Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 3D Biohybrid Real-Scale Model of the Brain Cancer Microenvironment for Advanced In Vitro Testing

The modeling of the pathological microenvironment of the central nervous system (CNS) represents a disrupting approach for drug screening for advanced therapies against tumors and neuronal disorders. The in vitro investigations of the crossing and diffusion of drugs through the blood–brain barrier (BBB) are still not completely reliable, due to technological limits in the replication of 3D microstructures that can faithfully mimic the in vivo scenario. Here, an innovative 1:1 scale 3D‐printed realistic biohybrid model of the brain tumor microenvironment, with both luminal and parenchyma compartments, is presented. The dynamically controllable microfluidic device, fabricated through two‐photon lithography, enables the triple co‐culture of hCMEC/D3 cells, forming the internal biohybrid endothelium of the capillaries, of astrocytes, and of magnetically‐driven spheroids of U87 glioblastoma cells. Tumor spheroids are obtained from culturing glioblastoma cells inside 3D microcages loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). The system proves to be capable in hindering dextran diffusion through the bioinspired BBB, while allowing chemotherapy‐loaded nanocarriers to cross it. The proper formation of the selective barrier and the good performance of the anti‐tumor treatment demonstrate that the proposed device can be successfully exploited as a realistic in vitro model for high‐throughput drug screening in CNS diseases.
Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Neutropenia in Hospitalized Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Received:April 4, 2017, Revised:May 4, 2017, Accepted:May 15, 2017 Corresponding to:Jisoo Lee, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, 1071 Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 07985, Korea. E-mail:leejisoo@ewha.ac. kr Copyright c 2017 by The Korean College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved. This is a Open Access article, which permits unrestricted non-commerical use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Original Article pISSN: 2093-940X, eISSN: 2233-4718 Journal of Rheumatic Diseases Vol. 24, No. 4, August, 2017 https://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2017. 24.4. 203
Extraction of Semantic Content and Styles in Comic Books

Digitisation of comic books would play a crucial role in identifying new areas in which digital comics can be used. Currently, existing systems in this domain lack the capacity to achieve complete digitisation. Digitisation requires a thorough analysis of the semantic content within comic books. This can be further sub-categorised as detection and identification of comic book characters, extraction and analysis of panels as well as texts, derivation of associations between characters and speech balloons, and analysis of different styles of reading. This paper provides an overview of using several object-detection models to detect semantic content in comics. This analysis showed that, under the constraint of limited computational capacity, YOLOv3 was the best-suited model out of the models evaluated. A study of text extraction and recognition using Optical Character Recognition, a method for determining associable speech balloons, as well as a distance-based approach for associations between characters and speech balloons are also presented here. This association method provides an increased accuracy compared to the Euclidean distance-based approach. Finally, a study on comic style is provided along with a learning model with an accuracy of 0.89 to analyse the reading order of comics.
Powassan Virus Neuropathology and Genomic Diversity in Patients With Fatal Encephalitis

Abstract Background Powassan virus (POWV) is an emerging cause of severe encephalitis; very little is known about human pathogenicity due to challenges in diagnosis and viral RNA recovery. We present 3 patients with fatal encephalitis due to POWV lineage II (deer tick virus). Methods We obtained 27 unique samples, including from brain biopsy and autopsy, and used metagenomic sequencing, quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and a newly developed CRISPR-based diagnostic assay to perform the first detailed characterization of POWV compartmentalization and genomics between and within human subjects. Results In all 3 patients, imaging and histopathology findings were notable for profound cerebellar involvement. All patients were initially diagnosed with POWV by metagenomic sequencing, and 2 of the 3 had negative clinical testing by serology. We detected POWV RNA in 13 clinical samples; levels were highest in the cerebellum, and there was very little involvement of peripheral tissue. We assembled complete POWV genomes from 8 samples, providing unique information about the strains of POWV lineage II (deer tick virus) that infect humans. Conclusions We demonstrate the utility of molecular assays for detecting POWV infection, including in seronegative patients, and nominate viral genomic features that may relate to human infection and neuropathogenicity. The cerebellum was identified as a key target POWV in fatal infection, by radiological and histopathological findings as well as molecular testing.
Efecto de la conversión a la producción ecológica sobre los parámetros cuantitativos y cualitativos de la leche de oveja

