Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High Precision Imaging of Microscopic Spread of Glioblastoma with a Targeted Ultrasensitive SERRS Molecular Imaging Probe

The dismal prognosis of patients with malignant brain tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is attributed mostly to their diffuse growth pattern and early microscopic tumor spread to distant regions of the brain. Because the microscopic tumor foci cannot be visualized with current imaging modalities, it remains impossible to direct treatments optimally. Here we explored the ability of integrin-targeted surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) nanoparticles to depict the true tumor extent in a GBM mouse model that closely mimics the pathology in humans. The recently developed SERRS-nanoparticles have a sensitivity of detection in the femtomolar range. An RGD-peptide-conjugated version for integrin-targeting (RGD-SERRS) was compared directly to its non-targeted RAD-SERRS control in the same mice via Raman multiplexing. Pre-blocking with RGD peptide before injection of RGD-SERRS nanoparticles was used to verify the specificity of integrin-targeting. In contrast to the current belief that the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect results in a baseline uptake of nanoparticles regardless of their surface chemistry, integrin-targeting was shown to be highly specific, with markedly lower accumulation after pre-blocking. While the non-targeted SERRS particles enabled delineation of the main tumor, the RGD-SERRS nanoparticles afforded a major improvement in visualization of the true extent and the diffuse margins of the main tumor. This included the detection of unexpected tumor areas distant to the main tumor, tracks of migrating cells of 2-3 cells in diameter, and even isolated distant tumor cell clusters of less than 5 cells. This Raman spectroscopy-based nanoparticle-imaging technology holds promise to allow high precision visualization of the true extent of malignant brain tumors.
Living Kidney Donation: Evolution of Strategies

Renal transplantation (RT) represents the best therapeutic option for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), providing the best outcomes for survival, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness [1]. The widening gap between the recipients waiting for RT and the number of available kidney donors has led to annual expansion of the waiting list and dramatic increase in the morbidity and mortality due to the long waiting times for patients on dialysis. The living kidney donation (LKD) has become increasingly important in recent years due to decrease in the number of deceased kidney donors. There has been significant increase in the number of LKD over past decade due to enhancement of the education of the donors and recipients about LKD, introduction of minimally invasive surgical techniques of donor nephrectomy, expanded criteria for donor acceptance, informed consents, rigorous follow-up regimens, blood group ABO-incompatible (ABOi) and positive cross-match transplants and non-directed altruistic donations [2]. This editorial summarises the evolution of practice that has taken place over past six decades to encourage living kidney donation.
Hα and Hβ Emission in a C3.3 Solar Flare: Comparison between Observations and Simulations

The hydrogen Balmer series is a basic radiative loss channel from the flaring solar chromosphere. We report here on the analysis of an extremely rare set of simultaneous observations of a solar flare in the H α and H β lines, at high spatial and temporal resolutions, that were acquired at the Dunn Solar Telescope. Images of the C3.3 flare (SOL2014-04-22T15:22) made at various wavelengths along the H α line profile by the Interferometric Bidimensional Spectrometer (IBIS) and in the H β with the Rapid Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere (ROSA) broadband imager are analyzed to obtain the intensity evolution. The H α and H β intensity excesses in three identified flare footpoints are well-correlated in time. We examine the ratio of H α to H β flare excess, which was proposed by previous authors as a possible diagnostic of the level of electron-beam energy input. In the stronger footpoints, the typical value of the the H α /H β intensity ratio observed is ∼0.4–0.5, in broad agreement with values obtained from a RADYN non-LTE simulation driven by an electron beam with parameters constrained (as far as possible) by observation. The weaker footpoint has a larger H α /H β ratio, again consistent with a RADYN simulation, but with a smaller energy flux. The H α line profiles observed have a less prominent central reversal than is predicted by the RADYN results, but can be brought into agreement if the H α -emitting material has a filling factor of around 0.2–0.3.
Manufacturing flat and cylindrical laminates and built up structure using automated thermoplastic tape laying, fiber placement, and filament winding

