Intelligent search system for resume and labor law.

Labor and employment are important issues in social life. The demand for online job searching and searching for labor regulations in legal documents, particularly regarding the policy for unemployment benefits, is essential. Nowadays, each function has some programs for its working. However, there is no program that combines both functions. In practice, when users seek a job, they may be unemployed or want to transfer to another work. Thus, they are required to search for regulations about unemployment insurance policies and related information, as well as regulations about workers working smoothly and following labor law. Ontology is a useful technique for representing areas of practical knowledge. This article proposes an ontology-based method for solving labor and employment-related problems. First, we construct an ontology of job skills to match curriculum vitae (CV) and job descriptions (JD). In addition, an ontology for representing labor law documents is proposed to aid users in their search for legal labor law regulations. These ontologies are combined to construct the knowledge base of a job-searching and labor law-searching system. In addition, this integrated ontology is used to study several issues involving the matching of CVs and JDs and the search for labor law issues. A system for intelligent resume searching in information technology is developed using the proposed method. This system also incorporates queries pertaining to Vietnamese labor law policies regarding unemployment and healthcare benefits. The experimental results demonstrate that the method designed to assist job seekers and users searching for legal labor documents is effective.

High-efficiency energy transfer in the strong orange-red-emitting phosphor CeO2:Sm3+, Eu3.

High-efficiency energy transfer (ET) from Sm3+ to Eu3+ leads to dominant red emission in Sm3+, Eu3+ co-doped single-phase cubic CeO2 phosphors. In this work, a series of Sm3+ singly and Sm3+/Eu3+ co-doped CeO2 cubic phosphors was successfully synthesized by solution combustion followed by heat treatment at 800 °C in air. The crystal structure, morphology, chemical element composition, and luminescence properties of the obtained phosphors were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and photoluminescence analysis. Under 360 nm excitation, the Sm3+ singly doped CeO2 phosphor emitted strong yellow-red light at 573 nm (4G5/2-6H5/2) and 615 nm (4G5/2-6H7/2). Meanwhile, the CeO2:Sm3+, Eu3+ phosphors showed the emission characteristic of both Sm3+ and Eu3+, with the highest emission intensity at 631 nm. The emission intensity of Sm3+ decreased with increasing Eu3+ content, suggesting the ET from Sm3+ to Eu3+ in the CeO2:Sm3+, Eu3+ phosphors. The decay kinetics of the 4G5/2-6H5/2 transition of Sm3+ in the CeO2:Sm3+, Eu3+ phosphors were investigated, confirming the high-efficiency ET from Sm3+ to Eu3+ (reached 84%). The critical distance of energy transfer (RC = 13.7 Å) and the Dexter theory analysis confirmed the ET mechanism corresponding to the quadrupole-quadrupole interaction. These results indicate that the high-efficiency ET from Sm3+ to Eu3+ in CeO2:Sm3+, Eu3+ phosphors is an excellent strategy to improve the emission efficiency of Eu3+.

Firing-Associated Recycling of Coal-Fired Power Plant Fly Ash.

Coal-fired power plant fly ash is a global environmental concern due to its small particle size, heavy metal content, and increased emissions. Although widely used in concrete, geopolymer, and fly ash brick production, a large amount of fly ash remains in storage sites or is used in landfills due to inadequate raw material quality, resulting in a waste of a recoverable resource. Therefore, the ongoing need is to develop new methods for recycling fly ash. The present review differentiates the physiochemical properties of fly ash from two coal combustion processes: fluidized bed combustion and pulverized coal combustion. It then discusses applications that can consume fly ash without strict chemical requirements, focusing on firing-associated methods. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of fly ash recycling are discussed.

Combined PTEN Knockdown and Local Insulin in Chronic Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy.

