Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
To TRIM the Immunity: From Innate to Adaptive Immunity

The tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins have been intensively studied as essential modulators in various biological processes, especially in regulating a wide range of signaling pathways involved in immune responses. Most TRIM proteins have E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, mediating polyubiquitination of target proteins. Emerging evidence demonstrates that TRIM proteins play important roles in innate immunity by regulating pattern recognition receptors, vital adaptor proteins, kinases, and transcription factors in innate immune signaling pathways. Additionally, the critical roles of TRIM proteins in adaptive immunity, especially in T cell development and activation, are increasingly appreciated. In this review, we aim to summarize the studies on TRIMs in both innate and adaptive immunity, focusing on their E3 ubiquitin ligase functions in pattern recognition receptor signaling pathways and T cell functions, shedding light on the developing new strategies for modulating innate and adaptive immune responses against invading pathogens and avoiding autoimmunity.
The tracked society: Interdisciplinary approaches on online tracking

Online tracking in its various forms is a backbone of digitalization that has sparked hopes and fears alike: It opens up new opportunities for users and businesses as it enables individually targeted content. At the same time, the encompassing tracking of often unaware and ill-informed users and the opaque practices of data procession has alarmed critics from multiple sides. How can we better understand but also proactively and constructively shape the emerging Tracked Society? Our special issues seek to shed light on these questions from various perspectives and disciplines. In this introduction, we give a brief overview of the topic in general and our special issue in particular.
Calcitriol Inhibits Viability and Proliferation in Human Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Cells

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive tumor, often associated with exposure to asbestos and characterized by poor prognosis and limited treatment options. The biologically active form of vitamin D, calcitriol, exerts anticancer effects in many cell types, both alone and in combination with chemotherapy drugs, through binding to vitamin D receptor (VDR); however, the role of calcitriol in MPM is still unknown. This study aimed to determine the potential antitumor role of calcitriol in MPM. The results showed that calcitriol reduces cell viability and proliferation in human MPM cells lines, which express both cytoplasmic and nuclear VDR; furthermore, calcitriol potentiated the inhibitory activity of the chemotherapy drug PEM. These effects were paralleled by cell cycle arrest and inhibition in expression of c-Myc and cyclins involved in cell cycle progression. Exposure of MPM cells to calcitriol also produced an alteration in mitochondrial function and inhibition in the expression of respiratory chain complex subunits. Finally, the inhibitory effects of calcitriol were also observed on viability of human primary MPM cells. Collectively, these results indicate a novel anticancer role for calcitriol in MPM, suggesting potential for vitamin D derivatives, alone or in combination with chemotherapy, in the treatment of this malignancy.
Optimization of number of sampling points required for studying the vineyard soil

High variability of pH on a very small scale has effects on growth of two grapevine varieties on rootstock Kober 5BB: Riesling and Pinot Noir. A number of 104 soil samples were taken from an experimental area from two depths. The aim of this experiment was to find the optimum number of samples for pH studies, and to implement the obtained results in further investigation on experimental fields. Therefore, in this paper, we compared three different deterministic interpolation techniques on the results of soil pH. Root mean square error statistics obtained after cross validation procedure was used for the choice of appropriate exponent value for these three techniques. The obtained interpolation parameters were used for mapping the field. Maps were classified and compared by means of area among classes of pH in respect to classes obtained after maximum sampling. Key words: Vineyard, soil, pH, interpolation, inverse distance weight (IDW), radial basis functions (RBF), local polynomial (LP).
COVID-19 and Persons with Dementia in Acute Care Settings: How to “Evade” Challenging Behaviors

The double whammy of dementia and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has raised huge concerns for healthcare systems which are already struggling to cope with care demands of persons with dementia (PWD) in non-pandemic times (1). PWD who are admitted to acute care services are particularly vulnerable to behavioural changes and adverse outcomes from delirium (2, 3). During the COVID-19 period, ward relocation is frequently encountered due to COVID-19 screening and segregation; this constant changing of environment and care teams puts PWD at risk of behavioural exacerbations. This is aggravated by restrictive visitor policies in hospitals, depriving PWD of the reassuring presence of family members. Not surprisingly, caring for persons with dementia (PWD) with behavioral issues in acute care settings has become extremely challenging.
Intelligent vehicle collision avoidance system using 5G-enabled drone swarms

