Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extraction and Quantification of Anthocyanin from Banana Bracts Using Different pH and Solvent Concentration

Banana (Musa balbisiana) bracts were investigated as a potential source of natural colorant. In this study, the total anthocyanin from selected banana bracts was extracted with ethanol solutions and characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometry and their content was found 224.41 ± 1.91 mg/kg, which was highest at 40% solvent concentration with pH 4. Moreover, the color characteristics were varied with the variation of solvent concentration and pH. Similarly, the values of chroma and hue angle were also investigated and the value of chroma was higher at pH 4 in all different concentrations. The results revealed that the color of anthocyanin was decreased due to increase of pH. The value of hue angle was in the range of (73.69±0.33) to (-71.14±1.39), which indicated the color from yellow to magenta, and this is the natural color of anthocyanin. Therefore, banana bracts can be used as a potential source of extracting natural colorant instead of synthetic dyes in different food industries.
Mutation of colocalized residues of the pore helix and transmembrane segments S5 and S6 disrupt deactivation and modify inactivation of KCNQ1 K+ channels

KCNQ1 (Kv 7.1) α‐subunits and KCNE1 β‐subunits co‐assemble to form channels that conduct the slow delayed rectifier K+ current (IKs) in the heart. Mutations in either subunit cause long QT syndrome (LQTS), an inherited disorder of cardiac repolarization. Here, the functional consequences of the LQTS‐associated missense mutation V310I and several nearby residues were determined. Val310 is located at the base of the pore helix of KCNQ1, two residues below the TIGYG signature sequence that defines the K+ selectivity filter. Channels were heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and currents were recorded using the two‐microelectrode voltage‐clamp technique. V310I KCNQ1 reduced IKs amplitude when co‐expressed with wild‐type KCNQ1 and KCNE1 subunits. Val310 was also mutated to Gly, Ala or Leu to explore the importance of amino acid side chain volume at this position. Like V310I, V310L KCNQ1 channels gated normally. Unexpectedly, V310G and V310A KCNQ1 channels inactivated strongly and did not close normally in response to membrane hyperpolarization. Based on a homology model of the KCNQ1 channel pore, we speculate that the side group of residue 310 can interact with specific residues in the S5 and S6 domains to alter channel gating. When volume of the side chain is small, the stability of the closed state is disrupted and the extent of channel inactivation is enhanced. We mutated putative interacting residues in S5 and S6 and found that mutant Leu273 and Phe340 channels also can disrupt close states and modify inactivation. Together these findings indicate the importance of a putative pore helix−S5−S6 interaction for normal KCNQ1 channel deactivation and confirm its role in KCNQ1 inactivation. Disturbance of these interactions might underly LQTS associated with KCNQ1 mutant channels.
Reliability and validity of a Thai version of assessment of chronic illness care (ACIC).

BACKGROUND The Assessment Chronic Illness Care (ACIC), developed in the United States, is a quality-improvement tool used to help organization evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their delivery of care for chronic illness in six areas, community linkages, self-management support, decision support, delivery system design, information systems, and organization of care. These areas of care are influenced by the Chronic Care Model. The questionnaire scale ranges from 0 to 11. OBJECTIVE Translate in Thai language and validate the ACIC as a practical tool to measure the quality of chronic illness care in Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD In a cross-sectional study, the content validity was examined by public health experts. The original ACIC was translated into Thai with permission from The MacColl Institute for Healthcare Innovation at Group Health's Center for Health Studies. The translation process followed the World Health Organization (WHO) process of translation and adaptation of instruments, including forward translation, expert panel and synthesis of the translation, back translation, pre-testing, and cognitive interviewing. The pre-testing was done by distributing the questionnaire to a sample of 12 organizations with cognitive interviewing, followed by revision and finalization of the questionnaire. The reliability and validity of the translated version was then examined by distributing the questionnaire to 172 organizations (84 district hospitals and 88 community health center primary care units within the upper northern part of Thailand)focusing on care of cerebrovascular disease. RESULTS The response rate was approximately 70% or 120 organizations. The results from these organizations 'self-assessment showed that the Thai version of ACIC achieved good levels of reliability and validity, with the range of Cronbach's alpha coefficients being 0.846 to 0.972 in each aspect of ACIC. However ACIC inablility to detect statistical significant difference in score for each dimension though the self-management support and decision support are the two relatively low score rating. CONCLUSION The Thai translation of the ACIC can be used as an organization self-assessment instrument to evaluate the quality of chronic care in Thailand Further explanatory research of association between ACIC assessment and organization change as well as clinical outcomes is needed.
The relevance of dose for low-energy beta emitters

