Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Curcumin Inhibits In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection In Vero E6 Cells through Multiple Antiviral Mechanisms

Due to the scarcity of therapeutic approaches for COVID-19, we investigated the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin against SARS-CoV-2 using in vitro models. The cytotoxicity of curcumin was evaluated using MTT assay in Vero E6 cells. The antiviral activity of this compound against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated using four treatment strategies (i. pre–post infection treatment, ii. co-treatment, iii. pre-infection, and iv. post-infection). The D614G strain and Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 were used, and the viral titer was quantified by plaque assay. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using qPCR and ELISA. By pre–post infection treatment, Curcumin (10 µg/mL) exhibited antiviral effect of 99% and 99.8% against DG614 strain and Delta variant, respectively. Curcumin also inhibited D614G strain by pre-infection and post-infection treatment. In addition, curcumin showed a virucidal effect against D614G strain and Delta variant. Finally, the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8) released by PBMCs triggered by SARS-CoV-2 were decreased after treatment with curcumin. Our results suggest that curcumin affects the SARS-CoV-2 replicative cycle and exhibits virucidal effect with a variant/strain independent antiviral effect and immune-modulatory properties. This is the first study that showed a combined (antiviral/anti-inflammatory) effect of curcumin during SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, additional studies are required to define its use as a treatment for the COVID-19.
Rapid and Scalable Fabrication of TiO2@g-C3N4 heterojunction for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic NO Removal under Visible Light

TiO2@g-C3N4 heterojunction composites were successfully synthesized via one-step pyrolysis using commercial TiO2 and urea. The photocatalytic performance of a composite was investigated by measuring the degradation of nitric oxide (NO) under visible light. The light absorption and bandgap of the selected materials were determined using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), which confirmed the strong photocatalytic activity of the materials under visible light. The NO photodegradation efficiency of the composite was almost 90% under visible irradiation. The generation of by-products and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was calculated to determine the conversion pathway of NO during the photocatalytic reaction. Furthermore, the results for recycling indicated that the TiO2@g-C3N4 composite exhibited excellent stability. Also, the morphology and the chemical compositions of the materials were observed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Raman spectroscopy was used to detect the structural vibrations in the materials. Through electron spin resonance (ESR) and trapping tests, the photocatalytic mechanism of the TiO2@g-C3N4 composite was also elucidated, in which superoxide radical anions were found to play a significant role in NO removal.
Two decades in the making: A scoping review on research on digital making and its potential for digital empowerment in non-formal settings

Abstract FabLabs and makerspaces offer unprecedented opportunities for digital empowerment, especially for children and adolescents. However, reviews on making with regard to empowerment are lacking. We identified n = 180 publications on digital making with children and adolescents and, after categorizing them regarding formal criteria and formality of settings, identified the main topics in publications on digital making in non-formal settings. Results revealed a great demand for empirical studies with experimental designs. Three main topics emerged: domain-specific determinants of participation, equity, and skills and competencies. Implications for further research and limitations as well as implications for digital empowerment processes are discussed.
Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) Applied to the Driving Mechanism of Total Factor Productivity Growth

With the gradual improvement of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), it is introduced into more and more fields to analyze practical problems. This paper calculates the total factor productivity index and analyzes its development trend based on relevant economic development theories and China’s inter-provincial panel data from 1999 to 2019. We use the fsQCA method to study the interaction of factors influencing total productivity in various regions. Two specific paths to improve total factor productivity are obtained, which provide a reference for different areas to improve total factor productivity according to local conditions.
Nanoparticle-Mediated Delivery Systems in Photodynamic Therapy of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) involving a malignant tumour remains one of the greatest contributing causes of fatal mortality and has become the third globally ranked malignancy in terms of cancer-associated deaths. Conventional CRC treatment approaches such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are the most utilized approaches to treat this disease. However, they are limited by low selectivity and systemic toxicity, so they cannot completely eradicate this disease. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging therapeutic modality that exerts selective cytotoxicity to cancerous cells through the activation of photosensitizers (PSs) under light irradiation to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), which then cause cancer cell death. Cumulative research findings have highlighted the significant role of traditional PDT in CRC treatment; however, the therapeutic efficacy of the classical PDT strategy is restricted due to skin photosensitivity, poor cancerous tissue specificity, and limited penetration of light. The application of nanoparticles in PDT can mitigate some of these shortcomings and enhance the targeting ability of PS in order to effectively use PDT against CRC as well as to reduce systemic side effects. Although 2D culture models are widely used in cancer research, they have some limitations. Therefore, 3D models in CRC PDT, particularly multicellular tumour spheroids (MCTS), have attracted researchers. This review summarizes several photosensitizers that are currently used in CRC PDT and gives an overview of recent advances in nanoparticle application for enhanced CRC PDT. In addition, the progress of 3D-model applications in CRC PDT is discussed.
What’s wrong with global challenges?

