Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial patterning of nanofibrous collagen scaffolds modulates fibroblast morphology

Current knowledge about cell-biomaterial interactions is often based on two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems like protein-coated glass slides. However, such smooth surfaces cannot mimic the nanofibrous environment of the native extracellular matrix (ECM). It is therefore a major challenge to transfer the results from 2D surfaces to 3D protein scaffolds with biomimetic nanofiber architecture. To understand the influence of different protein topographies on the cell response we introduce a new process to fabricate binary collagen scaffolds of variable thickness with spatially controlled regions of nanofibrous and smooth topography. We used pH-induced self-assembly to prepare collagen nanofibers with diameters between 130 and 150 nm on glass surfaces, which were partly covered with a polymer mask. After cross-linking with glutaraldehyde, smooth collagen films were prepared on the remaining glass regions. Atomic force microscopy revealed a much lower surface roughness of smooth collagen compared to nanofibers. Subsequently, we studied the viability, morphology and migration of 3T3 fibroblasts on both collagen topographies. We found small, elongated fibroblasts with few, long filopodia on collagen nanofibers whereas large, flat fibroblasts with many short filopodia were observed on smooth collagen. Actin stress fibers on collagen nanofibers were substantially reduced in comparison to smooth collagen. Live cell tracking revealed that fibroblasts on thin nanofibrous collagen migrated faster than on smooth collagen. In summary, binary collagen scaffolds enabled us for the first time to study cell responses to topographical cues on a single protein scaffold. In future, it will be intriguing to transfer our patterning process to other proteins to study fundamental principles of topography-dependent cell recognition processes.
A proteomic analysis of grain yield-related traits in wheat

Abstract Grain yield, which is mainly contributed by tillering capacity as well as kernel number and weight, is the most important trait to plant breeders and agronomists. Label-free quantitative proteomics was used to analyse yield-contributing organs in wheat. These were leaf sample, tiller initiation, spike initiation, ovary and three successive kernel development stages at 5, 10 and 15 days after anthesis (DAA). We identified 3182 proteins across all samples. The largest number was obtained for spike initiation (1673), while the smallest was kernel sample at 15 DAA (709). Of the 3182 proteins, 296 of them were common to all seven organs. Organ-specific proteins ranged from 148 in ovary to 561 in spike initiation. When relative protein abundances were compared to that of leaf sample, 347 and 519 proteins were identified as differentially abundant in tiller initiation and spike initiation, respectively. When compared with ovary, 81, 35 and 96 proteins were identified as differentially abundant in kernels sampled at 5, 10 and 15 DAA, respectively. Our study indicated that two Argonaute proteins were solely expressed in spike initiation. Of the four expansin proteins detected, three of them were mainly expressed during the first 10 days of kernel development after anthesis. We also detected cell wall invertases and sucrose and starch synthases mainly during the kernel development period. The manipulation of these proteins could lead to increases in tillers, kernels per spike or final grain weight, and is worth exploring in future studies.
Enhanced Visible and Ultraviolet Light-Induced Gas-Phase Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Thin Films Modified by Increased Amount of Acetylacetone in Precursor Solution for Spray Pyrolysis

TiO2 thin films, modified by acetylacetone (AcacH) in solution, were deposited on glass substrate by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and tested for photocatalytic activity in a multi-section continuous flow reactor by degradation of acetone and acetaldehyde under ultraviolet and visible light. The increase in molar ratio of AcacH in respect of titanium (IV) isopropoxide (TTIP) from 1:5 to 1:8 modified the electronic structure of the films, favoring enhanced photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity was enhanced approximately twofold on the film with molar ratio 1:8 under both irradiations; the film completely oxidized 10 ppm of acetone and acetaldehyde. The photocatalytic efficacy of TiO2 films in oxidation of air pollutants was three times higher compared to the industrial glass Pilkington ActivTM. Moreover, all the synthesized films indicate antibacterial efficiency against E. coli of over 99% under ultraviolet. TiO2 film, with TTIP:AcacH molar ratio 1:8 having great possibility for its commercial use as a material for indoor air purification.
Asymmetric regional dynamics in the Portuguese economy: debt, openness and local revenues

ABSTRACT Regional convergence stands out in the adjustment of the Portuguese economy that followed the international financial crisis. This outcome contrasts with increasing regional inequality in other European countries. We investigate the role of regional indebtedness, openness to trade and local fiscal autonomy in regions’ economic performance. Using a novel database, we contribute to a better understanding of the linkages between macroeconomic imbalances and regional economic dynamics. Our estimates suggest that regions’ indebtedness had a negative impact on economic growth. On the other hand, openness to trade and fiscal decentralization had a positive impact on economic growth.
Distribución y fenología de la familia Riodinidae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) en el bosque tropical subcaducifolio de Oaxaca, México

