Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast high voltage pulse generation using nonlinear capacitors

Many pulsed power applications require short high voltage pulses with high repetition rate. Conventional high-voltage discharge pulse-switches such as thyratrons, spark gap switches, vacuum tube switches have short lifetime, whereas the semiconductor switches have long lifetime and high reliability. The semiconductor switches, however, can not be directly applied to fast high voltage pulsed power generation due to their limited operating voltage ratings despite their relatively long switching times. Therefore they are used with a voltage amplification and a pulse compression stages. This paper describes two pulse generators using the semiconductor switches and nonlinear capacitors: one is based on an opening switch (IGBT) and an inductive energy storage. The other is a combination of a closing switch (RSD) and a capacitive energy storage.
Differential Inflammatory Responses in Cultured Endothelial Cells Exposed to Two Conjugated Linoleic Acids (CLAs) under a Pro-Inflammatory Condition

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers have been shown to possess anti-atherosclerotic properties, which may be related to the downregulation of inflammatory pathways in different cell types, including endothelial cells (ECs). However, whether different CLA isomers have different actions is not entirely clear, with inconsistent reports to date. Furthermore, in cell culture studies, CLAs have often been used at fairly high concentrations. Whether lower concentrations of CLAs are able to affect EC responses is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two CLAs (cis-9, trans-11 (CLA9,11) and trans-10, cis-12 (CLA10,12)) on the inflammatory responses of ECs. ECs (EA.hy926 cells) were cultured under standard conditions and exposed to CLAs (1 to 50 μM) for 48 h. Then, the cells were cultured for a further 6 or 24 h with tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α, 1 ng/mL) as an inflammatory stimulant. ECs remained viable after treatments with 1 and 10 μM of each CLA, but not after treatment with 50 μM of CLA10,12. CLAs were incorporated into ECs in a concentration-dependent manner. CLA10,12 increased the levels of ICAM-1, IL-6, and RANTES in the culture medium, while CLA9,11 had null effects. Both CLAs (1 μM) decreased the appearance of NFκB1 mRNA, but only CLA9,11 maintained this downregulation at 10 μM. CLA10,12 had no effect on THP-1 cell adhesion to ECs while significantly decreasing the percentage of ECs expressing ICAM-1 and also levels of ICAM-1 expression per cell when used at 10 µM. Although CLA9,11 did not have any effect on ICAM-1 cell surface expression, it reduced THP-1 cell adhesion to the EA.hy926 cell monolayer at both concentrations. In summary, CLA10,12 showed some pro-inflammatory effects, while CLA9,11 exhibited null or anti-inflammatory effects. The results suggest that each CLA has different effects in ECs under a pro-inflammatory condition, highlighting the need to evaluate the effects of CLA isomers independently.
Variation of Fe, Al, and F Substitution in Titanite (Sphene)

Titanite is an important mineral in petrochronology studies. Understanding chemical signatures of titanite from different environments can provide significant data in unraveling the complex histories recorded in their textures and compositions. Using a database of over 8500 titanite analyses from both the literature (3829) and our own data (4900), we found that the ratio of Fe/Al is useful for separating igneous titanite (Fe/Al is typically close to 1:1 and almost always > 1:2) from metamorphic titanite (Fe/Al ratio is < 1:2) with few exceptions. Volcanic titanite grains can also be separated from plutonic titanite grains due to their shorter crystallization histories with compositions clustered more tightly in terms of Fe, Al, and F. Compositions of titanite from plutonic rocks often have later metamorphic or hydrothermal overgrowths that are not found on volcanic titanite. Fe/Al ratios in titanite from silica-undersaturated volcanic and plutonic rocks are typically > 1:2 and include titanite with the highest Fe/Al ratios. Although they overlap the field for normal igneous titanite, other elements (particularly high levels of Nb and low levels of Y) allow them to be separated. In most metamorphic rocks, the Fe/Al ratio is < 1:2 except for a few metamorphic titanite grains that formed in mafic rocks. Titanite from ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks (eclogite facies) tend to have the lowest Fe/Al ratios, typically < 1:8. Titanite from hydrothermal and pegmatitic environments scatter widely in terms of Fe/Al even within single grains due to crystallization from fluids with highly variable compositions. Charge balancing in metamorphic, hydrothermal, and pegmatitic titanite due to Fe+3 and Al+3 substitution into the Ti+4 site is largely accomplished by the coupled substitution of F− for O-2. However, in volcanic and plutonic titanite, the charge imbalance due to Fe+3 and Al+3 substitution appears to be mainly coupled with REE+3 or Y+3 substitution into the Ca+2 site with a lesser contribution from F−.
Prognostic utility of key copy number alterations in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) is a genetically heterogeneous disease, characterized by an abnormal transformation of T cells into highly proliferative leukemic lymphoblasts. Identification of common genetic alterations has provided promising opportunities for better risk stratification in T‐ALL. Current treatment in T‐ALL still poses the major challenge of integrating the knowledge of molecular alterations in the clinical setting. We utilized the Multiplex Ligation Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) method to determine the frequency of common copy number alterations (CNAs) in 128 newly diagnosed T‐ALL patients. We also studied the association of these CNAs with patient's clinical characteristics and survival. The highest frequency of deletion was observed in CDKN2A (59.38%), followed by CDKN2B (46.88%), LMO1 (37.5%), and MTAP (28.12%). PTPN2 (22.66%), PHF6 (14.06%), and MYB (14.06%) had the highest number of duplication events. A total of 89.06% patients exhibited CNAs. STIL::TAL1, NUP214::ABL1, and LMO2::RAG2 fusions were observed in 5.47%, 3.12%, and 0.78% of patients, respectively. CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and PTPN2 gene deletions were mainly observed in pediatric patients, while CNAs of NF1 and SUZ12 were observed more frequently in adults. In pediatric patients, alterations in CDKN2B, CASP8AP2, and AHI1 were associated with poor prognosis, while SUZ12 and NF1 CNAs were associated with favorable prognosis. In adult patients, ABL1 CNA emerged as an independent indicator of poor prognosis. The observed molecular heterogeneity in T‐ALL may provide the basis for variations observed in clinical response in T‐ALL and MLPA based CNA detection may help in risk stratification of these patients.
Study on Intrinsic Influence Law of Specimen Size and Loading Speed on Charpy Impact Test

