Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of ion beam and magnetron sputtered vanadium oxide thin films for uncooled IR imaging

Uncooled Infrared (IR) focal plane arrays are an enabling technology for both military and commercial high sensitivity night vision cameras. IR imaging is accomplished using MEMS microbolometers fabricated on read-out integrated circuits and depends critically on the material used to absorb the incoming IR radiation. Suitable detector materials must exhibit a large temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and low noise characteristics to efficiently detect IR photons while also maintaining compatibility with standard integrated circuit (IC) processing. The most commonly used material in uncooled infrared imaging detectors is vanadium oxide deposited by reactive ion beam sputtering. Here we present a comparison of vanadium oxide thin films grown via commercial reactive ion beam sputtering to films grown using reactive pulsed DC magnetron sputtering. Films deposited using both methods were optically and structurally characterized using Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. The measured electrical properties of the films were found to be very sensitive to the deposition conditions used. The ion beam sputtered films contained twinned FCC VOx nanocrystals with sub-nanometer twin spacing, in the form of large 10-20 nm wide columnar/conical grains. In contrast, the un-biased magnetron sputtered films consisted of equiax grains of FCC VOx (5-10 nm) encapsulated in an amorphous matrix. However, applying an RF bias to the sample substrate during the magnetron sputtering process, resulted in films that are similar in structure to ion beam deposited VOx. These differences in microstructure and composition were then correlated to the measured resistivities and TCRs of the films.
Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) of anti-cancer drugs: a multifaceted nanoplatform for the enhancement of oral bioavailability

Abstract Objective A significant problem faced by the health care industry today is that though there are numerous drugs available to tackle diseases like cancer, their intrinsic properties make it difficult to be delivered to patients in a feasible manner. One of the key players that have helped researchers overcome poor solubility and permeability of drugs is Nanotechnology, this article further iterates on the same. Significance Nanotechnology is used as an umbrella term in pharmaceutics and describes under it multiple technologies. Upcoming nanotechnology is a Self Nanoemulsifying System which is considered to be a futuristic delivery system both due to its scientific simplicity and relative ease of patient delivery. Methods Self-Nano Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (SNEDDS) are homogenous lipidic concoctions containing the drug solubilized in the oil phase and surfactants. The choice of components depends on the physicochemical properties of the drugs, the solubilization capability of oils and the physiological fate of the drug. The article contains further details of various methodologies that have been adopted by scientists to formulate and optimize such systems in order to make anticancer drugs orally deliverable. Results The results that have been generated by scientists across the globe have been summarized in the article and all of the data supports the claim that SNEDDS significantly enhance the solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic anticancer drugs. Conclusions This article mainly provides the application of SNEDDS in cancer therapy and concludes to provide a step for the oral administration of several BCS class II and IV anticancer drugs. Graphical Abstract
Influence of Inlet Boundary Conditions on the Prediction of Flow Field and Hemolysis in Blood Pumps Using Large-Eddy Simulation

Inlet boundary conditions (BC) are one of the uncertainties which may influence the prediction of flow field and hemolysis in blood pumps. This study investigated the influence of inlet BC, including the length of inlet pipe, type of inlet BC (mass flow rate or experimental velocity profile) and turbulent intensity (no perturbation, 5%, 10%, 20%) on the prediction of flow field and hemolysis of a benchmark centrifugal blood pump (the FDA blood pump) and a commercial axial blood pump (Heartmate II), using large-eddy simulation. The results show that the influence of boundary conditions on integral pump performance metrics, including pressure head and hemolysis, is negligible. The influence on local flow structures, such as velocity distributions, mainly existed in the inlet. For the centrifugal FDA blood pump, the influence of type of inlet BC and inlet position on velocity distributions can also be observed at the diffuser. Overall, the effects of position of inlet and type of inlet BC need to be considered if local flow structures are the focus, while the influence of turbulent intensity is negligible and need not be accounted for during numerical simulations of blood pumps.
Not All Patients Need Supervised Physical Therapy After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Although postoperative physical therapy (PT) has long been considered essential to successful total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recovery, recent literature has suggested that unsupervised home exercise regimens may offer similar benefits to formal supervised sessions. We aimed to compare objectively measured physical function and subjective patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between primary TKA patients who received formal supervised physical therapy sessions and those who received unsupervised home exercise regimens after discharge. Six electronic databases were queried to identify randomized controlled trials comparing supervised physical therapy to unsupervised home exercise regimens in primary TKA patients after discharge. Outcomes of interest included change from baseline in objective measures (knee flexion range of motion (ROM), lower extremity strength, and aerobic capacity) and PROs (physical function and quality of life scores). These outcomes were subdivided into short-term (<6 months from surgery; closest data point to three months is used if multiple measurements were made in this time period) and long-term (≥6 months from surgery; closest data point to 12 months is used if multiple measurements were made in this time period) assessments. A total of 1,884 cases performed in 11 studies were included in this review. There were no significant differences between cohorts with regard to short-term knee flexion ROM (p = 0.7), lower extremity strength (p = 0.6), or patient-reported quality of life (p = 0.5), as well as long-term knee flexion ROM (p = 0.7), patient-reported quality of life (p = 0.2), or patient-reported physical outcome scores (p = 0.3). A small difference in short-term patient-reported physical outcomes was observed in favor of the supervised cohort (standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.3 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01, 0.6); I2 = 82%; p = 0.04). Formal supervised physical therapy regimens do not confer clinically significant benefits over unsupervised home exercise regimens following primary TKA. The routine use of supervised physical therapy after discharge may not be warranted. Further study is needed to determine the subset of patients that may benefit from supervised care.
Striping in theSuomi NPPVIIRS Thermal Bands through Anisotropic Surface Reflection

