Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soluble protein contents from in-vivo and in-vitro sources of Brassica juncea, var. poorbiraya, under salt stress

Soluble protein contents, produced under salt stress, from in vivo and in vitro sources of Brassica juncea were evaluated. Salt stress was created by NaCl alone and by combination of NaCl + CaCl2. 2H2O + MgSO4.7H2O ranging from (control) 0 to 200mM equimolar strength. Results indicated a gradual increase in soluble protein contents in in vitro samples while in vivo samples showed gradual decrease in protein contents under increasing salt stress conditions. In vitro studies might establish possible co-relation, between salt stress, water stress, proteins and antioxidant.
The persuasiveness of online safety cues: The impact of prevention focus compatibility of Web content on consumers’ risk perceptions, attitudes, and intentions

Safety cues are frequently used in online stores to relieve consumers’ risk perceptions concerning online purchases. This paper uses regulatory focus theory (RFT) to predict the persuasiveness of online safety cues. According to RFT (Higgins, 1997), people process information differently depending on whether they strive for achieving gains (promotion focus) or avoiding losses (prevention focus). The aim of the present study is to examine the impact of the regulatory focus compatibility of Web content on online consumer behavior. Using different online stores, two experiments show that the effect of online safety cues depends on the consumers'regulatory focus. A pilot study demonstrates that safety-oriented Web content lowers consumers’ risk perceptions, but only when in a prevention focus. The main study replicates and extends this finding by showing that online safety cues both lower consumers’ risk perceptions and engender more favorable attitudes and intentions, depending on the regulatory focus.
ETHNOMEDICINAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF FLACOURTIA JANGOMAS: A REVIEW

Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch. , a small tree of Willow family distributed throughout tropical regions of East Africa and Asia is well-known for its culinary and medicinal uses. The plant has received increasing interest due to its limonoid constituents. Phytochemical studies have led to the isolation and characterization of an array of bioactive compounds and pharmacological investigations have validated the traditional uses of the species as well as discovered some new bioefficacies. The aim of the review is to present an updated and comprehensive overview of traditional uses, ethnomedicinal significance, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of F. jangomas to highlight its ethnopharmacological use and to explore its therapeutic potentials thereby providing a basis for future research. Relevant information and literature on F. jangomas from electronic databases such as Academic Journals, Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct were consulted and analyzed. Available literatures evidently demonstrate that F. jangomas possess a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities that could be explained by the presence of varied range of chemical constituents. Phytochemical and pharmacological investigations showed that extracts of different parts and major active components of F. jangomas had antimicrobial, analgesic, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal , antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. This emphasizes the need for further investigation to explore more bioactive chemical constituents and new bioefficacies of the plant and to establish a credible relationship between molecular structure and activity of compounds.
Are Anomalous Cosmic Rays the Main Contribution to the Low-Energy Galactic Cosmic Ray Spectrum?

While the high-energy part of the Galactic cosmic ray spectrum is well observed, its nature at energies below about 1 GeV nucleon-1 is still not known well. Recent in situ measurements made with the Voyager 1 spacecraft in the heliosheath between the solar wind termination shock and the heliopause have added further constraints on the local interstellar spectrum of Galactic cosmic rays at low energies. We show here that they also suggest how the low-energy proton part is formed locally in the heliosphere and globally in the Galaxy. The measured flux of anomalous cosmic rays in the heliosheath is unexpectedly high compared to expectations before Voyager 1 reached the shock, which might be a temporal effect or due to an additional acceleration beyond the termination shock. Combining this finding with recent model results for astrospheres immersed in different interstellar environments shows that the astrospheric anomalous cosmic ray fluxes of solar-type stars can be a hundred times higher than thought earlier and, consequently, their total contribution to the lower end of the interstellar spectrum can be significant.
Optimization of Olive Oil Extraction Process by Response Surface Methodology

Extraction yield and product quality of olive oil depend on various factors, particularly fruit’s maturity and processing methods. In this present study, kneading process was optimized by response surface methodology in terms of oil yield and quality parameters. As a sample, olive fruits were used at two different maturity stages (purple versus black stages). Prediction of response was proposed with a full quadratic second order regression equation, and regression parameters were checked for each model in order to evaluate model’s adequacy. Proposed models for yield and some quality parameters of olive oil were good enough for a successful prediction of experimental results. Oil yield was maximized as free acidity and peroxide value were controlled under the specified corresponding values for “extra virgin olive oil”. Optimal kneading conditions for oil production were at 30°C for 45 min for purple fruits and 28°C for 55 min for black counterparts.
Recent advances in understanding neocortical development

