Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of split injection on stratified charge formation of direct injection spark ignition engines

Abstract The effects of split injection with various dwells and mass ratios on the spray and mixture characteristics in an ambient environment similar to the late stage of compression stroke in direct injection spark ignition (DISI) engines were investigated by using the laser absorption scattering (LAS) technique. Through splitting the fuel injection process with appropriate dwells and mass ratios, some benefits for the stratified charge formation of DISI engines can be achieved. First, the phenomenon of high-density liquid phase fuel piling up at the leading edge of the spray can be circumvented and the subsequent reduction in the spray penetration length for both liquid and vapour phases is seen. Second, the radial width of the ‘combustible mixture’ (equivalence ratio of vapour φv in a range of 0.7 ≤ φv ≤ 1.3) is significantly extended. Finally, the quantity of ‘over lean’ (φv < 0.7) mixture in the spray is significantly reduced. These results are believed to contribute to the stratified lean operation and the reduction in smoke and unburned hydrocarbons (UBHC) emissions of DISI engines. Further, the mechanism behind these effects of the split injection was clarified by analysing the interactions between the two pulsed sprays and the spray-induced ambient air motion using the LIF-PIV technique.
A STUDY OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN DIABETES

Non-enzymatic free radical mediated oxidation of biological molecules, membranes and tissues is associated with a variety of pathological events such as cancer, aging and diabetes mellitus. Increased oxidative stress is seen in both types of diabetes mellitus namely type 1 and type 2, irrespective of duration, complications and treatment. In diabetes mellitus, oxidative stress seems primarily due to both an increased plasma free radical concentration and a sharp decline in antioxidant defences. Among the causes of enhanced free radical production, hyperglycemia and hyper insulinemia seem to play a major role, Hyperglycemia is the more easily modifiable factor among the two and good glycemic control can reduce the oxidative stress. Controversy persists regarding the other possible mechanisms of increased oxidative stress in diabetes and whether oxidative stress normalizes with adequate metabolic control alone. The role of oxidative stress and diabetic complications has been extensively investigated. Oxidative stress has been suggested to be involved in the genesis of both macro and micro angiopathy Prospective trials are now underway addressing the controversial issues of possible role of pharmacological antioxidants in preventing or at least delaying the onset of diabetic complications.
“It’s not lupus”. A placental site trophoblastic tumor presenting as a lupus-like paraneoplastic syndrome. A grand round case

Introduction: Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is a rare subtype of gestational trophoblastic disease. Association of PSTT and nephrotic syndrome is exceedingly rare and has been described in 8 cases thus far. In all cases hysterectomy was performed within months after onset of symptoms, leading to immediate remission of nephrotic syndrome, except for one patient who died of complications of PSTT. Case: We describe the history of a woman in which PSTT was discovered years after onset of nephrotic syndrome. Kidney biopsy revealed lupus-like mesangiocapillary nephritis and over time the patient developed additional symptoms mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Discussion: We provide an overview of the literature on this clinical entity and elaborate on its pathophysiology. In addition, we reflect on the phenomenon of anchoring bias, that led physicians to assume the patient had SLE without questioning this diagnosis in the light of the unexplained finding of increased tumor markers.
Effects of Operating Modes on the Rejection Behavior using Ceramic Membranes

Abstract Fouling generally occurs above the so-called “critical flux,” below which steady-state membrane permeability is assumed to be attainable. Operation at sub-critical fluxes can thus be used to minimize membrane fouling. However, rejection behavior may be affected as a consequence of operating within this sub-critical mode that sustains the desirable permeate flux. In this study, the effluent from a synthetic activated sludge production process was used in the assessment of the performance of membrane microfiltration, as a pretreatment in desalination for wastewater reuse. The critical flux was identified using the step-by-step technique. Different operating regimes i.e. above and below the critical flux were used to assess the relationship between solute rejection and membrane fouling. When operating at sub critical mode, rejection was constant even under increasing transmembrane pressure (TMP). This arises mainly from the back transport of particles in the absence of cake formation. Beyond the critical regime, cake formation occurred and rejection increased with increasing TMP. At the critical regime, a decline in rejection was obtained. This rejection behavior was consistent over the three pore sizes that were investigated. Increasing the pore size appears to decrease the rejection at both regimes. This is because larger pore size allows the transmission of smaller particles and a less compact cake formation under and above the critical flux regime respectively. It appears from this study that one may be able to use rejection behavior to confirm and determine the critical flux and adds to the confidence of using the step-by-step method to determine the critical flux.
Incorporation of REE into leucophanite: a compositional and structural study

