Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Series Solution of the Long Porous Slider

A series solution of the long porous slider problem where fluid is injected through the porous bottom is obtained using the homotopy perturbation method (HPM). Similarity solutions of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations resulting from the momentum equation are obtained. Numerical results are obtained and discussed for different values of Reynolds number of the velocity field. The numerical results demonstrate the validity and applicability of the method.
A single session of laser ablation for toxic thyroid nodules: three-year follow-up results

Abstract Purpose: To confirm the effectiveness of laser ablation on toxic nodules in a large population with three years of follow-up. Material and methods: Between 2009 and 2014, we treated 82 patients with hyperthyroidism related to the presence of a toxic nodular goitre. Patients were pre-treated pharmacologically with methimazole prior to single session of laser ablation (LA) and then followed up every 3 months with FT4 and TSH blood tests as well as ultrasound examination of the nodules treated. Results: All patients responded to the treatment. The median nodule volume decreased from 12 ml (range 5–118 ml) to 5 ml (range 1.2–40 ml) after three years (p < 0.001). The percentage of patients who discontinued methimazole therapy was reduced by increasing the initial volume of the toxic nodule. In nodules with a volume less than 5 ml, all patients were able to suspend methimazole; this percentage was reduced to 90.2% in nodules with a volume between 5 and 15 ml, 61.1% in those with volume 15–25 ml and only 28.5% in nodules larger than 25 ml. We had no major complications but only moderate pain and fever in the evening, a few hours after ablation therapy in 10% of treated patients. Conclusions: Single session of LA of toxic thyroid nodules is effective and safe, especially in nodules with a volume under 15 ml.
Distinct effects of mycophenolate mofetil and cyclophosphamide on renal fibrosis in NZBWF1/J mice

Abstract Progression to chronic renal failure varies between patients with lupus nephritis. We compared the effects of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and cyclophosphamide (CTX), on renal histology and cellular pathways of fibrosis in murine lupus nephritis. Female NZBWF1/J mice were randomized to treatment with vehicle, methylprednisolone (MP) alone, MMF + MP or CTX + MP for up to 12 weeks, and the effects on clinical parameters, renal histology, and fibrotic processes were investigated. Treatment with MMF + MP or CTX + MP both improved survival, renal function, and decreased anti-dsDNA antibody level and immune complex deposition in kidneys of mice with active nephritis. Vehicle-treated mice showed progressive increase in mesangial proliferation, inflammatory cell infiltration and renal tubular atrophy, associated with PKC-α activation, increased TGF-β1 expression and increased matrix protein deposition. MP treatment alone did not have any significant effect. MMF + MP or CTX + MP treatment for 12 weeks reduced these abnormalities. MMF + MP was more effective than CTX + MP in suppressing fibrotic mediators, histological fibrosis score and expression of TGF-β1, fibronectin and collagen I in the kidney. Results from in vitro experiments on human mesangial cells (HMC) showed that mycophenolic acid (MPA) was more effective than CTX in suppressing PKC-α activation and TGF-β1 secretion induced by human polyclonal anti-dsDNA antibodies. While both MPA and CTX decreased TGF-β1- and TNF-α-induced fibronectin synthesis, only MPA decreased IL-6 induced fibronectin synthesis. MPA and CTX show distinct effects on fibrotic and inflammatory processes in NZBWF1/J murine lupus nephritis, suggesting that MMF + MP may be more effective than CTX + MP in preserving normal renal histology in lupus nephritis.
MicroRNAs as biomarkers for clinical studies

The development of better diagnostic and prognostic non-invasive biomarkers holds an enormous potential to improve the ability to diagnose and individualize treatment of a great number of human diseases and substantially reduce health care cost. The discovery of a fundamental role of microRNAs in the disease pathogenesis and their presence and stability in biological fluids has led to extensive investigation of the role of microRNAs as potential non-invasive biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. The result of this research has suggested that alterations of microRNAs may be sensitive indicators of various pathologies; however, despite the indisputable progress in this field, the diagnostic promise of microRNAs has remained a work in progress, and circulating microRNAs have not entered the field of clinical medicine yet. Commonly reported microRNAs as disease biomarkers are largely not disease-specific and the results are often contradicting in independent studies. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of microRNAs as disease indicators and emphasizes the current gaps, challenges, and questions that need to be addressed in future well-designed and well-controlled studies for a successful translation of microRNA profiling into clinically meaningful tests. Impact statement This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of circulating miRNAs as clinical diagnostic biomarkers and highlights the challenges that need to be addressed in future studies for a successful translation of circulating miRNAs into a novel diagnostic tool.
Laccase-immobilized dendritic nanofibrous membranes as a novel approach towards the removal of bisphenol A

