Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the paragenetic modes of minerals: A mineral evolution perspective

Abstract A systematic survey of 57 different paragenetic modes distributed among 5659 mineral species reveals patterns in the diversity and distribution of minerals related to their evolving formational environments. The earliest minerals in stellar, nebular, asteroid, and primitive Earth contexts were dominated by relatively abundant chemical elements, notably H, C, O, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Ti, Cr, and Fe. Significant mineral diversification subsequently occurred via two main processes, first through gradual selection and concentration of rarer elements by fluid-rock interactions (for example, in hydrothermal metal deposits, complex granite pegmatites, and agpaitic rocks), and then through near-surface biologically mediated oxidation and weathering. We find that 3349 mineral species (59.2%) are known from only one paragenetic context, whereas another 1372 species (24.2%) are associated with two paragenetic modes. Among the most genetically varied minerals are pyrite, albite, hornblende, corundum, magnetite, calcite, hematite, rutile, and baryte, each with 15 or more known modes of formation. Among the most common paragenetic modes of minerals are near-surface weathering/oxidation (1998 species), subsurface hydrothermal deposition (859 species), and condensation at volcanic fumaroles (459 species). In addition, many species are associated with compositionally extreme environments of highly differentiated igneous lithologies, including agpaitic rocks (726 species), complex granite pegmatites (564 species), and carbonatites and related carbonate-bearing magmas (291 species). Biological processes lead to at least 2707 mineral species, primarily as a consequence of oxidative weathering but also through coal-related and other taphonomic minerals (597 species), as well as anthropogenic minerals, for example as byproducts of mining (603 minerals). However, contrary to previous estimates, we find that only ~34% of mineral species form exclusively as a consequence of biological processes. By far the most significant factor in enhancing Earth’s mineral diversity has been its dynamic hydrological cycle. At least 4583 minerals—81% of all species—arise through water-rock interactions. A timeline for mineral-forming events suggests that much of Earth’s mineral diversity was established within the first 250 million years. If life is rare in the universe, then this view of a mineralogically diverse early Earth provides many more plausible reactive pathways over a longer timespan than previous models. If, however, life is a cosmic imperative that emerges on any mineral- and water-rich world, then these findings support the hypothesis that life on Earth developed rapidly in the early stages of planetary evolution.
The Diagnostic value of TTF-1 and P63 Immunostaining in the Classification of Non Small cell Lung Carcinoma

Aim/Objectives: The aim of the present study was to differentiate non small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC), especially for distinguishing adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma by Immunohistochemistry Materials and Methods: A prospective study of all the patients presented to department of Pulmonary Medicine, Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, suspected of having lung carcinoma Results: Among, 30 cases of Non Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC), 21 cases were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma and 9 cases were squamous cell carcinoma. Patient age ranged from 41-80 years with peak incidence between 61-70 years (40%). Males are affected most commonly than females (63%). Weight loss (47%) and cough (43%) were the commonest presenting symptoms. 73% cases were associated with smoking. In the present study 100% cases diagnosed as adenocarcinoma on histomorphology showed TTF-1 positivity , 100% cases diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma on histomorphology showed P63 positivity . Conclusion: Analysis of a lung biopsy is very important as many lung tumors cannot be resected. To get a concrete diagnosis the use of molecular techniques as well as IHC in concert is very important. TTF1 and P63 are complementary for differentiating adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and is now important because new therapies have been developed that have different therapeutic or adverse effects depending on the histologic type.
Nanophotonics

High optical absorptivity or a large absorption cross-section is necessary to fully utilize the irradiation of light for photothermal heating. Recently, titanium nitride (TiN) nanostructures have been demonstrated to be robust optical absorbers in the optical range owing to their nonradiative decay processes enhanced by broad plasmon resonances. Because the photothermally generated heat dissipates to the surroundings, suppressing heat transfer from TiN nanostructures is crucial for maximizing the photothermal temperature increase. In the current work, compared to the planar TiN film, high-aspect-ratio TiN nanostructures with subwavelength periodicities have been demonstrated to enhance the photothermal temperature increase by a 100-fold using nanotube samples. The reason is attributed to the extremely anisotropic effective thermal conductivities. Our work has revealed that high-aspect-ratio TiN nanostructures are effective in improving photothermal heating, and they can be used in various applications, such as solar heating, chemical reactions, and microfluidics.
OM-85 Broncho-Vaxom®, a Bacterial Lysate, Reduces SARS-CoV-2 Binding Proteins on Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells

In clinical studies, OM-85 Broncho-Vaxom®, a bacterial lysate, reduced viral respiratory tract infection. Infection of epithelial cells by SARS-CoV-2 depends on the interaction of its spike-protein (S-protein) with host cell membrane proteins. In this study, we investigated the effect of OM-85 on the expression of S-protein binding proteins by human bronchial epithelial cells. Human bronchial epithelial cells were treated with OM-85 over 5 days. The expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4), and a disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) were determined by Western blotting and quantitative RT-PCR. Soluble (s)ACE2, heparan sulfate, heparanase, and hyaluronic acid were assessed by ELISA. OM-85 significantly reduced the expression of ACE2 (p < 0.001), TMPRSS2 (p < 0.001), DPP4 (p < 0.005), and cellular heparan sulfate (p < 0.01), while ADAM17 (p < 0.02) expression was significantly upregulated. Furthermore, OM-85 increased the level of sACE2 (p < 0.05), hyaluronic acid (p < 0.002), and hyaluronan synthase 1 (p < 0.01). Consequently, the infection by a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein pseudo-typed lentivirus was reduced in cells pretreated with OM-85. All effects of OM-85 were concentration- and time-dependent. The results suggest that OM-85 might reduce the binding of SARS-CoV-2 S-protein to epithelial cells by modification of host cell membrane proteins and specific glycosaminoglycans. Thus, OM-85 might be considered as an add-on for COVID-19 therapy.
Developing contextualised literature-informed competency frameworks for middle managers in education

The role of a manager within any organisation is often complex and multifaceted. Overtime management theory has developed in an effort to appreciate these complexities and suggest frameworks from which managers should operate. However, should management and the role of a manager be considered generic? Or, instead should we appreciate the distinctions dependant on the context in which a manager is operating in? This paper focuses on education middle managers working in vocational education and training using the Further Education sector in England as a case study to investigate the role. Utilising systematic review the paper will discuss literature on management theory, competency theory and further education management. It considers a range of management theories such as scientific, human relations and open systems theory discussing how these have informed the development of competency theory and frameworks, highlighting the strengths and limitations of prior studies. Building from these studies, this paper creates a new way to develop management competency frameworks. This is illustrated by proposing a contextualised literature-informed competency framework for further education middle managers. Challenging the generic approach to management competency frameworks and providing a platform for empirical studies that develop frameworks contextualised to the external operating environment of the manager.
Work Environment Characteristics and Emotional Intelligence as Correlates of Nurses’ Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

This cross-sectional survey study examined the relationship between Canadian nurses’ work environment characteristics, emotional intelligence, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction (n = 1271). Psychological demands, decision latitude, supervisor and coworker support, and emotional intelligence (EI) were significantly correlated with nurses’ compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, except for two EI subscales. Furthermore, these relationships were stronger for compassion satisfaction than compassion fatigue, suggesting that they are influenced by different factors. Our results highlight the importance of creating reasonable psychological demands, empowering nurses to make decisions in their jobs, supportive relationships at work, and fostering the development of nurses’ EI.
The Next Generation of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics for Inherited Retinal Disease

Inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) are a diverse group of conditions that are often characterized by the loss of photoreceptors and blindness. Recent innovations in molecular biology and genomics have allowed us to identify the causative defects behind these dystrophies and to design therapeutics that target specific mechanisms of retinal disease. Recently, the FDA approved the first in vivo gene therapy for one of these hereditary blinding conditions. Current clinical trials are exploring new therapies that could provide treatment for a growing number of retinal dystrophies. While the field has had early success with gene augmentation strategies for treating retinal disease based on loss-of-function mutations, many novel approaches hold the promise of offering therapies that span the full spectrum of causative mutations and mechanisms. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the approaches currently in development including a discussion of retinal neuroprotection, gene therapies (gene augmentation, gene editing, RNA modification, optogenetics), and regenerative stem or precursor cell-based therapies. Our review focuses on technologies that are being developed for clinical translation or are in active clinical trials and discusses the advantages and limitations for each approach.
An Interpolatory Algorithm for Distributed Set Membership Estimation in Asynchronous Networks

This article addresses distributed estimation problems over asynchronous networks in a set membership framework. The agents in the network asynchronously collect and process measurements, communicate over a possibly time-varying and unbalanced directed graph and may have nonnegligible computation times. Measurements are affected by bounded errors so that they define feasible sets containing the unknown parameters to be estimated. The proposed algorithm requires each agent to compute a weighted average of its estimate and those of its neighbors and to project it onto a local feasible set. By assuming convexity of the measurement sets, the local estimates are shown to converge to a common point belonging to the global feasible set.
Expression Levels of RAD51 Inversely Correlate with Survival of Glioblastoma Patients

