Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wideband quin-stable energy harvesting via combined nonlinearity

In this work, we propose a wideband quintuple-well potential piezoelectric-based vibration energy harvester using a combined nonlinearity: the magnetic nonlinearity induced by magnetic force and the piecewise-linearity produced by mechanical impact. With extra stable states compared to other multi-stable harvesters, the quin-stable harvester can distribute its potential energy more uniformly, which provides shallower potential wells and results in lower excitation threshold for interwell motion. The mathematical model of this quin-stable harvester is derived and its equivalent piecewise-nonlinear restoring force is measured in the experiment and identified as piecewise polynomials. Numerical simulations and experimental verifications are performed in different levels of sinusoid excitation ranging from 1 to 25 Hz. The results demonstrate that, with lower potential barriers compared with tri-stable counterpart, the quin-stable arrangement can escape potential wells more easily for doing high-energy interwe.
Challenges of private provision of potable water in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and its Socio-economic implications

Water is a basic and necessary requirement for the existence of animals and plants, yet it is limited in supply in several parts of the world. Surges in human population and demand for water for different purposes such as agricultural, domestic and industrial usages are the major factors leading to water scarcity. Nigeria and the study area are blessed with abundant water resources including surface and groundwater, yet there is a palpable lack of adequate and safe potable water. Consequently, the populace resorts to private sources of water supply which has its negative externalities even though the effort seems laudable. Based on the above, the study examined the proliferation of private water supply, its challenges and socio-economic implications in Obio /Akpor local government area. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey, and data were collected with the use of both closed and open-ended questionnaire. It also involved the collection of the private borehole points with the use of a handheld global positioning system (GPS). Data were analyzed using the descriptive method of analysis and data presented in charts and tables. The result of the study showed that there were no specific distances maintained between borehole points, a good number of borehole locations were clustered in some parts of the study area. Also, distances between soakaway pits and borehole points were inadequate in some communities. Based on the prevalent minimum wage in the study area, both households that operate boreholes and those that buy water spent more. Some of the socio-economic implications of private provision of water supply include too much spending on water, creation of livelihoods for water vendors and vulnerability to waterborne disease such as typhoid since there is no minimum standard for borehole drilling and distance in the study area. The study recommended that the government should develop a private borehole drilling standard that would include the minimum distance that must be maintained between two boreholes on vertical and horizontal lines. Also, the activities of the private water vendors should be regulated, and operating license obtained before operating commercial boreholes. The study concluded thus, there should be a synergy between the private and public sector to ensure safe and affordable water supply since their activities cannot be undermined.
Can Brain Natriuretic Peptide Be Used as an Indicator of Over-infusion in Patients with Acute Sepsis? : A Pilot Study Evaluating Correlation Between Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Global End-diastolic Volume Index

Background: Recently, for patients with sepsis, under-infusion, that hastens the progression to multiple organ failure and death, has been avoided; however, the rate of over-infusion and resulting complications, such as mortality has increased. There are few indicators of over-infusion, such as transpulmonary thermodilution; therefore, minimally invasive, simple, and quick indicators of over-infusion are needed. This pilot study aimed to determine the association between brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and global end-diastolic volume index (GEDI). Methods: This was a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter prospective randomized controlled study, performed in the intensive care units (ICU) of 10 separate hospitals in Japan from September 2013 to March 2016. Patients with sepsis who were expected to require mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours were included. We measured BNP and GEDI every 24 hours from ICU admission until next 72 hours. The primary outcome was the correlation between BNP and GEDI that was assessed in two ways: 1) GEDI considered a continuous variable, and 2) GEDI divided into two groups based on a cutoff of 850 ml/m2, which is the upper limit of normal GEDI. We used a univariable generalized linear mixed-effects model in which patients are considered as a random effect.Results: Fifty-seven patients were analyzed. GEDI remained under the upper limit of normal GEDI (850 ml/m2) from ICU admission to 72 h, and there were no significant changes in the trends of BNP and GEDI over time. BNP tended to be higher in group 1 (GEDI >850 ml/m2) from ICU admission to 72 h, but there was no significant difference in the BNP values. The regression coefficient and 95%CI of BNP for GEDI were 2.5 and 1.3 to 3.7 when considered as a continuous variable, and 166 and -273 to 605 when divided into two groups based on GEDI cutoff of 850 ml/m2. Conclusion: There could be a weak but significant correlation between GEDI and BNP considering GEDI as a continuous variable. Using BNP as an indicator of over-infusion may be possible; however, further studies are needed.Trial registration: None.
EFFECT OF PERCEIVED FAIRNESS IN PAY SYSTEM ON WORK-RELATED ATTITUDE

