Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
University as a cathedral: lifelong learning and the role of the university in the European context

ABSTRACT The paper discusses the main issues which emerge for the university as an institution in the European context from the development of the lifelong learning paradigm. It focuses on both the opportunity-creating and tension-provoking presence of the lifelong learning concept in the university’s institutional environment. The analysis is based on a thematic review of articles published in the International Journal of Lifelong Education (IJLE) during the four decades of its existence. The paper argues that: (1) the implementation of lifelong learning requires a profound change in the systemic characteristics of the university institution and cannot be limited to the establishment of departments of adult and continuing education; (2) without being uncritically perceived, lifelong learning is a strategy that can help universities successfully address some of their main problems and continue to develop as a key institution of societies in the 21st century and (3) in the European context, the institutional model that can embody the paradigm for lifelong learning and at the same time contains the possibility of preserving the specificity of university as an institution, is best symbolised by a cathedral.
Extracts Rich in Nutrients as Novel Food Ingredients to Be Used in Food Supplements: A Proposal Classification

Consumers’ commitment to healthy lifestyles and a varied diet has experienced rapid growth in recent decades, causing an increase in the demand of better food quality and variety. The food industry has opted for innovation and the search for new sources of food, and these trends led to the need to develop a European regulatory framework. Novel foods are under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 (formerly Regulation (EC) No 258/97), and this concept includes all food not used in an important measure for human consumption in the EU before 15 May 1997, and which is included in any of the food categories established. Currently, there are 26 extracts authorized as novel foods or ingredients, being one of the most numerous groups. These extracts are concentrated sources of nutrients, and 23 of them can be used in food supplements. Given their heterogeneous composition and the perceptive risk assessments performed, sometimes, the authorizations are limited to certain population groups. The present work is a comprehensive review of the extracts rich in nutrients authorized as novel ingredients to be used in food supplements within the EU. A classification is proposed according to their source of origin, resulting in four main groups: extracts of plant, animal, algae, and fungal origins. A description of each extract as well as the evaluation of the potential use restriction and health benefits are also addressed.
Effect of Collagen Crosslinkers on Dentin Bond Strength of Adhesive Systems: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study aimed to identify the role of crosslinking agents in the resin–dentin bond strength (BS) when used as modifiers in adhesives or pretreatments to the dentin surface through a systematic review and meta-analysis. This paper was conducted according to the directions of the PRISMA 2020 statement. The research question of this review was: “Would the use of crosslinkers agents improve the BS of resin-based materials to dentin? ” The literature search was conducted in the following databases: Embase, PubMed, Scielo, Scopus, and Web of Science. Manuscripts that reported the effect on the BS after the use of crosslinking agents were included. The meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager v5.4. 1. The comparisons were performed by comparing the standardized mean difference between the BS values obtained using the crosslinker agent or the control group. The subgroup comparisons were performed based on the adhesive strategy used (total-etch or self-etch). The immediate and long-term data were analyzed separately. A total of 50 articles were included in the qualitative analysis, while 45 articles were considered for the quantitative analysis. The meta-analysis suggested that pretreatment with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), carbodiimide, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), glutaraldehyde, and riboflavin crosslinking agents improved the long-term BS of resin composites to dentin (p ≤ 0.02). On the other hand, the use of proanthocyanidins as a pretreatment improved both the immediate and long-term BS values (p ≤ 0.02). When incorporated within the adhesive formulation, only glutaraldehyde, riboflavin, and EGCG improved the long-term BS to dentin. It could be concluded that the application of different crosslinking agents such as carbodiimide, EDTA, glutaraldehyde, riboflavin, and EGCG improved the long-term BS of adhesive systems to dentin. This effect was observed when these crosslinkers were used as a separate step and when incorporated within the formulation of the adhesive system.
Least-Squares Finite Element Formulation for Fluid-Structure Interaction

Abstract : Fluid-structure interaction problems prove difficult due to the coupling between fluid and solid behavior. Typically, different theoretical formulations and numerical methods are used to solve fluid and structural problems separately. The least-squares finite element method is capable of accurately solving both fluid and structural problems. This capability allows for a simultaneously coupled fluid structure interaction formulation using a single variational approach to solve complex and nonlinear aeroelasticity problems. The least-squares finite element method was compared to commonly used methods for both structures and fluids individually. The fluid analysis was compared to finite differencing methods and the structural analysis type compared to traditional Weak Galerkin finite element methods. The simultaneous solution method was then applied to aeroelasticity problems with a known solution. Achieving these results required unique iterative methods to balance each domain's or differential equation's weighting factor within the simultaneous solution scheme. The scheme required more computational time but it did provide the first hands-off method capable of solving complex fluid-structure interaction problems using a simultaneous least-squares formulation. A sequential scheme was also examined for coupled problems.
Vision-Based Sense and Avoid Algorithms for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

