Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sesquiterpenoids from Tussilago farfara Flower Bud Extract for the Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Possessing Antibacterial and Anticancer Activities

Sesquiterpenoids from the flower bud extract of Tussilago farfara were effectively utilized as a reducing agent for eco-friendly synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles. The silver and gold nanoparticles had a characteristic surface plasmon resonance at 416 nm and 538 nm, respectively. Microscopic images revealed that both nanoparticles were spherical, and their size was measured to be 13.57 ± 3.26 nm for the silver nanoparticles and 18.20 ± 4.11 nm for the gold nanoparticles. The crystal structure was determined to be face-centered cubic by X-ray diffraction. Colloidal stability of the nanoparticle solution was retained in a full medium, which was used in the cell culture experiment. The antibacterial activity result demonstrated that the silver nanoparticles showed better activity (two- to four-fold enhancement) than the extract alone on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Interestingly, the highest antibacterial activity was obtained against vancomycin-resistant Enterococci Van-A type Enterococcus faecium. Cytotoxicity on cancer cell lines confirmed that gold nanoparticles were more cytotoxic than silver nanoparticles. The highest cytotoxicity was observed on human pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Therefore, both nanoparticles synthesized with the sesquiterpenoids from T. farfara flower bud extract can be applicable as drug delivery vehicles of anticancer or antibacterial agents for future nanomedicine applications.
A Nonclassical Radau Collocation Method for Nonlinear Initial-Value Problems with Applications to Lane-Emden Type Equations

We propose a numerical method for solving nonlinear initial-value problems of Lane-Emden type. The method is based upon nonclassical Gauss-Radau collocation points, and weighted interpolation. Nonclassical orthogonal polynomials, nonclassical Radau points and weighted interpolation are introduced on arbitrary intervals. Then they are utilized to reduce the computation of nonlinear initial-value problems to a system of nonlinear algebraic equations. We also present the comparison of this work with some well-known results and show that the present solution is very accurate.
Structural Variability in the Human Brain Reflects Fine-Grained Functional Architecture at the Population Level

Human brain structure topography is thought to be related in part to functional specialization. However, the extent of such relationships is unclear. Here, using a data-driven, multimodal approach for studying brain structure across the lifespan (N = 484, n = 260 females), we demonstrate that numerous structural networks, covering the entire brain, follow a functionally meaningful architecture. These gray matter networks (GMNs) emerge from the covariation of gray matter volume and cortical area at the population level. We further reveal fine-grained anatomical signatures of functional connectivity. For example, within the cerebellum, a structural separation emerges between lobules that are functionally connected to distinct, mainly sensorimotor, cognitive and limbic regions of the cerebral cortex and subcortex. Structural modes of variation also replicate the fine-grained functional architecture seen in eight well defined visual areas in both task and resting-state fMRI. Furthermore, our study shows a structural distinction corresponding to the established segregation between anterior and posterior default-mode networks (DMNs). These fine-grained GMNs further cluster together to form functionally meaningful larger-scale organization. In particular, we identify a structural architecture bringing together the functional posterior DMN and its anticorrelated counterpart. In summary, our results demonstrate that the relationship between structural and functional connectivity is fine-grained, widespread across the entire brain, and driven by covariation in cortical area, i.e. likely differences in shape, depth, or number of foldings. These results suggest that neurotrophic events occur during development to dictate that the size and folding pattern of distant, functionally connected brain regions should vary together across subjects. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Questions about the relationship between structure and function in the human brain have engaged neuroscientists for centuries in a debate that continues to this day. Here, by investigating intersubject variation in brain structure across a large number of individuals, we reveal modes of structural variation that map onto fine-grained functional organization across the entire brain, and specifically in the cerebellum, visual areas, and default-mode network. This functionally meaningful structural architecture emerges from the covariation of gray matter volume and cortical folding. These results suggest that the neurotrophic events at play during development, and possibly evolution, which dictate that the size and folding pattern of distant brain regions should vary together across subjects, might also play a role in functional cortical specialization.
Two‐year outcomes in de novo renal transplant recipients receiving everolimus‐facilitated calcineurin inhibitor reduction regimen from the TRANSFORM study

