Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Polyferric Sulphate with Other Coagulants for the Removal of Algae and Algae-Derived Organic Matter

This paper is concerned with the performance of a relatively new form of metal-iron coagulant, Polyferric Sulphate (PFS), which has received very little research attention to date. Laboratory experiments have been undertaken in which the coagulation performance of PFS, Ferric sulphate, Aluminium sulphate and Poly aluminium chloride have been studied using ‘model' waters containing single cultures of algae ( Anabaenaflos-aquae and Asterionetta formosa ) and other ‘model' waters prepared by mixing aquatic humic substances with Asterionella formosa at different concentration ratios. Physico-chemical variables such as colloid charge, floc number concentration and size distribution, DOC concentration and turbidity, have been determined to quantify treatment performance. The performance of PFS was found to be superior to the other coagulants and this was believed to be due to the presence of more highly charged cation species. For all coagulants there was an approximate stoichiometry between coagulant dose and the dissolved organic carbon concentratioa
VARIETAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, PROXIMATE AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF IMPROVED SESAME (Sesamun indicum) SEEDS

The study was conducted to characterize the physical properties, proximate and mineral composition of improved sesame varieties. Fourteen improved varieties of sesame seeds were analyzed for their physical properties, proximate and mineral composition following standard analytical procedures. The arithmetic mean diameter (AMD), sphericity, geometric mean diameter (GMD), aspect ratio and surface area were in the range 1.51-1.91 mm, 0.57-0.64 mm, 1.32-1.70 mm, 61.50- 75.00%, and 84 - 8.94 mm 2 , respectively. Ca, Fe, Mg and K contents were also in the range 5.4-20.2 mg/kg, 0.5-3.0 mg/kg, 1.5-7.4 mg/kg, and 2.9-12.9 mg/kg, respectively. There was significant varietal differences (P<0.05) in the physical properties, proximate and mineral composition of the improved sesame seeds. The improved sesame varieties were characterized into three groups with distinct physical properties, proximate and mineral composition using hierarchical clustering procedure. Cluster 1 consists of varieties with relatively low proximate and mineral composition while cluster 2 comprises varieties with higher amounts of these nutrients. The variety in cluster 3 was characterized with exceptionally low content of minerals. The diversity obtained in the physical properties and proximate composition of the improved sesame seeds from this study underscores the huge potentials of the improved sesame seeds in food and non food use.
Interval Markov Decision Processes with Multiple Objectives

Accurate Modelling of a real-world system with probabilistic behaviour is a difficult task. Sensor noise and statistical estimations, among other imprecisions, make the exact probability values impossible to obtain. In this article, we consider Interval Markov decision processes (IMDPs), which generalise classical MDPs by having interval-valued transition probabilities. They provide a powerful modelling tool for probabilistic systems with an additional variation or uncertainty that prevents the knowledge of the exact transition probabilities. We investigate the problem of robust multi-objective synthesis for IMDPs and Pareto curve analysis of multi-objective queries on IMDPs. We study how to find a robust (randomised) strategy that satisfies multiple objectives involving rewards, reachability, and more general ω-regular properties against all possible resolutions of the transition probability uncertainties, as well as to generate an approximate Pareto curve providing an explicit view of the trade-offs between multiple objectives. We show that the multi-objective synthesis problem is PSPACE-hard and provide a value iteration-based decision algorithm to approximate the Pareto set of achievable points. We finally demonstrate the practical effectiveness of our proposed approaches by applying them on several case studies using a prototype tool.
Evolution histories of massive galaxies at z∼2 over the past 3 Gyr

