Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fatigue Behavior of Alumina–Zirconia Multilayered Ceramics

The influence of sustained and cyclic loading on the crack growth behavior of a multilayered alumina–zirconia composite exhibiting high internal compressive stresses is investigated. The study was conducted on precracked notched samples and focused on evaluating the static and cyclic fatigue resistance to crack extension beyond the first arresting interface (threshold) as well as the mechanisms involved during stable crack growth through the layered structure for each loading condition studied. Although it is found that the layered composite is prone to subcritical crack growth, the effectiveness of operative toughening mechanisms, i.e., compressive residual stresses as well as crack bifurcation and delamination at interfaces, is observed to be independent of the loading conditions. As a consequence, fatigue degradation of the multilayered ceramics studied is restricted to the intrinsic environmental-assisted cracking of the individual layers, pointing them out as toughened composites practically immune to variable stresses and much less static and cyclic fatigue sensitive than other structural ceramics.
Lactic Acid Bacteria from Kefir Increase Cytotoxicity of Natural Killer Cells to Tumor Cells

The Japanese fermented beverage, homemade kefir, contains six lactic acid bacteria: Lactococcus. lactis subsp. Lactis, Lactococcus. lactis subsp. Cremoris, Lactococcus. Lactis subsp. Lactis biovar diacetylactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Leuconostoc meseuteroides subsp. Cremoris and Lactobacillus casei. In this study, we found that a mixture of the six lactic acid bacteria from kefir increased the cytotoxicity of human natural killer KHYG-1 cells to human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells and colorectal tumor HCT116 cells. Furthermore, levels of mRNA expression and secretion of IFN-γ (interferon gamma) increased in KHYG-1 cells that had been treated with the six lactic acid bacteria mixture from kefir. The results suggest that the six lactic acid bacteria mixture from kefir has strong effects on natural immunity and tumor cell cytotoxicity.
Physical Violence against General Practitioners and Nurses in Chinese Township Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors of physical violence in Chinese township hospitals. Methods A cross-sectional survey was used in a sample of 442 general practitioners and 398 general nurses from 90 township hospitals located in Heilongjiang province, China (response rate = 84.8%). Results A total of 106 of the 840 (12.6%) respondents reported being physically attacked in their workplace in the previous 12 months. Most perpetrators were the patients’ relatives (62.3%), followed by the patient (22.6%); 73.6% of perpetrators were aged between 20 and 40 years. Of the physical violence incidents, about 56.6% (n = 60) resulted in a physical injury, and 45.4% of respondents took two or three days of sick leave. Reporting workplace violence in hospitals to superiors or authorities was low (9.4%). Most respondents (62.8%) did not receive training on how to avoid workplace violence. Logistic regression analyses indicated that general nurses, aged 35 years or younger, and with a higher-level professional title were more likely to experience physical violence. Healthcare workers with direct physical contact (washing, turning, lifting) with patients had a higher risk of physical violence compared to other health care workers. Procedures for reporting workplace violence were a protective factor for physical violence; when in place, reporting after psychological violence (verbal abuse, bullying/mobbing, harassment, and threats) was more protective than waiting until an instance of physical violence (beating, kicking, slapping, stabbing, etc.). Conclusions Physical violence in Chinese township hospitals is an occupational hazard of rural public health concern. Policies, procedures, and intervention strategies should be undertaken to manage this issue.
Construction of a lentiviral vector containing shRNA targeting ADAM17 and its role in attenuating endotoxemia in mice

Subsequently to the publication of this article, the authors have realized that the address affiliation contained a misspelling: The name of their institution was inadvertently written as "Renming Hospital", whereas this should have been published as "Renmin Hospital". The authors regret this error in the affiliations, and apologize for any inconvenience caused. [the original article was published in the Molecular Medicine Reports 16: 6013‑6019, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017. 7307].
Feedback Capacity and Coding for the BIBO Channel With a No-Repeated-Ones Input Constraint

