Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strong Isotope Effects on Melting Dynamics and Ice Crystallisation Processes in Cryo Vitrification Solutions

The nucleation and growth of crystalline ice during cooling, and further crystallization processes during re-warming are considered to be key processes determining the success of low temperature storage of biological objects, as used in medical, agricultural and nature conservation applications. To avoid these problems a method, termed vitrification, is being developed to inhibit ice formation by use of high concentration of cryoprotectants and ultra-rapid cooling, but this is only successful across a limited number of biological objects and in small volume applications. This study explores physical processes of ice crystal formation in a model cryoprotective solution used previously in trials on vitrification of complex biological systems, to improve our understanding of the process and identify limiting biophysical factors. Here we present results of neutron scattering experiments which show that even if ice crystal formation has been suppressed during quench cooling, the water molecules, mobilised during warming, can crystallise as detectable ice. The crystallisation happens right after melting of the glass phase formed during quench cooling, whilst the sample is still transiting deep cryogenic temperatures. We also observe strong water isotope effects on ice crystallisation processes in the cryoprotectant mixture. In the neutron scattering experiment with a fully protiated water component, we observe ready crystallisation occurring just after the glass melting transition. On the contrary with a fully deuteriated water component, the process of crystallisation is either completely or substantially supressed. This behaviour might be explained by nuclear quantum effects in water. The strong isotope effect, observed here, may play an important role in development of new cryopreservation strategies.
Impact of Age on the Cerebrovascular Proteomes of Wild-Type and Tg-SwDI Mice

The structural integrity of cerebral vessels is compromised during ageing. Abnormal amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the vasculature can accelerate age-related pathologies. The cerebrovascular response associated with ageing and microvascular Aβ deposition was defined using quantitative label-free shotgun proteomic analysis. Over 650 proteins were quantified in vessel-enriched fractions from the brains of 3 and 9 month-old wild-type (WT) and Tg-SwDI mice. Sixty-five proteins were significantly increased in older WT animals and included several basement membrane proteins (nidogen-1, basement membrane-specific heparan sulfate proteoglycan core protein, laminin subunit gamma-1 precursor and collagen alpha-2(IV) chain preproprotein). Twenty-four proteins were increased and twenty-one decreased in older Tg-SwDI mice. Of these, increases in Apolipoprotein E (APOE) and high temperature requirement serine protease-1 (HTRA1) and decreases in spliceosome and RNA-binding proteins were the most prominent. Only six shared proteins were altered in both 9-month old WT and Tg-SwDI animals. The age-related proteomic response in the cerebrovasculature was distinctly different in the presence of microvascular Aβ deposition. Proteins found differentially expressed within the WT and Tg-SwDI animals give greater insight to the mechanisms behind age-related cerebrovascular dysfunction and pathologies and may provide novel therapeutic targets.
Biodegradation Studies of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Corn Starch Blend Films in Solid and Solution Media

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH)/corn starch (CS) blend films were prepared using the solution casting method. The biodegradability of the films was investigated based on enzymatic absorbency in water and an acidic solution as well as by burial in soil and compost. The tensile properties were examined using a tensile test. The structure of the film was characterised by scanning electron microscopy. Compared to a film without corn starch, the films containing corn starch were found to be more highly biodegradable by enzymes as well as in soil and compost. However, the results from the tensile and elongation at break tests showed that as the corn starch content increased, the strength decreased. The morphology study revealed the distribution of corn starch in the PVOH.
Ectopic Cerebellar Cell Migration Causes Maldevelopment of Purkinje Cells and Abnormal Motor Behaviour in Cxcr4 Null Mice

SDF-1/CXCR4 signalling plays an important role in neuronal cell migration and brain development. However, the impact of CXCR4 deficiency in the postnatal mouse brain is still poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the importance of CXCR4 on cerebellar development and motor behaviour by conditional inactivation of Cxcr4 in the central nervous system. We found CXCR4 plays a key role in cerebellar development. Its loss leads to defects in Purkinje cell dentritogenesis and axonal projection in vivo but not in cell culture. Transcriptome analysis revealed the most significantly affected pathways in the Cxcr4 deficient developing cerebellum are involved in extra cellular matrix receptor interactions and focal adhesion. Consistent with functional impairment of the cerebellum, Cxcr4 knockout mice have poor coordination and balance performance in skilled motor tests. Together, these results suggest ectopic the migration of granule cells impairs development of Purkinje cells, causes gross cerebellar anatomical disruption and leads to behavioural motor defects in Cxcr4 null mice.
The Effects of Vitamin D on Insulin Release From Isolated Islets of Rats

