Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen sulfide protects retina from blue light-induced photodamage and degeneration via inhibiting ROS-mediated ER stress-CHOP apoptosis signal

ABSTRACT Background: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a small reducing gas molecule with various biological functions such as anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of exogenous H2S in the experimental models of retinal photodamage in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Rats with open eyelids were pretreated with H2S (80~120 μmol/kg) for 10 days and then continuously exposed to blue light (435~445nm, 11.2W/m2) for 8 h to establish in vivo experimental model. ARPE-19 cells were pretreated with H2S and then exposed to blue light to establish in vitro experimental model. Results: In vivo experiments, H2S significantly ameliorated blue light-induced retinal oxidative stress, apoptosis and degeneration. Moreover, H2S inhibited the activation of blue light-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress CHOP apoptotic signaling. In vitro experiments, H2S improved blue light-induced oxidative stress and oxidative damage. H2S inhibited ROS-mediated activation of ER stress CHOP apoptotic signaling. H2S alleviated blue light-induced apoptosis and increases cell viability. The ER stress inhibitor 4-PBA alleviated blue light-induced apoptosis and increases cell viability. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that H2S can inhibit ROS-mediated ER stress-CHOP apoptosis signal, thereby alleviating blue light-triggered retinal apoptosis and degeneration.
Pneumococcal Δpep27 Immunization Attenuates TLRs and NLRP3 Expression and Relieves Murine Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR), one of the most common inflammatory diseases, is caused by immunoglobulin E (IgE)–mediated reactions against inhaled allergens. AR involves mucosal inflammation driven by type 2 helper T (Th2) cells. Previously, it was shown that the Streptococcus pneumoniae pep27 mutant (Δpep27) could prevent and treat allergic asthma by reducing Th2 responses. However, the underlying mechanism of Δpep27 immunization in AR remains undetermined. Here, we investigated the role of Δpep27 immunization in the development and progression of AR and elucidated potential mechanisms. In an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR mice model, Δpep27 alleviated allergic symptoms (frequency of sneezing and rubbing) and reduced TLR2 and TLR4 expression, Th2 cytokines, and eosinophil infiltration in the nasal mucosa. Mechanistically, Δpep27 reduced the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the nasal mucosa by down-regulating the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. In conclusion, Δpep27 seems to alleviate TLR signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation to subsequently prevent AR.
Design and fabrication of a 3.3 kV 4H-SiC MOSFET

A 4H-SiC MOSFET with breakdown voltage higher than 3300 V has been successfully designed and fabricated. Numerical simulations have been performed to optimize the parameters of the drift layer and DMOSFET cell structure of active area. The n-type epilayer is 33 μm thick with a doping of 2.5 × 1015 cm−3. The devices were fabricated with a floating guard ring edge termination. The drain current Id = 5 A at Vg = 20 V, corresponding to Vd = 2.5 V.
Patterns of local R&D cooperation of foreign subsidiaries in an intermediate country: innovative and structural factors

We attempt to contribute to a better understanding of cooperative innovation patterns of foreign subsidiaries (FS) in Spain as a representative intermediate country, going deeply into three main aspects: firstly, a sectoral taxonomy which combines international technological dynamism and revealed technological advantage as a way to understand such patterns. Secondly we focus our attention on innovative intensive subsidiaries, assuming they are the most important ones for hosting countries. Thirdly, we combine innovation and structural-competitive variables to explain local cooperation. We found more intense cooperation of FS with local agents in dynamic specialization sectors, as well as the fact that this is mostly carried out in a complementary mode with inner knowledge capabilities of the companies. Cooperative activities are influenced by economicstructural factors of the Spanish economy, particularly in highly innovative companies. Cooperative strategies of domestic firms might also have an influence on those of foreign subsidiaries.
The role of lubricant feed temperature on the performance of twin groove journal bearings: an experimental study

An experimental assessment of the influence of lubricant feed temperature (Tf) on the behaviour of twin groove hydrodynamic journal bearings has been undertaken. Several loads, shaft speeds and bearing geometries were tested under constant lubricant feed pressure (pf), while Tf took four different values between 29°C and 58°C. It was found that the increase of Tf has an effect in bearing performance which is analogous in many ways to the effect of the increase in eccentricity: increase in lubricant flow rate (especially in the low eccentricity range), in outlet temperature (Tout) and in maximum bush temperature (Tmax). Nevertheless, the latter increase was lower than the corresponding increase in Tf. Also, in the high eccentricity range the increase in flow rate due to the increase of Tf could be deceiving in the sense that the additional flow was supplied mainly to the inactive region of the bearing (the unloaded land of the bearing).
Nuclear Emergency Management in Europe: a Review of Approaches to Decision Making

