Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of a Simple Microwave-Assisted Acid Digestion Method Using Microvessels for Analysis of Trace Elements in Atmospheric PM2.5 in Monitoring and Fingerprinting Studies

Two microwave-assisted digestion procedures, followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis, were evaluated for the determination of trace elements in fine atmospheric aerosols (PM2.5) for air monitoring purposes. The first procedure used 40%(v/v) HNO3 and a digestion program with a maximum temperature of 175 o C. The second digestion procedure provided the dissolution of silicate matrix through the use of a mixture of HNO3/HF/H3BO3 at 200 o C. Both digestion procedures employed microvessels (MicroVessel TM ), which significantly reduced the amount of reagents needed, and increased the sample throughput by two-fold. The effectiveness of both digestion procedures was studied through the analysis of NIST standard reference materials (SRM), namely SRM 2783 (PM2.5 Air Particulate Matter deposited on a polycarbonate filter membrane), and SRM 1648 (Urban Particulate Matter). The accuracy was also checked through the analysis of co-located ambient PM2.5 samples collected within the Canadian National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) network. Comparison of analytical results for PM2.5 samples showed that 40% (v/v) HNO3 could dissolve most of the metals of interest to the same degree as the HNO3/HF/H3BO3 mixture. Good agreement was also obtained by comparison with Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (ED-XRF). The efficiency of the simple microwave digestion procedure (no HF) was not dependent on the origin, mass loading, or elemental composition of the analyzed samples, thus it is quite suitable for monitoring purposes. However, the total dissolution of several trace elements such as Ti, Cr and U in PM2.5, and Ti, Cr, Al, lanthanides, and Sb in coarse fractions of PM (PM10-2.5) would require digestion in the presence of HF.
A Finite Element Skeleton approach as the articulation insensitivity shape descriptor

This paper presents a novel shape representation approach, Finite Element Skeleton (FES), based on studies of planar shape analysis from the perspective of Finite Element Method (FEM). First, we derive the shape contour of an object in image with edge detection approach. Then, the approach builds connections of all pixels on the shape contour with the inner center point of the shape, and models these virtual connections as bendable beam elements. Finally, we obtain a multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) model of the original shape. By this model, we can calculate its natural frequency, which is one of mechanical properties that directly related to the geometric shape, and employed it as the shape representation. FES shape descriptor possesses the natural properties on translation and rotation invariant. Especially, FES descriptor has the feature of articulation insensitivity which is the most important property of a shape descriptor to ensure a good performance of the intra-class similarity measurement. Experimental results validated that the proposed FES descriptor is capable of identifying shape for object recognition.
Source–receptor probability of atmospheric long‐distance dispersal of viruses to Israel from the eastern Mediterranean area

Viruses that affect the health of humans and farm animals can spread over long distances via atmospheric mechanisms. The phenomenon of atmospheric long-distance dispersal (LDD) is associated with severe consequences because it may introduce pathogens into new areas. The introduction of new pathogens to Israel was attributed to LDD events numerous times. This provided the motivation for this study which is aimed to identify all the locations in the eastern Mediterranean that may serve as sources for pathogen incursion into Israel via LDD. This aim was achieved by calculating source-receptor relationship probability maps. These maps describe the probability that an infected vector or viral aerosol, once airborne, will have an atmospheric route that can transport it to a distant location. The resultant probability maps demonstrate a seasonal tendency in the probability of specific areas to serve as sources for pathogen LDD into Israel. Specifically, Cyprus' season is the summer; southern Turkey and the Greek islands of Crete, Karpathos and Rhodes are associated with spring and summer; lower Egypt and Jordan may serve as sources all year round, except the summer months. The method used in this study can easily be implemented to any other geographic region. The importance of this study is the ability to provide a climatologically valid and accurate risk assessment tool to support long-term decisions regarding preparatory actions for future outbreaks long before a specific outbreak occurs.
Management of dermatologic toxicities associated with monoclonal antibody epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors: A case review

Introduction: The epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs), cetuximab and panitumumab, represent an effective treatment option for patients affected by metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC); furthermore, they are relatively devoid of systemic toxicities, which are commonly observed with standard cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, the majority of patients treated with these monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), will experience dermatologic toxicities, most notably the papulopustular skin rash, which can impact quality-of-life and affect adherence to therapy. This paper reviews the most recent practices in the management of skin rash related to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mAbs, cetuximab and panitumumab, in the treatment of mCRC. Materials and Methods: We reviewed relevant literature regarding dermatologic toxicities associated with anti-EGFR mAbs in order to give important indications about prevention and reactive treatment of skin rash. Results: Two case reports were presented to show how skin rash could hamper mAb EGFRIs use in clinical practice, underscoring the need of implementing a comprehensive management strategy of skin toxicity in order to promote patients’ compliance with anti-EGFR therapy and maintain quality-of-life. Based on randomized data, recent guidelines established by the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer Skin Toxicity Study Group suggest that prophylactic use of oral doxycycline or minocycline reduces the risk and severity of skin rash, improving clinical outcomes. Conclusions: At the start of treatment with cetuximab and panitumumab, the proper patient education about the skin rash associated with these mAbs and the implementation of a pre-emptive, comprehensive skin toxicity program significantly contribute to improve adherence to therapy, optimize anti-EGFR therapy and maintain quality-of-life.
A revision of Oriental Teloganodidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera, Ephemerelloidea)