Perceived fairness in pay system has two critical features, namely procedural fairness and distributive fairness. Recent studies have shown that the capability of employers to propose and administer pay systems appropriately, including allocating pay and determining the value of pay in a fair manner, has a positive association with employees’ work-related attitude. Although this association has been well-researched, the role of perceived fairness as a vital predicting variable of work-related attitude, particularly towards job satisfaction and organizational commitment, has still not been thoroughly deliberated. Hence, this study fills this gap. Self-report survey questionnaires were collected from the employees of a public audit agency in Peninsular Malaysia. Smart PLS software was utilized to assess the quality of the research instrument and test the research hypotheses. The results of hypothesis testing confirm that perceived procedural fairness and distributive fairness in managing the pay system, are important determinants of job satisfaction and organizational commitment in the examined organization. Additionally, this study offers useful guidelines for practitioners to improve the pay management system and proposes future studies.
The impact of carbon black morphology and dispersion on the weatherability of polyethylene

Carbon black is one of the most widely used and most effective ultraviolet (UV) light stabilizers for plastics applications. Several important segments of the plastics industry rely on carbon black for UV stabilization of weather-resistant products, including telecommunications and power cable jacketing plastic pipes, geosynthetic membranes and agricultural films. Recent research at Cabot Corporation confirms that the quality of the dispersion of the carbon black in a plastic medium (i.e polyethylene) is an important component of both the UV-resistance and mechanical properties of the finished plastic article, There is a significant body of research into the linkage between carbon black morphology, including particle size, and UV performance, There is also anecdotal evidence demonstrating the linkage between dispersion quality and overall weatherability. In this study, Cabot will demonstrate that incremental improventents of carbon black dispersion can positively influence the expected life of plastic articles. With industry standard carbon blacks as a reference point. Cabot documents the morphological considerations of UV energy absorption and presents laboratory data demonstrating the link between dispersion and weatherability as well as between morphology and weatherability.
Influence of sex and diet on the gastrointestinal tract in a mice model with partial deficiency for TGF-β3

The transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family plays a role in fibrosis and has been involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic gastrointestinal (GI) tract disease that can affect both sexes. Importantly, this is increasingly prevalent in industrialized countries due to changes in lifestyle and diets. The family comprises three isoforms: TGFβ1, TGFβ2 and TGFβ3. While TGFβ1 has an established role in fibrosis, the pathophysiological relevance of the two other isoforms is unclear. Here we evaluated the possible functional and structural alterations of the GI tract and sex influence in an experimental model with partial deficiency of TGF-β3, due to lethality of the homozygous null mouse. Wild-type (WT) and heterozygous for TGF-β3 (HZ) mice of both sexes were exposed to control or high fat diet (HFD), as a possible model of IBD. After oral administration of a radiopaque marker, faeces were collected for 4 h, weighed and exposed to X-rays for GI transit evaluation. Body weight, size/length and histology of the GI organs were also evaluated. No typical signs of IBD were detected. WT females presented lower body weight, delayed GI transit and an increased relative size of the GI organs when compared to males. The HZ genotype modified the latency of expulsion of marked faeces, in a sex and diet dependent manner, without producing macroscopic structural alterations in the GI tract. Moreover, submucosa thickness was decreased in HZ male mice under control diet. HFD increased body weight, accelerated GI transit and decreased GI organs size, especially in females. Importantly, HFD partly counteracted the effects of TGF-β3 heterozygosity on the latency of marked faeces expulsion. To conclude, sex, diet and TGF-β3 genotype alter the GI tract motility and structure, with a possible impact on the IBD development associated with obesity, yet to be determined.
Effects of Preoperative Oral Carbohydrate Electrolyte Drinks on Preoperative Hypokalemia Incidence in Patients Scheduled for Laparoscopic Colorectal Resection: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: In our previous study, hypokalemia incidence was high in patients scheduled for laparoscopic colorectal resection. The present trial was conducted to verify the effects of preoperative carbohydrate drinks containing potassium in these patients.Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to control, placebo, and case groups. In control group, patients were fasted from midnight. In placebo group, patients were fasted from midnight and received carbohydrate drinks 2–3 h before surgery. In case group, patients were fasted from midnight and received carbohydrate drinks containing potassium supplementation 2–3 h before surgery. The primary outcome was the incidence and severity of preoperative hypokalemia. The other outcomes included postoperative gastrointestinal function, including the time to postoperative first flatus (FFL) and first feces (FFE) and other complications. Results: The final analysis included 122 participants. The incidence of preoperative hypokalemia in case group was significantly lower than that in control and placebo groups (50% vs. 88.1% vs. 77.5%, p < 0.001). The severity of hypokalemia in control and placebo groups was greater than that in case group. No regurgitation or aspiration occurred in the three groups. No significant differences were observed among the three groups regarding time to FFL and FFE. Conclusions: Preoperative carbohydrate drinks containing potassium may have significantly reduced the incidence of preoperative hypokalemia and improved preoperative thirst and hunger, but did not improve postoperative well-being. However, as part of the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol, preoperative carbohydrate drinks containing potassium should be recommended, as early as first admittance to hospital. Trial registration: The study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry at www.chictr. org on February 7, 2017 (registration number: ChiCTR-IOR-17010561).
Adiponectin as novel biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in insulin resistance and obesity – a narrative review

