Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On-site Regeneration of Acetaminophen Loaded Zeolite Granules by Applying Gaseous Ozone Based Oxidation Process

The wide application of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products cause an increasing contamination of aquatic systems. Adsorption by zeolites is a promising process to remove target organic micro-pollutants (OMPs) selectively from water bodies. In order to have a sustainable adsorption process, restoring the adsorption capacity of the exhausted zeolites is necessary. In this research, the gaseous O3 based process was applied to regenerate the column packed with acetaminophen (ACE) loaded zeolite granules. The aim of this study was to investigate the regeneration performance by using the gaseous O3 based process and the feasibility of its long-term operation. An initial concentration 200mgL^-1 of ACE was used for the zeolite granules adsorption process. After 120 hours of loading, the gaseous O3 based process was applied to regenerate the ACE loaded zeolite granules. It was found that an ideal ACE degradation rate of 80 -100% was obtained by drying the zeolite granules before the regeneration. While when the drained bed (without drying process) was applied, the ACE degradation rates were below 35% for both the gaseous O3 and the gaseous O3/H2O2 processes. The water content of zeolite granules was the main limiting factor that affected the regeneration performance. A higher ACE degradation rate was obtained with lower water content. It was also found that adding H2O2 to the process enhanced the ACE degradation rate for the zeolite granules with the same water content. Nevertheless, the highest ACE degradation rate was achieved when the water content was 0% without adding H2O2. Regarding the long-term regeneration, three cycles of regeneration were conducted to investigate the feasibility of long-term regeneration by using the gaseous O3 process in dried bed. The effect of ozone on zeolite surface characteristics and the accumulation of intermediates had minor influences on the adsorption capacity restoration. Compared to the fresh zeolite, owing to the incomplete regeneration of the adsorbed ACE in the inner part of zeolite, the used zeolite granules lost 25% of the adsorption capacity in the long-term operation. Therefore, it is feasible to use gaseous O3 process in dried bed to regenerate ACE-loaded zeolite granules from the long-term operation perspectives.
Filler modified by a sequential encapsulation and preflocculation method and its effect on paper properties

Abstract Increasing the filler content of sheet tends to decrease filler retention and paper strength properties. To overcome this problem and make better use of fillers, development of new methods on filler modification has never been stopped. In this study, filler modification was carried out by sequentially adding an anionic polyacrylamide, a cationic starch and a cationic polyacrylamide. It is believed that in this process, multiple polyelectrolyte complexes are formed which can not only encapsulate filler particles but also preflocculate the particles. The results showed that, compared to the single preflocculation treatment, the sequential encapsulation and preflocculation (SEP) treatment brought significantly larger particle size and higher surface charge potential of the filler, thus higher filler retention was achieved. When the modified fillers were used for papermaking and paper ash contents were controlled at the same level, the SEP modification was better in improving the tensile index, internal bond strength and tearing index of paper than the single preflocculation method, in addition, it maintained better paper formation, caused insignificant change on opacity of paper. It is believed that this newly developed SEP method is worthy of being applied to industrial scales in making various grades of filled paper.
A Music Appreciation Training Program Developed for Clinical Application with Cochlear Implant Recipients and Hearing Aid Users

Abstract A clinically focused music training program was developed, aimed at enhancing a listener's music appreciation levels. The program was pilot tested on 18 adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients and 13 adult hearing aid (HA) users, with each device group divided into a control and training group. The training groups were asked to use the program four times a week for 10 weeks. Both the training and control groups were assessed on their quality ratings of the musical stimuli as well as tests of instrument and style identification and pitch ranking, before and after the “training” period. In addition to examining the potential benefit of training on appreciation, we examined the relationship between appreciation and perceptual accuracy. The results showed that the training program improved CI recipients' quality ratings for ensemble stimuli, as well as both CI and HA users' subjective ratings of their music perception skills; however, there were no significant improvements for CI or HA users on the timbre identification or pitch ranking tasks. This suggests that CI recipients' music enjoyment can be improved with training, independent of perceptual accuracy. The pretraining baseline scores highlight that music appreciation and perception are two different issues, that everyday experience with the device does not improve music listening, and that music appreciation is still a significant issue for both CI and HA users.
The Cross Reactivity Between Various Mango (Mangifera indica) Extracts

People in Taiwan often complain that their skin condition worsened after consuming mango. We used a systemic approach to evaluate various type IV hypersensitivities induced by various mango preparations. A total of 12 preparations were made from different extracts derived from two varieties of mango, for the patch test. Two groups totaling 179 cases were patch tested. The peel and peel-lining from both types of mango similarly trigger most of the allergic responses, and most of positive cases reacted to mango in ether preparations. Therefore, a 10% ether extract could be used as a simple and standard preparation for testing mango allergy in suspected patients.
Caracterização química e da matéria orgânica de solo em ambientes de veredas e lagos nas savanas do norte amazônico

