Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Practical Guide to the Management of HCV Infection Following Liver Transplantation

Hepatitis C‐associated liver failure is the most common indication for liver transplantation, with virological recurrence near ubiquitous. Approximately 30% of HCV‐infected recipients will die or lose their allograft or develop cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C recurrence by the fifth postoperative year, with the proportion increasing with duration of follow‐up. Strategies for minimizing the frequency of severe HCV recurrence include avoidance of older donors, early diagnosis/treatment of CMV and minimization of immunosuppression, particularly T‐cell depleting therapies and pulsed corticosteroid treatment of acute cellular rejection. Patients should be offered treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin before LT if MELD ≤ 17 or as soon as histological evidence of recurrence of HCV is apparent post‐LT. Because of the high frequency of hemotoxicity and renal insufficiency, ribavirin should be dosed according to renal function.
A study of brittle to ductile fracture transition temperatures in bulk Pb-free solders

The fracture toughness of bulk Sn, Sn-Cu, Sn-Ag and Sn-Ag-Cu lead-free solders was measured as function of the temperature by means of a pendulum impact test (Charpy test). A ductile to brittle fracture transition was found for them, i.e. a sharp change in their fracture toughness, compared to no transition for the eutectic Sn-Pb. The transition temperature of high purity Sn, Sn-0.5%Cu and Sn-0.5%Cu(Ni) alloys is around -125°C. The Agcontaining solders show a transition at higher temperatures: in the range of –78° to–45°C. The highest transition temperature of –45°C was measured for Sn-5%Ag, which is ductile only above –30°C. The increase of the Ag content shifts the transformation temperature towards higher values, which can probably be related to the higher volume fraction of SnAg3 particles in the solder volume. These result are believed to be very important for the selection of the best lead-free solder composition.
A theoretical study of the electrical contact between metallic and semiconducting phases in monolayer MoS2

We present a theoretical study of the electrical contact between the two most common crystallographic phases of MoS2 monolayer crystals: the stable semiconducting 2H phase and the metastable metallic 1T phase. A density functional theory (DFT) study of the electronic structure of interface between the two phases shows a higher Schottky barrier for electrons than for holes for the undoped 2H phase. Charge transfer from the 1T to the 2H phase occurs, but, as expected for a one-dimensional contact, the generated dipole potential decays away from the interface and the naive Schottky-Mott band-alignment picture is recovered away from the interface. The decay length of the dipole potential turns out to be larger for the zigzag interface than for the armchair interface due to the different penetration of the edge states into the bulk. Tight-binding quantum transport calculations aided by the DFT results generically confirm a low contact resistance in the range of ≈200–400 Ωμm, as experimentally reported. Furthermore, the contact resistance is predicted to be smaller at the armchair interface for electron injection and, on the contrary, smaller for hole injection at the zigzag interface.
The Thermochemotherapy Effect of Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 Magnetic Fluid Hyperthermia Combined with As2O3 on GLC-82 Cells

AIM: To study the preparation and characterization of the Mn0.5Zn0. 5Fe2O4 (MZF) magnetic nanoparticles and the antitumor function of MZF nanomagnetic fluid hyperthermia (NMFH) combined with As2O3 on GLC-82 cells.METHODS: The MZF magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by the method of chemical coprecipitation. ,which were detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). In vitro heating test of MZF magnetic fluid in an alternating magnetic field (AMF) was carried out. After that, we studied the therapeutic effects on cultured GLC-82 cells treated by thermochemotherapy of NMFH combined with As2O3 at various concentrations (2,5,8μM) were evaluated by MTT assay and flow cytometry assay (FCM). RESULTS: The MZF magnetic nanoparticles were prepared successfully. Their shapes are approximately global and their diameters are about 30 nm. EDS showed MZF magnetic nanoparticle contained Mn, Zn, Fe elements. The corresponding fluid of MZF magnetic nanoparticle could rise to 40~50°C due to different concentration in a AMF and keep stable from then on. MTT assay and FCM revealed that the thermochemotherapy effect of the MZF magnetic nanoparticles combined with As2O3 can cause significantly inhibit cellular growth observed by MTT test assay and obviously induce cellular apoptosis by FCM detecting (p<0.05). The apoptotic indexes of GLC-82 cells of the pure As2O3 group,pure MZF magnetic nanoparticles hyperthermia group and thermochemotherapy of NMFH combined with As2O3 group were 4.98%,16.30%,22.53%,respectively,while the apoptotic index of the negative control group was 0.56%. CONCLUSION: The MZF magnetic nanoparticles successfully were prepared through improved co-precipitation process and have good power absorption capabilities in the high frequency AMF, then they can rise to a steady temperature. MZF magnetic nanoparticles have hyperthermia effects on tumor and their antitumor effect significantly increase when combined with As2O3.
Clinical interpretation and implications of whole-genome sequencing.

