Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Power-Electronic-Controlled Electromagnetic Axial Bearings for High-Speed Electrical Machines: Status Review and Design Example

Contactless, electromagnetic bearings, controlled through power-electronic converters, are a good option for high-speed electrical machines. In addition to radial forces, the shaft of a machine also experiences axial forces due to reasons which are briefly indicated in this paper. This paper reviews the present status of power-electronic-controlled electromagnetic thrust (or axial) bearing (ETB) and reports a design example of the same. Being contactless, these bearings can operate at high speeds with a long life. Their lubrication-free operation makes them suitable for operation in vacuum, contamination-free or hazardous environments. This paper discusses the construction, operation, magnetic circuit analysis, and force-current characteristics of the ETB. Differential control of ETB is reviewed, including the overall control structure and dynamic models for position and current control. Electromagnetic design of an ETB to axially support a rotor of diameter 36 mm, delivering a maximum axial force of 1,600 N, is presented. The design steps include preliminary selection of major dimensions using design equations, followed by design iterations to achieve the specified performance. The final design is evaluated using 2-D and 3-D finite element analyses. Detailed modelling and controller design are reported for the ETB designed, whose performance is verified through simulations. Limitations of the present technologies and possible future research directions in various aspects of ETB are highlighted.
Successful Implementation of Menstrual Cycle Biomarkers in the Treatment of Infertility in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome—Case Report

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility. Absent, impaired, or rare ovulation induces progesterone deficiency in the luteal phase, which is a critical problem in PCOS. A usual pattern of progesterone administration from a fixed and arbitrary pre-determined day of a menstrual cycle may preserve infertility but can easily be avoided. We present the case of a 29-year-old infertile woman who had been ineffectively treated for over two years. We introduced a line of therapy that was suited to her individual menstrual cycle by implementing biomarker recording. Supplementation based on a standardized observation of the basal body temperature (BBT) and cervical mucus stopped the vicious circle of absent ovulation and hyperandrogenism, restoring regular bleeding, ovulation cycles, and fertility. The implementation of a reliable fertility awareness method (FAM), accompanied by a standardized teaching methodology and periodic review of the observations recorded by the patient, validated through an ultrasound examination and plasma gonadotropins, estrogens, and progesterone concentrations, is key to achieving therapeutic success. The presented case is an example of a clinical vignette for many patients who have successfully managed to improve their fertility and pregnancy outcomes by applying the principles of a personalized treatment approach together with gestagens by recording their fertility biomarkers.
N-Benzylethanolammonium Ionic Liquids and Molten Salts in the Synthesis of 68Ga- and Al18F-Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals

Ionic liquids (ILs), due to their structural features, have unique physical and chemical properties and are environmentally friendly. Every year, the number of studies devoted to the use of ILs in medicine and pharmaceutics is growing. In nuclear medicine, the use of ILs with self-buffering capacity in the synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals is extremely important. This research is devoted to obtaining new ionic buffer agents containing N-benzylethanolammonium (BEA) cations and anions of carboxylic acids. A series of new BEA salts was synthesized and identified by NMR (1H, 13C), IR spectroscopy and elemental and thermal analysis. The crystal structures of BEA hydrogen succinate, hydrogen oxalate and oxalate were determined by x-ray diffraction. Newly synthesized compounds were tested as buffer solutions in 68Ga- and Al18F-radiolabeling reactions with a series of bifunctional chelating agents and clinically relevant peptides used for visualization of malignancies by positron emission tomography. The results obtained confirm the promise of using new buffers in the synthesis of 68Ga- and Al18F-labeled radiopharmaceuticals.
CubeSat Platform Integrated UHF/VHF Antennas

This work presents a new CubeSat antenna design concept to cover UHF/VHF or higher bands. The antenna is integrated into the satellite platform to save physical volume occupied and power consumption. The proposed antennas have demonstrated comparable performance to normal monopole antennas. Possible grounding deficiency due to the structure frame for the operation of lower frequency band can be compensated by the circuit board or the solar panel. The mutual coupling of the platform integrated antennas is also analyzed.
SOXC Transcription Factors as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Arthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are two common disorders that disrupt the quality of life of millions of people. These two chronic diseases cause damage to the joint cartilage and surrounding tissues of more than 220 million people worldwide. Sex-determining region Y-related (SRY) high-mobility group (HMG) box C, SOXC, is a superfamily of transcription factors that have been recently shown to be involved in various physiological and pathological processes. These include embryonic development, cell differentiation, fate determination, and autoimmune diseases, as well as carcinogenesis and tumor progression. The SOXC superfamily includes SOX4, SOX11, and SOX12, all have a similar DNA-binding domain, i.e., HMG. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge about the role of SOXC transcription factors during arthritis progression and their potential utilization as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The involved mechanistic processes and signaling molecules are discussed. SOX12 appears to have no role in arthritis, however SOX11 is dysregulated and promotes arthritic progression according to some studies but supports joint maintenance and protects cartilage and bone cells according to others. On the other hand, SOX4 upregulation during OA and RA was documented in almost all studies including preclinical and clinical models. Molecular details have indicated that SOX4 can autoregulate its own expression besides regulating the expression of SOX11, a characteristic associated with the transcription factors that protects their abundance and activity. From analyzing the currently available data, SOX4 seems to be a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target of arthritis.
Review of Fault-Tolerant Control Systems Used in Robotic Manipulators

