Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sedimentology and Mineralogy of Surface Formations of the Mossendjo Area (Republic of Congo): Paleoenvironmental and Paleoclimatic Implications

Studies undertaken at several sites in the Congolese basin and in the Chaillu massif are helping to reinterpret the sedimentological formations known as cover formations, which are widely exposed in Central Africa. This article presents the results of granulometric, morphoscopic, mineralogical and chemical analyzes obtained at three sites in the Chaillu. Gronulometric analysis indicates that the sands at the three sites are rated medium to high. The cumulative curves are essentially sigmoidal with regular and spreading slopes. This facies indicates that the deposition took place due to a banal and moderate variation in the competence of the carrier current. The morphoscopy of the quartz grains shows that they are mainly angular and shiny. These data reflect a relatively close source and transport by water. The synthesis of lithological, granulometric, petrographic and geochemical analyzes allowed us to highlight three episodes of deposits in the Mossendjo area: the first is characterized by a channel-type fluvial system marked by deposits from the hospital borehole and from the station; the second, which is alluvial, corresponds to the clogging of the channel. These two alluvial phases are overcome by a third, fluvial, channel-type episode, the end of which is marked by the
Effect of shading strategies on intake, digestibility, respiratory rate, feeding behaviour, and performance of feedlot-finished Nellore bulls in the semi-arid region of Brazil

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different shading strategies on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, nutrient use efficiency, feeding behaviour, respiratory rate, and performance of feedlot-finished Nellore bulls in the semi-arid region of Brazil. Two hundred and twenty-five intact Nellore cattle with average body weight (BW) of 294 ± 19 kg and 24 months of age were allotted to a completely randomised design with three shading strategies (full sun, artificial shade, and natural shade). There was a significant effect of shading strategies on air temperature (p = .02), black globe temperature (p < .01), and radiant heat load (p < .01), which were 3.63%, 44.07%, and 4.10% higher in the full sun pen than in natural shade pen, respectively. The dry matter intake of animals kept in the natural shade pen was 14.76% higher than that of animals in the full sun pen (mean of 7.39 kg DM/day). The longest feeding time (p = .02) was observed in animals kept in the artificial shade pen. Bulls kept in the natural shade pen had the highest (p = .05) final body weight and average daily gain (p = .02). There was no effect of treatments on feed efficiency, averaging 0.184 kg/kg of DM. There was a trend (p = .09) towards higher hot carcase weight for animals kept in the natural shade pen. Natural shade is recommended for feedlot-finished Nellore cattle in the semi-arid region of Brazil. Highlights Natural shade in feedlot pens improves the thermal comfort of animals in the semi-arid region The dry matter intake was higher in bulls kept in the pen with natural shade than in animals kept in the full sun pen Animal performance was improved in shaded pens
Circularly Polarized (CP) Wideband on Fabric (Textile) Stealth MIMO Antenna for Wearable Wireless UWB Applications

Stealth wearable wireless devices gained popularity in the personal security and fashion design industry. A multiple-input-output (MIMO) wideband circularly polarized textile is described in the present paper, where a wearable application uses a multiple-input-output (M.I.M.O). It consists of two MIMO antennas, the resonating elements are shaped like a peacock, and the ground plane is similar to a beautiful peacock. A voltage is applied to each antenna element; the ground plane contains a a Peacock-shaped small strip antenna used for circular polarizing. The antenna covers 3dB Axial Ratio Band-Width (A.R.B.W.) of 5.0–7.0 GHz and impedance bandwidth (S11 ≤ −10.5 dB) of 3.7–13.5 GHz. The improved fabric-textile Multple-input-multiple-output antenna showing Channel-Capacity-Loss about (C.C.L) <0.20 bits/sec/Hz, & Envelope-Correlation-Coefficient (E.C.C) less than 0.021, Total Active-Reflective-Coefficient (T.A.R.C) close to -10.4 dB , DiversityGain (D.G) close to 9.96, Mean-Effective-Gain (M.E.G) ratio close to ±0.5 dB . A Specific-Absorption-Rate(S.A.R) of the proposed antenna for tissues of human specimens is also discussed for different situations pertaining to the human body. The final dimention of the presented Circularly-Polarized textile wearable Multple-input-multiple-output antenna is 34:5×41×1.1mm3. The proposed antenna can make unrecognizable because of the beautiful peacock design that can easily mix with the designs of fabric.
Social conformity and prejudice toward immigrants: the role of political messaging

ABSTRACT Can targeted messages from political elites impact the relationship between valuing conformity and prejudice? We answer this question in a survey experiment on a national probability sample from the Netherlands by exposing respondents to a favorable vs. unfavorable statement about East European immigrants. We find that individuals attaching relatively high importance to the value of conformity express greater agreement with the statement, independently of its content or partisanship. Further, the positive association between valuing conformity and prejudice is significantly decreased when individuals are presented with a favorable statement about East European immigrants. Thus, valuing conformity is not only associated with higher prejudice but can also reduce prejudice because it makes individuals susceptible to elite normative pressure to respond positively.
Adherence to the Planetary Health Diet Index and Obesity Indicators in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

