Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Thermo-Sensitive Hydrogel: Poly(ethylene oxide-dimethyl siloxane-ethylene oxide)/Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) Interpenetrating Polymer Networks I. Synthesis and Characterization

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) composed of poly(ethylene oxide-dimethyl siloxane-ethylene oxide) (PEO-PDMS-PEO) ABA triblock copolymer and poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PIPAAm) were synthesized. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies of bulk IPNS revealed micro phase separation with partial phase mixing between two chemically independent networks. Aqueous equilibrium swelling curves were examined as a function of temperature. DSC thermograms of the swollen IPNS exhibited the same swelling transition temperature as that of PIPAAm, although the degree of swelling of IPNS was affected by polymer composition. These observations indicate that each network in the swollen IPNs exists independently and many have different morphology than the dried bulk state. The aqueous swelling-deswelling kinetics by temperature modulation of IPNs could be controlled by gel composition nd temperatures applied.
The Oncolytic Activity of Myxoma Virus against Soft Tissue Sarcoma Is Mediated by the Overexpression of Ribonucleotide Reductase

Background: Myxoma virus (MYXV) is an oncolytic poxvirus that lacks the gene for 1 of the subunits of ribonucleotide reductase (RR), a crucial DNA synthesis and repair enzyme. The overexpression of RR has been implicated in the invasiveness of several cancers, including soft tissue sarcomas (STS). The purpose of the study was to investigate the oncolytic efficacy of MYXV in STS with different levels of RR expression. Methods: The oncolytic effect of recombinant MYXV was evaluated in 4 human STS cell lines, LS141 (a dedifferentiated liposarcoma), DDLS8817 (a dedifferentiated liposarcoma), RDD2213 (recurrent dedifferentiated liposarcoma), and HSSYII (a synovial sarcoma) using infectivity and cytotoxicity assays. Following the overexpression of RRM2 by cDNA transfection and silencing of RRM2 by siRRM2 in these STS cell lines, the RRM2 expression levels were analyzed by Western blot. Results: We observed a direct correlation between viral oncolysis and RRM2 mRNA levels (R = 0.96) in STS. Higher RRM2 expression was associated with a more robust cell kill. Silencing the RRM2 gene led to significantly greater cell survival (80%) compared with the control group (P = .003), whereas overexpression of the RRM2 increased viral oncolysis by 33% (P < .001). Conclusions: Our results show that the oncolytic effects of MYXV correlate directly with RR expression levels and are enhanced in STS cell lines with naturally occurring or artificially induced high expression levels of RR. Myxoma virus holds promise in the treatment of advanced soft tissue cancer, especially in tumors overexpressing RR.
Effect of Nitric Acid Vapor on the Response to Inhaled Ozone

