Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Natural Durability of WooD: a WorlDWiDe CheCklist of speCies

Naturally durable woods have a variety of commercial uses. Natural resistance to decay has been evaluated in field and laboratory tests of wood from many species, but there are few places where commercial wood users can find comparative assessments of natural durability. In this report, previous studies have been used to assign a numerical resistance rating to 1500 wood species. Species are listed alphabetically by scientific name, along with trade name, decay resistance rating, growing region, and source of resistance information. Species are also listed alphabetically by trade name if available, in the appendix.
Efficacy of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir for Real-World HCV Infected Patients in the Northern Part of Tokyo, Japan

Hepatis virus C (HCV) infection causes liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. The objective of our study was to examine the effects of the HCV nonstructural protein (NS) 3/4A inhibitor glecaprevir/NS5A inhibitor pibrentasvir on real-world HCV patients in the northern part of Tokyo, Japan. Although 106 patients were consecutively included, a total of 102 HCV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis or compensated cirrhosis, who received 8- or 12-week combination treatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and were followed up to week 12 after the end of treatment were analyzed retrospectively. Only three patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events; however, they achieved a sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12). Finally, SVR rates were 99.0% (101/102). Only one patient without liver cirrhosis was a treatment relapser who received hepatic resection for HCC approximately two years after commencement of the 8-week combination treatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir. After the exclusion of patients with HCV genotype 1b and P32 deletion in the HCV NS5A region, a 12-week combination of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir led to SVR12 in all nine direct-acting antiviral-experienced patients. Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir had a high efficacy and an acceptable safety profile for real-world HCV patients in a single hospital in Japan.
A Systematic Review of Child Health and Developmental Outcomes Associated with Low Birthweight and/or Small for Gestational Age in Indigenous Children from Australia, Canada and New Zealand

While much is known about the health implications of low birthweight for infants and adults, there is limited information about the health implications in childhood, particularly for Indigenous children. The aim of this systematic review was to assess associations between low birthweight (LBW) and/or small for gestational age (SGA) and the developmental, physical or mental health outcomes for Australian, Canadian and New Zealand Indigenous children (5–12 years), including the potential mediating role of cultural connections. The review was guided by an Aboriginal Advisory Group established to guide the Aboriginal Families Study. Four databases were investigated with pre-determined inclusion/exclusion criteria. The search identified 417 articles after independent screening by two authors. Eight studies assessing six child outcomes were included. The review identified limited evidence, although the review suggested possible links between LBW and/or SGA and childhood asthma, lower body mass index (BMI) and poorer academic performance. Links between LBW, SGA and disability, global health and developmental vulnerability were inconclusive. One study identified cultural-based resilience as protective against perinatal adversity. In summary, research on the relationship between adverse birth outcomes and Indigenous children’s health and development is limited. Further investigation and collaboration with Indigenous communities is required to drive optimised health and social services responses and equitable system reform.
Phytochemical Characterization, Hepatoprotective Activity on Alcohol-Induced Toxicity of the Aqueous Extract of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae) in Wistar Rats

Introduction: Liver or hepatic disease refers to different conditions that affect the liver. Chronic alcohol consumption is one of the most frequent causes of liver disease and accounts for about 55% of liver cirrhosis deaths recorded in Cameroon in 2020. Standard accessible treatments focus on end-stage liver disease with safety and efficacy obstacles. We have a research gap in Cameroon to understand the alternative use of natural products as treatment with a long traditional history of safe use. Curcuma longa has long been a source of traditional and modern medicine. It is commonly used in Cameroon as a spice and herbal product with some level of activity against various forms of liver disease. Objective: To phytochemically screen for bioactive metabolites and evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of Curcuma longaon alcohol-induced toxicity in Wistar rats. Methods: Phytochemical screening was carried out on the aqueous extract obtainedfrom maceration of plant rhizomes. Three doses (125, 250 and 500mg/Kg) of the plant extract and the reference (Silymarin 50mg/Kg) were administered daily (p.o) to rats 30 min before administration of 40% alcohol (2mL/100g p.o) for 21 days. Biochemical parameters such as ALAT, ASAT, GGT, Bilirubin and Lipid profile were quantified and histological studies of the liverwas carried out using standard procedures. Results: Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of C. longa revealed polyphenols such as flavonoids, tannins, quinones, saponins and phlobatanins. The plant showed hepatoprotective activity by decreasing liver toxicity markers such as ASAT, ALAT, GGT and Bilirubin. Histology revealed dose-dependent protection with 500 mg/Kg showing the most cellular integrity, no central vein occlusion and minimal fibrosis. Conclusion: This study indicated the presence of polyphenols like flavonoids and tannins in the aqueous extract of C. longa. The presence of these secondary metabolites in the studied extract justifies its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties confirmed by its hepatoprotective effects on alcohol-induced toxicity. This was clearly shown by biochemical and histological parameters. More sensitive and specific methods are required to test for these secondary metabolites in serum.
Effects of Supervised Cardiac Rehabilitation Programmes on Quality of Life among Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Traditionally, cardiac rehabilitation programmes are offered after cardiac events to aid recovery, improve quality of life, and reduce adverse events. The objective of this review was to assess the health-related quality of life, after a supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme, of patients who suffered a myocardial infarction. A systematic review was carried out in the CINAHL, Cochrane, LILACS, Medline, Scopus, and SciELO databases, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Randomised controlled trials were selected. Meta-analyses were performed for the Short Form Health Survey SF-36, Myocardial Infarction Dimensional Assessment Scale (MIDAS), MacNew Heart Disease-Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) questionnaire, and European Quality of Life-Visual Analogue Scale (EuroQol-VAS) with the software Cochrane RevMan Web. Ten articles were found covering a total of 3577 patients. In the meta-analysis, the effect size of the cardiac rehabilitation programme was statistically significant in the intervention group for physical activity, emotional reaction, and dependency dimensions of the MIDAS questionnaire. For the control group, the score improved for SF-36 physical functioning, and body pain dimensions. The mean difference between the control and intervention group was not significant for the remaining dimensions, and neither for the MacNew Heart Disease-HRQL and EuroQol-VAS questionnaires. Supervised cardiac rehabilitation programmes were effective in improving health-related quality of life, however, there was a potential variability in the interventions; therefore, the results should be interpreted with caution. This study supports the importance of providing care and evaluating interventions via the supervision of trained health professionals, and further randomised clinical trials are needed to analyse the positive changes in mental and physical health outcomes.
Fighting Cancer with Bacteria and Their Toxins

