Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between Nil-Strength Temperature, Zero Strength Temperature and Solidus Temperature of Carbon Steels

The nil-strength temperature, zero strength temperature and solidus temperature are significant parameters with respect to the processes of melting, casting and welding steels. With the use of physical tests performed on the universal plastometer Gleeble 3800 and calculations in the IDS software, the nil-strength temperatures, zero strength temperatures and solidus temperatures of nine non-alloy carbon steels have been determined. Apart from that, solidus temperatures were also calculated by the use of four equations expressing a mathematical relation of this temperature to the chemical composition of the investigated steels. The nil-strength and zero strength temperatures and the solidus temperatures decreased with increasing carbon content in the investigated steels. Much higher content of sulfur in free-cutting steel resulted in a decrease of all the temperatures investigated. The zero strength temperatures determined by calculation in the IDS software during solidification were approximately 43–85 °C higher than the nil-strength temperatures determined experimentally during heating of the investigated steels. The linear dependence of experimentally measured nil-strength temperature on the calculated zero strength temperature for the investigated steels was determined. Based on regression analyses, there were determined mathematical relations which described with high accuracy a linear dependence of the nil-strength and zero strength temperatures on the solidus temperature of the investigated steels.
Characterization of the isoproturon degrading community : from the field to the genes

Frequent use of phenylurea herbicide isoproturon (IPU) in agricultural fields has resulted not only in the contamination of the natural resources including soil and water but also in the adaptation of the soil microflora to its rapid degradation. However, up to now, the mechanisms underlying this microbial adaptation are not well elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore the processes and factors implicated in IPU degradation from the agricultural field to the genes coding for catabolic genes. The study carried out at the experimental field of Epoisses cropped with a winter wheat / barley / rape seed crop rotation indicated that as a result of its periodically repeated use, the soil microflora adapted to IPU mineralization activity. Further analysis using exploratory and geostatistical tools demonstrated the existence of spatial variability in IPU mineralization activity at the field scale which was correlated not only with several soil physico-chemical parameters like organic matter content, CEC and C/N ratio but also with the pesticide application plan over a three year crop rotation. In order to get further insight into underlying mechanisms, an IPU mineralizing bacterial culture and strain Sphingomonas sp. SH were isolated through enrichment cultures performed from two different adapted soils. Both had the catabolic activities highly specific for the mineralization of IPU and its metabolites but none of other structurally related phenylurea herbicides. IPU metabolic activity of both the mixed culture and the strain SH was found to be affected by pH with optimal activity taking place at pH 7.5. Based on the accumulation of different known metabolites during mineralization kinetics, IPU metabolic pathway was proposed to be initiated by two successive demethylations, followed by cleavage of the urea side chain resulting in the accumulation of 4-isopropylaniline, and ultimately the mineralization of the phenyl ring. In order to identify the genes involved in IPU degradation, BAC clone library was established from the genomic DNA of the bacterial culture. Although, the functional screening did not yield in identifying any BAC clone able to degrade IPU or its known metabolites, the PCR based screening led us to identify a cat gene cluster involved in ortho-cleavage of the phenyl ring of catechol through beta-ketoadipate pathway. Based on this finding, it was hypothesized that phenyl ring of 4-isopropylaniline formed during IPU transformation might be mineralized through ortho-cleavage of catechol. This finding allowed us to propose the lower IPU metabolic pathway which was not yet described.
At-Risk World Heritage and Virtual Reality Visualization for Cyber-Archaeology

