Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of anti-biofilm gel, chitogel-mupirocin-budesonide in a sheep sinusitis model

Recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been increasingly recognised to be attributed to bacterial biofilms (1-5). Amongst surgically recalcitrant patients about 40– 50% of biofilms identified are Staphylococcus aureus (6,7). Oral antibiotics are often ineffective against biofilms (8), pressuring a continuous search for topical anti-biofilm agents which allows for increased concentration, localised action and less systemic side effects. The effective delivery of these topical treatments into sinus cavities remains the main obstacle. Currently topical antibiotics are administered via sinonasal irrigations, nebulisers and nasal sprays. All of these methods lack the ideal characteristics of complete sinus distribution, prolonged mucosal contact time to increase local absorption Original Article
A Soft-Charging-Based SC DC–DC Boost Converter With Conversion-Ratio-Insensitive High Efficiency for Energy Harvesting in Miniature Sensor Systems

This paper introduces a fully integrated switched-capacitor (SC) DC-DC boost converter suitable for energy harvesting in miniature sensor systems with varying harvesting source and battery voltages. Unlike the conventional SC DC-DC boost converters, where efficiency is optimized only for a few topology-dependent voltage conversion ratios (VCRs), the proposed soft-charging-based SC converter achieved VCR-insensitive evenly high efficiency for a wide range of input and output voltages. A test chip was fabricated in 180nm process, and the measured peak efficiency and average efficiency are 85.3% and 83.6%, respectively, for 1.8V regulated output voltage and a wide range of input voltages (0.95–1.8 V). Also, a peak efficiency of 88.9% and average efficiency of 87.6% are achieved for a wide range of battery output voltages (3.0–4.2 V) and a 1.2V harvesting source input voltage.
Leaf area prediction models for Tsuga canadensis in Maine

Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. (eastern hemlock) is a common species throughout the Acadian forest. Studies of leaf area and growth efficiency in this forest type have been limited by the lack of equations to predict leaf area of this species. We found that sapwood area was an effective leaf area surrogate in T. canadensis, though adding crown length to the sapwood equations improved model performance. Prediction bias was observed at the upper end of our data for the best sapwood equation. Sapwood area at crown base did not predict leaf area as well as sapwood area at breast height. Equations using crown length or crown volume alone were the least effective of all models tested. Models using stem cross-sectional area inside the bark or tree basal area with a modified live crown ratio produced results comparable with those of the best sapwood-based model and were unbiased across the range of our data. There findings verify the value of nonsapwood-based approaches to T. canadensis leaf area prediction.
RETINOIC ACID STIMULATES DEVELOPMENT OF ADULT-TYPE CHROMATOPHORES IN THE FLOUNDER

Premetamorphic flounder larvae were administered different doses of 9-cis retinoic acid (9cRA). 9cRA at 25 nM (the highest dose) not only stimulated adult-type (ad-) chromatophore development on the ocular (eyed) side, but also induced the development of ad-chromatophores on the blind (non-eyed) side of the metamorphosed fish. The ad-chromatophore development was stimulated by 9cRA only when administered to the larvae that were at late premetamorphosis and at early prometamorphosis. Ad-chromatophores actually appear much later, at the end of metamorphosis. 9cRA was not effective at later stages of metamorphosis. These results suggest that 9cRA stimulated the development or determination of the developmental fate of neural crest cells for chromatophores. The present results also suggest the presence of immature chromatophores or neural crest cells on both sides of the larval body of the flounder and that the ad-chromatophore development is somehow inhibited on the blind side in spontaneous metamorphosis. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) had a similar effect on the ad-chromatophore development. In addition, both types of RAs affected the development of fin rays of the fish, resulting in deformity of fins when administered at high doses early in metamorphosis. The teratogenic effect of atRA was greater than that of 9cRA. J. Exp. Zool. 284:317–324, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A high-throughput, low cost gel-based SNP assay for positional cloning and marker assisted breeding of useful genes in cereals

