Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling of the electromechanical impedance technique for prediction of elastic modulus of structural adhesives

In order to strengthen and repair existing concrete structural elements, fibre-reinforced polymer composites are often externally bonded using structural adhesives. It is thus desirable to monitor the in situ performance of the sandwiched adhesive layer in such fibre-reinforced polymer–strengthened systems via its stiffness and strength gain throughout the curing process. The electromechanical impedance technique, which relies upon the utilisation of piezoelectric sensors, offers this capability. Although the technique has been verified experimentally in the laboratory, no known electromechanical impedance–based modelling study has been reported. This study, therefore, proposes the first electromechanical impedance–based finite element and analytical models to monitor the curing of structural adhesives. The dynamic elastic modulus of structural adhesives during curing can be determined from the developed models via a model updating process. Semi-empirical relationships were then developed to determine the tensile strength of structural adhesives from the resonance frequency obtained from the electromechanical impedance technique. This was made possible by correlation between static tensile tests on structural adhesives and the dynamic elastic modulus. These electromechanical impedance–based models were found to perform equally well when compared to the previously developed wave propagation–based models. This study shows the robustness of the electromechanical impedance technique for non-destructively predicting the dynamic elastic modulus and tensile strength of adhesives throughout the curing process.
Introduction of a new Indo-Pacific marine cladoceran to the Mediterranean Sea

Pleopis schmackeri, a podonid cladoceran not previously recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, was found in the Iskenderun Bay for the first time. The samples were collected seasonally during 2012–2015 in the coastal area of Iskenderun Bay using a WP-2 zooplankton net (200 µm). Six cladoceran species were found in total, and Penilia avirostris, Pseudevadne tergestina and Evadne spinifera constituted the bulk of the population, while the contribution of P. schmackeri was very low. Although only a single individual was observed in July 2012, the abundance and frequency of P. schmackeri increased in the following years, attaining the abundance of 25.10 ind.m -3 in 2015. Thus, P. schmackeri could be considered as established in Iskenderun Bay; however, it seems that it did not affect the distribution of other cladoceran species in the area up to now . P. schmackeri could have entered in Iskenderun Bay either as Lessepsian migrant or by ballast waters of commercial ships.
Biopolymer film fabrication for skin mimetic tissue regenerative wound dressing applications

Abstract A biopolymer film serving as a wound-healing substitute was fabricated using keratin and fibrin (extracted from a goat hoof and blood, respectively) via modified Shindai techniques. The importance of keratin and fibrin along with gelatin and mupirocin for the fabrication of a biofilm by solvent casting method is shown in this work. In vitro microscopic images of the fibroblast NIH 3T3 cell lines revealed the biocompatibility, cell viability, cell adhesion, and proliferation of biopolymer film in the wound site. The low-cost and biowaste-source-extracted keratin and fibrin blended biopolymer film supports the wound-healing process in humans. Graphical Abstract
Growth Enhancement of Spirulina platensis through Optimization of Media and Nitrogen Sources

Spirulina has drawn attention throughout the last decades. It is an essential source of valuable products, such as proteins, phycobilins, carotenoids, phenolics, and unsaturated fatty acids. These products had been used in medicine, pharmaceutical, and agriculture. In this study, the effect of different growth media on Spirulina platensis was studied after the cultivation at optimum growth conditions;continuous light intensity (60 μmol photons m-2s-1), temperature (25 ± 3 oC), and pH (9.0 ± 0.2). The growth was estimated through 42 days by optical density (OD), cell counting (CC), and chlorophyll contents. The results showed that Kuhl’s medium was the optimum for S. platensis with the highest results, i.e.: (OD), (CC) and Chlorophyll content increased 11.57 times, 19.55 times, and 22.66 times of the initial record, respectively. KNO3 showed the best nitrogen source for S. platensis, where the different parameters of growth elevated to 3.56 times OD, 7.33 times CC, and 1.91 total chlorophyll more than their corresponding control.
A whole-genome-based approach for estimation and characterization of individual inbreeding

