Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antidepressant-like activity of ellagic acid in unstressed and acute immobilization-induced stressed mice

Background: The aim of present study was to evaluate antidepressant-like activity of ellagic acid in Swiss young male albino mice; and to explore the possible underlying mechanisms for this activity. Methods: Mice were immobilized for 150 min once only for induction of stress. Ellagic acid (8.75, 17.5, 35 mg/kg, po) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg, ip) per se were administered to unstressed and stressed mice; and immobility periods were recorded using tail suspension test and forced swim test. The plasma nitrite levels were also estimated in unstressed and stressed mice. Effects of 7-nitroindazole (nNOS inhibitor), aminoguanidine (iNOS inhibitor), prazosin (a1-adrenoceptor antagonist), sulpiride (selective D2-receptor antagonist), and p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA – tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor) on antidepressant-like activity of ellagic acid were also evaluated. Results: Ellagic acid (17.5 and 35 mg/kg, po) and fluoxetine per se significantly decreased immobility periods of unstressed and stressed mice, indicating significant antidepressant-like activity. There was no significant effect on locomotor activity of the mice. Ellagic acid significantly decreased the plasma nitrite levels in stressed mice only. Aminoguanidine significantly potentiated antidepressant-like activity and plasma nitrite decreasing effect of ellagic acid (35 mg/kg) in stressed mice. 7-Nitroindazole did not enhance antidepressant-like activity and plasma nitrite decreasing effect of ellagic acid in unstressed mice. Prazosin and p-CPA significantly attenuated antidepressant-like effect of ellagic acid (35 mg/kg) in unstressed mice only. Conclusion: Thus, ellagic acid showed antidepressant-like activity in unstressed mice probably by interaction through adrenergic and serotonergic systems. On the other hand, antidepressant-like activity of ellagic acid in stressed mice might be through inhibition of inducible NOS.
Comparative Study of the Efficacy of EHO-85, a Hydrogel Containing Olive Tree (Olea europaea) Leaf Extract, in Skin Wound Healing

Olive tree (Olea europaea) leaf extract (OELE) has important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, supporting its use in human clinical practice. We recently designed an amorphous hydrogel called EHO-85 (EHO indicates olive leaf extract in Spanish) containing OELE for skin ulcer treatments. Yet, its effectiveness has not been previously compared with other products used in routine clinical practice. This is necessary to evaluate its potential translation to the human clinic. Thus, in this study, the effect of EHO-85 on healing was evaluated in comparison with treatments containing Indian/Asiatic pennywort (Centella asiatica), hyaluronic acid, or dexpanthenol in a rat model. The speed of wound closure and histological parameters after seven and 14 days were analyzed. All treatments accelerated wound closure, but there were differences between them. Dexpanthenol after seven days produced the highest epithelialization and the lowest inflammation and vascularization. EHO-85 also promoted epithelialization and reduced vascularization. After 14 days, wounds treated with EHO-85 showed less inflammation and higher levels of collagen in the extracellular matrix. This indicates a higher degree of maturity in the regenerated tissue. In conclusion, the effect of EHO-85 on healing was equal to or superior to that of other treatments routinely used in human clinical practice. Therefore, these results, together with previous data on the effects of this hydrogel on ulcer healing in humans, indicate that EHO-85 is a suitable, low-cost, and efficient therapeutic option for wound healing.
Mycotoxin Determination in Peaches and Peach Products with a Modified QuEChERS Extraction Procedure Coupled with UPLC-MS/MS Analysis

