Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation of organotypic brain slice cultures for the study of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by amyloid-beta deposits in extracellular plaques, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of aggregated tau, synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death. Transgenic rodent models to study Alzheimer’s mimic features of human disease such as age-dependent accumulation of abnormal beta-amyloid and tau, synaptic dysfunction, cognitive deficits and neurodegeneration. These models have proven vital for improving our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AD and for identifying promising therapeutic approaches. However, modelling neurodegenerative disease in animals commonly involves aging animals until they develop harmful phenotypes, often coupled with invasive procedures. We have developed a novel organotypic brain slice culture model to study Alzheimer’s disease using 3xTg-AD mice which brings the potential of substantially reducing the number of rodents used in dementia research from an estimated 20,000 per year. Using a McIllwain tissue chopper, we obtain 36 x 350 micron slices from each P8-P9 mouse pup for culture between 2 weeks and 6 months on semi-permeable 0.4 micron pore membranes, considerably reducing the numbers of animals required to investigate multiple stages of disease. This tractable model also allows the opportunity to modulate multiple pathways in tissues from a single animal. We believe that this model will most benefit dementia researchers in the academic and drug discovery sectors. We validated the slice culture model against aged mice, showing that the molecular phenotype closely mimics that displayed in vivo, albeit in an accelerated timescale. We showed beneficial outcomes following treatment of slices with agents previously shown to have therapeutic effects in vivo, and we also identified new mechanisms of action of other compounds. Thus, organotypic brain slice cultures from transgenic mouse models expressing Alzheimer’s disease-related genes may provide a valid and sensitive replacement for in vivo studies that do not involve behavioural analysis.
Con: Steroids Should Not Be Withdrawn in Transplant Recipients With Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs) can recur following liver transplantation (LT) despite immunosuppressive therapy, with implications for graft survival. Although the evidence is not robust, disease recurrence seems to occur in the presence of less intense and/or steroid‐free immunosuppression (IS) in particular in the case of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The main risk factor for AIH recurrence is the severity of disease activity in the explant and potential donor/recipient human leukocyte antigen D‐related 3 (DR3) mismatch. The treatment for AIH recurrence includes reintroduction or increase in the dose of steroids with or without the addition of azathioprine. T cell–mediated rejection episodes are also more common in AILD. Steroid withdrawal is the common practice in LT for non‐AILD, eliminating the risks associated with longterm exposure to steroids. In AILD, maintenance of steroids at a low dose in the long term may reduce the risk of disease recurrence and rejection. This strategy is safe when there is vigilance for steroid‐related adverse effects. Alternatively, identifying patients who are at the greatest risk for disease recurrence and who would benefit from intensified IS might be an option.
Infectious bronchitis virus gel vaccination: evaluation of Mass-like (B-48) and 793/B-like (1/96) vaccine kinetics after combined administration at 1 day of age

Infectious bronchitis (IB) control has a strong impact on poultry farming, because of the necessary epidemiological knowledge for planning the best strategy, the optimal strain association, the priming and boosting interventions. Broiler farming is even more problematic given the short and intense productive cycle, which requires an early onset of protection against most of the infectious threats, possibly with limited respiratory post-vaccination reactions that would have a direct impact on the bird health and productivity. For this purpose, gel vaccination has been proposed as a new approach for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) control and vaccine intake, kinetics and compatibility of combined strains administered by gel have been analyzed in this study. After gel vaccination with single and combined 1/96 and B-48 strains on 4 groups of commercial broilers, a 21-d-long experimental trial has been conducted to monitor the vaccine safety by clinical assessment and vaccine kinetics by strain-specific real-time RT-PCR on choanal cleft swabs. The vaccine strains administered by gel were safe and negligible respiratory signs were detected, even when combined. Vaccine titers were compared among groups and within the same group among a 10-bird pooled sample and 10 swabs from individually sampled birds. 1/96 strain early reached high titers in all animals, while B-48 presence was less constant even though it was detected in almost all birds before the trial end. The individual and pooled sample comparison revealed a partial overestimation of vaccine titers in the pooled samples and the loss of the prevalence data, although the trend portrayed by the pooled swabs closely followed the individual ones.
A Critical Review of the Use of Virtual Reality in Construction Engineering Education and Training