Abstract We study star formation and metallicity enrichment histories of 24 massive galaxies at 1.6 < z < 2.5. Deep slitless spectroscopy + imaging data set collected from multiple HST surveys allows robust determination of their SEDs. Our new SED modeling with no functional assumptions on star formation histories revels that 1. most of the sample galaxies have already formed >50% of their extant masses ∼1.5 Gyr before the time of observed redshifts, with a trend where more massive galaxies form earlier, 2. most of our galaxies already have stellar metallicities compatible with those of local early-type galaxies, and 3. inferred metallicities are on average ∼ 0.25 dex higher than observed gas-phase metallicities of star forming galaxies at the time of their formation. Continuation of low-level star formation, rather than abrupt termination of star forming activity, may explain the observed gap of metallicities.
1935

10 January Had a short but v. interesting talk with Simon yesterday evening. […] he told me that after the recent H. of Commons debate (in which German re-armament was freely talked about by both Simon & Baldwin & not condemned) Simon told Phipps to explain privately to the German Govt that this did not imply that Gt Bn would condone uniliateral denunciation of the Treaty. 11 Jan: Simon must indeed have spoken to the Ger: Ambassador of his Saar proposal then & there; & what is more, he must have sent instructions that same evening to Phipps, in Berlin, to sound the Ger: Govt in that sense. That did not give The Times much chance of making the suggestion! &, worse luck, the D. T. got hold of it somehow, & referred to it next morning (yesterday, 10th) so we were dished.
Precipitation and Optical Properties of CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots in Phosphate Glasses

CsPbBr3 quantum dots were precipitated in phosphate glasses through heat treatment. Controlled formation of CsPbBr3 quantum dots was realized by adjustment of heat-treatment conditions. Absorption and photoluminescence spectra of CsPbBr3 quantum dots were tuned from 432 to 521 nm. Upon ultraviolet or blue light excitation, efficient photoluminescence from these CsPbBr3 quantum dots doped phosphate glasses was observed.
Differentiable Event Stream Simulator for Non-Rigid 3D Tracking

This paper introduces the first differentiable simulator of event streams, i.e., streams of asynchronous brightness change signals recorded by event cameras. Our differentiable simulator enables non-rigid 3D tracking of deformable objects (such as human hands, isometric surfaces and general watertight meshes) from event streams by leveraging an analysis-by-synthesis principle. So far, event-based tracking and reconstruction of non-rigid objects in 3D, like hands and body, has been either tackled using explicit event trajectories or large-scale datasets. In contrast, our method does not require any such processing or data, and can be readily applied to incoming event streams. We show the effectiveness of our approach for various types of non-rigid objects and compare to existing methods for non-rigid 3D tracking. In our experiments, the proposed energy-based formulations outperform competing RGB-based methods in terms of 3D errors. The source code and the new data are publicly available1.
Surgical revascularization of hibernating myocardium: the known and the unknown

Coronary artery disease (CAD) represents the leading cause of chronic heart failure in developed countries. Ischemic heart failure is mainly characterized by impairment of left ventricle systolic function which can result from scarring of myocardium after myocardial infarction, stunning myocardium and hibernating myocardium. Hibernating myocardium represents a cause of ischemic left ventricular dysfunction amenable to recovery after revascularization. Several viability imaging modalities are available but their role in the clinical decision-making process and the prognostic value of viability in patients undergoing revascularization are still debated. When available, cardiac magnetic resonance or positron emission tomography should be preferred over the others as they show higher performance in terms of sensitivity and higher spatial resolution. Several observational studies have supported a positive prognostic value to the presence of viable myocardium for patients undergoing revascularization. This was not confirmed in randomized clinical trials. This lack of evidence does not support a precise role of viability assessment in the clinical decision-making process, and therefore, myocardial viability should be only one of the several factors considered in the clinical decision-making process.
The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in acidic copper sulfate solutions

