Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Label-Free Multiphoton Microscopy: Much More Than Fancy Images

Multiphoton microscopy has recently passed the milestone of its first 30 years of activity in biomedical research. The growing interest around this approach has led to a variety of applications from basic research to clinical practice. Moreover, this technique offers the advantage of label-free multiphoton imaging to analyze samples without staining processes and the need for a dedicated system. Here, we review the state of the art of label-free techniques; then, we focus on two-photon autofluorescence as well as second and third harmonic generation, describing physical and technical characteristics. We summarize some successful applications to a plethora of biomedical research fields and samples, underlying the versatility of this technique. A paragraph is dedicated to an overview of sample preparation, which is a crucial step in every microscopy experiment. Afterwards, we provide a detailed review analysis of the main quantitative methods to extract important information and parameters from acquired images using second harmonic generation. Lastly, we discuss advantages, limitations, and future perspectives in label-free multiphoton microscopy.
A Retrospective Comparison of Hemodynamic and Clinical Outcomes between Two Differently Designed Aortic Bioprostheses for Small Aortic Annuli

The Trifecta valve has externally mounted leaflets; it differs from classic internally mounted valves (e.g., Carpentier-Edwards [C-E]). We evaluated post-implantation hemodynamics and clinical outcomes of these bioprostheses in small aortic annuli. From January 2015 to April 2019, 490 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) were reviewed retrospectively. Altogether, 183 patients received 19 or 21 mm diameter C-E (n = 121) or Trifecta (n = 62) prostheses. To minimize confounding variables, we performed propensity-score matching analysis. The mean transvalvular pressure gradient (TVPG) was significantly lower in the Trifecta than in the C-E group at discharge (12.9 ± 4.8 vs. 15.0 ± 5.3 mmHg, p = 0.044). TVPG change over time was not significantly different between groups (p = 0.357). Left ventricular mass index decreased postoperatively (reduction: C-E, 28.1%; Trifecta, 30.1%, p = 0.879). No late mortality, severe patient–prosthesis mismatch, moderate-to-severe paravalvular leakage, structural valve degeneration, or valve thromboses were observed. Freedom from valve-related events at 3 years were similar for C-E (97.9% ± 2.1%) and Trifecta (97.7% ± 2.2%) patients (log-rank p = 0.993). Bioprosthesis design for small annuli significantly affected TVPG immediately after AVR. However, hemodynamics over time and clinical outcomes did not differ between the two designs.
Radical scavenging and in vitro antifungal activities of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes of the t-butylphenyl derivative of porphyrazine

Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes and metal-free t-butylphenyl peripherally substituted porphyrazine (Pz) have been screened for in vitro antifungal (Aspergillus niger) and antioxidant (free radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, and reducing power) activities. The results were compared with synthetic antioxidants, e.g., butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), trolox, or α-tocopherol. The free radical scavenging activity of H2Pz was higher than the CuPz complex. However, CuPz complex showed higher superoxide radical scavenging activity than BHA, BHT, and trolox while H2Pz and CoPz showed weaker activity than BHA, BHT, and trolox. The reducing power of all complexes was similar to that of BHT and α-tocopherol on a per molar basis. The ligand and complexes have antifungal activity against A. niger. The compounds have significant superoxide radical scavenging activity against various antioxidant systems in vitro.
On the Speech Properties and Feature Extraction Methods in Speech Emotion Recognition