Inbreeding results from the mating of related individuals and has negative consequence because it brings together deleterious variants in one individual. Inbreeding is associated with recessive diseases and reduced production or fitness. In general, inbreeding is estimated with respect to a base population that needs to be defined. Ancestors in generations anterior to the base population are considered unrelated. We herein propose a model that estimates inbreeding relative to multiple age-based classes. Each inbreeding distribution is associated to a different time in the past: recent inbreeding generating longer homozygous stretches than more ancient. Our model is a mixture of exponential distribution implemented in a hidden Markov model framework that uses marker allele frequencies, genetic distances, genotyping error rates and the sequences of observed genotypes. Based on simulations studies, we show that the inbreeding coefficients and the age of inbreeding are correctly estimated. Mean absolute errors of estimators are low, the efficiency depending on the available information. When several inbreeding classes are simulated, the model captures them if their ages are sufficiently different. Genotyping errors or low-fold sequencing data are easily accommodated in the hidden Markov model framework. Application to real data sets illustrate that the method can reveal recent different demographic histories among populations, some of them presenting very recent bottlenecks or founder effects. The method also clearly identifies individuals resulting from extreme consanguineous matings.
Physiological Characteristics of Viable-but-nonculturable Vibrio parahaemolyticus upon Prolonged Exposure to the Refrigerator Temperature

Although it has been reported that viable-but-nonculturable (VBNC) cells of Vibrio parahaemolyticus can be developed by a prolonged duration of cold-starvation there are restricted cellular characteristics available on understanding the exact mechanisms governing the entry of pathogens into the VBNC state. Therefore, this research was aimed at determining the cellular profile of VBNC cells of V. parahaemolyticus upon exposure to the refrigerator temperature. Strains of V. parahaemolyticus were incubated in artificial sea water (ASW) microcosms (pH 6) added with different amounts of NaCl at 4°C until these pathogens entered into such a dormant state. At a regular time-interval, both culturability and viability of these bacteria were enumerated, and then cellular profiling were carried out in terms of cellular membrane permeability, enzymatic activity, hydrophobicity, fatty acid composition, and morphological changes after cells of V. parahaemolyticus became the VBNC state. Three strains of V. parahaemolyticus used in this study showed that VBNC cells retained the strong virulent properties to Vero and CACO-2 cell lines, re-gained the cytotoxicity even after resuscitation, became permeabilized in terms of the outer membrane, showed lower levels of enzymatic (catalase and glutathione-S-transferase) activities, exerted the increasing hydrophobicity, and then exhibited increasing amounts of saturated fatty acids. IMPORTANCE To the current best knowledge, there are restricted information available on understanding the physiological characterization of viable-but-nonculturable cells. Most previous studies are still making a degree of efforts in discovering the causative effector causing microorganisms to be induced into the VBNC state. Herein, the present study showed that pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus can enter into the VBNC state when challenged by a certain environmental stress where higher amounts of NaCl combined with acidic pHs was artificially controlled. Importantly, it was indicated that VBNC V. parahaemolyticus maintained peculiarly different physiological characteristics. Furthermore, this study proposed a novel approach on the transient/stepwise conversion of the bacteria into the VBNC state. Specific alternative tools for measuring and controlling the incidence of VBNC pathogens on food are not established until now. In this aspect, results obtained from this study will used to provide an effective insight in determining physiological properties of viable-but-nonculturable V. parahaemolyticus.
Combinations of reproductive, individual, and weather effects best explain torpor patterns among female little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)

Abstract Heterothermic mammals can use torpor, a state of metabolic suppression, to conserve energy during times of limited food and poor environmental conditions. Females may use torpor throughout gestation and lactation; however, there are associated physiological and ecological costs with potential fitness consequences. Previous studies have controlled for, but not quantified the impact of interindividual variation on torpor patterns and understanding this may provide insight on why certain thermoregulatory responses are employed. The objective of this study was to identify and quantitatively characterize the intrinsic variables and weather conditions that best explain variation in torpor patterns among individual female little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus. We used temperature‐sensitive radio‐transmitters affixed to females to measure skin temperature patterns of 35 individuals roosting in bat boxes in the spring and summer. We used Bayesian multi‐model inference to rank a priori‐selected models and variables based on their explanatory power. Reproductive condition and interindividual effects best explained torpor duration and depth, and weather best explained torpor frequency. Of the reproductive conditions, lactating females used torpor for the shortest durations and at shallower depths (i.e., smallest drop in minimum T sk), while females in early spring (i.e., not‐obviously‐pregnant) used torpor for the longest and deepest. Among individuals, the greatest difference in effects on duration occurred between pregnant individuals, suggesting interindividual variation within reproductive condition. Increases in precipitation and wind were associated with a higher probability of torpor use. Our results provide further support that multiple variables explain torpor patterns and highlight the importance of including individual effects when studying thermoregulatory patterns in heterothermic species. OPEN RESEARCH BADGES This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally‐shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c04tj85.
Econometric Model for Readjusting Significance Threshold Levels through Quick Audit Tests Used on Sustainable Companies

