Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding homoepitaxial growth of horizontal kinked GaN nanowires

Epitaxial horizontal nanowires (NWs) have attracted much attention due to their easily large-scale integration. From the reported literature, epitaxial growth is usually driven by minimization of strain between NW and substrate, which governs the growth along with specific crystallographic orientation. Here, we report the first homoepitaxial growth of horizontal GaN NWs from a surface-directed vapor−liquid−solid growth method. The NWs grow along with six symmetry-equivalent 〈1-100〉 (m-axis) directions, exhibiting a random 60°/120° kinked configuration. Owing to homoepitaxial growth, strain could be eliminated. From the obtained results, we suggest that the formation the horizontal NWs, and their growth direction /orientation is not directly related to the strain minimization. A general rule based on the epitaxial relationship and potential low-index growth orientation is proposed for understanding the arrangement of epitaxial horizontal NWs. It is deduced that kinking of the horizontal NWs was attributed to unintentional guided growth determined by the roughness of the substrates’ surface. This study provides an insight for a better understanding of the evolution of epitaxial horizontal NWs, especially for the growth direction/orientation.
Droplet collisions in turbulence

Liquid droplets occur in many natural phenomena and play an important role in a large number of industrial applications. One of the distinct properties of droplets as opposed to solid particles is their ability to merge, or coalesce upon collision. Coalescence of liquid drops is of importance in for example the food industry, where the shelf life of emulsion type of products is often elongated with absence of coalescence, rocket propulsion, where fuel and oxidizer are separately injected and ignite upon coalescence, the semiconductor industry, where droplets of molten tin are targeted by a laser to produce extreme ultraviolet light, and during the formation of rain. One might not realize it immediately, but the outcome of a droplet collision is not always coalescence, but also bouncing can occur. In most of the mentioned cases the droplet collisions do not take place in a stationary environment but in an environment that flows with respect to the droplets or is even turbulent. The aim of the current study is to gain insight into the effect of external turbulence on the outcome of droplet collisions. When two droplets collide it might appear that the drops are in contact, but in reality there will be a thin film of surrounding fluid in between the droplets. When this film becomes so thin that Van der Waals forces between the molecules of the two drops come into effect a hole will be initiated in the film and the droplets will coalesce. The associated thickness is in the order 60 nm. If the film thickness does not decrease to this value, the droplets will bounce. The time it takes from the start of drop interaction to film rupture is called the drainage time, denoted by t_drainage. The time during which the drops are in apparent contact is called the interaction time t_interaction. A droplet collision will thus lead to coalescence when t_{drainage} 30). The external flow is thus of significant influence on the outcome of droplet collisions in terms of bouncing or coalescence. A possible explanation for this hindered coalescence is the fact that a compressional flow in the direction of the collision axis induces an internal drop flow which counteracts film drainage. If this explanation is valid the measured effect is not due to turbulence. References (1) Qian and Law, Regimes of coalescence and separation in droplet collision. J. Fluid Mech 331, 1997. (2) Miller and Scriven, The oscillations of a fluid droplet immersed in another fluid. J. Fluid Mech 32, 1968.
Novel modes of non-invasive ventilation in chronic respiratory failure: a narrative review

Home non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is central in the management of chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure and is associated with improvements in clinically relevant outcomes. Home NIV typically involves delivery of fixed positive inspiratory and expiratory airway pressures. These pressures do not reflect physiological changes to respiratory mechanics and airway calibre during sleep, which may impact on physiological efficacy, subsequent clinical outcomes, and therapy adherence. Novel ventilator modes have been designed in an attempt to address these issues. Volume-assured pressure support modes aim to automatically adjust inspiratory pressure to achieve a pre-set target tidal volume. The addition of auto-titrating expiratory pressure to maintain upper airway calibre is designed for patients at risk of upper airway collapse, such as obese patients and those with obstructive sleep apnoea complicating their hypercapnic failure. Heterogeneity in setup protocols, patient selection and trial design limit firm conclusions to be drawn on the clinical efficacy of these modes. However, there are data to suggest that compared to fixed-pressure NIV, volume-assured modes may improve nocturnal carbon dioxide, sleep quality and ventilator adherence in select patients. The use of the forced oscillation technique to identify expiratory flow limitation and adjust expiratory pressure to eliminate it is the most recent addition to these advanced modes and is yet to be assessed in formal clinical trials.
Prediction of Shoulder Pain in Youth Competitive Swimmers: The Development and Internal Validation of a Prognostic Prediction Model

