Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ON THE RELEVANCE OF POLYYNYL-SUBSTITUTED POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS TO ASTROPHYSICS

We report on the absorption spectra of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene carrying either an ethynyl (−C2H) or a butadiynyl (−C4H) group. Measurements were carried out in the mid-infrared at room temperature on grains embedded in CsI pellets and in the near-ultraviolet at cryogenic temperature on molecules isolated in Ne matrices. The infrared measurements show that interstellar populations of polyynyl-substituted PAHs would give rise to collective features in the same way as non-substituted PAHs give rise to the aromatic infrared bands. The main features characteristic of the substituted molecules correspond to the acetylenic CH stretching mode near 3.05 μm and to the almost isoenergetic acetylenic CCH in- and out-of-plane bending modes near 15.9 μm. Sub-populations defined by the length of the polyynyl side group cause collective features which correspond to the various acetylenic CC stretching modes. The ultraviolet spectra reveal that the addition of an ethynyl group to a non-substituted PAH molecule results in all of its electronic transitions being redshifted. Due to fast internal energy conversion, the bands at shorter wavelengths are significantly broadened. Those at longer wavelengths are only barely affected in this respect. As a consequence, their relative peak absorption increases. The substitution with the longer butadiynyl chain causes the same effects with a larger magnitude, resulting in the spectra showing a prominent if not dominating π–π* transition at long wavelengths. After discussing the relevance of polyynyl-substituted PAHs to astrophysics, we conclude that this class of highly conjugated, unsaturated molecules represents valid candidates for the carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands.
ECTFE Membrane Fabrication Using Green Binary Diluents TEGDA/TOTM and Its Performance in Membrane Condenser

Poly(ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene) (ECTFE) membrane is a hydrophobic membrane material that can be used to recover water from high-humidity gases in the membrane condenser (MC) process. In this study, ECTFE membranes were prepared by the thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method using the green binary diluents triglyceride diacetate (TEGDA) and trioctyl trimellitate (TOTM). Thermodynamic phase diagrams of the ECTFE/TEGDA: TOTM system were made. The effects of the diluent composition and cooling rate on the structure and properties of the ECTFE membranes were investigated by characterizing the SEM, contact angle, mechanical properties, pore size and porosity. The results showed that ECTFE membranes with cellular structure were successfully prepared and exhibit good mechanical properties. Moreover, increasing the TOTM content in the binary diluents and decreasing the cooling rate could effectively improve the mean pore size of the ECTFE membranes, but the increase in TOTM content reduced the mechanical properties. During the MC process, the water recovery performance of ECTFE membranes increased with the increase in the mean pore size of the membranes, and the condensation flow and water recovery of membrane prepared at 20% TOTM were 1.71 kg·m−2·h−1 and 54.84%, respectively, which were better than the performance of commercial hydrophobic PVDF membranes in the MC. These results indicated that there is good potential for the application of ECTFE membranes during the MC process.
Modeling and X-ray Analysis of Defect Nanoclusters Formation in B4C under Ion Irradiation

In the presented work, B4C was irradiated with xenon swift heavy ions at the energy of 167 MeV. The irradiation of the substrate was done at room temperature to a fluence of 3.83 × 1014 ion/cm2. The samples were then analyzed with the X-ray diffraction technique to study the structural modification, as it can probe the region of penetration of xenon atoms due to the low atomic number of the two elements involved in the material under study. The nano-cluster formation under ion irradiation was observed. Positron lifetime (PLT) calculations of the secondary point defects forming nanoclusters and introduced into the B4C substrate by hydrogen and helium implantation were also carried out with the Multigrid instead of the K-spAce (MIKA) simulation package. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed that the sample was B4C and it had a rhombohedral crystal structure. The X-ray diffraction indicated an increase in the lattice parameter due to the Swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation. In B12-CCC, the difference between τ with the saturation of H or He in the defect is nearly 20 ps. Under the same conditions with B11C-CBC, there is approximately twice the value for the same deviation.
ON THE MEAN-FIELD THEORY OF THE KARLSRUHE DYNAMO EXPERIMENT II. BACK-REACTION OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD ON THE FLUID FLOW

In the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe an experiment has been built up which demonstrates a homogeneous dynamo similar to that supposed to be acting in the Earth’s interior. This experiment has been discussed within the framework of mean-eld dynamo theory. In a preceding paper [5] kinematic aspects of this approach to the experiment have been explained. The present paper deals with the nonlinear regime of the dynamo, that is, the regime determined by the back-reaction of the magnetic eld on the fluid motion. Using again the mean-eld concept a simple theory describing the behaviour of the dynamo in this regime is developed. On this basis predictions are made on the dynamic behaviour of the dynamo and in particular on the magnitude of the magnetic eld and the rates of the fluid flows in the saturated states. They are compared with the experimental results.
The Nature of the IRAS Ring G159.6−18.5 in Perseus and Its Exciting Star HD 278942

