Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms and Effects of Berberine on Obesity-Induced Inflammation

Obesity represents chronic low-grade inflammation that precipitates type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Berberine (BBR) has been reported to exert anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory benefits. We aimed to demonstrate the underlying immune-modulating mechanisms of anti-obesity effects of BBR. First, we performed in silico study to identify therapeutic targets, describe potential pathways, and simulate BBR docking at M1 and M2 adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL4, CCL5, and C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). Next, in vivo, we divided 20 C58BL/6 mice into four groups: normal chow, control (high fat diet (HFD)), HFD + BBR 100 mg/kg, and HFD + metformin (MET) 200 mg/kg. We evaluated body weight, organ weight, fat area in tissues, oral glucose and fat tolerance tests, HOMA-IR, serum lipids levels, population changes in ATMs, M1 and M2 subsets, and gene expression of TNF-α, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, and CXCR4. BBR significantly reduced body weight, adipocyte size, fat deposition in the liver, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, free fatty acids, ATM infiltration, all assessed gene expression, and enhanced the CD206+ M2 ATMs population. In conclusion, BBR treats obesity and its associated metabolic dysfunctions, by modulating ATM recruitment and polarization via chemotaxis inhibition.
Smellscape of a Pompeian neighborhood

Abstract Smelling and other sensations that are often considered solely physiological phenomena are in fact deeply influenced by culture and history, and without understanding the ancient sensory landscape, our knowledge of the past inevitably remains limited. This paper explores the olfactory nuisances in one Pompeian city block (IX,3) and its immediate neighbors. I examine the area's stenches by tracing and mapping the sources of smells, focusing on those that in previous scholarship have been considered to render ancient towns foul smelling. The analysis contests the views of malodorous Roman urban space presented in previous studies and suggests that the smellscape of urban Pompeii was not a constant reek but milder and manageable. However, the analysis also reveals that social hierarchies and power relations played a part in Pompeian odor control, and the olfactory landscape was not the same for all inhabitants.
How shared leadership affects team performance: examining sequential mediation model using MASEM

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to reveal a sequential mediating process of the impact of shared leadership on team performance by studying the sequential mediating effect of team trust and team learning behavior.Design/methodology/approachThis study develops and examines a sequential mediation model using the meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) method. The sample adopted consists of 347 independent effect sizes extracted from 280 empirical papers (288 independent studies, N = 21,888 groups). FindingsThe results indicate that team trust and team learning behavior play a sequential mediating effect in the shared leadership–team performance relationship.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that practitioners should share leadership functions and responsibilities among talented team members. Furthermore, practitioners should strengthen the emotional interaction among team members and give positive feedback to the team's intensive learning behaviors.Originality/valueBy identifying the sequential mediating effect of team trust and team learning behavior, this study not only advances the understandings of a comprehensive mediating process through which shared leadership enhances team performance, but also offers new insights into the interrelationship of different types of mediating mechanisms (i.e. team emergent state and team process) in the shared leadership–team performance relationship.
The Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Genes In Vivo Model

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a major public health threat. The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment or clinical setting pose a serious threat to human and animal health worldwide. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs is one of the main reasons for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in vitro and in vivo environments. There is a consensus on the role of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the spread of bacterial resistance. Most drug resistance genes are located on plasmids, and the spread of drug resistance genes among microorganisms through plasmid-mediated conjugation transfer is the most common and effective way for the spread of multidrug resistance. Experimental studies of the processes driving the spread of antibiotic resistance have focused on simple in vitro model systems, but the current in vitro protocols might not correctly reflect the HGT of antibiotic resistance genes in realistic conditions. This calls for better models of how resistance genes transfer and disseminate in vivo. The in vivo model can better mimic the situation that occurs in patients, helping study the situation in more detail. This is crucial to develop innovative strategies to curtail the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the future. This review aims to give an overview of the mechanisms of the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and then demonstrate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the in vivo model. Finally, we discuss the challenges in controlling the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and their potential solutions.
Differential resting‐state neurophysiological activity associated with game usage patterns and genres in Internet gaming disorder

