Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biosorption of Heavy Metals: A Review

Metallic species mobilized and released into the environment by the technological activities of human tend to persist indefinitely, circulating and eventually accumulating throughout the food chain, thus posing a serious threat to the environment, animals and humans. It is essential to realize that the metal is only removed from solution when it is appropriately immobilized. Apart from slow natural process of metal mineralization, ultimate removal is attained only when the metal becomes concentrated to the point that it can be either returned to the process or resold. The metallic pollutants can be sorbed by biosorbant material. The mechanism of biosorption is complex, mainly ion exchange, chelation, adsorption by physical forces, entrapment in inter and intrafibrilliar capillaries and spaces of the structural polysaccharide network as a result of the concentration gradient and diffusion through cell walls and membranes. Due to the extensive research and significant economic benefits of biosorption, some new biosorbant resources are poised for commercial exploitation.
Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation Promotes Cutaneous Wound Healing of Severe Burned Rats

Background Severe burns are a common and highly lethal trauma. The key step for severe burn therapy is to promote the wound healing as early as possible, and reports indicate that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy contributes to facilitate wound healing. In this study, we investigated effect of human umbilical cord MSCs (hUC-MSCs) could on wound healing in a rat model of severe burn and its potential mechanism. Methods Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham, burn, and burn transplanted hUC-MSCs. GFP labeled hUC-MSCs or PBS was intravenous injected into respective groups. The rate of wound closure was evaluated by Image Pro Plus. GFP-labeled hUC-MSCs were tracked by in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI), and human-specific DNA expression in wounds was detected by PCR. Inflammatory cells, neutrophils, macrophages, capillaries and collagen types I/III in wounds were evaluated by histochemical staining. Wound blood flow was evaluated by laser Doppler blood flow meter. The levels of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, VEGF, collagen types I/III in wounds were analyzed using an ELISA. Results We found that wound healing was significantly accelerated in the hUC-MSC therapy group. The hUC-MSCs migrated into wound and remarkably decreased the quantity of infiltrated inflammatory cells and levels of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and increased levels of IL-10 and TSG-6 in wounds. Additionally, the neovascularization and levels of VEGF in wounds in the hUC-MSC therapy group were markedly higher than those in other control groups. The ratio of collagen types I and III in the hUC-MSC therapy group were markedly higher than that in the burn group at indicated time after transplantation. Conclusion The study suggests that hUC-MSCs transplantation can effectively improve wound healing in severe burned rat model. Moreover, these data might provide the theoretical foundation for the further clinical application of hUC-MSC in burn areas.
Pan-Cancer Mutational and Transcriptional Analysis of the Integrator Complex

The integrator complex has been recently identified as a key regulator of RNA Polymerase II-mediated transcription, with many functions including the processing of small nuclear RNAs, the pause-release and elongation of polymerase during the transcription of protein coding genes, and the biogenesis of enhancer derived transcripts. Moreover, some of its components also play a role in genome maintenance. Thus, it is reasonable to hypothesize that their functional impairment or altered expression can contribute to malignancies. Indeed, several studies have described the mutations or transcriptional alteration of some Integrator genes in different cancers. Here, to draw a comprehensive pan-cancer picture of the genomic and transcriptomic alterations for the members of the complex, we reanalyzed public data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Somatic mutations affecting Integrator subunit genes and their transcriptional profiles have been investigated in about 11,000 patients and 31 tumor types. A general heterogeneity in the mutation frequencies was observed, mostly depending on tumor type. Despite the fact that we could not establish them as cancer drivers, INTS7 and INTS8 genes were highly mutated in specific cancers. A transcriptome analysis of paired (normal and tumor) samples revealed that the transcription of INTS7, INTS8, and INTS13 is significantly altered in several cancers. Experimental validation performed on primary tumors confirmed these findings.
Electrical conductivity of Au-nanoparticle-coated K2SO4 microcrystals deposited by DC trapping

Au-nanoparticle-coated K2SO4 microcrystals (nanoparticle-coated-crystals: NCCs) fabricated using the crystal-lattice-mediated-self-assembly method (CLAMS) were selectively deposited between gold electrodes by field-assisted trapping. Two different distances between electrodes were used, 2µm and 118nm. The electrical conductivity of NCCs was investigated using current-voltage (I-V) measurements at room and low temperatures and compared with that of bare tiopronin-coated Au nanoparticles. A hopping transport mechanism was found in both cases at low voltages and the corresponding activation energies were extracted. At higher voltages a power law was obtained in the case of NCCs and an exponential increase with voltage in the case of Au NPs.
Tumor-derived lactate induces M2 macrophage polarization via the activation of the ERK/STAT3 signaling pathway in breast cancer