The need for transparent and consistent decision making in nuclear emergency management across local, regional, national and international levels is well recognised. Several decision support systems have been developed to help achieve this; but, by and large, with little consultation with potential DMs and with limited understanding of the emergency management procedures across Europe and how they differ. This work, part of a European Fifth Framework project EVATECH, considers the application of process modelling to document and compare the emergency management process in four countries. We have observed that the four process models are substantially different in their organizational structure and identified differences in where decisions are made, the management of advice and the communication network style. This papers focus is on the results of the comparison and the implications for the design and use of decision support systems.
On the effectiveness of performance-based adaptive automation

ABSTRACT This article examines the effectiveness of different forms of performance-based adaptive automation (PBAA). Using data from three experiments (N = 10, N = 38, N = 40), different models of algorithm design were compared for their effectiveness in driving PBAA. The following components were varied: type of task (i.e. primary or secondary tasks), baseline of performance data (e.g. moving average), and triggering criterion (i.e. level of deviation from standard performance). The data were generated by operators working with a computer-based simulation of a process control environment. The results showed that none of the models enjoyed a convincing level of effectiveness. The automation algorithms generally achieved higher levels of miss prevention than false alarm prevention. Surprisingly, primary task performance was generally better at driving PBAA than secondary task performance. The results suggest that it may be difficult to design an effective algorithm of PBAA if the work environment is highly complex.
Proof of Transit

Several technologies such as Traffic Engineering (TE), Service Function Chaining (SFC), and policy based routing are used to steer traffic through a specific, user-defined path. This document defines mechanisms to securely prove that traffic transited said defined path. These mechanisms allow to securely verify whether, within a given path, all packets traversed all the nodes that they are supposed to visit.
Dynamic Modeling and Cascade Failure Analysis of the Mumbai Grid Incident of October 12, 2020

The Mumbai region in India experienced a massive outage on October 12, 2020, due to cascade failure. The event taught some serious lessons to the grid operators and highlighted the need for energy security and reliability. In this incident, the cascade tripping of the external transmission network resulted in an unexpected island containing Mumbai city isolating it from the rest of Indian power grid. Although the Mumbai islanding scheme was operational, it failed to survive due to high rate of change of frequency (ROCOF). Globally, such blackouts occur due to low probability, high impact events. Major blackouts are caused by a set of triggering events that are usually preceded by some incidents that weaken the power system. Further, the failure of important security mechanisms and protections can compound the effect of disturbances. In view of this, the paper focuses on the consequences of cascading events that led to several blackouts in history. This paper analyses the October 12, 2020, Mumbai power grid failure by recreating various scenarios that resulted in the blackout through dynamic modelling on the PSS/E platform. The results were validated using data collected from phasor measurement units (PMUs) and SCADA. In this article various challenges faced during unfolding of the event are presented. Lessons learnt such as appropriate settings and tuning were identified to ensure the survival of islanding scheme. Assessment of Mumbai power system’s transfer capability is done to facilitate the optimal mix of imported and embedded generation.
Attenuated niacin-induced skin flush response in individuals with clinical high risk for psychosis

Background Impaired sensitivity of the skin flush response to niacin is one of the most replicated findings in patients with schizophrenia. However, prior studies have usually focused on postonset psychosis, and little is known about the clinical high-risk (CHR) phase of niacin sensitivity in psychosis. Aims To profile and compare the niacin flush response among CHR individuals (converters and non-converters), patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and healthy controls (HCs). Methods Sensitivity to four concentrations (0.1–0.0001 M) of aqueous methylnicotinate was tested in 105 CHR individuals, 57 patients with FES and 52 HCs. CHR individuals were further grouped as converters and non-converters according to the 2-year follow-up outcomes. Skin flush response scores were rated on a 4-point scale. Results Of the 105 CHR individuals, 21 individuals were lost during the study, leaving 84 CHR individuals; 16 (19.0%) converted to full psychosis at 2 years of follow-up. Flush response scores identified in the CHR samples were characterised as modest degree levels, intermediate between those of HC individuals and patients with FES. The flush responses in the CHR group mimicked the responses observed in the FES group at higher concentrations (0.01 M, 0.1 M) and longer time points (15 min, 20 min); however, these became comparable with the responses in the HC group at the shorter time points and at lower concentrations. The converters exhibited lower mean flush response scores than the non-converters. Conclusions Attenuated niacin-induced flushing emerged during the early phase of psychosis. New devices should be developed and verified for objective quantification of skin responses in the CHR population.
Static Modeling of Pneumatic Artificial Muscle Actuator

