Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elevated Soluble TNF-Receptor 1 in the Serum of Predementia Subjects with Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1 (TNF-R1)-mediated signaling is critical to the regulation of inflammatory responses. TNF-R1 can be proteolytically released into systemic blood circulation in a soluble form (sTNF-R1), where it binds to circulating TNF and functions to attenuate TNF-mediated inflammation. Increases of peripheral sTNF-R1 have been reported in both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and vascular dementia (VaD). However, the status of sTNF-R1 in predementia subjects (cognitive impairment, no dementia, CIND) is unknown, and putative associations with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), as well as with longitudinal changes in cognitive functions are unclear. We measured baseline serum sTNF-R1 in a longitudinally assessed cohort of 93 controls and 103 CIND, along with neuropsychological evaluations and neuroimaging assessments. Serum sTNF-R1 levels were increased in CIND compared with controls (p < 0.001). Higher baseline sTNF-R1 levels were specifically associated with lacunar infarcts (rate ratio = 6.91, 95% CI 3.19–14.96, p < 0.001), as well as lower rates of cognitive decline in the CIND subgroup. Our data suggest that sTNF-R1 interacts with vascular cognitive impairment in a complex manner at predementia stages, with elevated levels associated with more severe CSVD at baseline, but which may subsequently be protective against cognitive decline.
Rapid Identification of Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Apoptosis and Its Potential Role in Process Robustness Assessment

Currently, the assessment of process robustness is often time-consuming, labor-intensive, and material-intensive using process characterization studies. Therefore, a simple and time-saving method is highly needed for the biopharmaceutical industry. Apoptosis is responsible for 80% of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell deaths and affects the robustness of the cell culture process. This study’s results showed that a more robust process can support cells to tolerate apoptosis for a longer time, suggesting that the robustness of the process could be judged by the ability of cells to resist apoptosis. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a rapid method to detect the apoptosis of CHO cells. In trying to establish a new method for detecting apoptosis in large-scale cell cultures, glucose withdrawal was studied, and the results showed that CHO cells began to apoptose after glucose was consumed. Then, the concentration of extracellular potassium increased, and a prolongation of apoptosis time was observed. Further study results showed that the process with poor robustness was associated with a higher proportion of apoptosis and extracellular potassium concentration, so potassium could be used as a biochemical index of apoptosis. The strategy we present may be used to expedite the assessment of process robustness to obtain a robust cell culture process for other biologics.
Major Causes of Death among Older Adults after the Great East Japan Earthquake: A Retrospective Study

This retrospective study investigated the 3-year impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) of 2011 on deaths due to neoplasm, heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, and senility among older adults in the primarily affected prefectures compared with other prefectures, previous investigations having been more limited as regards mortality causes and geographic areas. Using death certificates issued between 2006 and 2015 (n = 7,383,253), mortality rates (MRs) and risk ratios (RRs) were calculated using a linear mixed model with the log-transformed MR as the response variable. The model included interactions between the area category and each year of death from 2010 to 2013. The RRs in the interaction significantly increased to 1.13, 1.17, and 1.28 for deaths due to stroke, pneumonia, and senility, respectively, in Miyagi Prefecture in 2011, but did not significantly increase for any of the other areas affected by the GEJE. Moreover, increased RRs were not reported for any of the other years. The risk of death increased in 2011; however, this was only significant for single-year impact. In 2013, decreased RRs of pneumonia in the Miyagi and Iwate prefectures and of senility in Fukushima Prefecture were observed. Overall, we did not find evidence of strong associations between the GEJE and mortality.
Teaching and Learning of Biosciences in a Digital World: Challenges and Effective Teaching Strategies During and After Covid-19 Pandemic

