Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation and characterization of chitosan/montmorillonite‐K10 nanocomposites films for food packaging applications

Chitosan (CS)/montmorillonite-K10 (MMTK-10) clay composite films with different amounts of the clay MMTK-10 (0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5%) were prepared using a solution-casting method, and their properties were determined. The objective of this study is to prepare CS/clay nanocomposites and then to investigate the effects of clay content on mechanical, barrier, and thermal properties of these nanocomposites. The prepared films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Barrier properties (oxygen and water permeability), mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation), and thermal behaviors (thermogravimetric analysis) were investigated and compared. The water vapor and gas permeability values of the composite films decreased significantly with increasing filler concentration. Tensile strength of the composites increased significantly with the addition of clay, and elongation at break decreased with increasing clay concentration. The tensile strength of nanocomposites is up to 34.82 MPa for 5 wt% clay content, and the tensile modulus shows a 74.63% higher value than that of neat CS. The resulting films had an opaque appearance, which depended on the amount of MMTK-10 added. The oxygen permeability decreased with the increase in MMTK-10. The minimum oxygen permeability (1.54 cm3/m2 day atm) was recorded for film with 5% MMTK-10. The water permeability of the composite films decreased significantly between 13 and 22% when clay was added. The dispersed clay improves the thermal stability and enhances the hardness and elastic modulus of the matrix systematically with the increased loading of clay. POLYM. COMPOS. , 33:1874–1882, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Biocompatibility of filomicelles prepared from poly(ethylene glycol)-polylactide diblock copolymers as potential drug carrier

Abstract A series of poly(ethylene glycol)-polylactide (PEG-PLA) diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide using monomethoxy PEG as macroinitiator and zinc lactate as catalyst. Filomicelles were prepared from the resulting copolymers by co-solvent evaporation method. The biocompatibility of the various filomicelles was evaluated with the aim of assessing their potential as drug carriers. Various aspects of biocompatibility were considered, including agar diffusion test, MTT assay, release of cytokines, hemolytic test, dynamic clotting time, protein adsorption in vitro, and zebrafish embryonic compatibility in vivo. The results revealed that the filomicelles present good cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility in vitro. Moreover, the cumulative effects of filomicelles throughout embryos deveploping stages have no toxicity in vivo. It is thus concluded that filomicelles prepared from PEG-PLA copolymers with outstanding biocompatibility are promising as potential drug carrier.
National Electrical Manufacturers Association and Clinical Evaluation of a Novel Brain PET/CT Scanner

The aim of this study was to determine the performance of a novel mobile human brain/small-animal PET/CT system. The scanner has a 35.7-cm-diameter bore and a 22-cm axial extent. The detector ring has 7 modules each with 3 × 4 cerium-doped lutetium yttrium orthosilicate crystal blocks, each consisting of 22 × 22 outer-layer and 21 × 21 inner-layer crystals, each layer 1-cm thick. Light is collected by 12 × 12 silicon photomultipliers. The integrated CT can be used for attenuation correction and anatomic localization. The scanner was designed as a low-cost device that nevertheless produces high-quality PET images with the unique capability of battery-powered propulsion, enabling use in many settings. Methods: Spatial resolution, sensitivity, and noise-equivalent counting rate were measured based on the National Electrical Manufacturers Association NU2-2012 procedures. Reconstruction was done with tight energy and timing cuts—400–650 keV and 7 ns—and loose cuts—350–700 keV and 10 ns. Additional image quality measurements were made from phantom, human, and animal studies. Performance was compared with a reference scanner with comparable imaging properties. Results: The full width at half maximum transverse resolution at a 1-cm (10-cm) radius was 3.2 mm (5.2-mm radial, 3.1-mm tangential), and the axial resolution was 3.5 mm (4.0 mm). A sensitivity of 7.5 and 11.7 kcps/MBq at the center for tight and loose cuts, respectively, increased to 8.8 and 13.9 kcps/MBq, respectively, at a 10-cm radial offset. The maximum noise-equivalent counting rate of 19.5 and 22.7 kcps for tight and loose cuts, respectively, was achieved for an activity concentration of 2.9 kBq/mL. Contrast recovery for 4:1 hot cylinder to warm background was 76% for the 25-mm-diameter cylinder but decreased with decreasing cylinder size. The quantitation agreed within 2% of the known activity distribution and concentration. Brain phantom and human scans have shown agreement in SUVs and image quality with the reference scanner. Conclusion: We characterized the performance of the NeuroPET/CT and showed images from the first human studies. The study shows that this scanner achieves good performance when spatial resolution, sensitivity, counting rate, and image quality along with a low cost and unique mobile capabilities are considered.
p16, HPV, and Cetuximab: What Is the Evidence?

