Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phytoremediation potentials of Eichhornia crassipes for nutrients and organic pollutants from textile wastewater

Abstract We used live water hyacinth (WH, Eichornnia crassipes) to purify effluents from textile factories and monitored changes in the physicochemical properties, organic pollutants, and WH biomass. Although the water plant could not thrive in the highly polluted effluents after eight weeks, it achieved 55, 91, 53, 84, 96, 53, and 55% removal efficiency for total Kjeldahl-N (tK-N), NH3–N, organic-N, PO4 3–, SO4 2–, Cl–, and hardness, respectively. Likewise, the biomass growth showed a positive and strong correlation with NH3-N (0.998), tK-N (0.956), organic-N (0.923), pH (0.853), and EC (0.712). In contrast, chemical oxygen demand and total oil and grease (TOG) evinced negative and strong correlations of −0.994 and −0.807, respectively. Further, Cl– correlated mildly (–0.38), while alkalinity (0.154) and water hardness (–0.296) were less influential on the biomass growth. From the removal models, an average of 312 ± 7.7 g of WH would ensure 100% remediation of the nutrients in 29.2 ± 2.5 days. Except for organic-N, the removal kinetics generally favors pseudo-first-order, suggesting the sorbates' concentration and contact time as the limiting factors. Conclusively, WH is a phytoremediator of high potentials for industrial textile effluents, provided the effluents are conditioned at optimum concentration before contact with mature WH of sufficient biomass weight. Novelty statement Eichhornia crassipes was used for simultaneous removal of nutrients and organics from textile effluents. The influence of the macrophte's biomass weight and maturity on the remediation process were examined. Also, the limiting parameters that govern the remediation process were investigated via statistical correlation and kinetic study.
Electron tomography of nanoparticle catalysts on porous supports: A new technique based on Rutherford scattering

We report a new variant of three-dimensional (3D) electron microscopy, Z-contrast tomography, in which, by use of a field-emission gun scanning transmission electron microscope equipped with a high-angle annular dark-field detector, images are formed by Rutherford scattered electrons. The intensity of such electrons is approximately proportional to Z2 (Z being the atomic number of the scattering atom) so that the technique preferentially images high-Z materials distributed over low-Z supports. The 3D structure of nanoparticles catalysts, as well as that of the porous support (and especially the precise location of the former on the latter), is reconstructed from a tilt series of 2D projections by a (real space) tomography procedure using a weighted back projection approach.
Spanish Version of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation in a Sample of Nursing Students

A recent line of research concerns bedtime procrastination, its effects on sleep quality and duration, and the associated repercussions for health and wellbeing. The Bedtime Procrastination Scale is a brief, self-report instrument developed by Kroese et al. with the aim of evaluating this behavior and exploring its association with insufficient sleep, and hence with health. The aim was to develop and validate a Spanish version of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale (BPS-Sp) and to examine the relationship between bedtime procrastination and both general procrastination and self-control. The original BPS was translated from English into Spanish in accordance with international guidelines on the cross-cultural adaptation of measurement instruments. The sample for the validation study comprised 177 nursing students who completed a questionnaire requesting demographic data and which included the following instruments: the newly developed BPS-Sp, the Tuckman Procrastination Scale, and the Brief Self-Control Scale. Statistical analysis involved tests of normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov), reliability (Cronbach’s alpha, test-retest), construct validity, and confirmatory factor analysis. Scores on the BPS-Sp showed excellent internal consistency (α = .83) and temporal stability (test-retest r = .84), as well as significant correlations with general procrastination (r = .26; p < .01) and self-control (r = −.17; p < .05). Confirmatory factor analysis showed an adequate fit for the single-factor solution proposed by Kroese et al. The results suggest that the BPS-Sp is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing bedtime procrastination in the Spanish-speaking population.
Quantifying Axial Spine Images Using Object-Specific Bi-Path Network

