Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Gestational Inflammation with Postpartum Enriched Environment on Age-Related Changes in Cognition and Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity-Related Proteins

Increasing evidence indicates that exposure to inflammation during pregnancy intensifies the offspring’s cognitive impairment during aging, which might be correlated with changes in some synaptic plasticity-related proteins. In addition, an enriched environment (EE) can significantly exert a beneficial impact on cognition and synaptic plasticity. However, it is unclear whether gestational inflammation combined with postnatal EE affects the changes in cognition and synaptic plasticity-related proteins during aging. In this study, pregnant mice were intraperitoneally injected with lipopolysaccharides (LPS, 50 μg/kg) or normal saline at days 15–17 of pregnancy. At 21 days after delivery, some LPS-treated mice were randomly selected for EE treatment. At the age of 6 and 18 months, Morris water maze (MWM) and western blotting were, respectively, used to evaluate or measure the ability of spatial learning and memory and the levels of postsynaptic plasticity-related proteins in the hippocampus, including postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) GluA1 subunit, and Homer-1b/c. The results showed that 18-month-old control mice had worse spatial learning and memory and lower levels of these synaptic plasticity-related proteins (PSD-95, GluA1, and Homer-1b/c) than the 6-month-old controls. Gestational LPS exposure exacerbated these age-related changes of cognition and synaptic proteins, but EE could alleviate the treatment effect of LPS. In addition, the performance during learning and memory periods in the MWM correlated with the hippocampal levels of PSD-95, GluA1, and Homer-1b/c. Our results suggested that gestational inflammation accelerated age-related cognitive impairment and the decline of PSD-95, GluA1, and Homer-1b/c protein expression, and postpartum EE could alleviate these changes.
Food as Software: Place, Protein, and Feeding the World Silicon Valley–Style

Abstract This article examines the role of place—specifically the place of Silicon Valley in California—in the emerging economic geographies of alternative proteins (APs), including cellular and plant-based substitutes. Drawing on original fieldwork data and existing economic geography debates on food, place, and innovation, I develop the concept of innovation terroir to examine the key role Silicon Valley has played in shaping the spatial trajectories and political possibilities of the AP sector. I first illustrate the power of Silicon Valley’s place-myth in (re)producing the importance for AP founders to be physically in place within the region, in part to access its renowned industrial resources but also to provide a protective niche of credibility and credulity for these nascent ventures. Second, I outline that to be there in spatial terms has also involved an encountering with a specific culture of logics and practices of the technoindustrial region of Silicon Valley. To succeed at doing protein food in this region has required a choice by AP ventures to become culturally in place and thereby reimagine food through the Valley’s image of high-tech entrepreneurial innovation; in short, it has required food to become software. This exploration of cultural emplacement builds directly on recent work in geography and related fields on alternative food economies, geographies of innovation, and the ontological politics of APs. It offers timely contributions for considering how AP development might be done otherwise and what it means to look to Silicon Valley for solutions to global food security and broader planetary challenges.
Lignocellulosic Fibers from Renewable Resources Using Green Chemistry for a Circular Economy

The sustainable development of lignocellulose fibers exhibits significant potential to supplant synthetic polymer feedstocks and offers a global platform for generating sustainable packaging, bioplastics, sanitary towels, wipes, and related products. The current research explores the dynamics of fiber production from wood, non‐wood, and agro‐residues using carbonate hydrolysis and a mild kraft process without bleaching agents. With respect to carbonate hydrolysis, high yield, and good coarseness fibers are attained using a simple, low‐cost, and ecofriendly process. Fibers produced using a mild kraft process have lower Klason lignin, carboxyl content, surface charges, and higher fiber length, and crystallinity. Eucalyptus fibers show the highest crystallinity while softwood carbonate fibers show the lowest crystallinity. Hemp hurd fibers contain the highest concentration of hard‐to‐remove water, and thus, suffer maximum flattening visualized by the microscopic images. The relatively high yield sustainable fibers with versatile properties can provide a significant economic benefit since fiber is the dominant cost for producing various bioproducts to meet society's current and future needs.
Does Organisation Matter? Solidarity Approaches among Organisations and Sectors in Europe

