Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Highly Sensitive Micropatterned Interdigitated Electrodes for Enhancing the Concentration Effect Based on Dielectrophoresis

The concentration effect of dielectrophoresis (DEP) enables detection of biomolecules with high sensitivity. In this study, microstructures were patterned between the interdigitated microelectrodes (IMEs) to increase the concentration effect of DEP. The microstructures increased the electric field gradient (∇|E2|) between the IMEs to approximately 6.61-fold higher than in the bare IMEs with a gap of 10 μm, resulting in a decreased optimal voltage to concentrate amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42, from 0.8 Vpp to 0.5 Vpp) and tau-441 (from 0.9 Vpp to 0.6 Vpp) between the IMEs. Due to the concentration effect of DEP, the impedance change in the optimal condition was higher than the values in the reference condition at 2.64-fold in Aβ42 detection and at 1.59-fold in tau-441 detection. This concentration effect of DEP was also verified by counting the number of gold (Au) particles which conjugated with the secondary antibody. Finally, an enhanced concentration effect in the patterned IMEs was verified by measuring the impedance change depending on the concentration of Aβ42 and tau-441. Our results suggest that microstructures increase the concentration effect of DEP, leading to enhanced sensitivity of the IMEs.
Green dual-template synthesis of AgPd core–shell nanoparticles with enhanced electrocatalytic activity

A key challenge in developing an ethanol oxidation reaction is nontoxic fabrication of highly active stable and low-cost catalysts. Here we design a green synthetic strategy of AgPd bimetallic nanosphere by a dual-template cascade method. The Pd nanoshell is firstly prepared using Vapreotide acetate as a primary template, and then the Ag nanoshell acts as a secondary template for the distribution of AgPd alloy nanoparticles. The AgPd nanoparticles have core–shell structures and various sizes, and their shell thicknesses are tuned by controlling the amount of PdCl2. The six different samples are prepared, named AgPd-1, AgPd-2, AgPd-3, AgPd-4, AgPd-5, and AgPd-6, respectively. The mass current density of AgPd-5, is higher 3.87 times that of commercial Pd/C, and exhibits the best ethanol oxidation reaction activity and long-term stability. The main reasons are that the AgPd-5 possessed excellent specific surface area due to their rough structure, and Ag can remove more CO-like species. This is the first time a Vapreotide acetate/Ag-template method has been used to synthesize a AgPd core–shell structure, which would have broad application prospects for direct ethanol fuel cells.
Research on the Oxidation Mechanism of Vermicular Graphite Cast Iron

The oxidation mechanism of vermicular graphite cast iron was studied. The oxidation reaction starts from graphites and diffused slowly. Graphites in vermicular graphite are interconnected, coral-like clusters, providing the main oxidation core and channel. The worm-like graphites on the surface are mostly oxidized and form oxide affected zones. The oxide films are composed of a loose oxide layer with the phases of Fe3O4, Fe2O3, and FeO, and a dense passivation layer with FeO and Fe2SiO4. After oxidation, pearlites in the vermicular graphite cast iron are decomposed into ferrite and cementite at high temperatures.
Corticosteroids in Acute Lung Injury: The Dilemma Continues

Acute lung injury (ALI) represents a serious heterogenous pulmonary disorder with high mortality. Despite improved understanding of the pathophysiology, the efficacy of standard therapies such as lung-protective mechanical ventilation, prone positioning and administration of neuromuscular blocking agents is limited. Recent studies have shown some benefits of corticosteroids (CS). Prolonged use of CS can shorten duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of hospitalization or improve oxygenation, probably because of a wide spectrum of potentially desired actions including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, pulmonary vasodilator and anti-oedematous effects. However, the results from experimental vs. clinical studies as well as among the clinical trials are often controversial, probably due to differences in the designs of the trials. Thus, before the use of CS in ARDS can be definitively confirmed or refused, the additional studies should be carried on to determine the most appropriate dosing, timing and choice of CS and to analyse the potential risks of CS administration in various groups of patients with ARDS.
Discovery of Novel Sequences in 1,000 Swedish Genomes

Abstract Novel sequences (NSs), not present in the human reference genome, are abundant and remain largely unexplored. Here, we utilize de novo assembly to study NS in 1,000 Swedish individuals first sequenced as part of the SweGen project revealing a total of 46 Mb in 61,044 distinct contigs of sequences not present in GRCh38. The contigs were aligned to recently published catalogs of Icelandic and Pan-African NSs, as well as the chimpanzee genome, revealing a great diversity of shared sequences. Analyzing the positioning of NS across the chimpanzee genome, we find that 2,807 NS align confidently within 143 chimpanzee orthologs of human genes. Aligning the whole genome sequencing data to the chimpanzee genome, we discover ancestral NS common throughout the Swedish population. The NSs were searched for repeats and repeat elements: revealing a majority of repetitive sequence (56%), and enrichment of simple repeats (28%) and satellites (15%). Lastly, we align the unmappable reads of a subset of the thousand genomes data to our collection of NS, as well as the previously published Pan-African NS: revealing that both the Swedish and Pan-African NS are widespread, and that the Swedish NSs are largely a subset of the Pan-African NS. Overall, these results highlight the importance of creating a more diverse reference genome and illustrate that significant amounts of the NS may be of ancestral origin.
Small RNA inhibits infection by downy mildew pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis

