Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discriminating subcortical ischemic vascular disease and Alzheimer's disease by diffusion kurtosis imaging in segregated thalamic regions

Differentiating between subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and normal cognition (NC) remains a challenge, and reliable neuroimaging biomarkers are needed. The current study, therefore, investigated the discriminative ability of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) metrics in segregated thalamic regions and compare with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics. Twenty‐three SIVD patients, 30 AD patients, and 24 NC participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging. The DKI metrics including mean kurtosis (MK), axial kurtosis (Kaxial) and radial kurtosis (Kradial) and the DTI metrics including diffusivity and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured within the whole thalamus and segregated thalamic subregions. Strategic correlations by group, thalamo‐frontal connectivity, and canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) were used to demonstrate the discriminative ability of DKI for SIVD, AD, and NC. Whole and segregated thalamus analysis suggested that DKI metrics are less affected by white matter hyperintensities compared to DTI metrics. Segregated thalamic analysis showed that MK and Kradial were notably different between SIVD and AD/NC. The correlation analysis between Kaxial and MK showed a nonsignificant relationship in SIVD group, a trend of negative relationship in AD group, and a significant positive relationship in NC group. A wider spatial distribution of thalamo‐frontal connectivity differences across groups was shown by MK compared to FA. CDA showed a discriminant power of 97.4% correct classification using all DKI metrics. Our findings support that DKI metrics could be more sensitive than DTI metrics to reflect microstructural changes within the gray matter, hence providing complementary information for currently outlined pathogenesis of SIVD and AD.
Dietary acrylamide intake and risk of women’s cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Abstract This systematic review and meta-analysis was done to review earlier publications on the association between dietary acrylamide intake and risk of breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers. We performed a systematic search in the online databases of PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Scopus for relevant publications up to August 2020. Prospective cohort studies that considered dietary acrylamide as the exposure variable and breast, endometrial or ovarian cancer as the main outcome variable or as one of the outcome variables were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. A total of fourteen cohort studies were included in the meta-analysis. We found no significant association between dietary acrylamide intake and the risk of breast (relative risk (RR) 0·95; 95 % CI 0·90, 1·01), endometrial (RR 1·03; 95 % CI 0·89, 1·19) and ovarian cancers (RR 1·02; 95 % CI 0·84, 1·24). In addition, we observed no significant association between dietary acrylamide intake and the risk of breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers in different subgroup analyses by smoking status, menopausal status, BMI status and different types of breast cancer. In conclusion, no significant association was found between dietary acrylamide intake and the risk of breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers.
Quantitative Phase Analysis by X‐ray Diffraction of Multiphased Binary Alloy Coatings: Application to Brass Coating

A quantitative phase-analysis method is proposed to analyse by X-ray diffraction multiphased thin films obtained by diffusion. Intensity corrections taking into account the spatial distribution of the different phases, and computing of phase concentrations without standards are presented. It is shown that important errors can be made if one does not take the nonhomogeneity of phase distributions into account. As an example, the quantitative phase analysis of a brass layer obtained by a diffusion process is given.
STRONG CONVERGENCE THEOREM BY AN EXTRAGRADIENT METHOD FOR FIXED POINT PROBLEMS AND VARIATIONAL INEQUALITY PROBLEMS

In this paper we introduce an iterative process for finding a common element of the set of fixed points of a nonexpansive mapping and the set of solutions of a variational inequality problem for a monotone, Lipschitz continuous mapping. The iterative process is based on so-called extragradient method. We obtain a strong convergence theorem for two sequences generated by this process.
Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold Generated from Alkanethiols with the Structure RNHCOCH2SH

