Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining Profile Similarity and Kalman Filter for Real-World Applicable Short-Term Bus Travel Time Prediction

The emergence of intelligent transportation systems and the availability of detailed past trips and real-time data enabled more accurate travel time prediction algorithms. Passengers of public transportation highly value reliable service and accurate travel information. Unexpected delays while traveling impact traveler satisfaction enormously. We present a novel approach for a travel time prediction model for public transit in an urban setting. For this, we extended the existing profile similarity model based on k-medoids clustering and augmented it for an urban regions. The algorithm integrates real-time data from preceding vehicles traveling on the same links with a Kalman filter. Hence, the developed model uses the information available in modern ITS by combining historic travel time profiles with real-time data. While the algorithm focuses on short-term predictions, we have also evaluated it for long-term forecasts. Our results show that the proposed model outperforms benchmark models regarding certain criteria and can provide accurate travel times with comparably low-volume data input. Furthermore, the results indicate that the combination of a Kalman filter with a k-medoids approach improves the quality of the predictions.
Potential Effect of Averrhoa bilimbi (belimbing buluh) Marinades on Tenderizing the Buffalo Meat Compared to Actinidia chinensis (kiwifruit), Citrus limon (lemon) and Commercial Bromelain

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of Averrhoa bilimbi (belimbing buluh) marinades versus other meat tenderizers on the physicochemical properties of buffalo meat. The buffalo meat chunks were marinated with 40% Averrhoa bilimbi, 40% Citrus limon, 40% Actinidia chinensis, 5% commercial bromelain meat tenderizer (positive control) and distilled water (negative control) for 24 hours at 4°C. The treated samples were cooked at 100°C for 20 minutes. Both raw and cooked samples were subjected to physicochemical analyses. There was significantly lower pH (p<0.05) for raw and cooked meat chunks observed in all treated samples compared to control. Citrus limon and Averrhoa bilimbi showed the lowest pH at 5.04±0.06 and 5.06±0.03, respectively, indicated that the meat chunks were well tenderized. Citrus limon-treated sample recorded the highest (p<0.05) expressible water compared to others. The moisture content of cooked sample and the cooking yield increased significantly (p<0.05) in all treated samples compared to control. The hardness from TPA decreased significantly (p<0.05) for all treated samples compared to control. It can be suggested that Averrhoa bilimbi has the potential to be used as meat tenderizer with the ability to retain the moisture content as compared to other well-known and commercial meat tenderizers.
Overexpression of TwSQS, TwSE, and TwOSC Regulates Celastrol Accumulation in Cambial Meristematic Cells and Dedifferentiated Cells

Squalene synthase (SQS), squalene epoxidase (SE), and oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) are encoding enzymes in downstream biosynthetic pathway of triterpenoid in plants, but the relationship between three genes and celastrol accumulation in Tripterygium wilfordii still remains unknown. Gene transformation system in plant can be used for studying gene function rapidly. However, there is no report on the application of cambial meristematic cells (CMCs) and dedifferentiated cells (DDCs) in genetic transformation systems. Our aim was to study the effects of individual overexpression of TwSQS, TwSE, and TwOSC on terpenoid accumulation and biosynthetic pathway related gene expression through CMCs and DDCs systems. Overexpression vectors of TwSQS, TwSE, and TwOSC were constructed by Gateway technology and transferred into CMCs and DDCs by gene gun. After overexpression, the content of celastrol was significantly increased in CMCs compared with the control group. However, there was no significant increment of celastrol in DDCs. Meanwhile, the relative expression levels of TwSQS, TwSE, TwOSC, and terpenoid biosynthetic pathway related genes were detected. The relative expression levels of TwSQS, TwSE, and TwOSC were increased compared with the control group in both CMCs and DDCs, while the pathway-related genes displayed different expression trends. Therefore, it was verified in T. wilfordii CMCs that overexpression of TwSQS, TwSE, and TwOSC increased celastrol accumulation and had different effects on the expression of related genes in terpenoid biosynthetic pathway, laying a foundation for further elucidating the downstream biosynthetic pathway of celastrol through T. wilfordii CMCs system.
High-Performance Laterally Oriented Nanowire Solar Cells with Ag Gratings

