Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The inﬂuence of adsorption layer thickness and pore geometry on gas production from tight compressible shales

: In tight shales, gas is stored in both free and adsorbed form. A one-dimensional model is derived for shale gas production by pressure depletion where the adsorbed layer thickness is of similar magnitude as the pore radius and can affect ﬂow performance. The adsorbed layer thickness is a function of pressure. Different pore geometries are assumed varying continuously between spherical pores to more fracture shaped pores. The shale is assumed compressible and its porosity and pore radius reduce with pressure depletion. The effective pore radius (pore radius minus adsorption layer thickness) controls intrinsic and apparent permeability. The impact of the adsorption layer, compressibility and geometry are investigated. A given adsorbed layer thickness ﬁlls more of the pores when they are more spherical and concentrates more of the volumetric ﬂow to the effective pore boundaries giving lower permeability for a given effective radius. Increasing the adsorbed thickness increases the adsorbed fraction initial gas in place. A high volume fraction adsorbed gas reduces apparent permeability and delays production. Pressure depletion causes both pore radius and adsorbed layer to be reduced. The change in adsorbed layer thickness is low at high pressure and greater at low pressure, while pore radius changes more linearly and more with higher compressibility. The free gas saturation and slip increases with pressure depletion for low compressible cases, but if matrix compression dominates there can be a net reduced permeability. Recovery was linear with the square root of time for all cases. Adsorbed gas is less effectively produced by pressure depletion than free gas and higher adsorbed content by more spherical pores or higher layer thickness reduces end recovery. Higher compressibility reduces permeability and delays recovery but increases end recovery.
Discrete Atomic Transform-Based Lossy Compression of Three-Channel Remote Sensing Images with Quality Control

Lossy compression of remote sensing data has found numerous applications. Several requirements are usually imposed on methods and algorithms to be used. A large compression ratio has to be provided, introduced distortions should not lead to sufficient reduction of classification accuracy, compression has to be realized quickly enough, etc. An additional requirement could be to provide privacy of compressed data. In this paper, we show that these requirements can be easily and effectively realized by compression based on discrete atomic transform (DAT). Three-channel remote sensing (RS) images that are part of multispectral data are used as examples. It is demonstrated that the quality of images compressed by DAT can be varied and controlled by setting maximal absolute deviation. This parameter also strictly relates to more traditional metrics as root mean square error (RMSE) and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) that can be controlled. It is also shown that there are several variants of DAT having different depths. Their performances are compared from different viewpoints, and the recommendations of transform depth are given. Effects of lossy compression on three-channel image classification using the maximum likelihood (ML) approach are studied. It is shown that the total probability of correct classification remains almost the same for a wide range of distortions introduced by lossy compression, although some variations of correct classification probabilities take place for particular classes depending on peculiarities of feature distributions. Experiments are carried out for multispectral Sentinel images of different complexities.
US Patent Holdings of Indian Non-Corporate Entities

This analysis looks at the identity of different Indian assignees of 2300 US patents upto 30 June 2009. These patents are classified according to the nature of the assignee, that is companies, government departments and national research laboratories, universities, other non-profit organizations and individual inventors. The number of patents in each category that are collaborative, and the nature of the collaborative organization has then been quantified. The timeline of the assignment of these patents has also been looked at. The results indicate that: (a) the overall number of patents is low, with CSIR holding most of the patents; (b) non-CSIR institutions have a higher fraction of collaborative patents than CSIR; and (c) from the mid-1990s there was a rapid rise in the number of patents, but since 2006 there has been a steep decline. The results should be useful in and of themselves, and for comparison with the patent holdings of similar organizations in other countries.
Celastrol and thymoquinone alleviate aluminum chloride-induced neurotoxicity: behavioral psychomotor performance, neurotransmitter level and oxidative-inflammatory burden in brain of rats