This paper outlines a general synthetic route to alkanethiols useful in forming self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) starting from amines, RNH 2 , and converting them, via α-chloroamides RNHCOCH 2 Cl, to thiols having the structure RNHCOCH 2 SH. The wettabilities (estimated from contact angles of water and hexadecane) and the thicknesses (as measured by ellipsometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS) of SAMs having an amide moiety β to Au/thiolate were similar to those of SAMs of alkanethiols with similar backbone length on gold. The internal amide group present in SAMs prepared from CF 3 CH 2 -NHCOCH 2 SH increases their stability against desorption or exchange with hexadecanethiol in ethanol relative to SAMs from CF 3 (CH 2 ) 3 SH. The desorption of SAMs from CF 3 (CH 2 ) 3 SH was first order in the alkanethiolate and had a half-life of ∼2 h at 10 -9 Torr ; SAMs from CF 3 CH 2 NHCOCH 2 SH, by contrast, showed no loss after 48 h at ∼ 10 9 Torr. The rate of exchange of a SAM from CF 3 CH 2 NHCOCH 2 SH with hexadecanethiol in ethanol was 10 2 -10 3 times slower than the SAMs from CH 3 (CH 2 ) 3 SH or from CF 3 (CH 2 ) 3 -SH. The susceptibility of a SAM prepared from a short-chain alkanethiol (e.g., CH 3 (CH 2 ) 3 SH or CF 3 -CH 2 NHCOCH 2 SH) to damage by UV was 10 times greater than that observed for a SAM prepared from hexadecanethiol (as measured by XPS). UV damage of SAMs derived from CF 3 CH 2 NHCOCH 2 SH, followed by protection ofthe UV-damaged SAM by replacement with hexadecanethiol and etching, gave gold patterns with minimum feature sizes of 5 μm ; these sizes were limited by the lithographic procedure used and do not reflect the true edge resolution of this photolithographic method.
The Structure of Water-Swollen Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) and the Swelling Mechanism

Abstract The swelling mechanism of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in a wide range of the equilibrium swelling index, of 7–153% (with H2O) and of 12-297% (with D2O), was investigated by IR, Raman, and broad-band NMR spectroscopy. Analysis of the spectral data obtained confirmed the presence of hydration water (bonded with polymer-free hydroxyl groups) and condensation water (not having been bonded with polymer hydroxyl groups) in poly(vinyl alcohol) swollen samples at low (∼7%) and high (>23%) equilibrium swelling indexes, respectively. Moreover, it revealed the intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds breaking in the polymer swollen to higher extent (equilibrium swelling index > 85%).
Determination of nutritive values of Jamun fruit (Eugenia jambolana) products.

Study on the nutritive values of stored Jamun (Eugenia jambolana) products, namely jam, squash, ready-to-drink juice, seed powder and pulp powder was carried out at the Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. The specific fruit cultivar undertaken for this scientific evaluation was commonly known as (Improved) variety of Jamun. Besides of jam, squash and juice products, Jamun seed and pulp powder also have good nutritive values and were quite rich in carbohydrates accompanied by enough protein, ash, crude fibers but were not sufficient in fat composition. It was observed that nutritional values were varied at different packaging and storage temperature. The glass package among the packages and refrigerator temperature among the storage temperatures showed good results in terms of retaining good quality nutritive values and extensive shelf life of the products. The results were statistically significant. This study could be a beneficial source to the dieticians/nutritionist to consider Jamun as best nutraceutical fruit with natural curing and food industries for manufacturing commercially viable food products.
Effect of preparation method and characteristics of chitosan on the mechanical and release properties of the prepared capsule

The objective of this study is to elucidate the effect of preparation method and the characteristics of chitosan used on the mechanical and release properties of the prepared capsule. The characteristics of the chitosan explored include molecular weight (1.8, 5.6, 20.2, and 31.8 × 105 Dalton) and chain flexibility parameter (B), which was manipulated by a varying degree of deacetylation (DD, 67.9, 81.3, 90.5, and 92.2%), and sodium chloride concentration (0 or 0.3%). The orifice method was used to encapsulate hemoglobin, whereas complex coacervation was used to encapsulate the bovine serum albumin (BSA). The axial ratio was measured to characterize the appearance of the capsule. Break strength was used as an index of mechanical strength. Release percent of protein was used as a pore size indicator. The results show axial ratio and hemoglobin release percent of the capsule prepared by the orifice method increased with the increase of the chain flexibility parameter (B), but decreased with the increase of the chitosan molecular weight. However, break force behaved just opposite from that of the axial ratio and release percent of hemoglobin. The capsule cannot be prepared from 92.2% DD chitosan. Break strength and BSA release percent of the capsule prepared by complex coacervation did not vary with different DD, molecular weight of chitosan, and sodium chloride concentration. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 161–169, 1997
BiOBr–carbon nitride heterojunctions: synthesis, enhanced activity and photocatalytic mechanism