TRANSFORM (TRANSplant eFficacy and safety Outcomes with an eveRolimus‐based regiMen) was a 24‐month, prospective, open‐label trial in 2037 de novo renal transplant recipients randomized (1:1) within 24 hours of transplantation to receive everolimus (EVR) with reduced‐exposure calcineurin inhibitor (EVR + rCNI) or mycophenolate with standard‐exposure CNI. Consistent with previously reported 12‐month findings, noninferiority of the EVR + rCNI regimen for the primary endpoint of treated biopsy‐proven acute rejection (tBPAR) or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <50 mL/min per 1.73 m2 was achieved at month 24 (47.9% vs 43.7%; difference = 4.2%; 95% confidence interval = −0.3, 8.7; P = .006). Mean eGFR was stable up to month 24 (52.6 vs 54.9 mL/min per 1.73 m2) in both arms. The incidence of de novo donor‐specific antibodies (dnDSA) was lower in the EVR + rCNI arm (12.3% vs 17.6%) among on‐treatment patients. Although discontinuation rates due to adverse events were higher with EVR + rCNI (27.2% vs 15.0%), rates of cytomegalovirus (2.8% vs 13.5%) and BK virus (5.8% vs 10.3%) infections were lower. Cytomegalovirus infection rates were significantly lower with EVR + rCNI even in the D+/R− high‐risk group (P < .0001). In conclusion, the EVR + rCNI regimen offers comparable efficacy and graft function with low tBPAR and dnDSA rates and significantly lower incidence of viral infections relative to standard‐of‐care up to 24 months. Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT01950819.
Reverse Engineering Provides Insights on the Evolution of Subgroups A to E Avian Sarcoma and Leukosis Virus Receptor Specificity

The initial step of retrovirus entry—the interaction between the virus envelope glycoprotein trimer and a cellular receptor—is complex, involving multiple, noncontiguous determinants in both proteins that specify receptor choice, binding affinity and the ability to trigger conformational changes in the viral glycoproteins. Despite the complexity of this interaction, retroviruses have the ability to evolve the structure of their envelope glycoproteins to use a different cellular protein as receptors. The highly homologous subgroup A to E Avian Sarcoma and Leukosis Virus (ASLV) glycoproteins belong to the group of class 1 viral fusion proteins with a two-step triggering mechanism that allows experimental access to intermediate structures during the fusion process. We and others have taken advantage of replication-competent ASLVs and exploited genetic selection strategies to force the ASLVs to naturally evolve and acquire envelope glycoprotein mutations to escape the pressure on virus entry and still yield a functional replicating virus. This approach allows for the simultaneous selection of multiple mutations in multiple functional domains of the envelope glycoprotein that may be required to yield a functional virus. Here, we review the ASLV family and experimental system and the reverse engineering approaches used to understand the evolution of ASLV receptor usage.
Factors influencing adherence to vacuum-formed retainer wear: A qualitative study

Objective: To explore factors influencing adherence to vacuum-formed retainer wear over a minimum period of four years. Design: A qualitative study based on a randomised controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of orthodontic retainers. Setting: Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. Participants: Fifteen participants wearing vacuum-formed retainers for at least four years. Methods: One-to-one semi-structured interviews were undertaken on a criterion-based purposive sample of participants wearing vacuum-formed retainers. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Framework Methodology. Results: High self-reported levels of adherence in the early stages of retention were linked to a desire to maintain orthodontic outcomes and the negative perception of potential post-treatment changes. However, adherence typically reduced over time due to a combination of factors including the negative impact of retainers on quality of life and pragmatic issues related to retainer wear. Network support was found to be important in the short and long term, with instances of self-directed wear and negative beliefs concerning the importance of retainer wear and predisposition to post-treatment changes. Lack of follow-up appointments and immaturity of participants prompted independent decisions to cease retainer wear. Conclusions: Six key influencers of prolonged adherence with vacuum-formed retainer wear were identified. Future strategies to improve adherence should account for these while also being responsive to time elapsed since debond and patient age.
Melanin‐concentrating hormone peptidergic system: Comparative morphology between muroid species

Melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH) is a conserved neuropeptide, predominantly located in the diencephalon of vertebrates, and associated with a wide range of functions. While functional studies have focused on the use of the traditional mouse laboratory model, critical gaps exist in our understanding of the morphology of the MCH system in this species. Even less is known about the nontraditional animal model Neotomodon alstoni (Mexican volcano mouse). A comparative morphological study among these rodents may, therefore, contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of the MCH peptidergic system. To this end, we employed diverse immunohistochemical protocols to identify key aspects of the MCH system, including its spatial relationship to another neurochemical population of the tuberal hypothalamus, the orexins. Three‐dimensional (3D) reconstructions were also employed to convey a better sense of spatial distribution to these neurons. Our results show that the distribution of MCH neurons in all rodents studied follows a basic plan, but individual characteristics are found for each species, such as the preeminence of a periventricular group only in the rat, the lack of posterior groups in the mouse, and the extensive presence of MCH neurons in the anterior hypothalamic area of Neotomodon. Taken together, these data suggest a strong anatomical substrate for previously described functions of the MCH system, and that particular neurochemical and morphological features may have been determinant to species‐specific phenotypes in rodent evolution.
Global Innervation Zone Identification With High-Density Surface Electromyography

