Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Positive Effects of α-Lactalbumin in the Management of Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

To date, the involvement of α-Lactalbumin (α-LA) in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) refers to its ability to improve intestinal absorption of natural molecules like inositols, overcoming the inositol resistance. However, due to its own aminoacidic building blocks, α-LA is involved in various biological processes that can open new additional applications. A great portion of women with PCOS exhibit gastrointestinal dysbiosis, which is in turn one of the triggering mechanisms of the syndrome. Due to its prebiotic effect, α-LA can recover dysbiosis, also improving the insulin resistance, obesity and intestinal inflammation frequently associated with PCOS. Further observations suggest that altered gut microbiota negatively influence mental wellbeing. Depressive mood and low serotonin levels are indeed common features of women with PCOS. Thanks to its content of tryptophan, which is the precursor of serotonin, and considering the strict link between gut and brain, using α-LA contributes to preserving mental well-being by maintaining high levels of serotonin. In addition, considering women with PCOS seeking pregnancy, both altered microbiota and serotonin levels can induce later consequences in the offspring. Therefore, a deeper knowledge of potential applications of α-LA is required to transition to preclinical and clinical studies extending its therapeutic advantages in PCOS.
Understanding TQM implementation barriers involving construction companies in a difficult environment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that affect TQM implementation in construction companies and it suggests solutions for TQM implementation in a difficult environment. Design/methodology/approach Studies were carried out at six large construction companies who ply their trade in Southern Africa and in-depth investigations were conducted to assess TQM implementation practices and associated TQM barriers. Interviews were conducted on directors and key personnel that play important roles in TQM implementation in their respective organisations. The empirical study also utilised a number of organisational documents which added rigour to the findings. Findings This study identified three core categories and ten main barriers affecting TQM implementation in Southern Africa construction companies. The core categories are motivation, infrastructure and penchants and tendencies while the factors are lack of quality support, poor TQM knowledge and TQM awareness, poor information sharing, temporary workers, overdependence on contract document, poor data collection measurement, undefined TQM roles and responsibilities, award to lowest bidder tendency, poor business environment and corruption. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted based on companies plying their trade in Southern Africa and mostly around Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique. It does not study companies in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa and Botswana. Practical implications TQM cannot be exported wholly from another region to a new setting without taking into consideration the local factors associated with that setting. For successful TQM implementation in construction in Southern Africa, characteristics of this region have to be known. This study illuminates a number of TQM implementation barriers associated with construction especially applied to this difficult environment. Application of this knowledge would enhance TQM and heighten competitive advantage initiatives. The proportions highlighted in this study therefore help build up the TQM implementation awareness. Social implications At society level, the findings of this study indicate societal problems such as corruption and business environment which require wide level approaches to deal with these barriers. In addition, if TQM applied in road construction projects, the quality of the roads will be improved, this in turn will have direct impact on quality of life in the society, better roads means easier access to hospitals, schools and public places, better transport and movements of goods and services, etc. It can also save money for the country in long run and economic benefits to the society. Originality/value The factors identified in this study are based on current TQM implementation practices at established construction companies in Southern Africa. They provide a practical basis for guiding TQM in construction companies operating in difficult environments.
CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex enables higher viability of transfected cells in genome editing of acute myeloid cells

Background Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) has become an increasingly vital tool for modifying gene expression in a variety of cell types. Lentiviral transduction and electroporation are the two main approaches used to deliver CRISPR/Cas9 into cells. However, the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in primary hematopoietic cells has been limited due to either low transduction efficiency in terms of viral-based delivery or difficult selection and enrichment of transfected and edited cells with respect to electroporation of CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP). Methods In this study in vitro transcription was used to synthesize the guide RNA (gRNA), and plasmid pL-CRISPR.EFS. GFP was used as its DNA template. Then the in vitro transcribed gRNA was labeled with pCp-Cy5 via T4 ligase before incubating with Cas9 protein. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9 RNP was electroporated into primary CD34+ cells isolated from cord blood, and cell survival rate and transfection efficiency were calculated and compared to that of lentiviral transduction. Results Here, we show that electroporation of CRISPR/Cas9 RNP resulted in higher cell viability compared to electroporation of CRISPR/Cas9 all-in-one plasmid, providing important findings for further studies in hematology via CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Moreover, we established a method for labeling in vitro-transcribed gRNA with fluorophore and the sorted fluorescent cells displayed higher knockout efficiency than nonsorted transfected cells. Conclusions Electroporation of fluorescence labeled CRISPR/Cas9 RNP is a perspective approach of gene editing. Our study provides an efficient and time-saving approach for genome-editing in hematopoietic cells.
Experiments and scaling laws for catastrophic collisions

