Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
KARAKTERISTIK FISIKO-KIMIA KATALIS HETEROGEN CaO-BASE DAN PEMANFAATANNYA UNTUK KONVERSI MINYAK GORENG BEKAS SECARA SINAMBUNG MENJADI BIODIESEL

Penelitian tentang katalis heterogen berbasis CaO dari cangkang kepiting sebagai support yang dimodifikasi dengan K2CO3 dan TiO2 serta pemanfaatnnya untuk konversi minyak goreng bekas secara sinambung menjadi biodiesel telah dilakukan. CaO hasil preparasi dicampurkan dengan K2CO3 dan TiO2 dengan variasi rasio secara reaksi fasa padat. Katalis heterogen yang diperoleh dikarakterisasi luas permukaan spesifik BET dan rerata ukuran partikelnya dengan N2 gas sorption analyzer, keasaman dan kebasaan permukaannya dengan metode titrasi asam basa, serta kristalinitasnya dengan XRD. Katalis dengan karakteristik terbaik diuji aktivitas katalitiknya terhadap yield biodiesel dalam mengonversi minyak goreng bekas dan kandungannya dianalisis menggunakan GC-MS. Hasil yang diperoleh menunjukkan bahwa karakteristik fisiko-kimia katalis optimum diperoleh pada CaO/K2O:TiO2 rasio massa 3:1. Uji aktivitas katalitik untuk konversi minyak goreng bekas menjadi biodiesel diperoleh yield 88,24%, lebih tinggi dari CaO/K2O (65,03%) dan CaO (64,09%). Analisis GC-MS menunjukkan bahwa komposisi biodiesel yang dominan adalah metil ester, yaitu metil laurat, metil meristat, metil palmitoleat, dan metil linoleat. Kata kunci: biodiesel, CaO/K2O:TiO2, katalis heterogen, karakteristik fisiko-kimia, minyak goreng bekas Research about heterogeneous catalyst prepared from CaO of crab shells as support modified with K2CO3 and TiO2 as well as its utilization for converting used cooking oil (UCO) into biodiesel simultaneously has been carried out. Prepared CaO was mixed with K2CO3 and TiO2 with various ratios by using solid state reaction. The BET spesific surface area and the mean particle size of the resulting heterogenous catalyst were characterized by N2 gas sorption analyzer, surface acidity and basicity by base-acid titration method, and crystallinity by XRD. The activity of the catalyst with the best characteristics for converting UCO into biodiesel yield was tested and the chemical contents were analyzed by GC-MS. The results showed that the optimum physico-chemical characteristics of the heterogeneous catalyst was CaO/K2O:TiO2 with mass ratio of 3:1. The catalytic activity of the CaO/K2O/TiO2 catalyst in converting UCO into biodiesel was 88.24%, higher than CaO/K2O catalyst (65.03%) and CaO (64.09%). The results of GC-MS analysis indicated that the chemical contents of biodiesel were dominantly methyl esters, such as methyl laurate, methyl meristate, methyl palmitoleate, methyl palmitate, and methyl linoleate. Keywords: biodiesel, CaO/K2O:TiO2, heterogeneous catalyst, physico-chemical characteristics, used cooking oil
Surgical Ventricular Restoration for Ischemic Heart Failure: A Glance at a Real-World Population

Surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) has repeatedly been suggested as a viable therapeutic strategy for ischemic heart failure (HF) patients, although the survival benefit is still debated. We investigated a real-world population treated with SVR in a single center with high case volumes. From July 2001 to June 2017, 648 patients (111 females) underwent SVR; coronary surgery was performed in 582 patients. Data were analyzed by dividing the population into two groups: Group I (371 patients operated between July 2001 and December 2007) and Group II (277 patients operated between January 2008 and June 2017). At baseline, Group I patients were more symptomatic for angina (47.4% versus 19.4%, p < 0.0001) and less symptomatic for HF (NYHA class III/IV, 46.3% versus 57%, p = 0.0071). The end-diastolic volume (106 mL/m2 versus 118.3 mL/m2, p < 0.0001) and the end-systolic volume (70.5 mL/m2 versus 81.5 mL/m2, p < 0.0001) were lower in Group I. The presence of 3-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) was higher in Group I (73.3% versus 59.2%, p < 0.0001). Thirty-day mortality (6.64%) was similar in the two groups (p = 0.4475). The Kaplan–Meier estimate for all-cause mortality for the entire population was 13% at 2 years, 19.2% at 4 years and 36.6% at 8 years, and the probability was not different between groups (Log-rank = 0.11). In a real-world ischemic HF population, SVR may be carried out with favorable results; in patients with worse LV remodeling and less extensive CAD, SVR showed a trend toward a better outcome.
Prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease among Health Specialist Students in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is considered one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in adults. It is defined as a condition in which a reflux of gastric content causes symptoms and/or complications. The classical symptoms of GERD are heartburn, regurgitation, sore throat, and cough. Objectives: The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of GERD and determine the associated risk factors among health specialist students at Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered survey distributed to students in health-related disciplines at UQU. The survey was disseminated via social-media platforms and 365 responses were received. The survey contained 23 different questions to assess the prevalence of GERD and ascertain if the disease is associated with multiple factors. Results: A total of 365 students participated in this study. The mean age of participants was 21.6 years, and among the 365 participants, 116 (31.8%) were diagnosed with GERD based on the gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GERDQ) score. Other findings included that 24 (52.2%) students diagnosed with GERD were smokers (P>0.05), 50 (40.0%) went to sleep one hour after dinner (P>0.05), and 52 (44.4%) had a family history of GERD (P>0.05). Discussion: Multiple studies have been conducted regarding the prevalence of GERD in Saudi Arabia. One study in Riyadh found that 23% of the sample had GERD, while another one conducted in the south of the country found 40% with GERD. Conclusion: There is an increased prevalence of GERD observed in this study. The main risk factors identified were smoking, family history of GERD, sleeping one hour after dinner, skipping breakfast, and inadequate sleep. There was no apparent association between GERD and different types of food and drinks.
Sodium Benzoate—Harmfulness and Potential Use in Therapies for Disorders Related to the Nervous System: A Review

Currently, due to the large number of reports regarding the harmfulness of food additives, more and more consumers follow the so-called “clean label” trend, i.e., prefer and choose the least-processed food products. One of the compounds known as a preservative with a high safety profile is sodium benzoate. While some studies show that it can be used to treat conditions such as depression, pain, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, others report its harmfulness. For example, it was found to cause mutagenic effects, generate oxidative stress, disrupt hormones, and reduce fertility. Due to such disparate results, the purpose of this study is to comprehensively discuss the safety profile of sodium benzoate and its potential use in neurodegenerative diseases, especially in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and pain relief.
Paramyxovirus Diversity within One Population of Miniopterus fuliginosus Bats in Sri Lanka

Bats are known as typical reservoirs for a number of viruses, including viruses of the family Paramyxoviridae. Representatives of the subfamily Orthoparamyxovirinae are distributed worldwide and can cause mild to fatal diseases when infecting humans. The research on Paramyxoviruses (PMVs) from different bat hosts all over the world aims to understand the diversity, evolution and distribution of these viruses and to assess their zoonotic potential. A high number of yet unclassified PMVs from bats are recorded. In our study, we investigated bat species from the families Rhinolophidae, Hipposiderae, Pteropodidae and Miniopteridae that are roosting sympatrically in the Wavul Galge cave (Koslanda, Sri Lanka). The sampling at three time points (March and July 2018; January 2019) and screening for PMVs with a generic PCR show the presence of different novel PMVs in 10 urine samples collected from Miniopterus fuliginosus. Sequence analysis revealed a high similarity of the novel strains among each other and to other unclassified PMVs collected from Miniopterus bats. In this study, we present the first detection of PMVs in Sri Lanka and the presence of PMVs in the bat species M. fuliginosus for the first time.
Institutional Quality and Economic Growth (An Empirical Analysis on MENA Region)