Virtual Reality (VR) has been rapidly recognized and implemented in construction engineering education and training (CEET) in recent years due to its benefits of providing an engaging and immersive environment. The objective of this review is to critically collect and analyze the VR applications in CEET, aiming at all VR-related journal papers published from 1997 to 2017. The review follows a three-stage analysis on VR technologies, applications and future directions through a systematic analysis. It is found that the VR technologies adopted for CEET evolve over time, from desktop-based VR, immersive VR, 3D game-based VR, to Building Information Modelling (BIM)-enabled VR. A sibling technology, Augmented Reality (AR), for CEET adoptions has also emerged in recent years. These technologies have been applied in architecture and design visualization, construction health and safety training, equipment and operational task training, as well as structural analysis. Future research directions, including the integration of VR with emerging education paradigms and visualization technologies, have also been provided. The findings are useful for both researchers and educators to usefully integrate VR in their education and training programs to improve the training performance.
EZ-Root-VIS: A Software Pipeline for the Rapid Analysis and Visual Reconstruction of Root System Architecture1[CC-BY]

EZ-Root-VIS is a free software package that enables the rapid quantification and visual reconstruction of averaged root system architectures for investigating environment-genotype interactions. If we want to understand how the environment has shaped the appearance and behavior of living creatures, we need to compare groups of individuals that differ in genetic makeup and environment experience. For complex phenotypic features, such as body posture or facial expression in humans, comparison is not straightforward because some of the contributing factors cannot easily be quantified or averaged across individuals. Therefore, computational methods are used to reconstruct representative prototypes using a range of algorithms for filling in missing information and calculating means. The same problem applies to the root system architecture (RSA) of plants. Several computer programs are available for extracting numerical data from root images, but they usually do not offer customized data analysis or visual reconstruction of RSA. We developed Root-VIS, a free software tool that facilitates the determination of means and variance of many different RSA features across user-selected sets of root images. Furthermore, Root-VIS offers several options to generate visual reconstructions of root systems from the averaged data to enable screening and modeling. We confirmed the suitability of Root-VIS, combined with a new version of EZ-Rhizo, for the rapid characterization of genotype-environment interactions and gene discovery through genome-wide association studies in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).
INFLUENCE OF SOME PROCESS AND FORMULATION VARIABLES ON THE FORMATION OF POLYMERIC MICROSPHERES OF ITRACONAZOLE

Itrakonazol, hidrofobik antifungal etkili bir etkin maddedir. Itrakonazol geleneksel tedavide, oral formulasyonlari seklinde 200 mg/gun dozda, ciddi enfeksiyonlarda ise 400 mg/gun dozda kullanilmaktadir ki bu doz potansiyel toksisiteye yol acabilir. Sik dozlamayi, boylelikle toksisiteyi dusurebilecek daha etkili ilac tasiyici sistemlere ihtiyac vardir. Bu amacla itrakonazolun modifiye salim yapan mikrokureleri oral yoldan uygulanmak uzere hazirlanmistir. Itrakonazol su icinde yag icinde su (s/y/s) coklu emulsiyon teknigi ile etil seluloz mikrokureleri icine enkapsule edilmistir. Polimer ve itrakonazolun birincil cozucusu olarak diklorometan kullanilmistir. Tween 80 dis su fazini, Span 80 ise yag fazini stabilize etmek uzere yuzey etkin madde olarak kullanilmistir. Partikul buyuklugu uzerine karistirma hizi ve uretim metodu gibi bazi islem parametrelerinin etkisi arastirilmistir. Hazirlanan mikrokureler, mikroskop analizi, islem etkinligi, partikul buyuklugu analizi, etkin madde yukleme orani ve mikrokurelerden etkin madde cikisi ile degerlendirilmislerdir. Mikroskop analizi sonuclari mikrokurelerin duzgun bir yuzeye ve kuresel bir yapiya sahip olduklarini gostermektedir. Mikrokurelerin buyuklugu 45-230 µm arasinda degismekte ve islem parametrelerine gore en yuksek % 75.00 oraninda etkin madde yukleme kapasitesine erisilebilmektedir. Cozunme hizi calismalari 8 saat sureyle pH 7.4 fosfat tamponu (PBS) icinde yapilmis ve mikrokurelerden toplam etkin madde cikisinin 900 rpm karistirma hizi ve s/y/s coklu emulsiyon teknigi ile uretilen (F33 ve F43) mikrokurelerde % 61.70-68.43 arasinda iken daha dusuk karistirma hizinda (700 rpm) ve y/s teknigi ile uretilen mikrokurelerde % 46.37 oraninda oldugu tespit edilmistir
GDNF-Induced Downregulation of miR-145-5p Enhances Human Oocyte Maturation and Cumulus Cell Viability

