Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Influence of a Surface Treatment of Metallic Titanium on the Photocatalytic Properties of TiO2 Nanotubes Grown by Anodic Oxidation

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes obtained by the anodic oxidation of titanium metal foils can be used for the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of the titanium foil’s surface treatment on the final morphology of the TiO2 nanotubes and their photocatalytic activity. In our experiments, we used two different titanium foils that were electropolished or untreated prior to the anodic oxidation. The morphologies of the starting titanium foils and the resulting TiO2 nanotube layers were investigated and the photocatalytic activities measured by the decomposition of caffeine under UV irradiation. Our results showed that electropolishing of the starting foils produced a more uniform and smoother TiO2 nanotubes surface. In contrast, the TiO2 nanotube surfaces from untreated titanium foils mimic the initial surface roughness of the titanium foil. A comparison of the photocatalytic properties of the TiO2 nanotube layers obtained from the untreated and electropolished titanium foils showed that electropolishing does not necessarily improve the photocatalytic properties of the resulting TiO2 nanotube layer. It was found that the determining factors influencing the photocatalytic activity are the chemical impurities (Ti-nitride) on the surface of the titanium foils and the surface roughness of the TiO2 nanotube layer. The highest photocatalytic activity was achieved with the anodized untreated foil with the minimal presence of Ti-nitride and a relatively high roughness of the TiO2 nanotubes.
EL ORUJO DE UVA ITALIA COMO FUENTE DE COMPUESTOS BIOACTIVOS Y SU APROVECHAMIENTO EN LA OBTENCIÓN DE ETANOL Y COMPOST

El orujo de la industria vitivinícola, actualmente representa un problema de gestión de residuos debido a su alta carga de contaminación; sin embargo, es fuente de elementos funcionales, etanol y compost. Se fermentó el orujo por dos veces, tras los cuales se cuantificaron por triplicado los fenólicos totales y flavonoides. El líquido obtenido en conjunto, se destilaron en sistemas diferencial y optimizó con rectificación. Posteriormente se compostó el orujo con tres réplicas, a los cuales se aplicaron microorganismos eficientes autóctonos. Los fenólicos totales son significativamente diferentes entre primera y segunda fermentación, en tanto que los flavonoides no tienen diferenciación significativa. Los parámetros de optimización para los grados alcohólicos fueron; sistema de reflujo, potencia de calefacción y caudal de flujo de agua para condensado, obteniéndose 81.47 grados alcohólicos. El tiempo de compostaje duró 21 días, menor que otros métodos. Estos resultados reflejaron, la importancia de explotación del orujo como fuente alimentario, energético y agrícola.
Selective hydrogenation of aromatic furfurals into aliphatic tetrahydrofurfural derivatives

Tetrahydrofurfural (THFF) and 5-hydroxymethyltetrahydro-2-furaldehyde (5-HMTHFF) are important chemicals. Synthesis of THFF and 5-HMTHFF from the selective hydrogenation of furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is highly desirable. However, it is a great challenge to hydrogenate furanyl rings while keeping CO intact. Herein, we found that Pd/LDH-MgAl-NO3 could efficiently catalyze the hydrogenation of FF to THFF and HMF to 5-HMTHFF in water. At near complete conversion of FF and HMF, the selectivities of THFF and 5-HMTHFF could reach 92.6% and 83.7%, respectively. A series of control experiments showed that both the LDH-MgAl-NO3 support and water solvent played an important role in the unusual performance of the catalytic system. The hydrogenation of the furanyl ring occurred on the surface of Pd. Water prohibited the hydrogenation of the CO group, and the special nature of LDH-MgAl-NO3 prevented hydrogenation of the CO group on the support by the hydrogen spillover. Thus, the furanyl ring was selectively hydrogenated, and high selectivity of the desired product was successfully achieved. As far as we know, efficient hydrogenation of FF to THFF or HMF to 5-HMTHFF has not been reported. This work opens the way to selectively hydrogenate the furanyl ring while keeping CO in the same molecule unchanged.
Application of remote sensing and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for developing landslide vulnerability zone in Boja District, Kendal Regency, Central Java Province

