Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Boswellia Essential Oil: Natural Antioxidant as an Effective Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Agent

The research aimed to determine the chemical composition, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity as well as the antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and two fungal Candida ATCC strains of a commercial Boswellia essential oil (BEO) containing Boswellia carteri, Boswellia sacra, Boswellia papryfera, and Boswellia frereana. Additionally, molecular docking was carried out to show the molecular dynamics of the compounds identified from the essential oil against three bacterial protein targets and one fungal protein target. The major components identified by GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) were represented by α-pinene, followed by limonene. Evaluation of antioxidant activity using the DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl) method showed high inhibition comparable to the synthetic antioxidant used as a control. Oxidative stability evaluation showed that BEO has the potential to inhibit primary and secondary oxidation products with almost the same efficacy as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). The use of BEO at a concentration of 500 ppm provided the best protection against secondary oxidation during 30 days of storage at room temperature, which was also evident in the peroxide value. Regarding the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, the membrane lysis assay and the protein denaturation test revealed that even if the value of protection was lower than the value registered in the case of dexamethasone, the recommendation of using BEO as a protective agent stands, considering the lower side effects. Gram-positive bacteria proved more sensitive, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa presented different sensitivity, with higher MICs (minimal inhibitory concentration). Haemophilus influenzae demonstrated a MIC at 2% but with consecutive inhibitory values in a negative correlation with the increase in concentration, in contrast to E. coli, which demonstrated low inhibitory rates at high concentrations of BEO. The computational tools employed revealed interesting binding energies with compounds having low abundance. The interaction of these compounds and the proteins (tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, DNA gyrase, peptide deformylase, 1,3-β-glucan synthase) predicts hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues, which are reported in the active sites of the proteins. Even so, compounds with low abundance in BEO could render the desired bioactive properties to the overall function of the oil sustained by physical factors such as storage and temperature. Interestingly, the findings from this study demonstrated the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Boswellia essential oil against food-related pathogens, thus making the oil a good candidate for usage in food, feed or food-safety-related products.
Fine structure of field-aligned current sheets deduced from spacecraft and ground-based observations: Initial FREJA results

Due to its special orbit—over large segments tangential to the auroral oval and at altitudes around 1600 km—FREJA provides measurements from a sparsely sampled region. Here we will introduce initial results from the magnetic field experiment. For one event occurring about an hour after midnight we investigate the fine structure of the field-aligned currents associated with a westward electrojet. From simultaneous ground-based observations we deduce the orientation and the spatial and temporal variations of the electrojet. Space-borne magnetic field measurements provide estimates of the field-aligned current density. We deduce a lower limit of 1.75 km for the thickness of field-aligned current filaments. The comparison between electric and magnetic field recordings on FREJA suggests a poor correlation of these quantities for this event.
Isotopic ratios of water vapor and methane in the stratosphere: Comparison between ATMOS measurements and a one‐dimensional model

[1] A one-dimensional model simulating the transport and chemistry of methane and water vapor including their isotopic ratios in the tropical stratosphere is compared to measurements by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy experiment (ATMOS) instrument. The model and measurements show good agreement in the isotopic ratio profiles. The δD depletion for water vapor is −600‰ to −500‰ at the tropopause with a small increase up to ∼10 hPa. Above this altitude the modeled isotopic ratio shows a strong increase due to methane oxidation. The measured profiles are rather noisy above 10 hPa but give an indication of a stronger increase in the isotopic ratio than modeled. If the isotopic ratio of water vapor is allowed to vary at the tropopause simulating an annual cycle in the input values, a wave pattern that is transported upwards arises on the vertical profile. This is a similar effect as the “tape recorder” for water vapor. A wave pattern can also be detected in the tropical δD profiles from ATMOS. The methane isotopic ratio shows behavior similar to that of water vapor but without the wave pattern. The increase in methane δD above 10 hPa is very strong. The measured profiles are again rather noisy above this altitude, but measurements from inside the polar vortex show that the methane isotopic ratio in the upper stratosphere is very high. The δD values are in the range of +300‰ to +500‰ at altitudes as low as 40 hPa (∼25 km) in the polar vortex.
One‐year observations of particle lidar ratio over the tropical Indian Ocean with Raman lidar

