Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Scoping Review on the Association between Night Eating Syndrome and Physical Health, Health-Related Quality of Life, Sleep and Weight Status in Adults

Night eating syndrome (NES) is characterised by recurrent episodes of night eating, evident through excessive food consumption after the evening meal or eating after awakening from sleep, often associated with significant distress and/or impairment in functioning. This scoping review was conducted according to PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. The search was conducted through the use of PubMed, Medline (OVID) and SCOPUS, to identify relevant articles published within the last 10 years. Search terms including “Night eating*” OR “NES” and Boolean phrases were used to refine the search. Additionally, the age of participants was restricted to 18 years and above, to ensure only adult participants were included. The abstracts of the remaining articles were used to screen for those that were relevant. From a total of 663 citations, 30 studies assessing night eating syndrome met the inclusion criteria to be included in the review. We found inconsistent associations of NES with higher body mass index (BMI), less physical activity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and poorer quality of sleep. These inconsistencies may have been due to the use of different measurement methods, lack of power from small sample sizes of NES in some studies and varying ages of participants, with associations being more likely to be found in higher-quality, representative populations than in university student samples. There were no associations of NES with T2DM in clinical populations and with hypertension, OSA and metabolic syndrome, but sample sizes were small. The impacts of NES on these medical conditions should be addressed in future, using well-sized and long-term studies involving representative populations of adults. In conclusion, NES likely has negative impacts on BMI, T2DM, physical activity, and sleep quality, which in turn may increase cardio-metabolic risk. However, further research is needed to elucidate the interaction between NES and its associated features.
Suppression of NANOG Expression Reduces Drug Resistance of Cancer Stem Cells in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive and incurable primary brain tumor that harbors therapy-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). Due to the limited effectiveness of conventional chemotherapies and radiation treatments against CSCs, there is a critical need for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. Our previous research revealed the significant expression of embryonic stemness genes, NANOG and OCT4, in CSCs, suggesting their role in enhancing cancer-specific stemness and drug resistance. In our current study, we employed RNA interference (RNAi) to suppress the expression of these genes and observed an increased susceptibility of CSCs to the anticancer drug, temozolomide (TMZ). Suppression of NANOG expression induced cell cycle arrest in CSCs, specifically in the G0 phase, and it concomitantly decreased the expression of PDK1. Since PDK1 activates the PI3K/AKT pathway to promote cell proliferation and survival, our findings suggest that NANOG contributes to chemotherapy resistance in CSCs through PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Therefore, the combination of TMZ treatment with RNAi targeting NANOG holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for GBM.
Two approaches to psychometric process: Classical test theory and item response theory

In the development of Measurement Theory, there are two main statistical approaches to describe characteristics of an individualand to analyze abilities and latent attributes of a subject which are Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item ResponseTheory (IRT). This study provides information about the essential properties of both theories, determines psychometric processof measurement with details, compares models of theories and obviously expresses the advantages and disadvantages ofboth theories. The earliest theory of measurement, CTT, and the enhanced application of this theory, IRT models are examinedfrom the common and different points of view. This article emphasizes the importance of the constructing, measuring, evaluatingand correctly interpreting the educational measurement process.
Topological classification of integrable Hamiltonian systems in a potential field on surfaces of revolution

A topological classification, up to Liouville (leafwise) equivalence of integrable Hamiltonian systems given by flows with a smooth potential on two-dimensional surfaces of revolution is presented. It is shown that the restrictions of such systems to three-dimensional isoenergy surfaces can be modelled by the geodesic flows (without potential) of certain surfaces of revolution. It is also shown that in many important cases the systems under consideration are equivalent to other well-known mechanical systems. Bibliography: 29 titles.
Exploring the Blends’ Miscibility of a Novel Chitosan Derivative with Enhanced Antioxidant Properties; Prospects for 3D Printing Biomedical Applications

Chitosan is a polysaccharide vastly examined in polymer science for its unique structure. In the present study, CS was derivatized with 2-methoxy-4vinylphenol (MVP) in four different ratios through a free radical reaction. The CS-MVP derivatives were characterized through FTIR, 1H-NMR, XRD, swelling, and solubility measurements. Owing to the enhanced antioxidant character of the MVP monomer, the antioxidant activity of the CS-MVP derivatives was assessed. In the optimum CS-MVP ratio, blends between CS and CS-MVP were prepared in ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70, 20:80, and 10:90 w/w, and their miscibility was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and viscosity measurements. In the optimum ratios, highly concentrated inks were prepared, and their viscosity measurements revealed the successful formation of highly viscous gels with shear thinning behavior. These inks could be appropriate candidates for biomedical and drug delivery applications.
Investigation of the Influence of Wound-Treatment-Relevant Buffer Systems on the Colloidal and Optical Properties of Gold Nanoparticles

