jimnoneill/paper-to-field-training huggingface dataset:
Microelectrode Arrays for Present and Future Electrophysiological Applications

In vitro diagnostic devices have highly esteemed platforms for toxicological testing, drug screening and even for theranostics. An extremely promising device type are microstructured devices, often referred to as biochips, that can be coupled with in vitro cell cultures. Employing microfluidic structures devices such as cell-chips and organ-on-a-chip devices have been developed to mimic the microenvironment of the human body. By implementing microelectrodes on the chip it is facile to utilize the benefits of microelectronics - the label-free, non-destructive, permanent real-time measurement of cellular processes. With electretic cells the action potential of cells can be directly measured, while other non-electrically cells can be measureds via their impedance. We will present devices on both concepts from our research. We will present sophisticated biomedical devices, were used to record the electrophysiological activity the neurite part of nerve cells of in real-time. With an axon isolation device a delicate microfluidics system is combined with microelectrodes inside of microchannels just large enough for axonal and dendritic structures. Also the biocompatibility of electrode materials is essential, and the relevance of cyclic voltammetry for checking the safe voltage range of microelecrtrodes will be explained with practical examples. Fabrication routes, benefits and limitations of microelectrode arrays. interdigitated electrode sensors and even 3D nanoelectrodedes will be discussed. An outlook on future devices featuring arrays 3D nanoelectrodes and microstructured guidance structures will be given.

Topic: Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
The effect of high pressure treatment on the quality of chicken breast meat

In the present work, the effect of high pressure processing (HPP) (0, 100, 200 and 300 MPa) and different treatment time (5 and 10 minutes) on the moisture uptake, cooking yield, colour and texture, as well as microbial population of chicken breast fillets was investigated. The application of high hydrostatic pressure resulted in a modification of quality parameters of chicken breast meat. By increasing pressure and time of the treatment the moisture uptake was reduced: samples treated with 300 MPa for 10 min had the lowest moisture uptake values. Cooking yield was not affected by HPP treatments. Increased pressure affected the colour by increasing L*, a* and b* values (only HPP treatment of 100 MPa in duration of 5 and 10 minutes did not affect colour of chicken breast meat). Lower pressures (100 and 200 MPa) tenderized, whereas elevated pressure (300 MPa) increased hardness in chicken breast fillets. Higher level of pressure (300 MPa) reduced bacteria count by about 3.0 – 5.3 log (CFU/g), depending on the microorganism and duration of the process.

Topic: Meat and Animal Product Quality
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Domain: Life Sciences
Tumor-Associated Microglia Secrete Extracellular ATP to Support Glioblastoma Progression

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis and high recurrence rates. The complex immune microenvironment of GBM is highly infiltrated by tumor-associated microglia and macrophages (TAM). TAMs are known to be heterogeneous in their functional and metabolic states and can transmit either protumoral or antitumoral signals to glioma cells. Here, we performed bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing on samples from patients with GBM, which revealed increased ATP synthase expression and oxidative phosphorylation activity in TAMs located in the tumor core relative to the tumor periphery. Both in vitro and in vivo models displayed similar trends of augmented TAM mitochondrial activity, along with elevated mitochondrial fission, glucose uptake, mitochondrial membrane potential, and extracellular ATP (eATP) production by TAMs in the presence of GBM cells. Tumor-secreted factors, including GM-CSF, induced the increase in TAM eATP production. Elevated eATP in the GBM microenvironment promoted glioma growth and invasion by activating the P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2X7R) on glioma cells. Inhibition of the eATP–P2X7R axis attenuated tumor cell viability in vitro and reduced tumor size and prolonged survival in glioma-bearing mouse models. Overall, this study revealed elevated TAM-derived eATP in GBM and provided the basis for targeting the eATP–P2X7R signaling axis as a therapeutic strategy in GBM. Significance: Glioblastoma-mediated metabolic reprogramming in tumor-associated microglia increases ATP secretion that supports cancer cell proliferation and invasion by activating P2X7R, which can be inhibited to attenuate tumor growth.

Topic: Immune cells in cancer
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
The International Particle Physics Outreach Group - Engaging the world with science

The International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG) is a global network of scientists, science educators and communication specialists developing and supporting science education and public engagement for particle physics. The primary methodology adopted by IPPOG promotes the direct involvement of scientists active in current research with education and communication specialists, in order to effectively develop and share best practices in outreach. IPPOG member activities include the International Particle Physics Masterclass programme, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Worldwide Data Day, International Muon Week and International Cosmic Day organisation, and participation in activities ranging from public talks, festivals, exhibitions, teacher training, student competitions, and open days at local institutions. These independent activities, often carried out in a variety of languages to public with a variety of backgrounds, all serve to gain the public trust and to improve worldwide understanding and support of science. We present our vision of IPPOG as a strategic pillar of particle physics, fundamental research and evidence-based decision-making around the world.

