Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Segmental Mandibular Reconstruction Using Tissue Engineering Strategies: A Systematic Review of Individual Patient Data

Objective: The aim of the systematic review was to analyze the current clinical evidence concerning the use of tissue engineering as a treatment strategy for reconstruction of segmental defects of the mandible and their clinical outcomes using individual patient data. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed and Cochrane Library on May 21, 2019. The eligibility criteria included patients in whom segmental mandibular reconstruction was carried out using tissue engineering as the primary treatment strategy. After screening and checking for eligibility, individual patient data were extracted to the extent it was available. Data extraction included the type of tissue engineering strategy, demographics, and indication for treatment, and outcomes included clinical and radiographic outcome measures, vitality of engineered bone, dental rehabilitation, and patient-reported outcome measures and complications. Results: Out of a total of 408 articles identified, 44 articles reporting on 285 patients were included, of which 179 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The different tissue engineering treatment strategies could be broadly classified into 5 groups: “prefabrication,” “cell culture,” “bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) without autografts,” “BMP with autografts,” and “scaffolds containing autografts. ” Most included studies were case reports or case series. A wide variety of components were used as scaffolds, cells, and biological substances. There was not a single outcome measure that was both objective and consistently reported, although most studies reported successful outcome. Discussion: A wide variety of tissue engineering strategies were used for segmental mandibular reconstruction that could be classified into 5 groups. Due to the low number of treated patients, lack of standardized and consistent reporting outcomes, lack of comparative studies, and low evidence of reported literature, there is insufficient evidence to recommend any particular tissue engineering strategy.
A Connected Auto-Encoders Based Approach for Image Separation with Side Information: With Applications to Art Investigation

X-radiography is a widely used imaging technique in art investigation, whether to investigate the condition of a painting or provide insights into artists’ techniques and working methods. In this paper, we propose a new architecture based on the use of ‘connected’ auto-encoders in order to separate mixed X-ray images acquired from double-sided paintings, where in addition to the mixed X-ray image one can also exploit the two RGB images associated with the front and back of the painting. This proposed architecture uses convolutional auto-encoders that extract features from the RGB images that can be employed to (1) reproduce both of the original RGB images, (2) reconstruct the associated separated X-ray images, and (3) regenerate the mixed X-ray image. It operates in a totally self-supervised fashion without the need for examples containing both the mixed X-ray images and the separated ones. Based on images from the double-sided wing panels from the famous Ghent Altarpiece, painted in 1432 by the brothers Hubert and Jan Van Eyck, the proposed algorithm has been experimentally verified to outperform state-of-the-art X-ray separation methods in art investigation applications.
INVESTIGATING THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS FOR LAFORA DISEASE USING STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL METHODS

OF DISSERTATION INVESTIGATING THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS FOR LAFORA DISEASE USING STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL METHODS Lafora disease (LD) is a rare yet invariably fatal form of epilepsy characterized by progressive degeneration of the central nervous and motor systems and accumulation of insoluble glucans within cells. LD results from mutation of either the phosphatase laforin, an enzyme that dephosphorylates cellular glycogen, or the E3 ubiquitin ligase malin, the binding partner of laforin. Currently, there are no therapeutic options for LD, or reported methods by which the specific activity of glucan phosphatases such as laforin can be easily measured. To facilitate our translational studies, we developed an assay with which the glucan phosphatase activity of laforin as well as emerging members of the glucan phosphatase family can be characterized. We then adapted this assay for the detection of endogenous laforin activity from human and mouse tissue. This laforin bioassay will prove useful in the detection of functional laforin in LD patient tissue following the application of therapies to LD patients. We subsequently developed an in vitro readthrough reporter system in order to assess the efficacy of aminoglycosides in the readthrough of laforin and malin nonsense mutations. We found that although several laforin and malin nonsense mutations exhibited significant drug‐induced readthrough, the location of the epitope tag used to detect readthrough products dramatically affected our readthrough results. Cell lines established from LD patients with nonsense mutations are thus required to accurately assess the efficacy of aminoglycosides as a therapeutic option for LD. Using hydrogen‐deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (DXMS), we then gained insight into the molecular etiology of several point mutations in laforin that cause LD. We identified a novel motif in the phosphatase domain of laforin that shares homology with glycosyl hydrolases (GH) and appears to play a role in the interaction of laforin with glucans. We studied the impact of the Y294N and P301L LD mutations within this GH motif on glucan binding. Surprisingly, these mutations did not reduce glucan binding as expected, rather enhancing the binding of laforin to glucans. These findings elucidate the mechanism by which laforin interacts with and acts upon glucan substrates, providing a target for the development of therapeutic compounds.
Herbivore arthropods benefit from vectoring plant-viruses

