Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation of regenerated cellulose from rice straw lignocellulosic waste and its use for reinforced paper products

Rice straw waste is a lignocellulosic waste produced by farmers in large quantities. In this study, regenerated cellulose (RC) from rice straw was prepared by dissolving rice straw holocellulose (HC) in NaOH/Urea/Thiourea/Water solution by the freeze-thawing process. The crystallinity index of RC was calculated at 31%, which is out of the crystallinity range of 39%–69% that has been previously suggested. The study indicated that the RC is amorphous with a low degree of polymerization (638) and higher hydroxyl group content as compared to HC. The fiber length of RC was found to be 26.7% shorter; however, the width of RC was 21.2% higher as compared to HC. Reduced kinked fiber content was observed in the fraction of RC (18.3%) as compared with HC (39.1%), and a higher curl index of fiber was observed more so in HC (10.5%) than RC (5.6%). Because of the regeneration process, the fiber length was reduced and a fines element content of about 96% was observed in RC compared to the initial fines content of HC (56.9%). Irrespective of the high fines element content of RC, the composite paper of rice straw bleached pulp and RC fibers was developed with an increase in the tensile index from 41.4 N.m/g to 71.2 N.m/g and an increase in the burst index from 4.7 kPa.m2/g to 5.3 kPa.m2/g with the addition of 5% and 15% RC, respectively. However, enhanced tear index of paper was observed up to 5% and then it declined upon further addition of RC. The study revealed that regenerated cellulose can be used as a strength additive to overcome the shortcomings of low mechanical properties in paper products.
An artificial magnetic conductor loaded, polarization reconfigurable circular patch array antenna

A low‐profile polarization reconfigurable circular patch array antenna is presented in this article. It is illustrated that by introducing two reverse arrangement diodes in every concentric ring patch, the direction of current on the surface of the antenna can be switched flexibly, by controlling the operating states of the diodes. Thus, the polarization of the proposed array antenna can be switched in either left hand circularly polarization or right hand circularly polarization. The introductions of artificial magnetic conductor decrease the profile of the proposed antenna. The performances of the proposed antenna were validated by the prototype processing. The measurement results show that the proposed antenna has a 16.3% impedance bandwidth and a 6% 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth. It exhibits a 9.5 dB broadside gain in the CP band. The profile of the proposed antenna is 46.9% lower than the previous design. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulation results. And it has potential applications in S‐band satellite communications.
Tasheel Pedagogy of Topsy-Turvy Lexicons

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty in reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). It is identified that 5% to 17% of the world population are dyslexics. They tend to possess serious problems like identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words, processing graphic symbols. They find it hard to spell correctly, read and write fluently compared to other children of their age. To overcome the stumbling blocks in learning for dyslexics, we develop a web application, that concentrates on helping dyslexic children to learn, read and write alphabets. This paper briefs upon employing cumulative and adaptive techniques for learning and evaluate the dyslexic students based on 3 criterions namely- visual, phonology and memory. The three modules are as follows- (i) Catapult (ii) Unleash ravel (iii) Cumulative digest. Within the Catapult module, the child is taught to read and write an alphabet by a video. It are often played until the child is confident. Next within the Unleash ravel module, three tests are conducted to instill various micro-skills. Firstly, the child is asked to write down the alphabet that's instructed on a piece of paper. It's captured and evaluated using OCR. Secondly, the kid is asked to spell the alphabet that is displayed on the screen and record it. Eventually, the child is asked to sequentially identify the alphabet in question from a paragraph. It's done to enhance the visual tracking, visual discrimination skills of the child . When the child moves to further chapters, the previous lessons are cumulatively added to the Unleash ravel to enhance memory. The Cumulative Digest gives the report of the child’s performance in three categories analyzing the micro-skills using machine learning. They are Visual, Phonology and Memory. A threshold is set for each test and if the kid score below the edge then tests are made to be adaptive in order that the child faces more exercises within the part he/she is under performing at. Thus, the TPTL application helps dyslexics to learn, test and analyze their skills which will improve their letter recognition, visual tracking, visual discrimination, visual memory, auditory memory and auditory discrimination.
A Highly-efficiency Position Sensorless Electric Vehicle Synchronous Reluctance Motor Drive

