Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting Secondary Organic Aerosol Phase State and Viscosity and its Effect on Multiphase Chemistry in a Regional Scale Air Quality Model

Abstract. Atmospheric aerosols are a significant public health hazard and have substantial impacts on the climate. Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) have been shown to phase separate into a highly viscous organic outer layer surrounding an aqueous core. This phase separation can decrease the partitioning of semi-volatile and low-volatile species to the organic phase and alter the extent of acid-catalyzed reactions in the aqueous core. A new algorithm that can determine SOA phase separation based on their: glass transition temperature (Tg), Oxygen to Carbon (O : C) ratio, concentrations relative to sulfate concentrations; and meteorological conditions were implemented into the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling (CMAQ) System version 5.2. 1 and was used to simulate the conditions in the continental United States for the summer of 2013. SOA formed at the ground/surface level was predicted to be phase separated with core-shell morphology i.e. aqueous inorganic core surrounded by organic coating, 68.5 % of the time for continental United States. The phase states of organic coatings switched between semi-solid and liquid states, depending on the environmental conditions. The semi-solid shell occurring with lower aerosol liquid water content (western United States and at higher altitudes) has a viscosity that was predicted to be 102–1012 Pa ⋅ s which resulted in organic mass being decreased due to diffusion limitation. The organic phase was primarily liquid where aerosol liquid water was dominant (eastern United States and at surface), with a viscosity
Stain Removal Through Color Normalization of Haematoxylin and Eosin Images: A Review

Histopathology images are used for the diagnosis and examination of cancer cells. Preparing and scanning histopathology slides consist of numerous steps of which staining are an important process. But these staining procedures cause multitude problems as there may be variations in the slides due to multiple reasons. Color variations in histopathology images can occur due to inconsistent staining of biopsy tissue, color responses of different scanners or difference in raw materials and manufacturing techniques used by stain. These factors hamper the generalization of automatic image analysis method. Hence there is a need for standardizing the image before analysis by performing stain normalization which is achieved by removing the stains for visual enhancement. Color normalization techniques play a vital in the developing computerized decision support system. In this paper, a detailed study and performance evaluation of various color normalization techniques such as Histogram Specification, Macenko Method, Reinhard Method on histopathology images are presented. In these normalization procedures the mean color of the target image is transferred onto the source image. Quality performance of different stain normalization techniques is evaluated based on Entropy and Structure Similarity Index Measure (SSIM). In this work, we record the time complexity of the color normalization algorithms. The normalization techniques are tested on histopathological images from UCSB dataset and Mitosis Atypia 2014 dataset. This article reviews and summarizes the color normalization techniques on histopathological images for visual improvement.
Analytical Procedure for Proximate Analysis of Algal Biomass: Case Study for Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris

This contribution develops an analytical procedure for the proximate analysis of algal biomass, using Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris as model algal samples. The procedure consists of three steps. First, thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA)-based method designed from ASTM E870-82 was employed for the proximate analysis of the two algae, at 950 °C in argon for the determination of volatile matter (VM) and fixed carbon (FC) and at 600 °C in air for estimating the ash content. Visual inspection of the resulting solid residues suggested the presence of black unburnt carbon, indicating the inapplicability of the method. Nevertheless, the contents of moisture, VM, and the sum of FC and ash in the two algae were determined in this step. In the second step, Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris were directly oxidized at 600 °C in air, in the same TGA as above, to avoid or minimize the effect of stable quaternary nitrogen formed during pyrolysis at 950 °C in the first step. While Spirulina platensis was successfully ashed in this step, the solid residue of Chlorella vulgaris was virtually black. This necessitated the third step, in which Chlorella vulgaris was ashed in the air at 600 °C in a tubular reactor, with the aid of hydrogen peroxide. Nearly complete oxidation of carbonaceous material in Chlorella vulgaris was achieved when the holding time at 600 °C was 4 h. Based on the proposed analytical procedure, the contents of VM, FC, and ash are 82.3, 10.4, and 7.3 wt %, respectively, for Spirulina platensis and 84.3, 10.4, and 5.3 wt % for Chlorella vulgaris, expressed on a dry basis.
Expression and significance of CD138 and MMP-9 in breast cancer