The neocortex is the largest part of the mammalian brain and is the seat of our higher cognitive functions. This outstanding neural structure increased massively in size and complexity during evolution in a process recapitulated today during the development of extant mammals. Accordingly, defects in neocortical development commonly result in severe intellectual and social deficits. Thus, understanding the development of the neocortex benefits from understanding its evolution and disease and also informs about their underlying mechanisms. Here, I briefly summarize the most recent and outstanding advances in our understanding of neocortical development and focus particularly on dorsal progenitors and excitatory neurons. I place special emphasis on the specification of neural stem cells in distinct classes and their proliferation and production of neurons and then discuss recent findings on neuronal migration. Recent discoveries on the genetic evolution of neocortical development are presented with a particular focus on primates. Progress on all these fronts is being accelerated by high-throughput gene expression analyses and particularly single-cell transcriptomics. I end with novel insights into the involvement of microglia in embryonic brain development and how improvements in cultured cerebral organoids are gradually consolidating them as faithful models of neocortex development in humans.
Electronic and chemical property of amorphous carbon, hydrocarbon, hydrogenated / hydrogen free carbon nitride: spectroscopic study

The comparative study of chemical properties and electronic bond structure of amorphous carbon (a-C), hydrocarbon (a-HC), carbon nitride (a-CNx) and hydrogenated carbon nitride (a-HCNy) is reported here. The spectroscopic analyses suggest that the presence of oxide layer is not only the prime cause but the presence of nitrogen is partially responsible for the chemical shift towards higher binding energy. In x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), C 1s spectra of a-HCNy film shows higher chemical shifts compare to a-C, a-HC and a-CNx. Raman spectra display a strong fluorescence effect of a-HC and a-HCNy where as a-C and a-CNx exhibits a promising G and D band at room temperature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra show a large NH-OH over lapping region in a-HCNy compare to a-HC and a-CNx film whereas it is negligible in a-C. FTIR spectra show that the a-C, a-HC and a-CNx films are dominated by sp2 bonded region while a-HCNy is the mixture of sp2, sp3 and hydrogen bridging bond.
U-bend fibre optic pH sensors using layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly technique

A layer-by-layer assembly technique is used to coat layers of nano-thin-films of pH indicator on a U-bend optical fibre to create an effective sensor, using neutral red as the active element. The experimental results characterizing such a pH sensor shows a wide pH sensing range (from pH5 to pH10) fast response.
CHARACTERIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF STRAIN KM221, A NOVEL MCPA HERBICIDE-DEGRADING BACTERIUM ISOLATED FROM CORAL SURFACE, MENJANGAN KECIL ISLAND, KARIMUNJAWA

In this study, bacterial strain KM221 was isolated from coral tissue in Menjangan Kecil Island, Karimunjawa, Indonesia. This strain is facultative anaerobic with MCPA (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy acetic acid) serving as the only known energy sources. Microscopy of isolate revealed that strain KM221 is gram-positive, catalase-positive, rod, spore-forming bacterium, motile, opaque, hair-like outgrowth and unpigmented colonies. The bacterium could not be identified on the basis of its carbon-sourceutilization pattern, but a partial sequencing of the 16S rDNA analysis suggest that this strain is closely related to Bacillus iodinum.The ability to degrade MCPA herbicide was examined qualitatively in EMBA indicator medium. This bacterium grew exponentially with MCPA as the sole source of energy and carbon. The maximum growth rate (μ max) and the saturated concentration on MCPA (Cs) were determined to be 0.8024 h-1 and 5.10 mg/l MCPA, respectively.
Analysis of Cloud-Based E-government Services Acceptance in Jordan: Challenges and Barriers

There is increasing evidence that the Cloud Computing services have become a strategic direction for governments' IT work by the dawn of the third-millennium. The inevitability of this computing technology has been recognized not only in the developed countries like the UK, USA and Japan, but also in the developing countries like the Middle East region and Malaysia, who have launched migrations towards Cloud platforms for more flexible, open, and collaborative public services. In Jordan, the cloud-based e-government project has been deemed as one of the high priority areas for the government agencies. In spite of its phenomenal evolution, various governmental cloudbased services still facing adoption challenges of egovernment projects like technological, humanaspects, social, and financial which need to be treated and considered carefully by any government agency contemplating its implementation. While there have been extensive efforts to investigate the egovernment adoption from the citizens' perspective using different theories and models, none have paid adequate attention to the security issues. This paper explores the different perspectives of the extent in which these challenges inhibit the acceptance and use of cloud computing in Jordanian public sector. In addition to examining the effect of these challenges on the participants’ security perception. The empirical evidence provided a total of 220 valid responses to our online questionnaire from Jordanian citizens including ITstaff from different government sectors. Based on the data analysis some significant challenges were identified. The results can help the policy makers in the public sector to guide successful acceptance and adoption of cloudbased e-government services in Jordan.
A PRELIMINARY ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF HEIGHT AND SEX DETERMINATION USING PERCUTANEOUS ULNAR AND FEMORAL LENGTHS

