Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spectroscopic studies of molecular iodine emitted into the gas phase by seaweed

Abstract. Time profiles of molecular iodine emissions from seven species of seaweed have been measured at high time resolution (7.5 s) by direct spectroscopic quantification of the gas phase I2 using broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy. Substantial differences were found between species, both in the amounts of I2 emitted when the plants were exposed to air and in the shapes of their emission time profiles. Two species of kelp, Laminaria digitata and Laminaria hyperborea, were found to be the most potent emitters, producing an intense burst of I2 when first exposed to air. I2 was also observed from Saccharina latissima and Ascophyllum nodosum but in lower amounts and with broader time profiles. I2 mixing ratios from two Fucus species and Dictyopteris membranacea were at or below the detection limit of the present instrument (25 pptv). A further set of experiments investigated the time dependence of I2 emissions and aerosol particle formation when fragments of L. digitata were exposed to desiccation in air, to ozone and to oligoguluronate stress factors. Particle formation occurred in all L. digitata stress experiments where ozone and light were present, subject to the I2 mixing ratios being above certain threshold amounts. Moreover, the particle number concentrations closely tracked variations in the I2 mixing ratios, confirming the results of previous studies that the condensable particle-forming gases derive from the photochemical oxidation of the plant's I2 emissions. This work also supports the theory that particle nucleation in the coastal atmosphere occurs in "hot-spot" regions of locally elevated concentrations of condensable gases: the greatest atmospheric concentrations of I2 and hence of condensable iodine oxides are likely to be above plants of the most efficiently emitting kelp species and localised in time to shortly after these seaweeds are uncovered by a receding tide.
Shut up and take my environmental data! A study on ICT enabled citizen science practices, participation approaches and challenges

Citizen Science initiatives have been around since the 20th century in numerous fields, from astronomy to health monitoring. In recent years, social changes mediated by the development of information and communication technologies have pivoted new types of civic actions, which have enabled an expansion in the breath of citizen science applications. This civic technology has become a genuine interactive and inclusive opportunity for engaging citizens in the continuous collection of data relevant to science, governance, businesses, communal living, as well as individual concerns. This article presents the practices, trends and challenges of 108 ICT enabled citizen science projects. In addition, we present a palette for participation in ICT enabled citizen science that depicts the shapes civic participation is currently taking in different contexts. We discuss the potential uses of this palette for improving the engineering of ICT citizen science platforms to better fit the needs of volunteers and build opportunities for active engagement. Keywords— ICT; citizen science; civic technology; participation; technology use; practices; challenges EPiC Series in Computing Volume 52, 2018, Pages 270–288 ICT4S2018. 5th International Conference on Information and Communication Technology for Sustainability B. Penzenstadler, S. Easterbrook, C. Venters and S.I. Ahmed (eds.), ICT4S2018 (EPiC Series in Computing, vol. 52), pp. 270–288
Eicosapentaenoic acid induces DNA demethylation in carcinoma cells through a TET1‐dependent mechanism

In cancer cells, global genomic hypomethylation is found together with localized hypermethylation of CpG islands within the promoters and regulatory regions of silenced tumor suppressor genes. Demethylating agents may reverse hypermethylation, thus promoting gene re‐expression. Unfortunately, demethylating strategies are not efficient in solid tumor cells. DNA demethylation is mediated by ten‐eleven translocation (TET) enzymes. They sequentially convert 5‐methylcytosine (5mC) to 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), which is associated with active transcription; 5‐formylcytosine; and finally, 5‐carboxylcytosine. Although α‐linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid, the major n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, have anti‐cancer effects, their action, as DNA‐demethylating agents, has never been investigated in solid tumor cells. Here, we report that EPA demethylates DNA in hepatocarcinoma cells. EPA rapidly increases 5hmC on DNA, inducing p21Waf1/Cip1 gene expression, which slows cancer cell‐cycle progression. We show that the underlying molecular mechanism involves TET1. EPA si multaneously binds peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and retinoid X receptor α (RXRα), thus promoting their heterodimer and inducing a PPARγ‐TET1 interaction. They generate a TET1‐PPARγ‐RXRα pro tein complex, which binds to a hypermethylated CpG island on the p21 gene, where TET1 converts 5mC to 5hmC. In an apparent shuttling motion, PPARγ and RXRα leave the DNA, whereas TET1 associates stably. Overall, EPA directly regulates DNA methylation levels, permitting TET1 to exert its anti‐tumoral function. —Ceccarelli, V. , Valentini, V. , Ronchetti, S. , Cannarile, L. , Billi, M. , Riccardi, C. , Ottini, L. , Talesa, V. N. , Grignani, F. , Vecchini, A. Eicosapentaenoic acid induces DNA demethylation in carcinoma cells through a TET1‐dependent mechanism. 32, 5990–6001 (2018). www.fasebj. org
Direct manipulation of metallic nanosheets by shear force microscopy

