Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study on Digital Watermarking Techniques

: In the recent days, the internet plays a vital role in the data transfer. During such data transmission, there are numerous possibilities of data getting stolen or breached. To avoid such breaches taking place in the data transmission, the watermarking technique plays a major role in the prevention of data stolen. Digital Watermarking is wide and evolving area in the information technology. In this area, various methods are used for sensitive data are being hidden in digital formats such as images, text, audio or video. The secret information is embedded in such methods where the information, which is hidden secretly, is embedded to the host image, which can be extracted with proper authentication mechanism. The extracted data can be used for various purposes like authentication, copyright protection, owner identification and content protection etc. This paper includes the detailed study regarding the types of digital watermarking and its various techniques employed to secure the confidential data. It also has the definition of each classification, domains, how the application works and the threats followed to the application. The study is mainly focused on image watermarking algorithms, applications and its various attacks.
Gene set enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis after sciatic nerve injury

Background Peripheral nerves are able to regenerate spontaneously after injury. An increasing number of studies have investigated the mechanism of peripheral nerve regeneration and attempted to find potential therapeutic targets. The various bioinformatics analysis tools available, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks can effectively screen the crucial targets of neuroregeneration. Methods GSEA and PPI networks were constructed through ingenuity pathway analysis and sequential gene expression validation ex vitro to investigate the molecular processes at 1, 4, 7, and 14 days following sciatic nerve transection in rats. Results Immune response and the activation of related canonical pathways were classified as crucial biological events. Additionally, neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-like (NEDD4L), neuregulin 1 (NRG1), nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 (NFATC2), midline 1 (MID1), GLI family zinc finger 2 (GLI2), and ventral anterior homeobox 1 (VAX1), which were jointly involved in both immune response and axonal regeneration, were screened and their mRNA and protein expressions following nerve injury were validated. Among them, the expression of VAX1 continuously increased following nerve injury, and it was considered to be a potential therapeutic target. Conclusions The combined use of GSEA and PPI networks serves as a valuable way to identify potential therapeutic targets for neuroregeneration.
Biosynthesis of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Extract of Codonopsis pilosula Roots for Antibacterial and Catalytic Applications

In this study, biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized by a green approach using an aqueous extract from Codonopsis pilosula (CP) roots as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The formation of CP-AgNPs and CP-AuNPs was confirmed and optimized by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The CP-AgNPs and CP-AuNPs obtained under optimum conditions of metal ion concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time were characterized by high-resolution transition electron microscopy (HR-TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis, field-emission scan electron microscopy (FE-SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. It has been found that the biosynthesized CP-AgNPs and CP-AuNPs were formed in spherical shape with an average size of and , respectively. The biosynthesized metallic nanoparticles exhibited selective bacterial activity against three bacterial strains including two Gram-positive bacteria of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus and one Gram-negative bacteria of Escherichia coli. Meanwhile, there was no antibacterial activity detected toward Gram-negative Salmonella enteritidis. CP-AgNPs and CP-AuNPs also manifested an excellent catalytic performance in the reduction of 1,4-dinitrobenzene, 2-nitrophenol, 3-nitrophenol, and 4-nitrophenol.
Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Air Quality Index (AQI) During Partial Lockdown in Karachi Pakistan

A novel infectious disease (COVID-19) was identified in the late months of 2019, with human to human transmission, and rapidly spread in the world, which now has turned into a global pandemic. The coronavirus (COVID-19) is extremely threatening world public health problem. Up-till now, more than 200 countries and states had been affected by this pandemic. The number of contagions and deaths still increasing day by day. Different steps have been taken worldwide to control COVID-19. Countries all over the world have applied specific type of lockdown in order to control / slow down the intensity of infection and mitigate it. This lockdown due to COVID-19 not only smashed the economic growth but also exert a positive impact on the environment and improves the level of air quality in the city/country. This study was carried out for investigation of air quality before and during the periods of lockdown levied to reduce the spread of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the environment of Karachi city. Concentrations of four pollutant parameters (PM10, SO2, NO2 and CO) were used to calculate the results according to the criteria of Air Quality Index (AQI). We have analyzed data collected from fourteen different monitoring locations along the busy roads in commercial, residential and industrial areas of Karachi during the lockdown period. Data were compared to the five-year monthly mean and to the four-week before the partial lockdown. The results proved that during lockdown air quality is significantly improved. Among the selected pollutants, concentrations of PM10 have observed maximum reduction (50%) in comparison to the before lockdown period. In compare to the last year (i.e. 2019) during the said time period the reduction of PM10 is as high as about 60%. Among other pollutants, SO2, NO2 and CO the level have also reduced about 60-70% during lockdown period. About 40% to 50% improvement in air quality is identified just after four days of commencing lockdown. Overall, the study is assumed to be a useful tool to the regulatory bodies to control the air quality and also explained its relation to health hazards to provide awareness in the society.
Dimensions of Elite Partisan Polarization Comparing the Effects of Incivility and Issue Polarization on Mass Attitudes

