Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metal chloride-catalyzed acetylation of starch: Synthesis and characterization

Abstract Acylation of polysaccharides is a commercially important reaction and is usually performed in a process involving the polysaccharide, an acid anhydride, and an inorganic acid. As an alternative to inorganic acid, many catalysts, including some metal chlorides, have been previously reported as catalysts. In this work, we took a more comprehensive look at several metal chlorides to observe trends and reactivities among them, particularly relating to reaction temperature, time, and amount of acetic anhydride used. Iodine was also included for comparison. Almost all the metal chlorides studied were found to be active as catalysts for the acetylation of starch under suitable reaction conditions. However, each metal chloride had a somewhat different reactivity with a different optimal temperature needed for satisfactory reactions to take place. The molecular weight of the starch acetate products decreased in all cases observed. The reactivity trends among the metal halides seemed to correlate both with the ease of complexation between the halide and the substrate and with the acidity of the metal chloride. Characterization was achieved through 13 C NMR, FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis and size exclusion chromatography.
Scalable multi‐agent formation control under switching leader–follower directed graph

This work considers formation control of single integrator agents interconnected under switching leader–follower network, where the size of the formation is scalable via a scaling factor determined by a leader agent. Past works on scalable formation are limited to the case where the communication network is considered to be fixed. This work proposes a new distributed algorithm for scalable formation problem that works under a switching network. The scaling is based on the location of the origin of the formation which can be adjusted by the leader agent. In addition, agents move together along a center path where the offset of the center path can also be adjusted by the leader agent. Numerical examples are shown to illustrate the proposed approach.
Posters as a Tool to Improve Hand Hygiene among Health Science Students: Case—Control Study

(1) Background: Numerous educational interventions have been conducted to improve hand hygiene (HH) compliance and effectiveness among nursing students, with mixed results. The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of posters as a teaching tool and factors associated with HH quality. (2) Methods: A pre-post experimental intervention study was conducted with a total of 293 nursing students randomly assigned to two groups (experimental and control) who, before and after HH, took cell culture samples from their non-dominant hands. Only the experimental group was exposed to the poster. (3) Results: In the experimental group, significant differences were observed among students older than 22 years (p = 0.017; V = 0.188), with a higher percentage of failures (15.7% vs. 3.6%). Poster displaying was associated with passing, other variables being equal, although without statistical significance (ORa = 2.07; 95% CI = 0.81–5.26). Pre-practice hand contamination was weakly associated with lower HH quality (ORa = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.99–0.99). (4) Conclusions: The use of posters as a teaching method shows indications of efficacy. Prior hand contamination slightly affects the quality of HH. Further evaluation of teaching methods is needed to ensure good technical performance of HH to prevent the spread of infectious diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Status and Barriers to Healthcare Access among “Son-in-Law Westerners”: A Qualitative Case Study in the Northeast of Thailand

The northeast of Thailand is well-known as a popular destination where many male Westerners marry Thai women and settle down there. However, little is known about their health and well-being. This study aims to explore the Western husbands’ health status and identify barriers hindering their healthcare access. A qualitative case study was conducted from November 2020 to May 2021. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 42 key informants who were involved with social and health issues among these expatriates were carried out. The social determinants framework was adapted for guiding the interviews. Data were triangulated with field notes, document reviews, and researchers’ observations. Inductive thematic analysis was applied. Results showed that most male expatriates who married Thai women in the northeast were in their retirement years and had non-communicable diseases, health risk behaviors, and mental health problems. Most of them did not purchase health insurance and held negative impressions toward Thai public hospitals’ quality of care, which was denoted as the main barrier to accessing healthcare services. Other significant barriers consisted of high treatment costs commonly charged by private hospitals and language issues. While the improvement of healthcare quality and the provision of friendly health services are important, public communication with foreign residents, especially male expatriates, is recommended to increase understanding and improve perceptions of the Thai healthcare systems. A regular population-based survey on the health and well-being of expatriates in Thailand, a cost study of a health insurance package, a survey study on willingness to pay for health insurance premiums, and a feasibility survey exploring the opportunity to establish either voluntary or compulsory health insurance among this group should be undertaken.
Prevalence of myopia and its association with electronic devices among university students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Myopia is the most common refractive error worldwide and is a growing global burden. Although myopia is a well-recognized problem, it has not been extensively studied in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of myopia and assess the association between e-reading and myopia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included data collected from 571 male medical students in Riyadh between February 2019 and May 2019. The participants were categorized into three groups using stratified random cluster sampling: 187, 194, and 190 students from the fifth, third, and first years, respectively. The prevalence of myopia was self-reported through a questionnaire that also included details regarding the pattern of electronic device use. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences to determine the prevalence with 95% confidence level. Results: Among the 291 medical students who responded, 117 (40%) had myopia (95% confidence interval = 33.4%-48.0%), of whom 70% were diagnosed before attending the university. When comparing between myopic and non-myopic students with respect to electronic device usage, no significant difference was found (p = 0.28). However, a significant difference was found between the groups in terms of laptop utilization compared to other types of electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets (p = 0.03). Conclusions: The prevalence of myopia among university medical students was 40%. A significant difference was found between myopic and non-myopic students regarding laptop use compared with other types of electronic devices.
Platelet-Rich Fibrin Decreases the Inflammatory Response of Mesenchymal Cells