A laterally oriented GaAs p-i-n nanowire solar cell with Ag gratings is proposed and studied via coupled three-dimensional optoelectronic simulations. The results show that the gratings significantly enhance the absorption of nanowire for both TM and TE polarized light due to the combined effect of grating diffraction, excitation of plasmon polaritons, and suppression of carrier recombination. At an optimal grating period, the absorption at 650–800 nm, which is an absorption trough for pure nanowire, is substantially enhanced, raising the conversion efficiency from 8.7% to 14.7%. Moreover, the gratings enhance the weak absorption at long wavelengths and extend the absorption cutoff wavelength for ultrathin nanowires, yielding a remarkable efficiency of 13.3% for the NW with a small diameter of 90 nm, 2.6 times that without gratings. This work may pave the way toward the development of ultrathin high-efficiency nanoscale solar cells.
Spatial Distribution of Butterfly (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin (Peta), Mersing, Johor, Malaysia

Being the largest protected area and an old tropical rainforest in the southern Peninsular Malaysia, Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin (TNJER) is home for diverse flora and fauna. The present biodiversity and ecology of forest ecosystem need to be understood to facilitate park management and conservation effort. Butterfly is useful for ecological evaluation of terrestrial landscapes and management of natural areas due to their sensitivity in responding toward environmental variations. The samplings were conducted manually using aerial net and trapping using fruit baits along two of 1 km transects in the eastern part of TNJER (Nature Education and Research Centre and Kuala Jasin) from April 2014 to July 2015. A total of 131 species comprising 491 individuals from five families were recorded. This study had also successfully added 27 new records for TNJER. The most dominant species are Graphium sarpedon, Bassarona teuta and Zizeeria karsandra. The value of Shannon diversity and species evenness indices were 4.123 and 0.471 respectively. This indicated the high diversity of butterfly in the park. The curve of species accumulation graph was still increasing by the end of this study. Using Inventory Completeness Index, this sampling effort had covered only 51.15%. Using non-parametric estimator namely Chao1 suggested an estimated additional 87 species are expected to be found if the sampling continued. The chances of finding additional species are considered high due to high number of singletons (48.9%) and doubletons (16.8%) species recorded in this study. More comprehensive diversity and ecological studies are crucial to facilitate in comparing species from newer tropical forest of Borneo and other parts of Southeast Asia and to gauge in term of biogeography and conservation aspects. This study had produced a comprehensive checklist of butterfly in TNJER, comprising of 349 species, and it could be a reference point to understand the overall diversity of butterfly in Johor.
Three-dimensional low-defect carbon nanotube/nitrogen-doped graphene hybrid aerogel-supported Pt nanoparticles as efficient electrocatalysts toward the methanol oxidation reaction

Although direct methanol fuel cells present a huge potential for application in modern society, the lack of high-efficiency anode catalysts with acceptable cost has largely hindered their large-scale commercialization. Here, we demonstrate a bottom-up approach for the fabrication of ultrafine Pt nanoparticles dispersed on 3D low-defect carbon nanotube/nitrogen-doped graphene hybrid aerogels (Pt/LDCNT–NG) via a convenient and cost-effective self-assembly process. Both experiments and theoretical calculations reveal that the rationally assembled 3D Pt/LDCNT–NG architectures possess a low defect density, optimized electronic structure, and enhanced Pt stability, thus showing high electrocatalytic activity as well as a long lifespan toward the methanol oxidation reaction, which are far superior to those of conventional Pt/carbon black, Pt/acid-treated CNT, Pt/graphene, and Pt/nitrogen-doped graphene catalysts. It is anticipated that the synthetic strategy presented here can be further extended to the construction of various 3D heteroatom-doped low-defect carbonaceous nanomaterials that contain metals or metal oxides, which are conducive to the development of high-performance energy storage and conversion devices.
Successful Surgical and Endovascular Multidisciplinary Therapy for Mid-aortic Syndrome with Complicated Atherosclerotic Comorbidities in an Older Patient

