Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transient aerodynamic atomization model to predict aerosol droplet size of pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDI)

ABSTRACT Pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDI) produce large numbers of droplets with smaller sizes than 5 μm to treat asthma and other pulmonary diseases. The mechanism responsible for droplet generation from bulk propellant liquid is poorly understood, mainly because the small length scales and short time scales make it difficult to characterize transient spray formation events. This article describes the development and findings of a numerical atomization model to predict droplet size of pharmaceutical propellants from first principles. In this model, the velocity difference between propellant vapor and liquid phase inside spray orifice leads to formation of wave-like instabilities on the liquid surface. Two variants of the aerodynamic atomization model are presented based on assumed liquid precursor geometry: (1) cylindrical jet-shaped liquid ligaments surrounded by vapor annulus; (2) annular liquid film with vapor flow in the core. The growth of instabilities on the liquid precursor surfaces and the size of the subsequently formed droplets are predicted by numerical solutions of dispersion equations. The droplet size predictions were compared with phase doppler anemometry (PDA) data and the predictions were in good agreement with the number mean diameter D10, which is representative of the respirable droplets. The temporal behavior of droplet size production was captured consistently well during the period of the first 95% of the propellant mass emission. The outcome of our modeling activities also suggests that, in addition to saturated vapor pressure of the propellant, its viscosity and surface tension are also key properties that govern pMDI droplet size. © 2017 American Association for Aerosol Research
Higher Chern classes in Iwasawa theory

abstract:We begin a study of $m$th Chern classes and $m$th characteristic symbols for Iwasawa modules which are supported in codimension at least $m$. This extends the classical theory of characteristic ideals and their generators for Iwasawa modules which are torsion, i.e., supported in codimension at least $1$. We apply this to an Iwasawa module constructed from an inverse limit of $p$-parts of ideal class groups of abelian extensions of an imaginary quadratic field. When this module is pseudo-null, which is conjecturally always the case, we determine its second Chern class and show that it has a characteristic symbol given by the Steinberg symbol of two Katz $p$-adic $L$-functions.
Host switching between native and non-native trees in a population of the canker pathogen Chrysoporthe cubensis from Colombia

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that Chrysoporthe cubensis on native trees in South America could be the source of the pathogen that causes severe stem cankers and often mortality in commercially propagated Eucalyptus trees. This was done by investigating populations originating from two adjacent Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) plantations in Colombia, and wild Miconia rubiginosa trees (Melastomataceae) growing alongside these stands. Polymorphic microsatellite markers were used to quantify allele sizes in 20 and 39 isolates from the two Eucalyptus stands and 32 isolates from adjacent M. rubiginosa trees. Gene and genotypic diversities were calculated from these data, and population differentiation and assignment tests were performed to ascertain whether the populations were genetically different. Results showed that there were no differences between any of the populations using these techniques, and that they can be treated as a single population. Therefore, the results support the hypothesis that host switching has occurred in C. cubensis in Colombia.
Dissipative optomechanical squeezing of light

We discuss a simple yet surprisingly effective mechanism which allows the generation of squeezed output light from an optomechanical cavity. In contrast to the well known mechanism of ‘ponderomotive squeezing’, our scheme generates squeezed output light by explicitly using the dissipative nature of the mechanical resonator. We show that our scheme has many advantages over ponderomotive squeezing; in particular, it is far more effective in the good cavity limit commonly used in experiments. Furthermore, the squeezing generated in our approach can be directly used to enhance the intrinsic measurement sensitivity of the optomechanical cavity; one does not have to feed the squeezed light into a separate measurement device. As our scheme is very general, it could also e.g. be implemented using superconducting circuits.
Why Asian children outperform students from other countries? Linguistic and parental influences comparing Chinese and Italian children in Preschool Education

This paper focusing on the complex situation of the Italian multiculturalism and trying to reply to why Asian children mathematically outperform students from other countries, discusses from the epistemological point of view, Chinese children’s skills before to start their formal education in Italian educational school context. A review of the literature, comparing pre-schoolers competences of Asian and Western students, reveals two important influenced factors: linguistic and parental stimuli. In particular many researchers showed that the structure of the Chinese language provides in children a head start in basic math skills, for example to discover, since preschool activities, a pre-algebraic structures of writing. An example with numbers is shown in the paper. Other studies also show that Asian parents, compared to the Western cultures ones, tend to promote in a strong way the development of good basic mathematics skills and a stronger epistemological discipline foundation. A general framework on these two important aspects for the education context is presented with the aim to help teacher and researchers to better understand Chinese and Italian possible different cognitive styles in mathematics learning just from Preschool.
Biomechanical Aspects of Push-Off Techniques in Speed Skating the Curves

