Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Machine Learning-Based Model Predictive Control for Collaborative Production Planning Problem with Unknown Information

In industrial production planning problems, the accuracy of the accessible market information has the highest priority, as it is directly associated with the reliability of decisions and affects the efficiency and effectiveness of manufacturing. However, during a collaborative task, certain private information regarding the participants might be unknown to the regulator, and the production planning decisions thus become biased or even inaccurate due to the lack of full information. To improve the production performance in this specific case, this paper combines the techniques of machine learning and model predictive control (MPC) to create a comprehensive algorithm with low complexity. We collect the historical data of the decision-making process while the participants make their individual decisions with a certain degree of bias and analyze the collected data using machine learning to estimate the unknown parameter values by solving a regression problem. Based on an accurate estimate, MPC helps the regulator to make optimal decisions, maximizing the overall net profit of a given collaborative task over a future time period. A simulation-based case study is conducted to validate the performance of the proposed algorithm in terms of estimation accuracy. Comparisons with individual and pure MPC decisions are also made to verify its advantages in terms of increasing profit.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Boucerosia procumbens (Gravely & Mayur.)

The aim of this study was to synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles in the ethanol extract of Boucerosia procumbens . Nanoparticles are being used in many commercial applications. The synthesized Silver Nanoparticles were characterized by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). It was found that ethanol silver iron can be reduced by ethanol plant extracts of plant to generate to extremely stable Silver Nanoparticles. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(2): 168-171
Cryogenic Ion Spectroscopy of Peptides and Glycans

Understanding the structure of biomolecules, which are directly related to physiological processes that take place in the human body, has always generated a large interest in the scientific community. In this thesis we focus our attention on two of these classes of biomolecules: peptides and glycans. In the first part of this work we investigate how the structure of helical peptides in the gas-phase is modified when one increases the number of amino acids in the sequence. Moreover, we analyze the role played by a mobile charge in the formation of the helical motif in the gas-phase. To achieve these goals, we make use of a home-built tandem mass spectrometer, and a pump-probe laser spectroscopic scheme. The combination of infrared and ultraviolet light together with cryogenic temperatures allows one to collect high-resolution conformer-specific spectra of gas-phase peptides. By comparing the experimental results obtained with density functional theory calculations, we show that the synergy between theory and experiment is key to provide accurate structural characterization of the investigated peptides. The mobile charge, in fact, induces unconventional backbone conformations, which cannot be predicted a priori by performing experiments alone. In the second part of this thesis we present a novel technique to identify and characterize glycans in the gas-phase that exploits a database approach. Due to their structural heterogeneity, glycans pose a problem for the currently available mass- and mobility-spectrometry techniques. In the work herein we show that we can easily identify glycan structural isomers, by adding a spectroscopic dimension to mass and mobility measurements. Cryogenic vibrational messenger spectroscopy, in fact, allows us to unambiguously identify disaccharides and pentasaccharides isomers due to the high-resolution provided by this method. Moreover, we can perform our experiments in a broad range of temperatures, going from liquid helium to liquid nitrogen. This shows the potential of our technique in becoming a more accessible analytical tool for glycan identification.
Exhumation History Along the Muli Thrust—Implication for Crustal Thickening Mechanism in Eastern Tibet

Thrusting implication in the crustal thickening history of eastern Tibet is highly debated. The ∼250 km‐long Muli thrust of the Yalong thrust belt in SE Tibet is a major Miocene structure with a pronounced topographic step (∼2,000 m). Using thermo‐kinematic modeling based on thermochronology data, we constrain the crustal geometry of the thrust as being steep (>70°) at the surface, in agreement with field observations, and flattening at depth (≥20 km) on an intra‐crustal décollement. Thrusting motion on the fault shows a velocity of 0.2 ± 0.06 km/Ma since 50 Ma, followed by an acceleration at a rate of 0.6 ± 0.08 km/Ma starting at 12.5 ± 1 Ma, yielding a total of ∼15 km of exhumed crust. Deeper, deformation may be localized through a ductile shear zone, and be related to the ∼15 km Moho step and shear wave velocity contrast imaged by tomography beneath the Yalong thrust belt.
Let’s take it outside: Seeking alternative targets for expressing dissent at work when voice is suppressed

