Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organic gelators and hydrogelators

The design and control of molecular self-assembly is of great interest in the development of new molecular architectures with multiple desired functions or properties. In this context, the gelling systems formed by low molecular weight gelators are particularly promising and are the subject of an ever increasing number of studies. A gel consists of one or more gelling agents and a fluid (organic solvent, water, supercritical liquid) which behaves as a visco-elastic material (soft matter) due to the immobilization of solvent molecules in a three-dimensional network. This network results from the self-assembly of the gelling agent into fibres via non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, van der Waals and electrostatic interactions, coordination, and charge transfer. Additional non-covalent interactions lead to physical entanglement of the fibres, which creates a 3D network, the fluid being trapped in the nanoscale interstices. A very large quantity of solvent can be imprisoned in the supramolecular network (in the case of supergelators it is not rare to observe more than 104 molecules of solvent per molecule of gelator in the gel composition), thus creating extraordinary variations of the physical properties of the system. These physical gels are usually thermoreversible (reversible sol-gel transition by heating and cooling) and, depending on the molecular structure of the gelling agent and the fluid which is rigidified, it is possible to form nanoscale superstructures such as nanofibres, nanoribbons, nanosheets, nanoparticles, helical windings, etc., which are of interest for materials and nanoobject conception. Thus, owing to their non-conventional behaviour, low molecular weight gelators are very attractive for applications in various areas, including supramolecular templates or matrices, transport and release of drugs, art conservation, cosmetics, sensors, optoelectronics, actuators, etc. However, despite numerous efforts to establish a structure-property relationship for the development of low molecular weight gelling agents, prediction of the gelling ability of a compound is not straightforward. A major challenge today is the rational design of small size molecular gelators coupled with an understanding of the mechanism of gelation. It is also important to develop future green gelators for eco-compatible applications. This thematic series on organogels and hydrogels will address these various points with a particular emphasis on the molecular requirements on the gelling ability, the different approaches for producing molecular gelators, and some techniques used for the characterization and the properties of the gels. It is my great pleasure to act as guest editor of this Thematic Series, which gathers a wide range of expertise to meet the demands of this interdisciplinary field. I warmly thank all the authors who have enthusiastically accepted to contribute to this series which will give the reader a clear overview of this rapidly developing research field and will identify future growth areas. Jean-Pierre Desvergne Talence, July 2010
Contralateral Clinically Unaffected Eyes of Patients With Unilateral Infectious Keratitis Demonstrate a Sympathetic Immune Response.

PURPOSE To analyze the contralateral unaffected eyes of patients with microbial keratitis (MK) for any immune cell or nerve changes by laser in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). METHODS A prospective study was performed on 28 patients with MK, including acute bacterial, fungal, and Acanthamoeba keratitis, as well as on their contralateral clinically unaffected eyes and on control groups, which consisted of 28 age-matched normal controls and 15 control contact lens (CL) wearers. Laser IVCM with the Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph 3/Rostock Cornea Module and Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometry of the central cornea were performed. Two masked observers assessed central corneal dendritiform cell density and subbasal corneal nerve parameters. RESULTS The contralateral clinically unaffected eyes of patients with MK demonstrated significant diminishment in nerve density (15,603.8 ± 1265.2 vs. 24,102.1 ± 735.6 μm/mm²), total number of nerves (11.9 ± 1.0 vs. 24.9 ± 1.2/frame), number of branches (1.7 ± 0.2 vs. 19.9 ± 1.3/frame), and branch nerve length (5775.2 ± 757.1 vs. 12,715.4 ± 648.4 μm/mm²) (P < 0.001 for all parameters) compared to normal controls and CL wearers. Further, dendritiform cell density in the contralateral unaffected eyes was significantly increased as compared to that in controls (117.5 ± 19.9 vs. 24.2 ± 3.5 cells/mm², P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate a subclinical involvement in the contralateral clinically unaffected eyes in patients with unilateral acute MK. In vivo confocal microscopy reveals not only a diminishment of the subbasal corneal nerves and sensation, but also an increase in dendritiform cell density in the contralateral unaffected eyes of MK patients. These findings show bilateral immune alterations in a clinically unilateral disease.
Reconfigurable MIMO transceivers for next-generation wireless systems

Next-generation wireless systems are expected to optimize performance by providing adaptivity to varying network conditions. In this paper, we present recent advances in multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) networks that are designed to make reconfigurable operation possible in the context of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS∗) network environment. We focus on the problem of robust/reconfigurable operation with respect to channel correlation, which is known to have a significant effect on the performance of MIMO links. Our approach to bringing such robustness to space-time encoded systems is to introduce linear precoding, which is designed to account for the effects of antenna correlation. After verifying the success of this approach in improving the robustness of MIMO links, we evaluate its benefits at the system level. We introduce link-to-system interface metrics to ensure realistic evaluation of system-level performance, and we evaluate the average-system-throughput and number-of-satisfied-users performance metrics. Finally, we describe our simulations, which demonstrate the performance improvements that can be achieved by applying reconfigurable techniques rather than conventional ones.
Grand Challenge: Automatic Anomaly Detection over Sliding Windows

