Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Acute Coronary Syndrome Our Experience

Despite progress in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, a significant proportion of first cardiovascular events occur among individuals without traditional risk factors. The advancement of pathophysiology of atherosclerotic vascular diseases has brought new insight regarding potential indicators of underlying hidden atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. Recently attention has been focused on various novel inflammatory markers, especially vitamin D. Particularly a growing body of evidence has identified vitamin D deficiency as a potential risk factor for acute coronary syndrome. The research revealed that vitamin D receptor (VDR) was identified in almost all human cells. Relationship between the cardiovascular system system and vitamin D status was first demonstrated in a study on a rat model deficient in vitamin D more than 20 years ago. Vitamin D has antiatherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory and direct cardio-protective actions. Studies report an inverse relationship between levels of vitamin D and atherosclerotic calcification. Also. vitamin D levels are correlated with other coronary heart disease risk factors, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. So, the association between vitamin D deficiency and ischaemic heart disease may occur directly or indirectly by influencing the risk factors for ACS. Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to have a protective effect in limited studies of, but further research is needed. We have undertaken this study in our hospital with the aim to identify the relation between vitamin D levels with acute coronary syndrome.
Drug Nanoparticle Stability Assessment Using Isothermal and Nonisothermal Approaches

Many drugs are administered in the form of liquid-dispersed nanoparticles. Frequently, one of the overlooked aspects in the development of this drug delivery system is the loss of efficacy and the degradation of the carried drugs. Estimating the shelf life of drug products implies the storage of samples under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity for different periods, ranging from months to years, delaying decisions during development, manufacturing, and commercialization. Adapting well-known isothermal and nonisothermal methods to nanoparticles would allow correlating kinetic parameters obtained in a single mathematical model and predicting the shelf life faster than traditional methods. Unlike the traditional approaches, the isoconversional method (i) considers drug products as heterogeneous systems, without a unique kinetic order, (ii) establishes a maximum percentage of degradation, (iii) assumes the same kinetics for all processes regardless of the conditions, and (iv) includes the influence of humidity by a modification of Arrhenius equation. This method serves in calculating the kinetic parameters and shelf life derived from them, in a few weeks. In the same way, nonisothermal treatments allow obtaining these parameters by differential scanning calorimetry. Samples are subjected to different heating rates to establish the temperature at which the thermal decomposition event occurs and, thus, to calculate in a few days the activation energy and the preexponential factor using the Kissinger method. But this approach has limitations: the isoconversional method does not consider crystalline state of the sample, while nonisothermal method ignores the effect of the storage conditions. Processing nanoparticles for isothermal and nonisothermal treatments would allow accurate and fast prediction of the drug-loaded nanoparticle shelf life correlating parameters obtained using a single mathematical model. The accuracy of the prediction would be assessed by comparison of estimated shelf life versus data coming from traditional stability studies.
Influence of fingerprints and finger positioning on accuracy of RF blood glucose measurement from fingertips

Non-invasive blood glucose measurement has attracted great interest from researchers deploying various techniques where microwave sensing is one of them. Microwave resonators are utilized as sensors for measuring the glucose levels. A body part is placed on the sensor for a reading and the measurement principle lies in the change of the dielectric properties of blood with varying levels of glucose. The fingertip is a popular measurement site as there is a good amount fresh blood supply. The position of the fingertip on the sensor has an effect on the sensor response due to the change in the propagation path of the electromagnetic field inside the finger. Moreover, fingerprints also affect the sensor response as the irregular ridges and valleys in the fingerprint introduce air gaps altering the effective permittivity seen by the sensor. The effects of fingerprints as well as finger positioning on the sensor is explored and explained in this paper.
Light microscopic description and histopathological effects of Eimeria sp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) from the freshwater fish Chrysichthys auratus

