Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A highly sensitive biosensor based on a 3D gold nanostructure modified screen-printed electrode for glucose detection

In this study, we investigated a simple glucose biosensor based on a 3D gold nanostructure modified screen-printed electrode. The 3D gold nanostructure was electrochemically fabricated on the working electrode of a commercially available screen-printed electrode using an aqua regia dissolved bulk gold solution as the precursor. Potassium ferricyanide and glucose oxidase were then sequentially coated onto the prepared nanostructure for glucose detection. Glucose detections illustrated that the proposed devices could perform a sensitivity of 71.12 μA mM-1cm-2 with a linear detection range from 0.27-5.6 mM. A fast response time of less than 2 s was observed. Moreover, only a 5mL of glucose specimen is required for the detection due to the incorporation of the commercially available screen-printed electrode.
Intravenous versus oral busulfan as part of a busulfan/cyclophosphamide preparative regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: decreased incidence of hepatic venoocclusive disease (HVOD), HVOD-related mortality, and overall 100-day mortality.

Hepatic venoocclusive disease (HVOD) is a complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and is a well-recognized dose-limiting toxicity of oral busulfan (Bu)-based preparative regimens. The unpredictable absorption of oral Bu from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and hepatic first-pass effects have led to the development of an intravenous Bu preparation (i.v. Bu). The purpose of this retrospective comparison was to evaluate the incidence rate of HVOD and the 100-day mortality rate in patients treated with a busulfan/cyclophosphamide (BuCy2) regimen in which either oral Bu or i.v. Bu was administered. Data from 2 similar groups of patients treated between March 1995 and December 1997 were analyzed. Thirty patients were treated with oral Bu (1 mg/kg x 16 doses) at City of Hope and 61 patients were treated with i.v. Bu (0.8 mg/kg x 16 doses) in a multicenter trial involving 7 sites. Bu was followed by Cy (60 mg/kg x 2 days) and a histocompatible-sibling-donor HSCT. In the i.v. Bu treatment group, 48% of the patients were classified as heavily pretreated (> or = 3 prior chemotherapy regimens, prior radiation, or prior HSCT) with 13% having had a prior HSCT and 75% having active disease at the time of transplantation. According to the same classification criteria, 33% of the patients in the oral-Bu treatment group were considered heavily pretreated, with 23% having had a prior HSCT and 80% having active disease at the time of transplantation. The incidence rates of clinically diagnosed HVOD were 5/61 (8%) and 10/30 (33%) after i.v. and oral Bu, respectively. HVOD-related mortality occurred in 2 (3.3%) of 61 i.v. and 6 (20%) of 30 oral Bu patients. The (standardized) Jones criteria for HVOD were met by 4.9% of i.v. and 20% of oral Bu patients. Univariate logistic regression analysis identified oral versus i.v. Bu (P = .001) and a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (P = .04) as statistically significant factors in the development of HVOD, with prior extensive treatment identified as marginally significant (P = .25). No other demographic parameter was found to be significant. After adjustment for prior treatment, multivariate analyses showed that the use of oral versus i.v. Bu was the strongest predictor for development of HVOD (odds ratio, 7.5; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-27.2; P = .002). This study showed that the incidence rate of HVOD is significantly lower (P = .002) and the 100-day survival rate significantly higher (P = .002) in patients treated with i.v. Bu than in patients treated with oral Bu when Bu is used as part of a BuCy2 preparative regimen for allogeneic HSCT.
Exact family‐based association tests for biallelic data

