Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of Magnesium and its Alloys in Biodegradable Vascular Stent

Biodegradable vascular stent is mainly made of materials that can be naturally decomposed. Magnesium and its alloys have excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The vascular stent made of magnesium and its alloys has the unique advantages of strength of metal scaffolds and bioabsorbability of degradable polymer scaffolds. Due to the special microenvironment inside the blood vessels, the stent should have good resistance against corrosion. After implantation of metal materials for human tissue repair, the surface oxidation film spontaneously formed in the air will react with the human physiological environment. The nature of the interface between materials and tissues will have a certain impact on the corrosion resistance of metals and the degree of metal ion release, thus determining the biocompatibility of materials.
Fumonisin B1 production by strains from different mating populations of Gibberella fujikuroi (Fusarium section Liseola).

Fungal isolates of Gibberella fujikuroi are economically important as plant pathogens and as producers of mycotoxins. The species can be subdivided into six distinct mating populations that probably represent different biological species. Members of four of these mating populations-A, D, E, and F-are commonly found in asymptomatic and diseased maize and sorghum plants. We tested 56 G. fujikuroi isolates that had been collected in Kansas and assigned to mating populations for their ability to produce the mycotoxin fumonisin B1. When grown on maize grain under laboratory conditions, members of the A population could produce an average of 1,786 ppm of the toxin, members of the population averaged 636 ppm, the E population 33 ppm, and the F population 7.5 ppm. Strain-related variability in fumonisin B, production was relatively large in the A and D populations (307-4,425 and 4-2,618 ppm, respectively) and relatively low in the E and F populations (6-146 and 2-35 ppm, respectively). The level of fumonisin B1 produced by the different isolates did not appear to be related to geographic origin, host, or disease status of the host plant. Our data are generally consistent with previous work on this mycotoxin, but the differences between the A and F mating populations are significant because both of these groups share the Fusarium moniliforme anamorph.
Modelling and Simulation of Hetero-Dielectric Surrounding Gate TFET

Analytical modelling for a tri material cylindrical gate tunnel FET is developed in this paper. Poisson equation and parabolic approximation technique are employed to develop the analytical model of the proposed device. Inorder to eliminate the influence of short channel effects and the leakage current, a surrounding gate with three different work function materials is used. Stacked dielectric or hetero-dielectric is used to improve the ON current of device. Performance of the device has been analyzed with different gate material lengths such as 10 nm, 15 nm and 20 nm. The developed 2-D mathematical model is used to obtain results like drain current, surface potential and electrical field in the vertical and lateral direction. From the results, a reduction in the device limitations is inferred and the leakage current is also considerably reduced. It has been found from the presented results that the proposed device structure Tri Material Cylindrical Gate Tunnel FET (TM CG TFET) provides the improved ON state current (10-3A/µm) and reduced OFF state current (10-14A/µm). The accuracy of the results and characteristics of the device are evaluated using TCAD simulations.
Reefs shift from net accretion to net erosion along a natural environmental gradient

Coral reefs persist in an accretion-erosion balance and ocean acidification resulting from anthropogenic CO2 emissions threatens to shift this balance in favor of net reef erosion. Corals and calcifying algae, largely responsible for reef accretion, are vulnerable to environmental changes associated with ocean acidification, but the direct effects of lower pH on reef erosion has received less attention, particularly in the context of known drivers of bioerosion and natural variability. This study examines the balance between reef accretion and erosion along a well-characterized natural environmental gradient in Kane'ohe Bay, Hawai'i using experimental blocks of coral skeleton. Comparing before and after micro-computed tomography (mu CT) scans to quantify net accretion and erosion, we show that, at the small spatial scale of this study (tens of meters), pH was a better predictor of the accretion-erosion balance than environmental drivers suggested by prior studies, including resource availability, temperature, distance from shore, or depth. In addition, this study highlights the fine-scale variation of pH in coastal systems and the importance of micro habitat variation for reef accretion and erosion processes. We demonstrate significant changes in both the mean and variance of pH on the order of meters, providing a local perspective on global increases in pCO(2). Our findings suggest that increases in reef erosion, combined with expected decreases in calcification, will accelerate the shift of coral reefs to an erosion-dominated system in a high-CO2 world. This shift will make reefs increasingly susceptible to storm damage and sea-level rise, threatening the maintenance of the ecosystem services that coral reefs provide.
Effect of Tacca Starch Loading on Production of Amylolytic Enzymes from Ragi Tapai