A species of Coccidia, Eimeria was found infecting the Nile catfish Chrysichthys auratus . The parasite was found aggregated in mucosa, submucosa and connective tissue between muscle bundles of the intestine, and also in the parenchymal tissue of the liver and the pancreas. The recorded stages were the maturing oocysts, the sporogonial and gamogonial stages; no signs of merogony were recorded. This is the first Coccidian species described from Chrysichthys auratus in Egypt. Oocysts of E. chrisychthii are distinguished from other Eimeria spp. in size and shape of sporocysts, host and site of infection. Mature oocysts were spherical or subspherical, measuring 21.6-24 (22.65) um. Sporocysts measured 6.5-8.4x 6-7.2 (7.5x6.75) um. A stieda-like body was seen in some individuals. Several histopathological changes were observed in the intestine, liver and pancreas of the host as a result of eimerian infection. In many mucosal cells of the intestine, cytoplasmic vacuolations were detected, while in submucosa, there was a collection of mononuclear macrophages with very abundant brown cytoplasm and congested blood vessels. The muscle layer also was affected. The liver of the infected fish revealed cytoplasmic vacuoles and a great depletion of glycogen granules in its cells. KEY WORDS: coccidia- Eimeria- sporogony- histopathology- catfish Egyptian Journal of Biology Vol.3(2) 2001: 29-37
How do stereotyping , implicit bias and stereotype threat affect Mäori health ?

A number of studies demonstrate Mäori receive a poorer standard of healthcare than Päkehä and other non-Mäori in New Zealand. Implicit bias on the part of healthcare providers has been cited as a key contributor to health inequities internationally; however, the concept has not yet been explored in relation to Mäori health. This paper addresses that research gap and describes a theoretical basis for further research on the role of bias for Mäori health outcomes. Drawing from empirical research and theories formulated in social psychology, the paper considers the relevance of implicit bias, stereotyping and stereotype threat for Mäori health outcomes. These have not been integrated and applied to the problem of Mäori health inequities per se; however, it is proposed that they provide a useful conceptual lens for understanding how interpersonal dynamics between Mäori and Päkehä help perpetuate health disparities. Suggestions for further research are also made.
Self-Control, Financial Literacy & the Co-Holding Puzzle

We use UK survey data to analyze the puzzling co-existence of high cost revolving consumer credit alongside low yield liquid savings in household balance sheets, which we name the ‘co-holding puzzle’. Approximately 12% of households in our sample co-hold, on average, £3800 of revolving consumer credit on which they incur interest charges, even though they could immediately pay down all this debt using their liquid assets. Co-holders are typically more financially literate, with above average income and education. In most estimates co-holding is also associated with impulsive spending behavior on the part of the household. Our results provide empirical support to theoretical models in which households co-hold as a means of managing self-control problems.
‘I am the Walrus’: Animal Identities and Merging with Animals – Exceptional Experiences?

Archaeological materials from various times and places give us many examples of identity attributed to animals and of merging of identities between humans and animals. We tend to regard these phenomena as different from our modern understanding of ourselves, animals, plants and objects as discrete ontological classes. Accordingly, archaeology explains and explores these phenomena in relation to what they implied and meant in their particular cultural contexts. However, these phenomena also share certain cross-cultural and trans-temporal similarities, pointing beyond cultural ‘uses’ (processual) and ‘meanings’ (post-processual) of animals. This observation demands the employment of a wider, more inclusive, theoretical stance (multi-theoretical, multi-methodological, eclectic) to be explained. I illustrate with examples from various periods (Palaeolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, pre-classical and classical Greece, Roman Empire, Migration Period and Viking Period). I claim that characteristics of both human and animal nature (‘things in themselves’) can contribute to explaining the experiences of animal identities and of merging phenomena. Both phenomena connect to perceptions of, interaction with and relationships with animals. My arguments are based on research on human and animal psycho-endocrinology, brain and behaviours (cognitive, emotional and social) and ethology.
The Mañé–Conze–Guivarc’h lemma for intermittent maps of the circle