The existing data on shattering impacts are reviewed using natural silicate, ice, and cement-mortar targets. A comprehensive data base containing the most important parameters describing these experiments was prepared. The collisional energy needed to shatter consolidated homogeneous targets and the ensuing fragment size distributions have been well studied experimentally. However, major gaps exist in the data on fragment velocity and rotational distributions, as well as collisional energy partitioning for these targets. Current scaling laws lead to predicted outcomes of asteroid collisions that are inconsistent with interpretations of astronomical data.
The Forensic Force ® Series: Psychophysiological Responses to TASER ® -ECD Influence

One of the most pressing problems within the law enforcement and use-of-force instructor communities is the reconciliation of force deployments with subject noncompliance and resistance. With the advent of more sophisticated and effective Electronic Control Devices (ECD), most notably produced by TASER International, many officers have elected to use this quantum of force in place of oleoresin capsicum (OC) sprays, impact weapons, and physical control techniques.
A Holistic Overview of Studies to Improve Group-Based Assessments in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review

There is a soaring demand for work-ready graduates who can quickly adapt to an ever-challenging work environment. Group-based assessments have been widely recommended as a means to develop the skills required for the world of work. However, group-based assessments are perceived as challenging for both students and educators. This systematic literature review (SLR), based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), focuses on analyzing and synthesizing the existing literature on group-based assessments. A four-step approach was undertaken in order to conduct this research. The SLR identified 71 relevant articles, analyzed using thematic analysis with the aid of NVivo software. An open coding approach was adopted to generate codes. The validity of the SLR process and the reliability of the research tool were maintained through the use of trustworthiness. The findings identified dominant themes such as self- and peer evaluations, training students for group work assessments, group formation, group size, and the role of academics and technology in facilitating group processes. The outcomes of this review contribute significantly to the design and administration of group-based assessments in higher education by providing academics with practical guidelines to effectively facilitate group-based assessments which fit the purpose.
SASCHA—Sparsity-Aware Stochastic Computing Hardware Architecture for Neural Network Acceleration

Stochastic computing (SC) has recently emerged as a promising method for efficient machine learning acceleration. Its high compute density, affinity with dense linear algebra primitives, and approximation properties have an uncanny level of synergy with the deep neural network computational requirements. However, there is a conspicuous lack of works trying to integrate SC hardware with sparsity awareness, which has brought significant performance improvements to conventional architectures. In this work, we identify why common sparsity-exploiting techniques are not easily applicable to SC accelerators and propose a new architecture—SASCHA—sparsity-aware SC hardware architecture for the neural network acceleration that addresses those issues. SASCHA encompasses a set of techniques that make utilizing sparsity in inference practical for different types of SC computation. At 90% weight sparsity, SASCHA can be up to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$6.5\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> faster and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$5.5\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> more energy-efficient than comparable dense SC accelerators with a similar area without sacrificing the dense network throughput. SASCHA also outperforms sparse fixed-point accelerators by up to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> in terms of latency. To the best of our knowledge, SASCHA is the first SC accelerator architecture oriented around sparsity.
Basic learning functions among young adults coping with schizophrenia

Abstract The purpose of the study was to examine specific learning functions among people coping with schizophrenia and the possibility of a relationship between the different aspects of learning function (e.g., reading or writing) and the severity of the mental illness. We hypothesized that (a) the basic learning functions of people with schizophrenia after the first episode of the disease would be low compared with the general population, but (b) there would be broad intra-individual variance in the degree of damage to the different functions, and (c) this intra-individual variance would be associated with the severity of the illness. The sample comprised 38 schizophrenia patients, ages 20–37, who were hospitalized in two psychiatric hospitals in northern Israel. The learning functions were examined using MATAL, a computerized set of standardized tests and questionnaires developed for the diagnosis of learning disabilities among higher education students in Israel. The results supported the first two hypotheses; the learning functions of the participants were significantly lower than the norm in the general population on all tasks and there was variance among individuals regarding the different functions. However, inconsistent with our third hypothesis, no correlation was found between this variance and the severity of the illness. The findings provide initial support for the presence of learning disabilities among patients with schizophrenia. Further research is recommended to better understand this subject and evaluate the need for diagnosis and intervention.
Improved On-Demand Travel Route Planning Model with Interest Fields