Global challenges such as climate change, food security, or public health have become dominant concerns in research and innovation policy. This article examines how responses to these challenges are addressed by governance actors. We argue that appeals to global challenges can give rise to a ‘ solution strategy ’ that presents responses of dominant actors as solutions and a ‘ negotiation strategy ’ that highlights the availability of heterogeneous and often con ﬂ icting responses. On the basis of interviews and document analyses, the study identi ﬁ es both strategies across local, national, and European levels. While our results demonstrate the co-existence of both strategies, we ﬁ nd that global challenges are most commonly highlighted together with the solutions o ﬀ ered by dominant actors. Global challenges are ‘ wicked problems ’ that often become misframed as ‘ tame problems ’ in governance practice and thereby legitimise dominant responses.
Modal and Impedance Modeling of a Conical Bore for Control Applications

The research presented in this thesis focuses on the use of feedback control for lowering acoustic levels within launch vehicle payload fairings. Due to the predominance of conical geometries within payload fairings, our work focused on the analytical modeling of conical shrouds using modal and impedance based models. Incorporating an actuating boundary condition within a sealed enclosure, resonant frequencies and mode shapes were developed as functions of geometric and mechanical parameters of the enclosure and the actuator. Using a set of modal approximations, a set of matrix equations have been developed describing the homogeneous form of the wave equation. Extending to impedance techniques, the resonant frequencies of the structure were again calculated, providing analytical validation of each model. Expanding this impedance model to rst order form, the acoustic model has been coupled with actuator dynamics yielding a complete model of the system relating pressure to control voltage. Using this coupled state-space model, control design using Linear Quadratic Regulator and Positive Position Feedback techniques has also been presented. Using the properties of LQR analysis, an analytical study into the degree of coupling between actuator and cavity as a function of actuator resonance has been conducted. Constructing an experimetnal test-bed for model validation and control implementation, a small sealed enclosure was built and out tted with sensors. Placing a control speaker at the small end of the cone the large opening was sealed with a rigid termination. An internal acoustic source was used to excite the system and pressure measurements were captured using an array of microphones located throughout the conic section. Using the parameters of this experimental test-bed, comparisons were made between LQR and PPF control designs. Using an impulse disturbance to excite the system, LQR simulations predicted reductions of 53.2% below those of the PPF design, while the control voltages corresponding to these reductions were 43.8% higher for
Minimizing the number of tool switches on a flexible machine: An empirical study

This paper looks at the issue of tool switching in manufacturing companies. The findings, based on work with seven companies, show that industry is aware that excessive tool switches can result in substantial time being spent in tool set-ups. The efficiency of the methods currently employed by these companies was assessed. These methods were compared with some available tool switching heuristics. The results show that tool switching heuristics are applicable to real problems in industry and that they consistently outperform the current methods used within companies.
Studies on the Effect of Weed Management Practices on Weed Control in Drum Seeded Wet Rice

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of weed management practices on the control of weeds in drum seeded wet rice. The weed management practices with and without pre-sowing application of glyphosate alongwith a pre-emergence application of pretilachlor (with safener) or an early post-emergence application of butanil followed by one or two manual weedings were compared with farmer's method of three manual weedings and unweeded check. Among the weed management practices pre-sowing application of glyphosate+pre-emergence application of pretilachlor (with safener) followed by two manual weedings effectively controlled a wide spectrum of weeds, and recorded a maximum grain yield of 5872 kg ha−1.
Seismic behavior of single-storey steel structures with a flexible roof diaphragm

The nonlinear response of 36 rectangular single-storey steel buildings subjected to historical earthquake accelerograms is examined. The buildings were designed according to current Canadian practice. The lateral load resisting system of the buildings includes a flexible metal roof deck diaphragm and vertical bracing located along the exterior walls. The results indicate that the fundamental period of the structures, the maximum drift, the forces and deformations in the roof diaphragm, and the ductility demand on the vertical bracings cannot be adequately predicted with existent design provisions. Tentative design guidelines are proposed on the basis of the results obtained in the study. Key words: analysis, design, seismic, dynamic, structures, steel, roof diaphragm.
Observation and analysis of lightning surges at substations connected with UHV designed transmission lines

On UHV-class transmission lines with sections of 500 kV class insulation, lightning observations have been made to study the generation and the propagation of overvoltage into substations. Voltages and currents were recorded at substations and at junction-tower footings during three flashovers on the UHV system. These observations were then matched to EMTP calculations by adjusting the average soil resistivity and the average conductor height in the propagation model. It is also found that the attenuation due to corona of voltages was small because it is expected to be minimal for 8-conductor bundles.
Shallow cumulus properties as captured by adiabatic fraction in high-resolution LES simulations

