Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Quercetin on mitoBKCa Channel and Mitochondrial Function in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Exposed to Particulate Matter

Particulate matter (PM) exposure increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. It can lead to inflammatory responses and damage of the mitochondria thus inducing cell death. Recently, it has been shown that potassium channels (mitoK) located in the inner mitochondrial membrane are involved in cytoprotection, and one of the mechanisms involves ROS. To verify the cytoprotective role of mitoBKCa, we performed a series of experiments using a patch-clamp, transepithelial electrical resistance assessment (TEER), mitochondrial respiration measurements, fluorescence methods for the ROS level and mitochondrial membrane potential assessment, and cell viability measurements. In the human bronchial epithelial cell model (16HBE14σ), PM < 4 μm in diameter (SRM-PM4.0) was used. We observed that PM decreased TEER of HBE cell monolayers. The effect was partially abolished by quercetin, a mitoBKCa opener. Consequently, quercetin decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and increased mitochondrial respiration. The reduction of PM-induced ROS level occurs both on cellular and mitochondrial level. Additionally, quercetin restores HBE cell viability after PM administration. The incubation of cells with PM substantially reduced the mitochondrial function. Isorhamnetin had no effect on TEER, the mitoBKCa activity, respiratory rate, or mitochondrial membrane potential. Obtained results indicate that PM has an adverse effect on HBE cells at the cellular and mitochondrial level. Quercetin is able to limit the deleterious effect of PM on barrier function of airway epithelial cells. We show that the effect in HBE cells involves mitoBKCa channel-activation. However, quercetin’s mechanism of action is not exclusively determined by modulation of the channel activity.
Alternating current losses of a 10 metre long low loss superconducting cable conductor determined from phase sensitive measurements

The ac loss of a superconducting cable conductor carrying an ac current is small. Therefore the ratio between the inductive (out-of-phase) and the resistive (in-phase) voltages over the conductor is correspondingly high. In vectorial representations this results in phase angles between the current and the voltage over the cable close to 90 degrees. This has the effect that the loss cannot be derived directly using most commercial lock-in amplifiers due to their limited absolute accuracy. However, by using two lock-in amplifiers and an appropriate correction scheme the high relative accuracy of such lock-in amplifiers can be exploited. In this paper we present the results from ac-loss measurements on a low loss 10 metre long high temperature superconducting cable conductor using such a correction scheme. Measurements were carried out with and without a compensation circuit that could reduce the inductive voltage. The 1 µV cm-1 critical current of the conductor was 3240 A at 77 K. At an rms current of 2 kA (50 Hz) the ac loss was derived to be 0.6±0.15 W m-1. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the lowest value of ac loss of a high temperature superconducting cable conductor reported so far at these high currents.
Comparing Transgenic Production to Supplementation of ω-3 PUFA Reveals Distinct But Overlapping Mechanisms Underlying Protection Against Metabolic and Hepatic Disorders

Abstract We compared endogenous ω-3 PUFA production to supplementation for improving obesity-related metabolic dysfunction. Fat-1 transgenic mice, who endogenously convert exogenous ω-6 to ω-3 PUFA, and wild-type littermates were fed a high-fat diet and a daily dose of either ω-3 or ω-6 PUFA-rich oil for 12 wk. The endogenous ω-3 PUFA production improved glucose intolerance and insulin resistance but not hepatic steatosis. Conversely, ω-3 PUFA supplementation fully prevented hepatic steatosis but failed to improve insulin resistance. Both models increased hepatic levels of ω-3 PUFA-containing 2-monoacylglycerol and N-acylethanolamine congeners, and reduced levels of ω-6 PUFA-derived endocannabinoids with ω-3 PUFA supplementation being more efficacious. Reduced hepatic lipid accumulation associated with the endocannabinoidome metabolites EPEA and DHEA, which was causally demonstrated by lower lipid accumulation in oleic acid-treated hepatic cells treated with these metabolites. While both models induced a significant fecal enrichment of the beneficial Allobaculum genus, mice supplemented with ω-3 PUFA displayed additional changes in the gut microbiota functions with a significant reduction of fecal levels of the proinflammatory molecules lipopolysaccharide and flagellin. Multiple-factor analysis identify that the metabolic improvements induced by ω-3 PUFAs were accompanied by a reduced production of the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα, and that ω-3 PUFA supplementation had a stronger effect on improving the hepatic fatty acid profile than endogenous ω-3 PUFA. While endogenous ω-3 PUFA production preferably improves glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, ω-3 PUFA intake appears to be required to elicit selective changes in hepatic endocannabinoidome signaling that are essential to alleviate high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis.
Superabsorbent Polymers as a Soil Amendment for Increasing Agriculture Production with Reducing Water Losses under Water Stress Condition

