Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure and the extent of disorder in quaternary (Ca-Mg and Ca-Na) aluminosilicate glasses and melts

Abstract The structure of multi-component silicate melts and glasses (e.g., Ca-Mg and Ca-Na aluminosilicates) can provide insight into the properties of natural silicate melts and has implications for relevant magmatic processes. In spite of its importance, the atomic and molecular structure of most multicomponents (e.g., quaternary) melts and glasses has not been fully described, primarily because of insufficient resolution obtained with conventional spectroscopic and scattering methods; the information obtained by these methods is compromised by severe inhomogeneous peak broadening due to structural complexity. Here we report the first 17O and 27Al 3QMAS NMR spectra for quaternary, Ca-Mg and Ca-Na peralkaline aluminosilicate glasses (i.e., M/Al > 1, M is one monovalent or one-half a divalent cation). These data reveal new details into the molecular structure of multi-component aluminosilicate melts, which include the presence of a substantial fraction of VAl in the Ca-Mg aluminosilicate glasses and IVAl-O-IVAl in both glasses at 1 atm. Traditional models of glass structure do not support the presence of such species given these high-silica, peralkaline compositions. These results suggest that Al avoidance is violated in the multi-component peralkaline aluminosilicate glasses, and that the presence of Mg2+ in the melts increases the extent of disorder in the melts (compared with Ca2+ and Na+). These factors lead to an increase in configurational entropy and the activity coefficients of the oxides, and may provide an explanation for the decrease in viscosity of these complex melts
Long‐term trends in the phylogenetic and functional diversity of Anatidae in South China coastal wetlands

Abstract Species loss has attracted much attention among scientists for more than half a century. However, we have little information on the trends in phylogenetic and functional changes behind the species loss although this information is always asynchronous and important for conservation and management. We measured community trends in Anatidae (ducks and geese) for the last 50 yr to quantify trends in phylogenetic and functional diversity patterns coinciding with taxonomic historical dynamics. We used one‐way ANOVAs to test if there was a significant historical trend in communities of Anatidae. We characterized taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of communities. For taxonomic diversity, we used species richness (SR). For phylogenetic diversity, we calculated the standardized effect size of mean pairwise distances (ses.MPD) and the standard effect size of mean nearest taxon distances (ses.MNTD) in communities. For functional diversity, we calculated functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve), functional divergence (FDiv), and the community‐level weighted means (CWM) of trait values for diet, foraging stratum, and body mass, separately. From the 1950s to 2010s, species richness declined without significant trends. The ses.MNTD of Anatidae communities showed no clear trends. However, ses.MPD of Anatidae communities declined dramatically during this period. For functional diversity, functional evenness of diet, foraging stratum, body mass, and functional dispersion of diet, foraging stratum did not increase or decline significantly. However, functional evenness of all traits, functional richness, and functional dispersion of body mass showed declined trends. The basic phylogenetic diversity and species body mass of Anatidae communities declined significantly because of a declining trend in the relative independent branch of geese. This makes it more challenging for implement community recovery in the future. More attention in conservation biology should consider taxonomic diversity and asynchrony in phylogenetic and functional diversity.
The role of neuronal apoptosis in Valproic Acid brain-related teratogenesis: a histochemical and immunohistochemical study in BALB/c mice

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the teratogenic effects of Valproic Acid (VPA) and to investigate the role of apoptosis in neural tissue development. Although an apoptotic activity due to VPA has been reported, a direct connection of VPA-induced apoptosis with embryonic brain and/or spine malformations and teratogenesis has not yet been established. Materials and Methods: VPA was administered to BALB/c mice, from the 7th to the 10th gestational days. Macroscopical congenital anomalies were registered under a stereomicroscope and were further histologically studied. Immunohistochemistry was performed with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Results: Birth defects were described and an increase of the apoptotic activity in the brain was immunohistochemically identified. Conclusions: Considering the increased and very intense TUNEL expression of the neural cells of treated animals’ fetuses, it is suggested that VPA triggers a pathological increase of apoptosis resulting in an imbalance between cell proliferation and cell death, the final result of which is malformation.
Immune-checkpoint inhibitors for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a synopsis of response rates.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. A first-line standard of care (SoC), sorafenib results in median overall survival (OS) of 12 months in Child-Pugh class A patients, and 6 months in Child-Pugh class B patients with objective response rates (ORR) not exceeding 19%. These low efficacy rates have driven research on alternative therapeutic options, particularly immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We reviewed the response rates (estimated by RECIST 1.1 criteria) across patients with advanced HCC treated with ICIs in phase I-IV clinical trials published between December 2012 to December 2020; 17 reports were identified as eligible and included in the quantitative analysis. Within the selected studies pembrolizumab + lenvatinib reached the highest absolute ORR (36%), with first line atezolizumab + bevacizumab showing the second highest ORR (27.3%). With regards to second line therapy nivolumab + ipilimumab reached an ORR of 32% and pembrolizumab alone resulted in an ORR of 17% among sorafenib-experienced patients with advanced HCC. In summary, current studies show high response rates of ICIs in patients with advanced HCC. Nonetheless, further studies are required in the second-line setting to further evaluate ICI therapeutic superiority. Finally, it is of particular interest to examine the therapeutic potential of ICIs for patients with decompensated liver disease (Child-Pugh class C), currently not eligible for any systemic therapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can provide high objective response rates (estimated with RECIST 1.1. criteria) when used as first-line treatment in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly: pembrolizumab + lenvatinib (ORR 36%) or atezolizumab + bevacizumab (ORR 27.3%). In sorafenib-experienced patients, nivolumab + ipilimumab (ORR 32%) provided the highest ORR among ICI-based regimens. Our findings emphasize high therapeutic potential of ICI-based therapies in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, though further studies are required to further validate and define their role in this context.
A Cross-Sectional Study of the Clinical Metrics of Functional Status Tools in Pediatric Critical Illness

