Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermoelectric Properties of PEDOT:PSS

Nowadays, organic thermoelectric (TE) materials have attracted considerable attention due to their unique merits, e.g., light‐weight, high mechanical flexibility, nontoxicity, easy availability, and intrinsically low thermal conductivity. Among the organic/polymer TE materials reported so far, poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenensulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is extensively investigated because it is water‐processable, thermally stable, and can be highly conductive. Over the past few years, the TE properties of the PEDOT‐based TE materials are continuously improved. With rational design, some PEDOT:PSS‐based materials have achieved high ZT values comparable to the conventional inorganic TE materials like bismuth telluride at room temperature. This paper reviews the recent breakthroughs for PEDOT:PSS‐based TE polymers and composites. The strategies for achieving high‐performance PEDOT:PSS‐based TE materials and the corresponding underlying mechanism are specifically discussed. The TE devices fabricated by the PEDOT:PSS‐based TE materials are also presented, in terms of their fabrication/assembly technique, device configuration and device performance. With all the exciting progress made in the PEDOT:PSS‐based TE materials, the further development and practical applications of the high‐efficient organic TE materials as flexible TE module devices and wearable electronics can be greatly anticipated.
Hepatoprotective Activity of Scutellariae Radix Extract in Mice Fed a High Fat Diet with Chronic Alcohol Exposure

Scutellariae radix (SR) is an herbal medicine used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. To investigate whether the SR water extract has a hepatoprotective effect in mice fed a high fat diet with chronic alcohol consumption, ICR mice were fed one of the following diets: a control diet (CD, 16% fat), a high fat diet (HFD, 40% fat), a high fat diet with either ethanol (HFDE, 25% v/v, ad libitum) alone or ethanol with SR extract (HFDESR, 100 mg/kg, p.o.) for 28 days, respectively. The combination of high fat diet with ethanol exposure induced hepatic damage that was manifested by a significant increase in the activities of functional enzymes, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum. Also, the liver and visceral fat weights were increased and the lipid profiles in serum and liver homogenate including triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol were significantly deteriorated. The SR supplements significantly reversed these altered parameters to near the values of the CD mice. Specifically, the expression of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzymeA (HMG‐CoA) reductase in liver homogenate was significantly lowered in the HFDESR group compared with that of either the HFD or HFDE groups, which revealed that the SR extract could afford protection in the alleviation of high fat and alcoholic liver damage. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conservative Treatment With Progestin and Pregnancy Outcomes in Endometrial Cancer

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of conservative treatment with progestin and pregnancy outcomes in women with early-stage endometrial cancer. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 35 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma, who were treated with progestin from January 1996 to December 2006. Women with early-stage grade 1 endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma, who wanted to receive conservative treatment or preserve fertility, were included. All women were treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate or megestrol acetate, with regular dilation and curettage performed. Complete remission (CR) was defined as no evidence of endometrial adenocarcinoma or hyperplasia. Partial remission was diagnosed when the patient developed endometrial hyperplasia, and persistent disease was defined as residual endometrial adenocarcinoma by pathologic confirmation. Results: The median age was 31 years (range, 21-43 years), and the median follow-up period was 39 months (range, 5-108 months). Complete remission was achieved in 22 patients (62.9%), partial remission was achieved in 1 patient (2.9%), and 12 patients (34.3%) had persistent disease. The median time to CR was 9 months (range, 2-12 months). Of the 22 patients with CR, 9 (40.9%) had recurrent disease, and the median time to recurrence was 12 months (range, 8-48 months). Ten (83.3%) of the 12 patients with CR who tried to conceive were successful, and 8 of the 10 pregnancies resulted in live births. There were no congenital anomalies in babies associated with progestin treatment. Conclusions: Conservative treatment with progestin can be considered a good therapeutic option in patients with well-differentiated early-stage endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma who wish to preserve their uteri or become pregnant.
SORL1 is genetically associated with increased risk for late‐onset Alzheimer disease in the Belgian population

