Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of field dependent aberrations in Fizeau interferometer using double Zernike polynomials

Fizeau interferometer is widely used to test the surface deformation of the optical lens surface profile. However, in some measurement circumstances the common path condition of the Fizeau configuration does not hold. For example, the subaperture scanning interferometry of asphere or the non-null aspherical element testing has dense fringe spacing. Systematic aberrations of non-null testing are introduced into the measurement wavefront with the high wavefront slope of the returning beam. We propose to use a two-dimension scanning device to drive a test ball to different fields of the Fizeau interferometer for the the interference phase at each field. By least square fitting the measurement, we can get the double Zernike polynomial coefficients representing the field dependent aberrations in the interferometer system. According to the coefficients, the off-axis aberrations in the interferometer can be identified
Antipsychotic prescribing practices for outpatients with schizophrenia and reasons for non-clozapine treatment - Data from a Danish quality assessment audit

Abstract Background Clozapine is the gold standard for treating treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) although widely underutilised. Both organisational, patient- and clinician related reasons for the underutilisation have been reported, however, the clinical impact of either in real-world settings is not fully elucidated. Aim This audit aimed to evaluate the local antipsychotic (AP) prescribing practices for outpatients with schizophrenia and to assess the spectrum and prevalence of journalised reasons for non-clozapine treatment amongst eligible outpatients. Methods Data on demographics, current and former AP treatments, as well as documented reasons for non-clozapine treatment, was extracted through chart audit. Results Of the 668 affiliated outpatients with schizophrenia, 43% were treated with AP polytherapy (APP) and 19.6% with clozapine. The most prevalent reason for clozapine discontinuation was related to side effects whereas the most prevalent reason for refusal or omission of clozapine treatment was related to the associated monitoring regimen. Conclusions This audit showed that APP prescribing is a highly prevalent practice in our services when treating outpatients with schizophrenia and that clozapine is underutilised in a ‘last resort’ manner. The blood-monitoring regimen associated with clozapine treatment was found to be an important factor in the underutilisation. It seemed, however, that the monitoring constituted a barrier for different reasons, requiring different approaches to remedy. Future studies, directly involving both patients and clinicians in the identification and management of the most clinically relevant barriers and their corresponding facilitators, are warranted.
Evolutionary isolation of ryanodine receptor isoform 1 for muscle-based thermogenesis in mammals

Significance A major evolutionary event in the rise of mammals was developing muscle-based thermogenesis. Mammals use muscle for heat generation while the muscle remains relaxed. The process of generating heat requires raising cytoplasmic [Ca2+] via RyR leak to hydrolyze ATP. We hypothesized that the transition to using muscle for heat generation required resistance to Ca2+-activated regenerative Ca2+ release, a robust mechanism in lower vertebrates, and sensitivity to leak regulation by the sympathetic nervous system. We developed approaches that demonstrate resistance of RyR to opening by abrupt rises in [Ca2+], and heat generation via cAMP-activated RyR Ca2+ leak in mammals. We conclude the evolutionary loss of a Ca2+-sensitive RyR isoform was important in RyR Ca2+ leak-based thermogenesis in mammals.
Parameter Analysis of the Differential Model of Hysteresis

The extended Bouc-Wen differential model is one of the most widely accepted phenomenological models of hysteresis in mechanics. It is routinely used in the characterization of nonlinear damping and in system identification. In this paper, the differential model of hysteresis is carefully re-examined and two significant issues are uncovered. First, it is found that the unspecified parameters of the model are functionally redundant. One of the parameters can be eliminated through suitable transformations in the parameter space. Second, local and global sensitivity analyses are conducted to assess the relative sensitivity of each model parameter. Through extensive Monte Carlo simulations, it is found that some parameters of the hysteretic model are rather insensitive. If the values of these insensitive parameters are fixed, a greatly simplified model is obtained.
Advances in polymer‐based cell encapsulation and its applications in tissue repair

Cell microencapsulation is a more widely accepted area of biological encapsulation. In most cases, it involves fixing cells in polymer scaffolds or semi‐permeable hydrogel capsules, providing the environment for protecting cells, allowing the exchange of nutrients and oxygen, and protecting cells against the attack of the host immune system by preventing the entry of antibodies and cytotoxic immune cells. Hydrogel encapsulation provides a three‐dimensional (3D) environment similar to that experienced in vivo, so it can maintain normal cellular functions to produce tissues similar to those in vivo. Embedded cells can be genetically modified to release specific therapeutic products directly at the target site, thereby eliminating the side effects of systemic treatments. Cellular microcarriers need to meet many extremely high standards regarding their biocompatibility, cytocompatibility, immunoseparation capacity, transport, mechanical, and chemical properties. In this article, we discuss the biopolymer gels used in tissue engineering applications and the brief introduction of cell encapsulation for therapeutic protein production. Also, we review polymer biomaterials and methods for preparing cell microcarriers for biomedical applications. At the same time, in order to improve the application performance of cell microcarriers in vivo, we also summarize the main limitations and improvement strategies of cell encapsulation. Finally, the main applications of polymer cell microcarriers in regenerative medicine are summarized.
Imatinib suppresses activation of hepatic stellate cells by targeting STAT3/IL‐6 pathway through miR‐124

