Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced chondrogenic differentiation of iPS cell-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells via neural crest cell induction for hyaline cartilage repair

Background: To date, there is no effective long-lasting treatment for cartilage tissue repair. Primary chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells are the most commonly used cell sources in regenerative medicine. However, both cell types have limitations, such as dedifferentiation, donor morbidity, and limited expansion. Here, we report a stepwise differentiation method to generate matrix-rich cartilage spheroids from induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (iMSCs) via the induction of neural crest cells under xeno-free conditions. Methods: The genes and signaling pathways regulating the chondrogenic susceptibility of iMSCs generated under different conditions were studied. Enhanced chondrogenic differentiation was achieved using a combination of growth factors and small-molecule inducers. Results: We demonstrated that the use of a thienoindazole derivative, TD-198946, synergistically improves chondrogenesis in iMSCs. The proposed strategy produced controlled-size spheroids and increased cartilage extracellular matrix production with no signs of dedifferentiation, fibrotic cartilage formation, or hypertrophy in vivo. Conclusion: These findings provide a novel cell source for stem cell-based cartilage repair. Furthermore, since chondrogenic spheroids have the potential to fuse within a few days, they can be used as building blocks for biofabrication of larger cartilage tissues using technologies such as the Kenzan Bioprinting method.
A surface mass balance in an ice flow model for Greenland

The Greenland ice sheet is the largest ice volume in the Northern Hemisphere. Current data suggests that the ice volume is decreasing with 142 ± 49 Gt yr−1. Using physical ice sheet models like ANICE we may see the evolution of the ice sheet over multiple glacial cycles. An important part of these models is the surface mass balance, but global mass balance parameterizations based on insolation and temperature have not yet resulted in an accurate model. This is especially true for the parameterization of ablation. The three parameters are initially a1 = 0.513, a2 = 10, a3 = 45. Using RACMO2/GR, a high resolution atmospheric climate model, as reference, we will optimize our ablation model. Using an iterative optimization method to decrease the model error to match the reference data, we find a single minimum for the error, with the a resulting parameterset of a1 = −0.103, a2 = 1.99, a3 = −44.3. The spatial distribution of the ablation increases drastically, with correlation coefficient between reference and model increasing from 0.19 initially to 0.88 with the optimized parameterset. The results raise questions about the physical background of the parameters. With a1 being a parameter for the transmissivity the resulting negative value can not appear physically. We conclude that the insolation-temperature method does increase accuracy over the positive degree day model. The resulting ablation stays high in glacial periods with an even higher refreezing fraction making sure the ice volume seems relatively stable. Solutions are tried to be found in using runoff as parameterization, making the refreezing fraction obsolete. This runoff parameterization does not change the signs on the best parameters, but final results do not differ physically from the ablation plus refreezing model. Max Wijsman Greenland Surface Mass Balance 1
Viability of cerium oxide nanoparticles as a radioprotector against proton radiation for non-malignant cells

VIABILITY OF CERIUM OXIDE NANOPARTICLES AS A RADIOPROTECTOR AGAINST PROTON RADIATION FOR NON-MALIGNANT CELLS by Brian W. Swartz May 2015 Director of Dissertation: Jefferson Shinpaugh, PhD. DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS Radiation therapy is a prevalent cancer treatment therapy. The goal is to kill all tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells and new methods that can accomplish this goal are continually being investigated. Cerium Oxide (CeO2) or ceria nanoparticles have recently shown to act as a radioprotector for non-malignant cells while sensitizing tumor cells to x-rays. However, research is required to determine if the same benefits are present for heavy chargedparticle radiation. This dissertation research investigates the efficacy of ceria nanoparticles (CNPs) as a radioprotector of normal cells irradiated with 3-4 MeV protons at doses of 1-6 Gy in the East Carolina University Accelerator Laboratory. The CNPs were synthesized at the University of Central Florida Nanoscience Technology Center and were transferred to ECU. Cell viability was measured with the Microculture Tetrazolium (MTT) assay 24 and 48 hours post irradiation. DNA damage was determined using the Terminal Uridine Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assay. While showing promise for potential radioprotection of non-malignant cells using both assays, the MTT assay results were less conclusive and require further research. The TUNEL assay results are preliminary but show that CNPs reduce DNA damage to non-malignant cells compared to those cells which were not treated. VIABILITY OF CERIUM OXIDE NANOPARTICLES AS A RADIOPROTECTOR AGAINST PROTON RADIATION FOR NON-MALIGNANT CELLS A Dissertation Presented To The Faculty of the Department of Physics East Carolina University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Physics by Brian W. Swartz May 2015 © Brian W. Swartz, 2015 VIABILITY OF CERIUM OXIDE NANOPARTICLES AS A RADIOPROTECTOR AGAINST PROTON RADIATION FOR NON-MALIGNANT CELLS By
Toward improved satellite estimates of short‐wave radiative fluxes—Focus on cloud detection over snow: 1. Methodology

