successfully classify the condition of the driver with an accuracy of 95%. In some cases, the model benefited from sensors' fusion. Increasing the segmentation level (e.g., size of the time window to compute physiological indicators) increased the performance of the model for windows smaller than 4 min, but decreased for windows larger than 4 min. In conclusion, the study showed that a high level of drivers' mental workload can be accurately detected while driving in conditional automation based on 4-min recordings of respiration and skin conductance.
FLIPR: A New Instrument for Accurate, High Throughput Optical Screening

Modern optical screening assays demand high data throughput along with uncompromised data fidelity. FLIPR (Fluorescent Imaging Plate Reader) was developed to perform quantitative optical screening for cell-based kinetic assays. FLIPR incorporates an integrated design, including low-level optical detection, precise temperature control, and precise fluid handling, all in one package. The unique aspect of FLIPR is that all 96 wells of a standard microplate are stimulated and optically measured simultaneously. Kinetic updates on all 96 wells can be obtained in under 1 sec, allowing for transient signals to be quantified. Demonstrated applications include measurements of intracellular calcium, intracellular pH, and membrane potential.
Efforts on Changing Lifestyle Behaviors May Not Be Enough to Improve Health-Related Quality of Life Among Adolescents: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Schools have been the main context for physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) interventions among adolescents, but there is inconsistent evidence on whether they also improve dimensions of the health−related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a school-based active lifestyle intervention on dimensions of HRQoL. A secondary aim was to verify whether sex, age, and HRQoL at baseline were moderators of the intervention effect. A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted at three control and three intervention schools in Florianopolis, Brazil. All students from 7th to 9th grade were invited to participate. A school year intervention, designed primarily to increase PA and reduce SB, included strategies focused on (i) teacher training on PA, SB, and nutrition, and availability of teaching materials related to these contents; (ii) environmental improvements (i.e., creation and revitalization of spaces for the practice of PA in school); and (iii) education strategies, with the availability of folders and posters regarding PA, SB, and nutrition. Participants and the research staffs were not blinded to group assignment, but a standardized evaluation protocol was applied at baseline and after the intervention (March and November 2017) using the KIDSCREEN−27 to assess HRQoL across five dimensions. Mixed linear models were performed to evaluate the effect of the Movimente intervention on the five HRQoL dimensions. Of the 921 students who answered the questionnaire at baseline, 300 and 434 completed the study in control and intervention groups, respectively (dropouts: 20%). The results revealed no significant effects of the intervention on any HRQoL dimensions. A reduction of the school environment dimension was observed in both the control (-2.44; 95% CI: -3.41 to -1.48) and intervention groups (-2.09; 95% CI: -2.89 to -1.30). Sensitivity analyses showed that students in the highest baseline tertiles of HRQoL in any dimension had a reduction in their respective scores from pre- to post-intervention in both school groups. In conclusion, our results demonstrated no intervention effect on HRQoL dimensions and those students with the highest levels of HRQoL at baseline on all dimensions reduced from pre to post-intervention. Clinical Trial Registration The trial is registered at the Clinical Trial Registry (Trial ID: NCT02944318; date of registration: October 18, 2016).
Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis Exhibits Pivotal Exercise-Induced Genes and Corresponding Pathways in Malignant Melanoma

Malignant melanoma represents a sort of neoplasm deriving from melanocytes or cells developing from melanocytes. The balance of energy and energy-associated body composition and body mass index could be altered by exercise, thereby directly affecting the microenvironment of neoplasm. However, few studies have examined the mechanism of genes induced by exercise and the pathways involved in melanoma. This study used three separate datasets to perform comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and then screened the probable genes and pathways in the process of exercise-promoted melanoma. In total, 1,627 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by exercise were recognized. All selected genes were largely enriched in NF-kappa B, Chemokine signaling pathways, and the immune response after gene set enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction network was applied to excavate DEGs and identified the most relevant and pivotal genes. The top 6 hub genes (Itgb2, Wdfy4, Itgam, Cybb, Mmp2, and Parp14) were identified, and importantly, 5 hub genes (Itgb2, Wdfy4, Itgam, Cybb, and Parp14) were related to weak disease-free survival and overall survival (OS). In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the prognostic value of exercise-induced genes and uncovered the pathways of these genes in melanoma, implying that these genes might act as prognostic biomarkers for melanoma.
Understanding the Multidimensional and Dynamic Nature of Facial Expressions Based on Indicators for Appraisal Components as Basis for Measuring Drivers' Fear

