Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calcium carbonate nanoparticles of quail’s egg shells: Synthesis and characterizations

Abstract Avian eggshell is a natural biomaterial that has been used as an alternative natural source of CaCO3 and is accessible in big amounts from egg manufacturing. This study was planned to estimate CaCO3 in quail’s eggshell because it has a probable use in the progress of a novel choice of many applications. Physical properties: mineralogical documentation of the natural eggshell nanoparticles were approved using XRD and FTIR to explore the chemical bond or molecular structure of the materials. Micrographs were obtained using FESEM/EDX and TEM to identify the morphology and size of nanoparticles. The results showed that quail eggshell was soft, with white to light sand color, and a smooth texture which allows good deposition of different color spots, from black to brown spots. The resulted of eggshells signifies almost 8.4% w/w of the overall weight (12.2) gram of quail egg and 91.60% w/w of the micropowder to the full weight of (0.94) gram of quail eggshell. The results presented that calcium is the main element in an eggshell; frequently occurs in a formula of CaCO3 and the crystal construction was almost pure calcite. FTIR spectra for quail eggshell demonstrated the existence of the out of plane bending, the asymmetric stretching, and the plane bending styles of the carbonate groups, specific of normal dolomite, situated at 873 cm–1, 1405 cm–1, and 710 cm–1, respectively. The FESEM and TEM for nanoparticles were shown calcite CaCO3 nanoparticles with an ordinary size of ≤ 100 nm for FESEM and with a variety size of ≤ 50 nm for TEM. Unfortunately, eggshell is an egg product manufacturing deposit. These incomes will let fast developments in proportional studies of the organic elements of avian eggshell and their purposeful consequences by usages of eggshell in nourishment and medicine which can be applied for many resolutions that diminish their consequence on environmental contamination.
Suitability Assessment of Weather Networks for Wind Data Measurements in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area

The Athabasca Oil Sands Area (AOSA) in Alberta, Canada, is considered to have a high density of weather stations. Therefore, our objective was to determine an optimal network for the wind data measurement that could sufficiently represent the wind variability in the area. We used available historical data records of the weather stations in the three networks in AOSA, i.e., oil sands monitoring (OSM) water quantity program (WQP) and Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) edge sites (ES) and meteorological towers (MT) of the air program. Both graphical and quantitative methods were implemented to find the correlations and similarities in the measurements between weather stations in each network. The graphical method (wind rose diagram) was found as a functional tool to understand the patterns of wind directions, but it was not appropriate to quantify and compare between wind speed data of weather stations. Therefore, we applied the quantitative method of the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and absolute average error (AAE) in finding a relationship between the wind data of station pairs and the percentage of similarity (PS) method in quantifying the closeness/similarity. In the correlation analyses, we found weak to strong correlations in the wind data of OSM WQP (r = 0.04–0.69) and WBEA ES (r = 0.32–0.77), and a strong correlation (r = 0.33–0.86) in most of the station pairs of the WBEA MT network. In the case of AAE, we did not find any acceptable value within the standard operating procedure (SOP) threshold when logically combining the values of the u and v components together. In the similarity analysis, minor similarities were identified between the stations in the three networks. Hence, we presumed that all weather stations would be required to measure wind data in the AOSA.
Factors influencing the use of agricultural information by Vietnamese farmers

This study examined the factors affecting the use of agricultural information by Vietnamese cereal farmers. A sample size of 245 cereal farmers was selected and surveyed. The participants were classified into small, medium and large cereal farmers. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were applied to analyse the data. The results show that large farmers used information from preferred traders, extension workers, input suppliers, mobile phones and the Internet; smaller farmers employed information from cooperatives, the farmers’ union and television. Large farmers had more access to information on soil preparation, pest/weed control, harvesting, and market and input prices, while small farmers accessed information on inorganic fertilisers. The regression analysis shows that the characteristics of gender, farming experience, participation in training programmes and community-based organisations, access to the Internet and television, information obtained from preferred traders, the Commune Peoples’ Committee, extension workers, cooperatives, the farmers’ union and input suppliers significantly affected farmers’ use of agricultural information (χ2 = 140.784, p < .000).
Safety and outcomes of performing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy at an ambulatory site of a tertiary care hospital in Ontario

