Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microfluidic devices and methods for use thereof in multicellular assays of secretion

Methods and devices are provided herein for identifying a cell population comprising an effector cell that exerts an extracellular effect. In one embodiment the method comprises retaining in a microreactor a cell population comprising one or more effector cells, wherein the contents of the microreactor further comprise a readout particle population comprising one or more readout particles, incubating the cell population and the readout particle population within the microreactor, assaying the cell population for the presence of the extracellular effect, wherein the readout particle population or subpopulation thereof provides a direct or indirect readout of the extracellular effect, and determining, based on the results of the assaying step, whether one or more effector cells within the cell population exerts the extracellular effect on the readout particle. If an extracellular effect is measured, the cell population is recovered for further analysis to determine the cell or cells responsible for the effect.
A Spatial Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Platform spQSP-IO for Simulations of Tumor–Immune Interactions and Effects of Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy

Simple Summary Mathematical and computational models, such as quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) models, are becoming a popular tool in drug discovery. The advancement of imaging techniques creates a unique opportunity to further expand these models and enhance their predictive power by incorporating characteristics of individual patients embedded in the image data obtained from tissue samples. The aim of this study is to develop a platform which combines the strength of QSP models and spatially resolved agent-based models (ABM), and create a model of cancer development in the context of anti-cancer immunity and immune checkpoint inhibition therapy. The model can be applied in virtual clinical trials and biomarker discovery to help refine trial design. Abstract Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) models have become increasingly common in fundamental mechanistic studies and drug discovery in both academic and industrial environments. With imaging techniques widely adopted and other spatial quantification of tumor such as spatial transcriptomics gaining traction, it is crucial that these data reflecting tumor spatial heterogeneity be utilized to inform the QSP models to enhance their predictive power. We developed a hybrid computational model platform, spQSP-IO, to extend QSP models of immuno-oncology with spatially resolved agent-based models (ABM), combining their powers to track whole patient-scale dynamics and recapitulate the emergent spatial heterogeneity in the tumor. Using a model of non-small-cell lung cancer developed based on this platform, we studied the role of the tumor microenvironment and cancer–immune cell interactions in tumor development and applied anti-PD-1 treatment to virtual patients and studied how the spatial distribution of cells changes during tumor growth in response to the immune checkpoint inhibition treatment. Using parameter sensitivity analysis and biomarker analysis, we are able to identify mechanisms and pretreatment measurements correlated with treatment efficacy. By incorporating spatial data that highlight both heterogeneity in tumors and variability among individual patients, spQSP-IO models can extend the QSP framework and further advance virtual clinical trials.
Psychometric Testing of the Spanish Modified Version of the Mini-Suffering State Examination

Background: The mini-suffering state examination is a valid and reliable measure that have been used to assess suffering in patients with advanced cancer. The aim of this study was to carry out a psychometric analysis of the Spanish version of the mini-suffering state examination. Method: A validation study was conducted. Seventy-two informal caregivers of deceased patients in palliative care were included in this study. A psychometric testing of content validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity with the Spanish version of the quality of dying and death questionnaire was performed. Results: The original instrument was modified to be used by informal caregivers. The content validity was acceptable (0.96), and the internal consistency was moderate (α = 0.67). Convergent validity was demonstrated (r = −0.64). Conclusion: The Spanish modified version of the MSSE showed satisfactory measurement properties. The Spanish modified version of MSSE can be useful to facilitate screening, monitor progress, and guide treatment decisions in end-of-life cancer patients.
Editorial Comment: Sexual Dysfunction in Parkinson Disease: A Multicenter Italian Cross-sectional Study on a Still Overlooked Problem

