Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A mathematical model of a packed‐bed heat‐exchanger reactor for Dehydrogenation of Methylcyclohexane: Comparison of predictions with experimental results

The selective, highly endothermic reaction of methylcyclohexane to toluene and hydrogen was studied experimentally over a commercial Pt/Al2O3 catalyst, in an electrically heated tube serving as a packed-bed reactor heat exchanger. The constant-flux reactor, with measurement of temperatures within the bed at points intermediate along its length, proved well suited as an integral reactor for providing information on the reaction rate. A simple analytical model of the reactor was developed, and some of the data were used with the model to derive a rate expression. The model gives a good representation of radial variation of temperature in the packed bed. In the region of high Reynolds numbers investigated, radial transport of enthalpy is described in the model by a film resistance at the tube wall defined by heat transfer coefficient, and a diffusive transport through the packing, dominated by eddy diffusion.
Feasibility of metabolic parameter estimation in pharmacokinetic models of carbon tetrachloride exposure in rats

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a toxic chemical that was once used in degreasers and detergents, and some remnants of the chemical may be present in the water supply. Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling can assist in understanding resulting internal doses of CCl4 after exposure, but the pharmacokinetic parameters describing the metabolism of CCl4 are not well characterized. The goal of this study was to provide insights into how to more accurately estimate these values in rats using PBPK modeling and data from previous studies. Three different PBPK models were constructed to describe CCl4 exposure in rats via inhalation, oral ingestion, and venous injection. Each of these models was compared to data, and sensitivity analysis was performed for each model to determine whether the available data could be used to accurately determine the metabolic parameters of interest. These parameter sensitivities were so low that optimization to the available data yielded physiologically unrealistic results. Model sensitivities were analyzed for different doses and routes of exposure in order to find experimental conditions that would allow for greater identifiability of the metabolic parameters. Data were simulated from these models at optimal conditions with varying levels of noise from a normal distribution. Optimizations were then performed to confirm that the original values could be obtained. The experiments developed are left as suggestions for investigators who wish to further pursue estimating these metabolic parameters. 1This problem was investigated by the first five authors under the direction of the last two authors during the NC State Research Experience for Undergraduates in Mathematics: Modeling and Industrial and Applied Mathematics, May 28 August 3, 2007.
Morphological research on amniote eggs and embryos: An introduction and historical retrospective

Evolution of the terrestrial egg of amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals) is often considered to be one of the most significant events in vertebrate history. Presence of an eggshell, fetal membranes, and a sizeable yolk allowed this egg to develop on land and hatch out well‐developed, terrestrial offspring. For centuries, morphologically‐based studies have provided valuable information about the eggs of amniotes and the embryos that develop from them. This review explores the history of such investigations, as a contribution to this special issue of Journal of Morphology, titled Developmental Morphology and Evolution of Amniote Eggs and Embryos. Anatomically‐based investigations are surveyed from the ancient Greeks through the Scientific Revolution, followed by the 19th and early 20th centuries, with a focus on major findings of historical figures who have contributed significantly to our knowledge. Recent research on various aspects of amniote eggs is summarized, including gastrulation, egg shape and eggshell morphology, eggs of Mesozoic dinosaurs, sauropsid yolk sacs, squamate placentation, embryogenesis, and the phylotypic phase of embryonic development. As documented in this review, studies on amniote eggs and embryos have relied heavily on morphological approaches in order to answer functional and evolutionary questions.
Physiological FDG uptake in growth plate on pediatric PET.