In this paper, a general binary-input binary-output channel is investigated in the presence of feedback and input constraints. The feedback capacity and the optimal input distribution of this setting are calculated for the case of an $(1,\infty )$ -RLL input constraint, that is, the input sequence contains no consecutive ones. These results are obtained via explicit solution of an equivalent dynamic programming optimization problem. A simple coding scheme is designed based on the principle of posterior matching, which was introduced by Shayevitz and Feder for memoryless channels. The posterior matching scheme for our input-constrained setting is shown to achieve capacity using two new ideas: history bits, which captures the memory embedded in our setting, and message-interval splitting, which eases the analysis of the scheme. Additionally, in the special case of an S-channel, we give a very simple zero-error coding scheme that is shown to achieve capacity. For the input-constrained binary symmetric channel, we show using our capacity formula that feedback increases capacity when the cross-over probability is small.
Profile of buparlisib and its potential in the treatment of breast cancer: evidence to date

Alteration of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway is key for the growth and survival of several cancers, including breast cancer. In addition, dysregulation of PI3K signaling may contribute to resistance to several anticancer agents. PI3K inhibitors may, therefore, be effective as antineoplastic therapy. Buparlisib is a potent and highly specific oral inhibitor of the pan-class I PI3K family. Buparlisib specifically inhibits class I PIK3 in the PI3K/AKT kinase signaling pathway in an ATP-competitive manner, thus inhibiting the production of the secondary messenger phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate and activation of the PI3K signaling pathway. This may induce inhibition of tumor cell growth and survival in susceptible tumor cell populations. Buparlisib is currently under investigation in patients with a variety of solid tumors, including breast cancer. Buparlisib has been validated as a promising anticancer agent, and tremendous efforts have been taken to develop it. However, buparlisib monotherapy has resulted in humble benefit so far. Results from studies combining buparlisib with different anticancer agents – namely, endocrine therapy, anti-HER2 therapy, and chemotherapy – have showed variable efficacy with consistent substantial toxicity.
Phylogeny and Phylogeography of the Genus Geothelphusa (Crustacea: Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamidae) in Southwestern Taiwan Based on Two Mitochondrial Genes

Abstract Eleven species of Geothelphusa have been reported from southwestern Taiwan (Tainan, Kaohsiung and the northern part of Pingtung counties): G. albogilva Shy, Ng, and Yu, 1994; G. ancylophallus Shy, Ng, and Yu, 1994; G. caesia Shy, Ng, and Yu, 1994; G. lili Chen, Cheng, and Shy, 2005; G. nanhsi Shy, Ng, and Yu, 1994; G. neipu Chen, Cheng, and Shy, 1998; G. olea Shy, Ng, and Yu, 1994; G. pingtung Tan and Liu, 1998; G. shernshan Chen, Cheng, and Shy, 2005; G. tsayae Shy, Ng, and Yu, 1994 and G. wutai Shy, Ng, and Yu, 1994. Comparisons of DNA sequences encoding parts of the mitochondrial large subunit (16S) rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes revealed three major clades, of which one is the species G. ancylophallus, and the other two are species groups here referred to as the G. olea and G. pingtung clades. Geothelphusa ancylophallus is geographically restricted and adapted to an ecologically challenging habitat with an unstable water supply and uneven topology. The G. olea clade (G. olea, G. caesia, G. nanhsi, G. tsayae, and G. wutai) is widely distributed throughout central-western and southwestern Taiwan. The G. pingtung clade (G. pingtung, G. neipu and G. shernshan) is confined to southwestern Taiwan between the previously defined southernmost clades of G. tawu, G. albogilva, and G. ferruginea, and the G. olea clade to the north. It includes an isolated population on distant Chaishan Mountain near Taiwan Strait, which probably dispersed from the peripheral hills of the Central Range during the early Pleistocene. The available genetic evidence indicates that the differential coloration observed in members of the G. olea and G. pingtung clades is not reflected in mtDNA, appears to be dependent on environmental conditions, food, etc., and has little value as a taxonomic character. Possible geological events and climatic factors responsible for the historic isolation of the different freshwater crab clades in southwestern Taiwan are discussed in detail.
Graded and dynamic reflex summation of myelinated and unmyelinated rat aortic baroreceptors.