Chronic inflammation is a pathological process where cells of the mesenchymal lineage become a major source of inflammatory mediators. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has been shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory activity in macrophages, but its impact on mesenchymal cells has not been investigated. The aim of this study was, therefore, to expose mesenchymal cells to inflammatory cytokines together with lysates generated from liquid platelet-poor plasma (PPP), the cell-rich buffy coat layer (BC; concentrated-PRF or C-PRF), and the remaining red clot layer (RC), following centrifugation of blood. Heating PPP generates an albumin gel (Alb-gel) that when mixed back with C-PRF produces Alb-PRF. Membranes prepared from solid PRF were also subjected to lysis. We report here that lysates of PPP, BC, and PRF decreased the cytokine-induced expression of interleukin 6 (IL6) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the bone marrow-derived ST2 cells. Consistently, PPP, BC, and PRF greatly decreased the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65 in ST2 cells. The inflammatory response caused by Pam3CSK4 was reduced accordingly. Moreover, PPP, BC, and PRF reduced the enhanced expression of inflammatory mediators IL6 and iNOS in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte mesenchymal cells, and iNOS and CCL5 in murine calvarial cells. Surprisingly, PRF lysates were not effective in reducing the inflammatory response of human gingival fibroblasts and HSC2 epithelial cells. The data from the present study suggest that both liquid PRF and solid PRF exert potent anti-inflammatory activity in murine mesenchymal cells.
Traditional Microscopic Techniques Employed in Dental Adhesion Research—Applications and Protocols of Specimen Preparation

Microscopy is a traditional method to perform ex vivo/in vitro dental research. Contemporary microscopic techniques offer the opportunity to observe dental tissues and materials up to nanoscale level. The aim of this paper was to perform a literature review on four microscopic methods, which are widely employed in dental studies concerning the evaluation of resin-dental adhesive interfaces—confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The literature search was performed using digital databases: PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. On the basis of key words relevant to the topic and established eligibility criteria, finally 84 papers were included in the review. Presented microscopic techniques differ in their principle of operation and require specific protocols for specimen preparation. With regard to adhesion studies, microscopy assists in the description of several elements involved in adhesive bonding, as well as in the assessment of the condition of enamel surface and the most appropriate etching procedures. There are several factors determining the quality of the interaction between the substrates which could be recognized and a potential for further implementation of microscopic techniques in dental research could be recognized, especially when these techniques are used simultaneously or combined with spectroscopic methods. Through such microscopy techniques it is possible to provide clinically relevant conclusions and recommendations, which can be easily introduced for enamel-safe bonding and bonding protocols, as well as optimal pretreatments in dentine preparation.
Proteotoxic Stress as an Exploitable Vulnerability in Cells with Hyperactive AKT

Hyperactivity of serine-threonine kinase AKT is one of the most common molecular abnormalities in cancer, where it contributes to poor outcomes by facilitating the growth and survival of malignant cells. Despite its well-documented anti-apoptotic effects, hyperactivity of AKT is also known to be stressful to a cell. In an attempt to better elucidate this phenomenon, we observed the signs of proteotoxic stress in cells that harbor hyperactive AKT or have lost its principal negative regulator, PTEN. The activity of HSF1 was predictably elevated under these circumstances. However, such cells proved more sensitive to various regimens of heat shock, including the conditions that were well-tolerated by syngeneic cells without AKT hyperactivity. The sensitizing effect of hyperactive AKT was also seen in HSF1-deficient cells, suggesting that the phenomenon does not require the regulation of HSF1 by this kinase. Notably, the elevated activity of AKT was accompanied by increased levels of XBP1, a key component of cell defense against proteotoxic stress. Interestingly, the cells harboring hyperactive AKT were also more dependent on XBP1 for their growth. Our observations suggest that proteotoxic stress conferred by hyperactive AKT represents a targetable vulnerability, which can be exploited by either elevating the stress above the level tolerated by such cells or by eliminating the factors that enable such tolerance.
Permafrost Investigations Below The Marine Limit At Nain, Nunatsiavut, Canada

