Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Enclosure Can Benefit Grassland Community Stability on the Loess Plateau of China

Fertilization and grazing are two common anthropogenic disturbances that can lead to unprecedented changes in biodiversity and ecological stability of grassland ecosystems. A few studies, however, have explored the effects of fertilization and grazing on community stability and the underlying mechanisms. We conducted a six-year field experiment to assess the influence of nitrogen (N) fertilization and grazing on the community stability in a long-term enclosure and grazing grassland ecosystems on the Loess Plateau. A structural equation modeling method was used to evaluate how fertilization and grazing altered community stability. Our results indicated that the community stability decreased in the enclosure and grazing grassland ecosystems with the addition of N. The community stability began to decline significantly at 4.68 and 9.36 N g m−2 year−1 for the grazing and enclosure grassland ecosystems, respectively. We also found that the addition of N reduced the community stability through decreasing species richness, but a long-term enclosure can alleviate its negative effect. Overall, species diversity can be a useful predictor of the stability of ecosystems confronted with disturbances. Also, our results showed that long-term enclosure was an effective grassland management practice to ensure community stability on the Loess Plateau of China.
THE POTENTIAL OF AFRICAN RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGES AS A TOOL FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA

Religious pilgrimages are components of religious tourism and a revenue generator for different countries. The study aims to explore the contribution of African religious pilgrimages towards tourism development of the study areas. Sequential exploratory mixed method research design was applied in this paper. The study used a convenience sampling method of the non-probability sampling design in selecting 210 respondents. Additionally, convenience sampling was used in selecting 40 participants that were readily and easily accessible in the study area. Lastly, the elucidates that there is a need for tourism development for African religious pilgrimages.
PROPERTIES OF FIBROUS COMPOSITES WITH POLYESTER: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN SISAL FIBER AND PET

Fiber-reinforced composites represent 75% of the application of these materials in several industrial segments. It has the purpose of improving technical characteristics and reducing environmental impact through the use of sustainable raw materials such as natural fibers and other fibers from industrial waste. In this sense, the objective of this work was to study and compare the mechanical properties of polyester composites (PL) reinforced with natural sisal fiber and residues of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) synthetic fibers. Initially, we evaluated the moisture and morphology of the fibers. The composites with PL matrix were obtained and the fiber concentration varied by 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight. In the composites, the mechanical properties under flexion and impact resistance were evaluated. We concluded that the level of reinforcement with sisal fibers did not significantly affect the mechanical properties. However, the PET fiber provided significant improvements in the properties of the composite. Thus, the composites reinforced with PET fiber residue have advantages in the development of new material with sustainable characteristics.
Gas holdup and interfacial area distributions in a mechanically agitated gas-liquid contactor

Spatial gas holdup distributions in an air-water dispersion have been measured on a quasi-point grid in the median plane between two adjacent baffles of a 1.0m diameter stirred vessel contactor, using an automated conductivity probe. A detailed picture of the dispersion is generated under different agitation and gassed conditions. The spatial distribution of the bubble population inside the vessel as revealed by the measured local bubble passage frequency and the local gas holdup, is highly non-uniform with most of the gas residing in the bulk region of the tank. The effect of the agitation speed is to increase the holdup at most positions and enhance uniformity in gas distribution. An increase in gas flow rate causes an almost uniform rise in the gas holdup in the bulk, and reduces gas circulation in the lower region of the vessel. Combining the gas holdup distributions with bubble size distributions from an earlier study by the authors, has yielded the corresponding interfacial area distributions. Large interfacial areas occur near the agitator because of high holdup and small bubble size. The impeller discharge stream contains a large fraction of the total interfacial area in the tank and, therefore, makes an important contribution to mass transfer. Correlations for predicting interfacial area in both air-water and air-NaCl systems are proposed.
Study on extraction and isolation of Aloe-emodin