Cancer is one of the most important global health problems that continues to demand new treatment strategies. Many bacteria that cause persistent infections play a role in carcinogenesis. However, since bacteria are well studied in terms of molecular mechanisms, they have been proposed as an interesting solution to treat cancer. In this review, we present the use of bacteria, and particularly bacterial toxins, in cancer therapy, highlighting the advantages and limitations of bacterial toxins. Proteomics, as one of the omics disciplines, is essential for the study of bacterial toxins. Advances in proteomics have contributed to better characterization of bacterial toxins, but also to the development of anticancer drugs based on bacterial toxins. In addition, we highlight the current state of knowledge in the rapidly developing field of bacterial extracellular vesicles, with a focus on their recent application as immunotherapeutic agents.
Associations between Circulating IGF-1 Concentrations, Disease Status and the Leukocyte Transcriptome in Early Lactation Dairy Cows

Peripartum dairy cows commonly experience negative energy balance (EB) and immunosuppression together with high incidences of infectious and metabolic disease. This study investigated mechanisms linking EB status with immune defense in early lactation. Data were collected from multiparous Holstein cows from six herds and leukocyte transcriptomes were analyzed using RNA sequencing. Global gene expression was related to circulating IGF-1 (as a biomarker for EB) by subdividing animals into three groups, defined as IGF-1 LOW (<35 ng/mL, n = 35), MODERATE (35–100 ng/mL, n = 92) or HIGH (>100 ng/mL, n = 43) at 14 ± 4 days in milk (DIM). Differentially expressed genes between groups were identified using CLC Genomics Workbench V21, followed by cluster and KEGG pathway analysis, focusing on the comparison between LOW and HIGH IGF-1 cows. LOW cows were older and had significantly lower dry matter intakes and EB values, whereas HIGH cows produced more milk. During the first 35 DIM, 63% of LOW cows had more than one health problem vs. 26% HIGH cows, including more with clinical mastitis and uterine infections. Gene expression analysis indicated that leukocytes in LOW cows switched energy metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis (PGM, LDH, and PDK4). Many antimicrobial peptides were up-regulated in LOW cows (e.g., PTX3, DMBT1, S100A8, and S100A9) together with genes associated with inflammation, platelet activation and the complement cascade. HIGH cows had greater expression of genes regulating T and B cell function and the cytoskeleton. Overall, results suggested an ongoing cycle of poor EB and higher infection rates in LOW IGF-1 cows which was reflected in altered leukocyte functionality and reduced milk production.
Real-Time Double-Layer Thin Film Thickness Measurements Using Modified Sagnac Interferometer with Polarization Phase Shifting Approach