Automatic estimation of indices from medical images is the main goal of computer-aided quantification (CADq), which speeds up diagnosis and lightens the workload of radiologists. Deep learning technique is a good choice for implementing CADq. Usually, to acquire high-accuracy quantification, specific network architecture needs to be designed for a given CADq task. In this study, considering that the target organs are the intervertebral disc and the dural sac, we propose an object-specific bi-path network (OSBP-Net) for axial spine image quantification. Each path of the OSBP-Net comprises a shallow feature extraction layer (SFE) and a deep feature extraction sub-network (DFE). The SFEs use different convolution strides because the two target organs have different anatomical sizes. The DFEs use average pooling for downsampling based on the observation that the target organs have lower intensity than the background. In addition, an inter-path dissimilarity constraint is proposed and applied to the output of the SFEs, taking into account that the activated regions in the feature maps of two paths should be different theoretically. An inter-index correlation regularization is introduced and applied to the output of the DFEs based on the observation that the diameter and area of the same object express an approximately linear relation. The prediction results of OSBP-Net are compared to several state-of-the-art machine learning-based CADq methods. The comparison reveals that the proposed methods precede other competing methods extensively, indicating its great potential for spine CADq.
Self-medication Behavior with antibiotics: a national cross-sectional survey in Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT Background Antibiotic self-medication is common in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the Sri Lankan public’s knowledge about and attitudes toward antibiotic use and self-medication, and factors associated with self-medication. Methods A national cross-sectional, interviewer-administered, survey of a random household sample (N = 1100) was conducted. Factor analysis of the attitudinal items was conducted to investigate the factors associated with antibiotic self-medication. Results A response rate of ninety-one percent (n = 998) responded. Knowledge about antibiotics was poor (mean = 12.5; SD = 3.5; (scale 0–27)). Half had previously used an antibiotic once in the past three months. About 11% (108/998) had self-medicated the last time they took antibiotics; mostly obtained from a pharmacy (82%; 89/108). Three attitudinal factors were obtained, explaining 56.1% of the variance. Respondents were less likely to self-medicate if they did not support ease of access to antibiotics from pharmacies (p< 0.001) and situational use of antibiotics (p= 0.001); supported appropriate use of antibiotics (p= 0.003); and had greater knowledge about prescription requirements for antibiotics (p= 0.004). Conclusion There is limited knowledge about, and a high rate of self-medication with antibiotics.Factors contributing to self-medication could be addressed with appropriate public education campaigns, and policy changes.
Crude polysaccharide from the milky mushroom, Calocybe indica, modulates innate immunity of macrophage cells by triggering MyD88-dependent TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVES Calocybe indica is a famous nutritious food in Asian countries and one of the most widely cultivated mushrooms in the world. Here, we have isolated crude polysaccharides from this mushroom, characterized it and investigated its antioxidant and immunostimulatory potential. METHODS The polysaccharide was chemically characterized by spectrophotometry, FTIR and high-performance thin layer chromatography and tested its antioxidant potential by in vitro assays. Immunomodulatory activity and its underlying signalling process were ascertained in RAW 264.7 cells. KEY FINDINGS The polysaccharide consisted of D-glucose (β-linked sugars), D-mannose and D-galactose, where backbone was organized in random coil structure. Preliminary investigation of the bioactivity of the polysaccharide revealed its antioxidant potential. The polysaccharide could noticeably induce phagocytic activity and production of immune mediators in macrophage cells. The polysaccharide was found to enhance the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activate NF-κB signalling pathway by overexpressing MyD88, Iκ-Bα and NF-κB. Further studies indicated the polysaccharide binds to the toll-like receptor 4 to manifest its immunostimulatory activity in macrophage cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate potential therapeutic properties of the crude polysaccharide of C. indica which might provide the means to treat various radical induced and immunodeficiency disorders in the days to come.
Disposition of Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane in Fischer 344 Rats Following Single or Repeated Inhalation Exposure to 14C-Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (14C-D5)

The disposition of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) in male and female Fischer 344 rats following single or repeated inhalation exposures was evaluated. Animals were administered a single 6-h nose-only exposure to 7 or 160 ppm 14C-D5 or fourteen 6-h nose-only exposures to unlabeled D5 followed on day 15 by a 6-h exposure to 14C-D5. Subgroups of exposed animals were used to evaluate body burden, distribution, elimination, and deposition on the fur. Retention of radioactivity following single and repeated exposures was relatively low (approximately 1–2% of inhaled D5). Radioactivity and parent D5 were widely distributed to tissues of both male and female rats, with the maximum concentration of radioactivity observed in most tissues by 3 h postexposure. Fat was a depot for D5, with elimination occurring much slower than observed for plasma and other tissues. In all groups, the primary route for elimination of radioactivity was through expired air. Analyses for parent D5 indicated that essentially all the radioactivity in the expired volatiles was unchanged D5. Repeated exposure gave rise to higher levels of parent D5 in the lung and fat of both sexes and in female liver relative to the single exposure. In fat, immediately after sacrifice approximately 50% of the radioactivity was attributed to parent. Five polar metabolites of D5 were identified in urine, with no parent D5 detected. Radiochromatograms demonstrated two peaks in feces. One corresponded to the retention time for D5. The second has been putatively identified as hydroxylated D5.
c-di-AMP, a likely master regulator of bacterial K+ homeostasis machinery, activates a K+ exporter

