Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of molecularly imprinted and nonimprinted polymer submicron particles specifically tailored for removal of trace 17β‐estradiol in water treatment

This study investigated the potential use of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) submicron particles for the selective removal of trace 17β-estradiol (E2) in water treatment. Methacrylate-based MIP submicron particles were synthesized, in a one-step suspension polymerization procedure, using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker. After template removal, the particles could be used as a smart material for specific binding of E2. The submicron size of MIP particles facilitated uniform dispersion in water for up to 17 days. These particles were meritorious in mass transfer behavior, allowing phase partitioning of E2 molecules in water during a short treatment time. After 1-mL water samples of different E2 concentrations were treated with 20 mg of MIP particles for 2 min, recovery percentages as high as 97% ± 3% were achieved. The specific binding capacity of these MIP particles was determined to be 15 mg E2/g. Nonimprinted polymer nanoparticles were also evaluated for nonspecific binding of E2, using 0.5 mg in 1 mL of water, to attain 64% ± 3% efficiency in 3 min towards general water treatment. A simple capillary electrophoresis method was successfully developed for the characterization of MIP and NIP particles. Apparently the less negative the electrophoretic mobility, the higher binding efficiency and faster binding kinetics the particles would exhibit with E2 due to less hindered Brownian diffusion. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Architectural Assembly with Tactile Skills: Simulation and Optimization

—Construction is an industry that could beneﬁt signiﬁcantly from automation, yet still relies heavily on manual human labor. Thus, we investigate how a robotic arm can be used to assemble a structure from predeﬁned building blocks autonomously. Since assembling structures is a challenging task that involves complex contact dynamics, we propose to use a combination of reinforcement learning and planning for this task. In this work we take a ﬁrst step towards autonomous construction by training a controller to place a single building block in simulation. Our evaluations show that TD3 can be used on this task to achieve placement errors of around 1cm on average. We conclude that this precision - albeit not being perfect - validates our approach and gives reason to move on to more complex assembly tasks which include structures with multiple blocks.
OP-IJEJ180202 1..12

Background: In addition to the established association between general obesity and breast cancer risk, central obesity and circulating fasting insulin and glucose have been linked to the development of this common malignancy. Findings from previous studies, however, have been inconsistent, and the nature of the associations is unclear. Methods: We conducted Mendelian randomization analyses to evaluate the association of breast cancer risk, using genetic instruments, with fasting insulin, fasting glucose, 2-h glucose, body mass index (BMI) and BMI-adjusted waist-hip-ratio (WHRadj BMI). We first VC The Author(s) 2018; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association 1 International Journal of Epidemiology, 2018, 1–12 doi: 10.1093/ije/dyy201 Original article D ow naded rom http/academ ic.p.com /ije/advance-articleoi/10.1093/ije/dyy201/5113258 by U niersity of N rth C aolina at C hpel H ill H ealth Scnces Lrary user on 06 O cber 2018 confirmed the association of these instruments with type 2 diabetes risk in a large diabetes genome-wide association study consortium. We then investigated their associations with breast cancer risk using individual-level data obtained from 98 842 cases and 83 464 controls of European descent in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. Results: All sets of instruments were associated with risk of type 2 diabetes. Associations with breast cancer risk were found for genetically predicted fasting insulin [odds ratio (OR) 1⁄4 1.71 per standard deviation (SD) increase, 95% confidence interval (CI)1⁄4 1.262. 31, p 1⁄4 5.09 10], 2-h glucose (OR1⁄4 1.80 per SD increase, 95% CI1⁄4 1.3 0-2.49, p 1⁄4 4.02 10), BMI (OR1⁄4 0.70 per 5-unit increase, 95% CI1⁄40.65-0.76, p 1⁄4 5.05 10) and WHRadj BMI (OR1⁄40.85, 95% CI1⁄4 0.79-0.91, p 1⁄4 9.22 10). Stratified analyses showed that genetically predicted fasting insulin was more closely related to risk of estrogen-receptor [ER]-positive cancer, whereas the associations with instruments of 2h glucose, BMI and WHRadj BMI were consistent regardless of age, menopausal status, estrogen receptor status and family history of breast cancer. Conclusions: We confirmed the previously reported inverse association of genetically predicted BMI with breast cancer risk, and showed a positive association of genetically predicted fasting insulin and 2-h glucose and an inverse association of WHRadj BMI with breast cancer risk. Our study suggests that genetically determined obesity and glucose/ insulin-related traits have an important role in the aetiology of breast cancer.
Computation of Turbulence-Generated Noise Simulation by Large-Eddy

