Establishing vocabulary tests as a benchmark for evaluating large language models.

Vocabulary tests, once a cornerstone of language modeling evaluation, have been largely overlooked in the current landscape of Large Language Models (LLMs) like Llama 2, Mistral, and GPT. While most LLM evaluation benchmarks focus on specific tasks or domain-specific knowledge, they often neglect the fundamental linguistic aspects of language understanding. In this paper, we advocate for the revival of vocabulary tests as a valuable tool for assessing LLM performance.

Numerical Simulation of Autoresonant Ion Oscillations in an Anharmonic Electrostatic Trap.

This work presents the results of modeling the ion dynamics in the ART-MS (Autoresonant Trap Mass Spectrometry) device in the quasi-static approximation. This instrument utilizes an anharmonic, purely electrostatic trap for ion confinement and a radio frequency (RF) voltage source with decrementally varying frequency for selective ion extraction. The autoresonant interaction between the oscillatory motion of the ion and the RF voltage increases the amplitude of some confined ions, allowing their selective extraction.

Percutaneous recanalization of non-cirrhotic extrahepatic portal vein obstruction in children: technical considerations in a preliminary cohort.

Objectives: Portal hypertension resulting from non-cirrhotic extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) in children has been primarily managed with the Meso-Rex bypass, but only a few patients have a viable Rex recessus, required by surgery. This study reports a preliminary series of patients who underwent interventional radiology attempts at portal vein recanalization (PVR), with a focus on technical aspects and safety.

Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients with severe portal hypertension due to non-cirrhotic EHPVO at a single institution from 2022, who underwent percutaneous attempts at PVR, was performed.

Interfacial Interactions between Nanoplastics and Biological Systems: toward an Atomic and Molecular Understanding of Plastics-Driven Biological Dyshomeostasis.

Micro- and nano-plastics (NPs) are found in human milk, blood, tissues, and organs and associate with aberrant health outcomes including inflammation, genotoxicity, developmental disorders, onset of chronic diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Yet, interfacial interactions between plastics and biomolecular systems remain underexplored. Here, we have examined experimentally, in vitro, in vivo, and by computation, the impact of polystyrene (PS) NPs on a host of biomolecular systems and assemblies.

Effect of halophyte-based management in physiological and biochemical responses of tomato plants under moderately saline greenhouse conditions.

Salinity, both in irrigation water and in soils, is one of the major abiotic constraints for agriculture activity worldwide. Phytodesalinization is a low-cost plant-based bioremediation strategy that can effectively amend salt-affected soils by cultivating salt tolerant plants. However, very few studies have evaluated the use of halophyte plants in crop management systems.

Would the Siblings of Latinx Men Who Have Sex With Men Encourage Their Brothers to Use PrEP? Findings From a Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

We explored whether siblings can be engaged in PrEP promotion. We used the Information-Motivation-Behavior model to develop and conduct surveys and dyadic interviews with Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) and their siblings (n = 31) and three sibling-only focus groups (n = 20). For LMSM, only n = 14 (45%) agreed they would benefit from taking PrEP, yet = 22 (71%) would take PrEP to make their sibling worry less about them, and = 23 (74%) requested a PrEP referral.

Comparative metabolomic analysis between tomato and halophyte plants under intercropping conditions.

Halophyte-based intercropping appears nowadays as a valuable approach in soil remediation and agriculture. In this work, intercropping between the halophyte Arthrocaulon macrostachyum and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. Sargento) was studied in both plant species using comparative mass spectrometry-based metabolomics coupled to metabolic pathway predictions.

Preparation of Surgical Thread from a Bioplastic Based on Nopal Mucilage.

Currently, natural materials represent a sustainable option for the manufacture of biopolymers with numerous industrial applications and characteristics comparable with synthetic materials. Nopal mucilage (NM) is an excellent natural resource for the synthesis of bioplastics (BPs). In the present research, the fabrication of biopolymers by using NM is addressed.

Application of Plant Tissue Culture Techniques to Halophyte Species: A Review.

Halophytes are plants able to thrive in environments characterized by severe abiotic conditions, including high salinity and high light intensity, drought/flooding, and temperature fluctuations. Several species have ethnomedicinal uses, and some are currently explored as sources of food and cosmetic ingredients. Halophytes are considered important alternative cash crops to be used in sustainable saline production systems, due to their ability to grow in saline conditions where conventional glycophyte crops cannot, such as salt-affected soils and saline irrigation water.

A New Comestible Formulation of Parasiticide Fungi to Reduce the Risk of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in a Canine Shelter.

Dogs cared for in a shelter are dewormed every three-four months, but they all become infected one-two months later by the soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) , , and . For the purpose of reducing their risk of infection by decreasing the survival of helminths' infective stages in soil, chlamydospores of two parasiticide fungi, (ovicide) and (larvicide) were formulated as handmade edible gelatins and given three days per week for 17 months to 18 dogs (DRF, dogs receiving fungi); a second group was maintained without fungi (CD, control dogs). All individuals were dewormed at months 0, 3, 7, 10 and 13, and it was observed that the levels of helminths egg-output were reduced by 96-98% fourteen days after each treatment.