SORL1 has recently been identified as a major genetic contributor to increased risk for late‐onset Alzheimer disease (AD). Here we aimed at replicating this finding in a large, well‐characterized group of 550 Belgian late‐onset AD patients and 637 healthy control individuals using a gene‐wide genotyping approach across the SORL1 locus. We observed significant associations, both for individual SNPs (SNPs 6, 8, 9, 10 and 27; p‐values ranging from 0.001 to 0.040) and 3‐SNP haplotypes (SNPs 5‐6‐7 and SNPs 25‐26‐27; p‐values ranging from 0.008 to 0.035). Moreover, the associations at SNP 8, 9 and 10 represented a direct replication of the initial association data. Two signals in distinct regions of the gene were shown to be mutually independent, supporting allelic heterogeneity at the SORL1 locus in the Belgian population. Our findings confirm that genetic variants in SORL1 may be important risk factors for late‐onset AD. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Defect characterization in 4% cadmium zinc telluride semiconductors

Supervisory Committee Dr. Rodney Herring, Department of Mechanical Engineering Supervisor Dr. Thomas Tiedje, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Co-Supervisor Dr. Jordan Roszmann, Department of Mechanical Engineering Departmental Member This thesis presents a characterization study of Cadmium Zinc Telluride with a 4% Zinc molar concentration using five different techniques. Three of the characterization methods – X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and wet chemical etching – were used to study the atomic arrangement of the lattice and the type of defects in the material. On the other hand, the other two methods – photoluminescence (PL) and the Hall Effect – provided information about the electronic properties of the material and identified the electronic signatures of the defects present. This thesis study applied these five methods to 29 samples with the [111] and [211] crystal orientations. XRD was used to calculate the Zn concentration and the atomic spacing of the samples. TEM allowed to map the crystal structure using Kikuchi diffraction and to calculate the variation of the local lattice constant. This showed that the sample was under strain. A CBED imaging condition producing HOLZ lines allowed for qualitatively imaging the strain field in the crystal and contrast phase imaging showed stacking faults and dislocations present in the lattice. Next, wet chemical etching using Nakagawa and Everson solutions – revealed several different types of etch pits were present on the material’s surface and provided a value for the etch pit density (EPD). PL at room temperature was used to calculate the Zn concentration and to produce contour maps of the samples showing the variation in Zn. Low temperature PL was used to conduct intensity and thermal studies of the material providing information about the type of emission (donor-acceptor pair, free exciton or excitonic) and the activating energies. This information was used to assign the peaks seen in the PL spectrum at 8K. Lastly, the Hall Effect experiment was used to calculate the resistivity and the mobility of carriers, i.e., electrons and holes, of the samples. The last stage of the project was to seek correlations between the data obtained during the five characterization techniques. Correlations were noted between the XRD FWHM broadening and the EPD, the disturbances in the atomic lattice and the defect band broadening and a summary of all the values calculated during the project was provided. Overall this project provided a very thorough study of 4% CZT.
Extracorporeal liver support with multipass albumin dialysis or plasmapheresis and filtering systems in acute liver failure

Acute liver failure is a very complex type of disease with a mortality of up to 90%, leading to numerous severe disturbances of the whole organism. Bleeding because of absent synthesis of various coagulation factors and disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute kidney failure, circulatory failure with vasopressor dependence, respiratory failure with adult respiratory distress syndrome, neurological failure up to coma because of hepatic encephalopathy, and a very high risk of infection and sepsis frequently result from the initial state of isolated liver failure. High urgency liver transplantation is a highly efficient therapy if performed in time. However, increasing the rate of spontaneous recovery of the patients' own liver, and reducing the need for liver transplantation is preferable and would further improve the outcome of acute liver failure. Extracorporeal liver support by multipass albumin dialysis or plasmapheresis and filtering systems may offer a possibility to fulfill these aims of therapy. A prospective study in 88 patients with acute liver failure has shown a nonsignificant trend in improvement of survival after acute liver failure by multipass albumin dialysis and filtering. Other retrospective studies have shown benefits in improving hepatic encephalopathy and brain oedema. Further, an increase in the rate of spontaneous recovery of liver function has been described. With regional citrate anticoagulation for multipass albumin dialysis and filtering, the need for systemic anticoagulation – a potentially very harmful measure in these patients – can be eliminated and the rate of filter clotting can extremely effectively be reduced.
Cross-Reactivity of Fusarium spp. in the Aspergillus Galactomannan Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