Summary Gene silencing exists in eukaryotic organisms as a conserved regulation of the gene expression mechanism. In general, small RNAs (sRNAs) are produced within the eukaryotic cells and incorporated into an RNA‐induced silencing complex (RISC) within cells. However, exogenous sRNAs, once delivered into cells, can also silence target genes via the same RISC. Here, we explored this concept by targeting the Cellulose synthase A3 (CesA3) gene of Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa), the downy mildew pathogen of Arabidopsis thaliana. Hpa spore suspensions were mixed with sense or antisense sRNAs and inoculated onto susceptible Arabidopsis seedlings. While sense sRNAs had no obvious effect on Hpa pathogenicity, antisense sRNAs inhibited spore germination and hence infection. Such inhibition of infection was not race‐specific, but dependent on the length and capping of sRNAs. Inhibition of infection by double stranded sRNA was more efficient than that observed with antisense sRNA. Thus, exogenous sRNA targeting conserved CesA3 could suppress Hpa infection in Arabidopsis, indicating the potential of this simple and efficient sRNA‐based approach for deciphering gene functions in obligate biotrophic pathogens as well as for R‐gene independent control of diseases in plants.
Tinnitracks – Erste Ergebnisse einer Anwenderbefragung

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Die Behandlung eines chronischen Tinnitus stellt nach wie vor eine große Herausforderung dar. Vor einigen Jahren wurde das „Tailor-made notched music training“ (TMNMT) als neue Methode vorgeschlagen, bei der die Frequenz eines tonalen Tinnitus aus zu hörender individuell zusammengestellter Musik herausgefiltert wird. Mittlerweile gibt es Apps, mit denen die Behandlung durchgeführt wird, z. B. Tinnitracks. Methoden Im Frühjahr 2018 wurden insgesamt dreimal die damals 457 anwendenden HNO-Ärztinnen und Ärzte hinsichtlich ihres Eindrucks der Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit von Tinnitracks per E-Mail befragt. Die Daten wurden zentral erfasst, arcsin transformiert und mit einfaktorieller ANOVA ausgewertet; t-Tests dienten zur weiteren Analyse. Ergebnisse Insgesamt antworteten 117 (25,6 %) der 457 befragten HNO-Ärzte. Durchschnittlich wurde die Therapie in den teilnehmenden Praxen seit 1,26 Jahren angewendet. Hinsichtlich der untersuchten Punkte gab es signifikante Effekte hinsichtlich der Lautstärke, der Frequenz und der Angenehmheit des Tinnitus, die dadurch zustande kamen, dass weniger oft negative als gleichbleibende bzw. bessere Ergebnisse durch die Therapie berichtet wurden; signifikante Unterschiede zwischen „gleichbleibend“ und „besser“ im Sinne eines positiven Therapieeffektes gab es nicht. Diskussion Tinnitracks ist eine App-basierte Therapie des Tinnitus mittels TMNMT, deren Wirksamkeit bisher noch nicht an einer größeren Patientenpopulation untersucht wurde. Die hier vorgestellt Anwenderbefragung zeigte, dass die Tinnitracks hinsichtlich der Tinnituslautstärke und dessen Angenehmheit wenigstens keinen schädlichen Einfluss hat. Die Tinnitusfrequenz wurde nicht signifikant beeinflusst. Negative Effekte waren selten und statistisch nicht signifikant. Insgesamt kann somit z. Zt. keine Empfehlung zur Therapie mit Tinnitracks gegeben werden.
Feed-forward visual processing suffices for coarse localization but fine-grained localization in an attention-demanding context needs feedback processing

