Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Rapid and Simple Method for Lithium Purification and Isotopic Analysis of Geological Reference Materials by MC-ICP-MS

A simple method has been developed to purify lithium (Li) from matrix elements in geological reference materials, using a single-column packed with AGMP-50 cation exchange resin, followed by high-precision Li isotope measurements by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). A series of tests, such as different types of resin, loading amount of Li, loading volumes, and various eluents, were conducted to ascertain the optimal conditions for Li purification and the effects of intensity, acidity, and presence of potential matrix elements on Li isotope measurements were also evaluated. In our experiment, Al and high-field-strength elements (HFSEs), such as Ti, Zr, and Hf, were eluted by 0.2 M HCl + 0.3 M HF, and 0.73 M HCl was used to separate Li from other matrix elements, such as Na. This method is suitable for processing large amount of Li (60–270 ng) and enabling a Li recovery of close to 100%, with effective removal of matrix elements such as Na and Ca. Besides, our method achieves low matrix interferences (e.g., Na/Li << 1 and Ca/Li << 1 for rock and seawater via a single-column procedure; Ca/Li < 2 for carbonate via a two-column procedure) and also uses small volume of eluents and is rapid (~5 h), enabling a total separation to be completed in ~0.5 d. Using this method, we report Li isotopic compositions of various geological reference materials, including igneous rocks, seawater, and carbonate. The Li isotopic compositions are consistent with the data published previously for the analyzed reference materials. As such, the reported method is ideally suited for Li separation from multiple types of geological samples prior to isotopic analysis.
Exploring Grapevine Phenology and High Temperatures Response Under Controlled Conditions

Climate change has challenged growers and researchers alike to better understand how warm temperatures may impact winegrape plant development across varieties. Yet multi-variety studies present challenges. Here we review studies of controlled warming on winegrape varieties alongside a new study of the budburst and flowering phenology of 50 varieties of Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera in the lab, with a small set of plants exposed to higher temperatures (20, 26, 30, 34, and 37°C mean temperatures in growth chambers) during flowering. We found few studies have examined more than one variety, which may be due to the challenge of growing diverse varieties together. Indeed, we found high variability in flowering success across varieties in the lab (28 out of 50 varieties had no flowering), which made it impossible to study variety-specific response to temperature. Across varieties, however, we found results in line with a literature review (which we also present): higher temperatures did not have a significant effect on the rate at which vines progressed through the flowering stage, but higher temperatures did correlate with flower abortion. These results suggest a potential decrease in winegrape yields in a warmer climate due to flower abortion, but also highlight the challenges of understanding heat responses across many varieties.
Impact of Helminth Infections on Female Reproductive Health and Associated Diseases

A growing body of knowledge exists on the influence of helminth infections on allergies and unrelated infections in the lung and gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa. However, the bystander effects of helminth infections on the female genital mucosa and reproductive health is understudied but important considering the high prevalence of helminth exposure and sexually transmitted infections in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this review, we explore current knowledge about the direct and systemic effects of helminth infections on unrelated diseases. We summarize host disease-controlling immunity of important sexually transmitted infections and introduce the limited knowledge of how helminths infections directly cause pathology to female reproductive tract (FRT), alter susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections and reproduction. We also review work by others on type 2 immunity in the FRT and hypothesize how these insights may guide future work to help understand how helminths alter FRT health.
Magnetic Mineral Diagenesis in a Newly Discovered Active Cold Seep Site in the Bay of Bengal

Diagenetically formed magnetic minerals at marine methane seep sites are potential archive of past fluid flow and could provide important constraints on the evolution of past methane seepage dynamics and gas hydrate formation over geologic time. In this study, we carried out integrated rock magnetic, and mineralogical analyses, supported by electron microscope observations, on a seep impacted sediment core to unravel the linkage between greigite magnetism, methane seepage dynamics, and evolution of shallow gas hydrate system in the K-G basin. Three sediment magnetic zones (MZ-1, MZ-2, and MZ-3) have been identified based on the down-core variations in rock magnetic properties. Two events of intense methane seepage are identified. Repeated occurences of authigenic carbonates throughout the core indicate the episodic intensification of anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) at the studied site. Marked depletion in magnetic susceptibility manifested by the presence of chemosynthetic shells (Calyptogena Sp.), methane-derived authigenic carbonates, and abundant pyrite grains provide evidences on intense methane seepage events at this site. Fracture-controlled fluid transport supported the formation of gas hydrates (distributed and massive) at this site. Three greigite bearing sediment intervals (G1, G2, G3) within the magnetically depleted zone (MZ-2) are probably the paleo-gas hydrate (distributed-type vein filling) intervals. A strong linkage among clay content, formation of veined hydrate deposits, precipitation of authigenic carbonates and greigite preservation is evident. Hydrate crystallizes within faults/fractures formed as the methane gas migrates through the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ). Formation of authigenic carbonate layers coupled with clay deposits restricted the upward migrating methane, which led to the formation of distributed-type vein filling hydrate deposits. A closed system created by veined hydrates trapped the sulfide and limited its availability thereby, causing arrestation of pyritization and favored the formation and preservation of greigite in G1, G2, G3.
Acupuncture Improves White Matter Perfusion and Integrity in Rat Model of Vascular Dementia: An MRI-Based Imaging Study

