Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The spatial localization of 18 S rRNA genes, in relation to the descent of the cells, in the root cortex of Petunia hybrida.

The 3-D localization of transcription inactive 18 S rRNA genes was studied in interphase nuclei of Petunia hybrida root tip cells. To enable a cell type (i.e. cortex)-specific study in which also the orientation and descent of the cells could be taken into account, a method was developed to preserve the spatial organization of the root meristem. The ribosomal genes were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization using a biotinylated cDNA probe. 3-D images of 81 nuclei, obtained by confocal scanning laser microscopy, were processed with newly developed computer software. 3-D nucleolar and nuclear dimensions, and the localization of the FISH-spots, were recorded interactively. We compared the absolute and relative position of the genes within and between files of cells of the cortex region of several roots, taking into account the genealogical relationship of the cells. Statistical analysis showed that both the relative and absolute positions of the inactive genes were random, also in more closely related cells within a file of cells. A 'relict telophase orientation' of the genes (i.e. the position of the genes in the daughter cells are mirror images of each other) could only be observed in the G0/1 phase of 'true' daughter cells; the orientation was not preserved throughout the next cell cycle.
Evaluation of the Effects of Microporous Layer Characteristics and Assembly Parameters on the Performance and Durability of a Planar PEM Fuel Cell

In recent years a significant portion of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) work has been focused on understanding and optimizing the functions of the microporous layer (MPL). Researchers have found that including this layer, composed of carbon black and Teflon (PTFE), between the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and catalyst layer (CL) of PEMFCs improves performance. The major benefit of the MPL in conventional fuel cells is that it improves water management and reduces contact resistances between cell layers. Although the functions of the MPL in conventional PEMFCs are well understood, the essential functions and optimal formulation of the layer in planar PEMFCs which operate without stack compression, are for the most part unknown. This work determines the essential functions and optimal composition, loading and sintering pressure of the MPL in a planar fuel cell design called a Ribbon Fuel Cell. Adhesion as well as performance data were gathered to determine the essential functions and formulation of the MPL which leads to high performance and durability in Ribbon Fuel Cells. Statistical models were created based on performance data of cells constructed with various MPLs; and a MPL composed of 45 wt% PTFE, loaded at 3.5 mg/cm and sintered between 20 and 40 psi was found to exhibit optimal performance and durability. The reason why such a high PTFE content yields optimal results is because it strengthens the MPL, allowing it to successfully join various cell layers together, a function that is essential in Ribbon Cells which operate without external stack compression.
Modeling the Relationship between the Gross Domestic Product and Built-Up Area Using Remote Sensing and GIS Data: A Case Study of Seven Major Cities in Canada

City/regional authorities are responsible for designing and structuring the urban morphology based on the desired land use activities. One of the key concerns regarding urban planning is to establish certain development goals, such as the real gross domestic product (GDP). In Canada, the gross national income (GNI) mainly relies on the mining and manufacturing industries. In order to estimate the impact of city development, this study aims to utilize remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to assess the relationship between the built-up area and the reported real GDP of seven major cities in Canada. The objectives of the study are: (1) to investigate the use of regression analysis between the built-up area derived from Landsat images and the industrial area extracted from Geographic Information System (GIS) data; and (2) to study the relationship between the built-up area and the socio-economic data (i.e., real GDP, total population and total employment). The experimental data include 42 multi-temporal Landsat TM images and 42 land use GIS vector datasets obtained from year 2005 to 2010 during the summer season (June, July and August) for seven major cities in Canada. The socio-economic data, including the real GDP, the total population and the total employment, are obtained from the Metropolitan Housing Outlook during the same period. Both the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were used to determine the built-up areas. Those high built-up values within the industrial areas were acquired for further analysis. Finally, regression analysis was conducted between the real GDP, the total population, and the total employment with respect to the built-up area. Preliminary findings showed a strong linear relationship (R2= 0.82) between the percentage of built-up area and industrial area within the corresponding city. In addition, a strong linear relationship (R2= 0.8) was found between the built-up area and socio-economic data. Therefore, the study justifies the use of remote sensing and GIS data to model the socio-economic data (i.e., real GDP, total population and total employment). The research findings can contribute to the federal/municipal authorities and act as a generic indicator for targeting a specific real GDP with respect to industrial areas.
Enhanced cooling of neutron stars via Cooper-pairing neutrino emission

