Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasticity to neighbour shade: fitness consequences and allometry

Summary 1Phenotypic plasticity may confer a fitness benefit to organisms in a spatially heterogeneous environment. However, the evolution of such adaptive plasticity can be limited by the constraints imposed by interacting environments. Moreover, adaptive plasticity may be masked by reduced growth in a low-quality environment. The allometry between plasticity of morphological traits and overall growth is often overlooked. 2We addressed these issues by examining the effect of shade produced by neighbouring plants (neighbour shade) on a small annual plant, Geranium carolinianum. Plants were grown in two field sites, a wood margin and an old field. A clipping treatment was used to manipulate neighbour shade at both planting sites. We measured petiole length to quantify shade avoidance response. Genotypic selection analysis was used to assess the fitness consequences of petiole length. 3Petioles were longer in the wood margin than in the old field and were similar between neighbour environments. However, overall plant size differed among the environments. As a result, relative to plant size, petioles were longer when individuals were surrounded by neighbours than when neighbours had been removed, but were similar between sites. After taking the size into account, plants with longer petioles had higher fitness than plants with shorter petioles in all environments. 4The functional response of petioles to neighbour shade was revealed only when the passive plasticity of plant size was considered. The lack of differential selection across neighbour environments together with active elongation of petioles in response to neighbours suggests that the current shade avoidance response is adaptive.
Treatment of Cattle Manure by Anaerobic Co-Digestion with Food Waste and Pig Manure: Methane Yield and Synergistic Effect

The management of cattle manure (CM) has become increasingly challenging because its production continues to rise, while the regulations on manure management have become increasingly stringent. In Korea, most farms produce CM as a dry mixture with lignocellulosic bedding materials (mainly sawdust), making it impractical to treat CM by anaerobic digestion. To address this problem, this study examined whether anaerobic co-digestion with food waste (FW) and pig manure (PM) could be an effective approach for the treatment of CM. The batch anaerobic digestion tests at different CM: FW: PM mixing ratios showed that more methane was produced as the FW fraction increased, and as the CM fraction decreased. The response surface models describing how the substrate mixing ratio affects the methane yield and synergistic effect (methane yield basis) were successfully generated. The models proved that the methane yield and synergistic effect respond differently to changes in the substrate mixing ratio. The maximum 30-day methane yield was predicted at 100% FW, whereas the maximum 30-day synergy index was estimated for the mixture of 47% CM, 6% FW, and 47% PM (total solids basis). The synergy index model showed that CM, FW, and PM could be co-digested without a substantial loss of their methane potential at any mixing ratio (30-day synergy index, 0.89–1.22), and that a possible antagonistic effect could be avoided by keeping the FW proportion less than 50%. The results suggest that co-digestion with PM and FW could be flexibly applied for the treatment and valorization of CM in existing anaerobic digestion plants treating FW and PM.
Chinese Medical Students' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Willingness To Consider a Career in Geriatric Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract Phenomenon: Ageism is a significant social issue, especially in China. Ageism adversely affects willingness to consider a career in geriatric medicine. However, few studies have examined this topic among Chinese medical students. This study aimed to investigate attitudes toward older people among medical students in China, examine the factors related to these attitudes, and determine the relationships between attitudes and willingness to consider geriatric medicine as a career after graduation. Approach: Responses from 1,022 Chinese medical students were included in the analyses. Students provided demographic information and completed the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA). The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 24.0 (IBM SPSS Corp). Findings: The mean score of the FSA was 64.42 ± 6.58. Multiple regression analysis showed that the significant predictors of ageism were being male, longer years of training in medical school, and no caregiving experiences with older adults during clinical practice (R 2 = .038, F = 13.520, p < .001). Students who had higher FSA scores were more unwilling to consider a career in geriatric medicine after graduation (t = 4.281, p < .001, Cohen’s d = .268). Insights: Chinese medical students have fewer positive attitudes toward older adults than what has been reported in other countries. Future studies should examine the determinants of ageism among medical students in various cultures to guide the development, implementation, and assessment of interventions designed to nurture a more positive attitude toward older adults and increase willingness to consider a career in geriatric medicine.
SPORTS STARS: a practitioner-led, peer-group sports intervention for ambulant, school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Parent and physiotherapist perspectives

