Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural superlubricity of platinum on graphite under ambient conditions: The effects of chemistry and geometry

An investigation of the frictional behavior of platinum nanoparticles laterally manipulated on graphite has been conducted to answer the question of whether the recent observation of structural superlubricity under ambient conditions [E. Cihan, S. Ipek, E. Durgun, and M. Z. Baykara, Nat. Commun. 7, 12055 (2016)] is exclusively limited to the gold−graphite interface. Platinum nanoparticles have been prepared by e-beam evaporation of a thin film of platinum on graphite, followed by post-deposition annealing. Morphological and structural characterization of the nanoparticles has been performed via scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, revealing a crystalline structure with no evidence of oxidation under ambient conditions. Lateral manipulation experiments have been performed via atomic force microscopy under ambient conditions, whereby results indicate the occurrence of structural superlubricity at mesoscopic interfaces of 4000–75 000 nm2, with a noticeably higher magnitude of fr.
Hemostatic powder application for control of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with gastric malignancy

Abstract Background and study aims Despite use of various endoscopic therapies in patients with tumor-related bleeding, various rates of successful immediate hemostasis and short-term rebleeding have been reported. We aimed to evaluate preliminary results of use of the EndoClot polysaccharide hemostatic system (PHS) in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) from a gastric malignancy. Patients and methods We retrospectively analyzed data from a prospectively collected database of 12 patients with acute UGIB from a gastric malignancy who had been treated with EndoClot PHS. The EndoClot air compressor was used to propel 2 g of absorbable modified polymer particles onto the bleeding site. We checked successful immediate hemostasis, rebleeding events and mortality within 30 days. Results Twelve patients were enrolled in the study. The median patient age was 72.5 years (range, 57 – 89). The initial median hemoglobin level was 6.75 g/dL (range, 5.4 – 8.9). The median systolic blood pressure was 114 mmHg (range, 86 – 153). Eleven patients had advanced gastric cancer and one patient had a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The lower body of the stomach was the most common tumor location (58.3 %), and the median tumor size was 40 mm (range, 15 – 100). Immediate hemostasis was achieved in all patients, and rebleeding developed in 2 of 12 patients (16 %), 3 and 5 days after treatment. There were no significant Endoclot PHS-related adverse events, and there was no all-cause mortality at 30 days after the intervention. Conclusions Endoclot PHS represents a new alternative, complementary, and promising therapy for patients with an acute UGIB from a gastric malignancy.
Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptor Agonists Enhance AChR Clustering in C2C12 Myotubes: Implications for Therapy of Myasthenic Disorders

Background: Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a group of inherited neuromuscular transmission disorders causing fatiguable muscle weakness. ADRB2 agonists have been observed to provide therapeutic benefit where destabilisation of NMJ structures is part of the underlying pathology, such as in DOK7, COLQ and MuSK CMS as well as in slow channel syndrome. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ADRB2 agonists in CMS. Objective: In vitro investigation into whether an ADRB2 agonist affects the AChR clustering pathway and has the potential to increase the number and stability of AChR clusters. Methods: Cultured C2C12 mouse myotubes overexpressing the common DOK7 frameshift mutation c. 1124_1127dupTGCC were incubated with salbutamol sulphate and the effect on AChR cluster numbers were investigated. Moreover, agrin-induced AChR clusters in C2C12 WT cells were left to disperse after agrin-wash-off, and the effects of incubation with salbutamol sulphate on AChR cluster numbers were explored. Results: Salbutamol sulphate induced a significant increase in the number of AChR clusters formed on C2C12 cells overexpressing c. 1124_1127dupTGCC. Furthermore, significantly more clusters remained in C2C12 WT myotubes incubated with salbutamol sulphate following agrin wash-off. Conclusions: The results suggest that ADRB2 agonists directly affect proteins located at the neuromuscular junction and exert a stabilising effect on AChR clusters.
Risk factors for recurrence of common bile duct stones after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy

Objective Late complications after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EST) include stone recurrence, but no definite risk factors for recurrence have been established. This study was performed to identify the predictors of recurrence and evaluate the clinical outcomes of EST for common bile duct stones. Methods In total, 345 eligible patients who successfully underwent EST were evaluated and followed up. Statistical analysis was performed on patients with recurrence or who had undergone at least 6 months of reliable follow-up to detect the risk factors for recurrence. Results A total of 57 patients (16.52%) developed recurrence of common bile duct stones. The median length of time until recurrence was 10.25 months (range, 6–54.4 months). Univariate analyses showed that the following factors were associated with recurrence: cholecystectomy prior to EST, prior biliary tract surgery, periampullary diverticulum, diameter of the common bile duct (>15 vs. ≤15 mm), quantity of stones, complete stone removal at the first session, and lithotripsy. Multivariate analysis identified two independent risk factors for recurrence: previous biliary tract surgery and lithotripsy. Conclusions EST for common bile duct stones is safe as indicated by patients’ long-term outcomes. Patients with a history of biliary surgery or lithotripsy are more prone to recurrence.
Exploration in Structured Reinforcement Learning

