Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
C-terminal Motifs of HIV-1 gp41 as Possible Determinants of Viral Pathogenesis

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the etiological agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a pandemic with high economic and social costs. The envelope glycoprotein (env) of the virus mediates the infectious process by binding to and entering the host cell, one of the main target components of studies since its discovery. Its endodomain or C-terminal tail (CTT) participates in late replicative cycle processes, such as intracellular trafficking, activation, and cell death, which occurs because it interacts with multiple cellular factors through motifs or signal sequences present throughout its structure. Although these interactions have not been fully understood at specific levels, studies over more than three decades leave no doubt that this domain plays a fundamental role in the biology of the virus and probably the development of the disease. This review describes the studies carried out to date that demonstrate the importance of the CTT, focusing on the motifs responsible for its interactions and its possible roles in the pathogenicity of the infection.
Multi-Robot Map Exploration Based on Multiple Rapidly-Exploring Randomized Trees

A Master of Science thesis in Mechatronics Engineering by Hassan Abdul-Rahman Umari entitled, "Multi-Robot Map Exploration Based on Multiple Rapidly-Exploring Randomized Trees," submitted in May 2017. Thesis advisor is Dr. Shayok Mukhopadhyay. Soft and hard copy available.
Yeast β-Glucans as Fish Immunomodulators: A Review

Simple Summary The β-glucan obtained from yeast—a very important molecule for fish production—activates the immune system of fish by different mechanisms and induces protection against pathogens. However, most previous related studies have focused on the use of commercial β-glucan from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to understand the activation pathways. Experimental β-glucans extracted from other yeasts show other interesting biological activities even at lower doses. This review article analyzes the current information and suggests perspectives on yeast β-glucans. Abstract Administration of immunostimulants in fish is a preventive method to combat infections. A wide variety of these biological molecules exist, among which one of the yeast wall compounds stands out for its different biological activities. The β-glucan that forms the structural part of yeast is capable of generating immune activity in fish by cell receptor recognition. The most frequently used β-glucans for the study of mechanisms of action are those of commercial origin, with doses recommended by the manufacturer. Nevertheless, their immune activity is inefficient in some fish species, and increasing the dose may show adverse effects, including immunosuppression. Conversely, experimental β-glucans from other yeast species show different activities, such as antibacterial, antioxidant, healing, and stress tolerance properties. Therefore, this review analyses the most recent scientific reports on the use of yeast β-glucans in freshwater and marine fish.
A Review with Updated Perspectives on the Antiviral Potentials of Traditional Medicinal Plants and Their Prospects in Antiviral Therapy

Exploration of the traditional medicinal plants is essential for drug discovery and development for various pharmacological targets. Various phytochemicals derived from medicinal plants were extensively studied for antiviral activity. This review aims to highlight the role of medicinal plants against viral infections that remains to be the leading cause of human death globally. Antiviral properties of phytoconstituents isolated from 45 plants were discussed for five different types of viral infections. The ability of the plants’ active compounds with antiviral effects was highlighted as well as their mechanism of action, pharmacological studies, and toxicological data on a variety of cell lines. The experimental values, such as IC50, EC50, CC50, ED50, TD50, MIC100, and SI of the active compounds, were compiled and discussed to determine their potential. Among the plants mentioned, 11 plants showed the most promising medicinal plants against viral infections. Sambucus nigra and Clinacanthus nutans manifested antiviral activity against three different types of viral infections. Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea augustofolia, Echinacea pallida, Plantago major, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Phyllanthus emblica, Camellia sinensis, and Cistus incanus exhibited antiviral activity against two different types of viral infections. Interestingly, Nicotiana benthamiana showed antiviral effects against mosquito-borne infections. The importance of phenolic acids, alkamides, alkylamides, glycyrrhizin, epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), protein-based plant-produced ZIKV Envelope (PzE), and anti-CHIKV monoclonal antibody was also reviewed. An exploratory approach to the published literature was conducted using a variety of books and online databases, including Scopus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and PubMed Central, with the goal of obtaining, compiling, and reconstructing information on a variety of fundamental aspects, especially regarding medicinal plants. This evaluation gathered important information from all available library databases and Internet searches from 1992 to 2022.
Flood Syndrome

Flood syndrome refers to the exsanguination of ascitic fluid following the spontaneous rupture of an umbilical hernia, and is a rare complication of liver cirrhosis with ascites. In this case report, we describe a 67-year-old patient with Flood syndrome who was initially managed conservatively in a community hospital run by primary care physicians, prior to transfer to a tertiary hospital for specialist surgical review and management. We also performed a literature review of the current treatment modalities to manage this condition.
Using Routinely Collected Health Records to Identify the Fine-Resolution Spatial Patterns of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in Rwanda

