Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Can Probiotics, Particularly Limosilactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus UCO-25A, Be Preventive Alternatives against SARS-CoV-2?

Simple Summary Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19 in humans. It has rapidly propagated worldwide, becoming a pandemic as designated by the WHO. SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family Coronaviridae, subfamily Orthocoronaviridae, characterized by spike (S) proteins, which allow it to bind to the ACE2 receptor present on epithelial cells. Thus, this virus preferably infects tissues that highly express the ACE2 receptor, the lungs and intestine being the most affected, producing an impaired immune response or intestinal dysbiosis, respectively. Presently, treatment against COVID-19 is based on using antivirals, antibiotics to control a secondary bacterial infection, and drugs that attack the symptomatology associated with the infection, alone or combined. Furthermore, several vaccines have been approved that show variable effectiveness, through a diverse number of doses, in confronting the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants; however, this effectivity is affected by the low numbers of vaccinated individuals in developing countries, rates that could increase due to a lack of reinforcements. Considering the present situation, new alternatives with which to treat this problem have been proposed. These alternatives include probiotics, particularly immunobiotics, which can beneficially stimulate intestinal immunity and pulmonary immunity through the intestine–lung axis. Abstract COVID-19, an infection produced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in humans, has rapidly spread to become a high-mortality pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus characterized by infecting epithelial cells of the intestine and lungs, binding to the ACE2 receptor present on epithelial cells. COVID-19 treatment is based on antivirals and antibiotics against symptomatology in addition to a successful preventive strategy based on vaccination. At this point, several variants of the virus have emerged, altering the effectiveness of treatments and thereby attracting attention to several alternative therapies, including immunobiotics, to cope with the problem. This review, based on articles, patents, and an in silico analysis, aims to address our present knowledge of the COVID-19 disease, its symptomatology, and the possible beneficial effects for patients if probiotics with the characteristics of immunobiotics are used to confront this disease. Moreover, two probiotic strains, L. fermentum UCO-979C and L. rhamnosus UCO-25A, with different effects demonstrated at our laboratory, are emphasized. The point of view of this review highlights the possible benefits of probiotics, particularly those associated with immunomodulation as well as the production of secondary metabolites, and their potential targets during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
LPS Triggers Acute Neuroinflammation and Parkinsonism Involving NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway and Mitochondrial CI Dysfunction in the Rat

Whether neuroinflammation leads to dopaminergic nigrostriatal system neurodegeneration is controversial. We addressed this issue by inducing acute neuroinflammation in the substantia nigra (SN) with a single local administration (5 µg/2 µL saline solution) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Neuroinflammatory variables were assessed from 48 h to 30 days after the injury by immunostaining for activated microglia (Iba-1 +), neurotoxic A1 astrocytes (C3 + and GFAP +), and active caspase-1. We also evaluated NLRP3 activation and Il-1β levels by western blot and mitochondrial complex I (CI) activity. Fever and sickness behavior was assessed for 24 h, and motor behavior deficits were followed up until day 30. On this day, we evaluated the cellular senescence marker β-galactosidase (β-Gal) in the SN and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the SN and striatum. After LPS injection, Iba-1 (+), C3 (+), and S100A10 (+) cells were maximally present at 48 h and reached basal levels on day 30. NLRP3 activation occurred at 24 h and was followed by a rise of active caspase-1 (+), Il-1β, and decreased mitochondrial CI activity until 48 h. A significant loss of nigral TH (+) cells and striatal terminals was associated with motor deficits on day 30. The remaining TH (+) cells were β-Gal (+), suggesting senescent dopaminergic neurons. All the histopathological changes also appeared on the contralateral side. Our results show that unilaterally LPS-induced neuroinflammation can cause bilateral neurodegeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system and are relevant for understanding Parkinson’s disease (PD) neuropathology.
Model checks for regression: an innovation process approach

In the context of regression analysis it is known that the residual cusum process may serve as a basis for the construction of various omnibus, smooth and directional goodness-of-fit tests. Since a deeper analysis requires the decomposition of the cusums into their principal components and this is difficult to obtain, we propose to replace this process by its innovation martingale. It turns out that the resulting tests are (asymptotically) distribution free under composite null models and may be readily performed. A simulation study is included which indicates that the distributional approximations already work for small to moderate sample sizes.
Fast stability checking for the convex combination of stable polynomials