We discuss an extended feature in the Perseus molecular cloud complex, which is most prominent in the IRAS database as an almost complete ring of radius 0. °75 but is also clearly seen in optical surveys and in radio continuum emission. While earlier identified as a supernova remnant, we argue that the feature is probably an H II region, based on new interferometric radio continuum data at 408 and 1420 MHz, diffuse Hα emission, and the identification of HD 278942 as an O9.5–B0 V star located at the geometric center of the IRAS ring. The spectral index of the radio continuum emission is consistent with an optically thin H II region. However, an origin of the radio continuum emission as at least partially caused by synchrotron emission from the interaction region between the stellar wind and the remaining molecular cloud cannot be ruled out. We present visual photometry, spectroscopy, and polarimetry of the star HD 278942, which we believe to be the source of the excitation for the H II region and the stellar wind. While coincident with an IRAS point source, no compact radio continuum source is seen at the location of the star. Null results for CO J = 1–0 emission different from the ambient cloud are reported. The possibility that HD 278942 is a main-sequence star with a circumstellar disk is suggested.
Ablation of Ghrelin Receptor Mitigates the Metabolic Decline of Aging Skeletal Muscle

The orexigenic hormone ghrelin has multifaceted roles in health and disease. We have reported that ablation of the ghrelin receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), protects against metabolic dysfunction of adipose tissues in aging. Our further observation interestingly revealed that GHS-R deficiency phenocopies the effects of myokine irisin. In this study, we aim to determine whether GHS-R affects the metabolic functions of aging skeletal muscle and whether GHS-R regulates the muscular functions via irisin. We first studied the expression of metabolic signature genes in gastrocnemius muscle of young, middle-aged and old mice. Then, old GHS-R knockout (Ghsr−/−) mice and their wild type counterparts were used to assess the impact of GHS-R ablation on the metabolic characteristics of gastrocnemius and soleus muscle. There was an increase of GHS-R expression in skeletal muscle during aging, inversely correlated with the decline of metabolic functions. Remarkedly the muscle of old GHS-R knockout (Ghsr−/−) mice exhibited a youthful metabolic profile and better maintenance of oxidative type 2 muscle fibers. Furthermore, old Ghsr−/− mice showed improved treadmill performance, supporting better functionality. Also intriguing to note was the fact that old GHS-R-ablated mice showed increased expression of the irisin precursor FNDC5 in the muscle and elevated plasma irisin levels in circulation, which supports a potential interrelationship between GHS-R and irisin. Overall, our work suggests that GHS-R has deleterious effects on the metabolism of aging muscle, which may be at least partially mediated by myokine irisin.
Endocrine and Metabolic Impact of Oral Ingestion of a Carob-Pod-Derived Natural-Syrup-Containing D-Pinitol: Potential Use as a Novel Sweetener in Diabetes

The widespread use of added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners in processed foods is a challenge for addressing the therapeutics of obesity and diabetes. Both types of sweeteners generate health problems, and both are being blamed for multiple complications associated with these prevalent diseases. As an example, fructose is proven to contribute to obesity and liver steatosis, while non-nutritive sweeteners generate gut dysbiosis that complicates the metabolic control exerted by the liver. The present work explores an alternative approach for sweetening through the use of a simple carob-pod-derived syrup. This sweetener consists of a balanced mixture of fructose (47%) and glucose (45%), as sweetening sugars, and a functional natural ingredient (D-Pinitol) at a concentration (3%) capable of producing active metabolic effects. The administration of this syrup to healthy volunteers (50 g of total carbohydrates) resulted in less persistent glucose excursions, a lower insulin response to the hyperglycemia produced by its ingestion, and an enhanced glucagon/insulin ratio, compared to that observed after the ingestion of 50 g of glucose. Daily administration of the syrup to Wistar rats for 10 days lowered fat depots in the liver, reduced liver glycogen, promoted fat oxidation, and was devoid of toxic effects. In addition, this repeated administration of the syrup improved glucose handling after a glucose (2 g/kg) load. Overall, this alternative functional sweetener retains the natural palatability of a glucose/fructose syrup while displaying beneficial metabolic effects that might serve to protect against the progression towards complicated obesity, especially the development of liver steatosis.
Knockout of Katnal2 Leads to Autism-like Behaviors and Developmental Delay in Zebrafish