Control systems that ensure robot operation during failures are necessary, particularly when manipulators are operating in hazardous or hard-to-reach environments. In such applications, fault-tolerant robot controllers should detect failures and, using fault-tolerant control methods, be able to continue operation without human intervention. Fault-tolerant control (FTC) is becoming increasingly important in all industries, including production lines in which modern robotic manipulators are used. The use of fault-tolerant systems in robotics can prevent the production line from being immobilized due to minor faults. In this paper, an overview of the current state-of-the-art methods of fault-tolerant control in robotic manipulators is provided. This review covers publications from 2003 to 2022. The article pays special attention to the use of artificial intelligence (AI), i.e., fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks, as well as sliding mode and other control methods, in the FTC of robotic manipulators. The cited and described publications were mostly found using Google Scholar.
Fabrication and Optimization of Nafion as a Protective Membrane for TiN-Based pH Sensors

In this study, a solid-state modified pH sensor with RF magnetron sputtering technology was developed. The sensor consists of an active electrode consisting of a titanium nitride (TiN) film with a protective membrane of Nafion and a reference glass electrode of Ag/AgCl. The sensitivity of the pH sensor was investigated. Results show a sensor with excellent characteristics: sensitivity of 58.6 mV/pH for pH values from 2 to 12, very short response time of approximately 12 s in neutral pH solutions, and stability of less than 0.9 mV in 10 min duration. Further improvement in the performance of the TiN sensor was studied by application of a Nafion protective membrane. Nafion improves the sensor sensitivity close to Nernstian by maintaining a linear response. This paves the way to implement TiN with Nafion protection to block any interference species during real time applications in biosensing and medical diagnostic pH sensors.
Editorial: Sustainable and eco-friendly building materials

The environmental studies demonstrate that global warming is worsening and hurting an increasing number of people, combating climate change has clearly become a top concern. Worldwide, the acceleration of climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions is beginning to have a direct impact on people’s lives, and buildings generate nearly 40% of annual global carbon dioxide emissions (Sovacool et al., 2021). As a result, one of the most significant worldwide challenges to lowering carbon dioxide emissions is to reform the building sector. There are numerous significant trends in sustainable architecture that will assist lower the building industry’s carbon impact (Ali et al., 2020). Nowadays, concrete is utilized in almost every structure, including buildings, bridges, residences, and infrastructure. With a growing emphasis on sustainability in recent years, structural engineers are being pushed to achieve both traditional design criteria and the developing norms that promote sustainable building (Miller et al., 2021). Green composites are a type of biocomposites in which a bio-based polymer lattice is reinforced by common strands, and they represent a growing field in polymer research. Concrete is a composite material composed of coarse granular material (the filler aggregate) encased in a hard matrix of material (the cement or binder) that fills the space between the aggregate particles and bonds them together (Mindess et al., 1981). A biocomposite is a cement or polymer matrix combined with organic fibers derived from agricultural and forest resources, either as a fiber crop or as waste (Saleh et al., 2020a) (Saleh et al., 2020b). A new/added topic is the use of vegetable fibers as reinforcement in cement-based materials. Several researches have also reported on the incorporation of plantbased natural fibers into cement concrete. Various plant fibers, such as cellulose fiber, lignocellulose waste, sugar can bagasse, wheat and eucalyptus, coconut fiber or shell, waste tea leaves, or processed waste tea, are utilized in the making of cement and bio-composites (Mindess et al., 1981) (Parameswaran et al., 1989). In our laboratory, new trends in waste stabilization have been implemented, including cement with difficult waste items such as cement kiln dust, in order to limit the consumption of cement (Saleh et al., 2019a, Saleh et al., 2020d; Saleh et al., 2021), nanomaterials (Saleh et al., 2019c, Saleh et al., 2019b), natural clays (Saleh, 2014) or polymers (Eskander et al., 2021) (Saleh et al., 2020c) to make lightweight bricks with the right characteristics for use in construction applications or as a stabilizing substance for hazardous wastes. Green construction refers to a structure constructed in an ecologically friendly manner that is efficient in the use of energy and resources. The environment is the primary focus of green buildings; the economic benefits of a long-term green transition weigh significantly. OPEN ACCESS
Short Term Effect of Ivermectin on the Bacterial Microbiota from Fecal Samples in Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)

