Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasma Exosomal Mir-423-5p Is Involved in the Occurrence and Development of Bicuspid Aortopathy via TGF-β/SMAD2 Pathway

Objectives: Patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) are at increased risk for ascending aortic dilation (AAD). Our study was aimed at systemically analyzing the expression profile and mechanism of circulating plasma exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) related to BAV and AAD. Methods: We isolated plasma exosomes from BAV patients (n=19), BAV patients with AAD (BAVAD, n=26), and healthy tricuspid aortic valve individuals with low cardiovascular risk (TAVnon, n=16). We applied a small RNA sequencing approach to identify the specific plasma exosomal miRNAs associated with BAV (n=8) and BAVAD (n=10) patients compared with healthy TAVnon (n=6) individuals. The candidate differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were selected and validated by RT-qPCR in the remaining samples. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed to illustrate the functions of target genes. Western blot analysis and luciferase reporter assay were conducted in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to verify the results of target gene prediction in vitro. Results: The expression levels of three up-regulated (miR-151a-3p, miR-423-5p, and miR-361-3p) and two down-regulated (miR-16-5p and miR-15a-5p) exosomal miRNAs were significantly altered in BAV disease. Additionally, miR-423-5p could be functionally involved in the occurrence and development of BAV and its complication BAVAD by regulating TGF-β signaling. miR-423-5p could target to SMAD2 and decreased the protein levels of SMAD2 and P-SMAD2. Conclusion: Plasma exosomal miR-423-5p regulated TGF-β signaling by targeting SMAD2, thus exerting functions in the occurrence and development of BAV disease and its complication bicuspid aortopathy.
NLRP3 Influences Cognitive Function in Schizophrenia in Han Chinese

It has been proposed that immune abnormalities may be implicated with pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The nod-like receptor pyrin domain-contraining protein 3 (NLRP3) can trigger immune-inflammatory cascade reactions. In this study, we intended to identify the role of gene encoding NLRP3 (NLRP3) in susceptibility to schizophrenia and its clinical features. For the NLRP3 mRNA expression analysis, 53 drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 56 healthy controls were enrolled. For the genetic study, a total of 823 schizophrenia patients and 859 controls were recruited. Among them, 239 drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia were enrolled for clinical evaluation. There is no significant difference in NLRP3 mRNA levels between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls (p = 0.07). We did not observe any significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies of rs10754558 polymorphism between the schizophrenia and control groups. We noticed significant differences in the scores of RBANS attention and total scores between the patients with different genotypes of rs10754558 polymorphism (p = 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Further eQTL analysis presented a significant association between the rs10754558 polymorphism and NLRP3 in frontal cortex (p = 0.0028, p = 0.028 after Bonferroni correction). Although our findings did not support NLRP3 confer susceptibility to schizophrenia, NLRP3 may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment, especially attention deficit in this disorder.
Gender Differences in Individual Dishonesty Profiles

Dishonesty has an enormous impact on all aspects of our society. It causes huge financial losses annually, so efforts to understand dishonest behavior have increased. However, one of the main questions yet to be answered is whether dishonesty varies according to gender. Do men behave more dishonestly than women? Although the literature points to a yes, there is still no consensus on the matter. We examined gender differences in dishonesty in a large sample (N = 2,452) using a model recently developed by Pascual-Ezama et al. It is a variation of the classic die-under-the-cup task. It enabled us to identify individual dishonesty profiles and look for gender differences between them. The results show that the men were more prone to behave dishonestly than women with small rewards, who seem satisfied without maximizing the potential reward. However, the differences vanished when there was no reward. The men also showed more radical dishonest behavior than the women. The results also suggest that gender differences might be shaped by factors other than gender.
Determination of Histidine Protonation States in Proteins by Fast Magic Angle Spinning NMR

Histidine residues play important structural and functional roles in proteins, such as serving as metal-binding ligands, mediating enzyme catalysis, and modulating proton channel activity. Many of these activities are modulated by the ionization state of the imidazole ring. Here we present a fast MAS NMR approach for the determination of protonation and tautomeric states of His at frequencies of 40–62 kHz. The experiments combine 1H detection with selective magnetization inversion techniques and transferred echo double resonance (TEDOR)–based filters, in 2D heteronuclear correlation experiments. We illustrate this approach using microcrystalline assemblies of HIV-1 CACTD-SP1 protein.
“Carpe Diem?”: Disjunction Effect of Incidental Affect on Intertemporal Choice

