Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PNA-Based Graphene Oxide/Porous Silicon Hybrid Biosensor: Towards a Label-Free Optical Assay for Brugada Syndrome

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a synthetic DNA mimic that outperforms the properties of traditional oligonucleotides (ONs). On account of its outstanding features, such as remarkable binding affinity towards complementary DNA or RNA as well as high thermal and chemical stability, PNA has been proposed as a valuable alternative to the ON probe in gene-sensor design. In this study, a hybrid transducer made-up of graphene oxide (GO) nano-sheets covalently grafted onto a porous silicon (PSi) matrix has been investigated for the early detection of a genetic cardiac disorder, the Brugada syndrome (BS). A functionalization strategy towards the realization of a potential PNA-based device is described. A PNA, able to detect the SCN5A gene associated with the BS, has been properly synthesized and used as a bioprobe for the realization of a proof-of-concept label-free optical PNA-biosensor. PSi reflectance and GO photoluminescence signals were simultaneously exploited for the monitoring of the device functionalization and response.
Active Li-ion Battery Charge Balancing System Based on Flyback Converter

The paper deals with the design of an active battery charge balancing system for Li-ion batteries. The Li-ion batteries are sensitive to series connection and thus some sort of balancing system must be implemented in battery packs and modules. An active system for batteries balancing based on flyback converter is chosen to deal with this issue. In the first part of the paper a brief presentation of the issue and proposal of system solution is given along with simulation verification. The second part of the paper provides insight into a design together with a hardware and software solutions, mainly focusing on subsystems and initial choice of components. Finally, an experimental verification is conducted for presented design approval.
THE DARK SIDE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF COGNITIVE BIASES, NEUTRALIZATION, AND RISKY

A significant concern among entrepreneurs is the high failure rates associated with new venture start-ups.These failures are often the result of cognitive biases that cause entrepreneurs to misperceive the risks associated with their ventures. However, in this research, I contend that cognitive biases do not directly lead to risky entrepreneurial behaviours, but rather indirectly through the techniques of neutralization. I further argue that the techniques of neutralization impact each stage in the decision-making process. Using the theory of planned behaviour and the theory of reasoned action as the theoretical foundation, a conceptual framework of cognitive biases, neutralization, and risky entrepreneurial behaviour is developed. Recommendations are offered to curb the instances of misperceived risk and areas of future study are suggested.
The Relationship between Dietary Polyphenol Intakes and Urinary Polyphenol Concentrations in Adults Prescribed a High Vegetable and Fruit Diet

Urinary polyphenol metabolites are potential biomarkers of dietary polyphenol intake. The current study aims to evaluate associations between total diet, vegetable and fruit polyphenol intakes with urinary polyphenol metabolite concentrations in a sample of adults prescribed a diet rich in vegetables and fruit. Thirty-four participants completed a 10-week pre-post study. Participants were asked to consume Australian recommended daily vegetable and fruit serves and attend measurement sessions at baseline and at weeks 2 and 10. Two 24-h diet recalls were collected at each time-point and polyphenol intakes were calculated using the Phenol-Explorer database. Spot urine samples, collected at each time-point, were analyzed for 15 polyphenol metabolites using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Spearman’s correlation analyzes assessed the strength of relationships between urinary and dietary polyphenols. Linear mixed models were used to investigate relationships between polyphenol excretion and intake. Total urinary polyphenols were significantly correlated with total polyphenol intakes at week 10 (rs = 0.47) and fruit polyphenols at week 2 (rs = 0.38). Hippuric acid was significantly correlated with vegetable polyphenols at baseline (rs = 0.39). Relationships were identified between individual polyphenol metabolites and vegetable and fruit polyphenols. Linear mixed model analyzes identified that for every 1 mg increase in polyphenol intakes, urinary polyphenol excretion increased by 16.3 nmol/g creatinine. Although the majority of relationships were not sufficiently strong or consistent at different time-points, promising relationships were observed between total urinary polyphenols and total polyphenol intakes, and hippuric acid and vegetable polyphenols.
Extended Reality: How They Incorporated for ASD Intervention

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can cause difficulties of sufferers in social interaction with rigid and repetitive behavior. Children on the lower end of the spectrum who are harder to identify still require intervention for their condition. Extended Reality (XR) refers to the new paradigm of human-computer interaction that is currently predominantly realized with Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) as the human-computer interface. In this paper, reviewed literatures on XR applications found an eagerness of the ASD children to learn through XR. Additionally, most of the reviewed studies found moderate evidence for extended reality to assist children in ASD. Aim of this study is to provide fundamental reviews on immersive learning experiences in ASD for our future works on autism intervention and detection.
Non-Destructive Modeling of a 9V Alkaline Battery for EMC Simulation Based on S-Parameter Measurement