In this paper, we compare the separation effects of resin GD-3, GD-4 and GD-10 on aloe ethanol extract. Macroporous resin GD-10 is employed as a stationary phase. And gradient elution with ethanol aqueous solution is employed as a mobile phase. The separation conditions are also determined: injecting velocity 2.0mL/min, injecting concentration 5.0g/L, eluting velocity 2.0mL/min in preparation chromatography, less than 1.0mL/min in analysis chromatography. The structure of Aloe-emodin is determined by UV-V, IR, HNMR and MS.
Dysfunctional relationship beliefs as gendered predictors of alexithymia in Turkish cultural context

ABSTRACT The present research investigated the relationship between dysfunctional relationship beliefs (DRB) and alexithymia with a particular focus on gender among Turkish college students. Results indicated that different DRB predicts alexithymia in females and males. Intimacy avoidance predicted an increase of alexithymia scores in females, whereas intimacy avoidance and unrealistic relationship expectations predicted an increase of alexithymia scores in males. The results highlighted the association of intimacy avoidance with difficulty identifying and describing feelings in both genders, stronger in males when compared to other two DRB, namely unrealistic relationship expectations and mind reading. The results suggested that alexithymia is related to different forms of DRB in females and males, indicating potential intervention strategies and patterns in females’ and males’ alexithymia.
Activated Carbon from Brazilian Babassu Nutshell using Physical Route and Microwave Radiation

The Activated charcoal AC is a carbonaceous material with high carbon content in its structure, it can be obtained from biomaterials such as: coconut shell, wood, bamboo, etc. Its pores are highly developed, have high adsorption capacity and have a microcrystalline form capable of selectively purifying liquids or gases. All the ACs have micro, meso and macro pores in their structure, but the relative proportion depends on the precursor and production process. In carrying out this work, activated carbon was produced from the charcoal of the babassu endocarp prepared via microwave radiation. The physical activation process took place in the atmosphere of CO2 via microwave radiation at room temperature 235 °C and activation time corresponding to 50 minutes. The characterizations of the AC were performed with the following techniques: Scanning electron microscopy SEM; Surface area analysis BET and porosity; Thermogravimetric analysis TGA; Analyzes of methylene blue adsorption in the region UV-Vis. The data obtained in this research shows that babassu activated carbon produced at low temperatures and high activation time has better methylene blue adsorption characteristics than AC produced at high temperatures and less time.
A global study of hygroscopicity-driven light scattering
enhancement in the context of other in-situ aerosol optical properties

Abstract. The scattering and backscattering enhancement factors (f(RH) and fb(RH)) describe how aerosol particle light scattering and backscattering, respectively, change with relative humidity (RH). They are important parameters in estimating direct aerosol radiative forcing (DARF). In this study we use a dataset presented in Burgos et al. (2019) that compiles f(RH) and fb(RH) measurements at three wavelengths (i.e. 450, 550 and 700 nm) performed with tandem nephelometer systems at multiple sites around the world. We present an overview of f(RH) and fb(RH) based on both long-term and campaign observations from 23 sites representing a range of aerosol types. The scattering enhancement shows a strong variability from site to site, with no clear pattern with respect to total scattering coefficient. In general, higher f(RH) is observed at Arctic and marine sites while lower values are found at urban and desert sites, although a consistent pattern as a function of site type is not observed. The backscattering enhancement fb(RH) is consistently lower tan f(RH) at all sites, with the difference between f(RH) and fb(RH) increasing for aerosol with higher f(RH). This is consistent with Mie theory which predicts higher enhancement of the light-scattering in the forward than in the backward direction as the particle takes up water. Our results show that the scattering enhancement is higher for PM1 than PM10 at most sites, which is also supported by theory due to the change in scattering efficiency with the size parameter that relates particle size and wavelength of incident light. At marine-influenced sites this difference is enhanced when coarse particles (likely sea salt) predominate. For most sites, f(RH) is observed to increase with increasing wavelength, except at sites with a known dust influence where the spectral dependence of f(RH) is found to be low or even exhibit the opposite pattern. The impact of RH on aerosol properties used to calculate radiative forcing (e.g., single scattering albedo, ω0, and backscattered fraction, b) is evaluated. The single scattering albedo generally increases with RH while b decreases. The net effect of aerosol hygroscopicity on radiative forcing efficiency (RFE) is an increase in the absolute forcing effect (negative sign) by a factor of up to 4 at RH = 90 % compared to dry conditions (RH
Reading-related functional activity in children with isolated spelling deficits and dyslexia

