Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low NOX1 Expression in the Cytoplasm of GISTs Correlates with Poor Prognosis

Background: To investigate the expression effect and biological significance of NADPH oxidase l (NOX1) on the growth of human Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) at a protein level and the correlation between its expression level and patient prognosis.Methods: We enrolled a total of 146 patients confirmed by histopathology to be GIST tumors. Immunohistochemistry(IHC) analysis with GIST tissue microarray was used to assess NOXl level. The relativity study between NOXl expression level and GIST patient prognosis was evaluated. NOX1 mRNA expression was subsequently demonstrated using online database Oncomine.Results: Significance association with mitotic index (χ2 = 9.476, p = 0.009) and grade (χ2 = 11.392, p = 0.010) was observed for low NOX1 cytoplasm staining of GIST cells and poor performance status in 78 of 146 (53.42%) GIST tissues, while for GIST patients with high expression of NOX1, there was no significant survival difference in disease progression. By univariate analysis, prognosis of GIST patients for overall survival (OS) rates were significantly positively correlated with NOX1 expression level (χ2 = 2.429, p = 0.014), tumor diameter (χ2 = 2.048, p = 0.004), mitotic index (χ2 = 2.665, p < 0.001), and grade (χ2 = 3.162, p = 0.001). Moreover, multivariate analyses demonstrated that low cytoplasm expression of NOX1 (χ2 = 2.144, p = 0.046) and mitotic index (χ2 = 2.513, p = 0.001) were striking related with OS rates, the difference was statistically significant. Kaplan-Meier survival curves further exhibited that low NOX1 cytoplasm expression and advanced mitotic index had a more unfavorable prognosis in GIST patients.Conclusion: These conclusions indicate that the degree of malignancy of GIST patients is closely related to NOX1 cytoplasm expression and mitotic index, both of which may be taken as an important role in the occurrence and development of GIST. It may act as an unfavorable predictive marker, indicating a new approach of gene therapy for GIST.
Draft Genome Sequence of Comamonas jiangduensis Strain YW1T

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Comamonas jiangduensis strain YW1T (DSM 100319T, CSUR Q1714 T, CCTCC AB 2012033T , KACC 16697T). Comamonas jiangduensis is a new Comamonas species that was isolated from agricultural soil. The genome sequence from strain YW1T has been assembled into 322 contigs for a total size of 2,758,586 bp, with a G+C content of 59.1%. ABSTRACT Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Comamonas jiangduensis strain YW1T (= DSM 100319T = CSUR Q1714T = CCTCC AB 2012033T = KACC 16697T). Comamonas jiangduensis is a new Comamonas species that was isolated from agricultural soil. The genome sequence from strain YW1T has been assembled into 322 contigs for a total size of 2,758,586 bp with a G+C content of 59.1%.
Modeling past event feedback through biomarker dynamics in the multistate event analysis for cardiovascular disease data

In cardiovascular studies, we often observe ordered multiple events along disease progression, which are essentially a series of recurrent events and terminal events with competing risk structure. One of the main interest is to explore the event speciﬁc association with the dynamics of longitudinal biomarkers. New statistical challenge arises when the biomarkers carry information from the past event history, providing feedbacks for the occurrences of future events, and particularly when these biomarkers are only intermittently observed with measurement errors. In this paper, we propose a novel modelling framework where the recurrent events and terminal events are modelled as multi-state process and the longitudinal covariates that account for event feedbacks are described by random eﬀects models. Considering the nature of long-term observation in cardiac studies, ﬂexible models with semiparametric coeﬃcients are adopted. To improve computation eﬃciency, we develop an one-step estimator of the regression coeﬃcients and derive their asymptotic variances for the computation of the conﬁdence intervals, based on the proposed asymptotically unbiased estimating equation. Simulation studies show that the naive estimators which either ignore the past event feedbacks or the measurement errors are biased. Our method achieves better coverage probability, compared to the naive methods. The model is motivated and applied to a dataset from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. by 50. event times and longitudinal observation time-varying/independent structure in the multi-state models, preliminary analysis which the of all covariates were treated as time-dependent and were estimated non-parametrically. The results suggested that the and hypertension time. In addition, the of SBP on time to recurrent MI
Kolaviron (Kolaflavanone), apigenin, fisetin as potential Coronavirus inhibitors: In silico investigation