IMPORTANCE Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is increasingly applied in clinical medicine and is expected to uncover clinically significant findings regardless of sequencing indication. OBJECTIVES To examine coverage and concordance of clinically relevant genetic variation provided by WGS technologies; to quantitate inherited disease risk and pharmacogenomic findings in WGS data and resources required for their discovery and interpretation; and to evaluate clinical action prompted by WGS findings. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS An exploratory study of 12 adult participants recruited at Stanford University Medical Center who underwent WGS between November 2011 and March 2012. A multidisciplinary team reviewed all potentially reportable genetic findings. Five physicians proposed initial clinical follow-up based on the genetic findings. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Genome coverage and sequencing platform concordance in different categories of genetic disease risk, person-hours spent curating candidate disease-risk variants, interpretation agreement between trained curators and disease genetics databases, burden of inherited disease risk and pharmacogenomic findings, and burden and interrater agreement of proposed clinical follow-up. RESULTS Depending on sequencing platform, 10% to 19% of inherited disease genes were not covered to accepted standards for single nucleotide variant discovery. Genotype concordance was high for previously described single nucleotide genetic variants (99%-100%) but low for small insertion/deletion variants (53%-59%). Curation of 90 to 127 genetic variants in each participant required a median of 54 minutes (range, 5-223 minutes) per genetic variant, resulted in moderate classification agreement between professionals (Gross κ, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.40-0.64), and reclassified 69% of genetic variants cataloged as disease causing in mutation databases to variants of uncertain or lesser significance. Two to 6 personal disease-risk findings were discovered in each participant, including 1 frameshift deletion in the BRCA1 gene implicated in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Physician review of sequencing findings prompted consideration of a median of 1 to 3 initial diagnostic tests and referrals per participant, with fair interrater agreement about the suitability of WGS findings for clinical follow-up (Fleiss κ, 0.24; P < 001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this exploratory study of 12 volunteer adults, the use of WGS was associated with incomplete coverage of inherited disease genes, low reproducibility of detection of genetic variation with the highest potential clinical effects, and uncertainty about clinically reportable findings. In certain cases, WGS will identify clinically actionable genetic variants warranting early medical intervention. These issues should be considered when determining the role of WGS in clinical medicine.
Transformation textures during diffusional α→γ→α Phase transformations in ferritic steels

The crystallographic transformation textures of a microalloyed low carbon steel were studied using X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques. Both with X-rays and with neutron radiation special equipment allowed to conduct in situ texture measurements at high temperatures, i.e. the determination of the texture evolution during rather than subsequent to annealing. The texture measurements were carried out in the ferritic regime at room temperature, after transformation into austenite at 950°C, and after back transformation into ferrite. Furthermore, the temporal evolution of texture was studied by measurement of textures in the α+γ two phase region with progressing transformation. The α→γ transformation degraded the texture sharpness, while during the γ→α transformation the texture intensity decreased only slightly. Qualitatively the final ferrite texture after α→γ→α transformation was inherited from the initial ferrite texture. Based on the experimental data transformation textures were calculated using the Kurdjumov-Sachs relation and compared with the experimental transformation textures. Differences between experimental and calculated transformation textures were obtained and attributed to variant selection. For the any transformation variant selection was associated with both dislocations and residual stresses interacting with strain caused by the volume change during transformation. The employed variant selection model depends on the grain orientation through the history of the initial grain. The variant selection during the γ→α transformation is proposed to be caused by crystallographic constraints.
BIORREMEDIAÇÃO DE RESÍDUOS OLEOSOS EM SOLOS BIOREMEDIATION OF OILY WASTES IN SOIL

The large number of accidents and spills involving oily products, especially those containing petroleu m products, affecting many natural resources, being t he soil the major receiver of such contamination. F or remediation of these areas, many processes can be u sed, but the biological processes are prominent amo ng the most used treatments, particularly in relation to c ost and efficiency when compared to chemical and physical processes. Natural attenuation, bioestimulation and bioaugmentation are the bioremediation techniques more utilized. The soil naturally already has microorgan isms able to degrade different contaminants oily. Environmental factors such as pH, temperature, redo x potential, moisture and nutrients are vital to th at the bioremediation process occurs. Hydrocarbons are compounds of low density and most of its components consists of a phase non soluble in water, or at lea st have difficulty solubilizing components in the a quifer or soil while in its original state, being a difficulty for their bioremediation. The biodegradation of hydroc arbons is essentially a redution-oxidation reaction where the hydrocarbon is oxidized (electron donor) and an el ectron acceptor is reduced. The objective this work is to review the main issues involved in the bioremediati on of oily compounds, describing the main techniques used are important factors for degradation and degrading microorganisms.
VIII. Captured in terminology: Sex, sex categories, and sex differences

