Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IDENTIFYING DESIGN PARAMETERS OF PREPARATORY TRAJECTORIES FOR WORKPLACE LEARNING IN HIGHER ENGINEERING EDUCATION

The engineering curriculum at Dutch universities of applied sciences comprises a substantial period of workplace learning in industry; the outbound part of the preparation for professional practice. Students and teachers perceive workplace learning valuable as it connects theory with professional practice and contributes to students' professional identity development. But others, like the Inspectorate of Education, criticize the diversity and the lack of use of the learning outputs in the final phase of the curriculum. This is a consequence of the diversity of industry and the minimal curricular control at the workplace, conditions we cannot change on the short term. As our aim is to improve students' professional identity growth during workplace learning, we think that improving their preparation for workplace learning is the alternative approach. Because recent research on Dutch engineering workplace learning was missing, we conducted two explorative studies: (1) on the mechanisms of students' professional identity development during the bachelor curriculum and (2) on identifying parameters of preparatory trajectories that contribute most to professional development during workplace learning. In this paper we report shortly on the first and more into detail on the second study. In the first study we interviewed engineering teachers on the process and mechanisms of student's professional identity development. In general, teachers reported that students' professional identity develops most during workplace learning in industry if compared to learning activities at university. Two dimensions for professional identity growth were identified: (1) awarded professional responsibly and (2) industries' perception of student's role. Combined, they showed four interaction types, with different effects on identity development. In addition, theoretical notions on professional identity development were recognized. Further research on students' perception of preparation for workplace learning was required. Therefore, the aim of the second study was to identify the parameters of the preparation trajectory that contribute most to the development of individual professional identity - the identification with the profession - during the internship. Literature in the engineering domain showed successful interventions for the preparation for professional practice, whose qualitative effect on professional identity development was reported. But, instruments for assessing the identification with the profession were not found. Researchers in other domains e.g. in education, developed instruments and explained identification with the profession out of preparation variables. Therefore, to assess the dependant variable growth, we conducted two measurements: (1) just before and (2) just after workplace learning. The independent variables were individual-, preparation trajectory- and workplace characteristics. Instruments for professional identification,
Myc suppresses male–male courtship in Drosophila

Despite strong natural selection on species, same‐sex sexual attraction is widespread across animals, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that the proto‐oncogene Myc is required in dopaminergic neurons to inhibit Drosophila male–male courtship. Loss of Myc, either by mutation or neuro‐specific knockdown, induced males’ courtship propensity toward other males. Our genetic screen identified DOPA decarboxylase (Ddc) as a downstream target of Myc. While loss of Ddc abrogated Myc depletion‐induced male–male courtship, Ddc overexpression sufficed to trigger such behavior. Furthermore, Myc‐depleted males exhibited elevated dopamine level in a Ddc‐dependent manner, and their male–male courtship was blocked by depleting the dopamine receptor DopR1. Moreover, Myc directly inhibits Ddc transcription by binding to a target site in the Ddc promoter, and deletion of this site by genome editing was sufficient to trigger male–male courtship. Finally, drug‐mediated Myc depletion in adult neurons by GeneSwitch technique sufficed to elicit male–male courtship. Thus, this study uncovered a novel function of Myc in preventing Drosophila male–male courtship, and supports the crucial roles of genetic factors in inter‐male sexual behavior.
State estimation for nonlinear state‐space transmission models of tuberculosis

Given the high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) and the mortality rate associated with the disease, numerous models, such as the Gammaitoni and Nucci (GN) model, were developed to model the risk of transmission. These models typically rely on a quanta generation rate as a measurement of infectivity. Since the quanta generation rate cannot be measured directly, the unique contribution of this work is to develop state estimators to estimate the quanta generation rate from available measurements. To estimate the quanta generation rate, the GN model is adapted into an augmented single‐room GN model and a simplified two‐room GN model. Both models are shown to be observable, i.e., it is theoretically possible to estimate the quanta generation rate given available measurements. Kalman filters are used to estimate the quanta generation rate. First, a continuous‐time extended Kalman filter is used for both adapted models using a simulation and measurement sampling rate of 60 s. Accurate quanta generate rate estimates are achieved in both cases. A more realistic scenario is also considered with a measurement sampling rate of one day. For these estimates, a hybrid extended Kalman filter (HEKF) is used. Accurate quanta generation rate estimates are achieved for the more realistic scenario. Future work could potentially use the HEKFs, the adapted models, and real‐time measurements in a control system feedback loop to reduce the transmission of TB in confined spaces such as hospitals.
Age-related GSK3β overexpression drives podocyte senescence and glomerular aging