In this chapter, the issue of at-risk cultural heritage in the Middle East is addressed through the application of cyber-archaeology tools for data capture and dissemination. Working with an economic model to create a Heritage Asset District in the environs of Jerusalem, virtual reality for personal head-mounted devices and immersive CAVE platforms are used to help create high-value cultural heritage attractions designed to attract visitors to the district, thereby generating economic benefits. In the case study presented here, the district focuses on the Kidron Valley, which has its origin near the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, and follows the river flowing eastward through the Judean Desert, where it empties into the Dead Sea. The most prominent cultural heritage site along the wadi (riverbed) is the Mar Saba Greek Orthodox monastery, dating to the fifth century CE. A helium-balloon photographic platform with high-definition photography and Structure from Motion (SfM) processing was used to create a 3D model of this impressive site that could be used for VR demonstrations. The demo is then made available over the MedArchNet (http://medarchnet.calit2.net/) online digital atlas to enable public engagement with Middle Eastern cultural heritage. This research is part of a University of California Office of the President Catalyst Grant concerning “At-Risk Cultural Heritage and the Digital Humanities. ”
Patterns of Connectivity and Isolation in Marine Populations

Eight novel microsatellite loci were isolated and characterised for the New Zealand endemic brown periwinkle Austrolittorina cincta. Genetic variation was characterised for 50 individuals from an area that is now the Taputeranga Marine Reserve (MR) on Wellington south coast, New Zealand. All loci were polymorphic and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 9 to 29. Observed and expected locus heterozygosity ranged from 0.32 to 0.92 and from 0.8 to 0.95, respectively. Three loci had high levels of homozygosity and significant departure from HardyWeinberg equilibrium. No linkage disequilibrium was detected between any locus pairs. These markers were then used in subsequent chapters.
The Influence of Knowledge Management Mediation and Work Motivation on Leadership and Organizational Task Performance

This research examines the relationship between leadership and direct organizational task performance of lectures that is directly and indirectly moderated by knowledge management and work motivation. The data was obtained from 155 respondents, which were chosen as samples. The analysis was conducted by employing descriptive statistics analysis and inferential statistics that utilized SPSS v23 and AMOS 19. The result shows that leadership and knowledge management significantly influenced organizational task performance. It was also found that knowledge management mediated the relationship between leadership and organizational task performance. Furthermore, it was found that knowledge management strengthened the relationship between leadership and organizational task performance and work motivation did not strengthen the relationship between leadership and organizational task performance. It is expected that knowledge management activity will be adopted as an academic culture among lecturers.
Fermentation of xylulose to ethanol using xylose isomerase and yeasts

In a survey of 35 organisms, predominantly yeasts, about 40% were capable of fermenting xylulose to ethanol. Two species, Candida tropicalis and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, did so at good rates and without an initial lag. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that fermented glucose rapidly fermented xylulose at a slower rate. Ten yeasts and three strains of the bacterium Zymomonas mobilis were weak or negative for xylulose, even though they fermented glucose under the conditions employed. C. tropicalis was able to form 1.0 M ethanol from 1.0 M xylose if the fermentation broth was recycled over immobilized xylose isomerase.
Phytochemical Constituents and Free Radicals Scavenging Activity of Extracts from Sea Buckthorn Fruits (Hippophae rhamnoides)

Due to its high content of ascorbic acid, tocopherols, polyphenols, carotenoids, and selenium, sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) has an intense antioxidant action. Because, in certain situations, some synthetic antioxidants (BHT, BHA, BHQ) can generate allergies, asthma, rashes or other disorders, plants represent a healthy alternative for chemical substances used to preserve the quality of foods. Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a fascinating plant with diverse uses, such as the control of soil erosion, and source of nutrition, drugs, and skin-care products. In this study, we investigated the phytochemical constituents and the ability of Hippophae rhamnoides water-acetonic and alcoholic extracts to act as scavenger of reactive oxygen species. The quantification of total soluble phenols was based on the reduction of phosphomolybdic acid by phenols in aqueous alkali. Hydroxyl radicals were generated by the Fe 3+ /EDTA/ascorbate system, and assayed by the evaluation of deoxyribose degradation using thiobarbituric acid method. Scavenging of hydrogen peroxide was evaluated by a spectrophotometric method. Hypochlorous acid scavenging activity was tested by measuring the inhibition of hypochlorous acid induced by 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid oxidation to 5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid. The radical scavenging activities were compared with standard antioxidants such BHA and BHT. The results indicated that Hippophae rhamnoides extracts contain polyphenols that act as scavenger of hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and hypochlorous acid.
Sociology and the Climate Crisis

