Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sound Absorption Ability of Aluminium Foams

The sound absorption ability of metallic foams is discussed with respect to the preparation method of foam, material composition, foam porosity, thickness, structure, and various treatments to make the foam structure permeable for sound. Both powder metallurgical route prepared foams and melt route prepared foams were studied. It was observed that the sound absorption properties of metallic foams depend predominantly on the foam porosity and opening of its structure and only after that on the properties of foam cell wall material itself.
Depolymerization of Cellulose and Synthesis of Hexitols from Cellulose Using Heterogeneous Catalysts

Sustainable, economic, and industrial growth of any nation is based on an integrative approach in utilizing renewable biomass feedstock. Lignocellulosic biomass has come up as the most important candidate for the production of different valuable biochemicals and biofuels. Cellulose isolated from lignocellulosic biomass is exploited for the production of glucose and high-value hexitols. Innovative catalyst design holds the key to fundamental advances in the transformation of cellulose to high-value sugars and biochemicals. In this review paper, several heterogeneous catalytic approaches for depolymerization of cellulose and synthesis of hexitols from cellulose have been summarized. In addition, HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural) and LA (levulinic acid) are important biochemicals derived from cellulose. The industrial importance of biochemicals derived from HMF and LA are also highlighted in this article. Therefore, this review is an attempt to provide a brief glimpse of the lignocellulosic biomass refinery-related efforts, which are currently taking place around the world.
Functional aspects, phenotypic heterogeneity, and tissue immune response of macrophages in infectious diseases

Abstract Macrophages are a functionally heterogeneous group of cells with specialized functions depending not only on their subgroup but also on the function of the organ or tissue in which the cells are located. The concept of macrophage phenotypic heterogeneity has been investigated since the 1980s, and more recent studies have identified a diverse spectrum of phenotypic subpopulations. Several types of macrophages play a central role in the response to infectious agents and, along with other components of the immune system, determine the clinical outcome of major infectious diseases. Here, we review the functions of various macrophage phenotypic subpopulations, the concept of macrophage polarization, and the influence of these cells on the evolution of infections. In addition, we emphasize their role in the immune response in vivo and in situ, as well as the molecular effectors and signaling mechanisms used by these cells. Furthermore, we highlight the mechanisms of immune evasion triggered by infectious agents to counter the actions of macrophages and their consequences. Our aim here is to provide an overview of the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of critical transmissible diseases and discuss how elucidation of this relationship could enhance our understanding of the host–pathogen association in organ-specific immune responses.
Global H-NS counter-silencing by LuxR activates quorum sensing gene expression

Bacteria coordinate cellular behaviors using a cell-cell communication system termed quorum sensing. In Vibrio harveyi, the master quorum sensing transcriptional factor LuxR directly regulates >100 genes in response to changes in population density. Here, we show that LuxR derepresses quorum sensing loci by competing with H-NS, a global transcriptional repressor that oligomerizes on DNA to form filaments and bridges. We first identified H-NS as a repressor of bioluminescence gene expression, for which LuxR is a required activator. In an hns deletion strain, LuxR is no longer necessary for transcription activation of the bioluminescence genes, suggesting that the primary role of LuxR is to displace H-NS to derepress gene expression. Using RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, we determined that H-NS and LuxR co-regulate and co-occupy 28 promoters driving expression of 63 genes across the genome. ChIP-PCR assays show that as autoinducer concentration increases, LuxR protein accumulates at co-occupied promoters while H-NS protein disperses. LuxR is sufficient to evict H-NS from promoter DNA in vitro, which is dependent on LuxR DNA binding activity. From these findings, we propose a model in which LuxR serves as a counter-silencer at H-NS-repressed quorum sensing loci by disrupting H-NS nucleoprotein complexes that block transcription.
The Effects of Estrogen on Memory

