Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterizing the Mechanical Properties of Graphene and Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

In this study, the mechanical properties of graphene and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were investigated based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. During the characterization of the mechanical properties, the atomistic interactions of the carbon atoms were described using the bonded and non-bonded energies. The bonded energy consists of four different interactions: Bond stretching, bond angle bending, dihedral angle torsion, and inversion. On the other hand, the non-bonded interaction between the carbon atoms within the cut-off ranges was regarded as the van der Waals (vdW) force. The effect of vdW force on the mechanical properties of graphene and SWCNTs would be mainly of concern. Simulation results indicated that the Young’s modulus of the graphene with vdW force included is 15 higher than that without considering any vdW interaction. The same tendency also was observed in the armchair and zig-zag SWCNTs. Furthermore, it was revealed that the increment of moduli caused by the vdW force could be primarily attributed to the 1-4 vdW interaction. The influence of the vdW interactions on the mechanical properties of graphene and SWCNTs was then elucidated using the parallel spring concept.
Prediction of Post-revascularization Ejection Fraction in Patients with CoronoryArtery Disease Using Cavity-to-Myocardial Ratio of Thallium Reinjection Image(Multicenter Trial)

Background: We reported the high correlation between cavity-to-myocardial (C/M) count ratio at stress and rest thallium SPECT, and stress-rest EF calculated by MUGA test, this was confirmed by others. This correlation was explained partially by the functional mass. On the other hand, two important prognostic parameters should be considered before any revascularization technique: (1) Identification of viable myocardium and its amount, (2) Prediction of EF improvement post revascularization. Aim of the study: Correlating EF (C/M) on RD and RI image (EFRD & EFRI) image to actual EF (prevascularization EF1) and 1 year post revascularization EF2. Patients and methods: 78 patients with CAD (68 males and 10 females with mean age of 54.2+9 years) had been subjected to: (1) St-RD-RI thallium SPECT with assessment of reversible or fixed perfusion defects and calculation of C/M and consequently the EFC/M at the three settings. (2) Assessment of EF by MUGA at rest pre and 1 year post revascularization EF1 & EF2 respectively. These patients had been subjected to revascularization either by PTCA and stent (23/78 i.e., 29.5%) or by CABG (55/78, i.e., 70.5%). Results: Out of the 1560 myocardial segments (20 segments × 78 patients), 780 (50%) segments had abnormal resting wall motion. 441/780 (56.5%) of these segments were either of normal thallium uptake or with reversible perfusion defects while the rest (43.5%) showed fixed defects. 233/441 (52.8%) of those normal uptake or reversible segments showed recovery of wall motion post revascularization (PRV) while only 29/339 (15.1%) showed similar improvements. EFRI was found higher than EFRD in 44/78 of patients, no change in 23/78 patients and worsened in 11/78 patients with total agreements of 63/78 (80.8%) with EF2. On the other hand, EFRD was matched with EF1 in 64/78 of patients. 30/64 (46.9%) showed higher EF2, 23/64 (35.9%) showed similar EF2 while 11/64 (17.2%) showed lower EF2. The rest of cases 14/78 showed mismatch between EFRD and EF1 with higher values of EFRD. These patients still had higher values of EFRI and EF2 than EFRD. Conclusion: (1) Mismatch between EFRD and EF1 is an indication of presence of stunning myocardium and of good prognosis. (2) EFRI can be used to predict EF2 and so helps on selecting patients who can benefit from revascularization.
Corrosion at the Polymer-Metal Interface in Artificial Seawater Solutions

Polymer components for liquid sealing applications are employed in a variety of potentially corrosive environments, such as seawater. Frequently, corrosion of the metal is found at or adjacent to the rubber-metal interface rather than at a noncontact area. The corrosion of different metal alloys (titanium, bronze, nickel, aluminum, 316 stainless steel, and 4130 steel) in combination with rubber O-rings (Buna-N and EPDM) of varying internal diameters and cross-sectional shapes in seawater over a period of four years is described herein. The corrosion of some metals (i.e., 4130 stainless steel) was found to be accelerated through interaction with Buna-N rubber O-rings. Theories to account for corrosion at the polymer-metal interface, especially with respect to polymer composition and O-ring size and shape, are discussed.
Time stability of catchment model parameters: Implications for climate impact analyses

