Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of Tumor-Associated Neutrophils in the Molecular Carcinogenesis of the Lung

Simple Summary This review of the literature aims at giving a concise overview of the impact of tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) on lung carcinogenesis. In the first part of this manuscript, the general action mode of TANs in cancer is depicted, listing studies on several cancer entities and on mouse models. The latter part of this work focuses specifically on TANs in lung cancer, giving an outlook on future therapeutic implications of cancer immunity, using, for example, anti-cancer vaccines. Abstract Tumorigenesis is largely influenced by accompanying inflammation. Myeloid cells account for a significant proportion of pro-inflammatory cells within the tumor microenvironment. All steps of tumor formation and progression, such as the suppression of adaptive immune response, angio- and lymphangiogenesis, and the remodeling of the tumor stroma, are to some degree influenced by tumor-associated immune cells. Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), together with tumor-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, count among tumor-associated myeloid cells. Still, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the tumorigenic effects of TANs have not been investigated in detail. With this review of the literature, we aim to give an overview of the current data on TANs, with a special focus on lung cancer.
COVID-19, gender and estroprogestins, what do we know?

Abstract The new coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly spread all around the world, eliciting many questions and doubts about the pathogenesis of the disease and treatment. Mortality has been related to a prothrombotic state. Risk factors for the infection and for severe forms of COVID-19 have still to be defined. According to data collected, women appear to be less prone to severe forms of the disease and their mortality was lower than for men. The role of female hormones in the modulation of inflammation may be the reason behind this gender gap. Considering the prothrombotic state activated by the virus, hormone therapies have been placed under investigation as possible increasing risk factors for severe forms. Moreover, new vaccines and their rare thrombotic side effects have increased the concern about this issue. The goal of this review is to go over the mechanisms that lead up to thrombosis during COVID-19, trying to explain the possible reasons why women seem to be naturally protected. The expert opinions about whether to continue/discontinue hormonal therapies are reviewed. Moreover, available data about the so-called ‘vaccine induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopaenia’ caused by vaccines against COVID-19 are discussed.
Different ion implanted edge terminations for Schottky diodes on SiC

In this paper, we report on the fabrication and electrical characterization of ion implanted guard rings for Schottky diodes on 4H SiC. For improving the performance of the devices, lowering the leakage current, and increasing the breakdown voltage, ion implanted guard rings seem to be the best choice. Two different methods, the resistive guard ring and the counter doped guard ring are investigated. Therefore, ion implantation of carbon and aluminum with different doses and annealing steps has been carried out. The implanted areas has been used as edge termination for Tungsten, Molybdenum, and Nickel Schottky diodes. The diodes has been electrical characterised at different temperatures. The influence of deep traps in the guard ring area on the electrical behavior is explained. The implantation dose varied from 1.2·1012 cm-2 to 1·1015 cm-2. Different annealing processes were applied to minimize reverse leakage currents. The diodes showed a barrier height and a ideality factor of φB = 0.91 eV and n = 1.026 for Molybdenum and φB = 1.12 eV and n = 1.028 for Tungsten, respectively. The diodes showed a Ron in the range of 1.8 mΩcm2 up to 2.4 mΩcm2 at 1.5 V.
A Study of the Effects of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil and Reinforcement Length on GRS Bridge Abutment

The geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) bridge abutment with a staged-construction full height rigid (FHR) facing and an integral bridge (IB) system was developed in Japan in the 2000s. This technology offers several advantages, especially concerning the deformation behavior of the GRS-IB abutment. In this study, the effects of GRS in the bridge abutment with FHR facing and the effects of geosynthetics reinforcement length on the deformation behavior of the GRS–IB are presented. The numerical models are analyzed using the finite element method (FEM) in Plaxis 2D program. The results showed that the GRS–IB model exhibited the least lateral displacements at the wall facing compared to those of the IB model without geosynthetics reinforcement. The geosynthetics reinforcement in the bridge abutment with FHR facing has reduced the vertical displacement increments by 4.7 times and 1.3 times (maximum) after the applied general traffic loads and railway loads, respectively. In addition, the numerical results showed that the increase in the length-to-height (L/H) ratio of reinforcement from 0.3H to 1.1H decreases the maximum lateral displacements by 29% and the maximum vertical displacements by 3% at the wall facing by the end of construction. The effect of the reinforcement length on the wall vertical displacements is minimal compared to the effect on the wall lateral displacements.
Building new venture success through internal capabilities; is business model innovation a missing link?