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) renders progressive sensory neurodegeneration linked to hyperglycemia and its associated metabolopathy. We hypothesized that there may be additive impacts of direct insulin signaling, independent of glycemia and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) knockdown on neuropathy. Our targets for combined interventions were neurons and Schwann cells (SCs) in vitro and chronic type 1 DPN in mice. Insulin receptor expression was not altered by high-glucose conditions in neurons or SCs, and insulin promoted survival of neurons and proliferation of SCs in vitro. There were additive impacts between insulin signaling and PTEN knockdown in sensory neuron outgrowth and in axon myelination by SCs. In a chronic mouse model of experimental DPN, unilateral intra-hind paw injections of a PTEN siRNA and local insulin had additive impacts on correcting key features of chronic experimental DPN independent of glycemia, including motor axon conduction and thermal and mechanical sensory loss. Moreover, combined interventions improved sural and tibial nerve myelin thickness, hind paw epidermal innervation, and pAkt expression in dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons. We conclude that local PTEN inhibition or knockdown and insulin provide additive trophic support for sensory neurons and SCs while reversing key abnormalities of experimental DPN but without requiring metabolic correction. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: Impaired growth and plasticity of neurons may contribute to chronic diabetic polyneuropathy. Both direct insulin signaling of neurons and neuron knockdown of the protein phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), a roadblock to neuronal regenerative growth, offer direct support of neurons. Direct insulin and PTEN knockdown using siRNA had additive impacts on neuron survival, Schwann cell proliferation, neuron outgrowth, and myelination in vitro. Combined local insulin and PTEN siRNA hind paw injections improved abnormalities in chronic experimental diabetic polyneuropathy, including sensory axon loss, independently of glycemia.

A method to detect influencers in social networks based on the combination of amplification factors and content creation.

A social network is one of the efficient tools for information propagation. The content is the bridge between the product and its customers. Evaluating the user's content creation is a valuable feature to improve information spreading on the social network. This paper proposes a method for extracting brand value with influencers by combining the user's amplification and content creation in influencer marketing. The amplification factors are studied based on the propagation of the posts on the social network in a duration time. Those factors are more valuable than before when using influencer marketing at a determined time. Moreover, the content creation score is also studied to measure content creation based on the passion point with a brand and its quality. The amplification factors and content creation score are combined to analyze posts' interest in detecting the emerging influent users for a product in the influencer marketing campaign. Using the amplification factors, the passion points, and the content creation score, a system to manage the influencer marketing on Facebook has been constructed and tested in the real-world campaign. The experimental results show that the proposed method's influencers bring the conversion rate's efficiency and revenue in the influencer marketing campaign.

Insulin enhances neurite extension and myelination of diabetic neuropathy neurons.

Background: The authors established an in vitro model of diabetic neuropathy based on the culture system of primary neurons and Schwann cells (SCs) to mimic similar symptoms observed in in vivo models of this complication, such as impaired neurite extension and impaired myelination. The model was then utilized to investigate the effects of insulin on enhancing neurite extension and myelination of diabetic neurons. Methods: SCs and primary neurons were cultured under conditions mimicking hyperglycemia prepared by adding glucose to the basal culture medium. In a single culture, the proliferation and maturation of SCs and the neurite extension of neurons were evaluated. In a co-culture, the percentage of myelination of diabetic neurons was investigated. Insulin at different concentrations was supplemented to culture media to examine its effects on neurite extension and myelination. Results: The cells showed similar symptoms observed in in vivo models of this complication. In a single culture, hyperglycemia attenuated the proliferation and maturation of SCs, induced apoptosis, and impaired neurite extension of both sensory and motor neurons. In a co-culture of SCs and neurons, the percentage of myelinated neurites in the hyperglycemia-treated group was significantly lower than that in the control group. This impaired neurite extension and myelination was reversed by the introduction of insulin to the hyperglycemic culture media. Conclusions: Insulin may be a potential candidate for improving diabetic neuropathy. Insulin can function as a neurotrophic factor to support both neurons and SCs. Further research is needed to discover the potential of insulin in improving diabetic neuropathy.

