Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ionization Gas Sensor Using Suspended Carbon Nanotube Beams

An ionization sensor based on suspended carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was presented. A suspended CNT beam was fabricated by a low-temperature surface micromachining process using SU8 photoresist as the sacrificial layer. Application of a bias to the CNT beam generated very high non-linear electric fields near the tips of individual CNTs sufficient to ionize target gas molecules and initiate a breakdown current. The sensing mechanism of the CNT ionization sensor was discussed. The sensor response was tested in air, nitrogen, argon, and helium ambients. Each gas demonstrated a unique breakdown signature. Further, the sensor was tested with gaseous mixtures. The sensor exhibited good long-term stability and had comparable performance to other reported CNT-based ionization sensors in literature, which use high-temperature vapor deposition methods to grow CNTs. The sensor notably allowed for lower ionization voltages due to its reduced ionization gap size.
When Multiple Objective Measures of Medication Adherence Indicate Incongruent Adherence Results: An Example with Pediatric Cancer

Previous research suggests that children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) often have difficulty adhering to complex treatment regimens during the maintenance phase of therapy. Measurement of treatment adherence can be done via objective (e.g., electronic monitoring (EM), pharmacological assays) or subjective methods (patient, parent, or physician reports). This paper provides an illustration of recommended strategies for comparing discrepancies between two objective measures of medication adherence (e.g., behavioral adherence using electronic monitoring versus pharmacological adherence using 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) metabolite data) within a relatively large cohort of pediatric patients with ALL or LBL (N = 139) who had longitudinal data for both measures of medication adherence over a 15-month period. Additionally, individual- and family-level factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, household environment, and dose intensity will be examined to identify possible sources of discrepancies between adherence measures. This information will provide practical advice for physicians, healthcare providers, and psychologists in identifying nonadherence and the caveats therein so patients achieve the best possible health outcomes.
Real world outcomes with Bortezomib Thalidomide dexamethasone and Cyclophosphamide Bortezomib dexamethasone induction treatment for transplant eligible multiple myeloma patients in a Latin American country. A Retrospective Cohort Study from Grupo Argentino de Mieloma Múltiple

Data about treatment outcomes and toxicity in Latin America are scarce. There are differences with central countries based on access to healthcare system and socioeconomic status. Argentinean Society of Hematology recommends bortezomib‐based triplets for induction treatment of transplant eligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. Most common options are CyBorD (cyclophosphamide, bortezomib and dexamethasone) and VTD (bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone). Main goal of our retrospective, multicentric study was to compare very good partial response rate (VGPR) or better after induction treatment in a real‐world setting in Argentina. Secondary objectives included comparison of complete response (CR) post‐induction and after bone marrow transplantation, grade 3‐4 adverse events (AEs), progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Three hundred twenty‐two patients were included (median age at diagnosis: 57 years; 52% male; 28% had ISS3; 14% with high‐risk cytogenetics; median follow up: 34 months). CyBorD was indicated in 74% and 26% received VTD. In VTD arm, 72.62% of patients achieved at least VGPR vs 53.36% receiving CyBorD (odds ratio, OR: 1.96 [95% confidence interval, CI: 1.08‐3.57; P = .026] after adjusting by age, ISS [International Staging System], lactate dehydrogenase levels (LDH) and cytogenetic risk. Difference in VGPR was 19.26% (95% CI: 15‐24). CR rate were 35.92% (VTD) vs 22.55% (CyBorD) (adjusted OR: 2.13 [95% CI: 1.12‐4.05]). Difference in CR was 13.37% (95% CI: 9.6‐17.53). Adverse events (AEs) were more common with VTD (69.05% vs 55.46% for CyBorD; P = .030), especially grade 3‐4 neuropathy (P = .005) and thrombosis (P = .001). Thromboprophylaxis was inadequate in 20.24% of patients. Hematological AEs were more common with CyBorD, especially thrombocytopenia (P = .017). PFS and OS at 24 months were not different between treatments. In this real‐world setting, VTD was associated with better CR and VGPR than CyBorD. Nevertheless, CyBorD continues to be the preferred induction regimen in Argentina, based on safety profile. Frontline autologous stem cell transplantation improves quality of responses, especially in countries with limited access to new drugs.
Primary and secondary dengue virus infections elicit similar memory B cell responses but breadth to other serotypes and cross-reactivity to Zika virus is higher in secondary dengue.

