Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Men, women and STEM: Why the differences and what should be done?

It is a well-known and widely lamented fact that men outnumber women in a number of fields in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). The most commonly discussed explanations for the gender gaps are discrimination and socialization, and the most common policy prescriptions target those ostensible causes. However, a great deal of evidence in the behavioural sciences suggests that discrimination and socialization are only part of the story. The purpose of this paper is to highlight other aspects of the story: aspects that are commonly overlooked or downplayed. More precisely, the paper has two main aims. The first is to examine the evidence that factors other than workplace discrimination contribute to the gender gaps in STEM. These include relatively large average sex differences in career and lifestyle preferences, and relatively small average differences in cognitive aptitudes – some favouring males, others favouring females – which are associated with progressively larger differences the further above the average one looks. The second aim is to examine the evidence suggesting that these sex differences are not purely a product of social factors but also have a substantial biological (i.e. inherited) component. A more complete picture of the causes of the unequal sex ratios in STEM may productively inform policy discussions.
Sexual Conflict through Mother’s Curse and Father’s Curse

In contrast with autosomes, lineages of sex chromosomes reside for different amounts of time in males and females, and this transmission asymmetry makes them hotspots for sexual conflict. Similarly, the maternal inheritance of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) means that mutations that are beneficial in females can spread in a population even if they are deleterious in males, a form of sexual conflict known as Mother’s Curse. While both Mother’s Curse and sex chromosome induced sexual conflict have been well studied on their own, the interaction between mitochondrial genes and genes on sex chromosomes is poorly understood. Here, we use analytical models and computer simulations to perform a comprehensive examination of how transmission asymmetries of nuclear, mitochondrial, and sex chromosome-linked genes may both cause and resolve sexual conflicts. For example, the accumulation of male-biased Mother’s Curse mtDNA mutations will lead to selection in males for compensatory nuclear modifier loci that alleviate the effect. We show how the Y chromosome, being strictly paternally transmitted provides a particularly safe harbor for such modifiers. This analytical framework also allows us to discover a novel kind of sexual conflict, by which Y chromosome-autosome epistasis may result in the spread of male beneficial but female deleterious mutations in a population. We christen this phenomenon Father’s Curse. Extending this analytical framework to ZW sex chromosome systems, where males are the heterogametic sex, we also show how W-autosome epistasis can lead to a novel kind of nuclear Mother’s Curse. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive framework to understand how genetic transmission asymmetries may both cause and resolve sexual conflicts.
The Role of PGC-1a Overexperssion in Skeletal Muscle Exosome Biogenesis and Secretion

Skeletal muscle functions as an endocrine organ. Exosomes, small vesicles containing mRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins, are secreted from muscle cells and facilitate cell-to-cell communication. Our recent work found greater exosome release from oxidative compared to glycolytic muscle. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) is a key driver of mitochondrial biogenesis, a characteristic of oxidative muscle. It was hypothesized that PGC1α regulates exosome biogenesis and secretion in skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study is to determine if PGC-1α regulates skeletal muscle exosome biogenesis and secretion. On day 4 of differentiation, human primary myotubes from vastus lateralis biopsies from lean donors (BMI < 25.0 kg/m2) were exposed to adenovirus encoding human PGC-1α or GFP control. On day 6 of differentiation, culture media was replaced with exosome-free media. On day 8, cells were collected for mRNA and protein analysis, and culture media was collected for exosome isolation. Overexpression of PGC-1α increases regulators of exosome biogenesis in the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) pathway: Alix (CON: 1.0 ± 0.2 vs. PGC-1α: 7.6 ± 3.8), TSG-101 (CON: 1.0 ± 0.1 vs. PGC-1α: 7.3 ± 2.1), CD63 (CON: 1.0 ± 0.17 vs. PGC-1α: 3.7 ± 0.4), Clathrin (CON: 1.0 ± 0.2 vs. PGC-1α: 11.6 ± 2.5), and the secretion pathway: Rab27b (CON: 1.0 ± 0.3 vs. PGC-1α: 3.2 ± 0.3), STAM (CON: 1.0 ± 0.3 vs. PGC-1α: 7.3 ± 0.6), and VTA1 (CON: 1.0 ± 0.1 vs. PGC-1α: 7.3 ± 2.4). Exosome count and total extracellular vesicle count were not significantly different from control. Overexpression of PGC-1α increases gene 9 expression of regulators of exosome biogenesis and secretion in human primary myotubes. In the future, in vitro studies assessing exosomal content from PGC-1 OE cells as well as in vivo effects of PGC-1 OE on exosome production and release should be investigated to further understand the role PGC-1 plays in exosome secretion.
Plant nitrogen and phosphorus utilization under invasive pressure in a montane ecosystem of tropical China