European citizens continue to engage in solidarity activities in support of vulnerable groups within and beyond their own countries. Many of these organised practices of transnational solidarity provide research with important insights into the features and conditions of organisational forms of support. This article makes use of a unique dataset of transnational solidarity organisations in eight European countries during a period of economic recession and immigration crisis, and aims to empirically describe the different forms and types of solidarity prevalent within three different organisational sectors. It strives to identify the organisational features explaining the elective affinities between organisational forms and solidarity approaches. The empirical analysis validates that organisational traits and types matter when favouring vertical and/or horizontal forms of support towards vulnerable groups. Findings corroborate the relevance of professionalisation, aims, and values, in addition to action repertoires to explain organisational profiles and collective approaches to solidarity-based practices.
Enhancing EFL Teachers’ Pronunciation Pedagogy Through Professional Learning: A Vietnamese Case Study

The role of teacher professional learning (TPL) in assisting teachers to teach pronunciation in English as a second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) contexts has received little attention. The study reported in extends this line of research by investigating how six EFL teachers at a Vietnamese university transform and integrate the pronunciation pedagogical knowledge they received from a TPL workshop into teaching practice. It then examines the teachers’ perceptions of the impact of the workshop on their knowledge gains and pronunciation teaching skills. Data were collected from seven lesson plans designed by the teachers, video recordings of 24 subsequent classroom observations, and six individual semi-structured interviews. The study adopted a content-based approach to qualitative data analysis. The findings show that the teachers were all able to translate TPL into classroom practice of pronunciation teaching. The findings further show that workshops designed and implemented in accordance with research-based TPL principles can be effective for promoting teachers’ knowledge of pronunciation pedagogy and refining their pronunciation teaching skills. The study has implications for ESL/EFL teachers’ professional development in pronunciation teaching.
Molecular mechanisms responsible for the structural changes occurring during geopolymerization: Multiscale simulation

To date, the fundamental details of the molecular structural changes and associated mechanisms, which take place during the formation of aluminosilicate geopolymer gels, have remained largely elusive. Here, density functional theory-based coarse-grained Monte Carlo modeling, a multiscale simulation technique, is used to simulate the geopolymerization reaction and to determine the molecular mechanisms controlling this process. Silica supplied by the alkaline solution plays a significant role in enhancing the dissolution of the solid aluminosilicate precursor (metakaolin, in this case) and the polymerization of the gel. In the reaction between NaOH and metakaolin, in the absence of initially dissolved silica, the solid precursor completely dissolves and the aluminosilicate gel forms via the percolation of small aluminosilicate clusters. On the other hand, in the presence of dissolved silicate, the metakaolin only partially dissolves, as the aluminosilicate gel precipitates on the surfaces of the metakaolin particle after a period of time. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
Biodegradable inkjet-printed electrochromic display for sustainable short-lifecycle electronics

The fabrication of electronics on the basis of biofriendly materials aims to counterbalance the negative trends conveyed by the short life-cycle of electronics. Furthermore, these materials open the possibility to develop optoelectronic technologies which will be in contact with the human body. In this work, we present an electrochromic display fabricated by resource- and energy-efficient digital printing techniques. The biodegradation of the device is certified under the ISO 14855 standard. The display comprises of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) electrochromic layer, a gelatin-based electrolyte and Au electrodes deposited on a cellulose di-acetate substrate. We investigate the impact of various naturally sourced ionic species on the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte and the figures of merit of the display. The printed devices show an electrochromic contrast of 32 ± 4% and switching times of 3.0 ± 1.4 s, comparable to the spincoated reference devices. The utilization of inkjet printing enables the fabrication of different device designs with individually addressable pixels. The display can be worn innocuously on the skin without loss of performance thanks to the self-adhesion properties of the gelatin hydrogel. The present work highlights the use of industrial relevant technology for the fabrication of truly ecofriendly optoelectronic systems.
Characteristics of air pollutants emitted from biomass combustion in small retort boiler

Biomass could be a particularly interesting fuel for heat production in the rural areas of Poland using various agricultural residues such as forest wood, wood waste, and straw of different crops. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of air pollutants emitted from a small retort boiler (15 kW) fuelled by three kinds of pellets composed of wood, wheat and rape straws were performed. The wooden pellet combustion generates the smallest concentration of CO; however, the concentration of highly toxic formaldehyde and benzene are the highest of all fuels. When considering CO and VOCs concentration in flue gas, the most advantageous fuel of those tested are wheat straw pellets.
TOLERANCE AND BIODERADATION CAPACITY OF Trichoderma viride WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HEAVY METALS (Cr, Cd)

