Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parametric study on the bimetallic waveguide coupled surface plasmon resonance sensors in comparison with other configurations

In this study, a theoretical parametric study on the bimetallic waveguide coupled surface plasmon (SP) resonance sensors was presented in comparison with other alternative configurations suggested to achieve a high sensing resolution. The increasing ratio of inner Ag to outer Au was found to have more drastic effect on the enhancement in the SPR curve sharpness and the sensing resolution in response to the changes in bulk and thin analytes. It was confirmed that the effect of Ag to Au ratio was incomparably superior to that observed in a simple Au/Ag bimetal approach. Remarkably, our calculation also indicated that the sensing resolution could be comparable to that of long range SP resonance configuration and even better for the detection of thin analytes as the Ag to Au ratio increased to 3.75. In addition, the great flexibility in materials selection for the dielectric waveguide and the periodic generation of waveguide coupled modes were verified and their effects were discussed.
Microstructure, magnetic, and magnetoimpedance properties of electrodeposited NiFe/Cu and CoNiFe/Cu wire: A study on influence of saccharin additive in plating bath

Magnetic thin films of NiFe and CoNiFe were electrodeposited from three different deposition baths on copper wires of 100 μm diameter. The magnetic and magneto-impedance (MI) properties of the samples were investigated as a function of saccharin additive concentration in the plating bath. For all intermediate frequencies, the MI ratio increased with saccharin concentration in the plating bath up to a critical concentration and then saturates. The change in MI with saccharin concentration in electrodeposition bath was attributed to the grain size reducing action of saccharin which in turn reduces the coercivity of the film, making it soft magnetic. The origin of MI lies in the combined effect of domain wall motion and spin rotation which contributes to permeability. Inductance spectroscopy was used to evaluate the magnetic characteristic of the samples by modeling magnetic film-coated wires in terms of equivalent electrical circuit; namely parallel inductance and resistance circuit in series with series A .
Hyaluronidase Promote Transdermal Diffusion of Small Sized Curcumin Nanocrystal by Dissolving Microneedles Delivery

Hyaluronidase is clinically used in treating many skin diseases due to its good permeability-promoting effect, which may motivate the diffusion and absorption of drugs. To verify the penetration osmotic effect of hyaluronidase in microneedles, 55 nm-size curcumin nanocrystals were fabricated and loaded into microneedles containing hyaluronidase in the tip. Microneedles with bullet shape and backing layer of 20% PVA + 20% PVP K30 (w/v) showed excellent performance. The microneedles were able to pierce the skin effectively with a skin insert rate of 90% and demonstrated good mechanical strength. In the in vitro permeation assay, with the increase of hyaluronidase concentration at the tip of the needle, the cumulative release of curcumin increased, as well as the skin retention decreased. In addition, compared with the microneedles without hyaluronidase, the microneedles containing hyaluronidase in the tip exhibited a larger drug diffusion area and deeper diffusion depth. In conclusion, hyaluronidase could effectively promote the transdermal diffusion and absorption of the drug.
Geometry of convex sets arising from hyperbolic polynomials

This thesis focuses on convex sets and convex cones defined using hyperbolic polynomials. We first review some of the theory of convex sets in R in general. We then review some classical algebraic theorems concerning polynomials in a single variable, as well as presenting a few more modern results about them. We then discuss the theory of hyperbolic polynomials in several variables and their associated hyperbolicity cones. We survey various ways to build and decompose hyperbolic cones and we prove that every nontrivial hyperbolic cone is the intersection of its derivative cones. We conclude with a brief discussion of the set of extreme rays of a hyperbolic cone.
“We’re Not Going to Be as Prepared”: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Trainees’ Experiences after One Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on the mental health and academic experiences of healthcare trainees. Building on findings from earlier in the pandemic, we explore the impacts on healthcare trainees after a sustained pandemic period of 12–14 months, involving multiple lockdowns, changes in government COVID-19 regulations and the delivery of health education. A qualitative study was conducted between March–May 2021. Participants were 12 healthcare trainees (10 women, 2 men) of medicine, nursing, and midwifery, registered at one of three higher education institutions in the United Kingdom. Interviews were fully transcribed, and data were thematically analysed using a combination of deductive and inductive approaches. We identified three key themes with eight subthemes: (i) academic experiences (adjustment to online learning, loss of clinical experience, confidence in the university), (ii) impacts on wellbeing (psychosocial impacts, physical impacts, pandemic duration and multiple lockdowns), and (iii) support frameworks (university preparedness for increased student support needs, importance of relationship with academic tutors). Findings shed light on the long-lasting and emerging impacts of the pandemic over time. We identify support needs for trainees both during their academic studies, and as they move forwards into professional roles within the healthcare workforce. Recommendations are made for higher education institutions and healthcare employers.
White Spot Lesions (WSLs)—Post-Orthodontic Occurrence, Management and Treatment Alternatives: A Narrative Review