ABSTRACT Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are prominent components of tumor microenvironment (TME) and capable of promoting cancer progression. However, the mechanisms for the formation of M2-like TAMs remain enigmatic. Here, we show that lactate is a pivotal oncometabolite in the TME that drives macrophage M2-polarization to promote breast cancer proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. In addition, we identified that the activation of ERK/STAT3, major signaling molecules in the lactate signaling pathway, deepens our molecular understanding of how lactate educates TAMs. Moreover, suppression of ERK/STAT3 signaling diminished tumor growth and angiogenesis by abolishing lactate-induced M2 macrophage polarization. Finally, research data of the natural compound withanolide D provide evidence for ERK/STAT3 signaling as a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. These findings suggest that the lactate-ERK/STAT3 signaling pathway is a driver of breast cancer progression by stimulating macrophage M2-like polarization and reveal potential new therapeutic targets for breast cancer treatment.
of Composite Non-Ceramic Insulators

Existing brittle fracture models have been reviewed and their applicability to ex() plain the in-service brittle fracture failure of composite non-ceramic insulators is evaluated. It is shown that the only brittle fracture model that can explain all aspects of the brittle fracture process is a model based on the formation of nitric acid solutions in-service. The chemical cause of brittle fracture is identified in this work and recommendations are made on how to avoid brittle fracture in-service by proper selection of composite insulator rods resistant to brittle fracture. An attempt is made to clarify misconceptions that exist in the literature regarding the causes of brittle fracture and the most suitable prevention methods.
Cognitive leisure activities and future risk of cognitive impairment and dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Background: As life expectancies continue to rise, modifiable lifestyle factors that may prevent cognitive decline and dementia in later life become increasingly important in order to maintain quality of life in old age. Methods: Five meta-analyses were conducted on data from papers identified in a systematic review. Studies were grouped according to outcomes (dementia, cognitive impairment including amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and cognitive decline) and output (risk (RR), odds (OR), or hazard ratios (HR)). Results: Nineteen studies met our inclusion criteria and quality assessments. Four of five meta-analyses showed significant associations between participation in cognitive leisure activities and reduced risk of cognitive impairment (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.56–0.85) and dementia (HR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.46–0.74; RR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42–0.90; OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67–0.90). However, one pooled analysis of cognitive impairment studies did not reach significance (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.71–1.02). Mentally stimulating leisure activities were significantly associated with later life cognition (β = 0.11, p = 0.05), better memory (β = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.11–0.29), speed of processing (β = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.29–0.45), and executive functioning (β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.15–0.29), and less decline in overall cognition (β = −0.23, p < 0.01), language (β = −0.11, p < 0.05), and executive functioning (β = −0.13, p < 0.05). Activities were also shown to reduce rate of cognitive decline (estimate = 0.03, SE = 0.01, p = 0.00). Conclusions: There is increasing evidence that participation in cognitively stimulating leisure activities may contribute to a reduction of risk of dementia and cognitive impairment in later life. Promoting involvement in such activities across lifespan could be an important focus for primary prevention strategies for governments and health services.
Phosphatidylinositol-(4, 5)-bisphosphate regulates calcium gating of small-conductance cation channel TMEM16F

Significance TMEM16F, a small-conductance Ca2+-activated cation channel that permeates Ca2+, is required for the Ca2+-activated phospholipid scramblase activity. The Ca2+-activated Ca2+-conductance mediated by TMEM16F constitutes positive feedback, with potentially deleterious outcomes if not tightly regulated. We performed electrophysiological recordings to show that Ca2+-gating of TMEM16F depends on TMEM16F interaction with PIP2, a minor yet functionally significant phospholipid constituent in the plasma membrane. Elevated intracellular Ca2+ promotes PIP2 hydrolysis by membrane-tethered phospholipases, thereby causing TMEM16F inactivation and likely rendering protection from Ca2+-overloading and cytotoxicity. Given that TMEM16F plays significant roles in blood coagulation and immune responses, our study will help reveal how signaling pathways involving phosphoinositides could potentially contribute to these physiological processes. TMEM16F, which is activated by elevation of intracellular calcium to trigger phospholipid scrambling and the collapse of lipid bilayer asymmetry to mediate important cellular functions such as blood coagulation, also generates a small-conductance calcium-activated cation current. How TMEM16F activation may be regulated is an open question. By recording TMEM16F Ca2+-activated current, we found that the TMEM16F Ca2+-response is desensitized by a brief exposure to high intracellular Ca2+, which is associated with depletion of phosphatidylinositol-(4, 5)-bisphosphate (PIP2) from the inner leaflet of the membrane. Application of artificial or natural PIP2 restores TMEM16F channel activity. PIP2 modulation of TMEM16F requires the presence of several positively charged amino acids in its cytoplasmic N-terminal domain. TMEM16F interaction with PIP2 works synergistically with membrane depolarization to facilitate Ca2+-gating of TMEM16F. Our study reveals the dependence of TMEM16F activity on phosphoinositides and provides one mechanism for TMEM16F activation to be strictly regulated in the cell membrane.
Molecular Origin and Functional Consequences of Digital Signaling and Hysteresis During Ras Activation in Lymphocytes