<italic>Objective:</italic> The aim of this study is to compare the performance of three strategies in determining the global innervation zone (IZ) distribution. <italic>Methods:</italic> High-density surface electromyography was recorded from the biceps brachii muscle of seven healthy subjects under isometric voluntary contractions at 20%, 50%, and 100% of the maximal voluntary contraction and supramaximal musculocutaneous nerve stimulations. IZs were detected: first, by visual identification in a column-specific manner (<italic>IZ-1D</italic>); second, based on decomposed bipolar mapping of motor unit action potentials (<italic>IZ-2D</italic>); and third, by source imaging in the three-dimensional muscle space (<italic>IZ-3D</italic>). <italic>Results:</italic> All three IZ detection approaches have exhibited excellent trial-to-trial repeatability. Consistent IZ results were found in the axial direction of the arm across all three approaches, yet a difference was observed in the mediolateral direction. <italic>Conclusions:</italic> Among all three approaches, <italic>IZ-3D</italic> is capable of providing the most comprehensive information regarding the global IZ distribution, while maintaining high consistency with <italic>IZ-1D</italic> and <italic>IZ-2D</italic> results. <italic>Significance:</italic> <italic>IZ-3D</italic> approach can be a potential tool for global IZ imaging, which is critical to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders.
School Choice at a Cost? Academic Achievement, School Satisfaction and Psychological Complaints among Students in Disadvantaged Areas of Stockholm

School choice allows students from more disadvantaged district areas in metropolitan Swedish cities to commute to more prestigious schools outside of their residential area. This study examined how such students fare compared to their peers who attend more deprived schools in their own district area. Multilevel analysis was applied, estimating 2-level random intercept linear regression models based on cross-sectional survey data collected among ninth grade students in 2014 and 2016 (n = 2105). Analyses showed that students living in relatively disadvantaged district areas of Stockholm who chose to attend more prestigious schools outside of their residential area performed better academically compared to students who opted to remain at more deprived schools in their catchment area, an association that was partly mediated by school quality in terms of teacher-rated school ethos. Yet, commuting students reported lower school satisfaction and more psychological complaints than students who stayed behind, even when taking academic achievement and school ethos into account. The association with psychological complaints was partly mediated by school satisfaction. Thus, the academic gain associated with having chosen to commute from a disadvantaged area to a more prestigious school does not appear to translate into higher school satisfaction and better psychological well-being.
Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture: psychometric evaluation in Kuwaiti public healthcare settings

Objective As healthcare organisations endeavour to improve the quality and safety of their services, there is increasing recognition of the importance of building a culture of safety to promote patient safety and improve the outcomes of patient care. Surveys of safety culture/climate have not knowingly been conducted in Kuwait public hospitals, nor are valid or reliable survey instruments available for this context. This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the HSOPSC (Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture) tool in Kuwaiti public hospitals in addition to constructing an optimal model to assess the level of safety climate in this setting. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Three public hospitals in Kuwait. Participants About 1317 healthcare professionals. Main outcome measure An adapted and contextualised version of HSOPSC was used to conduct psychometric evaluation including exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis reliability and correlation analysis. Results 1317 questionnaires (87%) were returned. Psychometric evaluation, showed an optimal model of eight factors and 22 safety climate items. All items have strong factor loadings (0.42–0.86) and are theoretically related. Reliability analysis showed satisfactory results (α >0.60). Conclusions This is the first validation study of a standardised safety climate measure in a Kuwaiti healthcare setting. An optimal model for assessing patient safety climate was produced that mirrors other international studies and which can be used for measuring the prevailing safety climate. More importance should be attached to the psychometric fidelity of safety climate questionnaires before extending their use in other healthcare culture and contexts internationally.
Histomorphological and molecular profiling: friends not foes! Morpho‐molecular analysis reveals agreement between histological and molecular profiling

Whereas current cancer diagnosis largely relies on the well‐established organ and tissue typing of tumours, partially complemented by molecular properties, the comprehensive molecular profiling efforts of recent years have stimulated proposals for molecular reclassifications of tumours independently of anatomical origin. Proposals based only on mutational profiles show the least concordance with histotypes, whereas greater concordance is achieved when various genomic and proteomic data are included.
CORRELATION BETWEEN PLASMA MALONDIALDEHYDE AND CERULOPLASMIN ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT HAEMATOLOGICAL DISEASES

The plasma level of ceruloplasmin (Cp) as an antioxidant protein in patients suffering from different malignant haematological diseases was studied. Significantly higher level of Cp was detected in malignant haemopathies (p<0.001) in comparison to the controls. Lipid peroxidation (MDA) as a marker of oxidative stress in the plasma of patients with malignant haemopathies was also increased in comparison with healthy volunteers (p<0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between the levels of plasma Cp and MDA in patients with malignant haemopathies (R=0.407, p=0.74) but not in the controls. After polychemotherapy, the oxidative stress significantly progressed and appeared to be compromised by augmented activity of ceruloplasmin in these patients.
Acoustic monitoring reveals a diverse forest owl community, illustrating its potential for basic and applied ecology.

