Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation and storing constancy assessment of orange lemonade drink

The orange lemonade drink was prepared in which different concentrations of preservatives (sodium benzoate and potassium metabisulphite) were added along with 10% sugar while some samples were sugar free in order to obtain the best combination. These samples were studied for physicochemical (pH, % acidity, TSS, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar and none reducing sugar) and organoleptic evaluation (colour, flavour, taste and overall acceptability). The results were studied and compared after interval of 15 days for total of 90 days storage period at room temperature. Ascorbic acid content decreased in all the samples during storage. The minimum loss in ascorbic acid content was observed in T8 (27.01%) and maximum in T0 (50.28%). Increase in titratable acidity was observed during storage. Maximum increase was observed in T6 (30.34%) while the minimum increase was observed in T1 (10.45%). pH was slightly decreased during storage. Maximum decrease was observed in sample T5 (3.82%) while minimum decrease was observed in sample T3 (1.25%). TSS was increased and maximum increase was observed in sample T4 (13.3%) and minimum in T3 (4.04%). Reducing sugar increased during storage. Maximum increase was observed in T7 (22.36%) while minimum in T4 (9.30%). Non reducing sugar considerably decreased. Maximum decrease was noticed in To (73.3%) while minimum in T4 (22.2%). Sugar acid ratio decreased during storage. Maximum decrease was observed in T5 (15.97%) while minimum in T0 (2.98%). Organoleptically for colour factor, T7 obtained maximum score (7.20) while minimum was obtained by T0 (6.57). Results for statistical analysis for 90 days storage and internal comparison were found significant (P<0.05).
Nuclear Maturation of Porcine Oocytes in vitro: Effect of the Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes Quality

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) quality on the ability of porcine oocytes to mature in vitro. Porcine COCs were collected from 2-6 mm follicles of slaughterhouse ovaries. The oocytes used for IVM were classified into three categories based on the compactness and transparency of the cumulus investment and homogeneity and transparency of the ooplasm. The oocytes were then matured in vitro for 44 h. At 22 of maturation culture, most of the oocytes in all groups were identified still at germinal vesicle (GV) stage and metaphase I (M-I) stage. After 44 h of culture, a greater proportion of Category I and II oocytes completed in vitro maturation through the second meiotic as compared with that of Category III oocytes (Pl0.05). The proportion of oocytes remaining at M-I stage and the degenerative oocytes in Category III oocytes were significantly higher than those of oocytes in other groups (Pl0.05). These data indicate that porcine oocytes with high quality cytoplasm and a cumulus cell complement have a much greater chance of maturing in vitro than that lower quality oocytes. The morphological grading of immature oocytes is an appropriate selection criterion for their developmental ability.
A Comparative Study on the Financial Performance of Islamic Banks and Conventional Banks in Kenya

Islamic banking in Kenya started in 2007 with the amendment of Section 53 of the Banking Act Chapter 488 of laws of Kenya in 2006. The amendment was intended to promote the introduction of innovative products in the banking sector including the vehicle for providing Sharia’h compliant financial products. Islamic banking system is characterized by interest frees banking and the avoidance of transactions prohibited by Shari’ah and unethical practices. The interest free principle is replaced by the principle of Profit-and-Loss sharing (PLS). Since 2007, two Islamic banks have opened their doors to the public especially targeting the Muslim community by providing Shari'ah compliant financial products. Conventional banks have realized the value of Islamic financing techniques and begun to incorporate them in their lending practices or via separate Islamic windows. In Kenya, Five conventional banks have also taken advantage of the amendment by providing Shari’ah compliant financial products. Yet, the added services Islamic banks offer is a societal one in complying with Shariah principles and at the same time compete with conventional banks. This raises the question as to how Islamic banks perform compared to their conventional counterparts. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the performances of Islamic banks and conventional banks in Kenya. The study evaluates performance of the Islamic bank in profitability, liquidity, risk, and efficiency for the period of 2008-2009. T-test and F-test were used in determining the significance of the differential performance of the two types of banks. The study found that on average the Islamic banks in Kenya are less profitable and less efficient but more solvent and less risky than the average conventional banks in Kenya. The reasons are due to the facts that conventional banks in Kenya have longer history and experience in doing banking business as compared to Islamic banks which started business two years ago.
Climate‐driven thresholds for chemical weathering in postglacial soils of New Zealand

