Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanochemical Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization: Development, Scope, and Mechano-Only Copolymer Synthesis

Ruthenium-alkylidene initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (Ru-ROMP) was realized under solid-state conditions employing a mechanochemical ball milling method, promoting greenness and broadening scope. High-speed ball milling provided sufficient mixing and energy to the reaction mixture comprised of the catalyst and solid monomers, thus eliminating the need for solvents. Studies on the catalytic species and ball milling parameters (liquid-assisted grinding, vibration frequency, and ball size) revealed that mechanical energy regulated solid-state Ru-ROMP and it follows similar mechanistic features of solution-phase reactions. The solubility and miscibility of monomer and Ru-initiator are not a limitation in solid-state ball milling. Without the use of a solvent, a wide spectrum of solid monomers, including ionomer, fluorous monomer, and macromonomers, were successfully polymerized. Finally, effective direct copolymerization of immiscible monomers such ionic/hydrophobic and ionic/fluorous monomers resulted in a set of copolymers that are difficult to make using traditional solution procedures.
Cowpeas: Nutritional profile, processing methods and products—A review

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is an important pulse crop grown in sub‐Saharan Africa and in parts of Asia and the Americas. It is a major starchy legume consumed widely in sub‐Saharan Africa as an affordable source of nutrients including protein. The global production of cowpeas has increased 2.7‐folds since 2000. Cowpea is a nutritious food source, rich in protein, digestible and nondigestible carbohydrates, and potassium with very low lipids and sodium content. Cowpeas also contain a number of essential amino acids, and polyphenols with antioxidant activity. The main objectives of this review are to provide information on the nutritional composition of cowpeas, processing techniques used, and consequent effect on nutritional and sensory quality. It focuses on specific processing techniques including traditional processes and the production of cowpea‐based ingredients for potential industrial applications. Additionally, an extensive review of typical foods made from cowpeas is included. Recent developments in cowpea research, notably the use of novel processes and product applications, have also been reviewed.
Smart Broadcast algorithm for inter-vehicular communications

Broadcast is a fundamental service for self- organizing wireless networks but its importance increases in the context of inter-vehicle communication (IVC) sys- tems where it can be used to propagate urgent informa- tion, as, for instance, hazards or alarms, and to develop safety automatic services. In this case, broadcast protocols have to guarantee high reliability and low propagation de- lay of the information all over the network. In this paper we define a distributed, position-aware broadcast proto- col (Smart Broadcast) for highway inter-vehicular networks, where each node, receiving a broadcast message, forwards it after a random backoff delay that depends on the node distance from the source. Then, by simulations, we evalu- ate the broadcast protocol performance and compare it with other algorithms. Finally we conclude with some theoretical observations.
Ovarian Stem Cells Differentiation into Primary Oocytes Using Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor, and Neurotrophin 3

Background: In vitro obtaining oocytes can be an appropriate alternative for patients with gonadal insufficiency or cancer survivors. The purpose of the current research was isolating stem cells from ovarian cortical tissue as well as evaluating the effectiveness of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and neurotrophin 3 (NT3) in differentiating to oocyte-like cells. Methods: A human ovary was dissected and cortical tissue pieces were cultured for cell isolation. Isolated cells were divided into 8 groups (3 cases in each group) of control, FSH, NT3, bFGF, FSH+NT3, FSH+bFGF, NT3+bFGF, and FSH+NT3+ bFGF. Pluripotency specific gene (OCT4-A and Nanog), initial germ cells (c-KIT and VASA) and PF growth initiators (GDF-9 and Lhx-8) were evaluated by qRTPCR. Experiments were performed in triplicate and there were 3 samples in each group. The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Flow cytometry results showed that cells isolated from the ovarian cortex expressed markers of pluripotency. The results showed that the expression of Nanog, OCT4, GDF-9 and VASA was significantly increased in FSH+NT3 group, while treatment with bFGF caused significant expression of c-KIT and Lhx-8 (p<0.05). Also, according to the results, isolated cells treated with NT3 significantly increased c-KIT expression. Conclusion: According to our results, the ovarian cortex cells could be differentiated into primordial follicles if treated with the proper combination of FSH, bFGF, and NT3. These findings provided a new perspective for the future of in vitro gamete proudest.
Integrated Design of Feed Drive Systems Using Discrete 2-D.O.F. Controllers (I) - Modeling and Performance Analysis -

