Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of acute and chronic exposure to perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) in Daphnia magna and Zebrafish (Danio rerio) with endocrine disruption potential

Perfluorolalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been frequently detected in both the environment and biota, however the endocrine disruption potentials and underlying mechanism of long-chain PFAAs have not yet been fully understood. In the present study, the effects of perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) on Daphnia magna and sex steroid hormones and expression of mRNA of selected genes in hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis were evaluated after 120 d exposure of zebrafish. To investigate underlying mechanism of endocrine disruption, production of sex hormones and expression of steroidogenic genes were measured after in vitro exposure of H295R cells for 48 h. Exposure to PFTrDA resulted in less production of testosterone (T) along with lesser expression of CYP17A mRNA by H295R cells. PFDA and PFTrDA affected growth and delayed the time required for reproduction of the first brood of D. magna, respectively. CYP19A and VTG1 genes were up-regulated in male fish by exposure to PFDA and PFTrDA. In male zebrafish, concentrations of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and T were significantly decreased at 0.1 mg/L PFTrDA. Significantly increased ratios of 17β-estradiol (E2)/T and E2/11-KT were observed in male zebrafish after exposure to PFDA and PFTrDA, indicating balance of sex hormones were disrupted, which could further result in adverse effects on reproduction in fish. The results of this study showed that long term exposure to PFDA and PFTrDA could affect sex steroid hormones and related gene transcriptions. The predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC) derived based on the toxicity values from the present study and literature were 0.1 mg/L PFDA and 0.2 μg/L PFTrDA respectively, suggesting that long chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid could pose negligible risk for aquatic organisms.
New batch and continuous systems for converting hydrogen from water hyacinth

ABSTRACT Water hyacinth was the chosen alternative biomass for H2 production in this study. A batch and a continuous pilot plant systems are proposed. A batch system of 500 ml capacity was developed first for finding an appropriate biomass ratio which was found to be 2.5%wt. Results from the batch system was used to construct a kinetic model of water hyacinth hydrolysis. The same biomass and water ratio was used in the continuous system. Besides water hyacinth, glucose and cellulose + lignin biomasses were tested. During processing, temperature, pressure, and electric consumption of the system were recorded. The quality and quantity of gas products were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). The water hyacinth biomass attained the highest rate of H2 production (providing energy of 11.43 kWh/mole of glucose). Comparing the batch and continuous pilot systems, the continuous system achieved 2.7 times more H2 mole% than the batch system did.
Response of C, N and P Ecological Stoichiometry in Plants and Soils During a Soybean Growth Season to O3 Stress and Straw Return in Northeast China

AimsC, N and P ecological stoichiometry plays important roles on biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems, yet the relationship between plant and soil stoichiometry and stoichiometric effects on the growth of soybean root in response to the O3 stress and straw return remain poorly understood. MethodsHere, a pot experiment was conducted in open top chambers to monitor the response of C, N and P ecological stoichiometry of leaves, shoots, roots and soils during a growing season (branching, flowering and podding stages) of soybean (Glycine max; a highly sensitive species to O3) to background O3 concentration (45 ± 10 ppb), O3 stress (80 ±10 ppb) and straw treatment (no straw return and straw return). ResultsThe O3 stress significantly decreased root biomass. The straw return significantly increased root biomass under the O3 stress at branching and flowering stages. Generally, the O3 stress and straw return showed significant effects on the C, N, P concentrations of leaves and soils, and stoichiometric ratios of leaves, shoots and microbial biomass. C, N, P concentrations and stoichiometric ratios of leaves, shoots, roots and soils responses to the O3 stress and straw return at branching stage were inconsistent with changes observed at the flowering and podding stages. The P conversion efficiency showed significant relationship with root P concentration under the combined effects of O3 stress and straw return. ConclusionsC, N, and P concentrations of soybean might be more important than stoichiometric ratios as a driver of defense against the O3 stress in the case of straw return.
Is sex-offending treatment trauma-informed? Exploring perspectives of clinicians and clients