Micro/nanomanipulation is a rapidly growing technology and holds promising applications in various fields, including photonic/electronic devices, chemical/biosensors etc. In this work, we present that shear force microscopy (ShFM) can be exploited to manipulate metallic nanosheets besides imaging. The manipulation is realized via controlling the shear force sensor probe position and shear force magnitude based on our homemade ShFM system under an optical microscopy for in situ observation. The main feature of the ShFM system is usage of a piezoelectric bimorph sensor, which has the ability of self‐excitation and detection. Moreover, the shear force magnitude as a function of the spring constant of the sensor and setpoint is obtained, which indicates that operation modes can be switched between imaging and manipulation through designing the spring constant before experiment and changing the setpoint during manipulation process, respectively. We believe that this alternative manipulation technique could be used to assemble other nanostructures with different shapes, sizes and compositions for new properties and wider applications.
Biomedical Potential of Ultrafine Ag Nanoparticles Coated on Poly (Gamma-Glutamic Acid) Hydrogel with Special Reference to Wound Healing

In wound care management, the prevention of wound infection and the retention of an appropriate level of moisture are two major challenges. Therefore, designing an excellent antibacterial hydrogel with a suitable water-adsorbing capacity is very important to improve the development of wound dressings. In this paper, a novel silver nanoparticles/poly (gamma-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) composite dressing was prepared for biomedical applications. The promoted wound-healing ability of the hydrogels were systematically evaluated with the aim of attaining a novel and effective wound dressing. A diffusion study showed that hydrogels can continuously release antibacterial factors (Ag). Hydrogels contain a high percentage of water, providing an ideal moist environment for tissue regeneration, while also preventing contraction of the wound. Moreover, an in vivo, wound-healing model evaluation of artificial wounds in mice indicated that silver/γ-PGA hydrogels could significantly promote wound healing. Histological examination revealed that hydrogels can successfully help to reconstruct intact epidermis and collagen deposition during 14 days of impaired wound healing. Overall, this research could shed new light on the design of antibacterial silver/γ-PGA hydrogels with potential applications in wound dressing.
Robotic Bronchoscopy for Diagnosis of Suspected Lung Cancer

Background: Robotic bronchoscopy may offer alternative approaches to address limitations of current bronchoscopic techniques for biopsy of suspected peripheral lung lesions. This study sought to evaluate complications and feasibility of robotic bronchoscopy performed with the Robotic Endoscopy System (RES). Methods: Adult patients from a single institution underwent bronchoscopy of suspected lesions with a bronchus sign with the RES. The primary outcome was complication rate, as assessed by the incidence of related serious adverse events (SAE). The secondary outcome was technical feasibility. Data are presented as median (range), counts, and percentage. P-value was calculated using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Of 17 screened patients, 15 were eligible. The median age was 67 (38 to 79) years. The lesions (12 peripheral and 3 central) were located in the right lower lobe (33%), right upper lobe (27%), left upper lobe (27%), and left lower lobe (13%). No SAE, including pneumothorax and significant bleeding, occurred. Biopsy samples were obtained from 93% of patients. One sampling (right upper lobe) required conventional bronchoscopy and another required surgery to confirm malignancy. Cancer was confirmed in 60% (9/15) of patients. Benign features were found in 5 of 6 patients. Time to biopsy location reduced from 45 (21 to 84) minutes (first 5 cases) to 20 (7 to 47) minutes (last 9 cases), P=0.039. Conclusions: The study results and absence of SAE support feasibility of the RES in accessing the periphery of the lung. The RES has potential to address challenges associated with biopsy of peripheral lung lesions.
Recent Trends and Long-standing Problems in Archaeological Remote Sensing

