Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implantation of regenerative complexes in traumatic brain injury canine models enhances the reconstruction of neural networks and motor function recovery

Rationale: The combination of medical and tissue engineering in neural regeneration studies is a promising field. Collagen, silk fibroin and seed cells are suitable options and have been widely used in the repair of spinal cord injury. In this study, we aimed to determine whether the implantation of a complex fabricated with collagen/silk fibroin (SF) and the human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) can promote cerebral cortex repair and motor functional recovery in a canine model of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: A porous scaffold was fabricated with cross-linked collagen and SF. Its physical properties and degeneration rate were measured. The scaffolds were co-cultured with hUCMSCs after which an implantable complex was formed. After complex implantation to a canine model of TBI, the motor evoked potential (MEP) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to evaluate the integrity of the cerebral cortex. The neurologic score, motion capture, surface electromyography (sEMG), and vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) were measured in the analysis of motor functions. In vitro analysis of inflammation levels was performed by Elisa while immunohistochemistry was used in track the fate of hUCMSCs. In situ hybridization, transmission electron microscope, and immunofluorescence were used to assess neural and vascular regeneration. Results: Favorable physical properties, suitable degradation rate, and biocompatibility were observed in the collagen/SF scaffolds. The group with complex implantation exhibited the best cerebral cortex integrity and motor functions. The implantation also led to the regeneration of more blood vessels and nerve fibers, less glial fibers, and inflammatory factors. Conclusion: Implantation of this complex enhanced therapy in traumatic brain injury (TBI) through structural repair and functional recovery. These effects exhibit the translational prospects for the clinical application of this complex.
Revisiting the intention to travel framework in the perspective of medical tourism: The role of eWord-of-mouth and destination image

ABSTRACT The role of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) and destination image has been extensively studied in the tourism literature; however, from the perspective of medical tourism, it is yet to be examined. Therefore, to fill this gap, this research attempts to test the strategic significance of eWOM and destination image in intention to travel. Besides, the study also examines the moderating role of perceived risk in the destination image-intention to travel link. Structured pen-and-paper questionnaires were distributed to international tourists. The partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique is utilized to test the hypotheses. The results show that eWOM positively affects tourists’ intention to travel, and destination image positively mediates this relationship. Further, at a low level of perceived risk, the relationship between destination image and intention to travel becomes stronger. The current study is one of the few attempts to investigate the role of eWOM in the medical tourism industry, and thus, it contributes to both theory and practice from the perspective of medical tourism.
Correlation Between the Composition and Flash Point of Diesel-Biodiesel Blends

Methyl ester biodiesels from vegetable oils, including soy, corn, canola and sunflower, and from swine lard, were prepared. They were mixed with mineral diesel to produce blends from 5% v/v to 50% v/v of biodiesel, i.e., B5, B10, B20 and B50. The flash points of these mixtures, the pure diesel (B0) and the pure biodiesel (B100) were determined. In all cases, it was observed that there was a second order polynomial correlation between the flash point and the percentage of biodiesel in the blend, it was concluded that is possible to estimate the flash point of a diesel-biodiesel mixture if its composition and the flash points of the pure components are known. Quasi-linear correlations between the increase of the flash point and the increase in biodiesel content were observed for B0 to B20 mixtures. If a mean linear correlation is applied, independently of the oil or fat used, in this case where the flash point of the petrol diesel is 40.1 oC, the estimated flash points for the blends from B5 to B20 will be approximately 45 ± 3 oC.
Seasonal bedrock temperature oscillations and inversions as a function of depth and the implications for thermal fatigue