Automated thermoplastic filament winding, tape laying, and fiber placement have been demonstrated by manufacturing thermoplastic-reinforced carbon-fiber laminates and stiffened parts using in situ consolidation. Material feedstock requirements were met with polyimide and polyetherketone placement-grade tows and tapes from Cytec Engineered Materials. The thermoplastic in situ heads integrate material deposition with a polymer process that combines preheating, generation of layer-to-layer intimate contact, interlayer bond development by reptation healing, consolidation/squeeze flow, and freezing/void compression in the laminate. The in situ winding process combines sequential [0°] tape laying and filament winding to fabricate [0°/90°] and [0°/90°/±θ°] monocoque and ring-stiffened cylinders from polyetherketone composite material systems with outstanding property translation. Finished parts and systems have been commercialized. The automated fiber placement process has been developed for flat skins with twelve simultaneous 6.35mm (0.25-in) tow placement or one 76mm (3-in) tape placement capability. Thermoplastic and cross-linking composites and coated titanium foils have been placed. A large number of demonstration parts have been fabricated including flat laminates with and without padups, stringerand honeycomb-stiffened skins, and TiGr (interleaved Titanium and Graphite/thermoplastic layers) skins alone or sandwiching Titanium-honeycomb core. In general, 85% to 100% property translation is available with in situ processing, and 100% if post-autoclaved cured, for example to advance a cross-linking polyimide resin.
Cataract How Important Is Age of Intervention

Purpose: To study effect of age of intervention on visual outcome following treatment of pediatric patients with cataract. Setting: Tertiary eye care centre in Dahod at the trijunction of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan states in central western India. Participants: 705 eyes of 1047 patients Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. We studied a consecutive series of pediatric patients with congenital, developing, or COM- PLICATED cataracts who underwent surgery between January, 1999 and April, 2012 at our center. Patient demographics, cataract type, presenting symptoms, surgical intervention, postoperative visual acuity, and follow-up refractive changes were recorded. Primary Outcome measures: vision. Results: In total, 1305 eyes of 1047 children were included: unilateral cataracts were present in 786 (60.2%) eyes. There were 600 (46.7%) traumatic and 705 (53.3%) non-traumatic cases. Ages at surgery ranged from 1 to 215 months. Eyes were grouped by the age of surgical intervention performed: Group 1, 5 years, including 528 (74.9%) eyes either by anterior or pars plana route ± IOL placement. The mean follow-up time was 117 days. Ultimately, 128 (18.2%) Group 1 and 213 (30.2%) Group 2 patients achieved a visual acuity better than 20/80 (P < 0.001). Age at intervention was significantly related (all P < 0.001) to visual outcome. Conclusions: Age of intervention affects visual outcome significantly (p<0.001).
The prowess of platelets in immunity and inflammation

Summary Platelets not only serve as essential haemostatic cells, they also have important roles in immune defence and inflammation. Despite not having a nucleus, platelets contain physiologically relevant amounts of RNA, which can be spliced and translated into functional proteins. In addition, platelets have the ability to bind to numerous other cells, such as leukocytes and vascular cells. During those interactions, platelets can modulate cellular responses, resulting in e. g. inflammatory activation or apoptosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that platelets can influence the outcomes of bacterial and viral infection, as well as the extent of tissue injury after ischaemia. Platelets also carry considerable amounts of cytokines and growth factors in their secretory granules, preformed for rapid secretion. Those properties in combination with the sheer amount of platelets circulating in the blood stream make them an important force in the immune response during health and disease. In this overview, recent findings concerning those interesting properties of platelets beyond haemostasis are discussed.
2018-00572-PhD Position / Individual-based models in adaptive dynamics and long time evolution under assumptions of rare advantageous mutations [ S ]