What would it mean for sociology to make climate change a core disciplinary concern? This article reviews research on a selection of trends brought on by the climate crisis: ( a) compounding and cumulative disasters, infrastructure breakdown, and adaptation; ( b) intensifying migration and shifting patterns of settlement; and ( c) transformations in consumption, labor, and energy. While climate change's far-reaching implications remain peripheral to the discipline at large, sociologists studying these trends increasingly understand the crisis as a central problem for the study of social life. We show how sociologists can shed light on core problems emerging from and contributing to the crisis, and also reveal the conditions that make necessary social and cultural transformations more likely. Throughout, we illuminate how sociology can help chart a path out of the climate crisis by identifying alternatives to the high-carbon, low-equity social structures that organize the modern world. Finally, we identify possibilities for scholars who do not see themselves as “environmental sociologists” to contribute meaningful research on the climate crisis, and we encourage them to do so while we can make a difference.
Robust Resiliency-Oriented Operation of Active Distribution Networks Considering Windstorms

Recent climate changes have created intense natural disasters, such as windstorms, which can cause significant damages to power grids. System resilience is defined as the ability of the system to withstand such high-impact low-probability events. This paper proposes a robust resilient operational schedule for active distribution networks against windstorms. In order to capture dynamic behaviors of these disasters, zonal disaster-specific uncertainty sets associated with the windstorm are proposed. Additionally, the unavailability uncertainties of N-K contingencies as well as the forecast uncertainties of load demand, wind power, and solar power are taken into account. Instead of committing micro-turbines and energy storage systems in the first stage (here-and-now) of the decision-making process, the proposed model considers these commitment decisions in the second stage (wait-and-see) of the decision-making process, which is more consistent with the fast response time of these units. Since the second stage of the proposed model has binary decision variables, recent KKT-based and duality-based methods are not applicable. Therefore, a new solution method based on block coordinate descent (BCD) and line search (LS) techniques is proposed to solve the bi-level problem. Eventually, IEEE 33-bus distribution test system is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and solution method.
Choline-Based Ionic Liquids-Incorporated IRMOF-1 for H2S/CH4 Capture: Insight from Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The removal of H2S and CH4 from natural gas is crucial as H2S causes environmental contamination, corrodes the gas stream pipelines, and decreases the feedstock for industrial productions. Many scientific researches have shown that the metal-organic framework (MOF)/ionic liquids (ILs) have great potential as alternative adsorbents to capture H2S. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was carried out to determine the stability of ILs/IRMOF-1 as well as to study the solubility of H2S and CH4 gases in this ILs/IRMOF-1 hybrid material. Three choline-based ILs were incorporated into IRMOF-1 with different ratios of 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2% w/w, respectively, in which the most stable choline-based ILs/IRMOF-1 composite was analysed for H2S/CH4 solubility selectivity. Among the three choline-based ILs/IRMOF-1, [Chl] [SCN]/IRMOF-1 shows the most stable incorporation. However, the increment of ILs loaded in the IRMOF-1 significantly reduced the stability of the hybrid due to the crowding effect. Solvation free energy was then computed to determine the solubility of H2S and CH4 in the [Chl] [SCN]/IRMOF-1. H2S showed higher solubility compared to CH4, where its solubility declined with the increase of choline-based IL loading.
Avaliação Microbiológica, Detecção e Susceptibilidade Aos Antimicrobianos de Potenciais Enteropatógenos Das Famílias Enterobacteriaceae e Vibrionaceae em Mexilhões Perna Perna Coletados Na Praia de Itaipu, Niterói-Rj

