Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound-triggered therapeutic microbubbles enhance the efficacy of cytotoxic drugs by increasing circulation and tumor drug accumulation and limiting bioavailability and toxicity in normal tissues

Most cancer patients receive chemotherapy at some stage of their treatment which makes improving the efficacy of cytotoxic drugs an ongoing and important goal. Despite large numbers of potent anti-cancer agents being developed, a major obstacle to clinical translation remains the inability to deliver therapeutic doses to a tumor without causing intolerable side effects. To address this problem, there has been intense interest in nanoformulations and targeted delivery to improve cancer outcomes. The aim of this work was to demonstrate how vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-targeted, ultrasound-triggered delivery with therapeutic microbubbles (thMBs) could improve the therapeutic range of cytotoxic drugs. Methods: Using a microfluidic microbubble production platform, we generated thMBs comprising VEGFR2-targeted microbubbles with attached liposomal payloads for localised ultrasound-triggered delivery of irinotecan and SN38 in mouse models of colorectal cancer. Intravenous injection into tumor-bearing mice was used to examine targeting efficiency and tumor pharmacodynamics. High-frequency ultrasound and bioluminescent imaging were used to visualise microbubbles in real-time. Tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantitate intratumoral drug delivery and tissue biodistribution. Finally, 89Zr PET radiotracing was used to compare biodistribution and tumor accumulation of ultrasound-triggered SN38 thMBs with VEGFR2-targeted SN38 liposomes alone. Results: ThMBs specifically bound VEGFR2 in vitro and significantly improved tumor responses to low dose irinotecan and SN38 in human colorectal cancer xenografts. An ultrasound trigger was essential to achieve the selective effects of thMBs as without it, thMBs failed to extend intratumoral drug delivery or demonstrate enhanced tumor responses. Sensitive LC-MS/MS quantification of drugs and their metabolites demonstrated that thMBs extended drug exposure in tumors but limited exposure in healthy tissues, not exposed to ultrasound, by persistent encapsulation of drug prior to elimination. 89Zr PET radiotracing showed that the percentage injected dose in tumors achieved with thMBs was twice that of VEGFR2-targeted SN38 liposomes alone. Conclusions: thMBs provide a generic platform for the targeted, ultrasound-triggered delivery of cytotoxic drugs by enhancing tumor responses to low dose drug delivery via combined effects on circulation, tumor drug accumulation and exposure and altered metabolism in normal tissues.
Neuropathological Effect of Clade 2.3.2 H5N1 Influenza Virus Isolated from Wild Birds

An outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) was reported in wild birds in 2010. Three strains (A/black-headed gull/Tyva/8/2010, A/spoonbill/Tyva/1/2010, and A/great crested grebe/Tyva/22/2010) were isolated and studied by the virological and molecularbiological methods. Viruses shown to be highly pathogenic in chicken and mice. We found some disruptions in brain tissues that can be related to the observed neuropathological behavior signs in mice. Close antigenic relationship between the investigated strains and those isolated at the Uvs Nuur Lake in 2009 and in the Russian Far East in 2008 (both clade 2.3.2) were also shown. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin gene revealed a close relation to the strains isolated during outbreaks at the same location in 2009, as well as at the Qinghai Lake in 2009, and in Mongolia in 2010; as all of them falling into clade 2.3. 2. Early AIV detection in this area can play an important role in terms of outbreak prediction, early warning and isolating new AIV strains when they start spreading from Asia to Russia and Europe. Further investigation of the global distribution of clade 2.3. 2 and 2.2 HPAI H5N1 viruses will prove to be invaluable for better understanding of the evolutionary ecology of avian influenza viruses.
Anthelmintic Activity of Bryophyllum pinnatum

