Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microbial Quality Assessment of Fresh Sugarcane Juice in Retail Shops Inside Kathmandu Valley

This study aims to assess the microbial quality of fresh sugarcane juice sold in retail shops inside Kathmandu Valley, as there is limited information available on the safety of popular fresh juices like sugarcane juice, which can cause food-borne illnesses when improperly prepared, despite the known health benefits of consuming fresh fruits juices. Sixty fresh sugar cane juice samples were collected from selected thirteen areas inside Kathmandu Valley. Out of 60 samples, 42 samples were contaminated with bacteria. The quality of each sample was assessed by total plate count, total coliform count, yeast and mold count, and isolation of pathogenic bacteria. The isolated bacteria were identified based on biochemical characteristics. The pH of collected samples ranged from 4.33 to 6.34, acidity from 0.01% to 0.09%, and total soluble solids from 13 to 21⁰Brix. The mean bacterial count was 5.26 log10 CFU/ml, the coliform count was 4.67 log10 CFU/ml, and the yeast mold count was 4.94 log10 CFU/ml. E. coli was present in 38.1%, Citrobacter freundii in 47.6%, and Salmonella species in 14.3% of the total sample. Vibrio cholerae was not detected. Gentamicin, Ciprofloxacin, and Ofloxacin were effective, while Ampicillin was less effective. The study found that sugarcane juice samples from shops in Kathmandu Valley have high levels of contamination, including a high microbial load and slightly acidic pH with high total soluble solid values. The bacterial isolates exhibited varied degrees of antimicrobial susceptibilities and resistances, and the contamination was attributed to poor hygienic conditions during juice processing and handling, possibly due to the use of poor-quality water and a lack of training on food hygiene and safety. These findings suggest potential health hazards for consumers of fresh sugarcane juice.
Feature-based polynomial adaptation applied to Martian
 aerodynamics

— This work presents a comparative study of different feature-based polynomial adaptation strategies for high-order un-structured methods applied to unsteady turbulent flows. Recently, the Flux Reconstruction (FR) approach has been introduced as a unifying framework for high-order unstructured spatial discretizations. To achieve high-order accuracy, FR utilizes an element-wise polynomial representation of the solution. In the current work, we consider three indicators for local adaptation of the polynomial degree. These are based on non-dimensional indicators that track the maximal vorticity norm, Frobenius norm of the velocity gradient, or eigenvalue to the velocity gradient with respect to the effective maximal grid spacing and free stream velocity. These feature-based methods are simple to implement and have the potential to track small-scale turbulent structures that arise in scale-resolving such as Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) and Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The vorticity, gradient, and eigenvalue-based polynomial adaptation strategies with the FR approach are used to solve the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. DNS simulations are performed for unsteady laminar flow over a two-dimensional circular cylinder, turbulent flow over a three-dimensional sphere, and massively separated flow over a Martian helicopter rotor airfoil section. The results show a reduction in computational cost, approximately one-quarter of the number of degrees of freedom relative to a non-adaptive case. The gradient method remains consistent for each numerical application, concluding to be the ideal feature-based indicator among the three presented.
Safety-Certified Multi-Target Circumnavigation With Autonomous Surface Vehicles via Neurodynamics-Driven Distributed Optimization

This article addresses multitarget circumnavigation with autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) subject to model nonlinearities, environmental disturbances, and physical constraints in the presence of stationary/moving obstacles. A neurodynamics-driven distributed optimization method is proposed to achieve safety-certified cooperative circumnavigation guided by multiple targets. Specifically, a cooperative circumnavigation guidance law based on a finite-time distributed observer is designed for surrounding multiple targets. Based on the geometric characteristics of multitarget circumnavigation, three collision-avoidance rules are formulated with respect to obstacles, targets, and ASVs; and three types of control barrier functions are derived to encode the coupled safety constraints into state constraints. A distributed command governor optimization problem is formulated to generate optimal commanded guidance signals within the globally coupled state constraints. To compute optimal commands in real time, multiple recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are employed to solve a distributed optimization problem. An event-triggered communication scheme is designed for the communication among RNNs with reduced communication burden. A predictor-based fuzzy control law is designed to track safe velocity commands. The closed-loop system is proven to be input-to-state stable. Simulation results are elaborated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the safety-certified control method for ASVs to circumnavigate multiple targets with guaranteed safety.
Do organic fertilization and azospirillum brasilense influence radish cultivation?

