Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Dermoscope and Woods Lamp as A Tool to Study Melanin Depth in Melasma

Introduction: Melasma is a common acquired disorder of pigmentation that presents as hyperpigmented macules and patches predominately in the sun exposed areas of the face. It is more commonly seen in women. Objective: To compare the woods lamp and dermoscopic features of melasma. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional analytical study in a tertiary care hospital setting for over a duration of 3 months. Melasma was clinically classified as centrofacial, malar and mandibular and the patients were then examined using the woods lamp (Dermaindia) and dermoscope (Dermlite DL4). Patients were classified into epidermal, mixed, and dermal melasma based on the level of melanin pigment. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS software (version 22) to find the Cohens kappa coefficient. (The degree of agreement between different methods of assessment/different observers.) Results: The level of agreement between the two methods was done with the help of Kappa coefficient. The Cohens kappa coefficient was 0.534 with a P = 0.00 (p <.05), which indicated a moderate strength of agreement. Conclusion: Among the two diagnostic tools, there was a moderate degree of agreement between dermoscopy and woods lamp in the analysis of melasma. Limitations: Both woods lamp and dermoscopy are tools that are subjective in nature. There was a lack of comparison with histopathology or newer diagnostic techniques like reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM).
“Everybody Thinks Public Libraries Have Only Books”: Public Library Usage and Settlement of Bangladeshi Immigrants in Canada

ABSTRACT Many public libraries in Canada offer services and programs for immigrants, including employment assistance to assist newcomers with their settlement in Canada. Using a mixed method research design, this study explores the use of public libraries by Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada including their use of public library settlement services, along with their pre-migration access to public library services. The study finds immigrants’ use of public libraries declines over time. However, it is also evident in this study that public libraries played a positive role in newcomers’ settlement into Canadian society. The findings related to the lack of familiarity with public libraries in a pre-arrival context highlight the importance of having a strong public library outreach program for immigrant populations. The author urges public libraries offering services to immigrants to make meaningful partnerships with pre-and post-arrival settlement agencies, local ethnic community and religious organizations, and ethnic media to spread the word about public library programs and services for immigrants.
Four new species of Trichomonascaceae (Saccharomycetales, Saccharomycetes) from Central China

﻿Abstract Trichomonascaceae is the largest family of ascomycetous yeast in the order Saccharomycetales. In spite of the extensive body of research on Trichomonascaceae in China, there remain new species to be discovered. Here, we describe four new species isolated from several rotting wood samples from Henan Province, Central China. Phylogenetic analysis of a combined ITS and nrLSU dataset with morphological studies revealed four new species in the Trichomonascaceae: Diddensiellaluoyangensis, Sugiyamaellacylindrica, Su.robnettiae, and Zygoascusdetingensis. Clustering in the Diddensiella clade, D.luoyangensis’ closest neighbour was D.transvaalensis. Meanwhile, Su.cylindrica clustered in the Sugiyamaella clade closest to Su.marilandica and Su.qingdaonensis. Also clustering in the Sugiyamaella clade, Su.robnettiae was most closely related to Su.chuxiongensis. Finally, Z.detingensis occupied a distinct and separated basal branch from the other species of the genus Zygoascus. These results indicate a high species diversity of Trichomonascaceae.
The Characterization of Shale Differences Based on Petrophysical Properties and Pore Structure: A Case Study of the Longmaxi Formation in Northern Guizhou Province and the Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin

The pore structure and the petrophysical properties are essential parameters during the marine and continental shale reservoir evaluation. In order to the reveal the mechanism of the pore parameters differences and discuss whether the controlling factors of pore structure have extensive influence in different lithologies. Based on the analysis of N2/CO2 isotherm adsorption, FE-SEM, and geomechanical test for the marine shale samples of Longmaxi Formation and continental shale samples of Yanchang Formation are undertaken. The results indicate that (1) Continental shale is a typical transversely isotropic, while marine shale can be considered a homogeneous rock on a centimeter scale. The lithological stratification is the main reason for the difference in petrophysical properties. (2) The thermal evolution degree has significant influence on the pore structure in shale samples except for TOC content, particularly for the micropores structure. (3) Since the matrix strength of shale is much greater than the strength of bedding planes, the continental shale tends to crack and fail along the weak surface of the bedding during the axial compression, showing a lower peak strength, while the marine shale presents main crack along the principal stress direction without activating the bedding crack.
Crossing the combustion modes in diesel engines

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Natural and Synthetic Polymers Modified with Acid Blue 113 for Removal of Cr3+, Zn2+ and Mn2+

