Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Techno‐economic analysis of multiple bio‐based routes to adipic acid

Techno‐economic studies of four processes for production of adipic acid from glucose were used to compare the minimum cost of production by each route. We analyzed the purely biological production via reverse β‐oxidation in E. coli; a purely chemical process using oxidation of glucose via chemical catalysis to glucaric acid that undergoes catalytic hydrodeoxygenation to adipic acid; and two hybrid routes that biologically convert glucose to either 6‐hydroxyhexanoic acid or 1, 6‐hexanediol, that are subsequently converted chemically to adipic acid using a metal catalyst. All analyses were based on adipic acid production capacity of 80 000 metric ton/year. Estimated total capital investments were US$157 million, $81 million, $166 million, and $177 million for the purely biological, chemical, and two integrated hybrid routes, respectively. Catalyst costs were estimated as $72 million, $36 million, and $37 million for the purely chemical and two integrated routes, respectively. The estimated adipic acid minimum selling prices were $1.36, $1.56, $1.48, and $1.70 per kg for the purely biological, purely chemical, and two integrated routes, respectively. Co‐product revenue and the use of unpurified sugars improved the economics of adipic acid production in the purely biological and two integrated routes. Comparison of the economics of the chemical catalytic steps shows that catalyst yields, turnover frequency, and catalyst life must be greater than 40% of theoretical, 0.01 s‐1, and 100 days to achieve economic viability of purely chemical and integrated routes to adipic acid. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ) Pro12Ala Gene Polymorphism and Oxidative Stress in Menopausal Women with Cardiovascular Disease from North Indian Population of Punjab

ABSTRACT The present paper investigated the association of PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and oxidative stress (OS) in menopausal women from North Indian population of Punjab. 265 diagnosed CVD women as cases and 258 women with no evidence of heart disease as controls were screened for lipid profile, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), serum LDL carbonyl protein and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD). Genotyping was performed by ARMS-PCR method. Significant differences (p<0.05) in the levels of hypertension (HTN), lipid profile, MDA, LDL carbonyl protein and SOD were observed between women with and without CVD. However, no significant difference (p>0.05) in the distribution of genotype and allele frequency was observed. Further in logistic regression analysis, hypertension (HTN), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and OS variables were significantly correlated with CVD but, Pro12Ala was not observed to be an independent predictor of CVD. The paper depicts PPARγ (Pro12Ala) polymorphism is not associated with the risk of CVD as such but, significant rise in LDL carbonyl protein in CC homozygotes with CVD implies OS. Both OS and PPARγ also act as early indicator of cardiovascular events. Further, studies on association between Pro12Ala polymo rphism and CVD should be carried out on a larger population of Punjab.
Efficiency of Optimum Plot Size using Information of Previous Experiments Conducted in Split Plot Design

The optimum plot size is required at the time of experiment lay out to obtain the accuracy and reliability of the experimental result. In absence of uniformity trail, an alternative procedure is described to get the idea of optimum plot size. The process involves for determining the accurate estimate of soil heterogeneity coefficient followed by optimum plot size through the past experimental data of split plot design and the expression for the determination of soil heterogeneity has been derived and illustrated through several artificial and real data. The result indicated the considerable gain in efficiency to the tune of 19 and 22 per cent in some cases. This procedure leads to the saving of plot size from 20 per cent to 75 per cent.
The effect of a beta‐alanine supplement on the muscle carnosine content during training

