Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity and Chemopreventive Potential in Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines of the Standardized Extract Obtained from the Aerial Parts of Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium L.)

The aboveground parts of Trifolium medium L. (zigzag clover), a little-known representative of the family Fabaceae, collected during flowering in a wild stand (Sławin-Szerokie district, Lublin, Poland), were used in this study. Our previous investigations confirmed the higher content of phytoestrogenic isoflavones (especially biochanin A and formononetin derivatives) in T. medium compared to the closely related medicinal plant T. pratense (red clover) and the involvement of these compounds in anti-osteoporotic effects in ovariectomized female rats. The current study focused on evaluating other antibiodegenerative (antioxidant, chemopreventive, and cytostatic) effects for the lyophilisate (TML) obtained from wild zigzag clover. For this purpose, efficient ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was employed, followed by vacuum drying and phytochemical standardization using a newly developed reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-LC) coupled with a PDA detection. Malonylglycosides of biochanin A and formononetin were the predominant compounds and were found to contribute more than 54% to the total isoflavone content determined in the standardized extract of zigzag clover. The antioxidant potential of TML was examined in vitro using the Folin–Ciocalteu and cupric ion-reducing (CUPRAC) methods in addition to the free radical (DPPH• and ABTS•+) scavenging assays. The cytotoxic effects of TML, formononetin, and ononin were evaluated on MCF-7 (estrogen-dependent) and MDA-MB-231 (estrogen-independent) human breast cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. The important role of malonyl isoflavone derivatives has been indicated both in chemoprevention and potential cytotoxic effects of TML against certain types of breast cancer.
STRUCTURAL LINE FEATURE SELECTION FOR IMPROVING INDOOR VISUAL SLAM

Abstract. Nowadays, Visual SLAM has gained ample successes in various scenarios. For feature-based system, it is still limited when running in an indoor room, as the indoor scene is often with few and simple texture which result in less and unevenly distributed point features. To solve this limitation, line features which are quite rich in an indoor scene are extracted and used. However, not all features can geometrically contribute to pose estimation, specifically, line features that are consistent to the motion direction provide only weak geometric constraint for solving pose parameters. Therefore, this paper proposes a selection method for reasonable line features, in particular, based on the Manhattan World Assumption (MWA), structural line features are firstly extracted instead of normal line features. Then, the structural line features are selected according to the direction information of vanishing points and selected for a stronger geometric constraint on pose estimation. In general, the selected structural lines require that the intersection angle between the corresponding principal direction and the camera motion direction is higher than a threshold, which is extensively investigated in the experiments. The experimental results show that, compared to the original ORB-SLAM2, the localization accuracy after using the proposed method can be improved by around 15%-40% on various public datasets, and the real-time performance can be basically guaranteed even including the extra time spent on the selection procedure.
SPATIAL MODELLING OF COVID-19 INCIDENCE RATE IN CANADA

Abstract. The COVID-19 was first declared by World Health Organization (WHO) as global pandemic on March 11th 2020. While most of COVID-related studies have focused on epidemiological perspective, the spatial analysis of disease outbreak is also important to provide perceptions of transmission rates. Therefore, this paper attempts to identify the potential factors contributing to the COVID-19 incidence rate at provincial-level in Canada. Three statistical regression models, ordinary least squares (OLS), spatial error model, and spatial lag model (SLM) were applied to 14 independent variables including socio-demographic, economic, weather, health and facilities related factors. The results indicated that three factors including median income, diabetes and unemployment significantly affected the COVID-19 rates in Canada. Among three global models, the SLM performed the best to explain the key variables and spatial variability of disease incidence with a R2 value of 61%. However, in this study, the application of local regression models such as geographically weighted regression (GWR) and multiscale GWR (MGWR) have not been considered and this could be a scope for the future research.
The Effect of Diet Induced Obesity on Serotonin in Zebrafish

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and a major risk factor for numerous diseases. The regulation of feeding behavior and body weight depends on a wide range of neuronal pathways influencing satiety and hunger. Serotonin (5-HT) is one of those players identified to have a profound effect on energy homeostasis. The effect of obesity on 5-HT metabolism in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and its underlying mechanisms still needs to be further elaborated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of diet-induced obesity (DIO) on 5-HT in the enteric nervous system, the expression of different enzymes and receptors of the 5-HT pathway in the brain and GI tract, GI transit and behavior. Zebrafish were fed either a high caloric diet during 4 weeks or a normal diet (CNTL). The proportion of serotonergic neurons in the GI tract was analyzed using immunofluorescent double staining. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed on brain and GI tissue to analyze the expression of 5-HT receptors, the 5-HT precursor, tryptophan hydroxylase (tph), 5-HT transporter (SERTa/b) and monoamine oxidase (MAO). GI transit was measured by gavaging glass beads or providing fluorescently labeled food and calculating the geometric centre (GC). Swim behavior was calculated as preferential swim area, swim speed and distance. Results showed an increase in body mass index after 4 weeks. Overfeeding increased the proportion of serotonergic neurons in the proximal GI tract. qPCR revealed significantly elevated levels for tph2, but not for tph1a/b, in the brain and the intestine of DIO fish. Furthermore, a significant increase in the expression of the 5-HT4 receptor and SERTa were observed in the brain, but not in the GI tract, while 5-HT2b receptor showed to be upregulated in the GI tract, but not the brain. GC was increased after feeding with fluorescently labeled food. Also, the intestinal length in DIO fish was significantly larger, indicating higher transit rates compared to CNTL fish. No differences in behavior were observed between the two groups. This study, revealed an increase in 5-HT expression in enteric neurons probably due to an increased tph2 expression in the intestine, resulting in increased GI transit. Furthermore, DIO exhibited increased expression of the 5-HT4 receptor and SERTa in the brain, and 5-HT2b receptor in the GI tract, respectively. The present data obtained from zebrafish are in line with earlier findings in mammalian models and further validate the zebrafish as a model for GI research.
Impacts of Heat Stress on Rabbit Immune Function, Endocrine, Blood Biochemical Changes, Antioxidant Capacity and Production Performance, and the Potential Mitigation Strategies of Nutritional Intervention

Heat stress has become a widespread concern in the world, which is one of the major environmental stressors and causes substantial economic loss in the rabbit industry. Heat stress leads to multiple damages to the health of rabbits, such as organ damage, oxidative stress, disordered endocrine regulation, suppressed immune function and reproductive disorders, ultimately, induces the decreased production performance and increased mortality. Nutritional approaches, including feeding strategies, adjusting feed formula, and supplementing vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, Chinese herbal medicines, and functional active substances to the feed, were reported to mitigate the detrimental effects of heat stress in rabbits. Therefore, elucidating the damage of heat stress to rabbits; proper management and nutritional approaches should be considered to solve the heat stress issue in rabbits. This review highlights the scientific evidence regarding the effects of heat stress on rabbit's immune function, endocrine, blood biochemical changes, antioxidant capacity and production performance, and the potential mitigation strategies of nutritional intervention to alleviate heat stress in rabbits; which could contribute to develop nutritional strategies in relieving heat stress of rabbits.
A computational method on derivative variations of optimal control

In this paper, we propose an algorithm for solving optimal control problems in a class of continuously differentiable control functions with bounded derivatives. Based on derivative variations [R. Enkhbat, B. Barsbold, J. Mongolian Math. Soc. , 17 (2013), 27–39], we derive new optimality conditions for the original problem. An algorithm has been constructed based on the optimality conditions. The convergence of the proposed algorithm has been proved. The algorithm was tested on some well known numerical examples.
Classification of Glaucoma Based on Elephant-Herding Optimization Algorithm and Deep Belief Network

This study proposes a novel glaucoma identification system from fundus images through the deep belief network (DBN) optimized by the elephant-herding optimization (EHO) algorithm. Initially, the input image undergoes the preprocessing steps of noise removal and enhancement processes, followed by optical disc (OD) and optical cup (OC) segmentation and extraction of structural, intensity, and textural features. Most discriminative features are then selected using the ReliefF algorithm and passed to the DBN for classification into glaucomatous or normal. To enhance the classification rate of the DBN, the DBN parameters are fine-tuned by the EHO algorithm. The model has experimented on public and private datasets with 7280 images, which attained a maximum classification rate of 99.4%, 100% specificity, and 99.89% sensitivity. The 10-fold cross validation reduced the misclassification and attained 98.5% accuracy. Investigations proved the efficacy of the proposed method in avoiding bias, dataset variability, and reducing false positives compared to similar works of glaucoma classification. The proposed system can be tested on diverse datasets, aiding in the improved glaucoma diagnosis.
Tuning intrinsic defects in ZnO films by controlling the vacuum annealing temperature: an experimental and theoretical approach

The control of native defects in the ZnO material is strongly important for a wide range of technological applications. In this paper, native defects are tuned via the post-thermal treatment of ZnO films in a high vacuum atmosphere. The microstructure of the as-grown ZnO film shows columnar growth and strongly polar-oriented grains along the c-plane (002). Also, the obtained results indicate that the as-grown film contains a high amount of intrinsic defects and strong lattice distortions. After the thermal annealing, the ZnO films display significant structural changes, which are reflected in their electrical, vibrational, and optical properties. Our findings suggest that these changes were attributed to the selective cleanup effect of the native defects and the partial deoxidation process mainly on the exposed particle surface (at high temperatures) tuned up by the thermal annealing temperature. According to DFT calculations, oxygen vacancies (V O ) show lower energy, followed by zinc vacancies (V Zn ) and oxygen interstitials (O i ) indicating that V O defect is the most stable in ZnO. That sequence of stability could suggest the sequence of the annihilation of those defects, which is in line with our experimental findings and also in agreement with literature results.
‘Lights in the darkness’, part 1: characterising effective communication with healthcare practitioners following the death of a child

ABSTRACT In this two-part article, we investigate communication with parents following the death of a child. Parents who have lost a child need to communicate with a wide range of professionals, and the quality of the communication that parents have with these groups can radically affect their experience of bereavement. In this UK-based interview study, we investigate why particular types of communication are deemed particularly (in)effective, by examining them in the light of parents’ descriptions of the experience of loss. In this first part of the article, we report findings from our in-depth content analysis of these interviews, discussing the ways in which the death of a child was experienced and then exploring the parents’ accounts of the communication they had with healthcare professionals involved. In the second part of the article, published in a subsequent issue of this journal, we consider the wider network of professionals with whom parents may come into contact following the death of a child. We conclude by discussing the ways in which effective care and communication resonates with, and takes account of, the experiences of the bereaved.
Findings From Talking Tech: A Technology Training Pilot Intervention to Reduce Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Homebound Older Adults

Abstract Background and Objectives Social isolation and loneliness are common among older adults and associated with negative health outcomes including cognitive decline, depression, suicide ideation, and mortality. Information and communication technology interventions are often used to combat loneliness and social isolation; however, homebound older adults face barriers to access. This study reports findings from a novel pilot intervention, called Talking Tech, designed to reduce loneliness and social isolation in homebound older adults by providing one-on-one, in-home technology training, a tablet, and the internet, to promote digital literacy and participation in a virtual senior center. Research Design and Methods Twenty-one homebound older adults participated in this 14-week, volunteer-delivered program. We used qualitative interviews with participants, volunteers, and program staff, weekly progress reports from volunteers, and quantitative pre- and postintervention surveys with participants to examine experiences and to evaluate the impact of the intervention on loneliness and social isolation. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis and pre- and postintervention survey data were compared. Results Participants reported increased technological literacy and use, increased access to online activities, and improved facilitation of social connections to existing and new networks. Additionally, during interviews, many participants reported that participating in Talking Tech alleviated their loneliness. While not statistically significant, our quantitative analysis revealed trends toward decreased participant feelings of loneliness and increased technology use. Additionally, intervention adoption and retention were high, with only one participant withdrawing from the intervention. Discussion and Implications This evaluation of the novel Talking Tech pilot intervention provides critical insights into strategies to reduce loneliness and isolation for older adults, with implications for future research, policy, and practice. Findings demonstrate that individualized technology training may be an acceptable way to improve well-being for homebound older adults.
Universal shape forming method for shelter relief:enclosing the supporting structure of a shelter with a universal shape independent membrane

Disclaimer This document contains a student thesis (bachelor's or master's), as authored by a student at Eindhoven University of Technology. Student theses are made available in the TU/e repository upon obtaining the required degree. The grade received is not published on the document as presented in the repository. The required complexity or quality of research of student theses may vary by program, and the required minimum study period may vary in duration.
The Carbonate-Hosted Gortdrum Cu-Ag(±Sb-Hg) Deposit, Sw Ireland: C-O-Sr-Nb Isotopes and Whole-Rock Geochemical Signatures

The Gortdrum Cu-Ag( ± Sb-Hg) deposit, consisted of a fault-controlled orebody (3.8 Mt @ 1.19 % Cu and 25.1 g/t Ag) formed at the base of the Irish Midlands basin, in Lower Carboniferous rocks laterally time equivalent to Navan Group rocks hosting the giant Navan Zn-Pb deposit, and form the base of the Irish Midlands basin. The ore body is hosted on the hanging-wall of the Gortdrum Fault either along strata or within a wedge of brecciated carbonate rocks. Vertical zonation based on predominant host rock, ore textures, sulfide assemblages, and whole-rock geochemistry allowed the detailing of three ore types: a) the lower ore, representing Cu sulfides hosted within basal carbonated siliciclastic rocks; b) the upper ore, representing Cu, Cu-Sb, and Hg sulfides hosted within upper calcareous rocks and; c) the vein-associated ore, dominantly hosted in the more competent upper carbonate rocks. The origin of the deposit is unambiguously related to the development of the Gortdrum Fault and its associated permeability, which allowed basement/basin-derived fluids to react with carbonates and induce copper-silver mineralization. The mineralogy, ore shoot geometry, and geochemical association of Gortdrum are shared with classic Zn-Pb Irish-type deposits such as Navan, Lisheen, Silvermines, and Tynagh (sub-seafloor replacement). In these Irish-type deposits, copper-silver mineralization is associated with the late stage of Zn-Pb mineralization and shares a common geochemical footprint with Gortdrum of anomalous Ag, As, Sb and Hg. Additionally, the C-O and Sr-Nd isotope range of Gortdrum and Navan samples overlap, indicating that mineralization processes in both deposits were ineffective in modifying the original host-rock signature. These similarities suggest that Gortdrum could represent a variation of Irish-type mineralization where late-stage Cu-Ag-Sb-bearing fluids succeeded in forming a deposit. Hypothetical early-stage Zn-Pb fluids a) never existed; b) deposited disseminated sulfides in country-rocks, c) formed an undiscovered resource or, d) deposited ore concentrations that were eroded off.
Dual Band Notched EBG Structure based UWB MIMO/Diversity Antenna with Reduced Wide Band Electromagnetic Coupling

Abstract A dual band-notched MIMO/Diversity antenna is proposed in this paper. The proposed antenna ensures notches in WiMAX band (3.3–3.6 GHz) besides WLAN band (5–6 GHz). Mushroom Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) arrangements are employed for discarding interfering frequencies. The procedure followed to attain notches is antenna shape independent with established formulas. The electromagnetic coupling among two narrowly set apart Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) monopoles is reduced by means of decoupling bands and slotted ground plane. Monopoles are 90° angularly parted with steps on the radiator. This aids to diminish mutual coupling and also adds in the direction of impedance matching by long current route. S21 or else mutual coupling of fewer than 15 dB is established over antenna operating range. Two-port envelope correlation coefficient is lower than 0.02 in UWB range of 3.1 GHz–10.6 GHz. The shifting in notch frequencies by varying variables in formulas is also reported. The suggested antenna is designed on low budget FR-4 substrate with measurements as ( 58×45×1.6 $58 \times 45 \times 1.6$ ) mm3. Simulated and measured results of fabricated antenna are found to be in close agreement.
An Expedite Method to Predict the Shear Strength of Unsaturated Soils

An expedite method to predict the shear strength of unsaturated soils is proposed and tested against many soils of different origins and subjected to different test types. The method uses an empirical hyperbolic function that has been successfully used to fit experimental data. The parameters of this function are obtained considering effective shear strength parameters from saturated soil and from test results of air dried samples tested without the need of suction control. Air dried samples can be, alternatively, replaced by test results of samples tested at suction larger than the maximum suction expected in the problem under analysis. The good agreement between the estimate functions and the experimental data shown by both alternatives makes them promising and reliable to estimate unsaturated shear strength parameters for preliminary purposes.
Energy management of fast-charger systems for electric vehicles : experimental investigation of power flow steering using bidirectional three-phase three-port converters

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NeDSeM: Neutrosophy Domain-Based Segmentation Method for Malignant Melanoma Images

Skin lesion segmentation is the first and indispensable step of malignant melanoma recognition and diagnosis. At present, most of the existing skin lesions segmentation techniques often used traditional methods like optimum thresholding, etc., and deep learning methods like U-net, etc. However, the edges of skin lesions in malignant melanoma images are gradually changed in color, and this change is nonlinear. The existing methods can not effectively distinguish banded edges between lesion areas and healthy skin areas well. Aiming at the uncertainty and fuzziness of banded edges, the neutrosophic set theory is used in this paper which is better than fuzzy theory to deal with banded edge segmentation. Therefore, we proposed a neutrosophy domain-based segmentation method that contains six steps. Firstly, an image is converted into three channels and the pixel matrix of each channel is obtained. Secondly, the pixel matrixes are converted into Neutrosophic Set domain by using the neutrosophic set conversion method to express the uncertainty and fuzziness of banded edges of malignant melanoma images. Thirdly, a new Neutrosophic Entropy model is proposed to combine the three memberships according to some rules by using the transformations in the neutrosophic space to comprehensively express three memberships and highlight the banded edges of the images. Fourthly, the feature augment method is established by the difference of three components. Fifthly, the dilation is used on the neutrosophic entropy matrixes to fill in the noise region. Finally, the image that is represented by transformed matrix is segmented by the Hierarchical Gaussian Mixture Model clustering method to obtain the banded edge of the image. Qualitative and quantitative experiments are performed on malignant melanoma image dataset to evaluate the performance of the NeDSeM method. Compared with some state-of-the-art methods, our method has achieved good results in terms of performance and accuracy.