Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding the natural selection of human embryos: Blastocyst quality modulates the inflammatory response during the peri‐implantation period

Decidualized cells display an active role during embryo implantation sensing blastocyst quality, allowing the implantation of normal developed blastocysts and preventing the invasion of impaired developed ones. Here, we characterized the immune microenvironment generated by decidualized cells in response to soluble factors secreted by blastocysts that shape the receptive milieu.
Stress-Induced Hump Effects of p-Channel

Positive bias temperature instability in p-channel polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistors is investigated. The stress-induced hump in the subthreshold region is observed and is attributed to the edge transistor along the channel width direction. The electric field at the corner is higher than that at the channel due to thinner gate insulator and larger electric flux density at the corner. The current of edge transistor is independent of the channel width. The electron trapping in the gate insulator via the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling yields the positive voltage shift. As compared to the channel transistor, more trapped electrons at the edge lead to more positive voltage shift and create the hump. The hump is less significant at high temperature due to the thermal excitation of trapped elections via the Frenkel-Poole emission. Index Terms—Hump, poly-Si, positive bias temperature insta- bility (PBTI), thin-film transistor (TFT).
Synthesis and Characterization of a New Copper(II) Complex with Nadolol, an Aminoalcoholic Beta-blocker. Crystal Structure of Na[Cu(nadololate)(CO3)] · H2O

This work reports the synthesis and characterization of a new copper complex with nadolol, a betablocker aminoalcohol. The stoichiometry found was Na[Cu(nadololate)(CO3)] · H2O. Electronic and vibrational spectroscopy analysis was performed, and the crystal structure of Na[Cu(nadololate)-(CO3)] · H2O was determined by X-ray diffraction.
Variety of size and form of GRM2 bacterial microcompartment particles

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are bacterial organelles involved in enzymatic processes, such as carbon fixation, choline, ethanolamine and propanediol degradation, and others. Formed of a semi‐permeable protein shell and an enzymatic core, they can enhance enzyme performance and protect the cell from harmful intermediates. With the ability to encapsulate non‐native enzymes, BMCs show high potential for applied use. For this goal, a detailed look into shell form variability is significant to predict shell adaptability. Here we present four novel 3D cryo‐EM maps of recombinant Klebsiella pneumoniae GRM2 BMC shell particles with the resolution in range of 9 to 22 Å and nine novel 2D classes corresponding to discrete BMC shell forms. These structures reveal icosahedral, elongated, oblate, multi‐layered and polyhedral traits of BMCs, indicating considerable variation in size and form as well as adaptability during shell formation processes.
Schottky barrier heights in two-dimensional field-effect transistors: from theory to experiment

Over the past decade, two-dimensional semiconductors (2DSCs) have aroused wide interest due to their extraordinary electronic, magnetic, optical, mechanical, and thermal properties, which hold potential in electronic, optoelectronic, thermoelectric applications, and so forth. The field-effect transistor (FET), a semiconductor gated with at least three terminals, is pervasively exploited as the device geometry for these applications. For lack of effective and stable substitutional doping techniques, direct metal contact is often used in 2DSC FETs to inject carriers. A Schottky barrier (SB) generally exists in the metal–2DSC junction, which significantly affects and even dominates the performance of most 2DSC FETs. Therefore, low SB or Ohmic contact is highly preferred for approaching the intrinsic characteristics of the 2DSC channel. In this review, we systematically introduce the recent progress made in theoretical prediction of the SB height (SBH) in the 2DSC FETs and the efforts made both in theory and experiments to achieve low SB contacts. From the comparison between the theoretical and experimentally observed SBHs, the emerging first-principles quantum transport simulation turns out to be the most powerful theoretical tool to calculate the SBH of a 2DSC FET. Finally, we conclude this review from the viewpoints of state-of-the-art electrode designs for 2DSC FETs.
Association of TNIP1 polymorphisms with hepatocellular carcinoma in a Northwest Chinese Han population