Address for Correspondence: Prof. Dr. Chrissie Stansie Abaidoo, Department of Anatomy School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, Tel: +233 208 126 817, E-Mail: knustsmsanat@gmail.com Osteometric indices have a direct relationship with sex, height, age and race of an individual. These factors play a pivotal role in the identification of an individual. There are very few reports in Ghana on the use of bones for personal identification as compared to the developed world. Therefore the present study sought to use the ulna and femur as models for height and sex determination. One hundred undergraduate students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi made up of 55% males and 45% females between the ages of 18 45 years were recruited for the study. The total standing height, ulnar and femoral lengths were measured. The data was analysed using excel and SPSS version 20.0. In the present study, males were taller than females (p < 0.05). Ulnar and femoral lengths were significantly higher in the male participants than in the females. Ulnar length was the better index for estimating height and the right femoral length was the better model for sex determination in the participants. Therefore the ulnar and right femoral lengths can serve as preliminary useful tools for height and sex determination. The results of this study serve as baseline data for future studies.
An empirical study on the influence of environmental labels on consumers

Purpose – Despite research studies indicating strong support for labelling information, uncertainty remains with respect to how labels influence consumers. This paper attempts to empirically investigate how consumers who differ in terms of environmentalism respond to labels.Design/methodology/approach – The data were collected on an Australian sample using a structured questionnaire administered on the phone using quantum research (CATI) data collection services. A total of 155 questionnaires were completed and used for data analysis. The data were analysed using both descriptive measures and correlations between variables.Findings – There appears to be a proportion of consumers that find product labels hard to understand. The research found that there are consumers who will buy green products even if they are lower in quality in comparison to alternative products, but would look for environmental information on labels. With respect to price sensitive green consumers, there appears to be a relationship be.
Coronary risk stratification of patients with newly diagnosed heart failure

Objective Coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequent in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure (HF). Multislice CT (MSCT) is a non-invasive alternative to coronary angiography (CAG) suggested for patients with a low-to-intermediate risk of CAD. No established definition of such patients exists. Our purpose was to develop a simple score to identify as large a group as possible with a suitable pretest risk of CAD. Methods Retrospective study of patients in Denmark undergoing CAG due to newly diagnosed HF from 2010 to 2014. All Danish patients were registered in two databases according to geographical location. We used data from one registry and multiple logistic regression with backwards elimination to find predictors of CAD and used the derived OR to develop a clinical risk score called the CT-HF score, which was subsequently validated in the other database. Results The main cohort consisted of 2171 patients and the validation cohort consisted of 2795 patients with 24% and 27% of patients having significant CAD, respectively. Among significant predictor, the strongest was extracardiac arteriopathy (OR 2.84). Other significant factors were male sex, smoking, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, angina and age. A proposed cut-off of 9 points identified 61% of patients with a 15% risk of having CAD, resulting in an estimated savings of 15% of the cost and 21% of the radiation. Conclusions A simple score based on clinical risk factors could identify HF patients with a low risk of CAD; these patients may have benefitted from MSCT as a gatekeeper for CAG.
Reduction of Harmonics Contained in the Input Power Supply - Dynamic Tool for Current Source Full-Bridge Inverter Based Induction Heater

This paper highlights an approach to drastically minimize the injection of unwanted harmonics to the input power supply incorporating an LC low-pass filter (LPF) which is fitted in between the high frequency current source full bridge inverter used in induction heater and input power supply. This LPF protects the other consumers those are connected on the same power line from the spurious signals. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) has been used to perceive between the fundamental and the unwanted harmonics. It is a better analytic tool for diagonising all spurious signals in the frequency domain. From the result of PSIM simulation, it has been established that the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) get reduced drastically from 49.63% to below 4.768% by incorporating the LPF. Streszczenie. W artykule opisano metode minimalizacji zawartości harmonicznych w wysokoczestotliwościowym pelno-mostkowym przeksztaltniku stosowanym do nagrzewania indukcyjnego. Zastosowany filt dolnoprzepustowy chroni innych uzytkownikow sieci przed niepoządanymi zakloceniami. Redukcja zawartości harmonicznych w prądowym zasilaczu prądowym stosowanym do nagrzewania indukcyjnego
Resistance training and hormone replacement increase MMP-2 activity, quality and quantity of bone in ovariectomized rats

