Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Remineralization Potential of Three Restorative Glass Ionomer Cements: An In Vitro Study

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the remineralizing ability of three glass ionomers on demineralized dentin with different thicknesses and time periods. Fifty third molars were obtained and were sectioned into 1-, 2-, and 3-mm thick slices (n = 36 for each thickness). The specimens were demineralized with 18% EDTA for 2 h. From the glass ionomer cements (GICs) under study (Ketac Molar Aplicap, Equia Forte, or Riva Light Cure), 1 mm was placed over each slice, set, and preserved in PBS until observation after 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after placement. For each material, thickness, and time, three samples were prepared. Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), apatite formation was determined on the side opposite to that on which the material had been placed. By means of Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDX), the changes in the Calcium/Phosphate (Ca/P) ratio were evaluated. These changes were compared between the different materials by means of a two-way ANOVA test, considering time and dentin thickness, for a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: FTIR showed a peak at 1420 cm−1, evidencing the presence of carbonated hydroxyapatite in all the materials after 14 days, which indicates that a remineralization process occurred. Riva Light Cure showed the most homogeneous results at all depths at 28 days. The Ca/P ratio was maximum at 7 days in 2 mm of dentin for Riva Light Cure and Equia Forte HT (3.16 and 3.07; respectively) and for Ketac Molar at 14 days in 1 mm (3.67). All materials induced remineralization. Equia Forte achieved the greatest effect at 2 mm and Ketac Molar at 1 mm, whereas Riva Light Cure showed similar results at all depths. In terms of Ca/P ratio, Equia Forte and Riva Light Cure remineralized best at 2 mm, whereas for Ketac Molar, it was 1 mm. Carbonate apatite formation was higher at 24 h and 7 days for Ketac Molar, whereas it decreased at 14 days for Ketac Molar and peaked in Riva Light Cure and Equia Forte.
The structure and stability of vortices in astrophysical discs

This thesis finds that vortex instabilities are not necessarily a barrier to their potential as sites for planetesimal formation. It is challenging to build planetesimals from dust within the lifetime of a protoplanetary disc and before such bodies spiral into the central star. Collecting matter in vortices is a promising mechanism for planetesimal growth, but little is known about their stability under these conditions. We therefore aim to produce a more complete understanding of the stability of these objects. Previous work primarily focusses on 2D vortices with elliptical streamlines, which we generalise. We investigate how non–constant vorticity and density power law profiles affect stability by applying linear perturbations to equilibrium solutions. We find that non–elliptical streamlines are associated with a shearing flow inside the vortex. A ‘saddle point instability’ is seen for elliptical–streamline vortices with small aspect ratios and we also find that this is true in general. However, only higher aspect ratio vortices act as dust traps. For constant–density vortices with a concentrated vorticity source we find parametric instability bands at these aspect ratios. Models with a density excess show many narrow bands, though with less strongly growing modes than the constant–density solutions. This implies that dust particles attracted to a vortex core may well encounter parametric instabilities, but this does not necessarily prevent dust–trapping. We also study the stability and lifetime of vortex models with a 2D flow in three dimensions. Producing nearly–incompressible 3D models of columnar vortices, we find that weaker vortices persist for longer times in both stratified and unstratified shearing boxes, and stratification is destabilising. The long survival time for weak, elongated vortices makes it easier for processes to create and maintain the vortex. This means that vortices with a large enough aspect ratio have a good chance of surviving and trapping dust for sufficient time in order to build planetesimals.
Synoptic velocity and pressure fields at the water–sediment interface of streambeds

