Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On-Line coupling of supercritical fluid extraction with high performance liquid chromatography

Supercritical fluid extraction was coupled directly with high performance liquid chromatograph. The system was evaluated for direct injection of supercritical CO2 and modified supercritical CO2 at high pressure and temperature onto a HPLC system with varying mobile phase compositions and flow rates. Injection of 9 μL supercritical CO2 onto the HPLC using methanol/water mobile phases from 100% methanol to 80% with a flow of 1.0 mL/min did not adversely affect the baseline of UV detector. However at higher percentages of water, CO2 solubility in the mobile phase decreased and caused baseline interferences on the UV detector. At higher HPLC mobile phase flow rates, supercritical CO2 was injected to higher percentages of water without any effect on the UV baseline. Also, increasing the extraction pressure or modifier concentration did not change the results. Separations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and linear alkenebenzene sulfonate test mixtures were obtained using on-line SFE/HPLC interfaced system.
Structural and Biochemical Characterization of the Two Drosophila Low Molecular Weight-Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases DARP and Primo-1

The Drosophila genome contains four low molecular weight-protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) members: Primo-1, Primo-2, CG14297, and CG31469. The lack of intensive biochemical analysis has limited our understanding of these proteins. Primo-1 and CG31469 were previously classified as pseudophosphatases, but CG31469 was also suggested to be a putative protein arginine phosphatase. Herein, we present the crystal structures of CG31469 and Primo-1, which are the first Drosophila LMW-PTP structures. Structural analysis showed that the two proteins adopt the typical LMW-PTP fold and have a canonically arranged P-loop. Intriguingly, while Primo-1 is presumed to be a canonical LMW-PTP, CG31469 is unique as it contains a threonine residue at the fifth position of the P-loop motif instead of highly conserved isoleucine and a characteristically narrow active site pocket, which should facilitate the accommodation of phosphoarginine. Subsequent biochemical analysis revealed that Primo-1 and CG31469 are enzymatically active on phosphotyrosine and phosphoarginine, respectively, refuting their classification as pseudophosphatases. Collectively, we provide structural and biochemical data on two Drosophila proteins: Primo-1, the canonical LMW-PTP protein, and CG31469, the first investigated eukaryotic protein arginine phosphatase. We named CG31469 as DARP, which stands for Drosophila ARginine Phosphatase.
Adsorption of extracellular vesicles onto the tube walls during storage in solution

Short term storage of extracellular vesicle (EV) solutions at +4°C is a common practice, but the stability of EVs during this procedure has not been fully understood yet. Using nanoparticle tracking analysis, we have shown that EVs isolated from the conditioned medium of HT-29 cells exhibit a pronounced concentration decrease when stored in PBS in ordinary polypropylene tubes within the range of (0.5–2.1) × 1010 particles/ml. EV losses reach 51±3% for 0.5 ml of EVs in Eppendorf 2 ml tube at 48 hours of storage at +4°C. Around 2/3 of the observed losses have been attributed to the adsorption of vesicles onto tube walls. This result shows that the lower part (up to at least 2 × 1010 particles/ml) of the practically relevant concentration range for purified EVs is prone to adsorption losses at +4°C. Total particle losses could be reduced to 18–21% at 48 hours by using either Eppendorf Protein LoBind tubes or ordinary tubes with the surface blocked with bovine serum albumin or EVs. Reduction of losses to 15% has been shown for isolated EVs dissolved in the supernatant after 100 000 g centrifugation as a model of conditioned medium. Also, a previously unknown feature of diffusion-controlled adsorption was revealed for EVs. In addition to the decrease in particle count, this process causes the predominant losses of smaller particles.
Hearing loss, cognition, and risk of neurocognitive disorder: evidence from a longitudinal cohort study of older adult Australians