Plants infected with pathogens often attract the pathogens' vectors, but it is not clear if this is advantageous to the vectors. We therefore quantified the direct and indirect (through the host plant) effects of a pathogen on its vector. A positive direct effect of the plant-pathogenic Tomato spotted wilt virus on its thrips vector (Frankliniella occidentalis) was found, but the main effect was indirect; juvenile survival and developmental rate of thrips was lower on pepper plants that were damaged by virus-free thrips than on unattacked plants, but such negative effects were absent on plants that were damaged and inoculated by infected thrips or were mechanically inoculated with the virus. Hence, potential vectors benefit from attacking plants with virus because virus-infected plants are of higher quality for the vector's offspring. We propose that plant pathogens in general have evolved mechanisms to overcome plant defences against their vectors, thus promoting pathogen spread
Hubungan Job-related Factors, Work-life Balance dan Kepuasan Kerja pada Pekerja Generasi Milenial

Studi menemukan bahwa pekerja generasi milenial, yaitu seseorang yang lahir pada rentang tahun 1981 dan 2000, memiliki kebutuhan dan preferensi pekerjaan unik yang berkaitan dengan kepuasan kerja yang mereka rasakan. Gaya hidup mereka dengan kebutuhan penggunaan internet yang tinggi serta kebutuhan akan pengakuan, bisa saja terkait dengan perilaku kerja dan kepuasan kerja tersebut. Penelitian ini menguji hubungan antara job-related factors , yang meliputi waktu kerja, pendapatan, status jabatan, masa kerja, dukungan atasan, dukungan organisasi, dan nilai pekerjaan; dan work-life balance terhadap kepuasan kerja pada pekerja milenial. Hal ini didukung kondisi bahwa di Indonesia, saat ini lapangan kerja didominasi oleh generasi milenial, yang diyakini sebagai generasi yang lebih menghargai work-life balance dibandingkan generasi lainnya. Desain penelitian yang digunakan adalah deskriptif-konklusif. Pengambilan data dilakukan dengan penyebaran kuesioner secara online untuk mempelajari 203 orang pekerja dalam rentang usia 20-38 tahun, dan telah bekerja sekurang-kurangnya selama 1 tahun di berbagai sektor pekerjaan di Indonesia. Analisis Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) digunakan untuk mengolah data dan menguji hipotesis yang diajukan. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa beberapa job-related factors berhubungan dengan work-life balance dan kepuasan kerja, meskipun beberapa lainnya tidak. Seperti yang diperkirakan, work-life balance juga memengaruhi kepuasan kerja pada pekerja generasi milenial. Hasil dari penelitian ini dapat dijadikan sebagai rekomendasi bagi penerapan kebijakan agar mampu meningkatkan work-life balance dan kepuasan kerja pada generasi milenial.
Organic Residues Improve the Quality and Field Initial Growth of Senna multijuga Seedlings

