Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical Properties Improvement of Recycled Polypropylene with Material Value Conservation Schemes Using Virgin Plastic Blends

Repetitive implementation of material value conservation (MVC) in plastic packaging may lead to good quality plastic waste and high acceptance for secondary recycling. This makes the obtained recycled plastic pellets has good quality and can be used as an alternative raw material for new products. However, treatments and processing in the recycling processes can lead to the degradation of material properties and disrupt the recycled plastics life cycle to be used for new products with high specifications. Recycled plastics are certainly cheaper than virgin plastics, but they have low properties, contaminated, and are only used for low-value products. Therefore, a solution is needed for this problem. This study proposed mixing recycled and virgin plastic pellets to improve recycled plastics whose optical properties have been subjected to quality degradation. A series of tests were carried out on specimens and tested according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) method. The optical properties tested were transparency, gloss, and colour. This study revealed that optical properties had an increasing trend along with the large number of virgin plastic pellets added to the blends. The optimal composition was found in the 50:50 composition of virgin-recycled plastic pellets to the 70:30 composition of virgin-recycled plastic pellets. These findings can be useful in improving the optical properties of recycled plastics. In addition, the widespread implementation of MVC can improve the quality of plastic waste and strengthen its acceptance for secondary recycling.
Soil water content, absorption of nutrient elements, and responses to fertilization of sunflower: A case study

Abstract Sunflower is considered to be a drought tolerant crop due to its root system. In Argentina, water availability and mineral nutrition are the main factors determining yield. We evaluated the behavior of a sunflower hybrid subjected to fertilization in a period of drought. A trial with the hybrid Paraiso 5 was carried out on a Typic Hapludoll located in western Buenos Aires province. The six treatments were: control; 150 kg or 300 kg available nitrogen (N) ha‐1 (Native N supplemented with fertilizer); 150 kg or 300 kg available N ha‐1 (Native N supplemented with fertilizer) plus other macro‐ and micronutrients, and macro‐ and micronutrients without N. Leaf area, plant biomass, root biomass, and yield components were determined. Plant tops and grain were analyzed for N, phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn). Soil water content to a 1.2 m depth was measured periodically. At sowing, soil moisture was ad.
Interpreting the History of Evolutionary Biology through a Kuhnian Prism: Sense or Nonsense?

Traditionally, Thomas S. Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962) is largely identified with his analysis of the structure of scientific revolutions. Here, we contribute to a minority tradition in the Kuhn literature by interpreting the history of evolutionary biology through the prism of the entire historical developmental model of sciences that he elaborates in The Structure. This research not only reveals a certain match between this model and the history of evolutionary biology but, more importantly, also sheds new light on several episodes in that history, and particularly on the publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859), the construction of the modern evolutionary synthesis, the chronic discontent with it, and the latest expression of that discontent, called the extended evolutionary synthesis. Lastly, we also explain why this kind of analysis hasn’t been done before.
On the Connection Between Language Control and Executive Control—An ERP Study

Abstract Models vary in the extent to which language control processes are domain general. Those that posit that language control is at least partially domain general insist on an overlap between language control and executive control at the goal level. To further probe whether or not language control is domain general, we conducted the first event-related potential (ERP) study that directly compares language-switch costs, as an index of language control, and task-switch costs, as an index of executive control. The language switching and task switching methodologies were identical, except that the former required switching between languages (English or Spanish) whereas the latter required switching between tasks (color naming or category naming). This design allowed us to directly compare control processes at the goal level (cue-locked ERPs) and at the task performance level (picture-locked ERPs). We found no significant differences in the switch-related cue-locked and picture-locked ERP patterns across the language and task switching paradigms. These results support models of domain-general language control.
Template-free, hollow and porous platinum nanotubes derived from tobamovirus and their three-dimensional structure at the nanoscale

We describe a simple method for the production of hollow, porous and template-free thick-walled platinum nanotubes. The external surface of a tobamovirus was mineralized via a wet chemical process to generate a uniform and dense platinum nanoparticle layer. The virus template was subsequently removed using a controlled annealing process in air. The morphology of the platinum nanotubes was studied using a range of characterization techniques that show it to be free of biological template and consisting of domains of crystalline platinum metal. High-resolution 3D-TEM tomography revealed that the platinum nanotubes contained a central hollow channel of diameter ∼13 nm running along their lengths and showed the metallic layer to be porous with voids of sizes up to 10 nm. This method for production of hollow tubular nanostructures could be useful for production of bespoke platinum catalysts and may be adaptable to different metals and metal oxides for use in conductive, catalytic and sensor applications.
Morphology and structure of acorn starches isolated by enzymatic and alkaline methods