Context Although glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to regulate mammalian oocyte maturation, little is known about their effects on human oocyte maturation and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Objectives To examine the effects of GDNF on both nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation in cultured immature human oocytes and to investigate the involvement of miRNAs in GDNF-induced oocyte maturation. Design A total of 200 human immature oocytes were used to evaluate the effects of GDNF on oocyte maturation. The involvement of miRNAs in GDNF-induced oocyte maturation was identified by comparing the miRNA expression profiles of cumulus cells (CCs) either with or without GDNF stimulation. Setting An in vitro fertilization center at the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Methods Agilent human miRNA (8*60K) arrays were used to examine the miRNA expression patterns of human CCs either with or without GDNF stimulation. miR-145-5p inhibitor and mimic transfections were performed to study downstream gene expression in human CCs. Results During the in vitro maturation process, GDNF significantly increased the percentage of metaphase II-stage oocytes and downregulated the expression of miR-145-5p in cultured human CCs. Expression of miR-145-5p in CCs is negatively correlated with oocyte maturation. miR-145-5p mimic significantly decreased the expression of GDNF family receptor-α1, ret proto-oncogene, and epidermal growth factor receptor, whereas miR-145-5p inhibitor reversed these effects. GDNF treatment inhibited cell apoptosis in cultured CCs, and this suppressive effect was reversed by transfection with the miR-145-5p mimic. Conclusion Downregulation of miR-145-5p may contribute to GDNF-induced enhancement of oocyte maturation and of cell viability against cell apoptosis.
Sex-Related Responses to Eccentric-Only Resistance Training in Knee-Extensors Muscle Strength and Architecture

ABSTRACT Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate whether or not eccentric-only training induced different sex-related adaptations in vastus lateralis muscle architecture and knee extensors strength. Methods: Thirteen healthy women and 13 healthy men were recruited. Vastus lateralis pennation angle, fascicle length, and muscle thickness, as well as knee extensors eccentric, isometric, and concentric peak torque and one-repetition maximum (1RM) were measured. Both women and men underwent a unilateral iso-load knee-extension eccentric-only training with 120% of the concentric 1RM, consisting of 4 sets × 10 repetitions twice a week for a total of 8 weeks. Results: Pennation angle increased in women (+ 14%, 95% CI [10, 17], effect size [ES] = 1.54) but not in men (+ 5%, 95% CI [−1, 11], ES = 0.28), while fascicle length increased in both women (+ 7%, 95% CI [4, 10], ES = 1.02) and men (+ 12%, 95% CI [8, 16], ES = 1.82) and muscle thickness increased in women (+ 13%, 95% CI [8, 18], ES = 1.11) and men (+ 11%, 95% CI [7, 15], ES = 0.89). In both women and men, eccentric (18%, 95% CI [11, 25], ES = 0.96, and 16%, 95% CI [9, 22], ES = 0.82, respectively), isometric (17%, 95% CI [11, 23], ES = 0.53, and 17%, 95% CI [10, 24], ES = 0.62), concentric (12%, 95% CI [7, 16], ES = 0.49, and 9%, 95% CI [5, 13], ES = 0.42) peak torque and 1RM (10%, 95% CI [6, 14], ES = 0.53, and 10%, 95% CI [5, 15], ES = 0.50) similarly increased after the intervention. Conclusions: This study showed that the adaptations in strength are not sex-dependent, but the increases in pennation angle only in women suggest that the changes in muscle architecture may depend on sex.
Skaterbots