ABSTRACT Research was undertaken to assess the influence of aspect and sub-surface depth on thermal fatigue in bedrock. Contact temperatures were recorded at depths of 0.3 m, 2.0 m and 6.0 m in boreholes drilled on three aspects of a tillite outcrop from mid-winter to mid-summer. Results showed that seasonal temperature oscillations of up to 20 ºC occurred in bedrock and that heat dissipation and build-up do not commence or cease at the same time throughout the rock mass, conceptually resulting in lateral and vertical thermal strain. Critically, thermal fatigue at depth may induce micro-cracking in bedrock, well before surface-related weathering processes or mechanisms commence.
Interleukin-6 induces malignant transformation of rat mesenchymal stem cells in association with enhanced signaling of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential to be the source for cell‐based therapies. However, MSCs can undergo malignant transformation in a tumor microenvironment where a high level of interleukin (IL)‐6 is present. In this study, we investigated the role of IL‐6 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in malignant transformation of MSCs. Rat MSCs were isolated and indirectly cocultured with C6 glioma cells. Coculture of MSCs with astrocytes was used as a control. After 7 days of culture, the cells were assessed for malignant transformation using MTT assay and immunofluorescence staining. The levels of hepatocyte growth factor, IL‐6, and basic fibroblast growth factor, and the expression of STAT3 and soluble IL‐6 receptor in the cultured cells and conditioned media were measured using RT‐PCR, ELISA, and Western blot analysis. The expression levels of STAT3 downstream targets, CyclinD1 and Bcl‐xl, were determined as well. Our data showed that almost all of the MSCs became phenotypically malignant after indirect coculture with glioma cells, which was confirmed by tumor formation assays when these cells were injected into nude mice. The expression of IL‐6 was significantly increased in MSCs cocultured with glioma cells, which was associated with significantly increased expressions of soluble IL‐6 receptor, transmembrane glycoprotein GP130, STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, CyclinD1, and Bcl‐xl. Similar results were obtained when the MSCs were treated with IL‐6. Treatment of the cocultured MSCs and glioma cells with STA‐21, to block the constitutive STAT3 signaling, reduced the risk of MSC tumor‐like transformation in the tumor microenvironment. These data suggest that IL‐6 plays a critical role in malignant transformation of rat MSCs, which is associated with an enhancement of the STAT3 signaling pathway in the tumor microenvironment.
Sustainable Development Goals in Early Childhood Education. Empowering Young Girls to Bridge the Gender Gap in Science

The present study is evaluative research on the program INFACIENCIA: From the girls of today to the women scientists of tomorrow. Its aim is to increase knowledge about relevant women scientists among the entire educational community and, specifically, to help children in gaining an inclusive image of science, i.e., one that values and shows female talent. The evaluation of this program is based upon qualitative research techniques, such as semi-structured interviews, in order to give voice to everyone involved. In this paper we focus on teachers’ and families’ perspectives. Findings show that when young children actively learn science, they develop positive attitudes towards it. At the same time, it is revealed how learning about women scientists boosts a positive socialization context where egalitarian knowledge and attitudes towards science can be acquired. Participating teachers value the experience since there are still very few coeducational school interventions focused on young children. Participating families have increased their knowledge of women scientists they barely knew before and believe that these women deserve public appreciation. To conclude, INFACIENCIA has been regarded as a very positive experience both by teachers and families, thus claiming for it to be carried out again.
Public Thrift, Private Perks: Signaling Board Independence with Executive Pay

We analyze how boards' reputational concerns influence executive compensation and the use of hidden pay. Independent boards reduce disclosed pay to signal their independence, but are more likely than manager-friendly boards to use hidden pay or to distort incentive contracts. Stronger reputational pressures lead to lower disclosed pay, weaker managerial incentives, and higher hidden pay, whereas greater transparency of executive compensation has the opposite effects. Although reputational concerns can induce boards to choose compensation contracts more favorable to shareholders, we show there is a threshold beyond which stronger reputational concerns harm shareholders. Similarly, excessive pay transparency can harm shareholders.
Ellipticity of High-Order Harmonics Generated by Aligned Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules Exposed to an Orthogonal Two-Color Laser Field