The exposure to metal aluminum such as aluminum chloride (AlCl3) induces inflammatory-oxidative reactions with progressive neurodegeneration in different brain regions in animal models. The current study was designed to assess the role of celastrol or thymoquinone (TQ) in alleviating AlCl3 induced behavioral psychomotor changes and oxidative-inflammatory burden in albino male rats. Four groups were used in this study, (i) vehicle control group, (ii) AlCL3 control group: rats received intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of AlCl3 (10 mg/kg), (iii) AlCl3+TQ (10 mg/kg, i.p.) group and (iv) AlCl3+celastrol (1 mg/kg, i.p.) group. In general, all injections remained for 6 weeks. Behavioral psychomotor evaluation (open field test, rotarod test and forced Swimming test) were done to assess locomotor, motor coordination, anxiety-like behavior and depressive-like behavioral. Markers of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and catalase enzyme activity (CAT) and the proinflammatory mediators, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interlukin-6 (IL-6) were measured in the rat brains. Neurotransmitters including acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine and serotonin in addition to acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) level were measured in brain homogenates. Our results demonstrated that daily injection of TQ or celastrol significantly improved behavior psychomotor deficits, decreased AChE activity towards their normal levels. Tissue oxidative stress and proinflammatory markers were modulated by TQ and celastrol. These results concluded that TQ and celastrol have useful in alleviating AlCl3-induced neurotoxicity by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, they are looking promising for investigating their preventive effect in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases.
No waves from surface knowledge: diving into the social representations of the deep sea

ABSTRACT Recently, new data about deep-sea ecosystems has stirred scientific, economic, and ecological agendas, but little is known about the public’s perspectives of the deep sea. Our goal is to explore the public’s common sense knowledge of the deep sea, with a view to inform science communication efforts. Based on social representations theory, we investigated the relationship between the public’s meanings associated with the deep sea and psychosocial and positional variables, such as attitudes and education level, and reflected on the implications of the findings for science communication. The study was conducted in Portugal, a coastal, sea-connected country. The sample consisted of 315 adults from different age groups and social strata. Participants were asked to elicit and rank their thoughts about the deep sea using a ranked association technique and fill in questions about sociodemographic information, perceptions, and attitudes concerning the deep sea. Results showed that the social representations of the deep sea were structured as emotional versus rational views and as superficial ocean knowledge versus novel or unusual views. Moreover, results evinced a relationship between representations and psychosocial and positional variables. The gap between scientific and common sense knowledge was evident amongst participants with a low education level and low science engagement, whilst highly educated and science-engaged participants’ representations seemed to be narrowed by instrumental views on science. This research is significant to better directing science communication to increase well-informed public participation in decision-making related to deep sea management and other socio-scientific issues by responding to audience’s background knowledge.
In Vitro Probiotic Characteristics and Whole Genome Sequence Analysis of Lactobacillus Strains Isolated from Cattle-Yak Milk

Simple Summary Cattle-yak milk is rich in numerous bioactive substances that function beyond their nutritive value. Given the high content of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), this exponent suggests a potential role for cattle-yak milk in preventing cancer, heart disease, and metabolic disorders, such as diabetes. It is expected to isolate probiotic strains with natural and excellent characteristics in optimizing human health. However, little research data and much fewer studies on probiotics from cattle-yak milk are reported. Therefore, in the present study, the beneficial strains from cattle-yak milk were identified to evaluate probiotic characteristics of potential strains, and to screen potential probiotics with an emphasis on making better use of milk in such extreme climatic environments. These findings support the potential application of cattle-yak milk in human health, animal food processing, and drug production in the future as a potential candidate for probiotics. Abstract Cattle-yak milk is an important raw material and an indispensable source of high-quality food for local farmers and herdsmen to produce ghee, milk residue, yogurt, and other dairy products. In this study, Lactobacillus strains were isolated from cattle-yak milk for potential probiotic candidates using a series of in vitro tests, including probiotic characterization and safety evaluation (antibiotic susceptibility and hemolytic ability). The results found that the Lactobacillus rhamnosus CY12 strain showed a high survival rate in bile salts, under acid conditions, and in the gastrointestinal juice environment, as well as showing high antimicrobial activity and adhesive potential. The safety evaluation showed that all strains were considered non-hemolytic. In addition, the whole-genome sequencing indicated that the strain CY12 spanned 2,506,167 bp, with an average length of 881 bp; the GC content in the gene region (%) was 47.35, contained 1347 protein-coding sequences, and accounted for 85.72% of the genome. The genome annotation showed that genes mainly focused on the immune system process, metabolic process, carbohydrate utilization, carbon metabolism, galactose metabolism, and biological adhesion, etc. This study revealed that the Lactobacillus rhamnosus CY12 strain might be an excellent potential probiotic in the development of feed additives for animals and has the ability to promote health.
The Impact of Folding Shutter on the Daylighting Performance in Tropical Climate

