Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extraction of Lead and Zinc from a Rotary Kiln Oxidizing Roasting Cinder

In this study, sulfuric acid leaching and gravity shaking-table separation by shaking a table are used to extract lead and zinc from a Pb-Zn oxidizing roasting cinder. The oxidizing roasting cinder—containing 16.9% Pb, 30.5% Zn, 10.3% Fe and 25.1% S—was obtained from a Pb-Zn sulfide ore in the Hanyuan area of China by a flotation-rotary kiln oxidizing roasting process. Anglesite and lead oxide were the main Pb-bearing minerals, while zinc sulfate, zinc oxide and zinc ferrite were the main Zn-bearing minerals. The results show that a part of lead contained in lead oxide is transformed to anglesite, and a 3PbO·PbSO4·H2O-dominated new lead mineral phase after acid leaching. A zinc leaching efficiency of 96.7% was obtained under the leaching conditions used: a leaching temperature of 55 °C; a leaching time of 90 min; a sulfuric acid dosage of 20%; a sulfurous acid dosage of 4%; a cinder particle size of <0.3 mm; and a solid-liquid ratio of R = 1:4. After the gravity shaking-table separation, a lead concentrate with 50.2% Pb, 2.33% Zn and lead recovery of 86.0% was produced. The main chemical compounds in leaching residue are anglesite, 3PbO·PbSO4·H2O, SiO2 and ZnFe2O4, while the main chemical compounds in lead concentrate are anglesite, 3PbO·PbSO4·H2O and SiO2.
Supply Chain Management in Smes: Global Perspective

Received September 29, 2019 Revised from October 28, 2019 Accepted November 20, 2019 Available online March 15, 2020 Supply chain management is quite important management tool in corporations, however it seem to be more used in small and medium enterprises as well. This research investigates supply chain management in total 613 SMEs of Canada, Iran and Turkey to explore SMEs practices in global context. Results confirmed SCM's determinants, factors, barriers, practices, functioning, environmental and social sustainability statistically significantly differ in contrasting economies while only SCM determinants do not significantly differ for the size of entity. The SMEs’ length duration also affected the considered attributes. Apart from SCM determinants all other factors have no significant relationship with the designation whereas types of industry significantly affect the types of practices and functioning within SCM. Lastly, this paper theorizes that the environmental and social sustainability have significant relation with the type of industry. JEL classification: C61, M11 DOI: 10.14254/1800-5845/2020.16-1.6
ASSESSMENT OF STAINING QUALITY OF ROSELLE (hibiscus sabdariffa) ON FORMALINFIXED PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED RENAL TISSUE SECTIONS

Objective: This experimental descriptive study aimed to explore the efficiency and resolution of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (HS) as staining dye for renal histological sections as compared to Hematoxylin-Eosin routine stain. Methods: Paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed tissue sections from kidney were stained by Hibiscus Sabdariffa solution using different concentrations and time durations in room temperature. Results: Best results were obtained by using 5% HS solution for one hour. Bad results were noticed mainly when duration of staining was only 1-2 minutes. Conclusion: Hibiscus Sabdariffa is an efficient natural cheap substitute of eosin in the ordinary stain H&E (Hematoxylin and Eosin) for histological sections.
Effect of Physical Education-based stretching programs on hamstring extensibility in high school students: A systematic review

The purpose of the present review was to examine the effects of Physical Education-based stretching programs on hamstring extensibility in high school students. Relevant studies were searched from 10 databases. The results suggested that students should performed stretching programs at least for a duration of 5-6 weeks, a frequency of twice a week, and a volume per session of 30-60 s (20-30 s per set) to obtain improvements on the hamstring extensibility. Stretching programs with higher duration, frequency and volume seems to obtain greater effects. Although the most studies obtained flexibility improvements using static techniques, dynamic stretching exercises performed in a controlled manner also produced improvements and they were safety. After a four-week detraining period, students reverted back to their baseline levels. Teachers should implement stretching programs to improve the students’ flexibility during the Physical Education classes.
Effect of Stressors on the Carrying Capacity of Spatially Distributed Metapopulations

