Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methods for identifying aged ship plumes and estimating contribution to aerosol exposure downwind of shipping lanes

Abstract. Ship traffic is a major source of aerosol particles, particularly near shipping lanes and harbours. In order to estimate the contribution to exposure downwind of a shipping lane, it is important to be able to measure the ship emission contribution at various distances from the source. We report on measurements of atmospheric particles 7–20 km downwind of a shipping lane in the Baltic Sea Sulfur Emission Control Area (SECA) at a coastal location in southern Sweden during a winter and a summer campaign. Each ship plume was linked to individual ship passages using a novel method based on wind field data and automatic ship identification system data (AIS), where varying wind speeds and directions were applied to calculate a plume trajectory. In a situation where AIS data are not matching measured plumes well or if AIS data are missing, we provide an alternative method with particle number concentration data. The shipping lane contribution to the particle number concentration in Falsterbo was estimated by subtracting background concentrations from the ship plume concentrations, and more than 150 plumes were analysed. We have also extrapolated the contribution to seasonal averages and provide recommendations for future similar measurements. Averaged over a season, the contribution to particle number concentration was about 18 % during the winter and 10 % during the summer, including those periods with wind directions when the shipping lane was not affecting the station. The corresponding contribution to equivalent black carbon was 1.4 %.
Elucidation of stabilizing pickering emulsion with jackfruit filum pectin-soy protein nanoparticles obtained by photocatalysis

Abstract There is still the dearth of reports of jackfruit filum pectin-based nanoparticles as the Pickering emulsifiers with respect to the applications in foods, cosmetics and medicines. So we fabricated soy protein-jackfruit filum pectin nanoparticles (SPP) by photocatalysis as Pickering emulsifier. Jackfruit filum pectin exhibited lower yield (17.31%), degree of methoxylation (15.53%), but higher galacuronic acid content (74.22%). A strong linkage between pectin and soy protein was formed by photocatalysis. The conjugated polymer could self-assemble into compact near globular nanoparticle. The mean size of SPP was larger than that of soy protein nanoparticles but smaller than that of soy protein-pectin complex without photocatalysis. Besides, the zeta potential of SPP was −33.8 mV, significantly lower than that of soy protein nanoparticles but higher than that of control sample, further confirming that SPP surfaces were completely covered with pectin molecules. Compared with control sample, the three-phase contact angle increased from 42.7 to 90.6°, indicated that SPP could be developed as effective Pickering emulsifiers. The emulsions stabilized by SPP exhibited high thermal stability and excellent salt tolerance as well as good freeze-thaw stability in comparison with emulsions covered with control sample. These findings would provide a potential way of producing effective Pickering emulsifier.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Structural Investigation, Proton and Electron Affinities, Gas Phase Basicities, and Ionization Energies of Captopril

Captopril is one of the most significant angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. In spite of numerous experimental and computational studies on its properties, not enough geometrical and thermodynamic data is available on this compound. So, this study aimed to investigate the structural properties and assignment of possible conformers of captopril in the gas-phase. To this end, 1152 unique trial structures were generated by allowing for all the combinations of internal single-bond rotamers and pyrrolidine ring-inversion. A total of 119 conformers were found at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level after three sequential steps of optimization and their relative energies, dipole moments, and rotational constants were obtained. The ionization energies, electron affinities, topical proton affinities, and gas-phase basicities of the first six low-energy conformers of captopril were also calculated via the abovementioned method. As we know, it is widely known that protonation is of great importance in the formation of new structures. Hence, the protonated forms of the favorable captopril conformers were structurally examined.
Consequences in a softwood kraft pulp mill of initial high alkali concentration in the impregnation stage

Abstract Impregnation with high initial concentration is fast and efficient, leading to a homogeneous delignification in the subsequent cook, resulting in improved screened pulp yield. To obtain high initial alkali concentration, the white liquor flow needs to be significantly increased. The moisture content of the wood chips and the alkali concentration of the white liquor limit the initial alkali concentration of the impregnation liquor that can be reached. It is therefore of interest to evaluate the possibility to implement high alkali impregnation (HAI) industrially and the consequences this would have on the mill system. The effect of HAI on mass and energy balances in a kraft pulp mill has been studied using mill model simulations. The sensitivity to disturbances in important parameters for process control has been compared to impregnation scenarios used industrially. It was shown that high initial alkali concentration can be achieved on industrial scale by increased white liquor flow. HAI has a positive effect on recovery flows and reduces the need for make-up chemicals. The HAI concept is less sensitive to variations in process parameters, such as chip moisture and white liquor concentration, thus diminishing the risk of alkali depletion in chip cores.
Ascorbic acid content and senescence in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) during storage.