Objectives 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in children is different from that in adults. Physiological accumulation is known to occur in growth plates, but the pattern of distribution has not been fully investigated. Our aim was to evaluate the metabolic activity of growth plates according to age and location. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 89 PET/CT scans in 63 pediatric patients (male : female=25 : 38, range, 0-18 years). Patients were classified into four age groups (Group A: 0-2 years, Group B: 3-9 years, Group C: 10-14 years and Group D: 15-18 years). The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the proximal and distal growth plates of the humerus, the forearm bones and the femur were measured. The SUVmax of each site and each age group were compared and statistically analyzed. We also examined the correlations between age and SUVmax. Results As for the comparison of SUVmax in each location, the SUVmax was significantly higher in the distal femur than those in the other sites (p< 0.01). SUVmax in the distal humerus and the proximal forearm bones were significantly lower than those in the other sites (p< 0.01). In the distal femur, there was large variation in SUVmax, while in the distal humerus and the proximal forearm bones, there was small variation. As for the comparison of SUVmax in each age group, the SUVmax in group D tended to be lower than those in the other groups, but in the distal femur, there was no significant difference among each age group. Conclusion Our data indicate that FDG uptake in growth plates varies depending on the site and age with remarkable uptake especially in the distal femur.
High-Dose Vitamin C Administration Inhibits the Invasion and Proliferation of Melanoma Cells in Mice Ovary.

Several studies have been conducted to explore the anticancer effects of vitamin C (VC). However, the effect of high-dose VC administration on melanoma is still unknown. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of high-dose VC (4 g/kg) on the invasion and proliferation of melanoma cells in various organs of mice. B16 melanoma cells (1 × 106 cells/100 µL) were intravenously injected into the tails of female mice, and VC solution (4 g/kg) was orally administered once a day for 14 d. On the 15th day, samples from the liver, lungs, jejunum, and ovaries were collected and analyzed for invasion and proliferation of melanoma cells. Oral VC administration decreased the number of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)-positive cells and gp100-positive melanoma cells in the ovaries and suppressed the invasion and proliferation of melanoma. Compared to melanoma-administered mice, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 levels and number of neutrophils were increased in the VC + melanoma-administered mice. Furthermore, the concentrations of VC, iron, and hydrogen peroxide, and the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells were significantly increased in the ovaries of VC + melanoma-administered mice compared to those of melanoma-administered mice. These results suggest that VC can reduce the invasion and proliferation of melanoma cells in the ovaries, and neutrophils in the ovaries play an important role in achieving this melanoma-suppressive effect.
Prior oxygenation, but not chemoreflex responsiveness, determines breath‐hold duration during voluntary apnea

Central and peripheral respiratory chemoreceptors are stimulated during voluntary breath holding due to chemostimuli (i.e., hypoxia and hypercapnia) accumulating at the metabolic rate. We hypothesized that voluntary breath‐hold duration (BHD) would be (a) positively related to the initial pressure of inspired oxygen prior to breath holding, and (b) negatively correlated with respiratory chemoreflex responsiveness. In 16 healthy participants, voluntary breath holds were performed under three conditions: hyperoxia (following five normal tidal breaths of 100% O2), normoxia (breathing room air), and hypoxia (following ~30‐min of 13.5%–14% inspired O2). In addition, the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) was tested and steady‐state chemoreflex drive (SS‐CD) was calculated in room air and during steady‐state hypoxia. We found that (a) voluntary BHD was positively related to initial oxygen status in a dose‐dependent fashion, (b) the HVR was not correlated with BHD in any oxygen condition, and (c) SS‐CD magnitude was not correlated with BHD in normoxia or hypoxia. Although chemoreceptors are likely stimulated during breath holding, they appear to contribute less to BHD compared to other factors such as volitional drive or lung volume.
An average-magnetization analysis of R 1ρ relaxation outside of the fast exchange limit

Approximate expressions for the NMR spin relaxation rate constant in the rotating frame of reference R 1ρ are derived for two-site chemical exchange by consideration of the evolution of the average density operator using the stochastic Liouville equation. R 1ρ is obtained as a linearized approximation to the largest (least negative) eigenvalue of the matrix describing the evolution of the average density operator in the long-term limit. The expressions obtained are more accurate than existing expressions when exchange is not fast and the populations of the exchanging sites are close to equal. The new expressions for R 1ρ facilitate the interpretation of chemical exchange phenomena in proteins and other biological macromolecules.
Role of sirtuins in bone biology: Potential implications for novel therapeutic strategies for osteoporosis