Climate impact analyses are usually based on driving hydrological models by future climate scenarios, assuming that the model parameters calibrated to past runoff are representative of the future. In this paper we calibrate the parameters of a conceptual rainfall‐runoff model to six consecutive 5 year periods between 1976 and 2006 for 273 catchments in Austria and analyze the temporal change of the calibrated parameters. The calibrated parameters representing snow and soil moisture processes show significant trends. For example, the parameter controlling runoff generation doubled, on average, in the 3 decades. Comparisons of different subregions, comparisons with independent data sets, and analyses of the spatial variability of the model parameters indicate that these trends represent hydrological changes rather than calibration artifacts. The trends can be related to changes in the climatic conditions of the catchments such as higher evapotranspiration and drier catchment conditions in the more recent years. The simulations suggest that the impact on simulated runoff of assuming time invariant parameters can be very significant. For example, if using the parameters calibrated to 1976–1981 for simulating runoff for the period 2001–2006, the biases of median flows are, on average, 15% and the biases of high flows are about 35%. The errors increase as the time lag between the simulation and calibration periods increases. The implications for hydrologic prediction in general and climate impact analyses in particular are discussed.
AIDS-A Clear and Present Danger

HIV/AIDS is a global pandemic [1]-a disease outbreak which is present over a large area and is actively spreading [2-16]. from its discovery in early 1980s the exploration and research work taken on this dreaded disease shows its widespread presence over large geographic barrier, crossing the geographical boundaries, with days, its detrimental effect, not only on morbidity and mortality, but also on socio-economic aspect of countries and region have surfaced.
Does agricultural subsidies foster Italian southern farms? A Spatial Quantile Regression Approach

During the last decades, public policies become a central pillar in supporting and stabilising agricultural sector. In 1962, EU policy-makers developed the so-called Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to ensure competitiveness and a common market organisation for agricultural products, while 2003 reform decouple the CAP from the production to focus only on income stabilization and the sustainability of agricultural sector. Notwithstanding farmers are highly dependent to public support, literature on the role played by the CAP in fostering agricultural performances is still scarce and fragmented. Actual CAP policies increases performance differentials between Northern Central EU countries and peripheral regions. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of CAP in stimulate performances by focusing on Italian lagged Regions. Moreover, agricultural sector is deeply rooted in place-based production processes. In this sense, economic analysis which omit the presence of spatial dependence produce biased estimates of the performances. Therefore, this paper, using data on subsidies and economic results of farms from the RICA dataset which is part of the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), proposes a spatial Augmented Cobb-Douglas Production Function to evaluate the effects of subsidies on farm's performances. The major innovation in this paper is the implementation of a micro-founded quantile version of a spatial lag model to examine how the impact of the subsidies may vary across the conditional distribution of agricultural performances. Results show an increasing shape which switch from negative to positive at the median and becomes statistical significant for higher quantiles. Additionally, spatial autocorrelation parameter is positive and significant across all the conditional distribution, suggesting the presence of significant spatial spillovers in agricultural performances.
Organic matter remineralization in marine sediments: A Pan‐Arctic synthesis

