Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kinetic Studies on the Catalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B by Hydrogen Peroxide: Effect of Surfactant Coated and Non-Coated Iron (III) Oxide Nanoparticles

Iron (III) oxide (Fe3O4) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) coated iron (III) oxide (SDS@Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method for application in the catalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RB) dye. The synthesized NPs were characterized using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy techniques and tested in the removal of RB. A kinetic study on RB degradation by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was carried out and the influence of Fe3O4 and SDS@Fe3O4 magnetic NPs on the degradation rate was assessed. The activity of magnetic NPs, viz. Fe3O4 and SDS@Fe3O4, in the degradation of RB was spectrophotometrically studied and found effective in the removal of RB dye from water. The rate of RB degradation was found linearly dependent upon H2O2 concentration and within 5.0 × 10−2 to 4.0 × 10−1 M H2O2, the observed pseudo-first-order kinetic rates (kobs, s−1) for the degradation of RB (10 mg L−1) at pH 3 and temperature 25 ± 2 °C were between 0.4 and 1.7 × 104 s−1, while in presence of 0.1% w/v Fe3O4 or SDS@Fe3O4 NPs, kobs were between 1.3 and 2.8 × 104 s−1 and between 2.6 and 4.8 × 104 s−1, respectively. Furthermore, in presence of Fe3O4 or SDS@Fe3O4, kobs increased with NPs dosage and showed a peaked pH behavior with a maximum at pH 3. The magnitude of thermodynamic parameters Ea and ΔH for RB degradation in presence of SDS@Fe3O4 were 15.63 kJ mol−1 and 13.01 kJ mol−1, respectively, lowest among the used catalysts, confirming its effectiveness during degradation. Furthermore, SDS in the presence of Fe3O4 NPs and H2O2 remarkably enhanced the rate of RB degradation.
Cohabitation, infection and breast cancer risk

For 50 years, the effect of age at first birth (AFB) has been thought to explain the strong association between breast cancer risk and age at first marriage (AFM), which was first reported in 1926. The independent effects of AFM, AFB and number of sexual partners adjusted for parity and other risk factors were estimated in reanalysis of a large international case‐control study conducted in 1979 to 1982 (2274 breast cancers, 18209 controls) by unconditional logistic regression. Respective AFB and AFM breast cancer odds ratios (ORs) for ≥31 years relative to ≤18 years were 3.01 (95% CI 2.44‐3.71; P(trend) < . 0001) and 3.24 (95% CI 2.62‐4.01; P(trend) < . 0001) in univariate analyses. Among married parous women, these ORs fell to 1.38 (95% CI 0.98‐1.95; P(trend) < . 03) for AFB and 1.70 (95% CI 1.17‐2.46; P(trend) < . 002) for AFM when fitted together in multivariate analysis including other risk factors. A similar adjusted OR for AFM ≥ 31 years relative to ≤18 years was seen among married nulliparous women (OR 1.71, 95% CI 0.98‐2.98; P(trend) < . 001). AFM (a surrogate for age at starting prolonged cohabitation) is thus strongly associated with breast cancer risk. This suggests an effect of close contact. Identifying the (probably infective) mechanism might lead to effective prevention of breast cancer. The independent effect of AFB is smaller and could be due to residual confounding.
A joint frailty‐copula model for meta‐analytic validation of failure time surrogate endpoints in clinical trials

