Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Mechanisms of the Growth Inhibitory Effects of Paclitaxel on Gefitinib-resistant Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Background/Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a great challenge for the treatment of cancer patients. It presents as a severe respiratory infection in aged individuals, including some lung cancer patients. COVID-19 may be linked to the progression of aggressive lung cancer. In addition, the side effects of chemotherapy, such as chemotherapy resistance and the acceleration of cellular senescence, can worsen COVID-19. Given this situation, we investigated the role of paclitaxel (a chemotherapy drug) in the cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cellular senescence of gefitinib-resistant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells (PC9-MET) to clarify the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: PC9-MET cells were treated with paclitaxel for 72 h and then evaluated by a cell viability assay, DAPI staining, Giemsa staining, apoptosis assay, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, SA-β-Gal staining, a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay and Western blotting. Results: Paclitaxel significantly reduced the viability of PC9-MET cells and induced morphological signs of apoptosis. The apoptotic effects of paclitaxel were observed by increased levels of cleaved caspase-3 (Asp 175), cleaved caspase-9 (Asp 330) and cleaved PARP (Asp 214). In addition, paclitaxel increased ROS production, leading to DNA damage. Inhibition of ROS production by N-acetylcysteine attenuates paclitaxel-induced DNA damage. Importantly, paclitaxel eliminated cellular senescence, as observed by SA-β-Gal staining. Cellular senescence elimination was associated with p53/p21 and p16/pRb signaling inactivation. Conclusion: Paclitaxel may be a promising anticancer drug and offer a new therapeutic strategy for managing gefitinib-resistant NSCLC during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Group consensus coordination control in networked nonholonomic multirobot systems

In this article, the coordination control problem of group tracking consensus is considered for networked nonholonomic mobile multirobot systems (NNMMRSs). This problem framework generalizes the findings of complete consensus in NNMMRSs and group consensus in networked Lagrangian systems (NLSs), enjoying capacious application backgrounds. By leveraging a kinematic controller embedded in the adaptive torque control protocols, a new convergence criterion of group consensus is established. In contrast to the formulation under strict algebraic assumptions, it is found that group tracking consensus for NNMMRSs can be realized under a simple geometrical condition. The system stability analysis is dictated by the property of network topology with acyclic partition. Finally, the theoretical achievements are verified by illustrative numerical examples. The results show an interesting phenomenon that, for NNMMRSs, the state responses exhibit negative correlation with the algebraic connectivity and coupling strength.
Altered interaction between RBD and ACE2 receptor contributes towards the increased transmissibility of SARS CoV-2 delta, kappa, beta, and gamma strains with RBD double mutations

The COVID-19 pandemics by SARS-CoV-2 causes catastrophic damage for global human health. The initial step of SARS-CoV-2 infection is the binding of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) in its spike protein to ACE2 receptor in host cell membrane. The evolving of SARS-CoV-2 constantly generates new mutations across its genome including RBD. Besides the well-known single mutation in RBD, the recent new mutation strains with RBD “double mutation” is causing new outbreaks globally, as represented by the delta strain containing RBD L452R/T478K. Although it is considered that the increased transmissibility of the double mutated strains could be attributed to the alteration of mutated RBD to ACE2 receptor, the molecular details remains to be unclear. Using the methods of molecular dynamics simulation, superimposed structural comparison, free binding energy estimation and antibody escaping, we investigated the relationship between ACE2 receptor and the RBD double mutant L452R/T478K (delta), L452R/E484Q (kappa) and E484K/N501Y (beta, gamma). The results demonstrated that each of the three RBD double mutants altered RBD structure, led to enhanced binding affinity of mutated RBD to ACE2 receptor, leading to increased transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 to the host cells.
Plasma synthesis and HPHT consolidation of BN nanoparticles, nanospheres, and nanotubes to produce nanocrystalline cubic boron nitride

NANOSPHERES, AND NANOTUBES TO PRODUCE NANOCRYSTALLINE CUBIC BORON NITRIDE by CHRISTOPHER STOUT A Dissertation submitted to the Graduate School – New Brunswick Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Program in Materials Science Engineering written under the direction of Professor Bernard H. Kear and Professor Stephen D. Tse And approved by
1H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to Understand the Biological Basis of ALS, Diagnose Patients Earlier, and Monitor Disease Progression

