Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HCnH− Anion Chains with n ≤ 8 Are Nonlinear and Their Permanent Dipole Makes Them Potential Candidates for Astronomical Observation

To be detectable in space via radio astronomy, molecules should have a permanent dipole moment. This is the plausible reason why HCnH chains are underproportionally represented in the interstellar medium in comparison with the isoelectronically equivalent HCnN chain family, which is the most numerous homologous series astronomically observed so far. In this communication, we present results of quantum chemical calculations for the HCnH family at several levels of theory: density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP), coupled-cluster expansions (ROCCSD(T)), and G4 composite model. Contradicting previous studies, we report here that linear HCnH− anion chains with sizes of astrochemical interest are unstable (i.e., not all calculated frequencies are real). Nonlinear cis and trans HCnH− anion chains turn out to be stable both against molecular vibrations (i.e., all vibrational frequencies are real) and against electron detachment (i.e., positive electroaffinity). The fact that the cis anion conformers possess permanent dipole is the main encouraging message that this study is aiming at conveying to the astrochemical community, as this makes them observable by means of radio astronomy.
Efficient asymmetric transmission for wide incidence angles using chiral split‐ring‐resonators

In this article, a chiral metasurface is proposed for controlling the linear polarization over broadband which consists of simple circular split‐ring‐resonator based unit cells on both sides of ultrathin (0.05λ at the operating frequency of 20 GHz) substrate. Across the large operating band (19.4–22.7 GHz), the structure is highly efficient with transmission efficiency greater than 0.94 and asymmetric transmission magnitude more than 0.8. Moreover, the structure exhibits stable response up to 45°, which is desirable for many K‐band applications in radar and small satellite communication systems. The proposed metasurface acquires direction‐dependent propagation with 90° linear polarization plane rotation, as depicted by simulated and experimental results. Furthermore, the structure is insensitive to circular polarized propagation within the operating band.
Development of vardenafil hydrochloride-loaded silica nanoparticles with enhanced transdermal delivery

: The aim of the present study was to develop a promising silica nanoparticle system to enhance the transdermal delivery of vardenafil hydrochloride (VRD) for treatment of erectile dysfunction. VRD-loaded silica nanoparticles were prepared using chitosan, polyethylene glycol and tetraethyl orthosilicate. The systems were monitored for vesicle size, zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency, permeation of the drug after 0.5 hour (Q 0.5h ) and after 12 hours (Q 12h ). The utmost achieved system (VRD-SNP5) was histopathologically examined for skin irritation, and evaluated via confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). VRD-SNP5 system and an oral aqueous drug dispersion were used to determine VRD pharmacokinetic parameters using physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. The VRD-SNP5 system comprised spherical vesicles (440.50 nm) possessing high zeta potential (26.00 mV), promising EE percent (71.5%), low Q 0.5h (39.5±2.6%), and high Q 12h (91.5±4.5%). It exhibited modest histopathologic alterations in rat skin after a 12-hour leave-on period. CLSM revealed deep drug penetration via rat skin. Following the transdermal application of the VRD-SNP5 system, PBPK modeling proposed the achievement of lower C max values, delayed T max estimates, and higher AUC 0-24h folds in adults (3 folds) and geriatrics (1.65 folds). It could be concluded that silica nanoparticles could represent a potential transdermal delivery system for VRD.
Associations Between Online Purchasing and Store Purchasing for Four Types of Products in Nanjing, China

As e-shopping proliferates, transportation planners examine the extent to which it will replace shopping trips. Although previous studies have explored relationships between online purchasing and store purchasing, few have examined the relationships for different types of products in China. A joint ordered probit model was applied to investigate the relationships among 963 respondents in Nanjing, China. Online purchasing had positive associations with store purchasing for all four types of products (clothing, books, daily goods, and electronics), even after shopping attitudes and demographics were controlled for. The magnitude of the complementarity effect differs by product type, with less frequently purchased products showing a larger effect. The impact of online purchasing on road systems is limited in China because transit and walking are dominant modes for shopping trips. However, the impact is expected to grow.
Public perception of the wood products industry in Malaysia and its implication on the future workforce

