Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Savory, Oregano and Thyme Essential Oil Mixture (HerbELICO®) Counteracts Helicobacter pylori

Fifty percent of the world’s population is infected with Helicobacter pylori, which can trigger many gastrointestinal disorders. H. pylori eradication therapy consists of two to three antimicrobial medicinal products, but they exhibit limited efficacy and may cause adverse side effects. Alternative therapies are urgent. It was assumed that an essential oil mixture, obtained from species from genera Satureja L. , Origanum L. and Thymus L. and called the HerbELICO® essential oil mixture, could be useful in H. pylori infection treatment. HerbELICO® was analyzed by GC-MS and assessed in vitro against twenty H. pylori clinical strains isolated from patients of different geographical origins and with different antimicrobial medicinal products resistance profiles, and for its ability to penetrate the artificial mucin barrier. A customer case study included 15 users of HerbELICO® liquid/HerbELICO® solid dietary supplements (capsulated HerbELICO® mixture in liquid/solid form). Carvacrol and thymol were the most dominant compounds (47.44% and 11.62%, respectively), together with p-cymene (13.35%) and γ-terpinene (18.20%). The minimum concentration required to inhibit in vitro H. pylori growth by HerbELICO® was 4–5% (v/v); 10 min exposure to HerbELICO® was enough to kill off the examined H. pylori strains, while HerbELICO® was able to penetrate through mucin. A high eradication rate (up to 90%) and acceptance by consumers was observed.
Diamagnetic levitation of pyrolytic graphite over monolithic NdFeB magnet

Recent developments in the technology of printing magnet field domains offer a whole new field of applications. Highly customised magnetisation patterns can now be generated which enhance significantly the magnetic properties and behaviour. Magnets with specific printed magnetic field patterns can also be used for enhancing diamagnetic levitation applications. This reported work demonstrates the diamagnetic levitation of pyrolytic graphite over a monolithic NdFeB cylinder magnet with printed magnetic field domains. Using monolithic magnets instead of magnet assemblies for diamagnetic levitation allows easier, faster and cheaper production of diamagnetic levitation tracks or diamagnetic bearings. Furthermore, one can build the diamagnetic levitation tracks, which otherwise are difficult or impossible to be realised using prior art technologies.
A Condition Evaluation Simplified Method for Traction Converter Power Module Based on Operating Interval Segmentation

In the actual operation of urban rail vehicles, it is essential to evaluate the condition of the traction converter IGBT modules. Considering the fixed line and the similarity of operation conditions between adjacent stations, this paper proposes an efficient and accurate simplified simulation method to evaluate IGBT conditions based on operating interval segmentation (OIS). Firstly, this paper proposes the framework for a condition evaluation method by segmenting operating intervals based on the similarity of average power loss between neighboring stations. The framework makes it possible to reduce the number of simulations to shorten the simulation time while ensuring the state trend estimation accuracy. Secondly, this paper proposes a basic interval segmentation model that uses the operating conditions as inputs to implement the segmentation of the line and is able to simplify the operation conditions of entire line. Finally, the simulation and analysis of the temperature and stress fields of IGBT modules based on segmented intervals completes the IGBT module condition evaluation and realizes the combination of lifetime calculation with actual operating conditions and internal stresses. The validity of the method is verified by comparing the interval segmentation simulation with actual test results. The results show that the method can effectively characterize the temperature and stress trends of traction converter IGBT modules in the whole line, which could support the fatigue mechanism and lifetime assessment reliability study of IGBT modules.
Revealing the History and Mystery of RNA-Seq