Many theories have been proposed as to why women are more likely to experience dementia and other memory problems after menopause. One of the more popular theories is that the estrogen that women produce in abundance before menopause but very scarcely after menopause somehow affects memory functioning in women. This study looks to verify this information by looking at whether or not the memory of premenopausal women fluctuates at different stages of the menstrual cycle when hormones are at varying levels. If the same kinds of changes are seen in premenopausal women as are seen in women as they go through menopause then it would lend valuable confirmation to this theory on estrogen. If, on the other hand, little or no changes are seen in premenopausal women then there is perhaps a confounding variable leading to the memory deficits in older women. Although the results of this study are inconclusive, it is still an area that should be researched further in the future. If studied with more women across a greater span of time then a pattern might emerge that could help us to diagnose and treat memory deficits in all women. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr. Robert Fischer without his help and advice this project could not be possible. I would also like to thank Natalie Borges for reading through this paper and motivating me to continue to work hard. Finally, I would like to Dr. James Rohrer for his understanding and assistance through the creation of this whole project.
ANALYSIS OF SHELLS USING ROTATION-FREE TRIANGLES

The derivation of shell triangles involving translational degrees of freedom only using a combined finite element-finite volume formulation is presented. Details of the linear elastic formulation are given first. The efficiency of the rotation-free shell triangles for the non linear transient analysis of shells using an explicit dynamic integration scheme and a quasistatic incremental implicit formulation are shown in a number of examples of application for linear and non linear shell analysis.
Peculiar cases of a “sleeping” brain in alert cancer patients

Cognitive and constitutional symptomatology is common in cancer patients but the causes are not well understood. To investigate whether cancers cause these symptoms by changing cerebral metabolism, we measured the cerebral rate of glucose consumption (CMRglc) in patients diagnosed with a lung lesion. Methods The CMRglc was quantified in 20 patients undergoing 18F-FDG PET for lesion staging. The cognitive status was assessed by neuropsychological testing. Results Paradoxically, despite being alert three of the patients had CMRglc typical of people who are in deep sleep or anesthetized. All three had cancers, two died within 2 months of scanning. Remaining patients including four with early stage cancer had CMRglc within normal range. Conclusions We speculate that the low CMRglc reflects a switch to an alternative energy source that is mediated by cancers remotely. Identifying the underlying mechanism and the alternative energy sources may help to understand how cancers can change body metabolism.
Effects of involving Lead Users and Close Customers in enhancing the process of New Service Development: a Study on Banking Sector

The proposed study was investigate the effects of lead users and relational closeness of the customers in the process of NSD and to see if the new service market performance gets affected due to these two variables with a mediating role of four variables i.e. service advantage, service innovativeness, innovation speed and service newness. A total of 200 responses were used for the analysis of the study. Analysis was done using Simple and Multiple Regression and Baron and Kenny tests. Results indicated that Lead userness and relational closeness had a meaningful connection with new service market performance. Also lead userness positively affected the service advantage, service innovativeness and innovation speed. It was also found that lead userness had a negative effect on service newness. Relational closeness had a positive association with service advantage, service innovativeness, and innovation speed and service newness. Service innovativeness and innovation speed were related to new service market performance. It was also found that service advantage and service newness had no association with new service market performance. Service innovativeness and innovation speed mediated the relationship between lead userness and new service market performance. It was also observed that service innovativeness and innovation speed also mediates the relationship of new service market performance and relation closeness.
Protective Effect of Fat Extract on UVB-Induced Photoaging In Vitro and In Vivo

