Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Review of oxidation rates of DOE spent nuclear fuel : Part 1 : nuclear fuel.

The long-term performance of Department of Energy (DOE) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in a mined geologic disposal system depends highly on fuel oxidation and subsequent radionuclide release. The oxidation rates of nuclear fuels are reviewed in this two-volume report to provide a baseline for comparison with release rate data and technical rationale for predicting general corrosion behavior of DOE SNF. The oxidation rates of nuclear fuels in the DOE SNF inventory were organized according to metallic, Part 1, and non-metallic, Part 2, spent nuclear fuels. This Part 1 of the report reviews the oxidation behavior of three fuel types prototypic of metallic fuel in the DOE SNF inventory: uranium metal, uranium alloys and aluminum-based dispersion fuels. The oxidation rates of these fuels were evaluated in oxygen, water vapor, and water. The water data were limited to pure water corrosion as this represents baseline corrosion kinetics. Since the oxidation processes and kinetics discussed in this report are limited to pure water, they are not directly applicable to corrosion rates of SNF in water chemistry that is significantly different (such as may occur in the repository). Linear kinetics adequately described the oxidation rates of metallic fuels in long-term corrosion. Temperature dependent oxidation rates were determined by linear regression analysis of the literature data. As expected the reaction rates of metallic fuels dramatically increase with temperature. The uranium metal and metal alloys have stronger temperature dependence than the aluminum dispersion fuels. The uranium metal/water reaction exhibited the highest oxidation rate of the metallic fuel types and environments that were reviewed. Consequently, the corrosion properties of all DOE SNF may be conservatively modeled as uranium metal, which is representative of spent N-Reactor fuel. The reaction rate in anoxic, saturated water vapor was essentially the same as the water reaction rate. The long-term intrinsic reaction rates of irradiated and unirradiated fuel were determined to be similar. The apparent reaction rate of irradiated metallic fuel increases as a function of swelling due to the increased surface area.
Clinical Use of Skull Tap Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials for the Diagnoses of the Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor Patients

Objective. To document our experiences using a new skull tapping induced Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (tap VEMPs) technique combined with standard Auditory Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (AC VEMPs) for advanced clinical assessment of cerebellopontine angle tumor (CPAT) patients. Design and Study Sample. Three patients were selected in order to highlight observations shown in a larger patient population and to show the variability of the findings. Both tap VEMPs and AC VEMPs were acquired from the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) with EMG-based biofeedback and monitoring. Results. The usefulness of VEMPs was demonstrated, indicating the presence of a tumor and contributing additional information as to the involved nerve bundles in two out of the three cases. Conclusion. Due to the sensory organ dependency and related innervations differences, acquiring both AC VEMPs and tap VEMPs is likely to increase the probability of diagnosing CPATs and provide more information on the involved vestibular nerve bundles. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the possible expansion and combination of tap VEMPs and AC VEMPs techniques into a clinical diagnostic battery for advanced assessment of CPAT patients and its contribution as a guideline for the use of tap VEMPs in general.
A neural basis for the development of inhibitory control

The present study explores the neural basis of the development of inhibitory control by combining functional neuroimaging with a parametric manipulation of a go-nogo paradigm. We demonstrate how the maturation of ventral fronto-striatal circuitry underlies the development of this ability. We used event-related fMRI to examine the effect of interference on neural processes involved in inhibitory control in children and adults. Nogo trials were preceded by either 1, 3 or 5 go trials and then compared to one another. Both children and adults showed an increase in errors with increasing interference. Successful response inhibition was associated with stronger activation of prefrontal and parietal regions for children than for adults. In adults, activation in ventral prefrontal regions increased with increasing interference from go trials. Unlike adults, the circuitry appeared to be maximally activated in children when suppressing a behavioral response regardless of the number of preceding responses. Furthermore, activation in ventral fronto-striatal regions correlated with both age and performance. These findings suggest that immature cognition is more susceptible to interference and this is paralleled by maturational differences in underlying fronto-striatal circuitry.
Income Differences in Perceived Neighborhood Environment Characteristics Among African American Women

Perceptions of neighborhood attributes for physical activity may be influenced by individual level income. This study examined differences in perceptions of neighborhood attributes for walking and bicycling in high and low income African American women. African American women (n = 388) aged 20-65 years completed the International Physical Activity Prevalence Study's Environmental Survey Module. Independent t-tests determined differences in perceptions of neighborhood attributes by income group. Principal component factor analysis explored differences in factor structure for survey items. Low income African American women perceived their neighborhood as being less safe with regard to crime and traffic, having fewer free recreational opportunities, and having more public transportation stops nearby. Survey items weighed differently on each factor between income groups. Household income should be taken into consideration when interpreting perceptions of neighborhood for physical activity in African American women.
Aspirin Delimits Platelet Life Span by Proteasomal Inhibition

