Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early Diagnosis of Mercury Stress of Wheat Seedlings Using Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was the non-destructive and rapid evaluation of the phytotoxicity of different concentrations of mercury (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 mM) on the biochemical profile of wheat seedlings using attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy in combination with principal component analysis. Infrared spectra of the leaves of control and mercury-treated wheat seedlings were recorded in the spectral region from 4000 to 485 cm−1. The preprocessing of the recorded spectra by second derivation enhanced the specificity of the infrared bands. The area of the bands estimated by curve fitting was used for the relative quantitative estimation of the biochemical changes involved. The principal component analysis of the acquired spectral measurements discriminated between the biochemicals of the control and mercury-treated wheat seedlings. The result showed that mercury (0.2–1 mM) significantly enhanced the content of the cell wall polysaccharides, amino acids, β-sheet component of proteins, and lipids in the leaves accompanied by reduction in the amount of α-helix. The change in β-sheet/α-helix ratio indicated mercury induced structural changes in the secondary structure of proteins. The increase in the levels of methylene bands and carboxyl bands indicates changes in lipid configuration and peroxidative damage caused by mercury. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of ATR–FTIR in combination with principal component analysis as an environmental monitoring tool for the identification of plant populations affected by environmental factors like heavy metal stress prior to the appearance of visual signs of toxicity.
The Kinetic Approach of NOx Photoreaction Related to Ground Measurement of Solar Radiation in Estimates of Surface Ozone Concentration

Surface ozone is a secondary pollutant produced by the collision of oxygen molecules with oxy-radicals as a result of the photoreaction of nitrogen oxide. Excessive levels of this pollutant cause negative impacts on the environment. Moreover, understanding the formation kinetics and precursors are important for air quality management. This study aims to determine the surface ozone reaction kinetics of formation phase dominant factors (NOx precursors and influx radiation) in urban areas. These kinetics are based on the recorded measurements of global radiation, remaining NOx and ozone concentration at ground level from air quality monitoring. These data are then categorised for rainy and dry seasons. Each data category was analysed according to daily pattern and daily maximum value. The relationship and kinetic constants of concerned parameters were determined. The ozone concentration is proportional by factor k to the influx radiation and conversely to the remaining nitrogen dioxide in the first-order photoreaction. This relationship is linear with R2 greater than 0.9 during both rainy and dry seasons. The value of kinetic constant k is equal to 1.1044 for rainy seasons and to 0.8416 for dry seasons. It shows the factor of influx radiation and remaining [NOx] in an atmosphere with a dominant rainy as compared to dry season.
Electro‐mechanical properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐hexafluoropropylene) reinforced with zinc oxide nanostructure

The piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) ((P(VDF-HFP)) has been incorporated with zinc oxide (ZnO) of different forms, i.e. nanoparticles (NPs), nanorods (NRs), and microrods (MRs). The polymer has been activated the piezoelectric phase with the poling filed of 70 MV/m at 90°C for 10 min. ZnO of various particle types is grown into piezoelectric wurtzite. The addition of ZnO has slightly changed the degree of crystallinity of the polymers and clearly increased the elasticity to the best value in the case of inserted MRs. The electroactive phase of the polymer-based film has been enhanced at 2 wt% of ZnO for both NPs and NRs cases. The dielectric constant of the films increased with ZnO concentration. Finally, a cantilever beam structure with the patch of P(VDF-HFP) reinforced with ZnO of 2 wt% NRs shows the best performance as a microsource of the energy of about 1 µW. Development of micropower energy harvesting in P(VDF-HFP) with ZnO NRs has been substantially and highly promising to power small-scale electronics. ‏
Effect of B Vitamins-fortified Foods on Primary School Children in Beijing

