Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Opioid transdermal delivery system: a useful method for pain management in children

Transdermal delivery system (TDDS) is a non-invasive and less expensive method for drug delivery. Despite its feasibility, only a restricted group of drugs can be delivered by TDDS, because of the little permeability of skin. Moreover, TDDS is limited to lipophilic drugs with small molecular masses and it is not indicated for peptides, macromolecules and hydrophilic drugs. Among opioids, fentanyl and buprenorphine are suitable for transdermal administration only for chronic pain management (not for acute pain). However, opioid TDDS still remains off-label for chronic pain management in children. In this review, we describe the main features of the adhesive TDDS and the main characteristics of pediatric skin and the differences from the adult one. Moreover, we focus on fentanyl and buprenorphine patches and their non-invasive mechanism of action, and on the main aspects that make them suitable for pain management among the pediatric population.
ISL: A novel approach for deep exploration

In this article we explore an alternative approach to address deep exploration and we introduce the ISL algorithm, which is efficient at performing deep exploration. Similarly to maximum entropy RL, we derive the algorithm by augmenting the traditional RL objective with a novel regularization term. A distinctive feature of our approach is that, as opposed to other works that tackle the problem of deep exploration, in our derivation both the learning equations and the exploration-exploitation strategy are derived in tandem as the solution to a well-posed optimization problem whose minimization leads to the optimal value function. Empirically we show that our method exhibits state of the art performance on a range of challenging deep-exploration benchmarks.
Microbiological study of Wakalim, a traditional Ethiopian fermented sausage

ABSTRACT: Wakalim is a traditional Ethiopian fermented beef sausage prepared and consumed commonly in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia. It has good keeping quality and the traditional processing technique is applicable at the household level. In this study, detailed information pertaining to the preparation processes and the raw materials used for its preparation was documented. Moreover, the safety quality of the ready-to-eat product was evaluated through microbiological analysis of the product as it was availed to the local consumers. The raw materials required for preparation of wakalim consist of lean meat (70%), fat (5%), salt (2%), garlic (1%), onion (17%) and other spices (5%). Wakalim samples were found to be dominated by aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), mainly aerobic spore formers (ASF), followed by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and staphylococci, with mean counts (log cfu/g) of 6.02, 4.70, and 4.59, respectively. Species of LAB isolated from wakalim samples mainly consisted of Pediococcus pentosaceus 1 (29%), Lactobacillus plantarum 1 (19%), Ped. pentosaceus 2 (17%), Lb. brevis 1 (16%), Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (6%), Lb. pentosus (4%), Lb. brevis 3 (3%), and other Lactobacillus and Pediococcus species (6%). The average pH and titratable acidity of wakalim samples were 5.35 and 6.4%, respectively.
Stabilizing Mutualisms Threatened by Exploiters: New Insights from Ant–Plant Research

Mutualisms are commonly threatened by parasites and cheaters: species that exploit the host‐derived resources without providing an adequate service. Here, we summarize mechanisms for the stabilization of obligate defensive ant–plant mutualisms, a typical element of tropical lowland forests. Host plants exert partner choice and can sanction non‐defending ants by shedding the domatia that serve as nesting space or ceasing the production of ant rewards. Hosts can also restrict the exploitation of the ant rewards by means of specific biochemical traits that decrease their quality for non‐adapted generalist exploiters and, thus, convert them into exclusive rewards. Reward provisioning can even shift the competitive balance between mutualists and exploiters in favor of the mutualists. In turn, plant‐ants show adaptations in their colony structure and changes in their digestive capacities that enhance their efficiency in the use of the host‐derived resources. Founding queens use plant odors for host choice behavior, and ants not supplied with adequate amounts of EFN decrease their defensive service and thereby exert partner sanctions. Theoretical models and empirical research into mutualisms usually focus on actions that are taken by the host. Using ant‐plants as model systems, we are now discovering the importance of contributions that come from the symbiont. This discovery indicates the potential for multiple reciprocal interactions between phenotypically plastic hosts and symbionts, which contribute significantly to what is still considered a miracle: the stability of mutualisms in the presence of exploiters.
The metabolic rate of roach in relation to body size and temperature

Standard and routine metabolic rates of roach Rutilus rutilus for a wide size and temperature range (3–200 g, 5–23° C) were analysed by automated, computerized intermittent flow respirometry. The mass exponent b ranged from 0·68 to 0·82 for standard metabolism, and from 0·65 to 0·92 for routine metabolism depending on the experimental temperature. For routine metabolism b was lowest at 10° C. At both decreasing and increasing temperatures, b increased significantly. Roach were exponentially temperature-dependent for both metabolic levels. For roach <20 g, however, an asymptotic relationship was observed between temperature and routine metabolic rate. The ‘flattening of the curve’ in the latter case may be explained by reduced spontaneous activities at the lower threshold of the preferred temperature range.
Structure of the Core Region from the Lipopolysaccharide of Plesiomonas shigelloides Strain 302-73 (Serotype O1)