Background: Knowledge of predictors for shoulder pain in swimmers can assist professionals working with the athlete in developing optimal prevention strategies. However, study methodology and limited available data have constrained a comprehensive understanding of which factors cause shoulder pain. Purpose: To investigate risk factors and develop and internally validate a multivariable prognostic model for the prediction of shoulder pain in swimmers. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 201 pain-free club- to international-level competitive swimmers were followed for 2 consecutive seasons. The cohort consisted of 96 male (mean ± SD age, 13.9 ± 2.2 years) and 105 female (13.9 ± 2.2 years) swimmers. Demographic, sport-specific, and musculoskeletal characteristics were assessed every 6 months. Swim-training exposure was observed prospectively. Shoulder pain interfering with training was the primary outcome. Multiple imputation was used to cope with missing data. The final model was estimated using multivariable logistic regression. We applied bootstrapping to internally validate the model and correct for overoptimism. Results: A total of 42 new cases of shoulder pain were recorded during the study. Average duration of follow-up was 1.1 years. Predictors included in the final model were acute:chronic workload ratio (odds ratio [OR], 4.31; 95% CI, 1.00-18.54), competitive level (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.06-0.63), shoulder flexion range of motion, posterior shoulder muscle endurance (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99), and hand entry position error (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.16-0.91). After internal validation, this model maintained good calibration and discriminative power (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.60-0.94). Conclusion: Our model consists of parameters that are readily measurable in a swimming setting, allowing the identification of swimmers at risk for shoulder pain. Multivariable logistic regression showed the strongest predictors for shoulder pain were regional competitive swimming level, acute:chronic workload ratio, posterior shoulder muscle endurance, and hand entry error.
Spectral Verification of the Mechanisms behind FBG-Based Ultrasonic Guided Wave Detection

Ultrasonic guided wave (UGW) detection with fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based sensors has received increasing attention in the last decades due to the ability to perform non-destructive inspection (NDI) of large plate-like surfaces with a network of lightweight and multiplexed sensors. For accurate UGW measurements, several studies concluded that the ratio between the wavelength of the UGW and the length of the FBG should be above 7. However, shorter FBGs suffer from a lower FBG reflectivity and less steep slopes in the reflection spectrum. In this work we experimentally verified the effect of a passing UGW on the Bragg peak of FBG sensors of different lengths. By performing edge-filtering interrogation throughout the FBG’s reflection spectrum, we were able to reconstruct the FBG’s spectral response to a UGW in function of time. Our experimental findings are partially in line with those in the literature considering the UGW wavelength to FBG length ratio and the corresponding Bragg peak changes. We experimentally show for the first time that for shorter FBG sensors, the strain modulation is translated mostly into Bragg peak shifting, while for longer FBG sensors, Bragg peak deformation takes over as main mechanism. Despite the different mechanism for the latter, the UGW can still be detected by edge-filtering on the steepest slope, and with a much higher sensitivity.
Update on PCOS: Consequences, Challenges and Guiding Treatment.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common reproductive endocrine disorders in women and despite this, diagnostic challenges, delayed diagnosis and less than optimal treatment regimens plague the condition. The International PCOS network, consisting of geographically diverse international experts in PCOS as well as consumers, engaged in a multi-year international evidence-based guideline development process that was jointly sponsored by the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). The guideline was published in 2018 and endorsed by more than 40 international societies involved in PCOS. Translation of this evidence-based guideline to medical practice and consumer groups remains a priority. However, there remain many challenges to both understanding the diagnosis and treatment of PCOS. Evidence suggests that both clinicians and consumers are not satisfied with the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment options. This review summarizes the important findings for diagnosis and treatment from the guidelines and expands on recent developments in the literature since its publication. Special attention to diagnosis at the ends of the reproductive spectrum are discussed and remaining areas of controversy are noted. Additionally, the review highlights some of the remaining challenges in the understanding and management of PCOS to help guide clinicians and investigators in this perplexing condition.
Parental feeding practices and the relationship with parents in female adolescents and young adults with eating disorders: A case control study

Objective Perceived parental influence on diet in early adolescence in the context of the parental relationship had previously not been studied in a clinical sample. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between eating disorders and characteristics of the relationship with parents and the parental feeding practices in early adolescence. Methods 21 female adolescents and young adults with an eating disorder (ED)–bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa–and 22 females without eating disorder (healthy control; HC), aged between 16 and 26, were assessed via self-report questionnaires for problematic eating behaviour, relationship with parents, perceptions of parent’s feeding practices at the age of 10–13 years and personality. Statistical evaluation was performed by means of group comparisons, effect sizes, regression analyses and mediator analyses. Results Adolescent and young adult females with ED reported more fears/overprotection and rejection/neglect by their mothers and less self-responsibility in terms of eating behaviour during adolescence than did the HC. The relationship with the fathers did not differ significantly. Females who perceived more cohesion, rejection/neglect and fears/overprotection by the mother were more likely to suffer from an ED. Rejection/neglect by both parents were associated with less self-acceptance of the young females with even stronger effect sizes for the fathers than the mothers. Harm prevention in the young females was a partial mediator between fears/overprotection and the drive for thinness. Conclusions The parental relationship is partly reflected in the self-acceptance and self-responsibility in eating of the adolescent and young females, both of them are particularly affected in EDs. Stressors in the parent-child relationship should be targeted in treatment of eating disorders. Nutritional counselling for parents might be useful in early adolescence.
Generation of Cochlear Hair Cells from Sox2 Positive Supporting Cells via DNA Demethylation

