Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of different extracting conditions on antioxidant activities of Pleurotus flabellatus.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different extracting conditions on antioxidant activity of Pleurotus flabellatus. Samples were extracted by using 2 different conditions at room temperature; shaking for 24 hours and sonicating for 1 hour and the extracting solvents were 65%, 80% and 95% ethanol (v/v). The antioxidant activities were analyzed in terms of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, ABTS and DPPH assays. It was found that P. flabellatus extracted by shaking and sonicating with 65% ethanol gave the highest extraction yields of 32.33 and 33.86 % dry weight, respectively. The sample extracted by shaking method with 95% ethanol gave the highest total phenolic contents of 301.76 mg GAE/100 g sample. The total flavonoid contents were the highest when using shaking and sonicating methods with 95% ethanol from P. flabellatus extract of 30.84 and 31.17 mgQCE/100g sample (p<0.05). The results showed that the total phenolic and total flavonoid content of mushroom extracts had affected on antioxidant activities by DPPH and ABTS assay.
Testing more and earlier = better control of the epidemic and lower social costs.

In this note we explore the effect of the number of daily tests on an epidemics control policy purely based on testing and selective quarantine, and the impact of these actions depending on the time their application starts. Surprisingly, the results not only confirm that increasing the number of tests lowers the number of infected individuals, but also that it has a very beneficial effect limiting the number of quarantined individuals, and thus the socio-economical costs of the epidemics. The results also show that the timing in the application of the measures is as important as the measures themselves. The results suggest that fast decision making and investments to increase testing capabilities are highly rewarded not only from the public health viewpoint, but also from the socio-economical one. The study is carried out in simulation using stochastic cellular automata representing a community of 50'000 individuals. The selection of the tested individuals is carried out based on a contact tracing strategy focused on the closer contacts.
Classification of Chest X-ray Images Using Machine Learning Techniques

Machine Learning has completely transformed health care system, which transmits medical data through IOT sensors. So it is very important to encrypt them to protect patient data. encrypting medical images from a performance perspective consumes time; hence the use of an auto encoder is essential. An auto encoder is used in this work to compress the image as a vector prior to the encryption process. The digital image passes across description function and a decoder to get back the image in the proposed work; various experiments are carried out on hyper parameters to achieve the highest outcome of the classification. The findings demonstrate that the combination of Mean Square Logarithmic Error as the loss function, ADA grad as an optimizer, two layers for the encoder, and another reverse for the decoder, RELU as the activation function generates the best auto encoder results. The combination of Mean square error (lose function), RMS prop (optimizer), three layers for the encoder and another reverse for the decoder, and RELU (activation function) has the best classification result. All the experiments with different hyper parameter has run almost very close to each other even when changing the number of layers. The running time is between 9 and 16 second for each epoch.
Recurrent neural network based optimal integral sliding mode tracking control for four‐wheel independently driven robots

This paper investigates robust path tracking issue of the four-wheel independent driven robot (FWIDR) under time-varying system uncertainties and unavoidable external disturbances. A robust optimal integral sliding mode tracking control (OISMTC) scheme based on double feedback recurrent neural network (DFRNN) is proposed for the FWIDR system. Firstly, the presented OISMTC scheme modiﬁes nominal optimal control part by exploiting an additional integral term to improve the tracking accuracy. Then, the designed DFRNN utilizes a double feedback loops structure to enhance the robustness against large system uncertainties by learning to approximate nonlinear systems. The adaptive law of the DFRNN is presented based on the Lyapunov theory to obtain favourable approximation performance in the presence of the time-varying operating conditions. Moreover, the asymptotic stability of the resultant FWIDR system is guaranteed by mathematical anal-ysis. Finally, practical experiments are conducted to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed DFRNN-OISMTC method.
Mapping Spontaneous Cooperation between Children in Automata Construction Workshops

This work analyzes spontaneous cooperation between children who participated in Automata for STEM, European Union funded Erasmus+ project workshops. Taking into account the characteristics of automata, that involve a narrative part and a mechanism, the project used them to implement contextualized and interdisciplinary STEM activities. The pedagogical method involved the presentation of automata, and children being challenged to plan and construct their own. Although no cooperative learning strategies were imposed during the workshops, this research aimed to identify types of spontaneous cooperation that could emerge among children. Data was gathered through participant observation and a questionnaire. Core dimensions of spontaneous cooperation were identified as well as specific dimensions, pointing to a divergent type, characterized by involvement between pairs of children in different projects, and to another type, convergent, involving work between pairs of children in the same project. Spontaneous cooperation also varied according to the children’s age or the workshop structure. During workshops with children aged 6–7 years, the class teacher was present and provided guidance, the children were seated in pairs or in a presentation arrangement. During workshops for older children of 8–9 years of age, there was less guidance and the class teacher sometimes was not even in the room the children worked at round tables.
Antidiabetic effect of Nigella sativa compared with metformin on blood glucose levels in streptozotocin induced diabetic albino wistar rats

