Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Virtual Design of 3D-Printed Bone Tissue Engineered Scaffold Shape Using Mechanobiological Modeling: Relationship of Scaffold Pore Architecture to Bone Tissue Formation

Large bone defects are clinically challenging, with up to 15% of these requiring surgical intervention due to non-union. Bone grafts (autographs or allografts) can be used but they have many limitations, meaning that polymer-based bone tissue engineered scaffolds (tissue engineering) are a more promising solution. Clinical translation of scaffolds is still limited but this could be improved by exploring the whole design space using virtual tools such as mechanobiological modeling. In tissue engineering, a significant research effort has been expended on materials and manufacturing but relatively little has been focused on shape. Most scaffolds use regular pore architecture throughout, leaving custom or irregular pore architecture designs unexplored. The aim of this paper is to introduce a virtual design environment for scaffold development and to illustrate its potential by exploring the relationship of pore architecture to bone tissue formation. A virtual design framework has been created utilizing a mechanical stress finite element (FE) model coupled with a cell behavior agent-based model to investigate the mechanobiological relationships of scaffold shape and bone tissue formation. A case study showed that modifying pore architecture from regular to irregular enabled between 17 and 33% more bone formation within the 4–16-week time periods analyzed. This work shows that shape, specifically pore architecture, is as important as other design parameters such as material and manufacturing for improving the function of bone tissue scaffold implants. It is recommended that future research be conducted to both optimize irregular pore architectures and to explore the potential extension of the concept of shape modification beyond mechanical stress to look at other factors present in the body.
DETERMINATION OF THE MINIMUM INHIBITORY CONCENTRATION OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF KIPAHIT LEAVES ON THE GROWTH OF Propionibacterium acnes

Acne is a skin disorder characterized by inflammation in the form of comedones, papules, pustules, and nodules. The disease is caused by the gram-positive bacterium, Propionibacterium acnes. Treatment of the disease using antibiotic agents such as erythromycin and clindamycin has been reported to cause some side effects. Therefore, alternative antibacterial agents derived from natural products are required to reduce the occurrence of side effects. Kipahit (Tithonia diversifolia A. Gray) is one of the plants with pharmacological activities, such as antibacterial and antiprotozoal activities. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of a 96% ethanolic extract of kipahit leaves on the growth of P. acnes. Kipahit leaves were extracted through the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the liquid dilution method. A serial dilution was performed to prepare a series of extract concentrations: 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, 3.13%, 1.56%, 0.78%, and 0.39%. Whereas, clindamycin and DMSO 1% were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Phytochemical screening showed that the 96% ethanolic extract of kipahit leaves contains flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, steroids/triterpenoids, tannins, and phenolic compounds. In addition, the extract showed inhibitory activity against P. acnes at concentrations ranging from 25% to 1,56%. In contrast, the extract showed no inhibitory activity at concentrations of 0.78% and 0.39%. Further experiments confirmed that kipahit leaf extract acted as a bacteriostatic agent (inhibiting bacterial growth) at a minimum concentration of 1.56%. Keywords: Acne, Propionibacterium acnes, Kipahit, MIC
Modeling of geomaterials behavior.

ABSTRACT The review of 50 years of papers published in Soils and Foundations demonstrates that significant effort has been made by many researchers to develop soil models. The contributions of Soils and Foundations in the area of soil modeling are subdivided into two topics: (a) “macro”-mechanics and (b) “micro”-mechanics. The attention to macro-mechanics is focused on continuum-based models, whereas that to micro-mechanics is focused on discrete based models. Soils are examples of complex systems, made up of basic units that interact to generate an emergent response that is more complex than the response of the units themselves. Despite the challenges posed by the complexity of the systems, our understanding of the link between the particles, their interactions and the overall “macro-scale” soil response has significantly been improved over the life of Soils and Foundations. In this review of contributions to soil modeling, many examples of macro-scale soil models developed with a real consideration of the mechanical response of the individual particles were found.
Optical dating of dune sand for the study of sea-level change

A new, widely applicable method to obtain well-constrained relative sea-level records, presented here, relies on optical dating of inorganic coastal landforms and sediments. Eighteen optical ages of basal dune sand from a barrier in Massachusetts, United States, indicate that local relative sea level rose 8 m during the past 5.5 k.y. A sea-level curve drawn from these optical ages shows good agreement with independent evidence from salt-marsh peat sampled behind the barrier, demonstrating the reliability of the method. Optical dating will be particularly useful in analyzing coastal records that contain too few organic indicators to allow high-resolution, 14 C-based analyses.
Variance of Teacher Identity in First-Year School Teachers: The Role of Gender, Taught Subject, and Grade Level Taught

