Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expansion and crystallization of a sediment of charged colloidal spheres

An amorphous sediment of charged colloidal particles in a nonaqueous solvent was prepared by centrifugation. The evolution of sediment height and volume fraction profile to equilibrium were studied with light scattering. A simple sedimentation–diffusion equation allows the experimental data to be modeled quantitatively. The top of the sediment crystallizes within a week, whereas the lower part of the sediment does not show any sign of crystallization after several months, indicating a strong concentration dependence of crystallization rate.
Evaluation of Autof MS 1000 and Vitek MS MALDI-TOF MS System in Identification of Closely-Related Yeasts Causing Invasive Fungal Diseases

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been accepted as a rapid, accurate, and less labor-intensive method in the identification of microorganisms in clinical laboratories. However, there is limited data on systematic evaluation of its effectiveness in the identification of phylogenetically closely-related yeast species. In this study, we evaluated two commercially available MALDI-TOF systems, Autof MS 1000 and Vitek MS, for the identification of yeasts within closely-related species complexes. A total of 1,228 yeast isolates, representing 14 different species of five species complexes, including 479 of Candida parapsilosis complex, 323 of Candida albicans complex, 95 of Candida glabrata complex, 16 of Candida haemulonii complex (including two Candida auris), and 315 of Cryptococcus neoformans complex, collected under the National China Hospital Invasive Fungal Surveillance Net (CHIF-NET) program, were studied. Autof MS 1000 and Vitek MS systems correctly identified 99.2% and 89.2% of the isolates, with major error rate of 0.4% versus 1.6%, and minor error rate of 0.1% versus 3.5%, respectively. The proportion of isolates accurately identified by Autof MS 1000 and Vitek MS per each yeast complex, respectively, was as follows; C. albicans complex, 99.4% vs 96.3%; C. parapsilosis complex, 99.0% vs 79.1%; C glabrata complex, 98.9% vs 94.7%; C. haemulonii complex, 100% vs 93.8%; and C. neoformans, 99.4% vs 95.2%. Overall, Autof MS 1000 exhibited good capacity in yeast identification while Vitek MS had lower identification accuracy, especially in the identification of less common species within phylogenetically closely-related species complexes.
Caldesmon: Biochemical and Clinical Implications in Cancer

Caldesmon, an actin-binding protein, can inhibit myosin binding to actin and regulate smooth muscle contraction and relaxation. However, caldesmon has recently attracted attention due to its importance in cancer. The upregulation of caldesmon in several solid cancer tissues has been reported. Caldesmon, as well as its two isoforms, is considered as a biomarker for cancer and a potent suppressor of cancer cell invasion by regulating podosome/invadopodium formation. Therefore, caldesmon may be a promising therapeutic target for diseases such as cancer. Here, we review new studies on the gene transcription, isoform structure, expression, and phosphorylation regulation of caldesmon and discuss its clinical implications in cancer.
Associations Between Using Chinese Herbal Medicine and Long-Term Outcome Among Pre-dialysis Diabetic Nephropathy Patients: A Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a worldwide burden due to the high co-morbidity and mortality. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the leading causes of CKD, and pre-dialysis is one of the most critical stages before the end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) use is not uncommon, the feasibility of using CHM among pre-dialysis DN patients remains unclear. Materials and methods: We analyzed a population-based cohort, retrieved from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, to study the long-term outcome of using CHM among incident pre-dialysis DN patients from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2007. All patients were followed up to 5 years or the occurrence of mortality. The risks of all-cause mortality and ESRD were carried out using Kaplan-Meier and competing risk estimation, respectively. Further, we demonstrated the CHM prescriptions and core CHMs using the Chinese herbal medicine network (CMN) analysis. Results: A total of 6,648 incident pre-dialysis DN patients were analyzed, including 877 CHM users and 5,771 CHM nonusers. With overlap weighing for balancing all accessible covariates between CHM users and nonusers, we found the use of CHM was associated with lower all-cause mortality (0.22 versus 0.56; log-rank test: p-value <0.001), and the risk of mortality was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.36–0.49; p-value <0.001) by adjusting all accessible covariates. Further, the use of CHM was associated with a lower risk of ESRD (cause-specific hazard ratio: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.55–0.63; p-value <0.001). Also, from the 5,901 CHM prescriptions, we found Ji-Sheng-Shen-Qi-Wan, Astragalus mongholicus Bunge or (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. ), Plantago asiatica L. (or Plantago depressa Willd.), Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, and Rheum palmatum L. (or Rheum tanguticum (Maxim. ex Regel) Balf. , Rheum officinale Baill. ) were used as core CHMs for different CHM indications. Use of core CHMs was associated with a lower risk of mortality than CHM users without using core CHMs. Conclusions: The use of CHM seemed feasible among pre-dialysis DN patients; however, the beneficial effects still need to be validated by well-designed clinical trials.
“The Innovation Imperative”: The Struggle Over Agroecology in the International Food Policy Arena

