Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immobilisation of TiO2-nanoparticles on sewage sludge and their adsorption for cadmium removal from aqueous solutions

In this study, pure TiO2-nanoparticles and TiO2/sewage sludge (TS) as biomass material were synthesised via a sol–gel method. The adsorption potential of nanosized TiO2 and TS for removal of Cd(II) was investigated in a batch system. The prepared adsorbents were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The XRD analysis showed that pure TiO2 is in amorphous phase before calcination and in anatase phase at annealing temperature of 400 °C. TiO2/sewage sludge that calcined at 400 °C (TS400) was found to be the best adsorbent for cadmium removal from aqueous solution. Kinetic and isotherm studies were carried out by considering the parameters, pH, initial concentration and contact time. The optimum pH value for Cd(II) adsorption onto TS400 was found to be 6. Langmuir isotherm showed better fit than Freundlich isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 29.28 mg/g which is higher than that of many other adsorbents reported in literature. The sorption kinetic data were well fitted with a pseudo-second-order model. These results demonstrated that TS400 was readily prepared and is the promising and effective solid material for the removal of Cd(II) from aqueous solutions.
Understanding Thickness Dependent Magnetic Properties of Ultra-Thin Films

Stony Brook University Libraries. SBU Graduate School in physics. Lawrence Martin (Dean of Graduate School), Chi-Chang Kao - Advisor Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy Senior Scientist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Christopher Jacobsen - Chairperon Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Philip Allen Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Kenneth Evans-Lutterodt Senior Scientist, Physics, Brookhaven National Laboratory.
The Origins of the JRME: A Retrospective Account.

This article presents a history of the origins of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education (JRME) published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Written by three of the many persons responsible for initiating the journal, this account is based on minutes of meetings, notes from files, and personal recollections of the events and persons involved in the deliberations over a quarter of a century ago. David C. Johnson, then at the University of Minnesota, was the first editor of the JRME (Volumes 1 to 4). Thomas A. Romberg was chair of NCTM's Research Advisory Committee, which wrote the proposal arguing that a research journal was both needed and an appropriate publication for NCTM to undertake. Joseph M. Scandura was the editor of Research in Mathematics Education, a special NCTM publication designed to determine the feasibility of publishing a research journal. We are confident that this retrospective account in general captures the issues and events leading to the decisions to publish the JRME. Now that the JRME is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has become a major research journal in American education with over 11,000 subscribers, it may be hard for many to understand why there was controversy about the need for a publication in mathematics education research. Although suggestions that NCTM should publish such a journal had occurred sporadically for several years, the decision to undertake the effort was in response to a proposal prepared in 1967 by the organization's Research Advisory Committee (RAC) and approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting in January 1968. The members were split in their support of the proposal, with the deciding vote cast by NCTM President Donovan A. Johnson. This vote reflects the fact that the origins of the JRME were surrounded by concern and controversy. In recounting the events that led to the decision to publish a research journal and the logistics of getting started, we have chosen to focus on four topics:
THE ANTI-TUMOR EFFECTS OF PICROPODOPHYLLIN ON HEPATOCARCINOMA HEPG2 CELL LINE -

: Hepatocarcinogenesis is a multi-step process involving a number of different genetic and epigenetic alterations that ultimately lead to malignant transformation of the hepatocyte. It has been recently demonstrated that concerted upregulation of both the insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) are early events in hepatocarcinogenesis induced in the rat by N-Nitrosomorpholine. The small molecule IGF-1R inhibitor picropodophyllin (PPP) has been found to potently inhibit IGF-1R autophosphorylation in different cancer cell lines and xenografts with selective effect against a panel of receptor tyrosine kinases including IR. However, the precise molecular mechanism of PPP is not yet fully elucidated. The goal of the present work was to study the antitumour effects of PPP, and the underlying molecular mechanism using the HepG2 cell line, which expresses a high basal level of IGF-1R. PPP inhibited proliferation and colony formation of HepG2 cells. At low concentrations and as early as after 2 hr. of treatment, PPP increased the percentage of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. At higher concentrations (0.5 µM, 1 µM), PPP induced apoptosis measured by Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP Nick End Labelling (TUNEL) assay. Furthermore, PPP induced downregulation of the total protein levels of IGF-1R at the 16 and 24 hr. without affecting the levels of AKT or its active form serine 473 (pAKT.S473). PPP induced the accumulation of p27 in a dose-dependent manner with no effect on the levels of Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) or CDK2. Taken together, the present results highlight some molecular mechanism for the multiple antitumour effects of PPP. The data provide also the rationale for further preclinical evaluation of PPP for therapeutic implications in hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo .
Organic materials as templates for the formation of mesoporous inorganic materials and ordered inorganic nanocomposites

