Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Inhibition of the Small-Conductance Ca2+-Activated Potassium Channels Decreases the Sinus Node Pacemaking during Beta-Adrenergic Activation

Sinus pacemaking is based on tight cooperation of intracellular Ca2+ handling and surface membrane ion channels. An important player of this synergistic crosstalk could be the small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+-channel (ISK) that could contribute to the sinoatrial node (SAN) pacemaking driven by the intracellular Ca2+ changes under normal conditions and beta-adrenergic activation, however, the exact role is not fully clarified. SK2 channel expression was verified by immunoblot technique in rabbit SAN cells. Ionic currents and action potentials were measured by patch-clamp technique. The ECG R-R intervals were obtained by Langendorff-perfusion method on a rabbit heart. Apamin, a selective inhibitor of SK channels, was used during the experiments. Patch-clamp experiments revealed an apamin-sensitive current. When 100 nM apamin was applied, we found no change in the action potential nor in the ECG R-R interval. In experiments where isoproterenol was employed, apamin increased the cycle length of the SAN action potentials and enhanced the ECG R-R interval. Apamin did not amplify the cycle length variability or ECG R-R interval variability. Our data indicate that ISK has no role under normal condition, however, it moderately contributes to the SAN automaticity under beta-adrenergic activation.
OCT Angiography Fractal Analysis of Choroidal Neovessels Secondary to Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, in a Caucasian Cohort

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) can be complicated by different types of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) features of CSCR-related CNVs. Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study including 102 eyes of 102 Caucasian patients with acute or complex CSCR. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination. Quantitative OCT-A parameters, including vascular perfusion density (VPD), fractal dimension (FD), and lacunarity (LAC), were measured in CNV eyes. Results: Forty eyes (39.2%) had acute CSCR, whereas the remaining sixty-two (60.8%) had complex CSCR. CNV was observed in 37 (36.27%) eyes, all of which had the complex form. CNVs were classified as type 1 CNV in 11/37 (29.73%) cases and as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in the remaining 26/37 (70.27%). Overall, the mean VPD, FD, and LAC of CSCR-related CNVs were 0.52 ± 0.20%, 1.44 ± 0.12, and 2.40 ± 1.1, respectively. No significant difference between type 1 CNV and PCV was found. Conclusion: Complex CSCR is often complicated by type 1 CNV and PCV with similar neovascular architecture and branching complexity, a finding supporting the idea that they might be different stages of the same neovascular process. Future OCT-A fractal analysis-based studies that also include other relevant parameters, such as demographics, presentation, morphology on multimodal imaging, and response to treatment, are necessary before drawing any definitive conclusions.
Modeling and Controlling the Actuator Joint Angle Position on the Robot Arm Base Using Discrete PID Algorithm

DC motor is a motor that is easy to apply. Its application in robotic DC motor control often occurs errors due to the existing load, so that the DC motor becomes inaccurate. The control used is PID (proportional integral differential). This PID control system works by processing calculations based on the control variables Kp, Ki, and Kd to achieve the conditions according to the expected setpoint. To make a DC motor position control device can be controlled with a PID controller. In practice, the variable to be controlled in this research is position control in the form of degrees. With the Arduino Mega controller, the motor driver as a DC motor rotation controller, the DC motor is given feedback in the form of an encoder sensor, the software used is the Arduino IDE. The results showed that PID control can correct errors and transient responses with a time constant value of 1.50 seconds, a rise time of 1.60 seconds, a settling time of 2.30 seconds and a delay time of 1.20 seconds and a peak time of 1.6 seconds and an error value of 0.33% through tuning parameter Kp = 16 Ki = 0.001 Kd = 16.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1-(2-(6-Methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)-6-methylnicotinoyl)-4-Substituted Semicarbazides/Thiosemicarbazides as Anti-Tumor Nur77 Modulators

Nur77 is an orphan nuclear receptor that participates in the occurrence and development of a variety of tumors. Many agonists of Nur77 have been reported to have significant anticancer effects. Our previous studies have found that the introduction of bicyclic aromatic rings, such as naphthalyl and quinoline groups, into the N′-methylene position of indoles’ Nur77 modulators can effectively improve the anti-tumor activity of the target compounds. Following our previous studies, a series of novel 1-(2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)-6-methylnicotinoyl)-4-substituted semicarbazide/thiosemicarbazide derivatives 9a–9w were designed and synthesized in four steps from 6-methoxy-2-acetonaphthone and N-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal. All compounds were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HRMS, and their anti-tumor activity on various cancer cell lines such as A549, HepG2, HGC-27, MCF-7 and HeLa are also evaluated. From the series of compounds, 9h exhibited the most potent anti-proliferative activity against several cancer cells. Colony formation and cell cycle experiments showed that compound 9h inhibited cell growth and arrested the cell cycle. Additionally, 9h leads to the cleavage of PARP. We initially explored the mechanism of 9h-induced apoptosis and found that compound 9h can upregulate Nur77 expression and triggered Nur77 nuclear export, indicating the occurrence of Nur77-mediated apoptosis. These results suggested that 9h may be a promising anti-tumor leading compound for the further research.
Research Review in Organizational Justice

