Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Ecological Restoration on the Physicochemical Properties and Bacterial Communities in Alpine Mining Area Soils

Ecological restoration has notably impacted microbe and soil characteristics in abandoned open pit mines, especially in alpine regions. Yet, the adaptive responses of microbial communities in the initial years of mine site restoration remain largely unexplored. This study endeavors to offer a thorough comprehension of soil properties and microbial dynamics during the initial phases of alpine mining land reclamation. It places emphasis on physicochemical properties and microbial community composition and evaluates the feasibility of phytoremediation, along with proposing subsequent measures. Our study employs spatial sequence instead of time-sequenceal sequence to investigate early-stage changes in soil microbes and physicochemical properties in alpine mining land reclamation. We used high-throughput sequencing for the 16S rRNA amplicon study. Over time, soil physicochemical properties improved noticeably. Soil pH shifted from neutral to alkaline (7.04–8.0), while soil electrical conductivity (EC) decreased to 77 μS·cm−1 in R_6a. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) initially decreased from R_2a (12.30–27.98 cmol·kg−1) and then increased. Soil organic matter increased from 17.7 to 43.2 g·kg−1 over time during mine reclamation and restoration. The dominant bacterial community consisted of Proteobacteria (33.94% to 52.09%), Acidobacteriota (4.94% to 15.88%), Bacteroidota (6.52% to 11.15%), Actinobacteriota (7.18% to 9.61%), and Firmicutes (4.52% to 16.80%) with varying relative abundances. Gene annotation of sequences from various reclamation years revealed general function prediction, translation, ribosome structure, cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis, nucleotide translocation, and metabolism, along with other related functions. Mine reclamation improved soil fertility and properties, with the R_6a treatment being the most effective. Starting in the 2nd year of reclamation, the effective phosphorus content and the dominance of microbial bacteria, notably the Bacillus content, decreased. Firmicute fertilization promoted phosphorus and bacterial growth. In conclusion, employing a blend of sequencing and experimental approaches, our study unveils early-stage enhancements in soil microbial and physicochemical properties during the reclamation of alpine mining areas. The results underscore the beneficial impacts of vegetation restoration on key properties, including soil fertility, pore structure, and bacterial community composition. Special attention is given to assessing the effectiveness of the R_6a treatment and identifying deficiencies in the R_2a treatment. It serves as a reference for addressing the challenges associated with soil fertility and microbial community structure restoration in high-altitude mining areas in Qinghai–Tibet. This holds great significance for soil and water conservation as well as vegetation restoration in alpine mining regions. Furthermore, it supports the sustainable restoration of local ecosystems.
Miniaturization of Ac-Dc power converters for grid interface

In this thesis we present a two-stage ac/dc grid-connected converter for computer applications. Also known as off-line power supplies, these converters have to meet various demanding specifications such as a wide input voltage range (typically 0-376 V), large voltage step down (typical output voltages range from 12-48 V), harmonic current limits and galvanic isolation. The focus of this work is in the reduction in volume of ac/dc converters while keeping efficiency constant or improving it, which is challenging to achieve while meeting all the specifications. The thesis breaks down the converter in subsystems and explores architectural and topological trade-offs, modeling, component selection and control methods. The performance of each individual subsystem is experimentally verified. The first stage of the converter is a step-down power factor correction (PFC) converter. This stage interacts with the grid and draws the necessary ac power from the line and rectifies it. Following the PFC is a capacitor bank, which is used to both buffer the ac power from the line and to provide hold-up energy to the output. The capacitor selection process is detailed in the thesis. The second stage of the converter provides isolation and regulation to the output. Two different approaches to the second stage converter are presented: using commercially available, “plug and play” converters and developing a custom converter. The full system is evaluated with both solutions and is compared to other state of the art converters. The final prototype achieves an efficiency of 95.33% at full power (250 W) and 230 Vac input, and a power density of 35 W/in. Thesis Supervisor: David J. Perreault Title: Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Thesis Supervisor: Khurram K. Afridi Title: Assistant Professor of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering University of Colorado Boulder Thesis Reader: Jeffrey H. Lang Title: Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Safe Motion Planning for Serial-Chain Robotic Manipulators via Invariant Sets