Based on the examination of the type series of Cloe tristis Hagen, 1858 (type species of the genus Teloganodes Eaton, 1882) and material housed in several institutions, a revision of Oriental Teloganodidae is proposed. A lectotype is designated for Teloganodes tristis (Hagen, 1858) and the genus is redefined. The species T. major Eaton, 1884, is a subjective junior synonym of T. tristis Hagen, 1858 (syn. nov.). The genus Macafertiella Wang, 1996 is a subjective junior synonym of Teloganodes Eaton, 1882 (syn. nov.). A phylogenetic analysis is performed on all available nymphs. Teloganodes is restricted to Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats of India and encompasses the type species and T. dentatus Navas, 1931, T. insignis (Wang & McCafferty, 1996) (comb. nov.), and the following new species: T. tuberculatus sp. nov. (Sri Lanka), T. kodai sp. nov. (India), T. jacobusi sp. nov. (Sri Lanka) and T. hubbardi sp. nov. (Sri Lanka). The type material of T. dentata is redescribed. Species from Southeast Asia are assigned to two new genera. Dudgeodes gen. nov. includes the type species D. pescadori sp. nov. (Philippines) and D. lugens (Navas, 1933) comb. nov. (China), D. hutanis sp. nov. (Borneo), D. stephani sp. nov. (Borneo), D. ulmeri sp. nov. (Java, Sumatra), and D. celebensis sp. nov. (Sulawesi). The genus Derlethina gen. nov. is established for D. eloisae sp. nov. (Borneo). The egg morphology is presented for the first time for the family Teloganodidae. Affinities within the family and between related families are discussed and a key to distinguish all species known at the larval stage is proposed.
Ultrasound Monitoring of In Vitro Radio Frequency Ablation by Echo Decorrelation Imaging

Objective. The purpose of this study was to test ultrasound echo decorrelation imaging for mapping and characterization of tissue effects caused by radio frequency ablation (RFA). Methods. Radio frequency ablation procedures (6‐minute duration, 20‐W power) were performed on fresh ex vivo bovine liver tissue (n = 9) with continuous acquisition of beam‐formed ultrasound echo data from a 7‐MHz linear array. Echo data were processed to form B‐scan images, echo decorrelation images (related to rapid random changes in echo waveforms), and integrated backscatter images (related to local changes in received echo energy). Echo decorrelation and integrated backscatter values at the location of a low‐noise thermocouple were assessed as functions of temperature. Echo decorrelation and integrated backscatter images were directly compared with ablated tissue cross sections and quantitatively evaluated as predictors of tissue ablation and overtreatment. Results. Echo decorrelation maps corresponded with local tissue temperature and ablation effects. Consistent echo decorrelation increases were observed for temperatures above 75°C, whereas integrated backscatter maps showed a nonmonotonic temperature dependence complicated by acoustic shadowing, with high variance at large temperature elevations. In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of echo decorrelation and integrated backscatter maps as predictors of local tissue ablation, echo decorrelation performed well (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] = 0.855 for ablation and 0.913 for overtreatment), whereas integrated backscatter performed poorly (AUROC < 0.6). Conclusions. Echo decorrelation imaging can map tissue changes due to RFA in vitro, with local echo decorrelation corresponding strongly to local tissue temperature elevations and ablation effects. With further development and in vivo validation, echo decorrelation imaging is potentially useful for improved image guidance of clinical RFA procedures.
An Exploratory Study into the Effect of Exhausting Bicycle Exercise on Endocrine and Immune Responses in Post-Menopausal Women: Relationships between Vigour and Plasma Cortisol Concentrations and Lymphocyte Proliferation following Exercise