Swayed by the clear distinction between male and female genitalia, the question of how far these categories extend into human biology has attracted humans for centuries. This question is sometimes being framed as whether the effects of sex are restricted to the genital organs or penetrate the entire organism. Here I argue that the two questions are not equivalent and that whereas the answer to the question, how far sex penetrates the body, is – deep down to the level of every cell, the answer to the question, how far the categories, “male” and “female”, do, is – probably nowhere beyond the genitals. That the two questions are often used interchangeably reflects the prevailing conceptualization of sex as a dichotomous system or process that exerts profound effects on other systems (e.g., the brain), leading to sexual dimorphism (i.e., two forms, male versus female) also of these systems. Here I discuss the question of whether the effects of sex result in dimorphic systems, focusing on the case of sex effects on the brain. I show that although there are sex/gender differences in brain and behavior, humans and human brains are comprised of highly variable ‘mosaics’ of features, some more prevalent in females, others more prevalent in males.
Routing, spectrum, and core assignment in SDM-EONS with MCF: node-arc ILP/MILP methods and an efficient XT-aware heuristic algorithm

In this paper, we focus on the static routing, spectrum, and core assignment (RSCA) problem in spacedivision multiplexing (SDM)-based elastic optical networks (EONs) with multi-core fiber (MCF). In RSCA problems, it is a challenging task to control the inter-core interference, called inter-core crosstalk (XT), within an acceptable level and simultaneously maximize the spectrum utilization. We first consider XT in a worst interference scenario (i.e., XTunaware), which can simplify the RSCA problem. In this scenario, we formulate the RSCA problem using a nodearc- based integer linear programming (ILP) method in which the numbers of both variables and constraints are greatly reduced compared with previous ILP methods, thereby leading to a significant improvement in convergence efficiency. Then, we consider the XT strictly (i.e., XT-aware) and formulate the problem using a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) method, which is an extension of the above node-arc-based ILP method. It is more suitable for different XT thresholds and/or geographically large networks, in that it has a higher degree of generalizability. Finally, we propose an XT-aware-based heuristic algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate that our heuristic algorithm achieves higher spectrum efficiency, higher degree of generalizability, and higher computational efficiency than the existing heuristic algorithm(s).
A Novel Identity-Based Key Establishment Method for Advanced Metering Infrastructure in Smart Grid

Security is fundamental to the operation of smart grid and its advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). Key establishment is the core component in key management schemes and plays a crucial role in satisfying the security requirements. In recent years, many key establishment protocols have been proposed in the context of smart grids. However, their high overhead and complexity have undermined their ability to be practically employed in AMI. In this paper, we propose a novel identity-based key establishment protocol which employs elliptic curves at its core and has the lowest computational overhead among current secure protocols, especially at the meter side. We have given a detailed and comparative analysis of both security and computational burden for the proposed protocol as well as the previous efforts. We have evaluated the resilience of different protocols to well-known attacks by discussion, however, for the proposed protocol, we have also used AVISPA tool to formally verify its security. Compared to the previous solutions, the proposed protocol either is more secure or scores higher in performance benchmarks run on the same hardware.
Safety of humanized monoclonal antibodies against IL-5 in asthma: focus on reslizumab

ABSTRACT Introduction: Reslizumab, a humanized mAb against IL-5, reduces the number of eosinophils in the blood and lungs. Based on efficacy and safety data from pivotal RCTs, reslizumab had been approved for use as an add-on maintenance treatment of severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype in adults who have a history of exacerbations despite receiving their current asthma medicines. Areas covered: Current literature on reslizumab has been reviewed with a specific focus on its safety profile in the treatment of severe asthma. Expert opinion: Large pivotal and supportive trials reinforce the view that reslizumab is well tolerated, with an acceptable safety profile in patients exposed for longer than 2 years. However, no or few data concerning safety in special populations such as smokers, those with immune- and cellular senescence, patients with comorbidities and those receiving multi-drug treatments are available as yet. Furthermore, we need to fully elucidate some fundamental issues such as the risk of anaphylaxis and the long-term risk-benefit ratio of the impact of depletion of eosinophils and the potential risk of malignancies induced by a treatment with this anti-IL-5 agent.
Relationship Satisfaction and Risk Factors for Suicide