The EAT-Lancet Commission has proposed a model diet to improve the health of human beings and that of the planet. Recently, we proposed the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) to assess adherence of the population to this model diet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate adherence to the PHDI and obesity outcomes using baseline data from 14,515 participants in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). The dietary data were assessed using a 114-item FFQ. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were both used continuously and categorized. Linear and multinomial regression models adjusted for potential confounding factors were performed to assess the relationship between adherence to PHDI and outcomes. An inverse association was observed between adherence to PHDI and obesity indicators. Individuals with high adherence to the PHDI had lower BMI (β−0.50 95% CI−0.73:−0.27) and WC (β−1.70 95% CI−2.28:−1.12) values. They were also 24% less likely to be overweight (OR 0.76 95% CI 0.67:0.85) or obese (OR 0.76 95% CI 0.65:0.88), and they were 14% and 27% less likely to have increased WC (OR 0.86 95% CI 0.75:0.98) or substantially increased WC (OR 0.73 95% CI 0.64:0.83) than those with lower adherence. Our results showed that higher adherence to the PHDI may decrease obesity indicators.
Effects of Warm-Up on Sprint Swimming Performance, Rating of Perceived Exertion, and Blood Lactate Concentration: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: warm-ups precede physical exertion and has been shown to have positive and negative effects on performance. Positive effects include elevating body temperature, heart rate, and VO2. Negative effects include increasing fatigue and blood lactate concentration. The most effective warm-up format is still unknown, particularly in competitive swimming. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the most beneficial warm-up for maximal performance in sprint swimming events; (2) Methods: a structured search was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the PubMed, SportDiscus, and Google Scholar databases until March 2021. Studies with double-blind and randomized designs in which different types of warm-up were compared to each other or an identical placebo condition (no warm-up) were considered. Fourteen published studies were included. The effects of warm-up on sprint swimming performance, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and blood lactate concentration (La−) were investigated. (3) Results: in half of the studies, swimmers performed significantly better after a regular warm-up; however, the effect of warm-up on performance was small. Warm-ups had a medium to large effect on RPE and a small to medium effect on La−. (4) Conclusions: the findings of this review suggest that warm-ups do influence performance, although the magnitude is small. Future studies are needed in larger populations to clarify whether warm ups improve swim performance, to what extent, and the potential role of variables related to participant characteristics and swimming competitions.
Studies of Ultracold Strontium Gases

Title of dissertation: STUDIES OF ULTRACOLD STRONTIUM GASES Benjamin Reschovsky, Doctor of Philosophy, 2017 Dissertation directed by: Professors Gretchen Campbell and Steve Rolston Joint Quantum Institute, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Department of Physics, University of Maryland We describe the operation and performance of an ultracold strontium apparatus that is capable of generating quantum degenerate gases. The experiment has produced BoseEinstein condensates (BECs) of 84Sr and 86Sr as well as degenerate Fermi gases (DFGs) of 87Sr with a reduced temperature of T/TF ' 0.2 at a Fermi temperature of TF ' 55 nK. Straightforward modifications could be made to allow for isotopic mixtures and BECs of the fourth stable isotope, 88Sr. We also report on a technique to improve the continuous loading of a magnetic trap by adding a laser tuned to the P1 → S1 transition. The method increases atom number in the magnetic trap and subsequent cooling stages by up to 65 % for the bosonic isotopes and up to 30 % for the fermionic isotope of strontium. We optimize this trap loading strategy with respect to laser detuning, intensity, and beam size. To understand the results, we develop a one-dimensional rate equation model of the system, which is in good agreement with the data. We discuss the use of other transitions in strontium for accelerated trap loading and the application of the technique to other alkaline-earth-like atoms. Finally, we also report on an updated investigation of photoassociation resonances relative to the S0 + P1 dissassociation limit in bosonic strontium. Multiple new resonances for 84Sr and 86Sr were measured out to binding energies of -5 GHz and several discrepancies in earlier measurements were resolved. These measurements will allow for the development of a more accurate mass-scaled model and a better theoretical understanding of the molecular potentials near the P1 state. We also measure the strength of the 84Sr 0 u transitions in order to characterize their use as optical Feshbach resonances. STUDIES OF ULTRACOLD STRONTIUM GASES
Kinematics of the Isolated Luminous Infrared Galaxy CIG 993

