Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Migration of perfluoroalkyl acids from food packaging to food simulants

A broad range of fluorochemicals is used to impart oil and water barrier properties to paper and paperboard food packaging. Many of the fluorochemicals are applied to paper and paperboard as complex mixtures containing reaction products and by-products and unreacted starting materials. This work primarily focussed on the determination of seven perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in two commercially available food contact papers: a di-perfluoro-alkyloxy-amino-acid and a perfluoroalkyl phosphate surfactant. In addition, the migration of the PFCAs into five food simulants from two commercial packages was evaluated. All seven PFCAs were detected in the range of 700–2220 µg kg−1 of paper, while three perfluoroalkyl sulphonates were under the LOD. Results from migration tests showed that migration depends on paper characteristics, time and food simulant. The percentage of migration after 10 days at 40°C ranged from 4.8% to 100% for the two papers and different food simulants.
Evaluation the Effect of Photon Beam Energies on Organ at Risk Doses in Three- Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy

As regards, the selection of appropriate energy in radiotherapy tumors that are placed in non-homogen areas is important, so the aim of the present study is evaluating the effect of 6 and 15MV photon beam energies on dose distribution in 3D-CRT for lower esophageal and rectal cancers. 12 patients with lower esophageal cancer and 12 patients with rectal cancer respectively, with the prescription dose of 7000 cGy and 5040 cGy were studied. For treatment of esophagus the three-field technique and for treatment of rectum the four-field technique was used. In the thoracic area, the spinal cord and in the pelvis, the bladder and head of femurs were considered as OARs. For comparing the results, all parameters used for treatment planning except the photon beam energy were kept constant. After performing the treatment planning with two different energies in each region, the received dose rate of spinal cord, bladder and head of femurs as OARs and dose distribution in PTVs were studied. The results of this study showed that the difference between doses received by OARs in 6MV and 15MV therapeutic plans, resulted 5.2, 5.06 and -9.14%, respectively. Also the PTVs received dose difference of esophagus and rectum in the performed therapeutic plans with energy of 6 MV than energy of 15MV is 1.52 and -0.63%, respectively. We found that using of low energy photons in lower esophageal treatment and high energy photons in the rectal treatment provides the better dose coverage. Finally, with such as therapeutic plans the cumulative dose of organs at risk will be reduced.
Assessment of cerebral dopamine D 2/3 formula-receptors in patients with bilateral vestibular failure.

BACKGROUND Absence of peripheral vestibular input in bilateral vestibular failure (BVF) has been suggested to induce plastic reorganization in various brain regions. Among several neurotransmitters, dopamine is known to play a key role in cortico-striatal-sensorimotor processing. However, the role of dopamine in vestibular plasticity is scantly documented. OBJECTIVE Assessment of D 2/3 formula-receptors in patients with BVF. METHODS D 2/3 formula-receptor-PET using [18F]fallypride and MRI examinations were performed in 12 BVF-patients and 13 healthy controls. RESULTS BVF-patients showed reduced D 2/3 formula-receptor availability (approximately 40%) in the temporo-parieto-occipital cortex bilaterally, including the multisensory vestibular cortex and visual motion-sensitive areas (MT/MST), as well as in the striatum and the right thalamus. Longer illness duration was associated with bilaterally lower D 2/3 formula-receptor availability in the middle/superior temporal gyrus (GTm/s). D 2/3 formula-receptor availability in the right GTm/s and bilateral insula decreased with severity of symptoms. BVF-patients with oscillopsia showed reduced D 2/3 formula-receptor availability in the right MT/MST and midbrain tectum. CONCLUSIONS Reduced D 2/3 formula-receptor availability in multisensory vestibular cortical network areas and basal ganglia may indicate a receptor down-regulation due to the lack of peripheral vestibular input. The more pronounced decline in D 2/3 formula-receptor availability in the multisensory vestibular cortex in patients with prolonged illness suggests the occurrence of progressive changes in dopamine transmission.
The Effect of a Wellness Program on Adolescent Females

Guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a comprehensive wellness intervention on total wellness, physical fitness, and self-efficacy for health promoting behaviors in adolescent females, ages 14 to 19, enrolled in physical education (PE) classes in Grades 9 to 12. The intervention was administered in an experimental pre-test, post-test, two group design in rural east Texas. Participants (n = 153) were randomly assigned to a 12-week intervention or control group. Independent t-tests to determine differences between the intervention and control groups were nonsignificant for overall wellness and physical fitness. The Wellness Essential-Self subscale score was significantly higher in the intervention group, t(64, 36) = 2.67, p = . 005, d = . 84. Self-Efficacy Health Promotion subscale scores for the intervention group were also significantly higher, t(20,28) = 2.60, p = . 006, d = . 74. The intervention has potential to improve overall wellness in adolescent females.
Flexure and impact properties of glass fiber reinforced nylon 6-polypropylene composites