Stressors such as antibiotics, herbicides, and pollutants are becoming increasingly common in the environment. The effects of stressors on populations are typically studied in homogeneous, nonspatial settings. However, most populations in nature are spatially distributed over environmentally heterogeneous landscapes with spatially restricted dispersal. Little is known about the effects of stressors in these more realistic settings. Here, we combine laboratory experiments with novel mathematical theory to rigorously investigate how a stressor’s physiological effect and spatial distribution interact with dispersal to influence population dynamics. We prove mathematically that if a stressor increases the death rate and/or simultaneously decreases the population growth rate and yield, a homogeneous distribution of the stressor leads to a lower total population size than if the same amount of the stressor was heterogeneously distributed. We experimentally test this prediction on spatially distributed populations of budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). We find that the antibiotic cycloheximide increases the yeast death rate but reduces the growth rate and yield. Consistent with our mathematical predictions, we observe that a homogeneous spatial distribution of cycloheximide minimizes the total equilibrium size of experimental metapopulations, with the magnitude of the effect depending predictably on the dispersal rate and the geographic pattern of antibiotic heterogeneity. Our study has implications for assessing the population risk posed by pollutants, antibiotics, and global change and for the rational design of strategies for employing toxins to control pathogens and pests.
Lactate dehydrogenase, a Risk Factor of Severe COVID-19 Patients

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a public health emergency of global concern. Updated analysis of cases might help identify the characteristic and risk factors of the illness severity. METHODS We extracted data regarding 47 patients with confirmed COVID-19 from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between February 1 and February 18, 2020. The degree of severity of COVID-19 patients (severe vs. non-severe) was defined at the time of admission according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). RESULTS The median age was 64.91 years, 26 cases (55.31%) were male of which, and 70.83% were severe cases. Severe patients had higher APACHE II (9.92 vs 4.74) and SOFA (3.0 vs 1.0) scores on admission, as well as the higher PSI (86.13 vs 61.39), Curb-65 (1.14 vs 0.48) and CT semiquantitative scores (5.0 vs 2.0) when compared with non-severe patients. Among all univariable parameters, APACHE II, SOFA, lymphocytes, CRP, LDH, AST, cTnI, BNP, et al were significantly independent risk factors of COVID-19 severity. Among which, LDH was most positively related both with APACHE II (R = 0.682) and SOFA (R = 0.790) scores, as well as PSI (R = 0.465) and CT (R = 0.837) scores. To assess the diagnostic value of these selected parameters, LDH (0.9727) had maximum sensitivity (100.00%) and specificity (86.67%), with the cutoff value of 283. As a protective factor, lymphocyte counts less than 1.045 x 109 /L showed a good accuracy for identification of severe patients with AUC = 0.9845 (95%CI 0.959-1.01), the maximum specificity (91.30%) and sensitivity (95.24%). In addition, LDH was positively correlated with CRP, AST, BNP and cTnI, while negatively correlated with lymphocyte cells and its subsets, including CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that LDH coule be identified as a powerful predictive factor for early recognition of lung injury and severe COVID-19 cases. And importantly, lymphocyte counts, especially CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients, which was relevant with serum LDH, were also dynamically correlated with the severity of the disease. FUNDING Key Project of Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau (2016ZB0202)
Investigation of the chemical composition of plasma-treated water by MidiPLexc and its antimicrobial effect on L. monocytogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens monospecies suspension cultures

