Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Highly percolated poly(vinyl alcohol) and bacterial nanocellulose synthesized in situ by physical- crosslinking: exploiting polymer synergies for biomedical nanocomposites

Bacterial cellulose (BC) grown from a culture medium in the presence of water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) produced an assemblage that was used as precursor for the synthesis of biocompatible nanocomposites. Physical crosslinking via cyclic freezing and thawing of the formed hydrogel facilitated retention of PVA matrix upon composite separation and purification. The composites displayed a porous architecture within the PVA matrix and an excellent compressive strength as a result of the synergism between BC and PVA. BC largely improved the thermo-mechanical performance as well as moisture and dimensional stability of the systems while PVA imparted optical transparency and extensibility. Compared to the respective reference sample (BC-free material), elastic modulus increments of 40, 98 and 510% were measured for PVA-based nanocomposites loaded with BC at 10, 20 and 30% levels, respectively. Likewise, the corresponding strength at break were 30, 77 and 104% higher. The results indicate an exceptional reinforcing effect endowed by the three-dimensional network structure that was formed in situ upon BC biosynthesis in the presence of PVA and also suggest a large percolation within the matrix. BC is relatively inexpensive, can produce scaffolds of given shapes and with high strength and acts as an excellent reinforcing element that promotes cell proliferation. Taken these properties together, BC and BC/PVA composites are promising materials in biomedical engineering.
A Preliminary study of one year of pedometer self-monitoring

Background: Long-term pedometer monitoring has not been attempted.Purpose: The purpose of this project was to collect 365 days of continuous self-monitored pedometer data to explore the natural variability of physical activity.Methods: Twenty-three participants (7 men, 16 women; M age = 38 ± 9.9 years; M body mass index = 27.7± 6.2 kg/m2) were recruited by word of mouth at two southern U.S. universities. Participants were asked to wear pedometers at their waist during waking hours and record steps per day and daily behaviors (e.g., sport/exercise, work or not) on a simple calendar. In total, participants wore pedometers and recorded 8,197 person-days of data (of a possible 8,395 person-days, or 98%) for a mean of 10,090± 3,389 steps/day. Missing values were estimated using the Missing Values Analysis EM function in SPSS, Version 11.0. 1.Results: A mean of 10,082± 3,319 steps/day was computed. Using the corrected data, differences in steps/day were significant for season (summer > winter, F = 7.57, p = .001), day of the week (weekday > weekend, F = 3.97, p = .011), type of day (workday vs. nonworkday, F = 9.467, p = .008), and participation in sport/exercise (day with sport/exercise > day without sport/exercise, F = 102.5, p < .0001). Conclusions: These data suggest that surveillance should be conducted in the spring/fall or that an appropriate correction factor should be considered if the intent is to capture values resembling the year-round average.
Disturbing the balance: effect of contact lens use on the ocular proteome and microbiome

Contact lens wear is a popular, convenient and effective method for vision correction. In recent years, contact lens practice has expanded to include new paradigms, including orthokeratology; however, their use is not entirely without risk, as the incidence of infection has consistently been reported to be higher in contact lens wearers. The explanations for this increased susceptibility have largely focused on physical damage, especially to the cornea, due to a combination of hypoxia, mechanical trauma, deposits and solution cytotoxicity, as well as poor compliance with care routines leading to introduction of pathogens into the ocular environment. However, in recent years, with the increasing availability and reduced cost of molecular techniques, the ocular environment has received greater attention with in‐depth studies of proteins and other components. Numerous proteins were found to be present in the tears and their functions and interactions indicate that the tears are far more complex than formerly presumed. In addition, the concept of a sterile or limited microbial population on the ocular surface has been challenged by analysis of the microbiome. Ocular microbiome was not considered as one of the key sites for the Human Microbiome Project, as it was thought to be limited compared to other body sites. This was proven to be fallacious, as a wide variety of micro‐organisms were identified in the analyses of human tears. Thus, the ocular environment is now recognised to be more complicated and interference with this ecological balance may lead to adverse effects. The use of contact lenses clearly changes the situation at the ocular surface, which may result in consequences which disturb the balance in the healthy eye.
Long-term fluorescence lifetime imaging of a genetically encoded sensor for caspase-3 activity in mouse tumor xenografts

