Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Osseointegration of Antimicrobial Acrylic Bone Cements Modified with Graphene Oxide and Chitosan

Acrylic bone cement (ABC) is one of the most used materials in orthopedic surgery, mainly for the fixation of orthopedic implants to the bone. However, ABCs usually present lack of biological activity and osseointegration capacity that leads to loosening of the prosthesis. This work reports the effect of introducing graphene oxide (GO) and chitosan (CS), separately or together, in the ABC formulation on setting performance, mechanical behavior, and biological properties. Introduction of both CS and GO to the ABC decreased the maximum temperature by 21% and increased the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli by 87%, while introduction of only CS decreased bending strength by 32%. The results of cell viability and cell adhesion tests showed in vitro biocompatibility. The in vivo response was investigated using both subdermal and bone parietal implantations in Wistar rats. Modified ABCs showed absence of immune response, as confirmed by a normal inflammatory response in Wistar rat subdermal implantation. The results of the parietal bone implantation showed that the addition of CS and GO together allowed a near total healing bone–cement interface, as observed in the micrographic analysis. The overall results support the great potential of the modified ABCs for application in orthopedic surgery mainly in those cases where osseointegration is required.
Frameworks for double hyperbolic function‐based robust sliding mode differentiator and observer for nonlinear dynamics

This paper puts forward contemporary designs of sliding mode differentiator and state observer for evaluation of unknown nonlinear signal derivatives and unknown internal system states, respectively, by the virtue of tangential and inverse sinusoidal hyperbolic functions. The utility of the proposed frameworks is that it bestows smooth and robust estimation without inciting unacceptable oscillations (chattering), unlike high gain discontinuous function‐based preliminary observers/differentiators. Moreover, the employed double hyperbolic functions would drive the various deviations in estimations of signals or states to a very close neighborhood of origin in finite time which is substantiated via Lyapunov's energy function. To demonstrate the efficiency of the introduced techniques, two examples for estimating the derivatives of a nonlinear signal and internal states of motor are also illustrated with time varying uncertainties. At last, the attained simulation outcomes of the proposed differentiator are further compared with formerly formulated designs such as higher‐order sliding mode differentiator (HOSMD) and uniformly convergent differentiator (UCD).
Origin, diversity and transcriptional coding of periglomerular calretinin interneurons

The subventricular zone (SVZ) is a brain region that shows intense germinal activity throughout postnatal life. The postnatal SVZ is subdivided in microdomains containing neural stem cells (NSCs) that express defined transcription factors and generate distinct neuronal subtypes in the olfactory bulb (OB). Calretinin-expressing (CalR+) interneurons represent the largest population of OB periglomerular interneurons produced after birth. Yet, in contrast to others, limited information exists regarding their origin, diversity and function in the OB, as well as the transcription factors that guide their generation. Previous studies highlighted that CalR+ PG interneurons are generated by both the medial and dorsal SVZ microdomains, and suggested that the transcription factor Sp8 is involved in their generation.This work aimed at 1) refining current approaches for manipulating gene expression in postnatal SVZ NSCs in a temporally controlled manner, 2) exploring the origin and the function of CalR+ periglomerular neurons, 3) investigating the role of Sp8 in the transcriptional coding of CalR+ periglomerular interneurons specification and maturation.Refinement of the classical electroporation approach allowed the long-term fate mapping and timely-controlled genetic manipulation of NSCs of the SVZ. Using this refined approach allowed identifying two subpopulations of CalR+ interneurons that show different spatial and temporal origins after birth, as well as to explore the functional and morphological correlates of this diversity. A large and previously non-described fraction of CalR+ periglomerular interneurons exhibits properties of immature neurons (i.e. little synaptic inputs and weak excitability), questioning their role in olfactory processing. Finally, genetic manipulations of the transcription factor Sp8 at different stages during CalR+ interneuron differentiation highlighted its role in the long-term survival of mature CalR+ periglomerular interneurons, while excluding a role in their early specification. Altogether these results shed new lights on the origin, diversity and transcriptional coding of CalR+ periglomerular i nterneurons and call for a characterization of their role in olfactory processing
Biocatalyzed Reactions towards Functional Food Components 4-Alkylcatechols and Their Analogues