In this Italian multicenter observational study, more than 200 patients with Parkinson’s disease were evaluated with The International Index of Erectile Function and the Female Sexual Function identifying loss of libido in 68% of men and 53% of women. Overall, 57% of patients reported that Parkinson’s disease impacted their sexual life and desire and stated that it affected especially due to reduced sexual desire and the frequency of sexual intercourses. Men were more likely to be affected than women. Authors advice clinicians dealing with PD and other chronic illness to pay more attention to sexual issues. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex disorder with motor impairment (rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia, and postural instability) and nonmotor manifestations/symptoms (NMS) which can precede the motor symptoms that result in progressive disability and severe complications, factors that have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL) (1, 2). The importance of NMS such as depression and cognitive impairment and gender differences in influencing quality of life, as well as progression, institutionalization at advanced disease stage and therapeutic response of Parkinson’s disease patients gained more relevance in recent years (3, 4). Mood, NMS burden, and gait problems seem to be the most important factors affecting health-related and global perceived QoL in non-demented PD patients (5, 6). The NMS of PD include neuropsychiatric disorders, sleep disorders, sensory symptoms, and autonomic disorders. Bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction (also called “pelvic organ” dysfunctions) are some of the most common autonomic disorders (7). Among the NMS, urinary and sexual dysfunctions Vol. 47 (5): 1057-1060, September October, 2021
Emergency Department Patient Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Emergency department (ED) utilization changed notably during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States. The purpose of the study was to gain a more thorough understanding of ED patient experience during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used the consensual qualitative approach to analyze open-ended responses from post-ED patient experience surveys from February through July 2020. Comments were included in the analysis if they pertained to care during the pandemic (eg, mentioned “the virus,” “masks,” “PPE”). A total of 242 COVID-specific comments from 192 unique patients were analyzed (median age 49 years; 69% female). Six themes were identified: visually observed changes, experiences of process changes, expressions of understanding or appreciation, sense of security, COVID-19 disease-specific comments, and “classic” satisfaction comments that align with previous literature on patient experience. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health care systems across the world in unique and unprecedented ways. This study identified six themes that better elucidate ED patient experience during an unprecedented public health crisis.
Effects of Functional Fitness Enhancement through Taekwondo Training on Physical Characteristics and Risk Factors of Dementia in Elderly Women with Depression †

The purpose of this research is to identify the correlations between functional fitness enhancement through a long-term Taekwondo training program and the physical characteristics and risk factors of dementia among elderly women with depression. The study has found that conducting three 60-min Taekwondo training sessions a week for the duration of 12 weeks has enhanced a number of functional fitness indexes, including hand grip strength/weight (p < 0.01), 4-m gait speed (p < 0.001), 3-m timed up and go (p < 0.05), and figure-of-eight track (p < 0.05), and significantly improved general health condition indexes as well, including percent fat (p < 0.05), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (p < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the arteriosclerosis index and cognitive function have been found to be improved with an increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF; which prevents dementia) and a significant decrease of β-amyloid—a risk factor of dementia—as a result of enhancements in serum lipids and adiponectin, confirming the positive effects of functional fitness enhancement on fighting depression, promoting physical characteristics, and reducing the risk factors of dementia.
Risk Factors for Depressive Symptoms in Korean Adult Stroke Survivors: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV–VII (2007–2018)

Depressive symptoms are common in stroke survivors, and they are associated with poor outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the depressive symptoms in stroke survivors and the risk factors for depressive symptoms in stroke survivors. We included 33,991 participants who were 19 years or older and had completed a questionnaire about the history of stroke from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) IV–VII (from 2007 to 2018). The mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score and the prevalence of major depression, depressive symptoms, antidepressant treatment, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts were significantly higher in stroke survivors than in non-stroke participants (4.4 vs. 2.6, 16.2% vs. 5.3%, 24.7% vs. 9.3%, 3.8% vs. 1.4%, 21.7% vs. 4.8%, and 2.5% vs. 0.6%, respectively, all p < 0.001). Complex sample multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the female sex, unemployment, a low education level, a low family income, and activity limitations were independent risk factors for depressive symptoms in stroke survivors. Activity limitations showed the highest odds ratio among the independent factors, and its causes were further analyzed. The most common causes of activity limitations were stroke sequelae and musculoskeletal problems. To reduce depressive symptoms in stroke survivors, attention needs to be paid to minimizing stroke sequelae and musculoskeletal problems along with regular screening for depressive symptoms.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Children with Special Health Care Needs and Their Parents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Context: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an emerging treatment for improving psychological well-being. Objective: To summarize research evaluating the effects of ACT on psychological well-being in children with special health care needs (SHCN) and their parents. Data Sources: An electronic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid/EMBASE and PsycINFO (January 2000–April 2021). Study Selection: Included were studies that assessed ACT in children with SHCN (ages 0–17y) and/or parents of children with SHCN and had a comparator group. Data Extraction: Descriptive data were synthesized and presented in a tabular format, and data on relevant outcomes (e.g., depressive symptoms, stress, avoidance and fusion) were used in the meta-analyses to explore the effectiveness of ACT (administered independently with no other psychological therapy) compared to no treatment. Results: Ten studies were identified (child (7) and parent (3)). In children with SHCN, ACT was more effective than no treatment at helping depressive symptoms (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −4.27, 95% CI: −5.20, −3.34; p < 0.001) and avoidance and fusion (SMD = −1.64, 95% CI: −3.24, −0.03; p = 0.05), but not stress. In parents of children with SHCN, ACT may help psychological inflexibility (SMD = −0.77, 95% CI: −1.07, −0.47; p < 0.01). Limitations: There was considerable statistical heterogeneity in three of the six meta-analyses. Conclusions: There is some evidence that ACT may help with depressive symptoms in children with SHCN and psychological inflexibility in their parents. Research on the efficacy of ACT for a variety of children with SHCN and their parents is especially limited, and future research is needed.
Short‐term impact of fire on the total soil microbial and nitrifier communities in a wet savanna