Abstract. Caspase-3 is known for its role in apoptosis and programmed cell death regulation. We detected caspase-3 activation in vivo in tumor xenografts via shift of mean fluorescence lifetimes of a caspase-3 sensor. We used the genetically encoded sensor TR23K based on the red fluorescent protein TagRFP and chromoprotein KFP linked by 23 amino acid residues (TagRFP-23-KFP) containing a specific caspase cleavage DEVD motif to monitor the activity of caspase-3 in tumor xenografts by means of fluorescence lifetime imaging-Forster resonance energy transfer. Apoptosis was induced by injection of paclitaxel for A549 lung adenocarcinoma and etoposide and cisplatin for HEp-2 pharynx adenocarcinoma. We observed a shift in lifetime distribution from 1.6 to 1.9 ns to 2.1 to 2.4 ns, which indicated the activation of caspase-3. Even within the same tumor, the lifetime varied presumably due to the tumor heterogeneity and the different depth of tumor invasion. Thus, processing time-resolved fluorescence images allows detection of both the cleaved and noncleaved states of the TR23K sensor in real-time mode during the course of several weeks noninvasively. This approach can be used in drug screening, facilitating the development of new anticancer agents as well as improvement of chemotherapy efficiency and its adaptation for personal treatment.
Combining FSS and EBG Surfaces for High-Efficiency Transmission and Low-Scattering Properties

In this communication, we propose a method to achieve high-efficiency transmission and wideband scattering reduction at two distinctive frequency bands by combining frequency-selective surface (FSS) and electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) surface. Such FSS-EBG surface is composed of two-layered metallic patterns. The bottom FSS layer works as a filter for allowing in-band signal to pass and reflecting out-of-band signal, while the top EBG layer adopts 0 and $\pi $ reflection phase cells with a chessboard distribution to reduce the backward scattering wave. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, the planar and cylindrical surfaces are, respectively, designed to verify such two functionalities. Our FSS-EBG surface can make the antenna signal transmit at S-band with small insertion loss and simultaneously provide wideband low-scattering property at X–Ku band, which is suitable to be used as the stealth antenna radome. In addition, the possibility of integrating polarization conversion function into the passing band is numerically demonstrated.
GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection: a favorable prognostic factor in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients?

To investigate a possible influence of GB virus C (GBV-C) in immunocompromised patients, the prevalences of GBV-C RNA and anti-E2 antibody in 197 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and in 120 control blood donors were studied. GBV-C RNA was detected in 33 of 197 HIV-infected patients (16.8%) compared with 1 in 120 blood donors (0.8%) (P < .001). Previous exposure to GBV-C (anti-E2 antibody-positive) was shown in 56.8% of HIV patients and in 9% of blood donors. GBV-C viremia was not associated with hepatitis. Despite approximately equal duration of HIV infection in all subgroups, the CD4 cell counts were significantly higher in GBV-C-viremic patients (344 cells/microL) compared with exposed (259 cells/microL) and unexposed (170 cells/microL) patients (P = .017 and P < .001). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significantly better cumulative survival in GBV-C RNA-positive HIV-infected patients, suggesting that GBV-C might be a favorable prognostic factor in HIV disease.
300-GHz CMOS transmitter module with built-in waveguide transition on a multilayered glass epoxy PCB

A 300-GHz CMOS transmitter module with a WR-3.4 waveguide interface is presented. The CMOS transmitter is flip-chip mounted on a low-cost multilayered glass epoxy printed circuit board (PCB) and a transmission-line-to-waveguide transition with a back-short structure is built of the multilayered PCB. The measured output power and 3-dB bandwidth of the transmitter module are approximately −13.5 dBm and 10 GHz, respectively. A wireless data rate of 48 Gbit/s over 5 cm with 16-QAM is achieved using the module.
Successful Reperfusion With Mechanical Thrombectomy Is Associated With Reduced Disability and Mortality in Patients With Pretreatment Diffusion-Weighted Imaging–Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score ⩽6

Background and Purpose— In acute ischemic stroke patients, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)–Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) is correlated with infarct volume and is an independent factor of functional outcome. Patients with pretreatment DWI-ASPECTS ⩽6 were excluded or under-represented in the recent randomized mechanical thrombectomy trials. Our aim was to assess the impact of reperfusion in pretreatment DWI-ASPECTS ⩽6 patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Methods— We analyzed data collected between January 2012 and August 2015 in a bicentric prospective clinical registry of consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Every patient with a documented internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery occlusion with pretreatment DWI-ASPECTS ⩽6 was eligible for this study. The primary end point was a favorable outcome defined by a modified Rankin Scale score ⩽2 at 90 days. Results— Two hundred and eighteen patients with a DWI-ASPECTS ⩽6 were included. Among them, 145 (66%) patients had successful reperfusion at the end of mechanical thrombectomy. Reperfused patients had an increased rate of favorable outcome (38.7% versus 17.4%; P=0.002) and a decreased rate of mortality at 3 months (22.5% versus 39.1%; P=0.013) compared with nonreperfused patients. The symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rate was not different between the 2 groups (13.0% versus 14.1%; P=0.83). However, in patients with DWI-ASPECTS <5, favorable outcome was low (13.0% versus 9.5%; P=0.68) with a high mortality rate (45.7% versus 57.1%; P=0.38) with or without successful reperfusion. Conclusions— Successful reperfusion is associated with reduced mortality and disability in patients with a pretreatment DWI-ASPECTS ⩽6. Further data from randomized studies are needed, particularly in patients with DWI-ASPECTS <5.
Design and characterization of antenna arrays in eWLB package for 61 GHz radar applications

