Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A hundred spotlights on microbiology: how microorganisms shape our lives

Viral, bacterial, fungal and protozoal biology is of cardinal importance for the evolutionary history of life, ecology, biotechnology and infectious diseases. Various microbiological model systems have fundamentally contributed to the understanding of molecular and cellular processes, including the cell cycle, cell death, mitochondrial biogenesis, vesicular fusion and autophagy, among many others. Microbial interactions within the environment have profound effects on many fields of biology, from ecological diversity to the highly complex and multifaceted impact of the microbiome on human health. Also, biotechnological innovation and corresponding industrial operations strongly depend on microbial engineering. With this wide range of impact in mind, the peer-reviewed and open access journal Microbial Cell was founded in 2014 and celebrates its 100th issue this month. Here, we briefly summarize how the vast diversity of microbiological subjects influences our personal and societal lives and shortly review the milestones achieved by Microbial Cell during the last years.
A rare case of a large low-grade appendicular mucinous neoplasm causing compressive symptoms

Abstract Primary neoplasm of the appendix is often diagnosed incidentally after an appendectomy. Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs) make up a small portion of these neoplasms. We present a rare case of a patient with a slow-growing LAMN causing urinary retention and constipation. The mass was initially found incidentally 25 years prior, but the patient declined further workup since he was asymptomatic at that time. The patient experienced progressively worsening abdominal discomfort related to urinary retention and difficulty in evacuating his bowels. Imaging identified a large abdominal mass (19.3 × 8.7 × 13.5 cm). The mass was surgically resected. Pathology was consistent with a LAMN. In general, an incidental finding of an abdominal mass should be further investigated regardless of symptomology. Patients should be educated about the potential of malignancy and the need for a major abdominal surgery in the future if they choose not to have a mass further evaluated.
Income growth, employment structure transition and the rise of modern markets: The impact of urbanization on residents’ consumption of dairy products in China

In modern society, dairy products have become increasingly important in our diet because of changes in consumption patterns due to urbanization. However, Chinese residents’ dairy consumption remains at a relatively low level, with great potential for growth. Exploring the main determinants of dairy consumption and their effect mechanisms not only helps to improve the health status of residents, but also has important policy implications for the development of China’s dairy industry. Based on the data of China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) from 1989 to 2011, this study empirically analyzes the impact of urbanization on residents’ dairy consumption. The results indicate that urbanization could significantly promote residents’ consumption of dairy products and the effect is higher in areas with low urbanization levels and in midwestern regions than in areas with high urbanization levels and in midwestern regions. From the perspective of effect mechanism, income growth, employment structure transition and the rise of modern markets are three important mediating paths. Additionally, the results imply that in areas with low urbanization levels, income growth and the rise of modern markets are the main significant mediators; while in areas with high urbanization levels, employment structure transition is a significant mediator. Moreover, in midwestern regions, income growth is a significant mediator, and employment structure transition is a significant mediator in all regions. These findings have practical implications for understanding the relationship between urbanization and residents’ food consumption and for further promoting residents’ dairy consumption and the development of China’s dairy industry.
Race to the Bottom: Competition and Quality in Science

This paper investigates how competition to publish ﬁrst and thereby establish priority impacts the quality of scientiﬁc research. We begin by developing a model where scientists decide whether and how long to work on a given project. When deciding how long to let their projects mature, scientists trade oﬀ the marginal beneﬁt of higher quality research against the marginal risk of being pre-empted. The most important (highest potential) projects are the most competitive because they induce the most entry. Therefore, the model predicts these projects are also the most rushed and lowest quality. We test the predictions of this model in the ﬁeld of structural biology using data from the Protein Data Bank (PDB), a repository for structures of large macromolecules. An important feature of the PDB is that it assigns objective measures of scientiﬁc quality to each structure. As suggested by the model, we ﬁnd that structures with higher ex-ante potential generate more competition, are completed faster, and are lower quality. Consistent with the model, and with a causal interpretation of our empirical results, these relationships are mitigated when we focus on structures deposited by scientists who – by nature of their employment position – are less focused on publication and priority.
Pilot tone as a key to improving the spatial resolution of eBPMs

