Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Young modulus and elastic properties of single-walled boron nitride nanotubes probed by in-situ TEM

In recent years a significant interest has been devoted to boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) due to their intriguing physical properties, which make them a possible alternative to their carbon brethren in regards to possible applications [1,2,3]. However, in contrast to CNTs for which many studies have been focused in their properties, including the mechanical ones, there are almost no data for BNNTs [1]. This is the key point for the BNNTs applications in real devices. Only a few years ago it has been shown that in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a very powerful and useful technique to investigate the mechanical and electrical properties of nanomaterials. Importantly, the structural information at the nanometer scale during the measurements could be obtained in parallel [4-6]. We carried out all these in-situ TEM studies using an AFM-TEM NanofactoryTM holder on a JEM-3100FEF microscope. In this work, we studied individual and bundled single-walled (SW) BNNTs [6,1]. Figure 1 shows a series of force/displacement curves of an isolated SW-BNNT placed between a silicon cantilever and a gold wire (inset of Fig. 1 (a)). The applied deformation force is ~ 9.5 nN, when a kink forms at the displacement of ~ 11 nm. After that no extra force is necessary to continue the deformation. These experiments have been repeated several times under different cycles (see Fig. 1 (a)). The sequence of images (Fig. 1(b)-(e)) are the snapshots from a video recorded of one of these cycles. The NTs exhibit reversible deformation during loading and unloading processes, indicating that they are extremely flexible. This fact emphasizes the unique deformation behaviour of SW-BNNTs. Applying the elastic beam theory and knowing all required structural/geometrical (length, diameter and thickness) and loading parameters (force versus displacement data), we deduced the stress and the strain values applied to the SW-BNNT. From these values, we calculated the Young Modulus. At this point, it is worth mentioning that there has been a controversy concerning the value of the Young modulus of carbon NTs. And it has been suggested that it is due to the author's interpretation of the wall thickness of the nanotube. In our case we have considered a thickness value for SW-BNNT of 0.07 nm, and them we deduced an elastic modulus of 1.11 ± 0.17 TPa. In this contribution we will discuss about this important aspect. In summary, we have developed in-situ TEM experiments for the first time probing elastic properties of SW-BNNTs. All these experiments indicated that these NTs are very flexible. Furthermore, we determined the Young modulus of an individual SW-BNNT. These studies provide very useful information that has been not acquired before and that sheds a light on the properties of these inorganic nanotubes.
Cruising along Microtubule Highways: How Membranes Move through the Secretory Pathway

How microtubules (MTs)1 influence secretion has long intrigued cell biologists. Significant insight has come from studies showing that MTs serve as highways along which transport intermediates travel between the ER and Golgi ([9][1], [10][2], [21][3], [28][4], [32][5]), making it tempting to
Optimal trajectory for a microrobot navigating in blood vessels

The chemotherapy magnetically controlled under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is currently one of the active areas of cancer research. This paper proposes a precise model of a therapeutic microrobot magnetically steered in blood vessels. This modeling approach takes into account the non-Newtonian behavior of blood, as well as wall effect on the blood's profile and robot-to-wall interaction forces. A backstepping approach law is used to ensure a null error between the real trajectory and an optimal reference trajectory deduced from the highly nonlinear model. The strengths and limitations of the overall study are evaluated by simulations.
Protection against Lethal Vaccinia Virus Challenge in HLA-A2 Transgenic Mice by Immunization with a Single CD8+ T-Cell Peptide Epitope of Vaccinia and Variola Viruses