Landslide is one of geomorphology process that can be a natural hazard for humans. An area has internal parameters that can cause landslide occurrences such as slope, lithology, rainfall, and hydrology. Furthermore, human activities can increase susceptibility for the landslide. Thus, the landslide vulnerability mapping is required to obtain potential of landslide susceptibility of an area. The study area is located in the Boja District. The goals are to determine the weight of internal factors which can cause vulnerable for landslide and to develop vulnerable landslide zone. The methods were remote sensing analysis using Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to define the weight of internal parameters which cause a landslide. The results show that there are three levels of the vulnerable zone i.e. low, moderate, and high vulnerable levels of the landslide.
Re-domesticating social media when it becomes disruptive: Evidence from China’s “super app” WeChat

This article examines the emerging phenomenon of the non-use of WeChat Moments. Drawing upon semi-structured interviews with 21 users who used Moments for at least 6 months, then voluntarily discontinued their use of the feature, we discuss the complex dynamics of Moments use, exploring the implicit micro-behavioral process of social media practice. Countering the purported hyper-centrality of WeChat, we identified a periodic loop of “use, non-use, reuse” of Moments, suggesting that people suspend their use of Moments periodically to “re-domesticate” technology. Through the prism of the domestication approach, we argue that the re-domestication of Moments is a “reboot” of the whole process of domestication through four key stages: re-appropriation, re-objectification, re-incorporation, and re-conversion. Re-domestication is a process that allows people to take a retrospective look at their lives and transform Moments from a disruptive app feature into an instrumental apparatus conducive to their personal and professional well-being. By examining this process, we discuss how people use innovative ways to regain their autonomy and agency in their daily interactions with WeChat.
LIPID DIGESTION IN POMPANO Trachinotus blochii FED WITH DIFFERENT SOYBEAN MEALS

A 3-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of defatted soybean meal, ethanol-extracted soybean meal and fermented soybean meal on lipid digestion in pompano Trachinotus blochii. Four diets which were formulated and designated as FM (fish meal), SBM (defatted soybean meal), ExtSBM (ethanol-extracted SBM), and FSBM (defatted soybean meal fermented by Bacillus subtilis) were fed to juvenile pompano Trachinotus blochii. Results showed that lipids in plasma and in tissues, total bile acid and lipase activity in the anterior intestine of fish fed with SBM were significantly lower than those of fish fed with FM. However, these parameters of fish fed with ExtSBM and FSBM were comparable to those of fish fed with FM. Significantly higher lipid content was observed in SBM fed fish compared to FM fed fish while there were no statistical differences in posterior lipid contents recorded among fish fed with ExtSBM, FSBM and FM. These results indicated that SBM interfered with lipid digestion and absorption in pompano Trachinotus blochii. The reduction of bile acid level and lipase activity in the anterior intestine was responsible for poor dietary lipid utilization of pompano fed with SBM. The findings in the present study also suggest that ethanol extraction and fermentation could be effective and potential ways to improve nutritional quality of SBM for culturing this fish species.
AhRLK1, a CLAVATA1-like leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase of peanut, confers increased resistance to bacterial wilt in tobacco

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating disease that infects hundreds of plant species. Host factors involved in disease resistance and pathogenesis remain poorly characterized. An up regulated and leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase characterized as CLAVATA1 and named AhRLK1 was obtained by microarray analysis in response to R. solanacearum in peanut. AhRLK1 contained presumably, a signal peptide, ten leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains and conserved motifs of intracellular kinases. For subcellular localization, the AhRLK1 protein was visualized only in the plasma membrane. After inoculation with R. solanacearum, AhRLK1 was constantly up regulated in the susceptible variety Xinhuixiaoli but showed little changed in the resistant cultivar Yueyou92. Different hormones, including salicylic acid, abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate, and ethephon, induced expression, but expression was completely down regulated under cold and drought treatments. Transient overexpression provoked a hypersensitive response (HR) in Nicotiana benthamiana following agro-infiltration. Furthermore, in transgenic tobacco with overexpression of the gene, the resistance to R. solanacearum increased significantly. By contrast, most representative defense-responsive genes in HR, SA, JA and ET signal pathways such as NtHIN1, NtPR2, NtLOX1, and NtACS6, among others, were considerably up regulated in the AhRLK1 transgenic lines. Additionally, the EDS1 and PAD4 in the R gene signal were also up regulated in transgenic plants, but the NDR1 and NPR1 genes were down regulated. Accordingly, we suggest that AhRLK1 increases the defense response to R. solanacearum via HR and hormone defense signalling, associated with the EDS1 pathway of R gene signalling. The results provide new understanding of CLV1 function and will contribute to genetic enhancement of peanut.
Global dynamics of some vector-borne infectious disease models with seasonality

