Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative and Qualitative Changes in the Genetic Diversity of Bacterial Communities in Anaerobic Bioreactors with the Diatomaceous Earth/Peat Cell Carrier

This paper analyses the impact of the diatomaceous earth/peat (DEP; 3:1) microbial carrier on changes in the bacterial microbiome and the development of biofilm in the anaerobic digestion (AD) of confectionery waste, combined with digested sewage sludge as inoculum. The physicochemical properties of the carrier material are presented, with particular focus on its morphological and dispersion characteristics, as well as adsorption and thermal properties. In this respect, the DEP system was found to be a suitable carrier for both mesophilic and thermophilic AD. The evaluation of quantitative and qualitative changes in the genetic diversity of bacterial communities, carried out using next-generation sequencing (NGS), showed that the material has a modifying effect on the bacterial microbiome. While Actinobacteria was the most abundant cluster in the WF-control sample (WF—waste wafers), Firmicutes was the dominant cluster in the digested samples without the carrier (WF-dig.; dig.—digested) and with the carrier (WF + DEP). The same was true for the count of Proteobacteria, which decreased twofold during biodegradation in favor of Synergistetes. The Syntrophomonas cluster was identified as the most abundant genus in the two samples, particularly in WF + DEP. This information was supplemented by observations of morphological features of microorganisms carried out using fluorescence microscopy. The biodegradation process itself had a significant impact on changes in the microbiome of samples taken from anaerobic bioreactors, reducing its biodiversity. As demonstrated by the results of this innovative method, namely the BioFlux microfluidic flow system, the decrease in the number of taxa in the digested samples and the addition of DEP contributed to the microbial adhesion in the microfluidic system and the formation of a stable biofilm.
The galaxy cluster concentration-mass relation in dark energy cosmologies

We use numerical simulations of different dark energy cosmologies to investigate the concentration-mass (c− M) relation in galaxy clusters. In particular, we consider a r eference Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model, two models with dynamical dark energy, viewed as a quintessence scalar field [using a Ratra and Peebles (RP) and a supergravity (SUGRA) potential form], and two extended quintessence models, one with positive and one with negative coupling (EQp and EQn respectively), where the quintessence scalar fi eld interacts non-minimally with gravity (scalar-tensor theories). All the models are norma lized in order to match CMB data from Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe3 (WMAP3). For each model, we have performed numerical simulations in a cosmological box of (300 Mpc h −1 ) 3 . We fit the dark matter profile with a Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) profile, and recover the conc entration of each halo. We consider both the complete catalog of clusters and groups and a subsample of relaxed objects. The c− M relation of our reference ΛCDM model is in good agreement with the results in literature, and relaxed objects have a higher normalization and a shallower slope with respect to the complete sample. For the different dark energy models, we find th at for ΛCDM, RP and SUGRA the normalization of the c− M relation is linked to the growth factor D+ and the power spectrum normalization σ8, with models having a higher value of σ8D+ having also a higher normalization. This simple scheme is no longer valid for EQp and EQn because in these models it is present a time dependent effective gravitational interaction, whos e redshift evolution depends on the sign of the coupling. This leads to a decrease (increase) of the ex pected normalization in the EQp (EQn) model. This result shows a direct manifestation of the coupling between gravity and the quintessence scalar field characterizing EQ models that can not be seen at the background level but can be investigated in the non-linear regime.
Examining the Role of Source Evaluation in Athlete Advocacy: How Can Advocate Athletes Inspire Public Involvement in Racial Issues?

Athlete advocacy is recognized as an important method of persuading the public on social issues, and it demonstrates the role of athletes in achieving racial justice. However, how athlete advocacy can gain the persuasiveness to encourage public involvement remains unclear. This study investigates how the evaluation of an advocate athlete functions to encourage public issue involvement, focusing on Naomi Osaka’s racial advocacy. In particular, driven by balance theory and attribution theory, this study examines the effects of five sociopsychological factors on public involvement in racial issues: perceived credibility, hypocrisy, cause fit, effort expended, and role model status of advocate athletes. Data were collected from a cross-sectional online survey of 855 Japanese adults who were aware of Osaka’s advocacy. The findings highlight that public involvement in racial issues is significantly associated with the evaluations of the athlete’s credibility and hypocrisy. These evaluations are further influenced by perceptions of the athlete’s cause fit and role model status. This study enriches the literature on the management of sports for social change by demonstrating the importance of source evaluation in athlete advocacy in achieving advocacy outcomes. Our evidence implies that athletes looking to promote racial justice issues should effectively be seen as credible, knowledgeable, and non-hypocritical in their issue advocacy.
Relationship between D90 and D100 with Biochemical and Local Failure in Low-risk Prostate Cancer Treated with Low-rate Brachytherapy (LDR)