[Objective] To study the expression of CD138 and MMP-9 in breast cancer and probe it′s relation to invasion and metabasis of breast cancer. [Method] 78 patients with breast cancer and 20 with breast benign hyperplasia were selected for analyzing the expression of CD138 and MMP-9 by S-P method of immunohistochemistry. [Result] The expression of CD138 in breast cancer obviously decreased, and MMP-9 increased remarkably. There was a statistical significance in expression of CD138 and MMP-9 between breast cancer and breast benign hyperplasia(P0.01). Also, there was a statistical significance in expression of CD138 and MMP-9 between the group with lymph node metastasis and clinical classification(P ≤0.01). There was a correlativity between the expression increasing of MMP-9 and decreasing of CD138 in breast cancer (P 0.01). [Conclusion] There is a higher correlativity between the expression of CD138 and MMP-9 in breast cancer and it,s invasion and metabasis.
Hepatoprotective activities of aqueous extract of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) against lead-induced hepatotoxicity in albino Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus)

The present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective activities of aqueous extract of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) against lead-induced hepatotoxicity in Rattus norvegicus (albino Wistar rat). The different groups of the animals (groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) were administered a single dose of lead after groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been pre-treated with aqueous extract of Pleurotus ostreatus at concentrations of 50mg/kg, 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg daily, respectively for 21 days. Hepatoprotective effects were studied by the liver marker enzymes concentration assay [Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)]. Hepatotoxicity- induced rats (group 2(control II)) showed increased level of ALT and AST (26.25 ± 1.49 vs 21.57±1.32 and 54.75 ± 5.13 vs 35.5±1.66 U/L, P < 0.05) in serum when compared to group 1(control I). On the other hand, the rats pre-treated with aqueous extract of Pleurotus ostreatus showed hepatoprotective effects by maintaining the levels of ALT (group 3: 14.00± 1.58, group 4: 15.50± 2.18, group 5: 14.75± 2.50 and group 6: 13.75 ± 1.18 U/L) and AST (group 3: 37.75 ± 5.20, group 4: 44.25 ± 2.87, group 5: 51.25 ± 1.89 and group 6: 44.00 ± 1.96 U/L,) in the serum around the normal levels. These were observed to be significantly lower than group 2. This result reveals that aqueous extract of Pleurotus ostreatus demonstrated some degree of hepatoprotection against lead induced hepatocellular injury. Hence, it is recommended that Pleurotus ostreatus be included as one of the functional food with hepatoprotective qualities.
The impact of phytohormone concentration in Moringa oleifera leaf extract on wheat yield and components of yield

Abstract Trials with Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MLE) sprayed on leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) showed different outcomes in grain yield and the components of yield (biomass at anthesis, number of ears, number of tillers, grain weight, 1000 seed weight). An irrigated field trial testing different MLE concentrations resulted in an increase in grain yield of 19% with a 10% concentration but not significant yield increases for higher concentrations of MLE. Dryland field trials with MLE concentrations at 5% and 10% showed no effects or more moderate (about 5–10%) increases in grain yield, depending on the year and location of study. The differences in grain yield responses are most likely due to changes in phytohormone concentration in MLEs brought on by abiotic stress (moisture deficit and seasonal change) of the moringa tree before the collection of the leaves. Concentrations of gibberellins, auxin, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid in MLEs differ markedly due to plants subjected to abiotic stresses. Comparing chemical analysis of MLE with grain yield effects showed that GA4 – most likely in crosstalk with auxin – is the major growth enhancer. It is concluded that the hormonal concentrations of MLEs strongly varies on a yearly basis, which may affect the potential use of this bio-stimulant in agriculture.
Time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy of a unipolar and a bipolar pulsed magnetron sputtering discharge in an argon/oxygen gas mixture with a cobalt target