The theory of “adaptive dynamics” is a branch of evolutionary biology, which studies the links between Ecology (interactions between individuals and their environment, including the other individuals of the population) and Evolution. Models of adaptive dynamics describe the population at the level of individuals, where individuals are characterized by their (phenol)types, and aim at studying the influence of the mechanisms of heredity (reproduction), mutation and selection (as a consequence of ecological interactions) on the long time evolution of the population. This theory has its origin in Metz et al. (1996), and the success of the theory comes from its ability to explain and predict the emergence and maintenance of diversity within a single species and without geographical separation. The basic mechanism of diversification is called “evolutionary branching” and corresponds to a transition from a population state where all the individuals have similar types to a population state where two subpopulations with different types coexist but continue to interact (for example they continue to compete for the similar resources). The theory of adaptive dynamics also provides a description of the long-term evolution of the dominant type in the population as solution of the so-called “canonical equation of adaptive dynamics” driven by a fitness gradient, where the fitness describes the possibility of mutant invasions and is constructed from ecological parameters.
Robot behavior adaptation for formation maintenance

The autonomous robot formation maintenance problem can be approached by considering local information only. This approach is more realistic than using global information, but presents a troop deformation drawback. This paper performs a step forward in local information usage for formation maintenance by analyzing a parameterization of different basic behaviors. Formation maintenance emerges from the combination of these simple behaviors, and its overall accuracy is empirically optimized by tuning behavior parameters. In particular, we study and characterize three different formations: queue or column (as for ants), inverted V or wedge (as for birds or planes) and rectangle (for manipulus antique roman troop formations). This paper describes simulated robots that incorporate a unique set of basic behaviors from which formation maintenance emerges. These simple behaviors provide formation robustness and are parameterized in order to minimize deformation while following a trajectory.
Extracellular Calcium-Sensing Receptor Mediated Signalling is Involved in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis

Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) plays key role in vascular calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the role of CaSR in regulating smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and apoptosis. Incubation with 300μM neomycin (CaSR agonist) resulted in 7.5-fold (p<0.05) increase in ERK1,2 phosphorylation. It was reduced (p<0.01) by 10μM PD98059 (MEK1 inhibitor), indicating that CaSR agonist-induced effects were mediated via MEK1/ERK1,2 pathway. ERK1,2 phosphorylation was abolished by 5μM U73122 (PLC inhibitor), indicating that PLC signalling was crucial for MEK1/ERK1,2 activation. Confirming PLC activation, inositol triphosphate (IP3) production was increased by neomycin/gentamycin (p<0.05) and reduced by U73122. To confirm that ERK1,2 and PLC signalling were mediated via CaSR, Human Aortic SMC (HAoSMC) were transfected with CaSR siRNA. CaSR knockdown resulted in lower ERK1,2 neomycin response and IP3 production (p<0.01). Neomycin increased HAoSMC proliferation >3-fold, which was reduced in CaSR knockdown cells (p<0.01) and further inhibited by PD98059 and U73122 (p<0.05). Apoptosis was not affected by neomycin treatment. U73122 produced 3.5-fold increase in HAoSMC apoptosis, which was further increased by CaSR knockdown (5-fold, p<0.05). In conclusion, stimulation of CaSR leads to activation of MEK1/ERK1,2 and PLC pathways and up-regulation of cell proliferation. CaSR-mediated PLC activation is important for SMC survival and protection against apoptosis.
Performance analysis of modi fi ed Asymmetrically-Clipped Optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing systems

A modification to the Asymmetrically-Clipped Optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (ACO-OFDM) technique is proposed through unipolar encoding. A performance analysis of the Bit Error Rate (BER) is developed and Monte Carlo simulations are carried out to verify the analysis. Results are compared to that of the corresponding ACO-OFDM system under the same bit energy and transmission rate; an improvement of 1 dB is obtained at a BER of 10 4 . In addition, the performance of the proposed system in the presence of atmospheric turbulence is investigated using single-input multiple-output (SIMO) configuration and its performance under that environment is compared to that of ACO-OFDM. Energy improvements of 4 dB and 2.2 dB are obtained at a BER of 10 4 for SIMO systems of 1 and 2 photodetectors at the receiver for the case of strong turbulence, respectively. & 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Guidelines on the use of urine and faeces in crop production

