Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of Complement C1q B Chain Overexpression and Its Latent Molecular Mechanisms in Cervical Cancer Tissues Using Multiple Methods

Aim The aim of this study is to demonstrate the expression and clinicopathological significance of complement C1q B chain (C1QB) in cervical cancer. Methods In total, 120 cervical cancer tissues, as well as 20 samples each of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), and benign cervical tissue, were collected to evaluate the expression of C1QB protein via immunohistochemical staining. We conducted an integrated analysis of C1QB mRNA expression in cervical cancer using public microarrays and RNA-seq data sets by calculating standard mean differences (SMDs). Simultaneously, we explored the relations of C1QB with clinicopathological parameters and the expression of P16, Ki-67, and P53. Results The expression of C1QB protein was higher in cervical cancer samples than that in benign cervical tissue, LSIL, and HSIL samples (p < 0.05). A combined SMD of 0.65 (95% CI: [0.52, 0.79], p < 0.001) revealed upregulation of C1QB mRNA in cervical cancer. C1QB expression may also be related to the depth of infiltration, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion in cervical cancer (p < 0.05). We also found that C1QB protein expression was positively correlated with P16 and Ki-67 expression in cervical cancer (p < 0.05). The gene set enrichment analysis showed that C1QB may participate in apoptosis and autophagy. A relationship was predicted between C1QB expression and drug sensitivity to cisplatin, paclitaxel, and docetaxel. Conclusion We confirmed the overexpression of C1QB in cervical cancer at both mRNA and protein levels for the first time. C1QB may serve as an oncogene in the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer, but this possibility requires further study.
Aesthetics and Agency in Experiments

The aim of this paper is to place agency front-and-center in the aesthetics of science, in particular, in the aesthetics of experiments. Our strategy is to consider how elements of experimental design serve to generate aesthetic experiences in those carrying out the experiment: in addition to well-designed experiments generating clear, elegant results, they also confront the experimenter with the experimental phenomena, afford the exercise of agency throughout experimental runs, and underlie stable, intersubjective experiences across agents. Taking our queue from C. Thi Nguyen’s recent Games: Agency as Art (2020) , we draw an analogy between experiments and games: both involve artificial practical environments which are designed to give participants an aesthetic experience of their own agency. We apply the account to Newton’s optical work and contrast these with contemporary experimental practices, where significantly more ‘experimental distance’ holds between the experimenter and the result. Taking the agency of experimental practice seriously enables a richer account of the role of aesthetic values, sensibility and judgments in science.
Measuring Protons with Photons: A Hand-Held, Spectrophotometric pH Analyzer for Ocean Acidification Research, Community Science and Education

Ocean Acidification (OA) is negatively affecting the physiological processes of marine organisms, altering biogeochemical cycles, and changing chemical equilibria throughout the world’s oceans. It is difficult to measure pH broadly, in large part because accurate pH measurement technology is expensive, bulky, and requires technical training. Here, we present the development and evaluation of a hand-held, affordable, field-durable, and easy-to-use pH instrument, named the pHyter, which is controlled through a smartphone app. We determine the accuracy of pH measurements using the pHyter by comparison with benchtop spectrophotometric seawater pH measurements, measurement of a certified pH standard, and comparison with a proven in situ instrument, the iSAMI-pH. These results show a pHyter pH measurement accuracy of ±0.046 pH or better, which is on par with interlaboratory seawater pH measurement comparison experiments. We also demonstrate the pHyter’s ability to conduct both temporal and spatial studies of coastal ecosystems by presenting data from a coral reef and a bay, in which the pHyter was used from a kayak. These studies showcase the instrument’s portability, applicability, and potential to be used for community science, STEM education, and outreach, with the goal of empowering people around the world to measure pH in their own backyards.
On the Evolution of Nano-Structures at the Al–Cu Interface and the Influence of Annealing Temperature on the Interfacial Strength

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are invoked to simulate the diffusion process and microstructural evolution at the solid–liquid, cast-rolled Al–Cu interfaces. K-Means clustering algorithm is used to identify the formation and composition of two types of nanostructural features in the Al-rich and Cu-rich regions of the interface (i.e., the intermetallic Al2Cu near the Al-rich interface and the intermetallic Al4Cu9 near the Cu-rich interface). MD simulations are also used to assess the effects of annealing temperature on the evolution of the compositionally graded microstructural features at the Al–Cu interfaces and to characterize the mechanical strength of the Al–Cu interfaces. It is found that the failure of the Al–Cu interface takes place at the Al-rich side of the interface (Al2Cu–Al) which is mechanically weaker than the Cu-rich side of the interface (Cu–Al4Cu9), which is also verified by the nanoindentation studies of the interfaces. Centrosymmetry parameter analyses and dislocation analyses are used to understand the microstructural features that influence deformation behavior leading to the failure of the Al–Cu interfaces. Increasing the annealing temperature reduces the stacking fault density at the Al–Cu interface, suppresses the generation of nanovoids which are precursors for the initiation of fracture at the Al-rich interface, and increases the strength of the interface.
Drought-Induced Responses in Maize under Different Vapor Pressure Deficit Conditions