As life expectancy continues to increase, clinicians are challenged by age-related renal impairment that involves podocyte senescence and glomerulosclerosis. There is now compelling evidence that lithium has a potent antiaging activity that ameliorates brain aging and increases longevity in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans. As the major molecular target of lithium action and a multitasking protein kinase recently implicated in a variety of renal diseases, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is overexpressed and hyperactive with age in glomerular podocytes, correlating with functional and histological signs of kidney aging. Moreover, podocyte-specific ablation of GSK3β substantially attenuated podocyte senescence and glomerular aging in mice. Mechanistically, key mediators of senescence signaling, such as p16INK4A and p53, contain high numbers of GSK3β consensus motifs, physically interact with GSK3β, and act as its putative substrates. In addition, therapeutic targeting of GSK3β by microdose lithium later in life reduced senescence signaling and delayed kidney aging in mice. Furthermore, in psychiatric patients, lithium carbonate therapy inhibited GSK3β activity and mitigated senescence signaling in urinary exfoliated podocytes and was associated with preservation of kidney function. Thus, GSK3β appears to play a key role in podocyte senescence by modulating senescence signaling and may be an actionable senostatic target to delay kidney aging.
Fibronectin type III domain‐containing 5 improves aging‐related cardiac dysfunction in mice

Aging is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and aging‐related cardiac dysfunction serves as a major determinant of morbidity and mortality in elderly populations. Our previous study has identified fibronectin type III domain‐containing 5 (FNDC5) and its cleaved form, irisin, as the cardioprotectant against doxorubicin‐induced cardiomyopathy. Herein, aging or matched young mice were overexpressed with FNDC5 by adeno‐associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) vectors, or subcutaneously infused with irisin to uncover the role of FNDC5 in aging‐related cardiac dysfunction. To verify the involvement of nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐like receptor with a pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) and AMP‐activated protein kinase α (AMPKα), Nlrp3 or Ampkα2 global knockout mice were used. Besides, young mice were injected with AAV9‐FNDC5 and maintained for 12 months to determine the preventive effect of FNDC5. Moreover, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) to examine the role of FNDC5 in vitro. We found that FNDC5 was downregulated in aging hearts. Cardiac‐specific overexpression of FNDC5 or irisin infusion significantly suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome and cardiac inflammation, thereby attenuating aging‐related cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. In addition, irisin treatment also inhibited cellular senescence in TNF‐α‐stimulated cardiomyocytes in vitro. Mechanistically, FNDC5 activated AMPKα through blocking the lysosomal degradation of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor. More importantly, FNDC5 gene transfer in early life could delay the onset of cardiac dysfunction during aging process. We prove that FNDC5 improves aging‐related cardiac dysfunction by activating AMPKα, and it might be a promising therapeutic target to support cardiovascular health in elderly populations.
Interleukin-17A is associated with flow-mediated dilation and interleukin-4 with carotid plaque in persons with HIV

Objective: Chronic inflammation contributes to the high burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in persons with HIV (PWH). HIV has broad effects on innate and adaptive immune cells, including innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and CD4+ T-helper cells. At present, the relationship between CVD and plasma cytokines reflecting ILC/T-helper responses in PWH is not well defined. We investigated relationships between plasma cytokines and subclinical atherosclerosis. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: We recruited 70 PWH on a single antiretroviral regimen (efavirenz, teno- fovir, and emtricitabine) with at least 12 months of suppressed viremia and 30 HIVnegative controls. We quantified plasma cytokines and chemokines, including inter- feron-g, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and IL-17A, markers of macrophage activation, and markers of endothelial activation using multiplex assays and ELISA. Cytokines were grouped using Ward's hierarchical clustering. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid plaque burden were determined using ultrasound. Multivariable linear regression and negative binomial regression analyses were used to assess the relationships of plasma biomarkers and endpoints adjusted for CVD risk factors. Results: We identified three distinct clusters in PWH, one containing Th1/Th2/ILC1/ ILC2 type cytokines, one with Th17/ILC3/macrophage-related cytokines, and a less specific third cluster. Lower FMD was associated with higher plasma IL-17A and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 a. In contrast, IL-4, a Th2/ILC2 type cytokine, was associated with carotid plaque. When HIV-negative controls were added to the models clustering was more diffuse, and these associations were attenuated or absent. Conclusion: Th17/ILC3 and Th2/ILC2-mediated immune mechanisms may have distinct roles in endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerotic plaque formation, respectively, in PWH.
Class 1 integrons in clinical and swine industry isolates of Salmonella Typhimurium from Colombia, dating 1997 to 2017

