Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective effect of adenosine triphosphate against sunitinib-related skin damage in rats

Cutaneous side effects associated with sunitinib use are a major problem in patients receiving cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) against possible skin damage resulting from sunitinib use in rats. Thirty Albino Winstar rats were divided into the following three groups: healthy controls (HCs, n = 10), sunitinib (SUN, n = 10), and sunitinib + ATP (SAT, n = 10). ATP was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 2 mg/kg. One hour subsequent to the administration of ATP and 0.9% NaCl, the SAT and SUN groups were orally administered a dose of 25 mg/kg sunitinib to the stomach. Macroscopic evaluation of the skin indicated lower levels of skin damage in the SAT group than in the SUN group. As an indicator of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels were significantly higher in the SUN group than in the HC group, while total glutathione (tGSH) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were significantly lower. However, MDA, TOS, and OSI levels were significantly lower in the SAT group than in the SUN group, while tGSH and TAS levels were significantly higher. Histopathological examination revealed keratin plugs with edema, vasopathology, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the SUN group. The SAT group showed less necrotic epithelium, keratin plugs, edema, and vasopathology than the SUN group. ATP can be effective in preventing skin damage caused by sunitinib use by reducing oxidative stress.
Genomic determination of relative risks for Clostridioides difficile infection from asymptomatic carriage in ICU patients.

BACKGROUND Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) are among the most prevalent hospital-associated infections (HAIs), particularly for intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The risks for developing active CDI from asymptomatic carriage of C. difficile are not well understood. METHODS We identified asymptomatic C. difficile carriage among 1897 ICU patients, using rectal swabs from an existing ICU vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) surveillance program. C. difficile isolates from VRE swabs, and from C. difficile-positive stool samples, were genome sequenced. Spatial-temporal data from hospital records assessed genomically-identified clusters for potential transmission events. RESULTS Genomic analyses identified a diverse set strains in infected patients and asymptomatic carriers. 7.4% of ICU patients asymptomatically carried C. difficile. 69% of isolates carried an intact toxin locus. In contrast, 96% of C. difficile stool isolates were toxin-encoding. CDI rates in asymptomatic carriers of toxin-encoding strains were 5.3%, versus 0.57% in non-carriers. The relative risk for CDI with asymptomatic carriage of a toxin-encoding strain was 9.32 (95% CI=3.25-26.7). Genomic identification of clonal clusters supported analyses for asymptomatic transmission events, with spatial-temporal overlaps identified in 13 of 28 cases. CONCLUSIONS Our studies provide the first genomically-confirmed assessments of CDI relative risk from asymptomatic carriage of toxin-encoding strains and highlight the complex dynamics of asymptomatic transmission in ICUs. Asymptomatic carriers are an active reservoir of C. difficile in the nosocomial environment. C. difficile screening can be implemented within existing HAI surveillance programs and has the potential to support infection control efforts against this pathogen.
Leveraging existing GWAS summary data of genetically correlated and uncorrelated traits to improve power for a new GWAS

In spite of the tremendous success of genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) in identifying genetic variants associated with complex traits and common diseases, many more are yet to be discovered. Hence, it is always desirable to improve the statistical power of GWAS. Paralleling with the intensive efforts of integrating GWAS with functional annotations or other omic data, we propose leveraging other published GWAS summary data to boost statistical power for a new/focus GWAS; the traits of the published GWAS may or may not be genetically correlated with the target trait of the new GWAS. Building on weighted hypothesis testing with a solid theoretical foundation, we develop a novel and effective method to construct single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐specific weights based on 22 published GWAS data sets with various traits, detecting sometimes dramatically increased numbers of significant SNPs and independent loci as compared to the standard/unweighted analysis. For example, by integrating a schizophrenia GWAS summary data set with 19 other GWAS summary data sets of nonschizophrenia traits, our new method identified 1,585 genome‐wide significant SNPs mapping to 15 linkage disequilibrium‐independent loci, largely exceeding 818 significant SNPs in 13 independent loci identified by the standard/unweighted analysis; furthermore, using a later and larger schizophrenia GWAS summary data set as the validation data, 1,423 (out of 1,585) significant SNPs identified by the weighted analysis, compared to 705 (out of 818) by the unweighted analysis, were confirmed, while all 15 and 13 independent loci were also confirmed. Similar conclusions were reached with lipids and Alzheimer's disease (AD) traits. We conclude that the proposed approach is simple and cost‐effective to improve GWAS power.
Identification of cell division cycle 20 as a candidate biomarker and potential therapeutic target in bladder cancer using bioinformatics analysis