ABSTRACT This study scrutinises the influence of the internal resources/capabilities; financial capabilities, Information Technology (IT) capabilities and entrepreneurial orientation on new venture performance with Business Model Innovation (BMI) as a mediator. We tested the hypotheses on the basis of a data set of 308 new ventures of Pakistan. The results indicate that all three resources/capabilities have a significant influence on new venture performance as well as on BMI. Moreover, BMI fully mediates the relationship between IT capabilities and new venture performance while it plays a partial mediating role between financial capabilities and new venture performance as well as between entrepreneurial orientation and new venture performance. Our study recommends new enterprises emphasise their internal resources/capabilities to innovate their business model in a way to survive in the long run in the competitive market.
Impact of intercropping tomato and maize on the infestation of tomato fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner))

A field experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri during 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons in a Randomised Complete Block design with five treatments replicated three times. Treatments comprised of one sole tomato (1:0) and four inter crop patterns (1:1, 1:2, 2:2 and 1:3). The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of intercropping tomato (base crop) and maize (component crop) in reducing the incidence and damage of tomato fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in Northern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria. The results showed that fruit borer larvae holes per plant was found minimum when tomato was intercropped and maximum in sole crop tomato. Higher fruit damaged per plant and lower undamaged fruits were recorded in sole crop tomato than intercrop tomato and this supported the higher fruit weight and total fruit yield in intercrop tomato than sole tomato. This study therefore recommends maize and tomato intercrop for more effective fruit borer control. There should be a need for identifying effective intercropping patterns in other cropping systems for a sustainable vegetable production in Nigeria.
Adaptive neural network based backstepping control design for MIMO nonlinear systems with actuator nonlinearities

Purpose – The purpose of the proposed research methodology is to control the trajectory tracking of EDRM and also to cancel out the effect of no-smooth nonlinearities, which affect the system performance badly. Design/methodology/approach – Robust adaptive neural network (RANN)-based backstepping control design methodology is presented in this paper. The proposed design methodology improves the trajectory tracking and running mean error. Findings – The running mean error results show that the convergence of the proposed RANN-based backstepping technique is very fast as compare to the conventional PD control and due to this proposed control technique, the EDRM follows its desired trajectory perfectly. Practical implications – The EDRM trajectory tracking performance increases which leads to a better working position of EDRM. Originality/value – The originality of this research article is 93 per cent.
Hunting for 
CP
-violating axionlike particle interactions

The impact of axionlike particles (ALPs) on the search of permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) of molecules, atoms, nuclei and nucleons is systematically investigated. Assuming the most general ALP effective field theory containing operators up to dimension-five, we evaluate the leading short-distance effects to the EDMs at two-loop order. The high sensitivity of EDMs to CP-violating ALP interactions is emphasized exploiting both the current and projected experimental sensitivities.
EFFICACY OF MINERAL OIL IN COMBINATION WITH LOWER DOSES OF INSECTICIDES AGAINST COTTON MEALY BUG, PHENACOCCUS SOLENOPSIS

In a study conducted at Entomological Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad, Pakistan during the year 2007 and 2008, six mineral oil combinations with recommended doses of insecticides and check were tested under field conditions against cotton mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) (Pseudococcida; Homoptera). The treatments were; DCtron Plus (mineral oil) @ 1000 ml, DCtron Plus + Supracide 40 EC @ 500 + 300 ml and 500 + 250 ml, DCtron Plus + Lannate 40 SP @ 500ml + 250 g and 150g, DCtron Plus + Curacron 50 EC @ 500 + 600 ml and 500 + 500ml and check. All insecticides and mineral oil combinations proved effective against the pest upto 7 days after treatment. Their percent mortality ranged from 44.29-58.78, 85.81-94.74, 80.89-94.60, 84.71-94.96, 80.56-92.31, 86.91-95.15, and 86.56-92.86, respectively as compared with check (0.0%) during 2007 and 2008. However, DCtron Plus + Curacron @ 500+600 ml proved as the best among all treatments giving the highest mortality (93.87%) of the pest after 7 days of application.
Damage detection in smart structures through sensitivity-enhancing feedback control

In this paper, the use of state feedback control to enhance the sensitivity of modal frequencies to local damage is introduced. The method is intended for smart structures, which embody self-actuation and self-sensing capabilities. A simple example introduces the principle of sensitivity enhancing control for a single degree-of-freedom structure. Then, the method is applied to a finite element model of a cantilevered beam to demonstrate the magnitude of sensitivity enhancement achievable for modest, local damage. Methods of implementing state estimate feedback using point measurements of strain along the beam are described, and initial experiments demonstrating sensitivity enhancement for the cantilevered beam are reported. Results show that enhancement in sensitivity of modal frequencies of vibration to damage can be achieved using a single piezoceramic actuator and multiple piezoelectric strain sensors along the beam. The same sensor-actuator configuration can be used for vibration suppression or other control tasks, providing `dual use' smart structure sensors and actuators.
On Measuring Engineering Risk Attitudes

