Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, release ability and bioactivity evaluation of chitin beads incorporated with curcumin for drug delivery applications

Spherical curcumin-incorporated chitin porous beads, with porosity exceeding 98%, were successfully fabricated by combining a coagulation method with freeze-drying. Tween 20 was used to enhance the solubility of curcumin in the chitin beads during the incorporation step. The internal pores and the outer non-porous shell structure of the chitin beads determined the curcumin-releasing behaviour: the internal porous structure could dramatically increase the uptake of the releasing medium, while the non-porous outer skin layer dominated the slow releasing behaviour of curcumin. In addition, the amount of Tween 20 also played an important role in the release characteristic of curcumin from the chitin matrix. Bioactivity evaluation of the obtained chitin beads was conducted by immersion in a simulated body fluid (SBF). It could be postulated the entrapment of curcumin into the cores of Tween 20 micelles encapsulated in the chitin shell could be a promising candidate for drug delivery devices.
Increased body mass index but not common vitamin D receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, or cytokine polymorphisms confers predisposition to posttransplant diabetes.

CONTEXT Posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a major complication after solid organ transplantation. The use of corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, especially tacrolimus, are significant risk factors. However, it is not clear what genetic factors modify the risk. Evidence suggests vitamin D deficiency, perturbed glucose homeostasis, and increased inflammation all play roles in the development of diabetes. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether common vitamin D receptor (VDR), cytokine, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) polymorphisms are correlated with the development of PTDM. DESIGN DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood of 51 kidney transplant recipients with PTDM and 72 patients without diabetes pretransplant or posttransplant at the time of follow-up. The genotypes for 5 polymorphisms, 1 each in VDR, PPARγ, INFγ, TGFβ1, and TNF, were determined using direct sequencing. Age, sex, number of acute rejection episodes, follow-up length, ethnicity, body mass index, and the frequency of alleles and genotypes for each polymorphism were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS Body mass index was the only factor that was statistically different between the 2 groups (P = .001). The frequency of different alleles and genotypes for each of the 5 polymorphisms did not differ between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that increased body mass index is a significant risk factor for the development of PTDM. However, none of the genetic polymorphisms studied confer predisposition to PTDM with the current sample size.
Particle-In-Cell simulations of circularly polarised Alfvén wave phase mixing: A new mechanism for electron acceleration in collisionless plasmas

In this work we used Particle-In-Cell simulations to study the interaction of circularly polarised Alhen waves with one dimensional plasma density inhomogeneities transverse to the uniform magnetic field (phase mixing) in collisionless plasmas. In our preliminary work we reported discovery of a new electron acceleration mechanism, in which progressive distortion of the Alfven wave front, due to the differences in local Alfven speed, generates an oblique (nearly parallel to the magnetic field) electrostatic field. The latter accelerates electrons through the Landau resonance. Here we report a detailed study of this novel mechanism, including: (i) analysis of broadening of the ion distribution function due to the presence of Alfven waves; and (ii) the generation of compressive perturbations due to both weak non-linearity and plasma density inhomogeneity. The amplitude decay law in the inhomogeneous regions, in the kinetic regime, is demonstrated to be the same as in the MHD approximation described by Heyvaerts & Priest (1983, A&A, 117, 220).
Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in hypersaline environments

Literature on hydrocarbon degradation in extreme hypersaline media presents studies that point to a negative effect of salinity increase on hydrocarbonoclastic activity, while several others report an opposite tendency. Based on information available in the literature, we present a discussion on the reasons that justify these contrary results. Despite the fact that microbial ability to metabolize hydrocarbons is found in extreme hypersaline media, indeed some factors are critical for the occurrence of hydrocarbon degradation in such environments. How these factors affect hydrocarbon degradation and their implications for the assessment of hydrocarbon biodegradation in hypersaline environments are presented in this review.
Gene expression signatures predictive of early response and outcome in high-risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A Children's Oncology Group Study [corrected].

