Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bovine Colostrum Supplementation Modulates the Intestinal Microbial Community in Rabbits

Simple Summary Recently, research has focused on the modulation of the gut microbiota because of its central role in several digestive physiological functions and its involvement in the onset of not only gastrointestinal but also systemic diseases. Supplementing rabbit diets with nutraceutical substances could be a strategy to prevent dysbiosis, strengthen the immune system, and reduce mortality during the critical weaning period. Bovine colostrum (BC) is a by-product of the dairy industry and is very rich in compounds with several biological activities. Its use as an intestinal microbiota modulator in rabbits has never been investigated. This study evaluates the effects of diet supplementation with two different percentages of BC (2.5 and 5%) on luminal and mucosa-associated microbiota and its metabolism-associated pathways in the jejunum, caecum, and colon of rabbits. Although our results showed no effect of BC on microbiota biodiversity, there were significant differences between experimental groups in the microbial composition, mainly at the level of sub-dominant components depending on the dose of supplementation. The metabolism-associated pathways have also been affected, and particularly interesting are the results on the amino acids and lactose metabolism. Overall, findings suggest that BC could be used as a supplement in rabbit feed, although its effects on productive and reproductive performances, intestinal disease resistance, and economic aspects need to be further evaluated. Abstract BC is a nutraceutical that can modulate intestinal microbiota. This study investigates the effects of BC diet supplementation on luminal and mucosa-associated microbiota in the jejunum, caecum, and colon of rabbits. Twenty-one New Zealand White female rabbits were divided into three experimental groups (n = 7) receiving a commercial feed (CTRL group) and the same diet supplemented with 2.5% and 5% BC (2.5% BC and 5% BC groups, respectively), from 35 (weaning) to 90 days of age (slaughtering). At slaughter, the digestive tract was removed from each animal, then both content and mucosa-associated microbiota of jejunum, caecum, and colon were collected and analysed by Next Generation 16SrRNA Gene Sequencing. Significant differences were found in the microbial composition of the three groups (i.e., beta-diversity: p < 0.01), especially in the caecum and colon of the 2.5% BC group. The relative abundance analysis showed that the families most affected by the BC administration were Clostridia UCG-014, Barnesiellaceae, and Eggerthellaceae. A trend was also found for Lachnospiraceae, Akkermansiaceae, and Bacteroidaceae. A functional prediction has revealed several altered pathways in BC groups, with particular reference to amino acids and lactose metabolism. Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio decreased in caecum luminal samples of the 2.5% BC group. These findings suggest that BC supplementation could positively affect the intestinal microbiota. However, further research is needed to establish the optimal administration dose.
General-Purpose Deep Learning Detection and Segmentation Models for Images from a Lidar-Based Camera Sensor

Over the last decade, robotic perception algorithms have significantly benefited from the rapid advances in deep learning (DL). Indeed, a significant amount of the autonomy stack of different commercial and research platforms relies on DL for situational awareness, especially vision sensors. This work explored the potential of general-purpose DL perception algorithms, specifically detection and segmentation neural networks, for processing image-like outputs of advanced lidar sensors. Rather than processing the three-dimensional point cloud data, this is, to the best of our knowledge, the first work to focus on low-resolution images with a 360° field of view obtained with lidar sensors by encoding either depth, reflectivity, or near-infrared light in the image pixels. We showed that with adequate preprocessing, general-purpose DL models can process these images, opening the door to their usage in environmental conditions where vision sensors present inherent limitations. We provided both a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the performance of a variety of neural network architectures. We believe that using DL models built for visual cameras offers significant advantages due to their much wider availability and maturity compared to point cloud-based perception.
Evaluation of long-term oven aging protocols on field cracking performance of asphalt binders containing reclaimed asphaltic materials (RAP/RAS)

This study compared two loose mixes’ long-term oven aging (LTOA) protocols (i.e., 5-day at 95°C and 8-hour at 135°C) based on asphalt binder rheological and chemical properties. The protocols were then correlated with field aging conditions. Extracted and recovered asphalt binders from four asphalt mixtures were tested in the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR), Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR), Double-Edge-Notched-Tension (DENT) Test, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy by Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR). Based on the research results, the loose mix aging protocol of 5-day at 95°C replicates the effects of 2- and 3-year field oxidative aging on the rheological and chemical properties of the binders. The laboratory protocol of 8-hour at 135°C yielded a higher level of aging to the binders compared to the 5-day at 95°C protocol. Additional testing is planned to determine if these loose mix LTOA protocols can simulate 4–5-year field aging in Alabama.
Photoplethysmographic imaging via spectrally demultiplexed erythema fluctuation analysis for remote heart rate monitoring