Artificial pneumatic muscles, derived from the so-called McKibben muscle, are particularly popular for actuating robot joints with hybrid position/stiffness or torque/stiffness control. To be effective, such control modes require an accurate static model of the actuator. While historical studies about the McKibben artificial muscle privileged a physical approach of static force $F(P,\epsilon)$ analysis versus both control pressure $P$ and muscle length or contraction ratio $\epsilon$, the recent marketing of Festo air muscle led to purely mathematical modeling approaches, especially in the form: $F(P,\epsilon)=f(\epsilon)P-g(\epsilon)$ with $f$, $g$ positive and $g(\epsilon=0)=0$. Such a form is particularly useful for static modeling of the actuator made of two antagonist artificial muscles. We provide a justification of this mathematical model based on a physical approach combining the classic theory of McKibben muscle, applied to a thick-walled inner tube, with a Neo-Hookean model of rubber elasticity. We developed a four parameter static model, that we applied to the popular Festo DMSP-20-400 air muscle, and to a hand-made McKibben muscle. According to this model, the $f$ -component would derive from McKibben muscle theory, while the g-component could be interpreted as a purely resistive elastic force. Because this model uses a so-called $C_{1}$ -coefficient determined empirically, we propose to call our approach: hybrid physical-empirical.
The Intersection of Economic, Social, and Political Forces: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Family Businesses in China

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in China. Based on recent statistics, about 67% of firms were non-state owned, which contributed 47% of the R&D in 2017 (Report of the Top 500 Firms in China, 2017). The majority of these firms are SMEs, many of which are family businesses. Despite their importance, we lack both theoretical and empirical understanding of how these firms cope with the opportunities and challenges in China's fast-changing transitional market. In light of the mission of Management and Organization Review (MOR), i.e., publishing ground-breaking insights about management and organizations in China, we called for this special issue in order to promote the value of the unique Chinese institutional context for management inquiries.
Off-the-shelf Wi-Fi Indoor Smartphone Localization

Recently released Wi-Fi adapters, such as Intel AX200 802.11ax NIC, support both Channel State Information (CSI) measurement and Fine Time Measurement (FTM). Angle of Arrival (AoA) estimation with CSI, using MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC), and FTM are both promising localization methods. But each suffers from practical constraints pertinent to the specific hardware and firmware used. The result can be rather inaccurate localization if AoA or FTM alone were used. We identify the issues/challenges specific to AX200, and as a remedy, we propose a localization approach that combines both CSI-based AoA and FTM. Our approach does not require any modification of the localization target device. This makes the solution readily available for localizing smartphones or any Wi-Fi devices with FTM functionality. Our experimental evaluation shows that our approach achieves a successful localization ratio of 80%, with localization error less than 1m; and less than 0.5m for 66% of the experiments.
CDC25C as a Predictive Biomarker for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Lung Adenocarcinoma

The application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in non-small cell lung cancer has significantly improved patient survival. However, most patients fail to respond to ICIs or develop drug resistance during treatment. Therefore, novel biomarkers are needed to predict the efficacy of ICIs or provide clues on how to overcome drug resistance. Here, it was revealed that cell division cycle 25C (CDC25C) expression was upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) compared to that of normal lung tissue in multiple databases. This was further verified by q-PCR. Furthermore, higher CDC25C expression was associated with shorter overall survival and worse pathological stage. Most importantly, a higher CDC25C expression was associated with shorter progression-free survival in LUAD patients treated with nivolumab, suggesting the role of the cell cycle in immunotherapy. In addition, CDC25C expression was significantly associated with immune cell infiltration and immune-related signatures in the LUAD tumor microenvironment. Moreover, CDC25C was differentially expressed and correlated with overall survival in multiple tumors, indicating that CDC25C is a broad-spectrum biomarker. Taken together, our study demonstrates that CDC25C is a prognostic biomarker for LUAD patients, especially for patients treated with ICIs. Our study also provides strong evidence for the role of the cell cycle in ICIs therapy and tumor microenvironment.
Interactions With Plant Defences Isolate Sympatric Populations of an Herbivorous Mite

Host plant specialisation can promote evolutionary divergence between herbivore populations associated with different plant species. While the mechanisms by which specialist species exploit their hosts have been studied widely across taxa, less is known about the mechanisms that allow intraspecific variants to arise and to be maintained across spatial and temporal scales. To understand whether adaptations to plant defences against herbivory contribute to the co-existence of genetically distinct populations of an herbivore, we investigate the interaction between honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) and sympatric specialist and generalist populations of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae. We found that mite folivory induces the production of sticky droplets on honeysuckle, which have a defensive role: they increase mite mortality directly, and potentially indirectly by increasing the arrestment of a predator. We show that droplet induction and the preference to feed on honeysuckle depend on mite genotype, where the generalist avoids this host and the specialist suppresses droplet production. These traits are heritable and dominant in F1 hybrids between generalists and specialists. Selection pressure from honeysuckle and differences in host preference likely reduce the opportunity of mating encounters on this host. We propose that the interplay between selection from host plant defences and ecological barriers to hybridisation contribute to the persistence of genetically distinct populations of a single species in sympatry.
Survival Impacts of Perineural Invasion on Patients Under Different Radical Hysterectomies Due to Early Cervical Cancer

