Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The design and development of a blockchainbased epro system for collecting clinical data

Objectives: The present study discussed the design and development of an ePRO system that records and manages clinical trial data on a blockchain network so as to prevent any arbitrary modification, forgery, or falsification and improve the reliability of the data. Methods: The overall system design and development of ePRO consists of (1) advancement and development of blockchain technology, (2) development of a blockchain clinical trial system model, (3) development of a clinical trial data collecting tool using blockchain, and (4) technological verification of the blockchain-based ePRO system. Results: The results of this study suggest a potential to save human resources and costs for CDM operation by increasing reliability through the implementation of an on-chain clinical trial system. Additionally, the on-chain clinical trial system is predicted to help prevent harm from serious abnormal reactions, including patients’ death, subsequent side effects, and birth defects caused by clinical trial errors. Conclusions: The ePRO system can serve as a platform for medical and clinical services to cope with expanding clinical data fields. When the system developed in this study is combined in the near future with state-of-the-art technologies such as IoT and AI, a new paradigm for clinical data repositories and management systems is predicted to develop. Based on the clinical data collected by this ePRO system, when a clinical data warehouse is established and linked to medical information systems, a servitization model that can accelerate innovation in the medical service market is expected to emerge
Frameworks used in invasion science: progress and prospects

1 South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa 2 Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa 3 Department of Biology, Unit Ecology & Evolution, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland 4 School of Life Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA 5 Meise Botanic Garden, Meise, Belgium 6 Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA 7 Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
INCREASE IN WATER-SCARCITY RISK IN A BRAZILIAN DRY-REGION RESERVOIR

This study assesses the extent to which silting increases water-scarcity risk, considering the temporal reduction of water availability and increased demand using land use and water-demand scenarios at the transition of Caatinga and Cerrado biomes of the Bocaina reservoir watershed (10hm), in the Brazilian dry region. Methodological steps were: reservoir silting measured in-situ 20 years after dam construction; climate variables computed with the aid of a conventional station (2005–2014); soil erodibility assessed using 16 soil samples; and topography and land cover estimated based on 21 years of Landsat imagery. Three land use scenarios were generated (invariability, degradation and preservation) with the climate scenario derived from the semi-arid rainfall temporal variability; whereas two water-demand scenarios (invariability and higher efficiency) were a function of the efficiency of the irrigation systems. Water availability was calculated using the volume-yield elasticity (VYELAS) Model. The field results (1985–2015) showed a gross erosion rate of 13.5 Mg·ha·yr1 in the basin. The annual sediment yield (1.7 Mg·ha) and the decadal reservoir silting (1.0%) were below regional average due to the low sediment delivery ratio (12.6%) in the area. Scenario projections (2040) suggest water demand may double if irrigation methods do not improve, whereas siltation may cause water availability to decrease up to 10% in the period. In this case, the water-supply reliability will be below the recommended standard value (90%), regardless of the land use scenario. Nevertheless, simultaneous soil preservation and improved irrigation efficiency can reduce the decadal water-scarcity risk from 82% (worst scenario) to 17%.
Optimisation of fractional‐order PI controller for bidirectional quasi‐Z‐source inverter used for electric traction system

: This study presents the optimisation of fractional-order proportional–integral (FOPI) controllers for a bidirectional quasi-Z-source inverter (QZSI) in an electric vehicle (EV) off-road application. An ant colony optimisation Nelder–Mead (ACO-NM) algorithm is used for the optimisation of the controller parameters. This optimisation method is applied to enhance the performance of FOPI control for bidirectional QZSI. Ziegler–Nichols (ZN) with relay and the pole placement tuning method are also used for the FOPI controller design for comparison purposes. The modelling and the control design of bidirectional QZSI for an electric traction system are presented and discussed. Simulations are performed to verify the efficacy of the proposed controller structure with the bidirectional QZSI for two standardised driving cycles. The result shows that the FOPI controller designed with the ACO-NM algorithm provides more suitable ageing performance index values for the battery. The ACO-NM algorithm permits to reduce the root-mean-square value and the standard deviation by 2 and 5% of the battery current compared to the ZN tuning method and direct battery supply topology, respectively. The bidirectional with this type of enhance the performance of EVs by optimising the electric power consumption and extending its driving range.
Representations of a Comparison Measure between Two Fuzzy Sets

This paper analyzes the representation behaviors of a comparison measure between two compared fuzzy sets. Three types of restrictions on two fuzzy sets are considered in this paper: two disjoint union fuzzy sets, two disjoint fuzzy sets and two general fuzzy sets. Differences exist among the numbers of possible representations of a comparison measure for the three types of fuzzy sets restrictions. The value of comparison measure is constant for two disjoint union fuzzy sets. There are 49 candidate representations of a comparison measure for two disjoint fuzzy sets, of which 13 candidate representations with one or two terms are obtained. For each candidate representation, a variant of the general axiomatic definition for a comparison measure is presented. Choosing the right candidate representation for a given application, we can easily and efficiently calculate and compare a comparison measure.
Responses of plant, soil bacterial and fungal communities to grazing vary with pasture seasons and grassland types, northern Tibet