At present, limited biomarkers exist to reliably understand, diagnose, and monitor the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurological disease characterized by motor neuron death. Standard MRI technology can only be used to exclude a diagnosis of ALS, but 1H-MRS technology, which measures neurochemical composition, may provide the unique ability to reveal biomarkers that are specific to ALS and sensitive enough to diagnose patients at early stages in disease progression. In this review, we present a summary of current theories of how mitochondrial energetics and an altered glutamate/GABA neurotransmitter flux balance play a role in the pathogenesis of ALS. The theories are synthesized into a model that predicts how pathogenesis impacts glutamate and GABA concentrations. When compared with the results of all MRS studies published to date that measure the absolute concentrations of these neurochemicals in ALS patients, results were variable. However, when normalized for neuronal volume using the MRS biomarker N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), there is clear evidence for an elevation of neuronal glutamate in nine out of thirteen studies reviewed, an observation consistent with the predictions of the model of increased activity of glutamatergic neurons and excitotoxicity. We propose that this increase in neuronal glutamate concentration, in combination with decreased neuronal volume, is specific to the pathology of ALS. In addition, when normalized to glutamate levels, there is clear evidence for a decrease in neuronal GABA in three out of four possible studies reviewed, a finding consistent with a loss of inhibitory regulation contributing to excessive neuronal excitability. The combination of a decreased GABA/Glx ratio with an elevated Glx/NAA ratio may enhance the specificity for 1H-MRS detection of ALS and ability to monitor glutamatergic and GABAergic targeted therapeutics. Additional longitudinal studies calculating the exact value of these ratios are needed to test these hypotheses and understand how ratios may change over the course of disease progression. Proposed modifications to the experimental design of the reviewed 1H MRS studies may also increase the sensitivity of the technology to changes in these neurochemicals, particularly in early stages of disease progression.
STRATEGIES THAT FAVOR MYCORRHIZATION IN THE REFORESTATION OF A DISTURBED AREA IN THE SEMIARID REGION

Hydrogel and mulch added to the soil may favor arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), contributing to the reforestation of disturbed lands in semiarid regions. This study aimed to evaluate AMF colonization in the roots of Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong in response to the application of hydrogel and mulch (bagana) from carnauba palm (Copernicia cerifera L.) to the soil and their effects in the soil and plants. A field experiment was set up in April 2014 in Ibaretama (Ceará, Brazil) in a randomized block design in a 2×4 factorial scheme – with mulch (+M) e without mulch (−M) × hydrogel doses (0, 4, 5, and 6 g L) –, with five replicates. Samples of roots, soil, and leaves were collected 18 months after the beginning of the experiment to determine AMF colonization in the roots and nutrient contents in the soil and plant material. The hydrogel dose of 6 g L and mulch application equivalent to 10 Mg ha increased AMF colonization by 21 e 44%, respectively. Soil contents of Ca, K, and Zn decreased with hydrogel doses without mulch but increased in the presence of the carnauba palm residue applied as mulch. A higher P content in the plant material was not associated with AMF colonization. The leaf content of Ca responded only to the treatment with mulch, reaching the highest value (3.8 g kg) in the absence of mulch.
Photocatalytic Performance and Degradation Mechanism of Aspirin by TiO2 through Response Surface Methodology

In the present work, the photocatalytic performance of P25TiO2 was investigated by means of the degradation of aspirin, while the reaction system was systematically optimized by central composite design (CCD) based on the response surface methodology (RSM). In addition, three variables of initial pH value, initial aspirin concentration and P25 concentration were selected to assess the dependence of degradation efficiencies of aspirin. Meanwhile, a predicted model of degradation efficiency was estimated and checked using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that the PC removal of aspirin by P25 was significantly influenced by all these variables in descending order as follows: P25 concentration > initial aspirin concentration > initial pH value. Moreover, the parameters were optimized by the CCD method. Under the conditions of an initial pH value of 5, initial aspirin concentration of 10 mg/L and P25 concentration of 50 mg/L, the degradation efficiency of aspirin was 98.9%with 60 min of Xenon lamp irradiation. Besides, based on the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry measurements, two main PC degradation pathways of aspirin by TiO2 were deduced and the tentative degradation mechanism was also proposed.
THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF PROCEDURAL MEMORY ASSESSMENTS USED IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION RESEARCH

Abstract Evidence for the role of procedural memory in second language (L2) acquisition has emerged in our field. However, little is known about the reliability and validity of the procedural memory measures used in this research. The present study (N = 119) examined the reliability and the convergent and discriminant validity of three assessments that have previously been used to examine procedural memory learning ability in L2 acquisition, the dual-task Weather Prediction Task (DT-WPT), the Alternating Serial Reaction Time Task (ASRT), and the Tower of London (TOL). Measures of declarative memory learning ability were also collected. For reliability, the DT-WPT and TOL tasks met acceptable standards. For validity, an exploratory factor analysis did not provide evidence for convergent validity, but the ASRT and the TOL showed reasonable discriminant validity with declarative memory measures. We argue that the ASRT may provide the purest engagement of procedural memory learning ability, although more reliable dependent measures for this task should be considered. The Serial Reaction Time task also appears promising, although we recommend further consideration of this task as the present analyses were post hoc and based on a smaller sample. We discuss these results regarding the assessment of procedural memory learning ability as well as implications for implicit language aptitude.
A highly efficient sulfonic acid resin for liquid-phase carbonylation of dimethoxymethane