Vector-borne infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue, West Nile fever, Zika fever and Lyme disease remain a threat to public health and economics. Both vector life cycle and parasite development are greatly influenced by climatic factors. Understanding the role of seasonal climate in vector-borne infectious disease transmission is particularly important in light of global warming. This PhD thesis is devoted to the study of global dynamics of four vector-borne infectious disease models. We start with a periodic vector-bias malaria model with constant extrinsic incubation period (EIP). To explore the temperature sensitivity of the EIP of malaria parasites, we also formulate a functional differential equations model with a periodic time delay. Moreover, we incorporate the use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) into a climate-based mosquito-stage-structured malaria model. Lastly, we develop a time-delayed Lyme disease model with seasonality. By using the theory of basic reproduction ratio, R0, and the theory of dynamical systems, we derive R0 and establish a threshold type result for the global dynamics in terms of R0 for each model. By conducting numerical simulations of case studies, we propose some practical strategies for the control of the diseases.
From Insect Vision to a Novel Bio-Inspired Algorithm for Image Denoising

Night active insects inspired the development of image enhancement methods that uncover the information contained in dim images or movies. Here, I describe a novel bionic night vision (NV) algorithm that operates in the spatial domain to remove noise from static images. The parameters of this NV algorithm can be automatically derived from global image statistics and a primitive type of noise estimate. In a first step, luminance values were ln-transformed, and then adaptive local means’ calculations were executed to remove the remaining noise without degrading fine image details and object contours. Its performance is comparable with several popular denoising methods and can be applied to grey-scale and color images. This novel algorithm can be executed in parallel at the level of pixels on programmable hardware.
The cost of stratospheric aerosol injection through 2100

This paper presents the estimated direct costs of a stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) program through the end of this century. It displays a range of future solar geoengineering deployment scenarios that are intended to reduce anthropogenically-caused radiative forcing beginning in 2035. The scenarios reviewed herein include three commonly modeled representative concentration pathways (4.5, 6.0, and 8.5) and three possible radiative forcing targets (halving future warming, halting warming, and reversing temperatures to 2020 levels). The program relies on three successive generations of newly designed high-altitude tanker aircraft to deliver aerosols to an altitude of ∼20 km. Sulfates are assumed to be the aerosol used in conjunction with the first generation tanker, supplanted by an as-yet-determined ‘Aerosol 2’ with the later generation aircraft. The aggregate cost over the remainder of the 21st century and the annual cost in 2100 both vary by an order of magnitude between the cheapest and the most expensive scenarios. However, the cost-per-ton of deployed aerosol varies little among scenarios and the cost-per-degree-of-warming-avoided is similarly consistent. Relative to other climate interventions and solutions, SAI remains inexpensive, but at about $18 billion yr−1 per degree Celsius of warming avoided (in 2020 USD), a solar geoengineering program with substantial climate impact would lie well beyond the financial reach of individuals, small states, or other non-state potential rogue actors and would instead be the exclusive domain of large national economies or coalitions including at least one such economy.
Casing-groove optimisation for stall margin in a transonic compressor rotor

Purpose This paper aims to understand the aerodynamic blockage related to near casing flow in a transonic axial compressor using numerical simulations and to design an optimum casing groove for stall margin improvement using a surrogate optimisation technique. Design/methodology/approach A blockage parameter (Ψ) is introduced to quantify blockage across the blade domain. A surrogate optimisation technique is then used to find the optimum casing groove design that minimises blockage at an axial location where the blockage is maximum at near stall conditions. Findings An optimised casing groove that improves the stall margin by about 1% can be found through optimisation of the blockage parameter (Ψ). Originality/value Optimising for stall margin is rather lengthy and computationally expensive, as the stall margin of a compressor will only be known once a complete compressor map is constructed. This study shows that the cost of the optimisation can be reduced by using a suitably defined blockage parameter as the optimising parameter.
Application of Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (BLUP) in Estimating Breeding Value for Rabbit Bucks Raised in Humid Tropics

Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (BLUP) procedures to estimate the breeding value of bucks among three rabbit breeds namely; Chinchilla (CHI), Dutch (DUT) and New Zealand White (NZW) were systematic followed for the selection of sire breed. Records of 604 kits produced through nested (hierarchical) design of 9 sires mated to 27 dams over a period of three parities were used in the estimation of heritability for kits weight at weaning (KWW) and computation of Least Squares Equation (LSE) and Mixed Model Methodologies (MMM). CHI had significantly (P S4> S2> S5> S6> S1 and S3>S4> S6> S5> S2 >S1 respectively. This study therefore presents the theory of BLUP and its practical applications in sire evaluation for rabbit bucks raised in humid tropics. Keywords: Rabbit, BLUP, Heritability, Mixed Model Methodology, Breeding Value
A Triband Planar Inverted-F Antenna with Quadratic Koch Fractal Shaped Slit Along with a Shorted Parasitic Strip

In this paper, a novel compact tri-band planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) for mobile communication application is proposed. The antenna is capable to cover GSM 900 MHz, DCS 1.8 GHz and WLAN (IEEE 802.11b) 2.45 GHz bands. The proposed PIFA is composed of a quadratic Koch shape slit and a parasitic strip. The PIFA with the fractal shaped slit contributes to the first and second resonance while the shorted strip brings forth the third band. The impedance bandwidths of 84 MHz, 132 MHz and 81 MHz for GSM 900, DCS 1800 and WLAN (IEEE 802.11b) 2450, respectively are achieved. A realized gain of 2.44 dBi, 4.48 dBi and 3.86 dBi is obtained at 0.9 GHz, 1.8 GHz and 2.45 GHz, respectively. The proposed antenna is fabricated and |S11| dB is measured. Reasonable agreement between simulated results as well as measured results is obtained.
Catalytic Cracking of Heavy Crude Oil over Iron-Based Catalyst Obtained from Galvanic Industry Wastes

Sewage sludge from the galvanic industry represents a problem to the environment, due to its high metal content that makes it a hazardous waste and must be treated or disposed of properly. This study aimed to evaluate the sludge from three galvanic industries and determine its possible use as catalysts for the synthesis of materials. Catalyst was obtained from a thermal process based on dried between 100–120 °C and calcination of sludges between 400 to 700 °C. The physical–chemical properties of the catalyst were analyzed by several techniques as physisorption of N2 and chemisorption of CO of the material. Catalytic activity was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis of a thermo-catalytic decomposition of crude oil. The best conditions for catalyst synthesis were calcination between 400 and 500 °C, the temperature of reduction between 750 and 850 °C for 15 min. The catalytic material had mainly Fe as active phase and the specific surface between 17.68–96.15 m2·g−1, the catalysts promote around 6% more weight-loss of crude oil in the thermal decomposition compared with assays without the catalyst. The results show that the residual sludge of galvanic industries after thermal treatment can be used as catalytic materials due to the easiness of synthesis procedures required, the low E-factor obtained and the recycling of industrial waste promoted.
Rethinking State Capacity: Conceptual Effects on the Incidence of Terrorism

ABSTRACT The civil conflict literature often relies on state capacity having significant impacts on the risk of, and duration of, civil war and other civil conflicts. Many characteristics of civil conflict are often similar to terrorism, especially domestic terrorism, and are also considered when discussing the predictors of terror. However, what is not considered in either area of the literature is alternative characteristics of state capacity, namely, the degree of fragmentation in the policymaking branches, and its ability to enforce and carry out the laws that are implemented. This paper examines these effects, expanding the interpretation of state capacity to include these aforementioned concepts, and testing them simultaneously with the extant interpretation of capacity. Results show that when including these additional characteristics of capacity, previously accepted predictors are no longer relevant in predicting terrorism.
Fate of Pharmaceuticals in the Environment and in Water Treatment Systems