In recent years, polymer composites are rapidly developing and replacing the metals or alloys in numerous engineering applications. These polymer composites are the topic of interests in industrial applications such as automotive and aerospace industries. In the present research study, glass fiber (GF) reinforced nylon 6 (PA6)-polypropylene (PP) composite specimens were prepared successfully using injection molding process. Test specimens of five different compositions such as, 70%PA6+30%PP, 65%PA6+30%PP+5%GF, 60%PA6+30%PP+10%GF, 55%PA6+30%PP+15%GF and 50%PA6+30%PP+20%GF were prepared. In the experiments, flexure and impact tests were carried out. The obtained results revealed that flexure and impact properties of the polymer composites were significantly influenced by the glass fiber content. Results showed that flexural strength is low for pure polymer blend and flexural strength of GF reinforced composite increases gradually with the increase in glass fiber content. Test results also revealed that the impact strength of 70%PA6+30%PP is the highest and 55%PA6+30%PP+15%GF composite shows moderate impact strength. On the other hand, 50%PA6+30%PP+20%GF composite shows low toughness or reduced impact strength.
Oxidative DNA damage causes premature senescence in mouse embryonic fibroblasts deficient for Krüppel‐like factor 4

Krüppel‐like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc‐finger‐containing transcription factor with tumor suppressor activity in various cancer types. Cells that sustain double strand breaks (DSBs) in their DNA due to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can develop genomic instability, which can result in cancer formation. One protective response to increased levels of ROS is the induction of cellular senescence. Recently, we found that mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) null for Klf4 are genetically unstable, as evidenced by the presence of DNA DSBs. However, it is yet unknown whether KLF4 is involved in regulating oxidative stress‐induced DNA damage. Therefore, we sought to determine the mechanisms by which ROS induce genomic instability in Klf4‐deficient MEFs. With SA‐β‐Gal staining, we show that Klf4−/− MEFs enter senescence earlier than Klf4+/+ MEFs, and western blot shows accumulation of p21 and p53 with increasing passages. In addition, immunostaining against γ‐H2AX indicates that the increased level of DNA damage in Klf4−/− MEFs positively correlates with ROS accumulation. Consistent with ROS as a source of DSB in Klf4−/− MEFs, treatment with NAC, reduces the accumulation of DNA damage. Our RT‐PCR result demonstrates that Klf4−/− MEFs have decreased expression of the antioxidant gene, Gsta4. The downregulation of the Gsta4 correlates with significant levels of ROS accumulation, as shown by DCFDA and FACS analysis, and thus the oxidative stress‐induced premature senescence. Together these findings suggest a mechanism by which KLF4 protects against DNA damage and oxidative stress at least in part through the regulation of Gsta4 and likely related genes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fast grid layout algorithm for biological networks with sweep calculation

MOTIVATION Properly drawn biological networks are of great help in the comprehension of their characteristics. The quality of the layouts for retrieved biological networks is critical for pathway databases. However, since it is unrealistic to manually draw biological networks for every retrieval, automatic drawing algorithms are essential. Grid layout algorithms handle various biological properties such as aligning vertices having the same attributes and complicated positional constraints according to their subcellular localizations; thus, they succeed in providing biologically comprehensible layouts. However, existing grid layout algorithms are not suitable for real-time drawing, which is one of requisites for applications to pathway databases, due to their high-computational cost. In addition, they do not consider edge directions and their resulting layouts lack traceability for biochemical reactions and gene regulations, which are the most important features in biological networks. RESULTS We devise a new calculation method termed sweep calculation and reduce the time complexity of the current grid layout algorithms through its encoding and decoding processes. We conduct practical experiments by using 95 pathway models of various sizes from TRANSPATH and show that our new grid layout algorithm is much faster than existing grid layout algorithms. For the cost function, we introduce a new component that penalizes undesirable edge directions to avoid the lack of traceability in pathways due to the differences in direction between in-edges and out-edges of each vertex. AVAILABILITY Java implementations of our layout algorithms are available in Cell Illustrator. CONTACT masao@ims.u-tokyo.ac. jp SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Actuating a Monitor for Posture Changes

The position and orientation of a monitor affects users' behavior at their desk. In this study, we explored and designed six types of interactions between an actuated monitor and users to induce posture changes. We built a virtual monitor that simulates the motions of an actuated monitor and slowly moved in the opposite direction of unbalanced sitting postures. We conducted an explorative study with eight participants. The study showed participants' responses and step by step posture changes toward balanced sitting postures. As contribution, we share considerations for designing monitor actuation that induce posture intervention.
A Critical Examination of Feedback in Early Reading Games