The rising level of elite partisan polarization in the US has received massive attention from scholars of public opinion, and different researchers have focused on different aspects of this development. Some have studied the effects of the growing ideological distance between the parties, often termed issue polarization, while others have looked at the effects of harsh and disrespectful language, often termed incivility. However, due to empirical confounding, it remains unanswered whether and how the effects of these two aspects of elite conflict differ. In this paper, I address this issue using two experiments embedded in a large, representative survey of the US population. By manipulating each aspect of elite conflict independently of the other, I am able to show that incivility and issue polarization have very distinct effects. Political trust is lowered by incivility, but not by issue polarization. Conversely, issue polarization creates attitude polarization among partisans, but incivility does not. Both aspects of elite conflict can create affective polarization, but their effects remain quite distinct as they depend on the policy issue that is being debated.
On the Digital Applications in the Thematic Literature Studies of Emily Dickinson’s Poetry

Thematic studies in literature have traditionally been based on philological methods supported by personal knowledge and evaluation of the texts. A major problem with studies in this tradition is that they are not objective or replicable. With the development of digital technologies and applications, it is now possible for theme analysis in literary texts to be based at least partially on objective replicable methods. In order to address issues of objectivity and replicability in thematic classification of literary text, this study proposes a computational model to theme analysis of the poems of Emily Dickinson using cluster analysis based on a vector space model (VSM) representation of the lexical content of the selected texts. The results indicate that the proposed model yields usable results in understanding the thematic structure of Dickinson’s prose fiction texts and that they do so in an objective and replicable way. Although the results of the analysis are broadly in agreement with existing, philologically-based critical opinion about the thematic structure of Dickinson’s work, the contribution of this study is to give that critical opinion a scientific, objective, and replicable basis. The methodology used in this study is mathematically-based, clear, objective, and replicable. Finally, the results of the study have their positive implications to the use of computational models in literary criticism and literature studies. The success of computer-aided approaches in addressing inherent problems in the field of literary studies related to subjectivity and selectivity argues against the theoretical objections to the involvement of computer and digital applications in the study of literature.
Compact Bidirectional Promoters for Dual-Gene Expression in a Sleeping Beauty Transposon

Promoter choice is an essential consideration for transgene expression in gene therapy. The expression of multiple genes requires ribosomal entry or skip sites, or the use of multiple promoters. Promoter systems comprised of two separate, divergent promoters may significantly increase the size of genetic cassettes intended for use in gene therapy. However, an alternative approach is to use a single, compact, bidirectional promoter. We identified strong and stable bidirectional activity of the RPBSA synthetic promoter comprised of a fragment of the human Rpl13a promoter, together with additional intron/exon structures. The Rpl13a-based promoter drove long-term bidirectional activity of fluorescent proteins. Similar results were obtained for the EF1-α and LMP2/TAP1 promoters. However, in a lentiviral vector, the divergent bidirectional systems failed to produce sufficient titres to translate into an expression system for dual chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expression. Although bidirectional promoters show excellent applicability to drive short RNA in Sleeping Beauty transposon systems, their possible use in the lentiviral applications requiring longer and more complex RNA, such as dual-CAR cassettes, is limited.
Anatomy of the coiled coil and its role in the conformational change of influenza hemagglutinin

The identification of an unexpected coiled-coil sequence in influenza hemagglutinin (HA) led to a model for the conformational change required for the membrane-fusion function of this protein (Chapter 2). Analysis of coiled-coil peptides corresponding to the fusion-active conformation of HA not only support the model, but led to a prediction for the mechanism of the conformational change. Chapter 3 describes evidence that the "native," fusioninactive conformation of HA is trapped in a metastable state, which, when destabilized, undergoes the conformational change and induces membrane fusion. Chapter 4 discusses recent advances that may shed some light on the steps for HA-mediated membrane fusion. The appendices are devoted to the leucine-zipper motif, a short coiled-coil region that forms the dimerization domain of bZIP and bHLH-ZIP proteins. A conserved, buried hydrogen bond in the hydrophobic coiled-coil interface destabilizes the GCN4 leucine zipper, yet it provides specificity for the dimer conformation (Appendix I A; see also Harbury et al., 1993). The stabilizing effects of increasing the hydrophobicity of a buried amino acid is quantified using non-natural amino acids for the incremental addition of methylene groups to the central position of the GCN4 leucine-zipper interface (Appendix I B). The identification of a stable subdomain in the GCN4 leucine zipper has implications for the mechanism of protein folding (Appendix II). Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Peter S. Kim, Tilte: Associate Professor of Biology
A narrative review of redo coronary artery bypass grafting

