Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Uniform Hexagonal Prismatic ZnO Whiskers

Large-quantity growth of hexagonal prismatic ZnO whiskers was achieved via a process of first reduction and following oxidation of a ZnS powder at 1300 °C. The products were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The as-grown whiskers appear to be structurally uniform with an individual width of around 350 nm and length of up to 15 μm, and they are single crystalline in nature. All of them have hexagonal cross sections and grow along the [001] crystallographic direction. Room-temperature photoluminescence spectra of the whiskers reveal a strong and sharp UV emission band at 388 nm and a weak and broad green emission band at 515 nm. Possible growth mechanisms of the ZnO whiskers were discussed.
Prognostic value of the geriatric nutritional risk index among patients with previously treated advanced non‐small cell lung cancer who subsequently underwent immunotherapy

The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is a simple and useful marker for predicting prognosis and treatment efficacy among patients with various cancers. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no previous reports regarding the prognostic value of GNRI among patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
Intraoperative laparoscopic detection of sentinel lymph nodes with indocyanine green and superparamagnetic iron oxide in a swine gallbladder cancer model

Mapping of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) can enable less invasive surgery. However, mapping is challenging for cancers of difficult-to-access visceral organs, such as the gallbladder, because the standard method using radioisotopes (RIs) requires preoperative tracer injection. Indocyanine green (ICG) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) have also been used as alternative tracers. In this study, we modified a previously reported magnetic probe for laparoscopic use and evaluated the feasibility of detecting SLNs of the gallbladder using a laparoscopic dual tracer method by injecting ICG and SPIO into five swine and one cancer-bearing swine. The laparoscopic probe identified SPIO nanoparticles in the nodes of 4/5 swine in situ, the magnetic field counts were 2.5–15.9 μT, and fluorescence was detected in SLNs in all five swine. ICG showed a visual lymph flow map, and SPIO more accurately identified each SLN with a measurable magnetic field quite similar to the RI. We then developed an advanced gallbladder cancer model with lymph node metastasis using recombination activating gene 2-knockout swine. We identified an SLN in the laparoscopic investigation, and the magnetic field count was 3.5 μT. The SLN was histologically determined to be one of the two metastatic lymph nodes. In conclusion, detecting the SLNs of gallbladder cancer in situ using a dual tracer laparoscopic technique with ICG and SPIO was feasible in a swine model.
Factors affecting residues of pesticides in tea

This paper presents a discussion on residue behaviour of 17 pesticides on tea, on the basis of the research conducted during the last 20 years. Sunlight photolysis and growth dilution were the most important factors affecting pesticide persistence in the growing tea plant, while vapour pressure played an important role in loss of pesticide residues during tea processing. The percentage of pesticide extracted during the tea infusion process was highly related to water solubility. It is suggested that in studies on pesticide residue behaviour on tea, all the four factors should be considered integrally.
Application of an optimized pharyngeal swab-assisted device in pharyngeal sampling for COVID-19 patients

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has triggered a global pandemic. Healthcare workers are placed at an elevated risk of nosocomial cross-infection from clinical exposure. One diagnostic criterion for COVID-19 is a positive result from a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay of pharyngeal swab specimens, which has been a routine procedure for healthcare workers during the outbreak. In the context of a global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), we aimed to lower the probability of clinical cross-infection without impacting the results of pharynx sampling through an optimized pharyngeal swab assisted device (OPAD). Methods To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of an OPAD for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, 22 confirmed COVID-19 cases were enrolled in our self-controlled study. The results of two pharyngeal sampling qRT-PCR tests using the OPAD or the traditional method were recorded each. Clinical data including baseline characteristics, laboratory tests, and computed tomography (CT) results were also collected. The procedure duration and levels of pharynx exposure with the OPAD, and the diagnostic consistency between the OPAD and the traditional method for pharyngeal sampling qRT-PCR, were evaluated individually. Additionally, a questionnaire was designed for healthcare workers who had performed the pharyngeal swab to deepen our understanding of their attitude during their service on the frontline. Results In all 44 samplings (22 samples with each method), the qRT-PCR results of 18 pairs (81.82%) were consistent, while 3 (13.64%) were single positive with the OPAD. The positive rate was slightly higher with the OPAD (54.55%, 12/22) than with the traditional method (45.45%, 10/22). Using the OPAD, the average procedure duration of sampling was 30 s (30±13 s). Pharynx exposure was excellent in 21 subjects (95.45%, 21/22), which meant that the operator could acquire the swabs without difficulty. Conclusions As the COVID-19 pandemic escalates, our OPAD has identical efficacy compared to the traditional method for pharyngeal swabs, and it can also contribute to protecting the safety of healthcare workers.
Autistic differences in the temporal dynamics of social attention

