Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Circulating Interleukin-6 (but Not Other Immune Mediators) Associates with Criteria for Fried's Frailty among Very Old Adults

Methods One hundred and sixty-one very old patients (aged ≥80 years) devoid of cognitive decline were eligible for analyses. Clinical and biochemical data along with physical and cognitive assessments encompassing dual-energy X-ray scans and hand dynamometry were adopted to investigate frailty criteria, while circulating immune mediators (IFNγ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα) were assessed using high-throughput flow cytometry. Results Preliminarily, IL-6 correlated positively with waist-to-hip ratio and C-reactive protein and negatively with glycemia. In analyses controlled for these factors, serum levels of IL-6 were comparatively augmented among the very old participants with reduced grip strength (OR = 3.299; 95% CI 1.08–6.09; p=0.032) and among those with slow walk speed (OR = 2.460; 95% CI 1.16–7.05; p=0.022). Conclusions Our study shows a strong negative correlation of IL-6 levels with Fried's frailty components of grip strength and walk speed in very old adults, regardless of confounding factors.
Lesões de cárie em esmalte submetidas a diferentes tratamentos com flúor tópico in situ

10 REVISAO DA LITERATURA E JUSTIFICATIVA 11 PROPOSICAO 32 REFERENCIAS BIBLIOGRAFICAS 33 ARTIGO CIENTIFICO 42 Introduction 42 Materials and Methods 42 Results 50 Discussion 56 Acknowledgments 58 References 58 ANEXO 61
Current State and Future Prospects for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Systems

Electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems such as electrochemical capacitors, batteries and fuel cells are considered as the most important technologies proposing environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions to address rapidly growing global energy demands and environmental concerns. Their commercial applications individually or in combination of two or more devices are based on their distinguishing properties e.g., energy/power densities, cyclability and efficiencies. In this review article, we have discussed some of the major electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems and encapsulated their technological advancement in recent years. Fundamental working principles and material compositions of various components such as electrodes and electrolytes have also been discussed. Furthermore, future challenges and perspectives for the applications of these technologies are discussed.
The USDA‐ARS Experimental Watershed Network: Evolution, Lessons Learned, Societal Benefits, and Moving Forward

The U.S. Department of Agriculture‐Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Experimental Watershed Network grew from Dust Bowl era efforts of the Soil Conservation Service in the mid‐1930s with the establishment of small experimental watersheds. In the 1950s, five watershed research centers with intensively instrumented watersheds at the scale of 100 to 700 km2 were established. Primary network research objectives were to quantify on‐site and downstream effects of conservation practices and develop rainfall‐runoff relationships for design of water conservation structures. With passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, research objectives have evolved to add a variety of observations relevant to the water quality issues. Many of the watersheds within the network have served, and continue to serve, as core validation sites for satellite sensors. As a result of the network's long history and intensive monitoring, coupled with mission‐driven research, a deep knowledge base of watershed processes has been developed. This has led to the extensive development and validation of numerous watershed models that are in widespread use today. The visionary investments in building and maintaining this network and associated scientific investigations for more than half a century have not only resulted in numerous high‐impact research accomplishments but also a wide array of accomplishments that directly benefit society. The ARS Experimental Watersheds formed the core of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) as well as the recently established Long‐Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network. LTAR will expand the mission of the ARS Watersheds Network to include agricultural intensification, maintaining or improving ecosystem services while enhancing rural prosperity.
Analytical Model for Molecular-Scale Charge Transport †

We demonstrate a simple analytical model for elastic charge transport on the nanometer scale within a single molecule. It is based on the assumptions usually employed for quantum chemical calculations, except that of equilibrium between the currents flowing in opposite directions. It allows the possibility of a nonuniform potential distribution and imbalance between the population of states of opposite momentum. We analyze two implementable configurations and find the predictions to be consistent with recent experimental results.
Data-driven prioritization and preclinical evaluation of therapeutic targets in glioblastoma

Abstract Background Patients with glioblastoma (GBM) have a dismal prognosis, and there is an unmet need for new therapeutic options. This study aims to identify new therapeutic targets in GBM. Methods mRNA expression data of patient-derived GBM (n = 1279) and normal brain tissue (n = 46) samples were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas. Functional genomic mRNA profiling was applied to capture the downstream effects of genomic alterations on gene expression levels. Next, a class comparison between GBM and normal brain tissue was performed. Significantly upregulated genes in GBM were further prioritized based on (1) known interactions with antineoplastic drugs, (2) current drug development status in humans, and (3) association with biologic pathways known to be involved in GBM. Antineoplastic agents against prioritized targets were validated in vitro and in vivo. Results We identified 712 significantly upregulated genes in GBM compared to normal brain tissue, of which 27 have a known interaction with antineoplastic agents. Seventeen of the 27 genes, including EGFR and VEGFA, have been clinically evaluated in GBM with limited efficacy. For the remaining 10 genes, RRM2, MAPK9 (JNK2, SAPK1a), and XIAP play a role in GBM development. We demonstrated for the MAPK9 inhibitor RGB-286638 a viability loss in multiple GBM cell culture models. Although no overall survival benefit was observed in vivo, there were indications that RGB-286638 may delay tumor growth. Conclusions The MAPK9 inhibitor RGB-286638 showed promising in vitro results. Furthermore, in vivo target engagement studies and combination therapies with this compound warrant further exploration.
Fonctionnalisation de surface pour la micromanipulation : modélisation et expérimentation