For millennia humans have attributed mystic powers to owls, and they remain a mysterious group. Nocturnality and silent flight have precluded extensive scientific study, notwithstanding a few species made prominent by their specialization, such as the spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) (Noon and Franklin 2002), or global distribution, such as the barn owl (Tyto alba). Yet owls are the apex volant nocturnal predator guild globally and thus likely play an important but poorly understood role in ecosystem dynamics (Whelan et al. 2008). Here, we report a species-rich owl community as revealed by passively recorded audio data, and describe how this type of bioacoustic data can greatly facilitate the systematic study of entire owl communities without conventional vocal-lure surveys that may alter owl behavior and vocalization patterns (Crozier et al. 2006). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Spatial Difference of Transit-Based Accessibility to Hospitals by Regions Using Spatially Adjusted ANOVA

This paper proposes a spatial difference analysis method for evaluating transit-based accessibility to hospitals using spatially adjusted ANOVA. This method specializes in examining spatial variations of accessibility to hospitals by regions (i.e. administrative districts or subdistricts). The spatial lag model is applied to adjust traditional ANOVA, which reduces spatial dependency and avoids false rejection to null hypothesis. Multiple comparison methods are used for further detection of differences in accessibility between regions. After multiple comparison, accessibility within regions is classified into three levels. The study is conducted on two scales—administrative districts and subdistricts—to discuss spatial variations in macro and micro dimensions respectively in the central part of Wuhan, China. Accessibility is calculated by using a simple model and a gravity model. The final classification results showed that the spatially adjusted method is more reliable than the traditional non spatially adjusted one and the gravity model can better detect more hidden information about the inequal distribution of medical resources. It is also found that the subdistricts, which have significantly lower accessibility to hospitals than others, are mainly distributed in Hongshan and Qingshan district. Our study hopes to shed new lights in spatial difference analysis for accessibility and provide policy recommendations that would promote equality in provisions of public health services.
Nano Temperature Sensor Using Selective Lateral Growth of Carbon Nanotube Between Electrodes

This paper presents lateral growth of carbon nanotube (CNT) between two electrodes and its use as nano temperature sensor. Fabrication of electrodes is made by MEMS techniques. The CNT is grown selectively by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition between two electrodes. After wire bonding, the grown CNT is tested and calibrated. The growth conditions of CNT, such as the flow rate of CH4 or N2 gas, are varied to obtain a high-quality CNT sensor. SEM is used to observe the shape and structure of CNT, while Raman spectrum analysis is used to indicate the degree of graphitization or amorphous structure in the CNT. The I-V curve of CNT is measured at different temperature, and a linear relationship between the electric resistance of CNT and the temperature is obtained. This result indicates that CNT can be used as a temperature sensor
Blood Pharmacokinetics Imaging by Noninvasive Heart Fluorescence Tomography and Application to Kidney Glomerular Filtration Rate Assessment

In mouse pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, current standard methods often require large numbers of animals to support collection of blood samples serially over a defined time range. We have developed and validated a noninvasive fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) heart imaging approach for blood PK quantification that uses small numbers of mice and has the advantage of repeated, longitudinal live imaging. This method was validated using a variety of near infrared (NIR) fluorescent-labeled molecules, ranging in size from 1.3 to 150 kDa, that were assessed by microplate blood assays as well as by noninvasive FMT 4000 imaging. Excellent agreement in kinetic profiles and calculated PK metrics was seen for the two methods, establishing the robustness of this noninvasive optical imaging approach. FMT heart imaging was further assessed in the challenging application of inulin-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement. After a single bolus injection of an NIR fluorescent-labeled inulin probe in small cohorts of mice (n = 5 per group), 2-minute heart scans (at 2, 6, 15, 30, and 45 minutes) were performed by FMT imaging. GFR was calculated using two‐compartment PK modeling, determining an average rate of 240 ± 21 μl/min in normal mice, in agreement with published mouse GFR ranges. Validation of GFR assessment in unilaterally nephrectomized mice and cyclosporin A–treated mice both measured ∼50% decreases in GFR. Imaging results correlated well with ex vivo plasma microplate assays for inulin blood kinetics, and the decreases in GFR were accompanied by increases in plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen.
Competitive Equilibrium with Middlemen: An Empirical Study

Public distrust of middlemen frequently occurs in market systems. Boycotts, regulations, and investigations of middlemen are not uncommon [3; 7]. This position of disfavor is somewhat paradoxical since application of economic theory suggests that competition among middlemen can be relied upon to protect consumers and producers. According to received doctrine any differences in purchase and resale prices would reflect the costs involved in market making. Nevertheless public suspicion remains.