As the gravity of the global social and ecological crises become more apparent, there is a growing recognition of the need for social transformation. In this article, we use a combination of narrative case study and discourse analysis to better understand how transformative concepts, such as agroecology, are shaped as they as they enter mainstream discursive arenas. We probe the different characteristics of the “innovation frame” and how they qualify and give meaning to agroecology. Our case study narrates the recent emergence of agroecology in the UN space and its relationship to the discursive frame of innovation. We then undertake a systematic discourse analysis of comments provided in an online consultation process on the “Agroecology and Other Innovations” report by the 2019 High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) in the World Committee on Food Security. We examine how different actors positioned themselves vis-a-vis the innovation frame and we analyse the discursive strategies used to advance particular political agendas. Our analysis reveals three primary sub-frames within the innovation frame (Evidence; Technology; Rights) which were deployed by both proponents and detractors of agroecology. We focus on the notion of social agency, and its different presentations, within the three sub-frames which raises a number of problematics of the innovation frame, not only for agroecology, but for sustainability transformations more widely.
pH Adaptation Drives Diverse Phenotypes in a Beneficial Bacterium-Host Mutualism

Abiotic variation can influence the evolution of specific phenotypes that contribute to the diversity of bacterial strains observed in the natural environment. Environmentally transmitted symbiotic bacteria are particularly vulnerable to abiotic fluctuations, given that they must accommodate the transition between the free-living state and the host's internal environment. This type of life history strategy can strongly influence the success of a symbiont, and whether adapting to changes outside the host will allow a greater capacity to survive in symbiosis with the host partner. One example of how environmental breadth is advantageous to the symbiosis is the beneficial association between Vibrio fischeri and sepiolid squids (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae). Since Vibrio bacteria are environmentally transmitted, they are subject to a wide variety of abiotic variables prior to infecting juvenile squids and must be poised to survive in the host light organ. In order to better understand how a changing abiotic factor (e.g., pH) influences the diversification of symbionts and their eventual symbiotic competence, we used an experimental evolution approach to ascertain how pH adaptation affects symbiont fitness. Results show that low pH adapted Vibrio strains have more efficient colonization rates compared to their ancestral strains. In addition, growth rates had significant differences compared to ancestral strains (pH 6.5–6.8, and 7.2). Bioluminescence production (a marker for symbiont competence) of pH evolved strains also improved at pH 6.5–7.2. Results imply that the evolution and diversification of Vibrio strains adapted to low pH outside the squid improves fitness inside the squid by allowing a higher success rate for host colonization and symbiotic competence.
Differential Effects of Estradiol on Reproductive Function in Camelids

Based on the mechanism of ovulation, mammals may be classified as spontaneous (i.e., pig, cattle, sheep, goats) or induced ovulators (i.e., rabbit, ferret, cat, koala, llama, camel, alpaca). High or increasing concentrations of estradiol exert a positive feedback on the hypothalamus triggering an LH surge and ovulation in spontaneous ovulators, while ovulation is triggered by mating in induced ovulators. South American camelids are classified as induced ovulators but the ovulatory response is triggered by semen (1); copulation itself plays a minor role (2). Originally dubbed ovulation-inducingi factor, the factor responsible for eliciting ovulation in camelids is the protein nerve growth factor [NGF; (3–5)]. A highly conserved molecule, NGF is concentrated in camelid semen (and semen of many species), and systemic absorption from intrauterine seminal deposition has been implicated as the inciting cause of the preovulatory surge in circulating concentrations of LH after mating or parenteral administration of nerve growth factor (1, 6). Although the mechanistic pathway of NGF-induced ovulation is unknown, it is thought to be mediated at the hypothalamus instead of the pituitary gland (7). Nerve growth factor may act by binding to neurons that possess one or both NGF receptors (TrkA and P75) in the hypothalamus of llamas or by interacting with third-ventricular tanycytes, a group of cells derived from modified ependyma that possess the P75 receptor (8). A recent study using nasal placodes from mouse embryo (a source of GnRH neurons) showed that the activation of P75 signaling pathways triggered an increase in depolarization events in GnRH neurons (9), suggesting that NGF in semen may be acting at the median eminence to trigger ovulation during mating. In a recent report (10), the effects of estradiol-17β administration on ovulation and luteal development in llamas were examined. Administration of increasing concentrations of estradiol-17β (0.6, 1, and 1.6 mg/llama) increased the ovulatory rate in an incremental manner (0/4, 1/4, and 6/6, respectively). Although LH concentrations were not reported, the ovulatory response, corpus luteum development, and plasma progesterone profile were consistent with the idea that estradiol triggers ovulation in this species. In an earlier study (11), results showed that ovariectomized llamas had an impaired response to NGF-induced LH surge, which was partially recovered by pre-treatment with estradiol. Thus, it was suggested that estradiol promotes the fullness of the pre-ovulatory LH surge induced by NGF. The report from Bianchi et al. (10), however, is the first to directly test the effects of estradiol on ovulation in llamas.
Storage Stability of Spray-Dried Blackberry Powder Produced with Maltodextrin or Gum Arabic