Regeneration of auditory hair cells in adult mammals is challenging. It is also difficult to track the sources of regenerated hair cells, especially in vivo. Previous paper found newly generated hair cells in deafened mouse by injecting a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine into the inner ear. This paper aims to investigate the cell sources of new hair cells. Transgenic mice with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression controlled by the Sox2 gene were used in the study. A combination of kanamycin and furosemide was applied to deafen adult mice, which received 4 mM 5-azacytidine injection into the inner ear three days later. Mice were followed for 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after surgery to track hair cell regeneration. Immunostaining of Myosin VIIa and EGFP signals were used to track the fate of Sox2-expressing supporting cells. The results show that (i) expression of EGFP in the transgenic mice colocalized the supporting cells in the organ of Corti, and (ii) the cell source of regenerated hair cells following 5-azacytidine treatment may be supporting cells during 5–7 days post 5-azacytidine injection. In conclusion, 5-azacytidine may promote the conversion of supporting cells to hair cells in chemically deafened adult mice.
Chromosome maps of Drosophila

INTRODUCTION. MUTAGENS IN COOKED FOOD. History of the Study on Cooked Food Mutagens. A List of Mutagenic Heterocyclic Amines. DNA Modification In Vitro and In Vivo with Heterocyclic Amines. DIETARY CARCINOGENS AND MUTAGENS FROM PLANTS. MUTAGENICITY OF CHEMICALS ADDED TO FOODS. MUTAGEN PRECURSORS IN FOOD. Mutagen Formation in Muscle Meats and Model Heating Systems. Nitrosatable Precursors of Mutagens in Foods. Nitrite-Reactive Phenols Present in Smoked Foods and Amino-Sugars Formed by the Maillard Reaction as Precursors of Genotoxic Arenediazonium Ions or Nitroso Compounds. METHODS FOR DETECTION OF MUTAGENS IN FOOD. Methods for Separation and Detection of Heterocyclic Amines. Mycotoxins. FATE OF INGESTED MUTAGENS. Activation of Food Mutagens. Metabolic Fate of Heterocyclic Amines From Cooked Food. MECHANISMS OF FOOD-BORNE INHIBITORS OF GENOTOXICITY RELEVANT TO CANCER PREVENTION. MUTAGENIC AND ANTIMUTAGENIC COMPOUNDS IN BEVERAGES. PREVENTION OF MUTAGEN FORMATION. Prevention of Het erocyclic Amine Formation in Relation to Carcinogenesis. Prevention of Nitrosamine Formation. CARCINOGENICITY OF FOOD MUTAGENS AND THE RISK ASSESSMENT. Short Review of the Carcinogenicities of Mutagens in Food Pyrolysates. Quantitative Cancer Risk Assessment of Heterocyclic Amines in Cooked Food. Epidemiologic Studies of Fecal Mutagenicity, Cooked Meat Ingestion, and Risk of Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Risk Assessment of Food Additives and Food Contaminants. REGULATORY ASPECTS OF FOOD MUTAGENS INCLUDING FOOD ADDITIVES AND CONTAMINANTS. PERSPECTIVES. c. 296 pp., 7x10, 51 tables, 73 illus. , due December 1990, ISBN 0-8493-5877-9.
Compound heterozygosity for hemoglobin variant Hb-Broomhill and the Southeast Asian α-thalassemia deletion does not worsen outcome: a case report of two unrelated patients

We report two unrelated cases of compound heterozygosity for hemoglobin (Hb) variant Broomhill and the Southeast Asian (- - SEA/) α-thalassemia deletion, whose clinical features and laboratory findings have never been reported. Hematological analyses revealed abnormal values for both cases as α-thalassemia traits, and capillary electrophoresis suggested an abnormal peak that was incompletely separated from the Hb A peak. A suspension array system and Sanger sequencing were used to characterize the genotypes. Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of Hb Broomhill [α114(GH2)Pro→Ala; HBA1: c.343C>G]. Eventually, both cases were accurately diagnosed as compound heterozygotes for Hb Broomhill and the (- - SEA/) α-thalassemia deletion, which is the first known report of these variants. This information will be useful when providing appropriate genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis.
Force et couple dans les pinces magnétiques : paysage énergétique de la protéine hRad51 sur ADN double-brin