Intelligent tourism route planning is an important element of smart tourism, and the current tourism route planning has problems such as strong subjectivity and low personalization considering tourists' interests. To solve the problems of current tourism route planning, an improved interest field travel route planning model is proposed. Firstly, an intelligent interest field extraction model is established. Secondly, an improved greedy algorithm is designed to reduce the risk of missing the optimal solution, strengthen the local search capability, and improve the solution accuracy of the algorithm. The extracted routes of interest sites are planned, and a motivated iterative value output model is established. The experimental results demonstrate that the selected routes are shorter and less expensive than the traditional model. By iterating the actual data to obtain the iterative values of different tourist route motivations and the sequential guide map of attractions based on tourist interests, the optimal and suboptimal routes that satisfy the tourist motivation interests are analyzed. This model has strong feasibility and practical significance for smart tourism route planning.
Role of Ultrasonography Compared to Computed Tomography in Measurement of Visceral Adipose Tissue and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Diabetic Overweight and Obese Adolescents

Background: Ultrasound is considered as a suitable, accurate, safe, available technique to measure abdominal adipose tissue of low cost compared to other imaging modalities as CT and MRI. It is superior to BMI as a monitor for diabesity because of it is ability to differentiate between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in wide epidemiological studies. Results: The correlation between the ultrasound and CT measurements was high with correlation coefficient 0.921 and 0.988 for VAT and SAT respectively. Also there was high significant correlation between the BMI and US and CT measurements of VAT and SAT in all studied groups with correlation coefficient ranging from 0.514 to 0.956. Conclusion: Ultrasound provides reproducible and valid estimates of VAT and SAT and represents a useful method to assess abdominal fat in large scale epidemiological studies.
Algebraic Geometry and Arithmetic Curves

Introduction 1. Some topics in commutative algebra 2. General Properties of schemes 3. Morphisms and base change 4. Some local properties 5. Coherent sheaves and Cech cohmology 6. Sheaves of differentials 7. Divisors and applications to curves 8. Birational geometry of surfaces 9. Regular surfaces 10. Reduction of algebraic curves Bibilography Index
Sequence Analysis, Antibiogram Profile, Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance Genes of XDR and MDR Gallibacterium anatis Isolated from Layer Chickens in Egypt

Background Gallibacterium anatis is incriminated frequently in severe economic losses and mortalities in the poultry industry. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of G. anatis in layer chickens, sequence analysis, the antibiogram profiles, and PCR screening of virulence determinants and antibiotic resistance genes. Methods Accordingly, 300 samples (tracheal swabs, ovary and oviduct, and lung) were randomly collected from 100 diseased layer chickens from private commercial layer farms at Elsharkia Governorate, Egypt. The bacteriological examination was carried out. The retrieved isolates were tested for 16S rRNA-23S rRNA gene sequencing, antibiogram profiling, PCR screening of virulence (gtxA, fifA, and gyrB), and antibiotic resistance genes (blaROB, aphA1, tetB, and tetH). Results The prevalence of G. anatis was 25% in the examined diseased layer chickens. The sequence analyses emphasized that the tested strains derived from a common ancestor and exhibited a notable genetic similarity with other G. anatis strains from USA, China, and Denmark. The isolated G. anatis strains were highly resistant to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, oxytetracycline, penicillin, ampicillin, kanamycin, neomycin, and erythromycin. The PCR revealed that the retrieved G. anatis strains carried gtxA, gyrB, and fifA virulence genes with a prevalence of 100%, 100%, and 38.3%, respectively. Approximately 30.1% of the retrieved G. anatis isolates were XDR to six antimicrobial classes and harbored blaROB, aphA1, and tetB resistance genes. Moreover, 20.5% of the isolated G. anatis strains were MDR to three different classes and carried blaROB and tetH resistance genes. Conclusion Briefly, this study emphasized the existence of XDR and MDR G. anatis strains in poultry. Florfenicol and norfloxacin displayed a promising antimicrobial effect against the emerging XDR and MDR G. anatis in poultry. The emergence of XDR and MDR G. anatis is considered a public health alarm.
Theoretical Design of a Janus-Nanoparticle-Based Sandwich Assay for Nucleic Acids

