Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electroacupuncture Promotes Neuroplasticity of Central Auditory Pathway: An Auditory Evoked Potentials Study

Our previous studies found that electroacupuncture at the right Zhongzhu acupoint (TE3) can enhance auditory recovery in rats with noise-induced hearing loss. Here, we investigated the changes in auditory brainstem response (ABR) and long late latency (LLR) evoked potential to explain the mechanisms of electroacupuncture at TE3. The auditory evoked potentials were recorded, including ABR and LLR, at baseline and on day 3 (D3), D5, and D8 after baseline. The 2-Hz electroacupuncture at the right TE3 was applied on D3, D4, and D5 in the electroacupuncture group but not in the control group. In ABR, compared with the control group, the latency shift of waves I (0.298 ± 0.033 vs −0.045 ± 0.057 ms), III (0.718 ± 0.038 vs −0.163 ± 0.130 ms), and V (1.160 ± 0.082 vs −0.207 ± 0.138 ms) on D3 (all p < 0.01) and of wave V (0.616 ± 0.433 vs −0.352 ± 0.209 ms, p < 0.05) on D5 was greater in the electroacupuncture group than that in the control group. Moreover, the interpeak latency shift of I–III (0.420 ± 0.041 vs −0.118 ± 0.177 ms) and I–V (0.863 ± 0.088 vs −0.162 ± 0.156 ms) on D3 (both p < 0.05) and of III–V (0.342 ± 0.193 vs −0.190 ± 0.110 ms) and I–V (0.540 ± 0.352 vs −0.343 ± 0.184 ms) on D5 (both p < 0.05) was greater in the electroacupuncture group than that in the control group. In LLR, the latency shift of P0 was greater in the electroacupuncture group than in the control group on D3 (3.956 ± 2.975 vs −1.178 ± 1.358 ms, p < 0.01) and D5 (2.200 ± 1.889 vs −0.311 ± 1.078 ms, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that electroacupuncture at the right TE3 can modulate the neuroplasticity of the central auditory pathway, including the brain stem and the primary and secondary auditory cortex.
Variational study of H- and He in strong magnetic fields

Two-electron systems in strong magnetic fields (>or=1 MT) are studied with a simple Slater-determinant basis which allows different types of configuration mixing. Variational energies of the lowest singlet and triplet bound states are obtained for values 0 to -2 of the magnetic quantum number. They improve previous results and show the importance of correlations. The order of the -2T+ and -2S+ states is found to be different in the H- and He spectra.
InP in HBTs by vertical and lateral wet etching

We present a study of the vertical and lateral etching of InP with the mask sides parallel to the [0,0,1] and [0,1,0] crystal orientations using HCl:H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/-based solutions. This etch is used to fabricate self-aligned emitter-up and collector-up HBT structures with reduced parasitic resistances and capacitances. The techniques presented are also applicable to double-heterojunction HBTs. The etch rate, homogeneity and surface quality are presented as a function of HCl concentration and solution temperature. The present etching technique was used to fabricate fully self-aligned emitter-up and collector-up InP/InGaAs HBTs. The minimum distance between the base contact and the emitter active area for self-aligned emitter-up HBTs is <0.3 /spl mu/m. In collector-up HBTs, emitter widths as small as 0.5 /spl mu/m were formed by lateral etching with a relative area fluctuation less than 10%.
Molecule(s) of Interest: I. Ionic Liquids–Gateway to Newer Nanotechnology Applications: Advanced Nanobiotechnical Uses’, Current Status, Emerging Trends, Challenges, and Prospects