Simple Summary For the first time we evaluated the effect of ivermectin treatment on the fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy chinchillas by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Ten clinically healthy chinchillas were included in this study. Via comparing the difference between microbiota composition of fecal samples of the 10 chinchillas before and 14 days after ivermectin administration, we found out that there was no significant alteration in the abundance and diversity of fecal bacterial microbiota after ivermectin injection, and the relative abundance of some bacterial species changed without observed negative impact on chinchillas’ health. These results indicated single subcutaneous injection of ivermectin in therapeutic dose to healthy chinchillas had a mild impact on the fecal bacterial microbiota in short term and provided guidance for clinical ivermectin treatment in chinchillas. Abstract The gastrointestinal microbiota plays an important role in health of the host animals and the detrimental influence of pharmaceutical treatment on the fecal microbiota receives an increasing concern. The clinical use of ivermectin on chinchillas has not yet been evaluated. The purpose of our study was to assess the influence of ivermectin injection on the fecal bacterial microbiota of chinchillas. A with-in subject, before and after study was performed on 10 clinically healthy chinchillas during a 14-day period, all chinchillas received the same ivermectin treatment, and the microbiota from their fecal samples before and after administration were compared as two experimental groups. Fecal samples were collected on day 0 (before ivermectin administration) and day 14 (post ivermectin administration). Fecal bacterial microbiota was analyzed by bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. No clinical abnormalities were observed post subcutaneous administration of ivermectin. No significant alteration was found in the abundance and diversity of fecal bacterial microbiota after treatment, but the dominant position of some bacterial species changed. In conclusion, ivermectin administration was associated with minimal alternations of the fecal bacterial microbiota in healthy chinchillas, and these changes had no observed negative effect on general health of chinchillas in short term.
COVID-19-Associated Acute Psychotic Disorder—Longitudinal Case Report and Brief Review of Literature

Even though since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the literature became more and more abundant on data and hypotheses about the various consequences on people’s lives, more clarity needs to be added to the existing information. Besides the stressful experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infection has been proven to impact brain functioning through direct and indirect pathogenic mechanisms. In this context, we report a case of a patient presenting with a first episode of psychosis following COVID-19. In our case, a 28-year-old male patient with no personal or family psychiatric history developed psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized behaviour) that required antipsychotic treatment and inpatient hospitalization one week after he was discharged from the hospital after COVID-19. At the six-month and one-year follow-up, the patient was in remission without any psychotic signs or symptoms. A brief review of the literature is also provided. The case presented in this article outlines the possibility that the post-COVD-19 recovery period might be a crucial time for the onset of acute psychotic disorder, and therefore, routine psychiatric assessments should be carried out during all phases of the disease. A clearer picture of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health will most likely be revealed in the future as many consequences need long-term evaluation.
Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary vascular remodeling is the critical structural alteration and pathological feature in pulmonary hypertension (PH) and involves changes in the intima, media and adventitia. Pulmonary vascular remodeling consists of the proliferation and phenotypic transformation of pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) of the middle membranous pulmonary artery, as well as complex interactions involving external layer pulmonary artery fibroblasts (PAFs) and extracellular matrix (ECM). Inflammatory mechanisms, apoptosis and other factors in the vascular wall are influenced by different mechanisms that likely act in concert to drive disease progression. This article reviews these pathological changes and highlights some pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the remodeling process.
Amplifiers in Biomedical Engineering: A Review from Application Perspectives

Continuous monitoring and treatment of various diseases with biomedical technologies and wearable electronics has become significantly important. The healthcare area is an important, evolving field that, among other things, requires electronic and micro-electromechanical technologies. Designed circuits and smart devices can lead to reduced hospitalization time and hospitals equipped with high-quality equipment. Some of these devices can also be implanted inside the body. Recently, various implanted electronic devices for monitoring and diagnosing diseases have been presented. These instruments require communication links through wireless technologies. In the transmitters of these devices, power amplifiers are the most important components and their performance plays important roles. This paper is devoted to collecting and providing a comprehensive review on the various designed implanted amplifiers for advanced biomedical applications. The reported amplifiers vary with respect to the class/type of amplifier, implemented CMOS technology, frequency band, output power, and the overall efficiency of the designs. The purpose of the authors is to provide a general view of the available solutions, and any researcher can obtain suitable circuit designs that can be selected for their problem by reading this survey.
Modulating the tumor microenvironment improves antitumor effect of anti-PD-L1 mAb in breast cancer