Simulations, theory, and experiments reveal a potential molecular mechanism for digital signaling and short-term molecular memory in lymphocytes. Activation of Ras proteins underlies functional decisions in diverse cell types. Two molecules, Ras-GRP and SOS (Ras–guanine nucleotide–releasing protein and Son of Sevenless, respectively), catalyze Ras activation in lymphocytes. Binding of active Ras to the allosteric pocket of SOS markedly increases the activity of SOS. Thus, there is a positive feedback loop regulating SOS. Combining in silico and in vitro studies, we demonstrate that “digital” signaling in lymphocytes (cells are “on” or “off”) is predicated on this allosteric regulation of SOS. The SOS feedback loop leads to hysteresis in the dose-response curve, which may enable T cells to exhibit “memory” of past encounters with antigen. Ras activation by Ras-GRP alone is “analog” (a graded increase in activation in response to an increase in the amplitude of the stimulus). We describe how the complementary analog (Ras-GRP) and digital (SOS) pathways act on Ras to efficiently convert analog input to digital output and make predictions regarding the importance of digital signaling in lymphocyte function and development.
Receptor conversion in metastatic breast cancer: a prognosticator of survival

Objective This retrospective study investigated the association between hormone receptor (HR) conversion and survival in breast cancer patients. Methods Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status (positive or negative) of primary tumors and of paired metastatic sites in 627 breast cancer patients were analyzed by McNemar's test for rates of receptor conversion. A survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and prognostic factors were assessed using Cox's proportional hazards regression model. Results Conversion of ER occurred in 165 (26.31%) patients, and conversion of PR in 213 (33.97%; P < 0.001, both). For 82 patients whose ER and PR were reassessed 2-4 times during metastatic progression, ER and PR re-conversion occurred in 22 (26.83%) and 29 (35.36%), respectively. The change of ER or PR from positive to negative was associated with worse overall survival and post-recurrent survival (log-rank; P < 0.001, both). A subgroup analysis of HR-positive patients (i.e., positive ER, PR, or both) in primary tumor and HR-negative in metastatic sites showed that patients who accepted both salvage endocrine therapy and chemotherapy had better post-recurrent survival than did those who accepted salvage chemotherapy only (log-rank; P = 0.003). Conclusion ER and PR status may change several times during metastatic tumor progression. A change of HR from positive to negative was associated with worse survival compared with consistent positivity. Repeated evaluations of HR status are necessary in metastatic breast cancer. Salvage hormonal therapy is still worth trying for patients whose HR status changes from positive to negative.
Bayesian inference of a historical bottleneck in a heavily exploited marine mammal

Emerging Bayesian analytical approaches offer increasingly sophisticated means of reconstructing historical population dynamics from genetic data, but have been little applied to scenarios involving demographic bottlenecks. Consequently, we analysed a large mitochondrial and microsatellite dataset from the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella, a species subjected to one of the most extreme examples of uncontrolled exploitation in history when it was reduced to the brink of extinction by the sealing industry during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Classical bottleneck tests, which exploit the fact that rare alleles are rapidly lost during demographic reduction, yielded ambiguous results. In contrast, a strong signal of recent demographic decline was detected using both Bayesian skyline plots and Approximate Bayesian Computation, the latter also allowing derivation of posterior parameter estimates that were remarkably consistent with historical observations. This was achieved using only contemporary samples, further emphasizing the potential of Bayesian approaches to address important problems in conservation and evolutionary biology.
Sampling Effects on Secondary Voltage Control of Microgrids Based on Network of Multiagent

This paper studies a secondary voltage control framework of the microgrids based on the consensus for a communication network of multiagent. The proposed control is designed by the communication network with one-way links. The communication network is modeled by a directed graph. At this time, the concept of sampling is considered as the communication constraint among each distributed generator in the microgrids. To analyze the sampling effects on the secondary voltage control of the microgrids, by using Lyapunov theory and some mathematical techniques, the sufficient condition for such problem will be established regarding linear matrix inequality (LMI). Finally, some simulation results are given to illustrate the necessity of the consideration of the sampling effects on the secondary voltage control of the microgrids. Keywords—Microgrids, secondary control, multiagent, sampling, LMI.
The effect of virtual reality-based serious games in cognitive interventions: a meta-analysis study