Despite contributing almost RM 20 billion (USD 4.9 billion) in exports earnings annually, the public perception of the wood products industry in Malaysia remains unknown. Therefore, this study attempted to assess public perceptions about the industry in Malaysia among the public, including teenagers, based on 3,010 reliably answered questionnaire-surveys. Generally, the public perceived the wood products industry to be a low-wage economy, labor-intensive, predominated by foreign contract workers, and unsustainable in the long-term. In essence, the public appear to have stronger negative images of the industry compared to the positive images. The main drivers for such negative perceptions, identified through the factor analysis, were the prevailing business environment in the industry and its workforce characteristics. Consequently, teenagers and school-leavers tend to be less interested in pursuing a career in the industry, let alone pursuing further studies in the wood-related fields. The main reasons cited for this were the limited career growth opportunity due to the predomination of family-controlled small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the industry and the discouragements from family members and friends. The provision of reliable, timely, and transparent information is important to boost the public’s awareness and build positive beliefs and perception of the wood industry.
Modelling temporal variability of in situ soil water and vegetation isotopes reveals ecohydrological couplings in a riparian willow plot

Abstract. The partitioning of water fluxes in the critical zone is of great interest due to the implications for understanding water cycling and quantifying water availability for various ecosystem services. We used the tracer-aided ecohydrological model EcH2O-iso to use stable water isotopes to help evaluate water, energy, and biomass dynamics at an intensively monitored study plot under two willow trees, a riparian species, in Berlin, Germany. Importantly, we assessed the value of in situ soil and plant water isotope data in helping to quantify xylem water sources and transit times, with coupled estimates of the temporal dynamics and ages of soil and root uptake water. The willows showed high water use through evapotranspiration, with limited percolation of summer precipitation to deeper soil layers due to the dominance of shallow root uptake (>80 % in the upper 10 cm, 70 %–78 % transpiration/evapotranspiration). Lower evapotranspiration under grass (52 %–55 % transpiration/evapotranspiration) resulted in higher soil moisture storage, greater soil evaporation, and more percolation of soil water. Biomass allocation was predominantly foliage growth (57 % in grass and 78 % in willow). Shallow soil water age under grass was estimated to be similar to under willows (15–17 d). Considering potential xylem transit times showed a substantial improvement in the model's capability to simulate xylem isotopic composition and water ages and demonstrates the potential value of using in situ data to aid ecohydrological modelling. Root water uptake was predominately derived from summer precipitation events (56 %) and had an average age of 35 d, with xylem transport times taking at least 6.2–8.1 d. By evaluating isotope mass balances along with water partitioning, energy budgets, and biomass allocation, the EcH2O-iso model proved a useful tool for assessing water cycling within the critical zone at high temporal resolution, particularly xylem water sources and transport, which are all necessary for short- and long-term assessment of water availability for plant growth.
The Multisensory Experience: A Case Study with Five Different Products

The human perception arises from an inner sense intrinsically dependent on the sensitive channels. Vision is considered the dominating sense in humans, while hearing, touch, taste, smell, kinesthetic sense and balance are complementary in most cases, with numerous exceptions. Until now, most studies suggest that the greater the number of sensory modalities stimulated at the same time, the richer the experience will be. As a result, the increase in the number of sensory modalities presented in a virtual environment can help people feel immersed and also help to improve the memory of existing objects in the virtual environment (Schifferstein and Spenser, 2008). This study aimed to evaluate the influence of multisensory integration in the user experience with different categories of products. Participants were 60 volunteer subjects of both genders and all users of these products; they evaluated 25 different products in three levels of multisensory integration: vision, vision+touch and multisensory. Results indicated that intrinsic characteristics of each product were responsible for the emergence of differences between multisensory phases, and the relationship between usability and visual aesthetics were less evident in the process. More specific studies are necessary to recognize more accurately the relationship between product characteristics and user perception.
Clinical Study of Serum Serotonin as a Screening Marker for Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Over time, studies have shown the importance of determining serotonin levels to diagnose somatic and psychiatric disorders. There are theoretical premises and practical ways to achieve a subtle correlation between the existence of comorbid psychiatric disorders and somatic diseases caused by the changes observed in serotonin levels. The present study, classified as retrospective and quantitative, provides evidence for determining the serotonin levels in patients with diabetes and anxiety or depression. A total of 48 patients with diabetes type 2 were enrolled in the study. Blood glucose level, glycated haemoglobin, and serum serotonin were noted, and they completed Hamilton A and Beck Depression Inventory questionnaires. We found robust correlations between serum serotonin and blood glucose (Sig. = 0.008), serum serotonin and HbA1c (Sig. = 0.007), serum serotonin and anxiety (Sig. = 0.000), and serum serotonin and depression (Sig. = 0.000). It is also noteworthy that women recorded extreme values higher than men for glycated haemoglobin (95% confidence interval: 6.92–7.79 in women and 6.30–7.23 in men). In conclusion, using serotonin as a marker of the mentioned diseases in clinical practice is of significant utility, considering the benefits in terms of the evolution and prognosis of comorbidities in patients with type 2 diabetes and anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Heterologous Biosynthesis of Health-Promoting Baicalein in Lycopersicon esculentum