Carnosine (Carn) occurs in high concentrations in muscle where it contributes to H+ buffering. The aim was to investigate the effect of a commercial supplement containing, per serving, 1.6g β‐alanine (β‐Ala), 5.25g creatine and 1g taurine (Tau), on muscle Carn synthesis during training. Trained cyclists (n=12, 20 ± (SD)1 yr, 78 ± 8 kg ) received either the β‐Ala (n=6) containing supplement or a placebo, 3xd (4.8 g.d−1 β‐Ala) during 12wk of combined endurance (5 h/d, 6 d/wk) and weight training (3 d/wk). Muscle biopsies of the v. lateralis were taken at 0 and 12 wks for fibre morphology and analysis of Carn and Tau. Subjects undertook a cycle test to determine VO2 max, anaerobic threshold (AnT) and endurance, and an isokinetic test of the knee extensors at 240°/sec. Type II cross sectional was increased with training in both groups, P<0.05. Carn was unchanged with training (23.9 vs 25.7 mmol.kg−1 dm) but increased with supplementation (20.5 vs 30.0 mmol.kg−1 dm), P<0.01. Tau did not change. AnT and endurance increased with supplementation but not isokinetic power output.
Cooperative Multi-Sensor Detection under Variable-Length Coding

We investigate the testing-against-independence problem over a cooperative MAC with two sensors and a single detector under an average rate constraint on the sensors-detector links. For this setup, we design a variable-length coding scheme that maximizes the achievable type-II error exponent when the type-I error probability is limited to ϵ. Similarly to the single-link result, we show here that the optimal error exponent depends on ϵ and that variable-length coding allows to increase the rates over the optimal fixed-length coding scheme by the factor (1 − ϵ)−1.
The native bee fauna of the Palouse Prairie (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

While synoptic collections provide data on the range and general composition of the North American bee fauna, bee communities associated with specific habitats are largely uncharacterized. This report describes the community of native bees currently found in remnant fragments of the Palouse Prairie of northern Idaho and southeastern Washington State. Native bees were collected using standardized collection techniques including blue vane traps, colored pan traps and aerial netting. More than 13,000 individuals were collected, representing at least 174 species and 36 morphospecies in 29 genera. These data provide the most thorough characterization of the bee fauna of this vulnerable ecosystem, as well as community level information on bee species of unknown conservation status. These results are relevant to regional conservation efforts and, more broadly, are representative of conditions in fragmented grasslands surrounded by intense agriculture, a common global land use pattern of conservation concern.
Phylogenetic evaluation of pollen and orbicule morphology in Rosaceae tribe Neillieae (subfamily Amygdaloideae)

Palynological characteristics were examined in Rosaceae tribe Neillieae, comprising the genera Neillia , Physocarpus and Stephanandra . Physocarpus insularis and some taxa of Spiraea were also examined to evaluate the potential usefulness of pollen traits in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Rosaceae. Pollen grains of Neillieae are monads, tricolporate, small to medium in size [polar axis ( P ) = 13.4–45.8 μ m, equatorial diameter ( E ) = 14.3–39.9 μ m] and oblate to prolate in shape ( P / E = 0.68–1.70). Sexine ornamentation in Neillia and Stephanandra is perforate, whereas Physocarpus and Spiraea have striate pollen. Spherical orbicules with a central perforation (donut-shaped) were consistently found in Neillieae, but these were absent in P. insularis and all taxa of Spiraea . Our palynological results provide strong evidence for the merging of Neillia and Stephanandra , and pollen morphological data supported the recent phylogenetic hypothesis that P. insularis should be a member of Spiraea .
Evolutionary dynamics in financial markets with heterogeneities in strategies and risk tolerance

In nature and human societies, the effects of homogeneous and heterogeneous characteristics on the evolution of collective behaviors are quite different from each other. It is of great importance to understand the underlying mechanisms of the occurrence of such differences. By incorporating pair pattern strategies and reference point strategies into an agent-based model, we have investigated the coupled effects of heterogeneous investment strategies and heterogeneous risk tolerance on price fluctuations. In the market flooded with the investors with homogeneous investment strategies or homogeneous risk tolerance, large price fluctuations are easy to occur. In the market flooded with the investors with heterogeneous investment strategies or heterogeneous risk tolerance, the price fluctuations are suppressed. For a heterogeneous population, the coexistence of investors with pair pattern strategies and reference point strategies causes the price to have a slow fluctuation around a typical equilibrium point and both a large price fluctuation and a no-trading state are avoided, in which the pair pattern strategies push the system far away from the equilibrium while the reference point strategies pull the system back to the equilibrium. A theoretical analysis indicates that the evolutionary dynamics in the present model is governed by the competition between different strategies. The strategy that causes large price fluctuations loses more while the strategy that pulls the system back to the equilibrium gains more. Overfrequent trading does harm to one's pursuit for more wealth.
Inner dusty regions of protoplanetary discs – II. Dust dynamics driven by radiation pressure and disc winds

