Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of Transmitter Release from Single Living Cells Using Conducting Polymer Microelectrodes

The advent of organic electronics has made available a host of materials and devices with unique properties for interfacing with biology.1–2 One example is the use of conducting polymer coatings on metal electrodes that are implanted in the central nervous system and interface electrically with neurons, providing stimulation and recording the neuron's electrical activity.3–5 Coating a metal electrode with a conducting polymer has been shown to lower the electrical impedance and decrease the mechanical properties mismatch at the interface with tissue, with beneficial effects on the lifetime of the implant.3, 6 Conducting polymers can also be functionalized with biomolecules that stimulate neural growth and minimize the immune response to the implant.3–5, 7 Other examples are organic electronic ion pumps,8 and ion transistors,9 which are recently invented devices capable of precise delivery of neurotransmitters to neurons. These devices were recently implanted in the ear of a guinea pig and were shown to control its hearing.10 Conducting polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), a material that has been shown to be biocompatible with a variety of different cells,1 have been used for these applications. These examples highlight the main advantages that organic electronic materials bring to the interface with biology, including their “soft” nature, which offers better mechanical compatibility with tissue than traditional electronic materials, and natural compatibility with mechanically flexible substrates, which paves the way for the development of implants that better conform to the non-planar shape of organs. Finally, the ability of organics to transport ionic in addition to electronic charge creates the opportunity to interface with electrically active cells in novel ways, as the work on ion pumps indicates.
Mutations in the telomerase component NHP2 cause the premature ageing syndrome dyskeratosis congenita

Dyskeratosis congenita is a premature aging syndrome characterized by muco-cutaneous features and a range of other abnormalities, including early greying, dental loss, osteoporosis, and malignancy. Dyskeratosis congenita cells age prematurely and have very short telomeres. Patients have mutations in genes that encode components of the telomerase complex (dyskerin, TERC, TERT, and NOP10), important in the maintenance of telomeres. Many dyskeratosis congenita patients remain uncharacterized. Here, we describe the analysis of two other proteins, NHP2 and GAR1, that together with dyskerin and NOP10 are key components of telomerase and small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein (snoRNP) complexes. We have identified previously uncharacterized NHP2 mutations that can cause autosomal recessive dyskeratosis congenita but have not found any GAR1 mutations. Patients with NHP2 mutations, in common with patients bearing dyskerin and NOP10 mutations had short telomeres and low TERC levels. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of NHP2 in human cells led to low TERC levels, but this reduction was not observed after GAR1 knockdown. These findings suggest that, in human cells, GAR1 has a different impact on the accumulation of TERC compared with dyskerin, NOP10, and NHP2. Most of the mutations so far identified in patients with classical dyskeratosis congenita impact either directly or indirectly on the stability of RNAs. In keeping with this effect, patients with dyskerin, NOP10, and now NHP2 mutations have all been shown to have low levels of telomerase RNA in their peripheral blood, providing direct evidence of their role in telomere maintenance in humans.
Cultural embeddedness and its impacts on technological learning in high-tech SME cluster in Eastern China

In Eastern China, the local culture plays such an important role in the inherent shape and growth of the industrial clusters. Based upon the surveys in one high-tech SME cluster in Eastern China, this paper focuses on the cultural embeddedness to discuss its impacts on the technological learning in SME clusters. Thereby, it, first, discusses the related research fields on the relationships between cluster's technological learning and cultural embeddedness. Second, based upon the investigation and interviews, the relationships between technological learning and cultural embeddedness in case cluster are presented. Then, the cultural embeddedness is used to analyze the characteristics of technological learning in Chinese hi-tech cluster. Furthermore, the negative impacts of cultural embeddedness on technological learning are concise presented.
Nano Gives the Answer: Breaking the Bottleneck of Internal Concentration Polarization with a Nanofiber Composite Forward Osmosis Membrane for a High Water Production Rate

Clean water shortage is one of the biggest global crises. [ 1 ] Thus clean water production and regeneration have become the main concerns. Among a variety of technologies, forward osmosis (FO) is a well-recognized osmotic process for producing clean water because of the low energy input, [ 2 ] as shown in Figure S1 (Supporting Information). Driven by osmotic pressure gradient ( Δ π ) across a semipermeable FO membrane, water diffuses naturally through the membrane, leaving impurities behind. This process has great potential for various applications including wastewater reclamation, [ 3 ] seawater desalination, [ 4 ] and energy production. [ 5 ]
Interplay among side chain sequence, backbone composition, and residue rigidification in polypeptide folding and assembly