The development of high-efficiency motor drives for various applications is important in the industry 4.0 era, especially for their extensive application to electric vehicles (EVs). In this study, a position sensorless EV synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) drive has been developed, which exhibits good driving performance and efficiency over a wide speed and load range. To solve the key problems popularly encountered in the existing approaches, the high-frequency injection (HFI) scheme based on q-axis injection has been proposed. In addition, the changed-frequency injection has been adopted considering the effects of speed/load dependent slotting ripple current. Robust observed speed and position controllers have been added to enhance the sensorless control performance. For the SynRM basic driving control scheme, robust current control and adaptive commutation with minimized motor losses have been achieved that yield satisfactory driving performance up to the rated speed and load. Good EV driving performance has been demonstrated experimentally, including starting, dynamic, acceleration/deceleration, and reversible operations. In addition, the steady-state characteristics have been assessed, and the high efficiencies have been observed to be comparable to the standard drive.
First Insight into Groundwater Copepods of the Polish Lowland

Our results are the first insight into groundwater copepods of the Polish Lowland. The sampling was conducted in 28 wells in north-eastern Poland, and Copepoda were present in 16 wells. We have identified six Copepoda species and one Cladocera. We have classified four species as stygophiles—Eucyclops serrulatus, Diacyclops bisetosus, Diacyclops crassicaudis, and Cyclops furcifer. These species were frequently found in studied wells of different regions of north-eastern Poland, often in high numbers, and females with egg sacs were observed. We present a detailed morphological description of these species, together with molecular characteristics based on mitochondrial DNA markers (COI gene) for E. serrulatus, D. bisetosus, and D. crassicaudis, and 12S ribosomal RNA for C. furcifer. We also present the development of abnormal structures in one specimen of D. crassicaudis, where the upper part of furcal rami was fused to form a single plate.
Assessment of Tree Diameter Estimation Methods from Mobile Laser Scanning in a Historic Garden

Geo-referenced 3D models are currently in demand as an initial knowledge base for cultural heritage projects and forest inventories. The mobile laser scanning (MLS) used for geo-referenced 3D models offers ever greater efficiency in the acquisition of 3D data and their subsequent application in the fields of forestry. In this study, we have analysed the performance of an MLS with simultaneous localisation and mapping technology (SLAM) for compiling a tree inventory in a historic garden, and we assessed the accuracy of the estimates of diameter at breast height (DBH, a height of 1.30 m) calculated from three fitting algorithms: RANSAC, Monte Carlo, and Optimal Circle. The reference sample used was 378 trees from the Island Garden, a historic garden and UNESCO World Heritage site in Aranjuez, Spain. The time taken to acquire the data by MLS was 27 min 37 s, in an area of 2.38 ha. The best results were obtained with the Monte Carlo fitting algorithm, which was able to estimate the DBH of 77% of the 378 trees in the study, with a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 5.31 cm and a bias of 1.23 cm. The proposed methodology enabled a supervised detection of the trees and automatically estimated the DBH of most trees in the study, making this a useful tool for the management and conservation of a historic garden.
Statistical Significant Differences between Aroma Profiles of Beer Brewed from Sorghum

There is currently an increased demand for foodstuffs that are classified as gluten-free including beer. Beer produced using gluten-free grains has a distinct flavor profile that differs greatly from that of beer produced from gluten-containing grains. The chemical difference between beers made from these two different grain sources has been explored and some key differences have been identified. Here malt sources containing gluten (barley) and malt without gluten (sorghum) were used to determine which compounds are statistically different based upon their concentrations. A total of 14 (7 barley and 7 sorghum) small-batch beers were made from malt extract. The aroma profile was sampled using SPME with chemical separation and identification and quantification using GC-MS. As expected, the differences were not the result of unique compounds but compounds present in differing amounts. A total of 17 compounds were found to be present in beer brewed from both extracts but in amounts that were highly significantly different.
Pandemic platform governance: Mapping the global ecosystem of COVID-19 response apps

