Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrogels for 3D bioprinting in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: Current progress and challenges

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a promising and innovative biomanufacturing technology, which can achieve precise position controlling of cells and extracellular matrix components, and further create complex and functional multi-cellular tissues or organs in a 3D environment. Bioink in the form of the cell-loaded hydrogel is most commonly used in bioprinting, and it is vital to the process of bioprinting. The bionic scaffold should possess suitable mechanical strength, biocompatibility, cell proliferation, survival, and other biological characteristics. The disadvantages of natural polymer hydrogel materials include poor mechanical properties as well as low printing performance and shape fidelity. Over the past years, a series of synthetic, modified, and nanocomposite hydrogels have been developed, which can interact through physical interactions, chemical covalent bond crosslinking, and bioconjugation reactions to change the characteristics to satisfy the requirements. In this review, a comprehensive summary is provided on recent research regarding the unique properties of hydrogel bioinks for bioprinting, with optimized methods and technologies highlighted, which have both high-value research significance and potential clinical applications. A critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each hydrogel-based biomaterial ink is presented at the beginning or end of each section, alongside the latest improvement strategies employed by current researchers to address their respective shortcomings. Furthermore, we propose potential repair sites for each hydrogel-based ink based on their distinctive repair features, while reflecting on current research limitations. Finally, we synthesize and analyze expert opinions on the future of these hydrogel-based bioinks in the broader context of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, offering valuable insights for future investigations.
SUPPORTING TEACHER DEVELOPMENT ABOUT EARLY LITERACY IN CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS: AN ACTION RESEARCH IN TURKEY

Children with hearing loss show a similar development to their hearing peers in terms of the development of oral and written language. They may experience some delays in oral language skills, which is one of the sub-fields of literacy. Children with hearing loss in the preschool period in Turkey receive support education services from preschool inclusive environments and special education and rehabilitation center (SERC). Research indicates that education programs related to early literacy positively affect teachers' professional development, the characteristics, and practices of literacy environments. In addition, supporting the professional development of teachers with roles such as guidance/mentoring/coaching indirectly affects the literacy development of children indirectly. Research with teachers on early literacy development in children with hearing loss in Turkey are about teachers' reflections on their own learning-teaching processes. It is stated that teachers working with preschool children do not have sufficient knowledge about early literacy in Turkey. Research in SERCs also emphasize the importance of supporting the education of children with hearing loss through the participation of teachers in SERCs with in-service training. The study aims to examine the process with one hearing-impaired children teacher in the context of the early literacy development in-service training program. It was designed as participatory action research because it overlaps with an in-service training process that can meet the information needs of one teacher in SERC about early literacy development. The data were collected through field notes and video recording observations, semi-structured and unstructured interviews, documents, products, and a research diary. All data were analyzed inductively during the research process and at the end of the research. It is seen that the knowledge of teachers in the SERC, where support education services in Turkey, is limited on early literacy development. Teacher's needs can be listed as relating the goals with early literacy experiences, planning the lesson in accordance with the level of the child and supporting early literacy, determining the appropriate material, implementation and evaluation. A program to be developed to support teachers regarding early literacy; in addition to informing, it can be stated that the implementation and evaluation processes are supportive of the development. In the implementation of such programs, it can be emphasized that it is important to consider adult learning, to give positive and immediate feedback, and to use internal and external motivational resources. Article visualizations:
Biomedical Radar System for Real-Time Contactless Fall Detection and Indoor Localization

Fall incidents represent a major public health problem among elderly people. This resulted in a significant increase of the number of investigated systems aiming at detecting falls promptly. In this respect, in this work, a biomedical radar system is proposed for remote real-time fall detection and indoor localization. The system, consisting of a sensor and a base station, combines radar and wireless communication techniques, and uses a data processing technique to distinguish between fall events and normal movements. The classification, based on a Least-Square Support Vector Machine (LS -SVM), combined with the sliding window principle allows to perform fall detection in real-time. Moreover, it is capable to localize the subjects when the fall incident has been detected. The in-vivo validation showed a high success rate in detecting fall events, with a maximum delay of 340 ms. Moreover, a maximum mean absolute errors (MAE) of 3.8 cm and a maximum root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 7.5 cm were reported in measuring the subject's absolute distance.
Estimating Annual Total Heron Population Counts

A method is presented for estimating the annual total count for a heron population by using patchy counting data from nesting sites. A standard error is also computed. Where a count is not available for a particular nesting site in a particular year, an estimate is made from a weighted average of ratio estimates across years. Two systems of weights are considered: equal weights and weights chosen to minimize the variance of the total population estimate. In the latter system the weights must satisfy various sets of constraints. Problems associated with nesting sites for which there are not sufficient data to obtain an estimate are discussed. A simple way of incorporating counting variation is also investigated. The performance of the method is examined by applying it to some real heron data, and also to some artificially generated data.
Model reference adaptive control for nonlinear time‐varying hybrid dynamical systems

