Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microstructure and Thermal Expansion Properties of Ostrich Eggshell

Abstract : Textures of calcite crystals from ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggshells were examined with X ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM, SEM), and the thermal stability by thermal expansion analysis (TEA). Results showed that textures vary through the thickness of the eggshell and that expansion properties and thermal behaviour are unusual. Crystals from ostrich eggshell are arranged in two main configurations or layers; the outer layer with the c-axis of crystals oriented perpendicular to the eggshell surface and the inner layer with the c-axes of the crystals arranged almost parallel to eggshell surface; thermal expansion analysis show high stability through a wide range of temperatures until a steep growth near 450-460 degrees C. These results show that the manipulation of crystal texture and properties is under biological control and a better understanding of this biological phenomenon will provide more and better data for improving new synthetic composite materials.
Nightmares: Under-Reported, Undetected, and Therefore Untreated.

OBJECTIVE Nightmares are a robust and modifiable predictor of increased suicidality and poor psychiatric outcomes, yet nightmare screening and treatment remain rare, even in sleep centers. This paper aims to examine what proportion of nightmare sufferers have discussed nightmares with a healthcare provider, as well as possible explanations for low rates of nightmare complaints. METHODS The present study utilized a large United States community sample recruited through mTurk and a student sample recruited from a large public university in the Southeast United States. In Study 1, participants (n = 809) were asked whether they had discussed nightmares with a healthcare provider. In Study 2 participants (n = 747) were asked whether they believed nightmares were treatable in addition to whether or not they had discussed nightmares with a healthcare provider. RESULTS Of the participants in Study 1 experiencing clinically significant nightmare symptoms only 37.8% of participants reported discussing their nightmares with a healthcare professional. In Study 2 only 11.1% of participants with significant nightmares reporting having told a healthcare provider about their nightmares. Further, of these individuals with clinically significant nightmare symptoms, less than one-third believed that nightmares were treatable. Higher nightmare severity was associated with a greater likelihood of reporting nightmares to a healthcare physician as well as with lower beliefs that nightmares are treatable. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that nightmares are rarely reported to healthcare providers, which may explain the underutilization of nightmare treatments. Given the poor outcomes associated with nightmares, nightmare screening is warranted.
Utility of bronchoalveolar lavage in diagnosing respiratory tract infections in patients with hematological malignancies: are invasive diagnostics still needed?

Abstract Background: Patients treated for hematological malignancies have an increased risk of serious infections. Diagnosis and prompt initiation of therapy are essential. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a well-established investigation for identifying the cause of pulmonary infiltrates in immunocompromised patients. The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic yield of BAL in patients treated for hematological malignancies and how often it contributed to a modification of the anti-infectious therapy. Methods: We reviewed records from 151 consecutive BAL procedures in 133 adult patients with hematological malignancies, treated at a tertiary hematology unit from 2004 to 2013. Extensive microbiological work-ups on BAL samples had been performed according to a standardized protocol. Results: A microbiological finding causing the infectious episode could be identified in 59 (39%) cases. In 44 (29%) of the cases, results from BAL had an impact on clinical management either by contributing to a specific diagnosis (25%) or by leading to cessation of ongoing microbiological therapy. The most common diagnoses were invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP). Diagnoses of IPA and PJP were based on results from BAL in 65% and 93% of cases, respectively. Several microbiological tests on BAL samples rendered no positive results. Complications were few and mainly mild. Conclusion: BAL is still important for either verifying or excluding some of the most important respiratory tract pathogens in patients with hematological malignancies, particularly IPA and PJP. Standardized procedures for BAL sampling should be continually revised to exclude unnecessary microbiological tests.
Trait Emotional Intelligence Theory