It is well-established that bicycle exercise alters the endocrine and immune responses in men, but little information is available for women, especially middle-aged, post-menopausal women. The purpose of our study was to document the endocrine and immune reactivity to exhausting bicycle exercise in post-menopausal women, and to explore whether complaints of fatigue or low vigour are related to these exercise-induced responses. Thirteen healthy post-menopausal women participated in this study. We used a graded exercise protocol to study the kinetics of activation of the endocrine and immune system. We chose to examine hormones related to the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system such as adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and cortisol and hormones related to the pituitary such as prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH). With regard to the immune system, we examined the natural killer (NK) cell activity and pokeweed (PWM)-induced lymphocyte proliferation in addition to changes in peripheral blood cell counts. Our results demonstrate that acute physical stress results in a strong release of ACTH, cortisol, GH and PRL. The bicycle test significantly increased the number of CD3+, CD4+, CD16/56+ (NK cells) and CD8+ cells in our group of post-menopausal women. Interestingly, NK activity did not increase significantly despite an increase in NK cell numbers. PWM-induced lymphocyte proliferation did not change either. In addition, our data support the hypothesis that low vigour in post-menopausal women interferes with the endocrine and immune responses to exhausting exercise. In women with complaints of low vigour we found lower cortisol responses and higher increments in the proliferative capacity of lymphocytes as compared to those with high vigour scores. NK activity was unrelated to exhaustive mood states. These data indicate that endocrine as well as immune system activity changes in response to exhausting exercise in middle-aged, post-menopausal women. In addition, exhaustive mood states may contribute to cortisol responses and function of peripheral immune cells in post-menopausal women following exhausting exercise.
Pattern of Talar Articular Facet of Human Calcaneum Bone

Calcaneum is the largest and longest tarsal bone in the foot. It forms talocalcaneal joint with talus . the joint maintains eversion and inversion of foot and named as subtalar joint. In superior aspect of calcaneum three important facets are anterior, middle and posterior. The individual and racial differences of the anatomic construction of calcaneal articular facets play key role in static and kinetic dymamics of foot. Therefore, this study is important for science of anatomy to understand variations in facets, treatment, diagnostic and surgical procedure. Various interfaced distance between anterior and middle facets (0.2 to 1 mm) on right side and (0.3-0.9 mm) on left side. Distance between middle and posterior facets (0.5 to 2.4 mm) on right and (0.5-2.8 mm) on left side. Distance between anterior and posterior facets (0.7 to 2.4 mm) on right and (0.3 to 2.5 mm) on left side. We found the positive correlation between length of calcanei and various interfaced distances. Paterns of articular facets (Fig 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) and their percentage of occurrences that we found are shown in TABLE I. Pattern I-(Fig 1&2) anterior and middle facets fused. Pattern II- (Fig 3&4) anterior, middle and posterior facets separate. Pattern III-Fig 5& 6) Anterior facet absent and other two are present.
2D luminescence imaging of pH in vivo

Luminescence imaging of biological parameters is an emerging field in biomedical sciences. Tools to study 2D pH distribution are needed to gain new insights into complex disease processes, such as wound healing and tumor metabolism. In recent years, luminescence-based methods for pH measurement have been developed. However, for in vivo applications, especially for studies on humans, biocompatibility and reliability under varying conditions have to be ensured. Here, we present a referenced luminescent sensor for 2D high-resolution imaging of pH in vivo. The ratiometric sensing scheme is based on time-domain luminescence imaging of FITC and ruthenium(II)tris-(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline). To create a biocompatible 2D sensor, these dyes were bound to or incorporated into microparticles (aminocellulose and polyacrylonitrile), and particles were immobilized in polyurethane hydrogel on transparent foils. We show sensor precision and validity by conducting in vitro and in vivo experiments, and we show the versatility in imaging pH during physiological and chronic cutaneous wound healing in humans. Implementation of this technique may open vistas in wound healing, tumor biology, and other biomedical fields.
Markov Switching Monetary Policy in a Two-Country DSGE Model

In this paper I show, using both empirical and theoretical analysis, that changes in monetary policy in one country can have important e.ects on other economies. My ew empirical evidence shows that changes in the monetary policy behaviour of the Fed since the start of the Euro, well captured by a Markov-switching Taylor rule, have had significant e.ects on the behaviour of inflation and output in the Eurozone even though ECB’s monetary policy is found to be fairly stable. Using a two-country DSGE model, I examine this case theoretically; monetary policy in one of the countries (labelled foreign) switches regimes according to a Markov-switching process and this has nonnegligible e.ects in the other (home) country. Switching by the foreign central bank renders commitment to a time invariant interest rate rule suboptimal for the home central bank. This is because home agents expectations change as foreign monetary policy changes which a.ects the dynamics of home inflation and output. Optimal policy in the home country instead reacts to the regime of the foreign monetary policy and so implies a time-varying reaction of the home Central Bank. Following this time-varying optimal policy at home eliminates the e.ects in the home country of foreign regime shifts, and also reduces dramatically the e.ects in the foreign country. Therefore, changes in foreignmonetary regimes should not be neglected in considering monetary policy at home. Key words: Markov-switching DSGE ; Optimal monetary policy ; Dynamic programming ;SVAR ; real-time data. JEL Classification: E52 ; F41 ; F42.
Comparison on In Vitro Characterization of Fucospheres and Chitosan Microspheres Encapsulated Plasmid DNA (pGM-CSF): Formulation Design and Release Characteristics

Granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine used in the treatment of serious conditions resulting from chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation such as neutropenia and aplastic anemia. Despite these effects, GM-CSF has a very short biological half-life, and it requires frequent injection during the treatment. Therefore, the cytokine production is possible in the body with plasmid-encoded GM-CSF (pGM-CSF) coding for cytokine administered to the body. However, the selection of the proper delivery system for the plasmid is important. In this study, two different delivery systems, encapsulated plasmid such as fucoidan–chitosan (fucosphere) and chitosan microspheres, were prepared and the particle physicochemical properties evaluated. Fucospheres and chitosan microspheres size ranges are 151–401 and 376–681 nm. The zeta potential values of the microspheres were changed between 8.3–17.1 mV (fucosphere) and +21.9–28.9 mV (chitosan microspheres). The encapsulation capacity of fucospheres changed between 84.2% and 94.7% depending on the chitosan molecular weight used in the formulation. In vitro plasmid DNA release from both delivery systems exhibited slower profiles of approximately 90–140 days. Integrity of released samples was checked by agarose gel electrophoresis, and any additional band was not seen. All formulations were analyzed kinetically. The calculated regression coefficients showed a higher r2 value with zero-order kinetics. In conclusion, the characterizations of the microspheres can be modulated by changing the formulation variables, and it can be concluded that fucospheres might be a potential carrier system for the controlled delivery of GM-CSF encoding plasmid DNA.
How Channel Choice and Service Failure Influence Customer Satisfaction: The Case of Public Services

This study investigates the impact of a channel selection and switching on satisfaction with government services. Specifically, using an archival dataset of telephone surveys administered by U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) with more than 2,700 respondents, we measure the effect of channel selection (online, in)person, or telephone) and switching (from online to another) on satisfaction of individual applicants with retirement benefits. We hypothesize the impact of channel choice and switching on service satisfaction drawing upon the marketing literature on self)service technologies and service failures. We find that the successful use of the online self)service channel does not hurt customer satisfaction. Quite paradoxically, a channel switching from the online to the in)person or telephone channel due to a service failure may in fact improve customer satisfaction. We also find that the impact of channel choice and switching on satisfaction varies across users’ experience with PC and the Internet and educational attainment.
Epigenetic silencing of miR-520c leads to induced S100A4 expression and its mediated colorectal cancer progression

The S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) induces epithelial mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. Its induced expression in several cancer types correlates with poor prognosis. Apart from the functional and transcriptional regulatory aspects of S100A4, its post-transcriptional regulation is not yet clearly elucidated. In this study, we show that microRNAs (miR) miR-505-5p and miR-520c-3p target the 3′-UTR of S100A4 and inhibits its expression and its mediated migration and invasion. 5-Aza treatment significantly increased miR-520c-3p expression and reduced the S100A4 protein amounts. The upstream promoter region of miR-520c is hypermethylated irrespective of the metastasis status of colorectal cancer (CRC) patient tissues and in all analyzed CRC cell lines. Moreover, in a cohort of CRC patient specimen (n = 59), miR-520c-3p was significantly downregulated. miR-520c-3p stably expressing HCT116 cells showed a reduced metastasis formation in livers after implanting in mice spleen. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that S100A4 is post-transcriptionally regulated by tumor suppressor miRs, miR-505c-5p and miR-520c-3p, and particularly miR-520c-3p expression is epigenetically silenced in CRC.
The influence of epidural anesthesia on new-born hearing screening: A pilot study

Objective: The main aim was to establish if epidural anesthesia had an influence on new-born hearing screening results in newborns born via elective Cesarean section in healthy pregnancies. Specific objectives included determining screening results in a group of newborns born to mothers who had undergone epidural anesthesia during Cesarean section childbirth (experimental group); and comparing the findings with those of a group of newborns born to mothers who had undergone natural delivery without epidural anesthesia (comparison group); while establishing if the time of screening following delivery had any effect on the overall screening results. Materials and Methods: The above objectives were achieved through the use of a prospective quasi-experimental repeated measures design with a comparison group, where 40 newborns (20 in the experimental and 20 in the comparison group) were screened at three different times through transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) measures. All participants were screened while resting quietly in open bassinets in an empty new-born nursery. For both test measures, the results were recorded as either pass or refer. Data were analyzed through both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Findings indicated that hearing screening earlier than four hours after birth, for both the experimental and comparison groups yielded more false positive findings than testing conducted after 24 hours. An index of suspicion in relation to the influence of epidural anesthesia on Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR), when conducted less than four hours after birth, was raised, as statistically significant findings (P<0.05) were obtained. Conclusions: The findings have implications for timing of screening where universal newborn hearing screening is being implemented.