The variety and sophistication of data sources, sensors, and platforms employed in archaeological remote sensing have increased significantly over the past decade. Projects incorporating data from UAV surveys, regional and research-driven lidar surveys, the uptake of hyperspectral imaging, the launch of high-temporal revisit satellites, the advent of multi-sensor rigs for geophysical survey, and increased use of structure from motion mean that more archaeologists are engaging with remote sensing than ever. These technological advances continue to drive research in the specialist community and provide reasons for optimism about future applications, but many social and technical obstacles to the integration of remote sensing into archaeological research and heritage management remain. This article addresses the challenges of contemporary archaeological remote sensing by briefly reviewing trends and then focusing on providing a critical overview of the main structural problems. The discussion here concentrates on topics that have dominated the discourse in recent archaeological literature and featured prominently in ongoing fieldwork for the past decade across three broad segments of landscape archaeology: data collection in the field, the current state of data access and archives, and processing and interpretation.
Colchicine, a microtubule‐disassembling drug, in the therapy of cardiovascular diseases

Colchicum autumnale, from which colchicine has been isolated more than 100 years ago, has been used as a treatment for pain and swelling for thousands of years. It is one of the few drugs known from that time period whose use has survived to modernity. Over the past decades, advances in the knowledge of (i) cytoskeletal microtubules (МТ), and (ii) anti‐inflammatory and anti‐fibrotic effects of colchicine, a classical MT‐disassembling (tubulin‐targeting) agent, have led to potential new uses for this very old drug extended beyond acute gouty arthritis and familial Mediterranean fever. Here, in brief, I present the Bulgarian contribution to possible potential of colchicine in the therapy of cardiovascular diseases that has emerged in the early 1970s in the Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Medical Institute, Varna, Bulgaria, studying the secretory function of vascular smooth muscle cells. From this time onward, low‐dose colchicine (0.5–1.0 mg/daily) was increasingly administered orally for therapy of cardiovascular diseases such as acute coronary syndromes, postoperative atrial fibrillation (in cardiac surgery), pericarditis, cardiac hypertrophy‐associated heart failure, restenosis after angioplasty, and systemic necrotizing vasculitis. Thus, colchicine might be a new tool in the present therapeutic armamentarium for cardiovascular diseases. It is simply an example of MT‐disassembling drugs. Further studies will definitely be required before gaining real confidence in this kind of antitubulin pharmacology and therapy. This may lead to developing new and more specific antitubulins for cardiovascular diseases.
The potential energy of non-resonant optimal bianisotropic particles in an electromagnetic field does not depend on time

In this work, we consider potential energy of recently conceptualized optimal (balanced) bianisotropic particles in electromagnetic fields. The case of non-resonant lossless particles is studied. Knowing the potential energy of optimal bianisotropic particles in the fields of the respective excitations, we find the acting force on the particle in inhomogeneous external fields. It is found that for optimal particles with the balanced values of the polarizabilities the potential energy and acting force are time independent.
Geometry of the uniform infinite half‐planar quadrangulation

We give a new construction of the uniform infinite half‐planar quadrangulation with a general boundary (or UIHPQ), analogous to the construction of the UIPQ presented by Chassaing and Durhuus, which allows us to perform a detailed study of its geometry. We show that the process of distances to the root vertex read along the boundary contour of the UIHPQ evolves as a particularly simple Markov chain and converges to a pair of independent Bessel processes of dimension 5 in the scaling limit. We study the “pencil” of infinite geodesics issued from the root vertex as reported by Curien, Ménard, and Miermont and prove that it induces a decomposition of the UIHPQ into 3 independent submaps. We are also able to prove that balls of large radius around the root are on average 7/9 times as large as those in the UIPQ, both in the UIHPQ and in the UIHPQ with a simple boundary; this fact we use in a companion paper to study self‐avoiding walks on large quadrangulations.
Reliability of the Osstell Implant Stability Quotient and Penguin Resonance Frequency Analysis to Evaluate Implant Stability

