Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Smart Crack Control in Concrete through Use of Phase Change Materials (PCMs): A Review

Cracks in concrete structures present a threat to their durability. Therefore, numerous research studies have been devoted to reducing concrete cracking. In recent years, a new approach has been proposed for controlling temperature related cracking—utilization of phase change materials (PCMs) in concrete. Through their ability to capture heat, PCMs can offset temperature changes and reduce gradients in concrete structures. Nevertheless, they can also influence concrete properties. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the literature devoted to using PCMs to control temperature related cracking in concrete. First, types of PCMs and ways of incorporation in concrete are discussed. Then, possible uses of PCMs in concrete technology are discussed. Further, the influences of PCMs on concrete properties (fresh, hardened, durability) are discussed in detail. This is followed by a discussion of modelling techniques for PCM-concrete composites and their performance. Finally, a summary and the possible research directions for future work are given. This overview aims to assure the researchers and asset owners of the potential of this maturing technology and bring it one step closer to practical application.
Outcomes of patients with bone metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer

ABSTRACT Objective Bone metastases (BM) from differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are associated with poor survival rates. Due to the low frequency of this entity, we performed a multicentric retrospective study that aimed to evaluate the presentation, outcome and causes of death in this population. Subjects and methods We reviewed file records from 10 databases. BM were diagnosed by: i) biopsy and/or ii) radioiodine (RAI) bone uptake + elevated thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and/or c) bone uptake of 18-FDG in the PET-CT scan + elevated Tg levels. Results Fifty-two patients with DTC were included (44% male, mean age 54 years); 58% had papillary histology. BM were synchronous with DTC diagnosis in 46% of the participating cases. BM were symptomatic in 65% of the cases. Multiple BM were present in 65% of patients, while simultaneous metastatic disease in additional sites was found in 69%. Ninety-eight percent of patients received treatment for the BM, which included RAI therapy in 42 patients; 30 of them received cumulative RAI doses that were larger than 600 mCi 131I. The mean follow-up after a BM diagnosis was 34 months. The 2- and 5-year survival rates after diagnosis of the first BM were 64% and 38%, respectively. The status on the last evaluation was DTC-related death in 52% of the patients; 26% of them died from direct complications of BM or their treatments. Conclusion BM are usually radioiodine-refractory and are associated with a short overall survival, although most of the patients died of causes not directly related to the BM.
Unresolved Pain Interference among Colorectal Cancer Survivors: Implications for Patient Care and Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE Using a large sample of colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors we 1) describe pain interference (PI) prevalence across the cancer continuum; 2) identify demographic and clinical factors associated with PI and changes in PI; and 3) examine PI's relationship with survivors' job changes. METHODS CRC participants of the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance Consortium completed surveys during the initial phase of care (baseline, < 1 year, n = 2,961) and follow-up (about 1-year postdiagnosis, n = 2,303). PI was measured using the SF-12 item. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of PI. Model 1 evaluated moderate/high PI at baseline, Model 2 evaluated new/continued/increasing PI postdiagnosis follow-up, and Model 3 restricted to participants with baseline PI (N = 603) and evaluated predictors of equivalent/increasing PI. Multivariable logistic regression was also used to examine whether PI predicted job change. RESULTS At baseline and follow-up, 24.7% and 23.7% of participants reported moderate/high PI, respectively. Among those with baseline PI, 46% had equivalent/increasing PI at follow-up. Near diagnosis and at follow-up, female gender, comorbidities, depression, chemotherapy and radiation were associated with moderate/high PI while older age was protective of PI. Pulmonary disease and heart failure comorbidities were associated with equivalent/increasing PI. PI was significantly associated with no longer having a job at follow-up among employed survivors. CONCLUSION Almost half of survivors with PI during the initial phase of care had continued PI into post-treatment. Comorbidities, especially cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions, contributed to continued PI. PI may be related to continuing normal activities, that is, work, after completed treatment.
Effect of the Active Site D25N Mutation on the Structure, Stability, and Ligand Binding of the Mature HIV-1 Protease*