Exotic plant invasion has been changing the vegetation composition and function of terrestrial ecosystems. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are often the limiting nutrients for terrestrial plants. However, under invasive pressure, in situ plant N and P usage mechanisms remain poorly understood but are pivotal for a better understanding of plant invasion and coexistence in invaded ecosystems. Nitrogen and P concentrations, natural 15N abundance (δ15N values) were investigated in leaves and soils under different invasive pressures (here expressed as the biomass percentages of invasive plants in each plot) for two invasive species (Chromolaena odorata and Ageratina adenophora) in Xishuangbanna in tropical China. Soil N and P concentrations revealed the relatively N‐rich but P‐poor status of our study site. Under invasion, soil inorganic N (dominated by ammonium) and available P did not increase significantly. The leaf N and P of invasive plants increased, while leaf N increased but P decreased for native species. Natural δ15N mass balance between leaves and soil inorganic N sources revealed that ammonium dominated N utilization in both natives and invaders. Invasive plants showed ammonium utilization with increasing leaf N levels, while native plants under no invasion showed nitrate utilization with increasing leaf N levels. Synthesis. Increased soil ammonium availability contributed to preferential ammonium utilization by invasive plants and elevated ammonium utilization in natives, but the P competition of natives decreased in invaded ecosystems. These novel insights into nutrient dynamics in invaded ecosystems enhance our understanding of plant invasion and coexistence mechanisms.
L2 teachers’ mobile-related beliefs and practices: contributions of a professional development initiative

Abstract Mobile phones are turning into a growingly widespread educational tool across various contexts. However, the scope of research on teachers’ role in mobile-oriented instruction is limited, much less examining how professional development influences their associated beliefs and practices. Grounded in sociocultural theory, this study aimed to fill some of the void by exploring the contributions of a professional development initiative framed around mobile phone usage to L2 teachers’ beliefs and practices. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and online reflections. Data analyses indicated that the teachers gradually developed further awareness of educational exploitability of mobile phones and experienced restructuring in their associated beliefs. Additionally, the analysis of observational data showed direct and indirect patterns of utilizing mobiles by the teachers, undergoing changes during the research process. Results of the study offer implications for mobile-related teacher education, particularly professional development courses geared toward enhancing in teachers greater awareness of utilizing mobile devices.
Abordagem clínico-cirúrgica de desvio portossistêmico congênito em pequenos animais: quais as novidades?

It was performed a review of pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnostic and main treatments and techniques for portosystemic shunts in small animals. The researched Sources were: a 20 years retrospective research of CAB, MEDILINE and collection of Faculty of MedicineVeterinary and Animal Science (FMVZ) of the Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Congenital portossystemic shunts (CPSS) are one of the vascular abnormalities more common in dogs. Small breeds are the most affected. The CPSS in dogs and cats, are vascular communications between portal venous system and systemic venous system, in other words, a secondary via. There are two types of CPSS, the intrahepatic and extrahepatic shunts, observed in large and small breeds, respectively. The diagnosis is based on clinical findings of young dogs referring delayed development, lethargy, convulsions, behavior disturbances mainly after food ingestion, poor recovery after anesthesia or sedation, hepatic encephalopathy crisis observed breeds with predisposition. Definitive diagnosis of CPSS is done by abdominal doppler ultrasonography, computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance. Medical management can alleviate signs of hepatic encephalopathy. However, long term treatment is questionable because blood circulation is still bypassing liver to systemic circulation, leading to disturbance of hepatotropic factors distribution to the liver, resulting in liver atrophy. The only definitive treatment is the surgical one. The ideal technique is the progressive attenuation of anomalous vessel and avoid acute portal hypertension. Within the described techniques for surgical treatment, the use of ameroid constrictor represents the safest way of vessel closure. On the other way, some CPS patients can suffer severe perioperative complications. So they need specific clinical and surgical approaches associated to precise image diagnostic to correct localization of the anomalous vessel and surgical success.
Analysis of corner kicks in FIFA 2018 World Cup