Abstract Purpose: As bladder cancer (BC) is very heterogeneous and complicated in the genetic level, exploring genes to serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets is practical. Materials and methods: We searched Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and downloaded the eligible microarray datasets. After intersection analysis for identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of included datasets, overlapped DEGs were identified and subsequently analyzed with Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Protein–Protein Interaction (PPI) and hub genes identification. Hub genes were further analyzed with mRNA expression comparation in Oncomine and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database, proteomics-based validation in The Human Protein Atlas (THPA) and survival analysis in GEO and Oncolnc database. Results: We analyzed five eligible GEO datasets and identified 76 overlapped DEGs mapped into PPI network with 459 edges which were mainly enriched in cell cycle pathway and related terms in GO and KEGG analysis. Among five identified hub genes, which are Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1 (CDK1), Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme E2 C (UBE2C), Cell Division Cycle 20 (CDC20), Microtubule Nucleation Factor (TPX2) and Cell Division Cycle Associated 8 (CDCA8); CDC20 and CDCA8 were confirmed as significant in mRNA expression comparation and proteomics-based validation. However, only CDC20 was considered prognostically significant in both GEO and Oncolnc database. Conclusions: CDC20 and CDCA8 were identified as candidate diagnostic biomarkers for BC in the present study; however, only CDC20 was validated as prognostically valuable and may possibly serve as a candidate prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target. Still, further validation studies are essential and indispensable.
Indications of next-generation sequencing in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this study, we will give an overview on the current and foreseeable indications of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based technologies for the diagnosis, prognostic assessment and decision of individualized treatment strategy in lymphomas. RECENT FINDINGS Recent NGS-based studies have offered a comprehensive knowledge of the genetic landscapes featuring B-cell and T-cell lymphomas, with identification of genomic biomarkers useful for a better subclassification and, therefore, for a more accurate diagnosis. NGS analyses in lymphoma have also unveiled recurrent somatic mutations representing novel potential therapeutic targets or underlying drug resistance, and paved the way for tailor-made medicine. High throughput sequencing methods may also identify lymphoma-specific genetic aberrations in circulating tumoral DNA (liquid biopsy) obtained from blood samples. This suggests the possibility of performing minimally invasive diagnosis and real-time monitoring, with early detection of relapse and possibility of response-adapted therapy approaches. SUMMARY NGS analyses should be included shortly in the diagnostic work up of lymphomas. Applying NGS to liquid biopsy at diagnosis and during follow up of lymphoma patients will be a significant breakthrough towards precision medicine.
Genetic structuring among Alaskan Pacific herring populations identified using microsatellite variation

Five highly variable microsatellite loci were used to investigate population structuring in Pacific herring Clupea pallasi collected from Kodiak Island, two sites in the Bering Sea and four sites within Prince William Sound, Alaska. All loci revealed high levels of variability with heterozygosity estimates ranging from 86 to 97% (mean heterozygosity: 89%). The variation was structured significantly among sites suggesting that the samples investigated were genetically distinct from each other. Genetic divergence was greatest between populations from the Bering Sea and those from Prince William Sound. The Kodiak Island and Point Chalmers samples appeared to be distinct from the Prince William Sound and Bering Sea populations. The observed genetic distance relationships among samples could be explained largely in terms of geographical separation.
Focal Myositis in Salmonella paratyphi B Infection: A Case Report

Background: We report a case of focal myositis caused by an infection with Salmonella paratyphi B in an 18-year-old immuno-competent woman. Methods: Case report and review of the literature on Salmonella causing (pyo)-myositis. Results: An 18-year-old woman developed a focal myositis of the iliopsoas, gluteus medius and piriformis muscles on the right side occurring 2 days after onset of fever caused by Salmonella paratyphi B infection. Other reasons for focal myositis were excluded. Conclusion: This is the first reported case of focal myositis being caused by an infection with Salmonella paratyphi B in a previously healthy patient.
Towards Clinical Implementation of Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Vectors for Cancer Gene Therapy: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have gained tremendous attention as in vivo delivery systems in gene therapy for inherited monogenetic diseases. First market approvals, excellent safety data, availability of large-scale production protocols, and the possibility to tailor the vector towards optimized and cell-type specific gene transfer offers to move from (ultra) rare to common diseases. Cancer, a major health burden for which novel therapeutic options are urgently needed, represents such a target. We here provide an up-to-date overview of the strategies which are currently developed for the use of AAV vectors in cancer gene therapy and discuss the perspectives for the future translation of these pre-clinical approaches into the clinic.
High-Fidelity Aero-Structural Optimization of the Wing Twist using the NASA Common Research Model