The number of vehicular collisions is on a toll worldwide. Despite enforcing stringent laws and incorporating various safety features, the causalities are still on the rise. Existing techniques such as vision zero strategy and safe system approach provides only post-crash aid. Although numerous works have been carried out on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), a well-coordinated vehicular collision avoidance system is still missing. In this paper, we utilize the tremendous opportunity provided by ITS, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), 5G, and propose an effective system using drones with swarm intelligence that can automatically control the vehicles to prevent the collision. The proposed method, Bidirectional Multi-Tier IoT drone with Swarm optimization (BMTD-IoT-S) uses intelligent coordination of the drone swarms with the vehicular networks and always ensures a safe distance between the vehicles using the principle of magnetic levitation. The system is further investigated for optimizing the power, altitude, and angular frequency allocation for static and dynamic BMTD-IoT-S'. The results from simulation confirm the excellent performance of the system in ensuring collision avoidance.
Regulated deficit irrigation effects on yield, nut quality and water-use efficiency of mature pistachio trees

Summary Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) was evaluated on deep rooted, mature pistachio trees grown under high evaporative demand in the low rainfall southern San Joaquin Valley of California. The focus of this work was to assess the impact of deficit irrigation during various parts of the season with the goal of determining which period was most stress tolerant in terms of nut production. Pistachio nuts have a unique fruit growth pattern in which rapid kernel growth does not begin until about six weeks after full shell size has been attained. Our hypothesis was that irrigation could be reduced during this period with limited negative effects on production. The season was divided into three preharvest periods: leafout to full shell expansion (Stage 1), full shell expansion to the onset of rapid kernel growth (Stage 2), and rapid kernel growth to harvest (Stage 3). Water deprivation during Stage 1 applied 7.2% less water than the near-fully irrigated Control without any yield loss, based on mean values for the last “on” and “off” alternate bearing years of this study. Shell splitting (endocarp dehiscence) at harvest (a positive impact) was significantly higher (10.4% relative to the Control) but this was offset by a nut weight reduced by 9.4%. Stage 3 water deprivation (53% less applied water than the Control) significantly reduced nut size, shell splitting, mechanical nut removal by tree shaking, and yield, while increasing kernel blanking and abortion. Postharvest water deprivation (5.0% less applied water than the Control) had no significant negative effects on yield components. Six irrigation regimes that applied water at various rates were used to investigate Stage 2 behaviour. While there were no significant differences in yield components among these regimes, the best production occurred with deficit irrigation during Stage 2 at 50% of near-potential ETc during Stage 2 and 25% of near-potential ETc after harvest. This RDI regime saved about 180 mm of water (23.2% of the Control) and water use efficiency was significantly higher (4.69 versus 3.61 kg marketable fruit per mm water, for this RDI regime and the Control, respectively). We believe RDI during Stage 2 and postharvest is a viable irrigation strategy to save water while maintaining top yields of high quality pistachio nuts. Further work is needed to determine if the improved shell splitting harvest that occurred with Stage 1 stress can be exploited to improve grower profits.
Predicting Stimulus Modality and Working Memory Load During Visual- and Audiovisual-Acquired Equivalence Learning

Scholars have extensively studied the electroencephalography (EEG) correlates of associative working memory (WM) load. However, the effect of stimulus modality on EEG patterns within this process is less understood. To fill this research gap, the present study re-analyzed EEG datasets recorded during visual and audiovisual equivalence learning tasks from earlier studies. The number of associations required to be maintained (WM load) in WM was increased using the staircase method during the acquisition phase of the tasks. The support vector machine algorithm was employed to predict WM load and stimulus modality using the power, phase connectivity, and cross-frequency coupling (CFC) values obtained during time segments with different WM loads in the visual and audiovisual tasks. A high accuracy (>90%) in predicting stimulus modality based on power spectral density and from the theta–beta CFC was observed. However, accuracy in predicting WM load was higher (≥75% accuracy) than that in predicting stimulus modality (which was at chance level) using theta and alpha phase connectivity. Under low WM load conditions, this connectivity was highest between the frontal and parieto-occipital channels. The results validated our findings from earlier studies that dissociated stimulus modality based on power-spectra and CFC during equivalence learning. Furthermore, the results emphasized the importance of alpha and theta frontoparietal connectivity in WM load.
Identification and expression of proteolysis-response genes for Macrophthalmus japonicus exposure to irgarol toxicity