Heavy-metal pollution represents an important environmental problem due to the toxic effects of metals, and their invasion in to the food chain leads to serious ecological and health problems. Metal remediation through common physico-chemical techniques is expensive and unsuitable in treating large contaminated area effectively. Bioremediation offers a promising means to reclaim such contaminated soil in an economical and eco friendly way. Bioremediation employs microorganisms capable of degrading toxic contaminants or have the ability to accumulate it in their cells. This concentrated end product can afterwards be directed for a controlled way for recovery of metals. In this study Trichoderma viride was used for the removal of heavy metals like Chromium and Cadmium from contaminated soil . The tolerance of Trichoderma viride against the metals was found to be up to 200 ppm and for Cr, 200 ppm for Cd 2 + . The parameters affecting the biosorption of heavy metals; such as metal concentration and biomass concentrations have been investigated. The results revealed that tolerance of about 67-82% of Cr and 73-79 % of Cd 2 + was attained at 200ppm concentration. Bioabsorption rate are higher when the cells are in stationary phase. The bioabsorption and the growth of the microorganism in aerated soil were found to be more comparing to non-aerated soil.
A terahertz Brewster switch based on superconductor hyperbolic metamaterial

Active polarization switching devices are important to control the polarization state of light including terahertz (THz) waves that are technologically challenging to manipulate. Here, we propose and numerically demonstrate a hyperbolic metamaterial-based (HMM-based) active Brewster polarization switch for the intensity and phase modulation of THz light. The proposed multilayered HMM consists of alternating thin layers of high temperature superconductors such as yttrium barium copper oxide and dielectric materials such as lanthanum aluminate. The HMM shows elliptical dispersion above the superconducting phase transition temperature and type II hyperbolic dispersion in the superconducting state. By varying the temperature from the dielectric to the superconducting phase of the HMM, we demonstrate above 98% THz intensity modulation and 100% phase tunability (180°) at Brewster’s angle. The proposed HMM can work as an efficient reflective THz modulator by properly selecting the angle of incidence.
Giant electric field enhancement for plasmonic imaging via graphene based nanoslit optical superlens

We present theoretical investigations on designing a simple double nano-slit superlens for dramatically improving imaging quality for advanced plasmonic photolithography through introducing graphene as a plasmonic integrator. It is proposed that more than 235 times enhancement of localized electric field can be assured as the graphene layer is embedded in the designed superlens. It is observed that by introducing graphene for superlensing, dominant enhancement of electric field amplitudes of interference imaging profiles can be observed at a properly designed photoresist with optimal thickness. We further show by systematically examining design parameters for the graphene-based superlens, clarifying the overall geometric and material parameter influences on the plasmonic imaging pattern characteristics. The results are attributed to the unique role of graphene participating in strong hybrid plasmonic cavity coupling modes for supporting localized electric fields of the nanoslit superlensing. This study shows proper designing of graphene-based optical superlens can potentially realize high-quality, low-cost and simple-realized nano-imaging for advanced plasmonic photolithography applications.
High Sensitivity of Lake Hypoxia to Air Temperatures, Winds, and Nutrient Loading: Insights From a 3‐D Lake Model

A three‐dimensional hydrodynamic‐ecological model is applied to Lake Erie to predict the response of dissolved oxygen (DO) to independent changes in air temperature, wind speeds and total phosphorus (TP) loading. Warmer temperatures and lower wind speeds increased the size and duration of hypoxic and anoxic regions by lengthening the stratified period. Decreased wind speed increased hypolimnion thickness while decreasing its temperature and DO consumption rate. Decreased TP loading improved DO conditions with a reduction of 75% effectively abolishing hypoxia. Anoxia was more sensitive to air temperature, wind, and nutrient changes than was hypoxia. New metrics that capture the spatial and temporal dimensions of low DO conditions were more sensitive than the commonly cited maximum areas of hypoxia or anoxia. Over most of the relevant range of forcing factors, the simple and first‐order effect of a 1°C temperature change was equivalent to a 10–14% change in TP loads, while a 1% change in wind speed was equivalent to a 2–3% change in TP loads. Reduced ice cover in warmer climates will likely increase air temperature effects even further.
Genotoxic and Histopathological Effects of Water Pollution on Clarias gariepinus Fish at Fayoum Governorate, Egypt