Os ambientes de lagos e veredas de buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) sao de grande importância ecologica para a sustentabilidade das savanas de Roraima. Neste trabalho teve-se por objetivo estudar a materia orgânica do solo (MOS) de lagos e veredas de buriti da savana de Roraima. Foram determinados e caracterizados a MOS, os atributos quimicos (pH, P disponivel, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al3+, Al + H, C, N, capacidade de troca de cations - CTC, soma de base - SB, V e m) e atividade enzimatica da urease e celulase. O estudo foi realizado no municipio de Boa Vista, Roraima. Foram realizadas coletas de solos em cinco veredas (Embrapa, Casai, Operario, Bom Intento e Bosco) e tres de lagos (Manaira, CCA e Embrapa). As amostras de solos foram submetidas as analises quimicas e da atividade enzimatica da urease e celulase, alem da extracao e fracionamento das substâncias humicas. As amostras de solo tambem foram analisadas por CHNS e RMN13C. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os solos estudados sao Organossolos e Gleissolos, fortemente acidos, a maioria dos ambientes apresentaram pH na faixa de 4,1 a 4,5, baixos teores de Ca, Mg, K+ e P disponivel, demonstrando a baixa fertilidade. O P disponivel na vereda Bom Intento foi alto e atribuido a acao antropica. Os valores obtidos para a soma de base foram baixos, e para a CTC foi altos. Os teores de Al3+ foram elevados e caracterizam os solos como aliticos. A atividade enzimatica apresentou variacao entre os ambientes de lagos e veredas de buriti, demonstrando que sao sensiveis a acao antropica. Os espectros de RMN13C revelaram que os compostos orgânicos aromaticos sao predominantes nos solos estudados. A fracao humina (C-HUM) e predominante entres as fracoes das substâncias humicas desses solos. Conforme os resultados obtidos os solos dos lagos e veredas de buriti da savana de Roraima podem funcionar como fonte de C e sao sensiveis a acao antropica e requerem atencao de acoes de politicas que visem a conservacao dessas areas.
Essential and Recovery Oils from Matricaria chamomilla Flowers as Environmentally Friendly Fungicides Against Four Fungi Isolated from Cultural Heritage Objects

Recovery oils, obtained from the hydro-distillation of the fresh flowers of Matricaria chamomilla, as well as essential oils, were studied for their environmental purposes in cultural heritage. These oils were assayed for their antifungal activity against the growth of four molds isolated from archaeological manuscripts (Aspergillus niger), museum gypsum board Antique (A. flavus), museum archaeological tissue (A. terreus), and museum organic materials (Fusarium culmorum) of cultural heritage objects. Oils were applied to inhibit the growth of fungi at amounts of 25, 50, 75 and, 100 µL/mL, and compared with negative controls (0 µL/mL) or positive controls (Sertaconazol 3g/L). Using GC/MS analysis, the main chemical compounds identified in the essential oil were (Z)-β-farnesene (27%), D-limonene (15.25%), and α-bisabolol oxide A (14.9%), while the compounds identified in the recovery oil were α-bisabolol oxide A (18.6%), d-limonene (8.82%), and α-bisabolol oxide B (7.13%). A low amount of chamazulene was observed in both essential and recovery oils, with amounts of 0.73% and 3.50%, respectively. Recovery oil, at a concentration of 75 and 100 µL/mL, showed fungal mycelial inhibition (FMI) percentage for the growth of A. niger, with values of 78% and 85%, respectively. At a concentration of 100 µL/mL, both oils showed 100% FMI of A. terreus. Oils showed weak activity against the growth of A. flavus. Essential oils at 100 µL/mL had good activity against the growth of F. culmorum, with FMI of 86.6%. The results suggest the potential use of essential and recovery oils from M. chamomilla fresh flowers as environmentally friendly bio-fungicides.
Influence of Spacing of Multiple Impellers on Power Input in an Industrial‐Scale Aerated Stirred Tank Reactor

Despite the fact that aerated stirred tank reactors are widely used in industry and often studied, their design and scale-up still remains challenging. Especially the specific power input is a crucial and geometry-dependent scale-up parameter, usually calculated with the dimensionless power number Po . Within the scope of this study, the power number is measured for different stirrer types and configurations in a laboratory and an industrial-scale aerated stirred tank reactor. Good agreements to literature are found for the unaerated case for the two-stage stirrer configurations at different stirrer spacing for both scales. By literature only the aerated case in the laboratory scale can be predicted. Scale-up of an aerated industrial-scale reactor is challenging because of a specific influence of the aeration. In case of a three-stage Rushton configuration, an asymmetrical distribution of the stirrers should be preferred to ensure a high power number as well as good power performance under aerated conditions.
Production of Microbial Exopolysaccharide by Cost-effective Medium Optimization Method