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has had a huge influence on bioscience education in which digital technology and transformation has gained momentum and this pattern appears to be set to persist for the foreseeable future. Adopting new technology and changing biosciences education models, processes, and procedures has posed challenges to all stakeholders within the ecosystem. Aside from the move to online or distance learning, bioscience courses in higher education also necessitate the development of critical practical skills, which is yet to be fully addressed in digital platform context. This article examines the challenges and issues that biosciences education faces, as well as the tactics, methodologies, and alternatives that have been employed in the present pandemic context to reform biosciences education to enhance its resiliency and sustainability. This article also defines effective teaching criteria in biosciences education and considers whether higher education institutions can use virtual learning to offer the newest bioscience skills and knowledge to be future-proof and job-ready.
Heparin-based versus bivalirudin-based anticoagulation in pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A systematic review

Introduction Optimal anticoagulation therapy is essential for the prevention of thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications in pediatric patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Recent data have demonstrated bivalirudin has the potential to surpass and replace heparin as the anticoagulant of choice. Methods We conducted a systematic review comparing the outcomes of heparin-based versus bivalirudin-based anticoagulation in pediatric patients supported on ECMO to identify the preferred anticoagulant to minimize bleeding events, thrombotic complications, and associated mortality. We referenced the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. These databases were searched from inception through October 2022. Our initial search identified 422 studies. All records were screened by two independent reviewers using the Covidence software for adherence to our inclusion criteria, and seven retrospective cohort studies were identified as appropriate for inclusion. Results In total, 196 pediatric patients were anticoagulated with heparin and 117 were anticoagulated with bivalirudin while on ECMO. Across the included studies, it was found that for patients treated with bivalirudin, trends were noted toward lower rates of bleeding, transfusion requirements, and thrombosis with no difference in mortality. Overall costs associated with bivalirudin therapy were lower. Time to therapeutic anticoagulation varied between studies though institutions had different anticoagulation targets. Conclusion Bivalirudin may be a safe, cost-effective alternative to heparin in achieving anticoagulation in pediatric ECMO patients. Prospective multicenter studies and randomized control trials with standard anticoagulation targets are needed to accurately compare outcomes associated with heparin versus bivalirudin in pediatric ECMO patients.
Impact of Infection with Flavobacterium psychrophilum and Antimicrobial Treatment on the Intestinal Microbiota of Rainbow Trout

The diversity and composition of intestinal microbiota in rainbow trout have been studied using next-generation sequencing (NGS), although few studies have examined the effects of antimicrobials. We evaluated the effect of antibiotics florfenicol and erythromycin and infection with or without Flavobacterium psychrophilum on the intestinal microbiota in rainbow trout juveniles (30–40 g) using NGS. Prophylactic oral antibiotic treatments were administered for 10 days before groups of fish were injected intraperitoneally with virulent F. psychrophilum. Intestinal content (allochthonous bacteria) was collected at day −11, 0, 12, and 24 p.i. , and the v3–v4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq. Before prophylactic treatment, Tenericutes and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla identified and Mycoplasma was the most abundant genus. Fish infected with F. psychrophilum had decreased alpha diversity and a high abundance of Mycoplasma. Fish administered florfenicol had increased alpha diversity compared to the control at day 24 p.i. , although both florfenicol and erythromycin-treated fish had a higher abundance of potential pathogens, specifically Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. Mycoplasma disappeared after treatment but appeared again after day 24. This study demonstrates that prophylactic oral treatment with antibiotics florfenicol and erythromycin as well as F. psychrophilum infection changed the composition of intestinal microbiota in rainbow trout juveniles that did not recover by day 24 p.i. and further long-term effects on the host need to be investigated.
Comparison of tilmicosin to gamithromycin for on arrival treatment of bovine respiratory disease in feeder steers