Abstrak —Utilization of abundant sunlight in tropical climates as daylighting can help to save energy consumption in the flats building. Based on daylight conditions in tropics, there is a need for a dynamic shading to be applied in façade which can be transformed to respond to the environmental change. Folding shutter is a dynamic shading device which can be operated by using folding and rotation motion. This paper aims to discuss the impact of folding shutter on the daylight performance in the context of flats buildings in tropical climates. Simulation using Radiance was conducted to test the sub-variables of folding shutter, including the folding configurations and shutter’s rotation angles on different conditions in tropics. The results showed that folding configurations results in high increase of daylight intensity and should be applied moderately. Meanwhile the shutter’s slats can help to diffuse and reflecting incoming light to the deepest areas of room. A closed configuration with shutter’s angle of 0° and 45° performed the best to face the inconsistent cloud movement in partly cloudy sky. The integration of folding shutter and 60 cm overhang produced the most stable performance which can meet the visual comfort standard in the longest period in tropics.
Expiration-Day Effects of Index Futures in a Frontier Market: The Case of Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange

This study employs OLS, GARCH and EGARCH regression models to test the expiration-day effects of index stock futures on market returns, volatility and trading volume for the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE). Data used in this study is from a daily return series of the VN30-Index for the period from 10August 2017 through 30 June 2020. The results derived from GARCH(1,1) and EGARCH(1,1) models consistently confirm that Index futures expiration-day effects on market returns exists in the HOSE. Specifically, the average market return for expiration days is significantly lower than other trading days, by 0.13% at the 5% level of significance. However, the results obtained from the regression models indicate that the expiration-day has no impact on market volatility and trading volume.
Development of Trans-1,4-Polyisoprene Shape-Memory Polymer Composites Reinforced with Carbon Nanotubes Modified by Polydopamine

In this study, which was inspired by mussel-biomimetic bonding research, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were interfacially modified with polydopamine (PDA) to prepare a novel nano-filler (CNTs@PDA). The structure and properties of the CNTs@PDA were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The CNTs and the CNTs@PDA were used as nanofillers and melt-blended into trans-1,4 polyisoprene (TPI) to create shape-memory polymer composites. The thermal stability, mechanical properties, and shape-memory properties of the TPI/CNTs and TPI/CNTs@PDA composites were systematically studied. The results demonstrate that these modifications enhanced the interfacial interaction, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of TPI/CNTs@PDA composites while maintaining shape-memory performance.
Broadband modeling of a nonlinear technique for energy harvesting

This paper presents a new approach for modeling a piezoelectric harvester using a nonlinear technique under an arbitrary, including broadband and random, force excitation. Hence it extends and generalizes previous works on monochromatic force excitation to more practical and realistic applications. In the nonlinear technique, a switching device is connected in parallel with the piezoelectric element. Though its nonlinear nature together with broadband and random input suggests a numerical step-by-step analysis, this gives less insight than more analytically based methods which are difficult to conduct and have, until now, been absent. In this paper, the switching device is assumed to be turned on periodically at any chosen frequency. The concept of switching-induced self-sampling and self-aliasing is therefore introduced into the modeling. The modeling is then applied to several well-known excitation cases to validate the theory and demonstrate the effectiveness of the model. The effect of different switching frequencies when the system is subjected to a random force excitation is discussed. It is shown that the harvester gives maximum harvested power when the switching frequency is slightly less than twice the resonance of the harvester.
Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals Extracted from Soil and Aquatic Environments: Current Advances as well as Emerging Trends

Quick industrial development, current farming practices, and other anthropogenic events enhance an important number of poisonous heavy metals in the atmosphere, which persuades severe poisonous effect on all the forms of living beings, which change the properties. This type of heavy metal pollution has ecological dangers as well as affects human health. Heavy metal contamination is mutagenic, endocrine, carcinogenic, and teratogenic, which causes nervous health problems mostly in kids. Further, an appropriate method for the remediation of adulteration of water along with soil is phytoremediation. In addition, it has been progressively utilized. Phytoremediation helps to improve the contaminated soil and water by the extraction of contaminating heavy metals, which is called phytoextraction and their phytostabilisation. Phytoremediation is based on many processes, and it is very eco-friendly, cost-effective, and economical. In this review, we aim to explain the detailed study of phytoremediation and current approaches.
Efficacy of TMS and Cognitive Training in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study