Climate change in the Arctic is ongoing and causes drastic modification on the ecosystem functioning. In soft‐bottom environments, organic matter remineralization is considered an important ecosystem function. Here we provide a large‐scale assessment of the current knowledge on the benthic organic matter remineralization and its potential response to climate change. Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) values (n = 1154), measured throughout the Arctic, were gathered from 30 publications and 16 databases, and nutrient flux values, available in a far lesser extent (n < 80), were also compiled. Generalized additive models were used to estimate the influence of explanatory variables on benthic oxygen fluxes and for interpolating SOD to the whole Arctic region. This first Pan‐Arctic review of the distributions of SOD showed that oxygen fluxes strongly depended on water depth, i.e., followed the general trend observed for other regions, and also on the availability of labile organic matter. The continental shelves (representing ~50% of Arctic Ocean's total area) were characterized by the highest SOD values (10.5 ± 7.9 mmol O2 m−2 d−1), and differences among shelves were observed; SOD values in inflow, interior, and outflow shelves were 11.8 ± 8.0, 6.2 ± 5.6, and 3.9 ± 3.5 mmol O2 m−2 d−1, respectively. Moreover, seasonal variation in SOD changed significantly among areas. The interpolation based on the best fitted model showed high respiration in the inflow and interior shelves. In the inflow shelves, characterized by productive waters, benthic activities replenish bottom water with nutrients which may augment primary productivity, whereas sediments from the interior shelves, e.g., under the direct influence of the Mackenzie River, consume nutrients.
Synthesis, Characterization, ElectrochemicalBehaviour, DNA Binding and Cleavage Studies of Substituted β-DiketimineCopper(II) and Zinc(II) Complexes

Several novel copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes have been synthesized from Schiff base(s) obtained by the condensation of Knoevenagel condensate, 3-(3-phenyl-allylidene)-pentane-2,4-dione with p-substituted (X) aniline where X = –NO2 (L1), –H (L2), –OH (L3) and –OCH3 (L4)] and, copper(II) chloride/zinc(II) chloride. They have been characterized by analytical and spectral techniques. Electronic absorption and electrochemicalmeasurements prove that the complexes intercalate into DNA. Control DNA cleavage experiments using pUC19 supercoiled (SC) DNA and minor groove binder (distamycin) suggest the minor groove binding tendency for the synthesized complexes
On the connection between classical and quantum mechanics

We discuss an alternative version of non- relativistic Newtonian mechanics in terms of a real Hilbert space mathematical framework. It is demonstrated that the physics of this scheme correspondent with the standard formulation. Heisenberg-Schrodinger non-relativistic quantum mechanics is considered adequate and complete. Since the suggested theory is dispersion free, linear superposition principle is not violated but cannot affect results of measurements due to spectral decomposition theorem for self-adjoint operators (the collapse of wave function).
GENETIC VARIATION FOR DROUGHT RESISTANCE IN SMALL RED SEEDED COMMON BEAN GENOTYPES

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ) productivity is low in major growing regions of Ethiopia mainly due to drought, caused by low and erratic rainfall. A field experiment was carried out at Gofa in Southern Ethiopia, to assess genetic variability for drought resistance in forty-nine small red seeded common bean genotypes of both local and foreign origin. The genotypes were evaluated under two soil moisture regimes, non-stress (NS) and drought stress (DS). Drought stress was initiated at flowering by withholding application of irrigation water. The average linkage method of clustering grouped the forty-nine genotypes grown under drought stress condition in five clusters. The maximum distance was found between Cluster I and Cluster III. Pattern of variation examined through principal component analysis (PCA) involving morpho-physiological traits showed that the first four PCs accounted for more than 74% of the total variation, of which 59.9% was contributed by the first two PCs. The first principal component alone explained 49.9% and was highly correlated with seed yield, harvest index and geometric mean. The second PC explained 9.7% of the total variation and was highly correlated with days to maturity and drought susceptibility index. Both PCs had higher relative contributions to the total diversity and were the ones that most differentiated the genotypes.
Torque oscillation characteristics in the process of bobbin tool friction stir welding

