Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutritional Value of Whole Maize Kernels from Diverse Endosperm Types and Effects on Rheological Quality

Maize’s (Zea mays L.) nutrient content can be modified through selection. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritive value of 13 maize hybrids from four endosperm types, and the relationship between nutrient concentration, agronomic and rheological value. The hybrids were evaluated in two locations of Northwestern Spain over two years. There was genetic diversity among endosperm types and genotypes for all nutrients, with significant environmental effects, but few genotype × environment interactions. Flint hybrids had the highest protein and lipid content. The mutant wx1 significantly increased protein and reduced lipid, and both wx1 and o2 reduced ash and starch content and increased total fiber. Variability among hybrids within the wx1 endosperm was significant for most nutrients. Correlations between nutrients were rarely significant, implying that protein and lipid can be improved independently. Protein and lipid were negatively correlated with grain yield and plant height. However, improving nutrient content could alter agronomic performance, as nutrients had significant negative effects on rheological factors, particularly protein and lipid, which had negative effects on whole meal and on bread characteristics. Therefore, nutrient content can be improved in maize, but negative effects on agronomic and quality have to be taken into account.
Anti-Colonization Effect of Au Surfaces with Self-Assembled Molecular Monolayers Functionalized with Antimicrobial Peptides on S. epidermidis

Medical devices with an effective anti-colonization surface are important tools for combatting healthcare-associated infections. Here, we investigated the anti-colonization efficacy of antimicrobial peptides covalently attached to a gold model surface. The gold surface was modified by a self-assembled polyethylene glycol monolayer with an acetylene terminus. The peptides were covalently connected to the surface through a copper-catalyzed [3 + 2] azide-acetylene coupling (CuAAC). The anti-colonization efficacy of the surfaces varied as a function of the antimicrobial activity of the peptides, and very effective surfaces could be prepared with a 6 log unit reduction in bacterial colonization.
A Combined Administration of Testosterone and Arginine Vasopressin Affects Aggressive Behavior in Males

Aggressive behavior is modulated by many factors, including personality and cognition, as well as endocrine and neural changes. To study the potential effects on the reaction to provocation, which was realized by an ostensible opponent subtracting money from the participant, we administered testosterone (T) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) or a respective placebo (PL). Forty males underwent a functional magnetic resonance imaging session while performing a provocation paradigm. We investigated differential hormone effects and the potential influence of Machiavellian traits on punishment choices (monetary subtractions by the participant) in the paradigm. Participants in the T/AVP group subtracted more money when they were not provoked but showed increased activation in the inferior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule during feedback compared to PL. Higher Machiavellian traits significantly increased punishing behavior independent of provocation only in this group. The pilot study shows that T/AVP affects neural and behavioral responses during a provocation paradigm while personality characteristics, such as Machiavellian trait patterns, specifically interact with hormonal influences (T/AVP) and their effects on behavior.
New Approaches to Multi-Parametric HIV-1 Genetics Using Multiple Displacement Amplification: Determining the What, How, and Where of the HIV-1 Reservoir

Development of potential HIV-1 curative interventions requires accurate characterization of the proviral reservoir, defined as host-integrated viral DNA genomes that drive rebound of viremia upon halting ART (antiretroviral therapy). Evaluation of such interventions necessitates methods capable of pinpointing the rare, genetically intact, replication-competent proviruses within a background of defective proviruses. This evaluation can be achieved by identifying the distinct integration sites of intact proviruses within host genomes and monitoring the dynamics of these proviruses and host cell lineages over longitudinal sampling. Until recently, molecular genetic approaches at the single proviral level have been generally limited to one of a few metrics, such as proviral genome sequence/intactness, host-proviral integration site, or replication competency. New approaches, taking advantage of MDA (multiple displacement amplification) for WGA (whole genome amplification), have enabled multiparametric proviral characterization at the single-genome level, including proviral genome sequence, host-proviral integration site, and phenotypic characterization of the host cell lineage, such as CD4 memory subset and antigen specificity. In this review, we will examine the workflow of MDA-augmented molecular genetic approaches to study the HIV-1 reservoir, highlighting technical advantages and flexibility. We focus on a collection of recent studies in which investigators have used these approaches to comprehensively characterize intact and defective proviruses from donors on ART, investigate mechanisms of elite control, and define cell lineage identity and antigen specificity of infected CD4+ T cell clones. The highlighted studies exemplify how these approaches and their future iterations will be key in defining the targets and evaluating the impacts of HIV curative interventions.
The Effect of Visual Practices on Vision and Movement Performance of novice Athletics in Badminton Sport