Risk management is a critical part of engineering practice in industry. Yet, the attitudes of engineers toward risk remain unknown and are not measured. This paper presents the development of a psychometric scale, the engineering-domain-specific risk-taking (E-DOSPERT) test, to measure engineers' risk aversion and risk seeking attitudes. Consistent with a similar psychometric scale to assess general risk attitudes, engineering risk attitude is not single domain and is not consistent across domains. Engineers have different risk attitudes toward five identified domains of engineering risk: processes, procedures and practices; engineering ethics; training; product functionality and design; and legal issues. Psychometric risk profiling with E-DOSPERT provides companies a standard to assess domain-specific engineering risk attitude within organizations and across organizations. It provides engineering educators a standard to assess the understanding of engineering students to the types of risks they would encounter in professional practice and their personal attitude toward responding to those risks. Appropriate interventions can then be implemented to shape risk attitudes as appropriate. Risk-based design decisions can also be shaped by a better understanding of engineer and customer risk attitude. Understanding engineers' risk attitudes is crucial in interpreting how individual engineers will respond to risk in their engineering activities and the numerous design decisions they make across the various domains of engineering risk found in professional practice.
High-Risk Human Papillomavirus and Epstein–Barr Virus Coinfection: A Potential Role in Head and Neck Carcinogenesis

Simple Summary A subset of carcinomas that arise in the head and neck region show a viral etiology. In fact, a subgroup of oropharyngeal cancers are caused by some types of human papillomavirus (HPV), so-called high-risk (HR)-HPVs, whereas undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinomas are etiologically related to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). However, studies have reported the presence of both HR-HPV and EBV in some types of head and neck cancers. In this review, we discuss the potential contribution and role of HR-HPV/EBV coinfection in head and neck carcinogenesis, as well as the mechanisms that are potentially involved. In addition, HR-HPV/EBV interaction models are proposed. Abstract High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) are recognized oncogenic viruses involved in the development of a subset of head and neck cancers (HNCs). HR-HPVs are etiologically associated with a subset of oropharyngeal carcinomas (OPCs), whereas EBV is a recognized etiological agent of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs). In this review, we address epidemiological and mechanistic evidence regarding a potential cooperation between HR-HPV and EBV for HNC development. Considering that: (1) both HR-HPV and EBV infections require cofactors for carcinogenesis; and (2) both oropharyngeal and oral epithelium can be directly exposed to carcinogens, such as alcohol or tobacco smoke, we hypothesize possible interaction mechanisms. The epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that HR-HPV/EBV cooperation for developing a subset of HNCs is plausible and warrants further investigation.
Shock Wave Approach for Estimating Queue Length at Signalized Intersections by Fusing Data from Point and Mobile Sensors

With the growth in traffic sensing data, the measurement of levels of service such as queue length at intersections in real time has been receiving considerable attention. This paper examines how to estimate real-time cycle-by-cycle queue length at signalized intersections by using the data of an upstream point sensor and the traveling trajectory of a probe vehicle observed by a mobile sensor. Three cases are based on the space relationships between the rear of a queue, the point sensor location, and the vehicle stop or start-up point. When the data of point sensors and mobile sensors are fused, critical break points can be identified to indicate several key states of the queue formation and dissipation. Estimation models of the maximum queue length, based on the Lighthill–Whitham–Richards theory, are proposed for the three cases. The presented algorithm does not impose any restrictions on the traffic condition (i.e., oversaturated and undersaturated conditions). The methodology is applied to ground truth data observed from the field in Shanghai, China. The mean average percentage errors of the first two cases are 11.60% and 9.98%, which means the models for the cases have reasonable estimating accuracy. The mean average percentage error of the model for the third case is 26.40%, indicating that the performance degrades but still has acceptable accuracy. Limitations on application of the proposed models and directions for future research are discussed.
Mechanical behaviour in shear and compression of polyurethane foam at elevated temperature

This paper presents an experimental investigation about the effect of elevated temperature on the mechanical properties of two polyurethane (PUR) foams, with densities of 40 kg/m3 and 93 kg/m3. The experimental campaign included shear and compressive tests over a temperature range of 20°C–200°C, performed to assess the degradation of the mechanical properties of the PUR foams with temperature. To validate the diagonal tension shear test method adopted in this investigation, a numerical study was also performed, namely to assess the (shear) stress state developed within the foam. The results obtained validated the adopted test procedures, showing that the compressive and shear responses are strongly affected by elevated temperature, due to the softening of the polymeric material when it undergoes the glass transition process. For the temperature range considered in this study, both strength and modulus in shear and compression present an approximately linear reduction with temperature.
Comparison of aspartame- and sugar-sweetened soft drinks on postprandial metabolism