The field of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, is rapidly growing, both in terms of size and of number of applications. Civil applications range from mapping, inspection, search and rescue, taking aerial footage, to art show, entertainment and more. Currently, most applications have a human pilot supervising or controlling the vehicles, but UAVs are expected to gain more autonomy with time. To fly in general airspace, used by both general and commercial aviation, a high level of autonomy is required from UAVs. A core functionality required to fly in general airspace is the UAVs' ability to detect and avoid collisions with other aircraft or objects. This functionality is handled by a so called Sense And Avoid (SAA) system. From among several sensors investigated to be used for a SAA system, a vision-based sensor is seen as a good candidate for a SAA system due to its ability to detect and identify a large variety of objects, as well as being close to the human's main mean to detect aircraft and other objects. To be as general as possible, this work focuses on non-cooperative algorithms that do not take assumptions on the motion of other aircraft. This thesis presents algorithms for a vision-based SAA system. It focuses on the relationship between sensing and avoidance, and how the limitations of one constrain the second. In particular, this thesis studies the consequences of the limited Field Of View (FOV) of a camera sensor on the collision avoidance algorithms. Given the assumptions above, the sensing and tracking of other UAVs is performed using cameras with fish-eye lenses that have a large enough FOV for the collision avoidance algorithms to guarantee to be collision-free. The detection of other UAVs is performed using two methods: a marker-based or a marker-less computer vision algorithms. Using the measurements from the computer vision algorithm, the positions and velocities of neighboring UAVs are tracked using a Gaussian mixture probability hypothesis density filter. This tracking algorithm is able to track multiple UAVs while requiring little computational resources, therefore representing a suitable candidate for on-board deployment. In this work, it is mathematically proven that the motion of an UAV has to be constrained according to the FOV of its sensor. Following that result, several collision avoidance algorithms are adapted to ensure collision-free navigation when used with a sensor with a limited FOV. Sensory limitations such as noise, lag, limited range and FOV, and their effects on the performance of collision avoidance algorithms are studied. Experimental work using high-fidelity simulation and real robots shows that algorithms that only use position information from the sensors are overall more reliable, although less efficient (in terms of distance traveled or trajectory smoothness) than algorithms that also use velocity estimates from the sensing system.
Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) for Therapeutic Targeting of Thrombin, a Key Mediator of Cerebrovascular and Neuronal Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease

Although preclinical research and observer studies on patients with atrial fibrillation concluded that direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) can protect against dementia like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), clinical investigation towards therapeutical approval is still pending. DOACs target pathological thrombin, which is, like toxic tau and amyloid-ß proteins (Aß), an early hallmark of AD. Especially in hippocampal and neocortical areas, the release of parenchymal Aß into the blood induces thrombin and proinflammatory bradykinin synthesis by activating factor XII of the contact system. Thrombin promotes platelet aggregation and catalyzes conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, leading to degradation-resistant, Aß-containing fibrin clots. Together with oligomeric Aß, these clots trigger vessel constriction and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) with vessel occlusion and hemorrhages, leading to vascular and blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. As consequences, brain blood flow, perfusion, and supply with oxygen (hypoxia) and nutrients decrease. In parenchymal tissue, hypoxia stimulates Aß synthesis, leading to Aß accumulation, which is further enhanced by BBB-impaired perivascular Aß clearance. Aß trigger neuronal damage and promote tau pathologies. BBB dysfunction enables thrombin and fibrin(ogen) to migrate into parenchymal tissue and to activate glial cells. Inflammation and continued Aß production are the results. Synapses and neurons die, and cognitive abilities are lost. DOACs block thrombin by inhibiting its activity (dabigatran) or production (FXa-inhibitors, e.g., apixaban, rivaroxaban). Therefore, DOAC use could preserve vascular integrity and brain perfusion and, thereby, could counteract vascular-driven neuronal and cognitive decline in AD. A conception for clinical investigation is presented, focused on DOAC treatment of patients with diagnosed AD in early-stage and low risk of major bleeding.
Street View Imagery (SVI) in the Built Environment: A Theoretical and Systematic Review

Street view imagery (SVI) provides efficient access to data that can be used to research spatial quality at the human scale. The previous reviews have mainly focused on specific health findings and neighbourhood environments. There has not been a comprehensive review of this topic. In this paper, we systematically review the literature on the application of SVI in the built environment, following a formal innovation–decision framework. The main findings are as follows: (I) SVI remains an effective tool for automated research assessments. This offers a new research avenue to expand the built environment-measurement methods to include perceptions in addition to physical features. (II) Currently, SVI is functional and valuable for quantifying the built environment, spatial sentiment perception, and spatial semantic speculation. (III) The significant dilemmas concerning the adoption of this technology are related to image acquisition, the image quality, spatial and temporal distribution, and accuracy. (IV) This research provides a rapid assessment and provides researchers with guidance for the adoption and implementation of SVI. Data integration and management, proper image service provider selection, and spatial metrics measurements are the critical success factors. A notable trend is the application of SVI towards a focus on the perceptions of the built environment, which provides a more refined and effective way to depict urban forms in terms of physical and social spaces.
Genetic Diversity and Virulence Profiling of Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia coli of Human, Animal, and Environmental Origins

