Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatments of natural fiber as reinforcement in polymer composites—a short review

The demand for environmental awareness, preserving nature and being beneficial for societal economics has attracted the attention of many researchers and industries to examine the potential usage of natural fibers. There are a lot of beneficial natural fiber sources in a wide range of applications in the composites industry. It is worth mentioning that the performance of natural fiber-reinforced composites can be tailored through a certain natural fiber treatment, and hybridization by employing an appropriate number of synthetic fibers or with other natural fibers. In addition to cost-effectiveness balance, a balance between environmental impacts and desired performance can be achieved by designing the composite based on the product requirements. Yet, certain drawbacks such as incompatibility with the hydrophobic polymer matrix, hydrophilic nature and the tendency to absorb moisture during processing greatly reduce the potential of natural fibers to be used as reinforcements in polymer composites. In this short review, the main results presented in the literature are summarized, focusing on the properties and challenges of natural fibers, the processing behavior of natural fiber treatments, and paying attention to the use of physical and chemical treatments for the improvement of fiber-matrix interaction as reinforcement for polymeric matrices (thermoplastics, thermosets and biodegradables).
High-resolution remote sensing image semantic segmentation based on a deep feature aggregation network

Semantic segmentation of high-resolution remote sensing images has a wide range of applications, such as territorial planning, geographic monitoring and smart cities. The proper operation of semantic segmentation for remote sensing images remains challenging due to the complex and diverse transitions between different ground areas. Although several convolution neural networks (CNNs) have been developed for remote sensing semantic segmentation, the performance of CNNs is far from the expected target. This study presents a deep feature aggregation network (DFANet) for remote sensing image semantic segmentation. It is composed of a basic feature representation layer, an intermediate feature aggregation layer, a deep feature aggregation layer and a feature aggregation module (FAM). Specially, the basic feature representation layer is used to obtain feature maps with different resolutions: the intermediate feature aggregation layer and deep feature aggregation layer can fuse various resolution features and multi-scale features; the FAM is used to splice the features and form more abundant spatial feature maps; and the conditional random field module is used to optimize semantic segmentation results. We have performed extensive experiments on the ISPRS two-dimensional Vaihingen and Potsdam remote sensing image datasets and compared the proposed method with several variations of semantic segmentation networks. The experimental results show that DFANet outperforms the other state-of-the-art approaches.
Identify and characterize the SNP markers for traceability of scallop spiny lobster Panulirus homarus (Decapoda, Palinuridae) in Vietnam

Lobster is an aquatic species of ecological and economic importance. In Vietnam, ornate spiny lobster (Panulirus ornatus) and scallop spiny lobster (P. hormatus) are among the main species of aquaculture in Vietnam. Demand for lobster products domestically and internationally is increasing, as in the US, Japan and China markets. Today, consumers are more aware of product brands, food safety and hygiene, so product traceability is essential to protect consumers and businesses. The DNA markers are widely used for commercially traded seafood traceability. Among that, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to be robust markers, and offer high reliability. EzRAD sequencing is applied to detect potential SNPs that are characteristic for P. homarus populations in Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Through 211 valid SNPs, we detected and 12 SNPS occurring in Vietnam population, and designed 8 primer pairs to amplified 80-130 bp SNPs products. PCR optimization allows us to select 2 SNPs serving the traceability of Vietnamese P. homarus. Further need to more population sampling, and whole genome sequencing in order to develop SNPs panel to seeking the origin of lobster seafood products.
Dual-toroidal analog EIT with metamaterial

The dual-band analog electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) with intriguing toroidal has been presented at microwave frequency. The proposed construction is composed of the split resonant rings with different sizes in two layers to induce dual-toroidal resonance. By optimizing the structure, two transparency peaks derived from strengthened toroidal could attain to 0.97 at 5.36 GHz and 0.94 at 10.23 GHz, which could be certified by numerical simulation, near-field distribution and scattered power of far-field. The experiment and simulation are almost consistent, and the dual-toroidal analog-EIT could have potential applications in many fields, such as ultrasensitive sensing and secure data communication.
Degradation of soil polluted with petroleum products using enzymatic accelerating reagent

Pollution with petroleum wastes is a serious environmental problem that must be treated considerably. Artificially polluted soil with oily contaminants mixtures was treated biologically using aerated bioreactor. The used oily mixtures used in this study are petroleum sludge, lubricating oil and crude oil. Crude oil and petroleum sludge were obtained from oil refinery of Al-Romayla at Al-Basrah governorate, tests were examined at the Ministry of Science and Technology. These wastes were mixed separately with soil in a ratio 7(pollutant):100 (soil) and treated by using the bioreactor. The degradation ability of microorganisms existed in the soil had been examined in low weather temperature with the aid of enzymatic reagent. The efficiency of removing the organic hydrocarbons after five weeks of treatment was 68.2 %, 74.4 % and 77.7 % for the petroleum sludge, lubricating and crude oil, respectively. The obtained results show the ability of the enzymatic reagent in the activation of micoorganisms to degrade heavy hydrocarbons substances even in cold weather.
Raman characterization of damaged layers of 4H-SiC induced by scratching