KATNAL2 mutations have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other related neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as intellectual disability (ID) in several cohorts. KATNAL2 has been implicated in brain development, as it is required for ciliogenesis in Xenopus and is required for dendritic arborization in mice. However, a causative relationship between the disruption of Katnal2 function and behavioral defects has not been established. Here, we generated a katnal2 null allele in zebrafish using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing and carried out morphological and behavioral characterizations. We observed that katnal2-/- embryos displayed delayed embryonic development especially during the convergence and extension (CE) movement. The hatched larvae showed reduced brain size and body length. In the behavioral tests, the katnal2-/- zebrafish exhibited reduced locomotor activity both in larvae and adults; increased nocturnal waking activity in larvae; and enhanced anxiety-like behavior, impaired social interaction, and reduced social cohesion in adults. These findings indicate an important role for katnal2 in development and behavior, providing an in vivo model to study the mechanisms underlying the ASD related to KATNAL2 mutations.
Survey of the ULF wave Poynting vector near the Earth's magnetic equatorial plane

Ultralow frequency (ULF) waves transfer energy in the Earth's magnetosphere through a variety of mechanisms that impact the Earth's ionosphere, radiation belts, and other plasma populations. Measurements of the electromagnetic portion of the energy transfer rate are an important source of information for assessing the importance of ULF waves relative to other energy transfer mechanisms as well as a diagnostic for studying the behavior of ULF waves. Using Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms satellite data, we examine the time‒averaged electromagnetic energy transfer rate, or Poynting vector, as a function of frequency and region of the magnetosphere; for this study, we focus on the direction and rate of energy transfer relative to the background magnetic field, comparing perpendicular and parallel transfer rates. This study extends earlier studies of the ULF wave Poynting vector that focused on narrower frequency ranges or specific regions of the magnetosphere; here we consider the 3–50 mHz frequency range, all local time sectors, radial distances from 3 to 13 Re, and magnetic latitudes close to the equatorial plane. We measure time‒averaged Poynting vectors that range from 10−11 to 10−5 W/m2 , with larger Poynting vector magnitudes occurring at larger radial distances and smaller frequencies. In every spatial region and frequency we examined, we found a large degree of scatter in both the Poynting vector magnitude and direction. The Poynting vector tends to be anisotropic at all frequencies, with more energy transferred along rather than across the background magnetic field. This preference for parallel energy transfer near the magnetic equator suggests that Joule dissipation in the ionosphere and the acceleration of auroral electrons are the largest sinks of ULF wave energy in the magnetosphere.
Analysis of Numerical Methods for Droplet Impingement Characteristics under Aircraft Icing Conditions

The investigation of super-cooled droplet impingement characteristics is the most important step for aircraft icing and anti-icing/de-icing analyses. The Lagrangian method and the Eulerian method are widely used to compute the droplet motion and collection efficiency, and the two methods are considered to obtain almost the same results for surface impingement characteristics under icing conditions. The models and implementation approaches of the two methods were established in this work, and the simulations of droplet motion were carried out for a NACA 0012 airfoil, a 2D section of an A320 head, a multi-element airfoil, and an icing wind tunnel. The collection efficiencies of the NACA 0012 airfoil obtained by the present Lagrangian and Eulerian methods show good agreement with the results in the literature, validating the established methods. The droplet impingement characteristics of the two methods are consistent for the aircraft surfaces without upstream trajectory deflections. However, when the droplet motion is deflected by the frontal body before hitting the rear surfaces, the results obtained by the two methods are different whether the droplet trajectories intersect or not, which subverts the traditional opinion that the Lagrangian and Eulerian methods would obtain the same result of the droplet impingement characteristics. The reason is studied in detail according to the droplet motion results in the icing wind tunnel. The findings of this work are helpful for the accuracy of aircraft icing and anti-icing/de-icing simulations, and useful for the development of airworthiness certification.
Working Paper Series Product Quality in Former Centrally Planned EU Countries

In the last two decades, initiatives promoted by the media and national public o¢cials of several European former centrally planned (FCP) countries have induced the EU to produce inquiries, reports, and directives regarding productsí price and quality di§erentials between FCP and non-FCP markets. From a theoretical standpoint, the FCP countriesí concern involves market segmentation and pricing-to-market. We investigate this issue empirically by examining custom data. We Önd that such di§erentials exist and can be rationalized by standard international trade theories. In particular, analogous evidence obtains by inspecting intra-EU trade and when the analysis is extended to exporters worldwide, showing that the matter is global and does not pertain solely to EU producers. Therefore, our Öndings suggest that the FCP countriesí concerns may be unwarranted.
Civil Wastewater Remediation through Employment of Indigenous Microalgae and Sewage Sludge

Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that can employ some inorganic pollutant compounds as nutrients, for example nitrates and phosphates. Traditional wastewater treatment comprises oxidation ponds in which the Activated Sludge performs the oxidation of the organic matter. Microalgae may be well applied in these processes. In this work, we tested the potential of remediation of a mixture of a local microalga, Chlorella sp. Pozzillo , and activated sludge and compared it to controls of only microalga and only activated sludge. We found that the mixture of bacteria and microalgae leads to an improvement in nitrogen removal up to the 83,68%, while phosphorous removal is improved when the autochthonous microalgae are used alone. The abatement of the Chemical Oxygen Demand was of 59,17% when using the microalgae and activated sludge consortium, while it was higher (-76,67%±0) when using the only activated sludge. The biomass was also analysed for its content in lipids and carbohydrates. This information may be useful to assess the best industrial application for the biomass obtained from civil wastewaters remediation process, in accordance with principles of circular economy and waste-to-resources view.
The Hegemon’s Dilemma.

I study the policy dilemma faced by a large open economy (the hegemon) that issues assets in high international demand, in a world with endogenous limited ﬁnancial market participation and nominal rigidities. On the one hand, foreign demand for hegemon assets allows ﬁnancially active households in the hegemon to borrow at favourable rates and increase consumption. On the other hand, because of nominal rigidities, capital inﬂows to the hegemon distort relative prices in world goods markets, giving rise to an aggregate demand externality which results in involuntary unemployment. Macroprudential policies that restrict capital inﬂows can be unilaterally optimal for the hegemon. The welfare trade-oﬀ worsens if the hegemon’s imports are priced in domestic currency and if capital inﬂows are countercyclical.
Econometric Analysis of Asset Price Bubbles *

In the presence of bubbles, asset prices consist of a fundamental and a bubble component, with the bubble component following an explosive dynamic. The general idea for bubble identification is to apply explosive root tests to a proxy of the unobservable bubble. Three notable proxies are the real asset prices, log price-payoff ratios, and estimated non-fundamental components. The rationale for all three proxy choices rests on the definition of bubbles, which has been presented in various forms in the literature. This chapter provides a theoretical framework that incorporates several definitions of bubbles (and fundamentals) and offers guidance for selecting proxies. For explosive root tests, we introduce the recursive evolving test of Phillips et al. (2015b,c) along with its asymptotic properties. This procedure can serve as a real-time monitoring device and has been shown to outperform several other tests. Like all other recursive testing procedures, the PSY algorithm faces the issue of multiplicity in testing that contaminates conventional significance values. To address this issue, we propose a multiple-testing algorithm to determine appropriate test critical values and show its satisfactory performance in finite samples by simulations. To illustrate, we conduct a pseudo real-time bubble monitoring exercise in the S&P 500 stock market from January 1990 to June 2020. The empirical results reveal the importance of using a good proxy for bubbles and addressing the multiplicity issue.
USO DA CITOMETRIA DE FLUXO PARA QUANTIFICAÇÃO DE Leishmania sp. INTRACELULAR

DA SILVA, Adriana Carneiro, D.Sc. Universidade Federal de Viçosa, March 2022. Use of flow cytometry to quantify intracellular Leishmania sp. Advisor: Eduardo de Almeida Marques da Silva. The search for new methodologies that make the work in the search for new drugs more precise, agile, and with greater standardization is very important to the study of leishmaniasis. The technique most used to assess the leishmanicidal effect of a given drug in vitro, the slide count, despite being consolidated in the scientific environment, presents several difficulties in its execution, assessment, and results. In addition to being laborious, this technique takes time, both for the preparation of the material for analysis and for the counting itself. Based on this need, our research group proposes a new methodology based on nuclear labeling, using propidium iodide and flow cytometry to quantify the parasite load of Leishmania sp. in macrophages in vitro. Our results show that the fluorescence of infected samples increases as the infection rate increases. Using Pearson's Correlation analysis, it was possible to establish a correlation coefficient (Pearson r = 0.9473) that was positive, linear, and directly proportional to the variables fluorescence and infection rate. Thus, it is possible to infer a mathematical equation, through linear regression, to obtain an estimate of the number of parasites in each sample through the Relative Fluorescence Units (RFU) values. This new methodology opens space for the possibility of using this methodological resource in the in vitro quantification of Leishmania sp. in
Substrate-induced band gap in graphene on hexagonal boron nitride: Ab initio density functional calculations

We determine the electronic structure of a graphene sheet on top of a lattice-matched hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) substrate using ab initio density functional calculations. The most stable configuration has one carbon atom on top of a boron atom, and the other centered above a BN ring. The resulting inequivalence of the two carbon sites leads to the opening of a gap of 53 meV at the Dirac points of graphene and to finite masses for the Dirac fermions. Alternative orientations of the graphene sheet on the BN substrate generate similar band gaps and masses. The band gap induced by the BN surface can greatly improve room temperature pinch-off characteristics of graphene-based field effect transistors.