PURPOSE To identify children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at initial diagnosis who are at risk for inferior response to therapy by using molecular signatures. PATIENTS AND METHODS Gene expression profiles were generated from bone marrow blasts at initial diagnosis from a cohort of 99 children with National Cancer Institute-defined high-risk ALL who were treated uniformly on the Children's Oncology Group (COG) 1961 study. For prediction of early response, genes that correlated to marrow status on day 7 were identified on a training set and were validated on a test set. An additional signature was correlated with long-term outcome, and the predictive models were validated on three large, independent patient cohorts. Results We identified a 24-probe set signature that was highly predictive of day 7 marrow status on the test set (P = .0061). Pathways were identified that may play a role in early blast regression. We have also identified a 47-probe set signature (which represents 41 unique genes) that was predictive of long-term outcome in our data set as well as three large independent data sets of patients with childhood ALL who were treated on different protocols. However, we did not find sufficient evidence for the added significance of these genes and the derived predictive models when other known prognostic features, such as age, WBC, and karyotype, were included in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION Genes and pathways that play a role in early blast regression may identify patients who may be at risk for inferior responses to treatment. A fully validated predictive gene expression signature was defined for high-risk ALL that provided insight into the biologic mechanisms of treatment failure.
Level Shifters and DCVSL for a Low-Voltage CMOS 4.2-V Buck Converter

In this paper, high-voltage (HV)-tolerant level shifters with combinational functionality are proposed based on differential cascode voltage switch logic (DCVSL). These level shifters are tolerant to supply voltages higher than the process limit for individual CMOS transistors. The proposed HV DCVSL level shifters are particularly useful when it is mandatory to constrain the output using a logic function during out of the normal mode periods (power-up, power-down, reset, etc.). These HV-tolerant logic circuits were used in the power block of a buck converter designed in a standard 3.3-V 0.13-mum CMOS process, powered by an input voltage range from 2.7 to 4.2 V. Simulation and experimental results of the buck are analyzed, and the topology is evaluated.
Inducing and Embedding Senses with Scaled Gumbel Softmax

Methods for learning word sense embeddings represent a single word with multiple sense-specific vectors. These methods should not only produce interpretable sense embeddings, but should also learn how to select which sense to use in a given context. We propose an unsupervised model that learns sense embeddings using a modified Gumbel softmax function, which allows for differentiable discrete sense selection. Our model produces sense embeddings that are competitive (and sometimes state of the art) on multiple similarity based downstream evaluations. However, performance on these downstream evaluations tasks does not correlate with interpretability of sense embeddings, as we discover through an interpretability comparison with competing multi-sense embeddings. While many previous approaches perform well on downstream evaluations, they do not produce interpretable embeddings and learn duplicated sense groups; our method achieves the best of both worlds.
Parallel depth-first search in general directed graphs

A directed cycle separator of an n-vertex directed graph is a simple directed cycle such that when the vertices of the cycle are deleted, the resulting graph has no strongly connected component with more than n/2 vertices. This paper shows that the problem of finding a directed cycle separator is in randomized NC. The paper also proves that computing cycle separators and conducting depth-first search in directed graphs are deterministic NC-equivalent. These two results together yield the first RNC algorithm for depth-first search in directed graphs.
Serum interleukins 12 and 18 and immunoglobulin E concentrations and allergic symptoms in Japanese schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND There is considerable concern about the rising trend in the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases. The ability to monitor this trend would be enhanced by the use of a biological marker for these diseases. OBJECTIVE This study investigated whether serum interleukin (IL) 12 and IL-18 levels were associated with allergic symptoms such as those of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema in Japanese schoolchildren. METHODS Allergic symptoms and serum IL-12, IL-18, and immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels were examined in 370 schoolchildren aged 9-10 years living in urban Japanese areas. Allergic symptoms were assessed with a questionnaire designed in accordance with the protocol of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). RESULTS Serum IL-12 levels in children were not associated with any allergic symptoms. However, serum IL-18 levels were significantly higher in children who had asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic eczema than in those who did not have such symptoms. Serum IL-18 levels were also significantly higher in children with IgE levels of 250 IU/mL or above than in those with levels below 250 IU/mL. Gender-adjusted serum IL-18 levels were still significantly higher in children with allergic rhinitis, atopic eczema, or at least one allergic symptom than in those without symptoms. CONCLUSION These results suggest that serum IL-18 levels are associated with allergic symptoms in children, independent of serum IgE levels. Thus, serum IL-18 may be a useful biological marker of these diseases.
Structure of colloidal sphere–plate mixtures

In addition to containing spherical pigment particles, coatings usually contain plate-like clay particles. It is thought that these improve the opacity of the paint film by providing an efficient spacing of the pigment particles. This observation is counterintuitive, as suspensions of particles of different shapes and sizes tend to phase separate on increase of concentration. In order to clarify this matter a model colloidal system is studied here, with a sphere–plate diameter ratio similar to that found in paints. For dilute suspensions, small angle neutron scattering revealed that the addition of plates leads to enhanced density fluctuations of the spheres, in agreement with new theoretical predictions. On increasing the total colloid concentration the plates and spheres phase separate due to the disparity in their shape. This is in agreement with previous theoretical and experimental work on colloidal sphere–plate mixtures, where one particle acts as a depleting agent. The fact that no large scale phase separation is observed in coatings is ascribed to dynamic arrest in intimately mixed, or possibly micro-phase separated structures, at elevated concentration.
What is the Effect of Child Labour on Learning Achievement? Evidence from Ghana

