Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utility of direct 3D co-culture model for chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells on hyaluronan scaffold (Hyaff-11)

Abstract This study presents direct 2D and 3D co-culture model of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) line with chondrocytes isolated from patients with osteoarthritis (unaffected area). MSCs differentiation into chondrocytes after 14, 17 days was checked by estimation of collagen I, II, X, aggrecan expression using immunohistochemistry. Visualization, localization of cells on Hyaff-11 was performed using enzymatic technique and THUNDER Imaging Systems. Results showed, that MSCs/chondrocytes 3D co-culture induced suitable conditions for chondrocytes grow and MSCs differentiation than 2D monoculture. Despite that differentiated cells on Hyaff-11 expressed collagen X, they showed high collagen II (80%) and aggrecan (60%) expression with simultaneous decrease of collagen I expression (10%). The high concentration of differentiated cells on Hyaff-11, indicate that this structure has an impact on cells cooperation and communication. In conclusion, we suggest that high expression of collagen II and aggrecan in 3D co-culture model, indicate that cooperation between different subpopulations may have synergistic impact on MSCs chondrogenic potential. Revealed the high concentration and localization of cells growing in deeper layers of membrane in 3D co-culture, indicate that induced microenvironmental enhance cell migration within scaffold. Additionally, we suggest that co-culture model might be useful for construction a bioactive structure for cartilage tissue regeneration.
Influence of fuel injection pressure and injection timing on nanoparticle emission in light-duty gasoline/diesel RCCI engine

Abstract This work investigates the influence of fuel injection events on the nanoparticle emission characteristics of light-duty gasoline-diesel RCCI engine. The formation of nanoparticle emissions strongly depends on fuel injection events. The present study experimentally investigates the influence of diesel injection pressure, injection timing, and port-injected gasoline mass on the nanoparticles emitted from the gasoline-diesel RCCI engine. For this purpose, the engine is tested at different engine speeds and a fixed load of 1.5 bar BMEP without exhaust gas recirculation. The particle-size and number distribution (PSD) and total particle number (total PN) concentration are measured using a differential mobility spectrometer. The results depict that at higher diesel injection pressure (IP) operation, the peak of the NMP increases while the AMP peak decreases for neat diesel operation as well as RCCI engine. Nucleation, as well as accumulation mode particles, increases with advanced diesel injection timing in RCCI combustion. An increase in port fuel injected mass also leads to an increase in the total particle concentration and total unburned hydrocarbon (THC) emissions.
A highly purified C-phycocyanin from thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus and its cytotoxic activity assessment using an in vitro cell-based approach

ABSTRACT C-phycocyanin (C-PC) is a protein–pigment widely used in nutrition and pharmaceutical applications. High purity of C-PC is a limiting factor required for its medical use; hence purity improvement with successful plausible pharmaceutical application is the state of the art of the present work. Highly purified C-PC (A620/A280 = 6.6) was obtained from Thermosynechococcus elongatus. Combined enzymatic cell wall degradation, cellular exposure to high pressure, sonication, and one-time homogenization was found to be an effective purification protocol. Purified complex was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and UV-absorption spectral analysis. Cytotoxic effect of the obtained C-PC was assessed in vitro using a panel of cancer cells. Results showed that MCF-7 cells were most sensitive to C-PC (IC50 = 158.9 µM) compared to Caco-2 (IC50 = 258.3 µM) and HepG2 (IC50 = 277.5 µM) cells. Our findings shed the light on the potential medical use of C-PC isolated from T. elongatus in controlling cancer cells.
Blame Avoidance Strategies of Multiple Administrative Agencies During Policy Failure: A Case Study of Taiwan’s 2014 Waste Oil Scandal

This study examines the blame avoidance (BA) strategies that may be adopted after policy failures of multiple agencies. A classification of agencies is proposed based on two factors: the amount of actual responsibility that an agency is obliged for, and the extent of an agency’s perceived responsibility. Agencies can thus be classified into four types, which may have different tactical goals and specific BA strategies that contradict other agencies’ goals, thereby leading to a complicated interaction between them. The results show that one of the three related agencies does not adopt suggested BA strategy and therefore fails to avoid blame.
Landform modifications within an intramontane urban landscape due to industrial activity, Wałbrzych, SW Poland

ABSTRACT The city of Wałbrzych represents a geomorphic landscape, heavily modified by nearly three centuries of industrial activity, related mainly to coal mining. The key landforms due to human impact include spoil tips of various types, extensive levelled terrains, waste ponds, and railway embankments and cuts. Ground subsidence due to mining and water pumping have affected large areas. The map shows the distribution of anthropogenic landforms due to industrial activity, mainly coal mining, over an area of 85 km2. The thematic symbol set for the main map contains 22 classes of objects which show 13 distinctive types of landform modification due to construction, excavation, levelling and complex features. The Main Map is accompanied by inset maps showing generalized geology of the area, extent and magnitude of ground subsidence, as well as relief visualization.
Effect of weed management and fertility levels on population and dry matter of weeds in summer okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.] under North Gujarat conditions