The article aims at presenting the current state of knowledge in the field of organizational justice and its importance for the organization. It includes an overview of changing perception of justice as an idea over the centuries and discusses organizational justice as a part of the field of management science. In the article the author describes three main components of organizational justice: distributive justice, procedural justice, and interactive justice. Additionally, selected research in the area of organizational justice and its impact on the organization and its members has been presented. Conclusions from the presented literature review contain possible directions for further research in the field of organizational justice.
Establishing density-dependent longitudinal sound speed in the vertebral lamina.

Focused ultrasound treatments of the spinal cord may be facilitated using a phased array transducer and beamforming to correct spine-induced focal aberrations. Simulations can non-invasively calculate aberration corrections using x-ray computed tomography (CT) data that are correlated to density (ρ) and longitudinal sound speed (cL). We aimed to optimize vertebral lamina-specific cL(ρ) functions at a physiological temperature (37 °C) to maximize time domain simulation accuracy. Odd-numbered ex vivo human thoracic vertebrae were imaged with a clinical CT-scanner (0.511 × 0.511 × 0.5 mm), then sonicated with a transducer (514 kHz) focused on the canal via the vertebral lamina. Vertebra-induced signal time shifts were extracted from pressure waveforms recorded within the canals. Measurements were repeated 5× per vertebra, with 2.5 mm vertical vertebra shifts between measurements. Linear functions relating cL with CT-derived density were optimized. The optimized function was cL(ρ)=0.35(ρ-ρw)+ cL,w m/s, where w denotes water, giving the tested laminae a mean bulk density of 1600 ± 30 kg/m3 and a mean bulk cL of 1670 ± 60 m/s. The optimized lamina cL(ρ) function was accurate to λ/16 when implemented in a multi-layered ray acoustics model. This modelling accuracy will improve trans-spine ultrasound beamforming.
Paradoxical Ideologies: An Intersectional View of Argentine Psychoanalytic Discourses on Gender and Sexuality (2005–2012)

This article studies the Argentine psychoanalytic discourses surrounding the passing of the laws of marriage equality and gender identity between 2005 and 2012. During those years, psychoanalysts shared their expertise on LGBTQIA + issues in journals, newspapers, television and radio programmes, and at the National Congress. Their favourable opinions influenced several legislators and led to them voting in favour of the laws. In this article, I argue that these psychoanalytic discourses enabled paradoxical ideologies. While psychoanalytic concepts provided arguments in favour of passing the laws, they also paradoxically reinforced heteronormative, racist, classist, and urbanised views on gender and sexuality. Drawing from an intersectional perspective and from post-structuralist, feminist, and queer critiques to psychoanalysis, the article examines how these paradoxical ideologies emerge in newspaper articles and in journals and books published by psychoanalytic associations and aiming at a general audience.
Efficient normalization for quantitative evaluation of the driving behavior using a gated auto-encoder

Driving behavior normalization is important for a fair evaluation of the driving style. The longitudinal control of a vehicle is investigated in this study. The normalization task can be considered as mapping of the driving behavior in a different environment to the uniform condition. Unlike the model-based approach as in previous work, where a necessary driver model is employed to conduct the driving cycle test, the approach we propose directly normalizes the driving behavior using an auto-encoder (AE) when following a standard speed profile. To ensure a positive correlation between the vehicle speed and driving behavior, a gate constraint is imposed in between the encoder and decoder to form a gated AE (gAE). This approach is model-free and efficient. The proposed approach is tested for consistency with the model-based approach and for its applications to quantitative evaluation of the driving behavior and fuel consumption analysis. Simulations are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
The Burden of Uterine Fibroids from the Perspective of US Women Participating in Open-Ended Interviews

Background: Research on women's perspective of uterine fibroids (UF) experiences using their own words is limited. This study aimed to provide new insights on the symptoms experienced and their impacts on daily life. Methods: Interview substudy in 30 US women with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) associated with UF who completed one of two phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (LIBERTY 1 and 2; ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT03049735, NCT03103087). Women who consented to participate in this substudy were interviewed after their last clinical trial study visit. Concepts (i.e., symptoms and impacts) of importance to women were determined via open-ended questions, and the frequency of symptoms and their impacts, including the relationship between pain and menstruation, were assessed. Data were analyzed using established qualitative research methods, including grounded theory and constant comparative methods, and concept saturation was assessed. Results: Fifteen unique symptoms of UF emerged: the most commonly reported were HMB (n = 30, 100.0%), pelvic pain (n = 28, 93.3%), and passing of blood clots (n = 24, 80.0%). In total, 25 unique impacts were identified across eight concepts: physical impacts, activities of daily living, sleep, emotional impacts, sex life, social impacts, work and school, and financial impacts. Concept saturation was achieved for both symptoms and impacts. Conclusion: This study provides data on the symptoms experienced by women with HMB associated with UF, as well as the negative impacts of these symptoms as reported using their own words. The study findings confirm the significant burden associated with symptomatic UF.
A high resolution and flexible piezoresistive tactile sensor array