Characteristics of stroke mechanics of elite and trained speed skaters were measured during the skating of curves. Film and video analysis from the 5000-meter races at the Dutch National Championships yielded biomechanical variables that were correlated to performance. There are fundamental differences in push-off mechanics between skating the straight parts and skating the curves. The left stroke shows a more powerful push-off in the curve, caused by a greater push off angle compared to the right leg. The high speed and power output of the better skaters is a result of a high amount of work per stroke, caused by a short and effective directed push-off. These results strongly support the previous finding that skaters of different performance levels can be distinguished by differences in amount of work per stroke and not by differences in stroke frequency.
Toward a revision of the genus Synura, section Petersenianae (Synurophyceae, Heterokontophyta): morphological characterization of six pseudo-cryptic species

Škaloud P., Kynčlová A. , Benada O. , Kofroňová O. and Škaloudová M. 2012. Toward a revision of the genus Synura, section Petersenianae (Synurophyceae, Heterokontophyta): morphological characterization of six pseudo-cryptic species. Phycologia 51: 303–329. DOI: 10.2216/11-20.1 Morphological data, based on transmission and scanning electron microscopy of silica scales, are provided for six genetic lineages of the Synura petersenii species complex as revealed by multiple genetic markers (internal transcribed spacer rDNA, psaA, rbcL and cox1). The morphology allows clear distinction of all six lineages, as well as their separation from all other taxa in section Petersenianae. The lineages are redefined or described as new species in accordance with previously published molecular and morphometric evidence as S. petersenii, S. glabra, S. truttae comb. et stat. nov., S. americana sp. nov., S. macropora sp. nov. and S. conopea sp. nov. The section Petersenianae further includes nine taxa with well-known ultrastructural characteristics. Four have status of species (S. australiensis, S. longisquama, S. macracantha and S. obesa), and five have been described as different formae of S. petersenii sensu lato (S. petersenii f. asmundiae, S. petersenii f. bjoerkii, S. petersenii f. columnata, S. petersenii f. praefracta and S. petersenii f. taymyrensis). All 15 taxa can be distinguished by the shape of the body scales, scale dimensions, keel shape, number of and distance between struts, degree of interconnections between struts, and the size of base plate pores, keel pores, and base plate hole. A key to species is provided. The biogeography of newly defined taxa is discussed based on the morphological data obtained from previously published reports.
Optimization of Laccase-mediated Benzo[a]pyrene Oxidation and the Bioremedial Application in Aged Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons-contaminated Soil

Laccase is a polyphenol oxidase with the ability to oxidize a broad range of persistent organic pollutants, including benzo[a]pyrene, the most carcinogenic, mutagenic an dt eratogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study, the reaction conditions for benzo[a]pyrene oxidation by laccase from Trametes versicolor were optimized in a liquid medium by a series of single factor experiments. The maximal benzo[a]pyrene oxidation rate was observed at 40 ◦ C, pH 4, 10% of acetonitrile and an incubation time of more than 24 hr, and the benzo[a]pyrene oxidation was enhanced significantly by the addition of a mediator, 2,2-azino-bis-(3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS). Laccase was also applied to aged PAHs polluted soil to examine the efficiency of enzymatic bioremediation. The results showed that the enzyme was still effective in the degradation of anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]anthracene in soil. Moreover, the degradation rate of most PAHs increased by the addition of ABTS. Our results indicated that the bioremediation of PAHs contaminated soil using laccase is feasible but a suboptimal pH might be a limiting factor in the enzymatic treatment of soil.
Sero-Prevalence of Herpesvirus Papio 2 in Wild-Caught Olive Baboons from Selected Regions in Kenya

Copyright: © 2016 Chepkwony S, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. *Corresponding Author: Dr. Atunga Nyachieo, Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Reproductive health and Biology, Institute of Primate Research, P.O Box 244481-00502, Karen Nairobi, E-mail: anyachieo@yahoo.com
CONCEPTS OF SERVICE QUALITY MEASUREMENT IN HOTEL INDUSTRY

The quality of service in hotel industry is an important factor of successful business. The existing trend of complete quality management in hotel industry ensures the achievement of competitive advantage of hotel companies and is therefore the subject of contemporary research into service quality in hotel industry. The concept and the conceptual model of service quality is indispensable if we wish to understand the genesis of service quality and potential gaps in quality. The aim of this paper is to show the importance of service quality in hotel industry from both the conceptual standpoint and that of service quality measurement. The paper describes the most common criteria for measuring service quality, namely the model of internal service quality and the SERVQUAL model. The shown results are those of quantitive and qualitative application of such models in hotels.
Critical Thinking Dispositions and Problem Solving Skills Among Nursing Students

