Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimising properties of poly(lactic acid) blends through co-continuous phase morphology

This PhD project investigated the effects of a co-continuous phase structure on the ductility of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends. An empirical model was used to predict the phase inversion point of the blends. The co-continuous phase morphology was first observed in polybutylene succinate(PBS)/PLA blends. With as little as 10 wt% of PBS, PBS/PLA blends achieved a dramatic improvement in ductility, over 250% elongation-to-break. Clay additives were incorporated in PBS/PLA blends. Clay was found out to affect the compatibility and co-continuous phase morphology of PBS/PLA blends. The clay dispersion was found to have an intercalated and exfoliated structure at a PBS/PLA composition ratio of 20/80. The clay particles increased the mixing conditions between the polymers by producing a finer structure, but also destroyed the co-continuous phase morphology, resulting in a substantial decrease in elongation-at-break. PLA was then blended with Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) to examine whether the co-continuous phase model could also be applied to other PLA-polymer blends. From the melt viscosity ratio of PLA and PBAT in the processing regime used in the study, the predicted phase inversion value was 19 wt% of PBAT. This value was verified by the results of mechanical properties, where results for elongation-to-break show a dramatic rise from around 10% up to 300% in the composition range between 10 and 20wt% of PBAT. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) was also blended with PLA and this project investigated how co-continuous phase morphology affects the blends of two brittle polymers. It was found that when PHA content ranged from 10 to 20wt%, the brittle-brittle polymer blends showed ductile behaviour due to a plane stress effect.
Complications After Surgical Repair of Congenital Heart Disease in Infants. An Experience From Tertiary Care Center

Objectives This study aimed to describe the incidence and spectrum of postoperative complications in infants who underwent their first cardiac surgery for the repair of congenital heart diseases. Methods This is a single-center retrospective study. Data of infants admitted to King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center; Jeddah; Saudi Arabia, from January 2015 to December 2019 who underwent the first cardiac procedure for congenital heart disease at an age of less than 3 months, were analyzed. The primary outcome is the prevalence and spectrum of postoperative complications during hospitalization. Data were analyzed by using descriptive and analytical statistics using SAS software version 9.4. Results Data of 130 procedures were analyzed. The most frequent procedure performed was the Norwood procedure (31.5%), aortic coarctation repair (13.8%), arterial switch operation (13%), and Blalock-Taussig and central shunts (10%). The overall postprocedural complications were reported in 96 (73.8%) of the procedures. The most frequent complications were prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation (27%), pleural effusion (21%), excessive bleeding (19%), cardiac arrest (18%), and systemic infections (18%). Conclusion Cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in young infants has a substantial risk for postoperative complications. The high incidence of these complications in these cases makes necessary attention to prove the outcomes in the cardiac centers.
Carbon Nanoarchitectonics for Energy and Related Applications

Nanoarchitectonics has been recently proposed as a post-nanotechnology concept. It is the methodology to produce functional materials from nanoscale units. Carbon-based materials are actively used in nanoarchitectonics approaches. This review explains several recent examples of energy and related applications of carbon materials from the viewpoint of the nanoarchitectonics concept. Explanations and discussions are described according to the classification of carbon sources for nanostructured materials: (i) carbon nanoarchitectonics from molecules and supramolecular assemblies; (ii) carbon nanoarchitectonics from fullerenes; (iii) carbon nanoarchitectonics from biomass; and (iv) carbon nanoarchitectonics with composites and hybrids. Functional carbon materials can be nanoarchitected through various processes, including well-skilled organic synthesis with designed molecular sources; self-assembly of fullerenes under various conditions; practical, low-cost synthesis from biomass; and hybrid/composite formation with various carbon sources. These examples strikingly demonstrate the enormous potential of nanoarchitectonics approaches to produce functional carbon materials from various components such as small molecules, fullerene, other nanocarbons, and naturally abundant biomasses. While this review article only shows limited application aspects in energy-related usages such as supercapacitors, applications for more advanced cells and batteries, environmental monitoring and remediation, bio-medical usages, and advanced devices are also expected.
Visual Signaling in the Semi-Fossorial Lizard Pholidobolus montium (Gymnophthalmidae)