Background: Antidiabetic drugs are many but all of them have adverse effects ranging from simple side effects to serious side effects like hypoglycemic coma. We need alternative drugs which will not only lower blood sugar level but have fewer side effects. One such daily use ingredient in our food is Nigella sativa (kalonji) which has many properties. Methods: This was an objective study in an experimental animal. We divided albino wistar rats into six groups each group with six rats. Diabetes was induced using drug streptozotocin. Three doses of Nigella sativa 0.5 ml, 1 ml, 1.5 ml orally per rat were used. Metformin (100 mg/kg body weight) was used as standard drug. Blood sugar was estimated using glucometer on day 0 (starting day of treatment), day 5, day 10, day 20, day 40. The effect of Nigella sativa was compared with metformin group using the Anova test. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 20. Results: Nigella sativa (NS) produced significant hypoglycemic effect. NS in the dose of 0.5 ml, 1 ml and 1.5 ml produced significant reduction in blood glucose in comparison to day 0. Metformin also (100 mg/kg body weight) produced significant reduction in blood glucose on day 20 and day 40. Comparison of hypoglycemic effect of Nigella sativa is not significantly different on day 10 (1 ml) and day 20 (1.5 ml) in comparison to Metformin (100 mg/kg body weight). Histopathological examination showed that there was partial regeneration of beta islet cells of pancreas by 1.5 ml of Nigella sativa which were damaged due to streptozotocin treatment. Conclusions: Alternative method of treatment for diabetes is very much needed and the study shows the use of the spice (Nigella sativa) daily can lower the blood sugar levels and can serve as an alternative treatment of diabetes mellitus.
UAVSAR Observations of InSAR Polarimetric Phase Diversity: Implications for NISAR Ionospheric Phase Estimation

The NASA‐ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is a repeat‐pass radar mission that will acquire fully polarimetric SAR data in an innovative acquisition mode known as quasi‐quad pol (QQP). It consists of simultaneously operating a HH/HV and a VH/VV dual‐pol modes in the lowest and upper parts of the transmitted frequency spectrum. Compared to more traditional acquisition modes, the ionospheric phase estimation algorithms for QQP repeat‐pass data will likely exploit the difference of two sub‐band SAR interferograms acquired not only at distinct center frequencies but also at different polarizations (e.g., HH/VV), making the ionospheric phase estimation vulnerable to possible bias caused by polarimetric interferometric scattering phase components. Using UAVSAR airborne data, we show that temporal variations of the interferometric scattering phase may introduce spurious polarimetric‐dependent phase terms which may bias QQP ionospheric phase estimates. The magnitude of this bias depends on the type of observed land cover. For bare soil and forested areas, we detect HH‐VV interferometric phase discrepancies up to 30° over 12 days, corresponding to a 10 cm bias at L‐band. Over comparable time intervals, changes in vegetation vitality introduce HH‐VV interferometric phase inconsistencies beyond 90° for vertically oriented agricultural fields. We simulate the QQP ionospheric phase screen over the San Andreas Fault, USA, a region characterized by a mixture of vegetated and bare soil surfaces. Based on the results from the UAVSAR data analysis, we recommend using the same polarization on the main and side‐bands of the NISAR operational science modes (e.g., single‐pol or dual‐pol) to avoid potential biases in the ionospheric phase estimates.
19-hydroxy Steroids in the Aromatase Reaction: Review on Expression and Potential Functions

Abstract Scientific evidence related to the aromatase reaction in various biological processes spanning from mid-1960 to today is abundant; however, as our analytical sensitivity increases, a new look at the old chemical reaction is necessary. Here, we review an irreversible aromatase reaction from the substrate androstenedione. It proceeds in 3 consecutive steps. In the first 2 steps, 19-hydroxy steroids are produced. In the third step, estrone is produced. They can dissociate from the enzyme complex and either accumulate in tissues or enter the blood. In this review, we want to highlight the potential importance of these 19-hydroxy steroids in various physiological and pathological conditions. We focus primarily on 19-hydroxy steroids, and in particular on the 19-hydroxyandrostenedione produced by the incomplete aromatase reaction. Using a PubMed database and the search term “aromatase reaction,” 19-hydroxylation of androgens and steroid measurements, we detail the chemistry of the aromatase reaction and list previous and current methods used to measure 19-hydroxy steroids. We present evidence of the existence of 19-hydroxy steroids in brain tissue, ovaries, testes, adrenal glands, prostate cancer, as well as during pregnancy and parturition and in Cushing’s disease. Based on the available literature, a potential involvement of 19-hydroxy steroids in the brain differentiation process, sperm motility, ovarian function, and hypertension is suggested and warrants future research. We hope that with the advancement of highly specific and sensitive analytical methods, future research into 19-hydroxy steroids will be encouraged, as much remains to be learned and discovered.
Analysis of Transient Interactions between a PWR Nuclear Power Plant and a Faulted Electricity Grid

