Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fertility-Sparing Surgery in Gynecologic Cancer: A Systematic Review

Simple Summary In Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs), fertility is an important factor for good quality of life. In the case of cancer of the female reproductive tract, treatment can impair fertility and therefore, AYAs may face the life-changing decision whether or not to undergo conservative, fertility-sparing cancer treatment. Solid evidence on the safety as well as reproductive outcomes of these treatments is necessary to provide patients the information they need to make a well-informed choice. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the best evidence available on both oncological and reproductive outcome after various fertility-sparing surgical options in cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer. Abstract Fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) is increasingly being offered to women with a gynecological malignancy who wish to preserve fertility. In this systematic review, we evaluate the best evidence currently available on oncological and reproductive outcome after FSS for early stage cervical cancer, epithelial ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. An extensive literature search was conducted using the electronic databases Medline (OVID), Embase, and Cochrane Library to identify eligible studies published up to December 2020. In total, 153 studies were included with 7544, 3944, and 1229 patients who underwent FSS for cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer, respectively. We assessed the different FSS techniques that are available to preserve fertility, i.e., omitting removal of the uterine body and preserving at least one ovary. Overall, recurrence rates after FSS are reassuring and therefore, these conservative procedures seem oncologically safe in the current selection of patients with low-stage and low-grade disease. However, generalized conclusions should be made with caution due to the methodology of available studies, i.e., mostly retrospective cohort studies with a heterogeneous patient population, inducing selection bias. Moreover, about half of patients do not pursue pregnancy despite FSS and the reasons for these decisions have not yet been well studied. International collaboration will facilitate the collection of solid evidence on FSS and the related decision-making process to optimize patient selection and counseling.
Fatigue-Induced Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Strength of the Hip Stabilizers, Postural Control and Gait Following a Unilateral Countermovement Vertical Jump Protocol

It is generally accepted that neuromuscular overload and fatigue of one lower limb can affect the functional ability of the ipsilateral limb, and possibly the contralateral limb, increasing the likelihood of injury. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of a unilateral countermovement vertical jump (UCVJ) fatigue protocol on the neuromuscular function of the ipsilateral as well as the contralateral lower limb. The isometric strength of the hip stabilizers, postural control via posturographic analysis during the Y-Balance-Test (YBT), and the stance-phase-of-gait were assessed in 24 healthy physical active males and females before and after execution of a UCVJ fatigue protocol. The fatigue protocol included 5 sets of 20 maximum UCVJs performed on the supportive leg, with a 30-s break between sets. Following a 16.8% decline in vertical jump performance and an associated 2.3-fold increase in perceived exertion, our findings revealed significant post-fatigue inter-limb differences regarding postural control. The post-fatigue inter-limb differences regarding the isometric strength of the hip stabilizers and the stance-phase-of-gait parameters were not significant. Our findings showed that a 100 UCVJs session is likely to induce significant inter-limb differences in postural control, possibly increasing the risk of lower limb injury.
Biological mechanisms may contribute to soil carbon saturation patterns

Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) storage is a key strategy to mitigate rising atmospheric CO2, yet SOC pools often appear to saturate, or increase at a declining rate, as carbon (C) inputs increase. Soil C saturation is commonly hypothesized to result from the finite amount of reactive mineral surface area available for retaining SOC, and is accordingly represented in SOC models as a physicochemically determined SOC upper limit. However, mineral‐associated SOC is largely microbially generated. In this perspective, we present the hypothesis that apparent SOC saturation patterns could emerge as a result of ecological constraints on microbial biomass—for example, via competition or predation—leading to reduced C flow through microbes and a reduced rate of mineral‐associated SOC formation as soil C inputs increase. Microbially explicit SOC models offer an opportunity to explore this hypothesis, yet most of these models predict linear microbial biomass increases with C inputs and insensitivity of SOC to input rates. Synthesis of 54 C addition studies revealed constraints on microbial biomass as C inputs increase. Different hypotheses limiting microbial density were embedded in a three‐pool SOC model without explicit limits on mineral surface area. As inputs increased, the model demonstrated either no change, linear, or apparently saturating increases in mineral‐associated and particulate SOC pools. Taken together, our results suggest that microbial constraints are common and could lead to reduced mineral‐associated SOC formation as input rates increase. We conclude that SOC responses to altered C inputs—or any environmental change—are influenced by the ecological factors that limit microbial populations, allowing for a wider range of potential SOC responses to stimuli. Understanding how biotic versus abiotic factors contribute to these patterns will better enable us to predict and manage soil C dynamics.
Hollow-Core Fiber-Tip Interferometric High-Temperature Sensor Operating at 1100 °C with High Linearity