A fast algorithm is proposed for checking the stability of the edges of a polytope where most of the computations involved depend on the number of vertices rather than on the number of edges. This algorithm is based on the segment lemma derived by H. Chapellat et al. (1988). Although the segment lemma is an important result on its own, no explicit algorithm was given there. Some important properties of the lemma are revealed, and it is shown how they lead to a fast algorithm. In this algorithm, the major computations involved are those of solving for the positive real roots of two polynomials with degree less than or equal to n/2 for each vertex. The computations required by the algorithm are mainly vertex-dependent, and the burden of the combinatoric explosion of the number of edges is greatly reduced. >
Mathematical model of the closed-loop system of excavator bucket positioning

Purpose. Study on energy consumption of mechatronic systems of mining excavators during the full production cycle, development of energy efficiency criterium for the production cycle of mining excavators, which ensures an increase in the technical and economic indicators of the operation of powerful mining equipment. Methodology. Mathematical modeling of electro-mechanical system of “front shovel” excavator, determination indicators of the production cycle, development of the criterion of energy efficiency of the mining excavator’s operating cycle taking into account the theory of technical systems efficiency. Findings. A mathematical model of a complete electro-mechanical system of an excavator with “generator-engine” electric drive has been developed, which includes a model of the mechanical part of the excavator. The closed-loop bucket positioning system makes it possible to implement various movement trajectories during the operating cycle. Numerical characteristics of energy consumption and duration for various movement trajectories of the working bodies of the excavator are obtained. A new criterion of energy efficiency of mechatronic systems of mining excavators is proposed. Originality. For the first time, a mathematical model has been proposed of an integral electro-mechanical system of an excavator according to the “front shovel” scheme, which includes models of electric drives of all mechanisms and a synchronous drive motor, as well as a model of the mechanical part of the excavator; this makes it possible to increase the accuracy of determining the excavator’s energy consumption and the operating cycle time. A criterion of energy efficiency is proposed, which takes into account the amount of resource costs, the overall result and the duration of the excavator’s operating cycle. Practical value. A mathematical model of the electromechanical system of an excavator with an electric drive according to the “generator-motor” system has been developed, which, taking into account the solution of the direct and inverse problems of the kinematics of the mechanical system of the excavator, makes it possible to compare parameters of various trajectories of movement of the excavator. The implementation of a closed system for positioning the excavator bucket in three-dimensional space was proposed, which creates conditions for increasing the level of automation of mining excavators. A criterion of the energy efficiency of the excavator’s technological cycle is proposed, which takes into account resource costs and the technological cycle duration.
Chronic Migraine as a Primary Chronic Pain Syndrome and Recommended Prophylactic Therapeutic Options: A Literature Review

Chronic pain conditions have a high socio-economic impact and represent a burden for patients, and their management is a challenge for healthcare professionals. Chronic migraine is one of the chronic primary headache disorders, which belong to chronic primary pain syndromes as per the new concept of multiple parenting. The aims of this review were to provide an overview of the latest classification systems involving both entities, the epidemiological data, and the currently recommended prophylactic treatment options for chronic migraine. Randomized controlled clinical trials, meta-analyses, real-world data, and review articles were analyzed. Chronic migraine is a prevalent and highly burdensome disease and is associated with high headache-related disability and worsening health-related quality of life. Treatment of chronic migraine includes pharmacological or, in drug-refractory cases, non-pharmacological (e.g., neuromodulatory) approaches. Among pharmacological treatment options, injectable botulinum toxin type A and calcitonin gene-related peptide-targeting human and fully humanized monoclonal antibodies (i.e., eptinezumab, erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab) are highly recommended in the preventive treatment of chronic migraine. Novel migraine-specific therapies offer a solution for this devastating and difficult-to-treat chronic pain condition.
Robust reliable control for systems with random actuator fault and probabilistic nonlinearity with new characters

In this study, the reliable control for time‐varying systems with random actuator faults and probabilistic nonlinearities is investigated. The system under consideration has the following main features: (1) nonlinearities with new characters. The probability information of nonlinearities belonging to different varying bounds is used; (2) its multi‐actuators are subject to various possible faults/failures, and failure rates can vary in some measure; and (3) there are uncertainties in the plant model parameters. Covering these features, a comprehensive model is developed for uncertain time‐varying delay systems. By employing the Lyapunov functional method, free‐weighting matrix method, and the linear matrix inequality technique, we can obtain several delay‐distribution‐dependent sufficient conditions to ensure the exponentially mean square stability of the system. Those conditions are characterized in terms of linear matrix inequalities, and the reliable controller feedback gain can be solved by the standard numerical software. A simulation example is presented to show the effectiveness and applicability of the results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bayesian state space models with time‐varying parameters: interannual temperature forecasting