Abstract Savannas are characterized by the coexistence of grasses and trees. Fires are critical for their coexistence, because they decrease the survival of tree seedlings and saplings and their recruitment to the adult stage. In some humid savannas, perennial grasses inhibit nitrification and trees stimulate nitrification, which likely favors coexistence between trees and grasses. However, fires may influence plant capacity to control nitrogen cycling, which could subsequently influence tree–grass coexistence and savanna nitrogen budget. Therefore, we sampled soil in a humid savanna of Ivory Coast under the dominant nitrification‐inhibiting grass species and the dominant nitrification‐stimulating tree species and under bare soil before and after (i.e., 5 days) fire during the long dry season. We quantified the total microbial and nitrifier abundances and transcriptional activities and the nitrification enzyme activity. Fire decreased soil water content, probably by increasing evaporation and, maybe, by triggering the growth of grasses, and increased soil ammonium availability likely due to ash deposition and increased mineralization. Fire did not impact the total archaeal, bacterial, or fungal abundances, or that of the nitrifiers. Fire did not impact archaeal transcriptional activity and increased bacterial and fungal total transcriptional activities. In contrast, fire decreased the archaeal nitrifier transcriptional activities and the nitrification enzymatic activity, likely due to the often reported resumption of the growth of nitrification‐inhibiting grasses quickly after the fire (and the subsequent increase in root exudation). These results pave the way for a better understanding of the short‐term effects of fire on nitrogen cycling and tree–grass competition for nitrogen.
Facial femininity and perceptions of eating disorders: A reverse-correlation study

Eating disorders are prevalent in college students but college students are not accurate in identifying the presence of eating disorders (ED) especially when race is involved. Much has been researched about diagnostic ability in vignette form, but little outside of this. For example, it is not known how facial features, such as perceived femininity, may affect observers’ beliefs about the likelihood of disordered eating depending on race. In the present study, we examined how biases regarding facial appearance and disordered eating may differ depending on the race of face images. Using a technique called reverse correlation, we estimated the image templates associated with perceived likelihood of disordered eating using both White and Black Faces. Specifically, we recruited 28 college students who categorized White and Black faces according to perceived likelihood of an eating disorder diagnosis in the presence of image noise. Subsequently, we asked Amazon Mechanical Turk participants to categorize the resulting race-specific face templates according to perceived ED likelihood and femininity. The templates corresponding to a high likelihood of an ED diagnosis were distinguished from low-likelihood images by this second independent participant sample at above-chance levels. For Black faces, the templates corresponding to a high likelihood of an ED diagnosis were also selected as more feminine than low-likelihood templates at an above-chance level, whereas there was no such effect found for White faces. These results suggest that stereotyped beliefs about both femininity and the likelihood of disordered eating may interact with perceptual processes.
How Can Agricultural Corporate Build Sustainable Competitive Advantage through Green Intellectual Capital? A New Environmental Management Approach to Green Agriculture

Based on natural resource-based theory, this study constructed a relational model between green intellectual capital, green innovation, and an agricultural corporate sustainable competitive advantage. The samples included a total of 341 agricultural companies in China, and multiple regression methods are used for the analysis. The results showed that green product innovation and green process innovation had a mediation effect between green human capital, green structural capital, green relational capital, and the sustainable competitive advantage of agricultural corporate. Beyond the simple moderation effect, a new integrated moderated-mediation effect model was established. It was shown that environmental leadership, green organizational identification, and green dynamic capability had different moderated-mediation effects under different conditions. The study is expected to close the previous research gaps and insufficiency in agricultural corporate environmental management and green agricultural. The empirical results and conclusions bring enlightenment and meaningful theoretical guidance to managers, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in the green and sustainable development of agricultural corporates. The new environmental management path can help agricultural corporates conduct green innovation effectively, adapt to the green agricultural products market, and achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Ultimately, this will help to accelerate the development of green agriculture.
Soluble Expression and Efficient Purification of Recombinant Class I Hydrophobin DewA

