Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Internet of Underground Things ESP8266 WiFi Coverage Study

— The Internet of Underground Things (IoUT) is a novel concept regarding Internet of Things (IoT). It could have countless applications, particularly in agriculture as buried devices do not interfere with the machinery. Furthermore, wireless communication among buried and above ground devices would allow a significant cost reduction as wires would not need to be deployed and wires would not be destroyed by machinery or impede the correct performance of the activities performed by the workers of the field. In this paper, we perform a WiFi coverage study of ESP8266 nodes placed both underground and above ground so as to assess the current lack of knowledge in IoUT and the performance of low-cost controller boards for IoUT applications. Tests were performed with ESP8266 nodes buried at depths of 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm and 40 cm in a field located in an area of citrus fields. A node programmed as an AP (Access Point) was placed at several distances at a height of 50 cm. Results showed that the coverage was better for the node buried at a depth of 20 cm.
LAND SNAILS ATTACKING PEA FIELDS: II-EFFICIENCY OF CERTAIN BIOCIDES AND MOLLUSCICIDES AGAINST Monacha SP. LAND SNAILS AT DAKAHLIA GOVERNORATE.

This study was conducted at El-Mansoura Governorate during September – October 2011 on pea plantation to evaluate the efficiency of certain biocides compared with some Molluscicides against Monacha sp. Land snails on laboratory and field. Results can be concluded that Biogard, Cranch, Protecto and Vertimec were used with 1, 2 and 3 % concentrations as leaf dipping technique. LC50 and LC90 values were (2.84 and 18.75 %), (1.97 and 4.57 %), (4.99 and 25.29 %) and (0.63 and 2.56 %), respectively. While LC50 and LC90 as poison bait fore mention before biocides were (2.04 and 37.3%), (2.08 and 5.97 %), (3.45 and 19.50 %) and (0.51 and 2.13 %), respectively in laboratory. Results of the field experiments showed that the tested biocides reduced Monacha sp. Population density on pea plantation with low values, except, Vertimec (83.32%) after 21 days residue effect. While Molluscicides were the most effective (up to 90 % ) to population density reduction of land snails infesting pea plantation compared with tested biocides compound.
GROWTH AND RESISTANCE PHENOTYPES OF KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE PRE– TREATED WITH HERBAL DRUGS

Background : Bacteria develop resistance to antimicrobial agents through prior sensitization to antibiotics or compounds possessing some antimicrobial properties. Aim : The aim of this study was to determine the growth phenotypes and resistance profile of Klebsiella pneumoniae pretreated with herbal drugs. Methods : The efficacies of the herbal drugs Ruzu bitters, Goko alcoholic bitters, Goko bitters, New hope herbal mixture, Danko solution, Beta cleanser, Golden seed and Evacuation solution to K. pneumoniae were carried out using well–diffusion method. The growth patterns of K. pneumoniae in the herbal drugs were studied in Tryptone Soy Broth (TSB) for 24 hrs. To determine the concentration of serum to use in the serum resistance study, different concentrations of normal human serum (NHS) was used ranging from 10–90% of normal human serum on the clinical and laboratory strains of K. pneumoniae . Forty percent (40%) of normal serum and heat–inactivated serum concentration was exposed to K. pneumoniae exposed to the different herbal drugs. Results : The zones of inhibition observed in Ruz, Gab, Gob and Bet are moderately sensitive while New, Dan, Gol and Eva are classified as resistant. All the herbal drugs showed significantly lowered ( P < 0.05) zone of clearance compared to the control antibiotic, Imipenem. The continuous growth curve showed the bacteria showed peak growth after 24 hrs which was adopted in the exposure studies. There was an exponential decrease in the number of bacteria at 40% serum concentration before levelling off. The clinical strain in Bet, Gab and Gob did not show significant variation in the zone of inhibition compared to the control ( P > 0.05). Conclusion : To sum up, some of the herbal drugs possess some levels of efficacies against K. pneumoniae but prior exposure to herbal drugs sensitizes the bacteria to become resistance when exposed to antibiotics (Meropenem, Imipenem and Gentamicin) as well as serum.
Nutritional and Health Consequences of Bauhinia variegata

