Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diosgenin Nanoparticles Competes Plain Diosgenin on Reviving Biochemical and Histopathological Alterations in DMBA Induced Rat Mammary Carcinoma via Modulating the AhR-Nrf-2 Signaling Cascades

Background: Diosgenin, a steroidal saponin spotted as a primary ingredient in many traditional Chinese medicines, has sparked the attention of researchers owing to its multi-targeted cytotoxicity towards a multitude of cancers. Regrettably, its true potential was bounded by its impoverished physicochemical properties. In order to fully exploit its ability, we plan to fabricate diosgenin into nanoparticle by encapsulating with biodegradable polymer chitosan. Aim: The current research intends to uncover the therapeutic potency of diosgenin encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles (DG@CS-NP) on 7,12dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced rat mammary carcinoma by optimizing biochemical and histopathological modifications via attenuating Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) - nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factors (Nrf-2) signaling. Methodology: Breast cancer was induced with a single dose of DMBA (25 mg/kg b.wt). Orally supplied DG 10mg/kg b.wt. and DG@CS-NP 5 mg/kg b.wt to DMBA-induced tumor-bearing rats shortly after tumor onset. After the experimental period, biochemical and histopathological studies were performed using mammary tissue sections. Furthermore, architectural immunohistochemistry was used to reveal the expression of AhR and Nrf-2 in experimental rats. Additionally, diosgenin interactions with these proteins were also evidently confirmed by molecular docking analysis. Result: We noticed that there is an elevated level of lipid peroxidative marker, phase-I detoxification enzymes, total cholesterol (TC), phospholipids (PL), triglycerides (TG), and free fatty acids (FFA) with boosted AhR expressions as well as diminished levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and Phase – II detoxification enzymes with downtrodden Nrf-2 expressions in the mammary tissues of DMBA-induced rats. On the other contrary, oral dosing of DG@CS-NP 5 mg/kg b.wt, dramatically reverted them to near-normal tiers. Interestingly, molecular docking analyses also corroborate these insights by highlighting diosgenin's significant interactions with AhR and Nrf-2 targets. Conclusion: As an outcome of our observations, we conclude that nano-encapsulation of diosgenin is a potent targeted therapeutic candidate posing a massive impact on breast cancer than plain diosgenin.
Overcoming the comparative confusion of the audit committee’s impact on the financial performance of conventional and Islamic banks: An international evidence in a framework of agency theory

Based on the banking and governance literature, the impacts of the audit committee quality on the financial performance of conventional and Islamic banks are mixed, unstable and sometimes contradictory. In this study, we consulted deeply the theoretical foundations of the audit committee quality on the financial performance of conventional and Islamic banks to solve the ambiguity of comparison in a framework of agency theory. Measures of financial performance and audit committee determinants are collected from 30 countries. Under the panel data estimations, data were collected from 112 banks of each type that have published their reports regularly during the period (2010-2019). Overall, we obtained 1120 bank-year observations in each sub-sample. The results showed that the audit committee in conventional banks negatively affected their financial performance. However, in Islamic banks, it revealed a vague impact because of his secondary role.
Two-Pore-Domain Potassium (K2P-) Channels: Cardiac Expression Patterns and Disease-Specific Remodelling Processes

Two-pore-domain potassium (K2P-) channels conduct outward K+ currents that maintain the resting membrane potential and modulate action potential repolarization. Members of the K2P channel family are widely expressed among different human cell types and organs where they were shown to regulate important physiological processes. Their functional activity is controlled by a broad variety of different stimuli, like pH level, temperature, and mechanical stress but also by the presence of lipids or pharmacological agents. In patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases, alterations in K2P-channel expression and function have been observed, suggesting functional significance and a potential therapeutic role of these ion channels. For example, upregulation of atrial specific K2P3.1 (TASK-1) currents in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients was shown to contribute to atrial action potential duration shortening, a key feature of AF-associated atrial electrical remodelling. Therefore, targeting K2P3.1 (TASK-1) channels might constitute an intriguing strategy for AF treatment. Further, mechanoactive K2P2.1 (TREK-1) currents have been implicated in the development of cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis and heart failure. Cardiovascular expression of other K2P channels has been described, functional evidence in cardiac tissue however remains sparse. In the present review, expression, function, and regulation of cardiovascular K2P channels are summarized and compared among different species. Remodelling patterns, observed in disease models are discussed and compared to findings from clinical patients to assess the therapeutic potential of K2P channels.
Impact of gum arabic and cactus mucilage as potential coating substances combined with calcium chloride treatment on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit quality attributes under ambient storage conditions