Incidental affect has an important impact on intertemporal choice (IC). This research aimed to test how positive incidental affect influences IC and its underlying mechanisms. We assumed that positive incidental affect may have a disjunction effect on IC that includes or excludes immediate time. Moreover, we examined the role of time perception for the effect of affect on IC. In Study 1, after undergoing affect priming by video clips, participants completed the IC task using a multiple staircase paradigm. Using Hierarchical Bayesian Modeling, we estimated the discount rate parameter by distinguishing “immediate” and “non-immediate” conditions of IC. The participants’ time perception was also measured. In Study 2, apart from the choice preference of IC, we additionally investigated the differences in the participants’ attention to delay and reward attributes before decision making. The results of the two studies indicated that positive incidental affect leads to longer time perception (Study 1) and prior and more attention to the delay attribute of IC (Study 2), which leads individuals to prefer immediate options in the IC (Studies 1 and 2). Moreover, there is a disjunction effect of affect; in other words, the incidental affect did not influence IC excluding immediate time (Studies 1 and 2). This study improves our understanding of the disjunctive effect and its mechanism of inducing a positive incidental affect on IC and thus provides a new perspective on how related decision making can be improved.
The Impact of Postponed Fertility Treatment on the Sexual Health of Infertile Patients Owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: With the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at the beginning of 2020, all non-essential medical treatments were suspended, including fertility treatments. As a unique group in society, patients with infertility may be more sensitive and vulnerable in the face of pressure and crisis. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports on the influence of postponed fertility treatment on the sexual health of infertile patients owing to COVID-19. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether postponed fertility treatment resulting from COVID-19 affects the sexual health of patients with infertility. Methods: A total of 1,442 participants were included for analysis in this large-scale study. Those with postponed fertility treatment were categorised as group A (n = 474), whereas those whose fertility treatment was not delayed were in group B (n = 968). The sexual health and psychological well-being were compared between the two groups. Results: The total Female Sexual Function Index score and five domains of female sexual function (arousal ability, vaginal lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and coital pain) were significantly lower in group A than those in group B (p < 0.05). The International Index of Erectile Dysfunction score and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool score were significantly higher in group A than those in group B (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Delaying fertility treatment obviously affects patients' sexual and mental health. Through a structural equation model, we observed that postponed fertility treatment mediates sexual health by regulating psychological distress and couple relationship quality.
High-performance all-optical silicon microswitch

An integrated micron-size all-optical Si switch capable of 94.7 GHz operation frequency is presented. The device consists of a microring resonator formed by Si/SiO/sub 2/ slot-waveguides with a low-index nonlinear optical material in the slot region. Strong optical confinement in the slot permits an achievement of low switching power of 6.2 mW.
Work organisation, technology and working conditions

The personal computer, computer networks and the Internet have brought the Union into the Information Age. These technological changes have inevitably led to changes in the work environment and the quality of working conditions. For the third time, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions has carried out a questionnaire-based survey on working conditions throughout the European Union, covering all Member States. Previous surveys were carried out in 1991 and in 1995. The latest survey was carried out in May 2000. The questionnaire addresses issues relating to the technological, physical, organisational and social work environments, as well as the impact of work on health. The Foundation has asked TNO Work and Employment to make a statistical analysis of the data relevant to work organisation, technology and working conditions. In addition, trends based on a comparison with previous Foundation surveys will be highlighted. Whenever relevant and possible, results and trends are compared to other data sources. The 'job demands-job control' is used and broadened for the new technological work situations.
“Bargaining with the status quo”: Reinforcing and expanding femininities in the #bodypositive movement

ABSTRACT Contemporary representations of beauty in the United States emphasize a feminine ideal that is white, thin, able-bodied, cisgender, heterosexual, and young. However, with the advent of hashtag feminism, body positive influencers have sought to challenge the idealization of thin bodies and encourage people to rethink the boundaries of ideal femininity by positing an alternative esthetic that celebrates bodies in varying shapes and sizes. Drawing on interviews with 12 body positive influencers and an examination of 159 Instagram posts, the author examines how body positive influencers modify stereotypical understandings of femininity. The results suggest that challenging femininity and beauty in the body positive movement requires negotiation. While body positive influencers seek to expand the boundaries of femininity to include fat bodies, they also reinforce some traditional norms of femininity. However, interviews with influencers suggest that Instagram images read as reinforcing patriarchal femininity are misinterpreted queer femme imagery. By conducting both a content analysis of Instagram posts and interviews, this research captures a more nuanced understanding of the body positive movement—one that not only enforces patriarchal femininity, but also redefines femininity through fat femme representation.
Human Evaluation Experiment of Legal Information Retrieval Methods

