Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Green Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Sesbania grandiflora Leaf Extract and Their Evaluation of Anti-Diabetic, Cytotoxic, Anti-Microbial, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties in an In-Vitro Approach

Green methods of synthesizing nanoparticles are safer than chemical and physical methods, as well as being eco-friendly and cost-efficient. In this study, we use copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) fabricated with Sesbania grandiflora (Sg) (Hummingbird tree) leaves to test the effectiveness of green synthesizing methods. The attained Sg-CuO NPs physical and optical nature is characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy Differential Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX). UV-Vis spectrum for Sg-CuO NPs revealed a peak at 410 nm. SEM images showed the aggregation of needle-shaped particles, at a size of 33 nm. The amylase and glucosidase enzymes were inhibited by the Sg-CuO NPs up to 76.7% and 72.1%, respectively, indicating a possible antihyperglycemic effect. Fabricated Sg-CuO NPs disclosed the excellent inhibition of DPPH-free radicle formation (89.7%) and repressed protein degradation (81.3%). The results showed that Sg-CuO NPs display good anti-bacterial activity against the gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus). Cytotoxicity of the Sg-CuO NPs was determined using anIC50 of 37 μg/mL. Sg-CuO NPs have shown promising anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, protein degradation-inhibiting, and anti-microbial properties. Our findings have shown that synthesized Sg-CuO NPs have biological activities that may be utilized to treat bacterial infections linked to hyperglycemia.
Biomass and Leaf Nutrition Contents of Selected Grass and Legume Species in High Altitude Rangelands of Kashmir Himalaya Valley (Jammu & Kashmir), India

The yield and nutritional profile of grass and legume species in Kashmir Valley’s rangelands are scantly reported. The study area in this paper included three types of sites (grazed, protected, and seed-sown) divided into three circles: northern, central, and southern Kashmir. From each circle, three districts and three villages per district were selected. Most sites showed higher aboveground biomass (AGB) compared to belowground biomass (BGB), which showed low to moderate effects on biomass. The comparison between northern, central, and southern Kashmir regions revealed that AGB (86.74, 78.62, and 75.22 t. ha−1), BGB (52.04, 51.16, and 50.99 t. ha−1), and total biomass yield (138.78, 129.78, and 126.21 t. ha−1) were the highest in central Kashmir region, followed by southern and northern Kashmir regions, respectively. More precisely, AGB and total biomass yield recorded the highest values in the protected sites of the central Kashmir region, whereas BGB scored the highest value in the protected sites of southern Kashmir region. The maximum yield (12.5 t. ha−1) recorded among prominent grasses was attributed to orchard grass, while the highest crude fiber and crude protein contents (34.2% and 10.4%, respectively), were observed for Agrostis grass. The maximum yield and crude fiber content (25.4 t. ha−1 and 22.7%, respectively), among prominent legumes were recorded for red clover. The highest crude protein content (33.2%) was attributed to white clover. Those findings concluded the successful management of Kashmir rangelands in protected sites, resulting in high biomass yields along with the considerable nutritional value of grasses and legumes.
ES-SECS/GEM: An Efficient Security Mechanism for SECS/GEM Communications

Industry 4.0, as a driving force, is making massive achievements, notably in the manufacturing sector, where all key components engaged in the production processes are being digitally interconnected. However, when combined with enhanced automation and robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), this open network interconnectivity renders industrial systems more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Cyberattacks may have a variety of different impacts and goals, but they always have negative repercussions for manufacturers. These repercussions include financial losses, disruption of supply chains, loss of reputation and competitiveness, and theft of corporate secrets. Semiconductor Equipment Communication Standard/Generic Equipment Model (SECS/GEM) is a legacy Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication protocol used profoundly in the semiconductor and other manufacturing industries. SECS/GEM is mainly designed to be utilized in a trusted, controlled, and regulated factory environment separated from external networks. Industry 4.0 has revolutionized the manufacturing industry and has brought SECS/GEM back to the limelight, as SECS/GEM is completely devoid of security features. This research proposes ES-SECS/GEM, an Efficient Security mechanism that provides authentication, integrity, and protection against cyberattacks. The proposed mechanism is compared to other security mechanisms in terms of processing time, control overhead, and resilience against cyber-attacks. The ES-SECS/GEM demonstrated promising results, suggesting that it allowed SECS/GEM devices to only connect with authorized industrial equipment, maintained message integrity, discarded forged messages, and prevented cyberattacks on SECS/GEM communications. In terms of processing time and control, ES-SECS/GEM likewise outperformed other mechanisms and incurred the lowest values for these metrics.
Review of models for low-loss filter design and applications

