Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation and Swelling Behavior of L-Lactide Interpenetrating Networks

Novel triblock copolymers of poly (L-lactide)-poly (ethylene glycol)-sebacate-poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (L-lactide) were synthesized by Ring-Opening Polymerization of different ratios of L-lactide with other three pre-prepared poly (ethylene glycol)-sebacate-poly (ethylene glycol) polymers, coded A, B and C which had different poly (ethyleneglycol) chain lengths. The copolymers were characterized by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy, which indicated that the reaction of ROP took place and led to producing nine triblock copolymers having new different lactide chain lengths (n = 10, 25 and 50), AL10, AL25, AL50,BL10, BL25, BL50, CL10, CL25, and CL50. Nine polymer networks were also prepared from copolymers with sodium alginate S1 - S9 and finally mixed with a solution of hydroxyl ethyl cellulose to form SH1 - SH9.
Palindromic Polynomial Eigenvalue Problems:Good Vibrations from Good Linearizations

Many applications give rise to nonlinear eigenvalue problems with an underlying structured matrix polynomial. In this paper several useful classes of structured polynomial (e.g., palindromic, even, odd) are identified and the relationships between them explored. A special class of linearizations that reflect the structure of these polynomials, and therefore preserve symmetries in their spectra, is introduced and investigated. We analyze the existence and uniqueness of such linearizations, and show how they may be systematically constructed.
into the dynamics of hind leg development in honey bee ( Apis mellifera L . ) queen and worker larvae-A morphology / differential gene expression analysis

Phenotypic plasticity is a hallmark of the caste systems of social insects, expressed in their life history and morphological traits. These are best studied in bees. In their co-evolution with angiosperm plants, the females of corbiculate bees have acquired a specialized structure on their hind legs for collecting pollen. In the highly eusocial bees (Apini and Meliponini), this structure is however only present in workers and absent in queens. By means of histological sections and cell proliferation analysis we followed the developmental dynamics of the hind legs of queens and workers in the fourth and fifth larval instars. In parallel, we generated subtractive cDNA libraries for hind leg discs of queen and worker larvae by means of a Representational Difference Analysis (RDA). From the total of 135 unique sequences we selected 19 for RT-qPCR analysis, where six of these were confirmed as differing significantly in their expression between the two castes in the larval spinning stage. The development of complex structures such as the bees’ hind legs, requires diverse patterning mechanisms and signaling modules, as indicated by the set of differentially expressed genes related with cell adhesion and signaling pathways.
Exemplar-AMMs: Recognizing Crowd Movements From Pedestrian Trajectories

In this paper, we present a novel method to recognize the types of crowd movement from crowd trajectories using agent-based motion models (AMMs). Our idea is to apply a number of AMMs, referred to as exemplar-AMMs, to describe the crowd movement. Specifically, we propose an optimization framework that filters out the unknown noise in the crowd trajectories and measures their similarity to the exemplar-AMMs to produce a crowd motion feature. We then address our real-world crowd movement recognition problem as a multilabel classification problem. Our experiments show that the proposed feature outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in recognizing both simulated and real-world crowd movements from their trajectories. Finally, we have created a synthetic dataset, SynCrowd, which contains two-dimensional (2D) crowd trajectories in various scenarios, generated by various crowd simulators. This dataset can serve as a training set or benchmark for crowd analysis work.
An efficient and reliable DNA-based sex identification method for archaeological Pacific salmonid (Oncorhynchus spp.) remains

Pacific salmonid (Oncorhynchus spp.) remains are routinely recovered from archaeological sites in northwestern North America but typically lack sexually dimorphic features, precluding the sex identification of these remains through morphological approaches. Consequently, little is known about the deep history of the sex-selective salmonid fishing strategies practiced by some of the region’s Indigenous peoples. Here, we present a DNA-based method for the sex identification of archaeological Pacific salmonid remains that integrates two PCR assays that each co-amplify fragments of the sexually dimorphic on the Y chromosome (sdY) gene and an internal positive control (Clock1a or D-loop). The first assay co-amplifies a 95 bp fragment of sdY and a 108 bp fragment of the autosomal Clock1a gene, whereas the second assay co-amplifies the same sdY fragment and a 249 bp fragment of the mitochondrial D-loop region. This method’s reliability, sensitivity, and efficiency, were evaluated by applying it to 72 modern Pacific salmonids from five species and 75 archaeological remains from six Pacific salmonids. The sex identities assigned to each of the modern samples were concordant with their known phenotypic sex, highlighting the method’s reliability. Applications of the method to dilutions of modern DNA samples indicate it can correctly identify the sex of samples with as little as ~39 pg of total genomic DNA. The successful sex identification of 70 of the 75 (93%) archaeological samples further demonstrates the method’s sensitivity. The method’s reliance on two co-amplifications that preferentially amplify sdY helps validate the sex identities assigned to samples and reduce erroneous identifications caused by allelic dropout and contamination. Furthermore, by sequencing the D-loop fragment used as a positive control, species-level and sex identifications can be simultaneously assigned to samples. Overall, our results indicate the DNA-based method reported in this study is a sensitive and reliable sex identification method for ancient salmonid remains.
Increased Alpha-Rhythm Dynamic Range Promotes Recovery from Visuospatial Neglect: A Neurofeedback Study