In this article, I present the results of the human evaluation experiment of three commonly used methods in legal information retrieval and a new “multilayered” approach. I use the doc2vec model, citation network analysis and two topic modelling algorithms for the Czech Supreme Court decisions retrieval and evaluate their performance. To improve the accuracy of the results of these methods, I combine the methods in a “multilayered” way and perform the subsequent evaluation. Both evaluation experiments are conducted with a group of legal experts to assess the applicability and usability of the methods for legal information retrieval. The combination of the doc2vec and citations is found satisfactory accurate for practical use for the Czech court decisions retrieval.
FinFET Based Tunable Analog Circuit: Design and Analysis at Technology

We included a designing of low power tunable analog circuits built using independently driven FinFETs devices, where the controlling of the back gate provide the output on the front gate. We show that this could be an effective solution to conveniently tune the output of bulk CMOS analog circuits particularly for Schmitt trigger and operational transconductance amplifier circuits. FinFET devices can be used to increase the performance by reducing the leakage current and power dissipation, because front and back gates both are independently controlled. FinFET device has a higher controllability, resulting relatively high ratio. In this paper, we proposed a tunable analog circuit such as CMOS amplifier circuit, Schmitt trigger circuit, and operational transconductance amplifier circuit, these circuit blocks are necessary for low noise high performance ICs for analog applications. Gain, phase, group delay, and output response of analog tunable circuits have been discussed in this paper. The proposed FinFET based analog tunable circuits have been designed using Cadence Virtuoso tool at 45 nm.
COVID-19 Neuromuscular Involvement in Post-Acute Rehabilitation

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with muscle and nerve injuries as a consequence of prolonged critical illness or the infection itself. In this study, we evaluated neuromuscular involvement in patients who underwent post-acute intensive rehabilitation after COVID-19. Methods: Clinical and neurophysiological evaluations, including nerve conduction studies and electromyography, were performed on 21 consecutive patients admitted for rehabilitation after COVID-19. Results: Clinical signs suggesting muscle or nerve involvement (weakness, reduced deep tendon reflexes, impaired sensitivity, abnormal gait) were found in 19 patients. Neurophysiological examinations confirmed neuromuscular involvement in 17 patients: a likely association of critical illness myopathy (CIM) and critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) was found in 5 patients; CIM alone was found in 4 patients; axonal sensory-motor polyneuropathy was found in 4 patients (CIP in 2 patients, metabolic polyneuropathy in 2 patients); Guillain-Barré syndrome was found in 2 patients (classical demyelinating sensory-motor polyneuropathy and acute motor axonal neuropathy, respectively); peroneal nerve injury was found in 1 patient; and pre-existing L4 radiculopathy was found in 1 patient. Conclusions: Neuromuscular involvement is a very common finding among patients admitted for rehabilitation after COVID-19, and proper investigation should be conducted when muscle or nerve injury is suspected for adequate rehabilitative strategy planning.
Tail-Sitter Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle: Transitional Flight Analysis

A new design for a tail-sitter vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle was proposed. A nonlinear mathematical model of the vehicle dynamics was constructed by combining simple estimation methods. The flight characteristics were revealed through a trim analysis and an optimized transitional flight path analysis by using the mathematical model. The trim analysis revealed the existence of a flight path constraint to avoid stall; the vehicle could not descend in low-speed flight without high-lift devices such as flaps and slats. These devices improved the descentperformance. Inparticular, slatsprovidedasubstantialimprovement; theyenabled adescent rateof2 m=s. In the optimized transitional flight path analysis, a level outbound transition without high-lift devices was achieved althoughatrimmedlevel flightatlowspeed,aswasshowninthetrimanalysis,wasnotpossible;thiswasbecausethe outboundtransition wasanaccelerative flight.Onthe contrary,without high-lift devices, the vehicle could notavoid climbing to avoid stall during inbound transitions. The slats provided a satisfactory improvement during the transition and enabled a level inbound transition. These results showed the necessity of leading-edge slats for the proposed tail-sitter vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle.
CMOS analogue neurone circuit with programmable activation functions utilising MOS transistors with optimised process/device parameters

In on-chip learning feedforward and feedback neural networks, different nonlinear activation functions are required. To date, these different functions are realised by physically changing the activation circuits. A novel CMOS analogue circuit suitable for modelling neurons with programmable activation functions is introduced. The proposed circuit is realised by optimising the second-order components of MOS transistors. Programmability of the activation function is achieved using an external controlling signal. Intensive simulations based on SPICE3 indicate that the proposed circuit can realise different activation functions including step, linear threshold, and sigmoid functions.
Static, buckling, and free vibration characteristics of porous skew partially functionally graded magneto-electro-elastic plate