This study examines what workers do when their supervisor is not responsive to their voice. Based on mobilization theory and theories on organizational dissent, the authors hypothesize alternatives for workers expressing discontent when their initial complaints are ignored or punished by their supervisor under various co-worker support conditions. The hypotheses are tested using a large-N dataset while applying a vignette design. The findings show that workers are less likely to (repeat) voice within the organization and more likely to seek help outside the organization when a supervisor threatens to punish future voice endeavours. Co-workers’ supportive and participative responses to voice increase the likelihood that workers keep their voice within the organization and have mixed effects on the likelihood that workers seek support elsewhere.
An eccentric ankle heel drop into dorsiflexion as opposed to neutral causes more Achilles tendon tissue displacement, but not more non‐uniformity

To evaluate whether an adapted exercise regimen changes the intratendinous behavior of the Achilles tendon, comparing 2 variations of mechanical loading exercises: (i) heel drop with dorsiflexion (DF) and (ii) heel drop without dorsiflexion (N). Nineteen participants, 11 men and 8 women, mean age of 28 years, were included in the study. An ultrasound‐based speckle tracking technique was used to measure the mean local tendon tissue displacement of the different layers of the Achilles tendon during exercises DF and N. During acquisition, the edge of the calcaneus was always in sight at the outer edge of the image, leaving the rest of the image filled with pre‐insertional Achilles tendon. All statistics were performed using SPSS. During DF, there was a significantly greater displacement of the Achilles tendon than during N: 3.46 mm vs 2.61mm (P < .05). The amount of non‐uniformity, that is, the relative difference in displacement between tendon layers, between both groups (DF and N) showed no significant difference. Changing the exercise regimen in accordance to the location of the structural abnormalities in the Achilles tendon (eg, insertional vs midportion) may have better clinical outcomes in comparison with the “one size fits all” eccentric heel drop.
Effectiveness of eye donation orientation session in bridging the knowledge gap amongst undergraduate medical students in Delhi

Background: Corneal blindness may be curable by keratoplasty but the demand for eye donation is however, unmet due to a variety of factors including knowledge gap. The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness of the medical undergraduate students towards eye donation and to assess the effectiveness of an orientation program in bridging the knowledge gap. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done on MBBS students of 2nd and 3rd professional years. A pretested questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of medical students. Knowledge regarding the contraindications to eye donation, the procedure involved and common misconceptions were assessed. This was followed by a session on orientation regarding eye donation. A second assessment using the same questionnaire was done after the session to assess the effectiveness of the same. The data was analysed using EPIINFO version 3.5. 4 using chi square test. Results: Less than 50% students were aware of contraindications and less than 10% students knew ideal cornea harvesting time and nearest eye bank to their homes. Less than one-fourth students knew common causes of corneal blindness. However, most (77%) students were aware that hospital staff must motivate deceased’s family for eye donation. Significant increase in awareness was observed post orientation regarding most issues.Conclusions: This study shows that there is a knowledge gap amongst undergraduate medical students regarding eye donation. It also suggests that orientation sessions may be helpful in bridging this gap.
Characterization of PAHs Trapped in the Soot from the Combustion of Various Mediterranean Species

Climate change causes more frequent and destructive wildfires even transforming them into megafire. Moreover, all biomass fires produce emissions of carbon compounds in the form of soot to the atmosphere with a significant impact on the environment and human health. Indeed, the soot is causing the formation of PAHs from (a) the high temperature thermal alteration of natural product precursors in the source organic matter and (b) the recombination of molecular fragments in the smoke. However, these molecules are known to have carcinogenic effects on human health. It is therefore interesting to quantify the 16 PAHs concentration extracted from soot emitted in open diffusion flame of biomass combustion. To achieve this objective, an analytical method developed for the study of kerosene combustion has been adapted for soot from biomass. This new method allowed to quantify the 16 PAHs defined as priority pollutants by the US EPA for their carcinogenic mutagenic effect and on human health.
Time‐dependent flows in grooved non‐isothermal channels

A highly accurate and fully implicit algorithm for analyses of transient effects in heated grooved channels, including chaotic responses and transition to secondary states, has been developed. The algorithm can handle pattern interaction problems arising from combinations of geometric and heating patterns which are expected to be beneficial in the development of energy efficient stirring systems. The algorithm uses spectral spatial discretization and up to sixth‐order temporal discretization, providing the means to deliver machine accuracy. The spatial discretization relies on a combination of Chebyshev and Fourier expansions, guaranteeing very good resolution in the vicinity of the grooved walls. The enforcement of boundary conditions along the irregular boundaries is carried out using the immersed boundary conditions. The overall discretization leads to a gridless algorithm and provides the geometric flexibility required for efficient analyses of multitude of topography patterns. Extensive testing demonstrates that the algorithm achieves the theoretically predicted accuracy.
Antihelium-3 fluxes near Earth using data-driven estimates for annihilation cross section