Abstract The crystal structures of nine, and the chemical compositions of ten, natural samples of leucophanite, ideally NaCaBeSi2O6F, were investigated. The analysed samples display a large compositional variation with trace-element abundances >50,000 ppm, primarily due to rare earth elements (REE). Fromthese data, we propose a substitution scheme for the incorporation of REE for Ca, with additional Na substituting for Ca and the generation of vacancies to ensure charge balance. Compositional zonation was observed in some samples; this zonation correlates with variations in cathodoluminescence. The crystal structure of the nine analysed samples could all be refined in space group P212121. We found no evidence for a reduction of symmetry with increased trace-element concentration. Various twin combinations were observed and these seem related to crystallization conditions rather than structural or chemical factors.
A phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, vehicle‐controlled, parallel‐group study of 5% sofpironium bromide (BBI‐4000) gel in Japanese patients with primary axillary hyperhidrosis

A phase 3 study was conducted to verify the efficacy and safety of 5% sofpironium bromide (BBI‐4000) gel (hereinafter referred to as sofpironium) administrated for 6 weeks in Japanese patients with primary axillary hyperhidrosis. The primary efficacy end‐point was the proportion of patients who satisfied both criteria of a Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Score (HDSS) of 1 or 2 at the end of 6‐week treatment and a 50% or more reduction in total gravimetric weight of sweat at the end of treatment relative to baseline. A total of 281 patients were randomized to receive 5% sofpironium (141 patients) or vehicle (140 patients), and all patients were included in the full analysis set (FAS). In the FAS, 70.1% of patients were female, and the median age was 35.0 years. The proportion of patients who achieved the primary efficacy end‐point was 53.9% in the sofpironium group and 36.4% in the vehicle group, with a statistically significant difference of 17.5% (95% confidence interval, 6.02–28.93) between these two groups (P = 0.003). The incidence of adverse events was 44.0% in the sofpironium group and 30.7% in the vehicle group, and the incidence of adverse drug reactions was 16.3% in the sofpironium group and 5.0% in the vehicle group. Reported adverse events were generally mild or moderate in severity. In the sofpironium group, common events (incidence, ≥5%) were nasopharyngitis (14.2%) and dermatitis/erythema at the application site (8.5%/5.7%), with no serious adverse events reported. This study demonstrated the efficacy and safety of 5% sofpironium.
Theoretical study of two expanded phases of crystalline germanium: clathrate-I and clathrate-II

We study two expanded phases of Ge crystals, type-I (Ge46) and type-II (Ge136) clathrates, using an ab initio density functional planewave pseudopotential method. The equation of state, electronic structure and vibrational modes have been determined. These expanded Ge phases are shown to be only slightly higher in energy than the diamond phase (0.05 eV/atom), and considerably lower in energy than the compressed -tin phase by about 0.14 eV/atom. The electronic band-gaps of Ge clathrates are about 1.21 eV (type-I) and 0.75 eV (type-II) wider that band-gaps in the diamond phase. We have determined lattice vibrational modes and the frequencies of the Raman and infrared modes. The results of Ge clathrates are compared and contrasted with those of Si clathrates, where experiments are more numerous.
Outcomes after readmission at the index or nonindex hospital following acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock

Little is known about the prevalence and outcomes of readmission to nonindex hospitals after an admission for acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (AMI‐CS). We aimed to determine the rate of nonindex readmissions following AMI‐CS and to evaluate its association with clinical factors, hospitalization cost, length of stay (LOS), and in‐hospital mortality rates.
Identification of novel potential ricin inhibitors by virtual screening, molecular docking, molecular dynamics and MM-PBSA calculations: a drug repurposing approach

Abstract Ricin is a potent cytotoxin with no available antidote. Its catalytic subunit, RTA, damages the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of eukaryotic cells, preventing protein synthesis and eventually leading to cell death. The combination between easiness of obtention and high toxicity turns ricin into a potential weapon for terrorist attacks, urging the need of discovering effective antidotes. On this context, we used computational techniques, in order to identify potential ricin inhibitors among approved drugs. Two libraries were screened by two different docking algorithms, followed by molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA calculations in order to corroborate the docking results. Three drugs were identified as potential ricin inhibitors: deferoxamine, leucovorin and plazomicin. Our calculations showed that these compounds were able to, simultaneously, form hydrogen bonds with residues of the catalytic site and the secondary binding site of RTA, qualifying as potential antidotes against intoxication by ricin. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Effect of Coronal Alignment on 10-Year Survivorship of a Single Contemporary Total Knee Arthroplasty