Blueberry consumption increases because its health properties linked to antioxidants, easy cultivation and profitability. The ability to preserve fruits in controlled atmosphere (CA) allows extending the marketing calendar. The work evaluates parameters linked to the cellular redox state of blueberry fruits, cv. Brigitta, stored at 0°C at different atmosphere regimes (CA1= 10% CO2, 4% O2 and CA2= 9% CO2, 2% O2, compared to air as control). During storage, quality was assessed by the content of ascorbic acid (AA), antioxidant and index of fruit metabolic status, and of malondialdehyde (MDA), cell membranes oxidative stress and senescence marker; soluble solids content, titratable acidity and dry matter were also determined. Storage in CA increases the blueberries shelf life, particularly at the intermediate times; after 2 months there is a drastic lowering in AA levels and differences among treatments are no longer detectable. Ascorbate is confirmed to be an excellent index of oxidative stress in fruit senescence processes. In control, along with the AA decrease, there is a higher MDA content, in particular up to the intermediate dates. CA2 proves to be the most suitable atmosphere for delaying the senescence process. Titratable acidity and soluble solids remain constant in all samples throughout storage.
#selfcare on Instagram: Proactive Mental Health Has Its Moment

While widely used by clinicians, self-care has recently emerged as a trending topic in mainstream and social media. Informal health and support communities have formed on social media sites such as Instagram, which hosts more than one billion monthly users and ranks as the second most popular social networking application in the United States (U.S). This study investigates how the term self-care is portrayed on Instagram. In particular, the researchers were interested in whether or not current portrayals of self-care on Instagram aligned with the health themes previously established in the clinical definitions of self-care. Using the search term #selfcare, researchers sampled the top 200 Instagram posts in February 2020 (prior to COVID-19). A codebook was developed, pilot tested, and used to code posts. Two researchers independently coded posts. Directed content analysis of #selfcare reveals that the majority of posts were for a female audience, nearly half (43%, n=86) were explicitly geared toward health with the most common being mental and emotional health (23%, n=46.5), physical wellness (19%, n=38), and interpersonal wellness (6%, n=11.5). The emergence of public self-care dialogue is reflected in patterns of social media use, particularly on Instagram where #selfcare has amassed more than 24 million posts. Images from Instagram may help in understanding public use of the term self-care and should be included in the discussion of health promotion through social media.
Comparative Analysis of Random Blood Glucose Levels in Serum, Plasma and Whole Blood Using Glucose Oxidase and Hexokinase Methods under Spectrophotometric and Electrochemical Platforms

Diabetes is, a condition associated with the impairment of the body’s ability to produce or utilise the hormone insulin. This leads to abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood. This serious non-communicable disease has been on the rise in Kenya partly because many people are not aware that they are diabetic since there are no serious early symptoms associated with the disease. It is estimated that the prevalence of diabetes in Kenya ranges from 2.7% (rural settings) and 10% (urban areas) affecting both the affluent and non-affluent population. It is expected that the actual numbers could be higher since many cases go unreported for lack of regular screening in the general population. In Kenya there is no study that has been conducted to compare the performance of current blood glucose testing methods being used. The suitability of serum or plasma as alternatives to whole blood has also not been well researched. The sample of choice for glucose testing has always been whole blood, either in fluoride or from a finger prick. The aim of the study was to compare the results obtained from these three sample types (whole blood, serum and plasma) using two methods: glucose oxidase and hexokinase methods. The investigation was carried out using 300 study subjects that included 150 diabetic patients attending diabetic clinic either for management, diagnosis or monitoring of blood sugar and 150 healthy individuals in the blood donation centre at Kenyatta National Hospital Nairobi County. The analytical instruments used were glucometers and a spectrophotometer to compare blood glucose levels in serum, plasma and whole blood using electrochemical and spectrophotometric platforms. While comparing the serum and plasma glucose concentration using hexokinase method under electrochemical and spectrophometric platforms, the mean difference for the two protocols was 0.145 which was found to be statistically insignificant (p=0.342) using paired T-test. Similarly while comparing the same using glucose oxidase method under the electrochemical and spectrophotometric platform, the mean difference for the two protocols was 0.012 which was found to be statistically insignificant (p=0.135) using paired T-test. The results revealed that the two methods used in glucose concentration analysis were similar irrespective of the method or sample used. There was no significant difference in their means. Either of the two methods can be used interchangeably in the analysis of glucose and either serum or plasma in fluoride can be used as a specimen of choice.
Dirac Strings and Magnetic Monopoles in the Spin Ice Dy2Ti2O7