Public health around the globe is still under the major threats and of some serious infectious diseases though a marvelous progress carried out in the field of human medicines. Therefore, use of products from natural sources as medicinal agent probably antecede in human history. The advancement and knowledge of various useful plants and their properties, functions and its use over synthetic drugs has increased in recent years. Bauhinia variegata L. (Kachnar) is an ornamental flowering plant within the Leguminosae family. Hairy branches of the plant are widely used in various traditional remedies to cure vast range of disease infections. Several plant portions, like roots, stem and stem bark, leaves, buds and flowers, are not only popular in different disease treatment but also useful in the manufacture of fibers, gum and to conserve the nature. The phytochemical screening exposed that B. variegata consist of various important secondary metabolites like flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and steroids, saponins and tannins compounds that are appropriate to be used in the treatment of various biological activities, such as antibacterial, antidiabetic, antitumor, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiulcer, anticarcinogenic effects, anti-inflammatory, nephro and hepatoprotective effects and wound healing effect. The current review is to demonstrate the medicinal, nutritional and biological importance of B. variegata as multidimensional effects on various diseases.
COMPARISON OF OUTCOME OF TOTAL VERSUS SUBTOTAL THYROIDECTOMY FOR THE TREATMENT OF MULTINODULAR GOITER

: Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of total and subtotal thyroidectomy (STT) for benign bilateral multinodular goiter in terms of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP) and hypoparathyroidism. Study design: A quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration: In the Surgical department of Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi for one year duration from March 2018 to March 2019. Methods: 60 total volunteers with bilateral multinodular goiter were divided into 2 groups as A and B (30 patients in each group). Total thyroidectomy was done in group A patients and patients under STT in B group. The non-probability purposive sample technique was used. Demographic details, operation indications, biochemical results, complications and duration of surgery were observed for each group. Results: There was no noteworthy variation between the two groups in terms of sex, age, hormonal status or goiter duration (P = 0.74, P = 0.123, P = 0.509 and P = 0.6, correspondingly). The mean working time for TTT and STT was longer (138 ± 30 min, 112 ± 33 min, P = 0.046). Transient RLNP or HPT occurred in 3 (9.9%) or 6 (20%) of 6 patients, in 3 (6.6%) or 3 (9.9%) patients undergoing STT (P = 0.64). and P = 0.278, respectively). Permanent RLNP was noted in none of the patients in the TT group and in HPT compared to none of the complications in the STT group (P = 0.313 for persistent HPT). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that TT can be achieved without raising the risk of complications and is taken as substitute for benign MNG, mainly in endemic areas with very large multinodular goiter. Histopathologic examination of the thyroid specimen revealed incidental thyroid cancer in 2 patients in group A (1 papillary and 1 follicular). In group B, only one patient had incidental carcinoma of follicular diversity. Complications examined in the treatment groups Table no. 5.
Early administration of lenalidomide after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation suppresses graft‐versus‐host disease by inhibiting T‐cell migration to the gastrointestinal tract

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) is a curative treatment for hematopoietic malignancies. Graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) is a major complication of aHSCT. After transplantation, the balance of immune conditions, such as proinflammatory cytokine level and T‐cell subset count, influences GVHD magnitude. Lenalidomide (LEN) is an immunomodulatory drug used for treating several hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma, adult T‐cell lymphoma/leukemia, and follicular lymphoma. However, the impact of LEN on immune responses after aHSCT has not been elucidated.
Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy characterises the functional chemistry of soil organic carbon in agricultural soils

