Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Green Synthesis and Characterization of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using Phyllanthus Niruri Extract

Studies on green synthesis of nanoparticles moves forward a lot on these days. The present work involves the green method of synthesizing iron oxide nanoparticle from Phyllanthus niruri leaf extract. Furthermore, the green synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles were characterized and its antimicrobial activity was investigated. A characteristic comparison with chemical method of synthesis is also done, for iron nanoparticles. The characterization of nanoparticle includes the IR, UV-Vis, surface morphology and size determination using TEM, SEM, and XRD. The analytical studies revealed that the synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles from these two different methods have almost identical size and morphology. The synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles showed significant antimicrobial activity against the microbes, E. coli and P. aeroginosa. The studies concluded that the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using plant extracts is more beneficial as it is an economical, energy efficient, low cost and environment-friendly process than the bio hazardous chemical synthesis. The present investigation may be a definite contribution to green chemistry in general and nano synthesis in particular.
Deep learning‐based fully automatic segmentation of wrist cartilage in MR images

The study objective was to investigate the performance of a dedicated convolutional neural network (CNN) optimized for wrist cartilage segmentation from 2D MR images. CNN utilized a planar architecture and patch‐based (PB) training approach that ensured optimal performance in the presence of a limited amount of training data. The CNN was trained and validated in 20 multi‐slice MRI datasets acquired with two different coils in 11 subjects (healthy volunteers and patients). The validation included a comparison with the alternative state‐of‐the‐art CNN methods for the segmentation of joints from MR images and the ground‐truth manual segmentation. When trained on the limited training data, the CNN outperformed significantly image‐based and PB‐U‐Net networks. Our PB‐CNN also demonstrated a good agreement with manual segmentation (Sørensen–Dice similarity coefficient [DSC] = 0.81) in the representative (central coronal) slices with a large amount of cartilage tissue. Reduced performance of the network for slices with a very limited amount of cartilage tissue suggests the need for fully 3D convolutional networks to provide uniform performance across the joint. The study also assessed inter‐ and intra‐observer variability of the manual wrist cartilage segmentation (DSC = 0.78‐0.88 and 0.9, respectively). The proposed deep learning‐based segmentation of the wrist cartilage from MRI could facilitate research of novel imaging markers of wrist osteoarthritis to characterize its progression and response to therapy.
Analgesia with Low-Dose S(+)-ketamine in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Because of the development of anesthetic and surgical techniques and the need to reduce costs, surgeries such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy are now performed with minimal hospital stay or in outpatient services. The intensity of postoperative pain and the occurrence of nausea or vomiting are the most important factors causing delayed discharges from hospital, and therefore increase costs [1]. The use of opioids, which provide adequate pain control, is associated with a high incidence of nausea and vomiting, and this association is dose-dependent [2]. Recent analgesic techniques use analgesic with different mechanisms of action to improve postoperative pain relief and reduce opioids requirements, and opioids-related adverse effects [3]. Studies suggest that the use of low dose of S(+)-ketamine, a nonspecific blocker of NMDA receptors, may reduce the need for opioids and opioid-related adverse effects [4,5].
Effect of Korean Mistletoe Lectin on Gene Expression Profile in Human T Lymphocytes: A Microarray Study

Abstract － Korean mistletoe has a variety of biological effects, such as immunoadjuvant activities. This study investigates the effects of Korean mistletoe lectin ( Viscum album L. var. coloratum agglutinin, VCA) on human T lymphocytes to determine whether VCA acts as an immunomodulator. Purified human T-lymphocytes were cultured with VCA and RNA from each point was analyzed using Affymetrix human genome chips containing 22,500 probe sets which represents more than 18,000 transcripts derived from 14,500 human genes. As a result, there was a striking upregulation of genes coding for chemokines. Seventeen genes out of 50 coding for proteins with chemokine activity were upregulated including CXCL9 and IL-8 which are related to the treatment of cancer. In addition, 28 cytokine genes were upregulated including IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, and TNF-α. Taken together, the data suggest that Korean mistletoe lectin, in parallel with European mistletoe, has an ability to modulate human T cell function.Keywords: DNA microarray, Korean mistletoe, Lectin, Gene expression, T lymphocytes
Resonant behaviour of an oscillating wave energy converter in a channel