Facial expressions are one of the commonly used implicit measurements for the in-vehicle affective computing. However, the time courses and the underlying mechanism of facial expressions so far have been barely focused on. According to the Component Process Model of emotions, facial expressions are the result of an individual's appraisals, which are supposed to happen in sequence. Therefore, a multidimensional and dynamic analysis of drivers' fear by using facial expression data could profit from a consideration of these appraisals. A driving simulator experiment with 37 participants was conducted, in which fear and relaxation were induced. It was found that the facial expression indicators of high novelty and low power appraisals were significantly activated after a fear event (high novelty: Z = 2.80, p < 0.01, rcontrast = 0.46; low power: Z = 2.43, p < 0.05, rcontrast = 0.50). Furthermore, after the fear event, the activation of high novelty occurred earlier than low power. These results suggest that multidimensional analysis of facial expression is suitable as an approach for the in-vehicle measurement of the drivers' emotions. Furthermore, a dynamic analysis of drivers' facial expressions considering of effects of appraisal components can add valuable information for the in-vehicle assessment of emotions.
Coronavirus Disease 2019: Exploring Media Portrayals of Public Sentiment on Funerals Using Linguistic Dimensions

Funerals are a reflective practice to bid farewell to the departed soul. Different religions, cultural traditions, rituals, and social beliefs guide how funeral practices take place. Family and friends gather together to support each other in times of grief. However, during the coronavirus pandemic, the way funerals are taking place is affected by the country's rules and region to avoid the spread of infection. The present study explores the media portrayal of public sentiments over funerals. In particular, the present study tried to identify linguistic dimensions associated with lexical components of social processes, affective processes, fear, and disgust. An exhaustive search of newspaper coverage of funeral and related articles was made for a specific corona period. After an initial screening for the details and language used, a total of 46 newspaper articles on funerals were finalized for the analysis. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software was used to determine the association between linguistic dimensions of function words and words related to social and affective processes, as presented in the newspaper articles. Sentiment Analysis and Cognition Engine (SEANCE) was applied for the analysis of sentiment, social cognition, and social order. Bayesian correlation analysis and regression revealed positive and significant associations between function words and affective processes, between pronouns and social processes, and between negative adjectives and psychological processes of fear and disgust. Also, significant negative associations were found between polarity nouns and psychological processes of fear and disgust and between polarity verbs and psychological processes of fear and disgust. Bayes factor 10 provides strong evidence in favor of the study hypotheses. The media is influenced by the prevailing sentiments in society and reflects their perception of the current social order and beliefs. The findings provide a glimpse into the prevailing sentiment of society through the lens of media coverage. These understandings are expected to enhance our observations of how people express their feelings over the loss of their loved ones and help mental health professionals develop their therapeutic protocols to treat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-affected population.
Hydroclimate of the Andes Part II: Hydroclimate Variability and Sub-Continental Patterns

This paper provides an updated review of the most relevant scientific literature related to the hydroclimate of the Andes. The Andes, the longest cordillera in the world, faces major challenges regarding climate variability and climate change, which impose several threats to sustainable development, including water supply and the sustainability of ecosystem services. This review focuses on hydroclimate variability of the Andes at a sub-continental scale. The annual water cycle and long-term water balance along the Andes are addressed first, followed by the examination of the effects of orography on convective and frontal precipitation through the study of precipitation gradients in the tropical, subtropical and extratropical Andes. In addition, a review is presented of the current scientific literature on the climate variability in the Andes at different timescales. Finally, open research questions are presented in the last section of this article.
Design and Evaluation of a Wearable Smart Blanket System for Monitoring Vital Signs of Patients in an Ambulance