Advances in RNA-sequencing technologies have led to the development of intriguing experimental setups, a massive accumulation of data, and high demand for tools to analyze it. To answer this demand, computational scientists have developed a myriad of data analysis pipelines, but it is less often considered what the most appropriate one is. The RNA-sequencing data analysis pipeline can be divided into three major parts: data pre-processing, followed by the main and downstream analyses. Here, we present an overview of the tools used in both the bulk RNA-seq and at the single-cell level, with a particular focus on alternative splicing and active RNA synthesis analysis. A crucial part of data pre-processing is quality control, which defines the necessity of the next steps; adapter removal, trimming, and filtering. After pre-processing, the data are finally analyzed using a variety of tools: differential gene expression, alternative splicing, and assessment of active synthesis, the latter requiring dedicated sample preparation. In brief, we describe the commonly used tools in the sample preparation and analysis of RNA-seq data.
Cross-sectional behaviour and design of normal and high strength steel welded I-sections under compression and uniaxial bending

A comprehensive numerical investigation into the cross-sectional behaviour and ultimate capacity of non-slender welded I-sections, made of both normal and high strength steels (NSS and HSS), under combined compression and uniaxial bending is presented. Finite element (FE) models were initially established and validated against test results collected from the literature. Subsequently, parametric studies were conducted using the validated FE models to generate extensive numerical data considering different steel grades, cross-section geometries and loading combinations. The obtained numerical data, together with the test results collected from the literature, were utilised to assess the accuracy of the traditional European (EC3) and North American (AISC) design provisions, as well as the Continuous Strength Method (CSM), for NSS and HSS welded I-sections under combined loading. The assessment indicated that the CSM was able to provide more accurate and consistent resistance predictions than the current EC3 and AISC design provisions owing to its ability to capture the spread of plasticity and strain hardening in a systematic, mechanics-based manner. Finally, the reliability levels of the different design methods were statistically evaluated in accordance with EN 1990:2002.
People’s Willingness to Pay for Dental Checkups and the Associated Individual Characteristics: A Nationwide Web-Based Survey among Japanese Adults

This study aimed to determine the willingness-to-pay (WTP) values for dental checkups and analyze the association between the values and individual characteristics. This cross-sectional study was conducted using a nationwide web-based survey, and 3336 participants were allocated into groups that received regular dental checkups (RDC; n = 1785) and those who did not (non-RDC; n = 1551). There was a statistically significant difference in the WTP value for dental checkups between the RDC (median: 3000 yen [22.51 USD]) and non-RDC groups (2000 yen [15.01 USD]). In the RDC group, age 50–59 years, household income <2 million yen, homemaker and part-time worker employment status, and having children were significantly associated with decreased WTP values; male sex, household incomes ≥8 million yen, and tooth brushing ≥3 times daily were associated with increased WTP values. In the non-RDC group, age ≥30 years, household incomes <4 million yen, and having ≥28 teeth were significantly associated with decreased WTP values; household income ≥8 million yen was associated with increased WTP values. Conclusively, WTP values for dental checkups were lower in the non-RDC group than in the RDC group; in the non-RDC group, those with lower household income aged ≥30 years were more likely to propose lower WTP values, suggesting the need for policy intervention to improve access to RDC.
Automated system for performing pH-based titrations

Abstract Liquid delivery and endpoint determination during titrations may be problematic if an analyst does not have adequate training or formal education. This can lead to issues with method accuracy and precision. This work is focused on the development of a simple, low-cost, automated system capable of performing potentiometric titrations with a push of a button. A single-board computer (Raspberry Pi), a stepper motor-based syringe pump, and a commercially available pH sensor circuit board were the primary components used to construct the auto-titrator system. Open-source Python programming language was used to control and coordinate components and provide a simple-to-use graphical user interface. A standard alkalinity method for drinking and raw water was evaluated and yielded an accuracy (recovery) between 92% and 104% for concentrations above 10 mg L−1. The precision of the method was less than 5% regardless of concentration. The developed titrator was tested at Lebanon, TN, and Woodruff, SC water treatment plants. The system was also certified by LabtronX to perform alkalinity measurements in Lebanon, TN, and served the plant operators for the past two years.
Predictive Value of MRI in Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Treated with Therapeutic Hypothermia

