Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Viability of calcium-alginate-microencapsulated probiotic bacteria in Iranian yogurt drink (Doogh) during refrigerated storage and under simulated gastrointestinal conditions

The effects of microencapsulation of AB-type culture (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12) with calcium alginate on cell survival in Iranian yogurt drink (Doogh) during storage at 4°C for 42 days, as well as under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, were studied. The pH of the product at the beginning of storage was 4.53 and the final pH at the end of storage were 4.52 and 3.78 for the samples containing encapsulated and free cells, respectively. The acetic acid content in the encapsulated-cell-containing Doogh increased by 0.01% (from 0.05 to 0.06%) during the storage period, whereas for free-cell-containing Doogh the increase was 0.04% (from 0.05 to 0.09%). At day 42, the viable counts of L. acidophilus and bifidobacteria in the samples containing encapsulated cells were 5.5 and 4.0 log cycles higher than those containing free cells, respectively. To evaluate the protective impact of encapsulation on cell survival in in vivo situations, the product was subjected to three simulated gastrointestinal conditions, including extreme conditions (pH 1.5, 90 min/2% bile, 90 min), intermediate conditions (pH 1.5, 90 min/1% bile, 90 min) and normal conditions, i.e. the situation in the gastrointestinal tract of a normal healthy person after the consumption of a probiotic-containing dairy drink, when the stomach has not been free for a relatively long time (pH 2.0, 30 min/0.6% bile, 60 min). The viability of the probiotic cells increased from 0.6% and 0.2% (L. acidophilus and bifidobacteria, respectively) as free cells to 18.0% and 9.5% under the extreme gastrointestinal conditions, after encapsulation. Under normal gastrointestinal conditions, the cell survival rates were 16.1% for L. acidophilus and 21% for bifidobacteria before encapsulation, and 26.3 and 34.0% (L. acidophilus and bifidobacteria, respectively) after encapsulation.
Susceptibility of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans to extracts of Garcinia kola, Hibiscus sabdariffa, and Solanum americanum.

BACKGROUND The elimination of cariogenic bacteria from the oral cavity using antibacterial agents is one of the primary strategies for the prevention of dental caries. Avariety of plants with potent activity are known to be used in indigenous communities for dental hygiene worldwide. OBJECTIVE To determine if Hibiscus sabdariffa, Solanum americanum and Garcinia kola can inhibit the growth of cariogenic bacteria in the mouth. METHODS Methanol and aqueous extracts obtained from three plants, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Solanum americanum and Garcinia kola were studied for their antibacterial activity against cariogenic Streptococcus mutans obtained from patients with clinically identified carious lesions, using the agar dilution method. The sources of extracts for Garcinia, Hibiscus and Solanum were respectively fruits and leaves for the latter two. RESULTS The extracts (both methanol and aqueous) from Garcinia kola showed the most intensive activity and completely inhibited the growth of the primary cariogenic Streptococcus mutans at 1.25 mg/ml. Hibiscus sabdariffa was also active at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.5mg/ml while Solanum americanum did not show any direct effect on S. mutans. CONCLUSION The result of this study showed that G. kola and H. sabdariffa have direct antibacterial effect on Streptococcus mutans.
Single Magnetic Element-Based High Step-Up Converter for Energy Storage and Photovoltaic System with Reduced Device Count

The multiport DC-DC power converter is a prominent area of research in power electronics due to its highly dense design, reduced device count, and high energy efficiency. In this paper, a nonisolated single magnetic element-based high step-up three-port converter for an energy storage system is presented. The proposed converter has two input ports and one output port. The coupled inductor with switched capacitor is used to achieve high voltage gain. The key features of the proposed converter are high conversion gain, low voltage stress, zero voltage switching (ZVS), and zero current switching (ZCS). The detailed theoretical analysis and operation of the converter are elaborated. The energy efficiency of the proposed converter is calculated and compared with the other counterparts. Ansys Maxwell is used for the coupled inductor finite element modeling. To verify the applicability and functionality of proposed converter, a 100 W converter with two inputs ( 48 V and 96 V ) and one output 360 V at 100 kHz is tested in the laboratory.
Individual differences in face and voice matching abilities: The relationship between accuracy and consistency

Deciding whether two different face photographs or voice samples are from the same person represent fundamental challenges within applied settings. To date, most research has focussed on average performance in these tests, failing to consider individual differences and within‐person consistency in responses. Here, participants completed the same face (Experiment 1) or voice matching test (Experiment 2) on two separate occasions, allowing comparison of overall accuracy across the two timepoints as well as consistency in trial‐level responses. In both experiments, participants were highly consistent in their performances. In addition, we demonstrated a large association between consistency and accuracy, with the most accurate participants also tending to be the most consistent. This is an important result for applied settings in which organisational groups of super‐matchers are deployed in real‐world contexts. Being able to reliably identify these high performers based upon only a single test informs regarding recruitment for law enforcement agencies worldwide.
Evolutionary genetics of flower colour variation in Antirrhinum