This study reviews available methodologies for evaluating human papillomavirus (HPV) status, as well as current evidence involving the prognostic and potential predictive value of p16 and HPV status in patients with locoregionally advanced or recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with cetuximab combination regimens, with an emphasis placed on recent subgroup analyses of the phase III IMCL‐9815 and EXTREME trials.
Synthesis and characterisation of thin films in the B–C–N triangle

In this study, about 400 nm thick BCN films with different compositions were grown by reactive DC magnetron sputtering of a B4C target by varying the N2/Ar proportion in the sputtering gas from 0 to 50%. The microstructures of the films were determined by FE-SEM. The chemical composition was determined by electron probe microanalyser (EPMA). The crystallinity of the films was studied by grazing incidence XRD analyses. FTIR was used to determine the chemical bonding structures. The elemental depth profiles of the films were obtained from SIMS measurements. Nanoindentation and wear tests were used to determine the mechanical and tribological properties. Hardness, elastic modulus and wear rates of BCN films were significantly decreased with the increase of nitrogen in the coating composition. The results demonstrated that thin films in the ternary triangle B–C–N with tailored properties can easily be deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering with varying N2 flow rates.
Heparanase is required for activation and function of macrophages

Significance The tumor microenvironment is now considered to play a major role in cancer growth and metastasis. Heparanase is the only enzyme in mammals capable of cleaving heparan sulfate, an activity that is highly implicated in tumor growth, metastasis, and inflammation. Here we provide evidence that heparanase is critically required for the activation and function of macrophages, an important constituent of the tumor microenvironment. Mechanistically, we describe a linear cascade by which heparanase activates Erk, p38, and JNK signaling in macrophages, leading to increased c-Fos levels and induction of cytokine expression in a manner that apparently does not require heparanase enzymatic activity. These results identify heparanase as a key mediator of macrophage activation and function in tumorigenesis and cross-talk with the tumor microenvironment. The emerging role of heparanase in tumor initiation, growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance is well recognized and is encouraging the development of heparanase inhibitors as anticancer drugs. Unlike the function of heparanase in cancer cells, very little attention has been given to heparanase contributed by cells composing the tumor microenvironment. Here we used a genetic approach and examined the behavior and function of macrophages isolated from wild-type (WT) and heparanase-knockout (Hpa-KO) mice. Hpa-KO macrophages express lower levels of cytokines (e.g., TNFα, IL1-β) and exhibit lower motility and phagocytic capacities. Intriguingly, inoculation of control monocytes together with Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells into Hpa-KO mice resulted in nearly complete inhibition of tumor growth. In striking contrast, inoculating LLC cells together with monocytes isolated from Hpa-KO mice did not affect tumor growth, indicating that heparanase is critically required for activation and function of macrophages. Mechanistically, we describe a linear cascade by which heparanase activates Erk, p38, and JNK signaling in macrophages, leading to increased c-Fos levels and induction of cytokine expression in a manner that apparently does not require heparanase enzymatic activity. These results identify heparanase as a key mediator of macrophage activation and function in tumorigenesis and cross-talk with the tumor microenvironment.
GSTT1 genotype modifies the association between cruciferous vegetable intake and the risk of myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND Cruciferous vegetables are a major dietary source of isothiocyanates that may protect against coronary heart disease. Isothiocyanates induce glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), polymorphic genes that code for enzymes that conjugate isothiocyanates, as well as mutagens and reactive oxygen species, to make them more readily excretable. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine whether GST genotypes modify the association between cruciferous vegetable intake and the risk of myocardial infarction (MI). DESIGN Cases (n = 2042) with a first acute nonfatal MI and population-based controls (n = 2042) living in Costa Rica, who were matched for age, sex, and area of residence, were genotyped for a deletion polymorphism in GSTM1 and GSTT1 and an Ile105Val substitution in GSTP1. Cruciferous vegetable intake and smoking status were determined by questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for MI were estimated by unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS Compared with the lowest tertile of cruciferous vegetable intake, the highest tertile was associated with a lower risk of MI among persons with the functional GSTT1*1 allele (OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.84) but not among those with the GSTT1*0*0 genotype (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 0.83, 1.82) (P = 0.006 for interaction). This protective effect among those with the GSTT1*1 allele was greater for current smokers (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.36, 0.79) than for nonsmokers. GSTP1 and GSTM1 did not modify the association between cruciferous vegetable intake and MI. CONCLUSIONS Consumption of cruciferous vegetables was associated with a lower risk of MI among those with a functional GSTT1*1 allele, which suggests that compounds that are detoxified by this enzyme contribute to the risk of MI.
Genesis of Influenza A(H5N8) Viruses