Mid-aortic syndrome (MAS) is a rare vascular disorder that causes refractory hypertension. A 76-year-old woman was hospitalized for acute heart failure (HF) with drug-resistant hypertension; other comorbidities included epigastric artery rupture, old myocardial infarction, an intraventricular thrombus, and a cerebral artery aneurysm. Angiography revealed severe narrowing of the descending aorta, which led to the diagnosis of MAS. Although intensive medical treatment improved her HF, optimal blood pressure (BP) could not be achieved. Percutaneous coronary intervention and surgical bypass for diseased aorta was then performed in two stages, resulting in the achievement of optimal BP and alleviation of HF.
Structural and electronics properties of Rh‐doped SnO2(110) surfaces: Ab‐initio calculations

Structural and electronics properties of SnO2(110)‐doped Rh surfaces have been calculated for different atomic Rh/Sn ratio: 9.09%, 14.28%, 20%, and 26.31% using a density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP level with CRYSTAL09 program. These structures are obtained by substitution of Rh atoms with tin Sn atoms of the most outer atomic faces of SnO2(110) surfaces, which contain Sn and O atoms. Relaxation parameters, band structures, and projected density of state of neighboring atoms of Rh (PDOS) are represented and discussed.
An Analysis of Psycho-cognitive Factors in Relation to Postpartum Depression and Anxiety in Women with and without Changes in Body Weight

The aim of this study is firstly to analyze the differences in postpartum self-acceptance, patterns of beliefs (rationality) and perfectionism in women with and without changes in body weight and secondly to identify the relationships among self-acceptance, rationality, and perfectionism on the one hand and postpartum depression and anxiety on the other hand. The study involved 123 women, newly mothers, aged between 20 and 46 years, M = 32.29, SD = 6.56. The instruments used were Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire, Inventory of Ideas II, Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale, and Inventory of State-Trait Anxiety. The results showed that the level of rationality and self-acceptance was lower in women with higher body weight, while the level of perfectionism was higher in same tier. At the same time, the results obtained by regression and mediation analyzes showed that self-acceptance is negatively associated with both depression and anxiety, rationality is also negatively associated with both depression and anxiety, and perfectionism mediates the relationship between rationality and depression, but not the relationship between rationality and anxiety. The conclusions of the study highlighted the women’s need for support to regain their pre-pregnancy emotional balance and well-being.
CHITOSAN AND RICE STARCH FILMS AS PACKAGING MATERIALS

Producers of bio-based materials are keen on replacing oil-based packaging materials with green, sustainable materials which also have improved mechanical, antimicrobial, barrier properties. One of the most nontoxic and widely used polymers are polysaccharides, chitosan being one of them. This research shows the preparation, characterisation of the chitosan and rice starch films. The aim of the research was to improve the mechanical, moisture and optical properties of chitosan, rice starch and composite chitosan-rice starch film using ultrasonic treatment. Our research was focused on the effect of ultrasonic treatment on the solutions for the preparation of the mentioned films. The results showed that an ultrasonic treatment improved elasticity, moisture resistance and that films were more transparent. Elongation at break and tensile strength increased, especially at blend films. Moreover, moisture content showed a decrease proportional to an increase in thickness with decreasing film solubility at all treated samples. The surface at untreated blend film was more uneven compared to chitosan and rice starch films, which improved after the treatment. However, preparing film solutions with ultrasound is an improved procedure to increase many properties of biodegradable films and in this form could be used as packaging materials.
Effects of Bacillus-based probiotics on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal health of weaned pigs

