Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Enzymatic Activity of Glucose Oxidase Immobilized on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and on Controlled Pore Glass by Sequential Injection Analysis

ABSTRACT The enzymatic activities of glucose oxidase immobilized on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and on controlled pore glass were evaluated. The evaluation was performed by optimizing a system of sequential injection analysis with amperometric detection using a 3-mm glassy carbon electrode as the working electrode. Glucose oxidase was immobilized on polyaniline-multiwalled carbon nanotubes using glutaraldehyde as a reagent. Transmission electronic microscopy showed the coupling of polyaniline on the multiwalled carbon nanotubes and the coupling of the enzyme on the polyaniline-multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The optimum values to determine the enzymatic activity of glucose oxidase on both supports by sequential injection analysis were 1 mmol L−1 pH 6 phosphate buffer, 25°C, glucose injection volume of 10 µL, reaction flow rate of 0.16 mL/min, an enzymatic reactor of 1 cm length x 0.2 cm i.d. , 35 U of immobilized enzyme, and 0.8 V as the applied potential. The results showed a conditional Michaeles-Menten constant () of 5.38 (±0.23) mmol L−1 for the glucose oxidase-polyaniline-multiwalled carbon nanotube reactor and 1.30 (±0.06) mmol L−1 for the glucose oxidase-controlled pore glass reactor. The conditional maximum velocities () were 2.42 (±0.8) and 2.06 (±0.06) produced H2O2 min−1, respectively. The results suggest that the enzyme is more exposed to the substrate when it is immobilized on controlled pore glass.
Twenty years of ground-based NDACC FTIR spectrometry at Izaña Observatory – overview and long-term comparison to other techniques

Abstract. High-resolution Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) solar observations are particularly relevant for climate studies, as they allow atmospheric gaseous composition and multiple climate processes to be monitored in detail. In this context, the present paper provides an overview of 20 years of FTIR measurements taken in the framework of the NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change) from 1999 to 2018 at the subtropical Izaña Observatory (IZO, Spain). Firstly, long-term instrumental performance is comprehensively assessed, corroborating the temporal stability and reliable instrumental characterisation of the two FTIR spectrometers installed at IZO since 1999. Then, the time series of all trace gases contributing to NDACC at IZO are presented (i.e. C2H6, CH4, ClONO2, CO, HCl, HCN, H2CO, HF, HNO3, N2O, NO2, NO, O3, OCS, and water vapour isotopologues H216O, H218O, and HD16O), reviewing the major accomplishments drawn from these observations. In order to examine the quality and long-term consistency of the IZO FTIR observations, a comparison of those NDACC products for which other high-quality measurement techniques are available at IZO has been performed (i.e. CH4, CO, H2O, NO2, N2O, and O3). This quality assessment was carried out on different timescales to examine what temporal signals, and to what extent, are captured by the FTIR records. After 20 years of operation, the IZO NDACC FTIR observations have been found to be very consistent and reliable over time, demonstrating great potential for climate research. Long-term NDACC FTIR data sets, such as IZO, are indispensable tools for the investigation of atmospheric composition trends, multi-year phenomena and complex climate feedback processes, as well as for the validation of past and present space-based missions and chemistry climate models.
Enhance Low Level Temperature and Moisture Profiles Through Combining NUCAPS, ABI Observations, and RTMA Analysis

Thermodynamic information from low levels in the atmosphere is crucial for operational weather forecasts and meteorological researchers. The NOAA Unique Combined Atmospheric Processing System (NUCAPS) sounding products have been proven beneficial to fill the data gap between synoptic radiosonde observations (RAOBs). However, compared with the upper troposphere, the accuracy of NUCAPS soundings in the low levels still needs improvement. In this study, a deep neural network (DNN) is applied to fuse multiple data sources to enhance the NUCAPS temperature and moisture profiles in the lower atmosphere. The network is developed by combining satellite observations, including NUCAPS sounding retrievals and high resolution geostationary satellite observations from the Advanced Baseline Imager, and surface analysis from the Real‐Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA) as inputs, while collocated soundings from ECMWF re‐analysis version 5 are used as the benchmark for the training. The performance of the model is evaluated by using the independent testing data set, data from a different year, as well as collocated RAOBs, showing improvement to the temperature and moisture profiles by reducing the root‐mean‐squared‐error (RMSE) by more than 30% in the lower atmosphere (from 700 hPa to surface) in both clear sky and partially cloudy conditions. A convective event from June 18, 2017 is presented to illustrate the application of the enhanced low level soundings on high impact weather events. The enhanced soundings from fused data capture the large surface‐based convective available potential energy structures in the preconvection environment, which is very useful for severe storm nowcasting and forecasting applications.
Cross-chain Exchange by Transaction Dependence with Conditional Transaction