Baicalein is a valuable flavonoid isolated from the medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which exhibits intensive biological activities, such as anticancer and antiviral activities. However, its production is limited in the root with low yield. In this study, In-Fusion and 2A peptide linker were developed to assemble SbCLL-7, SbCHI, SbCHS-2, SbFNSII-2 and SbCYP82D1.1 genes driven by the AtPD7, CaMV 35S and AtUBQ10 promoters with HSP, E9 and NOS terminators, and were used to engineer baicalein biosynthesis in transgenic tomato plants. The genetically modified tomato plants with this construct synthesized baicalein, ranging from 150 ng/g to 558 ng/g FW (fresh weight). Baicalein-fortified tomatoes have the potential to be health-promoting fresh vegetables and provide an alternative source of baicalein production, with great prospects for market application.
Does Generation Z value and reward corporate social responsibility practices?

ABSTRACT Corporate activities vastly impact the environment and society, and people are increasingly becoming conscious of this. Generation Z (GenZ), an emerging customer segment globally, is particularly concerned about sustainability. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives assist businesses in meeting these expectations. Will purchase intention (PI), brand equity (BE), and willingness to pay (WTP) for these companies’ brands rise as a result of their CSR initiatives? Will the effects of CSR’s three dimensions–environmental, social, and economic – on these outcomes be different? To study this, a 4(CSR)* 2(brands) between-subjects factorial design experiment was conducted with 414 students in India using an incentive-based Becker-DeGroot-Marschak (BDM) procedure. Marketers and researchers will gain valuable insights into the effects of different dimensions of CSR on consumer behaviour from the findings of this study.
Assessing large second year undergraduate service courses in data analysis

The guiding principle in the assessment of any course is that we must assess what we teach. We begin by outlining the assessment instruments we use and discuss how we use these instruments to assess what we teach. We then look at the following assessment considerations: firstly, two specific types of questions we use and why we use them, then equity for students across semesters, the time and cost associated with assessment, some strategies and administrative tools and finally, one of the biggest challenges, finding enough suitable data sets to use.
The interaction between e-shopping and shopping trip, Tehran

Development of science and technology and expansion of communication networks have overhauled many traditional aspects of human life. Shopping is a traditional urban practice that plays a central role not only in economics but also in urban development and transportation. Therefore, accurate determination of complex relationship between online shopping (e-shopping) and traditional in-store shopping can yield valuable data for transportation planners. The aim of this study is to assess this relationship for Tehran residents. To pursue this objective, 435 questionnaires were distributed and filled by Tehran residents and the obtained raw data were analysed by Spss23 software; the results were then processed by Amos23 software to develop a structural equation model. The results show that online searching has a positive impact on both e-shopping and in-store shopping. Moreover, a positive effect of e-shopping on shopping trip was found. These findings suggest that people who use Internet to purchase products .
Factors influencing the disclosure of information about operating segments in Brazil: analysis encompassing the first five years of CPC 22 Application

This study aims to identify the factors that influence the level of disclosure of information about operating segments in Brazil. The study is initially developed from the analysis of companies’ financial statements with reference to the requirements contained in Pronouncement CPC 22. Subsequently, the statistical model of multiple linear regression analysis is used. The disclosures related to the years from 2010 to 2014 are addressed; 2010 was the first year that the disclosure was mandatory in Brazil. The study encompasses 231 companies distributed across 20 economic sectors. Hypotheses concerning eight characteristics identified as potential factors affecting the level of disclosure are analysed. No significant results were found for the characteristics, “profitability”, “industry concentration”, “profit or loss” and “year of publication”, indicating that these factors do not influence such disclosure. Regarding the other four characteristics investigated, the results confirmed the hypotheses tested. Thus, it is concluded that the characteristics of “size”, “indebtedness”, “corporate governance” and “audit” are factors that affect the dissemination of information about operating segments in Brazil.
Metallic Phase Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Quantum Dots as Promising Bio-Imaging Materials

Transition metal dichalcogenide-based quantum dots are promising materials for applications in diverse fields, such as sensors, electronics, catalysis, and biomedicine, because of their outstanding physicochemical properties. In this study, we propose bio-imaging characteristics through utilizing water-soluble MoS2 quantum dots (MoS2-QDs) with two different sizes (i.e., ~5 and ~10 nm). The structural and optical properties of the fabricated metallic phase MoS2-QDs (m-MoS2-QDs) were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. The synthesized m-MoS2-QDs showed clear photophysical characteristic peaks derived from the quantum confinement effect and defect sites, such as oxygen functional groups. When the diameter of the synthesized m-MoS2-QD was decreased, the emission peak was blue-shifted from 436 to 486 nm under excitation by a He-Cd laser (325 nm). Density functional theory calculations confirmed that the size decrease of m-MoS2-QDs led to an increase in the bandgap because of quantum confinement effects. In addition, when incorporated into the bio-imaging of HeLa cells, m-MoS2-QDs were quite biocompatible with bright luminescence and exhibited low toxicity. Our results are commercially applicable for achieving high-performance bio-imaging probes.
A survey to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with the risk of foodborne infection in a sample of Sicilian general population