ABSTRACT A growing body of literature indicates that individuals who commit sexual offences have significant histories of childhood trauma. Clinicians who provide sex-offending treatment (SOTX) are increasingly asked to integrate trauma-informed principles into their work with these clients. However, no research has been conducted exploring how SOTX clinicians are integrating either trauma-informed care (TIC) and/or trauma-focused treatments (TFTs) into their work with clients. This mixed-method study used two parallel surveys (one for SOTX clinicians (n = 66) and another for clients (n = 146)) to capture their perceptions regarding how trauma work is incorporated into SOTX. Independent samples t-tests indicated that on every item designed to measure TIC, clinicians rated themselves significantly higher than the clients rated clinicians. The results also indicated that clients perceive SOTX therapists to neglect the therapeutic value of understanding trauma histories. Some clients reported that they were discouraged from discussing childhood adversity in treatment. Implications for TIC SOTX practice are discussed.
Self-perceived pain characteristics, pain management practices and patient satisfaction in the emergency department of District General Hospital, Kalutara

Introduction: The incidence of admissions to Emergency Department (ED) is rising in Sri Lanka and services are being expanded to accommodate the growing demand. The pain management practices in the ED and their outcomes influencethe quality of care provided and thereby the evaluation indicators. Objectives: To describe the characteristics of self-perceived pain, pain-management practices, patient-satisfaction of care and associated factors in the ED of the District General Hospital, (DGH) Kalutara. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the ED of the DGH Kalutara from June to August 2020. Study population included those admitted to the ED with a GCS of more than 13. Patients below the age of sixteen and pregnant mothers were excluded. Four hundred twenty -seven patients were recruited. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and a data extraction sheet were used as study tools. Data were analyzed by the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: Out of a total of 427 subjects the response rate was 96% with 408 participants being recruited with a male to female ratio of 3: 2. Nearly two thirds of the study sample experienced pain with more than 10% of them having a level of pain of 9-10. The median (IQR) of pain score was 4 (0 to 7). Approximately 40% had not been told that they would be given analgesics and nearly half asked for analgesics. While majority had favorable evaluations on the “information given by ED staff on pain”, “medications given” and “overall care of ED”, many were dissatisfied on the “information given on modes and side effects” of analgesics. The median (IQR) of the pain satisfaction score was 13.0 (12.0 to 15.0) and correlated with the total satisfaction on ED care. The pain-satisfaction score increased when they were informed that analgesics is given and when the patients asked for analgesics(P 0.005). Conclusions and recommendation: The pain-satisfaction score showed a diverse variation and increased with information on pain medication and with intensity of pain. It correlated with the total satisfaction on ED care. More research is encouraged in order to determine more ways of improving patient satisfaction with regards to pain management in ED care.
DFT predictions and experimental confirmation of mechanical behaviour and thermal properties of the Ga-bilayer Mo2Ga2C

Mo2Ga2C is a new MAX phase with a stacking Ga bilayer as well as possible unusual properties. To understand this unique MAX-phase structure and promote possible future applications, the structure, chemical bonding, mechanical and thermodynamic properties of Mo2Ga2C were investigated by first principles. Using the "bond stiffness" model, the strongest covalent bonding (1162 GPa) were formed between Mo and C atoms in Mo2Ga2C, while the weakest Ga-Ga (389 GPa) bonding were formed between two Ga-atomic layers, different from other typical MAX phases. Of interest, the ratio of the bond stiffness of the weakest bond to the strongest bond (0.33) was lower than 1/2, indicating the high damage tolerance and fracture toughness of Mo2Ga2C, which was confirmed by indentation without any cracks. The high-temperature heat capacity and thermal expansion of Mo2Ga2C were calculated in the framework of quasi-harmonic approximation from 0 K to 2000 K. Because of the metal-like electronic structure, the electronic excitation contribution became more significant with increasing temperature above 300 K.
Causality and interpretation: a new design model inspired by the Aristotelian legacy