Although antecedents of teacher identity have been well investigated over decades, the role of demographic variables in teacher identity variance has received relatively little research attention. The study explored how teacher identity (grounded in a four-indicator model comprising occupational commitment, teacher self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and motivation to teach) might differ on three key demographics: gender, taught subject, and grade level taught. To reduce possible noise from other demographic constructs (e.g., age, tenure, and job level), participants were recruited from a cohort of 464 first-year school teachers in Mainland China. Using multiple analytic techniques, findings indicated that female teachers were less committed to the teaching occupation than were male teachers. Those teaching social sciences in primary schools showed lower levels of occupational commitment and teacher self-efficacy than did those teaching sciences at secondary schools. Implications and suggestions are provided.
Suspended sediment dynamics in a large drainage basin: the River Rhine

The behaviour of suspended sediment in rivers is often a function of energy conditions, i.e. sediment is stored at low flow and transported under high discharge conditions. The timing of maximum sediment transport can, however, also be related to mixing and routing of water and sediment from different sources. In this study suspended sediment transport was studied in the River Rhine between Kaub and the German–Dutch border. As concentrations decrease over a runoff season and as the relationship between water discharge and suspended sediment concentrations during most floods is characterized by clockwise hysteresis, it is concluded that sediment depletion occurs during a hydrological year and during individual floods. However, analyses of the sediment contribution from the River Mosel indicate that clockwise hysteresis may result from sediment depletion as well as from early sediment supply from a tributary. Thus, although the suspended sediment behaviour in the downstream part of the River Rhine is partly a transport phenomenon related to energy conditions, mixing and routing of water from different sources also plays an important role. Suspended sediment transport during floods was modelled using a ‘supply-based’ model. Addition of a sediment supply term to the sediment rating curve leads to a model that produces better estimates of instantaneous suspended sediment concentrations during high discharge events. A major constriction of the model is that it cannot be used to predict suspended sediment concentrations as long as the amount of sediment in storage and the timing of sediment supply are unknown. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chatbot Rain for Grade 5 in Water Cycle Material of Science Subject

: The water cycle is science material for grade 5 in elementary schools, this lesson is very important because it relates to student experiences or real life. Not a few students have difficulty in learning it. Therefore researchers created Chatbot Rain to develop and produce products that help students better understand concepts and can improve learning outcomes in the process of learning water cycle material. This study uses research and development (R&D) methods with the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation). The analysis technique used is qualitative and quantitative which are then converted into a Likert Scale Interpretation table with a range of 5 scales. The research was conducted in several elementary schools with media applications that had been validated by media experts, material experts, and education experts as well as feasibility trials with small and large trials. The validation results of media experts were 88.23%, material experts were 92%, and education experts were 90% while media feasibility tests with large and small trials produced scores of 86.8% and 89.2%. While the effectiveness test obtained a score of 80.71%. Based on the results of these percentages, it can be concluded that the Chatbot Rain media is very feasible and effective to use and develop in the water cycle learning process in elementary schools.
Effect of silicon and humic substances on the productivity and absorption of minerals in cucumber

O Objective: To evaluate the effect of potassium silicate and humic substances in the mitigation of salt stress in cucumber grown in a greenhouse. Design/Methodology/Approach: A completely randomized design with factorial arrangement was used. The first factor was the cucumber varieties (Var): Induran (I) and SV2516 (SV). The second factor was potassium silicate (Si), with doses of 0, 10, and 20 mL·L-1. The third factor was humic substances (SH), with doses of 0, 10, and 20 kg/ha. Results: The best interaction for the NFP and Y variables was SV*SH20. The N and Ca content in the fruit was I*SH10, while the K and P content was SV*Si20. Meanwhile, Mg, Fe, and Cu interactions stood out with SV*Si10, SV*Si20, and I*Si10, respectively. The best interaction in leaf mineral content was I*SH20 (N), SV*SH10 (P and K), and SV*Si20 (Cu). Study Limitations/Implications: There was no significant difference in Ca, Mg, and Fe in leaf. Findings/Conclusions: At least one of the interactions between cultivars and bio stimulant doses favored agronomic traits, quality, and mineral absorption in fruit.
Exploring the interpersonal, classroom relationships of mainstream teachers and special needs assistants in Irish primary schools

