Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rotator Cuff Repair with Different Suture Materials Results in Different Protein Expressions with Similar Histological Findings. An Experimental Study in Rabbits

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2B SUMMARY Background. Previous studies have evaluated the biomechanical, histological, and clinical effects of rotator cuff repair with different suture materials. However, a histological and western blot analysis after repair comparing nonabsorbable polyester and polyethylene suture materials in a chronic rotator cuff tear model has not been conducted in any previous studies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect the two different suture materials, specifically Ethibond and Ultrabraid, have on repair based on a histological evaluation and protein expression by means of a western blot analysis. Methods. Twenty-six rabbits were included in the study. Two rabbits served as normal controls (control group). A bilateral tenotomy of the subscapularis tendon was performed in the remaining 24 rabbits. Six weeks after the tenotomy, the animals were randomly divided into four repair groups (five rabbits in each group) according to the suture material used and the sacrifice time (Ultrabraid two weeks after repair, Ethibond two weeks after repair, Ultrabraid six weeks after repair, and Ethibond six weeks after repair). Two sham-operated groups with two rabbits each were sacrificed at eight and 12 weeks after the tenotomy without repair. Both shoulders of all the animals were used for a western blot (collagen type 1-3, MMP-2, TGF-beta-1, IGF-1, COX-2) analysis and a histological evaluation (fibrocartilage formation, inflammation, vascularisation, collagen density). Results. All groups showed minimal-to-mild histological changes irrespective of the type of suture material used. There was no statistically significant difference in histological scores (p > 0.05). Fibrocartilage formation was greater at six weeks in the polyester suture repair groups without statistical significance (p > 0.05). Collagen type 1-3, MMP-2, TGF-beta-1, IGF-1, and COX-2 were significantly upregulated at two weeks compared to six weeks after repair (p < 0.05). Protein expression levels were statistically significantly higher in the Ultrabraid groups compared to the Ethibond groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Changes in the expression of the markers related to rotator cuff healing were demonstrated when repairing with different suture materials, with these being in favour of polyester sutures; however, the histological findings are similar. This finding could influence the design of new suture materials.
Characterization of titanium dopants in sodium alanate by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were obtained for samples of Ti-doped NaAlH_4 subjected to different numbers of cycles of dehydrogenation/re-hydrogenation. Ti is observed to evolve from its initial Ti(III) state through a series of Ti(0) species during the first 5 cycles. Although the conversion of Ti(III) to Ti(0) occurs much more readily for TiCl_3-doped samples than those prepared with TiF_3, in both cases the evolution of Ti follows the same sequence that involves 3 distinguishable Ti(0) species and ends in the predominance of the same single Ti(0) species. The spectrum of a sample of NaAlH_4 containing 2 mol% of cubic Al_3Ti is distinctly different than any of those observed for the Ti(0) species that arise during the hydrogen cycling of the hydride. The major changes in the nature of the predominant Ti species have little if any effect on the dehydrogenation kinetics, which strongly suggests that the profoundly enhanced hydrogen cycling kinetics of Ti-doped NaAlH_4 are due to a Ti species present in only a relatively minor amount.
METAL-NON-METAL TRANSITION IN SILVER CHALCOGENIDES

Abstract The paper reviews the crystallographic, optical, magnetic and transport properties of silver chalcogenides Ag2S and Ag2Se. In the low temperature β-phases, the influence of stoichiometry on the respective magnitude of ionic and electronic conductivities is important. In the disordered high-temperature α-phases, the characteristic feature is the statistic distribution of lattice silver ions. This situation is analysed according to the theory established by Mott (e.g. 1974, and Mott and Davis 1971) for amorphous semiconductors. Owing to the disorder, tails appear both in valence and conduction band, and in α-Ag2Se, the bands overlap.
Atrial fibrillation: villain or bystander in vascular brain injury

