Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cinnamic Acid Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Suppressing Hepatic Lipogenesis and Promoting Fatty Acid Oxidation

Background Cinnamic acid (CA) has been shown to have many beneficial effects including regulating lipid metabolism and reducing obesity. However, its effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFDL) has not been investigated in detail. Thus, we performed this study in order to explore CA's effect on hepatic lipid metabolism and the underlying mechanisms. Method Oleic acid (OA) was used to induce lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. After coincubation with CA, the cells were stained with oil red O and the triglyceride (TG) content was assessed. Key genes in lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation pathways were tested. Additionally, db/db and wt/wt mice were divided into three groups, with the wt/wt mice representing the normal group and the db/db mice being divided into the NAFLD and CA groups. After 4 weeks of oral treatment, all mice were sacrificed and the blood lipid profile and liver tissues were assessed. Results CA treatment reduced the lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells and in db/db mouse livers. ACLY, ACC, FAS, SCD1, PPARγ, and CD36 were significantly downregulated, while CPT1A, PGC1α, and PPARα were significantly upregulated. Conclusion CA's therapeutic effect on NAFLD may be attributed to its ability to lower hepatic lipid accumulation, which is mediated by suppression of hepatic lipogenesis and fatty acid intake, as well as increased fatty acid oxidation.
Uncertainty and Bias in Global to Regional Scale Assessments of Current and Future Coastal Flood Risk

This study provides a literature‐based comparative assessment of uncertainties and biases in global to world‐regional scale assessments of current and future coastal flood risks, considering mean and extreme sea‐level hazards, the propagation of these into the floodplain, people and coastal assets exposed, and their vulnerability. Globally, by far the largest bias is introduced by not considering human adaptation, which can lead to an overestimation of coastal flood risk in 2100 by up to factor 1300. But even when considering adaptation, uncertainties in how coastal societies will adapt to sea‐level rise dominate with a factor of up to 27 all other uncertainties. Other large uncertainties that have been quantified globally are associated with socio‐economic development (factors 2.3–5.8), digital elevation data (factors 1.2–3.8), ice sheet models (factor 1.6–3.8) and greenhouse gas emissions (factors 1.6–2.1). Local uncertainties that stand out but have not been quantified globally, relate to depth‐damage functions, defense failure mechanisms, surge and wave heights in areas affected by tropical cyclones (in particular for large return periods), as well as nearshore interactions between mean sea‐levels, storm surges, tides and waves. Advancing the state‐of‐the‐art requires analyzing and reporting more comprehensively on underlying uncertainties, including those in data, methods and adaptation scenarios. Epistemic uncertainties in digital elevation, coastal protection levels and depth‐damage functions would be best reduced through open community‐based efforts, in which many scholars work together in collecting and validating these data.
Multi-Knowledge Fusion Network for Generalized Zero-Shot Learning

Suffering from the semantic insufficiency and domain-shift problems, most of existing state-of-the-art methods fail to achieve satisfactory results for Zero-Shot Learning (ZSL). In order to alleviate these problems, we propose a novel generative ZSL method to learn more generalized features from multi-knowledge in semantic-to-visual embedding. In our approach, the proposed Multi-Knowledge Fusion Net-work (MKFNet) alleviates the semantic insufficiency problem by fusing the domain information of different knowledge, which enables more relevant semantic features to be trained for semantic-to-visual feature embedding. The pro-posed knowledge regularization LKR greatly improves the intersection between the synthesized visual features generated by MKFNet and the unseen visual features, which can alleviate the domain-shift problem. Empirically, we show that our approach consistently outperforms these state-of-the-art methods on a large number of available benchmarks on the generalized ZSL (GZSL).
Association of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D status with brain volume changes

