Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electrodialytic Hydrogen Production and Critical Raw Materials Recovery from Secondary Resources

Electrodialytic technologies are defined as treatment processes that promote the removal/recovery of substances in a matrix, based on the application of low-level current intensities. Additionally, along these processes hydrogen is self-generated, allowing them to operationally produce clean energy. This energy carrier is produced due to electrolysis reactions occurring at the cathode end of the electrodialytic reactor, when using inert electrodes. Herein, hydrogen production during the electrodialytic treatment of sewage sludge and mining residues suspensions (coupled with effluent or sewage sludge), at 50 and 100 mA, was assessed. During the electrodialytic treatment of sewage sludge, hydrogen purity production achieved 33%. When effluent or sewage sludge were used as enhancements in mining residues suspensions, hydrogen purity reached 71% and 34%, respectively. Furthermore, a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell was connected to the cathode compartment of the electrodialytic reactor. The electrical energy generated from self-hydrogen produced at 100 mA achieved ≈1 V in all performed experiments. Simultaneously, critical raw materials extraction, namely phosphorus and tungsten, was evaluated. When the process was applied to mining residue suspensions combined with sewage sludge, the highest extraction ratio of phosphorus (71%) and tungsten (62%) was observed.
Bioecology of Phonoctonus lutescens (Guérin Meneville and Percheron) Predator of Dysdercus voëlkeri (Schmidt, 1932), Feeding on Dysdercus voëlkeri in the Laboratory Conditions in Burkina Faso

The study was conducted at the agricultural experimental station of Farako-Bâ, specifically in the Cotton Program. Insects were collected in Farako-Bâ field and raised in the Cotton Program. Dysdercus voekeri Schmidt is one of cotton cultivation main pests in Burkina Faso. The control of this devastating cotton bug is based on chemical using. For researching alternative solutions, a part of the biological control method was investigated by using Phonoctonus lutescens which is D. voelkeri natural enemy, in order to develop a biological control method. To understand the bioecology of P. lutescens, our study has been carried out on this insect under laboratory conditions when it was feed on its prey which is D. voekeri. The results have demonstrated that the pre-copulation period is 9.33 ± 2.14 days. The oviposition period is 6.97 ± 1.47 days, after which 366.73 ± 27.43 eggs on average are laid with 92.33% ± 4% hatchability. From hatching to adult stage, P. lutescens larvae development goes through five stages with variable durations according to the stage. The results showed that the development cycle lasted 57.23 ± 5.81 days at a temperature of 27.5°C ± 2°C and a relative humidity of 42% ± 3%. Survival rates ranged from 92% to 97.47%. Males and females lived respectively 87.5 ± 27.99 days and 107.97 ± 24.21 days. These results could permit a better use of P. lutescens through a mass rearing and an optimization of D. voekeri biological control.
A panbiogeographic perspective for pre-cretaceous angiosperm–Lepidoptera coevolution

The coevolutionary history of Lepidoptera and angiosperms is evaluated in relation to Croizat's panbiogeographic synthesis of angiosperm evolution. The panbiogeographic method of ocean basin classification is used to identify major patterns of trans-oceanic distribution for lepidopteran families and genera (principally non-ditrysian). The Pacific basin is identified as a major evolutionary centre for several 'primitive non-ditrysian Lepidoptera, including Zeugloptera, Aglossata, Heterobathmiina, Neopsuestina, Palaephatidae, Prodoxidae, and possibly the Dacnonypha. The ditrysian Ithomiidae are similarly classified with the Pacific while the related Daniidae are identified as Indian Ocean. An Indian Ocean baseline is proposed for the Callidulidae, Tinissimae and Perissomasticini (Tineidae). A 'coevolutionary' history is supported in terms of Lepidoptera and angiosperms sharing common biogeographic (spatiotemporal) characters associated with the pre-Cretaceous tectonic history of major ocean and sea basins. The lack of congruent higher level Lepidoptera-angiosperm phylogenies emerging from systematic studies may be due to a lack of cospeciation events, but this does not exclude a close ecological and evolutionary relationship through the history of both groups.
Augmenting Geostatistics with Matrix Factorization: A Case Study for House Price Estimation