Although treatment with fixed or mobile appliances has become an important part of modern orthodontics, side effects such as white spot lesions (WSLs) have a negative impact on the aesthetic outcome of orthodontic treatment. The purpose of this article was to review current evidence on the diagnosis, risk assessment, prevention, management and post-orthodontic treatment of these lesions. Data collection was performed electronically, and the initial search using the keywords “white spot lesions”, “orthodontics”, “WSL”, “enamel” and “demineralization” in different combinations resulted in 1032 articles for the two electronic databases used. Ultimately, a total of 47 manuscripts were considered relevant to the aim of this research and included in this review. The results of the review indicate that WSLs remain a significant problem during orthodontic treatment. According to studies in the literature, the severity of WSLs correlates to the duration of treatment. Using toothpaste with more than 1000 ppm fluoride at home reduces the frequency of WSL separation and regular application of varnishes in the office reduces the frequency of the occurrence of WSLs only in the context of maintaining a strict hygiene regime. The old hypothesis that elastomeric ligatures retain more dental plaque than metal ones has been refuted. There are no differences in the appearance of WSLs between conventional brackets and self-ligating brackets. Clear aligner mobile devices develop fewer WSLs but are more extensive as opposed to conventional fixed devices, while lingual orthodontic appliances have a lower incidence of WSLs, and the most effective device for preventing these lesions is WIN, followed by Incognito.
Recent Trends in SERS-Based Plasmonic Sensors for Disease Diagnostics, Biomolecules Detection, and Machine Learning Techniques

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy/scattering (SERS) has evolved into a popular tool for applications in biology and medicine owing to its ease-of-use, non-destructive, and label-free approach. Advances in plasmonics and instrumentation have enabled the realization of SERS’s full potential for the trace detection of biomolecules, disease diagnostics, and monitoring. We provide a brief review on the recent developments in the SERS technique for biosensing applications, with a particular focus on machine learning techniques used for the same. Initially, the article discusses the need for plasmonic sensors in biology and the advantage of SERS over existing techniques. In the later sections, the applications are organized as SERS-based biosensing for disease diagnosis focusing on cancer identification and respiratory diseases, including the recent SARS-CoV-2 detection. We then discuss progress in sensing microorganisms, such as bacteria, with a particular focus on plasmonic sensors for detecting biohazardous materials in view of homeland security. At the end of the article, we focus on machine learning techniques for the (a) identification, (b) classification, and (c) quantification in SERS for biology applications. The review covers the work from 2010 onwards, and the language is simplified to suit the needs of the interdisciplinary audience.
Performance reaction and biochemical properties of black cumin under the influence of different regimes of nitrogen, menthol and drought stress

The purpose of this study was to investigate the responses of growth indices and yield of the black cumin to nitrogen and methanol under drought stress conditions. The experiment was a split split plots based on randomized complete block design with three factors and three replicates in the research farm of Medicinal Plants Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran, during 2019– 2020. The factors were drought stress with 4 levels (non-stress, mild, moderate, and severe) as the main factor, nitrogen with 4 levels (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg ha -1 nitrogen from the source of urea) as the sub-factor and methanol with 3 levels (0, 10, and 30%) as sub-sub-factor. Nitrogen treatments (except the 0 level) were each applied in three stages of black seed growth: 1) one-third at the same time as planting, 2) one-third at the stage of 4–6 leaves, and 3) one-third at the beginning of flowering. Methanol foliar application was done once at the first capsule formation stage and again at an interval of seven days later. Two days after the second time of methanol spraying, the data on biochemical traits (chlorophyll, proline and protein contents) and in the end of generative stage, agronomical (seed yield) and phytochemical compounds were measured. The results indicated that main effects and interactions significantly affected all biochemical traits and yield. The results showed that the yield under drought stress conditions decreased (11.67%) in comparison to the control, while the yield increased (5.7%) in comparison to control by applying the nitrogen and methanol. The interaction of methanol and nitrogen had significant effects on the amount of grain yield, chlorophyll, proline, protein, carotenoid contents and oil of seed. The results indicated that the interaction of drought stress-nitrogen, drought stress-methanol and nitrogen-methanol had significant effects on chlorophyll, proline, protein, carotenoid contents, oil seed and yield. The results showed the highest seed oil (717 kg/ha) in the interaction of without drought stress, 90 kg/ha nitrogen. Therefore, the application of 10% methanol and 90 kg/ha nitrogen under drought stress was the most effective treatments on increasing the yield and phytochemical compounds in black cumin.
Effect of Crystallinity on Electrical Conduction in Polypropylene