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical metrics of functional assessments in pediatric critical illness survivors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: PICU follow-up clinic. PATIENTS: Forty-four PICU survivors 6–12 months post PICU stay, and 52 healthy controls 0–18 years old. INTERVENTIONS: Nil. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Function was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 generic scales and infant scales, the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory–Computer Adaptive Test, and the Functional Status Scale. Muscle strength was assessed by hand grip strength in children greater than or equal to 6 years. Clinical metrics assessed included floor and ceiling effects, known-group, and convergent validity. Floor and ceiling effects were present if the participants achieving the worst or best scores exceeded 15%, respectively. Known-group validity was assessed by comparing scores between those with and without complex chronic conditions and abnormal versus good baseline function. Convergent validity was assessed using partial correlation between two tools. Functional Status Scale and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory physical domain scores showed significant ceiling effects in PICU survivors (69.2% and 15.4%, respectively, achieved the highest possible score). Functional scores were not significantly different between children with or without complex chronic conditions or children with good versus abnormal baseline function. In healthy children, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory physical correlated moderately with hand grip strength (partial r = 0.66; p < 0.001), whereas Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory psychosocial correlated moderately with Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory–Computer Adaptive Test social/cognitive score (partial r = 0.53; p < 0.001). In PICU survivors, only Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory physical and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory–Computer Adaptive Test mobility scores were correlated (partial r = 0.55; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PICU functional assessment tools have varying clinical metrics. Considering ceiling effects, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory–Computer Adaptive Test may be more suitable in survivors than Functional Status Scale. Differences in scores between children with or without complex chronic conditions, and with or without baseline functional impairment, were not observed. Functional assessments likely require a combination of tools to measure the spectrum of pediatric critical illness and recovery.
Molecular characterization of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in thirteen tertiary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Carbapenems are the antibiotics of last-resort for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms. The emergence of resistance is a critical and worrisome problem for clinicians and patients. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are spreading globally, are associated with an increased frequency of reported outbreaks in many regions, and are becoming endemic in many others. OBJECTIVES: Determine the molecular epidemiology of CRE isolates from various regions of Saudi Arabia to identify the genes encoding resistance and their clones for a better understanding of the epidemio-logical origin and national spread. DESIGN: Multicenter, cross-sectional, laboratory-based study. SETTING: Samples were collected from 13 Ministry of Health tertiary-care hospitals from five different regions of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Isolates were tested using the GeneXpert molecular platform to classify CRE. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of various types of CRE in Saudi Arabia. SAMPLE SIZE: 519 carbapenem-resistant isolates. RESULT: Of 519 isolates, 440 (84.7%) were positive for CRE, with Klebsiella pneumoniae (410/456, 90%) being the most commonly isolated pathogen. The distribution of the CRE-positive K pneumoniae resistance genes was as follows: OXA-48 (n=292, 71.2%), NDM-1 (n=85, 20.7%), and NDM+OXA-48 (n=33, 8%). The highest percentage of a single blaOXA-48 gene was detected in the central and eastern regions (77%), while the blaNDM-gene was the predominant type in the northern region (27%). The southern regions showed the lowest percentages for harboring both blaOXA-48 and blaNDM genes (4%), while the western region isolates showed the highest percentage of harboring both genes (14%). CONCLUSION: The results illustrate the importance of molecular characterization of CRE isolates for patient care and infection prevention and control. Larger multicenter studies are needed to critically evaluate the risk factors and trends over time to understand the dynamics of spread and effective methods of control. LIMITATIONS: Lack of phenotypic susceptibility and clinical data. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.
Claudin-1 down-regulation in the prostate is associated with aging and increased infiltration of inflammatory cells in BPH.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related disease that is frequently associated with chronic prostatic inflammation. In previous studies, we detected the presence of PSA protein in the stroma of BPH nodules and down-regulation of junction proteins E-cadherin and claudin-1. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging showed a decrease in tight junctions suggesting the luminal epithelial barrier in BPH tissues may be compromised. Recent in vitro studies showed that stimulation of benign prostate epithelial cell lines with TGF-β1 induced a decrease in claudin-1 expression suggesting that inflammation might be associated with alterations in the prostate epithelial barrier. This study explored the potential associations between aging and loss of junction proteins and the presence of inflammatory cells in prostate tissue specimens from young healthy donors and aged BPH patients. METHODS Immunostaining of serial prostate sections from 13 BPH patients and five healthy young donors was performed for claudin-1, CD4, CD8, CD20 and CD68. H-Scores and the number of inflammatory cells were calculated for the same area in donor, normal adjacent prostate (NAP) to and BPH specimens. Quantification and statistical correlation analyses were performed. RESULTS Claudin-1 immunostaining was inversely associated with increasing age, and inflammation in prostate specimens. B-cell infiltration increased with age and BPH was associated with an increased infiltration of T-cells and macrophages compared to NAP. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that aging is associated with down-regulation of claudin-1 and claudin-1 is further decreased in BPH. Claudin-1 down-regulation was associated with increased infiltration of inflammatory cells in both NAP and BPH tissues. Claudin-1 down-regulation in the aging prostate could contribute to increased prostatic inflammation, subsequently contributing to BPH pathogenesis.
Left ventricular myocardial strain quantification with two- and three-dimensional cardiovascular magnetic resonance based tissue tracking.