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the near-bed hydrodynamics at non-moving streambeds based on laboratory experiments in open-channel flows. Pressure and velocity measurements were made with an array of up to 15 miniaturized piezo-resistive pressure sensors within the bed and slightly above it, and a two-dimensional particle-image-velocimetry (PIV) system measuring in streamwise vertical or horizontal planes. Three different types of bed materials were studied covering typical natural streambed conditions. The range of the global Reynolds number covered in the experiments was from 20000 to 200000. This study provides new insights into the flow structure over gravel beds based on the PIV measurements in both streamwise vertical and horizontal planes. In a streamwise vertical plane, large-scale wedge-like flow structures were observed where a zone of faster fluid over-rolled a zone with slower fluid. The resulting shear layer was inclined along the flow at an angle of 10°–25° to the bed, and was populated with clockwise rotating eddies. This mechanism occurred with sufficient frequency and shape to leave an ‘imprint’ in the velocity statistics. Typically, the described flow pattern is formed near the bed and is approximately scaled with the height of the logarithmic layer, although the biggest structures extended over the whole flow depth. In a horizontal near-bed plane, turbulent structures formed a patched ‘chessboard’ pattern with regions of lower and higher velocities that were elongated in the streamwise direction. Their lateral extension was typically two to four times the equivalent sand roughness with lengths up to several water depths. The dimensions of the regions were increasing linearly with the distance from the bed. These findings are consistent with conceptual models originally developed for smooth-wall flows. They also support observations made in rough-bed flume experiments, numerical simulations and natural rivers. Spatial fields of bed-pressure fluctuations were reconstructed by applying Taylor's frozen turbulence hypothesis on time data obtained with an array of pressure sensors. Based on the conditional sampling of velocity patterns associated with pressure-drop events a distinct bed-destabilizing flow-pressure pattern was identified. If a high-speed fluid in the wake of a large-scale wedge-like flow structure reaches the vicinity of the bed, a phenomenon akin to a Bernoulli effect leads to a distinctive low-pressure pattern. The resulting force may exceed the particles' submerged weight and is assumed to be able to give an initial lift to the particle. As a result, the exposed area of a particle is amplified and its angle of repose is reduced, increasing the probability for entrainment.
Integration of Metabolome and Transcriptome Profiling Reveals the Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) on the Browning of Fresh-Cut Lanzhou Lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) Bulbs during Storage

The fresh-cut bulbs of the Lanzhou lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) experience browning problems during storage. To solve the problem of browning in the preservation of Lanzhou lily bulbs, we first investigated the optimal storage temperature and gas ratio of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of Lanzhou lily bulbs. Then, we tested the browning index (BD), activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD), the content of malonaldehyde (MDA) and other physiological activity indicators related to browning. The results showed that the storage conditions of 10% O2 + 5% CO2 + 85% N2 and 4 °C were the best. To further explore the anti-browning mechanism of MAP in fresh-cut Lanzhou lily bulbs, the integration of metabolome and transcriptome analyses showed that MAP mainly retarded the unsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio in the cell membrane, inhibited the lipid peroxidation of the membrane and thus maintained the integrity of the cell membrane of Lanzhou lily bulbs. In addition, MAP inhibited the oxidation of phenolic substances and provided an anti-tanning effect. This study provided a preservation scheme to solve the problem of the browning of freshly cut Lanzhou lily bulbs, and discussed the mechanism of MAP in preventing browning during the storage of the bulbs.
Structural precursor to freezing in the hard-disk and hard-sphere systems

We show that the simplest model fluids in two and three dimensions, namely, the hard-disk and hard-sphere fluids, exhibit a structural precursor to the freezing transition, which manifests itself as a shoulder in the second peak of the radial distribution function. This feature is not present in the radial distribution function of the low-density fluid. Close examination of the two-dimensional fluid configurations in the vicinity of the freezing transition reveals that the shoulder corresponds to the formation of a distinct structural motif, identifiable as a four-particle hexagonally close-packed arrangement. As the dense fluid approaches the freezing transition, the ordered arrangements form large embryonic domains, commensurate with those seen in the crystal at the melting point. Contrary to the notion that the split second peak is a signature of the amorphous solid, our results support the idea that it is a precursor to the development of long-range order.
The Pro-Tumorigenic Role of Chemotherapy-Induced Extracellular HSP70 from Breast Cancer Cells via Intratumoral Macrophages