Abstract Building design and design management practices are beset by many problems to which satisfactory solutions have not yet emerged. The recognition of the Aristotelian legacy on design theorization has given rise to the proposition that the development of a new design concept that integrates the technical and social aspects of design might provide a general solution. This study aims to chart the intellectual history of the design discipline, clarify core design terms, concepts, and relationships, and propose a design model that integrates technical and social phenomena. An integrative literature review is a basis for the assessment and synthesis of representative literature and the construction of the new design model. The new design model, presenting the integrated design process structure for technical and social design activities, is the main contribution of this study. The model was constructed based on the identification of design theory core elements and relationships and the ancient design theories (the method of analysis and rhetoric).
EVALUATION OF CLOUDS, RADIATION, AND PRECIPITATION IN CMIP6 MODELS USING GLOBAL WEATHER STATES DERIVED FROM ISCCP-H CLOUD PROPERTY DATA

A clustering methodology is applied to cloud optical depth cloud top pressure (TAU-PC) histograms from the new, 1-degree resolution, ISCCP-H dataset, to derive an updated global Weather State (WS) dataset. Then, PC-TAU histograms from current-climate CMIP6 model simulations are assigned to the ISCCP-H WSs along with their concurrent radiation and precipitation properties, to evaluate model cloud, radiation, and precipitation properties in the context of the Weather States. The new ISCCP-H analysis produces WSs that are very similar to those previously found in the lower resolution ISCCP-D dataset. The main difference lies in the splitting of the ISCCP-D thin stratocumulus WS between the ISCCP-H shallow cumulus and stratocumulus WSs, which results in the reduction by one of the total WS number. The evaluation of the CMIP6 models against the ISCCP-H Weather States, shows that, in the ensemble mean, the models are producing an adequate representation of the frequency and geographical distribution of the WSs, with measurable improvements compared to the WSs derived for the CMIP5 ensemble. However, the frequency of shallow cumulus clouds continues to be underestimated, and, in some WSs the good agreement of the ensemble mean with observations comes from averaging models that significantly overpredict and underpredict the ISCCP-H WS frequency. In addition, significant biases exist in the internal cloud properties of the model WSs, such as the model underestimation of cloud fraction in middle-top clouds and secondarily in midlatitude storm and stratocumulus clouds, that result in an underestimation of cloud SW cooling in those regimes.
Variable Structure ADRC-Based Control for Load-Side Buck Interface Converter: Formation, Analysis, and Verification

Hybrid energy storage microgrid represents the future direction of distributed energy development. However, under the influence of interference, the dynamic performance of the output side interface will be severely deteriorated. In this article, a linear active disturbance rejection controller with reference differential feedforward and cascade linear extended state observer (ADRC-RDCO) is proposed to deal with unknown modeling error and the unknown dynamics of the interface converter. In this strategy, a cascaded linear extended state observer is introduced to cope with the steady-state offset in the disturbance estimation error, so as to implement the accurate reconstruction of the disturbance state. Furthermore, a control law with RDF is applied to offset a portion of the tracking error of the given signal to achieve the purpose of optimizing the tracking accuracy of the given signal. Then, the tracking performance and stability of ADRC-RDCO are analyzed theoretically. On the basis of discussing the relationship between dynamic characteristics and control parameters, a parameter configuration method is proposed. Finally, the proposed ADRC-RDCO technology was verified on the 40 kW microgrid platform.
Identifying Hotspots in the Distribution of Human Infectious Diseases Using a Bayesian Framework: A Lead to Drivers, Prevention, and Surveillance of Disease Emergence