ABSTRACT Senna multijuga is an arboreal species well established in various Brazilian biomes, which has the potential for applications recovering degraded areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological quality in the nursery and the initial growth in the field of S. multijuga seedlings, planted in different substrates and proportions of organic residues. Copernicia prunifera residues, organic compost (OC), and decomposed stem of Mauritia flexuosa were added with samples of Yellow Latosol formulated at proportions of 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, and 80:20 (residue:soil, v:v). In the nursery, the following variables were evaluated: percentage of emergence, emergency speed index, stem diameter, shoot height, total leaf chlorophyll, leaf area, leaf area ratio, dry matter (shoots, roots, and total), Dickson quality index, and nitrogen uptake in shoots. In the field stage, shoot height, stem diameter at soil level, height/diameter ratio, and survival percentage were evaluated. In the nursery, the combination of OC and soil at a proportion of 57:43 provided the greatest seedling growth. In the field, seedlings cultivated with the decomposed stem of Mauritia flexuosa showed a higher survival rate, while seedlings cultivated in substrate based on OC showed superior growth in height and stem diameter.
An investigation of circadian rhythm in Escherichia coli

Background: Persuasive evidence for circadian programs in non-photosynthetic bacteria other than cyanobacteria is still lacking, we aimed to investigate the circadian rhythm of specific growth rate in Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, one of the important prokaryotes. Methods: To grow E. coli under different light and dark conditions. When the growth entered into the stationary phase, we stopped the culture and obtained the viable counts by MTT assay every 3 h. The specific growth rates (SGRs) were calculated and analyzed with cosinor method for potential rhythms. Results: Single cosinor method revealed that the SGR of E. coli displayed rhythmic variations with a period of around 24 h both under light/dark cycles and under constant darkness. The best-fitting periods and best-fitting cosine curves were acquired. Conclusions: The SGR of E. coli (ATCC 25922) in a culture medium with limiting substrates in the stationary and death phases displayed rhythmic variations with a period of around 24 h under light/dark cycles and constant darkness conditions.
Admissibility of Fractional Order Descriptor Systems Based on Complex Variables: An LMI Approach

This paper is devoted to the admissibility issue of singular fractional order systems with order α ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) based on complex variables. Firstly, with regard to admissibility, necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained by strict LMI in complex plane. Then, an observer-based controller is designed to ensure system admissible. Finally, numerical examples are given to reveal the validity of the theoretical conclusions.
Engineering T Cells to Treat Cancer: The Convergence of Immuno-Oncology and Synthetic Biology

T cells engineered to recognize and kill tumor cells have emerged as powerful agents for combating cancer. Nonetheless, our ability to engineer T cells remains relatively primitive. Aside from CAR T cells for treating B cell malignancies, most T cell therapies are risky, toxic, and often ineffective, especially those that target solid cancers. To fulfill the promise of cell-based therapies, we must transform cell engineering into a systematic and predictable science by applying the principles and tools of synthetic biology. Synthetic biology uses a hierarchical approach—assembling sets of modular molecular parts that can be combined into larger circuits and systems that perform defined target tasks. We outline the toolkit of synthetic modules that are needed to overcome the challenges of solid cancers, progress in building these components, and how these modules could be used to reliably engineer more effective and precise T cell therapies.
Reduction of Cold-Start Emissions for a Micro Combined Heat and Power Plant

Decentralized power generation by combined heat and power plants becomes increasingly popular as a measure to advance the energy transition. In this context, a substantial advantage of small combined heat and power plants is based on the relatively low pollutant emissions. However, a large proportion of the pollutant emissions is produced during a cold-start. This fact is not reflected in governmental and institutional emission guidelines, as these strongly focus on the emission levels under steady-state conditions. This study analyzes the spark advance, the reference air/fuel ratio and an electrically heated catalyst in terms of their potential to reduce the cold-start emissions of a micro combined heat and power plant which uses a natural gas fueled reciprocating internal combustion engine as prime mover and a three-way catalytic converter as aftertreatment system. Based on these measures, control approaches were developed that account for the specific operating conditions of the class of small combined heat and power plants, e.g., full-load operation and flexible, demand-driven runtimes. The experimental data demonstrates that even solutions with marginal adaptation/integration effort can reduce cold-start emissions to a great extent.
Investigation of bending properties of E-Glass fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites for applications in micro wind turbine blades