The high recombination rate of photogenerated charges is the main problem that limits the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor photocatalysts. Herein, we have reported novel heterojunctions of BiOBr–carbon nitride (BiOBr–C3N4) fabricated by depositing BiOBr nanoflakes onto the surface of C3N4. These visible light responsive heterojunctions possess intimately contacted interfaces and well-aligned straddling band-structures, which are propitious to the effective separation and transfer of photogenerated charges, bringing an improved performance. Their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by degrading Rhodamine B in aqueous solution induced by visible or indoor light. The optimum photocatalytic activity of the 0.5BiOBr–0.5C3N4 heterojunction was almost 4.9 and 17.2 times as high as those of individual BiOBr and C3N4 under visible light irradiation, and 1.5 and 48.9 times as high under indoor light irradiation, respectively. Moreover, its activity was also much higher than those of TiO2 (P25), BiOBr–TiO2, and C3N4–TiO2 heterojunctions. On the basis of experimental and theoretical results, the photocatalytic mechanism was proposed, which revealed that organic molecules were mainly oxidized by holes concentrated in the valence band of C3N4. Our work highlights that the design of heterojunctions with well-aligned straddling band-structures by combining two visible light responsive semiconductors provides an efficient method to prepare new photocatalysts working with natural light.
An injectable drug-loaded hydrogel using a “clickable” amphiphilic triblock copolymer as a precursor

We developed a facile strategy to prepare an injectable drug-loaded hydrogel with chemical crosslinkages. A PCL-POEGM-PCL amphiphilic triblock copolymer was synthesized in “one pot” by a combination of polycondensation and ring-opening polymerization, which can disperse hydrophobic drugs in aqueous solution and be crosslinked by POEGMS under physiological conditions.
Chemically segregated optical and microphysical properties of ambient aerosols measured in a single‐particle mass spectrometer

[1] This paper describes results from the first direct measurements of the size-resolved optical properties as a function of chemical mixing states for atmospheric particle types sampled in Mexico City and Riverside, California. The coupled size, chemistry, and optical measurements were used to derive refractive indices and effective densities for chemically distinct particle mixing states. On the basis of the measured dependence of scattering intensity as a function of relative humidity and size, the Riverside particles contained detectable amounts of liquid water, whereas the Mexico City particles were relatively dry. Aerosol particles in Mexico City were observed to exhibit a wide range of densities (1.1–3.4 g/cm3), suggesting a dynamic, externally mixed aerosol population. Daily variations were observed as the particles in Mexico City underwent photochemical aging processes leading to a diurnal variation in particle morphology. In contrast, the optical properties of the Riverside aerosol, sampled during the fall season, were strongly impacted by the condensation of water and ammonium nitrate during periods of intense pollution buildup, resulting in microphysical properties that were similar across mixing states for a specific relative humidity.
Color chemistry: Syntheses, properties, and applications of organic dyes and pigments

Introduction Color of Organic Compounds Polyene and Polymethine Dyes Di- and Triarylmethine Dyes and their Aza Analogues Aza[18]annulenes Nitro and Nitroso Dyes Azo Dyes and Pigments Carbonyl Dyes and Pigments Sulfur Dyes Fluorescent Brighteners Application of Dyes Application of Organic Pigments Photo-, Thermo- and Electrochemical Reactions of Colorants Colorants for Imaging and Data Recording Systems Dyes in Biochemistry, Biology, Medicine, and Analytical Chemistry Ecology and Toxicology of Colorants.
Imaging of activated caspase-3 in living cell by fluorescence resonance energy transfer during photosensitization-induced apoptosis

