Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Difference between PC-Based and Immersive Virtual Reality Food Purchase Environments on Useability, Presence, and Physiological Responses

Computer simulations used to study food purchasing behavior can be separated into low immersion virtual environments (LIVE), which use personal computers and standard monitors to display a scene, and high immersion virtual environments (HIVE) which use virtual reality technology such as head-mounted displays to display a scene. These methods may differ in their ability to create feelings of presence or cybersickness that would influence the usefulness of these approaches. In this present study, thirty-one adults experienced a virtual supermarket or fast-food restaurant using a LIVE system or a HIVE system. Feelings of presence and cybersickness were measured using questionnaires or physiological responses (heart rate and electrodermal activity). The participants were also asked to rate their ability to complete the set task. The results of this study indicate that participants reported a higher sense of presence in the HIVE scenes as compared to the LIVE scenes (p < 0.05). The participant’s heart rate and electrodermal activity were significantly higher in the HIVE scene treatment when compared to the LIVE scene (p < 0.05). There was no difference in the participant’s ability to complete tasks in the different scenes. In addition, feelings of cybersickness were not different between the HIVE and LIVE scenes.
Generation of high-order orbital angular momentum beams and split beams simultaneously by employing anisotropic coding metasurfaces

Metasurfaces provide the freedom to manipulate electromagnetic (EM) waves by controlling the peculiarity of subwavelength artificial structures. Many exciting devices have been developed using metasurfaces that can even perform multiple functionalities. In this paper, we propose to transform linearly polarized EM waves into high-order orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams and specifically reflected split beams for different polarizations based on anisotropic coding metasurfaces. By means of precisely adjusting the geometry of the element structure, the reflection phases of two perpendicular polarizations can be encoded without interference, which is conductive to encode the metasurfaces independently in two different directions. Under this benefit, two kinds of 2-bit phase-coded metasurfaces are constructed and verified by experiments to demonstrate their versatility of generating effective high-order OAM beams and specified reflected split beams, respectively. Beyond that, by adjusting the coding scheme, more features can be implemented under this merit.
Implementation of Artificial Synapse Using IGZO-Based Resistive Switching Device

In this study, we present the resistive switching characteristics and the emulation of a biological synapse using the ITO/IGZO/TaN device. The device demonstrates efficient energy consumption, featuring low current resistive switching with minimal set and reset voltages. Furthermore, we establish that the device exhibits typical bipolar resistive switching with the coexistence of non-volatile and volatile memory properties by controlling the compliance during resistive switching phenomena. Utilizing the IGZO-based RRAM device with an appropriate pulse scheme, we emulate a biological synapse based on its electrical properties. Our assessments include potentiation and depression, a pattern recognition system based on neural networks, paired-pulse facilitation, excitatory post-synaptic current, and spike-amplitude dependent plasticity. These assessments confirm the device’s effective emulation of a biological synapse, incorporating both volatile and non-volatile functions. Furthermore, through spike-rate dependent plasticity and spike-timing dependent plasticity of the Hebbian learning rules, high-order synapse imitation was done.
Methylene Blue Metabolic Therapy Restrains In Vivo Ovarian Tumor Growth

Simple Summary This study confirms the potential of methylene blue (MB) in treatment strategies for ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer cells taken from patients were inserted into mice, and their growth was followed together with mouse health. Our findings revealed MB’s ability to impede ovarian cancer progression, especially against tumors showing resistance to conventional chemotherapies. By investigating the effects of MB on cancer cell behavior and metabolism, this research revealed novel therapeutic targets for affecting tumor growth. These insights suggest that MB could be a valuable complementary therapeutic to existing treatments or an alternative for patients facing limited options. This research thus opens new avenues for developing targeted therapies that can remotely control cancer cell development. Abstract Ovarian cancer remains a significant challenge, especially in platinum-resistant cases where treatment options are limited. In this study, we investigated the potential of methylene blue (MB) as a metabolic therapy and complementary treatment approach for ovarian cancer. Our findings demonstrated a significant in vivo reduction in the proliferation of TOV112D-based ovarian-cell-line xenografts. In this preclinical study, which used a carboplatin-resistant ovarian cancer tumor model implanted into mice, MB-mediated metabolic therapy exhibited superior tumor slowdown compared to carboplatin treatment alone. This indicates, for the first time, MB’s potential as an alternative or adjuvant treatment, especially for resistant cases. Our in vitro study on TOV112D and ARPE-19 sheds light on the impact of such an MB-based metabolic therapy on mitochondrial energetics (respiration and membrane potential). MB showed a modulatory role in the oxygen consumption rate and the mitochondrial membrane potential. These results revealed, for the first time, that MB specifically targets TOV112D mitochondria and probably induces cell apoptosis. The differential response of normal (ARPE-19) and cancer (TOV112D) cells to the MB treatment suggests potential alterations in cancer cell mitochondria, opening avenues for therapeutic approaches that target the mitochondria. Overall, our findings suggest the efficacy of MB as a possible treatment for ovarian cancer and provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of methylene blue metabolic therapy in ovarian cancer treatment.
Numerical analysis of settlement and bearing behaviour of piled raft in Babol clay

