Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erdosteine salvages cardiac necrosis: Novel effect through modulation of MAPK and Nrf‐2/HO‐1 pathway

Isoproterenol (ISO) induced oxidative stress and inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial necrosis. To optimize the effect of erdosteine against myocardial necrosis, male albino Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (n = 6), that is, normal, ISO‐control, erdosteine pretreatment with ISO. Rats were administered erdosteine orally for 28 days. Two doses of ISO (85 mg/kg), s.c. were given to ISO‐C and erdosteine treatment groups on the 27th and 28th day. On the 29th day, hemodynamic parameters were recorded and the heart was excised for further parameters. In ISO‐C rats, significantly increased levels of inflammatory markers, pro‐oxidants, and structural damage were observed as compared with normal group. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling revealed an increased expression of apoptotic proteins. Erdosteine at 80 mg/kg reversed the deleterious effects of ISO and normalized myocardium. Erdosteine showed anti‐inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antioxidant activities through inhibition of MAPK and Nrf‐2/HO‐1 pathways. To conclude, erdosteine was found protective in ISO‐induced myocardial necrosis through MAPK and Nrf‐2/HO‐1 pathway.
Using a criterion-referenced rubric to enhance student learning: a case study in a critical thinking and writing module

ABSTRACT This paper reports an empirical study which investigates a disparity between student-teacher rated scores in a criterion-referenced assessment (CRA) of a critical thinking and writing module for engineering undergraduates. Using the rubric as a self-assessment tool, students rated their self-confidence level and performance in terms of the critical thinking skills identified in Goldberg’s Seven Missing Basics of Engineering Education, namely: Inquiry, Labelling, Modelling, Gathering Data, Decomposition, Visualization and Communication. Despite students’ reports of high confidence levels in the acquisition of skills, weak positive correlations were observed between student and teacher-rated scores. This confirms the disparity between student-teacher assessments. Focus-group interviews with students revealed a lack of clarity in the rubric, and no provision of exemplary work as the two underlying reasons for the disparity. The findings provide pedagogical implications for effective rubric use and insights on issues in the development of rubric for self-assessment to enhance learning in higher education.
A study of expressed emotion, perceived stress and socio-demographic profile in patients of dissociative disorder

Background: Dissociation is understood as one of coping mechanism to deal with intense stressors. Individuals vary widely in their subjective response to a similar stressful event depending on number of factors including their family and social support system. So, authors tried to study the expressed emotion in patients of dissociative disorder along with other socio-demographic factors and its relation with perceived stress.Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was done on 100 patients with primary diagnosis of dissociative disorder. Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) was used to assess comorbid Depressive symptoms and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A) was used to asses comorbid anxiety symptoms. Perceived stress scale (PSS) was used to assess the perception of stress. Family emotional involvement and criticism scale (FEICS) was used to measure perceived criticism (PC) and intensity of emotional involvement (EI). Results: Mean perceived stress in this study was 25.8. Mean score for perceived criticism (PC) was 16.5 and emotional involvement (EI) was 15.7. Both measures of expressed emotions were significantly higher in females and subjects belonging to joint families and rural area. In this study perceived stress by subjects was significantly (p=0.001) correlated to perceived criticism (Pearson r = 0.78) and emotional involvement (Pearson r = 0.77). Conclusions: High perceived criticism and emotion over involvement of family member was associated with perceived stress in dissociation patients.
Dynamique des bicouches lipidiques supportées