Szydełko Joanna, Trojanowska Paulina, Dąbrowska Izabela, Szydełko-Gorzkowicz Magdalena, Litwińczuk Michał. Adiponectin as novel biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in insulin resistance and obesity – a narrative review. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2020;10(9):591-606. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi. org/10.12775/JEHS.2020. 10.09. 071 https://apcz.umk. pl/czasopisma/index.php/JEHS/article/view/JEHS.2020. 10.09. 071 https://zenodo.org/record/4046177
Combined use of a resistance inducer (Agro-Mos®) and micronutrients for the control of Meloidogyne javanica in soybean

Elicitors of plant resistance are compounds that activate enzymatic processes involved in plant defense. Micronutrients also play an important role in plant responses against pathogens because they function as enzyme cofactors. Despite their well-known benefits, elicitors and micronutrients have been little investigated in nematode control. This study aimed to assess the effects of Agro-Mos ® (a commercial biostimulant) and micronutrients (Zn and Mn), alone and combined, on soybean inoculated with Meloidogyne javanica. Seeds of soybean were sown in trays, treated 15 days after germination, and inoculated with 2000 eggs and juveniles of M. javanica at the time of transplanting. Treatments were as follows: 1 L/ha Agro-Mos ® , 2 L/ha Metalosate ® Zinc, 1.5 L/ha Metalosate ® Manganese, Agro-Mos ® + Zn, Agro-Mos ® + Mn, and Agro-Mos ® + Zn + Mn. Untreated inoculated and uninoculated plants were used as controls. At 60 days after inoculation, plants were harvested and evaluated for vegetative growth, nutrient content, and nematode parameters. All treatments were effective in reducing M. javanica population density in roots compared to the control. Agro-Mos ® , Agro-Mos ® + Zn, and Agro-Mos ® + Zn + Mn were the most effective, reducing total nematode number and population density by 55–78% (P ≤ 0.05) in relation to the control. Agro-Mos ® + Zn increased shoot dry weight. The results show that balanced fertilization can be used as part of an integrated nematode control strategy.
Potential use of hyperspectral data to monitor sugarcane nitrogen status

Nitrogen management in crops is a key activity for agricultural production. Methods that can determine the levels of this element in plants in a quick and non-invasive way are extremely important for improving production systems. Within several fronts of study on this subject, proximal and remote sensing methods are promising techniques. In this regard, this research sought to demonstrate the relationships between variations in leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and sugarcane spectral behaviour. The work was carried out in three experimental areas in São Paulo State, Brazil, with different soils, varieties and nitrogen rates during the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons. A significant correlation was observed between the LNC and variations in the sugarcane spectra. The green and red-edge spectral bands were the most consistent and stable predictors of LNC among the evaluated harvests. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis (MSLR) generated better models for LNC estimation when calibrated with experimental area, independent of the variety. The present research demonstrates that specific wavelengths are associated with the variation in LNC in sugarcane, and these are reported in the green region (near 550 nm) and in the red-edge wavelengths (680 to 720 nm). These results may help in future research on the direct in situ application of nitrogen fertilizers.
Role of Iron-group Metals in the Induced Codeposition of Molybdenum from Aqueous Solution

Binary and ternary alloys of molybdenum with iron-group metals were electrodeposited from ammoniacal tartrate baths under galvanostatic conditions. The relationship between the composition of electrodeposited alloys and the cathode current efficiency indicated the two characteristic alloy compositions; the one appeared at a maximum partial current efficiency of molybdenum and the other corresponded to the limiting content of molybdenum. These characteristic alloy compositions were discussed in connection with the mechanism of the induced codeposition of molybdenum based on the electronic structure of the iron-group metals. codeposition of Mo was discussed. mechanism results
Efficacy and Safety of a New Protocol for Fast Intubation in Patients With Covid-19 (Sars-Cov-2)