ABSTRACT The association of conventional fertilizers with fertilizers of organic origin is a well-known practice in agriculture for achieving high productivity and also with the adoption of inoculants, composed of bacteria for promoting better plant development of crops. Thus, the objective of the work was to investigate the growth and productivity of radish with organic fertilization and the influence of the use of nitrogen fixing bacteria of the genus Azospirillum spp. radish (Raphanus sativus L.) Hybrid Margaret Queen. The treatments were the use of different doses of organic fertilizer and the application of Azospirillum brasilense, besides the control. At the end of the cycle, plant height, tuber diameter, tuber fresh mass, tuber dry mass, and total tuber fresh mass were evaluated. With and without application of A. brasilense, increases of 16.5% and 6.40% in tuber diameter were obtained, respectively. Without application of A. brasilense, there was an increase of 0.37% in leaf dry mass when the maximum concentration of 8 kg m² of organic fertilizer was used. For root fresh mass and root dry mass, with foliar application of A. brasilense, there was an increase of 9.57% and 0.67%, while without A. brasilense there was an increase of 2.43% and 0.22%. There were increases of 12.83% for total fresh mass with the management of A. brasilense and 3.4% without A. brasilense, using the maximum concentration of 8 kg m² of organic fertilizer. For height, there was an increase of 5.12% without A. brasilense. It was concluded that organic fertilization alone or combined with A. brasilense is an alternative in radish production. KEYWORDS: Raphanus sativus L; organic fertilization; Productivity; Vegetables.
Allium yamadagensis (Amaryllidaceae) a new species from Turkey

Allium Linneaus (1753: 294) is one of the largest monocot genera with about 900 species (Govaerts et al. 2019) naturally distributed throughout the northern hemisphere (Stearn 1978, 1992, Fritsch & Keusgen 2006, Friesen et al. 2006, Fritsch & Abbasi 2008). The main centre of biodiversity occurs in Southwestern and Central Asia and the Mediterranean region, a smaller center is found in western North America (Friesen et al. 2006, Nguyen et al. 2008). The genus is characterized by bulbs enclosed in membranous, fibrous or reticulate tunics, free or basally connate tepals and often a subgynobasic style (Friesen et al. 2006). The genus Allium is a member of Amaryllidaceae subfam. Allioideae, tribe Allieae (APGIII 2009, Chase & Reveal 2009). Recent phylogenetic studies based on molecular data were combined with morphology, anatomy, and cytology resulting in new proposals for sectional and subsectional relationships (Linne von Berg et al. 1996, Dubouzet & Shinoda 1999, Friesen et al. 2000, 2006, Gurushidze et al. 2008, Nguyen et al. 2008, Li et al. 2010, Choi et al. 2012). The most recent Allium classification includes 15 subgenera and 80 sections (Friesen et al. 2006). Allium is a taxonomically quite complex and has unresolved nomenclatural problems. In the last decades, many Allium taxa were newly described for Turkey and the number of species known to occur in the country is approximately 200, classified into 15 sections, ca. one-third which being endemic (Kollmann 1984, Koyuncu 2012, Özhatay & Kandemir 2014, Ekşi et al. 2015, 2016, Duman et al. 2017, Fırat et al. 2018).
Return on investment from educational research grant funding: deliverables and measurement

This paper investigates the return on investment (ROI) paradigm from fundamental educational research grant funding perspectives. The researchers conducted a wide-ranging literature search regarding the educational research grant funding ROI from public policy and economics viewpoints. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) were utilized to identify and analyze research articles and original reports related to ROI from educational research grant funding. The research data were screened through a literature review based on the inclusion criteria, namely study focusing on return on investment of educational research funding and study published between 2001 and 2021 (as of December 2022). This study found evidence that ROI calculation from fundamental educational research grants is not straightforward and varies. Besides, most available research focuses on research impact rather than economic and intrinsic research value. Based on the compiled literature on research-related performance attributes, this study identified three distinct deliverables of educational research funding: tangible output, intangible output, and research outcome. The present research proposes more robust and reliable methods for measuring the ROI of fundamental educational research impact, potentially generating a much-inform decision-making and resource allocation in educational research grant funding.
Gene flow at the landscape level

The distribution of fields and fragmentation of habitat in agricultural landscapes has a dominant effect on the rate of gene flow among crops and feral or wild relatives. An approach to quantifying the salient factors is illustrated with reference to experimental and theoretical studies of oilseed rape crops and feral brassicas. Existing models of long distance pollen movement underestimated gene flow when compared with measurements of pollen concentration and pollination in an agricultural context. The evidence indicates that large pollen sources, such as crop fields, interacted on a regional scale to increase gene flow. The value of modelling landscape-scale gene flow for synthesis and forming hypotheses is illustrated. Existing approaches, based on pollen-trap measurements from what were presumed to be single source fields need to be modified to account for multi-source interference.
Living Longer or Better—Patient’s Choice in Cardiac Surgery Is Gender-Dependent—A Multicenter Study