Low dose rate brachytherapy (LDR) is an accepted, effective treatment with few local side effects, used as monotherapy in patients with low-risk prostate cancer (PC). The aim of this paper is to analyse 245 patients treated with LDR in the Radiation Oncology Department of the Hospital Gómez Ulla, from 2004 to 2016, evaluating the relationship of dosimetric parameters with biochemical and local recurrence as well as genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity derived from the technique. The results obtained show a clear relationship between the dose used and biochemical and local failure.
Anti-biofilm Activity of a Lytic Phage Against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis

Background & Objective: This study aims to isolate a lytic bacteriophage against planktonic Enterococcus faecalis V583 culture and evaluate its ability to disrupt and inhibit biofilm. Methods: An anti-E. faecalis phage was isolated from sewage and visualized by electron microscopy, the vB_EfsS_V583 (V583) host range was determined by spot test on 13 E. faecalis clinical strains. Inhibition and degradation experiments were designed to investigate the effect of phage on biofilm. In the inhibition and degradation assay, biofilms were formed in the presence and absence of phage, respectively. Finally, crystal violet method tested the effect of phage on biofilm. Results: Phage V583 belongs to the Siphoviridae family and can infect all E. faecalis strains. Antibacterial activity has been shown to degrade and inhibit biofilm produced by V583. The study results showed that phage v583 is more efficient in biofilm inhibition than biofilm degradation. In both assays, phage-treated wells' absorption is less than untreated wells. These results were confirmed by Colony-forming unit reduction in the treated biofilm. Conclusion: The anti-biofilm activity showed that phage therapy using phage V583 might be an alternative tool to remove E. faecalis biofilms.
SOLITARY WAVE SCATTERING BY A VERTICAL CYLINDER: EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

The nonlinear interaction of a solitary wave and a vertical circular cylinder is examined. The wave field was measured at various locations near the cylinder and the detailed process of wave reflection, diffraction and scattering is discussed. The formation of the first and second scattered wave is observed as the incident wave first encounters the cylinder and as it leaves the cylinder respectively. Comparisons are made to the generalized Boussinesq (gB) model which is found to give quite good results for the wave heights except very close to the cylinder surface and in the immediate wake region behind the cylinder. The net force on the cylinder in the direction of incident wave propagation was measured as function of time, and good agreement with the gB model is obtained.
Assessment of Muscle Fatigue Based on Motor Unit Firing, Muscular Vibration and Oxygenation via Hybrid Mini-Grid sEMG, MMG, and NIRS Sensing

It is vital to measure muscular fatigue for human–machine interaction (HMI) and avoiding muscle impairment. This article presents a novel approach to comprehensively evaluate muscle fatigue through the fusion of mini-grid surface electromyography (sEMG), mechanomyography (MMG), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). A hybrid mini-grid sEMG, MMG, and NIRS sensor system was developed, forming an instrument to measure motor unit action potential trains (MUAPts), low-frequency myofiber vibration, and oxygen metabolism. Muscle fatigue-induced experiment was performed via a sustained isometric contraction at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force with ten subjects. MUAPts were decomposed from the four-channel array of sEMG signals, and the firing rate (FR) of specific motor units (MUs) was calculated to measure fatigue process. Furthermore, root mean square (rms) and median frequency (MDF) of sEMG/MMG, blood volume (BV), and muscle oxygenation ( $\triangle $ HbO2) extracted from NIRS, were proposed as fatigue metrics. The variation and correlation analysis among fatigue metrics provided a detailed and reliable physiological assessment on muscle fatigue, gaining a synthetic understanding of muscle fatigue mechanisms. The outcomes of this study have great potential applications in sports, clinical diagnosis, and HMI.
Effects of leading-edge camber on low-speed characteristics of slender delta wings

Wind-tunnel studies have been conducted to determine the effects of leading-edge camber on the low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a thin, sharp-edge 74 deg delta wing. The results include force and moment measurements, pressure distributions, and flow visualization patterns determined from oil flow, tuft and water vapor observations. The study indicated that leading-edge camber near the apex is effective in controlling the pitch-up tendency of slender delta wings.
Vitamin B12 Attenuates Changes in Phospholipid Levels Related to Oxidative Stress in SH-SY5Y Cells