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) clade 2.3. 4.4 virus emerged in 2016 and spread to Russia, Europe, and Africa. Our analysis of viruses from domestic ducks at Tanguar haor, Bangladesh, showed genetic similarities with other viruses from wild birds in central Asia, suggesting their potential role in the genesis of A(H5N8).
TP53 gene expression levels and tumor aggressiveness in canine mammary carcinomas

The protein p53 is considered to be one of the most important tumor suppressor factors. Despite this importance, a potential association between TP53 messenger (m)RNA levels and tumor aggressiveness has not been well defined in animal cancer. We assessed and correlated TP53 gene expression in 40 canine mammary carcinomas with histologic grade, tumor size, and aggressiveness. The tumors were subjected to histologic analysis and the TP53 mRNA levels determined by RT-rtPCR. Statistical analysis revealed no correlation between levels of TP53 mRNA and tumor aggressiveness (r = 0.00) or tumor growth (r = 0.06). Histologic grades (r = 0.17) and mitosis count (r = 0.12) showed a weak correlation with TP53 mRNA expression levels. These findings are consistent with molecular studies that revealed heterogeneous expression of TP53 in canine and human mammary tumors. Hence, TP53 gene expression alone cannot be considered a marker for tumor aggressiveness in canine mammary carcinomas.
The Columnar-to-Equiaxed Transition in Nickel-Based Superalloys

