Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influences of wing gate turnstiles’ characteristics on pedestrian evacuation based on agent-based egress model

Wing gate turnstiles are widely used in airports, subway stations, railway stations, movie theaters, parks, etc., and influence the pedestrian evacuation greatly while accidents happen. Thus, doing some researches on how to improve the evacuation speed for wing gate turnstiles are meaningful and necessary. In response to this issue, the influences of the wing gate turnstiles on pedestrian evacuation are investigated by pathfinder in this paper. Pathfinder is an agent-based egress simulator that uses steering behaviors to model occupant motion. First of all, by Pathfinder, two evacuation models with flat-shaped and wedge-shaped hosts wing gate turnstiles, respectively, are established, and the simulations of pedestrian evacuation are carried out by computer. The results show the evacuation speed obtained by the wedge-shaped host is faster than that obtained by the flat-shaped host. Moreover, the longest evacuation time is obtained when the channels’ width is 90 cm, and the shortest is obtained when the channels’ width is 51.4 cm. For a small number of evacuees, the evacuation time is mainly influenced by the original distributions of the evacuees, however, as the number of the evacuees increases, the evacuation time is mainly influenced by the number of the evacuees. Furthermore, the wing gate turnstiles with widened hosts can get less evacuation time no matter whether the hosts are flat-shaped or wedge-shaped, however, the evacuation-time-saved rate obtained by wedge-shaped host is much higher than that obtained by flat-shaped host. Then, the influences of the wedge angle on the pedestrian evacuation are discussed, and the optimal wedge angle is obtained. The obtained results can not only provide helps for managers to evacuate crowds under emergency, but also offer some assistances for designers to design those gate turnstiles or building exits.
Reactivity Studies of Alkoxy-Substituted [2.2]Paracyclophane-1,9-dienes and Specific Coordination of the Monomer Repeating Unit during ROMP

The polymerization of alkoxy-substituted [2.2]paracyclophane-1,9-dienes via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) to obtain soluble poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s is a versatile method due to its living nature which enables the possibility of block copolymerization and end group modification. However, detailed studies on the reactivity behavior and the polymerization process of alkoxy-substituted [2.2]paracyclophane-1,9-dienes have not been reported so far. Herein we present a detailed study on the varying tendencies of the four isomers of dimethoxy-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-[2.2]paracyclophane-1,9-diene to undergo ROMP. Therefore, we carried out polymerization combining all individual isomers with five different metathesis catalysts and collected initiation and propagation kinetics for various combinations. Furthermore, we revealed a specific coordination of the monomer repeating unit to the catalyst during the polymerization process and succeeded to polymerize not only the pseudogeminal isomers but also one.
Validating a Seated Virtual Reality Threat Paradigm for Inducing Anxiety and Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND Although prior research has established that freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with anxiety, only one study to date has directly manipulated anxiety levels to induce FOG. OBJECTIVE The current study aimed to replicate these previous findings and evaluate whether a seated version of a 'threat' virtual reality (VR) paradigm could induce anxiety and provoke FOG. METHODS Twenty-four PD patients with FOG were assessed across various threat conditions in both a walking VR paradigm (Experiment 1) and a seated VR paradigm (Experiment 2). Both paradigms manipulated the height (i.e., elevated vs ground) and width (wide vs narrow) of the planks participants were instructed to walk across. RESULTS Across both experiments, the Elevated + Narrow condition provoked significantly greater number of freezing episodes compared to all other conditions. Higher levels of self-reported anxiety were reported during the Elevated+Narrow condition compared to all other conditions in Experiment 1, and compared to the Ground condition in Experiment 2. CONCLUSION These findings confirm that anxiety contributes to FOG and validates the use of a seated VR threat paradigm for provoking anxiety-related freezing. This enables future studies to combine this paradigm with functional MRI to explore the neural correlates underlying the role of anxiety in FOG.
Mild Microglial Responses in the Cortex and Perivascular Macrophage Infiltration in Subcortical White Matter in Dogs with Age-Related Dementia Modelling Prodromal Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Microglia contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis by clearing amyloid-β (Aβ) and driving neuroinflammation. Domestic dogs with age-related dementia (canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD)) develop cerebral amyloidosis like humans developing AD, and studying such dogs can provide novel information about microglial response in prodromal AD. Objective: The aim was to investigate the microglial response in the cortical grey and the subcortical white matter in dogs with CCD versus age-matched cognitively normal dogs. Methods: Brains from aged dogs with CCD and age-matched controls without dementia were studied. Cases were defined by dementia rating score. Brain sections were stained for Aβ, thioflavin S, hyperphosphorylated tau, and the microglial-macrophage ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1). Results were correlated to dementia rating score and tissue levels of Aβ. Results: Microglial numbers were higher in the Aβ plaque-loaded deep cortical layers in CCD versus control dogs, while the coverage by microglial processes were comparable. Aβ plaques were of the diffuse type and without microglial aggregation. However, a correlation was found between the %Iba1 area and insoluble Aβ 42 and N-terminal pyroglutamate modified Aβ(N3pE)-42. The %Iba1 area was higher in white matter, showing phosphorylation of S396 tau, versus grey matter. Perivascular macrophage infiltrates were abundant in the white matter particularly in CDD dogs. Conclusion: The results from this study of the microglial-macrophage response in dogs with CCD are suggestive of relatively mild microglial responses in the Aβ plaque-loaded deep cortical layers and perivascular macrophage infiltrates in the subcortical white matter, in prodromal AD.
Infrared spectroscopy combined with imaging: A new developing analytical tool in health and plant science