At Elettra, the Italian synchrotron light source, an internal project has been started to develop an electron beam position monitor capable of achieving sub-micron resolution with a self-compensation feature. In order to fulfil these requirements, a novel RF front end has been designed. A high isolation coupler combines the input signals with a known pilot tone which is generated by the readout system. This allows the parameters of the four channels to be continuously calibrated, by compensating the different responses of each channel. A similar technique is already known, but for the first time experimental results have shown the improvement in resolution due to this method. The RF chain was coupled with a 4-channel digitizer based on 160 MHz, 16 bits ADCs and an Altera Stratix FPGA. At first, no additional processing was done in the FPGA, collecting only the raw data from the ADCs; the position was calculated through the FFT of each signal. A simulation was also performed to verify the analytic relation.
Undergraduate use of mobile devices for m-learning: Where is the niche?

: The paper explores how mobile technology can be appropriated as a tool to mediate mobile learning (m-learning) in the “right space” where meaningful learning occurs. The authors propose examining m-learning under two intertwined conditions of (a) the properties of the context that enable the effectivities of the mobile technology, and (b) student capabilities and interpretations to take learning actions. When these conditions are met, mobile technology is deemed to be appropriated at the “right space”. This space is termed as the “niche” for mobile learning, and learning taking place in the space is termed as “niche mobile learning (m-learning)” in this paper. Two individual case use of the mobile technology for learning in a university has been traced and examined over a one-year period. Data was collected and triangulated for analysis. The research findings show that the two cases appropriated mobile technology as a tool for mobile learning differently due to different “niches”. Discussions are made and implications are explored.
Evolving the drum-kit : frameworks and methods for diachronic live electronic performance practice and bespoke instrument design

This thesis examines performance practice with the Augmented Drum-Kit, a personal evolution of the acoustic drum-kit with the use of digital technology. The practice is investigated from three perspectives: First, through possible spatial and contextual definitions of the instrument under development, taking into consideration the inherently open-ended nature of its building blocks: percussion and the computer. Second, by exploring the composer/performer/builder’s practice paradigm in terms of musical and performative goals with such an emerging performance environment. Finally, as a diachronic practice between performer and all constituent technological parts of the composite instrument, towards the practice’s ongoing development and evolution. Using these discussions as starting points, this practice-led research proposes three intertwined novel frameworks for diachronic live electronic performance practice and bespoke instrument design. Additionally, the developed instrument itself is detailed in the form of the devised design methods, schematics, diagrams and software, addressing questions such as intuitive control, gestural uniformity, consistent electro-acoustic vocabulary, distinct instrumental character, mobility, sound diffusion and transferability. Finally, music portfolio consisting of five solo and group album recordings with the Augmented Drum-Kit is presented, while audiovisual examples from various scenarios and development stages are used to further illustrate the discussion.
How Innovation Interacts with Mobile Learning in Guadalajara, México

The information and communication technologies (ICT) are producing new and innovative forms of teaching-learning process, so our research question is: Which is the Empirical Model of How Innovation interacts with Mobile Learning in Guadalajara, Mexico? This research is aimed to respond it. The final Factors, were 4: Technology (T); Contents, Teaching-Learning Management and Styles (CTLMS); ProfessorS Innovation Process (INNOV) and 65 Variables. Our research is based on a documentary study that chose variables used by specialists in m-Learning ( mL), using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The study was applied on: 20 professors and 800 students both participating in social sciences courses, from 7 Universities located at Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Mexico (GMAM) during the period 2013-2014.The data of the questionnaires, were analyzed by structural equations modeling (SEM), using EQS 6.1 software. The final results suggest reinforce 12 variables to improve the interaction with mL at GMAM.
How do students with intellectual disabilities tell stories? An investigation of narrative macrostructure and microstructure

Abstract Individuals with intellectual disability may have limited narrative skills. The novelty of this study lies in the examination of strengths and weaknesses which may enable a more facilitative approach to narrative and other storytelling‐based methodologies among adults with intellectual disability who study in an academic enrichment program in comparison to typical students with the same chronological age. Seventeen adult students with intellectual disability and 16 typically developing students, produced narratives which were examined for microstructure (e.g., length, lexis, grammaticality, and complexity) macrostructure (e.g., goals, attempts, and outcomes) and Internal state terms (ISTs). The findings indicate that in spite of weakness of adults with intellectual disability in terms of coherence, syntactic complexity, and grammatical sentences, they exhibit strengths in narrative macrostructure story scheme and use IST. With increasing age, narratives performance of adults with intellectual disability continues to advance possibly due to maturity, life experience and indirect exposure to the environment.
The costs and health care utilization associated with transplantation for alcoholic hepatitis compared with acute‐on‐chronic liver failure