ABSTRACT There is increasing evidence showing distinct neurocognitive underpinnings of different deficits of written language processing. This study investigated whether functional brain mechanisms related to isolated spelling problems can be distinguished from those observed for the combined profile of reading and spelling deficits (dyslexia). Two cognitive accounts explaining isolated spelling deficits were tested. Twenty-two children with typical development, 16 children with isolated spelling deficits and 20 children with dyslexia performed a reading-aloud task with words and pseudohomophones during fMRI. The whole-brain analysis for each condition revealed differential patterns of brain activity in the two deficit groups. No reliable differences between typically developing children and children with isolated spelling deficits could be observed in critical regions of the brain’s reading network. Children with dyslexia showed lower brain activity and reduced word-pseudohomophone effects in these regions. Our findings suggest that children with isolated spelling deficits can rely on (degraded) orthographic representations during reading.
Etiology of acute kidney injury in intensive care unit settings

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined as a rapid loss of kidney function occurring over few hours or days. In intensive care unit settings, acute kidney injury (AKI) is a very prevalent condition as most of the patients who are admitted in intensive care units are critically ill. The incidence of acute kidney injury is increasing throughout the world mainly because of aging population and comorbidities which are associated with aging. In intensive care unit settings, the incidence of AKI may reach up to 67%. Though AKI effects depend on clinical situation yet associated with high morbidity and mortality. Objective: To determine the frequency of etiology of acute kidney injury in medical intensive care unit of KRL Hospital. Setting: Medical ICU, KRL Hospital, Islamabad. Duration: six months from 17th May 2017 to 17th November 2017. Study design: Descriptive case series. Material and method: In this study 118 patients were observed. After screening and application of exclusion criteria, a total of 118 patients who were fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected as the study sample and were included in the final analysis regarding prevalence of risk factors associated with AKI. AKI was further classified using acute kidney injury network (AKIN) classification system. Patient age, gender, serum creatinine, etiology and outcome in form of recovery or mortality was recorded on specific proforma. Results: Overall incidence of AKI in ICU settings in this study was 37.8%(n=118) . Out of 118 patients who had AKI, 59.3%(n=70) were male , whereas 40.7% (n=48) were females. Most common risk factor associated with development of AKI was sepsis secondary to infectious illnesses and 39% (n=46) of the patients who developed AKI were suffering from infectious illnesses. Gastrointestinal, drugs and cardiac causes constitutes the 32.2% (n=38), 18.6% (n=22) and 10.2% (n=12) respectively of the AKI in ICU settings. Conclusion: Our study concludes that the frequency of etiology including infectious causes was 39%, cardiac pathology 10%, GI causes 32%, drugs was 19%.
A Single Picture Explains Diversity of Hyperthermia Response of Magnetic Nanoparticles

Progress in the design of nanoscale magnets for localized hyperthermia cancer therapy has been largely driven by trial-and-error approaches, for instance, by changing of the stoichiometry composition, size, and shape of the magnetic entities. So far, widely different and often conflicting heat dissipation results have been reported, particularly as a function of the nanoparticle concentration. Thus, achieving hyperthermia-efficient magnetic ferrofluids remains an outstanding challenge. Here we demonstrate that diverging heat-dissipation patterns found in the literature can be actually described by a single picture accounting for both the intrinsic magnetic features of the particles (anisotropy, magnetization) and experimental conditions (concentration, magnetic field). Importantly, this general magnetic-hyperthermia scenario also predicts a novel non-monotonic concentration dependence with optimum heating features, which we experimentally confirmed in iron oxide nanoparticle ferrofluids by fine-tuning the.
Analysis of kinetics pattern in the formation and separation of a drop of fluid in the form of a capsule