Hydrophobins are small proteins (<20 kDa) with an amphipathic tertiary structure that are secreted by various filamentous fungi. Their amphipathic properties provide surfactant-like activity, leading to the formation of robust amphipathic layers at hydrophilic–hydrophobic interfaces, which make them useful for a wide variety of industrial fields spanning protein immobilization to surface functionalization. However, the industrial use of recombinant hydrophobins has been hampered due to low yield from inclusion bodies owing to the complicated process, including an auxiliary refolding step. Herein, we report the soluble expression of a recombinant class I hydrophobin DewA originating from Aspergillus nidulans, and its efficient purification from recombinant Escherichia coli. Soluble expression of the recombinant hydrophobin DewA was achieved by a tagging strategy using a systematically designed expression tag (ramp tag) that was fused to the N-terminus of DewA lacking the innate signal sequence. Highly expressed recombinant hydrophobin DewA in a soluble form was efficiently purified by a modified aqueous two-phase separation technique using isopropyl alcohol. Our approach for expression and purification of the recombinant hydrophobin DewA in E. coli shed light on the industrial production of hydrophobins from prokaryotic hosts.
Chemical kinetics tabulation for pollutants prediction in internal combustion engines

Due to environmental concerns, automotive manufacturers aim at acquiring knowledge of physical and chemical phenomena inside the combustion chamber to understand and control pollutant emissions. Despite the outstanding performances in the domain of high performance intensive numerical calculation, the numerical simulations of the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engines do not allow a detailed description of the chemical processes. The present study aims to improve the turbulent combustion models based on Large Eddy Simulation approach by developing an efficient cost cutting tabulation method to fit chemistry in engine combustion modeling. A particular attention is paid to the capacity of the tabulation method to reproduce the pollutant species formation during the compression stroke, the reaction phase, and the power stroke of an ICE. This method assumes that IC engine chemistry can be mapped by a collection of 0-D reactor computation data, using for coordinates: the progress variable, the energy and the density. In a first step, the chemical prediction capability of this technique is validated on an auto-igniting variable volume simulation. The Tabulated Thermo Chemistry (TTC) method was initially developed to couple the chemical kinetics with compressible Navier-Stokes solvers for low Mach number flows. In this work, the TTC method was adapted in the framework of variable pressure combustion. A TTC version dedicated to engine combustion is thus coupled in an unsteady compressible LES code. The method of coupling was successfully tested both on simplified configurations and on a Rapid Compression Machine.
Predictors of Vaccine Hesitancy: Implications for COVID-19 Public Health Messaging

Objectives: Successful immunization programs require strategic communication to increase confidence among individuals who are vaccine-hesitant. This paper reviews research on determinants of vaccine hesitancy with the objective of informing public health responses to COVID-19. Method: A literature review was conducted using a broad search strategy. Articles were included if they were published in English and relevant to the topic of demographic and individual factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Results and Discussion: Demographic determinants of vaccine hesitancy that emerged in the literature review were age, income, educational attainment, health literacy, rurality, and parental status. Individual difference factors included mistrust in authority, disgust sensitivity, and risk aversion. Conclusion: Meeting target immunization rates will require robust public health campaigns that speak to individuals who are vaccine-hesitant in their attitudes and behaviours. Based on the assortment of demographic and individual difference factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy, public health communications must pursue a range of strategies to increase public confidence in available COVID-19 vaccines.
The complete chloroplast genome of Rhamnus crenata Siebold & Zuccarini (Rhamnaceae)

Abstract Rhamnus crenata Siebold & Zuccarini is deciduous shrub or small tree plant that widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions of East to Southeast Asia. It has a chloroplast genome structure similar to that of other species of Rhamnus. It is 160,454 bp in size, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 88,884 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,734 bp and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,418 bp. A total of 122 genes were annotated, including 80 protein-coding genes, 38 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The overall GC content is 30.71%. Phylogenetic analysis shows that R. crenata is clustered with R. taquetii and R. globosa.