Introduction: Severe COVID-19 illness is characterized by the development of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), for which the mainstay of treatment is represented by mechanical ventilation. Mortality associated with ARDS due to other causes is in the range of 40-60% but currently available data are not yet sufficient to draw safe conclusions on the prognosis of COVID-19 patients who require mechanical ventilation. Materials and Methods: This is a Cross-sectional and retrospective study in which we want to determine if the new intubation protocol developed in our center is safe and efficient to achieve effective intubation in patients with COVID-19 as well as to avoid the transmission of the virus in anesthesiology specialists. Results: The average time to achieve an effective intubation was 49 seconds (range: 35-75 seconds). The number of patients in whom it was possible to achieve intubation on the first attempt was 55 (92.45%). The number of patients who failed to intubate on the first attempt was 4, corresponding to 7.55%. Conclusion: The protocol for intubation of patients COVID19 that we used demonstrated effective results at the time of its application, ensuring the safety of the participating health personnel, as well as all the intubation procedures that were carried out in an effective way.
Understanding insulin and nutrition administration in glycemic control with the right side of the brain

Background Critically ill patients frequently experience stress-induced hyperglycaemia, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Glycaemic control (GC) with insulin therapy alone has proven difficult, due to significant inter- and intra- patient variability in response to insulin therapy. This study reviews the problem and analyses the impact of physiological dynamics and patient variability on outcome glycemia. Methods A graphical model of metabolic dynamics is used to analyse the impact of fundamental glucose flux dynamics on insulin and nutrition administration in the context of maintaining a glycemic goal. It is used to delineate the limits of ability in controlling insulin and/or nutrition administration to achieve safe, effective glycemic control in critical illness in the presence of low insulin sensitivity and high insulin sensitivity variability. Results Insulin saturation limits insulin-mediated glucose uptake. At low insulin sensitivity, maintaining a glycemic target level requires reduced nutrition administration due to saturated insulin-mediated glucose uptake. Metabolic insulin sensitivity variability leads to insulin-mediated glucose uptake variability, requiring reduced nutrition administration at low insulin sensitivity and higher insulin doses to mitigate the risk of hypo- and hyper- glycemia. Conclusions This work reviews the clinical glycemic control problem using a graphically-based physiological analysis to show the need to control nutrition administration, along with insulin, to achieve safe, effective control. These reductions are necessary for highly insulin resistant patients, a condition typically occurring early in ICU stay. Glycemic control should directly control nutrition in addition to insulin to optimise all avenues of glucose flux and thus ensure safe, effective glycemic control.
Monitoring of Cysticercosis of rabbits in farms of different forms of ownership

The aim of the study was to determine the spread of pathogens of parasitic diseases in the digestive organs of rabbits in farms of various forms of ownership in Odesa Region. One thousand and two hundred rabbits of different age groups in specialized farms (which they use cage keeping of animals in compliance with all zoohygienic requirements and a balanced feeding ration), as well as 582 rabbits in private farms (which the type of feeding was mixed) were examined. Prevalence of parasitic infections of rabbits in specialized farms is 52.3%, in household farms — 85.1%. In specialized farms, prevalence of cysticercosis is 2.6% (with intensity of 3–7 cysticerci), eimeriosis — 14.0%, trichostrongylosis — 13.6%, and passalurosis — 20.6%, two-component (eimeriosis + cysticercosis) infection —1.0%, three-component (eimeriosis + cysticercosis + passalurosis) infection — 0.5%, total infestation (both mono- and mixed infections) with cysticerci — 4.1%. In homestead farms, prevalence of cysticercosis is 27.7% (with intensity of 21–64 cysticerci), eimeriosis — 15.6%, trichostrongylosis — 3.6%, and passalurosis — 6.7%, two-component (eimeriosis + cysticercosis) infection —24.2%, three-component (eimeriosis + cysticercosis + passalurosis) infection — 7.2%, total infestation (both mono- and mixed infections) with cysticerci — 59.1%. Cysticercosis is a common infection of rabbits in Odesa Region, which occurs often as part of mixed infections with pathogens eimeriosis and pasalurosis. The total infestation of rabbits with cysticerci in homestead farms was 55.0% higher than in specialized ones. One-component infestations in specialized farms is 97.1% of sick rabbits, and in homestead farms — 63.0%; two-component (eimeriosis + cysticercosis) infection — 1.9% and 28.5%, respectively; and three-component (eimeriosis + cysticercosis + passalurosis) infection — 1.0% and 8.5%, respectively
Bildung von Cyclonucleotiden bei Bestrahlung wäßriger Lösungen von Purinnucleotiden

A 8,5′-cyclonucleotide was shown to be a product in the γ-radiolysis of oxygen-free aqueous solutions of adenosine-5′-monophosphate. Evidence for this was obtained by NMR-spectroscopy and chemical degradation to 8-formyladenine, 8-hydroxymethyladenine and 8-carboxyadenine. The chromatographic and spectral data of these compounds are given. Irradiation of other purinnucleotides leads to similar cyclonucleotides.