With the advances in the Internet of Things and rapid generation of vast amounts of data, there is an ever growing need for leveraging and evaluating event-based systems as a basis for building real-time data analytics applications. The ability to detect, analyze, and respond to abnormal patterns of events in a timely manner is as challenging as it is important. For instance, distributed processing environment might affect the required order of events, time-consuming computations might fail to scale, or delays of alarms might lead to unpredicted system behavior. The ACM DEBS Grand Challenge 2017 focuses on real-time anomaly detection for manufacturing equipments based on the observation of a stream of measurements generated by embedded digital and analogue sensors. In this paper, we present our solution to the challenge leveraging the Apache Flink stream processing framework and anomaly ordering based on sliding windows, and evaluate the performance in terms of event latency and throughput.
The Rising Tide of Overweight among Kuwaiti Children: Study from Al-Adan Hospital, Kuwait

Objective: This study was designed to screen patients who sought medical services in the Pediatric Outpatient Department, Al-Adan Hospital, Kuwait for overweight. Subjects and Methods: Body mass index (BMI) was used to screen 361 children (≤10 years old) for risk of overweight and overweight (BMI between 85th and 94th, and ≥95th percentile, respectively). Overweight children were fully examined and abdominal ultrasound was done for each of them. Results: Of the 361 children, 52 (14.41%) and 77 (21.33%) were at risk of overweight and overweight, respectively. There was a slight male predominance for overweight (40 males, 51.95%, compared to 37 females, 48.05%) and within the overweight category; 28 males (70%) and 26 females (70.27%) were above 6 years of age. In overweight children over 6 years, 4 (7.41%) had hepatomegaly with fatty changes and 3 (5.56%) had blood pressure above the 95th percentile for age and sex. Conclusion: Childhood overweight at Al-Adan Hospital was high and increased with age. Hence childhood screening for overweight is recommended at an early age because it is an important risk factor of chronic diseases.
Transient Topographical Disorientation

Transient topographical disorientation (TTD) is a short-lasting inability to find one’s way in a familiar environment, while the patient remains conscious and is able to recall what happened. We report the study of 10 patients with episodes of TTD, studied on the days following the last episode. The episodes of TTD could be separated into two types: the patients either reported difficulties in spatial orientation with preserved abilities to recognize landmarks and objects, or the difficulties appeared with the recognition of landmarks. Tests exploring spatial orientation, as well as higher visuoperceptive capacities were altered in most of the patients and brain SPECT showed hypoperfusion of the right hemisphere in all patients, which could also be demonstrated 2 years later in some cases. Altogether, our findings suggest that TTD is frequently associated with a more persistent right hemisphere dysfunction of unknown cause. This chronic alteration could represent either a sequel of the acute episode or a preexisting right hemisphere deficit, which inclined the acute insult to be manifested as TTD.
Indexing UMLS Semantic Types for Medical Question-Answering

Open-domain Question-Answering (QA) systems heavily rely on named entities, a set of general-purpose semantic types which generally cover names of persons, organizations and locations, dates and amounts, etc. If we are to build medical QA systems, a set of medically relevant named entities must be used. In this paper, we explore the use of the UMLS (Unified Medical Language System) Semantic Network semantic types for this purpose. We present an experiment where the French part of the UMLS Metathesaurus, together with the associated semantic types, is used as a resource for a medically-specific named entity tagger. We also explore the detection of Semantic Network relations for answering specific types of medical questions. We present results and evaluations on a corpus of French-language medical documents that was used in the EQueR Question-Answering evaluation forum. We show, using statistical studies, that strategies for using these new tags in a QA context are to take in account the individual origin of documents.
Mental and Physical ( MAP ) Training : A neurogenesis-inspired intervention that enhances health in humans q

