Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Computer Vision Concepts and Methods for Structural Health Monitoring and Identification Applications

Computer vision can be utilized as a complementary to conventional sensor-based structural health monitoring (SHM). Such an approach can eliminate some of the challenges in practical and effective applications of SHM to real life structures. For example, practical SHM of highway bridges requires low cost, quick installation for monitoring that has ideally minimal interruptions to operations. Sensor and computer vision-based hybrid monitoring or fully computer vision based-monitoring can be a viable solution for real life structural health monitoring and identification, where inputs and responses of the structure are to be captured. In this study, non-contact identification of structures is investigated particularly for bridge structures. Unlike most of the vision-based research studies, which focus either on structural input (vehicle location) estimation or on structural output (structural displacement and strain responses) estimation, the proposed framework in this dissertation combined the vision-based structural input and the structural output from non-contact sensors to overcomes the limitations given above. First, a series of computer vision-based displacement measurement methods are developed for structural response (structural output) monitoring which can be utilized on different infrastructures such as grandstands, stadiums, towers, footbridges, small/medium span concrete bridges, railway bridges, and long span bridges subjected to loading cases such as human crowd, pedestrians, wind, vehicle, etc. By means of the methods and approaches investigated, structural behaviors, modal properties, load carrying capacities and performances are investigated using vision-based methods and verified by comparing with conventional approaches. In addition, this study also investigated the serviceability status of structures by using computer vision-based methods. Then issues and considerations of computer vision-based measurement in field application are discussed and recommendations are provided for better results. Also, to overcome the difficulties of vision-based monitoring under adverse environmental factors such as fog and illumination change, this study proposed a robust vision-based method for displacement measurement using spatio-temporal context learning and Taylor approximation. A critical parameter, load distribution, that is commonly used in bridge engineering practice for load rating was also estimated by using visual tracking. By combining the structural input and output results, the unit influence lines (UIL) of structures were extracted during daily traffic just using cameras. As such, the external loads can be estimated by using just cameras and extracted UIL. The structural condition assessment is accomplished with the vision-based structural input and output with a normalized response irrespective of the type and/or load configurations of the vehicles or human loads.
XPS characterization of biocompatible hydroxyapatite–polymer coatings

Hydroxyapatite coatings on polymeric substrates have been prepared by treating samples of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) with a biomimetic method and by producing a mechanical mixture of polymers (PMMA and poly(butylmethyl methacrylate) and hydroxyapatite (1 : 1). The surface chemical composition of the samples has been studied by using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Both the reference polymers and the hydroxyapatite coatings have been analyzed. The surface modifications induced by interaction of the coatings with osteoblast cells have been studied as a function of the exposure time, after in vitro treatment for 7, 15 and 21 days. Quantitative XPS analysis enabled us to compare the quality of the samples and the different response to the in vitro treatment. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF PROTEINS IN SUPERNATANTS HARVESTED FROM IN VITRO HUMAN LUNG CELLS (A549)

Proteins are primarily responsible for functionalizing cells and, with respect to an initiative in soft ionization mass spectrometry (MS), the relative abundances of selected proteins have been used as indicators of normal or stressed physiological states. Methods developed for this thesis describe the use of matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-ToF) MS to monitor the ion signals of C-X-C motif chemokine 5 and ubiquitin protein. Identification of these ion signals were carried out by performing additional experiments using liquid chromatography interfaced to an electrospray ionization (LC-ESI) equipped MS capable of tandem MS. A total of 78 proteins were identified by LC-ESI tandem MS, but not all corresponded to MALDI-MS data. In addition to the use of commercially available instrumentation, a separate study was performed to investigate the potential for an AC trap to generate molecular ions from a single levitated droplet having undergone Coulomb explosion.
Simple poly(dimethylsiloxane) surface modification to control cell adhesion