Abstract Atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke are inextricably connected, with classical Virchow pathophysiology explaining thromboembolism through blood stasis in the fibrillating left atrium. This conceptualization has been reinforced by the remarkable efficacy of oral anticoagulant (OAC) for stroke prevention in AF. A number of observations showing that the presence of AF is neither necessary nor sufficient for stroke, cast doubt on the causal role of AF as a villain in vascular brain injury (VBI). The requirement for additional risk factors before AF increases stroke risk; temporal disconnect of AF from a stroke in patients with no AF for months before stroke during continuous ECG monitoring but manifesting AF only after stroke; and increasing recognition of the role of atrial cardiomyopathy and atrial substrate in AF-related stroke, and also stroke without AF, have led to rethinking the pathogenetic model of cardioembolic stroke. This is quite separate from recognition that in AF, shared cardiovascular risk factors can lead both to non-embolic stroke, or emboli from the aorta and carotid arteries. Meanwhile, VBI is now expanded to include dementia and cognitive decline: research is required to see if reduced by OAC. A changed conceptual model with less focus on the arrhythmia, and more on atrial substrate/cardiomyopathy causing VBI both in the presence or absence of AF, is required to allow us to better prevent AF-related VBI. It could direct focus towards prevention of the atrial cardiomyopathy though much work is required to better define this entity before the balance between AF as villain or bystander can be determined.
Iodine species uptake by cement and CSH studied by I K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Summary The uptake of iodine species (I−/IO3−) by HCP (hardened cement paste) and a CSH (calcium silicate hydrate) phase under highly alkaline conditions has been investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The study was performed at the I K-edge (33.169 keV) instead of the I L3-edge (4.557 keV) to avoid interference with Ca (K-edge=4.038 keV), a major element in HCP and CSH phases. The XANES (X-rays absorption near-edge structure) spectra revealed no changes in the formal oxidation state of iodide (I(-I)−) and iodate (I(V)O3−) upon uptake by HCP and CSH. The EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) oscillations from I− treated HCP and CSH samples were found to be extremely weak, limiting interpretation of the EXAFS data. The IO3− EXAFS spectra showed that the IO3− entity consisting of three oxygen atoms with a characteristic I-O distance (∼1.78 Å) is maintained upon uptake by HCP and CSH. XANES further indicated that CSH is not the uptake-controlling phase in HCP.
Interferometric Study of the Stability of K2CoxNi(1−x)(SO4)2·6H2O (KCNSH) Mixed Crystal Faces Depending on the Composition and Flow Velocity of the Solution

The change in the surface morphology of the (001) and (110) faces of K2CoxNi(1−x)(SO4)2·6H2O (KCNSH) mixed crystal, depending on the supercooling solution, has been studied under various conditions by laser interferometry. The experiments were carried out in both static mode, by changing the solution composition, and in dynamic mode, by changing the flow velocity. The conditions for the onset and suppression of the reaction of the isomorphic replacement leading to the formation of mosaic micro-inhomogeneity in mixed crystals have been studied. The mechanism of the reaction of isomorphic replacement has been analyzed depending on the shift of the solution composition from the initial one. For the first time, it has been observed that the reaction of isomorphic replacement may occur through a layer-by-layer mechanism.
Temperature Dependence of Viscosity and Specific Conductivity of Fluoroborate-Based Ionic Liquids in Light of the Fractional Walden Rule and Angell’s Fragility Concept†

Temperature-dependent conductivity and viscosity data of over ten new fluoroborate-based ionic liquids (ILs) were measured in a temperature range spanning about 100 K. Data are presented and evaluated according to the fractional Walden rule and Angell’s fragility concept. All ILs show excellent linear relationships for their Walden plots with similar slopes in the range from about 0.90 to about 0.94. It was found empirically that the slopes of the Walden plots reflect the ratio of the corresponding Arrhenius activation energies for the ILs’ temperature-dependent viscosities and molar conductivities. Further analysis of viscosity data of ILs leads to the conclusion that all investigated ILs, including some more common ones, can be classified as highly fragile, very weak liquids, reaching even the limiting value estimated by Vilgis.
Research on Producing Biodiesel from Waste Oil with 1-Methyl-3-butyl Imidazole Hydroxide Ionic Liquid as a Catalyst

1-Methyl-3-butyl imidazole hydroxide ionic liquid, which was used as a catalyst for producing biodiesel from waste oil, was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The effects of relevant factors on the transesterification were investigated by a designing orthogonal test. The physicochemical properties of the products were measured and the blending test of the produced biodiesel with 0# diesel was also examined. The experimental results showed that the 1-methyl-3-butyl imidazole hydroxide ionic liquid was a novel highly active and reusable biodiesel production catalyst. The conversion of fatty acid methyl ester reached 95.7% at the optimized reaction conditions of 3 wt% of catalyst addition amount to feed oil, 8:1 alcohol to oil molar ratio, 70°C of reaction temperature, and 110 min of reaction time. The biodiesel product indicated better fluidity at low temperature and high flash point except that the iodine value was a little high. The main physicochemical properties of the product attained to the standard of 0# diesel and the produced biodiesel could be blended with 0# diesel in all proportions before application. The performance of the diesel was improved by blending with the biodiesel.
Impact of frozen soil processes on soil thermal characteristics at seasonal to decadal scales over the Tibetan Plateau and North China

