Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrothermal Synthesis of rGO-TiO2 Composites as High-Performance UV Photocatalysts for Ethylparaben Degradation

A series of reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 composites (rGO-TiO2) were prepared by hydrothermal treatment using graphite and titanium isopropoxide as raw materials. The structural, surface, electronic, and optical properties of the prepared composites were extensively characterized by N2 adsorption, FTIR, XRD, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, and DRS. GO was found to be effectively reduced and TiO2 to be in pure anatase phase in all composites obtained. Finally, experiments were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of these new materials as photocatalysts in the degradation of ethylparaben (EtP) by UV radiation. According to the band-gap energies obtained (ranging between 3.09 eV for 4% rGO-TiO2 to 2.55 eV for 30% rGO-TiO2), the rGO-TiO2 composites behave as semiconductor materials. The photocatalytic activity is highest with a rGO content of 7 wt% (7% rGO-TiO2), being higher than observed for pure TiO2 (Eg = 3.20 eV) and achieving 98.6% EtP degradation after only 40 min of treatment. However, the degradation yield decreases with higher percentages of rGO. Comparison with rGO-P25 composites showed that a better photocatalytic performance in EtP degradation is obtained with synthesized TiO2 (rGO-TiO2), probably due to the presence of the rutile phase (14.1 wt %) in commercial P25.
Biodegradability of Plastics

In the United States, approximately 25 million tons of plastic household waste is discarded every year (US EPA 1990). Most of this waste ends up in the nation's landfills, where it can remain undegraded for decades or longer. In recent years, concern with a perceived garbage crisis has grown as landfill capacity diminishes and sites for new landfills become increasingly difficult to find. Plastics are defined as materials that are soft enough to be molded yet capable of hardening into a desired fixed form. They are a highly visible part of the overall solid waste stream, particularly as litter on beaches and highways. Use of plastics for mulching in agriculture has increased the plastic litter problem in rural communities. The shipping and fishing industries are a major source of plastic litter in marine environments. An estimated 1 million birds and 100,000 marine animals die each year as a result of ingestion of or trapping by plastics in the oceans (Heneman 1988). Recycling of plastics, such as soda bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate, is being promoted in some communities. However, the infrastructure required to support this effort is often lacking, and markets for recycled plas-
Actuating and sensing mechanism of embedded piezoelectric transducers in concrete

The generalization and monitoring accuracy of wave propagation method using embedded piezoelectric transducers in concrete heavily depend on actuating and sensing mechanism. In this study, the actuating and sensing mechanism of extensional mode piezoelectric transducers is investigated. The theoretical analysis results reveal that the sensing mechanism is much different from the actuating mechanism and influenced not only by the piezoelectric constants and sizes of transducers but also by the placement angle of piezoelectric patches and the type of stress wave acting on the sensors. The actuating and sensing mechanism of piezoelectric transducers embedded in concrete is then numerically and experimentally studied, and the effects of placement schemes of transducers on the stress wave generation, propagation and reception are discussed. The transmission effect is taken into consideration to illustrate the energy transfer from the transducers to concrete. Good agreements between the numerical and experimental results indicate that both the placement schemes of transducers in concrete and the propagation direction of stress waves have significant influence on the amplitude of received signals. The envelope peaks of two typical cases with the piezoelectric patches placed along 0° and 90° are compared to further manifest influence of the placement angle on the actuating and sensing mechanism of transducers. The recommendations for the placement schemes of transducers based on target signal selection are given. The clarifications on the stress wave propagation of embedded piezoelectric transducers in concrete and their sensing and actuating mechanism presented can better explain some unusual phenomena observed and improve the effectiveness and monitoring accuracy of embedded piezoelectric transducers in material property assessment and structural health monitoring of concrete.
POMD08 Zebrafish models for early onset Parkinson's disease

