Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of the metallic contact on the electrical properties of organic semiconductor film

Sandwich type (MIS) heterostructures based on layers of organic semiconductors as meta-dinitrobenzene (m-DNB) and perylene or perylene derivative 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) have been prepared using alternative methods (rapid thermal directional solidification or two-steps, vacuum evaporation and deposition process) on different substrates (single crystal silicon wafer and textolite covered with copper film). Subsequently indium, gallium, aluminium of high purity (5N) and silver have been used for the preparations of the metallic contacts. This paper presents some investigations of the contact between different organic semiconductors and several metals: meta-dinitrobenzene/Cu, perylene/ln, perylene/Al, perylene/Ga, perylene/Ag, PTCDA/Al, PTCDA/Ga, and PTCDA/Ag. The comparative study of the electrical conduction properties of these organic semiconductor/metal contacts has emphasised significant differences depending on the metal type, metal/organic semiconductor interface properties and quality of the contact, which is determined by the preparation method (pressing, melting, vacuum evaporation, painting) and selected contact configuration. The experimental data obtained using the 2 points contact geometry have evidenced linear or power I-V dependences of the investigated metallic contacts emphasising the importance of the space-charge phenomenon and defects on the charge carriers' transport in these structures.
The treatment of trauma-induced sexual pain among women: Clinical considerations for the use of adjunctive EMDR

Abstract:Almost half of all women experience a sexual pain disorder in their lifetime, including dyspareunia, vaginismus, vulvodynia, and provoked vestibulodynia. Despite significant negative consequences across quality of life indices, few women seek treatment for sexual pain, and among those who do access support, more than half report that currently available strategies are ineffective or even harmful in some cases. This outcome may partly result from a standard of care that prioritizes pharmacotherapy and/or physiotherapy within pain management protocols rather than psychological interventions despite their demonstrated ability to yield comparatively better treatment outcomes. In considering that some women experience sexual pain in the aftermath of a sexually traumatic event, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a type of evidence-based trauma therapy, may be a suitable adjunctive treatment to mitigate symptoms by targeting psychological risk factors. In this report, the authors first review the impact of sexual trauma on sexual pain, particularly the biopsychosocial effects of trauma within the body and its hypothesized mechanisms of action on sexual functioning, and then provide an overview of EMDR therapy, including how it promotes the resolution of trauma symptoms and its effects on sexual pain. By presenting this evidence, the authors will explore how EMDR therapy may have utility as a novel adjunctive treatment to address sexual trauma-induced sexual pain disorders and optimize the provision of care among this clinical population.
A mixed method analysis of differential reasons for condom use and non-use among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men

Abstract:We sought to examine how condom use was differentially reasoned by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with other men (GBM) in Ontario, Canada. Data were derived from a community-based study of GBM who completed an anonymous online questionnaire in 2014. Participants qualitatively described reasons a condom was used or not at their most recent anal sex event. Qualitative responses were thematically coded non-exclusively and associations with event-level and individual-level factors were determined quantitatively using manual backward stepwise multivariable logistic regression. Among 1,830 participants, 1,460 (79.8%) reported a recent anal sex event, during which 884 (60.6%) used condoms. Reasons for condom use included protection/safety (82.4%), norms (30.5%), and combination prevention (6.2%). Reasons for non-use were intentional (43.1%), trust (27.6%), unintentional (25.7%), and other strategies (19.6%). Event-level substance use was associated with all non-use reasons: e.g., more likely to be unintentional, less likely to be trust. Condom non-use with online-met partners was associated with more intentional and unintentional reasons and less trust reasons. Non-white and bisexual GBM were less likely to explain condom use as a norm. Participant-partner HIV status was an important predictor across most condom use and non-use reasons: e.g., sero-different partnerships were more likely to reason condom use as combination prevention and condom non-use as trust, unknown status partnerships were more likely to reason non-use as unintentional. Condom use among GBM is a multi-faceted practice, especially with increasing antiretroviral-based HIV prevention. Future interventions must adapt to changing GBM (sub-)cultures with targeted, differentiated, culturally-appropriate, and sustained interventions.
Influence of Light and Substrate Conditions on Regeneration of Native Tree Saplings in the Hawaiian Lowland Wet Forest