Au cours de ce travail, nous avons etudie la dynamique des phospholipides constitutifs des bicouches lipidiques supportees sur des substrats solides. A l'aide d'un dispositif de retour de fluorescence apres photoblanchiment (FRAPP : Fluorescence Recovery After Patterned Photobleaching), nous avons mis en evidence differents comportements diffusifs suivant la nature du substrat (rugosite et chimie), le phospholipide et la methode de preparation de la bicouche. La mesure du coefficient de diffusion en fonction de la temperature nous a permis d'etablir un ensemble de donnees fiables et reproductibles sur la transition de phase gel-fluide de ces systemes. Il est apparu que leur diffusion dependait de la nature du substrat. En effet, sur le verre, ou les deux feuillets ont la meme dynamique, on observe une transition couplee. Au contraire, sur le mica, le feuillet proximal a une dynamique plus lente que le feuillet distal qui est quasiment libre de toute interaction avec le support. La methode de preparation s'est egalement revelee etre un parametre crucial puisque nous avons obtenu une plus grande dispersion des mesures en preparant les bicouches par eclatement de vesicules par rapport a la technique de Langmuir-Blodgett / Langmuir-Schaeffer qui donnent des echantillons sans microdomaines. Nous avons egalement determine les energies d'activation des differentes phases ainsi que les enthalpies de transition pour les deux phospholipides etudies. Ce travail constitue une etape primordiale dans la comprehension des mecanismes diffusifs de systemes plus complexes.
Study of thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation on the environment from space rocket activity

The article presents the results of a study of electromagnetic effects from space rocket activity using the example of the Plesetsk cosmodrome and aviation complex using the example of Ostafyevo Airport. The influence of electromagnetic pollution on the environment is considered; the authors analyze the influence of electromagnetic fields on human health taking into account thermal effects. It was demonstrated that the long-term effect of electromagnetic sources with different wavelengths at moderate intensity causes changes in the irritability of visual, olfactory and vestibular analyzers, as well as development of functional disorders in the nervous system without pronounced changes in endocrine-metabolic processes and blood composition, also trophic disturbance might be present. The authors study in detail the main anthropogenic sources of electromagnetic effects from objects of rocket and space, and aviation activities.
Breastfeeding Practices among Mothers at Birth and at 6 Months in Urban Areas of Delhi-Ncr, India

The objective of the present was to potray the breastfeeding practices followed by breastfeeding mothers, at birth and at 6 months, in urban areas of Delhi-National Capital Region. For this, 185 dyads of motherinfant aged 6 months were selected from Pediatric Outpatient Department of a government and a private hospital. A questionnaire-cum-interview was designed to collect the participants’ information on breastfeeding practices. It was found that only 29.7% infants had early initiation of breastfeeding despite the high (78.9%) institutional deliveries. Around 40.5% infants were given feeds apart from breast milk, mainly infant formula (81.3%) at the hospital after birth. There were 13% infants who received pre-lacteal feeds, mainly as a traditional family custom. The practice of exclusive breastfeeding for first six months was followed by 62.2% mothers. Complementary feeding or top feeding was received by 71.9% infants, but only 45.1% mothers initiated complementary foods at the recommended age of 6 months. It can be concluded that in the urban areas of India breastfeeding practices remains poor even after rigorous work done for promotion and protection of breastfeeding. Hence strong institutional care and support for breastfeeding is required at birth and efficient counseling for appropriate feeding of the infant is needed to intensify breastfeeding.
Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystals on the Coating of Chitosan Nanocomposite Film Using Plasma-Mediated Deposition of Amorphous Hydrogenated Carbon (a–C:H) Layers

The substitution of petroleum-based polymers with naturally derived biopolymers may be a good alternative for the conservation of natural fossil resources and the alleviation of pollution and waste disposal problems. However, in order to be used in a wide range of applications, some biopolymers’ properties should be enhanced. In this study, biocompatible, non-toxic, and biodegradable chitosan (CS) film and CS reinforced with 10 wt% of cellulose nanocrystals (CN–CS) were coated with amorphous hydrogenated carbon layers (a–C:H) of different thickness. To investigate the effect of the nano-reinforcement on the a–C:H layer applied, mild radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD) was used to coat the CS and its CN–CS bio-nanocomposite film. Both the surface characteristics and the chemical composition were analyzed. The surface morphology and wettability were examined by ex-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements (CA), respectively. Hereby, the relationship between sp2/sp3 ratios on a macroscopic scale was also evaluated. For the investigation of the chemical composition, the surface sensitive synchrotron X-ray radiation techniques near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT) were used.
Randomised clinical trial of rice germ supplementation on nutritional status and performance in trained swimmers: A pilot study

