Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interaction of Proteins with a Planar Poly(acrylic acid) Brush: Analysis by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring (QCM-D)

We describe the preparation of a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brush, polymerized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) and subsequent acid hydrolysis, on the flat gold surfaces of quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) crystals. The PAA brushes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ellipsometry and water contact angle analysis. The interaction of the PAA brushes with human serum albumin (HSA) was studied for a range of ionic strengths and pH conditions by quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The quantitative analysis showed a strong adsorption of protein molecules onto the PAA brush. By increasing the ionic strength, we were able to release a fraction of the initially bound HSA molecules. This finding highlights the importance of counterions in the polyelectrolyte-mediated protein adsorption/desorption. A comparison with recent calorimetric studies related to the binding of HSA to polyelectrolytes allowed us to fully analyze the QCM data based on the results of the thermodynamic analysis of the binding process.
Genome-wide association study of body size traits in Wenshang Barred chickens based on the specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing technology.

Chicken body size (BS) is an economically important trait, which has been assessed in many studies for genetic selection. However, previous reports detected functional chromosome mutations or regions using gene chips. The present study used the specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) technology to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of purebred Wenshang Barred chickens. A total of 250 one-day-old male chickens were assessed in this study. Body size in individual birds was measured at 56 days. SLAF-seq was used to genotype and GWAS analysis was carried out using the general linear model (GLM) of the TASSEL program. A total of 1,286,715 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected, of which 175,211 were tested as candidate SNPs for genome-wide association analysis using the TASSEL general linear model. Three SNPs markers reached genome-wide significance. Of these, chrZ:81729634, chrZ:81841715, and chrZ:81954149 at 81,729,634, 81,841,715, and 81,954,149 bp of GGA Z were significantly associated with body diagonal length at 56 days (BDL56); and tibia length at 56 days (TL56). These SNPs were close to three genes, including ZCCHC7, PAX5, and MELK. These results open new horizons for studies on BS and should promote the use of Chinese chickens, especially Wenshang Barred chickens.
Nano–Bio Interactions of Extracellular Vesicles with Gold Nanoislands for Early Cancer Diagnosis

Extracellular vesicles or exosomes are membrane encapsulated biological nanometric particles secreted virtually by all types of cells throughout the animal kingdom. They carry a cargo of active molecules to proximal and distal cells of the body as mechanism of physiological communication, to maintain natural homeostasis as well as pathological responses. Exosomes carry a tremendous potential for liquid biopsy and therapeutic applications. Thus, there is a global demand for simple and robust exosome isolation methods amenable to point-of-care diagnosis and quality control of therapeutic exosome manufacturing. This can be achieved by molecular profiling of the exosomes for use with specific sets of molecular-markers for diagnosis and quality control. Liquid biopsy is undoubtedly the most promising diagnosis process to advance “personalized medicine. ” Currently, liquid biopsy is based on circulating cancer cells, cell free-DNA, or exosomes. Exosomes potentially provide promise for early-stage diagnostic possibility; in order to facilitate superior diagnosis and isolation of exosomes, a novel platform is developed to detect and capture them, based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of gold nanoislands, through strong affinity between exosomes and peptide called Venceremin or Vn96. Physical modeling, based on the characteristics of the gold nanoislands and the bioentities involved in the sensing, is also developed to determine the detection capability of the platform, which is optimized experimentally at each stage. Preliminary results and modeling present a relationship between the plasmonic shift and the concentration of exosomes and, essentially, indicate possibilities for label-free early diagnosis.
Spiny-Cheek Crayfish, Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque, 1817), as an Alternative Food Source

Simple Summary Freshwater crayfish species are critical for both local communities and the modern food industry. The study characterised the meat of invasive spiny-cheek crayfish, analysing the yield, basic chemical composition, nutritional value, as well as culinary value. Crayfish meat has high nutritional parameters due to favourable fatty acid and amino acid profiles, as well as balanced mineral content. Crayfish meat is an alternative to livestock meat in the human diet and draws attention of the food industry to the processing of underutilised resources of high-quality aquatic species. Abstract The aim of the study was to present a comprehensive characterisation of crayfish meat, which is crucial to assess its potential usefulness in the food industry. To this end, we assessed the yield, basic chemical composition (protein, fat, minerals), nutritional value (amino acid and fatty acid profiles, essential amino acid index (EAAI), chemical score of essential amino acids (CS), hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic ratio (h/H), atherogenicity (AI) and thrombogenicity (TI) indices), as well as culinary value (lab colour, texture, sensory characteristics, structure) of the meat of spiny-cheek crayfish (Faxonius limosus) (n = 226) from Lake Sominko (Poland) harvested in May–September 2017. Crayfish meat, especially that from the abdomen, was shown to have high nutritional parameters. It is lean (0.26% of fat), with a favourable fatty acid profile and a very high quality of fat (PUFA (sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids):SFA (sum of saturated fatty acids), n-6/n-3, h/H, AI, TI) and protein (high CS and EAAI). It is also a better source of Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, and Cu than meat from slaughter animals. Hence, crayfish meat can be an alternative to livestock meat in the human diet. Owing to its culinary value (delicateness, weak game flavour, and odour), it meets the requirements of the most demanding consumers, i.e., children and older people.
Adolescents' Exposure to Sexually Explicit Internet Material and Sexual Preoccupancy: A Three-Wave Panel Study