AbstractStudies concerned with the adverse health effects of acidic atmospheres have focused primarily on sulfuric acid aerosols and other acid sulfates. Little information is available on the health effects of nitric acid (HNO3), an important atmospheric pollutant in southern California. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exposure to nitric acid vapor, alone and in combination with ozone (O3), on the rat lung. Groups of rats were exposed once for 4 h to purified air, 0.6 ppm O3, 7.0 mg/m3 HNO3 or 0.6 ppm O3 plus 1.0 mg/m3 HNO3. Other rats were exposed for 4 days, 4 h/day to purified air, 0.15 ppm O3 0.25 mg/m3 HNO3, or 0.15 ppm O3 plus 0.25 mg/m3 HNO3 The animals were lavaged 18 h after exposure, and cells and fluid were assayed for changes in lavage cell population and lavage fluid protein content, pulmonary macrophage respiratory burst activity and leuko-triene production, and elastase inhibitory capacity of lavage fluid. A separate series of rats was lavaged 2 h after exposure.
Development of web-based quality-assurance tool for radiotherapy target delineation for head and neck cancer: quality evaluation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Purpose: We developed QUANNOTATE, a new web-application for rapid review of radiotherapy (RT) target volumes, and used it to evaluate the relationship between target delineation compliance with the international guidelines and treatment outcomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients undergoing definitive RT. Methods and Materials: The dataset used for this study consists of anonymized CT simulation scans, RT structures, and clinical data of 332 pathologically confirmed NPC patients treated with intensity-modulated RT between July 2005 and August 2017. We imported the contours of intermediate risk clinical target volumes of the primary tumor (IR-CTVp) receiving 56 Gy into QUANNOTATE. We determined inclusion of anatomic sites within IR-CTVp in accordance with 2018 International guideline for CTV delineation for NPC and correlated the results with time to local failure (TTLF) using Cox-regression. Results: At a median follow-up of 5.6 years, 5-year TTLF and overall survival rates were 93.1% and 85.9% respectively. The most frequently non-guideline compliant anatomic sites were sphenoid sinus (n = 69, 20.8%), followed by cavernous sinus (n = 38, 19.3%), left and right petrous apices (n = 37 and 32, 11.1% and 9.6%), clivus (n = 14, 4.2%), and right and left foramen rotundum (n = 14 and 12, 4.2% and 3.6%). Among 23 patients with a local failure (6.9%), the number of non-compliant cases were 8 for sphenoid sinus, 7 cavernous sinus, 4 left and 3 right petrous apices, and 2 clivus. Compared to conforming cases, cases which did not contour the cavernous sinus had a higher local failure (LF) rate (89.1% vs 93.6%, p= 0.013). Multivariable analysis confirmed that lack of cavernous sinus contouring was prognostic for LF. Conclusions: QUANNOTATE allowed rapid review of target volumes in a large patient cohort. Despite an overall high compliance with the international guidelines, undercoverage of the cavernous sinus was correlated with LF.
Compression gloves for patients with hand arthritis (C-GLOVES): A feasibility study

Introduction Compression gloves are frequently provided to patients with hand arthritis. Evidence for effectiveness is limited. The aim of this study was to determine feasibility of recruitment, assessment and treatment procedures, in preparation for a future compression glove trial. Methods A non-randomised feasibility study with out-patients with either undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or hand osteoarthritis, with moderate to severe hand pain. All received Isotoner™ compression gloves provided by rheumatology occupational therapists. The main outcomes were feasibility of recruitment, assessment and treatment procedures, trial outcome selection and sample size calculation. Participants were assessed at baseline and four weeks. Assessments included: numeric rating scales (0–10) of hand pain (on activity, at rest, at night) and stiffness; hand joint swelling; finger flexion; and hand function (Grip Ability Test). Results Of 318 patients screened, 86/204 (42%) of inflammatory and 68/114 (60%) of hand osteoarthritis patients were eligible. Of these, 41 (48%: age: 59.10 (SD 12.54) years) and 32 (47%: age: 60.75 (SD 8.64) years) respectively, consented. All completed four-week follow-up. Assessment and treatment protocols were feasible. Hand pain on activity and at night, stiffness, joint swelling, finger flexion and hand function improved: e.g. hand pain on activity: inflammatory arthritis change = −0.95 (SD 2.26; p = 0.01); osteoarthritis −1.57 (SD 1.78; p = 0.001). Participants reported improved hand pain, stiffness and hand function as main benefits. Conclusion Procedures tested were feasible. The most relevant primary outcome was hand pain on activity. Future trials would need 161 participants (Inflammatory arthritis) and 151 (hand osteoarthritis). Trial registration: Clinical Trials.Gov: NCT01874067
High-flow therapy: physiological effects and clinical applications

