Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Modeling Study of Seasonal and Inter-annual Variations of the Arctic Black Carbon and Sulphate Aerosols

The modeling results of current global aerosol models agree, generally within a factor of two, with the measured surface concentrations of black carbon (BC) and sulphate (SF) aerosols in rural areas across the northern continents. However, few models are able to capture the observed seasonal cycle of the Arctic aerosols. In general, the observed seasonality of the Arctic aerosols is determined by complex processes, including transport, emissions and removal processes. In this work, the representations of aerosol deposition processes (i.e., dry deposition, in-cloud and below-cloud scavenging) within the framework of the Canadian Global Air Quality Model – GEM-AQ are first enhanced. Through the enhancements in GEM-AQ, the seasonality of the Arctic BC and SF is reproduced, and the improvement in model performance extends to the rest of the globe as well. Then, the importance of these deposition processes in governing the Arctic BC and SF seasonality is investigated. It is found that the observed seasonality of the Arctic BC and SF is mainly caused by the seasonal changes in aerosol wet scavenging, as well as the seasonal injection of aerosols from surrounding source regions. Being able to reproduce the seasonality of the Arctic BC, the enhanced GEM-AQ allows more accurate assessment of the contributions of anthropogenic sources to the BC abundance in the
A Novel Analysis of the Performance of Cloud Computing Centers using Non-Markovian Queuing Model

: A novel mathematical model is presented to analyse the performance of cloud computing centers using non-Markovian queuing model M/G/c/c+r/PR with priority as a queue discipline.Task arrivals are categorized as higher-priority ( H priority ) task queue and low-priority ( L priority ) task queue.This model allows cloud providers to determine the performance metrics of the task queue such as average number of tasks, probability of congestion, and probability of no waiting time with respect to server and buffer size. Two feasible conditions, namely non-preemptive and preemptive task priorities are discussed in this work. This approach is validated using discrete-event simulator and Maplesoft for the above mentioned parameters and the analysis has been done based on the arrived results.
Biospeciation of Oxidovanadium(IV) Imidazolyl–Carboxylate Complexes and Their Action on Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic Cells

The reaction of the vanadyl ion (VO2+) with imidazole-4-carboxylic acid (Im4COOH), imidazole-2-carboxylic acid (Im2COOH) and methylimidazole-2-carboxylic acid (MeIm2COOH), respectively, in the presence of small bioligands (bL) [oxalate (Ox), lactate (Lact), citrate (Cit) and phosphate (Phos)] and high-molecular-weight (HMW) human serum proteins [albumin (HSA) and transferrin (hTf)] were studied in aqueous solution using potentiometric acid–base titrations. The species distribution diagrams for the high-molecular-mass (HMM) proteins with oxidovanadium(IV) under physiological pH were dominated by VO(HMM)2, VOL(HMM) for unsubstituted ligands (L− = Im4COO− and Im2COO−). However, for the N-substituted MeIm2COOH, the species distribution diagrams under physiological pH were dominated by VOL2, VO(HMM)2 and VO2L2(HMM). These species were further confirmed by LC-MS, MALDI-TOF-MS and EPR studies. The glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) action of the complexes was investigated using INS-1E cells at a 1 µM concentration, which was established through cytotoxicity studies via the MTT assay. The neutral complexes, especially VO(MeIm2COO)2, showed promising results in the stimulation of insulin secretion than the cationic [VO(MeIm2CH2OH)2]2+ complex and the vanadium salt. Oxidovanadium(IV) complexes reduced insulin stimulation significantly under normoglycaemic levels but showed positive effects on insulin secretion under hyperglycaemic conditions (33.3 mM glucose media). The islets exposed to oxidovanadium(IV) complexes under hyperglycaemic conditions displayed a significant increase in the stimulatory index with 1.19, 1.75, 1.53, 1.85, 2.20 and 1.29 observed for the positive control (sulfonylurea:gliclazide), VOSO4, VO(Im4COO)2, VO(Im2COO)2, VO(MeIm2COO)2 and VO(MeIm2CH2OH)22+, respectively. This observation showed a potential further effect of vanadium complexes towards type 2 diabetes and has been demonstrated for the first time in this study.
Contamination levels of domestic water sources in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Northeast, Nigeria