Significance The importance of dinucleotides in the control of bacterial physiology is still being uncovered. One of these molecules is c-di-AMP, thought to control the mechanisms of import and export of potassium ions in many bacteria, including pathogens. Maintaining a balanced internal concentration of potassium is crucial for bacterial viability, even during infection. However, there has been a lack of data showing that c-di-AMP effectively changes the activity of potassium transporters. Here, we demonstrate that c-di-AMP increases the activity levels of a potassium exporter and that pH increases the sensitivity of the transporter to c-di-AMP. Our quantitative data support, therefore, the central role of c-di-AMP in the control of the potassium homeostasis machinery in bacteria. bis-(3′,5′)-cyclic diadenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) is a second messenger with roles in virulence, cell wall and biofilm formation, and surveillance of DNA integrity in many bacterial species, including pathogens. Strikingly, it has also been proposed to coordinate the activity of the components of K+ homeostasis machinery, inhibiting K+ import, and activating K+ export. However, there is a lack of quantitative evidence supporting the direct functional impact of c-di-AMP on K+ transporters. To gain a detailed understanding of the role of c-di-AMP on the activity of a component of the K+ homeostasis machinery in B. subtilis, we have characterized the impact of c-di-AMP on the functional, biochemical, and physiological properties of KhtTU, a K+/H+ antiporter composed of the membrane protein KhtU and the cytosolic protein KhtT. We have confirmed c-di-AMP binding to KhtT and determined the crystal structure of this complex. We have characterized in vitro the functional properties of KhtTU and KhtU alone and quantified the impact of c-di-AMP and of pH on their activity, demonstrating that c-di-AMP activates KhtTU and that pH increases its sensitivity to this nucleotide. Based on our functional and structural data, we were able to propose a mechanism for the activation of KhtTU by c-di-AMP. In addition, we have analyzed the impact of KhtTU in its native bacterium, providing a physiological context for the regulatory function of c-di-AMP and pH. Overall, we provide unique information that supports the proposal that c-di-AMP is a master regulator of K+ homeostasis machinery.
Molecular dynamics simulation of diffusion of simple gas molecules in a short chain polymer

Diffusion of simple gas molecules in polymers has been studied using molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations. Two model systems were used, each composed of short chain molecules having twenty segments and small molecules interacting with the segments. One of the systems is a mimic of polymethylene with oxygen as a solute. For the other system, potential parameters are identical except that the torsional potential of the chains is set to zero to alter the chain flexibility. Self‐diffusion coefficients of the small molecules and relaxation times of internal rotations of the chains were calculated at around the density of amorphous polyethylene and at temperatures of 250 to 300 K above glass transitions of the systems. Behavior of the models obtained within the time scale of usual MD simulations agrees well with experimental observations for amorphous polymers above glass transition temperatures. The free volume theory of simple liquids is found to be applicable to the diffusion as well as the relaxatio.
Voice Interface Technology Adoption by Patients With Heart Failure: Pilot Comparison Study

Background Heart failure (HF) is associated with high mortality rates and high costs, and self-care is crucial in the management of the condition. Telehealth can promote patients’ self-care while providing frequent feedback to their health care providers about the patient’s compliance and symptoms. A number of technologies have been considered in the literature to facilitate telehealth in patients with HF. An important factor in the adoption of these technologies is their ease of use. Conversational agent technologies using a voice interface can be a good option because they use speech recognition to communicate with patients. Objective The aim of this paper is to study the engagement of patients with HF with voice interface technology. In particular, we investigate which patient characteristics are linked to increased technology use. Methods We used data from two separate HF patient groups that used different telehealth technologies over a 90-day period. Each group used a different type of voice interface; however, the scripts followed by the two technologies were identical. One technology was based on Amazon’s Alexa (Alexa+), and in the other technology, patients used a tablet to interact with a visually animated and voice-enabled avatar (Avatar). Patient engagement was measured as the number of days on which the patients used the technology during the study period. We used multiple linear regression to model engagement with the technology based on patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics and past technology use. Results In both populations, the patients were predominantly male and Black, had an average age of 55 years, and had HF for an average of 7 years. The only patient characteristic that was statistically different (P=.008) between the two populations was the number of medications they took to manage HF, with a mean of 8.7 (SD 4.0) for Alexa+ and 5.8 (SD 3.4) for Avatar patients. The regression model on the combined population shows that older patients used the technology more frequently (an additional 1.19 days of use for each additional year of age; P=.004). The number of medications to manage HF was negatively associated with use (−5.49; P=.005), and Black patients used the technology less frequently than other patients with similar characteristics (−15.96; P=.08). Conclusions Older patients’ higher engagement with telehealth is consistent with findings from previous studies, confirming the acceptability of technology in this subset of patients with HF. However, we also found that a higher number of HF medications, which may be correlated with a higher disease burden, is negatively associated with telehealth use. Finally, the lower engagement of Black patients highlights the need for further study to identify the reasons behind this lower engagement, including the possible role of social determinants of health, and potentially create technologies that are better tailored for this population.
The role of miRNAs and lncRNAs in conferring resistance to doxorubicin