ABSTRACT Addressing midlife hearing loss could prevent up to 9% of new cases of dementia, the highest of any potentially modifiable risk factor identified in the 2017 commissioned report in The Lancet. In Australia, hearing loss is the second-most common chronic health condition in older people, affecting 74% of people aged over 70. Estimates indicate that people with severe hearing loss are up to 5-times more likely to develop dementia, but these estimates vary between studies due to methodological limitations. Using data from the Sydney Memory and Aging Study, in which 1,037 Australian men and women aged between 70 and 90 years were enrolled and completed biennial assessments from 2005-2017, investigations between hearing loss and baseline cognitive performance as well as longitudinal risk of neurocognitive disorder were undertaken. Individuals who reported moderate-to-severe hearing difficulties had poorer cognitive performances in the domains of Attention/Processing Speed and Visuospatial Ability, and on an overall index of Global Cognition, and had a 1.5-times greater risk for the neurocognitive disorder during 6-years’ follow-up. Hearing loss independently predicted risk for MCI but not dementia. The presence of hearing loss is an important consideration for neuropsychological case formulation in older adults with cognitive impairment. Hearing loss may increase cognitive load, resulting in observable cognitive impairment on neuropsychological testing. Individuals with hearing loss who demonstrate impairment in non-amnestic domains may experience benefits from the provision of hearing devices; This study provides support for a randomized control trial of hearing devices for improvement of cognitive function in this group.
The first national survey of antimicrobial use among dentists in Japan from 2015 to 2017 based on the national database of health insurance claims and specific health checkups of Japan

Purpose To counter the global health threat of antimicrobial resistance, effective antimicrobial stewardship programs are needed to improve antimicrobial use (AMU) among dentists in addition to physicians. This study aimed to investigate the nationwide epidemiology of AMU among Japanese dentists to facilitate the development of dentist-centered programs. Methods We conducted a retrospective population-based study using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan to analyze the AMU among Japanese dentists between 2015 and 2017. AMU was quantified as the defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DID). The trends in dentist-prescribed AMU were examined according to antimicrobial category and administration route. We also compared outpatient oral AMU between dentists and physicians as well as between on-site and off-site dispensing. Results The DID values of dentist-prescribed AMU were 1.23 in 2015, 1.22 in 2016, and 1.21 in 2017. During this study period, outpatient oral antimicrobials comprised the majority (approximately 99%) of dentist-prescribed AMU, and cephalosporins were the most frequently prescribed antimicrobials (>60% of all antimicrobials). The DID values of outpatient oral AMU were 1.21 for dentists and 12.11 for physicians. The DID value for on-site dispensing was 0.89 in 2017, in which cephalosporins were the predominantly used antimicrobials (DID: 0.60). Conclusions Interventions that target dentists in Japan should focus on on-site dispensing of oral antimicrobials (especially cephalosporins) for outpatients. Further studies are needed to ascertain the underlying factors of oral cephalosporin prescriptions to guide the development of effective antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi seroprevalence in California blood donors

The western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus, an important vector in the western United States of two zoonotic spirochetes: Borrelia burgdorferi (also called Borreliella burgdorferi), causing Lyme disease, and Borrelia miyamotoi, causing a relapsing fever-type illness. Human cases of Lyme disease are well-documented in California, with increased risk in the north coastal areas and western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range. Despite the established presence of B. miyamotoi in the human-biting I. pacificus tick in California, clinical cases with this spirochete have not been well studied. To assess exposure to B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi in California, and to address the hypothesis that B. miyamotoi exposure in humans is similar in geographic range to B. burgdorferi, 1,700 blood donor sera from California were tested for antibodies to both pathogens. Sampling was from high endemic and low endemic counties for Lyme disease in California. All sera were screened using the C6 ELISA. All C6 positive and equivocal samples and nine randomly chosen C6 negative samples were further analyzed for B. burgdorferi antibody using IgG western blot and a modified two ELISA test system and for B. miyamotoi antibody using the GlpQ ELISA and B. miyamotoi whole cell sonicate western blot. Of the 1,700 samples tested in series, eight tested positive for antibodies to B. burgdorferi (0.47%, Exact 95% CI: 0.20, 0.93) and two tested positive for antibodies to B. miyamotoi (0.12%, Exact 95% CI: 0.01, 0.42). There was no statistically significant difference in seroprevalence for either pathogen between high and low Lyme disease endemic counties. Our results confirm a low frequency of Lyme disease and an even lower frequency of B. miyamotoi exposure among adult blood donors in California; however, our findings reinforce public health messaging that there is risk of infection by these emerging diseases in the state.
Role of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in the alleviation of lead toxicity to Pisum sativum L.