The study examines the levels of contamination of domestic water sources in Maiduguri Metropolis area of Borno State based on their physicochemical and bacteriological properties. It was informed by the global concern on good drinking water quality which is an indicator of development level; hence the focus on domestic water sources to ascertain safety as water from unhygienic sources pose serious health challenges. The study dwelt on physicochemical and bacteriological parameters believed to have health implications. Experimental design was adopted, where water samples derived from four different sources i.e. from treated surface water, deep boreholes, wash boreholes and harvested rainwater were tested in the laboratory for pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cupper (Cu), cyanide (Cn), lead (Pb), fluoride (Fl) and nitrate (NO 3 ). Also tested were faecal coliform ( E. coli ) and total coliform counts in the samples. The results showed that levels of physicochemical parameters are within the acceptable limit of WHO mostly in samples from deep boreholes and treated surface water sources. Samples from wash boreholes and harvested rainwater show escalated levels of some of the physicochemical parameters. The two sources also did not yield zero E. coli count. The study concludes that water from wash boreholes and harvested rainwater sources potent health risk. Thorough epidemiological study to determine health implications of drinking water from wash boreholes and harvested rainwater in the study area was offered as recommendation. Keywords: Domestic Water, Contamination, Boreholes, Diseases
A novel approach for the fusion of combined stereo and spectral series

This contribution proposes a novel approach for image fusion of combined stereo and spectral series acquired simultaneously with a camera array. To this purpose, nine cameras are equipped with spectral filters (50 nm spectral bandwidth) such that the visible and near infrared parts of the spectrum (400-900 nm) are observed. The resulting image series is fused in order to obtain two types of information: the 3D shape of the scene and its spectral properties. For the registration of the images, a novel region based registration approach which evaluates the gray value invariant features (e.g. edges) of regions in segmented images is proposed. The registration problem is formulated by means of energy functionals. The data term of our functional compares features of a region in one image with features of an area in another image, such that an additional independency of the form and size of the regions in the segmented images is obtained. As regularization, a smoothness term is proposed, which models the fact that disparity discontinuities should only occur at edges in the images. In order to minimize the energy functional, we use graph cuts. The minimization is carried out simultaneously over all image pairs in the series. Even though the approach is region based, a label (e.g. disparity) is assigned to each pixel. The result of the minimization approach consists of a disparity map. By means of calibration, we use the disparity map to compute a depth map. Once pixel depths are determined, the images can be warped to a common view, such that a pure spectral series is obtained. This can be used to classify different materials of the objects in the scene based on real spectral information, which cannot be acquired with a common RGB camera.
Telmisartan Protects Mitochondrial Function, Gait, and Neuronal Apoptosis by Activating the Akt/GSK3β/PGC1α Pathway in an MPTP-Induced Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the major hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently, angiotensin II type 1 and type 2 receptors (AT1R, AT2R) were reported to be present on the mitochondrial membrane. Both are crucial players in the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Current evidence indicates that blockade of brain AT1R protects dopaminergic neurons in PD. METHODS Thus, the current study was aimed to explore the effects of Telmisartan (Tel), a selective AT1R blocker, on mitochondrial function and a mouse model by exposure to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) [250 mg/kg body weight (10 divided i.p. injections, each 25 mg/kg body weight at 3.5 days interval) + Probenecid 250 mg/kg]. Gait function was assessed by beam walk, and mice were euthanized on the 35th day and their brain tissues isolated for Western blot analysis. RESULTS Pretreatment with Tel significantly protected motor functions during the beam walk in MPTP-treated mice. Tel attenuated the increased levels of AT1R, α-syn, and inflammatory markers such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1) in MPTP-treated mice. In addition, Tel preserved the expression of AT2R, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), p-Akt/Akt, and p-GSK3β (Ser-9)/GSK3β, as well as protecting mitofusin protein 1 (MFN1) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-α (PGC1α), a critical activator of mitochondrial biogenesis. CONCLUSION These results indicate that Tel protects mitochondrial function and gait in a mouse model of PD by modulating the Akt/GSK3β/PGC1α pathway.
Analysis of the anti-migraine effects of THC using home cage wheel running

by Ram Kandasamy, Ph.D. Washington State University May 2017 Chair: Michael M. Morgan Migraine is a common neurological disorder characterized by severe headache and depression of normal activity. Despite its marked prevalence, migraine is poorly treated and no new anti-migraine agents have emerged in over 25 years. Two reasons for this lack of progress are the absence of clinically relevant behavioral outcomes for assessing migraine pain in rodents and a limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms. The purpose of this dissertation was to develop a clinically relevant method to assess migraine pain to evaluate the anti-migraine efficacy of ∆tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in female rats. Activation of primary afferents via dural administration of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) depressed home cage wheel running for three hours. Administration of the anti-migraine medication sumatriptan reversed AITCinduced depression of home cage wheel running. These observations are consistent with the migraine-induced decreases in activity in humans and subsequent recovery by sumatriptan. Chapter 3 shows that administration of THC also prevented migrainedepressed wheel running. This effect occurred only when rats were treated with THC immediately following AITC administration and not when administered 90 minutes
Colloids and organic matter complexation control trace metal concentration‐discharge relationships in Marshall Gulch stream waters