Abstract We study the existence of solutions g to the functional inequality f≤g ∘T−g+β, where f is a prescribed continuous function, T is a weakly expanding transformation of the circle having an indifferent fixed point, and β is the maximum ergodic average of f. Using a method due to T. Bousch, we show that continuous solutions g always exist when the Hölder exponent of f is close to 1. In the converse direction, we construct explicit examples of continuous functions f with low Hölder exponent for which no continuous solution g exists. We give sharp estimates on the best possible Hölder regularity of a solution g given the Hölder regularity of f.
U Scorpii 2010 outburst: a new understanding of the binary accretion disk and the secondary star

We present optical and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic observations of U Sco 2010 outburst. From the analysis of lines profiles we identify a broad and a narrow component and show that the latter originates from the reforming accretion disk. We show that the accretion resumes shortly after the outburst, on day +8, roughly when the super-soft (SSS) X-ray phase starts. Consequently U Sco SSS phase is fueled (in part or fully) by accretion and should not be used to estimate mrem, the mass of accreted material which has not been ejected during the outburst. In addition, most of the He emission lines, and the He ii lies in particular, form in the accretion flow/disk within the binary and are optically thick, thus preventing an accurate abundance determination. A late spectrum taken in quiescence and during eclipse shows Ca ii H&K, the G-band and Mg ib absorption from the secondary star. However, no other significant secondary star features have been observed at longer wavelengths and in the NIR band.
Internationalization Process of Entrepreneurial Activities: A Comparative Study of Czech Companies

Internationalization of entrepreneurial activities is not only a matter of large enterprises. Currently, the majority of SMEs is undergoing the process of internationalization. The purpose of this paper is to compare the internationalization process of Czech large enterprises and SMEs. The companies included in the study are those that have already undertaken internationalization activities and are incorporated in the Czech Republic. The findings of the comparison show that the company size affects only the speed of internationalization of Czech companies. The choice of geographical coverage and entry mode is not affected by company size.
Introductory Chapter: A Short Primer on Human Skin Cancers

Skin cancers constitute arguably the most common and increasingly prevalent human neoplasms. In United States alone, it is estimated that 76,400 patients will develop melanoma and 10,100 will die from the disease [1]. Several risk factors, ultraviolet light the most important of these, but also environmental carcinogens, contribute to the increasing incidence of skin cancers, especially among light-skinned individuals [2]. The most common human skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but the most serious and most often fatal are malignant melanoma (MM) and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) [3].
Optimization calculations with the genetic algorithm method on a computer cluster

The work presents a way to execute optimization calculations with the genetic algorithm method on a parallel computer of the cluster type. The scope of electromagnetic calculations which should be performed while determining the objective function was outlined. Sample indicators describing the quality of paralleling the calculation process were provided. Streszczenie. W pracy przedstawiono sposob realizacji obliczen optymalizacyjnych metodą algorytmu genetycznego na komputerze rownoleglym typu klaster. Zakreślono zakres obliczen elektromagnetycznych, ktore nalezy wykonac podczas wyznaczania funkcji celu. Podano przykladowe wskaźniki opisujące jakośc zrownoleglenia procesu obliczeniowego (Obliczenia optymalizacyjne metodą algorytmu genetycznego na klastrze komputerowym).
Mid‐regional pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide for the early detection of non‐acute heart failure

Diagnosing non‐acute heart failure (HF) remains challenging, notably in the early stages of the syndrome. The diagnostic value of mid‐regional pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide (MR‐proANP) has been proven in acute onset HF, but its role in early non‐acute HF is unknown. We aimed to determine the diagnostic value of MR‐proANP in suspected non‐acute HF.
Terahertz emission and spectroscopy on InN epilayer and nanostructure