The purpose of this research was to study the effect of visualpractice on vision and movementperformance of novice athletics in Badminton sport. The participants of this research were the students ofphysical education ofMobarakeh Azad University who had gotten the specialized course of Badminton. From 90 volunteers, 30 persons [range of age: of 20-40] were divided into control and experimental groups randomly. After the presence of the two groups in pre-test, the experimental groupparticipated in vision practices for six weeks and three sessions per week and in the last session, both groups participated in post-test. These tests included movement skill of Smash ;close-far chart test [hart chart], two rows Saccades test, test of bringing closes a pencil [prism test], coordination of eye-hand test, and the time of vision reaction test. The results were analyzed by independent T-test with a significant level [p≤0.05]. The results showed that the control group was weaker than the experimental group in all tests and it shows the effect of vision practices on vision and movement performance in beginner athletics.
TIME EFFECT ON SHEAR STRENGTH AND PERMEABILITY OF FLY ASH

This paper investigates the effect of time on the shear strength and the permeability of fly ash, a major solid by-product of thermoelectric power plants. Direct shear tests using Mikasa's apparatus, conventional permeability tests, and consolidation tests were conducted on two silt-size fly ashes, with low free lime contents, obtained from two different power plants. The results show that the immediate settling of both fly ashes takes place in a short period of time during consolidation and does not change with time. The rate of increase in shear strength with time is different depending on the pozzolanic reactions taking place for the two ashes. The permeability tests under constant stresses of 49 and 98 kPa for 12 days show that the coefficient of permeability for the tested ashes is between 10−6 and 10−7 m/s. During this period the coefficient of permeability either remains constant (for the case of the ash with a lower free lime content) or is slightly reduced (for the ash with a higher free lime con.
Evaluation of the Marine Traffic Congestion of North Harbor in Busan Port

In terms of container handling, the port of Busan was ranked the third busiest port in the world in year 2002. As an advantage, the increased cargo volumes can provide higher profits, but, at the same time, can also cause port congestion. Busan has also suffered from severe port congestion recently. To accommodate the increased number of vessels calling at the port, the Korean government has already started the construction of new container terminals within the harbor. However, apart from simple studies, no specific evaluation of the port traffic has been performed until now. With this in mind, this paper aims to analyze the effects of ship traffic conditions in the year 2011 and to evaluate the potential for marine traffic congestion using the well established simulation language—the AWE-SIM simulation program. The findings reveal that the urgent tasks to prevent possible congestion are the elimination of anchorage M , the reallocation of terminal functions in number two pier and enlarging of the superst.
Association of preoperative anemia and increased risk of blood transfusion and length of hospital stay in adults undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty: An observational study in a single tertiary center

Anemia is a common feature in patients presenting for major elective surgery, and it is considered an independent risk factor associated with adverse outcomes. Although several studies suggest that preoperative anemia is associated with poor outcomes after elective orthopedic surgery, data are still scarce in middle‐ and low‐income countries where this problem may be even greater. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative anemia in clinical outcomes in patients submitted to hip and knee arthroplasty in a single tertiary hospital.
Effect of Marine Growth on an Elastically Mounted Circular Cylinder

The Riser and Mooring project of the Norwegian Deepwater Programme (NDP) has undertaken a parametric study on the influence of marine growth on the effectiveness of helical strakes to suppress vortex-induced vibrations on circular cylinders. Helical strakes are one of the most commonly used devices to suppress vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) on marine risers. The aim is provide guidance on the effect marine growth has on the dynamic response of a riser fitted with such VIV suppression devices. The tests were conducted at MARINTEK in a controlled laboratory environment. Artificial marine growth was modelled, manufactured and tested. Both hard and soft marine growth of various heights and coverages were tested. The present paper discusses some results obtained in this test campaign.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Finite Element Free Vibration Analysis of Smart Laminated Composite Beams and Plates

The present paper deals with the development of a finite element method for the free vibration analysis of smart laminated composite beams and plates. The structure consists of a laminated composite substrate to which are surface bonded or embedded a set of piezoelectric layers, one of which is a sensor while the others are actuators. The analysis considers the linear piezoelectric constitutive relations and the first order shear deformation behaviour. An eight noded quadratic isoparametric piezoelectric element is developed to discretize the analysis domain, and the same shape functions are used to describe the electrical field, the charge density, the structural geometry as well as the structural displacements. Numerical results are obtained to study the effects of (1) stacking sequences of the composite laminae and piezoelectric layers, (2) geometric boundary conditions and (3) application of electrical voltages on the free vibration frequencies.
Active decoupler hydraulic engine mount design with application to variable displacement engine