Background The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need of surveillance system to detect threats and regions at high risk from emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). With the human-driven perturbations to the human-animal-pathogen interface at an ecological scale, the integration of these environmental drivers is essential. We propose robust mathematical models to map, detect, and identify significant drivers of EID outbreaks for three viral EID groups: Filoviridae, Coronaviridae, and Henipaviruses.MethodsWe modeled the presence-absence data in a spatially explicit, binomial and zero-inflation binomial (ZIB) logistic regression with and without autoregression (iCAR). The presence data were extracted from WHO and Promed archives for the three EID groups and we generated pseudoabsence points within the spatial distribution of the mammalian reservoirs. Various environmental and demographical raster were used to explain the distribution of EIDs. True Skill Statistic and deviance parameters were used to compare the accuracy of the different models.ResultsWe used hierarchical SDM binomial, ZIB with and without iCAR models to map the predictive risk of viral EIDs. ZIB models with autoregression were found to be near perfect in detecting the distribution of EID outbreaks with 70% of the models explained by environmental and demographic drivers. The common influencing drivers amongst the three groups of EIDs analyzed were climatic covariates minimum temperature and rainfall, and human-driven land modifications.ConclusionsOur study results conclude that using SDMs in a Bayesian structure is near perfect detecting hotspots and significant drivers of EID outbreaks. It also maps the sites needing active surveillance, which essential in epidemic prevention, and highlights the influence of human-driven modifications to environment on disease emergence.
Five years of citizen science and standardised field surveys in an informal urban green space reveal a threatened Eden for wild bees in Brussels, Belgium

Urbanisation is often put forward as an important driver of biodiversity loss, including for pollinators such as wild bees. However, recent evidence shows that the mosaics of urban green spaces, and in particular certain categories of informal urban green spaces (IGS), can play an important role to help native wild bees thrive in cities. Here, we describe the results of 5 years of citizen science and standardised field surveys of wild bees conducted at the Friche Josaphat, a 24‐ha urban wasteland in the Brussels‐Capital Region (Belgium). These field surveys were initiated following the planned restructuring and partial destruction of this site by the regional authorities. We recorded a total of 2507 specimens belonging to 127 species of wild bees, i.e. 60.5% of the 210 species recorded regionally, including nine that are threatened with extinction at national or European scales. The Friche Josaphat encompasses a significant share of the functional and phylogenetic diversity of wild bees known from the Brussels‐Capital Region and is one of the most species‐rich localities known to date for wild bees in Belgium. Collectively, our results highlight the strong complementarity of citizen science and academic approaches in biodiversity surveys, and they reaffirm that wastelands are essential components of urban biodiversity. Our study stresses the need to provide biodiverse IGS with a formal status within the mosaic of urban green spaces but also to acknowledge and safeguard their natural capital and the multiple ecosystem services they provide.
Confirmation Bias and the Persistence of Misinformation on Climate Change

A web-based two (preexisting position: correct vs. incorrect) by two (message type: scientific information vs. misinformation) by three (messages) mixed design experimental study was conducted to test confirmation bias as a mechanism underlying the persistence of misinformation on climate change and to examine attitude certainty as a moderator of confirmation bias. Data collected with Qualtrics panels demonstrated robust confirmation bias in message and source perceptions, empathy, and perceived message effectiveness when individuals encountered messages consistent with their preexisting position on climate change, which in turn strengthened their preexisting position. The patterns of biased message processing and post-message position polarization were more extreme among climate change deniers. Attitude certainty significantly intensified polarization of position on climate change.
Implementasi Trunk Interkoneksi Multi Server menggunakan Singleboard Komputer