We present scanning Fabry–Perot interferometric observations of CIG 993, which is an apparently isolated luminous infrared galaxy that also exhibits luminous blue compact and Wolf–Rayet galaxy features, and which also has a high star formation rate. Our high-resolution observations of the Hα emission line allowed us to derive the radial velocity field (VF), the velocity dispersion σ, and the residual VFs of the galaxy. This galaxy exhibits several kinematical components. On the one hand, the velocity gradients detected on the VF can be associated with a rotating disk, which is in contrast to previous results with less spectral resolution. However, the VF, the σ and residual VF show significant deviations from circular motions in the central part of the galaxy that matches a region with high number of Wolf–Rayet and O stars, which is coincident with the blue luminous component of the galaxy. We find narrow and broad velocity components for the ionized gas in the central part of the galaxy. The broad component is evidence of a central outflow related with the ongoing burst of stellar formation. The morpho-kinematical analysis of the galaxy indicates we are only seeing the brightest parts of the galaxy, which correspond to the bulge, a central bar and the beginning of the disk. We believe that CIG 993 is a disk galaxy that harbors important star-forming processes, which are most likely caused by a relatively recent interaction. This could imply that small encounters can change the global characteristics of a galaxy without disturbing the main rotation disk motion or the morphology of the galaxy.
Electrochemically Exfoliated Carbon Quantum Dots Modified Electrodes for Detection of Dopamine Neurotransmitter

A simple electroanalytical method was developed to detect dopamine (DA) neurotransmitter by using carbon quantum dots (CQDs) modiﬁed electrode. To synthesis CQDs, a green electrochemical method was adopted and graphite rods were used as anode and cathodes in 0.1 M NaOH/ethanol (EtOH) as the electrolyte solution. As-synthesized CQD showed different particle sizes depending on the applied current with time as characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy. The particle size, lattice structure and functional groups of CQDs were analyzed by the HR-TEM, XRD and FT-IR, respectively. The CQD exhibited a green ﬂuorescence under UV light (365 nm). Moreover, CQD dispersion was used to modify glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) to study their electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties. The both GCE/CQD and SPCE/CQD showed higher electrocatalytic activity toward oxidation of dopamine (DA) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution (pH = 7.4). In order to avoid interferences, Naﬁon (Nf) layer was coated on the CQD ﬁlm modiﬁed electrode. The effect of scan rate on DA oxidation was studied from 10 to 150 mV/s. The calibration curve was recorded for DA from 1 to 7 μ M using a SPCE/CQD and the limit of detection was found to be 0.099 μ M. The observed electro-catalytic activity of the CQD was attributed to their negatively charged functional groups which attracted positively charged DA in 0.1 M PBS. In addition, detection of DA in spiked human urine sample was demonstrated with satisfactory recovery analysis
Reply on RC1

This manuscript investigated the contribution of transpiration, ground evaporation, and canopy evaporation to local and remote precipitation across North America. They found that the role of the land surface and the individual ET components varies considerably across the continent and across seasons. In annual time scale, transpiration is the dominant source of precipitation across the north and east, while soil evaporation moisture is dominant in the south and west.
Effectiveness of photodynamic therapy with curcumin against Candida species: A systematic review

Introduction: In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown an effective role in controlling fungal infections such as oral candidiasis both in laboratory and clinical settings. Curcumin as a natural photosensitizer has antibacterial as well as antifungal effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti- Candida spp. effects of PDT by using curcumin. Methods: First, the intended keywords were searched in the four following databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. The titles were then merged, and the original eligible articles published by the end of 2020 were scrutinized. Results: Out of 167 merged titles, 12 articles ( In-vitro , in-vivo : mice & G. mellonella ) met the required criteria and were included in the study. The studied Candida spp. were C. albicans , C. dubliniensis , C. glabrata and C. tropicalis . Concentrations of curcumin used in the studies ranged from 0.005 to 1000 µM. The light sources included LED (440-460 nm), diode laser (405, 532, 650 nm) and Xenon lamp (370-680 nm). The results of all studies showed that PDT reduced the colony count and the level of Candida spp. metabolism significantly. PDT efficacy was dependent on curcumin concentration, Candida spp. , energy and wavelength of radiations, and it proved more effective in planktonic environments than biofilm environments. Conclusion: PDT using curcumin in a concentration-dependent manner has a potent lethal effect against some Candida spp. and may be considered as a major or adjuvant treatment for some Candida infections.
Rapid immunofluorescence assay for staphylococcal enterotoxin A using magnetic nanoparticles