Several SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) genotyping methods have been developed in the past most of which require sophisticated instrumentation and large initial investments. We describe here a high-throughput SSCP (single strand conformation polymorphism) system on our HEGS (high efficiency genome scanning) platform, which is simple, accurate, cost effective and requires neither restriction digestion of the amplification products nor elaborate post-PCR processing detection. Several parameters critical to SSCP analysis were optimized viz., gel matrix and concentration, gel running temperature, buffer composition, running conditions and PCR primer design so as to identify SNPs in amplicons ranging from 100 to 750 bp in size. A simple post-PCR processing system was developed using fluorescent dye for quick and easy detection of SNP polymorphism. HEGS-SSCP was also found to be useful in uncovering simple sequence repeat differences between different genotypes that differ by one or few di/tri nucleotide repeats. The practical utility of this system is illustrated with two successful efforts towards construction of high resolution linkage maps of a lesion mimic locus on chromosome 7 and a major quantitative trait locus conditioning field blast resistance on chromosome 4 in rice.
The Effectiveness of Using Three-Dimensional Visualization Tools to Improve Students’ Understanding of Medicinal Chemistry and Advanced Drug Design Concepts

Computer technology is an integral part of modern research. Most undergraduate pharmacy students are not aware of the use of these techniques in the drug design process. Understanding drug-target interactions plays a vital role in the drug design process, however, teaching the molecular basis of drug action is one of the major challenges we face in medicinal chemistry courses. The increase in the availability of three-dimensional macromolecule crystal structures and computer visualization software have provided better tools to study the drugs effect at the molecular level. This study evaluates the effectiveness of using three-dimensional macromolecule visualization tools in medicinal chemistry lectures on the students understanding of the molecular basis of drug action and drug design concepts. The different examples presented in this work are part of the teaching material that were developed to suite the learning objectives of the course. In addition, the “macromolecular drug targets assignment” was introduced to the course in order to allow the students to have practical experience using the new in silico techniques. Two hundred seventy students were surveyed over the past five years, the result showed that the new teaching tools have increased students’ interest in medicinal chemistry and allowed them to develop better understanding of the effect of structural modification on compounds’ activity and structure activity relationship. In addition, it gave them an insight into the advanced methods used in drug design. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19. 4.11
Research on parameter optimisation of dynamic priority scheduling algorithm based on improved reinforcement learning

The dynamic priority scheduling algorithm is one of the real-time scheduling algorithms in a power system. However, it ignores the impact of the weight of each index when selecting indicators that affect scheduling performance. There is no definite objective function relation between weight parameters and scheduling performance. Hence, the heuristic algorithm is difficult to optimise the weight parameters. Aiming to solve this problem, a dynamic priority scheduling algorithm based on improved reinforcement learning (RL) is proposed for parameter optimisation. By learning from each other, the weighting parameters and the deadline miss rate (DMR), the global optimisation of weighting parameters can be achieved, but the learning efficiency of the conventional RL method is low. According to the task scheduling performance (the DMR) and the task characteristics, this study improves the RL action step and reward function, which accelerates the online learning speed and improves the optimisation ability of the RL algorithm. Experimental results show that the improved RL algorithm not only optimises the weight parameters but reduces the DMR, which reduces the number of iterations of RL. A scheduling algorithm optimised by RL can be better applied to industrial control and power system resource scheduling, which not only improves control efficiency but reduces scheduling costs.
Effects of dietary lipid level on liver and muscle lipid deposition in juvenile haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L.

The effects of dietary lipid levels on growth, feed utilization, hepatosomatic index (HSI), liver lipid deposition and tissue fatty acid composition in haddock were investigated. Triplicate tanks of juvenile haddock (6.9 g) were fed graded levels of herring oil to supply 14, 16, 19 and 22% lipid (DM, dry matter) in fish meal-based, isonitrogenous diets. Growth and feed conversion ratio of juvenile haddock was not significantly (P < 0.05) affected by increasing the lipid content of the diet. A significant increase in HSI (9.8–12.1%), total liver lipid (63.2–69.0%) and whole body gross energy content (6.03–6.39 kcal g−1 DM) were observed in haddock fed 14% vs. 22% lipid. Although the HSI of these cultured haddock was high in comparison to wild gadoids, histological analyses of these haddock livers did not reveal any overt pathology. Muscle lipid levels (1.0%) did not increase significantly with dietary lipid. Liver fatty acid levels mirrored dietary fatty acid (FA) composition. The muscle consisted mainly of polar lipid (84.3 ± 2.5% of total lipid) and a large proportion (52.6 ± 0.8%) of polyunsaturated FA. A dietary lipid level of 14% DM or less is recommended for juvenile haddock.
Automated Detection and Notification of Pothole to Aid Driver