Abstract Study has demonstrated that TNIP1 polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk of HBV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between polymorphisms in TNIP1 and HCC risk in a Northwest Chinese Han population. A case–control study was conducted including 473 Hepatocellular carcinoma patients and 564 healthy controls. Three SNPs (rs3792792, rs7708392, and rs10036748) were genotyped with Sequenom MassARRAY technology and their associations with HCC risk were analyzed. These data were evaluated using the Chi-square test/Fisher's exact test, genetic model analysis, and haplotype analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the association. Patients with the “G” allele of TNIP1 rs7708392 showed a significantly increased risk of HCC (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.01–1.52, P = .042). Significant association was also shown between TNIP1 rs7708392 and HCC susceptibility in Additive model (OR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.01–1.54; P = .040). Besides, we also found that the “GC” haplotype of rs7708392 and rs10036748 was significantly associated with higher occurrence of HCC (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.01–1.54, P = .039). These results demonstrate that TNIP1 polymorphisms are associated with increased HCC risk in a Northwest Chinese Han population for the first time, which warrants further investigation in the future.
Characteristics of patients with frequent systemic corticosteroid bursts for asthma in real clinical practice: are there frequent “short bursts?”

Abstract Objective The data on intermittent systemic corticosteroid therapy for asthma exacerbation, clinically called a “short burst,” is limited. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients with frequent systemic corticosteroid bursts for asthma in real clinical practice. Methods Consecutive patients who regularly visited our hospital for asthma treatment between January 2019 and December 2020 were reviewed. The number of systemic corticosteroid bursts during the past 1 year was collected, and those with frequent bursts (≥2 times/year) were defined as the Frequent group. Results Data on 236 patients were analyzed. Among them, 5.5% (95% confidence interval 3.2–9.2%) were in the Frequent group. In the Frequent group, 23% of patients had no unplanned visits, and 38% experienced at least one corticosteroid burst without visiting a physician (self-medication). One-third of patients did not undertake high-dose inhaled corticosteroid treatment, and three-fourths of patients did not undertake long-acting muscarinic antagonist treatment. Low pulmonary function and increased blood eosinophils were independently associated with the Frequent group (adjusted odds ratio = 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.55–0.99, P = 0.039, per 10% predicted increase in a forced expiratory volume in 1 s; adjusted odds ratio = 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.29, P = 0.025, per 100/μL increase in blood eosinophils). Conclusions There was a certain rate of frequent corticosteroid bursts in real clinical practice. It is important to determine the actual condition, as some patients experienced “hidden” frequent bursts and have the option to reinforce the treatment.
Trans-spliced mRNA products produced from circRNA expression vectors

Circular (circ) RNA expression vectors are used as a method of identifying and characterizing RNA sequences that harbor internal ribosome entry site (IRES) activity. During the course of developing a vector series tailored for IRES discovery, we found evidence for the occurrence of trans-spliced mRNAs arising when sequences with promoter activity were embedded between the upstream CTD and downstream NTD exons of the pre-mRNA. These trans-spliced products regenerate the same open reading frame expected from a circRNA and can lead to false-positive signals in screens relying on circRNA expression vectors for IRES discovery. Our results caution against interpretations of IRES activity solely based on results obtained from circRNA expression vectors.
In-Depth Metallurgical and Microstructural Analysis of Oneshape and Heat Treated Onecurve Instruments