Phenotypic differences between species and populations can reveal much about how they have adapted and responded to a complex set of environmental cues. Studies have shown that genetic control of some traits is centralised to single genomic regions, while others are regulated at many unlinked loci dispersed throughout the genome. One trait that shows an enormous degree of variation between plant species is flower colour, and its tractability makes it an ideal trait for studying genetic differences underlying species differentiation. Antirrhinum majus has long been used as a model for studying floral traits, including colour. The 20-30 wild Antirrhinum species use diverse patterns on their flowers, formed by producing and accumulating magenta anthocyanins and yellow aurones in different tissues, to attract pollinators. In this project, I sought to genetically map flower colour phenotypes to the Antirrhinum genome. Several Antirrhinum species were crossed to A. majus to generate segregating populations. I used a combination of bulked segregant analysis, individual genotyping of segregating populations and analysis of genome sequences from wild accessions to test whether genes governing each colour trait were concentrated at particular loci or dispersed across many chromosomes. I found that variation in magenta not previously characterised maps to the known ROSEA-ELUTA (ROS-EL) locus where transcription factors regulating anthocyanin production are encoded. Yellow phenotypes from three species mapped to chromosome 2, where there is reduced recombination between A. majus and many wild species, and where an aurone biosynthetic enzyme is encoded. However, there appear to be some additional modifiers of flower colour in these species, not linked to the ROS-EL and chromosome 2 loci. These results fit neither the central- nor dispersed-control models of genetic control, but rather an intermediate hypothesis – that flower colour can be changed by selection acting on a modest number of loci spread throughout the genome.
The genus Malesherbia Ruiz & Pav. (Passifloraceae) in Chile

We present here an updated classification of Malesherbia taxa native to Chile including 14 species and 10 varieties, of which 9 species and 9 varieties are endemic to the territory. Distributional and nomenclature adjustments have been adopted following a combination of literature and herbarium revisions, field observations and additional collections. We include the description of two new varieties, reinstatement of M. solanoides and M. bracteata, and new combinations in section Xeromantana.
Phylogenetic diversity metrics from molecular phylogenies: modelling expected degree of error under realistic rate variation

Phylogenetic diversity or phylo‐diversity measures use information about evolutionary history and relationships to inform conservation priorities. These metrics are usually derived from the branches of molecular phylogenies. But inferring phylogenetic timescale from molecular data relies on many assumptions about the evolutionary process, most of which are based on statistical convenience rather than biological information. Here we ask whether known patterns of variation in rate of molecular evolution can lead to errors in phylo‐diversity measures.
Beyond Silencing: Virtue, Subjective Construal, and Reasoning Practically

ABSTRACT In the contemporary philosophical literature, ideal virtue is often accused of setting a standard more appropriate for saints or gods than for human beings. In this paper, I undermine divinity-infused depictions of the fully virtuous, and argue that ideal virtue is, indeed, human. I focus on the virtuous person’s imperviousness to temptation, and contend that this imperviousness is not as psychologically implausible as it might seem. I argue that it is a virtuous person’s subjective construal of a situation that silences reasons in favour of acting contrary to virtue. That silencing, however, is not the whole story when it comes to their practical reasoning. Practical reasoning can, and often does, continue beyond silencing, particularly in the search for what Bernard Williams calls ‘constitutive solutions’. The upshot is a view of the virtuous as less god-like and more human—who will sometimes have to figure out what the virtuous response to a situation is, and who can still care deeply about the central concerns of human existence, including their life, health, loved ones, and life projects, even if those things will never provide them with a reason to act contrary to virtue.
Campylobacter- Review on its Significance as a Foodborne Pathogen

Food borne pathogens significantly cause illness in human which vary from mild symptoms to life threatening disease depending on the nature of microbial pathogens. Bacteria are almost responsible for 75% of food borne diseases in human. The food products especially of animal origin or their by products serve as the major source of transmission of food borne pathogens. All types of meat mainly beef, lamb and chicken and their by products can be contaminated with food borne pathogens like Campylobacter, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, E. coli and Listeria. These bacterial pathogens are equipped with several virulence factors and toxins which lead to illness in human. The severity of the disease mainly depends on the virulence of ingested pathogen. Campylobacter has been reported as the most frequent causative agent regarding foodborne illness. This article is aimed to review all aspects of Campylobacter as a foodborne pathogen.
Pyroclastic flow mitigation strategies: a new perspective 
for the red area

