Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microplastic Types in the Wastewater System—A Comparison of Material Flow-Based Source Estimates and the Measurement-Based Load to a Wastewater Treatment Plant

Microplastics are omnipresent in the environment, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been highlighted as a transport pathway. The aim of this study is to contribute to increased understanding of microplastic sources in wastewater and test the possibilities of source tracking. Previous research has focused either on estimating microplastic contribution from various sources or on quantifying occurrence based on measurements. In this paper, these two approaches are compared. Microplastic types detected in the influent to a WWTP in Sweden are compared with estimations of sources in the WWTP catchment area. The total load from the identified sources was estimated to 1.9–14 tonnes/year, and the measurement-based load was 4.2 tonnes/year. In general, there was a good agreement between the two approaches; microplastic types with large shares at the inlet also had large contributions in the source estimates. An exception was cellulose acetate, which was not found at the inlet despite a large theoretical contribution. Many uncertainties remain, which lead to large intervals for the source estimates. The comparison can give an indication into which part of the intervals is most likely. Investigating more WWTPs with different characteristics and including particle morphology will further increase the understanding of sources that contribute to the presence of microplastics in wastewater.
Optimization of Growth Medium and Poly-$\beta$-hydroxybutyric Acid Production from Methanol in Methylobacterium organophilum

Methylobacterium organophilum, a facultative methylotroph was cultivated on a methanol as a sole carbon and energy source. The cell growth was affected by the various components of minimal synthetic medium and the medium composition was optimized with 0.5% (v/v) methanol at pH 6.8 and at 3. The maximum specific growth rate of M. organophilum was achieved to 0.26 hr in the optimized medium which has following composition: Methanol, 0.5% (v/v):(NH)SO, 1.0g/l:KHPO, 2.13g/l:KHPO, 1.305g/ι:MgSO.7. 45g/l and trace elements (CaCl.2, 3.3mg:FeSO.7, 1.3mg:MnSO.4, 130:ZnSO.5, 40:NaMoO.2, 40:CoCl.6, 40:HBO, 30 per liter). By the limitation of nitrogen and deficiency of Mn or Fe, the cell growth was significantly repressed. Methanol greatly repressed the cell growth and the complete inhibition was observed at concentration above 4% (v/v). In order to overcome the methanol inhibition and to prevent the methanol limitation, intermittent feeding of methanol was conducted by a D.O. -stat technique. PHB production by M. organophilum was stimulated by deficiency of nutrients such as NH, SO, , , or PO in the medium. The maximum PHB content was obtained as 58% of dry cell weight under deficiency of potassium ion in the optimized synthetic medium.
Comparison Analysis of Regency Performance after Area Expantion in Bengkulu Province

This study aims to analyze the performance of old and new regency in Bengkulu Province. As we know that an area expantion must be follow with the changing of structure economy. This study comparing whether an expantion making the bettter structure in economic growth. All of data used in this study are time series data and processed using Williamson Index and Klassen Typology. The empirical results of this study indicate that almost in the all regencies showing that new regency are more developed than the old. But in general, after the expantion, there are improvement in both economic growth and also GRDP per capita. So, an area expantion causing positif effect for regional economic growth.
SiC3 as a Charge-Regulated Material for CO2 Capture

The increasing CO2 emission rate is deteriorating the atmospheric environment, leading to global warming and climate change. The potential of the SiC3 nanosheet as a functioning material for the separation of CO2 from the mixture of CO2, H2, N2 and CH4 by injecting negative charges is studied by DFT calculations in this paper. The results show that in the absence of injecting negative charges, CO2 interacts weakly with the SiC3 nanosheet. While the interaction between CO2 and the SiC3 nanosheet can be strengthened by the injection of negative charges, the absorption mechanism of CO2 changes from physisorption to chemisorption when the injection of negative charges is switched on. H2/N2/CH4 are all physiosorbed on the SiC3 nanosheet with/without the injection of negative charges. The mechanism of CO2 adsorption/desorption on the SiC3 nanosheet could be tuned by switching on/off the injection of negative charges. Our results indicate that the SiC3 nanosheet can be regarded as a charge-regulated material for the separation of CO2 from the CO2/H2/N2/CH4 mixture.
A Sensorized Soft Pneumatic Actuator Fabricated with Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing

Soft pneumatic actuators with a channel network (pneu-net) based on thermoplastic elastomers are compatible with fused deposition modeling (FDM). However, conventional filament-based fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers are not well suited for thermoplastic elastomers with a shore hardness (Sh < 70A). Therefore, in this study, a pellet-based FDM printer was used to print pneumatic actuators with a shore hardness of Sh18A. Additionally, the method allowed the in situ integration of soft piezoresistive sensing elements during the fabrication. The integrated piezoresistive elements were based on conductive composites made of three different styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) thermoplastic elastomers, each with a carbon black (CB) filler with a ratio of 1:1. The best sensor behavior was achieved by the SEBS material with a shore hardness of Sh50A. The dynamic and quasi-static sensor behavior were investigated on SEBS strips with integrated piezoresistive sensor composite material, and the results were compared with TPU strips from a previous study. Finally, the piezoresistive composite was used for the FDM printing of soft pneumatic actuators with a shore hardness of 18 A. It is worth mentioning that 3 h were needed for the fabrication of the soft pneumatic actuator with an integrated strain sensing element. In comparison to classical mold casting method, this is faster, since curing post-processing is not required and will help the industrialization of pneumatic actuator-based soft robotics.
The role of lex 2 in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in Haemophilus influenzae strains RM 7004 and RM 153

Received 2 April 2003 Revised 18 July 2003 Accepted 29 July 2003 The locus lex2, comprising lex2A and lex2B, contributes to the phase-variable expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Haemophilus influenzae and was found to be present in 74% of strains investigated. lex2A contains 59-GCAA repeats which vary in number from 4 to 46 copies between strains. The locus was cloned from the serotype b strains RM7004 and RM153 and showed >99% nucleotide sequence identity between these strains and the published lex2 sequence. Disruption of the lex2B gene in strain RM7004 resulted in truncation of some LPS glycoforms, shown by gel fractionation, with only one glycoform reacting with a digalactosidespecific monoclonal antibody, 4C4, compared with four LPS glycoforms in the more elongated LPS of the parent strain. Mass spectrometry and NMR analyses of LPS from the lex2B mutant revealed loss of the terminal digalactoside as well as the second b-glucose extending from the first heptose of the inner core. The authors conclude that Lex2B is the b-(1-4)-glucosyltransferase that adds the second b-glucose to the first b-glucose as part of the oligosaccharide extension from the first heptose of the LPS of strain RM7004. Investigation of the expression of the lex2 locus indicated that the genes are co-transcribed and that both reading frames are required for addition of this second b-glucose in a phase-variable manner.
Thermally Driven and Eddy-Driven Jet Variability in Reanalysis*

Two important dynamical processes influence the extratropical zonal wind field: angular momentum transport by the thermally direct Hadley circulation (thermal-driving T) and momentum flux convergence by atmospheric waves (eddies) that develop in regions of enhanced baroclinicity (eddy-driving E). The relationship between extratropical zonal wind variability and these driving processes is investigated using 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis (ERA-40) data. Indices representing the processes (iT and iE) are defined based on vertically integrated diabatic heating and meridional convergence of the meridionalflux of zonal momentum by eddies, respectively. Zonal wind signatures associated with these indices are identified via composite analysis. In the Atlantic sector, zonal wind variability is mainly associated with momentum flux convergence by baroclinic eddies, supporting the established view that the Atlanticjetis primarilyeddydriven.Inthe Pacificsector,zonal windvariability isassociatedwith bothdriving processes, evidence that the Pacific jet is both thermally driven and eddy driven. The thermally driven Pacific signature reflects changes in jet strength (intensity and longitudinal extent) with some resemblance to the zonal wind anomalies of the Pacific‐North America (PNA) pattern. The eddy-driven signature reflects a latitudinal shift of the jet exit region in both sectors that resembles the zonal wind anomalies of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) or West Pacific (WP) patterns.
Exogenous silicon relieve drought stress and salt stress of Glycyrrhiza uralensis seedlings by regulating proline metabolism and nitrogen assimilation

ABSTRACT This article studies the effect and mechanism of Si on drought and salt tolerance of Glycyrrhiza uralensis by focusing on the pathways of proline metabolism and nitrogen assimilation. G. uralensis was analysed under control, 70 mM NaCl, 15% PEG-6000 and 70 mM NaCl+15% PEG-6000 with or without Si. The results showed that Si increased P5Cs and δ-OAT activities by 16.29% and 5.85% under drought-salt stress, respectively. Si increased PDH by 28.14% under salt stress and increased proline by 27.6% and 33.0% under drought and drought-salt stresses in proline metabolism. In addition, Si increased NO3 − by 36.9%, 42.63% and 44.07% under drought, salt and drought-salt stresses, respectively, increased GOGAT by 50.9% under salt stress, increased GDH by 34.78% and 25.44% under salt and drought-salt stresses in the process of N assimilation. Moreover, Si decreased H2O2 and MDA contents by 15.27%, 15.57%, 25.18% and 43.05%, 7.59%, 21.44% under drought, salt and drought-salt stresses, respectively. In sum, Si could increase the proline content by increasing P5Cs activity; meanwhile, Si also regulated the synthesis pathway of proline by improving N assimilation. Thus, the tolerance of G. uralensis to drought-salt stress was further enhanced by eliminating excessive ROS and reducing lipid peroxidation impairment.
Welfare Loss and Surge in Food Commodity Prices in Nigeria