We investigated differences in quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns associated with game usage patterns and genre among patients with Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Data from 140 participants (76 IGD patients and 64 healthy controls) were analysed. The IGD group was divided into subgroups based on game usage patterns (single game [SG] or multiple games [MGs]) and genre (multiplayer online battle arena, first‐person shooter [FPS], or massively multiplayer online role‐playing game [MMORPG; hereafter, MMG]). A resting‐state, eye‐closed quantitative EEG was recorded, and the absolute power and coherence of brain waves were analysed. IGD patients who played SGs showed increased beta activity compared with those who played MGs and controls. Increased absolute beta power was significantly associated with higher tendencies towards behavioural inhibition compared with controls. FPS gamers showed increased delta power in the frontal region compared with controls, which was related to the severity of IGD. Furthermore, decreased intrahemispheric coherence in the left frontoparietal region was observed in the MMG and FPS groups compared with controls. This decreased coherence was observed in the theta (MMG and FPS), delta (MMG), and beta (FPS) bands. These features were related to impairment in visuospatial working memory. Unique neurophysiological features related to preoccupation with an SG may be associated with the inhibition of behavioural changes. The present study suggests that the underlying neurophysiological networks in IGD differ according to game usage patterns and genre.
A Polygonal Finite Element Method for Stokes Equations

In this paper, we extend the Bernardi-Raugel element [1] to convex polygonal meshes by using the generalized barycentric coordinates. Comparing to traditional discretizations defined on triangular and rectangular meshes, polygonal meshes can be more flexible when dealing with complicated domains or domains with curved boundaries. Theoretical analysis of the new element follows the standard mixed finite element theory for Stokes equations, i.e., we shall prove the discrete inf-sup condition (LBB condition) by constructing a Fortin operator. Because there is no scaling argument on polygonal meshes and the generalized barycentric coordinates are in general not polynomials, special treatments are required in the analysis. We prove that the extended Bernardi-Raugel element has optimal convergence rates. Supporting numerical results are also presented.
Cloning and function analysis of a Saussurea involucrata LEA4 gene

Late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA) help adapt to adverse low-temperature environments. The Saussurea involucrate SiLEA4, which encodes a membrane protein, was significantly up-regulated in response to low temperature stress. Escherichia coli expressing SiLEA4 showed enhanced low-temperature tolerance, as evident from the significantly higher survival numbers and growth rates at low temperatures. Moreover, tomato strains expressing SiLEA4 had significantly greater freezing resistance, due to a significant increase in the antioxidase activities and proline content. Furthermore, they had higher yields due to higher water utilization and photosynthetic efficiency under the same water and fertilizer conditions. Thus, expressing SiLEA4 has multiple advantages: (1) mitigating chilling injury, (2) increasing yields, and (3) water-saving, which also indicates the great potential of the SiLEA4 for breeding applications.
European Innovation Scoreboard 2006 - Comparative Analysis of Innovation Performance

This is the sixth edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS). The EIS is the instrument developed by the European Commission, under the Lisbon Strategy, to evaluate and compare the innovation performance of the EU Member States. The EIS 2006 includes innovation indicators and trend analyses for the EU25 Member States, plus the two new Member States: Bulgaria and Romania, as well as for Croatia, Turkey, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, the US and Japan. The Annex includes tables with definitions as well as comprehensive data sheets for every country. The EIS report and its annexes, accompanying thematic papers and the indicators database are available at http://www.proinno-europe.eu/inno-metrics.html. The mission of the JRC is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national.
The characterisation of vasoactive intestinal peptide as a secretagogue in human H295R adrenocortical cells

Although the main stimuli to Cortisol and aldosterone secretion are ACTH and All, respectively, increasing evidence has implicated other hormones and neurotransmitters in the regulation of steroidogenesis. In particular, nerve endings in close apposition to cortical cells and blood vessels have been demonstrated in humans (and other species) and a variety of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides detected within these nerves. Other work has established closer morphological interactions between cortical and medullary cells than hitherto suspected, with the possibility of paracrine interactions. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which is present in adrenocortical nerves and chromaffin cells, has recently been studied as a potential steroidogenic agonist, but evidence for a direct effect on steroidogenesis in humans is controversial and very limited. The aims of this thesis were to investigate the direct action of VIP on adrenocortical steroid production, by using the human H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cell-line, and to determine the second messenger systems activated and the receptor types involved. The steroid responses to All and forskolin were first characterised in the H295R cell-line, including the effect of pretreatment with these agonists on the steroid phenotype of the cells. Forskolin-pretreatment directed steroidogenesis towards adrenal androgen production and away from 17-deoxysteroid production compared with All-pretreated cells and control cells, demonstrating that the steroid phenotype of the cells could be modified by different agonists which utilise different second messenger systems. VIP increased steroid secretion from H295R cells in a time-dependent manner. The pattern of steroid secretion was altered depending on the pretreatment conditions for the cell-line. VIP increased Cortisol, corticosterone and androstenedione secretion from forskolin-pretreated cells but had no effect on androstenedione production from control cells or All-pretreated cells. Although VIP increased Cortisol and corticosterone from control and All-pretreated cells, forskolin pretreatment enhanced the Cortisol and corticosterone responses to VIP.
In Situ X-ray Radiography and Computational Modeling to Predict Grain Morphology in β-Titanium during Simulated Additive Manufacturing