Background: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a severe pathology, and no unique predictive biomarker has been identified. Our aims are to identify associations of perinatal and outcome parameters with morphological anomalies and ADC values from MRI. The secondary aims are to define a predictive ADC threshold value and detect ADC value fluctuations between MRIs acquired within 7 days (MR0) and at 1 year (MR1) of birth in relation to perinatal and outcome parameters. Methods: Fifty-one term children affected by moderate HIE treated with hypothermia and undergoing MRI0 and MRI1 were recruited. Brain MRIs were evaluated through the van Rooij score, while ADC maps were co-registered on a standardized cerebral surface, on which 29 ROIs were drawn. Statistical analysis was performed in Matlab, with the statistical significance value at 0.05. Results: ADC0 < ADC1 in the left and right thalami, left and right frontal white matter, right visual cortex, and the left dentate nucleus of children showing abnormal perinatal and neurodevelopmental parameters. At ROC analysis, the best prognostic ADC cut-off value was 1.535 mm2/s × 10−6 (sensitivity 80%, specificity 86%) in the right frontal white matter. ADC1 > ADC0 in the right visual cortex and left dentate nucleus, positively correlated with multiple abnormal perinatal and neurodevelopmental parameters. The van Rooij score was significantly higher in children presenting with sleep disorders. Conclusions: ADC values could be used as prognostic biomarkers to predict children’s neurodevelopmental outcomes. Further studies are needed to address these crucial topics and validate our results. Early and multidisciplinary perinatal evaluation and the subsequent re-assessment of children are pivotal to identify physical and neuropsychological disorders to guarantee early and tailored therapy.
PCDH19 in Males: Are Hemizygous Variants Linked to Autism?

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability that impairs the social communication and interaction of affected individuals and leads to restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is genetically heterogeneous, with inheritable and de novo genetic variants in more than hundreds of genes contributing to the disease. However, these account for only around 20% of cases, while the molecular basis of the majority of cases remains unelucidated as of yet. Material and methods: Two unrelated Lebanese patients, a 7-year-old boy (patient A) and a 4-year-old boy (patient B), presenting with ASD were included in this study. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was carried out for these patients to identify the molecular cause of their diseases. Results: WES analysis revealed hemizygous variants in PCDH19 (NM_001184880.1) as being the candidate causative variants: p.Arg787Leu was detected in patient A and p.Asp1024Asn in patient B. PCDH19, located on chromosome X, encodes a membrane glycoprotein belonging to the protocadherin family. Heterozygous PCDH19 variants have been linked to epilepsy in females with mental retardation (EFMR), while mosaic PCDH19 mutations in males are responsible for treatment-resistant epilepsy presenting similarly to EFMR, with some reported cases of comorbid intellectual disability and autism. Interestingly, a hemizygous PCDH19 variant affecting the same amino acid that is altered in patient A was previously reported in a male patient with ASD. Conclusion: Here, we report hemizygous PCDH19 variants in two males with autism without epilepsy. Reporting further PCDH19 variants in male patients with ASD is important to assess the possible involvement of this gene in autism.
Concept of Gyrotron Complexes With Serial Phase and Frequency Locking

For the development of complexes of coherently operating gyrotrons, we propose a scheme with serial connection when the generation frequency and phase of each gyrotron are locked by a previous one. In contrast with a more basic parallel connection, such a scheme does not imply the use of a master-oscillator by dividing its power into many channels, that is, the number of connected gyrotrons is not limited. Besides, a significant part of the power of each generator can be used to synchronize the next element in the series; thus, the locking bandwidth is expanded. In accordance with the numerical simulations, the drop in efficiency when a strong external signal is applied can be negated by varying the value of the guiding magnetic field.
Adaptive Non-Uniform Hybrid Beamforming for mmWave Train-to-Ground Communications in High-Speed Railway Scenarios

