Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum Amyloid A Is a Biomarker of Disease Activity and Health-Related Quality-of-Life in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is one of the acute phase proteins synthesized in hepatocytes and secreted by various inflammation or infectious stimuli. We investigated the clinical implication of measuring SAA in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody- (ANCA-) associated vasculitis (AAV). Seventy-five patients who had been classified as AAV and enrolled in our prospective observational cohort for AAV patients were included. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained on the day of blood sampling, and SAA was measured by ELISA kits. Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) and Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) were assessed for disease activity and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) measures. We stratified patients into having high BVAS when the BVAS was over the median values, and those with either low SF-36 PCS or low SF-36 MCS were defined as having poor HRQoL. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate independent predictors of high BVAS. The relative risk (RR) was analyzed using the contingency tables and the chi-squared test. SAA was positively correlated with BVAS (r = 0.642) and FFS (r = 0.367) and was inversely correlated with both the SF-36 physical component summary (r = −0.456) and mental component summary scores (r = −0.394). Furthermore, SAA was significantly correlated with acute phase reactants ESR (r = 0.611) and CRP (r = 0.629). Patients with high BVAS exhibited significantly higher SAA than those with low BVAS (1317.1 ng/mL vs. 423.1 ng/mL). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, serum albumin (odds ratio (OR) 0.132) and SAA > 1173.6 ng/mL (OR 15.132) were independently associated with high BVAS. The risk of having high BVAS and poor HRQoL in patients with SAA > 1173.6 ng/mL was higher than in those with SAA ≤ 1173.6 ng/mL (RR 3.419 and 1.493). Our results suggest that SAA might be a useful biomarker in assessing disease activity and HRQoL in AAV.
Electronic and surface properties during the etch-back of anodic oxides on Si(1 1 1) surfaces in 40% NH4F solution

An etch-back procedure of anodically oxidized Si(1 1 1) surfaces was investigated by photoluminescence, photo voltage, atomic force microscopy and infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry. The first step was the preparation of an H-terminated Si surface in diluted HF solution. The second step was the formation of an anodic oxide layer at different potentials in 40% NH4F solution followed by oxide etching in the same solution leading to an H-passivated Si surface. The different experimental results are discussed with respect to oxide thickness, surface roughness, interface defect concentration and surface charging.
The effect of oxygen induced degradation on charge carrier dynamics in P3HT:PCBM and Si-PCPDTBT:PCBM thin films and solar cells

Due to their light weight, transparency and flexibility, organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices are ideal for building integration. As this application requires solar cell life times of more than twenty years and oxygen ingress cannot be avoided at competitive cost on this time scale, OPV modules must be intrinsically stabilized against photo-oxidation. To this end, the mechanism of rapid performance loss of OSCs due to oxygen-induced degradation must be understood. Here, we combine transient absorption experiments with electrical studies in P3HT:PCBM and Si-PCPDTBT:PCBM thin films and solar cells after controlled photo-oxidation, studying charge carrier dynamics on the femtosecond to millisecond time scale. We find that oxygen-induced degradation does not significantly influence charge generation, while its influence on charge recombination is strong in both materials. A dramatic retardation of charge recombination already at low levels of oxygen-induced degradation is attributed to a substantial reduction of charge mobilities. We also observe a significant increase of the background concentration of charge carriers with the level of degradation, which leads to a crossover from second order towards pseudo-first order recombination behaviour. Extraction is shown to be retarded even more strongly than recombination, possibly by a reduction of the extraction field by the background carriers. Overall, the recombination yield is increased with degradation, explaining the strong performance loss already at low degradation levels.
Pestalotiopsis kaki sp. nov., a Novel Species Isolated from Persimmon Tree (Diospyros kaki) Bark in Korea

Abstract During the screening of Korean microflora, a fungal strain (KNU-PT-1804) belonging to the genus Pestalotiopsis was isolated from persimmon tree (Diospyros kaki) bark collected from North Gyeongsang Province, Korea. The strain, KNU-PT-1804, produced smaller conidia compared with related species P. kenyana, P. neglecta, and P. telopeae. The novelty of the strain was confirmed based on phylogenetic analysis using molecular datasets of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, β-tubulin (TUB2), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1α) genes. Molecular phylogeny strongly supports that the strain is distinct from previously known Pestalotiopsis species, and we proposed the novel species, Pestalotiopsis kaki sp. nov., and provide a detailed description and illustration.
Solution of chemical dynamic optimization systems using novel differential gradient evolution algorithm