High-speed/precision servomechanisms have been widely used in the manufacturing and semiconductor industries. In order to ensure the required high-speed and high-precision specifications in servomechanisms, an integrated design methodology is required, where the interactions between mechanical and electrical subsystems will have to be considered simultaneously. For the first step of the integrated design process, it is necessary to obtain not only strict mathematical models of separate subsystems but also formulation of an integrated design problem. A two-degree-of-freedom controller described in the discrete-time domain is considered as an electrical subsystem in this paper. An accurate identification process of the mechanical subsystem is conducted to verify the obtained mathematical model. Mechanical and electrical constraints render the integrated design problem accurate. Analysis of the system performance according to design and operating parameters is conducted for better understanding of the dynamic behavior and interactions of the servomechanism. Experiments are performed to verify the validity of the integrated design problem in the x-Y positioning system.
COVID-19 Case Recognition from Chest CT Images by Deep Learning, Entropy-Controlled Firefly Optimization, and Parallel Feature Fusion

In healthcare, a multitude of data is collected from medical sensors and devices, such as X-ray machines, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT), and so on, that can be analyzed by artificial intelligence methods for early diagnosis of diseases. Recently, the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease caused many deaths. Computer vision researchers support medical doctors by employing deep learning techniques on medical images to diagnose COVID-19 patients. Various methods were proposed for COVID-19 case classification. A new automated technique is proposed using parallel fusion and optimization of deep learning models. The proposed technique starts with a contrast enhancement using a combination of top-hat and Wiener filters. Two pre-trained deep learning models (AlexNet and VGG16) are employed and fine-tuned according to target classes (COVID-19 and healthy). Features are extracted and fused using a parallel fusion approach—parallel positive correlation. Optimal features are selected using the entropy-controlled firefly optimization method. The selected features are classified using machine learning classifiers such as multiclass support vector machine (MC-SVM). Experiments were carried out using the Radiopaedia database and achieved an accuracy of 98%. Moreover, a detailed analysis is conducted and shows the improved performance of the proposed scheme.
Rapid Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Organo-Modified Nanostructured Silica Coatings with Tunable Water-Repellence Properties

A simple method to fabricate organo-modified silane coatings for water-repellent surface modification was proposed, by using a microwave sol-gel synthesis of hybrid materials. Low-cost fluorine-free tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and dodecyltriethoxysilane (DDTES) were used as silane derivatives. The organo-modified silica coatings were prepared by the drop-casting method and were characterized by UV-VIS, FTIR spectroscopy, and AFM and SEM microscopy. The morphology of the film show the existence of submicrometer scale roughness due to the aggregation of modified silica nanoparticles. Contact angles of water and diiodomethane on surfaces modified with as prepared nanostructured film were determined in order to assess the hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. The TEOS/DDTES ratio was proved to be a crucial factor in tuning the wettability properties. The results suggest that significant increase of hydrophobicity could be achieved by using non-fluorinated cost-effective silica nanomaterials produced with a rapid ecofriendly method.
Genome-Wide Identification of Reference Genes for Reverse-Transcription Quantitative PCR in Goat Rumen