It is well known that simple visual tasks, such as object detection or categorization, can be performed within a short period of time, suggesting the sufficiency of feed-forward visual processing. However, more complex visual tasks, such as fine-grained localization may require high-resolution information available at the early processing levels in the visual hierarchy. To access this information using a top-down approach, feedback processing would need to traverse several stages in the visual hierarchy and each step in this traversal takes processing time. In the present study, we compared the processing time required to complete object categorization and localization by varying presentation duration and complexity of natural scene stimuli. We hypothesized that performance would be asymptotic at shorter presentation durations when feed-forward processing suffices for visual tasks, whereas performance would gradually improve as images are presented longer if the tasks rely on feedback processing. In Experiment 1, where simple images were presented, both object categorization and localization performance sharply improved until 100 ms of presentation then it leveled off. These results are a replication of previously reported rapid categorization effects but they do not support the role of feedback processing in localization tasks, indicating that feed-forward processing enables coarse localization in relatively simple visual scenes. In Experiment 2, the same tasks were performed but more attention-demanding and ecologically valid images were used as stimuli. Unlike in Experiment 1, both object categorization performance and localization precision gradually improved as stimulus presentation duration became longer. This finding suggests that complex visual tasks that require visual scrutiny call for top-down feedback processing.
High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in infants with acute lower respiratory tract infection. An experience in hospitals of the City of Buenos Aires.

INTRODUCTION During the winter, infants with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) overburden health resources. In the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, 35 000 children are seen at the hospitals every year; 8-10 % of them are admitted to the general hospitalization ward and 5-12 % of these, to the intensive care unit (ICU). In 2017, the Department of Maternal and Child Health of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires included high flow nasal cannula (HNFC) oxygen therapy in the ALRTI protocol in the general ward of 3 hospitals. The objective of this study was to describe its outcomes and explore the potential factors related to therapeutic failure. METHODS Prospective, descriptive study with infants < 18 months old hospitalized due to ALRTI in 3 hospitals (Durand, Elizalde, Gutiérrez) between June and September 2017. All children unable to comply with low-flow therapeutic targets received HNFC oxygen therapy; admission to the ICU was considered a failure. RESULTS Out of 522 patients hospitalized due to ALRTI, 39.7% required HNFC oxygen therapy. No significant baseline differences were observed between patients receiving HNFC and conventional oxygen therapy. Failure was observed in only 8.7% of patients with HNFC oxygen therapy. The decrease in respiratory rate was significantly greater and longer in patients with support success versus those with failure (p < 0.01). No complications were recorded. CONCLUSIONS The implementation of HNFC oxygen therapy under a protocol in the general wards was a safe measure. Patients with therapeutic failure showed a smaller reduction in respiratory rate during treatment.
Characterization and health risk assessment of indoor dust in biomass and LPG-based households of rural Telangana, India

ABSTRACT Indoor dust is one of the key sources contributing to indoor air pollution (IAP) in rural households. It acts as a media for various toxicants like heavy metal depositions and causes severe health risks. The present study deals with investigation of metal concentrations and morphological characteristics of indoor dust generated in varied fuel types followed by estimation of health risks for women and children in rural households in Telangana, India. Indoor floor dust samples were collected from households using biomass and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as their cooking energy during winter to evaluate the morphological and chemical characteristics in the aforementioned dust samples. A morphological (SEM-EDX) analysis revealed the presence of carbonaceous particles in biomass-based households and mineral-rich crustal sources in LPG-based households. As observed from ICP-OES analysis, there is a significant difference in mean concentrations of Al, Co, Cr, Fe, Zn, and Ni based on fuel type, except for Mn and Pb. From Pearson’s correlation analysis and principal component analysis, it was observed that the biomass households were dominated by Zn, Al, Mn, Cr, and Pb, which could have been contributed from biomass burning deposits, crustal sources, and unpaved roads, while Cr, Pb, Fe, and Mn dominated in LPG households, indicating their origin from leaded paints (Pb and Cr) and crustal sources. The health risks associated with these heavy metals to women and children were investigated using an EPA health risk model. The values from the model indicated that both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were within the safe levels for both subjects. This study not only establishes chemical and morphological characteristics of indoor dust, but also quantifies the role of fuel type. Implications: The present study provides the latest geographical evidence of chemical and morphological characterization of indoor dust particles in varied fuels; i.e, biomass- and LPG-based households and associated health risk assessment in a sub-tropical rural site in Telangana, India. Nevertheless, further research is essential from various regions across the country for more heavy metal analysis and factors impacting these levels. One of the major limitations of the present study is the analysis of few metals and measurements in only living area locations. Future studies can include soil and road dust, as well as kitchens and bedrooms, to provide more comprehensive analysis of dust compositions in varied environments.
Forces Causing One-Millimeter Displacement of Bone Fragments of Condylar Base Fractures of the Mandible after Fixation by All Available Plate Designs