Singular value decomposition (SVD) is ubiquitously used in recommendation systems to estimate and predict values based on latent features obtained through matrix factorization. But, oblivious of location information, SVD has limitations in predicting variables that have strong spatial autocorrelation, such as housing prices which strongly depend on spatial properties such as the neighborhood and school districts. In this work, we build an algorithm that integrates the latent feature learning capabilities of truncated SVD with kriging, which is called SVD-Regression Kriging (SVD-RK). In doing so, we address the problem of modeling and predicting spatially autocorrelated data for recommender engines using real estate housing prices by integrating spatial statistics. We also show that SVD-RK outperforms purely latent features based solutions as well as purely spatial approaches like Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR). Our proposed algorithm, SVD-RK, integrates the results of truncated SVD as an independent variable into a regression kriging approach. We show experimentally, that latent house price patterns learned using SVD are able to improve house price predictions of ordinary kriging in areas where house prices fluctuate locally. For areas where house prices are strongly spatially autocorrelated, evident by a house pricing variogram showing that the data can be mostly explained by spatial information only, we propose to feed the results of SVD into a geographically weighted regression model to outperform the orginary kriging approach.
The Differential Response to Decompression in Three Species of Nearshore Pacific Rockfish

Abstract The genus Sebastes (rockfishes) is an ecologically diverse group of fish, more than 60 species occurring off the Oregon, Washington, and California coasts. As of 2004, seven species of rockfish were classified as overfished by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Because rockfishes often experience barotrauma to varying degrees when forced up from depth, the management of discard mortality has been difficult. In this study, the macroscopic, morphological, and physiological responses to decompression of black rockfish S. melanops, blue rockfish S. mystinus, and yellowtail rockfish S. flavidus, all nearshore species, were investigated. The rockfish were adjusted to 4.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA; 35 m) over a period of 7–10 d in hyperbaric pressure chambers and when neutrally buoyant were rapidly brought to surface pressure in a simulated ascent. They were then examined for barotrauma injury, and the heart ventricle, head kidney, liver, gill, and pseudobranch were collected for histological analy.
Prevalence of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma among Patients with Diagnosis of Systemic Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus: The Colombian Glaucoma Study

Objective: To establish the prevalence and risk factors of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) among patients with Systemic Hypertension (SH) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in six cities of Colombia. Methods: A cross-sectional study among hypertensive and diabetic patients was conducted in Colombia. This study included 2067 subjects older than 50 years of age diagnosed with SH and/or DM. Participants underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement by Goldmann tonometry and blood pressure measurement. The glaucoma diagnosis was confirmed by structural and functional evidence. Interviews and standardized questionnaires were used to evaluate participants’ lifestyle and other health conditions. Results: Among participants with DM/SH, 142 cases of POAG were confirmed for a prevalence of 5.6% [95% CI: 4.6 - 6.6], while 9.1% were glaucoma suspects [95% CI: 7.8% - 10.4%]. The majority of confirmed cases (77.5%) were undiagnosed. The prevalence of POAG was significantly higher with male gender, greater age, and diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg as risk factors. Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of POAG in patients with adequate SH and DM care in a novel Latino population. We also found great unawareness of the disease in this population. Our results have potentially enormous public health implications for Colombia and other Latino populations.
Allopregnanolone acts as an inhibitory modulator on α1-and α6-containing GABAΑ receptors

Abstract Allopregnanolone, known so far to act as a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist, allosterically decreased the affinity of the GABA agonist muscimol for recombinant α 1 β 2γ2 and α 6 β 2γ2 GABA A receptors. Pregnenolone sulfate, a GABA antagonist, had a similar effect. Both of these neuroactive steroids also reduced the time constant of desensitization (τ) of GABA-induced chloride currents. The effect on desensitization was demonstrated for native receptors of hypothalamic neurons as well as for the recombinant GABA A receptors. Hence neuroactive steroids may differentially modulate distinct assemblies of GABA A receptors and thus induce a more subtle modulation of GABAergic synaptic transmission than previously thought possible.
Characterisation of 5S rDNA in Gasterosteus aculeatus (Teleostei, Gasterosteidae)