Synthetic responses of plant and soil microbial communities to grazing are indefinite in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau. Three paired, fenced and free grazing sites (alpine steppe meadow for winter pasture [ASMWP]; alpine steppe meadow for summer pasture [ASMSP]; alpine meadow for summer pasture [AMSP]) were used to compare how pasture season and grassland type affect responses of the α‐diversity and community composition of plant, soil bacteria and fungi to grazing. Cold‐season grazing reduced soil moisture by 12.10%, ammonium nitrogen (NH4+‐N) by 53.71%, the ratio of available nitrogen to phosphorus by 64.11%, species richness (SR) by 31.4% and the Shannon by 11.9% of plant community on the ASMWP. Warm‐season grazing reduced nitrate nitrogen by 30.45%, SR of soil bacterial community by 21.98% on the ASMSP, but increased soil NH4+‐N by 90.02% on the AMSP. Warm‐season grazing‐induced changes in plant community composition were mainly related to the composition of forbs on the AMSP. Grazing‐induced changes in the community composition of soil bacteria were mainly related to Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia on the ASMWP, and Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi and TM7 on the ASMSP. Grazing‐induced changes in the community composition of soil fungi were mainly related to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota on the ASMWP, Basidiomycota on the ASMSP and Ascomycota on the AMSP. Therefore, the effects of grazing on plant and soil microbial communities may vary with grassland types and pasture seasons, which may be related to grazing‐induced changes in available nitrogen, the ratio of available nitrogen to phosphorus and soil moisture.
Function-based system modelling to structure sustainability of buildings

A reduction of harmful environmental impacts regarding sustainable building design is challenging the real estate industry. Achieving this reduction, it is necessary to assess sustainable building design. Such assessments are mainly structured as a system of independent criteria and disciplines. These common procedures consume essentially time and resources. All buildings can be described as a system with different interactions to the environment. Relevant interactions for a sustainable environment can be systematically identified and modelled as sustainability functions. This approach aims to develop a function-based system by structuring criteria for an optimized assessment. Derived functions, like heat insulation and sun protection, indicate technical causes for the environmental impact for a better comprehensibility. The outcome of this paper supports further developments to assess the quality of sustainable design in the real estate environment.
Hepatoprotective and cytotoxic activities of Delonix regia flower extracts

Abstract Fractionation of the ethanolic extract of the flowers of Delonix regia led to the isolation of three sterols, namely, stigmasterol (1.54 %), s-sitosterol and its 3-O-glucoside (6.93 %), a triterpene, namely, ursolic acid (3.61 %) and four flavonoids: quercetin (2.92 %), quercitrin (0.59 %), isoquercitrin (3.87 %) and rutin (5.12 %) in addition to the amino acid L- azeditine-2-carboxylic acid. The structures of the isolated compounds were established on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral analysis (IR, UV, EI/MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR). The concentration of the isolated compounds was determined by HPLC technique. The ethanolic extract and its non-polar and flavonoid rich fraction as well as the isolated compounds evidenced cytotoxic activities against human liver cancer cell line (HEPG2) which were potent for ursolic acid (IC50 0.55 μg/ml) and L-azeditine-2-carboxylic acid (IC50 2.51 μg/ml). Meanwhile, rutin and isoquercitrin were inactive. Moreover, the ethanolic extract and its two fractions were tested for hepatoprotective activity against CCl4 induced hepatic cell damage in rats at two dose levels (50 and 100 mg/kg), and the flavonoid rich fraction showed statistically significant hepatoprotection at 100 mg/kg. The presence of the aforementioned flavonoids with their efficient free radical scavenging properties may explain this liver protection ability. This could suggest the use of the ethanolic extract of the flowers of D. regia as a chemopreventive agent against the two main causes of liver damage; liver toxicity by chlorinated agents and liver cancer.
Optical Resonances in Short-Range Ordered Nanoholes in Ultrathin Aluminum/Aluminum Nitride Multilayers

Nanoholes with short-range ordering were fabricated in ultrathin aluminum/aluminum nitride multilayer films where each layer is as thin as a few nanometers. Optical resonances of the trilayer system with a single metallic layer and five-layer system with two metallic layers were successfully tuned in the visible-near-infrared (vis/NIR) range. The resonance wavelength as well as the width can be predicted and designed by solving the dispersion relation and comparing with the lateral dimension of the short-range ordering. To solve the dispersion relation, we developed a general formulation for multilayer systems. The thermal stability of the fabricated nanoholes in ultrathin multilayers was also tested by vacuum annealing the samples up to 400 degrees C. While no structural change of the nanohole or the multilayer surface has been observed, the optical property showed almost no change in the resonance confirming no structural change but emergence of the interband transition!
Combined effect of hot water dipping and Cistus creticus L. leaf extracts on the storage quality of fresh Valencia oranges