Simple Summary The rumen plays an essential role as a digestive organ and serves as the primary site of energy substrate absorption for the productive ruminants. Understanding gene expression profiles is necessary to explore the intrinsic regulatory mechanisms of rumen development in goats. The selection of suitable reference genes (RGs) was the primary assay before the real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). We identified sixteen genome-wide candidate RGs for normalization of gene expression assessments in goat rumen tissues. We demonstrate that the RGs selected (RPS4X and RPS6) were more stably expressed than the commonly used HKGs (ACTB and GAPDH) in goat rumen tissues, suggesting that the ribosomal protein gene family may be another source for the RG pool. Abstract As the largest chamber of the ruminant stomach, the rumen not only serves as the principal absorptive surface and nutrient transport pathway from the lumen into the animal, but also plays an important short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolic role in addition to protective functions. Accurate characterization of the gene expression profiles of genes of interest is essential to the exploration of the intrinsic regulatory mechanisms of rumen development in goats. Thus, the selection of suitable reference genes (RGs) is an important prerequisite for real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). In the present study, 16 candidate RGs were identified from our previous transcriptome sequencing of caprine rumen tissues. The quantitative expressions of the candidate RGs were measured using the RT-qPCR method, and the expression stability of the RGs was assessed using the geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper programs. GeNorm analysis showed that the M values were less than 0.5 for all the RGs except GAPT4, indicating that they were stably expressed in the rumen tissues throughout development. RPS4X and RPS6 were the two most stable RGs. Furthermore, the expressions of two randomly selected target genes (IGF1 and TOP2A), normalized by the selected most stable RGs (RPS4X and RPS6), were consistent with the results of RNA sequencing, while the use of GAPDH and ACTB as RGs resulted in altered profiles. Overall, RPS4X and RPS6 showed the highest expression stability and the lowest coefficients of variation, and could be used as the optimal reference combination for quantifying gene expression in rumen tissues via RT-qPCR analysis.
Caring for Caregivers: Italian Health Care Workers’ Needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim: An online survey was proposed to the health workers of a public hospital of an Italian northern city. This was done with the aim of assessing the unmet needs of a special population under strain (the health carers) due to the fight against the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Results: By answering the survey, five hundred and nine people provided their observations, complaints and suggestions. This qualitative material was organised into three main areas: (1) relationship with the health organization management; (2) needs of the health workers; and (3) perceived consequences of the pandemic. Discussion: Overall, respondents expressed dissatisfaction for the unpreparedness of their health units and the confusion created by frequent changes in operational guidelines. Many participants felt abandoned, unheard and unprotected by the health organization, whilst the psychological support service formally set up by the hospital for its health workers was grossly under-utilised. Instead, support from colleagues and family constituted the main protective factor to counteract negative emotions. Restrictions in social contacts and recreational opportunities were frequently mentioned. Several respondents reported a sense of pride for their work and commitment; many others saw in the pandemic an opportunity for personal growth and better focus on important life values, like family and solidarity.
Blended Massive Open Online Course on Real World Evidence for Postgraduate students and professionals in healthcare: Grant proposal (Preprint)

Background There is an increased need for improving data science skills of healthcare professionals. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) provide the opportunity to train professionals in a sustainable and cost-effective way. Objective We present a protocol for the design and development of a blended MOOC on RWE aimed at improving RWE data science skills. The primary objective is to provide the opportunity to understand the fundamentals of RWE data science and to implement methods for analysing RWD. Methods The proposed MOOC will be developed through a blended format using the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation) instructional design model and following the connectivist-heutagogical learning theories (hybrid MOOC). The target learners will include postgraduate students and professionals working in the health-related roles with interest in data science. An evaluation of the MOOC will be performed to assess the MOOCs success in meeting its intended outcomes and to improve future iterations of the course. Results Real World Evidence MOOC was funded in April 2018, and course design started in June 2018. Conclusions The blended format of the MOOC will combine the expertise of healthcare professionals joining the course online with the students on-campus. We expect learners to take skills taught in the MOOC and use them to seek new employment or start to initiatives in these domains.
Virtual skin: Assessing Player Experience of Attractiveness with the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ)

There are numerous subfields within visual communication, one of which is new media, alongside conventional practices such as advertising, photography, the web, animation, and signage. Blogs, social media, video games, email and the pervasiveness of smartphones have all resulted in the emergence of new media that are inextricably linked to the internet and the online environment. since the first mobile game, "Tetris", in 1994 and “Snakes" in 1997, the visual element in mobile games has evolved significantly, culminating in the modern-day mobile gaming world. These changes have involved progress from the black and white images of the early games to the variety of colours used in game visuals today and the creation of virtual goods in-app games. A skin is one of these virtual goods or items and is synonymous with a virtual appearance, outfit or cosmetic item that can be used to modify and enhance the appearance of a player's avatar. This is a cosmetic item and purely aesthetic in nature, serving no functional purpose. Among players, the desire for a skin is undeniable. Apart from the "beauty factor," another hidden value is inherent in players' perceptions of their interactions with purely aesthetic items. To determine the attractiveness of the skin in mobile games, preliminary research on skin evaluation was conducted to ascertain players' perceptions of recent virtual skins they had used in-game. The purpose of the study was to identify players’ perceptions of the attractiveness of the skin they used. To conduct the research, the Standard User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) was used to determine the attractiveness of the skin as a virtual product. The UEQ is composed of six scales and twenty-six items that assess attractiveness on a hedonic and pragmatic level. Thirty respondents were chosen, and data analysis was performed using UEQ Data Analysis Tools. The product's benchmark was divided into five UX quality categories: excellent, good, above average, below average, and bad. The results indicate that stimulation is an excellent proxy for the UX quality of skin and efficiency is above average; meanwhile, attractiveness, perspicuity, dependability, and novelty were below average.
Pull flow na indústria automóvel Kaizen Institute Consultant Group