Abstract The 5S rRNA genes of Gasterosteus aculeatus were characterised. Genomic DNA was amplified by PCR using two primers constructed in different salmonid species in order both to extract the total 5S rDNA (coding region + nontranscribed spacer region) and to generate amplified DNA products only if 5S rDNAs were tandemly arrayed. Amplification revealed four bands (A, B, C, and D) of about 250, 370, 580, and 660 base pairs, respectively. The electrophoretic pattern yielded by PCR products appeared very similar in the various species examined, it was also present in a selachian, an amphibian and a reptile. However, differences were observed in the size of the bands. Band A was cloned and se‐quenced: it consisted of 225 base pairs (A+T = 48.6%; G+C = 51.4%) and showed a high sequence homology to 5S rDNA in many vertebrate species. Hybridization on nylon filters of genomic DNA digested with several restriction enzymes showed the typical tandem array of repeated DNAs.
Ácidos siálicos: da compreensão do seu envolvimento em processos biológicos ao desenvolvimento de fármacos contra o agente etiológico da gripe

Sialic acids are nine-carbon carbohydrates that occur widely in nature and occupy the terminal portions of some glycoproteins and glycolipids of cell membranes. These carbohydrates are closely involved in cell-cell interactions and in processes such as microbial infection, inflammation, etc. Studies on the participation of sialic acids in biological processes have provided comprehension about their role in the infection by the influenza virus, the causal agent of flu. In this article, we present an overview of the importance of sialic acids in the influenza virus infection and how the knowledge of their involvement in this process has allowed the development of selective and efficient drugs against the virus.
Sample size for estimating fuel loads in oak forest in the Mountain Region of Guerrero State.

Universidad Intercultural del Estado de Guerrero. México. Departamento Forestal. Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro. México. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. México. Departamento BEECA sección Ecología. Facultat de Biología. Universitat de Barcelona. España. *Autor para correspondencia; correo-e: lopez_020986@hotmail.com. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v11i57. 617
Effects of risk factor numbers on the development of the metabolic syndrome

This study was performed to identify the factors affecting the develop-ment of metabolic syndrome by comparing the numbers of risk factors of the syndrome and by identifying the factors influencing the develop-ment of metabolic syndrome. Two hundred forty-eight health screening of examinee were used for the study (101 males, 147 females). Diagnostic basis ratio of metabolic syndrome risk factors showed that 35.1% of the subjects had abdominal obesity, 32.7% for high blood pressure, 66.1% for high insulin blood sugar, 43.1% for high triglyceride lipidemia, and 7.3% for low high-density lipoprotein lipidemia. No significant difference of the incidence of metabolic syndrome was found between gender. The diagnostic number for male was the highest with 1 risk factor (31.7%) while the highest with 2 factors (30.6%) in female. Significant differences were found in age and body mass index (BMI) between normal group with no risk factor and metabolic syndrome group. There was significant difference in BMI between the syndrome group with 1 risk factor and 3 risk factors. BMI was significantly higher (5.282 times) compared to their counterpart (P<0.001). Significant difference was found in BMI between 2 risk factors and the syndrome group with more than 3 risk factors and the incidence was higher (4.094 times) in the overweight group than their counterpart (P<0.001).
Platelet count is closely associated with the severity of liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: A cross-sectional study