In this paper, a high resolution and flexible piezoresistive robot tactile sensor array is developed. The sensor is made of a sheet of anisotropic piezoresistive material CSA and stripe electrodes. Data acquisition circuit for tactile array is a new method scanned by a row, not by a taxel as previous. This method raises the speed of data acquisition. Tactile image processing is also breefly discussed in the paper. The final section gives measured characteristics of the sensor and conclusion.
Land Use in Flood-Prone Areas and Its Significance for Flood Risk Management—A Case Study of Alpine Regions in Austria

Increasing flood damage has led to a rising importance of land use in flood risk management policies, commonly referred to as the spatial turn in flood risk management. This includes policies aiming at making space for rivers, which, in practice, lead to an increasing demand for land. Although research has been conducted on the variety of policies, the resulting land use conflicts in flood-prone areas have not been paid much attention to. This paper therefore analyses the current land use and its changes in Alpine flood-prone areas in Austria. The results show that space for rivers has been decreasing due to human activities (e.g., river straightening and channel narrowing) since the middle of the 19th century, and settlements have been expanding into flood-prone areas. Furthermore, the share of valuable agricultural land (which is important for food production) located in flood hazard zones is higher in more mountainous areas. Given the limited space for permanent settlement in Alpine regions, these land use changes exert pressure on the availability of land suitable for flood risk management. Therefore, making space for rivers as part of flood risk management policies faces considerable restrictions in Alpine areas.
Optimal control of a high gain DC- DC converter

Different types of power conditioning systems are mostly used with renewable energy systems. As the output of solar photovoltaic (PV) is low high voltage converters are required. These converters can be used for both standalone and grid tied systems. A high voltage gain DC-DC converter is proposed which can be used with photovoltaic modules to get high output voltage. This converter can provide a high voltage gain and a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller is used to maintain the high output voltage of the proposed converter coupled with solar photovoltaic module. The PID controller is first designed using classical Ziegler Nichol’s method (ZN) and optimal control of the converter is obtained by using different optimisation methods like particle swarm optimisation (PSO), bacteria foraging algorithm (BFA) and its comparison is presented in this paper.
Sperm Gone Smart: A Portable Device (iSperm®) to Assess Semen Concentration and Motility in Dogs

Simple Summary Semen analysis can be subjective and time-consuming if automated instruments are not available. However, such devices are expensive and not transportable for on-field analyses. A portable device (iSperm®) is available for the evaluation of semen concentration and motility, but data on its reliability for canine semen analysis are still scarce. This study assessed the performances of the iSperm® on a large sample size (n = 224) by evaluating its correlation with a conventional computer-assisted sperm analyzer (ISAS®v1) for semen concentration and motility. The intra-assay variability of both the iSperm® and the ISAS®v1 and their ability to estimate semen concentration at a fixed value of 40 × 106/mL were also investigated. Results showed that the intra-assay variability was lower for the ISAS®v1 compared to the iSperm®. Hence, iSperm® results were more variable in-between fields. Both the iSperm® and the ISAS®v1 were not reliable in estimating semen concentration. Finally, the two devices were positively correlated, although providing different values for each parameter. Some improvements of the iSperm® software are therefore needed to make it a valid alternative to automated computerized systems for the analysis of canine semen. Abstract The iSperm® is a portable device for semen analysis. This study aimed to investigate its correlation with a conventional computer-assisted sperm analyzer (ISAS®v1) for the assessment of semen concentration and kinematic parameters in dogs (n = 224). The intra-assay variability of both devices and their ability to estimate semen concentration at a fixed value of 40 × 106/mL were also investigated. Results showed that the intra-assay variability was lower for the ISAS®v1 for all parameters compared to the iSperm®. Hence, iSperm® estimates were more variable in-between fields. Both the iSperm® and the ISAS®v1 were not reliable in estimating semen concentration (ISAS®v1: median 30 × 106/mL, interquartile range (IQR) 12, p < 0.01; iSperm®: median 35.12 × 106/mL, IQR 11.11, p < 0.01). Finally, positive correlations were found between both devices with stronger correlations obtained when four fields were analyzed by the iSperm®. However, the low number of spermatozoa analyzed per field and the inability to avoid artifacts are downsides that currently limit the reliability of the iSperm®. Therefore, the software of iSperm® needs some improvement to make it a valid and practical alternative to automated computerized systems for the analysis of canine semen.
Experimental Study of Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Random Copolymer and Rice-Husk-Based Biocomposite by Using Nanoindentation