Batteries are fundamental components of many modern systems, most prominently electric vehicles (EV) or mobile devices. Hence, generation of battery models is becoming a crucial task to evaluate the performance of suchlike electronic systems in simulation, including electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). But even commercial cells like a 9V block battery may critically impact daily EMC measurement tasks, namely if they are used for powering tested devices or peripheral equipment. To depict the battery’s influence by simulation, a model of selfsame suitable for 3D simulation with commercial software is developed. It is validated by two practical experiments and eventually applied to reproduce results of a bulk current injection (BCI) test.
Thermal Stabilization of the Layered System $\text{Fe}_{3}\text{Zr}-\alpha-\text{Fe}$

The layered system $\text{Zr}(2\ \mu \mathrm{m})-\text{Fe}(5\ \mu \mathrm{m})$ after magnetron sputtering of Zirconium coating and isothermal annealing at 900°C have been studied by means of Mässbauer spectroscopy on 57Fe nuclei and XRD. The sequence of phase transformations is established. The relative content of phases formed in the sample volume at each of the annealing stages was obtained. The possibility of obtaining thermal stabilization of the intermetallic phase of Fe3Zr on an armco-Iron substrate is shown.
Analyzing Pre-braking Behaviors of Drivers with Varying Experience

Many accidents are caused by drivers abruptly braking, or by their braking-related behaviors. However, it is challenging to collect data on the pre-braking behaviors of drivers by using sensors installed on vehicles, because of which this issue has not been adequately studied. In this paper, we focus on the differences in pre-braking behaviors between experienced and novice drivers by analyzing data collected from a motion capture device attached to them. The results of experiments and the Mann–Whitney U-test show that experienced drivers usually set their feet farther than novice drivers from the braking pad to reduce the chances of pressing it by mistake. However, when they needed to brake, their right foot had a lower response time for pushing the braking pad than novice drivers. The results of this study can provide guidelines for preventing accidents in the development of advanced driver assistance systems and can offer useful insights for training new drivers.
A pH-Adjustable Tissue Clearing Solution That Preserves Lipid Ultrastructures: Suitable Tissue Clearing Method for DDS Evaluation

Visualizing biological events and states to resolve biological questions is challenging. Tissue clearing permits three-dimensional multicolor imaging. Here, we describe a pH-adjustable tissue clearing solution, Seebest (SEE Biological Events and States in Tissues), which preserves lipid ultrastructures at an electron microscopy level. Adoption of polyethylenimine was required for a wide pH range adjustment of the tissue clearing solution. The combination of polyethylenimine and urea had a good tissue clearing ability for multiple tissues within several hours. Blood vessels stained with lipophilic carbocyanine dyes were deeply visible using the solution. Adjusting the pH of the solution was important to maximize the fluorescent intensity and suppress dye leakage during tissue clearing. The spatial distribution of doxorubicin and oxidative stress were observable using the solution. Moreover, spatial distribution of liposomes in the liver was visualized. Hence, the Seebest solution provides pH-adjustable, rapid, sufficient tissue clearing, while preserving lipid ultrastructures, which is suitable for drug delivery system evaluations.
Using Genipin to Immobilize Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 on Zirconia Surface for Enhancing Cell Adhesion and Mineralization in Dental Implant Applications

Our objective in this study was to promote cell responses through the immobilization of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) on roughened zirconia (ZrO2) through using the natural cross-linker genipin in dental implant applications. Field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to analyze the surface characterizations, including the topography, chemistry, and functional groups, respectively, of the test specimens. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were used to detect cell responses (adhesion, proliferation, and mineralization). The surface characterizations analysis results revealed that genipin was effective in immobilizing BMP-2 on roughened zirconia surfaces. BMP-2 proved effective in promoting the adhesion and mineralization of hMSCs on roughened zirconia. The surface modification proposed has potential in zirconia dental implant applications.
Solar Energy Conversion in Plants and Bacteria Studied Using FTIR Difference Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Computational Methodologies