ABSTRACT Amidst changing sociocultural and political climates, limited economic resources and shifting educational policies, classroom teachers continue to hold a significant responsibility in educating an increasingly diverse student population. Balancing the requirement to support student variability within perceived everchanging contexts can be challenging for many teachers. To alleviate some of the pressures in educating diverse student populations, Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) have been deployed to support teachers in meeting the care needs of some children with special educational needs, arising from a diagnosed disability. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System’s Theory (1974), the following study explored the interpersonal relationship of teachers and SNAs working in mainstream primary classrooms, in Ireland. Data from quantitative questionnaires and qualitative semi-structured interviews were collected with results from the questionnaires (N = 112) informing the questions for the semi-structured interviews (N = 8). Open-ended questions were used throughout the interview process to collect the nuanced experiences of classroom collaborations from both teachers and SNAs. Findings indicate that SNAs are a well-established and welcomed part of the school workforce. Difficulties with role confusion, a lack of structural guidance around SNA deployment and professional self-efficacy in SEN confirmed the existence of challenges, experienced by the two workforces, which lead to implications in practice for effectively collaborating in classrooms.
A new surface-processes model combining glacial and fluvial erosion

Abstract We have developed a new surface-processes model incorporating large-scale fluvial processes, local hill-slope processes and glacial erosion. Ice thickness and velocity are calculated under a shallow-ice approximation. Simulation experiments in fast-growing orogens comparing the efficiencies of fluvial and glacial erosion, where the two are operating simultaneously over several glacial cycles, show that: glacial landscapes can support greater ice masses than fluvial landscapes; glacial valley and lake shapes create a disequilibrium between landform and land-forming process that leads to pulses of high erosion at the end of glacial periods; glacial erosion rates can reach a constant value in a uniformly growing orogen; and glacial erosion is capable of eroding drainage divides when the ice is moderately thick.
A Lagrangian investigation of vertical turbulent heat fluxes in the upper ocean during Tropical Ocean–Global Atmosphere/Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA-COARE)

[1] We investigated the diurnal cycle of the near-surface ocean temperatures in the western Pacific Warm Pool, using temperature data from drifters with 20 m thermistor chains, during the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) Intensive Observation Period (December 1992 to February 1993). We estimated turbulent heat fluxes at 20 m as a residual in the hourly heat budget along each drifter trajectory using hourly surface fluxes. Fortnightly averaged turbulent heat fluxes at 20 m were upward during periods of sustained winds, indicating a warming of the daily thermocline by the deeper layers. During calm periods the inferred turbulent heat fluxes were downward. We also calculated the day-to-night differences of the turbulent heat fluxes at 20 m as a residual in the budget of the daily cycle of heat content in the upper 20 m. This method largely avoids the uncertainties of surface turbulent heat fluxes. The residual averaged over the 2 month period was negative for the drifters that experienced strong westerly wind conditions (with heat fluxes positive downward). These surprising results for the warm pool region are at odds with what was found earlier from moored measurements in the central Pacific. Interestingly, however, periods characterized by a westerly wind burst during December 1992 to March 1993 contrasted with the periods with weaker winds: during westerly wind bursts the difference was negative, whereas it was positive during calm or warming periods. This is consistent with our analysis of the daily budget and also with other studies in the COARE domain. It confirms that the nighttime mixed layer was usually much deeper than 20 m during this period. However, our estimates are different for drifters deployed north of 1°N than for drifters near or south of the equator, indicating marked spatial variability in the heat budget of the warm pool.
Hydrothermal eruption mechanisms and hot spring gold deposits

Episodes of gold mineralization in the shallow hot spring environment are related in time to hydrothermal eruption events and in space to the resulting vent breccias and peripheral stockwork zones. It is proposed that large but short-lived overpressures in a geothermal reservoir, probably triggered by sudden magmatic heat fluxes, induce hydraulic fracturing which then evolves into hydrothermal eruptions if driven through to the surface. The maximum available energy in hot, shallow reservoirs appears easily sufficient to drive such eruptions, particularly if CO 2 -rich fluids are involved. In mineralized systems, gold-bearing fluids are subsequently channeled into the outflow conduit where they flood the permeable vent breccia and peripheral stockwork. Gold is lifted into this hot spring environment above a boiling level that is elevated by high flow rates to within several hundred meters of the surface and is precipitated with abundant quartz, pyrite, and adularia, along with a distinctive and steeply zoned trace element suite. These sequential events probably occur as a continuum, which if repeated cyclically in a single vent zone, can result in ore-grade mineralization.
Neoproterozoic loess and limits to snowball Earth