The Pet ether, chloroform, methanol and water extract of dried leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum Linn. (Crassulaceae) were investigated for activity against Indian earthworms Pheretima posthuma. Various concentrations (30 and 50 mg/ml) of each extract were tested, which involved determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the worms. Methanolic extract exhibited significant anthelmintic activity (p<0.01) when compared with piperazine citrate (15 mg/ml) which is included as standard reference and normal saline as control. The present study indicates the potential usefulness of Bryophyllum pinnatum whole plant as an anthelmintic.
Algorithmic Trading with Fitted Q Iteration and Heston Model

We present the use of the fitted Q iteration in algorithmic trading. We show that the fitted Q iteration helps alleviate the dimension problem that the basic Q-learning algorithm faces in application to trading. Furthermore, we introduce a procedure including model fitting and data simulation to enrich training data as the lack of data is often a problem in realistic application. We experiment our method on both simulated environment that permits arbitrage opportunity and real-world environment by using prices of 450 stocks. In the former environment, the method performs well, implying that our method works in theory. To perform well in the real-world environment, the agents trained might require more training (iteration) and more meaningful variables with predictive value.
Aplication of SWAT model to the hidrologic study of rivers in “ Costa do Estoril

Aplication of SWAT model to the hidrologic study of rivers in “Costa do Estoril” Abstract The accuracy of hydrological watershed models depends greatly on how well the existing information describes the processes occurring in the basins. The Estoril Coast is a location where 14 main streams rise on an area of about 214 km characterized by heterogeneous precipitation regimes in space and time. This paper characterizes the existing data and hydrology for 6 basins (10,7km to 42,2km) in Estoril Coast (84% of the total area), selected because they have daily flow information associated. The application of this information to SWAT model, a continuous-time watershed model, resulted in 4 models validated in periods of 4 to 7 years for the basins of rivers Vinhas, Caparide, Lage and Barcarena. The models showed good predictive ability to monthly flow averages. The correlation between daily data was high, often resulting in predictive ability above average, but not satisfactory. The observation records reveal inconsistencies that prove its uncertainty, thus enabling a calibration processes well based on significant observed information. The acquisition of flow data with higher reliability is an important step to improve predictions, particularly for daily flow. The rainfall data evaluated showed the need for a dense set of rain gauges, capable of representing the variability for this area. It follows that if all stations presented were active and submitted with valid data, study area would be satisfactorily modeled in terms of representation of precipitation variability. Introduction Objectives The present study aims to characterize basins in Estoril Coast, study the quality of the data available to model and conduct an evaluation of average flow. We are especially interested in evaluating the quality on watershed modelling using SWAT [Soil and Water Assessment Tool] applied to this area. The model is a daily based model that allows the prediction of water quantity and quality. The gold of this work is to build and validate models for six watersheds, located 10 km West of Portuguese metropolis-Lisboa. The final objective being the future integration of daily flow results obtained in Mohid 1 operational model of Tejo River. Framework Water, its availability, quality and sediments that are transported are subjects of greater importance, conditioning food production, public health and ecosystems. Floods, erosion and contamination of hydrologic resources are social and economic problems throughout the world. Within the framework of the international conventions, such as OSPARCOM 2 , HELCOM 3 and in
Impedance Circuit Model of Grid-Forming Inverter: Visualizing Control Algorithms as Circuit Elements

The impedance model is widely used for analyzing power converters. However, the output impedance is an external representation of a converter system, i.e., it compresses the entire dynamics into a single transfer function with internal details of the interaction between states hidden. As a result, there are no programmatic routines to link each control parameter to the system dynamic modes and to show the interactions among them, which makes the designers rely on their experience and heuristic to interpret the impedance model and its implications. To overcome these obstacles, this article proposes a new modeling tool named as impedance circuit model, visualizing the closed-loop power converter as an impedance circuit with discrete circuit elements rather than an all-in-one impedance transfer function. It can reveal the virtual impedance essence of all control parameters at different impedance locations and/or within different frequency bandwidths, and show their interactions and coupling effects. A grid-forming voltage source inverter is investigated as an example, with considering its voltage controller, current controller, control delay, voltage/current $dq$-frame cross-decoupling terms, output-voltage/current feedforward control, droop controllers, and three typical virtual impedances. The proposed modeling tool is validated by frequency-domain spectrum measurement and time-domain step response in simulations and experiments.
Lactation performance and nitrogen efficiency of dairy cows fed increasing amounts of microencapsulated methionine