Characterization of structural and optical properties of Mn2+ -doped Zn2 GeO4 nanorods as an efficient green phosphor for solid-state lighting.

A series of Mn2+ -doped zinc germinate ZGO:xMn2+ (x = 0-0.05) nanorods was synthesized successfully using a hydrothermal method. XRD revealed that crystal phases of the ZGO:xMn2+ were rhombohedral and in the R-3 space group. The Williamson-Hall equation was also used to explain the strain, nanocrystalline size, and stacking fault. Green LEDs were successfully fabricated by coating ZGO:Mn2+ nanorods onto UV-LED chips. For high color purity, CIE of the fabricated green LEDs were (0.2404, 0.5428), which made this material a promising candidate for fabrication of UV-based green LEDs.

Robust Engineering-based Unified Biomedical Imaging Framework for Liver Tumor Segmentation.

BACKGROUND: Computer vision in general and semantic segmentation has experienced many achievements in recent years. Consequently, the emergence of medical imaging has provided new opportunities for conducting artificial intelligence research. Since cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the world, early-stage diagnosis is an essential process that directly slows down the development speed of cancer. METHODS: Deep neural network-based methods are anticipated to reduce diagnosis time for pathologists. RESULTS: In this research paper, an approach to liver tumor identification based on two types of medical images has been presented: computed tomography scans and whole-slide. It is constructed based on the improvement of U-Net and GLNet architectures. It also includes sub-modules that are combined with segmentation models to boost up the overall performance during inference phases. CONCLUSION: Based on the experimental results, the proposed unified framework has been emerging to be used in the production environment.

Open Fractures: Are We Still Treating the Same Types of Infections?

Background: To analyze the rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), gram-negative, and polymicrobial infections in open fractures, measure the efficacy of the current open fracture antibiotic regimen against these infections, identify the most effective agent(s) to cover these infections, and analyze risk factors for infection. Methods: We examined retrospectively 451 patients with open fractures from January 2008 to December 2012 who were treated at our facility. Positive cultures during surgical debridement after wound closure defined an infection. Infecting organisms and their antibiotic sensitivities were identified through microbiology culture reports. Rates of MRSA, gram-negative, and polymicrobial infections were determined. The efficacy of the current regimen (cefazolin and gentamicin) was calculated against gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Efficacy profiles against infectious organisms were calculated for all commonly tested antibiotics. Patient factors, injury characteristics, and treatment options were analyzed to determine risk factors for infection. Results: Ninety patients (20%) were identified as infected at surgical debridement. Of those 90, 21 (23.3%) were diagnosed with MRSA, 56 (62.2%) were found to have a gram-negative infection, and 46 (51.1%) had polymicrobial infections. Cephalosporins and ß-lactam agents had a 59.2% efficacy rate against gram-positive bacteria and gentamicin showed a 94% sensitivity rate against gram-negative bacteria. Vancomycin (95.8% sensitivity) demonstrated the highest sensitivity for all gram-positive organisms. Amikacin (98.8% sensitivity), meropenem (96.3% sensitivity), and gentamicin (94.2% sensitivity) demonstrated excellent efficacy for all gram-negative organisms. Immuno-compromised status and Gustilo-Anderson type were the only independently predictive risk factors for infection in a multivariable model. Conclusions: Based on this analysis, the rate of MRSA, gram-negative, and polymicrobial infections in open fractures is high and increasing compared with historical cohorts. With the sensitivity of early generation cephalosporins being relatively poor against gram-positive organisms, the present antibiotic regimen for open, long-bone fractures may need to be reconsidered with these emerging trends.

Diabetic neuropathy research: from mouse models to targets for treatment.