With an increasing population, world agriculture is facing many challenges, such as climate change, urbanization, the use of natural resources in a sustainable manner, runoff losses, and the accumulation of pesticides and fertilizers. The global water shortage is a crisis for agriculture, because drought is one of the natural disasters that affect the farmers as well as their country’s social, economic, and environmental status. The application of soil amendments is a strategy to mitigate the adverse impact of drought stress. The development of agronomic strategies enabling the reduction in drought stress in cultivated crops is, therefore, a crucial priority. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) can be used as an amendment for soil health improvement, ultimately improving water holding capacity and plant available water. These are eco-friendly and non-toxic materials, which have incredible water absorption ability and water holding capacity in the soil because of their unique biochemical and structural properties. Polymers can retain water more than their weight in water and achieve approximately 95% water release. SAP improve the soil like porosity (0.26–6.91%), water holding capacity (5.68–17.90%), and reduce nitrogen leaching losses from soil by up to 45%. This review focuses on the economic assessment of the adoption of superabsorbent polymers and brings out the discrepancies associated with the influence of SAPs application in the context of different textured soil, presence of drought, and their adoption by farmers.
Femtosecond off-axis digital holography for monitoring dynamic surface deformation

We present a femtosecond off-axis digital holography for investigating the dynamic reversible surface change of a metal film induced by femtosecond laser pulses with fluences near the ablation threshold. A reflection Michelson interferometer (RMI) and a transmission Mach–Zehnder interferometer (TMZI) are integrated in the same setup for recording digital holograms. The RMI is used to measure the laser-induced surface deformation of the metal film, while the TMZI is used to analyze the refraction index change of the metal film induced by the femtosecond laser pulses. Experimental results show that both surface modification and refraction index change of chromium metal film can be observed when femtosecond laser pulses are below and above the ablation threshold. Based on the experimental results, the physical processes of the metal induced by femtosecond laser pulses are given qualitatively.
Ecological Protection Alone Is Not Enough to Conserve Ecosystem Carbon Storage: Evidence from Guangdong, China

The increase in atmospheric CO2 caused by land use and land cover change (LUCC) is one of the drivers of the global climate. As one of the most typical high-urbanization areas, the ecological conflicts occurring in Guangdong Province warrant urgent attention. A growing body of evidence suggests LUCC could guide the future ecosystem carbon storage, but most LUCC simulations are simply based on model results without full consistency with the actual situation. Fully combined with the territorial spatial planning project and based on the land use pattern in 2010 and 2020, we have used the Markov and Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model to simulate the future four land use scenarios: the Business as Usual (BU), Ecological Protection (EP), Farmland Protection (FP), and Economic Development (ED) scenario, and the ecosystem carbon storage was assessed by the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model. The results show that the built-up area experience further expansion in all scenarios, the largest scale happened in ED and the smallest in FP. Besides, the forest area in the EP scenario is the largest, while the land use pattern developed based on the previous circumstances in the BU scenario. Furthermore, the carbon storage plunged from 1619.21 Tg C in 2010 to 1606.60 Tg C in 2020, with a total decrease of 12.61 Tg C. Urban expansion caused 79.83% of total carbon losses, of which 31.56% came from farmland. In 2030, the carbon storage dropped in all scenarios, and their storage amount has a relationship of FP > BU > EP > ED. To better resolve the ecological problems and conserve ecosystem carbon storage, not only ecological protection but also the protection of the land near the city such as farmland protection strategies must be considered.
INFLUENCE OF THE THIRD ORDER NONLINEARITY ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF WAVE HEIGHT MAXIMA IN AN OFFSHORE BASIN

The effect of the coefficient of kurtosis, λ40 , on the distribution of wave height maxima has been investigated. The data set used consists of water surface displacements in irregular deep water unidirectional wave fields generated in an offshore basin and defined by the JONSWAP spectrum. The full-scale records are of almost 3h17min duration. The measurements have been performed at ten equidistant gauges along the basin, which permits to follow the changes in wave statistics away from the wave-generator. Subsequently, the records have been split into series of different length, corresponding to N = 100, 200 and 300 waves, and the probability density functions and the exceedance probabilities of the maximum wave heights have been constructed conditional on λ40 . They have been compared with the modified Edgeworth-Rayleigh model of Mori and Janssen [1] applied to the maximum wave heights. The theoretical expressions are formulated as a simple function of the coefficient of kurtosis and the number of waves in the sample. The coefficient of kurtosis, reflecting the third order nonlinearity, is found to increase with the distance from the wave-maker. The considered theoretical density curves describe only qualitatively the shift of the empirical mode towards higher values. The tendency of the peak of the distribution to diminish with increase of λ40 has been observed. However, the most probable wave height remains underestimated by the theory for all classes of λ40 , regardless of the length of the time series. Finally, the probability that a certain normalized height level Hmax /Hs will be exceeded increases with the increase of λ40 , as being theoretically predicted, although it is overestimated by the theory in the lower range of values of λ40 and underestimated over the higher range of values of λ40 . Copyright © 2008 by ASME
THE RECONFINEMENT OF JETS

