Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inactivation of Salmonella and Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 Surrogate on Flax Seed using an Ethanol-Peroxyacetic Acid Based Sanitizer Applied on a Laboratory and Commercial Scale

INACTIVATION OF SALMONELLA AND ENTEROCOCCUS FAECIUM NRRL B2354 SURROGATE ON FLAX SEED USING AN ETHANOL-PEROXYACETIC ACID BASED SANITIZER APPLIED ON LABORATORY AND COMMERCIAL SCALE Narjes Al Ali University of Guelph, 2018 Advisors: Dr. Keith Warriner and Dr. Joseph Odumeru There continues to be salmonellosis linked to low moisture foods such as flax seed. Decontaminating low moisture foods is challenging due to the sensitivity to moisture, the need to retain seed viability (in the case of seeds) and enhanced stress resistance of Salmonella under dry conditions. In the following study, a peroxyacetic acid-ethanol based sanitizer was evaluated for inactivating Salmonella Newport & Cubana on flax seed at laboratory scale & commercial scale respectively. Salmonella Newport was spray inoculated onto flax seeds and recovered in saline to give a recovery of 80% of the original inoculum. S. Cubana introduced onto flax seed underwent a decline from 6.41±0.36 Log cfu/g to 4.39±0.06 Log CFU/g over 5 days then levels remained stable at 4.47±0.20 Log CFU/g for the remainder of the 21 Day storage period. At the end of the storage period the seeds were treated with the ethanol-peroxyacetic acid sanitizer at a dose of 40 ml/kg then allowed to dry over a 24h period. The efficacy of the sanitizer was dependent on the concentration applied and method of recovery. With regards to the latter, the log count reduction was significantly higher when saline was used to recover survivors compared to Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) supplemented with glycerol (1-10% w/v). The log reduction of Salmonella was further increased if the sanitizer treated flax was left 24h prior to enumerating survivors due to die-off of sub-lethally injured cells. When the sanitizer was applied at a dose of 80 ml/kg then seeds left for 24h, the log reduction of Salmonella on flax was 2.500.17 log CFU when saline was used to recover the pathogen that compared to 3.090.17 log CFU when recovered in TSB-1% glycerol. A range of Salmonella and different seed types could be effectively decontaminated using the optimised treatment although lower log reductions were obtained on nuts. Large scale (110 kg) studies were performed using Enteroccocus faecium NRRL B-2345 as a surrogate for Salmonella. The treatment (40 kg sanitizer per tonne) supported a 5.33 log CFU/g reduction of the surrogate compared to 4.19 log CFU/g for the same sanitizer application at laboratory scale trials. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that the ethanol-peroxyacetic acid sanitizer could effectively inactivate Salmonella on flax seed and that treatments applied on a commercial scale are more effective compared to those undertaken within the laboratory environment.
Community of Practice as a Form of Voluntary Academic Cooperation

Background. Contemporary challenges motivate academics to look for forms of activ ‑ ities stimulating creative processes, releasing creativity, and supporting cooperation between universities and their socio‑economic environments, including the expansion of knowledge with the active participation of these environments. Such effects are brought about by cooperation within the framework of a community of practice – a traditional form of academics’ organizing themselves that is currently being rediscovered. Research aims. A presentation and analysis of examples of informal academic cooperation in Poland and the United Kingdom. Methodology. A case study has been conducted on the basis of statements made by British and Polish researchers and practitioners involved in communities of practice. Key findings. The result of the conducted research is the identification of a the‑ oretical basis necessary for understanding various types of voluntary cooperation within an academic community. The research results show that communities of practice are an effective way of working thanks to the stimulation of creative pro ‑ cesses, academics’ individual development, and advantages gained by institutions. Their key strengths are the absence of formalization and the joy of creation. They constitute a renaissance of the traditional forms of work compatible with academics’ styles of living.
Advances in live-imaging of mouse development: exploring the researcher’s interdisciplinary tool-kit

Summary Live-imaging of embryogenesis is an important part of the developmental biologist’s armoury of methods. In this article, we focus on the use of live-imaging specifically in understanding early mouse embryogenesis. Advances in several disciplines including embryo culture, microscopy hardware and computational analysis have all contributed to our ability to probe dynamic events during early mouse development. Together, these comprise a versatile and powerful ‘tool-kit’, enabling us to not only image events during embryogenesis, but also intervene in them. Coordinating advances on all these fronts will greatly facilitate the use of live-imaging for investigating mouse embryogenesis.
Melatonin as a Multipotent Component of Fish Feed: Basic Information for Its Potential Application in Aquaculture