Assistant Professor, Northern Environmental Geoscience Laboratory, Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University (corresponding author). Email: robert.way@queensu.ca Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa. Email: alewkowi@uottawa.ca Northern Environmental Geoscience Laboratory, Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University. Email: yifeng.wang@queensu.ca Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Nunatsiavut Government. Email: pcm.mccarney@gmail.com
A Systematic Survey of Characteristic Features of Yeast Cell Death Triggered by External Factors

Cell death in response to distinct stimuli can manifest different morphological traits. It also depends on various cell death signaling pathways, extensively characterized in higher eukaryotes but less so in microorganisms. The study of cell death in yeast, and specifically Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can potentially be productive for understanding cell death, since numerous killing stimuli have been characterized for this organism. Here, we systematized the literature on external treatments that kill yeast, and which contains at least minimal data on cell death mechanisms. Data from 707 papers from the 7000 obtained using keyword searches were used to create a reference table for filtering types of cell death according to commonly assayed parameters. This table provides a resource for orientation within the literature; however, it also highlights that the common view of similarity between non-necrotic death in yeast and apoptosis in mammals has not provided sufficient progress to create a clear classification of cell death types. Differences in experimental setups also prevent direct comparison between different stimuli. Thus, side-by-side comparisons of various cell death-inducing stimuli under comparable conditions using existing and novel markers that can differentiate between types of cell death seem like a promising direction for future studies.
Background

According to the controversial word processing theories, second language learners use one of the two main processing approaches, i.e., analytical and holistic processing. In this research we tried to investigate the processing mechanism the participants use in lexical decision tasks. We conducted a word, non-word experiment. Thirty-six Iranian learners of English with high proficiency records acted as the participants in this study. Two sets of words, i.e., actual word and permuted words were presented to the participants. Their reaction time was measured by MRTS software precisely developed for the study. There were significant differences between the reaction time of two sets of word and non-word. The results suggested that participants used analytical route in their lexical decision tasks. Participants recognized non-words faster than words. Such effects existed in all 4 subgroups of high and low words. The results suggest that for both word and non-word and high and low frequent words, analytical route was utilized and words’ shape was not a determining factor in lexical decision task. This could be interpreted as negating holistic/lexical processing.
Reduced Rank Regression-Derived Dietary Patterns Related to the Fatty Liver Index and Associations with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Ghanaian Populations under Transition: The RODAM Study

The Fatty Liver Index (FLI) is a proxy for the steatotic component of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). For sub-Saharan African populations, the contribution of dietary factors to the development of NAFLD in the etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains to be clarified. We identified sex-specific dietary patterns (DPs) related to the FLI using reduced ranked regression (RRR) and evaluated the associations of these DPs with T2DM. This analysis used data from the RODAM, a multi-center cross-sectional study of Ghanaian populations living in Ghana and Europe. The daily intake frequencies of 30 food groups served as the predictor variables, while the FLI was the response variable. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for T2DM were calculated per one standard deviation increase in the DP score using logistic regression. In males, the DP score explained 9.9% of the variation in their food intake and 16.0% of the variation in the FLI. This DP was characterized by high intakes of poultry, whole-grain cereals, coffee and tea, condiments, and potatoes, and the chance of T2DM was 45% higher per 1 DP score-SD (Model 2). Our results indicate that the intake of modernized foods was associated with proxies of NAFLD, possibly underlying the metabolic pathways to developing T2DM.
Getting Young People to Farm: How Effective Is Thailand’s Young Smart Farmer Programme?