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders typically exhibit reduced visual attention towards social stimuli relative to neurotypical individuals. Importantly, however, attention is not a static process, and it remains unclear how such effects may manifest over time. Exploring these momentary changes in gaze behaviour can more clearly illustrate how individuals respond to social stimuli and provide insight into the mechanisms underlying reduced social attention in autism spectrum disorder. Using a simple passive eye-tracking task with competing presentations of social and nonsocial stimuli, we examine the different ways in which attention to social stimuli evolves over time in neurotypical adults and adults with and autism spectrum disorders. Our temporal modelling of gaze behaviour revealed divergent temporal profiles of social attention in neurotypical and observers with autism. Neurotypical data showed an initial increase in social attention, a ‘decay’ and subsequent ‘recovery’ after prolonged viewing. By contrast, in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, social attention decayed over time in a linear fashion without recovery after prolonged viewing. We speculate that the ‘gaze cascade’ effect that maintains selection of social stimuli in neurotypical observers is disrupted in individuals with high autistic traits. Considering these temporal components of gaze behaviour may enhance behavioural phenotypes and theories of social attention in autism spectrum disorder. Lay abstract One behaviour often observed in individuals with autism is that they tend to look less towards social stimuli relative to neurotypical individuals. For instance, many eye-tracking studies have shown that individuals with autism will look less towards people and more towards objects in scenes. However, we currently know very little about how these behaviours change over time. Tracking these moment-to-moment changes in looking behaviour in individuals with autism can more clearly illustrate how they respond to social stimuli. In this study, adults with and without autism were presented with displays of social and non-social stimuli, while looking behaviours were measured by eye-tracking. We found large differences in how the two groups looked towards social stimuli over time. Neurotypical individuals initially showed a high probability of looking towards social stimuli, then a decline in probability, and a subsequent increase in probability after prolonged viewing. By contrast, individuals with autism showed an initial increase in probability, followed by a continuous decline in probability that did not recover. This pattern of results may indicate that individuals with autism exhibit reduced responsivity to the reward value of social stimuli. Moreover, our data suggest that exploring the temporal nature of gaze behaviours can lead to more precise explanatory theories of attention in autism.
An Optimised 1,10‐Phenanthroline Method for the Determination of Ferrous and Ferric Oxides in Silicate Rocks, Soils and Minerals

A precise, accurate and rapid method for the sequential determination of FeO and Fe2O3 in rocks, soils and some non‐refractory minerals by 1,10‐phenanthroline spectrophotometry is described. Fe(II) and Fe(III) were leached from the sample (−200 mesh) using a mixture of NH4HF2 and H2SO4 at 40–80 °C for 10 min on a hot plate. Both Fe(II) and Fe(III) could be conveniently estimated sequentially from the same reaction mixture at the μg g−1 to percentage level. The method is better than the existing wet chemical methods, including the commonly used Pratt's titrimetric redox method, for Fe(II) and Fe(III) determinations in rock and soil samples in terms of precision, accuracy and rapidity. The throughput of the method was very high; at least forty to fifty samples could be estimated easily in a day. The results obtained compare favourably with those obtained by Pratt's method, as well as for certified/recommended values of a set of eleven certified reference materials having FeO and Fe2O3 contents in the range 0.21–14.63% and 0.58–8.48%, respectively. The optimised 1,10 phenanthroline method was found to be accurate to within 0.21% m/m FeO and 0.30% m/m Fe2O3 compared with the literature values of the certified reference materials studied.
Traditionalism and victim blaming