We report a comprehensive study on THz emission and spectroscopy of indium nitride (InN) films and its nanorod arrays grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy technique. For the enhancement of THz emission from InN, we demonstrated two method; firstly using nanorod arrays, which have large surface area for optical absorption and THz emission, and secondly using nonpolar InN film, of which the electric field is along the sample surface. We propose that a "screened" photo-Dember effect due to narrow surface electron accumulation layer of InN is responsible for the nanorod-size-dependent enhancement from InN nanorods. The primary THz radiation mechanism of nonpolar InN is found to be due to the acceleration of photoexcited carriers under the polarization-induced in-plane electric field. THz time-domain spectroscopy has been used to investigate THz conductivity and dielectric response of InN nanorod arrays and epitaxial film. The complex THz conductivity of InN film is well fitted by the Drude model, while the negative imaginary conductivity of the InN nanorods can be described by using a non-Drude model, which includes a preferential backward scattering due to defects in InN nanorods, or a Coulombic restoring force from charged defects.
Análisis microbiológico en yogurt con probióticos

Se estudio la calidad microbiologica de 11 muestras de un producto lacteo comercial (yogurt con probioticos), desde supermercados y otros locales afines. Se investigo la presencia de Salmonella spp. , Escherichia coli y hongos levaduriformes y filamentosos, mediante la metodologia estandarizada recomendada en la literatura y servicios de salud publica. El recuento de lactobacilos presentes se efecto mediante tecnicas de dilucion en placa con agar MRS de doble capa y la identificacion de lactobacilos presente en el producto aplicando el API-50CHL. Los resultados permitieron establecer que el producto se encuentra libre de contaminacion de Salmonella spp. , E.coli y hongos, sin embargo, el numero de Lactobacillus casei var. rhamnosus viables, fue menor (105) que el indicado en la literatura para obtener efectos beneficos en la salud.
Antioxidant and α-Glucosidase Inhibition Activities of Solvent Fractions from Methanolic Extract of Sericea Lespedeza ( Lespedeza cuneata G . Don )

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant contents and antioxidant activities of solvent fractions from methanolic extract of sericea lespedeza. To determine the antioxidant compounds in solvent fractions from methanolic extract, total polyphenolic, flavonoid, tannin, and proanthocyanidin contents were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Solvent fractions were evaluated for antioxidative capacity according to DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. Total polyphenolic contents were 12.44, 3.61, 6.39, 27.11, 20.00, and 9.32 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract residue (ER), respectively. Total flavonoid contents were 2.94, 9.92, 7.77, 9.27, 5.11, and 2.66 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g ER, respectively. Total tannin contents were 8.75, 10.04, 7.42, 17.32, 11.65, and 7.61 mg tannic acid equivalent (TAE)/g ER, respectively. Total proanthocyanidin contents were 346.09, 63.50, 103.76, 288.62, 231.99, and 358.48 μg CE/g ER, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activities of solvent fractions from methanolic extract of sericea lespedeza were 20.62, 5.16, 9.29, 20.80, 20.00 and 20.79 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g ER, and ABTS radical scavenging activities were 33.86, 9.24, 17.36, 33.76, 33.49, and 33.86 mg TE/g ER, respectively. SOD-like activities were 4.12, 0.61, 2.01, 9.89, 13.47, and 11.82 units/mL, and α-glucosidase inhibition activities were 93.85 and 61.64% at concentrations of 50 and 25 μg/mL in the water fraction, respectively. The results of this study show that notable antioxidant activities in sericea lespedeza have significant health benefits.
Band ratio model for remote estimating the water quality parameters in small inland water bodies based on Landsat ETM+ data

This work tries to explore how the remote sensing could be used in monitoring of selected water quality (WQ) parameters in small inland water bodies. The respective models to estimate the water quality parameters were proposed based on the Landsat 7 ETM+ images taken in 6 samplings from May 2012 to September 2014. The images used were scenes of WRS-2, path and row 191/25, as well as 190/25, respectively. Samples were taken from 13 water bodies, from which 9 water bodies (20–90 Ha) were used in modelling (and some removed due to clouds and imagery gaps). The WQ parameters were chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), Total Carbon (TC), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Nitrogen (TN), Temperature (T), and Secchi Disk Depth (SDD). The 3 × 3 moving average-window technique with a water-only-mask approach was used in order to limit the process toward the water areas only. The best models based on the surface reflectance (T based on brightness temperature [K]) showed a correlation r between 0.78 and 0.90 and NRMSE between 16.6 % and 8.0 %, respectively, for all the water quality indicators. This has proved that all the parameters can be remotely estimated. The models and workflow scheme created are intended to help to institutions mandated in the monitoring of water bodies.
Feature Image Watermarking Based on Bicubic Interpolation of Wavelet Coefficients Using CRT