A l’echelle du micrometre, les forces de surface appliquees a l’objet deviennentpreponderantes par rapport aux forces volumiques. Dans le but de s’affranchirdu phenomene d’adhesion cause par ces effets d’echelle, la microrobotique sanscontact apparait comme une voie prometteuse. Nos travaux sont a la jonctionentre la microrobotique et la chimie des surfaces. L’objectif de cette these est deproposer une methode de micromanipulation innovante exploitant la chimie dessurfaces afin de controler les forces electrostatiques. Nous exploitons les chargeselectriques creees par les fonctions chimiques dependantes du pH lorsqu’elles sontplacees en milieu liquide. La modelisation des interactions entre une surface et unmicro-objet fonctionnalises repose sur l’exploitation du phenomene de la doublecouche electrique. Deux principes de fonctionnalisation de surface ont ete utilises;les monocouches auto-assemblees (APTES) qui sont facilement mises en oeuvreet les films de polymeres (polyaniline, polypyrrole) par voie electrochimique quipermettent d’obtenir des depots localises. Les resultats obtenus mettent en evidencel’interet de l’exploitation des forces electrostatiques d’origine chimique pour desapplications de micromanipulation.
Novel Human-in-the-Loop (HIL) Simulation Method to Study Synthetic Agents and Standardize Human–Machine Teams (HMT)

This work presents a multi-year study conducted at the University of Toledo, aimed at improving human–machine teaming (HMT) methods and technologies. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in 21st-century machines, collaboration between humans and machines has become highly complicated for real-time applications. The penetration of intelligent and synthetic assistants (IA/SA) in virtually every field has opened up a path to the area of HMT. When it comes to crucial tasks such as patient treatment/care, industrial production, and defense, the use of non-standardized HMT technologies may pose a risk to human lives and cost billions of taxpayer dollars. A thorough literature survey revealed that there are not many established standards or benchmarks for HMT. In this paper, we propose a method to design an HMT based on a generalized architecture. This design includes the development of an intelligent collaborative system and the human team. Followed by the identification of processes and metrics to test and validate the proposed model, we present a novel human-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation method. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated using two controlled HMT scenarios: Emergency care provider (ECP) training and patient treatment by an experienced medic. Both scenarios include humans processing visual data and performing actions that represent real-world applications while responding to a Voice-Based Synthetic Assistant (VBSA) as a collaborator that keeps track of actions. The impact of various machines, humans, and HMT parameters is presented from the perspective of performance, rules, roles, and operational limitations. The proposed HIL method was found to assist in standardization studies in the pursuit of HMT benchmarking for critical applications. Finally, we present guidelines for designing and benchmarking HMTs based on the case studies’ results analysis.
The Influence of Starch Modification with Amylosucrase Treatment on Morphological Features

Amylosucrase (AS) is a starch-modifying enzyme from Neisseria polysaccharea used to produce low-glycemic starches such as slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS). The morphology of native, control, and AS-modified waxy corn starches (230 and 460 U) was examined using a particle size analyzer and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). AS modification of the starch elongated the glucose and resulted in higher SDS and RS contents. The mean particle sizes of the control, 230 U-AS-, and 460 U-AS-treated starches were 56.6 µm, 128.0 µm, and 176.5 μm, respectively. The surface of the 460 U-AS-treated starch was entirely porous and coral-like, while the 230 U-AS-treated starch had a partial dense and flat surface which did not react with AS. FE-SEM of the granule cross section confirmed that the center contained a dense and flat region without any evidence of AS reaction to either of the AS-treated starches. It was assumed that the particle size and porous and sponge-like particle features might be related to the SDS and RS fractions.
Hardware Implementation of Neuromorphic Computing Using Large‐Scale Memristor Crossbar Arrays