Biocompatible gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are used in wound healing due to their radical scavenging activity. They shorten wound healing time by, for example, improving re-epithelialization and promoting the formation of new connective tissue. Another approach that promotes wound healing through cell proliferation while inhibiting bacterial growth is an acidic microenvironment, which can be achieved with acid-forming buffers. Accordingly, a combination of these two approaches appears promising and is the focus of the present study. Here, 18 nm and 56 nm gold NP (Au) were prepared with Turkevich reduction synthesis using design-of-experiments methodology, and the influence of pH and ionic strength on their behaviour was investigated. The citrate buffer had a pronounced effect on the stability of AuNPs due to the more complex intermolecular interactions, which was also confirmed by the changes in optical properties. In contrast, AuNPs dispersed in lactate and phosphate buffer were stable at therapeutically relevant ionic strength, regardless of their size. Simulation of the local pH distribution near the particle surface also showed a steep pH gradient for particles smaller than 100 nm. This suggests that the healing potential is further enhanced by a more acidic environment at the particle surface, making this strategy a promising approach.
Passive Target Tracking using Intercept Sonar Measurements

Intercept sonar of ownship is used to track a target, which is assumed to be doing active transmission for detecting a target in underwater. The ownship intercepts the active transmissions and generates bearing measurements of the target. The measurement interval between generated bearings in intercept mode is not constant and so closed loop estimators like Kalman filter is not useful to find out target motion parameters. So, sub-optimal estimator like Pseudo Linear Estimator (PLE) is used. Recursive PLE developed by S. K. Rao is modified to suit this application. The algorithm is tested in Monte-Carlo simulation and its results are presented for two typical scenarios.
An Efficient Smart Pharmaceutical Packaging Technology Framework to Assess the Quality of Returned Medication through Non-Intrusively Recording Storage Conditions after Dispensation

Medicine waste is a global issue, with economic, environmental, and social consequences that are only predicted to worsen. A structured review of the literature on medicine reuse revealed that there is a lack of technological applications addressing the key concerns raised by pharmaceutical stakeholders on the safety and feasibility of redispensing medication. A basis and guidelines for solutions aiming at enabling medicine reuse were devised by exploring a conceptual model of a Circular Pharmaceutical Supply Chain (CPSC), discussing concerns raised within the literature and identifying methods to influence the public and pharmaceutical companies. SPaRAS, a novel system to validate the storage conditions and streamline the assessment of returned medicines, is proposed. The Smart Packaging System (SPS) will record the storage conditions of medication while in patient care. The companion Returns Assessment System (RAS) will efficiently communicate with the SPS through RFID, configure the sensors within the SPS to the needs of its assigned medicine and assess the returns against tailored eligibility criteria. The increased safety and efficiency provided by SPaRAS addresses the concerns of large pharmaceutical companies and the public, offering a method to reuse previously owned medication and reduce the effects of unnecessary medicine waste.
Periodic photonic filters: theory and experiment

Abstract. Photonic multiline filters exhibiting periodic resonance lines on a dense spectral grid in a broad wavelength range are demonstrated. We design the filters using rigorous numerical methods and then proceed with experimental verification by patterning, etching, and collecting spectral data. We use standard double-side-polished 300-μm-thick silicon wafers for the experiments. On one side of the wafer, we place a shallow grating whereas the other side has a quarter-wave antireflection layer. An example filter with a ∼200-nm-deep TiO2 grating on the wafer yields 12 narrow resonance peaks within a 10-nm wavelength range centered at 1550 nm. The spectral width of each filter peak is ∼0.1 nm with a free spectral range of ∼0.8 nm. Peak efficiency approaches 80% with low sidebands between the resonant filter lines. We discuss briefly design of polarization-independent periodic filters and the concept of Brewster-angle filters. Possible applications include spectral sampling and wavelength discretization as used, e.g., in sensing gas species and quantifying toxic gas concentrations.
7-im Filtering for Discrete-Time Linear Systems with Markovian Jumping Parameters*

This paper investigates the problem of H, filtering for discrete-time linear systems with Markovian jumping parameters. It is assumed that the jumping parameter is available. We develop a methodology for designing discretetime Markovian jump linear filters which ensure a prescribed bound on the &-induced gain from the noise signals to the estimation error. Both the cases when the transition probability matrix for the Markov chain is exactly known and when it is uncertain but belongs to a fixed polytope are considered. The proposed design is based on the solution of linear matrix inequalities.
Research on the preparation and property of superhydrophobic surface with micro-nano ripple structure