In order to study the consequences of the conversion from conventional to organic farming procedures from 2000 to 2011, 11,543 milk samples from a Castellana sheep farm and two Churra farms have been analysed, from 2,748 lactations (Castellana, n = 1,257; Churra, n = 1,491). Milk production was higher during the conventional period compared with the organic one (385.6 ± 3.50 vs. 360.3 ± 2.80 g, res pectively; P <0.001) with a higher fat content (7.2 ± 0.01 vs. 6.8 ± 0.10%; P <0.001), similar protein content(5.8 ± 0.10 vs. 5.8 ± 0.01%; P <0.10) and higher total solid content (18.4 ± 0.10 vs. 18.3 ± 0.01%; P <0.001). The conversion to organic farming resulted in a reduction in somatic cell count (SCC) compared with the values obtained during the conventional period (1,039 ± 34 vs. 861 ± 23 cells x 1000 /ml; P <0.001). Prolificacy of the three flocks experienced a reduction after being transformed into an organic system (1.33 ± 0.01 vs. 1.25 ± 0.01 lambs born/lambing; P <0.0001). In conclusion, although the conversion to organic farming led to an evident reduction in milk production per lambing, a SCC decrease was observed after the conversion period. It is necessary to identify possible causes of this qualitative improvement and productive reduction, linked to the organic farming procedures as food origin, animal density, or flock management.
Grading of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors on endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration using Ki-67 index and 2017 World Health Organization criteria: An analysis of 32 cases

Objectives: Biological behavior of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (Pan NETs) is difficult to predict on morphology alone. The assessment of proliferation by the Ki-67 proliferation index (PI) is considered to be an important prognostic parameter in these tumors and has been endorsed by the 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) grading system for Pan NETs. Although widely accepted on surgical specimens, there is varied opinion on grading of these tumors on cytology samples. This study aimed at classification and grading of Pan NETs on endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) using the recent 2017 WHO criteria and assess the reliability of Ki-67 grading by comparing it with histology samples wherever available. Material and Methods: Search of cytopathology lab records over a 3-year period (June 2015–May 2018) revealed 33 cases of pancreatic NETs diagnosed on EUS-FNA specimens. Using the guidelines of 2017 WHO classification and grading of Pan NETs, retrospective grading of these Pan NETs was done. They were graded as Grades 1, 2, and 3 well differentiated Pan NETs and poorly differentiated Grade 3 neoplasms based on Ki-67 PI and cytomorphology. Cytomorphological features were compared across the three grades. The cytological grading was then compared with the histological grading where available. Results: Ki-67 grading on cytology was done in 32 cases (22 on cell block and 10 on smears), of which 19 (59.4%) were Grade 1, 8 (25%) were Grade 2, and 5 (15.6%) were Grade 3 tumors. The most common cytomorphological features observed in Grade 1 tumors were small round uniform cells with granular chromatin and prominent plasmacytoid morphology. As the grade increased, tumor cells showed increased pleomorphism, angulated nuclei, and less frequent plasmacytoid cells. Histopathology (biopsy/resected specimens) was available in 11 of the 32 cases. Comparison of grading on cytology and histology showed concordance in ten of the 11 cases (k value = 0.862). Conclusion: Our data suggest that grading of Pan NETs by assessing Ki-67 PI on cytology samples collected by EUS-FNA shows good agreement with that measured on histology samples.
Optimization and Molecular Characterization of Syngas Fermenting Anaerobic Mixed Microbial Consortium TERI SA1