The most frequently used models for surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices are the impulse model, the equivalent circuit models, the Coupling-of-Modes model, and the matrix models. While the impulse-model is only a first order model the other models include second order effects, e.g. reflections, dispersion, and charge distribution effects. The influence of diffraction and refraction on the transfer function of a SAW filter can be described by the angular spectrum of straight-crested waves model. A survey of these different models will be given. The simulation of low-loss filters requires flexible analysis tools, which can cope with different geometries and substrates. Operating with a parameter set, which depends only on the substrate crystal and not on the specific geometry of the SAW filter, is advantageous. Due to the high insertion attenuation of conventional transversal filters the requirements on the accuracy of the analysis are focused on S21, whereas for low-loss filters all elements of the S-matrix are important. The comparison of simulations with a P-matrix model, which fulfills the above mentioned prerequisites, and measurements of different types of low-loss filters, e.g. SPUDT, DMS, and transverse-mode coupled resonator filters are presented
Sidewall finite-conductivity effects in confined turbulent thermal convection

The effects of a sidewall with finite thermal conductivity on confined turbulent thermal convection has been investigated using direct numerical simulation. The study is motivated by the observation that the heat flowing through the lateral wall is not always negligible in the low-aspect-ratio cells of several recent experiments. The extra heat flux modifies the temperature boundary conditions of the flow and therefore the convective heat transfer. It has been found that, for usual sidewall thicknesses, the heat travelling from the hot to the cold plates directly through the sidewall is negligible owing to the additional heat exchanged at the lateral fluid/wall interface. In contrast, the modified temperature boundary conditions alter the mean flow yielding significant Nusselt number corrections which, in the low Rayleigh number range, can change the exponent of the Nu vs. Ra power law by 10%.
Diversifying the ‘Great Economists’: An Assignment to Promote Inclusivity and Belongingness in Introductory Economics Courses

ABSTRACT In this paper, I present an innovative assignment designed to promote inclusivity and belongingness in the undergraduate economics classroom while also allowing students to gain familiarity with prominent economists and understand how their economic contributions are embedded within social, historical, and political contexts. Students are asked to create a presentation in which they give a biography of a ‘Great Economist,’ explain in detail one of the economist’s major contributions, and relate that concept to current course content, the economist’s life, and their own lives. To diversify who is considered a great economist, I have students choose from a pre-set list of economists and associated contributions. Purposefully curating a list of economists allows for the representation of a wide range of pluralistic and mainstream economic perspectives in addition to social identities and lived experiences, which students discover through their research. The assignment is structured to promote significant learning following Fink’s Taxonomy of Significant Learning and informed by key principles of feminist and critical pedagogy. I provide an instructional overview of the project, including recommendations for implementation in a face-to-face or online learning environment, considerations for crafting a list of economists, and end with observations from my own experiences.
Opioids in the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Diarrhea in Humans—A Systematic Review and Treatment Guideline