Nanoindentation is widely used to investigate the surface-mechanical properties of biocomposites. In this study, polypropylene random copolymer (PPRC) and biowaste rice husk (BRH) were used as the main raw materials, and glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene and talc were also used with BRH to enhance the mechanical characterization of the biocomposites. The interfacial bonding between the polymer and the rice husk was increased by treating them with maleic anhydride and NaOH, respectively. The results obtained from the nanoindentation indicated that the plastic behavior of the biocomposites was prominent when untreated BRH was used and vice versa. The modulus and hardness of the biocomposite improved by 44.8% and 54.8% due to the neat PPRC, respectively. The tribological properties were studied based on the hardness-to-modulus ratio and it was found that BRH- and talc-based biocomposites were better than other samples in terms of low friction and wear rate. The creep measurements showed that untreated rice husk biocomposite exhibited high resistance to load deformation.
Effects of Antiarrhythmic Drugs on Antiepileptic Drug Action—A Critical Review of Experimental Findings

Severe cardiac arrhythmias developing in the course of seizures increase the risk of SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy). Hence, epilepsy patients with pre-existing arrhythmias should receive appropriate pharmacotherapy. Concomitant treatment with antiarrhythmic and antiseizure medications creates, however, the possibility of drug–drug interactions. This is due, among other reasons, to a similar mechanism of action. Both groups of drugs inhibit the conduction of electrical impulses in excitable tissues. The aim of this review was the analysis of such interactions in animal seizure models, including the maximal electroshock (MES) test in mice, a widely accepted screening test for antiepileptic drugs.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy and safety comparing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate with transurethral resection of the prostate for patients with prostate volume less than 100 mL or 100 g

Background To assess the efficacy and safety of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for patients with prostate volume less than 100 mL or 100 g. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science from inception to July 2021 to collect randomized controlled trials. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies by using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. We synthesised effect estimates using risk ratios (RR), mean difference (MD), and standardized mean differences (SMD). Results A total of eight studies were included, involving 764 patients, 384 patients in the HoLEP group and 380 patients in the TURP group. The meta-analysis showed that the catheterization time (SMD =-1.44; 95% CI: -2.17 to -0.70; P=0.0001), hospital stay (SMD =-1.01; 95% CI: -1.58 to -0.44; P=0.0005), haemoglobin loss (MD =-0.29; 95% CI: -0.52 to -0.07; P=0.01), and transfusion rate (RR =0.16; 95% CI: 0.05-0.49; P=0.001) in the HoLEP group were lower than those in the TURP group. In addition, the 12-month postvoid residual volume (PVR) of the HoLEP group (MD =-9.93 95% CI: -18.59 to -1.27; P=0.02) were superior to the TURP group. Although the operation time of the HoLEP group was longer (MD =17.89; 95% CI: 9.18-26.60; P<0.0001), more tissues were removed (SMD =0.47; 95% CI: 0.10-0.85; P=0.01). Discussion Compared with TURP, HoLEP has a shorter catheterization time and hospital stay, with more tissue removed, a lower blood transfusion rate and better results in the short-term follow-up after surgery. Therefore, HoLEP has better efficacy and safety in the treatment of small- and medium-sized benign prostatic obstruction. Our results found that HoLEP is also suitable for patients with prostate volume <100 mL/100 g, suggesting that it is necessary to redefine the prostate size that is best for HoLEP. Overall, the certainty of evidence was assessed to be moderate to low due to potential risk of bias and inconsistent outcome indicators in some studies. More data on the efficacy of HoLEP and TURP on small- and medium-sized prostates are needed to determine the optimal prostate volume of HoLEP.
Development or dispossession? Exploring the consequences of a major Chinese investment in rural Cambodia

ABSTRACT China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is facilitating massive infrastructure investment globally. Yet little is known about the BRI's local impacts, especially in countries like Cambodia where regulations are weak and government enthusiasm for the BRI is high. This article examines a set of BRI-linked investments in rural Cambodia, involving five agro-industrial concessions and a sugar-processing factory. We explore how these investments interacted with the local political economy and land governance. We find that, despite being couched in rhetoric of opportunity and progress, the investments caused Indigenous and Khmer villagers to lose access to customary land and forest resources, with disastrous consequences for livelihoods and the environment. We invoke Tsing's ‘economy of appearances' to suggest that generation of speculative value is a key aspect of the BRI. This case confirms that ‘development’ of this kind can instigate and accelerate local dispossession, while failing to deliver on grandiose promises.