A field experiment was carried out during summer season of 2008 on a loamy sand soil at Regional Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, District: Banaskantha (Gujarat) to study the eight weed management practices i.e., Unweeded control (W0), Weed free (i.e., Hand Weeding at 20, 40 and 60 DAS) (W1), Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS (W2), Interculturing at 20 and 40 DAS (W3), Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (Blanket application) (W4), W4 + Interculturing at 20 DAS (W5), W4 + Interculturing at 40 DAS (W6) and W4 + Hand Weeding at 40 DAS (W7) along with two fertility levels i.e., 75% recommended dose of NPK (i.e., 112.5 - 37.5 - 37.5 NPK kg/ha) (F1) and 100% recommended dose of NPK (i.e., 150 – 50 - 50 NPK kg/ha) (F2) on okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. ] crop. Results shows that the weeds population at 20 and 40 DAS were found significantly lowest under treatment (W7) i.e., pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (W4) + Hand Weeding at 40 DAS (3.20, 2.75, 2.99 and 5.07 per m2) and (W5) i.e., pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (W4) + interculturing at 20 DAS (2.84, 2.72, 2.58 and 4.60 per m2), respectively. Besides providing weed free condition through the season Hand weeding at 20, 40 and 60 DAS was found more effective in recording the less dry weight of weeds (37.87 g/m2 and 230 kg ha-1) as well as higher weed control efficiency (82.04 and 77.03%). Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS and pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 + H.W. at 40 DAS were found at par with this respect.
Effect of catalyst and feed properties on the deactivation parameters of an ARDS process model for HDS and HDM reactions

Abstract A mathematical model for the atmospheric residue desulfurization (ARDS) process was used to estimate the deactivation parameters for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydrodemetalation (HDM) reactions. These parameters, namely Thiele moduli and contact efficiency, were assessed for three commercial ARDS catalyst systems and three atmospheric residues. The model’s deactivation parameters were validated with the literature, even though the model’s structure did not explicitly model these free parameters mathematically. It was demonstrated that the Thiele modulus had a positive correlation with the pore volume of the fresh catalyst and a negative correlation with its bulk density for the HDS reaction. The lighter feed, in comparison to the other feeds, contacted the catalysts more efficiently under the current operating conditions. Metal removal depended on the catalyst pore structure, and vanadium removal seemed to be controlled by diffusion.
The Effect of Growth Activators and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the Soil Properties, Root Yield, and Technological Quality of Sugar Beet

The strategy “from farm to fork” assumes a reduction in the usage of fertilizers and plant protection products in EU agriculture. The aim of this study, conducted over the years 2017–2019 in several locations in Poland, is to evaluate the application of growth activators with and without plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria to reduce mineral nitrogen fertilization without negative effects on the root yield. We studied the effect of these activators on selected soil properties. The experimental treatments included the application of the growth activators Penergetic (K + P) and Azoter, which contains the bacteria Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense, and Bacillus megaterium, before sowing or during vegetation. The nitrogen rates were reduced by 30% in comparison to full nitrogen mineral fertilization (control treatment). In selected experiments, the application of Penergetic and Penergetic with Azoter caused a higher content of nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3) and ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4) after the sugar beet harvest as well as higher contents of mineral nitrogen (Nmin), P, K, and Mg in the soil in comparison to the treatment with the full dose of mineral nitrogen fertilization. The obtained results proved that it was possible to reduce the mineral application of nitrogen by 30% without a decrease in the biological and pure sugar yield, and even with an increase in the sugar yield caused by the application of the growth activators Penergetic (K + P) and Azoter.
JOINTS ACTIVITY AND ITS ROLE IN THE UPPER EXTREMITY IN BADMINTON STROKES: A BIOMECHANICAL PERSPECTIVE OF SPORTS EDUCATION