Magnetic Monopoles Magnets come with a north and a south pole. Despite being predicted to exist, searches in astronomy and in high-energy particle physics experiments for magnetic monopoles (either north or south on their own) have defied observation. Theoretical work in condensed-matter systems has predicted that spin-ice structures may harbor such elusive particles (see the Perspective by Gingras). Fennell et al. (p. 415, published online 3 September) and Morris et al. (p. 411, published online 3 September) used polarized neutron scattering to probe the spin structure forming in two spin-ice compounds—Ho2Ti2O7 and Dy2Ti2O7—and present results in support of the presence of magnetic monopoles in both materials. Neutron scattering measurements on two spin-ice compounds show evidence for magnetic monopoles. Sources of magnetic fields—magnetic monopoles—have so far proven elusive as elementary particles. Condensed-matter physicists have recently proposed several scenarios of emergent quasiparticles resembling monopoles. A particularly simple proposition pertains to spin ice on the highly frustrated pyrochlore lattice. The spin-ice state is argued to be well described by networks of aligned dipoles resembling solenoidal tubes—classical, and observable, versions of a Dirac string. Where these tubes end, the resulting defects look like magnetic monopoles. We demonstrated, by diffuse neutron scattering, the presence of such strings in the spin ice dysprosium titanate (Dy2Ti2O7). This is achieved by applying a symmetry-breaking magnetic field with which we can manipulate the density and orientation of the strings. In turn, heat capacity is described by a gas of magnetic monopoles interacting via a magnetic Coulomb interaction.
Studying the toxicity of molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles in male Wister rats

Background: With the spread of nanotechnology, various nanoparticles with new and emerging properties have been produced and the potential toxic effects of the majority of these particles remains still unknown. The present study was conducted to determine the toxicity of Molybdenum Trioxide nanoparticles in blood and body tissues of male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty Wistar rats with an average weight of 200±10 g were included in the present experimental study; the rats were divided into three groups of control, low dose intervention and high dose intervention. Nano-trioxide molybdenum was injected at 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight for 28 days; then, blood samples and rats organs were collected to measure the molybdenum content. Molybdenum concentration was measured by atomic absorption method. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 20) and appropriate statistical methods including one-way ANOVA were used in order to compare the mean of blood variables among the groups. Results: The results showed that decreasing hematocrit (p <0.001), hemoglobin (p <0.001), and red and white blood cells (p <0.01) in rates receiving 10 mg of Molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles was significantly higher than that among rates in the other two groups. The mean degradation of molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles in the liver and kidneys was significantly higher than the heart and stomach (p <0.05). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles at high concentrations had a more toxic effect on blood and serum parameters in comparison with the low concentrations.
Effect of Gelatinization Temperature and Chitosan on Mechanical Properties of Bioplastics from Avocado Seed Starch (Persea americana mill) with Plasticizer Glycerol

--------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT----------------------------------------------------------Bioplastics are polymers which are derived from renewable biomass resources, such as starch, cellulose and lignin for plants and casein, protein and lipid for animals. The aim of this research to obtain the effect of gelatinization temperature and chitosan on the psychochemical properties of bioplastic. Starch is the raw material for bioplastics which extracted by the avocado seeds, then characterized to determine its chemical composition.The variation composition of avocado seed starch chitosan used 7: 3, 8: 2 and 9: 1 and temperature bioplastic solution was varied at 80, 85 and 90 °C. Bioplastics were analyzed physical and chemical properties. From the analysis, tbest condition of bioplastics obtained at temperature 90 °C with comparison of mass starch chitosan 7: 3 for tensile strength 5.096 MPa, elongation at break 14.016% and Modulus Young 36.359 MPa. From the results of FT-IR analysis indicated O-H group and N-H groups on bioplastics due to the addition of chitosan and glycerol. The results of mechanical properties were supported by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed the bioplastic with chitosan as filler and plasticizer glycerol have the fracture surfaces were smooth and soft and a little cavity.
Organic matter and ammonia removal by a novel integrated process of constructed wetland and microbial fuel cells

A novel approach, combining a microbial fuel cell (MFC) with an integrated vertical flow constructed wetland (IVCW), was developed, and its ability to simultaneously produce electrical energy while treating swine wastewater was verified. The system combined the singular water flow path of a traditional vertical flow constructed wetland (upflow and downflow)-microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC), which demonstrates better characteristics in the aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic regions. It not only enhanced the anti-pollution load ability and the organic compound removal effect, but also improved the gradient difference in the redox potential of the system. The results showed that the structure and substrate distribution in the device could both improve swine wastewater treatment and increase bioelectricity generation capabilities. The average chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+–N) removal efficiencies were as high as 79.65% and 77.5%, respectively. Long-term and stable bioelectricity generation was achieved under continuous flow conditions. The peak values of the output voltage and power density were 713 mV and 456 mW m−3. The activated carbon layer at the bottom of this system provided a larger surface for the growth of microbes. It showed significant promotion of the relative abundance of electrochemically active bacteria, which might result in the increase of bioelectricity generation in integrated vertical flow constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells (IVCW-MFCs). The electrochemically active bacteria, Geobacter and Desulfuromonas, were detected in the anodic biofilm by high-throughput sequencing analysis.
BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Influence of birth rank on cause of lamb deaths prior to weaning