In addition to trait EI, Cherniss identifies three other EI models whose main limitations must be succinctly mentioned, not least because they provided the impetus for the development of the trait EI model. Bar-On’s (1997) model is predicated on the problematic assumption that emotional intelligence (or ‘‘ability’’ or ‘‘competence’’ or ‘‘skill’’ or ‘‘potential’’—terms that appear to be used interchangeably in his writings) can be validly assessed through self-report questions of the type ‘‘It is easy for me to understand my emotions. ’’ Psychometrically, as pointed out in Petrides and Furnham (2001), this is not a viable position because such self-report questions can only be tapping into self-perceptions rather than into abilities or competencies. This poses a fundamental threat to the validity of this model, far more serious than the pervasive faking problem noted by several authors (e.g., Grubb & McDaniel, 2008). Goleman’s (1995) model is difficult to evaluate scientifically because of its reliance on
Increased risk of brain metastases in women with breast cancer and p16 expression in metastatic lymph-nodes

Purpose Metastatic breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality in women, partly on account of brain metastases. However, the mechanisms by which cancer cells cross the blood-brain barrier remain undeciphered. Most molecular studies predicting metastatic risk have been performed on primary breast cancer samples. Here we studied metastatic lymph-nodes from patients with breast cancers to identify markers associated with the occurrence of brain metastases. Results Transcriptomic analyses identified CDKN2A/p16 as a gene potentially associated with brain metastases. Materials and Methods Fifty-two patients with HER2-overexpressing or triple-negative breast carcinoma with lymph nodes and distant metastases were included in this study. Transcriptomic analyses were performed on laser-microdissected tumor cells from 28 metastatic lymph-nodes. Supervised analyses compared the transcriptomic profiles of women who developed brain metastases and those who did not. As a validation series, we studied metastatic lymph-nodes from 24 other patients. Immunohistochemistry investigations showed that p16 mean scores were significantly higher in patients with brain metastases than in patients without (7.4 vs. 1.7 respectively, p < 0.01). This result was confirmed on the validation series. Multivariate analyses showed that the p16 score was the only variable positively associated with the risk of brain metastases (p = 0.01). With the same threshold of 5 for p16 scores using a Cox model, overall survival was shorter in women with a p16 score over 5 in both series. Conclusions The risk of brain metastases in women with HER2-overexpressing or triple-negative breast cancer could be better assessed by studying p16 protein expression on surgically removed axillary lymph-nodes.
Liga NiCrSiBC: Microestrutura e Dureza de Revestimentos Processados a Arco e a Laser

A tecnica de processamento e determinante sobre caracteristicas de um revestimento. Isso porque o aporte termico, que depende da tecnica e dos parâmetros, tem influencia sobre a diluicao e a taxa de solidificacao. Em ligas com baixa complexidade metalurgica, o impacto do processamento com tecnicas de deposicao que impoem maior taxa de resfriamento podem se traduzir em refino da microestrutura. Espera-se que quanto mais refinada a microestrutura maior a resistencia mecânica do revestimento. Entretanto, na deposicao de ligas de maior complexidade metalurgica isso nem sempre ocorre, porque a elevada taxa de resfriamento pode suprimir formacao/precipitacao de fases responsaveis pela resistencia. Neste estudo, a influencia do processamento sobre microestrutura e dureza de revestimentos da liga Colmonoy-6® foi avaliada. A liga foi processada por plasma com arco transferido (PTA) e laser de diodo de alta potencia (HPDL) sobre chapas de AISI 304 com dois niveis de diluicao. Em ambos os casos, revestimentos de boa qualidade e livres defeitos foram obtidos. O aumento do teor de Fe (diluicao) e as diferentes taxas de resfriamento decorrem do processamento com diferentes parâmetros e tecnicas. Em consequencia, ocorrem mudancas significativas na microestrutura e na dureza dos revestimentos que estao associadas a distribuicao, morfologia e composicao quimica dos carbonetos e, principalmente, dos boretos.
Physical Properties of SiC

While silicon carbide has been an industrial product for over a century, it is only now emerging as the semiconductor of choice for high-power, high-temperature, and high-radiation environments. From electrical switching and sensors for oil drilling technology to all-electric airplanes, SiC is finding a place which is difficult to fill with presently available Si or GaAs technology. In 1824 Jons Jakob Berzelius published a paper which suggested there might be a chemical bond between the elements carbon and silicon. It is a quirk of history that he was born in 1779 in Linkoping, Sweden where he received his early education, and now, 172 years later, Linkoping University is the center of a national program in Sweden to study the properties of SiC as a semiconductor.
Simultaneous co-deposition of SiC and CNT into the Ni coating

Various researches are carried out to investigate the properties of Ni-SiC and Ni-CNT composite coatings. The simultaneous effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) and silicon carbide (SiC) is not addressed in the literature. Hence, Ni-SiC and Ni-SiC-CNT nanocomposite coatings were electrodeposited on aluminium substrate in this paper. Surface hardness and elastic modulus of the coatings were measured by atomic force microscope, and X-ray diffraction technique was used to evaluate the grain size of the coatings. Pin-on-disk wear test was carried out and the frictional surfaces along with the morphology of the coatings were investigated using scanning electron microscope. Both hardness and elastic modulus of the coating increased after CNT was introduced. The results indicate that CNT improved the wear behaviour of the coating by preventing the detachment of strengthening particles from the coating and consequently decreasing its abrasive wear.
Three Minutes of All-Out Intermittent Exercise per Week Increases Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Capacity and Improves Cardiometabolic Health

We investigated whether a training protocol that involved 3 min of intense intermittent exercise per week — within a total training time commitment of 30 min including warm up and cool down — could increase skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and markers of health status. Overweight/obese but otherwise healthy men and women (n = 7 each; age = 29±9 y; BMI = 29.8±2.7 kg/m2) performed 18 training sessions over 6 wk on a cycle ergometer. Each session began with a 2 min warm-up at 50 W, followed by 3×20 s “all-out” sprints against 5.0% body mass (mean power output: ∼450–500 W) interspersed with 2 min of recovery at 50 W, followed by a 3 min cool-down at 50 W. Peak oxygen uptake increased by 12% after training (32.6±4.5 vs. 29.1±4.2 ml/kg/min) and resting mean arterial pressure decreased by 7% (78±10 vs. 83±10 mmHg), with no difference between groups (both p<0.01, main effects for time). Skeletal muscle biopsy samples obtained before and 72 h after training revealed increased maximal activity of citrate synthase and protein content of cytochrome oxidase 4 (p<0.01, main effect), while the maximal activity of β-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase increased in men only (p<0.05). Continuous glucose monitoring measured under standard dietary conditions before and 48–72 h following training revealed lower 24 h average blood glucose concentration in men following training (5.4±0.6 vs. 5.9±0.5 mmol/L, p<0.05), but not women (5.5±0.4 vs. 5.5±0.6 mmol/L). This was associated with a greater increase in GLUT4 protein content in men compared to women (138% vs. 23%, p<0.05). Short-term interval training using a 10 min protocol that involved only 1 min of hard exercise, 3x/wk, stimulated physiological changes linked to improved health in overweight adults. Despite the small sample size, potential sex-specific adaptations were apparent that warrant further investigation.
Broadband mid-infrared wavelength conversion laser based on Cr2+ doped ceramic materials