Specific issues in risk assessment for low-energy beta emitters include specification of the radiation weighting factor, values of relative biological effectiveness for specific or accurate risk estimates, non-uniformities of dose within tissues and cells, and use of standard tissue weighting factors for non-uniform situations. Unusual features of low-energy beta emitters include: increased average ionisation density on subcellular (and cellular) scales; short ranges of the beta electrons; non-uniformity of the absorbed dose over subcellular, cellular, and tissue dimensions; reduced hit frequencies; nuclear transmutations; different chemical forms, influencing biokinetics and dose distributions; and large isotopic mass differences, particularly in the case of tritium and hydrogen. Many of these features are not included explicitly in conventional radiation protection dosimetry, although they may be partly included in experimental determinations of relative biological effectiveness. Theoretical and experimental studies have shown low-energy electrons to be particularly efficient in producing double-strand breaks in DNA, including complex double-strand breaks. Hence, on fundamental grounds, tritium beta particles should be expected to have greater biological effectiveness per unit absorbed dose than 60Co gamma-rays or orthovoltage x-rays. For practical purposes, and in view of the paucity of epidemiological estimates of risk from low-energy electrons, consideration should be given to applying a raised relative biological effectiveness, say of value 2, to all low-energy internal emitters, including beta particles and soft x-ray emissions.
Drafting for Success: How Good Are NFL Teams at Identifying Future Productivity at Offensive-Skill Positions in the Draft?

Employing data on offensive-skill players drafted between 2002 and 2013, we are able to determine if the factors correlated with a player’s productivity in the National Football League (NFL) are the same factors correlated with him being selected earlier in the NFL draft. While our findings affirm many of the strategies employed by NFL teams, the analysis uncovers potential avenues for improving drafting strategy. For instance, our results suggest that teams are overvaluing or undervaluing certain player characteristics on draft day. We also compare the performance of our empirical models with that of NFL teams in their ability to project the future productivity of incoming players. We conclude that the NFL teams most likely to enjoy success moving forward are those that are able to combine traditional player evaluation methods with analytical approaches to player evaluation. JEL Classifications: L83, M51, Z20, Z22
Time aggregation based optimal control and Lebesgue sampling

Time aggregation based optimal control model is proposed in the paper, by using Lebesgue sampling technique. Time aggregation approach in MDP (Markov decision processes) theory is applied to handle the problem, then policy iteration can be implemented. Both analytical solution and sample path based optimization algorithms are given. Compared with periodic sampling based approach, Lebesgue sampling based approach can be applied to practical control systems to obtain improvement in system performance and reduction in resource utilization.
Extraction, Purification, and Chemical and Immunological Properties of the Streptococcus mutans Group “a” Polysaccharide Cell Wall Antigen

An antigen of Streptococcus mutans has been extracted from HS6 (group “a”) whole cells and repeatedly fractionated by Sephadex chromatography. The antigen is shown to be a polysaccharide and contains the S. mutans group “a” antigenic site and also a second antigenic site which is common to “a” strains and 2 of 3 group “d” strains. Immunological electrophoretic and chromatographic data indicate that the two sites exist in a single molecule. The polysaccharide has a molecular weight of 107,000 and is composed of glucose, galactose, glucosamine, and galactosamine. No significant quantities of lipid, phosphorus, glycerol, or ribitol are present. Immunological specificity of the group “a” polysaccharide site depends primarily on a d-glucose · d-glucose sequence, the “a-d” site on a terminal d-galactose. Water at 100 C and pepsin (pH 2.5) at room temperature are very effective in extracting the polysaccharide from lyophilized S. mutans cells. Trypsin and lysozyme are less effective. The antigen-antibody combining site appears to be located at the cell wall surface. A small quantity of enzyme-resistant protein (5%) is firmly linked to the antigen and is considered to be a remnant of a protein to which the polysaccharide is attached in the cell wall. The composition of the protein does not identify it as a part of the peptidoglycan. No reaction to the purified polysaccharide is obtained with antisera specific for teichoic acid glycerophosphate polymers from streptococci, staphylococci, or lactobacilli.
The effect and mode of action of saponins on the microbial populations and fermentation in the rumen and ruminant production