The jets in several extragalactic radio sources appear to open with a more or less constant angle out to some critical distance from the nucleus, and then broaden much less rapidly or even become more narrow. This ''reconfinement shoulder'' seems to be a fairly typical property of jets observed with sufficiently high resolution to map the structure transverse to the jet axis. This may be due to the fact that the internal pressure in a free jet decreases very rapidly with distance from the nucleus, and therefore the jet would be expected to come into pressure equilibrium with an ambient medium. But the flow in free jets must be highly supersonic; thus, the process of reconfinement is certain to be accompanied by shocks. In the present paper, the structure of inviscid steady state jets in the presence of a realistic ambient medium is calculated by means of the method of characteristics. It is shown that reconfinement is accompanied by conical shocks which heat the jet causing it to reexpand as free jet. The typical jet shape can be reproduced by this process. If particle acceleration results from internal shocks, multiple ''attempts'' at reconfinement could produce symmetric knots in a two-sidedmore » jet symmetrically placed with respect to the ambient medium. « less
Maximally selected rank statistics

A common statistical problem is the assessment of the predictive power of a quantitative variable for some dependent variable. A maximally selected rank statistic regarding the quantitative variable provides a test and implicitly an estimate of a cutpoint as a simple classification rule. Restricting the selection to an arbitrary given inner part of the support of the quantitative variable, we show that the asymptotic null distribution of the maximally selected rank statistic is the distribution of the supremum of the absolute value of a standardized Gaussian process on an interval. The asymptotic argument holds also in the case of tied or censored observations. We compare Monte Carlo results with an approximation of the asymptotic distribution under the null hypothesis. In addition, we investigate the behaviour of the test procedure and of the familiar Spearman rank test for independence, under some alternatives. Moreover, we discuss some aspects of the problem of estimating an underlying cutpoint.
Laser-driven ion accelerators: Spectral control, monoenergetic ions and new acceleration mechanisms

LosAlamos National Laboratory short pulse experiments have shown using various target cleaning techniques such that heavy ion beams of different charge states can be produced. Furthermore, by controlling the thickness of light ions on the rear of the target, monoenergetic ion pulses can be generated. The spectral shape of the accelerated particles can be controlled to yield a range of distributions, from Maxwellian to ones possessing a monoenergetic peak at high energy. The key lies in understanding and utilizing target surface chemistry. Careful monitoring and control of the surface properties and induction of reactions at different temperatures allows well defined source layers to be formed, which in turn lead to the desired energy spectra in the acceleration process. Theoretical considerations provide understanding of the process of monoenergetic ion production. In addition, numerical modeling has identified a new acceleration mechanism, the laser break-out afterburner that could potentially boost particle energies by up to two orders of magnitude for the same laser parameters. This mechanism may enable application of laser-accelerated ion beams to venues such as compact accelerators, tumor therapy, and ion fast ignition.
Dynamics of the young multiple system GG tauri : I. Orbital fits and inner edge of the circumbinary disk of GG tau A

The GG Tauri system is a prototype example of a young, pre-main sequence multiple stellar system. Both millimeter and optical observations reveal that the central binary (GG Tau A) harbors a ring-shape circumbinary disk. In this paper, we analyse a compilation of astrometric data of the GG Tau A binary over 12 years that allow us, in combination with information coming from the disk observations (millimeter data), to derive a fairly accurate fit of the orbit (a=32.4 AU, e=0.34). We also perform a dynamical study of the circumbinary disk, and show that in order to be in agreement with the orbit deduced from the fit, the inner gap of the disk should be approximatively twice as small as observed. We show that if we allow the error bars on the astrometric data to be larger, another orbit may be found (a=62 AU, e=0.35), compatible with the location of the inner disk gap, although only marginally compatible with the astrometric data. Possible solutions to solve this discrepancy are discussed.
Manifestations of Mucormycosis and Its Complications in COVID-19 Patients: A Case Series Study

