Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of Pirin, an Oxidative Stress Sensor Protein, in Epithelial Carcinogenesis

Simple Summary Pirin is a protein which is detected at low levels in normal tissues. However, it is detected at high levels in multiple cancers, particularly in melanomas, cervical cancer or squamous cell lung carcinomas. Essentially, its role in cancer is related to the host response against factors causing oxidative stress, favoring cell migration and metastasis. Here we summarize the biological functions of Pirin in relation to its role in cancer, suggesting that Pirin is a potential therapeutic target. Abstract Pirin is an oxidative stress (OS) sensor belonging to the functionally diverse cupin superfamily of proteins. Pirin is a suggested quercetinase and transcriptional activator of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway. Its biological role in cancer development remains a novel area of study. This review presents accumulating evidence on the contribution of Pirin in epithelial cancers, involved signaling pathways, and as a suggested therapeutic target. Finally, we propose a model in which Pirin is upregulated by physical, chemical or biological factors involved in OS and cancer development.
Recommender Systems for MOOCs: A Systematic Literature Survey (January 1, 2012 – July 12, 2019)

In recent years, massive open online courses (MOOCs) have gained popularity with learners and providers, and thus MOOC providers have started to further enhance the use of MOOCs through recommender systems. This paper is a systematic literature review on the use of recommender systems for MOOCs, examining works published between January 1, 2012 and July 12, 2019 and, to the best of our knowledge, it is the first of its kind. We used Google Scholar, five academic databases (IEEE, ACM, Springer, ScienceDirect, and ERIC) and a reference chaining technique for this research. Through quantitative analysis, we identified the types and trends of research carried out in this field. The research falls into three major categories: (a) the need for recommender systems, (b) proposed recommender systems, and (c) implemented recommender systems. From the literature, we found that research has been conducted in seven areas of MOOCs: courses, threads, peers, learning elements, MOOC provider/teacher recommender, student performance recommender, and others. To date, the research has mostly focused on the implementation of recommender systems, particularly course recommender systems. Areas for future research and implementation include design of practical and scalable online recommender systems, design of a recommender system for MOOC provider and teacher, and usefulness of recommender systems.
Seasonal Cycle of Idealized Polar Clouds: Large Eddy Simulations Driven by a GCM

The uncertainty in polar cloud feedbacks calls for process understanding of the cloud response to climate warming. As an initial step toward improved process understanding, we investigate the seasonal cycle of polar clouds in the current climate by adopting a novel modeling framework using large eddy simulations (LES), which explicitly resolve cloud dynamics. Resolved horizontal and vertical advection of heat and moisture from an idealized general circulation model (GCM) are prescribed as forcing in the LES. The LES are also forced with prescribed sea ice thickness, but surface temperature, atmospheric temperature, and moisture evolve freely without nudging. A semigray radiative transfer scheme without water vapor and cloud feedbacks allows the GCM and LES to achieve closed energy budgets more easily than would be possible with more complex schemes. This enables the mean states in the two models to be consistently compared, without the added complications from interaction with more comprehensive radiation. We show that the LES closely follow the GCM seasonal cycle, and the seasonal cycle of low‐level clouds in the LES resembles observations: maximum cloud liquid occurs in late summer and early autumn, and winter clouds are dominated by ice in the upper troposphere. Large‐scale advection of moisture provides the main source of water vapor for the liquid‐containing clouds in summer, while a temperature advection peak in winter makes the atmosphere relatively dry and reduces cloud condensate. The framework we develop and employ can be used broadly for studying cloud processes and the response of polar clouds to climate warming.
Digital Information Needs for Understanding Cell Divisions in the Human Body

5 Amani Jamal, Asmaa Munshi, Nahla Aljojo, Talal Qadah and Azida Zainol Digital Information Needs for Understanding Cell Divisions in the Human Body ADCAIJ: Advances in Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence Journal Regular Issue, Vol. 9 N. 2 (2020), 5-22 eISSN: 2255-2863 https://adcaij.usal. es Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca cc by-nc-nd Digital Information Needs for Understanding Cell Divisions in the Human Body
Association analysis of ALOX5 gene polymorphisms with stroke risk: a case-control study in a Chinese Han population