ABSTRACT Laccase enzymes from Rhus vernificera were covalently bound on hyperbranched polyethyleneimine/polyethersulfone (HPEI/PES) electrospun nanofibrous membranes and used for the removal of bisphenol A (BPA) from water. The laccase enzyme was anchored on the dendritic membranes through the abundant peripheral amine groups on the HPEI using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker. The membranes were characterized with attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM). Furthermore, contact-angle analyses, pure water flux measurements and rejection analyses were carried out. CLEM showed that the enzymes were uniformly dispersed on the nanofibres while SEM analysis revealed that the nanofibres had an average diameter of 354 ± 37 nm. EDS showed the presence of Cu, which is the active entity in laccase enzymes. The laccase-modified membranes were hydrophilic (50°–53° contact angle) and exhibited high BPA rejection of 89.6% as compared to the 52.4% demonstrated by pristine PES. The laccase-modified membranes also maintained a constant permeate flux (7.07 ± 5.54 L/m2 h) throughout the filtration process. Recyclability studies indicated that the membranes still maintained a high BPA removal of up to 79% even after four filtration cycles.
Combined influence of slag composition and temperature on the performance of slag blends

This study has investigated the influence of GGBS chemical composition on the strength and transport properties of slag blends under different temperature conditions. Two slags having Ca/Si ratios of 1.05 and 0.94 respectively were used to partially replace a CEM I 52.5R at 30%. Various tests including compressive strength, sorptivity, chloride ingress and chloride binding were carried out on mortar and paste specimens to measure the performance of the slag blends against a CEM I 42.5R at 20 and 38°C. The mortar specimens were cured for 28 days before exposure to a 3% sodium chloride solution. The results obtained showed that temperature had more influence on the performance of the slag blends than the variation in chemical composition. The slag with the higher Ca/Si ratio had better chloride binding and chloride resistance, and this was attributed to its higher alumina content.
Extracting Oscillations: Neuronal Coincidence Detection with Noisy Periodic Spike Input

How does a neuron vary its mean output firing rate if the input changes from random to oscillatory coherent but noisy activity? What are the critical parameters of the neuronal dynamics and input statistics? To answer these questions, we investigate the coincidence-detection properties of an integrate-and-fire neuron. We derive an expression indicating how coincidence detection depends on neuronal parameters. Specifically, we show how coincidence detection depends on the shape of the postsynaptic response function, the number of synapses, and the input statistics, and we demonstrate that there is an optimal threshold. Our considerations can be used to predict from neuronal parameters whether and to what extent a neuron can act as a coincidence detector and thus can convert a temporal code into a rate code.
Closed-loop control of a modular neuromorphic biohybrid

Neural networks modularity is a major challenge for the development of control circuits of neural activity. Under physiological limitations, the accessible regions for external stimulation are possibly different from the functionally relevant ones, requiring complex indirect control designs. Moreover, control over one region might affect activity of other downstream networks, once sparse connections exist. We address these questions by developing a hybrid device of a cortical culture functionally integrated with a biomimetic hardware neural network. This design enables the study of modular networks controllability, while connectivity is well-defined and key features of cortical networks are accessible. Using a closed-loop control to monitor the activity of the coupled hybrid, we show that both modules are congruently modified, in the macroscopic as well as the microscopic activity levels. Control impacts efficiently the activity on both sides whether the control circuit is an indirect series one, or implemented independently only on one of the modules. Hence, these results present global functional impacts of a local control intervention. Overall, this strategy provides an experimental access to the controllability of neural activity irregularities, when embedded in a modular organization.
In vitro effects of two silicate-based materials, Biodentine and BioRoot RCS, on dental pulp stem cells in models of reactionary and reparative dentinogenesis

Background Calcium silicate-based cements are biomaterials with calcium oxide and carbonate filler additives. Their properties are close to those of dentin, making them useful in restorative dentistry and endodontics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro biological effects of two such calcium silicate cements, Biodentine (BD) and Bioroot (BR), on dental stem cells in both direct and indirect contact models. The two models used aimed to mimic reparative dentin formation (direct contact) and reactionary dentin formation (indirect contact). An original aspect of this study is the use of an interposed thin agarose gel layer to assess the effects of diffusible components from the materials. Results The two biomaterials were compared and did not modify dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) proliferation. BD and BR showed no significant cytotoxicity, although some cell death occurred in direct contact. No apoptosis or inflammation induction was detected. A striking increase of mineralization induction was observed in the presence of BD and BR, and this effect was greater in direct contact. Surprisingly, biomineralization occurred even in the absence of mineralization medium. This differentiation was accompanied by expression of odontoblast-associated genes. Exposure by indirect contact did not stimulate the induction to such a level. Conclusion These two biomaterials both seem to be bioactive and biocompatible, preserving DPSC proliferation, migration and adhesion. The observed strong mineralization induction through direct contact highlights the potential of these biomaterials for clinical application in dentin-pulp complex regeneration.
Preceptors' perceptions of their role in a pediatric acute care setting.

