Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of electrospinning process parameters of polycaprolactone and nanohydroxyapatite nanocomposite nanofibers

Electrospinning is the process of producing polymer nanofibers through the action of an external electric field imposed on a polymer solution or melt. Nanofibrous composites of polycaprolactone (PCL) and nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) were fabricated in this study and the effects of most important process parameters, such as polymer concentration, applied voltage, spinning distance and flow rate, on the mean fiber diameter (MFD) of prepared nanofibers were investigated. The fiber morphology and MFD of nanofibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Nanofibers were subjected to detailed analysis for chemical properties by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the MFD of fibers was in the range of 300–650 nm, which increased with decreasing spinning distance and decreased with reducing flow rate. Initially, the MFD decreased with increasing nHA concentration and voltage and then increased. FTIR analysis demonstrated good intramolecular interactions between the molecules of PCL/nHA. The results indicate that prepared nanofibers could be suitable candidates for tissue engineering applications.
Effects of Evidence-Based Fall Reduction Programing on the Functional Wellness of Older Adults in a Senior Living Community: A Clinical Case Study

Background Older adults at a high risk of falls may be referred to a physical therapist. A physical therapy episode of care is designed for the transition of an older adult from a high fall risk to a moderate to low fall risk. However, these episodes of care are limited in time and duration. There is compelling evidence for the efficacy of group-based exercise classes to address risk, and transitioning an older adult from physical therapy to a group-based program may be an effective way to manage risk through the continuum of care. Objectives The purpose of this study was to translate research findings into a “real world” setting, and demonstrate the efficacy of integrating evidence-based fall prevention exercises into pre-existing exercise classes at a senior living facility as a “proof of concept” model for future programing. Methods Twenty-four participants aged 65 years and older living in a senior living community and the community were stratified into group-based exercise classes. Cutoff scores from functional outcome measures were used to stratify participants. Exercises from The Otago Exercise Program were implemented into the classes. Functional outcome measures collected included the 10-Meter Walk Test, 30-Second Sit to Stand, and Timed Up and Go (TUG). Number of falls, hospitalizations, and physical therapy episodes of care were also tracked. Data were compared to a control group in a different senior living community that offered classes with similar exercises aimed at improving strength and mobility. The classes were taught by an exercise physiologist and were of equal duration and frequency. Results Participants demonstrated significant improvements in all functional outcome measures. TUG mean improved from 13.5 to 10.4 s (p = 0.034). The 30-Second Sit to Stand mean improved from 10.5 to 13.4 (p = 0.002). The 10-Meter Walk Test improved from 0.81 to 0.98 m/s (p < 0.0001). Participants did not experience any falls or hospitalizations, and two participants required physical therapy episodes of care. Conclusion Implementing an evidence-based fall reduction program into a senior living program has a positive effect on strength, balance, fall risk, gait speed, fall rate, hospitalizations, and amount of physical therapy intervention.
Sry-Independent Overexpression of Sox9 Supports Spermatogenesis and Fertility in the Mouse1

ABSTRACT The Y chromosome gene Sry is responsible for sex determination in mammals and initiates a cascade of events that direct differentiation of bipotential genital ridges toward male-specific fate. Sox9 is an autosomal gene and a primary downstream target of SRY. The activation of Sox9 in the absence of Sry is sufficient for initiation of male-specific sex determination. Sry- to -Sox9 replacement has mostly been studied in the context of sex determination during early embryogenesis. Here, we tested whether Sry- to -Sox9 replacement affects male fertility in adulthood. We examined males with the Y chromosome carrying a deletion removing the endogenous Sry, with testes determination driven either by the Sox9 (XY Tdym1Sox9 ) or the Sry (XY Tdym1Sry ) transgenes as well as wild-type males (XY). XY Tdym1Sox9 males had reduced testes size, altered testes shape and vasculature, and increased incidence of defects in seminiferous epithelium underlying the coelomic blood vessel region when compared to XY Tdym1Sry and XY. There were no differences between XY Tdym1Sry and XY Tdym1Sox9 males in respect to sperm number, motility, morphology, and ability to fertilize oocytes in vitro, but for some parameters, transgenic males were impaired when compared to XY. In fecundity trials, XY Tdym1Sry, XY Tdym1Sox9, and XY males yielded similar average numbers of pups and litters. Overall, our findings support that males lacking the testis determinant Sry can be fertile and reinforce the notion that Sry does not play a role in mature gonads. Although transgenic Sox9 overexpression in the absence of Sry results in certain testicular abnormalities, it does not translate into fertility impairment.
Inhibitory Effects of Diclofenac on Steroid Glucuronidation In Vivo Do Not Affect Hair-Based Doping Tests for Stanozolol