Introduction: Rice germ (RG) could be a safe and effective dietary supplement for swimmers. Methods: This randomised, parallel, placebo controlled pilot study investigated the effect of a five-week RG supplementation (25 grams/two times/day) in moderately trained swimmers on 50-m and 200-m front crawl at maximal speed, as primary outcome, and body composition, muscle function, post-concussion assessment, cognitive testing (ImPACT) and lactic acid levels, as secondary outcomes. Twenty seven moderately trained swimmers (7 women and 20 men) participated in the study. Results: For primary outcome on 200-m front crawl at maximal speed, a significant average decrease of 2.98 seconds (p=0.022) was detected in RG group, but it was not significant compared to placebo. On 50-m front crawl at maximal speed, no statistically significant intraor inter-group differences were detected. Regarding secondary outcomes, no difference was demonstrated between preperformance and post-performance lactic acid levels. Comparing the treatment with placebo across follow-up, mean mid-arm muscle circumference (MAC) increased weekly and significantly by 0.23 cm (p=0.026), as well as 0.36% for gynoid fat (p=0.005). In addition, a decrease of 0.13kg in fat-free mass (p=0.067) was also detected. No statistically significant intraor inter-group differences were detected for secondary outcomes. Conclusion: This pilot study provided early evidence that RG supplementation may positively affect nutritional status and partially, the performance of moderately trained swimmers. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms of action, the optimal timing of supplementation, as well as the most effective dose.
Characterization of the Coupling between Out‐of‐Plane Graphene and Electrogenic Cells

The cell‐chip coupling is in general regulated by the interplay between cells and the material surface at the interface. Electroactive planar materials have shown limited crosstalk with cells, whereas pseudo 3D patterned materials promote a more intimate contact with the biological system. Here, unprecedented physical properties of a carbon‐based material, i.e., graphene, to engineer out‐of‐plane morphologies are exploited: 1) 3D single‐ to few‐layer fuzzy graphene morphology (3DFG), 2) 3DFG on a collapsed Si nanowire mesh template, and 3) 3DFG on a noncollapsed Si nanowire mesh template. These materials are synthesized and interfaced with cardiomyocyte‐like cells focusing on the characterization of the cytoskeletal arrangement as well as membrane wrapping processes yet regulated by endocytic proteins. Finally, some major conditions to promote tight coupling to the device and eventually spontaneous intracellular penetration are found.
Analytical modeling of subthreshold current and swing of strained‐Si graded channel dual material double gate MOSFET with interface charges and analysis of circuit performance

In this paper, a two‐dimensional (2‐D) center channel potential based subthreshold current (SC) and subthreshold swing (SS) are developed analytically for strained‐Si (s‐Si) graded‐channel dual‐material double gate (GC‐DMDG) MOSFET with interface charges. The proposed analytical model is extracted by solving 2‐D Poisson equation in s‐Si graded‐channel using appropriate boundary conditions. The analytical 2‐D model includes effects of various MOSFET parameters such as s‐Si channel length, strain in the silicon substrate, and oxide interface charge density with damaged length by extensively analyzing channel potential, SC, and SS. Also, the subthreshold characteristics of the proposed s‐Si GC‐DMDG MOSFET demonstrate superior performance over s‐Si graded channel double gate MOSFET. The numerical results obtained using TCAD of the proposed DG MOSFET are validated with the results attained from proposed analytical model. Moreover, the performance of CMOS inverter using s‐Si GC‐DMDG MOSFET is evaluated for different device parameters. It is investigated that the proposed s‐Si GC‐DMDG MOSFET has better noise margin than s‐Si GC‐DG MOSFET.
microRNA‐377 acts as a suppressor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through CBX3‐dependent P53/P21 pathway