Piled raft foundations are the composite construction of a spread foundation and a few number of piles that are usually used in soft soils to compensate the weakness of a raft in satisfying the design requirements. Due to the complex behaviour of piled raft, it is necessary to take into account a number of factors such as pile geometry and arrangement, raft thicknesses, soil properties and loading condition in the design. In this study, a parametric study has been conducted by a three-dimensional finite-element method considering the full interaction between the components of piled raft foundation. The underlying soil consists of Babol clay in drained condition with various stiffness and plasticity, determined from the results of a geotechnical investigation. The results of numerical analyses show that the bearing capacity of piled raft obviously increases with increasing pile length, pile spacing and raft thickness, especially in stiff clay. The effect of load type is more significant for the differentia.
Advances in functional coatings on biliary stents

Abstract Biliary stenting is an important interventional method for the prevention and treatment of biliary tract diseases. However, complications, such as postoperative biliary infection and restenosis, frequently occur due to the extensive scope of the biliary system and the complex composition of bile. The combination of coating technology and biliary stents is expected to bring new approaches to the solution of these problems. The cutting-edge advance on functional coatings on biliary stents is reviewed from seven perspectives: anticorrosion, -bacterial, -tumor, stone-dissolving, X-ray visibility, antistent migration and functional composite coatings. The development trend is also discussed. Overall, the performance of the numerous functional coatings for various purposes is generally up to expectations, but the balance between the medications’ effectiveness and their safety needs to be further adjusted. Many contemporary investigations have advanced to the level of animal experiments, offering crucial fundamental assurance for broader human studies. The combination of biliary stents and functional coatings is an innovative idea with great potential for future development.
Cofilin Inhibitor Improves Neurological and Cognitive Functions after Intracerebral Hemorrhage by Suppressing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Related-Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a crucial factor that determines the extent of the injury. Cofilin is a cytoskeleton-associated protein that drives neuroinflammation and microglia activation. A novel cofilin inhibitor (CI) synthesized and developed in our lab has turned out to be a potential therapeutic agent for targeting cofilin-mediated neuroinflammation in an in vitro model of ICH and traumatic brain injury. The current study aims to examine the therapeutic potential of CI in a mouse collagenase model of ICH and examine the neurobehavioral outcomes and its mechanism of action. Male mice were subjected to intrastriatal collagenase injection to induce ICH, and sham mice received needle insertion. Various concentrations (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) of CI were administered to different cohorts of the animals as a single intravenous injection 3 h following ICH and intraperitoneally every 12 h for 3 days. The animals were tested for neurobehavioral parameters for up to 7 days and sacrificed to collect brains for hematoma volume measurement, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Blood was collected for cofilin, TNF-α, and IL-1β assessments. The results indicated that 50 mg/kg CI improved neurological outcomes, reversed post-stroke cognitive impairment, accelerated hematoma resolution, mitigated cofilin rods/aggregates, and reduced microglial and astrocyte activation in mice with ICH. Microglia morphological analysis demonstrated that CI restored the homeostasis ramification pattern of microglia in mice treated with CI. CI suppressed endoplasmic reticulum stress-related neuroinflammation by inhibiting inflammasomes and cell death signaling pathways. We also showed that CI prevented synaptic loss by reviving the pre- and post-synaptic markers. Our results unveil a novel therapeutic approach to treating ICH and open a window for using CI in clinical practice.
Correlative Study of Sperm Motility and Mitochondrial Membrane Potential by Fluorescent Staining: First Application in Iraqi Centers