State space models with time‐varying parameters have been used to model processes displaying variations at a variety of temporal scales. We develop such models with the goal of forecasting hemispherically averaged surface temperatures at interannual time scales. To capture variations on several scales, we formulate hierarchical models for the main processes of interest conditional upon model coefficients and variances that are themselves modeled via state space models. These parameter models are allowed to have different and unknown time scales. Further, the use of covariates can aid in modeling these time‐varying covariates. Bayesian inference, including model selection, for such models is discussed. Special issues in forecasting based on models with unknown future covariates are discussed and illustrated in forecasting hemispheric surface temperatures. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measuring the impacts of AR HMD on users' situation awareness during wood frame assembly tasks

Advances in the development of Augmented Reality (AR) hardware and software allow for novel opportunities to positively influence the traditional construction industry. Recent research studied the feasibility of various AR devices for supporting construction assembly tasks, however, there is limited work examining the usability of AR head-mounted display (HMD) in relation to construction workers’ cognitive skills such as situation awareness. This study evaluated three information display types (paper blueprint, tag-along image and conformal model) during wood frame assembly of three different scales (small, medium, and large) to investigate how AR HMDs impact user’s situation awareness with respect to mental workload. Eighteen construction engineering students were recruited in a within-subjects experiment. The findings showed no significant difference in both the mental workload and the situation awareness for all three display types, suggesting that AR displays did not generate significant excessive mental burden or distractions on users in comparison to traditional paper-based information. Specifically comparing the AR displays, the results revealed that user’s mental workload was affected by field of view (FOV) restriction in AR HMD, whereas situation awareness wasn’t impacted.
Measurements of particle size distribution parameters in ferrofluids

A method is presented by means of which (for a ferrofluid with a lognormal distribution of particle size) it is possible to determine the standard deviation (σ) and median particle diameter (D v ) from the room temperature magnetisation curve. The method has been applied to several commercial ferrofluids, containing ferrite particles, and to fluids consisting of cobalt particles in toluene prepared by the method of Hess and Parker. The particle size distributions have also been measured by using an electron microscope. It has been found that the magnetic data gives estimates of the 'magnetic size distribution' parameters D vm and σ m , which differed from the 'physical size distribution' parameters D vp and σ p obtained from electron microscope data. It is found that D vp > D vm , and \sigma_{p} . These observations are consistent with the results of Kaiser and Miskolczy and Granqvist and Buhrman.
Anatomical optical coherence tomography: a safe and effective tool for quantitative long-term monitoring of upper airway size and shape

Anatomical optical coherence tomography (aOCT) is an endoscopic optical technique that enables continuous, quantitative assessment of hollow organ size and shape in three dimensions. It is a powerful alternative to X-ray computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and video endoscopy for the assessment of gross hollow-organ anatomy. This paper reviews our instrument and its application to the upper and lower airway, and includes a number of new results.
The assessment of field ionization detectors for molecular beam use

An overly simplistic but nonetheless useful model is employed to explore basic attributes of field ionization detection. The base cross-sectional detection area of a field ionization tip is set by a centrifugal barrier: molecules impinging at too high a velocity or too large an impact parameter cannot reach the tip and therefore cannot be ionized. For those that do reach the tip, the probability of ionization depends critically on whether they lose sufficient energy on their initial impact to be captured in the polarization field of the tip. Capture is enhanced if the tip radius lies well within the centrifugal barrier and the impinging species is highly polarizable. Scaling relations are developed within the context of this model, allowing recent measurements of field ionization yields to be assessed.
Imaging of Gaussian Schell-model sources

Imaging of Gaussian Schell-model sources by general lossless systems is analyzed with an extended ray-transfermatrix method. Algebraic expressions are derived for the location, size, and coherence area of the image waist and for the depth of focus and the far-field diffraction angle. These results are shown to provide a continuous transformation between laser-beam optics and geometrical optics. They also lead naturally to several equivalence and invariance relations pertaining to isotropic and anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model sources. As an application, the importance of effects due to partial spatial coherence in beam focusing is examined.
Generalized cross-validation applied to a Newton-type algorithm for microwave tomography

The non-linear inverse scattering problem, occurring in the field of microwave tomography for biomedical applications, is solved with the Newton-type iterative algorithm. This method allows the reconstruction of the complex permittivity of strongly inhomogeneous objects. An ill-conditioned system of linear equations is obtained at each iteration and is regularized using Tikhonov's method. The choice of regularization is crucial, specially when random error is present in the data. We investigate the Generalized Cross Validation method for choosing the regularization parameter. Numerical examples are given in the case of 2D TM inverse problems.
Passive recruitment reach of a lifestyle management program to address obesity in the deep south during the COVID-19 pandemic