Methyl methoxyacetate (MMAc), which is an important fine chemical, can be used as an intermediate to produce ethylene glycol from syngas. For the reported vapor-phase carbonylation of dimethoxymethane (DMM), the reaction was conducted under a higher (>100) CO/DMM molar ratio with a lower CO conversion (<0.5%). This paper systematically studied the effects of different zeolites and sulfonic acid resin catalysts, reaction temperature, CO pressure, CO/DMM ratio, reaction time, drying temperature, as well as H2O and methanol contents on DMM conversion and products selectivities, using a slurry phase reactor. A highly efficient sulfonic acid resin was selected without the assistance of a solvent and the DMM conversion reached nearly 100%, with 64.39% MMAc selectivity at 110 °C and 5.0 MPa for 6 h, with a CO/DMM ratio of only 1.67/1. The effects of H2O (32 ppm–10 wt%) and methanol (0.5–10 wt%) content on the carbonylation efficiency were also systematically studied. After removing H2O from the DMM and resin catalyst, the MMAc selectivity got as high as 74.14% under the same reaction conditions. According to these reaction results and a precise GC-MS analysis, DMM2, MG, DMG, MA, and MMAc2 were evidently produced, along with MMAc, DME, MF, and methanol. We propose reaction routes from these results, and anticipate that this direct carbonylation of DMM to produce an MMAc process is promising for industrial manufacturing.
RFS for detecting Image Manipulation

: The data driven image manipulation detection in the presence of attacker with limited knowledge about the detector. At first, we imagine that the attacker knows the architecture, training data and class of features that detector depend on. The analyst designs the detector that depends on subset of features chosen at random in the class in order to get an advantage in his race of arms with the attacker. Given its ignorance about the exact feature set, the attacker attacks a version of detector is based on the entire feature set. By this way the effectiveness of the attacker decreases, because there is no guarantee for the attacker that his attack is successful as the detector is working on full feature space. Thus, random feature selection increases the security of the detector for negligible loss of performance in the absence of attacks. We focus on two specific kinds of image manipulations, namely Adaptive histogram equalization and Median filtering.
RESEARCH OF APPROACHES TO THE RECOGNITION OF SEMANTIC IMAGES OF SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS BASED ON NEURAL NETWORKS

The paper is devoted to the problems of orientation and navigation in the world of verbal presentation of scientific knowledge. The solution of these problems is currently hampered by the lack of intelligent information retrieval systems that allow comparing descriptions of various scientific works at the level of coincidence of semantic situations, rather than keywords. The article discusses methods for the formation and recognition of semantic images of scientific publications belonging to specific subject areas. The method for constructing a semantic image of a scientific text developed by Iuliia Bruttan allows to form an image of the text of a scientific publication, which can be used as input data for a neural network. Training of this neural network will automate the processes of pattern recognition and classification of scientific publications according to specified criteria. The approaches to the recognition of semantic images of scientific publications based on neural networks considered in the paper can be used to organize the semantic search for scientific publications, as well as in the design of intelligent information retrieval systems.
The effects of cancer therapies on physical fitness before oesophagogastric cancer surgery: a prospective, blinded, multi-centre, observational, cohort study

Background: Neoadjuvant cancer treatment is associated with improved survival following major oesophagogastric cancer surgery. The impact of neoadjuvant chemo/chemoradiotherapy on physical fitness and operative outcomes is however unclear. This study aims to investigate the impact of neoadjuvant chemo/chemoradiotherapy on fitness and post-operative mortality. Methods: Patients with oesophagogastric cancer scheduled for chemo/chemoradiotherapy and surgery were recruited to a prospective, blinded, multi-centre, observational cohort study. Primary outcomes were changes in fitness with chemo/chemoradiotherapy, measured using cardiopulmonary exercise testing and its association with mortality one-year after surgery. Patients were followed up for re-admission at 30-days, in-hospital morbidity and quality of life (exploratory outcomes). Results: In total, 384 patients were screened, 217 met the inclusion criteria, 160 consented and 159 were included (72% male, mean age 65 years). A total of 132 patients (83%) underwent chemo/chemoradiotherapy, 109 (71%) underwent chemo/chemoradiotherapy and two exercise tests, 100 (63%) completed surgery and follow-up. A significant decline in oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold and oxygen uptake peak was observed following chemo/chemoradiotherapy: -1.25ml. kg -1.min -1 (-1.80 to -0.69) and -3.02ml. kg -1.min -1 (-3.85 to -2.20); p<0.0001). Baseline chemo/chemoradiotherapy anaerobic threshold and peak were associated with one-year mortality (HR=0.72, 95%CI 0.59 to 0.88; p=0.001 and HR=0.85, 0.76 to 0.95; p=0.005). The change in physical fitness was not associated with one-year mortality. Conclusions: Chemo/chemoradiotherapy prior to oesophagogastric cancer surgery reduced physical fitness. Lower baseline fitness was associated with reduced overall survival at one-year. Careful consideration of fitness prior to chemo/chemoradiotherapy and surgery is urgently needed.
Advancing practical applications of resilience in Aotearoa-New Zealand