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine critical thinking dispositions and problem solving skills of nursing students at Dokuz Eylül University, School of Nursing and compare the changes in these variables through the four years of nursing education. Methods: This descriptive study included 267 students from Dokuz Eylül University, Nursing of School. Data were collected using two instruments, California Critical Thinking Disposition Scale and Problem Solving Skills Inventory. An additional questionnaire was used to collect demographic data. One Way ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze data. Tukey HSD test was employed as Post Hoc test. Level of significance was set at p < . 05. Results: Students had moderate critical thinking dispositions and problem solving skills. There was an increase in problem solving skills from the first to the fourth year and there was a negative significant relationship between critical thinking and problem solving skills showing a positive relationship between these two variables. Conclusion: Although increased scores in critical thinking dispositions and decreased scores of problem solving skills may be considered positive, results indicate a need for students’ continuous development in these areas. Incorporation of critical thinking and problem solving skills into nursing school curricula can be a beneficial strategy.
Quantum Ultrametrics on AF Algebras and The Gromov-Hausdorff Propinquity

We construct quantum metric structures on unital AF algebras with a faithful tracial state, and prove that for such metrics, AF algebras are limits of their defining inductive sequences of finite dimensional C*-algebras for the quantum propinquity. We then study the geometry, for the quantum propinquity, of three natural classes of AF algebras equipped with our quantum metrics: the UHF algebras, the Effros-Shen AF algebras associated with continued fraction expansions of irrationals, and the Cantor space, on which our construction recovers traditional ultrametrics. We also exhibit several compact classes of AF algebras for the quantum propinquity and show continuity of our family of Lip-norms on a fixed AF algebra. Our work thus brings AF algebras into the realm of noncommutative metric geometry.
Transforaminal Endoscopic Decompression for Painful Degenerative Conditions of The Lumbar Spine: A review of One Surgeon’s Experience with Over 10,000 Cases Since 1991

Background: Endoscopic Spine Surgery has evolved rapidly in the past 5 years, and is getting less pushback by traditional spine surgeons who have no exposure or training in endoscopic spine surgery in their training. The author has dedicated his last 25 years to transforaminal endoscopic surgery. He has previously reported on his 12 years’ experience in 2007 in IJAS Surgery, but 13 years later, continued evolution of the transforaminal approach aided by new endoscopes and endoscopic instrumentation has allowed the author and experienced endoscopic surgeons adopting this approach, with the ability to treat 90 percent of painful degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine after the learning curve is conquered. Methods: Three different methods have evolved. Yeung’s “insideout” philosophy and technique, Hoogland’s “outside in” philosophy technique, and a hybrid targeted technique combining inside out and outside in, that depends on targeting the patho-anatomy. This paper reviews Yeung’s philosophy and technique backed by over10,000 procedures in the past 25 years Results: After a learning curve for each pathology targeted, an overall 90% good to excellent success rate measured by VAS, Oswestry, patient satisfaction, and minimal minor complications of less than 3 percent can be achieved. A detailed review of Yeung’s experience supplements his 12 year report in the International Journal of Spine Surgery in 2007. Conclusion: The transforaminal endoscopic technique has evolved to be the least invasive, most effective method to surgically address the pain generators in the lumbar spine. The technique allows for earlier treatment of painful conditions that fail nonsurgical treatment. This monograph can be used as a guide for new surgeons who want to treat patients with “surgical pain management” that incorporates pain management with surgical treatment that will help decrease the escalating cost of spine care all over the world.
Cuteness and Disgust: The Humanizing and Dehumanizing Effects of Emotion

Moral emotions are evolved mechanisms that function in part to optimize social relationships. We discuss two moral emotions— disgust and the “cuteness response”—which modulate social-engagement motives in opposite directions, changing the degree to which the eliciting entity is imbued with mental states (i.e., mentalized). Disgust-inducing entities are hypo-mentalized (i.e., dehumanized); cute entities are hyper-mentalized (i.e., “humanized”). This view of cuteness—which challenges the prevailing view that cuteness is a releaser of parental instincts (Lorenz, 1950/1971)—explains (a) the broad range of affiliative behaviors elicited by cuteness, (b) the marketing of cuteness to children (by toy makers and animators) to elicit play, and (c) the apparent ease and frequency with which cute things are anthropomorphized.
High School Students’ Topic Preferences and Oral Development in an English-only Short-term Intensive Language Program