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of the Osstell implant stability quotient (ISQ) and Penguin resonance frequency analysis (RFA) devices in measuring implant stability. Materials and Methods: Forty implants were embedded in self-curing acrylic resin, soft-lining material, polyvinyl siloxane impression material, and polycarboxylate cement (n = 10). After the initial setting times were completed, the stability of each implant was measured with Osstell ISQ and Penguin RFA with 3 repeated measurements. The “intraclass correlation coefficient” evaluated the correspondence between the measurements (P < 0.05). Results: Polyvinyl siloxane impression material had lower ISQ values than soft-lining material, self-curing acrylic resin, and polycarboxylate cement in both devices (P < 0.05). The intraclass correlation was 1.00 in self-curing acrylic resin and 0.48 in polycarboxylate cement (P < 0.05) for Osstell. This value was 0.95 in self-curing acrylic resin and 0.38 in polycarboxylate cement (P < 0.05) for Penguin. There was no correlation between the repeated measurements in soft-lining material and polyvinyl siloxane impression material for both devices (P > 0.05). The repeatability was 0.90 for Osstell and 0.60 for Penguin (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Osstell ISQ and Penguin RFA are reliable only when the implants are embedded in stiff materials. Osstell ISQ is more reliable than Penguin RFA.
Aseptic Growth Attributes of PEG-Stressed and BBTV-Infected Plants of Banana

Aseptic multiplication of banana is a major tool for rapid mass production of pathogen free plants. In this experiment, comparative micropropagation growth was assessed in polyethylene glycol (PEG) stressed and Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) infected plantlets of banana (Musa spp.)cv. , Basrai under aseptic conditions. This comparative study was conducted, when healthyand BBTV-infected plantlet were multiplying [MS2 (8 mg L -1 BA, 2 g L phytagel)] at 2sub-culture stage. They were transferred to fresh media for 3 subculture and labelled as MS2 (control),MS2b(BBTV-infected plantlets) and MS2c (MS2 + 5% PEG). After 6-weeks of culture, lowest micropropagation efficiency was observed in PEG stressed cultures (3.25 ± 0.408 plantlets) than BBTV infected (4.50 ± 0.289 plantlets) and control cultures (5.75 ± 1.555 plantlets). Reducing sugars, proline, glycinebetaine contents and total carotenoids were increased (p < 0.05) in PEG stressed as well as BBTV infected plantlets, while total sugars, proteins and nitrates were decreased significantly.Phenolics were increased but relative water contents decreased with the decrease in shoot biomass in PEG stressed and BBTV infected plantlets than control healthy plantlets(p < 0.05). This instability of organic and in-organic attributes in the micropropagated plantlets reflects relative tolerance of plant growth in banana cultivar Basrai against the applied abiotic (PEG) and biotic
Liftoff of a 190 mg Laser-Powered Aerial Vehicle: The Lightest Wireless Robot to Fly

To date, insect scale aerial robots have required wire tethers for providing power due to the challenges of integrating the required high-voltage power electronics within their severely constrained weight budgets. In this paper we present a significant milestone in the achievement of flight autonomy: the first wireless liftoff of a 190 mg aerial vehicle. Our robot is remotely powered using a 976 nm laser and integrates a complete power electronics package weighing a total of 104 mg, using commercially available components and fabricated using a fast-turnaround laser based circuit fabrication technique. The onboard electronics include a lightweight boost converter capable of producing high voltage bias and drive signals of over 200 V at up to 170 Hz and regulated by a microcontroller performing feedback control. We present our system design and analysis, detailed description of our fabrication method, and results from flight experiments.
Cervical cancer screening among HIV-infected women in an urban, United States safety-net healthcare system