Background. Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are parasitic diseases with significant public health impact. Analysis is generally based on cross-sectional prevalence surveys; outcomes are mostly aggregated to larger spatial units. However, recent research demonstrates that infection levels and spatial patterns differ between STH species and tend to be localized. Methods. Incidence data of STHs including roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms per primary health facility for 2008 were linked to spatially delineated primary health center service areas. Prevalence data per district for individual and combined STH infections from the 2008 nationwide survey in Rwanda were also obtained. Results. A comparison of reported prevalence and incidence data indicated significant positive correlations for roundworm (R2 = 0.63) and hookworm (R2 = 0.27). Weak positive correlations were observed for whipworm (R2 = 0.02) and the three STHs combined (R2 = 0.10). Incidence of roundworm and whipworm were found to be focalized with significant spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I > 0: 0.05–0.38 and p ≤ 0.03), with (very) high incidence rates in some focal areas. In contrast, hookworm incidence is ubiquitous and randomly distributed (Moran’s I > 0: 0.006 and p = 0.74) with very low incidence rates. Furthermore, an exploratory regression analysis identified relationships between helminth infection cases and potential environmental and socio-economic risk factors. Conclusions. Findings show that the spatial distribution of STH incidence is significantly associated with soil properties (sand proportion and pH), rainfall, wetlands and their uses, population density and proportion of rural residents. Identified spatial patterns are important for guiding STH prevention and control programs.
Analysis on the Influencing Factors of Users’ Willingness to Use of Third-Party Mobile Payment across the Straits

In recent years, with the continuous development of the Internet and the popularity of smart mobile devices, people’s living and entertainment habits have changed greatly. The emergence and development of third-party mobile payment is one of the influencing factors. With the development of third-party mobile payment, the factors affecting the willingness to use third-party mobile payment will be constantly updated. This paper combines perceived value theory model and technology acceptance model, and selects perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk, social impact, personal innovation and perceived value as influencing factors to establish third-party mobile payment users’ use of a model of willingness. An effective scale was designed to analyze the data collected by descriptive analysis, reliability analysis, validity analysis and regression analysis. The effects of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and perceived risk on perceived value and the relationship between all factors and intention to use were analyzed. The final results show that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use have significant positive effects on perceived value, while perceived risk has significant negative effects on Taiwan data, while perceived risk has no significant negative impact on perceived value in Chinese Mainland data. Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, social impact and personal innovation have significant positive effects on willingness to use. Perceived risk has no significant negative impact on willingness to use in Chinese Mainland data, but has a significant negative impact on willingness to use in Taiwan data. The article is or-ganized as follows introduction, literature review, research design, empirical research results, analysis promote the development of third-party mobile payment.
Efficacy of a K–1 Social-Emotional Learning Intervention for Students at Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorder: Exploring Moderation Effects

In the current context of high stakes evaluations and initiatives (Every Student Succeeds Act, 2015), many school professionals focus heavily on developing academic skills to the neglect of social-emotional learning (SEL), even though children’s early school success depends heavily on successful social-emotional development (see e.g., Blair & Diamond, 2008; Downer & Pianta, 2006). An increasing number of researchers (Hemmeter, Ostrosky, & Fox, 2006; Riggs, Greenberg, Kusche ́, & Pence, 2006) emphasize the role that motivation, self-esteem, and selfregulation play in a child’s adjustment and connection to school, particularly at the critical transition from pre-school settings to Kindergarten and the primary grades. As social-emotional growth and academic learning are inextricably connected (Blair & Diamond, 2008), it is conceptually and practically sound to integrate a SEL curriculum to reduce risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) within English Language Arts instruction. The Social-Emotional Learning Foundations (SELF) curriculum is designed to promote the development of languagesupported self-regulation, specifically for primary grade children at early risk for EBD, including both internalizing and externalizing problems. SELF lessons incorporate instructional strategies that promote children’s use of SEL related vocabulary, self-talk, critical thinking, and application of learned concepts through discourse focused on social-emotional competencies. SELF smallgroup lessons maximize opportunities for teacher modeling and language interactions that incorporate vocabulary critical to social-emotional development. The integration of SEL and academic instruction is critical for supporting both behavioral and learning related outcomes.
Assessing financial advice using machine learning