Abstract Background Sports participation is an important goal for children with cerebral palsy classified at GMFCS Level I or II, however there are no studies of parent or physiotherapist perspectives on effectiveness or overall acceptability of transition-to-sports interventions. Methods Parent and physiotherapist perspectives of Sports Stars: a novel, practitioner-led, peer-group sports intervention (Trial registration: ACTRN12617000313336) were collected from Sports Stars Session Reports (39 children, 6–12 years, GMFCS I = 11, II = 28, Female = 12), Fidelity Evaluations (28 children), and Perspectives Surveys (Parents = 29, female = 26; Physiotherapists = 8, female = 5). Outcomes were perceived impact on: (1) sports Participation (Attendance, Involvement), (2) sports Activity Competence across Physical, Social, Cognitive and Psychological Physical Literacy domains and (3) overall acceptability. Results Over 84% of children Attended most sessions. Physiotherapists rated session Involvement as high (median = 3/4). In Session Reports, physiotherapists recorded quantitative improvements in Physical and Cognitive performance and described improvements across all domains. Parents reported improvements across all domains, with comments focusing on Social and Psychological performance. All physiotherapists (8/8) and most parents (26/29) reported a community-based peer-group was the intervention design of choice for sports-focused goals. Conclusions Parents and physiotherapists perceived Sports Stars, a practitioner-led, peer-group sports intervention, as effective and acceptable for children with cerebral palsy with sports-focussed goals. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Parents and physiotherapists agree that Sports Stars improved sports Participation and Physical, Social, Psychological and Cognitive Activity Competence for children with cerebral palsy. Children with sports-focused goals should be offered practitioner-led, peer-group sports interventions in community environments. Therapists should design sports interventions with Physical, Cognitive, Social and Psychological content and outcomes.
The Origins of In-Group Bias and the Cost of Signaling Sociality∗

All around us we see that people form groups, that these groups are often indifferent to other groups in the best case, or hostile to other groups in the worst case, and that many cohesive groups push their members to signal their belonging to the group by performing actions that involve some self-sacrifice. In this paper we show that the tendency of people to form groups of limited size and to show in-group favoritism can be traced back to a fundamental characteristic of our mentality — the psychological cost we pay for not reciprocating the kind actions of others. Moreover, a diffi cultly in spotting asocial individuals, who are not subject to this cost, may lead to the emergence of costly signaling of sociality. Groups that adopt such practices are characterized by a high level of cooperation among group members, and can coexist alongside groups with no signaling and a lower level of cooperation. When such coexistence is sustained by an envy-free equilibrium, the welfare of all individuals is strictly lower than would have been if signaling was impossible. Thus, the cost of signaling is twofold: the individual cost of producing it, and the social cost of ending up in an inferior equilibrium. ∗I would like to thank Moshe Shayo and Eyal Winter for their guidance and precious advices. I wish also to thank Elchanan Ben-Porat, Bård Harstad, Andrea Ichino, Chloe Le Coq, Yosef Rinott, Assaf Romm, Elyashiv Wiedman, and participants at the Hebrew University, the University of Oslo, and the 8th Nordic Conference on Behavioral and Experimental Economics in Stockholm, for their valuable comments. †Department of Economics and the Center for the Study of Rationality, the Hebrew University, motimich@gmail.com.
Surface-confined building of Au@Pt-centered and multi-G-quadruplex/hemin wires-surrounded electroactive supernanostructures for ultrasensitive monitoring of morphine.