Abstract: The current work investigates the impact of postharvest applications of calcium chloride (CaCl2) in combination with either 10% gum arabic or 50% cactus mucilage on the quality parameters and storability of tomato fruit (Izmir variety), at ambient storage conditions [21 ± 1 °C, relative humidity (RH) 45% ± 2%]. The tomato fruits were dipped in 6% CaCl2 for 10 min and then coated with either 10% gum arabic or 50% cactus mucilage for 3 min. During the time-course of storage, the fruit attributes, such as fresh fruit weight loss, fruit decay, firmness, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), and color development were assessed. The results revealed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect of fruit postharvest treatment with 6% CaCl2 for 10 min combined with postharvest coating treatments with either 10% gum arabic or 50% cactus mucilage for 3 min on reducing fruit fresh weight loss, and decay percent of fruits. Fruit firmness, TA, and TSS were preserved compared with untreated fruit. In addition, treated fruits took more time to develop from pink to full red compared with untreated fruit. Hence, coating with natural substances combined with CaCl2 preserved the overall quality parameters and enhanced the shelf life of tomato fruit even after three weeks of storage at ambient temperature.
Ultra-low power signal conditioning system for effective biopotential signal recording

Design of Low-power signal conditioning system comprising of biopotential amplifier (BPA) and low pass Filter (LPF) remains one of the most critical block of system on chips (SoCs) targeted for wearable non-invasive and semi-invasive biomedical applications like electroencephalography and electrocorticography. Design of the same is a challenging task owing to noise-power trade-off in BPA and dependency of process voltage and temperature variations on the filter circuit. We report the design of a signal conditioning system comprising of a capacitively coupled capacitive feedback (CC-CF) BPA and composite p-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) based complementary source-follower LPF. The results obtained in Cadence with standard 0.18 µm technology and BSIM3V3 MOS models for the proposed signal conditioning system provide a DC-gain value of 36.76 dB, bandwidth of 280 mHz–174 Hz, power consumption of 24.54 µW, supply current of 24.54 µA, area consumption of 0.212826 mm2 from ± 0.5 V supply voltage. Robustness of this signal conditioning system has been checked by performing 200 runs of monte carlo simulations. The statistical results obtained for gain of (CC-CF) BPA, complementary source follower (CSF-C) LPF and signal conditioning system show mean (µ) values of 39.93 dB, −3.92 dB and 35.96 dB as well as standard deviation ( σ ) of 135.433 mdB, 1.90 dB, and 2.00 dB respectively. The CC-CF BPA architecture, CSF-C LPF and complete signal conditioning system are expected to be used in SoCs targeted for various low-power biomedical applications.
Association Rules Analysis between Brand Post Characteristics and Consumer Engagement on Social Media

Brands are increasingly using social media to create and manage posts to initiate and maintain consumer engagement. Based on the theory of consumer engagement, a perspective of brand post content, form and posting time is introduced to construct a conceptual model of consumer engagement for Sina Weibo. Rough set method and reduction algorithm of Holte 1 R are used to automatically generate the optimal decision rules. Rough set method does not need any prior knowledge and assumptions, which could effectively overcome the disadvantages of traditional statistical methods. The results show that entertainment content is easy to trigger moderate level of consumer engagement, the effect of information content on shares is significantly stronger than that of comments and likes, and the promotion content has an impact on liking. As the most vivid and the most interactive characteristic respectively, videos and questions significantly affect the mid-level consumer engagement. Keeping post length in the range of 16–50 characters stimulates the medium degree of sharing. Posts created on weekend promote the medium level of sharing and the low level of liking, while published at the peak or low peak period trigger the same level of sharing, but do not affect comments or likes. The study detects the characteristics that affect consumer engagement and define the scope of its role. The relationship and intensity of different characteristics on different levels of consumer engagement are effectively evaluated and identified by refining the association rules of consumer engagement, which are available for providing reference for brand managers to formulate social media marketing strategies.
Nudging to Improve: Impact of Nudges on Students’ Progress and Academic Performance

Nudge is a concept introduced by behavioral sciences to ameliorate the attitude and behavior of individuals by utilizing the concept of positive reinforcement. The execution of nudges in a targeted and proper way has the potential to induce motivation in learners by identifying and making amends in the potential learning gaps. The present study used repeated nudges for a targeted group of students who performed subpar in the summative assessment of an integrated module and followed their performance in repeated online formative assessments. The identified students were sent multiple nudges through social media in the subsequent module. The summative scores of these students during both modules were compared with the rest of the students of the same class. The mean score of the study participants showed a significant improvement in comparison to the mean score of the rest of the class at the end of the second module. A significant improvement in the attendance, MCQ score and the overall score of the nineteen students in the second summative assessment were observed after frequent nudging. Students responding more frequently to our nudges showed more improvement in overall scores and attendance as compared to the participants who were less responsive to nudges. Nudging resulted in significant consequential improvement in the summative scores and attendance in comparison to other students. Nudging could be an effective strategy to incentivize students and allow them to identify their weak areas and put more effort into their studies and hence improve grades.
A Comparison Between Reduced and Intentionally Oxidized Metal Catalysts for Growth of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