The aim of this work was to evaluate the stability of anthocyanins and antioxidant activity of blackberry powder, obtained by spray drying, using maltodextrin, gum arabic, or a blend of both carrier agents over a period of 5 months. The inlet air temperature was 145°C and the concentration of carrier agent was 7% (w/w). Samples were stored at 25 or 35°C and at relative humidity of 32.8%. Anthocyanin degradation followed the first-order kinetic model. Temperature negatively influenced the stability of anthocyanins, because these pigments are highly thermosensitive. Antioxidant activity increased for the powders stored at 35°C, probably due to the occurrence of the Maillard reaction, leading to the formation of compounds with antioxidant activity. In general, maltodextrin provided greater stability for spray-dried blackberry powder, because particles produced with this carrier agent showed the longest half-life and the lowest anthocyanin degradation rate at 25°C. The use of maltodextrin or the combination of both carrier agents promoted better maintenance of antioxidant potential of blackberry powder. With regard to morphology, all of the samples exhibited a large number of irregular particles with spherical shapes, but powders produced with gum arabic presented the smallest size and shriveled surfaces, which probably affected their stability, resulting in faster anthocyanin degradation during storage.
Modulated Reflectance Analysis of Complex Surface Structures

An analytical approach is presented for correlating modulated reflectance spectra and complex surface structure. A response function is constructed of specular reflectance from metal surfaces that are both rough and spatially dispersive. The method of analysis is based on a response function formulation that entails a windowing operation. This windowing operation is not ad hoc and is theoretically well founded for providing a statistical interpretation of the permittivity function. The initial analysis indicates that the windowing operation provides for a robust formulation that is conveniently adaptable to a wide range of frequencies, spanning regimes characterized by different response characteristics. A prototype case using this windowed response function formulation is applied to the electroreflectivity spectra, from 1.5 to 4.5 eV, of roughened silver electrodes. The electrode is modeled by a two-interface system as the basis of a parameterization of experimentally measured response functions, which are partitioned into reflectivity and transparent regimes by the windowing operation. The bulk plasmons and defect polaritons are characterized by our robust formulation. In addition, we present a discussion of the general significance of our approach with respect to the application of statistical pattern recognition to the analysis of modulated reflectivity data.
Energy-Spectral Efficiency Optimization in Wireless Underground Sensor Networks Using Salp Swarm Algorithm

Achieving high data rate transmission is critically constrained by green communication metrics in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). A unified metric ensuring a successful compromise between the energy efficiency (EE) and the spectral efficiency (SE) is, then, an interesting design criterion in such systems. In this paper, we focus on EE-SE tradeoff optimization in Wireless Underground Sensor Networks (WUSNs) where signals penetrate through a challenging lossy soil medium and nodes’ power supply is critical. Underground sensor nodes gather and send sensory information to underground relay nodes which amplify-and-retransmit received signals to an aboveground sink node. We propose to optimize source and relay powers used for each packet transmission using an efficient recent metaheuristic optimization algorithm called Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA). Thus, the optimal source and relay transmission powers, which maximize the EE-SE tradeoff under the maximum allowed transmission powers and the initial battery capacity constraints, are obtained. Further, we study the case where the underground medium properties are dynamic and change from a transmission to another. For this situation, we propose to allocate different maximum node powers according to the soil medium conditions. Simulation results prove that our proposed optimization achieves a significant EE-SE tradeoff and prolongs the network’s lifetime compared to the fixed allocation node power scheme. Additional gain is obtained in case of dynamic medium conditions.
The Importance of Catalyst Wettability