This paper presents the transient stability analysis of a pressurised water-type nuclear power plant following faults and disturbances affecting the electricity grid to which it is connected. The modelled nuclear plant consists of various integrated subsystems, such as core neutronics and thermal-hydraulics, piping and plenum, pressuriser, steam generator, turbine, governor, and dynamics shaft, in addition to the turbine-speed controller. The nonlinear nuclear power plant model is linearised at the operating point to acquire a linear model for controller design. The turbine-speed control loop effectively enacts a closed-loop implementation of the nuclear power plant connected to the electric grid. The various transient stability enhancement components such as the power system stabiliser, static var compensator, and static synchronous compensator are employed to test performance during severe contingencies. The interaction between the nuclear power plant, electric grid, and protection system is studied under various scenarios such as single-phase fault, three-phase fault, and permanent load loss. The performance of the nonlinear plant is further observed during load-following operation. The dynamic behaviour of the overall system is analysed using simulations in the MATLAB/Simulink/Simscape environment.
ALKBH5 Exacerbates Aortic Dissection by Promoting Inflammatory Response and Apoptosis of Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells via Regulating lnc-TMPO-AS1/EZH2/IRAK4 Signals in an m6A Modification Manner

Recently, mounting evidence indicates that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification functions as a pivotal posttranscriptional modification that regulates noncoding RNA biogenesis to influence the progression of multiple diseases. However, whether m6A modification is involved in aortic dissection (AD) development has never been reported. Meanwhile, numerous studies have shown that AngII-induced inflammatory damage and excessive apoptosis of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) are the crucial pathological features of AD development. Therefore, in this study, we intended to explore whether m6A modification can regulate AD progression by influencing the damage effects of AngII on HASMCs and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Firstly, we screened and confirmed the high expression of alkylation repair homolog protein 5 (ALKBH5), a key m6A demethylase, in aortic tissues from AD patients, indicating that m6A modification may indeed be involved in AD progression. Subsequently, we demonstrated that ALKBH5 can exacerbate the AngII-induced HASMC inflammatory injury as well as apoptosis and shorten the survival time of AngII-infused mice. Mechanistically, we revealed that lncRNA TMPO-AS1 is a downstream target for ALKBH5 to affect AD progression in vitro and vivo. Meanwhile, we confirmed that ALKBH5-mediated m6A demethylation downregulates lnc-TMPO-AS1 by decreasing the stability of its nascent. Further, we demonstrated that lnc-TMPO-AS1 exhibits its functions in HASMCs, at least partly, through downregulating IRAK4 at the epigenetic level by combining with EZH2. Finally, the direct positive correlation between ALKBH5 and IRAK4 in terms of the expression level and biological function was confirmed, which further enforced the preciseness and correctness of our findings. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that ALKBH5 aggravates AD by promoting inflammatory response and apoptosis of HASMCs via regulating lnc-TMPO-AS1/EZH2/IRAK4 signals in an m6A modification manner and may provide a novel molecular basis for subsequent researchers to searching for novel therapeutic approaches to improve the health of patients fighting AD and other cardiovascular diseases.
Older forests used by northern spotted owls functioned as fire refugia during large wildfires, 1987–2017