Water stress in plants depends on the soil water level and the evaporative demand. In this study, the physiological, biochemical, and molecular response of maize were examined under three evaporative demand conditions (low—1.00 kPa, medium—2.2 kPa, and high—4.00 kPa Vapor pressure deficit (VPD)) at three different soil water content (SWC); well-watered, 45%, and 35% SWC. Plants grown at 35% SWC under high VPD had significant (p < 0.01) lower leaf weight, leaf area, and leaf number than low VPD. Plants under low, medium, and high VPD with drought stress (45% and 35% SWC) showed a 30 to 60% reduction in their leaf area compared to well-watered plants. Gas exchange parameters including photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency exhibited significant differences (p < 0.01) between treatments, with the highest reduction occuring at 35% SWC and high VPD. Both drought and VPD significantly (p < 0.01) increased C4 enzyme levels and some transcription factors with increased stress levels. Transcription factors primarily related to Abssisic Acid (ABA) synthesis were upregulated under drought, which might be related to high ABA levels. In summary, severe drought levels coupled with high VPD had shown a significant decrease in plant development by modifying enzymes, ABA, and transcription factors.
Halal Label on Japanese Skincare and Its Implication on Indonesian Muslim Consumers’ Buying Decision through Religiosity

This research aims to examine the impact of halal label on buying decision that is mediated by religiosity. Previous studies on these variables did not illustrate consistent findings. Therefore, this research is done to provide more empirical evidence by studying Skin Aqua, a Japanese skincare brand in Indonesia that has recently displayed a halal label on its new packaging. Using a survey method, the questionnaires were distributed to 100 respondents selected by using the purposive sampling technique. The path analysis technique was used to examine the hypotheses. The result indicates that halal labels cannot directly bring a significant influence on buying decisions, but religiosity does. Moreover, religiosity may strengthen the impact of halal labels on Indonesian Muslim consumers’ buying decisions, because the effect of Halal Label to Buying Decision is more significant in an indirect manner rather than the direct one.
A Diversity Index to assess college engineering team performance

We have developed a Diversity Index (DI) to better quantify the impact of eight traditionally underrepresented demographic categories in chemical engineering (“Women,” “Non-Binary,” “Black or African American,” “Hispanic or Latino/a,” “Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Middle Eastern, or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander” (Asian/other for a short version), “LGBQT,” “Disabilities,” and “First Generation”). We then compared the DI with a Minority Index (MI), which only reflects the ratio of “Non-White American male” members to the total number of members but exhibits poor representation for diversity when teams are conformed mainly by minority representatives. We obtained data by instructor observation (no surveys taken at this time) from 69 self-selected teams that performed 37 technical projects and 101 outreach projects in eight junior/senior chemical engineering courses. Results show that the DI is a promising quantitative tool to analyze and track diversity impact. For outlook, we hypothesize that a “diversity rewarded” option may incentivize students to self-select team members that bring increased diversity, promote inclusion, and yield statistically measurable improvement in performance.
Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences Seroprevalence of Newcastle disease in indigenous chickens in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Newcastle disease (ND) is a disease of high economic importance to poultry farmers in Nigeria. Its impact on poultry include illness of poultry, reduction in egg production, immunosuppression, and death. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Newcastle disease in indigenous (local) chickens from 2 poultry abattoirs in the Ilorin metropolis. A total of 400 blood samples were aseptically collected in plain bottles from the jugular veins of local chickens at slaughter using exsanguination and transported to the laboratory in batches. Sera samples were harvested from the blood by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes, after which they were stored at -20 o C before serological assay. The sera were subjected to Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) test to check for the presence of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antibody following a standard procedure with titer values for each sample recorded. The geometric mean of the HI antibody titer (GMT) and the percentages of detectable NDV HI antibody titer were calculated using descriptive statistics. Of the 400 serum samples examined, 53 (13.25%) were positive for ND antibodies, with titre value ≥ 1:16. The location from which the birds were selected had no significant relationship with the prevalence of ND antibodies as both Oja tuntun (11.9%), and Ipata market (14.6%) had a closely similar prevalence of antibodies (p > 0.05). The feather arrangement of birds did not also have any significant impact on the prevalence of antibodies (p > 0.05). However, in this study, we observed a higher prevalence of antibodies among hens (14.7%) than in cocks (12.5%) or growers (8.9%). The high prevalence of ND antibodies in indigenous chickens in the study area showed the endemicity of the disease in the study areas. With most of the chickens are not vaccinated amid non-compliance to vaccine administration for local chickens. There is a need for poultry farmers in the study location to be educated on the importance of vaccinating poultry birds against ND.
Development of a Rapid Method for Detection of Bloom-forming Cyanobacteria and Algae in selected New Jersey Waterbodies