Marcelly Miranda Aybal Jayme, Jorge Goncalo Caldeira Nunes de Matos, Alessandro Sales, Monica Conceicao NunesCarvalho, Mara Lucia Penna Queiroz, Angela Correa de Freitas-Almeida, Fabio Vieira Araujo.Avaliacao Microbiologica, Deteccao e Susceptibilidade Aos Antimicrobianos de Potenciais Enteropatogenos Das Familias Enterobacteriaceae e Vibrionaceae em Mexilhoes Perna Perna Coletados Na Praia de Itaipu, Niteroi-Rj. In: Anais do 12o Congresso Latinoamericano de Microbiologia e Higiene de Alimentos MICROAL 2014 [= Blucher Food Science Proceedings, num.1, vol.1]. Sao Paulo: Editora Blucher, 2014. DOI 10.5151/foodsci-microal-185 Avaliacao Microbiologica, Deteccao e Susceptibilidade Aos Antimicrobianos de Potenciais Enteropatogenos Das Familias Enterobacteriaceae e Vibrionaceae em Mexilhoes Perna Perna Coletados Na Praia de Itaipu, Niteroi-RJ
Correlation between the Size of the Prostate, Post Void Residual Volume, PSA Level and IPSS in Men with LUTS in Three Major Urology Centers in Khartoum

Objectives: To study the prevalence of symptoms of IPSS in three major urological clinics in Khartoum and the correlation of these symptoms with PSA level, post void residual urine volume and prostate volume. Subjects and methods: This is a cross-sectional hospital based study including 100 men who presented with LUTS to three major urological centers in Sudan (Suba, IbnSina and police hospitals), in the period from November 2015 to November 2016. All patients were assessed with a well-designed questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS program. Results: The total number of patients was 100. The mean age was 69 +/- 9.6. The commonest presenting symptoms were frequency (94%) and weak stream (94%). The IPSS score was mild in (28%), moderate in (22%) and severe in (50%), most of the patients were found to be dissatisfied (27%) or mixed feelings (25%) and only 1% were not bothered with their symptoms. The mean PSA level was 6.5 +/- 6.5. The mean Prostate volume was 78.4 +/- 30.7 cc. The post void residual urine volume mean was 69.3 +/- 39.8ml. A significant (P value 0.01) direct proportion was found between IPSS total score and PSA level, prostate volume, post void residual volume and quality of life. Insignificant correlation (P value 0.911) was found between age and IPSS. A good relation was noticed between prostate volume (PV) and PSA level (P value 0.01) and prostate volume and post void residual volume (P value 0.001). Conclusion: The most common presenting symptoms were weak stream and increased frequency. A significant correlation was found between IPSS score and PSA, prostate volume, post void residual volume and quality of life. IPSS score is not age related. Large prostate was noticed to have high PSA level and post void residual urine volume.
REGULATION OF CALCIUM INFLUX AND REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES PRODUCTION DURING INFECTION OF LEGUMES BY RHIZOBIA

Nod factor (NF) can induce two separate calcium responses in legume root hairs. Nuclear-associated calcium spiking is central to the symbiosis signalling (Sym) pathway, which is necessary for the activation of genes required for nodule formation and bacterial infection. In addition NF activates a tip-focused calcium influx, which is less-well studied but is thought to be involved in bacterial infection. NF also activates ROS transient production at the tip of root hair cells. In this thesis I used fluorescent probes (Ca2+-sensitive Cameleons YC2.1 and YC3.6 and the ROS-sensitive CM-H2DCFDA dye) to characterise the NF-induced calcium influx and ROS transient responses in Medicago truncatula. Along with being spatially and temporally co-incident, the responses require similar concentrations of NF to be activated, are inhibited by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium and are dependent on the NF receptor NFP but independent of the Sym pathway components DMI1 and DMI2. These results suggest the NF-induced calcium influx and ROS transient are part of a common signalling pathway during bacterial infection. ROP signalling is associated with ROS production and calcium influx during developmental root hair elongation. I assessed the role of ROPs during rhizobial infection in M. truncatula and found a ROP-activating protein, MtGAP1, was upregulated in root hairs during bacterial infection and is involved in normal root hair curling and infection thread development. Two pieces of evidence directly link ROP signalling with the NF-induced calcium influx: gap1 mutants were hypersensitive for induction of the calcium influx, and there was a reduction in the number of calcium influx responses in ROP9 RNAi knockdown lines. Drawing parallels between developmental root hair elongation and bacterial infection I propose a model for the regulation of ROP signalling by NF leading to root hair curling, the activation of the calcium influx and ROS transient, and infection thread formation.
Effects of distillers dried grains with solubles and dietary fiber on the intestinal health of young pigs and chicks