Debate remains regarding the utility of mechanical axis alignment as a predictor of durability after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our study aimed to assess the effects of coronal alignment on implant durability, clinical outcomes, and radiographic results with a single fixed-bearing TKA design. All patients undergoing primary cemented TKA of a single design (Stryker Triathlon) from 2005–2007 with >10 years of follow-up and available pre-operative and post-operative hip–knee–ankle radiographs were included (n = 89). Radiographs were measured to determine coronal alignment and assessed for loosening. Mean preoperative mechanical axis alignment was −6° ± 6.7° (varus, range, −16°–23°), while mean post-operative alignment was −1° ± 2.7° (varus, range, −3°–15°). The aligned group was defined as knees with a post-operative mechanical axis of 0° ± 3° (n = 73) and the outlier group as those outside this range (n = 16). No patients underwent revision. Ten-year survivorship free from any reoperation was 99% and 100% in the aligned and outlier groups, respectively (p = 0.64). Knee Society scores improved significantly in both groups (p < 0.001) and did not differ at final follow-up (p = 0.15). No knees demonstrated radiographic evidence of loosening. Post-operative mechanical axis alignment within 3° of neutral was not associated with improved implant durability, clinical outcomes, or radiographic results at 10 years following primary TKA.
Human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells trigger repair system in TAA-injured rat model via antioxidant effect

Oxidative stress induces damages of various cell types or tissues through a repetitive imbalance between the systemic manifestation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and detoxification of the reactive intermediates. Thioacetamide (TAA) is well known for causing several degenerative diseases by oxidative stress. However, study of the antioxidant mechanisms of stem cells in TAA-injured rat model is insufficient. Therefore, we investigated the effect of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PD-MSCs) transplantation on liver and ovary of TAA-injured rat models to study the antioxidant effect in degenerative diseases. In TAA-injured rat model, PD-MSCs engrafted into damaged organ including liver and ovary in PD-MSCs transplanted groups (Tx) compared with non-transplanted groups (NTx) (*p<0.05). Transplanted PD-MSCs reduced inflammatory factors and upregulated oxidative stress factors in Tx compared with NTx (*p<0.05). Also, transplanted PD-MSCs enhanced antioxidants factors and organ functional restoration factors in Tx compared with NTx. These data show that PD-MSC transplantation triggers the regeneration of organ (e.g., liver and ovary) damaged by oxidative stress from TAA treatment via activating antioxidant factors. Therefore, these data suggest the therapeutic potential via antioxidant effect and help understand the therapeutic mechanism of PD-MSCs in damaged tissues such as in liver and reproductive system.
It’s Not Easy Being Green: A Narrative Review on the Microbiology, Virulence and Therapeutic Prospects of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most frequent cause of infection among non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria, predominantly affecting immunocompromised patients, but its pathogenic role should not be disregarded in immunocompetent patients. These pathogens present a concerning therapeutic challenge to clinicians, both in community and in hospital settings, due to their increasing prevalence of resistance, and this may lead to prolonged therapy, sequelae, and excess mortality in the affected patient population. The resistance mechanisms of P. aeruginosa may be classified into intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms. These mechanisms lead to occurrence of resistant strains against important antibiotics—relevant in the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections—such as β-lactams, quinolones, aminoglycosides, and colistin. The occurrence of a specific resistotype of P. aeruginosa, namely the emergence of carbapenem-resistant but cephalosporin-susceptible (Car-R/Ceph-S) strains, has received substantial attention from clinical microbiologists and infection control specialists; nevertheless, the available literature on this topic is still scarce. The aim of this present review paper is to provide a concise summary on the adaptability, virulence, and antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa to a readership of basic scientists and clinicians.
Effective thermal conductivity of aqueous suspensions of carbon nanotubes (carbon nanotube nanofluids)

This work is concerned with the effective thermal conductivity of aqueous suspensions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (nanofluids). Stable nanofluids were made using sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate as the dispersant. The effects of concentration of carbon nanotubes and temperature on effective thermal conductivity were investigated. It was found that effective thermal conductivity increased with increasing concentration of carbon nanotubes, and the dependence was nonlinear even at very low concentrations, which was different from the results for metal/metal oxide nanofluids. The effective thermal conductivity increased with increasing temperature, and the dependence was also nonlinear. At temperatures lower than ∼30 ◦ C, approximately linear dependence of the thermal conductivity enhancement on temperature was seen, but the dependence tended to level off above ∼30◦C. A comparison between the results of this work and those of published studies showed a large discrepancy in the effective thermal conductivity of carbon nanotube nanofluids. Differences in the interfacial resistances and thermal conductivities of carbon nanotubes used in these studies were proposed to be the main reasons. The experimental results were also compared with some classical macroscopic models for thermal conductivity of homogenous mixtures containing micrometer- or millimeter-sized particles. It was shown that the macroscopic models were inadequate for the prediction of the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Analysis of possible mechanisms for thermal conduction enhancement suggested that networking of carbonnanotubes was likely to be responsible for the observed high effective thermal conductivity of carbon-nanotube nanofluids. Experiments at a temperature above 60‐70 ◦ C showed that the dispersant failed, which led to destabilization of nanofluids.
First-language influence on second language speech perception depends on task demands