Abstract Vitamin D is critical to brain function and its deficiency accelerates cognitive impairment. There is limited understanding of the brain‐specific areas that undergo volume change in relation to blood vitamin D levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between blood 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and structural changes in the brain. We analyzed structural three‐dimensional T1 MRI images of 201 elderly individuals (mean age = 74.91 ± 9.21 years; 68.1% female; mean 25(OH)D = 18.05 nmol/L), with 10 community‐based normal healthy subjects, 33 with subjective cognitive decline, 97 with mild cognitive impairment, and 61 with Alzheimer's disease (AD). To analyze the structural changes in the brain respective to blood 25(OH)D, multiple regression analyses were performed using voxel‐based morphometry with age and total intracranial volume as covariates. Lower 25(OH)D level were associated with reduced brain volume in right olfactory, rectus GM regions (FWE‐corr, p < .05) for entire subjects. For AD subjects, left parahippocampal, fusiform, and hippocampal areas were positively associated with 25(OH)D (FWE‐corr, p < .05). Low blood 25(OH)D was associated with reduced volumes in olfactory and hippocampal regions in elderly patients with cognitive decline. Our results may provide insight into the neurological pathophysiology of vitamin D.
Enhanced Ruminal Fermentation Parameters and Altered Rumen Bacterial Community Composition by Formulated Rumen Buffer Agents Fed to Dairy Cows with a High-Concentrate Diet

The effects of rumen buffer agents on ruminal fermentation parameters and bacterial community composition were determined using in vitro and in vivo experiments in three rumen-cannulated, high-concentrate fed Holstein Friesian dairy cows. Experiment 1 in vitro treatments included bentonite, calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, and processed coral, and unbuffered samples served as the control. Experiment 2 in vitro treatments were based on the formulation of various combinations of the buffer agents used in Experiment 1. Combinations were selected for the in vivo study based on their buffering ability. Calcium oxide, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium sesquicarbonate stabilized the ruminal pH and improved in vitro rumen fermentation. The combined buffer agents had a significant effect on pH, buffering capacity, total gas, and total volatile fatty acids. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in both treatments and the control. Ruminococcus and Prevotella were found to be the dominant genera. Ruminococcus bromii was predominant in the treatment group. Prevotella jejuni was more abundant in the control group compared to the treatment group, in which its abundance was very low. Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Intestinimonas butyriciproducens gradually increased in abundance as cows received treatment. Overall, a high-concentrate diet administered to cows induced adverse changes in ruminal pH; however, buffer supplementation enhanced ruminal fermentation characteristics and altered bacterial community, which could contribute to preventing ruminal acidosis.
THERMAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT IN A CIRCULAR TUBE FITTED WITH VARIOUS SIZES OF MODIFIED V-BAFFLE: A NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION

This research reports numerical examinations on fluid flow, heat transfer behavior and thermal performance analysis in a circular tube equipped with modified V-baffles (CTMVB). The modified V-baffle (MVB) is a combination vortex generator between V-baffles/V-orifices which are placed on the tube wall and V-baffles which are inserted at the core of the tested tube. The MVB height is separated into two parts; b1 represents the MVB height on the tube wall, while b2 represents the MVB height at the core of the tested round tube. The MVB height to tube diameter ratios, b/D, are adjusted; b1/D = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2, and b2/D = 0.025, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1. The Reynolds numbers of about 100 – 2000 (laminar regime) are considered. The flow directions in the tested section; V-tip directing downstream and V-tip directing upstream, are discussed. The flow attack angles for the MVB, α, of about 20o and 30o are compared. The finite volume method with SIMPLE algorithm (a commercial code) is opted to analyze the present investigation. The computational domain of the CTMVB is validated (grid independence and smooth tube validations). It is found that the MVB generates many vortex cores in the tested section. The vortex flows near the tube wall disrupt thermal boundary layer, while the vortex flows at the center of the tube help superior fluid blending. The disturbed thermal boundary layer and the better fluid blending are main two causes for heat transfer augmentation. In addition, the best thermal enhancement factor of the CTMVB is found to be around 3.92.
Evaluation Of A Parking Lot Bioretention Cell ForRemoval Of Stormwater Pollutants