This paper describes a modified Sagnac interferometer with a self-referenced polarization and phase-shifting technique for real-time thickness measurement of single- and double-layer transparent thin films. The proposed interferometric setup generated outstanding rotating linearly polarized light with a degree of polarization (DOP) of 99.40%. A beam splitter placed at the interferometer output separated the beam into two identical linearly polarized beams. One of the beams served as a reference, while the other served as a sensing arm. The output linear polarizer set at 45° relative to a reference plane was positioned anterior to the photodetectors to get rotating light intensities for phase shift measurement; hence, the intensities at various polarizations of 0°, 45°, and 90° were automatically acquired without any polarizing device adjustments. These intensities were then transformed into a phase retardation introduced by a sample, and the resulting phase shift was eventually converted into film thickness. The samples were properly prepared, with pure BK7 substrate being deposited by WO3-, Ta2O5-, and WO3/Ta2O5 films of known thicknesses. The thickness measurement obtained from the proposed system yielded reading errors of 1.3%, 0.2%, and 1.3/2.5% for WO3-, Ta2O5-, and WO3/Ta2O5 films, respectively. The mathematical theory was effectively demonstrated and empirically confirmed. The experimental results show that the proposed setup has a lot of potential for real-time, non-destructive thickness assessment of transparent thin films without the need to modify polarizing device orientations.
Standard for the Quantification of a Sterilization Effect Using an Artificial Intelligence Disinfection Robot

Recent outbreaks and the worldwide spread of COVID-19 have challenged mankind with unprecedented difficulties. The introduction of autonomous disinfection robots appears to be indispensable as consistent sterilization is in desperate demand under limited manpower. In this study, we developed an autonomous navigation robot capable of recognizing objects and locations with a high probability of contamination and capable of providing quantified sterilization effects. In order to quantify the 99.9% sterilization effect of various bacterial strains, as representative contaminants with robots operated under different modules, the operating parameters of the moving speed, distance between the sample and the robot, and the radiation angle were determined. We anticipate that the sterilization effect data we obtained with our disinfection robot, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time, will serve as a type of stepping stone, leading to practical applications at various sites requiring disinfection.
Synaptamide Improves Cognitive Functions and Neuronal Plasticity in Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain arises from damage or dysfunction of the peripheral or central nervous system and manifests itself in a wide variety of sensory symptoms and cognitive disorders. Many studies demonstrate the role of neuropathic pain-induced neuroinflammation in behavioral disorders. For effective neuropathic pain treatment, an integrative approach is required, which simultaneously affects several links of pathogenesis. One promising candidate for this role is synaptamide (N-docosahexaenoylethanolamine), which is an endogenous metabolite of docosahexaenoic acid. In this study, we investigated the activity of synaptamide on mice behavior and hippocampal plasticity in neuropathic pain induced by spared nerve injury (SNI). We found a beneficial effect of synaptamide on the thermal allodynia and mechanical hyperalgesia dynamics. Synaptamide prevented working and long-term memory impairment. These results are probably based on the supportive effect of synaptamide on SNI-impaired hippocampal plasticity. Nerve ligation caused microglia activation predominantly in the contralateral hippocampus, while synaptamide inhibited this effect. The treatment reversed dendritic tree degeneration, dendritic spines density reduction on CA1-pyramidal neurons, neurogenesis deterioration, and hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) impairment. In addition, synaptamide inhibits changes in the glutamatergic receptor expression. Thus, synaptamide has a beneficial effect on hippocampal functioning, including synaptic plasticity and hippocampus-dependent cognitive processes in neuropathic pain.
Modelling of the dynamic behaviour of in situ concrete railway sleepers

Abstract An analytical solution to the problem of a vibrating beam on an elastic foundation is presented. An application example of a concrete railway sleeper embedded in an elastic medium (the ballast) is provided. The sleeper is also elastically connected to the rails. The Rayleigh—Timoshenko (R—T) beam theory for a beam on an elastic foundation is used and eigenfrequencies are calculated. The beam (sleeper) is divided into three sections that have piecewise constant properties. The central portion of the beam is slightly thinner than the outer parts, and each one of the three parts may or may not be supported by the elastic foundation. The elastic connections to the rails are situated at the two joinings of the three sleeper sections. Conclusions drawn are that the Euler—Bernoulli beam theory can be used to calculate two, or maximum three, eigenfrequencies of the sleeper. For higher frequencies, the R—T beam theory should be used. The foundation stiffness influences the lowest bending-mode eigenfrequency the most; higher eigenfrequencies are practically unaffected by the foundation stiffness. The influence of railpad (and rail) stiffness on the sleeper eigenfrequencies is negligible.
VALUE-DRIVEN DESIGN AND THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

In April, 2006, Orbital Sciences hosted a workshop conducted by the AIAA Value-Driven Design Program Committee. The objective of the workshop was to explore the application of Value-Driven Design to a military program. In particular, we developed a va lue model for the Global Positioning System, and derive d an objective function for optimizing the design of the satellite bus. This paper recounts the workshop an d reflects on the need for Value-Driven Design.
Lung Ultrasound versus Pulmonary Auscultation in Detecting Pulmonary Congestion in the Critically Ill