Topic: Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
A home-based method to reduce phytate content and increase zinc bioavailability in maize-based complementary diets

This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility of a home-based method to reduce the phytate content of maize and improve zinc bioavailability from maize-based complementary diets in rural Malawi. A method of extracting phytate through the soaking of pounded maize was developed, and found to reduce phytate content to 49% of unrefined maize. An educational program was used to teach the processing method to mothers of children receiving complementary foods in rural Malawian communities. Samples of maize flour prepared by this process by participants were collected and analysed for phytate and zinc content. Of these, 70% of samples were found to be adequately prepared; mean phytate content of these samples was 48% of unprocessed, unrefined maize flour controls. Most participants found the cooked product to have an acceptable taste (99%) and texture (68%), and felt the processing method took little or no extra time (86%) and was culturally acceptable (96%). The phytate and zinc content of the processed maize flour samples analysed from community prepared samples was substituted into the dietary analysis of complementary foods for 9- to 11-month-old children (n = 31). The bioavailability of zinc from the complementary diet would predict an increase from low (24%) to moderate (33%) levels.

Topic: Phytase and its Applications
Subfield: Plant Science
Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Domain: Life Sciences
Prognostic value of anti-Plasmodium falciparum-specific immunoglobulin G3, cytokines, and their soluble receptors in West African patients with severe malaria

Forty-one African patients suffering from clinically defined severe malaria were studied in the intensive medical care unit of the main hospital in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. All of these individuals lived in Greater Dakar, an area of low and seasonal Plasmodium falciparum endemicity. Twenty-seven patients (mean age +/- 1 standard deviation, 19.2 +/- 12.7 years) survived this life-threatening episode, but 14 (30.8 +/- 16.2 years old) died despite initiation of adequate treatment. On the day of admission (day 0) and 3 days later, one to two blood samples (i.e., approximately 10 to 15 ml) were obtained from each subject, and different biological parameters were evaluated in the two groups. Plasma samples were tested for their content in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), soluble receptors I and II for TNF-alpha (TNF-alpha sRI and TNF-alpha sRII), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-6 sR, IL-10, and IL-2 sR. The concentrations of all these cytokines and/or their receptors was significantly elevated in patient plasma samples on day 0, and it rapidly decreased in the group of individuals who survived. By comparison, the mean concentration of the same parameters decreased slowly in the group of patients who died (except for IL-10, which dramatically fell in all patient plasma samples soon after initiation of antimalarial treatment). The TNF-alpha sRI level remained significantly elevated among the patients who died, and the highest levels of soluble TNF-alpha sRI receptor were found among the older patients. Parasite-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM), total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a crude extract of a local P. falciparum isolate as antigen and human class- and subclass-specific monoclonal antibodies. Parasite-specific IgM, total IgG, and IgG1 were detectable in the plasma samples of most of these African patients, whereas IgG2 and IgG4 mean values were low. The mean level of parasite-specific IgG3 was different (P = 0.024) at day 0, i.e., before initiation of intensive medical care, between the group of the 27 surviving subjects and the group of 14 patients dying of severe malaria. As a consequence, most of the African patients who died had only trace amounts or almost no detectable level of parasite-specific IgG3 at the time of admission. In contrast, the presence of even limited IgG3 activity at day 0 was found to be associated with a significantly increased probability of recovering from severe malaria. Therefore, in our study, both an elevated level of TNF-alpha sRI and absence of IgG3 activity were of bleak prognostic significance, whereas a favorable outcome was usually observed when parasite-specific IgG3 activity was detectable. This finding was strongly suggestive of a prime role for these parasite-specific immunoglobulins in the capacity to help recovery from severe malaria.

Topic: Malaria Research and Control
Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Comparative Evaluation of Chemical Composition of Fermented Ground Bean Flour (Kerstingella geocarpa), Cowpea Flour (Vigna unguiculata) and Commercial Wheat Flour (Triticum spp.)