Background Nanofat can protect against ultraviolet B- (UVB-) induced damage in nude mice. Fat extract (FE) is a cell-free fraction isolated from nanofat that is enriched with a variety of growth factors. Objective To determine whether FE can protect against UVB-induced photoaging in cultured dermal fibroblasts and in nude mice. Method For the in vitro study, human dermal skin fibroblasts were pretreated with FE 24 h prior to UVB irradiation. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was analyzed immediately following irradiation, while cell cycle analysis was performed 24 h after UVB irradiation. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) expression, cell proliferation, and expression of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX-1), catalase, superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), SOD-2, and collagen type 1 (COL-1) were investigated 72 h after UVB irradiation. For the in vivo study, the dorsal skin of nude mice was irradiated with UVB and mice were then treated with FE for 8 weeks. The thickness of the dermis, capillary density, and apoptotic cells in skin tissue sections were investigated after treatment. The expression of GPX-1, catalase, SOD-2, SOD-1, and COL-1 in the tissue was also measured. Result FE significantly increased cell proliferation and protected cells against UVB-induced cell death and cell cycle arrest. FE reduced ROS and the number of aged cells induced by UVB irradiation. FE promoted the expression of COL-1 and GPX-1 in cultured dermal fibroblasts. FE treatment of UVB-irradiated skin increased dermal thickness and capillary density, decreased the number of apoptotic cells, and promoted the expression of COL-1 and GPX-1. Conclusion FE protects human dermal fibroblasts and the skin of nude mice from UVB-induced photoaging through its antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and proangiogenic activities.
An experimental and theoretical study of the piping failure of slope failure dams

The failure of slopes along rivers often results in dams of debris material. If such dams with a significant volume fail, they may cause secondary disasters downstream. The author has been involved with this problem since his reconnaissance visits to the damaged areas of Kashmir after the 2005 Azad Kashmir earthquake. This earthquake caused one of the largest dams of slope failure, which occurred near Hattian. This study reports the theoretical and physical experiments on the piping failure of such deposits that were carried out. These studies are described in this article and theoretical estimations are compared with experimental results. The comparisons imply that the experimental results generally confirm the theoretical estimations. However, there is a difference between the hydraulic gradients for initiation and for total failure due to piping, which may be attributable to the difference between the actual fluid velocity and the averaged velocity used in D’Arcy’s law.
The role, importance and toxicity of arsenic in poultry nutrition

Arsenic (As) is highly toxic element, even at very low concentrations in feed and drinking water. Its physiological role in poultry is well established, as it is essential for the synthesis of methionine metabolites including cysteine, even though it is a teratogenic and carcinogenic element. Paradoxically, recent studies have uncovered its nutritional value. The recommended amounts of As in poultry feed are between 0.012 and 0.050 mg/kg. Water is the primary route for the transfer of As and exposure of animals to its toxic effects. The available data on the impact of water contamination on the deposition of As in broiler tissues are rather scarce. The amount of As was 0.006-0.015 mg/kg in breast meat, 0.007-0.017 mg/kg in drumstick meat, 0.001-0.014 mg/kg in liver and 0.008-0.016 mg/kg in testicles of broilers at the end of a 42 day experiment after exposure to naturally contaminated drinking water. The toxic dose of As for poultry is between 40 and 50 mg/kg of poultry feed whereas the amount of 40 mg/kg leads to decreased egg production and the amount of 50 mg/kg leads to decreased feed consumption. Symptoms of chronic As exposure differ among individuals, populations and geographic regions, which suggests that there is no universal definition of symptoms associated with chronic As poisoning. Moreover, some individuals can tolerate high As, that is, levels that can be fatal for others. In wild birds, the content of As was the highest in meat of march hens (0.063 mg/kg), seagull muscle tissue (0.058 mg/kg), in meat from swans (0.022 mg/kg) and the white-tailed eagle (0.022 mg/kg). In this review, the essential role and toxicity of As in poultry nutrition is addressed with particular emphasis on its importance as a contaminant of poultry feed and products.
Jets and the accretion flow in low-luminosity black holes