We present a computation-driven approach to design optimization and motion synthesis for robotic creatures that locomote using arbitrary arrangements of legs and wheels. Through an intuitive interface, designers first create unique robots by combining different types of servomotors, 3D printable connectors, wheels and feet in a mix-and-match manner. With the resulting robot as input, a novel trajectory optimization formulation generates walking, rolling, gliding and skating motions. These motions emerge naturally based on the components used to design each individual robot. We exploit the particular structure of our formulation and make targeted simplifications to significantly accelerate the underlying numerical solver without compromising quality. This allows designers to interactively choreograph stable, physically-valid motions that are agile and compelling. We furthermore develop a suite of user-guided, semi-automatic, and fully-automatic optimization tools that enable motion-aware edits of the robot's physical structure. We demonstrate the efficacy of our design methodology by creating a diverse array of hybrid legged/wheeled mobile robots which we validate using physics simulation and through fabricated prototypes.
Assessment of Corneal Keratometric and Astigmatism Measurements Using Verion System and Other Instruments in Cataract Patient

ABSTRACT Purpose: To compare keratometry and corneal astigmatism measurements obtained by the Verion Image Guided System to those obtained by automated keratometry (IOLMaster), manual keratometry (YZ38, Suzhou 66 visual Polytron Technologies Inc., China), and Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam HR) in eyes with cataract. Methods: A total of 149 cataractous eyes of 149 patients were examined and categorized as low astigmatism (<1.0 D, N = 50), moderate astigmatism (1.0–2.0 D, N = 49), and high astigmatism (>2.0 D, N = 50). The flattest and the steepest keratometric values (Kf and Ks), the magnitude of astigmatism (Ast), the orientation of the steepest meridian (Axis), and power vectors J0 and J45 were compared. Results: Keratometry readings (Kf, Ks, and Km) obtained by the Verion system showed statistically significant differences as compared to the other three devices. The magnitude of astigmatism (Ast) measured by the Verion (1.50 ± 0.85 D) was similar to that measured by the YZ38 (1.45 ± 0.82 D, P = 0.110) and slightly lower than that by the IOLMaster (1.56 ± 0.87 D, P = 0.014), but much higher than that by the Pentacam (1.36 ± 0.81 D, P = 0.000) significantly. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the J0 and J45 vectors in the whole sample, besides moderate and high astigmatism subgroups. A difference in astigmatism magnitude of 0.50 D or more was detected between the Verion system and other three devices most commonly in moderate astigmatism eyes (16.3–24.5%). The difference in the location of the steep meridian was greater than 10 degrees most frequently in the low astigmatism eyes (26.0–52.0%). Conclusions: Keratometric and astigmatic results obtained with Verion were not completely interchangeable with those obtained with IOLMaster, manual keratometry, and Pentacam. The individual differences in power and orientation of the corneal cylinder should be considered while selecting the appropriate toric intraocular lens.
Influence of material and surface treatment on composite repair shear bond strength

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the composite material and surface treatment to the bond strength when repairing an aged composite surface with new composite. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixty resin blocks of methacrylate composite and silorane composite prepared and aged in artificial saliva for 6 months. Specimens treated either with a diamond bur (DB) or air abrasion (AA), conditioned with orthophosphoric acid (OA) or sodium hypochloride (SH) and repaired with methacrylate or silorane composite using the corresponding adhesive system. Repaired composites underwent thermocycling fatigue (×5000), and bond strength was measured at shear. Results: Methacrylate achieved the highest bond strengths as repair material, in all combinations (26.54-55.56 MPa). Silorane only reached 8.12 MPa when repairing silorane treated with DB and OA. For all other treatment combinations repairing with silorane led to pretest failures. The most susceptible to repair composites/surface treatment combination is when repairing methacrylate treated with AA and SH and methacrylate composite (55.56 MPa). Conclusions: Silorane composites are not suitable to be used when repairing an old composite restoration. The repair material is the most critical factor, while aged surface treatment has only a minor influence to the shear bond strength.
Retrospective Epidemiological Study of Burn Injuries in 1717 Pediatric Patients: 10 Years Analysis of Hospital Data in Iran