ABSTRACT Nine of 11 hematological patients with disseminated/deep-seated Fusarium infection tested at least twice for Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) had repeated positive results in the absence of Aspergillus isolation in culture. The centrifuged supernatants of 12 Fusarium isolates were tested by a GM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA). All the isolates produced positive reactions when tested undiluted. These results show cross-reactivity of Fusarium spp. with Aspergillus GM that may constitute a drawback with respect to the specificity of the Platelia EIA.
Favorable impact of Nigella sativa seeds on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients

Background and Aim: The atherogenic pattern of dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has been increasingly discussed. We have recently reported a hypoglycemic effect of Nigella sativa (NS) seeds in patients with type 2 DM. In this study we sought to assess the impact of NS seeds on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients. Patients and Method: A total of 94 patients with type 2 DM were recruited and divided into 3 dose groups. Capsules containing NS were administered orally in a dose of 1, 2, and 3 g/day for 12 weeks. All patients were subjected to measurement of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) before treatment and 4, 8, and 12 weeks thereafter. Results: Patients receiving 1 g/day NS seeds for 12 weeks (group 1) showed nonsignificant changes in all the parameters except for a significant increase in HDL-c after 4 weeks of treatment. However, patients ingested 2 g/day NS displayed a significant decline in TC, TG, and LDL-c, and a significant elevation in HDL-c/LDL-c, compared with their baseline data and to group 1 patients. Increasing NS dose to 3 g/day failed to show any increase in the hypolipdemic effect produced by the 2 g/day dose. Conclusion: NS supplementation at a dose of 2 g/day for 12 weeks may improve the dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetic patients. Therefore, NS is a potential protective natural agent against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications in these patients.
Global Bidirectional Transcription of the Epstein-Barr Virus Genome during Reactivation

ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation involves the ordered induction of approximately 90 viral genes that participate in the generation of infectious virions. Using strand-specific RNA-seq to assess the EBV transcriptome during reactivation, we found extensive bidirectional transcription extending across nearly the entire genome. In contrast, only 4% of the EBV genome is currently bidirectionally annotated. Most of the newly identified transcribed regions show little evidence of coding potential, supporting noncoding roles for most of these RNAs. Based on previous cellular long noncoding RNA size calculations, we estimate that there are likely hundreds more EBV genes expressed during reactivation than was previously known. Limited 5′ and 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) experiments and findings of novel splicing events by RNA-seq suggest that the complexity of the viral genome during reactivation may be even greater. Further analysis of antisense transcripts at some of the EBV latency gene loci showed that they are “late” genes, they are nuclear, and they tend to localize in areas of the nucleus where others find newly synthesized viral genomes. This raises the possibility that these transcripts perform functions such as new genome processing, stabilization, organization, etc. The finding of a significantly more complex EBV transcriptome during reactivation changes our view of the viral production process from one that is facilitated and regulated almost entirely by previously identified viral proteins to a process that also involves the contribution of a wide array of virus encoded noncoding RNAs. IMPORTANCE Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a herpesvirus that infects the majority of the world's population, in rare cases causing serious disease such as lymphoma and gastric carcinoma. Using strand-specific RNA-seq, we have studied viral gene expression during EBV reactivation and have discovered hundreds more viral transcripts than were previously known. The finding of alternative splicing and the prevalence of overlapping transcripts indicate additional complexity. Most newly identified transcribed regions do not encode proteins but instead likely function as noncoding RNA molecules which could participate in regulating gene expression, gene splicing or even activities such as viral genome processing. These findings broaden the scope of what we need to consider to understand the viral manufacturing process. As more detailed studies are undertaken they will likely change the way we view this process as a whole.
All in the timing : Priming , repetition suppression , and synchrony