This study combined concentration‐discharge analyses (filtration at 0.45 μm), cascade filtrations (at 1.2, 0.4, and 0.025 μm) and asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation (AF4) to probe the influence of colloidal carriers (dissolved organic matter and inorganic nanoparticles) on observed concentration‐discharge relationships for trace metals in a 155 ha forested catchment of the Santa Catalina Mountains Critical Zone Observatory (SCM CZO), Arizona. Many major elements (Na, Mg, Si, K, Ca) show no colloidal influence, and concentration‐discharge relationships for these species are explained by previous work. However, the majority of trace metals (Al, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Cu, Y, REE, U) show at least some influence of colloids on chemistry when filtered at the standard 0.45 μm cutoff. Concentration‐discharge slopes of trace metals with modest colloidal influence are shallow (∼0.3) similar to that measured for dissolved organic carbon (DOC, 0.24), whereas elements with greater colloidal influence have steeper concentration‐discharge slopes approaching that of Al (0.76), the element with the largest colloidal influence in this study (on average 68%). These findings are further supported by AF4 measurements that show distinct and resolvable pools of low hydrodynamic diameter DOC‐sized material coexistent with larger diameter inorganic colloids, and the ratio of these carriers changes systematically with discharge because the DOC pool has a concentration‐discharge relationship with shallower slope than the inorganic colloidal pool. Together these data sets illustrate that positive concentration‐discharge slopes of trace metals in stream waters may be explained as the relative partitioning of trace metals between DOC and inorganic colloids, with contributions of the latter likely increasing as a result of increased prevalence of macropore flow.
A Rapid Sensorless Startup Method With Instantaneous Control Mode Switching for High-Speed Vane-Motor Based on Hybrid Speed-Position-Current Tracking Controller

The aim of this research is to shorten the startup time for high-speed vane-motor. This is considered as a challenging task because during startup, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the motor back electromotive-force (EMF) is too low to implement closed-loop control. Herein, a unique control strategy with a hybrid speed-position-current tracking controller (HSPCTC) is proposed to achieve rapid sensorless startup and an instantaneous control mode switching into closed-loop. The HSPCTC forms an equivalent semiclosed-loop that allows the uncertainty of back-EMF error to be distributed to multiple states, i.e., not only the estimated position but also the estimated speed and current. Consequently, the controller actively adjusts the corresponding state estimation values to better tolerate the low SNR, which is the key feature to achieve a high acceleration rate before closed-loop control can be activated. As the motor speed builds up, the estimated states will converge to their actual values, and this will trigger an instantaneous control mode switching directly from startup stage into normal sensorless closed-loop control. This method has been validated by both simulation and experiment. Without prealignment, the vane-motor can repetitively achieve 0-106 000 r/min startup within a time window of 0.11 s for HSPCTC plus 0.27 s for speed acceleration.
Genetic mechanisms underlying local spontaneous brain activity in episodic migraine

Advances in neuroimaging techniques during the past few decades have captured impaired functional brain activity in migraine disorders, yet the molecular mechanisms accounting for its alterations in migraine remain largely unknown. A total of 27 patients with episodic migraine (EM) and 30 matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Regional homogeneity (ReHo), low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) of fMRI were compared between the two groups. Based on the Allen Human Brain Atlas and risk genes in migraine, we identified gene expression profiles associated with ReHo alterations in EM. Compared with HCs, patients with EM showed increased ReHo in the left orbital part of the superior frontal gyrus (P < 0.05, cluster-level FWE-corrected). The expression profiles of 16 genes were significantly correlated with ReHo alterations in EM (P < 0.05/5,013, Bonferroni corrected). These genes were mainly enriched for transcription regulation, synaptic transmission, energy metabolism, and migraine disorders. Furthermore, the neural activation was positively correlated with Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA) scores. To test the stability of our results, we repeated our procedure by using ALFF and fALFF and found these results had a high degree of consistency. Overall, these findings not only demonstrated that regional brain activity was increased in patients with EM, which was associated with emotional regulation but also provided new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying these changes in migraine.
Protein Profiling of Placental Extracellular Vesicles in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Throughout pregnancy, some degree of insulin resistance is necessary to divert glucose towards the developing foetus. In gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), insulin resistance is exacerbated in combination with insulin deficiency, causing new-onset maternal hyperglycaemia. The rapid reversal of insulin resistance following delivery strongly implicates the placenta in GDM pathogenesis. In this case–control study, we investigated the proteomic cargo of human syncytiotrophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles (STBEVs), which facilitate maternal–fetal signalling during pregnancy, in a UK-based cohort comprising patients with a gestational age of 38–40 weeks. Medium/large (m/l) and small (s) STBEVs were isolated from GDM (n = 4) and normal (n = 5) placentae using ex vivo dual-lobe perfusion and subjected to mass spectrometry. Bioinformatics were used to identify differentially carried proteins and mechanistic pathways. In m/lSTBEVs, 56 proteins were differently expressed while in sSTBEVs, no proteins reached statistical difference. Differences were also observed in the proteomic cargo between m/lSTBEVs and sSTBEVs, indicating that the two subtypes of STBEVs may have divergent modes of action and downstream effects. In silico functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed proteins in m/lSTBEVs from GDM and normal pregnancy found positive regulation of cytoskeleton organisation as the most significantly enriched biological process. This work presents the first comparison of two populations of STBEVs’ protein cargos (m/l and sSTBEVs) from GDM and normal pregnancy isolated using placenta perfusion. Further investigation of differentially expressed proteins may contribute to an understanding of GDM pathogenesis and the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
2-Allylphenol Reduces IL-1β and TNF-α, Promoting Antinociception through Adenosinergic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Mechanisms