A trial was conducted in a commercial feedlot in western Canada using fall-placed feedlot calves at moderate risk of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) to compare the efficacy of gamithromycin to tilmicosin for metaphylactic treatment of BRD. First-pull treatment rates for BRD were significantly lower (P=0.01) in calves in the gamithromycin group than in the tilmicosin group. There were no other significant differences in health or performance between the two groups. The 6.6 percentage point difference in treatment rates for BRD equated to a net advantage of $0.03 CAN/head for those calves given gamithromycin as a metaphylactic drug on arrival compared to metaphylactic treatment with tilmicosin. Drug cost and disease risk should be carefully evaluated in each feedlot and group of incoming cattle to determine the most cost-effective metaphylaxis protocol.
Study of Coagulation Disorders and the Prevalence of Their Related Symptoms among COVID-19 Patients in Al-Jouf Region, Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected millions of people around the world. COVID-19 patients, particularly those with the critical illness, have coagulation abnormalities, thrombocytopenia, and a high prevalence of intravascular thrombosis. Objectives: This work aims to assess the prevalence of coagulation disorders and their related symptoms among COVID-19 patients in the Al-Jouf region of Saudi Arabia. Subjects and methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 160 COVID-19 patients. Data were collected from the medical records department of King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Sakaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. The socio-demographic data, risk factors, coagulation profile investigation results, symptom and sign data related to coagulation disorders, and disease morbidity and mortality for COVID-19 patients were extracted from medical records, and the data were stored confidentially. Results: Males represented the highest prevalence of COVID-19 infection at 65%; 29% were aged 60 or over; 28% were smokers; and 36% were suffering from chronic diseases, with diabetes mellitus representing the highest prevalence. Positive D-dimer results occurred in 29% of cases, with abnormal platelet counts in 26%. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that the dysregulation of the coagulation cascade and the subsequent occurrence of coagulation disorders are common in coronavirus infections. The results show absolute values, not increases over normal values; thus, it is hard to justify increased risk and presence based on the presented data.
Study of localized surface-plasmon-resonance-based optical fiber sensor

A U-bent fiber-optic sensor based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of spherical silver nanoparticles has been studied. The redshift of the absorption maximum of the bound silver nanoparticles was observed due to the increment of nanoparticle density on the surface of the fiber. On the other hand, the blueshift was observed when the refractive index of the environment surrounding the nanoparticle was increased. These observations were analyzed in terms of a single nanoparticle theoretical framework. The departure from the spherical symmetry of the nanoparticle is attributed to the plasmonic coupling effect between the randomly distributed nanoparticles on the surface of the fiber core. This phenomenon can be cleverly exploited to develop different kinds of optical fiber sensors.
Features matching using natural language processing

The feature matching is a basic step in matching different datasets. This article proposes shows a new hybrid model of a pretrained Natural Language Processing (NLP) based model called BERT used in parallel with a statistical model based on Jaccard similarity to measure the similarity between list of features from two different datasets. This reduces the time required to search for correlations or manually match each feature from one dataset to another.
Effects of inclination and rotation on the convective heat transfer characterstics of discrete heat sources

The dissertation presents a three-dimensional (3-D) steady computational model and a two-dimensional (2-D) unsteady model using developed programs, together with experimental studies, to investigate effects of inclination and rotation on natural convection characteristic from an array of discrete heat sources in a closed enclosure. Effects of inclination on natural convection in a rectangular cavity with a 3x3 array of discrete heaters on one wall are presented firstly. Generally, the heaters in the same row have almost the same temperature in the experiments, due to weak velocity in the horizontal direction. In-depth 2-D and 3-D numerical simulations for laminar flow are implemented and validated by experimental results. Complex flow pattern evolution, flow field, and temperature fields are observed due to interactions of buoyancy forces tangential and normal to the heater surfaces. With increasing Ra*, the flow pattern evolutions with three main characteristics are identified in the horizontal orientation (heated from below): toroidal convection, bimodal convection and R-B convection. The horizontal orientation is the most desirable orientation for heat transfer. When the enclosure is inclined toward this orientation, the flow and temperature fields become complex and distorted, which greatly enhance heat transfer for the top row of heaters. Edge effect increases heat transfer greatly. In the situation that the effects of edge can be negligible or small, the results of 2-D model are close to those of 3-D model. The effect of Prandtl number in the range 0.7 to 120, to the overall Nusselt number, is small. Optimal locations of the discrete heat sources in the vertical orientation are not uniform after the onset of convection. Increasing Ra* value has the effect of pushing the heat sources towards the starting cold current of the clockwise circulation. i ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library
Physical and numerical aspects of thermoacoustic instabilities in annular combustion chambers