Abstract. Frozen soil processes are of great importance in controlling surface water and energy balances during the cold season and in cold regions. Over recent decades, considerable frozen soil degradation and surface soil warming have been reported over the Tibetan Plateau and North China, but most land surface models have difficulty in capturing the freeze–thaw cycle, and few validations focus on the effects of frozen soil processes on soil thermal characteristics in these regions. This paper addresses these issues by introducing a physically more realistic and computationally more stable and efficient frozen soil module (FSM) into a land surface model – the third-generation Simplified Simple Biosphere Model (SSiB3-FSM). To overcome the difficulties in achieving stable numerical solutions for frozen soil, a new semi-implicit scheme and a physics-based freezing–thawing scheme were applied to solve the governing equations. The performance of this model as well as the effects of frozen soil process on the soil temperature profile and soil thermal characteristics were investigated over the Tibetan Plateau and North China using observation sites from the China Meteorological Administration and models from 1981 to 2005. Results show that the SSiB3 model with the FSM produces a more realistic soil temperature profile and its seasonal variation than that without FSM during the freezing and thawing periods. The freezing process in soil delays the winter cooling, while the thawing process delays the summer warming. The time lag and amplitude damping of temperature become more pronounced with increasing depth. These processes are well simulated in SSiB3-FSM. The freeze–thaw processes could increase the simulated phase lag days and land memory at different soil depths as well as the soil memory change with the soil thickness. Furthermore, compared with observations, SSiB3-FSM produces a realistic change in maximum frozen soil depth at decadal scales. This study shows that the soil thermal characteristics at seasonal to decadal scales over frozen ground can be greatly improved in SSiB3-FSM, and SSiB3-FSM can be used as an effective model for TP and NC simulation during cold season. Overall, this study could help understand the vertical soil thermal characteristics over the frozen ground and provide an important scientific basis for land–atmosphere interactions.
Assessing the Mediating Role of Organization Learning Capability between the Relationship of Green Intellectual Capital and Business Sustainability

There has been a lot of debate on intellectual capital and its dimensions, except green intellectual capital (GIC). The economic benefit of business not only eliminates the neediness of the region but also invigorate the prosperity in the area; however, the heat of financial interest among business competitor causes social inequality and destruction of the environment. This paper is novel conception due to the lack in prior studies as many did not focus on the relationship between green intellectual capital (green human capital, green structural capital and green relational capital) and business sustainability (BS) in the context of a developing country; Pakistan to assess the mediating role organization learning capability (OLC) between the relationship of GIC and BS. The current study tried to link two theories, natural resource-based view and intellectual capital-based view (NRBV& ICBV), to conceptualize the intangible resources that lead to business sustainability by assimilating the "green" into conventional intellectual capital namely green intellectual capital. Data were collected from 154 SME manufacturing companies in Lahore, Pakistan. The simple random sampling technique used for data collection. SPSS and AMOS software is used for data analysis. The results show that all three dimensions of green intellectual capital effect on business sustainability. While discussing the mediation role of organizational learning capability, OLC mediates the relationship between human capital and business sustainability. Furthermore, OLC does not play a mediation role between structural capital, relational capital, and business sustainability. Finally, this study described limitations as well as future directions
Diesel combustion modelling using LES turbulence model with detailed chemistry

Diesel spray combustion and emissions are modelled in this study using large eddy simulation (LES) turbulence models coupled with spray breakup and detailed chemistry models. The objective of this study is to develop numerical models that can be used to predict the diesel spray combustion process. The LES filtering procedure yields unknown subgrid scale terms that need to be modelled. A one-equation, non-viscosity dynamic structure model is used to model the subgrid stress tensor and the gradient method is used to model the subgrid scalar flux. The model uses a tensor coefficient determined by a dynamic procedure and the sub-grid kinetic energy that is to enforce a budget on the energy flow between the resolved and unresolved scales. A skeletal n-heptane reaction mechanism is used to simulate the diesel fuel chemistry. A reduced NO x mechanism is incorporated into the n-heptane mechanism to simulate NO x formation, and the soot emission process is simulated by a phenomenological model that uses a competing formation and oxidation rate formulation. The present models were validated by comparing predicted results against experimental data of a diesel engine. The predicted and measured cylinder pressure history and heat release rate data are in good agreement. Trends of NO x and soot emissions are also captured with respect to different injection timings and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) levels. Results indicated that the present models can capture the overall combustion process and can be further developed into a useful tool for engine combustion simulations.
Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Cognitive Training (VRCT) and Computer-Based Cognitive Training (CBCT) for Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

