Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN VITRO ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF DELONIX REGIA (HOOK) RAF. BARK (FAMILY-LEGUMINOSAE)

Objective: To estimate the anti-microbial activity of ethanolic extract of Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf (family-Leguminosae) in association with phytochemical analysis.Methods: The ethanolic extract of the bark of Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf was prepared and investigate for phytochemical constituents using standard methods. Antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of were carried out against one Gram positive bacteria= Staphylococcus aureus and one Gram negative bacteria= Escherichia coli. The anti-fungal activity of the plant extract was evaluated on Candida albicans. The testing was done by the disc diffusion method. A zone of inhibition of ethanolic extract was compared with that of standard Amikacin for anti-bacterial activities and Fluconazole for anti-fungal activity.Results: The present investigation shows the phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extract of the bark of Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf. Various phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinone, phenol, terpenes, cardenolides, phlobatannins, tannin, chalcones, steroids. The anti-microbial activity of the ethanolic extract of the plant showed significant results against all three of the test organisms.Conclusion: The present study concluded that ethanolic extract of the bark of Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf contains the high existence of phytochemicals. The ethanolic extract of the plant was found to possess promising antimicrobial activity when compared with the standards.
Farmer identities influence wildlife habitat management in the US Corn Belt

1. Farmer wildlife management practices are critical to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem functions across intensively used agricultural landscapes. Policies and initiatives aimed at encouraging these practices have generally focused on economic incentives, with limited effectiveness. 2. Farmer identity theory addresses the emergence of norms, values and perceptions in farm management and can contribute to the development of policies and initiatives that engage more effectively with farmers and farming communities. 3. Here we evaluate linkages between farmer identity and wildlife habitat management practices in the intensively farmed US state of Iowa. 4. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis using data from a survey of over 1,300 Iowa farmers that asked their opinions on what constitutes ‘a good farmer’. We use logistic regression to model relationships between farmer identity factor scores and contextual variables against participation in a set of habitat management practices. 5. Four ‘good farmer’ identity types were identified and labelled as productivist, soil conservationist, wildlife conservationist and civic-minded. Logistic regression
A Novel Adaptive Genetic Algorithm for Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem With Backhaul and Two-Dimensional Loading Constraints: A Case in Tunisian Posta

In this paper, we consider an extension of the Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem with Backhauls integrated with two-dimensional loading problem called DVRPB with 2D loading constraints (2L-DVRPB). In the VRPB, a vehicle can deliver (Linehaul) then collect goods from customers (backhaul) and bring back to the depot. Once customer demand is formed by a set of two-dimensional items the problem will be treat as a 2L-VRPB. The 2L-VRPB has been studied on the static case. However, in most real-life application, new customer requests can be happen over time of backhaul and thus perturb the optimal routing schedule that was originally invented. This problem has not been analysed sofar in the literature. The 2L-DVRPB is an NP-Hard problem, so, we propose to use a Genetic algorithm for routing and a packing problems. We applied our approach in a real case study of the Regional Post Office of the city of Jendouba in the North of Tunisia. Results indicate that the AGA approach is considered as the best approach in terms of solutions quality for a real world routing system.
A swarm intelligence approach for energy management of grid‐connected microgrids with flexible load demand response

Ever since its inception, the concept and application of demand‐side response have continued to evolve and take a new shape in microgrid energy management. The application of demand response programs in the microgrid literature lacks the consideration of flexible price elasticity of different load categories. The realistic characterization of load‐responsive models with a combination of both linear and nonlinear models is necessary to study the effect of demand response programs. To cover this research gap, the impact of price‐based demand response programs on the optimal scheduling of microgrids is investigated in the presence of linear and nonlinear load models. The flexible elasticity model is adopted to characterize the actual behavior of customer responsiveness towards changes in electricity price. Five load models, namely linear, logarithmic, exponential, power, and hyperbolic, were derived for each price‐based demand response program. Furthermore, the stochastic‐based scenario modeling is considered to cope with the volatile renewable generation in the microgrid network. The recently reported swarm intelligence‐based algorithm called the sparrow search method is intended to solve the proposed microgrid energy management issue for the first time in the literature. Fifteen case studies on the basis of distinct linear and nonlinear load scenarios have been carried out to assess the effectiveness of the methodology proposed. Finally, various techno‐economic performance indices were evaluated for all case studies, and a priority‐wise ranking is assigned based on the multi‐criteria assessment technique.
A new way forward for ocean-climate policy as reflected in the UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue submissions