Abstract A mathematical model is developed to study the behaviour of an oscillating wave energy converter in a channel. During recent laboratory tests in a wave tank, peaks in the hydrodynamic actions on the converter occurred at certain frequencies of the incident waves. This resonant mechanism is known to be generated by the transverse sloshing modes of the channel. Here the influence of the channel sloshing modes on the performance of the device is further investigated. Within the framework of a linear inviscid potential-flow theory, application of Green’s theorem yields a hypersingular integral equation for the velocity potential in the fluid domain. The solution is found in terms of a fast-converging series of Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind. The physical behaviour of the system is then analysed, showing sensitivity of the resonant sloshing modes to the geometry of the device, which concurs in increasing the maximum efficiency. Analytical results are validated with available numerical and experimental data.
Being Autonomous and Having Space in which to Act: Commissioning in the ‘New NHS’ in England

Abstract The optimal balance between central governmental authority and the degree of autonomy of local public bodies is an enduring issue in public policy. The UK National Health Service is no exception, with NHS history, in part at least, a history of repeated cycles of centralisation and decentralisation of decision-making power. Most recently, a significant reorganisation of the NHS in 2012–13 was built around the creation of new and supposedly more autonomous commissioning organisations (Clinical Commissioning Groups – CCGs). Using Bossert's (1998) concept of ‘decision space’, we explored the experiences of local commissioners as they took on their new responsibilities. We interviewed commissioning staff from all of the CCGs in two regional health care ‘economies’, exploring their perceptions of autonomy and their experiences over time. We found significant early enthusiasm for, and perceptions of, increased autonomy tempered in the vertical dimension by increasingly onerous and prescriptive monitoring regimes, and in the horizontal dimension by the proliferation of overlapping networks, inter-organisational groups and relationships. We propose that, whatever the balance between central and local control that is adopted, complex public services require some sort of meso-level oversight from organisations able to ‘hold the ring’ between competing interests and to take a regional view of the needs of the local health system. This suggests that local organisational autonomy in such services will always be constrained.
Phenotypic Characterization and Antibiotics Combination Approach to Control the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Strains Isolated from the Hospital Derived Fomites

Objective: The emergence of antibiotic resistant Stphylococcus aureus strains have resulted in significant treatment difficulties which have imposed a burden on health care systems and simultaneously intensifying the need for new antimicrobial agents. Therefore, we have designed the study to determine the prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern along with evaluation of antibiotic combination approach. Material & Methods: Isolation and identification of MRSA was carried out using Mannitol salt agar followed by Baird-Parker Agar and Vojel-Johnson Agar media. Strains were tested for the sensitivity against five β-lactum, two macrolide and one fluoroquinolone class of antibiotic. Further sensitivity was confirmed using 9 diverse- second and third generation antibiotics. MIC value of individual and mixture of antibiotics were measured using Mueller-Hinton broth. Results: Total 10 stains of S. aureus were isolated and characterised using standard biochemical tests. They were identified using on-line identification tool- GIDEON (Global Infectious Disease and Epidemiology Network). Almost 50% strains were reported having variable reaction against at least one or more antibiotic. By the use of augmentin (30μg), cephotaxime (30μg), ceftriaxone (30μg), cefuroxime (30μg), ciprofloxacin (5μg), clindamycin (2μg), gentamycin (10μg), lincomycin (2μg) and tobramycin (10μg) further susceptibility tesing was carried out which reveals absolute resistant in 70% of strains, whereas, remeaning strains were seen having variable responses against five antibiotics. However, with comparison to standard antibiotic zone of inhibition, all strains were categorized as a resistant. An individual application of ampicillin, tetracycline and amikacin required higher concentration to inhibited all the stains while combination of two or three antibiotics were identified having low MIC value. Combination of tetracycline with sulbactam and cefoperazone was found best to contol MRSA. Conclusion: Study highlights the wide spread presence of MRSA strains in fomites derived from hospital. These indicate the need of more precaution in clinic area to control the spread of the MRSA. Amalgamation of antibiotics is an effective remedy for MRSA infections and promising approach in developing country. Key Words: Antibiotics combination; fomites; MRSA; Staphylococcus aureus DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/ajms.v2i2. 4258 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 2 (2011) 72-78
High-pressure high-temperature behavior of polymer derived amorphous B-C-N

