Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of extraction methods and temperature preservation on total anthocyanins compounds of Peristrophe bivalvis L. Merr leaf

This paper proposes anthocyanins extraction from Peristrophe bivalvis L. Merr. (“lá cẩm”) and preservation. Experiments were performed in water as a solvent using two different extraction methods [conventional extraction (CE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)], including different solvent-to-raw material ratios, temperatures/microwave power, and times of extraction. The total anthocyanin in the extract was analyzed by UV-Vis. Multiple regression analysis was applied to analyze the influence of factors and select the optimal parameters for each extraction process. The influence of storage conditions on the quality of extracts from “lá cẩm” leaves was controlled. It was observed that the ratio of solvent and fresh leaf used, temperature/ microwave power, and extraction time all affected the anthocyanin content recovered from the extract when using different extraction techniques. The MAE technique gave superior results compared to the CE method. The solvent used was slightly higher and the extraction time was 6.2 times shorter than that of the CE method. The optimal parameters of each extraction technique are selected. With the CE method, the solvent-to-fresh leaf ratio was 11.22:1; the optimum temperature and time were 88°C and 27.21 minutes resulting in the anthocyanin content in the extract being 25.61 mg/g dry weight basic (db). Meanwhile, with the MAE method, the solventto-fresh leaf ratio used was 10.83:1 (v/w), the microwave power and the optimal extraction time were 600 W and 4.39 minutes, and the obtained extract had an anthocyanin content of 30.97 mg/g db. In addition, the extract was best preserved in the dark and the storage temperature was −9°C. The remaining anthocyanin content after 30 days of storage was 92.35%. The anthocyanin degradation kinetics was also analyzed. Changes in total anthocyanin followed a zero-order reaction kinetic model. The potential of the half-life of anthocyanin was 221, 114, and 19 days at −9°C, 4°C, and 28°C, respectively.
Probing protein ubiquitination in live cells

The reversible attachment of ubiquitin governs the interaction, activity and degradation of proteins whereby the type and target of this conjugation determine the biological response. The investigation of this complex and multi-faceted protein ubiquitination mostly relies on painstaking biochemical analyses. Here, we employ recombinant binding domains to probe the ubiquitination of proteins in living cells. We immobilize GFP-fused proteins of interest at a distinct cellular structure and detect their ubiquitination state with red fluorescent ubiquitin binders. With this ubiquitin fluorescent three-hybrid (ubiF3H) assay we identified HP1β as a novel ubiquitination target of UHRF1. The use of linkage specific ubiquitin binding domains enabled the discrimination of K48 and K63 linked protein ubiquitination. To enhance signal-to-noise ratio, we implemented fluorescence complementation (ubiF3Hc) with split YFP. Using in addition a cell cycle marker we could show that HP1β is mostly ubiquitinated by UHRF1 during S phase and deubiquitinated by the protease USP7. With this complementation assay we could also directly detect the ubiquitination of the tumor suppressor p53 and monitor its inhibition by the anti-cancer drug Nutlin-3. Altogether, we demonstrate the utility of the ubiF3H assay to probe the ubiquitination of specific proteins and to screen for ligases, proteases and small molecules controlling this posttranslational modification.
Hyperactivation of MAPK Induces Tamoxifen Resistance in SPRED2-Deficient ERα-Positive Breast Cancer

Simple Summary Tamoxifen has been used for more than 40 years to treat breast tumors that are dependent on the hormone estrogen for their growth. However, resistance and recurrence of the tumors during the course of the treatment are common. Understanding the mechanisms that drive tamoxifen resistance and discovering new biomarkers for early detection are keys for designing appropriate personalized therapies. Here, we show that low levels of SPRED2 may be useful as a novel biomarker of tamoxifen resistance. We found that SPRED2 deficiency causes a hyperactivation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) ERK1/ERK2, which in turn enhances estrogen signaling and diminishes the toxic effects of tamoxifen on breast cancer cells. Treatment with the ERK1/2 inhibitor, ulixertinib, could restore their sensitivity to tamoxifen. Therefore, we propose that patients with estrogen-dependent breast cancer characterized by low expression levels of SPRED2 may be candidates for a combination therapy with tamoxifen and ulixertinib. Abstract Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Most breast tumors depend on the expression of the estrogen receptor α (ERα) for their growth. For this reason, targeting ERα with antagonists such as tamoxifen is the therapy of choice for most patients. Although initially responsive to tamoxifen, about 40% of the patients will develop resistance and ultimately a recurrence of the disease. Thus, finding new biomarkers and therapeutic approaches to treatment-resistant tumors is of high significance. SPRED2, an inhibitor of the MAPK signal transduction pathway, has been found to be downregulated in various cancers. In the present study, we found that SPRED2 is downregulated in a large proportion of breast-cancer patients. Moreover, the knockdown of SPRED2 significantly increases cell proliferation and leads to tamoxifen resistance of breast-cancer cells that are initially tamoxifen-sensitive. We found that resistance occurs through increased activation of the MAPKs ERK1/ERK2, which enhances the transcriptional activity of ERα. Treatment of SPRED2-deficient breast cancer cells with a combination of the ERK 1/2 inhibitor ulixertinib and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) can inhibit cell growth and proliferation and overcome the induced tamoxifen resistance. Taken together, these results indicate that SPRED2 may also be a tumor suppressor for breast cancer and that it is a key regulator of cellular sensitivity to 4-OHT.
A Tie-line Power Smoothing Method for Microgrid Using Residential Thermostatically-controlled Loads