The continued development of metal additive manufacturing (AM) has expanded the engineering metallic alloys for which these processes may be applied, including beta-titanium alloys with desirable strength-to-density ratios. To understand the response of beta-titanium alloys to AM processing, solidification and microstructure evolution needs to be investigated. In particular, thermal gradients (Gs) and solidification velocities (Vs) experienced during AM are needed to link processing to microstructure development, including the columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET). In this work, in situ synchrotron X-ray radiography of the beta-titanium alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al (wt.%) (Ti-1023) during simulated laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) was performed at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, allowing for direct determination of Vs. Two different computational modeling tools, SYSWELD and FLOW-3D, were utilized to investigate the solidification conditions of spot and raster melt scenarios. The predicted Vs obtained from both pieces of computational software exhibited good agreement with those obtained from in situ synchrotron X-ray radiography measurements. The model that accounted for fluid flow also showed the ability to predict trends unobservable in the in situ synchrotron X-ray radiography, but are known to occur during rapid solidification. A CET model for Ti-1023 was also developed using the Kurz–Giovanola–Trivedi model, which allowed modeled Gs and Vs to be compared in the context of predicted grain morphologies. Both pieces of software were in agreement for morphology predictions of spot-melts, but drastically differed for raster predictions. The discrepancy is attributable to the difference in accounting for fluid flow, resulting in magnitude-different values of Gs for similar Vs.
Estimating global demand for land-based transportation services using the shared socioeconomic pathways scenario framework

The global demand for transportation is growing owing to accelerated socioeconomic development worldwide. If the current modes of transportation, consisting mostly of personal internal combustion engine vehicles, dominate this growth, greenhouse gas emissions will rise and worsen the climate crisis. A key empirical challenge in understanding the barriers and opportunities for low-carbon transportation systems in developing countries is the lack of demand data. Because existing country-specific transport demand models focus on countries with robust historical datasets, it has been difficult to estimate the service demand for developing countries. To address this limitation, we develop a log–log regression model linking socioeconomic variables with demand for land-based passenger and freight transport services. Using socioeconomic data from the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) developed for climate analysis, we then produce scenario-based estimates for land-based transportation services for 179 countries around the world. The global average annual land-based passenger demand growth rate ranges between 1.3% and 4.1%, while the annual growth rate for land-based freight demand ranges between 3.1% and 3.6% across the 30 years between 2020 and 2050. Middle-income countries in Asia such as India and China, show the highest expected transport demand across all scenarios. Meanwhile, the results suggest that low-income countries in the sub-Saharan African region are likely to experience the largest growth in demand for passenger and freight transport services. These two trends come together at an inflection point around the year 2030. Prior to 2030, the transport demand was the highest in East Asia. After 2030, there is an ascendancy in transport demand in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, whereby the cumulative demand share of these two regions reaches near parity with that of East Asia by 2050. Sustainably meeting this growing demand will require the adoption of data-driven transport planning tools and leveraging cross-linkages across other energy sectors such as electricity.
Lightweight structures based on CFRP sandwich struts and CFRP connections.

