Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical emission from focused ion beam milled halide perovskite device cross‐sections

Cross‐sectional transmission electron microscopy has been widely used to investigate organic–inorganic hybrid halide perovskite‐based optoelectronic devices. Electron‐transparent specimens (lamellae) used in such studies are often prepared using focused ion beam (FIB) milling. However, the gallium ions used in FIB milling may severely degrade the structure and composition of halide perovskites in the lamellae, potentially invalidating studies performed on them. In this work, the close relationship between perovskite structure and luminescence is exploited to examine the structural quality of perovskite solar cell lamellae prepared by FIB milling. Through hyperspectral cathodoluminescence (CL) mapping, the perovskite layer was found to remain optically active with a slightly blue‐shifted luminescence. This finding indicates that the perovskite structure is largely preserved upon the lamella fabrication process although some surface amorphisation occurred. Further changes in CL due to electron beam irradiation were also recorded, confirming that electron dose management is essential in electron microscopy studies of carefully prepared halide perovskite‐based device lamellae.
MSX1 Drives Tooth Morphogenesis Through Controlling Wnt Signaling Activity

Tooth agenesis is a common structural birth defect in humans that results from failure of morphogenesis during early tooth development. The homeobox transcription factor Msx1 and the canonical Wnt signaling pathway are essential for “bud to cap” morphogenesis and are causal factors for tooth agenesis. Our recent study suggested that Msx1 regulates Wnt signaling during early tooth development by suppressing the expression of Dkk2 and Sfrp2 in the tooth bud mesenchyme, and it demonstrated partial rescue of Msx1-deficient molar teeth by a combination of DKK inhibition and genetic inactivation of SFRPs. In this study, we found that Sostdc1/Wise, another secreted Wnt antagonist, is involved in regulating the odontogenic pathway downstream of Msx1. Whereas Sostdc1 expression in the developing tooth germ was not increased in Msx1−/− embryos, genetic inactivation of Sostdc1 rescued maxillary molar, but not mandibular molar, morphogenesis in Msx1−/− mice with full penetrance. Since the Msx1−/−;Sostdc1−/− embryos exhibited ectopic Dkk2 expression in the developing dental mesenchyme, similar to Msx1−/− embryos, we generated and analyzed tooth development in Msx1−/−;Dkk2−/− double and Msx1−/−;Dkk2−/−;Sostdc1−/− triple mutant mice. The Msx1−/−;Dkk2−/− double mutants showed rescued maxillary molar morphogenesis at high penetrance, with a small percentage also exhibiting mandibular molars that transitioned to the cap stage. Furthermore, tooth development was rescued in the maxillary and mandibular molars, with full penetrance, in the Msx1−/−;Dkk2−/−;Sostdc1−/− mice. Together, these data reveal 1) that a key role of Msx1 in driving tooth development through the bud-to-cap transition is to control the expression of Dkk2 and 2) that modulation of Wnt signaling activity by Dkk2 and Sostdc1 plays a crucial role in the Msx1-dependent odontogenic pathway during early tooth morphogenesis.
Piperlongumine inhibits diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Piperlongumine (PL) has been claimed to have cytotoxic and HCC inhibitory effects in various cancer cell lines and xenograft models, but the chemopreventive potential of PL has not been studied in experimentally induced HCC yet. Research Design: Twenty-four Wistar male rats were divided into four groups of six each, Group A: untreated control; Group B: Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) control (200 mg/kg), Group C: DEN + PL 10 mg/kg; and Group D: DEN + PL 20 mg/kg. Rats from all groups were assessed for liver cancer progression or inhibition by evaluating biochemical, cytokines, tumor markers, lipid peroxidation, and histological profiles. Results: The liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, and lipid peroxidation were significantly decreased in Group C and Group D compared to Group B. Upregulation in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1B, TNF-α, inflammatory mediator (NF-κB) and tumour marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in Group B were brought down upon treatment with piperlongumine in a dose-dependent manner. Antitumor cytokine (IL-12) was upregulated in PL-treated rats compared to DEN control rats. DEN treated group (Group B) showed histological features of HCC, and in rats treated with PL (Groups C, D) partial to complete reversal to normal liver histoarchitecture was observed. Conclusions: The potential chemopreventive actions of piperlongumine may be due to its free radical scavenging and antiproliferative effect. Therefore, piperlongumine may serve as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Caracterización y obtención de funciones para producción de biomasa en cinco cultivares de frijol yorimón: II Método no destructivo Characterization and to get functions of biomass production in cowpea cultivars: II Nondestructive method

