Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Purification and Characterization of Polyphenol Oxidase, Peroxidase and Lipoxygenase from Freshly Cut Lettuce (L. sativa)

Summary Enzymatic reactions taking place in minimally processed vegetables are considered as a major problem, because they adversely affect sensorial and nutritional quality. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) from lettuce were purified on a column packed with positively charged diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose by applying pH gradient elution from pH=4.0 to 9.0. The main purified fractions (PPO1 and PPO4, POD1 and POD2, LOX1 and LOX2) were characterized for enzyme concentration-reaction rate relationship, thermal stability, pH activity and kinetic parameters. Kinetic properties of each isoform were considerably different. Cysteine was found as the most effective inhibitor of both fractions of PPO. Kinetic parameters of lettuce POD were presented using guaiacol at various H2O2 concentrations. b-carotene directly influences lettuce LOX in the reaction medium available for the catalytic conversion of linoleic acid into hydroperoxides. Ascorbic and oxalic acids appear as effective PPO inhibitors, protecting phenolic compounds against oxidation in lettuce. Understanding the characteristics of deteriorative enzymes becomes important to maintain suitable conditions for fresh-like quality of lettuce. The results can be useful to keep the nutritional quality of minimally processed lettuce during shelf-life.
Teacher Collaboration in Developing Rich Assessment Tasks in Mathematics as a Professional Development Activity.

In a context of system-wide changes to mathematics assessment, primary (elementary) school teachers were brought together to develop a package of exemplary assessment tasks, rich in potential to provide data on students' mathematical understanding and knowledge, and relating to a new assessment framework. Through involvement in writing, the teachers were able to guide their own professional development and consequently improve their teaching and assessment practices. The writing team situation provided teachers with support, feedback, and opportunities for reflection; as well as assisting them to gain confidence in using and understanding the assessment framework. This paper reports the teachers' reactions to the collaborative writing process and evaluates the effectiveness of collaborative developments, of this form, as professional development. The teachers' responses to the program indicate that it was effective in improving confidence, knowledge and understanding with respect to mathematics teaching, learning and assessment because it provided opportunities for support, feedback and reflection on trials of ideas in classrooms.
Physical Insight Toward Heat Transport and an Improved Electrothermal Modeling Framework for FinFET Architectures

We report on the thermal failure of fin-shaped field-effect transistor (FinFET) devices under the normal operating condition. Pre- and post failure characteristics are investigated. A detailed physical insight on the lattice heating and heat flux in a 3-D front end of the line and complex back end of line-of a logic circuit network-is given for bulk/silicon-on-insulator (SOI) FinFET and extremely thin SOI devices using 3-D TCAD. Moreover, the self-heating behavior of both the planar and nonplanar devices is compared. Even bulk FinFET shows critical self-heating. Layout, device, and technology design guidelines (based on complex 3-D TCAD) are given for a robust on-chip thermal management. Finally, an improved framework is proposed for an accurate electrothermal modeling of various FinFET device architectures by taking into account all major heat flux paths.
Threshold of detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in human stool specimens: evidence for low sensitivity of current diagnostic methods

To determine the minimum number of Cryptosporidium oocysts that can be detected in stool specimens by diagnostic procedures, stool samples seeded with known numbers of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were processed by the modified Formalin-ethyl acetate (FEA) stool concentration method. FEA concentrates were subsequently examined by both the modified cold Kinyoun acid-fast (AF) staining and fluorescein-tagged monoclonal antibody (immunofluorescence [IF]) techniques. Oocysts were more easily detected in watery diarrheal stool specimens than they were in formed stool specimens. For watery stool specimens, a 100% detection rate was accomplished at a concentration of 10,000 oocysts per g of stool by both the AF staining and IF techniques. In formed stool specimens, 100% of specimens seeded with 50,000 oocysts per gram of stool were detected by the IF technique, whereas 500,000 oocysts per g of stool were needed for a 100% detection rate by AF staining. Counting of all oocysts on IF slides indicated a mean oocyst loss ranging from 51.2 to 99.6%, depending on the stool consistency as determined by the FEA concentration procedure. Our findings suggest that the most commonly used coprodiagnostic techniques may fail to detect cryptosporidiosis in many immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals.
Learning automata-based polling protocols for wireless LANs