All aspartic proteases, including retroviral proteases, share the triplet DTG critical for the active site geometry and catalytic function. These residues interact closely in the active, dimeric structure of HIV-1 protease (PR). We have systematically assessed the effect of the D25N mutation on the structure and stability of the mature PR monomer and dimer. The D25N mutation (PRD25N) increases the equilibrium dimer dissociation constant by a factor >100-fold (1.3 ± 0.09 μm) relative to PR. In the absence of inhibitor, NMR studies reveal clear structural differences between PR and PRD25N in the relatively mobile P1 loop (residues 79-83) and flap regions, and differential scanning calorimetric analyses show that the mutation lowers the stabilities of both the monomer and dimer folds by 5 and 7.3 °C, respectively. Only minimal differences are observed in high resolution crystal structures of PRD25N complexed to darunavir (DRV), a potent clinical inhibitor, or a non-hydrolyzable substrate analogue, Ac-Thr-Ile-Nle-r-Nle-Gln-Arg-NH2 (RPB), as compared with PR·DRV and PR·RPB complexes. Although complexation with RPB stabilizes both dimers, the effect on their Tm is smaller for PRD25N (6.2 °C) than for PR (8.7 °C). The Tm of PRD25N·DRV increases by only 3 °C relative to free PRD25N, as compared with a 22 °C increase for PR·DRV, and the mutation increases the ligand dissociation constant of PRD25N·DRV by a factor of ∼106 relative to PR·DRV. These results suggest that interactions mediated by the catalytic Asp residues make a major contribution to the tight binding of DRV to PR.
HIF-1–dependent regulation of lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans by the acyl-CoA–binding protein MAA-1

In yeast, the broadly conserved acyl-CoA–binding protein (ACBP) is a negative regulator of stress resistance and longevity. Here, we have turned to the nematode C. elegans as a model organism in which to determine whether ACBPs play similar roles in multicellular organisms. We systematically inactivated each of the seven C. elegans ACBP paralogs and found that one of them, maa-1 (which encodes membrane-associated ACBP 1), is indeed involved in the regulation of longevity. In fact, loss of maa-1 promotes lifespan extension and resistance to different types of stress. Through genetic and gene expression studies we have demonstrated that HIF-1, a master transcriptional regulator of adaptation to hypoxia, plays a central role in orchestrating the anti-aging response induced by MAA-1 deficiency. This response relies on the activation of molecular chaperones known to contribute to maintenance of the proteome. Our work extends to C. elegans the role of ACBP in aging, implicates HIF-1 in the increase of lifespan of maa-1 –deficient worms, and sheds light on the anti-aging function of HIF-1. Given that both ACBP and HIF-1 are highly conserved, our results suggest the possible involvement of these proteins in the age-associated decline in proteostasis in mammals.
The β3‐adrenoceptor agonist mirabegron increases human atrial force through β1‐adrenoceptors: an indirect mechanism?

Mirabegron has been classified as a β3‐adrenoceptor agonist approved for overactive bladder syndrome. We investigated possible cardiac effects of mirabegron in the absence or presence of β‐adrenoceptor subtype antagonists. In view of its phenylethanolamine structure, we investigated whether mirabegron has indirect sympathomimetic activity by using neuronal uptake blockers.
UpStart Parent Survey-Prenatal: A New Tool for Evaluating Prenatal Education Programs.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate a new prenatal education program evaluation tool, the UpStart Parent Survey - Prenatal, in terms of: (a) reliability and validity; (b) sensitivity to change over time; (c) whether results differed for mothers versus fathers; and (d) whether results differed when using an electronic tablet-computer versus a paper survey. DESIGN AND SAMPLE Psychometric study. Participants were 277 expectant mothers (n = 161) and fathers (n = 106) enrolled in Childbirth Essentials, a 6-week prenatal education program. MEASURES The UpStart Parent Survey - Prenatal is a retrospective pretest/posttest survey with three scales: Parenting Knowledge, Parenting Experience, and Program Satisfaction, and three open-ended questions. RESULTS The UpStart Parent Survey - Prenatal is sensitive to change and demonstrated significant positive differences in parenting knowledge and parenting experience. There was no difference in results whether the survey was completed by mothers or fathers. Results were similar whether paper or electronic formats were used. The survey was easy to complete. CONCLUSION The UpStart Parent Survey - Prenatal holds promise as a reliable and valid evaluation tool to capture outcomes of brief prenatal education programs that target the general population of expectant parents.
Human Resource Management and Unit Performance in Knowledge-Intensive Work