Over decades, fiber-optic temperature sensors based on conventional single-mode fibers (SMF) have been demonstrated with either high linearity and stability in a limited temperature region or poor linearity and thermal hysteresis in a high-temperature measurement range. For high-temperature measurements, isothermal annealing is typically necessary for the fiber-optic sensors, aiming at releasing the residual stress, eliminating the thermal hysteresis and, thus, improving the high-temperature measurement linearity and stability. In this article, an annealing-free fiber-optic high-temperature (1100 °C) sensor based on a diaphragm-free hollow-core fiber (HCF) Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The proposed sensor exhibits an excellent thermal stability and linearity (R2 > 0.99 in a 100–1100 °C range) without the need for high-temperature annealing. The proposed sensor is extremely simple in preparation, and the annealing-free property can reduce the cost of sensor production significantly, which is promising in mass production and industry applications.
Negative effects of energy supplementation at peak lactation of sheep can be offset by the addition of Lactobacillus fermented plant extracts.

Energy supplementation may reduce oxidative stress by correcting a negative energy balance, but in some contexts it has been shown to increase oxidative stress, especially at peak lactation. The current experiment examined if a pelleted energy supplement with or without the addition of Lactobacillus fermented seaweed or seaweed plus terrestrial plants extracts impacted oxidative stress of ewes from late gestation through to weaning and ewe and lamb production from lambing to weaning. Treatments were either no supplement (CON-), a pelleted supplement only (CON+, 100 g/ewe per d), CON+ with seaweed extract only (SWO, 10-mL/ewe per d), or CON+ with seaweed plus an arrangement of terrestrial plant extract (SWP, 10-mL/ewe per d). Ewes (n = 160; mean initial BW = 72.3 ± 9.5 kg [mean ± standard deviation]) were randomized to pastures (n = 4 pastures per treatment with 10 ewes each). After lambing, ewes with twins were reallocated to pastures (n = 3 pastures per treatment with 10 ewes each) according to lambing date. At 4 weeks in milk, supplementation tended to reduce total antioxidant status (TAS; P = 0.10) and increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity compared with non-supplemented ewes (P = 0.04). The addition of seaweed and terrestrial plants extracts to the concentrate, i.e. SWO and SWP, increased TAS and reduced GPx activity compared with CON+ (P < 0.01). Supplementation increased milk yield at wk 4, 6, and 8 of lactation, and protein, lactose, and total milk solids yield at peak lactation (wk 4; P < 0.05). The CON- ewes had greater somatic cell count than the supplemented ewes at week 4, 8, and 10 of lactation (P = 0.03). Our results suggest energy supplementation, alone, increases oxidative stress of lactating ewes, which may relate to increased oxidative phosphorylation. Most importantly, these results indicate that in situations where energy supplementation is needed to increase animal performance, negative effects of energy supplementation around peak lactation can be offset by the addition of Lactobacillus fermented plant extracts (SWO and SWP) to improve antioxidant status.
Synthesis and Properties of Polyimide Silica Nanocomposite Film with High Transparent and Radiation Resistance

In order to prepare flexible glass cover sheet materials suitable for space solar cells, fluorinated diamine 2,2’-bistrifluoromethyl benzidine (TFDB) and fluorinated dianhydride 4,4’ (hexafluoroisopropyl) diphthalic dianhydride (6FDA) as the monomer, polyimide (PI)/SiO2 composite film was synthesized by in situ polymerization, and the influence of coupling agent and SiO2 nanoparticle content on the film structure and properties was studied. The results show that PI synthesized from fluorine-containing monomers has better light transmittance, and the highest transmittance can reach 91.4%. The average visible light transmittance of the composite film decreases with the increase of SiO2 content, and the transmittance of the film decreases less in the high-wavelength region and greatly decreases in the low-wavelength region. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of PI/SiO2 composite film increase with the increase of SiO2 content, first increase and then decrease, reaching the maximum when the content is 10%; while the elongation at break of the composite film gradually increases with the increase of SiO2 content reduce. The thermal stability of PI/SiO2 composite film increases with the increase of SiO2 content. The doping of nano-SiO2 significantly suppresses the influence of irradiation on the mechanical properties of the film.
Comparative Transcriptome Profile between Iberian Pig Varieties Provides New Insights into Their Distinct Fat Deposition and Fatty Acids Content