A study on the decomposition kinetics of hydrogen peroxide in a solution of dilute sulfuric acid with added copper sulfate has been undertaken. The experiments were performed in a vacuum/Dewar flask, and the temperature of the reacting mixture was measured as a function of time. Because the decomposition was exothermic, the relationship between the temperature and time during the decomposition process was used to analyze the reaction kinetics. The decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide was found to be first-order, as reported by most of the previous researchers. It was found that, at an initial temperature of 67 °C, the decomposition of pure peroxide in dilute sulfuric acid had a rate constant of 0.0385 min–1. The addition of 5 g of copper sulfate increased the rate constant to 0.265 min–1, and with a further addition of copper sulfate, it asymptoted to 0.463 min–1. It was further rather surprisingly noted that the exothermic reaction was followed by an endothermic one that did not appear to be affec.
Detection Method for Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Salmonella is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause serious harm to humans. Chicken carcasses have been reported contaminated by Salmonella, especially S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. These two serovars are very difficult to be confirmed and distinguished using biochemical analysis, therefore a rapid method for detection and differentiation of both is required. The objective of this study was to evaluate designed primer for detection and differentiation of S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis on chicken carcasses using real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (rt-PCR). Detection of Salmonella spp. was conducted using primer sequence from invA gene. Differentiation of both Salmonella serovars was conducted using specific target gene from S. Typhimurium (STM) and specific virulence plasmid of S. Enteritidis (Prot6E). The result showed that invA primer effective to detect all species Salmonella tested and has good specificity that could not detect Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae in the similar melting temperature. Two specific primers STM and prot6E have distinguished between S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. Sensitivity of method showed very good with 0.5 μM primer concentration of invA, STM and prot6E that were 0.2 pg, 22 pg and 28 pg respectively. Initial trial showed that this method can be applied for detection of Salmonella spp. and two serovars in chicken carcasses.
Kinetic and equilibrium studies of urea adsorption onto activated carbon: Adsorption mechanism

ABSTRACT We found that activated carbon effectively removed urea from solution and that urea adsorption onto activated carbon followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. We classified the urea adsorption on activated carbon as physical adsorption and found that it was best described by the Halsey adsorption isotherm, suggesting that the multilayer adsorption of urea molecules on the adsorption sites of activated carbon best characterized the adsorption system. The mechanism of adsorption of urea by activated carbon involved two steps. First, an amino (–NH2) group of urea interacted with a carbonyl (–C˭O) group and a hydroxyl (−OH) group on the surface of activated carbon via dipole–dipole interactions. Next, the –C˭O group of the urea molecule adsorbed to the activated carbon interacted with another –NH2 group from a second urea molecule, leading to multilayer adsorption. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT Schematic representation of the adsorption of urea on activated carbon.
Childhood traumas and suicide probability in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients with and without suicide attempts

How to cite this article: Kilic F, Unlu Karakoc AA, Isik U, Donmez F, Demirdas A. Childhood traumas and suicide probability in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients with and without suicide attempts. Dusunen Adam The Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences 2020;33:402-409. Childhood traumas and suicide probability in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients with and without suicide attempts
MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER

Arsenic is a natural element found in the environment in organic and inorganic form. The inorganic form is much more toxic and is found in ground water, surface water and many foods. This form is responsible for many adverse health effects like cancer and cardiovascular and neurological effects. The present study is based on the available mortality data on lung, bladder and liver cancer for the endemic region of Taiwan. The purpose of the study is to see the effect of various predictors like Gender, Cancer Type (Lung, Liver and Bladder), Arsenic Concentration (High, Medium and low), Age and Person Years on Mortality, using a model-based approach to analyze this data. Three major analytical techniques: Logistic Regression, Poisson Regression and Negative Binomial Regression are used to assess the effect of these explanatory variables or covariates on mortality, which is the response or dependent variable. The major finding of the study is that either all or most of the categories of the predictors are significantly associated with the mortality. The logistic model finds Age as the only significant predictor (p < .0001) associated with the mortality. Models based on the actual frequency counts like Poisson Regression and Negative Binomial find all the five (5) predictors significantly associated with mortality.
ALLUVIAL ANASTOMOSED CHANNELS: THE PREFERRED CHANNEL TYPE ON ACTIVE UK RIVERS