In vertebrates, melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxy-tryptamine, MEL) is synthesized from L-tryptophan (L-Trp), primarily in the pineal gland and additionally in several non-pineal tissues, including enterochromaffin cells of the gastrointestinal tract. The biosynthesis of MEL in the pinealocytes exhibits a daily rhythm with a nocturnal peak in synchronization with the dark phase of an environment. However, the temporal pattern of the gut melatoninergic system in fish is known to be synchronized with one or more non-photic external cue(s), of which most notable include the components of food and feeding time in a daily cycle. Experimental findings on the use of L-Trp (5-fold to −8-fold higher with respect to standard) as a fish food supplement suggest that it has a stimulatory influence on gut MEL synthesis that ultimately leads to elevated levels of plasma MEL. Several studies employing MEL as a fish feed additive report variable responses in relation to the physiological functions of the fish and its doses of application and modes of exposure. Oral administration of MEL (validated dose in general: 200 mg/kg fish food) causes an increase in gut MEL concentrations, food intake capacity, and micronutrient selection ability of fish, as well as enhanced activity of antioxidative enzymes and/or reduced levels of biological stress markers like plasma cortisol and lactate. The application of MEL with the doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg fish food to balanced diet results in precious maturation of gonads, high live sperm rate, and good quality seeds in catfish. A few studies on different fish groups administered with MEL through tank water reveal a significant increase in the fecundity rate, percentage of fertilization, and the number of hatched embryos. MEL injection through intraperitoneal or intramuscular routes also elicits variable responses in fish. Several studies suggest a major protective role of endogenous MEL against gastric ulcer induced by pathogenic bacterial infection. Taken together, MEL seems to be a multipotent physiological candidate involved in the regulation of a variety of body functions ranging from the synchronization of vital activities with environmental variables to the timing of reproduction in a changing system, from the acceleration of body growth to the determination of a pattern of development, and from the reduction of oxidative stress to the protection against microbial infections. Because aquaculture aims at substantially improving the quality and quantity of available aquatic resources employing convenient, consistent, and commercially exploitable measures, we find the reasons to suggest that the use of MEL or its precursor L-Trp as a fish food supplement may open up a new vista of aquaculture and, hence, present this review with an attempt to present the basic information on this area of interest to justify the hypothesis.
Charge Exchange Ion Losses in Saturn’s Magnetosphere

While various source and loss processes have been proposed for ions in Saturn’s magnetosphere, it is not yet well understood what role they play in different regions. In this study, we use a physical model of charge exchange to predict how proton and water group ion intensity profiles evolve over time and compare the results to MIMI/CHEMS measurements collected during the Cassini mission. First, we divide the CHEMS data into inbound and outbound half‐orbit segments, and create intensity profiles for 3–220 keV H+ and W+ ions between 5 and 15 Saturn radii, then using the inbound half‐orbits as initial conditions, we find qualitative similarities between measured and predicted outbound intensity profiles. This result is important because it provides strong evidence that charge exchange is the dominant loss process for these species in this region. The observed rate of charge exchange also presents information on the density of Saturn’s neutral torus. We suggest that data‐model discrepancies in the water group ions may be an indication of a significant presence of ions with the water group mass that are multiply charged.
Ecomorphology of Ostrea edulis (Linnaeus, 1758) in Kuala Gigieng Waters, Aceh Besar District

Ostrea edulis is one of the most common types of meat oysters and is commonly consumed by people in Kuala Gigieng, but until now there is not much scientific information about this species. The purpose of this study was to describe the ecomorphology of Ostrea edulis in Kuala Gigieng waters. This research was conducted from August to September 2013 in Kuala Gigieng Waters, Aceh Besar District. The method used in this research is purposive sampling. Identification of samples based on shell morphological characteristics including the exterior and interior of the shell using a magnifier lamp. The results showed that Ostrea edulis found in Kuala Gigieng waters had round, rough, hard, thick and uneven shells. The two valves are also not the same size, where the left valve is more concave than the right valve which tends to be flat. This is a form of the adaptation pattern of Ostrea edulis in Kuala Gigieng which tends to have a medium sand and clay sand substrate with a fairly high predation from both natural and human predation.
The Impact of Conservation Agriculture Practice and Socio-Economic Factors on Yam Production (Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea rotundata) in Kalagoé (Lobaye, Central African Republic)