Abstract Plant-microbe interaction is a significant tool to tackle heavy metals problem in the soil. A pot trial was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of lead tolerant rhizobacteria in improving pea growth under Pb stress. Lead sulfate (PbSO4) was used for spiking (250, 500, and 750 mg kg−1). Results indicated that inoculation with Pb-tolerant PGPR strain not only alleviated the harmful impacts of Pb on plant growth but also immobilized it in the soil. PGPR in the presence of Pb at concentrations of 0, 250, 500 and 750 mg kg−1, increased shoot and root lengths by 21, 15, 18% and 72, 80, 84%, respectively, than uninoculated control. Moreover, fresh biomass of shoots and roots were also increased by 51, 45, 35% and 57, 101, 139% respectively, at Pb concentrations of 250, 500 and 750 mg kg−1. In addition, PGPR inoculation also reduced Pb concentration in the roots and shoots by 57, 55, 49% and 70, 56 and 58% respectively, than uninoculated control. So, PGPR proved to be an efficient option for reducing Pb mobility and can be effectively used for its phytostabilization. Novelty statement Lead (Pb) is highly noxious and second most toxic element in the nature having high persistence. It ranks 1st in the priority list of hazardous substances and causes adverse effects after its entry into the living system. So, its remediation is inevitable. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) possess the potential to not only survive under stressed environments, but also promote plant growth on account of their different plant growth promoting mechanisms. Most researchers have worked on its bioaccumulation in plant body. This study however, used pea as a test crop and caused Pb phytostabilization and thereby, suppressed its entry in the above-ground plant parts.
Analysis of acute-phase toxicities of intensity-modulated proton therapy using a model-based approach in pharyngeal cancer patients

Abstract Pharyngeal cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) using a model-based approach were retrospectively reviewed, and acute toxicities were analyzed. From June 2016 to March 2019, 15 pharyngeal (7 naso-, 5 oro- and 3 hypo-pharyngeal) cancer patients received IMPT with robust optimization. Simulation plans for IMPT and intensity-modulated X-ray therapy (IMXT) were generated before treatment. We also reviewed 127 pharyngeal cancer patients with IMXT in the same treatment period. In the simulation planning comparison, all of the normal-tissue complication probability values for dysphagia, dysgeusia, tube-feeding dependence and xerostomia were lower for IMPT than for IMXT in the 15 patients. After completing IMPT, 13 patients completed the evaluation, and 12 of these patients had a complete response. The proportions of patients who experienced grade 2 or worse acute toxicities in the IMPT and IMXT cohorts were 21.4 and 56.5% for dysphagia (P < 0.05), 46.7 and 76.3% for dysgeusia (P < 0.05), 73.3 and 62.8% for xerostomia (P = 0.43), 73.3 and 90.6% for mucositis (P = 0.08) and 66.7 and 76.4% for dermatitis (P = 0.42), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that IMPT was independently associated with a lower rate of grade 2 or worse dysphagia and dysgeusia. After propensity score matching, 12 pairs of IMPT and IMXT patients were selected. Dysphagia was also statistically lower in IMPT than in IMXT (P < 0.05). IMPT using a model-based approach may have clinical benefits for acute dysphagia.
Electrostatic spraying of imazamox to control the floating aquatic plant Salvinia molesta and its effects on environmental indicators of water quality