Abstract Doxorubicin is a chemotherapeutic agent that inhibits topoisomerase II, intercalates within DNA base pairs and results in oxidative DNA damage, thus inducing cell apoptosis. Although it is effective in the treatment of a wide range of human cancers, the emergence of resistance to this drug can increase tumour growth and impact patients' survival. Numerous molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways have been identified that induce resistance to doxorubicin via stimulation of cell proliferation, cell cycle switch and preclusion of apoptosis. A number of microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have also been identified that alter sensitivity to doxorubicin. Understanding the particular impact of these non-coding RNAs in conferring resistance to doxorubicin has considerable potential to improve selection of chemotherapeutic regimens for cancer patients. Moreover, modulation of expression of these transcripts is a putative strategy for combating resistance. In the current paper, the influence of miRNAs and lncRNAs in the modification of resistance to doxorubicin is discussed.
Transparent, Flexible Films Based on Layered Double Hydroxide/Cellulose Acetate with Excellent Oxygen Barrier Property

Transparent and flexible multilayer films are fabricated based on the alternating assembly of cellulose acetate (CA) and layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoplatelets followed by thermal annealing treatment. The films exhibit tremendously enhanced oxygen barrier properties. The oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the resulting (CA/LDH)n multilayer films can be tuned by changing the aspect ratio of high‐crystalline LDH nanoplatelets from 20 to 560. The (CA/LDH)20 film displays excellent oxygen‐barrier behavior with an OTR equal to or below the detection limit of commercial instrumentation (<0.005 cm3 m−2 day−1), much superior to the previously reported inorganic flake‐filled barrier film. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that a hydrogen bonding network occurs at the interface of highly oriented LDH nanoplatelets and CA molecules, accounting for the suppression of oxygen transportation and the resulting largely improved barrier behavior. In addition, the durability of (CA/LDH)n films against humidity, temperature, and light irradiation is successfully demonstrated, which would guarantee their practical application. Therefore, this work provides a facile and cost‐effective strategy for the fabrication of an LDH‐based oxygen barrier material, which could potentially be used in flexible displays and drug and food packaging.
Creepy cats and strange high houses: Support for configural processing in testing predictions of nine uncanny valley theories

In 1970, Masahiro Mori proposed the uncanny valley (UV), a region in a human-likeness continuum where an entity risks eliciting a cold, eerie, repellent feeling. Recent studies have shown that this feeling can be elicited by entities modeled not only on humans but also nonhuman animals. The perceptual and cognitive mechanisms underlying the UV effect are not well understood, although many theories have been proposed to explain them. To test the predictions of nine classes of theories, a within-subjects experiment was conducted with 136 participants. The theories’ predictions were compared with ratings of 10 classes of stimuli on eeriness and coldness indices. One type of theory, configural processing, predicted eight out of nine significant effects. Atypicality, in its extended form, in which the uncanny valley effect is amplified by the stimulus appearing more human, also predicted eight. Threat avoidance predicted seven; atypicality, perceptual mismatch, and mismatch+ predicted six; category+, novelty avoidance, mate selection, and psychopathy avoidance predicted five; and category uncertainty predicted three. Empathy's main prediction was not supported. Given that the number of significant effects predicted depends partly on our choice of hypotheses, a detailed consideration of each result is advised. We do, however, note the methodological value of examining many competing theories in the same experiment.
Magnetorheological fluids: a review

Magnetorheological (MR) materials are a kind of smart materials whose mechanical properties can be altered in a controlled fashion by an external magnetic field. They traditionally include fluids, elastomers and foams. In this review paper we revisit the most outstanding advances on the rheological performance of MR fluids. Special emphasis is paid to the understanding of their yielding, flow and viscoelastic behaviour under shearing flows.
Repair of DNA Breaks by Break-Induced Replication.

Double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) are the most lethal type of DNA damage, making DSB repair critical for cell survival. However, some DSB repair pathways are mutagenic and promote genome rearrangements, leading to genome destabilization. One such pathway is break-induced replication (BIR), which repairs primarily one-ended DSBs, similar to those formed by collapsed replication forks or telomere erosion. BIR is initiated by the invasion of a broken DNA end into a homologous template, synthesizes new DNA within the context of a migrating bubble, and is associated with conservative inheritance of new genetic material. This mode of synthesis is responsible for a high level of genetic instability associated with BIR. Eukaryotic BIR was initially investigated in yeast, but now it is also actively studied in mammalian systems. Additionally, a significant breakthrough has been made regarding the role of microhomology-mediated BIR in the formation of complex genomic rearrangements that underly various human pathologies. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biochemistry, Volume 90 is June 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.