Ionic liquids are a potent class of organic compounds exhibiting unique physico-chemical properties and structural compositions that are different from the classical dipolar organic liquids. These molecules have found diverse applications in different chemical, biochemical, biophysical fields, and a number of industrial usages. The ionic liquids-based products and procedural applications are being developed for a number of newer industrial purposes, and academic uses in nanotechnology related procedures, processes, and products, especially in nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine. The current article overviews their uses in different fields, including applications, functions, and as parts of products and processes at primary and advanced levels. The application and product examples, and prospects in various fields of nanotechnology, domains of nanosystem syntheses, nano-scale product development, the process of membrane filtering, biofilm formation, and bio-separations are prominently discussed. The applications in carbon nanotubes; quantum dots; and drug, gene, and other payload delivery vehicle developments in the nanobiotechnology field are also covered. The broader scopes of applications of ionic liquids, future developmental possibilities in chemistry and different bio-aspects, promises in the newer genres of nanobiotechnology products, certain bioprocesses controls, and toxicity, together with emerging trends, challenges, and prospects are also elaborated.
Mach Number and Temperature Effects on Jets

M were carried out in a round jet over a range of exit Mach numbers from 0.3 to 1.7 and exit-toambient temperature ratios of 0.8 to 2.3 using a laser velocimeter. Mean velocities and turbulence intensities were measured and their distributions in the radial and axial directions were obtained. A systematic study was made of the changes in the distributions as the jet Mach number and temperature ratio were varied progressively. Attempts to reduce the many radial and centerline distributions of given quantities, obtained at various jet exit conditions, to universal curves proved to be successful and empirical formulae were derived to describe these curves.
Fatty acid and amino acid profiling of chia seeds and physicochemical characterisation of chia seeds oil

The study analysed the fatty and amino acid compositions of chia seeds and the physicochemical characterisation of chia seeds oil. The quantification of amino and fatty acids was done using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionisation detector (GC-FID). The amino acids from chia seeds were leucine, valine, phenylalanine, lysine, isoleucine, threonine, histidine, and methionine with 1.63, 1.37, 1.34, 1.14, 0.98, 0.98, 0.88 and 0.81 g/100 g, respectively. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were 3.95 and 30.48%, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean ratio of Omega 6/Omega 3 fatty acids was 0.333. The established physicochemical characteristics of CSO were acid value 2.63 mg KOH/g, peroxide value 6.23 meq active oxygen/kg, iodine value 200.721 g I 2 /100 g, saponification value 193.345 mg KOH/g, refractive index 1.454 at 40°C relative density 0.8824 g/cm 3 at 20°C and specific gravity 0.882 at 40°C. The fatty acid and amino acid profiling of chia seeds revealed the presence of an appreciable amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and essential amino acids. The physicochemical characteristics of CSO constitute a drying oil category that requires timely usage and proper storage condition to reduce rancidity from air or light exposure.
Modeling academic performance through personality traits, self efficacy, disaffection among university students

PurposeStudents’ performance in academic settings, to a great extent, is an outcome of personal determinants of individuals. So, it becomes necessary to understand the role of personality traits in gaining desired academic outcomes. This investigation attempts to study some selected personality traits’ contribution to students’ self-efficacy and disaffection and the further impact of these two variables on academic performance.Design/methodology/approachTo attain the target of the study, a sample of 455 university students from state-owned universities of Haryana, India, has been drawn based on the snowball sampling technique. The researcher used Google Forms to collect primary data. The structure equation modeling technique has been applied to analyze the relation between studied variables.FindingsFindings of the study showed a significant positive association of personality traits named agreeableness, conscientiousness and extraversion with self-efficacy that further contributes to academic performance. Also, students’ agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively associated with students’ disaffection, discouraging an individual’s academic performance. Extraversion did not show any significant association with students’ disaffection.Originality/valueStudies are available exploring variables like personality traits, student disaffection and self-efficacy. This study attempts to study all these variables together to understand their impact on academic performance.
Genetic dissection of the soybean dwarf mutant dm with integrated genomic, transcriptomic and methylomic analyses