The activation of hepatic stellate cells is the primary function of facilitating liver fibrosis. Interfering with the coordinators of different signaling pathways in activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) could be a potential approach in ameliorating liver fibrosis. Regarding the illustrated anti‐fibrotic effect of imatinib in liver fibrosis, we investigated the imatinib′s potential role in inhibiting HSC activation through miR‐124 and its interference with the STAT3/hepatic leukemia factor (HLF)/IL‐6 circuit. The anti‐fibrotic effect of imatinib was investigated in the LX‐2 cell line and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced Sprague‐Dawley rat. The expression of IL‐6, STAT3, HLF, miR‐124, and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) were quantified by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and the protein level of α‐SMA and STAT3 was measured by western blot analysis both in vitro and in vivo. The LX‐2 cells were subjected to immunocytochemistry (ICC) for α‐SMA expression. After administering imatinib in the liver fibrosis model, histopathological examinations were done, and hepatic function serum markers were checked. Imatinib administration alleviated mentioned liver fibrosis markers. The expression of miR‐124 was downregulated, while IL‐6/HLF/STAT3 circuit agents were upregulated in vitro and in vivo. Notably, imatinib intervention decreased the expression of IL‐6, STAT3, and HLF. Elevated expression of miR‐124 suppressed the expression of STAT3 and further inhibited HSCs activation. Our results demonstrated that imatinib not only ameliorated hepatic fibrosis through tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) activity but also interfered with the miR‐124 and STAT3/HLF/IL‐6 pathway. Considering the important role of miR‐124 in regulating liver fibrosis and HSCs activation, imatinib may exert its anti‐fibrotic activity through miR‐124.
Nanoparticle protein corona: from structure and function to therapeutic targeting

Nanoparticle (NP)-based therapeutics have ushered in a new era in translational medicine. However, despite the clinical success of NP technology, it is not well-understood how NPs fundamentally change in biological environments. When introduced into physiological fluids, NPs are coated by proteins, forming a protein corona (PC). The PC has the potential to endow NPs with a new identity and alter their bioactivity, stability, and destination. Additionally, the conformation of proteins is sensitive to their physical and chemical surroundings. Therefore, biological factors and protein–NP-interactions can induce changes in the conformation and orientation of proteins in vivo. Since the function of a protein is closely connected to its folded structure, slight differences in the surrounding environment as well as the surface characteristics of the NP materials may cause proteins to lose or gain a function. As a result, this can alter the downstream functionality of the NPs. This review introduces the main biological factors affecting the conformation of proteins associated with the PC. Then, four types of NPs with extensive utility in biomedical applications are described in greater detail, focusing on the conformation and orientation of adsorbed proteins. This is followed by a discussion on the instances in which the conformation of adsorbed proteins can be leveraged for therapeutic purposes, such as controlling protein conformation in assembled matrices in tissue, as well as controlling the PC conformation for modulating immune responses. The review concludes with a perspective on the remaining challenges and unexplored areas at the interface of PC and NP research.
Hypermethylation of HIC2 is a potential prognostic biomarker and tumor suppressor of glioma based on bioinformatics analysis and experiments

Glioma is the most common primary tumor in the central nervous system, and prognostic biomarkers are still lacking. HIC ZBTB transcriptional repressor 2 (HIC2) is a hypermethylated gene that plays an important functional role in cardiac development. However, the actual role of HIC2 in glioma progression remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the function of HIC2 and whether it could be a prognostic biomarker in glioma.
A nanophotonic interferometer

The transmission of light through sub-wavelength apertures (zero-mode waveguides, ZMW) in metal films is well-explored. It introduces both an amplitude modulation as well as a phase shift to the oscillating electromagnetic field. We propose a nanophotonic interferometer by bringing two ZMW (∼100 nm diameter) in proximity and monitoring the distribution of transmitted light in the back-focal plane of collecting microscope objective (1.3 N.A.). We demonstrate that both an asymmetry induced by the binding of a quantum dot in one of the two ZMW, as well as an asymmetry in ZMW diameter yield qualitatively similar transmission patterns. We find that the complex pattern can be quantified through a scalar measure of asymmetry along the symmetry axis of the aperture pair. In a combined experimental and computational exploration of detectors with differing ZMW diameters, we find that the scalar asymmetry is a monotonous function of the diameter difference of the two apertures, and that the scalar asymmetry measure is higher if the sample is slightly displaced from the focal plane of the collecting microscope objective. An optimization of the detector geometry determined that the maximum response is achieved at an aperture separation that is comparable to the wavelength on the exit side of the sensor. For small separations of apertures, on the order of a quarter of the wavelength and less, the signal is strongly polarization dependent, while for larger separations, on the order of the wavelength or larger, the signal becomes essentially polarization-independent.
DigiFuehr 2.0: Novel insights for digital leadership