Modern pollutant emission regulation has led to the use of lean premixed combustion in gas turbine combustors, a technology which is prone to develop ther- moacoustic instabilities. This phenomenon is the result of a resonant feedback between combustion, acoustic waves and flow dynamics in confined combustion chambers. In this work, combustion instabilities are studied using a Helmholtz equation with a reactive term that takes into account the coupling between combustion and acoustics. The discretization of the resulting Helmholtz equation on unstructured meshes leads to a large sparse non-symmetric complex nonlinear eigenvalue problem of size N (N is equal to the number of nodes in the mesh). Its solution provides the frequencies and growth rates (complex eigenvalues) and the structure (eigenvectors) of the resonant modes of the combustor. Since dangerous combustion instabilities occur mostly at low frequencies, the nonlinear eigenvalue problem must be solved in order to obtain the smallest magnitude eigenvalues. The nonlinear problem is linearized using a fixed point iteration procedure. This leads to a sequence of linear eigenproblems which must be solved iteratively in order to obtain one nonlinear eigenpair. Therefore, efficient and robust parallel eigensolvers for the solution of linear problems are investigated, and strategies to accelerate the solution of the sequence of linear eigenproblems are also proposed. In modern gas turbines with annular combustors, the most dangerous resonant modes often take the form of azimuthal waves, making their study of first importance. This work focuses on azimuthal modes in annular combustors: their stability and nature (standing, spinning or mixed) are investigated as a function of the symmetry of the configuration. Thanks to the efficiency of the algorithms for the solution of the thermoacoustic eigenproblem, the 3D Helmholtz solver AVSP is used for the study of combustion instabilities of an annular industrial combustor.
Non-premixed combustion in supersonic turbulent flows - A numerical study for co-flowing H2-air jets

AIAA 99-4917 Non-Premixed Combustion in Supersonic Turbulent Flows: a Numerical Study for Co-flowing H,-Air Jets Val6ry Morgenthaier, Luis Fernando Figueira da Silva, Bruno Deshaies Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Laboratoire de Combustion et de DBtonique 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, FRANCE Vladimir A. Sabel’nikov Central Aero-Hydrodynamical Institute TsAGl Zhukovskii; Moscow Region; 140160; RUSSIA
Evaporation, Heat Transfer, and Velocity Distribution in Two-Dimensional and Rotationally Symmetrical Laminar Boundary-Layer Flow

The fundamental boundary layer equations for the flow, temperature and concentration fields are presented. Two dimensional symmetrical and unsymmetrical and rotationally symmetrical steady boundary layer flows are treated as well as the transfer boundary layer. Approximation methods for the calculation of the transfer layer are discussed and a brief survey of an investigation into the validity of the law that the Nusselt number is proportional to the cube root of the Prandtl number is presented.
Ensemble the recent architectures of deep convolutional networks for skin diseases diagnosis

If you decided to utilize deep learning in any image processing application, you would be faced with the issue, “Which architecture should I use? ” due to the proliferation of existing CNN models and their advancements. Unfortunately, your answer will only be partially correct because each alternative has its advantage. The underlying idea of this research is to combine recent CNN models instead of selecting just one for optimal accuracy. Our study applied this idea to color lesion images to diagnose skin diseases. By ensembling, the recent CNNs, over 99% classification accuracy and over 97% sensitivity were achieved for the ISIC‐2017 dataset, which contains 2000 lesion images. Our mean sensitivity and AUC values for classifying 10000 color lesion images into seven different skin diseases (ISIC‐2018) were 0.825% and 0.922%, respectively. In categorizing over 25000 images from the ISIC 2019 dataset, our suggested technique achieved a mean sensitivity of over 90%.
Cauchy problem for a model system of the radiating gas: Weak solutions with a jump and classical solutions