The growing public concerns over chemical residues in animal-derived foods and threats of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have renewed interest in exploring safer alternatives to chemical feed additives in ruminant livestock. Various bioactive phytochemicals including saponins appear to be potential ‘natural’ alternatives to ‘chemical’ additives in modulating rumen fermentation favourably and animal performance. Saponins are a diverse group of glycosides present in many families of plants. The primary effect of saponins in the rumen appears to be to inhibit the protozoa (defaunation), which might increase the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis and protein flow to the duodenum. Furthermore, saponins may decrease methane production via defaunation and/or directly by decreasing the activities (i.e. rate of methanogenesis or expression of methane-producing genes) and numbers of methanogens. Saponins may also selectively affect specific rumen bacteria and fungi, which may alter the rumen metabolism beneficially or adversely. The ammonia-adsorption and modulation of digesta passage in the rumen by saponins have also been implicated in altering rumen metabolism, but their physiological responses are likely to be negligible compared with microbiological effects. The effects of saponins on rumen fermentation have not been found to be consistent. These discrepancies appear to be related to the chemical structure and dosage of saponins, diet composition, microbial community and adaptation of microbiota to saponins. There is need for systematic research based on chemical structures of saponins, nutrient composition of diets and their effects on rumen microbial ecosystem to obtain consistent results. The present paper reviews and discusses the effects and mode of action of saponins on microbial community and fermentation in the rumen, and ruminant performance.
Repeated random blood glucose measurements as universal screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus

Background. To determine the value of repeated random blood glucose (R‐B‐glucose) measurements alone or in combination with traditional risk factors [family history of diabetes, obesity, prior large‐for‐gestational‐age (LGA) infant or prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)] to predict the outcome of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
Representing the People: A Survey Among Members of Statewide and Substate Parliaments

ment practices within parties concerning formal (i.e. party statute rules) vs. informal procedures and the degree of inclusiveness and centralisation of selectorates. Thus, potentially important explanatory factors suggested by the legislative recruitment scholarship are left out of the picture. Using the average number of served terms as an indicator for the stability of parliamentary elites is misleading, particularly since some of the parliaments in the region have not suffered dissolutions and early elections (e.g. Hungary, Romania) while others have experienced multiple such events (e.g. Poland, Latvia). Using the average number of years in Parliament would have been more appropriate. One might also question whether professionalisation as defined in the volume is really something consequential. Are core MPs more likely to acquire high parliamentary office? In other words, does seniority matter? The Lithuanian analysis says not (p. 163). Furthermore, are core MPs more likely to specialise on certain policy issues, or to develop expertise? Unfortunately, the issue of policy specialisation is not investigated in the volume. Despite these limitations, the volume significantly advances our knowledge of parliamentary elites in young democracies and our understanding of CEE legislative politics.
Host Tissue and Glycan Binding Specificities of Avian Viral Attachment Proteins Using Novel Avian Tissue Microarrays

The initial interaction between viral attachment proteins and the host cell is a critical determinant for the susceptibility of a host for a particular virus. To increase our understanding of avian pathogens and the susceptibility of poultry species, we developed novel avian tissue microarrays (TMAs). Tissue binding profiles of avian viral attachment proteins were studied by performing histochemistry on multi-species TMA, comprising of selected tissues from ten avian species, and single-species TMAs, grouping organ systems of each species together. The attachment pattern of the hemagglutinin protein was in line with the reported tropism of influenza virus H5N1, confirming the validity of TMAs in profiling the initial virus-host interaction. The previously believed chicken-specific coronavirus (CoV) M41 spike (S1) protein displayed a broad attachment pattern to respiratory tissues of various avian species, albeit with lower affinity than hemagglutinin, suggesting that other avian species might be susceptible for chicken CoV. When comparing tissue-specific binding patterns of various avian coronaviral S1 proteins on the single-species TMAs, chicken and partridge CoV S1 had predominant affinity for the trachea, while pigeon CoV S1 showed marked preference for lung of their respective hosts. Binding of all coronaviral S1 proteins was dependent on sialic acids; however, while chicken CoV S1 preferred sialic acids type I lactosamine (Gal(1-3)GlcNAc) over type II (Gal(1-4)GlcNAc), the fine glycan specificities of pigeon and partridge CoVs were different, as chicken CoV S1-specific sialylglycopolymers could not block their binding to tissues. Taken together, TMAs provide a novel platform in the field of infectious diseases to allow identification of binding specificities of viral attachment proteins and are helpful to gain insight into the susceptibility of host and organ for avian pathogens.
A real-time angle deviation detection and measurement technique for straight line quadrocopter navigation using accelorometer