Plesiomonas shigelloides is a Gram-negative pathogenic bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. To date, only few lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structures from P. shigelloides strains are known. In particular, three core oligosaccharides have been found. Recently, we elucidated the structure of the O-antigen of P. shigelloides 302-73 (serotype O1) and in this paper we present the characterization of the core structure from the LPS of the same strain. The LPS was hydrolyzed under both alkaline and mildly acidic conditions. In both cases, a mixture of oligosaccharides was obtained, which was purified by gel filtration and HPAEC. The oligosaccharides were characterized by chemical analysis, 2D NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. A new core structure was found for P. shigelloides. In particular, from the analysis of the acid hydrolysed product it was possible to reveal the presence of a of D-glycero-D-talo-2-octulopyranosonic acid (Ko) residue, which substitutes in part the terminal 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) unit. The Ko residue is not frequently found in core structures. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Commercial gaming devices for stroke upper limb rehabilitation: The stroke survivor experience

Introduction Approximately 30% of stroke survivors experience an upper limb impairment, which impacts on participation and quality of life. Gaming devices (Nintendo Wii) are being incorporated into rehabilitation to improve function. We explored the stroke survivor experience of gaming as an upper limb intervention. Methods Semi-structured, individual interviews with stroke survivors living within the UK were completed. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Framework methods. Transcripts were coded and summarised into thematic charts. Thematic charts were refined during analysis until the final framework emerged. Results We captured experiences of 12 stroke survivors who used Nintendo Wii. Gaming devices were found to be acceptable for all ages but varying levels of enthusiasm existed. Enthusiastic players described gaming as having a positive impact on their motivation to engage in rehabilitation. For some, this became a leisure activity, encouraging self-practice. Non-enthusiastic players preferred sports to gaming. Conclusion An in-depth account of stroke survivor experiences of gaming within upper limb rehabilitation has been captured. Suitability of gaming should be assessed individually and stroke survivor abilities and preference for interventions should be taken into consideration. There was no indication that older stroke survivors or those with no previous experience of gaming were less likely to enjoy the activity.
Development and multiplexing of the first microsatellite markers in a coralline red alga (Phymatolithon calcareum, Rhodophyta)

Abstract: Coralline red algae are important habitat builders in coastal waters around the world but their population genetics has been largely overlooked because of a lack of appropriate markers. Here, next generation sequencing was used to identify the first set of microsatellite loci ever developed for a coralline alga, Phymatolithon calcareum, a common builder of maerl beds, particularly in Europe. Eleven polymorphic microsatellite markers were identified, of which eight were particularly suitable for population and individual-based applications. In these, the number of alleles ranged from two to five, while expected heterozygosities varied from 0.143 to 0.803. Two multiplex polymerase chain reactions were designed and proved to successfully amplify these loci in specimens collected along the European Atlantic. The new set of markers will enable the study of population genetic diversity and connectivity patterns of these non-geniculate corallines that are especially relevant to propose conservation actions.
Development of 3-DOF Force Feedback System Using Spherical Arm Mechanism and MR Brakes

In this research, a new 3-DOF force feedback system featuring a spherical arm mechanism and three MR brakes is proposed. One rotary MR brake is integrated in the waist joint to reflect the horizontal tangent force, another rotary MR brake integrated in the shoulder joint to reflect the elevation tangent force while a linear MR brake is integrated in the sliding joint of the arm to reflect the radial force (approach force). With this configuration, a 3DOF desired force acting on the operator at the end-effector of the arm can be archived by independently controlling the current applied to the coils of the MR brakes. After the introduction, configuration of the proposed force feedback system is presented. After that, design and simulation of the MR brakes for the systems are conducted. A prototype of the force feedback system is then manufactured for experiment and some experimental results are obtained and presented with discussion. 
Effects of Ambient Light Variations on Behavior of Yearling, Subadult, and Adult Walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum)

All facts when ordered and synthesized with previously published information suggest that light is the principal abiotic controlling variable of the environment that determines temporal and spatial dimensions of feeding and reproduction in the walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum. Underwater observations during the day revealed that adult walleyes were active in turbid regions of a lake but rested in contact with the substrate in clear-water regions. In the latter instance physical shelter served to shield the eyes of the walleyes from the ambient light. An inverse relation was noted between numbers of walleyes sighted per hour of transect swum and transparency levels of the water. In experimental angling during the open-water season, the total number of walleyes captured and the catch per unit of effort were positively related to illuminance levels. Winter angling through the ice showed a similar relationship, though at percentage light transmission levels one order of magnitude lower. Percentages of wa.
Application of essential oils and polyphenols as natural antimicrobial agents in postharvest treatments: Advances and challenges