Ongoing research is focused on developing autonomous motion-planning algorithms capable of addressing nonlinear robot manipulator dynamics and non-convex collision avoidance constraints. This letter extends the application of the invariant-set motion planner (ISMP) to robot motion planning. We broaden the proof of output admissibility for configuration-space bubbles, accommodating robots with both prismatic and revolute joints. We derive a constraint admissible positive invariant (CAPI) subset within the configuration-space bubble for closed-loop system dynamics, integrating proportional-derivative joint controllers. Furthermore, we outline conditions for CAPI sets to be input admissible. Utilizing random exploring tree techniques, we identify a sequence of CAPI sets to guide the robot from an initial configuration to a goal equilibrium state while avoiding collisions. We illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the ISMP through a simulation involving the Universal Robots UR5e mounted on an actuated rail, modeled as a prismatic joint. Simulation results validate that ISMP for robot motion planning.
One-step extraction versus QuEChERS for pesticide analysis in selected fruits and vegetables

This research was focused on the performance evaluation of a simple sample preparation involving acetonitrile extraction followed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis. Simplified method validation parameters, along with several other features, were compared to those of the citrate QuEChERS for 19 pesticides analyzed in four representative fruits and vegetables. The results showed comparable performances of the two methods for 5 of the 6 investigated validation parameters. The simplified method had better performance regarding the selectivity, since three analytes experienced a selectivity issue in one of four QuEChERS-treated matrices. Overall, results lead to an assumption that acetonitrile extraction could be reasonably implemented in certain cases of pesticide analysis, as an efficient and economical alternative to the official method. Since the research provides an insight into acetonitrile extraction capabilities in the domain of pesticide analysis in complex matrices, scientists, researchers or analytical practitioners can determine which method is most beneficial for a particular analysis.
Design and Fabrication of a 13-T Twin-Aperture Superconducting Dipole Magnet With Graded Common-Coil Configuration

R&D of high field accelerator magnets is ongoing at the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHEP, CAS) for pre-study of the next-generation high energy colliders like Super Proton-Proton Collider (SPPC), Future Circular Collider (FCC) and etc. A 12.47-T main field at 4.2 K has been attained in 2021 within two 14-mm apertures of LPF1-U, a superconducting model dipole magnet with Nb3Sn & NbTi combined common-coil configuration. Based on the experiences mastered in the LPF1 series magnets, a 16-T high field dipole magnet named LPF3 has been designed, fabricated and is in the performance test process. LPF3 is also a combined magnet with six racetrack Nb3Sn coils outside, expected to provide a 13-T main field within two 50-mm apertures, and with inserted HTS coils to enhance the field up to 16 T or even higher. The 13-T Nb3Sn dipole magnet, named LPF3-LTS, incorporates a graded common-coil configuration to enhance superconductor efficiency. The optimization of coil layouts includes varying bending radii (BR) and lengths of straight sections (LSS) to mitigate field accumulation in the outer four coils near the central posts and coil ends, respectively. Several Rutherford cables over 200 meters were fabricated for the coils winding, and with the maximum strands count of 42. The support structure for LPF3-LTS has adopted a shell-based design, with an improved “Bladder & Key” technology. Dedicated hydraulic pistons were investigated and utilized to replace the traditional bladders. The main design characteristics, fabrication process and some preliminary test results of the magnet are presented in this paper.
The terrestrial Isopoda of Corsica (Crustacea, Oniscidea) by