The intermission and uncertainty of renewable energy lead to many operation problems existing in power systems.Traditional method witnesses operational challenges to smooth renewable fluctuations due to the high operating cost limits of conventional storage devices.This paper presented a novel micro-grid(MG) tie-line power flow smoothing algorithm using residential thermostatically-controlled loads.The thermal dynamic of the heat pump was modeled by a simplified first-order equivalent thermal parameter model.The smoothing algorithm controlled the heat pumps based on a state-queueing control strategy through a reliable 2-way communication system.In a grid-connected community-based microgrid,1? 000 residential electric heat pumps were simulated to provide this demand-side power smoothing service.The simulation results demonstrate that the algorithm is effective and robust.Sensitivity analysis was conducted for renewable penetrations,ambient temperatures,and the lower and upper limits of operating indoor temperatures and various impacts can be investigated.The results pave the path for a generalized energy storage system for future smart grid implementations.
Modelling of Bioremediation of Oil-Contaminated Soil Using Chicken Droppings as Biostimulant

The suitability of poultry droppings as a biostimulant for the remediation of crude oil-contaminated soil has been investigated. Four equal-sized containers, each containing 400g of soil were each contaminated 20 ml of crude oil after which they were thoroughly mixed. To first three containers, A,B and C were respectively added 20 g, 60 and 100 g of poultry droppings which were previously dried and pulverised. To the fourth container which served as control, was added no poultry droppings. The degradation of oil in the samples were monitored for 7 weeks by observing the residual hydrocarbon content (RHC) and pH of samples. The RHC of the samples over the seven-week period were then modelled using artificial neural network (ANN) in the MATLAB Neural Network Toolbox. The RHC values decreased for all samples, with the highest reduction of 100 mg/kg obtained in sample C and the least reduction of 1000 mg/kg in sample D. The PH values were observed to increase slightly from the acidic region of 5.5 to a range of 7.8 to 8.3. The best and most suitable training algorithm of RHC of the samples was TRAINSCG since it had the least mean square error (MSE) value of 0.00183 as well as the highest R-squared value of 0.99808.
Treatment of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis with an Inhibitor of Phosphodiesterase-8 (PDE8)

After decades of development, inhibitors targeting cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) expressed in leukocytes have entered clinical practice for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, with three PDE4 inhibitors being in clinical use as therapeutics for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atopic dermatitis. In contrast, the PDE8 family that is upregulated in pro-inflammatory T cells is a largely unexplored therapeutic target. We have previously demonstrated a role for the PDE8A-Raf-1 kinase complex in the regulation of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35–55 (MOG35–55) activated CD4+ effector T cell adhesion and locomotion by a mechanism that differs from PDE4 activity. In this study, we explored the in vivo treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for multiple sclerosis (MS) induced in mice immunized with MOG using the PDE8-selective inhibitor PF-04957325. For treatment in vivo, mice with EAE were either subcutaneously (s.c.) injected three times daily (10 mg/kg/dose), or were implanted subcutaneously with Alzet mini-osmotic pumps to deliver the PDE8 inhibitor (15.5 mg/kg/day). The mice were scored daily for clinical signs of paresis and paralysis which were characteristic of EAE. We observed the suppression of the clinical signs of EAE and a reduction of inflammatory lesion formation in the CNS by histopathological analysis through the determination of the numbers of mononuclear cells isolated from the spinal cord of mice with EAE. The PDE8 inhibitor treatment reduces the accumulation of both encephalitogenic Th1 and Th17 T cells in the CNS. Our study demonstrates the efficacy of targeting PDE8 as a treatment of autoimmune inflammation in vivo by reducing the inflammatory lesion load.
Passive Photonic Integrated Circuits Elements Fabricated on a Silicon Nitride Platform