Aspirin is widely used in clinical settings as an anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet drug due its inhibitory effect on cyclooxygenase activity. Although the drug has long been considered to be an effective and safe therapeutic regime against inflammatory and cardiovascular disorders, consequences of its cyclooxygenase-independent attributes on platelets, the key players in thrombogenesis, beg serious investigation. In this report we explored the effect of aspirin on platelet lifespan in murine model and its possible cytotoxicity against human platelets in vitro. Aspirin administration in mice led to significant reduction in half-life of circulating platelets, indicative of enhanced rate of platelet clearance. Aspirin-treated human platelets were found to be phagocytosed more efficiently by macrophages, associated with attenuation in platelet proteasomal activity and upregulation of conformationally active Bax, which were consistent with enhanced platelet apoptosis. Although the dosage of aspirin administered in mice was higher than the therapeutic regimen against cardiovascular events, it is comparable with the recommended anti-inflammatory prescription. Thus, above observations provide cautionary framework to critically re-evaluate prophylactic and therapeutic dosage regime of aspirin in systemic inflammatory as well as cardiovascular ailments.
Differential localization of WAVE isoforms in filopodia and lamellipodia of the neuronal growth cone

The formation and extension of filopodia in response to an extracellular stimulus by guidance cues determine the path of growth cone advance. Actin-filament bundling and actin polymerization at the tips supply the driving force behind the formation and elongation. We tried to clarify how signals in response to extracellular cues are transformed to induce filopodial generation and extension. Observations on the formation process of filopodia at growth cones in the neuroblastoma cell line NG108 showed that WAVE (WASP (Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein)-family verprolin homologous protein) isoforms played crucial and distinct roles in this process. WAVE1 was continuously distributed along the leading edge only and was not found in the filopodia. WAVE2 and WAVE3 discretely localized at the initiation sites of microspikes on the leading edge and also concentrated at the tips of protruding filopodia. We further found that WAVE isoforms localized at the filopodial tips through SHD (SCAR homology domain), next to its leucine zipper-like motif. Furthermore, time-lapse observations of filopodial formation in living cells showed that WAVE2 and WAVE3 were continuously expressed at the tips of filopodia during elongation. These results indicate that WAVE2 or WAVE3 may guide the actin bundles into the filopodia and promote actin assembly at the tips.
Maternal HIV status affects the infant hemoglobin level

Abstract Children, especially infants, are highly vulnerable to iron-deficiency anemia because of their rapid growth of the brain and the rest of the body. The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in infants born from HIV-positive mothers and HIV-negative mothers and to identify the determinants of iron-deficiency anemia in infants. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Bahir Dar city. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Mothers were interviewed; blood samples were collected from mothers and infants to measure the hemoglobin level and anthropometric indicators were obtained from the infants using world health organization standards. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of infantile anemia. Binary logistic regression and multiple linear regressions were used to identify the determinants of infant anemia. A total of 1459 infants born from HIV-positive and HIV-negative mothers were included. The prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in infants born from HIV-positive and HIV-negative mothers was 41.9% (95% CI: 39–44). Infantile iron-deficiency anemia was associated with maternal HIV infection (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.54 [95% CI: 1.65–3.9]), stunting (AOR 3.46 [95% CI: 2.41–4.97]), low income (AOR 2.72 [95% CI: 2–3.73]), maternal malaria during pregnancy (AOR 1.81 [95% CI: 1.33–2.47]), use of cow milk before 6 month (AOR 1.82 [95% CI: 1.35–2.45]), residence (AOR 0.09 [95% CI: 0.06–0.13]), history of cough or fever 7 days preceding the survey (AOR 2.71 [95% CI: 1.99–3.69]), maternal hemoglobin (B 0.65 [95% CI: 0.61–0.68]), educational status of mother (B 0.22 [95% CI: 0.2–0.23]), age of the mother (B –0.03 [95% CI: –0.03, –0.02]), and family size (B –0.14 [95% CI: –0.18,–0.11]).
Tenofovir-induced nephrotoxicity: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND Tenofovir (TDF) has been associated with renal function deterioration, but local data regarding the incidence and risk factors for this adverse event were lacking. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of nephrotoxicity in HIV-infected patients on tenofovir-based regimens and to evaluate risk factors involved in tenofovir-associated renal function decline. METHODS This is a single-centre retrospective cohort study of 440 HIV-infected adults who were started on tenofovirbased antiretroviral regimens. Data were extracted from electronic medical and pharmacy records. RESULTS A decline in eGFR of 25% or more was seen in 67 patients (15.2%) with an estimated incidence rate of 12 per 100 person-years. Among all 440 subjects, 22 discontinued TDF-based therapy due to renal complication. From multivariate analysis, the odds of developing >25% decrease in eGFR with tenofovir-containing regimen was three times higher for patients with baseline moderate renal impairment (HR 3.19; 95% CI, 1.43-7.12; p=0.005) and 14 times higher for patients with baseline severe renal impairment (HR 14.2; 95% CI, 11.20-170.7; p=0.036) as compared to those without pre-existing renal insufficiency. Age above 50 years and CD4 cell count of less than 50 were significantly associated with >25% decrement in eGFR. CONCLUSION The incidence rate of tenofovir-related renal dysfunction was found to be 12 per 100 person-years. Preexisting renal impairment, age 50 and above, and CD4 cell count below 50 as were predictors for renal function decline. Given that the use of tenofovir is escalating in Malaysia, increased awareness about this adverse event is essential.
Sophocarpine attenuates wear particle‐induced implant loosening by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption via suppression of the NF‐κB signalling pathway in a rat model