This research aims to investigate the influence of institutional quality on Economic growth in MENA region. The sample covers 23 MENA region countries for the period 1996-2018. Governance indicators are used as a proxy for institutional quality. Results suggest that the model adopted by Abou-Ali and M. Abdelfattah (2013), in which they use the Resource Curse Hypothesis model and the Environmental Kuznets Curve model simultaneously while taking into consideration the institutional quality, is best fitted to the data, so the research apply the methods of testing that used panel data approach of causality, and fixed and random effect model. Furthermore, findings of the research indicated a positive and significant effect of institutional quality on economic growth in high and middle-income countries in MENA region, so policymakers In MENA countries should reinforce the quality of their institutions by adopting good practice of governance and regulations. As the study prove that the proper rule of law enhances the business environment and hence improves foreign direct investment and help in promoting economic growth. Institutional quality and economic salwa abdekaziz – enas ayman Accepted date 31/8/2021 ةراجتلاو داصتقلال ةيملعلا ةلجملا 326
STUDI IN SILICO POTENSI AKTIVITAS FARMAKOLOGI SENYAWA GOLONGAN DIHIDROTETRAZOLOPIRIMIDIN

Senyawa golongan dihidrotetrazolopirimidin dapat disintesis menggunakan Reaksi Biginelli. Senyawa etil 5-metil-7-(4-morfolinofenil)-4,7-dihidrotetrazolo[1,5a] pirimidin-6-karboksilat (MDP) merupakan senyawa organik baru terdiri atas cincin dihidrotetrazolopirimidin dengan gugus samping morfolinofenil. Penelitian sebelumnya menyebutkan bahwa senyawa pirimidin dan turunannya memiliki berbagai macam aktivitas farmakologi. Pada penelitian ini, senyawa MDP dianalisis menggunakan studi in silico untuk mengetahui potensi yang dimiliki sebagai agen terapi untuk mengatasi masalah kesehatan. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa senyawa MDP berpotensi sebagai antimalaria, antikanker, dan antihiperurisemia dilihat dari binding energy yang bernilai negatif atau rendah. Interaksi senyawa MDP dengan reseptor yang bernilai paling negatif pada saat berinteraksi dengan protein XOD dibandingkan dengan nilai binding energy MDP dengan Kinesin Eg5 dan PfDHODH. Sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa senyawa MDP paling potensial jika digunakan sebagai antihiperurisemia dengan nilai binding energy sebesar -8,33 kkal/mol dengan konstanta inhibisi 0,79 µM. Kata kunci: antihiperurisemia, antikanker, antimalaria, dihidrotetrazolopirimidin, in silico Dihydrotetrazolopyrimidine derivatives can be synthezed using the Biginelli Reaction. Ethyl 5-methyl-7-(4-morpholinophenyl)-4,7-dihydrotetrazolo[1,5a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylate (MDP) is a new organic compound consisting of a dihydrotetrazolopyrimidine ring with morpholinophenyl moiety. Previous studies showed that pyrimidine compounds and their derivatives exhibited various pharmacological activities. In this study, MDP compound was analyzed using in silico studies to determine its potential to be used as therapeutic agent to overcome health problems. The results of the analysis showed that the MDP compound has potential activity as an antimalarial, anticancer, and antihyperuricemia, based on negative or low binding energy. The interaction of MDP compound with XOD protein showed the lowest binding energy compared to Kinesin Eg5 and PfDHODH. Based on the docking experiments performed, it can be concluded that MDP compound showed the most potential to be used as an antihyperuricemia with binding energy of -8.33 kcal/mol and inhibition concentration of 0,79 µM. Keywords: anticancer, antihyperuricemia, antimalarial, dihydrotetrazolopyrimidine, in silico
Characteristics of Pregnant Women With Syphilis and Factors Associated With Congenital Syphilis at a Chicago Hospital

