Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prokaryotic expression of chimeric GFP-hFc protein as a potential immune-based tool

GFP is an old-yet-powerful protein marker, which has been widely used in molecular biotechnology due to its capacity of exhibiting bright green fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light. The hFc region of IgG antibodies is a specific binding ligand of expressed receptors on immune cells with well-known cellular-associated functions like opsonization and phagocytosis. In this present study, we proceeded to fuse gfp-hfc gene into pET-28a to create a recombinant pET-28a-gfp-hfc vector. The expression of GPF-hFc was induced by IPTG and confirmed using SDS-PAGE and followed by Western blot probed with 6xHis antibodies. This chimeric protein was utilized in specific binding experiments with protein A/G-coated magnetic beads using a fluorescence microscope. Due to its fluorescence and binding ability, GFP-hFc could be used as a model molecule for monitoring molecule detection studies, tracking nanoparticle migration and distribution, or stimulating immune responses.
GRAL: Localization of Floating Wireless Sensors in Pipe Networks

Mobile wireless sensors are increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for monitoring critical infrastructures. An important use case is the discovery of leaks and inflows in pipe networks using a swarm of floating sensor nodes. While passively drifting along, the devices must track their individual positions so critical points can later be located. Since pipelines are often situated in inaccessible places, large portions of the network can be shielded from radio and satellite signals, rendering conventional positioning systems ineffective. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for assigning location estimates to recorded measurements once the sensor node leaves the inaccessible area and transmits them via a gateway. The solution is range-free and makes use of a priori information about the target pipeline network. We further describe two extended variants of our algorithm which use data of encounters with other sensor nodes to improve accuracy. Finally, we evaluate all variants with respect to various network topologies and different numbers of mobile nodes in a simulation. The results show that our algorithm localizes measurements with an average accuracy between 4.81% and 7.58%, depending on the variability of flow speed and the sparsity of reference points.
Extraction and optimization of Penicillium sclerotiorum strain AK‐1 pigment for fabric dyeing

Recently, the demand for fungal pigments has increased due to their several benefits over synthetic dyes. Many species of fungi are known to produce pigments and a large number of fungal strains for pigment production are yet to be extensively investigated. The natural pigment from sustainable natural sources has good economic and industrial value. Many synthetic colorants used in textile and various industries have many harmful effects on the human population and environment. Pigments and coloring agents may be extracted from a wide range of fungal species. These compounds are among the natural compounds having the most significant promise for medicinal, culinary, cosmetics, and textile applications. This study attempts to isolate and optimize the fermentation conditions of Penicillium sclerotiorum strain AK‐1 for pigment production. A dark yellow‐colored pigment was isolated from the strain with significant extractive value and antioxidant capacity. This study also identifies that the pigment does not have any cytotoxic effect and is multicomponent. The pigment production was optimized for the parameters such as pH, temperature, carbon and nitrogen source. Fabric dyeing experiments showed significant dyeing capacity of the pigment on cotton fabrics. Accordingly, the natural dye isolated from P. sclerotiorum strain AK‐1 has a high potential for industrial‐scale dyeing of cotton materials.
Arthritis and its Public Health Burden

Arthritis is well known in all cultures, with medical descriptions of inflammatory arthritis dating as early as the writings of Hippocrates,1 and paleontological evidence dating back 150 million years.2 Today, the data regarding the prevalence of these diseases remains scant, but suggest that close to 300 million people around the world live with arthritis.3 In terms of years lived with disability (YLD), arthritis and allied disorders account for 21.2%, second only to mental health issues.4 Though often associated with aging, in reality, arthritis can manifest at any age, even in childhood. In the US, approximately 300,000 children are affected by pediatric forms of arthritis.5
Wildy Prize Lecture, 2020–2021: Who wouldn’t want to discover a new virus?