The contribution of catalyst wettability for catalytic performance has been ignored for a long time. In this Concept, we have briefly summarized recent works on the importance of catalyst wettability for improving catalytic activity, product selectivity, and catalyst stability. Suitable catalyst wettability is favourable for several reasons: 1) to enrich the reactants, leading to enhancement of the catalytic activity; 2) to inhibit side‐reactions, giving desirable products; 3) to reduce the poisoning of active sites and damage to catalyst framework, resulting in an increase of catalyst stability. These advantages of suitable catalyst wettability will be very important for designing and developing novel heterogeneous catalysts in the future.
Isolation of Volatiles from Oak Wood (Quercus alba) by a Thermomechanical Process: Screening of some Processing Parameters

Experiments were performed to evaluate an extraction process developed in our laboratory called the instantaneous controlled pressure drop process (“Détente Instantanée Contrôlée” or (DIC)) for extracting volatile compounds from oak wood. This process involves subjecting oak chips for a short time (10 s to 12 min) under a steam pressure (1 to 6 bars or from 100 to 165°C). This first step is followed by a rapid decompression toward vacuum (up to 50 mbar). Some parameters were evaluated: steam pressure level, processing time, initial moisture content, chips thickness and velocity of the rapid decompression. A preliminary experimental design allowed optimizing the processing pressure and processing time: 6 bar and 5 minutes. Under these conditions, the optimal conditions were as follows: 20% for initial moisture content, 0.5 mm for the chips thickness. The number of decompressions towards vacuum was also investigated and it appeared that extraction yield can be enhanced by repeating the decompressions cycles for a same processing time. Moreover, GC-MS analysis indicated that DIC extract included the same molecules that obtained by steam distillation with almost the same percentages.
High-temperature electron and hole mobility in CdTe

We have developed a novel technology for forming high-temperature stable ohmic contacts on CdTe, and we have measured the Hall mobilities of electrons at temperatures between 300–1300 K and holes between 225–600 K. The temperature interval also covers the region 300–600 K, where no data have yet been presented. The measured mobilities agree very well with theoretical calculations.
Relation between stress-induced leakage current and dielectric breakdown in SiN-based antifuses

Degradation process of metal-to-metal antifuses which use thin silicon nitride as dielectric layer under high field stress is studied in detail. Prior to dielectric breakdown, leakage current at stress voltage increases with large and complex fluctuations for any sample. So-called stress-induced leakage current at low voltages in current-voltage characteristics is also observed and it increases as the stress continues. It is shown that the stress-induced leakage current and the pre-breakdown leakage current with fluctuations are identical phenomena, and that the stress-induced leakage current strongly relates to the dielectric breakdown. Therefore,it is important to understand the mechanism of the stress-induced leakage current in order to improve antifuse reliabilities. Discrete two-step fluctuations on the stress-induced leakage currents at low voltages are found and the stress-induced leakage current is not proportional to antifuse areas. Considering these findings, it is concluded that the stress-induced leakage current flows through local spots. The conduction mechanism of the stress-induced leakage currents is also studied. The main conduction process in SiN films appears to be Frenkel-Poole conduction. We also find that as the stress continues, the barrier height between an electrode and a SiN film becomes lower and the dielectric constant becomes larger. It is also found that the appearance of the stress-induced leakage current in the I-V characteristics depends on the thickness of the barrier metal. Dielectric breakdown electric field and TDDB lifetime also show the same dependence. Considering the experimental results, the stress-leakage current is related to the electrode material. <<ETX>>
Filling the carbon nanocages

Twenty elements were codeposited with carbon in an arc discharge between graphite electrodes. The majority of them were evaporated from composite anodes that contained the elements or their oxides stuffed into central bores in the graphite rods. The deposits, found in the soot at the reactor walls or as slag at the cathode, were characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and x‐ray diffraction. The products fall into four categories: (1) elements that can be encapsulated in the form of their carbides (B, V, Cr, Mn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo); (2) elements that are not encapsulated but tolerate the formation of graphitic carbon cages (Cu, Zn, Pd, Ag, Pt); (3) elements that form stable carbides, competing with and pre‐empting the carbon supply for the graphitic cage formation (Al, Si, Ti, W); and (4) the iron‐group metals (Fe, Co, Ni) that stimulate the formation of single‐walled tubes and strings of nanobeads in the conventional arc discharge condition, and produce the nanometer‐size carbon‐coated ferromagnetic particles in a modified arc discharge in which metals are in molten form in graphite crucible anodes exposed to a helium jet stream. The criterion determining the formation according to one of the four categories is discussed on the basis of this extended study. It is apparent that the physical properties such as vapor pressure, melting and boiling points, the completeness of the electronic shells of the elements, or their heat of carbide formation are not sufficient to explain the selectivity of the encapsulation without exceptions. A hypothesis is advanced that emphasizes the existence of the carbide, interfacial compatibility with the graphitic network, as well as the transport and supply parameters in the reaction space.