Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Gum Arabic on the Clarity of Artificially Turbid Water and Ground Water Systems

The high cost of using synthetic polymers such as polyacrylamides in the water purification process, and their monomers toxicity produced from the polymer synthesis encouraged many researchers to find a good replacement to clarify turbid water. This work was carried out to determine the effectiveness of Gum Arabic (GA) as a natural coagulant aid in the treatment of artificially turbid water (water saturated with silica (SiO2), the main component of rocks) and ground drinking water systems, which is rich in rocks. The experimental results showed that the highest efficiency for GA as a water clearer was increased by increasing its content to 5 wt %. This was confirmed by a reduction in the turbidity from 1269 NTU to 56 NTU. Interaction kinetic fits specified that the two-phase decay model was found to be the proper fit (R2 ~ 1) for the kinetic data at 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 wt% of added GA. This proposes that at a low content of GA molecules, some SiO2 particles remain suspended in bulk solution, while only one phase decay fitted the data well when 1 and 5 wt% of GA were added, which means a complete GA-SiO2 interaction. Furthermore, the turbidity decay dependence on the GA content was noted as a minimum interaction lifetime (τ = 9 min) has been observed at 5 wt%. The physicochemical analyses have revealed that GA is effective in reducing turbidity, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity and total hardness of water and has the ability for water purification by owning unwanted minerals and hardness removal characteristics. This eco-friendly and economical natural polymer could be a promising material to use in groundwater treatment.
Development of a Pharmacokinetic Model That Accounts for the Plasma Concentrations of Conjugated and Unconjugated Bilirubin Observed in a Variety of Disease States

Introduction For a large variety of liver pathologies, the plasma unconjugated (UB) and conjugated (CB) bilirubin concentrations appear to be coupled. For example, in alcoholic cirrhosis, UB and CB are roughly the same over a large range of total bilirubin, requiring an initial massive increase (about 40-fold) in plasma CB to reach the level of UB and then similar increases in UB and CB as the disease progresses. This coupling has been either unrecognized or ignored and this paper is the first attempt to try to explain it quantitatively in terms of known hepatic cell metabolic and membrane transport properties. Methods A simplified pharmacokinetic model is developed and applied to a variety of hyperbilirubinemic pathologies. A central feature of the model is based on the recent observation that double knockout of the rat OATP1A and OATP1B hepatic transporters produces a roughly 400-fold increase in plasma CB, indicating that there is a normal rapid recycling of CB from the cell to the plasma with reuptake via OATP. We use the experimental rat Km of OATP CB transport to show that OATP uptake becomes saturated at relatively low plasma CB concentrations, decreasing uptake, and producing massive (up to 1000-fold) increases in CB in some pathologies. It is assumed that UB and CB are competing for the OATP transporter, producing the increased plasma UB that is observed in “pure” CB pathologies. Results The model accurately describes the clinically observed UB and CB for pure UB (Gilbert’s, hemolytic anemia) and CB (Dubin-Johnson, Rotor syndrome, biliary atresia) pathologies as well as in cirrhosis. Conclusion This model is a preliminary, first attempt to quantitatively describe UB and CB pharmacokinetics. It is hoped that it will stimulate more detailed measurements and analysis.
Validating the Health Benefits of Coffee Berry Pulp Extracts in Mice with High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Diabetes

The effects of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) berry pulp extracts (CBP extracts) on the improvement of diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated using various in vitro antioxidant activity assays and through a high-fat diet-induced mild diabetic obese mouse model. After an 84-day oral administration of CBP extracts (400–100 mg/kg), bioactivities were evaluated. The in vitro analysis showed the highest DPPH● scavenging activity of 73.10 ± 4.27%, ABTS● scavenging activity of 41.18 ± 1.14%, and SOD activity of 56.24 ± 2.81%, at a CBP extract concentration of 1000 µg/mL. The in vivo analysis of the CBP extracts showed favorable and dose-dependent anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, NAFLD, nephropathy, and hyperlipidemia refinement effects through hepatic glucose enzyme activity, 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) up-regulation, antioxidant activity, lipid metabolism-related gene expression, and pancreatic lipid digestion enzyme modulatory activities. This study shows that an appropriate oral dosage of CBP extracts could function as a potent herbal formulation for a refinement agent or medicinal food ingredient to control type 2 diabetes and related complications.
Mechanical, Crystallization, Rheological, and Supercritical CO2 Foaming Properties of Polybutylene Succinate Nanocomposites: Impact of Carbon Nanofiber Content