Innovations in science education are desperately needed to find ways to engage and interest students early in their undergraduate careers. Exposing students to authentic research experiences is highly beneficial, but finding ways to include all types of students and to do this at large scale is especially challenging. An attractive solution is the concept of an inclusive research education community (iREC) in which centralized research leadership and administration supports multiple institutions, including diverse groups of schools and universities, faculty and students. The Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Sciences (SEA-PHAGES) programme is an excellent example of an iREC, in which students explore viral diversity and evolution through discovery and genomic analysis of novel bacteriophages. The SEA-PHAGES programme has proven to be sustainable, to be implemented at large scale, and to enhance student persistence in science, as well as to produce substantial research advances. Discovering a new virus with the potential for new biological insights and clinical applications is inherently exciting. Who wouldn’t want to discover a new virus?
In‐silico identification of frequently mutated genes and their co‐enriched metabolic pathways associated with Prostate cancer progression

Prostate cancer (PCa) has emerged as a significant health burden in men globally. Several genetic anomalies such as mutations and also epigenetic aberrations are responsible for the heterogeneity of this disease. This study identified the 20 most frequently mutated genes reported in PCa based on literature and database survey. Further gene ontology and functional enrichment analysis were conducted to determine their co‐modulated molecular and biological pathways. A protein–protein interaction network was used for the identification of hub genes. These hub genes identified were then subjected to survival analysis. The prognostic values of these identified genes were investigated using GEPIA and HPA. Gene Ontology analysis of the identified genes depicted that these genes significantly contributed to the cell cycle, apoptosis, angiogenesis and TGF‐β receptor signalling. Further, the research showed that high expressions of identified mutated genes led to a reduction in the long‐term survival of PCa patients, which was supported by immunohistochemical and mRNA expression level data. Our results suggest that identified panel of mutated genes viz., CTNNB1, TP53, ATM, AR and KMT2D play crucial roles in the onset and progression of PCa, thereby providing candidate diagnostic markers for PCa for individualised treatment in the future.
Cardiometabolic traits mediated the relationship from early life famine exposure to adulthood nonalcoholic fatty liver disease risk

Abstract Early life exposure to famine was associated with adulthood metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and NAFLD was also affected by cardiometabolic traits. However, the role of cardiometabolic traits in the associations from famine exposure to NAFLD was largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether the relationship between early life famine exposure and adulthood NAFLD risk was mediated by cardiometabolic traits. Overall, 7578 subjects aged 56·0 (sd 3·7) years in the Dongfeng–Tongji cohort were included and classified into late-exposed (1952–1954), middle-exposed (1954–1956), early-childhood-exposed (1956–1958), fetal-exposed (1959–1961) and non-exposed (1962–1966, reference) group according to the birth year. NAFLD was diagnosed by experienced physicians via abdominal B-type ultrasound inspection. Mediation analysis was used to evaluate the mediating effects of cardiometabolic traits. Compared with those non-exposed, after multivariable adjustment, participants in fetal-exposed group (OR: 1·37; 95 % CI 1·08, 1·73) had 37 % higher risk to develop NAFLD, and the overall childhood-exposed group had marginally significant association with NAFLD (OR: 1·39; 95 % CI 0·99, 1·94). Stratification analysis found the famine–NAFLD associations more evident in women and those born in areas severely affected by famine. Mediation analysis showed that cardiometabolic traits such as total cholesterol, TAG glucose index, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase mediated 6·7–22·2 % of the relation from famine exposure to higher NAFLD risk. Early life exposure to famine was related to increased adulthood NAFLD risk, and this relationship was partly mediated by cardiometabolic traits.
Endoplasmic reticulum tubules limit the size of misfolded protein condensates