Few studies have been carried out on Yam (Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea rotundata) in relation with the conservation agriculture in CAR. Yam is cultivated in limited quantities despite its role in improving food security. In order to increase Yam production in the smallholder farms in CAR, the potential effect of crop management practices like nutrient application, mulching and minimum tillage on Yam crop yield and household financial returns, needs to be understood. A questionnaire was prepared and used as a tool for the collection of information from 100 producers of Yam without distinction of ages and sexes. In order to determinate the agronomical performance of Yam, two plots were explored. The first plot with 625m² (12.5m ×50m), known as the improved plot, is a plot on which all conservation agriculture practices were applied. The second plot, known as the traditional plot, is one on which traditional farming techniques were applied. The results of the survey show that 32% of the farmers are in favor for CA practice nevertheless 68% are not favor, which shows that a large proportion of farmers in Kalangoé are not aware of the benefits of this technique. The most widely cultivated variety is D. rotundata, because of its taste qualities. Some producers also grow both varieties at the same time. Some producers (28%) clear their plots by cutting down all the trees to leave the field bare, while a large number (72%) practice partial cutting by removing the shrubs to keep the large trees in order to protect the forest. A large number of producers (62%) also burn their plots for various reasons, including freeing up space and making it easier to move around the field because the plant debris from clearing prevents them from working properly. A small proportion of producers (26%) practice ploughing against 74% who do not practice this technique. The conservation agriculture practice applied to Yam gave interesting agronomic performances (growth and production parameters) than the farmers practices.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF MENTHA GATTEFOSSEI MAIRE ESSENTIAL OIL

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, the in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil obtained from dried aerial parts of Mentha gattefossei Maire (Lamiaceae Family) cultivated in the Republic of Moldova. Mentha gattefossei essential oil (MgEO) was isolated by hydrodistillation and its chemical profile was evaluated by GC-MS and GC-FID analysis. The main compounds of MgEO were pulegone (57.36%), neomenthone (28.74%) and Dlimonene (1.20%). MgEO exhibited good free radical scavenging activities (EC50 = 3.64 ± 0.07 μg/mL in DPPH assay and EC50 = 254.12 ± 8.40 μg/mL in ABTS assay) and it showed a weak reducing capacity. The essential oil possessed strong antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 49619) and it was moderate active against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). This is the first report on the chemical composition and bioactivity of the essential oil from Mentha gattefossei cultivated in the Republic of Moldova.
A Two-Stage Short-Term Load Forecasting Method Using Long Short-Term Memory and Multilayer Perceptron

Load forecasting is an essential task in the operation management of a power system. Electric power companies utilize short-term load forecasting (STLF) technology to make reasonable power generation plans. A forecasting model with low prediction errors helps reduce operating costs and risks for the operators. In recent years, machine learning has become one of the most popular technologies for load forecasting. In this paper, a two-stage STLF model based on long short-term memory (LSTM) and multilayer perceptron (MLP), which improves the forecasting accuracy over the entire time horizon, is proposed. In the first stage, a sequence-to-sequence (seq2seq) architecture, which can handle a multi-sequence of input to extract more features of historical data than that of single sequence, is used to make multistep predictions. In the second stage, the MLP is used for residual modification by perceiving other information that the LSTM cannot. To construct the model, we collected the electrical load, calendar, and meteorological records of Kanto region in Japan for four years. Unlike other LSTM-based hybrid architectures, the proposed model uses two independent neural networks instead of making the neural network deeper by concatenating a series of LSTM cells and convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Therefore, the proposed model is easy to be trained and more interpretable. The seq2seq module performs well in the first few hours of the predictions. The MLP inherits the advantage of the seq2seq module and improves the results by feeding artificially selected features both from historical data and information of the target day. Compared to the LSTM-AM model and single MLP model, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of the proposed model decreases from 2.82% and 2.65% to 2%, respectively. The results demonstrate that the MLP helps improve the prediction accuracy of seq2seq module and the proposed model achieves better performance than other popular models. In addition, this paper also reveals the reason why the MLP achieves the improvement.
Aplicación de métodos multicriterios en un proyecto empresarial de rutas de vehículos

Para la toma de decisiones tradicionalmente se han empleado técnicas clásicas de Optimización. Desde el punto de vista práctico, estas técnicas poseen carencias en su modelación desde las perspectivas de los decisores, dadas por la imposibilidad de considerar todo tipo de restricciones de la vida real, lo que hace difícil la tarea de diseñar rutas de vehículos a empresas sin experiencia en esta tarea. Por esto se han generado paradigmas diferentes: la Modelización Multicriterio, que puede considerar preferencias del centro decisor, y la Optimización Difusa, que incorpora a la modelación la incertidumbre inherente a las características del problema. El presente modelo matemático se resuelve mediante varios posibles enfoques y se consideran tres criterios: el número de rutas empleadas, la distancia total recorrida y la distribución de personas transportadas. Aplicando el método CRITIC se pudo explicar a la empresa el criterio más importante que debe ser considerado al seleccionar la solución.
Investigation of Leaky Characteristic in a Single-Transistor-Based Leaky Integrate-and-Fire Neuron

