Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical study of electron transport through thin DNA films

The electron/hole conduction of disordered bulk double-stranded (ds) calf thymus DNA and of one-dimensionally aligned 12-base pair single- and double-stranded oligonucleotide monolayers on gold was probed by testing for the occurrence of Faradaic processes. The disordered ds-DNA film was probed by doping it with soybean peroxidase, an easy to “wire” thermostable polycationic enzyme and measuring the current density of electroreduction of H2O2 to water at SCE potential. Although the current density in films with hydrophilic electron-conducting polymeric “wires” is ∼0.5 mAcm-2, when ds-DNA was used to “wire” soybean peroxidase, the current density was only 0.1 μA cm-2, similar to that in the absence of an electron-conducting enzyme-“wiring” polymer. We conclude that the diffusivity of electrons in unaligned and unstretched calf thymus DNA is less than 10-11 cm2 s-1. Nevertheless, the occurrence of a Faradaic reaction was observed in the Au−S−(CH2)2−ds-oligo-NH−PQQ/Au−S−CH2−CH2−OH monolayer on gold, in which.
Mass transfer properties of monoliths

The mass transfer properties of polyglycidylmethacrylate–ethylenedimethacrylate monolithic ion-exchangers (convective interaction media disks) were evaluated. As a reference material, the particulate ion-exchanger Source 30 was selected. The model proteins lysozyme, bovine serum albumin, and IgG were loaded at different concentrations and velocities. The mass transfer zones obtained with the monoliths were affected by neither the linear flow velocity nor the protein concentration in the mobile phase. The reduced height equivalent to one theoretical plate (HETP) of monoliths were independent of the reduced velocity. This was not the case for the particulate material.
Geometry-Based MPC Tracking and Modeling Algorithm for Time-Varying UAV Channels

In parallel with the decrease in cost, size and weight of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the increase of their flight autonomy, many commercial applications are rapidly arising. Most of those applications rely on a communications system between a terrestrial base station and the UAV. Due to the UAV movement, time-variant channel models are required. In this article, we propose a geometrical model for the channel Multipath Components (MPCs) evolution with the UAV flight that supports MPCs that are born and die in several occasions due to blockages. Based on this model, the novel Geometry-Based Spatial-Consistent MPC Tracking Method (GSTM) is proposed and its performance on channel MPCs tracking was shown both by simulations and by an Air-to-Ground (A2G) low-height UAV measurement campaign. The GSTM also provides the parameters of a geometrical model of the evolution of the main MPCs of the channel, which allows to identify the scatterers that lead to the MPCs and greatly contributes to the understanding of the propagation mechanisms in A2G environments. The correctness of the MPC tracking is proven to be higher than 90% and the results show that the model obtained by the GSTM includes more than 95% of the received power.
Cuantificación del Valor Emocional. El caso de Unión de Cooperativas Agrarias de Navarra (UCAN)

El presente trabajo se enmarca en un proyecto de mayor dimension, que tiene por objetivo monetizar el Valor Social que generan, o destruyen, las diversas organizaciones y que cuenta desarrolladas a dia de hoy con tres propuestas complementarias: Un modelo de contabilidad social del valor integral denominado, Modelo Poliedrico; una metodologia procesual, basada en el mencionado modelo poliedrico, denominada SPOLY y la existencia de cierta estandarificacion de variables de valor social, asi como de los proxys que permiten la monetizacion de los outputs con ellas vinculados (Retolaza et al., 2014, 2015 y 2016). En linea con dicho modelo de Contabilidad Social, se aborda una nueva dimension o ecosistema del valor, el valor emocional, y se propone un instrumento para su medicion de manera cuantitativa. La propuesta realizada viene determinada por la identificacion de un indice, que funcionaria como un factor corrector, permitiendo ajustar al alza o a la baja, el valor social integral. Una adaptacion del modelo servqual (Parasuraman, et al., 1988), permitira la objetivacion del factor corrector y la amplitud del rango de correccion, a aplicar al Valor Social Integrado. La aplicacion practica al caso concreto de la Union de Cooperativas Agrarias de Navarra (UCAN) permitira cuantificar el valor emocional generado por la entidad, posibilitando su integracion con el valor economico y social.
Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules

Abstract Background: Thyroid nodules are common; their clinical significance is mainly related to excluding malignancy. Re-gardless of the careful reporting of FNAC and frozen section biopsies, there is significant number of discordance with final histopathology reports, which leads to unnecessary thyroid-ectomies. DWI-MRI can help in the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules providing qualitative and quantitative information about the diffusion properties. Aim of Study: Is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) mapping in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules by taking histopathology as the gold standard. Patients and Methods: This study was performed on 32 cases who were diagnosed by ultrasonography to have thyroid nodules; in the General Naval Military Hospital. The patients were referred from the Surgery Department to the Radiology Department over a period of 18 months (January 2018-June 2018). Results: In this study the sensitivity of DWI and ADC mapping in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules reached 100%. Conclusion: Quantitative DWI has a high sensitivity, and may be a reliable, non-invasive and non-radiative imaging modality for the detection of thyroid nodules. ADC values seem to be able to differentiate benign from malignant thyroid disease.
Living cationic isomerization polymerization of β-pinene. III. Synthesis of end-functionalized polymers and graft copolymers

α-End-functionalized polymers and macromonomers of β-pinene were synthesized by living cationic isomerization polymerization in CH2Cl2 at −40°C initiated with the HCl adducts [1; CH3CH(OCH2CH2X)Cl; X = chloride (1a), acetate (1b), and methacrylate (1c)] of vinyl ethers carrying pendant substituents X that serve as terminal functionalities. In conjunction with TiCl3(OiPr) and nBu4NCl, these functionalized initiators led to living β-pinene polymerization where the carbon–chlorine bond of 1 was activated by TiCl3(OiPr). Similarly, end-functionalized poly(p-methylstyrene)-block-poly(β-pinene) were also obtained. 1H-NMR analysis showed that the polymers possess controlled molecular weights (DPn = [M]0/[1]0) and number-average end functionalities close to unity. The end-functionalized methacrylate-capped macromonomers form 1c were radically copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) to give graft copolymers carrying poly(β-pinene) or poly(p-methylstyrene)-block-poly(β-pinene) as graft chains attached to a PMMA backbone. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1423–1430, 1997
A cross-sectional and comparative study of impulsivity and personality profile in euthymic bipolar affective disorder patients and controls

Introduction: Bipolar patients show increased impulsivity during symptomatic period. Impulsivity during euthymic phase is not much studied. Impulsivity is a risk factor for future episodes of BPAD, suicidality, poor functional outcome and mortality. Aims and Objectives: The current study conducted during euthymic phase to study impulsivity compared with controls and to assess any particular personality trait manifests in the disorder. It is also aimed to study the correlation between the variables “impulsivity and personality” profiles among cases. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on patients of euthymic bipolar disorder (n=50) and healthy controls (n=50). Patients were assessed using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) to diagnose remission. They were administered Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11(BIS-11) and Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). The healthy attendants of bipolar patients without any psychiatric disorder were taken as controls. Results: All three facets of impulsivity of test and control sample were found to be statistically significant. The difference between test and control scores of extraversion was found to be statistically significant (p=.002). Among test sample the extraversion scale and total score of Barratt impulsivity scale and its subscale facets i.e., attentional, motor and non-planning showed positive correlation. Among test sample, correlation between extraversion, BIS total score (p=0.018) and non-planning impulsivity (p=0.026) was found significant. The neurotic scale also showed positive correlation with BIS total and sub scales but none of them found statistically significant among test sample. Conclusions: Impulsivity was found to be increased during euthymic phase of bipolar patients. It is associated with substance abuse, suicide and poor functional outcome. Hence it is very important that impulsivity has to be assessed in all bipolar affective disorder patients. Keywords:
Skippable Advertisement versus Full-Length Advertisement: An Empirical Analysis in a Developing Economy