This paper presents the design of several two element antenna arrays in an eWLB package for 61 GHz radar applications. The antenna arrays are either formed of dipoles or folded dipoles. Different feeding structures were developed in order to match MMICs with differential or single-ended ports. Measurements of both insertion loss and radiation pattern were performed for five different antenna arrays. The measurement results are in good agreement with the previously performed simulations.
OPTOFLUIDIC MANIPULATION WITH SUB- WAVELENGTH SCALE PHOTONICS

Optofluidic transport represents the fusion of optics with microfluidics to create a new paradigm for nanoscale transport. Optofluidic transport exploits the favorable transport properties of light for the manipulation of objects in nanoscale systems. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, trapping and confinement of dielectric nanoparticles (75 and 100 nm polystyrene nanoparticle beads) using sub-wavelength scale planar photonic “slot waveguides”. The slot waveguide generates previously unseen high confinement liquid-core optical modes, creating the necessary optical intensity for nanoparticle trapping. The ability to precisely manipulate nanoscopic matter is critical for the development of emerging active nanosystems.
The Catabolite Repressor Protein-Cyclic AMP Complex Regulates csgD and Biofilm Formation in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The extracellular matrix protects Escherichia coli from immune cells, oxidative stress, predation, and other environmental stresses. Production of the E. coli extracellular matrix is regulated by transcription factors that are tuned to environmental conditions. The biofilm master regulator protein CsgD upregulates curli and cellulose, the two major polymers in the extracellular matrix of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) biofilms. We found that cyclic AMP (cAMP) regulates curli, cellulose, and UPEC biofilms through csgD. The alarmone cAMP is produced by adenylate cyclase (CyaA), and deletion of cyaA resulted in reduced extracellular matrix production and biofilm formation. The catabolite repressor protein (CRP) positively regulated csgD transcription, leading to curli and cellulose production in the UPEC isolate, UTI89. Glucose, a known inhibitor of CyaA activity, blocked extracellular matrix formation when added to the growth medium. The mutant strains ΔcyaA and Δcrp did not produce rugose biofilms, pellicles, curli, cellulose, or CsgD. Three putative CRP binding sites were identified within the csgD-csgB intergenic region, and purified CRP could gel shift the csgD-csgB intergenic region. Additionally, we found that CRP binded upstream of kpsMT, which encodes machinery for K1 capsule production. Together our work shows that cAMP and CRP influence E. coli biofilms through transcriptional regulation of csgD. IMPORTANCE The catabolite repressor protein (CRP)-cyclic AMP (cAMP) complex influences the transcription of ∼7% of genes on the Escherichia coli chromosome (D. Zheng, C. Constantinidou, J. L. Hobman, and S. D. Minchin, Nucleic Acids Res 32:5874–5893, 2004, https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkh908). Glucose inhibits E. coli biofilm formation, and ΔcyaA and Δcrp mutants show impaired biofilm formation (D. W. Jackson, J.W. Simecka, and T. Romeo, J Bacteriol 184:3406–3410, 2002, https://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JB.184.12.3406-3410.2002). We determined that the cAMP-CRP complex regulates curli and cellulose production and the formation of rugose and pellicle biofilms through csgD. Additionally, we propose that cAMP may work as a signaling compound for uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) to transition from the bladder lumen to inside epithelial cells for intracellular bacterial community formation through K1 capsule regulation.
Role of steroid receptor and coregulator mutations in hormone-dependent cancers

Steroid hormones mediate critical lineage-specific developmental and physiologic responses. They function by binding their cognate receptors, which are transcription factors that drive specific gene expression programs. The requirement of most prostate cancers for androgen and most breast cancers for estrogen has led to the development of endocrine therapies that block the action of these hormones in these tumors. While initial endocrine interventions are successful, resistance to therapy often arises. We will review how steroid receptor–dependent genomic signaling is affected by genetic alterations in endocrine therapy resistance. The detailed understanding of these interactions will not only provide improved treatment options to overcome resistance, but, in the future, will also be the basis for implementing precision cancer medicine approaches.
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in Children: Medical, Surgical, and Ophthalmologic Considerations