As a substitute for conventional polymers for the preparation of biodegradable microcellular polymeric foams, polybutylene succinate (PBS) presents one of the most promising alternatives. However, the low melt strength of PBS makes it difficult to produce high-performance microcellular foams. This study aimed to improve the melt strength of PBS and explore the mechanical, thermal, crystalline, rheological, and supercritical CO2 foaming properties of PBS nanocomposites by using carbon nanofibers (CNFs). This study found that nanocomposites containing 7 wt% CNF exhibited the highest tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and bending strength. Moreover, the CNF nanofillers were well dispersed in the PBS matrix without significant agglomeration, even at high filler concentrations. Furthermore, the nanocomposites demonstrated improved melting temperature and crystallinity compared with pure PBS. The rheological analysis showed that the addition of CNFs significantly increased PBS viscosity at low frequencies due to the interaction between the PBS molecular chains and CNFs and the entanglement of CNFs, resulting in a more complete physical network formation when the CNF content reached above 3 wt%. During the supercritical CO2 foaming process, the addition of CNFs resulted in increased cell density, smaller cells, and thicker cell walls, with good laps formed between the fibers on the cell walls of nanocomposite foams. Moreover, the electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties of the foamed material were studied, and a nanocomposite foam containing 7 wt% CNF showed good electrical conductivity (4.5 × 10−3 S/m) and specific EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) (34.7 dB/g·cm−1). Additionally, the nanocomposite foam with 7 wt% CNF also exhibited good compression properties (21.7 MPa). Overall, this work has successfully developed a high-performance, multifunctional PBS-based nanocomposite foam, making it suitable for applications in various fields.
Industrial Solid Waste Management in a Metallurgical Plant: Effects of Environmental Rearrangement and Feedback

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a contingency arrangement (environmental rearrangement and feedback presentation) in a metallurgical company to increase the likelihood of proper disposal and separation of industrial solid waste. Theoretical Framework: The incorrect disposal of solid waste in companies produces a series of environmental damages and significantly hampers the effectiveness of reverse logistics. Method: Two owners and all employees of a metallurgical company in Paraná, Brazil, participated. The procedure consisted of three stages: (1) analysis and detailed description of the current disposal conditions before the intervention; (2) strategic rearrangement of containers for waste disposal location, accompanied by a weekly record of the types of waste discarded during the intervention; and (3) installation of informative signs providing monthly feedback on the quantity of waste discarded. Results and Conclusion: The structural rearrangement of the environment, with the strategic placement of containers in easily accessible locations and the inclusion of signs identifying the types of waste in each of them, coupled with regular feedback on the quantity of waste disposal from the metallurgical plant, resulted in a highly effective management of solid waste in the company. We concluded that the intervention improved the company’s industrial solid waste management and expanded the reverse logistics practice. Implications of the Research: The intervention contributed to local-level management, which could inspire similar changes in the socio-environmental management practices of other organizations. Originality/value: The study contributes to scientific advancement by proposing the contingency arrangement based on Behavior Analysis principles.
When Benchmarks Fail: The Causes and Consequences of Negative Oil Prices

On April 20, 2020 the flagship North American benchmark price for crude oil, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in Cushing, OK, fell below $0 for the first time in its history. We explore the causes and consequences of this event. Using a simple theoretical model, we argue that negative prices were the result of constraints on physical storage, but that these constraints were precipitated by positions of financial traders unable to take physical delivery prior to the expiration of the May 2020 futures contract. We then provide evidence that this event impacted the decisions of oil producers, including those not directly impacted by the storage constraints at Cushing, through their exposure to the WTI benchmark in their purchasing contracts. Our evidence suggests that asset price dislocations can have real effects due to their importance as contracting benchmarks
Flexible Strain Sensor Based on Conductive Hydrogel/KC@PDMS for Neck Motion Control Wheelchair Using EMD-LSTM Algorithm

Many disabled people are not suitable for the control of the current mainstream manual joystick-controlled wheelchair, so the study of new control methods can provide convenience for these people, including bioelectrical signal control, voice control, and visual control, but these control methods have peripheral equipment complex or susceptible to environmental noise interference, in contrast. These problems can be solved effectively by using a wearable flexible sensor to recognize human movement signal. To collect and identify the strain signal characteristics of the moving neck muscles, based on the principle of flexible piezoresistive sensor, we designed and produced a K-carrageenan at polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) flexible sensor, designed a series of experiments to explore the conductive properties, mechanical properties, and air permeability of the sensor, and also designed the peripheral acquisition circuit and signal processing algorithm. Finally, the empirical mode decomposition (EMD)-long short-term memory (LSTM) algorithm is used to classify the signal and explore the feasibility of fitting the signal to the human neck to control the wheelchair. The results show that the maximum tensile rate of the sensor designed by us is as high as 180%, and the air permeability is also improved slightly. After 1000 cycles of stretching, the sensor still has good performance and can effectively collect human neck action signals. Through the field test, the accuracy of this system is up to 95%, which provides a new idea for wheelchair control.
Suboxic DOM is bioavailable to surface prokaryotes in a simulated overturn of an oxygen minimum zone, Devil’s Hole, Bermuda