Plant height affects crop production and breeding practices, while genetic control of dwarfism draws a broad interest of researchers. Dwarfism in soybean (Glycine max) is mainly unexplored. Here, we characterized a dwarf mutant dm screened from ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutated seeds of the soybean cultivar Zhongpin 661(ZP). Phenotypically, dm showed shorter and thinner stems, smaller leaves, and more nodes than ZP under greenhouse conditions. Genetically, whole-genome sequencing and comparison revealed that 210K variants of SNPs and InDel in ZP relative to the soybean reference genome Williams82, and EMS mutagenesis affected 636 genes with variants predicted to have a large impact on protein function in dm. Whole-genome methylation sequencing found 704 differentially methylated regions in dm. Further whole-genome RNA-Seq based transcriptomic comparison between ZP and dm leaves revealed 687 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 263 up-regulated and 424 down-regulated genes. Integrated omics analyses revealed 11 genes with both differential expressions and DNA variants, one gene with differential expression and differential methylation, and three genes with differential methylation and sequence variation, worthy of future investigation. Genes in cellulose, fatty acids, and energy-associated processes could be the key candidate genes for the dwarf phenotype. This study provides genetic clues for further understanding of the genetic control of dwarfism in soybean. The genetic resources could help to inbreed new cultivars with a desirable dwarf characteristic.
The spirit of capitalism, investment, and consumption smoothing

We extend the standard real options approach to analyse the interdependence of investment and consumption decisions by incorporating the spirit of capitalism. For investment, when investment payoff is given as a lump-sum payment, the spirit of capitalism erodes the option value to invest and speeds up investment. However, for a flow investment payoff, the spirit of capitalism encourages the agent to postpone investing since the project value after investment is less than the option value before investment. The results on the investment timing are robust to alternative specifications of the payoff process. For consumption, the agent tends to consume less in the presence of the capitalist spirit. Finally, the time-series properties of consumption and welfare implications of the spirit of capitalism are analysed.
The Hubble Space Telescope Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale. XXI. The Cepheid Distance to NGC 1425

The distance to NGC 1425 has been derived from Cepheid variables, as part of the Hubble Space Telescope Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale. Thirteen F555W (V) and eight F814W (I) epochs of cosmic-ray-split Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 observations were obtained. Twenty-nine Cepheids were discovered, with periods ranging from 16 to 63 days. Adopting a Large Magellanic Cloud distance modulus and extinction of 18.50 ± 0.10 mag and E(V-I) = 0.13 mag, respectively, a true reddening-corrected distance modulus (based on an analysis employing the ALLFRAME software package) of 31.73 ± 0.16 (random) ± 0.17 (systematic) mag was determined for NGC 1425. The corresponding distance of 22.2 ± 1.0 (random) ± 1.0 (systematic) Mpc is in satisfactory agreement with that found with an independent analysis based on the DoPHOT photometry package.
Adaptive Fault-Tolerant Control for Open-Circuit Faults in Dual Three-Phase PMSM Drives

The traditional fault-tolerant procedure usually comprises fault detection and fault tolerance. Fault detection is adopted to locate the specific fault, which increases the complexity and misdiagnosis risk of fault-tolerant systems. This article introduced an adaptive fault-tolerant control for open-phase faults and open-switch faults in dual three-phase permanent magnetic synchronous machine (PMSM) drives. The proposed fault-tolerant scheme is fulfilled by going through three operation states: healthy operation, transient xy open-loop faulty operation, and fault-tolerant operation. The angle of fault-tolerant reference currents on xy plane is obtained from the transient xy open-loop faulty operation. Unified fault-tolerant reference currents of open-circuit faults are built up by using the above reference angle. After the open-circuit faults occur, the unified fault-tolerant reference currents are directly applied to the drive system without fault localization. Experimental results demonstrate a very smooth switching capability of the developed adaptive fault-tolerant control from the faulty operation to the fault-tolerant operation without extra hardware.
Quadratic Exponential Semimartingales and Application to BSDEs with jumps

In this paper, we study a class of Quadratic Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (QBSDE in short) with jumps and unbounded terminal condition. We extend the class of quadratic semimartingales introduced by Barrieu and El Karoui (2013) in the jump diffusion model. The properties of these class of semimartingales lead us to prove existence result for the solution of a quadratic BSDEs.
Method of calculation of non-linear optical response of multiple quantum wells