Distribution and phenology of the family Riodinidae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in the tropical semi-deciduous forest of Oaxaca, Mexico. Riodinidae is very diverse in the Neotropical region; in Mexico the knowledge about the biology of most of its species is still scarce. For the present work, exhaustive and systematic collections of Riodinidae were carried out in 14 localities of the Loxicha region, Oaxaca, Mexico, particularly in two with tropical semi-deciduous forest. In addition, previous records for this region were examined, in an altitude range of 70 to 2 500 m; the majority collected by the staff of the Museo de Zoologia (Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM). We obtained 4 029 specimens from the fieldwork and MARIPOSA database, 2 306 of them are present in the tropical semi-deciduous forest (TSF). The total number of species for the region is 52, distributed in 22 genera and two subfamilies; the most diverse subfamily was Riodininae (50 species). Using parametric estimators the richness of the family was calculated for the two locations of TSF studied and the entire region, reaching theoretical values greater than 80 %. When comparing the results with other lists of species of the Mexican Pacific, it is concluded that the Loxicha region harbours the greatest richness of Riodinidae. In the tropical semi-deciduous forest, transects were carried out for two years, allowing microhabitats to be distinguished from more than 40 species, which are described and illustrated with drawings and in situ photographs. In this vegetation type most species of the Loxicha region are recorded. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 503-558. Epub 2018 June 01.
Entrepreneurship resilience and Iranian organizations: application of the fuzzy DANP technique

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to find and prioritize human factors affecting entrepreneurial resilience. Design/methodology/approach The statistical population consists of prominent Iranian university professors in this field, and the statistical sample is ten of them randomly. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. After a comprehensive review of the theoretical foundations, the research model was formed with 5 main indices and 21 sub-indices. Fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-based (DANP) technique and MATLAB software was used for analysis. Findings Indicators of Values and Beliefs (A3) and Motivation Index (E5) as Influential Indicators and indicators of personal attributes (S1), formal and informal relationships (R2) and human capital (C4) are effective indicators of entrepreneurial resilience. In the final rankings, formal and informal relationships had the highest weight with 0.263 and the lowest with priority and motivation index with 0.080. In addition to the final rankings of the sub-indices, the indicators of first-hand experience, recognition of opportunities and consulting services were given the highest weight. Practical implications This study proposes that resilience is a real-life process and not just a list of each characteristic. All human beings have an innate ability to be resilient, but resilience is a learned and learned behavior, and the emphasis of experts is on the learning of various resilience skills. Originality/value This study contributes to the field of entrepreneurship by examining the institutional backgrounds of entrepreneurship resilience.
eDNA‐based biomonitoring at an experimental German vineyard to characterize how management regimes shape ecosystem diversity

There metabarcoding analysis of both soil and vane trap Our data revealed four principal results. (a) Overall richness of vane trap samples was unaffected by the management systems, likely due to the relatively small scale of the plots compared to the ranges of taxa such as the arthropods caught. In contrast, however, the richness of soil-living taxa appeared to be negatively affected by conventional treatments, at harvest. (b) Analysis of similarity revealed that the species composition was significantly differentiated by management systems for both fungal and other taxa in both sample types. (c) Taxonomic analysis of fungi revealed that the management system drove differentiation in the abundance patterns for wine-related
Heterogeneous Power‐Law Flow With Transient Creep in Southern California Following the 2010 El Mayor‐Cucapah Earthquake

The rheology of the crust and mantle and the interaction of viscoelastic flow with seismic/aseismic slip on faults control the state of stress in the lithosphere over multiple seismic cycles. The rheological behavior of rocks is well constrained in a laboratory setting, but the in situ properties of the lithosphere and its lateral variations remain poorly known. Here, we access the lower‐crustal rheology in Southern California by exploiting 8 years of geodetic postseismic deformation following the 2010 El Mayor‐Cucapah earthquake. The data illuminate viscoelastic flow in the lower crust with lateral variations of effective viscosity correlated with the geological province. We show that a Burgers assembly with dashpots following a nonlinear constitutive law can approximate the temporal evolution of stress and strain rate, indicating the activation of nonlinear transient creep before steady‐state dislocation creep. The transient and background viscosities in the lower crust of the Salton Trough are on the order of ~1018 and ~1019 Pa s, respectively, about an order of magnitude lower than those in the surrounding regions. We highlight the importance of transient creep, nonlinear flow laws, and lateral variations of rheological properties to capture the entire history of postseismic relaxation following the El Mayor‐Cucapah earthquake.
Irrigation, drinking water quality, and child nutritional status in northern Ethiopia

