Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metals contamination using Polymesoda Expansa (Marsh Clam) as bio-indicator in Kelantan river, Malaysia = Pencemaran logam di Sungai Kelantan, Malaysia menggunakan Polymesoda expansa (Lokan) sebagai penunjuk biologi

Bivalve, such as marsh clam (Polymesoda expansa) feed by filtering most of the suspended particle in water that surrounding them. Lots of elements being trap into their body via this feeding habit including pollutant such as trace metals. Unfortunately, these marsh clams were taken directly by human as their daily diet. Due to its ability to filter water, marsh clam was used to monitor the level of trace metals in aquatic system in significant place such as industrial area. Therefore, this study was carried out at Kelantan River near to the industrial area in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan, Malaysia. A total of 80 marsh clams were collected from 4 different sites to represent a different environmental condition. The in-toto of the marsh clam were dissected and digest with suprapur nitric acid by using Teflon Bomb method. Six metals were determined by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry including chromium, iron, copper, cadmium, lead and zinc. The highest mean concentration of all metals studied (Cr 45.03 μg/g dry weight; Fe 1.28 μg/g dry weight; Cu 21.8 μg/g dry weight; Cd 1.15 μg/g dry weight; Pb 2.31 μg/g dry weight; Zn 898 μg/g dry weight) in the marsh clam tissue was recorded at station 4 which is near to the industrial area discharge. Whereas, those concentration were lower at Station 1 and Station 2, which located at the upstream and far from the industrial area discharge. On the other hand, the size of marsh clam does not significantly correlate to the concentration of selected trace metals. Level of selected metals in some the samples were exceeded the permissible limit provide by Malaysia Food Safety and Food Regulation 1985 especially marsh clam collected from station near to industrial area. Therefore, marsh clam collected for consumption near to industrial area need to be continuously monitor to prevent any acute effect on human health risk.
Management of Dyslipidemia in Type 2 Diabetic Patient: A Case Report

Diabetic dyslipidemia is characterised by high plasma triglycerides (TG), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and increased small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) particles. Obesity, poor glycaemic control, high fat low fibre diet, and smoking increase the risk of dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes. Our report presents effective management of dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetics with lifestyle modifications and strict adherence to pharmacological interventions.
Mini-review: The role of mast cells in pulmonary hypertension

Mini-review: The role of mast cells in pulmonary hypertension Yijie Hu1, 2, Wolfgang M. Kuebler1, 3, 4 1Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada 2Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Surgical Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China 3Departments of Surgery and Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada 4Institute of Physiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
MODELING AND SIMULATION OF BRAGG GRATINGS BY COMPLEX MODE MATCHING METHOD

As the fundamental basic building blocks of photonic circuits, optical waveguide structures play important roles in modem telecommunication and sensing systems. Various structures ranging from the dielectric waveguide utilizing the total internal reflection (TIR) to the more advanced structures based on the surface plasmon polaritions (SPPs) are widely investigated and studied in industrial and research areas. With the fast development of fabrication technologies, more and more complicated structures are predicated to emerge as the requirement of highly integrated photonic circuits. Modeling and simulation methods, as efficient as well as excellent cost performance tools comparing to costly facilities and time-consuming fabrication procedures, are demanded to explore and design the devices and circuits before their finalization. This thesis reports a series of techniques to model two dimensional waveguide structures, including the conventional planar and surface plasmon polariton waveguides. This thesis contains both the methods and their applications to model and investigate the mode and propagation characteristics including the guided waves and the radiative waves. The methods include mode solvers based on fmite difference method (FDM) and complex mode matching method (CMMM), furnished with perfect matching layer (PML) for both guided and radiation modes. Based on the developed techniques, solutions of design of Bragg gratings with deep corrugations are presented; also various surface plasmon polariton (SPPS) grating structures are investigated.
Evolutionary ecology, biogeography and conservation of water beetles in Mediterranean saline ecosystems

