Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Olive Oil Extracts and Oleic Acid Attenuate the LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response in Murine RAW264.7 Macrophages but Induce the Release of Prostaglandin E2

Olive oil contains high amounts of oleic acid (OA). Although OA has been described to inhibit inflammatory processes, the effects of olive oil on cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, we compared the effects of major fatty acids (FA) from olive oil with those of olive oil extracts (OOE) on inflammatory mediators and alterations in the cellular phospholipid composition in murine macrophages. Upon treatment with different OOE, FA compositions of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine RAW264.7 macrophages were analyzed using gas chromatography. Olive oil extracts and OA significantly reduced the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNos), cyclooxygenase (Cox2), and interleukin-6 mRNA. In addition, a significant decrease in Cox2 and iNos protein expression was observed. The formation of nitric oxide was significantly reduced, while the formation of prostaglandin (PG) E2 from arachidonic acid significantly increased after treatment with OOE or OA. The latter was associated with a shift in the phospholipid FA composition from arachidonic acid to OA, resulting in an elevated availability of arachidonic acid. Together, OOE and OA mediate anti-inflammatory effects in vitro but increase the release of arachidonic acid and hereinafter PGE2, likely due to elongation of OA and competitive incorporation of fatty acids into membrane phospholipids.
Assessment of Impact of Meteorology and Precursor in Long-term Trends of PM and Ozone in a Tropical City

Long-term trends of atmospheric pollutants, particularly ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM) provide a direct evaluation of the response of the atmosphere to the environmental policies and the variability of anthropogenic and biogenic emissions. Here, we report the assessment of the temporal evolution of the air quality in a tropical urban city (Butuan) in the southern Philippines by evaluating the trends of meteorological conditions (i.e., temperature, R.H., boundary layer height), air pollutants (i.e., PM2.5, NO2, O3) and their precursors (Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene) from 2014 to 2020. During the seven-year measurement, the mean PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentrations were 8.7 ± 3.9 and 24.3 ± 12.0 µg m–3, with no single day exceeded the daily PM limit. The max concentrations of aerosol occurred during the dry season when the loss of particles through wet deposition was limited. Speciation of PM2.5 indicated that fine aerosol was dominated by sea salt and organic matter (OM). Analysis of the ratio of OM and sulfate indicated that the main source of pollution in the city was wildfire/biomass burning. The average O3 and NO2 mixing ratios during the same period were 22.3 ± 9.5 ppb and 8.1 ± 5.4 ppb while increasing at the rate of 0.409 ppb year–1 and 0.683 ppb year–1. The highest O3 concentration occurred during the summer months when photochemistry enhanced the formation of tropospheric O3. The increasing O3 trend was attributed to the contribution of anthropogenic VOCs (AVOCs), based on their ozone-forming potentials (OFPs). The seven-year measurement also showcased the variability of the atmospheric pollutants during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, when O3 substantially increased due to reduced vehicle transport activities. Overall, our results provide insights to better comprehend the sources of the variability of O3 and PM on a long-term temporal scale, as well as implications on relevant environmental policies in controlling air pollutants in a tropical developing region. © The Author(s).
Structural Insights Support Targeting ASK1 Kinase for Therapeutic Interventions

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK) 1, a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family, modulates diverse responses to oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and calcium influx. As a crucial cellular stress sensor, ASK1 activates c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and p38 MAPKs. Their excessive and sustained activation leads to cell death, inflammation and fibrosis in various tissues and is implicated in the development of many neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in addition to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. However, currently available inhibitors of JNK and p38 kinases either lack efficacy or have undesirable side effects. Therefore, targeted inhibition of their upstream activator, ASK1, stands out as a promising therapeutic strategy for treating such severe pathological conditions. This review summarizes recent structural findings on ASK1 regulation and its role in various diseases, highlighting prospects for ASK1 inhibition in the treatment of these pathologies.
Microstrip‐fed circular slot antenna for circular polarization

A printed slot antenna with broadband circular polarization (CP) is presented. The proposed antenna is excited by an L‐shaped strip with a taper end, connected in series to a microstrip‐line‐fed located along the diagonal line of the circular‐slot. The measured results demonstrated a CP and impedance bandwidth of around 44% and 38%, respectively. It is noted that the CP bandwidth of 44% is much larger than those of antennas found in the literature. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 1056–1058, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23290
Hearables, in-ear sensing devices for bio-signal acquisition: a narrative review