The extent to which polypeptide conformation depends on side-chain composition and sequence has been widely studied, but less is known about the importance of maintaining an α-amino acid backbone. Here, we examine a series of peptides with backbones that feature different repeating patterns of α- and β-amino acid residues but an invariant side-chain sequence. In the pure α-backbone, this sequence corresponds to the previously studied peptide GCN4-pLI, which forms a very stable four-helix bundle quaternary structure. Physical characterization in solution and crystallographic structure determination show that a variety of α/β-peptide backbones can adopt sequence-encoded quaternary structures similar to that of the α prototype. There is a loss in helix bundle stability upon β-residue incorporation; however, stability of the quaternary structure is not a simple function of β-residue content. We find that cyclically constrained β-amino acid residues can stabilize the folds of α/β-peptide GCN4-pLI analogues and restore quaternary structure formation to backbones that are predominantly unfolded in the absence of cyclic residues. Our results show a surprising degree of plasticity in terms of the backbone compositions that can manifest the structural information encoded in a sequence of amino acid side chains. These findings offer a framework for the design of nonnatural oligomers that mimic the structural and functional properties of proteins.
Activation of P2X7 receptors in glial satellite cells reduces pain through downregulation of P2X3 receptors in nociceptive neurons

Purinergic ionotropic P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) are closely associated with excitotoxicity and nociception. Inhibition of P2X7R activation has been considered as a potentially useful strategy to improve recovery from spinal cord injury and reduce inflammatory damage to trauma. The physiological functions of P2X7Rs, however, are poorly understood, even though such information is essential for making the P2X7R an effective therapeutic target. We show here that P2X7Rs in satellite cells of dorsal root ganglia tonically inhibit the expression of P2X3Rs in neurons. Reducing P2X7R expression using siRNA or blocking P2X7R activity by antagonists elicits P2X3R up-regulation, increases the activity of sensory neurons responding to painful stimuli, and evokes abnormal nociceptive behaviors in rats. Thus, contrary to the notion that P2X7R activation is cytotoxic, P2X7Rs in satellite cells play a crucial role in maintaining proper P2X3R expression in dorsal root ganglia. Studying the mechanism underlying the P2X7R–P2X3R control, we demonstrate that activation of P2X7Rs evokes ATP release from satellite cells. ATP in turn stimulates P2Y1 receptors in neurons. P2Y1 receptor activation appears to be necessary and sufficient for the inhibitory control of P2X3R expression. We further determine the roles of the P2X7R–P2Y1–P2X3R inhibitory control under injurious conditions. Activation of the inhibitory control effectively prevents the development of allodynia and increases the potency of systemically administered P2X7R agonists in inflamed rats. Thus, direct blocking P2X7Rs, as proposed before, may not be the best strategy for reducing pain or lessening neuronal degeneration because it also disrupts the protective function of P2X7Rs.
Molecular pathology of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a major complication of solid organ transplantation and are due to the chronic administration of iatrogenic immunosuppression.1,2 Most PTLD are of B cell origin, frequently involve extra-nodal sites, and display a marked clinical aggressiveness. Despite these common features, PTLD display histological and molecular heterogeneity and may present at different times after transplantation.1-5 Early onset ( 1 year after transplantation) PTLD are true monoclonal lymphoid malignancies that harbor EBV infection only in a fraction of cases.1-5
Electrical Characteristics of Molybdenum Disulfide Flakes Produced by Liquid Exfoliation

Graphene has become one of the most interesting nanomaterials in the past 7 years because of its unique physical properties, which originate from low dimensionality. [ 1 , 2 ] From the point of 2D conductors, other layered nanomaterials including transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are also expected to have great potential in nanoelectronics, sensing, and energy harvesting. When compared with the poor mobility of organic semiconductors, semiconducting TMD compounds were reported to have higher mobilities, [ 3 ] enlightening the wide area of the applications of organic semiconductors. As the layered TMDs can be made into ultrathin fi lms with structural fl exibility, thin-fi lm devices such as thin-fi lm transistors (TFTs), sensors, and diodes can be envisaged. Furthermore, the layered structures allow ionic or molecular intercalation, suggesting possible applications in ion batteries, [ 4 ] hydrogen storage, [ 5 ]
The Smoking Abstinence Questionnaire: measurement of smokers' abstinence-related expectancies.