Gotts, Chow and Martin provide a very nice review of repetition priming and suppression that reaches a compelling conclusion—we need to look more closely at synchronization in learning and priming. Indeed, current modeling work focuses on this issue—namely, the dynamic causal modeling of electrophysiological responses to address the role of synchrony in Bayesian explaining away. This commentary revisits the nature and relationships among the four theories in Gotts et al. and nuances some of their empirical predictions. In particular, I emphasize precision or uncertainty in predictive coding as a unifying consideration. I think that we are closer to understanding the computational anatomy of repetition and priming than might be thought. This optimism rests upon casting the theories reviewed in Gotts et al. as complementary perspectives on the same problem: Facilitation and sharpening are phenomena that are fully consistent with Bayesian explaining away, which is mediated by synchronization. In other words, explaining away is a theory about what the brain is doing and synchronization is a proposal about how the brain does it. In one sense, the Bayesian brain hypothesis is almost certainly correct—in the sense that our capacity for near-optimal perceptual inference means that we must be performing some form of approximate Bayesian (probabilistic) inference. The real question is how this approximate inference is implemented neuronally. At present, the most popular implementation is predictive coding that involves reciprocal message-passing between hierarchically deployed cortical areas (Mumford, 1992; Rao & Ballard, 1999). There is a vast amount of neurobiological evidence in support of this scheme, which can be derived—in a fairly straightforward way— from (approximate) Bayesian optimality principles (Friston, 2008). So, can predictive coding explain the phenomena of facilitation and sharpening; and does it admit a role for synchrony?
Rhinovirus species and clinical characteristics in the first wheezing episode in children

The clinical data on the first wheezing episodes induced by different rhinovirus (RV) species are still limited. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of RV genotypes, sensitization status, and clinical characteristics of patients having a respiratory infection caused by either different RV species or other respiratory viruses. The study enrolled 111 patients (aged 3–23 months, 79% hospitalized, 76% with RV infection) with the first wheezing episode. RV‐specific sequences were identified by partial sequencing of VP4/VP2 and 5′ non‐coding regions with 80% success rate. The investigated clinical and laboratory variables included atopic characteristics and illness severity, parental atopic illnesses, and parental smoking. Of the study children, 56% percent had >1 atopic characteristic (atopy, eczema and/or blood eosinophil count >0.4 × 109/L) and 23% were sensitised to allergens. RV‐C was detected in 58% of RV positive samples, followed by RV‐A (20%) and RV‐B (1.2%). Children with RV‐A and RV‐C induced wheezing were older (P = 0.014) and had more atopic characteristics (P = 0.001) than those with non‐RV. RV‐A and RV‐C illnesses had shorter duration of preadmission symptoms and required more bronchodilator use at the ward than non‐RV illnesses (both P < 0.05, respectively). RV‐C is the most common cause of severe early wheezing. Atopic and illness severity features are associated with children having RV‐A or RV‐C induced first wheezing episode rather than with children having a non‐RV induced wheezing. J. Med. Virol. 88:2059–2068, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Resistance of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa to nonopsonic phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages in vitro