Catechols are antioxidants and radical scavengers with a broad medical potential. 4-Methylcatechol (1b) and 4-ethylcatechol (2b) (occurring in some traditional fermented and smoked foods) activate the cell defense against oxidative stress. We examined the biocatalyzed reactions towards 4-n-alkylcatechols with different side chains length, which is a factor important for the biological activities of catechols. 4-n-Alkylcatechols with methyl through heptyl side chains (1b–7b) were obtained in one pot by (i) oxidation of phenols 1a–7a with tyrosinase from Agaricus bisporus followed by (ii) reduction of ortho-quinones (intermediates) with L-ascorbic acid sodium salt. The conversions decreased with increasing side chain length. The preparative reactions were carried out with substrates 1a–5a. The isolated yields of the purified products decreased from 59% in 2b to 10% in 5b in correlation with logP of the substrates. Homology modeling indicated that the affinities of two tyrosinase isoforms (PPO3 and PPO4) to the substrates with side chains longer than C2 decreased with increasing side chain length. This was probably due to steric limitations and to missing interactions of the extended side chains in the active sites. We envisage using the model to predict further substrates of tyrosinase and testing the products, catechols, for radical-scavenging and biological activities.
Contribution of photosynthetic picoeukaryotes to the picoplanktonic carbon biomass and to total particulate organic carbon in the open ocean.

It has been known since the early eighties that picophytoplankton ( 50% in most of the studied area) and total phytoplankton carbon biomass (>20% in the open ocean), being indeed essential in determining the spatial variability of the former. However, this group's contribution to the diel variability in the cp-derived POC concentration was not significant (~10%). Daily rates of change (d-1) in picophytoplankton biomass, on the other hand, presented a significant positive correlation to those in cp (r = 0.7; p < 0.001). The usefulness of cp as a proxy for photosynthetic carbon biomass, compared to chlorophyll a, is briefly discussed. Picophytoeukaryotes carbon biomass was much more important than previously thought, equally or more important than that of Prochlorococcus in the open ocean. This group could therefore be playing a very important ecological and biogeochemical role in subtropical gyres, which extend over a vast area of the world's ocean.
Tensão superficial, potencial hidrogeniônico e condutividade elétrica de caldas de produtos fitossanitários e adjuvantes

A adicao de adjuvantes pode alterar as propriedades fisico-quimicas das caldas de produtos fitossanitarios, contribuindo com a qualidade da aplicacao. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento da associacao entre 15 produtos fitossanitarios e quatro adjuvantes de uso agricola na tensao superficial, pH e condutividade eletrica da calda. As analises foram realizadas separadamente para tres categorias de produtos: inseticida, fungicida e herbicida. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), em esquema fatorial 5 x 6, com quatro repeticoes: cinco adjuvantes e seis produtos fitossanitarios. A concentracao das caldas foi estipulada adotando-se volume de calda de 200 L ha-1 e a dose recomendada pelos fabricantes. As caracteristicas avaliadas foram: tensao superficial, condutividade eletrica e pH da calda. As medias foram comparadas entre si pelo teste de Scott Knott, a 0,05 de significância. Os resultados dos produtos fitossanitarios sobre as caracteristicas fisico-quimicas mostraram-se dependentes dos adjuvantes e vice-versa, dada a interacao significativa entre os fatores. Dentre os adjuvantes, o que mais reduziu o pH da calda foi o fosfatidilcoline+acido propionico. Somente o herbicida clorimurom-etilico nao afetou a tensao superficial da calda, que foi reduzida pelos demais produtos. Todos os produtos afetaram a condutividade eletrica, sendo que os maiores aumentos foram obtidos pelos herbicidas 2,4-D dimetilamina e glifosato.
Camel meat production and quality: A Review

Approximately 250, 000 thousand camels are slaughtered annually in different countries. About 50% of the camels slaughtered are young males aged around 4 years. The camel meat is described as tough, coarse, watery and sweetish in taste compared to meats from other animals. However, evidence suggests that quality characteristics of camel meat are not much different from beef if animals are slaughtered at comparable ages. In some of the African and Asian countries, camel meat has been used for its medicinal properties. Based on recent FAOSTAT (2015) database, in 2013 global camel meat production reached 539, 100 Tonnes. Region wise Africa was leading with 416, 292 Tonnes produced, followed by Asia (122, 608 Tonnes) and Europe (200 Tonnes). Camel meat is much better than beef in that it has lesser fat than all the other red meats such as beef and mutton. Camel lean meat contains about 78% water, 19% protein, 3% fat and 1.2% ash with a small amount of intramuscular fat. Camel meat has a comparable essential amino acid contents to beef, lamb and goat meat. The camel hump is important and commonly used for cooking in camel producing countries. On fresh weight basis, the camel hump contributes about 64.2–84.8% fat with very high content of saturated fatty acids of about 63.0%. The semitendinosus muscle in the dromedary and bactrian camels had more magnesium than infraspinatous, triceps brachii, longissimus thoraces and biceps femoris muscles. The semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles had more iron than other muscles in dromedary. The male camels should be slaughtered between 1 to 3 years of age. This might be due to that less than 3 year of age, camels were not yet fully-grown (60–70% of full live weight), therefore, their meat is tender. A high ultimate pH in camel muscles is a consequence of low muscle glycogen as a result of pre-slaughter stress, including, poor nutrition, rough handling and long transportation. Muscle structure, glycogen concentration, collagen content, solubility and the activities of proteases and their inhibitors are the most important physiological parameters affecting meat tenderness. Water retention in meat is primarily caused by immobilisation of water within the myofibrillar system. The volume of the camel meat was reduced by 44.3% and weight by 48.2% after boiling in water for 40 min. The age of the camel has a significant effect on their meat colour (Kadim et al, 2006). Meat colour from 6–8 and 10–12 year old camels was darker (lower L*), redder (higher a*) and yellower (high b*) than 1–3 year old camels because of higher concentrations of myoglobin. Camel meat is rich in many essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins, bioactives compounds such as carnosine, anserine, glutathione and essential fatty acids such as omega 3 fatty acids. Meat in general is considered a functional food for cures of many ailments and for improved performance in many cultures around the world. Camel meat has been processed into burgers, patties, sausages and shawarma to add value. The nutritional value of camel meat is similar to other red meats.
Nano- versus Micro-sized TiO2: Comparative Photoelectrochemical and Photocatalytic Studies towards Organic Pollutants Oxidation in Gas Phase