Oxidative stress is closely linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and is detected peripherally as well as in AD-vulnerable brain regions. Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between the generation and degradation of reactive oxidative species (ROS), leading to the oxidation of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Extensive lipid changes have been found in post mortem AD brain tissue; these changes include the levels of total phospholipids, sphingomyelin, and ceramide, as well as plasmalogens, which are highly susceptible to oxidation because of their vinyl ether bond at the sn-1 position of the glycerol-backbone. Several lines of evidence indicate that a deficiency in the neurotropic vitamin B12 is linked with AD. In the present study, treatment of the neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y with vitamin B12 resulted in elevated levels of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin, and plasmalogens. Vitamin B12 also protected plasmalogens from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress due to an elevated expression of the ROS-degrading enzymes superoxide-dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, vitamin B12 elevates plasmalogen synthesis by increasing the expression of alkylglycerone phosphate synthase (AGPS) and choline phosphotransferase 1 (CHPT1) in SH-SY5Y cells exposed to H2O2-induced oxidative stress.
Robust estimation of multivariate location and scatter with application to financial portfolio selection.

The thesis studies robust methods for estimating location and scatter of multivariate distributions and contributes to the development of some aspects regarding the detection of multiple outliers. A variety of methods have been designed for detecting single point outliers which, when applied to groups of contaminated data, lead to problems of "masking", that is when an outlier appears as a "good" data. Robust high-breakdown estimators overcome the masking effect, also allowing for a high tolerance of "bad" data. The Minimum Volume Ellipsoid (MVE) and the Minimum Covariance Determinant estimator (MCD) are the most widely used high-breakdown estimators. The central problem when identifying an anomaly is setting a decision rule. The exact distribution of the MCD and MVE is not known, implying that the diagnostics constructed as a function of these robust estimates have also an unknown distribution. Single point oultiers can be recognized using Mahalanobis distances; multivariate outliers are detected by robust (via MCD and MVE) distances of Mahalanobis type. The thesis obtains the small sample distribution of the first ones in an alternative simpler way than the proof existing in the literature. Furthermore, some empirical evidences show the need of a correction factor to improve the approximation to the expected distribution. Some graphical devices are suggested to enhance the results. One of the limiting aspects of the literature on robustness is the lack of real data applications beside the literature examples. The personal interest in financial subjects has driven the thesis to consider applications in this area. Particular attention is paid to methods for optimal selection of financial portfolios. Mean-Variance portfolio theory selects the assets which maximize the return and minimize the risk of the investment using Maximum Likelihood Estimates (MLE). However, MLE are known to be sensitive to relatively small fractions of outliers. Furthermore, a wide financial literature provides evidence of the non-gaussian distribution of the stock returns. All these reasons motivate the construction of a robust portfolio selection model proposed in the thesis.
Clinical Risk Factors for Multi-Drug Resistance Tuberculosis in Ethiopia: A Meta-Analysis

Background: The main purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the association between clinical risk factors and multi-drug resistance tuberculosis. More specifically, it tried to measure the association of the risk of MDR-TB with HIV serostatus, previous anti-TB, contact history with known TB case and with known MDR-TB case. Methods: A separate meta-analysis was done for commonly reported clinical risk factors of MDR-TB. Literature search strategy includes searching PubMed/Medline, HINARI, EMBASE, and the Google scholar using keywords. Researches written in English, done in Ethiopia, observational studies which assessed the association of MDR-TB with at least one of the most commonly reported clinical risk factors were included. Rev Man 5 used to analyze data. The pooled OR estimated with random-effects model using the Mantel-Haenszel method. The heterogeneity among the studies was assessed with chi-square, I2 and p-values. Publication bias was assessed with funnel plots and trim-and-fill analysis was done with STATA 11 to adjust the report bias.
Improving logistics performance for one belt one road: a conceptual framework for supply chain risk management in Chinese third-party logistics providers

Chinese government recently launched one belt one road to reform and speed up the development of Chinese economic in the world. One Belt One Road (OBOR) strategy heavily relied on the traditional logistical trade routes including terrestrial and oceanic Silk Road. Logistics performance may play a vital role for implementing the One Belt One Road plan. Especially, third party logistics providers as supporting members to carry out value-adding supply chain activities in one belt one road. According to literature review, supply chain risk is an issue to obstruct the development of logistics performance. The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework for managing supply chain risks and improving logistics performance under the OBOR initiative in Chinese third party logistics service providers. There are very few studies on risk management in the OBOR initiative. We focus on the innovation, customer response and flexibility in the third-party logistics providers. This would provide a guide for both academics and practitioners to manage supply chain risks and improve logistics performance and enlighten them to pay attention to supply chain risk management in the Chinese third party logistics sector. In addition, this contributes to the supply chain and logistics management in One Belt One Road literature.
International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE)