Background: Previous studies suggest that troubled romantic relationships are associated with higher risk factors for mental health. However, studies examining the role of relationship satisfaction in suicide risk factors are scarce. Aims: We investigated differences in risk factors for suicide between individuals with high relationship satisfaction, individuals with low relationship satisfaction, and singles. Furthermore, we explored patterns of experiencing, and dealing with, conflicts in the relationship and examined associations with suicide risk factors. Method: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed relationship status, relationship satisfaction, specific types of relationship conflicts, and suicide risk factors (i.e., suicidal ideation, hopelessness, depression) with questionnaires among 382 individuals in Austria. Results: Risk factors for suicide were higher among singles than among individuals in happy relationships, but lower among those with low relationship satisfaction. Participants reporting a high number of unsolved conflicts in their relationship had higher levels of suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and depression than individuals who tend to solve issues with their partner amicably or report no conflicts. Conclusion: Relationship satisfaction and relationship conflicts reflect risk factors for suicide, with higher levels of suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and depression reported by individuals who mentioned unsolved conflicts with their partner and experienced low satisfaction with their relationship.
Hypomethylation of Alu Elements in Post-Menopausal Women with Osteoporosis

A decrease in genomic methylation commonly occurs in aging cells; however, whether this epigenetic modification leads to age-related phenotypes has not been evaluated. Alu elements are the major interspersed repetitive DNA elements in humans that lose DNA methylation in aging individuals. Alu demethylation in blood cells starts at approximately 40 years of age, and the degree of Alu hypomethylation increases with age. Bone mass is lost with aging, particularly in menopausal women with lower body mass. Consequently, osteoporosis is commonly found in thin postmenopausal women. Here, we correlated the Alu methylation level of blood cells with bone density in 323 postmenopausal women. Alu hypomethylation was associated with advanced age and lower bone mass density, (P<0.05). The association between the Alu methylation level and bone mass was independent of age, body mass, and body fat, with an odds ratio [1] = 0.4316 (0.2087–0.8927). Individuals of the same age with osteopenia, osteoporosis, and a high body mass index have lower Alu methylation levels (P = 0.0005, 0.003, and ≤0.0001, respectively). Finally, when comparing individuals with the same age and body mass, Alu hypomethylation was observed in individuals with lower bone mass (P<0.0001). In conclusion, there are positive correlations between Alu hypomethylation in blood cells and several age-related phenotypes in bone and body fat. Therefore, reduced global methylation may play a role in the systemic senescence process. Further evaluation of Alu hypomethylation may clarify the epigenetic regulation of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.
Green coatings for industrial applications

Despite their 150 year history, sol-gel coatings have made little impact on the industrial coatings scene largely because of their inorganic nature which has limited systems to the need for very high cure temperatures, ca. 500C +. Further issues such as; complicated processing, limited shelf life, lack of dry film thickness, restricted methods of applying the sol-gel coating system and poor adhesion to common engineering substrates have further limited the general application of this technology, being largely restricted to optical applications. This paper describes the recent development of environmentally-compliant ‘Green” sol-gel coating systems for industrial applications, examples being; a water-based chrome-free system for coil coatings, aerospace/transportation chrome-free pre-treatment/primer replacements and antifouling coatings. The sol-gel coating systems are based upon an inorganic-organic alkoxysilane precursors formulated to allow the incorporation of additives such as inhibitors, conducting polymers, nanoparticles and in the case of antifouling coating, an active nonpathogenic biological component. The performance of these coating systems has been assessed using standard industrial tests, electrochemical methods and field trials.
DENDRIMER APPLICATIONS – A REVIEW

As a new class of a synthetic polymers based on a well-defined cascade macromolecules synthesized to reach various demands in the field of electrical, chemical, biological, medicinal and biotechnology. Dendrimers have proved themselves to be very challenging and applicative; as the structure provides high degree of surface functionality, versatility and the unique properties like uniform size, high degree of branching, multivalency, water solubility, well defined molecular weight and also the available internal cavities. The ability of this macromolecule to construct a definite architectural design of dendrimers with respect to size and shape, length of branching, density, and its well defined molecular structure and segmented spherical construction has opened a wide area of research by understanding the interactions taking place between the biological entities. This review cover a few basic information of dendrimers and much about their possible applications in various areas such as biomedical field, as imaging contrast agents, therapeutic agent, diagnostic agent, gene transfection, drug delivery, targeted drug delivery, solubility enhancer, light harvesting, catalyst, additives, printing ink, paints, biomimics, and many other areas of science. The impact of dendrimer applications on biomedical field as demonstrated in this review; shows major potential and high hopes for the future of dendrimers.
Effect of Temperature and Cooling Rate on the Microstructures of 35MnB and 25Mn Tubes during Heat Treatment

Band structures with pearlite and ferrite aligned as stripes can be created during the heat treatment of carbon steel. Since band structures undermine the mechanical quality of end products, it is highly important to select a process condition that will not create band structures as a result of heat treatment. This study verified the effect of temperature and cooling rate on the creation of band structures during heat treatment of 35MnB and 25Mn steel tubes for drive shafts and also considered the optimal process conditions to remove band structures or prevent their creation. The experimental results suggest that, during heat treatment of 35MnB and 25Mn steel tubes, it is most effective to ensure a cooling rate faster than furnace cooling in order to prevent band structures.