Bioretention is used to retain and treat urban stormwater, which has been identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as one of the most significant forms of water pollution. In this study, the efficiency of a bioretention facility in terms of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and heavy metals removal over a period of 15 rain events was evaluated. This was performed by collecting representative samples of the stormwater runoff for laboratory analysis of both the influent to and the effluent from the bioretention cell. The bioretention was efficient in terms of pollutant removal in the following order: TSS (~ 98%) > Zn (~ 80%) > Cu (~ 75%) > Pb (~ 71%) > Cd (~ 70%) > NH3-N (~65%) > Fe (~ 51%) > Cr (~ 42%) > NO2-N (~ 27%) > Al (~ 17%) > PO4-P (~3%). From the field results Cu (II), Zn (II) and Pb (II) were removed significantly at 81%, 79% and 75%. The field results indicate that bioretention facilities can be effective for the removal of heavy metals in the following order: Cu > Zn > Pb > Cd > Fe > Cr > Al. Although the removal efficiency for this actual field bioretention cell was not has high as previously reported laboratory and field evaluations, removal of pollutants was significant. Organic matter and plants were believed to be the dominant bioretention elements for the removal of heavy metals.
Service-Oriented High-Performance Work Practices as Predictors of Retail Employees’ Work Engagement and Service Climate Perceptions

Abstract Using survey data collected from 781 frontline employees of a South African retailer, this study investigated the degree to which employees’ perceptions of six service-oriented high-performance work practices (HPWPs) – staffing, training, financial compensation, non-financial rewards, involvement, and empowerment – predict their work engagement and service climate perceptions. It was found that employees’ perceptions of involvement, training and staffing predicted their service climate perceptions, while only training was a statistically significant predictor of employees’ work engagement. The study contributes to the limited research on the relationship between individual service-oriented HPWPs and these two crucial employee outcomes.
Analysis of Pedagogical Content Knowledge of Secondary School Science Teachers in Students’ Perspective

This research study was conducted with an objective to analyze the Pedagogical content knowledge of Physics teachers in students’ perspective. The sample of the study was comprised of 710 9 th grade Physics students selected from 30 different schools of the Hazara division. Data were collected with the help of researcher made questionnaire. Analysis of data revealed that Physics teachers of the sample had high level in the pedagogical content knowledge of student difficulties, curriculum, assessment and teaching strategies/OTS. But the following deficiencies were highlighted by the students in the teaching of Physics teachers. Physics teachers do not consider the difference in intelligence level of students during their teaching. Physics teachers solve all numerical questions. Physics teachers use limited variety of examples and very much limited from daily life and during the class of Physics, the only activity of students is listening carefully because they mostly use lecture method
A Study on Morphological Characterization of Black Bengal Goat at three Villages under Bhaluka upazila in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh

The study was carried out in a community goat breeding program at three villages of Bhaluka upazila in Mymensingh district to characterize Black Bengal goat (BBG) by coat color phenotype and morphological body measurements. Data on coat color and body measurements were collected among 200 BBG populations along with different ages and sexes from three villages and analyzed statistically by SPSS 17.0. Among the studied population, black coat color was the highest (53%), followed by brown bezoar (16%), silver bezoar (15%), black with toggenburg pattern (9%), dutch belt pattern (5%), solid brown (3%), and non-distinguished (1%). The average body weight, body length, chest girth, wither height, head length, head width, ear length and ear breadth were 1.36±0.03 kg, 19.40±0.10, 23.72±0.08, 22.88±0.04, 8.42±0.02, 6.41±0.01, 6.64±0.04 and 3.61±0.01cm, respectively at birth. The body weight, body length, chest girth and wither height of male kids were significantly (p<0.05-p<0.001) higher than those of female kids at birth. All the parameters were linearly increased with progressing ages and at 12 month age those traits averaged as 14.38±0.13 kg, 47.51±0.17, 56.94±0.13, 47.17±0.29, 17.42±0.09, 10.77±0.07, 14.42±0.08 and 6.06±0.03 cm, respectively. At six month and onward, all the body measurements in males were significantly (p<0.05-p<0.001) higher than those of females. Strong positive correlations were found among body weight, body length, chest girth, and wither height (ranging from 0.88 to 0.99). From this study, it can be concluded that rather than sex, there have no distinct morphological differences among BBG population of different areas and different coat color variants. Keywords: Black Bengal goat, characterization, color morphology, body measurement
Modeling and motion control of an octopus-like flexible manipulator actuated by shape memory alloy wires