The main aim of this study was to investigate whether adolescents' use of sexually explicit Internet material (SEIM) increased their sexual preoccupancy (i.e., a strong cognitive engagement in sexual issues). Further, we wanted to know (a) whether subjective sexual arousal mediated a potential influence of exposure to SEIM on sexual preoccupancy and (b) whether this process differed between male and female adolescents. Over the course of one year, we surveyed 962 Dutch adolescents aged 13–20 years three times. Structural equation modeling showed that exposure to SEIM stimulated sexual preoccupancy. This influence was fully mediated by subjective sexual arousal from SEIM. The effect of exposure to SEIM on subjective sexual arousal did not differ between male and female adolescents. The findings suggest that a sexualized media environment may affect adolescents' sexual development beyond traditionally studied variables, such as sexual attitudes and sexual behavior.
Poster Abstract: A SimPy-based Simulation Testbed for Smart-city IoT Applications

A real-time testbed that emulates a large number of IoT end-points generating traffic to the middleware/application layers can be used for debugging and performance evaluation of the smart-city software platforms prior to deployment. We propose an architecture for such a simulation testbed based on Python’s SimPy library. The simulated IoT end-points communicate with the middleware in real-time and can also interact directly with each other and with a common shared environment. This makes the testbed particularly suited for modeling system-wide scenarios such as synchronized faults and power outages.
Biomechanical Features of Graphene-Augmented Inorganic Nanofibrous Scaffolds and Their Physical Interaction with Viruses

Nanofibrous substrates and scaffolds are widely being studied as matrices for 3D cell cultures, and disease models as well as for analytics and diagnostic purposes. These scaffolds usually comprise randomly oriented fibers. Much less common are nanofibrous scaffolds made of stiff inorganic materials such as alumina. Well-aligned matrices are a promising tool for evaluation of behavior of biological objects affected by micro/nano-topologies as well as anisotropy. In this work, for the first time, we report a joint analysis of biomechanical properties of new ultra-anisotropic, self-aligned ceramic nanofibers augmented with two modifications of graphene shells (GAIN scaffolds) and their interaction of three different viral types (influenza virus A, picornavirus (human parechovirus) and potato virus). It was discovered that nano-topology and structure of the graphene layers have a significant implication on mechanical properties of GAIN scaffolds resulting in non-linear behavior. It was demonstrated that the viral adhesion to GAIN scaffolds is likely to be guided by physical cues in dependence on mutual steric factors, as the scaffolds lack common cell membrane proteins and receptors which viruses usually deploy for transfection. The study may have implications for selective viral adsorption, infected cells analysis, and potentially opening new tools for anti-viral drugs development.
Noninvasive brain stimulation for the treatment of neurocognitive disorders: right for prime time?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Neurocognitive disorders are associated with tremendous burden at the level of the individual, the care giver, and society at large. No effective treatments have been discovered to date. RECENT FINDINGS Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) comprises several promising interventions that have been studied in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Most recent studies have tested transcranial direct current stimulation or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on their own or in combination with other interventions, particularly cognitive training. While most studies were proof-of-principle studies with small sample sizes, combination and long-duration protocols seem to be promising approaches to pursue. Some studies also investigated novel neurophysiological markers as predictors of response to NIBS. SUMMARY NIBS presents several interventional options that are ready to be evaluated using well powered, long-duration trials. These future studies should build on the promising leads from the current literature, including the potential advantage of combining NIBS with other interventions; the delivery of interventions for long durations to assess long-term impact; and the use of neurophysiological markers that could optimize the personalization and efficacy of NIBS.
NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF CRACKED THIN PLATES SUBJECTED TO BENDING, TWISTING AND SHEAR LOADS