a Universitat d’Alacant, Institut Universitari d’Electroquímica i Departament de Química Física, Apartat 99, E-03080 Alacant (Spain) bUniversità degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Chimica, via Golgi 19, 20133, Milano, Italy & Consorzio INSTM, via Giusti 9, 50121 Firenze (Italy) c Università degli Studi di Torino, Dipartimento di Chimica & NIS Centre of Excellence, via Giuria 7, 10125 Torino (Italy) & Consorzio INSTM, via Giusti 9, 50121 Firenze (Italy)
A Comparison of Parasitological Techniques (Microscopy) and Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) of DNA in Diagnosis and Monitoring Treatment of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense Infection in Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops)

School of Health Sciences, Kirinyaga University, Kerugoya, Kenya. Directorate of Research, Grants and Endowments, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya. Department of Health Education and Promotion, Kenya Medical Training College, Lamu, Kenya. Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. Department of Medical Microbiology, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya. Department of Medical Physiology, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya.
Digital Entrepreneurship in Finance: Fintechs and Funding Decision Criteria

After the 2007–08 global financial crisis, research flourished on entrepreneurship through digital innovation in the financial market as well as on investors’ influence on digital technology-based entrepreneurs’ funding decisions. This study combines these two research streams to analyze the decision-making criteria for funding financial technology companies (fintechs), hybrid companies that combine digital entrepreneurship, technology, and banking. The study first uses prior literature to derive important characteristics to define fintechs and then uses 12 expert interviews to elaborate on decision-making criteria in funding. Except for smaller peculiarities, fintech funding does not appear to differ from that of other digital entrepreneurship in different markets, and—as with most digital business models—scalability was identified as a key criterion. Additionally, by serving as a major provider of money for young companies, banks have changed their role and positioning in funding new financial technology entrepreneurs. Through developments in digital technology, banks have shifted from traditional money-lending activities (i.e., debt-financing) to becoming stakeholders in fintechs and, hence, equity investors. We also describe how these formerly distinct fields have converged due to regulatory requirements, digital newcomers, and a need for constant innovation, with their future sustainable development dependent on sharing and collaboration.
Shifting baseline in macroecology? Unravelling the influence of human impact on mammalian body mass

Human activities have led to hundreds of species extinctions and have narrowed the distribution of many of the remaining species. These changes influence our understanding of global macroecological patterns, but their effects have been rarely explored. One of these patterns, the Bergmann's rule, has been largely investigated in macroecology, but often under the assumption that observed patterns reflect “natural” processes. We assessed the extent to which humans have re‐shaped the observable patterns of body mass distribution in terrestrial mammals, and how this has altered the macroecological baseline.
Effect of Treating Rice Straw with Zad Enzymes® or Effective Microorganisms on Productive Performance of Ossimi Ewes and Their Lambs = تأثير قش الأرز المعامل إنزيميا بالزاد أو بالميكروبات الفعالة على الأداء الإنتاجي للنعاج الأوسيمي وحملانها