Abstract: Neoproterozoic tillites overlain by limestones and dolostones (cap carbonates) have been interpreted as evidence of abrupt climate change from glaciers to tropical seas on the assumption that cap carbonates were marine. This assumption is here challenged by evidence for loess deposition of the Nuccaleena Formation of South Australia from granulometry (angular, randomly oriented, silt, modal diameter 7φ) and sedimentary structures (climbing-translatent cross-stratification, linear dunes). In addition, a variety of palaeosols in the Nuccaleena Formation have red clayey horizons, replacive micritization, expansion cracks, and thufur mounds, as well as low carbon and oxygen isotope values, high strontium isotope ratios, and geochemical evidence of leaching and clay formation. This cap carbonate has no definitively marine features, and is here interpreted as periglacial loess overlying the fluvioglacial–intertidal Elatina Formation, so it is not a record of abrupt global warming from snowball Earth. Other cap carbonates around the world differ in various ways, and may have formed in different depositional environments, but could profitably be reconsidered from the new perspective of the loess depositional model proposed here. Supplementary material: Tabular comparison of marine and non-marine interpretations of cap carbonates, petrographic textures and composition, and new isotopic and chemical analyses of Nuccaleena Formation are available at http:/www.geolsoc. org.uk/SUP18443.
Mixing by ocean eddies

Mesoscale eddies mix and transport tracers such as heat and potential vorticity laterally in the ocean. While this transport plays an important role in the climate system, especially in the Southern Ocean, we lack a, comprehensive understanding of what sets mixing rates. This thesis seeks to advance this understanding through three related studies. First, mixing rates are diagnosed from an eddy-resolving state estimate of the Southern Ocean, revealing a meridional cross-section of effective diffusivity shaped by the interplay between eddy propagation and mean flow. Effective diffusivity diagnostics are then applied to quantify surface mixing rates globally, using a, kinematic model with velocities derived from satellite observations; the diagnosed mixing rates show a rich spatial structure, with especially strong mixing in the tropics and western-boundary-current regions. Finally, an idealized numerical model of the Southern Ocean is analyzed, focusing on the response to changes in win( stress. The sensitivity of tie mneridional overturning circulation to the wind changes denonstrates the importance of properly capturing eddy mixing rates for large-scale climate problems. Thesis Supervisor: John Marshall Title: Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Oceanography
Dual-Wavelength Passively Q-Switched Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser Incorporating Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles as Saturable Absorber

This study experimentally demonstrates the operation of a dual-wavelength passively Q-switched erbium-doped fiber laser that incorporates CaCO3 nanoparticles as a saturable absorber (SA). The SA was prepared by using the drop-casting method, wherein CaCO3 nanoparticles were embedded in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer to form a CaCO3/PVA film SA. The film was integrated into a ring laser cavity with a 976 nm pump to generate Q-switched pulses. The properties of the SA were examined experimentally, and its modulation depth is approximately 47%. As the pump power increased from 180 mW to 270 mW and the pulse repetition rate increased from 12.67 kHz to 21.3 kHz, the corresponding pulse width decreased from 35.27 μs to 18.74 μs. The signal-to-noise ratio was approximately 25 dB, highlighting the laser’s stability. The results indicate that the proposed CaCO3/PVA SA is suitable for realizing portable Q-switched lasers.
Fine sediment retention as affected by annual shoot collapse: Sparganium erectum as an ecosystem engineer in a lowland stream

To examine the effect of different growth forms of Sparganium erectum (Sparganiaceae) on its sediment trapping and retention characteristics, the plant phenology and morphological attributes based on stands along the edge of a river channel, river flow velocity distribution and sedimentation rates in‐ and outside the stands of a downstream site were examined over a 3‐year period. A decomposition experiment was carried out to determine the respective fragmentation rates of S. erectum shoots and rhizomes. The preliminary monitoring revealed that S. erectum shoots attained distinct phonological stages; submerged in winter, subsequently emerging in late‐spring, while the same cycle was followed by successive secondary cohorts. Our results highlighted that the growth form substantially affected the flow condition in‐ and outside the stands, thus affecting associated sedimentation rates. Although the sedimentation was high if the shoots were submerged in early‐spring, the accumulated fine sediment layer was unleashed following shoot emergence, despite their large biomass and the resulting low flow velocity. The collapse of S. erectum shoots accelerated sedimentation again by increasing constriction to flow, producing a more preferable habitat for its soft roots and rhizomes. The collapse of emergent shoots, therefore, appeared to be a vital part of the inherent phonological cycle of S. erectum. Further, due to the high‐decomposition rate, the collapsed shoots disappeared within 40–60 days, whereas the decomposed materials occupied a large fraction of the floating organic matter. The collapse of shoots increased flow resistance by ∼50%, though the stand area occupied a mere one‐fifth of the channel. The seasonal observations provided further insight into the modification of flows due to the growth and changing growth form affecting associated fine sediment trapping and retention characteristics within the stands, deriving important management implications and highlighting the role of S. erectum as an ecosystem engineer in lowland streams. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.