Harmful algal blooms have been reported in many parts of the world affecting water quality, human and animal health. Timely intervention depends on early detection of bloom-forming algae and cyanobacteria. Water samples were collected from 15 northern New Jersey freshwater bodies and each processed through coarse (3.0pm) and fine (0.45pm) pore filters which were dried then frozen at -20°C. Five small discs punched from the filters were resuspended in 500pl water for microscopic observation. Many microorganisms-cyanobacteria and algae were detected, whose distinction and identification based on morphology was not conclusive. Two genes of interest (The cyanobacterial phycocyanin and the 16S rDNA genes) were selected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using three primers. A quick DNA extraction protocol (using 5% chelex-100) was followed for rapid DNA extraction from filters for laboratory microorganism cultures and water samples from various freshwater bodies followed by PCR based assay. The cyanobacterial phycocyanin cpcBA IGSintergenic spacer gene was amplified by a pair of primers specifically designed to amplify this gene in cyanobacteria. 16S rDNA gene was amplified by two pairs of primers-one pair was universal, amplifying the gene in all bacteria, cyanobacteria and phototrophs while the other pair was designed to specifically amplify the gene in phototrophs. Cyanobacteria and algae were detected through microscopy and PCR based assay. Results suggest that these primers can be used to quickly determine the presence of cyanobacteria and/or algae in water samples from various waterbodies.
Land-cover and climate factors contribute to the prevalence of the ectoparasitic fungus Laboulbenia formicarum in its invasive ant host Lasius

Understanding the distribution of parasites is crucial for biodiversity conservation. Here, we studied the distribution of the ectoparasitic fungus Laboulbenia formicarum in native and invasive Lasius ants in a 2000 km 2 area. We screened over 16,000 ant workers in 478 colonies of ﬁ ve different species. We found that Lab. formicarum was rare in native Lasius species but infected 58% of the colonies of the invasive species Las. neglectus . At landscape scale, Lab. formicarum presence could not be explained by geographic and genetic distances between Las. neglectus colonies but was associated with hotter and dryer climatic conditions and its prevalence in colonies increased with urbanization. Within infected colonies, fungal prevalence varied from 0 to 100 percent within meters and was negatively correlated with impervious ground cover. In a changing world, our ﬁ ndings emphasize the importance of land-use and climatic factors in shaping the distribution and prevalence of fungal parasites.
Societal economic burden of multiple sclerosis and cost-effectiveness of disease-modifying therapies

Background In an era of scarce resources, policy makers, neurologists and other stakeholders need to be aware of the economic burden of multiple sclerosis and the cost-effectiveness of disease-modifying therapies. The aim of this article is to provide a mini-review of these health economic facets of multiple sclerosis. Methods An umbrella review was conducted by searching PubMed and Google Scholar from 2002 until June 2022 for peer-reviewed systematic and narrative literature reviews. Results An extensive body of evidence corroborates that multiple sclerosis is associated with a substantial economic burden within and outside the health care sector, that costs of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis exceed those of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, that costs increase with disease severity and are influenced by the occurrence of relapses and therapy adherence. However, cost estimates and their breakdown into various components vary between countries. Economic evaluations show that disease-modifying therapies for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis are generally not cost-effective, but these results depend on the local setting. Cost-effectiveness of disease-modifying therapies improves when a societal perspective is taken and efficacy does not wane over a lifetime horizon, when oral administration forms or dosing strategies requiring less maintenance are introduced, and when generic versions enter the market. Reimbursement recommendations related to disease-modifying therapies also differ between countries. Conclusion The local context matters when calculating the societal economic burden of multiple sclerosis and the cost-effectiveness of disease-modifying therapies.
MnO2 coated multi-layer nanoplatform for enhanced sonodynamic therapy and MR imaging of breast cancer

