Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
miR-155 Predicts Long-Term Mortality in Critically Ill Patients Younger than 65 Years

Introduction Alterations in miR-155 serum levels have been described in inflammatory and infectious diseases. Moreover, a role for miR-155 in aging and age-related diseases was recently suggested. We therefore analyzed a potential age-dependent prognostic value of circulating miR-155 as a serum-based marker in critical illness. Methods Concentrations of circulating miR-155 were determined in 218 critically ill patients and 76 healthy controls. Results By using qPCR, we demonstrate that miR-155 serum levels are elevated in patients with critical illness when compared to controls. Notably, levels of circulating miR-155 were independent on the severity of disease, the disease etiology, or the presence of sepsis. In the total cohort, miR-155 was not an indicator for patient survival. Intriguingly, when patients were subdivided according to their age upon admission to the ICU into those younger than 65 years, lower levels of miR-155 turned out as a strong marker, indicating patient mortality with a similar accuracy than other markers frequently used to evaluate critically ill patients on a medical ICU. Conclusion In summary, the data provided within this study suggest an age-specific role of miR-155 as a prognostic biomarker in patients younger than 65 years. Our study is the first to describe an age-dependent miRNA-based prognostic biomarker in human diseases.
Cell-free DNA in the supernatant of pleural effusion can be used to detect driver and resistance mutations, and can guide tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment decisions

Objectives Molecular profiling of tumours has become the mainstay of diagnostics for metastasised solid malignancies and guides personalised treatment, especially in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In current practice, it is often challenging to obtain sufficient tumour material for reliable molecular analysis. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in blood or other bio-sources could present an alternative approach to obtain genetic information from the tumour. In a retrospective cohort we analysed the added value of cfDNA analysis in pleural effusions for molecular profiling. Methods We retrospectively analysed both the supernatant and the cell pellet of 44 pleural effusions sampled from 39 stage IV patients with KRAS (n=23) or EGFR (n=16) mutated tumours to detect the original driver mutation as well as for EGFR T790M resistance mutations. Patients were diagnosed with either NSCLC (n=32), colon carcinoma (n=4), appendiceal carcinoma (n=2) or adenocarcinoma of unknown primary (n=1). Samples collected in the context of routine clinical care were stored at the Netherlands Cancer Institute biobank. We used droplet digital PCR for analysis. Results The driver mutation could be detected in 36 of the 44 pleural effusions by analysis of both the supernatant (35 out of 44 positive) and the cell pellet (31 out of 44 positive). In seven out of 20 pleural effusions from patients with EGFR mutation-positive tumours, a T790M mutation was detected. All seven supernatants and cell pellets were positive. Conclusions cfDNA in pleural effusion can be used to detect driver mutations as well as resistance mechanisms like EGFR T790M in pleural effusion with high accuracy and is therefore a valuable bio-source. Cell-free DNA in the supernatant of pleural effusion is a valuable bio-source and can be used to detect driver mutations as well as resistance mechanisms like EGFR T790M in pleural effusion http://ow.ly/Z16830nxxti
Beyond Macrobenchmarks: Microbenchmark-based Graph Database Evaluation