Despite recent attempts to use electroencephalogram (EEG) neurofeedback (NFB) as a tool for rehabilitation of motor stroke, its potential for improving neurological impairments of attention—such as visuospatial neglect—remains underexplored. It is also unclear to what extent changes in cortical oscillations contribute to the pathophysiology of neglect, or its recovery. Utilizing EEG-NFB, we sought to causally manipulate alpha oscillations in 5 right-hemisphere stroke patients in order to explore their role in visuospatial neglect. Patients trained to reduce alpha oscillations from their right posterior parietal cortex (rPPC) for 20 minutes daily, over 6 days. Patients demonstrated successful NFB learning between training sessions, denoted by improved regulation of alpha oscillations from rPPC. We observed a significant negative correlation between visuospatial search deficits (i.e., cancellation test) and reestablishment of spontaneous alpha-rhythm dynamic range (i.e., its amplitude variability). Our findings support the use of NFB as a tool for investigating neuroplastic recovery after stroke and suggest reinstatement of intact parietal alpha oscillations as a promising target for reversing attentional deficits. Specifically, we demonstrate for the first time the feasibility of EEG-NFB in neglect patients and provide evidence that targeting alpha amplitude variability might constitute a valuable marker for clinical symptoms and self-regulation.
Incidence of Clinically Overt Hematoma Formation Following Removal of Adductor Canal Catheters During Concomitant Factor Xa Inhibitor Therapy

project, a Duke University institutional review board checklist was used to determine that institutional review board approvalwas not required. The project consisted of reviewing deidentified follow-up data on 170 patients discharged with a PNC from the Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center in Durham, North Carolina, from July 2016 to October 2016 prior to this intervention (control group) and 276 patients discharged with a PNC from November 2016 to February 2017 after all faculty and fellows began applying cyanoacrylate to the clamp connector (intervention group). Data demonstrated 8 clamp connector disconnections (4.7%) prior to our intervention and 1 clamp connector disconnection after the intervention (0.4%). Based on these encouraging findings, we believe this may be a way to minimize clamp connector disconnections. There have been no reports of catheter occlusions from applying this adhesive. At Duke, cyanoacrylate is routinely used at the catheter insertion site on the skin in an effort to reduce leakage. Upon initiation of this quality improvement project, cyanoacrylate was additionally applied to the Tuohy-Borst clamp connector from the same adhesive stick at no additional cost. A decrease in disconnections by greater than 90%with this intervention is clinically beneficial in that each year Duke averages more than 4000 PNC placements that are sent home with patients. Given the initial success with this intervention, further investigation seems warranted. In the meantime, we will continue to apply cyanoacrylate glue to the TuohyBorst clamp connectors because it has
Quantitative stress imaging by combining static and dynamic elastography

There is increasing evidence showing the involvement of mechanical-transduction processes in the interplay between shape-related strains and expression of the genome in living tissues. However, tools allowing long term control of physiological mechanical stress from the inside the tissues lack the investigation of the impact of such processes in organisms. This work presents the feasibility of obtaining a complete 2D-map of the stress applied to an elastic soft tissue according to the Hooke's law (σ = E.e, where σ is the stress, E is the Young's modulus and e is the strain). By combining the concepts of dynamic elastography (Supersonic Shear Imaging - SSI) and static elastography, both the elastic modulus (E) and strain (e) can be retrieved respectively. The SSI technique is based on the combination of radiation force induced by an ultrasonic beam and an ultrafast imaging sequence (5000 frames/s) capable of catching in real time the propagation of the resulting shear waves. Then by measuring the shear wave velocity (Vs), the complete 2D elasticity map can be retrieved through the well known expression E = 3ρVs², where ρ represents the density of the medium. For the static elastography part, the tissue is slightly compressed and a ultrasound image is acquired before and after static compression. The cross-correlation between these two ultrasound images allows the determination of the accurate 2D strain map. Experiments are performed on diverse types of agar-gelatin phantoms mimicking soft tissues which present inclusions with different levels of stiffness. Results are also presented on ex vivo tissues (muscles, liver) and the influence of the boundary conditions on measurements is discussed. The mapping of quasi-static stress applied to biological tissues could play a key role in the understanding of tumour mechanical-transduction processes where mechanical stress may induce changes within the tumour structure.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) in Microbiology: Illumination and Enhancement of the Microbial World