Soixante-seize especes d'isopodes terrestres sont signalees de Corse. Huit especes nouvelles (Oritoniscus punctatus, Tiroloscia montana, Platyarthrus corsicus, Cylisticus uncinatus, Alloschizidium campanellii, Armadillidium lanzai, A. littorale et A. torchiai) sont decrites et douze sont nouvellement citees de l'ile. Les sous-especes Oritoniscus paganus paganus Racovitza et O. paganus ocellatus Vandel sont elevees au rang d'espece. Phalloniscus pygmaeus (Budde-Lund) est transfere dans le genre Sardoniscus Arcangeli, Paraschizidium remyi Vandel et Typhloschizidium cottarellii Argano & Pesce dans le genre Alloschizidium Verhoeff, dont Typhloschizidium Arcangeli et Nesolidium Verhoeff sont des synonymes plus recents. La moitie environ des especes a une distribution Ouest-mediterraneenne, la plupart etant strictement tyrrhenienne. A peu pres 25 % des especes sont endemiques, ce qui prouve l'importance de la Corse en tant que zone de speciation. Les caracteres de la faune des isopodes terrestres de Corse montrent une stricte correlation avec les caracteres de la faune de l'archipel toscan et, a un degre moindre, avec ceux de la Sardaigne. Des affinites faunistiques importantes existent entre la Corse et la France meridionale (massifs des Maures et de l'Esterel et region de Grasse) et aussi avec les Pyrenees. Aucune espece d'origine plus meridionale (sicilienne ou nord-africaine) n'a ete recueillie en Corse, ce qui semble exclure toute relation zoogeographique avec ces territoires. La distribution des especes en Corse est aussi discutee. Une cle des especes est proposee.
Airborne Lidar Measurements of Pollution above the Oil Sands Region in Northern Alberta

Lidar measurements of ozone and aerosol were conducted from a Twin Otter aircraft above the oil sands region of northern Alberta. For the majority of the flights, significant amounts of aerosol were observed within the boundary layer, up to an altitude of 2.0 km above sea level (ASL), while the ozone concentration remained at background levels (30-45 ppb) downwind of the industry. On August 24 th the lidar measured a separated layer of aerosol above the boundary layer, at a height of 2.0 km ASL, in which the ozone mixing ratio increased to 70 ppb. Backward trajectory calculations revealed that the air containing this separated aerosol layer had passed over an area of forest fires. Directly below the layer of forest fire smoke, pollution from the oil sands industry was observed. Measurements of the backscatter linear depolarization ratio were obtained with a ground based lidar operated by Environment Canada within the oil sands region. The depolarization measurements aided in discriminating between the separate sources of pollution from industry and forest fires. The depolarization ratio was 5-6% in forest fire smoke and 7-10% in the industrial pollution.
Effect of zinc supplementation as an adjuvant to corticosteroid treatment in patients with oral lichen planus: A systematic review

Background. Oral lichen planus (OLP) and one of its main presentations, desquamative gingivitis, are common diseases with no definite treatment. Zinc deficiency has a critical role in the pathogenesis of oral mucosal diseases. The current study systematically reviewed the effect of zinc in addition to topical corticosteroids in the treatment of OLP. Methods. English articles in PubMed, Web of Sciences, Embase, and Scopus were searched until August 2022. The differences in symptoms were analyzed, including pain, burning sensation, and lesion sizes in patients with lichen planus receiving zinc supplementation as an adjuvant to corticosteroid treatment. Results. A total of 148 articles related to the searched keywords were found. Eventually, two clinical trials were selected. The total population of studied individuals included 60 patients. Due to the high heterogeneity between the studies, meta-analysis was not possible. Administering zinc, in addition to corticosteroids, did not improve the symptoms compared to corticosteroid monotherapy. Conclusion. Considering the limited number of studies and lack of sufficient evidence, it is not currently possible to reach a definite conclusion regarding the effects of zinc on OLP.
Assessing nitrate pollution in the Kinshasa groundwater system using a hybrid approach

This thesis studies the groundwater pollution by nitrate in the region of Kinshasa (DR Congo) using an integrated methodological approach combining physicochemical, isotopic and modeling analyses. The first main objective is to assess the groundwater quality and to identify the sources of nitrate. The groundwater is poorly mineralized and nitrate is one of the major ions contributing to the mineralization processes. The combined use of hydrochemical properties and multiple isotope tracers allows identifying and separating the sources of nitrate and elucidating complex mixing processes. The Bayesian mixing model of nitrogen and oxygen isotopes in nitrate provides general ordering of proportional source contributions. Two multivariate statistical approaches allow linking the measured groundwater nitrate to different land use attributes and demonstrate the overwhelming impact of poorly planned urbanization on groundwater nitrate contamination. The second main objective is to assess the regional groundwater contamination by mapping the groundwater body vulnerability and the nitrate concentrations which are measured on sparsely distributed sampling stations. The parametric vulnerability model is first modified and calibrated to predict the intrinsic vulnerability and the groundwater pollution risk to nitrate. A Bayesian data fusion approach is subsequently implemented to map the nitrate concentrations in areas located far away from monitoring stations. This approach reduces considerably uncertainty in regionally predicted concentration. Finally, a tracing experiment allows est.
A Novel UHPLC–MS/MS Method for the Measurement of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 in Canine Serum and Its Application to Healthy Dogs