Simple Summary Iberian pigs are meat quality models due to their high fat content, high intramuscular fat, and oleic fatty acid composition. These parameters present great variability and are differentiated among the lines that make up the Iberian pig population. However, there is little information on how the genetic expression influences quality across Iberian varieties. This study aimed to compare the muscle expression profile between two varieties of Iberian pig (Torbiscal and Retinto) and their reciprocal crosses, differentiated by fatness. Our results suggest that the Retinto variety, which has the greatest fat content amongst the studied Iberian varieties, showed a higher expression of genes related to adiposity. Likewise, a higher expression of genes related to lipolysis was found in the Torbiscal variety, described as having less fat content than Retinto. Further genetic variation analysis in these Iberian varieties showed relevant associations for SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism), related to these differentially expressed genes, with the meat quality traits. Thus, our findings evidence that differences in the genetic architecture and expression of Iberian varieties might explain the variability in their fat content and composition and hence, their meat quality. Abstract The high deposition of intramuscular fat and the content of oleic fatty acid are characteristic of the Iberian pig. These two parameters present great variability and are differentiated amongst the varieties that make up the Iberian pig population. Although previous studies generated evidence for causal genes and polymorphisms associated to the adipogenic potential of the Iberian pig, there is little information about how genetic expression influences this trait’s variability. The aim of this study was to analyses the expression profile between two varieties of Iberian pig (Torbiscal and Retinto) and their reciprocal crosses differentiated in their intramuscular fat (IMF) content and fatty acid (FA) composition in the Longissimus thoracis muscle using an RNA-seq approach. Our results corroborate that the Retinto variety is the fattiest amongst all studied varieties as its upregulated genes, such as FABP3 and FABP5, SLC27A1 and VEGFA among others, contribute to increasing adiposity. In its turn, Torbiscal pigs showed an upregulation of genes associated with the inhibition of fat deposition such as ADIPOQ and CPT1A. Further genetic variation analysis in these Iberian varieties showed relevant associations for SNP located within the differentially expressed genes with IMF and FA content. Thus, the differences found in the genetic architecture and the muscle transcriptome of these Iberian varieties might explain the variability in their fat content and composition and hence, their meat quality.
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS BY CHEMICAL CLEANING ON THE SURFACE OF RO MEMBRANE

Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have been widely used for desalination as well as water and wastewater treatment facilities. Cleaning process is important to maintain stable operation as well as prevention of membrane fouling. Purpose of this research is to analyze electrostatistic and chemical characteristics after cleaning of RO membrane. Synthetic water for experiment consists of SiO2, one of major foulants in desalination process. Four RO membranes of polyamide are used and examined about effect of chemical cleaning. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, sodium dodecil sulface and sodium hydroxide pellets are applied for cleaning process after operation in synthetic water. Then, cleaning was performed with chemicals at concentration 0.1-1%. Transmittances of Fourier transform infrared of four membranes are compared at each cleaning concentration to demonstrate difference of chemical composition between new membrane and cleaning membrane. Type B of RO membrane is the most vulnerable to cleaning among four membranes. In terms of zeta potential, new membrane has -16 to +6 mV while scaled membrane has -18 to 2 mV. However, it changed from -23 to 0.9 mV after cleaning. The flux changes are compared with membrane before/after fouling and after cleaning. In comparison with the salt rejection of RO new and cleaned membranes, the rejection of the cleaned membranes only goes down 0.7%. Though, cleaning changes the characteristics of membrane surface and flux, it does not greatly affect salt rejection.
Material Characterisation and Stratification of Conjunctival Epithelial Cells on Electrospun Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Fibres Loaded with Decellularised Tissue Matrices

The conjunctiva, an under-researched yet incredibly important tissue, plays key roles in providing protection to the eye and maintaining homeostasis of its ocular surface. Multiple diseases can impair conjunctival function leading to severe consequences that require surgical intervention. Small conjunctival defects can be repaired relatively easily, but larger defects rely on tissue grafts which generally do not provide adequate healing. A tissue engineering approach involving a biomaterial substrate capable of supporting a stratified epithelium with embedded, mucin-secreting goblet cells offers a potential solution. As a first step, this study aimed to induce stratification of human conjunctival epithelial cells cultured on electrospun scaffolds composed from poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and decellularised tissue matrix (small intestinal submucosa (SIS) or urinary bladder matrix (UBM)) and held at the air/liquid interface. Stratification, up to 5 cell layers, occurred more frequently on scaffolds containing PCL + UBM. Incorporation of these decellularised tissue matrices also impacted material properties, with significant changes occurring to their fibre diameter, tensile properties, and chemical composition throughout the scaffold structure compared to PCL alone. These matrix containing scaffolds warrant further long-term investigation as a potential advanced therapy medicinal product for conjunctiva repair and regeneration.
Direct Laser Interference Patterning of Diffraction Gratings in Safrofilcon-A Hydrogel: Fabrication and Hydration Assessment

