Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Cysteine-Functionalized Silver Nanoparticles Using Green Tea Extract with Application for Lipase Immobilization

ABSTRACT The application of cysteine-capped silver nanoparticles synthesized using green tea as the reducing agent to immobilize lipase has been reported in the present work. The reducing property of green tea is due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds in its extract which are not oxidized at ambient atmospheric conditions and hence is a suitable reducing agent for green synthesis of nanoparticles. Cysteine-capped silver nanoparticles were synthesized under alkaline conditions by reducing the silver salt by green tea extract in the presence of cystine. Various parameters such as the cystine concentration, pH, temperature, and amount of reducing agent were standardized and their effect on the synthesis process has been initially evaluated by surface plasmon resonance peak analysis. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles were also characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The particle size analysis revealed the average size of the particles to be around 20 nm. The glutaraldehyde-deactivated amino group on cysteine-capped nanoparticles was used to immobilize lipase on its surface. Both crude and immobilized lipases were checked for activity and protein content under standard assay conditions and their activity was found to be 37.7 and 24.9 U mL−1, respectively. The lipase nanoparticle bioconjugates exhibited a good shelf life of 60 days with a marginal decrease in activity. The bioconjugates showed 15% loss in its initial activity at the end of five reusability cycles. This immobilized reusable system has the potential to be utilized for various applications pertaining to the exploitation of lipase in various industries.
Intrathecal isobaric 1% 2-chloroprocaine versus hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine in parturients undergoing lower segment cesarean section: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Cesarean sections are usually done under spinal anesthesia (SA) using local anesthetics. This study is aimed to compare the efficacy of intrathecal isobaric 1% 2-chloroprocaine (CP) and hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine in parturients undergoing lower segment cesarean section (LSCS). Materials and Methods: One hundred parturients aged 18–35 years with the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II undergoing LSCS were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A (n = 50) received intrathecal isobaric 1% 2-CP 5 ml (50 mg), while Group B (n = 50) received intrathecal hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine 2 ml (10 mg) in SA. Onset and duration of both sensory and motor block, highest dermatomal level achieved, time to achieve highest dermatomal level, two-segment regression, duration of analgesia, hemodynamic changes, and side effects were noted. Results: The onset of sensory blockade was significantly faster in Group A (1.66 ± 0.49 min) compared to Group B (3.00 ± 0.58 min) (P 0.05). Conclusion: Intrathecal 1% 2-CP (50 mg) appears to be a safe and effective alternative, preferably in elective and uncomplicated LSCS, as it has faster onset and predictable sensory block height with shorter but adequate duration of motor block and analgesia.
Bank Innovation Capability and Competitive Advantage of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria

Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) are seen as the engine of most economies of the world. Hence, alarming rate of SMEs’ failure in Nigeria, has prompted banks, in response to both regulation and changing market dynamics, to resort to innovating around their structures, systems and processes to design products and processes that could help in alleviating the SMEs failure rate. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of bank innovation capability on the competitive advantage of small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. Cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, 5,292 and 27,000 staff of banks with dedicated SMEs’ desks and SMEs’ owner managers respectivelywere sampled and data collated. Multiple regression analysis was adopted and the result shows that bank innovation capability had positive significant effect on competitive advantage (Adj R2 = 0.127, (F (5,493) = 15.483, p<0.05). It was concluded that bank innovation capability affect the competitive advantage of small and medium enterprisesand it was recommended thatCentral Bank of Nigeria should encourage deposit money banks in Nigeria to embrace innovation capability dimensions which is tailored to customers’ needs in dealing with SMEs’ industry so as to drive their competitive
“Song-advantage” or “Cost of Singing”? A Research Synthesis of Classroom-based Intervention Studies Applying Lyrics-based Language Teaching (1972–2019)

While lyrics-based activities are increasingly popular in foreign language education, and a number of theoretical arguments have been suggested by applied linguists and SLA researchers why they are beneficial for learners, only a few empirical assessments of the actual effectiveness of lyrics-based teaching have been conducted. This contribution reviews relevant classroom-based intervention studies (N = 28) that employ a pre-/post-test multiple group design. A main aim is to assess previous claims of a “song-advantage” (Busse et al., 2018) when input is presented with the help of songs and their lyrics vs. a “cost of singing” (Racette & Peretz, 2007) in terms of an additional processing burden lowering rates of verbal recall, for instance. Results suggest that, overall, lyrics-based teaching is effective in comparison to control conditions. Effectiveness may vary, however, when different subareas (e.g. grammar vs. vocabulary) are compared. In summary, it is argued that lyrics-based activities can be viewed as a valuable means in the foreign language classroom, even though they cannot serve as universal remedy and are most effective when combined with other materials and activities. Eventually, it is suggested that both additional primary studies at a high level of methodological transparency and rigor and quantitative meta-analyses (e.g. to assess the influence of moderator variables and to systematically compare control groups with different teaching conditions) are desirable.
Sugar water feeding practices are associated with bird species composition in urban backyards