Abstract:Understanding microsite preferences of species at the sapling stage is crucial for successful forest restoration, as efforts can be concentrated onto the most promising sites, and invaded sites can be manipulated toward more suitable conditions for target species. The Hawaiian Lowland Wet Forest is a highly endemic and endangered ecosystem that has received limited attention in terms of research on recruitment dynamics. Our study combined density records and sapling-based measurements within a forest reserve, an invaded forest, a traditional restoration project and a novel restoration project. We recorded substrate type, soil depth, surface roughness, and light availability for 382 saplings of the four native tree species Metrosideros polymorpha, Myrsine lessertiana, Pipturus albidus, and Psychotria hawaiiensis, and 146 spots where the target species were absent. The invaded forest had the lowest native sapling density, lower light availability, and lower surface roughness than the remaining management units. The novel restoration project had more moss/nurselog sites and higher light availability than the remaining management units. The traditional restoration project was mainly characterized by rocky substrate. Metrosideros and Pipturus showed significantly higher light demand than Myrsine and Psychotria. Pipturus was associated with rough microsites and Metrosideros with moss/nurselog substrates. Our findings suggest that restoration strategies considering manipulation of the canopy light environment and microsite preferences of target species can better facilitate native recruitment into heavily invaded forests.
Antimicrobial drug residues in poultry products and implications on public health: A review

ABSTRACT Poultry meat and eggs are important foods for fulfilling the dietary needs of the ever-growing human population. Efficient poultry production, however, necessitates use of pharmaceutical products, such as antibiotics, as prophylactic and curatives to ensure rapid growth and health. Nevertheless, inappropriate and non-judicious use of these drugs results in an accumulation of toxic and harmful residues in meat and eggs of treated birds which affect consumer health by triggering allergic reactions and transmitting antibiotic-resistant microbial infections. Therefore, regulatory authorities must take rigorous steps to curtail inappropriate use of numerous drugs for animal use in order to provide safe animal origin food to humans.
Naringin attenuates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress

Abstract Objective This investigation was carried out with an aim of exploring neuroprotection by naringin (Nar) in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI/R) injury and its mechanism. Methods Rats were grouped into ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), sham operation (Sham), nimodipine control (NIM), and different doses of Nar (Nar-L, Nar-M, Nar-H) groups. With Zea Longa score for assessment of neurological deficits, dry and wet method for measurement of brain tissue water content, and (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) TTC staining for determination of cerebral infarction volume, the related parameters were obtained and compared. Subsequently, ELISA was introduced to detect levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-8) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the serum as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activities in brain tissue. Western blot was applied to evaluate endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related proteins expression, including glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), caspase-12, and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF-6). Results Nar significantly alleviated nerve injury and decreased brain tissue water content and brain infraction volume in CI/R injury rats in a concentration-dependent manner. Reduction of TNF-α, IL-8 as well as MDA content and elevation of IL-10 as well as SOD activity were confirmed to be caused by Nar treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, ERS-related proteins also markedly decreased in the Nar groups. Conclusion Nar may achieve neuroprotection and alleviation of CI/R injury by anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and inhibiting ERS, and its efficacy is concentration-dependent.
Trends der Fertigungs-IT 2021

Abstract 2021 ist ein weiteres Jahr der Paradigmenwechsel – auch für die Fertigungs-IT. Viele Änderungen und Trendwenden zeigten sich bereits in den vergangenen Jahren, aber jetzt wird es Zeit, das eine oder andere Thema konkret anzugehen. Und da sprechen wir nicht nur von Künstlicher Intelligenz (KI). Natürlich wird die eine oder andere Technologie eine wichtige Rolle spielen, aber auch organisatorische Themen gewinnen an Relevanz.
Antihyperglycemic effect and phytochemical investigation of Rubia cordifolia (Indian Madder) leaves extract

Abstract Medicinal plants are used as an important source of medicines in pharmaceutical industry. Rubia cordifolia is widely used to cure diabetes mellitus. Present study was aimed to investigate the antihyperglycemic effects of different fractions of R. cordifolia leaves and to analyze its antioxidant effect and phytochemical composition. Male albino mice were randomly distributed into seven groups (n = 7). Group-I was normal control, group-II was Alloxan (100 mg/kg)-induced diabetic control, and group-III was standard drug (Glibenclamide 0.5 mg/kg)-treated group. Animals in groups IV–VII were treated with n-hexane fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, n-butanol fraction and aqueous fraction of R. cordifolia, orally administered (100 mg/kg) once daily up to 28 days after Alloxan induction, respectively. Methanolic extract (ME) and fractions of R. cordifilia were analyzed for antioxidant activity and quantification of total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. HPLC of ME and most active fractions were performed. The results showed that RCEF (G-V) and RCBF (G-VI) have significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the increased level of glucose as compared to toxicant control group. It was further revealed that EF and BF have higher antioxidant activity (having IC50 34.9, 36.86 (µg/mL)) owing to phenolic and flavonoid identified by HPLC.
miR-380-5p facilitates NRF2 and attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced neuronal cell death by directly targeting BACH1