BACKGROUND: In critically ill patients, auscultation might be challenging as dorsal lung fields are difficult to reach in supine-positioned patients, and the environment is often noisy. In recent years, clinicians have started to consider lung ultrasound (LUS) as a useful diagnostic tool for a variety of pulmonary pathologies, including pulmonary edema. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare LUS versus pulmonary auscultation for detecting pulmonary edema in critically ill patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-one patients were included in this study, all included patients underwent clinical examination, chest auscultation of anterior and lateral (axillary) chest wall and back in each hemithorax in supine position was done, followed by LUS using Bedside LUS in Emergency (BLUE) protocol. LUS score was recorded; abnormal auscultation was defined as the presence of rales or wheezes. Laboratory tests were done on admission such as pro-BNP, renal function, and blood gases. Pro-BNP was used as diagnostic tool for volume overload and was correlated with LUS and stethoscope for detecting pulmonary edema. Pneumonia was excluded with normal total leukocyte counts, C-reactive protein, and absence of fever. RESULTS: This study included 61 patients with diagnosis of pulmonary edema, all data were recorded on admission and showed that there was statistically significant good positive correlation between LUS and Pro-BNP (p < 0.05), and Pearson correlation between LUS and Pro-BNP among the studied patients is statistically significant at the 0.01 level (two-tailed). Furthermore, we found that both LUS and Pro-BNP were statistically significant higher among patients with rales (p < 0.05) only 36 (59%) patients were positive as pulmonary edema with pulmonary auscultation (presence of rales) and 25 (41%) patients were negative for pulmonary edema (NO RALES) while they were positive for pulmonary edema with LUS (high LUS score)and pro-BNP. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary auscultation has poor sensitivity for pulmonary congestion while LUS had statistically significant higher sensitivity for pulmonary edema.
Experimental Validation of Real-Time Ski Jumping Tracking System Based on Wearable Sensors

For sports scientists and coaches, its crucial to have reliable tracking systems to improve athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the validity of a wearable real-time tracking system (WRRTS) for the quantification of ski jumping. The tracking system consists of wearable trackers attached to the ski bindings of the athletes and fixed antennas next to the jumping hill. To determine the accuracy and precision of the WRRTS, four athletes of the German A or B National Team performed 35 measured ski jumps. The WRRTS was used to measure the 3D positions and ski angles during the jump. The measurements are compared with camera measurements for the in-flight parameters and the official video distance for the jumping distance to assess their accuracy. We statistically evaluated the different methods using Bland–Altman plots. We thereby find a mean absolute error of 0.46 m for the jumping distance, 0.12 m for the in-flight positions, and 0.8°, and 3.4° for the camera projected pitch and V-style opening angle, respectively. We show the validity of the presented WRRTS to measure the investigated parameters. Thus, the system can be used as a tracking system during training and competitions for coaches and sports scientists. The real-time feature of the tracking system enables usage during live TV broadcasting.
Examining the Role of Website Quality Perceptions in Explaining the Actual Usage of a Port Paperless System (PPS)

The main objective of these study is to proposed a model and integrate it with website quality dimensions to study and as well as measure the direct relationship between the intentions of the users of the ports in Ghana and their actual usage of the port paperless system (PPS). Through the survey design technique, data was collected from the users of the ports in Ghana. The study adopted a Research Randomizer to select 424 port users in Ghana and the questionnaires were distributed through self - administered technique. A total of 332 questionnaires were received, giving a response rate of 78 percent. The hypotheses of the study were tested using the Partial Least Squares- Structural Equation Modeling (PLS- SEM) statistical technique. The findings of the study revealed that perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and as well as Technical quality (TQ) and specific con tent quality (SCQ) are important factors that influence intention to used PPS in Ghana. The facilitating condition (FC) and behavioural intention (BI) variables are confirmed in the study to individually influence actual usage(AU) of the PPS in Ghana. This study has contributed to the growing literature of IT/ IS especially in the context of Africa where there seems to be limited literature because we have developed a model fused with some component of the TAM model and dimensions of website quality to study an online port policy. The study has also developed a new dimension of website quality known as Cost Associated with the web (CAW) and this has been validated in the study.
Performance of a variable-speed inverter/motor drive for refrigeration applications

Presents the results of an experimental investigation into the application of inverter-based variable-speed drives to positive displacement rotary vane refrigeration compressors. The investigation considers the effects of the inverter on a number of operating parameters such as the harmonic currents and voltages on both the supply side and motor side, power consumption and power factor, starting current and overall system efficiency. The results indicate that the use of off-the-shelf inverters for variable-speed control of refrigeration compressors can inject harmonics to the supply system which exceed the maximum limits imposed by BS5406. The inverter may also cause a reduction in the power factor and in the overall efficiency of the drive. Variable-speed operation of a rotary vane compressor may not offer efficiency advantages over fixed-speed operation but can provide other benefits such as better temperature control and faster response to sudden changes in load.