In a meta‐analysis framework, the classical approach for the validation of time‐to‐event surrogate endpoint is based on a two‐step analysis. This approach often raises estimation issues. Recently, we proposed a one‐step validation approach based on a joint frailty model. This approach was quite time consuming, despite parallel computing, due to individual‐level frailties used to take into account heterogeneity in the data at the individual level. We now propose an alternative one‐step approach for evaluating surrogacy, using a joint frailty‐copula model. The model includes two correlated random effects treatment‐by‐trial interaction and a shared random effect associated with the baseline risks. At the individual level, the joint survivor functions of time‐to‐event endpoints are linked using copula functions. We used splines for the baseline hazard functions. We estimated parameters and hazard function using a semiparametric penalized marginal likelihood method, considering various numerical integration methods. Both individual‐level and trial‐level surrogacy were evaluated using Kendall's tau and coefficient of determination. The performance of the estimators was evaluated using simulation studies. The model was applied to individual patient data meta‐analyses in advanced ovarian cancer to assess progression‐free survival as a surrogate for overall survival, as part of the evaluation of new therapy. The model showed good performance and was quite robust regarding the integration methods and data variation, regardless of the surrogacy evaluation criteria. Kendall's Tau was better estimated using the Clayton copula model compared to the joint frailty model. The proposed model reduces the convergence and model estimation issues encountered in the two‐step approach.
Randomized Controlled Crossover Trials of the Pharmacokinetics of PRC-063, a Novel Multilayer Extended-Release Formulation of Methylphenidate, in Healthy Adults

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Abstract Purpose/Background PRC-063 is a once-daily, extended-release oral formulation of methylphenidate hydrochloride developed to provide early and prolonged symptom improvement in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Methods/Procedures We conducted 3 randomized, open-label crossover studies of the pharmacokinetics of PRC-063 in healthy, nonobese men and women aged 18 to 45 years. PRC-063 (100 mg/d) was compared with immediate-release methylphenidate (20 mg, 3 times daily) when administered on a single day under fasted and fed conditions and at steady state (day 5 of repeat dosing under fasted conditions). The pharmacokinetics of PRC-063 administered as capsule contents sprinkled on apple sauce, yoghurt, or ice cream were also investigated. Findings/Results PRC-063 demonstrated biphasic absorption, with 2 distinct peak plasma concentrations. Intake of a high-fat, high-calorie meal did not increase the peak plasma methylphenidate concentration (Cmax) or extent of absorption (area under the curve), however; it resulted in slower uptake versus a fasted state. During repeated dosing, steady state was reached with no further accumulation of methylphenidate from day 3. At steady state, PRC-063 gave higher evening and trough plasma methylphenidate levels than immediate-release methylphenidate (3 times daily). The pharmacokinetics of PRC-063 sprinkled on food were comparable to that of intact capsules. Reported adverse events (AEs) were consistent with the established safety profile of methylphenidate. There were no serious AEs, but 3 subjects discontinued the repeat-dosing study because of AEs assessed as possibly related to study treatment. Implications/Conclusions Our data indicate that PRC-063 can be taken with or without food or by sprinkling capsule contents on food.
Effect of sex hormones on coronavirus disease 2019: an analysis of 5,061 laboratory-confirmed cases in South Korea

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of female sex hormones on the clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 patients using national claims data. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the Health Insurance Review and Assessment data of 5,061 adult patients with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 in South Korea from January 20 to April 8, 2020. To evaluate the effect of hormone therapy on clinical outcomes among women, subgroup analyses using age-matched case-control data were performed. Results: Coronavirus disease 2019 was most prevalent in women in the 20-39 years age group (1,250 [44.14%]). Men were more likely to receive oxygen therapy (144 [6.46%] vs 131 [4.63%], P = 0.004), be admitted to the intensive care unit (60 [2.69%] vs 53 [1.87%], P = 0.049), and have a longer length of stay after admission to the intensive care unit (19.70 ± 11.80 vs 14.75 ± 9.23, P = 0.016). However, there was no significant difference in the mortality rate (men vs women: 42 [1.88%] vs 42 [1.48%], P = 0.267). In the multivariable Cox analysis, older age and underlying comorbidities, but not sex, were independent risk factors for mortality. Hormone therapy was not significantly associated with clinical outcomes. Conclusions: This study, using nationwide data, suggests that female sex hormones are not associated with the morbidity and clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in South Korea.
A Study of Associations Between Plasma Metformin Concentration, Lactic Acidosis, and Mortality in an Emergency Hospitalization Context.