Unmyelinated (C) and myelinated (A) baroreceptor (BR) axons are present in rat aortic depressor nerve (ADN). With graded ADN electrical activation and anodal conduction blockade, reflex responses in anesthetized rats were assessed as changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). We tested the hypothesis that C-type BR inputs are effective at low frequencies because they outnumber A-type. Anodal current ( I an) reversibly eliminated all MAP and HR responses to A-selective stimuli. High intensities activated all ADN axons (A+C) and decreased MAP at lower frequencies (<10 Hz) than were effective with A-selective stimulation. I anreduced only MAP responses to >10-Hz ADN stimulation. Burst patterns significantly augmented A- but not C-selective reflex responses despite identical numbers of shocks per second. A-selective stimuli failed to evoke significant bradycardia even at 200 Hz. Maximum intensity stimuli plus I an (C selective) evoked less bradycardia than without I an (A+C), indicating supra-additive summation unlike the occlusive summation for MAP responses. However, activation of reduced numbers of C-type BRs with all A-type BRs suggests a strong A to C interaction in reflex bradycardia responses. Surprisingly, I an block of A-type conduction eliminated all reflex bradycardia at such submaximal intensities despite C conduction and depressor responses. A- and C-type BRs act synergistically, and A-type activity is absolutely required in cardiac but not in depressor pathways. Thus greater numbers do not appear to account for C-type BR efficacy, and critical interactions between these two sensory subtypes appear to occur differentially across cardiac and systemic baroreflex effector pathways.
Social Confidence in Early Adulthood Among Young People With and Without a History of Language Impairment

Purpose The purposes of this study were to test the predictions that lower self-esteem and higher shyness in individuals with a history of language impairment (LI) would continue from adolescence into early adulthood and that those with LI would have lower social self-efficacy in early adulthood. Method Participants were young people with a history of LI and a comparison group of age-matched peers. Both groups were tested at ages 17 and 24 years. Participants completed measures of language ability, nonverbal IQ, shyness, global self-esteem, and (at age 24 years only) social self-efficacy. Results Young adults with LI scored lower than age-matched peers on self-esteem, higher on shyness, and lower on social self-efficacy (medium to large effect sizes). In line with expectations, in the group with LI, language ability in adolescence predicted shyness in young adulthood, which, in turn, was negatively associated with self-esteem. There was also a direct association between language ability in adolescence and self-esteem in young adulthood. Conclusions Young people with a history of LI are likely to be entering adulthood less socially confident than their peers. Interventions may be desirable for young adults with LI, and the present findings indicate social self-efficacy as a key area of social confidence that calls for practitioners' attention.
Mechanism of capsaicin-induced relaxation in equine tracheal smooth muscle.

The effects of capsaicin and neuropeptides were examined in equine tracheal smooth muscle (TSM). Neither capsaicin nor substance P (SP) contracted TSM. Capsaicin (100 μM) elicited relaxation in TSM contracted with methacholine. This relaxation was not mimicked by SP or calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Relaxation was not attenuated by removal of the epithelium or by pretreatment of tissue with meclofenamate or the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor N G-nitro-l-arginine. Previous exposure of TSM to capsaicin did not eliminate the relaxation responses to subsequent capsaicin. Although vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) elicited marked relaxation that was attenuated by α-chymotrypsin, α-chymotrypsin did not affect the capsaicin-induced relaxation. Capsaicin-induced relaxation was abolished by charybdotoxin, a blocker of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels. These results indicate that capsaicin-induced equine TSM relaxation is not mediated either by neuropeptides such as SP or CGRP released from capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves or by prostanoids, NO, or VIP. Relaxation is due to the effect of capsaicin on large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels. The peptidergic nerves play no important role in the regulation of TSM tone in horse airways.
Pre-processing and classification of hyperspectral imagery via selective inpainting