Antinuclei cosmic rays could provide a smoking gun signal for dark matter as this signal is virtually background free. The study of 3 He cosmic rays requires knowledge of their production, propagation and annihilation. While the former two have been already estimated with data-driven methods, there were no experimental data available on the 3 He inelastic cross section. We measured for the ﬁrst time the inelastic cross section of 3 He using the ALICE detector itself as a target. To study the eﬀect of 3 He annihilation in the galaxy, the 3 He source functions and annihilation cross sections were implemented in GALPROP.
Effect of Storage Conditions on the Quality of Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil and the Impact on the Composition of Flavor-Related Compounds (Phenols and Volatiles)

Commercialization of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) requires a best before date recommended at up to 24 months after bottling, stored under specific conditions. Thus, it is expected that the product retains its chemical properties and preserves its ‘extra virgin’ category. However, inadequate storage conditions could alter the properties of EVOO. In this study, Arbequina EVOO was exposed to five storage conditions for up to one year to study the effects on the quality of the oil and the compounds responsible for flavor. Every 15 or 30 days, samples from each storage condition were analyzed, determining physicochemical parameters, the profiles of phenols, volatile compounds, α-tocopherol, and antioxidant capacity. Principal component analysis was utilized to better elucidate the relationships between the composition of EVOOs and the storage conditions. EVOOs stored at −23 and 23 °C in darkness and 23 °C with light, differed from the oils stored at 30 and 40 °C in darkness. The former was associated with a higher quantity of non-oxidized phenolic compounds and the latter with higher elenolic acid, oxidized oleuropein, and ligstroside derivatives, which also increased with storage time. (E)-2-nonenal (detected at trace levels in fresh oil) was selected as a marker of the degradation of Arbequina EVOO quality over time, with significant linear regressions identified for the storage conditions at 30 and 40 °C. Therefore, early oxidation in EVOO could be monitored by measuring (E)-2-nonenal levels.
Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among the Malnourished Children in Enugu, Nigeria

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) have remained a serious challenge to developing countries. Infectious disease and nutritional deficiencies can impact adversely on the nutritional status of children. Hence, this study aimed at investigating prevalence of Intestinal parasitic infections among malnourished children in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria. It was a case-controlled study consisting of 164 malnourished children and 100 well-nourished subjects between the ages of 0-10 years whose caregivers gave their consent. Anthropometric measures were evaluated using the Gomez system of classification. Stool samples were analyzed using standard parasitological protocols. Of the 164 malnourished children 52(31.7%), 63(38.4%), 49(29.9%) had mild, moderate, and severe malnutrition respectively. Five species of helminths and three species of protozoa were detected. The overall prevalence was 51.8% among the malnourished and 12% in well-nourished children. The prevalence of IPIs among the control, mild, moderate, and severe malnutrition were 12%, 36.5%, 60.3%, and 57.1% respectively. Ascaris lumbricoides ranked highest 40(37.7%) followed by Hookworm 31(29.3%) and the least was Strongyloides stercoralis 4(3.8%) among the helminths while Cryptosporidium spp was the most prevalent protozoa 8(7.6%) and the least was Isospora spp. 2(1.9%). Mixed infections were detected in 3(7.5%) and 6(21.4%) among children with moderate and severe malnutrition respectively. Nutritional status was found to be a significant risk factor while gender and age were statistically insignificant P= 0.118 and P= 0.455 respectively. The study revealed that malnourished children are highly susceptible to IPIs. There is a need for integrated effort to address malnutrition and parasitic infections
Moderate and high intensity exercise improves glycaemia, blood pressure and body composition in menopausal women with type 2 diabetes

Post-menopausal women are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases. Regular physical activity is recommended for treatment of chronic diseases. However, there is still no consensus about the intensity and type of exercise. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of combined functional training intensity on the cardiometabolic parameters of post-menopausal women with T2DM. Ninety-eight post-menopausal women with T2DM enrolled in the public health service of a Brazilian municipality were invited to participate in this study. Sixteen volunteers were divided into the moderate (MI) and high intensity (HI) groups. Functional training was performed 3 times a week. Anthropometric data, blood pressure, heart rate (HR), plasma glucose, glycated haemoglobin, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C and triacylglyceride (TG) levels were measured. Functional training reduced glycated haemoglobin and blood pressure levels and improved body composition in both groups. HI training improved HDL-C and TG levels, although a reduction in LDL-C was observed only in the MI group. Physical training did not modify the other evaluated parameters. The data showed that 8 weeks of functional training, regardless of intensity, is an effective strategy to improve glucose control and promote health benefits in post-menopausal women with T2DM.
Evaluation of Target Value Delivery and Opportunity Management as Complementary Practices