Simple Summary Lizards display multiple communication modalities, through chemical, visual, vocal, or tactile signals which mediate sociality, reproduction, territoriality, competition, and other complex interactions among individuals. In some species that dwell on the surface, it has been shown that multimodal communication is possible, for example, visual and chemical communication. It is less known if lizards that dwell in caves or burrows (fossorial) also use visual signals. By studying behavior in a semi-fossorial lizard from the northern Ecuadorian Andes, we have discovered that they can use visual signals like leg movements and body arching to communicate. In this manuscript, we describe these observations and discuss the potential roles of these signals. This is the first description of such behaviors in semi-fossorial lizards. Abstract It has been suggested that gymnophthalmids, like most semi-fossorial lacertoids, rely more in chemical cues to communicate, in comparison to other groups, like Iguanids, on which communication is mostly based on visual signaling. We present the first description of visual signaling in the Andean lizard Pholidobolus montium (Gymnophthalmidae) and a complete ethogram based on ex situ observations (34 different types of behaviors including positions and simple movements). Through the design of conspecific stimulus experiments, we were able to recognize leg-waving as a visual signal, as it is only displayed in presence of conspecifics or in presence of a mirror and was one of first and most frequent displays in this context. We also detected other visual displays like neck-arching and tail-undulation which may also be relevant as visual signals. Based on our results, we propose that visual signaling is also possible in semi-fossorial lizards; however, further studies regarding chemical signal recognition and color detection are required to confirm our hypothesis.
Computational Three-Dimensional Imaging System via Diffraction Grating Imaging with Multiple Wavelengths

This paper describes a computational 3-D imaging system based on diffraction grating imaging with laser sources of multiple wavelengths. It was proven that a diffraction grating imaging system works well as a 3-D imaging system in our previous studies. The diffraction grating imaging system has advantages such as no spherical aberration and a low-cost system, compared with the well-known 3-D imaging systems based on a lens array or a camera array. However, a diffraction grating imaging system still suffers from noises, artifacts, and blurring due to the diffraction nature and illumination of single wavelength lasers. In this paper, we propose a diffraction grating imaging system with multiple wavelengths to overcome these problems. The proposed imaging system can produce multiple volumes through multiple laser illuminators with different wavelengths. Integration of these volumes can reduce noises, artifacts, and blurring in grating imaging since the original signals of 3-D objects inside these volumes are integrated by our computational reconstruction method. To apply the multiple wavelength system to a diffraction grating imaging system efficiently, we analyze the effects on the system parameters such as spatial periods and parallax angles for different wavelengths. A computational 3-D imaging system based on the analysis is proposed to enhance the image quality in diffraction grating imaging. Optical experiments with three-wavelength lasers are conducted to evaluate the proposed system. The results indicate that our diffraction grating imaging system is superior to the existing method.
Production of Chitosan from Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404 and Application as Antibacterial Activity

Chitosan synthesized from Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404, may display potential antibacterial activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of chitosan against various microorganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633. The physicochemical properties were analyzed by FTIR. Lower antibacterial activity was exhibited for chitosan concentrations of between10 and 60 Âµg/ml compared to that of between 70 and 100 ï­g/ml of chitosan for all bacteria, whilst chitosan concentrations of above 70 ï­g/ml exhibited strong inhibition for the bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 with a slightly lower inhibition was observed for Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 indicating the higher antibacterial activity of chitosan for Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633. Results show that chitosan could inhibit the growth of different bacteria tested.
The Effects of Power Levels/Time Periods for Sputtering Cobalt onto Carbon Nanotubes/Graphene Composites and Cobalt Annealed on the Characteristics of Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Carbon nanotubes/graphene composites are directly grown on nickel foil without additional catalysts by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Next, the cobalt is deposited on carbon nanotubes/graphene composites by radio frequency (RF) sputtering with different power levels and time periods. Then, the cobalt is transformed into cobalt oxide by annealing. A longer time period of sputtering leads to higher specific capacity. Furthermore, the electrochemical stability of cobalt oxide/carbon nanotubes/graphene composites is higher than that of cobalt oxide.
Phytochemical analysis and free radical scavenging potential of Riccinus communis based polyherbal formulation

Phytochemical analysis and free radical scavenging activity were evaluated in various extract of Solanum xanthocarpum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ricinus communis, and Phyllanthus niruri leaves. Phytochemicals such as alkaloids, carbohydrates, gylcosides, saponins, phytosterols, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and amino acids were present in ethanol, water, acetone, methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of herbs. Ethanol extracts of all the four plant were amalgamated equally to prepare a polyherbal formulation and chosen for further characteristic analysis and free radical scavenging activity. FTIR spectrum and GC–MS analysis revealed that the polyherbal formulation contains the functional groups of various bioactive compounds and 2, 3-dihydroxy octodecanoic acid was identified to be present in larger amount by GC-MS. The formulation was found to exert dose dependent free radical scavenging activities against DPPH and Superoxide radicals with IC50 values 104. 34μg/ml and 212. 49μg/ml respectively. The present study revealed that the polyherbal formulation prepared from Solanum xanthocarpum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ricinus communis, and Phyllanthus niruri possesses bioactive phytocompounds that exhibit free radical scavenging properties.
Effective Online Engagement Strategies Through Gamification: A Systematic Literature Review and a Future Research Agenda