AIMS To develop and validate a measure of smokers' expectancies for the abstinence process upon quitting smoking: the Smoking Abstinence Questionnaire (SAQ). DESIGN Principal component analysis and other psychometric analyses of self-report data. SETTING San Francisco, California. PARTICIPANTS A total of 507 adult smokers of at least 10 cigarettes per day diverse in gender, sexual orientation and ethnoracial status. MEASUREMENTS The primary measure was a draft version of the SAQ. Additional measures assessed a variety of other smoking-related constructs. FINDINGS Analyses yielded 10 scales of the SAQ: Withdrawal, Social Improvement/Non-smoker Identity, Adverse Outcomes, Treatment Effectiveness, Common Reasons, Barriers to Treatment, Social Support, Optimistic Outcomes, Coffee Use and Weight Gain. The SAQ scales demonstrated internal consistencies ranging from 0.62 to 0.85 and were associated with tobacco dependence, motivation to quit, abstinence self-efficacy, withdrawal symptoms, dietary restraint, shape and weight concern and tobacco use expectancies. The SAQ predicted smoking-related constructs above and beyond tobacco use expectancies, suggesting that abstinence-related expectancies and tobacco use expectancies are distinct from one another. CONCLUSIONS A newly developed questionnaire, the Smoking Abstinence Questionnaire, appears to capture reliably smokers' expectancies for abstinence (Withdrawal, Social Improvement/Non-smoker Identity, Adverse Outcomes, Common Reasons, Optimistic Outcomes, Coffee Use, and Weight Gain) and expectancies related to the success of a quit attempt (Treatment Effectiveness, Barriers to Treatment and Social Support). It remains to be seen how far any of these expectancies predict attempts to quit, withdrawal, treatment utilization and response and quitting success above and beyond existing measures.
Amorphous calcium phosphate is a major component of the forming fin bones of zebrafish: Indications for an amorphous precursor phase

A fundamental question in biomineralization is the nature of the first-formed mineral phase. In vertebrate bone formation, this issue has been the subject of a long-standing controversy. We address this key issue using the continuously growing fin bony rays of the Tuebingen long-fin zebrafish as a model for bone mineralization. Employing high-resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopy imaging, electron diffraction, and elemental analysis, we demonstrate the presence of an abundant amorphous calcium phosphate phase in the newly formed fin bones. The extracted amorphous mineral particles crystallize with time, and mineral crystallinity increases during bone maturation. Based on these findings, we propose that this amorphous calcium phosphate phase may be a precursor phase that later transforms into the mature crystalline mineral.
Alcohol-related negative consequences among drinkers around the world

Aims This paper examines (i) gender and country differences in negative consequences related to drinking; (ii) relative rates of different consequences; and (iii) country-level predictors of consequences. Design, setting and participants Multi-level analyses used survey data from the Gender, Alcohol, and Culture: An International Study (GENACIS) collaboration. Measurements Measures included 17 negative consequences grouped into (i) high endorsement acute, (ii) personal and (iii) social. Country-level measures included average frequency and quantity of drinking, percentage who were current drinkers, gross domestic product (GDP) and Human Development Index (HDI). Findings Overall, the three groupings of consequences were reported by 44%, 12% and 7% of men and by 31%, 6% and 3% of women, respectively. More men than women endorsed all consequences, but gender differences were greatest for consequences associated with chronic drinking and social consequences related to male roles. The highest prevalence of consequences was in Uganda and lowest in Uruguay. Personal and social consequences were more likely in countries with higher usual quantity, fewer current drinkers and lower scores on GDP and HDI. However, significant interactions with individual-level quantity indicated a stronger relationship between consequences and usual quantity among drinkers in countries with lower quantity, more current drinkers and higher scores on GDP and HDI. Conclusions Both gender and country need to be taken into consideration when assessing adverse drinking consequences. Individual measures of alcohol consumption and country-level variables are associated with experiencing such consequences. Additionally, country-level variables affect the strength of the relationship between usual quantity consumed by individuals and adverse consequences.
Defining diversity, specialization, and gene specificity in transcriptomes through information theory

The transcriptome is a set of genes transcribed in a given tissue under specific conditions and can be characterized by a list of genes with their corresponding frequencies of transcription. Transcriptome changes can be measured by counting gene tags from mRNA libraries or by measuring light signals in DNA microarrays. In any case, it is difficult to completely comprehend the global changes that occur in the transcriptome, given that thousands of gene expression measurements are involved. We propose an approach to define and estimate the diversity and specialization of transcriptomes and gene specificity. We define transcriptome diversity as the Shannon entropy of its frequency distribution. Gene specificity is defined as the mutual information between the tissues and the corresponding transcript, allowing detection of either housekeeping or highly specific genes and clarifying the meaning of these concepts in the literature. Tissue specialization is measured by average gene specificity. We introduce the formulae using a simple example and show their application in two datasets of gene expression in human tissues. Visualization of the positions of transcriptomes in a system of diversity and specialization coordinates makes it possible to understand at a glance their interrelations, summarizing in a powerful way which transcriptomes are richer in diversity of expressed genes, or which are relatively more specialized. The framework presented enlightens the relation among transcriptomes, allowing a better understanding of their changes through the development of the organism or in response to environmental stimuli.
Selection and gene flow on a diminishing cline of melanic peppered moths