Against the background of e‐government, it is discussed whether self‐organization represents an independent component of digital leadership. Addressing this research question, the instrument “DigiFuehr” is being expanded to include the aspects of self‐determination and coordination. The aim is to test the model quality of three adapted scales against the already established support‐focusing version.
Numerical solution of first‐order hyperbolic partial differential‐difference equation with shift

In this article, we continue the numerical study of hyperbolic partial differential‐difference equation that was initiated in (Sharma and Singh, Appl Math Comput 201(2008), 229–238 ). In Sharma and Singh, the authors consider the problem with sufficiently small shift arguments. The term negative shift and positive shift are used for delay and advance arguments, respectively. Here, we propose a numerical scheme that works nicely irrespective of the size of shift arguments. In this article, we consider hyperbolic partial differential‐difference equation with negative or positive shift and present a numerical scheme based on the finite difference method for solving such type of initial and boundary value problems. The proposed numerical scheme is analyzed for stability and convergence in L∞ norm. Finally, some test examples are given to validate convergence, the computational efficiency of the numerical scheme and the effect of shift arguments on the solution. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2010
Structure–function correlates of fibrinogen binding by Acinetobacter adhesins critical in catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Significance Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is a major public health threat, causing difficult-to-treat nosocomial infections. We identified two virulence pili independently critical to A. baumannii catheter-associated urinary tract infections, the chaperone-usher pathway pili Abp1 and Abp2. Mechanistically, these pili contribute to A. baumannii biofilm formation. Further, their respective tip-adhesive proteins, the adhesins Abp1D and Abp2D, make use of large, distally oriented binding pockets to adhere to glycoproteins like fibrinogen, a wound-healing protein important in CAUTI pathogenesis.
Identification of a novel missense variant (c.911G>A, p. Ser304Asn) in ABO gene in a Tibetan individual

The ABO system is the most important blood system in transfusion medicine, which contains four major ABO phenotypes: A, B, O, and AB. Some variants in the ABO gene may lead to weak A or B subgroups (e.g., A3, Am, Ax, Ael, B3, Bm, Bx, Bel), which are usually recognized by apparent discrepancies between the forward and reverse results. Recently, we identified a novel missense variant in the exon 7 of the ABO gene in a Tibetan woman with the Bel phenotype. Here, we report the identification of the novel Bel allele.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of the curcumin and piperine combination on lipid profile in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by multiple metabolic disorders. Several studies indicated that curcumin plus piperine could affect lipids profiles in various diseases. The present meta‐analysis aims to assess the effect of curcumin plus piperine on lipid profiles in patients with MetS and associated disorders using a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Trials were searched by several electronic databases up to May 2022. The Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis (CMA) version3 software carried out this systematic review and meta‐analysis. Random‐effects model and the inverse variance method were used to conduct the meta‐analysis. We evaluated the publication bias and heterogeneity of all eligible studies. In addition, subgroup analyses and sensitivity assessments were performed to assess potential sources of heterogeneity. The combined results by the random‐effects model demonstrated that curcumin plus piperine significantly decreased total cholesterol and LDL‐C in patients suffering from metabolic syndrome. In comparison, the results of the overall effect size did not show any significant change in triglyceride concentrations. Our results were robust in sensitivity analysis and were not dependent on the dose of curcumin, the dose of piperine, and the duration of treatment. Our results showed that co‐administration of piperine and curcumin supplementation improves the lipid profile in metabolic syndrome. However, further long‐term RCTs are required to ascertain their clinical benefit.
High-temperature operation of distributed feedback quantum-cascade lasers at 5.3 μm

High-temperature operation of a low-threshold 5.3 μm quantum-cascade distributed feedback laser is presented. The emission spectrum was single mode with more than 20 dB side mode suppression ratio for all investigated temperatures and up to thermal rollover. For 1.5% duty cycle and at 0 °C, the laser emitted 1.15 W of single mode peak power; at 120 °C, a value of 92 mW was seen. For a 3 mm long device, we observed a room-temperature threshold current density of 3.6 kA/cm2. This remarkable performance is mainly due to a 4 quantum-well active region using a double phonon resonance for the lower laser level.
Leaves of Cannabis sativa and their trichomes studied by DESI and MALDI mass spectrometry imaging for their contents of cannabinoids and flavonoids.