Currently the Portuguese industry, in general, faces a hard moment due to the world economic crisis. The group Salvador Caetano, characterized by its spirit of doing always more and better, adopts a corporate strategy of vertical integration and related diversification. One of the main decisions was to take advantage of synergies in the value chain by starting the production of the chassis model Cobus, assembled in the group company CaetanoBus. As part of the NSRF (National Strategic Reference Framework), a group company, Caetano Components, applied to the installation of a production line of chassis. It is in this context that appears the opportunity for a partnership between the Kaizen Institute and Caetano Components for design and implementation of an assembly line and respective upstream processes based on the philosophy and tools of continuous improvement and waste reduction Kaizen Lean. The work performed is characterized by the application of the methodologies Total Flow Management (TFM) and Daily Kaizen. The TFM method was used for the implementation of the assembly line and management of their supply chain based on the pull flow by creating flow in the production and internal logistics, while being supported by basic stability tools, such as visual management and standardization. For the creation of flow in the production were applied the tools Layout and Line Design, Border Line and Standard Work, while for the creation of flow in the internal logistics were applied the tools Supermarkets, Kanban / Junjo Synchronization and Levelling. As part of the change management it was applied Daily Kaizen to support and standardize this innovation project. In this project, according to the level one of this methodology, it was implemented the organization of work teams by raising awareness to waste and team objectives, the creation of team boards and meetings and the practice of 5S actions. Through the use of these tools it can be highlighted the implementation of an assembly line with a reduction in the number of assembly working hours for each chassis and an evolution of the company culture towards continuous improvement. The results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of these approaches and reward all the effort invested in the fight against waste and in the pursuit of excellence. Pull Flow na Indústria Automóvel
Pyrrolizine/Indolizine-NSAID Hybrids: Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Docking Studies

In the current study, eight new hybrids of the NSAIDs, ibuprofen and ketoprofen with five pyrrolizine/indolizine derivatives were designed and synthesized. The chemical structures of these hybrids were confirmed by spectral and elemental analyses. The antiproliferative activities of these hybrids (5 μM) was investigated against MCF-7, A549, and HT-29 cancer cell lines using the cell viability assay, MTT assay. The results revealed 4–71% inhibition of the growth of the three cancer cell lines, where 8a,e,f were the most active. In addition, an investigation of the antiproliferative activity of 8a,e,f against MCF-7 cells revealed IC50 values of 7.61, 1.07, and 3.16 μM, respectively. Cell cycle analysis of MCF-7 cells treated with the three hybrids at 5 μM revealed a pro-apoptotic increase in cells at preG1 and cell cycle arrest at the G1 and S phases. In addition, the three hybrids induced early apoptotic events in MCF-7 cells. The results of the molecular docking of the three hybrids into COX-1/2 revealed higher binding free energies than their parent compounds 5a,c and the co-crystallized ligands, ibuprofen and SC-558. The results also indicated higher binding free energies toward COX-2 over COX-1. Moreover, analysis of the binding modes of 8a,e,f into COX-2 revealed partial superposition with the co-crystallized ligand, SC-558 with the formation of essential hydrogen bonds, electrostatic, or hydrophobic interactions with the key amino acid His90 and Arg513. The new hybrids also showed drug-likeness scores in the range of 1.06–2.03 compared to ibuprofen (0.65) and ketoprofen (0.57). These results above indicated that compounds 8a,e,f deserve additional investigation as potential anticancer candidates.
Circular Public Procurement through Integrated Contracts in the Infrastructure Sector

Public clients’ procurement strategies are central in facilitating innovation towards sustainability. In the infrastructure sector, the three main project activities—design, production, and maintenance—are traditionally not procured in an integrated way, which results in sub-optimizations and a lack of life cycle perspective. As project actors are accustomed to traditional, non-integrated forms of contract, implementing integrated contracts imposes fundamental changes to the interdependencies among actors, resources, and activities. This study analyzes the interfaces among key project actors and the related interdependencies across design, production, and maintenance in Design–Build–Maintain contracts, and initiates a discussion on how to manage these interdependencies when implementing integrated contracts. This study of circular public procurement (CPP) focused on three infrastructure projects using integrated contracting and applied the industrial network approach (INA) to analyze interdependencies in how they may influence innovation and sustainable development. The study found significant obstacles to clients obtaining the benefits of integrated contracting and concludes that understanding interdependencies is necessary to implement integrated contracts successfully. The study contributes to the construction management literature by adapting the INA to contracting, and to the CPP literature by providing empirical evidence of sustainability and circularity in infrastructure projects.