Abstract This research was designed to test the combined efficacy of hot water dipping (HWD) and leaf extracts of Cistus creticus L. subsp. creticus on the storage quality of fresh Valencia oranges. Experiments were laid down according to a completely randomised design with 10 different treatments. Five replications, with five fruits in each replication, were used in the current study, and research was designed to continue for 150 days. Quality characteristics were observed with 30-days interval. The applications of this study were (1) Control [dipping in water at 25°C for 5 min]; (2) HWD at 50°C for 5 min; (3) HWD + Additives (A) [Arabic gum (0.2%), potassium sorbate (0.05%), citric acid (0.05%) and vitamin C (0.05%)] at 50°C for 5 min; (4) Additives alone at 25°C for 5 min; (5) 1.0% C. creticus leaf + HWD + A; (6) 1.0% C. creticus leaf + A; (7) 0.5% C. creticus leaf + HWD + A; (8) 0.5% C. creticus leaf + A; (9) 0.5% C. creticus leaf + HWD and (10) 0.5% C. creticus leaf. According to the results obtained, both the HWD and C. creticus, alone or in combination, were effective in preserving orange weight during storage, preventing pathogenic decay, maintaining visual quality and fruit firmness, delaying the reduction in titratable acidity, increasing ascorbic acid content and reducing respiration rate of the orange fruits. Results also suggested that the combined effect of HWD with C. creticus leaf extracts provided the highest efficacy.
A GAS FLOW-THROUGH SYSTEM FOR STUDYING DENITRIFICATION IN SOI

Summary A continuous gas ‘now-through’ system, incorporating a soil incubation cell and a gas sampling device, was developed to measure the nitrogen and carbon losses as gaseous N2, N2O, NH3 and CO2 from soil during denitrification under ‘steady state’ anaerobic conditions. Nitrogen was added as KNO3 to the soil in amounts equivalent to 0, 30,100 and 300 kg N ha-1. At 25 °C and one quarter of the water-holding capacity, N2 and N2O evolution accounted for most of the nitrogen lost. In the effluent gas stream, N2O appeared about six hours after anaerobic conditions were established, and increased steadily. Initial N, production was small and reached a maximum between 90 and 100 h with a simultaneous decrease in N2O evolution. Gaseous N losses were highest with the 100 kg N ha−1 treatment and accounted for 59 per cent of the nitrate lost. A weight ratio, CO2 -C/(N2 O + N2)-N of 1.0–1.3 was observed in the effluent gas once a ‘steady state’ was achieved, which conforms with that expected from nitrate respiration when N, and N2O are produced simultaneously. When denitrification ceased, CO2 production decreased to a steady rate. An increase in the duration, rather than the rate, of denitrification was observed when more N was added. A time lag before the onset of a maximum rate of denitrification was also observed, which increased with the amount of added N.
Características físicas de solos salino-sódicos do semiárido pernambucano em função de diferentes níveis de gesso

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of application of different levels of gypsum requirement on physical characteristics of saline-sodic soils of the region of semiarid of Pernambuco. The study was conducted in the Laboratory of Soil Mechanics and Waste Utilization of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco. Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with a factorial arrangement of two soils (S1 and S2) and five levels of gypsum requirement (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250%) determined by the method of Schoonover M-1, incorporated in the first 12.5 cm of the soil column, with five replications. The use of increasing levels of gypsum for the correction of saline-sodic soils provided greater water infiltration rate of the soil. The level of 100% of the gypsum requirement promoted lower degree of dispersion and more stability of soils aggregates. During the experiment it was observed that from the level of 150% of gypsum requirement occurred loss of colloids (mineral and/or organic).
Exploring historical consciousness with Australian school children.

The study explores the development of historical consciousness in Australian school children (from Year 6 to Year 12). Historical consciousness can be seen, in part, as the ability to construct divergent ideas about the past based on evidence that rejects the paradigm of history as a fixed set of events. This research considers how students in Australia learn and construct concepts of historical consciousness and analyses these findings in relation to national survey of historical consciousness. This paper reports on emergent themes from the survey data of Australian school students.
Physical and Hygroscopic Properties of Makhana