ABSTRACT Modern infrared (IR) spectroscopy and imaging has a wide range of applications in health and plant sciences. Initially, it was extensively used for the study of proteins, nucleotides, lipids and carbohydrates. With time, its use has extended to disease assessment to discriminate healthy and diseased samples on the basis of chemical changes. The application of an advanced focal plane array detector, which is able to scan a large area of samples in a short time, helps in investigating specific changes that could be correlated with different environmental stresses. An IR microscope connected with a synchrotron light source further enhances the lateral spatial resolution at diffraction limit because of the compact beam size. For example, synchrotron-based IR spectroscopy imaging in combination with multivariate statistical analysis has been proven to be a powerful non-destructive analytical tool to probe changes in plant cell wall composition/structure in response to biological processes and environmental stresses. New development of nano-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) combined with scattering type scanning near-field optical microscopy breaks the diffraction limitation, which opens the new area of applications. This review focuses on a new area of diagnostic research as well as development of IR spectroscopy and imaging for biological specimens including compositional changes in plant cell wall.
A multifunctional cadmium–organic framework comprising tricarboxytriphenyl amine: selective gas adsorption, liquid-phase separation and luminescence sensing

The reaction of tricarboxytriphenyl amine (H3TCA) with CdII and auxiliary ligand 4,4′-bis(1-imidazolyl)biphenyl (bimb) afforded [Cd3(TCA)2(bimb)·(DMA)6]n (1) containing a two-fold interpenetrating three-dimensional microporous framework. Compound 1 showed remarkable adsorption enthalpies for CO2 and H2 and good H2/N2 selectivity at low temperature. Moreover, activated 1 showed a highly selective adsorption towards CO2 over N2 and CH4 under ambient conditions. Interestingly, compound 1 selectively removed methyl orange (MO) over methylene blue (MB) from contaminated water with good recyclability, and possessed the second highest adsorption capacity for MO among the MOFs reported to date. Remarkably, complex 1 showed strong guest-dependent luminescence behavior.
Structural Changes during the Growth of Atomically Precise Metal Oxido Nanoclusters from Combined Pair Distribution Function and Small‐Angle X‐ray Scattering Analysis

Abstract The combination of in situ pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) enables analysis of the formation mechanism of metal oxido nanoclusters and cluster–solvent interactions as they take place. Herein, we demonstrate the method for the formation of clusters with a [Bi38O45] core. Upon dissolution of crystalline [Bi6O5(OH)3(NO3)5]⋅3 H2O in DMSO, an intermediate rapidly forms, which slowly grows to stable [Bi38O45] clusters. To identify the intermediate, we developed an automated modeling method, where smaller [BixOy] structures based on the [Bi38O45] framework are tested against the data. [Bi22O26] was identified as the main intermediate species, illustrating how combined PDF and SAXS analysis is a powerful tool to gain insight into nucleation on an atomic scale. PDF also provides information on the interaction between nanoclusters and solvent, which is shown to depend on the nature of the ligands on the cluster surface.
The phenylpropanoid pathway inhibitor piperonylic acid induces broad-spectrum pest and disease resistance in plants.

While many phenylpropanoid pathway-derived molecules act as physical and chemical barriers to pests and pathogens, comparatively little is known about their role in regulating plant immunity. To explore this research field, we transiently perturbed the phenylpropanoid pathway through application of the CINNAMIC ACID-4-HYDROXYLASE (C4H) inhibitor piperonylic acid (PA). Using bioassays involving diverse pests and pathogens, we show that transient C4H inhibition triggers systemic, broad-spectrum resistance in higher plant without affecting growth. PA treatment enhances tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) resistance in field and laboratory conditions, thereby illustrating the potential of phenylpropanoid pathway perturbation in crop protection. At the molecular level, transcriptome and metabolome analyses reveal that transient C4H inhibition in tomato reprograms phenylpropanoid and flavonoid metabolism, systemically induces immune signaling and pathogenesis-related genes, and locally affects reactive oxygen species metabolism. Furthermore, C4H inhibition primes cell wall modification and phenolic compound accumulation in response to root-knot nematode infection. Although PA treatment induces local accumulation of the phytohormone salicylic acid, the PA resistance phenotype is preserved in tomato plants expressing the salicylic acid-degrading NahG construct. Together, our results demonstrate that transient phenylpropanoid pathway perturbation is a conserved inducer of plant resistance and thus highlight the crucial regulatory role of this pathway in plant immunity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
DETERMINING THE MECHANISMS GENERATING SOLUBLE IL-15 COMPLEXES