Simple Summary Identifying prognostic and predictive biomarkers for glioblastoma (GBM), a primary brain tumor, is essential in improving patient survival. We utilized gene expression profiling to investigate a uniform population of GBM patients who had been treated with surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy versus normal brain tissue, and identified high RAD51 expression as a poor prognostic marker that is amenable to therapeutic intervention. This observation was confirmed utilizing a publicly available gene expression dataset in a cohort of GBM patients. Abstract Treatment failures of glioblastoma (GBM) occur within high-dose radiation fields. We hypothesized that this is due to increased capacity for DNA damage repair in GBM. We identified 24 adult GBM patients treated with maximal safe resection followed by radiation with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide. The mRNA from patients was quantified using NanoString Technologies’ nCounter platform and compared with 12 non-neoplastic temporal lobe tissue samples as a control. Differential expression analysis identified seven DNA repair genes significantly upregulated in GBM tissues relative to controls (>4-fold difference, adjusted p values < 0.001). Among these seven genes, Cox proportional hazards models identified RAD51 to be associated with an increased risk of death (HR = 3.49; p = 0.03). Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis showed that patients with high RAD51 expression had significantly shorter OS compared to low levels (median OS of 10.6 mo. vs 20.1 mo.; log-rank p = 0.03). Our findings were validated in a larger external dataset of 162 patients using publicly available gene expression data quantified by the same NanoString technology (median OS of 13.8 mo. vs. 17.4 mo; log-rank p = 0.006). Within this uniformly treated GBM population, RAD51, in the homologous recombination pathway, was overexpressed (vs. normal brain) and inversely correlated with OS. High RAD51 expression may be a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target in GBM.
A Bio-Inspired Active Prostate Phantom for Adaptive Interventions

In this paper, a novel concept for a phantom of the prostate is introduced. To study and improve automated, robotized medical interventions, reliable phantoms are essential. During brachytherapy and biopsy, the prostate will undergo displacements and changes in orientation due to the needle insertion. Therefore, there is a shift in the target regions for radioactive seed deposition or biopsy acquisition. These shifts need to be taken into account for precise dosimetry. Furthermore, the organ can undergo deformations due to edemas causing further spatial changes in the target structure. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a bio-inspired phantom (BIP) for the prostate that is equipped with sensors and coupled with a numerical simulation for estimating deformations due to external forces. There is also a cavity within the phantom where pressure can be applied to simulate prostate growth due to inflammation. The phantom has been conceived to be MRI-safe. It can thus be deployed for the in-bore study of automated brachytherapy and biopsy. In our evaluation, we verify that changes in position of the phantom target can be correctly estimated and that these motions are plausible from a clinical point of view.
Polar Views in Nephrology Pro : Buttonhole cannulation of arteriovenous fi stulae

Arteriovenous fistulae remain the access of choice for most hemodialysis patients. However, several factors limit their uptake and long-term patency, resulting in suboptimal prevalent rates in many high-income countries. Patients place considerable value on the avoidance of vascular access complications, pain and disfigurement. The approach to cannulation is a modifiable practice that could improve patient-important outcomes, with buttonhole needling offering some theoretical advantages over the standard rope-ladder and area methods. In this narrative review, we summarize key findings of studies reporting the benefits and risks associated with the buttonhole method, highlighting methodological limitations as well as recent refinements to the technique that may represent potential opportunities for reducing infection risk.We highlight the need for greater certainty surrounding the potential benefits of the buttonhole cannulation technique and propose some directions for future research.
Typology of Consumers According to the Declared Consumption of Food Products and Non-Alcoholic Beverages. Polish and Slovakian Case Studies

The aim of the paper is to create a typology of consumers based on the consumption of food products and non-alcoholic beverages for two countries. The research was conducted among non-randomized respondents representing 900 Polish and 300 Slovakian households. The Polish part of the study was carried out in the Silesian and Mazovian provinces. The Slovakian part of the study was carried out in the whole country. To identify four groups of consumers, the paper used the clustering of objects method, especially the Two-Step method: Ward (hierarchical) cluster analysis and non-hierarchical k-means cluster analysis. The authors represent the difference in the results achieved between types of consumers. Poles and Slovakians similarly perceive the financial status of their households and the attention paid to food price when buying it. However, there is a significant difference in food consumption. When eating, Slovaks are influenced more by vegetarian and vegan fashion trends and emotional experience than price. On the contrary, Poles are more interested in the health aspect of the food consumed and its quantity when emphasizing the price, which results from being less financially satisfied. The results of the research provide information about changes in consumer attitudes in the researched area and their thinking about their consumption, respectively lifestyle, and illustrate some trends in consumer behavior for the current and post-COVID-19 era.
Profit Islamic Bank from Mudharabah and Musharakah Finance with Islamic Social Responsibility Disclosure