Redo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) differs from primary CABG in several aspects and poses an array of technical challenges to the cardiac surgeon. The natural progress of the native coronary artery disease and graft atherosclerosis leads to occlusion or restenosis in those who have had CABG in the past, thus warranting a redo CABG. The patients undergoing redo CABG have a greater incidence of multiple co-morbidities compared to those undergoing primary CABG. Over the years the need for redo CABG has decreased in comparison to the volume of CABG surgeries. The database of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery has shown a drop in redo procedures from 6% in the year 2000 to 3.4% in 2009 and over the next decade down to 2% of the overall CABGs. Left main stem lesions, myocardial infarction and heart failure are encountered significantly more often in patients needing redo CABG. Patient scenarios more often necessitate an urgent or emergent redo surgery. There is a threefold mortality risk for redo CABG compared to primary CABG in the perioperative period. However, the risk for redo CABG per se is reduced from 6.0% to 4.6%, a relative risk reduction of 23.7%. A careful preoperative workup which includes high-resolution imaging, precise surgical techniques and good myocardial protection using cold blood cardioplegia are the cornerstones of successful redo CABG. The adoption of off-pump technique also contributes to good outcomes. Better outcomes for this high-risk population are apparent in surgical centers that have high volumes and greater experience in redo CABG. Patients with ischemia involving the left anterior descending artery territory with viable myocardium and intense symptoms despite requisite medical therapy, in whom percutaneous coronary intervention is technically not feasible, are candidates for redo surgery. Surgical revascularization is also preferable in patients having significantly diseased vein grafts and left ventricular dysfunction. This narrative review provides an insight into the incidence, patients risk profile, indications, preoperative evaluation and patient selection, challenges associated with redo CABG, strategies to improve surgical outcomes and prospects of redo CABG.
A Morphological Cladistic Analysis of the Ipomoeeae (Convolvulaceae)

A cladistic analysis of the tribe Ipomoeeae based on 45 morphological and palynological characters is presented; the results obtained suggest that 1) the Ipomoeeae is monophyletic 2) all of the smaller genera of the tribe (Argyreia Lour., Astripomoea A. Meeuse, Blinkworthia Choisy, Lepistemon Blume, Lepistemonopsis Dammer, Paralepistemon Lejoly & Lisowski, Rivea Choisy, Stictocardia Hallier f. and Turbina Raf. are nested within the largest genus, Ipomoea. The characters defining taxa within the tribe are discussed and the limits and relationships of generic and infrageneric taxa re-evaluated. More research is needed in two areas; a) gene sequence data and b) into key taxa.
Development of a coagglutination kit as a rapid test for diagnosing Newcastle disease in poultry

Background and Aim: Newcastle disease (ND) is a viral infection that causes high mortality and economic loss in the poultry industry. The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) recommends several diagnostic methods for the detection of ND, including isolation and molecular tests. However, these detection methods are time-consuming and highly expensive. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop a coagglutination kit as a novel diagnostic tool for ND in the poultry industry. Materials and Methods: Two adult male New Zealand White rabbits weighing 2.5 kg were vaccinated using ND life vaccine intraperitoneally. The vaccination was conducted once a week for 4 weeks with multilevel doses. Rabbits’ serum was collected at week 6 and inactivated at 56°C for 30 min. The serum was precipitated using ammonium sulfate and reacted with protein A of Staphylococcus aureus to produce the agglutination kit for detecting ND virus. A total of 25 chickens suspected with ND infection from a local poultry farm in Yogyakarta were used as the test samples. The chickens were necropsied, and the brain, spleen, lung, intestine, and feces were collected. Half of these organs were subjected to tests using the coagglutination kit and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The other half was processed for histopathology. Data were analyzed qualitatively. Results: Of the 25 samples, 13 (52%) were positive for ND infection when tested using both the ND coagglutination kit and RT-PCR. The positive samples also exhibited several histopathological changes, including perivascular cuffing surrounding the cerebral blood–brain barrier, hemorrhagic pneumonia, splenitis, and necrotic hemorrhage enteritis. Conclusion: This study confirmed that the ND coagglutination kit could be used as a novel diagnostic tool for the detection of ND virus infection in the poultry industry.
Pricing of Barrier Options on Underlying Assets with Jump-Diffusion Dynamics: A Mellin Transform Approach