BACKGROUND The four antigenically distinct serotypes of dengue virus (DENV) share extensive homology with each other and with the closely related Zika flavivirus (ZIKV). The development of polyclonal memory B cells (MBCs) to the four DENV serotypes and ZIKV during DENV infection is not fully understood. METHODS Here we analyzed polyclonal MBCs at the single-cell level from peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected ~2 weeks or 6-7 months post-primary or post-secondary DENV infection from a pediatric hospital-based study in Nicaragua using a Multi-Color FluoroSpot assay. RESULTS DENV elicits robust type-specific and cross-reactive MBC responses after primary and secondary DENV infection, with a significantly higher cross-reactive response in both. Reactivity to the infecting serotype dominated the total MBC response. While the frequency and proportion of type-specific and cross-reactive MBCs were comparable between primary and secondary DENV infections, within the cross-reactive response, the breadth of MBC responses against different serotypes was greater after secondary DENV infection. DENV infection also induced cross-reactive MBC responses recognizing ZIKV, particularly after secondary DENV infection. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our study sheds light on the polyclonal MBC response to DENV and ZIKV in naïve and DENV-pre-immune subjects, with important implications for natural infections and vaccine development.
Influence of Individual and Contextual Perceptions and of Multiple Neighborhoods on Depression

The risk of depression is related to multiple various determinants. The consideration of multiple neighborhoods daily frequented by individuals has led to increased interest in analyzing socio-territorial inequalities in health. In this context, the main objective of this study was (i) to describe and analyze the spatial distribution of depression and (ii) to investigate the role of the perception of the different frequented spaces in the risk of depression in the overall population and in the population stratified by gender. Data were extracted from the 2010 SIRS (a French acronym for “health, inequalities and social ruptures”) cohort survey. In addition to the classic individual characteristics, the participants reported their residential neighborhoods, their workplace neighborhoods and a third one: a daily frequented neighborhood. A new approach was developed to simultaneously consider the three reported neighborhoods to better quantify the level of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation. Multiple simple and cross-classified multilevel logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. Depression was reported more frequently in low-income (OR = 1.89; CI = [1.07–3.35]) or middle-income (OR = 1.91; CI = [1.09–3.36]) neighborhoods and those with cumulative poverty (OR = 1.64; CI = [1.10–2.45]). In conclusion, a cumulative exposure score, such as the one presented here, may be an appropriate innovative approach to analyzing their effects in the investigation of socio-territorial inequalities in health.
Examining Fall Risk Assessment in Geriatric Rehabilitation Settings Using Translational Research.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to identify gaps in and to improve the falls prevention strategy (FPS) of an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) in Toronto, Canada. DESIGN A modified version of the Stanford Biodesign Methodology was used. METHODS Chart reviews, a focus group (n = 8), and semistructured interviews (n = 8) were conducted to evaluate the FPS. FINDINGS Admission Functional Independence Measure score, age, and gender significantly correlated with risk for a fall. The tool used at this IRF was not effectively capturing patients who were at high risk for falls. All healthcare providers interviewed were knowledgeable of fall risks; however, a patient's fall risk status was rarely discussed as a team. CONCLUSIONS The findings informed recommendations to improve the overall FPS at this IRF. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Staff may require more coaching for implementing preventative measures/ensuring accountability and evaluating whether current strategies work. These insights can guide improvement initiatives at similar facilities elsewhere.
Specific subfamilies of transposable elements contribute to different domains of T lymphocyte enhancers