The study was conducted to compare the chemical composition of 3 flour samples: fermented ground bean flour, fermented cowpea flour and commercial wheat flour. Commercial wheat flour was purchased from a local market as well as cowpea and ground bean. The samples were cleaned and sorted, soaked in water at room temperature, dehulled, oven dried at 50°C for 12 h, milled into fine flour. The flours were fermented at room temperature for 3 days, oven dried at 50°C for 12 h and finally milled into flours. These flours were subjected to chemical analysis done in triplicates using standard assay. Mean, standard deviation of the samples were calculated and Duncan's multiple test was used to separate the means. The result indicated that the protein content ranged from 14.71 to 25.39%. The wheat flour had the least value (14.71%) while the ground bean flour and cowpea flour had 25.39 and 24.34%, respectively. The vitamin A composition varied from 10.80 to 29.60 mg/100 g. The wheat flour had the least vitamin A value which was significantly different from the other flours (10.80 vs 29.60 and 18.20 mg/100 g) (p<0.05). The iron composition varied. It ranged from 2.51 to 6.80 mg/100 g. The ground bean flour and the highest iron value (6.80 mg/100 g) while the cowpea flour and wheat flour had 2.51 mg and 4.70 mg/100 g. The calcium composition ranged from 166.10-308.46 mg/100 g. The cowpea flour had the highest value which was significantly different from the other flours (308.46 vs 166.10 and 183.25 mg/100 g) (p<0.05).The zinc composition differed. It varied from 8.30-28.05 mg/100 g. The wheat flour had the least value which was significantly different from the other flours at (8.30 vs 25.22 and 28.05 mg/100 g) (p<0.005). The cowpea flour had the highest zinc value (28.05 mg/100 g). Fermented cowpea and ground bean flours showed higher nutrient content mainly in nutrients of public health importance like Vitamin A and iron. These nutritional qualities calls for a greater attention to the underutilized (ground bean) crop. These flours could as well be incorporated into wheat flour to improve the nutritional qualities of confectionaries and bakery products.

Topic: Moringa oleifera research and applications
Subfield: Plant Science
Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Domain: Life Sciences
The Impact of Grade Incentives and Gender on Student Performance: An Experiment

This experiment was conducted to determine the impact of grade incentives and gender on student performance at the university level. We perform a two-way analysis of variance on a sample of three groups of students taking a first-year core mathematics course and another three groups taking a fourth-year compulsory accounting course. We find that grade incentives significantly affect student performance for both sampled courses across all six groups. Gender is found to significantly affect the performance of mathematics students, but not of accounting students. The interaction between gender and grade incentives does not have a significant impact on performance in either experiment.

Topic: Innovations in Educational Methods
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Beyond Therapy: A Conceptual Review of Emotion-Focused Coaching for Mental Well-Being

Emotion-Focused Coaching (EFC) is used as a non-therapeutic coaching approach that bases its work on emotions to help people develop personally and achieve life satisfaction. This literature review integrates theoretical foundations with academic research to study EFC's effects on emotional awareness and self-compassion development and its impact on psychological resilience and relationship quality. EFC serves people who maintain normal functioning in their personal and professional lives through a structured method to identify and validate emotions before they need clinical help. The research findings demonstrate that EFC has four main advantages, which include better emotional regulation and identification, reduced self-criticism and enhanced self-acceptance, improved stress management, and strengthened interpersonal connection skills. The literature suggests that EFC may be particularly suitable in education, healthcare, and leadership contexts with high emotional demands, complementing goal-oriented coaching models. Research on Emotional-Focused Coaching currently exists as conceptual studies, which prove the necessity for emotional facilitation training, but more empirical studies are needed to measure EFC effectiveness and evaluate its cross-cultural adaptability.

Topic: Coaching Methods and Impact
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Cryo-preservation of sperm and embryos in small ruminants

Cryo-preservation of sperm and embryos is an important biotechnology for preservation and propagation of genetics. The aim of this paper is to review established procedures and recent advances in sheep, goats and some wild small ruminants. The use of frozen-thawed semen is more common in goat than in sheep. This is primarily due to the need for laparoscopic insemination in ewes. The major difference between sheep and goat is in the behavior seminal plasma towards egg yolk protein. Recently, research focused on development of new approaches to improve freezing extenders by eliminating animal products such as egg-yolk and milk from extenders and their replacement by lecithins from vegetal origin, testing new cryo-protectant and reducing the effects of oxidative stress. The effect of these factors can be tested now more rigorously through the use of various morphological and function techniques such as fluorescent stains, hypoosmotic stress and computerized semen analysis to detect DNA stability, membrane integrity and motion parameters. Small ruminant embryos have been cryopreserved by the slow-cooling technique, which is being slowly replaced by vitrification. In sheep, morulae and early blastocyst are more suitable for freezing. Whereas in goat, expanded blastocysts and hatched blastocyst produce better results. Pregnancy rates after transfer of cryopreservation sheep and goat embryos yields acceptable results when management of recipients and transfer techniques are performed adequately.