The present study focused on the optimization and molecular characterization of anaerobic mixed consortium TERI SA1 that can utilize synthesis gas as sole carbon source for volatile fatty acids production. Optimization study using Box- Behnken design and RSM methodology was carried out in order to investigate the effect of three medium factors on metabolite formation from synthesis gas bioconversion: (yeast extract (0.0–2.0 g/L), ammonium chloride (0.0–1.5 g/L) and corn steep liquor (0.0-10 g/L). Optimized parameters enhanced the production of volatile fatty acids upto 3.9 g/L, which indicated an increase of around 289 % from the non-optimized conditions. Furthermore, two approaches were used for isolation and phylogenetic identification of anaerobic consortium TERI SA1 involving 16S rRNA sequencing of culturable bacterial isolates as well as meta-genomic approach (by making a 16S rRNA gene library of total community DNA). Based on similarity search with NCBI database selected positive clones were most closely related with acetogenic microorganisms Clostridium scatalogenes, Clostridium carboxydivorans , Clostridium drakei and Uncultured Clostridium sp. and strains isolated by culturable method (ASH051 and ASH 052) with Clostridium scatalogenes, and Clostridium drakei. These strains have previously been reported for acetic acid production from syngas bioconversion. Article History : Received July 16 th 2017; Received in revised form September 13rd 2017; Accepted Sept 28 th 2017; Available online How to Cite This Article : Singla, A. , Kumar, S. , Lavania, M. , Chhipa, H. , Kapardar, R. , Rastogi, S. , Lal, B. , and Sarma, P.M. (2017) Optimization and Molecular Characterization of Syngas Fermenting Anaerobic Mixed Microbial Consortium TERI SA1.International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 6(3), 241-251. https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.6. 3.241-251
The impact of knowledge management on innovation performance of small and medium enterprises – An empirical study in Lam Dong province

In the context of today’s globalization, Vietnamese enterprises, especially small and medium ones (SMEs), have to face with many challenges and have to innovate for survival and development. The global integration process also means that local enterprises have to compete with foreign enterprises with advanced knowledge and modern management skills. Therefore, in order to ensure sustainable development, local enterprises should be ready with knowledge management (KM) practices in order to achieve high efficiency and strong competitive advantages. This research is to explore the impact factors on the innovation performance of SMEs in Lam Dong province. Based on the previous model of Berraies et al. (2014), some factors of KM processes impacting on the innovation performance of Vietnamese SMEs are explored and evaluated. Measurement scales are inherited selectively to suit the context of this research. The analysis results of this study showed that the innovation performance of SMEs was affected by the knowledge creation process. This result pointed out the knowledge creation process was affected by some KM enabling factors, such as trust, collaboration, learning, reward, decentralization, formalization, IT support and T-shaped skills. From this result, some recommendations for improving the innovation performance of Vietnamese SMEs by KM approach are also suggested.
PDX: Moving Beyond Drug Screening to Versatile Models for Research Discovery

Abstract Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) are tools of the trade for many researchers from all disciplines and medical specialties. Most endocrinologists, and especially those working in oncology, commonly use PDXs for preclinical drug testing and development, and over the last decade large collections of PDXs have emerged across all tumor streams. In this review, we examine how the field has evolved to include PDXs as versatile resources for research discoveries, providing evidence for guidelines and changes in clinical practice.
The effect of the walk-bike on quality of life and exercise capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a feasibility study