The majority of countries are in the Development race. India is in the same race, as well. Road transport is contributing the lion's share in India's Growth. Road transportation is mainly transportation nework in India among the three transport systems. This is the reason behind increased vehicle numbers in recent years. Accidents also increased with the number of cars. Path condition is the principal cause behind this incident. So maintaining the roads is important to save lives. The proposed device would track the condition of the road and identify the potholes. The identified information about the potholes will be given to the driver and also to the
Comparison of Late Neogene Uk′37 and TEX86 Paleotemperature Records From the Eastern Equatorial Pacific at Orbital Resolution

Key features of late Neogene climate remain uncertain due to conflicting records derived from different sea surface temperature (SST) proxies. To understand scenarios in which proxy‐derived temperature estimates can be used interchangeably or are instead measuring different aspects of the same system, it is necessary to explore both the consistencies and differences between specific paleothermometers. Here, we report orbital‐scale climate records from ODP Site 846 in the eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) for the interval from ~5–6 Ma using alkenone and archaeal lipid paleothermometers. Results from both proxies are similar in their secular trends and magnitude of long‐term temperature change, and spectral analysis demonstrates that the records are coherent and in‐phase in both the obliquity and precession bands. However, we find that the temperatures reconstructed by TEX86 are consistently offset toward colder values by ~2 °C relative to Uk′37‐derived temperatures in global calibrations, or by ~0.8 °C in Bayesian‐based calibrations. All combinations of calibrations also yield approximately twice the amplitude of orbital‐scale variation in TEX86 relative to Uk′37‐derived temperature fluctuations. Both temperature proxies are negatively correlated with sedimentary alkenone concentrations, which we use as an indicator of increased export productivity. Removing this productivity contribution from TEX86 results in an adjusted TEX86 record with temperature sensitivity identical to Uk′37. In future applications, this signal may be decoupled using additional sedimentary indicators of paleoproductivity, which likely will be most important for upwelling zone environments. There remain other nonexplained factors that contribute to differences between TEX86 and Uk′37 that warrant additional investigation.
Reduction of uncertainties in exposure assessment based on environmental monitoring data

Emergency preparedness and response systems for nuclear and radiological emergencies have to deal with decision-making in situations with relevant uncertainties. Consistent and appropriate protective measures must be decided before, during and after emergency situations. CONFIDENCE WP2 research helps to improve this decision-making process in the urgent response and the early response phase of emergency situations with potential major releases to atmosphere. This paper describes methods to reduce uncertainties in dose assessment for the population using data from stationary and mobile environmental monitoring programs. A special focus is given to identification of the measurement uncertainties of stationary and mobile monitoring systems. Methods to reduce these uncertainties and procedures to optimise mobile monitoring strategies are discussed. A first contribution towards assessing the quality of dose-rate measurements performed by the general population is made. In addition, the paper introduces approaches for advanced dose assessment tools using monitoring data and concepts for identifying critically exposed groups.
Optimal Power Point on the I-V Curve of a Photovoltaic Solar System (Modelling and Analysis)