Hautement conserve, de la bacterie jusqu'a l’Homme, la recombinaison homologue est indispensable a la survie de tout organisme vivant. Chez l’humain, la proteine hRad51 (human Rad51) y joue un role cle en s’autoassemblant au site de cassure sur les extremites simple-brin d’une molecule d’ADN endommagee pour former le filament nucleoproteique. Ce filament est capable a lui seul d’effectuer la plupart des operations necessaires au bon deroulement de la recombinaison homologue; il va permettre la reconnaissance d’homologie, l’appariement des sequences homologues et l’invasion de brins requise pour la synthese de l’ADN manquant.La recombinaison homologue est un processus complexe impliquant de multiples partenaires. Pour mieux comprendre le role du filament nucleoproteique au sein de la reaction, on se propose d’etudier ce dernier en l’absence de tout partenaire. Plus precisement, on observe le comportement mecanique de filaments hRad51-ADNdb en fonction des conditions chimiques. La formation du filament nucleoproteique modifie la conformation de l’ADN sur lequel il s’assemble, l’allongeant de 50% et le deroulant de 43% dans le cas d’une molecule double-brin. Les pinces magnetiques sont un outil permettant de controler la force et la torsion appliquees a une unique molecule d’ADN double-brin (ADNdb), elles sont donc l’outil ideal pour sonder les proprietes mecaniques de filaments nucleoproteiques. Le systeme des pinces magnetiques a ete modifie afin de mesurer des parametres mecaniques precedemment inaccessibles tel que le couple ressenti ou exerce par le filament. Le but de cette these a ete d’etudier les proprietes mecano-chimiques des filaments nucleoproteiques tout en essayant de tracer le paysage energetique qui regit les transitions de ces systemes.
Valence and arousal of words in visual and conceptual interference control efficiency

Cognitive control efficiency is susceptible to the emotional state of an individual. The aim of the current experiment was to search for the role of valence and arousal of emotion-laden words in a performance efficiency of a modified emotional Stroop task (EST) combined with the flanker task. Both paradigms allow for the measurement of the interference control, but interference appears on different stages of stimulus processing. In the flanker task, the interference is perceptual, while in EST, it is based on the emotional meaning of stimuli. We expected to find the effects of emotionality of words, that is, arousal and valence levels, for interference measured with EST. In a series of two experiments, the results confirmed that a high arousal level enlarges the reaction latencies to the EST. We also identified interaction between valence and arousal in shaping reaction latencies. We found the flanker congruency effect. We did not find interactions between emotional factors and flanker congruency. This suggests that interference measured with the EST and flanker task are in fact different from one another, and while using the modified EST combined with the flanker task, the word-meaning effects do not interfere with pure perceptual interferences.
MiR-140 protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating NF-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-140 on rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) through regulating the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, including sham group (n=12), model group (n=12) and miR-140 mimics group (n=12). In sham group, only thoracotomy was performed without ischemia-reperfusion. In model group, the MIRI model was first established, followed by intervention using normal saline. In miR-140 mimics group, the MIRI model was first established as well, followed by intervention using miR-140 mimics. The content of serum creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was detected, and the morphology of myocardial tissues was observed via hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Meanwhile, the relative protein expression of NF-κB was determined using Western blotting. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was conducted to evaluate the expression of miR-140. The content of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, cell apoptosis was detected via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULTS The content of serum CK and LDH rose significantly in model group and miR-140 mimics group when compared with sham group (p<0.05). However, it declined significantly in miR-140 mimics group compared with model group (p<0.05). HE staining results showed that there were no obvious abnormalities in the morphology of myocardial tissues in sham group. However, there were injury and inflammatory infiltration in myocardial tissues in model group. Meanwhile, the structure and morphology of myocardial tissues were improved in miR-140 mimics group compared with those in model group. Western blotting revealed that the relative protein expression of NF-κB was evidently higher in model group and miR-140 mimics group than sham group (p<0.05). However, it was remarkably lower in miR-140 mimics group than that in model group (p<0.05). QPCR results demonstrated that the relative expression of miR-140 in model group and miR-140 mimics group was obviously lower than sham group (p<0.05). However, a markedly higher expression of miR-140 was observed in miR-140 mimics group than model group (p<0.05). ELISA results indicated that model group and miR-140 mimics group had remarkably higher content of IL-1β and TNF-α than sham group (p<0.05). However, miR-140 mimics group had remarkably lower content of IL-1β and TNF-α than model group (p<0.05). TUNEL assay indicated that the apoptosis rate increased obviously in model group and miR-140 mimics group compared with sham group (p<0.05). However, it declined significantly in miR-140 mimics group compared with model group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS MiR-140 suppresses inflammation and apoptosis in myocardial tissues of MIRI rats through inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby exerting a cardioprotective effect.