Amino acid requirements of high-producing dairy cows may be greater than what dietary and microbial crude protein can provide. Therefore, study objectives were to determine lactation performance of dairy cows fed rumen-protected methionine (MET; Timet®, VETAGRO, Italy). Individually-fed, multiparous Holstein cows (n = 48, 127 ± 41 DIM and 671 ± 8 kg BW) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods. Dietary treatments consisted of a basal TMR deficient in metabolizable MET (-10 g/cow/day): 1) Control (CON) with no supplement; 2) low methionine (LM) diet with 11 g/cow/d MET; 3) medium methionine (MM) containing 19.25 g/cow/d MET; and 4) high methionine (HM) diet plus 27.5 g/cow/d MET. Milk yield and feed intake data from the last 7 d of each period were used for analyses; BW, BCS and milk components were determined on d 27 and 28 of each period. Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED procedures of SAS with square, period within square, and treatment as fixed effects and cow within square as a random effect. Linear, quadratic and cubic effects were also tested. No evidence of quadric or cubic effects was observed for any of the response variables. Dry matter intake was similar (P = 0.64) across treatments whereas milk production increased linearly from 38.0 ± 0.87 kg/d for CON to 39.7 ± 0.87 kg/d for HM. Milk fat concentration was similar across treatments (P = 0.83) averaging 3.69 ± 0.88% while milk protein concentration tended to increase linearly (P = 0.11) from 3.17 ± 0.04% for CON to 3.21 ± 0.04% with high MET supplementation. Overall, supplementation with MET resulted in greater (P ≤ 0.01) yield of milk protein and fat. Consequently, yield of energy-corrected milk (ECM) increased linearly; cows consuming the CON diet produced 38.3 ± 1.05 kg ECM/d whereas MET supplementation resulted in 41.4, 40.9 and 41.7 ± 1.05 kg ECM/d, for LM, MM and HM, respectively. Concentration of MUN averaged 13.5 ± 0.23 mg/dL across treatments (P = 0.58). These data suggest that the MET supplement increased the supply of metabolizable methionine resulting in increased yield of milk and milk components.
Radiostereometric Analysis for Migration and Wear of Orthopedic Implants

Assessment of migration and wear of orthopedic implants (e.g., evaluation of the migration following total knee replacement and wear measurement for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty) Assessment of spinal fusion, spinal motion and disorders Evaluation of hip joint pathomechanics (e.g., femoro-acetabular impingement) Evaluation of stability in lateral calcaneal lengthening osteotomies Evaluation of sternal instability
Effects of Supplementation of Puerariae Radix Ethanol Extract on the Antioxidative Defense System in Rats

This study was performed to investigate the effect of Puerariae radix-ethanol extracts rich in isoflavone on the antio-xidative system of rats. For this purpose, first, Puerariae radix was extracted with ethanol, and its total isoflavone and puerarin contents were analysed. Second, female Sprague Dawley rats were fed for 6 weeks with four diets which were based on AIN96G diet and supplemented with Puerariae radix-ethanol extracts to contain isoflavone. The isoflavone contents of four experimental diets were 0 mg, 500 mg, 1,000 mg, 2,000 mg per kg diet, respectively (control, P0.05%,P0.1%, P0.2%). Liver and erythrocyte activities of antioxidative enzyme such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase,glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) were measured. Also, plasma and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, liver glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations were measured. The total isoflavone content of Puerariae radix-ethanol extract was 3067.6 mg per 100 g extract and the content of puerarin was 2557.4 mg per 100 g extract. The erythrocyte activities of GSH-Px and catalase were higher in group P0.1% and P0.2%. But SOD activity of erythocyte did not show any difference by the Puerariae radix-ethanol extract supplementation in diet. The activity of SOD in liver increased significantly by the supplementation of extract, showing highest level in P0.1% group. The liver GSH concentration increased significantly in group of P0.05%, P0.1%, and P0.2% compared with control group (p
Assessing students’ performances in decision-making: coping strategies of biology teachers