To the editor, We read with great interest the study by Im et al.[1] entitled “Extensive health care utilization and costs of an early liver transplantation program for alcoholic hepatitis. ” In that paper, the authors analyzed data from a single center regarding the costs and health care utilization among patients transplanted with alcoholrelated hepatitis (AH), using patients with acuteonchronic liver failure (ACLF), but without alcoholrelated liver disease, as controls. [1] The authors demonstrated that among 15 patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT), posttransplantation health care costs were significant, primarily due to longer length of stay. Although the focus of the study was regarding early LT for severe AH, the authors also provide analysis regarding a cohort of patients with ACLF who were transplanted. The patients in this control group (n = 13) were older but otherwise similar in Model for EndStage Liver Disease (MELD) score and intensive care unit requirement before transplantation. What is notable is that while the revenue of the ACLF program remains positive overall, the net revenue per patient among those transplanted with ACLF is actually significantly smaller than that of patients transplanted for AH. In light of these findings, it would be of interest if the authors could provide additional analysis. First, greater detail should be given regarding the ACLF cohort who was transplanted, regarding etiology of liver disease and grade of ACLF, along with the organ failures present at LT. Second, it is unclear why patients with alcoholassociated ACLF were excluded. In particular, were there patients transplanted with ACLF who were still active alcohol users? If that was the case, what was the cost and revenue associated with transplanting them? Third, it is notable that despite significant differences in costs per patient between the two groups, the length of stay is similar. This suggest that length of stay may not be the only driver of costs in the ACLF cohort. If that is the case, what were the primary drivers of costs in this population and were they related to pretransplantation or posttransplantation care? Given the rise of ACLF in the United States and globally,[2] such information will be beneficial to providers as transplantation for ACLF increases. In addition, this study points to an ethical and institutional dilemma that needs to be tackled in our transplantation communities, namely, that the organization of the health care system renders LT for patients with ACLF detrimental to transplantation centers in terms of financial costs, while we know that it is beneficial to individual patients in terms of survival.
Identification of best available techniques in the seafood industry: a case study

A Best Available Techniques (BAT) analysis of a mussel canning processing facility in northwest Spain was undertaken to investigate potential cleaner production and efficiency improvements. Potential techniques were identified from the literature and from our experience in the seafood sector. BATs were then assessed for possible implementation in a mussel canning facility. This work describes, in considerable detail, the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques discussed.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis requires SufT for Fe-S cluster maturation, metabolism, and survival in vivo

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster proteins carry out essential cellular functions in diverse organisms, including the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The mechanisms underlying Fe-S cluster biogenesis are poorly defined in Mtb. Here, we show that Mtb SufT (Rv1466), a DUF59 domain-containing essential protein, is required for the Fe-S cluster maturation. Mtb SufT homodimerizes and interacts with Fe-S cluster biogenesis proteins; SufS and SufU. SufT also interacts with the 4Fe-4S cluster containing proteins; aconitase and SufR. Importantly, a hyperactive cysteine in the DUF59 domain mediates interaction of SufT with SufS, SufU, aconitase, and SufR. We efficiently repressed the expression of SufT to generate a SufT knock-down strain in Mtb (SufT-KD) using CRISPR interference. Depleting SufT reduces aconitase’s enzymatic activity under standard growth conditions and in response to oxidative stress and iron limitation. The SufT-KD strain exhibited defective growth and an altered pool of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, amino acids, and sulfur metabolites. Using Seahorse Extracellular Flux analyzer, we demonstrated that SufT depletion diminishes glycolytic rate and oxidative phosphorylation in Mtb. The SufT-KD strain showed defective survival upon exposure to oxidative stress and nitric oxide. Lastly, SufT depletion reduced the survival of Mtb in macrophages and attenuated the ability of Mtb to persist in mice. Altogether, SufT assists in Fe-S cluster maturation and couples this process to bioenergetics of Mtb for survival under low and high demand for Fe-S clusters.
A systematic review suggests marked differences in the prevalence of infant-directed vocalization across groups of populations.