Objective: To define surface, mechanical, microstructural and metallurgical features of conventional OneShape (OShape) and heat-treated OneCurve (OCurve) nickel-titanium instruments. Methods: Instruments were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on new instruments and after simulated clinical use (SCU). Cyclic fatigue testing was performed and the number of cycles to fracture (NCF) and the length of the fractured instruments were measured (Mann-Whitney test). Fractured instruments during cyclic fatigue testing were then inspected by SEM fractographic analysis. Field emission gun scanning scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and micro-Raman spectroscopy were used to assess alloy surface chemistry. Focused ion beam (FIB) was performed to analyse the oxide layer on the surface of OCurve before and after SCU. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), metallographic evaluation and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to determine martensitic/austenitic phase transformation temperatures. Results: SEM observations on new instruments revealed a smooth regular surface with flattened milling grooves. No wear features were detected after SCU. OCurve exhibited a higher cyclic fatigue resistance (P<0.05), slower crack propagation and a surface layer of TiO2. Metallographic analysis and XRD showed the prevalence of martensitic grains on OCurve instruments that were stable at body temperature as confirmed by DSC analysis. Furthermore, DSC demonstrated a shift in the temperature transformation ranges suggesting an increase of martensite phase in autoclaved OCurve instruments. Conclusion: Heat treatment processes were confirmed as a valid enhancement of the properties of the new generation NiTi instruments. OCurve presented a significant improvement over OShape regarding both mechanical and metallurgical characteristics.
Spatial-temporal mapping and risk factors for hand foot and mouth disease in northwestern inland China

Background Hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is becoming one of the common human infectious diseases in China. Previous studies have described HFMD in tropical or coastal areas of Asia-Pacific countries. However, limited studies have thoroughly studied the epidemiology and potential risk factors for HFMD in inland areas with complex environmental conditions. Methodology/Principal findings Using the data from 2009 to 2018 on reported cases of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, we characterized the epidemic features of HFMD. Panel negative binomial model was used to identify climate, geographical and demographic determinants for HFMD incidence. A total of 70856 HFMD cases (average annual incidence: 305 per million persons) were reported in Xinjiang during the 10-year study period, of which 10393 (14.7%) were laboratory-confirmed and 98 (0.1%) were severe. HFMD peaked in summer every year during the study period, and incidence in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2018 had minor peaks in autumn. After adjusting the school or holiday month, multiple factors were found to affect HFMD epidemiology: urban area being major land cover type (incidence risk ratio, IRR 2.08; 95% CI 1.50, 2.89), higher gross domestic product per capita (IRR 1.14; 95% CI 1.11, 1.16), rise in monthly average temperature (IRR 1.65; 95% CI 1.61, 1.69) and monthly accumulative precipitation (IRR 1.20; 95% CI 1.16, 1.24) predicted increase in the incidence of HFMD; farmland being major land cover type (IRR 0.72; 95% CI 0.64, 0.81), an increase of percentage of the minority (IRR 0.91; 95% CI 0.89, 0.93) and population density (IRR 0.98; 95% CI 0.98, 0.99) were related to a decrease in the incidence of HFMD. Conclusions/Significance In conclusion, the epidemic status of HFMD in Xinjiang is characterized by low morbidity and fatality. Multiple factors have significant influences on the occurrence and transmission of HFMD in Xinjiang.
Field Studies on the Fate and Transport of Pharmaceutical Residues in Bank Filtration

Bank filtration and artificial ground water recharge are important, effective, and cheap techniques for surface water treatment and removal of microbes, as well as inorganic, and some organic, contaminants. Nevertheless, physical, chemical, and biological processes of the removal of impurities are not understood sufficiently. A research project titled Natural and Artificial Systems for Recharge and Infiltration attempts to provide more clarity in the processes affecting the removal of these contaminants. The project focuses on the fate and transport of selected emerging contaminants during bank filtration at two transects in Berlin, Germany. Several detections of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in ground water samples from bank filtration sites in Germany led to furthering research on the removal of these compounds during bank filtration. In this study, six PhACs including the analgesic drugs diclofenac and propyphenazone, the antiepileptic drugs carbamazepine and primidone, and the drug metabolites clofibric acid and 1‐acetyl‐1‐methyl‐2‐dimethyl‐oxamoyl‐2‐phenylhydrazide were found to leach from the contaminated streams and lakes into the ground water. These compounds were also detected at low concentrations in receiving public supply wells. Bank filtration either decreased the concentrations by dilution (e.g., for carbamazepine and primidone) and partial removal (e.g., for diclofenac), or totally removed PhACs (e.g., bezafibrate, indomethacine, antibiotics, and estrogens). Several PhACs, such as carbamazepine and especially primidone, were readily transported during bank filtration. They are thought to be good indicators for evaluating whether surface water is impacted by contamination from municipal sewage effluent or whether contamination associated with sewage effluent can be transported into ground water at ground water recharge sites.
Amplicon of 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing of Fertilized Volcanic Soils from Southern Chile