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between household drinking water quality and irrigation and child nutrition using primary household survey data and microbiological water sample testings in two rural districts of Ethiopia. Anthropometric measures such as height-for-age z-scores (HAZ), weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ), and weight-for-height z-scores (WHZ) were used to measure stunting, underweight, and wasting, respectively. Our survey results show that 41% of the children are stunted, 26% underweight, and 8% wasted. More than 58% of household’s stored drinking water samples were also contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria. The multivariate regression results suggest that irrigation farming and on-premises water sources are significantly associated with lower HAZ, while uncontaminated household stored drinking water quality is correlated with higher WAZ. The results also reveal that dietary diversity score and the number of antenatal care visits by the primary caretaker are statistically significant predictors of child nutritional status. These findings, however, cast doubt on the hypothesis that irrigated agriculture exclusively has a positive effect on child nutrition outcomes.
Monitoring of the PAL Enzymatic Activity and Polyphenolic Compounds in Leaves and Fruits of Two Myrtle Cultivars during Maturation

The leaves and berries of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) are rich in phenolic compounds, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and flavanols. The richness of these antioxidant compounds allows the potential use of myrtle biomasses as raw materials for medicinal and functional food products. Most of the phenolic compounds originate from the phenylpropanoid pathway, where phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) enzyme activates the first step. The objective of this research is to study the activity of PAL as related to accumulation in the myrtle fruits and leaves of some phenolic compounds in the period between blossom and full berry ripening. With this aim, we compared two model genotypes with different fruit coloration. In leaves and berries of two cultivars, ‘Giovanna’ with pigmented berries and ‘Grazia’ with white berries, the PAL activity and content of polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and tannins were determined with spectrophotometric methods. PAL activity was quite constant in leaves and variable in berries: Greater in berries of ‘Giovanna’ than in those of ‘Grazia’ cultivar, and increasing from berry color-break to full ripening. In berries, a positive correlation between PAL and flavonoids (r = 0.44), and between PAL and anthocyanins (r = 0.69), as well as a negative correlation between PAL and total polyphenols (r = −0.471), were found.
Identification of the timewise thermal conductivity in a 2D heat equation from local heat flux conditions

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to identify numerically the timewise thermal conductivity coefficients in the two-dimensional heat equation in a rectangular domain using initial and Dirichlet boundary conditions and the local heat flux as over-specification conditions. The measurement data represented by the local heat flux is shown to ensure the unique solvability of the inverse problem solution. The two-dimensional inverse problem is discretized using an alternating direction explicit method. The resulting constrained optimization problem is minimized iteratively by employing the MATLAB subroutine. Exact and noisy input data are inverted numerically. The root mean square error values for various noise levels p for both smooth and non-smooth continuous timewise thermal conductivity coefficients Examples are compared. Numerical results are presented and discussed in order to illustrate the performance of the inversion for thermal conductivity components identification. This study will be significant to researchers working on computational and mathematical methods for solving inverse coefficient identification problems with applications in heat transfer and porous media.
Spillover of sea scallops from rotational closures in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (United States)

We examined evidence for larval spillover (increased recruitment outside the closures) of Atlantic sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) due to rotational closures in the Mid-Atlantic Bight using a 40-year fisheries survey time series and a larval transport model. Since the first closure of the Hudson Canyon South (HCS) area in 1998, mean recruitment in the two areas directly down-current from this closure, Elephant Trunk (ET) and Delmarva (DMV), increased significantly by factors of about 7 and 2, respectively. Stock–recruit plots indicate that low biomasses in HCS were associated with reduced mean recruitment in ET and DMV. Simulations indicate that larvae spawned in HCS often settle in the two downstream areas and that model-estimated settlement (based on gonad biomass in HCS and year-specific larval transport between the areas) is correlated with observed recruitment. This study gives strong evidence that the rotational closure of HCS has induced increased recruitment in down-current areas.
To what extent do governance, government funding and chief executive officer characteristics influence executive compensation in U.K. charities? Insights from the social theory of agency

This paper draws on agency theory, as extended by the social theory of agency (STA) (Wiseman, Cuevas-Rodriguez & Gomez-Mejia, 2012), to examine the association between governance arrangements, reliance on government funding, chief executive officer (CEO) non-profit experience, and CEO compensation in the UK charity sector. We rely on a hand-collected data for the largest 240 charities and find that greater trustee board diversity (specifically gender and education diversity) and the existence of a remuneration or nomination committee are positively associated to CEO compensation. The results also show that a reliance on government funding and CEO’s non-profit work experience, together with the presence of a finance/accounting expert on the audit committee are negatively associated with CEO compensation. The existence of an audit committee, internal audit function, use of specialist external auditor and CEO characteristics (gender, ethnicity and managerial experience) are not significant factors. Our findings are largely consistent with the STA’s propositions. Specifically, executive compensation levels reflect the CEO’s ability to work with a diverse board while a higher reliance on government funding signals the role of the State’s pressures in moderating CEO compensation. Finally, in a context characterised by altruism and public benefit, financial rewards are not seen as the dominant ‘value metric’, resulting in lower compensation for CEOs previously working in the sector. Our findings have policy implications, specifically in relation to the role, composition and effectiveness of governance structures (e.g. trustee boards, audit and remuneration committees) in overseeing the design of executive compensation schemes within the charity sector.
Overtourism in Iceland: Fantasy or Reality?