We simulate cooling of superfluid neutron stars with nucleon cores where the direct Urca process is forbidden. We adopt density-dependent critical temperatures Tcp(ρ )a ndTcn(ρ) of singlet-state proton and triplet-state neutron pairing in a stellar core and consider strong proton pairing (with maximum T max cp > 5 × 10 9 K) and moderate neutron pairing (T max cn ∼
Ethanol differentially regulates snail family of transcription factors and invasion of premalignant and malignant pancreatic ductal cells

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest of cancers with a dismal 5‐year survival rate. Epidemiological studies have identified chronic pancreatitis as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer cells also demonstrate increased expression of the transcription factor Snail, a key regulator of epithelial–mesenchymal transition. As ethanol is one of the major causes of pancreatitis, we examined the effect of ethanol on Snail family members in immortalized human pancreatic ductal epithelial (HPDE) cells and in pancreatic cancer cells. Ethanol induced Snail mRNA levels 2.5‐fold in HPDE cells, with only 1.5‐fold mRNA induction of the Snail‐related protein slug. In contrast, ethanol increased Slug mRNA levels 1.5‐ to 2‐fold in pancreatic cancer cells, with minimal effect on Snail. Because Snail increases invasion of cancer cells, we examined the effect of ethanol on invasion of HPDE and pancreatic cancer cells. Surprisingly, ethanol decreased invasion of HPDE cells, but had no effect on invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. Mechanistically, ethanol increased adhesion of HPDE cells to collagen and increased expression of the collagen binding α2‐ and β1‐integrins. In contrast, ethanol did not affect collagen adhesion or integrin expression in pancreatic cancer cells. Also in contrast to HPDE cells, ethanol did not attenuate ERK1/2 phosphorylation in pancreatic cancer cells; however, inhibiting ERK1/2 decreased pancreatic cancer cell invasion. Overall, our results identify the differential effects of ethanol on premalignant and malignant pancreatic cells, and demonstrate the pleiotropic effects of ethanol on pancreatic cancer progression. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 2966–2973, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hierarchical Parallel Genetic Algorithm applied to the three-dimensional HP Side-chain Protein Folding Problem

This work describes a Hierarchical Parallel Genetic Algorithm (HPGA) applied to the Protein Folding Problem (PFP). The modeling of the problem, using the 3DHP-Side-chain model, and details of the HPGA are presented. The effect of the energy weights in the performance of the algorithm was also studied. The HPGA was tested using three sets of benchmark sequences. Results show that the HPGA obtained biologically coherent results, suggesting the adequacy and efficiency of the HPGA for the problem.
Adenosine Kinase Gene Expression in Human Colorectal Cancer

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate gene expression of adenosine kinase, a key enzyme in adenosine metabolism, in human intestinal biopsy specimens of 10 colorectal cancer patients. Quantitative mRNA expression levels were normalized against the reference gene β -actin. The results showed that adenosine kinase gene expression was significantly higher in cancer than in normal-appearing tissue, in line with our previous measurements of adenosine kinase enzyme activities in colorectal tumor samples.
Design and engineering of barrier materials including nano-adsorbents