Historical datasets documenting changes to gene frequency clines are extremely rare but provide a powerful means of assessing the strength and relative roles of natural selection and gene flow. In 19th century Britain, blackening of the environment by the coal-fired manufacturing industry gave rise to a steep cline in the frequency of the black (carbonaria) morph of the peppered moth (Biston betularia) across northwest England and north Wales. The carbonaria morph has declined across the region following 1960s legislation to improve air quality, but the cline had not been comprehensively described since the early 1970s. We have quantified changes to the cline as of 2002, equivalent to an interval of 30 generations, and find that a cline still exists but that it is much shallower and shifted eastward. Joint estimation of the dominant fitness cost of carbonaria and dispersal parameters consistent with the observed cline change indicate that selection against carbonaria is very strong across the landscape (s ≈ 0.2), and that dispersal is much greater than previously assumed. The high dispersal estimate is further supported by the weak pattern of genetic isolation by distance at microsatellite loci, and it implies that in addition to adult dispersal, wind-dispersed first instar larvae also contribute to lifetime dispersal. The historical perspective afforded by this study of cline reversal provides new insight into the factors contributing to gene frequency change in this species, and it serves to illustrate that, even under conditions of high dispersal and strong reverse selection acting against it, complete erosion of an established cline requires many generations.
Single‐Fiber‐Based Hybridization of Energy Converters and Storage Units Using Graphene as Electrodes

Recently, there has been great interest in wearable and stretchable energy generation and storage devices utilizing nanotechnology for applications such as self-powering nanosystem that harvests its operating energy from the environment. [ 1 ] Solar, mechanical and thermal energy can be scavenged from the environment using devices that were fabricated using fl exible or stretchable substrates. For example, textile-fi bre-based nanogenerators have been demonstrated utilizing ZnO nanowires (NWs) grown on Kevlar fi bres to scavenge low-frequency mechanical energy. [ 2 ] Twisted fi bre-like electrodes have been used for harvesting solar energy using the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) approach. [ 3 ] Once the energy is harvested from the environment, an energy storage device is required in order to maintain the operation of the system, but it is usually a separated unit from the energy converters. Flexible batteries. [ 4 ]
Recent status scores for version 6 of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-6).

AIMS To describe the derivation of recent status scores (RSSs) for version 6 of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-6). DESIGN 118 ASI-6 recent status items were subjected to nonparametric item response theory (NIRT) analyses followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Generalizability and concurrent validity of the derived scores were determined. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 607 recent admissions to variety of substance abuse treatment programs constituted the derivation sample; a subset (n = 252) comprised the validity sample. MEASUREMENTS The ASI-6 interview and a validity battery of primarily self-report questionnaires that included at least one measure corresponding to each of the seven ASI domains were administered. FINDINGS Nine summary scales describing recent status that achieved or approached both high scalability and reliability were derived; one scale for each of six areas (medical, employment/finances, alcohol, drug, legal, psychiatric) and three scales for the family/social area. Intercorrelations among the RSSs also supported the multi-dimensionality of the ASI-6. Concurrent validity analyses yielded strong evidence supporting the validity of six of the RSSs (medical, alcohol, drug, employment, family/social problems, psychiatric). Evidence was weaker for the legal, family/social support and child problems RSSs. Generalizability analyses of the scales to males versus females and whites versus blacks supported the comparability of the findings, with slight exceptions. CONCLUSIONS The psychometric analyses to derive Addiction Severity Index version 6 recent status scores support the multi-dimensionality of the Addiction Severity Index version 6 (i.e. the relative independence of different life functioning areas), consistent with research on earlier editions of the instrument. In general, the Addiction Severity Index version 6 scales demonstrate acceptable scalability, reliability and concurrent validity. While questions remain about the generalizability of some scales to population subgroups, the overall findings coupled with updated and more extensive content in the Addiction Severity Index version 6 support its use in clinical practice and research.
Solution‐Processed Heterojunction Solar Cells Based on p‐type PbS Quantum Dots and n‐type Bi2S3 Nanocrystals

Bi2S3 nanocrystals are employed as an n-type, non-toxic, inorganic, solution-processed semiconductor in thin film solar cells. The first solution processed-inorganic p-n junction based on p-type PbS QDs and n-type Bi2S3 nanocrystals with both phases contributing to photocarrier generation is demonstrated. The reported devices show a power conversion efficiency of 1.6% for 860 nm PbS QDs and over 1% for 1300 nm PbS QDs.