The hybrid method of large eddy simulation (LES) and the Lighthill analogy is being developed to compute the sound radiated from turbulent flows. The results obtained from the hybrid method are often contaminated by the absence of small scales in LES, since the energy level of sound is much smaller than that of turbulent flows. Previous researches investigate the effects of subgrid sacle (SGS) eddies on the frequency spectra of sound radiated by isotropic turbulence and suggest a SGS noise model to represent the SGS contributions to the frequency spectra. Their investigations are conducted in physical space and are unavoidably influenced by boundary conditions. In this paper, we propose to perform such calculations in Fourier space so that the effects of boundary conditions can be correctly treated. Posteriori tests are carried out to investigate the SGS contribution to the sound. The results obtained recover the -7//2 law within certain wave-number ranges, but under-estimate the amplitudes of the frequency spectra. The reason for the underestimation is also discussed.
Parenting Style and Social Skills Developed among the Senior High School Grade 12 Students in Zone IV, Schools Division of Zambales

Quick Response Code Abstract: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the Parenting Styles and the Social Skills Developed among Senior High School Grade 12 Students in Zone IV, Schools Division of Zambales during S. Y. 2018-2019. The study used the descriptive-survey from Selected Junior High School in Subic District. Authoritative Parenting style was rated by the students as often applied by their parents while Authoritarian, Permissive and Uninvolved Parenting Styles were rated sometimes applied. The senior high school grade 12 students have developed a very satisfactory survival skill, interpersonal skill, problem solving skill and conflict resolution skill. Authoritative Parenting Style has significant relationship to the social skills as to Survival Skill, Interpersonal Skill, Problem Solving Skill and Conflict Resolution Skill. Permissive Parenting Style was also significant correlated to Survival Skill, Interpersonal Skill and Problem Solving Skill; and Neglectful Parenting Style has significant relationship to Survival Skill, Interpersonal Skill and Conflict Resolution Skill. Based on salient findings of the study, and the conclusions arrived at, the researcher recommends the use of authoritative parenting style since students find this as more effective and beneficial to the them. Hence, parents ought to be educated on the importance of adopting the parenting style that would aid in promoting their children’s development.
AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION SYSTEM USING MFCC-BASED LPC APPROACH WITH BACK PROPAGATED ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS

Over the previous years, a marvelous quantity of study was performed by utilizing the artificial intelligence based deep learning approaches for the speech recognition applications. The automatic speech recognition (ASR) facing the problems in as preprocessing, feature extraction and classification stages mostly, thus solving these problems is mandatory to improve the classification accuracy of speech processing. To solve these issues, an advanced speech recognition methodology has developed by utilizing the Spectral Subtraction (SS) method of denoising with the combination of Mel-frequency Cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) and linear predictive coefficients (LPCs) feature extraction of speech signals. Then back propagated artificial neural networks (BP-ANN) is utilized for classifying the speech signals for the purpose of ASR, respectively. The simulation results show that the proposed approach gives the better classification accuracy compared to the state-of-ASR approaches.
DETAILED MODELING OF THE FLASH HYDROLYSIS OF ALGAE FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION

DETAILED MODELING OF THE FLASH HYDROLYSIS OF ALGAE FOR BIOFUEL -PRODUCTION IN COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS Noah Joseph LeGrand Old Dominion University, 2020 Director: Dr. Orlando M. Ayala Algae-derived biofuels are being commercialized as an important renewable energy source. Like any new technology, conversion improvements are desired, including reductions in process complexity and better utilization of the entire microalgae feedstock. The Old Dominion Biomass Laboratory has focused on flash hydrolysis for algae biofuel production. That process involves rapidly heating algae and water mixed as a slurry to a subcritical state. Results from small-scale bench tests are promising, but process scale up is a challenge. Currently there exists a pilot laboratory scale system utilizing induction heating in order to reach controlled reaction temperatures with a reaction duration of 10 seconds or less. However, the influence of the induction heating process on the resulting reactions had not been examined. That is the focus of this thesis. The pilot flash hydrolysis reactor system has been simulated utilizing COMSOL Multiphysics 5.1. The COMSOL model assumed fully developed laminar slurry flow with an electromagnetic field, rate sensitive chemical reactions, and diffusive transport of dilute species. Mesh refinement analysis, mass and energy balances, and experimental verification have been utilized to validate the model. This study has shown that industrial scale up challenges will include sensitivity to feedstock channel size, induction coil pitch, length and excitation frequency, process residence time, and algae concentration. Furthermore, process efficiency improvement may be possible by thermal management of the rapid heating and subsequent quenching process.
Prokaryotic Gene Expression

INTRODUCTION . 268 DNA BENDS WITHIN BACTERLIL PROMOTERS . 269 Bacterial RNA Polymerase Bends DNA. 269 Transcription Initiation Engages Several Changes in DNA Structure . 269 Promoters Include Intrinsic DNA Curvatures. 270 INTRINSIC CURVATURES UPSTREAM OF THE -35 HEXAMER . 271 Curved DNA and Transcriptional Activity. 271 Orientation of DNA Curvature and Transcription Activation . 271 Mechanism of Transcription Stimulation by Curved DNA . 271 Promoter Clearance. 272 In Vitro versus In Vivo Effects. 273 Physiological Role of Upstream Statically Bent DNA . 273 DNA BENDS INDUCED BY ACTIVATORS OF TRANSCRIPTION . 273 Catabolite Activator Protein. 273 Protein p4 of Phage (29 . 274 FIS Protein. 275 Integration Host Factor . 275 Do All Transcriptional Activators Bend DNA? 276 DNA Bending and Protein-Protein Contacts Are Required for Promoter Activation . 276 REPRESSION AND DNA BENDING. 277 Assembly of Complex Repression Structures . 277 Inhibition of RNAP-Promoter Contacts by Misoriented DNA Bending . 278 Repression by Distant DNA Curvatures. 278 Repression-Activation Switches . 279 OVERALL DNA STRUCTURAL CHANGES AND PROMOTER ACTIVITY . 279 Histone-Like Proteins. 279 DNA Supercoiling and Bend-Mediated Activation. 280 GENE REGULATION AIDED BY BENT DNA. 281 DNA Striuctures as Corepressors. ; 281 DNA Looping as a Coactivation Mechanism. 282 o54-Dependent Promoters . 282 E. coli Maltose Operon. 283 Activation of theParaBAD Promoter by CAP/AraC . 283 CONCLUSIONS.283 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . 283 REFERENCES.283
C ONCEPTUAL M ODELS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT I NNOVATION

The political rhetoric that accompanied the introduction of eGovernment expected it to produce innovation in the way government agencies conducted themselves with citizen and business alike. It was assumed that innovation was both “good” and inevitable. This paper challenges these assumptions and presents a more realistic model of how innovation might occurs in UK local government. The model is supported by anecdotal evidence, literature and a recent study of eGoverment achievement in the UK – VIEGO. A key element in the model is the notion of innovation value
Grain Growth Control in Sb2O3‐Doped Zinc Oxide