Many speech emotion recognition systems have been designed using different features and classification methods. Still, there is a lack of knowledge and reasoning regarding the underlying speech characteristics and processing, i.e., how basic characteristics, methods, and settings affect the accuracy, to what extent, etc. This study is to extend physical perspective on speech emotion recognition by analyzing basic speech characteristics and modeling methods, e.g., time characteristics (segmentation, window types, and classification regions—lengths and overlaps), frequency ranges, frequency scales, processing of whole speech (spectrograms), vocal tract (filter banks, linear prediction coefficient (LPC) modeling), and excitation (inverse LPC filtering) signals, magnitude and phase manipulations, cepstral features, etc. In the evaluation phase the state-of-the-art classification method and rigorous statistical tests were applied, namely N-fold cross validation, paired t-test, rank, and Pearson correlations. The results revealed several settings in a 75% accuracy range (seven emotions). The most successful methods were based on vocal tract features using psychoacoustic filter banks covering the 0–8 kHz frequency range. Well scoring are also spectrograms carrying vocal tract and excitation information. It was found that even basic processing like pre-emphasis, segmentation, magnitude modifications, etc., can dramatically affect the results. Most findings are robust by exhibiting strong correlations across tested databases.
Manipulation of the Glass Transition Properties of a High-Solid System Made of Acrylic Acid-N,N′-Methylenebisacrylamide Copolymer Grafted on Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose

Crosslinking of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and acrylic acid (AAc) was carried out at various compositions to develop a high-solid matrix with variable glass transition properties. The matrix was synthesized by the copolymerisation of two monomers, AAc and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) and their grafting onto HMPC. Potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) was used to initiate the free radical polymerization reaction and tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) to accelerate radical polymerisation. Structural properties of the network were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), small-deformation dynamic oscillation in-shear, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show the formation of a cohesive macromolecular entity that is highly amorphous. There is a considerable manipulation of the rheological and calorimetric glass transition temperatures as a function of the amount of added acrylic acid, which is followed upon heating by an extensive rubbery plateau. Complementary TGA work demonstrates that the initial composition of all the HPMC-AAc networks is maintained up to 200 °C, an outcome that bodes well for applications of targeted bioactive compound delivery.
The theory of positive glow corona

A theory for the current and light pulses of positive glow corona from a point in air is presented; this phenomenon was first observed as an apparently continuous glow by Michael Faraday. Results are obtained, in concentric sphere geometry, for air at atmospheric pressure, by solving the continuity equations for electrons, positive ions, negative ions and metastable oxygen molecules, coupled with Poisson's equation. A series of `saw-toothed' current pulses of period about is predicted with a DC current level. Accompanying the current peaks are discrete pulses of light 30 ns wide. Successive `shells' of positive ions, from successive current pulses, carry 96% of the mean current. The mean current - voltage relationship has the classic square-law form. The seed electrons required for successive pulses are detached from negative ions by metastable oxygen molecules. Photo-ionization is crucial for the discharge at the anode and for the formation of negative ions throughout the gap. The pulse frequency varies with applied voltage and is found to be approximately proportional to the positive-ion mobility. The surface electric field at the central electrode remains close to Peek's onset field. The origin of onset streamers is explained and sub-microsecond voltage pulses are found to produce streamers. The results for concentric-cylinder electrodes are described briefly.
Metal-Organic Frameworks as Versatile Heterogeneous Solid Catalysts for Henry Reactions

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have become one of the versatile solid materials used for a wide range of applications, such as gas storage, gas separation, proton conductivity, sensors and catalysis. Among these fields, one of the more well-studied areas is the use of MOFs as heterogeneous catalysts for a broad range of organic reactions. In the present review, the employment of MOFs as solid catalysts for the Henry reaction is discussed, and the available literature data from the last decade are grouped. The review is organized with a brief introduction of the importance of Henry reactions and structural properties of MOFs that are suitable for catalysis. The second part of the review discusses the use of MOFs as solid catalysts for the Henry reaction involving metal nodes as active sites, while the third section provides data utilizing basic sites (primary amine, secondary amine, amides and urea-donating sites). While commenting on the catalytic results in these two sections, the advantage of MOFs over other solid catalysts is compared in terms of activity by providing turnover number (TON) values and the structural stability of MOFs during the course of the reaction. The final section provides our views on further directions in this field.
Highly Efficient Methylene Blue Dye Removal by Nickel Molybdate Nanosorbent