Abstract This study aimed to assess, in a microcosm condition, the efficacy of electrostatic spraying of herbicide imazamox in the control of Salvinia molesta and the effects of decomposition of plant material on water quality. The herbicide rates used were 600, 700, 800, and 900 g ai ha−1 and spray volume of 50 L ha−1 in electrostatic application. Control effectiveness was assessed at 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after application (DAA), expressed in percentage (0–100%) of visible injury symptoms in the plants, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), chlorophyll a and pheophytin a contents at 0, 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60 DAA, and fresh and dry biomass at 60 DAA. Imazamox was effective in controlling 63% of S. molesta with 900 g ai ha−1 in 45 DAA and 30% with 800 g ai ha−1 in 30 DAA, and reduced 82.3% and 17.5% of fresh weight and 62.6% and 9.3% of dry weight of plant at 60 DAA, respectively. The imazamox spray reduced chlorophyll a with all doses applied and increased BOD5 in 45 DAA with 900 g ai ha−1 and COD in all assessment periods, but for temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and pH, there was no significant effect after spraying. The herbicide imazamox reduced S. molesta plants with 900 g ai ha−1, without causing significant effects on environmental indicators of water quality. Electrostatic spraying of herbicide can be used in management strategies of aquatic plants to reduce plant density in water bodies and maintain the colonization of plants at a level not harmful to the aquatic biota.
The Digital Therapeutic Alliance and Human-Computer Interaction

The therapeutic alliance (TA), the relationship that develops between a therapist and a client/patient, is a critical factor in the outcome of psychological therapy. As mental health care is increasingly adopting digital technologies and offering therapeutic interventions that may not involve human therapists, the notion of a TA in digital mental health care requires exploration. To date, there has been some incipient work on developing measures to assess the conceptualization of a digital TA for mental health apps. However, the few measures that have been proposed have more or less been derivatives of measures from psychology used to assess the TA in traditional face-to-face therapy. This conceptual paper explores one such instrument that has been proposed in the literature, the Mobile Agnew Relationship Measure, and examines it through a human-computer interaction (HCI) lens. Through this process, we show how theories from HCI can play a role in shaping or generating a more suitable, purpose-built measure of the digital therapeutic alliance (DTA), and we contribute suggestions on how HCI methods and knowledge can be used to foster the DTA in mental health apps.
Adsorption and coadsorption of molecular hydrogen isotopes in zeolites. 1. Isotherms of H2, HD, and D2 in NaA by thermomicrogravimetry

The isotherms of molecular hydrogen isotopes adsorbed in NaA zeolite, measured by microgravimetry from 120 to 77 K, have been approached by the Dubinin model. The adsorbed amounts slightly increase from H2 to D2. This fact is related to the values of the covolumes of the species in the fluid phase. The heats of adsorption are around 10 kJ/mol and decrease with the adsorption amount. From the adsorption entropy we have estimated the external and librational frequencies.
A tool for assessing the comprehensiveness of outcome reporting within clinical trials in pregnancy

Clinical trials provide fundamental evidence used to inform healthcare decisions at patient‐ and population levels and it is thus important that trials consider outcomes relevant to both patients and stakeholders. Although validated tools assessing other aspects of trial integrity exist, there is no tool for assessing the breadth and completeness of outcomes measured. Our objective was to develop a comprehensiveness of outcome reporting (COR) tool to assess this within trials in pregnancy.
A Novel Approach for Chemical Vapor Synthesis of ZnO Nanocrystals: Optimization of Yield, Crystallinity

The experimental yield of ZnO nanocrystals decreases drastically with increasing reactor temperature in a typical chemical vapor synthesis (CVS) of ZnO nanocrystals from diethylzinc. A novel CVS set-up – a microwave plasma combined with a hot-wall zone – is described to minimize the loss of particles at higher reactor temperatures. The powder samples have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is observed that the synthesis set-up and reaction temperature have substantial influence not only on yield but also on crystallite size and crystallinity of the pure wurtzite-type ZnO nanocrystals. The lattice constants of ZnO nanocrystals increase with decreasing crystallite size. Defect densities (twin and stacking faults), as well as microstrain, decrease with increasing reactor temperature, whereas crystallinity increases.
Perceived Consumption of a High-Dose Caffeine Drink Delays Neuromuscular Fatigue