Despite the increasing interest in graph databases their requirements and specifications are not yet fully understood by everyone, leading to a great deal of variation in the supported functionalities and the achieved performances. In this work, we provide a comprehensive study of the existing graph database systems. We introduce a novel microbenchmarking framework that provides insights on their performance that go beyond what macro-benchmarks can offer. The framework includes the largest set of queries and operators so far considered. The graph database systems are evaluated on synthetic and real data, from different domains, and at scales much larger than any previous work. The framework is materialized as an open-source suite and is easily extended to new datasets, systems, and queries 1 .
Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Ascorbic Acid and Selenium Applied Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Ascorbic Acid and selenium has a potential use in the prevention of cancer. The role of antioxidant enzymes against cancer is to prevent oxidative damage. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Ascorbic Acid and selenium on antioxidant enzyme activities in HepG2 cell line. In this study, the effects of Org Se (234 µM), SeO2 (100 µM), Ascorbic Acid (31,3 mM) and Ascorbic Acid (0,313 mM) on antioxidant enzyme activities in HepG2 cell line were studied. GPx, CAT and SOD activities were measured spectrophotometrically. There was a significant increase in the activity of GPx in HepG2 cells treated with Org Se (234 µM), SeO2 (100 µM), Ascorbic Acid (31,3 mM) and Ascorbic Acid (0,313 mM), however the activity of CAT was found significantly decreased in Org Se (234 µM), SeO2 (100 µM), Ascorbic Acid (31,3 mM) treated HepG2 cells. The SOD levels of HepG2 cells treated with Ascorbic Acid (31,3 mM) and AA (0,313 mM) were found higher than the control cells. The results of the present study indicated that the antioxidant enzyme activities changed depending on Org Se, SeO2 application and CAT activities changed depending on Ascorbic Acid doses.
Statistical Analysis of Landmine Fatalities in Kurdistan Almas Heshmati

Statistical Analysis of Landmine Fatalities in Kurdistan This study analyzes mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) victim data in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq during the period of the 1960s to 2005. In addition to descriptive analysis of the data, we use regression analysis to identify the determinants of the probability of getting killed by a mine or UXO and to estimate the determinants impacts. The rates of killed and injured victims are explained using a set of socioeconomic variables. Since the data is repeated cross sections in which individuals are observed when they are subjected to accident and in order to account for the dynamic aspect of the process and heterogeneity by location, we create pseudo panel data where districts are observed over the entire study period forming almost a balanced panel data. This allows for analysis of both heterogeneity and dynamics across locations and over time, as well as to control for unobserved location and time effects. The result can be useful in planning, monitoring, and resource allocation for mine action and labor market programmes and rehabilitation activities. JEL Classification: C23, C42, H56, J15, N45
Preliminary Identification of Road Network Vulnerability Due toExpansion of Status of Mount Merapi Eruption-Impacted Areas in Yogyakarta Special Region

The eruption of Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2010 caused many casualties due to minimum preparedness in facing disaster. In-creasing population capacity and evacuating to safe places become very important to minimize casualties. Regional government through the Re-gional Disaster Management Agency has divided disaster prone areas into three parts, namely ring 1 at a distance of 10 km, ring 2 at a distance of 15 km and ring 3 at a distance of 20 km from the center of Mount Merapi. The success of the evacuation is fully supported by road network infrastructure as a way to rescue in an emergency. This research attempts to model evacuation process based on the rise of refugees in ring 1, expanded to ring 2 and finally expanded to ring 3. The model was developed using SATURN (Simulation and Assignment of Traffic to Urban Road Networks) program version 11.3. 12W, involving 140 centroid, 449 buffer nodes, and 851 links across Yogyakarta Special Region, which was aimed at making a preliminary identification of road networks considered vulnerable to disaster. An assumption made to identify vulnerabil-ity was the improvement of road network performance in the form of flow and travel times on the coverage of ring 1, ring 2, ring 3, Sleman out-side the ring, Yogyakarta City, Bantul, Kulon Progo and Gunung Kidul. The research results indicated that the performance increase in the road networks existing in the area of ring 2, ring 3 and Sleman outside the ring. The road network in ring 1 started to increase when the evacuation was expanded to ring 2 and ring 3. Meanwhile, the performance of road networks in Yogyakarta City, Bantul, Kulon Progo and Gunung Kidul during the evacuation period simultaneously decreased in when the evacuation areas were expanded. The results of preliminary identification of the vulnerability have determined that the road networks existing in ring 1, ring 2, ring 3 and Sleman outside the ring were considered vulnerable to the evacuation of Mount Merapi eruption. Therefore, it is necessary to pay a great deal of attention in order to face the disasters that potentially occur at anytime.
PASSION-BASED TEACHING IN CLASSROOM: AN ANALYSIS USING SEM-PLS APPROACH