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of B vitamins-fortified foods on primary school children. A controlled trial was conducted in 101 normal primary school children aged 9-11 years. They were randomly assigned to supplemental control group (S-control, n=36), riboflavin supplementation group (+riboflavin 0.625 mg/day, n=32), and B vitamin compound supplementation group (+riboflavin 0.625 mg/day, +thiamin 0.512 mg/day, +nicotinic acid 0.365 mg/day, +folic acid 0.13 mg/day, n=33) based on school classes. Urinary riboflavin excretion and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRAC) along with erythrocyte transketolase activity (ETKA) were used to evaluate B vitamin levels in the children. AYP index, an index reflecting the brain performance ability, was chosen to assess the children's study abilities. Health education was carried out to help children and their parents adopt scientific dietary concepts. The urinary riboflavin excretion was higher in two supplementation groups (435.24 +/- 153.3 microg/g creatinine, 374.6 +/- 144.6 microg/g creatinine) than in S-control group (235.1 +/- 86.2 microg/g creatinine). Average values of EGRAC were lower in two supplementation groups (0.90 +/- 0.11, 0.80 +/- 0.10) than in S-control group (1.08 +/- 0.25). At the same time, the percentage of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP%) decreased from 63.69 +/- 28.04 to 42.16 +/- 16.31 in B vitamin compound supplementation group. Meanwhile, AYP index increased at the end of the supplementation in two supplementation groups. B vitamins supplementation can significantly increase B vitamin level in children. Biochemical activities of riboflavin and thiamin can improve with the intake of fortified foods. The effect of B vitamin compound supplementation is better than that of single riboflavin supplementation when the effect of riboflavin's biofunction is considered. In addition, micronutrient supplementation appears to assist children's study abilities.
Low-temperature hydrogen production from water and methanol using Pt/alpha-MoC catalysts

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) running on hydrogen are attractive alternative power supplies for a range of applications(1-3), with in situ release of the required hydrogen from a stable liquid offering one way of ensuring its safe storage and transportation(4,5) before use. The use of methanol is particularly interesting in this regard, because it is inexpensive and can reform itself with water to release hydrogen with a high gravimetric density of 18.8 per cent by weight. But traditional reforming of methanol steam operates at relatively high temperatures (200-350 degrees Celsius)(6-8), so the focus for vehicle and portable PEMFC applications(9) has been on aqueous-phase reforming of methanol (APRM). This method requires less energy, and the simpler and more compact device design allows direct integration into PEMFC stacks(10,11). There remains, however, the need for an efficient APRM catalyst. Here we report that platinum (Pt) atomically dispersed on a-molybdenum carbide (alpha-MoC) enables low-temperature (150-190 degrees Celsius), base-free hydrogen production through APRM, with an average turnover frequency reaching 18,046 moles of hydrogen per mole of platinum per hour. We attribute this exceptional hydrogen production-which far exceeds that of previously reported low-temperature APRM catalysts-to the outstanding ability of a-MoC to induce water dissociation, and to the fact that platinum and a-MoC act in synergy to activate methanol and then to reform it.
Reduction in C 2 H 6 from 2015 to 2020 over Hefei, eastern China 1 points to air quality improvement in China 2