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a rare acute inflammatory multisystem life-threatening condition characterized by widespread epidermal necrosis and profound toxic systemic reaction. Implicated etiologic agents in children include drugs, infections, and autoimmune diseases. The pathophysiology includes separation of the epidermis at the dermal–epidermal junction of both skin and extracutaneous epithelium and mucous membranes. The general consensus is that expeditious transfer to a burn center, maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance, temperature maintenance, control of evaporative losses, avoidance of use of complicating drugs as corticosteroids and topical sulfa compounds, aggressive septic surveillance, vigorous nutritional support via nasoenteric tube, early ophthalmologic consultation, and appropriate wound care with a regimen of therapy relying on basic principles of treatment of partial-thickness epidermal wounds predict better outcome in the treatment of this disease process. The course of toxic epidermal necrolysis in children, even though dramatic at onset, leads to low mortality when managed appropriately. The current limited published evidence does not clearly delineate differences in epidemiology, pathogenesis, and prognosis of severe skin reactions in children as compared with adults. In this article, we review the available literature on the pathogenesis, clinical features, pathophysiology, treatment, and complications of this rare disease in children.
Determinants of Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use among Community‐Dwelling Older Adults

OBJECTIVE To examine the determinants of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING U.S. nationally representative data on (n = 16,588) noninstitutionalized older adults (age ≥65) with drug use from the 2006-2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. STUDY DESIGN We operationalized the 2012 Beers Criteria to identify PIM use during the year, and we examined associations with individual-level characteristics hypothesized to be quality enabling or related to need complexity. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Almost one-third (30.9 percent) of older adults used a PIM. Multivariate results suggest that poor health status and high-PIM-risk conditions were associated with increased PIM use, while increasing age and educational attainment were associated with lower PIM use. Contrary to expectations, lack of a usual care source of care or supplemental insurance was associated with lower PIM use. Medication intensity appears to be in the pathway between both quality-enabling and need-complexity characteristics and PIM use. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that physicians attempt to avoid PIM use in the oldest old but have inadequate focus on the high-PIM-risk conditions. Educational programs targeted to physician practice regarding high-PIM-risk conditions and patient literacy regarding medication use are potential responses.
Anterior insular volume decrease is associated with dysfunction of the reward system in patients with chronic pain

Chronification of pain is associated with both anatomical and functional alterations of the brain. Alteration in regional grey matter volume might potentially be associated with modified activity of specific brain networks. In this cross‐sectional, observational study, we sought to identify brain regions with grey matter volume changes in patients with chronic pain and to reveal its significance by analysing alteration in functional connectivity from those regions. We further explored relevance of such alterations with psychometrics of chronic pain.
Users’ intention to continue using social fitness-tracking apps: expectation confirmation theory and social comparison theory perspective

ABSTRACT Introduction: The key step in changing health behavior is understanding why users continue to use fitness apps. Therefore, we intend to investigate the users’ intention to continue using social fitness-tracking apps. Materials and Methods: We identify two major forces driving continuous behavior. Expectation confirmation is the internal driving force and social comparison is the external driving force. A survey was conducted to test this proposed research model. We obtained 211 valid questionnaires. Results: Our results indicate that activity amount ranking (p < 0.001) and activity frequency ranking (p < 0.001) positively affect confirmation and that confirmation (p < 0.001) also positively affects the continuous intention of individuals using fitness-tracking apps. In addition, the impact of activity amount ranking and activity frequency ranking on continuous intention is moderated by expectation confirmation. Meanwhile, as the upward comparison tendency increases, the positive effect of confirmation on continuous intention decreases (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Social rank expectation and confirmation are the primary driving forces of continuous intention in individuals using fitness-tracking apps. Social rank is a meaningful and straightforward measurement individuals can use to evaluate their activity performance. An upward comparison tendency weakens the effect of confirmation on continuous intention.
Faster R-CNN based microscopic cell detection

The automatic analysis of microscopic images is an important subject of medical image processing, of which the cell detection is an important part. However, owing to the different size and shape, as also as the adhesion among cells, detecting and locating cells accurately seems to be a very challenging task. In this work, we investigate applying the Faster R-CNN, which has recently shown incredible performance on many public datasets, to cell detection. The Faster R-CNN contains both segmentation and classification. By training a Faster R-CNN model, a series of experiments are achieved. Experimental results show that the Faster R-CNN can detect almost all cells in a microscopic image. The proposed cell detector has improved detection performance, and it is easy-implemented and time-saving.
Real-time audio similarity comparison algorithm

Interference in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) communication band usually comes from FM broadcast stations. To identify sources of the interference, manually scanning a receiver to compare similarity with the sound from the interference is the only method available. This paper presents a similarity comparison method that will make automatic interference identifying possible. The target audios are divided into 3 bands. A subtraction result between two audios of the same band will be decreased if the two audios are similar. To get a final result, at least 2 similar results from 3 bands will be considered positive. The experimental results show 93.42% of the right positive from 380 comparisons and 0.38% of the false positive from 3420 comparisons.