This paper deals with the global existence and the time asymptotic state of solutions to the initial value problems for the system derived from approximating a one-dimensional model of a radiating gas. When the spatial derivative of the initial data is larger than a certain negative critical value, a unique solution exists globally in time. But if it is smaller than another negative critical value, the spatial derivative of the corresponding solution blows up in a finite time. Thus it is natural to think about weak solutions in a suitable sense. As a prototype of weak solutions, we consider the Cauchy problem with the Riemann initial data of which the left state is larger than the right state. This condition ensures the existence of the corresponding traveling wave, connecting the left state and the right state asymptotically. This Riemann problem admits a global weak solution, provided that the magnitude of the initial discontinuity is smaller than 1/2. Although the solution has a discontinuity, we have the uniqueness of a solution in weak sense by imposing the entropy condition. Furthermore, the magnitude of the discontinuity contained in the solution decays to zero with an exponential rate as the time t goes to infinity. Also, the solution approaches the corresponding traveling wave with the rate t-1/4 uniformly. The first result is obtained by the maximal principles. To show the second result, we have used an energy method with some estimates, which are also obtained through maximal principles.
Capillary Impact on Tidal Response of Groundwater in Unconfined Aquifers With Finite Thickness, Anisotropy and Wellbore Storage—An Analytical Model

This study develops a novel, two‐dimensional analytical model to study capillary effects on Earth tidal responses of groundwater in unconfined aquifers. It differs from the previous model by accounting for effects of finite aquifer thickness, anisotropy and wellbore storage. We test the present model against the previous model and numerical simulations and apply it to the field data. Several significant results are obtained: (a) At high conductivity ( Kr>10−5 ${K}_{r} > {10}^{-5}$ m/s), the effect of capillary zones dominates tidal responses of groundwater and causes higher amplitude ratio and smaller phase shift compared with that predicted by the unconfined aquifer model without a capillary zone. At low conductivity ( Kr<10−5 ${K}_{r}< {10}^{-5}$ m/s), the effect of capillary zones on the tidal responses diminishes. (b) The impact of the finite thickness on the tidal response is regulated by the anisotropy. If the anisotropic ratio is small ( Kz/Kr<1 ${K}_{z}/{K}_{r}< 1$ ), the impact of thickness may be negligible; at high anisotropic ratio ( Kz/Kr>1 ${K}_{z}/{K}_{r} > 1$ ), however, the amplitude ratio decreases and the phase shift increases, and the response differs substantially from that of the previous model, which is caused by a change in the flow pattern. (c) Wellbore storage have significant impacts on the tidal response at low conductivity ( Kr< ${K}_{r}< $ 10−5 m/s) but negligible impact at higher conductivity. (d) The present model marginally improved the fit by the half‐space model to the field data from a well in SW China, showing that the remaining misfit to the field data by models with capillarity cannot be due to finite aquifer thickness, anisotropy, or wellbore storage.
Influence of nanorod absorption spectrum width on superluminality effect for laser pulse propagation

We investigate the influence of the finite absorption spectrum width on the soliton formation and superluminality phenomenon at a femtosecond pulse propagation in a medium with noble nanoparticles. These effects take place if a positive phase-amplitude grating is induced by laser radiation. We take into account the two-photon absorption (TPA) of laser radiation by nanorods, and time-dependent nanorod aspect ratio changing due to their melting or reshaping because of laser energy absorption, and the nanorod absorption spectrum width. On the basis of computer simulation we demonstrate these effects in a medium with positive phase-amplitude grating, induced by laser radiation, if a weak laser energy absorption takes place on the laser pulse dispersion length.