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) has a long history of exploitation in a variety of biological and medical applications. Particularly in the past decade, PDMS has attracted interest as a material for the fabrication of microfluidic biochip. The control of cell adhesion on a PDMS surface is important in many microfluidic applications such as cell culture or cell‐based chemicals/drug testing. Unlike many complicated approaches, this study reports simple methods of PDMS surface modification to effectively inhibit or conversely enhance cell adhesion on a PDMS surface using Pluronic surfactant solution and poly‐L‐lysine, respectively. This research basically succeeded our prior work to further confirm the long‐term capability of 3% Pluronic F68 surfactant to suppress cell adhesion on a PDMS surface over a 6‐day cell culture. Microscopic observation showed that the treated PDMS surface created an unfavorable interface, where chondrocytes seemed to clump together on day 2 and 6 after chondrocyte seeding, and there was no sign of chondrocyte spreading. On the opposite side, results demonstrated that the poly‐L‐lysine‐treated surface significantly increased fibroblast adhesion by 32% in contrast to the untreated PDMS, which is comparable to the commercial cell‐culture‐grade microplate. However, fibronectin treatment did not have such an effect. All these fundamental information is found useful for any PDMS‐related application. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An evaluation of the reported sodium content of Australian food products

Summary We assessed the sodium content of Australian food items, trends over time and compared this content with sodium targets established by the UK Food Standards Agency and that of similar food items in the UK. The sodium content indicated on food labels were collected from 2005 to 2007. Fifty-three percent of food products had sodium levels above the targets. Food sub-categories containing <20% of products meeting the targets were white bread, wholemeal bread, cream cheese, low fibre breakfast cereal, savoury snack biscuits, hot dogs, sausages, canned soup, canned beans and spaghetti and canned vegetables. There was an indication that Australia had a lower number of food products that met the sodium targets compared to the UK (46% vs. 56%) and over half remain above the recommended target. A reduction in the sodium content of bread, low fibre breakfast cereals, and a number of processed snack, meat and canned goods is needed to reduce the average salt intake to 6 g day−1.
Effects of cold storage on anion, ammonium, and total nitrogen concentrations in soil water

Abstract Researchers frequently must store water samples >24 h after collection until chemical analyses can be accomplished. Samples are commonly stored in darkness at near‐freezing temperatures until analysis, but effects of this storage method on soil water chemistry are not well‐documented. Soil water samples were collected from eastern hemlock [Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriere] stands and analyzed initially and over time to determine if nitrate (NC3 ‐), chloride (Cl‐), sulfate (SO4 2‐), ammonium (NH4 +), and/or total nitrogen (TN) concentrations changed when samples were stored in darkness at 2–4°C. Subsamples were analyzed <24 h after collection and reanalyzed five times in a 12 to 24 wk period following sample collection. Nitrate concentrations remained stable for at least one wk and were only slightly lower than initial concentrations after 3–16 wk of storage. Chloride and SO4 2‐ remained stable for 16 wk, while TN remained stable for 8 wk and decreased slightly after 24 wk. Most NH4 + concentrations were below the limit of quantification, but concentrations of samples with quantifiable NH4 + decreased in the first week of storage. Overall, cold storage in darkness was effective for preserving NO3 ‐, Cl‐, SO4 2‐, and TN concentrations in soil water, but NH4 + analyses should probably be performed as soon as possible after sample collection.
Utilization of amino resin for emulsion paint formulation: Effect of urea formaldehyde viscosity on urea formaldehyde and soybean oil copolymer composite

In our continuous desire to develop a paint binder from amino resin, the effect of urea formaldehyde (UF) viscosity on a copolymer composite derived from the copolymerization reaction between urea formaldehyde (UF) and soybean oil (SBO) to give urea formaldehyde/ soybean oil copolymer composite (UF/SBO) was investigated. Some physical properties of (UF/SBO) obtained at different viscosities (5.11 - 260.04 mPa.s) were evaluated. The melting point, density and formaldehyde emission were found to increase with increase in UF viscosity while the dry time, moisture uptake refractive index and elongation at break were found to decrease with increase in UF viscosity. UF viscosity below 150.00 mPa.s was found to produce UF/SBO copolymer composite that is soluble in water. The processing of UF/SBO copolymer resin for emulsion paint formulation should be carried out below this viscosity level. The copolymer composite was found to be ductile throughout the viscosity range studied (5.11 - 260.04). This takes care of the inherent brittleness associated with the traditional UF and will give paint formulators freedom of choice as regards processing viscosity of UF/SBO. The results obtained from this experiment will offer formulator different options and to control formulation processes towards developing UF/SBO copolymer composite as a paint binder for emulsion paint formulation. Key words: Copolymerization, viscosity, amino resin, paint binder.
Fractionation Of Alcell® Lignin By Sequential Solvent Extraction