Chemical weathering in soils dissolves and alters minerals, mobilizes metals, liberates nutrients to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and may modulate Earth's climate over geologic time scales. Climate‐weathering relationships are often considered fundamental controls on the evolution of Earth's surface and biogeochemical cycles. However, surprisingly little consensus has emerged on if and how climate controls chemical weathering, and models and data from published literature often give contrasting correlations and predictions for how weathering rates and climate variables such as temperature or moisture are related. Here we combine insights gained from the different approaches, methods, and theory of the soil science, biogeochemistry, and geomorphology communities to tackle the fundamental question of how rainfall influences soil chemical properties. We explore climate‐driven variations in weathering and soil development in young, postglacial soils of New Zealand, measuring soil elemental geochemistry along a large precipitation gradient (400–4700 mm/yr) across the Waitaki basin on Te Waipounamu, the South Island. Our data show a strong climate imprint on chemical weathering in these young soils. This climate control is evidenced by rapid nonlinear changes along the gradient in total and exchangeable cations in soils and in the increased movement and redistribution of metals with rainfall. The nonlinear behavior provides insight into why climate‐weathering relationships may be elusive in some landscapes. These weathering thresholds also have significant implications for how climate may influence landscape evolution and the release of rock‐derived nutrients to ecosystems, as landscapes that transition to wetter climates across this threshold may weather and deplete rapidly.
Genetic and environmental influences on beef tenderness

Mechanical tenderness measurements of M. longissimus (LM) and M. semitendinosus (ST) were analysed from 1392 tropically adapted (Brahman, Belmont Red and Santa Gertrudis) cattle grown out and finished in both tropical and temperate environments, and 2408 temperate breed (Angus, Hereford, Murray Grey and Shorthorn) cattle grown out and finished in a temperate environment. Groups of cattle from both environments were managed under 2 finishing systems (pasture and feedlot) to market liveweights of 400, 520 (steers and heifers) and 600 kg (steers only). Carcasses were electrically stimulated and care was taken to minimise stress before slaughter. Estimated genetic variation (GV) of compression of unaged LM and ST muscles was 0.006 and 0.018 kg2 respectively in tropically adapted and 0.004 and 0.009 kg2 in temperate breeds (phenotypic means 1.7, 2.1, 1.6, 2.1 kg; heritabilities, h2 = 0.16, 0.24, 0.10, 0.16). Estimated GV for LM and ST shear force was 0.24 and 0.12 kg2 in tropically adapted and 0.06 and 0.02 kg2 in temperate breeds (means 4.3, 4.6, 4.0 and 4.7 kg; h2 = 0.38, 0.40, 0.11, 0.06). Genetic correlations among shear and compression forces of the ST and LM ranged from 0.28 to 0.95 in tropically adapted and –0.20 to 0.60 in temperate breeds. The fixed effects model (market, finish, breed, birth herd, management group and interactions) explained about half the variation in compression measurements, but only 16% and 27% of the variation of LM shear force in tropically adapted and temperate breeds. The relatively low genetic variation and inconsistent genetic correlations in temperate breeds suggest genetic improvement in tenderness may be less important than effective pre- and post-slaughter management protocols. The higher additive genetic variances and moderate heritabilities in tropically adapted breeds suggest genetic improvement is possible but this will be most effective if combined with effective control of slaughter protocols.
University of Groningen Molecular Structure of Membrane