A learning automata-based polling (LEAP) protocol for wireless LANs, capable of operating efficiently under bursty traffic conditions, is introduced. We consider an infrastructure wireless LAN, where the access point (AP) is located at the center of a cell which comprises a number of mobile stations. According to the proposed protocol, the mobile station that is granted permission to transmit is selected by the AP by means of a learning automaton. The learning automaton takes into account the network feedback information in order to update the choice probability of each mobile station. It is proved that the learning algorithm asymptotically tends to assign to each station a portion of the bandwidth proportional to the station's needs. LEAP is compared to the randomly addressed polling and group randomly addressed polling protocols and is shown to exhibit superior performance under bursty traffic.
Neuropsychological function and symptoms in subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism and the effect of thyroxine treatment.

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to examine the relation between neuropsychological function and subclinical hypothyroidism (SHT), defined as serum TSH of 3.5-10.0 mIU/liter and normal serum free T4 and free T3 levels, and to study the effect of T4 supplementation. SUBJECTS A total of 89 subjects (45 males) with SHT and 154 control subjects (72 males) were recruited from a general health survey (the fifth Tromsø study). Sixty-nine of those with SHT were included in a placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention study with T4 medication for 1 yr. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We used fourteen tests of cognitive function, Beck Depression Inventory, General Health Questionnaire, and a questionnaire on hypothyroid symptoms. RESULTS The mean +/- sd serum TSH in the SHT and control group were 5.57 +/- 1.68 and 1.79 +/- 0.69 mIU/liter, respectively. There were no significant differences in cognitive function and hypothyroid symptoms between the two groups, but those with SHT scored significantly better than the controls on the GHQ-30. At the end of the intervention study, serum TSH in the T4 group (n = 36) and the placebo group (n = 33) were 1.52 +/- 1.51 and 5.42 +/- 1.96 mIU/liter, respectively. T4 substitution had no effect on any of the parameters measured. CONCLUSION In subjects with SHT where the serum TSH level is in the 3.5-10.0 mIU/liter range, there is no neuropsychological dysfunction, and compared with healthy controls, there is no difference in symptoms related to hypothyroidism.
Improved single-zone overmodulation algorithm for space vector modulated inverters

Space vector modulated voltage-source inverters require an overmodulation algorithm for continuous control of line-side voltage during overmodulation and for a smooth transition from PWM to six-step mode. Overmodulation increases the dc bus utilisation of a voltage source inverter, but requires significantly higher computational effort than linear modulation. This paper proposes a novel single-zone overmodulation algorithm for two-level voltage-source inverters. The proposed algorithm treats the whole overmodulation zone as a single undivided zone for the purpose of voltage control. This overmodulation algorithm maintains proportionality between the reference voltage and applied voltage up to the six-step mode. The new algorithm is evaluated and compared, theoretically as well as experimentally, with the existing algorithms. The proposed single-zone algorithm decreases the computational effort significantly over the standard two-zone algorithm, but at the cost of moderate increase in harmonic distortion. Compared to the existing single-zone algorithm, the proposed algorithm is shown to reduce computational burden as well as harmonic distortion.
Diabetic Cataract and the Total Antioxidant Status in Aqueous Humor

Abstract Some mechanisms have been proposed for cataract formation in diabetes mellitus such as excessive tissue sorbitol concentrations, abnormal glycosylation of lens proteins and increased free radical production in the intraocular region. We measured total antioxidant status and uric acid levels in aqueous humor from diabetic (n=20) and non-diabetic subjects (n=16) with cataracts. The patients with diabetes and cataract had significantly lower aqueous humor total antioxidant status than those with senile cataract (p = 0.001). Serum and aqueous humor uric acid levels were significantly lower in the diabetic cataract group compared to the senile cataract group. In the diabetic cataract group, the aqueous humor antioxidant status correlated positively with the aqueous humor uric acid levels (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that reduced aqueous humor antioxidant status might be associated with reduced aqueous humor uric acid in patients with diabetic cataract. This decrease in aqueous humor uric acid levels might lead to the acceleration of cataract formation.
Modified Artificial Killer Whale Optimization Algorithm for Maximum Power Point Tracking under Partial Shading Condition