Abstract Background This study aimed to explore the role of miR-380-5p in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CIR) injury-induced neuronal cell death and the potential signaling pathway involved. Methodology Human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y cells were used in this study. Oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model was used to mimic ischemia/reperfusion injury. CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to examine cell survival. Quantitative real time PCR (RT-qPCR) assay and Western blotting were used to measure the change of RNA and protein expression, respectively. TargetScan and Luciferase assay was used to confirm the target of miR-380-5p. Malondialdehyde (MDA) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) were measured using commercial kits. Results miR-380-5p was downregulated in SH-SY5Y cells after OGD/R. Cell viability was increased by miR-380-5p, while cell apoptosis was reduced by miR-380-5p mimics. MDA was reduced by miR-380-5p mimics, while SOD and GSHPx were increased by miR-380-5p. Results of TargetScan and luciferase assay have showed that BACH1 is the direct target of miR-380-5p. Expression of NRF2 was upregulated after OGD/R, but was not affected by miR-380-5p. mRNA expression of HO-1 and NQO1 and ARE activity were increased by miR-380-5p. Overexpression of BACH1 reversed the antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of miR-380-5p. Conclusion miR-380-5p inhibited cell death induced by CIR injury through target BACH1 which also facilitated the activation of NRF2, indicating the antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of miR-380-5p.
SoftBLE: An SDN Framework for BLE-based IoT Networks

Today's Industrial IoT (IIoT) applications often employ large-scale and dense sensor deployments for environmental monitoring. A hierarchical Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) based architecture can facilitate power efficiency and reliability for data collection in dense networks. But if the network is static with fixed parameter settings, it can not be adaptable to dynamic application requirements. Although BLE is a parametric protocol, it does not provide any built-in feature for parameter tuning. To achieve network adaptability, we introduce and design SoftBLE, a Software Defined Networking (SDN) framework that provides controllability for BLE based 2-tier networks. It takes advantages of advanced control knobs recently available in BLE protocol stacks. SoftBLE is complemented by two orchestration algorithms to optimize gateway and sensor parameters. Evaluation results from both an experimental testbed and a large-scale simulation study show that almost all the SoftBLE sensors can save around 70% of transmission power while keeping Packet Reception Rate (PRR) above 99.9%.
Gibbs energy minimisation model for the austenite-ferrite phase transformation in Fe-C-X-Y alloys

ABSTRACT A new model has been developed to predict austenite ferrite transformation kinetics in steels. For each alloying element, the concentration profile is computed solving a unique diffusion equation (including the 2 phases and the interface). The interface is described assuming linear variation of chemical potentials, saving thus computational time. Interface motion is driven by the minimisation of Gibbs energy. The model naturally reproduces the transition between thermodynamic equilibria (Para equilibrium, Local equilibrium with negligible partitioning, Local equilibrium) during heating. The validity of the model for reverse transformation has been validated on ternary and quaternary systems Fe-C-(Mn-Si-Mo) on decarburisation experiments.
Unpacking the multiple spaces of innovation hubs

Abstract Innovation hubs, hailed as coworking spaces that support collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship, are rapidly diffusing across different regions of the world. In this study we examine two innovation hubs situated in starkly different locations: London and Lusaka. We examine them from a social production of space perspective to understand how, despite similar self-defined framing as hubs, they differently enact the day-to-day physical and social spaces. Our study shows the need to recognize “multiplicity of spaces” and a sensitivity to the politics of lived differences between the celebrated imaginary and the performed local practices of innovation hubs, as part of a global phenomenon.
Inheritance of spheroid body and plastid in the raphid diatom Epithemia (Bacillariophyta) during sexual reproduction

ABSTRACT Diatoms belonging to the family Epithemiaceae have endosymbiont ‘spheroid bodies’, which have received attention as a model to provide new insights into the early stages of organelle evolution. Uniparental organelle inheritance, known in a wide range of sexually reproducing eukaryotes, is considered to be one of the key characteristics acquired during the evolution of an endosymbiont into an organelle. However, there has been no information about the inheritance of spheroid bodies. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the inheritance modes of the spheroid bodies and plastids in the isogamous diatom Epithemia gibba var. ventricosa, which we established to be heterothallic. We induced sexual reproduction of E. gibba var. ventricosa in culture, using sexually compatible mating strains that differed with respect to nucleotide polymorphisms in the spheroid body and the plastid genomes. The F1 strains were genotyped to reveal the parental origin of the spheroid bodies and plastids using parent-specific polymorphisms. The results suggested that inheritance of the spheroid bodies was uniparental (i.e. progeny have the spheroid body genome from either parent but not both) and random (i.e. with an unbiased ratio of parental origins), while that of the plastids was more complex, being predominantly uniparental but with a few biparental cases. This study is the first to report the inheritance pattern of the spheroid body and will contribute to better understand the evolutionary state of this organelle.
Psychometric evaluation of the healthy aging instrument in older adults