Abstract Bacillus is characterized by the formation of spores in harsh environments, which makes it suitable for use as a probiotic for feed because of thermostability and high survival rate, even under long-term storage. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Bacillus-based probiotics on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, immune response, and intestinal microbiota of weaned pigs. A total of 40 weaned pigs (7.01 ± 0.86 kg body weight [BW]; 28 d old) were randomly assigned to two treatments (4 pigs/pen; 5 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (block = BW and sex). The dietary treatment was either a typical nursery diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) or CON supplemented with 0.01% probiotics containing a mixture of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis (PRO). Fecal samples were collected daily by rectal palpation for the last 3 days after a 4-day adaptation. Blood, ileal digesta, and intestinal tissue samples were collected from one pig in each pen at the respective time points. The PRO group did not affect the feed efficiency, but the average daily gain was significantly improved (p < 0.05). The PRO group showed a trend of improved crude protein digestibility (p < 0.10). The serum transforming growth factor-β1 level tended to be higher (p < 0.10) in the PRO group on days 7 and 14. There was no difference in phylum level of the intestinal microbiota, but there were differences in genus composition and proportions. However, β-diversity analysis showed no statistical differences between the CON and the PRO groups. Taken together, Bacillus-based probiotics had beneficial effects on the growth performance, immune system, and intestinal microbiota of weaned pigs, suggesting that Bacillus can be utilized as a functional probiotic for weaned pigs.
Analisis Kinerja Dosen Melaksanakan Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi Pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19: Studi Kasus Di Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana

Tatanan Normal Baru saat pandemi Covid-19 telah mengubah kinerja dosen menjalankan Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi. Tujuan penelitian adalah mengidentifikasi faktor berpengaruh dan besarnya kinerja dosen dalam melaksanakan Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi. Desain penelitian dengan deskriptif kualitatif, pengumpulan data dengan wawancara mendalam dan analisis data dengan ATLAS-ti-9. Subyek penelitian adalah dosen UKSW, dengan unit analisis sebanyak 5 dosen mewakili jabatan fungsional Guru Besar, Lektor Kepala, Lektor, Asisten Ahli dan belum berjabatan fungsional. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan, secara umum dosen melaksanakan Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi secara Daring dengan WFH. Kinerja dosen pada pendidikan, penelitian dan publikasi ilmiah tidak berkurang dibanding sebelum pandemi Covid-19. Tetapi kinerja dosen pada pengabdian masyarakat lebih rendah dibanding sebelum pandemi Covid-19. Faktor kendala melaksanakan Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi dengan WFH adalah 1. Faktor eksternal dosen: a. hardware seperti kapasitas komputer, kelancaran internet, dan listrik, b. software seperti ketersediaan aplikasi pembelajaran, c. lingkungan kerja seperti gangguan dan pemahaman keluarga saat kerja secara WFH. 2. Faktor internal dosen: brainware yaitu penguasaan hardware dan software, serta pengaturan jadwal kerja. Faktor positif adalah rasa aman dan nyaman, fleksibilitas tempat dan waktu kerja, efisien waktu kerja, hemat biaya transportasi, memacu penguasaan teknologi informasi, serta meningkatkan kreatifitas ide bentuk praktikum, penelitian dan pengabdian masyarakat saat pandemi Covid-19.
Crisis risk prediction with concavity from Polymodel

Financial crises are an important research topic because of their impact on the economy, businesses, and populations. However, prior research tends to generate reactive systemic risk measures, in the sense that the measure surges after the crisis starts. Few of them succeed in warning of financial crises in advance. In this paper, we first sketch a toy model that produces normal mixture distributions based on a dynamic regime switching model. We derive that the relative concavity among various indices tends to increase before a crisis. Using Polymodel theory, we introduce a measure of concavity as a crisis risk indicator, and test it against known crises observed in the past. We validate this indicator by a trading strategy holding long or short positions on the S & P 500 Index, depending on the indicator value.
Extraction of Phytochemicals from Eucalyptus Spp. & Withania Somnifera and Their Biological Testing