Purpose: Passion is essential for effective and high-quality teaching. A passionate teacher is one with the updated growing knowledge inspiring the students in a classroom, by making learning excited. The objective of the study was to analyze whether the teachers were teaching out-of-field and to analyze what type of passion influences them. Design/methodology/approach: 241 teachers working in Higher Education Institutions in Oman participate in the survey. Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings: The empirical results reveal that the teachers sometimes do out-of-field teaching. The Basic Passion qualities and Harmonious Passion qualities help to improve the Effects of Passion based learning in classroom teaching. It is also revealed that the teachers need to increase Harmonious passion rather than Obsessive passion as it might result in burnout or disengagement in the long run. Practical Implications: The study suggested that the teachers should make emotional attachments with the students, not to criticize anyone, rather encourage them for innovation & creativity, and should allow enough time to learn by making a conducive environment. Originality/value: The research work is of its first kind as it focuses on the impact of Passion-based teaching in the classroom using the SEM-PLS approach which has suggested means for effective teaching.
Dong Electrospinning and Characterization of Silk Fibroin / Gelatin Nanofibre

In this study, Bombyx mori silk fibroin/gelatin (SF/GT) nanocomposite with different GT ratio (SF/GT 100/0, 90/10 and 70/30) were prepared by electrospinning process and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) vapor. Properties of crosslinked SF/GT nanocomposites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical test, water uptake capacity (WUC) and porosity. From SEM images, it was found that fiber diameter increased as GT content increased. The results of mechanical test indicated that the SF/GT 70/30 nanocomposites had both the highest Young’s modulus of 342 MPa and the highest tensile strength of about 14 MPa. However, porosity and WUC decreased from 62% and 405% for pristine SF to 47% and 232% for SF/GT 70/30, respectively. This behavior can be related to higher degree of crosslinking as GT ratio increased which altered the structure and physical properties of scaffolds. This study showed that incorporation of GT into SF nanofibers can enhance mechanical properties of resultant nanocomposite, but the GA treatment should be optimized to control and fine-tune other properties to warrant their biomedical application. Keywords—Electrospinning, gelatin, mechanical properties, nanocomposites, silk fibroin.
Changes after an Educational Intervention to Teach about and Promote Forgiveness among Seminarians and Practicing Clergy

Many studies of forgiveness have found that relatively short psychosocial interventions aimed at promoting forgiveness can result in noticeable increases in participants’ decisional and emotional forgiveness in their day-to-day lives. However, most of those interventions involve engagement in short psychoeducational experiential activities and participants want to forgive something. Less is known about a purely educational forgiveness intervention’s effects on participants’ subsequent knowledge and self-efficacy to promote forgiveness in their communities. This is important because educational lectures (without active engagement exercises) are often used in schools, seminars, sermons, and Christian education programs. Given the central focus of forgiveness in Christian religion and spiritual practice, we examined whether a 12-hour knowledge-based forgiveness intervention would predict increases to clergy members’ forgiveness knowledge and self-efficacy to preach about or promote forgiveness in their congregation. Intervention participants reported increased personal forgiveness, forgiveness knowledge, and intentions to make congregational forgiveness interventions in their future role as pastor. Confidence in forgiveness knowledge predicted greater intention to discuss and promote forgiveness in the congregation. Although tentative, our results suggest that providing knowledge about forgiveness might result in some personal forgiveness and increase future intentions to use forgiveness.
Nanoparticle-Based Vaccines for Brucellosis: Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles-Adsorbed Antigens Induce Cross Protective Response in Mice