This study analyzes torque oscillation characteristics in the process of bobbin tool friction stir welding. The empiral data of torque, the point temperature of contact surface and the leading point temperature is presented to explore the torque signal spectrum characteristics, the causes of the periodic oscillation of torque, the relationship between the oscillation and the surface forming of weld joint. The result shows that the torque in BTFSW has regular oscillation. The oscillation frequency of the torque is nearly 2 times the spindle frequency. With the increase of rotary speed, the oscillation frequency and the frequency difference increase gradually. There is no significant linear relationship between the amplitude peak of the torque, traveling speed, rotary speed and the measured point temperature. The instable temperature of the leading areas to be welded inevitably leads to the instability of the torque amplitude. The analysis indicates that the more intense of the heat input rate, the more obvious of the torque vibration, and the small and uniform torque amplitude does not affect the surface shape. Once the oscillation is abnormal, it easily leads to the poor surface forming and the hole defect.
Phantom Body As Bodily Self-Consciousness

In the article, I propose that the body phantom is a phenomenal and functional model of one’s own body. This model has two aspects. On the one hand, it functions as a tacit sensory representation of the body that is at the same time related to the motor aspects of body functioning. On the other hand, it also has a phenomenal aspect as it constitutes the content of conscious bodily experience. This sort of tacit, functional and sensory model is related to the spatial parameters of the physical body. In the article, I postulate that this functional model or map is of crucial importance to the felt ownership parameters of the body (de Vignemont 2007), which are themselves considered as constituting the phenomenal aspect of the aforementioned model.
The occurrence of the vertebrate ichnogenus Synaptichnium in the Anisian (Middle Triassic) of Southern Alps

SUMMARY - The occurrence of the vertebrate ichnogenus Synaptichnium in the Anisian (Middle Triassic) of Southern Alps - The specimens pertaining to the ichnogenus Synaptichnium found in the Anisian of Southern Italian Alps are described and compared. All the recovered specimens were discovered in Pelsonian marine marginal sediments. The reported morphotypes are sufficiently diversified for excluding “track preservation variations”. So some consideration could be proposed due to different stratigraphical occurrence of the morphotypes. It seems that S. pseudosuchoides is characteristic of the lower part of the sedimentary succession (early Pelsonian), while S. cf. cameronense appears only in the upper layers (middle to late Pelsonian). The trackmakers lived closer to the water and in the lower to upper intertidal. During the time interval considered, the environmental conditions shifted to a coastal delta mouth bars to a silicoclastic tidal flats with a more marked marine influence. This environmental variation could be considered as possible responsible for the apparent change in the ichnofauna. RIASSUNTO - La distribuzione dell’icnogenere Synaptichnium nell’Anisico (Triassico Medio) delle Alpi Meridionali - Vengono descritti e confrontati gli esemplari riferiti all’icnogenere Synaptichnium rinvenuti nei terreni anisici delle Alpi Meridionali. Tutti gli esemplari fino ad oggi documentati sono riferibili a sedimenti marino marginali di eta Pelsonica. I morfotipi individuati sono sufficientemente caratterizzati da escludere “varianti preservazionali”. Per questo possono essere fatte alcune considerazioni in base alla loro distribuzione stratigrafica. Sembrerebbe che S. pseudosuchoides sia caratteristico della parte bassa della successione stratigrafica (Pelsonico inferiore), mentre S. cf. cameronense appare nei livelli superiori (Pelsonico medio-superiore). Gli autori delle orme vivevano prossimi all’acqua in condizioni intertidali. Durante l’intervallo di tempo considerato, le condizioni ambientali passano da barre fangose costiere a una piana tidale silicoclastica piu vicina al mare. Questa variazione ambientale potrebbe essere responsabile dell’apparente cambio nella composizione delle icnofaune.
Data Acquisition Systems in Bioprocesses

Data acquisition systems in bioprocesses have distinct working specification. These processes normally involves microbial cells, vegetable cells, mammalian cells, microalgae cells or even enzymatic biochemical reactions, which implicates in time required for biochemical transformations and biomolecules production. Monitoring bioprocesses do not require real time monitor, because low times intervals (minutes or seconds) do not present significant differences on process parameters values. Bioprocesses are important area in the biotechnology and they are applied in many industries. It has many reaction routes available at any time, each one permitting a different distribution of biomolecules and products based on the conditions under which the fermentation process takes place. Control techniques are indicated to improve the productivity, yield and efficiency of the biotechnological processes. In the bioprocesses, it is very important to have a real time analysis of the process for creating a product with high speed, quality and economy. Knowing the parameters which affect biomolecule formation as well as the concentration of the nutrients, and develop or chose a cheap and simple system capable of on line measurements are required for bioprocesses control.
COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE IN DARFUR: AN AGENT-BASED MODEL OF PASTORAL NOMAD/SEDENTARY PEASANT INTERACTION