The meta-analysis is a statistical procedure applied to a systematic review of the literature on a particular theme, combining data from several investigations. Its relevance to clinical practice and research is high, taking into account the need to assess, objectively, the effectiveness of several interventions. This study stems from the need to systematize the studies on the effectiveness of virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality in cognitive stimulation, rehabilitation or cognitive training, allowing the analysis of their effectiveness and sustaining its spread by clinicians. Therefore, a total of 151 papers were screened and analyzed, allowing a final sample of 11 randomized controlled trial studies. Virtual reality-based serious games interventions have shown larger effect-sizes than traditional interventions, allowing faster and more effective improvements of several cognitive abilities.
Co-Designing a Collaborative Chronic Care Network (C3N) for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Development of Methods

Background Our health care system fails to deliver necessary results, and incremental system improvements will not deliver needed change. Learning health systems (LHSs) are seen as a means to accelerate outcomes, improve care delivery, and further clinical research; yet, few such systems exist. We describe the process of codesigning, with all relevant stakeholders, an approach for creating a collaborative chronic care network (C3N), a peer-produced networked LHS. Objective The objective of this study was to report the methods used, with a diverse group of stakeholders, to translate the idea of a C3N to a set of actionable next steps. Methods The setting was ImproveCareNow, an improvement network for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. In collaboration with patients and families, clinicians, researchers, social scientists, technologists, and designers, C3N leaders used a modified idealized design process to develop a design for a C3N. Results Over 100 people participated in the design process that resulted in (1) an overall concept design for the ImproveCareNow C3N, (2) a logic model for bringing about this system, and (3) 13 potential innovations likely to increase awareness and agency, make it easier to collect and share information, and to enhance collaboration that could be tested collectively to bring about the C3N. Conclusions We demonstrate methods that resulted in a design that has the potential to transform the chronic care system into an LHS.
Insomnia and health-related quality of life in stroke

Abstract Background: Insomnia is a common complaint in stroke survivors. Insomnia after stroke is correlated with physical disability, dementia, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. However, the influence of insomnia following stroke on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been investigated. Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the effect of insomnia on HRQoL in stroke survivors 3 months after their index stroke over and above confounding variables. Method: Three hundred and thirty-six patients were recruited from the acute stroke unit in a regional hospital in Hong Kong. Insomnia was ascertained by a single item on a locally validated, seven-item insomnia questionnaire. HRQoL was measured by the total score and the 12 domain scores of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SSQoL) scale. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained using the following scales: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel Index (BI), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: Forty-four percent of stroke survivors reported experiencing insomnia in the past month; they were more likely to be female and to have a higher GDS score. The insomnia group had significantly lower overall SSQoL, energy and thinking scores after adjusting for sex, BI, and GDS scores. Conclusion: The findings show that stroke survivors who experienced insomnia had a reduced overall HRQoL and were impaired in the energy and thinking domains of HRQoL. Early screening for sleep disturbance would be beneficial to prevent later development of post-stroke insomnia. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are suggested to improve HRQoL in stroke patients with insomnia.
Controlling byte pair encoding for neural machine translation

Byte pair encoding(BPE) is an approach that segments the corpus in such a way that frequent sequence of characters are combined; it results to having word surface forms divided into its' root word and affix. It alone handles out-of-vocabulary words, but tends to not consistently segment inflected words. Controlled byte pair encoding (CBPE) allowed our word-level neural machine translation (NMT) model to easily recognize inflected words which are prevalent in morphologically-rich languages. It prevented BPE from merging affixes in a word to other characters in the word. Our resulting NMT models from CBPE consistently evaluates affixes that could've been segmented with variations in BPE. In our experiments, we considered 119,969 English-Filipino parallel language pairs from an existing dataset, with Filipino as a morphologically-rich language. The results show that BPE and CBPE both showed improvements in the BLEU scores from 38.31 to 44.82 and 44.07 for English→Filipino, and from 32.17 to 35.25 and 35.98 for Filipino→English, respectively. The lower scores in the Filipino→English can be attributed to other language characteristics of Filipino such as free word order, one-to-many relationship in translating from English to Filipino, and some transliterations in the parallel corpus. CBPE also performed slightly better for English→Filipino than for Filipino→English.