Maximum solar power harnessing from photovoltaic (PV) modules under different conditions is extremely important. It becomes prominent for photovoltaic modules to operate at maximum power point during all conditions. This paper proposes a modified artificial whale optimization algorithm for tracking maximum power point of photovoltaic module under partial shaded condition. Simulation and programming involving this MAKWO algorithm is performed in MATLAB/SIMULINK to show the suitability and reliability under one shading pattern only. The obtained results have been juxtaposed with modified artificial wolf pack algorithm (MAWP), artificial bee colony (ABC) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) method which strongly show the excellency and superiority of MAKWO algorithm over all the existing MPPT techniques.
Efficiency of Software Testing Techniques: A Controlled Experiment Replication and Network Meta-analysis

Background. Common approaches to software veriﬁcation include static testing techniques, such as code reading, and dynamic testing techniques, such as black-box and white-box testing. Objective. With the aim of gaining a better understanding of software testing techniques, a controlled experiment replication and the synthesis of previous experiments which examine the eﬃciency of code reading, black-box and white-box testing techniques were conducted. Method. The replication reported here is composed of four experiments in which instrumented programs were used. Participants randomly applied one of the techniques to one of the instrumented programs. The outcomes were synthesized with seven experiments using the method of network meta-analysis (NMA). Results. No signiﬁcant diﬀerences in the eﬃciency of the techniques were observed. However, it was discovered the instrumented programs had a signiﬁcant eﬀect on the eﬃciency. The NMA results suggest that the black-box and white-box techniques behave alike; and the eﬃciency of code reading seems to be sensitive to other factors. Conclusion. Taking into account these ﬁndings, the Authors suggest that prior to carrying out software veriﬁcation activities, software engineers should have a clear understanding of the software product to be veriﬁed; they can apply either black-box or white-box testing techniques as they yield similar defect detection rates.
BMO ON SPACES OF HOMOGENEOUS TYPE: A DENSITY RESULT ON C-C SPACES

In the general setting of a space of homogeneous type endowed with an Ahlfors regular measure, we introduce the Banach spaces BMO and V MO defined through suitable cubes, and we prove that these spaces are topologically equivalent to the standard ones usually defined by means of balls. Through this fact we extend a known result of Sarason showing that C 1 is locally dense in V MO in the setting of Carnot-Caratheodory metric spaces related to a family of free Hormander vector fields X1;:::;Xq:
Norplant: nursing's responsibility in procreative rights.

Trained nurse practitioners can insert the contraceptive implant system Norplant. Courts may call on nurse practitioners to insert Norplant in poor women. Legislative and prosecutorial initiatives to coerce low-income women and female parolees to use contraceptives should not become law. Offering incentives to poor women is another form of involuntary fertility control. Eugenics and the sterilization campaign of the past form the basis for judicial and legislative initiatives to coerce women to accept Norplant. Providers have inserted Norplant in women from other countries without the women knowing the side effects. Often medical personnel do not remove Norplant when women request its removal. Nurses have historically played a public policy role in reproductive rights. They have promoted procreative rights through their roles as educators/counselors, advocators, empowerers, and practitioners. Nursing's power and expertise help protect against punitive government intrusion in reproductive rights and make sure that contraceptive breakthroughs (e.g., Norplant) strengthen procreative choices. They can guide the development of sound public policy. Norplant is not the answer to poverty, child abuse, or drug abuse. Nursing research can help policymakers become more responsive to the contraceptive and reproductive rights of everyone.
Impact of Moisture Flux and Freezing Level on Simulated Orographic Precipitation Errors over the Pacific Northwest