Microstructure development in Sb2O3-doped ZnO was studied to evaluate the influence of inversion boundaries (IBs) on ZnO grain growth. In general, the addition of Sb2O3 is believed to inhibit the ZnO grain growth via the formation of spinels and IBs, but we have shown that even the conditions of exaggerated grain growth can be created in this system. We designed an experiment for diffusional doping of ZnO under slightly increased partial pressure of Sb2O3. In the high-concentration regime we observed no spinels, and yet the ZnO grains were small and inhibited in growth, while in the low-concentration regime we found huge grains, several times larger than normal ZnO grains, showing an obvious exaggerated growth. By controlling the number of nuclei with IBs we can design coarse-grained microstructures even with Sb2O3 doping, which has far-reaching implications in the production of low-voltage varistor devices.
Characterization of flame sprayed NiCrBSiMo coatings deposited with different spraying parameters

Optimization of processing parameters of a Ni-based coating is reported here. Three deposition variables were evaluated, viz. stand-off distance, flame chemistry, and nozzle diameter, on the crystal structure, porosity content, hardness and thickness of the coatings. The analysis was divided into two stages: firstly, the influence of the stand-off distance on the structural and microstructural characteristics of the coatings was determined. In the second stage, a simple 2 factorial design of experiments was employed to investigate the effect of the nozzle diameter and flame chemistry on the porosity, hardness and thickness of the coatings. Results indicated that porosity was strongly influenced by the stand-off distance. Flattening of the particles was achieved at intermediate distance decreasing the porosity; whereas the later increases for short or long distances as a result of the extended or limited particle deformation at impact, respectively. Regarding the nozzle diameter and flame chemistry, results revealed that the former has the predominant effect on the microstructure and hardness of the coatings. Small nozzle diameter and neutral flame reduce the porosity and increase the hardness of the coatings. NiCrBSiMo coatings with low porosity and high hardness using a low-cost thermal spray process are obtained through a parameter optimization.
Treatment for gold ores with high content of carbonaceous matter

espanolLas menas de oro asociadas con materia carbonosa presentan varias dificultades en su extraccion debido a la capacidad de esta materia para adsorber el complejo aurocianuro de las soluciones ricas en oro, lo que resulta en bajas extracciones de oro por cianuracion directa. Este fenomeno se conoce como preg-robbing. En el presente estudio, se propone un proceso para recuperar efectivamente oro de un mineral altamente carbonoso de Colombia, combinando la flotacion mineral usando el polimero organico maltodextrina como un depresor de la materia carbonosa y un pretratamiento con un surfactante cationico (cloruro de benzalconio) previa cianuracion en conjunto con un proceso de carbon activado en lixiviacion (CIL). El porcentaje de preg-robbing (% PR) se redujo del 39.5% inicial al 3.96% en los concentrados de flotacion y se logro un maximo de 87.26% de extraccion de Au durante la cianuracion. EnglishGold ores associated with carbonaceous matter present several difficulties in their extraction due to the ability of this matter to adsorb the aurocyanide complex from gold pregnant solutions, resulting in low extractions by direct cyanidation. This phenomenon is known as preg-robbing. In the present work, a process to effectively recover Au from a highly carbonaceous ore from Colombia is proposed, combining froth flotation using the organic polymer maltodextrin as a depressant of the carbonaceous matter and a pretreatment with a cationic surfactant (benzalkonium chloride) prior cyanidation in conjunction with activated carbon (CIL). The preg-robbing % (PR%) was reduced from the initial 39.5 % to 3.96 % in the flotation concentrates and a maximum of 87.26 % extraction of Au was achieved during cyanidation.
MUTUAL ENTROPY MAP FOR CONTINUOUS MAPS ON COMPACT METRIC SPACES

In this paper we introduce the concept of mutual entropy map for continuous maps on metric spaces. It is a non-negative extended real number which depends on two measures which are preserved by a system. Then we will extract the Kolmogorov entropy of ergodic systems from the mutual entropy as a special case when the two measures are equal. MSC(2010): 37A35.
A Validated HPLC Method for the Determination of GABA by Pre-Column Derivatization with 2,4-Dinitrofluorodinitrobenzene and Its Application to Plant GAD Activity Study