ABSTRACT The ocean plays a central role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, climate and ocean policies have been historically siloed. After decades of slow convergence, the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, decided at COP25 and launched online in December 2020, was the first forum for Parties and non-Party stakeholders to the UNFCCC to give their perspectives on how the climate regime should address ocean-related mitigation and adaptation. The Ocean Dialogue was informed by 47 prior open submissions provided by a broad swath of actors from across the UN system and from civil society, including traditional and youth voices. Our analysis of the submissions demonstrates a political evolution towards the nexus among climate, ocean, and biodiversity regimes. The submissions uniformly acknowledge that ocean and climate systems are inextricably linked, and that consideration of ocean-based action will strengthen climate action and vice versa. Salient themes of the submissions include changing ocean impacts, carbon sinks and blue carbon opportunities, and the need for ecosystem resilience, biodiversity management and improved understanding of normative and institutional frameworks. There is a strong call to recognize the interconnectedness of the biophysical world. Similar themes emerged during the actual Ocean Dialogue and the subsequent informal meeting on next steps. The main message conveyed is the dire necessity to implement strong stewardship and good governance of the blue planet in a disrupted climate using cooperative and concrete actions. This analysis highlights the need for a continued transdisciplinary international dialogue on the ocean and climate change which elevates the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus via collaborative science, finance, and policy. Key policy insights Ocean and marine ecosystem impacts of climate change were widely acknowledged, and referenced by ninety-one percent of submissions. After decades of slow integration of ocean into climate policy, the Ocean Dialogue submissions acknowledge that climate policy must address linkages with the ocean and its biodiversity. Concerns include changing ocean impacts, carbon sinks and blue carbon opportunities, and the need for ecosystem resilience, biodiversity management and increased institutional interactions. Continuation of this Dialogue, with strengthened collaboration between States and non-state actors, may give rise to multilateral and multilevel decision-making toward sustainable climate, ocean and biodiversity action.
Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Escherichia coli Isolated from Bovine Subclinical Mastitis of Dairy Farms in Algeria from 2017 to 2019

Mastitis in cows is a major problem in dairy farms leading to a decrease in the quantity and quality of milk. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between the presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in milk and the subclinical mastitis, and to characterize the antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolated E. coli. In the current study, a total of 360 cow raw milk samples from three dairy farms of the region of Algiers were analyzed. The analysis period lasted from Spring 2017 to Winter 2019. The California Mastitis Test (CMT) was applied to detect subclinical mastitis. The E. coli strains were isolated from milk using conventional bacteriological methods. The antibiotic resistance profile of the isolated E. coli strains to 12 different antibiotics was tested using the disk diffusion method. On β-lactamase-producing strains, a double diffusion test was applied to identify the Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) phenotype. Finally, the ctXx-M genes were amplified by PCR. Two-thirds (66.4%) of the milk samples were positive for the CMT test. A total of 97 E. coli strains were isolated from the milk samples, their resistance to antibiotics was tested, and 3.1% of the strains were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 6.2% to chloramphenicol, 12.3% to gentamicin, 13.4% to colistin, 23.3% to amoxicillin/clavulanate, 31.9% to kanamycin, 39.2% to enrofloxacin, 51.5% to cefotaxime, 52% to tetracycline, 57.7% to ampicillin, 74.3% to nalidixic acid, and 75.3% to amoxicillin. Furthermore, most of the E. coli strains (92.8%) were resistant to more than one antibiotic with a Multiple Antibiotic Resistance index ranging from 0 to 0.8. The 50 strains resistant to cefotaxime were analyzed for an ESBL phenotype. 39 of them (78%) were positive to the double-disk synergy test. Among the 39 ESBL positive strains, 27 (69.2%) were confirmed for the presence of a CTX-M gene by PCR. The present study showed that multiple drug-resistant E. coli, including ESBL-carriers, were frequently isolated from the milk of dairy cows in Algeria. The results underlined that the use of antibiotics on farms must be reasoned to avoid the spread of resistant strains in animals and human populations.
HPLC/ESI-MS and NMR Analysis of Chemical Constitutes in Bioactive Extract from the Root Nodule of Vaccinium emarginatum