Charpy impact energy/impact toughness is closely related to external factors such as specimen size. However, when the sample size is small, the linear conversion relationship between the Charpy impact energy of the sub-size and full-size Charpy specimens does not hold; the Charpy impact toughness varies with the size of the specimen and other factors. This indicates that studying the internal influence of external factors on impact energy or impact toughness is the key to accurately understanding and evaluating the toughness and brittleness of materials. In this paper, the effects of strain rate on the flow behavior and the effects of stress triaxiality on the fracture behavior of 30CrMnSiNi2A high-strength steel were investigated using quasi-static smooth bar and notched bar uniaxial tensile tests and Split Hopkinson Tensile Bar (SHTP). Based on the flow behavior and strain rate dependences of the yield behavior, a modified JC model was established to describe the flow behavior and strain rate behavior. Charpy impact tests were simulated using the modified JC model and JC failure model with the determined parameters. Reasonable agreements between the simulation and experimental results have been achieved, and the validity of the model was proved. According to the simulation results, the impact energy was divided into crack initiation energy, crack stability propagation energy and crack instability propagation energy. On this basis, the effects of striker velocity and specimen width on the energy and characteristic load of each part were studied. The results show that each part of the impact energy has a negligible dependence on the hammer velocity, but there is a significantly different positive linear relationship with the width of the sample. The energy increment of each part also showed an inverse correlation with the increase in the sample width. The findings reveal that the internal mechanism of Charpy impact toughness decreases with the increase in sample width; to a certain extent, it also reveals the internal reason why the linear transformation relationship of Charpy impact energy between sub-size specimens and standard specimens is not established when the specimens are small. The analytical method and results presented in this paper can provide a reference for the study of the dynamic behavior of high-strength steel, the relationship between material properties and sample size, and the elastic–plastic impact dynamic design.
ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI PERMINTAAN TELUR AYAM RAS DI KOTA KENDARI DAN HUBUNGANNYA DENGAN KEBERDAYAAN PETERNAK

This study aimed to determine : 1). Factors that affect demand for broiler chicken eggs in Kendari city, 2) The empowerment of broiler breeders, 3) The correlation between demands for broiler chicken eggs and the empowerment of broiler breeders. The study employed an associative (cause-effect) design. Simple of chicken eggs consumers were determine purposively (purposive sampling) involving 50 consumers of broiler chicken eggs, whereas breeders empowerment was sample by using a census / total sampling method, thereby including all 5 breeders of broiler chicken. Data were collected by administering questioneair and study document. The data were analyzed by performing a descriptive statistical analysis and multiple linear regression. Result of the study concluded that : 1) consumers taste price of broiler chicken eggs, price of subtitusing goods, consumers, income, and the number of people and household were among the factors which collectively had a significant effect on the demand for broiler chicken eggs, 2) breeders of broiler chicken habe been increasingly empowered not only in the aspects of changes in worker, capital, productions but also income and profits, 3) demand for broiler chicken eggs had a positive correlations to the empowerment of chicken farmers, althougt the correlations only satisfied a very weak criteria. Keywords : Breeders, broiler chicken eggs, demand, , Factors affecting, empowerment.
Oxidative Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Cold-Pressed Oils and Oils Mixtures