Although the platelet count may provide clues regarding the severity of liver disease, there are currently no available data supporting the utility of the platelet count to evaluate the degree of liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The present study aimed to determine the association between the platelet count and the severity of liver injury in patients with chronic HBV infection. A total of 941 patients were included and were stratified into a Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class A group and a CTP class B/C group using the CTP scoring system. A total of 53 patients underwent liver biopsy. The pathological stage F4 was defined as cirrhosis based on the METAVIR scoring system. Compared with that in patients with CTP class A, the platelet count in patients with CTP class B/C was lower (P<0.001). Similarly, for patients with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, the platelet count was significantly different between the CTP class B/C and A groups (P<0.001). The platelet count was inversely correlated with the CTP score (r=-0.420, P<0.001) and independently associated with CTP grade B/C [odds ratio (OR), 0.994; 95% CI, 0.990-0.999; P=0.009]. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the platelet count to distinguish CTP grade B/C from A was 0.712 and 0.791, respectively, in all patients with HBV infection and the subset with normal ALT levels. In addition, compared to patients with chronic hepatitis B, patients with cirrhosis had a lower platelet count and higher aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4) (P<0.001). The platelet count was inversely correlated with FIB-4 (r=-0.855, P<0.001) and APRI (r=-0.741, P<0.001). The AUC for the platelet count to distinguish cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis B was 0.927 (sensitivity, 78.76%; specificity, 92.22%). Among patients who underwent liver biopsy, the platelet count in those with F4 was lower compared with that in patients with ≤F3 (P=0.013). The platelet count was inversely correlated with the pathological stage (r=-0.295, P=0.032) and was independently associated with F4 (OR, 0.978; 95% CI, 0.960-0.997; P=0.026). The AUC of the platelet count to distinguish F4 from patients with ≤F3 was 0.761. In conclusion, the platelet count may be used as a non-invasive marker to assess the severity of liver injury and of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic HBV infection.
Underwater Resurrection Routing Synergy using Astucious Energy Pods

The accomplishment of sustainable communication among source and destination sink node is a rigors challenge and even establishing bodacious communication link between these nodes is nothing short of a miracle because data routes are governed by the underwater environment. Energy consumption has a significant influence as all active devices rely on the battery. As cost-effective data packet transmission is established as a norm, no charging or replacement can be achieved. Hop link evaluation and shrewd connection discovery by way of a resurrecting linking element were just a genuinely grim task, and only feasible to create the extra powered energy pods (URR-SAEP) that had never been carried out before after detailed study. After packet transfer, the sensor node performs the link inspection process, and when a link is deemed shaky at less than or equivalent to 50 percent of capacity, the target node incorporates its residual capacity status and returns it to the source node that attaches other unoptimizable energy pods to improve only the targeted node link from 50 percent to 90 percent. Performance evaluation using NS2 with Aqua-Sim 2.0 simulator has been obtained comparing with DBR and EEDBR protocols in terms of point-to-point delay, Packet dissemination ratio, Network lifespan and Energy Diminution.
Mate and sperm competition during multiple-male spawnings of Atlantic salmon

The influence of sperm competition and individual mating behaviour in an externally fertilizing species of fish, the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), is estimated from video observations of multiple-male spawnings and subsequent paternity analyses. One male dominated the paternity during polygamous spawnings, fathering more than 80% of the progeny in a single nest. Behavioural analyses of the spawnings showed that the first-mating male had sperm precedence in 6 out of 10 cases. In three of the other spawnings, sperm limitation likely influenced individual success, as the first-mating male had participated in a large number of spawnings. In the final, nearly simultaneous spawning, male size was more important than the 0.6-s difference in spawning times. Thus, male fertilization success can be influenced by a variety of factors, including sperm precedence, male size, and spawning history.
Glucose/Fe-doped C70 fullerene hybrid biosensor: theoretical study

Abstract The interaction between glucose molecule and C70 fullerene (pristine and Fe-doped) was investigated with the aid of density functional theory. Our results provide useful information that uncover the chemical and biological activities of C70 when interact with glucose molecule. To mimic real situations, all possible configurations of glucose with respect to fullerene were investigated under both vacuum and distilled water mediums. As expected, no significant change in the calculated energy gaps for all pristine configurations regardless the simulated medium, which indicates that the interaction between glucose molecule and pristine Fullerene is weak physisorption. However, doping fullerene with Fe atom significantly reduced the energy gap for all configurations of the complex which in turn offers an advantage over pristine fullerene for measuring glucose in real situations such as blood.
Design and Implementation of an Intelligent Assistive System for Visually Impaired People for Aerial Obstacle Avoidance and Fall Detection