This dissertation presents a study of the molecular mechanism underlying the highly efficient solar energy conversion processes that occur in the Photosystem I (PS I) reaction centers in plants and bacteria. The primary electron donor P700 is at the heart of solar energy conversion process in PS I and the aim is to obtain a better understanding of the electronic and structural organization of P700 in the ground and excited states. Static Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) difference spectroscopy (DS) in combination with site directed mutagenesis and Density Functional Theory (DFT) based vibrational frequency simulations were used to investigate how protein interactions such as histidine ligation and hydrogen bonding modulate this organization. (P700-P700) FTIR DS at 77K were obtained from a series of mutants from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. 6803 (S. 6803) where the amino acid residues near the C=O groups of the two chlorophylls of P700 where specifically changed. (P700-P700) FTIR DS was also obtained for a set of mutants from C. reinhardtii where the axial ligand to A0, the primary electron acceptor in PS I was modified. The FTIR DS obtained from these mutants provides information on the axial ligands, the hydrogen bonding status as well as the polarity of the environment of specific functional groups that are part of the chlorophyll molecules that constitute P700. Assignment of the FTIR bands to vibrational modes in specific types of environment is very difficult. In order to assist the assignment of the difference bands in experimental spectra DFT based vibrational mode frequency calculations were undertaken for Chl-a and Chl-a model molecular systems under different set of conditions; in the gas phase, in solvents using the Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM), in the presence of explicit solvent molecules using QM/MM methods, and in the presence of axial ligands and hydrogen bonds. DFT methods were also used to calculate the charge, spin and redox properties of Chl-a/Chl-a’ dimer models that are representative of P700, the primary electron donor in PS I. INDEX WORDS: Photosynthesis, Photosystem I (PS I), P700, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (S. 6803), Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii), Density Functional Theory (DFT), Chlorophyll a (Chl-a), Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM), QM/MM SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION IN PLANTS AND BACTERIA STUDIED USING FTIR DIFFERENCE SPECTROSCOPY AND QUANTUM CHEMICAL COMPUTATIONAL METHODOLOGIES
How Does Parental Smartphone Addiction Affect Adolescent Smartphone Addiction?: Testing the Mediating Roles of Parental Rejection and Adolescent Depression

Little has been known about the mechanisms underlying parental smartphone addiction (PSA) and adolescent smartphone addiction (ASA). This study examined whether PSA predicts ASA and investigated the mediating roles of parental rejection (PR) and adolescent depression (ADP) among a sample of 4,415 parent-child dyads. Analysis of a serial multiple-mediator model indicated that PSA positively predicted ASA (B = 0.13, SE = 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.09-0.16). In addition, PR and ADP sequentially mediated the link between PSA and ASA (B = 0.01, 95% boot CI = 0.01-0.02). Implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Biological Activities of Two Essential Oils from Pogostemon cablin and Eupatorium fortunei and Their Major Components against Fungi Isolated from Panax notoginseng

Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F.H. Chen (Araliaceae), of which the dry root and rhizome are precious traditional Chinese medicine, suffers severely from diseases during planting. Essential oils (EOs) with antimicrobial activity are a possibility for the development of green pesticides. We extracted EOs from Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. and Eupatorium fortunei Turcz. , respectively and tested their inhibitory rates on fungi isolated from diseased P. notoginseng by the Oxford cup method. The compounds of the EO were identified by GC/MS and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the EOs and their main components were evaluated by the 96‐well plate method. We also mixed P. cablin EO, E. fortunei EO and hymexazol in pairs to explore whether their combinations produce stronger antifungal effects than individual components. Finally, we evaluated the effects of the EOs against Fusarium oxysporum in vivo. P. cablin EO and E. fortunei EO exhibited different antifungal activities against fungi, with the inhibitory rates of 21.02 %–100 % and 54.84 %–100 % and MICs of 0.07–0.88 mg/mL and 0.20–1.17 mg/mL, respectively. Pogostone (24.96 %) and thymol (15.64 %) were the major compounds of P. cablin EO and E. fortunei EO, respectively, and they exhibited stronger antifungal activities than EOs, with MICs of 0.008–0.078 mg/mL and 0.12–0.31 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, hymexazol was mixed with E. fortunei EO, and the inhibitory effect against Cylindrocarpon destructans was enhanced with a synergistic effect. The disease incidence and disease index of EO treatments decreased significantly in vivo. Based on our study, P. cablin EO and E. fortunei EO have great potential to be developed into green fungicides for use in agriculture to control diseases of P. notoginseng.
Can Gut Microbiota Affect Dry Eye Syndrome?

Using metagenomics, continuing evidence has elicited how intestinal microbiota trigger distant autoimmunity. Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the ocular surface, with frequently unmet therapeutic needs requiring new interventions for dry eye management. Current studies also suggest the possible relation of autoimmune dry eye with gut microbiota. Herein, we review the current knowledge of how the gut microbiota interact with the immune system in homeostasis as well as its influence on rheumatic and ocular autoimmune diseases, and compare their characteristics with SS. Both rodent and human studies regarding gut microbiota in SS and environmental dry eye are explored, and the effects of prebiotics and probiotics on dry eye are discussed. Recent clinical studies have commonly observed a correlation between gut dysbiosis and clinical manifestations of SS, while environmental dry eye portrays characteristics in between normal and autoimmune. Moreover, a decrease in both the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and genus Faecalibacterium have most commonly been observed in SS subjects. The presumable pathways forming the “gut dysbiosis–ocular surface–lacrimal gland axis” are introduced. This review may provide perspectives into the link between the gut microbiome and dry eye, enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis in autoimmune dry eye, and be useful in the development of future interventions.
Preamble Split Transmission and Joint Active User Detection for Massive Connectivity