Family‐based study designs have an important role in the search for association between disease phenotypes and genetic markers. Unlike traditional case‐control methods, family‐based tests use within‐family data to avoid identification of spurious associations that may result from population admixture. Many family‐based association tests have been proposed to accommodate a variety of ascertainment schemes and patterns of missing data. In this report, we describe exact family‐based association tests for biallelic data. Specifically, we discuss test of the null hypotheses “no linkage and no association” and “linkage, but no association”. These tests, which are valid under various models for inheritance and patterns of missingness, utilize the procedure proposed by Rabinowitz and Laird [2000: Hum Hered 50:211–223] that provides a unified framework for family based association testing (FBAT). The conditioning approach implemented in FBAT makes an exact test conceptually straightforward, but computationally difficult since the minimum sufficient statistics upon which we condition do not have a conventional form. An exact test may be especially critical when accurate computation of the extreme area of the FBAT statistic is needed, such as when the study design necessitates multiple comparisons adjustments. We describe the exact approach as a useful alternative to the aymptotic test and show that the exact tests for biallelic data may be most useful for the recessive disease model. Genet. Epidemiol. 2005 © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Maternal Education, Parental Investment, and Noncognitive Characteristics in Rural China

The importance of noncognitive skills in determining long-term human capital and labor market outcomes is widely acknowledged, but relatively little is known about how educational investments by parents may respond to children’s noncognitive characteristics. This paper evaluates the parental response to noncognitive variation across siblings in rural Gansu Province, China, employing a household fixed effects specification; the noncognitive measures of interest are defined as the inverse of both externalizing challenges (behavioral problems and aggression) and internalizing challenges (anxiety and withdrawal). The results suggest that there is significant heterogeneity with respect to maternal education. More-educated mothers appear to compensate for differences between their children, investing more in a child who exhibits greater noncognitive deficits, while less-educated mothers reinforce these differences. Most important, we present evidence that these compensatory investments are associated with the narrowing of noncognitive deficits over time for children of more-educated mothers, while there is no comparable pattern in households with less-educated mothers.
Approach to SOM based correlation clustering

Correlation clustering problem is a NP hard problem and an approach based on self organizing feature map (SOM) neural network for correlation clustering is presented in this paper. Clustering performance of SOM neural network based correlation clustering is test with 20 newsgroups data in UCI KDD archive. Experimental results show that the performance of clustering division constructed by correlation clustering based on SOM neural network is better with clustering precision as criterion meanwhile the time complexity of correlation clustering based on SOM neural network is better too.
Long-term Local and Systemic Safety of Poly(l-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) after Subcutaneous and Intra-articular Implantation in Rats

The use of biodegradable materials is gaining popularity in medicine, especially in orthopedic applications. However, preclinical evaluation of biodegradable materials can be challenging, since they are located in close contact with host tissues and might be implanted for a long period of time. Evaluation of these compounds requires biodegradability and biocompatibility studies and meticulous pathology examination. We describe 2 preclinical studies performed on Sprague-Dawley rats for 52 weeks, to evaluate clinical pathology, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and systemic toxicity after implantation of 2-layered films or saline-inflated balloon-shaped implants of downsized InSpace™ devices (termed “test device”). The test devices are made from a copolymer of poly-l-lactide-co-∊-caprolactone in a 70:30 ratio, identical to the device used in humans, intended for the treatment of rotator cuff tears. Intra-articular film implantation and subcutaneous implantation of the downsized device showed favorable local and systemic tolerability. Although the implanted materials have no inherent toxic or tumorigenic properties, one animal developed a fibrosarcoma at the implantation site, an event that is associated with a rodent-predilection response where solid materials cause mesenchymal neoplasms. This effect is discussed in the context of biodegradable materials along with a detailed description of expected pathology for biodegradable materials in long-term rodent studies.
Memo No . 072 December 27 , 2017 Theory of Deep Learning IIb : Optimization Properties of SGD by

In Theory IIb we characterize with a mix of theory and experiments the optimization of deep convolutional networks by Stochastic Gradient Descent. The main new result in this paper is theoretical and experimental evidence for the following conjecture about SGD: SGD concentrates in probability like the classical Langevin equation – on large volume, “flat” minima, selecting flat minimizers which are with very high probability also global minimizers. This work was supported by the Center for Brains, Minds and Machines (CBMM), funded by NSF STC award CCF 123 1216. This memo reports those parts of CBMM Memo 067 that are focused on optimization. The main reason is to straighten up the titles of the theory trilogy.
Willingness to Expend Effort Toward Reward and Extreme Ambitions in Bipolar I Disorder