The volcanic soils of Chiloé Island, have physical and chemical characteristics that affect their productivity. We report here a 16S rRNA gene analysis that characterizes the predominant microbial communities in volcanic soils of Chiloé either in the presence or absence of fertilization. The major phyla identified were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. ABSTRACT The volcanic soils of Chiloé Island, Chile, have physical and chemical characteristics that affect their productivity. We report here a 16S rRNA gene analysis that characterizes the predominant microbial communities in volcanic soils of Chiloé either in the presence or absence of fertilization. The major phyla identified were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria.
Anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus and riverine export for Illinois, USA.

Agricultural nonpoint sources are important contributors of N and P to surface waters. We determined N and P net anthropogenic inputs for Illinois, examining changes during the last 50 yr and linkages to surface water export of N and P. Inputs (fertilizer, atmospheric deposition, and N 2 fixation) were compared to exports (grain export, after accounting for animal and human consumption, plus animal product export) from 1945 through 1998 using state-reported data on fertilizer sales, crop production, and human and animal populations. Large inputs of N were found beginning about 1965, coinciding with increased N fertilizer applications (about 800 000 Mg N yr -1 ). The N input (about 400 000 Mg N yr -1 ) was 8.6 million Mg N for the 1979 to 1996 crop years, with a corresponding riverine flux of 4.4 million Mg N (51% of net anthropogenic inputs discharged by rivers). Using literature estimates of field and in-stream denitrification, we could account for nearly all of the missing N in a mass balance. For P, a different pattern was found for state net anthropogenic inputs with a large input from 1965 to 1990, and on average no net inputs since 1990. For rivers, we estimated that 16% of the total N load and 47% of the total P load was from sewage effluent. We estimate that Illinois contributed 15 and 10% of the annual total N and P loads of the Mississippi River, respectively, and that any reduction strategy in Illinois must address agricultural sources.
Preliminary result of spiral synthetic aperture based ultrasound computed tomography

The ultrasound computed tomography system based on the ring probe adopts sequential single-slice scanning mode. The ring probe keeps stationary when the scan is in process; after the signals of one slice are captured, the ring probe steps along the elevation axis to scan the next slice. The scanning process needs to step and stop repeatedly, and the scanning time is relatively long. Also, the lack of signals between tomographic image slices may result in missed diagnosis. This paper proposes a new spiral synthetic aperture method for ultrasound tomographic volume imaging. The ring probe moves along the elevation axis at a certain speed, while the transmitting and receiving array elements are switched electronically. Therefore, “spiral” transmitting aperture and receiving aperture are formed, and continuous three-dimensional spatial spiral data are collected to directly reconstruct the three-dimensional volume image. Preliminary experimental result shows that this method can shorten the scanning time and improve image quality in the elevation direction.
Segmentation of side branch regions in intravascular images using multi-modal information