Given the present-day economic situation, which is characterized by economic destabilization as a result of the pandemic crisis, auditors are facing the issue of establishing materiality, which is partly based on the fact that a certain level of financial misstatement influences the decisions of the involved parties. The aim of the present study is to suggest an econometric model for readjusting significance threshold levels through quick audit tests used on sustainable companies. The main objectives of the study are to emphasize the causal relationship between the manifestation of constant errors in financial reports and the inconsistency of audit opinions, as well as to put into practice the causal relationship that exists between the improvement of the audit function and sustainability itself, given companies’ crisis situation. In this particular context—based on the entire sample of companies listed in the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), Bucharest Exchange Trading Plus category (BET Plus)—we estimated a number of financial indicators between 2009 and 2018 so that we could determine the materiality of accounting errors identified by auditors in order to express an opinion regarding the reliability and accuracy of financial reporting. The study’s key findings show that, given the economic crisis, the significance threshold level is a volatile test and it needs to be reconsidered taking into account the decline in the quality of reporting and, indirectly, the disclosure of financial information. From a holistic point of view, we believe that our study will have a significant impact on both practitioners and regulatory entities by shifting the qualitative approaches of analysis itself towards key prudential regulations stipulated by International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 320, ISA 450 and ISA 700. The study also highlights the process of refining information sources that can impact the significance, understanding and materiality of business decisions.
Which psychological characteristics strengthen “The entrepreneurial intention-action relationship”?: An extension of the theory of planned behavior

Abstract This study extends the literature of the theory of planned behavior in the context of entrepreneurship. Specifically, this study is intended to verify which psychological characteristics moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial action. Internal locus of control, innovativeness, and performance goal orientation are proposed to moderate “the entrepreneurial intention-action relationship”, because those variables have the likelihood for individuals to take action to start a new business. Adopting a cross-sectional design, the data were collected from 188 undergraduate students who participated in an entrepreneurship project and analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis. The results demonstrated that internal locus of control was found to strengthen “the entrepreneurial intention-action relationship”, whereas innovativeness and performance goal orientation did not moderate that relationship. The findings provide practical implications not only for entrepreneurs to consider internal locus of control and entrepreneurial intention in starting a business, but also for entrepreneurship educators in developing a start-up business curriculum based on students’ psychological characteristics.
Trichoderma harzianum and some antioxidants for suppressing faba bean chocolate spot incidence under natural field infection

Chocolate spot is one of the most important diseases affecting faba bean in Egypt. The field experiment was conducted for two cropping seasons with the objective of evaluating the efficacy of 'Trichoderma harzianum' and five antioxidant agents, i.e. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, VitaMax Plus against Chocolate spot disease incidence and severity under field conditions. Field study was performed during two successive growing seasons (2015/2016 and 2016/2017) using the bioagent T. harzianum and antioxidants individually or in combinations. All treatments were applied as faba bean foliar spray three times with 15 days interval starting at the beginning of flowering stage. Percentages of disease incidence and severity were measured for each growing season and their mean was calculated. Results showed that all applied treatments could reduce chocolate spot disease incidence at a range of 66.6 to 92.2% compared to the fungicide Diathane M45 (39.0%). Meanwhile, disease severity followed similar trend. It was reduced by a range of 38.7 up to 75.1% and 20.9% relatively to control at applied treatments of antioxidants individually or combined with 'T. harzianum' and the fungicide, respectively. Combined treatments showed that when 'T. harzianum' combined with either one or all of the used antioxidants, they had superior effect for reducing disease incidence and severity on faba bean plants compared to fungicide and the control. Meanwhile, all of the antioxidants in combination showed lesser suppression effect on disease incidence and severity than individual treatment. The present findings demonstrate that bio-agent 'T. harzianum' integrated with antioxidant as foliar spray treatment can be recommended for the future use in a commercial scale for effective management of Chocolate spot on faba bean.
Detecting Earthquake-Related Anomalies of a Borehole Strain Network Based on Multi-Channel Singular Spectrum Analysis

To investigate the nonlinear spatio-temporal behavior of earthquakes, a complex network has been built using borehole strain data from the southwestern endpoint of the Longmenshan fault zone, Sichuan-Yunnan region of China, and the topological structural properties of the network have been investigated based on data from 2011–2014. Herein, six observation sites were defined as nodes and their edges as the connections between them. We introduced Multi-channel Singular Spectrum Analysis (MSSA) to analyze periodic oscillations, earthquake-related strain, and noise in multi-site observations, and then defined the edges of the network by calculating the correlations between sites. The results of the daily degree centrality of the borehole strain network indicated that the strain network anomalies were correlatable with local seismicity associate with the earthquake energy in the strain network. Further investigation showed that strain network anomalies were more likely to appear before major earthquakes rather than after them, particularly within 30 days before an event. Anomaly acceleration rates were also found to be related to earthquake energy. This study has revealed the self-organizing pre-earthquake phenomena and verified the construction of borehole networks is a powerful tool for providing information on earthquake precursors and the dynamics of complex fault systems.
Immediate axonal retrograde signaling in amyloid-dependent neurodegeneration