The aim of this study is to analyse the corner kicks taken in the matches played in the FIFA 2018 World Cup. A total of 606 corner kicks that were used in 64 matches in the competitions were analysed. The data were analysed in terms of the parameters of the direction in which the corner kick is taken (right, left), the time interval in which the corner kick is taken (1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-90), the region where the ball falls in the penalty area (1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th , 6 th .), the player whom the ball meets in the penalty area (goalkeeper, defender, striker), the body part which contacts the ball (head, foot, hand), attack result (goal, out, corner kick, clearing the ball, goalkeeping) and the body part with which the goals are scored (head, foot). The results indicated that in FIFA 2018 World Cup competitions, the right and left corner kicks were almost evenly distributed, but unlike previous matches, the corner kicks were taken from the left between the 16 th and the 30 th minutes, and from the right between the 61 st and the 75 th minutes. Contrary to the previous World Cups, it was found that fewer corner kicks were taken by spreading the game to both wings, the time interval changed in the search for goals from corner kicks, the target area was used predominantly, and the attacking players stood out compared to the defence players, and an equal number of goals were scored with the head and foot.
Population ageing and local governments: Does engagement with the local community change over the lifecycle?

ABSTRACT Population ageing is having a wide range of effects on societies, governments and economies, reflecting changes in people’s preferences and needs over their lifecycle and across generations. When it comes to local governments, these effects depend on people’s attachment to the local community and their participation in its political life, which influence their ability and willingness to shape policy through the political process. Using individual level data from the World Values Survey, and taking account of the joint drivers of community attachment and political participation, the empirical analysis shows that both attachment and participation rise with age, albeit in a non-linear manner. These findings are robust to differences in people’s attitudes to democracy, trust in government and exposure to major political and institutional changes, such as democratic transitions and fiscal/political decentralisation.
Charged stellar structure in Tolman–Kuchowicz spacetime

In this paper, we have presented the Einstein–Maxwell equations which are described by the spherically symmetric spacetime in the presence of charge by exploiting the Tolman–Kuchowicz spacetime. The corresponding field equations are constructed and the form of charge distribution is chosen to be [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a constant quantity. We also find the values of unknown constants from junction conditions and discuss the behavior of effective energy density, effective radial and tangential pressure and anisotropic factor with two viable [Formula: see text] models. We examine the physical stability of charged stellar structure through energy conditions, causality and stability condition. We use modified form of TOV equation for anisotropic charged fluid sphere to analyze the equilibrium condition. In this work, we model the compact star candidate SAXJ 1808.4 – 3658 and study the compactness level and anisotropic behavior corresponding to the variation of physical parameters which are involved in [Formula: see text] models. Further, we evaluate some important properties such as mass-radius ratio compactness factor and surface redshift. It is depicted from this study that the obtained solutions provide strong evidences for more realistic and viable stellar model.
La diversité de l’écosystème microbien du tractus digestif équin