Objective Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal disease that affects immunocompromised patients. With the advent of SARS-CoV-2, this opportunistic disease has increased. Methods A case series of 47 patients with COVID-19 associated mucormycosis have been analyzed. Demographic information, signs, symptoms, laboratory investigations, imaging studies, and their association with ICU admission and 30-day mortality were assessed. Results Total number of 47 consecutive rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) cases were analyzed. Periorbital swelling was the most common sign among patients. Majority of cases had diabetes. All patients received liposomal Amphotericin B. Debridement was performed for all cases. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 increases the susceptibility to mucormycosis infection in various ways. Uncontrolled level of HbA1c in all patients, even non-diabetic individuals, indicates hyperglycemia over the past three months. Diabetes, orbital exenteration, ptosis, periorbital swelling, DKA, LOC, brain involvement, and mechanical ventilation all correlated with a higher rate of ICU admission and 30-day mortality. In addition, a higher white blood cell count is related to the higher probability of ICU admission. While considering all of the inflammatory laboratory data and HbA1c could help predict 30-day mortality.
Design and Implementation of EEG-Based Smart Structure

: It has been shown recently that there is a need to design smart structures, such as smart houses, in order to be controlled in different ways. That will be in high demand due to its usefulness for some people who are incapable of reaching some control units that require direct interaction with human beings. In this paper, we propose and develop a new enhanced electroencephalography (EEG)-based smart structure setup that can be utilized to assist people, with or without disorders, to control devices in an easy and comfortable way. Ten people of a wide range of ages (20–65) and both genders actively participated in this research. Consequently, eight EEG channels are employed in this study to cover most of the brain’s regions, and the protocol utilized is suitable for people with disabilities and immobility. Finding the standard or common features for the wide range of participants is a challenge. To mitigate this, reconstruction independent component analysis (RICA), which is a modified technique of the conventional independent component analysis (ICA), was used to obtain the optimum features. In addition, the proposed modified support vector machine (SVM) model classifies the selected features into different classes with the capability of removing the high noise and overlaps that cause misclassification. The identified classes are responsible for actuating the smart house’s actuators based on participant status. Real-time classification of multi-channel EEG data into brain wave components, visualization of results, and control of the devices are carried out using MATLAB and an embedded system. With the proposed model, there is only one case of overlap between the classes, compared with 74 cases with conventional SVM. Consequently, the results of misclassification reach zero, and the proposed model enables control of a smart room based on brain waves, achieving an overall accuracy of 98%. With future improvement, the acquired findings would urge the usage of the suggested EEG-based smart structure, which might be helpful for immobile individuals.
The Spatial Distribution of Stellar CO Absorption in M83

Long-slit H- and K-band near-infrared spectra have been acquired through the bright nuclear starburst region in the nearby galaxy M83. The spatial distribution of the stellar CO 2-0 absorption band broadly resembles that of the 2 μm continuum emission and has a maximum depth consistent with a pure starburst population. The band strength deceases monotonically away from this location to a value consistent with that seen in the giant-dominated populations in ellipticals and the bulges of spiral galaxies. There is no significant variation in the ratio of H (CO 6-3) and K (CO 2-0) band equivalent widths, which argues against any significant dilution of the bands by hot dust. The CO depth and Brγ emission-line equivalent width are anticorrelated. Comparison with starburst evolutionary models indicates an age gradient across this central region.
“Your Life Turns Upside Down”: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Parents with Children Diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome

(1) Background: Parents of children with rare diseases experience great uncertainty and employ different strategies to care for their children and cope with the disease. The purpose of the present study was to describe the perspective of parents with children with Phelan McDermid Syndrome (PMS). (2) Methods: A non-probabilistic purposeful sampling was used to perform this qualitative descriptive study. Thirty-two parents with children with PMS were interviewed. In-depth interviews and research field notes were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis. (3) Results: Four themes emerged from the data. “Understanding and accepting the disease” described how parents experienced their child’s diagnosis and the lack of information. The second theme, called “Living day by day”, highlighted the daily difficulties faced when caring for a child with PMS. The third theme, “Expectations versus reality”, was based on the parents’ expectations of parenthood and the reality they face. Expectations for the future are also included. Finally, “Pain and happiness” describes how parents alternate feelings of distress and suffering but also joy with what they learn from these experiences. (4) Conclusions: Health professionals can use these results to support parents.
Use of secondary information in space–time statistics for biomonitoring studies of saline deposition

Atmospheric salinity is often neglected in studies of atmospheric pollution, despite its proven hazardous effects in man‐made structures, vegetable organisms (crops and natives) and soil/water resources. Biomonitoring with lichens, which has been extensively used in assessing metal element deposition, was applied to the measurement of the deposition of saline elements, in a sampling programme established on the south‐west coast of Portugal, for a period of 52 months. The concentration of chloride and sodium, used as tracers of saline deposition, was measured in thalli of Ramalina spp. , and was shown to be dependent on the distance from the coast, the intensity of rain observed before the sampling date and the dry period before sampling. These three factors were used in the definition of a space–time multiplicative regression model that reproduces the space–time trend of the data, and was used as secondary variable in kriging with external drift. Results of kriging estimation on a generalized space–time domain, showed better results when using secondary information as external drift, in comparison with ordinary kriging results. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.