Humidified high-flow therapy (HFT) is a noninvasive respiratory therapy, typically delivered through a nasal cannula interface, which delivers a stable fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) at flow rates of up to 60 L·min−1. It is well-tolerated, simple to set up and ideally applied at 37°C to permit optimal humidification of inspired gas. Flow rate and FIO2 should be selected based on patients' inspiratory effort and severity of hypoxaemia. HFT yields beneficial physiological effects, including improved mucociliary clearance, enhanced dead space washout and optimisation of pulmonary mechanics. Robust evidence supports its application in the critical care setting (treatment of acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure and prevention of post-extubation respiratory failure) and emerging data supports HFT use during bronchoscopy, intubation and breaks from noninvasive ventilation or continuous positive airway pressure. There are limited data on HFT use in patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure, as an adjunct to pulmonary rehabilitation and in the palliative care setting, and further research is needed to validate the findings of small studies. The COVID-19 pandemic raises questions regarding HFT efficacy in COVID-19-related hypoxaemic respiratory failure and concerns regarding aerosolisation of respiratory droplets. Clinical trials are ongoing and healthcare professionals should implement strict precautions to mitigate the risk of nosocomial transmission. Educational aims Provide a practical guide to HFT setup and delivery. Outline the physiological effects of HFT on the respiratory system. Describe clinical applications of HFT in adult respiratory and critical care medicine and evaluate the supporting evidence. Discuss application of HFT in COVID-19 and aerosolisation of respiratory droplets. Humidified high-flow therapy is a well-tolerated method of delivering a stable FIO2 at flow rates up to 60 L/min. It improves secretion clearance, dead space washout and pulmonary mechanics and is an effective treatment in hypoxaemic respiratory failure https://bit.ly/35Hvjrj
Synthesis of thermosensitive guar‐based hydrogels with tunable physico‐chemical properties by click chemistry

Thermosensitive guar-based hydrogels are obtained in water solutions by copper-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between alkyne-functionalized guars and α,ω-diazido-poly[(ethylene glycol)-co-(propylene glycol)]. Characterization by TGA, HR-MAS 1H NMR, and rheology have shown that hydrogels with tunable physico-chemical properties, such as crosslinking density, viscoelasticity, swelling ratio, and so forth, could be obtained by varying the guar molar mass, the degree of alkyne functionality, the guar/crosslinker weight ratio, and the reaction temperature. Based on swelling measurements, it has been shown that the thermal sensitiveness of guar-based hydrogels is fast, reversible, and intimately related to the weight fraction of the thermosensitive crosslinker in the network. Finally, the monitoring of doxorubicin hydrochloride release has demonstrated the potential of these hydrogels as temperature-dependent drug release devices. The robust, efficient, and orthogonal approach described herein represents a general approach towards the development of well-controlled guar-based hydrogels using α,ω-diazido crosslinkers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2733–2742, 2010
Cloudless Skies? Decentralizing Mobile Interaction

Mobile interaction is now almost exclusively dependent on an intransparent cloud infrastructure beyond the users’ control, resulting in multiple issues related to security, privacy, and availability. While alternative approaches based on decentralized network architectures exist, these have their own set of issues such as lack of usability or content moderation. In this workshop, we bring together researchers from related, but rarely interconnected fields to discuss issues and opportunities related to decentralization. We will develop and discuss current and future scenarios for decentralized mobile interaction, both utopian and dystopian. We invite researchers interested in implementation and networking aspects of mobile decentralization as well as those focusing on ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of these alternative approaches to the mobile ecosystem.
A Mobile App to Combat Loneliness and Social Isolation Among University Students.

The transition from college to university can have a variety of psychological effects on students who need to cope with daily obligations by themselves in a new setting, which can result in loneliness and social isolation. Mobile technology, specifically mental health apps (MHapps), have been seen as promising solutions to assist university students who are facing these problems, however, there is little evidence around this topic. My research investigates how a mobile app can be designed to reduce social isolation and loneliness among university students. The Noneliness app is being developed to this end; it aims to create social opportunities through a quest-based gamified system in a secure and collaborative network of local users. Initial evaluations with the target audience provided evidence on how an app should be designed for this purpose. These results are presented and how they helped me to plan the further steps to reach my research goals. The paper is presented at MobileHCI 2020 Doctoral Consortium.
Voice Assistants as Learning Companions: An Initial Exploration With Computer Science Students