ABSTRACT A common claim is that rape victims are blamed for the crime because they have violated gender roles. We tested this idea by examining whether the relationship between traditional attitudes about gender roles and victim blaming is observed when the victim’s gender role violation is not followed by rape. We also examined whether participants with traditional attitudes about casual sex were more likely to engage in victim blaming than their “liberal” counterparts. College students (Study 1: N = 348; Study 2: N = 239) were presented with vignettes that ended in either rape, robbery, assault, homicide, or accident, or had no outcome. Participants with traditional attitudes about gender roles did not assign more blame to victims than liberal participants unless the victim’s behavior was followed by rape. In contrast, participants with traditional attitudes about casual sex were more likely to blame victims regardless of the outcome. The pattern suggests that the relationship between traditional attitudes about gender roles and victim blaming is not be due to the victim’s violation of gender roles. In addition, victim blaming is due, in part, to the negative attitudes of some students to casual sex.
Bradyrhizobium agreste sp. nov., Bradyrhizobium glycinis sp. nov. and Bradyrhizobium diversitatis sp. nov., isolated from a biodiversity hotspot of the genus Glycine in Western Australia

Strains of the genus Bradyrhizobium associated with agronomically important crops such as soybean (Glycine max) are increasingly studied; however, information about symbionts of wild Glycine species is scarce. Australia is a genetic centre of wild Glycine species and we performed a polyphasic analysis of three Bradyrhizobium strains—CNPSo 4010T, CNPSo 4016T, and CNPSo 4019T—trapped from Western Australian soils with Glycine clandestina, Glycine tabacina and Glycine max, respectively. The phylogenetic tree of the 16S rRNA gene clustered all strains into the Bradyrhizobium japonicum superclade; strains CNPSo 4010T and CNPSo 4016T had Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense CCBAU 10071T as the closest species, whereas strain CNPSo 4019T was closer to Bradyrhizobium liaoningense LMG 18230T. The multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with five housekeeping genes—dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB—confirmed the same clusters as the 16S rRNA phylogeny, but indicated low similarity to described species, with nucleotide identities ranging from 93.6 to 97.6% of similarity. Considering the genomes of the three strains, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values were lower than 94.97 and 59.80 %, respectively, with the closest species. In the nodC phylogeny, strains CNPSo 4010T and CNPSo 4019T grouped with Bradyrhizobium zhanjiangense and Bradyrhizobium ganzhouense, respectively, while strain CNPSo 4016T was positioned separately from the all symbiotic Bradyrhizobium species. Other genomic (BOX-PCR), phenotypic and symbiotic properties were evaluated and corroborated with the description of three new lineages of Bradyrhizobium. We propose the names of Bradyrhizobium agreste sp. nov. for CNPSo 4010T (=WSM 4802T=LMG 31645T) isolated from Glycine clandestina, Bradyrhizobium glycinis sp. nov. for CNPSo 4016T (=WSM 4801T=LMG 31649T) isolated from Glycine tabacina and Bradyrhizobium diversitatis sp. nov. for CNPSo 4019T (=WSM 4799T=LMG 31650T) isolated from G. max.
Reducing NF-κB Signaling Nutritionally is Associated with Expedited Recovery of Skeletal Muscle Function After Damage