In this article, the authors report a detailed comparative study on the growth of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) from monometallic and its oxide (intentionally oxidized) catalysts. The difference and findings are summarized in the following three aspects. 1) High‐quality SWNTs are also grown from intentionally oxidized Co nanoparticles, but the yield of SWNTs significantly decreases, resulting in random network rather than vertically aligned SWNT arrays. 2) The authors clarify from in‐plane transmission electron microscopy that Co oxide nanoparticles grow SWNTs through an in situ reduction process, which means Co oxide becomes metallic Co after the introduction of ethanol; direct growth from an oxide phase is not observed. 3) Compared to the SWNTs grown by pre‐reduced catalysts, SWNTs grown from intentionally oxidized catalysts show narrower diameter distribution and smaller average diameter from Raman spectra. The strategy also shows similar results in the Ni catalysts. The findings are helpful to improve the controllability of SWNT diameter and morphology, as well as the reproducibility and robustness of CVD process.
The crystal structure of dichlorido(1,3-dimesityl-1H-3λ4-imidazol-2-yl)(morpholine-κN)palladium(IV), C25H33Cl2N3OPd

Abstract C25H33Cl2N3OPd, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 10.2439(9) Å, b = 11.4323(9) Å, c = 11.9773(11) Å, α = 93.043(3)°, β = 94.892(3)°, γ = 114.364(2)°, V = 1267.07(19) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0212, wRref(F2) = 0.0528, T = 173(2) K.
Traditional varieties and wild pear from Serbia: A link among antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities of fruit peel and flesh

This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of methanolic extracts of peel, flesh and mixed peel, and flesh, as well as the cytotoxic activity of mixed peel and flesh extracts obtained from fruits of six traditional pear varieties (Vidovaca, Lubenicarka, Karamanka, Jeribasma, Loncara and Takisa), one commercial variety (Williams Bartlett) and a wild pear (Pyrus communis) from Serbia. The tested extracts showed strong antioxidant activity regarding the prevention of ? -carotene bleaching and high ? -glucosidase inhibition, and no significant cytotoxic potential, with the exception of the Williams Bartlett and Pyrus communis extracts. Overall, the most potent fruit part was shown to be the peel. The most active variety in all of the applied antioxidant and antidiabetic assays was Takisa, while the wild pear, P. communis, was the most effective in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. In conclusion, several methanolic extracts of pear fruit are promising candidates for further studies regarding the prevention and treatment of pathological conditions associated with the effects of oxidative stress, such as diabetes and even colorectal cancer.
New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions, 6

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: cyanobacteria Anagnostidinema amphibium, mycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma frondosae, stonewort Chara connivens, mosses Dicranum polysetum and Ulota intermedia, and dicots Eclipta prostrata, Paeonia daurica subsp. daurica, Ruta graveolens and Sorbus bosniaca.
Mould Characterization and Mycotoxin Quantification of Chia Seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) Grown in Kenya

Chia seeds are functional food that have been considered highly nutritious. They have high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid content therefore counteract lifestyle disorder such as cardiovascular diseases. This study sought to determine the level of mould contamination in chia seeds; enumeration and characterization of the types of molds and quantification of mycotoxin level, for chia seeds grown and sold in Kenya. A complete randomized block design with triplicates was used in the study. Samples were collected at random from farmers and distributors in Nyeri, Nakuru, Busia and Trans Nzoia counties. Moulds species were isolated from PDA and MEA Medias and morphological characteristics was determined under X 40 magnification power. Mould counts were found to be between 1.33 X 103cfu/ml to 2.67 X 103cfu/ml. Mould characterization done by microscopic and macroscopic technique showed evidence of Rhizopus spp, Trichoderma spp and Fusarium spp. Amongst the three genera found, Rhizopus spp was the predominantly occurring mould. The percentage moisture content of chia seeds samples ranged from 6.49±1.26 and 9.16±0.43. Significant variations on moisture content (p< 0.05) were observed among chia samples from different farmers. Aflatoxin was not detected in all chia samples. It can therefore be concluded that the chia samples were not contaminated with aflatoxin although different species of mold were present. Farmers need to be trained on proper postharvest handling methods of chia seeds, as well as proper storage and an objective method of analyzing the moisture content of the chia seeds need to be developed.
Spectrum of Infratentorial Paediatric CNS tumors in a tertiary care hospital