The X-ray spectra of black hole binaries (BHB) in the low/hard state (LHS) first harden as the flux decreases, then soften. This change in behaviour has been variously attributed to either the X-rays switching from being produced in the flow to being dominated by the jet, or to the flow switching seed photons from the disc to self-generated seed photons from cyclo-synchrotron. Here, we build a simple truncated disc, hot inner flow, plus standard conical synchrotron jet model to explore what this predicts for the X-ray emission mechanism as a function of mass accretion rate. We find that the change in X-ray spectral index can be quantitatively (not just qualitatively) explained by the seed photon switch in the hot flow, i.e. this supports models where the X-rays are always produced by the hot flow. By contrast, standard conical jet models are as radiatively inefficient as the hot flow so there is no transition in X-ray production mechanism with ṁ. Including the effects of electron cooling allows the jet X-rays to drop more slowly with accretion rate and hence overtake the X-rays from the hot flow; however, this produces a corresponding change in the radio–X-ray correlation, which is not observed. We argue that the unbroken radio–X-ray correlation down to quiescence rules out the jet transition model as an explanation for the trend in X-ray spectral index. Our favoured model is then a truncated disc with an inner, hot, radiatively inefficient flow which always dominates the hard X-rays, coupled to a conical synchrotron jet which produces the radio emission. However, even this has issues at low m˙m˙ as the low optical depth and high temperature of the flow means that the Compton spectrum is not well approximated by a power law. This shows the need for a more sophisticated model for the electron distribution in the hot flow.
How do three cytosolic glutamine synthetase isozymes of wheat perform N assimilation and translocation?

To understand how the three cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1) isozymes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., TaGS1) perform nitrogen assimilation and translocation, we studied the kinetic properties of TaGS1 isozymes, the effects of nitrogen on the expression and localization of TaGS1 isozymes with specific antibodies, and the nitrogen metabolism. The results showed TaGS1;1, the dominant TaGS1 isozyme, had a high affinity for substrates, and was widely localized in the mesophyll cells, root pericycle and root tip meristematic zone, suggesting it was the primary isozyme for N assimilation. TaGS1;2, with a high affinity for Glu, was activated by Gln, and was mainly localized in the around vascular tissues, indicating that TaGS1;2 catalyzed Gln synthesis in low Glu concentration, then the Gln returned to activate TaGS1;2, which may lead to the rapid accumulation of Gln around the vascular tissues. TaGS1;3 had low affinity for substrates but the highest Vmax among TaGS1, was mainly localized in the root tip meristematic zone; exogenous NH4+ could promote TaGS1;3 expressing, indicating that TaGS1;3 could rapidly assimilate NH4+ to relieve NH4+ toxicity. In conclusion, TaGS1;1, TaGS1;2 and TaGS1;3 have different role in N assimilation, Gln translocation and relieving ammonium toxicity, respectively, and synergistically perform nitrogen assimilation and translocation. Highlight Three cytosolic glutamine synthase isozymes of wheat have different role and synergistically perform nitrogen assimilation and translocation.
A mathematical model of mitochondrial calcium-phosphate dissolution as a mechanism for persistent post-CSD vasoconstriction

Cortical spreading depolarization (CSD) is the propagation of a relatively slow wave in cortical brain tissue that is linked to a number of pathological conditions such as stroke and migraine. Most of the existing literature investigates the dynamics of short term phenomena such as the depolarization and repolarization of membrane potentials or large ion shifts. Here, we focus on the clinically-relevant hour-long state of neurovascular malfunction in the wake of CSDs. This dysfunctional state involves widespread vasoconstriction and a general disruption of neurovascular coupling. We demonstrate, using a mathematical model, that dissolution of calcium that has aggregated within the mitochondria of vascular smooth muscle cells can drive an hour-long disruption. We determine the rate of calcium clearance as well as the dynamical implications on overall blood flow. Based on reaction stoichiometry, we quantify a possible impact of calcium phosphate dissolution on the maintenance of F0F1-ATP synthase activity.
Chemical composition and antifungal activity of Mentha spicata L. plant from Sulaimaniyah in Iraq