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising new anti-tumor therapy that inhibits tumor growth by ultrasound activation of sonosensitizers to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the problems of hypoxia in the microenvironment within solid tumors and the effectiveness of SDT will decrease due to the little accumulation of sonosensitizers at the tumor site, as well as tumor cell tolerance, have limited the development of SDT. To overcome these problems, a core-shell structured nanoparticle (IR780/PLGA@MnO2 NPs) loaded with IR780 and manganese dioxide (MnO2) was developed as a nanocarrier to transport the sonosensitizer IR780 and the generated oxygen into the tumor tissue. The MnO2 shell layer of IR780/PLGA@MnO2 NPs can prevent the premature release of IR780 in the blood and also it can react with acidic and high H2O2, the generated oxygen can relieve tumor tissue hypoxia, and the generated Mn can enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity by acting as a contrast agent for MRI. More importantly, the released IR780 can produce ROS to kill tumor cells under ultrasound excitation. This PH-responsive and H2O2-triggered SDT based on the IR780/PLGA@MnO2NPs is an effective platform to inhibit tumor growth with negligible systemic toxicity. This work develops a multifunctional therapeutic integrated nanoplatform for breast cancer treatment, which is expected to be used in the clinic.
Vignette of Vigna domestication: From archives to genomics

The genus Vigna comprises fast-growing, diploid legumes, cultivated in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. It comprises more than 200 species among which Vigna angularis, Vigna radiata, Vigna mungo, Vigna aconitifolia, Vigna umbellata, Vigna unguiculata, and Vigna vexillata are of enormous agronomic importance. Human selection along with natural variability within these species encompasses a vital source for developing new varieties. The present review convokes the early domestication history of Vigna species based on archeological pieces of evidence and domestication-related traits (DRTs) together with genetics of domestication. Traces of early domestication of Vigna have been evidenced to spread across several temperate and tropical regions of Africa, Eastern Asia, and few parts of Europe. Several DRTs of Vigna species, such as pod shattering, pod and seed size, dormancy, seed coat, seed color, maturity, and pod dehiscence, can clearly differentiate wild species from their domesticates. With the advancement in next-generation high-throughput sequencing techniques, exploration of genetic variability using recently released reference genomes along with de novo sequencing of Vigna species have provided a framework to perform genome-wide association and functional studies to figure out different genes related to DRTs. In this review, genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to DRTs of different Vigna species have also been summarized. Information provided in this review will enhance the in-depth understanding of the selective pressures that causes crop domestication along with nature of evolutionary selection made in unexplored Vigna species. Furthermore, correlated archeological and domestication-related genetic evidence will facilitate Vigna species to be considered as suitable model plants.
DOCK2 and phosphoinositide-3 kinase δ mediate two complementary signaling pathways for CXCR5-dependent B cell migration

Naive B cells use the chemokine receptor CXCR5 to enter B cell follicles, where they scan CXCL13-expressing ICAM-1+ VCAM-1+ follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) for the presence of antigen. CXCL13-CXCR5-mediated motility is mainly driven by the Rac guanine exchange factor DOCK2, which contains a binding domain for phosphoinositide-3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) and other phospholipids. While p110δ, the catalytic subunit of the class IA phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) δ, contributes to CXCR5-mediated B cell migration, the precise interdependency of DOCK2, p110δ, or other PI3K family members during this process remains incompletely understood. Here, we combined in vitro chemotaxis assays and in vivo imaging to examine the contribution of these two factors during murine naïve B cell migration to CXCL13. Our data confirm that p110δ is the main catalytic subunit mediating PI3K-dependent migration downstream CXCR5, whereas it does not contribute to chemotaxis triggered by CXCR4 or CCR7, two other chemokine receptors expressed on naïve B cells. The contribution of p110δ activity to CXCR5-driven migration was complementary to that of DOCK2, and pharmacological or genetic interference with both pathways completely abrogated B cell chemotaxis to CXCL13. Intravital microscopy of control and gene-deficient B cells migrating on FDCs confirmed that lack of DOCK2 caused a profound migration defect, whereas p110δ contributed to cell speed and directionality. B cells lacking active p110δ also displayed defective adhesion to ICAM-1; yet, their migration impairment was maintained on ICAM-1-deficient FDCs. In sum, our data uncover two complementary signaling pathways mediated by DOCK2 and p110δ, which enable CXCR5-driven naïve B cell examination of FDCs.