A semi-analytical method namely fractal finite element method is presented for the determination of mode I and mode II moment intensity factors for thin plate with crack using Kirchhoff’s theory. Using the concept of fractal geometry, infinite many of finite elements is generated virtually around the crack border. Based on the analytical global displacement function, numerous degrees of freedom (DOF) are transformed to a small set of generalised coordinates in an expeditious way. The stress intensity factors can be obtained directly from the generalized coordinates. No post-processing and special finite elements are required to develop for extracting the stress intensity factors. Examples of cracked plate subjected to bending, twisting and shear loads are given to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the present method. The influence of finite boundaries on the calculation of the moment intensity factors is studied in details. Very accuracy results when compare with the theoretical and numerical counterparts are found.
Paperboard Coating Detection Based on Full-Stokes Imaging Polarimetry

The manufacturing of high-quality extruded low-density polyethylene (PE) paperboard intended for the food packaging industry relies on manual, intrusive, and destructive off-line inspection by the process operators to assess the overall quality and functionality of the product. Defects such as cracks, pinholes, and local thickness variations in the coating can occur at any location in the reel, affecting the sealable property of the product. To detect these defects locally, imaging systems must discriminate between the substrate and the coating. We propose an active full-Stokes imaging polarimetry for the classification of the PE-coated paperboard and its substrate (before applying the PE coating) from industrially manufactured samples. The optical system is based on vertically polarized illumination and a novel full-Stokes imaging polarimetry camera system. From the various parameters obtained by polarimetry measurements, we propose implementing feature selection based on the distance correlation statistical method and, subsequently, the implementation of a support vector machine algorithm that uses a nonlinear Gaussian kernel function. Our implementation achieves 99.74% classification accuracy. An imaging polarimetry system with high spatial resolution and pixel-wise metrological characteristics to provide polarization information, capable of material classification, can be used for in-process control of manufacturing coated paperboard.
Casual dates on the internet 1 Who Looks for Casual Dates on the Internet ? A Test of the Compensation and the Recreation Hypothesis

Existing research has dealt with the consequences of seeking casual partners online, but has been silent about its antecedents. To address this research gap, this study puts forward and empirically tests two hypotheses. The compensation hypothesis states that people high in dating anxiety and low in physical self-esteem seek casual dates online because the features of online communication (e.g., reduced cues, anonymity, controllability) allow them to compensate for deficits they experience in offline dating. The recreation hypothesis proposes that sexually permissive people and high sensation seekers will look for casual partners online because they value the anonymity of the internet. Multivariate analyses of a survey of 729 Dutch adults, aged 18 to 60, supported the recreation hypothesis, but not the compensation hypothesis. Sexually permissive people and high sensation seekers looked for casual partners online more frequently than sexually restrictive people and low sensation seekers. Dating anxiety and physical self-esteem, in contrast, were unrelated to the seeking of casual partners online. The associations between personality characteristics and the importance attached to reduced cues, anonymity, and controllability of online communication confirmed our expectations. Please cite this article as: Peter, J., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2007). Who looks for casual dates on the Internet? A test of the compensation and recreation hypothesis. New Media & Society,
Tilburg University Organizational memory supported workflow management

Business processes are by nature information-intensive and require IT support. Database systems solve the basic need for secure and efficient data storage and access. As such they are well-understood and widely applied. Workflow management systems, currently being added to support and optimize formal business processes, distribute jobs among employees. Recently, researchers and practioners started to promote the idea to explicitly represent the knowledge of the enterprise as so-called "Organizational Memory". Such knowledge includes the goals of the enterprise, its tasks, its rules and its resources. This article investigates the interrelationship and interplay of organizational memory systems with workflow management systems. We describe experiences gained from a concrete integration project at Swiss Life, an insurance company mainly engaged in the private life insurance and pension scheme management business. Result of the study is a formal model of the relationship of information handled in the two systems and a specification how such systems can interoperate to provide knowledge-based workflow management.
Education for the Poor

This paper investigates the impact on university enrollment of an unconditional cash transfer in Georgia, designed to help households living below the subsistence level. The program, introduced in 2005, selects recipients based upon a quantitative poverty threshold, which gives us the ability to implement a regression discontinuity design. We use data on program recipients from the Social Service Agency of Georgia (SSA) and on university admissions from the National Examination Center (NAEC) to create a single dataset and compare applicants who are above and below the threshold, while controlling for the main effect of the assignment variable itself. This paper is the first rigorous evaluation of this particular program. We find that being a program recipient significantly increases a student’s likelihood of university enrollment, by 6.3%. We also find a gender specific impact on enrollment. The impact is stronger for males; being a male child of a beneficiary family results in a 13.3% greater chance of university enrollment.
The Influence of Heavy Work Investment on Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention in Romania