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most serious complications of diabetes, and its increase shows no sign of stopping. Furthermore, current clinical treatments do not yet approach the best effectiveness. Thus, the development of better strategies for treating diabetic neuropathy is an urgent matter. In this review, we first discuss the advantages and disadvantages of some major mouse models of diabetic neuropathy and then address the targets for mechanism-based treatment that have been studied. We also introduce our studies on each part. Using stem cells as a source of neurotrophic factors to target extrinsic factors of diabetic neuropathy, we found that they present a promising treatment.

A label-free and highly sensitive DNA biosensor based on the core-shell structured CeO2-NR@Ppy nanocomposite for Salmonella detection.

A core-shell cerium oxide nanorod@polypyrrole (CeO2-NR@Ppy) nanocomposite-based electrochemical DNA biosensor was studied for Salmonella detection. The core-shell CeO2-NR@Ppy nanocomposite was prepared by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole monomer on CeO2-NRs, which provided a suitable platform for electrochemical DNA biosensor fabrication. The immobilization of ss-DNA sequences onto nanocomposite-coated microelectrode was performed via covalent attachment method. DNA biosensor electrochemical responses were studied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with [Fe (CN)6]3-/4- as redox probe. Under optimal conditions, DNA biosensor response showed good linearity in the range of 0.01-0.4 nM with sensitivity of 593.7â€¯Ω·nM-1·cm-2. The low limit of detection and limit of quantification for the DNA biosensor were 0.084 and 0.28 nM, respectively. The proposed DNA biosensor also showed good results when used in detecting actual Salmonella samples.

Luminescence of lemon-derived carbon quantum dot and its potential application in luminescent probe for detection of Mo6+ ions.

This article reports on the first attempt of a systematic study on the synthesis of carbon dots (C-dots) for the potential applications in labeling and detection of molybdenum ion (Mo6+ ). Carbon dots (C-dots) were synthesized directly via a simple hydrothermal method using lemon juices as carbon precursor with different temperatures to control the luminescence of C-dots. The obtained C-dots had strong green light emission and the ability to use its luminescence properties as probes for Mo6+ detection application, which is based on Mo6+ induced luminescence quenching of C-dots. This analysis system exhibits strong sensitivity and good selectivity for Mo6+ ion, and a detection limit as low as 20 ppm is achieved. These results suggest that the present C-dots have potential application in optoelectronic, labeling and luminescent probing of Mo6+ ions.

Impaired peripheral nerve regeneration in type-2 diabetic mouse model.

Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common and serious complications of type-2 diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy is characterized by a distal symmetrical sensorimotor polyneuropathy, and its incidence increases in patients 40 years of age or older. In spite of extensive research over decades, there are few effective treatments for diabetic neuropathy besides glucose control and improved lifestyle. The earliest changes in diabetic neuropathy occur in sensory nerve fibers, with initial degeneration and regeneration resulting in pain. To seek its effective treatment, here we prepared a type-2 diabetic mouse model by giving mice 2 injections of streptozotocin and nicotinamide and examining the ability for nerve regeneration by using a sciatic nerve transection-regeneration model previously established by us. Seventeen weeks after the last injection, the mice exhibited symptoms of type-2 diabetes, that is, impaired glucose tolerance, decreased insulin level, mechanical hyperalgesia, and impaired sensory nerve fibers in the plantar skin. These mice showed delayed functional recovery and nerve regeneration by 2 weeks compared with young healthy mice and by 1 week compared with age-matched non-diabetic mice after axotomy. Furthermore, type-2 diabetic mice displayed increased expression of PTEN in their DRG neurons. Administration of a PTEN inhibitor at the cutting site of the nerve for 4 weeks promoted the axonal transport and functional recovery remarkably. This study demonstrates that peripheral nerve regeneration was impaired in type-2 diabetic model and that its combination with sciatic nerve transection is suitable for the study of the pathogenesis and treatment of early diabetic neuropathy.

Na+ /K+ -ATPase coupled to endothelin receptor type B stimulates peripheral nerve regeneration via lactate signalling.