Background: Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the world. Genetic factors have been implicated in stroke risk but few have been reported. This study aimed to assess the association of ALOX5 gene polymorphisms and stroke risk in a Chinese Han population. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in ischemic stroke and its subtypes in 488 cases and 504 controls, all of Chinese Han ancestry. We selected 9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ALOX5 gene to test the association. All these SNPs were genotyped using Sequenom Mass-ARRAY technology. For each SNP, genotypic frequencies in controls were tested for departure from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) using an exact test. A P-value of 0.05 was considered the threshold for statistical significance. We compared the allele frequencies of cases and controls using the chi-squared (χ2) test. Associations between the gene and the risk of stroke were tested using various genetic models (allele, dominant, and recessive) and analysis by SNP stats. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression with adjustments for age and gender. Results: We identified that the SNP rs3740107 were associated with a decreased risk stroke in the recessive model (OR=0.51; 95% CI=0.28-0.91; P=0.02). Additionally, very strong linkage was found between rs6593482, rs3824612, rs2029253, rs7918542, rs7919239, rs1369214, and rs10900213; and between rs3740107 and rs3780914 by Haploview analysis. Conclusion: The present study suggested that gene polymorphisms in the ALOX5 gene may exert influences stroke susceptibility in a Chinese Han population.
Flavor compounds of dry-cured ham

Volatile compounds of dry-cured Parma hem, the most representative among those of Italian style, were extracted by means of the dynamic headspace technique followed by adsorption onto Tenax traps. GC-FID end GC-FPD were used to obtain the aromatic profiles of the samples; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was also used to identify the structure of the volatile components. One hundred twenty-two compounds were identified in this study, several of which have not been previously reported
Correlations Between Severity of Disease with Anxiety Levels in Glaucoma Patients

Background: Glaucoma is a group of diseases consisting of optic neuropathy characterized by damage to the retinal nerve fibres and narrowing of the visual field accompanied by increased intraocular pressure as a risk factor. Vision loss in glaucoma patients is considered as a separate stressor. Besides that, decrease visual function can also cause a person to lose his job and loss of social functions. This can trigger anxiety to depression. Objective: To analyze the correlations between the severity of disease with anxiety levels in glaucoma patients. Methods: This was an observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design. Subjects were taken by consecutive sampling with inclusion criteria were patients with moderate or severe glaucoma, able to follow the interview process and 30-80 years old. The exclusion criteria of this study were patients who were taking antianxiety, antidepressant, or antipsychotic drugs and having other serious/chronic disease such as heart disease, diabetes, or hypertension. Anxiety level was assessed based on the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (TMAS) questionnaire. Analysis of the data using the Spearman Correlation test. Results: Sixty-five glaucoma patients who underwent treatment in out-patient department dr. Kariadi hospital was involved in this study. A significant correlation was obtained between the severity of glaucoma and the level of anxiety (p = 0.004). Strong statistical correlation between variables included in the weak category (0.357). The highest anxiety level in glaucoma patients was moderate anxiety level (64.6%), followed by mild anxiety level (23.1%) and severe anxiety level (12.3%). Conclusion: There was significant correlation between the severity of the disease and the level of anxiety in glaucoma patients.
Alpha-synuclein spreading pathology in Parkinson's disease: the influence of iron and the Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease affecting approximately 1 % of the population above 60 years of age. It affects preferentially the extrapyramidal system, causing severe deficits in motor function. So far, the progression of the disease can neither be delayed nor cured. The dyshomeostasis of trace elements, especially of iron, and the presence of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregate-containing Lewy bodies (LBs) in the brain are two main pathologic events playing a crucial role in PD. The underlying pathomechanisms for spreading of α-syn through the brain are still unknown, but PD-related targets such as trace elements or the rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) were suggested to affect its aggregation pathology. Identifying triggers that affect α-syn propagation is of fundamental importance since they could be considered as auspicious targets for new therapeutic strategies. In the present study, the elemental content of nigral neurons of PD patients and control patients without neurodegeneration was analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and it was found that intracellular element concentrations differ substantially within and between patients. Copper was the most discriminating element between the groups. On a subcellular level, X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of β-sheet protein structures in a LB, whereas XRF measurements identified a varying distribution of trace elements such as iron, selenium or copper within two LBs. Furthermore, the relation of iron and α-syn was examined. With the objective to investigate the influence of iron on α-syn propagation through the brain, a murine α-syn fibrils injection model was combined with iron intoxication and revealed reducing and redistribution effects of iron on α-syn spreading and a reduced microglia accumulation. Both iron and α-syn fibrils treatment resulted in long-term memory dysfunction in the novel object recognition test. Moreover, the influence of iron on α-syn spreading was investigated in cortical neurons using microfluidic chambers. Spreading of α-syn seemed not to be affected by iron in vitro, arguing for a more systemic mode of action in vivo. Since the ROCK inhibitor fasudil showed multiple protective effects in PD mouse models previously, we analyzed its effects on α-syn spreading in vivo. Here, the application of fasudil did not alter α-syn propagation. Taken together, the present work investigates the influence of trace elements, particularly iron, and ROCK inhibition on α-syn spreading and thus contributes to a better understanding of PD pathophysiology and to the identification of auspicious targets for new therapeutic strategies.
Comparison Between High-Flow Nasal Cannula and Noninvasive Ventilation for Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure: A Retrospective Study