Reactive high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) of a cobalt cathode in pure argon gas and with different oxygen admixtures was investigated by time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and time-integrated energy-resolved mass spectrometry. The HiPIMS discharge was operated with a bipolar pulsed power supply capable of providing a large negative voltage with a typical pulse width of 100 μs followed by a long positive pulse with a pulse width of about 350 μs. The HiPIMS plasma in pure argon is dominated by Co+ ions. With the addition of oxygen, O+ ions become the second most prominent positive ion species. OES reveals the presence of Ar I, Co I, O I, and Ar II emission lines. The transition from an Ar+ to a Co+ ion sputtering discharge is inferred from time-resolved OES. The enhanced intensity of excited Ar+* ions is explained by simultaneous excitation and ionisation induced by energetic secondary electrons from the cathode. The intensity of violet Ar I lines is drastically reduced during HiPIMS. Intensity of near-infrared Ar I lines resumes during the positive pulse indicating an additional heating mechanism.
Mechanism(s) of Altered Mitochondrial Calcium Transport in Acutely Ischemic Canine Hearts

Studies were undertaken to determine the mechanisms leading to altered mitochondrial function in ischemic myocardium. A new procedure has been developed to routinely isolate 60-70% of the total mitochondrial protein from heart tissue. After 1 hour of ischemia, mitochondria exhibit decreases of more than 50% in phosphorylating respiration for both NADHand succinate-linked substrates compared to controls. However, no significant decreases in the efficiency of mitochondrial ATP synthesis (ADP:0) or ATPase activity are observed. Rates of substrate-driven Ca uptake exhibit decreases greater than that seen with phosphorylating respiration with incomplete uptake and premature release of Ca. Spectrophotometric measurements in ischemic heart reveal rapid oxidation or loss of mitochondrial NADH with marked "swelling" of the inner membrane compartment; both changes parallel the loss of Ca. Significant losses in intramitochondrial adenine nucleotides also are found. Mitochondrial retention of accumulated Ca can be restored by addition of small amounts of exogenous adenine nucleotides (ATP or ADP) with concomitant attenuation of both NADH oxidation and "swelling. " The data indicate that, following 1 hour of ischemia, the effeciency of mitochondrial ATP production is still relatively intact whereas both electron transport chain activity and calcium transport are severely compromised. These decreases appear to be related to selective membrane damage in the mitochondrial inner membrane. Circ Res 47: 814-820, 1980
RodZ: a key-player in cell elongation and cell division in Escherichia coli

RodZ is required for determination of cell shape in rod-shaped bacterium, such as Escherichia coli. RodZ is a transmembrane protein and forms a supramolecular complex called the Rod complex with other proteins, such as MreB-actin and peptidoglycan synthesis enzymes (for e.g., PBP2). Deletion of the rodZ gene changes the cell shape from rod to round or ovoid. Another supramolecular complex called divisome that controls cell division mainly consists of FtsZ-tubulin. MreB directly interacts with FtsZ and this interaction is critical to trigger a transition from cell elongation to cell division. Recently, we found that RodZ also directly interacts with FtsZ, and RodZ recruits MreB to the divisome. Formation of the division ring, called Z ring, is delayed if RodZ does not interact with FtsZ, indicating that RodZ might facilitate the formation of the Z ring during the cell division process. In this mini-review, we have summarized the roles of RodZ in cell elongation and cell division, especially based on our recent study.
Design of CO Tolerant Anode Catalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

It is desirable to operate polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) with reformed fuels from methanol or other fuels in gas or liquid phases, particularly for electric vehicle (EV) applications. However, the performance of PEFCs with conventional Pt electrocatalyst is seriously depressed by carbon monoxide poisoning, i.e., H2 oxidation at Pt is poisoned by only 10 PPM CO, while the content of CO in reformats is about 1 %. To overcome such a problem, we have challenged to develop both of new catalysts for the selective oxidation of CO in reformats 3,4 and new anode catalysts tolerant to the residual CO at least up to 100 PPM CO levels. We will introduce the latter here, which have been examined on binary alloys of platinum with most non-precious elements available in the periodic table. Each alloy electrode with ca. 0.2 μm thickness was prepared on a glass disk (1-cm diameter) by simultaneous sputtering of corresponding elements under the controlled speeds. Titanium thin film was sputtered to improve an adhesion between the glass and the alloy. The composition of each alloy was in the predicted one with an experimental error less than several percent.
SpiCee: A Genetic Tool for Subcellular and Cell-Specific Calcium Manipulation.