Background: Vitamin D (vit D) affects glucose metabolism. Receptors of vitamin D have been identified in β cells and studies show that vitamin D deficiency reduces glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of vitamin D on insulin release from isolated islets of rats. Materials and Methods: Islets were isolated from male Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 grams, using the collagenase digestion method. Insulin release was assessed following 24 and 48 hours coincubation of islets with vitamin D (0.1, 1 and 10 nM) and glucose (5.6, 11.1 and 16.7 mM). In addition, islets were preincubated with vitamin D for 24 and 48 hours and GSIS was assessed for one hour in the presence of 5.6 and 16.7 mM glucose. Results: Coincubation of islets with vitamin D (10 nM) and 11.1 mM glucose increased islet insulin release (37.27 ± 3.75 vs. 24.64 ± 2.83 ng/islet/24 hours; P < 0.05), while vitamin D (1 and 10 nM) decreased insulin release in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose (21.14 ± 3.58 and 18.65 ± 3.84 vs. 37.71 ± 4.63 ng/ islet/24 hours; P < 0.05). Islets preincubation with vitamin D (1 and 10 nM) increased GSIS in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose (4.39 ± 0.73 and 4.39 ± 0.63 vs. 2.07 ± 0.43 ng/islet/1 hour; P < 0.05). Conclusions: Preincubation of islets with vitamin D increased GSIS but decreased insulin release in coincubation with high levels of glucose. Insulin secretion from β cells in the presence of glucose seems to be related to the dosage of vitamin D and duration of preincubation.
The Prognostic Value of Pyrosequencing-Detected MGMT Promoter Hypermethylation in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Glioblastoma

O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) has emerged as a relevant predictor of therapeutic response and good prognosis in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). Transcriptionally active MGMT rapidly removes the alkyl adducts, preventing the formation of cross-links and thereby causing resistance to alkylating drugs. Studies with pyrosequencing (PSQ) showed that this technique has a higher reproducibility and sensitivity than other techniques. However, the definition of a prognostically relevant threshold for the percentage of MGMT methylation remains one of the most critical issues in the use of PSQ analysis. The aim of this study was to define the cut-off value correlated with good favourable prognostic outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed 51 patients (33 males, 18 females) with GBM who underwent surgery or biopsy. The Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis showed that the best possible criteria for PSQ-detected percentage of MGMT methylation that predicted progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 19% and 13%, respectively. Patients with ≤19% of PSQ-detected MGMT had a shorter PFS (HR: 0.24, p < 0.01); those ones with ≤13% had a shorter OS (HR: 0.33, p < 0.05). Our study reinforces the importance of MGMT in the management of GBM patients, but future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to confirm our findings.
A VLT spectroscopic survey of RX J0152.7-1357, a forming cluster of galaxies at z = 0.837

We present the results of an extensive spectroscopic survey of RX J0152.7-1357, one of the most massive dis- tant clusters of galaxies known. Multi-object spectroscopy, carried out with FORS1 and FORS2 on the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT), has allowed us to measure more than 200 redshifts in the cluster field and to confirm 102 galaxies as cluster members. The mean redshift of the cluster is z = 0.837 ± 0.001 and we estimate the velocity dispersion of the overall cluster galaxy distribution to be ∼1600 km s −1 . The distribution of cluster members is clearly irregular, with two main clumps that follow the X-ray cluster emission mapped by Chandra. A third clump of galaxies to the east of the central structure and at the cluster redshift has also been identified. The two main clumps have velocity dispersions of ∼919 and ∼737 km s −1 respectively, and the peculiar velocity of the two clumps suggests that they will merge into a single more massive cluster. A segregation in the star formation activity of the member galaxies is observed. All star-forming galaxies are located outside the high-density peaks, which are populated only by passive galaxies. A population of red galaxies (belonging to the cluster red sequence) with clear post-starburst spectral features and (OII) (λ3727) emission lines is observed in the outskirts of the cluster. Two AGNs, which were previously confused with the diffuse X-ray emission from the intracluster medium in ROSAT and BeppoSAX ob- servations, are found to be cluster members.
Exercise and Life-Satisfactory-Fitness: Complementary Strategies in the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Illnesses