Although foodborne infections contracted at home are frequent diseases worldwide, there is a general lack of information. Main purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of a sample of the general Sicilian population about the risk of contracting foodborne diseases. It was carried out through a web-based questionnaire to a Sicilian population sample. The questionnaire collected socio-demographic data, health issues, KAP and self-reported diseases. Scores were calculated for summarizing the results. A total of 373 subjects participated into the study. Overall, 65.15% of the participants were females, 48.26% of all respondents were aged between 18 and 29 years and over one-third were students (34.58%). At least one episode of vomiting/diarrhoea in the previous 3 months was reported by 119 respondents. Practices were associated with knowledge (R2 = 0.02; p < 0.01) and attitudes (R2 = 0.13; p < 0.001) although with low degree of correlation. A lower practice score was statistically significantly associated with both onset of foodborne transmitted infections in participants and among the cohabitants of participants. Our results confirm that foodborne disease can be strongly associated with food handling at home and with unsafe practices. Specific education on food safety could help to reduce the risk but the adoption of good practices of food manipulation is the real key to assure a reduction in food outbreaks in residences.
URB597 and Andrographolide Improve Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cell Permeability and Apoptosis by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Associated with Activation of Nrf2 Signaling in Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation

Ischemic stroke, a cerebrovascular disease worldwide, triggers a cascade of pathophysiological events, including blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown. Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) play a vital role in maintaining BBB function. The injury of BMECs may worsen neurovascular dysfunction and patients' prognosis. Therefore, uncover the principal molecular mechanisms involved in BBB disruption in stroke becomes pressing. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has been implicated in increasingly physiological functions, both in neurometabolism and cerebrovascular regulation. Modulating its activities by the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) shows anti-inflammatory characteristics. Andrographolide (AG), one Chinese herbal ingredient, has also attracted attention for its role in immunomodulatory and as a therapeutic target in BBB disorders. Recently, the FAAH inhibitor URB597 and AG have important regulatory effects on neuronal and vascular cells in ischemia. However, the effects of URB597 and AG on BMEC permeability and apoptosis in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To address these issues, cultured BMECs (bEnd.3 cells) were exposed to OGD. The cell viability, permeability, tube formation, and apoptosis were assessed following treatment with URB597, AG, and cotreatment. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), proinflammatory factors, tight junction (TJ) proteins, and oxidative stress-mediated Nrf2 signaling were also investigated. Results revealed that OGD broke the endothelial barrier, cell viability, MMP, and tube formation, which was reversed by URB597 and AG. OGD-induced enhancement of ROS, MDA, and apoptosis was reduced after drug interventions. URB597 and AG exhibited antioxidant/anti-inflammatory and mitochondrial protective effects by activating Nrf2 signaling. These findings indicated that URB597 and AG protect BMECs against OGD-induced endothelial permeability impairment and apoptosis by reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress and inflammation associated with activation of Nrf2 signaling. URB597 and AG showing the vascular protection may have therapeutic potential for the BBB damage in ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.
Assessing the Value of Proactive Microgrid Scheduling

Microgrids and multi-microgrids are commonly installed to fulfill rising flexibility needs and to boost the system resilience by advanced fault mitigation capabilities. On top of a complex control architecture, proactive resilient scheduling optimizes the operation of such grids in advance. Although several scheduling algorithms include measures to limit the effects of faults, the impact of proactive scheduling on the system resilience is not widely assessed. This work presents an advanced simulation-based assessment method that includes an extended power flow formulation to consider low-level control and device capabilities even in islanded mode. A case study assesses resilience gains and costs of proactive scheduling based on multiple algorithms and an extensive set of operating conditions. It turned out that even on a suitable test grid that is specifically designed to challenge scheduling algorithms, a large share of the faults can already be handled by low-level controls without the need of considering them in scheduling. However, the remaining share of unhandled faults can be well influenced by advanced proactive scheduling algorithms and an appropriate resilience constraint formulation. Given the evaluation results, it can be supported that in less critical applications, scheduling focuses on economic aspects only without considering fault mitigation. Nevertheless, a detailed assessment is needed to justify the algorithmic choice and to improve the quality of resilient algorithms. The presented method adds a tool that can efficiently assess the value of proactive scheduling based on extensive simulations.