To clarify the potential value of a targeted system of human resource (HR) practices, we explore the unique effects of a relationship-oriented HR system and the more commonly studied high commitment HR system on unit performance in the context of knowledge-intensive work. We develop theoretical arguments suggesting that the high commitment HR system contributes to unit performance through its positive effects on employees’ collective organizational commitment, general and firm-specific human capital, and access to knowledge. We argue that the relationship-oriented HR system contributes to unit performance through its positive effects on employees’ collective access to knowledge by fostering a social context and interpersonal exchange conditions which support employees’ ongoing access to knowledge flows within and outside their unit and broader organization. Based on unit-level data collected from a matched sample of employees and managers in 128 units in the science and engineering division of a large hydroelectric power organization, our results suggest that the targeted, relationship-oriented HR system is related to firm performance and may complement a broader, high commitment approach to managing knowledge workers. Specifically, the positive relationship between the high commitment HR system and unit performance is mediated by employees’ collective organizational commitment, firm-specific human capital, and access to knowledge in other organizational units; whereas the positive relationship between the relationship-oriented HR system and unit performance is mediated by units’ access to knowledge within the unit, in other units, and outside the organization.
Mechanically strong and pH-responsive carboxymethyl chitosan/graphene oxide/polyacrylamide nanocomposite hydrogels with fast recoverability

Abstract The biocompatible, quickly recoverable, mechanically strong and tough polymer hydrogels have great potential for biomedical applications. A novel carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTs)/graphene oxide (GO)/polyacrylamide (PAM) nanocomposite (NC) hydrogel with excellent mechanical performance was synthesized through a facile, one-pot free radical polymerization, using GO nanosheets as the crosslink centers instead of toxic organic molecules. The content of GO nanosheets and CMCTs has great influence on the mechanical properties of CMCTs/GO/PAM NC hydrogels. When the amount of GO nanosheets is 0.118 wt % and CMCTs is 1.5 wt % (to the total weight of CMCTs and acrylamide), CMCTs/GO/PAM hydrogel displays a compressive stress as high as 5.8 MPa at the breaking deformation of 87.5% and a tensile strength of 223.6 kPa at the failure strain of 631%. Besides, with nearly complete recovery in 1 min at the room temperature after unloading, the CMCTs/GO/PAM hydrogels exhibit excellent fast recoverability. Additionally, the CMCTs/GO/PAM hydrogels also have an obvious pH-responsive property.
Deep Cauchy Hashing for Hamming Space Retrieval

Due to its computation efficiency and retrieval quality, hashing has been widely applied to approximate nearest neighbor search for large-scale image retrieval, while deep hashing further improves the retrieval quality by end-to-end representation learning and hash coding. With compact hash codes, Hamming space retrieval enables the most efficient constant-time search that returns data points within a given Hamming radius to each query, by hash table lookups instead of linear scan. However, subject to the weak capability of concentrating relevant images to be within a small Hamming ball due to mis-specified loss functions, existing deep hashing methods may underperform for Hamming space retrieval. This work presents Deep Cauchy Hashing (DCH), a novel deep hashing model that generates compact and concentrated binary hash codes to enable efficient and effective Hamming space retrieval. The main idea is to design a pairwise cross-entropy loss based on Cauchy distribution, which penalizes significantly on similar image pairs with Hamming distance larger than the given Hamming radius threshold. Comprehensive experiments demonstrate that DCH can generate highly concentrated hash codes and yield state-of-the-art Hamming space retrieval performance on three datasets, NUS-WIDE, CIFAR-10, and MS-COCO.
Non‐shivering thermogenesis as a mechanism to facilitate sustainable weight loss