Thermodynamic Study of Leaching Conditions of Galena with Citrate Ions and Hydrogen Peroxide as Oxidizing Agent.

Galena is the most important mineral for lead production, as it is the main source of lead in the world. Currently, the concentrates of this mineral are mainly treated using pyrometallurgical methods, creating several environmental problems, such as the generation of toxic and greenhouse gases. In addition, these processes involve high energy consumption, which limits their applicability.

Removal of Anionic and Cationic Dyes Present in Solution Using Biomass of as Bioadsorbent.

The discharge of large amounts of effluents contaminated with gentian violet (GV) and phenol red (PR) threatens aquatic flora and fauna as well as human health, which is why these effluents must be treated before being discarded. This study seeks the removal of dyes, using water lily () as an adsorbent with different pretreatments. PR and GV were analyzed by a UV-visible spectrophotometer.

Mitigation of MAFLD in High Fat-High Sucrose-Fructose Fed Mice by a Combination of Genistein Consumption and Exercise Training.

Purpose: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is fueled by escalations in both sedentary behavior and caloric intake and is noted in obese type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients. This study aimed to examine the effects of exercise and the phytoestrogen genistein in mice fed a high fat (60% fat) high sugar (55% fructose with 45% sucrose), HFHS diet.

Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were assigned to five groups: HFHS, HFHS with genistein (600 mg/kg diet, HFHS+Gen), HFHS with moderate exercise (HFHS+Ex), and HFHS with combined genistein and moderate exercise (HFHS-Gen+Ex).

Our evolution in the treatment of hepatic artery and portal vein thrombosis in pediatric liver transplantation: Success with catheter-directed therapies.

Background: In pediatric liver transplant recipients, hepatic artery thrombosis and portal vein thrombosis are major causes of acute graft failure and mortality within 30 days of transplantation. There is, however, a strong possibility of graft salvage if flow can be re-established to reduce ischemic injury. The current standard treatment is surgical revascularization, and if unsuccessful, retransplantation.

Endovascular treatment of a portosystemic shunt presenting with hypoglycemia; case presentation and review of literature.

Here we present a rare case of hyperinsulinemic-hypoglycemia due to congenital intrahepatic and extrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Performing percutaneous closure of such shunts has been reported to improve symptomatic hypoglycemia in this setting. This case is unique given the type of shunt (both with intrahepatic and extrahepatic components) and the clinical improvement following placement of a single vascular plug to occlude both intrahepatic and extrahepatic connections.

HO-Elicitation of Black Carrot Hairy Roots Induces a Controlled Oxidative Burst Leading to Increased Anthocyanin Production.

Hairy roots (HRs) grown in vitro are a powerful platform for plant biotechnological advances and for the bio-based production of metabolites of interest. In this work, black carrot HRs able to accumulate anthocyanin as major secondary metabolite were used. Biomass and anthocyanin accumulation were improved by modulating growth medium composition-different Murashige & Skoog (MS)-based media-and HO-elicitation, and the level of the main antioxidant enzymes on elicited HRs was measured.

3,5-Dinitrosalicylic Acid Adsorption Using Granulated and Powdered Activated Carbons.

Some nitroaromatic compounds are found in wastewater from industries such as the weapons industry or the wine industry. One of these compounds is 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS), widely used in various tests and frequently found as an emerging pollutant in wastewater and to which the required attention has not been given, even though it may cause serious diseases due to its high toxicity. This study investigated the adsorption of DNS using granulated activated carbon (GAC) and powdered activated carbon (PAC) at different temperatures.

The Current Role of the Heavy/Light Chain Assay in the Diagnosis, Prognosis and Monitoring of Multiple Myeloma: An Evidence-Based Approach.

Despite tremendous progress being made in recent years, multiple myeloma (MM) remains a challenging disease. The laboratory plays a critical role in the overall management of patients. The diagnosis, prognosis, clinical monitoring and evaluation of the response are key moments in the clinical care process.

Environment and coordination of FeMo-co in the nitrogenase metallochaperone NafY.

In nitrogenase biosynthesis, the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co) is externally assembled at scaffold proteins and delivered to the NifDK nitrogenase component by the NafY metallochaperone. Here we have used nuclear magnetic resonance, molecular dynamics, and functional analysis to elucidate the environment and coordination of FeMo-co in NafY. H stands as the key FeMo-co ligand.

Large-scale cis- and trans-eQTL analyses identify thousands of genetic loci and polygenic scores that regulate blood gene expression.

Trait-associated genetic variants affect complex phenotypes primarily via regulatory mechanisms on the transcriptome. To investigate the genetics of gene expression, we performed cis- and trans-expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analyses using blood-derived expression from 31,684 individuals through the eQTLGen Consortium. We detected cis-eQTL for 88% of genes, and these were replicable in numerous tissues.