Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spectroscopic Studies of Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus, Its Major Capsid Protein, and RNA

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) causes the severe disease of salmonid fishes (trout, salmon, etc.) The IPNV virion consists of a double-stranded viral RNA surrounded by a protein capsid. The aim of the work is to determine the role of IPNV virion constituents (capsid proteins and viral RNA) in the formation of spectral properties of the whole IPNV virions. We have measured the UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence, fluorescence excitation, phosphorescence and phosphorescence excitation spectra of IPNV virions, major capsid protein (MCP), and viral RNA dissolved in different buffers. It is shown that the UV absorption of IPNV virions is caused by the absorption of both capsid proteins and viral RNA. The fluorescence of IPNV MCP and virions may be attributed to tyrosine and tyrosine + tryptophan, respectively. The low-temperature phosphorescence of virions can be attributed to that of capsid proteins, rather than viral RNA. The IPNV RNA phosphorescence spectrum exhibits the electronic-vibrational structure and may be due to the emission of adenine links.
A Single-Phase Interleaved Buck-Boost PFC Based On-Board EV Charger

This article proposes a two-stage battery charger using an interleaved bridgeless buck-boost-based power factor correction (PFC) AC-DC converter at the first stage. The converter at the front end improves the input current shaping and power factor while providing adequate DC link voltage. At the back end, a half-bridge LLC converter is used to charge the battery. This onboard charger (OBC) executes nearly unity power factor throughout a broad input voltage range. Furthermore, input current and voltage sensors are not required for AC-DC conversion due to the discontinuous inductor current conduction mode (DICM), further increasing the converter's reliability and reducing the overall cost. This OBC solution practically suits the majority of low-voltage (LV) battery chargers. The design equations and a thorough steady-state analysis of the proposed charger are also presented. Finally, the validity is demonstrated by showing both simulation and hardware results. A laboratory prototype of 1 kW for this OBC results in an input current THD as low as 2.08%, and a peak efficiency of up to 93%.
Design of a Single Circular Radiator With Multiple Patterns for a UWB Three-Axis Monopulse System

This paper proposes a single radiator multiple patterns (SRMP) antenna that utilizes a single circular disc radiator to provide multiple radiation patterns that are suitable for ultra-wideband (UWB) direction-finding. The antenna design includes a circular disc and a ground structure for broadband characteristics and a slot structure to reduce mutual coupling. In addition, we simplify the UWB direction-finding system by employing a monopulse method that uses only sum and difference patterns rather than the sensitive phase difference of arrival (PDoA) method. The coordinates for conventional monopulse systems are converted into <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\alpha $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-, and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$y$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-axes that are more suitable for the proposed SRMP antenna. Then, the monopulse ratios on each of the three axes, obtained using sum and difference patterns, are then compared to the simulation and ideal results. To verify the feasibility, the proposed SRMP antenna is fabricated, and antenna characteristics, such as reflection coefficients, mutual couplings, and radiation patterns are measured in a full anechoic chamber. To examine the direction of arrival (DoA) estimation using the proposed antenna, we use the monopulse ratios calculated based on the measured data in the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$z\alpha $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$z\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-, and zy-planes. The maximum RMS error is reduced to 0.105 using the three-axis monopulse system within the angle range from −15° to 15°. The results confirm that the proposed SRMP antenna is suitable for the UWB three-axis monopulse direction finding.
On the Design and Characterization of Set Packing Problem on Quantum Annealers

The beginning of the quantum era has increased the hype around computationally demanding problems and, particularly, NP-complete problems. One of the most famous is the Set Packing, which has several applications in different management contexts. This work presents a solver for Set Packing Problem on quantum annealers exploiting the QUBO model. We introduce a general format to express instances of the Set Packing Problem that enables an automatic characterization, lowering the barriers to adopting quantum annealers. Finally, we compare the performance of two quantum annealer on the Set Packing, namely D-Wave 2000Q and Advantage, highlighting their pros and cons. As key evaluation indicators, this work uses spatial features, such as the number of qubits and maximum chain length, and the execution time required for a reliable problem resolution and its breakdown. In particular, we can scale the solutions to 60 and 150 subsets on 2000Q and Advantage, respectively, with 0 chain breaks. Moreover, our analysis illustrates that 2000Q has lower mean energy required but higher execution times on the same problem complexity.
Dealing with the challenges of presenting taxonomic data online: An introduction to PLANKTON*NET@AWI