Objectives. Considering the advantages of the wearable systems (such as continuous monitoring, ease of installation, and significant efficiency), they can also be used to monitor patients in emergency situations and, particularly, in the ambulance. This study is aimed at specifying, modeling, and evaluating a wearable smart blanket system for monitoring vital signs in emergency circumstances. Method. At first, all the smart blanket system requirements were specified using an author-made questionnaire, and the essential requirements were specified in the software requirements specification format. Such an anticipated smart wearable blanket is then modeled by Unified Modeling Language. Finally, the most important quality attributes (i.e., the nonfunctional requirements) of the proposed wearable smart blanket system were evaluated using a descriptive-analytical study. Results. Evaluation results of the proposed system show that using the smart blanket system could not only provide the required functionalities, but also, it improved the important quality attributes such as response time and delay in sending data packets (14% improvement), accuracy, energy consumption (18% improvement), reliability and fault-tolerance, and performance (28% improvement) in contrast to the compared related work. Conclusion. Using a smart wearable blanket in an ambulance instead of such in a huge ambulance cabin would be beneficial in terms of time and space, ease of use, and maybe cost while providing the required functionalities besides having proper quality attributes.
S2045796021000019jra 1..5

Aims. It remains unclear whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having an impact on suicide rates (SR). Economic insecurity and mental disorders are risk factors for suicide, which may increase during the pandemic. Methods. Data on suicide events in a major city in Germany, and the corresponding life years (LY) were provided by the local authorities. For the year 2020, periods without restrictions on freedom of movement and social contact were compared with periods of moderate and severe COVID-19 restrictions. To avoid distortions due to seasonal fluctuations and linear time trends, suicide risk during the COVID-19 pandemic was compared with data from 2010 to 2019 using an interrupted time series analysis. Results. A total of 643 suicides were registered and 6 032 690 LY were spent between 2010 and 2020. Of these, 53 suicides and 450 429 LY accounted for the year 2020.In 2020, SR (suicides per 100 000 LY) were lower in periods with severe COVID-19 restrictions (SR = 7.2, χ = 4.033, p = 0.045) compared with periods without restrictions (SR = 16.8). A comparison with previous years showed that this difference was caused by unusually high SR before the imposition of restrictions, while SR during the pandemic were within the trend corridor of previous years (expected suicides = 32.3, observed suicides = 35; IRR = 1.084, p = 0.682). Conclusions. SR during COVID-19 pandemic are in line with the trend in previous years. Careful monitoring of SR in the further course of the COVID-19 crisis is urgently needed. The findings have regional reference and should not be over-generalised.
Science Arts & Métiers (SAM)

This study aimed to assess the biomechanical performance of a new generation of artificial ligament, which can be considered “bioactive” and “biointegrated,” implanted in sheep. Thirty sheep were implanted: 15 sheep received the artificial ligament grafted with a bioactive polymer (grafted) and 15 received the artificial ligament without a bioactive polymer (non-grafted). The animals were sacrificed 3 or 12 months after implantation. The knee kinematics, namely flexion-extension, anterior drawer, and varus-valgus tests, were evaluated using a fully characterized custom-made device. Afterward, the specimens were tested under uniaxial tension until failure. The flexion-extension showed significant differences between (grafted or non-grafted) artificial and native ligaments 3 months after implantation. This difference became non-significant 12 months postoperatively. The
Crack Identification on the Fresh Chilli (Capsicum) Fruit Destemmed System

