Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PREDICTION OF THE SUITABILITY OF WATER YAM (DIOSCOREA ALATA) FOR AMALA PRODUCT USING PASTING AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS

This study investigated pasting and sensory characteristics of Dioscorea alata ,a n underutilized yam species, to ascertain its suitability for amala (a pasty yam product) in comparison with D. rotundata. Pasting was determined by Rapid Visco-Analyser and the amala was prepared from parboiled and fermented yam flour. Using multiple comparison sensory test, the products were assessed on a 9-point scale by a 10-member trained panel. In RVU, the average pasting viscosities for test varieties were: peak 215.7, trough 198.7, breakdown 18.1, final 256.0 and setback 57.3 as against the reference with peak 322.6, trough 187.8, breakdown 134.8, final 359.3 and setback 171.5. Pasting viscosities were significantly (P < 0.05) lower for test varieties; however, sensory results showed that D. alata is equally good if not better for amala in terms of texture and color. The better suitability of D. alata for amala could be attributed to parboiling of tubers and browning during drying.
HOW ARE SHOCKS TO TREND AND CYCLE CORRELATED? A SIMPLE METHODOLOGY FOR UNIDENTIFIED UNOBSERVED COMPONENTS MODELS

In this paper, we propose a simple methodology for investigating how shocks to trend and cycle are correlated in unidentified unobserved components models, in which the correlation is not identified. The proposed methodology is applied to U.S. and U.K. real GDP data. We find that the correlation parameters are negative for both countries. We also investigate how changing the identification restriction results in different trend and cycle estimates.
The Effects of Phosphate Adsorption on the Surface Characteristics of Mn Oxides

Mn-oxide was characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravemetric and differential thermal analysis. The surface charge density and zero point if charge (pHzpc) of the solid surface were determined by potentiometic titration. Mn-oxide was subjected to different phosphate concentrations in the pH range 3 to 7 at 303 K to investigate the effect of phosphate complexation on the surface properties of solid. The surface compositions before and after phosphate sorption were studied with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The O/OH groups at the surface of Mn-oxide differed with acidity and below pH 6, a drastic change was observed in the O1 s peaks in X-ray photoelectron spectrum, due to the dissolution of Mn-oxide. The surface charges arise as a result of H/OH bond breaking and phosphate anions complexation with solid surface. These charges are compensated by counter ions (K+ and NO3-) of the background electrolyte at solid-liquid interface. The phosphate sorption increased with increased phosphate concentration but decreased with pH increasing of the aqueous solution, a process which is the characteristics of metal oxides surfaces. Thus, it was concluded from the present investigation that phosphate anion sorption on Mn oxide have greatly affected the overall surface characteristics of the solid.
Adsorption of Oleic Acid on Silica Gel Derived from Rice Ash Hulls: Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Experimental and quantum chemical calculations have been used to study the adsorption of oleic acid on silica gel derived from rice ash hulls. Characterization of the gel showed that it had a BET specific surface area of 131.7 m2/g and a point of zero charge (pzc) at a pH value of 3. A maximum capacity of 0.70 mmol/g was obtained for the adsorption of oleic acid onto the gel at 301 K. The free energy of adsorption, ΔG0301 K, was determined as −23.1 kJ/mol. The interaction of propanoic and butanoic acids as models for oleic acid with bare, mono- and di-hydrated silanol has been investigated using B3LYP and CBS-QB3 levels of theory. The dihydrated silanol model gave a ΔG0301 K value of −24 kJ/mol at the CBS-QB3 level which is in perfect agreement with the experimental value quoted above.
Studies on topochemical modification of cellulosic fibres

An ECF-bleached softwood kraft pulp was placed in contact with a solution of a commercially available carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) at 80 ̊C in 0.05 M CaCl 2 for two hours. Under such conditions, part of the CMC becomes irreversibly attached to the surface of fibres. The CMC-modified fibres were then placed in contact with a polyamide-amine epichlorohydrin resin (PAAE), made into paper sheets and cured in an oven. The results show that there is a very strong synergistic action between fibres treated in this way and the PAAE-resin with regard to the wet-strengthening effect of the resin. The synergistic effects were attributed both to the increased amount of PAAE-resin adsorbed by the CMC attachment and to the chemical reaction between the resin and the attached CMC.
Polygenic risk for immuno-metabolic markers and specific depressive symptoms: A multi-sample network analysis study