Phytoplankton taxonomy requires comparison of large volumes of information including images of taxa from different geographical areas. The internet should be ideally suited for this task. However, despite its advantages compared with traditional dissemination methods and the huge array of different online taxonomic resources, it lacks the evaluation and validation mechanisms of traditional resources, and ‘ground rules’ for the treatment of taxonomic data have not yet been established. PLANKTON*NET@AWI contains more than a thousand plankton images from the North Sea and different collections from all over the world. The database can be searched alphabetically or via collections. Each record can be viewed as a standardized data sheet with images and taxonomic descriptions. Comment functions are also provided but their administration has yet to be discussed. Images from different collections can be compared, facilitating the detection of taxonomic inconsistencies and geographic variations in morphology. PLANKTON*NET is a collaborative project with partners at Roscoff and in Woods Hole, but the individual sites are not yet networked. We are currently exploring mechanisms for future database formats and ways of networking existing resources to maximize the benefits for taxonomic research. Our favoured approach will be to follow the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH) as an application-independent interoperability framework based on XML technology, so that the integrity of local taxonomic initiatives can be maintained, while sharing content but this will also require discussion within the wider scientific community.
Antimalarial Efficacy and Safety of Senna occidentalis (L.) Link Root Extract in Plasmodium berghei-Infected BALB/c Mice

Background Emergence of Plasmodium resistance to antimalarial drugs presents a major drawback in efforts to control malaria. To address this problem, there is an urgent and continuous need for the development of new and effective antimalarial agents. Senna occidentalis (L.) link extract has exhibited in vitro antiplasmodial activity in many pharmacological studies. To our knowledge, data on its in vivo antimalarial efficacy is still very limited. A recent study demonstrated that polar extracts from the plant roots inhibit Plasmodium berghei proliferation in a mouse model. This study further describes the efficacy and safety of a methanolic root extract of the plant as an antimalarial agent by demonstrating its effect on hematological, biochemical, and histological parameters of Plasmodium berghei-infected BALB/c mice. Methods Rane's test, a curative approach, was used to evaluate the antimalarial efficacy of Senna occidentalis methanolic root extract in Plasmodium berghei-infected BALB/c mice. The effect of the extract on both hematological and biochemical parameters was evaluated using automated analyzers. Kidney, liver, lung, spleen, and brain tissues were harvested from euthanized mice and examined for changes in organ architecture. Results This study demonstrates that methanolic root extract of Senna occidentalis significantly inhibited Plasmodium berghei parasitemia in BALB/c mice (p < 0.01). Infected mice that were treated with the extract depicted a significantly low level of total leucocytes (p < 0.01), red blood cell distribution width (p < 0.01), and a significantly high hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001) compared to the infected animals that were administered with the vehicle only. The infected animals that were treated with the extract exhibited a significantly low level of urea, creatinine, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.05), compared to the infected animals that were given the vehicle only. The level of sodium, potassium and chloride ions, lymphocytes, granulocytes, hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total platelets, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width of the infected animals treated with the extract was not significantly different from those of the infected animals that were given the vehicle only (p > 0.05). The extract alleviated organ pathological changes in the infected mice. The extract did not induce any remarkable adverse effect on the growth, hematological, and biochemical parameters of uninfected animals (p > 0.05). In addition, administration of the extract did not alter the gross appearance and histological architecture of the organs, implying that the extract was well tolerated in mice. Conclusions Senna occidentalis methanolic root extract exhibited good antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei and may be safe in mice.
Preventing Corrosion Failures

Corrosion is commonly defined as the deterioration of a material or its properties because of a reaction with its environment. It is a natural process due to a high energy state induced in metals and alloys during refining, processing, and manufacturing. Modern methods for preventing and controlling corrosion can reduce or eliminate its impact on public safety, the economy, and the environment. New technologies push materials to withstand increasingly demanding conditions as a result of higher temperatures and pressures, and environments with greater corrosivity. Therefore, the risks of new types of corrosion failures need to be considered along with methods to avoid them, as described in this article.
POLY-GAMMA-GLUTAMIC ACID: A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF BIOSYNTHESIS, CHARACTERISTICS, AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS

Poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) is a naturally occurring biopolymer that has been receiving increasing attention in various fields, including the food, medical, and cosmetic industries. This review provides a comprehensive overview of PGA, discussing its biosynthesis, characteristics, and emerging applications. The biosynthesis of PGA is discussed in detail, highlighting the various microorganisms that are capable of producing PGA and the factors that affect its production. The structure and molecular weight of PGA are also described, as well as its solubility and biodegradability. These properties make PGA a highly versatile material that can be utilized in a wide range of applications. The review also provides an in-depth analysis of the emerging applications of PGA. In the food industry, PGA has been used as a natural preservative, a thickener, and a flavor enhancer. In the medical field, PGA has shown promising results as a drug delivery system and a scaffold for tissue engineering. The challenges and future directions for the production and utilization of PGA are also discussed. This review article covers key aspects, including production process optimization, property improvement, and exploration of novel applications for PGA. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers and industry professionals who wish to explore the potential of PGA in diverse applications. The exceptional properties of PGA make it highly appealing, with a broad spectrum of potential uses across multiple industries.
Analysis of the spatial distribution of candeia (Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish) under the seed-tree management system