Voice over Internet Protocol (juga disebut VoIP, IP Telephony, Internet telephony atau Digital Phone) adalah teknologi yang memungkinkan percakapan suara jarak jauh melalui media internet. Data suara diubah menjadi kode digital dan dialirkan melalui jaringan yang mengirimkan paket-paket data, dan bukan lewat sirkuit analog telepon biasa. Dalam komunikasi VoIP, pemakai melakukan hubungan telepon melalui terminal yang berupa PC atau telepon biasa. Dengan bertelepon menggunakan VoIP, banyak keuntungan yang dapat diambil diantaranya adalah dari segi biaya jelas lebih murah dari tarif telepon tradisional, karena jaringan IP bersifat global. IP Phone dapat di tambah, dipindah dan di ubah. Hal ini karena VoIP dapat dipasang di sembarang ethernet dan IP address, tidak seperti telepon konvensional yang harus mempunyai port tersendiri di Sentral atau PBX (Private branch exchange). Dalam penelitian ini mengimplementasikan keterhubungan antar server menggunakan single board computer yang di install sistem operasi Elastix yang bertujuan untuk mengimplementasikan prefix untuk antar server dan menggunakan beberapa codec audio. Hasil penelitian telepon menggunakan prefix dan tanpa prefix sebanyak 6 client atau 3 pasng panggilan secara bersamaan nilai packet loss tertinggi pada codec speex dengan prefix sebesar 2,34%. Nilai bandwidth tertinggi yang digunakan adalah dengan prefix codec PCMU dengan rata-rata 82,3 Kbps dan tanpa prefix 79,3 Kbps. Kata kunci : Server, VoIP, IP Telphony, Internet telephony, Digital Phone, IP Address, PBX, Codec, Prefix.
Autistic adults and their experiences with police personnel: a qualitative inquiry

This study uses a qualitative methodological approach to investigate the experiences that autistic adults have when encountering police personnel. An anonymous, online, semi-structured survey asking open-ended questions about individual experience was used, and the data were analysed thematically. Although only five participants comprised the final sample, the findings illustrate how – despite differences in types of interaction and police contact – similar experiences were reported. Almost all participants reported experiencing a negative interaction with police, coupled with a limited understanding of the events surrounding their encounter. Four participants experienced some form of being stopped and questioned. This study aims to examine alternative perspectives, as previous research has focused on criminal justice personnel perspectives rather than autistic perspectives. This is one of a few qualitative Australian studies to seek individualised experiences from a community-based sample. Sampling and recruitment strategies need revision to attain a larger number of surveys in future research.
Biofilm Effectivity of Ethanol Extracts (Casuarina equisetifolia) Leaves of the Bacteria Enterococcus faecalis

Background: Enterococcus faecalis is one of the bacteria that can form biofilms that can cause persistent endodontic infections. Biofilm is the unity of microbial cell surface surrounded by a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The ethanol extracts of Casuarina equisetifolia leaves are known to have potentially bioactive compounds as antibacterials such as flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, and alkaloids. Objective: To determine the power antibiofilm ethanol extracts of Casuarina equisetifolia leaves at multiple concentrations of the bacteria Enterococcus faecalis. Methods: This study is an experimental research design post-test only control group design. The sample divided into 5 groups consisted of positive control Enterococcus faecalis in media Trypticase Soy Broth (TSB)+DMSO 1%, and 4 treatment groups of ethanol extracts of Casuarina equisetifolia leaves a concentration of 0,5%, 1%, 1,5%, and 2%. Biofilm is made using Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 bacteria were cultured on TSB media were incubated for 1x24 hours. 0,1 ml of the bacteria Enterococcus faecalis with a concentration of 106 put on a plate micro titter then done using crystal violet staining. Biofilm-checked by measuring optical density (OD) values ​​using the ELISA reader. Data analysis used Kruskal-Wallis followed by Mann-Whitney test. Results: The ethanol extracts Casuarina equisetifolia leaves on the growth of Enterococcus faecalis bacteria indicate the presence of power antibiofilm. The results mean % mortality of bacteria (p<0.05) were significant in all groups that have the power antibiofilm effectiveness as against the growth of bacteria Enterococcus faecalis. Conclusion: The ethanol extracts Casuarina equisetifolia leave have antibiofilm power against bacterial growth Enterococcus faecalis.