Shallow convective clouds are important players in Earth’s energy budget and hydrological cycle, and are abundant in the tropical and subtropical belts. They greatly contribute to the uncertainty in climate predictions, due to their unresolved, complex processes that include coupling between the dynamics and microphysics. Analysis of cloud structure can be simplified by considering cloud motions as a combination of moist adiabatic motions like adiabatic updrafts and turbulent motions leading to deviation from adiabaticity. In this work, we study the sizes and occurrence of adiabatic regions in shallow cumulus clouds during their growth and mature stages, and use the adiabatic fraction (AF) as a continuous metric to describe cloud processes and properties from the core to the edge. To do so, we simulate isolated trade wind cumulus clouds of different sizes using the System of Atmospheric Modeling (SAM) model in high-resolution (10 m) with the Hebrew University spectral bin microphysics (SBM). The fine features in the cloud’s dynamics and microphysics, including small near-adiabatic volumes and a thin transition zone at the edge of the cloud (∼20-40 m in width) are captured. The AF is shown to be an efficient measure for analyzing cloud properties and key processes determining the droplets-size-distribution formation and shape during the cloud evolution. Physical processes governing the properties of droplets size distributions at different cloud regions (e.g. core, edge) are analyzed in relation to AF.
Robust $H_{\infty }$ Dynamic Output-Feedback Control for CACC With ROSSs Subject to RODAs

This paper is concerned with the problem of dynamic output feedback control design for the cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) system with randomly occurring sensor saturations (ROSSs) subject to randomly occurring deception attacks (RODAs). The dynamics of the vehicle equipped with CACC system behave like a linear model in which the deviation of the position and velocity are chosen as the state variables. Sensor saturations and deception attacks are simultaneously taken into account, and two sets of Bernoulli random variables are utilized to characterize their nature of random occurrence. The main objective of this article is to develop a robust dynamic output feedback controller (RDOFC) such that, for all possible parameter uncertainties, sensor saturations as well as deception attacks, all the states can still be exponentially mean square stable and the $H_{\infty }$ performance index is guaranteed. In light of the Lyapunov stability theory, a sufficient condition of the desired controller is firstly constructed, then the controller parameters are obtained relying on the solutions to a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Finally, the three-car platoon system is evaluated to validate the usefulness of the developed algorithm.
Henry Darcy and the Fountains of Dijon

The life and career of Henry Darcy are intimately connected with the city of Dijon. He was born there; he died there; and it was there that he carried out the experiments that have brought him lasting fame. Darcy was not an obscure scientist; he was a well-known and respected public figure. His efforts as an engineer and advocate put Dijon on the main line of the Paris-Lyon railway, and brought a modern water-distribution system to Dijon some 25 years before such a system was put in place in Paris. During his life he received great honors, suffered political persecution, and carried out his most productive research in his later years despite ill health. He died at the relatively young age of 55. The main square in the city of Dijon is named Place Darcy in his honor.
Food and temperature change photoperiodic responses in two vole species: different roles for hypothalamic genes

Seasonal timing of reproduction in voles is driven by photoperiod. Here we hypothesize that a negative energy balance can modify spring-programmed photoperiodic responses in the hypothalamus, controlling reproductive organ development. We manipulated energy balance by the ‘work-for-food’ protocol, in which voles were exposed to increasing levels of food scarcity at different ambient temperatures under long photoperiod. We reveal that common (Microtus arvalis) and tundra voles (Microtus oeconomus), reduce photoperiodic induced pars tuberalis thyroid-stimulating hormone β-subunit (Tshβ) expression to inhibit gonadal development when food is scarce. Reduction in gonadal size is more pronounced in tundra voles, in which the hypothalamic Kisspeptin (Kiss1) system seems involved in downregulating gonadal development, especially in males. Low temperature additionally leads to decreased hypothalamic RF-amide related peptide (Rfrp3) levels, which may facilitate further suppression of gonadal growth. Shutting off the photoperiodic-axis when food is scarce in spring may be an adaptive response to save energy, leading to delayed reproductive organ development until food resources are sufficient for reproduction, lactation and offspring survival. Defining the mechanisms through which metabolic cues modify photoperiodic responses will be important for a better understanding of how environmental cues impact reproduction. Summary statement This study provides a better understanding of the molecular mechanism through which metabolic cues can modify photoperiodic responses, to adaptively adjust timing of reproductive organ development
Stomatal regulation prevents plants from critical water potentials during drought: Result of a model linking soil–plant hydraulics to abscisic acid dynamics