This research had two stages of development: during the first stage, the purpose of the research was to evaluate the adsorption properties of the natural polymer represented by shredded maize stalk (MS) and by Amberlite XAD7HP (XAD7HP) acrylic resin for removal of toxic diazo Acid Blue 113 (AB 113) dye from aqueous solutions. The AB 113 concentration was evaluated spectrometrically at 565 nm. In the second stage, the stability of MS loaded with AB 113 (MS-AB 113) and of XAD7HP loaded with AB 113 (XAD7HP-AB 113) in acidic medium suggests that impregnated materials can be used for selective removal of metal ions (Cr3+, Zn2+ and Mn2+). The metal ions using atomic absorption spectroscopy method (AAS) were determined. The use of MS-AB 113 ensures a high selectivity of divalent ions while the XAD7HP-AB 113 had excellent affinity for Cr3+ in the presence of Zn2+ and Mn2+. As a consequence, two advanced polymers, i.e., MS-AB 113 and XAD7HP-AB 113 that provide huge capacity for removal of Zn2+, Mn2+ and Cr3+ from acid polluted wastewater were obtained.
Cultivating Microalgae Botryococcus braunii in Tofu Whey Medium

Tofu waste water is still being a significant issue in Indonesia owing to its level of BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) (Chemical Oxygen Demand). However, this waste also includes significant ammonia (230 mg/L) which is needed for microalgae development. Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganism which need nitrogen supply for their development. Among others, microalgae Botryococcus braunii is the one with large oil amount within their cells (25 – 75 %). This study was meant to examine the usage of tofu whey for culture medium for algae development. The experiment was done by adjustment of whey volume (5-20 %) in fresh medium and algal biomass was continually measured. The findings revealed that Botryococcus braunii obtained optimum growth in 10 % volume with biomass generated at 2.4 g/L and 0,8716 g/L of lipid production. At this circumstance, COD might be lowered up to 83.33 %.
Neuromuscular Active Zone Structure and Function in Healthy and Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome States

The mouse neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has long been used as a model synapse for the study of neurotransmission in both healthy and disease states of the NMJ. Neurotransmission from these neuromuscular nerve terminals occurs at highly organized structures called active zones (AZs). Within AZs, the relationships between the voltage-gated calcium channels and docked synaptic vesicles govern the probability of acetylcholine release during single action potentials, and the short-term plasticity characteristics during short, high frequency trains of action potentials. Understanding these relationships is important not only for healthy synapses, but also to better understand the pathophysiology of neuromuscular diseases. In particular, we are interested in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), an autoimmune disorder in which neurotransmitter release from the NMJ decreases, leading to severe muscle weakness. In LEMS, the reduced neurotransmission is traditionally thought to be caused by the antibody-mediated removal of presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels. However, recent experimental data and AZ computer simulations have predicted that a disruption in the normally highly organized active zone structure, and perhaps autoantibodies to other presynaptic proteins, contribute significantly to pathological effects in the active zone and the characteristics of chemical transmitters.
Enteral Nutrition Overview

Enteral nutrition (EN) provides critical macro and micronutrients to individuals who cannot maintain sufficient oral intake to meet their nutritional needs. EN is most commonly required for neurological conditions that impair swallow function, such as stroke, amytrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. An inability to swallow due to mechanical ventilation and altered mental status are also common conditions that necessitate the use of EN. EN can be short or long term and delivered gastrically or post-pylorically. The expected duration and site of feeding determine the type of feeding tube used. Many commercial EN formulas are available. In addition to standard formulations, disease specific, peptide-based, and blenderized formulas are also available. Several other factors should be considered when providing EN, including timing and rate of initiation, advancement regimen, feeding modality, and risk of complications. Careful and comprehensive assessment of the patient will help to ensure that nutritionally complete and clinically appropriate EN is delivered safely.
Effects of COVID-19 during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcome: A retrospective observational study in tertiary teaching hospital, India

Aim: This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics, maternal and neonatal outcome of pregnancies complicated with COVID-19 infection. Methods: This is a retrospective, single center, observational study conducted on all COVID-19 positive pregnant women who were admitted in our institution from 1st April 2020 to 30th November 2020. During the study period, a total of 201 pregnant and postpartum women with COVID-19 infection confirmed by RT-PCR test, regardless of their symptoms, were admitted and included in the study. Data were collected from hospital records about the demographic profile, clinical characteristics, maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: The mean age was 26 years (SD = 5.21). Majority patients (71.6%) were asymptomatic and 22.3% had mild symptoms. Only 4 (1.99%) women had severe COVID pneumonia. Majority (75.62%) were admitted in 3rd trimester. Cesarean section rate in COVID-19 infected pregnant women was 53.8%, which was almost similar to 52.8% rate in COVID-19 negative pregnant population. Incidence of preterm birth was 11%. Most neonate were asymptomatic and only 2 of them tested positive on testing within 48 h of birth. Conclusion: There is no major effect of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcome. The incidence of preterm birth and cesarean section is similar to COVID-19 negative pregnant population.
Blood-Vessel-Inspired Hierarchical Trilayer Scaffolds: PCL/Gelatin-Driven Protein Adsorption and Cellular Interaction