Background Cardiovascular magnetic resonance based tissue tracking (CMR-TT) was reported to provide detailed insight into left ventricular (LV) contractile function and deformation with both of two- and three-dimensional (2/3D) algorithms. This study was designed to investigate the feasibility and reproducibility of these two techniques for measuring LV global and segmental strain, and establish gender- and age-related reference values of global multi-dimensional peak strains among large healthy population. Methods We retrospectively recruited 150 healthy volunteers (75 males/females) and divided them into three age groups (G20-40, G41-60 and G61-80). LV global mean and peak strains as well as segmental strains in radial, circumferential and longitudinal directions were derived from post-hoc 2/3D CMR-TT analysis of standard steady-state free precession (SSFP) cine images acquired at 1.5T field strength. Results Both 2D and 3D CMR-TT modalities enable the tracking of LV myocardial tissues and generate global and segmental strain data. By comparison, 3D CMR-TT was more feasible in measuring segmental deformation since it could generate values at all segments. The amplitudes of LV 3D global peak strain were the smallest among those of 2/3D corresponding global mean or peak strains except in the radial direction, and was highly correlated with 2D global mean strains (correlation coefficient r=0.71-0.90), 2D global peak strains (r=0.75-0.89) and 3D global mean strains (all r=0.99). In healthy cohort, LV 3D global peak values were 44.4%±13.0% for radial, -17.0%±2.7% for circumferential and -15.4%±2.3% for longitudinal strain. Females showed significantly larger amplitude of strains than males, especially in G61-80 (P<0.05). The subjects in G61-80 showed larger amplitude of strains than the volunteers in younger groups. The intra- and inter-observer agreement of 2/3D CMR-TT analysis in evaluating LV myocardial global deformation was better than segmental measurement. Conclusions CMR-TT is a feasible and reproducible technique for assessing LV myocardial deformation, especially at the global level. The establishment of specific reference values of LV global and segmental systolic strains and the investigation of dimension-, gender- and age-related differences provide a fundamental insight into the features of LV contraction and works as an essential step in clinical routine.
Hole transport in corona‐charged 12 μm Sheldahl FEP samples interpreted through a field‐dependent schubweg model

Potential build up and decay curves for positive corona-charged 12 μm Sheldahl FEP foils are measured and best interpreted using the conventional field dependent schubweg and a trap structure as follows: shallow traps at the polymer surface (mean life time of 103 s) and quasi-deep traps (mean detrapping time of 7 × 103 s) in the bulk. For this trap, only the product of the mobility by the trapping time is relevant (of the order of 10−10 cm2/V). Comparison between measurements in pure N2 dry air, and ambient air demonstrates that moisture has a not negligible effect on the charge transport, decreasing the surface potential. Evidence is obtained that holes trapped at the surface are located a little beneath the polymer surface confirming previous measurement by von Seggern through heat pulse technique. Aufbau und Abfall des Oberflachenpotentials von in einer Koronaanordnung positiv aufgeladenen 12 μm dicken FEP-Folien (Sheldahl) werden untersucht. Die Resultate konnen am besten gedeutet werden unter der herkommlichen Annahme eines feldabhangigen Schubwegs. Es ergibt sich eine Haftstellenverteilung mit flachen Haftstellen (Tragerverweilzeit 103 s) an der Folienoberflache und mitteltiefe Haftstellen (Tragerverweilzeit 7 × 103 s) im Innern. Dabei ist aber nur das Produkt von Beweglichkeit und Einfangzeit von Bedeutung, das einen Wert von der Grosenordnung 10−10 cm2/V hat. Ein Vergleich von Messungen in reinem N2, trockener Luft und Laboratoriumsluft zeigt, das Feuchtigkeit das Oberflachenpotential verkleinert und somit einen nicht unwesentlichen Einflus hat. Es wird ferner gefunden, das Locher leicht unter der Oberflache der Folien eingefangen werden, in Ubereinstimmung mit fruheren Messungen von von Seggern, die mit der Warmeimpulsmethode erhalten werden.
Extracting Agency and Communion From the Big Five: A Four-Way Competition