Gamification has recently been discovered as an excellent user engagement strategy that has the potential to improve online education, online brand engagement, and information system engagement. Even though the number of studies on gamification has expanded, there is currently no systematic literature review approach for categorizing its online engagement strategies. Therefore, the main purpose of this systematic literature review is to find effective online engagement strategies based on gamification. The literature, as published in top management, information systems, and education journals, was reviewed using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and authors categorized the studies published during the period 2016 to 2021. This study can be considered as among the first to include a systematic literature review with a potential future research agenda on effective online engagement strategies through gamification. The findings indicate several effective online engagement strategies through gamification for three major aspects.
Experimental and Computational Studies on the Reactivity of Methanimine Radical Cation (H2CNH+•) and its Isomer Aminomethylene (HCNH2 +•) With C2H2

Experimental and theoretical studies are presented on the reactivity of the radical cation isomers H2CNH+• (methanimine) and HCNH2 +• (aminomethylene) with ethyne (C2H2). Selective isomer generation is performed via dissociative photoionization of suitable neutral precursors as well as via direct photoionization of methanimine. Reactive cross sections (in absolute scales) and product branching ratios are measured as a function of photon and collision energies. Differences between isomers’ reactivity are discussed in light of ab-initio calculations of reaction mechanisms. The major channels, for both isomers, are due to H atom elimination from covalently bound adducts to give [C3NH4]+. Theoretical calculations show that while for the reaction of HCNH2 +• with acetylene any of the three lowest energy [C3NH4]+ isomers can form via barrierless and exothermic pathways, for the H2CNH+• reagent the only barrierless pathway is the one leading to the production of protonated vinyl cyanide (CH2CHCNH+), a prototypical branched nitrile species that has been proposed as a likely intermediate in star forming regions and in the atmosphere of Titan. The astrochemical implications of the results are briefly addressed.
Functional Recellularization of Acellular Rat Liver Scaffold by Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Molecular Evidence for Wnt/B-Catenin Upregulation

Background. Liver transplantation remains the only viable therapy for liver failure but has a severely restricted utility. Here, we aimed to decellularize rat livers to form acellular 3D bio-scaffolds suitable for seeding with induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) as a tool to investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in liver development and generation. Methods. Dissected rat livers were randomly divided into three groups: I (control); II (decellularized scaffolds) and III (recellularized scaffolds). Liver decellularization was established via an adapted perfusion procedure and assessed through the measurement of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and DNA content. Liver recellularization was assessed through histological examination and measurement of transcript levels of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, hepatogenesis, liver-specific microRNAs and growth factors essential for liver development. Adult rat liver decellularization was confirmed by the maintenance of ECM proteins and persistence of growth factors essential for liver regeneration. Results. iPSCs seeded rat decellularized livers displayed upregulated transcript expression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related, growth factors, and liver specification genes. Further, recellularized livers displayed restored liver-specific functions including albumin secretion and urea synthesis. Conclusion. This establishes proof-of-principle for the generation of three-dimensional liver organ scaffolds as grafts and functional re-establishment.
Can Empathy Help Individuals and Society? Through the Lens of Volunteering and Mental Health

(1) Background: Empathy affects an individual’s decision to participate in volunteering, and volunteering, in turn, influences mental health. Intriguingly, studies have been limited in exploring underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions for the relationship between empathy and mental health. Furthermore, volunteering studies have overlooked the multi-dimensionality of empathy. Therefore, this study seeks to contribute to extant literature by investigating the mediating effect of volunteering for the relationships between cognitive and affective empathy and mental health and the moderating effect of gender for the relationship between empathy and volunteering. (2) Methods; Data were collected using a survey in South Korea and consisted of 301 full-time employees who voluntarily engaged in their corporate volunteer programs. Furthermore, they voluntarily participated in the study. The hypotheses were tested with path analysis and a group comparison was also conducted. (3) Results: Volunteering was found to mediate the relationships between cognitive empathy and affective empathy with mental health. In addition, gender moderated the relationship between empathy and volunteering. (4) Conclusions: As the study found empathy to increase individuals’ engaging in volunteering activities which then improved mental health, the study supports extant theoretical frameworks on empathy and volunteering. Moreover, the study found gender differences on empathy and volunteering; thereby supporting and contributing to extant literature.
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN FOOD SECURITY IN EMERGING AND DEVELOPED ECONOMIES