White matter lesions induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion are associated with cognitive impairment in vascular dementia (VaD). Previous studies have shown that acupuncture can ameliorate the cognitive deficits of individuals with VaD. However, the neuroimaging mechanisms of acupuncture on white matter perfusion and integrity remain elusive. In this study, the VaD model was induced by bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO) in rats. Novel object recognition task and Morris water maze were performed to evaluate short-term memory and spatial learning and memory. Arterial spin labeling and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were used to measure the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the white matter integrity. Pathological examinations detected the myelin loss and concomitant neuroinflammation. The results demonstrate that BCCAO rats with reduced CBF exhibited worse performance and altered DTI parameters, including decreased fractional anisotropy, increased radial diffusivity, and axial diffusivity in white matter regions. Acupuncture ameliorated cognitive impairment, increased CBF, and protected the myelin sheath integrity but not the axons of BCCAO rats. These protective effects of acupuncture on white matter were significantly correlated with improved CBF. Pathological examination confirmed that the loss of myelin basic protein and microglial accumulation associated IL-1β and IL-6 production were attenuated by acupuncture treatment. Our findings suggest that acupuncture protects cognitive function of BCCAO rats by improving white matter perfusion and integrity.
Using Gesture to Facilitate L2 Phoneme Acquisition: The Importance of Gesture and Phoneme Complexity

Most language learners have difficulties acquiring the phonemes of a second language (L2). Unfortunately, they are often judged on their L2 pronunciation, and segmental inaccuracies contribute to miscommunication. Therefore, we aim to determine how to facilitate phoneme acquisition. Given the close relationship between speech and co-speech gesture, previous work unsurprisingly reports that gestures can benefit language acquisition, e.g., in (L2) word learning. However, gesture studies on L2 phoneme acquisition present contradictory results, implying that both specific properties of gestures and phonemes used in training, and their combination, may be relevant. We investigated the effect of phoneme and gesture complexity on L2 phoneme acquisition. In a production study, Dutch natives received instruction on the pronunciation of two Spanish phonemes, /u/ and /θ/. Both are typically difficult to produce for Dutch natives because their orthographic representation differs between both languages. Moreover, /θ/ is considered more complex than /u/, since the Dutch phoneme inventory contains /u/ but not /θ/. The instruction participants received contained Spanish examples presented either via audio-only, audio-visually without gesture, audio-visually with a simple, pointing gesture, or audio-visually with a more complex, iconic gesture representing the relevant speech articulator(s). Preceding and following training, participants read aloud Spanish sentences containing the target phonemes. In a perception study, Spanish natives rated the target words from the production study on accentedness and comprehensibility. Our results show that combining gesture and speech in L2 phoneme training can lead to significant improvement in L2 phoneme production, but both gesture and phoneme complexity affect successful learning: Significant learning only occurred for the less complex phoneme /u/ after seeing the more complex iconic gesture, whereas for the more complex phoneme /θ/, seeing the more complex gesture actually hindered acquisition. The perception results confirm the production findings and show that items containing /θ/ produced after receiving training with a less complex pointing gesture are considered less foreign-accented and more easily comprehensible as compared to the same items after audio-only training. This shows that gesture can facilitate task performance in L2 phonology acquisition, yet complexity affects whether certain gestures work better for certain phonemes than others.
Distribution of Virulence Genes and Sequence-Based Types Among Legionella pneumophila Isolated From the Water Systems of a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Background: Legionnaires' disease (LD) is a potentially fatal pneumonia predominantly caused by infection due to Legionella pneumophila although more than 50 other Legionella species are described. Water systems contaminated with Legionella spp. are the implicated sources of Legionnaires' disease. In this study, we aimed to assess Legionella contamination in the water sources of a tertiary care hospital and to determine the virulence properties and molecular characteristics of L. pneumophila environmental isolates. Methods: During May 2015 through August 2018, a total of 201 hospital water samples were tested for L. pneumophila by standardized culture procedures; environmental isolates were examined for the presence of two virulence genes: Legionella vir homolog (lvh) and repeats in structural toxin (rtxA) by PCR. The genotyping of isolates was performed by sequence-based typing (SBT) according to the protocol of the European Study Group for Legionella Infections (ESGLI). Results: L. pneumophila was isolated from 38/201 (18.9%) water samples; among the 46 isolates, the lvh locus was present in 45 (97.8%), the rtxA locus was found in 45 (97.8%), and both loci were found in 44 (95.7%) isolates. A total of 23 sequence types (STs) were identified among the 44 isolates (index of discrimination [IOD] of 0.929), and 11/23 (47.8%) STs were new to the ESGLI database. Conclusions: The study results showed genetic diversity in L. pneumophila isolates from the hospital environment along with a high percentage of pathogenicity loci. Besides, certain STs may have an increased ability to cause legionellosis, thus requires specific infection control and prevention strategies whenever identified.
Nanostructured Oxygen Carriers for Chemical Looping Combustion and Chemical Looping Hydrogen Production