Aim: We compared the impact of artificially- and sugar-sweetened beverages co-ingested with a mixed meal on postprandial fat and carbohydrate oxidation, blood glucose, and plasma insulin and triglyceride concentrations. Methods: Eight college-aged, healthy males completed three randomly assigned trials, which consisted of a mixed macronutrient meal test with 20oz of Diet-Coke (AS), Coca-Cola (NS), or water (CON). One week separated each trial and each participant served as his own control. Resting energy expenditure (REE) via indirect calorimetry, blood pressure, and blood samples were obtained immediately before, 5, 10, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min after meal and beverage ingestion. A two-way (treatment × time) repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted to assess REE, fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates, blood glucose, and plasma insulin and triglyceride concentrations. Results: There was a significant main effect of treatment on total fat oxidation (P = 0.006), fat oxidation was significantly higher after AS (P = 0.006) and CON (P = 0.001) compared to following NS. There was a significant main effect of treatment on total carbohydrate oxidation (P = 0.005), carbohydrate oxidation was significantly lower after AS (P = 0.014) and CON (P = 0.001) compared to following NS. Plasma insulin concentration AUC was significantly lower after AS (P = 0.019) and trended lower in CON (P = 0.054) compared to following NS. Conclusion: Ingestion of a mixed meal with an artificially-sweetened beverage does not impact postprandial metabolism, whereas a sugar-sweetened beverage suppresses fat oxidation and increases carbohydrate oxidation compared to artificially-sweetened beverage and water.
Resource loss, positive religious coping, and suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study of US adults with chronic illness

ABSTRACT Using data from a prospective cohort of US adults living with chronic illness (n = 184), we examined longitudinal associations between domains of resource loss assessed one month into the COVID-19 pandemic and suffering two months later. We also explored the role of positive religious coping in modifying relations between each type of resource loss and suffering, adjusting for a number of sociodemographics, chronic health conditions, religious/spiritual factors, psychological characteristics, and prior values of positive religious coping and suffering. Pandemic-related economic, interpersonal, and psychological (but not physical) resource loss were each associated with higher levels of subsequent suffering. Positive religious coping moderated the associations of physical, interpersonal, and psychological (but not economic) resource loss on suffering, such that domains of resource loss evidenced a stronger positive association with suffering at higher levels of positive religious coping. Implications of the findings for supporting people dealing with disaster-related resource loss are discussed.
OTDM transmitter using WDM-TDM conversion with an electroabsorption wavelength converter

An all-optical multiplexing technique using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)-time division multiplexing (TDM) conversion with an electroabsorption wavelength converter has been proposed and demonstrated. The effectiveness of this WDM-TDM conversion technique for various pulsewidth settings was experimentally investigated. The fluctuation of the signal performance, which was inevitably caused by the coherent crosstalk between adjacent pulses in the conventional optical time division multiplexing (OTDM) technique, were successfully suppressed, even in the case of wide pulse duration. High Q-factor performance has been maintained for a wide range of duty ration from 36% to 74%. By introducing this technique to the optical time division multiplexer, a highly stable and high-quality 40-Gb/s optical signal can be effectively produced without generating the short pulse or setting two tributaries at orthogonal polarization states, and without introducing high-speed electronics for signal multiplexing. The WDM-TDM conversion with an electroabsorption wavelength converter was extended to 60-Gb/s operation by using three 20-Gb/s tributaries. A clear eye opening was confirmed for a waveform after the WDM-TDM conversion of the 60-Gb/s signal.
RESEARCH ARTICLE EFFECT OF VARIED INTENSITIES, FREQUENCIES AND DENSITIES OF HOLLOW SPRINTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF 100 METERS SPRINT AMONG SCHOOL BOYS

Received 26 th ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of varied intensities, frequencies and densities of the hollow sprint of the performance of 100 meters sprints. To facilitate the study, eighty school boys of government higher secondary school, Salem district, were selected as subjects at random and they were divided into eight equal groups. The data were collected on 100mts running performance before training (pre test) as well as after the training (post test). The hollow sprints involve sprinting, jogging, sprinting, walking and repeating. This type of training provided adequate recovery, during the walking phase, mainly develops speed and muscular strength. In the high density of hollow sprints, the subject was performed 5 minutes rest between the sets. In low density of hollow sprints, the subjects performed 3 minutes rest between the sets . The pre test and post test were taken before starting the training programme and at the end of the sixth week respectively. In the pre and post test, random group research design was applied for analyzing the results. The finding of the study showed that there was significant improvement in speed, due to the influencing of varied intensities of hollow sprints.