Determining the Mechanisms Generating Soluble IL-15 Complexes A diverse assortment of infectious pathogens and TLR agonists enhance the expression of Interleukin (IL)-15. Additionally, inducing lymphopenia enhances anti-tumor responses in an IL15-dependent manner. Paradoxically, despite the limited expression of IL-15 during homeostasis, the role of IL-15 during the steady state is well-known, while its roles during inflammation and infections remain largely undefined. IL-15 uses a unique method of production and presentation to support the development and homeostasis of NK and CD8 T cells. IL-15 is produced with its high affinity IL-15Rα and this IL-15Rα/IL-15 complex is shuttled to the cell surface where it is presented in-trans or cleaved into soluble cytokine/receptor complexes. Unfortunately, little is known about the mechanisms generating soluble IL-15 complexes. I set out to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for inducing sIL-15 complexes to test my hypothesis that Type I IFN signaling and ADAM17 are necessary for generating sIL-15 complexes. In Bone marrow dendritic cells, Type I Interferon (IFN) directly regulates the cleavage of sIL-15 complexes using the metalloprotease ADAM17. Mice with the conditional deletion of ADAM17 or a deficiency in IFN signaling led to the surprising discovery that neither Type I IFN signaling nor ADAM17 expression are required in vivo for inducing sIL-15 complexes. Interestingly, VSV infection enhances sIL-15 complexes in the absence of both IFN and CD40 signaling pathways, indicating multiple redundant mechanisms generate sIL-15 complexes. I discovered a shared mechanism of enhanced IL-15 transpresentation common to all types of lymphopenia, while only forms of lymphopenia associated with inflammation display increases in sIL-15 complexes. The optimal production of sIL-15 complexes in response to total-body irradiation (TBI) required the activation of both the IFN and STING pathways, indicating a dominant role for inflammatory cell death. Utilizing an adoptive transfer model, I identified a novel role for lymphopenia-induced inflammatory IL-15 on the proliferation of CD8 memory T cells. Overall, I’ve demonstrated a diverse assortment of stimuli utilize a variety of pathways and cell types to induce the generation
Commentary response: Smartphone use and parenting: re-stratifying the multiverse for families of young children.

Concerns have been raised that smartphones may harm children and families. Arguably, risk-driven discourses are not always evidence-based. This is a problem, because blanket assumptions of risk drowns out nuanced empirical questions of what constitutes "good" parenting when it comes to smartphone use, and for whom. Here we outline three logical missteps which have contributed to the deficit zeitgeist-ignoring context, misinterpreting effect, and conflation. Further, we speak to questions about parents of young children, by refocusing our multiverse analysis on 800+ parents. We ask- where are the links between parental phone use and parenting? Are these robust versus frail or positive versus negative? After re-examining our 84 analytic choices (adopting existing measures), patterns revealed fragility in this case. The few findings that did emerge implicated technoference, not smartphone use, in relation to negative parenting. We encourage continued rigorous and scientific dialogue, to accrue good evidence for families and children.
Expression and Localization of AβPP in SH-SY5Y Cells Depends on Differentiation State

Neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y, due to its capacity to differentiate into neurons, easy handling, and low cost, is a common experimental model to study molecular events leading to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it is prevalently used in its undifferentiated state, which does not resemble neurons affected by the disease. Here, we show that the expression and localization of amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP), one of the key molecules involved in AD pathogenesis, is dramatically altered in SH-SY5Y cells fully differentiated by combined treatment with retinoic acid and BDNF. We show that insufficient differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells results in AβPP mislocalization.
Thermal flexibility and a generalist life history promote urban affinity in butterflies