Objective: Little is known about cervical cancer screening and results patterns among HIV-infected (HIV+) women in real-world healthcare settings. We characterized two periods of screening opportunity. Design: Retrospective cohort. Setting: US safety-net healthcare system in Dallas County, Texas. Participants: We analyzed data from electronic medical records (EMR) of 1490 HIV+ women receiving care 2010–2014. Main outcome measures: At baseline, we categorized a woman's Pap status 15 months prior to index date as under-screened (vs. screened), and cytology result (normal vs. abnormal). Then, we examined screening completion and results, and colposcopy uptake and results after an abnormal screen, in the subsequent 15-month period. Results: More than half of women (56%) had no evidence of a Pap test (i.e. under-screened) at baseline. Under-screened women were more likely to be older (50–64 years), have diabetes, and unknown viral load; they were less likely to be Black, Hispanic, have Medicaid, recently pregnant, have a HIV clinic visit, or a CD4+ cell count at least 200 cells/&mgr;l. Nearly half of under-screened women (46%, n = 383) remained under-screened in the subsequent 15 months. Among women under-screened at baseline who later completed screening and follow-up during the study period, 21 high-grade dysplasia and three cancers were diagnosed. Overall, 40% of women did not receive colposcopy when needed, with most failures to follow-up occurring in women who were under-screened at baseline. Conclusion: Most HIV+ women receiving care in a safety-net system did not receive sufficient screening for cervical cancer and remained at exceptionally high risk of developing high-grade dysplasia.
Simplest chaotic system with a hyperbolic sine and its applications in DCSK scheme

This work describes the simplest chaotic system with a hyperbolic sine non-linearity, accompanied by analysis of Lyapunov exponents, bifurcations, and stability. The corresponding simple chaotic circuit using only diodes and linear components is designed and implemented. Finally, an application of the system to spread spectrum communication based on differential chaos shift keying (DCSK) is presented. Since the hyperbolic sine is an odd function of its argument, the system is antisymmetric and exhibits symmetry breaking where the attractors split or merge as some bifurcation parameter is changed. The proposed system is especially simple both from the structure of the equations and in its electronic circuit realisation. Compared with the traditional DCSK scheme of a Chebyshev sequence, the system can reduce the bit error rate in the presence of noise.
CalFitter: a web server for analysis of protein thermal denaturation data

Abstract Despite significant advances in the understanding of protein structure-function relationships, revealing protein folding pathways still poses a challenge due to a limited number of relevant experimental tools. Widely-used experimental techniques, such as calorimetry or spectroscopy, critically depend on a proper data analysis. Currently, there are only separate data analysis tools available for each type of experiment with a limited model selection. To address this problem, we have developed the CalFitter web server to be a unified platform for comprehensive data fitting and analysis of protein thermal denaturation data. The server allows simultaneous global data fitting using any combination of input data types and offers 12 protein unfolding pathway models for selection, including irreversible transitions often missing from other tools. The data fitting produces optimal parameter values, their confidence intervals, and statistical information to define unfolding pathways. The server provides an interactive and easy-to-use interface that allows users to directly analyse input datasets and simulate modelled output based on the model parameters. CalFitter web server is available free at https://loschmidt.chemi. muni.cz/calfitter/.
Emotion recognition from multichannel EEG signals using K-nearest neighbor classification

BACKGROUND: Many studies have been done on the emotion recognition based on multi-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. OBJECTIVE: This paper explores the influence of the emotion recognition accuracy of EEG signals in different frequency bands and different number of channels. METHODS: We classified the emotional states in the valence and arousal dimensions using different combinations of EEG channels. Firstly, DEAP default preprocessed data were normalized. Next, EEG signals were divided into four frequency bands using discrete wavelet transform, and entropy and energy were calculated as features of K-nearest neighbor Classifier. RESULTS: The classification accuracies of the 10, 14, 18 and 32 EEG channels based on the Gamma frequency band were 89.54%, 92.28%, 93.72% and 95.70% in the valence dimension and 89.81%, 92.24%, 93.69% and 95.69% in the arousal dimension. As the number of channels increases, the classification accuracy of emotional states also increases, the classification accuracy of the gamma frequency band is greater than that of the beta frequency band followed by the alpha and theta frequency bands. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provided better frequency bands and channels reference for emotion recognition based on EEG.