Anastomosing rivers constitute an important category of multi-channel rivers and are characterised by multiple, interconnected, coexisting channels flowing over alluvial plains. They commonly form by avulsion processes, causing the formation of new channels on the floodplain; a process primarily driven by loss of channel capacity and flow breakout linked to local in-channel deposition. This style of channel is presently rare in the UK primarily due to historic channel and floodplain engineering and management. This study examines the character of developing anastomosed channels seen on a number of active gravel-bed channels in the north of England using aerial imagery and metre scale resolution aerial LIDAR data. Aerial imagery of the study sites indicate progressive development of a well-developed wooded valley floor associated with lateral bar extension and succession across stable isolated bar units. The LIDAR data are used to create detailed digital terrain models (DEMs) of the study reaches accurately representing sub-channel planform and morphology. Topographic metrics suggest well-developed underlying morphological features, dominated by an interlinked channel network split by variable length, generally low elevation interfluves and variograms created for each site suggest a common topographic pattern associated with the study sites. The gross morphology does not reflect the classic anastomosed features described by previous research, suggesting that different processes are operating to create these channel types. It is suggested that the anastomosing networks have developed across systems that were initially active meandering and wandering in nature, evolving in line with floodplain vegetative succession to stabilise these planform types. These modes of formation suggest a different origin of these anastomosed sites compared with those previously reported with floodplain management playing a key role in system development.
Patterns of Dietary Supplement Use and Their Source of Information in University Level Athletes in Sri Lanka

Background: Optimal athletic performance results from a combination of factors including training, body composition, and nutrition. The use of dietary supplements is a developing tradition by athletes not only in the developed countries nevertheless in the developing ones without knowing their effects on health and athletic performance. Problem statement: “What are the usage patterns of dietary supplements (DS) and source of information among Sri Lankan university athletes? ” Objective: The main objective of the study was to identify the usage pattern of the DS of Sri Lankan university athletes and their information sources. Subject: A single cross-sectional research design was employed to collect data through a self-administered questionnaire. The unit of analysis is the Sri Lankan university-level athletes representing a university sports team and a sample of 350 respondents will be selected based on stratified random sampling techniques. Results: Interestingly 94% of male respondents and significantly all the female athletes were agreed they use DS. The highest number of both female (32%) and male (34%) athletes consumed supplements while all pre-, post-, and in-season. The majority of both male (41%) and female (42%) respondents reported they use DS over 02 years while the second-highest duration is less in 6 months 25% of males and 26% of females. Among athletes who are using DS (n= 315), 34% reported teammates as the first person who introduced DS, while 32% of respondents reported coach as their first person to introduce DS. The majority of athletes reported that they obtained information regarding supplements from Teammates (69%). Conclusion: DS seems to be widely used in the sport with a considerable proportion of athletes consuming supplements.
Chemical Management of Alternaria Leaf Blight of Sunflower

Sunflower is an important oil seed crop of Pakistan, comprising 20% proteins and 38-45% oil contents. Alternaria leaf blight (ALB) caused by Alternaria alternata, is one of the devastating diseases of sunflower. Six different fungicides viz., difenoconazole, hexaconazole, azoxystrobin, dimethomorph + mancozeb, myclobutanil and Sulphur were tested at different concentrations (10, 20, 30 ppm) in laboratory and in greenhouse. Fungicides performed best in the laboratory were also investigated in greenhouse against Alternaria leaf blight of sunflower. In in vitro study, Hexaconazole showed 100 % growth inhibition of A. alternata at 30 ppm followed by 70% at 20 ppm and 62% at 10 ppm. Difenoconazole proved as the 2nd best fungicide with 77% fungal inhibition at 30 ppm, 75.8% at 20 ppm and 71% at 10 ppm. Azoxystrobin was the least effective fungicide with 24%, 28%, 34% fungal inhibition at 10, 20 and 30 ppm, respectively. Twelve cultivars of sunflower were screened against blight disease in pot experiment to check the fungicides at different level of susceptibility in greenhouse. Screening result showed that FH 702 was the highest susceptible variety with mean value 7.6. Greenhouse study of disease inhibition effect of fungicides also showed that hexaconazole fungicide produced the best results against A. alternata with 42% disease reduction in FH 702 cultivar and 25 % in FH 696 cultivar as compared to control (83%). The results showed that no fungicide provided full disease inhibition, so, further investigation is needed to find the new chemistry against blight disease of sunflower crop
Multi Region Neurodegenerative Changes in Methamphetamine Dependence Reveal by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Psychological Aspects