With the hands-free and mobile interaction capabilities, and conversational potential, Voice Assistants (VA) like Apple Siri and Google Assistant can become ubiquitous learning companions that students wear in their pockets. Yet, studies addressing the potential and challenges of using VA in education are scant in Human-Computer Interaction. To begin filling this gap, this paper is an initial, qualitative exploration of how smartphone-based VA like Apple Siri and Google Assistant play the role of learning companions of Computer Science (CS) students. Without having been designed for this purpose, there is room for thinking that neither Apple Siri nor Google Assistant can play this role. Yet, the results of a participant observational study conducted over a semester in two modules, show that Apple Siri played the role of a convenient and motivating collaborator, who also clashed with, and changed, students’ perceived use of VA. Open-ended questions prompted by this study are raised.
Smartphone and Sensor based Health Monitoring Enabled with IoT and ML

Due to the emergence of IoT, healthcare domain is currently undergoing a major paradigm shift toward remote and proactive healthcare. The recent pandemic caused by COVID-19 further emphasizes the need for remote and proactive health monitoring supporting the notion of social distancing. Health vitals monitoring, posture and fall detection using widely available and affordable sensors in the form of smartphones, wearable devices, WBAN etc. pave the way to this new paradigm of healthcare monitoring. These applications are mostly data-centric and thus, machine learning techniques are found to play a key role in the data analysis and knowledge extraction. So, the tutorial will cover a 360 degree view of the problem right from the networking issues, data collection and preparation till identification of meaningful patterns along with detailed experimental designs. The tutorial will conclude with the key insights learned and a note on the open research issues in this area.
Desenvolvimento e avaliação de um protótipo de cortador de base para colhedoras de cana-de-açúcar

Um prototipo de cortador de base para o seguimento pantografico do perfil em colhedoras de cana-de-acucar, foi projetado e construido e seu desempenho de flutuacao foi avaliado em funcao da forca normal de reacao do perfil (FN). O trabalho foi conduzido em uma caixa de solo, o prototipo montado sobre um carro porta-ferramentas e submetido a ensaios nos quais variaram tres tipos de perfil: senoidal, rampa ascendente e rampa descendente, duas amplitudes do perfil, 0,025 e 0,05 m e cinco velocidades de deslocamento: 0,69, 1,12, 1,48, 1,82 e 2,12 m s-1. Os melhores resultados foram verificados para os perfis em rampa, tanto ascendente quanto descendente, independentemente da amplitude do perfil e da velocidade de deslocamento e, tambem, para perfil senoidal de ambas as amplitudes, com velocidade de deslocamento inferior a 1,48 m s-1. Os resultados demonstraram que o prototipo ainda e passivel de ajustes, uma vez que o desempenho de flutuacao sobre o perfil pode ser melhorado atraves da utilizacao de tecnicas de otimizacao.
Street-Level Bureaucrats at the Forefront of Pandemic Response: A Comparative Perspective

Abstract Crises’ implications for street-level implementation are understudied despite street-level bureaucracy, as the operational arm of the state, by definition, serving on the frontline of crisis treatment. Drawing on multiple public services provided by varied street-level bureaucrats’ professions in different countries, this special issue demonstrates key implications for street-level implementation during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, both as perceived by the public and by decision-makers and as practiced. Applying a comparative perspective rarely taken in street-level research exemplifies understudied variance across countries, professions, and time. Fast policymaking cycles inherent to crisis highlight overlooked upward influence of street-level bureaucrats in policymaking.
Preparation and partial characterization of monoclonal antibody against human phosphdiesterase 5 (PDE5)

Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) is a catalytic enzyme for degradation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in human smooth muscle cells. Inhibition of this enzyme by certain chemicals including sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil, is considered a breakthrough treatment of erectile dysfunction. Unfortunately, these drugs are associated with several side effects. In this study, another strategy is adopted in the inhibition of the PDE5 enzyme by using a monoclonal antibody (Mab) against the enzyme. The Mab was prepared by immunizing a mouse, taking the spleen to make single cell suspension of lymphocytes. Hybridoma cells were obtained by fusion of BALB/c myeloma cells with the immunized lymphocytes using the polyethylene glycol method. Several clones were produced that have been separated by limiting dilution method. The antibodies were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot. The obtained Mab has titer of 625, immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) isotype and 3.9 × 104 mol-1 affinity constant. Key words: Phosphodiesterase (PDE), chemical inhibition, monoclonal antibody (Mab).
Differences in Daytime Activity Levels and Daytime Sleep Between Night and Day Duty: An Observational Study in Italian Orthopedic Nurses