Purpose of the Study: This study aims to describe the muscle activity and its role in the upper extremity in Badminton Strokes and also investigates the Kinematics differences of Badminton forehand overhead shot, i.e., precise, smash and drop in wrist joint, elbow joint, and shoulder Joint from a biomechanics perspective. Methodology: Total [n=10] numbers of male badminton players were randomly selected from the badminton match practice group of L.N. I.P.E. Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. The match practice group consisted of (n=78) players who at least participated in Inter-University badminton competition, and their age ranges from 17-25 years of old. Go Pro HERO 7, 2D camera was used. A video camera was mounted on a tripod at a height of 1.05 meters from the ground. 2D data of wrist joint, elbow joint, and shoulder joint were put in Kinovea 0.8. 27 software. One way ANOVA was used. Principal Findings: The results of the finding demonstrate that Brain vibrations, paradoxically, are critical to the stability of movement and high performance. There are significant muscle activity and kinematics differences among forehand clear, forehand smash and forehand drop-in shoulder joint angle, elbow joint angle, and wrist joint angle. Applications of this Study: The Study may use by the badminton Players as well as coaches for the successful execution of badminton Skill. This study will provide the mechanical area of movement of badminton Players. The same kind of study may use in other games. Novelty/Originality of this Study: The Study explores the mechanical advantages of badminton forehand overhead Skill. It will give the reader new ideas to think of a similar kind of study in different games.
Firm-Level Risk Disclosures: Effects on the Market Value of Firms during the Risk Materialization in the Case of the COVID-19 Crisis

How does the stock market react to risk disclosures in annual reports of firms? Various studies investigated the reactions to the information at the time of disclosure. Still, there is little evidence about the differences between the market reaction to firms disclosing the risks and firms without disclosure when the risks indeed materialize. By using the COVID-19 pandemic, we are able provide empirical evidence about the effect of a disclosed systematic risk on the stock market returns across a broad set of industries. Our data consists of 3,433 annual reports from firms listed on US stock exchanges filed in 2019, from which only 652 firms (19%) disclosed the risk of a pandemic or epidemic. We find a significant increase in the stock return volatility for disclosing firms during the pandemic. Furthermore, the stock returns of disclosing firms fell significantly more at the start of the pandemic, but also increased more during the initial recovery phase than non-disclosing firms. Additionally, our study indicates that the importance of the risk disclosure in annual reports decreases with a growing market value.
Quality and Machine Translation: An Evaluation of Online Machine Translation of English into Arabic Texts

This study compares the translation outputs of an English into Arabic text using the three machine translators of Google Translate, Microsoft Bing, and Ginger. To carry this evaluation of the machine translation (MT) outputs, an English text and its Arabic counterpart were selected from the UN records. The English source text was segmented into 84 semantic chunks. Depending on the Arabic counterpart model text, each chunk was rated as “correct or incorrect” at the two levels of the translation attributes: fidelity and intelligibility. To perform the quantitative description of the evaluation process, the numbers of fidelity and intelligibility errors and their percentages were calculated. Results of this evaluation process revealed that none of the three translated versions of the source text was perfectly translated. Although the translation of Microsoft Bing was rated the best, Google’s translation was found the least accurate due to the high percentage of fidelity and intelligibility errors detected in its translation output. However, the quality of Ginger’s translation was found slightly less accurate than that of Microsoft Bing, but remarkably better than Google’s translation. The findings of this study imply that these MT applications can be implemented to perform English into Arabic translation to get the broad gist of a source text, but a deep and thorough post-editing process looks essential for a full and accurate understanding of an English into Arabic MT output. The study recommends that more studies are encouraged to continue to assess the quality of MT that will further highlight its weaknesses and the strategies that should be adopted to overcome them.
Highly porous tungsten for plasma-facing applications in nuclear fusion power plants: a computational analysis of hollow nanoparticles

Plasma-facing materials (PFMs) for nuclear fusion, either in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) or in magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) approaches, must withstand extremely hostile irradiation conditions. Mitigation strategies are plausible in some cases, but usually the best, or even the only, solution for feasible plant designs is to rely on PFMs able to tolerate these irradiation conditions. Unfortunately, many studies report a lack of appropriate materials that have a good thermomechanical response and are not prone to deterioration by means of irradiation damage. The most deleterious effects are vacancy clustering and the retention of light species, as is the case for tungsten. In an attempt to find new radiation-resistant materials, we studied tungsten hollow nanoparticles under different irradiation scenarios that mimic ICF and MCF conditions. By means of classical molecular dynamics, we determined that these particles can resist astonishingly high temperatures (up to ∼3000 K) and huge internal pressures (>5 GPa at 3000 K) before rupture. In addition, in the case of gentle pressure increase (ICF scenarios), a self-healing mechanism leads to the formation of an opening through which gas atoms are able to escape. The opening disappears as the pressure drops, restoring the original particle. Regarding radiation damage, object kinetic Monte Carlo simulations show an additional self-healing mechanism. At the temperatures of interest, defects (including clusters) easily reach the nanoparticle surface and disappear, which makes the hollow nanoparticles promising for ICF designs. The situation is less promising for MCF because the huge ion densities expected at the surface of PFMs lead to inevitable particle rupture.
The Role of Structural Context in Making Business Sense of Investments for Sustainability–A Case Study