Membrane tethers are nanotubes formed by a lipid bilayer. They play important functional roles in cell biology and provide an experimental window on lipid properties. Tethers have been studied extensively in experiments and described by theoretical models, but their molecular structure remains unknown due to their small diameters and dynamic nature. We used molecular dynamics simulations to obtain molecular-level insight into tether formation. Tethers were pulled from singlecomponent lipid bilayers by application of an external force to a lipid patch along the bilayer normal or by lateral compression of a confined bilayer. Tether development under external force proceeded by viscoelastic protrusion followed by viscous lipid flow. Weak forces below a threshold value produced only a protrusion. Larger forces led to a crossover to tether elongation, which was linear at a constant force. Under lateral compression, tethers formed from undulations of unrestrained bilayer area. We characterized in detail the tether structure and its formation process, and obtained the material properties of the membrane. To our knowledge, these results provide the first molecular view of membrane tethers.
Experiences, Perceived Challenges, and Support Systems of Early College High School Students.

In this qualitative study, the prior experiences, perceived challenges, and support systems of 17 Grade 12 Hispanic students at an early college high school were explored using the framework of social capital theory. Utilizing Moustakas’s phenomenological design, data were collected using focus group and individuals interviews. Several themes emerged and were related to the conceptual framework of social capital, such as the school environment, support from family and teachers, and the students’ identify and values. Understanding the experiences of the Grade 12 students can provide valuable information for high school and college administrators in an ECHS setting.
Investigation of the impact of Antarctic ice-shelf melting in a global ice–ocean model (ORCA2-LIM)

Abstract Ice-shelf melting (ISM) removes heat from and injects fresh water into the adjacent ocean and contributes significantly to the freshwater balance and water mass formation in the Antarctic marginal seas. The thermodynamic interaction between ocean and ice shelf is a complicated process and usually not adequately included in the ocean–ice climate models. In this paper, the ISM from all major ice-shelf areas around Antarctica is added to a global coupled ice–ocean model ORCA2-LIM following the parameterization proposed by Beckmann and Goosse (2003). Using interannual forcing data from 1958 through 2000, the impact of ISM on Southern Ocean hydrography and sea-ice distribution is investigated. The model also shows global signatures of the Antarctic ISM.
On the meaning of mixing efficiency for buoyancy-driven mixing in stratified turbulent flows

The concept of a mixing efficiency is widely used to relate the amount of irreversible diabatic mixing in a stratified flow to the amount of energy available to support mixing. This common measure of mixing in a flow is based on the change in the background potential energy, which is the minimum gravitational potential energy of the fluid that can be achieved by an adiabatic rearrangement of the instantaneous density field. However, this paper highlights examples of mixing that is primarily ‘buoyancy-driven’ (i.e. energy is released to the flow predominantly from a source of available potential energy) to demonstrate that the mixing efficiency depends not only on the specific characteristics of the turbulence in the region of the flow that is mixing, but also on the density profile in regions remote from where mixing physically occurs. We show that this behaviour is due to the irreversible and direct conversion of available potential energy into background potential energy in those remote regions (a mechanism not previously described). This process (here termed ‘relabelling’) occurs without requiring either a local flow or local mixing, or any other process that affects the internal energy of that fluid. Relabelling is caused by initially available potential energy, associated with identifiable parcels of fluid, becoming dynamically inaccessible to the flow due to mixing elsewhere. These results have wider relevance to characterising mixing in stratified turbulent flows, including those involving an external supply of kinetic energy.
A Gaussian bound for convolutions of functions on locally compact groups

We give new and general sufficient conditions for a Gaussian upper bound on the convolutions Km+n _Km+n-1 _ · · · _Km+1 of a suitable sequence K1,K2,K3, . of complex-valued functions on a unimodular, compactly generated locally compact group. As applications, we obtain Gaussian bounds for convolutions of suitable probability den- sities, and for convolutions of small perturbations of densities
EMISSIONS ANALYSIS ON DIESEL ENGINE FUELED WITH PALM OIL BIODIESEL AND PENTANOL BLENDS