BACKGROUND This study explored preceptors' perceptions of the benefits, rewards, and supports associated with the preceptor role and their commitment to the role in a pediatric acute care setting. METHOD A survey with a quantitative and semi-qualitative design was used. RESULTS The survey was completed by 266 preceptors, who reported that their experience was mainly positive. They perceived the preceptor role as preparation for other leadership opportunities. The preceptors reported that they experienced pride in the role of preceptor and described the challenges they faced, such as workload and the need to adapt to different learning styles. Years of nursing experience and age were significant factors that influenced their perceptions of enjoyable aspects of the role and the types of support that they needed as preceptors. CONCLUSION Preceptors perceived sufficient benefits and rewards to remain committed to the role and identified workload as a significant challenge. Further research is needed to explore whether additional supports or recognition tailored to level of experience and age may be beneficial.
Generalizable Adversarial Examples Detection Based on Bi-model Decision Mismatch

Modern applications of artificial neural networks have yielded remarkable performance gains in a wide range of tasks. However, recent studies have discovered that such modelling strategy is vulnerable to Adversarial Examples, i.e. examples with subtle perturbations often too small and imperceptible to humans, but that can easily fool neural networks. Defense techniques against adversarial examples have been proposed, but ensuring robust performance against varying or novel types of attacks remains an open problem. In this work, we focus on the detection setting, in which case attackers become identifiable while models remain vulnerable. Particularly, we employ the decision layer of independently trained models as features for posterior detection. The proposed framework does not require any prior knowledge of adversarial examples generation techniques, and can be directly employed along with unmodified off-the-shelf models. Experiments on the standard MNIST and CIFAR10 datasets deliver empirical evidence that such detection approach generalizes well across not only different adversarial examples generation methods but also quality degradation attacks. Non-linear binary classifiers trained on top of our proposed features can achieve a high detection rate $(\gt 90$%) in a set of white-box attacks and maintain such performance when tested against unseen attacks.
Reasons for staying alive when you are thinking of killing yourself: the reasons for living inventory.

University of Washington Catholic University of AmericaStevan Lars Nielsen and John A. ChilesUniversity of WashingtonThe studies presented here describe the development of an instrument to measurea range of beliefs potentially important as reasons for not committing suicide.Sixty-five individuals generated 72 distinct reasons; these were reduced to 48 byfactor analyses performed on two additional samples, and the items were arrangedinto the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL), which requires a rating of howimportant each reason would be for living if suicide was contemplated. In ad-dition, factor analyses indicated six primary reasons for living: Survival and Cop-ing Beliefs, Responsibility to Family, Child-Related Concerns, Fear of Suicide,Fear of Social Disapproval, and Moral Objections. The RFL was then given totwo additional samples, 197 Seattle shoppers and 175 psychiatric inpatients. Bothsamples were divided into several suicidal (ideators and parasuicides) and non-suicidal groups. Separate multivariate analyses of variance indicated that the RFLdifferentiated suicidal from nonsuicidal individuals in both samples. In the shop-ping-center sample, the Fear of Suicide scale further differentiated between pre-vious ideators and previous parasuicides. In the clinical sample, the Child-RelatedConcerns scales differentiated between current suicide ideators and current para-suicides. In both samples, the Survival and Coping, the Responsibility to Family,and the Child-Related Concerns scales were most useful in differentiating thegroups. Results were maintained when the effect of recent stress was held constant.The frequency of suicidal behavior sug- point in their lifetime; between 53% and 67%gests that it is a phenomenon that cannot be report seriously considering it.ignored. Over 25,000 individuals a year kill The majority of research in the field ofthemselves in the United States (U.S. Vital suicidology, to date, has been directed atStatistics, 1973, 1975), and it is estimated identifying characteristics of suicidal personsthat two to eight times this number, or from to enhance prediction of suicidal behavior50,000 to 200,000 persons a year parasuicide (Beck, Resnick, & Lettieri, 1974; Kreitman,(i.e., intentionally self-injure, behavior usu- 1977;Neuringer, 1974). With few exceptionsally labeled in the U.S. as attempted suicide; (e.g., Goodstein, 1982) almost all of this workBerman, 1975). Linehan and colleagues (Li- has focused on identifying maladaptive at-nehan & Laffaw, in press; Linehan & Nielsen, tributes of suicidal persons. Little attention1981; Linehan, Note 1) found that from 10% has been given the question of whether sui-to 16% of an adult, general population in cidal persons lack important adaptive char-Seattle report attempting suicide at some acteristics present among nonsuicidal indi-viduals, and, if so, what these characteristicsThis research was supported by National Institute might be.Grant MH34486. Focusing on adaptive, life-maintaining
A 12.77-MHz on-chip relaxation oscillator with digital compensation for loop delay variation