Gradient-based aero-structural optimization strategies using high-fidelity CFD methods and close-to-reality structural simulation models for the complete aircraft are a promising concept for multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) in view of new aircraft configurations. At DLR such an MDO process has been implemented for the NASA Common Research Model (CRM), a generic wide body aircraft configuration. The process capabilities have been demonstrated by optimizing the outer wing geometry including the engine. The structural optimization of the wingbox is done at each step of the aerodynamic optimization. A further development is provided in the present paper by computing and integrating design sensitivities of the structural discipline at system level. The performance of the CRM is evaluated at Ma=0.85 by solving the Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, which are coupled iteratively with a structural model of the complete aircraft. The trimmed 1g cruise flight is achieved by adjusting the angle-of-attack and the elevator. The corresponding structural finite element model is generated and all involved simulation models are set up using a parametric approach. Aeroelastic loads are calculated by MSC Nastran for selected load cases that are assumed to be representative for the design loads. The load carrying structural components are then sized with the calculated loads. The structural process can be treated as a black box. High-fidelity, aerodynamic performance gradients with respect to a parameterized wing twist distribution are computed using the adjoint method. Structural gradients are determined by finite differences of the structural design process. Minimizing the product of the maximum root bending moment from the loads analysis and the drag coefficient shows to reduce the wing's structural mass by -12.22 % but also lowers the aerodynamic performance by -8.31 %. A Breguet based range optimization improves the aerodynamic performance by 0.7 % and increases the wing's structural mass by +2 %.
Teaching students how to think, not what to think: Pedagogy and political psychology

Academia is often critiqued as an “ivory tower” where research, thinking, and teaching are isolated from the complexity and everyday experience of so many people. As instructors of political and other psychology courses, we strive to break down these barriers and engage with the dynamic and nuanced nature of phenomena as situated in lived social and political contexts. In this report, we unpack and detail how we strive to achieve this goal by expanding on Plous’ articulation of action teaching (2012). We first define our pedagogical focus on active engagement, critical thinking, and staying on the move between multiple perspectives. We then provide specific examples of how we enact our philosophy in activities and assessment. We end by articulating how this approach to teaching in social and political psychology can be understood as furthering not only our students’ intellectual growth as psychologists, but also their development as democratic citizens. In doing so, we argue that action teaching not only involves course activities directly engaging with social issues, but also provides students with a scaffold to actually do so in a way that is attentive to the complexity, pluralism, and dynamism of social and political issues.
Reciprocal vs. Parasocial Relationships in Online Social Networks: Structures, Evolutions, and Predictions

Many online social networks are fundamentally directed, i.e., they consist of both reciprocal edges (i.e., edges that have already been linked back) and parasocial edges (i.e., edges that haven’t been linked back). Thus, understanding the interplays between reciprocal edges and parasocial ones and predicting whether a parasocial edge will turn into a reciprocal one are basic research problems. However, there have been few systematic studies about such problems. In this paper, we bridge this gap using a novel large-scale Google+ dataset crawled by ourselves as well as one publicly available social network dataset. First, we compare the structures and evolutions of reciprocal edges and those of parasocial edges. For instance, we find that reciprocal edges are more likely to connect users with similar degrees while parasocial edges are more likely to link ordinary users (e.g., users with low degrees) and popular users (e.g., celebrities). However, the impacts of reciprocal edges linking ordinary and popular users on the network structures increase slowly as the social networks evolve. Second, we observe that factors including user behaviors, node attributes, and edge attributes all have significant impacts on the formation of reciprocal edges. Third, in contrast to previous studies that treat reciprocal edge prediction as either a supervised or a semi-supervised learning problem, we identify that reciprocal edge prediction is better modeled as an outlier detection problem. Finally, we perform extensive evaluations with the two datasets, and we show that our proposal outperforms previous reciprocal edge prediction approaches.
A non-destructive method for estimating the weight of forage on shrubs.

A technique for estimating shrub forage weight is described and the results of testing it on saltbush and bluebush are presented. The accuracy and precision, speed and simplicity, and independence of special equipment of the technique are all demonstrated. Although similar in principle to techniques known to have been used in Australia (but nowhere described in detail), the present technique has distinctive features and is designated the 'Adelaide' technique.
A NEW SPECIES OF CHRYSOMELOBIA (ACARI: TARSONEMINA; PODAPOLIPIDAE) FROM NORTH AMERICA AND THE TAXONOMIC POSITION OF THE GENUS

Abstract The larva, adult female, and adult male of Chrysomelobia labidomerae n. sp. are described. The adult female is compared with that of the only other described species in the genus, C. mahunkai from Europe. Chrysomelobia labidomerae is a parasite of adult milkweed leaf beetles, Labidomera clivicollis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in North America. Morphological similarities of all stages of Chrysomelobia with those of the generalized podapolipid Dorsipes support the retention of Chrysomelobia in the Podapolipidae as a most primitive genus in that family and the only one with 4 pairs of legs in the adult female.
SpaceSheets: Design Experimentation in Latent Space