Polymer matrix composites are divided into thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers reinforced with organic or inorganic fiber. Use of composites is increasing in the field of engineering applications due the fact that they are satisfying the required mechanical properties. The present study is made on Sandwich composite with E-Glass fiber reinforced Epoxy composite skin and Balsa wood core. E-Glass fiber reinforced composite is an immensely versatile material due to its light weight, inherent strength, weather resistance, finish and also due to variety of surface textures. Though carbon fibers are more rigid then eglass fiber, we choose e-glass for its lower cost and are better suited to extreme flex patterns. The composite consist of E-Glass fiber, epoxy resin namely Ly556 and Hardener 951. E-glass is a low alkali glass with a typical nominal composition of SiO2 54wt%, Al2O3 14wt%, CaO+MgO 22wt%, B2O3 10wt% and Na2OK2O less then 2wt%. Some other materials may also be present at impurity levels. Tensile test, compression test and three point bending test etc. has to be carried out to better understand the mechanical properties of composite material. In this study three point bending test is discussed. This study is done keeping in mind the use of E-Glass fiber and epoxy resin composite in micro wind turbine blade.
Microtubules (MT) a key target in oncology: mathematical modeling of anti-MT agents on cell migration

Microtubules (MTs) are protein filaments found in all eukaryotic cells which are crucial for many cellular processes including cell movement, cell differentiation, and cell division, making them a key target for anti-cancer treatment. In particular, it has been shown that at low dose, MT targeted agents (MTAs) may induce an anti-migratory effect on cancer and endothelial cells, leading to new prospects in cancer therapy. In that context, we propose to better understand the role of MT dynamics and thus of MTAs on cell migration using a mathematical cell centered model of cell migration taking into account the action of microtubules in the process. The model use a fluid based approach that describes, through level-set techniques, the deformation of the membrane during cell migration. The fluid part of the model is mainly composed of Stokes equations and the biochemical state of the cell is described using Reaction-Diffusion equations. Microtubules act on the biochemical state by activating or inactivating proteins of the Rho-GTPases family. The numerical simulation of the model is performed using Discrete Duality Finite Volume techniques. We describe the different schemes used for the simulation, focusing on the adaptation of preexisting methods to our particular case. Numerical simulation are performed, showing a realistic behavior of the simulated cells in term of shape, speed and microtubules dynamics. Different strategies for a depolymerizing MTA (Vincristin) mechanisms are investigated and show the robutness of our model.
Gene Conversion (Recombination) Mediates Expansions of CTG·CAG Repeats*

Genetic recombination is a robust mechanism for expanding CTG·CAG triplet repeats involved in the etiology of hereditary neurological diseases (Jakupciak, J. P., and Wells, R. D. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 23468–23479). This two-plasmid recombination system in Escherichia coli with derivatives of pUC19 and pACYC184 was used to investigate the effect of triplet repeat orientation on recombination and extent of expansions; tracts of 36, 50, 80, and 36, 100, and 175 repeats in length, respectively, in all possible permutations of length and in both orientations (relative to the unidirectional replication origins) revealed little or no effect of orientation of expansions. The extent of expansions was generally severalfold the length of the progenitor tract and frequently exceeded the combined length of the two tracts in the cotransformed plasmids. Expansions were much more frequent than deletions. Repeat tracts bearing two G-to-A interruptions (polymorphisms) within either 171- or 219-base pair tracts substantially reduced the expansions compared with uninterrupted repeat tracts of similar lengths. Gene conversion, rather than crossing over, was the recombination mechanism. Prior studies showed that DNA replication, repair, and tandem duplication also mediated genetic instabilities of the triplet repeat sequence. However, gene conversion (recombinational repair) is by far the most powerful expansion mechanism. Thus, we propose that gene conversion is the likely expansion mechanism for myotonic dystrophy, spinocerebellar ataxia type 8, and fragile X syndrome.
A New Approach to Use Load Duration Curves to Evaluate Water Quality: A Study in the Doce River Basin, Brazil