The columnar to equiaxed transition (CET) in Ni based superalloys AM1, electron beam remelted AM1 and MAR-M200+Hf was studied using bars instrumented with thermocouples to determine the critical solidification conditions leading to the CET. Two sets of experiments were conducted in the course of the work: the first set using investment cast moulds solidified in the experimental Bridgeman furnace at SNECMA, France. The second set of experiments consisted of directionally solidifying a bar using a copper chill for heat extraction, and were conducted at the University of British Columbia. Despite similar results of thermal gradient and solidification rate during each of the two sets of experiments, a CET was consistently obtained with the UBC experiments while not with the SNECMA experiments. The critical difference was found to be the shape of the liquid/solid interface, which was flat and horizontal in the UBC experiments but extremely curved concave upwards in the SNECMA experiments due to nature of the heat transfer. Hence the bars cast at SNECMA were dominated by secondary dendrite arm growth from the edge inwards. Comparing thermal results with the bar structure for the UBC experiments showed that the equiaxed zone always corresponded to a classical equiaxed thermal response marked by recalescence (a temporary rise in temperature) while the columnar zone corresponded to a monotonic descent in temperature. Application of a dendrite tip tracking program to the thermal data produced results in agreement with direct estimates of thermal gradient and solidification rate from the raw data. The CET was found to occur within a narrow range of solidification rates and thermal gradients, averaging 0.33 mm/sec and 5.45 °C/cm for
Physical activity but not energy expenditure is reduced in obese adolescents: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND The influence of physical activity on body weight in children and adolescents is controversial. OBJECTIVE The objective was to test the hypothesis that the intensity and duration of physical activity differ between obese and normal-weight adolescents, with no difference in estimated energy expenditure. DESIGN We compared physical activity in 18 (8 males, 10 females) obese [body mass index (in kg/m(2)) > 30] adolescents (14-19 y) with that in a matched, normal-weight (BMI < 27) control group. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured with the doubly labeled water method, and physical activity was measured simultaneously by accelerometry. The physical activity level was determined as the ratio of TEE to the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and activity energy expenditure as 0.9 TEE minus RMR. Accelerometry data included total physical activity (counts x min(-1) x d(-1)), accumulated and continuous duration of activity, and continuous 10-min periods of physical activity of moderate intensity. RESULTS There was no significant difference in adjusted (analysis of covariance) TEE, RMR, or AEE between groups. The physical activity level was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the obese group. No sex x group interaction was observed. Differences in total physical activity (P < 0.001), accumulated time (P < 0.05), continuous time (P < 0.01), and continuous 10-min periods of physical activity of moderate intensity (P < 0.01) were observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS Obese adolescents are less physically active than are normal-weight adolescents, but physical activity-related energy expenditure is not significantly different between groups. The data suggest that physical activity is not necessarily equivalent to the energy costs of activity.
TLR3 or TLR4 Activation Enhances Mesenchymal Stromal Cell‐Mediated Treg Induction via Notch Signaling

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are the subject of numerous clinical trials, largely due to their immunomodulatory and tissue regenerative properties. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), especially TLR3 and TLR4, are highly expressed on MSCs and their activation can significantly modulate the immunosuppressive and anti‐inflammatory functions of MSCs. While MSCs can recruit and promote the generation of regulatory T cells (Tregs), the effect of TLR activation on MSC‐mediated Treg induction is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of ligand‐mediated activation of TLR3 and TLR4 on Treg induction by human MSCs. We found that generation of Tregs in human CD4(+) lymphocyte and MSC cocultures was enhanced by either TLR3 or TLR4 activation of MSCs and that the increase was abolished by TLR3 and TLR4 gene‐silencing. Augmented Treg induction by TLR‐activated MSCs was cell contact‐dependent and associated with increased gene expression of the Notch ligand, Delta‐like 1. Moreover, inhibition of Notch signaling abrogated the augmented Treg levels in the MSC cocultures. Our data show that TLR3 or TLR4 activation of MSCs increases Treg induction via the Notch pathway and suggest new means to enhance the potency of MSCs for treating disorders with an underlying immune dysfunction, including steroid resistant acute graft‐versus‐host disease. Stem Cells 2017;35:265–275
Antinociceptive potency of enkephalins and enkephalinase inhibitors in the mouse model of colorectal distension—proof‐of‐concept

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disease characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. Patients with IBS comprise a significant portion of attendants at the outpatient clinics. Targeting intestinal opioid receptors was found successful in alleviating pain and diarrhea—two major symptoms of IBS. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a novel potential pharmacological option: the use of enkephalinase inhibitors in therapy of visceral pain occurring in the course of IBS. We thus assessed the antinociceptive efficacy of enkephalins: Leu‐enkephalin and Met‐enkephalin, and enkephalinase inhibitors: opiorphin and sialorphin in the mouse model of visceral pain induced by colorectal distension. Leu‐enkephalin, Met‐enkephalin, and sialorphin, but not opiorphin, at the dose of 1 mg/kg injected subcutaneously potently decreased the visceromotor response to colon distension as compared to control. To conclude, enkephalinase inhibitors are worth being considered as potential therapeutics in patients with chronic abdominal pain and/or changed bowel habits, that is, suffering from IBS.
Inorganic surface ligand effects on nanocrystal-based photovoltaic devices