Candeia (Eremanthus erythropapus) is a woody species that produces wood for various uses and with high economic value. This fact has caused an uncontrolled exploitation of the species. One way to reduce the exploitation impact of candeia tree is to elaborate a sustainable management plan. Spatial evaluation is important to analyze the ecological behavior of the species. The results may help the comprehension of the spatial dependency and the pattern of distribution. The objective of this study was to analyze the horizontal spatial structure of Eremanthus erythropapus (candeia) under a tree-seed system, in trials installed in august 2003 in the district of Aiuruoca, in the State of Minas Gerais. The spatial analysis of the regeneration and the seed-trees were performed by Ripley s K, using their geographic coordinates. The results indicated that the regeneration presented an aggregated distribution pattern, confirming the capacity of candeia to form mosaics in the vegetation, originating candeia predominant forests. The adult plants presented an aggregated pattern moving into a random pattern. There was no dependency relationship between adult plants and regeneration.
Synthesis of Relative Permeance for Analysis and Design of Multislotted Surface-Mounted Permanent Magnet Motor

This article presents an analytical method to design and characterize a multislotted surface-mounted permanent magnet (SPM) motor. The SPM motor has been widely used for automobile, industry automation, etc., since it offers high power density and torque. In general, the design of the SPM has multislots on iron-core, and it is essential to accurately analyze the change in the magnetic field caused by slotting effect. The existing analytical models, such as relative permeance (RP), complex relative permeance (CRP), and subdomain (SD), have some limitations, relatively low accuracy and long computational time, which are crucial as the design of the multislotted SPM is complicated. The proposed model in this article utilizes the exact complex relative permeance (eCRP) of each slot pattern and synthesizes the eCRPs (Syn-eCRP) by the superposition principle so that it reduces the computation time for multislotted design with high accuracy. Furthermore, the analysis can be explored for a number of various design parameters of the SPM motor, such as the size of motor components, pole-slot combination, the number of slots, internal/external rotor, and radial/parallel magnetization. This model is validated through a comparison of relative permeance, magnetic fields, and cogging torque with the finite element method and experiment of motors. In total, two core designs, single-notch and double-notch designs that have two and three slot patterns, are demonstrated for the effectiveness and accuracy. The results show that the Syn-eCRP can be utilized to design and analyze the SPM motor with high accuracy and fast computation simultaneously.
Impact of Heat Stress on Physiological Characteristics, Blood Constituents and HSP Genes Expression in Mithun during Summer Season

Six healthy Mithun animals being reared in the shade and were not exposed to sunlight in the morning hours were termed as control group (T1). The same animals were exposed to sunlight from 6.00 am to 2.00 pm to induce heat stress and were termed as the heat stressed group (T2). The samples for observations on physiological, blood constituents and gene expression were recorded at 6.00 am (T1) and 2.00 pm (T2). The values for physiological characteristics, viz., rectal temp (100.04±0.26 vs 103.34±0.20), respiration rate per minute (26.67±0.52 vs 33.00±0.74) and pulse rate per minute (42.44±1.02 vs 59.83±0.84) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the heat stressed group than non stress group. The values for blood constituents viz., glucose (50.82±1.27 vs 60.09±1.46), SGOT (44.91±0.89 vs 51.18±1.08), SGPT (44.17±0.87 vs 49.92±0.87), cortisol (712.48±0.03 vs 712.49±0.02) and THI (77.56±0.39 vs 81.42±3.40) were also significantly (p<0.05) higher in the heat stress group than non stress group. The values for expression of HSP 70 gene (28.24 ±0.15 vs 28.88±0.59) and HSP 90 gene (36.13±1.24 vs 35.87±1.90) were also significantly (p<0.05) higher in the heat stressed group of Mithun than non stress group. The results of the study revealed that summer heat stress had a significant effect in Mithun.
Essential Oils of Distichochlamys benenica: Chemical Constituents, Mosquito Larvicidal and Antimicrobial Activities