Rapid urbanization has increased human-animal interaction and consequently enhanced the chances to acquire zoonotic diseases. The current investigation is focused to uncover the genetic diversity of multidrug-resistant E. coli strains between different ecologies (i.e., humans, livestock, and environment) at the molecular level by employing antimicrobial resistance profiling, virulence genes profiling, and microbial typing approach using ERIC PCR. Based on multiple antibiotic resistance, overall, 19 antibiotic resistance patterns (R1–R19) were observed. Most of the strains (49/60) were detected to have the combinations of stx, eaeA, and hlyA genes and considered STEC/EPEC/EHEC. A total of 18 unique genetic profiles were identified based on ERIC-PCR fingerprints and most of the strains (13) belong to P1 whereas the least number of strains were showing profiles P7 and P8-P11 (one member each profile). The calculated values for Shannon index (H) for human, animal, and environment are 1.70, 1.82, and 1.78, respectively revealing the highest genetic diversity among the E. coli strains of animal origin. The study revealed that drug-resistant pathogenic E. coli strains could be transmitted bidirectionally among the environment, humans, and animals.
Effect of Pyocyanin on gene expression of norA gene in Staphylococcus aureus and SMR gene in Serratia marcescense

Background: The antibiotics active against Multidrug resistant bacteria have several limitations for their use, which include less clinical experience, During the continuing COVID-19 epidemic, limiting use has been difficult because most hospitalized COVID-19 patients receive antibiotics as a defense against subsequent bacterial infection. , Efflux pumps remove drugs and are linked to biofilm formation, making infections more difficult to treat due to a lack of therapeutic choices and necessitating new antimicrobial tactics. Pyocyanin is a secondary blue redox-active metabolite and a large family member of phenazines, tricyclic compounds. Phenazine has been utilized as a biological pesticide against several harmful microorganisms because of its antibacterial properties. Methods: Total RNA from ( Staphylococcus aureus obtained from respiratory tract diagnosed as MDR and Serratia marcescens obtained from co-infection Covid 19 )were isolated . The gene expression of the norA gene efflux pump of S. aureus, which was normalized to the rpoB HKG, and the smr gene efflux pump of Serratia marcescens, which was normalized to the Adnalyate Kinaze enzyme, was studied using quantitative real-time RT PCR on the extracted RNA.
Proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzymes in fission yeast

Ubiquitination is a well characterised modification that has a role in the regulation of diverse cellular processes such as proteasome mediated proteolysis, ribosomal function and postreplicative DNA repair (Pickart, 2001). The deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are required in the cell to recycle ubiquitin, process ubiquitin precursor proteins and possibly to edit ubiquitin chains (Chung and Baek, 1999; Wilkinson, 2000). Sequence homology searches have revealed that there are 18 predicted DUBs in the Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome (C. Semple, M. Stone and C. Gordon, unpublished). Studies using deletion strains for each of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DUBs have shown that none is essential and that there is a high level of redundancy (Amerik et al., 2000). Therefore, it is proposed that the functional specificity of the DUBs may be determined by their cellular localisation. Regulation of 26S proteasome-mediated degradation is a major function of ubiquitination, implying that there might be a subset of redundant DUBs localised at the proteasome. Two putative proteasome-associated DUBs were identified in S. pombe. Uch2 had previously been suggested to copurify and colocalise with the proteasome (Li et al., 2000). A second DUB, Ubp6, was identified in a sequence homology search for S. pombe proteins containing a ubiquitin-like (UBL) domain (C. Semple and C. Gordon, unpublished). This domain has been shown to mediate interactions with the proteasome, implying that Ubp6 might also be proteasome-associated (Wilkinson et al., 2001). In the first part of this study, both Uch2 and Ubp6 are shown to be proteasomeassociated DUBs. The S. pombe proteasome is purified and Uch2 and Ubp6 are both demonstrated to be present. In support of this finding, immunofluorescence microscopy reveals that Uch2 and Ubp6 colocalise with the proteasome at the nuclear periphery (Wilkinson et al., 1998).
Differential Effects of Dietary White Meat and Red Meat on NAFLD Progression by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Metabolites in Rats