Soft robots are concerned by researchers due to several characteristics, such as high adaptability in complex unstructured environments, safe interaction with environments, and a high degree of dexterity. The deformability and dexterity of the octopus arm are remarkable and interesting for the development of bioinspiration soft robots. In this study, we proposed a biomimetic flexible manipulator actuated by shape memory alloy (SMA) wires and its PI controller, and evaluated its performances with focused experiments. This study aims to find out the advantages of the developed manipulator actuated by SMA wires. We designed the bionic structure to achieve flexible bending in 3D space based on the analysis of the octopus muscle structure. Then we built the mathematical models that described the relationship between the bending angle and the driving parameters. Surprisingly, the soft movement capacity of the bionic manipulator was investigated at different heating voltages and PWM duty cycles by the PI controller based on the self-sensing resistance feedback. The soft manipulator was able to bend flexibly with the maximum bending angle of 60°. Compared to the traditional soft arm, the soft manipulator has higher accuracy, with the error of the deflection angle less than 5° and the errors of bending angles less than 2°.
Psoas Compartment Block for Lower Limb Surgeries: A Comparative Study among The Four Lumbar Plexus Localizing Methods

Background: Psoas compartment block (PCB) is a frequently used techniques providing anesthesia for proximal lower limb surgeries. There are many methods of localization of peripheral nerves for regional anesthesia as loss of resistance (LOR), electric nerve stimulation (ENS) , ultrasound-guided (US) and combined ultrasound-guided and electric nerve stimulation (US/ENS) . Objective: To compare between these four techniques to find out the method of better outcome and least complications. Patients and Methods: This study was a prospective randomized trial, conducted at Anesthesia and Intensive Care Department, Zagazig University Hospitals during the period from January 2018 to January, 2020. 140 patients undergoing unilateral elective proximal lower limb surgeries were included. Patients were categorized randomly, according to the used method for lumbar plexus localization, into four equal groups (each 35 patients). All groups were compared regarding efficacy and safety. Results: The success rates of PCB in ENS, US and US/ENS groups were higher than that in LOR group with combined US/ENS group was the best group (97.14%). The onset of sensory and motor blocks in ENS, US and US/ENS groups were shorter than that in LOR group. Times to ask for the 1 st postoperative analgesia in ENS, US and US/ENS groups were longer than those in LOR group with the consumed amount of morphine for pain relief during the 1 st 24 hours postoperatively in ENS, US and US/ENS groups were lower than that in LOR group. Conclusion: Usage of combined ultrasound and electric nerve stimulation was better regarding the outcome and complications.
Concentrated Solar Power and Photovoltaic Systems: A New Approach to Boost Sustainable Energy for All (Se4all) in Rwanda