Capsulation, as a technological principle, can provoke the activation of innovations in the food industry and cause the development and implementation of new scientifically substantiated technologies for processing the raw materials, creating new product shapes, convenient in the consumption, increasing production volumes and efficiency of food products, development and application of modern fundamentally new technologies, technological processes, techniques and equipment that collectively are able to significantly affect the state and development of food technologies. Taking into account the laws of gravity and the use of methods of systems analysis, we devised a model of capsule-formation of fluids, different in origin, by the method of extrusion. Kinetics of the formation of a capsular structure is defined, as well as the patterns for obtaining the spherical shapes of different diameter. The obtained regularities are the basis of scientific and technological principles of obtaining the capsulated oil and fat products with the thermo- and acid stable properties. It is demonstrated theoretically that the main factor that limits the process of formation and separation of a drop is the stage of germ formation and a drop in particular. Duration of the germ and drop formation is much longer (by about 20 times) than the time of a bridge breakaway. The presence in capsulated fluids of a shell significantly affects both the dimensions of a bridge and a drop and the time of the processes of forming a drop and its separation. In this case, an increase in the relative coefficient of surface tension by 3 times increases the radius of a drop by 1.6 times, and the overall time of the formation separation of a drop by 2.5 times. Resulting equations might be applied in the experimental verification of the proposed model for the formation and separation of a drop of fluid.
Xylene and alkane mono-oxygenases from Pseudomonas putida

Chiraliteit Louis Pasteur ontdekte in het jaar 1848 dat kristallen van wijnsteenzuur in verschillende vormen voorkomen en dat de geometrie van twee kristalsoorten elkaars spiegelbeeld was. Hij was in staat deze vormen met behulp van een microscoop en een pincet (! ) van elkaar te scheiden en constateerde dat de geisoleerde kristallen een wisselwerking met licht vertoonden, ze waren optisch actief In opgeloste vorm bleek de ene kristalvorm gepolariseerd licht linksom te draaien (linksdraaiend wijnsteenzuur), terwijl de gespiegelde kristalstructuur rechtsdraaiend was. Deze waarneming was de ontdekking van de relatie tussen optisch actieve verbindingen en chirale moleculen. Chiraliteit is specifiek voor moleculen die asymmetrisch zijn, hetgeen betekent dat het spiegelbeeld van een chiraal molecuul niet identiek is aan de originele structuur: de moleculen 'passen' niet op elkaar. De naam chiraliteit is afgeleid van "chir" het griekse woord voor hand, omdat de linker- en rechterhand voorbeelden zijn van dergelijke spiegelbeelden. De analoge rechter- en linkerhand-vormen van een molecuul worden enantiomeren genoemd. Enantiomeren worden aangeduid met R of S. Beide enantiomeren zijn in dezelfde mate optisch actief, maar de baan van het licht wordt afhankelijk van het enantiomeer linksom (-) of rechtsom (+) gedraaid. In een racemisch mengsel zijn de R en S vorm van een molecuul aanwezig in gelijke hoeveelheden en is de netto draaing van het licht afivezig, maar wanneer een van de twee enantiomeren overheerst kan de draaing van licht worden waargenomen. De mate waarin een van de twee enantiomeren overheerst wordt uitgedrukt in de enantiomere overmaat ; bij een enantiomere overmaat van 100% is een verbinding optisch zuiver. Een aanzienlijk deel van de reacties die zich afspelen in de natuur verlopen met een voorkeur voor ken van de enantiomeren van een chirale verbinding, omdat de eiwitten die deze reacties uitvoeren (enzymen) een van beide verkiezen boven de ander (enantioselectiviteit ). Een belangrijke gevolg van enantioselectiviteit is dat van een verscheidenheid aan medicijnen slechts een van de enantiomeren actief is, tenvijl de andere vorm minder, geen of in sommige gevallen zelfs een schadelijk effect heeft. Gestuurd door internationale richtlijnen zijn producenten van geneesmiddelen meer en meer bezig optisch zuivere geneesmiddelen te ontwikkelen. Hierbij kunnen biotechnologische processen uitkomst bieden. Enzymen zijn het gereedschap van de biotechnologie. In het bijzonder reacties, die organisch chemisch moeilijk zijn uit te voeren kunnen soms met behulp van enzymen eenvoudiger worden gekatalyseerd. Tevens kunnen biotechnologische processes een waardevol alternatief zijn voor chemische syntheses die onder milieu-onvriendelijke omstandigheden (moeten) worden uitgevoerd.
Numerical investigation on load transfer mechanism of bonded post-tensioned concrete beam-column substructures against progressive collapse