We propose a semi-supervised algorithm for processing and classification of hyperspectral imagery. For initialization, we keep 20% of the data intact, and use Principal Component Analysis to discard voxels from noisier bands and pixels. Then, we use either an Accelerated Proximal Gradient algorithm (APGL), or a modified APGL algorithm with a penalty term for distance between inpainted pixels and endmembers (APGL Hyp), on the initialized datacube to inpaint the missing data. APGL and APGL Hyp are distinguished by performance on datasets with full pixels removed or extreme noise. This inpainting technique results in band-by-band datacube sharpening and removal of noise from individual spectral signatures. We can also classify the inpainted cube by assigning each pixel to its nearest endmember via Euclidean distance. We demonstrate improved accuracy in classification over data-mining techniques like k-means, unmixing techniques like Hierarchical Non-Negative Matrix Factorization, and graph-based methods like Non-Local Total Variation.
Marine Spongin: Naturally Prefabricated 3D Scaffold-Based Biomaterial

The biosynthesis, chemistry, structural features and functionality of spongin as a halogenated scleroprotein of keratosan demosponges are still paradigms. This review has the principal goal of providing thorough and comprehensive coverage of spongin as a naturally prefabricated 3D biomaterial with multifaceted applications. The history of spongin’s discovery and use in the form of commercial sponges, including their marine farming strategies, have been analyzed and are discussed here. Physicochemical and material properties of spongin-based scaffolds are also presented. The review also focuses on prospects and trends in applications of spongin for technology, materials science and biomedicine. Special attention is paid to applications in tissue engineering, adsorption of dyes and extreme biomimetics.
Peripheral mediators involved in gastric hyperemia to vagal activation by central TRH analog in rats.

Mechanisms mediating the increase in gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) induced by the stable thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analog RX-77368 injected intracisternally at a gastric acid secretory dose (30 ng) were investigated using hydrogen gas clearance in urethan-anesthetized rats. The histamine H1 receptor antagonist pyrilamine (intravenously), capsaicin (subcutaneously, -10 days), and N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, intracisternally) failed to impair the 150% rise in GMBF induced by intracisternal injection of RX-77368. By contrast, atropine (subcutaneously) and N G-monomethyl-l-arginine (intravenously) completely inhibited the increase in GMBF evoked by intracisternal RX-77368. l-NAME (intravenously) blocked the intracisternal RX-77368-induced increase in GMBF in capsaicin-pretreated rats, and thel-NAME effect was reversed by intravenous l- but notd-arginine. These findings indicate that vagal efferent activation induced by TRH analog injected intracisternally at a gastric acid secretory dose increases GMBF through atropine-sensitive mechanisms stimulatingl-arginine-nitric oxide pathways, whereas H1 receptors and capsaicin-sensitive afferent fibers do not play a role.
Alterations in cardiac SR Ca2+-release channels during development of heart failure in cardiomyopathic hamsters.

The cardiomyopathic Syrian hamster develops a progressive cardiomyopathy characterized by cellular necrosis, hypertrophy, cardiac dilatation, and congestive heart failure. This study aimed to identify alterations in cardiac mechanical function and in the cellular content of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-release channels (ryanodine receptors, RyR) in the heart of the UM-X7.1 cardiomyopathic hamster during the development of heart failure. Experimental and healthy control hamsters were examined at 8, 18, and 28 wk of age. The UM-X7.1 hamsters had developed left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy at 8 wk and a marked LV dilatation at 18-28 wk. During the latter stage, the UM-X7.1 hamster hearts showed global hypokinesis. Equilibrium binding assays of high-affinity sites for [3H]ryanodine were performed in ventricular homogenate preparations. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the maximum number of [3H]ryanodine binding sites (Bmax) at either 8 or 18 wk of age, although the cardiac pump function was impaired in UM-X7.1 hamsters at 18 wk of age. By 28 wk, Bmax was significantly lower in the UM-X7.1 hamsters. Quantitative immunoblot assay revealed that the content of RyR protein in cardiomyopathic hearts, which was increased at the early stage, declined to below normal as heart failure advanced. These results suggest that the number of RyR in the UM-X7.1 cardiomyopathic hamsters was preserved at both the hypertrophic and early stages of heart failure with a possibly compensatory increase in the level of protein expression, although the cardiac function already showed a tendency to be impaired.
Exploring the Trypanosoma brucei Hsp83 Potential as a Target for Structure Guided Drug Design