We have recently demonstrated that endothelin (ET) is functionally coupled to Nax , a Na+ concentration-sensitive Na+ channel for lactate release via ET receptor type B (ETB R) and is involved in peripheral nerve regeneration in a sciatic nerve transection-regeneration mouse model. Nax is known to interact directly with Na+ /K+ -ATPase, leading to lactate production in the brain. To investigate the role of Na+ /K+ -ATPase in peripheral nerve regeneration, in this study, we applied ouabain, a Na+ /K+ -ATPase inhibitor, to the cut site for 4 weeks with an osmotic pump. While functional recovery and nerve reinnervation to the toe started at 5 weeks after axotomy and were completed by 7 weeks, ouabain delayed them by 2 weeks. The delay by ouabain was improved by lactate, and its effect was blocked by α-cyano-4-hydroxy-cinnamic acid (CIN), a broad monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) inhibitor. In primary cultures of dorsal root ganglia, neurite outgrowth of neurons and lactate release into the culture medium was inhibited by ouabain. Conversely, lactate enhanced the neurite outgrowth, which was blocked by CIN, but not by AR-C155858, a MCT1/2-selective inhibitor. ET-1 and ET-3 increased neurite outgrowth of neurons, which was attenuated by an ETB R antagonist, ouabain and 2 protein kinase C inhibitors. Taken together with the finding that ETB R was expressed in Schwann cells, these results demonstrate that ET enhanced neurite outgrowth of neurons mediated by Na+ /K+ -ATPase via ETB R in Schwann cells. This study suggests that Na+ /K+ -ATPase coupled to the ET-ETB R system plays a critical role in peripheral nerve regeneration via lactate signalling.

Enhancing the luminescence of Eu3+ /Eu2+ ion-doped hydroxyapatite by fluoridation and thermal annealing.

This paper reports a novel way for the synthesis of a europium (Eu)-doped fluor-hydroxyapatite (FHA) nanostructure to control the luminescence of hydroxyapatite nanophosphor, particularly, by applying optimum fluorine concentrations, annealed temperatures and pH value. The Eu-doped FHA was made using the co-precipitation method followed by thermal annealing in air and reducing in a H2 atmosphere to control the visible light emission center of the nanophosphors. The intensities of the OH- group decreased with the increasing fluorine concentrations. For the specimens annealed in air, the light emission center of the nanophosphor was 615 nm, which was emission from the Eu3+ ion. However, when they were annealed in reduced gas (Ar + 5% H2 ), a 448 nm light emission center from the Eu2+ ion of FHA was observed. The presence of fluorine in Eu-doped FHA resulted in a significant enhancement of nanophosphor luminescence, which has potential application in light emission and nanomedicine.

Role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in late nerve regeneration monitored by in vivo imaging of thy1-yellow fluorescent protein transgenic mice.

The restoration of function to injured peripheral nerves separated by a gap requires regeneration across it and reinnervation to target organs. To elucidate these processes, we have established an in vivo monitoring system of nerve regeneration in thy1-yellow fluorescent protein transgenic mice expressing a fluorescent protein in their nervous system. Here we demonstrated that motor and sensory nerves were regenerated in a coordinated fashion across the gap and that the functional recovery of the response to mechanical stimuli correlated well with sensory innervation to the foot. Among the mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors examined, only the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitors delayed functional recovery. Although it did not affect the reinnervation of the muscle, the JNK inhibitor delayed sensory nerve innervation to the skin for over 8 weeks and increased the expression of activatng transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a neuronal injury marker, in the dorsal root ganglion over the same time period. Antibodies against nerve growth factor, glia-derived neurotrophic factor, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor applied to the transection site delayed the functional recovery in this order of potency. These neurotrophic factors enhanced neurite outgrowth from cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons, and the JNK inhibitor reversed their stimulatory effects. These results suggest that JNK played roles in nerve regeneration at both early and late phases. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that neurotrophic factors released from the distal nerve may accelerate motor and sensory nerve regeneration across the gap in a coordinated fashion and reinnervation of the target organs independently. The model characterized here has the advantage of in vivo monitoring of the evaluation of morphological and functional recovery in the same mice for a long period of time.