vi LIST OF TABLES . xi LIST OF FIGURES . xiii CHAPTER 1. SYNTHESIS OF MESOPOROUS SILICA SPHERES USING A BIOMIMETIC CATALYST . 1 1.1 Natural Materials Formation Processes . 2 1.1.1 Proteins, Peptides, and DNA . 2 1.1.2 Diatomaceous Silica . 4 1.2 Synthetic Attempts at Nanostructured Silica . 12 1.2. 1 MCM-41 Hexagonal Silica by Mobil Corp. . 13 1.2. 2 KIT-1 Hydrothermally Stable Mesoporous Silica . 17 1.3. 3 Surfactant-Inorganic Self Assembly. 18 1.2. 4 SBA-15 Mesoporous Silica . 20 1.2. 5 Other routes to mesoporous silica . 23 1.2. 6 Thermal Stability of Common Mesoporous Silicas . 25 1.2. 7 Applications for Mesoporous Silicas. 26 1.2. 8 Synthetic Mesoporous Silica Spheres . 29 1.3 Silica Precipitation through Biomimetic Catalysis . 41 1.4 Mesoporous Silica Spheres Synthesized using Cysteamine as a Catalyst . 44 1.4. 1 Materials and Synthesis . 45 1.4. 2 Sphere Calcination and Thermal Testing . 46 1.4. 3 Characterization Techniques . 48 1.4. 4 Results and Discussion . 50 1.5 Conclusions . 66 2. A MIXED CATALYST SYSTEM FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF SILICA AT VARIED PH . 68 2.
Salmonella Aortitis: A Report of a Successfully Treated Case With a Comprehensive Review of the Literature

A successfully treated case ofSalmonellainfection of the thoracic aorta is described.Salmonella enteritidiswas isolated from blood cultures and from operative cultures of the aorta. Computed tomography suggested the site of infection, and the resection of the thoracic aortic aneurysm with specific antibiotic therapy resulted in a satisfactory outcome. Although once invariably fatal, improved diagnostic roentgenographic techniques, more potent antibiotics, and surgical advances have resulted in at least 45 reported survivors over the last 15 years. The pathogenesis, clinical and laboratory characteristics, and the treatment of aortitis due toSalmonellaspecies are reviewed in 98 cases reported in the English-language literature since 1948. Early diagnosis and a combination of prompt surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy are essential for survival. (Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:517-525)
APPLICATION OF AN ATMOSPHERIC TRACER MODEL TO HIGH SOUTHERN LATITUDES

We discuss the development of a global three-dimensional tracer model and use it to examine the atmospheric dispersal of passive tracer gases, particularly carbon dioxide, and their transport to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The tracer model is based on the University of Melbourne General Circulation Model and includes the effect of convective transport. Our results indicate the importance of a realistic treatment of the effect of convection. The model is applied to the dispersion of idealized distributions of tracer to determine atmospheric transport times. We examine particularly the time taken for the “tracer front” to reach the Antarctic coast and the South Pole in the case of clouds initialized at three latitudinal domains. The transport in all cases is seen to be very rapid south of about 45°S; this is due to the mixing associated with the strong and numerous transient disturbances at these latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. The model is also used with an inverse technique and an annual mean carbon dioxide type distribution to deduce apparent sources and sinks of this gas. Net sources are found in the Northern Hemisphere and equatorial regions and net sinks in the Southern Hemisphere. This latter result is of considerable interest in view of the uncertainty of the CO 2 uptake by the Southern Hemisphere oceans. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.1992. 00013.x
Residual Stress and Biaxial Strength in Sc2O3–CeO2–ZrO2/Y2O3–ZrO2 Layered Electrolytes