Energy efficiency is an important means for sustainable manufacturing. One action for manufacturing companies to improve energy efficiency is through investments. While these investments often are profitable, opportunities remain unexploited. This paper explores the structural context of the investment decision-making process by examining the associated activities, procedures, and the role of information. While the structural context may limit complex investments that do not fit predefined rules and controls, such as energy efficiency and other sustainability-related investments, it remains a scarcely studied aspect of investment decision-making for energy efficiency investments. Method-wise, the paper is based on a case study of a major investment at a pulp and paper company, motivated and justified based on productivity, strategic, energy, and sustainability rationales. The paper contributes with illustrating how configurations of internal investment activities and procedures may be crucial for sustainability-related investments to pass through the investment process. Moreover, the configuration of activities and procedures is also indicated as influential for the way in which an investment is executed. Hence, for energy efficiency and other sustainability-related investments to make business sense constitutes more than achieving desirable payback periods; the structural context should be considered.
The Ability of Basalt to Leach Nutrients and Support Growth of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 Depends on Basalt Composition and Element Release

ABSTRACT The influence of different rock mineralogical compositions on element leaching and bio-weathering processes is poorly understood. Here, the role of basalt composition on nutrient leaching (calcium, iron, phosphorus or magnesium) and subsequent support of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 growth was evaluated. Seven different basalts were examined. In iron-limiting media, growth could be restored for all basalts tested, while only two basalts could restore growth in magnesium-limiting medium. Only for magnesium growth complementation was correlated with the composition of the basalts tested. Our results showed that basalt composition can affect leaching and availability of different elements, in turn, affecting bacterial growth.
The unique and common effects of emotional intelligence dimensions on job satisfaction and facets of job performance: an exploratory study in three countries

Abstract Previous empirical studies have either used a unidimensional or a multidimensional analytical approach to examine the consequences of emotional intelligence (EI). In this exploratory study we integrate and extend these two approaches, using a novel perspective to better understand the structure of the EI-job satisfaction and the EI-job performance relationship. Using commonality analysis and data from Germany, India, as well as the U.S. we partition the explained variance for job satisfaction, in- role performance, and extra-role performance into the variance that is uniquely explained by the individual EI dimensions and the variance that is common to sets of EI dimensions. We provide evidence that the EI dimensions are differently related to job satisfaction and job performance facets. Furthermore, the findings offer insights on how unique and common effects vary across countries. Partitioning the unique and commonly shared variance allows us to assess the true predictive power of individual EI dimensions and of sets of EI dimensions. Based on these findings, we discuss implications for theory development and provide future research directions.
Open Artificial Pancreas System Reduced Hypoglycemia and Improved Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Background and Aims: Artificial pancreas combines continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with insulin pump by using a control algorithm to direct insulin delivery. Although several control algorithms have been developed, the control algorithms are beyond reach of most of diabetic patients in need. The Open Artificial Pancreas System project (openAPS) is an open control algorithm for artificial pancreas, which is available worldwide in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Here, we present several interesting clinical experiences using openAPS. Materials and Methods: Twenty T1D patients using openAPS, CGM (Dexcom G4®), and insulin pump (Sooil, Dana R®) were studied. Normal glycemic range was set as 80∼180 mg/dl. Results: Mean age was 11.9 ± 6.9 years and 10 patients were male. Median openAPS duration was 180 (30-240) days. By the use of openAPS, CGM analysis showed significant decrease in A1C (6.8 ± 1.0% to 6.3 ± 0.7%, p Conclusion: Open artificial pancreas system reduced hypoglycemia and improved glycemic control in patients with T1D. Disclosure S. Choi: Stock/Shareholder; Self; SOOIL Developments Co., Ltd. E. Hong: None. Y. Noh: None.
Collaboration and disaster: critical responses after tsunami events in Indonesia

ABSTRACT Lampung, located in the southern part of Sumatra, is an example of a disaster-prone province in Indonesia. South Lampung regency in particular is at potential risk of three natural disasters: tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Through drawing upon interviews with authority figures from two districts of the regency (Kalianda and Rajabasa) and applying the collaborative governance theory of Ansell and Gash, this article contributes in two important ways to the literature on post-tsunami response. First, we identify the role played by three groups – local government, adat and religious institutions – in negotiating the post-tsunami response process, alongside the socio-technical issues encountered. Second, through applying and refining the ideas of Ansell and Gash, we create a model that may be used to stimulate collaboration between the three groups to better deal with tsunami events. It is evident that when local government lacks the capability to coordinate post-tsunami response, disaster management may easily descend into chaos. By identifying the resources each group brings to the table, we believe that our model can help encourage different actors to collaborate when responding to such disasters.