Macrophthalmus japonicus is one of the most abundant macrobenthic animals in estuarine zone, which are transition areas between freshwater and marine environments. The crabs are potential bio-indicators reflecting aquatic sediment toxicity. So far, limited genetic research has focused on this group of animals largely due to the limited genomic information. In this study, we performed de novo transcriptome sequencing to produce the most comprehensive expressed sequence tag resource for M. japonicus , and identified stress response genes in M. japonicus exposed to antifouling biocides irgarol. Using 454 pyrosequencing, a total of 887 690 reads were obtained, which were assembled into 24 217 high-quality expressed sequence tags. These contigs were then clustered into 17 289 isotigs and further grouped into 12 923 isogroups. About 48% of the isogroups showed significant matches to known proteins based on sequence similarity. Moreover, irgarol toxicity induced up-regulation of stress response genes, associated with proteolysis and oxidation–reduction in biological process by Gene ontology analyses. Our data provide the most comprehensive transcriptome resource available for M. japonicus . This resource allowed us to identify genes associated with proteolysis processes, which facilitated the quantitative analysis of differential gene expression respond to irgarol toxicity. These data would provide foundation for future genetic and genomic studies of crustacean species and monitoring to freshwater as well as marine ecosystems.
Revision of the neotropical genus Callaeum (Malpighiaceae)

The monotypic genus Callaeum (Malpighiaceae) was proposed by J. K. Small in 1910 to accommodate an aberrant mascagnioid plant, Jubelina nicaraguensis Griseb. On the basis of flower, fruit, and leaf characters this genus is again recognized as distinct from Mascagnia, in which it was submerged by Niedenzu, and is augmented by the addition of most of the remaining members of Niedenzu's Mascagnia subg. Plagiogynixa, to which Niedenzu assigned C. nicaraguense. This makes necessary the new combinations Callaeum antifebrile, C. macropterum, C. malpighioides, C. psilophyllum, and C. septentrionale. In addition, C. chiapense is added by transfer from Stigmaphyllon, and three new species, Callaeum clavipetalum, C. coactum, and C. reticulatum, are described. Keys, descriptions, and citations of representative specimens are provided for the ten recognized species, and the segregation of this genus from Mascagnia is discussed. In the last revision of Mascagnia, Niedenzu (1928) divided it into the subgenera Mesogynixa (=subgenus Mascagnia) and Plagiogynixa, the latter set apart on the basis of its transversely dilated stigmas, few-flowered inflorescences, spherical buds, and three reduced posterior anthers. Earlier, Small (1910) had placed one of the members of Mascagnia subg. Plagiogynixa, M. nicaraguensis (Griseb.) Niedenzu, in the monotypic genus Callaeum, based upon jubelina nicaraguensis Griseb. , a Central American plant with accessory fruit-wing appendages much like those found in Jubelina. Small did not explain his reasons for placing J. nicaraguensis in a separate genus, but did provide a key in which Callaeum was distinguished from other North American Malpighiaceae. Mascagnia, as circumscribed by Niedenzu, is a diverse collection of vines and shrubs with three-winged (rarely two-winged) mericarps. Palynological data, coupled with macromorphological information, indicate that the genus is a paraphyletic grouping, occupying the middle portion of a phylogenetic tree whose ultimate branches may include such genera as Hiraea, Triopterys, and even Malpighia (Lowrie 1982). Mascagnia subg. Plagiogynixa forms the nucleus of a natural group of species consistently different from other species of Mascagnia, and not necessarily most closely related to Mascagnia. The species of this subgenus, with one exception (see Excluded Taxon), are here segregated into Small's genus Callaeum, which is further augmented by the description of three new species. CALLAEUM Small, N. Amer. Flora 25(2):128. 1910. -TYPE: Callaeum nicaraguense (Griseb.)
Source and function of Nitric Oxide in plants

Nitric Oxide (NO) is an important active molecule in biology. It is first described as a diffusible multifunctional second messenger in animals since it plays various functions including the relaxation of blood vessels, neurotransmission and defense during immune response etc. It is now being evident that NO is also a ubiquitous signal molecule in plant kingdom. It was proved to participate in many key physiological processes such as growth, development, pathogen defense reaction, programmed cell death, and stress tolerance. Possible sources of NO and the role in signaling transduction, regulating plant development and the responses to stresses are reviewed and some other possible functions of NO in plants are discussed.
A Multi-Dimensional Assessment Model and Its Application in E-learning Courses of Computer Science

Computer science is a practical discipline. It is always a great challenge to evaluate students' computer practice using computer-aided means for large scale students. We always need to address problems such as suspected plagiarism and deviation of the overall difficulty factor. In this paper, a multi-dimensional assessment model is designed for CS courses based on the detailed practice processing data in an E-learning system. The model comprehensively evaluates the students' learning process and results in three aspects of correctness, originality, and quality detection. Besides, the teacher can easily participate in the assessment according to their needs. The correctness is an essential requirement, and the originality is based on the clustering results of students' behaviors after clone detection to curb homework plagiarism. SonarQube is used to detect code quality and put forward higher requirements for codes. Manual participation intelligence has improved the flexibility and applicability of the model to a certain extent. We applied this model on the EduCoder online education platform and carried out a comprehensive analysis of 485 students in the Parallel Programming Principles and Practice Class of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Experiment results confirm the distinction, rationality, and fairness of the model in assessing student performance. It not only gives students a credible, comprehensive score in large-scale online practical programming courses but also gives teachers and students corresponding suggestions based on the evaluation results. Furthermore, the model can be extended to other online education platforms.
Roots and Powers in Regular Languages: Recognizing Nonregular Properties by Finite Automata