Plasma-generated compounds conceived by microwave-induced plasma (MidiPLexc) were physicochemically investigated in their molecular compositions. Therefore, plasma-treated water (PTW) was generated by treatment with the MidiPLexc within a 1 l glass bottle for a pre-treatment time of 100 s, 300 s and 900 s. The PTW was further investigated in its composition of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. For this purpose, the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration of the PTW was determined electrochemically using chronoamperometry, and the anionic components were determined using ion chromatography. As a result, H2O2 concentrations of up to 720 mg l−1, nitrite concentrations of 1600 mg l−1 and nitrate concentrations of 72.3 mg l−1 could be detected after 900 s pre-treatment time of the water. The compounds obtained by ion chromatography were fractionated and subsequently confirmed by mass spectrometry. Once an overview of the chemical composition of PTW had been obtained, its effects on pathogens like Pseudomonas fluorescens and L. monocytogenes, which are both of particular importance as pathogenic contaminants during food production, were tested. In that process, a maximum reduction in the colony forming units of 4 log10 steps for P. fluorescens and 3 log10 steps for L. monocytogenes could be observed. The LIVE/DEAD assay showed a maximum reduction in the ratio G/R of 67% for P. fluorescens and 38% for L. monocytogenes. In addition, the XTT assay results showed a maximum cell metabolism reduction of 96% for P. fluorescens and 91% for L. monocytogenes.
Pronounced effect of farmyard manure application on P availability to rice for paddy soils with low total C and low pH in the central highlands of Madagascar

ABSTRACT Farmyard manure (FYM) – mixtures of animal droppings, crop residues, and fodder that are piled nearby homesteads – is a major nutrient source for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, its application effect has not been fully understood on typical P-deficient soils in tropics and in particular under anaerobic conditions. This study assessed the effect of FYM on irrigated rice in relation to soil properties – oxalate-extractable P (POx), pH, and total C (TotC) – that are important indicators of soil P deficiency in the region. The first pot experiment was conducted with a factorial combination of FYM (0 and 20 g kg–1) and mineral P (0 and 100 mg kg–1) applications using six paddy soils differing in the aforementioned soil properties. The second pot experiment was conducted in a factorial combination of FYM and mineral P using the isotope dilution technique. In both experiments, the effect of FYM application on biomass and P uptake of rice per P applied was nearly equivalent to that of mineral P and was greater in soils with lower TotC and lower pH with negligible effect of POx. The isotope tracing suggested that the FYM application might increase rice P uptake by solubilizing non-labile P pools in soils while mineral P was directly used by rice from labile P pools. The results indicated that the FYM should be most effective in soils with low TotC and low pH, and its application could enable the use of insoluble P pools in soils and enhance P uptake of rice under P-deficient and anaerobic conditions. Graphical abstract
Resting-state functional brain connectivity in a predominantly African-American sample of older adults: exploring links among personality traits, cognitive performance, and the default mode network

Abstract The personality traits of neuroticism, openness, and conscientiousness are relevant factors for cognitive aging outcomes. The present study examined how these traits were associated with cognitive abilities and corresponding resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the default mode network (DMN) in an older and predominantly minority sample. A sample of 58 cognitively unimpaired, largely African-American, older adults (M age = 68.28 ± 8.33) completed a standard RSFC magnetic resonance imaging sequence, a Big Five measure of personality, and delayed memory, Stroop, and verbal fluency tasks. Personality trait associations of within-network connectivity of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), a hub of the DMN, were examined using a seed-based approach. Trait scores were regressed on cognitive performance (delayed memory for neuroticism, Stroop for conscientiousness, and verbal fluency for openness). Greater openness predicted greater verbal fluency and greater RSFC between the PCC and eight clusters, including the medial prefrontal cortex, left middle frontal gyrus, and precuneus. Greater PCC–precuneus connectivity predicted greater verbal fluency. Neuroticism and conscientiousness did not significantly predict either cognitive performance or RSFC. Although requiring replication and elaboration, the results implicate openness as a contributing factor to cognitive aging via concomitant cognitive performance and connectivity within cortical hubs of the DMN and add to the sparse literature on these variables in a diverse group of older adults.
TNOs are Cool! A Survey of the transneptunian Region XV. Physical characteristics of 23 resonant transneptunian and scattered disk objects