Abstract In this article, a new mathematical model to develop porous skew partially functionally graded (SPFG) magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) plate from a stepped functionally grade (SFG) plate is proposed. The combination of Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) and Cobalt Ferrite (CoFe2O4) is graded stepwise to achieve SFG plates. Such, SFG plate is approximated using modified power law for functional variation through its thickness. Modified first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) is deployed in the current study to develop mathematical models. The geometrical modification from rectangular to skew plate is achieved using transformation matrix. Porosity in the partial functionally graded MEE plate is taken as local density. Free vibration study is carried out to reflect the influence of partial gradation, porosity distribution, porosity volume, and skew angle on the natural frequency of porous SPFG MEE plate. The influence of various types of porosity distribution, partial gradation, and skew angle on the primary quantities such as displacements, potentials, and secondary quantities such as stresses, electric displacement, and magnetic induction on SPFG MEE plate is studied. The stability characteristics of the SPFG MEE plate are also investigated to study the buckling behavior under various porosity distributions, partial gradation, and skew angles. The effect of change in aspect ratio, and thickness ratio on the free vibration and static behavior is also investigated.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus Amplification Using a Crumpled Graphene Field-Effect Transistor Biosensor

The rapid and unexpected spread of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide has caused unprecedented disruption to daily life and has brought forward critical challenges for public health. The disease was the largest cause of death in the United States in early 2021. Likewise, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for rapid and accurate diagnoses at scales larger than ever before. To improve the availability of current gold standard diagnostic testing methods, the development of point-of-care devices that can maintain gold standard sensitivity while reducing the cost and providing portability is much needed. In this work, we combine the amplification capabilities of reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) techniques with high-sensitivity end-point detection of crumpled graphene field-effect transistors (cgFETs) to develop a portable detection cell. This electrical detection method takes advantage of the ability of graphene to adsorb single-stranded DNA due to noncovalent π–π bonds but not double-stranded DNA. These devices have demonstrated the ability to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a range from 10 to 104 copies/μL in 20 viral transport medium (VTM) clinical samples. As a result, we achieved 100% PPV, NPV, sensitivity, and specificity with 10 positive and 10 negative VTM clinical samples. Further, the cgFET devices can differentiate between positive and negative VTM clinical samples in 35 min based on the Dirac point shift. Likewise, the improved sensing capabilities of the crumpled gFET were compared with those of the traditional flat gFET devices.
Advanced Display Concepts for Uav Sensor Operations: Landmark Cues and Picture-in-Picture

UAV video imagery quality can be compromised by narrow field-of-view, environmental conditions, bandwidth limitations, or a highly cluttered scene. Advanced display concepts (e.g., synthetic vision) can potentially ameliorate video characteristics and enhance UAV operations. This study evaluated three display concepts for improving UAV sensor operator situation awareness: virtual flags overlaid on landmarks, a synthetically-generated imagery border (picture-in-picture), and a display-fixed spatial orientation symbol. Sixteen participants searched for ground landmarks using a UAV-mounted gimbaled camera simulation. Results indicated that the display concepts show promise for improving UAV operations. In particular, virtual flags reduced landmark search times by 40–58%. Although the picture-in-picture concept did not improve performance, comments suggest an alternative instantiation of the concept will improve utility.
A Description–Experience Framework of the Psychology of Risk

The modern world holds countless risks for humanity, both large-scale and intimately personal—from cyberwarfare, pandemics, and climate change to sexually transmitted diseases and drug use and abuse. Many risks have prompted institutional, regulatory, and technological countermeasures, the success of which depends to some extent on how individuals learn about the risks in question. We distinguish between two powerful but imperfect teachers of risk. First, people may learn by consulting symbolic and descriptive material, such as warnings, statistics, and images. More often than not, however, a risk’s fluidity defies precise description. Second, people may learn about risks through personal experience. Responses to risk can differ systematically depending on whether people learn through one mode, both, or neither. One reason for these differences—and by no means the only reason—is the discrepancy in the cognitive impact that rare events (typically the risk event) and common events (typically the nonoccurrence of the risk event) have on the decision maker. We propose a description–experience framework that highlights not only the impact of each mode of learning but also the effects of their interplay on individuals’ and collectives’ responses to risk. We outline numerous research questions and themes suggested by this framework.
SEU testing of a novel hardened register implemented using standard CMOS technology

A novel memory structure, designed to tolerate SEU perturbations, has been implemented in registers and tested. The design was completed using a standard submicron non-radiation hardened CMOS technology. This paper presents the results of heavy ion tests which evidence the noticeable improvement of the SEU-robustness with an increased LET threshold and reduced cross-section, without significant impact on the real estate, write time, or power consumption.