ABSTRACT CD8+ T lymphocytes have been shown to be involved in controlling poxvirus infection, but no protective cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes are defined for variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, or for vaccinia virus. Of several peptides in vaccinia virus predicted to bind HLA-A2.1, three, VETFsm(498-506), A26L(6-14), and HRP2(74-82), were found to bind HLA-A2.1. Splenocytes from HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice immunized with vaccinia virus responded only to HRP2(74-82) at 1 week and to all three epitopes by ex vivo enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay at 4 weeks postimmunization. To determine if these epitopes could elicit a protective CD8+ T-cell response, we challenged peptide-immunized HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice intranasally with a lethal dose of the WR strain of vaccinia virus. HRP2(74-82) peptide-immunized mice recovered from infection, while naïve mice died. Depletion of CD8+ T cells eliminated protection. Protection of HHD-2 mice, lacking mouse class I major histocompatibility complex molecules, implicates CTLs restricted by human HLA-A2.1 as mediators of protection. These results suggest that HRP2(74-82), which is shared between vaccinia and variola viruses, may be a CD8+ T-cell epitope of vaccinia virus that will provide cross-protection against smallpox in HLA-A2.1-positive individuals, representing almost half the population.
An autopsy case of hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary with PIVKA‐II production: Immunohistochemical study and literature review

A case of hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary in a 61‐year‐old Japanese woman, who showed high serum levels of α‐fetoprotein and CA125, is reported. Grossly, the left ovarian tumor, which measured 12 × 9 cm, was solid and multinodular. Histologically, the tumor resembled hepatocellular carcinoma by its architectural and cytological features. Liver cell differentiation was indicated functionally by the immunohistochemical detection of α‐fetoprotein and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA‐II) and by positive bile production, and the hepatocellular differentiation was structurally in accord with keratin 7, 8 and 18 expression. CA125 expression, commonly present in ovarian surface epithelial carcinomas, suggested that this neoplasm originated from ovarian common epithelial cells. There are only nine such cases in the literature. A review of these cases reveals that hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary occurs exclusively in postmenopausal women (mean age, 62.7 years) and that the prognosis is poor.
Emergence of chondrogenic progenitor stem cells in transplantation biology—prospects and drawbacks

Avascular tissues such as a cartilage contains a unique type of cell called as the chondrocyte. We, however, have not understood the origin of the chondrocyte population and how this population is maintained in the normal tissue. In spite of being considered to be a simple tissue, scientist had always faced difficulties to engineer this tissue. This is because different structural regions of the articular cartilage were never understood. In addition to this, the limited self‐repair potential of cartilage tissue and lack of effective therapeutic options for the treatment of damaged cartilage has remained an unsolved problem. Mesenchymal stem cell based therapy may provide a solution for cartilage regeneration. This is due to their ability to differentiate into chondrogenic lineage when appropriate conditions are provided. An ideal cell source, a three‐dimensional cell culture, a suitable scaffold material that accomplishes all the necessary properties and bioactive factors in specific amounts are required to induce chondrocyte differentiation and proliferation. Cartilage tissue engineering is a promising and rapidly expanding area of research that assures cartilage regeneration. However, many unsolved questions concerning the mechanism of engraftment of chondrocytes following transplantation in vivo, biological safety after transplantation and the retention of these cells for lifetime remain to be addressed that is possible only through years of extensive research. Further studies are therefore required to estimate the long‐term sustainability of these cells in the native tissue, to identify well suited delivery materials and to have a thorough understanding of the mechanism of interaction between the chondrocytes and extracellular matrix and time is not far when this cell based therapy will provide a comprehensive cure to cartilage disease. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 397–403, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: an updated review

Purpose of review Venous thromboembolism is a spectrum of disease comprising deep vein thrombosis, thrombus in transit, acute pulmonary embolism, and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) as a rare and late possible sequela. Recent findings On the basis of a prospective long-term study, the incidence of CTEPH is estimated at 3.8% within 2 years of all patients surviving an episode of symptomatic idiopathic pulmonary embolism. Young age, a large perfusion defect, and idiopathic clinical presentation are associated with a higher probability of CTEPH. Current pathophysiological concepts suggest a misguided thrombus resolution process that is triggered by infection, inflammation, autoimmunity, and malignancy. Diagnosis and therapy of CTEPH are interdisciplinary achievements and nowadays still based on a positive lung perfusion scan and for assessment of operability on a classical pulmonary angiography. Treatment of choice is surgical pulmonary endarterectomy of the pulmonary obstructions, which leads to restoration of normal pulmonary hemodynamics at rest in nearly 80% of patients. In expert centers, surgical mortality is under 10%. Summary CTEPH has emerged as a ‘dual’ pulmonary vascular disorder with major vessel vascular remodeling of thrombus organization, combined with a small vessel pulmonary arteriopathy that is a target for classic vasodilator treatments.
An introduction to predictive modelling of drug concentration in anaesthesia monitors