This meta-analysis aims to assess the effectiveness of virtual reality cognitive training (VRCT) and conventional computer-based cognitive training (CBCT) in five specific cognitive domains (i.e., global cognitive function (GCF), memory (Mem), executive function (EF), language (Lang) and visuospatial skills (VS)) of individuals with mild cognitive impairment. A total of 320 studies were yielded from five electronic databases. Eighteen randomized controlled trials met the PRISMA criteria, with 10 related to VRCT and 8 related to CBCT. A random-effect model was used in determining the main effect of cognitive training in five specific cognitive domains. VRCT provided the largest effect size on VS and Lang while the smallest on EF. CBCT provided the largest effect size on Mem and Lang while the smallest on EF. VRCT and CBCT generate an opposite effect on VS. VRCT outweighs CBCT in treatment effectiveness of GCF, EF, Lang and VS. More immersive and interactive experiences in VRCT may help individuals with MCI better engage in real-life experiences, which supports skill generalization and reduces external distractions. CBCT tends to improve Mem but no definite conclusions can be made. Further investigation with more stringent research design and specific protocol are required to reach consensus about the optimum intervention regime.
Molecular Docking and Clinical Study of Inhibition of Phytochemical Compounds of Nigella Sativa, Matricaria Chamomilla and Origanum Vulgare L on COVID_19 Mpro

Due to the high rate of infection reported in the new Coronavirus, in recent months, a lot of research has been done on the introduction of antiviral drugs. Recent studies have shown that inhibiting viral protease enzymes are highly effective in controlling infection caused by any type of virus. The aim of this study was to investigate the bioinformatics of inhibition of the new coronavirus protease enzyme by compounds in the essential oils of three medicinal plants. This is a descriptive-analytical study. For this bioinformatics analysis, the structure of compounds from PubChem database and the structure of COVID_19 protease enzyme were obtained from PDB database. Molecular docking was then performed by MVD software. The results showed that the site of interaction of the compounds in the protected area is enzymatic flap. Also, 15 patients voluntarily received steam therapy with the essential oils of these plants and their symptoms of lung infection improved. Therefore, it can be concluded that the studied compounds with strong interaction due to their natural origin and the possibility of less side effects, as well as their direct entry into the respiratory tract, these compounds are suitable for drug treatment for coronavirus infection.
Examining the Effection of Second-and Third-trimester Rate of Gestational Weight Gain on Perinatal Outcomes Among Chinese Twin Gestations Based on the Provisional Guidelines: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: This paper investigated how second and third trimester gestational weight gain relates toperinatal outcomes among normal weight women with twin pregnancies in Fujian, China. Methods: A retrospective study on the medical records of 931 normal weight twin pregant women was conducted in Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital from 2014 to 2018.The 2nd and 3rd trimester weekly weight gain rate were calculated and categorized women as gaining below, within, or above the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended rates . The association between trimester-specific weight gain rate and perinatal outcome was performed by traditional regression analysis among groups.Results:A total of 931 pregnant women and 1862 neonates were included for analysis. 25.9% ,19.8% and 54.3%% of women had less than, greater than and within the recommended rates of gain in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that greater than recommended rates of weight gain in 2nd trimester decreased the risks of preeclampsia (adjusted OR:0.458,95% CI:0.255~0.824). Less than recommended rates of weight gain in 3rd trimester increased the risk of premature delivery（adjusted OR=1.926,95%CI:1.403~2.644）, gestational diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR = 2.052,95%CI:1.417~2.972), intrahepatic cholestasis syndrome (adjusted OR = 3.016,95%CI:1.057~8.606), premature rupture of the membrane (adjusted OR = 1.722,95%CI:1.180~2.512) and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (adjusted OR = 5.135,95%CI:1.701~15.498) and decreased the risk of cesarean section (adjusted OR = 0.587,95%CI:0.385~0.893) . In addition, greater than recommended rates of weight gain in 3rd trimester was associated with increased risks in premature delivery (adjusted OR=1.818,95%CI:1.307~2.527), and gestational hypertension (adjusted OR=2.098,95%CI:1.018~4.324) as well as preeclampsia(adjusted OR:2.029, 95%CI:1.331~3.093). The stratified analysis of weight gain in 3rd trimester showed that there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to weight gain rate groups in 2nd trimester.Conclusions: While this study showed gestational weight gain rate less than or greater than in 3rd trimester were associated with some adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, further studies of prospective and multi-center researches are required to explore alternate ranges of gestational weight gain rate in twin pregnancies.
Systemic Risk in China’s Financial Industry Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this paper, the dynamic CoVaR method is used to measure changes in systemic risk in the financial industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that, first, after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the systemic risk of the financial industry increased significantly. Second, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the systemic risk of the securities industry was greater than that of the banking and insurance industries.