Abstract Morphology and structure of starch from fruits of two acorns species, Quercus rotundifolia Lam. (QR) and Quercus suber Lam. (QS), isolated by enzymatic (ENZ) and alkaline (A3S) methods were studied. Acorn starches granules presented a round and oval shape, consisting of medium/small granules, with a mean granule size ranging between 9 and 13 µm. Isolated acorn starches appear as light grayish-brown in naked eye, with high values of L* for starches isolated by the ENZ method, and QR starches were duller than QS. No differences were observed for all the samples in FTIR spectra results. Acorn starches showed a C-type pattern, with a relative crystallinity between 43.1 and 46.6%. The 13C CP/MAS NMR spectra are different for the used isolation methods but are similar for both acorn species. However, acorn-isolated starches presented a predominant A-type allomorph packing type, and the A3S starches showed a higher degree of crystalline material. Those differences in the structure of acorn starches would be helpful to better understand the relationships among structure and functional properties for a possible potential industrial application of chestnut starches.
Assessment of certain nitrogen metabolism indicators, enteric CH4 and CO2 emitted through manure related to different diets in barrow

Abstract The present work was planned to test the effects of 2 protein-oil rich ingredients which replaced an important part of classical soybean meal, on nitrogen (N) metabolism indicators. Simultaneous we aimed to assess performances, enteric methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted through manure. A balance test was conducted with 15 barrows, 36 ± 0.24 Kg initial body weight, assigned in three groups in metabolism cages: 1. SC diet based on a classical diet (soybean meal, 13%); 2. SP diet based on peas Tudor variety 16% that replace 49% of SM; 3. SPF diet containing 8% soybean meal, 12% peas and 4% linseed Lirina variety. Faecal and urine were quantitatively collected in two balance periods. A semiautomatic Kjeldahl method was used for assessing the N. The Spotchem EZ SP-4430 was used for determining plasma protein and urea nitrogen (BUN). The regression equations were used to determine N metabolism indicators, CO2 emitted and enteric CH4. An increase of 1.16 times of feed intake was noticed in the SP group compared to SC. The lipid intake was slightly higher in the SP fed group which contributed to an increase of energy intake compared to SC group (>1.17 times) and vs SPL fed group (>1.2 times). The average daily gain (ADG) decreased highly significant in the SP diet compared to the SC diet. Linseed adds in SPL diet contributed to obtaining performances closed to SC group. SP diets increased the N level slightly in faeces and urine. BUN concentration has a linear relation with urinary N. CO2 emitted represent 28-32% of CO2 exhalation. CO2 increased in the SP diet (P<0.10) due to the fact that HP value increased as well. No significant influence was noticed for CH4 estimated value, although a slight increase was observed in the SP diet. In conclusion, although certain N metabolism indicator was affected by peas diet, only a little part was significantly modified. An oil-rich ingredient such as linseed could successfully complement peas by diminishing its adverse effects.
Dynamic plasma biochemical profile changes of weaning piglets fed diets containing different levels of Bacillus spp. as a probiotic product

Abstract In this study, an experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of two levels of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051a (BS), respectively Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 21424 (BL) administered as direct-fed microbial DFM probiotic bacteria on plasma biochemical profile of weaning piglets fed diets. A total of 100 piglets, 30±3 day-old, with initial average body weight (BW) of 8.53±0.17 kg were randomly distributed to 5 homogeneous groups (C, E1-BS 1%, E2-BS 3%, E3-BL 1%, E4-BL 3%,), 2 replicates/group with 10 piglets/pens, for 16 days of biological trial. The doses used were: 1% low dose in a concentration of 1.6 x 109 CFU spores g-1 feed, and 3% high dose in a concentration of 4.8 x 109 CFU spores g-1 feed. Results showed that BS supplementation affected plasma concentration of GGT (P<0.017), TG (P<0.048) and Mg (P<0.0001). No effect (P>0.05) as diet*day interaction on plasma metabolic profile was observed. In conclusion, administration of Bacillus spp. maintains the concentration of blood plasma parameters within the physiological ranges, without affecting the piglet’s health status.
Recovery of heather (Calluna vulgaris) flowering in northern Finland

Abstract Heather is a slow-growing evergreen shrub, commonly found in moorlands and heaths of high nature conservation value. Heather-dominated areas are used as livestock pasture, and the flowers of heather are harvested also for the natural product industry. Classical studies have focused on the recovery of shoot biomass of heather, while the recovery of flowering after grazing or harvesting has received less attention. In this study, we examined the recovery of heather flowering in one harvesting experiment and two observational areas in northern Finland. The flowers of heather were collected manually by clipping the flowering shoots or stripping the flowers from the shoots or by machine harvesting. We counted the number of short shoots (SS), nonflowering long shoots (NFLS), and flowering long shoots (FLS) after harvesting. We also measured the length of FLS and counted the flowers they produced. Heathers started to recover by producing new short shoots, while the recovery of flowering was slow, and only in one out of the three areas, flowering recovered totally during our study. Our results suggest that the recovery was dependent on the age of heather or individual site characteristics rather than on the harvesting method. Because flowering is one of the most important stages of successful reproduction, which affects the long-term existence of heather-dominated ecosystems, the results of our study can contribute to new guidelines for management practices in heathlands. However, longer-term experiments on the rate of flowering recovery are needed especially if rotational cutting is favored as a management practice in heathlands in the future.
The Use of Frequency Analysis as a Complementary and Explanatory Element for Time Domain Analysis in Measurements of the Ability to Maintain Balance