Objective Cervical cancer is a common gynecological malignancy. In addition to the open radical hysterectomy (ORH) and laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH), laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (LNSRH) could be another treatment option since it could preserve urinary, colorectal, and sexual functions. However, LNSRH might result in early cancer metastasis and recurrence due to inadequate tumor resection. Additionally, whether LNSRH should be considered based on perineural invasion (PNI) status remains controversial. To assess different types of hysterectomy on the outcome of early cervical cancer with PIN. Methods A retrospective study was performed in early cervical cancer patients who received ORH, LRH, or LNSRH between January 2012 and December 2019. Age, FIGO cancer stages, histopathological types, tumor size, histological grade, invasion depth, lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular space invasion, and PNI were documented. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were recorded. Results A total of 174 patients were included, with 33, 69, and 72 patients received LRH, ORH, and LNSRH, respectively. Twenty-one patients (12.1%) had PNI. DFS (P = 0.000) and OS (P = 0.022) periods were shortened in positive PNI patients than in negative PNI patients (P = 0.000 and 0.022, respectively). In patients with positive PNI, lymph node metastasis, but not the surgery type, was an independent risk factor for DFS and OS (P = 0.000). Conclusion Early cervical cancer patients with PNI had shorter postoperative DFS and OS periods. In these patients, lymph node metastasis, but not the type of hysterectomy, was independently associated with DFS and OS.
Comparison of Sex Differences in Outcomes of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background Sex differences in the outcomes of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remain controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate sex differences in the outcomes of patients with aSAH. Method This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of consecutive patients with aSAH, admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, Wuhan University Zhongnan Hospital, from May 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was used to evaluate the prognosis of patients at discharge. Outcome indicators included cerebral ischemia, hydrocephalus, and mRS ≥ 2 at discharge. Results The majority (65%) of the 287 patients with aSAH included in the study were females. Patients were divided into female (n = 184) and male (n = 99) groups; the female patients were significantly older than the male patients (61.3 ± 8.5 years vs. 60.0 ± 8.5 years, p = 0.032). The incidence of comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease) was higher in the female group than in the male group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Although more female patients than male patients underwent endovascular treatment, there was no statistical difference in the treatment approach between the two groups. Comparison of post-operative complications and mRS scores at discharge revealed that the rate of cerebral ischemia and mRS ≥ 2 at discharge were significantly higher among female patients than among male patients. Moreover, this difference persisted after propensity adjustment for age and treatment approach. Analysis of risk factors for poor prognosis at discharge in both pre- and post-adjustment patients revealed cerebral ischemia and high mFisher score (mFisher = 3/4) to be independent risk factors. Conclusion Female patients with aSAH have a worse prognosis than male patients, and this difference may be because women are more susceptible to cerebral ischemia.
Pre-sleep Protein Supplementation Affects Energy Metabolism and Appetite in Sedentary Healthy Adults

Purpose To assess the acute effect of pre-sleep protein supplementation combined with resistance exercise on energy metabolism (including 24-h total energy expenditure (TEE), sleep energy expenditure (SEE), basal energy expenditure (BEE), glycolipid oxidation, and appetite of sedentary adults. Methods A total of thirty-one sedentary participants completed this randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Participants completed the following 24-h experimental conditions in random order in the Human Calorimeter chamber: (1) 40-g protein supplementation with dinner before a nighttime resistance exercise, and followed by pre-sleep placebo intake (PRO-PLA); (2) placebo intake with dinner before a nighttime resistance exercise, and followed by pre-sleep 40-g protein supplementation (PLA-PRO); and (3) placebo supplementation both with dinner and pre-sleep combined with a nighttime resistance exercise (PLA). Subjective appetite score before breakfast the next day was evaluated using the visual analog scale. Results The SEE values were significantly higher by a mean of 21.7 kcal and 33.3 kcal in PRO-PLA (318.3 ± 44.3 kcal) and PLA-PRO (329.9 ± 45.2 kcal), respectively, than in PLA (296.6 ± 46.6 kcal). In addition, the SEE values for PLA-PRO was also significantly higher by 11.6 kcal than that for PRO-PLA. Further, the fullness the next morning was significantly higher by 30.8% in PLA-PRO (43.9 ± 23.5 mm) than in PLA (33.5 ± 26.6 mm). These effects remained after adjustment for 24-h energy intake. Conclusion Pre-sleep protein supplementation combined with resistance exercise can significantly increase the SEE and fullness in the next morning, indicating a possible strategy to improve sleep energy metabolism in the sedentary population.