espanolEntre la variedad de habitats acuaticos de la cuenca Mediterranea, los ecosistemas salinos continentales se consideran particularmente raros y han sido mucho menos estudiados que otros sistemas de agua dulce. Investigaciones previas han destacado la alta singularidad ecologica y evolutiva de estos ambientes y su alto valor en terminos de conservacion, puesto que estan extremadamente amenazados e incluyen una biota muy especializada con altos grados de endemicidad y diversidad genetica. Sin embargo, hasta ahora nuestro conocimiento sobre los patrones biogeograficos y los procesos evolutivos de los linajes de estos sistemas ha sido muy escaso. Este articulo es una compilacion y resumen de los resultados principales obtenidos en varios estudios recientes desarrollados en el marco de la Tesis Doctoral de la primera autora y centrados en la diversidad de coleopteros acuaticos de las aguas continentales salinas del Mediterraneo. Se presentan distintos topicos como la evolucion de la tolerancia a la salinidad, los principales factores que afectan a la diversificacion de los linajes salinos y el uso de toda esta informacion para proporcionar datos relevantes para la conservacion de la biodiversidad acuatica salina. Finalmente, se identifican nuevos objetivos para futuros trabajos y poder asi seguir avanzando en nuestro conocimiento y conservacion de la biodiversidad salina del Mediterraneo. EnglishAmong the variety of Mediterranean aquatic habitats, inland saline ecosystems are considered particularly rare and have been much less studied than other freshwater systems. Previous research has emphasised the ecological and evolutionary singularity of these environments and their great conservation value, as they are extremely endangered and also include a highly specialised biota with a high degree of endemism and genetic diversity. However, until recently, our knowledge about the biogeographical patterns and evolutionary processes of the lineages inhabiting these particular systems has been very sparse. This paper is a compilation and summary of the principal results obtained from various recent studies that were developed in the framework of the PhD thesis of the first author and focused on the water beetle diversity of the Mediterranean inland saline waters. The evolution of salinity tolerance, the main factors driving diversification on saline lineages and the application of all this information to provide relevant data for the conservation of aquatic saline biodiversity are addressed. Finally, further objectives are identified to progress in our understanding and the conservation of Mediterranean saline biodiversity.
Unique aspects of red blood cell transfusion in pediatric patients

Red blood cell transfusion plays an integral role in the management of the anemic child, and multiple factors must be considered when performing transfusions in children as compared with adults. The practitioner must be aware of the particular indication for transfu- sion, normal hemoglobin for age, and the need for special requirements based on the age and type of patient. Additionally, the practitioner must be aware of potential unique complications in the pediatric population and also ensure a system is in place in order to report and evaluate such potential adverse reactions. Here, we review the underlying physiological factors, symp- tomatology, transfusion guidelines, transfusion reactions, and potential side effects with an emphasis on those aspects that are unique to children with anemia. Many gaps remain in fully understanding pediatric red blood cell transfusion that should be addressed over time with continued research and hemovigilance.
“ This is a techno-necklace from my great grandmother ” : Animism-Inspired Design Guidelines for Digitally Ensouled Jewellery

Technology-enhanced jewelleries capable of collecting biodata are rapidly establishing a presence in the market. Yet there is limited focus on applying core values of traditional jewellery in the making process. In this research, we were inspired by the theory of animism, and investigated the concepts of technoanimism and digital ensoulment of jewellery. By going back to the roots of jewellery design, we investigate the cultural and social importance of the jewellery components and making techniques and propose a set of guidelines that consider data collection as a fundamental component of the creation process. Our findings are based on two research based jewellery-making workshops, along with a technology review and our guidelines aim to provide a set of accessible and actionable suggestions for the design of future technology-enhanced jewellery.
Elasto-capillarity at the nanoscale: on the coupling between elasticity and surface energy in soft solids

The capillary forces exerted by liquid drops and bubbles on a soft solid are directly measured using molecular dynamics simulations. The force on the solid by the liquid near the contact line is neither oriented along the liquid vapor interface nor perpendicular to the solid surface, as usually assumed, but points towards the liquid. It is shown that the elastic deformations induced by this force can only be explained if, in contrast to an incompressible liquid, the surface stress is different from the surface energy. Using thermodynamic variations we show that the surface stress and the surface energy can both be determined accurately by measuring the deformation of a slender body plunged in a liquid. The results obtained from molecular dynamics fully confirm those recently obtained experimentally [Marchand et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. , (2012), 108, 094301] for an elastomeric wire.
Causes of bimodal melting curve:Asymmetric guaninecytosine (GC) distribution causing two peaks in melting curve and affecting their shapes

The aim of this study was to present a new situation in which a relatively single short PCR-product might show two separate peaks with sequence specific shapes at the dissociation curve. SYBR-Green I real-time RT-PCR was performed on Lhcgr-gene transcripts in rats. Different programs were used for melting curve simulation and estimating Tm. Statistical tests were performed to determine whether two peaks at the dissociation curve were belonging to a single template. A bimodal melting curve was observed in real-time RT-PCR on a short segment (169 bp) of Lhcgr gene with a single band in gel electrophoresis. Sequencing of the Cloned PCR-product was compatible with template sequence. Realtime PCR using the vector conveying interested sequence, showed again two peaks at dissociation curve. The GC-content of first 100 bases (75%) and last 69 bases (42%) were significantly different. DNA melting simulation programs also confirmed the bimodal pattern, although, their height and wideness were different to actual peaks. Due to the asymmetric GC distribution effect on dissociation curve in short sequences, it is highly recommended to use DNA melting simulation programs to predict the number of peaks in the melting curve when designating primers; however, predicted peak shapes are not always accurate. Key words : Asymmetric GC distribution, bimodal melting curve, DNA melting simulation, SYBR-green I realtime PCR.
Impacts of microphysical scheme on convective and stratiform characteristics in two high precipitation squall line events