A theoretical study of the linear and non-linear local field inside multiple quantum wells (MQW) structure is undertaken. The electromagnetic response of a single quantum well of the structure is analyzed on the basis of the integral equation for the local-field inside the well. Both linear and non-linear optical response of MQW structure is described within the generalized transfer-matrix formalism. An example of matrix calculation for a well with a factorable conductivity tensor is considered.
Research Progress and Improvement Ideas of Anti-Epidemic Resilience in China’s Urban Communities

In the post-epidemic era, China’s urban communities are at the forefront of implementing the whole chain of accurate epidemic prevention and control. However, the uncertainty of COVID-19, the loopholes in community management and people’s overly optimistic judgment of the epidemic have led to the frequent rebound of the epidemic and serious consequences. Existing studies have not yet formed a panoramic framework of community anti-epidemic work under the concept of resilience. Therefore, this article first summarizes the current research progress of resilient communities from three perspectives, including ideas and perspectives, theories and frameworks and methods and means, and summarizes the gap of the current research. Then, an innovative idea on the epidemic resilience of urban communities in China is put forward: (1) the evolution mechanism of community anti-epidemic resilience is described through the change law of dynamic networks; (2) the anti-epidemic resilience of urban communities is evaluated or predicted through the measurement criteria; (3) a simulation platform based on Multi-Agent and dynamic Bayesian networks simulates the interactive relationship between “epidemic disturbance–cost constraint-–epidemic resilience”; (4) the anti-epidemic strategies are output intelligently to provide community managers with decision-making opinions on community epidemic prevention and control.
Enhancement of absorption and resistance of motion utilizing a multi-channel opto-electronic sensor to effectively monitor physiological signs during sport exercise

This study presents an effective engineering approach for human vital signs monitoring as increasingly demanded by personal healthcare. The aim of this work is to study how to capture critical physiological parameters efficiently through a well-constructed electronic system and a robust multi-channel opto-electronic patch sensor (OEPS), together with a wireless communication. A unique design comprising multi-wavelength illumination sources and a rapid response photo sensor with a 3-axis accelerometer enables to recover pulsatile features, compensate motion and increase signal-to-noise ratio. An approved protocol with designated tests was implemented at Loughborough University a UK leader in sport and exercise assessment. The results of sport physiological effects were extracted from the datasets of physical movements, i.e. sitting, standing, waking, running and cycling. t-test, Bland-Altman and correlation analysis were applied to evaluate the performance of the OEPS system against Acti-Graph and Mio-Alpha.There was no difference in heart rate measured using OEPS and both Acti-Graph and Mio-Alpha (both p<0.05). Strong correlations were observed between HR measured from the OEPS and both the Acti-graph and Mio-Alpha (r = 0.96, p<0.001). Bland-Altman analysis for the Acti-Graph and OEPS found the bias 0.85 bpm, the standard deviation 9.20 bpm, and the limits of agreement (LOA) -17.18 bpm to +18.88 bpm for lower and upper limits of agreement respectively, for the Mio-Alpha and OEPS the bias is 1.63 bpm, standard deviation SD8.62 bpm, lower and upper limits of agreement, - 15.27 bpm and +18.58 bpm respectively. The OEPS demonstrates a real time, robust and remote monitoring of cardiovascular function.
Consumer Acceptance of Alternative Proteins: A Systematic Review of Current Alternative Protein Sources and Interventions Adapted to Increase Their Acceptability

Conventional meat consumption has triggered an environmental burden along with effects on different disease spectrums according to existing research. The dietary patterns adopted by consumers significantly impact both planetary and individual health. Interventions are needed to support the protein transition. However, there is not yet an overview of interventions towards acceptance of novel proteins available. This systemic review highlights different varieties of alternative proteins and interventions adopted to increase the acceptance of alternative protein sources. Educational intervention, persuasion, training, and modeling approaches are summarized in this review. Furthermore, behavioral models triggering the consumer’s response towards different alternative proteins are also discussed. The systemic review highlights that consumer acceptance varies among different alternative proteins. Food choice motives, familiarity, food neophobia, disgust, and cultural norms are among the various drivers of consumer acceptance. A comparison of these drivers indicates inconsistencies, presenting the need for future research.
Pillowcase covers: counting Feynman-like graphs associated with quadratic differentials