Background About every fourth patient with major depressive disorder (MDD) shows evidence of systemic inflammation. Previous studies have shown inflammation-depression associations of multiple serum inflammatory markers and multiple specific depressive symptoms. It remains unclear, however, if these associations extend to genetic/lifetime predisposition to higher inflammatory marker levels and what role metabolic factors such as Body Mass Index (BMI) play. It is also unclear whether inflammation-symptom associations reflect direct or indirect associations, which can be disentangled using network analysis. Methods This study examined associations of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for immuno-metabolic markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-, BMI) with seven depressive symptoms in one general population sample, the UK Biobank study (n=110,010), and two patient samples, the Munich Antidepressant Response Signature (MARS, n=1,058) and Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D, n=1,143) studies. Network analysis was applied jointly for these samples using fused graphical least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (FGL) estimation as primary analysis and, individually, using unregularized model search estimation. Stability of results was assessed using bootstrapping and three quality criteria were defined to appraise consistency of results across estimation methods, network bootstrapping, and samples. Results Network analysis results displayed to-be-expected PRS-PRS and symptom-symptom associations (termed edges), respectively, that were mostly positive. Using FGL estimation, results further suggested 28, 29, and six PRS-symptom edges in MARS, STAR*D, and UK Biobank samples, respectively. Unregularized model search estimation suggested three PRS-symptom edges in the UK Biobank sample. Applying our quality criteria to these associations indicated that only the association of higher CRP PRS with greater changes in appetite fulfilled all three criteria. Four additional associations fulfilled at least two quality criteria; specifically, higher CRP PRS was associated with greater fatigue and reduced anhedonia, higher TNF- PRS was associated with greater fatigue, and higher BMI PRS with greater changes in appetite and anhedonia. Associations of the BMI PRS with anhedonia, however, showed an inconsistent valence across estimation methods. Conclusions Our findings align with previous studies suggesting that systemic inflammatory markers are primarily associated with somatic/neurovegetative symptoms of depression such as changes in appetite and fatigue. We extend these findings by providing evidence that associations are direct (using network analysis) and extend to genetic predisposition to immuno-metabolic markers (using PRSs). Our findings can inform selection of patients with inflammation-related symptoms into clinical trials of immune-modulating drugs for MDD.
Phylogeography of Micaelamys namaquensis (Rodentia: Muridae) from the Eastern Kalahari Bushveld bioregion of South Africa

The Namaqua rock mouse Micaelamys namaquensis Smith, 1834 represents a species complex in southern Africa with several morphologically cryptic clades occupying distinct biomes and bioregions of southern Africa. Here I report a finer scale analysis of one of these clades, the Eastern Kalahari Bushveld bioregion of South Africa, based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b (cyt b) sequences. Phylogeographic analysis reveals a genetic pattern of phylogenetic continuity with a lack of spatial separation. Mismatch distribution analysis suggests that the lineage has experienced recent population growth. The geographic expansion likely followed environmental changes associated with habitat modification over the past 3 000 to 10 000 years. Historical female gene flow does not appear to be equal amongst all localities and potential source and sink areas could be inferred. Metapopulation processes likely drive small mammal population dynamics in this arid region that is characterized by unpredictable climatic cycles. Phylogeography of Micaelamys namaquensis from the Eastern Kalahari _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Modelling the Desorption Isotherms of Chestnuts

The sorption isotherm of food material is pertinent in the processing and storage of food products. Desorption isotherms for peeled and unpeeled chestnuts were investigated using the hygrometric technique at 60 oC and water activity (aw) ranged between 0.989 and 0.23. The experimental data were compared with four widely recommended models in the literature for food sorption isotherms (GAB, Freundlich, Henderson, and Smith). A non-linear least square regression program was used to evaluate the models constants. The four models were found to be acceptable for predicting the moisture sorption isotherms for chestnut cultivars. However, the empirical Smith model followed by the kinetic GAB was found to better represent the experimental data in the water activity range. Overall, the Smith model appears to be most suitable for fitting the desorption moisture isotherms data for the chestnut.
Phycobiliproteins: Determination of chromophore composition and content

Phycobiliproteins are homologous, intensively coloured protein pigments functioning as photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes. Their ability to absorb light in the visible spectrum is due to various chromophore prosthetic groups, which are linear tetrapyrroles covalently attached to apoprotein. The chromophore composition influences spectral properties and serves as one of the main characteristics of these pigments. The procedures for determining phycobiliprotein chromophore composition and content are described.
Pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse by ultrasound energy and dilute acid