Moderate training of an endurance nature, but also other exercise activities, not only has a preventive effect on various illnesses and pre-illness states such as the metabolic syndrome and cancer, but is also effective in treating patients in the rehabilitation phase after illness, e.g. cardiovascular or cancer. Our investigation demonstrates that even low level physical activity has a very good preventive effect too, which is enhanced when it is accompanied by mental activity and psychological well-being. In total, we investigated 13 000 people on the basis of socio-economic panel polls with respect to life contentment, health status and leisure-time activities. Life contentment is positively linked to contentment with labor, which seems to be an essential aspect with regard to the increasing number of unemployed people in Europe. The second important factor is health-promoting activities during leisure time. Exercise, especially, has a significant influence on life satisfaction as a feeling of physical fitness feeling is regarded as synonymous with good health. The results underline the psycho-neuroimmunological network, which stabilizes our health and shows that different activities in older adults have a significant effect on the aging process and age-related illnesses. Besides the various activities that are important in this arena, namely muscle and mental mobility (‘brawn and brain’), a third component must be taken into consideration: life contentment in the form of a successful retrospective view and a positive outlook, embedded in a psychosocial family environment (‘brood’) and integrated in a stress-free biotope, where life does make sense. Alternative and complementary strategies should be considered in light of these three aspects when we think about additional anti-inflammatory strategies in preventing diseases or treating them and their relapses. Sport has made a few healthy people ill, but sport has also made a good few of ill people healthy! (Gerhard Uhlenbruck, Aphorisms)
Ischemic Stroke in Cancer Patients With and Without Conventional Mechanisms: A Multicenter Study in Korea

Background and Methods— To assess the precise mechanisms of stroke in cancer patients, we analyzed the data for cancer patients with acute ischemic stroke registered from 6 centers in South Korea. Clinical features, risk factors, diffusion-weighted imaging lesion patterns, and laboratory findings including d-dimer levels were compared between patients with conventional stroke mechanisms (CSMs) and cryptogenic group. Results— A total of 161 patients were included in this study: 97 (60.2%) patients in the CSM group and 64 (39.8%) in the cryptogenic group. Patients in the CSM group were older and vascular risk factors were more prevalent than in the cryptogenic group. Diffusion-weighted imaging patterns of multiple lesions involving multiple arterial territories were observed more frequently in the cryptogenic group than in the CSM group. In addition, levels of the d-dimer were higher in the cryptogenic group than in the CSM group (11.5±14.6 versus 3.6±10.3 &mgr;g/dL). In multivariate analysis, the diffusion-weighted imaging lesion pattern of multiple vascular territories (odds ratio, 11.2; 95% CI, 3.74 to 33.3), and d-dimer levels of >1.11 &mgr;g/dL (odds ratio, 10.6; 95% CI, 3.29 to 33.8) were associated independently with the cryptogenic group. Conclusions— Stroke outside of CSM occurred in a large number in cancer patients. In stroke patients with cancer, d-dimer levels and diffusion-weighted imaging lesion patterns may be helpful in early identification of non-CSMs (especially coagulopathy associated with cancer) and possibly in guiding preventive strategies for stroke.
Formulating the empirical strategies in module generation of analog MOS layout

In module generation for analog cell layout, it is necessary to incorporate the designers' empirical techniques to achieve small area as well as high performance. This paper presents the formulation of two types of module generation problems, faithful to expert's empirical knowledge, to ease such incorporation. One is series module generation problem, where we introduce equivalent circuit modifications to maximize the diffusion merging and minimize the number of diffusion contacts. The other is the common-centroid module generation problem which is formulated as a mathematical optimization problem taking coincidence, symmetry, dispersion and compactness into consideration. A greedy algorithm is also presented to solve this problem
Islet Transplantation in Type I Diabetes Mellitus

For most patients with type I diabetes, insulin therapy and glucose monitoring are sufficient to maintain glycemic control. However, hypoglycemia is a potentially lethal side effect of insulin treatment in patients who are glycemically labile or have hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure [1]. For those patients, an alternative therapy is beta cell replacement via pancreas or islet transplantation. Pancreas transplants using cadaveric donor organs reduce insulin dependence but carry risks involved in major surgery and chronic immunosuppression. Islet transplantation, in which islets are isolated from donor pancreases and intravenously infused, require no surgery and can utilize islets isolated from pancreases unsuitable for whole organ transplantation. However, islet transplantation also requires immunosuppression, and standard steroid regimens may be toxic to beta cells [2]. The 2000 Edmonton Trial demonstrated the first long-term successful islet transplantation by using a glucocorticoid-free immunosuppressive regimen (sirolimus and tacrolimus). The Clinical Islet Transplantation (CIT) Consortium seeks to improve upon the Edmonton Protocol by using anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and TNFα antagonist (etanercept). The trials currently in progress, in addition to research efforts to find new sources of islet cells, reflect enormous potential for islet transplantation in treatment of type I diabetes.
Linux security modules: general security support for the linux kernel