In patients with chronic idiopathic diarrhea resistant to standard treatment, opioids are often used as rescue therapy. This systematic review investigated opioid effects on gut function in chronic diarrhea. PubMed and Embase were searched regarding effects of opioid agonists on the gastrointestinal tract in humans with chronic or experimentally induced diarrhea. A total of 1472 relevant articles were identified and, after thorough evaluation, 11 clinical trials were included. Generally, studies reported a reduction in stool frequency and an increase in transit time during treatment with the opioid receptor agonists loperamide, asimadoline, casokefamide, and codeine compared with placebo. Loperamide and diphenoxylate significantly improved stool consistency compared with placebo, whereas asimadoline showed no such effects. Compared with placebo, loperamide treatment caused less abdominal pain and urgency. Asimadoline showed no significant subjective improvements, but fedotozine was superior to placebo in reducing abdominal pain and bloating in selected patients. Only two relevant studies were published within the last 20 years, and standardized endpoint measures are lacking. Most trials included few participants, and further evidence is needed from larger, prospective studies. Likewise, consensus is needed to standardize endpoints for stool frequency, transit time, and consistency to conduct future meta-analyses on opioids in management of chronic idiopathic diarrhea.
Clinical Characteristics, Patterns of Use, and incidence of Adverse Events in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated With Oral Anticoagulants in Colombia

Purpose The aim was to analyze the characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes of Colombian patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) under treatment with oral anticoagulants (OAs). Patients and Methods Retrospective cohort in patients with NVAF identified from a drug dispensing database, aged ≥18 years, with first prescription of an OA (index) between January/2013 and June/2018, and a follow-up until June/2019. Data from the clinical history, pharmacological variables, and outcomes were searched. International Classification of Diseases-10 codes were used to identify the patient sample and outcomes. Patients were followed until a general composite outcome of effectiveness (thrombotic events), bleeding/safety or persistence (switch/discontinuation of anticoagulant) events. Descriptive and multivariate analyzes (Cox regressions comparing warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants-DOACs) were carried out. Results A total of 2076 patients with NVAF were included. The 57.0% of patients were women and the mean age was 73.3±10.4 years. Patients were followed for a mean of 2.3±1.6 years. 8.7% received warfarin before the index date. The most frequent OA was rivaroxaban (n=950; 45.8%), followed by warfarin (n=459; 22.1%) and apixaban (n=405; 19.5%). Hypertension was present in 87.5% and diabetes mellitus in 22.6%. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc Score was 3.6±1.5. The 71.0% (n=326/459) of the warfarin patients presented the general composite outcome, and 24.6% of those with DOACs (n=397/1617). The main effectiveness and safety outcomes were stroke (3.1%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (2.0%) respectively. There were no significant differences between patients with warfarin and DOACs regarding thrombotic events (HR: 1.28; 95% CI: 0.68–2.42), but warfarin was associated with higher bleeding/safety events (HR: 4.29; 95% CI: 2.82–6.52) and persistence events (HR: 4.51; 95% CI: 3.81 −5.33). Conclusion The patients with NVAF in this study were mainly older adults with multiple comorbidities. Compared to warfarin, DOACs were found to be equally effective, but safer and had a lower probability of discontinuation or switch.
Information Entropy Measures for Evaluation of Reliability of Deep Neural Network Results

Deep neural networks (DNN) try to analyze given data, to come up with decisions regarding the inputs. The decision-making process of the DNN model is not entirely transparent. The confidence of the model predictions on new data fed into the network can vary. We address the question of certainty of decision making and adequacy of information capturing by DNN models during this process of decision-making. We introduce a measure called certainty index, which is based on the outputs in the most penultimate layer of DNN. In this approach, we employed iEEG (intracranial electroencephalogram) data to train and test DNN. When arriving at model predictions, the contribution of the entire information content of the input may be important. We explored the relationship between the certainty of DNN predictions and information content of the signal by estimating the sample entropy and using a heatmap of the signal. While it can be assumed that the entire sample must be utilized for arriving at the most appropriate decisions, an evaluation of DNNs from this standpoint has not been reported. We demonstrate that the robustness of the relationship between certainty index with the sample entropy, demonstrated through sample entropy-heatmap correlation, is higher than that with the original signal, indicating that the DNN focuses on information rich regions of the signal to arrive at decisions. Therefore, it can be concluded that the certainty of a decision is related to the DNN’s ability to capture the information in the original signal. Our results indicate that, within its limitations, the certainty index can be used as useful tool in estimating the confidence of predictions. The certainty index appears to be related to how effectively DNN heatmaps captured the information content in the signal.
Median Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Tics: Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial

A prior study showed that rhythmic, but not arrhythmic, 12 Hz stimulation of the median nerve (MNS) entrained the sensorimotor cortex EEG signal and found that 10 Hz MNS improved tics in Tourette syndrome (TS). However, no control condition was tested, and stimulation blocks lasted only 1 min. We set out to replicate the TS results and to test whether tic improvement occurs by the proposed cortical entrainment mechanism. Preregistration was completed at ClinicalTrials.gov, under number NCT04731714. Thirty-two people with TS, age 15–64, completed two study visits with repeated MNS on and off blocks in random order, one visit for rhythmic and one for arrhythmic MNS. Subjects and staff were blind to order; a video rater was additionally blind to stimulation and to the order of visits and blocks. Rhythmic MNS at 10 Hz improved tics. Both rhythmic and arrhythmic 12 Hz MNS improved tic frequency, intensity, and urges, but the two treatments did not differ significantly. Participant masking was effective, and there was no carryover effect. Several participants described a dramatic benefit. Discomfort was minimal. There was no evidence that the MNS benefit persisted after stimulation ended. These results replicate the tic benefit from MNS but show that the EEG entrainment hypothesis cannot explain that benefit. Another electrophysiological mechanism may explain the benefit; alternatively, these data do not exclude a placebo effect.
Loudness models applied to technical sounds.

Loudness evaluation has become a central focus for assuring better consideration of subjective sound intensity phenomena than frequency‐weighted levels such as dB(A). Different standards are available for evaluating loudness of stationary sounds (ANSI, ISO, and DIN). In principle, standards are very helpful in daily life, even if the method does not consider the most recent research results. But a variety of standards generating different results, at least for the most important technical or industrial sounds, may lead to confusion. Considering that most of these sounds are time variant, a single model of time‐varying loudness is preferable. At present the recently published extension of the German standard for time‐varying loudness (DIN 45631/A1) is the sole standardized method, applicable also for stationary sounds. There are other models allowing for loudness evaluation of time‐variant sounds. Some years ago, a Hearing Model was borne out of a widespread interest to have a single standardized psychoaco.
Rounding in redundant digit floating point system

Redundant representations are used to increase the performance of arithmetic units. If redundancy is eliminated, the bits needed to represent a number may increase or decrease depending on the type of redundancy used. In such a redundant representation, finding the exact location and correct decision for rounding without eliminating the redundancy or loosing its performance gains is difficult. This paper discusses the different issues related to rounding in redundant systems. It also presents a solution that was used to maintain the gains of redundancy in a floating point unit while correctly implementing the IEEE rounding modes.
Events shape long-term memory for story information

ABSTRACT We segment what we read into meaningful events, each separated by a discrete boundary. How does event segmentation during encoding relate to the structure of story information in long-term memory? To evaluate this question, participants read stories of fictional historical events and then engaged in a postreading verb arrangement task. In this task, participants saw verbs from each of the events placed randomly on a computer screen and then arranged the verbs into groups onscreen based on their understanding of the story. Participants who successfully comprehended the story placed verbs from the same event closer to each other than verbs from different events, even after controlling for orthographic, text-based, semantic, and situational overlap between verbs. Thus, how people structure story information into separate events during online comprehension is associated with how that information is stored in memory. Specifically, story information within an event is bound together in memory more so than information between events.
Nutritional Balance and Genetic Diversity of Coffea canephora Genotypes