Refractive index modification by laser micro-structuration of diffractive optical devices in ophthalmic polymers has recently been applied for refractive correction in the fields of optics and ophthalmology. In this work, Safrofilcon-A hydrogel, used as soft contact lenses, was processed by direct laser interference patterning (DLIP) to fabricate linear periodic patterns on the surface of the samples. Periodic modulation of the surface was attained under two-beam interference by using a Q-switched laser source with emission at 263 nm and 4 ns pulse duration. Features of processed areas were studied as a function of both the interference spatial period and the laser fluence. Optical confocal microscopy used to evaluate the topography of the processed samples showed that both structured height and surface roughness increased with laser fluence. Static water contact angle (WCA) measurements were carried out with deionized water droplets on the structured areas to evaluate the hydration properties of DLIP structures. It was observed that the laser structured areas induced a delay in the hydration process. Finally, microstructural changes induced in the structured areas were assessed by confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy showing that at low laser fluences the polymer structure remained almost unaltered. In addition, Raman spectra of hydrated samples recovered the original shape of areas structured at low laser fluence.
Virus Prospecting in Crickets—Discovery and Strain Divergence of a Novel Iflavirus in Wild and Cultivated Acheta domesticus

Orthopteran insects have high reproductive rates leading to boom-bust population dynamics with high local densities that are ideal for short, episodic disease epidemics. Viruses are particularly well suited for such host population dynamics, due to their supreme ability to adapt to changing transmission criteria. However, very little is known about the viruses of Orthopteran insects. Since Orthopterans are increasingly reared commercially, for animal feed and human consumption, there is a risk that viruses naturally associated with these insects can adapt to commercial rearing conditions, and cause disease. We therefore explored the virome of the house cricket Acheta domesticus, which is both part of the natural Swedish landscape and reared commercially for the pet feed market. Only 1% of the faecal RNA and DNA from wild-caught A. domesticus consisted of viruses. These included both known and novel viruses associated with crickets/insects, their bacterial-fungal microbiome, or their plant food. Relatively abundant among these viral Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) was a novel Iflavirus, tentatively named Acheta domesticus Iflavirus (AdIV). Quantitative analyses showed that AdIV was also abundant in frass and insect samples from commercially reared crickets. Interestingly, the wild and commercial AdIV strains had short, extremely divergent variation hotspots throughout the genome, which may indicate specific adaptation to their hosts’ distinct rearing environments.
Emulation of a Target Trial to Evaluate the Causal Effect of Palliative Care Consultation on the Survival Time of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and aggressive liver cancer. As most patients are diagnosed during an incurable stage of the disease, they usually face great suffering during the end-of-life period. Palliative care can improve the patient’s quality of life and alleviate both physical and psychological symptoms. However, the discipline is underutilized due to a common misconception that it will accelerate the patient’s death. We emulated a hypothetical target trial to evaluate the causal effect of palliative care consultation on the survival time of patients diagnosed with HCC from retrospective observational data of a Thai tertiary care center. Although no clear survival benefit or harm was identified, palliative care consultation significantly reduced the use of unnecessary life-sustaining intervention, healthcare costs, and the risk of dying in the hospital among patients with HCC during their end-of-life period. Abstract Palliative care has the potential to improve the quality of life of patients with incurable diseases or cancer, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A common misconception of palliative care with respect to the patient’s survival remains a significant barrier to the discipline. This study aimed to provide causal evidence for the effect of palliative care consultation on the survival time after diagnosis among HCC patients. An emulation of a target trial was conducted on a retrospective cohort of HCC patients from January 2017 to August 2019. The primary endpoint was the restricted mean survival time (RMST) at 12 months after HCC diagnosis. We used the clone–censor–weight approach to account for potential immortal time bias. In this study, 86 patients with palliative care consultation and 71 patients without palliative care consultation were included. The adjusted RMST difference was −29.7 (95% confidence interval (CI): −81.7, 22.3; p-value = 0.263) days in favor of no palliative care consultation. However, palliative care consultation was associated with an increase in the prescription of symptom control medications, as well as a reduction in life-sustaining interventions and healthcare costs. Our findings suggest that palliative care consultation was associated with neither additional survival benefit nor harm in HCC patients. The misconception that it significantly accelerates the dying process should be disregarded.
Homogeneous dispersion of high-conductive reduced graphene oxide sheets for polymethylmethacrylate nanocomposites

The high cohesive interaction between reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets usually makes them difficult to disperse, which limits their utilization in achieving effective hybridization with polymers. We report here a new two-step route for preparing non-aggregated and high-conductive RGO powders. Graphene oxide precursor was first reduced by hydrazine hydrate in presence of a thermal unstable surfactant of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). Then a thermal annealing process under H2/Ar atmosphere was further used to remove the non-conductive CTAC molecules. The prepared RGO powder exhibited an electrical conductivity of 2.23 × 104 S m−1 – about ten times higher than the one (N-RGO) simply reduced by hydrazine hydrate. After incorporating into polymethylmethacrylate with a 5 wt% loading, the composite showed a conductivity of 4.11 S m−1, which was 60 times as high as that of the same composite based on N-RGO powder. The addition and subsequent removal of CTAC molecules is an effective method for preparing non-aggregated and highly conductive graphene powder and obtaining good incorporation into polymer matrices.