We prove the quasimodularity of generating functions for counting pillowcase covers, with and without Siegel-Veech weight. Similar to prior work on torus covers, the proof is based on analyzing decompositions of half-translation surfaces into horizontal cylinders. It provides an alternative proof of the quasimodularity results of Eskin-Okounkov and a practical method to compute area Siegel-Veech constants. A main new technical tool is a quasi-polynomiality result for 2-orbifold Hurwitz numbers with completed cycles.
Highly Intelligible Speech Synthesis for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients Based on Model Adaptation

Recently, speech signal processing technology has been used to assist people with disabilities, and the demand for such technology is increasing. In this study, we focus on spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients. SMA is a neuromuscular disease. Those with this disease have speech that is unclear compared to that of normal subjects which results from the use of a ventilator af-ter a tracheotomy and from the atrophy of muscles that move the mouth, etc. Therefore, it is difficult to understand what they are saying, making communication difficult. In this paper, we analyze the speech of people with SMA and propose a text-to-speech (TTS) system to aid in communication. The proposed system uses an approach that adapts a TTS model pre-trained using normal speech to speech of a person with SMA. This system can synthesize speech having both of intelligibility derived from normal speech and individuality derived from the speech of the target subject with SMA.
Physiological and transcriptomic analysis of antioxidant mechanisms in sweet sorghum seedling leaves in response to single and combined drought and salinity stress

ABSTRACT The effects of drought, salinity, and combined stress on ROS and ROS metabolic physiology and transcriptomics in sweet sorghum seedling leaves were evaluated. The results showed that drought stress had little effect on photosynthesis, while the SOD activity, CAT activity, and the expression of their related genes were elevated in leaves, but no excessive accumulation of O2 -, H2O2, or -OH was observed. Under salinity stress, photosynthesis was inhibited, the O2 -, H2O2 and -OH contents increased significantly, and the SOD, POD, CAT activities and the expression of their related genes in leaves were elevated. Under combined stress, photosynthesis was significantly inhibited, the highest accumulation of O2 -, H2O2 and -OH contents occurred, and the SOD and POD activities and the expression of related genes in leaves were significantly increased, but the CAT was significantly decreased. These results collectively indicate that oxidative damage to sweet sorghum seedling leaves was higher with combined stress than with either drought or salinity stress alone. Under combined stress the SOD and POD activities were increased, but the CAT activity in the AsA-GSH cycle was severely reduced, demonstrating that antioxidant mechanisms in seedlings did not play a normal protective role, leaving the plants severely damaged by oxidative stress. Abbreviations: AsA: Ascorbic acid; APX: Ascorbate peroxidase; CAT: Catalase; Chl a: Chlorophyll a; Chl b: Chlorophyll b; Ci: Intercellular CO2 concentration; DHAR: Dehydroascorbate reductase; DEGs: Differentially expressed genes; DW: Dry weight; ETR: Photosynthetic electron transport rate; FW: Fresh weight; Fv/Fm: Original light energy conversion efficiency; GPX: Glutathione peroxidase; GR: Glutathione reductase; Gs: Stomatal conductance; GSH: Oxidized glutathione; H2O2: Hydrogen peroxide; MDA: Malondialdehyde; MDHAR: Monodehydroascorbate reductase; O2-: Superoxide anion; PCA: Principal component analysis; PCD: Programed cell death; PEG-6000: Polyethylene glycol 6000; POD: Peroxidase; Pn: Photosynthetic rate; Pro: Proline; qRT–PCR: Quantitative real-time PCR; RNA-seq: RNA Sequencing; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; RWC: Relative water content; RMP: Relative membrane permeability; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; SW: Saturation weight; Tr: Transpiration rate; ΦPSII: Actual photochemical efficiency; -OH: Hydroxyl radical