Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selective breeding modifies mef2ca mutant incomplete penetrance by tuning the opposing Notch pathway

Deleterious genetic mutations allow developmental biologists to understand how genes control development. However, not all loss of function genetic mutants develop phenotypic changes. Many deleterious mutations only produce a phenotype in a subset of mutant individuals, a phenomenon known as incomplete penetrance. Incomplete penetrance can confound analyses of gene function and our understanding of this widespread phenomenon remains inadequate. To better understand what controls penetrance, we capitalized on the zebrafish mef2ca mutant which produces craniofacial phenotypes with variable penetrance. Starting with a characterized mef2ca loss of function mutant allele, we used classical selective breeding methods to generate zebrafish strains in which mutant-associated phenotypes consistently appear with low or high penetrance. Strikingly, our selective breeding for low penetrance converted the mef2ca mutant allele behavior from homozygous lethal to homozygous viable. Meanwhile, selective breeding for high penetrance converted the mef2ca mutant allele from fully recessive to partially dominant. Comparing the selectively-bred low- and high-penetrance strains revealed that the strains initially respond similarly to the mutation, but then gene expression differences between strains emerge during development. Thus, altered temporal genetic circuitry can manifest through selective pressure to modify mutant penetrance. Specifically, we demonstrate differences in Notch signaling between strains, and further show that experimental manipulation of the Notch pathway phenocopies penetrance changes occurring through selective breeding. This study provides evidence that penetrance is inherited as a liability-threshold trait. Our finding that vertebrate animals can overcome a deleterious mutation by tuning genetic circuitry complements other reported mechanisms of overcoming deleterious mutations such as transcriptional adaptation of compensatory genes, alternative mRNA splicing, and maternal deposition of wild-type transcripts, which are not observed in our system. The selective breeding approach and the resultant genetic circuitry change we uncovered advances and expands our current understanding of genetic and developmental resilience.
Surgical treatment for left ventricular-aortic discontinuity and Gerbode defect with endocarditis.

An extensive infection of the native aortic or prosthetic valve beyond the aortic annulus could be complicated with various types and degrees of tissue destruction. The left ventricular-aortic discontinuity resulting from extensive infective endocarditis often necessitates pericardial reconstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract and subsequent aortic root replacement. Furthermore, if the membranous ventricular septum is involved with infective tissue destruction, communication between the left ventricle and right atrium, known as a Gerbode defect, and complete atrioventricular block could occur. Surgical reconstruction of these complex pathologies is challenging, with high mortality and morbidity. Herein, we present a rare case of prosthetic valve endocarditis complicated with both left ventricular-aortic discontinuity and an acquired Gerbode defect. At the time of surgery, left ventricular outflow tract reconstruction and the technically more demanding aortic root replacement were considered inevitable because of extensive tissue destruction. However, we performed circumferential left ventricular outflow tract reconstruction with a xenopericardial patch and supra-annular aortic valve replacement using the Solo Smart bovine pericardial stentless valve as a technically less demanding alternative to aortic root replacement. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient is well 1 year postoperatively, without valvular dysfunction and recurrent infection.
Aprendizagem formal , não formal , informal para língua inglesa com o uso de convergência de mídias

Listening and speaking are essential skills in learning a foreign language for international tourism workers so that they can welcome and serve international tourists at an international standard of hospitality. This article aims at discussing a research which has been designing a methodology for an English for Specific Purpose program of for restaurant. Implementing and evaluating program for a restaurant staff mediated by different media: printed materials, applications for web and mobile devices, using media convergence and formal, non-formal and informal learning. The resources available in the program will be contextualized according to the socio-cultural reality of a touristic region: vocabulary and language functions actually used by restaurant staff in their daily activities with international tourists, thus providing hospitality. It aims at defining a program methodology which can be applied to other professionals and also to other languages.
Pressure and electric field tuning of Schottky contacts in PdSe2/ZT-MoSe2 van der Waals heterostructure

A two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure (PdSe2/ZT-MoSe2) has been investigated through vdW corrected density functional theory. ZT-MoSe2 acts as a Dirac material with an anisotropic Dirac cone and variable Fermi velocity (0.52–1.91 × 105 ms−1). The intrinsic Schottky barrier height can be effectively tuned by applying external pressure and an electric field to the heterostructure. The p-type Schottky barrier transforms into a p-type ohmic contact at pressure P ≈ 16 GPa. A positive electric field induces p-type ohmic contact while a negative electric field results in the transition from p-type Schottky contact to n-type Schottky contact, and finally to n-type ohmic contact at the higher values of the field. Moreover, the external positive (negative) electric field induces n-type (p-type) doping of ZT-MoSe2 in the heterostructure and remarkably controls the charge carrier concentration. Our results demonstrate that controlling the external pressure and electric field in a PdSe2/ZT-MoSe2 heterostructure can result in an unprecedented opportunity for the design of high-performance nanodevices.
People versus machines in the UK: Minimum wages, labor reallocation and automatable jobs

