Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The right time for senescence

Cellular senescence is a highly complex and programmed cellular state with diverse and, at times, conflicting physiological and pathological roles across the lifespan of an organism. Initially considered a cell culture artifact, senescence evolved from an age-related circumstance to an intricate cellular defense mechanism in response to stress, implicated in a wide spectrum of biological processes like tissue remodelling, injury and cancer. The development of new tools to study senescence in vivo paved the way to uncover its functional roles in various frameworks, which are sometimes hard to reconcile. Here, we review the functional impact of senescent cells on different organismal contexts. We provide updated insights on the role of senescent cells in tissue repair and regeneration, in which they essentially modulate the levels of fibrosis and inflammation, discussing how “time” seems to be the key maestro of their effects. Finally, we overview the current clinical research landscape to target senescent cells and contemplate its repercussions on this fast-evolving field.
3D volume segmentation and reconstruction. Supervised image classification and automated quantification of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in histology slides for safety assessment

Abstract This article presents an automated image-processing workflow for quantitative assessment of SPION accumulation in tissue sections stained with Prussian blue for iron detection. We utilized supervised machine learning with manually labeled features used for training the classifier. Performance of the classifier was validated by 10-fold cross-validation of obtained data and by measuring Dice and Jaccard Similarity Coefficients between manually segmented image and automated segmentation. The proposed approach provides time and cost-effective solution for quantitative imaging analysis of SPION in tissue with a precision similar to that obtained via thresholding method for stain quantification. Furthermore, we exploited the classifiers to generate segmented 3D volumes from histological slides. This enabled visualization of particles which were obscured in original 3D histology stacks. Our approach offers a powerful tool for preclinical assessment of the precise tissue-specific SPION biodistribution, which could affect both their toxicity and their efficacy as nanocarriers for medicines.
Stability of Steel Columns in Case of Fire: Numerical Modeling

The behavior of steel columns submitted to axial compressive forces in case of fire is analyzed by means of numerical programs. Centrally loaded as well as eccentrically loaded columns are considered. A proposal is made for a buckling coefficient in case of central loading and for an interaction formula in case of eccentrical loading, based on the material properties of steel at elevated temperatures as defined in the 1995 Eurocode. The buckling coefficient comprises one scalar parameter that has to be calibrated by comparison with experimental results to ensure the appropriate safety level.
Immunogenicity and Reactogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Patients With Cancer: The CANVAX Cohort Study

PURPOSE The immunogenicity and reactogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with cancer are poorly understood. METHODS We performed a prospective cohort study of adults with solid-organ or hematologic cancers to evaluate anti–SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin A/M/G spike antibodies, neutralization, and reactogenicity ≥ 7 days following two doses of mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, or one dose of Ad26.COV2. S. We analyzed responses by multivariate regression and included data from 1,638 healthy controls, previously reported, for comparison. RESULTS Between April and July 2021, we enrolled 1,001 patients; 762 were eligible for analysis (656 had neutralization measured). mRNA-1273 was the most immunogenic (log10 geometric mean concentration [GMC] 2.9, log10 geometric mean neutralization titer [GMT] 2.3), followed by BNT162b2 (GMC 2.4; GMT 1.9) and Ad26.COV2. S (GMC 1.5; GMT 1.4; P < .001). The proportion of low neutralization (< 20% of convalescent titers) among Ad26.COV2. S recipients was 69.9%. Prior COVID-19 infection (in 7.1% of the cohort) was associated with higher responses (P < .001). Antibody titers and neutralization were quantitatively lower in patients with cancer than in comparable healthy controls, regardless of vaccine type (P < .001). Receipt of chemotherapy in the prior year or current steroids were associated with lower antibody levels and immune checkpoint blockade with higher neutralization. Systemic reactogenicity varied by vaccine and correlated with immune responses (P = .002 for concentration, P = .016 for neutralization). In 32 patients who received an additional vaccine dose, side effects were similar to prior doses, and 30 of 32 demonstrated increased antibody titers (GMC 1.05 before additional dose, 3.17 after dose). CONCLUSION Immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are modestly impaired in patients with cancer. These data suggest utility of antibody testing to identify patients for whom additional vaccine doses may be effective and appropriate, although larger prospective studies are needed. The CANVAX study examines the safety and immunogenicity of COVID vaccines in >750 patients with cancer.
Assessing candidate DNA barcodes for Chinese and internationally traded timber species