Overuse and abuse of morphine (MOP), one of the main components of pericarpium papaveris, have attracted increasing attention in the medical field owing to its pharmacological and toxicological activity. Herein, we proposed a new electrochemical nanobiosensor for MOP detection based on surface-confined building of Au@Pt-centered and multi-G-quadruplex/hemin wire-surrounded electroactive supernanostructures. The center Au@Pt was flower-shaped and irregular protruded, allowing substantial loading of multiple G-quadruplex wire/hemin complexes on its surface to accomplish the assembly of electroactive supernanostructures. Interestingly, as the supernanostructures were closely confined on the electrode surface, a significantly amplified electrochemical signal was thus obtained in the absence of MOP. Oppositely, the introduction of target MOP can induce an intense competitive effect and strongly destroy the assembly process, resulting in reduction of the electrochemical response that is corelated with the MOP concentration. Under optimal conditions, the electrochemical nanobiosensor is capable of highly sensitive detecting MOP at a dynamic concentration range from 1 ppt to 500 ppb. The limit of detection (LOD) is achieved as low as 0.69 ppt, and the practical application was confirmed by examining MOP from chafing dish condiments. We expect the electrochemical platform with the utilizing of this unique nanoarchitecture provides rational guidelines to design high performance analytical tools.
Tumoricidal and Bactericidal Properties of ZnONPs Synthesized Using Cassia auriculata Leaf Extract

In this work, we aimed to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using an aqueous extract of Cassia auriculata leaves (CAE) at room temperature without the provision of additional surfactants or capping agents. The formation of as-obtained ZnONPs was analyzed by UV–visible (ultraviolet) absorption and emission spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The XRD results reflect the wurtzite structure of as-prepared ZnONPs, which produced diffraction patterns showing hexagonal phases. The SEM images indicate that the morphology of as-prepared ZnONPs is composed of hexagonal nanostructures with an average diameter of 20 nm. The HR-TEM result shows that the inter-planar distance between two lattice fringes is 0.260 nm, which coincides with the distance between the adjacent (d-spacing) of the (002) lattice plane of ZnO. The fluorescence emission spectrum of ZnONPs dispersed in ethanol shows an emission maximum at 569 nm, revealing the semiconductor nature of ZnO. As-obtained ZnONPs enhanced the tumoricidal property of CAE in MCF-7 breast cancer cells without significant inhibition of normal human breast cells, MCF-12A. Furthermore, we have studied the antibacterial effects of ZnONPs, which showed direct cell surface contact, resulting in the disturbance of bacterial cell integrity.
Rapid Shell Vial Culture Technique for Detection of Enteroviruses and Adenoviruses in Fecal Specimens: Comparison with Conventional Virus Isolation Method

Detection of enteroviruses and adenoviruses mainly in fecal specimens by rapid culture with inoculation onto cell monolayers in flat-bottom tubes by centrifugation and immunofluorescence staining with genus-specific monoclonal antibodies was compared with that by the conventional virus isolation procedure. For both conventional culture and shell vial culture human lung fibroblast cells and tertiary monkey kidney cells were used. For enterovirus detection, 979 clinical specimens (916 stool specimens, 56 cerebrospinal fluid specimens, and 7 nasopharyngeal swabs) were used. Conventional culture detected 74 enterovirus isolates. A cytopathic effect compatible with the presence of an enterovirus after 3 days of incubation occurred in 25 of the 74 (34%) specimens that eventually became positive. The detection rate for enteroviruses by rapid cell culture after 2 to 3 days of incubation was 42 of 74 (57%). The genus-specific enterovirus monoclonal antibody did not react with strains of echovirus types 22 and 23 or enterovirus type 71. Rapid cell culture for the detection of adenoviruses was performed with 567 clinical specimens (536 stool specimens, 25 cerebrospinal fluid specimens, and 6 miscellaneous specimens), in which 42 adenoviruses were found by conventional culture. Nine of the 42 (21%) adenovirus isolates were detected by conventional culture within 3 days after inoculation, whereas 21 (50%) were found by rapid cell culture within 2 to 3 days. Only two of the nine specimens found to be positive for the enteric adenovirus type 41 by conventional culture as well by a type-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tested positive by rapid cell culture. In conclusion, the rapid shell vial assay allows the early detection and identification of enteroviruses and adenoviruses in clinical specimens but is markedly less sensitive than the conventional isolation procedure according to the eventual results of the conventional isolation procedure. Conventional cell culture remains a prerequisite for serotyping of enteroviral isolates. On the basis of the results for adenovirus type 41, the rapid detection of adenoviruses was not considered to be useful for the detection of clinically relevant adenoviruses in fecal samples.
Platelets in Healthy and Disease States: From Biomarkers Discovery to Drug Targets Identification by Proteomics