ABSTRACT Introduction Hearables are ear devices used for multiple purposes including ubiquitous/remote monitoring of vital signals. This can support early detection, prevention, and management of urgent/non-urgent healthcare needs. This review therefore seeks to analyze the challenges and capabilities of hearables used to monitor human physiological signals. Areas covered Studies were identified via search (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus) and conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Bias assessment used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool 2018 and Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2nd Edition. 92/631 studies met the inclusion criteria and were qualitatively analyzed. The outcomes, applications, advantages, and limitations were discussed according to the vital signal measured. The bias risk ranged from low to high, with most studies facing moderate-to-high risk in subject selection due to small sample sizes. Expert opinion Most studies reported good outcomes for ear signal acquisition compared to reference devices. To improve practicability and implementation, wireless connectivity, battery life, impact of motion/environmental artifacts and comfort need to be addressed going forward. Hearable technologies have also shown potential synergies with hearing aids. In future, multimodal ear-sensing devices opens the possibility of comprehensive health monitoring within daily life.
Evolutionary Modeling with Hierarchy in Innovative Computer-Aided Circuit Design

In this article new approaches for innovative computer-aided design using evolutionary modeling are investigated. It is shown that the prominent features of evolutionary modeling in innovative design are elitism and mutation. Dynamic parameters and a dynamic coding of the genotype and phenotype for improving the evolutionary search for computer-aided design are proposed. Some examples of computer-aided circuit design are discussed.
3D-Printed PCL Scaffolds Coated with Nanobioceramics Enhance Osteogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells

With advances in bone tissue engineering, various materials and methods have been explored to find a better scaffold that can help in improving bone growth and regeneration. Three-dimensional (3D) printing by fused deposition modeling can produce customized scaffolds from biodegradable polyesters such as polycaprolactone (PCL). Although the fabricated PCL scaffolds exhibited a lack of bioactivity and poor cell attachment on their surfaces, herein, using a simple postfabrication modification method with hydroxyapatite (HA) and bioglasses (BGs), we obtained better cell proliferation and attachment. Biological behavior and osteosupportive capacity of the 3D-printed scaffolds including PCL, PCL/HA, PCL/BG, and PCL/HA/BG were evaluated in this study, while human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) were cultured on the scaffolds. The cell morphology, attachment, and proliferation were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. In the next step, the ability of stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts was evaluated by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium deposition, and bone-related gene and protein expression. In the end, the expression levels of miR-20a, miR-125a, and their target genes were also investigated as positive and negative regulators in osteogenesis pathways. The results showed that the coated scaffolds with bioceramics present a more appropriate surface for cell adhesion and proliferation, as well as efficient potential in inducing osteoconduction and osteointegration compared to PCL alone and control. The PCL/HA/BG scaffold exhibited higher in vitro cell viability and bone formation compared to the other groups, which can be due to the synergistic effect of HA and BG. On the whole, this tricomponent 3D-printing scaffold has a promising prospect for bone tissue engineering applications.
Integrating Sustainable Design Principles into the Adaptive Reuse of Historical Properties

Abstract : The construction of new buildings consumes significant amounts of raw materials and land assets that might be better used for other functions. This consumption of land and materials can be reduced when adaptive reuse of existing buildings is allowed to replace the demolition/reconstruction. Adaptive reuse can also facilitate the preservation of historical structures that might otherwise fall into disrepair and decay, and eventually be demolished. The resulting adaptive reuse of existing structures must incorporate principles of historic and sustainable design. This work formulated specific guidelines to help installation planners integrate concepts of sustainability into the adaptive reuse of historical buildings in a way that will enhance the built environment while preserving the nation's cultural endowment. These guidelines may also be generically applied to the adaptive reuse of any structure.
Modulation of drug delivery rate by hydrogel-incorporating MEMS devices

We describe two approaches for modulating fluid flow and drug delivery rate in response to external stimuli using hydrogels incorporated in MEMS devices. The first design, a hydrogel-gated flow controller (HFC), consists of two components, a 3-dimensional crosscut structure and a loaded hydrogel. For a temperature-sensitive HFC, temperature cycling between 25 and 40/spl deg/C results in a flow rate change between 0 and 12 ml/minute, with a 30 second response time. In the second design, a hydrogel-actuated microvalve (HAM) was constructed. In such a device, a hydrogel disc is sandwiched between a porous plate and a flexible silicone rubber membrane. Swelling of the hydrogel produced by diffusion of chemical species through the porous plate, resulting in the deflection of the membrane and closure of the valve intake orifice. A HAM loaded with phenylboronic acid (PBA)-based glucose-sensitive hydrogel was tested. This glucose-sensitive HAM opens and closes in response to changes in glucose concentration and pH. The fastest response time achieved was 16 minutes using a 70 /spl mu/m thick hydrogel and a 60 /spl mu/m porous back plate.
A 100 GOPS vision platform for intelligent vehicles