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is an emerging technology for clean energy-production. In CLC, an oxygen carrier is periodically oxidized with air and then reduced in contact with a fuel. CLC is thus a flame-less oxy-fuel combustion without an air separation unit, producing sequestration-ready CO2-streams without significant energy penalty. However, a major hurdle towards technical implementation of CLC is the development of robust oxygen carrier materials. In this thesis, we report on a combined study of theoretical and experimental investigations of oxygen carriers for CLC. A detailed thermodynamic screening of oxygen carriers based on several comparison criteria was carried out to come up with the best candidates for CLC and then effect of sulfur contamination in the fuel stream on the performance of these selected oxygen carriers was studied. In sulfur-free streams the carriers show stable and fast reduction and re-oxidation kinetics. Sulfur contamination results not only in sulfidation of the metal carrier component, but also in partial sulfidation of the support matrix which marginally alters the redox kinetics but does not affect carrier stability. Interestingly, the support sulfidation leads to a significant increase in the oxygen carrying capacity of the carriers. Further investigation of Cu-based carriers showed that efficient desulfurization of the fuel reactor exit stream is achievable with quantitative S-recovery in the air reactor effluent. Beyond combustion, chemical looping can be used to produce hydrogen by replacing air with steam as oxidant in a 'chemical looping steam reforming' process (CLSR). The effluent of the oxidizer is PEMFC-ready hydrogen without further purification steps, resulting in significant process intensification. Challenges in CLSR are slower steam vs air oxidation kinetics, high-temperature carrier stability, and attrition due to large solids transport in a two-bed process. In the final part of the thesis, we report on experimental investigations of Fe-based nanostructured carriers to study their oxidation kinetics and high-temperature stability. Effect of temperature and particle size on hydrogen production and carrier utilization was studied which further demonstrated the importance of nano-sizing of the carrier. Finally, a reactor model was developed demonstrating that a fixed-bed approach is feasible for CLSR.
Cannabinoids, Inner Ear, Hearing, and Tinnitus: A Neuroimmunological Perspective

Cannabis has been used for centuries for recreational and therapeutic purposes. Whereas, the recreative uses are based on the psychotropic effect of some of its compounds, its therapeutic effects range over a wide spectrum of actions, most of which target the brain or the immune system. Several studies have found cannabinoid receptors in the auditory system, both at peripheral and central levels, thus raising the interest in cannabinoid signaling in hearing, and especially in tinnitus, which is affected also by anxiety, memory, and attention circuits where cannabinoid effects are well described. Available studies on animal models of tinnitus suggest that cannabinoids are not likely to be helpful in tinnitus treatment and could even be harmful. However, the pharmacology of cannabinoids is very complex, and most studies focused on neural CB1R-based responses. Cannabinoid effects on the immune system (where CB2Rs predominate) are increasingly recognized as essential in understanding nervous system pathological responses, and data on immune cannabinoid targets have emerged in the auditory system as well. In addition, nonclassical cannabinoid targets (such as TRP channels) appear to play an important role in the auditory system as well. This review will focus on neuroimmunological mechanisms for cannabinoid effects and their possible use as protective and therapeutic agents in the ear and auditory system, especially in tinnitus.
Radiofrequency heating of plasmas

Introduction: The use of radiofrequency heating in fusion research. Wave propagation in a plasma. Mode conversion. Particle diffusion. Transit time damping. Alfven wave heating: Introduction. Properties of the Alfven wave and the heating mechanism. Effects of cylindrical and toroidal geometry. Antenna-plasma coupling. Experiments on Alfven wave heating. Ion cyclotron heating: Introduction. Wave propagation in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies. Heating at the second harmonic. The two-ion hybrid resonance and minority heating. Calculations in tokamak geometry and antenna coupling. Experiments on ion cyclotron heating. Ion Bernstein wave heating. Lower hybrid heating: Introduction. Lower hybrid waves in a cold plasma and the accessibility condition. Absorption of lower hybrid waves. Launching of lower hybrid waves. Experimental results on lower hybrid heating. Fast wave heating. Electron cyclotron heating: Introduction. Cold plasma propagation. Electron cyclotron wave propagation in a hot plasma. Non-linear effects at high powers. Experimental aspects. Current drive: Introduction. Basic principles. Langevin equations. Adjoint methods. Lower hybrid current drive. Electron cyclotron current drive. Minority species current drive. The anomalous Doppler instability. Conclusion. References. Index.
Parallel Stacked Hourglass Network for Music Source Separation