Author(s): Kuznar, Lawrence A; Sedlmeyer, Robert | Abstract: The genocide in Darfur, Sudan is the first major humanitarian crisis of the 21st century. Over 2 million people have been displaced and tens of thousands have been killed. Popular explanations of the conflict root it in racism and prejudice orchestrated by the Sudanese government and abetted by the world community’s negligence. While the complicity of the Sudanese government is evident, a closer analysis of the sequence of events suggests that the crisis is rooted in local conflicts over material resources brought about by an ecological crisis. Standard social theory has proven inadequate for analyzing the grass roots nature of the Darfur crisis. We have developed a flexible agent-based computer simulation of pastoral nomad/sedentary peasant interaction (NOMAD) that can be adapted to particular environmental and social settings. Our focus on how environmental and material factors condition individual agent response allows us to model how collective behaviors (mass raiding, genocide) can emerge from individual motives and needs. Many factors influence the conflict in Darfur (ethnicity, global politics, Sudanese politics). However, our simulations reinforce the analyses of some social scientists that argue the Darfur crisis is the inevitable result of the breakdown of land use in the face of growing populations, marginal habitats, and an unprecedented ecological crisis.
Markers of oxidative and antioxidative activity in female dogs with mammary gland tumour with and without additional vitamin E supplementation

The present study determined markers of oxidative and antioxidative activity in dog females affected with mammary gland tumour compared to healthy ones. The effect of additional vitamin E supplementation on oxidative and antioxidative status was evaluated as well. The study included 29 female dogs divided into 4 groups (groups 1 and 2 included females with a mammary gland tumour; groups 3 and 4 included healthy female dogs). Additional vitamin supplement containing α-tocopherol was given to the females of groups 1 and 4. Dogs from groups 1 and 2 were anaesthetized before surgery (ovariohysterectomy and mastectomy); anaesthesia was used also in group 3, but without performeing surgery. The content of vitamin E (free α-tocopherol), marker of antioxidative status, was measured in blood serum by liquid chromatography. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, marker of oxidative status, in serum and concentrations of protein and non-protein thiol groups, markers of oxidative and antioxidative status, in blood serum and in red blood cells were measured colorimetrically. In females with a mammary gland tumour from group 2, concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was significantly higher than 14 days after surgery and compared to healthy ones as well. In females with a mammary gland tumour from group 2, concentration of protein thiol groups in serum was significantly lower and concentration of non-protein thiol groups in serum was significantly higher than in healthy controls. The values of protein thiols in erythrocytes in females with mammary gland tumour from group 1 were significantly higher before supplementation with vitamin E. The present study revealed that females with a mammary gland tumour were more burdened with oxidative stress compared to healthy dogs. The removal of the mammary gland tumour led to improvement of oxidative and antioxidative status. This is the first report focusing on the effect of additional α-tocopherol supplementation on reducing oxidative stress by increasing antioxidative activity in females affected with mammary gland tumour; however, we did not prove it. Mastectomy, ovariohysterectomy, α-tocopherol, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, protein and non-protein thiol groups Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have many positive functions in the living organism (Badwey and Karnovsky 1980) but an uncontrolled increase of ROS can lead to oxidative damage and functional changes of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules (Halliwell and Gutteridge 1985). There is evidence that ROS participate in cancer development (Portakal et al. 2000; Szczubial et al. 2004). Diplock (1991) agreed that low concentrations of essential antioxidants in blood circulation have been found to be