Improved differentiation of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells into insulin-producing cells by PDX-1 mRNA transfection.

Numerous studies have sought to identify diabetes mellitus treatment strategies with fewer side effects. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy was previously considered as a promising therapy; however, it requires the cells to be trans-differentiated into cells of the pancreatic-endocrine lineage before transplantation. Previous studies have shown that PDX-1 expression can facilitate MSC differentiation into insulin-producing cells (IPCs), but the methods employed to date use viral or DNA-based tools to express PDX-1, with the associated risks of insertional mutation and immunogenicity. Thus, this study aimed to establish a new method to induce PDX-1 expression in MSCs by mRNA transfection. MSCs were isolated from human umbilical cord blood and expanded in vitro, with stemness confirmed by surface markers and multipotentiality. MSCs were transfected with PDX-1 mRNA by nucleofection and chemically induced to differentiate into IPCs (combinatorial group). This IPC differentiation was then compared with that of untransfected chemically induced cells (inducer group) and uninduced cells (control group). We found that PDX-1 mRNA transfection significantly improved the differentiation of MSCs into IPCs, with 8.3±2.5% IPCs in the combinatorial group, 3.21±2.11% in the inducer group and 0% in the control. Cells in the combinatorial group also strongly expressed several genes related to beta cells (Pdx-1, Ngn3, Nkx6.1 and insulin) and could produce C-peptide in the cytoplasm and insulin in the supernatant, which was dependent on the extracellular glucose concentration. These results indicate that PDX-1 mRNA may offer a promising approach to produce safe IPCs for clinical diabetes mellitus treatment.

Improving osseointegration of Co-Cr by nanostructured titanium coatings.

This study reports the deposition of nanostructured Ti films on Co-Cr substrates to improve their surface characteristics and biocompatibility. The microstructure of the Ti films was controlled by application of negative substrate bias voltages. The surface roughness of Co-Cr implants was increased significantly after Ti coatings. The nanostructured Ti films are found to improve osteointergration of Co-Cr implants as indicated by enhancing cellular attachment, proliferation and differentiation, which was attributed mainly to the application of a biocompatible Ti coating, possessed a higher surface area for cell attachments and growth.

Good manufacturing practice-compliant isolation and culture of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive source of stem cells for clinical applications. These cells exhibit a multilineage differentiation potential and strong capacity for immune modulation. Thus, MSCs are widely used in cell therapy, tissue engineering, and immunotherapy. Because of important advantages, umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (UCB-MSCs) have attracted interest for some time. However, the applications of UCB-MSCs are limited by the small number of recoverable UCB-MSCs and fetal bovine serum (FBS)-dependent expansion methods. Hence, this study aimed to establish a xenogenic and allogeneic supplement-free expansion protocol. METHODS: UCB was collected to prepare activated platelet-rich plasma (aPRP) and mononuclear cells (MNCs). aPRP was applied as a supplement in Iscove modified Dulbecco medium (IMDM) together with antibiotics. MNCs were cultured in complete IMDM with four concentrations of aPRP (2, 5, 7, or 10%) or 10% FBS as the control. The efficiency of the protocols was evaluated in terms of the number of adherent cells and their expansion, the percentage of successfully isolated cells in the primary culture, surface marker expression, and in vitro differentiation potential following expansion. RESULTS: The results showed that primary cultures with complete medium containing 10% aPRP exhibited the highest success, whereas expansion in complete medium containing 5% aPRP was suitable. UCB-MSCs isolated using this protocol maintained their immunophenotypes, multilineage differentiation potential, and did not form tumors when injected at a high dose into athymic nude mice. CONCLUSION: This technique provides a method to obtain UCB-MSCs compliant with good manufacturing practices for clinical application.