The decline in bone mass and bone strength and musculoskeletal problems associated with aging constitute a major challenge for affected individuals and the healthcare system globally. Sirtuins 1‐7 (SIRT1‐SIRT7) are a family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide‐dependent deacetylases with remarkable abilities to promote longevity and counteract age‐related diseases. Sirtuin knockout and transgenic models have provided novel insights into the function and signaling of these proteins in bone homeostasis. Studies have revealed that sirtuins play a critical role in normal skeletal development and homeostasis through their direct action on bone cells and that their dysregulation might contribute to different bone diseases. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that mice treated with sirtuin agonists show protection against age‐related, postmenopausal, and immobilization‐induced osteoporosis. These findings suggest that sirtuins could be potential targets for the modulation of the imbalance in bone remodeling and treatment of osteoporosis and other bone disorders. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive updated review of the current knowledge on sirtuin biology, focusing specifically on their roles in bone homeostasis and osteoporosis, and potential pharmacological interventions targeting sirtuins for the treatment of osteoporosis.
On the identification of thyroid nodules using semi‐supervised deep learning

Detecting malign cases from thyroid nodule examinations is crucial in healthcare particularly to improve the early detection of such cases. However, malign thyroid nodules can be extremely rare and is hard to find using the traditional rule based or expert‐based methods. For this reason, the solutions backed by Machine Learning (ML) algorithms are key to improve the detection rates of such rare cases. In this paper, we investigate the application of ML in the healthcare domain for the detection of rare thyroid nodules. The utilized dataset is collected from 636 distinct patients in 99 unique days in Turkey. In addition to the texture feature data of the Ultrasound (US), we have also included the scores of different assessment methods created by different health institutions (e.g., Korean, American and European thyroid societies) as additional features. For detection of extremely rare malign cases, we use auto‐encoder based neural network model. Through numerical results, it is shown that the auto‐encoder based model can result in an average Recall score of 0.98 and a Sensitivity score of 1.00 for detecting malign and non‐malign cases from the healthcare dataset outperforming the traditional classification algorithms that are trained after Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) oversampling.
A π-Stacking Terthiophene-Based Quinodimethane Is an n-Channel Conductor in a Thin Film Transistor

A terthiophene-based quinodimethane, 3‘,4‘-dibutyl-5,5‘ ‘-bis(dicyanomethylene)-5,5‘ ‘-dihydro-2,2‘:5‘,2‘ ‘-terthiophene (1) was synthesized and crystallized. Compound 1 has a planar quinoid geometry that is stabilized by dicyanomethylene groups at each end of the molecule. In the crystal each molecule is part of a dimerized face-to-face π-stack, with intermolecular spacings of 3.47 and 3.63 A, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry showed that 1 could be reversibly reduced and oxidized in methylene chloride solution. Thin film transistors (TFTs) were prepared by vacuum evaporation of 1 onto SiO2(300 nm)/Si substrates, followed by evaporation of Ag source and drain contacts. The doped Si substrate served as the gate electrode. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy indicate the films are polycrystalline, with the long axes of the molecules approximately perpendicular to the substrate. The TFT measurements revealed n-channel conduction in films of 1, with room-temperature electron field effect mobilities .
High‐throughput sequencing of immunoglobulin heavy chain for minimal residual disease detection in B‐lymphoblastic leukemia

Minimal residual disease (MRD) is a cornerstone for stratification of upfront B‐lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL) treatment protocols to decrease relapse risk. Although its detection by flow cytometry (FC) and real‐time quantitative polymerase has clinical usefulness, evidence suggests that methods with increased sensitivity could lead to improved outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop an amplicon‐based assay followed by high‐throughput sequencing of the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region for MRD detection in B‐ALL.
Skorpionite, Ca3Zn2(PO4)2CO3(OH)2·H2O, a new mineral from Namibia: description and crystal structure