Abstract Assessment of human balance is one of the most common diagnostic tests, both in medical applications and during sports training. Many new methods of measuring are introduced in these studies; however, the analysis of results is still carried out mainly based on the values determined in the time domain – the average COP speed or the ellipse field of the prediction. The aim of the current work is to present the possibilities for the practical application of frequency analyses in assessment of the ability to maintain body balance as a method supplementing standard analyses. As part of the study, measurements of the ability to maintain balance in sensory conflict conditions introduced in the form of an oscillating, three-dimensional, virtual scenery were carried out. 27 healthy volunteers (13 women and 14 men) took part in the study. The three-dimensional scenery, presented by means of the Oculus system, oscillated in the sagittal plane with frequencies equal to 0.7 Hz and 1.4 Hz. The frequency value during the measurement was constant or changed in the middle of the test. Measurements were conducted on the FDM Zebris platform. The results were analyzed using developed coefficients determined on the basis of the Short-time Fourier transform (STFT). The use of frequency-domain analyses confirmed that in the COP movement, one can observe a cyclical component corresponding to following the scenery, as well as the appearance of other cyclical components whose observation is important in terms of assessing the ability to maintain balance. It has been shown that the changes in the average COP speed that occur during the measurement can result from changes related to the movement of following the scenery as well as additional body movements indicating a greater or lesser loss of balance. It has been shown that there are differences in the COP movement provoked by the movement of the surrounding scenery, which depend on the parameters of the introduced disturbances – something that can only be observed in results obtained in the frequency domain. The conducted research shows that in measurements involving the ability to maintain one’s balance conducted in sensory conflict conditions, standard time-domain analyses should be supplemented with other types of data analysis, e.g. frequency domain analyses.
Feed utilization and rumen microbial ecology of lambs consuming Daniellia Oliveri seed based diet

Abstract This study investigated the effects of replacing processed Daniellia oliveri seed meal (PDS) for groundnut cake (GNC) in the concentrate diets of Yankasa male lambs (6 months old, body weight of 13.70 ± 0.1 kg (body weight)) on feed intake, rumen fermentation parameters and microbial population. Four diets were formulated to contain 0, 50, 100 and 150 g//kg PDS to replace 0, 25, 50 and 75% GNC (dry matter (DM) basis) in a complete randomized design with five animals per diet. Total DM intake (g/kg BW0.75), ruminal volatile fatty acids, valerate and fungal population linearly increased but ruminal NH3-N, acetate, acetate: propionate, methane production and Entodinium (as % of the total protozoa count) linearly decreased with increasing PDS level (P<0.01). Whereas, intake of concentrate, total DM (g/d and g/kg BW), average daily weight gain, ruminal pH, butyrate, iso-valerate, total bacterial count, proteolytic and amylolytic bacterial counts increased linearly and quadratically, basal roughage intake, protozoal count, cellulolytic bacterial count, methanogen count, Diplodinium and Holotrichs (as % of the total protozoa count) decreased linearly and quadratically (P<0.05) with increasing PDS level. Feed conversion was lowest (L and Q:P < 0.01) for PDS15. Ruminal Ophryoscolex (as % of the total protozoa count) was lower (Q:P < 0.0001) for PDS15 than for other diets. Dietary inclusion of 150 g/kg Daniellia oliveri seed meal to replace 75% DM of groundnut cake in the diet of Yankasa lambs improved intake, rumen fermentation and microbial ecology and weight gain.
Attention: Theory, Principles, Models and Applications

ABSTRACT We discuss two general concepts of attention: (1) As a filter of selective attention that selects and admits channels of information from the environment to be processed; (2) as a resource to enable subsequent information processing, constrained by the individual demand of tasks, and particularly the collective demands of multiple tasks needing to be performed concurrently defining the limits of multitasking. In both concept domains we review theories and design principles, and particularly computational models of attentional process and performance outputs. In discussing the filter we consider supervisory control, noticing, visual search, and the way in which limited selective attention constrains the filter can be overcome to avail more parallel processing via techniques of display overlay and object display. In discussing the fuel for multi-tasking, we distinguish between the parallel processing supported by multiple resources, and the sequential processing and task switching required when demands are excessive.
Organizational culture, management accounting information, innovation capability and firm performance