Iceland has been one of the main destinations that have been incorporated into the discourse of overtourism. However, Iceland is different to many other supposed overtourism destinations in that its tourism is based on natural areas. Nevertheless, destination discourses can play an important part in influencing tourist decision-making and government and industry policy making. A media analysis was conducted of 507 online media articles on overtourism in Iceland that were published in 2018, with the main themes being identified via content analysis. The results indicated that the media discourse represented only a partial picture of overtourism and the crowding phenomenon in Iceland, with mechanisms to respond to crowding, the satisfaction level of tourists with their Icelandic nature experience, and local people’s support for tourism being underreported. Some of the findings reflect that of other media analyses. However, there are considerable discontinuities between media representations and discourses of overtourism in Iceland, which highlight the importance of national- or destination-level media analysis. The media analysis illustrates the need for a better understanding of different destination discourses and their influence.
Two-component generalized bent-cable models

Abstract This paper presents an innovative Bayesian method for assessing the status and progression of HIV infection using biomarkers such as the CD4 count and viral load variables. A distribution of viral loads in subjects starting antiretroviral treatment and followed over time may show a mixture of two subgroups: one subgroup representing “non-progressor” subjects and another subgroup of “progressor” subjects. In modeling these groups, we use a mass point and a right-skewed continuous distribution in which trajectories of repeated observations of viral load exhibit multiphasic features along with a gradual transition period. The commonly used method for describing these phasic patterns is a bent-cable model with a quadratic function for modeling the gradual transition phase. A quadratic function may be too restrictive for adequately modeling the transition period. Thus, we we extend the bent-cable model within the context of a two-component Tobit growth model by relaxing the assumption of a quadratic function for a gradual transition period and accounting for measurement errors in CD4 count. The proposed methods are demonstrated using real data from an AIDS clinical study.
A fast and low-power level shifter for multi-supply voltage designs

This paper proposes a high-speed and ultra-low power level shifter (LS) capable of realizing wide-range voltage level conversion. Two key features are contained in the presented LS to support its superior performances. First, a novel boost control circuit is proposed to boost input voltage and strengthen pull-down driven capability, which results in significant improvement of operation speed and conversion range. Second, multi-threshold COMS (MTCMOS) and sub-threshold device sizing techniques are employed to reduce the static current, thereby obtaining ultra-low leakage power consumption. Post-layout simulation results demonstrate that the proposed LS implemented with SMIC 55-nm technology can convert 140 mV low-voltage to 1.2 V. Meanwhile, when evaluated with the low supply voltage of 0.3V at 1 MHz frequency, the transition energy of the presented LS is 87.35 fJ. Moreover, the static power consumption and propagation delay are only 64.2 pW and 18.07ns, respectively.
Something is not quite right: Effects of two land uses on anuran diversity in subtropical grasslands

Although habitat modification is considered one of the main causes of biodiversity loss, the relative contribution of different rural land uses to biodiversity conservation is far less known. Additionally, the realization of the multidimensionality of biodiversity demands studies integrating variation of functional traits and phylogenetic information as complements to address the effects of land use on the structure of animal communities. Herein, we investigated the effects of land use (i.e., intensive agricultural and extensive livestock rearing) on functional and phylogenetic diversity of anuran communities in farmland ponds from the Uruguayan savanna ecoregion, while considering the effects of local factors (i.e., water depth) on species composition. We surveyed adults and tadpoles in 22 ponds and quantified five traits related to tadpole feeding, habitat use, and predator avoidance. Tadpole identification was corroborated by DNA barcoding based on a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. We observed a decline in phylogenetic mean nearest taxon distance associated with increase of surrounding agricultural land use. While land use intensification did not affect richness (functional or phylogenetic), ponds in livestock ranches hosted about four times more tadpoles than agricultural ponds. Functional evenness decreased with water depth, although such relationship disappeared when considering phylogenetic non‐independence. Our results indicated that specific anuran clades were more sensitive to intensification in land use, reinforcing a recent view of phylogenetic homogenization following habitat conversion. Additionally, our study suggests that extensive cattle grazing over wide native pastures may provide an alternative more compatible with conservation than short‐term crops in subtropical grasslands.