Brain‐inspired neuromorphic computing is a new paradigm that holds great potential to overcome the intrinsic energy and speed issues of traditional von Neumann based computing architecture. With the ability to perform vector‐matrix multiplications and flexible tunable conductance, the memristor crossbar array (CBA) structure is one of the most promising candidates to realize neural cognitive systems. The boom in the development of memristive synapses and neurons has propelled the developments of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to emulate the highly hierarchically organized network of human brain in the past decade. To achieve this, realizing large scale, high‐density memristive CBAs is a prerequisite to constructing complex ANNs. Herein, the stringent requirements in device performance and array parameters for hardware ANNs are analyzed, and the efforts in addressing the associated challenges are discussed. Recent progress on the experimental demonstration of neuromorphic computing systems (NCSs) is presented. Recommendations for further performance optimization at the device, circuit, and algorithm levels are proposed. This Report serves as a guide for the hardware implementation of NCS based on large‐scale CBAs.
Sense of Purpose and Progress Towards Degree in Freshman College Students

This study examined whether first-time full-time freshman students’ sense of purpose predicted their progress towards a degree. Freshman students (N = 421, 62.2% females) completed self-report measures of sense of purpose and academic commitments within the first month of starting college; a year later, the data on first-year progress towards a degree were matched with their responses. Structural equation modeling showed that while a sense of purpose did not directly predict progress towards a degree, awakening to purpose and altruistic purpose both had indirect positive effects on first-year GPA, academic standing, and retention through degree commitment. Additionally, altruistic purpose had indirect positive effects on first-year GPA through academic identity. The findings highlight that a sense of purpose may play an important role in persistence and attainment of a degree among college students.
Superhydrophobic annular pipes: a theoretical study

Abstract Analytical solutions are presented for longitudinal flow along a superhydrophobic annular pipe where one wall, either the inner or outer, is a fully no-slip boundary while the other is a no-slip wall decorated by a rotationally symmetric pattern of no-shear longitudinal stripes. Formulas are given for the effective slip length associated with laminar flow along the superhydrophobic pipe and the friction properties are characterized. It is shown how these new solutions generalize two solutions to mixed no-slip/no-shear boundary value problems due to Philip (Z. Angew. Math. Phys., vol. 23, 1972, pp. 353–372) for flow in a single-walled superhydrophobic pipe and a superhydrophobic channel. This is done by providing alternative representations of Philip's two solutions, including a useful new formula for the effective slip length for his channel flow solution. For a superhydrophobic annular pipe with inner-wall no-shear patterning there is an optimal pipe bore for enhancing hydrodynamic slip for a given pattern of no-shear stripes. These optimal pipes have a ratio of inner–outer pipe radii in the approximate range 0.5–0.6 and depending only weakly on the geometry of the surface patterning. Boundary point singularities are found to be deleterious to the slip suggesting that, in designing slippery pipes, maximizing the size of uninterrupted no-shear regions is preferable to covering the same surface area with a larger number of smaller no-shear zones. The results add to a list of analytical solutions to mixed boundary value problems relevant to modelling superhydrophobic surfaces.
Sciatic Nerve Variants and the Piriformis Muscle: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The present systematic review and meta-analysis provides a comprehensive assessment of the sciatic nerve (SN) variants relative to the piriformis muscle (PM) and compares those variants’ prevalence among different geographical populations with respect to gender and laterality. A database search was conducted to identify cadaveric studies pertinent to SN variants relative to the PM. A total of 44 articles were included. The typical morphological pattern (type A, with the SN passing undivided below the PM) was found to be the most common variant, with 90% pooled prevalence. SN variants were more common among East Asians, with a 31% pooled prevalence of total variants. No significant differences were established with respect to gender and laterality. In greater than 10% of the population, the SN coursed through or above piriformis. Patients’ epidemiological characteristics may predispose them to certain variants. The common peroneal nerve (CPN) is more susceptible to injury during a total hip arthroplasty or a hip arthroscopy where anomalies are encountered. As anatomical variants are commonly associated with piriformis syndrome, they should always be considered during diagnosis and treatment.
Effects of grain supplementation on methane production of grazing steers using the sulphur (SF6) tracer gas technique

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of supplemental grain on methane (CH4) production of grazing steers. Eight beef steers (344.6 ± 6.4 kg) were assigned to legume-grass pasture (C; n = 4) or legume-grass pasture plusa rolled barley supplement (S; n = 4). In a completely randomized design with repeated measures, CH4 output was measured for two 24-h periods, using the SF6 tracer gas technique as steers entered (IN) and exited (OUT) paddocks. Two, 4 and 4 kg of rolled-barley grain was fed daily to S steersduring the EARLY, MID and LATE periods of the grazing season, respectively. Supplementation reduced forage dry matter intake (DMI) by 11% (P = 0.03) and increased total organic matter intake (TOMI) by 14% (P = 0.001). Daily CH4 production was similar for C and S steers (P > 0.05). Methane production, increased (P < 0.05) from 256 L d-1 in the EARLY period to 364 L d-1 at the MID and 342 L d-1 at the LATE period. Energy lost as CH4, % total gross energy intake (TGEI) ranged from 4.7 to 8.4%.
Biosolid compost amendment increases soil fertility and soybean growth