Multi‐layered (Y2O3)0.08(ZrO2)0.92/(Sc2O3)0.1(CeO2)0.01‐(ZrO2)0.89(YSZ/SCSZ) electrolytes have been designed, so that the inner SCSZ layers provided superior ionic conductivity and the outer YSZ skin layers maintained good chemical and phase stability. Due to the mismatch of coefficients of thermal expansion between layers of different compositions, the thermal residual stresses were generated. The theoretical residual stress and strain were calculated for different thickness ratios of the electrolytes. In order to study the residual stress effect on the mechanical properties, the biaxial flexure tests of electrolytes with various layered designs were performed via a ring‐on‐ring method at room temperature and 800 °C. The maximum principal stress at the fracture indicated improved flexure strength in the electrolytes with layered designs at both temperatures. It is believed to be the result of the residual compressive stress in the outer YSZ layer. In addition, the Weibull statistics of the stress at the fracture at room temperature was studied, and the values of residual stress presented at the outer layer were well verified.
X-ray intensity correlation spectroscopy from fluid surfaces

Thesis advisors Author Sunil K. Sinha Tuana Ghaderi Metin Tolan X-ray Intensity Correlation Spectroscopy from Fluid Surfaces X-ray intensity correlation spectroscopy (XICS) is a coherent X-ray scattering technique, which enables the investigation of dynamic properties of matter by analyzing the temporal correlations among intensities scattered by the studied material. This novel technique has been intensively applied in the last decade in order to examine the temporal and lateral correlation properties of fluid surfaces. Although, intensity correlation experiments are qualitatively well understood, present theoretical interpretations fail to explain XICS data from some well known fluid surfaces, such as water and glycerol. We believe that the discrepancies, between the theoretical predictions for the intensity correlation function and the experimental results, are due to some idealized assumptions with regard to the coherence of the X-ray beam, as well as the instrumental resolution. This thesis is mainly concerned with the derivation of the intensity correlation function for surface sensitive X-ray intensity correlation experiments including the effects of partial coherence and instrumental resolution. In order to derive the intensity correlation function the theoretical approach is based in this work on the statistical properties of the fluid surface and the scattered electric field. A scalar wave equation for the electric X-ray field is derived to determine the field expressions from time fluctuating and inhomogeneous media. The therefrom obtained field formulas are used to derive systematically field correlation functions and intensity correlation functions. The accuracy of the field expressions and the deduced correlation functions are restricted to the first Born approximation. Within this accuracy, we have provided intensity correlation functions that are applicable to charge scattering from fluid surfaces under the conditions of arbitrary spatial coherence and instrumental resolution. In addition, far and near field scattering conditions, i.e. Fraunhofer and Fresnel conditions, are rigorously incorporated in the theoretical intensity correlation functions. The experimental part in thesis is dedicated to the analysis of XICS measurements from hexane and water surfaces. The data analysis is based in parts on the intensity correlation function which is derived in the theoretical part
Use of Exemplars and Abstractions in Trait Judgments: A Model of Trait Knowledge About the Self and Others