Post-mortem examinations were carried out on 1098 lambs that died between birth and weaning at 12 weeks of age to evaluate the causes of mortality in a high-fertility flock. These comprised 95% of all lamb deaths from a total of 14732 lambs born over nine years. Starvation/exposure was the biggest cause of lamb deaths (26%) followed by infection (20%), hypoxia (16%) and prenatal deaths (16%). Prenatal deaths were 18%, 12% and 10%; deaths due to hypoxia were 18%, 15% and 11% and to starvation were 28%, 26% and 12% for triplets, twins and singles respectively. There were no significant differences between birth ranks for deaths from infection.
Biomass and Carbon Sequestration of Forest Tree Species in Response to Microbial Biofertilizers

Climate change is presently the most important issue facing our generation. Estimation of plant biomass is one of the methods used to determine the amount of stored carbon, which can help implement appropriate strategies to reduce environmental degradation and mitigate climate change. This study assessed the carbon sequestration and storage by three reforestation species: Pterocarpus indicus, Acacia mangium, and Eucalyptus urophylla, as influenced by microbial fungi with or without nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB). Pterocarpus indicus were grown in a nursery in Gasan, Marinduque for 5 months, while A. mangium and E. urophylla were raised at the screen house of BIOTECH UPLB. Inoculation was done during pricking while lime and vermicompost were applied to all seedlings during field planting. Allometric equation developed by Martines-Yrizar et al. (1992) was used to determine biomass density using stem diameter and total height of the tree. Representative trees were excavated 27 months after field planting. Results showed that A. mangium and P. indicus inoculated with mycorrhiza + NFB showed a 128% and 17%, respectively, increase in accumulated biomass and CO2 content. In E. urophylla, 83% biomass increase was observed with mycorrhizal inoculation alone. The results suggest that plant biomass and carbon sequestration due to microbial inoculation vary depending on tree species. A. mangium produced higher plant biomass, that consequently, gave higher amount of stored or sequestered CO2 than E. urophylla and P. indicus. Similar studies should be conducted in other mined- out areas in the country to validate the results.
Assessment of the flocculating potentials of Alcaligenes faecalis Isolated from the Estuary of Sodwana Bay

Abstract Alcaligenes faecalis was previously isolated from Sodwana Bay, South Africa and was shown to be a bioflocculant producing microorganism. The bioflocculant production potential was further assessed through the optimization of the standardized culture media. The production of biofloculant as well as the flocculation was evaluated using different variables such as the size of inoculum, sources of carbon and nitrogen, time course and pH. Through optimization A. faecalis showed an improvement in the production of its bioflocculant and also flocculating activity for the following factors: flocculating activity of 71% for an inoculum size of 1%. The bioflocculant produced when maltose was used as source of carbon, showed flocculating activity of 91%, urea, as the most efficient nitrogen source, showed a flocculating activity of 97%, the optimum pH was 9. The time courses analysis between 60 and 72 hours showed the peak for flocculation and by implication highest level of bioflocculant production.
Facilitating factors for a successful agri-tourism venture: A principal component analysis

Agritourism is an alternative farming enterprise that is defined as “a business conducted by a farm operator for the enjoyment and education of the public, to promote the products for the farm, and thereby generate additional farm income”. Agri-tourism is a subset of farm-based tourism which includes recreation, camping, participating in farm activities as well as retail, lodging, and entertainment. The present study was conducted with a sample size of forty-five agritourism hosts/operators from two states, Maharashtra and Goa, respectively, aiming at tracing out the significant factors facilitating the success of an agritourism venture. Data were collected by personal interview using summated Likert rating scale and analysed using median analysis and principal component analysis. Five different factors could finally be extracted out of 16 relatively important variables facilitating the success of an agritourism. These five factors were-Location advantage, Customer satisfaction, Resource management, Promotion and publicity and Government Support. These factors can be used as benchmarks for developing scales or indices for measuring the success of any agritourism. Moreover, the findings imply that these psycho-social and physical factors contribute to a larger extent towards the success of an agritourism venture, hence should invariably be addressed while planning any agritourism related policy at individual and mass level.