Three experiments were conducted to determine whether dietary distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) can prevent post-weaning colibacillosis (PWC) and promote recovery in pigs. A pathogenic F18 E. coli strain (SLT2) was selected based on its capability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract (Exp. 1). Experiment 2 was a factorial arrangement of 2 diets (inclusion of 0 vs. 20 % DDGS) × 4 challenge treatments: 1) distilled water (Sham); 2) single dose of SLT2 to provide 10 10 cfu (EcAL); 3) single dose of SLT2 to provide 10 11 cfu (EcAH); and 4) 3 consecutive doses of SLT2 to provide 10 10 cfu/dose (EcCR). Experiment 3 had a factorial arrangement of 4 diets (inclusion of 0, 5, 10, or 20% DDGS) × 2 challenge treatments (Sham vs. EcCR). Each treatment was replicated with 6 pigs (21 d old, 6.23 ± 0.34 kg BW in Exp. 2, and 5.96 ± 0.48 kg BW in Exp. 3). Inoculation began on d 3 post-weaning, considered postinoculation (PI) d 0. Measurements included ADG, diarrhea score (1= normal feces through 5= watery diarrhea), fecal coliforms culture score (0= no growth through 10= very heavy growth), and intestinal histology on PI d 11. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS; culture score data were analyzed as repeated measures. Pigs in EcAH or EcCR treatments grew less (P < 0.05) from PI d 0 to 7 than those in Sham or EcAL, regardless of diet. No differences among treatments in ADG were detected from PI d 7 to 11. Diarrhea score from PI d 8 to 11 decreased as dietary DDGS increased: 2.15, 1.98, 1.81, and 1.29 (SEM= 0.22; diet linear, P < 0.01) for diets with 0, 5, 10, and 20% DDGS, respectively. Fecal coliforms shifted from commensal to pathogenic colonies until PI d 6, then shifted again showing a gradual recovery of commensals and excretion of pathogenic coliforms (time quadratic, P < 0.001). The commensal coliforms in pigs fed 20% DDGS recovered faster than those in pigs fed 0% DDGS (time × diet, P < 0.01). Villus height in the jejunum of EcCR pigs increased as more DDGS was included in the diet (diet linear × challenge, P < 0.001). The inclusion of up to 20% DDGS in diets for pigs did not prevent PWC; however, signs of a faster recovery were observed when DDGS was included in the diet.
The ecology and evolution of gall-forming insects.

This international proceedings focuses on the biology, ecology, and evolution of gall-forming insects and their uniquely specialized relationships with their host plants. The individual contributions range in scope from detailed descriptive to profoundly theoretical, synthetic studies. One underlying theme of the proceedings is the important contribution of knowledge about gall-forming insects and their hosts to the development of robust, general principles about the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore relationships.
Intra and inter-specific variation in the reproductive strategies of two Bolboschoenus species from south-eastern Australia

This study has several objectives. Firstly, to investigate the sexual reproductive ecology and germination requirements of Bolboschoenus caldwellii and Bolboschoenus medianus. Secondly, to examine the asexual growth mechanisms and responses of Bolboschoenus caldwellii and Bolboschoenus medianus to interesting salinity. Thirdly, to assess the genetic diversity of Bolboschoenus caldwellii and Bolboschoenus medianus stands from three wetlands with contrasting environmental conditions in the Gippsland Lakes region.