Low-power delay-tolerable services are very important applications of future large-scale IoT. Active user detection is its critical challenge. By exploiting the sparsity of the received signal, this challenge could be converted to a compressive sensing problem and hence solved by the approximated message passing (AMP) algorithm. In order to improve the active user detection performance, a preamble split transmission (PST) random access (RA) scheme is proposed, in which each partition of the preamble is sent in different coherent time duration to achieve the time diversity. Correspondingly, a joint active user detection (JAUD) algorithm is proposed to jointly detect the distributed split preambles at the base station. Simulation results show that the proposed access scheme achieves a higher detection accuracy at the cost of a longer access delay. According to the delay-tolerable characteristic of the target network, this cost could be acceptable.
Closing the Gender Gap in Engineering: Students Role Model Program

A report of UNESCO highlights that in higher education, only 35% of students who enrolled in majors related to STEM are women. Stereotypes, cultural barriers, lack of confidence, lack of knowledge of career opportunities, and lack of vision of possibilities are more than enough reasons for students who do not pursue university studies in areas of Engineering or drop out University. The Professional School of Software Engineering at Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa was not the exception to this reality. To make an impact and change our reality, the authors started a “Students Role Model Program”. The objective was to create a community of female students that became role models who share their motivation to STEM with new female students and to take active participation in the recruitment process. The main activities were divided into two branches: a) Exposure to role-models at the student level and b) Participation in the international community Django Girls. We believe that the main contribution of this work is to show the structure of our program which can be replicated in different engineering majors that seek to improve the retention of their female students.
Exploring Intrinsic Motivation and Knowledge Sharing from the Perspective of Islamic Teaching

Every individual has the option whether to share, or not to share their knowledge. Literature suggests that the motivation to share can be influenced by intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors are normally initiated and are relative to the individual’s interest, or intention. Extrinsic motivation is subject to the work environment, the support system, and the individual’s organisation. Thus, the intention to share can be relative to the environment surrounding the individual. This paper aims to explain the intrinsic motivation factors for Knowledge Sharing (KS) among academics from a public higher education institution in Malaysia. In addition, it was proposed to study intention, and examine whether this was relevant to the concept based on Islamic teaching. Using the explorative study, the paper discussed the results based on a qualitative approach where eighteen academics were interviewed to collect data. Social Determination Theory (SDT) was used and, based on Islamic teaching, the paper study paid particular attention to the concept of brotherhood and ‘ikhlas’ (sincerity). The findings of the study were that academics acting as subject matter experts, understood their role to share knowledge and intrinsic motivation was a significant influence in their willingness to share. Further, based on Islamic teaching, it was found that the concept of ‘ikhlas’, or sincerity, and the concept of ‘happy to help’, or ‘happy to see people happy’, matched and coincided when they shared their knowledge.
Ouabain Decreases Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase (SERCA2a) Activity in Rat Hearts by a Process Involving Protein Oxidation

1 Ouabain Decreases Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase (SERCA2a) Activity in Rat Hearts by a Process Involving Protein Oxidation by David J. Kennedy, Sandeep Vetteth, Miaorong Xie, Sankaridrug M. Periyasamy, Zijian Xie , Chi Han, Venkatesha Basrur , Krishna Mutgi , Vladimir Fedorov, Deepak Malhotra and Joseph I. Shapiro From 1 The Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Medical University of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, United States; 2 Department of Medicine, Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China; 3 The Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; 4 Proteomics Core Laboratory, Medical University of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, United States.
A Body Channel Communication Technique Utilizing Decision Feedback Equalization

This article presents the body channel communication technique that first adopts decision feedback equalisation. For the first time, we characterised post-cursor intersymbol interference of a single-bit pulse response of a human body channel for decision feedback equalisation achieving the first body channel communication faster than 100 Mb/s. In the proposed technique, an 8-tap decision feedback equaliser is utilised at the receiver to compensate for intersymbol interference of the body channel. The experimental results show that the proposed prototype transceiver achieved the highest data rates of 150 Mb/s and 10 Mb/s along 20-cm and about 100-cm body channels, respectively. Compared to the previous best result measured for the same body-channel distance of about 100 cm, the data rate is improved by ten times, showing that the proposed technique can significantly increase the speed of body channel communication.