Background. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) has been linked to outbreaks of foodborne gastroenteritis disease, and the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant clones. In Colombia, laboratory surveillance of Salmonella spp. between 1997-2018 revealed that S. Typhimurium was the most ubiquitous serovar (27.57% of all Salmonella isolates), with increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance to several families of antibiotics. Hypothesis. Resistant isolates of S. Typhimurium recovered from clinical and swine samples carry class 1 integrons that are linked to antimicrobial resistance genes. Aim. Identify class 1 integrons, and investigate their association with other mobile genetic elements, and their relationship to the antimicrobial resistance of Colombian S. Typhimurium isolates. Methods. In this study, 392 clinical isolates of S. Typhimurium were analyzed, of which 237 were obtained from blood culture, 155 from non-invasive sources and 50 isolates from swine of which 32 were obtained from a slaughterhouse, 10 from a point of sale and 8 from cutting plant. Class 1 integrons and plasmid incompatibility groups were analyzed by PCR and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), and the region surrounding of the integrons identified by WGS. The phylogenetic relationship was established by MLST and SNP analysis. Results. Overall, 39.03% (153/392) of the clinical isolates and 22% (11/50) of the swine S. Typhimurium isolates carried complete class 1 integrons. Twelve types of gene cassette arrays were identified, including dfr7-aac-blaOXA-2 (Int1-Col1) as the most frequent in clinical isolates (75.2% = 115/153). Clinical and swine isolates that carried class 1 integrons were resistant to up to 5 and up to 3 antimicrobial families, respectively. The Int1-Col1 integron was most prevalent in stool isolates and was associated with Tn21. The most common plasmid incompatibility group was IncA/C. Conclusions. The widespread presence of the integron (IntI1-Col1) in Colombia since 1997 was striking. We speculate that the relationship between integrons, source and mobile elements favors the dispersion of antibiotic resistance determinants in Colombian S. Typhimurium isolates.
Developing and validating polygenic risk scores for colorectal cancer risk prediction in East Asians

Several polygenic risk scores (PRSs) have been developed to predict the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in European descendants. We used genome‐wide association study (GWAS) data from 22 702 cases and 212 486 controls of Asian ancestry to develop PRSs and validated them in two case‐control studies (1454 Korean and 1736 Chinese). Eleven PRSs were derived using three approaches: GWAS‐identified CRC risk SNPs, CRC risk variants identified through fine‐mapping of known risk loci and genome‐wide risk prediction algorithms. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and area under the curve (AUC). PRS115‐EAS, a PRS with 115 GWAS‐reported risk variants derived from East‐Asian data, validated significantly better than PRS115‐EUR derived from European descendants. In the Korea validation set, OR per SD increase of PRS115‐EAS was 1.63 (95% CI = 1.46‐1.82; AUC = 0.63), compared with OR of 1.44 (95% CI = 1.29‐1.60, AUC = 0.60) for PRS115‐EUR. PRS115‐EAS/EUR derived using meta‐analysis results of both populations slightly improved the AUC to 0.64. Similar but weaker associations were found in the China validation set. Individuals among the highest 5% of PRS115‐EAS/EUR have a 2.52‐fold elevated CRC risk compared with the medium (41‐60th) risk group and have a 12% to 20% risk of developing CRC by age 85. PRSs constructed using results from fine‐mapping and genome‐wide algorithms did not perform as well as PRS115‐EAS and PRS115‐EAS/EUR in risk prediction, possibly due to a small sample size. Our results indicate that CRC PRSs are promising in predicting CRC risk in East Asians and highlights the importance of using population‐specific data to build CRC risk prediction models.
Aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy of a non-graphitizing carbon

Non-graphitizing carbons (NGCs) are an important class of solid carbons which cannot be converted into graphite by high-temperature heat treatment. They include commercially valuable materials such as activated carbon and glassy carbon. These carbons have been intensively studied for decades, but there is still no agreement about their detailed atomic structure, or the reasons for their resistance to graphitization. The first models for graphitizing and NGCs were proposed by Rosalind Franklin in the early 1950s, and while these are broadly correct, they are incomplete. Many alternative models of NGCs have been put forward since Franklin's time, but none has received universal acceptance. Diffraction and spectroscopic techniques can provide important insights into the nature of these carbons, but only direct microscopic imaging can reveal their true atomic structure. Here, we apply aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy to an activated carbon prepared from waste biomass and present evidence for the presence of pentagonal and heptagonal carbon rings. This provides support for a model of the structure of NGC made up of curved fragments in which non-hexagonal rings are dispersed randomly throughout hexagonal networks.
Energetic dissociation of individual and species ranges