In 2014, the Thai government initiated the Young Smart Farmer (YSF) programme to counter the decline in the number of young people involved in farming. The YSF programme has three desired outcomes: first, to increase participants’ financial independence; second, to enhance the adoption of innovative farming methods; and third, to retain participants in the long-run by satisfying them. This study aimed to evaluate if these outcomes have been achieved. A Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method was applied to analyse the data collected from programme participants (61 responses) and non-participants (115 responses) through a survey in the Prachin Buri province in Thailand. Participation was determined by education, farmland size, farming experience, and challenges to farming. Most participants (~79%) stated that they were satisfied with the programme; however, the programme did not increase financial independence and the adoption of innovative farming methods. As such, the programme might not be very effective in motivating young people to continue, return to, or enter farming. We recommend that the programme can be improved by adjusting training and field trips to meet the needs of participants in different production systems. The programme should also be expanded beyond providing knowledge and information, and it could offer additional monetary and non-monetary support to participants, such as loans for technology investments needed for farm expansion and competitive advantages.
Risk assessment of recidivism in Latin America: assessing the reliability and validity of the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire

ABSTRACT Structured risk assessment tools are widely used across the criminal justice systems in western countries. However, little research has been conducted to validate these tools in low and middle-income societies. The aim of this study was to validate a cost-efficient risk assessment tool, the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ) in Uruguay, Latin America. The SAQ was administered to a sample of 333 adult male inmates in combination with data from the case file information at the Prison System and self-report. Results showed significant evidence of SAQ’s score reliability (Cronbach α = .91) and concurrent validity with the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale Short Form (r = .62, p < .001). Furthermore, the SAQ showed satisfactory concurrent validity with official data and self-report data for recidivism (AUC = .71 and .75) and for violent recidivism (AUC = .76 and .77). Implications for future research in low and middle-income countries are discussed.
An Engineered Specificity of Anti-Neoplastic Agent Loaded Magnetic Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Nanoparticles have gained increased attention due to the prospection of drug delivery at target sites, thus limiting the systemic effects of the drugs. Their efficiency was further improved by adding special carriers such as magnetite (Fe3O4). It is one of the extensively used oxides of iron for both pharmaceutical and biomedical applications owing to its ease of preparation and biocompatibility. In this work, Gemcitabine magnetic nanoparticles were prepared using Fe3O4 and chitosan as the primary ingredients. Optimization was accomplished by Box–Behnken Design and factor interactions were evaluated. The desirability function approach was made to enhance the formulation concerning particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. Based on this, optimized magnetic nanoparticles (O-MNP) were formulated with 300 mg of Fe3O4, 297.7 mg of chitosan, and a sonication time of 2.4 h, which can achieve the prerequisites of the target formulation. All other in vitro parameters were found to be following the requirement. In vitro cytotoxic studies for O-MNP were performed using cell cultures of breast cancer (MCF-7), leukemia (THP-1), prostate cancer (PC-3), and lung cancer (A549). O-MNP showed maximum inhibition growth with MCF-7 cell lines rather than other cell lines. The data observed here demonstrates the potential of magnetic nanoparticles of gemcitabine in treating breast cancers.
Formation of Mn5Ge3 by thermal annealing of evaporated Mn on doped Ge on Si(111)

Mn5Ge3 can be used as a ferromagnetic contact material to fabricate spintronic devices. Here, we show that Mn5Ge3 can be fabricated with a simple germanidation process by evaporating Mn on undoped and doped Ge on Si followed by a thermal annealing step to form the ferromagnetic Mn5Ge3 phase. This solid phase preparation of Mn5Ge3 is a robust process with a minor dependence on the annealing parameters. The formation of Mn5Ge3 can be realized using undoped as well as highly doped p-Ge and n-Ge with different doping levels. The interface of Mn5Ge3 is atomically sharp which leads to very low contact resistivities < 1 × 10−7 Ω cm2.
Tuning of Conversion and Optical Emission by Electron Temperature in Inductively Coupled CO2 Plasma

This paper focuses on how the electron temperature and other plasma properties affect optical emission and CO2 conversion in CO2 plasma. Such plasma-mediated reactions can enable efficient CO2 reuse. We study CO2 and CO plasmas generated by inductively coupled radiofrequency power (30–300 W) at low pressures (6–400 Pa). By varying the argon admixture, we can study the effect of the electron temperature, Te, on the conversion and emission properties using optical emission spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and electrical probe measurements. Importantly, we can observe several parameters simultaneously: Te, CO2 conversion, chemiluminescence from CO2, and dissociation products and optical emission from several atomic and CO transitions and from the C2 Swan system. On the basis of these results, we establish a correlation between Te, the CO2 conversion, and the optical emission spectra. A low Te enhances CO2 conversion and Swan band emission. In contrast with published studies, our results show that the CO2 and.