Abstract Elhaj, HM, Imam, O, Page, BW, Vitale, JM, and Malek, MH. Perceived consumption of a high-dose caffeine drink delays neuromuscular fatigue. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1185–1190, 2022—The placebo effect is a concept in which a desired outcome arises, mainly from the belief that the treatment (i.e., supplement or drug) was beneficial although no active ingredient was given. The results of studies related to the placebo effect primarily examine functional performance. What remains unanswered, however, is whether these changes in performance are associated with neuromuscular alterations in the exercised muscles. The purpose of the study, therefore, was to determine the influence of the placebo effect on the physical working capacity fatigue threshold (PWCFT) for a continuous exercise paradigm. To achieve this aim, subjects were told that they were participating in a study to determine the dosage response (low or high) of caffeine on neuromuscular fatigue when in fact no caffeine was given during the experiment. We hypothesized that the perceived consumption of the high-dose caffeine drink would result in a higher PWCFT than the perceived consumption of the low-dose caffeine drink and placebo. Secondarily, we hypothesized that the perceived consumption of the high-dose caffeine drink would result in a higher power output than the perceived consumption of the placebo. Nine healthy college-aged men (mean ± SEM: age, 25.7 ± 1.3 years; body mass, 84.4 ± 3.1 kg; and height: 1.82 ± 0.02 m) volunteered to be in the study. For each of the visits, subjects were given an 8 oz. bottle of water with dissolved crystal light. After the drink was consumed, subjects rested in the laboratory for 1 hour before performing the incremental single-leg knee-extensor ergometry. Immediately after the termination of the incremental single-leg knee-extensor ergometry, the subject was asked which caffeine dose (placebo, low, or high) they believed they consumed for that visit. There were no significant mean differences for maximal power output for the 3 perceived conditions (placebo: 62 ± 3, low-dose caffeine: 62 ± 4, and high-dose caffeine: 65 ± 3 W). When the subjects perceived consuming the high-dose caffeine drink, there were significant mean differences (all p-values < 0.01), for PWCFT, between the other conditions (mean ± SEM: placebo: 23 ± 3 W, low-dose caffeine: 26 ± 2 W, and high-dose caffeine: 42 ± 3 W). This corresponded to a significant mean difference (all p-values < 0.01) when the PWCFT was presented as a percentage of the maximal power output (mean ± SEM: placebo: 37 ± 5%, low-dose caffeine: 42 ± 3%, and high-dose caffeine: 64 ± 3%). The application of our results may indicate that the subject's expectancy, to caffeine consumption, plays a critical role in delaying the onset of neuromuscular fatigue despite not receiving any caffeine in their drinks.
Conductivity studies of polyaniline doped with CSA

Polyaniline films prepared via the camphorsulphonic acid (CSA)m-cresol solution processing route have been synthesized with doping levels in the range of 10 - 90%. The electrical conductivity of these films has been measured as a function of temperature between 10 and 300 K. At a doping level of 30% the onset of metallic transport is observed, and at 60% the films are found to exhibit metallic transport down to 135 K, and have a maximum room-temperature conductivity of . The results are modelled in terms of a heterogeneous model of fluctuation induced tunnelling (FIT) and metallic transport.
Measuring spectrally-resolved information transfer

Information transfer, measured by transfer entropy, is a key component of distributed computation. It is therefore important to understand the pattern of information transfer in order to unravel the distributed computational algorithms of a system. Since in many natural systems distributed computation is thought to rely on rhythmic processes a frequency resolved measure of information transfer is highly desirable. Here, we present a novel algorithm, and its efficient implementation, to identify separately frequencies sending and receiving information in a network. Our approach relies on the invertible maximum overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT) for the creation of surrogate data in the computation of transfer entropy and entirely avoids filtering of the original signals. The approach thereby avoids well-known problems due to phase shifts or the ineffectiveness of filtering in the information theoretic setting. We also show that measuring frequency-resolved information transfer is a partial information decomposition problem that cannot be fully resolved to date and discuss the implications of this issue. Last, we evaluate the performance of our algorithm on simulated data and apply it to human magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings and to local field potential recordings in the ferret. In human MEG we demonstrate top-down information flow in temporal cortex from very high frequencies (above 100Hz) to both similarly high frequencies and to frequencies around 20Hz, i.e. a complex spectral configuration of cortical information transmission that has not been described before. In the ferret we show that the prefrontal cortex sends information at low frequencies (4-8 Hz) to early visual cortex (V1), while V1 receives the information at high frequencies (> 125 Hz).