A competitive immunoassay for staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) detection in milk was developed, using immobilised antibody onto magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). MNPs were prepared and then modified to introduce amino groups on them. The morphology and size of the obtained both unmodified and modified MNPs were characterized using TEM analyses. Monoclonal anti-SEA antibody was immobilised onto the modified MNPs (MNP-Ab). Staphylococcal enterotoxin A was conjugated with fluorescent dye ATTO620NHS. The characteristics of fluorescence conjugate were examined. The amount of MNP-Ab and concentration of the fluorescent conjugate used for competitive immunoassay were optimized: 0.25 mg and 53 lg mL , respectively. The detection limit of developed immunoassay was determined – 0.23 ng mL 1 SEA in spiked milk samples. The immunoassay takes only 30 min, the magnetic separation is fast (<10 s) and the volume of the sample for analysis is very small (200 lL).
Quantification of the Rupture Potential of Patient-Specific Intracranial Aneurysms under Contact Constraints

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are localized enlargements of cerebral blood vessels that cause substantial rates of mortality and morbidity in humans. The rupture possibility of these aneurysms is a critical medical challenge for physicians during treatment planning. This treatment planning while assessing the rupture potential of aneurysms becomes more complicated when they are constrained by an adjacent structure such as optic nerve tissues or bones, which is not widely studied yet. In this work, we considered and studied a constitutive model to investigate the bio-mechanical response of image-based patient-specific IA data using cardiovascular structural mechanics equations. We performed biomechanical modeling and simulations of four different patient-specific aneurysms’ data (three middle cerebral arteries and one internal carotid artery) to assess the rupture potential of those aneurysms under a plane contact constraint. Our results suggest that aneurysms with plane contact constraints produce less or almost similar maximum wall effective stress compared to aneurysms with no contact constraints. In our research findings, we observed that a plane contact constraint on top of an internal carotid artery might work as a protective wall due to the 16.6% reduction in maximum wall effective stress than that for the case where there is no contact on top of the aneurysm.
Mind-Body Therapies for Cancer Patients Living with Depression, Anxiety or Insomnia (MIRACLE): A Systematic Review with Individual Participant Data Network Meta-Analysis

Depression, anxiety, and insomnia are common in cancer patients. Mind-body therapies (MBTs) are promising forms of treatment for cancer patients living with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of MBTs in cancer patients living with depression, anxiety, or insomnia. EMBase, PubMed, Cinahl, PsychINFO, IndMED, CSI-NISCAIR, CNKI, Clinicaltrial.gov, ChiCTR, and CTRI will be searched until October 2020 for relevant studies. Randomized controlled studies in which MBTs were tested in a cancer population will be selected. The authors of the selected studies will be contacted to obtain individual participant data. The participants who reached a defined clinical threshold for depression, anxiety, or insomnia will be selected for the three sub-studies on depression, anxiety, and insomnia, respectively. Pairwise and network meta-analyses will be used to assess the changes in depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and completion rate. We will assess the effect of the treatment dose (number and frequency of interventions) on effectiveness. The results of this study will inform clinical decision-making for the treatment of psychological disturbances in cancer patients. If MBTs are found effective, they will potentially be recommended as treatments for cancer patients with psychological symptoms.
Neonatal Porcine Germ Cells Dedifferentiate and Display Osteogenic and Pluripotency Properties

Gonocytes are progenitors of spermatogonial stem cells in the neonatal testis. We have previously shown that upon culturing, neonatal porcine gonocytes and their colonies express germ cell and pluripotency markers. The objectives of present study were to investigate in vitro trans-differentiation potential of porcine gonocytes and their colonies into cells from three germinal layers, and to assess pluripotency of cultured gonocytes/colonies in vivo. For osteogenic and tri-lineage differentiation, cells were incubated in regular culture media for 14 and 28 days, respectively. Cells were cultured for an additional 14 days for osteogenic differentiation or 7 days for differentiation into derivates of the three germinal layers. Osteogenic differentiation of cells and colonies was verified by Alizarin Red S staining and tri-lineage differentiation was confirmed using immunofluorescence and gene expression analyses. Furthermore, upon implantation into recipient mice, the cultured cells/colonies developed teratomas expressing markers of all three germinal layers. Successful osteogenic differentiation from porcine germ cells has important implications for bone regeneration and matrix formation studies. Hence, gonocytes emerge as a promising source of adult pluripotent stem cells due to the ability to differentiate into all germinal layers without typical biosafety risks associated with viral vectors or ethical implications.
SentiMental: An emotional profiling algorithm for identifying affect patterns in text

This technical report outlines the mechanisms and potential applications of SentiMental, a suite of natural language processing algorithm designed and implemented by Massimo Stella, Complex Science Consulting. The following technical report briefly outlines the novel approach of SentiMental in performing sentiment and emotional analysis by directly harnessing the whole structure of the mental lexicon rather than by using affect norms. Furthermore, this technical report outlines the direct emotional profiling and the visualisations currently implemented in version 0.1 of SentiMental. Features under development and current limitations are also outlined and discussed.This technical report is not meant as a publication. The author holds full copyright and any reproduction of parts of this report must be authorised by the copyright holder. SentiMental represents a work in progress, so do not hesitate to get in touch with the author for any potential feedback.