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is composed of sheets and tubules. Here we report that the COPII coat subunit, SEC24C, works with the long form of the tubular ER-phagy receptor, RTN3, to target dominant-interfering mutant proinsulin Akita puncta to lysosomes. When the delivery of Akita puncta to lysosomes was disrupted, large puncta accumulated in the ER. Unexpectedly, photobleach analysis indicated that Akita puncta behaved as condensates and not aggregates, as previously suggested. Akita puncta enlarged when either RTN3 or SEC24C were depleted, or when ER sheets were proliferated by either knocking out Lunapark or overexpressing CLIMP63. Other ER-phagy substrates that are segregated into tubules behaved like Akita, while a substrate (type I procollagen) that is degraded by the ER-phagy sheets receptor, FAM134B, did not. Conversely, when ER tubules were augmented in Lunapark knock-out cells by overexpressing reticulons, ER-phagy increased and the number of large Akita puncta was reduced. Our findings imply that segregating cargoes into tubules has two beneficial roles. First, it localizes mutant misfolded proteins, the receptor, and SEC24C to the same ER domain. Second, physically restraining condensates within tubules, before they undergo ER-phagy, prevents them from enlarging and impacting cell health.
Fostering educator identity through social media

Communities of practice (CoPs) are integral to professional identify formation (PIF) of educators. However, it can be challenging to identify and engage with such communities. Social media (SoMe) can facilitate formation of virtual CoPs, support PIF and increase visibility and recognition among peers. Yet, privacy concerns, lack of skills, time constraints and value doubts are reported barriers. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived benefits, challenges and suggested strategies to promote SoMe engagement from a group of health professions educators (HPEs).
Epidemiological Analysis of 1234 Cases of Laryngeal Cancer in Shanxi Province, China

Background Laryngeal cancer is a common malignancy of the head and neck, especially in northern China, including Shanxi province. This study intends to describe the epidemiological characteristics of laryngeal cancer in Shanxi Province, China, in order to support prevention and treatment efforts. Methods Retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in hospitals in Shanxi Province from 2008 to 2012. Results The average annual incidence rate of laryngeal cancer in Shanxi province from 2008 to 2012 was 0.70/105, the Chinese population standardized incidence rate was 0.57/105 and the world population standardized incidence rate was 0.60/105. The city with the highest incidence of laryngeal cancer in Shanxi Province is Taiyuan, followed by Yangquan, and the lowest incidence are Yuncheng and Jincheng. The cases included 723 farmers (58.6%), 338 workers (27.4%), 95 government cadres (7.7%), 35 unemployed individuals (2.8%), 30 teachers (2.4%) and 13 individuals with other occupations (1.1%). The incidence of laryngeal cancer in rural areas was 0.78/105, while urban areas was 0.60/105. Of 1006 patients with smoking and drinking status reported, there were 238 both smoking and drinking (23.7%), 491 only smoking but not drinking (48.8%), 4 only drinking but not smoking (0.4%), 273 both not smoking and not drinking (27.1%) (P<0.001), and there were 695 males smoking (95.3%), 34 females smoking (4.7%) (P<0.001). Of 879 patients for whom the primary cancer location was known, 406 cases (46.2%) were supraglottic and 428 cases (48.7%) were glottic. Among 1009 patients with known pathological classification, the vast majority had squamous cell carcinoma (992 cases, 98.3%). Conclusions To sum up, the incidence of laryngeal cancer in Shanxi Province exhibited a relatively stable trend from 2008 to 2012, and the incidence is higher in men than in women in all years. The high percentage of smokers in this study underscores the importance of smoking as a risk factor for laryngeal cancer, whereas rates of drinking did not appear to be linked. Incidence of laryngeal cancer was higher in rural areas than in urban areas, a pattern that differs from other regions of China and internationally.
Comparison of Multieffect Distillation and Extractive Distillation Systems for Corn-Based Ethanol Plants