We address reinforcement learning problems with finite state and action spaces where the underlying MDP has some known structure that could be potentially exploited to minimize the exploration rates of suboptimal (state, action) pairs. For any arbitrary structure, we derive problem-specific regret lower bounds satisfied by any learning algorithm. These lower bounds are made explicit for unstructured MDPs and for those whose transition probabilities and average reward functions are Lipschitz continuous w.r. t. the state and action. For Lipschitz MDPs, the bounds are shown not to scale with the sizes $S$ and $A$ of the state and action spaces, i.e., they are smaller than $c\log T$ where $T$ is the time horizon and the constant $c$ only depends on the Lipschitz structure, the span of the bias function, and the minimal action sub-optimality gap. This contrasts with unstructured MDPs where the regret lower bound typically scales as $SA\log T$. We devise DEL (Directed Exploration Learning), an algorithm that matches our regret lower bounds. We further simplify the algorithm for Lipschitz MDPs, and show that the simplified version is still able to efficiently exploit the structure.
The economic cost of inadequate sleep

Study Objectives To estimate the economic cost (financial and nonfinancial) of inadequate sleep in Australia for the 2016-2017 financial year and relate this to likely costs in similar economies. Methods Analysis was undertaken using prevalence, financial, and nonfinancial cost data derived from national surveys and databases. Costs considered included the following: (1) financial costs associated with health care, informal care provided outside healthcare sector, productivity losses, nonmedical work and vehicle accident costs, deadweight loss through inefficiencies relating to lost taxation revenue and welfare payments; and (2) nonfinancial costs of loss of well-being. They were expressed in US dollars ($). Results The estimated overall cost of inadequate sleep in Australia in 2016-2017 (population: 24.8 million) was $45.21 billion. The financial cost component was $17.88 billion, comprised of as follows: direct health costs of $160 million for sleep disorders and $1.08 billion for associated conditions; productivity losses of $12.19 billion ($5.22 billion reduced employment, $0.61 billion premature death, $1.73 billion absenteeism, and $4.63 billion presenteeism); nonmedical accident costs of $2.48 billion; informal care costs of $0.41 billion; and deadweight loss of $1.56 billion. The nonfinancial cost of reduced well-being was $27.33 billion. Conclusions The financial and nonfinancial costs associated with inadequate sleep are substantial. The estimated total financial cost of $17.88 billion represents 1.55 per cent of Australian gross domestic product. The estimated nonfinancial cost of $27.33 billion represents 4.6 per cent of the total Australian burden of disease for the year. These costs warrant substantial investment in preventive health measures to address the issue through education and regulation.
Insights into the role of androgen receptor in human testicular peritubular cells

Contractile smooth muscle‐like peritubular cells build the wall of seminiferous tubules in men. They are crucial for sperm transport and complement the functions of Sertoli cells by secreting factors, including glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor. Previous studies revealed that they also secrete the chemokine C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), which has known roles in spermatogenesis. Peritubular cells express the androgen receptor (AR), which is retained in isolated human testicular peritubular cells. We aimed to explore AR‐regulated functions in human testicular peritubular cells. Bearing in mind that infertile men often have high aromatase activity, which may lower intratesticular androgen concentrations, an animal model for male infertility was studied. These mice display an age‐dependent loss in spermatogenesis due to high aromatase activity. Human testicular peritubular cells were exposed to dihydrotestosterone or the antiandrogen flutamide. We studied AR, smooth muscle cell markers, glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor and 15 secreted factors previously identified, including CXCL12. We used qPCR, Western blotting, ELISA or selected reaction monitoring (SRM). In the animal model for male infertility, we employed qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Dihydrotestosterone increased AR and flutamide prevented these actions. The smooth muscle cell markers calponin and smooth muscle actin were likewise increased, while cell size or cellular proliferation was not changed. Dihydrotestosterone did not increase glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor or CXCL12 secretion but increased levels of serine proteinase inhibitor (SERPIN) E1. The animal model for male infertility with high aromatase activity showed reduced numbers of AR‐immunoreactive testicular peritubular cells, suggesting that altered androgen and/or oestrogen levels could influence AR‐mediated responses in peritubular cells. Androgens act on human testicular peritubular cells to enhance AR levels, their contractile phenotype and to modulate the secretion of some secreted factors. This study suggests that some aspects of human peritubular cell functions are regulated by androgens.
Sol-Gel Hydrothermal Synthesis and Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation Performance of Fe/N Codoped TiO2 Catalysts