AbstractTwo cool seasons (November–March) of daily simulations using the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5) over the Pacific Northwest are used to investigate orographic precipitation bias. Model simulations are compared with data from a radiosonde site at Salem, Oregon, just upstream (west) of the Oregon Cascades; precipitation gauges over a portion of the Pacific Northwest; and a National Weather Service Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) in Portland, Oregon. The 77 storms analyzed are partitioned into warm/cold storms based on the freezing level above/below the Oregon Cascades crest (~1600 m MSL). Although the seasonal precipitation is well simulated, the model has a tendency to overpredict surface precipitation for cold storms. The correlation between the upstream relative humidity–weighted integrated moisture transport and precipitation for warm storms (r2 = 0.81) is higher than that for cold storms (r2 = 0.54). Comparisons of model ice water cont.
Male condom use, multiple sexual partners and HIV: a prospective case-control study in Kinshasa (DRC)

ABSTRACT In the Democratic Republic of Congo no previous studies have assessed the factors associated with different patterns of condom use and with multiple sexual partners, and the association between condom use simultaneously taking into account multiple sexual partnerships, and HIV infection. We carried out a prospective case–control study. From December 2010 until June 2012, 1630 participants aged 15–49 getting HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing in a hospital in Kinshasa were selected. Cases were new HIV diagnosis and controls were HIV-negative participants detected along the study period. We recruited 274 cases and 1340 controls that were interviewed about HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Among cases there was a high prevalence of multiple lifetime and concurrent sexual partnerships (89.8% and 20.4%, respectively) and most cases never used condoms with only 1.5% using them consistently. Condom use and multiple partnerships were associated with male, single and high-educated participants. An association was found between multiple lifetime partners and ‘any condom use’ (OR = 2.99; 95%CI: 2.14–4.19) but not with consistent use. Both having two or more multiple concurrent sexual partners or not using condoms were variables similarly and highly associated to HIV risk. The association found between having two or more concurrent sexual partners and HIV was slightly higher (OR = 3.58, 95%CI:2.31–5.56) than the association found between never condom use and HIV (OR = 3.38, 95%CI:1.15–9.93). We found a high prevalence of multiple lifetime sexual partners and an extremely high prevalence of inconsistent condom use, both strongly associated with HIV seropositivity. Local programmes would benefit from comprehensive interventions targeting all behavioural and sociocultural determinants.
Distribution of the low‐affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75) in the developing trigeminal brainstem complex in the rat

The low‐affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75) binds all members of the neurotrophin family. In the rat, during the first week postpartum, dense p75‐immunoreactivity (IR) is present throughout all components of the trigeminal brainstem complex (TBC), largely associated with primary sensory afferents. Within subnucleus caudalis (SpC) of the TBC, intense p75‐IR is present in all laminae at birth. During the second and third postnatal weeks, p75‐IR in SpC gradually fades within the deeper laminae, becoming generally restricted in the adult to laminae I and II. Similar declines in p75‐IR intensity occur in the subnucleus oralis (SpO); in the SpO in the adult, p75‐IR is confined to the dorsalmost portion of SpO. In subnucleus interpolaris, an emerging, vibrissa‐related pattern of p75‐IR is detectable on PD0 (first 24 hr postpartum), which becomes fully differentiated during PD4–PD7. However, this pattern gradually disappears during the third postnatal week. Ventrally in the nucleus principalis (PrV), a pattern of p75‐IR that mirrors the topographical arrangement of the vibrissae is detectable by PD0–PD1, is fully differentiated by the end of the first postnatal week, and persists into adulthood. Perinatal unilateral sectioning of the infraorbital nerve on PD0–PD1, but not as late as PD4, disrupts p75‐IR patterning in the adult PrV.
Morphology of Golgi‐impregnated neurons in hyperstriatum ventralis, pars caudalis in adult male and female canaries

Golgi‐impregnated neurons in the song control nucleus hyperstriatum ventralis, pars caudalis (HVc) in male and female canaries (Serinus canarius) have been divided into classes, primarily on the basis of interneuronal variability in spine density and dendritic branching pattern. At least four neuronal classes are found in HVc: aspinous neurons and three classes of spiny neurons. The “furry” dendrite (FD) cell class consists of neurons with long dendrites that are densely packed with spines. Their cell bodies are between 10 and 15 μm in diameter. Neurons of the thick dendrite (TD) cell class also have long dendrites but only about half as many spines along their dendritic branches. Their cell bodies are between 12 and 18 μm in diameter. Neurons of the short dendrite (SD) cell class are characterized by a low spine density, very thin dendrites, and a small dendritic field. Their cell bodies are between 9 and 13 μm in diameter. The TD class can be divided into two subclasses on the basis of the shape of the dendritic field. Principal component factor analysis and cluster analysis provide objective support for this classification scheme.
Histologic assessment of apoptotic bodies in crypts and lamina propria of villi