Significance We performed a systematic analysis of transposable elements (TEs) in enhancers associated with immune functions. In CD8+ T cells, specific TE subfamilies are enriched in enhancers and provide transcription factor recognition motifs and architectural sequences to central and peripheral domains, respectively. Enhancers unique to immune cell types are more prone to putative regulatory TE cooption as compared to enhancers unique to other tissues. Genomic neighborhoods of immune-related genes harbor more TEs compared to other gene-bearing regions, likely reflecting reduced local purifying selection. We hypothesize that TE abundance in immune-associated genomic regions facilitated active selection and functionalization of TE motifs beneficial for immune functions. This may have favored accelerated evolution of enhancers in immune cells adapting to changing infectious challenges. Transposable elements (TEs) compose nearly half of mammalian genomes and provide building blocks for cis-regulatory elements. Using high-throughput sequencing, we show that 84 TE subfamilies are overrepresented, and distributed in a lineage-specific fashion in core and boundary domains of CD8+ T cell enhancers. Endogenous retroviruses are most significantly enriched in core domains with accessible chromatin, and bear recognition motifs for immune-related transcription factors. In contrast, short interspersed elements (SINEs) are preferentially overrepresented in nucleosome-containing boundaries. A substantial proportion of these SINEs harbor a high density of the enhancer-specific histone mark H3K4me1 and carry sequences that match enhancer boundary nucleotide composition. Motifs with regulatory features are better preserved within enhancer-enriched TE copies compared to their subfamily equivalents located in gene deserts. TE-rich and TE-poor enhancers associate with both shared and unique gene groups and are enriched in overlapping functions related to lymphocyte and leukocyte biology. The majority of T cell enhancers are shared with other immune lineages and are accessible in common hematopoietic progenitors. A higher proportion of immune tissue-specific enhancers are TE-rich compared to enhancers specific to other tissues, correlating with higher TE occurrence in immune gene-associated genomic regions. Our results suggest that during evolution, TEs abundant in these regions and carrying motifs potentially beneficial for enhancer architecture and immune functions were particularly frequently incorporated by evolving enhancers. Their putative selection and regulatory cooption may have accelerated the evolution of immune regulatory networks.
The recent colonisation history of the most widespread Podocarpus tree species in Afromontane forests.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Afromontane forests host a unique biodiversity distributed in isolated high elevation habitats within a matrix of rain forests or savannahs, yet they share a remarkable flora that raises questions about past connectivity between currently isolated forests. Here, we focused on the Podocarpus latifolius - P. milanjianus complex (Podocarpaceae), the most widely distributed conifers throughout sub-Saharan African highlands, to infer its demographic history from genetic data. METHODS We sequenced the whole plastid genome, mitochondrial DNA regions, and nuclear ribosomal DNA of 88 samples from Cameroon to Angola in western Central Africa and from Kenya to the Cape region in eastern and southern Africa to reconstruct time-calibrated phylogenies and perform demographic inferences. KEY RESULTS We show that P. latifolius and P. milanjianus form a single species, whose lineages diverged during the Pleistocene, mostly between c. 200 and 300 kyrs BP, after which they underwent a wide range expansion leading to their current distributions. Confronting phylogenomic and palaeoecological data, we argue that the species originated in East Africa and reached the highlands of the Atlantic side of Africa through two probable latitudinal migration corridors: a northern one towards the Cameroon volcanic line, and a southern one towards Angola. Although the species is now rare in large parts of its range, no demographic decline was detected, probably because it occurred too recently to have left a genetic signature in our DNA sequences. CONCLUSIONS Despite the ancient and highly fluctuating history of podocarps in Africa revealed by palaeobotanical records, the extended distribution of current P. latifolius/milanjianus lineages is shown to result from a more recent history, mostly during the mid-late Pleistocene, when Afromontane forests were once far more widespread and continuous.
The Asian Immigrant Cancer Survivor Experience in the United States: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Background Cancer is the leading cause of death for Asian Americans, a growing population in the United States. While cancer survivors often experience complex issues after diagnosis, being an immigrant and having cancer pose additional challenges. Objective This scoping review analyzed research about immigrant cancer survivors of Asian ethnicity in the United States and provided a structured method to understand an area of research and evidence. Aims focused on immigrants’ experiences and how findings could tailor evidence-based interventions, programs, and resources. Methods The PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases were searched to identify studies in English (2009-2018) targeting Asian immigrant cancer survivors in the United States. While 385 records were initially identified, 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results Thematic analysis of charted study elements revealed 4 themes with subthemes: (1) survival patterns, (2) barriers, (3) culturally informed care, and (4) quality of life (QOL). While qualitative studies provided insight about the cancer experience from immigrants’ perspectives, quantitative designs posed descriptions and associations among QOL concepts. Conclusions Study results illustrate the need for survival research that explores outcomes by Asian ethnic subgroups and tracks the influence of acculturation. Future research should test culturally informed interventions that minimize barriers and foster QOL across the cancer continuum. Culturally tailored instruments can expedite larger-scaled studies that allow generalization. Implications for Practice Asian immigrants comprise an underserved, vulnerable, and growing group with various cancers. Nurses who care for immigrants and their families should be cognizant of cultural beliefs, values, practices, and issues related to communication, care access, and socioeconomics.
Development of an immune-related prognostic index associated with hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), an inflammation-associated cancer induced by a variety of etiological factors, is still one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers in human population. In this study, the expression profiles of immune-related genes (IRGs) were integrated with the overall survival (OS) of 378 LIHC patients based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Moreover, the differentially expressed and survival related IRGs among LIHC patients were predicted through the computational difference algorithm and COX regression analysis. As a result, 7 genes, including HSPA4, S100A10, FABP6, CACYBP, HDAC1, FCGR2B and SHC1, were retrieved to construct a predictive model associated with the overall survival (OS) of LIHC patients. Typically, the as-constructed model performed moderately in predicting prognosis, which was also correlated with tumor grade. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the genes of high-risk group were actively involved in mRNA binding and the spliceosome pathway. Intriguingly, the prognostic index established based on IRGs reflected infiltration by multiple types of immunocytes. Our findings screen several IRGs with clinical significance, reveal the drivers of immune repertoire, and illustrate the importance of a personalized, IRG-based immune signature in LIHC recognition, surveillance, and prognosis prediction.
Unveiling the Uniqueness of Crystal Structure and Crystalline Phase Behavior of Anhydrous Octyl β-D-Glucoside Using Aligned Assembly on a Surface