This paper proposes an intelligent assistive system based on wearable smart glasses and an intelligent walking stick for visually impaired people to achieve the goals of aerial obstacle avoidance and fall detection. The proposed assistive system comprises wearable smart glasses, an intelligent walking stick, a mobile device app, and a cloud-based information management platform. Visually impaired people can wear the proposed wearable smart glasses and hold the proposed intelligent walking stick to detect aerial obstacles and fall events on roads. Moreover, the proposed intelligent walking stick can vibrate to guide visually impaired people to avoid aerial obstacle collision accidents. Experimental results show that the proposed system can detect aerial obstacles within 3 meters, and the average accuracy of fall detection reaches up to 98.3%. Furthermore, when visually impaired people experience a fall event, an urgent notification is immediately sent to their family members or caregivers.
Nectary biology of Cucurbita pepo: ecophysiological aspects.

SUMMARY Nectary structure, nectar secretion and composition and insect visits were studied in male and female flowers of Cucurbita pepo in which anthesis lasts only 6 hours. The nectaries of male and female flowers develop in the same way, with presecretory, secretory and postsecretory phases; the flowers are dimorphic with regard to the position, quantity and composition of their nectar. The nectary is formed by an epidermis with stomata and a nectariferous parenchyma with phloem vessels. The epidermis is devoid of cuticle. Starch is stored in the presecretory phase in the amyloplasts of parenchyma and epidermis; it disappears a few hours before anthesis and nectar flows through stomata. The nectar of the female flower is higher in quantity, sugars and proteins and therefore more attractive than that of the male flower. Flowers whose nectar is collected by bees fall the day after anthesis; unvisited flowers fall after 3 days. Nectar not collected by bees is reabsorbed and sugars temporarily stored inside amyloplasts.
Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal—10 years on

A second aetiological agent of cholera, Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal was identified in late 1992 when it caused large outbreaks of diarrhoea in India and Bangladesh. The new strain probably arose as a result of lateral transfer of genes encoding a novel somatic antigen and a capsule from an unknown bacterium to an O1 El Tor strain with the subsequent loss of genes encoding O1 somatic antigen. O139 produces a semi-rough type colony with a truncated lipopolysaccharide which contains a unique sugar, colitose. Otherwise, O139 and O1 are strikingly similar. The diseases produced by the two serogroups are indistinguishable. There is a moderate inflammatory response in cholera, and in spite of the possession of a capsule by O139, it is no more inflammatory than O1. A number of diagnostic tests have been developed for O139 that are modelled after tests for O1 including rapid tests for field use. O139 has spread to countries of south and south-east Asia, China and Russia. Currently, cholera is caused by both these serogroups in these countries with the O1 serogroup predominant. O139 continues to cause occasional local outbreaks in India and Bangladesh. Genotyping of isolates has shown circulation of multiple clones and their derivation from multiple progenitors. Although there have been changes in antibiogram with the resistance genes being carried on a constin, the strains remain susceptible to tetracycline, a preferred antibiotic for treatment. O139 carries a number of filamentous lysogenic and lytic phages and the latter have been utilized to develop a phage typing scheme. A number of environmental variables have been linked to the occurrence of cholera and lytic phages may determine the course of epidemics. Although the capsule confers serum resistance, vibriocidal antibody assay has been developed for O139. However, unlike in O1 cholera, serum vibriocidal antibody does not seem to correlate with protection against O139 infection. Promising O139 vaccines have been developed or are in the pipeline. It is too early to predict whether O139 will become the causative agent of 'the eighth pandemic of cholera'; it will require many years of monitoring and reporting from regions prone to cholera to find the answer.