Abstract In-stream advertisements have become a popular choice of brands. However, limited studies have compared the attitudes of customers toward in-stream advertisement types, specifically, skippable advertisements and full-length advertisements. This study explores the attitudes of consumers toward both types of in-stream video advertising and their effect on shopping intention. A total of 289 responses for skippable advertisements and 270 responses for full-length advertisements were used to test hypotheses using the technique of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings showed that in skippable advertisements, the effect of irritation on attitude is less compared to full-length advertisements. For full-length advertisements, entertainment, advertising value, and emotional appeal significantly contribute to the creation of a positive attitude, whereas informativeness contributes to development of a positive attitude only for skippable advertisements. Further, the attitude toward advertising contributes to the intention to shop for both skippable and full-length advertising. This is the first study that provides comparative insights into the attitudes of consumers toward skippable advertising and full-length advertising. This study also highlights the relationship of emotional appeal and attitude to online video advertising. This research is useful to marketers and brand managers to create effective content strategies for in-stream online advertising.
Effects of Different Types of Forensic Evidence on Arrest Probability: Toward a New Typology of Evidence

Forensic evidence is an important component in criminal justice decision-making. Yet, few studies have examined the effectiveness of the various macro-types of forensic evidence in facilitating arrest. This article analyzed over 4000 case files from five cities to determine how the collection and analysis of three macro-types of forensic evidence (Classification, Identification, and Progenitor) affect the probability of arrest across five different crime types. The results of several sets of logistic regression analyses suggest that forensic evidence affects the probability of arrest, but that the impact is not consistent across different types of crime or macro-types of forensic evidence. These findings suggest that the standard practice of dichotomizing forensic evidence collection to determine its effectiveness obscures how the macro-types of forensic evidence correlate with the odds of arrest differently across crime types.
Dual Roles of Graphene Oxide in Chondrogenic Differentiation of Adult Stem Cells: Cell‐Adhesion Substrate and Growth Factor‐Delivery Carrier

Here, it is shown that graphene oxide (GO) can be utilized as both a cell‐adhesion substrate and a growth factor protein‐delivery carrier for the chondrogenic differentiation of adult stem cells. Conventionally, chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells is achieved by culturing cells in pellets and adding the protein transforming growth factor‐β3 (TGF‐β3), a chondrogenic factor, to the culture medium. However, pellets mainly provide cell‐cell interaction and diffusional limitation of TGF‐β3 may occur inside the pellet both of these factors may limit the chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells. In this study, GO sheets (size = 0.5–1 μm) were utilized to adsorb fibronectin (FN, a cell‐adhesion protein) and TGF‐β3 and were then incorporated in pellets of human adipose‐derived stem cells (hASCs). The hybrid pellets of hASC‐GO enhanced the chondrogenic differentiation of hASCs by adding the cell‐FN interaction and supplying TGF‐β3 effectively. This method may provide a new platform for stem cell culture for regenerative medicine.
Using Open Source Data for Landing Time Prediction with Machine Learning Methods

Increasing demands on a highly efficient air traffic management system go hand in hand with increasing requirements for predicting the aircraft’s future position. In this context, the airport collaborative decision-making framework provides a standardized approach to improve airport performance by defining operationally important milestones along the aircraft trajectory. In particular, the aircraft landing time is an important milestone, significantly impacting the utilization of limited runway capacities. We compare different machine learning methods to predict the landing time based on broadcast surveillance data of arrival flights at Zurich Airport. Thus, we consider different time horizons (look ahead times) for arrival flights to predict additional sub-milestones for n-hours-out timestamps. The features are extracted from both surveillance data and weather information. Flights are clustered and analyzed using feedforward neural networks and decision tree methods, such as random forests and gradient boosting machines, compared with cross-validation error. The prediction of landing time from entry points with a radius of 45, 100, 150, 200, and 250 nautical miles can attain an MAE and RMSE within 5 min on the test set. As the radius increases, the prediction error will also increase. Our predicted landing times will contribute to appropriate airport performance management.
Representative nature of scientific literacy themes in a high school chemistry course: the case of Zambia