The outbreak of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is increasing with an alarming rate of associated frightening mortality without no known approved therapy. The emergence of new infectious diseases and increase in frequency of drug resistant viruses demand effective and novel therapeutic agents. This study investigated the putative inhibitory potentials of apigenin, fisetin, kolaflavanone, and remdesivir towards SARS-COV2 major protease (6LU7) using in silico methods. Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicological profiles of the compounds were also examined using the pkCSM server. All the compounds showed good affinity to the binding pocket of 6LU7. It was observed that kolaflavanone exhibited the highest binding affinity when compared to apigenin, fisetin, and remdesivir. The amino acids ASN238, TYR237, LEU286, and LEU287 were showed as the key residues for kolaflavanone binding to human SARS-COV2 major protease. The Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics results suggested that all the tested compounds have significant drug likeness properties and they could be absorbed through the human intestine. Additionally, all the tested compounds except remdesivir are not hepatoxic and also displayed non or relatively low toxic effects in human. Summarily, the results of this study indicated that all the tested compounds are potential putative inhibitors of SARS-COV2 major protease with no or low toxicity effects. However, further experimental and clinical studies are needed to further explore their activities and validate their efficacies against COVID-19.
COVID Could Spell the End of Animal Testing as Drug Makers Turn to Human Organs on Microchips Excerpt: Dr Thomas Hartung is the director of the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing

Attention veterinarians, animal care technicians, researchers, and those who care for the well-being of animals used in science: The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) is now accepting proposals for the 2021 Reduction and Refinement Award. This award focuses on research projects that help reduce animal use by, for example, identifying areas of research and testing where animal models lack reproducibility and translational value or that enhance the housing, handling, and/or experimental procedures for laboratory animals who are still deemed necessary. Hence, the grant is intended for researchers who conduct systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or citation analyses of animal studies or similar work with the goal to reduce animal use in science. This award is also for those who work hands-on with animals, such as animal welfare scientists, veterinarians, and animal care technicians, whose projects can improve the animals’ living situation in the laboratory. The award includes prize money of $6,000. There are no facilities and administrative costs allowed on this award. Details and application instructions: https://caat.jhsph. edu/programs/awards/ AWE/index.html Thomas Hartung and Marcel Leist Receive Doerenkamp-Zbinden Prize 2020
Electrical characterization of InGaAs ultra-shallow junctions

In this study, we investigate the limitations to sheet resistance and Hall effect characterization of ultra-shallow junctions (USJs) in In0.53Ga0. 47As. We compare conventional van der Pauw and Hall effect measurements with micro four-point probe (M4PP) and micro Hall effect methods. Due to the high carrier mobility of InGaAs, we extend the micro-Hall effect position error suppression method to also take geometrical magnetoresistance into account. We find that the conventional techniques fail to measure accurately on n++∕p+ USJ due to a significant leakage current, whereas the M4PP and micro Hall effect methods are able to give accurate results. Finally, we observe a significant reduction in the carrier mobility for InGaAs USJ.
Nanocarriers in the Enhancement of Therapeutic Efficacy of Natural Drugs