Although water availability depends both on qualitative and quantitative aspects, most studies focus only on one of these. Therefore, the goal here is to relate water quality and quantity with the construction of Load Duration Curves (LDC) and to estimate E. coli load patterns in different flow conditions, seasons, and positions of two sub-basins of the Doce watershed (Brazil): Piracicaba and Piranga. A novel methodology is proposed in which the Burr XII distribution is adjusted to the LDC to compare all observed loads to their respective Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), allowing the estimation of the relative difference (RD) between these. Higher values of RD were observed for low flows for the Piracicaba basin, more urbanized, where point sources of pollution are the primary concern, reaching up to 99% of needed load reduction. In the Piranga basin, more agricultural, there was a broader RD variation, from 9% to 97% load reduction needed, which is an evidence of point sources of pollution combined with non-point sources. The new methodology can be used to estimate the load reduction of any pollutant and can be used by environmental agencies to identify effective practices to minimize and control pollution in different locations of the basins.
Facing the fear: resilience and social support in veterans and civilians with PTSD

This study aims to investigate the effects of resilience and social support on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of 121 veterans (n = 56) and civilians (n = 65). ,Gender, age and marital status were collected, along with occupation for civilians and the unit served with, rank, length of time deployed, overall months active and location for veterans. The trauma experiences scale for civilians, the PTSD checklist for civilian and military, Resilience Research Centre’s Adult Resilience Measure-28, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Deployment Risk and Resiliency Inventory-2 scales were used. ,The results revealed for both samples, resilience and social support (except unit support for veterans) impacted PTSD symptoms. However, social support did not mediate the relationship between resilience and PTSD. ,Implications for policy and practice were discussed. ,The originality of this research stems from the incorporation of both a civilian and military sample by comparing their levels of PTSD, resilience and social support.
Fourteen New Dytiscidae (Coleoptera) of the Genera Limbodessus Guignot, Paroster Sharp, and Exocelina Broun from Underground Waters in Australia

Abstract Fourteen new species of stygobitic Dytiscidae from inland Western Australia and Central Australia are described: Limbodessus micromelitaensis, L. microbubba, L. lornaensi, L. macrolornaensis, L. yarrabubbaensis, L. trispinosus, L. murrumensis, L. ordinarius, L. nyungduo, L. insolitus, Paroster elongatus, P. novem, P. readi and Exocelina rasjadi. The males of P. tetrameres Watts and Humphreys and P. kurutjutu (Watts & Humphreys) (Kintingka) are described for the first time. This brings the total of stygobitic Dytiscidae described from Australia to 99 species in four genera. One of the new species, Limbodessus insolitus, has single-lobed parameres, the first undoubted member of the tribe Bidessini not to have bilobed parameres. A key to the known species of Australian stygobitic Dytiscidae is given as well as a checklist of the species discovered prior to December 2008. The geographic distribution of this fauna (Fig. 192) and the physico/chemical properties of selected collecting sites (Fig 193, Table 2) and associated fauna (Table 3) are summarised. Geographically, stygal Dytiscidae are now know within Australia from three discrete areas; the Ngalia Basin northwest of Alice Springs in central Australia, the Yilgarn Craton in central Western Australia and the north-east region of New South Wales. In the first two regions the beetles are found in groundwater calcrete formations; in New South Wales the seemingly much sparser fauna is found in coarse alluvial gravels in the upper reaches of rivers. Kintingka Watts & Humphrey is synonymised with Limbodessus Guignot.