Although the anomalous low crystallinity of octyl β-D-glucoside (β-OGlu) was first proposed more than 30 years ago, many fundamental aspects of its crystal structure and of the crystalline phase behavior of the pure substance have remained uncertain. In this paper, we employ grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray-diffraction measurements using a two-dimensional detector (2D-GI-WAXD) and perpendicularly aligned crystalline films to demonstrate that β-OGlu forms crystal structures consisting of an intermediate phase—like a ripple phase with two large crystal-lattice constants, a and c, comparable to the lengths of its bilayer structures. Furthermore, solid-to-solid phase transitions accompanied by latent heat confirm the existence of a solid-solution-like phase consisting of a crystalline and a liquid-crystal (LC) phase, which persists over a 20 °C temperature range, in a single-component system. In addition, the system forms a superlattice, accompanied by a change in packing of the component sugars in the partial-melting state; this shift is different from the gel-crystal transition observed for a typical lipid system. These facts indicate that even in the crystalline phase formed from a single component, each individual β-OGlu molecule in a single-component phase plays a versatile role in the crystallisation and melting processes. These findings must somewhat explain the specific co-assembling features with proteins of β-OGlu, which has long been used empirically in biochemistry.
The Effect of Diet Supplementation with Pomegranate and Bitter Melon on Lipidomic Profile of Serum and Cancerous Tissues of Rats with Mammary Tumours

The aim of this study was to present overall lipid profile of organisms with ongoing neoplastic process and applied diet supplementation with pomegranate seed oil (PSO) and bitter melon extract (BME). The following were quantified in serum and cancerous tissues of rats suffering from mammary tumours: fatty acids, conjugated fatty acids and sterols, their oxidised metabolites (malondialdehyde and oxysterols) and lipoxygenase (LOX) metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The obtained results indicate that abnormalities in lipid metabolism accompany neoplastic process. These differences concern all classes of lipids and most pathways of their transformation, with the special emphasis on lipid peroxidation and LOX-mediated metabolism. Cancer process appears to be so detrimental that it may conceal positive influence of dietary modifications. The lack of anticarcinogenic properties of PSO and BME in this model may be due to their antioxidant properties or elevated levels of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), which change CLA isomer activity from anti- to pro-tumorigenic. As CLA are the product of conjugated linolenic acids (CLnA) endogenous metabolism, high CLA levels may be explained by applied diet enrichment.
Clinical implications of ANCA positivity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients

The diagnostic process of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) is complex and the underlying mechanisms that participate in these diseases still need to be fully understood. In 2015, the European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society Task Force on Undifferentiated Forms of Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease introduced the term “interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features” (IPAF) to identify subjects with IIP and features suggesting background autoimmunity but not characterisable connective tissue disease (CTD) [1]. The need for a proper clinical, serological and morphological assessment of IIP was highlighted to identify potential subjects with IPAF and CTD-ILD. However, the measurement of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) is not included in the definition of IPAF and ANCA serological testing is only recommended in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) when a clinical suspicion of vasculitis exists [2]. As current research evaluates the prognostic relevance of autoimmune features in IIP, the clinical importance of ANCA positivity still needs to be determined. ANCA positivity is uncommon in North American IPF patients. However, women with IPF who areMPO-positive have a considerable risk for developing clinical manifestations of vasculitis. http://bit.ly/2RlsQNP
Combination of Trastuzumab and Radiotherapy in the Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer: A Single Center Experience and Focus on the Cardiac Safety

Background: The main toxicity of trastuzumab, is the alteration of cardiac function. The objective of this study is to examine the acute cardiotoxicity of the combination of Radiotherapy (RT) and trastuzumab in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 41 patients followed for localized breast cancer, treated by multimodal strategy combining chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and trastuzumab as adjuvant treatment in the medical oncology department at the Ibn Sina Military hospital of Marrakesh. Results: All patients underwent adjuvant RT on the wall, including 17 on the left side. The median value of the Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) before starting treatment was 64%. The median value of the absolute decrease of LVEF, after the end of RT, was of the order of 4%. All patients received treatment with trastuzumab, during irradiation at usual doses for twelve months. Trastuzumab was stopped temporarily in seven patients, because of the fall in LVEF of more than 10%. After a median followup of 13 months, one patient developed congestive heart failure, imposing the definitive cessation of trastuzumab. Conclusion: The association RT and trastuzumab, does not appear to increase the risk of acute cardiac toxicity, whatever the irradiated side.
Toll-like receptor 9, a possible blocker of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis?

Corresponding author : Soung Won Jeong Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04401, Korea Tel: +82-2-710-3076, Fax: +82-2-709-9696 E-mail: jeongsw@schmc.ac. kr https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2855-6011 Abbreviations: IFN-γ, interferon γ; IL-6, interleukin 6; mtDNA, mitochondrial DNA; NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; SS, simple steatosis; TLR9, toll-like receptor 9; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α