[1] A Coupled Cloud and Snow Detection Algorithm (CCSDA) for improving satellite capabilities to estimate downward surface short-wave radiation under snow conditions has been developed and will be described here. Four channels of the GOES-8 imager are used to detect clouds, snow, and to perform background analysis for each hour of the diurnal cycle. The Clear-Sky Background Analysis (CSBA) is used as a reference state to generate dynamic and location-dependent thresholds for cloud detection tests, and the CSBA of the visible channel is used as a required input for the solar radiation model. The implementation of any one component requires a priori information on the other two. Therefore the three components are coupled to iteratively update cloud detection variables, cloud amount, and snow cover. Snow detection aims to distinguish between snow-covered and snow-free pixels after a pixel is classified as clear. The CCSDA algorithm will be described, and preliminary evaluation of the impact of the improvements on surface radiative flux estimates will be presented in part 2 (Pinker et al., 2007).
Nondestructive Quantitative Analysis of Cofrel Medicines by Double ANN-NIR Spectroscopy

In this paper, a double artificial neural network (DANN) algorithm was used to parse near infrared (NIR) reflectance spectrum of Cofrel medicines. The contents of benproperine phosphate, which is the effective ingredient in Cofrel medicines, were accurately nondestructive quantitatively predicted. Compared the results with those of HPLC, the relative errors (RE %) were less than 0.18%. The analytical results could be applied to qualitative control of Cofrel medicines.
Investigation of loss of surfactants during enhanced oil recovery applications - adsorption of surfactants onto clay materials

Chemical flooding, or surfactant flooding, is a well known EOR technique which has been used worldwide for decades. For this method to be economically feasible, it is crucial to minimize the loss of surfactant to the reservoir. Currently the industry is considering combining chemical flooding with the newer technique of low salinity waterflooding which also has proved to be an efficient method for increasing oil recovery from reservoirs. In this study the adsorption of the anionic surfactant Aerosol OT onto kaolinite has been investigated by the indirect method of measuring surface tension. The adsorption studies were conducted under four different salinities, categorized by ionic strength and ionic composition. The experiments were performed with and without calcium to study the effect of ionic composition. The ionic strength of the solutions were 0,6 and 0,2. The results reveal that adsorption of Aerosol OT does occur onto kaolinite, and that reducing the ionic strength of the solution also reduces adsorption. The presence of divalent cations was found to promote adsorption. The method which was utilized for this study was considered to have limited accuracy and thus more experiments would be preferred to confirm the results. The tendencies of adsorption are however in agreement with the theories of similar studies and should be considered to be valid.
Preparation of Powdered Smoked-Dried Mackerel Soup and Its Taste Compounds

This study was carried out to prepare powdered smoked-dried mackerel which can be used as a soup base, and to examine storage stability and the taste compounds of Products. Raw mackerel are filleted, toiled for 10 minutes and pressed to remove lipids, and then soaked in extract solution of skipjack meat. This soaked mackerel are smoked 3 times to moisture content at for 8 hours. And the smoked-dried mackerel were pulverized to 50 mesh. Finally, the powdered smoked-dried mackerel were packed in a laminated film with air(product C), nitrogen(product N) and oxygen absorber(product O), and then stored at room temperature for 100 days. The moisture and crude lipid content of powdered smoked-dried mackerel was , respectively, and water activity is 0.52-0.56. And these values showed little changes during storage. The pH, VBN and amino nitrogen content increased slowly during storage. Hydrophilic and lipophilic brown pigment formation showed a tendency of increase in product(C) and showed little change in product(N) and (O). The TBA value, peroxide value and carbonyl value of product(N) and (O) were lower than those of product (C). The major fatty acids of products were 16:0, 18:1, 22:6, 18:0 and 20:5, and polyenoic acids decreased, while saturated and monoenoic acids increased during processing and storage of products. The IMP content in products were 420.2-454.2 mg/100 g and decreased slightly with storage period. And major non-volatile organic acids in products were lactic acid, succinic acid and acid. In free amino acids and related compounds, major ones are histidine, alanine, hydroxyproline, lysine, glutamic acid and anserine, which occupied of total free amino acids. The taste compounds of powdered smoked-dried mackerel were free amino acids and related compounds (1,279.4 mg/100 g), non-volatile organic acids(948.1 mg/100 g), nucleotides and their related compounds (672.8 mg/100 g), total creatinine(430.4 ntg/100 g), tetaine(86.6 mg/100 g) and small amount of TMAO. The extraction condition of powdered smoked-dried mackerel in preparing soup stock is appropriate at for 1 minute. Judging from the results of taste and sensory evaluation, it is concluded that the powdered smoked-dried mackerel can be used as natural flavoring substance in preparing soups and broth.
Synthèse et caractérisation de nanoplaquettes semi-conductrices : contrôle des dimensions, de la forme et de la composition