Leaky characteristic in a leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neuron is important to prevent a permanent effect on a single input stimulus in an artificial neuromorphic system as well as a biological nerve. In a proposed single-transistor-based LIF neuron (1T-neuron), band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) dominates the leaky characteristic. Three methods to control the leaky characteristic of a 1T-neuron are demonstrated in this work: controlling the relative location of the drain junction edge to a gate, tuning the gate voltage (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{G}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>), and modulating body doping concentration (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${N}_{sub}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>). The 1T-neuron becomes leakier with a more overlapped drain junction with the gate, decreased <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{G}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and increased <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${N}_{sub}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> by accelerating the BTBT.
Research on mixed type wafer map based on deep convolutional neural network

In the wafer manufacturing process, more and more mixed-type wafer maps have appeared. This paper proposes a classification structure of mixed defect types wafer maps based on deep convolutional neural networks. First, synthesize wafer maps of mixed defect types in actual production through simulation, and then use the deep convolutional neural network model to construct a classifier based on the wafer map of the basic defect types, and train the classifier. Finally, the classification results of all basic classifiers are combined to determine the actual mixed defect type of the wafer map. The final classification results verify the effectiveness of the model.
Probing of Thermal Transport in 50 nm Thick PbTe Nanocrystal Films by Time-Domain Thermoreflectance

Bottom-up fabrication of thermoelectric (TE) materials from colloidal nanocrystal (NC) building blocks can substantially increase their TE efficiency, for example, by reducing lattice thermal conductivity. In this work, 10 nm spherical phase-pure oleate-capped PbTe NCs with narrow size distribution were synthesized and employed to fabricate 50 nm thick films on insulating SiO2/Si substrates. The spin-coating, with subsequent ligand exchange procedure, was applied to enhance coupling interactions between the NCs. Using dark conductivity measurements, we confirmed the semiconducting behavior and the Schottky-type electrical field-dependent conductivity mechanism in the resultant thin films. The thermal transport in the thin film was probed by means of a time-domain thermoreflectance method. For this purpose, we used a customized state-of-the-art system based on a picosecond thermoreflectance instrument, which enables area-selective analysis with spatial resolution down to 5 μm. The results show that the as-.
World quantum gravity: quantum test objects and Synge’s world function

function Ding Jia (贾丁)1, 2, 3, ∗ 1Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada 2Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 2Y5, Canada 3Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada Abstract A new path integral approach of quantum gravity based on relational variables and quantum test objects is presented. We take as a basic variables the squared invariant distance. This invariant quantity could be technically simpler to work with than variant quantities such as the metric tensor. It also could facilitate the studies of matter coupling and quantum spacetime causal structures. In contrast to approaches based on piecewise linear geometries, here gravity is captured by its effects on quantum test particles and fields. By an observation of Parker, under a Feynman sum a gravitational phase can be traded into a Van Vleck-Morette determinant term. This leads to a new candidate path integral for gravity, which in certain special cases can be computed efficient in the Lorentzian signature. We discuss some ambiguities left in the path integral measure, which invite further clarifications.
Effects of Astragaloside on Biological Characteristics of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells via the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B/Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Pathway

To evaluate the effects of astragaloside on the proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of nonsmall cell lung cancer A549 cells and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway. After A549 cells were treated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μmol/l astragaloside for 24 h, the survival rate was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and the half maximal inhibitory concentration was calculated. Astragaloside at half maximal inhibitory concentration was added. Cell invasion, migration and apoptosis were detected by transwell assay, wound healing assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The effects of astragaloside on the expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway-related proteins were detected by western blotting. After different concentrations of astragaloside were added, cell proliferation declined with increasing concentration. Half maximal inhibitory concentration against A549 cell proliferation was 32.2 μmol/l. Compared with blank control group; cell proliferation; invasion and migration were significantly weakened, while apoptosis was enhanced in astragaloside group. The expressions of phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phosphorylation of protein kinase B and phosphorylation of mechanistic target of rapamycin proteins in astragaloside group were significantly lower than those in blank control group. Astragaloside inhibits the proliferation, invasion and migration, and promotes the apoptosis of nonsmall cell lung cancer A549 cells dose-dependently. Inhibiting phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phosphorylation of protein kinase B and phosphorylation of mechanistic target of rapamycin expressions in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway may be one of the mechanisms of astragaloside.