Observations of the extinction‐to‐backscatter ratio (lidar ratio) of South and Southeast Asian aerosol particles are presented for the wavelength of 532nm. Raman lidar measurements were performed in the Maldives (4.1° N, 73.3° E) in the framework of the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) in 1999/2000. These observations in the tropics are an important contribution to a growing global lidar‐ratio climatology which is needed for an improved determination of the particle optical depth with ground‐based and spaceborne lidars. The lidar ratio was found to be a useful quantity to trace back different pollution sources and to identify less and considerably light‐absorbing particles. During the winter/spring seasons heavily polluted air from India and Southeast Asia was advected to the lidar site. Under these conditions lidar ratios up to 110sr were observed in the lofted pollution plumes above 1000m height. According to backward trajectories the highest lidar ratios were found for airmasses which crossed the eastern and northeastern parts of India. Large lidar ratios >70sr indicate small, considerably absorbing aerosol particles. Below 1000m height, the lidar ratio typically ranged from 30‐60sr. The marine boundary layer contained a mixture of marine and anthropogenic particles. Under clean, marine conditions in October 1999, lidar ratios <30sr were found.
Assessment of mechanical and durability performance of silica fume and metakaolin as cementitious materials in high-performance concrete

The present study aims to determine the effects of blending cementitious materials on the mechanical and durability properties of high-performance concrete (HPC). Densified silica fume and fine-grounded metakaolin are used as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). A total of 16 mixes containing both binary and ternary blending of SCMs were chosen for w/b ratios of 0.4 and 0.3 respectively. The hardened properties tested for the HPC mixes were compressive strength at 7, 28, and 90 days, flexural strength at 28 days, and modulus of elasticity at 28 days. Maximum strength gains up to 15%, 38%, and 23% for compression, flexure, and elastic modulus were observed in ternary mixes compared to binary mixes. Stress-strain behaviour of ternary mixes indicates increased tolerance of stress for the least amount of strain in the specimens. Based on the experimental results, empirical relations were developed and checked with the existing codes and by earlier researchers. The durability properties tested for HPC were water absorption at 28 days, acid attack, and sulphate attack at 28, 56, and 90 days. Ternary mixes improved the pore structure of HPC, resulting in a 56% reduction in water absorption and a 34% reduction in compressive strength loss due to immersion in 5% H2SO4 at 90 days. The findings of the study endorse that ternary blending of SF and MK can improve the engineering properties of HPC, and a mix containing SF 10% and MK 10% is recommended for the best results.
Performance Level Affects Full Body Kinematics and Spatiotemporal Parameters in Trail Running—A Field Study

Trail running is an emerging discipline with few studies performed in ecological conditions. The aim of this work was to investigate if and how biomechanics differ between more proficient (MP) and less proficient (LP) trail runners. Twenty participants (10 F) were recruited for a 9.1 km trail running time trial wearing inertial sensors. The MP athletes group was composed of the fastest five men and the fastest five women. Group differences in spatiotemporal parameters and leg stiffness were tested with the Mann–Whitney U-test. Group differences in joint angles were tested with statistic parametric mapping. The finish time was 51.1 ± 6.3 min for the MP athletes and 60.0 ± 5.5 min for the LP athletes (p < 0.05). Uphill sections: The MP athletes expressed a tendency to higher speed that was not significant (p > 0.05), achieved by combining higher step frequency and higher step length. They showed a tendency to shorter contact time, lower duty factor and longer flight time that was not significant (p > 0.05) as well as significantly lower knee flexion during the stance phase (p < 0.05). Downhill sections: The MP athletes achieved significantly higher speed (p < 0.05) through higher step length only. They showed significantly higher knee and hip flexion during the swing phase as well as higher trunk rotation and shoulder flexion during the stance phase (p < 0.05). No differences were found with respect to leg stiffness in the uphill or downhill sections (p > 0.05). In the uphill sections, the results suggest lower energy absorption and more favorable net mechanical work at the knee joint for the MP athletes. In the downhill sections, the results suggest that the more efficient motion of the swing leg in the MP athletes could increase momentum in the forward direction and full body center of mass’ velocity at toe off, thus optimizing the propulsion phase.
The geography of thought : how Asians and Westerners think differently--and why

When Richard Nisbett showed an animated underwater scene to his American students, they zeroed in on a big fish swimming among smaller fish. Japanese subjects, on the other hand, made observations about the background environment.and the different "seeings" are a clue to profound underlying cognitive differences between Westerners and East Asians. As Professor Nisbett shows in The Geography of Thought people actually think - and even see - the world differently, because of differing ecologies, social structures, philosophies, and educational systems that date back to ancient Greece and China, and that have survived into the modern world. As a result, East Asian thought is "holistic" - drawn to the perceptual field as a whole, and to relations among objects and events within that field. By comparison to Western modes of reasoning, East Asian thought relies far less on categories, or on formal logic; it is fundamentally dialectic, seeking a "middle way" between opposing thoughts. By contrast, Westerners focus on salient objects or people, use attributes to assign them to categories, and apply rules of formal logic to understand their behaviour.
Discussion of “Applying Particle Swarm Optimization to Parameter Estimation of the Nonlinear Muskingum Model” by H.-J. Chu and L.-C. Chang