A material is defined as “barrier” when it is able to delay the diffusion of a penetrant. There are few possibilities to modulate the barrier properties of a prescribed material (e.g. packaging material). Most of conventional technological strategies aim at increasing the tortuosity path of the penetrant by adding obstacles. Such obstacles could be obtained either by creating a crystalline morphology or by adding of nano-fillers. The gain in diffusion barrier depends on the shape factor of obstacles, their concentration and orientation according to the main direction of transfer. In this PhD work, a novel direction to improve the barrier property has been studied; its principles have been early formalized independently from theoretical considerations on random walk on heterogeneous energy surfaces and from modeling of reactivity in heterogeneous catalysis. The central idea relies on increasing retention times instead of diffusion path lengths by incorporating nano-adsorbents (i.e. active obstacles) in the material. In this case, the considered material becomes a barrier specific to one or a family of solutes. This new concept has been tested on organic solutes to develop new barrier materials (e.g. biobased food packaging, materials for fuel tank…). The results brought out the engineering principles of such materials and experimental evidences to support the concepts. In particular, an extended free-volume theory has been developed to separate interactions with active surfaces (i.e. montmorillonites (MMT) in this work) from free-volume related effects in the polymer. Sorption properties of pristine MMT and organo-modified ones have been characterized experimentally and by molecular simulation to derive conditions where the partition coefficient Kcontrast between the surface of MMT and tested polymers (i.e. polycaprolactone (PCL), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)) could be much greater than unity. PVA materials containing pristine MMT exhibited the most promising barrier properties to studied model solutes, which can be activated by decreasing temperature and whose selectivity can be controlled by varying the relative humidity. The blocking effects were in good agreement with the proposed description of “trapping” of organic solutes by intercalation in MMT galleries and on its enthalpic and entropic control.
Metabolism, LXR/LXR ligands, and tumor immune escape

The mechanisms of tumor immune evasion have gained increasing interest among the tumor immunologists, because of their ability to suppress spontaneous and immunotherapy‐elicited antitumor responses. Recent studies clearly show that the deletion of cells/molecules involved in tumor evasion is capable of restoring antitumor immune responses, ultimately leading to tumor rejection in mouse tumor models. These studies further support and strengthen the idea to target not only the cancer cell‐intrinsic defects but also those affecting cells of the microenvironment, such as immune cells. The alterations of cancer cell metabolism are also emerging as important regulators of immune cell function, with particular emphasis on immune‐escape mechanisms. Indeed, intermediate or final products of cancer cell metabolism may interfere with the function of immune cells infiltrating the tumor microenvironment. This review will focus on the role of cholesterol metabolism, with particular emphasis on the axis LXR/LXR ligands. This axis has been shown to affect DC migration to lymphoid organs, thus dampening the induction of successful antitumor responses. Finally, we will discuss whether this pathway may interfere with other immune cells infiltrating tumors and how to improve spontaneous and immunotherapy‐based antitumor responses by counteracting this immune‐escape mechanism.
Particle size and shape effects on the surface mechanical properties of aluminium coated with carbonaceous materials

Influence of particle size and shape of carbonaceous materials on the surface mechanical properties of Aluminium-1100 substrates is evaluated. The aluminium surface is impregnated with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (one dimensional), Graphene nanoplatelets (two dimensional) and graphite flakes (three dimensional) of various sizes. An electrical resistance heat assisted pressing technique was used for localised melting of the aluminium substrate followed by the mechanical impregnation of the carbonaceous materials. Surface mechanical properties of the so obtained surface composites were evaluated by microhardness and nanoindentation studies. A general observation is that the indentation hardness and Young’s modulus increase as the shape changes from three dimensional to one dimensional and also with the reduction in particle size. The maximum surface hardness achieved for each of these particles and the processing conditions at which the best properties are attained give insights into the prevailing hardening mechanisms. Raman spectroscopic analysis, which shows a variable shift and change in intensity ratios of the corresponding G, D and 2D bands, corroborates the experimental observations.
Theory of the Vibration of Simple Cubic Lattices with Nearest Neighbor Interactions

Abstract : A crystalline solid is generally considered to be an assembly of almost periodically spaced atoms or molecules. A set of periodic atomic equilibrium positions is postulated to exist such that no net force acts on any atom when all are at their equilibrium positions. Thermal excitation (or quantum mechanical zero point energy at low temperatures) causes the atoms to vibrate about these equilibrium positions.
Plasma interferon‐gamma‐inducible protein‐10 (IP‐10) levels during acute hepatitis C virus infection