According to pure exemplar models, trait judgments about the self and others are accomplished by retrieving from memory trait-exemplifying behaviors and computing the similarity between the trait and the exemplars retrieved. By contrast, pure abstraction models argue that trait judgments are made by directly accessing abstract, summary knowledge of the person's traits. In a series of 4 studies, the role of behavioral exemplars and abstract trait knowledge in trait judgments about others and about the self was examined
Hysteroscopy in the Treatment of Myometrial Scar Defect (Diverticulum) Following Cesarean Section Delivery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Various management approaches have been developed to treat symptoms and prevent complications of the cesarean diverticulum. This systematic review aims to report the outcomes and fertility-related effects of hysteroscopy on women with myometrial scar defects after the cesarean section. Following the formulation of the patient/population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO) criteria, a systematic search was conducted on seven databases. Finally, a total of 18 studies were included for this systematic review and meta-analysis. All of the included patients suffered from post-cesarean section scars and presented with abnormal bleeding, pain, or secondary infertility. The overall pooled symptomatic improvement rate was 78.83% (95% CI: 72.46-85.76%); however, there was significant heterogeneity among the analyzed studies (I2=87%; p-value: <0.001) and a significant risk of bias (p-value: <0.001). The overall resolution/improvement rate after adjusting for possible bias was higher, 92.82% (95% CI: 85.17-100%). The overall pregnancy rate was 69.77% (95% CI: 59.03-82.48%), while in the individual studies the rates varied, ranging from 25% to 80%. Nevertheless, there was moderate heterogeneity among the included studies (I2=56%; p-value=0.011). In contrast, there was no significant risk of bias among the included studies (p-value=0.100). Furthermore, the meta-regression analyses did not show any significant effect of different follow-up durations on the overall effect size for both outcomes. In conclusion, there is still a need for high-quality, comparative studies with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up periods to draw firm conclusions. Moreover, future studies should consider the minimum myometrial thickness that is sufficient to complete a healthy pregnancy.
Tackling Gender and Racial Bias in Academic Emergency Medicine: The Perceived Role of Implicit Bias in Faculty Development

Background Gender and racial disparities in academic medicine have recently garnered much attention. Implicit Association Tests (IATs) offer a validated means of evaluating unconscious associations and preferences. This study examines the perceived role of implicit bias in faculty development in academic emergency medicine (EM). Methods EM faculty at a large urban academic medical center were invited to independently participate in a self-reflection assessment in preparation for a faculty retreat session discussing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Participants completed two IATs designed to examine gender associations (gender IAT) and race preferences (race IAT) followed by a short anonymous survey where IAT scores were recorded. The survey also captured demographic information and perceptions about the impact of gender and racial biases in faculty development. Results Forty faculty members (66%) completed the survey; 70% were male and 80% white. The majority (59%) reported gender IAT results indicating automatic male-sciences and female-liberal arts associations. Nearly half (45%) reported race IAT results indicating an automatic preference for white people. More than 70% of males reported that faculty recruitment, development, and promotion decisions were ‘never’ or ‘seldom’ affected by gender bias, while more than 80% reported racial bias ‘never’ or ‘seldom’ affects these decisions. Female faculty more frequently perceived adverse effects of unconscious gender and race biases. Conclusion Our group of academic physicians reported IAT results showing different levels of implicit bias compared to the general population. Female faculty may be both more aware of and more susceptible to the adverse effects of unconscious biases. Further study is needed to determine both the extent to which unconscious biases affect the academic workplace, as well as ways in which such unintentional forms of discrimination can be eliminated. Unconscious biases are not unique to EM. Intentional efforts to increase self-awareness of these 'blind spots' may help mitigate their impact and foster a more diverse and inclusive healthcare environment.
Measures of Discrimination Skill in Probabilistic Judgment

People's ability to assess probabilities of various events has been the topic of much interest in the areas of judgment, prediction, decision making, and memory. The evaluation of probabilistic judgments, however, raises interesting logical questions as to what it means to be a"good" judge. In this article, we focus on a normative concept of probabilistic accuracy that we call discrimination and present a measure of a judge's discrimination skill. This measure builds on an earlier index (Murphy, 1973) and has the advantages that (a) it can be interpreted as the percentage of variance accounted for by the judge and (b) it is unbiased. By way of deriving this new discrimination measure, we also show that it is related to Pearson's chi-square statistic, a result which may be useful in the future development of hypothesis testing and estimation procedures.
Simulation of soil organic carbon stocks in a Mediterranean olive grove under different soil‐management systems using the RothC model