This paper presents the first model reference adaptive control system for nonlinear, time‐varying, hybrid dynamical plants affected by matched and parametric uncertainties, whose resetting events are unknown functions of time and the plant's state. In addition to a control law and an adaptive law, which resemble those of the classical model reference adaptive control framework for continuous‐time dynamical systems, the proposed framework allows imposing instantaneous variations in the reference model's trajectory to rapidly steer the trajectory tracking error to zero, while retaining the closed‐loop system's ability to follow a user‐defined signal. These results are enabled by the first extension of the classical LaSalle–Yoshizawa theorem to time‐varying hybrid dynamical systems, which is presented in this paper as well. A numerical simulation shows the key features of the proposed adaptive control system and highlights its ability to reduce both the control effort and the trajectory tracking error over a classical model reference adaptive control system applied to the same problem.
Testing Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle with Polarized Single Photons

One of the fundamentals of quantum mechanics is Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. The principle states that two observables cannot be measured accurately at the same time if their corresponding operators do not commute. The aim of the study was to test the uncertainty principle with the help of polarized single photons dispatched from a helium neon laser at a wavelength of 632.8 nm and an experimental setup similar to the one used in the Stern-Gerlach experiment. The results obtained were within the standard deviation and consistent with the theoretical results derived from the principle, thereby indicating the principle’s validity.
Seismic Risk Regularization for Urban Changes Due to Earthquakes: A Case of Study of the 2023 Turkey Earthquake Sequence

Damage identification soon after a large-magnitude earthquake is a major problem for early disaster response activities. The faster the damaged areas are identified, the higher the survival chances of inhabitants. Current methods for damage identification are based on the application of artificial intelligence techniques using remote sensing data. Such methods require a large amount of high-quality labeled data for calibration and/or fine-tuning processes, which are expensive in the aftermath of large-scale disasters. In this paper, we propose a novel semi-supervised classification approach for identifying urban changes induced by an earthquake between images recorded at different times. We integrate information from a small set of labeled data with information from ground motion and fragility functions computed on large unlabeled data. A relevant consideration is that ground motion and fragility functions can be computed in real time. The urban changes induced by the 2023 Turkey earthquake sequence are reported as an evaluation of the proposed method. The method was applied to the interferometric coherence computed from C-band synthetic aperture radar images from Sentinel-1. We use only 39 samples labeled as changed and 9000 unlabeled samples. The results show that our method is able to identify changes between images associated with the effects of an earthquake with an accuracy of about 81%. We conclude that the proposed method can rapidly identify affected areas in the aftermath of a large-magnitude earthquake.
Tumor Reduction Potentials of Vernonia Cinerea Sesquiterpenes by Induction of Ferroptosis

ABSTRACT The anti lymphoma potentials of Vernonia cinerea were evaluated. In a short-term in vitro study, ethyl acetate extract (VCEA) was found to be cytotoxic to DLA cells with an LC50 of 61.24 μg mL−1. GC-MS analysis of VCEA revealed presence of several volatile molecules including nerolidol. Molecular docking study using nerolidol with Ferroportin-1 predicted strong binding affinity, indicating ferroptosis induction which was later confirmed by in vitro assays. VCEA also demonstrated strong reduction in the proliferation of YAC-1, another lymphoma cell line with G2/M arrest leading to apoptosis. The tumor reduction potentials of VCEA was further confirmed using the DLA-induced solid tumor model in mice.
Vernalization temperature and maturation point of seed cloves on garlic production and quality

ABSTRACT Brazilian producers have been seeking to improve garlic productivity and quality via vernalization at negative temperatures. However, more concrete information about the application and effects of this technique on the productivity and quality of noble garlic varieties is lacking. Moreover, there are also questions about the use and influence of seed cloves at different maturation points on this crop’s yield. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of vernalization temperatures and different maturation points of seed cloves on the yield and quality of noble garlic cultivars. Three experiments were conducted using the Ito cultivar over three garlic planting seasons in Cristalina, GO, Brazil. The experimental design followed a 3 x 3 factorial scheme: three vernalization temperature ranges (-1 to -3 °C; 1 to 3 °C; and 2 to 4 °C) and three seed clove maturation points (normal, early and late). Plant height, aboveground fresh mass, bulbar ratio, and bulb yield and quality were evaluated after harvesting. The negative vernalization temperature had significant results with the highest garlic yields occurring in all three planting seasons, with a considerable increase in the quantity of bulbs with better commercial value (‘class 6’) and a decrease in the quantity of ‘discard’ bulbs. In comparison to the other temperatures, negative vernalization temperatures also yielded higher fresh plants in all evaluated seasons. The normal maturation point resulted in gains in total bulb yield. The use of below-zero vernalization temperatures increased the productivity of the garlic cultivar Ito under the conditions found in Brazil.
Airflow distribution in hospital isolation rooms with different ventilation and exhaust vent configurations