Abstract: Dense diamond-like BCN compounds are of interest due to their extreme hardness and predicted excellent thermal and chemical stability, which are superior to those of diamond and c-BN. Here, we report on the high-pressure high-temperature (HP-HT) behavior of amorphous BC2N and BC4N -as potential precursors for HP-HT synthesis of diamond-like BCN. Prepared via hydroboration reaction of piperazine borane and pyridine borane, respectively, amorphous BC2N and BC4N are characterized by well-mixed B-N, C-C and C-N bonds, confirmed by XPS analysis. These BCN compositions were subjected to pressures between 5-12 GPa and temperatures up to 1700 °C using multi-anvil apparatus and toroid-type press. In- and ex-situ X-ray diffraction reveals the decomposition of BC4N to graphite and h-BN between 5 and 12 GPa above 500 °C, in contrast to BC2N which remains amorphous up to 1600 °C.
The early prognosis of tuber yield based on nitrogen status in potato tops

The pattern of nitrogen net change (ΔN) in potato tops during the period extending from BBCH 33 to BBCH 40 is crucial for tuber yield (TY). This hypothesis was verified based on data from field experiments (2006–2008) with sequentially added nutrients (0, NP, NPK, NPKS, NPKSMg) to potato. The water shortage in June/July 2006 and in June 2008 significantly affected N content, and in turn TY. The TY was reduced by 38% in 2006 and by 23% in 2008, as compared to 2007 (53.7 t/ha). The N content in potato tops at BBCH 40 of 2.5% indicated the lowest TY, whereas 4.3% the maximum TY. The ΔN of +0.4% within the period from BBCH 33 to BBCH 40 determined the optimal range of the N content for the maximum TY (3.9–4.3%). The ΔN trend depended on the change of phosphorus and potassium contents. The key reason of N inefficiency was the shortage of potassium (K), resulting in its negligible change within this period. The pattern of zinc content at BBCH 40 reflected fairly well disturbances in N as well as K supply to potato. A good supply of K and Zn to potato can improve N management just before tuber initiation.
The genus Mycosphaerella and its anamorphs

More than 2000 names have been described in Mycosphaerella and Sphaerella (Dothideales). Based on various morphological features depicted by earlier workers, six sections are recognized in the genus. About 27 anamorph genera have been linked' to Mycosphaerella, 23 of which are recognized here. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the ITS-I, 5.8S and ITS-2 DNA sequence data of 46 species of Jvfycosphaerella species (58 strains), one large cluster was distinguished containing primarily taxa with cercosporoid anamorphs, as well as another smaller cluster for species with DissoconiUlil anamorphs.
The potential of soil seed banks for revegetation of bogs in SW Finland after long-term aerial pollution

pollution source. The most common taxa in the seed banks were Calluna vulgaris and Betula spp. Only 18%–31% of the spermatophyte species were common to both seed bank and vegetation. The monodominance of Calluna was smallest, and the number of emergent seedlings of other mire species was highest in the farthest site. The high numbers of emergent seedlings show that seeds of some species can persist viable in the soil in polluted bogs.
On Upper Transversals in 3-Uniform Hypergraphs