Skorpionite, Ca 3 Zn 2 (PO 4 ) 2 CO 3 (OH) 2 ·H 2 O, is a new secondary mineral from the Skorpion zinc deposit in south-western Namibia. Associated minerals are tarbuttite, hydrozincite and gypsum. Skorpionite forms colourless needle-like crystals of monoclinic symmetry that are elongated parallel to [001] with dominant {100} and {110}; additional forms are {111}, {221}, {131} and {−101}. D (meas.) = 3.15(3) g/cm 3 ; D (calc.) = 3.17 g/cm 3 . Skorpionite is optically biaxial negative, α = 1.5884(10), β = 1.6445 (calc.), γ = 1.6455(10), 2V = 15.0° (5) (589 nm); no dispersion. Optical orientation is Y ∧ c = 26° (in acute β); Z = b . Means of 17 sets of microprobe analyses gave CaO 30.89, ZnO 28.83, P 2 O 5 25.49, CO 2 (calc.) 7.96, H 2 O (calc.) 6.52, total 99.69 wt. %. The empirical formula (based on 14 oxygen atoms pfu ) is Ca 3.05 Zn 1.96 (PO 4 ) 1.99 (CO 3 ) 1.00 (OH) 2.06 ·0.98H 2 O. Single-crystal X-ray investigations gave space group C 2/ c , with unit-cell parameters a = 19.045(3), b = 9.320(2), c = 6.525(1) A, β = 92.73(2)°, V = 1156.9(4) A 3 , Z = 4. ZnO 4 and PO 4 tetrahedra are corner linked to corrugated sheets. The crystal structure forms a three-dimensional network of [Ca2 2 Zn 2 (OH) 2 (PO 4 ) 2 ] 0 and [Ca1(CO 3 )(H 2 O)] 0 layers that are linked by hydrogen bonds and by Ca–O bonds.
Molecular Vibration Spectra from Field‐Emission Energy Distributions

A calculation is presented which predicts the effect of an inelastic interaction between field‐emitted electrons and adsorbed molecules at a metal–vacuum interface. The derivative of the total energy distribution of the field‐emission current should yield information on the infrared absorption spectra of the adsorbed molecules. A numerical estimate of the size of the effect indicates that changes on the order of 1% of the total current should occur.
Inclusion of Other in the Self and Couple’s Sexuality: A Scoping Review

Abstract To better understand the effect relationship closeness has on couple’s sexuality a scoping review was conducted, that focused on the inclusion of other in the self scale (IOS). Authors reviewed quantitative journal articles published between 2000 and 2020 by searching PsychInfo, Medline, and PubMed, resulting in 24 studies. Results suggest positive associations between IOS and sexual well-being, functioning, desire, frequency and satisfaction, and negatively related to sexual distress. Also, the benefits of positive sexual experiences expand well beyond the sexual domain onto different personal and relational factors of health and well-being. Sampling designs considerably limit the generalizability of results.
Region‐specific sex modulation of central oxytocin receptor by gut microbiota: An ontogenic study

Oxytocin (OT) is a developmentally important neuropeptide recognized to play a dominant role in social functioning and stress‐related behaviors, in a sex‐dependent manner. Nonetheless, the underlining factors driving OT and OT receptor (OTR) early brain development remain unclear. Recent evidence highlight the critical influence of gut microbiota and its bidirectional interaction with the brain on neurodevelopment via the gut microbiota‐brain axis. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of gut microbiota on the OTR system of the rat brain at different developmental stages in a pilot study. Quantitative OTR [125I]‐OVTA autoradiographic binding was carried out in the forebrain of male and female conventional (CON) and germ‐free (GF) rats at postnatal days (PND) 8, 22, and 116–150. OTR binding was also assessed in the eyes of PND 1 and PND 4 GF female rats. Significant “microbiota × sex × region” interaction and age‐dependent effects on OTR binding were demonstrated. Microbiota status influenced OTR levels in males but not females with higher levels of OTR observed in GF versus CON rats in the cingulate, prelimbic, and lateral/medial/ventral orbital cortex, and septum across all age groups, while sex differences were observed in GF, but not in CON rats. Interestingly, OTRs present in the eyes of CON rats were abolished in GF rats. This is the first study to uncover a sex‐specific role of gut microbiota on the central OTR system, which may have implications in understanding the developmental neuroadaptations critical for behavioral regulation and the etiology of certain neurodevelopmental disorders.
Heavy metals modulate DNA compaction and methylation at CpG sites in the metal hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri

Excess heavy metals affect plant physiology by inducing stress symptoms, however several species have evolved the ability to hyperaccumulate metals in above‐ground tissues without phytotoxic effects. In this study we assume that at subcellular level, different strategies were adopted by hyperaccumulator versus the non‐accumulator plant species to face the excess of heavy metals. At this purpose the comet assay was used to investigate the nucleoid structure modifications occurring in response to Zn and Cd treatments in the I16 and PL22 populations of the hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri versus the nonaccumulator species Arabidopsis thaliana. Methy‐sens comet assay and RT‐qPCR were also performed to associate metal induced variations in nucleoids with possible epigenetic modifications. The comet assay showed that Zn induced a mild but non significant reduction in the tail moment in A. thaliana and in both I16 and PL22. Cd treatment induced an increase in DNA migration in nuclei of A. thaliana, whereas no differences in DNA migration was observed for I16, and a significant increase in nucleoid condensation was found in PL22 Cd treated samples. This last population showed higher CpG DNA methylation upon Cd treatment than in control conditions, and an up‐regulation of genes involved in symmetric methylation and histone deacetylation. Our data support the hypothesis of a possible role of epigenetic modifications in the hyperaccumulation trait to cope with the high Cd shoot concentrations. In addition, the differences observed between PL22 and I16 could reinforce previous suggestions of divergent strategies for metals detoxification developing in the two metallicolous populations.
Spherical mesoporous silica designed for the removal of methylene blue from water under strong acidic conditions

ABSTRACT This work proposes a novel technology for environmental remediation based on mesoporous silica spheres, which were successfully synthesized by the solvothermal method using the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a structuring agent. The adsorbent was designed to remove cationic dyes at strong acidic conditions. The surface was modified by a careful thermal treatment aiming at the condensation of silanol to siloxane groups. The adsorbent was characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR, N2 adsorption/desorption and the equilibrium technique to determine the pHpzc. The kinetic of the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model and the process was ruled by physical forces. The isotherms were fitted to Freundlich and Temkin models, indicating that the physisorption occurred with multilayer formation, with the interaction adsorbate–adsorbate being relevant to the whole process. The adsorption capacity was approximately 60 mg g−1 and the adsorbents performance in the fast-contact system showed removal of 65%wt. of a 93 mg L−1 methylene blue (MB) solution in a single application. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing in neurological development and disease

ABSTRACT Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing is one of the most prevalent post-transcriptional RNA modifications in metazoan. This reaction is catalysed by enzymes called adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs). RNA editing is involved in the regulation of protein function and gene expression. The numerous A-to-I editing sites have been identified in both coding and non-coding RNA transcripts. These editing sites are also found in various genes expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and play an important role in neurological development and brain function. Aberrant regulation of RNA editing has been associated with the pathogenesis of neurological and psychiatric disorders, suggesting the physiological significance of RNA editing in the CNS. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of editing on neurological disease and development.
Dental materials implant alloys: a X-ray fluorescence analysis on FDS76®.

BACKGROUND Currently in dentistry, scientific research has been conducted in the study of dental implants. Being able to optimize dental implants, in all its mechanical and biological components, is the main objective of the research. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the structure and the molecular features of dental implant titanium alloy. METHODS Two different internal hexagonal connection systems belonging to FDS76® have been used as sample. Beyond the literature search, fixture and abutment surface through an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) method have been analyzed. RESULTS The surfaces have achieved an excellent level of quality and low impurity, according to commercial pure titanium alloy. CONCLUSIONS This information will surely bring useful information to evaluate the quality of this type of alloy and possibly improve its features.