Abstract Background Congenital syphilis incidence has more than tripled in recent years, in parallel with the resurgence of syphilis among reproductive-aged women. An understanding of risk factors associated with maternal syphilis infection can guide prevention of congenital syphilis through prenatal diagnosis and treatment. We aimed to describe factors associated with maternal syphilis and congenital syphilis at a public medical center in Chicago, Illinois. Methods Maternal syphilis diagnoses were identified using a database for local health department reporting. Medical records were reviewed for infant congenital syphilis diagnoses, sociodemographic information, medical history, and other behavioral factors. Maternal characteristics associated with congenital syphilis were assessed using logistic regression. Results Of 106 maternal syphilis diagnoses between 2014 and 2018, 76 (72%) had a known pregnancy outcome; of these, 8 (11%) delivered an infant with congenital syphilis. Women with psychiatric illness and noninjection substance use each had a >5-fold increased odds of having an infant with congenital syphilis. Cases with congenital syphilis were more likely to have late or scant prenatal care and initiated treatment nearly 3 months later in pregnancy. None were human immunodeficiency virus positive or reported incarceration, intravenous substance use, sex work, or having sex with men who have sex with men. Conclusions Maternal psychiatric illness and substance use may have complicated prenatal care and delayed syphilis treatment, describing a population in need of public health intervention. Women experiencing such barriers to care may benefit from closer follow-up after a prenatal syphilis diagnosis to prevent congenital transmission.
A survey on vision guided robotic systems with intelligent control strategies for autonomous tasks

Abstract The Vision Guided Robotic systems (VGR) is an essential aspect of modern intelligent robotics. The VGR is rapidly transforming manufacturing processes by enabling robots to be highly adaptable and intelligent reducing the cost and complexity. For any sensor-based intelligent robots, vision-based planning is considered as one of the most prominent steps followed by controlled actions using visual feedback. To develop robust vision-based autonomous systems in robotic applications, path-planning and localization can be implemented along with Visual Servoing (VS) for robust feedback control. In the available literature, most of the reviews are focused on a particular module of autonomous systems like path planning, motion planning strategies, or Visual Servoing techniques. In this paper overall review of different modules in vision-guided robotic systems is presented. So, this review provides researchers with broader in-depth knowledge about different modules that exist in the vision-guided autonomous system. The review also includes different vision sensors that are commonly used in industries covering their characteristics and applications. In this work, overall, 227 research papers in path planning and vision-based control algorithms are reviewed with recent intelligent techniques based on optimization and learning-based approaches. The graphical analysis illustrating the advancements of research in the field of vision-based robotics using Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also discussed. Lastly, this paper concludes by discussing some of the research gaps, challenges, and future directions existing in vision-based planning and control.
Membrane Interactivity of Capsaicin Antagonized by Capsazepine

Although the pharmacological activity of capsaicin has been explained by its specific binding to transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1, the amphiphilic structure of capsaicin may enable it to act on lipid bilayers. From a mechanistic point of view, we investigated whether capsaicin and its antagonist capsazepine interact with biomimetic membranes, and how capsazepine influences the membrane effect of capsaicin. Liposomal phospholipid membranes and neuro-mimetic membranes were prepared with 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin plus cholesterol, respectively. These membrane preparations were subjected to reactions with capsaicin and capsazepine at 0.5–250 μM, followed by measuring fluorescence polarization to determine the membrane interactivity to modify the fluidity of membranes. Both compounds acted on 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers and changed membrane fluidity. Capsaicin concentration-dependently interacted with neuro-mimetic membranes to increase their fluidity at low micromolar concentrations, whereas capsazepine inversely decreased the membrane fluidity. When used in combination, capsazepine inhibited the effect of capsaicin on neuro-mimetic membranes. In addition to the direct action on transmembrane ion channels, capsaicin and capsazepine share membrane interactivity, but capsazepine is likely to competitively antagonize capsaicin’s interaction with neuro-mimetic membranes at pharmacokinetically-relevant concentrations. The structure-specific membrane interactivity may be partly responsible for the analgesic effect of capsaicin.
Space-Time Coding for Avionic Telemetry Channels

Multiple antennas promise high data capacity for wireless communications. Most space-time coding schemes in literature focus on the rich scatter environment. In this paper, we argue that minimax criterion is a good design criterion for space-time codes over the avionic telemetry channels. This design criterion is different than those of space-time codes over rich scattering Rayleigh fading channels. Theoretical and numerical results show that the codes with optimal performance in Rayleigh fading channels do not necessarily have optimal performance in avionic telemetry channels. Therefore, the space-time codes should be carefully designed/selected when used in the avionic telemetry channels.
Impact of Treadmill Interval Running on the Appearance of Zinc Finger Protein FHL2 in Bone Marrow Cells in a Rat Model: A Pilot Study