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel and promising cancer treatment that employs a combination of a photosensitizing chemical and visible light, induces apoptosis in cell, and activation of caspase-3 is considered to be the final step in many apoptosis pathways. The changes of caspase-3 activation in cell during TNFα- and photodynamic therapy-induced apoptosis was measured by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis. FRET probe consisting of fusions of an enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP), Venus and a linker peptide containing the caspase-3 cleavage sequence DEVD was utilized. Therefore, activated caspase-3 cleaved the linker peptide of FRET probe and disrupted the FRET signal. Human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (ASTC-a-1) were stably transfected with the plasmid (ECFP-DEVD-Venus) and then were treated by TNF-α and PDT, respectively. Experimental results indicated that caspase-3 activation resulted in cleavage of linker peptide and subsequent disruption of the FRET signal during TNFα- and photodynamic therapy-induced apoptosis, and that the activation of caspase-3 induced by photodynamic therapy was faster than that induce by TNF-α. The study supports that using FRET technique and different recombinant substrates as FRET probes could be used to detect the process of PDT-induced apoptosis and provide a new means to investigate apoptotic mechanism of PDT.
Histamine as a Physiological Excitant of Acid Gastric Secretion.

Summary. 1 In cats and dogs acid gastric juice contains histamine in a physiologically active state. 2 The histamine content of gastric juice is independent of the mode of stimulus employed in exciting the parietal cells, thus being of the same order in juice from the cephalic and gastric phases and in juice obtained by injection of secretopogue drugs. 3 The histamine concentration of the juice secreted during the cephalic and gastric phases is sufficient to stimulate the parietal cells. 4 Histamine-free preparation of “gastrin” cause a liberation of histamine from the fundic mucosa as judged by the occurrence of histamine in the acid juice. 5 It is suggested that in the humoral mechanism instrumental in exciting the parietal cells in the cephalic as well as in the gastric phase of acid secretion histamine represents the second, final link The expenses of this investigation have been defrayed in part by a grant from the Research Fund “Stiftelsen Therese och Johan Anderssons Minne”.
Influence of the acid content of (acrylate processing aid)‐based lanthanum(III)‐neutralized ionomer on the thermal degradation and fusion behavior of rigid poly(vinyl chloride)

Acrylate processing aid (ACR)‐based La(III)‐neutralized ionomers with different acid and La(III) ion contents were synthesized. Increasing lanthanum content in the ionomers led to an increment in the size of the ionic aggregate. Increasing acid content resulted in an increasing glass transition temperature ascribed to ion aggregation and to the occurrence of dense hydrogen bonding. The influences of acid and ion contents of the ionomers on the fusion and thermal stabilization behaviors of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) were investigated. The results revealed that at the low acid content of 0.25 mmol/g of hydrolyzed ACR, the stabilization efficiency of the ionomers enhanced with an increase of ion content before the appearance of clusters. At acid contents of 1.80 and 2.90 mmol/g, the ionomers exhibited poor ability to stabilize PVC during processing. The fusion‐promoting efficiency of the ionomers showed the same trend as the stabilization efficiency. Cluster formation and increasing acid content were also disadvantageous for ionomer use in promoting PVC fusion. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL. , 19:86–93, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Organic matter available for denitrification in different soil fractions: effect of freeze/thaw cycles and straw disposal