Abstract Drawing on a contingency theory and a resource-based perspective, the this study examines the relationship between organizational culture, management accounting information, innovation capability and firm performance in Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Data for the study were collected by survey questionnaires from a sample of 200 top-level and middle-level managers in Vietnamese SMEs. The results reveal that management’s cultural orientation combined with management accounting information has a significant positive effect on innovation capability and enhanced firm performance. In addition, the results show that the use of management accounting information fully mediates the relationship between management’s value orientation towards innovation and firm performance. The study thereby contributes to a greater understanding of the role of management’s value orientation towards innovation and management accounting information as levers for innovation capability, which in turn leads to higher firm performance in the context of Vietnamese SMEs.
Landsat time series reveal simultaneous expansion and intensification of irrigated dry season cropping in Southeastern Turkey

ABSTRACT Long-term monitoring of the extent and intensity of irrigation systems is needed to track crop water consumption and to adapt land use to a changing climate. We mapped the expansion and changes in the intensity of irrigated dry season cropping in Turkey´s Southeastern Anatolia Project annually from 1990 to 2018 using Landsat time series. Irrigated dry season cropping covered 5,779 km² (± 479 km²) in 2018, which represents an increase of 617% over the study period. Dry season cropping was practiced on average every second year, but spatial variability was pronounced. Increases in dry season cropping frequency were observed on 40% of the studied croplands. The presented maps enable the identification of land use intensity hotspots at 30 m spatial resolution, and can thus aid in assessments of water consumption and environmental degradation. All maps are openly available for further use at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4287661.
How commercial banks adjust capital ratios: Empirical evidence from the USA?‎

Abstract This study examines the speed of adjustment of the leverage and regulatory capital ratios between 2002 and 2018 for large commercial banks of the USA. The study applies a two-step system GMM technique to obtain the speed of adjustment. The results prove that higher-quality capital requires greater time to restore equilibrium after an economic shock. The results also show that large commercial banks adjust their regulatory ratios faster than leverage ratios. Furthermore, the speed of adjustment is heterogeneous for cross-sections. The speed of adjustment for well-capitalized banks is higher than adequately and undercapitalized commercial banks. The speed of adjustment for highly liquid is higher than low liquid banks. This study also finds the banks quickly adjust their capital before the crisis period. The heterogeneous results have implications for regulators, policymakers, and bank managers for better decision making.
CycleGAN-based realistic image dataset generation for forward-looking sonar

ABSTRACT In this paper, we propose a novel method to generate realistic acoustic datasets for forward-looking sonars. A forward-looking sonar, which is also known as an acoustic camera, outperforms other imaging sensor when applied in underwater tasks as it can provide more accurate and detailed information about the environment, even in dark or turbid water. However, the difficulty and high cost of acquiring acoustic images in real experiments encourage researchers to consider the generation of simulated acoustic image datasets. In particular, deep learning-based methods demonstrated high performance in computer vision tasks, such as in object detection. However, a large dataset is necessary in most cases. In the proposed method, we first build a novel user-friendly acoustic image simulator based on 3D modeling software. Then, the CycleGAN is applied to generate realistic acoustic images based on the generated dataset from the simulator. The experimental results demonstrate that our method can generate effective and realistic acoustic datasets with relatively simple operations. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
An Amperometric Biosensor for trans‐Resveratrol Determination in Aqueous Solutions by Means of Carbon Paste Electrodes Modified with Peroxidase Basic Isoenzymes from Brassica Napus

The catalytic properties of peroxidase basic isoenzymes (PBI's) from Brassica napus towards trans-resveratrol (t-Res) oxidation were demonstrated by the first time by conventional UV-visible spectroscopic measurements. The enzymatic reaction rate was studied under different experimental conditions and the kinetics parameters were determined. An amperometric biosensor based on Brassica napus PBI's to determine t-Res is also proposed by the first time. The method employs a dialysis membrane covered, PBI's entrapped and ferrocene (Fc)-embedded carbon paste electrode (PBI's-Fc-CP) and is based on the fact that the decreased amount of H2O2 produced by the action of PBI's is proportional to the oxidised amount of t-Res in the solution. Comparative amperometric experiments showed that, in spite of PBI's activity was much lower than commercial horseradish peroxidase (HRP) activity, t-Res was a much better substrate for PBI's biosensors than those biosensors constructed by using HRP. The PBI's-Fc-CP biosensors showed a very good stability during at least twenty days. The reproducibility and the repeatability were 4.5% and 8.3%, respectively, showing a good biosensor performance. The calibration curve was linear in the t-Res concentration (ct-Res) range from 1×10−6 to 2.5×10−5 M, with a sensibility of (2.31±0.05)×106 nA M−1. The lowest ct-Res value measured experimentally for a signal to noise ratio of 3 : 1 was 0.83 μM.