The access control mechanisms of existing mainstream operating systems are inadequate to provide strong system security. Enhanced access control mechanisms have failed to win acceptance into mainstream operating systems due in part to a lack of consensus within the security community on the right solution. Since general-purpose operating systems must satisfy a wide range of user requirements, any access control mechanism integrated into such a system must be capable of supporting many different access control models. The Linux Security Modules (LSM) project has developed a lightweight, general purpose, access control framework for the mainstream Linux kernel that enables many different access control models to be implemented as loadable kernel modules. A number of existing enhanced access control implementations, including Linux capabilities, Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux), and Domain and Type Enforcement (DTE), have already been adapted to use the LSM framework. This paper presents the design and implementation of LSM and discusses the challenges in providing a truly general solution that minimally impacts the Linux kernel.
Doubly-Latent Models of School Contextual Effects: Integrating Multilevel and Structural Equation Approaches to Control Measurement and Sampling Error

This article is a methodological-substantive synergy. Methodologically, we demonstrate latent-variable contextual models that integrate structural equation models (with multiple indicators) and multilevel models. These models simultaneously control for and unconfound measurement error due to sampling of items at the individual (L1) and group (L2) levels and sampling error due the sampling of persons in the aggregation of L1 characteristics to form L2 constructs. We consider a set of models that are latent or manifest in relation to sampling items (measurement error) and sampling of persons (sampling error) and discuss when different models might be most useful. We demonstrate the flexibility of these 4 core models by extending them to include random slopes, latent (single-level or cross-level) interactions, and latent quadratic effects. Substantively we use these models to test the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE), showing that individual student levels of academic self-concept (L1-ASC) are positively associated with individual level achievement (L1-ACH) and negatively associated with school-average achievement (L2-ACH)—a finding with important policy implications for the way schools are structured. Extending tests of the BFLPE in new directions, we show that the nonlinear effects of the L1-ACH (a latent quadratic effect) and the interaction between gender and L1-ACH (an L1 × L1 latent interaction) are not significant. Although random-slope models show no significant school-to-school variation in relations between L1-ACH and L1-ASC, the negative effects of L2-ACH (the BFLPE) do vary somewhat with individual L1-ACH. We conclude with implications for diverse applications of the set of latent contextual models, including recommendations about their implementation, effect size estimates (and confidence intervals) appropriate to multilevel models, and directions for further research in contextual effect analysis.
Evaluation of printed health education materials for use by low-education families.

PURPOSE Millions of adults lack adequate reading skills and many written patient education materials do not reflect national guidelines for readability and suitability of materials, resulting in barriers to patients being partners in their own health care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate commonly used printed health materials for readability and suitability for patients with limited general or health literacy skills, while providing easy recommendations to health care providers for how to improve the materials. METHODS Materials (N = 97) from three clinical areas that represented excellence in nursing care in our organization (stroke, cancer, and maternal-child) were reviewed for a composite reading grade level and a Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) score. RESULTS Twenty-eight percent of the materials were at a 9th grade or higher reading level, and only 23% were 5th grade or below. The SAM ratings for not suitable, adequate, and superior were 11%, 58%, and 31%, respectively. Few materials were superior on both scales. The SAM scale was easy to use and required little training of reviewers to achieve interrater reliability. CONCLUSIONS Improving outcomes and reducing health disparities are increasingly important, and patients must be partners in their care for this to occur. One step to increasing patient understanding of written instructions is improving the quality of the materials in the instruction for all patients and their families, especially those with limited literacy skills. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Using materials that are written in a manner that facilitates the uptake and use of patient education content has great potential to improve the ability of patients and families to be partners in care and to improve outcomes, especially for those patients and families with limited general literacy or health literacy skills.
Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: outcomes and treatment options for recurrence

Overall survival and recurrence rates after liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vary, however observational data support the notion that patients with HCC have an overall worse long-term prognosis after LT compared to patients transplanted without HCC. Patient selection for LT in patients with HCC fluctuated as changes in the model for end-stage liver disease score was adjusted from 2002 to 2005. In the last decade, management of HCC patients on the waiting list has varied based on center experience. Since HCC patients have better access to the donor pool compared to non-HCC patients as evidenced by their lower dropout rate from the waiting list, living donation has been implemented in certain centers. Overall patient survival, recurrence free survival, and recurrence rates have been compared between living donor LT (LDLT) and deceased donor LT, with one meta-analysis reporting a lower disease free survival in LDLT, however overall patient survival and recurrence rates showed no difference at 1, 3 and 5 years. In patients exhibiting HCC recurrence, different modalities regarding immunosuppression and therapies have been evaluated. Currently there are no consensus treatment strategies regarding post-transplant HCC recurrence in patients not suitable for locoregional therapy, hence consideration of a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors with the addition of sorafenib might be a feasible option with close monitoring in clinical practice despite the notable toxicities.