This paper analyzes the links between child labour and poor school performance, using data gathered in Ghana in recent years. Author Christopher Heady moves away from conventional studies on child labour and education, which tend to focus on low school enrolment and attendance. He goes further, to examine the day to day impact of child labour on those in school, finding that, as well as leaving children too tired to learn, child labour robs them of their interest in learning. Children who are already contributing economically to their family income may be less interested in academic achievement, resulting in lack of motivation that affects both their learning and their future prospects.
Unicorns, dragons, polymyositis, and other mythological beasts

There are three major types of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), and inclusion body myositis (IBM). 1 In this issue of Neurology , van der Meulen et al.2 suggest that what has been labeled as PM is uncommon and includes a heterogeneous group of disorders. Although there are rare cases of PM, many reported cases of so-called PM are likely to be another entity: IBM, myositis associated with a connective tissue disorder (CTD), dystrophies with inflammation, and perhaps even DM (see table E-1 on the Neurology Web site). Also in this issue, Yabe et al.3 report still another cause for confusion, endomysial inflammation in autosomal recessive hereditary inclusion body myopathy (h-IBM), which is caused by mutations in the gene encoding for UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE). The muscle biopsy in these patients may resemble sporadic IBM, leading to misdiagnosis. PM will be overdiagnosed with Bohan and Peter criteria for PM and DM.4,5⇓ These criteria do not require a muscle biopsy for the diagnosis of probable or possible PM and DM. Furthermore, without immunopathology, the biopsy abnormalities of PM and DM are nonspecific (except for perifascicular atrophy) and do not distinguish PM from DM or any myopathy with necrosis, including IBM and the muscular dystrophies. Seventy-six of the 165 patients in the study by van der Meulen et al.2 (all those classified as having PM, nonspecified myositis, or possible myositis) would have been classified as having probable or definite PM by Bohan and Peter criteria. However, only 4 of 165 patients (4 of 238 if the 73 patients with IBM initially excluded were included) were believed to have PM during the follow-up period using more up-to-date histopathologic criteria. Criteria for diagnosis of DM and PM need to consider the advances in understanding of the pathogeneses …
A novel strain of Cellulosimicrobium funkei can biologically detoxify aflatoxin B1 in ducklings

Two experiments were conducted to screen microorganisms with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) removal potential from soils and to evaluate their ability in reducing the toxic effects of AFB1 in ducklings. In experiment 1, we screened 11 isolates that showed the AFB1 biodegradation ability, and the one exhibited the highest AFB1 removal ability (97%) was characterized and identified as Cellulosimicrobium funkei (C. funkei). In experiment 2, 80 day‐old Cherry Valley ducklings were divided into four groups with four replicates of five birds each and were used in a 2 by 2 factorial trial design, in which the main factors included administration of AFB1 versus solvent and C. funkei versus solvent for 2 weeks. The AFB1 treatment significantly decreased the body weight gain, feed intake and impaired feed conversion ratio. AFB1 also decreased serum albumin and total protein concentration, while it increased activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and liver damage in the ducklings. Supplementation of C. funkei alleviated the adverse effects of AFB1 on growth performance, and provided protective effects on the serum biochemical indicators, and decreased hepatic injury in the ducklings. Conclusively, our results suggest that the novel isolated C. funkei strain could be used to mitigate the negative effects of aflatoxicosis in ducklings.
Word Embedding Perturbation for Sentence Classification

In this technique report, we aim to mitigate the overfitting problem of natural language by applying data augmentation methods. Specifically, we attempt several types of noise to perturb the input word embedding, such as Gaussian noise, Bernoulli noise, and adversarial noise, etc. We also apply several constraints on different types of noise. By implementing these proposed data augmentation methods, the baseline models can gain improvements on several sentence classification tasks.
In-Hospital Neurologic Complications in Adult Patients Undergoing Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Results From the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry

Objectives:To elucidate the epidemiology, complication profiles, hospital outcome, and predisposing factors of CNS complications occurring during venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adults. Design:Retrospective analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry. Setting:Data reported to Extracorporeal Life Support Organization by 230 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers from 1992 to 2013. Patients:Patients more than 16 years old supported with a single-run of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:We examined 4,522 adult patients supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and included in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used for cardiac dysfunction in 3,005 patients (66.5%), cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 877 patients (19.4%), and respiratory failure in 640 patients (14.1%), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with CNS injury. Neurologic complications occurred in 682 patients (15.1%), and included brain death in 358 patients (7.9%), cerebral infarction in 161 patients (3.6%), seizures in 83 patients (1.8%), and cerebral hemorrhage in 80 patients (1.8%). Multiple CNS complications in the same patient occurred in 70 cases. Hospital mortality in patients with CNS complications was 89%, compared with 57% in patients without (p < 0.001). In a multivariable model, age, pre-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cardiac arrest, the use of inotropes on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and post-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation hypoglycemia were shown to be associated with CNS complications. Conclusions:Neurologic complications in adult patients on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support are common and associated with poor survival. Further research should focus on better understanding and management of brain/extracorporeal membrane oxygenation interaction to avoid such catastrophic complications.
Joint loads resulting in ACL rupture: Effects of age, sex, and body mass on injury load and mode of failure in a mouse model

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are a common knee injury with a known but poorly understood association with secondary joint injuries and post‐traumatic osteoarthritis (OA). Female sex and age are known risk factors for ACL injury but these variables are rarely explored in mouse models of injury. This study aimed to further characterize a non‐surgical ACL injury model to determine its clinical relevance across a wider range of mouse specifications. Cadaveric and anesthetized C57BL/6 mice (9–52 weeks of age) underwent joint loading to investigate the effects of age, sex, and body mass on ACL injury mechanisms. The ACL injury load (whole joint load required to rupture the ACL) was measured from force‐displacement data, and mode of failure was assessed using micro‐dissection and histology. ACL injury load was found to increase with body mass and age (p < 0.001) but age was not significant when controlling for mass. Sex had no effect. In contrast, the mode of ACL failure varied with both age and sex groups. Avulsion fractures (complete or mixed with mid‐substance tears) were common in all age groups but the proportion of mixed and mid‐substance failures increased with age. Females were more likely than males to have a major avulsion relative to a mid‐substance tear (p < 0.01). This data compliments studies in human cadaveric knees, and provides a basis for determining the severity of joint injury relative to a major ACL tear in mice, and for selecting joint loading conditions in future experiments using this model. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:1754–1763, 2017.
DETERMINATION OF FREE PHENOLIC ACIDS, FLAVONOID CONTENTS AND ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OBTAINED FROM LEAVES OF MISTLETOE (TAPINANTHUS GLOBIFERUS)

In the last few decades, studies have increased in the assessment of relevance of natural antioxidants in the prevention and management of diseases particularly those with generation of free radicals as etiological factor. Antioxidant properties, phenolic and flavonoid contents of Tapinanthus globiferus were determined chemically and biologically. Different concentrations of ethanolic extract of T. globiferus demonstrated high DPPH radical scavenging and iron chelating activities. Ethanolic extract of T. globiferus reduced generation of reactive oxygen species in isolated mitochondria in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide. The antioxidant activities were in dose-dependent manner. Analyses by high perfomance liquid chromatography revealed presence of phenolic compounds such as gallic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids; flavonoid compounds present included rutin and quercetin. T. globiferus demonstrated high antioxidant activities which may be due to the presence of phenolic and flavonoid contents.
A protein from the salivary glands of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is essential in feeding on a host plant

In feeding, aphids inject saliva into plant tissues, gaining access to phloem sap and eliciting (and sometimes overcoming) plant responses. We are examining the involvement, in this aphid–plant interaction, of individual aphid proteins and enzymes, as identified in a salivary gland cDNA library. Here, we focus on a salivary protein we have arbitrarily designated Protein C002. We have shown, by using RNAi-based transcript knockdown, that this protein is important in the survival of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) on fava bean, a host plant. Here, we further characterize the protein, its transcript, and its gene, and we study the feeding process of knockdown aphids. The encoded protein fails to match any protein outside of the family Aphididae. By using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, the transcript and the protein were localized to a subset of secretory cells in principal salivary glands. Protein C002, whose sequence contains an N-terminal secretion signal, is injected into the host plant during aphid feeding. By using the electrical penetration graph method on c002-knockdown aphids, we find that the knockdown affects several aspects of foraging and feeding, with the result that the c002-knockdown aphids spend very little time in contact with phloem sap in sieve elements. Thus, we infer that Protein C002 is crucial in the feeding of the pea aphid on fava bean.