Soil organic carbon (SOC) originates from a complex mixture of organic materials, and to better understand its role in soil functions, one must characterise its chemical composition. However, current methods, such as solid‐state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, are time‐consuming and expensive. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in the visible, near infrared and mid‐infrared regions (vis–NIR: 350–2500 nm; mid‐IR: 4000–400 cm−1) can also be used to characterise SOC chemistry; however, it is difficult to know the frequencies where the information occurs. Thus, we correlated the C functional groups from the 13C NMR to the frequencies in the vis–NIR and mid‐IR spectra using two methods: (1) 2‐dimensional correlations of 13C NMR spectra and the diffuse reflectance spectra, and (2) modelling the NMR functional C groups with the reflectance spectra using support vector machines (SVM) (validated using 5 times repeated 10‐fold cross‐validation). For the study, we used 99 mineral soils from the agricultural regions of Sweden. The results show clear correlations between organic functional C groups measured with NMR and specific frequencies in the vis–NIR and mid‐IR spectra. While the 2D correlations showed general relationships (mainly related to the total SOC content), analysing the importance of the wavelengths in the SVM models revealed more detail. Generally, models using mid‐IR spectra produced slightly better estimates than the vis–NIR. The best estimates were for the alkyl C group (R2 = 0.83 and 0.85, vis–NIR and mid‐IR, respectively), and the O/N‐alkyl C group was the most difficult to estimate (R2 = 0.34 and 0.38, vis–NIR and mid‐IR, respectively). Combining 13C NMR with the cost‐effective diffuse reflectance methods could potentially increase the number of measured samples and improve the spatial and temporal characterisation of SOC. However, more studies with a wider range of soil types and land management systems are needed to further evaluate the conditions under which these methods could be used.
Community health workers’ involvement in mother-child care during the postpartum period in the Missed Opportunities in Mother and Infant Health (MOMI) project in the Kaya health district: a contribution analysis

Maternal and infant morbidity and mortality remain high in the world and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. However, actions to strengthen postpartum care remain weak and are mainly limited to health facilities (HFs). The MOMI project implemented in the Kaya health district included community-based health workers (CHWs) in the care of women and children during the first postpartum year through home visits, accompanying mothers to HFs and outreach sessions. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of CHWs to postpartum women’s HF attendance.Methods We conducted an effect assessment using Mayne and Lemire's contribution analysis framework. This was a mixed-case study. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through project document review and interviews.Results Out of 6633 women, 3768 (56.8%) were visited by CHWs before the 10th day following childbirth, 34.3% between the sixth and eighth week and 9% between the ninth and twelfth months; during the same home visit periods, the CHWs accompanied 57.3%, 51.4% and 32.5% of women, respectively, to HFs for postpartum consultations. Postpartum consultation rates within the first week postpartum increased from 29% in 2011 to 80% in 2015 and from 19% to 50% within 6 weeks.Conclusions Community-based health workers involvement in the care of women improved their adherence to postpartum consultations.
Women Participation in Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) in Ondo State, Nigeria

The study examined women participation in Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) in Ondo State, Nigeria. The data obtained from 120 women were analyzed using frequency counts, percentage, mean as well as Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Chi square. The mean age of the respondents was 42 years. More than half (56.7%) of the respondents had average family size of 6 persons. Most (73.0%) of the respondents were ordinary members of Community Groups and 35 percent were relatively low income earners with the average income of? 18,700. About 86 percent of the respondents indicated farming as their livelihood activities. The level of participation was low with a grand mean score of 2.03 and this could be due to some perceived factors affecting participation in CSDP. Significant relationships existed between age, family size and level of women participation in CSDP. The Chi-square result showed that significant association existed between social status, occupation and level of women participation in CSDP. More sensitization on CSDP projects is therefore recommended and women should be encouraged to take up leadership position. Development strategies and plan should also be well structured to enhance the mobilization of youths and middle aged women in the Project.
Layer-specific mitochondrial diversity across hippocampal CA2 dendrites