Abstract Context The early events regulating the remodeling program following skeletal muscle damage are poorly understood. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the association between myofibrillar protein synthesis (myoPS) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling by nutritionally accelerating the recovery of muscle function following damage. Design, Setting, Participants, and Interventions Healthy males and females consumed daily postexercise and prebed protein-polyphenol (PP; n = 9; 4 females) or isocaloric maltodextrin placebo (PLA; n = 9; 3 females) drinks (parallel design) 6 days before and 3 days after 300 unilateral eccentric contractions of the quadriceps during complete dietary control. Main Outcome Measures Muscle function was assessed daily, and skeletal muscle biopsies were taken after 24, 27, and 36 hours for measurements of myoPS rates using deuterated water, and gene ontology and NF-κB signaling analysis using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) gene array. Results Eccentric contractions impaired muscle function for 48 hours in PLA intervention, but just for 24 hours in PP intervention (P = 0.047). Eccentric quadricep contractions increased myoPS compared with the control leg during postexercise (24–27 hours; 0.14 ± 0.01 vs 0.11 ± 0.01%·h-1, respectively; P = 0.075) and overnight periods (27–36 hours; 0.10 ± 0.01 vs 0.07 ± 0.01%·h-1, respectively; P = 0.020), but was not further increased by PP drinks (P > 0.05). Protein-polyphenol drinks decreased postexercise and overnight muscle IL1R1 (PLA = 2.8 ± 0.4, PP = 1.1 ± 0.4 and PLA = 1.9 ± 0.4, PP = 0.3 ± 0.4 log2 fold-change, respectively) and IL1RL1 (PLA = 4.9 ± 0.7, PP = 1.6 ± 0.8 and PLA = 3.7 ± 0.6, PP = 0.7 ± 0.7 log2 fold-change, respectively) messenger RNA expression (P < 0.05) and downstream NF-κB signaling compared with PLA. Conclusion Protein-polyphenol drink ingestion likely accelerates recovery of muscle function by attenuating inflammatory NF-κB transcriptional signaling, possibly to reduce aberrant tissue degradation rather than increase myoPS rates.
Treatment response correlation between primary tumor and axillary lymph nodes after neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer: a retrospective study based on real-world data.

Background Excellent response of the primary tumor after neoadjuvant therapy may indicate a better axillary status in breast cancer. However, this treatment response correlation has not been investigated in Chinese breast cancer patients. Methods Patients diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with neoadjuvant therapy were included in this retrospective study, conducted at a comprehensive breast cancer institution in China. Clinicopathological factors at baseline were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Furthermore, association rules analyses were used to investigate the correlation between the pathologic response of the primary tumor and that of the axillary lymph nodes based on such factors. Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that breast pathologic response was influenced by tumor size, classification of regional lymph nodes, histological grade, progesterone receptor status, and Ki67 expression. The potential influencing factor for the pathologic response of the axilla was found to be regional lymph node classification. The findings from association rules analyses demonstrated that when a pathologic complete response (pCR) in the breast was achieved among patients with cT2N0 and hormone receptor-negative disease, the axilla response in these patients was also highly likely to be pCR (the likelihood for axilla pCR was more than 90%). However, cT3N1-2 patients hardly achieved pCR for both the primary tumor and axillary lymph nodes (mean confidence, 0.9637). The clinicopathological factors accounting for the inconsistent response between the breast and the axilla were found to be hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, and low Ki67 expression. Conclusions Our findings suggest a strong correlation between breast pCR and axilla pCR among patients with specific characteristics. These findings provide a basis for the selection of candidates for clinical trials on the omission of axillary surgery.
Alcohol misuse among older military veterans: an intersectionality theory perspective