INTRODUCTION In recent years, industrial production of Cannabis sativa has increased due to increased demand of medicinal products based on the plant. In these medicinal products, it is mainly the contents of cannabinoids like THCA and CBDA which are of interest, but also the flavonoids of C. sativa have pharmaceutical interest. OBJECTIVES The primary aim is to study the distribution of the different cannabinoids in leaves of C. sativa and specifically to which extent they are located on the trichomes found on the surface of C. sativa leaves. Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) provide non-targeted imaging of numerous compounds in the same experiment. Therefore, the distribution of flavonoids is also mapped in the same experiments. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fan leaves from C. sativa were imaged in the lateral dimension using direct DESI-MSI as well as indirect DESI-MSI via a porous PTFE surface using pixel sizes of 150-200 μm. For cross sections of sugar leaves, MALDI-MSI was performed at 20 μm pixel size. RESULTS From indirect DESI-MSI experiments, a connection was made between the cannabinoid CBGA and capitate-stalked trichomes. Other cannabinoids like THCA/CBDA (isomers, which are not resolved in an MSI experiment) were also detected in the capitate-stalked trichomes, but in addition to this also in the small glandular trichomes. MALDI-MSI experiments on cross sections of sugar leaves confirmed that the cannabinoids were not an integral part of the leaf tissue itself, but originated from the trichomes on the surface of the leaf. CONCLUSION The study provides visual evidence that the cannabinoids are produced and accumulated in the trichomes of C. sativa leaves.
Statistical behavior of rain attenuation

Thirty-one sets of experimental data on the statistics of microwave rain attenuation at frequencies above 10 GHz, in the U.S.A. , England, Japan, Italy, and Canada, indicate that: (i) the distribution of rain attenuation α, in dB, is approximately lognormal with a standard deviation σ α of log 10 α ranging from 0.46 to 0.71 for earth-space paths, and from 0.33 to 0.86 for terrestrial paths; (ii) the distribution of the rain fade duration τ is also approximately lognormal with a standard deviation σ τ of log 10 τ ranging from 0.44 to 0.76 for both earth-space paths and terrestrial paths. We propose a theory to explain this general behavior. A theoretical upper bound for the fade duration distribution in the tail region is also given. The findings in this paper simplify the determination of rain attenuation statistics needed for the design of earth-satellite radio links and terrestrial radio links.
Alpha-Mangosteen lessens high-fat/high-glucose diet and low-dose streptozotocin induced-hepatic manifestations in the insulin resistance rat model

Abstract Context α-Mangosteen (α-MG) attenuates insulin resistance (IR). However, it is still unknown whether α-MG could alleviate hepatic manifestations in IR rats. Objective To investigate the effect of α-MG on alleviating hepatic manifestations in IR rats through AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sterol-regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) pathway. Materials and methods IR was induced by exposing male Sprague-Dawley rats (180–200 g) to high-fat/high-glucose diet and low-dose injection of streptozotocin (HF/HG/STZ), then treated with α-MG at a dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks. At the end of the study (11 weeks), serum and liver were harvested for biochemical analysis, and the activity of AMPK, SREBP-1c, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, Bax and liver histopathology were analyzed. Results α-MG at both doses significantly lowered ALT, AST, triglyceride, and cholesterol total by 16.5, 15.7, 38, and 36%, respectively. These beneficial effects of α-MG are associated with the downregulation of the IR-induced inflammation in the liver. Furthermore, α-MG, at both doses, activated AMPK by 24–29 times and reduced SREBP-1c by 44–50% as well as ACC expression by 19–31% similar to metformin. All treatment groups showed liver histopathology improvement regarding fat deposition in the liver. Conclusions Based on the findings demonstrated, α-MG protected against HF/HG/STZ-induced hepatic manifestations of the IR rats, at least in part via the modulation of the AMPK/SREBP-1c/ACC pathway and it could be a potential drug candidate to prevent IR-induced hepatic manifestations.
A General Regression Changepoint Test for Time Series Data

ABSTRACT This article develops a test for a single changepoint in a general setting that allows for correlated time series regression errors, a seasonal cycle, time-varying regression factors, and covariate information. Within, a changepoint statistic is constructed from likelihood ratio principles and its asymptotic distribution is derived. The asymptotic distribution of the changepoint statistic is shown to be invariant of the seasonal cycle and the covariates should the latter obey some simple limit laws; however, the limit distribution depends on any time-varying factors. A new test based on ARMA residuals is developed and is shown to have favorable properties with finite samples. Driving our work is a changepoint analysis of the Mauna Loa record of monthly carbon dioxide concentrations. This series has a pronounced seasonal cycle, a nonlinear trend, heavily correlated regression errors, and covariate information in the form of climate oscillations. In the end, we find a prominent changepoint in the early 1990s, often attributed to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, which cannot be explained by covariates. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.