This study investigates the impact of snow, graupel, and hail processes on simulated squall lines over the Southern Great Plains in the United States. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to simulate two squall line events in Oklahoma during May 2007, and the simulations are validated against radar and surface observations. Several microphysics schemes are tested in this study, including the WRF 5‐Class Microphysics (WSM5), WRF 6‐Class Microphysics (WSM6), Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) Three Ice (3‐ice) with graupel, Goddard Two Ice (2‐ice), and Goddard 3‐ice hail schemes. Simulated surface precipitation is sensitive to the microphysics scheme when the graupel or hail categories are included. All of the 3‐ice schemes overestimate the total precipitation with WSM6 having the largest bias. The 2‐ice schemes, without a graupel/hail category, produce less total precipitation than the 3‐ice schemes. By applying a radar‐based convective/stratiform partitioning algorithm, we find that including graupel/hail processes increases the convective areal coverage, precipitation intensity, updraft, and downdraft intensities, and reduces the stratiform areal coverage and precipitation intensity. For vertical structures, simulations have higher reflectivity values distributed aloft than the observed values in both the convective and stratiform regions. Three‐ice schemes produce more high reflectivity values in convective regions, while 2‐ice schemes produce more high reflectivity values in stratiform regions. In addition, this study has demonstrated that the radar‐based convective/stratiform partitioning algorithm can reasonably identify WRF‐simulated precipitation, wind, and microphysical fields in both convective and stratiform regions.
On the the design of optimal location privacy-preserving mechanisms

In the last years we have witnessed the appearance of a variety of strategies to design optimal location privacy-preserving mechanisms, in terms of maximizing the adversary’s expected error with respect to the users’ whereabouts. In this work we take a closer look at the defenses created by these strategies and show that there are many mechanisms that are indeed optimal in terms of adversary’s correctness, but not all of them offer the same protection when looking at other dimensions of privacy. To avoid such “bad” choices we argue that the search for optimal mechanisms must be guided by complementary criteria to evaluate the privacy protection they offer. We provide two example auxiliary metrics that help in this regard: the conditional entropy, that captures an information-theoretic aspect of the problem; and the worst-case quality loss, that ensures that the output of the mechanism always provides a minimum utility to the users. We provide a new mechanism to maximize the conditional entropy that is optimal in terms of average adversary error, and compare its performance with previously proposed optimal mechanisms using two real datasets. Our empirical results confirm that no mechanism fares well on every privacy criteria simultaneously, making apparent the need for considering multiple privacy dimensions to have a good understanding of the privacy protection a mechanism provides.
SDN-based Controller Switching for Resilience of Drones

In CPS, the network connecting the cyber and the physical systems is critical for ensuring stability of the physical system. A controller switching scheme using software-defined networking is proposed as a recovery method under network failure in CPS. We apply the controller switching scheme to the drone control system and validate its performance with empirical study. Keywords— Cyber Physical Systems, SDN, drones, controller switching, resilience
Femtosecond-Laser-Induced Defects on Silicon Carbide Probed by Electrical Conductivity

*Faculty of Engineering, Tokushima University, 2-1 Minamijosanjima, Tokushima, Japan E-mail: tomita@tokusima-u.ac. jp ** National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Watanukimachi, Gunma, Japan ***Present address: Center for Integrated Research of Future Electronics (CIRFE), Institute of Materials Systems for Sustainability (IMaSS), Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya Japan
Our Scalp Block Results in Craniotomy Cases

The aim of neuroanesthesia is to prevent the increase of intracranial pressure without distorting the cerebral autoregulation and to ensure convenient surgical conditions and a safe anesthesia for the patient by maintaining a sufficient level of cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). Anesthetic agents have obvious effects on cerebral metabolism, cerebral blood flow, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics, intracranial volume and pressure [1]. As the intracranial pressure is directly related to the blood pressure, it is crucial to prevent the elevation of blood pressure due to any reason whatsoever in craniotomy patients. Radical elevations in systemic arterial pressure may temporarily distort cerebral autoregulation and, if not prevented, may cause cerebral edema by increasing the pressure in cerebral capillaries. Particularly, in interventions related to lesions involving intracranial areas, the detrimental effects of acute hypertension are more obvious as intracranial compliance is already decreased. Especially if the autoregulation capacity of cerebral vessels is already compromised, this increase will lead to an increased intracranial pressure [2]. Since increased intracranial pressure may cause a decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure or a shift effect in the brain, it should absolutely be prevented before durotomy [3].
Evaluation of Oral Hygiene Instructions’ Awareness during Orthodontic Treatment among Syrian Orthodontists