Motivated by recent interest in improving the performance of PV cells, we explored the optimal power point in Photovoltaic (PV) cells by using three different topologies to compare its function and efficacy. Firstly, we investigate the consequence of connecting a PV directly to the load. Secondly, the efficacy of an electronic device that generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) to control a boost converter connected to the PV panel and the load and finally the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method by using the Algorithm Perturb and Observe (P\&O), with the implementation of the DC-DC converter between the PV panel and the load. In doing so, a mathematical model of the PV cell was employed and using MATLAB Simulink, the behaviour of the voltage and current signals acquired were analysed, this helps in understanding the performance of the solar cell under different meteorological circumstances, and its effect on the power generated by the PV cell. Finally, based on the performance simulations on the three methods implemented, the results were tested for the response time of the MPPT under different load conditions in order to ascertain it performance.
Dynamics and oceanic response of the Madeira tip‐jets

Madeira island is a well‐known source of atmospheric and oceanic eddy activity, with relevant downstream impact in both media. Previous studies focused on the dynamics of the island wake environment, suggesting the relevance of different atmosphere–ocean interactions in its maintenance. Here, results from one summer (two months) of fully coupled atmosphere–ocean high‐resolution simulations are used to explore such interactions and to further understand the dynamics of Madeira's wake. Those results, validated against available in situ and remote‐sensing data, indicate that the atmospheric and ocean circulations near Madeira are dominated by the variability of two quasi‐permanent features, its tip‐jets, and more so by the variability of its eastern jet. While both jets are of comparable magnitude and present similar intraseasonal variability at the multi‐week time‐scale, they are associated with qualitatively different forcing. The jets dominate the atmosphere forcing over the upper ocean, leading to enhanced mixing and deeper mixed‐layer depth. Oceanic eddies are more frequent in the east jet region, as shedding anticyclones, confirming observational evidence. A comparison with a similar one‐way coupled atmospheric simulation indicates that atmosphere–ocean feedbacks are relevant to the coastal surface temperature.
Fine scale surface climate in complex terrain using machine learning

Accurate and high spatial resolution (<100 m) surface climate information is crucial for process‐based modelling in hydrology, ecology, agriculture, urban studies etc, especially in complex terrain landscapes where coarse grid resolution information (∼10 km) is inadequate to represent pronounced local variability. We used a machine learning‐based workflow to predict high resolution (30 m) and sub‐daily atmospheric variables fields of near‐surface air temperature and humidity, and wind speed. The method used the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) decomposition applied on ground stations observations or Global Climate Model (GCM) residual error, in a sequence with bias correction and statistical models (Linear Regression‐LR, Artificial Neural Network model‐ANN and Empirical Quantile Mapping‐EQM) to provide downscaling from large scale atmospheric conditions to complex terrain variability. The predictions described relationships of Principal Component (PC) scores dependent on GCM temporal variability on 6‐hourly basis (with LR or ANN or EQM), and PC loadings dependent on topographic indexes to help providing horizontal sub‐grid extrapolation. The methods were validated with a 1‐year dataset from a dense weather stations network deployed in a complex terrain basin in tropical climate of Southeast Brazil. We present an exhaustive description of the PC modes daily/seasonal variability for each variable, and their spatial variability associated to the topography and thermal driven circulations. The predictions in general substantially improved accuracy when compared to GCM outputs, especially near the valley and in sheltered area where local effects are mandatories. Specially, ANN and EQM significantly improved the predictions at the variability of extreme events, such as the formation of strong cold air pooling or wetting in the valley.
A Review of Vertebrate Beak Morphologies in the Triassic; A Framework to Characterize an Enigmatic Beak from the Ischigualasto Formation, San Juan, Argentina