In this work, the production of biomass for five crops of cowpea was studied in the Carrizal Valley in La Paz, Baja California Sur (23o 20’ 47’’ North and 110o 16’ 14’’ East). The soil has a pH of 6.85, poor in organic matter, non-saline, low levels of calcium, nitrogen, and magnesium but a high level of phosphorus. The climate is dry with average temperature of 22°C. Five cowpea cultivars were used and established in the field under completed randomized block design with four replications. The data were analyzed by means of canonical discrimination, multivariate analysis, correlation, and simple and multiple linear regressions for the generation of green matter production (PMV) and dry matter production (PMS) functions. Analysis of variance were carried out and multiple comparison means (Tukey P=0.05) when the variables showed significant statistical differences among cultivars. In general, all variables showed significant differences (P<0.05) except the variables fresh weight (PFH) and dry weight of leaves (PSH). The cultivars 18 (IT90K-277-2) and 25 (Sesenteno) showed the higher values of PMV and PMS (105.33 and 90.66 and 44.90 and 35.80 g, respectively). The best function of PMV was to the cultivar 4 (Cuarenteno) with R2 of 0.69 and for PMS was the cultivar 23 (IT91K-118-20) with R2 of 0.71; being diameter of shoot (DT) and number of secondary branches (NRS) the variables with higher influence in the function of PMV, while number of leaves per plant (NHP) and NRS are the variables with higher influence in the function of PMS.
Stability and accuracy in a hybrid test example

This paper presents an example of the application of error monitoring techniques to the results of a pseudodynamic test performed at variable testing speeds. For the faster testing speeds, the control errors increased and the test reliability was lost in terms of accuracy and stability, as observed by the evolution of the monitoring parameters. The applied monitoring methods were the spatial model identification of frequency and damping distortions and the error energy, which have been proposed in previous publications. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long Term Loading and Additional Material Properties of Vectran Fabric for Inflatable Structure Applications

The recent production of high performance fibers has given way to the development of inflatable structures capable of fulfilling architectural needs that once required the use of metal alloys. The design of these structures requires engineers to know many properties about the unique textile of which the structure is composed. This thesis presents both testing methodology and results for a number of key properties using woven fabric constructed of Vectran fibers. The primary source for test standards was the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Some alterations were made to standards in an effort to uniquely characterize specific properties of Vectran woven fabric in situations and environments not specifically discussed by ASTM. ASTM standards are also evaluated for their ability to properly characterize Vectran woven fabric, and concerns are discussed for complications which were encountered while using ASTM methods for this specific work. Material characterization was primarily focused on the creation of a model capable of accurately predicting creep failure times given an applied stress in the fabric. Complications with the long term loading of specimens for creep testing required the development of a new loading frame and material grips, both of which are described in detail. Quasi-static testing was performed, providing the ultimate strength and Young’s modulus of the material. Quasi-static testing was also performed to evaluate the fabrics ability to withstand the affects of submersion and environmental crease folding. Finally, friction testing was performed on a number of surfaces, both wet and dry. Long term loading produced a logarithmic model for predicting creep failure times with an estimated accuracy within 3.67% of the applied load. It was suggested that this error is the direct result of the known repeatability and accuracy errors in the loading frame. Despite this error, the manufactured loading frame and material grips displayed improved results over testing with MTS systems. Quasi-static testing provided tensile values in both the warp and fill direction for multiple Vectran woven fabric constructions. The Young’s modulus was found to have two distinct values for strain of low and high magnitudes in both the fill and warp directions. Additionally, neither submersion nor changes in pressure for crease folding appeared to affect the strength of Vectran. However, the simulated environment used for the crease fold method negatively affected the material. Though further testing is called for, it was suggested that Vectran may observe an increasing loss in strength with respect to time at elevated temperatures. Friction tests were completed, characterizing both bare Vectran woven fabrics, and urethane coated woven fabrics on a number of surfaces, both wet and dry. Long Term Loading and Additional Material Properties of Vectran Fabric for Inflatable Structure Applications Timothy L Weadon, Jr
The combined effect of psychodynamic psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy on healthcare cost