Negative pressure isolation rooms can accommodate and treat patients with highly infectious diseases (such as COVID-19). Airtight conditions in the isolation room protect against infectious diseases. To control airflow and minimize infection risk within the isolation room, this study proposes three exhaust outlet vents with three air change per hour (ACH) conditions, 12, 24 and 48 ACH, in a single-bed hospital room using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. Results show that using the same ACH air velocity is relatively unaffected by the type and location of the exhaust air vent. The current case, case 1 and case 2 had average velocities of 0.121, 0.130 and 0.116, respectively. When the ACH was increased to 48, the average velocity was decreased to 0.663 m/s in case 1 and 0.589 m/s in case 2, compared to 0.711 m/s in the current case. In terms of infection probability, the study found that in the scenario of 12 ACH, the infection probability for case 1 and case 2 was increased by 11.85% and 3.96%, respectively, compared to the current case. The exhaust air vent in case 2 could effectively prevent the spread of pollutants when it was set to 48 air changes per hour and had the lowest risk level at 10.11%.
Analysis of the vibration characteristics of pin-connected hammer rotor of straw rubbing filament machine

The finite element method and the 3D laser Doppler measurement technology were used to simulate and test the vibration characteristics of the pin-connected hammer rotor. This was done to determine the critical speeds of the pin-connected hammer rotor of the straw rubbing filament machine and avoid the resonance of the straw rubbing filament machine during operation. The frequencies and mode shapes of the rotor’s first six free modes were determined. The accuracy of the pin-connected hammer rotor finite element model is validated by comparing calculation and test values. On this basis, the prestressed modes of the pin-connected hammer rotor under actual working conditions are calculated. The effect of the hammer swing angles rotating around the pin shaft is investigated, and the critical speeds of the pin-connected hammer rotor are calculated. The results indicate that the rotor has the same mode shapes at 11 kinds of joint swing angles, and the maximum relative error for each order frequency is 0.88%. It can be seen that the hammer-pin swing angles have little effect on the vibrational frequencies and mode shapes of the hammer-pin articulated rotor. Compared to the free modes, the prestressed modes all have an additional torsional mode and consist of two-mode shapes of global and local; the global mode shapes are similar to the free ones except for an additional torsional mode shape, with increased amplitudes and modal frequencies; the local mode shapes mainly occur in cutting knives and hammers. The critical speed range of the rotor of the 9ZR-2.2 straw rubbing filament machine must be 2076.99–2348.32 r/min which is based on ensuring the processing quality of straw. The study provides a reference method for investigating the vibration characteristics of pin-connected hammer rotors. It is also of great practical importance to scientifically predict the critical speed of a pin-connected hammer rotor in order to reduce failure and safety accidents.
The Meaning of a Group Facilitation Training to Creative Arts Therapists Working in the Public Education System

Many creative arts therapists who provide group therapy to children and adolescents in the Israeli education system do not feel they were sufficiently trained as group facilitators. Group facilitation training was provided over the course of two consecutive years by a regional support center to over 40 creative arts therapists and their clinical supervisors working in the Israel Ministry of Education. A two-stage qualitative research project examined the participants’ experiences during this training. Interviews were conducted regarding the therapists’ first-year experiences. A questionnaire was administered at the end of the second year. Both were analyzed according to the Consensual Qualitative Research method. The research findings pertain to the participants’ perceptions of group arts therapy in the Israeli education system and included the development of unique group models, the advantages and power of group therapy at school, and the intimidating and disruptive experiences of school settings. The participants also provided their impressions of the training course: their growing confidence and skills, and the many changes required in group arts therapy at public schools to provide more professional and efficient service. The discussion centers on the value of group arts therapy in the education system and the steps needed to enhance therapists’ confidence and efficiency in this field.
Three-Dimensional Modeling of the Optical Switch Based on Guided-Mode Resonances in Photonic Crystals