This article provides an exploratory systematic mapping of the global ecosystem of COVID-19 pandemic response apps. After considering policy updates by Google Play’s and Apple’s App Store, we analyse all the available response apps in July 2020;their different response types;the apps’ developers and geographical distribution;the ecosystem’s ‘generativity’ and developers’ responsiveness during the unfolding pandemic;the apps’ discursive positioning;and material conditions of their development. Google and Apple are gatekeepers of these app ecosystems and exercise control on different layers, shaping the pandemic app response as well as the relationships between governments, citizens, and other actors. We suggest that this global ecosystem of pandemic responses reflects an exceptional mode of what we call ‘pandemic platform governance’, where platforms have negotiated their commercial interests and the public interest in exceptional circumstances. © 2021, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. All rights reserved.
Content analysis of levels and aspects of comprehension in West African senior secondary school examination

Background: Reading is one of the most complex and exclusively human mental activities. It is a foundational skill for all learning, whether at primary, secondary or tertiary levels. If students do not master effective strategies for reading, they may not be successful independent learners. The ability to comprehend written texts and answer relevant questions on them is a major feature that is examined in comprehension in the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. Objective: This study was directed at analysing the content of the English language comprehension questions in the West African School Certificate Examination to identify the intensities of testing different aspects of comprehension so that teachers can lay emphasis on these aspects when they teach reading strategies to their students. Method: The content analytical approach was used to identify the different aspects and levels of the comprehension passages. The analysis of the content was carried out by focusing on 10 different content sub-categories. Results: The study revealed that most of the comprehension passages presented had never been used before and they were related to the students’ local environment. Literal and inferential questions dominated while critical and evaluative questions were rarely asked. Conclusion: In the light of the pedagogic importance of critical and evaluative questions, it is recommended that examiners and teachers should lay emphasis on questions that demand higher-order reasoning to prepare students for the contemporary demands of literacy. In line with higher-order questions, it is also suggested that the curriculum should be amended to encourage critical evaluative thinking among secondary school students as it is an important part of literacy and language development.
Development of an Engineered Ketoreductase with Simultaneously Improved Thermostability and Activity for Making a Bulky Atorvastatin Precursor

Protein engineering is a powerful strategy for enhancing the properties of enzymes for industrial applications. However, thermostabilizing an enzyme via this strategy while simultaneously improving its activity is challenging due to the well-known stability–activity trade-off. Herein, using native ketoreductase LbCR, thermostability and activity were evolved separately by directed evolution, generating mutations V198I and M154I/A155D with increased thermostability and mutations A201D/A202L with increased enzymatic activity. On the basis of additivity and cooperative mutational effects, variants LbCRM6 (M154I/A155D/A201D/A202L) and LbCRM8 (M154I/A155D/V198I/A201D/A202L) with simultaneously improved thermostability and activity were subsequently constructed by combining mutations. Analysis of variant structures demonstrated that increased thermostability was largely attributed to rigidification of flexible loops around the active site through the formation of additional hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic intera.
Mixed Chlorometallate Ionic Liquids as C4 Alkylation Catalysts: A Quantitative Study of Acceptor Properties