Optimization for all disciplines is essential and relevant. Optimization has played a vital role in industrial reactors’ design and operation, separation processes, heat exchangers, and complete plants in Chemical Engineering. In this paper, a novel hybrid meta-heuristic optimization algorithm which is based on Differential Evolution (DE), Gradient Evolution (GE), and Jumping Technique (+) named Differential Gradient Evolution Plus (DGE+) is presented. The main concept of this hybrid algorithm is to enhance its exploration and exploitation ability. The proposed algorithm hybridizes the above-mentioned algorithms with the help of an improvised dynamic probability distribution, additionally provides a new shake off method to avoid premature convergence towards local minima. The performance of DGE+ is investigated in thirteen benchmark unconstraint functions, and the results are compared to the other state-of-the-art meta-heuristics. The comparison shows that the proposed algorithm can outperform the other state-of-the-art meta-heuristics in almost all benchmark functions. To evaluate the precision and robustness of the DGE+ it has also been applied to complex chemical dynamic optimization systems such as optimization of a multimodal continuous stirred tank reactor, Lee-Ramirez bioreactor, Six-plate gas absorption tower, and optimal operation of alkylation unit, the results of comparison revealed that the proposed algorithm can provide very compact, competitive and promising performance overall complex non-linear chemical design problems.
Evaluation of EQCM data from a study of cysteine adsorption on gold electrodes in acidic media

Voltammetric adsorption and desorption of cysteine at gold electrodes were examined in 0.10 M HClO 4 using a rotated ring-disk electrode and an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). Ring-risk data support the conclusion that cysteine is adsorbed following cathodic reduction (negative scan) of surface oxide (AuO). However, EQCM data indicate that the corresponding change in apparent surface mass measured in the presence of cysteine is smaller than that measured for the pure supporting electrolyte. The seemingly anomalous EQCM data are explained on the basis of simultaneous contributions to the apparent change in surface mass from (i) cysteine adsorption, (ii) loss of surface oxygen, and (iii) decrease in surface hydration. These results indicate the difficulty of using EQCM data for quantitative determinations of adsorbate coverage when changes in surface hydration occur concurrently
Shari’ah Governance of Islamic Banking Institutions in Pakistan: An Analytical Overview

Shari’ah governance is the arrangement that provides legitimacy to the business of Islamic Banking Institutions (IBIs) because the concept of Shari governance requires that all business affairs of IBIs must be conducted according to Shari’ah rules and principles under the Shari’ah supervision. The research is formulated to overview the current and the previous regulatory arrangements of SBP for Shari’ah governance of IBIs and analyze the institutional arrangement for Shari’ah governance, which is a vital part of the Shari’ah governance practice of the Pakistani IBIs. Applying a descriptive methodology, the research has investigated the current practice of Shari’ah governance depending on the regulatory guidelines and standards issued by the SBP and the literature on the topic. The research has discovered that the Shari’ah governance of IBIs in Pakistan has been formulated and implemented significantly by SBP. At the industry level, the composition and functions of Shari’ah boards require some regulatory enhancements to safeguard the credibility and marketability of Shari’ah governance of IBIs. The research implies that Shari’ah boards must have additional members qualified for the position and their functions should be comprehensive, and their performance should be assessed so it could cater to the business needs of IBIs.
Photon absorption in a hybrid slurry photocatalytic reactor: Assessment of differential approximations

Radiative transfer inside a slurry photocatalytic reactor with hybrid illumination from both solar radiation and lamps is examined. The local volumetric rate of photon absorption is evaluated. For this purpose, the P1 and the modified differential approximations (MDAs) are used, and results compared to a solution by the Monte Carlo method. It is found that significant differences may arise between the predictions of the above approximations and the exact results provided by the Monte Carlo simulations. The P1 approximation is very inaccurate near to the radiation entrance for the partially collimated solar radiation, although it improves, as optical depth increases. As expected, the MDA improves the results near to the boundary. Surprisingly, it turns out to be much worse than the P1 approximation at medium and large optical depths. In the case of lamp irradiation, the behavior of the MDA is the opposite; it works better at small optical depths. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 58: 3256–3265, 2012
The Association Between Vitamin C Deficiency and Metabolic Syndrome Among Patients Who Developed Kidney Disease