Learning games now play a role in both formal and informal learning, including foundational skills such as literacy. While feedback is recognised as a key pedagogical dimension of these games, particularly in early learning, there has been no research on how commercial games available to schools and parents reify learning theory into feedback. Using a systematic content analysis, we examine how evidence-based feedback principles manifest in five widely-used learning games designed to foster young children's reading skills. Our findings highlight strengths in how games deliver feedback when players succeed. Many of the games, however, were inconsistent and not proactive when providing error feedback, often promoting trial and error strategies. Furthermore, there was a lack of support for learning the game mechanics and a preference for task-oriented rewards less deeply embedded in the gameplay. Our research provides a design and research agenda for the inclusion of feedback in early learning games.
Dissecting the chromatin interactome of microRNA genes

Our knowledge of the role of higher-order chromatin structures in transcription of microRNA genes (MIRs) is evolving rapidly. Here we investigate the effect of 3D architecture of chromatin on the transcriptional regulation of MIRs. We demonstrate that MIRs have transcriptional features that are similar to protein-coding genes. RNA polymerase II–associated ChIA-PET data reveal that many groups of MIRs and protein-coding genes are organized into functionally compartmentalized chromatin communities and undergo coordinated expression when their genomic loci are spatially colocated. We observe that MIRs display widespread communication in those transcriptionally active communities. Moreover, miRNA–target interactions are significantly enriched among communities with functional homogeneity while depleted from the same community from which they originated, suggesting MIRs coordinating function-related pathways at posttranscriptional level. Further investigation demonstrates the existence of spatial MIR–MIR chromatin interacting networks. We show that groups of spatially coordinated MIRs are frequently from the same family and involved in the same disease category. The spatial interaction network possesses both common and cell-specific subnetwork modules that result from the spatial organization of chromatin within different cell types. Together, our study unveils an entirely unexplored layer of MIR regulation throughout the human genome that links the spatial coordination of MIRs to their co-expression and function.
Association of Disease Severity with IL‐1 levels in Methotrexate‐treated Psoriasis Patients

Interleukin‐1 plays a key role in inflammation and keratinocyte activation. It is an important mediator in the initiation and maintenance of psoriatic plaques and may represent an attractive therapeutic target. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Methotrexate (MTX) on IL‐1 α and IL‐1 β levels in both plasma and skin biopsy of patients with psoriasis and to investigate their association with clinical disease activity. Forty‐five control subjects and 58 patients with psoriasis were recruited for this study. The patients were treated with 7.5 mg of MTX per week for 12 weeks. Folic acid was given at 5 mg once daily except on the day of MTX for 12 weeks. Blood samples and lesional skin biopsy were taken. Disease severity was assessed by Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. IL‐1 levels in plasma and skin biopsy were analysed using ELISA. PASI score declined significantly (P < 0.001) from day 0 to 12 weeks of MTX treatment. IL‐1 α level in plasma and skin biopsy was reduced at day 0 sample and elevated significantly (P < 0.001) after MTX treatment. IL‐1β level in plasma and skin biopsy was higher at day 0 sample and reduced significantly (P < 0.001) after MTX treatment. IL‐1α levels and PASI score showed inverse correlation score before and after treatment with MTX. Whereas IL‐1β levels showed positive correlation before and after treatment with MTX. Decreasing IL‐1β levels by MTXs in psoriasis may block the Th17 differentiation. This shows the therapeutic effect of MTX in controlling the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis.
Microwave dielectric spectroscopy for bound water in saline soil

In this paper, the Debye spectroscopic parameters for the bound water in saline bentonite soil were studied as a function of temperature. On the base of the refractive mixing dielectric model, using the moist soil dielectric measurements, the complex dielectric constant of bound water in bentonite saline soil was obtained as a function of volumetric moisture, at frequencies 0.6, 1.11 and 1.43 GHz, in the range from -30○C to +25○C. With these data, the static dielectric constant, relaxation time, and conductivity for the bound water were derived with the use of the generalized refractive mixing dielectric model. The obtained spectroscopic parameters were analyzed as a function of temperature and compared with those of nonsaline bentonite soil. A substantial impact of salinty appeared to be noticeable regarding all the relaxation parameters, with that on conductivity being most explicit.
Endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy: evolution of the technique and experience with 2400 cases.