Cette these s'integre dans le cadre d'un projet CIFRE avec Solarwell et a pour but de valoriser la synthese des nanoplaquettes. Ces objets anisotropes permettraient de faciliter l'integration des nanocristaux dans les dispositifs qui utilisent leurs proprietes opto-electroniques particulieres (dispositifs luminescents, cellules solaires, transistors.). Les nanocristaux semi-conducteurs bidimensionnels presentent un confinement quantique selon une dimension, l'epaisseur, controlee a la monocouche atomique. Le premier objectif de cette these est d'etendre lateralement les nanoplaquettes afin de disposer de films d'epaisseur nanometrique par voie colloidale. Pour ce faire, une strategie d'extension laterale par injection continue de precurseurs ainsi qu'une optimisation des parametres de synthese ont ete mises en place. Elles ont permis de mettre au point une synthese simple et robuste de nano-rouleaux de plusieurs centaines de nanometres de long. Les nano-rouleaux obtenus sont caracterises par spectroscopie d'absorption et microscopie electronique en transmission. Ils sont deroules par une technique de croissance de coque sur les nanoplaquettes pour obtenir des nanofeuillets plats d'epaisseur homogene de l'ordre du nanometre. Ensuite, afin d'elargir la gamme de longueurs d'onde accessibles, une methode d'echange de cations a ete appliquee aux nanoplaquettes de chalcogenure de cadmium synthetisees par voie directe. Des nanoplaquettes absorbant dans l'UV (chalcogenure de zinc) et dans l'infrarouge (chalcogenure de plomb) ont ete obtenues. Cette technique permet d'etendre les heterostructures bidimensionnelles a de nouveaux materiaux.
Perceived impact on efficiency and safety of experienced American physician assistants/associates in acute hospital care in England: findings from a multi-site case organisational study

Summary Objectives To investigate the contribution, efficiency and safety of experienced physician associates included in the staffing of medical/surgical teams in acute hospitals in England, including facilitating and hindering factors. Design Mixed methods longitudinal, multi-site evaluation of a two-year programme employing 27 American physician associates: interviews and documentary analysis. Setting Eight acute hospitals, England. Participants 36 medical directors, consultants, junior doctors, nurses and manager, 198 documents. Results Over time, the experienced physician associates became viewed as a positive asset to medical and surgical teams, even in services where high levels of scepticism were initially expressed. Their positive contribution was described as bringing continuity to the medical/surgical team which benefited patients, consultants, doctors-in-training, nurses and the overall efficiency of the service. This is the first report of the positive impact that, including physician associates in medical/surgical teams, had on achieving safe working hours for doctors in training. Many reported the lack of physician associates regulation with attendant legislated authority to prescribe medicines and order ionising radiation was a hindrance in their deployment and employment. However, by the end of the programme, seven hospitals had published plans to increase the numbers of physician associates employed and host clinical placements for student physician associates. Conclusions The programme demonstrated the types of contributions the experienced physician associates made to patient experience, junior doctor experience and acute care services with medical workforce shortages. The General Medical Council will regulate the profession in the future. Robust quantitative research is now required.
A Geração de Afeto Negativo e sua Influência na Intenção de Retorno do Consumidor

Are we influenced by mood and emotional states elicited by the store environment? Do these affective states have any impact on our behavior inside the store? This article develops and tests a model that examines the generation of negative affect as a function of store atmosphere and its influence on patronage intentions such as whether the customer intends to return or recommend the store to others. We designed an experiment in which we manipulated three dimensions of a supermarket atmosphere: social, design and ambient factors. Data were analyzed using the Structural Equation Modeling approach, which allowed us to employ a competing models strategy to test the mediator role of affect on the relationship between store atmosphere and patronage intentions. Our findings show that affect is a mediator variable and that store design is a highly important variable when it comes to explaining the future behavior of consumers. Conversely, social aspects do not impact patronage, at least in a self-service setting like that of supermarkets which allow consumers more freedom in the store, without requiring help from salespeople or other staff
Effects of Medical Therapy on Insulin Resistance and the Cardiovascular System in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