More than a dozen recent studies have shown that bipolar disorder and key outcomes within bipolar disorder are related to heightened willingness to pursue extremely ambitious life goals, as measured by the Willingly Approached Set of Statistically Unlikely Pursuits (WASSUP). Although it has been argued that this willingness to pursue difficult lifetime ambitions in bipolar disorder could reflect willingness to expend effort toward reward, this has not been tested to date. In this study, 50 individuals with bipolar I disorder were followed until they achieved remission. They then completed the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT) and the WASSUP. Scores on the WASSUP Financial Success subscale, but not the Popular Fame subscale, were significantly associated with decision making on the EEfRT, even after controlling for significant effects of reward magnitude, gender, and age. These two indices appear to measure related facets of reward sensitivity.
Intraindividual consistency of the activated protein C resistance phenotype

Resistance to activated protein C (APC) has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for venous thromboembolism, but it is not known whether this phenotype is consistent over time. We reinvestigated 2580 subjects from the Vicenza Thrombophilia and Atherosclerosis (VITA) Project to evaluate the prevalence of a consistent APC resistance phenotype in the population. Among the 433 subjects with an APC resistance at first visit, the phenotype was confirmed in all the 74 factor V (FV) Leiden carriers and in 124 of 359 FV Leiden negative subjects (34%). The prevalence of a confirmed phenotype, not associated with FV Leiden, was 4·8% in our population. In a subgroup of subjects previously investigated for heritability of the APC resistance, we confirmed the APC resistance phenotype in seven of 39 (17·9%) subjects with an APC resistant sibling but only in 20 of 408 (4·9%) subjects without a sibling with the same phenotype (P = 0·005). Among the 124 FV Leiden negative subjects with a persistent APC resistance phenotype, 40 (32%) had a plasma factor VIII coagulant activity level above 150 IU/dl and eight (6·4%) were carriers of the G20210A prothrombin allele. APC resistance not due to FV Leiden is a frequent and consistent phenotype in the general population, with a possibly strong genetic influence.
A Novel Design of Low-Profile Dual-Band Circularly Polarized Antenna With Meta-Surface

A low-profile dual-band circularly polarized (CP) antenna applied for WiMAX (2.5 and 3.5 GHz) is proposed in this letter. With a well-designed meta-surface placed atop a slot antenna, two circularly polarized bands can be excited. The annular folded slot antenna resonates at 2.5 GHz while the meta-surface is designed to excite another CP band around 3.5 GHz, and the meta-surface can also effectively enhance the front radiation. Two CP operation bands are 2.48-2.56 GHz and 3.48-3.63 GHz, with the low frequency ratio (FR) of 1.4 (2.5 GHz/3.5 GHz). The antenna is compact with a low profile of 3 mm, which can be easily integrated in the wireless communication system.
HBV and the immune response

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection acquired in adult life is generally self‐limited while chronic persistence of the virus is the prevalent outcome when infection is acquired perinatally. Both control of infection and liver cell injury are strictly dependent upon protective immune responses, because hepatocyte damage is the price that the host must pay to get rid of intracellular virus. Resolution of acute hepatitis B is associated with functionally efficient, multispecific antiviral T‐cell responses which are preceded by a poor induction of intracellular innate responses at the early stages of infection. Persistent control of infection is provided by long‐lasting protective memory, which is probably sustained by continuous stimulation of the immune system by trace amounts of virus which are never totally eliminated, persisting in an occult episomic form in the nucleus of liver cells even after recovery from acute infection. Chronic virus persistence is instead characterized by a lack of protective T‐cell memory maturation and by an exhaustion of HBV‐specific T‐cell responses. Persistent exposure of T cells to high antigen loads is a key determinant of functional T‐cell impairment but also other mechanisms can contribute to T‐cell inhibition, including the tolerogenic effect of the liver environment. The degree of T‐cell impairment is variable and its severity is related to the level of virus replication and antigen load. The antiviral T‐cell function is more efficient in patients who can control infection either partially, such as inactive HBsAg carriers with low levels of virus replication, or completely, such as patients who achieve HBsAg loss either spontaneously or after antiviral therapy. Thus, understanding the features of the immune responses associated with control of infection is needed for the successful design of novel immune modulatory therapies based on the reconstitution of efficient antiviral responses in chronic HBV patients.
Consensus Agreed definitions and a shared vision for new standards in stroke recovery research : The Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable taskforce