Traditional photoplethysmographic imaging (PPGI) systems use the red, green, and blue (RGB) broadband measurements of a consumer digital camera to remotely estimate a patients heart rate; however, these broadband RGB signals are often corrupted by ambient noise, making the extraction of subtle fluctuations indicative of heart rate difficult. Therefore, the use of narrow-band spectral measurements can significantly improve the accuracy. We propose a novel digital spectral demultiplexing (DSD) method to infer narrow-band spectral information from acquired broadband RGB measurements in order to estimate heart rate via the computation of motion- compensated skin erythema fluctuation. Using high-resolution video recordings of human participants, multiple measurement locations are automatically identified on the cheeks of an individual, and motion-compensated broadband reflectance measurements are acquired at each measurement location over time via measurement location tracking. The motion-compensated broadband reflectance measurements are spectrally demultiplexed using a non-linear inverse model based on the spectral sensitivity of the camera's detector. A PPG signal is then computed from the demultiplexed narrow-band spectral information via skin erythema fluctuation analysis, with improved signal-to-noise ratio allowing for reliable remote heart rate measurements. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed system, a set of experiments involving human motion in a front-facing position were performed under ambient lighting conditions. Experimental results indicate that the proposed system achieves robust and accurate heart rate measurements and can provide additional information about the participant beyond the capabilities of traditional PPGI methods.
The effect of different inflated air insole in the foot plantar pressure

Exercise promotes health in people with diabetes. Weight-bearing activities increase the risk of foot ulcers. Air-pressure shoes may relieve high plantar pressure. Nevertheless, no study has investigated whether air-pressure shoes affect the plantar foot. A repeated measures study design, with five healthy subjects were tested with three inner air pressures (80, 160, and 240 mmHg) and 20 minutes of walking to examine their effects on peak plantar pressure (PPP). PPP after walking was measured from the forefoot in the big toe (T1), first metatarsal head (M1), and second metatarsal head (M2). We used a one-way ANOVA to analyze the results. We found that after walking for 20 min, inner air pressure significantly affected plantar pressure in the M1 and M2 (P = 0.008 and 0.006, respectively). Regarding the inner air pressure effect, there was a significant difference in the M1 head between 80 and 240 mmHg (274.2 ± 35.6 kPa vs. 689.4 ± 106.3 kPa, P = 0.002) at 20 minutes of walking duration. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the M2 head between 80 mmHg and 240 mmHg (250.6 ± 30.1 kPa vs. 572.4 ± 87.3 kPa, P = 0.002) and 160 and 240 mmHg (396.6 ± 35.3.7 kPa vs. 572.4 ± 87.3 kPa, P = 0.050). This finding is significant because the higher inner air pressure shoes can increase plantar pressure compared to 80 mmHg inner air pressure. This study suggests that individuals who are at high risk of developing foot ulcers should wear shoes with an inner air insole (80 mmHg).
Note on a class of polynomials of approximation

The purpose of this note is to establish the truth of the same proposition in the case that m = 1, for which the proof is considerably less simple. The function f (x) in the earlier paper was, more generally, a linear combination, with constant coefficients, of an arbitrarily given set of linearly independent continuous functions. The existence of at least one minimizing function is proved with the same degree of generality here. The argument involves no new difficulty, and in fact is slightly simpler than for m > 1. For the proof of uniqueness, however, ? (x) is essentially a polynomial as indicated,t though a corresponding treatment could be given for other approximating functions, such as finite trigonometric sums, which are similarly determined by their roots. 2. Existence of an approximating function. Let po (x), pi (x), p, pn (x) be n + 1 functions of x, continuous throughout the interval a _ x _ b, and linearly independent in this interval. Let
COVID-19 and unfavorable changes in mental health unrelated to changes in physical activity, sedentary time, and health behaviors among Swedish adolescents: A longitudinal study