Le gros intestin (caecum et colon) des equins heberge un microbiote abondant et divers dont une fonction essentielle est la degradation et la fermentation des parois vegetales ingerees en produits directement utilisables par l’hote. Ce microbiote est compose de cinq grandes communautes microbiennes (protozoaires, bacteries, champignons, Archaea et virus) parmi lesquelles les bacteries ont ete les plus etudiees. Ces communautes sont specifiques de l’espece equine. La diversite des protozoaires comme celle des champignons et des virus a ete decrite du point de vue taxonomique mais leur implication dans les processus de digestion est mal connue. La diversite des Archaea a ete peu etudiee, pourtant leur etude permettrait de mieux evaluer la contribution de l'elevage equin a la production de gaz a effet de serre. La communaute bacterienne est diverse, appartenant majoritairement aux phyla des Firmicutes et desBacteroides, et comprend des bacteries dont les differentes fonctions (cellulolytiques, amylolytiques, glycolytiques, utilisatrices de lactate et proteolytiques) sont impliquees dans la digestion des aliments ingeres, en particulier des parois vegetales. Cette communaute bacterienne est differente entre le contenu caecal et colique d’une part, et les feces d’autre part. Des facteurs propres a l’hote (type genetique, variabilite individuelle) et/ou environnementaux (regime alimentaire, saison, exercice physique) sont susceptibles de modifier la diversite des communautes microbiennes du gros intestin equin. Ceci peut provoquer des changements importants conduisant a des desequilibres et parfois a l’apparition de pathologies (colites, fourbures).
Recent Advances in the Understanding of Adiponectin and Its Role in the Aetiology and Pathogenesis of Childhood Obesity

Obesity is a contemporary disease of epidemic proportions according to national and international reports, considered as the consequence of consumerism and life style modifications, which is both true for developed as well as developing countries. Several reports have shown that 30-35% of the population in developed countries is obese or overweight. Numerous studies have reported the etiology and pathogenesis of obesity, under the possible molecular mechanisms of this condition. One of the main molecules studied is adiponectin, considered as a key adipokine. The present work attempts to review the current knowledge on adiponectin and its participation in the etiology and pathogenesis of childhood obesity.
Heterogeneous visco-hyperelastic numerical modelling of crumb rubber-modified asphalt binders

ABSTRACT Three-dimensional numerical finite element (FE) biphasic models verified against the experimental data were developed aiming to study the accuracy of FE modelling in the prediction of viscoelastic properties of crumb rubber-modified asphalt binders. In the numerical models, crumb rubber-modified asphalt binders are considered as a heterogeneous composite material consisting of the original asphalt binder and rubber particles which respectively have viscoelastic and hyperelastic behaviours. Three different dosages of crumb rubber including 10, 15 and 20 wt% of the original asphalt are added. To capture rubber particles distribution within the bituminous matrix, a random generation method by using the MOA software (French acronym for random object modeller) was implemented based on rubber’s minimum and maximum particle sizes. In order to determine the viscoelastic properties of the original asphalt binder as well as the crumb rubber-modified ones, the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) was used. The excellent agreement between the numerical FE modelling and experimental results witnessed the capability of biphasic finite element models to predict the visco-hyperelastic behaviour of crumb rubber-modified asphalt binders having an error lower than 9%.
APPLICATION EXPLORATION OF B METHOD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAFETY-CRITICAL CONTROL SYSTEMS

This article presents our experience in developing a tram control system using the B formal method. We find that there are some notable issues when using an abstract machine model to express software systems and in automatic code generation, for which we have summarized the solutions. In this paper, we illustrate how to use the B module to develop complex systems, the rational choice of implication relations of the invariants, as well as the correctness of the variable definition in the model for code generation. The solutions to these issues can help developers with less experience to better use the B method to develop the reliable systems.
Synthesis, spectrophotometric and DFT studies of new Triazole Schiff bases as selective naked-eye sensors for acetate anion

ABSTRACT Selective anion sensors can be used in the colourimetric detection of certain anions. In the present study, two new 1,2,4-triazole derivatives containing thiol group and azo moiety 3a (nitrile derivative) and 3b (methoxy derivative) were synthesised by condensation of 4-(4-amino-5-mercapto-4 H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)phenol (1) and aromatic aldehydes containing azo groups 2a and 2b under acidic conditions. The nitrile derivative 3a acted as a selective naked-eye sensor for acetate anions in a mixture of dimethyl sulphoxide and water (9:1 by volume). It interacted with the acetate anions in a 1:2 stoichiometry with strong positive cooperativity and an overall association constant (β12) exceeding 2 × 108 M−2. The detection limit of 3a towards the acetate anion was found to be 0.66 × 10−5 M. The DFT studies showed that both 3a and 3b were similar in their electronic properties, but the internal charge transfer for 3a was responsible for the positive response to acetate anions. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
TuMV triggers stomatal closure but reduces drought tolerance in Arabidopsis