The main objective of watermarking method is to improve the robustness and imperceptibility. This paper introduces an improved CRT watermarking method using absolute value of interpolated wavelet coefficients aiming to improve the imperceptibility and robustness. The standard CRT method embeds the watermark bits on the blocks of pixels evenly. Hence, it can significantly reduce the quality of watermarked images when the watermark lies on the homogeneous area. Otherwise, the proposed method is embedding the watermark bits on the heterogeneous area by sorting the absolute magnitude of wavelet coefficients descending. The wavelet coefficients are selected from high frequency wavelet sub band HH. This scheme is able to determine the appropriate embedding location in certain range of value. The watermark bits are then embedding on the selected pixel value using CRT scheme. The result shows that the average imperceptibility value the CRT is 0.9980 while the proposed method has average value of 0.9993. On robustness against compression, the proposed method achieves better result compared to the CRT with the average NC values of 0.7916 higher than the CRT value of 0.7530. These prove that the proposed method has better performance in term of imperceptibility and robustness against compression than the CRT method.
Ameliorating the Effect of Drought Stress through Integrated Application of ACC-deaminase Containing Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and Biogas Slurry to Improve the Growth and Productivity of Wheat Crop

Drought is one of the major environmental threats to global food security. The application of ACC-deaminase containing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is effective to ameliorate the adverse effects of drought stress. Biogas slurry (BGS) improves water holding capacity of soil and enhances the soil fertility status thus promoting productivity of crops. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the integrated use of ACC-deaminase containing PGPR and biogas slurry to improve growth and yield of wheat crop under drought stress. Wheat seeds were inoculated with strains of Alcaligenes faecalis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Pseudomonas moraviensis alone and in combination with BGS @ 600 kg ha. The crop was subjected to water deficit stress at various water holding capacity (WHC) levels i.e., 100, 70 and 50% WHC. The results revealed that the drought stress adversely effects on growth, biochemical and yield parameters of wheat. However, application of PGPR with biogas slurry enhanced wheat growth under drought stressed conditions. The Pseudomonas moraviensis inoculation amended with BGS resulted significantly better in increasing the grain and biological yield (up to 46.7 and 40.5%, respectively) at 50% WHC level than the respective uninoculated control. Similarly, PGPR inoculation amended with BGS enhanced the mineral nutrients i.e., nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus contents in straw and grains of wheat. It was concluded that the PGPR application amended with BGS could be used as an efficient strategy to improve wheat growth and yield under water deficit stressed conditions. © 2019 Friends Science Publishers
Endogenous Cost Lobbying: Theory and Evidence

Special interests attempt to influence lawmakers through campaign contributions and through informational lobbying. Both avenues have been explored extensively in theoretical models. Only the former, however, has received much empirical scrutiny. We provide the first empirical tests of the major class of models of costly legislative lobbying, the Potters-van Winden-Grossman-Helpman (PWGH) model. To do so, we extend a simple PWGH model to encompass situations in which a legislature adjusts a pre-existing policy only periodically. We then test predictions of the model using data derived from over 50,000 observations of annual lobbying expenditures by special interest groups in the American states. We find that, as predicted, special interest groups 1) increase lobbying expenditures when the legislature is controlled by "enemies" rather than by "friends"; 2) increase lobbying expenditures in budget years in states with biennial budgeting, relative to budget years in states with annual budgeting; and, 3) increasingly exit the lobbying process as lobbying costs rise. Overall, the results provide substantial empirical support for the PWGH class of signaling models of interest group lobbying in legislative settings.