Using Ti(OC4H9)4 as a precursor, Fe(NO3)3⋅9H2O as the source of iron, and NH4NO3 as the source of nitrogen, an Fe/N codoped TiO2 catalyst was prepared using a sol-gel hydrothermal method. The as-prepared powders were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. Fe and N codoping resulted in decreased crystallite size and increased specific surface area. Results of the photocatalytic degradation of acid orange 7 (AO7) in a continuous-flow fluidized-bed reactor indicated that the maximum decolorization (more than 90%) of AO7 occurred with the Fe/N-TiO2 catalyst (dosage of 20 g/L) when a combination of visible light irradiation for 10 h HRT (hydraulic retention time), and a heterogeneous system was used. The AO7 degradation efficiency was considerably improved by increasing the hydraulic retention time from 2.5 to 10 h or by reducing the initial AO7 concentration from 300 to 100 mg/L. The reaction rate increased with the light intensity and the maximum value occurred at 35 mW/cm2; moreover, the efficiency of the AO7 degradation increased when the pH decreased with maximum efficiency at pH 3.
Comparative embryology of teleostean fishes. I. Development and staging of the american shad, Alosa sapidissima (Wilson, 1811)

A new approach to devising embryological staging systems allows improved phylogenetic comparisons of developmental patterns. As in traditional approaches, morphological features provide the defining criteria for stages, but unlike traditional normal tables, each stage is defined by no more than one or two morphological criteria that are fundamental developmental features of all teleosts. Additional developmental features that occur concurrently with the defining criteria of a stage are treated as variables potentially uncoupled from the defining criteria for that stage. This system is well suited to detect phylogenetic heterochrony and promises to increase our understanding of conserved vs. labile features in teleostean embryology. In this study, I explain the defining criteria for American shad and then make comparisons with other clupeoids. The development of American shad includes 35 stages extending from fertilization to metamorphosis. Comparisons with other clupeoids indicate that the developmental pattern of shad is representative of the early ontogeny of many clupeoids during the embryonic and yolk sac periods and may be conservative for the group. However, several concurrent features, particularly hatching, formation of neuromasts, and opercular development, vary in developmental timing among clupeoids. Comparisons indicate that shad embryos delay the development of these concurrent features relative to other clupeoids. Modifications of the developmental pattern for different species of clupeoids are heterochronic but their phylogenetic and adaptive significance is unknown. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
BMI at school age and incident asthma admissions in early adulthood: a prospective study of 310,211 children

Background Excess body weight in adulthood is associated with risk for asthma admission (AA). Our aim was to investigate if this association also applies to the relation between body mass index (BMI) in childhood and AAs in early adulthood (age 20–45 years). Methods This was a prospective study of 310,211 schoolchildren (born 1930–1989) from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register. Height and weight were measured annually, and generated BMI z-scores were categorized as low (lower quartile), normal (interquartile) and high (upper quartile). Associations between BMI at ages 7–13 and AA were estimated by Cox regressions, and presented as hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Main outcome was incident hospital AAs (extracted from the Danish National Patient Register) in early adulthood. Results During 4,708,607 person-years of follow-up, 1,813 incident AAs were observed. Nonlinear associations were detected between childhood BMI and AAs. The risk of AA increased for females in the highest BMI category in childhood, with the highest HR of 1.3 (95% CI 1.16–1.55) at the age of 13 years. By contrast, males in the low BMI category had a higher risk of AA in early adulthood, with the highest HR of 1.24 (95% CI 1.03–1.51) at the age of 12 years. Females with an increase in BMI between ages 7 and 13 years had an increased risk of AA compared with females with stable BMI (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.10–1.50). Conclusion The association between childhood BMI and AA in early adulthood is non-linear. High BMI increases the risk of AA in females, whereas low BMI increases the risk in males.
Deep Curiosity Search: Intra-Life Exploration Improves Performance on Challenging Deep Reinforcement Learning Problems