Abstract Objective Previous studies have established a connection between therapy and healthcare cost: an increase in cost prior to therapy and a maintained decrease post therapy. There is, however, a lack of studies examining the combined effects of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy on healthcare cost. Method Healthcare cost was examined quarterly in 1,213 patients (28,776 observations) in a naturalistic longitudinal design. Psychotherapy only was compared to combined treatment and to an addition of psychotherapy to preexisting pharmacotherapy. The comparisons were conducted with a multilevel piecewise model (LMLM) computed for three phases: pre-, during-, and post-therapy. Results Significant interactions were found between the contrast comparing preexisting pharmacotherapy to the during-psychotherapy and no-pharmacotherapy groups and the three piecewise variables. The pre-therapy increase was larger for the preexisting-pharmacotherapy group than for the other groups. The during-therapy decrease was larger for the preexisting-pharmacotherapy group than for the other groups. In the post-therapy period, the increase was significant only for the prior–psychiatric-medication group. Conclusions Preexisting psychotropic treatment along with an increase in healthcare expenditure may serve as an indication of the need for additional psychotherapy treatment.
Different α-synuclein prion strains cause dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy

Significance Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are caused by α-synuclein prions that differ from each other and from those causing Parkinson’s disease (PD). DLB prions differ in their infectivity from those causing MSA or PD. The wild-type, normal version of the α-synuclein protein has the acidic amino acid glutamate (E) at residue 46, while in cases of inherited PD, it is mutated to the basic amino acid lysine (K). Using genetically engineered α-synuclein, we identified unique conditions for propagating MSA and DLB prions. Being able to distinguish among strains of naturally occurring α-synuclein prions may make it possible to develop strain-specific therapeutics for MSA, DLB, and PD. The α-synuclein protein can adopt several different conformations that cause neurodegeneration. Different α-synuclein conformers cause at least three distinct α-synucleinopathies: multiple system atrophy (MSA), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and Parkinson’s disease (PD). In earlier studies, we transmitted MSA to transgenic (Tg) mice and cultured HEK cells both expressing mutant α-synuclein (A53T) but not to cells expressing α-synuclein (E46K). Now, we report that DLB is caused by a strain of α-synuclein prions that is distinct from MSA. Using cultured HEK cells expressing mutant α-synuclein (E46K), we found that DLB prions could be transmitted to these HEK cells. Our results argue that a third strain of α-synuclein prions likely causes PD, but further studies are needed to identify cells and/or Tg mice that express a mutant α-synuclein protein that is permissive for PD prion replication. Our findings suggest that other α-synuclein mutants should give further insights into α-synuclein prion replication, strain formation, and disease pathogenesis, all of which are likely required to discover effective drugs for the treatment of PD as well as the other α-synucleinopathies.
Macro- and microporous polycaprolactone/duck’s feet collagen scaffold fabricated by combining facile phase separation and particulate leaching techniques to enhance osteogenesis for bone tissue engineering

Abstract Herein, a facile macro- and microporous polycaprolactone/duck’s feet collagen scaffold (PCL/DC) was fabricated and characterized to confirm its applicability in bone tissue engineering. A biomimetic scaffold for bone tissue engineering and regeneration for bone defects is an important element. PCL is a widely applied biomaterial for bone tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the high hydrophobicity and low cell attachment site properties of PCL lead to an insufficient microenvironment in designing a scaffold. Collagen is a nature-derived biomaterial that is widely used in tissue engineering and has excellent biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and cell attachment moieties. Among the resources from which collagen can be obtained, DC contains a high amount of collagen type I (COL1), is biocompatible, and is cost-effective. In this study, the scaffolds were fabricated by blending DC with PCL in various ratios and applied non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) and thermal-induced phase separation (TIPS) (N-TIPS), solvent casting and particulate leaching (SCPL), and gas foaming method to fabricate macro- and microporous structure. The characterization of the fabricated scaffolds was carried out by morphological analysis, bioactivity test, physicochemical analysis, and mechanical test. In vitro study was carried out by viability test, morphology observation, and gene expression. The results showed that the incorporation of DC enhances the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the scaffolds. Also, a large amount of bone mimetic apatite was formed according to the DC content in the bioactivity test. The in vitro study showed that the PCL/DC scaffold is biocompatible and the existence of apatite and DC formed a favorable microenvironment for cell proliferation and differentiation. Overall, the novel porous PCL/DC scaffold can be a promising biomaterial model for bone tissue engineering and regeneration.
pH variability at volcanic CO2 seeps regulates coral calcifying fluid chemistry