Systemic levels of interferon‐gamma‐inducible protein‐10 (IP‐10) are predictive of treatment‐induced clearance in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). In the present study, factors associated with plasma IP‐10 levels at the time of acute HCV detection and the association between IP‐10 levels and spontaneous clearance were assessed in three cohorts of acute HCV infection. Among 299 individuals, 245 (181 male, 47 human immunodeficiency virus‐positive [HIV+]) were HCV RNA+ at acute HCV detection. In adjusted analysis, factors independently associated with IP‐10 levels ≥150 pg/mL (median level) included HCV RNA levels >6 log IU/mL, HIV coinfection and non‐Aboriginal ethnicity. Among 245 HCV RNA+ at acute HCV detection, 214 were untreated (n = 137) or had persistent infection (infection duration ≥26 weeks) at treatment initiation (n = 77). Spontaneous clearance occurred in 14% (29 of 214). Individuals without spontaneous clearance had significantly higher mean plasma IP‐10 levels at the time of acute HCV detection than those with clearance (248 ± 32 versus 142 ± 22 pg/mL, P = 0.008). The proportion of individuals with spontaneous clearance was 0% (0 of 22, P = 0.048) and 16% (27 of 165) and in those with and without plasma IP‐10 levels ≥380 pg/mL. In adjusted analyses, favorable IL28B genotype was associated with spontaneous clearance, while higher HCV RNA level was independently associated with lower odds of spontaneous clearance. Conclusion: High IP‐10 levels at acute HCV detection were associated with failure to spontaneously clear HCV. Patients with acute HCV and high baseline IP‐10 levels, particularly >380 pg/mL, should be considered for early therapeutic intervention, and those with low levels should defer therapy for potential spontaneous clearance. (HEPATOLOGY 2013;)
Conflict, Culture, and Performance in Virtual Teams: Results from a Cross-Cultural Study

The relationship between different types of conflict and performance in virtual teams is still unclear. Therefore, this paper tries to shed light on the relationship between conflict and team performance as well as the moderating role of culture. Using survey and archival data of 1,683 virtual teams from 23 countries from a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG), this study's findings show that task conflict is positively related to team performance while process conflict is negatively related to team performance. Furthermore, while collectivistic culture is positively related to performance, it also moderates the conflict-performance relationship. Whereas the team performance of collectivistic teams is highly affected by both types of conflict, team performance of individualistic teams is hardly affected by task conflict and almost not affected by process conflict. We provide a detailed discussion of our findings in the conclusion of the paper and highlight the implications for both research and practice.
Electrolytes in sick neonates – which sodium is the right answer?

Introduction Hypoproteinaemia leads to spuriously high-sodium values when measured by indirect ion-selective electrodes (ISE) as used in main laboratory analysers compared with direct ISE employed in point-of-care analysers (POCT). The authors, therefore, investigated the occurrence of hypoalbuminaemia and its effect on measured sodium from POCT and the main laboratory analyser of neonatal intensive-care samples. Method Sodium, in paired retrospective samples, measured by the main laboratory and neonatal unit blood-gas (POCT) analysers were compared. Results Hypoalbuminaemia (<30 g/l) was present in 1400/2420 paired results. Sodium was higher when measured by laboratory analyser, the difference increased with decreasing albumin; sodium (laboratory – POCT)=7.6 (±1.1)–0.22 (±0.04)×albumin. A difference >3 mmol/l was present in 31% and consequently underestimated (9.4%) hyponatraemia and overestimated (3.8%) hypernatraemia. Conclusion Hypoalbuminaemia is common in sick neonates and monitoring electrolytes using POCT and laboratory analysers frequently yield significantly different results with consequent misclassification. In these patients, measurement of electrolytes by direct ISE (blood-gas analyser) may be more accurate.
Recent economic findings on childhood obesity: cost-of-illness and cost-effectiveness of interventions