28 Ethane (C 2 H 6 quantifies the variability, transport of C 2 H 6 over densely populated and highly industrialized eastern China using ground-based high-resolution Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) remote sensing together with atmospheric modelling techniques. obtained a retrieval error of 6.21 ± 1.2 (1σ)% and degrees of freedom (DOFS) of 1.47 ± 0.2 (1σ) in retrieval of C 2 H 6 tropospheric column-averaged dry-air mole fraction (troDMF) over Hefei, eastern China (117°E, 32°N, 30 m a.s.l.). The observed C 2 H 6 troDMF reached a minimum monthly mean value of 0.36 ± 0.26 ppbv in July and a maximum monthly mean value of 1.76 ± 0.35 ppbv in December, and showed a negative change rate of − 2.60 ± 1.34 %/yr from 2015 to 2020. The dependencies of C 2 H 6 troDMF on meteorological and emission factors were analyzed by using generalized additive models (GAMs). Generally, both meteorological and emission factors have positive influences on C 2 H 6 troDMF in cold season (DJF/MAM) and negative influences on C 2 H 6 troDMF in warm season (JJA/SON). GEOS-Chem chemical model captured the observed C 2 H 6 troDMF variability and was thus used for source attribution. GEOS- Chem model sensitivity simulations concluded that the anthropogenic emissions (fossil fuel plus 2 biofuel emissions) and the natural emissions (biomass burning plus biogenic emissions) accounted 3 for 48.1% and 39.7% of C 2 H 6 troDMF variability over Hefei, respectively. The observed C 2 H 6 4 troDMF variability mainly results from the emissions within China (74.1%), where central, eastern, 5 and northern China dominated the contribution (57.6%). Seasonal variability in C 2 H 6 transport 6 inflow and outflow over the observation site is largely related to the mid-latitude westerlies and 7 Asian monsoon system. Reduction in C 2 H 6 abundance from 2015 to 2020 mainly results from the 8 decrease in local and transported C 2 H 6 emissions, which points to air quality improvement in China 9 in recent years.
Efficient Combinatorial Exchanges with Opt-Out Types 1

We investigate combinatorial exchanges as a generalization of auctions and bilateral trades, where multiple heterogeneous commodities are initially possessed not only by a central planner but also by participants. We assume private values, quasi-linearity, risk neutrality, and independent type distribution. Efficiency, Bayesian Incentive Compatibility, and Interim Individual Rationality in a type-dependent manner are required. We introduce a stability notion in the ex-ante term, namely marginal core. By assuming the presence of opt-out types for each player, we show a full characterization in that the central planner inevitably has a deficit if and only if the marginal core is non-empty.
Synthesis and Characterization of Fluorinated Hypervalent Tellurium Derivatives

The synthesis of tellurium derivatives bearing fluorinated groups, similar in structure to their hypervalent iodine congeners, is reported. Thus, a series of CF3, CF2H, and C6F5 aryltellurium(II) species bearing various functional groups interacting with the Te atom was obtained. The installation of the various fluorinated groups relies on the use of the corresponding trimethylsilyl precursors. The hypervalent nature of the products is discussed on the basis of their NMR spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic characterization.
Heat Transfer Enhancement Using a Convex-Patterned Surface

The heat transfer rate from a smooth wall in an internal cooling passage can be significantly enhanced by using a convex patterned surface on the opposite wall of the passage. This design is particularly effective for a design that requires the heat transfer surface to be free of any augmenting features (smooth). Heat transfer coefficients on the smooth wall in a rectangular channel, which had convexities on the opposite wall were experimentally investigated. Friction factors were also measured to assess the thermal performance. Relative clearances (δ/d) between the convexities and the smooth wall of 0, 0.024, and 0.055 were investigated in a Reynolds number (ReHD ) range from 15,000 to 35,000. The heat transfer coefficients were measured in the thermally developed region using a transient thermochromic liquid crystal technique. The clearance gap between the convexities and the smooth wall adversely affected the heat transfer enhancement (NuHD ). The friction factors (f), measured in the aerodynamically developed region, were largest for the cases of no clearance (δ/d = 0). The average heat transfer enhancement (Nu HD ) was also largest for the cases of no clearance (δ/d = 0), as high as 3.08 times at a Reynolds number of 11,456 in relative to that (Nuo ) of an entirely smooth channel. The normalized Nusselt numbers (Nu HD /Nuo ), as well as the normalized friction factors (f/fo ), for all three cases, decreased with Reynolds numbers. However, the decay rate of the friction factor ratios (f/fo ) with Reynolds numbers was lower than that of the normalized Nusselt numbers. For all three cases investigated, the thermal performance ((Nu HD /Nuo ) /(f/fo )1/3 ) values were within 5% to each other. The heat transfer enhancement using a convex patterned surface was thermally more effective at a relatively low Reynolds numbers (less than 20,000 for δ/d = 0) than that of a smooth channel. © 2002 ASME
Convergence and economic growth : does income inequality matter ?