Introduction Vaccine formulation with appropriate adjuvants is an attractive approach to develop protective immunity against pathogens. Calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaPNs) are considered as ideal adjuvants and delivery systems because of their great potential for enhancing immune responses. In the current study, we have designed nanoparticle-based vaccine candidates to induce immune responses and protection against B. melitensis and B. abortus. Materials and Methods For this purpose, we used three Brucella antigens (FliC, 7α-HSDH, BhuA) and two multi-epitopes (poly B and poly T) absorbed by CaPNs. The efficacy of each formulation was evaluated by measuring humoral, cellular and protective responses in immunized mice. Results The CaPNs showed an average size of about 90 nm with spherical shape and smooth surface. The CaPNs-adsorbed proteins displayed significant increase in cellular and humoral immune responses compared to the control groups. In addition, our results showed increased ratio of specific IgG2a (associated with Th1) to specific IgG1 (associated with Th2). Also, immunized mice with different vaccine candidate formulations were protected against B. melitensis 16M and B. abortus 544, and showed same levels of protection as commercial vaccines (B. melitensis Rev.1 and B. abortus RB51) except for BhuA-CaPNs. Discussion Our data support the hypothesis that these antigens absorbed with CaPNs could be effective vaccine candidates against B. melitensis and B. abortus.
Sophora pachycarpa Root Extract Improves Testicular Damage in Carbon-Tetrachloride Intoxicated Rats

Background: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is an industrial solvent that causes kidney, lung, testicles, brain, and blood diseases. In the present study, we investigated protective effects of Sophora pachycarpa extracts on testicular histopathology damage in rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Methods: In this study, divided into six experimental groups (n = 6): 3 groups as pre-treatment, received extract of S. pachycarpa at 50 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day, and 250 mg/kg/day doses by gavage procedure for 21 days before intraperitoneal injection of 500 μL/kg CCl4 on the day of 21, control group receiving 500 μL/kg CCl4 on the day of 21, post-treatment group received 100 mg/kg/day extract for 10 days and 12 h after injection of 250 μL/kg CCl4. The testicular tissues were samples at the end of the treatments for histological examination. Results: Histopathological examination of testis in CCl4-treatment group showed degeneration in seminiferous tubules and germ cells, intercellular dehiscence, and loss of cells into the lumen. Treatment of S. pachycarpaextract (250 mg/kg) resulted in remarkable improvement in testicular histopathological alterations caused by CCl4 in testis sections. Conclusions: Based on the findings, it is concluded that the extract of Sophora pachycarpa can improve the adverse effects of CCl4 on testicular tissue, possibly via its bioactive compounds having antioxidant effects.
‘The Brick’ is not abrick: a comprehensive study of the structure and dynamics of the central molecular zone cloud G0.253+0.016

In this paper we provide a comprehensive description of the internal dynamics of G0.253+0.016 (a.k.a. 'the Brick'); one of the most massive and dense molecular clouds in the Galaxy to lack signatures of widespread star formation. As a potential host to a future generation of high-mass stars, understanding largely quiescent molecular clouds like G0.253+0.016 is of critical importance. In this paper, we reanalyse Atacama Large Millimeter Array cycle 0 HNCO $J=4(0,4)-3(0,3)$ data at 3 mm, using two new pieces of software which we make available to the community. First, scousepy, a Python implementation of the spectral line fitting algorithm scouse. Secondly, acorns (Agglomerative Clustering for ORganising Nested Structures), a hierarchical n-dimensional clustering algorithm designed for use with discrete spectroscopic data. Together, these tools provide an unbiased measurement of the line of sight velocity dispersion in this cloud, $\sigma_{v_{los}, {\rm 1D}}=4.4\pm2.1$ kms$^{-1}$, which is somewhat larger than predicted by velocity dispersion-size relations for the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ). The dispersion of centroid velocities in the plane of the sky are comparable, yielding $\sigma_{v_{los}, {\rm 1D}}/\sigma_{v_{pos}, {\rm 1D}}\sim1.2\pm0.3$. This isotropy may indicate that the line-of-sight extent of the cloud is approximately equivalent to that in the plane of the sky. Combining our kinematic decomposition with radiative transfer modelling we conclude that G0.253+0.016 is not a single, coherent, and centrally-condensed molecular cloud; 'the Brick' is not a \emph{brick}. Instead, G0.253+0.016 is a dynamically complex and hierarchically-structured molecular cloud whose morphology is consistent with the influence of the orbital dynamics and shear in the CMZ.
Experimental characterization of interchannel mixing through a narrow gap