2-Allylphenol (2-AP) is a synthetic phenylpropanoid, structurally related to cardanol, thymol, and ortho-eugenol. Phenylpropanoids are described in the literature as being capable of promoting biological activity. Due to the similarity between 2-AP and other bioactive phenylpropanoids, the present research aims at evaluating the antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory potential of 2-AP in silico, in vitro, and in vivo. At 30 min prior to the start of in vivo pharmacological testing, administration of 2-AP (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg i.p.), morphine (6 mg/kg i.p.), dexamethasone (2 mg/kg s.c.), or vehicle alone was performed. In the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing tests, pretreatment with 2-AP significantly reduced the number of abdominal writhes, as well as decreased licking times in the glutamate and formalin tests. Investigation of the mechanism of action using the formalin model led to the conclusion that the opioid system does not participate in its activity. However, the adenosinergic system is involved. In the peritonitis tests, 2-AP inhibited leukocyte migration and reduced releases of proinflammatory mediators TNF-α and IL-1β. In vitro antioxidant assays demonstrated that 2-AP presents significant ability to sequester superoxide radicals. In silico docking studies confirmed interaction between 2-AP and the adenosine A2a receptor through hydrogen bonds with the critical asparagine 253 residues present in the active site. Investigation of 2-AP demonstrated its nociception inhibition and ability to reduce reactive oxygen species. Its interaction with A2a receptors may well be related to proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β reduction activity, corroborating its antinociceptive effect.
Binocular rivalry under naturalistic geometry: Evidence from worlds simulated in virtual reality

Abstract Binocular rivalry is a fascinating, widely studied visual phenomenon in which perception alternates between two competing images. This experience, however, is generally restricted to laboratory settings where two irreconcilable images are presented separately to the two eyes, an implausible geometry where two objects occupy the same physical location. Such laboratory experiences are in stark contrast to everyday visual behavior, where rivalry is almost never encountered, casting doubt on whether rivalry is relevant to our understanding of everyday binocular vision. To investigate the external validity of binocular rivalry, we manipulated the geometric plausibility of rival images using a naturalistic, cue-rich, 3D-corridor model created in virtual reality. Rival stimuli were presented in geometrically implausible, semi-plausible, or plausible layouts. Participants tracked rivalry fluctuations in each of these three layouts and for both static and moving rival stimuli. Results revealed significant and canonical binocular rivalry alternations regardless of geometrical plausibility and stimulus type. Rivalry occurred for layouts that mirrored the unnatural geometry used in laboratory studies and for layouts that mimicked real-world occlusion geometry. In a complementary 3D modeling analysis, we show that interocular conflict caused by geometrically plausible occlusion is a common outcome in a visual scene containing multiple objects. Together, our findings demonstrate that binocular rivalry can reliably occur for both geometrically implausible interocular conflicts and conflicts caused by a common form of naturalistic occlusion. Thus, key features of binocular rivalry are not simply laboratory artifacts but generalize to conditions that match the geometry of everyday binocular vision.
A Two-Dimensional Central Non-Oscillatory Scheme for Inviscid Compressible Flows

For this study, we developed a two-dimensional high order finite volume method code to solve inviscid compressible flows. In particular, the central essentially non-oscillatory (CENO) scheme improves spatial reconstruction, and the Runge-Kutta 4 order scheme enhances temporal accuracy. The CENO scheme provides a smoothness indicator that dictates whether a cell is under-resolved. One can evaluate this indicator either with the first or second layer of each cell’s neighbours, where it is applicable. For under-resolved cells, the reconstruction switches to limited second order instead of high order. We solved the shock tube in terms of accuracy and computational time for different spatial high order reconstructions. Results showed that for problems which present discontinuities, the usage of high order schemes to enhance spatial reconstruction does not improve accuracy as expected. Furthermore, the presence of discontinuities effects also the order of convergence of the solver. Specifically the order of convergence for all the studied spatial reconstructions is always as first order.