In order to improve the efficiency of conversion of lignocellulosic materials to simple sugars in an environmentally friendly manner, the efficiency of ultrasonic pretreatment, as an alternative pretreatment method to conventional ones, was studied. Ultrasound waves with their mechanical features on degradation of organic network and effect on the chemical reactions can be used as the new method for pretreatment of lignocellulosic material. The influences of enzyme, particle size, acid concentration, power of ultrasound, and time of irradiation of ultrasound on releasing the simple sugars were investigated. The optimal conditions of pretreatment were obtained by using Taguchi method. The results indicate that the sequence of influential factors is enzyme, particle size, acid concentration, duration of ultrasonication, and power of ultrasound. Under optimal conditions (using enzyme, particle size < 0.18 mm, acid concentration (v/v) 3%, ultrasound power 120 W and 180 s ultrasound time) the sugars' yield was 26.01 (g/L) which was 94.49% of the expected theoretical result. This suggests that ultrasound-acid pretreatment of sugar cane bagasse can be used as an effective method for pretreatment though at this stage much more information is required. Copyright © 2011 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of antioxidant and diuretic activities of Clitoria ternatea leaf extracts in Wistar albino rats

1 Department of Pharmacology, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Shivarathreeshwara Nagar, Mysuru – 570015, Karnataka, India. 2 Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Shivarathreeshwara Nagar, Mysuru – 570015, Karnataka, India. 3 Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Shivarathreeshwara Nagar, Mysuru – 570015, Karnataka, India.
Simulation efficace des échanges radiatifs dans des environnements complexes. (Efficient Simulation of Radiant Exchanges in Complex Environments)

La visualisation de donnees tridimensionnelles est en train de devenir une etape obligee dans les processus de conception et de validation numerique. L'un des obstacles a sa diffusion est la complexite des phenomenes mis en jeu, qui s'oppose au besoin evident d'interactivite. Ce memoire fait le point sur les recherches recentes, en particulier celles menees par l'auteur, en vue de prendre en compte cette complexite sous toutes ses formes. Il s'agit par exemple de la complexite geometrique (nombre d'objets, formes variees), dont on peut s'accommoder grâce a des techniques de calcul hierarchique. La methode de radiosite utilisant le regroupement d'objets permet ainsi de simuler l'eclairage de scenes complexes a differents niveaux de detail. La complexite peut aussi provenir des proprietes radiometriques des objets (sources de lumiere, reflecteurs.), et des algorithmes de manipulation de donnees directionnelles sont proposes. Enfin, le controle de la qualite des simulations et du degre d'approximation acceptable fait l'objet d'une discussion.
Sanitary analyses of runoff water a river

The aim of this study was to determine the microbiological quality of runoff from an urban area with different catchment land use flowing into the Cybina River in Poznan, Poland. Water samples were taken from October 2009 to March 2011 at five research stations situated at the outlets of sewers draining a road surface, a car park, and residential and industrial areas. Microbiological analyses included: total bacterial count at 22oC and at 37oC, coliform group and faecal coliform bacteria. In each sample the coliform group and faecal coliform bacteria, probably of animal origin, were present. MPN coliform group ranged from 48 to 24·10 5 cells in 100 ml. The results indicated that quality of stormwater depended on such factors as duration of the rainless period, season, and size and state of the impervious area. High microbiological contamination betokens an adverse influence on the water quality of the Cybina, and therefore treatment of this sewage before the outlets to the receiver is necessary.
Ion Conduction and Water Transport in Polyphosphazene-Based Multilayers

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled films of poly[bis(methoxyethoxyethoxy) phosphazene] (MEEP) and poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) are demonstrated by utilizing the hydrogen bonding between these two polymers. These films show controlled thickness growth, high ionic conductivity, and excellent hydrolytic stability. The ionic conductivity of these films is studied by changing the assembly pH of initial polymer solutions and thereby controlling the hydrogen bonding characteristics. MEEP/PAA LbL films assembled at higher pH values have enhanced water uptake and transport properties, which play a key role in increasing ion transport within the films. At fully humidified conditions, the ionic conductivity of MEEP/PAA is 7 × 10−4 S cm−1, more than 1 order of magnitude higher than previously studied hydrogen-bonded LbL systems. Finally, free-standing films are isolated from low-energy surface substrates, which allows for bulk characterization of these thin films.
UOM-FJ attheNTCIR-15 SHINRA2020-ML Task

The NTCIR-15 SHINRA2020-ML Task is a multilingual text categorization task where a Wikipedia page in a given language is mapped to one or more of the 219 Extended Named Entity (ENE) categories. The UOM-FJ team participated in 28 out of the 30 subtasks (languages), with a primary focus on English. Our system makes use of different types of information associated with the target Wikipedia articles, as well as the hierarchical structure of ENE. Our system ranked first on the English subtask with an F1-score of 82.73, demonstrating the effectiveness of using different types of document information.
Hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate by conventional or microwave heating

The hydrolysis rate of adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) has been reported to be 25 times greater during microwave heating than during conventional heating at comparable temperatures (100 to 105 °C). This remarkable rate increase was both attributed to and cited as evidence for a nonthermal microwave effect. Attempts to replicate those findings under carefully controlled microwave exposure conditions and with special attention being paid to accurate temperature measurements lead to the conclusion that the hydrolysis rate is related solely to temperature.
Dyslipidemic profile in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A hospital-based study from Eastern Nepal