The aim of the study was to analyse the chemical composition and oxidation stability of selected cold-pressed oils and oil mixtures. The oils were tested for their initial quality, fatty acid composition, total phenolic compounds, DPPH, and ABTS free radical scavenging activity. The Rancimat method was used to assess oxidative stability. The obtained results were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the influence of selected chemical properties on the oxidative stability of the oil. It has been found that different factors of oil quality influence the stability of cold-pressed oils. The highest correlation coefficient was noted between the induction time, peroxide value, and TOTOX indicator (r = 0.89). Fatty acid composition, including the percentage of SFA, MUFA, PUFA, and the ability to scavenge ABTS captions radicals, did not significantly affect the oxidative stability of the oils. Black cumin seed oil was the most resistant to the oxidation processes in the Rancimat apparatus, mainly due to the high content of phenolic compounds (384.66 mg GAE/100 g). On the other hand, linseed oil and its mixtures were the least stable. Their fatty acid composition was dominated by a polyunsaturated α-linolenic fatty acid, significantly reducing the antioxidant resistance.
Determinants of Public Healthcare Investment: Cointegration and Causality Evidence from Pakistan

A healthy population and human capital are essential for the emerging countries to achieve faster but more sustainable development, which can only be achieved by investing exclusively in health. The need to probe cause-and-effect relationship between the factors influencing the public health expenditures is the driving force behind this investigation. This study empirically investigates the cointegration and causal relationship between healthcare expenditures (HCE), income, healthcare infrastructure (HCI), and healthcare services (HCS) in Pakistan from 1974 to 2017. Lee-Strazicich and Clemente-Montanes-Reyes structural break unit root tests are employed in addition to standard unit root testing. The Bayer-Hank, Gregory-Hansen, and Hatmei-J cointegration tests consistently show that HCE, income, HCI, and HCS are cointegrated. The short-run Granger causality inferences show unidirectional causalities from HCE to HCI and HCS, from income to HCE, whereas bidirectional causality is observed between HCI and income and between HCI and HCS. Similarly, Long- run casualty results show unidirectional causality from income to HCE, from HCE, income, and HCS to HCI, and bidirectional causality between HCS and HCE. The findings suggest that the government may play an obligatory role in healthcare financing and must pay special attention to the equitable distribution of healthcare facilities, infrastructure, and services across Pakistan.
Classical and Unexpected Effects of Ultra-Micronized PEA in Neuromuscular Function

Recently, the endocannabinoid system has attracted growing attention from the scientific community for its involvement in homeostatic and pathological processes as they pertains to human physiology. Among the constituents of the endocannabinoid system, the molecule palmitoyl ethanolamide has particularly been studied for its ability to reduce several inflammatory processes involving the central nervous system. Here, we reviewed published literature and summarized the main targets of the palmitoyl ethanolamide, along with its unique possible mechanisms for restoring correct functioning of the central nervous system. Moreover, we have highlighted a less-known characteristic of palmitoyl ethanolamide, namely its ability to modulate the function of the neuromuscular junction by binding to acetylcholine receptors in different experimental conditions. Indeed, there are several studies that have highlighted how ultra-micronized palmitoyl ethanolamide is an interesting nutraceutical support for the treatment of pathological neuromuscular conditions, specifically when the normal activity of the acetylcholine receptor is altered. Although further multicentric clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of ultra-micronized palmitoyl ethanolamide in improving symptoms of neuromuscular diseases, all the literature reviewed here strongly supports the ability of this endocannabinoid-like molecule to modulate the acetylcholine receptors thus resulting as a valid support for the treatment of human neuromuscular diseases.
Efficacy of Extended-Release Injectable Naltrexone on Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious public health problem. Over 3.3 million people worldwide die each year due to alcohol-related causes, which is almost 5.3% of all deaths. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of injectable naltrexone treatment for people with AUD based on randomized clinical trial studies conducted between January 2004 and December 2019. Following PRISMA-P, this review searched PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for relevant studies. The inclusion criteria were AUD treatment, injectable naltrexone, and randomized clinical trials. Only articles written in English, involving human participants, and published in peer-reviewed journals were considered for this review. A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Ten out of the 11 studies assessed the impact of injectable naltrexone in a 3- to 6-month follow-up period, with one study having a year follow-up. This systematic review indicates that overall, injectable naltrexone therapy produced positive AUD treatment outcomes, including reduced mean time to first drinking day and/or heavy drinking day, decreased number of drinking and/or heavy drinking days, and increased abstinence, frequently at a statistically significant level in the larger studies. However, in all studies, less than half of the participants were completely abstinent after receiving injectable naltrexone. Injectable naltrexone treatment along with psychosocial therapy holds promise for addressing AUD.
Human vulnerability and variability in the cold: Establishing individual risks for cold weather injuries