Urban expansion poses a serious threat to biodiversity. Given that the expected area of urban land cover is predicted to increase by 2–3 million km2 by 2050, urban environments are one of the most widespread human‐dominated land‐uses affecting biodiversity. Responses to urbanization differ greatly among species. Some species are unable to tolerate urban environments (i.e., urban avoiders), others are able to adapt and use areas with moderate levels of urbanization (i.e., urban adapters), and yet others are able to colonize and even thrive in urban environments (i.e., urban exploiters). Quantifying species‐specific responses to urbanization remains an important goal, but our current understanding of urban tolerance is heavily biased toward traditionally well‐studied taxa (e.g., mammals and birds). We integrated a continuous measure of urbanization—night‐time lights—with over 900,000 species' observations from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to derive a comprehensive analysis of species‐specific (N = 158 species) responses of butterflies to urbanization across Europe. The majority of butterfly species included in our analysis avoided urban areas, regardless of whether species' urban affinities were quantified as a mean score of urban affinity across all occurrences (79%) or as a species' response curve to the whole urbanization gradient (55%). We then used species‐specific responses to urbanization to assess which life history strategies promote urban affinity in butterflies. These trait‐based analyses found strong evidence that the average number of flight months, likely associated with thermal niche breath, and number of adult food types were positively associated with urban affinity, while hostplant specialism was negatively associated with urban affinity. Overall, our results demonstrate that specialist butterflies, both in terms of thermal and diet preferences, are most at risk from increasing urbanization, and should thus be considered in urban planning and prioritized for conservation.
The effectiveness of exercise interventions to prevent shoulder injuries in athletes: a systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise intervention versus no intervention or alternate intervention to prevent shoulder injuries in athletes. INTRODUCTION Injury-prevention research has proven the effectiveness of exercise in preventing sports injuries in general and in the lower limb specifically. However, the results have been extrapolated to sport-related shoulder injuries from limited evidence. Similar reviews have been faced with insufficient high-quality evidence and limited studies due to restrictive target populations, resulting in reduced generalizability. INCLUSION CRITERIA Peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials, with adequate control arms, investigating shoulder-injury events after exercise intervention in athletes, both training or competing in sports, will be included. Studies with substitute end points for injury events and non-self-propelled athletes, or vehicle assisted athletes, will be excluded. METHODS A comprehensive search of multiple databases will be used to find relevant studies. The databases will be searched from inception to April 2021, with no language restrictions imposed. Keywords and derivatives of "sport," "exercise intervention," "prevention," "shoulder injury," and "randomized controlled trials" will be used.Sources will include Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCOhost); CINAHL Plus (EBSCOhost); Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Wiley); MasterFILE Premier (EBSCOhost); MEDLINE (PubMed); Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro); ProQuest Health and Medical Complete and Nursing and Allied Health Source (ProQuest Complete); ScienceDirect (Elsevier); Scopus (Elsevier); SPORTDiscus (EBSCOhost); and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics). Data extraction and synthesis will follow the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis guidance for systematic reviews of effectiveness. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO CRD42020204141.
Micro‐CT of the human ossicular chain: Statistical shape modeling and implications for otologic surgery

The ossicular chain is a middle ear structure consisting of the small incus, malleus and stapes bones, which transmit tympanic membrane vibrations caused by sound to the inner ear. Despite being shown to be highly variable in shape, there are very few morphological studies of the ossicles. The objective of this study was to use a large sample of cadaveric ossicles to create a set of three‐dimensional models and study their statistical variance. Thirty‐three cadaveric temporal bone samples were scanned using micro‐computed tomography (μCT) and segmented. Statistical shape models (SSMs) were then made for each ossicle to demonstrate the divergence of morphological features. Results revealed that ossicles were most likely to vary in overall size, but that more specific feature variability was found at the manubrium of the malleus, the long process and lenticular process of the incus, and the crura and footplate of the stapes. By analyzing samples as whole ossicular chains, it was revealed that when fixed at the malleus, changes along the chain resulted in a wide variety of final stapes positions. This is the first known study to create high‐quality, three‐dimensional SSMs of the human ossicles. This information can be used to guide otological surgical training and planning, inform ossicular prosthesis development, and assist with other ossicular studies and applications by improving automated segmentation algorithms. All models have been made publicly available.
GE11 Modified PLGA/TPGS Nanoparticles Targeting Delivery of Salinomycin to Breast Cancer Cells

Salinomycin (Sal) is a potent inhibitor with effective anti-breast cancer properties in clinical therapy. The occurrence of various side effect of Sal greatly limits its application. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family is a family of receptors highly expressed in most breast cancer cells. GE11 is a dodecapeptide which shows excellent EGFR affinity. A series of nanoparticles derivatives with GE11 peptide conjugated PLGA/TPGS were synthesized. Nanoprecipitation method was used to prepare the Sal loaded nanoparticles at the optimized concentration. The characterization, targeting efficacy, and antitumor activity were detected both in vitro and in vivo. Encapsulation of Sal in GE11 modified PLGA/TPGS nanoparticles shows an improved therapy efficacy and lower systemic side effect. This represents the delivery system a promising strategy to enhance the therapeutic effect against EGFR highly expressed breast cancer.