Simple Summary Resistance to chemotherapy is an important problem to be solved in breast cancer research. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to breast cancer progression, including chemoresistance, and it is important to clarify the altered functions of macrophages following chemotherapy to improve prognosis of breast cancer patients. Here, we conducted in vitro experiments and immunohistochemistry in 116 breast carcinoma tissues to determine whether the secretion of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 from breast cancer cells following chemotherapy affects macrophage function. It was revealed that extracellular HSP70 levels increased following chemotherapy and enhanced the pro-tumorigenic effects of TAMs either directly or indirectly by regulating the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in breast cancer cells. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that HSP70 functions as a poor prognostic factor in conjunction with macrophage infiltration. Targeting HSP70 may therefore be useful in regulating the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer tissues and improving the prognosis of breast cancer patients following chemotherapy. Abstract Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to tumor progression and chemoresistance; it is therefore important to clarify the altered functions of macrophages following chemotherapy. While extracellular heat shock protein (HSP) 70 is associated with therapeutic resistance, the effects of HSP70 on TAMs remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted in vitro experiments and immunohistochemistry in 116 breast carcinoma specimens to determine whether the secretion of HSP70 from breast cancer cells following chemotherapy affects macrophage function. It was revealed that the interaction of epirubicin (EPI)-exposed breast cancer cells with macrophages enhanced tumor progression, and EPI promoted the secretion of extracellular HSP70 from breast cancer cells. The expression of pro-tumorigenic macrophage marker CD163 was decreased in macrophages treated with a conditioned medium (CM) from HSP70-silenced breast cancer cells. Breast cancer cells treated with CM from HSP70-silenced breast cancer cells showed decreased expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and the pro-tumorigenic effects of macrophages were impaired when TGF-β signaling was inhibited. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that HSP70 served as a poor prognostic factor in conjunction with macrophage infiltration. It was therefore concluded that extracellular HSP70 levels increased following chemotherapy and enhanced the pro-tumorigenic effects of TAMs, either directly or indirectly, by regulating TGF-β expression in breast cancer cells.
Determination of levitation force and pinning properties of (Sm123)1−x(Yb211)x bulk superconductor depending on Yb211 doping ratio

The vertical force density curves of (Sm123)1−x(Yb211)x high temperature superconductor (HTS) samples prepared by a melt‐powder‐melt‐growth technique were measured during vertical and lateral traverses in zero field cooling (ZFC) regime for various doping levels (x). It was determined that the maximum vertical force density of the samples increases when the doping level increases and after certain level of the doping the force saturates. The pinning properties, which create attractive force, were enhanced up to a certain Yb211 doping level by introducing locally suppressed superconducting regions. These results indicate that the optimization fabrication conditions and Yb211 doping level should be further investigated for larger dimensional samples to enhance technological applicability. The frozen image model was used to predict the experimentally measured levitation force between a permanent magnet (PM) and the superconductor samples. Various configurations of the PM/HTS force interaction were tested according to the magnet and superconductor size. The doped HTS samples do not show very strong diamagnetic behavior as the frozen image model predicts. The levitation force behavior regarding the dimensions of the PM and HTS indicates an illustration how the diamagnetic behavior of the superconductor transforms into the flux pinning.
Effectiveness of blended learning on improving medical student’s learning initiative and performance in the physiology study

Abstract In recent years, online learning has been widely used than before. However, it depends on student’s learning initiative and lacks of teacher-student interaction, which cannot bring desired learning performance. In our physiology teaching practice to “5 + 3” integration medical student, we tried to combine online and classroom learning to form the blended learning. This study assessed the effectiveness of the blended learning on students’ learning initiative and performance in the physiology study. It included 180 full-time students from clinical medical specialty across two academic years. These students were divided into the experimental classes receiving blended learning and the control classes receiving traditional learning. We carried out three classroom tests and one questionnaire survey. It found that the students of blended learning who mastered most of the content were as twice as the students of traditional learning. The average accuracy of classroom tests was above 90% from the students of the blended learning, which was higher than the approximate rate of 80% of from the students of the traditional learning. Both the times of preparing lessons and answering questions in class increased in the blended learning practice. In addition, students of blended learning were relatively unaffected by playing with the mobile phones in the class. It found that students acquired more knowledge, performed better in the classroom tests and their learning initiative was excited in the blended learning.This study provides the effect assessment and contributes to improve the teaching effect of the blended learning.
Enhancing Overt and Covert Attention Using a Real-Time Neurofeedback Game With Consumer-Grade EEG

Neurofeedback training is emerging as a promising tool for cognitive enhancement in healthy as well as cognitive-deficit patients. In this article, we propose the design of a real-time neurofeedback game using a consumer-grade wireless electroencephalography (EEG) system and examine its efficacy in enhancing overt and covert attention abilities for healthy individuals. The game uses a simulated car navigation task, in which a car is navigated using the attention level of the player. A total of 23 healthy subjects participated in four sessions of neurofeedback training. The effectiveness of the proposed neurofeedback game is evaluated using attention scores based on the Sample entropy of EEG signals, beta-to-(alpha + theta) ratio, and the time taken for completing the game. The variations in covert attention are assessed by introducing visual distractions when the player navigates the car and quantified using changes in the attention score and the time taken for restoring the initial attention level. The attention score significantly improved from the first session to the final session by 22.64% and 21.43% for overt attention and covert attention tasks, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed neurofeedback game is an effective tool for enhancing overt and covert attention skills in healthy individuals.
Topological 'Luttinger' invariants protected by crystal symmetry in semimetals