The microbial world forms a huge family of organisms that exhibit the greatest phylogenetic diversity on Earth and thus colonize virtually our entire planet. Due to this diversity and subsequent complex interactions, the vast majority of microorganisms are involved in innumerable natural bioprocesses and contribute an absolutely vital role toward the maintenance of life on Earth, whilst a small minority cause various infectious diseases. The ever-increasing demand for environmental monitoring, sustainable ecosystems, food security, and improved healthcare systems drives the continuous search for inexpensive but reproducible, automated and portable techniques for detection of microbial isolates and understanding their interactions for clinical, environmental, and industrial applications and benefits. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is attracting significant attention for the accurate identification, discrimination and characterization and functional assessment of microbial cells at the single cell level. In this review, we briefly discuss the technological advances in Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) instrumentation and their application for the analysis of clinically and industrially relevant microorganisms, biofilms, and biological warfare agents. In addition, we summarize the current trends and future prospects of integrating Raman/SERS-isotopic labeling and cell sorting technologies in parallel, to link genotype-to-phenotype in order to define community function of unculturable microbial cells in mixed microbial communities which possess admirable traits such as detoxification of pollutants and recycling of essential metals.
A Generalized Spectral Collocation Method with Tunable Accuracy for Variable-Order Fractional Differential Equations

We generalize existing Jacobi--Gauss--Lobatto collocation methods for variable-order fractional differential equations using a singular approximation basis in terms of weighted Jacobi polynomials of the form $(1 \pm x)^\mu P_j^{a,b}(x)$, where ${\mu>-1}$. In order to derive the differentiation matrices of the variable-order fractional derivatives, we develop a three-term recurrence relation for both integrals and derivatives of these weighted Jacobi polynomials, hence extending the three-term recurrence relationship of Jacobi polynomials. The new spectral collocation method is applied to solve fractional ordinary and partial differential equations with endpoint singularities. We demonstrate that the singular basis enhances greatly the accuracy of the numerical solution by properly tuning the parameter $\mu$, even for cases where we do not know explicitly the form of singularity in the solution at the boundaries.
Biological Degumming of Silk Fabrics with Proteolytic Enzymes

ABSTRACT The biological degumming of silk fibers was studied using alkaline proteases such as Savinase and Alcalase, comparing with conventional alkaline treatments. Degumming efficiency was evaluated by measuring the residual silk sericin in terms of weight loss and surface staining with reactive dye. The water absorbency and tensile strength were measured to characterize surface and physical properties, and the results are presented. The dosage was the decisive factor in enzymatic degumming process. Finally, the morphology of silk fibers was researched by scanning electronic microscopy, and the regular removal of sericin and less damage to fibroin were detected in enzymatically treated fibers.
Synthesis and Manufacture of Polyamide-imide/Copper Foil Laminates without Adhesive

Three kinds of polyamide-imide (PAI) were synthesized. The polyimide prepolymer was synthesized from 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and 3,3'-4,4'-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), after which the prepolymer was reacted respectively with terephthalic acid (TPA), isophthalic acid (IPA), and 4,4'-oxybisbenzonic acid (OBBA) to form PAI-1, PAI-2, and PAI-3. Their chemical structures were characterized using elemental analyses (EA), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The thermal properties, electrical properties, solubility, and mechanical properties of these PAIs, and the peel strength retention and electrical properties of PAI/Cu laminates were measured. The dielectric constants of PAI laminates were lower than 5.5 and the dissipation factors were lower than 0.035, and were in the order of PAI-3 < PAI-1 < PAI-2. These PAI/Cu laminates exhibited peel strength higher than 2.30 kN/m under normal circumstances and higher than 2.15 kN/m after heating. The order of peel strength was PAI-1 > PAI-3 > PAI-2.
Biocompatibility evaluation of sputtered zirconium-based thin film metallic glass-coated steels