We explore dust flow in the hottest parts of protoplanetary discs using the forces of gravity, gas drag and radiation pressure. Our main focus is on the optically thin regions of dusty disc, where the dust is exposed to the most extreme heating conditions and dynamical perturbations: the surface of optically thick disc and the inner dust sublimation zone. We utilise results from two numerically strenuous fields of research. The first is the quasi-stationary solutions on gas velocity and density distributions from mangetohydrodynamical (MHD) simulations of accretion discs. This is critical for implementing a more realistic gas drag impact on dust movements. The second is the optical depth structure from a high-resolution dust radiation transfer. This step is critical for a better understanding of dust distribution within the disc. We describe a numerical method that incorporates these solutions into the dust dynamics equations. We use this to integrate dust trajectories under different disc wind models and show how grains end up trapped in flows that range from simple accretion onto the star to outflows into outer disc regions. We demonstrate how the radiation pressure force plays one of the key roles in this process and cannot be ignored. It erodes the dusty disc surface, reduces its height, resists dust accretion onto the star, and helps the disc wind in pushing grains outwards. The changes in grain size and porosity significantly affect the results, with smaller and porous grains being influenced more strongly by the disc wind and radiation pressure.
A Framework for Multiphase Galactic Wind Launching Using TIGRESS

Galactic outflows have density, temperature, and velocity variations at least as large as those of the multiphase, turbulent interstellar medium (ISM) from which they originate. We have conducted a suite of parsec-resolution numerical simulations using the TIGRESS framework, in which outflows emerge as a consequence of interaction between supernovae (SNe) and the star-forming ISM. The outflowing gas is characterized by two distinct thermal phases, cool (T ≲ 104 K) and hot (T ≳ 106 K), with most mass carried by the cool phase and most energy and newly injected metals carried by the hot phase. Both components have a broad distribution of outflow velocity, and especially for cool gas this implies a varying fraction of escaping material depending on the halo potential. Informed by the TIGRESS results, we develop straightforward analytic formulae for the joint probability density functions (PDFs) of mass, momentum, energy, and metal loading as distributions in outflow velocity and sound speed. The model PDFs have only two parameters, star formation rate surface density and the metallicity of the ISM, and fully capture the behavior of the original TIGRESS simulation PDFs over . Employing PDFs from resolved simulations will enable implementations of subgrid models for galaxy formation with wind velocity and temperature (as well as total loading factors) that are based on theoretical predictions rather than empirical tuning. This is a critical step to incorporate advances from TIGRESS and other high-resolution simulations in future cosmological hydrodynamics and semi-analytic galaxy formation models. We release a Python package to prototype our model and to ease its implementation.
Seed Characteristics Diversity in Sponge Gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.) Germplasms from Hatay Region in Turkey

The objective of this study was to evaluate seed characteristics of sponge gourd, to establish a core collection of sponge gourd with the germplasm collected throughout the Hatay region. A mini-core collection was assessed for morphological performance and some seed traits. Substantial variations of seed characteristics: seed length, seed width, seed thickness (mm), seed index (length/width), seed size (length × width, mm2), seed colour, seedcoat surface, seed shape, seed wing, and 100-seed weight were investigated. Seed length, width and thickness were varied as 15.12-8.97 mm, 9.71-6.25 mm and 2.86-2.16 mm respectively. The seed sizes were determined from small (31 DÖ 06) to big (31 DE 04). Seed colours were ranged from black to white, even a brown colour like 07 MA 01. A hundred seed weights were observed as 16.43 g (31 AL 02) and 7.41 (31 DÖ 06). The results of dendrogram indicated that seed traits of the sponge gourd genotypes were separating in five groups. This collection of sponge gourds will be useful for the gene pools and a wide range of phenotypic variations to provide a good source of diversity for developing of sponge gourd cultivars in breeding programs.
Dinoflagellaten aus dem Unteren Malm (Oberer Jura) von Süddeutschland: Morphologie, Ökologie, Stratigraphie - Dinoflagellates of the lower Malm (Upper Jurassic) of southern Germany: morphology, ecology, stratigraphy