This research was conducted to determine the effect of mudharabah and musharakah financing on net profit of Islamic commercial banks in Indonesia. This study uses the annual financial statements of Islamic commercial banks obtained from the Financial Services Authority and annual reports on the website of Islamic commercial banks for the period 2010-2019. The test results found that mudharabah financing had a significant effect on the net profit of Islamic banks, this also strengthened Islamic social responsibility of Islamic commercial banks. But unlike mudharabah financing, musharakah financing actually has a negative effect on the net profit of Islamic commercial banks, which means that the higher the Islamic bank distributes musharakah financing, the rate of profit will decrease which results in the weakening of Islamic social responsibility disclosure. It is recommended that Islamic banks exercise greater caution when selecting consumers for mudharabah financing, as this type of financing carries a higher risk but also a higher profit share if the financing is successful. This research has a limitation in that it focuses exclusively on Islamic commercial banks in Indonesia, although additional research might be conducted by sampling Sharia Business Unit and Sharia Rural Bank.
Experimental Determination of Molecular Weight-Dependent Miscibility of PBAT/PLA Blends

Blends of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and polylactide (PLA) have attracted the attention of academia and industry as a sustainable material. Unfortunately, this combination results in problems related to poor miscibility on the molecular level. This study mainly aims to determine the influence of molecular weights on the miscibility of PBAT/PLA blends. First, polymers with various molecular weights were obtained by the hydrolysis of PBAT and methanolysis of PLA. Second, the two components were solution-blended with different molecular weights and weight ratios. Third, each blend was heated to the molten state and subsequently stored at room temperature. Finally, the samples were tested using DSC and SEM. The thermal analysis indicated that the difference in glass transition temperature between both components decreased from about 91 °C to 57 °C and 0 °C, as the number-average molecular weights (Mn) decreased from 52/127 to 9.4/9 and 6.3/6.6 kg/mol. Moreover, the morphology changed from phase-separated with dispersed large particles gradually to uniform and homogeneous. This experimental work validated the trends predicted in the previous study, namely that PBAT/PLA blends changed the state from immiscible to partially miscible to fully miscible with decreasing Mn values. Moreover, we discussed the influencing factors such as weight ratio, temperature, and molecular structure on the miscibility. Based on the results, this work contributes to developing partially miscible and compatible blends without additives.
Chemodiversity of Essential Oils in Piper L. (Piperaceae) Species from Marambaia Island, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil

This study aimed to determine the pattern of chemodiversity from the chemical composition of the leaf essential oil (EO) of ten species and two varieties of Piper (Piper amalago L.; P. amplum Kunth; P. anisum (Spreng.) Angely; P. arboreum Aubl. var. arboreum; P. arboreum var. hirtelum Yunck. ; P. diospyrifolium Kunth; P. divaricatum G. Mey. ; P. gaudichaudianum Kunth; P. lepturum (Kunth) C.DC. var. lepturum; P. lepturum var. angustifolium (C.DC.) Yunck. ; P. mollicomum Kunth and P. vicosanum Yunck. ) collected in the Marambaia Island, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The main compounds identified in the EO were Linalool, Guaiol, 1-Butyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene, iso-Leptospermone, α-Eudesmol, trans-Nerolidol, Germacrene D, β-Elemene, 7-epi-α-Selinene, 1,8-Cineole, α-Eudesmol, α-Copaene, trans-γ-Bisabolene, Bicyclogermacrene and β-Bisabolol. In the chemometric analysis performed, it was possible to find correlations between the taxonomic characteristics of the genus Piper and the chemical composition of EO. In addition to registering trans-Caryophyllene as chemodiversity standard for this genus in this region. It is also the first study to compare the chemical composition of Piper arboreum Aubl. var. arboreum and Piper arboreum var. hirtelum Yunck.
Sex Differences in Clinical Course and Intensive Care Unit Admission in a National Cohort of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19

Males have a higher risk for an adverse outcome of COVID-19. The aim of the study was to analyze sex differences in the clinical course with focus on patients who received intensive care. Research was conducted as an observational retrospective cohort study. A group of 23,235 patients from 83 hospitals with PCR-confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 between 4 February 2020 and 22 March 2021 were included. Data on symptoms were retrieved from a separate registry, which served as a routine infection control system. Males accounted for 51.4% of all included patients. Males received more intensive care (ratio OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.51–1.71) and mechanical ventilation (invasive or noninvasive, OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.73–2.01). A model for the prediction of mortality showed that until the age 60 y, mortality increased with age with no substantial difference between sexes. After 60 y, the risk of death increased more in males than in females. At 90 y, females had a predicted mortality risk of 31%, corresponding to males of 84 y. In the intensive care unit (ICU) cohort, females of 90 y had a mortality risk of 46%, equivalent to males of 72 y. Seventy-five percent of males over 90 died, but only 46% of females of the same age. In conclusion, the sex gap was most evident among the oldest in the ICU. Understanding sex-determined differences in COVID-19 can be useful to facilitate individualized treatments.