We investigate emission rate and ellipticity of high-order harmonics generated exposing a homonuclear diatomic molecule, aligned in the laser-field polarization plane, to a strong orthogonally polarized two-color (OTC) laser field. The linearly polarized OTC-field components have frequencies rω and sω, where r and s are integers. Using the molecular strong-field approximation with dressed initial state and undressed final state, we calculate the harmonic emission rate and harmonic ellipticity for frequency ratios 1:2 and 1:3. The obtained quantities depend strongly on the relative phase between the laser-field components. We show that with the OTC field it is possible to generate elliptically polarized high-energy harmonics with high emission rate. To estimate the relative phase for which the emission rate is maximal we use the simple man’s model. In the harmonic spectra as a function of the molecular orientation there are two types of minima, one connected with the symmetry of the molecular orbital and the other one due to destructive interference between different contributions to the recombination matrix element, where we take into account that the electron can be ionized and recombine at the same or different atomic centers. We derive a condition for the interference minima. These minima are blurred in the OTC field except in the cases where the highest occupied molecular orbital is modeled using only s or only p orbitals in the linear combination of the atomic orbitals. This allows us to use the interference minima to assess which atomic orbitals are dominant in a particular molecular orbital. Finally, we show that the harmonic ellipticity, presented in false colors in the molecular-orientation angle vs. harmonic-order plane, can be large in particular regions of this plane. These regions are bounded by the curves determined by the condition that the harmonic ellipticity is approximately zero, which is determined by the minima of the T-matrix contributions parallel and perpendicular to the fundamental component of the OTC field.
Uncertainty in Forced and Natural Arctic Solar Absorption Variations in CMIP6 Models

The Arctic is rapidly changing, with increasingly dramatic sea ice loss and surface warming in recent decades. Shortwave radiation plays a key role in Arctic warming during summer months, and absorbed shortwave radiation has been increasing largely because of greater sea ice loss. Clouds can influence this ice–albedo feedback by modulating the amount of shortwave radiation incident on the Arctic Ocean. In turn, clouds impact the amount of time that must elapse before forced trends in Arctic shortwave absorption emerge from internal variability. This study determines whether the forced climate response of absorbed shortwave radiation in the Arctic has emerged in the modern satellite record and global climate models. From 18 years of satellite observations from CERES-EBAF, we find that recent declines in sea ice are large enough to produce a statistically significant trend (1.7 × 106 PJ or 3.9% per decade) in observed clear-sky absorbed shortwave radiation. However, clouds preclude any forced trends in all-sky absorption from emerging within the existing satellite record. Across 18 models from phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6), the predicted time to emergence of absorbed shortwave radiation trends varies from 8 to 39 and from 8 to 35 years for all-sky and clear-sky conditions, respectively, across two future scenarios. Furthermore, most models fail to reproduce the observed cloud delaying effect because of differences in internal variability. Contrary to observations, one-third of models suggest that clouds may reduce the time to emergence of absorbed shortwave trends relative to clear skies, an artifact that may be the result of inaccurate representations of cloud feedbacks.
Jahn–Teller distortions in C6H3F3+ and C6H3Cl3+

The simple, linear theory of Jahn–Teller coupling is reviewed. The effects of quadratic terms and mode mixing are incorporated into the theory. It is then applied to the previously determined vibronic structure of the organic radical cations, C6H3F3+ and C6H3Cl3+. Quadratic effects are shown to be small but not neglible for these ions, and mode mixing effects are quite significant. Jahn–Teller distortion parameters are determined for three modes including the benzene ring in‐plane stretching and bending modes. These parameters are used to obtain the distorted geometry of the ions at the minima of their potential energy surfaces and the energy lowering due to the Jahn–Teller effect.
Effective Diffusivity and Evaporative Cooling in Convective Drying of Food Material