Aerial parts of Mentha plants were collected from Sulaimaniyah city, during 15th Mar to 1st July2016. Clevenger apparatus was used for plant sample distillation and then obtained essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The GC–MS analysis resulted in the detection of thirty-eight compounds which made up 100% of the total plant essential oil. The major components of the oil were (54.44%) of 2-Cyclohexen-1-one, 2-methyl-5-(1- methylethenyl)-, (R)-, (27.72%) of D-Limonene, (3.29%) of 2-Cyclohexen-1-ol, 2-methyl-5-(1- methylethenyl)-, trans-, (2.16%) of Cyclohexanol, 2- methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)-, (1.83%) of Bicyclo[3.1. 0] hexan-2-ol,2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)- (1.alpha.,2.beta.,5.alpha.) and (1.03%) of 3- Cyclohexen-1-ol, 4-methyl-1-(1-methylethyl)-, (R)-. The significant inhibition percentages of Mentha spicata plants extract on the Aspergillus niger mycelial growth were 16.78%, 18.92%, 23.21%, 28.57% and36.78%, in 32%, 34%, 36%, 38% and 40% dilution respectively, while other concentrations showed no significant effect.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MICROSTRUCTURE EVOLUTION DURING DEFORMATION OF ULTRAFINE GRAINED ZIRCONIUM AT LOW TEMPERATURES

Mechanical properties of ultrafine grained (UFG) zirconium (grain size 200 nm), produced by a combination of extrusion, wire drawing and specific annealing, were studied at temperatures �(n)&&@YAeAY4hY4? SB)CbUccYBA4ATSB)C4bUTgYdXSB4bcUWb4YAUT 8 AC4b4? U? � investigations by X-ray diffraction (texture) and transmission electron microscopy were undertaken in order to reveal the evolution of the microstructure with increasing strain. Volume fractions of twins have been determined for UFG and CG Zr. It has been found that the activity of twinning is smaller in UFG Zr in comparison with CG Zr at ambient and lower temperatures, but the contrary is true for very low temperatures (4.2K), where twinning increases with decreasing grain size. The influence of twinning on mechanical properties of UFG Zr has been discussed, too.
Understanding the genomic relationship between nuclear DNA replication and genome plasticity in kinetoplastid genomes

DNA replication is an essential process in all eukaryotes initiated from sites termed origins of replication. Recent studies in the kinetoplastid species Leishmania and Trypanosoma brucei have revealed striking differences in the process of DNA replication between the largely syntenic genomes. T. brucei replication origins are generally consistent with previous eukaryotic models while Leishmania chromosomes appears to contain a single major origin, as is observed in bacteria, although how the parasites can complete replication in this manner remains unknown. Sites of DNA replication co-localise to strand switch regions where transcription initiation and termination also occur. However, not every strand switch region contains an origin of replication and differences between those containing an origin and those without have not been identified. The use of a variety of computational approaches, including machine learning, allow the investigation of origins of replication in both Leishmania and Trypanosoma brucei at the DNA sequence level and within the structure of the surrounding genomic context and further characterization of the different classes of strand switch region. A significant feature of the Leishmania genome is its ability to adapt in response to environmental pressures through copy number variation of genes and chromosomes and the formation of episomes, allowing the parasites to evade the host immune system and rapidly develop drug resistance through modulation of gene expression. Analysis of the sequence and structure of the Leishmania mexicana genome in serial passage conditions provides insight into the mechanisms underlying genome plasticity and presents a novel hypothesis explaining the potential relationship with DNA replication.
AN EFFICIENT SMPS FOR DC MOTOR

A switched-mode power supply (switching-mode power supply, switch-mode power supply, SMPS, or switcher) is an electronic power supply that incorporates a switching regulator to convert electrical power efficiently. Like other power supplies, an SMPS transfers power from a source, like mains power, to a load, such as a personal computer, while converting voltage and current characteristics. Unlike a linear power supply, the pass transistor of a switching-mode supply continually switches between low-dissipation, full-on and full-off states, and spends very little time in the high dissipation transitions, which minimizes wasted energy. Ideally, a switched-mode power supply dissipates no power. Voltage regulation is achieved by varying the ratio of on-to-off time. In contrast, a linear power supply regulates the output voltage by continually dissipating power in the pass transistor. This higher power conversion efficiency is an important advantage of a switched-mode power supply. Switched-mode power supplies may also be substantially smaller and lighter than a linear supply due to the smaller transformer size and weight. In this project the SMPS is applied for a DC motor and the output current and voltage are monitored by an LCD display unit.