Peaches are the most significant temperate fruit crop worldwide. However, peach fruits are susceptible to fungal and mycotoxin contamination. Consequently, monitoring the residual levels of multiple mycotoxins in peaches and related products is essential. In this study, a novel method based on QuEChERS extraction, followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) detection, was developed for analyzing 14 mycotoxins in peaches and peach products from China. Matrix-matched calibrations were employed to accurately quantify the mycotoxins and compensate for matrix effects. Recoveries for the target analytes ranged from 84.6% to 117.6%, with intra-day and inter-day precision below 20%. The limits of quantification were 2 or 5 μg/L for the 14 mycotoxins. This method was utilized to detect the presence of target mycotoxins in 109 fresh peaches, 100 diseased peaches, and 89 peach products from China. Six mycotoxins were identified in the rotten parts of the diseased peaches, with concentrations ranging from 5.2 to 1664.3 µg/kg. In the remaining parts of the diseased peach samples, only two toxins, alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), were quantified at levels of 15.3 µg/kg and 15.5 µg/kg, respectively. No mycotoxins were detected in fresh peaches. For peach products, all contamination levels were below the quantitative limits and significantly lower than the maximum legal limits established for the products.
Influence of Dehydrated Wheat / Rice Cereal Matrices on Probiotic Activity of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp . lactis BB-12 ® Probiotic activity of BB-12 ® in Cereal Products

www.ftb. com.hr Please note that this is an unedited version of the manuscript that has been accepted for publication. This version will undergo copyediting and typesetting before its final form for publication. We are providing this version as a service to our readers. The published version will differ from this one as a result of linguistic and technical corrections and layout editing. https://doi.org/10.17113/ftb.57. 02.19. 6142 original scientific paper
Assimilation variationnelle d'observations satellitaires dans un modèle atmosphérique d'aérosols

Le lidar CALIOP (a bord du satellite CALIPSO) et le radiometre MODIS (a bord du satellite AQUA) font partie de « l'A-train ». Ils fournissent des mesures simultanees en donnant une occasion unique d'ameliorer notre connaissance sur les proprietes des aerosols et leur distribution spatiale. Nous etudions dans quelle mesure la distribution verticale du coefficient d'extinction des aerosols et leur distribution en taille peuvent etre restituee par la synergie du signal lidar et des mesures spectrales de reflectance. A cet effet un schema variationnel d'inversion base sur un modele de transfert radiatif a ete developpe. Ce schema prend en compte le profil de retrodiffusion attenue du signal lidar a deux longueurs d'onde et la reflectance a six longueurs d'onde. Notre methode vise a minimiser une fonction cout qui mesure le depart de la solution aux observations et a une ebauche donnee. La methode de l'adjoint a ete appliquee pour trouver le gradient de la fonction cout par rapport aux parametres d'entree. Le schema d'inversion a ete examine d'abord sous des observations synthetiques et puis avec de vraies mesures prises pendant la campagne FRENCH. La restitution des profils de coefficient d'extinction pour les modes fins et grossiers a une meilleure performance quand les aerosols fins dominent. Si les particules grossieres dominent, le schema trouve le profil total du coefficient d'extinction avec une confiance plus elevee que celui du mode fin. Les resultats indiquent egalement qu'il y a une certaine perspective pour l'amelioration de la qualite de l'inversion en incluant d'autres sources d'information independantes telles que les mesures POLDER.
The Impact of Information Uncertainty on Stock Performance During the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis

We investigate the impact of information uncertainty on stock performance during the 2008-2009 financial crisis. We document that firms with more information uncertainty suffered a greater stock price drop during the period of market-wide price declines. In contrast, the negative effect of information uncertainty on stock returns was absent during the market-reversal or pseudo-drop period. In addition, during the reversal period, firms with forecast dispersion in the top tercile (or quartile) had more positive returns than those with lower forecast dispersion. We contribute to the literature by testing the relationship between information uncertainty and firm returns in the special setting of the most recent financial crisis and providing initial evidence that firm-specific information uncertainty amplified stock price fluctuations during the financial crisis.
The Three Dimensions of Small Accommodation Businesses and Their Efficiency

Measuring efficiency and determining factors that may influence it are very important steps to improve the businesses’ competitive position, growth, and sustainability. This paper aims to investigate the efficiency of small accommodation businesses located in Greek non-coastal areas and to determine a set of factors that may affect it, from the perspective of the three dimensions of family businesses (family, business, ownership). The method adopted, in order for the research objective aim to be fulfilled, is the two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis model. In the first stage, the efficiency was estimated from a sample of 150 businesses. In the second stage, the influence of various factors on the examined efficiency was investigated by implementing a Bootstrap Truncated regression. The results showed that the majority of the examined businesses presented a low level of efficiency. Regarding the determination of the factors, it occurred that the manager’s age, ownership form, and business type influenced the relative efficiency level in contrast to the factors of the business’s age, the manager’s sex and education level, the state of succession, as well as the manager’s agricultural employment. By fulfilling the aim of this study, a significant contribution to the relative literature and especially to the hospitality field is offered.
Distinct Motion-Preserving Graph Convolutional Network for Two-Person Interaction Recognition

Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) have gained widespread adoption in modeling human skeleton sequences for two-person interaction recognition. Most GCN-based models achieve state-of-the-art results by leveraging either intra-body or inter-body connections. However, using only intra-body relations may ignore important interactive features between two individuals, whereas relying on inter-body relations may weaken the specific motion dynamics of each skeleton. To address these shortcomings, we propose a Distinct Motion-Preserving GCN (DMP-GCN) that utilizes intra-body and inter-body graphs to extract interactive features from two human bodies while preserving the distinct motion characteristics of each skeleton. Specifically, two motion-specific streams are adopted to capture specific motion features of each human skeleton and an interactive stream is applied to model the interactive dynamics of two bodies. In addition, we introduce a new graph labeling strategy, namely Distance Variation Labeling, which is a data-driven approach for defining the edge strength in the skeleton graph. Extensive experiments show that our proposed approaches outperform state-of-the-art methods on two large-scale human interaction datasets, NTU RGB+D (mutual) and NTU RGB+D 120 (mutual).
Stability and Diversity of Elite Lines of Vegetable Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata L.)

Background: The present study was conducted to study the stability and diversity of twenty elite breeding lines of vegetable cowpea developed at ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi through AMMI analysis and cluster analysis respectively. Methods: All the 20 elite lines were laid out in randomized block design with three replications during three years of sowing viz., Kharif-2018, Kharif- 2019 and Kharif-2021. Each year was considered as onelocation and the dependant variable pod yield per plant was subjected to AMMI analysis for GE interaction study. The mean of all the yield and yield attributes was subjected to cluster analysis for genetic divergence study. Result: AMMI ANOVA showed significant variation for environments (E), genotypes (G) and G×E interactions. The graphical representation of principal component 1 (PC1) vs yield (Y) showed that the genotypes 12,15,11,13,18 were most stable andthe PC1 vs PC2 graph showed that the genotypes 12,11,13,18 were most stable as they were positioned towards the origin. The cluster analysis grouped all the twenty genotypes into four clusters with two genotypes (7,20) in first cluster, five genotypes (17,14,16,8,19) in second cluster, eight genotypes (9,6,1,13,11,12,2,15) in third cluster and five genotypes (5,3,18,4,10) in fourth cluster.
Nanoemulsion formulation containing carbamazepine and levetiracetam: Development and in vitro characterization

Background and Aims: Epilepsy is one of the most disabling and most common neurological disorders, affecting approximately 65 million people of all age groups worldwide. When there is no response to monotherapy in the treatment of epilepsy, the combined use of Carbamazepine (CARBA) and Levetiracetam (LEV), which have different mechanisms of action, can be additive/synergistic and may be useful in the clinic. The aim of our study is to develop a fixed-dose combination (FDC)- nanoemulsion (NE) formulation containing CARBA and LEV for the treatment of epilepsy. Methods: Blank NE (BLNK-NE) and CARBA+LEV-FDC-NE formulations were prepared and carried out the in vitro characterization studies [morphological analysis, centrifugation test, droplet size (DS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), viscosity and pH measurements, FT-IR analysis, the percent entrapment efficiency (EE%), and in vitro release study]. Results: The DS, PDI, pH, and ZP values for the BLNK-NE formulation were found to be 117.63±3.82 nm, 0.240±0.014, 4.62±0.03, and (-)26.07±3.04 mV, respectively. For the CARBA+LEV-FDC-NE formulation, the DS, PDI, pH, and ZP values were determined as 137.56±3.11 nm, 0.225±0.013, 4.60±0.06, and (-)21.62±0.29 mV, respectively. The EE% values obtained for CARBA+LEV-FDC-NE were 97.33±0.56% (for CARBA) and 96.73±0.91% (for LEV). Conclusion: The CARBA+LEV-FDC-NE formulation was successfully prepared. This formulation had suitable in vitro characterization results.
On Migrative 2-Uninorms and Nullnorms