Recent publications on ethanol production and purification shows optimized energy and water consumptions as low as 22,000 Btu/gal ethanol and 1.54 gal water/gal ethanol respectively using multieffect distillation. Karuppiah, et al 10 use column rating and mathematical optimization methods and shortcut design models to design evaluate and optimize the energy and water consumption. In this work, we compare shortcut design and rigorous simulation models for an ethanol purification distillation system, and we show that distillation systems based on shortcut design underestimate the true energy and water consumption of the distillation system. We then use ASPEN Plus, to design a multieffect distillation system and an extractive distillation system using rigorous simulation and compare the two for energy and water consumptions. We show that the extractive distillation system has lower steam and cooling water consumptions and consequently lower energy and water consumptions than multieffect distillation in corn-toethanol production and purification. We also show that the extractive distillation system is cheaper than the multieffect distillation system on a cost per gal ethanol basis. This work gives an energy consumption of 29987 Btu/gal ethanol and water consumptions 2.82 gal/gal ethanol for the multieffect distillation system at a manufacturing cost of $3.03/gal ethanol. For the extractive distillation system, we calculate an energy consumption of 28199 Btu/gal ethanol and a water consumption of 2.79 gal/gal ethanol at a manufacturing cost of $2.88/gal ethanol.
Dynamics of Visons and Thermal Hall Effect in Perturbed Kitaev Models

A vison is an excitation of the Kitaev spin liquid which carries a Z 2 gauge ﬂux. While immobile in the pure Kitaev model, it becomes a dynamical degree of freedom in the presence of perturbations. We study an isolated vison in the isotropic Kitaev model perturbed by a small external magnetic ﬁeld h , an oﬀdiagonal exchange interactions Γ and a Heisenberg coupling J . In the ferromagnetic Kitaev model, the dressed vison obtains a dispersion linear in Γ and h and a fully universal low-T mobility, µ = 6 (cid:126) v 2 m / ( k B T ) 2 , where v m is the velocity of Majorana fermions. In contrast, in the antiferromagnetic Kitaev model interference eﬀects suppress coherent propagation and an incoherent Majorana-assisted hopping leads to a T -independent mobility. The motion of a single vison due to Heisenberg interactions is strongly suppressed for both signs of the Kitaev coupling. Vison bands in AFM Kitaev models can be topological and may lead to characteristic features in the thermal Hall eﬀects in Kitaev materials.
GFINNs: GENERIC formalism informed neural networks for deterministic and stochastic dynamical systems

We propose the GENERIC formalism informed neural networks (GFINNs) that obey the symmetric degeneracy conditions of the GENERIC formalism. GFINNs comprise two modules, each of which contains two components. We model each component using a neural network whose architecture is designed to satisfy the required conditions. The component-wise architecture design provides flexible ways of leveraging available physics information into neural networks. We prove theoretically that GFINNs are sufficiently expressive to learn the underlying equations, hence establishing the universal approximation theorem. We demonstrate the performance of GFINNs in three simulation problems: gas containers exchanging heat and volume, thermoelastic double pendulum and the Langevin dynamics. In all the examples, GFINNs outperform existing methods, hence demonstrating good accuracy in predictions for both deterministic and stochastic systems. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Data-driven prediction in dynamical systems’.
Current State of Knowledge on the Antioxidant Effects and Mechanisms of Action of Polyphenolic Compounds

Quality-of-life improvements have resulted in increasing attention being paid to research on antiaging and antioxidation. Polyphenols are natural antioxidants with excellent biological activities, such as antioxidation and scavenging of free radicals and antiviral activity. Abundant availability and low toxicity of polyphenols have attracted the attention of researchers. In this paper, the antioxidant activities of flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes and lignan polyphenols are analyzed, the corresponding antioxidant mechanisms are investigated, and the antioxidant effects of polyphenols are systematically reviewed. Thus, an effective reference based on the recent literature is compiled for the study of the antioxidant mechanisms of polyphenols that provides a significant theoretical basis for the development of products that are components of polyphenols.
Using Farmers’ Risk Tolerance to Explain Variations in Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties in Nepal