Abstract The use of natural antimicrobial agents is an attractive ecological alternative to the synthetic fungicides applied to control pathogens during postharvest. In order to improve industrial production systems, postharvest research has evolved toward integration with science and technology aspects. Thus, the present review aims to draw attention to the achieved advances and challenges must be overcome, to promote application of essential oils and polyphenols as antimicrobial agents, against phytopathogens and foodborne microorganisms during postharvest. Besides that, it attempts to highlight the use of coating and encapsulation techniques as emerging methods that improve their effectiveness. The integral knowledge about the vegetable systems, molecular mechanisms of pathogens and mechanisms of these substances would ensure more efficient in vitro and in vivo experiences. Finally, the cost‐benefit, toxicity, and ecotoxicity evaluation will be guaranteed the successful implementation and commercialization of these technologies, as a sustainable alternative to minimize production losses of vegetable commodities.
Revealing fine microstructural morphology in the living human retina using Optical Coherence Tomography with pancorrection

Ultra-high speed optical coherence tomography employing an ultra-broadband light source has been combined with adaptive optics utilizing a single high stroke deformable mirror and chromatic aberration compensation. The reduction of motion artefacts, geometric and chromatic aberrations (pancorrection) permits to achieve an isotropic resolution of 2-3 μm in the human eye. The performance of this non-invasive imaging modality enables to resolve cellular structures including cone photoreceptors, nerve fibre bundles and collagenous plates of the lamina cribrosa, and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in the human retina in vivo with superior detail. Alterations of cellular morphology due to cone degeneration in a colour-blind subject are investigated in ultra-high resolution with selective depth sectioning for the first time.
Leaf and Stem Anatomy of Cherry Tomato Under Calcium and Magnesium Deficiencies

: Studies evaluating the influence of nutrients on plant anatomy are very important because nutritional deficiencies can alter the thickness and shape of certain tissues, compromising their functionality what can explain the reduction of productivity. The aim of this study was conducted in nutrient solution and the plants subjected to three treatments: complete solution (Control), Ca restriction (1 mmol L -1 of Ca) and Mg omission (without Mg). The experimental design was completely randomized, with three repetitions. Sixty days after seedling transplanting leaves and stem were collected and submitted to anatomical evaluations. Ca or Mg deficiency promotes most evident anatomical changes in chlorophyllous and vascular tissues of the leaves, rather than in the stems. Leaves of ‘Sindy’ tomato plants with a concentration of 1.7 g kg -1 of Mg and visual symptoms of Mg deficiency present hyperplasia of both tissues, phloem and xylem. Mg deficiency also promotes increases in the thickness of mesophyll, spongy parenchyma and palisade parenchyma, and consequently of leaf thickness. The midrib of the leaves with a concentration of 10 g kg -1 of Ca, without visual symptoms of deficiency presented phloem hypertrophy and hyperplasia.
Geographical distribution of African freshwater fishes

Geographical distribution of African freshwater fishes is discussed with emphasis on the effects of major continental features, hydrographic history, and Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. Differences in the modes of dispersal and biological interactions among various categories of fishes, ecological as well as phyletic, have also had marked effects on distribution. The African continent can be divided into ten ichthyofaunal provinces. The geography of these provinces and composition of their fish faunas is briefly described. The paper concludes with a consideration of the faunistic relationships of African lakes with endemic fishes.
Sulfonamidoglycosylation of Methyl Glycosides Employing Perchloric Acid Supported on Silica Gel

The sulfonamidoglycosylation of methyl glycosides in the presence of perchloric acid immobilized on silica gel proceeded effectively to afford the corresponding sulfonamido glycosides with good to high yields with minimal workup and short reaction times. This methodology was applied to the synthesis of some N‐glycosyl sulfamides, which showed low nanomolar activity against human carbonic anhydrase.
Community trait response to environment: disentangling species turnover vs intraspecific trait variability effects