Background: Methamphetamine (METH) is an illicit psychostimulant that is widely abused in the world. Several lines of evidence suggest that chronic METH abuse leads to neurodegenerative changes in the human brain. These include damage to dopamine and serotonin axons, loss of gray matter accompanied by hypertrophy of the white matter, and microgliosis in different brain areas. Methods: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), Creatine (Cre), Choline (Cho), Myo-inositol (Ml), were obtained in the dopamine circuit (Ventral Tegmental Area, Nucleus Accumbens, Substantia nigra, Striatum, Frontal Cortex, Hippocampus) of the brain in participants in 30 abstinent methamphetamine-addicted people with psychosis (METHp+), and 10 healthy controls (HCs) (age ranges of 18 to 50 years old). Psychotic symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and analyzed using a five-factor model. All participants were also assessed for physical and mental illnesses as well as recent substance use. Results: The METHp+ group displayed robust alteration in basic metabolite concentration levels (NAA, cho, Cr, mI, and GLX) relative to HCs. This suggests that cellular metabolism is altered in both conditions but in METHp+ group is seeing more dramatic changes. Significant decrease in the concentration of NAA metabolites (mean of 18.56) in the methamphetamine group with high psychological symptoms (mean of 111.9) in the studied areas compared to the control group which is a neurotransmitter and biomarker, indicates chronic neurological degeneration in the test areas and its relationship with the incidence of mental disorders in these individuals (Pvalue<0.01). Conclusions: These data support the assumption that cellular abnormalities differ between methamphetamine addiction psychosis and healthy controls people despite not different in normal imaging acquisition. Keywords: Methamphetamine, Abstinence, Neurodegeneration, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Dopamine circuit.
Title page (1) Title: Associations of depression and anxiety with cardiovascular risk among people living with HIV/AIDS in South Korea

OBJECTIVES: As HIV/AIDS is becoming a chronic disease, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) among people living with HIV/AIDS is rising. Anxiety and depression, which are common among people living with HIV/AIDS, have been linked with CVD. This study investigated the risk of CVD in people living with HIV/AIDS and explored the effects of depression and anxiety on CVD risk. METHODS: Data were collected for 457 people enrolled in the Korea Cohort HIV/AIDS study after 2010. Framingham risk scores were calculated to quantify the 10-year risk of developing CVD. Depression and anxiety variables were re-coded as a single combined variable. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed, adjusting for age, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), duration of HIV positivity after entry into the cohort, and depression/anxiety. RESULTS: Participants with both depression and anxiety were 2.28 times more likely than those with neither depression nor anxiety to have moderate/high-risk CVD risk. The 10-year risk of developing CVD was affected by LDL cholesterol, TG, age, and duration of HIV infection. LDL and TG levels change according to the duration of HIV infection, and metabolic disorders affect the risk of CVD. Thus, a longer duration of HIV infection is associated with a higher risk of developing CVD. CONCLUSIONS: Screenings for depression and anxiety need to be provided regularly to assess the severity of those symptoms. To help decrease their risk of developing CVD, people living with HIV/AIDS should be offered behavioral modification interventions aimed at developing healthy lifestyle habits. Ep ub ah ea d of p rin t