Convergence and steady states are important theoretical and empirical concepts in the sphere of economic growth. Convergence theory suggests that over time as countries develop, their wealth grows. In the process, poorer economies will experience some catch-up effect with the wealthier economies measured by their level per-capita GDP. Steady state economic growth implies that in the long-run, given savings and population growth rates, a country will no longer be able to increase and achieve sustained economic growth rate without the introduction of other factors such as technological innovation. Economic growth first developed as a robust theoretical concept by Solow (1956), has since expanded to empirically test why some countries are poor while others are rich. These tests include factors such as technology, human capital, trade, and income inequality among other variables, as possible explanations in the growth literature.
Evaluating Street Cleaning Operations for Sustainability: The Case of Osun State, Nigeria

This paper evaluated street cleaning operations in Osun State, Nigeria. Data were collected from the street cleaners and residents through the administration of questionnaires. The study revealed that the cleaners were poorly paid, lacked job security and access to medical care, were poorly equipped and had no insurance policy cover. Waste generated from street cleaning operations was poorly managed; cleaners therefore adopted disposal methods that were not sanitary. Cleaners were exposed to hazards such as insect stings, offensive sights and odors, snakebites and automobile accidents. Residents perceived that the street cleaning operation had brought tremendous improvement to the sanitation conditions of selected roads; however, they were not ready to pay service charges. The paper concluded that for the street cleaning operation to be sustainable, the working conditions of the cleaners and equipment provision must be substantially improved; and residents’ perception of street cleaning operations as a social service changed.
Ferroelectric Properties and Microstructures of Tb2O3-Doped Bismuth Titanate Ceramics

The electrical properties of Tb2O3-doped bismuth titanate,Bi4-xTbxTi3O12 (BTT) ceramics prepared by a conventional electroceramic technique have been investigated. XRD analyses indicted Bi-layered perovskite structure in all samples, and revealed that Bi ions were only substituted near the Ti-O octahedron layers by Tb ions. SEM micrographs show randomly oriented and plate-like morphology. The remanent polarization ( Pr ) and coercive field ( Ec ) of the BTT ceramics with x=0.75 were above 16μC/cm2 and 75KV/cm, respectively. The large value of remanent polarization and low coercive field of Tb-doped bismuth titanate ceramics promote these materials to potential applications.
LTX-315-enabled, radiotherapy-boosted immunotherapeutic control of breast cancer by NK cells

ABSTRACT LTX-315 is a nonameric oncolytic peptide in early clinical development for the treatment of solid malignancies. Preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that the anticancer properties of LTX-315 originate not only from its ability to selectively kill cancer cells, but also from its capacity to promote tumor-targeting immune responses. Here, we investigated the therapeutic activity and immunological correlates of intratumoral LTX-315 administration in three syngeneic mouse models of breast carcinoma, with a focus on the identification of possible combinatorial partners. We found that breast cancer control by LTX-315 is accompanied by a reconfiguration of the immunological tumor microenvironment that supports the activation of anticancer immunity and can be boosted by radiation therapy. Mechanistically, depletion of natural killer (NK) cells compromised the capacity of LTX-315 to limit local and systemic disease progression in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer, and to extend the survival of mice bearing hormone-accelerated, carcinogen-driven endogenous mammary carcinomas. Altogether, our data suggest that LTX-315 controls breast cancer progression by engaging NK cell-dependent immunity.
Serial surveillance by circulating tumor DNA profiling after chimeric antigen receptor T therapy for the guidance of r/r diffuse large B cell lymphoma precise treatment

Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) released from tumor cells carries the tumor-associated genetic and epigenetic characteristics of cancer patients. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) facilitates the application of ctDNA profiling for identification and monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) in cancer, and can serve as the guidance for precise treatment. Methods: In this study, we profiled genomic alterations in the baseline, relapsed, and progressive tumor samples of eight diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients (NCT03118180) after chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy. Results: The median follow-up was 41 months. 4 (50%) patients achieved complete remission (CR), 1 (12.5%) patient achieved partial remission (PR), and the other 3 (37.5%) patients showed no response. 3 of 5 patients who achieved remission relapsed within 4 months after CAR-T therapy, while the rest 2 patients remained CR for more than 3 years. Based on the positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan, the current gold standard for evaluating response to therapy in lymphoma, the sensitivity and specificity of our ctDNA profiling in detecting tumor-related ctDNA mutations were 94.7% and 83.3%, respectively. The median numbers of baseline plasma ctDNA mutations in patients who remained long-term CR and patients who relapsed or became refractory to CAR-T therapy were 3 and 14.3, respectively. GNA13, SOCS1, TNFAIP3 and XPO1 mutations appeared to be associated with poor prognosis after CAR-T cell therapy. Our results also suggested that lenalidomide might relieve relapsed lymphoma with mutations in NFKBIA 202C>T (p.Q68*) and NFKBIE 433A>T (p.K145*) by targeting NF-Kappa B signaling. In addition, the inhibitor selinexor may be another choice for refractory or relapse (r/r) DLBCL patients after CAR-T cell treatment. Conclusion: Serial ctDNA monitoring is an emerging technology for the surveillance of disease status and prognosis prediction. In this work, we demonstrated the use of serial ctDNA monitoring in r/r DLBCL patients after CD19-targeted CAR-T cell therapy. Our longitudinal NGS profiling revealed the changes of ctDNA mutation in accordance with prognosis, and shed some light on exploring more targeted treatment options together with CAR-T cell therapy.
Curcumin Inhibits HGF-Induced EMT by Regulating c-MET-Dependent PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathways in Meningioma

Meningiomas, which are the most common primary intracranial tumors, have highly aggressive cells in malignant cases. Due to its extensive antitumor effects, curcumin is widely used in experimental and clinical studies. However, the role of curcumin during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in meningioma has not been established. We found that curcumin blocks hepatocyte growth factor- (HGF-) induced proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of human malignant meningioma cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In addition, treatment of human malignant meningioma cells with the tyrosine protein kinase (c-MET) inhibitor (SU11274) or the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002) suppressed HGF-induced migration and EMT. Furthermore, we found that curcumin inhibited tumor growth and HGF-induced EMT in mice subjected to subcutaneous xenotransplantation. These findings indicate that HGF regulates EMT in human malignant meningioma cells through c-MET/PI3K/Akt/mTOR modulation. In conclusion, curcumin inhibits HGF-induced EMT by targeting c-MET and subsequently blocking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Suppression Of Aberrant Activation Of NF-κB Pathway In Drug-resistant Leukemia Stem Cells Contributes To Parthenolide-potentiated Reversal Of Drug Resistance In Leukemia

Although many drugs that targeted the specific features of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) have substantial application in the clinical treatment of leukemia, the LSCs relapsed and caused drug-resistant leukemia. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the unique features of LSCs in relapsing and drug-resistant leukemia and also to explore the drugs that directed at these features. Our clinical data have indicated that relapsed patients with acute myeloid leukemia have more abundant proportion of LSCs with enhanced breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression when compared to the untreated patients. The results showed that compared with LSCs derived from sensitive K562 cells, LSCs from drug-resistant K562/ADM cells have much higher chemotherapeutic resistance, and so we termed these cells as “drug-resistant LSCs”. Subsequently, aberrant activation of NF-κB pathway in drug-resistant LSCs was further using gene chip analysis. Also, parthenolide (PTL), which is a specific NF-κB inhibitor, effectively eliminated drug-resistant LSCs and enhanced the sensitivity of K562/ADM cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis by down-regulating NF-κB pathway-mediated P-gp expression. These findings make the research area of LSCs more abundant and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of refractory and relapsed leukemia.