A set $S$ of vertices in a hypergraph $H$ is a transversal if it has a nonempty intersection with every edge of $H$. The upper transversal number $\Upsilon(H)$ of $H$ is the maximum cardinality of a minimal transversal in $H$. We show that if $H$ is a connected $3$-uniform hypergraph of order $n$, then $\Upsilon(H) > 1.4855 \sqrt[3]{n} - 2$. For $n$ sufficiently large, we construct infinitely many connected $3$-uniform hypergraphs, $H$, of order~$n$ satisfying $\Upsilon(H) < 2.5199 \sqrt[3]{n}$. We conjecture that $\displaystyle{\sup_{n \to \infty} \, \left( \inf \frac{ \Upsilon(H) }{ \sqrt[3]{n} } \right) = \sqrt[3]{16} }$, where the infimum is taken over all connected $3$-uniform hypergraphs $H$ of order $n$.
A P -THEOREM FOR INVERSE SEMIGROUPS WITH ZERO

The result known as McAlister’s P -theorem stands as one of the most significant achievements in inverse semigroup theory since Vagner [17, 18] and Preston [12, 13, 14] initiated the theory in the fifties. See the papers by McAlister [4, 5], Munn [9], Schein [15], or the accounts by Petrich [11] and Howie [3]. The theorem refers to what have come to be called E-unitary inverse semigroups, and gives a description of such semigroups in terms of a group acting by order-automorphisms on a partially ordered set. An inverse semigroup with zero cannot be E-unitary unless every element is idempotent, but, as noted by Szendrei [16], it is possible to modify the definition and to consider what we shall call E-unitary semigroups instead. One of the cornerstones of the McAlister theory is the minimum group congruence
Short-Selling Restrictions and Returns: A Natural Experiment

Restrictions on short-selling may impede market participants from fully expressing their opinions about an asset, causing departures from price efficiency (Miller (1977)). Measuring the impact of short-selling restriction on returns has been elusive because the decision to sell short reflects expectations on returns. We measure the causal impact of short-selling restrictions on returns by taking advantage of an unique dataset and an unique source of exogenous variation in rental fees. In Brazil during the 2010-2013 period rental transaction from individual investors to mutual funds carried an implicit tax discount on days of distribution of Interest on Net Equity (IoNE). The possibility of tax arbitrage produces an exogenous spike in rental fees and short interest during the days surrounding IoNE distribution, making it prohibitively expensive to short-sell for speculative reasons. Our data contains all rental transaction and the identity of the parts, thus allowing us identify transactions for tax arbitrage. We find that the variation of rental fees induced by the tax arbitrage operations has a large impact on abnormal returns, corroborating Miller's hypothesis.
Reliability and Validity of the Persian Version of Global School-based Student Health Survey Adapted for Iranian School Students

Purpose: Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) is a project supported by the World Health Organization to assess adolescent health-risk behaviours and protective factors. The present study reports test-retest and internal consistency reliability as well as Content Validity Index (CVI) for the Persian version of GSHS and Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) adapted for Iranian students. Methods: The original English GSHS, GYTS and Optional Shisha modules were translated and back-translated, pilot-tested, reformed and corrected for clarity. The back-translated and English versions were compared and the Persian version was then edited to reach consistency for two versions. In order to evaluate the performance of this measure for our study sample (n= 47), we examined its test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and correlation between total test and re-test scales score as well as CVI. Results: The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) for the whole GSHS Core modules was 0.69, and for Core-Expanded GSHS, GYTS and Optional Modules for Shisha was 0.90. Test-retest reliability varied between 0.51 and 1.00 for Core and 0.23 to 1.00 for Core-Expanded GYTS and Optional Modules of Shisha. Total test and re-test scales score for GSHS Core varied from 0.64 to 1.00, and for Core-Expanded GSHS, GYTS and Optional Modules of Shisha varied 0.67 to 0.91. Conclusion: The Persian version of GSHS Core, Core-Expanded and GYTS has acceptable reliability and validity, and can serve as a reliable instrument for Persian-speaking communities.
The Mediating Effect of Organizational Culture on the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Firm Performance in Nigeria