Studying the phenomenon of heavy work investment in an emergent market (Romania) is necessary due to the frequent practice of employees working overtime, relatively reduced job satisfaction in contrast to their counterparts from developed markets, and comparatively low remuneration for the same work effort. Therefore, the aim of this research is to highlight the influence of heavy work investment forms (workaholism and work engagement) on job satisfaction and turnover intention. Based on the Attribution Theory, the authors conducted quantitative exploratory research among employees with tenured contracts in an emergent market (Romania). The data was gathered with the aid of an online questionnaire, being tested for reliability, validity, and internal consistency in SPSS, while the hypotheses were tested with the help of structural equation modelling (AMOS). The results show that job satisfaction is influenced by both work engagement and excessive working (workaholism). The more a person is engaged in their work activity, the weaker their turnover intention. Turnover intention is intricately linked to excessive working, a component of workaholism. From a managerial standpoint, this paper contributes to a better understanding of the way work engagement and workaholism influence work outcomes, highlighting possible ways of improving human resource management in organizations.
Empirical Analysis of Factors Influencing Healthcare Efficiency among Emerging Countries

Numerous factors, including inefficient utilization of healthcare resources have been attributed to the poor health outcome. The study aims to compare the efficiency of health expenses and its determining factors in the emerging economies based on their income levels. Data for the study is extracted from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators for 21 countries covering the period of 2000 to 2018. Analysis of the research involves two stages. Stage one computes the efficiency scores, whereas second stage examines factors affecting health efficiency by employing the Tobit regression and Simar-Wilson regression test to confirm the results. The Tobit result shows that research and development (R&D) and physicians enhanced health efficiency at the main panel, lower-middle-income, upper-middle-income, and high-income countries. Corruption remained negative with education showing mixed results. The interaction between research and development and physicians increases health efficiency in all the panels. Health research must be a policy focus if efficiency is to be achieved by the emerging economies.
Does Sick Pay Affect Workplace Absence?

Higher replacement rates often imply higher levels of absenteeism, yet even in generous welfare economies, private sick pay is provided in addition to the public sick pay. Why? Using comparative workplace data for the UK and Norway we show that the higher level of absenteeism in Norway compared to UK is related to the threshold in the Norwegian public sick pay legislation. This threshold's importance is confirmed in a Regression Kinked Design (RKD) analysis on the Norwegian micro-data. Private sick pay is provided as an employer-provided non-wage benefit and when training costs are high.
Joint Multi-Label Attention Networks for Social Text Annotation

We propose a novel attention network for document annotation with user-generated tags. The network is designed according to the human reading and annotation behaviour. Usually, users try to digest the title and obtain a rough idea about the topic first, and then read the content of the document. Present research shows that the title metadata could largely affect the social annotation. To better utilise this information, we design a framework that separates the title from the content of a document and apply a title-guided attention mechanism over each sentence in the content. We also propose two semantic-based loss regularisers that enforce the output of the network to conform to label semantics, i.e. similarity and subsumption. We analyse each part of the proposed system with two real-world open datasets on publication and question annotation. The integrated approach, Joint Multi-label Attention Network (JMAN), significantly outperformed the Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (Bi-GRU) by around 13%-26% and the Hierarchical Attention Network (HAN) by around 4%-12% on both datasets, with around 10%-30% reduction of training time.
Land use/land cover mapping using multi-scale texture processing of high resolution data

Land use/land cover (LULC) maps are useful for many purposes, and for a long time remote sensing techniques have been used for LULC mapping using different types of data and image processing techniques. In this research, high resolution satellite data from IKONOS was used to perform land use/land cover mapping in Johor Bahru city and adjacent areas (Malaysia). Spatial image processing was carried out using the six texture algorithms (mean, variance, contrast, homogeneity, entropy, and GLDV angular second moment) with five difference window sizes (from 3×3 to 11×11). Three different classifiers i.e. Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Supported Vector Machine (SVM) were used to classify the texture parameters of different spectral bands individually and all bands together using the same training and validation samples. Results indicated that texture parameters of all bands together generally showed a better performance (overall accuracy = 90.10%) for land LULC mapping, however, single spectral band could only achieve an overall accuracy of 72.67%. This research also found an improvement of the overall accuracy (OA) using single-texture multi-scales approach (OA = 89.10%) and single-scale multi-textures approach (OA = 90.10%) compared with all original bands (OA = 84.02%) because of the complementary information from different bands and different texture algorithms. On the other hand, all of the three different classifiers have showed high accuracy when using different texture approaches, but SVM generally showed higher accuracy (90.10%) compared to MLC (89.10%) and ANN (89.67%) especially for the complex classes such as urban and road.