Aseptic prosthesis loosening, caused by wear particles, is one of the most common causes of arthroplasty failure. Extensive and over‐activated osteoclast formation and physiological functioning are regarded as the mechanism of prosthesis loosening. Therapeutic modalities based on inhibiting osteoclast formation and bone resorption have been confirmed to be an effective way of preventing aseptic prosthesis loosening. In this study, we have investigated the effects of sophocarpine (SPC, derived from Sophora flavescens) on preventing implant loosening and further explored the underlying mechanisms.
The Efficacy of Strontium and Potassium Toothpastes in Treating Dentine Hypersensitivity: A Systematic Review

Objectives. The aim of the present paper was to review the published literature in order to identify all relevant studies for inclusion and to determine whether there was any evidence of the efficacy of strontium and potassium toothpastes in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity (DH). Methods. Following a review of 94 relevant papers both from searching electronic databases (PUBMED) and hand searching of relevant written journals, 13 studies were identified, and 7 papers (1 for strontium-based toothpastes and 6 for potassium-based toothpastes) were finally accepted for inclusion. The main outcome measures were the methodology and assessment used by Investigators in studies designed to evaluate DH. Results. The results of the present paper would indicate that the reported efficacy of both strontium- and potassium-based toothpastes in relieving DH is questionable. Conclusions. The results from the present paper would appear to support the conclusions of previous investigators that there is only minimal evidence for the efficacy of both strontium- and potassium-based toothpastes in relieving symptoms of DH.
Deconstructing the Late Phase of Vimentin Assembly by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM)

Quantitative imaging of intermediate filaments (IF) during the advanced phase of the assembly process is technically difficult, since the structures are several µm long and therefore they exceed the field of view of many electron (EM) or atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Thereby quantitative studies become extremely laborious and time-consuming. To overcome these difficulties, we prepared fluorescently labeled vimentin for visualization by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). In order to investigate if the labeling influences the assembly properties of the protein, we first determined the association state of unlabeled vimentin mixed with increasing amounts of labeled vimentin under low ionic conditions by analytical ultracentrifugation. We found that bona fide tetrameric complexes were formed even when half of the vimentin was labeled. Moreover, we demonstrate by quantitative atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy that the morphology and the assembly properties of filaments were not affected when the fraction of labeled vimentin was below 10%. Using fast frame rates we observed the rapid deposition of fluorescently labeled IFs on glass supports by TIRFM in real time. By tracing their contours, we have calculated the persistence length of long immobilized vimentin IFs to 1 µm, a value that is identical to those determined for shorter unlabeled vimentin. These results indicate that the structural properties of the filaments were not affected significantly by the dye. Furthermore, in order to analyze the late elongation phase, we mixed long filaments containing either Alexa 488- or Alexa 647-labeled vimentin. The ‘patchy’ structure of the filaments obtained unambiguously showed the elongation of long IFs through direct end-to-end annealing of individual filaments.
The treatment of depressive disorders in epilepsy: What all neurologists should know

One of every three patients with epilepsy (PWE) will experience a depressive disorder in the course of their life, often associated with anxiety symptoms or a full blown anxiety disorder. Clearly, the high prevalence of these psychiatric comorbidities calls for their early identification and management. This article provides practical strategies in the management of depressive episodes in PWE. Contrary to long‐held beliefs, the use of antidepressant drugs are safe in PWE when used at therapeutic doses. Antidepressant drugs of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin‐norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) families are the first line of therapy in depressive disorders, and failure to achieve complete symptom remission after a trial of an SSRI or SNRI at optimal doses should be followed by a second trial with a drug from the other antidepressant family. In developing countries, antidepressant drugs of these two antidepressant families are not always available, and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are the drugs of choice. Although there are no differences in efficacy among the three families of antidepressants, TCAs have a lower tolerability and higher toxicity, with greater mortality risk associated with cardiotoxic effects in overdoses. Cognitive behavior therapy is another treatment modality that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of depressive disorders in patients with and without epilepsy. Its use should be considered together with pharmacotherapy or by itself.
Nuclear Export and Retention Signals in the RS Domain of SR Proteins