Recent development of device fabrication of SiC is awaiting detailed study of the machining of the surfaces. We scratched 4H-SiC surfaces with a sliding microindenter made of a SiC chip, and characterized machining affected layers by micro-Raman spectroscopy. The results of the Raman measurement of the scratching grooves revealed that there were residual stress, defects, and stacking faults. Furthermore, with heavy scratching load, we found clusters of amorphous SiC, Si, amorphous carbon, and graphite in the scratching grooves. Analysis of the Raman spectra showed that SiC amorphization occurs first and surface graphitization (carbonization) is subsequently generated through the phase transformation of SiC. We expect that the Raman characterization of machined surfaces provides information on the machining mechanism for compound semiconductors.
Extending a BiDAF model with DCN for Question Answering

Our goal in this project is to improve the performance of the Bidirectional Attention Flow (BiDAF) model for the NLP task of question answering on the SQuAD 2.0 dataset. To do this, we 1) integrate character-level embeddings into the baseline BiDAF model and 2) replace the default attention layer with a coattention layer. While adding character-level embeddings has shown to improve the baseline BiDAF model’s EM and F1 scores substantially, their addition to the DCN model actually decreased its scores slightly. Moreover, transforming the BiDAF model into a Dynamic Coattention Network (DCN) decreased the model’s performance. Thus, the best model architecture we found is BiDAF with character-level embeddings. Future work includes tuning hyperparameters, experimenting with data processing techniques, adding optimizations like the Adam optimizer, and exploring different forms of attention.
Study of the suitable value of dead-time between control signals of transistors for a series-resonant inverter with phase-shift control in induction heating systems

Induction heating provides contactless, energy-efficient, accurate, and fast heating of electrically conductive materials. Due to its advantages, IH is increasingly used in different fields such as industry, medicine, and the household sector. High-frequency transistor converters for the induction heating system are often based on series-resonant inverters. This paper analyzes a phase-shift-controlled voltage-source series-resonant inverter for induction heating systems. Mathematical analysis was performed in order to obtain the expressions that describe the output current of the phase-shift-controlled series-resonant inverter in the steady-state mode. Based on the analysis and the obtained expressions of the output current, analytical expressions of the dead-time between the transistors’ control signals of the SRI are obtained. The analytical expressions for determining the value of the dead-time are obtained for two cases: 1) zero value of the phase-shift; 2) the phase shift is greater than zero. To verify the obtained analytical expressions of the output current, validation was performed in the MATLAB/Simulink environment by comparing the peak current values. The verification showed the high accuracy of the obtained expressions, the deviation between the calculated and simulated values of the peak current is less than 0.1 %. The made simplifications of the dead-time expressions also were verified by calculation, the deviation between the calculated values of the drain-to-source voltage at the end of the commutation and the expected value is no more than 3.6 %. The SRI prototype has been designed and implemented in order to validate the analytical and simulation results
Development of low fat set-type probiotic yoghurt from goat milk.

Pasteurized cow’s and goat’s milk were fortified with 3% skim milk powder (SKM). Goat’s milk was also fortified with 3% or 5% whey protein concentrate (WPC). Yoghurt milks had 1.0±0.05% fat and 10.0±1.0% total solids. Milk was inoculated with DVS-mixed cultures containing Streptococcus thermophilus, L. delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis. Incubation was carried out at 43°C until pH 4.5 was reached and yoghurts were stored at 4°C for 21 days. Yoghurts were investigated during fermentation and refrigerated storage for pH, titratable acidity (TA), viability of microorganisms and sensory quality. Enrichment of milk with 5% WPC reduced fermentation time, improved gel viscosity of yoghurt, and increased viable counts of S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus and B. lactis by 1.0 , 0.6, 1.3, and 1.1 log units. Goat’s milk yoghurt with WPC had better sensory characteristics in terms of flavour, smoothness and viscosity than those of cow’s milk yoghurt.
Structural Response of Imogolite-Poly(acrylic acid) Hydrogel under Deformation

The structures of imogolite–poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels were investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to determine the effects of particle concentration and the magnitude of deformation. The imogolite–poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel was synthesized by using γ-ray radiation as a nanocomposite gel with chemical bonds between the particles and polymers. The SAXS measurements revealed that the imogolite network was composed of particle overlaps. Under deformation, the gel structure was rearranged to increase the dimensionality of the network, forming a relaxed structure of overlaps by changing the orientation of the imogolite. The structural response of the deformed gel depended on the imogolite concentration, which influenced the changes in dimensionality of the network and the number of overlaps. The SANS patterns indicated that the polymers wrapped the imogolite aggregates, allowing polymers to follow the imogolite behavior. These observations demonstrat.
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF ANALYTICAL METHOD FOR ESTIMATION OF BALOFLOXACIN IN BULK AND PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM

A simple and highly sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the estimation of Balofloxacin in bulk and marketed tablet dosage form. The proposed method is based on the principle that Balofloxacin exhibiting an absorption spectra of wavelength maxima 293 nm in methanol. This method has successfully used for the analysis of drug in marketed preparations in the range of 32-56 μg/ml with correlation coefficient of 0.997. The percentage recovery was found to be 99.04-101.47%. LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.621 and 1.88 μg/ml respectively. This method has been validated for linearity, accuracy and precision and found to be rapid, precise, accurate and economical and can be applied for routine estimation of Balofloxacin in solid dosage form.
Is higher-level trauma center care associated with better outcomes in patients injured by low-energy trauma?

Background In high-income countries trauma patients are becoming older, more likely to have comorbidities, and are being injured by low-energy mechanisms, chiefly ground-level falls. It is currently unknown whether existing trauma systems improve the outcomes of these patients. This systematic review investigates the association between higher-level trauma center care and outcomes of adult patients who were admitted to hospital due to injuries sustained following low-energy trauma. Methods A pre-registered systematic review (CRD42020211652) of subject databases and grey literature, supplemented by targeted manual searching, was conducted in January 2021. Studies were eligible if they reported outcomes in adults admitted to hospital due to low-energy trauma. Studies were excluded if participants were not adults or were not admitted to hospital. Studies in lower- and middle-income settings were excluded due to differences in demographics and healthcare systems. Risk of bias was assessed by independent reviewers using the Robins-I tool. In the presence of study heterogeneity a narrative synthesis was pre-specified. Results Three observational studies were included from 2,898 unique records. The studies' risk of bias was moderate-to-serious due to potential residual confounding and selection bias. All studies compared outcomes among adults injured by ground-level falls treated in trauma centers verified by the American College of Surgeons in the USA. The studies reported divergent results. One demonstrated improved outcomes in level 3 or 4 trauma centers (Observed: Expected Mortality 0.973, 95%CI 0.971-0.975), one demonstrated improved outcomes in level 1 trauma centers (Adjusted Odds Ratio 0.71, 95%CI 0.56-0.91), and one demonstrated no difference between level 1 or 2 and level 3 or 4 trauma center care (Adjusted Odds Ratio 0.91 (0.80-1.04). Conclusions There is currently no strong evidence for the efficacy of major trauma centers in caring for adult patients injured by a ground-level fall. Further studies at lower risk of bias and studies conducted outwith the USA are required.
A Validated Quantification of Methadone in Liquids Using Thin-Layer Chromatography and a Flatbed Scanner

We present a videodensitometric quantification method for methadone in syrup, separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The quantification is based on a derivation reaction with Dragendorf reagent. Measurements were carried out using a 16-bit flatbed scanner. The range of linearity covers two magnitudes of power using the Kubelka-Munk expression for data transformation. The separation method is inexpensive, fast, and reliable.
Thiolate-Protected Au24(SC2H4Ph)20 Nanoclusters: Superatoms or Not?

We report a new gold thiolate cluster with molecular purity. Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry in conjunction with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis (EA), and 1H NMR, unambiguously determined the composition of the as-prepared Au nanocluster to be Au24(SC2H4Ph)20. The optical absorption spectrum of this cluster shows a highest occupied molecular orbital to lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO−LUMO) transition at 765 nm, indicating quantum confinement of electrons in the particle. The HOMO−LUMO gap (∼1.5 eV) of Au24(SR)20 is much smaller than that of Au20(SR)16 (∼2.1 eV) but slightly larger than that of Au25(SR)18 (∼1.3 eV). The number of valence electrons in Au24(SC2H4Ph)20 is 4e, which is not predicted by the superatom model.
Plasma Endogenous Sulfur Dioxide: A Novel Biomarker to Predict Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients

Purpose Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a novel gaseous signaling molecule that plays an important role in inflammation, which contributes the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to explore the predictive value of plasma SO2 for AKI in high-risk patients. Patients and Methods A prospective cohort of 167 patients who underwent major noncardiac surgery was enrolled in the study. Plasma SO2, urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) levels were detected immediately after the operation. The primary endpoint was new-onset AKI within 72 h after admission. The ability of biomarkers including SO2 and a clinical risk model to predict AKI was compared by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA), additional contributions were evaluated by integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) analyses. Results A total of 61 (36.5%) patients developed AKI within 72 h of surgery. Compared to NGAL and [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7], SO2 showed better predictive ability for new-onset AKI with an area under the ROC curve of 0.771 (95% confidence interval: 0.700–0.832, p<0.001). The improvement in predictive value by including SO2 in the clinical risk model was supported by NRI (0.28; P=0.04) and IDI (0.15; P<0.001) analyses. The net benefit of the combination of SO2 and clinical variables was the max in DCA. Conclusion Plasma SO2 shows a useful value for predicting new-onset AKI, and improved AKI prediction based on clinical variables, which can guide the implementation of preventive measures for high-risk patients.
Apparent diffusion coefficient values in borderline breast lesions upgraded and not upgraded at definitive histopathological examination after surgical excision

Purpose The study aims were to evaluate if the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value could distinguish between breast lesions classified as B3 at core needle biopsy (CNB) that show or do not show atypia or malignancy at definitive histopathological examination (DHE) after surgical excision. Material and methods From January 2013 to December 2017, 141 patients with a B3 breast lesion underwent magnetic resonance imaging and were included in the study. The ADC value was assessed drawing a ROI outlining the entire lesion, evaluating the mean (ADCmean) and minimum ADC values (ADCmin). Results Both ADCmean and ADCmin values showed a statistically significant difference between B3 lesions without and with malignancy or, for B3a lesions, atypia at DHE. They both showed a statistically significant difference also between B3a lesions without or with atypia or malignancy at DHE, but only ADCmin (not ADCmean) showed statistically significant difference between B3b lesions without or with malignancy at DHE. Conclusions The ADC value could help distinguish between B3a lesions without or with atypia/malignancy at DHE after surgical excision and between B3b lesions without or with malignancy at DHE. Therefore, it could be used to help guide the diagnostic-therapeutic pathway of these lesions, particularly of B3a lesions.
PRiME pass-through cleanup for the fast determination of aflatoxins in human serum by using LC-MS/MS

A novel, simple and sensitive method based on the use of a PRiME (process, robustness, improvements, matrix effects, ease of use) pass-through cleanup procedure combined with ultra-fast liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) for the determination of 4 AFs, i.e., AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 in human serum, was developed and validated. The effective PRiME pass-through cleanup procedure using the Oasis PRiME HLB cartridge was optimized for the extraction of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 in human serum. The obtained results demonstrated the higher extraction capacity of the PRiME pass-through cleanup procedure with recoveries between 92.1% and 102%. The limits of detection (LODs) for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were 0.048 μg L−1, 0.069 μg L−1, 0.043 μg L−1 and 0.14 μg L−1, respectively. Validation results on linearity, specificity, accuracy and precision, as well as on application to the analysis of AFs in 10 liver cancer volunteers demonstrated the applicability to clinical studies.
Single-centre evaluation and staging of rectal carcinoma on a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and correlation with histological profile

Purpose To assess magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of rectal carcinoma in correlation with pathology, and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 3-Tesla MRI. Material and methods A total of 86 patients were included. 3T MR imaging was conducted pre-operatively, with imaging data correlated to pathology results. High-resolution, 2-dimensional, T2-weighted fast-spin echo sequences in the sagittal, axial, and coronal planes used to tumour staging. Diffusion-weighted images were used to increase the accuracy of tumour evaluation. Results Rectal carcinoma was staged as T3 in 45.3% of all patients (n = 39), without involvement of the mesorectal fascia in 31.4% (n = 27), and with a possible or obvious invasion in 14% of patients (n = 12). The diagnostic accuracy of 3T MRI was 97.6% for the T1 stage, 92.1% for T2, 89% for T3, and 90% for T4 tumours. MR-derived extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) was found in 16.2% (n = 14), with an estimated diagnostic accuracy of 95%. Diffusion-weighted images and apparent diffusion coefficient were estimated for the different histology types of rectal carcinoma. The average apparent diffusion coefficient for adenocarcinoma was 0.846 ± 0.17, for mucinous adenocarcinoma it was 1.17 ± 0.08, and for signet cell and squamous carcinomas it was 0.91 ± 0.11 and 0.796 ± 0.21 mm2/s, respectively. Conclusions 3T MRI enables high levels of diagnostic accuracy in local rectal carcinoma staging, including assessment of mesorectal fascia infiltration and EMVI-status with high accuracy.