AbstractThe Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) thermal emissive band (TEB) M12 images centered at 3.7 μm were analyzed and unexpected striping was found. The striping was seen from ascending orbit (daytime) over uniform oceans and has a magnitude of ±0.5 K aligned with the VIIRS 16 detectors in a track direction of 12 km. From the ocean surface, reflected solar radiation can significantly increase the M12 radiance under certain geometric conditions in which bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) becomes important. Using the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM), developed at the U.S. Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA), M12 band image striping over a uniform ocean was found that was caused by the difference of sensor azimuthal angles among detectors and the contamination of solar radiation. By analyzing the VIIRS M10 and M11 bands, which are two reflective bands, similar striping images over the uniform oceans were found. The M10 and M11 radiance/reflect.
The ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)

Background: An endocochlear potential (EP) exists in the mammalian cochlea generated by the stria vascularis and an associated fibrocyte network. It plays an essential role for sensory cell function and hearing sensitivity. In non-mammalian ectothermic animals the endocochlear potential is low and its origin somewhat unclear. In this study, we explored the crocodilian auditory organ and describe the fine structure of a stria vascularis epithelium that has not been verified in birds. Material and Methods: Three Cuban crocodiles (Crocodylus rhombifer) were analyzed with light and transmission electron microscopy. The ears were fixed in glutaraldehyde The temporal bones were drilled out and decalcified. The ears were dehydrated, and embedded and was followed by semi-thin and thin sectioning. Results: The fine structure of the crocodile auditory organ including the papilla basilaris and endolymph system was outlined. The upper roof of the endolymph compartment was specialized into a Reissner membrane and tegmentum vasculosum. At the lateral limbus an organized, multilayered, vascularized epithelium or stria vascularis was identified. Discussion: Electron microscopy demonstrates that the auditory organ in Crocodylus rhombifer, unlike in birds, contains a stria vascularis epithelium separate from the tegmentum vasculosum. It is believed to secrete endolymph and to generate a low grade endocochlear potential. It may regulate endolymph composition and optimize hearing sensitivity alongside the tegmentum vasculosum. It could represent a parallel evolution essential for the adaptation of crocodiles to their diverse habitats.
Blood pressure stratification using photoplethysmography and light gradient boosting machine

Introduction: Globally, hypertension (HT) is a substantial risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality; hence, rapid identification and treatment of HT is crucial. In this study, we tested the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) machine learning method for blood pressure stratification based on photoplethysmography (PPG), which is used in most wearable devices. Methods: We used 121 records of PPG and arterial blood pressure (ABP) signals from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III public database. PPG, velocity plethysmography, and acceleration plethysmography were used to estimate blood pressure; the ABP signals were used to determine the blood pressure stratification categories. Seven feature sets were established and used to train the Optuna-tuned LightGBM model. Three trials compared normotension (NT) vs. prehypertension (PHT), NT vs. HT, and NT + PHT vs. HT. Results: The F1 scores for these three classification trials were 90.18%, 97.51%, and 92.77%, respectively. The results showed that combining multiple features from PPG and its derivative led to a more accurate classification of HT classes than using features from only the PPG signal. Discussion: The proposed method showed high accuracy in stratifying HT risks, providing a noninvasive, rapid, and robust method for the early detection of HT, with promising applications in the field of wearable cuffless blood pressure measurement.
Silver-Based Surface Plasmon Sensors: Fabrication and Applications