Traditional exploration methods in RL require agents to perform random actions to find rewards. But these approaches struggle on sparse-reward domains like Montezuma's Revenge where the probability that any random action sequence leads to reward is extremely low. Recent algorithms have performed well on such tasks by encouraging agents to visit new states or perform new actions in relation to all prior training episodes (which we call across-training novelty). But such algorithms do not consider whether an agent exhibits intra-life novelty: doing something new within the current episode, regardless of whether those behaviors have been performed in previous episodes. We hypothesize that across-training novelty might discourage agents from revisiting initially non-rewarding states that could become important stepping stones later in training. We introduce Deep Curiosity Search (DeepCS), which encourages intra-life exploration by rewarding agents for visiting as many different states as possible within each episode, and show that DeepCS matches the performance of current state-of-the-art methods on Montezuma's Revenge. We further show that DeepCS improves exploration on Amidar, Freeway, Gravitar, and Tutankham (many of which are hard exploration games). Surprisingly, DeepCS doubles A2C performance on Seaquest, a game we would not have expected to benefit from intra-life exploration because the arena is small and already easily navigated by naive exploration techniques. In one run, DeepCS achieves a maximum training score of 80,000 points on Seaquest, higher than any methods other than Ape-X. The strong performance of DeepCS on these sparse- and dense-reward tasks suggests that encouraging intra-life novelty is an interesting, new approach for improving performance in Deep RL and motivates further research into hybridizing across-training and intra-life exploration methods.
Trichoderma-Based Biostimulants Modulate Rhizosphere Microbial Populations and Improve N Uptake Efficiency, Yield, and Nutritional Quality of Leafy Vegetables

Microbial inoculants such as Trichoderma-based products are receiving great interest among researchers and agricultural producers for their potential to improve crop productivity, nutritional quality as well as resistance to plant pathogens/pests and numerous environmental stresses. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the effects of Trichoderma-based biostimulants under suboptimal, optimal and supraoptimal levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization in two leafy vegetables: Iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.). The yield, nutritional characteristics, N uptake and mineral composition were analyzed for each vegetable crop after inoculation with Trichoderma strains T. virens (GV41) or T. harzianum (T22), and results were compared to non-inoculated plants. In addition, the effect of the Trichoderma-based biostimulants on microbes associated with the rhizosphere in terms of prokaryotic and eukaryotic composition and concentration using DGGE was also evaluated. Trichoderma-based biostimulants, in particular GV41, positively increased lettuce and rocket yield in the unfertilized plots. The highest marketable lettuce fresh yield was recorded with either of the biostimulant inoculations when plants were supplied with optimal levels of N. The inoculation of rocket with GV41, and to a lesser degree with T22, elicited an increase in total ascorbic acid under both optimal and high N conditions. T. virens GV41 increased N-use efficiency of lettuce, and favored the uptake of native N present in the soil of both lettuce and rocket. The positive effect of biostimulants on nutrient uptake and crop growth was species-dependent, being more marked with lettuce. The best biostimulation effects from the Trichoderma treatments were observed in both crops when grown under low N availability. The Trichoderma inoculation strongly influenced the composition of eukaryotic populations in the rhizosphere, in particularly exerting different effects with low N levels in comparison to the N fertilized plots. Overall, inoculations with Trichoderma may be considered as a viable strategy to manage the nutrient content of leafy horticulture crops cultivated in low fertility soils, and assist vegetable growers in reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers, developing sustainable management practices to optimize N use efficiency.
A Game-Theoretic Approach to Recommendation Systems with Strategic Content Providers

We introduce a game-theoretic approach to the study of recommendation systems with strategic content providers. Such systems should be fair and stable. Showing that traditional approaches fail to satisfy these requirements, we propose the Shapley mediator. We show that the Shapley mediator fulfills the fairness and stability requirements, runs in linear time, and is the only economically efficient mechanism satisfying these properties.
Memory-related hippocampal activation in the sleeping toddler

Significance One of the most fascinating questions in psychology and neuroscience pertains to how young children gain the capacity to remember their past. Early hippocampal processes have been implicated in this ability, but a lack of viable methods has hindered assessments of their contribution in early human development. We employed a functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm that captures memory-related hippocampal function during natural nocturnal sleep in toddlers. Our results provide direct evidence of a connection between hippocampal function and early memory ability. This experimental approach overcomes previous challenges and promises to pave the way to investigations linking changes in brain function to early development of learning mechanisms, including applications to typical and atypical development. Nonhuman research has implicated developmental processes within the hippocampus in the emergence and early development of episodic memory, but methodological challenges have hindered assessments of this possibility in humans. Here, we delivered a previously learned song and a novel song to 2-year-old toddlers during natural nocturnal sleep and, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, found that hippocampal activation was stronger for the learned song compared with the novel song. This was true regardless of whether the song was presented intact or backwards. Toddlers who remembered where and in the presence of which toy character they heard the song exhibited stronger hippocampal activation for the song. The results establish that hippocampal activation in toddlers reflects past experiences, persists despite some alteration of the stimulus, and is associated with behavior. This research sheds light on early hippocampal and memory functioning and offers an approach to interrogate the neural substrates of early memory.