Introduction: Elevated albuminuria is an important outcome of diabetic complications and metabolic syndrome (MetS), the complex metabolic abnormalities manifested as glucose intolerance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia and enlarged waist circumference. These coexisting cardio-metabolic abnormalities are also associated with oxidative stress and low grade inflammation. Vitamin C (vitC) has long been recognized as hydrophilic antioxidant and blocker of oxidative stress which also has a protective role of MetS and kidney disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the predictive effect of vitC deficiency on kidney disease among patients who developed metabolic syndrome. Method and procedures: To meet this objective, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2008 data were used. NHANES represents the civilian, non-institutionalized US population data implemented for continuous system of monitoring health, nutritional status and well-being in the US. The predictive power of MetS on AU and vitC deficiency (vitC < 0.25 mg/dl) as effect modifier was assessed with binary logistic regression. Age, gender, race and BMI were used as covariates. Results: Among the respondents, 1.9% of the US population had risk of kidney damage, whereas 14.5 % of respondents had MetS. MetS was significantly positively correlated with AU (p < 0.01). Higher elevation of albuminuria creatinine ratio (ACR) was found in participants with VCD. The regression models developed in this study showed that the severity of kidney disease measured by ACR was increased among individuals who developed both VCD and MetS compared with individuals who developed MetS only (AOR=5.53; 95% CI: 2.73, 11.21). Increasing age and being African-American in race were independently associated with elevated AU. Conclusion: Specific considerations tailored to metabolic syndrome, vitamin C and kidney diseases measured by ACR screening and monitoring mechanisms at the community level is critical to tackle further medical complications. Moreover, the role of VitC fortified foods on prevention of kidney diseases among patients with MetS warrant further investigation.
The folklore-based comic to increase Students’ motivation in physics learning

The use of interesting instructional media such comics can affect students' motivation. However, insufficient instructional media can demotivate students in learning. The purposes of this study were to produce a folklore-based comic, to determine the feasibility and students’ response to the comic, and to describe the increasing of students’ motivation after using the comic. The study was conducted at Senior High School 1 Muaro Jambi and the participants were 25 science students of grade 11th in 2019. The type of research was used pre-test and post-test single group design model. The ADDIE model used for prepared instructional designs of folklore-based comics. The folklore-based comic instructional designs validated by material and instructional media experts before being implemented to students. The data of experts’ validations, students’ responses and motivations were collected by using questionnaire of experts’ validation, students’ responses, and students’ motivation. The result of this study is Newton’s law comic based on Indonesian folklore, Orang Kayo Hitam, that originated from Jambi region. The result of material validation is X =3.77 in the good category and instructional media validation is X =3.62 in the good category. The assessment of students in the form of response questionnaire is X =4.31 in the very good category. The gain value of students’ motivation after using the comic is 0.39 in the medium category. It can be concluded that the folklore-based comic is feasible to use in learning and get positive responses from the students. The comic also can be used as an alternative medium to increase students’ motivation significantly (t(24)=-5.185, p<. 005) and assist them to understand Newton’s law concepts easier.
DRYING KINETICS OF PEELED COFFEE SUBMITTED TO DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF THE AIR OF DRYING AFTER PARTIAL DRYING

The mathematical modelling is fundamental for the understanding of the related processes the drying, that influences the quality of the coffee drink. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different relative humidity of the drying air after partial drying on drying kinetics of peeled coffees. Coffee fruits were harvested in the cherry stage and processed by wet, resulting in the portion of peeled coffee. Eleven treatments of drying were accomplished, being nine results of the combination of three dry bulb temperatures and three dew point temperatures, more two treatments without the control of the dew point temperatures. The control of the relative humidity by the dew point temperature was made after the grains reached the partial drying. Among the studied models, those of Diffusion Approximation and Modified Midilli were the most adequate for describing the drying process of the first and second part of drying respectively. The effective diffusivity coefficient of water in coffee grains ranged from 0.81 x 10-11 to 1.84 x 10-11 m² . s-1 during the first part of the drying and ranged from 1.49 x 10-11 to 3.29 x 10-11 m² . s-1 during the second part of the drying, increasing significantly with the reduction of the dew point temperature and increase of the dry bulb temperature.
Diagnosis of fetal nemaline myopathy by whole-exome sequencing: case report and review of literature

Objective: In this article we present a case of fetal nemaline myopathy (NM) diagnosed by whole-exome sequencing (WES) and confirmed by fetal muscular pathology, and we review the clinical, pathological, and genetic characteristics of congenital NM.Method: A pregnant woman with recurrent fetal hydrops and polyhydramnios was recommended to undergoWES before termination of pregnancy in order to find the etiology of these issues. After delivery, we obtained umbilical-cord blood and parental peripheral blood samples for WES. Fetal muscle was subjected to modified Gomori technique (MGT) and hematoxylin phosphotungstate (PTAH) staining for light microscope detection. Results: WES revealed two compound heterozygous mutations to fetal Kelch-like 40 (KLHL40), and pedigreebased Sanger sequencing showed that c.602G > A (p.Trp201*) was inherited from the mother and c.1516A > C (p.Thr506Pro) from the father. MGT and PTAH staining highlighted numerous nemaline rods under the light microscope. Conclusion: Fetal NM is a lethal genetic muscle disorder that is one etiology of fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS). Pathological and genetic testing are the current diagnostic methods for NM, but WES is a promising method for prenatal diagnosis of this disorder.
Correlated Observation on Global Distributions of Magnetosonic Waves and Proton Rings in the Radiation Belts

