Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rainfall-generated , near-surface turbulence

An investigation of the development of turbulence adjacent to the free surface irradiated with vertical rainfall has been completed. Laboratory measurements of turbulence profiles under simulated rainfall were carried out with a micro acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV). Data processing techniques based on spectral analysis were used to extract the low levels of turbulence from the velocity time series. Turbulence profiles showed a rapid decay with depth and weak dependency on rainfall intensity in agreement with Braun (2003). However these observations are inconsistent with the high levels of turbulence dissipation recently reported by Zappa et al. (2009). The energy transfer from rainfall to sub-surface turbulence is an inefficient process. Significant rainfall energy is dissipated at the air-water interface where the interaction of capillary ripples, drop splashes, air entrainment and other complex processes take place.
Application of the finite volume method and unstructured meshes to linear elasticity

SUMMARY A recent emergence of the nite volume method (FVM) in structural analysis promises a viable alternative to the well-established nite element solvers. In this paper, the linear stress analysis problem is discretized using the practices usually associated with the FVM in uid ows. These include the second-order accurate discretization on control volumes of arbitrary polyhedral shape; segregated solution procedure, in which the displacement components are solved consecutively and iterative solvers for the systems of linear algebraic equations. Special attention is given to the optimization of the discretization practice in order to provide rapid convergence for the segregated solution procedure. The solver is set-up to work eciently on parallel distributed memory computer architectures, allowing a fast turn-around for the mesh sizes expected in an industrial environment. The methodology is validated on two test cases: stress concentration around a circular hole and transient wave propagation in a bar. Finally, the steady and transient stress analysis of a Diesel injector valve seat in 3-D is presented, together with the set of parallel speed-up results. Copyright ? 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of protein source and enzyme supplementation on ileal protein digestibility and fattening performance in rabbits.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of source of protein (soybean vs sunflower meal) and enzyme supplementation (no enzyme vs protease addition vs protease + xylanase addition) on digestion and growth traits of rabbits. Treatments were arranged factorially in six isonutritive diets. Two hundred and forty rabbits weaned at 25 or 35 days were used to measure dry matter and crude protein apparent ileal digestibility of diets at 35 or 45 days of age, respectively. Another one hundred and eighty animals weaned at 35 days were fed ad libitum in individual cages during four weeks to determine fattening performance. Source of protein did not affect digestion efficiency or feed conversion rate in the whole fattening period, but animals fed soybean meal-based diets showed higher feed intake, grew faster and had higher mortality than those fed sunflower meal-based diets. Addition of enzymes increased ileal apparent digestibility, especially in youngest animals when supplements contained xylanase besides protease activity. Enzyme supplementation did not affect any of the growth traits studied, but decreased fattening mortality in sunflower meal-based diets.
VAPOR-LIQUID EQUILIBRIUM OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN A 5M AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF 2-(DIMETHYLAMINO) ETHANOL

Recently, environmental problems on climate change and global warming are the main concern due to the higher amount of carbon dioxide (CO ) in the atmosphere. The 2 main sources of CO2 are flue gas from fossil-fired power plants. Chemical absorption with amine solution is a proven process to capture CO2 effectively. The commercially used amine solution is monoethanolamine (MEA). However, it still has drawbacks. Consequently, novel chemicals for CO2 capture have been developed to improve the amine performance. Therefore, the objective of this study is to measure the vapor-liquid equilibrium of CO2 in a 5M aqueous solution of 2-(Dimethylamino) ethanol (DMAE) used as a new solvent. This work is measured the solubility at CO2 partial pressures from 5 to 100 kPa and temperature at 303.15, 313.15, 333.15 and 353.15 K with 5 M concentration. The solubility results of CO2 in aqueous solution of DMAE are compared with that of MEA at the same conditions. The results show that the DMAE has up to 713% higher capacity than that of MEA. This means DMAE can be recovered with less energy and lead to high energy saving for carbon capture process. Also, rate of CO2 loading change from this study is also measured.
Three-dimensional static speckle fields. Part I. Theory and numerical investigation