* Based on Jönsson, H. et al. 2004. Guidelines on the Use of Urine and Faeces in Crop Production. EcoSanRes Publication Series. Report 2004-2. Stockholm Environment Institute; Stockholm, Sweden. Available from www.ecosanres. org ological sanitation (ecosan) is y closing the nutrient and water cycles. Nutrients from human excreta should be returned to the soil to fertilize crops. Safe processing of the urine and faeces into fertilizer is described in EcoSanRes Fact Sheet 5. Keeping urine and faeces separated at the source simplifies safe processing and handling of excreta.
Effect of a multidisciplinary treatment program on eating behavior in overweight and obese preschool children

Abstract Background: The effects of multidisciplinary treatment programs on eating behavior in overweight preschool-aged children are largely unknown. We evaluated a multidisciplinary intervention program on eating behavior in 3- to 5-year-old overweight children, comparing them with children given standard treatment. We also assessed the parental eating behavior changes and investigated associations between parents and children. Methods: We randomized 75 children to a multidisciplinary intervention or to a standard care program. During a 16-week period, children and parents in the multidisciplinary group were given dietary advice, physical activity sessions and, for parents only, psychological counseling. Children and parents in the standard group visited a pediatrician 3 times and were given information on a healthy lifestyle. At baseline, after 16 weeks, and after 12 months, children were measured and parents completed the Dutch Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ-C) for their children and the DEBQ for themselves. Results: At the three time points, 70 (93.3%), 57 (91.9%), and 42 (73.7%) DEBQ-Cs were analyzed. We found no differences in the changes in eating behavior between the two groups over time. In both groups, there was a significant increase in restrained eating behavior present at 16 weeks, however, this was no longer present at 12 months. We found no associations between changes in eating behavior between the children and their parents. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary obesity intervention program in preschool-aged children induced more restrained eating behavior between baseline and 16 weeks. However, there was no difference with the children in the standard care group.
Deficiency in DNA damage response of enterocytes accelerates intestinal stem cell aging in Drosophila

Stem cell dysfunction is closely linked to tissue and organismal aging and age-related diseases, and heavily influenced by the niche cells’ environment. The DNA damage response (DDR) is a key pathway for tissue degeneration and organismal aging; however, the precise protective role of DDR in stem cell/niche aging is unclear. The Drosophila midgut is an excellent model to study the biology of stem cell/niche aging because of its easy genetic manipulation and its short lifespan. Here, we showed that deficiency of DDR in Drosophila enterocytes (ECs) accelerates intestinal stem cell (ISC) aging. We generated flies with knockdown of Mre11, Rad50, Nbs1, ATM, ATR, Chk1, and Chk2, which decrease the DDR system in ECs. EC-specific DDR depletion induced EC death, accelerated the aging of ISCs, as evidenced by ISC hyperproliferation, DNA damage accumulation, and increased centrosome amplification, and affected the adult fly’s survival. Our data indicated a distinct effect of DDR depletion in stem or niche cells on tissue-resident stem cell proliferation. Our findings provide evidence of the essential role of DDR in protecting EC against ISC aging, thus providing a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of stem cell/niche aging.
Local Muscular Endurance and Prediction of 1 Repetition Maximum for Bench In 4 Athletic Populations