The lower Malm (Oxfordian to lower Klmmeridgian) of southern Germany contains rich and diversified dinoflagellate assemblages. In addition to samples collected from surface outcrops the material of KLEMENT (1960) are revised. Lost holotypes are replaced with lectotypes , and if necessary redescribed. Based on morphological observations, the dlnoflagellate cyst genera Acanthaulax, Eplplosphaera und s.vstematophora have been emended. Lithodlnla arcanltabulata n. sp. , Scriniodinium bucinatum bucinatum n. sp. n. subsp. , Scriniodinium bucinatum labyrinthum n. sp. n. subsp. and Systemstophora varispinosa n. sp. are described as new. In the Upper Jurassie of southern Germany, the occurence of a large part of the dinoflagellate cysts is strongly facies-controlled. As in recent dinoflagellates, their distribution is much less governed by geographical latitude (provincialism) than by other systems (salinity, water depth, chemical composition ot the water mass). In the Upper Jurassic. at least two s ystems could be recognized: (1) marl-limestone alternation (small cycles, Milankovich cycles? ) and (2) larger lithological units (Malm Alpha, Beta, Gamma). The "standard-zonatlon of dinoflagellates" published by WOOLLAM & RIDING (1983) for NW- Europe can also be applled in S-Germany. but a few modifications are necessary for ecological reasons. The dinoflagellates allow to correlate the Upper Jurassie of N-Europa and S-Germany independently from ammonites.
Average-reward model-free reinforcement learning: a systematic review and literature mapping

Model-free reinforcement learning (RL) has been an active area of research and provides a fundamental framework for agent-based learning and decision-making in artificial intelligence. In this paper, we review a specific subset of this literature, namely work that utilizes optimization criteria based on average rewards, in the infinite horizon setting. Average reward RL has the advantage of being the most selective criterion in recurrent (ergodic) Markov decision processes. In comparison to widely-used discounted reward criterion, it also requires no discount factor, which is a critical hyperparameter, and properly aligns the optimization and performance metrics. Motivated by the solo survey by Mahadevan (1996a), we provide an updated review of work in this area and extend it to cover policy-iteration and function approximation methods (in addition to the value-iteration and tabular counterparts). We also identify and discuss opportunities for future work.
ANTIMUTAGENIC POTENTIAL OF LIV52 BY AMES SALMONELLA/MAMMALIAN: MICROSOME MUTAGENICITY ASSAY

ABSTRACT Objective: Liv52, a nontoxic herbal preparation is reported to be clinically active in hepatotoxicity and a wide range of hepatic disorders. This study was undertaken to evaluate the mutagenic/antimutagenic potential of Liv52 using Salmonella mutagenicity test. Methods: Ames Salmonella/Mammalian - microsome mutagenicity test was used to evaluate the mutagenic or antimutagenic potential of Liv52. Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA1537, TA1538, TA100, and TA102 were used for mutagenicity testing. The antimutagenicity study was carried out in tester strains TA1538 and TA100 against various standard mutagens with and without metabolic activation. Results: Liv52 did not show any mutagenic potential both with and without metabolic activation, whereas in TA1538 and TA 100 tester strains, Liv52 showed 48.4% and 47.2% of inhibition of his+ revertants induced by 4-nitro-O-phenylenediamine, respectively. Further with metabolic activation in TA1538, Liv52 showed 99.8%, 99.8%, and 100% inhibition of his+ revertants induced by 2-aminofluorene, 2-anthranine, and cigarette smoke condensate, respectively. In TA100 maximum of 100%, 100%, 97.7%, and 100% inhibition of his+ revertants induced by 2-aminofluorene, 2-anthranine, benzo(a)pyrene, and cigarette smoke condensate, respectively, were observed. A significant enhancement of inhibition of his+ revertants induced by all the above said mutagens were observed in preincubation modification method. Conclusion: Liv52 was found to be nonmutagenic in Salmonella assay, whereas manifested the antimutagenic potential both with and without metabolic activation. The enhanced antimutagenic activity of Liv52 on preincubation indicates that the antimutagenic factor(s) may be desmutagenic in nature. The exact mechanism by which Liv52 exerts antimutagenic potential is not known. The possibility of having diverse antimutagenic factors in Liv52 which act by different mechanisms are strongly indicated. Keywords: Liv52 syrup, Salmonella mutagenicity test, Ames test, Desmutagens.
Orienting the causal relationship between imprecisely measured traits using genetic instruments