ABSTRACT A prototype solvolytic lignin has been fractionated into three fractions by successive extraction with organic solvents of increasing hydrogen-bonding capacity. A comparison between the fractions and the starting lignin has been made in terms of methoxyl group content, fractionation yields, molecular weight distribution, alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation, and 1H and13 C NMR spectroscopy. The fractionation procedure was found to isolate fractions having distinct group functionalities and molecular weight distributions. In particular, the heterogeneity of ALCELL® lignin is demonstrated from the data. A significant portion of this lignin, 27%, was found to be comprised of a very low molecular weight (Mw = 714 g/mol) fraction soluble in ether. This fraction had a lower polydispersity but a higher content of guaiacyl structures with saturated side chains than the higher molecular weight fractions.
Fluidized Bed Combustion of Leached Rice Straw

Leaching of inorganic constituents from biomass offers an approach to avoid extensive ash slagging, deposition, and bed agglomeration associated with many herbaceous materials including cereal straws. Leaching occurs naturally in the field when straw is exposed to rainfall, or it can be conducted under controlled conditions in industrial apparatus. Elemental composition and ash fusibility show that leaching can result in significant improvements in combustion characteristics of rice straw and other biomass. Bench-scale combustion in an atmospheric fluidized bed combustor confirms that the extensive bed agglomeration that occurs with combustion of untreated rice straw does not take place with naturally leached rice straw at combustion temperatures up to 900 °C. In addition, blending leached rice straw into a wood-based fuel blend does not increase but rather leads to a decline in ash deposit formation rate. The mechanism for a decline in deposition rate is not fully understood but may be related to the inc.
MASS TRANSFER TO A ROTATING SPHERE IN AN AXIAL STREAM

The average and local mass transfer coefficients for a rotating sphere in an axial stream were measured by an electrochemical method over a range of Rer from 103 to 5 × 104 and four kinds of Rer. Fifteen isolated electrodes were used to obtain the local mass transfer rate. The convective diffusion equation for laminar boundary layer on the sphere was solved by the Lighthill transformation on the basis of numerically calculated shear stress distribution by the series expansion method. The numerical results, using the measured mainstream velocity, were in good agreement with the experimental ones over the laminar boundary layer region except very near the separation point.
Effect of pH on the Inorganic Species Involved in a Chlorine Dioxide Reaction System

The effects of pH on the inorganic products formed during the reaction of chlorine dioxide with an etherified lignin model compound have been studied. Analyses of the inorganic species produced during the reaction at pH 8 revealed that 2 mol of chlorite are liberated for every 1 mol of oxidized nonphenolic lignin model compound formed, consistent with two consecutive one-electron-transfer processes. In contrast, the low-pH reactions produced mostly ring oxidation products and chlorinated organic material, accompanied by increased levels of hypochlorous acid. The transient hypochlorous acid rapidly reacted with chlorite to generate chloride ions, with a maximum chloride formation at pH 4. Chlorate formation was shown to increase with increasing reaction pH. These results are in contrast to those previously reported for reactions with wood pulps and are explained on the basis of the slow reaction kinetics of nonphenolic lignin moieties as compared to phenolic ones, thereby enabling hypochlorous acid to reac.
ANALISIS PENGARUH TINGKAT INFLASI, NILAI KURS, HARGA EMAS DUNIA TERHADAP INDEKS SAHAM LQ45 DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA PERIODE TAHUN 2011-2014