The fabrication processes for silicon nitride photonic integrated circuits evolved from microelectronics components technology—basic processes have common roots and can be executed using the same type of equipment. In comparison to that of electronics components, passive photonic structures require fewer manufacturing steps and fabricated elements have larger critical dimensions. In this work, we present and discuss our first results on design and development of fundamental building blocks for silicon nitride integrated photonic platform. The scope of the work covers the full design and manufacturing chain, from numerical simulations of optical elements, design, and fabrication of the test structures to optical characterization and analysis the results. In particular, technological processes were developed and evaluated for fabrication of the waveguides (WGs), multimode interferometers (MMIs), and arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs), which confirmed the potential of the technology and correctness of the proposed approach.
The Possible Seismo-Ionospheric Perturbations Recorded by the China-Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite

Driven by the objective of earthquake disaster prevention and mitigation, China launched the Zhangheng mission to build a stereoscopic earthquake monitoring system from the lithosphere to space. This report briefly presents the possible seismic ionospheric disturbances recorded by the first probe of the Zhangheng mission, which is known as the China-Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES). The routine data preprocessing and seismo-ionospheric information analysis methods are briefly introduced. The possible seismo-ionospheric disturbances that appeared during the strong shallow earthquakes (with a magnitude over 7 and a depth shallower than 30 km) are analyzed by using CSES and other multi-source data. Investigating seismo-ionospheric mechanisms requires multidisciplinary knowledge involving geophysics, atmosphere/ionosphere physics, geochemistry/atmospheric chemistry, etc. We state that the results from the CSES scientific application center are preliminary, calling for international scientists to contribute to the seismo-ionospheric perturbation phenomena, which is one of the most challenging scientific problems.
Investigation on energy optimization of neural electrical stimulation based on circuit probability theory

For the battery-powered implantable stimulators, the energy optimization of neural stimulation is critical for extending its lifetime. However, due to the nonlinearity and complexity of the relationship between the neural electrical stimulation and the neural response, optimizing the stimulation parameters to achieve desired neural response with minimal energy consumption is a challenge. The circuit-probability theory is a novel method to investigate the quantitative relationship between electrical stimulations and neural responses. Based on the circuit-probability theory, this paper proposed a method to investigate the energy optimization problem at different neural response strength. The results show that the pulse width of the optimal current waveform with minimal energy consumption is not a constant, but a value that increases with the neural stimulation strength. In the future, our study can be applied for the optimization of current pulses of implantable neural stimulators to prolong the lifetime and reduce the recharge intervals of batteries, thereby reducing the volume of implanted pulse generators and the costs and risks of battery-replacement surgeries.
The Genetic and Hormonal Inducers of Continuous Flowering in Orchids: An Emerging View

Orchids are the flowers of magnetic beauty. Vivid and attractive flowers with magnificent shapes make them the king of the floriculture industry. However, the long-awaited flowering is a drawback to their market success, and therefore, flowering time regulation is the key to studies about orchid flower development. Although there are some rare orchids with a continuous flowering pattern, the molecular regulatory mechanisms are yet to be elucidated to find applicable solutions to other orchid species. Multiple regulatory pathways, such as photoperiod, vernalization, circadian clock, temperature and hormonal pathways are thought to signalize flower timing using a group of floral integrators. This mini review, thus, organizes the current knowledge of floral time regulators to suggest future perspectives on the continuous flowering mechanism that may help to plan functional studies to induce flowering revolution in precious orchid species.
Identifying Important Nodes in Complex Networks Based on Node Propagation Entropy

In recent years, the identification of the essential nodes in complex networks has attracted significant attention because of their theoretical and practical significance in many applications, such as preventing and controlling epidemic diseases and discovering essential proteins. Several importance measures have been proposed from diverse perspectives to identify crucial nodes more accurately. In this paper, we propose a novel importance metric called node propagation entropy, which uses a combination of the clustering coefficients of nodes and the influence of the first- and second-order neighbor numbers on node importance to identify essential nodes from an entropy perspective while considering the local and global information of the network. Furthermore, the susceptible–infected–removed and susceptible–infected–removed–susceptible epidemic models along with the Kendall coefficient are used to reveal the relevant correlations among the various importance measures. The results of experiments conducted on several real networks from different domains show that the proposed metric is more accurate and stable in identifying significant nodes than many existing techniques, including degree centrality, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, eigenvector centrality, and H-index.
High Device Performances and Noise Characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs Using In Situ SiCN and SiN Cap Layer

We fabricated and characterized AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with a nano-sized in situ cap layer (one is a silicon carbon nitride (SiCN) layer, and the other is a silicon nitride (SiN) layer) comparing to the conventional device without an in situ cap layer. The pulse characteristics and noise behaviors for two devices with in situ cap layers are much superior to those of the reference device without a cap layer, which means that the in situ cap layer effectively passivates the AlGaN surface. On the other hand, the device with an in situ SiCN cap layer showed the excellent device characteristics and noise performances compared to the other devices because of the reduced positive ionic charges and enhanced surface morphology caused by carbon (C) surfactant atoms during the growth of the SiCN cap layer. These results indicate that the AlGaN/GaN HEMT with the in situ SiCN cap layer is very promising for the next high-power device by replacing the conventional HEMT.
Determination of the Tensile Strain by Indenting the Sphere