Currently, there is a significant percentage of the population who are or will be classified as obese, necessitating novel strategies to facilitate sustainable weight loss. Reductions in basal metabolic rate occur in the face of weight loss and pose formidable barriers to individuals attempting to sustain meaningful weight reductions. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which non‐shivering thermogenesis may provide insight into metabolic pathways that can become druggable targets to facilitate sustainable weight loss. Specifically, we highlight the fact that non‐shivering thermogenesis results in activation and expansion of brown and beige adipose tissues as well as activates pathways in skeletal muscle which increase metabolic flux and activity of muscle fibres through futile calcium cycling across the endoplasmic reticulum all facilitating an increase in metabolism. Finally, we highlight the fact there are sexual dimorphisms with respect to these metabolic processes in keeping with the National Institutes of Health mandate of treating sex as a biologic variable.
The C-terminal Zinc Finger of UvrA Does Not Bind DNA Directly but Regulates Damage-specific DNA Binding*

In prokaryotic nucleotide excision repair, UvrA recognizes DNA perturbations and recruits UvrB for the recognition and processing steps in the reaction. One of the most remarkable aspects of UvrA is that it can recognize a wide range of DNA lesions that differ in chemistry and structure. However, how UvrA interacts with DNA is unknown. To examine the role that the UvrA C-terminal zinc finger domain plays in DNA binding, an eleven amino acid deletion was constructed (ZnG UvrA). Biochemical characterization of the ZnG UvrA protein was carried out using UvrABC DNA incision, DNA binding and ATPase assays. Although ZnG UvrA was able to bind dsDNA slightly better than wild-type UvrA, the ZnG UvrA mutant only supported 50-75% of wild type incision. Surprisingly, the ZnG UvrA mutant, while retaining its ability to bind dsDNA, did not support damage-specific binding. Furthermore, this mutant protein only provided 10% of wild-type Bca UvrA complementation for UV survival of an uvrA deletion strain. In addition, ZnG UvrA failed to stimulate the UvrB DNA damage-associated ATPase activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis was used to monitor UvrB loading onto damaged DNA with wild-type UvrA or ZnG UvrA. The ZnG UvrA protein showed a 30-60% reduction in UvrB loading as compared with the amount of UvrB loaded by wild-type UvrA. These data demonstrate that the C-terminal zinc finger of UvrA is required for regulation of damage-specific DNA binding.
Total Elbow Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

Background: Most total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) designs aim to replicate anatomy and provide stability in the treatment of the degenerative elbow joint. Given the promising results that have been reported following the use of TEA for the treatment of complex fractures, the indications for this procedure are growing. The objective of the present study was to review the most recent literature on the results of the most commonly performed TEAs. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted. All relevant studies were reviewed according to a set of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After the initial assessment, 2 authors extracted data from the included articles. Groups were created on the basis of the design of TEA implant, the type of implant (linked or unlinked), and the indication for treatment. Outcome parameters were survival rate, pain, range of motion, complications, and specific elbow outcome scores. Results: Seventy-three articles involving a total of 9,379 TEAs were included. The level of evidence was primarily Level IV. Nineteen specific designs of TEA implants were described, including the Souter-Strathclyde (n = 2,387), Coonrad-Morrey (n = 1,586), Kudo (n = 560), and GSB III (n = 498). The most common indication for TEA was rheumatoid arthritis (70%). The weighted mean survival rate for the linked and unlinked prostheses was 85.5% at 7.8 years and 74% at 12.3 years, respectively. For the Coonrad-Morrey, Souter-Strathclyde, and GSB III, the weighted mean survival rate was 87.2% at 7.2 years, 70.6% at 14.2 years, and 81.7% at 9.5 years, respectively. The range of motion after TEA was good overall, with a mean flexion angle of 129° and a mean extension lag angle of 30°. The complication rates ranged from 11% to 38%, with clinical loosening being the most frequently reported complication (7%). Conclusions: The results of TEA are respectable overall. It appears that there are small differences between designs. However, despite the fairly good functional results and elbow scores, the survival and complication rates are still not as favorable as those following arthroplasties in other joints. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Analysis of DNA sequence variants detected by high‐throughput sequencing