A validated, selective, and sensitive chromatographic method for determination of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been developed by precolumn derivative of the sample with 2,4-dinitrofluorodinitrobenzene (FDNB). The derivatives were separated with RP-HPLC on a C18 column and UV detection (360 nm). The calibration curve was linear over a range of 0.2–5.0 mg/mL GABA with a correlation coefficient of 0.9954. The precision of this method is high (RSD = 0.061%). This method also possessed high recovery rate (>99%) and good stability over a period of four weeks. The method was successfully used to determine the glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity in several plant tissues.
Conformal Actions on Homogeneous Lorentzian Manifolds

A conformal group action on a pseudo-Riemannian manifold is essential if the action is not an isometric action with respect to a conformally equivalent metric. We classify all essential actions of simple Lie groups on Riemannian, Lorentzian and sub-Lorentzian manifolds. Mathematics Subject Classification 2000: 57S20, 53C15.
Molecular Species Identification of Six Forensically Important Iranian Flesh Flies (Diptera)

Background: Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) are considered as myiasis agents and important evidences in forensic investigations. However, their use has been restricted because, at all larval stages and female adults, morphological species identification is difficult or very challenging. This study investigated to test utility of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mt-COI) sequences for differentiation of six forensically important Iranian flesh flies namely, Sarcophaga crassipalpis, S. flagellifera, S. hirtipes, S. aegyptica, S. africa and S. argyrostoma. Methods: Male specimens were morphologically identified to species level and then the genomic DNA of the flies were extracted and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) against mt-COI gene. The PCR products were sequenced and the obtained sequences were analyzed for the species specific restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Results: Rate of genetic variation between species was 6–10% which was enough to find restriction enzymes (RE) that were able to produce species-specific RFLP profiles. Combinations of three REs: BsrFI, RsaI and HinfI, provided diagnostic bands for identification of the six Sarcophaga species. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that molecular markers such as RFLPs enhancing the use of evidence from flesh flies in forensic investigation. However, lack proper restriction sites in the COI region inhibited introduction of a single restriction enzyme for easy species identification. It is recommended to apply larger part of DNA such as combination of COI and COII genes to provide better RFLP markers for species identification of flesh flies.
S0025315419000547jra 1535..1546

The physiology of mesophotic Scleractinia varies with depth in response to environmental change. Previous research has documented trends in heterotrophy and photosynthesis with depth, but has not addressed between-site variation for a single species. Environmental differences between sites at a local scale and heterogeneous microhabitats, because of irradiance and food availability, are likely important factors when explaining the occurrence and physiology of Scleractinia. Here, 108 colonies of Agaricia lamarcki were sampled from two locations off the coast of Utila, Honduras, distributed evenly down the observed 50 m depth range of the species. We found that depth alone was not sufficient to fully explain physiological variation. Pulse Amplitude-Modulation fluorometry and stable isotope analyses revealed that trends in photochemical and heterotrophic activity with depth varied markedly between sites. Our isotope analyses do not support an obligate link between photosynthetic activity and heterotrophic subsidy with increasing depth. We found that A. lamarcki colonies at the bottom of the species depth range can be physiologically similar to those nearer the surface. As a potential explanation, we hypothesize sites with high topographical complexity, and therefore varied microhabitats, may provide more physiological niches distributed across a larger depth range. Varied microhabitats with depth may reduce the dominance of depth as a physiological determinant. Thus, A. lamarcki may ‘avoid’ changes in environment with depth, by instead existing in a subset of favourable niches. Our observations correlate with site-specific depth ranges, advocating for linking physiology and abiotic profiles when defining the distribution of mesophotic taxa.
Perspectives on poly(dopamine)

Poly(dopamine) has emerged in recent years as a readily accessible synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring melanins. However, the polymer's structure has proved difficult to unambiguously elucidate and a variety of models have been proposed. Despite these challenges, poly(dopamine) has found extraordinary utility in a range of applications including surface coatings, biotechnology and biomedicine, and water purification membranes. Most of these applications take advantage of the robust polymer films that deposit onto a wide range of surfaces, as well as its inertness to harsh chemical environments. In view of the expansion of interest in poly(dopamine), we provide perspective on this material, focusing on its history, chemical relationship to melanins, recent applications, and potential areas for future study.