New neurons are generated in the hippocampus each day and their survival is greatly enhanced through effortful learning (Shors, 2014). The numbers of cells produced can be increased by physical exercise (van Praag, Kempermann, & Gage, 1999). These findings inspired us to develop a clinical intervention for humans known as Mental and Physical Training, or MAP Training. Each session consists of 30 min of mental training with focused attention meditation (20 min sitting and 10 min walking). Meditation is an effortful training practice that involves learning about the transient nature of thoughts and thought patterns, and acquiring skills to recognize them without necessarily attaching meaning and/or emotions to them. The mental training component is followed by physical training with 30 min of aerobic exercise performed at moderate intensity. During this component, participants learn choreographed dance routines while engaging in aerobic exercise. In a pilot ‘‘proof-of-concept’’ study, we provided supervised MAP Training (2 sessions per week for 8 weeks) to a group of young mothers in the local community who were recently homeless, most of them having previously suffered from physical and sexual abuse, addiction, and depression. Preliminary data suggest that MAP Training improves dependent measures of aerobic fitness (as assessed by maximal rate of oxygen consumed) while decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Similar changes were not observed in a group of recently homeless women who did not participate in MAP Training. It is not currently possible to determine whether new neurons in the human brain increase in number as a result of MAP Training. Rather these preliminary results of MAP Training illustrate how neuroscientific research can be translated into novel clinical interventions that benefit human health and wellness. 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Epitaxial seeded growth of rare-earth nanocrystals with efficient 800 nm near-infrared to 1525 nm short-wavelength infrared downconversion photoluminescence for in vivo bioimaging.

Novel β-NaGdF4/Na(Gd,Yb)F4:Er/NaYF4:Yb/NaNdF4:Yb core/shell 1/shell 2/shell 3 (C/S1/S2/S3) multi-shell nanocrystals (NCs) have been synthesized and used as probes for in vivo imaging. They can be excited by near-infrared (800 nm) radiation and emit short-wavelength infrared (SWIR, 1525 nm) radiation. Excitation at 800 nm falls into the "biological transparency window", which features low absorption by water and low heat generation and is considered to be the ideal excitation wavelength with the least impact on biological tissues. After coating with phospholipids, the water-soluble NCs showed good biocompatibility and low toxicity. With efficient SWIR emission at 1525 nm, the probe is detectable in tissues at depths of up to 18 mm with a low detection threshold concentration (5 nM for the stomach of nude mice and 100 nM for the stomach of SD rats). These results highlight the potential of the probe for the in vivo monitoring of areas that are otherwise difficult to analyze.
Associations among Different Internet Access Time, Gender and Cyberbullying Behaviors in Taiwan’s Adolescents

With the increasing convenience of social networking sites and their interconnectedness with human interaction, verbal and image bullying have turned digital, making cyberbullying a new form of bullying attracting the attention of researchers, social workers, and schools. This study focuses on the status quo of attitude toward cyberbullying and cyberbullying behavior, explores associations of attitude toward behavior on cyberbullying behavior in gender and different internet access times. In a cross-sectional survey, adolescents were surveyed through self-report questionnaires, 13,864 respondents were received among 150 high schools in Taiwan. Statistical analyses were performed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The study revealed that attitude toward cyberbullying has a direct effect on cyberbullying behavior; among the greatest direct impact were when students use the Internet during the time frame 10:00–14:00. Parents and schoolteachers pay special attention to students using the Internet during this time frame 10:00–14:00 and give guidance, express care, and help those being bullied to communicate and use the Internet in a correct manner. Among genders, male student attitude toward behavior has a greater effect than those of female students. Both male and female students know what cyberbullying is and have witnessed, heard of, or personally encountered cyberbullying behavior. We recommend students talk to parents or teachers or other people who care to reduce the negative effects of cyberbullying. We hopeful that the conceptualization model presented in this study serves as an activator for researches on attitude toward cyberbullying and cyberbullying behavior, and serves a guide and a call to attract more researches in this area.
Dynamique spatio temporelle des mouches des fruits (Diptera, Tephritidae) en fonction des facteurs biotiques et abiotiques dans les vergers de manguiers de l'ouest du Burkina Faso