Background: Burn injuries are considered an important preventable cause of injuries in children, and it still produces significant death in Iran. This study investigated the causes and severity of burns in patients. Methods: This study was retrospective descriptive study of children-burn injury in a referral Burn Care Center in Tehran, Iran during a ten-year period since 2005 to 2014. Data collection have been facilitated by using a specially designed checklist. The subjects included 1717 consecutive patients with various causes of burn injury. Data were analyzed applying descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Chi-square. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: The patients’ mean age was 4.11 ± 3.42 yr. The mean hospitalization period was 11.15 ± 8.37 d. The grade of burn was 2 in 1292 (75.2%) patients. Among the children-burn patients, 59.9% suffered from <20% of total body surface area burn. Most affected part of the body was trunk 762 (44.4%). Overall, 1256 patients (73.2%) suffered from hot liquid burns. Burns mortality rate for this study was identified 8.1% (N=3). Conclusion: The majority of the patients were male with a male to female ratio of 1.7:1. Most patients were in the 2–4 yr age group, with most of the injuries occurring in boys under the age of 5 yr old. It is the child’s natural curiosity and inability to understand that special things are dangerous to them, which leads to burning injury. Most affected part of the body was trunk and 1256 patients (73.2%) suffered from hot liquid burns.
Evaluation of dental explorer and visual inspection for the detection of residual caries among Greek dentists

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the operator's degree of clinical experience on the residual caries diagnosis through visual inspection and tactile sensation. Materials and Methods: The participants were asked about the years of their clinical practice, any further training concerning cariology, their familiarity with the minimal invasive philosophy, and the techniques that they use to remove dental caries and detect when to stop the removal of carious tissues. In addition, an in vitro diagnostic test was conducted. Carious teeth were excavated to a level selected in random. Teeth were examined by each participant individually. Initial examination was performed by visual inspection. Subsequently, a dental explorer was used concerning the potential need for further removal of dental tissues. A sample of 380 dentists and dental school students were selected for the purposes of this study. Results: Dental students presented statistically significant better sensitivity, than dentists from both age groups, during both visual inspection and tactile sensation of residual caries. Participants' ability to diagnose residual caries during cavity preparation was independent of their years of experience. Conclusions: During the removal of carious lesions, with the goal of limiting the sacrifice of healthy structures and the leftover of residual caries, clinicians should combine a selective removal technique and the attentive visual inspection, with at least one further diagnostic method, aside from the dental explorer. Tactile examination of residual caries solely with the dental explorer must be used with attention.
Factors affecting empathetic patient care behaviour among medical doctors and nurses: an integrative literature review.

Background Healthcare professionals' empathic behaviour is an important component of quality health care. Patients' reports suggest that empathy is often lacking. Specific factors that may facilitate or inhibit empathetic behaviour have not been extensively examined. In Qatar, empathy may be affected by a completely multicultural, multilinguistic setting where healthcare professionals and patients interact. Aim The purpose of this integrative literature review is to provide the latest evidence on factors that influence the demonstration of empathetic behaviour of nurses and physicians toward patients and to draw general conclusions that increase understanding. Methods A literature search was conducted in CINAHL, Medline (Ovid), PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Education Research Complete, ERIC, Health Source: Nursing/ Academic databases, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies. A total of 18 quantitative and qualitative studies that satisfied the inclusion criteria were selected to be included in the review. Results Three high order factors are described: organizational, personal and interpersonal, and demographic factors. Seven subfactors included: burnout, increased workload, lack of organizational support, training workshops, patient behaviour, inappropriate role modelling, and informal, experiential learning. Conclusion The organizational culture is strongly implicated in inhibiting empathy. Healthcare providers' empathetic responses to patients are linked and connected to a well-resourced, collegial, professional organizational environment that builds empathy towards everyone (not only patients).