The purpose of the study is to examine the mediating effect of organizational culture on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance in Nigerian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Their relationship receives a considerable scholarly attention in the literature, but few studies have been conducted among Nigerian SMEs. SMEs are considered as important to the economic growth of Nigeria and they constitute the major source of employment and significantly contribute to the gross domestic production. Based on the theoretical consideration, a model was proposed to examine this relationship. A quantitative survey method was used, the data were collected from the owner/managers of SMEs in Kano – Nigeria. A total of 640 questionnaires distributed, 511 usable questionnaires were returned. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS) was used for the data analysis. Based on the statistical findings, entrepreneurial orientation and organizational culture were significantly related to firm performance. Organizational culture was found to mediate on the relationship between EO to FP. The result of the present study has some practical implications: It will assist owner/managers of SMEs take the right decision on the importance of OC in their respective firms. The OC can help owner/managers with well-built EO to attain the maximum performance level in their organizations and remain relevant in their competitive market. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n23p480
Instantaneous Quantum Description of Photonic Wavefronts and Applications

Three physical elements are missing from the conventional formalism of quantum photonics: (1) the quantum Rayleigh spontaneous and stimulated emissions; (2) the unavoidable parametric amplification; and (3) the mixed time-frequency spectral structure of a photonic field which specifies its duration or spatial extent. As a single photon enters a dielectric medium, the quantum Rayleigh scattering prevents it from propagating in a straight-line, thereby destroying any possible entanglement. A pure dynamic and coherent state composed of two consecutive number states, delivers the correct expectation values for the number of photons carried by a photonic wave front, its complex optical field, and phase quadratures. The intrinsic longitudinal and lateral field profiles associated with a group of photons for any instantaneous number of photons are independent of the source. These photonic properties enable a step-by-step analysis of the correlation functions characterizing counting of coincident numbers of photons or intensities with unity visibility interference, spanning the classical and quantum optic regimes.
Budding and Asymmetric Reproduction of a Trichomonad with as Many as 1000 Nuclei in Karyomastigonts: Metacoronympha from Incisitermes

Metacoronympha senta Kirby (Trichomonadida: Calonymphidae), an exclusive symbiont of Incisitermes (Kalotermitidae) divides by budding and unequal fission, so that large cells can divide to produce both large and small cells. In contrast to M. senta in Incisitermes snyderi from Florida, which has a unimodal population distribution and a maximum cell length of 90 μm, M. senta in I. nr. incisus from Trinidad has a bimodal population distribution with cells as long as 210 μm and with as many as 1000 nuclei, each associated with a mastigont organelle system (karyomastigont). A densely packed parabasal body (Golgi complex) is located on the cell membraneside of each nucleus, which has a typical oval shape. Kirbys report of polygonal compartments, formed by contiguous nuclear membranes prove by electron microscopy to be microtubules of the axostyles arrayed as a polygon around each nucleus. Metacoronympha and other parabasalid symbionts (Coronympha, Trichonympha) of I. snyderi and I. nr. incisus are reported in this second paper ever written on this genus.
Fresh Patterns of Liberalization, Bank Return and Return Uncertainty in Africa

This chapter complements exiting African liberalization literature by providing fresh patterns of two main areas. First, it assesses whether African banking institutions have benefited from liberalization policies in terms of bank returns. Second, it models bank return and return uncertainty in the context of openness policies to examine fresh patterns for the feasibility of common policy initiatives. The empirical evidence is based on 28 African countries for the period 1999-2010. Varying non-overlapping intervals and autoregressive orders are employed for robustness purposes. The findings show that, while trade openness has increased bank returns and return uncertainties, financial openness and institutional liberalization have decreased bank returns and reduced return uncertainty respectively. But for some scanty evidence of convergence in return on equity, there is overwhelming absence of catch-up among sampled countries. Implications for regional integration and portfolio diversification are discussed.