OBJECTIVE —We aimed to determine the impact of medical therapy for symptom management on insulin resistance, metabolic profiles, and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an insulin-resistant pre-diabetes condition. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —One hundred overweight women (BMI >27 kg/m 2 ), average age 31 years, who were nonsmokers, were not pregnant, did not have diabetes, and were off relevant medications for 3 months completed this 6-month open-label controlled trial. Randomization was to a control group (higher-dose oral contraceptive [OCP] 35 μg ethinyl estradiol [EE]/2 mg cyproterone acetate, metformin [1 g b.d.] or low-dose OCP [20 μg EE/100 μg levonorgestrel + aldactone 50 mg b.d.]). Primary outcome measures were insulin resistance (area under curve on oral glucose tolerance test) and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease including arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity [PWV]) and endothelial function. RESULTS —All treatments similarly and significantly improved symptoms including hirsutism and menstrual cycle length. Insulin resistance was improved by metformin and worsened by the high-dose OCP. Arterial stiffness worsened in the higher-dose OCP group (PWV 7.46 vs. 8.03 m/s, P CONCLUSIONS —In overweight women with PCOS, metformin and low- and high-dose OCP preparations have similar efficacy but differential effects on insulin resistance and arterial function. These findings suggest that a low-dose OCP preparation may be preferable if contraception is needed and that metformin should be considered for symptomatic management, particularly in women with additional metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors.
Clinical and immunological benefits of convalescent plasma therapy in severe COVID-19: insights from a single center open label randomised control trial

Introduction: A single center open label phase II randomised control trial was done to assess the pathogen and host-intrinsic factors influencing clinical and immunological benefits of passive immunization using convalescent plasma therapy (CPT), in addition to standard of care (SOC) therapy in severe COVID-19 patients, as compared to patients only on SOC therapy. Methods: Convalescent plasma was collected from patients recovered from COVID-19 following a screening protocol which also included measuring plasma anti SARS-CoV2 spike IgG content. Retrospectively, neutralizing antibody content was measured and proteome was characterized by LC-MS/MS for all convalescent plasma units that were transfused to patients. Severe COVID-19 patients with evidence for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with PaO2/FiO2 ratio 100-300 (moderate ARDS) were recruited and randomised into two parallel arms of SOC and CPT, N=40 in each arm. Peripheral blood samples were collected on the day of enrolment (T1) followed by day3/4 (T2) and day 7 (T3). RT-PCR and sequencing was done for SARS-CoV2 RNA isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs collected at T1. A panel of cytokines and neutralizing antibody content were measured in plasma at all three timepoints. Patients were followed up for 30 days post-admission to assess the primary outcomes of all cause mortality and immunological correlates for clinical benefits. Results: While across all age-groups no statistically significant clinical benefit was registered for patients in the CPT arm, significant immediate mitigation of hypoxia, reduction in hospital stay as well as survival benefit was recorded in severe COVID-19 patients with ARDS aged less than 67 years receiving convalescent plasma therapy. In addition to its neutralizing antibody content a prominent effect of convalescent plasma on attenuation of systemic cytokine levels possibly contributed to its benefits. Conclusion: Precise targeting of severe COVID-19 patients is necessary for reaping the clinical benefits of convalescent plasma therapy.
Frontiers in Bioinorganic chemistry

Nickel-Biochemistry Molybdenum-Biochemistry Nucleic Acid-Metal Ion Interactions Uptake, Essentiality and Toxicity of the Chemical Elements Models of Metal-Ion Binding Sites in Biology Proteins of Iron Storage and Transport Kinetics in Bioinorganic Chemistry Metals in Medicine Biological Mineralization Structural and Mechanistic Studies of Metalloproteins and Bioinorganic Complexes Electron Transfer Processes.
Genomics of Recombination Rate Variation in Temperature-Evolved Drosophila melanogaster Populations

Abstract Meiotic recombination is a critical process that ensures proper segregation of chromosome homologs through DNA double-strand break repair mechanisms. Rates of recombination are highly variable among various taxa, within species, and within genomes with far-reaching evolutionary and genomic consequences. The genetic basis of recombination rate variation is therefore crucial in the study of evolutionary biology but remains poorly understood. In this study, we took advantage of a set of experimental temperature-evolved populations of Drosophila melanogaster with heritable differences in recombination rates depending on the temperature regime in which they evolved. We performed whole-genome sequencing and identified several chromosomal regions that appear to be divergent depending on temperature regime. In addition, we identify a set of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and associated genes with significant differences in allele frequency when the different temperature populations are compared. Further refinement of these gene candidates emphasizing those expressed in the ovary and associated with DNA binding reveals numerous potential candidate genes such as Hr38, EcR, and mamo responsible for observed differences in recombination rates in these experimental evolution lines thus providing insight into the genetic basis of recombination rate variation.