The Undiagnosed Diseases Program at the National Institutes of Health uses high‐throughput sequencing (HTS) to diagnose rare and novel diseases. HTS techniques generate large numbers of DNA sequence variants, which must be analyzed and filtered to find candidates for disease causation. Despite the publication of an increasing number of successful exome‐based projects, there has been little formal discussion of the analytic steps applied to HTS variant lists. We present the results of our experience with over 30 families for whom HTS sequencing was used in an attempt to find clinical diagnoses. For each family, exome sequence was augmented with high‐density SNP‐array data. We present a discussion of the theory and practical application of each analytic step and provide example data to illustrate our approach. The article is designed to provide an analytic roadmap for variant analysis, thereby enabling a wide range of researchers and clinical genetics practitioners to perform direct analysis of HTS data for their patients and projects. Hum Mutat 33:599–608, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites at ultralow graphene loading levels for strain sensor applications

An electrically conductive ultralow percolation threshold of 0.1 wt% graphene was observed in the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites. The homogeneously dispersed graphene effectively enhanced the mechanical properties of TPU significantly at a low graphene loading of 0.2 wt%. These nanocomposites were subjected to cyclic loading to investigate the influences of graphene loading, strain amplitude and strain rate on the strain sensing performances. The two dimensional graphene and the flexible TPU matrix were found to endow these nanocomposites with a wide range of strain sensitivity (gauge factor ranging from 0.78 for TPU with 0.6 wt% graphene at the strain rate of 0.1 min−1 to 17.7 for TPU with 0.2 wt% graphene at the strain rate of 0.3 min−1) and good sensing stability for different strain patterns. In addition, these nanocomposites demonstrated good recoverability and reproducibility after stabilization by cyclic loading. An analytical model based on tunneling theory was used to simulate the resistance response to strain under different strain rates. The change in the number of conductive pathways and tunneling distance under strain was responsible for the observed resistance-strain behaviors. This study provides guidelines for the fabrication of graphene based polymer strain sensors.
Taxol®: The First Microtubule Stabilizing Agent

Taxol®, an antitumor drug with significant activity, is the first microtubule stabilizing agent described in the literature. This short review of the mechanism of action of Taxol® emphasizes the research done in the Horwitz’ laboratory. It discusses the contribution of photoaffinity labeled analogues of Taxol® toward our understanding of the binding site of the drug on the microtubule. The importance of hydrogen/deuterium exchange experiments to further our insights into the stabilization of microtubules by Taxol® is addressed. The development of drug resistance, a major problem that arises in the clinic, is discussed. Studies describing differential drug binding to distinct β-tubulin isotypes are presented. Looking forward, it is suggested that the β-tubulin isotype content of a tumor may influence its responses to Taxol®.
Chromosome-Mediated mcr-3 Variants in Aeromonas veronii from Chicken Meat

ABSTRACT Two adjacent colistin resistance gene variants, termed mcr-3.3 and mcr-3-like, were identified in the chromosome of an Aeromonas veronii isolate obtained from retail chicken meat. The variants showed 95.20% and 84.19% nucleotide sequence identity, respectively, to mcr-3 from porcine Escherichia coli. Functional cloning indicated that only mcr-3.3 conferred polymyxin resistance in both E. coli and Aeromonas salmonicida. The mcr-3.3-mcr-3-like segment was also observed in other Aeromonas species, including A. media, A. caviae, and A. hydrophila.