It is well known that the set of powers of any given order, for example squares, in a regular language need not be regular. Nevertheless, finite automata can identify them via their roots. More precisely, we recall that, given a regular language L, the set of square roots of L is regular. The same holds true for the nth roots for any n and for the set of all nontrivial roots; we give a concrete construction for all of them. Using the above result, we obtain decision algorithms for many natural problems on powers. For example, it is decidable, given two regular languages, whether they contain the same number of squares at each length. Finally, we give an exponential lower bound on the size of automata identifying powers in regular languages. Moreover, we highlight interesting behavior differences between taking fractional powers of regular languages and taking prefixes of a fractional length. Indeed, fractional roots in a regular language can typically not be identified by finite automata.
Genetic Testing Consumers in Italy: A Preliminary Investigation of the Socio-Demographic Profile, Health-Related Habits, and Decision Purposes

Aim of the study: Genetic testing is becoming increasingly common in clinical practice and health management; nonetheless, little is known about how the population approaches genetic services through private companies. Our study aims to describe socio-demographic aspects, health-related habits, and overall beliefs and knowledge about genetic risk and testing in a population of Italian citizens who decided to undergo a genetic examination through a private genetic company. Study design: A sample of 152 clients from an Italian private genetic company completed an ad-hoc survey from September 2016 to February 2018, addressing socio-demographic data, health habits, psycho-physic condition, perceived utility of genetic results, decision purposes about data sharing, and behavioral changes after results. Results: Participants (mean age 42.4) were predominantly female (82.2%) and were overall well-educated. Their main source of information were physicians (77%), and 41.1% entrusted the management of results to the same. Thirty-eight percentage underwent genetic analysis for cancer predisposition, 31.3% for fertility problems, 24% for dietary or intolerance issues in the period of enrolment. More than half of them (62.7%) reported a family history of the disease, and overall 69% had a current or past experience with a disease. Clients perceived the genetic screening as useful to adopt behaviors that may prevent disease onset (37.7%), to know their “real health status” (27.4%), and to adopt health-related behaviors (23.3%). 62.8% claimed they were motivated to change behaviors after results (healthier diet, practice exercise, medical checks), and they wanted to share results with their physician and family members. Discussion/Conclusion: The overview of consumers' profiles in Italy and other European countries can contribute to tailoring and regulating genetic services in a way that could be efficient in terms of healthy choices, behaviors, and health resource expenditures for the general public.
Intention and empathy

ABSTRACT This essay challenges some assumptions of prevalent theories of empathy. The empathizer, according to these theories, must have an emotion or a representation that matches the recipient’s emotion or representation. I argue that these conditions fail to account for important cases, namely surrogate and out-group empathy. In the course of this argument, I isolate some conceptual difficulties in extant models of cognitive empathy. In place of the matching theories, I propose an indexical model that (1) distinguishes virtual from real self-reference and (2) replaces self–other distinctions with an epistemic condition. According to this account, empathy occurs when we index an intention to another person about whom we have the relevant knowledge or understanding.
The effect of dietary alterations on growth, productivity, behaviour and preference of broiler breeder females.

THE EFFECT OF DIETARY ALTERATIONS ON GROWTH, PRODUCTIVITY, BEHAVIOUR AND PREFERENCE OF BROILER BREEDER FEMALES Krysta Laine Husar Morrissey Advisor: University of Guelph, 2012 Dr. Tina M. Widowski This thesis is an investigation of dietary alterations, including the addition of fibre and an appetite suppressant (alternative diet) and the use of a skip-a-day (SAD) feeding regime, which may reduce hunger. Broiler breeders are severely feed restricted to limit growth, leading to symptoms of chronic hunger. We used behavioural indices, feather condition scoring and preference tests were used to compare satiating properties of the diets. Alternative diets reduced symptoms of hunger such as feather, object and aggressive pecking and resulted in better feather condition. Although SAD birds feather pecked more during feeding bouts, SAD birds still had better feather condition than daily birds. Preference testing revealed no differences in dietary preference, implying a lack of preference, or a methodological flaw. However, no aversion to the alternative diet was evident. Alternative diets, regardless of feeding frequency, may be the best option for bettering the welfare of growing broiler breeders.