SUMMARY The 0 to 20-cm surface layer of a sandy loam soil was sampled in early autumn from plots where straw had either been removed or incorporated annually for 22 years. Denitrification in whole soils, 1–2-mm wet-stable aggregates, clay and silt size fractions was determined by acetylene blocking during anaerobic incubation with excess nitrate. Thus available organic matter was the limiting factor. Samples were exposed to one or two freeze/thaw cycles, or used unfrozen. K2SO4-extractable carbon (C) was determined before and after CHCI, fumigation. Freeze/thaw increased denitrification in whole soils and in aggregates. In aggregates and in whole soil without straw the increase in denitrification was similar following two freeze/thaw cycles, and well above the amount that could be fed by extractable soil C. In whole soils with straw addition, an extra denitrification increase occurred at first thaw only. This straw-induced denitrification surplus was matched by a decline in soil microbial biomass. For other samples and treatments, the freeze/thaw released C from additional organic matter sources. The availability of C in clay for denitrification was twice that of silt-associated C. Straw disposal generally had no effect on the bioavailability of particle-bound C. In contrast to whole soils and aggregates, the availability of organic matter in clay and silt after one freeze/thaw cycle was only half that observed from unfrozen samples. The effect of freeze/thaw on whole soils and aggregates may be to release organic matter available for denitrification by killing the microbial biomass and by disintegrating aggregates. However, the impact of freeze/thaw on completely dispersed samples such as clay and silt may be to promote the formation of granular structures (micro-aggregation) in which organic matter may become less accessible to denitrifiers.
TRIM26 is a critical host factor for HCV replication and contributes to host tropism

A genome-wide screening revealed that TRIM26 is a host factor for HCV replication and a new determinant for host tropism. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major human pathogen that requires better understanding of virus-host interactions. In this study, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening and identified TRIM26, an E3 ligase, as a critical HCV host factor. Deficiency of TRIM26 specifically impairs HCV genome replication. Mechanistic studies showed that TRIM26 interacts with HCV-encoded NS5B protein and mediates its K27-linked ubiquitination at residue K51, and thus promotes the NS5B-NS5A interaction. Moreover, mouse TRIM26 does not support HCV replication because of its unique six–amino acid insert that prevents its interaction with NS5B. Ectopic expression of human TRIM26 in a mouse hepatoma cell line that has been reconstituted with other essential HCV host factors promotes HCV infection. In conclusion, we identified TRIM26 as a host factor for HCV replication and a new determinant of host tropism. These results shed light on HCV-host interactions and may facilitate the development of an HCV animal model.
Adiponectin receptor 1 variants contribute to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that can be reversed by rapamycin

Gene variants in adiponectin receptor 1 cause pathological enlarged hearts. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heterogeneous genetic heart muscle disease characterized by hypertrophy with preserved or increased ejection fraction in the absence of secondary causes. However, recent studies have demonstrated that a substantial proportion of individuals with HCM also have comorbid diabetes mellitus (~10%). Whether genetic variants may contribute a combined phenotype of HCM and diabetes mellitus is not known. Here, using next-generation sequencing methods, we identified novel and ultrarare variants in adiponectin receptor 1 (ADIPOR1) as risk factors for HCM. Biochemical studies showed that ADIPOR1 variants dysregulate glucose and lipid metabolism and cause cardiac hypertrophy through the p38/mammalian target of rapamycin and/or extracellular signal–regulated kinase pathways. A transgenic mouse model expressing an ADIPOR1 variant displayed cardiomyopathy that recapitulated the cellular findings, and these features were rescued by rapamycin. Our results provide the first evidence that ADIPOR1 variants can cause HCM and provide new insights into ADIPOR1 regulation.
China’s Low Fertility Rate from the Perspective of Gender and Development

Fertility and other demographic indicators do not simply follow the ups and downs of policy. In order to understand more objectively and accurately the degree of acceptance, impact and actual effect of the unconditional two-child policy (quanmian erhai zhengce) as well as the long-term trend of China’s fertility rate, we need to proceed from the institutional and cultural context of Chinese society. The complex social mechanisms behind the low fertility situation in China should be interpreted from the perspective of gender and development. Drawing on international theories and lessons learned from past experience, we find, from a gender and development perspective, that women’s work- family conflict is the key to examining China’s low fertility rate; designing public policy with a gender perspective to promote the participation of government, society, business and multiple male and female actors is a social mechanism that alleviates women’s work-family conflict; and advocating the Marxist gender ideology of equality between men and women and abandoning traditional Confucian patriarchal and familial thinking are the ideological basis for alleviating women’s work-family conflict. In view of the dual identity of women as material producers and social reproducers, promoting the simultaneous development of gender equality in the public and private sectors and alleviating women’s work-family conflicts will make a positive contribution to maintaining a certain fertility rate and level of economic development.