Working nonstandard work schedules is often associated with increased sedentary behavior and risk of sleep disorders. Night shift workers are prone to accumulating sleep debt, which they recover by sleeping during the day. The effect on daytime activity levels is unknown. The present study aims to objectively assess whether daytime sleep could affect daytime activity levels of shift worker nurses, resulting in an accumulation of their activity debt differently between working and rest periods. The study population (N = 37; mean age 41.7 ± 9.1 years) was composed of orthopedic nurses working on a rotating schedule, including either a night shift (NS) or only day/afternoon shift (DS). Actigraph monitoring lasted both on the working and the rest period. For the NS nurses, the working period recorded higher daytime activity levels than the rest period, while daytime sleep during the working and rest periods was similar. Conversely, DS nurses showed higher daytime activity levels and shorter daytime sleep during the working period. NS nurses were less active than DS nurses during the working period, probably because NS tended to have a longer daytime sleep. During the rest period, daytime activity levels for both groups were decreased. For NS nurses, sleep recorded the better sleep parameters during the rest period, while sleep parameters did not show significant differences between the working and the rest periods in DS. During the working period, NS nurses slept worse than the DS nurses. Both groups tended to accumulate a debt in daytime activity levels during the rest period. While daytime sleep may be an excellent way to counteract sleep debt and increase sleep duration over 24 h period, on the other hand, it makes nurses less active.
Effect of the Alterations in Contractility and Morphology Produced by Atrial Fibrillation on the Thrombosis Potential of the Left Atrial Appendage

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia mainly affecting the elderly population, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke, ischaemic attack and vascular dementia. These problems are caused by thrombi which mostly originate in the left atrial appendage (LAA), a small muscular sac protruding from left atrium. The abnormal heart rhythm associated with AF results in alterations in the heart muscle contractions and in some reshaping of the cardiac chambers. This study aims to verify if and how these physiological changes can establish hemodynamic conditions in the LAA promoting thrombus formation, by means of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses. In particular, sinus and fibrillation contractility was replicated by applying wall velocity/motion to models based on healthy and dilated idealized shapes of the left atrium with a common LAA morphology. The models were analyzed and compared in terms of shear strain rate (SSR) and vorticity, which are hemodynamic parameters directly associated with thrombogenicity. The study clearly indicates that the alterations in contractility and morphology associated with AF pathologies play a primary role in establishing hemodynamic conditions which promote higher incidence of ischaemic events, consistently with the clinical evidence. In particular, in the analyzed models, the impairment in contractility determined a decrease in SSR of about 50%, whilst the chamber pathological dilatation contributed to a 30% reduction, indicating increased risk of clot formation. The equivalent rigid wall model was characterized by SSR values about one order of magnitude smaller than in the contractile models, and substantially different vortical behavior, suggesting that analyses based on rigid chambers, although common in the literature, are inadequate to provide realistic results on the LAA hemodynamics.
Integration of Nutrient Sensing in Fish Hypothalamus

The knowledge regarding hypothalamic integration of metabolic and endocrine signaling resulting in regulation of food intake is scarce in fish. Available studies pointed to a network in which the activation of the nutrient-sensing (glucose, fatty acid, and amino acid) systems would result in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibition and activation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). Changes in these signaling pathways would control phosphorylation of transcription factors cAMP response-element binding protein (CREB), forkhead box01 (FoxO1), and brain homeobox transcription factor (BSX) leading to food intake inhibition through changes in the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related peptide (AgRP), pro-opio melanocortin (POMC), and cocaine and amphetamine-related transcript (CART). The present mini-review summarizes information on the topic and identifies gaps for future research.