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) are expanding due to increased sea surface temperatures, subsequent increased oxygen demand through respiration, reduced oxygen solubility, and thermal stratification driven in part by anthropogenic climate change. Devil’s Hole, Bermuda is a model ecosystem to study OMZ microbial biogeochemistry because the formation and subsequent overturn of the suboxic zone occur annually. During thermally driven stratification, suboxic conditions develop, with organic matter and nutrients accumulating at depth. In this study, the bioavailability of the accumulated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the microbial community response to reoxygenation of suboxic waters was assessed using a simulated overturn experiment. The surface inoculated prokaryotic community responded to the deep (formerly suboxic) 0.2 μm filtrate with cell densities increasing 2.5-fold over 6 days while removing 5 μmol L−1 of DOC. After 12 days, the surface community began to shift, and DOC quality became less diagenetically altered along with an increase in SAR202, a Chloroflexi that can degrade recalcitrant dissolved organic matter (DOM). Labile DOC production after 12 days coincided with an increase of Nitrosopumilales, a chemoautotrophic ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) that converts ammonia to nitrite based on the ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) gene copy number and nutrient data. In comparison, the inoculation of the deep anaerobic prokaryotic community into surface 0.2 μm filtrate demonstrated a die-off of 25.5% of the initial inoculum community followed by a 1.5-fold increase in cell densities over 6 days. Within 2 days, the prokaryotic community shifted from a Chlorobiales dominated assemblage to a surface-like heterotrophic community devoid of Chlorobiales. The DOM quality changed to less diagenetically altered material and coincided with an increase in the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase form I (cbbL) gene number followed by an influx of labile DOM. Upon reoxygenation, the deep DOM that accumulated under suboxic conditions is bioavailable to surface prokaryotes that utilize the accumulated DOC initially before switching to a community that can both produce labile DOM via chemoautotrophy and degrade the more recalcitrant DOM.
The impact of Households Fuel Wood Energy Consumption to Forest Resources: A Case Study Ruangwa District

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of household fuel wood energy dependency on village trees in Ruangwa District. The study's specific goals were to identify energy sources in Ruangwa District, investigate the consequences of home energy dependency on trees in rural areas, and evaluate strategies to alleviate the effects of household energy dependency on forests. The study used a case study in southern Tanzania to examine the effects of household fuel wood energy dependency on forest resources. The study sample constituted 96 local forest resource stakeholders. Purposive and non-probability sampling techniques were employed in data collection. Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used. Closed and open-ended questionnaires were used to collect both primary and secondary data including relevant documents related to village forest resource production, sales patterns, and resource control. The study established that, charcoal and firewood were the primary sources of cooking energy. Also, lack of knowledge and household poverty had a significant impact on forest management and control. The study concluded that, poverty was the primary factor driving household reliance on charcoal and firewood compounded by forest management authorities restricting local communities from extracting essential forest products; and lack of education on the importance of conserving trees in the local environment. Recommended that, local communities should be educated on the negative fuel wood human activities to the environment specifically excessive tree cutting for fuel wood energy. Besides, villages around forest resources and forest management on authority should jointly draw regulations and supervision mechanisms sustainable use of forest resources and products.
The northern Apennines and the kinematics of Africa-Europe convergence

The Late Cretaceous to Present Day kinematics of the Central Mediterranean has been reconstructed using the magnetic anomalies in the Atlantic Ocean and assuming a solid connection between Africa and Adria. Oligocene to Present calcalkaline volcanism and backarc extension suggest the presence of a wide oceanic embayment west of the Adriatic Promontory. Therefore, the continental collision that gave rise to the Alps did not continue SW-ward. A flip of subduction polarity can be currently observed, going from the Alps, where Africa is overriding Europe, to the Apennines, where the opposite occurs. This flip in polarity was likely on original feature since the beginning of convergence, and the point along the plate boundary where the flip of polarity occurs can be traced back in time. From Late Cretaceous to Eocene the left-lateral motion of the colliding Adriatic Promontory caused the point of polarity flip to move along the plate boundary, and areas that previously experienced continental collision were later affected by oceanic subduction. This sequence of events led to the collapse of the Alpine belt of Corsica just before the opening of the Balearic backarc basin above a retreating oceanic subduction. The Northern Tyrrhenian basin opened when delamination affected the Adriatic continental margin, following the consumption of oceanic lithosphere.
Atypical Mitotic Figures Are Prognostically Meaningful for Canine Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumors

Simple Summary The aim of this study was to evaluate a new microscopic parameter (atypical mitotic figures) in canine cutaneous mast cell tumors regarding the ability to predict patient survival (prognosis). Mast cell tumors are one of the most common skin tumors in dogs. Counting the number of tumor cells undergoing division (mitotic figures) is of prognostic importance for this tumor type. While normal cells have a highly regulated cell division (normal mitotic figures), tumor cells might exhibit errors during chromosome separation into daughter cells. These errors can be identified microscopically as atypical mitotic figures and are described as a malignancy criterion for some human tumors. In this study, we have shown that a high number of atypical mitotic figures in canine cutaneous mast cell tumors is predictive of shorter patient survival. As compared to enumerating all mitotic figures, increased numbers of atypical mitotic figures (≥3 per 2.37 mm2) had a higher specificity for tumor-related death. These findings should be validated in future studies. Abstract Cell division through mitosis (microscopically visible as mitotic figures, MFs) is a highly regulated process. However, neoplastic cells may exhibit errors in chromosome segregation (microscopically visible as atypical mitotic figures, AMFs) resulting in aberrant chromosome structures. AMFs have been shown to be of prognostic relevance for some neoplasms in humans but not in animals. In this study, the prognostic relevance of AMFs was evaluated for canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (ccMCT). Histological examination was conducted by one pathologist in whole slide images of 96 cases of ccMCT with a known survival time. Tumor-related death occurred in 11/18 high-grade and 2/78 low-grade cases (2011 two-tier system). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.859 for the AMF count and 0.880 for the AMF to MF ratio with regard to tumor-related mortality. In comparison, the AUC for the mitotic count was 0.885. Based on our data, a prognostically meaningful threshold of ≥3 per 2.37 mm2 for the AMF count (sensitivity: 76.9%, specificity: 98.8%) and >7.5% for the AMF:MF ratio (sensitivity: 76.9%, specificity: 100%) is suggested. While the mitotic count of ≥ 6 resulted in six false positive cases, these could be eliminated when combined with the AMF to MF ratio. In conclusion, the results of this study suggests that AMF enumeration is a prognostically valuable test, particularly due to its high specificity with regard to tumor-related mortality. Additional validation and reproducibility studies are needed to further evaluate AMFs as a prognostic criterion for ccMCT and other tumor types.
Enhanced Empathic Pain by Facial Feedback

The facial feedback hypothesis states that feedback from cutaneous and muscular afferents affects our emotion. Based on the facial feedback hypothesis, the purpose of this study was to determine whether enhancing negative emotion by activating a facial muscle (corrugator supercilii) increases the intensity of cognitive and emotional components of empathic pain. We also assessed whether the muscle contraction changed the pupil size, which would indicate a higher level of arousal. Forty-eight individuals completed 40 muscular contraction and relaxation trials while looking at images of five male and five female patients with neutral and painful facial expressions, respectively. Participants were asked to rate (1) how much pain the patient was in, and (2) how unpleasant their own feelings were. We also examined their facial muscle activities and changes in pupil size. No significant differences in pain or unpleasantness ratings were detected for the neutral face between the two conditions; however, the pain and unpleasantness ratings for the painful face were considerably higher in the contraction than relaxation condition. The pupils were considerably larger in the contraction than relaxation condition for both the painful and neutral faces. Our findings indicate that, by strengthening the corrugator supercilii, facial feedback can affect both the cognitive evaluative and affective sharing aspects of empathic pain.
An Assessment of Using Capital Budgeting and Risk Management in the Libyan Oil Sector

This study has the objective of assessing the significance of capital budgeting as a tool for planning and controlling oil projects in Libya. The initial results indicate that as much as 90% of the surveyed Libyan oil companies have a clear policy to distinguish between current and capital expenditures, and 81% have sufficient information for capital budgeting. The survey results also indicate that most companies have a proper accounting system with sufficient human capital. As much as 90% of companies use Net Present Value, 74% use Internal Rate of Return, and 45% use Payback Period as criteria for evaluating investment proposals. As for the risk, companies were found to be taking into account the risk factor by applying an adjusted discount rate. However, they lack in using advanced models for risk analysis such as sensitive analysis and simulation which are of value in determining the feasibility of projects and risk analysis. Also, the study demonstrated the existence of a significant relationship between applying quantitative methods like the cash flow discount methods (DCF) and risk analysis tools with persons’ qualification level and their experience which is an important indicator that should be given more attention from the administration in this sector.