Makhana is the popped expanded kernel of the gorgon nut (Euryale ferox) and is used as a delicious food in India. Presently, it is sorted, graded and used as an ingredient of various ready-to-eat products. High volumetric expansion of makhana increases transport cost and makes it too expensive in distant places. Makhana thus requires further processing to get some value-added products of minimum volume. To develop any kind of product and mechanized system for their production, physical properties are required. Furthermore, since makhana is a seasonal and regional crop its storage conditions are also needed for keeping it appropriately at processing centres. Physical properties of makhana at moisture contents ranging from 5 to 20% (dry basis) and equilibrium moisture content at relative humidities ranging from 11·2 to 88% at temperature 30°C were determined using standard techniques. Physical properties were found to be: test weight (weight of 1000 makhana) 286 to 384 g; bulk density 56·5–84·6 kg/m3; particle density 105–240·6 kg/m3; porosity 29·4–48·9%; angle of repose 33–35·6°; and static coefficient of friction 0·596–0·82 and 0·493–0·684 on galvanized iron and stainless steel, respectively. The equilibrium moisture content of makhana was found to be between 11·5 and 58·9% (dry basis) within the ranges of variables studied.
Water Splitting into H 2 and O 2 on Alkali Tantalate Photocatalysts ATaO 3 (A = Li, Na, and K)

Alkali tantalate ATaO3 (A = Li, Na, and K) photocatalysts with perovskite-like structure showed activities for water splitting into H2 and O2 under UV irradiation. When the alkali tantalates were prepared in the presence of excess alkali, their activities were increased by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude. Scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence measurements indicated that the excess alkali in the preparation increased the crystal size of NaTaO3 formed and prevented formation of alkali defects in NaTaO3 powder by volatilization, resulting in an increase in the photocatalytic activity. A LiTaO3 photocatalyst showed the highest activity among the naked alkali tantalate photocatalysts prepared in the presence of excess alkali. On the other hand, the activity of a NaTaO3 photocatalyst was increased by 1 order of magnitude when a NiO cocatalyst was loaded. The NiO(0.05 wt %)/NaTaO3 photocatalyst produced H2 and O2 from pure water with rates of 3.39 and 1.58 mmol h-1, respectively. The apparent quantum yie.
Determining Factors Influence Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure among the Low-Income Group in Malaysia

A substantial proportion of the population is still struggling to achieve socio-economic and good health, i.e., the low-income groups. The low-income group in Malaysia might bear a higher burden of out-of-pocket health expenditure (OOPHE) and health challenges, mainly related to noncommunicable diseases (NCD). The costs are sometimes high enough so that households cannot recuperate them from existing resources and lead them to financial problems. This study analyzed the factors associated with OOPHE among B40 group in Malaysia using nationwide data from the 2015 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS). Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis is used to study the factors associated with OOPHE. This study suggests that the gender (female) of household, income, T20 income group, tertiary education, unpaid worker, retire, and NCD raises the likelihood of incurring OOPHE. The result for a private employee, self-employed, and insurance status is spending less on OOPHE. Therefore, the results show a clear need for government action to enhanced primary healthcare programs and a focus on achieving Universal Health Coverage. This situation can protect the household from OOPHE financial burden and NCD, exceptionally lowincome earners.
Association of the use of hearing aids with the conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia and progression of dementia: A longitudinal retrospective study

Hearing aid usage has been linked to improvements in cognition, communication, and socialization, but the extent to which it can affect the incidence and progression of dementia is unknown. Such research is vital given the high prevalence of dementia and hearing impairment in older adults, and the fact that both conditions often coexist. In this study, we examined for the first time the effect of the use of hearing aids on the conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia and progression of dementia.
Improved computational analysis of ribosome dynamics from 5′P degradome data using fivepseq

In eukaryotes, 5’-3’ co-translation degradation machinery follows the last translating ribosome providing an in vivo footprint of its position. Thus 5’P degradome sequencing, in addition to informing about RNA decay, also provides valuable information regarding ribosome dynamics. Multiple experimental methods have been developed to investigate the mRNA degradome, however computational tools for their reproducible analysis are lacking. Here we present fivepseq: an easy-to-use application for analysis and interactive visualization of 5’P degradome data. This tool performs both metagene and gene specific analysis, and allows to easily investigate codon specific ribosome pauses. To demonstrate its ability to provide new biological information, we investigate gene specific ribosome pauses in S. cerevisiae after eIF5A depletion. In addition to identifying pauses at expected codon motifs, we identify multiple genes with strain-specific frameshifts. To show its wide applicability, we investigate more complex 5’P degradome from A. thaliana and discover both motif-specific ribosome protection associated with particular developmental stages, as well as generally increased ribosome protection at termination level associated with age. Our work shows how the use of improved analysis tools for the study of 5’P degradome can significantly increase the biological information that can be derived from such datasets and facilitate its reproducible analysis. KEY POINTS Analysis of 5’P degradome data with fivepseq informs about global and gene-specific translational features. Frameshifts in translation-related genes in S. cerevisiae may be linked to ribosome stalling. Ribosome protection at termination and codon motifs are linked to development in A. Thaliana.