The goal of this work is to determine the physical characteristics of resonant, detached and scattered disk objects in the transneptunian region, observed mainly in the framework of the "TNOs are Cool! " Herschel Open Time Key Program. Based on thermal emission measurements with the Herschel/PACS and Spitzer/MIPS instruments we determine size, albedo, and surface thermal properties for 23 objects using radiometric modelling techniques. This is the first analysis in which the physical properties of objects in the outer resonances are determined for a notable sample. In addition to the results for individual objects, we have compared these characteristics with the bulk properties of other populations of the transneptunian region. The newly analyzed objects show a large variety of beaming factors, indicating a diversity of thermal properties, and in general, they follow the albedo-colour clustering identified earlier for Kuiper belt objects and Centaurs, further strengthening the evidence for a compositional discontinuity in the young Solar System.
The Role of Climate Sensitivity in Upper‐Tail Sea Level Rise Projections

The current uncertainty surrounding the Earth's equilibrium climate sensitivity is an important driver for climate hazard projections. While the implications for projected global temperature changes have been extensively studied, the impacts on sea level projections have been relatively unexplored. Here we analyze the relationship between the climate sensitivity and sea level projections, with a particular focus on the high‐impact upper tail. We utilize a Bayesian calibration of key climate and sea level parameters using historical observations and the reduced‐complexity Earth system model, Hector‐BRICK. This methodology allows us to focus on plausible realizations of the climate system in a probabilistic framework. We analyze the effects of high‐end climate sensitivity (above 5 K) on projections and spatial patterns of sea level change. The sea level projections hinge critically on the upper tail of the climate sensitivity, especially for the highly decision‐relevant upper tail. Results have important implications for timing of threshold exceedances and regional variability.
Laparoscopic Versus Open Appendectomy for the Treatment of Complicated Acute Appendicitis

Background and Objective: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common and at the same time lethal if not treated promptly. Failure to treat this medical condition in a timely manner then it can lead to major complications that endanger the patient’s health. In these cases, surgical treatment can be done in an open or laparoscopic method. Despite some limited studies comparing the results of these two therapies, there is still insufficient information in patients with this complicated situation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of these two therapies in patients with complicated acute appendicitis. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 52 patients with complicated acute appendicitis in the laparoscopic surgery group and 56 patients in the open surgery group were studied. Primary outcomes in this study were duration of surgery and secondary outcomes including wound infection, intra-abdominal abscess, postoperative pain, miscarriage, hospitalization, and need for re-surgery that were compared between the two groups. Results: Both groups were matched for age (mean 31.0 years in laparoscopic surgery group, 30.5 years in open surgery group, p = 0.81) and gender (28 men in laparoscopic surgery group, 32 men in surgical group, p = 0.73). The mean duration of surgery in the laparoscopic group was significantly longer (mean 66.8 vs. 55.1 min, p <0.001). In contrast, mean duration of hospitalization (85.2 vs 98.6 hours, p <0.001) and mean postoperative pain severity (6.3 vs 7.2, p <0.001) was more significant high in open surgery group. In other cases there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Although in surgical treatment of complicated acute appendicitis the duration of laparoscopic surgery is longer than the open method, but the duration of hospitalization and pain intensity in laparoscopic method is significantly reduced.
Prevalence of soft tissue calcifications in cone beam computed tomography images in the region of head and neck

Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of calcifications in the soft tissues of the cervical-facial region using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Material and Methods: two hundred and ten CBCT exames was analyzed by 01 examiner previously trained, with fild of view (FOV) of 16 x 13 cm and voxel of 0.25 mm, in ICAT Vision software (Imaging Science International, Hatfield, PA, USA) in coronal, axial and sagittal sections. The following calcifications were evaluated: tonsiloliths, sialolites, calcification of the styloid complex, calcified carotid atheromas, calcifications in laryngeal cartilages, calcified lymph nodes and osteoma cutis. The findings were tabulated according to the total of the sample, related to the gender, age group of the individuals. Results: Calcification of the styloid complex was the most frequent in the sample studied in both genres (39.04%), followed by the presence of tonsiloliths (19.52%), and calcified lymph nodes (6,67%). Conclusion: calcifications are frequent radiographic findings in CBCT and important for the diagnosis of some possible pathologies that do not present clinical symptoms. KEYWORDS Cone-beam computed tomography; Prevalence; Soft tissue calcification.
Sintomas visuais de deficiências nutricionais em pinhão-manso