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by progressive loss of pulmonary function and exercise capacity, leading to loss of quality of life and often social isolation. A new walking aid, the walk-bike, showed an improvement in exercise performance in COPD patients. Aims of this pilot study were to evaluate feasibility of a homebased walk-bike intervention study in IPF patients and to explore the effect of the walk-bike on quality of life (QoL) and exercise capacity. Twenty-three patients with IPF were included in a randomized multicenter crossover study with 8 weeks of standard care and 8 weeks of walk-bike use at home. Ten patients completed both study phases. Study barriers included reluctance to participate and external factors (e.g. weather and road conditions) that hampered adherence. Patients’ satisfaction and experience with the walk-bike varied greatly. After training with the walk-bike, health-related QoL (St. George’s Respiratory and King’s Brief Interstitial Lung Disease questionnaires) demonstrated a tendency towards improvement, exercise capacity did not. A clinically important difference was found between 6-minute walk test with the walk-bike and the standard test; median (range) respectively 602 m (358-684) and 486 m (382-510). Conclusions: Due to practical barriers a larger study with the walk-bike in patients with IPF seems not feasible. Individual patients may benefit from the use of a walk-bike as it improved action radius and showed a tendency towards improvement in QoL. No effect on exercise capacity was observed. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2020; 37 (2): 192-202)
An Investigation of Customer Intentions Influenced by Service Quality Using the Mediation of Emotional and Cognitive Responses

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of customer perceptions of service quality on eWOM (electronic word of mouth) and switching intentions through cognitive and emotional responses, specifically in the context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KAS) telecom industry. Design/ methodology/ approach: We have developed a theoretical framework based on behavioural theories to analyse the environmental aspects of relationships that affect customer behavioural intentions. We adapted quantitative methodology along with the positivist philosophical approach to investigate our hypotheses within the theoretical framework. We applied a protracted stimuli-organism-response (SOR) model to highlight the peripheral reliability, responsiveness, tangibility, empathy, assurance, and the impact of the customer’s feelings while simultaneously linking the elements to each other. In addition, we apply theory of reason action (TRA) to reflect the marginal elements of subjective norms, attitude, and customers’ behavioral intentions. A survey with 601 responses has been used in this study. Findings: In the setting of KSA’s mobile telecom industry, we confirm that there is a positive effect of customer perceptions of service quality on their eWOM and switching intentions through their cognitive and emotional responses. Originality and value: The framework of this study enhances our understanding of the role of service quality as an environmental influence on an individual’s intentions to switch and eWOM. This conceptual framework is essential in evaluating the mediating roles of attitude and emotions in relation to eWOM and intention to switch.
Online Education: Benefits, Challenges and Strategies During and After COVID-19 in Higher Education

The pandemic COVID-19 has forcefully shifted the mode of teaching and learning from only face to face to online in the higher education of Nepal, which is new experiences and practices for many of the teachers and students. In this context, this study investigated teachers’ and learners’ perspectives on online education in relation to its benefits, challenges and strategies during and after COVID-19 in higher education of Nepal. To achieve this objective, online survey research design was employed. Survey questionnaire were used in the study to determine the perspectives of 280 teachers and students from five universities of Nepal. The results showed that the participants experienced online education beneficial primarily for promoting online research, connecting the practitioners to the global community and getting huge and authentic resource of knowledge though they have found time-management skills, more freedom to the teachers and learners, and reliable internet at workplace as the extreme challenges. The research also revealed time management skills, technological prepared and computer literate are the basic qualities for the practitioners who want to have online education. The participants suggested that ICT policy should be clear and courses should be developed accordingly. Only online mode of teaching and learning in the context of Nepal cannot be effective so the participants preferred blended learning. The findings of the research indicated that online education can be an alternative means of traditional education. Thus, if blended approach is implemented, the education process would be more effective and successful in the contexts like Nepal.
Improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm based on multiple strategies

: An improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm based on multiple strategies(MIMOPSO) is proposed for the optimization mechanism of particle swarm optimization, which can further improve the convergence and distribution. First, a heterogeneous learning mode and a leadership of the elite particles to individual learning pattern are established to prompt the population to ﬁnd true Pareto optimal solutions quickly. Then, the variation and disturbance to the population strategy of the external ﬁle redundancy mechanism is used to enhance the diversity of the solution and avoid the premature phenomenon of the algorithm. Experimental results show that, comparing with other several kinds of optimization algorithm, the proposed algorithm has better convergence and diversity.
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND RADIOACTIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF MATERIALS ASSOCIATED TO THE PHOSPHORIC ACID PRODUCTION