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had major impact on the daily lives of adolescents. This study examined whether mental health outcomes had changed over the pandemic, and if such changes were related to changes in physical activity (PA), sedentary time, sleep, screen time, and participation in organized sports. Materials and methods In this longitudinal study, data were collected in autumn 2019 with follow-up measurements in spring 2021. In total, 558 schools were invited and 34 schools around Stockholm with a variation in socioeconomic background were included. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured for seven consecutive days by accelerometry (Actigraph). Anxiety, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), psychosomatic health, stress, sleep duration, screen time, and organized sports participation were self-reported in questionnaires. Linear models were applied to estimate associations between changes in mental health outcomes and exposures. Results From the baseline sample of 1,139 participants, 585 (55% girls), mean (SD) age 14.9 (0.3) years, participated in the follow-up. Between 2019 and 2021, there was a decrease in HRQoL [mean difference −1.7 (−2.3, −1.2), p < 0.001], increase in psychosomatic health problems [mean difference 1.8 (1.3, 2.3), p < 0.001], and an increase in the number of participants with high stress [from 94 (28%) to 139 (42%), p < 0.001]. Weekly light PA and sleep duration decreased and weekly sedentary time and screen time increased unrelated to changes in mental health outcomes. An increase in sleep duration during weekdays was significantly related to both a decrease in anxiety (B = −0.71, CI: −1.36, −0.06) and an increase in HRQoL (B = 1.00, CI: 0.51, 1.49). Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health appears to have been impaired in Swedish adolescents, but unrelated to changes in PA, sedentary time, screen time, or participation in organized sports. However, increased sleep duration on weekdays was related to less anxiety and better HRQoL. The results may help policy makers and other stakeholders comprehend the differential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health outcomes and help guiding the planning of policy actions. Trial registration ISRCTN15689873.
On the dependence of energy confinement on elongation in single null divertor plasmas

An analysis of the effect of magnetic geometry on heat flux in a wide range of single null diverted discharge configurations with 1.5 < κ(95) < 2.2, 0.2 < δ(95) < 0.45 suggests that elongation is beneficial for confinement. If heat diffusivities are assumed not to depend on plasma shape. , the predicted exponent for a power law scaling with elongation is alpha(kappa) approximate to 0.74, based on the configurations in the study. This is very close to dependences from the ITER database for discharge conditions, such as ELM H-modes, obtained from a large number of experiments in various tokamak devices.
Evaluation of adaptive passivity-based controller for power factor correction using a boost converter

This study addresses the control of boost converters applied for power-factor correction in universal-line applications, using adaptive non-linear control based in passivity. The controller design is independent of the operating point and the gains of the control law have a clear physical interpretation. Discussion of the control approach with unknown load is provided. Robustness analysis of the proposed approach and comparison with standard approaches are made. The performance of the proposed power factor correction (PFC) rectifier was evaluated on an experimental 630 W universal-line PFC prototype.
Tizoxanide Antiviral Activity on Dengue Virus Replication

Dengue virus is an important circulating arbovirus in Brazil responsible for high morbidity and mortality worldwide, representing a huge economic and social burden, in addition to affecting public health. In this study, the biological activity, toxicity, and antiviral activity against dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) of tizoxanide (TIZ) was evaluated in Vero cell culture. TIZ has a broad spectrum of action in inhibiting different pathogens, including bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Cells were infected for 1 h with DENV-2 and then treated for 24 h with different concentrations of the drug. The quantification of viral production indicated the antiviral activity of TIZ. The protein profiles in infected Vero cells treated and not treated with TIZ were analyzed using the label-free quantitative proteomic approach. TIZ was able to inhibit virus replication mainly intracellularly after DENV-2 penetration and before the complete replication of the viral genome. Additionally, the study of the protein profile of infected not-treated and infected-treated Vero cells showed that TIZ interferes with cellular processes such as intracellular trafficking and vesicle-mediated transport and post-translational modifications when added after infection. Our results also point to the activation of immune response genes that would eventually lead to a decrease of DENV-2 production. TIZ is a promising therapeutic molecule for the treatment of DENV-2 infections.
Biomimetic, antiadhesive surface structure inspired by the calamistra setae of cribellate spiders for electrospun nanofiber handling