OBJECTIVES To determine the plasma metformin concentration threshold associated with lactic acidosis and analyze the outcome in metformin-treated patients with lactic acidosis hospitalized in an emergency context. DESIGN A retrospective, observational, single-center study. SETTING Emergency department and ICUs at Amiens University Hospital (Amiens, France). PATIENTS All consecutive patients with data on arterial lactate and pH up to 12 hours before or after a plasma metformin assay within 24 hours of admission, over a 9.7-year period. INTERVENTION None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The study population consisted of 194 metformin-treated diabetic patients (median age: 68.6; males: 113 [58.2%]); 163 (84%) had acute kidney injury, which was associated variously with dehydration (45.4%), sepsis (41.1%), cardiogenic shock (20.9%), and diabetic ketoacidosis (16%). Eighty-seven patients (44.8%) had lactic acidosis defined as an arterial blood pH less than 7.35 and a lactate concentration greater than or equal to 4 mM, and 38 of them (43.7%) died in the ICU. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a metformin concentration threshold of 9.9 mg/L was significantly associated with the occurrence of lactic acidosis (specificity: 92.9%; sensitivity: 67.1%; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.83; p < 0.0001). Among lactic acidosis-positive patients, however, in-ICU death was less frequent when the metformin concentration was greater than or equal to 9.9 mg/L (33.9% vs 61.3% for < 9.9 mg/L; p = 0.0252). After adjustment for the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, in-ICU death was positively associated with prothrombin activity less than 70% and negatively associated with the initiation of renal replacement therapy at admission. CONCLUSIONS In metformin-treated patients admitted in an emergency context, a plasma metformin concentration greater than or equal to 9.9 mg/L was strongly associated with the presence of lactic acidosis. This threshold may assist with the delicate decision of whether or not to initiate renal replacement therapy. Indeed, the outcome of lactic acidosis might depend on the prompt initiation of renal replacement therapy-especially when liver failure reduces lactate elimination.
Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder and typical development

Although higher sleep problems have been mostly reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with typically developing (TD) children, particularly in Western countries, such evidence is relatively scarce in developing countries. We therefore investigated sleep difficulties in Thai children aged 3‐16 years with ASD compared with age‐ and gender‐matched TD children by using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ)‐Thai version.
Trends in utilization of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer

Purpose Previous studies have noted increased utilization of perioperative chemotherapy over time. The goal of this study was to determine trends in perioperative chemotherapy use within a contemporary population. Materials and Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for patients diagnosed with cT2-4N0M0 urothelial muscle invasive bladder cancer from 2011 to 2015 and underwent subsequent radical cystectomy. We retrospectively analyzed factors associated with perioperative chemotherapy and evaluated overall treatment trends in the use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy. Linear regression, logistic regression, Cox regression, and Kaplan–Meier analysis were performed. Results In total, 7,101 patients met inclusion criteria for analysis. The use of perioperative chemotherapy increased from 46.4% in 2011 to 57.2% in 2015 (p=0.003). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy use increased from 22.9% to 32.3% (p=0.007) over the time period analyzed, while adjuvant chemotherapy use experienced no significant change (23.5% to 24.9%, p=0.182). Logistic regression demonstrated that increased age and Charlson Comorbidity Index were predictors of not receiving chemotherapy (p<0.05), while those with increasing T stage, income above $48,000, and insurance other than Medicaid or Medicare were more likely to receive perioperative chemotherapy (p<0.05). Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy had the best 5-year overall survival at 48.3% compared to adjuvant chemotherapy (42.6%) or no chemotherapy (37.8%) (p<0.001). Conclusions The increasing use of perioperative chemotherapy noted in prior studies has continued through 2015. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy appears to drive this increase while adjuvant chemotherapy utilization remains unchanged. Clinical and socioeconomic factors affect utilization of perioperative chemotherapy.
Inhibition of Nuclear Pore Complex Formation Selectively Induces Cancer Cell Death.