ABSTRACT This methodological study was conducted for the psychometric evaluation of the Healthy Aging Instrument in older adults. The study was carried out with 430 older adults registered at two family health centers. The results of the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy and the Bartlett’s test, which was used to determine the suitability of the measurement tool for factor analysis, were found as . 83 and . 000, respectively. The Cronbach’s alpha value of the instrument was found as . 88. As a result of the construct validity analysis, the scale consisted of 8 factors with 31 items. The Healthy Aging Instrument had sufficient internal consistency reliability and construct validity. The results were considered suitable for a scale adapted to Turkish. As the study is limited to the region where the scale was applied, further psychometric tests should be performed in different countries considering cultural varieties.
Novel Compound Missense and Intronic Splicing Mutation in ALDH18A1 Causes Autosomal Recessive Spastic Paraplegia

Background: Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) caused by mutations in ALDH18A1 have been reported as spastic paraplegia 9 (SPG9), with autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive transmission (SPG9A and SPG9B). SPG9 is rare and has shown phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity in previous reports. Methods: This study screened ALDH18A1 mutations in autosomal recessive HSP patients using combined whole exome sequencing and RNA splicing analysis. We conducted in silico investigations, co-segregation analysis, and ELISA-based analysis of P5CS (Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase; encoded by ALDH18A1) concentration to validate the pathogenicity of the detected ALDH18A1 variants. All previously reported bi-allelic ALDH18A1 mutations and cases were reviewed to summarize the genetic and clinical features of ALDH18A1-related HSP. Results: A novel missense mutation c.880T>C, p.S294P and an intronic splicing mutation c. -28-13A>G were both detected in ALDH18A1 in an autosomal recessive family presenting with a complicated form HSP. ELISA assays revealed significantly decreased P5CS concentration in the proband's plasma compared with that in the healthy controls. Moreover, review of previously reported recessive cases showed that SPG9B patients in our cohort presented with milder symptoms, i.e., later age at onset and without cognitive impairment. Conclusion: The present study expands the genetic and clinical spectrum of SPG9B caused by ALDH18A1 mutation. Our work defines new genetic variants to facilitate future diagnoses, in addition to demonstrating the highly informative value of splicing mutation prediction in the characterization of disease-related intronic variants.
Comparing Statistical Tests for Differential Network Analysis of Gene Modules

Genes often work together to perform complex biological processes, and “networks” provide a versatile framework for representing the interactions between multiple genes. Differential network analysis (DiNA) quantifies how this network structure differs between two or more groups/phenotypes (e.g., disease subjects and healthy controls), with the goal of determining whether differences in network structure can help explain differences between phenotypes. In this paper, we focus on gene co-expression networks, although in principle, the methods studied can be used for DiNA for other types of features (e.g., metabolome, epigenome, microbiome, proteome, etc.). Three common applications of DiNA involve (1) testing whether the connections to a single gene differ between groups, (2) testing whether the connection between a pair of genes differs between groups, or (3) testing whether the connections within a “module” (a subset of 3 or more genes) differs between groups. This article focuses on the latter, as there is a lack of studies comparing statistical methods for identifying differentially co-expressed modules (DCMs). Through extensive simulations, we compare several previously proposed test statistics and a new p-norm difference test (PND). We demonstrate that the true positive rate of the proposed PND test is competitive with and often higher than the other methods, while controlling the false positive rate. The R package discoMod (differentially co-expressed modules) implements the proposed method and provides a full pipeline for identifying DCMs: clustering tools to derive gene modules, tests to identify DCMs, and methods for visualizing the results.
Economic Burden of Major Diseases in China in 2013

Studies on the economic burden of disease (EBD) can estimate the social benefits of preventing or curing disease. The majority of studies focus on the economic burden of a single or regional disease; however, holistic or national research is rare in China. Estimating the national EBD can provide evidence for policy makers. We used the top-down method to assess the economic burden of 30 types of diseases between urban and rural areas in China. The two-step model was used to evaluate the direct economic burden of disease (DEBD), while the human capital method was used to assess the indirect economic burden of disease (IEBD). The total economic burden of 30 types of diseases in China was between $13.39 and 803.00 billion in 2013. The average total economic burden of disease (TEBD) in cities was $81.39 billion, while diseases in villages accounted for $50.26 billion. The range of direct and indirect EBD was $5.77–494.52 billion, and the range in urban areas was $0.61–20.34 billion. The direct and indirect EBD in rural areas accounted for $5.88–277.76 billion and $0.59–11.39 billion, respectively. There was a large difference between the economic burden of different diseases. The economic burden of urban diseases was more significant than the burden for the rural. The top five most economically burdensome diseases were myocardial infarction coronary artery bypass, acute myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding and acute appendicitis.