Abstract. This paper intends to show basic strategies and technical solutions that may reduce the consequence of a volcanic eruption on buildings. One of the most dangerous eruptive phenomena is pyroclastic flow, a gas-solid mixture which can flow slope down up to reach considerable distances from the point of emission, with a speed that can easily exceed 100 km/h (~30 m/s). The damage caused by the impact on buildings depends on the combination of several factors: the duration of phenomenon, the temperature of flow and the pressure produced by the impact. The study tries to define a design-oriented approach of retrofitting and new construction with specific reference to the possible eruption of Vesuvio or Campi Flegrei in the Campania Region of Italy. For both red areas, which are directly affected by the flows, the Department of Civil Protection defined only one solution, that is the preventive evacuation. Whilst through the proposed mitigation strategy, the task is to establish a resilient sector within the red areas where buildings can withstand pressure and temperature in order to achieve both economic benefits and make reconstruction easier.
Stress photooxydatif et mécanismes de tolérance en réponse à un herbicide, le clomazone, chez deux variétés de tabac (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Les effets de faibles doses de clomazone 2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-4,4-dimethyl-1,2-oxazolidin-3-one, un herbicide non-selectif de la famille des isoxazolidinones, ont ete etudies chez Nicotiana tabacum L. De faibles concentrations de clomazone (1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001 et 0.00001 µM), ont ete appliquees chez deux varietes de tabac (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi; Nicotiana tabacum L. cv.Virginie vk51) cultivees en hydroponie. Le transport d'electrons photosynthetiques a ete etudie par l'analyse de la cinetique rapide de fluorescence chlorophyllienne et par la mesure de l'evolution de l'oxygene chloroplastique. Les resultats ont montre que le clomazone a des concentrations de 1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001et 0.0001 µM, affecte les parametres JIP (Fv/Fm, PIabs, 1–VJ, ABS/RC, TR0/RC, DI0/RC, ET0/RC et ET0/ABS). Le clomazone a une concentration de 1 µM, conduit a une importante accumulation de H2O2 chez Virginie induisant la mort cellulaire programmee (PCD). Nos resultats montrent que la variete Xanthi presente une tolerance plus importante au clomazone que la variete Virginie, ce qui peut s'expliquer par une meilleure efficacite du transport d'electrons au dela de QA, ainsi qu'une amelioration du fonctionnement du systeme antioxydant enzymatique (APX et MDHAR). Le pretraitement des plantules de la variete Virginie par une alternance de cycles courts de lumiere/obscurite (16 min/ 8min) pendant trois jours lorsque les plantules sont au stade de trois feuilles, a ameliore leur tolerance face a la toxicite du clomazone. Ce pretraitement induit l'activation des systemes de detoxification des ERO via l'augmentation des activites des enzymes antioxydants et la biosynthese de composes antioxydants tels que l'ascorbate et les composes phenoliques et reduit le niveau de mort cellulaire programmee, induit par le stress photooxydatif. Il est suppose que la stimulation des voies alternatives de dissipation des electrons, telle que la photorespiration, ainsi que les modifications du cycle circadien, soient prioritairement impliquees dans l'acquisition de la tolerance. Cet effet dit de "priming" se maintient tout au long de la croissance du tabac et se manifeste par une augmentation de la croissance et de la photosynthese nette qui perdure jusqu'au stade de la floraison.
Changes in Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) in Serial Weekly MRI during Radiotherapy in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: Results from the PREDICT-HN Study

Background: The PREDICT-HN study aimed to systematically assess the kinetics of imaging MR biomarkers during head and neck radiotherapy. Methods: Patients with intact squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were enrolled. Pre-, during, and post-treatment MRI were obtained. Serial GTV and ADC measurements were recorded. The correlation between each feature and the GTV was calculated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The linear mixed model was used to evaluate the change in GTV over time. Results: A total of 41 patients completed the study. The majority (76%) had oropharyngeal cancer. A total of 36 patients had intact primary tumours that can be assessed on MRI, and 31 patients had nodal disease with 46 nodes assessed. Median primary GTV (GTVp) size was 14.1cc. The rate of GTVp shrinkage was highest between pre-treatment and week 4. Patients with T3-T4 tumours had a 3.8-fold decrease in GTVp compared to T1-T2 tumours. The ADC values correlated with residual GTVp. The median nodal volume (GTVn) was 12.4cc. No clinical features were found to correlate with GTVn reduction. The overall change in ADC for GTVn from pre-treatment was significant for 35th–95th percentiles in weeks 1–4 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: A discrepancy in the trajectory of ADC between primary and nodal sites suggested that they exhibit different treatment responses and should be analysed separately in future studies.
Carbon nanotubes for flexible batteries: recent progress and future perspective