A unique, recently described rat alveolar macrophage cell line (NR8383) was used to study the interaction of the pulmonary immune system with a mucoid cystic fibrosis isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (SRM-3), its nonmucoid revertant (SRM-3R), and a non-cystic fibrosis isolate (PAO-1). Strain SRM-3 was cultivated in a chemostat system to allow maintenance of an entirely mucoid population. The alveolar macrophage response to the mucoid and nonmucoid strains of P. aeruginosa was determined by visually quantitating phagocytosis in acridine orange-stained monolayers and measuring the induction of an oxidative burst as indicated by chemiluminescence and H2O2 production. In all experiments, fewer than 2% of the NR8383 cells engulfed the mucoid SRM-3 isolate, while SRM-3R and PAO-1 were phagocytized by 15 and 41%, respectively. Opsonization by normal serum (complement) provided minimal phagocytic enhancement of these strains, whereas specific anti-P. aeruginosa antibody slightly elevated phagocytic responses to strains with nonmucoid phenotypes while providing a sevenfold increase in uptake of SRM-3. Chemiluminescent and H2O2 responses were comparable with the levels of phagocytosis observed, with very little or no response to the mucoid strain SRM-3. The data indicate that the strains with mucoid phenotypes are refractile to ingestion and that studies which describe ingestion of mucoid strains were likely measuring ingestion of revertants. Alginic acid (2 mg/ml) was found to inhibit stimulation of macrophage response to the opsonized and unopsonized nonmucoid strain PAO-1.
Improved management of childhood atopic dermatitis after individually tailored nurse consultations: A pilot study

For optimal therapy of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children, parent education for treatment strategies that consider the episodic course and multiple triggers is essential. Regular consultations with doctors often cannot appropriately provide this. Therefore, supplemental patient education tools have been established. We evaluate single nurse consultations, assessing their global benefit, parents' self‐confidence, and children's symptoms and sleep disturbance.
The validity and reliability of the GAITRite system's measurements: A preliminary evaluation.

OBJECTIVE To compare the concurrent validity and reliability of the GAITRite computerized gait analysis system with validated paper-and-pencil and video-based methods. DESIGN Within-groups, repeated-measures design. SETTING Research laboratory in a physical therapy education program. PARTICIPANT One healthy woman, age 27 years. INTERVENTIONS A subject walked across the walkway of the GAITRite system at various walking rates and degrees of step symmetry for 2 of the 3 analyses. Paper placed over the walkway enabled concurrent paper-and-pencil analysis. The subject was concurrently videotaped from the side. For the other analysis, a stride simulator with known step and stride lengths was applied to the walkway to simulate 2 steps and 1 stride. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cadence, walking speed, right and left step and stride lengths, and right and left step times. RESULTS Excellent paper-and-pencil and GAITRite correlations (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] > 95) for spatial measures and excellent video-based and GAITRite correlations (ICC > 93) for temporal measures were found. GAITRite measures of step lengths and times were reliable in both walkway center and left-of-center measurements. CONCLUSIONS Based on this data, GAITRite is a valid and reliable tool for measuring selected spatial and temporal parameters of gait.
Global gray and white matter metabolic changes after simian immunodeficiency virus infection in CD8‐depleted rhesus macaques: proton MRS imaging at 3 T

To test the hypotheses that global decreased neuro‐axonal integrity reflected by decreased N‐acetylaspartate (NAA) and increased glial activation reflected by an elevation in its marker, the myo‐inositol (mI), present in a CD8‐depleted rhesus macaque model of HIV‐associated neurocognitive disorders. To this end, we performed quantitative MRI and 16 × 16 × 4 multivoxel proton MRS imaging (TE/TR = 33/1400 ms) in five macaques pre‐ and 4–6 weeks post‐simian immunodeficiency virus infection. Absolute NAA, creatine, choline (Cho), and mI concentrations, gray and white matter (GM and WM) and cerebrospinal fluid fractions were obtained. Global GM and WM concentrations were estimated from 224 voxels (at 0.125 cm3 spatial resolution over ~35% of the brain) using linear regression. Pre‐ to post‐infection global WM NAA declined 8%: 6.6 ± 0.4 to 6.0 ± 0.5 mM (p = 0.05); GM Cho declined 20%: 1.3 ± 0.2 to 1.0 ± 0.1 mM (p < 0.003); global mI increased 11%: 5.7 ± 0.4 to 6.5 ± 0.5 mM (p < 0.03). Global GM and WM brain volume fraction changes were statistically insignificant. These metabolic changes are consistent with global WM (axonal) injury and glial activation, and suggest a possible GM host immune response. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.