The energy sector of today’s Rwanda has made a remarkable growth to some extent in recent years. Although Rwanda has natural energy resources (e.g., hydro, solar, and methane gas, etc.), the country currently has an installed electricity generation capacity of only 226.7 MW from its 45 power plants for a population of about 13 million in 2021. The current national rate of electrification in Rwanda is estimated to 54.5% (i.e.; 39.7% grid-connected and 14.8% off-grid connected systems). This clearly demonstrates that having access to electricity is still a challenge to numerous people not to mention some blackout-related problems. With the ambition of having electricity for all, concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) systems are regarded as solutions to the lack of electricity. The production of CSP has still not been seriously considered in Rwanda, even though the technology has attracted significant global attention. Heavy usage of conventional power has led to the depletion of fossil fuels. At the same time, it has highlighted its unfriendly relationship with the environment because of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, which is a major cause of global warming. Solar power is another source of electricity that has the potential to generate electricity in Rwanda. Firstly, this paper summarizes the present status of CSP and PV systems in Rwanda. Secondly, we conducted a technoeconomic analysis for CSP and PV systems by considering their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). The input data of the SWOT analysis were obtained from relevant shareholders from the government, power producers, minigrid, off-grid, and private companies in Rwanda. Lastly, the technical and economical feasibilities of CSP and PV microgrid systems in off-grid areas of Rwanda were conducted using the system advisor model (SAM). The simulation results indicate that the off-grid PV microgrid system for the rural community is the most cost-effective because of its low net present cost (NPC). According to the past literature, the outcomes of this paper through the SWOT analyses and the results obtained from the SAM model, both the CSP and PV systems could undoubtedly play a vital role in Rwanda’s rural electrification. In fact, PV systems are strongly recommended in Rwanda because they are rapid and cost-effective ways to provide utility-scale electricity for off-grid modern energy services to the millions of people who lack electricity access.
SWB MIMO Antenna with Dual Band Rejection Characteristics and Polarization Diversity for UWB Applications

In this paper a super wide band 2-element MIMO antenna with dual band-notched characteristics and high isolation is presented for use in broadband polarization diversity communication systems. Total dimensions of the fabricated antenna is 34 × 60 mm2 and achieves a super wide impedance matching of more than 15 GHz from 2.3 to 18 GHz due to the simulated and measured results which covers L, S, C, X, Ku bands and some parts of K band with two notched frequency bands around 3.1 – 3.7 GHz for WiMAX and 5.1 – 5.8 GHz for WLAN which realized by etching two half-wavelength elliptic single complementary split-ring resonators (ESCSRRs) of different dimensions on the radiating patches. This antenna comprises two identical elements which placed orthogonally to each other and fed by two 50Ω coplanar waveguide (CPW) lines, therefore an isolation of more than 20 dB is obtained autonomously without utilizing any other special technique. Diversity performance in terms of envelop correlation coefficient (ECC< 0.0035), multiplexing efficiency (ηmux > -1 dB) and diversity gain (DG > 9.99 dB) are also calculated, showing satisfactory MIMO characteristics.
Revelation in Phenomenology

This chapter investigates the notion of revelation in the work of the main representatives of the phenomenological movement. This movement has a crucial importance in understanding the philosophical landscape today. Emerging from Austrian and German sources, phenomenology became the leading philosophical school in Europe by the mid-twentieth century. Later developments led to the emergence of French phenomenology, which has defined Continental thought in more than one way. The persistent focus of the phenomenological movement has been the nature and content of religious experience or the religious phenomenon. And while some of the phenomenologists, like Jean-Paul Sartre, proposed a different course for this kind of thinking, the problem of religion has become central to most of the phenomenological authors. This explains the fact that the phenomenological notion of divine disclosure or revelation has always been in the centre of this movement. One can even say that the philosophical problem of revelation is the central subject matter in the history of phenomenology beginning with Franz Brentano through Max Scheler, Paul Ricœur, Emmanuel Lévinas, and Jean-Luc Marion. The work of these and other authors has exerted a tremendous influence on contemporary philosophy. However, the problem of revelation per se is the crucial problem of philosophy, as is demonstrated by the history and problematic of the phenomenological movement. This chapter offers an overview of this history and also an outline of the problem of revelation from the point of view of what can be termed ‘apocalyptic phenomenology’.