In this work the effects of TuMV infection on stomatal closure and water balance were studied in Arabidopsis. Thermal imaging analyses showed that TuMV-infected plants had consistently higher foliar temperature than mock treated controls. Non-destructive time-course experiments revealed that this differential phenotype was stable during both daytime and nighttime. This effect was due to reduced gas exchange in TuMV-infected plants, as observed through stomatal conductance and stomatal aperture assays in systemic leaves. Measurements of daily water consumption and initial dehydration rate further proved that TuMV infection reduced water loss. Salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) contents were increased in TuMV-infected plants. In addition, the expression of ABI2, involved in ABA signaling, was enhanced, and ABCG40 (required for ABA transport into guard cells) was highly induced upon TuMV infection. Hypermorfic abi2-1 mutant plants, but no other ABA or SA biosynthetic, signaling or degradation mutants tested abolished both stomatal closure and low stomatal conductance phenotypes caused by TuMV. Therefore, not overall ABA levels, but localized differences in ABA import and perception in guard cells, are likely to be responsible for stomatal closure observed under TuMV infection. Plants simultaneously subjected to drought and viral stresses showed higher mortality rates than their mock-inoculated drought stressed counterparts, consistent with down-regulation of drought-responsive gene RD29A, both in short and long day conditions. Our findings indicate that in spite of stomatal closure triggered by TuMV, additional phenomena cause compromised drought tolerance of TuMV-infected Arabidopsis plants. ii) Significance statement Characterization of the physiological responses controlling plant water management under combined stresses and the genes behind them is important in the current climate change scenario, which poses multifaceted challenges to crops. We found that TuMV infection induced ABA and SA accumulation and stomatal closure in Arabidopsis, alongside with overexpression of ABCG40 (the transporter of ABA to guard cells), whereas the dehydration-responsive gene RD29A was downregulated, concomitantly with increased plant susceptibility to drought stress under infection.
Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: Endoscopic and Surgical Resection for Ampullary Lesions

Ampullary lesions (ALs) can be treated by endoscopic (EA) or surgical ampullectomy (SA) or pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). However, EA carries significant risk of incomplete resection while surgical interventions can lead to substantial morbidity. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis for R0, adverse-events (AEs) and recurrence between EA, SA and PD. Electronic databases were searched from 1990 to 2018. Outcomes were calculated as pooled means using fixed and random-effects models and the Freeman-Tukey-Double-Arcsine-Proportion-model. We identified 59 independent studies. The pooled R0 rate was 76.6% (71.8–81.4%, I2 = 91.38%) for EA, 96.4% (93.6–99.2%, I2 = 37.8%) for SA and 98.9% (98.0–99.7%, I2 = 0%) for PD. AEs were 24.7% (19.8–29.6%, I2 = 86.4%), 28.3% (19.0–37.7%, I2 = 76.8%) and 44.7% (37.9–51.4%, I2 = 0%), respectively. Recurrences were registered in 13.0% (10.2–15.6%, I2 = 91.3%), 9.4% (4.8–14%, I2 = 57.3%) and 14.2% (9.5–18.9%, I2 = 0%). Differences between proportions were significant in R0 for EA compared to SA (p = 0.007) and PD (p = 0.022). AEs were statistically different only between EA and PD (p = 0.049) and recurrence showed no significance for EA/SA or EA/PD. Our data indicate an increased rate of complete resection in surgical interventions accompanied with a higher risk of complications. However, studies showed various sources of bias, limited quality of data and a significant heterogeneity, particularly in EA studies.