Understanding stomatal regulation during drought is essential to correctly predict vegetation‐atmosphere fluxes. Stomatal optimization models posit that stomata maximize the carbon gain relative to a penalty caused by water loss, such as xylem cavitation. However, a mechanism that allows the stomata to behave optimally is unknown. Here, we introduce a model of stomatal regulation that results in similar stomatal behaviour without presupposing an optimality principle. By contrast, the proposed model explains stomatal closure based on a well‐known component of stomatal regulation: abscisic acid (ABA). The ABA level depends on its production rate, which is assumed to increase with declining leaf water potential, and on its degradation rate, which is assumed to increase with assimilation rate. Our model predicts that stomata open until the ratio of leaf water potential to assimilation rate, proportional to ABA level, is at a minimum. As a prerequisite, the model simulates soil–plant hydraulics and leaf photosynthesis under varying environmental conditions. The model predicts that in wet soils and at low vapour pressure deficit (VPD), when there is no water limitation, stomatal closure is controlled by the relationship between photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. In dry soils or at high VPD, when the soil hydraulic conductivity limits the water supply, stomatal closure is triggered by the sharp decline in leaf water potential as transpiration rate increases. Being adaptive to changing soil and atmospheric conditions, the proposed model can explain how plants are enabled to avoid critical water potentials during drought for varying soil properties and atmospheric conditions.
Shaft voltages and rotating machinery

In order to determine whether a machine is experiencing shaft voltage and current problems, recognition of the four types of damage is imperative. The four shaft voltage sources and their means for generation are discussed in detail. Methods for correction and/or elimination of these sources are reviewed so that users can better understand how these voltages and currents are generated. Testing for the detection of shaft voltage sources and their potential circuits are outlined. <<ETX>>
On the Zero-Crossing Distortion in Single-Phase PFC Converters

Input current distortion in the vicinity of input voltage zero crossings of boost single-phase power factor corrected (PFC) ac-dc converters is studied in this paper. Previously known causes for the zero-crossing distortion are reviewed and are shown to be inadequate in explaining the observed input current distortion, especially under high ac line frequencies. A simple linear model is then presented which reveals two previously unknown causes for zero-crossing distortion, namely, the leading phase of the input current and the lack of critical damping in the current loop. Theoretical and practical limitations in reducing the phase lead and increasing the damping factor are discussed. A simple phase compensation technique to reduce the zero-crossing distortion is also presented. Numerical simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the theory.
The Effects of Simulated Cellular Phone Conversation on Road-Crossing Safety

xiv CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 1 CHAPTER 2: THE ECOLOGICAL APPROACH . 6 Introduction to the Ecological Approach.6 Direct Perception and Information . 7 Affordance Theory.9 Affordance Research . 11 The Optical Specification of Time-to-Arrival . 15 Summary.19 CHAPTER 3: VIRTUAL REALITY AND VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS.21 General Overview.21 Presence . 23 An Ecological Approach to Presence . 25 Potential Issues for VR Research . 27 Simulation Sickness.27 Postural Stability.29 Summary.29 CHAPTER 4: PEDESTRIAN RESEARCH.31 Real-World Studies.31 Laboratory and Virtual Reality Simulation Studies . 33 Laboratory Simulations . 33 Virtual Reality Simulations . 35 iv Observational Studies . 38 Summary.40 CHAPTER 5: DUAL-TASK RESEARCH . 41 Attention . 41 The Attentional Spotlight . 42 Limited Resource Theory . 43 The Bottleneck Theory . 44 An Ecological Approach to Attention . 45 Mental Workload . 46 Multiple Resource Theory . 48 Situation Awareness . 49 Cellular Phone and Dual-Task Research . 52 Experimental Studies . 52 Driving Situations.53 Secondary Tasks . 55 Visual / Manual Tasks . 56 Cognitive Tasks . 56 Conversation Tasks.57 Voice Dialling and Speech Recognition Tasks . 58 Pedestrian-Relevant Findings . 59 Pedestrian-Analogous Findings . 60 Gap Judgements.60 Reaction Time.61 Speed.62 Task Completion Time . 63 Undesirable Driving Behaviours and Outcomes . 63 Situation Awareness . 64 Gaze and Detection.65 Workload . 66 Driving-Specific Findings . 67 Steering Deviations.67 Lane Maintenance.67 Following Distance.68 Comparison Studies . 68 v Comparisons between Hand-Held, Hands-Free, and Passenger Conversations.69 Comparisons with Alcohol . 70 A Comparison of Different Fatigue Reduction Techniques . 70 Non-Experimental Studies.70 Epidemiological Studies . 71 Benefit / Cost Analyses of Restrictions . 73 Implications . 74 Overall Summary of the Pedestrian and Dual-Task Research.75 Summary of the Pedestrian Research . 75 Summary of the Dual-Task Research . 76 The Current Experiments.77 Chapter 6: Experiment 1.79 Hypotheses.79 Method.80 Participants . 80 Materials and Apparatus . 81 The Actual Environment.81 The Virtual Environment.81 Hardware.82 The Simulated Cellular Phone Conversation.83 Independent Variables . 84 Time-to-Arrival.85 Dependent Variables.87 Procedure .