Coral reefs are iconic ecosystems with immense ecological, economic and cultural value, but globally their carbonate‐based skeletal construction is threatened by ocean acidification (OA). Identifying coral species that have specialised mechanisms to maintain high rates of calcification in the face of declining seawater pH is of paramount importance in predicting future species composition, and growth of coral reefs. Here, we studied multiple coral species from two distinct volcanic CO2 seeps in Papua New Guinea to assess their capacity to control their calcifying fluid (CF) chemistry. Several coral species living under conditions of low mean seawater pH, but with either low or high variability in seawater pH, were examined and compared with those living in ‘normal’ (non‐seep) ambient seawater pH. We show that when mean seawater pH is low but highly variable, corals have a greater ability to maintain constant pHcf in their CF, but this characteristic was not linked with changes in abundance. Within less variable low pH seawater, corals with limited reductions in pHcf at the seep sites compared with controls tended to be more abundant at the seep site than at the control site. However, this finding was strongly influenced by a single species (Montipora foliosa), which was able to maintain complete pHcf homeostasis. Overall, although our findings indicate that there might be an association between ecological success and greater pHcf homeostasis, further research with additional species and at more sites with differing seawater pH regimes is required to solidify inferences regarding coral ecological success under future OA.
Therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Technical Review.

1: ESGE recommends a prolonged course of a prophylactic broad-spectrum antibiotic in patients with ascites who are undergoing therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedures.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 2: ESGE recommends placement of partially or fully covered self-expandable metal stents during EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy for biliary drainage in malignant disease.Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 3: ESGE recommends EUS-guided pancreatic duct (PD) drainage should only be performed in high volume expert centers, owing to the complexity of this technique and the high risk of adverse events.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 4: ESGE recommends a stepwise approach to EUS-guided PD drainage in patients with favorable anatomy, starting with rendezvous-assisted endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (RV-ERP), followed by antegrade or transmural drainage only when RV-ERP fails or is not feasible.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 5: ESGE suggests performing transduodenal EUS-guided gallbladder drainage with a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS), rather than using the transgastric route, as this may reduce the risk of stent dysfunction.Weak recommendation, low quality evidence. 6: ESGE recommends using saline instillation for small-bowel distension during EUS-guided gastroenterostomy.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 7: ESGE recommends the use of saline instillation with a 19G needle and an electrocautery-enhanced LAMS for EUS-directed transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (EDGE) procedures.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 8: ESGE recommends the use of either 15- or 20-mm LAMSs for EDGE, with a preference for 20-mm LAMSs when considering a same-session ERCP.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.
Student use of technologies for learning - what has changed since 2010?

This paper reports on a large longitudinal survey of students and their use of technologies in two Australian universities. The SEET survey is unique in Australia because it includes not just current use, but students’ expectations about their future use of technology. The survey was originally run in 2010 and then repeated, with slight modifications to reflect changes in technologies, in 2013. This paper compares the results from 2013 with the 2010 results. Whilst some changes reflect the wider access to freely available open resources and new technologies such as Smartphones and iPads, other results are remarkably consistent with the 2010 results. Overall students are increasingly satisfied with their use of technologies and despite the increase in uptake of freely available technologies, it is evident that the LMS and its inbuilt tools and functions remain a key platform for learning and teaching at universities.
The relationship between apelin and carotid intima media thickness, and the presence of plaque in dialysis patients

Apelin is a peptide that has important effects on the cardiovascular system due to its anti‐atherogenic properties and regulating blood pressure. There is not enough research evaluating the effects of apelin levels on the cardiovascular system in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients concurrently. The aim of this study was to determine apelin levels in dialysis, and control groups and to investigate the relationship between apelin and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT).
Trends in Associations Between Sickness Absence Before the Age of 65 and Being in Paid Work After the Age of 65: Prospective Study of Three Total Population Cohorts

ABSTRACT The increasing workforce participation at higher ages may impact social insurance systems, however, this has hardly been studied at all. We studied associations between sociodemographic factors and prior sickness absence and disability pension, with having paid work and sickness absence after age 65, and if such associations changed over time. We used longitudinal register data regarding three cohorts of all residents in Sweden who turned 65 in 2000, 2005, or 2010 (N = 50,000, 68,000, and 99,000, respectively). Although employment rates when aged 66–71 increased between the cohorts, associations of sociodemographic factors with paid work and sickness absence, when aged 66–71 did not. Both sickness absence and disability pension when aged 60–64 were negatively associated with working past 65. Sickness absence when aged 60–64 was positively associated and disability pension was negatively associated with sickness absence after 65. Possibilities to remain in paid work with different health conditions need to be strengthened to avoid inequalities when raising the retirement age. Key points Paid work increased from 2000 to 2010, sickness absence increased marginally Associations of sociodemographic factors with paid work did not change over time Prior sickness absence and disability pension correlate with paid work after age 65 Sickness absence before age 65 correlates with sickness absence after 65 Disability pension before age 65 correlates with less sickness absence after 65