Ravageurs de quarantaine, les mouches des fruits (Diptera : Tephritidae) constituent unecontrainte importante a l’exportation de la mangue au Burkina Faso. L’objectif de cette etudeetait d’ameliorer nos connaissances sur l’ecologie de ces ravageurs. Entre decembre 2007 etdecembre 2009, 1156598 Tephritidae ont ete captures dans 7 vergers presentant 8 cultivarsdifferents. Pendant cette periode, l’evolution de la temperature, de l’hygrometrie et de lapluviometrie a ete notee. 19764 mangues ont ete collectees et observees afin de determinerleur niveau d’infestation par ces insectes. Dix-huit especes des genres Bactrocera, Ceratitis,et Dacus ont ete identifiees, B. invadens et C. cosyra etant les plus abondantes. Les pics despopulations de mâles et de femelles, apparaissent entre mai et juin selon les sites. Les femelles,presentent aussi un pic en periode de floraison des manguiers. Sept especes de Tephritidaeinfestent les mangues et l’incidence moyenne de leurs degâts varie entre 0% (Sabre) et 12,5%(Keitt), Keitt et Brooks sont les cultivars les plus infestes. 64% de ces degâts sont causes parB. invadens et 31% par C. cosyra. L’inventaire des essences ligneuses autour de ces sites ainsique la collecte et l’incubation de leurs fruits entre avril 2008 et decembre 2009 ont aussi eteeffectues. 105 ligneux ont ete recenses autour des vergers. Les fruits de 13 d’entre eux sontinfestes par 7 especes de Tephritidae dont 6 se retrouvent aussi dans les mangues. Il s’agitsurtout de C. cosyra mais aussi de C. silvestrii, C. puntata et B. invadens.Ce travail montre les correlations significativees entre les facteurs climatiques, la fluctuationdes populations, et les degâts observes. Les especes ligneuses alentours sont des refugespermettant le maintien des populations meme hors saison de la mangue. Ces resultatsnouveaux permettent l’adaptation de la lutte contre ces ravageurs economiquement importantsau contexte agro-ecologique de notre zone d’etude
Comparison of pigment production and motility tests with PCR for reliable identification of intrinsically vancomycin-resistant enterococci

Forty-eight clinical isolates identified as either Enterococcus faecium or Enterococcus faecalis with the MicroScan system (Dade International, MicroScan Inc., West Sacramento, Calif.) were further characterized by two supplementary biochemical tests (pigment production and motility). Twenty isolates (42%), all initially identified as E. faecium, were motile. Of these 20, 8 isolates (17%) produced yellow pigment and were identified as Enterococcus casseliflavus and the remaining 12 (25%) were nonpigmented and were identified as Enterococcus gallinarum. Identical identification results were obtained when PCR amplification of regions of the vanC gene was used as a technique for differentiating these organisms. The results of this study indicate that motility and pigment production tests together with commercial test systems are sufficient for reliable identifications of E. faecium, E. casseliflavus, and E. gallinarum.
In the democracies of DNA: ontological uncertainty and political order in three states

Abstract This paper compares the regulation of biotechnology in Britain, Germany and the United States and shows that systematic differences have developed around four issues: abortion, assisted reproduction, stem cells, and genetically modified crops and foods. Policy choices with respect to these issues reflect the capacity of each nation's regulatory institutions to deal with the scientific, social and ethical uncertainties around biotechnology. National regulatory frameworks constitute an apparatus of collective sense-making through which governments and publics interpret biotechnology's risks and promises. Specifically, regulatory choices position the novel ontologies created by biotechnology either on the side of the familiar and manageable or on the side of the unknown and insupportably risky. The comparison shows that public responses to biotechnology are embedded within robust and coherent political cultures and are not ad hoc expressions of concern that vary unpredictably from issue to issue.
To Those Who Have, Will More be Given? A Longitudinal Study Concerning the Development of School Achievement and the Effects of Social Background during Primary School

Jeweils zum Schuljahresende der zweiten bis vierten Jahrgangsstufe wurden Schulleistungen in Deutsch (Leseverstandnis, Rechtschreibung) und Mathematik bei Grundschulern einer geschichteten Zufallsstichprobe aus Bayern und Sachsen (N = 77 Schulklassen mit N = 1 247 Schulern) erhoben. In allen Domanen zeigen sich erhebliche Leistungszuwachse, zudem ergibt sich eine reduzierte Leistungsstreuung im Leseverstandnis und der Mathematik. In beiden Domanen kommt es durch den groseren Zugewinn der Schuler mit schwacheren Eingangsleistungen zu einem Ausgleich des Leistungsgefalles. Die schulischen Leistungen stehen durchgangig in deut lichem Zusammenhang mit Merkmalen der sozialen Herkunft, wobei die Beziehungen in Sachsen etwas geringer ausfallen als in Bayern. Entgegen dem Trend einer Angleichung der Schulerleistungen reduzieren sich die Herkunftseffekte im Zeitverlauf nicht, sondern nehmen bei gleichen Eingangsleistungen uber die Zeit noch etwas zu.
Nitric oxide and chronic gut inflammation: controversies in inflammatory bowel disease.

One of the most consistent and dramatic findings in both experimental and human inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) is the enhanced expression of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the sustained overproduction of the free radical nitric oxide (NO). The role that iNOS-derived NO plays in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease remains the subject of intense investigation and active debate. Although several different studies using a variety of animal models of acute and chronic gut inflammation suggest that NO may promote intestinal inflammation, an equally impressive number of investigations suggest that iNOS may play no role or may act to attenuate or to limit the extent of inflammatory tissue injury. This review discusses some of the basic concepts related to the immunoregulation of chronic gut inflammation and summarizes the current state of knowledge of the role that NO may play in modulating inflammatory tissue injury.