Immediate Axonal Retrograde Signaling in Amyloid-Dependent Neurodegeneration Chandler Walker The following dissertation herein discusses the role of axonal protein synthesis in Aβ1-42-dependent neurodegeneration, which has important implications in AD pathogenesis. In Part 1, I provide a brief introduction to relevant topics including neurodegeneration and axonal protein synthesis. In Part 2, I discuss findings that we published in 2014 describing a mechanism by which axonal exposure to Aβ142 induces cell death via axonal synthesis and retrograde transport of a transcription factor, ATF4. In Part 3, I discuss a follow-up project that I conducted independently, which is not yet published but is in preparation for submission describing the immediate effect of Aβ1-42 on axonal protein synthesis, which mediates the downstream axonal ATF4 signaling events described in Part 2. In Part 4, I discuss the key findings from these two projects including their significance and potential future directions. In the Appendix, I provide details regarding experimental methods and statistical analyses performed in Part 3.
Morphological diversity and ecological niche divergence in goitered and sand gazelles

Abstract The phylogeny and species boundaries of Gazella subgutturosa and G. marica have been long debated. The achievements of past conservation efforts have been compromised by a lack of knowledge about the phylogeny and taxonomic status of different populations. We integrated the recent genetic findings by previous studies with morphometric analyses and ecological niche modeling (ENM) to assess discreteness among populations of these gazelle species in Asia. Taxonomic diversity of gazelles was investigated by using principal components analysis (PCA) based on 14 cranial measures of male skulls. Ecological niche divergence was examined based on a PCA on climatic factors and a species distribution modeling (SDM) with environmental variables. Morphometric results indicated substantial differentiation in size between skulls of the western Zagros Mountains including west and south‐western Iran and Arabian Peninsula from all other samples east of the Zagros Mountains from Iran to China. ENM also revealed that gazelles in the east and west of Zagros Mountains occupy distinct niches and that there are apparent areas of disconnection across the goitered gazelle suitable range. A complete divergent niche occupation was also observed between goitered gazelles of northern Mongolia and other populations of the species, except those in China. Taking the inferences from ENM and morphology together with previous genetics results, we conclude that gazelles in the west and south‐west of Iran may represent G. marica. Also, our combined analyses revealed divergence among gazelles of Iran, Central Asia, and Mongolia/China. These results may pave the way for future studies and have conservation implications particularly for reintroduction/supplementation programs.
Octapeptin C4 Induces Less Resistance and Novel Mutations in an Epidemic Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 Clinical Isolate Compared to Polymyxins

Polymyxin B and E (colistin) have been pivotal in the treatment of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections, with increasing use over the past decade. Unfortunately, resistance to these antibiotics is rapidly emerging. The structurally-related octapeptin C4 (OctC4) has shown significant potency against XDR bacteria, including against polymyxin-resistant (Pmx-R) strains, but its mode of action remains undefined. We sought to compare and contrast the acquisition of XDR Klebsiella pneumoniae (ST258) resistance in vitro with all three lipopeptides to help elucidate the mode of action of the drugs and potential mechanisms of resistance evolution. Strikingly, 20 days of exposure to the polymyxins resulted in a dramatic (1000-fold) increase in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the polymyxins, reflecting the evolution of resistance seen in clinical isolates, whereas for OctC4 only a 4-fold increase was witnessed. There was no cross-resistance observed between the polymyxin - and octapeptin-induced resistant strains. Sequencing revealed previously known gene alterations for polymyxin resistance, including crrB, mgrB, pmrB, phoPQ and yciM, and novel mutations in qseC. In contrast, mutations in mlaDF and pqiB, 1genes related to phospholipid transport, were found in octapeptin-resistant isolates. Mutation effects were validated via complementation assays. These genetic variations were reflected in phenotypic changes to lipid A. Pmx-R isolates increased 4-amino-4-deoxy-arabinose fortification to phosphate groups of lipid A, whereas OctC4 induced strains harbored a higher abundance of hydroxymyristate and palmitoylate. The results reveal a differing mode of action compared to polymyxins which provides hope for future therapeutics to combat the increasingly threat of XDR bacteria.