Resilience is increasingly used to inform natural hazard risk management. From global to national to local levels of governance and decision making, resilience concepts are becoming institutionalized and operationalized in both public and private domains. However, as these ideas have shifted from their origins in ecology and been adopted by other disciplines, policy makers, and practitioners, key insights from the initial ecological conceptualization have been left behind. The resulting gap between resilience as originally theorized and its current implementation gives rise to several interconnected challenges: (i) loss of nuance in the meaning of the concept due to rapid adoption, which leads to: (ii) an inability to adequately account for normative or qualitative aspects of social theory, and: (iii) the problem of measurement. Key factors associated with resilience are intangible (difficult to objectively measure) and public bureaucracies are reliant upon objective measurement, i.e., targets and indicators, to operationalize policies. Multi-capital frameworks have been advanced as a potential solution to the problem of measurement in the literature. In this paper, we critically analyze how the concepts of social and human capital can be used to address these challenges and account for intangible sources of value. Drawing on a case study of complex multi-hazards in rural Aotearoa-New Zealand (NZ), as well as the NZ government’s Living Standards Framework (a multi-capital framework) we highlight the importance of addressing these challenges to adequately realize the benefits of resilience and identify the successes and limitations of this approach. Results provide insight into the interlinked nature of the challenges and the importance of reconciling resilience theory and praxis. Findings also demonstrate the potential ways in which a combination of resilience thinking and multi-capital frameworks can add value to decision-making structures within public bureaucracies, the private sector, and academia.
The cost effectiveness of aging in place: A literature review

ageing in place; cost effectiveness; older adults; quality of life The objective of this paper is to discover the evidence supporting or refuting the cost-effectiveness of Assisted Living Technology (ALT) in aging in place of older adults through a comprehensive presentation of cost studies and economic analyses. The search was conducted on two main databases for health economic valuation: The NHS economic valuation database (NHS EED) and the health economic valuation database (HEED). The study was evaluated using the protocol required by Campbell and Cochrane Economic Methods. As an aging society evolves, the need for long-term care services increases. The prevalence of chronic diseases increases in the older population; seniors may have to abandon their active social life and need long-term care in a nursing home. Aging is a global phenomenon. Asia is aging rapidly. By 2030, the number of Asians aged 65 and over will increase from the current 300 million to 565 million. By 2050, this number will increase to 900 million, about one-sixth of the number of people in Asia. Aging trends are regional, but demographic changes are diverse. Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and China, whose populations are steadily aging, are in extreme situations. Research has shown that ALT can reduce costs in some cases, but with little precise data and low quality. Later developments, e.g., capacity methods, should be used for further research. Qualitative research is needed to assess the costeffectiveness of ALT before making reliable conclusions about the application.
Collective Dynamics of Molecular Motors

We study the collective dynamics of motor proteins like myosin and kinesin. In the first part we study the collective behaviour of stiffly coupled motors. We use a simple two-state model for single motors and discuss the possible funcitional forms of the resulting force-velocity relations. Then we introduce elastically coupled motors. We show that their efficiency is lowered through the flexiblity of the coupling elements. Elastically coupled motors are further shown to be able to generate waves. In the second part we study the binding of dimeric kinesin motors to microtubules in the absence of ATP. We discuss the equilibrium state as well as relaxation kinetics.
AN ACCURATE REAL-TIME UAV MAPPING SOLUTION FOR THE GENERATION OF ORTHOMOSAICS AND SURFACE MODELS

UAVs have become an indispensable tool for a variety of mapping applications. Not only in the area of surveying, infrastructure planning and environmental monitoring tasks but also in time-critical applications, such as emergency and disaster response. Although UAVs enable rapid data acquisition per se, data processing usually relies on offline workflows. This contribution presents an accurate real-time data processing solution for UAV mapping applications as well as an extensive experimental and comparative study to the commercial offline solution Pix4D on the absolute accuracy of orthomosaics and digital surface models. We show that our procedure achieves an absolute horizontal and vertical accuracy of about 1 m without the use of ground control. The code will be made publicly available. * Corresponding authors