Our objectives were to study characteristics of the fruit (weight, percentage of husk/grain), to determine the concentration and accumulation of nutrients in the fruits, grain and husk, and to verify the existence of genetic diversity in Coffea canephora genotypes. The experiment was conducted with 20 genotypes in a four-year-old plantation, in a randomized block design with four replications and five plants per plot. The fruits were oven-dried, depulped (husk separated from the grain) and sent to a laboratory for nutritional analysis. Macronutrients N and K were the most accumulated/exported in fruits, respectively. In addition, the different genotype control cycles influenced the accumulation of nutrients in the fruits. There was genetic diversity among the 20 C. canephora genotypes, studied for the characteristics of concentration and percentage of grain/straw nutrients in the fruit. Genotypes 2, 8 and 13 were the ones with the greatest genetic distance, consequently they are the most dissimilar when compared to the other genotypes. Genotypes 8 and 1 stand out for having a higher proportion of fruit weight in relation to grains. Therefore, they are the genotypes that need a smaller amount of fruit to produce 1000 kg of ground coffee.
A Statistical Approach to the Diagnosis and Prediction of HCC Using CK19 and Glypican 3 Biomarkers

Various statistical models predict the probability of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis, with GALAD being one of the most extensively studied scores. Biomarkers like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), AFP-L3, and des-g-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) are widely used alone or in conjunction with ultrasound to screen for HCC. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and Glypican-3 (GPC3) as standalone biomarkers and in a statistical model to predict the likelihood of HCC. We conducted a monocentric prospective study involving 154 participants with previously diagnosed liver cirrhosis, divided into two groups: 95 patients with confirmed HCC based on clinical, biological, and imaging features and 59 patients without HCC. We measured the levels of AFP, AFP-L3, DCP, GPC3, and CK19 in both groups. We used univariate and multivariate statistical analyses to evaluate the ability of GPC3 and CK19 to predict the presence of HCC and incorporated them into a statistical model—the GALKA score—which was then compared to the GALAD score. AFP performed better than AFP-F3, DCP, GPC3, and CK19 in predicting the presence of HCC in our cohort. Additionally, GPC3 outperformed CK19. We used multivariate analysis to compute the GALKA score to predict the presence of HCC. Using these predictors, the following score was formulated: 0.005*AFP-L3 + 0.00069*AFP + 0.000066*GPC3 + 0.01*CK19 + 0.235*Serum Albumin—0.277. The optimal cutoff was >0.32 (AUROC = 0.98, sensitivity: 96.8%, specificity: 93%, positive predictive value—95.8%, negative predictive value—94.8%). The GALKA score had a similar predictive value to the GALAD score for the presence of HCC. In conclusion, AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP were the best biomarkers for predicting the likelihood of HCC. Our score performed well overall and was comparable to the GALAD score.
2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate/Gelatin/Alginate Scaffolds Reinforced with Nano TiO2 as a Promising Curcumin Release Platform

The idea of this study was to create a new scaffolding system based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, gelatin, and alginate that contains titanium(IV) oxide nanoparticles as a platform for the controlled release of the bioactive agent curcumin. The innovative strategy to develop hybrid scaffolds was the modified porogenation method. The effect of the scaffold composition on the chemical, morphology, porosity, mechanical, hydrophilicity, swelling, degradation, biocompatibility, loading, and release features of hybrid scaffolds was evaluated. A porous structure with interconnected pores in the range of 52.33–65.76%, favorable swelling capacity, fully hydrophilic surfaces, degradability to 45% for 6 months, curcumin loading efficiency above 96%, and favorable controlled release profiles were obtained. By applying four kinetic models of release, valuable parameters were obtained for the curcumin/PHEMA/gelatin/alginate/TiO2 release platform. Cytotoxicity test results depend on the composition of the scaffolds and showed satisfactory cell growth with visible cell accumulation on the hybrid surfaces. The constructed hybrid scaffolds have suitable high-performance properties, suggesting potential for further in vivo and clinical studies.