The first Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable established a game changing set of new standards for stroke recovery research. Common language and definitions were required to develop an agreed framework spanning the four working groups: translation of basic science, biomarkers of stroke recovery, measurement in clinical trials and intervention development and reporting. This paper outlines the working definitions established by our group and an agreed vision for accelerating progress in stroke recovery research.
Nature and origin of the 5-eV band in SiO2:GeO2 glasses.

The sources of an absorption band at ∼5 eV observed in SiO 2 :GeO 2 and GeO 2 glasses have not been unambiguously identified. Results reported here are consistent with the source of two types of neutral oxygen vacancies. Samples of 95SiO 2 :5GeO 2 and 90SiO 2 :10GeO 2 were prepared by a chemical vapor deposition soot-remelting method. Optical-absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra were measured. An absorption band centered at 5 eV in as-prepared SiO 2 :GeO 2 glasses is composed of two components
Aurora‐A induces cell survival and chemoresistance by activation of Akt through a p53‐dependent manner in ovarian cancer cells

Aurora‐A is frequently altered in epithelial malignancies. Overexpressing Aurora‐A induces centrosome amplification and G2/M cell cycle progression. We have previously shown elevated level of Aurora‐A in ovarian cancer and activation of telomerase by Aurora‐A in human mammary and ovarian epithelia. Here we report that Aurora‐A protects ovarian cancer cells from apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic agent and activates Akt pathway in a p53‐dependent manner. Ectopic expression of Aurora‐A renders cells resistant to cisplatin (CDDP), etoposide and paclitaxel‐induced apoptosis and stimulates Akt1 and Akt2 activity in wild‐type p53 but not p53‐null ovarian cancer cells. Aurora‐A inhibits cytochrome C release and Bax conformational change induced by CDDP. Knockdown of Aurora‐A by RNAi sensitizes cells to CDDP‐induced apoptosis and decreases phospho‐Akt level in wild‐type p53 cells. Reintroduction of p53 decreases Akt1 and Akt2 activation and restores CDDP sensitivity in p53‐null but not p53‐null‐Aurora‐A cells. Inhibition of Akt by small molecule inhibitor, API‐2, overcomes the effects of Aurora‐A‐on cell survival and Bax mitochondrial translocation. Taken collectively, these data indicate that Aurora‐A activates Akt and induces chemoresistance in a p53‐dependent manner and that inhibition of Akt may be an effective means of overcoming Aurora‐A‐associated chemoresistance in ovarian cancer cells expressing wild‐type p53. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Role of Speech and

The chapter describes the possibilities of involving a speech-language therapist in the assessment of the pragmatic level of communication in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), where one of the most frequently impaired areas is communication pragmatics. These difficulties lead to a disruption of social interaction, which might be one of the obstacles to speech-language intervention in these children. The text is based on an originally developed testing material aimed at selected pragmatic-oriented communication situations relating to everyday activities and real life. Based on a comparison of domestic and international resources in this area, as well as mediated and own empirical experience, our assessment approach is based on the conclusion that pragmatics can be understood in different contexts and perspectives. The text presents the results of a partial survey comparing the performance of children with ASD and children with typical development. The assessment focused on the children’s election of the correct picture of a pair of pictures that represent usual communication and social situations. The results of the research suggest fewer incorrect responses in children with ASD and in different areas compared with children with typical development. However, the results of a qualitative analysis indicate a necessity to expand the assessment of communication pragmatics by adding an individually specific qualitative analysis of children’s performance.
Surface-Affinity Profiling To Identify Host-Pathogen Interactions