Calcium is a second messenger crucial to a myriad of cellular processes ranging from regulation of metabolism and cell survival to vesicle release and motility. Current strategies to directly manipulate endogenous calcium signals lack cellular and subcellular specificity. We introduce SpiCee, a versatile and genetically encoded chelator combining low- and high-affinity sites for calcium. This scavenger enables altering endogenous calcium signaling and functions in single cells in vitro and in vivo with biochemically controlled subcellular resolution. SpiCee paves the way to investigate local calcium signaling in vivo and directly manipulate this second messenger for therapeutic use.
Visible light photocatalytic activity of Mn-doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles

ABSTRACT The discharges of effluents from the Textile industries contain bleaching and dyeing chemicals which are very harmful to the environment. Thus, managing textile effluents to make zero discharge of the above chemicals using renewable energy is the need of the hour. Here we report photocatalytic degradation of Acid Red-85, textile dye in visible light by energy bandgap optimized magnetic nanoparticles. The BiFe1-xMnxO3 (x = 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075 & 0.1) nanoparticles were synthesized by citrate gel auto-ignition method. The synthesized compounds show well-defined crystalline particles with decrease of crystallite size from 57 to 20 nm with increase of Mn2+ concentration. All samples show well-separated particle morphology with decrease of average particle size with increase of manganese concentration. Optical absorption studies reveal that the energy band-gap of sample decreases from 2.2 to 1.97 eV with increase of Mn ions in BiFeO3 lattice. The coercive field (Hc) and remnant magnetization (Mr) enhance up to 5% of manganese content and then reduces with further increase of dopant concentration due to hindrance of magnetic exchange in Mn-O-Fe network. Manganese doping helps in increasing the degradation efficiency of BiFeO3 nanoparticles and the rate constant (K) increases from 2.6 × 10−2 to 6.84 × 10−2 min−1respectively. It is attributed to long charge separation time in doped samples which is confirmed by photoluminescence spectrum. Mn-doped BiFeO3 has an edge over the widely studied TiO2 and ZnO because of its absorbance in visible light spectrum and its ability to be magnetically removed after treatment.
Recognition of relationship between doctors and patients among medical staff

Objective To study the recognition of doctor-patient relationship and its influencing factors among medical staff and to provide basis for the establishment of harmonious relationship between doctors and patients. Methods Totally 243 medical staff were randomly sampled from 2 hospitals and surveyed with a questionnaire from November 1 to December 31,2011. The data were analysed with SPSS 13. 0. Results Among the staff 65. 4% considered the importance of doctor-patient relationship but 13. 1% did not. There were 84. 3% of internal medicine and 75. 4% of surgical doctors considering the importance of doctor-patient relationship,but 12. 5% of gynaecology and obstetrics denying the importantance( χ2= 14. 50,P = 0. 025). Only 20% of the participants thought the doctor-patient relationship being harmonious,but 50% thought the relafionship being stressed. There were significant differences in the ratio of considering the relationship as harmonious among the participants of different age( 7. 0% for the staff ≥50 years old,lower than those ≤29 years[25. 4%]and 30- 49 years[24. 1% ]) and as stressed( 34. 6% for the staff aged 30- 49 years,lower than thsoe≤29 years[58. 2%]and ≥50 years). Conclusion Medical staff is lack of knowledge on importance and status of the doctor-patient relationship and has no enough confidence on the improvement of doctor-patient relationship.
Active Polyvinylpyrrolidone Enriched with Garlic Extract