While listening to non-native speech, second language users filter the auditory input through their native language. We examined how bilinguals perceived second language (L2 English) sound sequences that conflicted with native-language (L1 Spanish) constraints across three experiments with different task demands. We used the L1 Spanish phonotactic constraint (i.e., rule for combining speech sounds) that vowels must precede s+consonant clusters (e.g., Spanish: estricto, “strict”). This L1 Spanish constraint may influence Spanish-English bilinguals’ processing of L2 English words such as strict because of a missing initial vowel, as in estrict. We found that the extent to which bilinguals were influenced by the L1 during L2 processing depended on task demands. When metalinguistic awareness demands were low, as in the AX word discrimination task (Experiment 1), cross-linguistic effects were not observed. When metalinguistic awareness demands were high, as in the vowel detection (Experiment 2) and lexical decision (Experiment 3) tasks, response times demonstrated that bilinguals were influenced by the L1 constraint when processing L2 words beginning with an s+consonant. We conclude that bilinguals are cross-linguistically influenced by L1 phonotactic constraints during L2 processing when metalinguistic demands are higher, suggesting that L2 input may be mapped onto L1 sub-lexical representations during perception. These results extend previous research on language co-activation and speech perception by providing a more fine-grained understanding of task demands and elucidating when and where cross-linguistic phonotactic access is present during bilingual comprehension.
The Influence of Stretch on a Premixed Flame With Two-Step Kinetics

Abstract The structure of a steady, planar. premixed flame in a slowly expanding gas flow is analyzed. The reaction kinetics are represented by a mechanism consisting of a chain branching reaction and a chain breaking reaction. An asymptotic analysis is performed in the limit of a large value for the activation energy of the chain branching reaction, with the activation energy for the chain breaking reaction presumed to be zero. The analysis is valid for cases where the mass fraction of the intermediate species is of order unity, An analytical expression is obtained for the change of the mass burning rate with the Karlovitz number, the parameter characterizing flame stretch. This expression shows the role of differential diffusion of heat and the reactant, of differential diffusion of reactant and intermediate species and of enhanced diffusion of intermediates on flame propagation. It is seen that these three different effects may cancel each other. Depending on the parameter range the mass burning rate m.
Mediators of cerebral hypoperfusion and blood‐brain barrier leakiness in Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and mixed dementia

In vascular dementia (VaD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), cerebral hypoperfusion and blood‐brain barrier (BBB) leakiness contribute to brain damage. In this study, we have measured biochemical markers and mediators of cerebral hypoperfusion and BBB in the frontal (BA6) and parietal (BA7) cortex and underlying white matter, to investigate the pathophysiology of vascular dysfunction in AD, VaD and mixed dementia. The ratio of myelin‐associated glycoprotein to proteolipid protein‐1 (MAG:PLP1), a post‐mortem biochemical indicator of the adequacy of ante‐mortem cerebral perfusion; the concentration of fibrinogen adjusted for haemoglobin level, a marker of blood‐brain barrier (BBB) leakiness; the level of vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF), a marker of tissue hypoxia; and endothelin‐1 (EDN1), a potent vasoconstrictor, were measured by ELISA in the frontal and parietal cortex and underlying white matter in 94 AD, 20 VaD, 33 mixed dementia cases and 58 age‐matched controls. All cases were assessed neuropathologically for small vessel disease (SVD), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) severity, Aβ and phospho‐tau parenchymal load, and Braak tangle stage. Aβ40 and Aβ42 were measured by ELISA in guanidine‐HCl tissue extracts. We found biochemical evidence of cerebral hypoperfusion in AD, VaD and mixed dementia to be associated with SVD, Aβ level, plaque load, EDN1 level and Braak tangle stage, and to be most widespread in mixed dementia. There was evidence of BBB leakiness in AD—limited to the cerebral cortex and related to EDN1 level. In conclusion, abnormalities of cerebral perfusion and BBB function in common types of dementia can largely be explained by a combination of arteriolosclerosis, and Aβ‐, tau‐ and endothelin‐related vascular dysfunction. The relative contributions of these processes vary considerably both between and within the diseases.
Characterization of Defects in Deformed Titanium

The nature of defects present in deformed titanium is studied by combining the positron annihilation technique and computer simulation. By performing isochronal annealing between room temperature and 1123 K it is shown that the lifetime decreases up to 700 and stays roughly constant up to 1000 K, achieving the bulk value at 1123 K. These results are interpreted as positron trapping at zonal dislocations present at twin boundaries, as inferred from computer simulation studies.