In this paper, we empirically investigate if food security is specific to a space, a level of development or an economic mode, using Panel data. Our study initially exploited a total sample of 52 emerging and developed countries, for the period 1980-2006, then, we subdivided the sample in two subsamples according to the classification of the World Bank and according to the income. In this way, food safety can be defined as the capacity of all people to a sufficient, healthy and nutritive food, the physical and the economic access. Our results indicate that the countries in the process of development are the most vulnerable to food safety (in quantity: undernourishment) because of the increases of the percentage of poverty. But the developed countries suffers also by this problem( in quality: obesity).
Domestic tourists and local food consumption: motivations, positive emotions and savouring processes

ABSTRACT This study examines the motivation for local food consumption amongst domestic tourists. It integrates the positive psychology concept of savouring by examining the positive emotions savoured by domestic tourists on the basis of broaden-and-build theory, including the savouring processes used when recalling their recent local food experiences. Data were collected only from Indian residents using a self-administered open-ended web-based questionnaire. Empirical findings revealed that out of the 178 respondents, more than half reported tasting local food as one of the main motivations for undertaking their particular trip. The two main motivations for tasting local food were to experience something new and experience the local culture. The most common positive emotion savoured by guests when remembering their local food experiences was joy, followed by love. Taste and socializing with friends and family members were identified as the dominant factors that intensified respondents’ savouring of their recent local food experiences.
A Borrelia sp. in Ornithodoros octodontus (Argasidae)

MICHELE THOMPSON1, SEBASTIÁN MUÑOZ-LEAL2*, IGNACIO TRONCOSO3,4, RICHARD S. THOMAS2, ADRIANA M. SANTODOMINGO2, LUCILA MORENO-SALAS5 & DANIEL GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA1† 1Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile. 2Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile. E-mail: sebamunoz@udec.cl Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de las Américas, Concepción, Chile. Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Pedro de Valdivia, Chillán, Chile. 5Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
Effects of Pressure Level and Time Treatment of High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) on Inulin Gelation and Properties of Obtained Hydrogels

The aim of this study was the evaluation of the influence of different HHP levels (150 and 300 MPa) and time treatment (5, 10, 20 min) on the gelation and properties of hydrogels with different inulin concentration (15, 20, 25 g/100 g). High-pressure treatment, in tested ranges, induces inulin gels and allows obtaining gel structures even at a lowest tested inulin content (i.e., 15 g/100 g). Selecting the pressure parameters, it is possible to modify the characteristics of the created hydrogels. The use of higher pressure (i.e., 300 MPa) allows to increase the stability of the hydrogels and change their structure to more compressed, which results in higher yield stress, lower spreadability, harder and more adhesive structure. For example, increasing the inulin gelling induction pressure (concentration 20 g/100 g) from 150 to 300 MPa with a time treatment of 10 min resulted in an increase in yield stress from 38.1 to 711.7 Pa, spreadability force from 0.59 to 4.59 N, firmness from 0.11 to 1.46 N, and adhesiveness from −0.06 to −0.65 N. Extending the time treatment of HHP increases this effect, but mainly when higher pressure and a higher concentration of inulin are being used. For example, extension of time treatment at 300 MPa pressure from 5 to 20 min resulted in an increase in yield stress from 774.8 to 1273.8 Pa, spreadability force from 6.28 to 8.43 N, firmness from 1.87 to 2.98 N, and adhesiveness from −0.94 to −1.27 N. The obtained results indicate the possibility of using HHP to create inulin hydrogels tailored to the characteristics in a specific food product.
Contact Angle and Cell Adhesion of Micro/Nano-Structured Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Membranes for Dental Regenerative Therapy

Biodegradable membranes are used in regenerative dentistry for guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and guided bone regeneration (GBR). In this study, patterned poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) membranes with groove, pillar, and hole structures were successfully fabricated by thermal nanoimprinting. Their surfaces were evaluated for topography by scanning electron microscopy and laser microscopy, for hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity by contact angle analysis, and for MC3T3-E1 cell adhesion. The sizes of the patterns on the surfaces of the membranes were 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 μm, respectively, with the height/depth being 1.0 μm. The pillared and holed PLGA membranes were significantly more hydrophobic than the non-patterned PLGA membranes (p < 0.05). However, the 0.5 μm- and 1.0 μm-grooved PLGA membranes were significantly more hydrophilic than the non-patterned PLGA membranes (p < 0.05). The 0.5 μm-grooved, pillared, and holed membranes exhibited significantly superior adhesion to the MC3T3-E1 cells than the non-patterned PLGA (p < 0.05). These results suggest that patterned PLGA membranes can be clinically used for GTR and GBR in the dental regeneration field.