In vitro studies show that diclofenac inhibits enzymatic steroid glucuronidation. This study was designed to investigate the influence of diclofenac on the excretion of stanozolol and 3′-hydroxystanozolol via analyses in hair, blood and urine in vivo in a rat study. Brown Norway rats were administered with stanozolol (weeks 1–3) and diclofenac (weeks 1–6). Weekly assessment of steroid levels in hair was complemented with spot urine and serum tests. Levels of both stanozolol and 3′-hydroxystanozolol steadily increased in hair during stanozolol treatment and decreased post-treatment, but remained readily detectable for 6 weeks. In contrast, compared to control rats, diclofenac significantly reduced urinary excretion of 3′-hydroxystanozolol which was undetectable in most samples. This is the first report of diclofenac altering steroid metabolism in vivo, detrimentally affecting detection in urine, but not in hair, which holds considerable advantages over urinalysis for anti-doping tests.
Coevolution of Drosophila melanogaster mtDNA and Wolbachia Genotypes

Maternally inherited microorganisms can influence the mtDNA pattern of variation in hosts. This influence is driven by selection among symbionts and can cause the frequency of mitochondrial variants in the population to eventually increase or decrease. Wolbachia infection is common and widespread in Drosophila melanogaster populations. We compared genetic variability of D. melanogaster mitotypes with Wolbachia genotypes among isofemale lines associated with different geographic locations and time intervals to study coevolution of the mtDNA and Wolbachia. Phylogenetic analysis of D. melanogaster mtDNA revealed two clades diverged in Africa, each associated with one of the two Wolbachia genotype groups. No evidence of horizontal transmission of Wolbachia between maternal lineages has been found. All the mtDNA variants that occur in infected isofemale lines are found in uninfected isofemale lines and vice versa, which is indicative of a recent loss of infection from some maternal fly lineages and confirms a significant role of Wolbachia in the D. melanogaster mtDNA pattern of variation. Finally, we present a comparative analysis of biogeographic distribution of D. melanogaster mitotypes all over the world.
Innovation Role in Mediating the Effect of Entrepreneurship Orientation, Management Capabilities and Knowledge Sharing Toward Business Performance: Study at Batik SMEs in East Java Indonesia

This study is based on a phenomenon that occurred at Batik SMEs in East Java, Indonesia. Nowadays innovation is a critical issue in SMEs, especially in Batik SMEs. This is because batik has a social and economic uniqueness, and also the uniqueness is a product of culture and art. This potential will be one of great power in creative industries sector if dealt with seriously. This study aims to examine and explain the innovation role in mediating the effect of entrepreneurial orientation, management capabilities and knowledge sharing toward business performance of Batik SMEs in East Java. The unit of analysis is Batik SMEs in East Java. Survey respondents are 125 owners of Batik SMEs in East Java. This study uses a quantitative approach. Data analysis tool used is PLS (Partial Least Square). The results showed that innovation role proved affect positively and significantly toward business performance improvement. Innovation becomes complete mediation in relationship between management capabilities and knowledge sharing toward business performance. Innovation becomes a partial mediation in relation to entrepreneurship orientation toward business performance. An important finding of this study are 1) be able to integrate the affect of entrepreneurial orientation, management capabilities and knowledge sharing toward business performance through innovation as a mediating variable, and 2) integrating the resources- based view (RBV) and knowledge-based view (KBV).
Perceptually relevant speech tracking in auditory and motor cortex reflects distinct linguistic features

During online speech processing, our brain tracks the acoustic fluctuations in speech at different timescales. Previous research has focused on generic timescales (for example, delta or theta bands) that are assumed to map onto linguistic features such as prosody or syllables. However, given the high intersubject variability in speaking patterns, such a generic association between the timescales of brain activity and speech properties can be ambiguous. Here, we analyse speech tracking in source-localised magnetoencephalographic data by directly focusing on timescales extracted from statistical regularities in our speech material. This revealed widespread significant tracking at the timescales of phrases (0.6–1.3 Hz), words (1.8–3 Hz), syllables (2.8–4.8 Hz), and phonemes (8–12.4 Hz). Importantly, when examining its perceptual relevance, we found stronger tracking for correctly comprehended trials in the left premotor (PM) cortex at the phrasal scale as well as in left middle temporal cortex at the word scale. Control analyses using generic bands confirmed that these effects were specific to the speech regularities in our stimuli. Furthermore, we found that the phase at the phrasal timescale coupled to power at beta frequency (13–30 Hz) in motor areas. This cross-frequency coupling presumably reflects top-down temporal prediction in ongoing speech perception. Together, our results reveal specific functional and perceptually relevant roles of distinct tracking and cross-frequency processes along the auditory–motor pathway.
Lifespan Psychomotor Behaviour Profiles of Multigenerational Prenatal Stress and Artificial Food Dye Effects in Rats