A series of novel phenomena such as optical nonlinear enhancement effect, transmission enhancement, orientation effect, high sensitivity to refractive index, negative refraction and dynamic regulation of low threshold can be generated by the control of surface plasmon (SP) with metal micro-nano structure and metal/material composite structure. The application of SP in nano-photonics, super-resolution imaging, energy, sensor detection, life science, and other fields shows an important prospect. Silver nanoparticles are one of the commonly used metal materials for SP because of their high sensitivity to refractive index change, convenient synthesis, and high controllable degree of shape and size. In this review, the basic concept, fabrication, and applications of silver-based surface plasmon sensors are summarized.
Covalently Functionalized MXenes for Highly Sensitive Humidity Sensors

Transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) are an emerging class of 2D materials, which are attracting ever‐growing attention due to their remarkable physicochemical properties. The presence of various surface functional groups on MXenes’ surface, e.g., F, O, OH, Cl, opens the possibility to tune their properties through chemical functionalization approaches. However, only a few methods have been explored for the covalent functionalization of MXenes and include diazonium salt grafting and silylation reactions. Here, an unprecedented two‐step functionalization of Ti3C2Tx MXenes is reported, where (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane is covalently tethered to Ti3C2Tx and serves as an anchoring unit for subsequent attachment of various organic bromides via the formation of CN bonds. Thin films of Ti3C2Tx functionalized with linear chains possessing increased hydrophilicity are employed for the fabrication of chemiresistive humidity sensors. The devices exhibit a broad operation range (0–100% relative humidity), high sensitivity (0.777 or 3.035), a fast response/recovery time (0.24/0.40 s ΔH−1, respectively), and high selectivity to water in the presence of saturated vapors of organic compounds. Importantly, our Ti3C2Tx‐based sensors display the largest operating range and a sensitivity beyond the state of the art of MXenes‐based humidity sensors. Such outstanding performance makes the sensors suitable for real‐time monitoring applications.
Daylily intercropping: Effects on soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and microbial community structure

The daylily (Hemerocallis citrina Baroni)/other crop intercropping system can be a specific and efficient cropping pattern in a horticultural field. Intercropping systems contribute to the optimization of land use, fostering sustainable and efficient agriculture. In the present study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to explore the diversity in the root-soil microbial community in the intercropping of four daylily intercropping systems [watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)/daylily (WD), cabbage (Brassica pekinensis)/daylily (CD), kale (Brassica oleracea)/daylily (KD), watermelon/cabbage/kale/daylily (MI)], and determine the physicochemical traits and enzymatic activities of the soil. The results revealed that the contents of available potassium (2.03%-35.71%), available phosphorus (3.85%-62.56%), available nitrogen (12.90%-39.52%), and organic matter (19.08%-34.53%), and the urease (9.89%-31.02%) and sucrase (23.63%-50.60%) activities, and daylily yield (7.43%- 30.46%) in different intercropping soil systems were significantly higher compared to those in the daylily monocropping systems (CK). The bacterial Shannon index increased significantly in the CD and KD compared to the CK. In addition, the fungi Shannon index was also increased significantly in the MI, while the Shannon indices of the other intercropping modes were not significantly altered. Different intercropping systems also caused dramatic architectural and compositional alterations in the soil microbial community. A prominently higher relative richness of Bacteroidetes was noted in MI compared to that in CK, while Acidobacteria in WD and CD and Chloroflexi in WD were pronouncedly less abundant compared to those in CK. Furthermore, the association between soil bacteria taxa and soil characteristic parameters was stronger than that between fungi and soil. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the intercropping of daylily with other crops could significantly improve the nutrient levels of the soil and optimize the soil bacterial microflora composition and diversity.
Isovariant homotopy equivalences of manifolds with group actions

Let f be an equivariant homotopy equivalence f of connected closed manifolds with smooth semifree actions of a ﬁnite group G , and assume also that f is isovariant. The main result states that f is a homotopy equivalence in the category of isovariant mappings if the manifolds satisfy a Codimension ≥ 3 Gap Hypothesis; this is done by showing directly that f satisﬁes the criteria in the Isovariant Whitehead Theorem of G. Dula and the author. Examples are given to show the need for the hypotheses in the main result.
Immunomodulatory Effect of Novel Electrospun Nanofibers Loaded with Doxycycline as an Adjuvant Treatment in Periodontitis

The immunomodulatory effect of a novel biomaterial obtained through electrospinning, based on polylactic acid (PLA) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HAP), loaded with doxycycline (doxy) was evaluated in an animal model. The treatment capabilities as a local non-surgical treatment of periodontitis was investigated on the lower incisors of Wistar rats, after the induction of localized periodontitis using the ligature technique. Following the induction of the disease, the non-surgical treatment of scaling and root planing was applied, in conjunction with the application of the new material. The results of the treatment were evaluated clinically, using the tooth mobility and gingival index scores, as well as histologically. The salivary concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) and plasmatic concentrations of interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were also monitored. Two weeks after the ligature application, the periodontal disease was successfully induced in rats. The application of the novel biomaterial obtained through electrospinning was proven to be more effective in improving the clinical parameters, while decreasing the salivary MMP-8 and plasmatic IL-1 and TNF-α concentrations, compared to the simple scaling and root planing. Thus, the novel electrospun biomaterial could be a strong candidate as an adjuvant to the non-surgical periodontal therapy.
Identification of vowels resynthesized from /hVd/ utterances: Effects of formant contour