ABSTRACT Decision-making in socioscientific issues (SSI) constitutes a real challenge for both biology teachers and learners. The assessment of students’ performances in SSIs constitutes a problem, especially for biology teachers. The study at hand was conducted in Germany and uses a qualitative approach following the research procedures of grounded theory to focus on teachers’ concepts and, especially, coping strategies in assessment concerning students’ decision-making in SSIs. Semi-structured interviews with six teachers, in combination with video-vignettes, were used for data generation. The results show predominantly defensive strategies when teachers are confronted with the assessment of students’ performances in SSIs. These results and implications for teacher education and teacher training are discussed.
Challenges in Forecasting Tax Revenue

Forecasting tax revenue during the current COVID-19 pandemic is a challenging task. Traditional approaches to forecasting, based on simple tax buoyancy or macro elasticities, will likely lead to an underestimation of the revenue decline. As the current shock is highly asymmetric across sectors and by size of business, more plausible results can be obtained if revenue forecasts are broken down by sector and type of tax, making use of available sector-specific information. Forecasts need to be continually updated as new information about the pandemic and its countermeasures becomes available.
Continuous Learning of Action and State Spaces (CLASS)

We present a novel approach to state space discretization for constructivist and reinforcement learning. Constructivist and reinforcement learning approaches are often characterized by simple grids. The manner in which the state space is discretized is the source of many problems for both constructivist and reinforcement learning approaches. The problems can roughly be divided into two categories: (1) wiring too much domain information into the solution, and (2) requiring massive storage to represent the state space (such as Q-tables. The problems relate to (1) the non generality arising from wiring domain information into the solution, and (2) non scalability of the approach to useful domains involving high dimensional state spaces. Another important limitation is that high dimensional state spaces require a massive number of learning trials. We present a new approach that builds upon ideas from place cells and cognitive maps.
Robotics, AI and Machine Vision

This paper presents a compilation of the accumulated development in the Bio-Robotics laboratory of the Engineering Faculty at UNAM. The techniques used to build robotic service systems are briefly mentioned. In particular, a line of research has been developed using most of them interdependently in what is called in a hybrid system ViRBot (VIrtual and Real roBOt sysTem);a system to operate mobile robots. ViRBot is an abstraction system integrated into four specialized layers; Input, planning, knowledge management, and execution to provide intelligence to a mechatronic agent to execute the service in domestic environments. This project has been developed incrementally with the participation of students and profesors. Currently, the ViRBot system inter-operates with ROS and together, they form an intelligent systems development platform for computer vision, digital signal processing, automatic planning, automatic control and human-robot interaction.
AMINAR AND MODULAR ORGANIZATION OF PREFRONTAL ROJECTIONS TO MULTIPLE THALAMIC NUCLEI

bstract—The prefrontal cortex projects to many thalamic uclei, in pathways associated with cognition, emotion, and ction. We investigated how multiple projection systems to he thalamus are organized in prefrontal cortex after injection f distinct retrograde tracers in the principal mediodorsal MD), the limbic anterior medial (AM), and the motor-related entral anterior/ventral lateral (VA/VL) thalamic nuclei in rheus monkeys. Neurons projecting to these nuclei were orgaized in interdigitated modules extending vertically within ayers VI and V. Projection neurons were also organized in ayers. The majority of projection neurons to MD or AM orignated in layer VI ( 80%), but a significant proportion ( 20%) riginated in layer V. In contrast, prefrontal neurons projectng to VA/VL were equally distributed in layers V and VI. eurons directed to VA/VL occupied mostly the upper part of ayer V, while neurons directed to MD or AM occupied mostly he deep part of layer V. The highest proportions of projection eurons in layer V to each nucleus were found in dorsal and edial prefrontal areas. The laminar organization of prefronal cortico-thalamic projections differs from sensory sysems, where projections originate predominantly or entirely rom layer VI. Previous studies indicate that layer V corticohalamic neurons innervate through some large terminals thaamic neurons that project widely to superficial cortical layers. he large population of prefrontal projection neurons in layer V ay drive thalamic neurons, triggering synchronization by reruiting several cortical areas through widespread thalamoortical projections to layer I. These pathways may underlie the ynthesis of cognition, emotion and action. © 2009 IBRO. Pubished by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A Two-Stage Method for Improving the Prediction Accuracy of Complex Traits by Incorporating Genotype by Environment Interactions inBrassica napus