Stem cells play pivotal roles in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) recurrence and metastasis. The self‐renewal ability of stem cells was associated with specific microRNAs (miRs). Herein, we identified the effects of miR‐377 on ESCC stem cell activities. First, the expression of miR‐377 in ESCC and adjacent normal tissues was determined. The relationship between miR‐377 and chromobox protein homolog 3 (CBX3) was assessed by a dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay. miR‐377 was overexpressed or inhibited in ESCC stem cells to explore its role in ESCC. To further investigate the mechanism of miR‐377 in ESCC, cells were introduced with short hairpin RNA against CBX3 or pifithrin‐α (inhibitor of P53 pathway). Besides, the expression of P21, P53, CD133, CD13, Nanog, sex determining region Y‐Box 2 (Sox2), and octamer‐binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), cell sphere formation, colony formation, and proliferation were evaluated respectively. Finally, limiting dilution assay in vivo and tumor xenograft in nude mice were conducted to confirm the roles of miR‐377 in vivo. miR‐377 was poorly expressed in ESCC. Overexpression of miR‐377 could suppress the stem‐like trait of ESCC as well as the tumor growth in vivo. miR‐377 targeted CBX3 to activate the P53/P21 pathway. Besides, the expression of stem‐like markers including CD133, CD13, Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog was decreased, and the abilities of cell sphere formation, colony formation, proliferation, and tumorigenicity were significantly reduced by overexpressing miR‐377 or silencing CBX3. The results were reversed after inactivating the P53/P21 pathway. In summary, upregulation of miR‐377 inhibits the self‐renewal of ESCC stem cells by inhibiting CBX3 expression and promoting activation of the P53/P21 pathway.
Construction of Chitosan‐Based Hydrogel Incorporated with Antimonene Nanosheets for Rapid Capture and Elimination of Bacteria

To elaborately construct a novel and efficient photothermal antibacterial nanoplatform is a promising strategy for treating bacterial wound infections. In this work, a composite hydrogel (CS/AM NSs hydrogel) with outstanding antibacterial ability is constructed by incorporating antimonene nanosheets (AM NSs) with extraordinary photothermal properties into the network structure of chitosan (CS). When cultured with bacteria, the CS/AM NSs hydrogel can gather bacteria on the surface through the interaction of CS with the bacterial cell membrane. Subsequently, the intrinsic bactericidal property of CS will kill some of the bacteria. After the introduction of near‐infrared laser, the AM NSs effectively convert light energy into localized heat to eliminate residual bacteria. By virtue of the synergistic action between the capture effect of CS and the photothermal effect of AM NSs, the CS/AM NSs hydrogel shows predominant antibacterial behavior against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In vitro assay and in vivo tests of infected full‐thickness defect wound healing confirm the satisfactory biocompatibility and antibacterial ability. Overall, this work reveals that the CS/AM NSs hydrogel holds great potential as a broad‐spectrum antibacterial wound dressing for treating bacteria‐infected wounds. Additionally, this is the first report of the application of AM NSs in the field of antibacterial treatment.
The impact of a wellbeing program imbedded in university classes: the importance of valuing happiness, baseline wellbeing and practice frequency

ABSTRACT Universities must prepare students for a complex world, but current mental health levels impair student outcomes. Increased concern over student wellbeing has fostered the demand for positive education interventions – a relatively new topic requiring more research. We tested a positive psychology wellbeing intervention imbedded in undergraduate psychology classes with three studies and 469 participants. Intervention outcomes across three years indicate improvements in wellbeing, positive affect, negative affect and clinical wellbeing categories. Comparisons with an active control indicated the intervention buffered against semester stress. Practice frequency had little effect on wellbeing, however wellbeing gains were higher for students with low baseline wellbeing and those who valued happiness more – suggesting positive education interventions have greater value for some students. This research has important implications for student wellbeing, indicating that imbedded wellbeing programs can improve student wellbeing with minimal resources and low stigma.
Hidden Electrode Failure in a Cochlear Implant User