OBJECTIVES We report the outcome of 2400 endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (EERPE) cases performed in three institutions, with emphasis on the evolution of the EERPE technique. METHODS In total, 2400 EERPE procedures were performed in three institutions. Several surgeons performed the operations. The presented cases also include the learning curve of the surgeons. EERPE was performed in all cases of localized prostate cancer with the same indications to open and transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. RESULTS Average patient age was 63.3 years (range 41-81 years), and mean preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) level was 9.8 ng/mL (range 0.08-93 ng/mL); 857 (38%) patients had previously undergone abdominal or pelvic surgery, while 143 (5.8%) patients had prior prostatic treatment. Pelvic lymph node dissection took place in 1219 (50.8%) patients. Bilateral nerve sparing was performed in 672 patients and unilateral in 284 patients; 100 patients underwent intraoperative hernia repair with mesh placement (82 unilateral and 18 bilateral). Mean operative time was 150.7 minutes (range 50-340 minutes). Conversion to open surgery was never deemed necessary. Fifteen patients received transfusion (0.7%). The mean catheterization time was 6.19 days (range 3-40 days). Overall, 71.7% and 94.7% of the patients were continent at 3 and 12 months, respectively. Totally, 956 patients were treated with nerve-sparing procedure either interfascial or intrafascial; 672 patients underwent bilateral neurovascular bundle preservation, and 284, unilateral. Younger patients tend to have better postoperative potency. Bilateral nerve-sparing EERPE in patients younger than 55 years results in potency rate of 32.4%, 75.3%, and 84.9% at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS The functional and oncological outcome of EERPE is comparable to other approaches for radical prostatectomy. Continuous refinements contribute to the improving outcome of the procedure. Long-term results especially in terms of oncological efficacy are expected.
iMARS Phase 2

The International Mars Exploration Working Group (IMEWG) was formed in 1993 to provide a forum for the international coordination of Mars exploration. In 2007, IMEWG chartered the international Mars Architecture for the Return of Samples Working Group (iMARS WG), which produced a Phase 1 report in 2008 (iMARS, 2008). In 2014, IMEWG chartered an iMARS Phase 2 Working Group, comprising two panels of experts: (i) Engineering and (ii) Science/Earth Operations. The iMARS Phase 2 WG was tasked to provide: • A status report on planning for a Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign, building on missions and international developments achieved since the iMARS Phase 1 WG issued its report; and • Recommendations for progressing toward campaign implementation, including a proposed sample management plan. This report presents the iMARS Phase 2 WG’s findings. It details top-level campaign requirements that would meet stated science objectives and planetary protection constraints. It presents an updated reference MSR architecture, made of three flight elements and one ground element (termed the 3+1 architecture). It provides technical and programmatic justifications for this architecture and the report also discusses alternatives to the reference architecture. The WG also reports on the status of MSR technology developments conducted by several space agencies around the world, evidence of the willingness of major space stakeholders to invest in MSR implementation. This report elaborates on programmatic considerations relating to MSR, including campaign robustness, international coordination and decision-making, a provisional implementation timeline, and a possible cost-sharing model.
Impact of Yoga on Periodontal Disease and Stress Management

Background: Yoga is considered to be one of the most important, effective, and valuable tools available for man to overcome various physical and psychological problems. Stress contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases; hence, it becomes important to reduce the level of stress for prevention and management of diseases. Aims and Objectives: The present study was aimed: (1) To understand and analyze the possibilities of employing yogic practices in the treatment of periodontal disease along with conventional dental therapy, (2) to understand the effect of stress on periodontal treatment outcome, (3) to evaluate the efficacy of yoga in the management of periodontal disease with reference to stress. Materials and Methods: An outpatient department-based parallel group randomized study was performed with standard treatment for periodontal disease yoga therapy as Group II and only standard treatment as Group I. Periodontal health status was recorded using indices of modified plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth, and clinical attachment loss (CAL). The Cohen's perceived stress questionnaire was also used to determine stress severity. The yogic intervention consists of lectures and practical sessions on asanas, pranayama, kriyas, and meditation. Results: Repeated measure analysis of variance revealed a significant difference (P < 0.001) in all the outcome variables with respect to time in both groups. It was observed that mean PI score reduced by 1.35 in Group II as compared to 0.54 in Group I, mean probing pocket depth reduced by 1.60 in Group II as compared to only 0.68 in Group I, and mean CAL score reduced by 1.60 in Group II as compared to 0.68 in Group I. Similarly, Cohen's perceived stress scale score also reduced by 18.76 points in Group II as compared to only 2.58 points in Group I, BOP also shows better improvement in Group II with a reduction of 0.68 as compared to reduction of only 0.08 in Group I. The results obtained ascertained the role of yoga in stress reduction in periodontal disease. Conclusion: Although yoga does not play a direct role in improving periodontal disease, it accelerates the treatment outcomes by combating the stress which is a major factor affecting the treatment of periodontal disease.