Higher frequency bands, especially millimeter wave (mmWave), are a key enabler for future high-speed railway (HSR) wireless communication systems. Hybrid analog and digital beamforming (HBF) schemes operating at mmWave frequency bands can exploit the sparse nature of the channel by using large scale antenna arrays (LSAs) to shape multiple beams that overcome the severe path loss. However, due to the long and straight geometric characteristic of the rail track, there is a significant variance in the train-to-ground communication rate when the train is near or far from the BS. To address this issue, a novel hybrid beamforming scheme is developed based on a non-uniform beam design. We first model and investigate different beam design schemes in terms of spectral efficiency. Then, an efficient straight route based adaptively analog beamforming scheme with the non-uniform beam is proposed for HSR, which is designed to resist path loss. Finally, an adaptive non-uniform HBF algorithm based on the orthogonal matching pursuit method (OMP) is developed to minimize the rate gap between different locations by selecting the appropriate predefined beams. Numerical results show that the proposed hybrid beamforming scheme can efficiently ensure signal coverage, and reduce the variance of the train-to-ground communication rate along a straight track route.
A cognitive approach to SUFF1-SUFF2 combinations: A tribute to Carl Friedrich Gauss

This article discusses the further derivation of already derived words. With the help of a problem-solving strategy (Gauss-Jordan elimination) borrowed from mathematics, a solution to the suffix order puzzle is suggested. It is shown that there is a systematic relationship between a derived base (terminating in SUFF1) and the syntactic-category specification of the SUFF2 suffixes that attach to it. There is a clear tendency for a SUFF1 to select only one particular SUFF2 of a major syntactic category (word class), N, V and ADJ. If more than one SUFF2 with the same syntactic (word-class) specification exists, either one of the SUFF2 suffixes applies by default (i.e. most of the derivatives exhibit that suffix) or semantic rules differentiate between the different SUFF2 suffixes and allow the attachment of only one particular SUFF2 depending on what the speaker intends and due to blocking. Moreover, since derivation is prototypically word-class-changing, SUFF1 and SUFF2 usually have different word-class spe.
The data processing unit of the NISP instrument of the Euclid mission

In this paper we describe the status of the development of the Data Processing Unit (DPU) of the Near-Infrared Spectro- Photometer (NISP) of the Euclid mission. The architecture of this unit is described, along with the Detector Control Unit (DCU), which operates the 16 HAWAII-2RG (H2RG), composing the NISP Focal Plane Array (FPA), by an equivalent number of SIDECAR systems. The design is evolved from the previous phases, with the implementation of a different approach in the data processing and consequently with the implementation of a large data buffer. The approach in implementing failure tolerance on this unit is described in detail; effort has been made to realize an architecture in which the impact of a single failure can be limited, in the worst case, to the loss of only one detector (out of 16). The main requirements driving the design are also described, in order to emphasize the most challenging areas and the foreseen solutions. The foreseen implementation of the on-board processing pipeline is also described, along with the basic interactions with the Instrument Control Unit (ICU) and with the Mass Memory Unit (MMU). Finally, we outline the on going activity for DPU/DCU bread-boarding.
Microdamage in polycrystalline ceramics under dynamic compression and tension

In-grain microplasticity and intergranular microdamage in polycrystalline hexagonal-structure ceramics subjected to a sequence of dynamic compression and tension are studied computationally using the Voronoi polycrystal model, by which the topological heterogeneity and material anisotropy of the crystals are simulated explicitly. The constitutive modeling considers crystal plasticity by basal slip, intergranular shear damage during compression, and intergranular mode-I cracking during tension. The model parameters are calibrated with the available shock compression and spall strength data on polycrystalline α-6H silicon carbide. The numerical results show that microplasticity is a more plausible micromechanism for the inelastic response of the material under shock compression. On the other hand, the spallation behavior of the shocked material can be well predicted by intergranular mode-I microcracking during load reversal from dynamic compression to tension. The failure process and the resulting spall str.
Limitations on adiabatic normal modes in range‐varying environments

Curvilinear coordinates are used to extend adiabatic normal modes to weak range‐dependent environments including those with sloping bottoms. Reciprocal vertical wave numbers of a reference mode provide the coordinate scale factors. This approach is valid for negligible horizontal derivatives of intermodal vertical‐wave number ratios. Large gradients in the bottom impedance make these ratios large, implying significant mode coupling in oceanic regions spanning both soft and hard terrains. Additionally, a large number of eigenvalues are needed to compute adiabatic normal‐mode solutions for high‐resolution acoustic fields. The direct solution of eigenvalue problems on a fine grid is often prohibitive. Alternatively, the eigenvalues may be interpolated to the fine grid. This approach usually requires extrapolation toward edges across which the horizontal wave number becomes imaginary at mode cutoff. One choice for an interpolation function is the integrated reciprocal vertical wave number. This function, prop.
Application of Proteomics Analysis and Animal Models in Optic Nerve Injury Diseases

Optic nerve damage is a common cause of blindness. Optic nerve injury is often accompanied by fundus vascular disease, retinal ganglion cell apoptosis, and changes in retinal thickness. These changes can cause alterations in protein expression within neurons in the retina. Proteomics analysis offers conclusive evidence to decode a biological system. Furthermore, animal models of optic nerve injury made it possible to gain insight into pathological mechanisms, therapeutic targets, and effective treatment of such injuries. Proteomics takes the proteome as the research object and studies protein changes in cells and tissues. At present, a variety of proteomic analysis methods have been widely used in the research of optic nerve injury diseases. This review summarizes the application of proteomic research in optic nerve injury diseases and animal models of optic nerve injury. Additionally, differentially expressed proteins are summarized and analyzed. Various optic nerve injuries, including those associated with different etiologies, are discussed along with their potential therapeutic targets and future directions.
Robust control for uncertain switched non-linear systems with time delay under asynchronous switching

The problem of robust control for uncertain switched non-linear systems with time delay under asynchronous switching is investigated. Firstly, when there exists asynchronous switching between the controller and the system, a sufficient condition for the existence of stabilising switching law for time-delay switched system is derived. Then, the proposed approach is extended to design stabilising controller and switching law for switched non-linear systems with time delay under asynchronous switching. Furthermore, the problem of robust control for uncertain switched non-linear systems with time delay under asynchronous switching is also investigated. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Stabilization in degenerate parabolic equations in divergence form and application to chemotaxis systems

This paper presents a stabilization result for weak solutions of degenerate parabolic equations in divergence form. More precisely, the result asserts that the global-in-time weak solution converges to the average of the initial data in some topology as time goes to infinity. It is also shown that the result can be applied to a degenerate parabolic-elliptic Keller-Segel system.
Ecomindsponge: A Novel Perspective on Human Psychology and Behavior in the Ecosystem

Modern society faces major environmental problems, but there are many difficulties in studying the nature–human relationship from an integral psychosocial perspective. We propose the ecomindsponge conceptual framework, based on the mindsponge theory of information processing. We present a systematic method to examine the nature–human relationship with conceptual frameworks of system boundaries, selective exchange, and adaptive optimization. The theoretical mechanisms were constructed based on principles and new evidence in natural sciences. The core mechanism of ecomindsponge is the subjective sphere of influence, which is the limited mental representation of information received from and processed based on the objective sphere of influence–actual interactions in reality. The subjective sphere is the sum of two sub-spheres: influencing (proactive) and being influenced (reactive). Maladaptation in thinking and behavior of the mind as an information collection-cum-processor results from the deviation of the subjective sphere from reality, which includes two main types: “stupidity” and “delusion”. Using Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF) analytics on a dataset of 535 urban residents, we provide consistent statistical evidence on the proposed properties of subjective spheres. The dynamic framework of ecomindsponge can be used flexibly and practically for environmental research as well as other psychosocial fields.