New generations of automobiles will include driver assistance systems requiring powerful, low-cost processors to handle video/camera applications and to enable fast, convenient application development. Here, the Corporate Research Division of Infineon Technologies is working on a 100 GOPS vehicle vision platform, which consists of a fully programmable, general purpose vision processor, a convenient software environment based on "C" and the integration of advanced application software. The paper motivates Infineons' approach to vehicle vision systems, presents a brief description of the vision processor, and explains, as examples for application integration, a contour-based approach for an "overtake-checker" and a "door-opener" assistant.
Adaptação do Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for University Students (AAQ-US) para o Português Brasileiro

Este estudo tem por objetivo realizar a adaptação do Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for University Students (AAQ-US), que avalia a inflexibilidade psicológica no contexto universitário. A amostra contou com 123 estudantes de graduação e pós-graduação, de universidades brasileiras, com idades entre 18 e 44 anos. As evidências de validade baseadas na estrutura interna da escala se deram pelas análises paralelas que indicaram a retenção de um fator, assim como a escala original e pela análise fatorial exploratória. O AAQ-US também apresentou boa consistência interna com α=. 87 e Omega de McDonald =. 70. Além disso, o AAQ-US apresentou evidências de validade convergente e discriminante, tendo correlações com procrastinação, variáveis de saúde mental e flexibilidade psicológica, como também validade de construto pelo método dos grupos conhecidos. Os resultados deste estudo indicam a validade do AAQ-US para o contexto universitário.
Multi‐scale model predicting friction of crystalline materials

A multi‐scale computational framework suitable for designing solid lubricant interfaces fully in silico is presented. The approach is based on stochastic thermodynamics founded on the classical thermally activated 2D Prandtl–Tomlinson model, linked with first principles methods to accurately capture the properties of real materials. It allows investigating the energy dissipation due to friction in materials as it arises directly from their electronic structure, and naturally accessing the time‐scale range of a typical friction force microscopy. This opens new possibilities for designing a broad class of material surfaces with atomically tailored properties. The multi‐scale framework is applied to a class of 2D layered materials and reveals a delicate interplay between the topology of the energy landscape and dissipation that known static approaches based solely on the energy barriers fail to capture.
Bus Size and Headways Optimization Model Considering Elastic Demand

This article proposes an optimization model for designing the intervals (headways) and sizes of buses circulating on public transport networks by minimizing the system’s operating and user costs. The proposed model takes into account congestion on the public transport system and works by considering elastic demand, allowing the analysis of the repercussions of modifications made to the operational characteristics of the public transport system on changes in users’ mode of transport. An in-depth sensitivity analysis checks the influence the value of time has on the final model results, and these results are compared with those from a model using inelastic demand. The validity of the proposed model is shown by applying it to the city of Santander, Spain. Finally, the consideration of elastic demand is shown to be beneficial in response to proposed operational changes rather than the assumption of a fixed and known public transport trip matrix.
CRITERION-REFERENCED ASSESSMENT INDEX FOR EVALUATING SOCIAL WELLBEING IN FLOOD RELIEF CAMPS

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction advocates for reduction in disaster risk in the social assets of persons and communities. Well-being has been recognized by the World Health Organization as a significant determinant of health. Relief camps, being a vital community resource during the testing times of disaster, therefore, have a social obligation to enable expeditious recovery of displaced communities by offering social support. Despite the presence of numerous studies focusing on wellbeing in the built environment, very few explore social well-being in relief camps. The study aims to address this gap. The paper identifies social issues through mutual corroboration and interdependencies found by a mixed-review method involving three research approaches: comparative analyses of existing relief-camp guidelines, review of assessment reports of two prominent floods in India, and a structured interview of 255 inhabitants from 10 flood relief camps in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Recurrent issues were discerned from distinct sources, prompting the identification of assessment constructs and consequently, 50 assessment items falling under these constructs. The findings from this research can serve as an operative-index for evaluating social well-being in flood relief camps. The assessment index is fundamentally region-specific. However, the methodology employed may be adapted to develop similar indices. The originality of this research is in establishing the link between social well-being and relief-camps, and thereafter, formulating a method to assess social well-being in flood relief camps.
Phase transformation from cubic ZnS to hexagonal ZnO by thermal annealing