Obesity is a significant public health concern, especially in the Deep South and in Mississippi where prevalence is among the worst in the nation paired, with other poor health outcomes and socioeconomic conditions. Lifestyle management programs that address modifiable risk factors, such as nutrition and physical activity, can be effective mitigation strategies to halt weight accumulation patterns and ameliorate metabolic risk factors for some populations. However, there is limited evidence regarding the implementation of effective practice models to address obesity risk in underserved and underrepresented populations, such as African Americans, and people in the stage of earlier adulthood. Furthermore, there is growing evidence supporting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle management programs that should be considered in these populations. The purpose of this manuscript was to describe the development and telehealth implementation of a weight management program during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide a preliminary examination of recruitment strategies and baseline characteristics for enrolled participants. Passive recruitment (social media, web, email, and other media advertisements) resulted in 157 screening initiations, and 79 of those participants met the study inclusion criteria. Further, of the 79 eligible participants, 38 completed all study enrollment requirements and presented with metabolic abnormalities. The study findings add to the emerging body of evidence for how the pandemic may have impacted lifestyle management programs and is representative of an understudied and underrepresented population.
Theoretical analysis of moiré fringe multiplication under a scanning electron microscope

In this study, theoretical analysis and experimental verification of fringe multiplication under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) are presented. Fringe multiplication can be realized by enhancing the magnification or the number of scanning lines under the SEM. A universal expression of the pitch of moiré fringes is deduced. To apply this method to deformation measurement, the calculation formulas of strain and displacement are derived. Compared to natural moiré, the displacement sensitivity is increased by fringe multiplication while the strain sensitivity may be retained or enhanced depending on the number of scanning lines used. The moiré patterns are formed by the interference of a 2000 lines mm−1 grating with the scanning lines of SEM, and the measured parameters of moiré fringes from experimental results agree well with theoretical analysis.
Natural convection in thermally stratified enclosures with localized heating from below

Natural convection flows induced by localized heating of the base of a thermally stratified enclosure are examined. The enclosure is a vertical circular cylinder with height equal to radius. The wall temperature increases linearly with height, and a small heat source is centrally located on the floor. Parameters of the problem are the ambient stratification rate (Γ−1), the Prandtl number (Pr), and a Grashof number (Gr) based on the temperature and the diameter of the heated spot. Over wide ranges of Γ and Gr, vertically layered convection cells are observed in the upper part of the enclosure in both laboratory experiments and numerical calculations. For the case of strong buoyancy and weak stratification, plume-like flows exist immediately above the heat source. Streak photographs are in qualitative accord with the numerical calculations, except for a range of Gr when an azimuthal rotation of the laboratory plume is observed. All flows are otherwise laminar. The theoretical results reveal a √Gr scaling at large Gr for the velocities and heat transfer rates, and a correlation of strongly stratified, viscous flows with the group Gr Pr Γ−1.
The Utility of Lymphatic Massage in Cosmetic Procedures

Abstract Lymphedema is a severe debilitating disease characterized by the accumulation of excessive protein-rich fluid in the interstitial space. Given the severe morbidity associated with this disease process, various surgical and nonsurgical treatment modalities have been developed to attempt to reduce the incidence and symptoms associated with lymphedema. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a component of complete decongestive therapy on-surgical treatment which has demonstrated benefit in reducing the development of lymphedema following surgery. Here we provide a review of literature on MLD and its potential mechanism of action. This paper aims to educate patients, physicians, and surgeons about MLD regarding its efficacy and utility in the treatment paradigm for lymphedema and to translate concepts from the treatment of lymphedema to cosmetic procedures. Level of Evidence: 5
Roles of spin fluctuation and frustration in the superconductivity of β-(BDA-TTP) 2 X (X=SbF 6 ,AsF 6 ) under uniaxial compression

$\ensuremath{\beta}$-type BDA-TTP [$\text{BDA-TTP}=2,5$-bis(1,3-dithian-2-ylidene)-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene] salts possess high transition temperatures ${T}_{C}$ reaching 7 K among organic superconductors. ${T}_{C}$ of $\ensuremath{\beta}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{(\text{BDA-TTP})}_{2}X$ $(X={\text{SbF}}_{6},{\text{AsF}}_{6})$ is studied by resistive measurements under uniaxial compression. ${T}_{C}$ once increases and takes a maximum under compression parallel to the donor stack while it decreases under compression perpendicular to the donor stack. These results are in agreement with the half-filled Hubbard model on the triangular lattice in which the compression controls the spin fluctuation and frustration in the weak pressure region.