Abstract. Beaks are an edentulous dietary modification present in numerous forms in turtles, birds, cephalopods, and some actinopterygian fishes today. Beaks have a rich fossil record and have independently evolved at least nine times over the past 300 million years in early reptiles, dinosaurs and their relatives, and crocodile and mammal relatives. Here, we focus on the earliest evolution of beaks in the reptile fossil record during the Triassic Period (252–201.5 million years ago). We analyze the phylogenetic distribution of Triassic beaks and review their morphologies to create a framework to estimate beak similarity. With this, we describe a unique fossil beak (PVSJ 427) from the Late Triassic Ischigualasto Formation, San Juan, Argentina, and place it in our similarity analysis alongside other vertebrate clades from the Triassic Period, or with Triassic origins. PVSJ 427 is a small iron-rich cast fossil that is triangular with a concave midline shelf, rounded lateral walls, and an anterior point. No clear synapomorphies are present in PVSJ 427, and as such, its phylogenetic position is not inferred herein. Some remnants of bone are recognizable in thin sections of PVSJ 427, indicating that it likely represents a bony beak replaced by minerals. The morphology of PVSJ 427 is most similar to the predentary, an edentulous element restricted to ornithischian dinosaurs, although this specimen is approximately three times larger than the earliest known ornithischian predentaries. Regardless of phylogenetic position, PVSJ 427 reflects an early evolution of a predentary-like beak and indicates that this animal was ecologically convergent with the earliest ornithischian dinosaurs.
Solubility Determination and Thermodynamic Modeling of Edaravone in Different Solvent Systems and the Solvent Effect in Pure Solvents

The solubility data of edaravone in fourteen neat solvents (water, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, sec-butanol, n-pentanol, acetone, acetonitrile, dichloromethane.
Taxonomy and preliminary phylogeny of the parasitic genus Apocephalus, subgenus Mesophora (Diptera: Phoridae)

Abstract. The species of Apocephalus, subgenus Mesophora, are revised and twenty‐eight species are recognized, including the following twenty‐two new to science: from the Nearctic Region A. brunnipes, A. gemursus, A. pristinus, A. setialvus and A. unitarsus, and from the Neotropical Region A. absentis, A. adustus, A. anfractus, A. angustistylus, A. bisetus, A. brevicercus, A. curtus, A. gracilis, A. hansoni, A. leptotarsus, A. longistylus, A. micrepelis, A. moraviensis, A. prolatus, A. trisetus, A. tritarsus and A. truncaticercus. Additionally, three species known only from female specimens are described but not formally named. A lectotype is designated for A. mortifer Borgmeier, and immature stages of A. borealis, A. antennatus and A. mortifer are described. Unlike larvae of other Apocephalus species, all of which are parasites of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), those of Mesophora species are parasites of various other hosts.
Simultaneous Solid Phase Fermentation and Saccharification of Cassava Fibrous Residue for Production of Ethanol

A total of 16.5% reducing sugars in the saccharified pulp of cassava fibrous residue are achieved with the use of 30% slurry. The yield of ethanol was highest and the amount of residual reducing sugars was lowest with the use of 2.5% acid. The increase in dose of glucoamylase leads to improved yields of ethanol without any lowering in the residual reducing sugars. The ethanol yield and productivity were better and the residual reducing sugars were lower in solid phase fermentation as compared to the fermentation of liquid hydrolysate obtained by hydraulic pressing of the saccharified pulp. The slightly lower yield of ethanol in large batch static fermentation probably due to poor mass transfer and limited contact of yeast cells as well as enzyme with their substrates could be effectively overcome by employing appropriate strategies. Gleichzeitige Fest-Phasen-Vergarung und Verzuckerung von Cassava-Faserruckstanden zur Herstellung von Ethanol. Bei Verwendung einer 30%igen Suspension wurde in der verzuckerten Pulpe aus Cassava-Faserruckstanden eine Gesamtmenge von 16,5% reduzierender Zucker erhalten. Bei Anwendung von 2,5% Saure war die Ethanolausbeute am hochsten und die Menge an restlichen reduzierenden Zucker am niedrigsten. Die Erhohung der Glucoamylase Dosierung fuhrte zu verbesserten Ethanolausbeuten ohne jede Verringerung der restlichen reduzierenden Zucker. Die Ethanolausbeute und -produktivitat waren besser und die restlichen reduzierenden Zucker waren in der Fest-Phasen-Vergarung geringer im Vergleich zur Vergarung des durch hydraulische Pressung der verzuckerten Pulpe erhaltenen flussigen Hydrolysates. Die leicht verringerte Ethanolausbeute bei der grosraumigen statischen Vergarung aufgrund des geringen Massenubergangs und des begrenzten Kontaktes der Hefezellen als auch des Enzyms mit ihren Substraten konnten durch Anwendung entsprechender Strategien uberwunden werden.