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are the central mediators of nucleocytoplasmic transport. Increasing evidence shows that many cancer cells have increased numbers of NPCs and become addicted to the nuclear transport machinery. How reducing NPC numbers affects the physiology of normal and cancer cells and if it could be exploited for cancer therapies has not been investigated. We report that inhibition of NPC formation, a process mostly restricted to proliferating cells, causes selective cancer cell death, prevents tumor growth and induces tumor regression. While cancer cells die in response to NPC assembly inhibition, normal cells undergo a reversible cell cycle arrest that allows them to survive. Mechanistically, reducing NPC numbers results in multiple alterations contributing to cancer cell death including abnormalities in nuclear transport, catastrophic alterations in gene expression, and the selective accumulation of DNA damage. Our findings uncover the NPC formation process as a novel targetable pathway in cancer cells.
Application of the Health Action Process Approach to Social Distancing Behavior During COVID‐19

Background This study examined the social cognition determinants of social distancing behavior during the COVID‐19 pandemic in samples from Australia and the US guided by the health action process approach (HAPA). Methods Participants (Australia: N = 495, 50.1% women; US: N = 701, 48.9% women) completed HAPA social cognition constructs at an initial time‐point (T1), and one week later (T2) self‐reported their social distancing behavior. Results Single‐indicator structural equation models that excluded and included past behavior exhibited adequate fit with the data. Intention and action control were significant predictors of social distancing behavior in both samples, and intention predicted action and coping planning in the US sample. Self‐efficacy and action control were significant predictors of intention in both samples, with attitudes predicting intention in the Australia sample and risk perceptions predicting intention in the US sample. Significant indirect effects of social cognition constructs through intentions were observed. Inclusion of past behavior attenuated model effects. Multigroup analysis revealed no differences in model fit across samples, suggesting that observed variations in the parameter estimates were relatively trivial. Conclusion Results indicate that social distancing is a function of motivational and volitional processes. This knowledge can be used to inform messaging regarding social distancing during COVID‐19 and in future pandemics.
The effect of picture support on narrative retells in Swedish adolescents with ADHD

ABSTRACT ADHD is characterized by executive functioning (EF) deficits, which in turn may affect language, and therefore EF demands in language assessment tasks are important to consider. This study aims to inform clinical practice by 1) comparing and describing narrative retells in Swedish adolescents with and without ADHD, and 2) investigating the effects of picture support on narration in the two groups. Fifteen adolescents with ADHD and 31 with typical development (TD) participated. Two carefully matched narratives for retelling, one with and one without picture support were administered, transcribed, and analyzed regarding content and linguistic complexity (macro- and microlevel measures). The results showed that the ADHD group included less content than the TD group in both tasks, measured in fewer story grammar units and details. Both groups included more story grammar units in the task without picture support. The TD group had shorter retells with higher syntactic complexity in the task with picture support compared to the task without picture support. Compared to TD peers, retells without picture support from the ADHD group were significantly shorter and had a higher proportion of grammatical errors. These results show different strengths and weaknesses in the two groups and indicate that the narrative task without picture support, which places higher demands on EF, captured a linguistic vulnerability in the ADHD group. In conclusion, the choice of narrative task is important to consider in clinical practice to enable accurate descriptions of linguistic strengths and weaknesses in individuals with ADHD, and aid in differential diagnosis.
Mutagenic effects of environmental industrial chemical agents in inducing cytogenetical changes in wheat