Broadband mid-infrared lasers are desirable for pretty important applications in fields of environmental protection, medical treatment, military applications, scientific, and other domains. Recently, super-continuum laser sources have achieved striking development. However, limited by the substrate materials, the output power scaling of the broadband mid-infrared fiber laser sources could not be increased drastically, especially for the long wavelength region. In this paper, we reported an experimental study about the broadband mid-infrared lasers based on Cr2+ doped II-VI ceramic materials, by using of a super-continuum laser source developed by our groups operating at 1550~2130nm with 200mW output power. The result suggested that the near-infrared spectral component of the super-continuum source was deeply absorbed by transition metal doped zinc chalcogenides ceramic materials, meanwhile the mid-infrared part, however, had been enhanced significantly by this new "power amplifier. " Actually single-pass amplification efficiency was very limited. The best way to solve this problem was multi-pass amplification systems. We had shown an initial proof of this assumption by a double-pass experiments, the result was consistent with expected effect. Above all, the spectrum shaping from short wavelength to long wavelength was obtained. The innovative discovery had laid a solid foundation for high power, high efficiency, broadly tunable mid-infrared solid state lasers.
Novel insights into the disease dynamics of B‐cell lymphomas in the Genomics Era

High‐throughput sequencing has significantly contributed to revealing the molecular underpinnings of B‐cell lymphomagenesis and disease progression. It is now a widely accepted concept that the diversity of clinical responses to front‐line therapy and the development of relapsed/refractory disease are in part explained by ‘inter‐patient’ genetic heterogeneity measurable by individual sets of somatic gene alterations in tumor genomes. Moreover, extensive ‘intra‐tumor’ heterogeneity on the genotypic and phenotypic levels is the product of ongoing tumor evolution and adaptation to various selective pressures during cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic intervention. As the management of disease progression remains one of the most significant clinical challenges, it is becoming increasingly important to delineate how B‐cell lymphomas evolve over time and to develop progression‐related biomarker assays. Toward this goal, recent investigations have moved from studying lymphoma biology at initial diagnosis to doing so at multiple time points during the disease course. Profiling progressed tumors, and in particular paired biopsies at initial diagnosis and disease progression of the same patients, has led to novel insights into clonal tumor evolution and tumor microenvironment dynamics. This review discusses the latest findings on genomic alterations and microenvironment biology associated with relapsed/refractory B‐cell lymphomas, with a particular emphasis on alterations that are acquired or become more prevalent at disease progression. We also describe overarching tumor evolution patterns, and highlight emerging precision medicine methodologies that can aid in an improved understanding and management of relapsed/refractory disease. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beyond Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: Exploring Further Unmet Needs with Rivaroxaban

Abstract With improved life expectancy and the aging population, the global burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) continues to increase, and with AF comes an estimated fivefold increased risk of ischaemic stroke. Prophylactic anticoagulant therapy is more effective in reducing the risk of ischaemic stroke in AF patients than acetylsalicylic acid or dual-antiplatelet therapy combining ASA with clopidogrel. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are the standard of care for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular AF. The optimal anticoagulant strategy to prevent thromboembolism in AF patients who are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and stenting, those who have undergone successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement and those with embolic stroke of undetermined source are areas of ongoing research. This article provides an update on three randomized controlled trials of rivaroxaban, a direct, oral factor Xa inhibitor, that are complete or are ongoing, in these unmet areas of stroke prevention: oPen-label, randomized, controlled, multicentre study explorIng twO treatmeNt stratEgiEs of Rivaroxaban and a dose-adjusted oral vitamin K antagonist treatment strategy in patients with Atrial Fibrillation who undergo Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PIONEER AF-PCI) trial; the New Approach riVaroxaban Inhibition of factor Xa in a Global trial vs Aspirin to prevenT Embolism in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (NAVIGATE ESUS) trial and the Global study comparing a rivAroxaban-based antithrombotic strategy to an antipLatelet-based strategy after transcatheter aortIc vaLve rEplacement to Optimize clinical outcomes (GALILEO) trial. The data from these studies are anticipated to help address continuing challenges for a range of patients at risk of stroke.
Strategies for quantum computing molecular energies using the unitary coupled cluster ansatz

The variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) algorithm combines the ability of quantum computers to efficiently compute expectation values with a classical optimization routine in order to approximate ground state energies of quantum systems. In this paper, we study the application of VQE to the simulation of molecular energies using the unitary coupled cluster (UCC) ansatz. We introduce new strategies to reduce the circuit depth for the implementation of UCC and improve the optimization of the wavefunction based on efficient classical approximations of the cluster amplitudes. Additionally, we propose an analytical method to compute the energy gradient that reduces the sampling cost for gradient estimation by several orders of magnitude compared to numerical gradients. We illustrate our methodology with numerical simulations for a system of four hydrogen atoms that exhibit strong correlation and show that the circuit depth of VQE using a UCC ansatz can be reduced without introducing significant loss of accuracy in the final wavefunctions and energies.
Reducing Emergency Room Visits and In‐Hospitalizations by Implementing Best Practice for Transitional Care Using Innovative Technology and Big Data

BACKGROUND Efforts to improve care transitions require coordination across the healthcare continuum and interventions that enhance communication between acute and community settings. AIMS To improve post-discharge utilization value using technology to identify high-risk individuals who might benefit from rapid nurse outreach to assess social and behavioral determinants of health with the goal of reducing inpatient and emergency department visits. METHODS The project employed a before and after comparison of the intervention site with similar primary care practice sites using population-level Medicaid claims data. The intervention targeted discharged persons with preexisting chronic disease and delivered a care transition alert to a nurse care coordinator for immediate telephonic outreach. The nurse assessed social determinants of health and incorporated problems into the EHR to share across settings. The project evaluated health outcomes and the value of nursing care on existing electronic claims data to compare utilization in the years before and during the intervention using negative binomial regression to account for rare events such as inpatient visits. RESULTS Avoiding readmissions and emergency visits, and increasing timely outpatient visits improved the individual's experience of care and the work life of healthcare providers, while reducing per capita costs (Quadruple Aim). In the intervention practice, the nurse care coordinator demonstrated the value of nursing care by reducing inpatient (25%) and emergency (35%) visits, and increasing outpatient visits (27%). The estimated value of avoided encounters over the secular Medicaid trend was $664 per adult with chronic disease, generating $71,289 in revenue from additional outpatient visits. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION Using health information exchange to deliver appropriate and timely evidence-based clinical decision support in the form of care transition alerts and assessment of social determinants of health, in conjunction with data science methods, demonstrates the value of nursing care and resulted in achieving the Quadruple Aim.
Blind to morphology: genetics identifies several widespread ecologically common species and few endemics among Indo‐Pacific cauliflower corals (Pocillopora, Scleractinia)

Using high‐resolution genetic markers on samples gathered from across their wide distributional range, we endeavoured to delimit species diversity in reef‐building Pocillopora corals. They are common, ecologically important, and widespread throughout the Indo‐Pacific, but their phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental conditions and their nearly featureless microskeletal structures confound taxonomic assignments and limit an understanding of their ecology and evolution.
More than a hole: the holin lethal function may be required to fully sensitize bacteria to the lytic action of canonical endolysins

Double‐strand DNA bacteriophages employ the holin–endolysin dyad as core components of different strategies to lyse bacterial hosts. In the so‐called canonical model the holin holes play an essential role in lysis as they provide a conduit for passage of the cytoplasm‐accumulated endolysin to the cell wall (CW), where it degrades the peptidoglycan. It is considered that once synthesized canonical endolysins immediately acquire their fully active conformation, having thus the capacity to efficiently cleave the peptidoglycan if contact to the CW is allowed. We show here however that holin‐mediated cell death may be required to fully sensitize cells to the lytic action of canonical endolysins, a role that is obviously masked by the key function of the holin in endolysin release. We demonstrate that in certain conditions Bacillus subtilis cells are capable of counteracting the activity of the phage SPP1 endolysin attacking the CW either from within or from without. This capacity is lost after holin action or in presence of agents that mimic its membrane‐depolarizing role. We have observed a similar relationship between lytic activity and membrane proton motive force for a staphylococcal endolysin. The possible implications of these findings in the exploitation of endolysins as enzybiotics are discussed.