Abstract Background Alcohol misuse among older adults is an emerging public health issue. Older veterans are particularly at risk of developing substance use dependency due to the enduring impacts of military service. The purpose of this study was to test the theory of intersectionality on alcohol misuse by veteran status and age, veteran status and sex, and veteran status and race. Methods Combined data from the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Brief Risk Factor Resilience Survey (BRFSS) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were used in this cross-sectional study. The BRFSS is conducted annually with adults via landline or cellular telephones in all 50 states in the United States, as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Alcohol misuse among individuals aged 65+ was examined by veteran status and the interaction between age, race, and sex using survey-weighted logistic regression models. Results Results show no interaction between veteran status and age or sex. For the interaction between veteran status and race, significant disparities were found. Black/Other race veterans were significantly more likely to engage in binge drinking and heavy drinking compared to nonveterans of the same race, White veterans, and White nonveterans. Conclusion Older veterans who are also Black, Indigenous and/or people of color (BIPOC) are at great risk of engaging in alcohol misuse due to the combined stressors from their intersectional identities. Interventions targeting this population should consider the historical, cultural, and systemic factors that contribute to a disproportionally higher rate of binge drinking and heavy drinking among BIPOC veterans.
Hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy targeting TGFβ enhances the efficacy of irradiation therapy in a preclinical glioblastoma model

Patients with glioblastoma (GBM) have a poor prognosis, and inefficient delivery of drugs to tumors represents a major therapeutic hurdle. Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-derived myeloid cells efficiently home to GBM and constitute up to 50% of intratumoral cells, making them highly appropriate therapeutic delivery vehicles. Because myeloid cells are ubiquitously present in the body, we recently established a lentiviral vector containing matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) promoter, which is active specifically in tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells as opposed to myeloid cells in other tissues, and resulted in a specific delivery of transgenes to brain metastases in HSC gene therapy. Here, we used this novel approach to target transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) as a key tumor-promoting factor in GBM. Transplantation of HSCs transduced with lentiviral vector expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) into lethally irradiated recipient mice was followed by intracranial implantation of GBM cells. Tumor-infiltrating HSC progeny was characterized by flow cytometry. In therapy studies, mice were transplanted with HSCs transduced with lentiviral vector expressing soluble TGFβ receptor II–Fc fusion protein under MMP14 promoter. This TGFβ-blocking therapy was compared with the targeted tumor irradiation, the combination of the two therapies, and control. Tumor growth and survival were quantified (statistical significance determined by t-test and log-rank test). T cell memory response was probed through a repeated tumor challenge. Myeloid cells were the most abundant HSC-derived population infiltrating GBM. TGFβ-blocking HSC gene therapy in combination with irradiation significantly reduced tumor burden as compared with monotherapies and the control, and significantly prolonged survival as compared with the control and TGFβ-blocking monotherapy. Long-term protection from GBM was achieved only with the combination treatment (25% of the mice) and was accompanied by a significant increase in CD8+ T cells at the tumor implantation site following tumor rechallenge. We demonstrated a preclinical proof-of-principle for tumor myeloid cell-specific HSC gene therapy in GBM. In the clinic, HSC gene therapy is being successfully used in non-cancerous brain disorders and the feasibility of HSC gene therapy in patients with glioma has been demonstrated in the context of bone marrow protection. This indicates an opportunity for clinical translation of our therapeutic approach.
Metabolic plasticity of Salmonella enterica as adaptation strategy in river water

ABSTRACT The survival of Salmonella in subtropical river water depends on genetic and metabolic reorganization for the expression of alternative metabolic pathways in response to starvation, which allows Salmonella to use environmental carbon sources (C-sources). However, knowledge regarding the metabolic plasticity of Salmonella serotypes for C-source utilization when exposed to these conditions remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic response and level of environmental C-source consumption by environmental Salmonella (Oranienburg and Saintpaul) and clinical Salmonella (Typhi) serotypes by comparing laboratory growth against exposure to river water conditions. Metabolic characterization was performed using a Biolog® EcoPlateTM containing 31 C-sources. The results obtained under laboratory growth conditions showed that environmental serotypes used 74.1% of the C-sources, whereas the clinical serotype used 45.1%. In contrast, in river water, all strains used up to 96.7% of the C-sources. Salmonella exposure to river water increases its capacity to use environmental C-sources.