The framework structures discussed in this paper based upon framework beams which have, in their simple version, cross section of an equilateral triangle. They consist of three rail struts and cross- and diagonal struts. The presented structures are paradigmatic for different connection design without any metallic connection elements. As pure CFRP-connections they bear not only the advantage of being compatible to the struts, but also offer some weight- and manufacturing advantages.
Hospital mortality and prognostic factors in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury and cancer undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy

Background Whether continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) should be applied to critically ill patients with both acute kidney injury (AKI) and cancer remains controversial because of poor expected outcomes. The present study determined prognostic factors for all-cause in-hospital mortality in patients with AKI and cancer undergoing CRRT. Methods We included 471 patients with AKI and cancer who underwent CRRT at the intensive care unit of a Korean tertiary hospital from 2013 to 2020, and classified them by malignancy type. The primary outcomes were 28-day all-cause mortality rate and prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcome was renal replacement therapy (RRT) dependency at hospital discharge. Results The 28-day mortality rates were 58.8% and 82% in the solid and hematologic malignancy groups, respectively. Body mass index (BMI), presence of oliguria, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and albumin level were common predictors of 28-day mortality in the solid and hematologic malignancy groups. A high heart rate and the presence of severe acidosis were prognostic factors only in the solid malignancy group. Among the survivors, the proportion with RRT dependency was 25.0% and 33.3% in the solid and hematologic malignancy groups, respectively. Conclusion The 28-day mortality rate of cancer patients with AKI undergoing CRRT was high in both the solid and hematologic malignancy groups. BMI, presence of oliguria, SOFA score, and albumin level were common predictors of 28-day mortality in the solid and hematologic malignancy groups, but a high heart rate and severe acidosis were prognostic factors only in the solid malignancy group.
Simplified three-dimensional finite element hot-spotting modelling of a pin-mounted vented brake disc: an investigation of hot-spotting determinants

Hot spotting is a thermal localisation phenomenon in which multiple hot regions form on a brake disc surface during high-energy and/or high-speed braking events. As an undesired problem, hot spots can result in high-order brake judder, an audible droning noise and thermal cracking. This paper presents a finite element model for hot-spot modelling which introduces the classical axisymmetric assumptions to the brake pad in three dimensions by scaling the material properties combined with a subroutine to simulate the heat generation instead of modelling the rotation of the brake pad. The results from the initial feasibility models showed significant improvement in the computing efficiency with acceptable accuracy when compared with a traditional finite element model without such simplifications. This method was then applied to three-dimensional simulations of hot spotting on a realistic ventilated brake disc–pad pair, and the results showed good correlation with the experiments. In order to improve the understanding of the hot-spotting mechanism, parametric studies were performed including the effects of a solid-disc geometry and a ventilated-disc geometry, the rotational speed and energy, the pins, the disc run-out and the brake pad length. Based on the analysis of the results, it was identified that the vents and the pins affected the hot-spot distribution. The speed was shown to be more important in the hot-spot generation time and the hot-spot distribution than either the pressure or the total energy input was. The brake disc run-out was shown to affect the magnitude of both the hot-spot temperature and the hot-spot height because of the non-linear relationship between the local deformation, the contact pressure and the heat generation. Finally, increasing the brake pad length generated fewer hot spots, but the temperature of each hot spot increased.
Digital Iterative Harmonic Rejection and Image Cancellation for LPF-Less Frequency-Interleaved Analog-to-Digital Converters

The frequency-interleaved analog-to-digital converter features large bandwidth, high speed, medium-to-high resolution with respectable jitter robustness, albeit suffering from circuit impairments such as spectral leakages, harmonic interferences, in-phase/quadrature and aliasing images. For the first time, a digital compensation framework is introduced to minimize these impacts simultaneously. In this framework, channel recombination is performed before calibration. It circumvents the needs for analog harmonic rejection and channel separation, thus enabling significant simplification of the complex analog frontend design. A comprehensive system model that incorporates all the aforementioned distortions is formulated and leads to an iterative solution. Given the mismatch parameters, simulation outcomes validate the feasibility of this proposed framework and promise impressive performance benefits.
Model Compression for Resource-Constrained Mobile Robots

The number of mobile robots with constrained computing resources that need to execute complex machine learning models has been increasing during the past decade. Commonly, these robots rely on edge infrastructure accessible over wireless communication to execute heavy computational complex tasks. However, the edge might become unavailable and, consequently, oblige the execution of the tasks on the robot. This work focuses on making it possible to execute the tasks on the robots by reducing the complexity and the total number of parameters of pre-trained computer vision models. This is achieved by using model compression techniques such as Pruning and Knowledge Distillation. These compression techniques have strong theoretical and practical foundations, but their combined usage has not been widely explored in the literature. Therefore, this work especially focuses on investigating the effects of combining these two compression techniques. The results of this work reveal that up to 90% of the total number of parameters of a computer vision model can be removed without any considerable reduction in the model’s accuracy.