Cross-chain exchange swaps assets among different blockchains, which facilitates cooperation among blockchains. A cross-chain exchange contains several transactions from different blockchains. It requires to synchronize asset transfers in those associated blockchains to avoid partial transfers. Current cross-chain methods are divided into two main types. One locks the assets first and transfers the frozen asset to receivers later. The second one is the two-phase or three-phase transaction commit protocol. Those methods require at least two steps, which makes those blockchains coherent to synchronize at different time(steps). Serialization is required as the second step has to wait for the completion of the first step, and even some steps in the same stage are required to be serialized. Meanwhile, their implements are either by smart contracts or special blockchain structures/roles. Smart contract based methods require to pre-deploy a smart contract and cannot change dynamically. Special structure or role-based methods force associated blockchains to have those special requirements. In this paper, we propose a new cross-chain exchange model based on the dependence of associated transactions, which is expressed inside a transaction and can change when sending transactions. It saves the step to lock the asset or perform a pre-commit and has no special requirements for blockchains or pre-deployment of smart contracts. The simulation results show the proposed model exchanges asset effectively among different blockchains.
Poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate) Nanoparticles Decorated with Chitosan: Effect of Conformation of Chitosan Chains at the Surface on Complement Activation Properties

Structures of polymers composing nanoparticles suitable for in vivo delivery of siRNA were elucidated. Models illustrating the conformational taken by chitosan chains on the nanoparticle surface were established and correlated well with complement activation profile shown by the nanoparticles. Results will be helpful to design stealth and safe nanoparticles avoiding complement activation. Abstract Poly(alkylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles decorated with chitosan were found interesting drug carriers to deliver siRNA (small interfering RNA) to tumor by intravenous injection. The nanoparticles are prepared by emulsion polymerization in presence of chitosan and pluronic ® F68. The present work was aimed to study the structure of polymers composing the nanoparticles to obtain useful information about the structure of the nanoparticle surface. It was based on the characterization of nanoparticles obtained from polymerization media containing or not pluronic ® F68 and cerium. It was shown that the structure of copolymers composing the nanoparticles greatly depended on the predominant mechanism of polymerization governed by the composition of the polymerization medium. Models of the conformation taken by the hydrophilic chains (chitosan and pluronic® F68) at the surface of the nanoparticles could be suggested from the structures of copolymers composing the different nanoparticles. A clear correlation of the structure of the nanoparticle surface with the capacity of the nanoparticles to trigger the activation of the complement system was established. These results will be useful to design nanoparticles with a low capacity to activate the complement system which is required to obtain stealth and safe nanoparticles
The introduction of monochromators in electron microscope guns

The intrinsic width of the energy distribution from Schottky and field emission sources is betwen 0.2 and 0.8eV. For high resolution energy loss spectroscopy,for small probe sizes in low voltage scanning electron microscopy and for sub Angstrom information transfer in transmission electron microscopy,an energy width of 50meV is needed.The development of electron filters,also called monochromators,is described.Several experimental electron microscopes with a monochromator now exist and the commericial introduction is expected soon.Initially the main application will be in studies of chemical shifts and electronic structure at nanometer resolution.
Propagation-Invariant Off-Axis Elliptic Gaussian Beams with the Orbital Angular Momentum

We studied paraxial light beams, obtained by a continuous superposition of off-axis Gaussian beams with their phases chosen so that the whole superposition is invariant to free-space propagation, i.e., does not change its transverse intensity shape. Solving a system of five nonlinear equations for such superpositions, we obtained an analytical expression for a propagation-invariant off-axis elliptic Gaussian beam. For such an elliptic beam, an analytical expression was derived for the orbital angular momentum, which was shown to consist of two terms. The first one is intrinsic and describes the momentum with respect to the beam center and is shown to grow with the beam ellipticity. The second term depends parabolically on the distance between the beam center and the optical axis (similar to the Steiner theorem in mechanics). It is shown that the ellipse orientation in the transverse plane does not affect the normalized orbital angular momentum. Such elliptic beams can be used in wireless optical communications, since their superpositions do not interfere in space, if they do not interfere in the initial plane.
SIMULATION OF COMPACT POLARIZERS FOR SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS WITH THE ACCOUNT OF THICKNESS OF IRISES