Agency and communion are the two fundamental content dimensions in psychology. The two dimensions figure prominently in many psychological realms (personality, social, self, motivational, cross-cultural, etc.). In contemporary research, however, personality is most commonly measured within the Big Five framework. We developed novel agency and communion scales based on the items from the most popular nonpropriety measure of the Big Five—the Big Five Inventory. We compared four alternative scale-construction methods: expert rating, target scale, ant colony, and brute force. Across three samples (Ntotal = 942), all methods yielded reliable and valid agency and communion scales. Our research provides two main contributions. For psychometric theory, it extends knowledge on the four scale-construction methods and their relative convergence. For psychometric practice, it enables researchers to examine agency and communion hypotheses with extant Big Five Inventory data sets, including those collected in their own labs as well as openly accessible, large-scale data sets.
Role of Digital Resources in Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery Training

Abstract Laparoscopic techniques have become the standard for many benign and malignant colorectal pathologies. Recently, the application of robotic-assisted technologies has been, and continues to be, explored. These new technologies require different skill sets and bring novel training challenges, and today's trainees must demonstrate competence in more techniques than ever. Compounding this is the reducing time spent operating in current training programs due to caps on working hours and service pressures. The need for adjunctive training strategies outside the operating room has prompted development of multimedia and digital resources to build the cognitive skills crucial in both nontechnical and technical aspects of surgery. Many are based on principles of cognitive task analysis, breaking down operations, and key decisions into nodal points to be mentally rehearsed. Resources built on this technique have shown improvements in both operative and nonoperative skills, suggesting these resources can advance trainees along the learning curve in minimally invasive surgical techniques. More work to fully elucidate the clinical benefits of such resources is required before their role as a substitute for lost operative training hours can be established. Despite this, alongside other developing technologies such as simulation, they are a promising addition to the armamentarium of the modern-day colorectal trainee.
Dynamic Exchange Properties of the Antiparallel Bacteriochlorophyll c Dimers

The dynamic exchange behavior of the (31R)-type bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c dimer with an antiparallel piggy-back conformation has been investigated by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance exchange spectroscopy (EXSY). The exchange rate between two BChl c molecules in the antiparallel dimer was evaluated from the integrated intensities of cross-peaks due to chemical exchange in the EXSY spectra, and its values were found to dramatically increase with the rise of solvent polarity. The temperature dependence of the exchange rates can be well expressed by the Arrhenius equation, the parameters of which show the correlation of the fast exchange rate with the stability of a transition state in the exchange process. Thermodynamic analysis was also applied to investigate the substituent effect on the exchange rate of the antiparallel dimer. The increase of the exchange rate upon addition of substituents at the peripheral 8-position was mainly attributed to the rise in frequency factor rather than activati.
Novel flavonol-3-O-methylethers from Zanthoxylum pistaciifolium Griseb. (Rutaceae)

Abstract Zanthoxylum pistaciifolium Griseb. is a tree endemic to Cuba, occasionally used in herbal medicine. Previously, the antitrypanosomal activity of a n-hexane–2-butanone extract of Z. pistaciifolium leaves and of its constituent skimmianine were published. In the current study a more thorough examination of the respective extract is performed, which led to the isolation and identification of three flavonoids, more specifically, the flavonol-3-O-methylethers kaempferol-3-O-methylether (1) and novel compounds kaempferol-3-O-methylether-5-O-β-D-glucoside (2) and kaempferol-8-hydroxy-3,7-O-dimethylether-5-O-β-D-glucoside (3). All compounds were screened for their antimicrobial and antiprotozoal activity and cytotoxicity towards MRC-5 SV2 cells. Compound 1 showed a moderate to weak activity against Trypanosoma cruzi (IC50 30.8 μM), T. brucei (IC50 15.4 μM) and Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 53.8 μM), but also showed cytotoxicity (CC50 19.0 μM). Compounds 2 and 3 did not display activity in any of the assays (IC50 and CC50 > 64 μM).