This paper presents a 12.77-MHz low power, RC on-chip relaxation oscillator with self-compensation technique. A digital feedback loop is implemented to maintain the frequency stability. A replica comparator is added to generate a reference pulse width for the compensation. After compensation, the frequency is tuned by a digitally controlled delay element. The proposed design is fabricated in 0.18-μm CMOS process. The main oscillator consumes 12.8 μW at 0.9-V supply voltage. The whole system consumes 56.2 μW when the digital compensation blocks are enabled. The measured output frequency variation is less than ±0.4% across -30 to 120°C. For a supply range of 0.6 V to 1.1 V, the frequency varies less than 0.5%/V after compensation.
CATS (FAM64A) abnormal expression reduces clonogenicity of hematopoietic cells

The CATS (FAM64A) protein interacts with CALM (PICALM) and the leukemic fusion protein CALM/AF10. CATS is highly expressed in leukemia, lymphoma and tumor cell lines and its protein levels strongly correlates with cellular proliferation in both malignant and normal cells. In order to obtain further insight into CATS function we performed an extensive analysis of CATS expression during differentiation of leukemia cell lines. While CATS expression decreased during erythroid, megakaryocytic and monocytic differentiation, a markedly increase was observed in the ATRA induced granulocytic differentiation. Lentivirus mediated silencing of CATS in U937 cell line resulted in somewhat reduced proliferation, altered cell cycle progression and lower migratory ability in vitro; however was not sufficient to inhibit tumor growth in xenotransplant model. Of note, CATS knockdown resulted in reduced clonogenicity of CATS-silenced cells and reduced expression of the self-renewal gene, GLI-1. Moreover, retroviral mediated overexpression of the murine Cats in primary bone marrow cells lead to decreased colony formation. Although our in vitro data suggests that CATS play a role in cellular processes important for tumorigenesis, such as cell cycle control and clonogenicity, these effects were not observed in vivo.
Defining the transcriptional and biological response to CDK4/6 inhibition in relation to ER+/HER2- breast cancer

ER positive (ER+) and HER2 negative (HER2-) breast cancers are routinely treated based on estrogen dependence. CDK4/6 inhibitors in combination with endocrine therapy have significantly improved the progression-free survival of patients with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Gene expression profiling in ER+/HER2- models was used to define the basis for the efficacy of CDK4/6 inhibitors and develop a gene expression signature of CDK4/6 inhibition. CDK4/6 inhibition robustly suppressed cell cycle progression of ER+/HER2- models and complements the activity of limiting estrogen. Chronic treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitors results in the consistent suppression of genes involved in cell cycle, while eliciting the induction of a comparable number of genes involved in multiple processes. The CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment shifted ER+/HER2- models from a high risk (luminal B) to a low risk (luminal A) molecular-phenotype using established gene expression panels. Consonantly, genes repressed by CDK4/6 inhibition are strongly associated with clinical prognosis in ER+/HER2- cases. This gene repression program was conserved in an aggressive triple negative breast cancer xenograft, indicating that this is a common feature of CDK4/6 inhibition. Interestingly, the genes upregulated as a consequence of CDK4/6 inhibition were more variable, but associated with improved outcome in ER+/HER2- clinical cases, indicating dual and heretofore unknown consequence of CDK4/6 inhibition. Interestingly, CDK4/6 inhibition was also associated with the induction of a collection of genes associated with cell growth; but unlike suppression of cell cycle genes this signaling was antagonized by endocrine therapy. Consistent with the stimulation of a mitogenic pathway, cell size and metabolism were induced with CDK4/6 inhibition but ameliorated with endocrine therapy. Together, the data herein support the basis for profound interaction between CDK4/6 inhibitors and endocrine therapy by cooperating for the suppression of cell cycle progression and limiting compensatory pro-growth processes that could contribute to therapeutic failure.