The industry devoted to the production of phosphoric acid by using as raw material sedimentary phosphate rock is considered as a NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) industry due to the high levels in U-series radionuclides contained in this ore, which are around 1-2 Bq g -1 (two orders of magnitude higher than typical unperturbed soils) for the majority of the mines of this ore. This fact allowed us to study the different materials involved in this NORM industry. The present work has been focused to characterize the raw materials, wastes, and several intermediate and final products from a typical phosphoric acid industry, in relation to their elemental composition (major, minor and trace elements), radioactive contents, granulometry, mineralogy and physical composition. This characterization aims to obtain information for possible applications of materials and waste in future commercial uses. The physicochemical and radioactive characterization of these materials has enabled to know the behaviour of different elements, and to quantify the fractionation of the different elements (and radio-elements) into the materials involved in the process of phosphoric acid production. Additionally, this knowledge permits through the measuring of the possible variations in the physicochemical composition of the raw materials along the time to control its influence in the characteristics of the obtained co-products. The highest radionuclide activity concentrations have been found in “scales” (internal incrustations), coming from the pipes which conduce phosphoric acid, containing 226 Ra and 40 K concentrations up to 9 and 5 Bq g -1 , respectively. The sludge thickener has a high concentration in most of the analyzed trace elements Cd, Cr, Ni, Sr, Y, V, Zn, Th and U. The gypsum sample obtained after washing, just before the pump to the rafts, shows a concentration of activity of thorium and uranium isotopes less than that measured in the sample of phosphogypsum obtained directly from the rafts, while the concentrations of 226 Ra and 210 Po are similar in both samples.
DETERMINANT OF INTENTION OF E-COMMERCE ADOPTION AND STRATEGIC ORIENTATIONAS MODERATING VERIABLE IN FAMILY BUSINESS

This study examines and analyzes the determinant of intentions of e-commerce adoption, namely relative advantages, organizational readiness, and competitive pressures with strategic orientation as a moderating variable. The sample of this study is the family business Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) performer in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta DIY) area, which consist of 101 respondents. The sampling method used is nonprobability sampling, while the technique used is purposive sampling. The analysis of data is using moderated regression analysis. Based on the data analysis, the results are: 1) relative advantages, organizational readiness, and competitive pressures affecting on the intention of e-commerce adoption; 2) strategic orientation moderates the effect of competitive pressures toward the intention of ecommerce adoption.
Effect of levels of FYM, fertilizers and Bio- fertilizers on quality of onion (Allium cepa L.) cv. N-53

The “Effect of levels of FYM, fertilizers and biofertilizers on quality attributes of onion (Allium cepaL.) cv. N-53” in sandyloam soils. The experiment comprising of 27 treatment combinations and replicated three times, was laid out in Factorial RBD with three fertility levels (0, 50 and 100% of recommended dose of NPK), three treatments of organic manure (control, FYM @ 20 t ha and FYM @ 10 t ha) and three bio-fertilizers (No inoculation, PSB inoculation and Azospirillum inoculation) were applied in the plots. The results of the study have clearly shown that highest TSS and Allypropyldisulphide were observed in FYM @ 20 t followed by inorganic fertilizers @ 100% RDF and Azospirillum. While the lowest content of TSS and Allypropyldisulphide in onion bulb were observed in control (M0) followed by no inoculation (B0) and control(F0). In arid region, the soil nature is sandy loam and it’s deficient in nutrient content. So, increasing application level of manure, fertilizer and bio-fertilizer responds to crops for its quality. Further it may be concluded that application of 20 t ha FYM and 100% RD of NPK is worth recommendable for farmers of arid region to make better quality of onion in nutrient deficient soil