Superhydrophobic surfaces are widely used in various fields because of their excellent properties and are currently an important research hotspot. Here, we developed a simple method and successfully prepared a functional surface with superhydrophobic properties. The relationship between laser process parameters on the surface morphology and wettability properties of stainless steel mesh was systematically investigated, and the surface corrosion resistance, mechanical stability, and self-cleaning properties of superhydrophobic stainless steel mesh were explored. The results show that under laser ablation with optimal process parameters, the surface of the superhydrophobic SSM has a large number of laser-induced periodic micro-nano corrugated structures, which store a large amount of air in the structure to form a layer of air cushion, reducing the contact between the surface and the corrosion solution, improving the corrosion resistance of the SSM, and also showing excellent performance characteristics in terms of mechanical stability, time-sensitive, and self-cleaning performance.
Direct thermal tuning of the terahertz plasmonic response of semiconductor metasurface

In this study, the tunable depth of an array of semiconductor indium antimonide (InSb) subwavelength strips was studied by isothermally increasing the intrinsic carrier density, and then increasing the plasma frequency and the dielectric constant in the terahertz (THz) regime. It could be found that the tunable depth can attain 79.07% and the quality factor Q can be up to 7.1 in the window between 0 and 1.2 THz from 450 to 250 K. In order to improve the performance of the device, the strip array of semiconductor InSb on a ferroelectric strontium titanate film was also investigated. The results showed that when the temperature varied from 450 to 250 K, the modulation depth increased and attained 84.06%. These findings would facilitate the design of tunable components in the communication region of the THz regime.
Structure and Bonding Patterns in C5H4 Isomers: Pyramidane, Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon, and Spiro Molecules

We have theoretically investigated nine unusual isomers of the molecular formula C5H4 using coupled cluster (CC) and density functional theory (DFT) methods. These molecules possess non-classical structures consisting of two pyramidanes, three planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC), and four spiro types of isomers. Both the pyramidanes (tetracyclo-[2.1.0.01,3.02,5]pentane; py-1 and tricyclo-[2.1.0.02,5]pentan-3-ylidene; py-2) are minima on the potential energy surface (PES) of C5H4. Among the three isomers containing ptC, (SP4)-spiro [2.2]pent-1-yne (ptC-2) is a minimum, whereas isomer, (SP4)-spiro [2.2]pent-1,4-diene (ptC-1) is a fourth-order saddle point, and (SP4)-sprio[2.2]pent-1,4-diylidene (ptC-3) is a transition state. The corresponding spiro isomers spiro[2.2]pent-1,4-diene (spiro-1), sprio[2.2]pent-1,4-diylidene (spiro-3) and spiro[2.2]pent-4-en-1-ylidene (spiro-4) are local minima, except spiro[2.2]pent-1-yne (spiro-2), which is a second-order saddle point. All relative energies are calculated with respect to the global minimum (pent-1,3-diyne; 1) at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ level of theory. Quantum chemical calculations have been performed to analyze the bonding and topological configurations for all these nine isomers at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory for a better understanding of their corresponding electronic structures. ptC-2 was found to be thermodynamically more stable than its corresponding spiro counterpart (spiro-2) and possesses a high dipole moment (μ = 4.64 D). The stability of the ptC structures with their higher spin states has been discussed.
3D Seismic Wave Velocity Model for the Revell Batholith and Surrounding Region

Title: 3D Seismic Wave Velocity Model for the Revell Batholith and Surrounding Region Report No.: NWMO-TR-2020-07 Author(s): Cecilia Dip Company: INRS Date: October 2020 Abstract This report describes how a three-dimensional (3D) seismic wave velocity model was built for the Revell Batholith and surrounding rock units. Models were constructed at two different scales: a) local-scale model, based on the results from a 3D geophysical density model inversion, and b) a regional model that incorporates information derived from a regional bedrock geology map. The local model is nested in the regional model, and both honour the heterogeneities of the Revell Batholith and surrounding area. Two methodologies were implemented and are explained in this report. First a well-established empirical relationship between bulk density and velocity was applied to the input data to generate the local seismic wave velocity model. The velocity distributions of each rock unit were evaluated to define histograms, means and standard deviations, which were used to perform sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS) to generate multiple realizations of the velocity distribution for the regional model. The mean ensemble of the multiple realizations were generated to produce smoother model that honours the statistics derived in each of the individual realizations. The established workflow resulted in a robust three-dimensional seismic wave velocity model that incorporates geologically reasonable heterogeneities that can be used to evaluate seismicity. However, there remains some uncertainty in the transferability of the empirical approach applied to our site-specific rock units. The seismic wave velocity model reported here can be verified and further refined as needed as more information becomes available. Being a required variable for spatial location and magnitude of seismic events, these models will help characterising the potential of seismic hazards in the Ignace area.
Signals of Pig Ancestry in Wild Boar, Sus scrofa, from Eastern Austria: Current Hybridisation or Incomplete Gene Pool Differentiation and Historical Introgressions?