Received Jul 7, 2021 Revised May 31, 2022 Accepted Jun 29, 2022 This study examined the relationship between democratic parenting, school climate, and internal locus of control with academic optimism. This was a correlational study involving 335 students of state junior high schools who were selected using cluster random sampling technique. The data were collected by using scales of democratic parenting, school climate, internal locus of control, and academic optimism. Multiple regression technique was used to analyze the data on statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) 20. The results showed a positive and significant relationship between democratic parenting and academic optimism, school climate and academic optimism, internal locus of control and academic optimism. Besides, the result also showed that democratic parenting, school climate, internal locus of control simultaneously affected academic optimism among students. Furthermore, counseling and guidance teachers, homeroom teachers, and parents to work together to grow and improve students' academic optimism, so the students can actualize their character optimally and develop effectively.
Cystathionine Gamma-Lyase Regulate Psilocybin Biosynthesis in Gymnopilus dilepis Mushroom via Amino Acid Metabolism Pathways

As a potential medicine for the treatment of depression, psilocybin has gradually attracted attention. To elucidate the molecular mechanism regulating psilocybin synthesis in Gymnopilus dilepis, ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used to detect the changes in psilocybin content after S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH) treatment and the changes of psilocybin content in different parts (stipe and pileus), and RNA-Seq was used to explore the mechanism of psilocybin content changes. In this study, the psilocybin content in G. dilepis mycelia treated with SAH was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the content of psilocybin in the stipe was significantly higher than that in the pileus. Transcriptome analysis revealed that differential expression genes (DEGs) were associated with cysteine and methionine metabolism. In particular, the transcription levels of genes encoding Cystathionine gamma-lyase (CTH) in different treatments and different parts were positively correlated with psilocybin content. In addition, we found that the exogenous addition of CTH activity inhibitor (DL-propargylglycine, PAG) could reduce the content of psilocybin and L-serine, and the content of psilocybin and L-serine returned to normal levels after L-cysteine supplementation, suggesting that psilocybin synthesis may be positively correlated with L-cysteine or CTH, and L-cysteine regulates the synthesis of psilocybin by affecting L-serine and 4-hydroxy-L-tryptophan. In conclusion, this study revealed a new molecular mechanism that affects psilocybin biosynthesis, which can provide a theoretical basis for improving psilocybin synthesis and the possibility for the development of biomedicine.
Family Planning Methods Utilization in Women of Reproductive Age Group: Evidence from Regionally Representative Data from Karachi, Pakistan

Background: To assess the status of knowledge and practices about family planning utilization and its influencing factors among women of reproductive age group in Karachi, Pakistan. The study design was analytical cross-sectional study. The Place and Duration of Study was Combined Military Hospital, Malir Cantt from January to March 2021. Methods: Data was collected from 426 participants visiting outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital, using structured questionnaire. Nonprobability, convenient sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data was analyzed in Statistical Package of Social Sciences, version 23. Results: Family planning knowledge and practicing contraceptive methods utilization among women of reproductive age group was 73.94% and 55.16% respectively. Effectiveness of contraceptive methods was acknowledged by 57.27%. Family planning utilization practices were statistically associated with educational status, marriage duration, number of children, knowledge, availability, suitability and effectiveness of FP methods and husband support. Family planning centers and hospitals were the most common (41%) sources of information and desire to conceive was found to be the leading cause (54.2%) to attain family planning services. Conclusion: Overall the study revealed satisfactory knowledge about family planning with relatively low practices or utilization of contraceptive methods. Researches using qualitative approach are recommended to gain deep insight of women’s internal feeling regarding family planning. Besides, reasons for non-utilization of family planning services need to be explored further.
Substrates, Plants, and Their Combinations for Water Purification of Urban Household Aquaponics Systems

To make full use of urban household balcony space, an urban aquaponics system for balconies was constructed to investigate the purification effects of four different substrates (volcanic stone, ceramic pellets, ceramic rings, and nanorods) and six plants (mung bean sprouts, hollow cabbage, water celery, lettuce, leek, and water chestnut) on fish culture wastewater. Through the determination of contaminants such as nitrogen and phosphorus and through the use of 16SrDNA sequencing technology, the substrate material and plant combinations with the best purification effects were screened. The results show that volcanic stone and nanorods have strong purification capacities. Compared to the other substrate types, there were more unique bacterial species on the surface of volcanic stone, among which amoeba species were the most dominant (92.42%). Among the six tested plant species, mung bean sprouts had the highest contribution to nitrogen uptake (94.96%), and water chestnut had the highest contribution to phosphorus uptake at 12.07%. Finally, the combination of nanorods and water celery was the best at purifying the wastewater. This study provides a theoretical basis and new ideas for the construction of urban aquaponics systems on balconies, which will help to achieve green farming and the efficient utilization of water resources.