ndeks LQ45 adalah salah satu indeks yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia dengan 45 saham di dalamnya yang memiliki tingkat likuiditas dan kapitalisasi pasar yang tinggi. Indeks ini juga sering diminati para investor dalam melakukan berinvestasi. Untuk itu peneliti bertujuan untuk meneliti faktor – faktor yang dapat mempengaruhi pergerakan indeks LQ45 ini. Dengan tujuan dilakukannya penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh tingkat inflasi, nilai kurs, harga emas dunia terhadap indeks LQ45. Penelitian ini menggunakan bentuk penelitian hubungan kausal. Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah data yang berasal dari internet, artikel dan skripsi yang berhubungan dengan penelitian ini. Untuk mengetahui pengaruh dari tingkat inflasi, nilai kurs, harga emas dunia terhadap indeks LQ45 maka dilakukan pengujian dengan metode analisis regresi linier berganda, koefisien kolerasi berganda, koefisien determinasi, uji F dan uji t. Dari hasil yang diperoleh, tingkat inflasi mempunyai pengaruh terhadap indeks LQ45, nilai kurs mempunyai pengaruh terhadap indeks LQ45 dan harga emas dunia tidak mempunyai pengaruh terhadap indeks LQ45. Saran – saran yang dapat diberikan adalah bagi investor dalam memilih sebuah investasi terutama investasi saham pada indeks LQ45, dari hasil penelitian penulis ingin memberikan saran kepada seorang investor terlebih dahulu menganalisis tingkat inflasi dan nilai kurs sebelum berinvestasi. Karena pada saat yang tepat berinvestasi jika tingkat inflasi berada di tingkat rendah yaitu masih dalam satu digit dan nilai kurs suatu negara tersebut sedang dalam keadaan yang baik.
Isolation and characterization of a new polymorph of D‐sorbitol

A new polymorph of D‐sorbitol (named as F form) was discovered in this paper. A reliable isolation method for this new polymorph was developed. Three other known polymorphs of D‐sorbitol were also prepared for comparative purpose. The new F form was analyzed and characterized by using PXRD, DSC, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. By comparing with current polymorphs' data, it was proved that F form is a new form that was not reported in any literatures. From PXRD data, it was confirmed that the crystallinity of the new form is very high. From DSC data, it was found that the new form is less stable than any known anhydrous forms. It was also found by transformation experiments that the new F form can transform into alpha form in methanol solution through a solution mediated transformation mechanism. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Step-Free Surface Grown on GaAs (111)B Substrate by Local Metalorganic Vapor Phase Epitaxy

In this paper we describe the realization of a step-free surface by local metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on (111)B GaAs surface. Surface stoichiometry is controlled by employing the surface photo-absorption method (SPA). High-temperature growth at 800° C on stable GaAs (111)B and a cooling procedure under the (2×2)-like surface conditions result in a step-free surface exceeding 10 µ m in diameter on the selectively grown GaAs mesa. Low two-dimensional nucleus density on the (111)B surface is demonstrated to illustrate the mechanism by which a wide step-free area is obtained, and step generation due to surface phase transition is also discussed.
Effects of storage conditions and cooking on colour and antioxidant activities of organic pigmented rice

Summary Influences of the conditions of raw rice storage and cooking on parameters related to colour and antioxidant activities of organic hulled red fragrant rice were investigated. Raw rice samples were vacuum-packed in oriented polypropylene/aluminium/linear low-density polyethylene or nylon/linear low-density polyethylene pouches and stored at ambient temperature or 15 °C up to 12 months. Cooked samples were prepared from aged raw samples. Kernel colour, total anthocyanin content (TAC) of acidic methanolic extracts as well as total phenolic content (TPC), reducing power (RP) and radical scavenging activity (RSA) of methanolic extracts and enzymatically digested samples were maintained during 12-month storage, regardless of packaging materials and storage temperatures. Cooked kernels had larger L value, lower a and b values, and greater TAC (dry basis), comparing with the raw rice. Cooking caused drastic decrease in TPC, RP and RSA of methanolic extracts. Nevertheless, less negative impacts of cooking were found for enzymatically digested samples.
Revisión : Empleo de los frutos y de los cladodios de la chumbera (Opuntia spp.) en la alimentacion humana