CA2 is an understudied subregion of the hippocampus that is critical for social memory. Previous studies identified multiple components of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) complex as selectively enriched in CA2, however the functional significance of this enrichment remains unclear. The MCU complex regulates calcium entry into mitochondria, which in turn regulates mitochondrial transport and localization to active synapses. We found that MCU is strikingly enriched in CA2 distal apical dendrites, precisely where CA2 neurons receive entorhinal cortical input carrying social information. Further, MCU-enriched mitochondria in CA2 distal dendrites are larger compared to mitochondria in CA2 proximal apical dendrites and neighboring CA1 apical dendrites, an effect also seen with genetically labeled mitochondria and electron microscopy. MCU overexpression in neighboring CA1 led to larger mitochondria preferentially in proximal dendrites compared to distal dendrites and controls, suggesting that MCU may act as a coincidence detector linking synaptic activity to mitochondrial morphology and function. Our findings demonstrate that mitochondria are molecularly and structurally diverse across hippocampal cell types and circuits, and implicate MCU expression in regulating mitochondrial mass and layer-specific dendritic localization. Functionally distinct mitochondria in CA2 distal dendrites may confer unique synaptic and circuit properties underlying CA2 function in social memory.
A model predictive control strategy to regulate movements and interactions

Humans are adept at moving the arm to interact with objects and surfaces. The brain is thought to regulate motion and interactions using two different controllers, one specialized for movements and the other for force regulation. However, it remains unclear whether different control mechanisms are necessary. Here we show that the brain can employ a single high-level control strategy for both movement and interaction control. The Model Predictive Control (MPC) strategy introduced in this paper uses an internal model of the environment to plan the arm’s muscle activity whilst updating its predictions using periodic feedback. Computer simulations demonstrate MPC’s ability to produce human-like movements and after-effects in free and force field environments. It can simultaneously regulate both force and stiffness during interactions, and can accomplish motor tasks demanding transitions between motion and interaction control. Model Predictive Control promises to be an important tool to test ideas of motor control as it can handle nonlinear dynamics with changing environments and goals without having to specify the movement duration.
Why are G-quadruplexes good at preventing protein aggregation?

Maintaining a healthy protein folding environment is essential for cellular function. Recently, we found that nucleic acids, and G-quadruplexes in particular, are potent chaperones for preventing protein aggregation. With the aid of structure-function and NMR analyses of two G-quadruplex forming sequences, PARP-I and LTR-III, we uncovered several contributing factors that affect G-quadruplexes in preventing protein aggregation. Notably, three factors emerged as vital in determining holdase activity of G-quadruplexes: their structural topology, structural dynamics, and oligomerization state. These factors together appear to largely dictate whether a G-quadruplex is able to prevent partially misfolded proteins from aggregating. Understanding the genesis of G-quadruplexes’ power as chaperones is an important facet to elucidating various protein aggregation diseases. Key Points - How nucleic acids act as protein chaperones is currently unknown. - G-quadruplexes are excellent at preventing protein aggregation, and here we describe basic tenets of this activity. - This activity could help design treatments for multiple neurodegenerative diseases.
Precision measurements with the single electron transistor: Noise and backaction in the normal and superconducting state

Precision Measurements with the Single Electron Transistor: Noise and Backaction in the Normal and Superconducting state Benjamin Anthony Turek 2007 This thesis presents measurements of noise effects introduced by the Single Electron Transistor (SET) as it measures a nanoelectronic system, the single electron box/Cooper pair box. We consider the SET as a nanoscale charge amplifier, and show that the input noise of this amplifier – its “backaction” – can have a marked or even dominant effect on the system the SET measures. We report theoretical motivation and experimental results in both the normal and superconducting states. The SET is a nanoelectronic, three-terminal, tunnel junction device, where a capacitively coupled input voltage modulates a drain-source current serving as the amplifier output. As a charge amplifier, it has been able to produce some of the fastest and most precise charge measurements currently possible. We use the SET to measure the single electron box/Cooper pair box, a nanoscale circuit where a capacitively coupled voltage modulates the tunneling of single electrons or Cooper pairs on to and off of an isolated metallic island. Two different theoretical treatments of backaction effects motivate our experiments in the normal and superconducting states. In the normal state, backaction is modeled using a master equation for the coupled box-SET system. In the superconducting state, a density matrix treatment of the SET coupled to a qubit produces predictions about superconducting SET backaction on the Cooper pair box that are understood as quantum noise acting on a coherent two-level system. Samples were measured in an RF-SET configuration in a dilution refrigerator. A charge-noise vetoing algorithm was implemented to permit extremely precise measurements of time-averaged box behavior. Detailed measurements of the SET/box system as the we vary the operating parameters of the SET confirm our understanding of SET backaction. Fast time-domain measurements in the
Lipid metabolism dysfunction following symbiont elimination is linked to altered Kennedy pathway homeostasis