Occurrence and Analysis of Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Environmental Presence and Persistence of Pharmaceuticals: An Overview, S.T. Glassmeyer, D.W. Kolpin, E.T. Furlong, and M.J. Focazio Advances in the Analysis of Pharmaceuticals in the Aquatic Environment, S. Perez and D. Barcelo Sample Preparation and Analysis of Solid-Bound Pharmaceuticals, C. Klein, S. O'Connor, J. Locke, and D. Aga Gadolinium Containing Contrast Agents for MRI : Investigations on the Environmental Fate and Effects, C. Neubert, R. Lange, and T. Steger-Hartmann Environmental Fate and Transformations of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals Fate and Transport of Veterinary Medicines in the Soil Environment, A.B.A. Boxall Sorption and Degradation of Selected Pharmaceuticals in Soil and Manure, N. Carmosini and L.S. Lee Mobility of Tylosin and Enteric Bacteria in Soil Columns, K.L. Henderson, T.B. Moorman, and J.R. Coats Plant Uptake of Pharmaceuticals from Soil Determined by ELISA, R.J. Schneider Antibiotic Transformation in Plants via Glutathione Conjugation, M.H. Farkas, J.O. Berry, and D.S. Aga Treatment of Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water and Wastewater Drugs in Drinking Water : Treatment Options, H.S. Weinberg, V.J. Pereira, and Z. Ye Removal of Endocrine Disruptors and Pharmaceuticals during Water Treatment, S.A. Snyder, H. Lei, and E.C. Wert Reaction and Transformation of Antibacterial Agents with Aqueous Chlorine under Relevant Water Treatment Conditions, C. -H. Huang, M.C. Dodd, and A.D. Shah Hormones in Waste from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, Z. Zhao, K.F. Knowlton, and N.G. Love Treatment of Antibiotics in Swine Wastewater, C.D. Adams Removal of Pharmaceuticals in Biological Wastewater Treatment Plants, S. Kim, A.S. Weber, A. Batt, and D.S. Aga Chemical Processes During Biological Wastewater Treatment,W.F. Harper, Jr., T. Floyd-Smith, and T. Yi
Insights into the Foraging Behavior of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus)

Abstract Between 25–30 November 2013, 2014 and 2015, miniaturized video cameras were attached to Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus; n = 14) in Punta Norte/San Lorenzo, Península Valdés, Chubut, Argentina. The objective was to examine prey selection, consumption of untraceable prey, and inter- and intraspecific interactions. During 56.3 hr of video footage, 1,621 dives from 14 individuals were recorded. Magellanic Penguins swam through shoals of lobster krill (Munida gregaria morph subrugosa), selectively consuming the fish, primarily anchovies (Engraulis anchoita), that were dispersed along the shoal, but did not consume the lobster krill. Magellanic Penguins captured fish on dives of less than 2 m in depth. The tagged individuals foraged with conspecifics in 2% (n = 33) of the total recorded dives. In addition, a multispecies feeding association was also documented (n = 1). Results were constrained to the upper 40 m of the water column; below this depth light level was too low for detections by video. The development of cameras with a light source and wider-angle lens are crucial to improve our understanding of Magellanic Penguin foraging behavior.
Drought Stress Affecting Growth and Some Physiological Characters of Three Cocoa Clones at Seedling Phase

Drought stress can have substantial negative impacts on cocoa plant growth until affect the death of plant. The present study aimed to determine theeffect of drought stress on the some physiological characters of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) seedlings. The research was carried out at the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, Jember, East Java, Indonesia. This research was conducted from January–December 2017. The experiment was designed by using completely randomized block design with two factors and with three replications. The first factor was clones, namely ICS 60, Sulawesi 1 and KW 641 clones. The second factor was interval of watering treatment, namely watering every 2 days (control/adequate water condition), watering every 5 days (moderate stress), and watering every 8 days (severe stress). Result of this study concluded that drought stress reduced the growth of cocoa seedlings, mainly as a result of reducing photosynthetic activities in all stressed cocoa clone seedlings. Under drought stress, KW 641 and Sulawesi 1 had higher leaf area, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll content, relative water content, and photosynthetic rate than ICS 60 clone.