This study follows the Lordan and Neumark (2018) analysis for the US, and examines whether minimum wage increases affect employment opportunities in automatable jobs in the UK for low-skilled low-wage workers. Overall, I find that increasing the minimum wage decreases the share of automatable employment held by low-skilled low-wage workers, and increases the likelihood that workers in automatable jobs become dis-employed. On aggregate the effect size is modest, but I also provide evidence that these effects are larger in more recent years. The study also highlights significant heterogeneity by industry and demographic group, including more substantive adverse effects for older low-skilled workers in manufacturing, as well as effects at the intensive margin.
Using Evidence to Drive Impact: Developing the FP Goals Impact Matrix

Abstract When designing a family planning (FP) strategy, decision‐makers can choose from a wide range of interventions designed to expand access to and develop demand for FP. However, not all interventions will have the same impact on increasing modern contraceptive prevalence (mCP). Understanding the existing evidence is critical to planning successful and cost‐effective programs. The Impact Matrix is the first comprehensive summary of the impact of a full range of FP interventions on increasing mCP using a single comparable metric. It was developed through an extensive literature review with input from the wider FP community, and includes 138 impact factors highlighting the range of effectiveness observed across categories and subcategories of FP interventions. The Impact Matrix is central to the FP Goals model, used to project scenarios of mCP growth that help decision‐makers set realistic goals and prioritize investments. Development of the Impact Matrix, evidence gaps identified, and the contribution to FP Goals are discussed.
Intelligent glove for suppression of resting tremor in Parkinson’s disease

One of the significant symptoms in Parkinson’s disease is resting tremor. Resting tremor occurs when the muscle is relaxed, causing the limb to shake. Rhythmic muscle movement of the patients commonly happens within the range of 4 Hz to 6 Hz. Thus, reducing this type of tremor will help improve patients’ quality of life. In this paper, to suppress resting tremors, an intelligent glove was designed utilizing the concepts of vibrations and gyro effect. A rotating brass disc attached to the glove creates a gyroscopic effect of the smart glove. Therefore, the disc will do their utmost to stay upright and counter any input forces instantaneously by providing the counterforce. A reduction of more than 50 % with the intelligent glove is also shown.
Relations between Security Metrics for Template Protection Algorithms

This paper gives the formal definitions for security metrics proposed by Simoens et al. [12] and Nagar et al. [1], and analyze the relations. Simoens et al. [12] defined comprehensive metrics for all biometric template protection algorithms. Their security-related metrics are defined as the measurement of performance in various setting. Whereas [1] also defined similar but different performance-based metrics with a focus on the two-factor authentication scenario. One problem of performance-based metrics is its ambiguous relation with the security goals often discussed in the context of biometric cryptosystems [8]. The objective of this paper is to complement the previous work by Simoens et al. [12] in two points: (1) it gives formal definitions for metrics defined in [12] in order to make it applicable to biometric cryptosystems, and (2) it covers all security metrics for every variation in the two-factor authentication scenario, namely both or either of the key and/or the protected template is given to adversary.
Masters of communication: The brain of the banded cleaner shrimp Stenopus hispidus (Olivier, 1811) with an emphasis on sensory processing areas

The pan‐tropic cleaner shrimp Stenopus hispidus (Crustacea, Stenopodidea) is famous for its specific cleaning behavior in association with client fish and an exclusively monogamous life‐style. Cleaner shrimps feature a broad communicative repertoire, which is considered to depend on superb motor skills and the underlying mechanosensory circuits in combination with sensory organs. Their most prominent head appendages are the two pairs of very long biramous antennules and antennae, which are used both for attracting client fish and for intraspecific communication. Here, we studied the brain anatomy of several specimens of S. hispidus using histological sections, immunohistochemical labeling as well as X‐ray microtomography in combination with 3D reconstructions. Furthermore, we investigated the morphology of antennules and antennae using fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. Our analyses show that in addition to the complex organization of the multimodal processing centers, especially chemomechanosensory neuropils associated with the antennule and antenna are markedly pronounced when compared to the other neuropils of the central brain. We suggest that in their brains, three topographic maps are present corresponding to the sensory appendages. The brain areas which provide the neuronal substrate for these maps share distinct structural similarities to a unique extent in decapods, such as size and characteristic striated and perpendicular layering. We discuss our findings with respect to the sensory landscape within animal's habitat. In an evolutionary perspective, the cleaner shrimp's brain is an excellent example of how sensory potential and functional demands shape the architecture of primary chemomechanosensory processing areas.
The Effect of Organizational Justice and Leader-Member Relation on Job Satisfaction and Nurses Turnover Intentions With Perceived Ease of Movement as Moderator