The consumption of artificial food dye (AFD) during childhood and adolescence has been linked to behavioural changes, such as hyperactivity. It is possible that the vulnerability to AFDs is modified by prenatal stress. Common consequences of prenatal stress include hyperactivity, thus potentially leading to synergistic actions with AFDs. Here, we investigated the compounding effect of multigenerational prenatal stress (MPS) and AFD consumption on the development of hyperactivity and anxiety-related behaviours across the lifespan in male rats. MPS treatment involved a family history of four consecutive generations of prenatal stress (F4 generation). AFD treatment included a 4%-concentration of FD&C Red 40, FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Yellow 6, and FD&C Blue 1 in the drinking water from postnatal days 22 to 50 to resemble juvenile and adolescent dietary exposure. Using several exploration tasks, animals were tested in motor activity and anxiety-like behaviours from adolescence to 13 months of age. MPS resulted in hyperactivity both early (50 days) and later in life (13 months), with normalized activity patterns at reproductive age. AFD consumption resulted in hyperactivity during consumption, which subsided following termination of treatment. Notably, both MPS and AFD promoted risk-taking behaviour in young adults (3 months). There were few synergistic effects between MPS and AFD in this study. The findings suggest that AFDs exert the most noticeable effects at the time of exposure. MPS, however, results in a characteristic lifespan profile of behavioural changes, indicating that development and aging represent particularly vulnerable periods in life during which a family history of prenatal stress may precipitate.
The evolution of floral ontogenetic allometry in the Andean genus Caiophora (Loasaceae, subfam. Loasoideae)

The astounding variety of angiosperm flower morphologies has evolved in response to many selective forces. Flower development is highly coordinated and involves developmental associations between size and shape, ontogenetic allometry, which in turn affect the morphology of mature flowers. Although ontogenetic allometries can act as a developmental constraint and may influence adaptive evolution, allometries can evolve themselves and may change rapidly in response to selection. We explored the evolution of ontogenetic allometry in the flowers of 11 species of Loasoideae. Seven species belong to Caiophora, which radiated recently in the central Andes, and contains species that are pollinated by bees, hummingbirds, and small rodents. According to a previous study, the diversification of Caiophora involved departures from simple allometric scaling, but the changes to allometry that enabled flower diversification have not been explored yet. We characterized the ontogenetic allometry of each species with the methods of geometric morphometrics. We studied the evolution of allometries by constructing allometric spaces, in which the allometry of each species is represented by a point and the arrangement of points indicates the relations among allometric trajectories. To examine the history of changes of ontogenetic allometries, we projected the phylogeny into the allometric spaces. Inspection of allometric spaces suggests that ontogenetic variation is limited to a few dominant features. The allometries of the two main functional flower parts under study differ in their evolutionary labilities, and patterns of variation reflect pollination systems, differences in structural organization, and abiotic environmental factors.
MOSQUITO: Covert Ultrasonic Transmissions Between Two Air-Gapped Computers Using Speaker-to-Speaker Communication

In this paper we show how two or more air-gapped computers in the same room, equipped with passive speakers, headphones, or earphones can covertly exchange data via ultrasonic waves. Microphones are not required. Our method is based on the capability of a malware to exploit a specific audio chip feature in order to reverse the connected speakers from output devices into input devices - unobtrusively rendering them microphones. We discuss the attack model and provide technical background and implementation details. We show that although the reversed speakers/headphones/earphones were not originally designed to perform as microphones, they still respond well to the near-ultrasonic range (18kHz to 24kHz). We evaluate the communication channel with different equipment, and at various distances and transmission speeds, and also discuss some practical considerations. Our results show that the speaker-to-speaker communication can be used to covertly transmit data between two air-gapped computers positioned a maximum of nine meters away from one another.
The Deep Roots of Rebellion: Evidence from the Irish Revolution

This paper studies how cultural norms shaped by negative historical shocks can explain conflicts in the long-run. Exploiting a unique dataset constructed from historical archives, we test whether the Irish Famine (1845-1850), one of the most lethal starvation in history, changed political attitudes and contributed to the Irish Revolution (1913-1921). First, we investigate the determinants of joining the rebellion movement on the basis of the 1911 Irish Census and the official lists of rebels. We find that rebels are more likely to be male, young, catholic and literate. Second, we explore whether the famine played a role in the probability of joining rebellion activities. Controlling for the level of economic development and other potential concurring factors, we provide evidence of the role of the great Irish famine as an exceptional legacy of rebellion during the movement of independence.
Nuclear bodies: Built to boost

The classic archetypal function of nuclear bodies is to accelerate specific reactions within their crowded space. In this issue, Tatomer et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201504043) provide the first direct evidence that the histone locus body acts to concentrate key factors required for the proper processing of histone pre-mRNAs.
Rule-dependent Prefrontal Cortex Activity across Episodic and Perceptual Decisions: An fMRI Investigation of the Criterial Classification Account