A barrier option is an exotic path-dependent option contract where the right to buy or sell is activated or extinguished when the underlying asset reaches a certain barrier price during the lifetime of the contract. In this article we use a Mellin transform approach to derive exact pricing formulas for barrier options with general payoffs and exponential barriers on underlying assets that have jump-diffusion dynamics. With the same approach we also price barrier options on underlying futures contracts.
Ends of Schreier graphs of self-similar groups

Every self-similar group acts on the space X of infinite words over some alphabet X. We study the Schreier graphs Γw for w ∈ X ω of the action of self-similar groups generated by bounded automata on the space X. Using sofic subshifts we determine the number of ends for every Schreier graph Γw. Almost all Schreier graphs Γw with respect to the uniform measure on X ω have one or two ends, and we characterize bounded automata whose Schreier graphs have two ends almost surely. The connection with (local) cut-points of limit spaces of self-similar groups is established.
Printing-on-Fabric Meta-Material for Self-Shaping Architectural Models

We describe a new meta-material for fabricating lightweight architectural models, consisting of a tiled plastic star pattern layered over pre-stretched fabric, and an interactive system for computer-aided design of doubly-curved forms using this meta-material. 3D-printing plastic rods over pre-stretched fabric recently gained popularity as a low-cost fabrication technique for complex free-form shapes that automatically lift in space. Our key insight is to focus on rods arranged into repeating star patterns, with the dimensions (and hence physical properties) of the individual pattern elements varying over space. Our star-based meta-material on the one hand allows effective form-finding due to its low-dimensional design space, while on the other is flexible and powerful enough to express large-scale curvature variations. Users of our system design free-form shapes by adjusting the star pattern; our system then automatically simulates the complex physical coupling between the fabric and stars to translate the design edits into shape variations. We experimentally validate our system and demonstrate strong agreement between the simulated results and the final fabricated prototypes.
University of Birmingham Learning time-series data of industrial design optimization using recurrent neural networks

—In automotive digital development, 3D shape morphing techniques are used to create new designs in order to match design targets, such as aerodynamic or stylistic requirements. Control-point based shape morphing alters existing geometries either through human user interactions or through computational optimization algorithms that optimize for product performance targets. Shape morphing is typically continuous and results in potentially large data sets of time-series recordings of control point movements. In the present paper, we utilize recurrent neural networks to model such time-series recordings in order to predict future design steps based on the history of currently performed design modiﬁcations. To build a data set sufﬁciently large for the training of neural networks, we use target shape matching optimization as digital analogy for a human user interactive shape modiﬁcation and to build data sets of control point movements in an automated fashion. Experiments show the potential of recurrent neural networks to successfully learn time-series data representing design changes and to perform single-and multi-step prediction of potential next design steps. We thus demonstrate the feasibility of recurrent neural networks for learning successful design sequences in order to predict promising next design steps in future design tasks.
Economic Analysis of Syngas Production by Coupling Coal Gasification Wastewater Treatment and Solid Oxide Cell System

Coal is the main energy source in China, and coal chemistry wastewater treatment has always been a research hotspot. For the large amount of concentrated organic wastewater, high cost caused by complex treatment process is the key issue. In this paper, the fixed bed Lurgi gasifier wastewater coupled with solid oxide cells (SOCs) system is employed for its treatment. Based on Aspen Plus software, the purified methane from marsh gas is sent to solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) for electricity generation. While carbon dioxide separated from biogas purification and acid gas removal enters solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) to produce syngas by co-electrolysis with steam.The simulation results show that the efficiency of SOFC is 48.5 %. The generated electric energy can be used for auxiliary equipment in wastewater treatment and SOEC to produce syngas, recycling of carbon dioxide. SOEC with wind power of 12.84 MW is enough to treat the waste gas generated by the 1,100 t/h Lurgi gasification wastewater treatment process. Economically, the cost of producing syngas, with high purity and fewer contaminant contents, is about 0.126 $/Nm3. It can be used to produce various chemicals, so as to further improve the economic benefit of wastewater treatment.