The electrical conduction of 20 µm thick polypropylene films with different crystallinities has been studied at 72°C below 400 kV/cm. The field dependence of the current shows that the conduction mechanism in this polymer is ion hopping. The estimated ionic jump distance strongly depends on the polymer crystallinity, and it decreases from 100 Å to 45 Å as the crystallinity increases from 50.5% to 78%. Preheating of samples seriously affects the electrical conduction in polypropylene, so differences in conductivity, activation energy and jump distance obtained by different authors can be explained partly by differences in the thermal history of the samples used.
A colour-difference formula for assessing large colour differences

An experiment was carried out to study large colour differences. Two-hundred-and-ninety-two wool pairs were prepared with an average difference of 12 CIELAB ΔE units. Visual assessments were conducted using gray scale and pair comparison psychophysical methods by a panel of 20 observers. The results from the two psychophysical methods were used to test colour-difference formulae and compare their differences. The gray scale results were also used to compare with the other large colour-difference data sets, i.e., BFB, OSA, and WW. The present results together with part of the other data sets were combined to form a single data set. A modified CIELAB colour-difference formula was developed having a structure similar to that of CIE94. It is named the GLAB colour-difference formula. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 24, 344–355, 1999
A Novel Strategy to Fit and Validate Physiological Models: A Case Study of a Cardiorespiratory Model for Simulation of Incremental Aerobic Exercise

Applying complex mathematical models of physiological systems is challenging due to the large number of parameters. Identifying these parameters through experimentation is difficult, and although procedures for fitting and validating models are reported, no integrated strategy exists. Additionally, the complexity of optimization is generally neglected when the number of experimental observations is restricted, obtaining multiple solutions or results without physiological justification. This work proposes a fitting and validation strategy for physiological models with many parameters under various populations, stimuli, and experimental conditions. A cardiorespiratory system model is used as a case study, and the strategy, model, computational implementation, and data analysis are described. Using optimized parameter values, model simulations are compared to those obtained using nominal values, with experimental data as a reference. Overall, a reduction in prediction error is achieved compared to that reported for model building. Furthermore, the behavior and accuracy of all the predictions in the steady state were improved. The results validate the fitted model and provide evidence of the proposed strategy’s usefulness.
On Dyakonov-Tamm waves localized to a central twist defect in a structurally chiral material

The boundary-value problem of the propagation of Dyakonov-Tamm waves localized to a central twist defect in a structurally chiral material was formulated and numerically solved. The angular magnitude of the twist defect and the orientation of the twist defect relative to the direction of propagation were varied. Detailed analysis showed that either two or three different Dyakonov-Tamm waves can propagate, depending on the angular magnitude and the orientation of the twist defect. These waves have different phase speeds and degrees of localization to the twist-defect interface. The most localized Dyakonov-Tamm waves are essentially confined to within two structural periods of the twist-defect interface on either side.
Sex Differences in Inflammation and Muscle Wasting in Aging and Disease

Only in recent years, thanks to a precision medicine-based approach, have treatments tailored to the sex of each patient emerged in clinical trials. In this regard, both striated muscle tissues present significant differences between the two sexes, which may have important consequences for diagnosis and therapy in aging and chronic illness. In fact, preservation of muscle mass in disease conditions correlates with survival; however, sex should be considered when protocols for the maintenance of muscle mass are designed. One obvious difference is that men have more muscle than women. Moreover, the two sexes differ in inflammation parameters, particularly in response to infection and disease. Therefore, unsurprisingly, men and women respond differently to therapies. In this review, we present an up-to-date overview on what is known about sex differences in skeletal muscle physiology and disfunction, such as disuse atrophy, age-related sarcopenia, and cachexia. In addition, we summarize sex differences in inflammation which may underly the aforementioned conditions because pro-inflammatory cytokines deeply affect muscle homeostasis. The comparison of these three conditions and their sex-related bases is interesting because different forms of muscle atrophy share common mechanisms; for instance, those responsible for protein dismantling are similar although differing in terms of kinetics, severity, and regulatory mechanisms. In pre-clinical research, exploring sexual dimorphism in disease conditions could highlight new efficacious treatments or recommend implementation of an existing one. Any protective factors discovered in one sex could be exploited to achieve lower morbidity, reduce the severity of the disease, or avoid mortality in the opposite sex. Thus, the understanding of sex-dependent responses to different forms of muscle atrophy and inflammation is of pivotal importance to design innovative, tailored, and efficient interventions.
Shakhbazian compact galaxy groups-III. Photometric and spectroscopic study of ShCG 181, ShCG 344, ShCG 361, and ShCG 362