Objective To assess the effects of dietary white meat (grass carp and chicken) and red meat (pork and beef) on metabolic parameters, including the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites (SCFAs and bile acids) in NAFLD rats induced by high-fat diet. Methods NAFLD rats were randomly assigned to five groups: NAFLD group, grass carp group, chicken group, pork group, and beef group (10 rats in each group), and these rats were fed for 8 weeks using the high-fat diet, grass carp-based diet, chicken-based diet, pork-based diet, and beef-based diet, respectively. At the end of the intervention, NAFLD-related metabolic indexes, intestinal flora, and its metabolites were measured. Results The grass carp-based diet significantly improved hepatic pathological changes and glycolipid metabolism, and the chicken-based diet only partially improved the metabolic parameters. However, NAFLD progression was observed in the pork group and the beef group. What is more, the white meat-based diet-mediated changes in the enrichment of beneficial bacteria (such as Lactobacillus or Akkermansia), SCFAs, and unconjugated BAs (such as UDCA) and the depletion of pathogenic bacteria (such as Bilophila and Prevotella_9) and conjugated BAs were observed, while the red meat-based diet-induced changes in the enrichment of pathogenic bacteria (Prevotella_9 or Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010) and conjugated BAs and the depletion of SCFAs and unconjugated BAs were found. Conclusion The dietary white meat and red meat modulating gut microbiota and its metabolites may favor and aggravate NAFLD in rats, respectively.
AC Loss Analysis and Modular Cryostat Design of a 10-MW High-Temperature Superconducting Double Stator Flux Modulation Machine

Superconducting (SC) machines are one of the best candidates for large-scale direct-drive wind power generation because of its high torque density. In a traditional SC synchronous machine, either armature windings or field windings need to rotate, which makes the structure of the machine complicated. To solve this problem, a high temperature superconducting (HTS) double stator flux modulation (DSFM) machine was proposed. In this machine, the armature windings and SC field windings are placed in outer stator and inner stator, respectively, and the machine works through flux modulation effect by reluctance rotor. Due to modulation effect, there is a high content of harmonic in this machine. Thus, it is important to analyze harmonics influence on SC coils, especially the SC coils ac loss. In this article, the losses of a 10MW HTS-DSFM machine are calculated and analyzed. It turns out that the ac losses of SC coils in this machine is higher compared with the traditional SC synchronous machine. From analytical calculation, the ac magnetic field perpendicular to the tape surface have strong impacts on the SC coils. In order to reduce the ac losses, some suppression methods are adopted on machine structures and SC thermostat. Then, cryostats are designed and the cooling budgets are evaluated. At last, the comprehensive performances of the machine are calculated and its economy in the long term is verified.
A critical review on the treatment of reactive dye wastewater

Through generations, reactive dyes are known to be one of the most used dyes in the textile industry and are the main source of coloured wastewater. Inarguably, the use of reactive dyes in textile industries has a high probability of bringing potential risk to human health and the envi- ronment due to their characteristics being noxious, carcinogenic, and mutagenic. Growing concern about the impact on human life and the environment has led to much research on the treatment of textile wastewater. Throughout the years, research on wastewater treatment has continuously been developed from physico-chemical to biological, electrochemical, conventional, and advanced oxidation methods in which each method offers several advantages and disadvantages in the removal of dyes. However, the existing methods alone are insufficient as textile wastewater may contain a high concentration of chemical oxygen demand and may be difficult to degrade. Due to this, research on further improving the treatment of textile wastewater has constantly been developed. Recently, the use of hybrid or combined treatment processes has raised interest among researchers in the treatment of textile wastewater. It is expected that this technology will be sig- nificant in the future, given the latest findings on the removal of reactive dyes from wastewater. This paper presents brief research on reactive dyes and reviews the advantages, disadvantages, and potentials of the current methods employed in the treatment of reactive dye wastewater.
Occurrence of dermatophytosis in dogs from Thrissur, Kerala

Dermatophytosis is one of the most common skin diseases that affect dogs. Geographic factors like temperature and humidity play an important role in determining prevalence of dermatophytosis. The aim of this study was to determine the macroscopic and microscopic identification of different types of dermatophytes from the dogs presented to University Veterinary Hospital, Kokkali and Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy. Skin scrapings and hair were collected from the dogs presented with complaint of alopecia and pruritus. Each sample was cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). The cultures were incubated at room temperature for maximum of four weeks. The isolates of fungi were examined macroscopically and microscopically.Lactophenol cotton blue staining technique was used for fungi morphology identification. The most common type of dermatophytes affecting dogs in Thrissur district, Kerala were Trichophyton spp. (68 per cent), Microsporum spp. (32 per cent) and other non-dermatophytes fungi viz. Aspergillusspp. , Sporothrix spp. , and curvularia spp. This study could assist investigators for understanding the prevalence of the dermatophytes and in zoonotic aspects.