Improving the prediction accuracy of a complex trait of interest is key to performing genomic selection (GS) for crop breeding. For the complex trait measured in multiple environments, this paper proposes a two-stage method to solve a linear model that jointly models the genetic effects and the genotype × environment interaction (G × E) effects. In the first stage, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalized method was utilized to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL). Then, the ordinary least squares (OLS) approach was used in the second stage to reestimate the QTL effects. As a case study, this approach was used to improve the prediction accuracies of flowering time (FT), oil content (OC), and seed yield per plant (SY) in Brassica napus (B. napus). The results showed that the G × E effects reduced the mean squared error (MSE) significantly. Numerous QTL were environment-specific and presented minor effects. On average, the two-stage method, named OLS post-LASSO, offers the highest prediction accuracies (correlations are 0.8789, 0.9045, and 0.5507 for FT, OC, and SY, respectively). It was followed by the marker × environment interaction (M × E) genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) model (correlations are 0.8347, 0.8205, and 0.4005 for FT, OC, and SY, respectively), the LASSO method (correlations are 0.7583, 0.7755, and 0.2718 for FT, OC, and SY, respectively), and the stratified GBLUP model (correlations are 0.6789, 0.6361, and 0.2860 for FT, OC, and SY, respectively). The two-stage method showed an obvious improvement in the prediction accuracy, and this study will provide methods and reference to improve GS of breeding.
Evaluation of carotenoids, polyphenols content and antioxidant activity in the sea buckthorn fruit

Normal 0 false false false SK X-NONE X-NONE Due to the content of biologically active substances, sea buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides L.) has become the object of great interest of both, experts and the general public. It is appreciated particularly for the high content of vitamins and other biologically active substances, not only in berries but also in leaves and bark. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional quality of sea buckthorn juice prepared from different varieties of sea buckthorn based on the content of total carotenoids, polyphenols and antioxidant activity. In this study we used varieties Hergo, Tytti, Vitaminaja, Raisa, Askola, Dorana, Slovan, Leikora, Bojan, Terhi and Maslicnaja. Content of different components was quantified using spectrophotometry. The total carotenoids content expressed as β-carotene content in juice ranged from 50.63 mg.100 g -1 DM to 93.63 mg.100 g -1 DM, the highest content was in variety Askola and the lowest one in Terhi. Total polyphenols content determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method ranged from 13.03 mg GAE. dm -3 DM to 25.35 mg GAE. dm -3 DM. The highest content was identified in juice of variety Dorana and the lowest one in Raisa. The antioxidant activity quantified by the FOMO method ranges from 45.11 g AA. dm -3 DM to 108.77 g AA. dm -3 DM. The highest antioxidant activity was determined in juice of Dorana and the lowest in variety Bojan
The Effect of Birth Order on Educational Attainment among the Baby Boom Generation

We show that changes in birth order during the baby boom can explain a substantial share of the stagnation and recovery in educational attainment among cohorts born between 1946 and 1974. Combining birth order effects estimated using the Health and Retirement Survey and birth order data from Vital Statistics, we estimate that changes in birth order can explain more than 20 percent of the decline in white male college completion rates among the 1946–1960 cohorts, and more than one third of the rebound among the 1960–1974 cohorts. We also revisit the role of cohort size, finding smaller effects than previously reported.