Opportunity management and Target Value Delivery (TVD) have both been studied extensively but separately. The two approaches have been presented as solutions for increasing value in a project for the owner and users. However, it seems there has not been much research that addresses the link between the two approaches. The purpose of this study is to increase knowledge of how TVD can facilitate opportunity management. The results from a literature review are compared with the practice in two cases: TVD in a large infrastructure project and opportunity management in a large building project. The results from the building project showed a lack of inherent motivation for change and innovation in the project organization. The identified opportunities were aimed mainly at maximizing the project’s operational value and keeping costs within the approved budget. TVD seems to handle this with extensive attention to maintain value for the end-users. Besides, the target cost element of TVD seems to complement opportunity management by creating incentives to be flexible about change and innovation. This paper’s originality is to combine two well-established approaches that have many similarities but have yet to be explored in relation to each other.
Dietary niche breadth influences the effects of urbanization on the gut microbiota of sympatric rodents

Abstract Cities are among the most extreme forms of anthropogenic ecosystem modification, and urbanization processes exert profound effects on animal populations through multiple ecological pathways. Increased access to human‐associated food items may alter species' foraging behavior and diet, in turn modifying the normal microbial community of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), ultimately impacting their health. It is crucial we understand the role of dietary niche breadth and the resulting shift in the gut microbiota as urban animals navigate novel dietary resources. We combined stable isotope analysis of hair and microbiome analysis of four gut regions across the GIT to investigate the effects of urbanization on the diet and gut microbiota of two sympatric species of rodents with different dietary niches: the omnivorous large Japanese field mouse (Apodemus speciosus) and the relatively more herbivorous gray red‐backed vole (Myodes rufocanus). Both species exhibited an expanded dietary niche width within the urban areas potentially attributable to novel anthropogenic foods and altered resource availability. We detected a dietary shift in which urban A. speciosus consumed more terrestrial animal protein and M. rufocanus more plant leaves and stems. Such changes in resource use may be associated with an altered gut microbial community structure. There was an increased abundance of the presumably probiotic Lactobacillus in the small intestine of urban A. speciosus and potentially pathogenic Helicobacter in the colon of M. rufocanus. Together, these results suggest that even taxonomically similar species may exhibit divergent responses to urbanization with consequences for the gut microbiota and broader ecological interactions.
Net Zero Energy Consumption building in India: An overview and initiative toward sustainable future

ABSTRACT The growing demand for energy in the building sector drives the need for change from fossil fuels to environment-friendly power sources which can also mitigate the effect of global warming and climate change. One of the initiatives to knock down the peak load and energy demand in buildings is stepping toward energy-efficient buildings for a sustainable future. This paper aims to review the fundamental aspects for approaching net zero energy consumption buildings (nZECB) keeping into consideration the effect of building physics and challenges faced in the pathway and its feasibility. Also, it addresses various policies and plans that can dramatically change the future of developing nations like India toward a zero-emissions energy system. Considering all the facts, this study suggests inflating our focus beyond direct energy use and opt for hybridized clean energy sources and enhance the constructional parameters for a better, greener, and cleaner future.
Warm Springs Are Associated with Early Births in Three Montane Rattlesnake Species

Abstract. A warming climate is correlated with phenological shifts in many taxa. We analyzed data from two long-term field studies of three viviparous viperid snakes to examine correlations between temperature and parturition dates. We studied Rock Rattlesnakes (Crotalus lepidus) and Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus willardi) over a 31-yr period and Twin-Spotted Rattlesnakes (Crotalus pricei) over a 23-yr period. On average, a 1°C increase in mean daily maximum temperature during mid-April to June, the probable gestation period, was associated with C. lepidus litters being found 6.0 ± 0.84 days earlier and C. willardi litters being found 5.7 ± 1.79 days earlier. We were more likely to find C. pricei neonates during surveys in late July following warm springs and pregnant females in late July following cool springs. Although earlier parturitions could potentially increase maternal survival and improve lifetime reproductive output, warmer temperatures during embryo development could cause unviability or neonate abnormalities. Neonate survival would probably be negatively affected if births occurred before the onset of the summer monsoon rains. Populations of these species that inhabit the highest elevations of mountain ranges will be unable to shift their distributions to maintain the thermal conditions under which they evolved.