Rice is the leading cereal crop in Nepal and an important source of calories and plant protein. Despite the importance of rice, there are reports of widespread cultivation of older varieties with considerably large adoption lags. This warrants further investigation into the factors that influence rice farmers’ adoption decisions. Risk attitude is reported to be an important determinant of farmers’ decisions. However, in Nepal, evidence of the effect of risk attitude on the adoption of improved crop varieties is limited because this important factor is not considered in adoption studies. This article, therefore, connects field experiment, theoretical understanding of farmers’ risk attitudes and empirical models with the aim of investigating determinants of farmers adoption of improved rice varieties in Nepal. The results show that majority of farmers currently grow old varieties. The top four varieties—Sona Mahsuri, Sarju-52, Samba Mahsuri and Radha-4—have an average varietal release age of 27 years. By estimating a binary response regression model, this article shows that risk attitude is a significant determinant of rice farmers’ adoption decision. Specifically, the results show that risk-tolerant farmers have the lowest propensity to adopt new improved rice varieties. This article, therefore, highlights the importance of promoting holistic benefits over making risk-reducing attributes salient when new crop varieties are developed and disseminated to farmers.
Construction of an Ec‐LDP‐D5 fusion protein that targets human epidermal growth factor receptor and its anti‐pancreatic cancer activity

It is well known that α‐defensins are mainly packaged in neutrophil granules (HNP1, HNP2, and HNP3) or secreted by intestinal Paneth cells (human defensin [HD]5 and HD6). HNP1–3 peptides are also secreted, and their accumulation in biological fluids was proposed as a tumor biomarker. It has been reported that α‐defensins promote tumor cell growth, but also provoke cell death at higher concentrations. The aim of the present study was to construct a novel fusion protein consisting of oligopeptides specific for human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), lidamycin apoprotein (LDP), and HD5, and investigate its anti‐pancreatic cancer activities.
Dietary diversity and social determinants of nutrition among late adolescent girls in rural Pakistan

Abstract The conditions in which adolescent girls mature shape their health, development and nutrition. Nutrient requirements increase to support growth during adolescence, but gaps between consumption and requirements exist in low‐ and middle‐income countries. We aimed to identify and quantify the relationship between dietary intake and diverse social determinants of nutrition (SDN) among a subset of adolescent girls 15–18.9 years (n = 390) enrolled within the Matiari emPowerment and Preconception Supplementation (MaPPS) Trial. The primary outcome, dietary diversity score (DDS), was derived by applying the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women 10‐item scale to 24‐h dietary recall data collected three times per participant. To examine the associations between the SDN‐related explanatory variables and DDS, we generated a hierarchical, causal model using mixed effects linear regression to account for the cluster‐randomized trial design. Using all data, diets lacked diversity (DDS mean ± SD: 3.35 ± 1.03 [range: 1–7; n = 1170]), and the minimum cut‐off for dietary diversity was infrequently achieved (13.5%; 95% CI: 11.6–15.6%). Consumption of starches was reported in all recalls, but micronutrient‐rich food consumption was less common. Of the SDN considered, wealth quintile had the strongest association with DDS (P < 0.0001). The diets of the sampled Pakistani adolescent girls were insufficient to meet micronutrient requirements. Poverty was the most important predictor of a diet lacking in diversity, indicating limited purchasing power or access to nutritious foods. Dietary diversification and nutrition education strategies alone are unlikely to lead to improved diets without steps to tackle this barrier, for example, through fortification of staple foods and provision of supplements.
#Stressed: Covid-19, Chronic Illness and Technostress

#Stressed: Covid-19, Chronic Illness and Technostress Hema Malini, Devia Putri Lenggogeni, Andi Windah, Fauziah Qifti, Deependra K. Thapa, Sancia West & Michelle Cleary To cite this article: Hema Malini, Devia Putri Lenggogeni, Andi Windah, Fauziah Qifti, Deependra K. Thapa, Sancia West & Michelle Cleary (2021): #Stressed: Covid-19, Chronic Illness and Technostress, Issues in Mental Health Nursing, DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2021. 1958035 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2021. 1958035