A significant amount of anaesthetists’ work involves the prediction of drug effects and interactions to produce a smooth general anaesthetic that minimises drug side effects and promotes rapid emergence. Successfully managing this process requires a basic understanding of drug effects, experience and inevitably some guesswork, since it is difficult (and in some cases impossible) to anticipate all relevant patient and surgical factors. Although data are generally available to allow calculation of plasma drug and effect site concentrations, this is often difficult to apply in complex clinical contexts, particularly when multiple drug types are used.
Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia Improves Global and Regional Left Ventricular Function During Stress‐Induced Myocardial Ischemia in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

The aim of the present investigation was to study the effects of high thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA), including the cardiac sympathetic segments, on ischemic ST-segment changes and left ventricular global and regional wall motion abnormalities. Ten patients with a two- or three-vessel coronary artery disease, all treated with the β-adrenergic blocker metoprolol because of severe stable angina pectoris, performed two identical exercise stress tests, the first without TEA (control exercise) and the second with TEA (TEA exercise). Before each stress test, intravenous metoprolol was given to achieve maximal or near maximal β-adrenoceptor blockade. Systolic and diastolic arterial pressures (radial artery cannula), heart rate, and rate-pressure product, as well as global and regional ejection fractions, using equilibrium radionuclide angiography in the left anterior oblique projection, were measured at rest and during maximal exercise. ST-segment analysis (V3 or V5) was performed, and the regional wall motion score was calculated at control exercise and TEA exercise. Intravenous metoprolol or intravenous metoprolol plus TEA at rest did not cause any significant changes of any of the variables. During TEA exercise, systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, and rate-pressure product, but not heart rate, were significantly lower compared to control exercise. The global and anterolateral ejection fractions were significantly higher (52.8% versus 46.5% and 53.2% versus 46.0%, respectively, P < 0.05), and the regional wall motion score was significantly lower (8.8 versus 11.8, P < 0.01) during TEA exercise than during control exercise. ST-segment depression was significantly lower during TEA exercise (−1.03 versus −1.84 mV, P < 0.01). It is concluded that cardiac sympathetic blockade with TEA, in patients with coronary artery disease, improves ischemia-induced left ventricular global and regional wall motion abnormalities at a certain physical stress, associated with less pronounced ST-segment depression.
Le business : organisation et vie familiale. Recherche sur l'installation dans l'illégalité

Ce travail de type ethnographique propose une reflexion sur la rationalite des acteurs impliques dans les trafics (cannabis, voitures). Il s'agit d'explorer cette rationalite a travers la question du devenir des trafiquants, de leur installation dans l'illegalite. Les pratiques illegales n'ont pas ete isolees des autres univers sociaux ou evoluent les trafiquants et notamment la famille. En effet, cet aspect est primordial car les trafiquants qui s'installent tentent de faire coexister leurs activites avec les activites legitimes ou ordinaires et cette dimension devient de plus en plus cruciale. Cette sociologie de l'installation nous a conduit a nous distancier de la sociologie de la deviance, des recherches sur l'economie "informelle" ou "souterraine" et plus encore de la sociologie de la delinquance. Cette connaissance des pratiques implique et permet a la fois d'enlever a ces pratiques illegales tout caractere exotique pour leur redonner a l'inverse leur caractere singulier. Les trafiquants ne sont pas tout a fait ordinaires dans la mesure ou leurs activites sont illegales, mais l'illegalite, d'un point de vue sociologique, est tout a fait ordinaire, elle est une pratique "normale", frequente et attestee dans les groupes sociaux auxquels cette recherche s'est interessee. Mais la rationalite des protagonistes de l'illegalite est, elle aussi "normale", elle varie avec leurs engagements, leurs trajectoires. Elle manifeste au fur et a mesure de leur socialisation, l'aspiration a une "vie normale".
Understanding the Health Literacy of America: Results of the National Assessment of Adult Literacy