Inference of the causal structure that induces correlations between two traits can be achieved by combining genetic associations with a mediation-based approach, as is done in the causal inference test (CIT) and others. However, we show that measurement error in the phenotypes can lead to mediation-based approaches inferring the wrong causal direction, and that increasing sample sizes has the adverse effect of increasing confidence in the wrong answer. Here we introduce an extension to Mendelian randomisation, a method that uses genetic associations in an instrumentation framework, that enables inference of the causal direction between traits, with some advantages. First, it is less susceptible to bias in the presence of measurement error; second, it is more statistically efficient; third, it can be performed using only summary level data from genome-wide association studies; and fourth, its sensitivity to measurement error can be evaluated. We apply the method to infer the causal direction between DNA methylation and gene expression levels. Our results demonstrate that, in general, DNA methylation is more likely to be the causal factor, but this result is highly susceptible to bias induced by systematic differences in measurement error between the platforms. We emphasise that, where possible, implementing MR and appropriate sensitivity analyses alongside other approaches such as CIT is important to triangulate reliable conclusions about causality.
Cultural and morphological characterization of rhizospheric isolates of fungal antagonist Trichoderma

The genus Trichoderma contains species that are of a great economic importance due to their ability to act as biological control agents against a large variety of fungal plant pathogens. In the present investigation thirty isolates of the Trichoderma sp. were obtained from the rhizosphere soils of different plants at different locations at Nainital, Almora, Udham Singh Nagar, Derhadun, Haridwar and Tehri Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand (India). The isolates were characterized on the basis of their cultural and morphological characteristics. The cultural characteristics included linear growth, colony colour, pigmentation and growth pattern. Morphological characteristics studied were structure, shape and arrangement of conidiophores, phialides and conidia. Out of thirty isolates, 6 isolates namely PB10, PB13, PB23, PB26, PB27 and PB28 were identified as T. virens and remaining 24 isolates as T. harzianum.
Production and Application of Keratinase Enzyme from 4 Strains of Bacillus spp. Isolated from Yogyakarta and Garut City

Processing of waste chicken feathers can be used as a biological treatment with keratinase enzyme. Keratinase enzyme can be produced by microorganisms. Keratinase enzyme expected to be produced from Bacillus spp. which has been previously isolated from Yogyakarta and Garut City. The purpose of this research was to determine the production of keratinase enzyme produced from Bacillus spp. and apply the keratinase enzyme in the process of degradation of chicken feathers. Research consists to measuring the growth of Bacillus spp. and investigation of degradation of chicken feathers by Bacillus spp. were analyzed descriptively, while data of digested protein by Bacillus spp. analyzed using a split plot design, if there are differences followed by Duncan New Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results obtained bacterial growth and the ability of degradation was found on Bacillus sp. TD5B. Increasing of growth rate was followed by faster degradation time. Concentration soluble protein by Bacillus meganterium capable of producing higher compared with any others strains. Bacillus meganterium has had highest soluble protein (2,030 mg/ml). The longer degradation time followed by highest concentration soluble protein of feathers. The best incubation time at 8 hours that containing 2,256 mg/ml of soluble protein.