Removing methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions was examined by the use of nickel molybdate (α-NiMoO4) as an adsorbent produced by an uncomplicated, rapid, and cost-effective method. Different results were produced by varying different parameters such as the pH, the adsorbent dose, the temperature, the contact time, and the initial dye concentration. Adsorbent dose and pH had a major removal effect on MB. Interestingly, a lower amount of adsorbent dose caused greater MB removal. The amount of removal gained was efficient and reached a 99% level with an initial methylene blue solution concentration of ≤160 ppm at pH 11. The kinetic studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model relates very well with that of the obtained experimental results. The thermodynamic studies showed that removing the MB dye was favorable, spontaneous, and endothermic. Impressively, the highest quantity of removal amount of MB dye was 16,863 mg/g, as shown by the Langmuir model. The thermal regeneration tests revealed that the efficiency of removing MB (11,608 mg/g) was retained following three continuous rounds of recycled adsorbents. Adsorption of MB onto α-NiMoO4 nanoparticles and its regeneration were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The results indicated that α-NiMoO4 nanosorbent is an outstanding and strong candidate that can be used for removing the maximum capacity of MB dye in wastewater.
Exogenous 1′,4′-trans-Diol-ABA Induces Stress Tolerance by Affecting the Level of Gene Expression in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

1′,4′-trans-diol-ABA is a key precursor of the biosynthesis of abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis in fungi. We successfully obtained the pure compound from a mutant of Botrytis cinerea and explored its function and possible mechanism on plants by spraying 2 mg/L 1′,4′-trans-diol-ABA on tobacco leaves. Our results showed that this compound enhanced the drought tolerance of tobacco seedlings. A comparative transcriptome analysis showed that a large number of genes responded to the compound, exhibiting 1523 genes that were differentially expressed at 12 h, which increased to 1993 at 24 h and 3074 at 48 h, respectively. The enrichment analysis demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily enriched in pathways related to hormones and resistance. The DEGs of transcription factors were generally up-regulated and included the bHLH, bZIP, ERF, MYB, NAC, WRKY and HSF families. Moreover, the levels of expression of PYL/PYR, PP2C, SnRK2, and ABF at the ABA signaling pathway responded positively to exogenous 1′,4′-trans-diol-ABA. Among them, seven ABF transcripts that were detected were significantly up-regulated. In addition, the genes involved in salicylic acid, ethylene and jasmonic acid pathways, reactive oxygen species scavenging system, and other resistance related genes were primarily induced by 1′,4′-trans-diol-ABA. These findings indicated that treatment with 1′,4′-trans-diol-ABA could improve tolerance to plant abiotic stress and potential biotic resistance by regulating gene expression, similar to the effects of exogenous ABA.
Different miRNA Profiles in Plasma Derived Small and Large Extracellular Vesicles from Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases

Identifying biomarkers is essential for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Large (LEVs) and small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) are extracellular vesicles (EVs) of different sizes and biological functions transported in blood and they may be valid biomarkers for NDs. The aim of our study was to investigate common and different miRNA signatures in plasma derived LEVs and SEVs of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD) patients. LEVs and SEVs were isolated from plasma of patients and healthy volunteers (CTR) by filtration and differential centrifugation and RNA was extracted. Small RNAs libraries were carried out by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). MiRNAs discriminate all NDs diseases from CTRs and they can provide a signature for each NDs. Common enriched pathways for SEVs were instead linked to ubiquitin mediated proteolysis and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways and for LEVs to neurotrophin signaling and Glycosphingolipid biosynthesis pathway. LEVs and SEVs are involved in different pathways and this might give a specificity to their role in the spreading of the disease. The study of common and different miRNAs transported by LEVs and SEVs can be of great interest for biomarker discovery and for pathogenesis studies in neurodegeneration.
Interactions of Meibum and Tears with Mucomimetic Polymers: A Hint towards the Interplay between the Layers of the Tear Film