Health literacy refers to an individual's ability to understand healthcare information to make appropriate decisions (Ratzen & Parker, 2000). Healthcare professionals are obligated to make sure that patients understand information to maximize the benefits of healthcare. The National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) provides information on the literacy/health literacy levels of the U.S. adult population. The NAAL is the only large-scale survey of health literacy. The results of the NAAL provide information on literacy/health literacy and the relationship between background variables and literacy/health literacy. Multiple variables with potential for a relationship with literacy/health literacy were chosen for the NAAL including, but not limited to, education, language, race, gender, income, overall health, seeking health information, and health insurance.
Notch signaling pathway in keloid disease: Enhanced fibroblast activity in a Jagged‐1 peptide‐dependent manner in lesional vs. extralesional fibroblasts

Keloid disease (KD) is a fibroproliferative disorder of unknown etiopathogenesis with ill‐defined treatment. There is increasing evidence to suggest that aberrant Notch signaling may contribute directly to skin pathogenesis and altered expression of Notch receptors identified in KD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the Notch signaling pathway in KD compared to normal skin (NS). In this study, we employed in vitro primary cell culture models to elucidate the role of Notch signaling in 44 tissue samples from patients with KD split into keloid and extralesional (EL) samples (internal control) from the same patients, and six NS tissue samples (external control). We show the presence of a significant (p < 0.05) up‐regulation of Notch receptors and ligand Jagged‐1 (JAG‐1) in KD compared to EL and NS tissue samples. Cell spreading, attachment, and proliferation were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in JAG‐1 antisense‐treated primary dermal fibroblasts isolated from KD and treated with γ‐secretase inhibitor (blocks proteolytic cleavage and activation of Notch), evaluated by real‐time cell analyzer (RTCA) on a microelectronic sensory array. In contrast, extralesional skin fibroblasts (ELF) treated with recombinant human JAG‐1 (rh‐JAG‐1) peptide showed significant (p < 0.05) enhancement of cell spreading, attachment, and proliferation in RTCA. Activation/inhibition of JAG‐1 and Notch signaling significantly (p < 0.05) altered the behavior of primary keloid fibroblasts and ELF, in cell migration (using a scratch wound assay), invasion (using a 3D invasion assay), and angiogenesis (in vitro coculture tube formation assay). In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate a potential role for the Notch signaling pathway in KD progression and that targeting this pathway may provide a novel strategy for treatment of KD.
Calibrating Resource-light Automatic MT Evaluation: a Cheap Approach to Ranking MT Systems by the Usability of Their Output

MT systems are traditionally evaluated with different criteria, such as adequacy and fluency. Automatic evaluation scores are designed to match these quality parameters. In this paper we introduce a novel parameter – usability (or utility) of output, which was found to integrate both fluency and adequacy. We confronted two automated metrics, BLEU and LTV, with new data for which human evaluation scores were also produced; we then measured the agreement between the automated and human evaluation scores. The resources produced in the experiment are available on the authors’ website.
Navigating spatio-temporal data with temporal zoom and pan in a multi-touch environment