Microbial exopolysaccharide (EPS) emerged as a fast and high yielding sustainable polymeric substance which can be used as an alternative to synthetic polymer in industry. In this study, the influence of various nutritional and environmental factors of fermentation medium on bacterial growth and EPS production was evaluated by one factor at a time optimization. Efficient production medium was chosen from four different basal media and its carbon and nitrogen substrates were varied among organic and inorganic sources. Feasibility of bacterial utilization of some agricultural wastes as carbon and nitrogen sources to synthesize exopolysaccharide was compared. Carbon source of the fermentation medium was replaced with hydrolysates of sugarcane baggasse (SCB), sweet potato peels (SPP) or ripe plantain peels (RPP) at various concentrations while the nitrogen substrates was replaced with extracts of poultry droppings (PP), groundnut pod (GP) or beans bran (BB). Response results observed from single factor optimization were explored as center points to design a model for Response Surface Methodology study. Cell growth was determined from the biomass population of the fermentation broth after 5days of incubation in a rotary shaker at 120 rpm at 30oC. EPS was precipitated with pre-chilled ethanol (at 4oC) from cell-free broth and overnight incubation at 4oC. Total carbohydrate content was estimated by phenol-sulphuric acid method. Result obtained showed that 2% concentration Hydrolysate of SPP containing medium gave maximum yield of 2.26g EPS/l of the medium as compared to sucrose containing medium with yield of 1.25 g EPS/l of the medium while highest production yield of 9.46 gEPS/l of the medium was obtained from 10 g/l BB extract medium as compared to yeast extract medium (5.41 gEPS/l). Results indicated that agricultural wastes such as sweet potato peel hydrolysate and bean bran extract could be developed as inexpensive alternative route to synthesize EPS from bacteria than inorganic substrates.
Determination of Remaining Useful Life in Cyclic Processes

The analysis of Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of systems and equipments enables the prevention of failures, so that effective maintenance can be performed in time to correct failures that are close to happening. The degradation signal of a variable can be used as a basis for estimating the RUL of a given system since this signal is modeled mathematically correctly. In this paper, the RUL of cyclic processes is analyzed with the determination of the Number of Remaining Cycles (NRC) in order to maximize production, guaranteeing operational safety. Two approaches will be considered: Bayesian Methodology and Time Series. The Bayesian methodology is based on Bayesian Inference to update the stochastic parameter, providing better representativeness in the estimation of the NRC. The deterministic parameters and the hyperparameters in the prior distribution of the stochastic parameter are estimated through the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method, while the stochastic parameter in the degradation model of a s.
Simplified detection of a point mutation in C. elegans using tetra-primer ARMS-PCR

Figure 1. (A) Schematic of tetra-primer ARMS-PCR with lin-65(n3441) SNP indicated in white, WT SNP in yellow, and mismatches in red. (B) Three replicates of single-worm PCR products of C. elegans gene lin-65 in N2 strain, a strain homozygous for the lin-65(n3441) SNP allele, and heterozygous (n3441/WT) F1 progeny under standard PCR conditions (left) and conditions optimized for amplification of the SNP flanking sequence (right). (C) PCR products of parental, F1, and F2 individuals with flanking sequence amplification.
Development of the residual sodium quantification method for a fuel pin bundle of SFRs before and after dry cleaning

ABSTRACT In a fuel handling system of sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), it is necessary to remove the sodium remaining on spent fuel assemblies (FAs) before storing them in a spent fuel water pool (SFP). A next-generation SFR in Japan has adopted an advanced dry-cleaning system that consists of argon gas blowing to remove the metallic residual sodium on the FA, which increases economic competitiveness and reduces waste products thanks to a waterless process. In this R&D work, the performance of the dry cleaning process has been investigated. This paper describes experimental and analytical studies focusing on the amount of residual sodium remaining on a fuel pin bundle before and after the argon gas blowing process. The experiments were conducted using a sodium test loop and a short (approximately 1 m) specimen consisting of a 7-pin bundle. The effects of the blowing gas velocity and the blowing time were quantitatively analyzed in the experiments. The blowing gas velocity was varied from 3.9 to 31.3 m/s, and 113 data-points of the residual sodium were collected during the experiment. On the basis of these experimental results, the residual sodium quantification method for the fuel pin bundle was constructed.
Aeration and Glucose Concentration on Saccharomyces boulardii Probiotic Cultivation