The purpose of this study was to find out how the scientific literacy themes are represented in the current Zambian high school chemistry syllabus, textbooks and grade twelve chemistry examination papers in an attempt to find out whether or not the chemistry course has adequate potential to contribute to the preparation of scientifically literate citizens. The results show some disparity among the high school chemistry course materials. The chemistry syllabus had a better representation of the scientific literacy themes than the chemistry textbooks and examination papers. The chemistry textbooks mostly emphasized science as a body of knowledge theme, whereas the examination papers mostly covered the investigative nature of science theme. Both the chemistry syllabus and examination paper 2 placed some emphasis on the interaction of science and technology theme. Despite the disparity in the representation of scientific literacy themes among the high school chemistry course materials, the course has adequate potential to contribute to the preparation of scientifically literate citizens.
Concentrations of Phenolic Acids, Flavonoids and Carotenoids and the Antioxidant Activity of the Grain, Flour and Bran of Triticum polonicum as Compared with Three Cultivated Wheat Species

The experiment was performed on 66 breeding lines of Triticum polonicum, four T. durum cultivars, four T. aestivum cultivars, and one T. turanicum cultivar (Kamut® wheat). Wheat grain, bran, and flour were analyzed to determine the concentrations of carotenoids, free and bound phenolic acids, and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant activity in the ABTS+ assay. The total concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene in grain and milling fractions were determined at 3.17, 2.49, and 3.16 mg kg−1 in T. polonicum (in grain, flour, and bran, respectively), and at 4.84, 3.56, and 4.30 mg kg−1 in T. durum, respectively. Polish wheat grain was characterized by high concentrations of p-coumaric acid and syringic acid (9.4 and 41.0 mg kg−1, respectively) and a low content of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (65.2 mg kg−1). Kamut® wheat (T. turanicum) which is closely related to T. polonicum was particularly abundant in 4-hydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic, ferulic, gallic, and t-cinnamic acids. The studied Triticum species did not differ considerably in the concentrations of the eight analyzed flavonoids, and significant differences were noted only in rutin levels. The grain and milling fractions of Kamut® wheat were characterized by very high concentrations of quercetin, naringenin, and vitexin, but significant differences were observed only in vitexin content. Quercetin concentration in Kamut® wheat grain (104.8 mg kg−1) was more than five times higher than in bread wheat (19.6 mg kg−1) and more than twice higher than in Polish wheat (44.1 mg kg−1). Antioxidant activity was highest in bran, followed by grain and flour (4684, 1591, and 813 μM TE g−1, respectively). The grain and flour of the analyzed Triticum species did not differ significantly in terms of antioxidant activity.
Enhancing Thai secondary school students’ English speaking skills, attitudes and motivation with drama-based activities and Facebook

ABSTRACT The study reported in this article explores Thai secondary school students’ English as a foreign language (EFL) learning experiences and examines the effects of using drama-based activities and Facebook on the students’ English speaking skills, attitudes and motivation in learning EFL. The study employed a mixed methods approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The study used Facebook together with drama-based activities to deliver English language lessons in EFL classrooms. A total of 40 students from two Grade 12 classes and two Thai EFL teachers at a high school in Thailand participated in the study. Data was collected through English speaking tests, Attitude and Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) questionnaires, classroom observations and interviews. The results of the study indicate that drama-based activities and Facebook had positive effects on the students’ speaking skills and increased their motivation and positive attitudes towards learning the English language; they also provided the students with an interactive and flexible learning environment where they could actively communicate and collaborate with their teachers and peers. Findings suggest that drama-based learning activities and Facebook can be creatively integrated to assist language learning in the EFL classroom.
First-year engineering students’ mathematics task performance and its relation to their motivational values and views about mathematics