Background: There has been no direct comparison of all existing plates dedicated for fracture osteosynthesis of mandibular condyle base until now. The aim of the study was to test mechanically all available designs of titanium plates on the market on polyurethane mandibles using an individually designed clamping system. Methods: Forces required for a 1 mm displacement of fixed fracture and incidents of screw loosening were recorded. Results indicated the best mechanical plates among all existing designs available. Results: It has occured that some of osseofixation plates should not be used any more, whereas some shape of the single plates are similar shape to two single plates shape are regarded as the best osseofixation method for condyle base fracture. Conclusion: General observation is the bigger plate and more screws, the better rigid stable osteosynthesis of mandibular condyle base. 4 plates of current designs of total 30 tested series can be recommended for open rigid internal fixation of fractures of the base of the mandibular condyle. The rest of 26 existing plates should not be used in condylar base fractures.
Complete Genome Sequence of Sin4, a Siphophage Infecting Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a commonly antibiotic-resistant human pathogen. This report describes the complete genome sequence and important features of Sin4, a siphophage infecting carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae. By its genome size, predicted packaging mechanism, protein similarity, and classification given to its closest relatives, Sin4 was determined to be a T1-like phage. ABSTRACT Klebsiella pneumoniae is a commonly antibiotic-resistant human pathogen. This report describes the complete genome sequence and important features of Sin4, a siphophage infecting carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae. By its genome size, predicted packaging mechanism, protein similarity, and classification given to its closest relatives, Sin4 was determined to be a T1-like phage.
A Comprehensive Review on Lipid Oxidation in Meat and Meat Products

Meat and meat products are a fundamental part of the human diet. The protein and vitamin content, as well as essential fatty acids, gives them an appropriate composition to complete the nutritional requirements. However, meat constituents are susceptible to degradation processes. Among them, the most important, after microbial deterioration, are oxidative processes, which affect lipids, pigments, proteins and vitamins. During these reactions a sensory degradation of the product occurs, causing consumer rejection. In addition, there is a nutritional loss that leads to the formation of toxic substances, so the control of oxidative processes is of vital importance for the meat industry. Nonetheless, despite lipid oxidation being widely investigated for decades, the complex reactions involved in the process, as well as the different pathways and factors that influenced them, make that lipid oxidation mechanisms have not yet been completely understood. Thus, this article reviews the fundamental mechanisms of lipid oxidation, the most important oxidative reactions, the main factors that influence lipid oxidation, and the routine methods to measure compounds derived from lipid oxidation in meat.
Physical Therapists’ Ability to Distinguish Between Inflammatory and Noninflammatory Arthritis and to Appropriately Refer Patients to a Rheumatologist

To investigate whether physical therapists (PTs) can correctly identify new‐onset inflammatory arthritis; to assess whether PTs are aware that cases of new‐onset inflammatory arthritis should be referred to a rheumatologist; to explore the comfort level of PTs to refer to medical specialists; and to determine factors associated with correctly identifying inflammatory arthritis and referring to a rheumatologist.
High Precision Timing with Parabolic Equation Fitting in Narrowband Systems †

Timing forms the basis of wireless communication systems. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology has strict requirements for synchronization performance, and timing errors lead to interference between subcarriers and symbols. Although cyclic prefix (CP) can relax the timing requirement, high precision timing is still necessary and can release the pressure on CP. Due to the uncertainty of signal arrival, there is a sampling offset between the sampling sample’s timing and the real timing, which can be large in the narrowband system with a low sampling rate. In this paper, we propose a parabolic equation fitting method to improve the timing precision in narrowband systems that have two times the rate of the Nyquist sampling rate. The proposed timing method is easy to implement, with low additional complexity compared to traditional timing detection and is based on traditional direct correlator output.
Relationship between physical activity and long-term outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Aims The aims of this study were to ascertain the relationship between level of physical activity and outcomes and to discriminate the determinants of physical activity performance or avoidance. Methods CLARIFY is an international prospective registry of 32,370 consecutive outpatients with stable coronary artery disease who were followed for up to five years. Patients were grouped according to the level and frequency of physical activity: i) sedentary (n = 5223; 16.1%); ii) only light physical activity most weeks (light; n = 16,634; 51.4%); iii) vigorous physical activity once or twice per week (vigorous ≤ 2×; n = 5427; 16.8%); iv) vigorous physical activity three or more times per week (vigorous >2×; n = 5086; 15.7%). The primary outcome was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke. Results Patients performing vigorous physical activity ≤2 × had the lowest risk of the primary outcome (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.71–0.93; p = 0.0031) taking the light group as reference. Engaging in more frequent exercise did not result in further outcome benefit. All-cause death, cardiovascular death, and stroke occurred less frequently in patients performing vigorous physical activity ≤2×. However, the rate of myocardial infarction was comparable between the four physical activity groups. Female sex, peripheral artery disease, diabetes, previous myocardial infarction or stroke, pulmonary disease and body mass index all emerged as independent predictors of lower physical activity. Conclusion Vigorous physical activity once or twice per week was associated with superior cardiac outcomes compared with patients performing no or a low level of physical activity in outpatients with stable coronary artery disease.