Introduction: Due to lack of national wide registry of paediatric brain tumor cases in India, it is difficult to estimate the prevalence and its burden for the nation hence, hospital-based cancer registries will provide the information on the prevalence of tumor cases in a given region. Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the incidence of various types of infratentorial paediatric tumors who underwent excision of the tumors from January 2008 to January 2018 in the Department of Neurosurgery, ASRAM, a tertiary care hospital located at Eluru, Andhra Pradesh state in India. Results: Infratentorial tumors are more common in the paediatric population below the age of 10 years and medulloblastomas being the commonest tumor among them. There is no much difference in the gender distribution in the incidence of Infratentorial tumors in our study. Conclusion: Our results are similar to other hospital-based data regarding to incidences and histological spectrum of infratentorial tumors. Our study strongly recommends that hospital based registries will provide the magnitude and distribution of cancers in a given region.
Morphological diversity of the jaws of Cretaceous Ammonoidea

Jaws (beaks) and radula are occasionally preserved within the body chambers of ammonoids whose exact taxonomic relationships are known. Based on such in situ material, ammonoid jaws from 26 Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic genera have been classified into four morphotypes: normal (coleoid), anaptychus, aptychus, and rhynchaptychus types (Lehmann, 1990; Tanabe and Fukuda, 1999). However, a question still remains with respect to these morphotypes, because of the presence of an intermediate form. Furthermore, one must consider the degree of taphonomic loss in actual fossils prior to morphotypic classification. We have reexamined and compared the jaw morphologies of 18 Cretaceous genera in the suborders Phylloceratina, Lytoceratina, Ammonitina, and Ancyloceratina, relying upon well-preserved specimens from the Northwestern Pacific Province (Hokkaido and Sakhalin) and the U. S. Western Interior Province, in addition to previously published material. Our results show that the upper jaws of these genera exhibit little morphological variation. They consist of horny reduced outer and large paired inner lamellae, both of which are united in the anterior portion forming a sharp rostral tip. These features are quite different from those of the upper jaws of extant coleoids and Nautilus, both of which have a continuous inner lamella. A thin anterior calcitic layer covers the horny lamellae of the upper jaws of Aconeceras (Ammonitina, Haplocerataceae) and Scalarites (Ancyloceratina, Turrilitaceae). The upper jaws of Gaudryceras and Tetragonites described by Tanabe et al. (1980) and Kanie (1982) are probably deformed lower jaws. Thus, the upper jaws of these genera are still unknown. In contrast to the morphological conservatism of the upper jaws, the lower jaws of Cretaceous ammonoids exhibit remarkable taxonomic variation in their relative size, overall morphology, and the degree of development of the outer calcitic layer. The lower jaws of Phylloceratina and Lytoceratina are characterized by a well-developed univalved outer chitinous lamella with an anterior calcified rostral tip, which appears to be effective for a scavenging-predatory mode of feeding, as in the jaws of Nautilus. Those of the other 15 genera may fall into either aptychusor anaptychus-types, but this classification has no biological meaning because of the presence of an intermediate form between them. The lower jaws of Acanthocerataceae, Hoplitaceae, Scaphitaceae, and Turrilitaceae all possess a widely open, large outer horny lamella with a median depression ("hinge") covered by a thin bivalved calcitic plate. These jaws may have been specialized for feeding on various kinds of microorganisms and could be accomodated within a buccal mass by bending the flexible chitinous outer lamella.
Metabolites of Siberian Raspberries: LC-MS Profile, Seasonal Variation, Antioxidant Activity and, Thermal Stability of Rubus matsumuranus Phenolome

Rubus matsumuranus H. Lev. & Vaniot, a famous Siberian shrub of the Rosaceae family, is used in the folk medicine of nomads (Buryats, Yakuts, Soyots, and Mongols) as a remedy for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory and hepatobiliary systems. The lack of scientific information on R. matsumuranus leaves contributed to the investigation of the metabolomic profile and biological activity of this plant. In this study, metabolites of R. matsumuranus leaves in three stages (active growth, flowering, and fruiting) were characterised using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array and electrospray ionisation triple quadrupole mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-PDA-ESI-tQ-MS). In total, 63 compounds were identified, including gallic acid derivatives, hydroxycinnamates, catechins, procyanidins, flavonols, and ellagitannins. Lambertianin C (57.11 mg/g of dry weight, DW), miquelianin (39.63 mg/g DW), and kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide (31.18 mg/g DW) were the major compounds in R. matsumuranus leaves. As a result of the HPLC-PDA-based assay to determine the antioxidant activity, it was revealed that lambertianin A, sanguiin H6, lambertianin C, and sanguiin H11 were effective scavengers of free radicals (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH•) and possessed Fe2+-chelating activity. After an investigation of the phenolic content in infusions and decoctions obtained by extraction with water at different temperatures, it was revealed that a hot infusion (80 °C) is a phenolic-rich preparation of R. matsumuranus leaves. Our research suggests that R. matsumuranus leaves are a rich source of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant properties and that this could be a prospective plant for new functional products.