This study examined the effects of pentanol, palm oil biodiesel blends of varying proportions on the emissions pattern in a constant speed diesel engine. The main intention of this study was to investigate the reductions in HC, CO, NOX and smoke emissions when deploying four different fuels. The conversion of palm oil into biodiesel was achieved using the base catalysed transesterification process. The four different fuels evaluated were neat palm oil biodiesel (POBD100), pentanol blended with palm oil biodiesel by 10% volume (POBD90P10), palm oil biodiesel blended with pentanol (POBD80P20) by 20% volume and petroleum diesel. The experimental work concluded that by fuelling the diesel engine with palm oil biodiesel and pentanol blends, combustions were smooth. It was observed that the pentanol to palm oil biodiesel blend gave respective reduction of 9.3%, 3.8%, 6.6% and 2.7% in CO, HC, NOX and smoke emissions when compared to neat palm oil biodiesel.
Youth defendants with ADHD and the criminal justice system: A qualitative analysis of court decisions

The literature suggests that more than 60% of young offenders in the USA and internationally are screened positive for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, little scholarly attention is given to the role a defendant’s diagnosis of ADHD plays in court proceedings and decisions. The current exploratory qualitative study involves thematic content analysis focused on twelve court decisions dated from 2000-2011, from various jurisdictions, involving young defendants with ADHD. The findings suggest courts’ interpretation and treatment of the defendant’s ADHD diagnosis varies across cases, jurisdictions, and phases of the legal procedure. Evidence regarding the diagnosis was not sufficient, in itself, for the courts to make decisions that incorporate consideration of the disorder’s impact on the defendant’s functioning or treatment needs. When experts testify about the impact of ADHD on a case-relevant behavior or aspect of the defendant’s functioning, the court is more likely to take the disorder into consideration in its decision than when experts’ testimony simply states that the defendant is diagnosed with the disorder. Courts’ considerations for the defendant’s diagnosis of ADHD were reflected mainly in decisions to adjudicate the defendant as a youth and in sentencing decisions. The findings suggest a need for greater collaboration and communication among professionals in the criminal justice and mental health systems, in order to better understand the role of ADHD in relationship to the various phases of the adjudicative process and to better serve the needs and rights of young defendants with ADHD.
THE UNUSUALLY HIGH HALO CONCENTRATION OF THE FOSSIL GROUP NGC 6482: EVIDENCE FOR WEAK ADIABATIC CONTRACTION

Although fossil galaxy systems are thought to be very old, and thus should possess above-average halo concentrations, typically fossils have unexceptional concentrations of their masses. We revisit the massive isolated elliptical galaxy/fossil group NGC 6482 for which previous X-ray studies of a modest Chandra observation obtained a very uncertain, but also possibly very high, halo concentration. We present new measurements of the hot gas surface brightness, temperature, and iron abundance using the modest Chandra observation and a previously unpublished Suzaku observation, the latter of which allows the measurements of the gas properties to be extended out to . By constructing hydrostatic equilibrium models of the gas with separate components for the gas, the stellar mass of the large central galaxy (BCG), and the dark matter (DM), we measure and using a Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) DM profile. For a halo of this mass, the measured concentration c200 exceeds the mean value (7.1) expected for relaxed ΛCDM halos by in terms of the observational error, and by considering the intrinsic scatter in the ΛCDM c–M relation, which situates NGC 6482 as the most extreme outlier known for a fossil system. We explored several variants of adiabatic contraction (AC) models and, while the AC models provide fits of the same quality as the uncontracted models, they do have the following advantages: (1) lower c200 that is less of an outlier in the ΛCDM c–M relation, and (2) baryon fractions that agree better with the mean cosmic value. While the standard AC prescriptions yield a BCG stellar mass that is uncomfortably low compared to results from stellar population synthesis (SPS) models, a weaker AC variant that artificially shuts off cooling and star formation at z = 2 yields the same stellar mass as the uncontracted models. These are probably the reasons why our X-ray analysis prefers this weaker AC variant applied to either an NFW or Einasto DM halo. Finally, the stellar mass we measure for the BCG from the hydrostatic analysis strongly favors results from SPS models with a Chabrier or Kroupa initial mass function (IMF) over a Salpeter IMF.
Evaluation of the clearance characteristics of liposomes in the human nose by gamma-scintigraphy