Saccharomyces boulardii viable cells have probiotic action. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aeration on the production of S. boulardii viable cells in liquid cultivation medium with different initial glucose concentrations. Yeast has grown on yeast extract peptone dextrose medium with or without aeration (2 Lar min-1 to obtain 30 ± 1% of oxygen) and different initial glucose concentrations (20, 40 and 60 g L-1). The viable cells were determined by serial dilution method and glucose concentration was determined by 3-5 dinitrosalicylic acid. The number of viable cells changed from 7.54 ± 0.04 to 7.77 ± 0.02 log of CFU mL-1 when glucose increased from 20 to 60 g L-1, respectively. The aeration of the cultivation medium increased the number of viable cells from 7.78 ± 0.04 to 8.27 ± 0.04 log of CFU mL-1 in the cultivation medium with 40 g L-1 glucose. The yeast biomass was ~3 times greater than 60 g L-1 glucose with aeration when compared to cultivation medium with 20 g L-1 glucose without aeration. Thus, the glucose increase and the cultivation medium aeration increment S. boulardii production and viability.
Nitrogen Mineralization and Nitrification in Two Soils with Different pH Levels

ABSTRACT Soil pH is one of the properties that mostly influences nitrification rates, and can be used as a tool for controlling this process, seen that depending on its extent it may lead to nitrogen (N) losses and subsequent contaminations. The aims of this study were to evaluate mineralization and nitrification of two soils at different pH levels. The experimental design was factorial with two factors and three replicates, with the first factor referring to two samples of red latosols, one eutrophic (LV1) and the other dystrophic (LV2), and the second factor was soil’s pH, at six levels: 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5. Samples were incubated for 70 days in laboratory conditions. Both nitrate (N-NO3) and mineral N contents were determined and adjusted to growth models. The eutrophic soil presented higher mineral N and N-NO3, and the increase of pH levels led to increases of both inorganic N and N-NO3contents. Increases in pH levels caused N-NO3levels to increase in both soils, however this occurrence happened because it increased the amount of mineralized N in the soil, seen that in all pH ranges in both soils practically all mineral N was in the form of N-NO3.
Caring and Coping: Exploring How Nurses Manage Workplace Stress

Recruitment and retention of hospice nurses have been a challenge in the last decade due, in part, to workplace stress. This research seeks to better understand and expand the current body of knowledge surrounding the coping process for this group. In addition, this research explores the availability and adequacy of workplace coping resources. With the use of a qualitative design, 19 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses participated in focus groups. Each session was audio-recorded and transcribed. Content analysis was performed. Hospice nurses reported that social support, humor, and prayer/meditation were the most effective ways of coping. Most participants shared that their agency offered no formal resources to assist them in times of stress. Informal resources were less than favorable and provided little to no long-term therapeutic value. While hospice nurses are managing to find ways to cope using personal resources, organizations have an opportunity to develop quality workplace resources that will bolster coping efforts. This information challenges organizations to explore this issue with nursing staff and establish interventions that build upon successful coping strategies. Future research should focus on identifying policies and practices that best protect this group from the consequences of workplace stress and ensures the longevity of hospice care.
In Silico Pharmacological Analysis of a Potent Anti-Hepatoma Compound of Mushroom Origin and Emerging Role as an Adjuvant Drug Lead

Mushrooms are well-known to possess a continuum of anticancer metabolites that are vital in the development of anticancer adjuvant drug leads based on natural products. Owing to the fact that conventional cancer therapeutic methods were failed to lessen mortality caused by cancer to the estimated level with occurrence of adverse side effects, anticancer agents isolated from natural mushroom sources unarguably make an experimental research area worth mass focus today. The current study was targeted on in vitro cytotoxicity and in silico predictive pharmacological analysis of a flavonoid compound isolated from Fulvifomes fastuosus mushroom. Targeted compound was isolated from the mushroom using different chromatographic methods and identified by NMR spectrometry and mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity experiments were carried out using MTT assay and apoptotic cells were identified by ethidium bromide/acridine orange staining. The SwissADME tool, BOILED-Egg construction model and Swiss target protein prediction software have been used to perform in silico predictive pharmacological analysis. The isolated compound has been identified as 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione by spectrometric methods. The result of MTT assay showed that 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has potent anticancer activity for hepatoma against Hep-G2 cell line (IC50 = 20.8 μg/ml) being less toxic to normal CC-1 epithelial cells (IC50 = 167.00 μM). The cells treated with compound ex-hibited apoptotic features such as cellular shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation and condensed cytoplasm. In summary, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has shown potent anticancer properties against hepatoma with less cytotoxicity effect on normal cells. Furthermore, in silico study has revealed that properties of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione may contribute to making a high absorption and clearance of the test compound as not interfering with the therapeutic failure of the compound. The properties of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo-[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione were compatible with well-known anticancer drug lapatinib. In conclusion, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has a high tendency to act as a good anticancer adjuvant drug in the treatment of hepatoma.