and its mucosa includes its native lymphoid tissue. These complicated factors contribute to the high frequency and severity of ACR. Recent studies have indicated novel techniques for identification of the flora, using profiling as a diagnostic marker of rejection [14]. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein Barr virus (EBV) [15] infection are also causes of implications following an increased dose of steroid pulse, tacrolimus, and other immunosuppressive reagents. In particular, CMV enteritis is persistent and erosion in an immunocompromised status leads to the destruction of the mucosal architecture after severe inflammation. Immunohistochemical assessment is one of the available methods for identification of CMV. Recently, a DNA extraction technique has been developed and PCR tests for the identification of CMV have become available using formalinfixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue [16]. The mucosal damage in CMV intestinal enteritis is frequently severe and it is difficult to make a differential diagnosis from ACR. In an immunocompromised state, patients are at increased risk of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) due to EBV infection. Monomorphic PTLDs have potential to develop into B cell lymphomas, and reduction of immunosuppression results in normalization and loss of EBV-associated expression. The expression of EBV can be analyzed by real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry of LMP-1 or in situ hybridization for EBER (EBV encoded small RNA) [17]. Ramos, et al. [18] reported that the frequency of graft removal due to EBV infection is higher than 40%, and the subsequent patient survival rate is less than 70%.
A qualitative approach for exploration of feeding practices, knowledge, and attitudes on child nutrition framework

Doel: Chroniese wanvoeding wat deur 'n langdurige inname van lae-kilojoule voedsels veroorsaak word, is 'n hardnekkige, publieke gesondheidsprobleem in meeste ontwikkelende lande soos Suid- Afr-ika (SA). Kinders is die mees kwesbare groep wat hierdeur geraak word aangesien hul groei benadeel word. Voedingpraktyke in die kinderjare affekteer die voedingstatus, gesondheid en ook die groei van kinders. Hierdie navorsingsverslag bied 'n oorsig van 'n kwalitatiewe benadering wat gevolg is in die ondersoek na die aard van die voeding- en speningpraktyke van moeders/versorgers van kinders 0 tot 3 jaar oud, wat die babaklinieke in twee areas in die Moretele distrik (SA) besoek. Die voedingkennis van die moeders/versorgers asook hul houdings oor kindervoeding is ook ondersoek. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om te reflekteer op die kwalitatiewe benadering en die data-analiseproses soos dit van toepassing is op voedingnavorsing. Benadering: 'n Kwalitatiewe benadering is gevolg om data oor ses relevante voedingonderwerpe te versamel deur van die fokusgroeponderhoudtegniek gebruik te maak. Onderhoude is gevoer met 'n geriefsteekproef (N=174) van moeders/versorgers in ses ouderdomsgroepe wat saamgestel is volgens bekende dieetveranderingsfases. Opgeleide moderators (van dieselfde etnisiteit as die ondersoekgroep om kulturele-, geletterdheid- en taalprobleme te oorkom) het twee fokusgroepe per ouderdomsgroep per kliniek gevoer deur gebruik te maak van 'n getoetste, gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule. Elke fokusgroeponderhoud is op band opgeneem en direk na afloop van die onderhoud getranskribeer en vertaal. 'n Vakspesialis het die transkripsies vir korrektheid en volledigheid gekontroleer. Die twee basiese benaderings vir fokusgroepdataanalise is gebruik. Inhoudsanalise het sistematiese beskrywings van die data opgelewer en etnografiese opsommings het beskrywende data verskaf. Die ontwikkeling van die kwalitatiewe benadering insluitend die ontwerp, uitvoering en analise van die fokusgroeponderhoude word bespreek. maatreels wat toegepas is om geldigheid en betroubaarheid te verhoog, sowel as 'n model wat die datareduksieproses uitbeeld, maak deel van die bespreking uit.