The nasal cavity possesses many advantages as a site for drug delivery, such as, ease of administration, applicability for long term treatments and a large surface area for absorption. One important limiting factor for nasal drug delivery is the limited time available for absorption within the nasal cavity due to mucociliary clearance. Several drug delivery systems including different kinds of microspheres and liposomes have been tried for encapsulation of drugs and increasing the residence time in nasal cavity. In this study the clearance rate of three kinds of liposomes: neutral [phosphatidylcholin (PC) and cholesterol (Chol)], cationic (PC, Chol and stearylamine) and fusogenic (PC, Chol, dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine) was determined by gamma scintigraphy with lactose powder being used as negative control. Liposomes were prepared by dehydration-rehydration method. 99m Tc labeled liposomes were prepared using technetium pertechnetate in the presence of a potent reducing agent, stannus chloride. The labeling procedure was set in a manner that each 150 µl of liposome suspensions contained 2 MBq of radioactivity. Labeling efficiency was calculated by paper chromatography using acetone as mobile phase. Each delivery system containing 2 MBq of activity was sprayed into right nostril of four healthy volunteers and one-minute static views were repeated each half hour until 4 hours. Clearance rates were compared using two Regions of Interest (ROIs); the initial site of deposition of particles, and all of nasopharynx region. The clearance rate of each one of liposomes was calculated after applying the physical decay corrections. The mean labeling efficiencies for neutral, cationic and fusogenic liposomes were calculated as 91%, 20% and 69%, respectively. The cleared percent of preparations from nasopharynx region after 4 hours was determined as follows: neutral liposomes 18±2.9%; fusogenic liposomes 53.5±1.2%; cationic liposomes 69.7±4.2%; lactose powder 74.5±4.9%. Neutral liposomes showed the lowest clearance rate compared to lactose powder (P<0.0001), followed by fusogenic liposomes (P<0.01) and cationic liposomes (P<0.05). The clearance profiles of formulations from deposition ROI and nasopharynx ROI were identical. This study shows the neutral liposomes have the highest mucoadhesion properties and are suitable nasal delivery systems. Furthermore, this study proves that limiting step for the nasal clearance of nasally administered particulate systems is their dislocation from the initial site of deposition, and their following interactions with mucus layer in the rest of nasal passage does not significantly affect the clearance time.
Response of Some Bread and Durum Wheat Genotypes to Different Levels of Nitrogen in South West of Iran

In order to identify the effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on seed yield and seed growth indices of some bread and durum wheat genotypes, a field experiment was conducted in 2013-2014 in Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resource Research Center. The experiment was designed as a split plot with three replications. Nitrogen application rates (50, 100 and 150 kg N.ha) were assigned in the main plots and the sub plots consisted of six wheat genotypes (Bread; Verinak, Star, Chamran and Durum; Karkheh, D-84-5, D-83-8). Results indicated that seed yield, seed protein percentage, seed effective filling rate, remobilization of dry matter and the current photosynthesis, 1000 seed weight and seed effective filling period between genotypes were significant. Maximum and minimum seed filling rate was related to Karkheh genotype in 150 kg N.ha, and Verinak in treatment of using 50 kg N.ha. The effect of nitrogen levels on seed effective filling period was not significant. The maximum duration of seed filling was devoted to Verinak genotype and the minimum one was for Karkheh genotype. Chamran genotype, by using 150 kg N.ha, had maximum seed yield while Verinak genotype, using 50 kg N.ha had minimum seed yield. Maximum 1000 seed weight was devoted to Karkheh genotype in treatment of using 150 kg N.ha, also the minimum 1000 seed weight was that of Star genotype in treatment of using 100 kg N.ha. The maximum seed protein percentage was observed at D-84-5 line, in 150 kg N.ha, and minimum amount of protein was in Chamran and Karkheh in 50 kg N.ha. A positive and significant correlation observed between seed yield and seed weight, the current photosynthesis rate and remobilization rate. In general, according to Khuzestan climate conditions, planting Chamran genotypes by using 150 kg N.ha, can led to an appropriate yield and it is highly suggested.