Fabrication of scaffolds with hierarchical structures exhibiting the blood vessel topological and biochemical features of the native extracellular matrix that maintain long-term patency remains a major challenge. Within this context, scaffold assembly using biodegradable synthetic polymers (BSPs) via electrospinning had led to soft-tissue-resembling microstructures that allow cell infiltration. However, BSPs fail to exhibit the sufficient surface reactivity, limiting protein adsorption and/or cell adhesion and jeopardizing the overall graft performance. Here, we present a methodology for the fabrication of three-layered polycaprolactone (PCL)-based tubular structures with biochemical cues to improve protein adsorption and cell adhesion. For this purpose, PCL was backbone-oxidized (O-PCL) and cast over a photolithography-manufactured microgrooved mold to obtain a bioactive surface as demonstrated using a protein adsorption assay (BSA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and calorimetric analyses. Then, two layers of PCL:gelatin (75:25 and 95:5 w/w), obtained using a novel single-desolvation method, were electrospun over the casted O-PCL to mimic a vascular wall with a physicochemical gradient to guide cell adhesion. Furthermore, tensile properties were shown to withstand the physiological mechanical stresses and strains. In vitro characterization, using L929 mouse fibroblasts, demonstrated that the multilayered scaffold is a suitable platform for cell infiltration and proliferation from the innermost to the outermost layer as is needed for vascular wall regeneration. Our work holds promise as a strategy for the low-cost manufacture of next-generation polymer-based hierarchical scaffolds with high bioactivity and resemblance of ECM’s microstructure to accurately guide cell attachment and proliferation.
High-Performance Flexible Piezoresistive Sensor Based on Ti3C2Tx MXene with a Honeycomb-like Structure for Human Activity Monitoring

Wearable and flexible pressure sensors have sparked great interest due to their unique capacity to conformally attach to the surface of the skin and quantify human activities into recordable electric signals. As a result, more and more research efforts are being devoted to developing high-sensitivity and cost-effective flexible sensors for monitoring an individual’s state of activity. Herein, a high-performance flexible piezoresistive sensor was designed and fabricated by combing 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides (MXene) with a honeycomb-like structure formed by femtosecond filamentating pulses. The sensing mechanism is attributed to the change of the connecting conductive paths between the top interdigital electrodes and the bottom microstructured films coated with MXene. The obtained sensing device demonstrates high sensitivity of 0.61 kPa−1, relatively short response time, and excellent reliability and stability. Benefiting from the aforementioned extraordinary sensing performance, the sensor can be used with success to monitor tiny physiological signals, detect large deformations during human movement, and distinguish finger gestures, thus demonstrating its broad prospects in physiological analysis systems, health monitoring systems, and human–machine interaction.
Comparative Analysis of the Prominent Middleware Platforms in the Domain of Ambient Assisted Living

Diversification of application areas, technologies, and computational techniques in the Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) domain alongside the need for a balance between reproducibility and customizability for the heterogeneous end-user groups has led towards the development domainspecific middleware platforms, which are integrated development environments that facilitate integration and communication amongst heterogeneous hardware and software components, so they can operate synergistically within a shared environment. Recent efforts that study such platforms have emphasized the need for improved evaluation methods, particularly featurefocused scenario-based evaluations and quantitative approaches. Thus, the objective of this thesis was to analyze developer requirements and compare current prominent AAL-specific middleware platforms to ultimately derive guidelines that improve the platform’s adoption rates and domain relevance. Maintainability, the ease of modifying system components, was highlighted as the most deficient quality attribute in current platforms. Mapping of a platformindependence use-case scenario to both platforms, hinted towards the need for graphical-user interfaces over text-based interfaces and additional application area-specific modules.
Influence of laboratory biomarkers on inflammatory indices for assessing severity progression in COVID-19 cases