The use of energy is universal to all life forms and all levels of biological organization, potentially linking processes operating at variable scales. Individual and species ranges might be energetically constrained, yet divergent metabolic limitations at both scales can disassociate these individual and species traits. We analysed comparative energetic and range data to unravel the mechanistic basis of the dissociation between individual and species range sizes observed among mammalian species. Our results demonstrate that basal, or maintenance, metabolism negatively correlates with individual ranges, but, at the same time, it positively correlates with species ranges. High aerobic capacity, i.e. maximum metabolic rate, positively correlates with individual ranges, but it is weakly related to species range size. These antagonistic energetic constraints on both ranges could lead to a disassociation between individual and species traits and to a low covariation between home and species range sizes. We show that important organismal functions, such as basal and maximum metabolic rates, have the potential to unravel mechanisms operating at different levels of biological organization and to expose links between energy-dependent processes at different scales.
Detecting (non)parallel evolution in multidimensional spaces: angles, correlations and eigenanalysis

Parallelism between evolutionary trajectories in a trait space is often seen as evidence for repeatability of phenotypic evolution, and angles between trajectories play a pivotal role in the analysis of parallelism. However, properties of angles in multidimensional spaces have not been widely appreciated by biologists. To remedy this situation, this study provides a brief overview on geometric and statistical aspects of angles in multidimensional spaces. Under the null hypothesis that trajectory vectors have no preferred directions (i.e. uniform distribution on hypersphere), the angle between two independent vectors is concentrated around the right angle, with a more pronounced peak in a higher-dimensional space. This probability distribution is closely related to t- and beta distributions, which can be used for testing the null hypothesis concerning a pair of trajectories. A recently proposed method with eigenanalysis of a vector correlation matrix can be connected to the test of no correlation or concentration of multiple vectors, for which simple test procedures are available in the statistical literature. Concentration of vectors can also be examined by tools of directional statistics such as the Rayleigh test. These frameworks provide biologists with baselines to make statistically justified inferences for (non)parallel evolution.
Predicting the Molecular Mechanism of Sini Jia Renshen Decoction in Treating Severe COVID-19 Patients Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Objective: To explore the potential mechanism of Sini jia Renshen Decoction (SJRD) in the treatment of COVID-19 based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods: The active compounds and potential therapeutic targets of SJRD were collected through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP). Then a string database was used to build a protein–protein interactions (PPI) network between proteins, and use the David database to perform gene ontology (GO) function enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis on core targets. Then we used Cytoscape software to construct an active ingredients-core target-signaling pathway network, and finally the active ingredients of SJRD were molecularly docked with the core targets to predict the mechanism of SJRD in the treatment of COVID-19. Results: A total of 136 active compounds, 51 core targets and 93 signaling pathways were selected. Molecular docking results revealed that quercetin, 3,22-dihydroxy-11-oxo-delta(12)-oleanene-27-alpha-methoxycarbonyl-29-oic acid, 18α-hydroxyglycyrrhetic acid, gomisin B and ignavine had considerable binding ability with ADRB2, PRKACA, DPP4, PIK3CG and IL6. Conclusions: This study preliminarily explored the mechanism of multiple components，multiple targets，and multiple pathways of SJRD in the treatment of COVID-19 by network pharmacology．
Natural Cembrane Diterpenoids From the Soft Coral Sinularia querciformis

Chemical examination of Sinularia querciformis afforded one new cembranoid, querciformolide F (1), along with four known cembranoids, sinulariolone (2), granosolide A (3), querciformolide A (4), and sinulariolide (5). The structures of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic (IR, ESIMS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR) analysis and by comparison with those previously reported in the literature. Compounds 2 to 4 were found to exhibit significant anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 mouse macrophages through attenuating the expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) proteins.
Effect of Irrigation on the Control of Red Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by Water-Resistant and Standard Fire Ant Baits

Abstract The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Buren), is an invasive pest of agricultural, urban, and natural areas. It is also considered a public health pest due to its painful stings. While it can be efficiently controlled by commercially available fire ant baits formulated with a corn-grit carrier, rain or irrigation is thought to degrade the carrier, compromising bait effectiveness. This study assessed the effect of irrigation on the efficacy of water-resistant and standard fire ant bait formulations, by comparing worker number, brood volume, and queen survivorship after access to water-soaked baits and to irrigated, bait-treated sod. In initial testing, wetted water-resistant and standard baits reduced fire ant colonies less than dry baits, both when baits were given to colonies directly and when colonies were given access to baits broadcasted (i.e., scattered) atop sod. Comparisons of the efficacy of piled versus broadcast applications of water-resistant and standard baits revealed reductions of >88% in adults and brood and no surviving queens for all bait treatments. This result was unexpected because piled baits were hypothesized to be better protected from irrigation than broadcast bait applications. In a field study, irrigated water-resistant and standard baits caused similar and significantly higher reductions in fire ant foraging activity relative to an untreated control. These results indicated that both the water-resistant and standard fire ant bait provided significant fire ant reductions even after irrigation.