ABSTRACT Proteolytic treatment of intact bacterial cells has proven to be a convenient approach for the identification of surface-exposed proteins. This class of proteins directly interacts with the outside world, for instance, during adherence to human epithelial cells. Here, we aimed to identify host receptor proteins by introducing a preincubation step in which bacterial cells were first allowed to capture human proteins from epithelial cell lysates. Using Streptococcus gallolyticus as a model bacterium, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of proteolytically released peptides yielded the identification of a selective number of human epithelial proteins that were retained by the bacterial surface. Of these potential receptors for bacterial interference, (cyto)keratin-8 (CK8) was verified as the most significant hit, and its surface localization was investigated by subcellular fractionation and confocal microscopy. Interestingly, bacterial enolase could be assigned as an interaction partner of CK8 by MS/MS analysis of cross-linked protein complexes and complementary immunoblotting experiments. As surface-exposed enolase has a proposed role in epithelial adherence of several Gram-positive pathogens, its interaction with CK8 seems to point toward a more general virulence mechanism. In conclusion, our study shows that surface-affinity profiling is a valuable tool to identify novel adhesin-receptor pairs, which advocates its application in other hybrid biological systems.
Depth-varying Density and Organization of Chondrocytes in Immature and Mature Bovine Articular Cartilage Assessed by 3D Imaging and Analysis

Articular cartilage is a heterogeneous tissue, with cell density and organization varying with depth from the surface. The objectives of the present study were to establish a method for localizing individual cells in three-dimensional (3D) images of cartilage and quantifying depth-associated variation in cellularity and cell organization at different stages of growth. Accuracy of nucleus localization was high, with 99% sensitivity relative to manual localization. Cellularity (million cells per cm3) decreased from 290, 310, and 150 near the articular surface in fetal, calf, and adult samples, respectively, to 120, 110, and 50 at a depth of 1.0 mm. The distance/angle to the nearest neighboring cell was 7.9 μm/31°, 7.1 μm/31°, and 9.1 μm/31° for cells at the articular surface of fetal, calf, and adult samples, respectively, and increased/decreased to 11.6 μm/31°, 12.0 μm/30°, and 19.2 μm/25° at a depth of 0.7 mm. The methodologies described here may be useful for analyzing the 3D cellular organization of cartilage during growth, maturation, aging, degeneration, and regeneration.
One-per-occasion or less: are moderate-drinking postmenopausal women really healthier than their nondrinking and heavier-drinking peers?

BACKGROUND While some reported benefits of moderate drinking are thought to be the direct results of physiological mechanisms associated with consumption, other effects may be attributable to mediating factors. Both explanations suggest that moderate drinkers may be healthier than nondrinking and heavier-drinking peers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether moderate-drinking postmenopausal women report healthier dietary and exercise patterns, and whether they demonstrate better physiological functioning compared with peers. This study also aimed to describe patterns of relationships between alcohol and measures of general health functioning in postmenopausal women. METHODS One-hundred and fifteen women aged 50 to 65 participated. Participants completed alcohol interviews, diet and exercise questionnaires, and bone density examination. Blood pressure, height, and weight were assessed, and blood was collected to conduct basic chemistry and complete blood count tests. RESULTS Postmenopausal moderate drinkers failed to demonstrate healthier dietary or exercise habits, and did not exhibit significantly better health-functioning compared with peers. They did evidence positive associations between drinking and healthy behavior, and between drinking and cardiovascular health. Relationships between alcohol and blood analytes differed between drinking groups, some of which suggested possible negative health consequences for higher-end drinkers in both drinking groups. CONCLUSIONS These data suggested that moderate-drinking postmenopausal women are not significantly healthier than their non- or heavier-drinking peers, but may drink as part of a larger effort to take care of their health. Despite this, even 1-drink-per-drinking-day moderate drinkers may have tendencies toward unhealthy conditions. Limitations include small sample size, inability to assess specific cardiac risk and socioeconomic status, small number of correlations, and clinical relevance of analyte values.