Feeding backyard birds with sugar water is increasingly popular in urban areas, but it has poorly understood effects on bird assemblages. In New Zealand, ca. 20% of households engaged in feeding wild birds use sugar water, often in an attempt to attract native, nectarivorous birds. Developing best practices for sugar water feeding could be a powerful tool for attracting these species in urban areas. However, it is currently unclear whether these feeders actually support native species, and, if so, which feeding practices are most effective in increasing visitation. We surveyed New Zealanders who provide sugar water to birds about their feeding practices via an online questionnaire. The aim of our research was to understand existing practices and their effect on attracting native species, as well as the motivations and social factors behind urban sugar water bird feeding. Our results show that this practice is popular throughout the country with the majority of households successful in attracting native nectarivorous species to their gardens. Sugar water feeder type had the largest effect on reported species richness at feeders in comparison to other factors (e.g. sugar concentration). Feeders specifically designed for nectarivorous birds, namely the Tui Nectar Feeder™, are more successful at attracting natives in comparison to other commonly used feeder types. Thus, individual householder decisions around feeder use can have important consequences for bird species composition in urban gardens. Future research is needed to understand the consequences of sugar water feeding for bird communities and individual bird health.
Parental Experiences with their Child’s Treatment Journey: The Road to Tertiary Level Pediatric Eating Disorder Treatment

Background: Parents are integral in the treatment of pediatric eating disorders. The current study was conducted to further understand the barriers and facilitators that parents experience in accessing specialized, tertiary level eating disorder treatment for children and adolescents. The goals of the study were to understand the processes leading to diagnosis and treatment, perceived barriers and facilitators to accessing care, and parents’ experiences over the course of their child’s eating disorders treatment. Methods: Ten parents whose children were admitted to a tertiary level specialized pediatric eating disorders program took part in an exit interview upon their child’s discharge. In-depth semi-structured interviews were combined with a visual timeline. Interpretive induction was performed to generate high level concepts that emerged from the interviews. Results: Five high level concepts were identified: (1) delays in identifying eating disorder symptoms, (2) challenges in accessing eating disorder services, (3) the right treatment at the right time, (4) emotional impact on parents, and (5) parental expertise and involvement. Conclusions: Several barriers were identified by parents that interfered with treatment, including system-related challenges when accessing specialized eating disorders treatment, concerns about a lack of appropriate mental health support for their child, and difficulties with transitioning between community and tertiary level care. Negative emotions, including guilt and self-blame, were common early in the treatment journey. Parental involvement throughout treatment was associated with confidence at the time of their child’s discharge. The results of this study suggest the importance of early identification of eating disorder symptoms, facilitating smoother transitions between community services and specialized eating disorder care, and improving clinical decision-making to ensure children and adolescents with eating disorders receive the most appropriate treatment based on their clinical presentation.
A Comparison Study of Chemical Compositions and Sources of PM1.0 and PM2.5 in Hanoi

ABSTRACT We simultaneously collected 85 pairs of 24-h PM1.0 and PM2.5 samples from a new urban area in Hanoi, Vietnam, and analyzed their chemical compositions with particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and ion chromatography (IC) to obtain input data for source apportionment via positive matrix factorization (PMF). Sulfate, ammonium, and black carbon (BC) composed the majority of the mass in both size fractions, and the PMF models clearly differentiated the contribution of long-range transport (LRT) aerosols, which accounted for more than two-thirds of the measured PM-bound sulfate and ammonium concentrations, from those of the six in situ sources, viz., resuspended road dust, primary vehicular emissions, coal fly ash, biomass burning emissions, construction dust, and sea salt. Whereas LRT aerosols, coal fly ash, and primary particulate vehicular emissions mainly occurred in the PM1.0, resuspended road dust and biomass-burning fly ash tended to appear in the PM1.0-2.5; hence, we can characterize the anthropogenic emissions in this area by examining the profile of the PM1.0 rather than the PM2.5. Additionally, air masses with inland trajectories originating in northern China and countries northwest and southwest of Vietnam contained more ammonium, sulfate, and BC than those that passed over the East Sea. Finally, the LRT aerosols exhibited high acidity in the PM1.0 but neutrality in the PM2.5.
Numerical study on bubble behavior in magnetic nanofluid used for waste heat recovery power generation concept