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da cânula nasal de alto fluxo (CNAF) em doentes com insuficiencia respiratoria aguda hipoxemica (IRAH), em comparacao com ventilacao mecânica nao invasiva (VNI). METODOS: Conduzimos um estudo retrospetivo unicentrico de doentes com IRAH admitidos na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) que realizaram CNAF ou VNI. Os outcomes primarios incluem mortalidade na UCI e mortalidade aos 90 dias. A necessidade de ventilacao mecânica invasiva (VMI) e o tempo de internamento na UCI foram definidos como outcomes secundarios. RESULTADOS: Um total de 101 doentes foram incluidos no estudo (VNI 82; CNAF 19). A mortalidade na UCI (VNI 19.5% e CNAF 0%; p=0.037) e a necessidade de VMI (VNI 45.1% e CNAF 15.8%; p=0.018) foram significativamente menores no grupo da CNAF. Nao foram observadas diferencas na mortalidade aos 90 dias ou no tempo de internamento na UCI. Na analise de subgrupo, a CNAF associou-se a menor risco de internamentos mais longos na UCI nos seguintes subgrupos: 100<racio PaO2/FiO2≤200; 200<racio PaO2/FiO2≤300; Pneumonia, Sindrome de dificuldade respiratoria aguda ou Outra como causa de IRAH. Contudo, em doentes com Insuficiencia cardiaca descompensada, a CNAF associou-se a um risco aumentado de internamentos mais longos na UCI. CONCLUSAO: Entre pacientes com IRAH, a CNAF associou-se a mortalidade na UCI e necessidade de VMI significativamente menores.
Free energies of transfer of anions from water to cationic micelles from ionic exchange measurements

Ionic exchanges for several anions in hexadecyltrimethylammonium (CTA) have been measured by ultrafiltration and by the shift in the concentration of ferric thiocyanate complex by CTA addition. The results are compared with those previously reported using an absorbance method. The agreement between the 3 methods is good, and they allow for calculation of the free energies of transfer from water to CTA micelles for the anions studied. The values are discussed in terms of several properties of the anions. It is concluded that both entropic and enthalpic effects are responsible for the specificity of binding of the anions to CTA micelles. 18 references.
Sustainable agricultural development in sub‐Saharan Africa: the case for a paradigm shift in land husbandry