Background: Sperm motility is an essential factor in ensuring the fertility of males. Sperm mitochondria play a signiﬁcant role in the generation of energy as well as the metabolism of sperm. The mitochondria nucleolus is essential for several sperm activities, such as sperm capping, hyperactivation, acrosome reactions, and oocyte fusion. Therefore, as the mitochondria are the basic regulators of sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) is used to assess the mitochondrial activity and integrity of sperm. This is evaluated by examination of MMP, which may be achieved by using ﬂuorescent dyes like the JC-1 probe. Objectives: To examine the correlation between MMP and sperm motility. Materials and methods: This study included semen samples of 60 males that were separated into two groups: 30 normomozoospermic and 30 asthenozoospermic. The samples were collected in the infertility clinic at the High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Al-Nahrain University and Um Al-Banin Center for management and in vitro fertilization. The collected samples were processed for seminal ﬂuid analysis and evaluated according to the recommendations of WHO 2021 using an MMP-Assay kit with JC-1 dye and examined by ﬂuorescent microscope for evaluation. Results: A positive signiﬁcant correlation between subjects sperms motility percentage and active red-ﬂuorescence MMP intensity (Red MMP) (P-value , 0.05, r = 0.406; P-value = 0.008). The MMP or activity plays an essential role in sperm motility and male fertility. The red MMP values in subjects with normal sperm motility were 10.22 ± 1.54 and showed a relatively higher reading in comparison to those readings of subjects group with low sperms motility (4.70 ± 0.91). Subjects with normal sperm motility showed a high MMP intensity (P-value = 0.004). Conclusion: Normal MMP is crucial for normal sperm motility. The sperm motility is proportionate to the MMP, or activity.
Data-Efficient Reinforcement Learning for Variable Impedance Control

One of the most crucial steps toward achieving human-like manipulation skills in robots is to incorporate compliance into the robot controller. Compliance not only makes the robot’s behaviour safe but also makes it more energy efficient. In this direction, the variable impedance control (VIC) approach provides a framework for a robot to adapt its compliance during execution by employing an adaptive impedance law. Nevertheless, autonomously adapting the compliance profile as demanded by the task remains a challenging problem to be solved in practice. In this work, we introduce a reinforcement learning (RL)-based approach called DEVILC (Data-Efficient Variable Impedance Learning Controller) to learn the variable impedance controller through real-world interaction of the robot. More concretely, we use a model-based RL approach in which, after every interaction, the robot iteratively learns a probabilistic model of its dynamics using the Gaussian process regression model. The model is then used to optimize a neural-network policy that modulates the robot’s impedance such that the long-term reward for the task is maximized. Thanks to the model-based RL framework, DEVILC allows a robot to learn the VIC policy with only a few interactions, making it practical for real-world applications. In simulations and experiments, we evaluate DEVILC on a Franka Emika Panda robotic manipulator for different manipulation tasks in the Cartesian space. The results show that DEVILC is a promising direction toward autonomously learning compliant manipulation skills directly in the real world through interactions. A video of the experiments is available in the link: https://youtu.be/_uyr0Vye5no.
[The theory of multiple intelligences: a suitable neurocognitive context for the neuropsychological hypotheses on the factors and mechanisms of superiority].

OBJECTIVES The aim of this article is to relate two theories regarding the structure of the human mind. We suggest that the theory of multiple intelligences, a neurocognitive theory of the psychologist Howard Garnerd provides a suitable context for theoretical understanding and validation of the hypothesis of the pathology of superiority, a neuropsychological hypothesis formulated by the neuropsychologists Norman Geschwind and Albert Galaburda. Similarly, we show that, apart from being a context, the first theory enriches the second. DEVELOPMENT We review the essential elements of both theories together with the arguments for them so that the reader may judge for himself. Similarly we review the factors determining intelligence; the association between neuropathology and intellectual dysfunction, general and specific, and the new directions in the understanding of human cognition. CONCLUSIONS We propose to consider the first theory as a fertile ambit and broad methodological framework for investigation in neuropsychology. This simultaneously shows the relevance of including neuropsychological investigation in broader cognitive and neuropsychological theories and models.
Non-Contrast-Enhanced Multiparametric MRI of the Hypoxic Tumor Microenvironment Allows Molecular Subtyping of Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study

Simple Summary Breast cancer, the second-leading cause of mortality among women worldwide, is often diagnosed through invasive tissue sampling. This method may not fully represent the tumor’s overall physiology, potentially leading to suboptimal treatment strategies and tumor recurrence. A non-invasive approach using MRI to quantify the hypoxic environment within the tumor could significantly enhance the accuracy of breast-cancer-subtype prediction. Our study introduces non-invasive imaging markers for hypoxia and related angiogenesis, utilizing hyperoxic-blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD)-MRI and intravoxel-incoherent-motion (IVIM)-MRI techniques. These markers correlate with microvessel density and maturity as assessed by histology, enabling the distinction between the less aggressive luminal A and the more aggressive triple-negative breast cancers. Abstract Tumor neoangiogenesis is an important hallmark of cancer progression, triggered by alternating selective pressures from the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Non-invasive, non-contrast-enhanced multiparametric MRI combining blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) MRI, which depicts blood oxygen saturation, and intravoxel-incoherent-motion (IVIM) MRI, which captures intravascular and extravascular diffusion, can provide insights into tumor oxygenation and neovascularization simultaneously. Our objective was to identify imaging markers that can predict hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and to validate our findings using multiplexed immunohistochemical analyses. We present an in vivo study involving 36 female athymic nude mice inoculated with luminal A, Her2+, and triple-negative breast cancer cells. We used a high-field 9.4-tesla MRI system for imaging and subsequently analyzed the tumors using multiplex immunohistochemistry for CD-31, PDGFR-β, and Hif1-α. We found that the hyperoxic-BOLD-MRI-derived parameter ΔR2* discriminated luminal A from Her2+ and triple-negative breast cancers, while the IVIM-derived parameter fIVIM discriminated luminal A and Her2+ from triple-negative breast cancers. A comprehensive analysis using principal-component analysis of both multiparametric MRI- and mpIHC-derived data highlighted the differences between triple-negative and luminal A breast cancers. We conclude that multiparametric MRI combining hyperoxic BOLD MRI and IVIM MRI, without the need for contrast agents, offers promising non-invasive markers for evaluating hypoxia-induced angiogenesis.
Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Delivering a DNA Vaccine Encoding Helicobacter pylori Urease A Subunit: Immune Analyses before and after a Mouse Model of Infection