Background and Objective: This study explored the role of various laboratory biomarkers on inflammatory indices for predicting disease progression toward severity in COVID-19 patients.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 1233 adults confirmed for COVID-19. The participants were grouped undermild, moderate, and severe grade disease. Serum bio-inflammatory index (SBII) and systemic inflammatory index (SII) were calculated and correlated with disease severity. The study variables, including clinical details and laboratory variables, were analyzed for impact on the inflammatory indices and severity status using a sequential multiple regression model to determine the predictors for mortality. Receiver operating characteristics defined the cut-off values for severity. Results: Among the study population, 56.2%, 20.7%, and 23.1% were categorized as mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 cases. Diabetes with hypertension was the most prevalent comorbid condition. The odds for males to have the severe form of the disease was 1.6 times (95% CI = 1.18–2.18, P = 0.002). The median (inter-quartile-range) of SBII was 549 (387.84–741.34) and SII was 2097.6 (1113.9–4153.73) in severe cases. Serum urea, electrolytes, gamma-glutamyl transferase, red-cell distribution width-to-hematocrit ratio, monocytopenia, and eosinopenia exhibited a significant influence on the SpO2, SBII, and SII. Both SBII (r = −0.582, P < 0.001) and SII (r = −0.52, P < 0.001) strongly correlated inversely with SpO2 values [Figure 3]a and [Figure 3]b. More than 80% of individuals admitted with severe grade COVID-19 had values of more than 50th percentile of SBII and SII. The sensitivity and specificity of SBII at 343.67 for severity were 81.4% and 70.1%, respectively. SII exhibited 77.2% sensitivity and 70.8% specificity at 998.72. Conclusion: Serial monitoring of the routinely available biomarkers would provide considerable input regarding inflammatory status and severity progression in COVID-19.
Polyphenol and Anthocyanin Composition and Activity of Highland Barley with Different Colors

In this research, the composition of free phenols, bound phenols, and anthocyanins and their in vitro antioxidant activity and in vitro α-glucosidase inhibiting activity were observed in different barley colors. The outcomes revealed that the contents of total phenols (570.78 mg/100 gDW), total flavonoids (47.08 mg/100 gDW), and anthocyanins (48.07 mg/100 g) were the highest in purple barley. Furthermore, the structure, composition, and concentration of phenolics differed depending on the colors of barley. The types and contents of bound total phenolic acids and flavonoids were greater than those of free total phenolic acids and flavonoids. The main phenolic acids in blue barley were cinnamic acid polyphenols, whereas in black, yellow, and purple barley, benzoic acid polyphenols were the main phenolic acids, and the main types of flavonoids in black and blue barley were chalcones and flavanones, respectively, whereas flavonol was the main type of flavonoid in yellow and purple barley. Moreover, cornflower pigment-3-glucoside was the major anthocyanin in blue, yellow, and purple barley, whereas the main anthocyanin in black barley was delphinidin-3-glucoside. The dark color of barley indicated richness in the anthocyanins. In addition, the free polyphenol fractions had stronger DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity as compared to the bound ones. In vitro α-glucosidase-inhibiting activity was greater in bound polyphenols than in free polyphenols, with differences between different varieties of barley. Purple barley phenolic fractions had the greatest ABTS radical scavenging and iron ion reduction capacities, as well as the highest α-glucosidase-inhibiting activity. The strongest DPPH radical scavenging capacity was found in yellow barley, while the strongest in vitro α-glucosidase-inhibiting activity was found in anthocyanins isolated from black barley. Furthermore, in different colors of barley, there was a strong association between the concentration of specific phenolic compounds and antioxidant and α-glucosidase-inhibiting activities. The outcomes of this study revealed that all colored barley seeds tested were high in phenolic compounds, and had a good antioxidant impact and α-glucosidase-inhibiting activity. As a result, colored barley can serve as an antioxidant and hypoglycemic food. Polyphenols extracted from purple barley and anthocyanins extracted from black barley stand out among them.
EveCheck: An Event-Driven, Scalable Algorithm for Coherent Shared Memory Verification

Cache coherence and relaxed memory consistency challenge the design verification of multicore chips. The well-known self-checking approach based on litmus tests has been successful in uncovering design errors, but it leads to limited coverage. That is why random or directed test generation approaches are used for proper coverage control, but they require a specialized checker to verify shared memory behavior. Unfortunately, the inference-based checkers that provide guarantees against false positives and false negatives are not scalable with core count (unless some memory orderings are known beforehand). On the other hand, scoreboard-based checkers are scalable, but do not offer guarantees against false diagnosis. This article proposes an event-driven algorithm that is scalable without renouncing verification quality, because it relies on direct partial order verification, on-the-fly detection of improper memory orderings, exploitation of extended observability not hampered by design optimizations, and agnostic handling of store atomicity at the implementation level. We compared the new algorithm with two scoreboard-based and one inference-based checker reported in the literature. EveCheck often reaches full error detection with half the test size required by the other checkers, has superior verification quality, and less sensitivity to test generation parameters. Its effort to detect errors was one order of magnitude inferior as compared to the inference-based checker. It did not raise false positives in correct designs, and it was able to discover all the errors studied in faulty designs.