Deviation from a planned path due to dynamic wind disturbances clearly will defect the quadrocopter navigation accuracy thus result to poor execution of a task. Few researchers proposed correction algorithms to be integrated in the autonomous quadrocopter system for the problem arises. However, the algorithms are not applicable to enable quadrocopter to navigate precisely on a planned trajectory around the small area with presences of dynamic disturbances such as wind. The research proposed a preliminary work for new real-time adaptive trajectory correction algorithm for autonomous quadrocopter, specifically the algorithm for angle deviation detection and measurement technique via an accelerometer. A ±3G analog accelerometer is utilized and being interfaced with a low-cost microcontroller for digitization process. For minimizing the fluctuation of accelerometer discrete signals, a simplified Kalman's filter algorithm appropriated for the controller is employed. The filtered signals are then used to sense the quadrocopter deviation from the planned path and compute the angle. A custom-made X-Y platform is used as the straight navigation path and represented as dynamic control environment. A GUI window is built in order to exhibit the visual deviation experienced by quadrocopter and recorded wirelessly the deviation angle from the controller so that evaluation on the accuracy performance can be analyzed. Three experiments with a different range of wind disturbance acceleration are executed where the results reveal that the technique is applicable to be used for short-duration detection and in a small-bounded area with fine accuracy.
Model-Based approach IDS design

Industrial control systems (ICSs) present security risks related to their IT vulnerabilities. However, ICS systems have more constraints than IT systems represented by the interaction between cyber and physical systems. This interaction should be taken into consideration by the security solution. Intrusion detection systems give visibility of system branches and considered as one of the solutions to ensure the proper functioning. In this paper, we propose a rule generator for IDS. This rule generator takes a physical model and converts it into a syntax understandable by the IDS. This solves the difficulty of creating and maintaining handmade rules.
Preliminary work for vocal and haptic navigation software for blind sailors

This research has consisted in the elaboration of a spatial strategy for blind sailors. With auditory information, they can locate the sound buoys along the track. Vocal watches allow time measurement during the race. After some experiments that have isolated these different tools, the conclusion those tactile maps allow stocking accurate tactile pictured representation of the race has been drawn. However, these do not allow any adjustment as to the boat position during action. Even with a limited precision, the auditory feed back makes turning around the buoys along the track possible for blind people. Because of a space time relation, they can transform a time value into a distance value on the map. This strategy implicates an important cognitive load. That is why we would like to use virtual reality techniques to up-to-date haptic pieces of information about the position of the boat on a virtual map during sailing
Detection of Methanotrophs in Groundwater by PCR

ABSTRACT Methanotrophic bacteria have significant potential for bioremediation, which would require methods for monitoring the presence and activity of these organisms in environmental samples. In this study, PCR was used to detect methanotrophic bacteria. Primers were designed on the basis of a partial sequence of pmoA, which encodes one of the proteins of the particulate methane monooxygenase. Specific amplification of a portion of pmoA was obtained with template DNA isolated from lab strains of methanotrophs. ApmoA product was also obtained by using DNA from groundwater. The identity of the PCR product was confirmed by sequencing or by amplification with a nested primer. Reverse transcriptase PCR detected pmoA mRNA.
Loss of pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A extends lifespan in mice

Genetic deletion in mice of pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A (PAPP‐A), a recently identified metalloproteinase in the insulin‐like growth factor system, extends by 30–40% both mean and maximum lifespan with no reduction in food intake or secondary endocrine abnormalities. Furthermore, these mice have markedly reduced incidence of spontaneous tumors. The findings implicate PAPP‐A as a critical regulator of lifespan and age‐related diseases, and suggest PAPP‐A as a possible target to promote longevity.
Fast visual evoked potential input into human area V5

STUDIES of the human visual cortex have demonstrated that an area for motion processing (V5) is located in the lateral occipito-temporal cortex. To study the timing of arrival of signals in V5 we recorded multi-channel visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to checkerboard stimuli. We then applied dipole source analysis which was computed on a grand average of 10 subjects, and on five individual subjects, respectively. We demonstrate an early VEP component with onset before 30 ms and with a peak around 45 ms, located in the vicinity of V5. This early component was independent of a second activity, which started around 50 ms and peaked around 70 ms, and was located within the striate cortex (V1). These results provide further evidence for a very fast input to V5 before activation of V1.
Delocalized Carriers and the Electrical Transport Properties of n-Type GeSe Crystals

Recent discovery of a high thermoelectric figure of merit in n-type SnSe single crystal stimulates further research on the analogue compounds. In this work, n-type GeSe is predicted to have a significantly higher normalized power factor along the cross-plane direction based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations and Boltzmann transport theory. This high normalized power factor is due to the high normalized electrical conductivity, which originates from the more delocalized interlayer carrier density. Furthermore, the effects of several potential n-type dopants (group VA and group VIIA elements) on the electronic structure and electrical transport properties of GeSe have been studied. We find that the group VA dopants decrease the density of states near the conduction band minimum and result in a decrease of the Seebeck coefficient of GeSe. As a result, n-type GeSe doped with group VIIA elements is predicted to have a higher normalized power factor than that doped with group VA elements.