iii LIST OF FIGURES . vii i LIST OF TABLES. xi CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background . 1 1.1.1 Ligand Removal . 3 1.1.2 Ligand Replacement . 3 1.2 Thesis Organization . 7 1.3 References Cited . 9 CHAPTER 2 COHERENT EXCITON DELOCALIZATION IN STRONGLY COUPLED QUANTUM DOT ARRAYS . 13 2.1 Abstract . 13 2.2 Introduction . 13 2.3 Results and Discussion . 16 2.4 Acknowledgements . 25 2.5 References Cited . 25 CHAPTER 3 THE EFFECTS OF SIZE, SHAPE AND LIGAND ON PHOTOCONDUCTIVITY IN CDT E NANOCRYSTAL ARRAYS . 29 3.
Cerebral Hemodynamics During Scene Viewing: Hemispheric Lateralization Predicts Temporal Gaze Behavior Associated With Distinct Modes of Visual Processing

Systematic patterns of eye movements during scene perception suggest a functional distinction between 2 viewing modes: an ambient mode (characterized by short fixations and large saccades) thought to reflect dorsal activity involved with spatial analysis, and a focal mode (characterized by long fixations and small saccades) thought to reflect ventral activity involved with object analysis. Little neuroscientific evidence exists supporting this claim. Here, functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound (fTCD) was used to investigate whether these modes show hemispheric specialization. Participants viewed scenes for 20 s under instructions to search or memorize. Overall, early viewing was right lateralized, whereas later viewing was left lateralized. This right-to-left shift interacted with viewing task (more pronounced in the memory task). Importantly, changes in lateralization correlated with changes in eye movements. This is the first demonstration of right hemisphere bias for eye movements servicing spatial analysis and left hemisphere bias for eye movements servicing object analysis.
Effect of feeding malnourished patients for 1 mo on mitochondrial complex I activity and nutritional assessment measurements.

BACKGROUND We showed previously that the activity of complex I (the first enzyme of the electron transport chain) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells decreases with malnutrition and increases to a subnormal value after 1 wk of refeeding, but the traditional markers of nutritional status do not do so. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to ascertain whether a period of nutritional intervention longer than 1 wk would normalize complex I activity and traditional markers of nutritional status. DESIGN Fifteen malnourished patients (7 women and 8 men) with > or =10% body weight loss over the previous 6 mo were studied on the day of their admission to hospital and 7, 14 and 30 d after the beginning of nutritional support. Complex I activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, weight, height, body composition, body water compartments, dietary intake, and serum albumin concentrations were measured on each occasion. The results before and during nutritional intervention were compared with values obtained in 30 healthy volunteers (17 women and 13 men). RESULTS Complex I activity increased significantly after the first week of refeeding (P < 0.001) and reached a normal value after 1 mo of nutritional supplementation. Among the classic markers of nutritional status, only the ratio of extracellular water to intracellular water tended to decrease over the refeeding period. CONCLUSION Complex I activity increases rapidly and is normalized by refeeding at a time when other markers of nutritional status do not change significantly.
PREPARATION AND DURABILITY OF A HIGH PERFORMANCE CONCRETE WITH NATURAL ULTRA-FINE PARTICLES

A high performance concrete with natural fine sand and mixed mineral ultra-fines instead of ground quartz and silica-fume was prepared. The concrete specimens with 60 %(in mass) replacement of cement with these natural fines and ultra-fines treated under Standard , hot water and steam curing conditions were investigated. The results show that the compressive and flexural strengths of the improved concrete specimens with the natural fines could be achieved to rnore than 200 MPa and 54 MPa, respectively. In addition, the durability (i. e. , water-, carbonation-, freezing-thawing- and corrosion resistances) of the specimens under various curing conditions is also improved.
Study on Composition and Defects Uniformity of CdZnTe Crystal Grown by Travelling Heater Method

CdZnTe crystal with the dimensions of55 mm × 70 mm was grown by travelling heater method( THM). The composition distribution along radial direction of the crystal was measured quantitatively by EPMA. The distribution of defects along radial direction was investigated by photoluminescence( PL)spectrum. The results showed that in comparison with CdZnTe crystal grown by Bridgman method,the uniformity of both composition and defect density in the THM grown crystal improved greatly.