Desgorces, FD, Berthelot, G, Dietrich, G, and Testa, MSA. Local muscular endurance and prediction of the 1 repetition maximum for bench press lift in different athletic populations. J Strength Cond Res 24(2): 394-400, 2010-The aim of this study was to determine a predictive equation of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) from local muscular endurance. Different athletic male populations were assessed: racket/ball games players (n = 31), power lifters (n = 22), swimmers (n = 28), and rowers (n = 29). After the 1RM assessment for the bench press, the maximum number of repetitions (MNR) relative to the 1RM (85%, 75%, 60%, 40%, and 20%) was tested. No significant differences in strength evolution from 20% to 100% of the 1RM was found between power lifters and racket/ball games players and between swimmers and rowers. However, differences in the strength evolution appeared between these 2 mixed groups (p < 0.01), with differences appearing from 75% of 1RM to lesser relative strength (p < 0.05). Nonlinear equations fitted best with the actual data for the capacity to repeat lifts. The evolution of strength from 100% to 20% of 1RM was better described when the groups' specific equations were used as demonstrated by r2, and residuals range between the predicted minus the measured 1RM. The strength endurance competences for high loads (100%-75%) were adequately modelled by the equation based on the total population. The accuracy of the 1RM prediction was better when a reduced number of lifts was performed. For untrained or novice subjects, the use of group-specific equations for the all evolutionary profile of strength allows a good estimate of 1RM and provides adequate numbers of lifts for all levels of strength, thus optimizing the training programs.
Development of a Web-based Family Intervention for BRCA Carriers and Their Biological Relatives: Acceptability, Feasibility, and Usability Study

Background Carriers of breast cancer gene (BRCA) mutations are asked to communicate genetic test results to their biological relatives to increase awareness of cancer risk and promote use of genetic services. This process is highly variable from family to family. Interventions that support communication of genetic test results, coping, and offer decision support in families harboring a pathogenic variant may contribute to effective management of hereditary cancer. Objective The aim of this paper was to describe the development of the Family Gene Toolkit, a Web-based intervention targeting BRCA carriers and untested blood relatives, designed to enhance coping, family communication, and decision making. Methods We present findings from focus groups regarding intervention acceptability and participant satisfaction and from a pre-post pilot study with random allocation to a wait-listed control group regarding intervention feasibility and usability. Results The Family Gene Toolkit was developed by a multidisciplinary team as a psycho-educational and skills-building intervention. It includes two live webinar sessions and a follow-up phone call guided by a certified genetic counselor and a master’s prepared oncology nurse. Each live webinar includes two modules (total four modules) presenting information about BRCA mutations, a decision aid for genetic testing, and two skill-building modules for effective coping and family communication. Participants in focus groups (n=11) were highly satisfied with the intervention, reporting it to be useful and describing clearly the important issues. From the 12 dyads recruited in the pre-post pilot study (response rate 12/52, 23%), completion rate was 71% (10/14) for intervention and 40% (4/10) for wait-listed control groups. Conclusions Acceptability and satisfaction with the Family Gene Toolkit is high. On the basis of the findings from usability and feasibility testing, modifications on timing, delivery mode, and recruitment methods have been implemented. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02154633; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02154633 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6yYNvLPjv)
Party Formation and Policy Outcomes Under Different Electoral Systems

I introduce a model of representative democracy with strategic parties, strategic candidates, strategic voters and multiple districts. If policy preferences are similar across districts and not too concentrated within districts, then the number of effective parties is larger under proportional representation (PR) than under plurality, and both electoral systems determine the median voter's preferred policy. However, for more asymmetric distributions of preferences the Duvergerian predictions can be reversed, and the policy outcome with PR is more moderate than the one with plurality. Sincere voting induces more party formation, and strategic voting can be observed more often under PR. Copyright 2004, Wiley-Blackwell.
Simulation of fluid mixing with interface control

The simulation of fluid mixing under the Eulerian framework often suffers from numerical dissipation issues. In this paper, we present a mass-preserving convection scheme that offers direct control on the shape of the interface. The key component of this scheme is a sharpening term built upon the diffusive flux of a user-specified kernel function. To determine the thickness of the ideal interface during fluid mixing, we perform theoretical analysis on a one-dimensional diffusive model using the Fick's law of diffusion. By explicitly controlling the interface thickness using a spatio-temporally varying kernel variable, we can use our scheme to produce realistic fluid mixing effects without numerical dissipation artifacts. We can also use the scheme to control interface changes between two fluids, due to temperature, pressure, or external energy input. This convection scheme is compatible with many advection methods and it has a small computational overhead.