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of formant frequency movements in vowel recognition. Measurements of fundamental frequency and formant contours were taken from a database of acoustic measurements of 1668 /hVd/ utterances spoken by 45 men, 48 women, and 46 children [Hillenbrand et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 97 (in press)]. A total of 300 utterances were selected from this database, representing equal numbers of 12 vowels (i,i,e,eh‐,ash,ligature,a,open oh,o,u,u,inverted v,hooked backward eh and approximately equal numbers of tokens produced by men, women, and children. Listeners were asked to identify three versions of each utterance: (1) the original, naturally produced signal, (2) a formant‐synthesized version that followed the measured contours of F1–F3, and (3) a formant‐synthesized version with F1–F3 fixed at their steady‐state values. Preliminary results indicate: (1) the original signals are identified with substantially greater accuracy than either of the synthetic versions, and (2) the synthetic signals that follow the original formant contours are identified with greater accuracy than the flat‐formant signals.
Microfluidic Wound-Healing Assay for ECM and Microenvironment Properties on Microglia BV2 Cells Migration

Microglia cells, as the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), are highly motile and migratory in development and pathophysiological conditions. During their migration, microglia cells interact with their surroundings based on the various physical and chemical properties in the brain. Herein, a microfluidic wound-healing chip is developed to investigate microglial BV2 cell migration on the substrates coated with extracellular matrixes (ECMs) and substrates usually used for bio-applications on cell migration. In order to generate the cell-free space (wound), gravity was utilized as a driving force to flow the trypsin with the device. It was shown that, despite the scratch assay, the cell-free area was created without removing the extracellular matrix coating (fibronectin) using the microfluidic assay. It was found that the substrates coated with Poly-L-Lysine (PLL) and gelatin stimulated microglial BV2 migration, while collagen and fibronectin coatings had an inhibitory effect compared to the control conditions (uncoated glass substrate). In addition, the results showed that the polystyrene substrate induced higher cell migration than the PDMS and glass substrates. The microfluidic migration assay provides an in vitro microenvironment closer to in vivo conditions for further understanding the microglia migration mechanism in the brain, where the environment properties change under homeostatic and pathological conditions.
Optimal estimates of line-of-sight velocity distributions from absorption line spectra of galaxies: nuclear discs in elliptical galaxies

Methods for extracting line-of-sight velocity distributions (LOSVDs) from the broadening of absorption lines in early-type galaxies have been developed. These methods operate exclusively in pixel space, they use the full information content of the data, they permit a rigorous treatment of the errors, and they relax the standard a priori assumption that the LOSVD is a Gaussian. Two problems have been considered : optimal noise filtering for model-independent extraction of the LOSVD, subject only to the constraint that it be bandwidth-limited; and optimal parameter estimation when the LOSVD can be assumed to belong to a parametrized family of models, for example, single or double Gaussians
Cognitive Effects of a Cognitive Stimulation Programme on Trained Domains in Older Adults with Subjective Memory Complaints: Randomised Controlled Trial

Age-related subjective memory complaints (SMC) are a common concern among older adults. However, little is known about the effects of cognitive stimulation (CS) interventions on subjective memory complaints. The aim of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of a CS programme on global cognition and cognitive functions of older adults with SMC. A randomised clinical trial was conducted on older adults with SMC, including 308 participants ≥65 years of age assessed 6 and 12 months after the intervention. The assessment instrument was the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MEC-35), and all domains of the instrument were assessed. For statistical analysis, the data were analysed using robust ANOVA with means truncated at 20% utilising a two-way repeated measures model, with between (groups) and within (measurements) factors. In post hoc tests, a Wilcoxon signed-rank test of exact permutations between groups and Bonferroni correction were applied. In post hoc between-group tests, significant differences were found: (1) post-treatment in MEC-35, temporal orientation, short-term memory (STM), global language and praxis, and language and praxis (p ≤ 0.005); (2) at 6 months in MEC-35, global orientation, temporal orientation, and STM (p = 0.005); (3) at 12 months in MEC-35, global orientation, temporal orientation, STM, global language and praxis, and language (p = 0.005). This study shows benefits in global cognition and orientation, temporal orientation, STM, and language in older adults with SMC.