Nurses have a big role in the success of patient’s care and the survival of a hospital. The nurses’ adequacy in number and quality needs to be maintained. The purpose of this research is to analyze the influence of organizational justice and leader-member relation on job satisfaction and turnover intentions. It also explains about the role of perceived ease of movement in the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intentions. This research was conducted by using a survey disbursed to its population of 391 nurses from 13 hospitals under D classification. The calculated sample were 245 nurses. It applied a sampling technique with a proportionate simple random sampling. Data was collected through list of questions and analyzed by using Structural Equation Method by applying the Amos Program. The analysis result reveals that organizational justice directly affects the turnover intentions and influences indirectly through job satisfaction. While, leader-member relation directly affects the turnover intentions and indirectly leads job satisfactions. Meanwhile, the perceived ease of movement strengthens job satisfaction in influencing the turnover intentions. The results of the study are expected to be one of considerations for hospital management to improve the nurse’s job satisfaction in an effort to reduce the nurse’s turnover intentions. Keywords—Organizational justice, Leadermember relation, Perceived ease of movement, Job satisfaction, Turnover intentions.
Estimating the degree to which distance and temperature differences drive changes in fish community composition over time in the upper Mississippi River

Similarity in community composition declines as distance between locations increases, a phenomenon that has been observed in a wide variety of freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. One driver of the distance-similarity relationship is the presence of environmental gradients that alter the suitability of sites for particular species. Although some environmental gradients, such as geology, do not change on a year-to-year basis, others, such as temperature, vary annually and over longer time periods. Here, we used a 21-year dataset of fish communities in the upper Mississippi River to examine the effect of distance on variation in community composition and to assess whether the effect of distance is primarily due to its effect on thermal regime. Because the Mississippi River is aligned mostly north-to-south, larger distances along the river roughly correspond to larger differences in latitude and therefore thermal regime. As expected, there was a moderate distance-similarity relationship, suggesting greater distance leads to less similarity. The effect of distance appeared to increase slightly over time. Using a subset of data for which air temperature was available, we compared models that incorporated both difference among sites in degree days (a surrogate for thermal regime) and physical distance (river km). Although physical distance presumably incorporates more environmental gradients than just temperature (and other potential mechanisms), temperature alone appears to be more strongly associated with differences in the Mississippi River fish community than distance.
Electronic Consultation in Primary Care Between Providers and Patients: Systematic Review

Background Governments and health care providers are keen to find innovative ways to deliver care more efficiently. Interest in electronic consultation (e-consultation) has grown, but the evidence of benefit is uncertain. Objective This study aimed to assess the evidence of delivering e-consultation using secure email and messaging or video links in primary care. Methods A systematic review was conducted on the use and application of e-consultations in primary care. We searched 7 international databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, EconLit, and Web of Science; 1999-2017), identifying 52 relevant studies. Papers were screened against a detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria. Independent dual data extraction was conducted and assessed for quality. The resulting evidence was synthesized using thematic analysis. Results This review included 57 studies from a range of countries, mainly the United States (n=30) and the United Kingdom (n=13). There were disparities in uptake and utilization toward more use by younger, employed adults. Patient responses to e-consultation were mixed. Patients reported satisfaction with services and improved self-care, communication, and engagement with clinicians. Evidence for the acceptability and ease of use was strong, especially for those with long-term conditions and patients located in remote regions. However, patients were concerned about the privacy and security of their data. For primary health care staff, e-consultation delivers challenges around time management, having the correct technological infrastructure, whether it offers a comparable standard of clinical quality, and whether it improves health outcomes. Conclusions E-consultations may improve aspects of care delivery, but the small scale of many of the studies and low adoption rates leave unanswered questions about usage, quality, cost, and sustainability. We need to improve e-consultation implementation, demonstrate how e-consultations will not increase disparities in access, provide better reassurance to patients about privacy, and incorporate e-consultation as part of a manageable clinical workflow.
External validation and comparison of two prediction models for seizure recurrence after the withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs in adult patients