—The ﬁelds of artiﬁcial intelligence and machine learning are rapidly transforming the global technological landscape. Many enterprises within the ﬁnancial sector are increasingly pursuing such projects to replace or enhance existing systems to be part of the new technological frontier. ABC Bank is a ﬁnancial institution that aims to introduce a level of screening of advisory-texts in order to enhance quality and to improve resource efﬁciency within the ﬁrm. Through development of an implementation using the models Random Forest, Multi-Layer Perceptron and Support Vector Machine, this project served as a pilot study, an enabler, for further machine learning solutions to be developed within the bank. Whereas the developed model performed better than randomly guessing the most likely class-label for an advisory-text, the scarce amount of data currently accessible prevents making claims whether the implementation is eligible for production-stage or not. The project highlights some barriers for introducing machine learning on a larger scale and advice on how to proceed is presented.
COMPLEMENTARITY IN MARRIAGE: EVIDENCE FROM PERCEPTION AND BEHAVIOR AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH INTERACTION AND RELATIONSHIP OUTCOMES by

The principle of complementarity, as applied to the Interpersonal Circumplex, states that behaviors along the affiliation dimension “pull” for correspondence (i.e., match) from interaction partners, while behaviors along the control dimension pull for reciprocity (i.e., opposite). Interpersonal theory further proposes that complementary interactions are associated with less anger and anxiety, as partners’ interpersonal stances are affirmed, and that this reduction in negative affect makes relationship satisfaction and continuance more likely. The present studies examined the presence of complementarity as well as proposed affective and relationship correlates of complementarity in the important context of marriage while appropriately accounting for first-order effects of affiliation and control in relation to these outcomes. We examined aggregate behavioral complementarity and its correlates using multiple methods of assessment (e.g., selfreports, observer ratings, partner ratings). We also examined potential contextual moderators such as the tone and focus of marital interactions. While we found strong support for affiliative complementarity, the presence of complementarity along the control dimension was less reliable. Additionally, results revealed that first-order effects of affiliation and control predicted affect and relationship quality, not complementarity (e.g., match or mismatch of these behaviors).
ANTAGONISTIC ACTIVITIES OF Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FROM PHYLLOSPHERE OF SUGAR BEET AGAINST Cercospora beticola sacc.

Sixteen isolates of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens isolated from phyllosphere of sugar beet leaves were tested for its antagonistic activity against Cercospora beticola the causal agent of sugar beet leaf spot disease. The tested isolates showed a significant antagonistic potential against C. beticola in vitro . The inhibition of the radial growth of the pathogen ranged from 77.8% to 90%. The diffusible metabolites and volatile gases produced by B. amyloliquefaciens dramatically inhibited the pathogen growth. The antifungal proteins (AFP) extracted from culture filtrates showed an antagonistic effect on the pathogen and inhibition zones ranged from 8.17 mm to 16.45 mm. The antifungal metabolites (AFM) produced by the tested B. amyloliquefaciens isolates showed a high thermal stability. The activity of the AFM at pH 3.0 upto 5.0 reduced by 20% and started to increase at pH 6.0 then reached its maximum at pH 7.0. All the tested isolates produced Sidrophores and β1,3,glucanase while only three isolates were able to produce chitinase. In the greenhouse experiments, the AFM and bacterial cells treatments decreased the severity of cercospora leaf spot. It was found that the treatments with AFM or bacterial cells before inoculation with the pathogen was more efficient than the treatments after inoculation with the pathogen. This may be the first report on using B. amyloliquefaciens as a biocontrol agent against C. beticola.
Quantifying “deep learning” in geomatics engineering by means of classroom observations

On the spectra of soft-hard and pure-applied disciplines, geomatics engineering can be categorized as hard and applied, similarly to other engineering disciplines. One can expect that geomatics engineering would score lower in deep learning as such patterns have been observed for other engineering disciplines compared to soft and pure ones. Some students in upper level courses in geomatics engineering may still struggle with fundamental knowledge from lower level courses. This makes it hard for instructors to create an environment for deep learning. They may have to spend a significant amount of class time reviewing basic concepts, and not as much time is left for building up more complex concepts and problem solving. In order to be more successful in tackling higher level learning outcomes, it would be useful to identify areas of troublesome knowledge and specific threshold concepts in key geomatics engineering courses. By addressing these concepts, instructors can eliminate, or at least minimize, the bottlenecks in the learning process. This is the aim of the teaching and learning research study presented in this paper.The main method for collecting data for this study is classroom observations complemented by minute papers at the end of each course unit. Even though the study is in its early stage, some correlations between the type of lessons delivered and the student cognitive and behavioural engagement can be seen, and some concepts can already be identified as probable threshold concepts. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first study on threshold concepts in geomatics engineering
Advancements in MXene-Polymer Nanocomposites in Energy Storage and Biomedical Applications