In view of the increasing age of cardiac surgery patients, questions arise about the expected postoperative quality of life and the hoped-for prolonged life expectancy. Little is known so far about how these, respectively, are weighted by the patients concerned. This study aims to obtain information on the patients’ preferences. Between 2015 and 2017, data were analyzed from 1349 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery at seven heart centers in Germany. Baseline data regarding the patient’s situation as well as a questionnaire regarding quality of life versus lifespan were taken preoperatively. Patients were divided by age into four groups: below 60, 60–70, 70–80, and above 80 years. As a result, when asked to decide between quality of life and length of life, about 60% of the male patients opted for quality of life, independent of their age. On the other hand, female patients’ preference for quality of life increased significantly with age, from 51% in the group below sixty to 76% in the group above eighty years. This finding suggests that female patients adapt their preferences with age, whereas male patients do not. This should impact further the treatment decisions of elderly patients in cardiac surgery within a shared decision-making process.
Influence of Food Habits and Participation in a National Extracurricular Athletics Program on Body Weight within a Pair-Matched Sample of Polish Adolescents after One Year of Intervention—#goathletics Study

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the physical activity level and commitment in adolescents, which has resulted in a body weight increase, and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that this negative trend must be now counteracted. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of food habits and participation in a national extracurricular athletics program (Athletics for All) on body weight within a pair-matched sample of Polish adolescents after one year of intervention. The #goathletics Study was conducted in a population of Polish adolescents within two pair-matched groups: 506 adolescents aged 10–14, including 281 female and 225 male adolescents, regularly participating in Athletics for All program for at least 9 months (one school year) (intervention group), and a pair-matched control group (matched taking into account city, gender, and age). The #goathletics Study included the assessment of the body weight, which was conducted based on the growth reference charts for Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference to verify central fatness. Athletics for All participation and food habits were verified as determinants of body weight, while food habits were assessed using the validated Adolescents’ Food Habits Checklist (AFHC). While compared the intervention group and control group, statistically significant differences were observed for body weight, BMI, and waist circumference, both for crude and relative values, with adolescents participating in the Athletics for All program presenting a lower risk of excessive body weight and central fatness (p < 0.05), while, compared to sub-groups stratified by AFHC score, no statistically significant differences in general anthropometric characteristics were observed (p > 0.05). While the body weight centile, height centile, BMI centile and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were assessed as the resultant variables, it was revealed that participation in the Athletics for All program is the only influencing factor in multi-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) for body weight centile (F = 21.44; p < 0.0001) and BMI centile (F = 47.98; p < 0.0001), but for height centile and WHtR, none of the assessed factors influenced these variables. It was concluded that regularly participating in the Athletics for All program for at least 9 months was the only determinant of a lower risk of excessive body weight in adolescents, with declared food habits and gender not being significant.
Czynniki determinujące zróżnicowanie inwolucji późnovistuliańskich w północno-zachodniej części regionu łódzkiego

Involutions which were observed in Quaternary deposits were usually interpreted as periglacial and their development have been explained as result of formation of reversed density gradient systems, cryostatic pressure or cryohydrostatic pressure. However, it is obvious that periglacial environment is not required to involution formation. In the article deformational structures developed in the bottom of the organic-mineral series were analysed. The organic-mineral series was dated at the end of Allerod and the Younger Dryas. It was possible to distinguish a few types of involutions on the base of different morphological features deformations which formed as a result of deformation impulse acting downwards, upward deformations and structures fold-like and irregular. The differences in pattern of structures are consequence of "extra-local" agents as: uneven boundary surface, lithological heterogeneity of sedimentary series involved in deformations, different thickness of the top series involved into deformations, and different ratio of kinematic viscosities of series involved in deformations.
Stochastically Based Wet Snow Detection with Multitemporal SAR Data

This paper proposes a new method for wet snow detection using multitemporal SAR data. The proposed change detection method is primarily based on the comparison between two X band SAR images acquired during the accumulation (winter) and the melting (spring) seasons, in the French Alps. The new membership decision method is relying on the local intensity statistics of the SAR images by considering the backscattering ratio as a stochastic process: the probability that " the intensity ratio is smaller than the corresponding locally varying dry/wet snow threshold " is larger than a predefined confidence level. The proposed snow backscattering simulations indicate a far more complex relation between the backscattering properties of the two snow types, with respect to the conventional assumption of the augmented electromagnetic absorption associated to the wet snow. The most conclusive results are confirmed at X band by in situ measurements. We show that this complexity is mostly caused by the dominance of a different backscattering component for each type of snow, leading to a significant angular sensitivity. Therefore, we introduce a variable threshold matrix instead of an unique threshold: the threshold is expressed as a function of the local incidence angle (LIA) for each pixel. The proposed snow backscattering simulator (SBS) allows deriving the locally varying threshold as the ratio between dry and wet snow backscattering coefficients computed for the SAR system parameters (polarization, frequency), the local topography parameters (LIA) and for the a priori derived and spatially averaged target parameters (underlying ground and snow cover surface properties, snow grain size, underlying ground dielectric permittivity, snow wetness). The threshold varying with respect to the frequency and the choice of the winter season reference image, allow the proposed algorithm applicability in wider frequency range.
Assessment of Cardiovascular Parameters on Submaximal Treadmill Exercise in Obese versus Nonobese Adults