When monochromatic light is scattered from an optically rough surface a complicated three-dimensional (3D) field is generated. These fields are often described by reference to the 3D volume (extent) of their speckles, leading to the definition of lateral (x,y) and longitudinal speckle sizes (z). For reasons of mathematical simplicity the longitudinal speckle size is often derived by examining the decorrelation of the speckle field for a single point lying on axis, i.e., x=y=0, and this size is generally assumed to be representative for other speckles that lie further off-axis. Some recent theoretical results, however, indicate that in fact longitudinal speckle size gets smaller as the observation position moves to off-axis spatial locations. In this paper (Part I), we review the physical argument leading to this conclusion and support this analysis with a series of robust numerical simulations. We discuss, in some detail, computational issues that arise when simulating the propagation of speckle fields numerically, showing that the spectral method is not a suitable propagation algorithm when the autocorrelation of the scattering surface is assumed to be delta correlated. In Part II [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A28, 1904 (2011)] of this paper, experimental results are provided that exhibit the predicted variation of longitudinal speckle size as a function of position in x and y. The results are not only of theoretical interest but have practical implications, and in Part II a method for locating the optical system axis is proposed and experimentally demonstrated.
Surface modification of microfiltration membrane with go nanosheets for dyes removal from aqueous solutions

The presence of dyes in water cause problems in biological processes, because it reduces the light transmission. Hence, the development of efficient and low cost methods for dyes removal from aqueous solutions has received more attention. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the modification of polyethersulfone microfiltration membranes (PES-MF), by a simple and novel method using grapheme oxide (GO) aiming the methylene blue (MB) removal. PES-MF (0.2 µm, 47 mm) and modified membrane (PES- MF/H2SO4+GO) were characterized by ATR-FTIR and water angle contact. The concentration of MB was analyzed using a Spectrophotometer UV-VIS. FTIR spectra and water contact angle measurements indicated the success of the PES-MF surface modification with GO. In filtration tests, the modified membrane presented much higher rejection rates, reaching a rejection rate of 92.1%. Therefore, the proposed modification suggest that GO nanosheets can be applied on modification of PES-MF membranes surface, to improve their efficiency.
Protective sliding carbon-based nanolayers prepared by argon or nitrogen ion-beam assisted deposition on Ti6Al4V alloy

The microstructure and the surface properties of samples coated by carbon-based nanolayer were investigated in an effort to increase the surface hardness and reduce the coefficient of friction of the Ti6Al4V alloy. Protective carbon-based nanolayers were fabricated by argon or nitrogen ion-beam assisted deposition at ion energy of 700 eV on Ti6Al4V substrates. The Raman spectra indicated that nanolayers had a diamond-like carbon character with sp2 rich bonds. The TiC and TiN compounds formed in the surface area were detected by X-ray diffraction. Nanoscratch tests showed increased adhesion of a carbon-based nanolayer deposited with ion assistance in comparison with a carbon nanolayer deposited without ion assistance. The results showed that argon ion assistance leads to greater nanohardness than a sample coated by a carbon-based nanolayer with nitrogen ion assistance. A more than twofold increase in nanohardness and a more than fivefold decrease in the coefficient of friction were obtained for samples coated by a carbon-based nanolayer with ion assistance, in comparison with the reference sample.
Investigating health factors as predictor of early drop-out of rst year accounting students at the University of the Free State, South Africa

Introduction: The future of the South African workforce looks bleak given the challenges posed, not only by health factors, including HIV and AIDS, but also the success and throughput rate of rst year university students. Methodology: The research in this study was conducted in 2013 using a post-positivist approach and applying an interpretive stance using a mixed method approach, which included a quantita- tive non-experimental predictive multivariate design as well as focus group interviews to triangu- late the ndings. Results: We present ndings that psychosocial background factors, physical health and emotion- al health in uence success and non-completion rates among rst year students at the University of the Free State, South Africa. Conclusion: We argue that early identi cation of poor psychosocial background, including health factors, can assist in empowering youths helping them to make healthy decisions and deal with stressful situations in a way that will not compromise their academic success.
An illusion of inclusion? – Can counselling psychology do more to ensure equality and access to psychological therapies for deaf people, through their work with interpreters?