Introduction: Insuffi cient information are available regarding the presentation of oral hygiene instructions by orthodontists. The aim of this study was to investigate the oral hygiene instructions given to patients during orthodontic treatment in a sample of Syrian orthodontists. Materials and Methods: The sample of this study consisted of 100 dentists specialized in orthodontics in Damascus city. Questionnaires were sent to them including one question: “What are the oral hygiene instructions you give to your patients after the placement of an orthodontic appliance? ” Results: Our results demonstrated that almost every orthodontist (97%) advises his/her patients to use the classic manual toothbrush, while only (6%) of them advise the patients to use the electric toothbrush. It was also shown that the orthodontists recommend Chlorhexidine mouthwashes (38%), Fluoride mouthwashes (53%), dental fl oss (12%), disclosing tablets (16%), and the oral irrigator (21%) as additional aids to maintain the patients’ oral hygiene within good levels. Conclusion: The concept of establishing “very good” to “excellent” level of oral hygiene in patients, during orthodontic treatment, among the orthodontists in this sample of study is still not totally understood. Further education for orthodontists in this fi eld is still needed.
Homogenization of the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation in a contrasted composite medium

We study the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation in a composite ferromagnetic medium made of two different materials with highly contrasted properties. Over the so-called matrix domain, the effective field, the demagnetizing field and the bulk anisotropy field are scaled with regard to a parameter $e$ representing the size of the matrix blocks. This scaling preserves the physics of the magnetization as $e$ tends to zero. Using homogenization theory, we derive the corresponding effective model. To this aim we use the concept of two-scale convergence together with a new homogenization procedure for handling with the nonlinear terms. More precisely, an appropriate dilation operator is applied in a embedded cells network, the network being constrained by the microscopic geometry. We prove that the less magnetic part of the medium contributes through additional memory terms in the effective field.
Effect of evening primrose oil on biochemical parameters of thoroughbred horses under maximal training conditions.

The antioxidative effect of evening primrose oil (EPO) administration on the oxidative stress of race horses during their regular training period was determined. The eight-week experiment was performed on ten clinically healthy thoroughbred horses. All the horses were enrolled in a regular training program. Eight weeks before the experiment, the horses were fed a diet which remained the same for the following eight weeks, only supplemented with 150 ml EPO (blood samplings 3 times). Total antioxidant reactivity (TAS), thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), uric acid (UA) levels, activities of muscle enzymes - aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), and parameters of fatty acid metabolism such as triacylglycerols (TAG) and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were determined. Average values of TAS after supplementation with EPO rose gradually and were detected at significantly higher levels ( P ≤ 0.05) in the sixth week in com - parison with the control. The concentration of malondialdehyde, measured as TBARS, decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) compared with the untreated control. The activities of AST and CK fluctuated, but no disturbance was demonstrated in muscle homeostasis. The present results indicate that the total antioxidant activity of the thoroughbred horses fed a diet supplemented with EPO was higher, and it helped stabilize the permeability of the muscle cell membranes in the horses at full workload.
Nondestructive evaluation of orthopaedic implant stability in THA using highly nonlinear solitary waves

We propose a new biomedical sensing technique based on highly nonlinear solitary waves to assess orthopaedic implant stability in a nondestructive and efficient manner. We assemble a granular crystal actuator consisting of a one-dimensional tightly packed array of spherical particles, to generate acoustic solitary waves. Via direct contact with the specimen, we inject acoustic solitary waves into a biomedical prosthesis, and we nondestructively evaluate the mechanical integrity of the bone–prosthesis interface, studying the properties of the waves reflected from the contact zone between the granular crystal and the implant. The granular crystal contains a piezoelectric sensor to measure the travelling solitary waves, which allows it to function also as a sensor. We perform a feasibility study using total hip arthroplasty (THA) samples made of metallic stems implanted in artificial composite femurs using polymethylmethacrylate for fixation. We first evaluate the sensitivity of the proposed granular crystal sensor to various levels of prosthesis insertion into the composite femur. Then, we impose a sequence of harsh mechanical loading on the THA samples to degrade the mechanical integrity at the stem–cement interfaces, using a femoral load simulator that simulates aggressive, accelerated physiological loading. We investigate the implant stability via the granular crystal sensor–actuator during testing. Preliminary results suggest that the reflected waves respond sensitively to the degree of implant fixation. In particular, the granular crystal sensor–actuator successfully detects implant loosening at the stem–cement interface following violent cyclic loading. This study suggests that the granular crystal sensor and actuator has the potential to detect metal–cement defects in a nondestructive manner for orthopaedic applications.