Disease incidence and prevalence is increasing in developing countries leading to high mortality and morbidity rates. Since most of the developing countries rely on traditional plant based medicine, there is huge demand for identifying the bioactive compounds from plant origin with medicinal properties owing to their safety, availability and reduced side effects. This project focuses on extraction of two different phytochemicals from Eucalyptus Spp and Withania Somnifera. The present study narrows down on extraction of sideroxylonals from Eucalyptus Spp and withaferin A from Withania Somnifera. Formulated phloroglucinol compounds (FPC) of Eucalyptus Spp includes Sideroxylonal which possess strong antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer properties. Withaferin A belonging to withanoloides of Withania Somnifera has potential antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Both the bioactive compounds are extracted from residual foliage from Eucalyptus Spp and Withania Somnifera. The extraction is optimized by using different solvents or combination of solvents in various proportions to increase yield. The extracted compound is studied for its antimicrobial and antioxidant activity and characterized using FTIR analysis, TLC and HPLC analysis. Antioxidant assay performed by DPPH method and phosphomolybdenum method showed similar IC50 values for both extracts. Antimicrobial assay performed using agar disc diffusion method showed potential antimicrobial activity in both the extracts.
HIGHLY EFFICIENT SYNTHESIS OF 2,4-DISUBSTITUTED OXAZOLES THROUGH PALLADIUM/COPPER COMEDIATED DIRECT ARYLATION REACTION

Objective: The aim of the present study is to synthesize 2,4-disubstituted oxazoles through palladium/copper comediated direct arylation reaction.Methods: 2,4-disubstituted oxazoles (3a-i) have been synthesized by the reaction of 4-substituted oxazole with aryl bromide in the presence of KOH , CuI and Pd(PPh3)4 in dimethoxyethane. Titled compounds (3a-i) were obtained in good yields using an expedient two-step synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted oxazoles from commercially available starting materialsResults: The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectral studies. This method can be an efficient method for the synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted oxazoles (3a-i). Conclusion: Pd(PPh3)4 and CuI cocatalytic system direct arylation of 4-aryl/alkyl oxazoles with various aryl bromides has been developed to generate 2,4-disubstituted oxazoles. The high functional group tolerance and the speed of the reaction afford this method appropriate for the combinatorial synthesis of a variety of 2,4-disubstituted oxazoles.
Determination of trace fluoroquinolones in water solutions and in medicinal preparations by conventional and synchronous fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract Simple, rapid and sensitive and synchronous fluorescence spectrometry (SFS) were developed for determination the fluoroquinolones of ciprofloxacin (CIP), norfloxacin (NOR) and enrofloxacin (ENR) separately in water solutions and in medicinal preparations. The optimized wavelength intervals between the emission and excitation wavelengths were 170 nm, 160 nm and 170 nm for CIP, NOR and ENR, respectively. The different experimental parameters affecting the synchronous fluorescence intensities of the three fluoroquinolones were carefully studied. Under the optimal conditions, good linearity was obtained over the range of 0.01 to 1.20 mg/L, 0.005 to 0.45 mg/L and 0.005 to 0.60 mg/L for the CIP, NOR and ENR, and with good relative standard deviations below 1.9% (n=9). In addition, the detection limits for CIP, NOR and ENR were 0.17 μg/L, 0.013 μg/L and 0.055 μg/L, respectively. What is more, compared with the conventional fluorescence spectrometry, the SFS could detect lower concentrations of each fluoroquinolone. Moreover, the proposed SFS were validated and successfully applied for the quantitative assay of each fluoroquinolone in medicinal preparations.
Fixed Investment and Economic Growth: ARDL and Causality Exploration for SADC Countries

In assessing the short run and the long-run effects of fixed investment and economic growth among Southern Africa countries, we evaluated the economic progress of the SADC (Southern African Development Committee) region. Our objective is to determine how variables (GDP, purchasing power parity, inflation, electricity, balance-of-payments, and unemployment) can be affected by the fixed investment. In determining how fixed investment affects economic activities and policies among the states, the ADRL estimation approach is applied. Using data from 13 countries in the SADC region from the period 1992-2018, we enumerate the variables’ marginal returns against the fixed investment component. The results of diagnostic and other tests show that all statistical procedures are robust. The result proves that the benefits of fixed investment are yielded over a long period rather than short periods. As a result, the cost in the short term cannot be compared to the benefits that will be enjoyed later by an economy as it becomes productive. Furthermore, the lack of consistent fixed investment among countries will eventually lead to insufficient cash flow, which will negatively affect the currency. These results would seem to suggest that the introduction of policies that promote investment will massively contribute to increased productivity and positive economic growth in the region.