ABSTRACT This study investigates Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish first-year engineering students’ task performance in mathematics and examines how it relates to their motivational values and beliefs about the nature of mathematics. In a set of seven mathematical tasks, female students outperformed male students, for example, in the simplification of symbolic expressions. Our findings also show that female students set more demanding learning goals for themselves. Further, they expressed higher intrinsic motivational values, whereas male students emphasised utility values, which correlated negatively with task performance. Problem-solving and discovering structures and regularities dominate engineering students’ views of mathematics. The ‘toolbox’ view of mathematics is the best predictor of task performance; the stronger this view is, the poorer is the task performance. However, neither motivational values nor views about mathematics are especially strong predictors of task performance. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that, in engineering mathematics courses, greater emphasis is placed on learning fundamental reasoning strategies and discussing the theoretical foundations of the main results. This seems to lead to a better result even in applying mathematics than if one focuses only on learning how to use ready-made mathematical tools in concrete examples.
Fish diversity in streams/rivers of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India

This article describes fish diversity in streams and rivers of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Tamil Nadu. Fifty species of fishes belonging to 10 orders, 15 families, and 32 genera are recorded. Seven species, Garra joshuai, G. kalakadensis, Haludaria kannikattiensis, Hypselobarbus tamiraparaniei Mesonemachilus tambraparniensis, Neolissochilus tamiraparaniensis, and Dawkinsia tambraparniei are strictly endemic to this protected area. The minnows, Devario aequipinnatus, Garra mullya, and G. kalakadensis are widely distributed in KMTR streams. High species diversity (H’=2.81) was recorded in Gadana River, whereas low species diversity (H’=0.61) was registered in Poonkulam area. Bray-Curtis similarity analysis showed that sites along the headwater streams have similar faunal assemblage. Result of regression analysis revealed that there is a significant pattern explained between stream order and species richness (r2=0.86; p<0.05). Among 50 species, four (Garra kalakadensis, G. joshuai, Dawkinsia tambraparniei, and Tor malabaricus) are listed in threatened categories of IUCN Red List. Important threats faced by endemic species and their management strategies are discussed.
The Effect of Aqueous Extract of Vernonia Amygdalina (Bitter Leaf) on Antioxidants and the Liver of Rabbits on High Cholesterol Diet

Aims: To determine the effect of V. amygdalina on the levels of antioxidants and the liver of rabbits fed on a atherogenic diet. Study Design: Prospective experimental study. Place and Duration of study: Study lasted 14 weeks at Department of Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Methodology: Eighteen male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups comprising control, high cholesterol diet and high cholesterol diet plus 200mg/kg of aqueous extract of V. amygdalina. The animals were fed a normal animal chow, or a diet supplemented by 0.5% cholesterol and 1% methionine for twelve weeks. Subsequently, serum was obtained for liver function tests. Samples of the liver of the animals were obtained for antioxidant tests and histology. Results: Aspartate transaminase was significantly elevated in atherogenic diet only group compared to animals on normal diet. There was also no statistically significant difference across the three groups in the alanine transaminase values. Superoxide dismutase were significantly reduced Original Research Article Abdulmalik and Oladapo; IJBCRR, 29(9): 91-100, 2020; Article no.IJBCRR. 63158 92 in animals that were administered extract. Malondialdehyde was not statistically different across the three groups. The histology of the liver of the animals on high cholesterol diet (with and without extract administration) revealed similar microscopic presence of fatty infiltration of the liver. Conclusion: The use of high cholesterol diet for a duration of twelve weeks in rabbits resulted in significant increased relative liver weight, aspartate transaminase, superoxide dismutase and hepatic microvesicular steatosis. Furthermore, the use of 200mg/kg of aqueous extract of V. amygdalina had ameliorative effect on the level of superoxide dismutase. It did not have a measurable effect on the malondialdehyde, liver enzymes and liver histology.