Lipid metabolism is critical for insect reproduction, especially for species that invest heavily into early developmental stages of their offspring. The role of symbiotic bacteria during this process is unknown but likely essential, especially in the case of obligate microbes that fulfill key biological functions in the host. Using a combined lipidomics, functional genomics and biochemical strategy, we examined the role of lipid metabolism in the interaction between the viviparous tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans morsitans) and its obligate endosymbiotic bacteria (Wigglesworthia glossinidia) during tsetse pregnancy. We observed increased CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (cct1) expression during pregnancy. This gene codes for the enzyme that functions as the rate limiting step in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in the Kennedy pathway which is critical for stored lipid metabolism and progeny development. Experimental removal of Wigglesworthia impaired lipid metabolism via disruption of the Kennedy pathway, yielding obese mothers whose developing progeny ultimately starve. Functional validation via experimental cct1 suppression revealed a phenotype similar to females lacking obligate Wigglesworthia symbionts. These results indicate that, in Glossina, symbiont-derived factors, likely B vitamins, are critical for proper function of both lipid biosynthesis and lipolysis. Loss of the symbiosis has a dramatic impact on Glossina fecundity, and may be broadly applicable to other insect systems, particularly to species that require symbiotic partners to maximize lipolysis and reproductive output.
An Alzheimer’s Disease Patient-Derived Olfactory Stem Cell Model Identifies Gene Expression Changes Associated with Cognition

An early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an impaired sense of smell, for which the molecular basis remains elusive. Here, we generated human olfactory neurosphere-derived (ONS) cells from people with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and performed global RNA sequencing to determine gene expression changes. ONS cells expressed markers of neuroglial differentiation, providing a unique cellular model to explore early AD-associated disease pathways. Our transcriptomics data from ONS cells revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with cognitive processes in AD cells compared to MCI, or matched healthy controls (HC). A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 6 (AKAP6) was the most significantly altered gene in AD compared to both MCI and HC, and has been linked to cognitive function. The greatest change in gene expression of all DEGs occurred between AD and MCI. Gene pathway analysis revealed defects in multiple cellular processes with aging, intellectual deficiency and alternative splicing being the most significantly dysregulated in AD ONS cells. Our results demonstrate that ONS cells can provide a cellular model for AD that recapitulates disease-associated differences. We have revealed potential novel genes, including AKAP6 that may have a role in AD, particularly MCI to AD transition, and should be further examined.
Nucleobase adduct-containing metabolites are MR1 ligands that stimulate self-reactive MR1T cells

MR1T lymphocytes are a recently identified population of T cells that recognize unknown self-antigens presented by the non-polymorphic MHC-I-related molecule, MR1. MR1T cells can kill tumor cells and modulate the functions of other immune cells with promising therapeutic applications. By integrating genetic, pharmacological and biochemical approaches we identified carbonyl stress and alterations of nucleobase metabolism in tumor target cells that promote recognition by MR1 T cells. We dissected these pathways and found that nucleobase adduct-containing metabolites are self-antigens stimulating MR1T cells. Several nucleobase adducts are presented by MR1 molecules and stimulate individual MR1T cells. Our data suggest that MR1T cells are surveyor of cellular metabolic alterations occurring in conditions of metabolic stress, such as cancer, and lay the groundwork for the development of novel HLA-unrestricted T cell-based therapies.