The discusser would like to thank the authors for using particle swarm optimization PSO to estimate the parameters of the nonlinear Muskingum model and would like to draw attention to some points. An accurate solution method of the nonlinear Muskingum model simulation/prediction procedure is essential to the parameter estimation of the model calibration/optimization procedure . In the simulation procedure, for a given inflow hydrograph the outflow hydrograph is determined. In this stage, different solution methods may produce different results. However accurate and standard methods should generate similar results. In the original paper, Tung’s method reported by Geem 2006 , is used to solve the model simulation stage and particle swarm optimization is used to estimate the parameters calibration stage . Tung’s method is the same as Euler’s method. The Euler’s method is a first-order method, meaning that the error per step is on the order of t2. This makes the Euler’s method less accurate for the same small values of t=time interval than other higherorder techniques such as the Runge–Kutta method. The Euler’s method is not often used except as a simple example to introduce the numerical integration methods. Euler’s method is not very accurate to solve the nonlinear Muskingum model. This method results in inaccurate simulations based on the governing equations and should not be used by the robust optimization methods for parameter estimation of the nonlinear Muskingum model. In current research two methods are introduced to solve the nonlinear Muskingum model. These methods are compared with Tung’s Euler’s method using the example presented in the original paper Wilson 1974 data . The results show that Euler’s method is not accurate enough to solve the model. Since the simulation procedure is a base for optimization procedure, it is proposed to use an accurate and standard method to solve the nonlinear Muskingum model. It should be noted that inaccurate solution methods may generate good results in the calibration stage but generally these methods are not reliable for the prediction stage. This issue may be attributed to the calibration procedure for finding the optimal Table 1. Observed Inflow and Computed Outflow Hydrographs for Various Parameter Estimation Methods Simulated Using Method 1 for Given Parameters
Total Bilirubin Levels in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and All- cause and Cause-specific Mortality in US Adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a chronic progressive illness with a spectrum of disease severity from steatosis to end-stage liver disease. Emerging evidence suggests total serum bilirubin levels are inversely related to the prevalence of metabolic syndrome including NAFLD. We investigated the effects of bilirubin on all-cause and cause-specific mortality stratified by NAFLD status. METHODS We used the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Cohort (1988-1994) and linked mortality dataset through 2019. Cox-regression models were constructed to assess the association between bilirubin levels categorized by quartile with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. RESULTS During the median follow-up of 324 months (n=11,078), higher bilirubin levels were associated with a reduction in risk of all-cause mortality in the multivariate model (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71-0.97 for quarter 4 [highest bilirubin levels] vs. quarter 1 [lowest bilirubin levels], p for trend=0.033). Higher bilirubin levels were associated with a lower risk for all-cause mortality in individuals with NAFLD (HR; 0.68, 95% CI: 0.55-0.86 for quarter 4, p for trend=0.010); however, this protective association with higher bilirubin levels was not noted in those without NAFLD. Higher bilirubin levels were associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular and cancer-related mortality in individuals with NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS In this large nationally representative sample of American adults, higher bilirubin levels in NAFLD were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, which may be derived from a lower risk of cardiovascular/cancer-related mortality.
Sex Differences in Organophosphate Model of Benzodiazepine-Refractory Status Epilepticus and Neuronal Damage

Sex differences are common in human epilepsy. Although men are more susceptible to seizure than women, the mechanisms underlying sex-specific vulnerabilities to seizure are unclear. The organophosphate (OP) diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) is known to cause neurotoxicity and status epilepticus (SE), a serious neurologic condition that causes prolonged seizures and brain damage. Current therapies for OP poisoning and SE do not consider neuronal variations between male and female brains. Therefore, we investigated sex-dependent differences in electrographic seizure activity and neuronal injury using the DFP model of refractory SE in rats. Electroencephalogram recordings were used to monitor DFP-induced SE, and the extent of brain injury was determined using fluoro-jade-B staining to detect cellular necrosis. After DFP exposure, we observed striking sex-dependent differences in SE and seizure activity patterns as well as protective responses to midazolam treatment. Following acute DFP exposure, male animals displayed more severe SE with intense epileptiform spiking and greater mortality than females. In contrast, we observed significantly more injured cells and cellular necrosis in the hippocampus and other brain regions in females than in males. We also observed extensive neuronal injury in the somatosensory cortex of males. The anticonvulsant effect of midazolam against SE was limited in this model and found to be similar in males and females. However, unlike males, females exhibited substantially more protection against neuronal damage after midazolam treatment. Overall, these results demonstrate significant sex-dependent differences in DFP-induced refractory SE and neuronal damage patterns, suggesting that it may be possible to develop sex-specific neuroprotective strategies for OP intoxication and refractory SE. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sex-dependent differences in neurotoxicity and status epilepticus (SE) are key biological variables after organophosphate (OP) exposure. Here, we investigated sex-dependent differences in SE and brain injury after acute diisopropylfluorophosphate exposure. Male rats had more severe SE and less survival than females, while females had more neuronal damage. Females had more neuroprotection to midazolam than males, while both sexes had similar but partial anticonvulsant effects. These findings suggest that a sex-specific therapeutic approach may prevent neurological complications of OP-induced SE.
CONVECTIVE IONOSPHERIC STORMS: A REVIEW