Nanoparticles exhibit diverse self-assembly attributes and are expected to be applicable under unique settings. For instance, biomolecules can be sandwiched between dimer nanoparticles and detected by surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Controlling the gap between extremely close dimers and stably capturing the target molecule in the gap are crucial aspects of this strategy. Therefore, polymer-tethered nanoparticles (PTNPs), which show promise as high-performance materials that exhibit the attractive features of both NPs and polymers, were targeted in this study to achieve stable biomolecule sensing. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, the dependence of the PTNP interactions on the length of the grafted polymer, graft density, and coverage ratio of a hydrophobic tether were examined. The results indicated that the smaller the tether length and graft density, the smaller was the distance between the PTNP surfaces (Rsurf). In contrast, Rsurf decreased as the coverage ratio of the hydrophobic surface (ϕ) increased. The sandwiching probability of the sensing target increased in proportion to the coverage ratio. At high ϕ values, the PTNPs aggregated into three or more particles, which hindered their sensing attributes. These results provide fundamental insight into the sensing applications of NPs and demonstrate the usefulness of PTNPs in sensing biomolecules.
Produções artísticas de U.S. Latinx: demolindo fronteiras e desmanchando estereótipos

O fato de os U.S. Latinx viverem “entre dois mundos” torna a sua produção artística um elemento pujante para a obtenção de alicerces em sua busca por inclusão e igualdade. As angústias desses artistas estão relacionadas a uma vasta gama de aspectos sociais e identitários. Desejosos em realizar o American Dream, esses imigrantes e suas descendentes perceberam a necessidade de transpor não somente barreiras físicas, mas também culturais, linguísticas, econômicas e raciais. Por exemplo, Julia Alvarez, escritora Dominican-American, examina a questão de ser “hifenizada” em seu texto Entre Lucas y Juan Mejía (1992). Este estudo também examina a peça de teatro Los Vendidos (1967), de Luis Valdez, e poemas de Tino Villanueva, Pat Mora, Jimmy Santiago Baca e Gary Soto com o objetivo de analisar as formas pelas quais os autores abordam os estereótipos aplicados aos U.S. Latinx em seu cotidiano.
Computational approach to enhance performance of photovoltaic system inverters interfaced to utility grids

Switch-model power electronic inverters are heavily deployed as the main technology in enabling flow of variable DC power into the AC grid. Various distributed energy system (DES) architectures have been designed depending on many attributes including size and application of the installed system. The reliability of the power electronic interfaces (PEI), i.e. inverters is critical in all these architectures. Recent studies demonstrate enhanced operation of a PEI can be reached by optimum adjustment of its controller parameters. While conventional tuning methods are mostly based on trial and error, their optimum performance can be achieved for primarily first-order systems. For systems with increasing number of PEIs or more complexity, application of these tuning methods becomes challenging and expensive. Thus, considering the operational performance of DES, a controller self-tuning methodology has been presented for PEIs with particle swarm optimisation capability. The optimal parameters for both kW-scale and multi-megawatt PV systems' inverters are determined via a time-domain performance objective function. Typical PV system performances are presented for step changes and dynamic weather conditions. Effectiveness of the controller self-tuning methodology has been demonstrated via the reduction of transient energy, when the system is subjected to dynamic changes and disturbances.
Limits to classification and regression estimation from ergodic processes

We answer two open questions concerning the existence of universal schemes for classification and regression estimation from stationary ergodic processes. It is shown that no measurable procedure can produce weakly consistent regression estimates from every bivariate stationary ergodic process, even if the covariate and response variables are restricted to take values in the unit interval. It is further shown that no measurable procedure can produce weakly consistent classification rules from every bivariate stationary ergodic process for which the response variable is binary valued. The results of the paper are derived via reduction arguments and are based in part on recent work concerning density estimaton from ergodic processes.
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Consequentialist moral theories and nonhuman animals share a long and complicated history.1 On one hand, some of the earliest Western philosophers to take seriously the moral status of nonhuman animals were the British utilitarians Jeremy Bentham, J. S. Mill, and Henry Sidgwick. Moreover, contemporary utilitarian Peter Singer is often credited with having started the modern-day animal rights movement with the publication of Animal Liberation. Consequentialist principles motivate many animal advocates in general, and they are at the foundation of the effective animal advocacy movement in particular.2 On the other hand, many philosophers and advocates question whether consequentialism adequately respects the moral status of nonhuman animals, in much the same way that they question whether consequentialism adequately respects the moral status of humans. Familiar critiques of consequentialism emerge with new life in the context of assessing the moral status of nonhuman animals, such as the critique that consequentialism regards individuals as fungible receptacles of value, which is to be promoted regardless of the means of its promotion. In this chapter we will focus on two related issues that arise for consequentialists regarding nonhuman animals, one regarding domesticated animals and the other regarding