This paper presents the high-fidelity finite-element-based numerical models for modeling the behavior of prestressed concrete (PC) beam-column substructures to resist progressive collapse under column removal scenario. After careful calibration against data, the validated numerical models are further employed to shed light on the influence of bonded post-tensioned tendons (BPT) with a parabolic profile on the load transfer mechanisms of PC frames against progressive collapse. The effects of parameters, including initial effective prestress, profile of tendon and lateral constraint stiffness at the beam ends, are also investigated. The study shows that, due to the presence of prestressed tendons, the mobilization of compressive arch action in the beam at small deflections demands stronger lateral constraints, and the ultimate load resistance of PC beam-column substructures depends on combined catenary action from non-prestressed reinforcement and BPT at large deflections. For a given constraint stiffness, the initial effective prestress of BPT has less significant effect on the overall structural behavior. For prestressed tendon, a straight profile usually employed in structural strengthening can improve the initial structural stiffness and yield strength, but is less effective in enhancing the ultimate resistance against progressive collapse than the parabolic profile.
Coal-Agglomeration Processes: A Review

ABSTRACT This article presents an extensive review of the coal-agglomeration process, including oil-agglomeration theory, characterization methods of coal hydrophobicity, and the main factors affecting the agglomeration-process performance in terms of combustible recovery and ash rejection. Coal rank and oxidation state, coal petrography and composition, coal-particle size, pulp density, and pH, bridging-liquid type and concentration, presence of surfactant and electrolytes, bridging-oil emulsification, and agitation intensity as well as time are among the factors here discussed. A chronological overview of the development and milestones of the coal-agglomeration processes is also provided.
COMPARISON OF MEDICAL AND PHARMACY STUDENTS’ READINESS FOR INTERPROFESSIONAL LEARNING – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Interprofessional education (IPE) is aimed to improve the quality of healthcare services by allowing representatives of different professions to communicate more effectively. However, it can be achieved only if students are ready to participate. The study aimed to determine the readiness of medical and pharmacy students for interprofessional learning at different levels of their education. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1402 medical and pharmacy students using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed with the MannWhitney U test. The level of statistical significance was assumed at p < 0.05. The highest RIPLS results were noted among students of the two final years at both degree courses. Pharmacy students showed significantly higher readiness for interprofessional education than medical students in every study year compared. High RIPLS values among last-years students should encourage implementing IPE elements into the postgraduate training.
Determinants of Intercorporate Investments: An Empirical Investigation of Indian Firms

We examine the determinants of intercorporate investments for a sample of 127 firms listed in the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in India for the period 2015–2019. This research indicates that the investor firm’s intercorporate investments are influenced by free cash flows, dividend yield, promoter holding, and leverage. Interestingly, contrary to anecdotes in the financial press, the investor firms where promoter holding (equity) is more, prefer to invest less in the other firm’s capital (as part of intercorporate investment). Using OLS regression, this analysis does not find evidence for the variables, that is, the firm’s age, the capital expenditure required, growth in earnings per share, board independence, and CEO duality for significant influence on intercorporate investments. Further tests for industry effect reveal the consumer and retail sector’s intercorporate investments to be significantly different (i.e., lower) from the manufacturing and service sectors.