Anthropological reports have long suggested that speaking to young children is very infrequent in certain populations (notably farming ones), which is in line with scattered quantitative studies. A systematic review was undertaken to use available literature in order to estimate the extent of population variation. Database searches, expert lists, and citation searches led to the discovery of 29 reports on the frequency of vocalizations directed to infants aged 24 months or younger, based on systematic observations of spontaneous activity in the infant's natural environment lasting at least 30 minutes in length. Together, these studies provide evidence on 1,314 infants growing up in a range of communities (urban, foraging, farming). For populations located outside of North America, the frequency with which vocalization was directed to urban infants was much higher than that for rural infants (including both foraging and farming, medians = 12.6 versus 3.6 percent of observations contained infant-directed vocalization behaviors). We benchmarked this effect against socio-economic status (SES) variation in USA, which was much smaller. Infants in high SES American homes were spoken to only slightly more frequently than those in low SES homes (medians = 16.4 versus 15.1 percent of observations contained infant-directed vocalization behaviors). Although published research represents a biased sample of the world's populations, these results invite further cross-population research to understand the causes and effects of such considerable population group differences. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Defenestrated endothelium delays liver-directed gene transfer in hemophilia A mice

Abstract Hemophilia A is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by defective or deficient coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) activity. Until recently, the only treatment for prevention of bleeding involved IV administration of FVIII. Gene therapy with adeno-associated vectors (AAVs) has shown some efficacy in patients with hemophilia A. However, limitations persist due to AAV-induced cellular stress, immunogenicity, and reduced durability of gene expression. Herein, we examined the efficacy of liver-directed gene transfer in FVIII knock-out mice by AAV8-GFP. Surprisingly, compared with control mice, FVIII knockout (F8TKO) mice showed significant delay in AAV8-GFP transfer in the liver. We found that the delay in liver-directed gene transfer in F8TKO mice was associated with absence of liver sinusoidal endothelial cell (LSEC) fenestration, which led to aberrant expression of several sinusoidal endothelial proteins, causing increased capillarization and decreased permeability of LSECs. This is the first study to link impaired liver-directed gene transfer to liver-endothelium maladaptive structural changes associated with FVIII deficiency in mice.
Chip-scale atomic wave-meter enabled by machine learning

The quest for miniaturized optical wave-meters and spectrometers has accelerated the design of novel approaches in the field. Particularly, random spectrometers (RS) using the one-to-one correlation between the wavelength and an output random interference pattern emerged as a promising tool combining high spectral resolution and cost-effectiveness. Recently, a chip-scale platform for RS has been demonstrated with a markedly reduced footprint. Yet, despite the evident advantages of such modalities, they are very susceptible to environmental fluctuations and require an external calibration process. To address these challenges, we demonstrate a paradigm shift in the field, enabled by the integration of atomic vapor with a photonic chip and the use of a machine learning classification algorithm. Our approach provides a random wave-meter on chip device with accurate calibration and enhanced robustness against environmental fluctuations. The demonstrated device is expected to pave the way toward fully integrated spectrometers advancing the field of silicon photonics.
Infantile dural sinus malformation: curative embolization in two stages with the Scepter mini balloon microcatheter

Endovascular embolization is the mainstay for treatment of infantile dural sinus malformations.1 2 Distal access and flow control are limiting factors in controlled embolization.3–6 The Scepter mini catheter (Microvention, Aliso Viejo, California, USA) is a low-profile, dual-lumen balloon microcatheter designed to provide navigability in small-caliber, tortuous intracranial vessels. In this technical video, we demonstrate the staged embolization of a dural sinus malformation with multiple arteriovenous fistulae using the Scepter mini catheter (video 1). In the newborn patient, embolizations were performed through the parietal branches of the left and right middle meningeal arteries. The catheter easily navigated into the small feeding arteries. No neurological complications occurred due to the procedures. Post-embolization injections demonstrated significant flow reduction into the malformation. Three-month follow-up angiography illustrated resolution of the previously dilated left transverse sinus. Complete obliteration of the dural sinus malformation was achieved in the newborn patient. Video 1 Curative embolization in two stages with the Scepter mini balloon microcatheter. ΑP, anteroposterior; CCA, common carotid artery. 10.1136/neurintsurg-2021-018608.video01 6303373661001 BMJ Journals Video Player neurintsurg2021018608media1