Simple Summary Vitamin D deficiency and toxicity are common and well-recognized conditions in dogs. The metabolite 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 is the main endogenous biomarker for the evaluation of vitamin D3 status. In this study, we developed a simple analytical method for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 quantification in canine serum. The method was validated following the current European guidelines and yielded satisfactory results, representing a new tool for supporting clinicians in the correct diagnosis and monitoring of vitamin D3 status in dogs. Abstract Several studies have shown the importance of vitamin D3 supplementation in small animals. In dogs, a low vitamin D3 status is associated not only with bone metabolism but also with different kinds of disorders, such as congestive heart failure, gastrointestinal diseases, chronic kidney diseases, and some types of cancer. However, it is crucial to maintain balance and monitor the introduction of this essential nutrient through the diet because over-supplementation can result in toxicity. Due to the clinical importance of assessing the vitamin D3 status in small animal patients, a quick, simple, and highly performing analytical method for its measurement is needed. In this study, we describe the development of a novel liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 quantification in canine serum. The approach was successfully validated following current European guidelines, proving excellent linearity (R2 always ≥0.996), accuracy (always within ±13%) and precision (always <10%). The application of the validated approach to samples collected from 40 healthy dogs made possible the definition of a reliable reference interval for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, the main biomarker of vitamin D3. In addition, variations below 5% in the results obtained quantifying the same samples using a water-based calibration curve demonstrated that a surrogate matrix may be used without affecting data accuracy. Thanks to its simplicity, the proposed technique represents a useful tool for supporting clinical routine and investigating correlations between serum concentrations of this metabolite and multiple diseases. Additionally, it could enable the monitoring of supplementation in small animal patients in veterinary clinical practice.
Intracranial Assessment of Androgen Receptor Antagonists in Mice Bearing Human Glioblastoma Implants

The median survival time of patients with an aggressive brain tumor, glioblastoma, is still poor due to ineffective treatment. The discovery of androgen receptor (AR) expression in 56% of cases offers a potential breakthrough. AR antagonists, including bicalutamide and enzalutamide, induce dose-dependent cell death in glioblastoma and glioblastoma-initiating cell lines (GIC). Oral enzalutamide at 20 mg/kg reduces subcutaneous human glioblastoma xenografts by 72% (p = 0.0027). We aimed to further investigate the efficacy of AR antagonists in intracranial models of human glioblastoma. In U87MG intracranial models, nude mice administered Xtandi (enzalutamide) at 20 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg demonstrated a significant improvement in survival compared to the control group (p = 0.24 and p < 0.001, respectively), confirming a dose–response relationship. Additionally, we developed a newly reformulated version of bicalutamide, named “soluble bicalutamide (Bic-sol)”, with a remarkable 1000-fold increase in solubility. This reformulation significantly enhanced bicalutamide levels within brain tissue, reaching 176% of the control formulation’s area under the curve. In the U87MG intracranial model, both 2 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg of Bic-sol exhibited significant efficacy compared to the vehicle-treated group (p = 0.0177 and p = 0.00364, respectively). Furthermore, combination therapy with 8 mg/kg Bic-sol and Temozolomide (TMZ) demonstrated superior efficacy compared to either Bic-sol or TMZ as monotherapies (p = 0.00706 and p = 0.0184, respectively). In the ZH-161 GIC mouse model, the group treated with 8 mg/kg Bic-sol as monotherapy had a significantly longer lifespan than the groups treated with TMZ or the vehicle (p < 0.001). Our study demonstrated the efficacy of androgen receptor antagonists in extending the lifespan of mice with intracranial human glioblastoma, suggesting a promising approach to enhance patient outcomes in the fight against this challenging disease.
Postbiotic Activities of Bifidobacterium adolescentis: Impacts on Viability, Structural Integrity, and Cell Death Markers in Human Intestinal C2BBe1 Cells