The study was done to determine the effect of Tacca starch loading on production of amylolytic enzyme from Ragi Tapai. In this study, Ragi Tapai was used as a starter to produce amylolytic enzyme. The fermentation was done in a solid state fermentation with the presence of Tacca leontopetaloides starch as the carbon source. The analysis of total sugar was conducted using DNS method and amylolytic enzyme was determined using Lowry method. The mixture was fermented and incubated for 24, 48, 72 and 96h. The result revealed that the optimum production of amylase was found at 48 h of incubation with amylase activity of 1.91 U/ml/min and 1.42 mg/ml for total protein. The study shows that increment amount of the Tacca starch in cultivation medium, increase the production of the amylase and total protein content. The highest enzyme activity was obtained at 4% of Tacca starch loading with amylase activity and total protein content of 2.14 U/ml/min and 1.42 mg/ml respectively. The study indicated that growth promoters in Tacca starch capable to enhance the activity of microbial consortium in Ragi Tapai for production of the amylolytic enzyme.
A Case of Multiple Sclerosis—Like Relapsing Remitting Encephalomyelitis Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and a Review of the Published Literature

Complications involving the central nervous system (CNS) occur in 9–14% of patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), including stroke-like episodes, demyelination, encephalitis, and nonspecific neurological symptoms. Here we report a case of multiple sclerosis (MS) like relapsing remitting encephalomyelitis following allogeneic HSCT, which did not respond to disease modifying therapies (DMTs) and “domino” autologous HSCT. A 53-year-old male was treated with allogeneic HSCT for lymphoid blast transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia. Ten months later he presented with confusion, slurred speech, left sided facial weakness and ataxia. A magnetic resonance imaging brain scan showed multiple enhancing tumefactive lesions. Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies were negative. After extensive investigations for infections, autoimmune disorders and recurrence of malignancy, he underwent brain biopsy, which showed a macrophage rich lesion with severe myelin loss but axonal preservation indicating a demyelinating pathology. Although his symptoms improved with corticosteroids, he relapsed five months later. In the absence of any systemic features suggesting graft versus host disease (GvHD), his presentation was thought to be compatible with MS. The illness followed an aggressive course that did not respond to glatiramer acetate and natalizumab. He was therefore treated with “domino” autologous HSCT, which also failed to induce long-term remission. Despite further treatment with ocrelizumab, he died of progressive disease. An autopsy limited to the examination of brain revealed multifocal destructive leukoencephalopathy with severe myelin and axonal loss. Immunohistochemistry showed macrophage located in the perivascular area, with no T or B lymphocytes. The appearance was unusual and not typical for chronic MS plaques. Reported cases of CNS demyelination following allogeneic HSCT are very limited in the literature, especially in relation to histopathological examination. Although the clinical disease course of our patient following allogeneic HSCT resembled an “MS-like” relapsing remitting encephalomyelitis, the autopsy examination did not show any evidence of active inflammation. The impact of DMTs and HSCT on the histological appearance of “MS-like” CNS pathologies is unknown. Therefore, reporting this and similar cases will improve our awareness and understanding of underlying disease mechanisms.
Molecular Insights Into the Causes of Human Thymic Hypoplasia With Animal Models

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DiGeorge), CHARGE syndrome, Nude/SCID and otofaciocervical syndrome type 2 (OTFCS2) are distinct clinical conditions in humans that can result in hypoplasia and occasionally, aplasia of the thymus. Thymic hypoplasia/aplasia is first suggested by absence or significantly reduced numbers of recent thymic emigrants, revealed in standard-of-care newborn screens for T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs). Subsequent clinical assessments will often indicate whether genetic mutations are causal to the low T cell output from the thymus. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to the thymic hypoplasia/aplasia in diverse human syndromes are not fully understood, partly because the problems of the thymus originate during embryogenesis. Rodent and Zebrafish models of these clinical syndromes have been used to better define the underlying basis of the clinical presentations. Results from these animal models are uncovering contributions of different cell types in the specification, differentiation, and expansion of the thymus. Cell populations such as epithelial cells, mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, and thymocytes are variably affected depending on the human syndrome responsible for the thymic hypoplasia. In the current review, findings from the diverse animal models will be described in relation to the clinical phenotypes. Importantly, these results are suggesting new strategies for regenerating thymic tissue in patients with distinct congenital disorders.
Deregulation of Adaptive T Cell Immunity in Multiple Myeloma: Insights Into Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities

Immunotherapy has recently emerged as a promising treatment option for multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Profound immune dysfunction and evasion of immune surveillance are known to characterize MM evolution and disease progression. Along with genomic changes observed in malignant plasma cells, the bone marrow (BM) milieu creates a protective environment sustained by the complex interaction of BM stromal cells (BMSCs) and malignant cells that using bidirectional connections and cytokines released stimulate disease progression, drug resistance and enable immune escape. Local immune suppression and T-cell exhaustion are important mediating factors of clinical outcomes and responses to immune-based approaches. Thus, further characterization of the defects present in the immune system of MM patients is essential to develop novel therapies and to repurpose the existing ones. This review seeks to provide insights into the mechanisms that promote tumor escape, cause inadequate T-cell stimulation and impaired cytotoxicity in MM. Furthermore, it highlights current immunotherapies being used to restore adaptive T-cell immune responses in MM and describes strategies created to escape these multiple immune evasion mechanisms.
Finite-Time Neural Network Backstepping Control of an Uncertain Fractional-Order Duffing System With Input Saturation

In this paper, neural network (NN) control of the fractional-order Duffing system (FODS) by using a backstepping method within finite time in the presence of input saturation has been investigated. A fractional-order filter with an order lying on the interval (1,2) was used to estimate the virtual input together with its fractional derivative, and this showed that the estimation error tends to a small region in some finite time. Fractional-order law is designed for the parameter of the NN, and an adaptive NN controller was given. The proposed method drives the tracking error, tending to an arbitrary small region within a finite time. The simulation results verify the validity of the proposed method.
Toward a Definition of the Linguistic Profile of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The current investigation assessed linguistic and narrative abilities in a cohort of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The linguistic assessment was performed with both traditional tests and a multilevel procedure for discourse analysis. The results showed difficulties at different stages of message planning, organization, and microlinguistic processing (i.e., lexical selection and grammatical processing). Their macrolinguistic impairments were likely related to more general difficulties in the prelinguistic conceptual phase of message planning and mental model generation. Such weaknesses included a difficulty in the non-verbal conceptualization of the story and the generation of an internal representation of the addressee’s mental model.
Assessing the Factors Associated With the Detection of Juvenile Hacking Behaviors

Research on delinquency reduction often highlights the importance of identifying and sanctioning antisocial and illegal activities so as to reduce the likelihood of future offending. The rise of digital technology complicates the process of detecting cybercrimes and technology enabled offenses, as individuals can use devices from anywhere to engage in various harmful activities that may appear benign to an observer. Despite the growth of cybercrime research, limited studies have examined the extent to which technology enabled offenses are detected, or the behavioral and attitudinal factors associated with being unobserved or caught for one’s actions. The current study addresses this gap in the literature by estimating a multinomial regression model for self-reported computer hacking behavior and the likelihood of those actions being detected in a large international sample of juveniles (N = 51,059). The findings demonstrate significant differences between youth who hack without detection compared to those who are caught. The implications of this analysis for our understanding of cybercrime and its relationship to traditional delinquency are explored in depth.
Molecular weight distribution, measured by HPSEC, and viscosity of water-soluble dietary fiber in carrots following different types of processing

The molecular weight distribution, measured by HPSEC, and the viscosity of the water-soluble dietary fiber isolated from variously processed/cooked carrots were investigated. The carrots were studied raw, frozen, blanched, soured, microwaved, and boiled. The fibers were isolated after enzymatic digestion of protein and starch to simulate the situation in the gastrointestinal tract. The degree of polymerization (DP) and the viscosity were highly dependent on the type of processing/cooking and in general followed the degree of heat treatment. Thus, the DP values were similar with raw and frozen carrots, whereas blanched carrots had a lower DP. Further, only minor differences in DP could be observed among blanched, soured, and microwaved material, and the most pronounced degradation was obtained in boiled material. The viscosity was in accordance with the DP measurements and decreased in the order raw > blanched > boiled.
Recognition of Ionic Liquids as High-Voltage Electrolytes for Supercapacitors

The electrochemical stability of electrolytes is essential to the working potential of supercapacitors. Ionic liquids (ILs) are being considered as safe alternatives to current organic electrolytes and attracting extensive interests owing to their inflammability, widened potential windows, and superior ionic conductivity. Novel supercapacitors with IL electrolytes exhibit attractive energy density and can be utilized in various energy storage systems. Most previous studies focused on electrochemical performances, while rare attentions were devoted to energy storage process details or mechanisms. This review comprehensively summarizes the latest progress on formulated IL electrolytes for different types of supercapacitors, with an emphasis on the intrinsic understanding of the related energy storage mechanisms. Subsequently, comparisons of various IL-based liquid-state electrolytes as well as the state-of-the-art advancements in optimizing ILs electrolytes are introduced. The authors attempt to reveal the inherent correlation between the usage of IL electrolytes and the properties of supercapacitors via referenced works. Some emerging applications of ionogel electrolytes based on conventional polymers and poly(IL)s for flexible supercapacitors are also presented, including the existing problems. In addition, challenges and future perspectives of research in this field are highlighted.
Intangible Assets and Performance in Nonprofit Organizations:A Systematic Literature Review

Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) promote citizens’ participation in community life through several different kinds of organizations: some more informal (such as associations and volunteering groups), others more formal or public (such as charities and foundations). This heterogeneity, as well as the well-known peculiarities of NPOs when compared to profit and public ones, poses new challenges to their management. In the constant need to find balance between financial constraints and social value, a main resource for NPOs is the management of intangible assets, such as knowledge, positive relationships within the organization and with users, external image, loyalty and commitment, and so on. From the literature on for-profit organizations, it is well known that proper management of intangible assets improves an organization’s sustainable competitive advantage, not only by enhancing its members’ affiliation and commitment but even by enhancing their productivity. This is particularly relevant when taking into account the main role of volunteers in the third sector. Volunteers, indeed, show different job attitudes and organizational behaviors than paid employees, as their membership and accountability are less formalized and they frequently lack a proper teamwork, due to the high volunteer turnover. At the same time, from the managers point of view, managing volunteers and paid workers require higher skills and competencies than managing human resources in for-profit organizations. Developing these reflections and considerations, we aim to conduct a systematic literature review on the association between intangible assets and performance in NPOs. The literature will be conducted following the indications from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. It provides an evidence-based minimum set of items to be included in the review, as well as a workflow to properly manage and choose the papers to be included. The authors conducted the research using EBSCO, ProQuest, and Scopus databases.
Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Associated Characteristics Among Patients With Chronic Pain Conditions in a Norwegian University Hospital Outpatient Pain Clinic

Introduction Comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with chronic pain may have a negative effect on the course and outcome of both disorders. Nevertheless, the co-occurrence of the two conditions is often overlooked in clinical settings. Further, little is known about how PTSD is associated with biopsychosocial characteristics in this patient group. The first objective was to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in patients with chronic pain in a Norwegian university hospital outpatient pain clinic. The second objective was to investigate possible associations between PTSS and adverse outcomes such as pain intensity, disability, and distress. The third objective was to compare the PTSS prevalence rates between primary versus secondary pain conditions. Materials and methods Six hundred and ninety-two patients meeting for pain assessment completed self-report questionnaires about PTSS and possibly associated factors. The Life Events Checklist and the Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire were used to screen for potentially traumatic life events. The Impact of Events Scale – Revised and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 were used to assess PTSS. Differences between patients with and without severe PTSS on the possibly associated variables were analyzed by chi-squared-, and t-tests. Results 20.7% of the participants reported a level of PTSS qualifying for a PTSD diagnosis. These patients reported higher levels of pain intensity, pain bothersomeness, disability, and psychological distress, as well as lower levels of self-efficacy. They also reported higher levels of pain catastrophizing, perceived injustice, fatigue, and sleep difficulties. Finally, there was not a significant difference in prevalence rates between primary and secondary pain conditions. Discussion PTSS are frequent in patients with chronic pain, and a range of psychological characteristics is associated with a high level of such symptoms in this patient group. Patients with both conditions report a significantly higher symptom load, and the potential impact on the individual’s life is major. In terms of pain condition, there were no differences in PTSS between primary pain conditions and secondary pain conditions in this pain population. This study emphasizes the importance of increased attention on PTSS when seeing patients with chronic pain conditions in clinical practice.
Biological invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans along the Atlantic coast of North America

The occurrence of lionfish Pterois volitans is reported from the western Atlantic Ocean. Adults were collected off the coasts of North Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and juveniles were collected along the shore of Long Island, New York. They have also been found around Bermuda. Lionfish are indigenous to tropical waters of the western Pacific and their occurrence along the east coast of the United States represents a human-induced introduction. Distribution of adults suggests lionfish are surviving in the western Atlantic and capture of juveniles provides putative evidence of reproduction. The most likely pathway of introduction is aquarium releases, but introduction via ballast water cannot be ruled out. The ecosystem of the southeastern United States continental shelf is already undergoing change: reef fish communities are becoming more tropical and many fish species are overfished. These ongoing changes, along with limited information regarding the biology of P. volitans, make predictions of long-term effects of the introduction difficult. This discovery rep- resents the first, apparently successful introduction, of a marine fish from the western Pacific to Atlantic coastal waters of the United States.