This study endogenously determines the extent of welfare loss during and after the recent economic recession in Nigeria by adopting the technique of Least Squares with Breakpoints (BREAKLS) covering 30 monthly (January, 2016 to June, 2018) data on the selected food commodity prices and CPI. Through the use of Bai-Perron tests as break type, the study revealed that the period of recession erodes the peoples’ purchasing power and hence worsens their welfare as an increase in consumers price index is influenced by greater increase in the prices of selected food commodity. Also, peoples’ welfare begins to improve as the economy begins to recover as a result of gradual fall in the prices of selected food commodity. Keywords : Inflation, Economic recession, food commodity, price, welfare.
Trampoline Injuries in Children and Adolescents

Objective As trampoline use grows more popular in the United States, the frequency of injuries continues to climb. We hypothesized that toddlers would be at the highest risk for trampoline injuries requiring hospitalization. Methods The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was examined for trampoline injuries from 2009 to 2018. Patients were categorized into 3 main age groups: toddlers (<2 years), children (2–12 years), and adolescents (13–18 years). Regression models were used to identify patients at high risk for injury or hospitalization. Results There was a total of 800,969 meeting inclusion criteria, with 433,827 (54.2%) occurring at their own homes and 86,372 (18.1%) at the sporting venue. Of the total, 36,789 (4.6%) were admitted to a hospital. Fractures (N = 270,884, 34%), strain/sprain injuries (N = 264,990, 33%), followed by skin contusions/abrasions (N = 115,708, 14%) were the most common diagnoses. The most frequent injury sites were lower and upper extremities accounting for 329,219 (41.1%) and 244,032 (30.5%), whereas 175,645 (21.9%) had head and neck injuries. Musculoskeletal injuries (74%) and concussions (2.6%) were more frequent in adolescents than children (67.6% and 1.6%) and toddlers (56.3% and 1.3%). Internal organ and soft tissue injuries were frequent in toddlers. There were no fatalities reported in the injured patients. Multivariate analysis showed adolescents, female sex, extremity injuries, and musculoskeletal injuries were associated with hospitalization. Injury at a sporting venue was not associated with hospitalization. Conclusions Adolescents and girls are at increased risk of trampoline injury, warranting hospitalization. Safety standards may help prevent extremity and musculoskeletal injuries in the pediatric population. Finally, use of trampolines at sporting venues does not appear to be particularly dangerous.
A Comparative Investigation of Various Pedotransfer Functions and Their Impact on Hydrological Simulations

Soil hydraulic properties, which are basically saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and water retention characteristics, remarkably control the main hydrological processes in catchments. Thus, adequate parameterization of soils is one of the most important tasks in physically based catchment modeling. To estimate these properties, the choice of the PTFs in a hydrological model is often made without taking the runoff characteristics of the catchment into consideration. Therefore, this study introduces a methodology to analyze the sensitivity of a catchment water balance model to the choice of the PTF. To do so, we define 11 scenarios including different combinations of PTFs to estimate the van Genuchten parameters and saturated hydraulic conductivity. We use a calibrated/validated hydrological model (WaSiM-ETH) as a baseline scenario. By altering the underlying PTFs, the effects on the hydraulic properties are quantified. Moreover, we analyze the resulting changes in the spatial/temporal variation of the total runoff and in particular, the runoff components at the catchment outlet. Results reveal that the water distribution in the hydrologic system varies considerably amongst different PTFs, and the water balance components are highly sensitive to the spatial structure of soil hydraulic properties. It is recommended that models be tested by careful consideration of PTFs and orienting the soil parameterization more towards representing a plausible hydrological behavior rather than focusing on matching the calibration data.
Arthroscopic management of the nonunion avulsion fracture of ischial tuberosity for a teenager dancer: a case report