Abstract Flexible batteries, which maintain their functions potently under various mechanical deformations, attract increasing interest due to potential applications in emerging portable and wearable electronics. Significant efforts have been devoted to material synthesis and structural designs to realize the mechanical flexibility of various batteries. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have a unique one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure and are convenient to further assemble into diverse macroscopic structures, such as 1D fibers, 2D films and 3D sponges/aerogels. Due to their outstanding mechanical and electrical properties, CNTs and CNT-based hybrid materials are superior building blocks for different components in flexible batteries. This review summarizes recent progress on the application of CNTs in developing flexible batteries, from closed-system to open-system batteries, with a focus on different structural designs of CNT-based material systems and their roles in various batteries. We also provide perspectives on the challenges and future research directions for realizing practical applications of CNT-based flexible batteries.
Grapevine responses to terroir: a global approach

This paper deals with the technical and/or practical treatment of terroir as a study concept, together with related functional aspects. Functioning of the terroir relies on the relation between climate, soil and vine. In addition to this interaction, a comprehensive study concept for terroir requires the consideration of viticultural and enological sciences and techniques necessary to ensure the assurance of wine quality, together with spatial aspects of the grapevine response to environmental factors, as required for vineyard management. In order to comprehend the quality of the harvest, it is necessary to understand the relationship « whole plant - berry ». An easy field and laboratory method to study the relationship between the whole plant and berry and the consequences thereof for wine quality is proposed. Knowledge of grapevine water status and the biochemical evolution within the grape berry from berry set onwards are important issues for the understanding of the role that terroir plays with respect to the quality of the harvest and the wine style or « typicality ».
MTF1, a classic metal sensing transcription factor, promotes myogenesis in response to copper

MTF1 is a conserved metal-binding transcription factor in eukaryotes that binds to conserved DNA sequence motifs, termed metal response elements (MREs). MTF1 responds to metal excess and deprivation, protects cells from oxidative and hypoxic stresses, and is required for embryonic development in vertebrates. We used multiple strategies to identify an unappreciated role for MTF1 and copper (Cu) in cell differentiation. Upon initiation of myogenesis from primary myoblasts, MTF1 expression increased, as did nuclear localization. Mtf1 knockdown impaired differentiation, while addition of non-toxic concentrations of Cu+ enhanced MTF1 expression and promoted myogenesis. Cu+ bound stoichiometrically to a C-terminus tetra-cysteine of MTF1. MTF1 bound to chromatin at the promoter regions of myogenic genes and binding was stimulated by copper. MTF1 formed a complex with MyoD at myogenic promoters, the master transcriptional regulator of the myogenic lineage. These studies establish novel mechanisms by which copper and MTF1 regulate gene expression in myoblast differentiation.
Physicochemical Properties and Fatty Acids Composition of Sudanese Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Moringa oleifera is a robust and fast growing tree considered as one of the most beneficial trees worldwide since almost all parts of it used as food, medicines and for industrial purposes. The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition of M. oleifera seed oil. The oil was extracted by Soxhlet using n-hexane; the physicochemical properties of the seed oil were assessed by standard and established methods, as well the fatty acid composition of the seed oil was determined by GC-MS. The golden yellow with characteristic odor oil obtained from the seeds had the following physicochemical properties: yield, 42.87%; freezing point, 0 °C; melting point, 21 °C; boiling point, 225 °C; refractive index (25 °C), 1.447; iodine value, 96.6 g/100g of oil; peroxide value, 7.6 meq.O2/kg of oil; free fatty acids, 0.07%; acid value, 1.4 mg of KOH/g of oil; saponification value, 185.2 mg KOH/g of oil; unsaponifiable matter, 3.2; moisture and volatile value, 4.91 (wt.%); density, 0.900 g/cm3; viscosity, 60.99 mm2/s; specific gravity, 0.907. The fatty acids composition showed that oleic- acid (51.74%) was the major fatty acid and followed by behenic- (10.54%), palmitic- (9.20%), stearic- (8.46%), arachidic- (6.41%), gondic- (4.88%), lignoceric- (3.08%) and palmitoleic acid (2.85%). Therefore, more and advanced research should be undertaken for this abundant source of natural oil for edible oil and possible industrial applications.
Psychological Distress Among Non-Human Animal Rescue Workers: An Exploratory Study

To better understand the psychological effects on humans of working with distressed non-human animals, I set out to understand the professional quality of life experienced by this group of workers. Measures included compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. An online survey-based cross-sectional correlational design was employed to survey 340 animal rescue workers. The survey consisted of items assessing demographic information (gender, age, geographic location), type of work performed (single or multiple caring roles), exposure to euthanasia, in-home fostering of animals, and whether the work was salaried or voluntary. The results of the present study may prove useful for both animal rescue organizations and animal rescue workers who may be experiencing distress as a result of their work. Recommendations for future research include a focus on the effects of exposure to euthanasia and the home fostering of rescue animals.