Optical switching is an essential part of photonic integrated circuits and the focus of research at the moment. In this research, an optical switch design working on the phenomenon of guided-mode resonances in a 3D photonic-crystal-based structure is reported. The optical-switching mechanism is studied in a dielectric slab-waveguide-based structure operating in the near-infrared range in a telecom window of 1.55 µm. The mechanism is investigated via the interference of two signals, i.e., the data signal and the control signal. The data signal is coupled into the optical structure and filtered utilizing guided-mode resonance, whereas the control signal is index-guided in the optical structure. The amplification or de-amplification of the data signal is controlled by tuning the spectral properties of the optical sources and structural parameters of the device. The parameters are optimized first using a single-cell model with periodic boundary conditions and later in a finite 3D-FDTD model of the device. The numerical design is computed in an open-source Finite Difference Time Domain simulation platform. Optical amplification in the range of 13.75% is achieved in the data signal with a decrease in the linewidth up to 0.0079 µm, achieving a quality factor of 114.58. The proposed device presents great potential in the field of photonic integrated circuits, biomedical technology, and programmable photonics.
The Effects and Potential Mechanisms of Moxibustion for Rheumatoid Arthritis-Related Pain: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Purpose To investigate the effects of moxibustion in relieving pain, and other clinical symptoms for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and explore the potential mechanism of moxibustion treatment for RA. Patients and Methods Seventy qualified RA patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the moxibustion group or the routine group. The routine group only took oral methotrexate tablets and folic acid tablets. The moxibustion group was treated with moxibustion based on oral pharmaceutical. Moxibustion was performed two times weekly for 8 weeks, a total of 16 sessions. Patients scored their pain on a visual analog scale (VAS). The American College of Rheumatology improvement criteria of 20%, 50% and 70% (ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70) after treatment were investigated. Clinical symptoms, a disease activity score using 28 joint counts (DAS28), simplified disease activity index (SDAI), clinical disease activity index (CDAI), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of RA patients were analyzed before and after treatment. Results After treatment, the VAS scores, tender and swollen joint counts, morning stiffness scores, disease activity scores (DAS28, SDAI, CDAI), HAQ scores in the two groups were both improved, and the effects of moxibustion group were more obvious (P < 0.05). The ACR20 and ACR50 of the moxibustion group were greater than that of the routine group (P < 0.05), no significant difference of the ACR70 existed between the two groups (P > 0.05). In addition, the decreases of IL-1β, TNF-α, VEGF of the moxibustion group were better than that of the routine group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Moxibustion could effectively relieve pain, ameliorate the clinical symptoms, and decrease the disease activity of RA. The potential mechanism may be the decrease in the level of serum inflammatory factors.
Review on theories and methods of Ultrasound Computed Tomography

Purpose: Prime theories and methods of ultrasound computed tomography (UCT) will be briefly summarized in this paper. Method: Here, we pay most attention to transmission-mode UCT and reflection- mode UCT under the condition that scattering is neglected ,and diffraction tomography. The research purposes and principles of these theories are reviewed as well as image reconstruction method. In the end, we will introduce briefly the application of inverse scattering problem in ultrasonic imaging. Result: Although ultrasound computed tomography has receive more and more attention in medical imaging, it is only applied successfully to some soft issue , because the theories about it have strict existence conditions, such as weak scattering, etc.
Diagnostic Capability of Isolated-Check Visual Evoked Potential for Early to Moderate Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic capability of isolated-check visual evoked potential (icVEP) for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) via comparison with visual field (VF) tests and pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP). This cross-sectional study enrolled 68 subjects, including 33 POAG patients and 35 controls. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including icVEP, PVEP, and VF tests. The diagnostic performance, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), the integrated discrimination index (IDI), and the net reclassification index (NRI) were calculated. The clinical benefits of the three tests were compared via decision curve analysis (DCA) of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from icVEP, the P100 latency and amplitude of 1° and 0.25° checks from the PVEP, pattern standard deviation (PSD), and mean deviation (MD) from the VF test. The SNR, MD and PSD, PVEP P100 latency of 0.25° checks, and P100 amplitude (both 1° and 0.25° checks) showed significant differences between the POAG and control groups (* p < 0.05), except for the P100 latency of 1° checks. Regarding diagnostic ability, the three tests, AUC, IDI, and NRI, showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). The DCA showed that the clinical benefits of icVEP (SNR) were comparable to those of VF (MD and PSD) and better than those of PVEP (P100 latency and amplitude). In addition, no significant difference was found in the consistency analysis of the qualitative comparison between the icVEP, VF, and PVEP (McNemar p > 0.05). In this study, icVEP showed a diagnostic ability for early to moderate POAG patients comparable to VF and PVEP. IcVEP might be applied as a supplementary psychophysical examination method in addition to VF examinations for special POAG populations who have difficulty cooperating with the VF examination.