The main aspects concerning the use of the young stems and fruits of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.) into human food are discussed. Topics considered include an overview of the prickly pear ecological characteristics, the biochemical composition of the cladodes and fruits, their postharvest behavior, and the possibilities of their industrial transformation and conservation. The food potential for all parts of the fruits and stems are reviewed. The prickly pears are a group of cactus species adapted to semiarid conditions and native to the American continent. Owing to crassulacean acid metabolism, these plants show a high water-use efficiency, they have a high relatively potential of biomass production, and they are extremely drought tolerant. Their fruits are highly regarded and consumed around the world. The tender young pads are an important part of the food in Mexico and in southern United States, and the mature cladodes are used as animal fodder.
Effect of the Edible Mushroom, Pleurotus tuberregium on the Cyanide Level and Nutritional Contents of Rubber Seed Cake

3 Abstract: In this study, Rubber Seed Cake (RSC) was treated with the mycelium of the mushroom (Pleurotus tuberregium) so as to assess the effect of its enzymatic ability on the cyanide level and nutritional value of the rubber seed cake and hence enhance its agricultural and industrial applications. Levels of cyanide in the RSC were determined with the use of the Picrate kit paper method. Results from this study indicates that treating the RSC with the mushroom mycelium yielded about 81% reduction in the total cyanogens content after 96 hours at room temperature. The initial cyanide concentration of 500ppm in the freshly obtained rubber seed cake was reduced to a level of 5ppm for the undefatted RSC and from 300ppm to 4ppm for the defatted RSC. The values obtained for the treated RSC were found to be below the limit of 10ppm as set by FAO/WHO regulatory bodies. The proximate analysis after fermentation with the mushroom mycelium revealed that the protein content of the RSC increased significantly (p = 0.01) from a value of 29.36% to a value of 39.27% further enhancing its use as feed for livestock.
Intraband absorption in solar cells with an intermediate band

This article presents a thermodynamic treatment of an intermediate band solar cell that includes photoinduced electronic transitions between two distinct states of the intermediate band. The treatment also allows for two black-body sources, interband photoinduced electronic transitions, overlapping absorption coefficients, multiple electron-hole pair generation, and nonradiative processes. A schematic of the device’s thermodynamic configuration shows that the solar cell is composed of three particle engines operating in tandem. The authors present detailed-balance results where it is assumed that when there is the physical possibility of both photoinduced intra- and interband electronic transitions at intermediate levels that the latter predominates. Results indicate that as the intermediate band’s width increases, the efficiencies saturate to those of two-stack tandem solar cells while the band structures approach that of a material that should operate as a black body. The authors conclude that the assum.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical Macro-Mesoporous Anatase by Incorporation

The effect of the addition of zirconia in the photocatalytic behaviour of titania is analysed. In order to increase the ways for reagent and product diffusion in the material, a sol-gel hydrothermal synthesis route using Tween-20 as a directing agent to obtain a hierarchical macro-mesoporous structure is proposed. Nanostructured macro-mesoporous TiO2/ZrO2 photocatalyst with 0, 10, 20, 30, and 100% mol of ZrO2 were obtained and calcined at different temperatures. The crystalline structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and TEM. The porosity was confirmed by SEM, TEM, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The worm-like mesoporous structure was confirmed by TEM. The specific surface areas obtained by Brunauer-Emmet-Teller method (BET) ranged from 125 to 180 m2/g. The Tween-20 total elimination from the structure by thermal treatment was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Additionally, the photocatalytic effect of the zirconia addition was studied in the methylene blue (MB) degradation reaction, and the best photocatalytic activity was obtained in the sample with 10% mol of ZrO2, degrading up to 92% the MB.