In recent years, essential oils (EOs) have gained popularity for their potential as natural antimicrobial agents and mosquito larvae control. This study aimed to explore the chemical composition of EOs extracted from the leaves and rhizomes of Distichochlamys benenica Q.B. Nguyen & Škorničk, and to evaluate their mosquito larvicidal and antimicrobial activities. The EOs were obtained using hydrodistillation and subjected to gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry to determine their chemical constituents. The main components identified in the leaf EO were β-pinene (47.7%), cis-β-elemene (8.5%), and α-pinene (7.8%), while the rhizome EO mainly consisted of geranyl acetate (25.7%), geranial (23.3%), neral (16.6%), and geraniol (8.4%). The mosquito larvicidal activity of the EOs was evaluated using larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus during 24 and 48 h of treatment. The results demonstrated that these EOs effectively inhibited the mosquito larvae, with LC50 values ranging from 31.15 to 71.53 μg/mL and LC90 values ranging from 46.28 to 148.66 μg/mL. Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were used to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of EOs. Both EOs exhibited potent antimicrobial effects against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 299212, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231, with MIC values ranging from 16 to 64 μg/mL and IC50 values ranging from 4.67 to 45.67 μg/mL. Overall, the mosquito larvicidal and antimicrobial activities of D. benenica EOs highlight their potential as natural alternatives for combating mosquito-borne diseases and microbial infections.
A Multi-Modal Stimulator System for Visual Prosthesis

Blindness is a severe condition affecting both individuals and their families. In the past few decades, there have been many attempts at visual prostheses to restore vision to the blind. So far, these methods have restored rudimentary rather than functional vision. There are many challenges to overcome to reach the goal of true functionality. One issue is that the neuroprosthetic interface has only provided individual phosphenes – flashes of light, rather than perceptual information. This isn’t a simple issue of resolution or contrast. Rather there is a mismatch between the way we present information to the brain, and how the brain interprets it. As such, the field has a broad agreement that we need an improved neural interface. This work explores an optoelectronic system that can combine optogenetic and electrical forms of neural stimulation to achieve the best benefits of both while negating their respective limitations. We present a concept system and its organization for the stimulus of neural tissue.
Proteomics as an approach to studying variability in holm oak (Quercus Ilex subsp. Ballota (DESF) SAMP) Andalousian Populations

Our groups are carrying out a multidisciplinary research project on holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota [Desf] Samp) and other forest tree species of interest within the Andalusian region. We aim: i) to characterize the different catalogued provenances; ii) to study differential population responses to biotic and abiotic stresses; iii) to select elite trees to be used in reforestation programmes; and, iv) to optimize in vitro propagation protocols. For these proposals we are using different approaches, including classic biochemistry, proteomics, and genomics. Previously, differences in the 2-DE protein pattern between population and changes in response to drought stress were studied on leaf tissue (Jorge et al. 2005, 2006). Due to the great variability found in the leaf proteome, even within the same tree, it was almost impossible to establish clear differences between provenances, and we therefore decided to move to a different organ, that, like the seed, has a more stable proteome. This communication deals with the specific objective of analyzing variability in holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota [Desf] Samp) Andalusian populations by comparing the 1and 2-DE protein profile of mature seeds. Seed proteins (10 populations, 5 trees per population) were TCA-acetone extracted and subjected to both 1(SDSPAGE) and 2-DE (IEF/SDS-PAGE). Coomassie-stained gel images were captured with a GS-800 Calibrated Densitometer (Bio-Rad) and analyzed by PD-Quest software. The 1-D banding pattern was highly reproducible among trees within populations, founding 7 polymorphic bands. 2-DE analysis was limited to just four out of the ten populations sampled. Qualitative differences were found for 74 of the around 352 spots detected. Some of the differential bands/spots have been identified after MS analysis, with most of them corresponding to legumins, a type of globulin described in different Quercus species. Principal component analysis and dice coefficient have been used to determine the most discriminate bands/spots and the genetic distances between provenances.
Clusters in a chain of coupled oscillators behave like a single oscillator: Relevance to spontaneous otoacoustic emissions from human ears

Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) provide startling evidence that there is an active process at the core of the mammalian cochlea, but the mechanism involved is unclear. Models involving single, active Van der Pol oscillators have found favor, but here we extend the system to a chain of coupled, active nonlinear oscillators. It is found that the inherent clustering of oscillators in the chain produces an effect in which each cluster, or frequency plateau, behaves just like a single oscillator, most clearly in terms of phase lock to external tones and phase slip in the presence of noise.
Nanorobotics and Automatic On-Wafer Probe Station with Nanometer Positionning Accuracy

Precise and repeatable radiofrequency (RF) measurements call for innovative characterization techniques. In particular, the use of nanorobotics for on-wafer measurements is a viable solution to address RF characterization with enhanced alignment accuracy. In this work, we present the development of a nanorobotics and automatic on-wafer probing station designed and realized for GSG on-wafer millimetre-wave measurements.