Music source separation is one of the old and challenging problems in music information retrieval society. Improvements in deep learning lead to big progress in decomposing music into its constitutive components with a variety of music. This research uses three types of datasets for source separation namely; Korean traditional music Pansori dataset, MIR-1K dataset, and DSD100 dataset. DSD100 dataset includes multiple sound sources and other two datasets has relatively smaller number of sound sources. We synthetically constructed a novel dataset for Pansori music and trained a novel parallel stacked hourglass network (PSHN) with multiple band spectrograms. In comparison with past study, proposed architecture performs the best results in real-world test samples of Pansori music of any length. The network performance was also tested for the public DSD100 and MIR-1K dataset for strength comparison in multiple source data and found comparable quantitative and qualitative outcomes. System performance is evaluated using median value of signal-to-distortion ratio (SDR), source-to-interference ratio (SIR), and source-to-artifacts ratio (SAR) measured in decibels (dB) and visual comparison of prediction results with ground truth. We report better performance in the Pansori dataset and MIR-1K dataset and perform detailed ablation studies based on architecture variation. The proposed system is better applicable for separating the music source with voices and single or fewer musical instruments.
Constrained Channel Decomposition-Based Hybrid Beamforming for mmWave Massive MIMO Systems

In this article, we propose a hybrid beamforming design for multiuser mmWave massive MIMO systems. We adopt a two-stage approach for designing the analog and digital beamforming separately. The analog beamforming design is based on a constrained low-rank channel decomposition and aims to simultaneously harvest the array gain and reduce the intra- and inter-user interference. The digital beamforming design is conducted by using the regularized channel diagonalization method, which provides a better trade-off between multiuser interference suppression and transmit diversity, thus attaining a better performance in low-SNR scenarios or when communicating to many users or through many data streams. We validate the effectiveness of the proposed design through numerical simulations, which have shown that our design outperforms several other hybrid beamforming designs in the literature.
A Solid State Plasma Multifunctional Metamaterial and Its Application for Energy Absorbing and Cross Polarization Conversion

With the increasing expectations of electromagnetic devices, the defects of monofunctional devices that are susceptibly limited by external constraints are becoming more and more obvious and the integration of multiple functions has gradually become the pursuit of researchers. In this paper, a novel multifunctional metamaterial tailored by the solid state plasma (SSP) is proposed. By inspiring the particular SSP resonators, such a metamaterial can be handily switched back and forth among two functions and form three working states. When the proposed SSP metamaterial is served in State I, its function embodies as an energy absorber and the absorption which is over 90% for TE and TM modes are 5.84-7.30 GHz and 5.41-6.34 GHz whose relative bandwidths (RBs) are 22.22% and 15.83%, respectively. States II and III keep the same functionality of cross-polarization conversion but a distinct operating band. The polarization conversion rate (PCR) of State II which is higher than 90% is 7.40-12.20 GHz (the RB is 48.98%) and this operational range will be shifted to 5.71-8.47 GHz (the RB is 38.92%) after switching to State III. Compared with the conventional tunable devices, this SSP metamaterial has the advantage of functional diversity and it provides a new design idea of absorber and polarization converter to promote potential applications of multifunctional devices.
Emissions of sulfur gases from wetlands

Data on the emissions of sulfur gases from marine and freshwater wetlands are summarized with respect to wetland vegetation type and possible formation mechanisms. The current data base is largest for salt marshes inhabited by Spartina alterniflora. Both dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) dominate emissions from salt marshes, with lesser quantities of methyl mercaptan (MeSH), carbonyl sulfide (COS), carbon disulfide (CS2) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) being emitted. High emission rates of DMS are associated with vegetation that produces the DMS precursor dimethylsulfonionpropionate (DMSP). Although large quantities of H2S are produced in marshes, only a small percentage escapes to the atmosphere. High latitude marshes emit less sulfur gases than temperate ones, but DMS still dominates. Mangrove-inhabited wetlands also emit less sulfur than temperate S. alterniflora marshes. Few data are available on sulfur gas emissions from freshwater wetlands. In most instances, sulfur emissions from temperate freshwater sites are low. However, some temperate and subtropical freshwater sites are similar in magnitude to those from marine wetlands which do not contain vegetation that produces DMSP. Emissions are low in Alaskan tundra but may be considerably higher in some bogs and fens.