In order to tackle poverty and hunger in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) there is a strong case for a focus of effort on improving rainfed agricultural systems. The challenge is to deliver a transformation of agricultural productivity in such systems without adverse impacts on environmental goods and services. We examine the growing advocacy of ‘conservation agriculture’ (CA) as the desired approach and assess the evidence to support the assertion that it can deliver sustainable agricultural development in SSA. We examine in particular the evidence which derives from experience with ‘zero tillage sustainable agriculture’ in Brazil. We ask the question, is there a case for a paradigm shift in land husbandry? The case for a paradigm shift hangs on the premise that conventional practice promotes land degradation, while adoption of CA practice delivers a range of benefits through promoting soil ecosystem health. The guiding principle is to promote biological tillage through minimizing mechanical soil disturbance and maintaining permanent organic soil cover. We examine evidence of benefits in the context of the wider debate on low‐external‐input technology. We conclude that CA does not overcome constraints on low‐external‐input systems and will deliver the productivity gains that are required to achieve food security and poverty targets only if farmers have access to fertilizers and herbicides. We conclude also that widespread adoption of the new paradigm amongst millions of small farmers in order to achieve the ‘doubly green revolution’ in SSA is subject to the familiar constraints of knowledge transfer and success will depend upon creating innovation networks. Further, we conclude that amongst small‐scale farmers partial adoption will be the norm and it is not clear that this will deliver soil health benefits claimed for full adoption of the new paradigm.
Preliminary design and testing of a servo-hydraulic actuation system for an autonomous ankle exoskeleton

The work presented in this paper aims at developing a hydraulic actuation system for an ankle exoskeleton that is able to deliver a peak power of 250 W, with a maximum torque of 90 N.m and maximum speed of 320 deg/s. After justifying the choice of a servo hydraulic actuator (SHA) over an electro hydrostatic actuator (EHA) for the targeted application, some test results of a first functional prototype are presented. The closed-loop unloaded displacement frequency response of the prototype shows a bandwidth ranging from 5 Hz to 8 Hz for displacement amplitudes between +/-5mm and +/-20mm, thus demonstrating adequate dynamic performance for normal walking speed. Then, a detailed design is proposed as a combination of commercially available components (in particular a miniature servo valve and a membrane accumulator) and a custom aluminium manifold that incorporates the hydraulic cylinder. The actuator design achieves a total weight of 1.0 kg worn at the ankle.
Recurrence of fatty liver disease following liver transplantation for NAFLD-related cirrhosis: Current status and challenges

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as a major health problem worldwide. NAFLD is a continuum of disease ranging from mild liver steatosis to severe steatohepatitis, which will ultimately lead to end-stage liver disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. This disorder is considered as a silent liver disease. The metabolic syndrome and its components are accounted as the major risk factors for the progression of NAFLD to NASH and cirrhosis. Liver transplantation is considered as an appropriate treatment for the end-stage disease. For the last two decades, NASH has been the most common reason for liver transplantation, especially in the developed countries; however, the outcome of post-transplantation in these patients is of a great concern. The recurrent NASH and NAFLD seem to be the usual issues in LT. Steatosis appears in more than 80% of LTs; however, re-transplantation caused by steatohepatitis is rare. Recently, several risk factors of the recurrent NAFLD, including age, donor steatosis, metabolic syndrome, and immunosuppressant agents, have been introduced. Among the metabolic syndrome components, obesity seriously has negative effects on the outcomes of post-liver transplantation in patients. Unfortunately, there is no standard medicine to prevent or treat the recurrent NAFLD; however, it seems that weight loss and lifestyle modification play critical roles in controlling or inhibiting the recurrent NAFLD or NASH.
Essential Oil of Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Grown in Cuba

Abstract The water-distilled essential oil of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) grow in Cuba was analyzed by GC/MS. Among the 29 compounds identified, manool (14.74%), viridiflorol (13.46%), α-thujone (12.95%), β-thujone (10.89%) and camphor (10.36%) were the major constituents.
Penerapan Metode K-MEANS Clustering dan Support Vector Machine (SVM) dalam Identifikasi API pada Citra Warna Digital