Background: Obesity and overweight, irrespective of metabolic status, confer an increased risk of adverse consequences including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The mechanisms underlying altered cardiovascular responses in obese individuals during and after submaximal treadmill exercise are the subjects of great interest to public health. After graded exercise, delayed heart rate recovery (HRR), exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response, and prolongation of QT interval are the powerful predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality that may facilitate timely identification of individuals at risk of CVD and help to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment interventions. Aim: To compare the cardiovascular parameters on submaximal treadmill exercise in obese and nonobese adults. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 80 subjects, 40 obese (cases) and 40 normal-weight individuals (controls), belonging to the age group of 18–60 years. Each participant was subjected to submaximal treadmill exercise according to the Bruce protocol. Heart rate (HR), systolic BP and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), QT and corrected QT (QTc) intervals, and rate pressure product (RPP) were measured preexercise, immediately after exercise, and during passive recovery at 1 min and 5 min after exercise. The Chi-square test and Mann–Whitney U-test, whichever is appropriate, were employed for the comparison of variables between the two study groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean HR immediately after exercise, at 1 min and 5 min postexercise was significantly higher in obese when compared to nonobese participants (P = 0.006, P = 0.001, P = 0.001) despite similar resting HR in both the groups (P = 0.874). Mean SBP, DBP, MAP, and RPP were significantly higher in obese in comparison to nonobese subjects in all stages, i.e. before exercise, immediately after exercise, at 1 min and 5 min after exercise. QT and QTc intervals were also found to be significantly greater in obese than nonobese subjects in all stages (P = 0.001 each). Conclusion: Obese subjects had higher resting BP (SBP, DBP, and MAP), QT/QTc interval, RPP, and increased response to submaximal treadmill exercise activity. Delayed HRR after exercise was also noted in obese subjects which indicates that obese populations are at risk of developing CVDs due to alteration in autonomic functions with sympathetic hyperactivity.
Factors affecting household debt to moneylenders

Purpose: Moneylenders, sometimes called 'loan sharks' due to their high interest rates, are informal financial institutions that offer loans not in line with Islamic law. This study analyzes the factors that influence the behavior of households regarding debt to moneylenders. Research Methodology: This research employs descriptive and logistic regression analyses using primary data collected from locals in Jagapura village, Cirebon. Result: The results indicate that basic household necessities determine their debt behavior. However, Islamic financial literacy and increasing income present effective solutions for moneylenders to overcome their debt. Limitation: This study is based on primary data from a specific village, Jagapura, in Cirebon, which may not be representative of all households in debt to moneylenders in other regions or settings. Contribution: The study suggests that Islamic financial institutions should assist unbankable communities needing funds for daily expenses by performing social functions such as offering interest-free loans (qardhul hasan) and providing Islamic social finance. The establishment of sharia compliant savings and loans could also be a solution to usury-related issues.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Solid Waste Management Systems in African Countries: A Systematic Review

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a vital tool for evaluating the environmental burden of solid waste. This study investigated the outcomes of selected studies that applied the LCA methodology in assessing the environmental consequences of solid waste management (SWM) systems in Africa. Thirteen process-based LCA studies on SWM were reviewed, drawing from established criteria in databases such as SCOPUS, Elsevier, and Google Scholar. These studies were distributed across various African countries, with three conducted in Mauritius and Nigeria each, two in Zimbabwe and South Africa each, and one in Tanzania, Ghana, and Uganda, respectively. The evaluated parameters included aspects such as goal and scope, functional unit, system boundary, impact assessment categories, and sensitivity analysis. The findings revealed that majority of the studies employed similar waste management scenarios to determine the most environment-friendly, yet they differed considerably in some parameters. Climate change and global warming were the most assessed impact categories. Municipal solid waste (MSW) and plastic waste were the leading waste categories. MSW typically comprises paper, bottles, metal, plastics, glass, organics, and mixed waste proportions. The study also stated that the lack of reliable data on solid waste was a significant challenge faced by African countries in LCA studies. The paper’s findings highlighted that a significant number of the studies, particularly in Nigeria, did not incorporate sensitivity analysis into their assessments, a crucial component for result interpretation. Consequently, the study emphasizes the importance of conducting more LCA research studies in African countries to produce pertinent data on SWM.