When the impedance of an electrode contact is highly increased in a cochlear implant, a failure of the appropriate electrode seems obvious. We present a case where impedances of some electrodes were at the lower edge of the normal range and not regarded as suspicious neither by the clinical fitting software nor by in‐vivo tests conducted by the implant manufacturer. However, speech comprehension was substantially degraded and sound perception distorted. Also, on the affected electrodes, loudness perception was compromised and responses of the electrically evoked compound action potential were no longer measureable. After re‐implantation, the subjective sound percept was clear again and speech comprehension scored much better than before. Later, inspection of the explant revealed shorts on the device and the implant was classified as device failure. Our case shows the importance of collecting longitudinal data of cochlear implant patients, i.e. device related technical measurements and hearing performance data, and the consideration of all these data in cases of patient complaints or suspected implant failures. Laryngoscope, 131:E1275–E1278, 2021
Investigation of Switching Oscillations for Silicon Carbide MOSFETs in Three-Level Active Neutral-Point-Clamped Inverters

This article investigates the multifrequency switching oscillations of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs in three-level active neutral-point-clamped (3L-ANPC) inverters under three typical commutation modes (i.e., the full mode, outer mode, and inner mode). Multiple switching-oscillation components with various frequencies are identified theoretically for both the full- and outer-mode commutations, due to their switching-loop diversities. Oppositely, the inner mode exhibits a single oscillation component as only one switching loop is involved. Three types of double-pulse tests (DPTs) are conducted on a 3L-ANPC inverter demonstrator with SiC MOSFETs, and the switching-oscillation components are extracted accordingly, which match well with the theoretical derivations. Moreover, other switching characteristics closely related, i.e., the oscillation peaks, current overshoots, capacitive charges, and switching energies, are studied and benchmarked according to the DPT results. It is concluded that the full- and outer-mode commutations share similarities in terms of switching oscillations, current overshoots, capacitive charges, and turn-on energies. The theoretical findings from this work provide a comprehensive knowledge of the multifrequency oscillation mechanisms associated with fast-switched 3L-ANPC inverters. Accordingly, the critical parasitic components are identified, and specific design considerations are proposed to achieve switching-performance improvements.
Study of Radial Vibration Impact on Friction and Torque of Rotary Drill String

During extended-reach well drilling, the torque of a rotary drill string is too large in the horizontal section, which results in the failure of the drill string. The effect of radial vibration on the friction and torque of the rotary drill string is unclear. In this work, first, the principle of the impact of radial vibration on the friction and torque of the rotary drill string in the horizontal section is analysed. Then, joints with an elliptical outer edge of the section are designed, which can generate low-amplitude vibration as the drill string rotates owing to the interaction with the wellbore wall. The radial vibration characteristics can be tuned by changing the major to minor radius ratio of the ellipse. A self-developed experimental device was designed to test the performance of tools with reduced friction and torque. The drill string torque with different penetration rates, rotation speeds, and ratios of the major radius to minor radius of the ellipse were systematically studied. The experimental results show that the average and the maximum amplitudes of the torque fluctuation first decrease to the lowest value and then increase with the increase of the ratio. When the ratio reaches 1.065, the average and the maximum amplitudes of the torque fluctuation evidently reduce; therefore, a joint with a ratio of 1.065 can effectively reduce frictional torque. The average torque reduces when the penetration rate and rotation speed decrease. At rotation speeds of 45 and 60 r/min, the maximum amplitude of torque fluctuation increases first and then decreases with an increase in penetration rate, and it reaches a maximum value at a penetration rate of 22.5 m/h. The fundamental frequency of torque fluctuation is almost linearly related to rotation speed, which is irrelevant to the penetration rate and the ratio of major to minor radius of the ellipse.