Developing the ability to speak English is a daunting task that has long been omitted in a test-driven pedagogy context (Chang, 2011; Li, 2012a, 2012b; Chen & Tsai, 2012; Katchen, 1989, 1995). Since speaking is not tested for school admissions, most students are not motivated to learn it (Chang, 2011; Chen & Tsai, 2012). Now, globalization makes English Lingua Franca; speaking English is definitely bound to be one key capability to connect oneself with the world (Graddol, 2007). Thus, teachers strive to help learenrs learn English by selecting appropriate and interesting topics to motivate them to learn more effectively (Dornyei & Csizer, 1998; Spratt, Pulverness & Williams, 2011), especially in speaking. However, with only one internationally published research on Taiwanese college students’ topics preference (Chen, 2012) and none on high school students, selecting appropriate topics seems challenging. Consequently, this study intended to investigate the potential topics that motivated learners to practice speaking and their oral performance. The results show that learners preferred topics related to their daily life and their speaking improved in terms of speech unit, clause unit, and words uttered.
PROGRESS IN GERIATRIC GYNECOLOGY RESEARCH

The number of older women seeking both routine and acute gynecologic care, as well as surgical interventions, can be expected to rise dramatically. We must learn how the gynecologic needs of younger and older women differ and then re-evaluate the gynecologic care we have routinely offered in the past to determine outcomes and benefits in this older population of women. With rapidly changing technology and advances in gynecologic care, we must determine which interventions are appropriate and beneficial, identify unmet needs, and allocate resources accordingly. This chapter assesses the progress made in geriatric gynecology research since the publication of New Frontiers in Geriatrics Research and proposes areas requiring future investigation. The three Key Questions in gynecology identified in New Frontiersare quoted below. Progress made in answering these questions is outlined in this review. However, important areas of geriatric gynecology remain open for investigation; two new topics with new items for the research agenda are proposed (see the section New Horizons in Geriatric Gynecology, at the end of this chapter).
Biological and Chemical Control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum The Pathogen of Basal Stalk Rot of Bean Plants .

Five isolates of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were isolated and tested for their pathogenicity on, cv. Giza-3, bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and all of them proved to be pathogenic . Biological control in vitro was evaluated using two species of Trichoderma (T.harzianum and T.viridae) . Chemical control in vitro with three fungicides, rhizolex-T, topsin-M and homai80.Biological control with the two species of Trichoderma showed antagonistic potential against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, however, T.viride proved the best potency . Rhizolex-T as a mean of chemical control was the most efficient. These fungicides and the biocontrol agents were compared in vivo in greenhouse. There were difference in efficacy between the application of fungicides and antagonists, mixing the antagonist with soil before the pathogen was the most affective treatment and even more than fungicide, reducing the percentage of disease incidence from 68.33 to 30.52 in case of T.harazianum and to 18.27 for T.viride.
Molecular Epidemiology of the Two Internal Genes of Equine Influenza H3N8 Virus Isolated in Pakistan 2015-16

Received: Revised: Accepted: Published online: July 22, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 20, 2017 February 12, 2018 An outbreak of equine influenza was detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the years 2015-16. The isolated viruses were typed for the first time in Pakistan as H3N8 and grouped with the Clade 1 viruses of Florida sub-lineages on the basis of Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA) gene sequence analysis. Here we described the genetic analysis of two internal genes (Nucleoprotein and Matrix) of the Pakistani isolates. The primer pairs were designed to amplify the NP and M internal genes of the 19 equine H3N8 influenza A viruses identified and isolated in this outbreak. Phylogenetic analysis of the derived sequences was performed and compared with the contemporary available sequences online. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the two internal genes of the Pakistani strains showed high similarity (99.7-100%) with the avian influenza A viruses (Avian/Pakistan/H7N3/ 2004) isolated in Pakistan. Two major substitutions i.e. F63L and K243R were recorded in Matrix gene of the isolates from the closely related Chicken/Pakistan/04 H7N3 virus. Notably NP gene did not acquire any amino acid substitution on comparison with Chicken/Pakistan/04. All isolates shared 99.5-99.9% homology with the reference sequences on alignment for M1 and NP amino acid sequences, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering of the Pakistani isolates with the avian viruses isolated in Pakistan in previous outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry. Epidemiological investigation of the outbreak suggested that reassortment of equine H3N8 viruses with avian Influenza A H7N3 most probably, might be due to the mix farming system here. In conclusion, Phylogenetic analysis of the internal genes reported here will be helpful in early detection and control of EI.
ePubWU Institutional Repository

This paper examines return co-movements and volatility spillovers between major exchange rates before and after the introduction of euro. Dynamic correlations and VAR-based spillover index results suggest significant return co-movements and volatility spillovers, however, their extend is, on average, lower in the post-euro period. Co-movements and spillovers are positively associated with extreme episodes and US dollar appreciations. The euro (Deutsche mark) is the dominant net transmitter of volatility, while the British pound the dominant net receiver of volatility in both periods. Nevertheless, cross-market volatility spillovers are bidirectional, and the highest spillovers occur between European markets.