The value of the parameter m (previously the Mayer index) has been interpreted in a new way. For this purpose, in determining m, a new parameter was introduced consisting of a factor obtained from the Hollomon equation and a factor used in transforming the Mayer equation. Taking into account the new parameter, the dependences are determined that allow determining the tensile deformation. The essential significance of the new parameter is shown at its values of 0.95 . 1.05. It is noted that the calculations of representative deformations and stresses according to Tabor are a small special case of the proposed method. On examples with a clear physical meaning, the possibility of using the proposed approach to determine representative deformations and stresses for the range of values of the hardening exponent has been confirmed. The graphical dependences of the results obtained are presented.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Ergonomic Program for Management of Low back Problems among Office Workers

Low back problems are emerging as important work-related health disorders especially among computer office workers with substantial cost. The most prominent feature, of these conditions, is low back pain (LBP). The present study was designed to investigate low back problems among office workers in relation to ergonomic factors at work and to analyze cost-benefit of a suggested ergonomic program for management of this problem. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the office work department in a petroleum company in the Western desert. The study included 120 office workers. All participants were subjected to a predesigned questionnaire emphasizing occupational history, clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, and ergonomic checklist for subjective assessment. The LBP was defined whether non-specific, radiating, persistent specific, or chronic. A parallel objective assessment of the computer desk workstations (n = 62), which were shared by workers, was carried out by experienced ergonomists with the same previous checklist. Medical records were reviewed for assessment of the cost of low back problems in the years (2007-2009). The cost of a suggested ergonomic program was calculated for 3 years according to the market price in order to calculate cost-benefit ratio of such a program in prevention of LBP. Results showed that 61% of the examined workers gave history of LBP within the previous 3 years and clinical signs were detected in 32% of the workers. There were no significant differences between subjective and objective assessments of the different items scores of the ergonomic checklist. The lowest mean scores were reported for the chair and the work habits and training, both were negatively correlated with LBP intensity and duration. The suggested ergonomic program entails correction of the defective items to meet the standard ergonomic healthy criteria, provision of 6 periodic ergonomic training programs and enforcement of healthy work and life style habits. The final cost-benefit ratio of the ergonomic program for management of LBP among office workers of the present study was 1: 3.67 which is considered cost beneficial. Properly designed ergonomic programs are cost beneficial in management of LBP among office workers.
Mobile Learning in Developing Countries

Commissioned by the Commonwealth of Learning, this is a research-informed guide to mobile learning and includes implementation strategies, applications and case studies. Mobile learning, or m-learning, is a personal way to learn and to access educational tools and material that enlarges access to education for all. It reinforces learners' sense of ownership of the learning experience, offering them flexibility in how, when and where they learn. In developing countries, mobile technologies potentially deliver education without dependence on an extensive traditional communications infrastructure, leapfrogging some of the intervening development phases encountered in developed countries such as installing extensive electricity power grids, and building multiple computer rooms in educational institutions.
Impact of Outdated CSI on the Secure Communication in Untrusted In-Band Full-Duplex Relay Networks

To provide reliable connectivity in recent and future wireless communication systems, it is necessary to deploy several relay nodes. Further, a full-duplex (FD) technique has been in the spotlight since it can significantly improve spectral efficiency, and thus recent studies in relaying networks have considered FD relays. In relaying networks, confidentiality between the source and destination nodes from the relay node should be carefully kept since the relay node cannot be fully trusted, so called <italic>untrusted</italic> relay node. To this end, in this paper, we consider physical-layer security taking into account an untrusted FD relay node. We investigate a secure relaying protocol against the untrusted relay node where the destination generates artificial noise to prevent the untrusted relay from decoding the source information. We derive the analytical expression of the lower bound of the ergodic secrecy rate (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\bar {R}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>). We find two main factors affecting the secrecy performance: residual self-interference (RSI) at the FD-available nodes (i.e., relay and destination), and outdated channel state information (CSI) at the destination. Thereafter, we evaluate their effects on <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\bar {R}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and suggest the algorithm to find the sub-optimal artificial noise power level at the destination for maximizing <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\bar {R}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. Through simulations, we have verified our mathematical derivation and shown that our secure relaying protocol can achieve near-optimal secrecy performance. Numerical results imply that the artificial noise power level should be carefully considered when the channel is severely outdated and RSI is irresistible.