Computational design tools enable designers to construct and manipulate representations of design artifacts to arrive at a solution. However, the constraints of deterministic programming impose a high cost of tedium and inflexibility to exploring design alternatives through these models. They require designers to express high-level design intent through sequences of low-level operations. Generative neural networks are able to construct generalised models of images which capture principles implicit within them. The latent spaces of these models can be sampled to create novel images and to perform semantic operations. This presents the opportunity for more meaningful and efficient design experimentation, where designers are able to express design intent through principles inferred by the model, instead of sequences of low-level operations. A general purpose software prototype has been devised and evaluated to investigate the affordances of such a tool. This software — termed a SpaceSheet — takes the form of a spreadsheet interface and enables users to explore a latent space of fonts. User testing and observation of task-based evaluations revealed that the tool enabled a novel top-down approach to design experimentation. This mode of working required a new set of skills for users to derive meaning and navigate within the model effectively. Despite this, a rudimentary understanding was observed to be sufficient to enable designers and non-designers alike to explore design possibilities more effectively.
Explainable Predictive Monitoring of Temporal Measures of Business Processes

This thesis explores data-driven, predictive approaches to monitor business process performance. These approaches allow process stakeholders to prevent or mitigate potential performance issues or compliance violations in real time, as early as possible. To help users understand the rationale for the predictions and build trust in them, the thesis proposes two techniques for explainable predictive process monitoring: one based on deep learning, the other driven by process models. This is achieved by decomposing a prediction into its elementary components. The techniques are compared against state-of-the-art baselines and a trade-off between accuracy and explainability of the predictions is evaluated.
Specificity of Antibodies Against Rodent Transforming Growth Factor-α Protein

We found that the immunohistochemical distribution of TGF-α varied in rodent tissues depending on the antibody used, suggesting that the specificity of anti-TGF-α antibodies differs significantly. To address this issue, we compared the specificity of two representative antibodies that have been widely used to detect rodent TGF-α. In a competition study, the antibodies were preincubated with an excess of synthetic rat TGF-α34-50 and were used for staining of rat and mouse kidneys and/or uterus. The results revealed that one of the antibodies, anti-rat TGF-α polyclonal antibody, was neutralized by the peptide, whereas the other, anti-human TGF-α monoclonal antibody, was not absorbed by the peptide up to an excess of 100-fold. Western blotting analysis showed that the anti-rat TGF-α polyclonal antibody recognized both human and rat purified TGF-α. However, the anti-human TGF-α monoclonal antibody did not detect purified rat TGF-α, although the antibody reacted with mouse proteins other than TGF-α from kidneys and uterus, purified human TGF-α, and mouse carbonic anhydrase II. These data indicate that the anti-human TGF-α monoclonal antibody does not recognize rodent TGF-α under our experimental conditions and suggest that distribution of TGF-α in rodent tissues may need to be reexamined.
Huehuecuetzpalli mixtecus gen. et sp. nov: a basal squamate (Reptilia) from the Early Cretaceous of Tepexi de Rodriguez, central Mexico

Huehuecuetzpalli mixtecus gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of characters unlike those of any of the previously described Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous lizards. It has most of the synapomorphies common to modern squamates, but still retains primitive features rare in living taxa. Autapomorphic characters include an anteroposteriorly elongated premaxilla that results in the elongation of the snout and the apparent retraction of the external nares. A small rounded postfrontal and a parietal foramen on the frontoparietal suture suggest affinities with iguanians, but the retention of divided premaxillae, amphicoelous vertebrae, thoracolumbar intercentra, entepicondylar foramen, and a second distal tarsal supports the hypothesis that Huehuecuetzpalli has a more basal position relative to the extant squamates. Although its appearance is late in the fossil record of lizards, Huehuecuetzpalli is the first report of a basal squamate. It provides important information on early transformation of characters in lizard evolution. Many primitive characters present in some modern squamates are usually explained by paedomorphosis; however, these characters are common in early lizards suggesting that derived states may have been fixed later in lizard evolution. If Huehuecuetzpalli is an iguanian, then it would be the earliest known representative of this lineage and extends their fossil record into the Albian. This paper presents an extensive review of the characters and character states used in previously published cladistic analyses of the Squamata.
Effects of niobium on helium behaviors in tungsten：a first-principles investigation

We investigate the effects of niobium (Nb) on helium (He) dissolution and diffusion behaviors in tungsten (W) using a first-principles method. The results show that Nb can effectively reduce the solution energy of He in the bulk W, which is because of the charge density redistribution. This leads to a strong attraction between He and Nb in W, and thus Nb can serve as a He trapping centre in W. The trapping energy of He is 0.37 eV at the most stable site surrounding Nb atom. It is demonstrated that the diffusion barrier of He towards Nb will decrease with the decreasing of He-Nb distance. This suggests that the kinetic process in which He is trapped by Nb is feasible. Therefore, the presence of Nb will facilitate the nucleating and blistering of He in W.