Increasing land reclamation in El-Fayoum governorate has led to increase the amount of drainage water that discharged without prior treatments to two main drains, El-Wadi and El-Bats drainages loaded by salts and heavy metals. So, the present investigation aims to evaluate quality of water samples collected from a branch of the river Nile (El-Lahon canal) and the main drains (El-Bats and El-Wadi) at Fayoum governorate on some biomarkers of the Nile catfish; Clarias gariepinus inhabiting the studied degradable aquatic habitats. Water and nighty fish samples colleted from the different studied sites of collection by the help of fishermen for physicochemical analyes of water and fish biochemical analyses and histopathological alteration. Results revealed highly significant differences at P ≤ 0.01 with the highest water ammonia, nitrite, heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) and lowest dissolved oxygen content accompanied by metals bioaccumulation in vital organs of fish collected from the main drains (El-Bats and El-Wadi) in comparision with that collected from the studied branch of the river Nile. Higher bioaccumulation of the studied heavy metals in gills, liver, kidney and muscles of Clarias gariepinus collected from the main drains significant increase in serum glucose, liver and kidney functions, disturbance in protein profile of fish collected from the studied main drains than that of fish collected from the river Nile branch, El-Lahon that showed more or less normal values. Moreover, histopathological alterations in gills, liver, kidneys and clear DNA strand breaks in fish liver cells increased statistically in Clarias gariepinus collected from El-Fayoum drainage canals. Generally, the results highlights on the importance of taking action through the responsible authorities towards quality of the drainage water that fed fish farms by law that could play a role as a main source of protein for human beings.
Molecular machineries and physiological relevance of ER-mediated membrane contacts

Membrane contact sites (MCSs) are defined as regions where two organelles are closely apposed, and most MCSs associated with each other via protein-protein or protein-lipid interactions. A number of key molecular machinery systems participate in mediating substance exchange and signal transduction, both of which are essential processes in terms of cellular physiology and pathophysiology. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the largest reticulum network within the cell and has extensive communication with other cellular organelles, including the plasma membrane (PM), mitochondria, Golgi, endosomes and lipid droplets (LDs). The contacts and reactions between them are largely mediated by various protein tethers and lipids. Ions, lipids and even proteins can be transported between the ER and neighboring organelles or recruited to the contact site to exert their functions. This review focuses on the key molecules involved in the formation of different contact sites as well as their biological functions.
Differential evolution particle swarm optimization algorithm based on good point set for computing Nash equilibrium of finite noncooperative game

In this paper, a hybrid differential evolution particle swarm optimization (PSO) method based on a good point set (GPDEPSO) is proposed to compute a finite noncooperative game among N people. Stochastic functional analysis is used to prove the convergence of this algorithm. First, an ergodic initial population is generated by using a good point set. Second, PSO is proposed and utilized as the variation operator to perform variation crossover selection with differential evolution (DE). Finally, the experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has a better convergence speed, accuracy, and global optimization ability than other existing algorithms in computing the Nash equilibrium of noncooperative games among N people. In particular, the efficiency of the algorithm is higher for determining the Nash equilibrium of a high-dimensional payoff matrix game.
MOLTEN SALTS: VOLUME I. ELECTRICAL CONDUCTANCE, DENSITY, AND VISCOSITY DATA.

Abstract : Data on the electrical conductance, density and viscosity of single-salt melts were compiled from a comprehensive search of the literature up to December 1966 and a critical assessment made of a compiled data. Recommended values were determined and are presented as functions of temperature in the form of equations and tables. The results for some 174 compounds as single-salt melts are reported; no attempt was made in the present effort to embrace the results for molten salt mixtures. Data are presented for fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, carbonates, nitrites, oxides, sulfides, sulfates, and a miscellaneous group.
Low-Cost Implementation of Passivity-Based Control and Estimation of Load Torque for a Luo Converter with Dynamic Load

In this paper, passivity-based control (PBC) of a Luo converter-fed DC motor is implemented and presented. In PBC, both exact tracking error dynamics passive output feedback control (ETEDPOF) and energy shaping and damping injection methods do not require a speed sensor. As ETEDPOF does not depend upon state computation, it is preferred in the proposed work for the speed control of a DC motor under no-load and loaded conditions. Under loaded conditions, the online algebraic approach in sensorless mode (SAA) is used for estimating different load torques applied on the DC motor such as: constant, frictional, fan-type, propeller-type and unknown load torques. Performance of SAA is tested with the reduced order observer in sensorless mode (SROO) approach and analyzed, and the results are presented to validate the low-cost implementation of PBC for a DC drive without a speed and torque sensor.
On-line optimization using a two-phase approach: an application study

A two-phase approach for on-line optimization of chemical processes was proposed by a previous author. This approach addresses some crucial difficulties encountered with chemical processes such as imperfect models, nonlinearity, presence of operating constraints, and the multivariable nature of most processes. The approach was adapted for application to an industrial scale problem, namely, the optimal operation of a packed tubular reactor for the production of ethylene oxide. This application exhibits many characteristics cited above which makes on-line optimization a challenging problem. Results using a simulation study show that the two-phase approach holds considerable promise. The paper concludes with suggestions regarding the application of the proposed approach to industrial processes.