Background: In Ontario, bariatric surgery is publicly funded and is performed only in accredited tertiary care hospitals. The purpose of our study was to report on the safety and outcomes of performing bariatric surgery at an ambulatory site of a tertiary care hospital in southern Ontario. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all adult (age ≥ 18 yr) patients who underwent primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) at the ambulatory site of our tertiary care hospital between September 2016 and August 2018. The 2 sites are 1.4 km apart. Patient demographic characteristics, duration of surgery, intraoperative and 90-day postoperative complications, number of transfers and readmission to the tertiary care hospital, and emergency department visits were collected. Results: A total of 314 patients (285 women [90.8%] and 29 men [9.2%] with a mean age of 41.8 yr [standard deviation (SD) 8.9 yr]) underwent surgery: LRYGB in 295 cases (93.9%) and LSG in 19 (6.0%). The mean body mass index was 45.3 (SD 5.1), the median American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 3 (range 2–4), and the median Edmonton Obesity Staging System score was 2 (range 0–4). The mean operative time was 119.8 (SD 23.1) minutes for LRYGB and 96.2 (SD 22.0) minutes for LSG, and the mean length of stay was 2.1 (SD 0.6) days and 2.1 (SD 0.2) days, respectively. Thirteen patients (4.1%) required transfer to the tertiary care hospital for a postoperative complication. Of 312 patients, 29 (9.3%) presented to emergency department within 90 days after surgery, and 8 (2.6%) required readmission to hospital; no deaths were reported. Conclusion: The findings suggest that LRYGB and LSG can be performed safely at an ambulatory site of a tertiary care hospital. However, caution should be exercised in performing these procedures at an ambulatory site without a tertiary care hospital affiliation, as patients may require urgent transfer for a serious postoperative complication.
Molecular Determinants for OMF Selectivity in Tripartite RND Multidrug Efflux Systems

Tripartite multidrug RND efflux systems made of an inner membrane transporter, an outer membrane factor (OMF) and a periplasmic adaptor protein (PAP) form a canal to expel drugs across Gram-negative cell wall. Structures of MexA–MexB–OprM and AcrA–AcrB–TolC, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, respectively, depict a reduced interfacial contact between OMF and PAP, making unclear the comprehension of how OMF is recruited. Here, we show that a Q93R mutation of MexA located in the α-hairpin domain increases antibiotic resistance in the MexAQ93R–MexB–OprM-expressed strain. Electron microscopy single-particle analysis reveals that this mutation promotes the formation of tripartite complexes with OprM and non-cognate components OprN and TolC. Evidence indicates that MexAQ93R self-assembles into a hexameric form, likely due to interprotomer interactions between paired R93 and D113 amino acids. C-terminal deletion of OprM prevents the formation of tripartite complexes when mixed with MexA and MexB components but not when replacing MexA with MexAQ93R. This study reveals the Q93R MexA mutation and the OprM C-terminal peptide as molecular determinants modulating the assembly process efficacy with cognate and non-cognate OMFs, even though they are outside the interfacial contact. It provides insights into how OMF selectivity operates during the formation of the tripartite complex.
Agile Flight Control Under Multiple Disturbances for Quadrotor: Algorithms and Evaluation

In this article, a scheme of anti-disturbance agile flight control is developed for a maneuverable quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle, subject to the aerodynamic drag, dynamic shift of center of gravity (CoG), and motor dynamics. A cascaded control framework is adopted. In the translational loop, an aerodynamic drag model that considers the drag surface change is developed, containing the deep coupling information between the aerodynamic drag and the system states. A disturbance observer based on the aerodynamic drag model is subsequently designed for suppressing the aerodynamic drag force. In the rotational loop, a full quaternion-based backstepping control is adopted and a nonlinear disturbance observer with consideration of motor dynamics is designed, which can handle the dynamic CoG shift and aerodynamic drag torque. Comparative studies on both simulations and experiments manifest that the agile ability can be ensured by the proposed control framework, especially in the presence of multiple disturbances.
The Assessment of Hatch Window, Hatchability and Quality of Broiler Chicks Obtained from Different Breeder Strains in a Commercial Hatchery

The objective of this study was to assess the hatch window, hatchability and quality of broilers’ chick obtained from different breeder strains in a commercial hatchery. A total of 57 600 hatching eggs (28 800 hatching eggs per strain) were collected from commercial flocks of Cobb 500 and Ross 308 broiler breeder parent stocks at 60-61 weeks of age. Each strain was randomly coded as A strain and B strain. The mean value of eggshell temperature was found to be higher in eggs obtained from Strain A (101.05 ⁰F) than the other eggs of Strain B (100.98 ⁰F, P<0.01). The percentage of hatched chicks at 486 h of incubation period was found to be as 82.1% and 62.6% of Strain A and Strain B eggs respectively, whereas 84.9% and 67.7% of Strain A and Strain B eggs at 498 h of incubation period (P<0.01). The relative chick weight was found to be higher in the chicks obtained from Strain B (67.5%), compared to the Strain A (65.9%; P<0.01). These findings could be instructive for commercial hatcheries about the requirements of the hatching eggs obtained from different breeder strains at particular age and contribute the optimization of eggs’ management and processing.
Home-Based Nonoperative-Side Quadriceps Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Prevents Muscle Weakness Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