The avulsion fracture of the ischial tuberosity is uncommon and relatively specific in children or teenagers. Without proper imaging and/or clinical suspicion, this injury can be mismanaged and cause nonunion or displacement of the bony avulsion, which may require surgery. Although surgical intervention is rarely necessary, it has a high degree of success when it is used. Several minimally invasive interventions have been reported, but there are no arthroscopic techniques in the literature for reference. Here we report an unusual case of nonunion avulsion fractures of ischial tuberosity in a 19-year-old male dancer. The injury was missed initially and delayed for 5 years. Under hip arthroscopy, we removed the nonunion bone and repaired the insertion of the hamstring tendon. The patient was satisfied and returned to sports within 6 months. Although there is only one patient, this is the first time that the arthroscopic technique has been introduced to treat this unusual injury. All experiences based on this case, including positioning, approach, intraoperative targeting, manipulation and tendon fixation, and a brief review will be present.
Soil C sequestration and CO2 fluxes under maize-based Conservation Agriculture systems in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Traditional farming methods deplete soil carbon and contribute to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. We investigated the effects of Conservation Agriculture principles on C sequestration and CO2 flux from two agroecological regions in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, over five cropping seasons in the period 2012–2015. The field trials were laid in a split–split plot design. The main treatments were the tillage system, as conventional tillage or no-till. The sub-treatments were the crop rotation pattern: maize–fallow–maize (MFM); maize–fallow–soybean (MFS); maize– wheat–maize (MWM); or maize–wheat–soybean (MWS). Residue management after each crop in rotation was residue removal (R–) or residue retention (R+). The biomass and C-inputs by the crop rotations were both in the order: MWM > MWS > MFM > MFS. R+ resulted in greater levels of particulate organic matter (POM) than R–. The former was the only factor to significantly (p < 0.05) increase soil organic carbon (SOC) in the 0–5 cm depth layer at both sites after two years. CO2 flux under conventional tillage was 20% higher than with no-till. The CO2 fluxes were significantly influenced by air temperature (p < 0.001, r 2 = 0.41) and soil bulk density (p < 0.001, r 2 = 0.16). The results suggest that MWM or MWS crop rotation in conjunction with R+ under no-till offer the greatest potential for biomass and C-inputs, and consequently C sequestration, in sub-humid and semi-arid agroecological regions of South Africa.
Mercury bioaccumulation in relation to dietary habits in fishing communities along river Swat, Pakistan

Muhammad Aamir Munir University of Peshawar Bushra Khan University of Peshawar Ishaq Ahmed Mian The University of Agriculture Peshawar Muhammad Ra q Institute of Management Sciences Samreen Shahzadi Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology Kashif Naeem Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology Iqbal Ahmad (  iahmad@gu.edu.pk ) Gomal University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6529-2823
Estimating global land system impacts of timber plantations using MAgPIE 4.3.2

Abstract. Out of 1150 Mha of forests designated primarily for production purposes in 2020, plantations account for 11 % (131 Mha) of area and fulfilled more than 33 % of the global industrial roundwood demand. Yet, adding additional timber plantations to meet increasing timber demand increases competition for scarce land resources between different land-uses for food, feed, livestock and timber production. Despite their significance in roundwood production, the importance of timber plantations in meeting the long-term timber demand and the implications of plantation expansion for overall land-use dynamics have not been studied in detail so far, in particular not the competition for land between agriculture and forestry in existing land-use models. This paper describes the extension of the modular, open-source land-system Model of Agricultural Production and its Impact on the Environment (MAgPIE) by a detailed representation of forest land, timber production and timber demand dynamics. These extensions allow for understanding the land-use dynamics (including competition for land) and associated land-use change emissions of timber production. We show that the spatial cropland patterns differ when timber production is accounted for, indicating that timber plantations compete with cropland for the same scarce land resources. When plantations are established on cropland, it causes cropland expansion and deforestation elsewhere. As a result of increasing timber demand, we show an increase in plantations area by 140 % until the end of the century (+132 Mha in 1995–2100). We also observe in our model results that the increasing demand for timber increases scarcity of land, and causes intensification through yield increasing technological change by 117 % in croplands by 2100 relative to 1995. Through the inclusion of new forest plantation and natural forest dynamics, our estimates of land-related CO2 emissions match better with observed data in particular the gross land-use change emissions and carbon uptake (via regrowth), reflecting higher deforestation for expansion of managed land and timber production, and higher regrowth in natural forests as well as plantations.
Climate Change Impact in Flores Island, a Dry Region in Indonesia

Climate change impacts have gained great attention to be studied in various fields. In this paper, an investigation of rainfall pattern change is performed using three statistical methods, i.e., simple linear regression, t-test, and Mann-Kendall’s test. The analysis is performed at 10- and 20-year time scales of daily, monthly, and annual rainfall in Flores Island, a dry region in Indonesia. In general, an increasing monthly rainfall trend is detected in the rainy season (October – April) at a 20-year period, using all three methods. Specifically, a significant increasing trend in March 1989 – 2008 is observed, and it contributes to the significant increasing trend of annual rainfall. The findings presented in this paper should be an alert for potential climate change impacts in the region. The positive consideration of having more rainfall in a dry region might turn into a negative reality when adaptation measures are not well-prepared.