Electrical energy can be generated by the bubble motion inside the magnetic nanofluid under the influence of an external magnetic field. The relative movement of the magnetic particles dispersed in the magnetic fluid is induced through the movement of the bubbles rising by buoyancy force. This disturbs the external magnetic field associated with the generator coil, and electrical energy can be generated. The bubble movement in this complex physical environment was studied through 2D numerical analysis. Commercial magnetic fluids EFH1 and EFH3, manufactured by Ferrotec, were selected as the working fluid for the investigation. A level set method was used to analyze the 2‐phase flow of bubbles motion in the magnetic fluid.
Researcher experiences in practice-based interdisciplinary research

This article reports on a study that followed up on an initial interdisciplinary project and focused specifically on the experiences of researchers involved in practice-based interdisciplinary research. We share an approach to research evaluation that focuses on the experiences of those conducting the research rather than the outputs. The study allowed those involved in the initial successful project to reflect post hoc on their experiences. We show that neglecting fundamental conceptions about how the research is conceptualized can lead to challenges with the research itself. In addition to alternative understandings of research and concepts, practical and logistical issues, whilst seeming trivial, feed into communication issues such as misunderstanding of terms and language. We argue that tensions and confusions around the very nature of the research—what was being researched, and what was valued as research, epistemological differences between the disciplinary perspectives—need to be explored and interrogated in order to maximize the benefits of interdisciplinary research. We conclude with considerations of the relationship between interdisciplinary research in a team and identity work of team members, and the implications this may have for research design, an area of research evaluation that certainly needs further exploration.
Armstrong's Resource-Egalitarianism Theory and Attachment

The paper analyses the interrelationship between Armstrong’s egalitarian theory and his treatment of the ‘attachment theory’ of resources, which is the dominant rival theory of resources that his theory is pitched against. On Armstrong’s theory, egalitarianism operates as a default position, from which special claims would need to be justified, but he also claims to be able to incorporate 'attachment' into his theory. The general question explored in the paper is the extent to which ‘attachment’ claims can be ‘married’ to an egalitarian theory. The more specific argument is that a properly constrained attachment theory is more plausible than Armstrong’s egalitarian theory. It also criticizes attachment and improvement accounts as justifying permanent sovereignty over resources. The paper argues that neither of those arguments aim to justify the international doctrine of permanent sovereignty.
Comparative Diagnostic Performance of Microscopic Examination, Polyclonal Antigen-ELISA, and Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Detection of Trypanosoma evansi in Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

| Camel trypanosomiasis (surra) is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma (T.) evansi, affecting the health of camels, and resulting in a number of negative economic implications. The clinical signs of the disease are not characteristic, and as such, the laboratory diagnosis of camel trypanosomiasis is crucial. This study aimed to demonstrate the diagnostic performance of Giemsa-stained blood smears (GSBS), antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of T. evansi infection in camels. Blood samples were collected from 56 clinically suspected and 36 apparently healthy camels. The overall prevalence of T.evansi was 9.8 % with GSBS with sensitivity 16.7% and specificity 100%, 16.3 % with Ag-ELISA with sensitivity 27.8% and specificity100%, and 58.7 %with PCR. The prevalence of T. evansi in the clinically suspected camels was 16.1% with GSBS, 26.8% with Ag-ELISA, and 60.7% with PCR, while in the apparently healthy camels, was 55.6% with PCR and no positive cases were detected with both GSBS and Ag-ELISA. A significant increase in the prevalence identified with GSBS, Ag-ELISA, and PCR was found in clinically suspected camels relative to the apparently healthy ones. A substantial agreement (k=0.715) between GSBS and antigen-ELISA was detected, while the agreement between GSBS and PCR was slight (k =0.142) and fair (k =0.241) between Ag-ELISA and PCR. This study advocates the use of molecular analysis to assess the prevalence of surra in camels, rather than antigen-ELISA. However, GSBS can be used in developing countries as a preliminary screening method.
Reduced graphene oxide as a water, carbon dioxide and oxygen barrier in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) films

Herein, we report the incorporation of a 10 μm thick reduced graphene oxide (RGO) barrier layer in a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) film as the main constituent in ion-selective membranes used in potentiometric solid-contact ion-selective electrodes (SCISE). Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR) measurements showed that the embedded RGO barrier efficiently impedes the diffusion of liquid water, carbon dioxide and oxygen (O2) through the 400 μm thick PVC film, which causes potential instability and irreproducibility of the SCISEs. The measurements revealed that the RGO layer completely blocks the carbon dioxide diffusion, while it fully blocks the water diffusion for 16 h and reduced the OTR by 85% on average. The μm-thick RGO films used in this study were easier to handle and incorporate into host polymers, and form more efficient and robust barriers compared to the mono-, few- and multilayer graphene commonly applied as barrier layers for liquids and gases. We also demonstrated that the FTIR-ATR technique employed in the permeability measurements is a versatile and very sensitive technique for studying the diffusion of small amounts of water and carbon dioxide through graphene-based thin films.
UNDERUTILIZED LEAFY VEGETABLES IN WESTERN GHATS REGION FOR NUTRITIONAL SECURITY