Purpose: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique with the potential to improve memory. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which still lacks a specific therapy, is a clinical syndrome associated with increased risk of dementia. This study aims to assess the effects of deep TMS (dTMS) on a group of 10 patients diagnosed with amnesic MCI. Methods: We compared the effects of TMS COG treatment (dTMS delivered with H7 helmet for ten daily sessions together with cognitive training of memory and attention), with those of COG treatment (cognitive training alone) of the same duration. Results: Neuropsychological evaluation at baseline, after TMS COG treatment, after COG treatment and at six months follow up, compared with ANOVA, revealed a significant group-by-time interaction (𝑝 = 0.05), favoring the TMS COG treatment for memory tests. The improvement was kept after six months. Other neuropsychological tests were not significantly affected by treatment. Conclusions: These findings suggest that dTMS might be effective as a therapy for MCI and probably a tool to delay cognitive deterioration.
Towards the regeneration of brown mosses for fen restoration

Abstract. A low rate of establishment in brown mosses is generally observed following large-scale restoration of fens. As brown mosses are important components in peat accumulation in fens, their low recovery rate has been a concern in the past decade. It was suggested that the restoration method used for bogs, the Moss Layer Transfer Technique (MLTT) should be adapted for fen restoration by identifying factors limiting the establishment and recovery of brown mosses. In this study, we evaluated the regeneration potential of four common brown mosses, Aulacomnium palustre, Campylium stellatum, Scorpidium cossonii and Tomentypnum nitens, according to three factors that can have an impact during restoration: 1) distance of the fragment below the moss apex, 2) mechanical fragmentation of mosses, and 3) enhanced nutrient availability, and this, in growth chambers (within Petri dishes) and field experiments. Under controlled conditions, similar results were obtained for all four brown mosses studied: the severe fragmentation of mosses most drastically improved their regeneration potential. Phosphate fertilization, even at the lowest dose, increased moss regeneration, and brown mosses showed higher recovery in the first 3 cm below the apex. Liming only improved the regeneration of C. stellatum. However, unclear, and even contradicting results were obtained when treatments were applied in the field, where an overall very low establishment of brown mosses was observed in response to the rather prevailing adverse environmental conditions (e.g., erosion, frost heaving, low water table level). The direct application of some of our results into an adapted version of MLTT might be challenging, as it may require a certain level of meticulosity that large-scale mechanical fen restoration cannot provide.
Can the Synergic Contribution of Multigenic Variants Explain the Clinical and Cellular Phenotypes of a Neurodevelopmental Disorder?

We describe an infant female with a syndromic neurodevelopmental clinical phenotype and increased chromosome instability as cellular phenotype. Genotype characterization revealed heterozygous variants in genes directly or indirectly linked to DNA repair: a de novo X-linked HDAC8 pathogenic variant, a paternally inherited FANCG pathogenic variant and a maternally inherited BRCA2 variant of uncertain significance. The full spectrum of the phenotype cannot be explained by any of the heterozygous variants on their own; thus, a synergic contribution is proposed. Complementation studies showed that the FANCG gene from the Fanconi Anaemia/BRCA (FA/BRCA) DNA repair pathway was impaired, indicating that the variant in FANCG contributes to the cellular phenotype. The patient’s chromosome instability represents the first report where heterozygous variant(s) in the FA/BRCA pathway are implicated in the cellular phenotype. We propose that a multigenic contribution of heterozygous variants in HDAC8 and the FA/BRCA pathway might have a role in the phenotype of this neurodevelopmental disorder. The importance of these findings may have repercussion in the clinical management of other cases with a similar synergic contribution of heterozygous variants, allowing the establishment of new genotype–phenotype correlations and motivating the biochemical study of the underlying mechanisms.
A Cavity-Backed Antenna Using SISL Technology for 77 GHz Band Application

A cavity-backed antenna based on substrate-integrated suspended line technology is proposed for 77 GHz applications. The antenna is designed to be self-packaged using six substrate layers with embedded air cavities. Two rows of metal holes surround the core circuit to form the cavity and reduce the leaked field loss. Patches are printed in G5 layer and G6 layer and connected by metalized holes to form the double-side substrate-integrated suspended line with part of the substrate excavation to reduce the substrate loss. Thus, the simulation efficiency of better than 93% is achieved. Because of the cavity structure, the standing wave resonant mode can be obtained and achieve broadside radiation. A predominantly TE710 aperture field is obtained by adjusting the sizes of the backing cavity. The measured result shows that the proposed antenna has a -10 dB bandwidth from 75.6-81 GHz, covering 77 GHz automotive radar band and the max gain is 14.4 dBi. Based on this antenna, we design a differential-fed antenna array with a max gain of 17.5 dBi at 79 GHz.