Introduction Due to their excellent surface-to-volume ratio, nanofibers (i.e., fibers with a diameter of approximately 10 to 800 nm) are of increasing interest to engineers and scientists in a broad spectrum of applications. However, due to van der Waals forces, these nanofibers tend to adhere strongly to any surface, which makes further processing very challenging. In nature, we find animals that can easily handle nanofibers: Cribellate spiders use a comb-like structure, the so-called calamistrum, to produce, handle, and process nanofibers. Due to a fingerprint-like surface nanostructure, nanofibers do not adhere to the calamistrum. The principle interaction between this fingerprint-like surface nanostructure and single nanofibers has recently been described in a publication. The fingerprint-like surface structure was replicated on a technical metal surface using laser-induced periodic surface structures, which resulted in material properties resembling those of the natural model. Methods We went a step further and took a closer look on an additional structural feature of the calamistrum much larger than the fingerprint-like surface structure. A theoretical approach to describing the influence of a fiber preload, which may become a dominant effect if the fiber dimensions are small compared to the surface structure dimensions, on the adhesion of the fiber to these large surface structures was derived. Our theory was verified experimentally for artificial electrospun polyamide 6 nanofibers on surface-structured samples made of titanium alloy. Results and Conclusion A dramatic reduction in adhesion compared to unstructured, flat surfaces was proven. Therefore, such a surface structure can be used for tools or parts of tools during nanofiber production (e.g., as part of the electrospinning process) to reduce the adhesion of the nonwoven fabric and thus facilitate the handling and processing of the nanofibers during production.
Attenuation coefficient measurements with OCT Monte Carlo simulations compared with experimental OCT measurements on intralipid

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a technique that is widely used to diagnose pathologies through morphological changes in tissue structure. OCT imaging of such structures based on the backscattered intensity provides qualitative images that are not quantitatively related to the tissue’s optical properties. Since certain pathologies affect optical parameters of tissues, such as the attenuation coefficient, quantification of the attenuation coefficient could be useful for medical diagnosis. For accurate quantisation of optical parameters robust depth resolved OCT models which are valid over a wide range of parameters are necessary.
Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information Using Artificial Neural Networks

Abstract A system for Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN) is under development at The University of Arizona. The current core of this system is an adaptive Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model that estimates rainfall rates using infrared satellite imagery and ground-surface information. The model was initially calibrated over the Japanese Islands using remotely sensed infrared data collected by the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS) and ground-based data collected by the Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System (AMeDAS). The model was then validated for both the Japanese Islands (using GMS and AMeDAS data) and the Florida peninsula (using GOES-8 and NEXRAD data). An adaptive procedure is used to recursively update the network parameters when ground-based data are available. This feature dramatically improves the estimation performance in response to the diverse precipitation characteristics of different geographical regio.
Site‐directed mutagenesis improves the practical application of L‐glutamic acid decarboxylase in Escherichia coli

γ‐Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a kind of non‐proteinogenic amino acid which is highly soluble in water and widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Enzymatic conversion is an efficient method to produce GABA, whereby glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is the key enzyme that catalyzes the process. The activity of wild‐type GAD is usually limited by temperature, pH or biotin concentration, and hence directional modification is applied to improve its catalytic properties and practical application. GABA was produced using whole cell transformation of the recombinant strains Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)‐Gad B, E. coli BL21(DE3)‐Gad B‐T62S and E. coli BL21(DE3)‐Gad B‐Q309A. The corresponding GABA concentrations in the fermentation broth were 219.09, 238.42, and 276.66 g/L, and the transformation rates were 78.02%, 85.04%, and 98.58%, respectively. The results showed that Gad B‐T62S and Gad B‐Q309A are two effective mutation sites. These findings may contribute to ideas for constructing potent recombinant strains for GABA production.
Evaluation of intensified image enhancement through conspicuity and triangle orientation discrimination measures

Abstract. For many military operations, situational awareness is of great importance. During night conditions, this situational awareness can be improved using both analog and digital image-intensified cameras. The quality of image intensifiers is a topic of interest. One of the differences between a digital and analog system is noise behavior. For digital image intensifiers, the noise behavior is not as good as for analog image intensifiers, but it can be improved using noise-reduction techniques. In this paper, the improvement using temporal noise reduction and local adaptive contrast enhancement is shown and quantitatively evaluated by subjective measurement of the conspicuity and triangle orientation discrimination (TOD). The results of the conspicuity and TOD experiments are consistent with each other. The highest improvement is found for a low-clutter environment; for medium- and high-clutter environments, the improvement is less. This can be explained by the fact that image enhancement increases contrast of all image details, irrespective of whether they are targets or clutter. For low-clutter image enhancement, target conspicuity and target detection improvement will be largest, since there are not many distracting elements.