Background. One of the main problems in modern satellite telecommunication systems is to increase the volume of information transmission with simultaneous preservation of its quality. Key element of such systems is antenna systems with polarization processing, which is carried out using polarizers. Therefore, development of new polarizers and simple techniques for their analysis and optimization are important problems. The most simple, effective, technological and actual for analysis are polarizers based on waveguides with irises. Objective. The purpose of the paper is to create a mathematical model of the polarizer based on a square waveguide with irises, which allows analyzing the influence of polarizer’s design parameters on its electromagnetic characteristics. Methods. A mathematical model of the waveguide polarizer with irises is created by decomposition technique using transfer and scattering wave matrices. To take into account the irises’ thickness their equivalent T- and Π-shaped circuits were used. Results. We have developed mathematical model of the waveguide polarizer with irises, which takes into account their thickness and is based on the complete scattering wave matrix of the waveguide polarizer. The matrix has been obtained using the microwave circuit theory. The main characteristics of the waveguide polarizer were defined using matrix elements. The optimization of characteristics of a polarizer was carried out in the operating Ku-band 10.7–12.8 GHz. Conclusions. Suggested mathematical model of a waveguide polarizer with irises provides the account of heights of irises, distances between them and their thickness. The results obtained show that this model is simpler and faster for the calculation of electromagnetic characteristics compared to finite elements method, which is often used for analysis of microwave devices for various applications.
Measuring Intrinsic Traits of Children at Zoos

Zoos are in a unique position to affect the development of youth in ways that are consistent with cultivating pro-environmental behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine three intrinsic traits of youth important to the goals of conservation education: prior knowledge about animals, interest in animals, and value for animals. The framework of this study is the conceptual model of learning that posits that any changes that occur during a single visit to an informal learning institution (such as a zoo) will be affected and informed by the intrinsic traits of the individual and various external factors. This study explored three intrinsic traits predicted to be important for informal learning. The research design followed a constructivist design meant to capture measurements of prior knowledge, interest, and value from the participants’ own perspectives. This study describes these three traits in a sample of 37 youth between the ages of 7 and 14, largely zoo members, attending the zoo with their parents. In particular, I describe unique methods of measuring these three traits including a drawing activity meant to assess the children’s construction of knowledge about animals, and questionnaires meant to assess the youth’s interest and value. The data analysis in this paper provides descriptions of the three traits as they are constructed among the youth participants in order to inform future correlations between intrinsic traits and in-zoo behavior. The results of the study indicated that youth organize their knowledge about animals around ecological and morphological concepts and that this forms the basis for their interest in and value for animals.
The lupeol content in Machaerium species by HPLC-APCI-MS/MS and the allelopathic action

The use of extracts from plants and/or allelopathic compounds from natural products can minimize the use of pesticides in agriculture. This is a chemical study of Machaerium eriocarpum branch extract and the evaluation of the allelopathic potential of Machaerium hirtum (Vell.) Stellfed and M. eriocarpum Benth (Fabaceae) leaves and branches extracts. The triterpene lupeol was isolated from the hydroethanolic extract of M. eriocarpum branches. The quantification of this compound in all extracts was performed by HPLC-APCI-MS/MS and the highest amount of lupeol was observed in the leaves extract of M. eriocarpum. Allelopathy tests were carried out against seeds of Sorghum bicolor L. (sorghum), evaluating the final percentage of germination, germination speed index (GSI), root growth and number of lateral roots. The leaves extracts of both species were effective in the inhibition of the root growth as well as of the lateral roots. The branches extract of M. hirtum showed inhibitory effect in the root growth and lateral roots only in 50 and 100 mg.L-1 doses. The lupeol showed mainly a strong inhibition of seed germination, root growth and lateral root appearance at 100 μM. This study showed the potentiality of Machaerium extracts and lupeol as bioherbicides. Key words: Allelopathy, lupeol, Machaerium, Fabaceae, Sorghum bicolor, phytoxicity
Do you see the same cat that I see? Relationships between Qualitative Behaviour Assessment and indicators traditionally used to assess temperament in domestic cats

This study into the behaviour of domestic cats (Felis catus) aimed to assess the relationship between behavioural expressions obtained via the Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) and quantitative outcomes of temperament tests. Four behavioural tests were used: Unfamiliar person (UP); Novel object (NO); Conspecific reaction (CR); and Food offering (FO) tests. Tests were filmed and assessed using an ethogram that included 25 discrete behavioural categories, generating quantitative information (coding method) on the existing temperament dimensions. Videos were also assessed by another observer using the QBA method, based on a list of 20 adjectives rated in visual analogue scales (rating method). Data were analysed using Principal Component Analysis. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were used to relate the principal components (PC) of QBA to the temperament dimensions obtained with the coding method. The QBA allowed us to identify three PC, explaining 76.63% of the total variance. PC1 ranged from ‘calm/relaxed/friendly’ to ‘tense/fearful/alert’, reflecting the valence of cats’ behavioural and emotional expressions towards the stimuli tested. PC2 ranged from ‘indifferent’ to ‘agitated/active’, indicating the level of emotional arousal, and PC3 ranged from ‘aggressive’ to ‘suspicious’ and could be interpreted as an axis of ‘aggressiveness — caution’ in response to the stimuli. The first PC obtained for each test by using the coding method was significantly correlated with the PC1 of QBA, suggesting that the variations in cats’ behavioural and emotional expressions identified by QBA were correlated with the main quantitative outcomes of temperament tests traditionally applied for domestic cats. QBA could be a promising tool for identifying and differentiating cat temperament profiles. Further research is required to assess the potential use of QBA as a feasible and practical method for use in shelters.
The effects of ocean acidification on photosynthesis, growth, and carbon and nitrogen metabolism of Macrocystis pyrifera