In wild boar, Sus scrofa, from Europe, domestic pig-typical ancestry is traced at varying levels. We hypothesised wild boar with pig-typical gene pool characteristics, i.e., “introgression”, congregate more in peri-urban habitats, because of less shyness and better adaptation to anthropogenic stress. We used 16 microsatellites to study introgression levels of 375 wild boar from peri-urban Vienna, Austria, and rural regions in comparison to commercial slaughter pigs, Mangaliza, and Turopolje pigs. We also expected more introgression in locations of warmer climates and lower precipitation. Despite discrimination of wild boar and pigs with 99.73% and 97.87% probability, respectively, all wild boars exhibited pig-typical gene pool characteristics, mostly at a very low level. Recent hybridisation was suspected in only 0.53% of wild boar, corresponding to the current largely indoor pig breeding/rearing in the region, with no chance of natural gene exchange between pigs and wild boar. Rather, pig ancestry in wild boar stems from incomplete gene pool differentiation during domestication and/or historical introgressions, when free-ranging pig farming was common. Individual introgression levels were lower in wild boar from peri-urban habitats, possibly reflecting the largely historical absence of pig farms there. Moreover, a marginal precipitation effect, but no temperature effect on introgression was observed. The latter, however, needs to be explored further by a more comprehensive data set.
Cyclic Lipopeptides of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DHA6 Are the Determinants to Suppress Watermelon Fusarium Wilt by Direct Antifungal Activity and Host Defense Modulation

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon), poses a serious threat to watermelon productivity. We previously characterized six antagonistic bacterial strains, including DHA6, capable of suppressing watermelon Fusarium wilt under greenhouse conditions. This study investigates the role of extracellular cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) produced by strain DHA6 in Fusarium wilt suppression. Taxonomic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence categorized strain DHA6 as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry identified five families of CLPs, i.e., iturin, surfactin, bacillomycin, syringfactin, and pumilacidin, in the culture filtrate of B. amyloliquefaciens DHA6. These CLPs exhibited significant antifungal activity against Fon by inducing oxidative stress and disrupting structural integrity, inhibiting mycelial growth and spore germination. Furthermore, pretreatment with CLPs promoted plant growth and suppressed watermelon Fusarium wilt by activating antioxidant enzymes (e.g., catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase) and triggering genes involved in salicylic acid and jasmonic acid/ethylene signaling in watermelon plants. These results highlight the critical roles of CLPs as determinants for B. amyloliquefaciens DHA6 in suppressing Fusarium wilt through direct antifungal activity and modulation of plant defense responses. This study provides a foundation for developing B. amyloliquefaciens DHA6-based biopesticides, serving as both antimicrobial agents and resistance inducers, to effectively control Fusarium wilt in watermelon and other crops.
Learning to Drive Software-Defined Storage

Thanks to the development of manufacturing technology, storage devices such as solid-state drives (SSDs) are becoming highly customizable to meet the everincreasing demands on storage performance and capacity for different applications (i.e., software-defined storage). However, it is challenging to develop optimized storage devices with current human-driven systems-building approaches, due to the complicated storage stack. In this paper, we present learning-based approaches to facilitating the development of software-defined storage. To accelerate the manufacturing of efficient storage devices, we enable the automated learning of optimized hardware specifications for developing customized storage devices for specific application types. Our preliminary study shows that utilizing learningbased techniques to drive the development of software-defined storage is promising.
Numerical Study of Dry Reforming of Methane in Packed and Fluidized Beds: Effects of Key Operating Parameters

Replacing the conventionally used steam reforming of methane (SRM) with a process that has a smaller carbon footprint, such as dry reforming of methane (DRM), has been found to greatly improve the industry’s utilization of greenhouse gases (GHGs). In this study, we numerically modeled a DRM process in lab-scale packed and fluidized beds using the Eulerian–Lagrangian approach. The simulation results agree well with the available experimental data. Based on these validated models, we investigated the effects of temperature, inlet composition, and contact spatial time on DRM in packed beds. The impacts of the side effects on the DRM process were also examined, particularly the role the methane decomposition reaction plays in coke formation at high temperatures. It was found that the coking amount reached thermodynamic equilibrium after 900 K. Additionally, the conversion rate in the fluidized bed was found to be slightly greater than that in the packed bed under the initial fluidization regime, and less coking was observed in the fluidized bed. The simulation results show that the adopted CFD approach was reliable for modeling complex flow and reaction phenomena at different scales and regimes.