Although lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) is clearly involved in decision-making, competing functional characterizations exist. One characterization posits that activation reflects the need to select among competing representations. In contrast, recent fMRI research suggests that activation is driven by the criterial classification of representations, even with minimal competition. To adjudicate between these hypotheses, we used event-related fMRI and contrasted tasks that required different numbers of criterial classifications prior to response in both perceptual and memory domains. Additionally, we manipulated the level of interstimulus competition by increasing the number of probes. Experiment 1 demonstrated that LPFC activation tracked the number of intermediate classifications during trials yet was insensitive to the number of competing probes and the behavioral decline accompanying competition. Furthermore, Experiment 2 demonstrated equivalent increases in LPFC activation for a task requiring two overt criterial classifications (independent classification) and one requiring two covert criterial classifications prior to the single overt response (same–different judgment). As found in Experiment 1, both tasks showed greater activation than a judgment requiring only one classification act (forced choice). These data indicate that LPFC responses reflect the number of executed criterial classifications or judgments, independent of the number of competing stimuli and the overt response demands of the decision task.
Iso-contouring in time-varying meshes

Dynamic meshing techniques are widely used in the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) and Computational Mechanics (CM) simulations. Simulated moving parts or dynamic boundaries of simulation domain force a simulation mesh to change from one time step to another. So, geometry of the mesh cells and their number vary as the simulation time proceeds. This paper presents a novel approach for smooth iso-contours extraction from 2D dynamic mesh at and in between defined time slices. No assumption is made about mesh cells correspondence between successive time slices. The key idea of the proposed method is to establish an edge-edge correspondence between meshes at adjacent time steps. Then the data structure supporting an easy iso-contours interpolation from intermediate time slices is built. We provide the proof that our method produces correct results under defined conditions and demonstrate our approach on the data sets from the CFD simulations.
London Mathematical Society

A central problem in algebraic topology is the calculation ofthe values ofthe stable homotopy groupsofspheres 73. In this book, a new method forthis is developed based uponthe analysis ofthe Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence. After the tools for this analysis are developed, these methodsare applied to compute inductively the first 64 stable stems, a substantial improvement overthe previously known 45. Much ofthis computation is algorithmic and is done by computer. As an application, an element of degree 62 ofKervaire invariant one is shown to have order two. This bookwill be useful to algebraic topologists and graduate students with a knowledge ofbasic homotopy theory and Brown-Peterson homology;for its methods, as a reference on thestructure ofthefirst 64 stable stems and for the tables depicting the behavior ofthe Atiyah-Hirzebruch andclassical Adamsspectral sequences through degree 64.
Capillary density has no value as an early biomarker of bevacizumab efficacy in metastatic colorectal cancers: a prospective clinical trial

Background Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 antibody targeting VEGF-A. It is currently used with chemotherapy as the first- or second-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer. Previous studies have showed that anti-angiogenic agents decrease capillary density. We evaluated the link between decreased capillary density and the response to bevacizumab-based chemotherapy. Results Overall, 43 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with first-line bevacizumab-based chemotherapy were enrolled. At Day 90, progressive disease was observed in 12 patients (27.9%). All patients presented decreased capillary density. ROC analysis at different time points and capillary density variation showed a poor diagnostic performance regarding response at Day 90. Materials and Methods From 2013 to 2015, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated in our French cancer care center and eligible for bevacizumab with chemotherapy were enrolled in a prospective single-center study. Capillary density was assessed using capillaroscopy at Day 1, Day 15 and Day 30. Response to bevacizumab was assessed at Day90 according to CHUN criteria. Conclusions Capillary density measured using capillaroscopy is not a good predictor of the early response to bevacizumab-based chemotherapy. (NCT01810744).
Single-cell transcriptomics reveals a new dynamical function of transcription factors during embryonic hematopoiesis

Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics techniques have opened the door to the study of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) at the single-cell level. Here, we studied the GRNs controlling the emergence of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from mouse embryonic endothelium using a combination of single-cell transcriptome assays. We found that a heptad of transcription factors (Runx1, Gata2, Tal1, Fli1, Lyl1, Erg and Lmo2) is specifically co-expressed in an intermediate population expressing both endothelial and hematopoietic markers. Within the heptad, we identified two sets of factors of opposing functions: one (Erg/Fli1) promoting the endothelial cell fate, the other (Runx1/Gata2) promoting the hematopoietic fate. Surprisingly, our data suggest that even though Fli1 initially supports the endothelial cell fate, it acquires a pro-hematopoietic role when co-expressed with Runx1. This work demonstrates the power of single-cell RNA-sequencing for characterizing complex transcription factor dynamics.