Abstract Since time immemorial, plant derived natural products have been used for the treatment of various human diseases before the intervention of modern medicine. The basis of modern medicine is still being inspired from traditional medicine and therapies. However, despite their tremendous therapeutic potential, these natural drugs often have poor bioavailability, metabolic instability, and aqueous insolubility. These factors greatly impede a natural drug’s commercialization potential as a mainstream medicine. Therefore, the development of nanocarrier drug delivery systems is indispensable in overcoming the various constraints of the bottlenecks which occur with natural drugs. Of particular interest in this review are four plant materials endogenous to China with the common names of barrenwort or horny goat weed (Epimedium), Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa, RG), ginseng (Panax ginseng), and Dong Quai or female ginseng (Angelica sinensis, AS), each having been scientifically investigated for a wide range of therapeutic uses as has been originally discovered from the long history of traditional usage and anecdotal information by local population groups in Asia. The integration of natural drugs from the East and nanocarrier drug delivery systems developed from the West is paving the way towards further accurate and efficient medicine therapy. We further discuss the potential benefits of these plants and the enhancement of their therapeutic efficacy by nanotechnology intervention.
Projecting long‐term impacts of a mortality event on vertebrates: incorporating stochasticity in population assessment

Wildlife managers must be able to assess the long-term, population-wide impacts of mortality events on long lived vertebrates, taking into account the stochastic nature of population fluctuations. Here, we present a case study of the potential impacts onWestern gulls (Larus occidentalis) of a single, non-target mortality event, potentially resulting from exposure to rodenticide directed at eradicating house mice (Mus musculus) on the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Firstly, we conducted a population viability analysis based on over 25 yr of Farallon Western gull demographic data to model future population trends under varying environmental conditions. Future population trends for Farallon Western gulls, independent of any potential mouse eradication-related mortality, depend on the frequency of years with near-failure in reproductive success, as was observed in 2009, 2010, and 2011. We modeled population trends under three environmental scenarios defined by the probability of near-failure in future breeding: optimistic (probability of nearfailure = 0.0), realistic (probability = 0.115), or pessimistic (probability = 0.25). Secondly, we determined the maximum level of additional mortality, C, that would result in a population outcome distribution that cannot be effectively distinguished from a no additional mortality scenario after 20 yr (defined as 95% overlap in the two frequency distributions). We determined the threshold of detection to be an additional mortality of 3.3% beyond normally observed levels under the realistic scenario, 2.8% under the optimistic scenario, and 4.2% under the pessimistic scenario. Results demonstrate that the greater the background stochasticity, the greater C must be to be able to discriminate a long-term effect of the mortality event against the backdrop of environmental variability. We demonstrate that incorporation of stochasticity is critical for evaluating one-time mortality events given the high degree of variability characterizing many ecosystems; deterministic projections alone may provide poor guidance. While the need to account for stochasticity in Population Viability Analysis models is well established, this study is innovative in addressing how to evaluate a future or retrospective one-time mortality event in the context of stochasticity. Our approach can help resource managers’ plan for both bestcase andworst-case scenarios when evaluating impacts of mortality events.
Incidence of human visceral leishmaniasis: the importance of municipal socio-economic indicators in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

Objective: To analyze the main municipal socioeconomic factors associated with the incidence of HVL in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. Methods: It is a analytical cross-sectional study. Data on the incidence of HVL and socioeconomic factors were collected from 954 cases notified by the SINAN (National System of Notifiable Diseases) and SIM (Mortality Information System). The cases considered were reported by municipalities in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, from 2005 to 2014. Statistical differences were analyzed by Pearson's correlation test, followed by multiple regression analysis. Significant differences were considered when p <0.05. Results: The FIRJAN Municipal Development Index was the variable that showed the most remarkable statistical robustness and strong negative association with the incidence of HVL. The municipal spending on health and residing in the metropolitan region also influenced its mean incidence rates. Conclusion: The indicators that had an influence on the performance of the incidence of LVH were the FIRJAN Municipal Development Index, health expenditure and residing in the metropolitan region.
Development of an Amperometric Immunosensor for Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) Involving a Non-diffusional Osmium Redox Polymer Co-immobilised With Anti-HRP Antibody