Fast magnetosonic (MS) waves are excited by the ring distribution of energetic protons preferably when the ring velocity (VR) is within a factor of 2 above or below the local Alfvén speed (VA). Here we examine the global distributions of MS waves and proton rings with 0.5VA ≤ VR ≤ 2VA based on 64 months (from October 25, 2012 to February 28, 2018) of Van Allen Probes observations. The statistical results show that MS waves are present over a broad region of L = 1.2–6.0 and 00–24 magnetic local time (MLT), with a higher occurrence rate at L = 2.5–5.5 on the dayside. Proton rings occur mainly on the dayside of L > 5.0. During active geomagnetic periods, both MS waves and proton rings occur more frequently and extend to low L‐shells. The current results provide the further observational evidence that MS waves can be excited by proton rings at a distant region and propagate to low L‐shells.
Effect of pH on lipid oxidation of red onion skin extracts treated with washed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) muscle model systems

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of pH on the lipid oxidation of red onion skin extracts (ROSEs) treated with washed tilapia muscle model systems (WTMS). Minced and buffered washed samples were prepared at pH 6.3 and 6.8. The WTMS were treated with2 different concentrations of red onion skin prior to storage for 5 days. Lipid oxidation was investigated via peroxide values (PVs), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and the formation of volatile compounds. Fatty acid profiles of the samples were also identified. The ROSEs were able to significantly suppress the PV (~71%) and TBARS (~42%) formation. Hexanal and octanal formations in the WTMS were relatively less in the ROSE-treated samples. The WTMS samples prepared at pH 6.3 were more vulnerable to lipid oxidation than those prepared at pH 6.8. Red onion skin polyphenols may increase the lag phase of lipid oxidation, depending on pH levels, resulting in the shelf life extension of raw fish.
Covid-19’s effect on the alpha and beta of a US stock Exchange Traded Fund

ABSTRACT This paper is a first look of Covid-19’s effect on the alpha and beta of a US stock exchange traded fund. It uses the efficient market hypothesis and the J-test of non-nested hypotheses to identify a reasonable choice of Covid-19 data for estimating CAPM regressions. Obtained through the generalized method of moments in a panel data analysis, a reasonable choice is Covid-19 spread’s unanticipated severity. Rising unanticipated severity significantly reduces the alphas and betas of mid-cap and small-cap ETFs but not large-cap and sector & speciality ETFs. Hence, retail investors should not market time or panic liquidate, especially when successful vaccination development is likely in the near future.
The role of the hydroxyl radical in peroxide bleaching processes

Abstract The kinetics of N,N-dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline (DMNA) oxidation in alkaline and acidic hydrogen peroxide have been studied at 50°. Based on the premise that DMNA is a specific acceptor for the hydroxyl radical during the oxidation process, the effects of transition metal ions and stabilizing agents on steady state concentrations of the radical species have been determined. Using these kinetic formulations, it has been inferred that the hydroxyl radical has little influence on alkaline peroxide bleaching of mechanical wood pulp at low consistency. However, using a two-stage acid/alkali peroxide bleaching process a correlation exists between the calculated relative hydroxyl radical concentration in the acidic stage and the final pulp brightness after the alkaline stage.
The time-dependent electric current from a flame II. Theoretical solutions controlled by ionic diffusion

Solutions are presented in one, two and three dimensions for the time-dependent electric field and current in a flame ionization detector dominated by ionic diffusion. The solutions are expressed in terms of ‘flame polynomials’ similar to the ‘heat polynomials’ of the heat propagation or diffusion equation. The conditions needed to define the solution are given by a physical argument.
Microgripper Based on Simple Compliance Configurations, Improved by Using Parameterization

The design of a novel electrothermal microgripper device is shown, which is based on an improved chevron type actuator developed considering their elements parameterization, whose resistive model is also provided. The performance of the microgripper’s parameters, such as displacement, force, and temperature distribution, with convection for the voltage range from 0 up to 5 V, is evaluated through numerical and analytical simulation. Microgripper design was also improved with aid of parameterization. The effect on the microgripper performance due to its thickness is also analyzed, finding a considerable increment in force, when thickness increases. Its main advantage is given by the simplicity of the compliance arrangement of the microgrippers jaws. Considering convection, when 5 V are applied, 37.72 °C was generated at the jaw’s tips of the Improved Microgripper 2 (IMG2), implemented with silicon, this relatively low temperature increases its capabilities of application. When the IMG2 is implemented with polysilicon, its response is competitive comparing with a more complex microgripper, increase of displacement (50%) is shown, but a decrement of force (30%). The diameters allowed for the subjection objects are found between 84.64 µm and 108 µm, with weights lower than 612.2 µg. Some tests of subjection were performed using microcylinders of Au, glass ceramic, polycarbonate and carbon fiber, showing a permissible stress on them, considering its Young’s modulus, as well as the total reaction force induced. All simulations were done on Ansys software. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the future microgripper fabrication.