Recent clinical findings suggest that mucomimetic polymers (MMP) can alter not only the texture of the aqueous tear but also the spreading and structure of the tear film (TF) lipid layer, thereby allowing for their synchronized performance in vivo. Thus, we aimed to evaluate in vitro (i) the capability of pharmaceutically applicable MMP to ensure the formation of post-evaporative ferning patterns (a characteristic feature of the “healthy” tear colloid) and (ii) the MMP interactions with human meibum films accessed in the course of blink-like deformations via Langmuir surface balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). Four MMP were used- hyaluronic acid (HA), cross-linked hyaluronic acid (CHA), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and gellan gum (GG)- at the concentrations of 0.0001%, 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.05% and 0.1%. Significant differences were observed in the MMP fern formation capability: CHA (≥0.001%) > HA (≥0.01%) = CMC (≥0.01%) > GG (≥0.05%). All MMP affected the spreading of meibum, with BAM micrographs revealing thickening of the films. CHA was particularly efficient, showing concentration-dependent enhancement of tear ferning and of meibomian layer structure, surfactant properties and viscoelasticity. Thus, endogenous and exogenous MMP may play key roles for the concerted action of the TF layers at the ocular surface, revealing novel routes for TF-oriented therapeutic applications.
The Optimal Selection of Mother Wavelet Function and Decomposition Level for Denoising of DCG Signal

The aim of this paper is to find the optimal mother wavelet function and wavelet decomposition level when denoising the Doppler cardiogram (DCG), the heart signal obtained by the Doppler radar sensor system. To select the best suited mother wavelet function and wavelet decomposition level, this paper presents the quantitative analysis results. Both the optimal mother wavelet and decomposition level are selected by evaluating signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) efficiency of the denoised signals obtained by using the wavelet thresholding method. A total of 115 potential functions from six wavelet families were examined for the selection of the optimal mother wavelet function and 10 levels (1 to 10) were evaluated for the choice of the best decomposition level. According to the experimental results, the most efficient selections of the mother wavelet function are “db9” and “sym9” from Daubechies and Symlets families, and the most suitable decomposition level for the used signal is seven. As the evaluation criterion in this study rates the efficiency of the denoising process, it was found that a mother wavelet function longer than 22 is excessive. The experiment also revealed that the decomposition level can be predictable based on the frequency features of the DCG signal. The proposed selection of the mother wavelet function and the decomposition level could reduce noise effectively so as to improve the quality of the DCG signal in information field.
Real-Time Polyp Detection, Localization and Segmentation in Colonoscopy Using Deep Learning

Computer-aided detection, localisation, and segmentation methods can help improve colonoscopy procedures. Even though many methods have been built to tackle automatic detection and segmentation of polyps, benchmarking of state-of-the-art methods still remains an open problem. This is due to the increasing number of researched computer vision methods that can be applied to polyp datasets. Benchmarking of novel methods can provide a direction to the development of automated polyp detection and segmentation tasks. Furthermore, it ensures that the produced results in the community are reproducible and provide a fair comparison of developed methods. In this paper, we benchmark several recent state-of-the-art methods using Kvasir-SEG, an open-access dataset of colonoscopy images for polyp detection, localisation, and segmentation evaluating both method accuracy and speed. Whilst, most methods in literature have competitive performance over accuracy, we show that the proposed ColonSegNet achieved a better trade-off between an average precision of 0.8000 and mean IoU of 0.8100, and the fastest speed of 180 frames per second for the detection and localisation task. Likewise, the proposed ColonSegNet achieved a competitive dice coefficient of 0.8206 and the best average speed of 182.38 frames per second for the segmentation task. Our comprehensive comparison with various state-of-the-art methods reveals the importance of benchmarking the deep learning methods for automated real-time polyp identification and delineations that can potentially transform current clinical practices and minimise miss-detection rates.
Refractive Index and Dispersion of Fluorides and Oxides