In this study, novel solid lipid particles containing the adjuvant lipid monophosphoryl lipid A (termed ‘SLN-A’) were synthesised. The SLN-A particles were able to efficiently bind and form complexes with a DNA vaccine encoding the urease alpha subunit of Helicobacter pylori. The resultant nanoparticles were termed lipoplex-A. In a mouse model of H. pylori infection, the lipoplex-A nanoparticles were used to immunise mice, and the resultant immune responses were analysed. It was found that the lipoplex-A vaccine was able to induce high levels of antigen-specific antibodies and an influx of gastric CD4+ T cells in vaccinated mice. In particular, a prime with lipoplex-A and a boost with soluble UreA protein induced significantly high levels of the IgG1 antibody, whereas two doses of lipoplex-A induced high levels of the IgG2c antibody. In this study, lipoplex-A vaccination did not lead to a significant reduction in H. pylori colonisation in a challenge model; however, these results point to the utility of the system for delivering DNA vaccine-encoded antigens to induce immune responses and suggest the ability to tailor those responses.
Denitrification in Accidental Urban Wetlands: Exploring the Roles of Water Flows and Plant Patches

Denitrification is an ecosystem process that permanently removes reactive nitrogen from systems. Much research on denitrification has occurred in non-urban or highly managed urban wetlands. However, in urban landscapes nitrogen-rich water is often discharged into areas not designed or managed to reduce nitrate loads. “Accidental” wetlands resulting from these discharges may have the capacity to remove nitrate, but are subject to unique hydrologic and soil conditions that could create unexpected spatial and temporal patterns of denitrification. My objective for this study was to examine the relative importance of hydrologic regime as a large-scale driver, and plant patches as small-scale driver of spatial and temporal patterns of denitrification in accidental urban wetlands. I measured potential denitrification (DNP) on soils from nine wetlands forming at storm drain outfalls in Phoenix, AZ. Wetland sites were categorized into three hydroperiods: perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral (inundated >90%, 50 to 85%, and 10 to 30% of the year respectively). To assess spatial variation of DNP, I collected samples from two to four dominant vegetation patch types within each wetland. To assess temporal variation of DNP, samples were also collected during three seasons differing in
Secondary Data in Mixed Methods Research

The ability to effectively utilize secondary data in mixed methods research is becoming increasingly important. This two-day workshop, led by Daphne C. Watkins, is designed to equip PhD students, professors, and professional researchers with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate this complex landscape. An official Instats certificate of completion is provided at the conclusion of the seminar.
Multiscale imaging of corneal endothelium damage and Rho-kinase inhibitor application in mouse models of acute ocular hypertension

We developed a multiscale optical imaging workflow, integrating and correlating visible-light optical coherence tomography, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and single-molecule localization microscopy to investigate mouse cornea damage from the in-vivo tissue level to the nanoscopic single-molecule level. We used electron microscopy to validate the imaged nanoscopic structures. We imaged wild-type mice and mice with acute ocular hypertension and examined the effects of Rho-kinase inhibitor application. We defined four types of intercellular tight junction structures as healthy, compact, partially-distorted, and fully-distorted types by labeling the zonula occludens-1 protein in the corneal endothelial cell layer. We correlated the statistics of the four types of tight junction structures with cornea thickness and intraocular pressure. We found that the population of fully-distorted tight junctions correlated well with the level of corneal edema, and applying Rho-kinase inhibitor reduced the population of fully-distorted tight junctions under acute ocular hypertension. Together, these data point to the utility of multiscale optical imaging in revealing fundamental biology relevant to disease and therapeutics.