Equatorial spread F (ESF) was discovered almost a century ago using the first radio wave instrument designed to study the upper atmosphere: the ionosonde. The name came from the appearance of reflections from the normally smooth ionosphere, which were spread over the altitude frequency coordinates used by the instrument. Attempts to understand this phenomenon in any depth activated such tools as radars and in situ probes such as rockets and satellites in the 1960s. Over the next 15 years, these tools expanded our experimental understanding enormously, and new nonlinear theoretical methods developed in the late 1970s, which led to proposing a name revision from ESF to convective ionospheric storms. Interest in these phenomena continues, but a new, practical aspect has developed from the associated turbulence effects on communications (transionosphere) and navigation (GPS). The first satellite to specifically investigate this problem and the associated goal of predicting occurrences is under the umbrella of the Communications/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS). In contemplating the successful first years of the C/NOFS program, reviewing the state of the art in our knowledge of convective ionospheric storms seems appropriate. We also present some initial results of this satellite program. A major goal of the National Space Weather Program, and of C/NOFS, is predicting these storms, analogous to thunderstorms in the lower atmosphere due to their adverse effects on communication and navigation signals. Although ambitious, predictive capability is a noble and important goal in the current technological age and is potentially within our reach during the coming decade.
Exploring Large MAF Transcription Factors: Functions, Pathology, and Mouse Models with Point Mutations

Large musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma (MAF) transcription factors contain acidic, basic, and leucine zipper regions. Four types of MAF have been elucidated in mice and humans, namely c-MAF, MAFA, MAFB, and NRL. This review aimed to elaborate on the functions of MAF transcription factors that have been studied in vivo so far, as well as describe the pathology of human patients and corresponding mouse models with c-MAF, MAFA, and MAFB point mutations. To identify the functions of MAF transcription factors in vivo, we generated genetically modified mice lacking c-MAF, MAFA, and MAFB and analyzed their phenotypes. Further, in recent years, c-MAF, MAFA, and MAFB have been identified as causative genes underpinning many rare diseases. Careful observation of human patients and animal models is important to examine the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these conditions for targeted therapies. Murine models exhibit phenotypes similar to those of human patients with c-MAF, MAFA, and MAFB mutations. Therefore, generating these animal models emphasizes their usefulness for research uncovering the pathophysiology of point mutations in MAF transcription factors and the development of etiology-based therapies.
Improved understanding of velocity–saturation relationships using 4D computer‐tomography acoustic measurements

A recently developed laboratory method allows for simultaneous imaging of fluid distribution and measurements of acoustic‐wave velocities during flooding experiments. Using a specially developed acoustic sample holder that combines high pressure capacity with good transparency for X‐rays, it becomes possible to investigate relationships between velocity and fluid saturation at reservoir stress levels. High‐resolution 3D images can be constructed from thin slices of cross‐sectional computer‐tomography scans (CT scans) covering the entire rock‐core volume, and from imaging the distribution of fluid at different saturation levels. The X‐ray imaging clearly adds a new dimension to rock‐physics measurements; it can be used in the explanation of variations in measured velocities from core‐scale heterogeneities. Computer tomography gives a detailed visualization of density regimes in reservoir rocks within a core. This allows an examination of the interior of core samples, revealing inhomogeneities, porosity and fluid distribution. This mapping will not only lead to an explanation of acoustic‐velocity measurements; it may also contribute to an increased understanding of the fluid‐flow process and gas/liquid mixing mechanisms in rock. Immiscible and miscible flow in core plugs can be mapped simultaneously with acoustic measurements. The effects of core heterogeneity and experimentally introduced effects can be separated, to clarify the validity of measured velocity relationships.