The refractive indices of 509 oxides and 55 fluorides were analyzed using two forms of a one-term Sellmeier equation: (1) 1/(n2−1)=−A/λ2+B, where A, the slope of the plot of (n2−1)−1 versus λ−2 in units of 10−16 m2, gives a measure of dispersion and B, the intercept of the plot at λ=∞, gives n∞=(1+1/B)1/2 and (2) n2−1=EdEo/(Eo2−(ℏω)2), where ℏω=the photon energy, Eo=the average single oscillator (Sellmeier) energy gap, and Ed=the average oscillator strength, which measures the strength of interband optical transitions. Form (1) was used to calculate n at λ=589.3 nm (nD) and n at λ=∞ (n∞), and the dispersion constant A. The total mean polarizabilility for each compound was calculated using the Lorenz–Lorentz equation: αe=3/4π [(Vm) (n∞2−1)/(n∞2+2)], where Vm is the molar volume in A3. Provided for each compound are: nD, n∞, Vm, 〈αe〉, 〈A〉, 〈B〉, 〈Ed〉, 〈Eo〉, the literature reference, the method of measurement of n and estimated errors in n. Results obtained by prism, infrared reflectivity, ellipsometry, and i.
Supramolecular Assembly of Perylene Bisimide with β‐Cyclodextrin Grafts as a Solid‐State Fluorescence Sensor for Vapor Detection

A nanoscopic supramolecular aggregate is constructed from perylene bisimide‐bridged bis‐(permethyl‐β‐cyclodextrins) 1 via π–π stacking interactions. Its self‐assembly behavior in organic and aqueous solutions is investigated by UV–Vis, fluorescence, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images show the 1D nanorod aggregation of 1, which is birefringent under crossed polarizer conditions and strongly fluorescent as depicted in the fluorescence microscopy image. X‐ray powder diffraction measurements indicate that 1 forms a well‐ordered crystalline arrangement with a π–π stacking distance of 4.02 Å. Furthermore, the solid‐state fluorescence sensing is explored by utilizing the poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane‐embedded 1, giving that 1, as a novel vapor detecting material, can probe several kinds of volatile organic compounds and, especially, exhibits high sensitivity to organic amines.
Accurate Simulation of Surfaces and Interfaces of Face-Centered Cubic Metals Using 12−6 and 9−6 Lennard-Jones Potentials

Molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations often rely on Lennard-Jones (LJ) potentials for nonbond interactions. We present 12−6 and 9−6 LJ parameters for several face-centered cubic metals (Ag, Al, Au, Cu, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pt) which reproduce densities, surface tensions, interface properties with water and (bio)organic molecules, as well as mechanical properties in quantitative (<0.1%) to good qualitative (25%) agreement with experiment under ambient conditions. Deviations associated with earlier LJ models have been reduced by 1 order of magnitude due to the precise fit of the new models to densities and surface tensions under standard conditions, which also leads to significantly improved results for surface energy anisotropies, interface tensions, and mechanical properties. The performance is comparable to tight-binding and embedded atom models at up to a million times lower computational cost. The models extend classical simulation methods to metals and a variety of interfaces with biopolymers, surfact.
Low-Temperature Phase of Sodium Priderite, NaxCrxTi8–xO16, with a Monoclinic Hollandite Structure

Sodium priderite, Na{sub x}Cr{sub x}Ti{sub 8{minus}x}O{sub 16} (x {approx} 1.7) having a tetragonal hollandite structure, undergoes monoclinic distortion below ca. 273 K. The monoclinic phase structure, the space group 12/m, and cell parameters a = 10.108(7), b = 2.9526(4), and c = 9.975(7) {angstrom}, and {beta} = 90.06(4){degree} with Z = 1, were refined using data measured at 223 K through single-crystal X-ray diffraction (R = 5.1 wR = 5.7%). Electron density maps drawn using the maximum entropy method clearly show variations in asymmetry in the Na ion distribution in the tunnel associated with monoclinic deformation of the framework. A marked difference between the monoclinic and tetragonal structures is the inequality of Na occupation ratios among the four positions in a cavity. 13 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.