Background The northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) is an Endangered Species Act-listed subspecies that requires forests with old-growth characteristics for nesting. With climate change, large, severe wildfires are expected to be more common and an increasing threat to spotted owl persistence. Understanding fire severity patterns related to nesting forest can be valuable for forest management that supports conservation and recovery, especially if nesting forest functions as fire refugia (i.e., lower fire severity than surrounding landscape). We examined the relationship between fire severity and nesting forests in 472 large wildfires (> 200 ha) that occurred rangewide during 1987–2017. We mapped fire severities (unburned-low, moderate, high) within each fire using relative difference normalized burn ratios and quantified differences in severity between pre-fire nesting forest (edge and interior) and non-nesting forest. We also quantified these relationships within areas of three fire regimes (low severity, very frequent; mixed severity, frequent; high severity, infrequent). Results Averaged over all fires, the interior nesting forest burned at lower severity than edge or non-nesting forest. These relationships were consistent within the low severity, very frequent and mixed severity, frequent fire regime areas. All forest types burned at similar severity within the high severity, infrequent fire regime. During two of the most active wildfire years that also had the largest wildfires occurring in rare and extreme weather conditions, we found a bimodal distribution of fire severity in all forest types. In those years, a higher amount—and proportion—of all forest types burned at high severity. Over the duration of the study, we found a strong positive trend in the proportion of wildfires that burned at high severity in the non-nesting forests, but not in the two nesting forest types. Conclusions Under most wildfire conditions, the microclimate of interior patches of nesting forests likely mitigated fire severity and thus functioned as fire refugia. With changing climates, the future of interior forest as fire refugia is unknown, but trends suggest these older forests can dampen the effect of increased wildfire activity and thus an important component of landscape plans focused on fire resiliency.
Survey of feeding practices on dairy farms in Ontario and western Canada

Abstract: To establish a baseline understanding of feeding practices on Canadian dairies, a survey was distributed online to dairy producers. Responses were split into three categories as follows: western provinces (WP; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan; n = 84), Ontario freestall farms (n = 75), and Ontario tiestall (OT) farms (n = 71). Regional differences were observed for many feed ingredients; for example, corn and soybean meal were more commonly used in Ontario, whereas barley, wheat products, and grass hays were more commonly used in the WP (P ≤ 0.01), consistent with local production of those crops. Producers ranked the most important factors in balancing rations in the following order: production (lactating cattle or heifers) or health (dry cows), cost, simplicity, and nutrient management; however, nutrient management was more important in the west for all types of diets (P < 0.01). Most farms frequently tested for ration dry matter and nutrient composition, although OT farms tested less often than other groups (P = 0.09). Overall, feeds aligned with common crops grown within region. Canadian farmers have a stated interest for improving production and health and place less emphasis on other factors such as cost, simplicity, and nutrient management.
Copolymer Nanofilters with Charge-Patterned Domains for Enhanced Electrolyte Transport

The further advancement of membrane separation processes will require the development of more selective membranes. In this study, membranes that take inspiration from the mosaic structure of cell walls and use multiple functionalities of unique chemical design to control solute transport through chemical factors as well as steric factors are detailed. Specifically, a poly{acrylonitrile-co-[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate]-co-(3-azido-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate)} copolymer tailor-made for the generation of nanofilters, which possess a high density of well-defined pores that are lined by azido moieties, allowed for the generation of chemically patterned mosaic membranes in a rapid manner through the use of printing devices. By engineering the composition of the reactive ink solutions printed on the membrane to allow for the rapid, one-to-one covalent attachment of alkynyl-functionalized groups to the azido moieties, we generated large areas of patterned membranes in seconds rather than ho.
Dietary Habits, BMI, and Demographic Characteristics affect the Academic Performance of University Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study

Background Students' academic performance remains one of the ongoing topics of debate among educators, academicians, and policy-makers. We aimed to assess the effect of dietary habits, demographic characteristics, and body mass index (BMI) on academic performance. Method : An epidemiological, cross-sectional, retrospective study design was conducted. Data were collected from 385 full-time, Saudi undergraduate students at Taibah University aged between 18–24 years old. Students were asked about their breakfast, fast food, and soft drink consumption, and their daily number of meals. Information about their gender, residence in hostels, and smoking status were obtained. Grade point average (GPA) was used to assess academic performance. BMI was also calculated. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software program version 20. Results More females (n = 290; 75.3%) than males were included. High academic performers were non-smokers (P < 0.0005) and didn't stay in hostels (P = 0.026). BMI associated negatively with academic performance. Females had better academic performance (95%) compared to males (58%, P < 0.0005), GPA (2.72 vs 3.53, P < 0.0005 respectively), lower number of meals (Mean: 2.31 vs 1.99), and low prevalence of overweight/obesity (43% vs 30%). Conclusion Nutrition education programs targeting Taibah University students are to be developed to raise awareness about the importance of healthy eating and normal body weight.
Investigation of lithium salts-nonionic surfactant lyotropic liquid crystalline mesophases in a dye sensitized solar cell as gel electrolyte

iii ÖZET. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . vii CONTENTS . ix LIST OF FIGURES . xii LIST OF TABLES . xvii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xviii CHAPTER 1 . 1