Platelets are a heterogeneous small anucleate blood cell population with a central role both in physiological haemostasis and in pathological states, spanning from thrombosis to inflammation, and cancer. Recent advances in proteomic studies provided additional important information concerning the platelet biology and the response of platelets to several pathophysiological pathways. Platelets circulate systemically and can be easily isolated from human samples, making proteomic application very interesting for characterizing the complexity of platelet functions in health and disease as well as for identifying and quantifying potential platelet proteins as biomarkers and novel antiplatelet therapeutic targets. To date, the highly dynamic protein content of platelets has been studied in resting and activated platelets, and several subproteomes have been characterized including platelet-derived microparticles, platelet granules, platelet releasates, platelet membrane proteins, and specific platelet post-translational modifications. In this review, a critical overview is provided on principal platelet proteomic studies focused on platelet biology from signaling to granules content, platelet proteome changes in several diseases, and the impact of drugs on platelet functions. Moreover, recent advances in quantitative platelet proteomics are discussed, emphasizing the importance of targeted quantification methods for more precise, robust and accurate quantification of selected proteins, which might be used as biomarkers for disease diagnosis, prognosis and therapy, and their strong clinical impact in the near future.
Service Quality Management And Customers’ Loyalty In Nigerian Banking Industry

This work examined service quality management and customer loyalty in South East Nigeria using five commercial banks as the focus of the study. Relevant conceptual, theoretical and empirical literatures were reviewed. This research work is anchored on SERVQUAL model. Survey research design was employed in this study. The population of study is made up of three hundred and fifty (350) customers of the five selected commercial banks. A sample of three hundred and fifty (350) customers of selected banks in each state capital that make up South East were selected for the study. Service quality management dimensions such as empathy and assurance were employed as the independent variable while customer loyalty was employed as the dependent. Questionnaire was employed as the instrument of data collection. The data generated were analyzed using correlation analysis analysis. It was found that empathy and assurance have significant positive effect on customer loyalty in banks in South East Nigeria at 0.05 level of significance. The study therefore concludes that service quality management had significant positive effect on customer loyalty in the sampled banks. The study recommends that since the service quality dimensions examined can collectively affect customer loyalty, banks management should devise policies and programmes to will help them in each of these dimensions in order to satisfy the customers‟ needs.
High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of derivatized sapogenin of Ethnobotanical study of traditional uses of medicinal plants: the flora of Caatinga in the community of Cravolândia-BA, Brazil.

The Caatinga is one of the most characteristic vegetation types in northeastern Brazil, where there are several endemic species of medicinal plants. Information on the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses would represent a vital role in the discovery of novel products from plants. An ethnobotanical survey about utilization and conservation of medicinal plants was applied to residents of “Assentamento Palestina” which currently is expropriated and distributed in batches to families of "Landless Workers" in the region of Cravolândia-BA, Brazil. The semi-structured interviews were applied to the analysis of data on the plants, and resulted in a collection of 87 species, belonging to 42 families. The most representative families as to potential of use were Asteraceae, followed by Lamiaceae and Rutaceae. The most popular modes of preparation were tea (mentioned in 65.49% of cases), followed by juice (1.76%), syrup (15.54%), in natura (13.32%), maceration (5.55%) and baths (4.44%). Native plants are a very significant component of locally used medicinal plants. Key words: Popular medicine, therapeutical herbs, conservation, cultural meaning.
Coronaviruses and Integrin αvβ3: Does Thyroid Hormone Modify the Relationship?