This paper is mainly devoted to investigating the migrativity equations involving nullnorms and 2-uninorms. Depending on whether the absorbing elements of 2-uninorms and unllnorms are same or not, all solutions of the migrativity equations for all possible combinations of the three defined subclasses of 2-uninorms and nullnorms are analyzed and characterized respectively. And for such equations, there are new solutions which extend the known ones about the migrativity for uninorms and nullnorms.
The impact of irrigation on nutrition, health, and gender: A review paper with insights for Africa south of the Sahara

The hypothesis underlying this review paper is that how irrigation gets deployed in SSA will be decisive not only for environmental sustainability (such as deciding remaining forest cover in the region) and poverty reduction, but also for health, nutrition, and gender outcomes in the region. The focus of this paper is on the health, nutrition, and gender linkage.
Frequency of greatest temporary hearing threshold shift in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) depends on fatiguing sound level.

Harbor seals may suffer hearing loss due to intense sounds. After exposure for 60 min to a continuous 6.5 kHz tone at sound pressure levels of 123-159 dB re 1 µPa, resulting in sound exposure levels (SELs) of 159-195 dB re 1 μPa2s, temporary threshold shifts (TTSs) in two harbor seals were quantified at the center frequency of the fatiguing sound (6.5 kHz) and at 0.5 and 1.0 octaves above that frequency (9.2 and 13.0 kHz) by means of a psychoacoustic technique. Taking into account the different timing of post-exposure hearing tests, susceptibility to TTS was similar in both animals. The higher the SEL, the higher the TTS induced at frequencies above the fatiguing sound's center frequency. Below ∼179 dB re 1 μPa2s, the maximum TTS was at the center frequency (6.5 kHz); above ∼179 dB re 1 μPa2s, the maximum TTS was at half an octave above the center frequency (9.2 kHz). These results should be considered when interpreting previous TTS studies, and when estimating ecological impacts of anthropogenic sound on the hearing and ecology of harbor seals. Based on the results of the present study and previous studies, harbor seal hearing, in the frequency range 2.5-6.5 kHz, appears to be approximately equally susceptible to TTS.
Identifying Premature Ventricular Complexes from Outflow Tracts Based on PVC Configuration: A Machine Learning Approach

Background: Current inferences about the site of origin (SOO) of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) from the surface ECG have not been subjected to newer data analytic techniques that identify signals that are not recognized by visual inspection. Aims: The objective of this study was to apply data analytics to PVC characteristics. Methods: PVCs from 12-lead ECGs of a consecutive series of 338 individuals were examined by unsupervised machine learning cluster analysis, and indexes were compared to a composite criterion for SOO. Results: Data analytics found that V1S plus V2S ≤ 9.25 of the PVC had a LVOT origin (sensitivity 95.4%; specificity 97.5%). V1R + V2R + V3R > 15.0 (a RBBB configuration) likely had a LVOT origin. PVCs with V1S plus V2S > 12.75 (LBBB configuration) likely had a RVOT origin. PVC with V1S plus V2S > 14.25 (LBBB configuration) and all inferior leads positive likely had a RVOT origin. Conclusion: Newer data analytic techniques provide a non-invasive approach to identifying PVC SOO, which should be useful for the clinician evaluating a 12-lead ECG.
Localized Refractive Changes Induced by Symmetric and Progressive Asymmetric Intracorneal Ring Segments Assessed with a 3D Finite-Element Model