In automotive industry, engine vibration isolation has been a challenging task, and given the emergence of new vehicles with more stringent performance characteristics, engine vibration isolation has become an even more demanding issue. Most engine mounts are passive — that is, their parameter values and characteristics are fixed — and as a result, they may not properly attenuate the complicated vibration transmitted from the engine. In this paper, the development of a new active mount is described. This paper describes modeling, development, and experimental analysis of an active engine mount, which is specifically designed to address the Variable Displacement Engine (VDE) isolation problem. An electromechanical actuator is fabricated and retrofitted inside the inertia track plate of a hydraulic engine mount. The plunger of the electromechanical actuator moves upon receiving the signal from the controller, and it changes the dynamic performance of the mount accordingly based on frequency, amplitude, and phase of the activation signal. Experimental results are presented for different control signals. Simulated and experimental results are compared to validate the mathematical model. The experimental results demonstrate the performance of the designed active engine mount to deal with complicated vibration patterns, specifically those created by VDEs.
STUDENT SATISFACTION TOWARDS E-LEARNING: INFLUENTIAL ROLE OF KEY FACTORS

The technology has embraced the innovative learning methodologies. New interactive media is in use now for delivering educational information. E-Learning has taken the place of traditional face-to-face educational environment. E-Learning is the learning style empowered by digital technology. Though, this new learning paradigm is very attractive approach for both learners and instructor; the growth of web-based learning media is very low. The main beneficiary of any educational environment is the learner. The satisfaction of the learner is inevitable for successful implementation of web-based educational environment. This paper is showing the factors which are playing influential role towards student web-base learning satisfaction. The student and instructor attitude towards technology, their computer efficacy, and instructor response, friendly interface of the online learning environment and proper facilitation of technical matters are the factors that influence student satisfaction towards online education. Administration is suggested to consider these factors for successful virtual education implementation.
COMPARISON OF THREE IMAGING SYSTEMS FOR WATER-SENSITIVE PAPERS

Water-sensitive paper is commonly used by researchers and applicators as a method for assessing the droplet size spectra and deposition quality from an application of agrochemicals. Three imaging systems (USDA-ARS and Swath Kit™ camera-based systems and DropletScan™ scanner-based system) were compared using two sets of water-sensitive papers from an aerial application spray test. Although the systems used different spread factor equations to calculate actual droplet sizes from the stain sizes on the card, and different sample definition and data processing systems, there were high correlations between the three systems for three of the droplet size spectra parameters tested (DV0.1, DV0.5, and DV0.9,) and slight to no correlations between the systems based on the droplet spectra parameter called relative span. The information presented will allow researchers to be confident that droplet sizing data collected from either system will produce similar results and that the results can be compared.
Automatic procedure for induction motor parameter estimation at standstill

The study presents a self-commissioning procedure for the automatic parameter estimation of three-phase induction motor drives. The procedure consists of a step-by-step approach with different test signals to obtain the parameter values while maintaining the motor at standstill. The actual implementation is capable of mapping both inverter and motor parameters non-linearities, providing accurate data for the tuning of common current regulators and for advanced sensorless drives as well. Theoretical and experimental results are provided, proving the effectiveness of the procedure.
Oxidative Stress-Induced Misfolding and Inclusion Formation of Nrf2 and Keap1

Cells that experience high levels of oxidative stress respond by inducing antioxidant proteins through activation of the protein transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 is negatively regulated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), which binds to Nrf2 to facilitate its ubiquitination and ensuing proteasomal degradation under basal conditions. Here, we studied protein folding and misfolding in Nrf2 and Keap1 in yeast, mammalian cells, and purified proteins under oxidative stress conditions. Both Nrf2 and Keap1 are susceptible to protein misfolding and inclusion formation upon oxidative stress. We propose that the intrinsically disordered regions within Nrf2 and the high cysteine content of Keap1 contribute to their oxidation and the ensuing misfolding. Our work reveals previously unexplored aspects of Nrf2 and Keap1 regulation and/or dysregulation by oxidation-induced protein misfolding.
EpsiMu, A toolkit for permittivity and permeability measurement in microwave domain at real time of all materials: Applications to solid and semisolid materials