The mass transfer through gaps connecting two adjacent channels was investigated as a function of gap geometry and flow conditions. An experiment with a simplified geometry was conducted to aid in the physical understanding and to provide data for validation of numerical computations. The flow loop consisted of two channels with two interchangeable test sections. The inlet Reynolds number in each channel could be independently varied from 4xl04 up to 1x10s. Measurements were performed for seven channel flow rate combinations and eleven gap heights for both test sections. The mass transfer through the gap was calculated from mass flow rate and tracer concentration measurements taken at channel inlets and outlets. Planar and tomographic particle imaging velocimetry, as well as imaging of fluorescent tracer dye, were utilized for select conditions to examine the dynamics of the mixing. Accompanying computations were performed and the results compared favorably with experimental data. For the cases of nearly balanced flow, large coherent structures forming in the gap were observed and exhibited a normalized frequency in agreement with that reported by previous investigators. Over the tested range, the mixing rate as a function of gap height was nominally independent of channel Reynolds number. For significantly unbalanced flow the measured mass transfer approached the one-way mass transfer limit, whereas for larger gaps and closer flow balance the mixing due to coherent structures became significant.
Methanogenic System of a Small Lowland Stream Sitka, Czech Republic

Methane (CH4) is an atmospheric trace gas present at concentration of about 1.8 ppmv, that represents about 15% of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect (Forster et al. 2007). The atmospheric CH4 concentration has increased steadily since the beginning of the industrial revolution ( 0.7 ppmv) and is stabilized at 1.8 ppmv from 1999 to 2005 (Forster et al. 2007). An unexpected increase in the atmospheric growth of CH4 during the year 2007 has been recently reported (Rigby et al. 2008), indicating that the sources and sinks of atmospheric CH4 are dynamics, evolving, and not well understood. Freshwater sediments, including wetlands, rice paddies and lakes, are thought to contribute 40 to 50 % of the annual atmospheric methane flux (Cicerone & Oremland 1988; Conrad 2009).
Lamellar-structured biomass-derived phosphorus- and nitrogen-co-doped porous carbon for high-performance supercapacitors

As electrical energy storage and delivery devices, carbon-based supercapacitors have attracted much attention for advancing the energy-efficient economy. It is important to develop a facile, low-cost and environmentally friendly method of producing novel carbon materials. In this study, we report a scalable synthesis of phosphorus- and nitrogen-co-doped porous carbons using lamellar-structured fish scale. The special lamellar structure of fish scale allows the production of porous carbons with large specific surface areas (up to 1300 m2 g−1) and a high level of mesoporosity. Their inherent organic composition could be adapted with abundant N and P functional groups on the final carbons. Their high levels of porosity and rich surface functionality permit the carbons to exhibit excellent electrochemical performance as electrode materials for supercapacitors. The energy densities of supercapacitors approach 11.7 and 33.1 W h kg−1 in aqueous and IL electrolytes, respectively.
Problems of 14–18 Years Old Youth and the Trends of Organisation of Prevention Activities: Lithuanian Case

Abstract The World Health Organization (since 1998) recognises that many modern diseases and disorders (including social problems) are caused by risky behaviour. Youth risky behaviour is generally defined as a behaviour that directly or indirectly threatens the young person’s well-being and health. This is usually understood as smoking, abuse of alcohol and psychoactive substances and early initiated and unprotected sexual relations. However, the risky behaviour also includes basic things such as the failure to comply with diet regimen, sedentary lifestyle, not wearing the safety belt in the car and failure to wear a helmet whilst cycling or rollerblading. Adolescence itself is a risky span of the human life, as it is associated with moving from childhood into the adult world and intensive search for the personal identity. To ensure a consistent development of personality, adolescent risky behaviour prevention include harmonisation of education processes to help teenagers to develop responsible behaviour skills by reducing the risk factors and increasing protective factors. The article aims to overview the factors that influence youth risky behaviour and the factors that determine the planning and organisation of preventive activities for the pupils in the higher classes of the schools of general education. The study was completed in the form of a questionnaire that was conducted in the schools of the Lithuanian Republic in 2016. The results of the study describe trends of the prevention policies applied in the system of education, considering the national context of the individual Member States of the European Union.