Abstract This study evaluates the effect of soil amendment with biosolid compost with wood shavings and yard trimmings on soil fertility, and soybean (Glycine max) biomass, productivity, nutrient uptake, and potential accumulation of toxic elements, like Pb. Soil from agricultural fields under intense crop production were amended with compost at 0%, 5% and 10% w/w rate, and incubated under controlled conditions before planting. Then, a greenhouse experiment was performed to study soybean growth, physiological indicators of productivity, and antioxidant response (chlorophylls, carotenes, antioxidant power, soluble sugars and proteins), as well as nutrient (Mg, Cu, Mn, and Zn), and Pb accumulation. Moreover, soil nutrient status (pH, cation exchange capacity, organic matter, nitrogen, sulfur, extractable cations, and soil microbial activity) were analyzed. The results showed that compost improved soil fertility and microbial activity, including nodulation in soybean roots. Biomass production was strongly increased; content of chlorophyll, carotenes, sugars, and protein also increased. Grains were produced only in the compost treatments. Compost addition also reduced nutrient deficiencies in leaves and grains, and Pb accumulation in soybean. Our findings contribute with information about the role of biosolid compost in sustainable agriculture: allowing the recovery of soil fertility in agricultural soils under intensive production and, consequently, improvement of crop growth.
An Empirical Study of the Government Pro-Environment Policy Leading Effects on Multi-Level Factors that Influences on People’s Green Consumption Behaviour

Since the plastic had been launched and applied to our daily life, until today, its economic advantages made people use plastic products widely, such as cost-saving, easy to produce, stable structure, convenient, and so on. Also, the variety and quantity of plastic products have been increased to an incredible number that endangers the sustainable development of human beings. The research aims to explore the impact of government policies on consumers’ green consumption behaviors, through multi-level factors’ mediation effects that are a new environment, green technology innovation, CSR. The proposed model was tested by the participants of Chinese International Students, the population is easy to be affected by surrounding. The collected data was analyzed through Hayes’ process Model 6, and the results indicate that the government’s pro-environment policies had a positive effect on peoples’ green consumption behaviors. Besides, policies had a positive effect on CSR, and CSR had a positive effect on green technology development, which would help people form pro-environment awareness. This study contributes to the literature on how pro-environmental policies, green technology innovation effect on student’s green awareness and intention, as well as how those factors related to each other create a chain mediation effect on people’ green consumption behavior. This study provides a mechanism for the society to assist the students to form green consumption behaviors, so as enlarge to assist more people to form green habits that lead by government pro-environmental policies to reduce the use of plastic products. Meanwhile, the mechanism proposed in this research could contribute to the sustainable development goal of governing “White Trash (Plastic Garbage)”.
Influence of F-18 FDG radiotracer application on image quality and SUV values when performing PET / CT study

18F-FDG PET/CT is the most widely used diagnostic modality for detection of malignant disease. Beside the visual insight of FDG pathways into the human body, PET/CT can give valuable information based on the SUV values. The SUV is a quantitative parameter of metabolic activity. FDG application has 2 major impacts on PET/CT: qualitative aspect (visual insight of FDG in the body) and quantitative aspect (degradation of the SUV values). Based on the literature, FDG extravasation incidence is 31% for all PET/CT studies and in 8% of all cases extravasation has been visually confirmed since the application place has been in the field of view. By constantly developing the technique, work methodology and increasing the quality control of the staff in the PET/CT department, the incidence of extravasation can be significantly reduced based on the results from the literature. In the case when paravenous injection is present on PET/CT images we can use certain software procedures to improve image quality and SUV quanitification.
Cross-Organization Emergency Response Process Mining: An Approach Based on Petri Nets

To support effective emergency disposal, organizations need to collaborate with each other to complete the emergency mission that cannot be handled by a single organization. In general, emergency disposal that involves multiple organizations is typically organized as a group of interactive processes, known as cross-organization emergency response processes (CERPs). The construction of CERPs is a time-consuming and error-prone task that requires practitioners to have extensive experience and business background. Process mining aims to construct process models by analyzing event logs. However, existing process mining techniques cannot be applied directly to discover CERPs since we have to consider the complexity of various collaborations among different organizations, e.g., message exchange and resource sharing patterns. To tackle this challenge, a CERP model mining method is proposed in this paper. More specifically, we first extend classical Petri nets with resource and message attributes, known as resource and message aware Petri nets (RMPNs). Then, intra-organization emergency response process (IERP) models that are represented as RMPNs are discovered from emergency drilling event logs. Next, collaboration patterns among emergency organizations are formally defined and discovered. Finally, CERP models are obtained by merging IERP models and collaboration patterns. Through comparative experimental evaluation using the fire emergency drilling event log, we illustrate that the proposed approach facilitates the discovery of high-quality CERP models than existing state-of-the-art approaches.