Topic: Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
Subfield: Genetics
Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Between Effort and Result: Gauging the Activities of Environmental Interest Groups on U.S. Foreign Policy, A Case Study of the NRDC

This paper discusses the influence of environmental interest groups on U.S. foreign policy behavior. Environmental interest groups have long been pushing for state-level responses to transnational environmental problems such as climate change and changes to the marine environment. The nature of contemporary environmental problems is forcing states to act both independently and in collaboration with other state and non-state actors. In the U.S. the prominent environmental interest group, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), has become a strong voice for environmental issues. Since their inception in 1970, the NRDC boasts several victories, including the passing of U.S. Public Law 99-500, October 18, 1996 requiring the U.S. government to set up an early warning system to prevent federal funding of environmentally harmful multilateral bank projects overseas. My objective is to understand if the activities of the NRDC successfully influence U.S. foreign policy behavior. I identified five case studies from the 2011 NRDC Annual Report and from the NRDC website by applying several filters. I then constructed a timeline and collected information that indicated U.S. foreign policy behavior including press releases, presidential memorandums, directives, congressional hearings, legislation and participation in conventions and treaties. Using a methodology inspired by Porter

Topic: International Development and Aid
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
CIRCADIAN TIMING BY ENDOGENOUS OSCILLATORS IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: TOWARD CELLULAR MECHANISMS

The basic properties of circadian rhythms, such as oscillator type, entrainment to daily light-dark (LD) cycles, temperature compensation of the period length, and free-running periodicity, are remarkably similar in eucaryotic organisms from unicells to man. This encourages the view that all circadian oscillators are based on identical principles, found at the cellular level. Animals have a multioscillator organization, with brain centers (suprachiasmatic nuclei, optic lobes, etc.) and related structures (pineals, eyes, etc.) as sources of rhythmicity and coordination. Oscillators and driven activities are coupled by secretion (e.g. eclosion hormone, melatonin) or by direct neuronal connection. Oscillators of the multioscillator systems also are coupled. The cellular requirements for the circadian oscillator appear to be as generally uniform among various organisms as the basic properties. Ions and ion transport are important in the timing mechanism, as is protein synthesis on the eucaryotic ribosome. Although no concise model of the circadian oscillator encompassing protein synthesis, ions, and membranes has been offered, progress in analysis of the mechanisms has been made by genetic selection, screening of biochemical mutants, organ and tissue culturing, biochemical isolation of components, and chemical-pulse probing of the cellular oscillator.

Topic: Circadian rhythm and melatonin
Subfield: Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Feature: Epistemic Authority in Composition Studies: Tenuous Relationship between Two-Year English Faculty and Knowledge Production

Despite community college teachers teaching nearly 50 percent of all first-year composition, our experiences and hands-on knowledge are not viewed as scholarly contributions to writing studies. The scholarship of writing studies needs to be expanded through redefining what constitutes scholarly work as well as providing mentoring to two-year faculty who possess critical knowledge on composition and pedagogy.

Topic: Reflective Practices in Education
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
[The Usefulness of Strain Elastography for Determining Liver Fibrosis Stage in Chronic Viral Hepatitis: An Analysis Using Tissue Doppler Imaging with Manual Compression].

Strain elastography based on tissue Doppler imaging with manual compression appears to be a useful tool to diagnose cirrhosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. [Original].

Topic: Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Improved nonlinear active region designs for second-harmonic light generation in quantum cascade lasers

Nonlinear interaction of laser modes in quantum cascade lasers with novel integrated resonant nonlinear optical intersubband transition designs is discussed. Nonlinear active regions with high nonlinear susceptibility are used to produce second-harmonic generation light.

Topic: Spectroscopy and Laser Applications
Subfield: Spectroscopy
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Seminal plasma miR‐210‐3p is a biomarker for screening dyszoospermia caused by varicocele

To evaluate the value of seminal plasma miR-210-3p as a novel and non-invasive biomarker for screening dyszoospermia caused by varicocele. Semen samples from patients with varicocele and healthy males were collected for semen analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cox univariate and multivariate analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used to assess the relationship between the level of seminal plasma miR-210-3p and impaired spermatogenic function. Our results showed that the level of seminal plasma miR-210-3p in the varicocele patients was 2.18 times that of the control group (p < 0.001), and its expression increased significantly with the severity of varicocele. Compared with preoperative, the expression of seminal plasma miR-210-3p declined significantly at 3 months after surgery. Cox univariate and multivariate analysis showed that seminal plasma miR-210-3p (p = 0.02), bilateral varicocele (p = 0.04) and the grade 3 varicocele (p = 0.03) were significantly and independently associated with dyszoospermia caused by varicocele. Our results suggest that seminal plasma miR-210-3p is a useful clinical biomarker for screening dyszoospermia caused by varicocele, and this is the key to deciding early effective treatment and protecting the fertility of the patients.

Topic: Sperm and Testicular Function
Subfield: Reproductive Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences