Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic Relationships of the Orchid Genus Coelogyne in Peninsular Malaysia Inferred from Morphological Characteristics and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Sequence Data

The phylogenetic relationships among the Peninsular Malaysian orchid genus Coelogyne were studied by morphological characteristics and sequence data of the internal transcribed region (ITS) from the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). Coelogyne is a large genus of about 200 species distributed in pantropical areas from the Himalayas, Sri Lanka, India, Southern China and throughout South East Asia to Papua New Guinea. The widely accepted previous classification system was exclusively based on floral morphology. There were very few molecular systematic studies of Coelogyne done in Peninsular Malaysia thus far. In this study, 59 Coelogyne samples were collected throughout Peninsular Malaysia and 57 of them were identified to the species level. To study the phylogeny of this genus, morphological characters were utilized together with molecular evidences to generate the systematic hypotheses. Cluster analysis was performed using both the vegetative and floral characters. The results showed that three sections of Peninsular Malaysian Coelogyne, namely Longifoliae, Speciosae, and Fuliginosae were sister groups which were more closely related by forming one clade by itself. Another clade consisted of four other sections, namely Flaccidae, Coelogynae, Tomentosae, and Verrucosae. Molecular phylogenies obtained by using the Neighbour-Joining method showed the close relationship between the sections Tomentosae and Verrucosae, whereas usage of the Maximum Likelihood method demonstrated that three sections, namely Longifoliae, Speciosae, and Fuliginosae, were sister groups since they formed a single clade.
Potential Effects of Ibuprofen, Remdesivir and Omeprazole on Dexamethasone Metabolism in Control Sprague Dawley Male Rat Liver Microsomes (Drugs Often Used Together Alongside COVID-19 Treatment)

The role of individual cytochrome P450 (CYPs) responsible for the drug metabolism can be determined through their chemical inhibition. During the pandemic, dexamethasone and remdesivir with omeprazole were used for the treatment of COVID-19, while Ibuprofen was taken to treat the symptoms of fever and headache. This study aimed to examine the potency of ibuprofen remdesivir, and omeprazole as inhibitors of cytochrome P450s using rat liver microsomes in vitro. Dexamethasone a corticosteroid, sometimes used to reduce the body’s immune response in the treatment of COVID-19, was used as a probe substrate and the three inhibitors were added to the incubation system at different concentrations and analysed by a validated High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. The CYP3A2 isoenzyme is responsible for dexamethasone metabolism in vitro. The results showed that ibuprofen acts as a non-competitive inhibitor for CYP3A2 activity with Ki = 224.981 ± 1.854 µM and IC50 = 230.552 ± 2.020 µM, although remdesivir showed a mixed inhibition pattern with a Ki = 22.504 ± 0.008 µM and IC50 = 45.007 ± 0.016 µM. Additionally, omeprazole uncompetitively inhibits dexamethasone metabolism by the CYP3A2 enzyme activity with a Ki = 39.175 ± 0.230 µM and IC50 = 78.351 ± 0.460 µM. These results suggest that the tested inhibitors would not exert a significant effect on the CYP3A2 isoenzyme responsible for the co-administered dexamethasone drug’s metabolism in vivo.
Assessment of Spoilage Microbiota of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during Storage by 16S rDNA Sequencing

Due to the high contents of protein and fat in rainbow trout, it is highly susceptible to spoilage, which limits the storage and transportation processes. Exploring the spoilage microbial community during rainbow trout storage is essential to develop an effective preservation method. Here, the changes in the total bacterial colony and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) during the storage of rainbow trout were investigated. Storage at 0 °C can effectively slow down the spoilage process with bacterial counts and TVB-N contents decreased from 8.7 log CFU/g and 18.7 mg/100 g obtained at 4 °C to 5.6 log CFU/g and 14.5 mg/100 g, respectively. 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing results showed that the diversity of microbial genera decreased during storage. Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Shewanells gradually became the dominant spoilage genera with contents of 59.9%, 18.6%, and 1.7%, respectively, in the late stage of storage. The spoilage abilities of bacteria belonging to the Pseudomonas and Shewanells genera were analyzed. Shewanella sp. S5-52 showed the highest level of TVB-N content (100.6 mg/100 g) in sterile fish juice, indicating that it had a strong spoilage ability. This study confirmed the dominant spoilage bacterial genera and evaluated the spoilage abilities of isolated strains during the storage of rainbow trout, which laid the foundation for further investigation of the spoilage mechanism of rainbow trout and other aquatic products.
The Role of SLC22A1 and Genomic Ancestry on Toxicity during Treatment in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia of the Amazon Region

In Brazil, Acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) is the leading cause of cancer deaths in children and adolescents. Treatment toxicity is one of the reasons for stopping chemotherapy. Amerindian genomic ancestry is an important factor for this event due to fluctuations in frequencies of genetic variants, as in the NUDT15 and SLC22A1 genes, which make up the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic pathways of chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate possible associations between NUDT15 (rs1272632214) and SLC22A1 (rs202220802) gene polymorphism and genomic ancestry as a risk of treatment toxicities in patients with childhood ALL in the Amazon region of Brazil. The studied population consisted of 51 patients with a recent diagnosis of ALL when experiencing induction therapy relative to the BFM 2009 protocol. Our results evidenced a significant association of risk of severe infectious toxicity for the variant of the SLC22A1 gene (OR: 3.18, p = 0.031). Genetic ancestry analyses demonstrated that patients who had a high contribution of African ancestry had a significant protective effect for the development of toxicity (OR: 0.174; p = 0.010), possibly due to risk effects of the Amerindian contribution. Our results indicate that mixed populations with a high degree of African ancestry have a lower risk of developing general toxicity during induction therapy for ALL. In addition, individuals with the SLC22A1 variant have a higher risk of developing severe infectious toxicity while undergoing the same therapy.
Vibrations from Magnetic Forces in Hydropower Generators

Electrical machines using a fractional slot winding can be subject to low modes of vibration, which can produce noise and stator deformation. The design of a machine has an in uence on the amplitude of these deformations, and it would be interesting to know how the design a ects this amplitude. For this work, two di erent models of hydro-power generators have been developed on a Finite Element Analysis software. The results of the simulations for the machines under di erent loads have been exploited later on using a numerical computing environment and compared to withdraw conclusions about the e ect of the design of a machine on low modes of vibration. The results showed that the slot width and the type of load have an in uence on the amplitude of both lowest mode of vibration and zeroth mode. Now the e ect of the slot width is certain, further work would be to investigate more on one of the machines to have a more precise idea of how evolves the amplitude of the zeroth and lowest mode for di erent slot widths.
Uma Abordagem Adaptada para Execução Coordenada de Aplicações em uma Configuração de Grade Móvel

Alguns trabalhos relacionados na presente pesquisa abordam a interação entre dispositivos móveis e grades não tratam alguns problemas ou restrições destes aparelhos, como por exemplo, tempo de vida da bateria limitada e desconexões freqüentes por causa da natureza intermitente do sinal da rede wireless. Este artigo apresenta uma abordagem para fornecer uma forma adaptada para execução de aplicações em configurações de grades móveis que trate estes problemas. Através desta abordagem foi alcançada uma adequação do fluxo de execução, em caso de desconexão, considerando os requisitos da aplicação submetida a partir dos dispositivos móveis e as opções definidas pelo usuário. Em adição, os resultados experimentais evidenciam também que a abordagem consumiu menos energia da bateria de um PDA para submeter e monitorar aplicações em comparação com alguns trabalhos relacionados. Para atingir tais fins, foram desenvolvidas interfaces com características otimizadas e adaptadas conforme alguns problemas característicos e limitações encontradas nos dispositivos móveis.
What Purpose Do Corporations Purport? Evidence from Letters to Shareholders

Using natural language processing, we identify and categorize the corporate goals in the shareholder letters of the 150 largest companies in the United States, from 1955 to 2020. Corporate goals have proliferated during this period from an average of two in 1955 to almost 10 in 2020. We find a variety of factors are associated with a corporation stating a specific goal including advertising a firm’s strengths, promising improved performance, signaling a commitment to specific constituencies, building societal legitimacy, and conforming to the behavior of other corporations. In spite of the proliferation of corporate goals, executive compensation is still overwhelmingly based on shareholder value, as measured by stock prices and financial performance. Yet, we do observe a rise in bonus payments made contingent on social and environmental objectives, especially among the signatories of the 2019 Business Roundtable statement on corporate purpose. discussion of the key performance indicators used to compute the variable component of the top executives’ compensation. We hand-collected these data on the compensation of the top executives from the proxy statements for the years 2008, 2013, 2018, 2020.
Investigation of Colonic Regeneration via Precise Damage Application Using Femtosecond Laser-Based Nanosurgery

Organoids represent the cellular composition of natural tissue. So called colonoids, organoids derived from colon tissue, are a good model for understanding regeneration. However, next to the cellular composition, the surrounding matrix, the cell–cell interactions, and environmental factors have to be considered. This requires new approaches for the manipulation of a colonoid. Of key interest is the precise application of localized damage and the following cellular reaction. We have established multiphoton imaging in combination with femtosecond laser-based cellular nanosurgery in colonoids to ablate single cells in the colonoids’ crypts, the proliferative zones, and the differentiated zones. We observed that half of the colonoids recovered within six hours after manipulation. An invagination of the damaged cell and closing of the structure was observed. In about a third of the cases of targeted crypt damage, it caused a stop in crypt proliferation. In the majority of colonoids ablated in the crypt, the damage led to an increase in Wnt signalling, indicated via a fluorescent lentiviral biosensor. qRT-PCR analysis showed increased expression of various proliferation and Wnt-associated genes in response to damage. Our new model of probing colonoid regeneration paves the way to better understand organoid dynamics on a single cell level.
The Association Between Connectedness and Grit Among Thai In-school Adolescents in Urban Chiang Mai, Thailand

Aim To investigate the associations between Grit, connectedness, and parental involvement in Thai adolescents. Grit, perseverance, and passion for long-term goals are predictors of academic success and health. There is a small but developing knowledge of the predictors of Grit in Asia, especially Thailand. This paper investigates the proposition that connectedness and parental involvement are positively associated with Grit. Method A total of 2,839 lower secondary (grade 8), higher secondary (grade 11), and vocational (year 12) students from 21 schools in Chiang Mai, Thailand participated in a survey that measured Grit using the Short Grit Scale. Bivariate analysis was conducted using the t-test, ANOVA, or Kruskal–Wallis H test as appropriate. Multiple ordinary least squares linear regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with Grit. Results Satisfactory relationships with teachers (p = 0.01), parental support (p = 0.03), interest in school (p = 0.01), having been asked by parents to do homework (β = −0.69; p = 0.012), and having been told by parents that they had done something bad (β = −1.09; p = 0.02) associated with Grit. These findings can aid in design of tailored interventions to improve Grit in Thai adolescents.
An Observational Cross-Sectional Study of Gender and Disability as Determinants of Person-Centered Medicine in Botulinum Neurotoxin Treatment of Upper Motoneuron Syndrome

The motor behaviour of patients with Upper Motor Neuron Syndrome (UMNS) is characterised by spasticity. The first-line treatment for this clinical condition is Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNTA), but the number and key locations of muscles which need to be treated is not much discussed in the literature. Cross-sectional analysis of outpatient cohort with UMNS spasticity, who were potential candidates for BoNTA treatment, was performed. Between November 2020 and November 2021, all consecutive adult patients eligible for BoNTA treatment were enrolled. The inclusion criteria encompass UMNS spasticity (onset being ≥6 months), with disabling muscles hypertonia. Patients underwent a clinical evaluation, a comprehensive assessment with the Modified Ashworth Scale, with the Modified Rankin Scale, and a patients’ perception-centred questionnaire. In total, 68 participants were enrolled in the study, among them 40 (58.8%) were male; mean age 57.9 ± 15.1. In women, BoNTA was more frequently required for adductor group muscles, independently from potential confounders (OR = 7.03, 95%CI: 1.90–25.97). According to the pattern of disability, patients with hemiparesis more frequently need to be treated in the upper limb, whereas the diplegia/double-hemiparesis group needed to be treated more frequently at the adductor and crux muscles compared to their counterparts. UMNS spasticity in women could require more attention to be paid to the treatment of adductor muscle spasticity, potentially because the dysfunction of those muscles could influence sphincteric management, required for perineal hygiene and/or sexual life.
Flux-Adjustable Permanent Magnet Machines in Traction Applications

This paper overviews the recent advances in flux-adjustable permanent magnet (PM) machines for traction applications. The flux-adjustable PM machines benefit from the synergies of the high torque density and high efficiency in conventional PM machines as well as the controllable air-gap field in wound-field machines, which are attractive for the traction applications requiring enhanced capabilities of speed regulation and uncontrolled voltage mitigation. In general, three solutions have been presented, namely the hybrid excited (HE), the mechanically regulated (MR), and the variable flux memory (VFM) machines. Numerous innovations were proposed on these topics during the last two decades, while each machine topology has its own merits and demerits. The purpose of this paper is to review the development history and trend of the flux-adjustable PM machines, with particular reference to their topologies, working mechanism, and electromagnetic performance.
Essential Oils as In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation Manipulators to Mitigate Methane Emission by Beef Cattle Grazing Tropical Grasses

There is increasing pressure to identify natural feed additives to mitigate methane emissions from livestock systems. Our objective was to investigate the effects of essential oils (EO) extracts star anise (Illicium verum), citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus), clove bud (Eugenia caryophyllus), staigeriana eucalyptus (Eucalyptus staigeriana), globulus eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), ginger (Zingiber officinale), ho wood (Cinnamomum camphora), melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia), oregano (Origanum vulgare) and white thyme (Thymus vulgaris) on in vitro methane emissions from four rumen-cannulated Nellore cattle grazing a tropical grass pasture as inoculum donors. The semi-automated gas production technique was used to assess total gas production, dry matter degradability, partitioning factor, ammoniacal nitrogen, short-chain fatty acids and methane production. All essential oils were tested in four doses (0, 50, 250 and 500 mg/L) in a randomized block design, arranged with four blocks, 10 treatments, four doses and two replicates. Within our study, oregano and white Thyme EO reduced net methane production at 250 mg/L, without affecting substrate degradation. Essential oils from oregano and white thyme have the potential to modify ruminal fermentation and suppress rumen methanogenesis without negative effects on feed digestibility, indicating promise as alternatives to ionophores for methane reduction in beef cattle.
Public Trust in Latin America's Courts: Do Institutions Matter?

Abstract Despite the integral role of the judiciary to democracy, and the importance of judicial trust for judicial system performance, we know relatively little about the bases of public trust in this institution. How does institutional quality affect judicial trust? We explore this question in the context of Latin America, using a multilevel data set comprising survey data spanning 2001 to 2016 and country-level institutional and economic factors. We find that the effects of institutional quality on judicial trust are highly circumscribed. Factors like rule of law and corruption impact the judicial trust of only the best-educated survey respondents. Among the broader public, however, judicial trust is shaped more strongly by individuals' subjective economic and regime evaluations, as well as one's personal experiences with the judiciary.
Investigation of parallel resistive circuit PCUT-40 instrument construct validity to assess engineering students understanding in electricity

It has come to the attention of Physics instructors that the engineering students enrolled in Malaysian universities do not possess sound conceptual understanding in basic electricity. Preconceptions and misconceptions regarding this subject matter especially on the topic of parallel resistors have been seen to exist amongst aspiring engineering degree students. Ironically, to date there are not many effective measures taken to arrest this issue. In addition, the existence of appropriate instruments within the local mainstream to measure these students’ conceptual understanding of the related topic of parallel resistors is insufficient. Among the few claimed instrument was designed by Beh (2000) has been used to assess the students’ conceptual understanding which has revealed some significant findings and led to some suggestions for the improvement of the current electricity syllabus and teaching instructional methods. However, recent developments within the Malaysian Institution of Higher Learning in science education system, call for a re-validation and improved measurement instrument. The aim of this paper is to investigate the validity of this instrument, PCCUT_40-Parallel Resistive Circuit Test using Rasch Analysis in measuring the conceptual understanding of engineering students in institutions of Higher learning in Malaysia on the topic of parallel resistors. The methods used are by purposive sampling on recently enrolled Engineering students. The instrument focused on the six main domains which are “the meaning of parallel”, practical knowledge of “current”, “voltage”, “resistance”, followed by “circuit connection” and finally “the mental model”. Data collected were analyzed using WINSTEPS version 3.71. 0.1. The result shows that the instrument has ‘excellent’ item reliability of 0.94logit, SE 0.33 and ‘good’ item separation of 3.82logit, SE 0.30. Quality control procedures have resulted in an item reduction from 40 to only 28 items, thereby producing a better instrument in measuring the students’ conceptual understanding of parallel resistors, the new PCCUT_28. Key-Words: Learning Outcomes, instructional objectives, performance assessment, Engineering education, instrumentation, construct validity.
A 0.13 /spl mu/m BiCMOS technology featuring a 200/280 GHz (f/sub T//f/sub max/) SiGe HBT

We present for the first time a very high performance SiGe HBT with f/sub T/ = 200 GHz and f/sub max/ = 280 GHz that has been successfully integrated with IBM's standard 0.13 /spl mu/m foundry-compatible CMOS node into our next generation BiCMOS 8HP technology.
Conserving Ras Al Khaimah’s Botanical Diversity

Ras Al Khaimah is home to a diverse ecosystem of plant species, many of which have medicinal uses and cultural significance in addition to supporting wildlife. As the human population and associated urban development increases in the Emirate, it is essential to ensure the national heritage related to plant diversity is protected. In this policy paper, we present the results of an emirate-wide botanical survey that explores how the plant species, present across Ras Al Khaimah, vary according to the Emirate’s geography. In total, 320 plant species were documented in the survey, 293 of which were identified. Some of the recorded species are either uniquely found in the Emirate or are rare and endangered. Four main vegetation types have been identified in the Emirate: coastal and lowland vegetation, plains vegetation, low mountain vegetation, and high mountain vegetation. Within each of these, there are several distinct subtypes that contain unique species and species common to the primary vegetation type.
Free Cortisol Mediates Associations of Maternal Urinary Heavy Metals with Neonatal Anthropometric Measures: A Cross-Sectional Study

Prenatal exposure to heavy metals is known to be associated with adverse birth outcomes and oxidative stress biomarkers. In this study, we examined whether maternal free cortisol or 8-Hydroxy-2-Deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) could mediate associations between maternal heavy metal exposure and birth outcomes. A total of 182 healthy pregnant women were recruited. Heavy metals (including Pb, Hg, and Cd), free-cortisol, and 8-OHdG were analyzed in urine at delivery. Birth outcomes including birth weight, length, Ponderal index, and head circumference were measured. To examine associations of maternal urinary heavy metals with biomarkers and birth outcomes, generalized linear models were employed. Birth length was positively associated with Pb (β = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.09–1.46) and Hg (β = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.23–1.45) (both p < 0.05). The Ponderal index, a measure of a newborn’s leanness, was negatively associated with maternal urinary Pb (β = −0.23, 95% CI: −0.46–−0.07) and Hg (β = −0.26, 95% CI: −0.44–−0.08) (both p < 0.05). No association between maternal Cd and birth outcomes was observed. Most heavy metals showed positive associations with free cortisol and 8-OHdG. Free cortisol was identified as a mediator underlying the observed relationship between Hg and birth length or Ponderal index. This study observed adverse birth outcomes from maternal exposures to Pb and Hg. Increased free cortisol related to Hg exposure was suggested as a possible causal pathway from Hg exposure to birth outcomes such as the Ponderal index.