To build a representative 3D finite element model (FEM) for intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation and to investigate localized optical changes induced by different ICRS geometries, a hyperelastic shell FEM was developed to compare the effect of symmetric and progressive asymmetric ICRS designs in a generic healthy and asymmetric keratoconic (KC) cornea. The resulting deformed geometry was assessed in terms of average curvature via a biconic fit, sagittal curvature (K), and optical aberrations via Zernike polynomials. The sagittal curvature map showed a locally restricted flattening interior to the ring (Kmax −11 to −25 dpt) and, in the KC cornea, an additional local steepening on the opposite half of the cornea (Kmax up to +1.9 dpt). Considering the optical aberrations present in the model of the KC cornea, the progressive ICRS corrected vertical coma (−3.42 vs. −3.13 µm); horizontal coma (−0.67 vs. 0.36 µm); and defocus (2.90 vs. 2.75 µm), oblique trefoil (−0.54 vs. −0.08 µm), and oblique secondary astigmatism (0.48 vs. −0.09 µm) aberrations stronger than the symmetric ICRS. Customized ICRS designs inspired by the underlying KC phenotype have the potential to achieve more tailored refractive corrections, particularly in asymmetric keratoconus patterns.
Serum Zinc and Copper Changes in Male Infertility

Objective: The aim of this study to detect the correlation between trace elements such as zinc, copper andspermatogenesis, sperm viability and motility.Methodology: Serum and semen samples were collected from one hundred twenty patients with age ranged (20-50 years) attending the high institute for Embryo Research and Infertility Treatment/ Baghdad University, inaddition to thirty fertile males their age comparable to that of patients. The period of this study was from June2004 until the end of October 2004.Results: The result of routine seminal fluid analysis of all infertile males was divided according to WHO, (1999) limitinto four groups: Asthenospermia(A), Asthenoteratospermia(AT), Oligoasthenoteratospermia OAT andAzoospermia(Azoo), each group includes thirty patient. Results showed highly significant decrease in serum zincconcentration in different infertile groups compared to control group, and a slight increase in serum copperconcentration in different infertile group. With advancing age, all the infertile groups, as well as the control group,had a slight decrease in serum concentration of zinc, and a slight increase in serum copper concentration.Recommendations: Further studies are needed to evaluate the levels of different biochemical parameters inseminal plasma of different infertile groups.
Discovery of New Hydrazone-Thiazole Polyphenolic Antioxidants through Computer-Aided Design and In Vitro Experimental Validation

Oxidative stress is linked to a series of diseases; therefore, the development of efficient antioxidants might be beneficial in preventing or ameliorating these conditions. Based on the structure of a previously reported compound with good antioxidant properties and on computational studies, we designed several catechol derivatives with enhanced antioxidant potential. The compounds were synthesized and physicochemically characterized, and their antioxidant activity was assessed through different antiradical, electron transfer and metal ions chelation assays, their electrochemical behavior and cytotoxicity were studied. The results obtained in the in vitro experiments correlated very well with the in silico studies; all final compounds presented very good antioxidant properties, generally superior to those of the reference compounds used. Similarly, the results obtained from studying the compounds’ electrochemical behavior were in good agreement with the results of the antioxidant activity evaluation assays. Regarding the compounds’ cytotoxicity, compound 7b had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect against all cell lines. In conclusion, through computer-aided design, we developed several catechol thiazolyl-hydrazones with excellent antioxidant properties, of which compound 7b, with two catechol moieties in its structure, exhibited the best antioxidant activity.
Individual Differences in Frequency and Saliency of Speech-Accompanying Gestures: The Role of Cognitive Abilities and Empathy

The present study concerns individual differences in gesture production. We used correlational and multiple regression analyses to examine the relationship between individuals’ cognitive abilities and empathy levels and their gesture frequency and saliency. We chose predictor variables according to experimental evidence of the functions of gesture in speech production and communication. We examined 3 types of gestures: representational gestures, conduit gestures, and palm-revealing gestures. Higher frequency of representational gestures was related to poorer visual and spatial working memory, spatial transformation ability, and conceptualization ability; higher frequency of conduit gestures was related to poorer visual working memory, conceptualization ability, and higher levels of empathy; and higher frequency of palm-revealing gestures was related to higher levels of empathy. The saliency of all gestures was positively related to level of empathy. These results demonstrate that cognitive abilities and empathy levels are related to individual differences in gesture frequency and saliency.