Six environmental Industrial chemical agents belonging to three separate groups: aziridines [Metepa (0.4 and 0.2%) and Thiotepa (0.2 and 0.01%)], nitroso compounds [MNG (0.1 and 0.05%)] and alkane sulphonic esters [MMS (0.1 and 0.05%) and EMS (0.5%)] and used in textiles, drug manufacture and as chemosterilants were compared for their mutagenicity and related cytogenetical effects on two wheat varieties - a tetraploid, durum wheat var. HD 4502 and a hexaploid bread wheat var. NP 880. Reduction in germination, survival, root and shoot length under the chemical treatments were observed In both the varieties, the tetraploid var. HD 4502 showing more sensitivity than the hexaploid var. NP 880. Among the chemicals Thiotepa followed by MNG showed drastic reduction in all the characters studied in M1 generation. They also showed drastic effects in terms of cytological parameters e.g., cell division and chromosomal aberrations. High mutagenic effectiveness of Thiotepa was also indicated by the absence of any dividing cells in the sensitive var. HD 4502 and very high frequency of abnormal cells, clumping and chromosome breakage In hexaploid var. NP 880. Higher frequency and wider spectrum of viable mutations was also observed In var. HD 4502. On the overall basis (varieties pooled over mutagens) highest number of abnormal cells and shattering of chromosomes were observed under Metepa followed by Thiotepa. The other two chemical agents, MNG and MMS also exhibited larger chromosomal abnormalities than EMS and controls. Thus the present studies clearly demonstrate that environmental chemicals are much more potent mutagenic agents which couid also prove to be hazardous to human health due to their genotoxlc and carcinogenic properties.
Effects of intramammary infection on whey proteinograms of sheep during lactation

The study aimed to identify potential biomarkers of mammary gland infection in Santa Ines sheep. Commercial flocks of sheep provided the same hygiene, sanitary, and nutritional management under semi-intensive production systems were monitored during the lactation stage-and assessed 15, 30, 60, and 90 days after delivery (through the end of lactation and weaning). The California Mastitis Test (CMT) was performed on the mammary glands. Milk was collected for bacterial examination and protein analysis. Bacterial culture and biochemical characterization of the samples were performed. Forty-two milk samples from healthy glands (negative CMT and bacterial testing) and 43 milk samples from infected glands (positive CMT and bacterial testing) taken at the predefined time points were assessed. A rennin solution was used to obtain the whey. The proteins analysis was performed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), which allowed for the quantification of nine whey proteins produced in healthy glands: serum albumin, lactoferrin, IgA, IgG heavy-chain (IgG HC), IgG light-chain (IgG LC), total IgG (IgG HC + IgG LC), α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, protein with MW 15.000 Da, protein with MW 29.000 Da and eleven whey proteins secreted by infected glands, including haptoglobin and α-1-acid glycoprotein. A comparison of whey proteins between healthy and infected glands showed increases (P<0.05) in the secreted and total contents of all proteins, except for IgG LC and α-lactoalbumin. The most significant changes were observed in α-1-acid glycoprotein, lactoferrin and haptoglobin, which showed three-, five-, and seven-fold increases in secretion, respectively. This study showed that haptoglobin, α-1-acid glycoprotein, lactoferrin, albumin, and the IgA and IgG immunoglobulins may serve as potential biomarkers for mammary gland infection in sheep.
A Medium-Throughput System for In Vitro Oxidative Stress Assessment in IPEC-J2 Cells

The feed industry continuously seeks new molecules with antioxidant capacity since oxidative stress plays a key role in intestinal health. To improve screening of new antioxidants, this study aims to set up an assay to assess oxidative stress in the porcine small intestinal epithelial cell line IPEC-J2 using plate-reader-based analysis of fluorescence. Two oxidants, H2O2 and menadione, were tested at 1, 2 and 3 mM and 100, 200 and 300 µM, respectively. Trolox (2 mM) was used as the reference antioxidant and the probe CM-H2DCFDA was used to indicate intracellular oxidative stress. Cell culture, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and assessment conditions were optimized to detect a significant ROS accumulation that could be counteracted by pre-incubation with trolox. Menadione (200 µM) reproducibly increased ROS levels, H2O2 failed to do so. Trolox significantly decreased intracellular ROS levels in menadione (200 µM)-exposed cells in a consistent way. The system was further used to screen different concentrations of the commercially available antioxidant ELIFE®. Concentrations between 100 and 200 ppm protected best against intracellular ROS accumulation. In conclusion, the combination of CM-H2DCFDA fluorescence analysis by a plate-reader, trolox as a reference antioxidant and 200 µM of menadione as a stressor agent, provides a replicable and reliable medium-throughput setup for the evaluation of intracellular oxidative stress in IPEC-J2 cells.