Thin film metallic glasses comprised of Zr48Cu36Al8Ag8 (at.%) of approximately 1.5 μm and 3 μm in thickness were prepared using magnetron sputtering onto medical grade 316L stainless steel. Their structural and mechanical properties, in vitro corrosion, and antimicrobial activity were analyzed. The amorphous thin film metallic glasses consisted of a single glassy phase, with an absence of any detectable peaks corresponding to crystalline phases. Elemental composition close to the target alloy was noted from EDAX analysis of the thin film. The surface morphology of the film showed a smooth surface on scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In vitro electrochemical corrosion studies indicated that the zirconium-based metallic glass could withstand body fluid, showing superior resistance to corrosion and electrochemical stability. Interactions between the coated surface and bacteria were investigated by agar diffusion, solution suspension, and wet interfacial contact methods. The results indicated a clear zone of inhibition against the growth of microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, confirming the antimicrobial activity of the thin film metallic glasses. Cytotoxicity studies using L929 fibroblast cells showed these coatings to be noncytotoxic in nature.
Infection Rate and Tissue Localization of Murine IL-12p40-Producing Monocyte-Derived CD103+ Lung Dendritic Cells during Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Non-hematopoietic cells, including lung epithelial cells, influence host immune responses. By co-culturing primary alveolar epithelial cells and monocytes from naïve donor mice, we show that alveolar epithelial cells support monocyte survival and differentiation in vitro, suggesting a role for non-hematopoietic cells in monocyte differentiation during the steady state in vivo. CD103+ dendritic cells (αE-DC) are present at mucosal surfaces. Using a murine primary monocyte adoptive transfer model, we demonstrate that αE-DC in the lungs and pulmonary lymph nodes are monocyte-derived during pulmonary tuberculosis. The tissue localization may influence the functional potential of αE-DC that accumulate in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected lungs. Here, we confirm the localization of αE-DC in uninfected mice beneath the bronchial epithelial cell layer and near the vascular wall, and show that αE-DC have a similar distribution in the lungs during pulmonary tuberculosis and are detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from infected mice. Lung DC can be targeted by M. tuberculosis in vivo and play a role in bacterial dissemination to the draining lymph node. In contrast to other DC subsets, only a fraction of lung αE-DC are infected with the bacterium. We also show that virulent M. tuberculosis does not significantly alter cell surface expression levels of MHC class II on infected cells in vivo and that αE-DC contain the highest frequency of IL-12p40+ cells among the myeloid cell subsets in infected lungs. Our results support a model in which inflammatory monocytes are recruited into the M. tuberculosis-infected lung tissue and, depending on which non-hematopoietic cells they interact with, differentiate along different paths to give rise to multiple monocyte-derived cells, including DC with a distinctive αE-DC phenotype.
Acid-protected Eu(III) coordination nanoparticles covered with polystyrene

Acid-protected Eu(III) coordination nanoparticles composed of Eu(III) complexes, joint ligands, terminate ligands and a protection layer are reported. The prepared acid-protected Eu(III) coordination nanoparticles [Eu(hfa)3(dpbp)x(SDPO)y]n-PS and Eu(III) coordination nanoparticles [Eu(hfa)3(dpbp)x(SDPO)y]n were characterized using ESI-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). [Eu(hfa)3(dpbp)x(SDPO)y]n-PS shows an effective acid-resistance property based on the polystyrene layer on its nanoparticle surface. The emission intensity is retained under 3000 s in an acidic condition (pH = 0.92). In this study, acid-protected Eu(III) coordination nanoparticles are demonstrated.
Challenges faced by caregivers of children on antiretroviral therapy at Mutale Municipality selected healthcare facilities, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province

Background Children depend solely on caregivers who can be either parents or guardians for drug administration to enhance adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART), which might pose any number of challenges. Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the challenges faced by caregivers of children on ART at Mutale Municipality, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. Research design and method The research design was qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature. The population consisted of 16 caregivers who were 18 years of age and above, and mentally capable, irrespective of educational qualifications, caring for children aged between 0 and 15 years who were on ART between April 2013 and October 2014. Non-probability, purposive sampling was used to select the 16 caregivers. Required permission, approval and ethical clearance were obtained from the University of Venda Higher Degree Committee, Limpopo Provincial Health Department and relevant institutions. An in-depth, individual, unstructured interview method was used to collect data. One central question was asked: ‘What are the challenges you experience when caring for a child on antiretroviral treatment? ’ Subsequent questions were based on the participants’ responses to the central question. Qualitative data were analysed by means of Tesch’s open-coding method. Results The findings of this study revealed that participants, that is, caregivers of children on ART, experienced financial burdens because of transport costs needed to comply with follow-up dates and insufficient of money for food, clothing the child in need of care, pocket money for lunch boxes during school hours and time lost while waiting for consultations. Participants reported some level of stigmatisation against children on ART by family members, especially the husbands or in-laws of the secondary caregivers. Many primary and secondary caregivers seemed to have given up seeking support from government and community structures. Conclusion The conclusions drawn from this research are that caregivers hardly receive any support from family members or the community. Fear of disclosing the HIV-positive status of children resulted in the delay of financial support from the government, thus leading to serious financial burden on the caregivers.