Ecological communities and their response to environmental gradients are increasingly being described by various measures of trait composition. Aggregated trait averages (i.e. averages of trait values of constituent species, weighted by species proportions) are popular indices reflecting the functional characteristics of locally dominant species. Because the variation of these indices along environmental gradients can be caused by both species turnover and intraspecific trait variability, it is necessary to disentangle the role of both components to community variability. For quantitative traits, trait averages can be calculated from ‘fixed’ trait values (i.e. a single mean trait value for individual species used for all habitats where the species is found) or trait values for individual species specific to each plot, or habitat, where the species is found. Changes in fixed averages across environments reflect species turnover, while changes in specific traits reflect both species turnover and within-species variability in traits. Here we suggest a practical method (accompanied by a set of R functions) that, by combining ‘fixed’ and ‘specific averages’, disentangles the effect of species turnover, intraspecific trait variability, and their covariation. These effects can be further decomposed into parts ascribed to individual explanatory variables (i.e. treatments or environmental gradients considered). The method is illustrated with a case study from a factorial mowing and fertilization experiment in a meadow in South Bohemia. Results show that the variability decomposition differs markedly among traits studied (height, Specific Leaf Area, Leaf N, P, C concentrations, leaf and stem dry matter content), both according to the relative importance of species turnover and intraspecific variability, and also according to their response to experimental factors. Both the effect of intraspecific trait variability and species turnover must be taken into account when assessing the functional role of community trait structure. Neglecting intraspecific trait variability across habitats often results in underestimating the response of communities to environmental changes.
Media sensory curation and family media conflict: replication and validation of short-form measures

ABSTRACT Media sensory curation theory conceptualizes sensory regulation within the built environment as a gratification of electronic media use and predictor of parent-child conflict over children’s media use. This paper replicates an initial survey of caregivers of children ages 3 to 14 with an independent replication survey of N = 754. As in the original study, media sensory curation was higher among children with sensory diagnoses (e.g., autism, ADHD) than without and was a moderate to strong predictor of problematic child media use and adult-child media conflict for all children. The 48-item Adult and Child Media Sensory Curation Inventories (MediaSCIs) were subject to scale-reduction analyses using the pooled samples (N = 1543) to create short-form scales. The resulting Adult MediaSCI-SF and Child MediaSCI-SF (12 items each) showed good reliability. The Child MediaSCI-SF predicted problematic child media use and media conflict as robustly as the 48-item Child MediaSCI. The MediaSCI-SF scales are parsimonious options for measuring media sensory curation.
Tracking Flooding Phase Transitions and Establishing a Passive Hotline With AI-Enabled Social Media Data

Flooding management requires collecting real-time onsite information widely and rapidly. As an emerging data source, social media demonstrates an advantage of providing in-time, rich data in the format of texts and photos and can be used to improve flooding situation awareness. The present study shows that social media data, with additional information processed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, can be effectively used to track flooding phase transition and locate emergency incidents. To track phase transition, we train a computer vision model that can classify images embedded in social media data into four categories – preparedness, impact, response, and recovery – that can reflect the phases of disaster event development. To locate emergency incidents, we use a deep learning based natural language processing (NLP) model to recognize locations from textual content of tweets. The geographic coordinates of the recognized locations are assigned by searching through a dedicated local gazetteer rapidly compiled for the disaster affected region based on the GeoNames gazetteer and the US Census data. By combining image and text analysis, we filter the tweets that contain images of the “Impact” category and high-resolution locations to gain the most valuable situation information. We carry out a manual examination step to complement the automatic data processing and find that it can further strengthen the AI-processed results to support comprehensive situation awareness and to establish a passive hotline to inform rescue and search activities. The developed framework is applied to the flood of Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area.
Nutrient digestibility, performance and carcass traits of growing–finishing pigs fed diets containing graded levels of dehydrated lucerne meal

BACKGROUND: Plant breeders have attempted to improve the nutritonal value of lucerne (alfalfa) by selecting for higher protein and lower fibre concentrations. Although targeted at ruminants, such changes could also improve the nutritional value of lucerne for monogastrics. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of graded levels of dehydrated lucerne meal on nutrient digestibility, performance and carcass traits of swine. RESULTS: The digestibility of dry matter, protein and energy declined linearly (P < 0.05) as the level of lucerne meal in the diet increased. Including lucerne meal at levels greater than 75 g kg−1 was detrimental to the growth rate of pigs during the growing period. During the finishing period, inclusion of lucerne meal at 75 and 150 g kg−1 resulted in improvements in weight gain and feed intake. Carcass traits were generally unaffected by lucerne inclusion. CONCLUSION: Lucerne meal may have greater potential for inclusion in diets fed to growing–finishing pigs than previously realized. To maximize pig performance, lucerne meal should be limited to less than 75 g kg−1 diet during the growing period, while it is possible to go as high as 150 g kg−1 diet during the finishing period without detrimental effects on performance. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Fat stability and amino acids in south Indian tea seeds

Summary The composition and storage stability of south Indian tea-seed oil stored at 25° and 37°C, in different containers (glass, tin plate, PVC), with or without antioxidants has been studied. the crude tea-seed oil is highly stable to peroxide formation, but after refining or bleaching, antioxidants are required. the amino acid levels of oil-free tea-seed meal, prepared from three varieties of south Indian tea-seed kernels with 31-38% protein content were also examined and some possible utilization of these protein rich tea-seed meals is described.