Introduction An area of increasing demands, these years, is the fabrication of antimicrobial and antioxidant edible materials used for monitoring food-related bacterial illnesses mostly responsible for the contamination of raw foodstuffs. The goal of this work was to use the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) enriched with garlic extract to control Listeria monocytogenes (LM) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in fresh sheep meat over chilled temperature condition for one week. Methods The obtained minced meat were divided into 100 g portions, inoculated with 7 log CFU/g SAandLM, aseptically packed in designated PVP containing garlic extract at concentrations of 0, 0.25 and 0.5%, and transferred into the sterile polyethylene bag. All samples were stored at refrigerated temperature for one week. Results Based on our findings, the PVP enriched with garlic extract (0.25 and 0.5%) could decrease the counts of LM and SAup to 2.30-2.82 and 2.51-1.36 log CFU/g, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion The findings of the current work indicated that PVP containing garlic extract at concentrations of 0.25 and 0.5% had inhibitory effects againstLM and SAin raw sheep meat.
Excess mortality in patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C treated with long‐term peginterferon

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection can cause chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The Hepatitis C Antiviral Long‐term Treatment against Cirrhosis (HALT‐C) Trial was a prospective, randomized controlled study of long‐term, low‐dose peginterferon therapy in patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C who failed to respond to a previous course of optimal antiviral therapy. The aim of this follow‐up analysis is to describe the frequency and causes of death among this cohort of patients. Deaths occurring during and after the HALT‐C Trial were reviewed by a committee of investigators to determine the cause of death and to categorize each death as liver‐ or nonliver‐related and as related or not to complications of peginterferon. Rates of liver transplantation were also assessed. Over a median of 5.7 years, 122 deaths occurred among 1,050 randomized patients (12%), of which 76 were considered liver‐related (62%) and 46 nonliver‐related (38%); 74 patients (7%) underwent liver transplantation. At 7 years the cumulative mortality rate was higher in the treatment compared to the control group (20% versus 15%, P = 0.049); the primary difference in mortality was in patients in the fibrosis compared to the cirrhosis stratum (14% versus 7%, P = 0.01); comparable differences were observed when liver transplantation was included. Excess mortality, emerging after 3 years of treatment, was related largely to nonliver‐related death; liver‐related mortality was similar in the treatment and control groups. No specific cause of death accounted for the excess mortality and only one death was suspected to be a direct complication of peginterferon. Conclusion: Long‐term maintenance peginterferon in patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C is associated with an excess overall mortality, which was primarily due to nonliver‐related causes among patients with bridging fibrosis. (HEPATOLOGY 2011;)
Effects of different harvesting times on protein content and mineral nutrient values of some lentil (Lens culinaris) cultivars seeds

Abstract The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of different harvesting times (early, on-time and late harvest) and lentil varieties (DR13127, Sakar, Kafkas, Bukun, Firat-87, Cagıl) on protein content (PC) and mineral nutritional values of some lentil cultivars seeds and determine the correlations between PC and mineral concentrations, and between minerals concentrations themselves. The results of the study indicated that while the late harvesting increased the potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) concentrations of lentil seed, magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and nickel (Ni) concentrations were higher in early harvesting than other two harvesting times. There was significant difference among genotypes for the Ca, Mg, zinc (Zn), Na, copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and Ni concentrations in seed. It was found that the varieties had no statistically significant effect on PC, K, iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) content of the seeds. It was found that the varieties had statistically significant effects at the level of p ≤ 0.01 on Ca, Mn, and Ni content of the seeds, at the level of p ≤ 0.05 on Mg and Na content of the seeds, and at the level of p ≤ 0.1 on Zn and Cu content of the seeds. Also, the significant correlations between mineral concentrations and PC and mineral concentrations were found in this study. Consequently, it can be said that the harvesting time and variety is critical for some mineral nutrient values of lentil seed. Information obtained from this study will be useful for lentil producers, breeders, processors and marketers.
Lipase production from thermophilic bacteria using waste frying oil as substrate

Lipases are widely used in textile, food, medical and chemical industries. The present study was performed to produce lipase from thermophilic bacterial strains using waste frying oil as substrate. Among four bacterial strains, Bacillus licheniformis A7 (GenBank accesion number: KC310458 ) was determined to be the best lipase producer. A frying oil concentration of 40 mL/L, temperature of 55 °C, initial pH of 6.0 and incubation time of 72 h were found to be optimal for lipase production from Bacillus sp. Under the optimal culture conditions, the maximum cell growth and lipase activity were determined as 2.219 0D 600nm and 1607 U/L, respectively.