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the growth of physic nut (Jatropha curcas) and to characterize visual symptoms of macro and micronutrient deficiencies in seedlings. The seedlings were cultivated in nutritive solution containing all required macro and micronutrients and in solutions with omission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn or Zn, using the missing element technique. Visual deficiency symptoms and seedlings dry weight were evaluated at 90 and 120 days after treatments, respectively. The absences of macro and micronutrients in physic nut caused in nutritional deficiency visual symptoms known to other species. The deficiencies restricted the dry matter production according to the following order: Ca>Mg>K>N>P>S, for macronutrients, and Fe>Cu>Zn>Mn>B, for micronutrients.
Low‐Temperature Frictional Characteristics of Chlorite‐Epidote‐Amphibole Assemblages: Implications for Strength and Seismic Style of Retrograde Fault Zones

In retrograde faults exhuming mafic rocks, shearing occurs in metamorphic and/or hydrothermally altered mineral assemblages whose frictional properties are not well known. Here, we present the results of laboratory shearing experiments on chlorite schist, epidotite, and hornblende‐dominated amphibolite and mixtures of these rocks and evaluate their frictional properties and microstructures. The experiments were conducted on powdered rock samples with starting grain size of <125 μm, at room temperature, under fluid‐saturated conditions and applied normal stress of 10 MPa. The results show that chlorite schist is relatively weak (friction coefficient of 0.36), whereas epidotite and amphibolite are strong (friction coefficients of 0.63 and 0.67, respectively). The friction of chlorite schist‐epidotite and chlorite schist‐amphibolite mixtures decreases nearly linearly with increasing chlorite content. Chlorite schist exhibits velocity‐strengthening behavior, epidotite is velocity‐weakening, and the amphibolite shows mostly velocity‐weakening friction. Mixtures show intermediate strength and velocity dependence of friction. Well‐developed striations formed on slip surfaces in samples with ≥50% chlorite schist. The epidotite slip surface exhibits a mixture of very fine particles and coarser crystals. Amphibolite slip surfaces have less very fine grains and are composed of subhedral to euheral needles. Few intragranular fractures are preserved, and we infer wear at contact asperities to be the likely cause of velocity‐weakening in our epidote gouges. Addition of chlorite to epidotite and amphibolite produces a striated slip surface and disrupts contacts between harder grains. Therefore, retrograde chlorite growth is expected to facilitate frictional weakening and stable slip in higher‐grade mineral assemblages exhumed to low‐temperature conditions.
Climate variability, absorptive capacity and economic performance in Sub-Sahara Africa

The high reliance of Africa’s GDP on agriculture makes its economic growth susceptible to climate change. The vulnerability of Africa is further worsened by the strong interlinkage that the agricultural sector has with other productive sectors. To drive policy implications that transform economic performance in Africa, it becomes important to understand the linkages between climate and economy of the region. This paper examines the effects that climate change has on economic performance in sub-Saharan African nations. Based on cross-country panel climatic data that takes account of the absorptive mechanism, it estimates the contribution of climate change to economic performance in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The estimator is developed based on the OLS, Fixed Effect, and the Arellano-Bond (1991) Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator. The findings show that high temperature is a significant contributor to worsening economic performance in the SSA region. However, after accounting for the absorptive mechanisms, the relationship is no longer that strong. Specifically, after accounting for initial economic performance, social and political stability in the 2-stage GMM estimation, the estimate for temperature drops by 59%. This result confirms the hypothesis that the negative impact of climate change in the region is not absolute, and that building an overall stable socioeconomic environment in the region could assist in buffering the impact of climate change.