In this article, we present a very simple toolkit for permittivity and permeability measurement in the microwave region in real time. This kit contains a coaxial cell and a dedicated software compatible with any Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) for the reconstruction of permittivity and permeability data. The customizing design of the coaxial cell depends on the applications and material forms. The dedicated software for overall cells reconstructs directly in real time the permittivity and the permeability from the S‐parameters measured. The Nicolson & Ross‐Weir algorithm is using after a de‐embedding process done by modeling our cell with an identity card (IC). The novelty of our method is that, after calibration process of the VNA to remove the cable effect, the measurement of the permittivity and permeability were done directly after only one measurement in real time. To validate the accuracy of this new measurement process for new applications, we reconstruct the permittivity of two material forms (dielectric or/and magnetic solids, semisolid). This new toolkit is called EpsiMu (www.epsimu.fr). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52:2643–2648, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25570
A hybrid diffraction method for the design of etched diffraction grating demultiplexers

A novel hybrid diffraction method is proposed to simulate the demultiplexing of an etched diffraction grating (EDG). The scalar diffraction formula is adopted to simulate the propagation of the light field in the free propagation region (FPR), and a rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) is used to calculate the polarization-dependent diffraction near the grating. The hybrid diffraction method takes the advantages of both the conventional scalar diffraction method and the rigorous coupled-wave analysis and can simulate accurately the imaging property as well as the polarization-dependent efficiency of an EDG demultiplexer. Compared with the conventional scalar diffraction method, the proposed hybrid diffraction method reduces greatly the design error in, for example, the polarization-dependent insertion loss.
Microglia Impede Oligodendrocyte Generation in Aged Brain

Purpose Age-related increase in myelin loss may be responsible for brain atrophy, and the mechanism is not completely understood. We aim to comprehensively delineate oligodendrocyte heterogeneity in young and aged mice and to reveal the underlying mechanism for myelin loss during aging. Methods Diffusion tensor imaging and immunofluorescent staining were performed to verify the demyelination in the aged brains of both rodents and human. Further, the single-cell RNA sequencing data of all brain cells from young and aged mice were deeply analyzed to identify the subsets of oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Cell-to-cell interaction analysis was performed to detect the mechanism of observed changes in oligodendrocyte generation. Results Oligodendrocytes were observed to up-regulate several senescence associated genes in aged brain. Four clusters of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were identified in both young and aged brains. The number of those OPCs in basal state was significantly increased, while the OPCs in the procedure of differentiation were immensely decreased in aged brain. Furthermore, it was identified that activated microglia in the aged brain released inflammatory factors to suppress OPC differentiation. Stat1 might be a potential target to transform senescent microglia into tissue repair type to promote oligodendrocyte generation. Conclusion These results provided a perspective on how age activated microglia could impede remyelination and might give a new therapeutic target for age-related remyelinating diseases.
To Study the Effect of Smartphone Multitasking on Dynamic Balance in Young Adults

The objectives of this research was to see how using smartphone functions during gait affected dynamic balance. From a university, a sample of 100 subjects was taken. Four types of gait tasks were given: General Gait (to walk without any task); Task Gait 1 (to walk while chatting through text); Task Gait 2 (to walk while web surfing and hearing music) and Task Gait 3 (to walk while playing an online multiplayer videogame). The conditions were the same for all the experiments. The subjects used earphones for listening to music and having conversation during games. The sequence of tasks was not done in systematic manner. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used to assess dynamic balance. After three repetitions of the tasks, the mean of the measured values was analysed. In the TUG tests, there were statistically significant unfavourable differences. Use of smartphone features during walking affects dynamic balance of a person. As a result, when ambulating, using various features of a cell phone may result in falls and injuries.
Jointly Modeling Male and Female Labor Participation and Unemployment

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the most abrupt changes in U.S. labor force participation and unemployment since the Second World War, with different consequences for men and women. This paper models the U.S. labor market to help to interpret the pandemic’s effects. After replicating and extending Emerson’s (2011) model of the labor market, we formulate a joint model of male and female unemployment and labor force participation rates for 1980–2019 and use it to forecast into the pandemic to understand the pandemic’s labor market consequences. Gender-specific differences were particularly large at the pandemic’s outset; lower labor force participation persists.
Application of Antimicrobial Peptides on Biomedical Implants: Three Ways to Pursue Peptide Coatings

Biofilm formation and inflammations are number one reasons of implant failure and cause a severe number of postoperative complications every year. To functionalize implant surfaces with antibiotic agents provides perspectives to minimize and/or prevent bacterial adhesion and proliferation. In recent years, antimicrobial peptides (AMP) have been evolved as promising alternatives to commonly used antibiotics, and have been seen as potent candidates for antimicrobial surface coatings. This review aims to summarize recent developments in this field and to highlight examples of the most common techniques used for preparing such AMP-based medical devices. We will report on three different ways to pursue peptide coatings, using either binding sequences (primary approach), linker layers (secondary approach), or loading in matrixes which offer a defined release (tertiary approach). All of them will be discussed in the light of current research in this area.