This article presents mathematical models to simulate coupled heat and mass transfer during convective drying of food materials using three different effective diffusivities: shrinkage dependent, temperature dependent, and the average of those two. Engineering simulation software COMSOL Multiphysics was utilized to simulate the model in 2D and 3D. The simulation results were compared with experimental data. It is found that the temperature-dependent effective diffusivity model predicts the moisture content more accurately at the initial stage of the drying, whereas the shrinkage-dependent effective diffusivity model is better for the final stage of the drying. The model with shrinkage-dependent effective diffusivity shows evaporative cooling phenomena at the initial stage of drying. This phenomenon was investigated and explained. Three-dimensional temperature and moisture profiles show that even when the surface is dry, the inside of the sample may still contain a large amount of moisture. Therefore, the drying process should be dealt with carefully; otherwise, microbial spoilage may start from the center of the dried food. A parametric investigation was conducted after validation of the model.
Avaliação dos Impactos das Mudanças na Cobertura da Terra e Cenário de Emissões (RCP 8.5) no Balanço de água na Bacia do Rio Madeira

Resumo Nesse estudo avaliou-se os impactos do aumento dos GEE's (cenário RCP 8.5) e dos desflorestamentos no ciclo da água na bacia do rio Madeira, utilizando o Modelo Regional Eta e o Modelo Hidrológico de Grandes Bacias (MGB), forçado com o Brazilian Earth System Model Ocean-Atmosphere versão 2.5 (BESM-OA 2.5). No cenário RCP 8.5, o modelo apresentou sensibilidade sobre toda a bacia do Madeira, com aumento da ordem de 4.0 °C na temperatura. O aumento foi intensificado com os cenários de desflorestamentos de 2050 (4.8 °C) e 2100 (6.2 °C). Nos cenários de desflorestamento predominou-se o Mecanismo de Retroalimentação Negativo, pois embora haja reduções na precipitação e evapotranspiração, a convergência de umidade aumentou em todos os cenários. Observou-se aumento das descargas na maioria das estações para todos os cenários futuros RCP 8.5 e desflorestamento. O aumento da precipitação na estação seca explicou em parte o aumento das vazões e na área de inundação sobre a bacia do Madeira. O aumento na precipitação à montante da bacia e a mudança nos parâmetros do solo, associada às alterações no uso da terra, contribuíram para o aumento da vazão e área de inundação sobre a bacia do Madeira. As alterações nas descargas e na área de inundação podem ter efeitos negativos, com prejuízos e danos ao meio ambiente, nos recursos hídricos, nos principais setores da economia, afetando de forma direta as comunidades que vivem às margens dos rios, principalmente as populações vulneráveis da bacia do Madeira.
The COVID-19 outbreak and stock market reactions: Evidence from Australia

We examine how the Australian stock market responded to the uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic and whether the stimulus package offered by the Government helped restore confidence in the market. This study finds a negative stock market reaction to the pandemic announcement, however, among two stimulus packages related announcements, the market reacted positively only to “JobKeeper” package. The cross-sectional results suggest that the smallest, least profitable and value portfolios suffered more during the pandemic. Finally, size and liquidity are found to be the significant drivers of abnormal returns. These results generally hold for a battery of robustness checks.
URANIUM HYDRIDE NUCLEATION KINETICS: EFFECTS OF OXIDE THICKNESS AND VACUUM OUTGASSING

Many factors such as impurities in the oxide and metal, microstructure, gas impurities, and oxide thickness may influence the rate and location of the nucleation of hydride on uranium. This work has concentrated on isolating one of these variables, the oxide thickness, and measuring the effect of the oxide thickness on uranium hydride nucleation. Uranium samples, all from the same lot, were prepared with different oxide thicknesses. The oxide thickness was measured using Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy. Oxidized uranium samples were then exposed to ultra-high purity hydrogen gas under constant volume conditions. Decreases in pressure indicated hydrogen uptake by the sample. The time for hydride nucleation--as well as the maximum hydriding rate--was then calculated from the measured decreases in pressure. The time to nucleate a hydride was found to increase whereas the maximum hydriding rate was found to decrease with increasing oxide thickness. The density of hydride pits also decreased with increasing oxide thickness. The observed results support the argument that the nucleation of hydride is controlled somewhat by diffusion of hydrogen through the oxide layer. Vacuum outgassing of samples, thereby removing the oxide impurities and keeping the oxide thickness constant, dramatically decreased the nucleation time and increased the maximum hydridingmore » rate. Again, this is consistent with hydrogen diffusion through the oxide controlling the nucleation of hydride. Impurities in the oxide layer can decrease the diffusivity of hydrogen and therefore delay the nucleation of uranium hydride. « less
Does genetic diversity protect host populations from parasites? A meta‐analysis across natural and agricultural systems