Purpose of reviewThe rising prevalence of obesity amongst children and adolescents is a growing public health burden. This study reviews recent studies, first, examining the economic consequences of childhood obesity, and, second, evaluating the cost-effectiveness of programs to prevent and to manage childhood obesity. Recent findingsEvidence of the impact of childhood obesity on healthcare costs for children is ambiguous. Although one study did not find increasing costs with increasing body mass index (BMI), in some other studies this effect was visible – partly only in subgroups.The evaluation studies show that in order to reach acceptable cost-effectiveness values, interventions cannot focus solely on physical activity, but must include nutrition as an intervention target. Moreover, there is some evidence supporting the expectation that childhood obesity prevention may be successful in combining health gains with net cost savings. SummaryThere is a need to estimate the costs of childhood obesity as an essential part of identifying cost-effective treatment and prevention measures. Given the diversity and shortcomings of the methodological approaches chosen in the existing evaluation studies, there is an urgent need both for more standardized economic evaluations of those measures and more methodological research.
Associations Between Two Trematode Parasites, an Ectosymbiotic Annelid, and Thiara (Tarebia) Granifera (Gastropoda) in Jamaica

abstract: This work describes associations of Thiara (Tarebia) granifera, its larval trematode community, and Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei at a freshwater reservoir in Jamaica. Larvae of 2 trematodes were present, i.e., a notocotylid (15.3%) and Philophthalmus sp. (1.3%), in 3,575 T. granifera examined. The prevalence of both infections increased with snail shell length (H = 56, P < 0.01, H = 23.1, P < 0.01, respectively). Only 3.0% (n = 595) of infected snails possessed reproductive stages, compared with 90.3% (n = 2,980) of uninfected snails (&khgr;2 = 2,059.8, df = 1, P < 0.001); both trematodes negatively impacted snail reproduction. Chaetogaster l. limnaei occurred within the mantle cavity of T. granifera with a prevalence of 2.3% (n = 3,575); intensity ranged from 1 to 6 annelids. Notocotylid larvae occurred in 32.5% (n = 83) of snails also harboring C. l. limnaei, compared with 14.9% (n = 3,492) of snails lacking the annelid (&khgr;2 = 18.127; P < 0.001). Chaetogaster l. limnaei appears not to influence the recruitment of egg-transmitted, notocotylid infections to snails. Ingestion of emergent cercariae by the annelid was observed; this may impact transmission of the parasite. The article presents the first report of a notocotylid and C. l. limnaei in T. granifera, and of Philophthalmus sp. in Jamaica.
The Development and Refinement of an e-Health Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Parents to Prevent Childhood Obesity in Primary Care.

BACKGROUND Nearly one-third of Canadian children can be categorized as overweight or obese. There is a growing interest in applying e-health approaches to prevent unhealthy weight gain in children, especially in settings that families access regularly. Our objective was to develop and refine an e-health screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for parents to help prevent childhood obesity in primary care. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our SBIRT, titled the Resource Information Program for Parents on Lifestyle and Education (RIPPLE), was developed by our research team and an e-health intervention development company. RIPPLE was based on existing SBIRT models and contemporary literature on children's lifestyle behaviors. Refinements to RIPPLE were guided by feedback from five focus groups (6-10 participants per group) that documented perceptions of the SBIRT by participants (healthcare professionals [n = 20], parents [n = 10], and researchers and graduate trainees [n = 8]). Focus group commentaries were transcribed in real time using a court reporter. Data were analyzed thematically. RESULTS Participants viewed RIPPLE as a practical, well-designed, and novel tool to facilitate the prevention of childhood obesity in primary care. However, they also perceived that RIPPLE may elicit negative reactions from some parents and suggested improvements to specific elements (e.g., weight-related terms). CONCLUSIONS RIPPLE may enhance parents' awareness of children's weight status and motivation to change their children's lifestyle behaviors but should be improved prior to implementation. Findings from this research directly informed revisions to our SBIRT, which will undergo preliminary testing in a randomized controlled trial.