We compared the effectiveness of a home-based neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) program applied to the quadriceps of the nonoperative side against sham-NMES as a complement to standard rehabilitation on knee extensor neuromuscular function in patients following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Twenty-four patients completed the 6 week NMES (n = 12) and sham-NMES (n = 12) post-operative interventions and were tested at different time points for neuromuscular function and self-reported knee function. Isometric, concentric, and eccentric strength deficits (muscle weakness) increased significantly from pre-surgery to 24 weeks post-surgery in the sham-NMES group (p < 0.05), while no significant changes were observed in the NMES group. On the stimulated (nonoperative) side, quadriceps voluntary activation and muscle thickness were respectively maintained (p > 0.05) and increased (p < 0.001) as a result of the NMES intervention, contrary to sham-NMES. Self-reported knee function improved progressively during the post-operative phase (p < 0.05), with no difference between the two groups. Compared to a sham-NMES intervention, a 6 week home-based NMES program applied to the quadriceps of the nonoperative side early after ACL reconstruction prevented the occurrence of knee extensor muscle weakness 6 months after surgery. We conclude that nonoperative-side NMES may help counteract muscle weakness after ACL reconstruction.
Psychotic-like experiences in the lonely predict conspiratorial beliefs and are associated with the diet during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the occurrence of conspiracy theories. It has been suggested that a greater endorsement of these theories may be associated with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), as well as with social isolation. In this preregistered study, we investigated whether both PLEs and measures of social isolation (e.g., loneliness) can predict conspiratorial beliefs and, if so, which of these variables can mediate the association with conspiratorial beliefs. Furthermore, based on previous studies on schizophrenia, we explored whether the diet is associated with PLEs and conspiratorial beliefs. Participants (N = 142) completed online questionnaires measuring PLEs, social isolation, mental well-being, and conspiratorial beliefs. They also submitted their daily food intake for a week using a smartphone app. We found that loneliness predicted the endorsement of conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 lockdown. Strikingly, the proneness to experience subclinical psychotic symptoms played an underlying mediating role. In addition, these subclinical symptoms were associated with lower fruit, carbohydrate, and iron intakes, as well as with higher fat intake. Our results add insights into how conspiratorial beliefs can affect individuals’ mental health and relationships. Moreover, these results open the avenue for potential novel intervention strategies to optimize food intake in individuals with PLEs.
Can Stephen Curry really know?—Conscious access to outcome prediction of motor actions

The NBA player Stephen Curry has a habit of turning away from the basket right after taking three-point shots, presumably because he can predict the success of his shot. For such a consciously accessible prediction to be possible, Stephen Curry needs access to internal processes of outcome prediction and valuation. Computational simulations and empirical data suggest that the quality of internal prediction processes is related to motor expertise. Whether the results of internal predictions can reliably be consciously accessed is less clear. In the current study, 30 participants each practiced a virtual goal-oriented throwing task for 1000 trials. Every second trial, they were required to verbally predict the success of the current throw. Results showed that on average, conscious prediction accuracy was above an individually computed chance level, taking into account individual success rates and response strategies. Furthermore, prediction accuracy was related to throwing performance. Participants with better performance predicted the success of their throws more accurately than participants with poorer performance. Moreover, for the poorer performing individuals, movement execution was negatively affected by the verbalized predictions required, and they did not show variation in speech characteristics (response latency) between correct and incorrect predictions. This indicates reduced quality of conscious access to internal processes of outcome prediction.
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CJLP243 in Patients with Functional Diarrhea and High Fecal Calprotectin Levels

Micro-inflammation in the gut, assessed by fecal calprotectin (FC), is considered a component of the pathogenesis of functional diarrhea (FD). Since probiotics may suppress micro-inflammation in the intestine by competing with harmful bacteria, we hypothesized that they would reduce the ratio of loose stool symptoms and gut inflammation in patients with FD. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the clinical and laboratory effects of Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP243 in FD patients with elevated FC levels for two months. Twenty-four patients diagnosed with FD with elevated FC levels were randomly assigned to either a probiotic group or a placebo group. After 2 months, 10 patients in the probiotic group and 12 patients in the placebo group completed the study, and FD symptoms, FC values, and intestinal flora were re-evaluated in these subjects. The percentage of subjects who had adequate FD relief (decrease in loose stool frequency) in the probiotic group was significantly increased after two months compared with the baseline. In addition, the probiotic group showed a statistically significant decrease in log-transformed FC values compared with the pre-treatment group, whereas the placebo group showed no difference before and after the intervention. Furthermore, the levels of Leuconostoc genus organisms in the gut microbiota composition in the probiotic group increased significantly after the end of the study compared with the baseline values. In this preliminary exploratory research, we found that two months of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CJLP243 treatment resulted in FD symptom improvement, reduced FC values, and increased Leuconostoc levels, suggesting that the intake of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was helpful in those patients. These findings need to be validated via further clinical studies.
Effects of Alirocumab on Triglyceride Metabolism: A Fat-Tolerance Test and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study