ABSTRACT Background Uptake of coronaviruses by target cells involves binding of the virus by cell ectoenzymes. For the etiologic agent of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), a receptor has been identified as angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). Recently it has been suggested that plasma membrane integrins may be involved in the internalization and replication of clinically important coronaviruses. For example, integrin αvβ3 is involved in the cell uptake of a model porcine enteric α-coronavirus that causes human epidemics. ACE2 modulates the intracellular signaling generated by integrins. Objective We propose that the cellular internalization of αvβ3 applies to uptake of coronaviruses bound to the integrin, and we evaluate the possibility that clinical host T4 may contribute to target cell uptake of coronavirus and to the consequence of cell uptake of the virus. Discussion and Conclusions The viral binding domain of the integrin is near the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide-binding site and RGD molecules can affect virus binding. In this same locale on integrin αvβ3 is the receptor for thyroid hormone analogues, particularly, L-thyroxine (T4). By binding to the integrin, T4 has been shown to modulate the affinity of the integrin for other proteins, to control internalization of αvβ3 and to regulate the expression of a panel of cytokine genes, some of which are components of the ‘cytokine storm’ of viral infections. If T4 does influence coronavirus uptake by target cells, other thyroid hormone analogues, such as deaminated T4 and deaminated 3,5,3ʹ-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), are candidate agents to block the virus-relevant actions of T4 at integrin αvβ3 and possibly restrict virus uptake.
Anisotropic semi-aligned PAN@PVdF-HFP separator for Li-ion batteries

Compared with the common electrospun nanofibers, the alignment of the nanofibers exhibits interesting anisotropic mechanical properties and structural stability. In this paper, semi-aligned PAN@PVdF-HFP nanofiber separators were prepared by a modified electrospinning method. The composite separators exhibit anisotropic mechanical properties and enhanced electrochemical performance compared with electrospun PAN films. The PAN@PVdF-HFP nanofiber separator can deliver an ionic conductivity of 1.2 mSċcm−1 with electrochemical stability up to 5.0 V. The LiFePO4/Li cell with semi-aligned PAN@PVdF-HFP separator shows excellent cycling performance, good rate capability, as well as high discharge capacity.
Effects of lncRNA MEG3 on proliferation and apoptosis of gallbladder cancer cells through regulating NF-κB signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) on proliferation and apoptosis of gallbladder cancer (GBC) cells and its molecular mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS The relative expression level of lncRNA MEG3 in GBC cell lines was detected via quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The lncRNA MEG3 expression plasmids were constructed, the cell proliferation ability was detected via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and colony formation assay, and the apoptosis was detected via flow cytometry. The effects of lncRNA MEG3 expression on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related proteins were determined using Western blotting, and the changes in nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) protein in the nucleus were determined after overexpression of lncRNA MEG3. RESULTS The expression of lncRNA MEG3 in three kinds of GBC cell lines was lower than that in human immortalized normal biliary epithelial cells (p<0.05). The results of CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay showed that overexpression of lncRNA MEG3 significantly reduced the proliferation rate and colony formation ability of GBC-SD cells compared with negative control (NC) group (p<0.05, p<0.05). According to the results of flow cytometry, the apoptosis rate was higher in lncRNA MEG63 overexpression group compared with that in NC group (p<0.05). Moreover, the ERS-related proteins (MANF, GRP78, and caspase-3) were remarkably upregulated in lncRNA MEG63 overexpression group compared with those in NC group, indicating that ERS is activated by lncRNA MEG63 overexpression. The NF-κB signal in GBC cells was activated by lncRNA MEG3. CONCLUSIONS LncRNA MEG3 activates the NF-κB signal in GBC cells to affect the proliferation and apoptosis of GBC cells.