Background: Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). It plays a major role in the pathogenesis for diabetic complications. This study intends to exemplify the pattern of dyslipidemia prevalent in T2DM patients attending tertiary care centre of Eastern Nepal. Material and methods: This is a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted in the T2DM patients visiting the routine biochemistry laboratory for their routine blood investigations. 226 patients were included who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Biochemical parameters were analyzed in routine biochemistry laboratory in cobas c311 autoanalyzer. Results: Out of the 226 T2DM patients, 51% were female and 49% were male respectively. The mean age group was 54.15 ± 12.62 years. Mean value of, HbA1c level, total cholesterol, TG, HDL and LDL was 8.16 ± 2.59 %, 289.04 ± 47.83, 297.77 ± 119.64, 35.62 ± 12.64 140.88 ± 40.58 respectively. HbA1c was significantly correlated with the lipid profile in T2DM patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings from the present study depicts that the prevalence of dyslipidemia is higher in T2DM in our centre with hypertriglyceridemia being the major type of dyslipidemia in these patients. In addition, male exhibited higher rate of dyslipidemia compare to their female counterparts respectively.
Irrational Use of Antibiotics and Associated Health Risks in District Charsadda, Pakistan

Antibiotics are drugs used for the treatment most of the bacterial infections. The rapid and irrational use of antibiotics presents a high risk of developing health complications and also leads to antibiotic resistance. The current study is designed to know about the ratio of irrational use of antibiotics and associated risks with it. Antibiotics remain an integral part of the prescriptions at DHQ Hospital Charsadda. Our study was based mainly on antibiotic prescriptions. A total of 500 prescriptions were examined in which 62% of the prescriptions were examined thoroughly and found rational whereas 38% were irrational. 26.98% of these irrational prescriptions were due to inaccurate doses. Additionally, 25.39% of them were prescribed for incorrect durations, indicating basic misconceptions in the prescriptions. Among the total irrational prescriptions, the frequency of antibiotics-drug interactions, drug-food interactions, and contraindications were 18.51%, 14.5%, and 14.81% respectively. Irrational use of antibiotics is a serious health threat and its consequences lead to the development of antibiotic resistance in different bacterial species. There is a need for intervention of studies in different hospitals of Pakistan to avoid irrational use and encourage rational use of antibiotics.
Genetic analysis and stable QTL detection on fiber quality traits using two recombinant inbred line populations and their backcross progeny in Upland cotton

*Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding /Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization of Ministry of Education /Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China, ‡Institute of Cash Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, Hubei, China, §Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Anyang 455000, Henan, China G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics Early Online, published on June 24, 2016 as doi:10.1534/g3.116. 031302
Chemical approach to study the environmental implications of humic acid and gamma-HCH interaction

Abstract Pesticide-humic interactions are known to have environmental significance in modifying the toxicity and mobility of agricultural chemicals. to test this, interaction between gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH) released from the sand coated with gamma-HCH and humic acid was investigated using thin layer chromatography and spectral studies such as UV (ultraviolet), IR (infrared), mass and FAB (fast atom bombardment) mass spectrometry. These studies revealed the evidence of loose interchelation between gamma-HCH and humic acid. the significance of the results in relation to detoxification of gamma-HCH in aquatic ecosystems are discussed.
Determination and genotoxicity of high molecular mass polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons isolated from coal‐tar‐contaminated sediment

A bioassay-directed chemical fractionation methodology was used to identify the principal mutagenic compounds in an organic solvent extract of coal-tar-contaminated sediment from Sydney Harbour, Nova Scotia. Biological assays with Salmonella typhimurium bacteria with the addition of oxidative metabolism indicated that the majority of the mutagenic activity observed in the sediment extract was associated with the higher molecular mass polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique was developed to separate the PAH-rich solvent extracts into fractions containing isomeric PAHs of a single benzologue class. These fractions were analyzed by probe mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and subjected to biological assays using strain YG1025 with the addition of oxidative metabolism (4% and 10% S9). Fractions containing compounds of molecular weights 252, 276, 278, and 302 amu exhibited mutagenic activities of 930 ± 125, 510 ± 100, 250 ± 40, and 370 ± 140 rev/mg sediment, respectively. The molecular weight 252 and 276 amu fractions were further analyzed using reversed-phase HPLC and GC-MS to identify the individual PAHs responsible for the observed biological activity. High molecular mass PAHs including benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and compounds of molecular weight 302 amu were found to be responsible for the majority of the mutagenic activity displayed by this complex environmental mixture.