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of resistance training (RT) and hormone replacement (HR) on MMP-2 activity, biomechanical and physical properties bone of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley female rats were grouped into six experimental groups (n = 11 per group): sham-operated sedentary (SHAM Sed), ovariectomized sedentary (OVX Sed), sham-operated resistance training (SHAM RT), ovariectomized resistance training (OVX RT), ovariectomized sedentary hormone replacement (OVX Sed-HR), and ovariectomized resistance training hormone replacement (OVX RT-HR). HR groups received implanted silastic capsules with a 5% solution of 17β-estradiol (50 mg 17β-estradiol/ml of sunflower oil). In a 12-week RT period (27 sessions; 4–9 climbs) the animals climbed a 1.1 m vertical ladder with weights attached to their tails. Biomechanical and physical bone analyses were performed using a universal testing machine, and MMP-2 activity analysis was done by zymography Results: Bone density and bone mineral content was higher in the RT and HR groups. The MMP-2 activity was higher in the RT and HR groups. The biomechanical analysis (stiffness, fracture load and maximum load) demonstrated better bone tissue quality in the RT associated with HR. Conclusion: The RT alone as well as when it is associated with HR was efficient in increasing MMP-2 activity, biomechanical and biophysical properties bone of ovariectomized rats.
Acoustic estimation of size distribution and abundance of zooplankton

A series of investigations were undertaken to observe and describe the sound backscattering process from larger zooplankton (euphausiids). The target strength versus frequency, size, and aspect angle of the organism was measured. The target strength is highly dependent on the density and sound speed contrasts between the target and the medium, and both these parameters were measured. From the target strength observations it was concluded that the fluid sphere model was insufficient as a scattering model for krill. Observations of the tilt angle distribution of krill at natural field conditions showed that they were distributed over a large region of tilt angles. The deficiencies of the fluid sphere models required the development of a new scattering model based on experimental data. This model predicts a decreasing target strength versus frequency in the geometric scattering region. The backscattering spectra of euphausiids were better described by our empirical model than by the fluid sphere models. Appl.
Detection of clinically relevant epidermal growth factor receptor pathway mutations in circulating cell-free tumor DNA using next generation sequencing in squamous cell carcinoma lung

Abstract Background: Limited repertoires of targets are available in the management of squamous cell carcinoma lung. In this study, we analyzed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), RAS, BRAF mutations in lung cancer patients of squamous cell histology using next-generation sequencing (NGS) on the circulating cell-free DNA (cf-DNA). Materials and Methods: In this prospective observational study, patients with squamous cell carcinoma lung, either newly diagnosed or having a progressive disease on prior therapy were eligible. Cf-DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and analyzed for EGFR, KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutations using NGS. Results: Sixteen patients were enrolled over a period of 1 month. The mean cf-DNA quantity extracted from the plasma was 96.5 ng (range, 15–200 ng). Eight clinically relevant mutations in the EGFR pathway were identified. These include Exon 21 mutations in 4 patients, Exon 20 mutation in onepatient, complex mutations with coexisting Exon 21 and Exon18 in one patient and KRAS Exon 2 mutations in two patients. Conclusion: cf-DNA is a minimally invasive technique for detection of clinically relevant mutations in lung cancer patients. The use of novel advanced techniques such as NGS may help in detecting EGFR pathway mutations in patients with squamous cell carcinoma lung.
Mobile phone text-messaging interventions aimed to prevent cardiovascular diseases (Text2PreventCVD): systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis

Background A variety of small mobile phone text-messaging interventions have indicated improvement in risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet the extent of this improvement and whether it impacts multiple risk factors together is uncertain. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis to investigate the effects of text-messaging interventions for CVD prevention. Methods Electronic databases were searched to identify trials investigating a text-messaging intervention focusing on CVD prevention with the potential to modify at least two CVD risk factors in adults. The main outcome was blood pressure (BP). We conducted standard and IPD meta-analysis on pooled data. We accounted for clustering of patients within studies and the primary analysis used random-effects models. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed. Results Nine trials were included in the systematic review involving 3779 participants and 5 (n=2612) contributed data to the IPD meta-analysis. Standard meta-analysis showed that the weighted mean differences are as follows: systolic blood pressure (SBP), −4.13 mm Hg (95% CI −11.07 to 2.81, p<0.0001); diastolic blood pressure (DBP), −1.11 mm Hg (−1.91 to −0.31, p=0.002); and body mass index (BMI), −0.32 (−0.49 to −0.16, p=0.000). In the IPD meta-analysis, the mean difference are as follows: SBP, −1.3 mm Hg (−5.4 to 2.7, p=0.5236); DBP, −0.8 mm Hg (−2.5 to 1.0, p=0.3912); and BMI, −0.2 (−0.8 to 0.4, p=0.5200) in the random-effects model. The impact on other risk factors is described, but there were insufficient data to conduct meta-analyses. Conclusion Mobile phone text-messaging interventions have modest impacts on BP and BMI. Simultaneous but small impacts on multiple risk factors are likely to be clinically relevant and improve outcome, but there are currently insufficient data in pooled analyses to examine the extent to which simultaneous reduction in multiple risk factors occurs. PROSPERO registration number CRD42016033236.