The acceptor properties of mixed chlorometallate ionic liquids for isobutane-butene alkylation (C4 alkylation) reaction were studied. These ionic liquids were prepared by mixing metal chlorides with either triethylamine hydrochloride or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride in various molar ratios. Using triethylphosphine oxide as a probe, Gutmann Acceptor Numbers (AN) of the catalysts were determined, and the Lewis acidity of mixed chlorometallate ionic liquids was quantitatively measured. Additionally, AN value was developed to determine the relationship between Lewis acidity and catalytic selectivity. The favorite AN value for the C4 alkylation reaction should be around 93.0. The [(C2H5)3NH]Cl–AlCl3−CuCl appears to be more Lewis acidity than that of [(C2H5)3NH]Cl–AlCl3. The correlation of the acceptor numbers to speciation of the mixed chlorometallate ionic liquids has also been investigated. [AlCl4]−, [Al2Cl7]−, and [MAlCl5]− (M = Cu, Ag) are the main anionic species of the mixed chlorometallate ILs. While the presence of [(C2H5)3N·M]+ cation always decreases the acidity of the [(C2H5)3NH]Cl−AlCl3−MCl ionic liquids.
EFFECTS OF CORE STABILIZATION EXERCISE ON MUSCLE ACTIVITY DURING HORIZONTAL SHOULDER ADDUCTION WITH LOADS IN HEALTHY ADULTS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY

The importance of core stabilization exercises for extremities associated with dynamic spinal stabilization prior to movement has been demonstrated. However, no previous studies have investigated the muscle-coordinated effects on the upper trapezius (UT), anterior deltoid (AD), pectoralis major (PM), bilateral transverse abdominis (TrA), bilateral internal oblique (IO), and bilateral external oblique (EO) in healthy adults. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) breathing technique and the abdominal bracing (AB) technique on UT, AD, PM, bilateral IO/TrA, and bilateral EO motor control in healthy participants during horizontal shoulder adduction. Thirty-six participants, eight of whom were female, were randomized into an AB and a DNS group and performed horizontal shoulder adduction with loads (8 and 17 lb). The clinical outcomes were UT, AD, and PM muscle activation and TrA/IO and EO muscle activation. Paired t-tests were used to analyze electromyography (EMG) data to determine statistically significant differences in muscle activity between the two techniques. For the EMG analysis, the maximal voluntary isometric contraction was measured for normalization and then divided by the EMG amplitude value. The results showed that UT, AD, and PM muscle amplitudes were lower and TrA/IO and EO muscle amplitudes were higher with DNS than with AB ([Formula: see text]). Our findings provide clinical evidence that core exercise with DNS is more effective in lessening UT, AD, and PM muscle activation and improving bilateral TrA/IO motor control than with AB.
Highly Sensitive and Selective Voltammetric Method for the Determination of Hydrazine at a Poly(Eriochrome Black T) Modified Pencil Graphite Electrode (p-EBT/PGE)

Abstract This paper presents a simple, sensitive, selective, cost-effective indirect voltammetric method for determining hydrazine using a poly(Eriochrome black T) modified pencil graphite electrode (p-EBT-PGE). Alizarin Red S (ARS) was used as a mediator in acetic acid–acetate buffer (pH 5.5) and 0.2 M KCl. The difference between the mediator’s oxidation currents measured in hydrazine’s presence and absence served as the analytical response for voltammetrically determining hydrazine. The ARS–hydrazine system’s voltammetric properties at the p-EBT-PGE were also investigated. The limit of detection and two analytical ranges of the method were estimated to be 0.87 nM and 2.9 to 10.0 nM and 3.0 to 60.0 μM. The method has the best limit of detection among reported voltammetric methods. The recoveries in tap water, wastewater, and drinking water samples were between 99.60% and 104.74%, while the relative standard deviations were between 1.6 and 4.2. Uncertainty calculations were also evaluated for hydrazine-spiked samples by following a top–down approach.
The evolution of collaborative networks: A social network analysis of Chinese environmental protection policy

Interagency collaboration helps governments to better resolve various complex societal problems. This contribution examines the mechanisms underlying the collaboration of disparate national government agencies engaged in Chinese environmental protection. We test three dominant mechanisms, namely, the institutionalization of collaborative networks, resource interdependence and exchange, and preferential attachment. It is concluded that a collaborative network over time becomes cohesive, that national government agencies prefer to collaborate with popular agencies and tend to collaborate with those whose resources are different from their own, and that popular agencies tend to maintain their core positions over time. Our study enriches the current governance and policy literature through adding building blocks for the evolution of collaborative network and network partner selection.
Infected non-union of tibia treated with limb reconstruction system (LRS): A prospective study