Vaccinium emarginatum Hayata is a medicinal plant that has been historically used in ethnopharmacy to treat diseases in Taiwan. The objective of this study is to evaluate the anti-cancer and anti-bacterial constitutes from the root nodule extract of V. emarginatum. The chemical composition of V. emarginatum fractions was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) and the chemical constitutes were isolated and structurally identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Bioassay-guided chromatography showed that the ethyl acetate (EA) fraction was bioactive on the hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2). By LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis, twenty peaks of EA fraction were partially identified and the phytochemical investigation of the fractions led to the isolation and identification of protocatuchuic acid (1), epicatechin (2), catechin (3), procyanidin B3 (4), procyanidin A1 (5), hyperin (6), isoquercetin (7), quercetin (8), lupeol (9), beta-amyrin (10), and alpha-amyrin (11). Both procyanidin B3 and A1 exhibited anti-proliferative activity against HepG2 and gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells at IC50 values between 38.4 and 41.1 μM and 79.4 and 83.8 μM, respectively. In addition, isoquercetin displayed the strongest anti-proliferative activity against the HepG2, lung carcinoma (A549), and AGS cell at 18.7, 24.6 and 68.5 μM, respectively. Among the triterpenoids, only lupeol showed the inhibitory activity against all tested tumor cell lines at IC50 values between 72.9 and 146.8 μM. Furthermore, procyanidins B3, A1 and isoquercetin displayed moderate anti-bacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. In conclusion, this study provides background information on the exploitation of V. emarginatum as a potential natural anti-cancer and anti-bacterial agent in pharmaceutical research.
Prospect for Using Low-Element Adaptive Antenna Systems for Radio Monitoring Stations

This article is devoted to the analysis of prospect to apply multifunctional adaptive antenna systems for radio monitoring stations. The review of publications done demonstrates that current antennas that are developed and used in radio monitoring systems to control and measure the parameters of electromagnetic radiation should be applicable to conduct accurate measurements in wide frequency range under the condition of interferences. The analysis shows that modern adaptive antenna systems are mostly developed for radar and telecommunications applications. In this context we consider possible ways to solve the problem of adapting radio monitoring devices to a complex electromagnetic environment using antenna systems with primary processing of received signals . It was found that the developers of the antennas, which are based on adaptive interference suppression methods, focus basically on the development and implementation of adaptation processes, limiting themselves only to solving electromagnetic compatibility problems. In such approach, the functions of direction finding and measurement of radiation field parameters important exactly for radio monitoring systems are mostly ignored. Therefore, this research area opens up a wide field for identifying new possibilities for constructing multifunctional antenna systems. Focusing on this direction of research, we consider as an example the constraction of a simple two-element adaptive antenna system, which can be used to measure the parameters of the electromagnetic field in radio monitoring systems. The main relations for the error of determining the direction of arrival of the interference signal with a simple two-element antenna are investigated. The influence of the stability of the antenna array parameters and functional units of signal processing onto the errors is estimated.
A novel two-way coupling method for the study of the aeroelasticity of wind turbines in a Large Eddy Simulation framework

The constant up-scaling of wind turbines encourages researchers to develop innovative aeroelastic models for the study of Fluid-Structure Interaction in wind energy. In this paper, we present a novel two-way coupling method loosely joining a Large-Eddy Simulation fluid solver and a modal beam-like structural solver. The model takes advantage of the Actuator Line Model representing the rotor in the fluid domain, and exploits the superior accuracy of the high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics solver to describe the complex aerodynamics of wind turbines. The comparison for a benchmark turbine between the cases with and without aeroelastic feedback showed how significantly the coupling procedure affects the structural dynamics, especially when the blades pass in front of the tower. Conversely, the coupled fluid field was only slightly altered in the proximity of the turbine. Moreover, the considerable magnitude of the rotational deformations suggest their potential importance in future developments.
Compact and Efficient WPT System to Embedded Receiver in Biological Tissues Using Cooperative DGS Resonators

This brief presents a compact and efficient resonance-shift insensitive wireless power transfer (WPT) system. This is possible by using a small electrical length defected ground structure (DGS) resonator, which is found effective against the resonance-shift phenomenon resulted from the higher permittivity of the tissue. Tissue has two undesired effects on a WPT system: (i) reduced coupled quality factor, and (ii) self-resonance shifting that leads to mismatch loss. So, the efficiency of a WPT system degrades in a tissue environment. Then, using the small electrical length DGS, we build a WPT transmitter (TX) using three cooperative DGS resonators to mitigate both issues. The fabricated prototype operates at 49 MHz in the air and tissue. This shows no change in operating frequency when the same receiver (Rx) is kept in the air or embedded inside tissues, which proves the effectiveness of the proposed cooperative DGS-WPT system against the resonance shift. The measured efficiency is 62% when the RX is embedded inside the tissue and is 68% in the air.
Managing Insecticide and Miticide Resistance in Florida Landscapes