Geographic phenomena often have an intrinsic temporal component that can be an important part of answering many research questions. Geospatial applications are well developed in their ability to navigate the spatial dimension of data through zoom and pan tools, but are less developed in their temporal navigation abilities. Improved temporal navigation tools are important for achieving a simplified and more thorough analysis of spatio-temporal data. This paper presents new approaches for navigating the temporal dimension of spatio-temporal data in a multi-touch environment using temporal zoom and pan. Two approaches, Dynamic Radial Navigation and Multiple Linked Time Sliders, were implemented and tested with a user evaluation that compared them to two approaches based on more commonly available temporal navigation tools, Drop-Down List and Date/Time Spinners. Results from the user evaluation indicated that although all of the approaches were effective, there were variations in efficiency and perceptions of ease of use and usefulness. The results of the study favoured the Date/Time Spinners, even though these consumed the largest amount of display space. The participants did acknowledge the value of the visualization and interaction elements in the new approaches, but reported difficulty in using them due to their compact size. These findings illustrate the delicate balance between size, utility, and novelty, which must be carefully managed in the development of multi-touch data analysis tools.
Cost of illness of inflammatory bowel disease in the UK: a single centre retrospective study

Background and aims: The potentially high costs of care associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are recognised but we have little knowledge of the scale, profile, or determinants of these costs in the UK. This study aimed to describe costs of illness for a group of IBD patients and determine factors associated with increased healthcare costs. Setting: A university hospital serving a target population of approximately 330 000. Patients and methods: A six month cohort of IBD patients receiving any form of secondary care was identified, comprising 307 cases of ulcerative (or indeterminate) colitis and 172 cases of Crohn’s disease. Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from clinical records and individual resource use was itemised for all attributable costs (including extraintestinal manifestations). Item costs were derived from national and local sources. Cost data were expressed as mean six month costs per patient (with 95% confidence interval (CI)) obtained using non-parametric bootstrapping. Determinants of cost were analysed using generalised linear regression modelling. A postal survey of patients was undertaken to examine indirect costs, out of pocket expenses, and primary care visits. Results: Inpatient services (medical and/or surgical) were required by 67 patients (14%) but accounted for 49% of total secondary care costs. Drug costs accounted for less than a quarter of total costs. Individual patient costs ranged from £73 to £33 254 per six months. Mean (95% CI) six month costs per patient were £1256 (£988, £1721) for colitis and £1652 (£1221, £2239) for Crohn’s disease. Hospitalisation, disease severity grade, and disease extent correlated positively with cost of illness but costs were independent of age or sex. Compared with quiescent cases of IBD, disease relapse was associated with a 2–3-fold increase in costs for non-hospitalised cases and a 20-fold increase in costs for hospitalised cases. Survey data suggested average six month costs were <£30 per patient for primary care visits (both diseases) and median loss of earnings were £239 for colitis and £299 for Crohn’s disease. Conclusions: This study represents the first detailed characterisation of the scale and determinants of costs of illness for IBD in a British hospital. Hospitalisation affected a minority of sufferers but accounted for half of the total direct costs falling on the healthcare system.
Strategies for the design of hepatoselective glucokinase activators to treat type 2 diabetes

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a rapidly expanding healthcare challenge. There is a significant need for novel therapies to help patients achieve and maintain glycemic control in order to avoid the long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications associated with the disease. Small molecule allosteric activators of the glucokinase enzyme, an important regulator of glucose homeostasis, have emerged as a potential new class of therapeutics. Glucokinase activators have been shown to effectively lower fasting and postprandial glucose in T2DM patients; however, hypoglycemia emerged as a potential risk limiting their therapeutic potential. To mitigate this risk, recent efforts have focused on the design of liver-specific activators that seek to normalize hepatic glucose uptake and production without potentiating glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Areas covered: The article reviews the various drug discovery strategies that have emerged for the development of candidates that selectively activate glucokinase in the liver. Literature from 2000 to 2012 is surveyed including scientific publications, patent applications, conferences and clinical trials. Expert opinion: Liver selective agents have proven to be an effective strategy for mitigating the hypoglycemia risk that has been historically associated with this mechanism. The ultimate therapeutic potential of this approach will depend on the results of longer patient studies which are currently being conducted with several clinical candidates. The discovery of these liver-specific activators has highlighted several challenges in the design of tissue-selective therapeutics, which will need to be overcome in the future.