Banyak bencana yang telah terjadi akhir-akhir ini, mulai dari bencana alam maupun bencana yang disebabkan oleh manusia itu sendiri. Kebakaran adalah salah satu bencana yang paling sering terjadi dan memilki tingkat kerugian yang tidak sedikit. Salah satu upaya yang dapat dilakukan untuk mengenali api adalah pendeteksian pada citra digital, dikarenakan karakteristik api yang bisa langsung dilihat secara visual. Pada penelitian ini, penulis akan fokus pada salah satu karakteristik api, yaitu warna. Dalam segmentasi fitur warna, penulis menggunakan ruang warna YCbCr dan RGB . Ekstraksi data dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode K-Means Clustering . Hasil ekstraksi akan diklasifikasikan dengan Support Vector Machine (SVM), untuk mengelompokan citra yang mengandung api dengan citra biasa. Untuk data latih dan data uji, penulis akan menggunakan citra hutan agar dapat melakukan perbandingan hasil dengan penelitian sebelumnya. Selain itu, penulis juga akan menggunakan citra bangunan sebagai skenario tambahan untuk melihat hasil tingkat efektifitas algoritma yang penulis pakai pada kondisi citra selain hutan. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa penggabungan mode warna RGB dan YCbCr dalam mendeteksi api pada citra digital hutan dan bangunan memiliki tingkat keberhasilan >90%, dengan tingkat akurasi yang lebih tinggi pada citra digital yang diambil pada siang hari.
Pu(V) reduction and enhancement of particle-water partitioning by exopolymeric substances

Abstract Central to understanding the environmental behavior of Pu in vadose- and saturated-zones, as well as waste streams, is the contribution of colloidal natural organic mater (NOM), e.g. , biopolymeric exopolymeric substances (EPS) from Pseudomonas fluorescens Biovar II and geopolymeric humic acids (HA), to Pu speciation. Because Pu(V) and Pu(IV) are present in aquatic systems at sub-pM concentrations, many established techniques for chemical speciation and oxidation state determination are not available. However, the two redox states of Pu can be distinguished through their tendency to form colloidal species. Controlled laboratory experiments with low-colloid background solutions of 0.1 M NaClO4 with an inert buffer (Tris) and 5 μm silica particles of high specific surface area (500 m2/g) and small (3 nm) pores investigated the ability of NOM compounds for their binding and redox qualities showed that: 1) Pu(V) and Pu(IV) tracers at pM concentrations could be distinguished by their tendency to bind to colloidal species (≥1 kDa), with binding extent being high for Pu(IV), and low for Pu(V); 2) EPS can significantly enhance particle- (or colloid-) water partition coefficients to silica particles (Kd, Kdc), quickly (1 day) for Pu(IV) and slowly (1 month) for Pu(V); 3) Pu(V), in the presence of EPS and silica particles can become associated with particles and colloids over periods of months, likely indicating reduction; 4) Kd values can be affected by the reaction sequence of tracer addition to the solution containing silica particles and NOM compounds ( e.g. , EPS or HA).
Photoacoustic Spectroscopy of Solids

There are a great many substances, both organic and inorganic, that, because of their physical state, cannot be readily studied by conventional absorption or reflection techniques. In photoacoustic spectroscopy, light absorbed by the sample is converted into a measurable acoustic signal, and spectra closely corresponding to optical absorption spectra, can be obtained on any type of solid or semisolid material, whether it be crystalline, powder, smear, gel, etc. The physical processes underlying the photoacoustic effect in solids, and a mathematical analysis of the production of the photoacoustic signal will be presented. The methodology of photoacoustic spectroscopy will also be described. Various applications of this technique in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine will be discussed. These applications will be treated under three main headings: bulk studies, surface studies, and de‐excitation studies.
Self‐Diffusion Measurements in Gold Single Crystals between 286 and 412°C

By means of an electrochemical peeling technique the self-diffusion coefficients in 99.99% gold single crystals were determined at 285.9, 299.6, 321.0, 349.7, and 411.7°C. Assuming a linear dependence of log D on 1/T the result is in this temperature range . There is no evidence for short circuiting interferences in the range of the evaluated diffusion profile depths of < 3000 A. Die Selbstdiffusion in Einkristallen aus 99,99% Gold konnte mittels eines elektrochemischen Abtrageverfahrens bei den Temperaturen 285,9, 299,6, 321,0, 349,7 und 411,7°C bestimmt werden. Das Ergebnis ist fur diesen Temperaturbereich mit der Annahme einer linearen log D-Abhangigkeit von 1/T. Storungen der Volumendiffusion durch Diffusionskurzschlusse uber Versetzungen wurden zumindest in den ausgewerteten Profiltiefen von < 3000 A nicht beobachtet.