ENY-824, a 10-page fact sheet by Eileen A. Buss, James F. Price, Elzie McCord, and Curtis Nagle, encourages landscape managers in Florida to implement resistance management practices. It provides definitions, discussions of resistance development and management, and the use of mixtures, rotations, and mosaics as strategies. Includes references and tables showing the mode of action of insecticides and miticides. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, July 2007. ENY-842/IN714: Managing Insecticide and Miticide Resistance in Florida Landscapes (ufl.edu)
Sepsis in a Child with Foreign Magnetic Bodies: Clinical Case

The purpose of the study. To describe a clinical case of sepsis in a child due to accidental ingestion of magnetic objects.Materials and methods. Medical records of a 3-year-old patient were analyzed. Clinical presentation of diffuse purulent peritonitis was found at admission. Sepsis was diagnosed according to age-specific criteria, laboratory test findings, evidence of infection and organ dysfunction.Results. During the surgery, diffuse fecal peritonitis was found, which had been caused by 9 unidentified magnetic foreign objects found in the intestinal lumen. The postoperative period had a severe course accompanied by developing cardiovascular, respiratory, and intestinal multiple organ failure.Conclusion. In young children, foreign magnetic bodies can damage the gastrointestinal tract.
Predator-free short-hydroperiod wetlands enhance metamorph output in a threatened amphibian: insights into frog breeding behaviour evolution and conservation management

Abstract Context. Knowledge on the drivers of breeding behaviour is vital to understand amphibian ecology and conservation. Proposed drivers of amphibian reproductive behaviour include selection of optimum water quality, and avoidance of tadpole predators and competition. These hypotheses are underpinned by the logic that amphibians will choose breeding habitat that will result in enhanced metamorph output. Aims. We aimed to infer key drivers that influence metamorph output in the threatened green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea). We hypothesised that (1) metamorph output would be higher in recently refilled wetlands than in wetlands with a longer hydroperiod, (2) metamorph output would be negatively correlated with tadpole predator abundance, and (3) waterbodies with long hydroperiods would have higher abundances of aquatic predators and lower abundances of L. aurea tadpoles. Methods. We tested these hypotheses by monitoring breeding, tadpole and predator abundances in a wild population of L. aurea. We coupled this with metamorph counts that were adjusted to represent per capita numbers via genetic means. We also ruled out the influence of detection probability in explaining the results with a manipulative experiment. Key results. We found support for all three hypotheses and hence provide evidence that the adaptive behaviour of L. aurea to preference recently refilled wetlands is governed by the abundance of tadpole predators. We found metamorph counts per clutch to be 8.2-fold greater in short-hydroperiod wetlands (26 ± 15–44 95% CI) than in long-hydroperiod wetlands (3 ± 2–5 95% CI). Four predator taxa were associated with low metamorph output and two of these occurred in higher abundances in longer-hydroperiod wetlands. Conclusions and implications. These results have provided evidence that the behavioural adaptation of L. aurea to select recently refilled wetlands has evolved in response to tadpole predation pressure. We recommend practitioners to conduct tadpole releases in newly refilled wetlands to enhance survival to metamorphosis in future reintroductions.
Optimization of Residual Hexane in Edible Oils Analysis Using Static Headspace Gas Chromatography

This study aims to determine the residual hexane in four edible oils in Malaysia using a simple, rapid, and automated method in order to improve the efficiency and productivity of the analysis. Gas chromatography (GC/FID) equipped with a headspace autosampler (HS-20) was used to perform the analysis. Incubation time for each injection was successfully optimized from one hour to 30 minutes (50% reduction) compared to the official AOCS method Ca 3b-87. Out of the four tested edible oils, only the hexane residues detected in sunflower oil exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL) set by the European Union regulation. Significant difference of the results obtained between large calibration range (0–938 mg kg−1) and small calibration range (0–68 mg kg−1) suggests that there is a need to use a lower standard calibration concentration to avoid misinterpretation of analysis results. Method validation applies to the technical hexane; 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, cyclohexane, and methylcyclopentane, the signal-to-noise (S/N), as well as the limit of quantification (LoQ) values was found to be 218.20, 221.45, 746.37, 97.37 and 0.85, 0.84, 0.25, 1.93 mg kg−1, respectively. Good linearity, repeatability, and low carryover of this method have provided an alternative way to analyze the content of the residual hexane in edible oils in a more efficient manner. Current study might provide a fundamental reference for the improvement of the AOCS official Ca 3b-87 method for determination of hexane residues in fats and oils analysis in the future.