v Acknowledgements viii Table of contents ix List of Tables xiv List of Figures xvi Chapter 1: General introduction 1 1.1 Ocean acidification (OA) 1 1.1.1 Response of non-calcifying photosynthetic marine organisms to OA . 2 1.1.2 Carbon physiology of macroalgae and responses to OA 3 1.1.3 Other biochemical or physiological parameters of macroalgae that might be affected by OA 6 1.2 Nitrogen metabolism 7 1.2. 1 Effects of OA on the N metabolism of macroalgae 9 1.3 Water motion 10 1.4 Macrocystis pyrifera 14 1.5 Objectives 15 1.6 Academic papers 18 Chapter 2: Carbonic anhydrase activity in seaweeds: method overview and recommendations for assay optimization using the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera 22 2.
Exploring the conditionality of public service motivation: evidence from a priming experiment

ABSTRACT Scholars have demonstrated that public service motivation (PSM) may be conditional and activated in certain contexts or by particular primes. However, to date researchers have focused on the impact of positive experiences or beneficial consequences of public serving activities on employee PSM. Altruism research suggests that PSM may also respond, somewhat counterintuitively, to negative experiences. We test this in an experimental study of 456 public employees in which treatment groups were asked to recall negative or positive interactions with citizens, before responding to questions from a widely used scale of PSM. Results suggest that expressed PSM is sensitive to, and in fact increases, in response to both positive and negative experiential primes. We conclude with a discussion of implications of conditionality for our broader understanding of PSM.
Experimental seismic performance assessment and numerical modelling of nonlinear inerter vibration absorber (IVA)‐equipped base isolated structures tested on shaking table

In recent years, inerter vibration absorbers (IVAs), such as the tuned mass damper inerter (TMDI), attracted much attention in the literature for reducing seismic displacement demands of base isolated structures (BISs). Several theoretical studies reported reduced BIS seismic demands with increasing inertance endowed by a grounded inerter element, but adopted mostly idealized linear dynamical models. Herein, the potential of TMDI‐configured IVAs for seismic response reduction of BISs modelled as single‐mass structures is assessed under the combined effects of nonlinear inerter and structural behavior. To this aim, experimental data from a shaking table testing campaign are considered utilizing a custom‐built flywheel rack‐and‐pinion grounded inerter prototype with variable inertance, along with high damping rubber bearings in the isolation layer and in the BIS‐to‐absorber link. White noise excitation and an ensemble of six ground motions (GMs) with different frequency content are used in the tests for which bearings exhibit softening nonlinear behavior. Experimental results demonstrate improvement of BIS nonlinear seismic response in terms of displacement and base shear with increasing inertance for nonlinear and nonoptimally tuned IVAs. It is found though that the considered IVAs may be detrimental to BIS acceleration response depending on the GMs time‐varying frequency content signatures as captured by the continuous wavelet transform spectrogram. Finally, it is concluded that representing the inerter device by a simplified linear dissipative model as opposed to a nonlinear model with friction and gear backlash suffices to trace the BIS response with acceptable accuracy and, thus, can be used for optimal seismic TMDI design.
Determination of Molecular Weight of Sodium Cellulose Sulfate by Low Angle Laser Light Scattering

Molecular weight(Mw) of sodium cellulose sulfate(NaCS) was determined by using low angle laser light scattering in this work.The Mw values of three samples with the degree of substitution 0.28, 0.40 and 0.73 were 879.8, 593.5 and 226.9 kDa respectively.The effects of different salts and their concentrations on determination of Mw were also investigated.When the concentration of salts was in the range of 0.05～0.075 mol/L, the accuracy of determination was better.However, when the concentration was lower than 0.05 mol/L, accurate result was obtained hardly, and in this range, the molecules of NaCS were in expanded state and the viscosity of NaCS varied dramatically.
Origami Folding by Multifingered Hands with Motion Primitives

Origami, a traditional Japanese art, is an example of superior handwork produced by human hands. Achieving such extreme dexterity is one of the goals of robotic technology. In the work described in this paper, we developed a new general-purpose robot system with sufficient capabilities for performing Origami. We decomposed the complex folding motions into simple primitives and generated the overall motion as a combination of these primitives. Also, to measure the paper deformation in real-time, we built an estimator using a physical simulator and a depth camera. As a result, our experimental system achieved consecutive valley folds and a squash fold.