An amperometric immunosensor containing a non-diffusional redox polymer to transfer electrons between the electrode surface and the antigen (horseradish peroxidase; HRP) bound to its specific antibody on the sensing surface was developed. The redox polymer [Os(bpy) 2 (PVP) 10 Cl]Cl (bpy = bipyridyl, PVP = poly-4-vinylpyridine) was co-immobilised with the antibody on the electrode surface by crosslinking between the antibody with glutaraldehyde to form a combined sensing and electron transfer system. When the antigen (HRP) was bound to the antibody on the surface of the sensing film, an ‘electrical wiring’ occurred between the electrode and the redox centres in the bound HRP. The immunosensor showed greatly enhanced performance in terms of the magnitude of the response and the detection limit than that for a similar sensor employing a diffusional mediator.
VALVE DISEASE Balloon valvuloplasty

Rheumatic mitral stenosis continues to be endemic in developing countries where mitral stenosis is the most frequent valve disease. Although the prevalence of rheumatic fever has greatly decreased in western countries, it continues to represent an important clinical entity because of immigration from developing countries. The first to perform percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) as an alternative to surgery was Inoue in 1982. The good results obtained with the technique have led to its increasing worldwide use and its positioning as the second most important technique in the field of interventional cardiology.
Photoacoustic thermal characterization of kaolinite clays

The usefulness of photoacoustic techniques in characterizing the thermal properties of kaolinite clays, which are a very abundant mineral in some regions of Brazil, was investigated. Different behavioural patterns are observed below and above a heating temperature of 950 °C and can be attributed to the change from metakaolinite to an amorphous three-dimensional mineral which crystallises to mullite and crystobalite above 1200 °C. The implications of the results in the manufacture of clay bricks are briefly considered. This is important in tropical regions where a knowledge of the thermal properties of materials used in the building construction industry is highly desirable.
Influence of molecular structure on the degradation mechanism of degradable polymers: In vitro degradation of poly(trimethylene carbonate), poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-caprolactone), and poly(adipic anhydride)

Relationships between molecular structure and the degradation mechanism of degradable polymers are of special interest for temporary medical applications. The in vitro degradation study of three aliphatic polymers-poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-caprolactone) (PTMC-PCL), and poly(adipic anhydride) (PAA)-revealed that these polymers exhibit degradation times from several years (PTMC) to 1 day (PAA). PTMC degraded unexpectedly slow, accompanied by very small changes in weight loss, molecular weight (SEC), and in morphology (DSC, SEM). The degradation was independent of initial molecular weight, ionic strength of the water solution, temperature, and shaking motions. The copolymer PTMC-PCL showed a higher degradation rate compared to PTMC, with preferential degradation of amorphous parts leading to an increase in % crystallinity. The surprisingly rapid degradation of PAA showed characteristics typical for a surface-like eroding system in contrast to PTMC and PTMC-PCL. The degradation products corresponded to the repeating unit of the polymers. The hydrolysis rate increases in the order carbonate, ester, anhydride, and by combining different molecular structures we achieve specific degradation behavior. A change in hydrolysis rate of the labile bond is predicted by altering the electronegativity of groups near the carbonyl- oxygen region. © 1995.John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ethnic Heterogeneity and Public Goods Provision

Atıf/Citation: Ozdemir, U. , & Ecevit, Y.A. (2020). Ethnic heterogeneity and public goods provision. İstanbul İktisat Dergisi Istanbul Journal of Economics, 70(2), 247-266. https://doi.org/10.26650/ISTJECON2020-833105 ABSTRACT The level of public goods provided in a society is important not only because it contributes to social inclusion and strengthens a shared sense of citizenship, but also because it is a fundamental pre-condition for long term growth and development. Studying the determinants of public goods provision levels, hence, becomes an important exercise. The negative association between ethnic heterogeneity and public goods provision is one such robust empirical finding in political science and economics. Despite the abundance of scholarly work on the topic, the causal mechanisms offered in the literature do not pay attention to the political process involved. The rational choice approaches simply model the relationship as a voluntary contribution game. This paper addresses this gap by offering a theoretical mechanism based on a legislative bargaining framework. We also provide a discussion on a potential extension of the framework where ethnic groups are endogenous.
Apparent Use Efficiency of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Litter Applied to Bermudagrass