ABSTRACT Human tolerance to cold environments is extremely limited and responses between individuals is highly variable. Such physiological and morphological predispositions place them at high risk of developing cold weather injuries [CWI; including hypothermia and/or non-freezing (NFCI) and freezing cold injuries (FCI)]. The present manuscript highlights current knowledge on the vulnerability and variability of human cold responses and associated risks of developing CWI. This review 1) defines and categorizes cold stress and CWI, 2) presents cold defense mechanisms including biological adaptations, acute responses and acclimatization/acclimation and, 3) proposes mitigation strategies for CWI. This body of evidence clearly indicates that all humans are at risk of developing CWI without adequate knowledge and protective equipment. In addition, we show that while body mass plays a key role in mitigating risks of hypothermia between individuals and populations, NFCI and FCI depend mainly on changes in peripheral blood flow and associated decrease in skin temperature. Clearly, understanding the large interindividual variability in morphology, insulation, and metabolism is essential to reduce potential risks for CWI between and within populations.
Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dental Practices in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Survey

An observational cross-sectional survey was planned and carried out to evaluate the economic impact of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic on dental practices in Germany. An online-questionnaire was developed and previously calibrated by a group consisting of experts from dentists, lawyers, and business economists (n = 21; Intra-Class-Coefficient > 0.8). It consisted of four main categories: vital statistics, professional activity and practice structure, economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and validation and contextualization to avoid automated filling in. The questionnaire was administered anonymously to 9732 dentists in Germany, 4434 of whom opened it and 1496 of whom fully completed it. These results were evaluated and summarized. Respondents were divided into seven German economic macro areas. Difference in proportion among questionnaire items was evaluated with χ2 test or Fisher exact test appropriately. Linear trend analysis was performed among German macro areas. Ordinal multinomial linear regression analysis was run to evaluate the association with questionnaire items with respect to a collapse and/or quarantine measures due to a positive test/infection/disease of dental personnel or an increase in average monthly costs due to the pandemic. One-third experienced a collapse or quarantine measures of the predominantly self-employed participating dentists (92%). Small practices were less affected than larger ones. Average monthly costs increased sharply in all practice structures. The findings shall help to better manage future pandemics and provide information to policy makers. As the pandemic situation is still ongoing, the medium- and long-term economic impact should be further evaluated.
Complications of Cochleostomy Versus Round Window Surgical Approaches: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare round window (RW) and cochleostomy (C) surgical approaches for the placement of cochlear implants (CIs). After obtaining the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, 213 peer-reviewed articles published between January 1, 2000, and August 1, 2021, comparing RW and C approaches were identified via a search on Google Scholar, Cochrane, and PubMed. The inclusion criteria were articles having an English version and involving only human subjects (cadaveric or alive). Statistical analysis of compiled electrode-to-modiolus distances was performed with two-sample independent t-tests. Live patients were categorized as having complete hearing preservation (<10 dB threshold shift), partial hearing preservation (10-20 dB shift), or minimal hearing preservation (>20 dB shift). Chi-squared testing was used to compare the distribution of hearing preservation categories between surgical approaches. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the data, only summative information was provided on the effects of approaches on trauma, electrical impedance, speech perception, vestibular dysfunction, ease of scala tympani insertion, and scalar shift. A total of 3,797 CI patients were evaluated. The RW approach resulted in a smaller (0.15 mm smaller on average, p<0.05) electrode-to-modiolus distance when compared to the C approach. The RW approach (93.0%) led to statistically better hearing preservation than the C approach (84.3%) (p<0.05). The RW approach was also associated with better outcomes in terms of speech perception, ease of scala tympani insertion, and reduced scalar shift. No difference between approaches was found with regard to trauma, electrical impedance, and vestibular dysfunction. Based on our findings, the RW approach appears to have several benefits compared to the C approach.
Epilepsy knowledge, awareness, and attitudes among pharmacy students in a private university in Lebanon: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding epilepsy among undergraduate pharmacy students in a Lebanese private university. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted through a web-based questionnaire that was sent to 251 pharmacy students. Data related to demographic characteristics and understanding of epilepsy were collected. Results: Around 58% of the students completed the questionnaire, with a mean age of 20.5 years and the majority being females (80%). Most students believed that the origin of epilepsy is neurological (93%). About 47% were aware of the types of seizures. Lectures were the most relevant source of information (64%). The majority of respondents (97%) knew that treatment of epilepsy is mainly by using medications. Conclusion: This study reflected a satisfactory level of awareness and knowledge of epilepsy among undergraduate pharmacy students, however, there is a need to improve certain aspects of understanding of epilepsy.