Luttinger's theorem is a fundamental result in the theory of interacting Fermi systems: it states that the volume inside the Fermi surface is left invariant by interactions, if the number of particles is held fixed. Although this is traditionally justified using perturbation theory, it can be viewed as arising from a momentum balance argument that examines the response of the ground state to the insertion of a single flux quantum [M. Oshikawa, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 3370 (2000)]. This reveals that the Fermi sea volume is a topologically protected quantity. Extending this approach, I show that spinless or spin-rotation-preserving fermionic systems in non-symmorphic crystals possess generalized topological 'Luttinger invariants' that can be nonzero even in cases where the Fermi sea volume vanishes. A nonzero Luttinger invariant then forces energy bands to touch, leading to semimetals whose gaplessness is thus rooted in topology; opening a gap without symmetry breaking automatically triggers fractionalization. The existence of these invariants is linked to the inability of non-symmorphic crystals to host band insulating ground states except at special fillings. I exemplify the use of these new invariants by showing that they distinguish various classes of two- and three-dimensional semimetals.
Social Networks of Women in Organizations: Evolution of Research and Future Research Agenda

This article carries out a literature review of research on social networks regarding women’s careers in the context of organizations and management for the period of 1970–2021. Our focus is on the conceptualization of social networks, understanding gender, and identification of the network effects that are important for women’s careers. The study enables us to create a comprehensive foundation of research knowledge conducted over several decades and build a profound base of suggestions for further research. Our analysis shows that the field has widened to include individual, organizational, and social environment viewpoints. The research on women’s social networks has evolved from establishing the field, to individualistic understanding, to accounting for sociocultural dynamics. The approach to gender has evolved from gender comparison to gender particularity and then contextualizing gender. Our suggestions for future research avenues include incorporating environmental aspects, virtual social networking, diversity, and leadership perspectives to improve women’s inclusion in social network research.
Virus-like Particles in Vaccine Development for Infectious Diseases

Throughout the last two decades, virus-like particles (VLP), a nano scale multi-protein structure, have been vigorously studied and became a crucial and unique tool for clinical use. Due to VLPs’ structural resemblance of viable virus particles, highly modifiable nature, and lack of viral genome, they are excellent candidates for vaccine development for infectious diseases, offering many advantages over traditional vaccine development methods. Capable of eliciting both potent humoral and cell-mediated immunity, VLPs become one of the best nano-vectors for vaccines for infectious diseases. In addition, VLPs’ flexibility in composition and expression systems also contribute to their versatility as a vaccine platform. Various VLP-based vaccines are commercially available, including Cervarix®, Gardasil®, and Gardasil9® for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Heptavax-B and Sci-B-Vac™ for Hepatitis B Virus, and COVIFENZ® for SARS-CoV-2. In this review, classification of VLPs, different expression systems, as well their application in vaccine development for several infectious diseases will be discussed.
Detection of Power Line Insulators in Digital Images Based on the Transformed Colour Intensity Profiles

Proper maintenance of the electricity infrastructure requires periodic condition inspections of power line insulators, which can be subjected to various damages such as burns or fractures. The article includes an introduction to the problem of insulator detection and a description of various currently used methods. Afterwards, the authors proposed a new method for the detection of the power line insulators in digital images by applying selected signal analysis and machine learning algorithms. The insulators detected in the images can be further assessed in depth. The data set used in the study consists of images acquired by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) during its overflight along a high-voltage line located on the outskirts of the city of Opole, Opolskie Voivodeship, Poland. In the digital images, the insulators were placed against different backgrounds, for example, sky, clouds, tree branches, elements of power infrastructure (wires, trusses), farmland, bushes, etc. The proposed method is based on colour intensity profile classification on digital images. Firstly, the set of points located on digital images of power line insulators is determined. Subsequently, those points are connected using lines that depict colour intensity profiles. These profiles were transformed using the Periodogram method or Welch method and then classified with Decision Tree, Random Forest or XGBoost algorithms. In the article, the authors described the computational experiments, the obtained results and possible directions for further research. In the best case, the proposed solution achieved satisfactory efficiency (F1 score = 0.99). Promising classification results indicate the possibility of the practical application of the presented method.