If parasites transmit more readily between closely related hosts, then parasite burdens should decrease with increased genetic diversity of host populations. This important hypothesis is often accepted at face value—notorious epidemics of crop monocultures testify to the vulnerability of host populations that have been purged of diversity. Yet the relationship between genetic diversity and parasitism likely varies across contexts, differing between crop and noncrop hosts and between experimental and natural host populations. Here, we used a meta‐analytic approach to ask if host diversity confers protection against parasites over the range of contexts in which it has been tested. We synthesized the results of 102 studies, comprising 2004 effect sizes representing a diversity of approaches and host‐parasite systems. Our results validate a protective effect of genetic diversity, while revealing significant variation in its strength across biological and empirical contexts. In experimental host populations, genetic diversity reduces parasitism by ∼20% for noncrop hosts and by ∼50% for crop hosts. In contrast, observational studies of natural host populations show no consistent relationship between genetic diversity and parasitism, with both strong negative and positive correlations reported. This result supports the idea that, if parasites preferentially attack close relatives, the correlation of genetic diversity with parasitism could be positive or negative depending upon the potential for host populations to evolve in response to parasite selection. Taken together, these results reinforce genetic diversity as a priority for both conservation and agriculture and emphasize the challenges inherent to drawing comparisons between controlled experimental populations and dynamic natural populations.
Submesoscale Fronts and Their Dynamical Processes Associated with Symmetric Instability in the Northwest Pacific Subtropical Ocean

Submesoscale density fronts and the associated processes of frontogenesis and symmetric instability (SI) are investigated in the northwest Pacific subtropical countercurrent (STCC) system by a high-resolution simulation and diagnostic analysis. Both satellite observations and realistic simulation show active surface fronts with a horizontal scale of ~20 km in the STCC upper ocean. Frontogenesis-induced buoyancy advection is detected to rapidly sharpen these density fronts. The direct straining effect of larger-scale geostrophic flows is a primary influence on the buoyancy-gradient frontogenetic tendency and frontal baroclinic potential vorticity (PV) enhancement. The enhanced lateral buoyancy gradients in conjunction with atmospheric forced surface buoyancy loss can produce a negative Ertel PV and trigger frontal SI in the STCC region. Up to 30% of the mixed layer (ML) inside a typical eddy has negative PV in the high-resolution simulation. As a result, the cross-front ageostrophic secondary circulations tend to restratify the surface boundary layer and induce a large vertical velocity reaching ~100 m day−1, substantially facilitating the vertical communication of the STCC system. At the same time, the SI is identified to be responsible for a forward cascade of geostrophic kinetic energy in the STCC region, despite the coexistence of ML eddies and SI in the deep winter ML. Therefore, these active density fronts and their SI-associated submesoscale processes play important roles in the enhanced vertical exchanges (e.g., heat, nutrients, and carbon) and energy transfer to smaller scales in the eddy-active STCC upper ocean, as well as triggering phytoplankton blooms at the periphery of eddies.
Progress in the study of health inequalities and selective migration: Mobilising the new mobilities paradigm

This paper seeks to deepen understandings of the relations between health inequalities and migration, with a particular emphasis on health-selective migration. Papers in this journal have urged for a more nuanced consideration of connections between migration and health but these have not seen-through how to combine understandings of health and migration to better theorise their relations. A strong theoretical basis regarding the politics of mobilities can help say more of the structural factors shaping health-selective migration and therefore, changing health gradients in a population.