An Investigation on “Evaluation of underutilized leafy vegetables for yield and nutritional value” was conducted at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam, TNAU during 2018- 2019 to determine the performance of underutilized leafy vegetables for growth, foliage yield and their nutritional content. Fifteen underutilized green vegetables used by the native people were collected and studied for their development, yield, and nutritional parameters. The results showed significant variations for different characters. The highest fresh foliage yield was registered in the Alternanthera bettzickiana. Ascorbic acid content was highest in Acalypha indica with lower fiber content. Carotenoid content and sodium content were recorded maximum in Hibiscus cannabinus. Total phenolic content was detected highest in G13 Sauropus androgynus. Potassium and copper content was showed a maximum in Cardiospermum halicacabu. Magnesium and manganese content was noticed highest in Talinum fruticosum. Zinc and calcium content was registered maximum in G15 Solanum trilobatum. Iron content was observed maximum in Alternanthera sessilis
Reconstructing Surface Water Carbonate Ion Concentration Changes in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific Across Glacial Transitions

RECONSTRUCTING SURFACE WATER CARBONATE ION CONCENTRATION CHANGES IN THE EASTERN EQUATORIAL PACIFIC ACROSS GLACIAL TRANSITIONS Lenzie Gail Ward Old Dominion University, 2021 Director: Dr. Matthew W. Schmidt Today, the eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) plays a critical role in the global CO2 budget as a major source of CO2 to the atmosphere, but recent studies suggest the region may shift to a sink for atmospheric CO2 under different climate states. Here, I focus on two transitional periods, the last deglaciation (25 kyr to present) and last glaciation (the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5a-4 transition, 96 to 60 kyr), to investigate how the carbon system in the EEP responds to major climate changes. I measured B/Ca ratios in the planktic foraminifera Globigerina bulloides from core MV1014-17JC (00o10.83’S, 85o52.00’W; 2846 m water depth) as a proxy for changes in surface water carbonate ion concentration ([CO3 ]) in the EEP across both climate transitions. Because calcification rate (controlled by [CO3 ]) drives the uptake of boron in foraminiferal tests, [CO3 ] can be calculated from B/Ca ratios. In addition to the B/Ca proxy, the relationship between δC values in the planktic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber and Trilobatus sacculifer to surface water [CO3 ] differ in response to changes in seawater [CO3 ]. Therefore, I also measured δC in these two species as another proxy for surface water Δ[CO3 ] change. Because surface water [CO3 ] is linked to surface water CO2 concentrations and thus atmospheric pCO2, I use reconstructed [CO3 ] to indicate if the EEP was more or less of a source of CO2 to the atmosphere in the past. Results indicate that across both the deglaciation and glaciation, the EEP remained as much or more of a source of CO2 than today. Enhanced upwelling across these glacial transitions coupled with an expansion of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) likely delivered CO2and nutrient-rich water to the surface. However, this increase in nutrient concentrations coupled with dust fertilization across cold Heinrich events failed to stimulate biological productivity to the point where the region switched to being a sink for atmospheric CO2. Sustained lower-than-modern surface water [CO3 ] across both climate transitions indicate that the EEP may remain a source of CO2 to the atmosphere across anthropogenic climate changes in the future.
Mathematical Model and Non-Pharmaceutical Control of the Coronavirus 2019 Disease in Madagascar

For Madagascar, with the uncertainty over vaccines against the novel coronavirus 2019 and its variants, non-pharmaceutical approach is widely used. Our objective is to propose a mathematical control model which will serve as a tool to help decision-makers in the strategy to be implemented to better face the pandemic. By separating asymptomatic cases which are often not reported and symptomatic who are hospitalized after tests; we develop a mathematical model of the propagation of covid-19 in Madagascar, by integrating control strategies. We study the stability of the model by expressing the basic reproduction number using the next-generation matrix. Simulation with different parameters shows the effects of non-pharmaceutical measures on the speed of the disease spread. By integrating a control parameter linked to compliance with barrier measures in the virus propagation equation, we were able to show the impacts of the implementation of social distancing measures on the basic reproduction number. The strict application of social distancing measures and total confinement is unfavorable for economic situation even if they allow the contamination to be reduced quickly. Without any restrictions, the disease spreads at high speed and the peak is reached fairly quickly. In this condition, hospitals are overwhelmed and the death rate increases rapidly. With 50% respect for non-pharmaceutical strategies such as rapid detection and isolation of positive cases and barrier gestures; the basic reproduction number R0 can go down from 3 to 1.7. The pressures on the economic and social situation are rather viable. It is the most suitable for the Malagasy health system. The results proposed are a way to control the spread of the disease and limit its devastation in a country like Madagascar.