Introduction: Infected non-union of the tibia is difficult to manage due to problems like osteomyelitis, soft tissue distortion, draining sinuses, demineralization of bone, joint stiffness, and multidrug-resistant polybacterial infection. Material and Methods: We report the outcome of 18 patients (16 males and 2 females) of infected nonunion tibia treated with the Limb reconstruction system. The causes were open fracture in 15 cases and infection following internal fixation in 3 cases. We assessed the limb reconstruction system in the management of infected non-union of the tibia in terms of, union rate, control of infection, and associated complications. The assessment parameters were based on the Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov (ASAMI) criteria. Result: 88% were male and 11% were female, mean age was 32 ±9. The mean bone gap was 3.1±1.0. Draining sinus was present in 10 (55.6%) of the patients. Corticotomy and fibula osteotomy was performed in 14 (77.8%) of the patients. Bony union was seen in 17 (94.4%) of the patients. The mean time of union was found to be 9.7±1.7 months. The mean limb length discrepancy was 1.1±0.6 cm. Deformity angle of less than 7 degrees was present in 16 (88.9%). 15 (83.3%) patients had excellent ASAMI bone scores and the remaining 02 (11.1%) had a good score. One patient in which the union was not observed had a poor score. For the functional component, 12 (66.7%) had an excellent score, 05 (27.8%) had a good score and 01 (5.6%) with non-union of the tibia bone was found to have a poor score. Conclusion: Limb reconstruction system is easy to perform, has predictable healing for infected nonunion, has a short learning curve, ensures compliance in patients, and provides reliable results with lesser complications.
Reference Spur Reduction in Sampled-loop filter PLLs by Oversampling

A technique to eliminate reference spurs in both Integer-N and Fractional-N charge pump phase locked loops(PLLs) based on an oversampled loop filter architecture is proposed. A detailed analysis of the performance of the proposed technique in the presence of implementation non-idealities is also presented. It is shown through analysis and simulations that the proposed technique, in addition to completely eliminating reference spurs, adds an insignificant area and power overhead when applied to Integer-N PLLs and less than 6% increase in area and power in case of Fractional-N PLLs.
Effect of Calcium Treatment on Inclusions in H08A Welding Rod Steel

The effect of calcium treatment on inclusions in H08A welding rod steel was studied by industrial experiment and using thermodynamics theory. The effects of inclusion composition, morphology, quantity, and size in H08A welding rod steel before and after calcium treatment were studied by metallographic microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Thermodynamic studies show that the addition of calcium can form various forms of xCaO·yAl2O3, under the condition that the composition of molten steel remains unchanged, the control of calcium content is the key to generate low melting point calcium-aluminate complex non-metallic inclusions and improve the quality of molten steel. The production practice in steel plant shows that for welding rod steels, the calcium content in a suitable range can meet the requirements of calcium treatment. Effective calcium treatment can not only transform the high melting point Al2O3 inclusions into the low melting point complex non-metallic inclusions between 3CaO·Al2O3 and 12CaO·7Al2O3, but also make the original shape-diversified inclusions into the spherical calcium-aluminate complex non-metallic inclusions. Meanwhile, the total number of inclusions and large-scale inclusions in welding rod steel are reduced, and the inclusions tend to disperse in the steel, which is very conducive to the improvement of steel quality. The results show that the modification path of magnesium aluminate spinel in steel is as follows: Al2O3 → MgO-Al2O3 → MgO-CaO-Al2O3. In addition, calcium treatment can modify MgO-Al2O3 spinel in steel into liquid MgO-CaO-Al2O3 complex non-metallic inclusions with low melting point.