Accurate identification of species from timber is an essential step to help control illegal logging and forest loss. However, current approaches to timber identification based on morphological and anatomical characteristics have limited species resolution. DNA barcoding is a proven tool for plant species identification, but there is a need to build reliable reference data across broad taxonomic and spatial scales. Here, we construct a species barcoding library consisting of 1550 taxonomically diverse timber species from 656 genera and 124 families, representing a comprehensive genetic reference data set for Chinese timber species and international commercial traded timber species, using four barcodes (rbcL, matK, trnH–psbA, and ITS2). The ITS2 fragment was found to be the most efficient locus for Chinese timber species identification among the four barcodes tested, both at the species and genus level, despite its low recovery rate. Nevertheless, the barcode combination matK+trnH–psbA+ITS2 was required as a complementary barcode to distinguish closely related species in complex data sets involving internationally traded timber species. Comparative analyses of family‐level discrimination and species/genus ratios indicated that the inclusion of closely related species is an important factor affecting the resolution ability of barcodes for timber species verification. Our study indicates that although nuclear ITS2 is the most efficient single barcode for timber species authentication in China, complementary combinations like matK+trnH–psbA+ITS2 are required to provide broader discrimination power. These newly‐generated sequences enrich the existing publicly available databases, especially for tropical and subtropical evergreen timber trees and this current timber species barcode reference library can serve as an important genetic resource for forestry monitoring, illegal logging prosecution and biodiversity projects.
Description of STRV-2 lasercom flight hardware

Laser communication hardware being built under funding from the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization will be flown on the Space Technology Research Vehicle 2 to be launched as part of Air Force mission TSX-5 in 1998. The flight hardware, which weighs 31.5 pounds and is designed for satellite-to-ground laser communications at data rates up to 1.24 Gb/s and ranges up to 2000 km, will be delivered to JPL for integration in March, 1997. It is hoped that a successful satellite demonstration will validate the capability and readiness of lasercom for inter-satellite crosslinks and low Earth Orbit satellite downlinks to the ground. This paper describes the hardware with photographs.
CFD Analysis of Personal Ventilation with Volumetric Chemical Reactions

This article studies the concentration distribution in the microenvironment of a person and inhalation exposure in a typical office space when modeling first- and second-order reactions. First, wall adsorption of ozone and d-limonene and the resulting volumetric reaction are validated, and 2D computational concentration profiles are compared to the experimental results from Ito (2007b) with reasonable agreement. The validated model is then implemented in a 3D simulation of a typical office space with a seated thermal manikin, floor diffuser, desk, and optional personal ventilation (PV) system. Three cases were modeled: (1) no PV, (2) a PV system consisting of a single round jet, and (3) a novel low-mixing co-flow nozzle that directs fresh air toward the breathing zone (BZ). All concentration distributions showed significant differences compared to the traditional well-mixed assumption. The inhalation exposure was analyzed as an intake fraction (iF) and compared for the three cases. The co-flow nozzle was able to reduce the amount of reaction product inhaled by 5 times compared to a case without PV.
Effect of Dietary Protein Content, Litter and Drinker Type on Ammonia Emission from Broiler Houses

Abstract Using a dynamic chamber technique and passive diffusion samplers, NHr3 emissions were measured individually from 24 pens in an experimental broiler house with a total of about 3600 broiler chickens on litter. Two multi-factorial experiments were conducted in which the influence of litter, drinker type and diets was investigated. There was no difference in NHr3 emission related to litter type or amount used. Litter dry matter content was higher and N losses lower in pens with nipple drinkers than in pens with bell drinkers. An increase in feed protein level significantly increased litter N content, NHr3 emission rate, and total N loss.
Construction women leaders

Executive Summary This report examines the role of women as leaders and the barriers confronting women in leadership positions in the construction industry, with particular emphasis on the North West of England. The outcomes are based on a 12 month project which was partly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) under Policy Field 5, which is 'Improving the role of women in the labour market', and Measure 1, which is 'Research into gender discrimination in employment such as recruitment, pay, segregation, and progression discrimination against women'. A research team from the School of the Built Environment, University of Salford carried out a comprehensive literature review and conducted case studies that included interviews and a document review. The studies were carried out in the construction industry and other sectors such as the health sector and academia. The team identified several barriers confronting women leaders and examined the culture and practices within the construction sector. Further the team identified the other sectors where women are leaders in order to capture the lessons to be learnt from them and to provide recommendations to address the barriers for women's career advancement and to improve their retention within managerial positions in the construction industry. The study identified several strategic leadership skills which need to be highlighted when providing career progression training for employees who work in managerial positions. Skills such as team working, communication, inter personal management, multi tasking, organising and prioritising, negotiation, listening, delegation, time management and the ability to stand on your ground without feeling intimidated in aggressive situations. In addition it highlights the need for a broader understanding of work and people with different responsibilities. The research provided the following recommendations and good practice guidelines for organisations and women leaders, to address the barriers confronting women leaders in the construction industry. Improve the family and work life balance • Develop a flexible working policy to encourage females to continue their working career during critical periods which may include,-Part time working, which allows them to work less than the standard full time hours and offers different options-Flexitime, which allows employees within agreed limits to vary their start and finish times and lunch breaks-Compressed working week, which allows them to carry out a full time job in less than five working days per week • Allow them to work from home at times when they really need to be at home and spend …
Emotion Reactivity and Suicide Ideation Among Chinese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Serial Mediation Model