Although the benefits of physical exercise to preserve bone quality are now widely recognized, the intimate mechanisms leading to the underlying cell responses still require further investigations. Interval training running, for instance, appears as a generator of impacts on the skeleton, and particularly on the progenitor cells located in the bone marrow. Therefore, if this kind of stimulus initiates bone cell proliferation and differentiation, the activation of a devoted signaling pathway by mechano-transduction seems likely. This study aimed at investigating the effects of an interval running program on the appearance of the zinc finger protein FHL2 in bone cells and their anatomical location. Twelve 5-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to one of the following groups (n = 6 per group): sedentary control (SED) or high-intensity interval running (EX, 8 consecutive weeks). FHL2 identification in bone cells was performed by immuno-histochemistry on serial sections of radii. We hypothesized that impacts generated by running could activate, in vivo, a specific signaling pathway, through an integrin-mediated mechano-transductive process, leading to the synthesis of FHL2 in bone marrow cells. Our data demonstrated the systematic appearance of FHL2 (% labeled cells: 7.5%, p < 0.001) in bone marrow obtained from EX rats, whereas no FHL2 was revealed in SED rats. These results suggest that the mechanical impacts generated during high-intensity interval running activate a signaling pathway involving nuclear FHL2, such as that also observed with dexamethasone administration. Consequently, interval running could be proposed as a non-pharmacological strategy to contribute to bone marrow cell osteogenic differentiation.
Experimental study of robotic polishing planning for uneven surfaces with force control

Polishing technique plays a critical role in industrial manufacturing to smooth the surface of products such as turbine blades, die and mold. To improve the polishing process, many technologies are explored and applied. The automated polishing processes are categorized as computer numerically controlled machine polishing and industrial robotic polishing. The robotic arms possess the special advantages in working envelope, flexibility and production cost against computer numerically controlled machines. In addition, the robotic force control does improve the polishing performance in both surface material removal and surface roughness. This project strives to improve the polishing technologies by using combination of robotic techniques and intelligent computation. A specific polishing task that uneven surfaces should be polished to the required smoothness has been first defined. In order to solve the planning problem for this specific polishing task, the polishing process model is investigated and the polishing parameters are optimized based on computational intelligence. Neural network is employed to formulate the model while genetic algorithm is utilized to search for the best parameters. In experiments, workpiece surfaces under the robotic polishing using the planned parameters successfully achieve the desired polishing performance, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed solution.
The Inhibitory Effect of Selected D2 Dopaminergic Receptor Agonists on VEGF-Dependent Neovascularization in Zebrafish Larvae: Potential New Therapy in Ophthalmic Diseases

Pathological angiogenesis is correlated with many ophthalmic diseases. The most common are exudative age-related macular degeneration and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The current treatment for these diseases is based on regularly administered anti-VEGF antibodies injections. In the study, we investigated selected D2 dopaminergic receptor agonists, namely bromocriptine, cabergoline and pergolide, on hypoxia-induced neovascularization. We used the zebrafish laboratory model, specifically three-day post fertilization (dpf) Tg(fli-1: EGFP) zebrafish larvae. To induce abnormal angiogenesis of hyaloid-retinal vessels (HRVs) and intersegmental vessels (ISVs), the larvae were treated with cobalt chloride (II) (CoCl2) (a hypoxia-inducing agent) from 24 h post fertilization. The inhibitory role of D2 dopaminergic receptor agonists was investigated using confocal microscopy and qPCR. Additionally, the results were compared to those obtained in the group treated with CoCl2 followed by bevacizumab, the well-known antiangiogenic agent. Confocal microscopy analyses revealed severe deformation of vessels in the CoCl2 treated group, while co-incubation with bromocriptine, cabergoline, pergolide and bevacizumab, respectively, significantly inhibited abnormalities of angiogenesis. The qPCR analyses supported the protective role of the chosen dopaminergic agonists by demonstrating their influence on CoCl2-derived upregulation of vegfaa expression. The present results suggest that the D2 receptor agonists can be considered as a new direction in research for antiangiogenic therapy.