In 1995 we commenced a detailed spectral and photometric study of Shakhbazian compact groups. In this paper the results on groups ShCG 181, ShCG 344, ShCG 361, and ShCG 362 are presented. The redshifts of member galaxies in groups and the radial velocity dispersions, the results of the surface photometry in BVR, the profiles of the surface brightness versus semi-major axis a (or a1/4) and the twisting position angle versus semi-major axis of galaxies, virial masses, luminosities and mass-to-luminosity ratios, and the crossing times of groups are given. It is shown that some members of groups are in the process of interaction. On the basis of the results obtained in this and previous works, the general properties of thirteen ShCGs are discussed.
Green Synthesis of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles by Using Abrus precatorius Bark Extract and Their Photocatalytic, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Cytotoxicity Activities

The current research is concerned with the synthesis of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles (NPs) from Abrus precatorius L. bark extract via the green chemistry method. The synthesized MgO NPs was confirmed by using several characterization methods like XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and UV-visible analysis. The synthesized MgO NPs displayed a small particle size along with a specific surface area. Abrus precatorius bark synthesized MgO NPs with a higher ratio of dye degradation, and antioxidant activity showed a higher percentage of free radical scavenging in synthesized MgO NPs. Zebrafish embryos were used as a model organism to assess the toxicity of the obtained MgO nanoparticles, and the results concluded that the MgO NPs were nontoxic. In addition, the anticancer properties of MgO nanoparticles were analyzed by using a human melanoma cancer cell line (A375) via MTT, XTT, NRU, and LDH assessment. MgO NPs treated a human melanoma cancer cell line and resulted in apoptosis and necrosis based on the concentration, which was confirmed through a genotoxicity assay. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms in necrosis and apoptosis were conferred to depict the association of magnesium oxide nanoparticles with the human melanoma cancer cell line. The current study on MgO NPs showed a broad-scope understanding of the use of these nanoparticles as a medicinal drug for melanoma cancer via its physiological mechanism and also a novel route to obtain MgO NPs by using the green chemistry method.
The physical constants as biosignature: an anthropic retrodiction of the Selfish Biocosm Hypothesis

Goal 7 of the NASA Astrobiology Roadmap states: ‘Determine how to recognize signatures of life on other worlds and on early Earth. Identify biosignatures that can reveal and characterize past or present life in ancient samples from Earth, extraterrestrial samples measured in situ, samples returned to Earth, remotely measured planetary atmospheres and surfaces, and other cosmic phenomena. ’ The cryptic reference to ‘other cosmic phenomena’ would appear to be broad enough to include the possible identification of biosignatures embedded in the dimensionless constants of physics. The existence of such a set of biosignatures – a life-friendly suite of physical constants – is a retrodiction of the Selfish Biocosm (SB) hypothesis. This hypothesis offers an alternative to the weak anthropic explanation of our indisputably life-friendly cosmos favoured by (1) an emerging alliance of M-theory-inspired cosmologists and advocates of eternal inflation like Linde and Weinberg, and (2) supporters of the quantum theory-inspired sum-over-histories cosmological model offered by Hartle and Hawking. According to the SB hypothesis, the laws and constants of physics function as the cosmic equivalent of DNA, guiding a cosmologically extended evolutionary process and providing a blueprint for the replication of new life-friendly progeny universes.
Vibrational dynamics of solid molecular nitrogen to megabar pressures

We report the results of Raman and synchrotron infrared absorption measurements of several molecular phases of solid nitrogen to pressures above 100 GPa (300 K). Low-temperature vibrational spectra to 45 GPa are also presented. The changes in Raman and infrared spectra at 60 GPa and 300 K are interpreted as arising from the e→ζ transition reported at low temperature. The character of splitting of the Raman vibron ν2 observed at 25 GPa and low temperatures differs from that previously reported, a difference that we ascribe to different experimental procedures employed and metastability of the low-temperature phase.
Rotation and macroturbulence in bright giants

Spectral line profiles of 35 F, G, and K bright giants were analyzed to obtain rotation rates, v sin i, and macroturbulence dispersion. This sample indicates that rotation rates of cool class II giants is less than 11 km/s, in contrast with some recent periodicity measurements. Macroturbulence dispersion generally increases with effective temperature, but the range of values at a given effective temperature is much larger than seen for lower luminosity classes; this is interpreted in terms of red-giant and blue-loop evolution. No evidence is found for angular momentum dissipation on the first crossing of the H-R diagram. 57 references.