Abstract Objective Previous studies have indicated that emotion reactivity is an important predictive factor for suicide ideation. However, the mechanism underlying their association has remained largely unexplored. The current study aims to investigate a serial mediation model to examine the potential mechanism in the relationship between emotion reactivity and suicide ideation. Method A total of 5,423 Chinese adolescents (52.7% females, Mage = 14.63 years, SD = 1.25) completed self-report questionnaires regarding emotion reactivity, suicide ideation, distress intolerance, and depressive symptoms. Assessment was conducted for two waves, 6 months apart. Results In descriptive analyses, the prevalence of suicide ideation in this study was 15.3% for Wave 1 and 14.3% for Wave 2. Emotion reactivity, distress intolerance, and depressive symptoms were positively related to suicide ideation. In serial mediation analyses, there was a significant total effect of emotion reactivity on suicide ideation. After controlling for baseline variables, distress intolerance and depressive symptoms played serial mediating roles in the relation between emotion reactivity and suicide ideation, with emotion reactivity influencing suicide ideation through three mediation pathways. Conclusions This study demonstrates a potential mechanism underlying the path from emotion reactivity to suicide ideation. Interventions that target emotion reactivity may be an effective way to reduce the risk of developing suicide ideation. HIGHLIGHTS Emotion reactivity was positively related to suicide ideation. Distress intolerance and depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between emotion reactivity and suicide ideation. Emotion reactivity also exerted an influence on suicide ideation through serial mediation of distress intolerance and depressive symptoms, after controlling for baseline variables.
Human breast tumor derived endothelial cells exhibit distinct biological properties

Excessive angiogenesis characterized by leaky, tortuous, and chaotic vasculature is one of the hallmarks of cancers and is significantly correlated to poor prognosis. Disorganized angiogenesis leads to poor perfusion of anti‐cancer drugs and limits access to immune cells. Hence, impeding angiogenesis is one of the attractive therapeutic targets to inhibit progression and metastasis in several solid tumors including breast.
Murrah Building Collapse: Reassessment of the Transfer Girder

The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building caused a progressive collapse that consumed nearly one half of the building, killing 168 people. The use of a transfer girder along the front face of the building is often cited as the prime reason for the severity of the incident, although this paper provides evidence that suggests the transfer girder may not have been responsible. A method of predicting column failures due to blast is introduced and used to accurately predict the column failure pattern observed during the forensic investigation. The frame was adjusted with the transfer girder replaced with a conventional beam column arrangement. The failure pattern of the reconfigured building indicates that the extent of the collapse would be largely unchanged. This finding has important implications for the design of buildings that may be subjected to accidental or malicious damage. It is argued that the other buildings have demonstrated an ability to survive similar incidents and that the Murrah Building was vulnerable because it combined a glazed facade with open plan architecture, in addition to lacking alternative load paths capable of redistributing loads after multiple column failures
Association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring

Objective: The long-term impact of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) exposure on offspring health is an emerging research area. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between a maternal diagnosis of HDP (gestational hypertension and preeclampsia) and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring. Study Design: A secondary analysis of two parallel multicenter clinical trials of thyroxine therapy for subclinical hypothyroid disorders in pregnancy. Women with singleton non-anomalous gestations diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism or hypothyroxinemia were randomized to thyroxine therapy or placebo. The primary outcome was child intelligence quotient (IQ) at 5 years of age. Secondary outcomes were Bayley-III cognitive, motor and language scores at 12 and 24 months, DAS-II scores at 36 months, the Conners’ Rating Scales-Revised at 48 months, and scores from the Child Behavior Checklist at 36 and 60 months. Associations between neurodevelopment outcomes and maternal HDP were examined using univariable and multivariable analyses. Results: A total of 112 woman-child dyads with HDP were compared with 1067 woman-child dyads without HDP. In univariable analysis, mean maternal age (26.7±5.9 vs. 27.8±5.7 years, p=0.032) and nulliparity (45.5% vs. 31.0%, p=0.002) differed significantly between the two groups. Maternal socioeconomic characteristics did not differ between the groups. After adjusting for potential confounders, there were no significant differences in primary or secondary neurodevelopment outcome between offspring exposed to HDP and those unexposed. However, when dichotomized as low or high scores, we found higher rates of language delay (language scores <85: -1 standard deviation) at two years of age among offspring exposed to HDP compared with those unexposed (46.5% versus 30.5%, adjusted odds ratio 2.22, 95% CI 1.44 - 3.42). Conclusions: In this cohort of pregnant women, HDP diagnosis was associated with language delay at 2 years of age. However, other long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring were not associated with HDP.
Association of CYP2B6 genetic polymorphisms with bupropion and hydroxybupropion exposure: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Bupropion is metabolized to its active metabolite, hydroxybupropion (HB), by the genetically polymorphic cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) enzyme. Despite its significant role in bupropion metabolism, the magnitude of the impact of CYP2B6 genotype on the exposure of bupropion has not been quantified.
Culture-Independent Detection of Poliovirus in Stool Samples by Direct RNA Extraction

The GPLN is a global surveillance system composed of 146 laboratories in 92 countries, in each of the six World Health Organization regions. Laboratory surveillance for PV relies on virus isolation by cell culture to identify PV in stool samples from AFP cases. ABSTRACT Laboratory surveillance for poliovirus (PV) relies on virus isolation by cell culture to identify PV in stool specimens from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases. Although this method successfully identifies PV, it is time-consuming and necessitates the additional biorisk of growing live virus in an increasingly polio-free world. To reduce the risk of culturing PV, the Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) must switch to culture-independent diagnostic methods with sensitivity at least equivalent to that of cell culture procedures. Five commercial nucleic acid extraction kits and one enrichment method were tested for PV extraction efficiency. RNA yield was measured using real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. Based on greater RNA yield, compared with the other kits, the Quick-RNA viral kit was selected for further testing and was optimized using an RNA extraction procedure for stool suspensions. RNA extraction was retrospectively tested with 182 stool samples that had previously tested positive for PVs, in parallel with the standard GPLN virus isolation algorithm. After virus isolation or RNA extraction, real-time RT-PCR assays were performed. RNA extraction was significantly more sensitive than virus isolation (McNemar’s test, P < 0.001). Thereafter, the RNA extraction method was tested in parallel for 202 prospective samples; RNA extraction and virus isolation were not significantly different from each other (McNemar’s test, P = 0.13). Direct RNA extraction was noninferior to current cell culture methods for detecting PV in stool samples. Our results show that direct RNA extraction can make downstream manipulation safer and can reduce the risk of accidental posteradication viral release. The method is amenable to implementation in a wide variety of polio laboratories. IMPORTANCE Successfully identifying poliovirus from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases is a vital role of the Global Polio Laboratory Network to achieve the goals of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Currently, laboratory surveillance relies on virus isolation by cell culture to test for PV present in stool samples. Although this method can identify polioviruses, laboratories must switch to culture-independent methods to reduce the risk associated with growing live viruses in a soon-to-be polio-free world. By implementing this streamlined method, in combination with real-time RT-PCR, laboratories can quickly screen for and type polioviruses of programmatic importance to support the final stages of global polio eradication.
A systematic review of supermarket automated electronic sales data for population dietary surveillance

Abstract Context Most dietary assessment methods are limited by self-report biases, how long they take for participants to complete, and cost of time for dietitians to extract content. Electronically recorded, supermarket-obtained transactions are an objective measure of food purchases, with reduced bias and improved timeliness and scale. Objective The use, breadth, context, and utility of electronic purchase records for dietary research is assessed and discussed in this systematic review. Data sources Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Global Health) were searched. Included studies used electronically recorded supermarket transactions to investigate the diet of healthy, free-living adults. Data extraction Searches identified 3422 articles, of which 145 full texts were retrieved and 72 met inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Data analysis Purchase records were used in observational studies, policy evaluations, and experimental designs. Nutrition outcomes included dietary patterns, nutrients, and food category sales. Transactions were linked to nutrient data from retailers, commercial data sources, and national food composition databases. Conclusion Electronic sales data have the potential to transform dietary assessment and worldwide understanding of dietary behavior. Validation studies are warranted to understand limits to agreement and extrapolation to individual-level diets. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD42018103470