Acute diarrheal disease (ADD) caused by rotavirus (RV) contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in children under five years of age. Currently, there are no specific drugs for the treatment of RV infections. Previously, we reported the anti-rotaviral activity of the protein metabolites derived from Bifidobacterium adolescentis. In this study, our aim was to assess the impact of B. adolescentis-secreted proteins (BaSP), with anti-rotaviral activity on the human intestinal C2BBe1 cell line. We initiated the production of BaSP and subsequently confirmed its anti-rotaviral activity by counting the infectious foci using immunocytochemistry. We then exposed the C2BBe1 cells to various concentrations of BaSP (≤250 µg/mL) for 72 h. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, cell monolayer integrity was monitored through transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), and cytoskeleton architecture and tight junctions (TJs) were examined using confocal microscopy with F-actin and occludin staining. Finally, we utilized a commercial kit to detect markers of apoptosis and necrosis after 24 h of treatment. The results demonstrated that BaSP does not have adverse effects on C2BBe1 cells. These findings confirm that BaSP inhibits rotavirus infectivity and has the potential to strengthen intestinal defense against viral and bacterial infections via the paracellular route.
VdPT1 Encoding a Neutral Trehalase of Verticillium dahliae Is Required for Growth and Virulence of the Pathogen

Verticillum dahliae is a soil-borne phytopathogenic fungus causing destructive Verticillium wilt disease. We previously found a trehalase-encoding gene (VdPT1) in V. dahliae being significantly up-regulated after sensing root exudates from a susceptible cotton variety. In this study, we characterized the function of VdPT1 in the growth and virulence of V. dahliae using its deletion-mutant strains. The VdPT1 deletion mutants (ΔVdPT1) displayed slow colony expansion and mycelial growth, reduced conidial production and germination rate, and decreased mycelial penetration ability and virulence on cotton, but exhibited enhanced stress resistance, suggesting that VdPT1 is involved in the growth, pathogenesis, and stress resistance of V. dahliae. Host-induced silencing of VdPT1 in cotton reduced fungal biomass and enhanced cotton resistance against V. dahliae. Comparative transcriptome analysis between wild-type and mutant identified 1480 up-regulated and 1650 down-regulated genes in the ΔVdPT1 strain. Several down-regulated genes encode plant cell wall-degrading enzymes required for full virulence of V. dahliae to cotton, and down-regulated genes related to carbon metabolism, DNA replication, and amino acid biosynthesis seemed to be responsible for the decreased growth of the ΔVdPT1 strain. In contrast, up-regulation of several genes related to glycerophospholipid metabolism in the ΔVdPT1 strain enhanced the stress resistance of the mutated strain.
Cognitive Abnormalities in Juveniles Suffering from Drug Abuse

Objectives: The study aimed to identify cognitive distortions among juvenile drug abusers in Jordan. Methods: The sample consisted of (55) male juveniles in short-term detention at Al-Zohour Security Center, using the available method. The cognitive Distortions scale was applied to them after extracting its validity and reliability. Results: The results indicated that the level of cognitive distortions was moderate and that cognitive distortion “minimization and maximization” came at a high level while “reading what was in the minds of others” came last at a low level. The results also showed no significant differences attributed to the effect of the family’s monthly income in all areas except in excessive generalization” in favor of those with monthly income from 500 to 1000 JD. There were no significant differences due to the effect of birth order. Conclusion: It was found that cognitive distortions exist among juveniles who are drug abusers to a moderate degree, and this means that these juveniles have a problem regarding the use of these cognitive distortions. These individuals need to know the reality of these distortions and the extent of their impact on its lives. The study recommends designing and implementing counseling programs to reduce these distortions thus reducing the use of drugs, and replacing them with effective coping strategies in dealing with life stressors.