The models currently available for predicting the risk of seizure recurrence after antiepileptic drug (AED) withdrawal in adult epilepsy patients include the prediction model developed by Lamberink et al (Lamberink model, 2017) and the Medical Research Council prediction model (MRC model, 1993). However, there was no external validation for the two models. The purpose of this study was to perform an independent external validation and a comparison of the Lamberink model and the MRC model in adult patients.
Drug use and the influence on kissing among men who have sex with men in Melbourne, Australia

The use of drugs is not uncommon among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Kissing has been recently identified as a risk factor for gonorrhoea. This study aimed to examine the proportion of MSM who used drugs and how specific drugs influence the likelihood of kissing. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among MSM attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between March 2016 and February 2017. Participants reported their use of eleven specific drugs in the last three months and whether they felt the drug influenced them to kiss someone. Four thousand, three hundred and ninety-one MSM were included in the analysis; 63.1% (n = 2772) used at least one drug in the last three months and 36.6% (n = 1605) used ≥2 drugs. Poppers (44.8%), marijuana (30.8%) and ecstasy (19.1%) were the three most common drugs used among MSM in the last three months. 80.4% of ecstasy users and 74.3% of gammahydroxybutyrate users reported the drug made them much more likely to kiss someone. The majority of MSM reported that the use of heroin (63.6%) and Viagra/Cialis (60.7%) did not influence their kissing behaviour. Drug use is common among sexually active MSM in Melbourne. Most reported the use of ecstasy would increase their likelihood of kissing someone.
High Performance Compact FinFET Based Inductive Boost Converter

Energy harvesting is the need of today’s world, especially for biomedical applications like Body sensor networks and remote area monitoring wireless sensor networks. The input energy level is very low in case of Energy harvesting. It is, therefore, important that the boost converter should be able to handle very low input voltages. This paper presents two different types of DC/DC converters based on inductive type converting stages in which one scheme uses CMOS technology while the other one is based exclusively on FinFET. With 120mV input, FinFET based converter can achieve 2.9V output. Moreover, it can also provide more than 1V output from an input of just 85mV. The values of inductors and the transistors area required with FinFET are much lower than MOSFET. Hence, the proposed FinFET based solution can be easily realized in IC form. All Boost converter schemes are investigated extensively using HSPICE simulations.
Increased Rubisco content in maize mitigates chilling stress and speeds recovery

Summary Many C4 plants, including maize, perform poorly under chilling conditions. This phenomenon has been linked in part to decreased Rubisco abundance at lower temperatures. An exception to this is chilling‐tolerant Miscanthus, which is able to maintain Rubisco protein content under such conditions. The goal of this study was to investigate whether increasing Rubisco content in maize could improve performance during or following chilling stress. Here, we demonstrate that transgenic lines overexpressing Rubisco large and small subunits and the Rubisco assembly factor RAF1 (RAF1‐LSSS), which have increased Rubisco content and growth under control conditions, maintain increased Rubisco content and growth during chilling stress. RAF1‐LSSS plants exhibited 12% higher CO2 assimilation relative to nontransgenic controls under control growth conditions, and a 17% differential after 2 weeks of chilling stress, although assimilation rates of all genotypes were ~50% lower in chilling conditions. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements showed RAF1‐LSSS and WT plants had similar rates of photochemical quenching during chilling, suggesting Rubisco may not be the primary limiting factor that leads to poor performance in maize under chilling conditions. In contrast, RAF1‐LSSS had improved photochemical quenching before and after chilling stress, suggesting that increased Rubisco may help plants recover faster from chilling conditions. Relatively increased leaf area, dry weight and plant height observed before chilling in RAF1‐LSSS were also maintained during chilling. Together, these results demonstrate that an increase in Rubisco content allows maize plants to better cope with chilling stress and also improves their subsequent recovery, yet additional modifications are required to engineer chilling tolerance in maize.
The effect of knee osteoarthritis on ankle proprioception and concentric torque of dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor muscles

BACKGROUND: Muscle function and functional performance are affected in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between knee OA and ankle proprioception and concentric peak torque of the dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor muscles in older patients. METHODS: Forty participants took part in the study; 20 participants with chronic unilateral knee OA and a control group of 20 healthy participants. Ankle proprioception and concentric peak torque were measured by an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex). MAIN RESULTS: There was a significantly greater absolute error at the ankle among the knee OA group (p= 0.0001). The concentric peak torque value of dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor muscles of the control group was significantly higher than the knee OA group (p= 0.003, p= 0.008) respectively. CONCLUSION: Those with OA of the knee displayed deficits in ankle proprioception and concentric peak torque of the dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor muscles.