ABSTRACT Splicing factors of the SR protein family share a modular structure consisting of one or two RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and a C-terminal RS domain rich in arginine and serine residues. The RS domain, which is extensively phosphorylated, promotes protein-protein interactions and directs subcellular localization and—in certain situations—nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of individual SR proteins. We analyzed mutant versions of human SF2/ASF in which the natural RS repeats were replaced by RD or RE repeats and compared the splicing and subcellular localization properties of these proteins to those of SF2/ASF lacking the entire RS domain or possessing a minimal RS domain consisting of 10 consecutive RS dipeptides (RS10). In vitro splicing of a pre-mRNA that requires an RS domain could take place when the mutant RD, RE, or RS10 domain replaced the natural domain. The RS10 version of SF2/ASF shuttled between the nucleus and the cytoplasm in the same manner as the wild-type protein, suggesting that a tract of consecutive RS dipeptides, in conjunction with the RRMs of SF2/ASF, is necessary and sufficient to direct nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. However, the SR protein SC35 has two long stretches of RS repeats, yet it is not a shuttling protein. We demonstrate the presence of a dominant nuclear retention signal in the RS domain of SC35.
A comparison of questionnaire-based and GUI-based requirements gathering

Software development includes gathering information about tasks, work practices and design options from users. Traditionally requirements gathering takes two forms. Interviews and participatory design (PD) practices gather rich information about the task and the domain but require face-to-face communication between the software engineers and the users. When such communication is not possible, traditional software engineering frequently relies on questionnaires and other paper-based methods. Unfortunately, questionnaires often fail to capture implicit aspects of user tasks that may be identified through one-on-one interactions. This project investigates a method of gathering requirements whereby users, working independently of software engineers, construct rough interfaces augmented with textual argumentation. Our initial study has compared the use of GRC (Graphical Requirements Collector) with questionnaire-based requirements gathering.
Large-scale binding ligand prediction by improved patch-based method Patch-Surfer2.0

MOTIVATION Ligand binding is a key aspect of the function of many proteins. Thus, binding ligand prediction provides important insight in understanding the biological function of proteins. Binding ligand prediction is also useful for drug design and examining potential drug side effects. RESULTS We present a computational method named Patch-Surfer2.0, which predicts binding ligands for a protein pocket. By representing and comparing pockets at the level of small local surface patches that characterize physicochemical properties of the local regions, the method can identify binding pockets of the same ligand even if they do not share globally similar shapes. Properties of local patches are represented by an efficient mathematical representation, 3D Zernike Descriptor. Patch-Surfer2.0 has significant technical improvements over our previous prototype, which includes a new feature that captures approximate patch position with a geodesic distance histogram. Moreover, we constructed a large comprehensive database of ligand binding pockets that will be searched against by a query. The benchmark shows better performance of Patch-Surfer2.0 over existing methods. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION http://kiharalab.org/patchsurfer2.0/ CONTACT: dkihara@purdue.edu SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Analysis of the Scott–Zhang interpolation in the fractional order Sobolev spaces

Abstract Since it was originally designed, the Scott-Zhang interpolation operator has been very popular. Indeed, it possesses two keys features: it can be applied to fields without pointwise values and it preserves the boundary condition. However, no approximability properties seem to be available in the literature when the regularity of the field is weak. In this Note, we provide some estimates for such weakly regular fields, measured in Sobolev spaces with fractional order between 0 and 1.
Frontal-subcortical circuitry and behavior

The neuropsychiatric manifestations of neurodegenerative diseases are closely linked to neurocircuitry defects. Frontal-subcortical circuits, in particular, are effector mechanisms that allow the organism to act on its environment In this paper, we present the three main frontal-subcortical circuits: the dorsolateral prefrontal circuit allows the organization of information to facilitate a response; the anterior cingulate circuit is required for motivated behavior; and the orbitofrontal circuit allows the integration of limbic and emotional information into behavioral responses. Impaired executive functions, apathy, and impulsivity are hallmarks of frontal-subcortical circuit dysfunction. A variety of other neuropsychiatrie disorders, such as Tourette's syndrome, Huntington's disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, and mood disorders may result from disturbances that have a direct or indirect impact on the integrity or functioning of these loops.