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have provided noteworthy benefits in multiple cancer patients. However, the efficacy of monotherapy of ICIs was very limited. In this study, we endeavored to explore whether losartan can modulate the solid tumor microenvironment (TME) and improve the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-L1 mAb in 4T1 mouse breast tumor model and the underlying mechanism. Methods: The tumor-bearing mice were treated with control agents, losartan, anti-PD-L1 mAb or the dual agents. The blood and tumor tissues were respectively used for ELISA and immunohistochemical analysis. CD8-depletion and lung metastatic experiments were performed. Results: Compared to control group, losartan inhibited the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), deposition of collagen I in the tumor tissues. The concentration of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the serum was low in the losartan treated group. Although losartan alone was ineffective, the combination of losartan and anti-PD-L1 mAb elicited dramatic antitumor effect. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that there were more intra-tumoral infiltration of CD8+ T cells and increased granzyme B production in the combination therapy group. In addition, the size of spleen was smaller in the combination therapy group, compared to monotherapy. The CD8-depleting Abs abrogated the antitumor efficacy of losartan and anti-PD-L1 mAb in vivo. The combination of losartan and anti-PD-L1 mAb significantly inhibited 4T1 tumor cells lung metastatic in vivo. Conclusion: Our results indicated that losartan can modulate the tumor microenvironment, and improve the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 mAb.
Hydrogen Gas Improves the Postharvest Quality of Lanzhou Lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) Bulbs

Hydrogen gas (H2) is an important molecular messenger in animal and plant cells and is involved in various aspects of plant processes, including root organogenesis induction, stress tolerance and postharvest senescence. This study investigated the effect of H2 fumigation on the quality of Lanzhou lily scales. The results indicated the H2 remarkably declined the color variation and browning degree in Lanzhou lily scales by suppressing the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Moreover, H2 significantly alleviated the degradation of soluble proteins and soluble sugars in Lanzhou lily scales during postharvest storage, mitigating the decline in nutritional quality. This alleviating effect of H2 might be achieved by increasing the endogenous H2 concentration. Collectively, our data provide new insights into the postharvest quality reduction of Lanzhou lily scales mitigated by H2 fumigation.
Role of the Subtilisin-like Serine Protease CJPRB from Cordyceps javanica in Eliciting an Immune Response in Hyphantria cunea

Hyphantria cunea is a globally distributed quarantine plant pest. In a previous study, the Cordyceps javanica strain BE01 with a strong pathogenic effect on H. cunea was identified, and overexpression of the subtilisin-like serine protease CJPRB of this strain was found to accelerate the death of H. cunea (previous research results). In this study, the active recombinant CJPRB protein was obtained through the Pichia pastoris expression system. It was found that CJPRB protein administration to H. cunea via infectation, feeding and injection was able to induce changes in protective enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and the expression of immune defense-related genes in H. cunea. In particular, CJPRB protein injection induced a more rapid, widespread and intense immune response in H. cunea compared to the other two treatment methods. The results suggest that the CJPRB protein may play a role in eliciting a host immune response during infectation by C. javanica.
Single and Joined Behaviour of Circulating Biomarkers and Metabolic Parameters in High-Fit and Low-Fit Healthy Females

Biomarkers are important in the assessment of health and disease, but are poorly studied in still healthy individuals with a (potential) different risk for metabolic disease. This study investigated, first, how single biomarkers and metabolic parameters, functional biomarker and metabolic parameter categories, and total biomarker and metabolic parameter profiles behave in young healthy female adults of different aerobic fitness and, second, how these biomarkers and metabolic parameters are affected by recent exercise in these healthy individuals. A total of 102 biomarkers and metabolic parameters were analysed in serum or plasma samples from 30 young, healthy, female adults divided into a high-fit (V̇O2peak ≥ 47 mL/kg/min, N = 15) and a low-fit (V̇O2peak ≤ 37 mL/kg/min, N = 15) group, at baseline and overnight after a single bout of exercise (60 min, 70% V̇O2peak). Our results show that total biomarker and metabolic parameter profiles were similar between high-fit and low-fit females. Recent exercise significantly affected several single biomarkers and metabolic parameters, mostly related to inflammation and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, functional biomarker and metabolic parameter categories corresponded to biomarker and metabolic parameter clusters generated via hierarchical clustering models. In conclusion, this study provides insight into the single and joined behavior of circulating biomarkers and metabolic parameters in healthy females, and identified functional biomarker and metabolic parameter categories that may be used for the characterisation of human health physiology.