Agricultural soils play a very important role in regulating the carbon dioxide (CO2) content of the atmosphere, and can behave either as carbon sources or sinks. We have simulated the dynamics of carbon in the soil under different land uses and soil‐management systems in a Mediterranean olive grove with the Rothamsted carbon (RothC) model. To this end we chose patches of native vegetation (NV) and two different olive grove soils (chromic calcisols and calcic vertisols) under different soil‐management systems: conventional tillage (T), and mulching with shredded olive‐pruning debris and residues from olive‐fruit cleaning (PD + CR). We measured the clay content, bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N) in each patch. The SOC and N values decreased by more than 30% as a result of a change in soil use from NV to T olive grove. After adding PD + CR these values rose once more, even to levels above NV. The RothC model performed well for covered soils (NV and PD + CR) but overestimated the SOC values after the soil use was changed from NV to T olive grove, probably due to high carbon losses caused by erosion, common to T soils in the Mediterranean basin. As a result of mulching the soil with only pruning debris, CO2 emitted to the atmosphere was reduced by >55% for both soils. Associated with this decrease in the emission rate, RothC estimated a potential carbon sequestration of 0.5 and 0.6 t C/ha/yr for chromic calcisols and calcic vertisols, respectively. The reuse of organic debris generated in the olive grove, such as pruning debris and residues from olive‐fruit cleaning, is an efficient way of improving soil properties, diminishing CO2 emissions and increasing the soil’s capacity to store carbon.
Lead‐Selective Potentiometric Sensor Based on Macrocyclic Ionophore [Pyo2(16)Diene N6]

Abstract Polystyrene‐based membrane of 2,3,4:10,11,12‐dipyridine‐1,3,5,9,11,13‐hexaazacyclohexadeca‐2,10‐diene with sodium tetraphenyl borate (STB) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as anion excluder and plasticizing agent was prepared and investigated as Pb(II)‐selective electrode. The best performance was observed with the membrane having the polystyrene‐ligand‐DBP‐STB composition 1:6:1:1, worked well over a wide concentration range (1.41 × 10−6 to 1.00 × 10−1 mol L−1) with a Nernstian slope of 29.0 mV per decade of concentration between pH 3.0 and 6.0. The limit of detection is 1.0 × 10−6. This electrode has been found to be chemically inert and of adequate stability with a response time of 15 s and was used over a period of 100 d with good reproducibility (S = 0.3 mV). The membrane works satisfactorily in a partially nonaqueous medium up to a maximum 30% (v/v) content of methanol, ethanol, and acetone. The potentiometric selectivity coefficient values indicate that the membrane sensor is highly selective for Pb (II) ions over a number of monovalent, divalent, and trivalent cations. The practical ability of the membrane sensor has also been observed in solutions contaminated with detergents (i.e., cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium dodecyl sulfate). The membrane electrode has also been successfully used to determine Pb2+ in real samples. Supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India.
The influence of the temperature regime on the formation of methane in a two‐phase anaerobic digestion process

The influence of different temperature levels on the formation of methane in a two‐phase anaerobic digestion process using rye silage and barley straw as feedstocks was investigated in this study. This process comprised a leach‐bed reactor (LBR), a reservoir for leachate from the LBR, and a separate downstream fixed‐film anaerobic filter (AF), with immobilized micro biocoenosises. The degree of degradation of the volatile solids was similar in both studies and was almost equal at 75 Ma. ‐%VS. When both reactor phases were operated at thermophilic conditions, the main substrate turnover was observed in the LBR (58% of the total methane yield, with an average methane content of 41 Vol.‐%). Only the excess of organic fraction in the process‐liquid was transformed in the AF (42% of the total methane yield, with an average methane content of 74 Vol.‐%). When the parts of the reactor system operated at different temperature regimes, thermophilic hydrolysis/acidogenesis phase and mesophilic methanization, a separation of carbon dioxide and methane production, was observed. A total methane yield of 88%, with an average methane content of 85 Vol.‐%, was formed in the AF. The generated biogas with high methane concentrations is suitable for feeding the purified biomethane into the natural gas grid. Furthermore, it can be used as fuel for cars and tractors.