More than 80% of broiler (chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus) litter produced annually is applied as a plant nutrient source, particularly for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), to pastures. However, N losses during the process of litter N mineralization limit availability of N to crops. This study determined broiler litter N and P availability and apparent use efficiency (ANUE, APUE) to bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon] during the first year after litter application. Treatments consisted of three litter rates (3.3, 6.6, and 13.2 Mg ha−1), a commercial N fertilizer rate that provided 358 kg N ha−1 as ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and an untreated control. Results showed bermudagrass dry-matter (DM) yield increased significantly with increase in litter rate. Commercial N fertilizer produced significantly greater DM yield than 3.3 and 6.6 Mg ha−1 of litter but produced less DM yield than 13.2 Mg ha−1 of litter. The overall average of ANUE from litter was 39% compared to the 59% from fertilizer. The mean litter N availabilities to bermudagrass during the first year after litter application were 48.5, 112.5, and 222 kg ha−1, corresponding to the 3.3, 6.6, and 13.2 Mg ha−1 litter rates, respectively. The overall mean of litter N mineralization, which was surface broadcast to bermudagrass plots during the first year, was 59.5% of the total litter N applied. The APUE, averaged across the rate and locations, was 13.6%, which was quite smaller than the ANUE of 39%. This finding of small APUE also validates the potential for P accumulation in soil after long-term animal manure application.
Long-term Effects of Mixed Management on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community of Root and Soil in Juglans mandshurica Plantation

Background: The establishment of mixed plantations is an effective way to improve soil fertility and increase forest productivity. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi are a kind of obligated symbiotic fungi, which can promote plants absorption of mineral nutrients and regulate intraspecific and interspecific competition. However, the effects of mixture on the community structure and abundance of AM fungi are still unclear. The Illumina MiSeq sequencing technique was used to determine the AM fungal community in the roots and soils of pure and mixed plantations (Juglans mandshurica × Larix gmelinii). The objective is to compare the response from root and rhizosphere soil AM fungal communities of Juglans mandshurica to long-term mixed plantation management. Results: Glomus and Paraglomus were the dominant genus in root samples, which accounted for more than 80% of the sequences. Compared with the pure plantation, the relative abundance of Glomus was higher in mixed plantation. Glomus, Diversispora and Paraglomus accounted for more than 85% of the sequences in soil samples. The relative abundance of Diversispora and Unclassified_c__Glomeromycetes were higher and lower in pure plantation, respectively. Samples of the Root_P (roots in pure plantation) had the highest number of unique OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units), which were mainly composed of sequences belonging to unclassified_c__Glomeromycetes, Paraglomus, Glomus and Acaulospora. The amount of unique OTU detected in soil in pure and mixed plantation was relatively close. In the same types of sample (whether root or soil), the forest type did not have significant effect on AM fungal diversity, but the Sobs, Shannon, Chao1 and Ace indices of AM fungi in the roots were significantly higher than those in the soil. Conclusions: The mixed forest management had little effect on the AM fungal community in the root of Juglans mandshurica, but significantly changed the community composition of the soil AM fungi rather than diversity.
Electronic Structures and Geometries of C60 Anions via Density Functional Calculations

The geometries and electronic structures of C60 and its mono- through hexaanions, all of which have been prepared in macroscopic quantities, are calculated using modern density functional techniques. Clear assignments of the electronic states, symmetries, and Jahn−Teller distorted geometries of the ions, which are difficult to determine experimentally, are obtained. The results are compared with available experimental data, and the agreement is excellent. Our calculations predict the geometries and electronic structures which have not yet been measured. Comparison with previous theoretical work indicates that density functional theory is the method of choice for the fullerene anions.