Background: PCSK9 antibodies strongly reduce LDL cholesterol. The effects of PCSK9 antibodies on triglyceride metabolism are less pronounced. The present study aimed to investigate in detail the effects of alirocumab on triglycerides, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and lipase regulators. Methods: A total of 24 patients with an indication for treatment with PCSK9 antibodies were recruited. There were two visits at the study site: the first before initiation of treatment with alirocumab and the second after 10 weeks of treatment. Fat-tolerance tests, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to analyze lipid metabolism. Results: A total of 21 participants underwent the first and second investigation. Among these, two participants only received alirocumab twice and 19 patients completed the trial per protocol. All of them had atherosclerotic vascular disease. There was no significant effect of alirocumab treatment on fasting triglycerides, post-prandial triglycerides, or lipoprotein-lipase regulating proteins. Total, large, and small LDL particle concentrations decreased, while the HDL particle concentration increased (all p < 0.001). Mean total circulating PCSK9 markedly increased in response to alirocumab treatment (p < 0.001). Whereas PCSK9 increased more than three-fold in all 19 compliant patients, it remained unchanged in those two patients with two injections only. Conclusion: Significant effects of alirocumab on triglyceride metabolism were not detectable in the ALIROCKS trial. The total circulating PCSK9 concentration might be a useful biomarker to differentiate non-adherence from non-response to PCSK9 antibodies.
Future Changes in High and Low Flows under the Impacts of Climate and Land Use Changes in the Jiulong River Basin of Southeast China

Climate change and human activities have profoundly affected the world with extreme precipitation, heat waves, water scarcity, frequent floods and intense droughts. It is acknowledged that climate change will persist and perhaps intensify in the future, and it is thus meaningful to explore the quantitative impacts of these changes on hydrological regimes. The Jiulong River basin serves as an important watershed on the southeast coast of China. However, future hydrological changes under the combined impacts of climate change and land use change have been barely investigated. In this study, the climate outputs from five general circulation models (GCMs) under the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) were corrected and spatially downscaled by a statistical downscaling method combining quantile mapping and machine learning. The future high-resolution land use maps were projected by the CA–Markov model with land use changes from the Land-Use Harmonization 2 (LUH2) as constraints. The future dynamic vegetation process was projected by the Biome-GBC model, and then, the future hydrological process under four representative concentration pathways and shared socioeconomic pathways (RCP–SSP) combined scenarios was simulated by a distributed hydrological model. Based on the copula method, the flood frequency and corresponding return periods were derived. The results demonstrated that future precipitation and air temperature would continue to rise, and future land use changes would have different developing pathways determined by the designs in various SSP–RCPs. Under the combined impacts of climate and land use change, the total available water resources will increase due to increasing precipitation, and the high flow and low flow will both increase at three stations under the four SSP–RCPs. The annual 1-day maximum discharge is projected to increase by 67–133% in the last decade of the 21st century, and the annual 7-day minimum discharge is projected to increase by 19–39%. The flood frequency analysis showed that the Jiulong River basin would face more frequent floods in the future. By the end of the 21st century, the station-average frequency of a historical 100-year flood will increase by 122% under the most optimistic scenario (SSP126) and increase by 213% under the scenario of greatest regional rivalry (SSP370). We demonstrated that climate change would be the major cause for the increase in future high flows and that land use change would dominate future changes in low flows. Finally, we recommend integrated and sustainable water management systems to tackle future challenges in this coastal basin.
Task Modeling for Lunar Landing Redesignation

Man’s return to the Moon requires advancement in landing technology to achieve safe and precise landing. The Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology project is developing an autonomous flight manager (AFM) to provide the capability of assisting the crew during critical landing phases, beyond the standard guidance, navigation, and control. One such phase is landing point redesignation (LPR), where the crew must select a safe landing aim point. A task model is created to analyze the functions required for the LPR task, the allocation of functions between crew and automation, and the information needed by the crew. Three bottlenecks are found in the LPR task: the inability to rapidly compare alternative aim points, the time penalty associated with changing internal mission objectives, and the hindrance of communicating such a change to the AFM. The LPR task model predicts a task execution time of 25 seconds for the best scenario, but implies design changes are necessary to improve a task execution of 5 minutes in the worst scenario. Implementation of the changes suggested in this paper will reduce crew workload and stress during lunar landing, and increase overall system risk and reliability.