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is the reference standard to identify flow-limiting coronary stenosis that requires revascularization. Accurate computation of FFR from coronary intravascular images is based on the precise reconstruction of the side branches. In this paper, a novel approach for segmentation of side branches in intravascular images is presented. The framework consists of an image-to-image translation module and two side branch region segmentation modules. By using the image-to-image translation module, information from intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images is combined to improve the segmentation performance. The framework is trained on a total of 62475 IVOCT and 186110 IVUS images, and evaluated on an independent dataset which contains 9344 IVOCT images with 91 side branches and 39450 IVUS images with 128 side branches. The Dice coefficients of IVOCT and IVUS side branches segmentation are 0.935±0.039 and 0.856±0.038, respectively. The validation results of side branches detection are: Precision = 0.934, Recall = 0.923, F1Score = 0.929 in IVOCT, and 0.925, 0.868, 0.895 in IVUS, accordingly. Ablation studies demonstrate excellent efficiency in incorporating multi-modal information with our proposed image-to-image translation module.
Social interactions in the virtual economy of “Clash of Clans” from 1st January 2017 to 31st May 2020

This paper discusses proxy variables for social interactions in the virtual environment of the mobile digital game “Clash of Clans”. Players of this game can donate virtual troops to each other. These virtual troops can be used for offensive and defensive gameplay. These donations show how people interact with each other inside of the game. The donations also give information about overall activity of players of the mobile digital gaming application over time. This study shows and discusses relevant determinants for player engagement, such as the introduction of a new townhall level. New game content increases overall donations and therefore player activity in general. Furthermore, donations decrease over time when there is no bigger update.
EPTAS and Subexponential Algorithm for Maximum Clique on Disk and Unit Ball Graphs

A (unit) disk graph is the intersection graph of closed (unit) disks in the plane. Almost three decades ago, an elegant polynomial-time algorithm was found for MAXIMUM CLIQUE on unit disk graphs [Clark, Colbourn, Johnson; Discrete Mathematics ’90]. Since then, it has been an intriguing open question whether or not tractability can be extended to general disk graphs. We show that the disjoint union of two odd cycles is never the complement of a disk graph nor of a unit (3-dimensional) ball graph. From that fact and existing results, we derive a simple QPTAS and a subexponential algorithm running in time 2Õ(n2/3) for MAXIMUM CLIQUE on disk and unit ball graphs. We then obtain a randomized EPTAS for computing the independence number on graphs having no disjoint union of two odd cycles as an induced subgraph, bounded VC-dimension, and linear independence number. This, in combination with our structural results, yields a randomized EPTAS for MAX CLIQUE on disk and unit ball graphs. MAX CLIQUE on unit ball graphs is equivalent to finding, given a collection of points in R3, a maximum subset of points with diameter at most some fixed value. In stark contrast, MAXIMUM CLIQUE on ball graphs and unit 4-dimensional ball graphs, as well as intersection graphs of filled ellipses (even close to unit disks) or filled triangles is unlikely to have such algorithms. Indeed, we show that, for all those problems, there is a constant ratio of approximation that cannot be attained even in time 2n1−ɛ, unless the Exponential Time Hypothesis fails.
The effect of patient safety culture on nurses’ near-miss reporting intention: the moderating role of perceived severity of near misses

Background Reporting near misses is a practical approach to improve the confounding challenge of patient safety. Evidence suggests that patient safety culture and the characteristics of errors might have important impacts on reporting. No studies, however, have examined the relationships among patient safety culture, perceived severity of near misses and near-miss reporting. Aims To explore the relationship between patient safety culture and nurses’ near-miss reporting intention, and examine the potential moderating effect the perceived severity of near misses might have on this relationship. Methods Using a cross-sectional survey, data were collected with three validated survey instruments completed by 920 Registered Nurses in eight tertiary hospitals in China. Multiple regression analysis tested relationships among the variables. Results Nurses reported a moderate–high level of near-miss reporting intention. Patient safety culture was positively associated with nurses’ near-miss reporting intention. Perceived severity of near misses did not significantly moderate the relationship between patient safety culture and reporting intention. Conclusions Nurses generally showed a positive willingness to report near misses. A specific near-miss management and education system within a learning, supportive working environment are key components to improve reporting intention among nurses which could significantly improve patient safety.