Destemming fresh chilli fruit (Capsicum) in large productivity is necessary, especially in the Mekong Delta region. Several studies have been done to solve this problem with high applicability, but a certain percentage of the output consisted of cracked fruits, thus reducing the quality of the system. The manual sorting results in high costs and low quality, so it is necessary that automatic grading is performed after destemming. This research focused on developing a method to identify and classify cracked chilli fruits caused by the destemming process. The convolution neural network (CNN) model was built and trained to identify cracks; then, appropriate control signals were sent to the actuator for classification. Image processing operations are supported by the OpenCV library, while the TensorFlow data structure is used as a database and the Keras application programming interface supports the construction and training of neural network models. Experiments were carried out in both the static and working conditions, which, respectively, achieved an accurate identification rate of 97 and 95.3%. In addition, a success rate of 93% was found even when the chilli body is wrinkled due to drying after storage time at 120 hours. Practical results demonstrate that the reliability of the model was useful and acceptable.
The aspiration of bordered pits in conifer wood

The variation of tension in a radial strand of a bordered pit membrane during drying has been derived theoretically from two approaches. One considers the mechanical extension of the strand, while the other considers the surface tension force caused by an annular liquid meniscus in the pit chamber. The tension has been calculated for pits in earlywood, in latewood and in regions near the earlywood-latewood boundary of a single growth ring in Pinus sylvestris L. , using experimentally observed typical values for pit dimensions. The occurrence of aspiration of earlywood but not of latewood pits in air-seasoned wood is correctly predicted by the analysis, which also predicts that, contrary to accepted theory, earlywood pit membranes should be displaced and brought into contact with the pit border irrespective of the liquid present during drying. It is shown that this must involve considerable creep in the radial strands. Permanent aspiration must only occur when the liquid promotes bonding between the membrane and the border, and the probability that this is hydrogen bonding is discussed.
An Amperometric Enzyme Biosensor Fabricated from Polyaniline Nanoparticles

The biosensor described here uses a novel aqueous-based nanoparticulate polyaniline (PANI), doped with dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA). The nanoparticles were applied to a glassy carbon electrode surface by electrodeposition techniques, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was subsequently electrostatically adsorbed to the nanoparticle-modified surface. This biosensor format was demonstrated for H2O2 sensing. Electrodeposited polymer nanoparticles resulted in highly ordered conductive nanostructured films, which were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), profilometry and spectroelectrochemistry. The surface of the films were characterized by a uniform array of nanoparticulate PANI (nanoPANI/DBSA) nodules and were shown to have a thickness of 350 nm. Physical techniques have shown that the nanofilms possess properties which allow for uniform electrostatic adsorption of protein to take place. This effective biosensor format, exhibits higher signal-to-background ratios and shorter response times than previous PANI biosensor configurations.
Extraction of 1-butanol from aqueous solutions by pervaporation

The extraction of 1-butanol from fermentation broths by pervaporation offers potential for use in biotechnology. Various membrane materials have been screened for their suitability for this process. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes gave the best results in terms of flux and selectivity, with large variations depending on their nature and preparation. Selectivity was further increased by including either organophilic adsorbents (cyclodextrins, zeolites), or oleyl alcohol in dense PDMS membranes. The predominance of driving force (i.e. activity gradient) on pervaporation extraction performances was shown by a comparative study on different binary aqueous solutions of alcohols. Water flux remained practically constant while the alcohol flux was linearly related to its feed concentration. The conclusions obtained with binary mixtures were consistent with those obtained with two model ternary solutions; the influence of salt on 1-butanol permeability was negligible, whereas ethanol had a strong effect.
Crystallization of poly(butylene terephthalate) and its blends with polyarylate

For the crystallization kinetics of PBT, a regime II→III transition is indicated near 210°C (ΔT∼30°C) and the fold surface energy (σ e ) was found to be in the range of 57-75 erg/cm 2 . Analysis of the crystallization data of van Antwerpen and van Krevelen for PET shows that crystallization occurs in regime II across a wide range of T c . σ e wass estimated to be ∼140 kcal/mol from their data. Crystallization data for three PBT/bisphenol A iso-co-terephtalate copolymer(75:25) blends was analyzed using a modified Lauritzen-Hoffman method and compared to that of pure PBT