There is evidence that the British Psychological Society (BPS) guidelines on working with interpreters are not being applied sufficiently for psychologists to be meeting requirements for anti-discriminatory practice. The present study aimed to explore British Sign Language (BSL)/English interpreters’ subjective experiences, to identify whether psychologists are adhering to guidelines designed to safeguard anti-discriminatory practice and equal access for non-English speakers. An IPA approach to data was adopted, which resulted in three superordinate themes emerging: 1. knowledge and understanding, 2. interpreters’ experiencing and 3. development, with eleven supporting subordinate themes. The overall findings of the study suggest that the professional guidelines are not being sufficiently applied and as such interpreters are frequently not being adequately supported in order to provide the most effective interpretation for d/Deaf clients. The current findings are consistent with previous research thus, establishing training and communication between both the interpreting and psychology professions has been advised.
Nonparametric estimation of diffusions: a differential equations approach

We consider estimation of scalar functions that determine the dynamics of diffusion processes. It has been recently shown that nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation is ill-posed in this context. We adopt a probabilistic approach to regularize the problem by the adoption of a prior distribution for the unknown functional. A Gaussian prior measure is chosen in the function space by specifying its precision operator as an appropriate differential operator. We establish that a Bayesian–Gaussian conjugate analysis for the drift of one-dimensional nonlinear diffusions is feasible using high-frequency data, by expressing the loglikelihood as a quadratic function of the drift, with sufficient statistics given by the local time process and the end points of the observed path. Computationally efficient posterior inference is carried out using a finite element method. We embed this technology in partially observed situations and adopt a data augmentation approach whereby we iteratively generate missing data paths and draws from the unknown functional. Our methodology is applied to estimate the drift of models used in molecular dynamics and financial econometrics using high- and low-frequency observations. We discuss extensions to other partially observed schemes and connections to other types of nonparametric inference.
RXRα overexpression in cardiomyocytes causes dilated cardiomyopathy but fails to rescue myocardial hypoplasia in RXRα-null fetuses

Retinoid X receptor α‐null (RXRα-null) mutants exhibit hypoplasia of their ventricular myocardium and die at the fetal stage. In the present study, we wished to determine whether transgenic re-expression of RXRα in mutant cardiac myocytes could rescue these defects. Two transgenic mouse lines specifically overexpressing an RXRα protein in cardiomyocytes were generated, using the cardiac α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) promoter. Breeding the high copy number transgenic line onto an RXRα-null genetic background did not prevent the myocardial hypoplasia and fetal lethality associated with the RXRα‐/‐ genotype, even though the transgene was expressed in the ventricles as early as 10.5 days post-coitum. These data suggest that the RXRα function involved in myocardial growth may correspond to a non‐cell-autonomous requirement for a signal orchestrating the growth and differentiation of myocytes. Interestingly, the adult transgenic mice developed a dilated cardiomyopathy, associated with myofibrillar abnormalities and specific deficiencies in respiratory chain complexes I and II, thus providing an additional model for this genetically complex disease. J. Clin. Invest. 105:387‐394 (2000).
Increased Depressive Ratings in Patients With Hepatitis C Receiving Interferon-α–Based Immunotherapy Are Related to Interferon-α–Induced Changes in the Serotonergic System

There is now evidence that repeated administration of interferon-α (IFN-α) to patients with chronic active hepatitis and cancers induces depressive symptoms. There is also evidence that induction of the cytokine network modulates the serotonergic system and that major depression is related to activation of the cytokine network and disturbances in the serotonergic metabolism. The aims of this study were to examine the effects of IFN-α–based immunotherapy on the development of depressive symptoms in relation to its effects on plasma tryptophan and kynurenine and serum serotonin (5-HT). Eighteen patients affected by chronic active hepatitis C were treated with IFN-α (3–6 million units subcutaneously three to six times a week for 6 months) and had measurements of the previous parameters before starting immunotherapy and 2, 4, 16, and 24 weeks later. Severity of depression and anxiety were measured with the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) scale, respectively. Immunochemotherapy with IFN-α (1) significantly increased the MADRS and HAM-A scores and serum kynurenine concentrations and (2) significantly reduced plasma tryptophan and serum 5-HT concentrations. IFN-α–based immunotherapy significantly increased the kynurenine per tryptophan quotient, which estimates the activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, the major tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme, which is induced by IFNs. There are significant relationships between the IFN-α–induced changes in the MADRS score and serum kynurenine (positive) and 5-HT (negative) concentrations. Immunotherapy with IFN-α significantly increases the severity of depressive symptoms. The latter is related to changes in the serotonergic system, such as depletion of serum 5-HT and induction of the catabolism of tryptophan to kynurenine. It is suggested that the IFN-α–induced changes in the serotonergic turnover could play a role in the development of IFN-α–induced depressive symptoms.
The effect of dietary dextrin levels on growth performance, body composition and hepatosomatic index in juvenile Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii

The present study was carried out to determine the ability of Acipenser baerii in utilizing carbohydrate (dextrin) as a non protein energy source substituted with animal oil. A total of 65 juveniles A. baerii with an initial mean weight of 689 ± 62 g were distributed in 15 fiber glass tanks. Five diets were formulated including 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% of dextrin and fed for 8 weeks. Fish were weighed monthly and growth was evaluated in each treatment. At the end of experiment, body composition and hepatosomatic index were analyzed. There was no significant differences in body weight increase (BWI) and final weight (FW) among different groups (p>0.05). Increase of dextrin levels in diets led to an increase in feed conversation ratio (FCR) in fish fed diets containing 15 and 20% dextrin as compared to that in the control group and in fish fed the diet containing 10% dextrin although the differences were not significant (p>0.05). The specific growth rate (SGR) in all treatments were the same (p>0.05). The highest body protein and lipid were observed in fish fed diets containing 10 and 20 % dextrin, respectively (p<0.05). The hepatosomatic index (HSI) showed no significant differences in experimental groups compared to the control (p>0.05). In conclusion, juvenile A. baerii can be fed diets with high levels of dietary dextrin as a non protein energy source with no deleterious effects and a partial replacement of cheap carbohydrate with lipid is suggested to obtain the necessary energy in commercial diets.
OXIDATIVE STRESS BIOMARKERS OF THE ERYTHROCYTE IN THE NEWBORN – A FOLLOW-UP STUDY

Charles University University of Porto Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Faculty of Pharmacy Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Department of Biological Sciences Student: Karolína Zubatá Supervisor: doc. PharmDr. Martina Čečková, Ph.D. Consultants: Susana Rocha, Ph.D., prof. Alice Santos-Silva, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Oxidative stress biomarkers of the erythrocyte in the newborn – a follow-up study Increased levels of oxidative stress (OS) have been described in healthy, full-term newborns as a consequence of the drastic changes introduced by birth and by the exposure to extrauterine environment. Our intention was to examine the OS levels in red blood cells (RBCs) of neonates and to further understand the changes that the newborn organism undergoes with its newly-acquired autonomy as this knowledge is limited and there are no reference values. Umbilical cord blood samples were collected from a small population of newborns (n = 8) and several hematological and biochemistry parameters were evaluated. Our experimental data consist of OS biomarkers measurements performed in different fractions of blood (RBC membrane, total RBCs and plasma): membrane bound hemoglobin (MBH), lipid peroxidation (LPO), quantification of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, determination of total antioxidant status (TAS) and quantification of total and oxidized glutathione; the same parameters were assessed after two months in the same subjects (n = 8) using peripheral blood samples, to obtain the follow-ups. Hematological and biochemistry data were in accordance with general knowledge and available reference values. Significant changes were recorded in five of our OS biomarkers: decrease in membrane LPO and MBH levels suggests that OS really fades with age. We recorded a significant decrease in GPx activity and an increase in CAT activity which probably reflects different specialization of the enzymes and the newborn ́s increasing autonomy. With all the gathered data we could observe the process of the newborn ́s adaptation to the outer world. The most significant contribution of this work are the new OS biomarkers reference values, which, to our knowledge, have not been published before. However, our population was small and only half of the selected biomarkers displayed a significant change in the follow-ups two months after birth. Further studies are warranted to extend the knowledge in the field of OS and its biomarkers because we believe that there is a great potential for them to be used in clinical monitoring and diagnosis. keywords: oxidative stress, biomarker, erythrocyte, newborn
The Euro Zone Peripheral Countriesâ€™ Sovereign Debt Crisis: Also a Case of Non-Mature Democracies?

The euro zone peripheral countries face a profound sovereign debt crisis threatening the very existence of the euro as we know it. Therefore, the study of the various factors contributing to this crisis is of the utmost importance. Given the set of the twelve initial member States, the euro zone peripheral countries (Portugal, Greece, and Spain) have in common the fact that they are recent democracies. Independently from other valid approaches to this question, the specific contribution of this paper is to focus on the role played by institutional and political variables in the behavior of fiscal variables. We show that the behavior of these variables is indeed statistically different from the one observed for the other euro zone countries, which are mature democracies. These outcomes are also in line with what that literature expects from the relationship between non-mature democracies and the incidence of election year budget cycles.