We have investigated the mechanism of phase transformation from ZnS to hexagonal ZnO by high-temperature thermal annealing. The ZnS thin films were grown on Si (001) substrate by thermal evaporation system using ZnS powder as source material. The grown films were annealed at different temperatures and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), four-point probe, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX). The results demonstrated that as-deposited ZnS film has mixed phases but high-temperature annealing leads to transition from ZnS to ZnO. The observed result can be explained as a two-step process: (1) high-energy O atoms replaced S atoms in lattice during annealing process, and (2) S atoms diffused into substrate and/or diffused out of the sample. The dissociation energy of ZnS calculated from the Arrhenius plot of 1000/T versus log (resistivity) was found to be 3.1 eV. PL spectra of as-grown sample exhibits a characteristic green emission at 2.4 eV of ZnS but annealed samples consist of band-to-band and defect emission of ZnO at 3.29 eV and 2.5 eV respectively. SEM and EDX measurements were additionally performed to strengthen the argument.
High-efficiency mid-infrared transmissive Huygens dielectric metasurface

Over the past decade, major progress in emerging mid-infrared (IR) sources and detectors leads to increased interests for various IR-based applications, such as trace-gas detection, biological and medical sensing, and environmental monitoring. However, a limiting factor in the middle and long wave IR range is the lack of suitable materials that are transparent, low cost, lightweight and easy to fabricate. Here, we numerically demonstrate the artificially constructed Huygens meta-surface with versatile mid-IR wavefront control, by hybridizing the dielectric meta-atoms of high-permittivity chalcogenide on fluoride substrates. Based on the double-elements Huygens meta-atom design for linear phase tuning, transmission is enhanced substantially with high-efficiency (85%) by concentrating beam propagation into the first diffraction order similar as traditional blazed grating but with ultra-thin thickness (λ/8). Further, based on centrosymmetric deflection to produce a local and highly focused propagation mode, a Bessel beam generator is demonstrated (λ=5.22 μm, NA = 0.5) by coding a well-defined phase map into dielectric meta-atoms. As a result, the proposed dielectric metasurface with nanometer level thickness shows great prospects in the field of integrated photonics.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes relationship with blood pressure, C-reactive protein and selected physical tests in Zulu South African cricketers

2 maximum likelihood test and Fisher's exact test. ACE genotyping for the whole group displayed a complete absence of II genotype, 67.7% DD and 32.3% ID genotypes. The frequency of D allele was 83.8% and I allele 16.2%. In cricketers DD and ID genotypes were 50% each compared to controls-83% DD and 17% ID. No differences in grip strength and quadriceps/hamstring muscle strength between the groups were observed, but for the whole cohort 86% D allele frequency was associated with higher (greater than 43.3 kg) grip strength (p<0.037). In cricketers CRP (less than 3.0 mmol/l) was associated with 79% D allele frequency. SBP and DBP were significantly lower by 3.2 and 4.25 mmHg, whereas increased values of STT by 5.5%, and MR by 10.3% were found. Although, the number of participants in this study is small, it is concluded that in cricketers no over presentation of DD or ID genotypes was observed indicating a more balanced display of power and endurance required for the game.
Plant Viruses Can Alter Aphid-Triggered Calcium Elevations in Infected Leaves

Alighting aphids probe a new host plant by intracellular test punctures for suitability. These induce immediate calcium signals that emanate from the punctured sites and might be the first step in plant recognition of aphid feeding and the subsequent elicitation of plant defence responses. Calcium is also involved in the transmission of non-persistent plant viruses that are acquired by aphids during test punctures. Therefore, we wanted to determine whether viral infection alters calcium signalling. For this, calcium signals triggered by aphids were imaged on transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the cytosolic FRET-based calcium reporter YC3.6-NES and infected with the non-persistent viruses cauliflower mosaic (CaMV) and turnip mosaic (TuMV), or the persistent virus, turnip yellows (TuYV). Aphids were placed on infected leaves and calcium elevations were recorded by time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. Calcium signal velocities were significantly slower in plants infected with CaMV or TuMV and signal areas were smaller in CaMV-infected plants. Transmission tests using CaMV-infected Arabidopsis mutants impaired in pathogen perception or in the generation of calcium signals revealed no differences in transmission efficiency. A transcriptomic meta-analysis indicated significant changes in expression of receptor-like kinases in the BAK1 pathway as well as of calcium channels in CaMV- and TuMV-infected plants. Taken together, infection with CaMV and TuMV, but not with TuYV, impacts aphid-induced calcium signalling. This suggests that viruses can modify plant responses to aphids from the very first vector/host contact.