MXenes are 2D ceramic materials, especially carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides derived from their parent ‘MAX’ phases by the etching out of ‘A’ and are famous due to their conducting, hydrophilic, biocompatible, and tunable properties. However, they are hardly stable in the outer environment, have low biodegradability, and have difficulty in drug release, etc., which are overcome by MXene/Polymer nanocomposites. The MXenes terminations on MXene transferred to the polymer after composite formation makes it more functional. With this, there is an increment in photothermal conversion efficiency for cancer therapy, higher antibacterial activity, biosensors, selectivity, bone regeneration, etc. The hydrophilic surfaces become conducting in the metallic range after the composite formation. MXenes can effectively be mixed with other materials like ceramics, metals, and polymers in the form of nanocomposites to get improved properties suitable for advanced applications. In this paper, we review different properties like electrical and mechanical, including capacitances, dielectric losses, etc., of nanocomposites more than those like Ti3C2Tx/polymer, Ti3C2/UHMWPE, MXene/PVA-KOH, Ti3C2Tx/PVA, etc. along with their applications mainly in energy storing and biomedical fields. Further, we have tried to enlist the MXene-based nanocomposites and compare them with conducting polymers and other nanocomposites. The performance under the NIR absorption seems more effective. The MXene-based nanocomposites are more significant in most cases than other nanocomposites for the antimicrobial agent, anticancer activity, drug delivery, bio-imaging, biosensors, micro-supercapacitors, etc. The limitations of the nanocomposites, along with possible solutions, are mentioned.
Left Adrenal Venous Drainage into the Inferior Vena Cava in a Pheochromocytoma Patient with Ectopic Pelvic Kidney

In this report, we describe a very rare variant adrenal venous anatomy in a left-sided pheochromocytoma case with left adrenal vein draining into the inferior vena cava (IVC). A 66-year-old female with an incidentally discovered left adrenal mass was referred to our clinic for further diagnostic work up. She had hypertension for the past three years. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging which has been performed for essential thrombocytopenia revealed a left adrenal mass. She was diagnosed as pheochromocytoma by further laboratory workup. Pre-operative imaging with computed tomography (CT) angiography showed that left kidney was ectopically localized in pelvis, and left adrenal vein was draining directly into the IVC. A laparoscopic transabdominal left adrenalectomy was performed. Final pathology result was consistent for pheochromocytoma. Variant adrenal venous anatomy is rare. There are only few case reports on patients with left adrenal vein draining into the IVC. Although there are handful of autopsy studies, these studies were performed on normal adrenal glands. The number of clinical reports on variant adrenal venous anatomy is limited. Clinical studies revealed that most commonly seen variant adrenal venous anatomy was number based and were associated with larger tumor size and pheochromocytoma. Pre-operative CT imaging could be used to improve the identification of venous anatomy. In this report, we present a very rare case of an adult patient with left ectopic kidney who had undergone laparoscopic adrenalectomy for left adrenal pheochromocytoma and had left adrenal vein draining into the IVC. To the best of our knowledge, it is a first in the literature. Pre-operative CT imaging identified the variant adrenal venous anatomy in this patient.
Heart Rate Variability-Guided Training for Improving Mortality Predictors in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

The objective of this research was to investigate whether heart rate variability (HRV)-guided training improves mortality predictors to a greater extent than predefined training in coronary artery disease patients. Twenty-one patients were randomly allocated to the HRV-guided training group (HRV-G) or the predefined training group (PRED-G). They measured their HRV at home daily and trained three times a week for six weeks. Resting heart rate, isolated vagal-related HRV indices (i.e., RMSSD, HF, and SD1), weekly averaged RMSSD, heart rate recovery, and maximum oxygen uptake were assessed before and after the training period. There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.034) in the change in weekly averaged RMSSD in favor of the HRV-G, while no differences were found in the remaining analyzed variables (p > 0.050). Regardless of the training prescription method, exercise training decreased resting heart rate (p = 0.001; −4.10 [95% CI = −6.37–−1.82] beats per minute (bpm)), and increased heart rate recovery at 2 min (p = 0.010; 4.33 [95% CI = 1.15–7.52] bpm) and maximum oxygen uptake (p < 0.001; 3.04 [95% CI = 1.70–4.37] mL·kg−1·min−1). HRV-guided training is superior to predefined training in improving vagal-related HRV when methodological factors are accounted for
Revisiting the Languages of Love: An Empirical Test of the Validity Assumptions Underlying Chapman’s (2015) Five Love Languages Typology

Chapman’s (2015) Five Love Languages remain prevalent within popular press publications coaching individuals toward more satisfying relationships. However, the absence of empirical evidence validating the love language concept remains concerning. Using a qualitative analysis of 648 open-ended responses from 324 college-aged participants, the following study investigates the current assumptions regarding the love language concept by inductively testing the accuracy of the existing love languages typology. The results demonstrate substantial support for Chapman’s (2015) Five Love Languages, as well as evidence for a novel, sixth love language.