Human African trypanosomiasis is a neglected parasitic disease that is fatal if untreated. The current drugs available to eliminate the causative agent Trypanosoma brucei have multiple liabilities, including toxicity, increasing problems due to treatment failure and limited efficacy. There are two approaches to discover novel antimicrobial drugs - whole-cell screening and target-based discovery. In the latter case, there is a need to identify and validate novel drug targets in Trypanosoma parasites. The heat shock proteins (Hsp), while best known as cancer targets with a number of drug candidates in clinical development, are a family of emerging targets for infectious diseases. In this paper, we report the exploration of T. brucei Hsp83 – a homolog of human Hsp90 – as a drug target using multiple biophysical and biochemical techniques. Our approach included the characterization of the chemical sensitivity of the parasitic chaperone against a library of known Hsp90 inhibitors by means of differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF). Several compounds identified by this screening procedure were further studied using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and X-ray crystallography, as well as tested in parasite growth inhibitions assays. These experiments led us to the identification of a benzamide derivative compound capable of interacting with TbHsp83 more strongly than with its human homologs and structural rationalization of this selectivity. The results highlight the opportunities created by subtle structural differences to develop new series of compounds to selectively target the Trypanosoma brucei chaperone and effectively kill the sleeping sickness parasite.
Enterovirus Transmission by Secretory Autophagy

Present in many cell types, non-degradative secretory autophagy is a newly discovered pathway in which autophagosomes fuse with the plasma membrane instead of lysosomes. Surprisingly, some viruses exploit secretory autophagy to exit cells non-lytically, shedding into the extracellular environment as particle populations contained within vesicles. As a result, this significantly enhances the infectivity of these viruses. In this paper, this novel cellular exit pathway is highlighted and its advantages for viral transmission discussed.
Altered Network Topology in Patients with Primary Brain Tumors After Fractionated Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy (RT) is a critical treatment modality for patients with brain tumors, although it can cause adverse effects. Recent data suggest that brain RT is associated with dose-dependent cortical atrophy, which could disrupt neocortical networks. This study examines whether brain RT affects structural network properties in brain tumor patients. We applied graph theory to MRI-derived cortical thickness estimates of 54 brain tumor patients before and after RT. Cortical surfaces were parcellated into 68 regions and correlation matrices were created for patients pre- and post-RT. Significant changes in graph network properties were tested using nonparametric permutation tests. Linear regressions were conducted to measure the association between dose and changes in nodal network connectivity. Increases in transitivity, modularity, and global efficiency (n = 54, p < 0.0001) were all observed in patients post-RT. Decreases in local efficiency (n = 54, p = 0.007) and clustering coefficient (n = 54, p = 0.005) were seen in regions receiving higher RT doses, including the inferior parietal lobule and rostral anterior cingulate. These findings demonstrate alterations in global and local network topology following RT, characterized by increased segregation of brain regions critical to cognition. These pathological network changes may contribute to the late delayed cognitive impairments observed in many patients following brain RT.
EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF NOISE REDUCTION PROPERTIES OF SOUND ABSORBING FOAM

Wood dust deposition had both positive and negative effects on the sound absorption properties of acoustical foam. Three layers of wood dust were deposited on acoustical foam in a 2.44 meter by 2.44 meter by 2.44 meter Plexiglas test chamber. The amount of dust deposited ranged from 3.34 grams/m to 30.95 grams/m. The wood dust on the uncoated SONEX foam reduced the sound pressure levels in the chamber by 2 dB at 1000 Hz and by 6 dB at 4000 Hz. Similarly, the dust improved the sound absorption by Hypalon coated SONEX foam by 3 dB at 500 Hz and by 1 dB at 2000 Hz. The wood dust on the uncoated SONEX foam increased the sound pressure levels in the chamber by 6 dB at 2000 Hz and by 1 dB at 1000 Hz and 7 dB at 4000 Hz for Hypalon coated SONEX. Vacuuming removed all the wood particulates from the Hypalon coated foam and about 70% of the dust from the uncoated SONEX.