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of treating rice straw bales by enzymes (ZAD) or effective microorganisms (EM) on milk production, milk composition, some blood parameters and live body weight of ewes and growth performance of their lambs and economic efficiency. Forty-five Ossimi ewes (41.05±2 kg live body weight and 3.5±0.3 years old) at last month of pregnancy were divided into three similar groups (15 each) according to their parity, body weight and age. The first group served as control (G1) and fed 60 % concentrate feed mixture (CFM) plus 40% untreated rice straw (RS). The second group (G2) fed 40% CFM plus 60% RS treated with ZAD and the third group (G3) fed 40% CFM plus 60% treated RS with EM for 105 days (feeding periods). Results showed that total milk yield was significantly (p<0.05) lower with both treated rice straw rations (G2 and G3) than control one (G1), being 32.78 and 32.22 vs 33.95 kg, respectively. However, milk protein was significantly (p<0.05) higher with G3 than G2 group and insignificantly higher than that of control group. While there were non-significant differences among the dietary treatments in respect of the other milk constituents. Lambs performance (birth weight, total gain, daily gain and weaning weight) did not significantly affected by dietary treatments, but estimates were slightly lower for the two tested rations than control one. Blood parameters not affected by ZAD or EM treatments. Economic efficiency of treated rice straw roups had better values than G1 (55.63 and 56.40 vs. 41.09%), respectively. The improved economic efficiency by treating rice straw with ZAD or EM due to decreasing feed cost for both tested rations compared to the control one.
Morphometry, floral resources and efficiency of natural and artificial pollination in fruit quality in cultivars of sour passion fruit

This study aimed to provide information on the biology and floral resources, stigmatic receptivity and viability of pollen grains during rainy season and dry season, and to evaluate the efficiency of natural and artificial pollination on quality of fruits of eight passion fruit cultivars sourced in Tangará da Serra MT. Five commercial cultivars and three populations of the genetic improvement program of the sour passion fruit from the Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso were evaluated. The climatic conditions of the rainy season favored the greater development of the floral pieces. The sugar concentration in the nectar presented higher averages in the rainy season, in all cultivars, except for FB 200. The climatic conditions of the dry season favored the replacement of the nectar volume. All cultivars evaluated presented pollen viability and stigmatic receptivity higher than 79% and 90%, respectively. The characteristics of fruit mass and percentage of pulp were better in artificial pollination, and the fruits obtained from natural and artificial pollination in all cultivars evaluated presented physical and chemical characteristics that are within the quality standards desired in the commercialization.
Sustainable Profit versus Unsustainable Growth: Are Venture Capital Investments and Governmental Support Medicines or Poisons?

Considering that startups greatly contribute to the economic development and survival of a country through economic growth and job creation, it is necessary to investigate the profitability of startups. However, research on this issue has not been developed enough as most previous studies regarding firm profitability were based on large-scale public companies with relatively easy data accessibility, not on startups. In addition, it is meaningful to empirically prove whether venture capital investments and governmental support positively impact on the sustainability of startups as huge discrepancies exist between traditional academic research and recent practices. Findings from this study, based on data analytics, are expected to fill the gap in knowledge as it is not clearly known about firm profitability of startups for their sustainable growth and survival. Focusing on startup profitability, the main objective of this research is to provide significant theoretical contributions and practical guidelines for startup entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to avoid unsubstantial growth and find solutions for sustainable growth and survival. To properly and completely analyze the determinants of firm profitability of startups, this research used the 2018 and 2019 Survey of Korean Startups by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of Korea and Korea Venture Business Association with over 3000 samples.
On the causal nexus between FDI and globalization: Evidence from Africa

We pioneer empirical investigation into the causal relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and globalization in Africa with the aid of the Dumitresu-Hurlin panel Granger causality test. Using a panel dataset of 50 countries for the period 1996–2016, we find evidence of unidirectional causality from globalization to FDI. Considering the dimensions of globalization, we find evidence of unidirectional causality from social and political globalization to FDI while, in the case of economic globalization, the direction of causality moves from FDI. However, at the country level, there are substantial variations in terms of the causal relations. Thus, making policies regarding FDI–globalization should be treated with caution as one–size–does–not–fit all given the differential causal nexuses in Africa.
‘Bringing the Badge home’: exploring the relationship between role overload, work-family conflict, and stress in police officers

ABSTRACT Drawing from work-life theory and the police literature, this research explores police officers’ work-life challenges by: (1) examining the relationship between role demands (at work, at home) and work-life conflict, (2) investigating the relationship between work-life conflict and stress, (3) determining the extent to which a family-friendly organisational culture moderates the relationship between work-family demands and work-life conflict, and (4) exploring the impact of gender on these relationships. Samples of 616 male and 264 female Canadian police officers are used to test eight hypotheses. Partial Least Squares (PLS) Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) was used to test these hypotheses. Consistent with broader work-life research, the analysis reveals that role demands positively relate to work-life conflict for both male and female officers. Results also highlight two unexpected findings: the positive relationship between role demands (at work, at home) and work-life conflict is stronger for male officers with high perceptions of family-friendly organisational culture than male officers with low perceptions of family-friendly organisational culture. This study highlights the complexity of work-life challenges for men and women in a male-dominated organisation (i.e. police). In doing so, this study emphasises organisational context to explain findings that challenge conventional work-life research, which has been predominantly conducted in non-police organisations.