Background Zebrafish are a vertebrate animal model system which is highly amenable for drug screens. Autosomal recessively inherited, loss of function mutations in the PTEN-induced kinase 1 (pink1) gene are one cause of early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD). Objectives (1) To establish a stable pink1 mutant zebrafish line and determine whether this pink1 mutant line shares crucial characteristics with human pink1-mutant patients, in particular loss of dopaminergic neurones and impaired mitochondrial function. (2) To further elucidate mechanisms leading to impaired mitochondrial function and neuronal cell death in early onset PD. Findings We screened several libraries of ENU-mutagenised fish using primers corresponding to all eight exons of pink1, and found a single founder with a stop mutation in exon 7 (Y431*). Adult pink1−/− fish do not display any overt behavioural abnormalities. Pink1−/− embryos at 5 days postfertilisation (dpf) have a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the number of TH+ cells and reduction in mitochondrial complex I activity. Eight of 21 genes down-regulated in pink1 −/− embryos are involved in energy production, mitochondrial function or oxidative stress response. Conclusion Our results suggest these pink1−/− zebrafish may be a useful tool for studying the pathogenesis of early-onset PD, and could also be used in small molecule screens to identify new drug targets.
In vitro suppression of fungal root pathogens of cereals by Brassica tissues

The superior growth of wheat following Brassica crops compared to that following non-Brassica crops may be due to the suppression of soilborne fungal pathogens by volatile isothiocyanates (ITCs) released in the soil during hydrolysis of glucosinolates contained in Brassica tissues. We investigated the effects of volatile compounds released from the root, shoot and seed meal tissues of canola (Brassica napus) and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) on the mycelial growth of five soilborne pathogens of cereals—Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium graminearum, Pythium irregulare and Bipolaris sorokiniana. Three isolates of each species, originally collected from the roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley grass (Hordeum leporinum ) in southern Australia, were exposed to volatiles released in vitro when sterile water was added to freeze-dried Brassica tissues. The root and shoot tissues of both Brassica species were more suppressive at flowering than maturity and mustard tissues were generally more suppressive than canola. The degree of fungal suppression by the various Brassica tissues was related to the concentration and type of isothiocyanates released, which varied with Brassica species, tissue age and tissue type. There were significant differences in the sensitivity of the fungal species and among isolates of each species. Gaeumannomyces and Rhizoctonia were generally the most sensitive to the volatiles released, Pythium and Bipolaris the least. The results indicate that the effectiveness of fungal suppression by Brassica crops will depend upon the species, age and type of Brassica tissue, which influence the type and concentration of isothiocyanates evolved, and the sensitivity of the pathogen.
Awareness of Young Women on HPV Self-Sampling Trial using Opt-in Method

Study Background: Recently, studies have indicated that HPV self-sampling is an effective tool, though they do not state the reasons why young women do not take the test. Our study is to determine the awareness of young women who want or do not want to use HPV self-sampling and discuss the issues for increasing the use of the test. Methods: We conducted two mailing surveys between July 1, 2018, and September 30, 2018, in city A. City A conducted the self-sampling trial with us. Our research target group had 101 women who returned filled questionnaires out of 837 aged 25 to 29 who had not undergone cervical cancer screening the previous year. In Questionnaire 1, there were questions regarding whether or not women wanted the self-sampling and the reasons why. In Questionnaire 2 was for women’s willingness to use the kits. Results: Only 9.8% of young women wanted to use self-sampling. In Questionnaire 1 stated “free self-sampling supported from the city”, “I can do it in my own time”, and “I have never received HPV vaccine” as the characteristic reasons for wanted; “I have no symptom”, and “I am anxious about doing the test by myself” for not wanted. In Questionnaire 2, many women who performed selfsampling felt positive. Awareness of self-sampling was low overall. Conclusion: We clarified that young women who did not want to use self-sampling tended to have anxiety toward the diagnosis accuracy of self-sampling. Some reasons for determining this were the lack of general knowledge on cervical cancer screening and low awareness of self-sampling. Therefore, we propose that national and local governments should aid in introducing a peer support program or free self-sampling systems, to encourage more young women to take cervical cancer screening or self-sampling tests without any hesitation.
Karyological Studies of South American Rodents (Rodentia:Cricetidae). I. Comparative Chromosomic Analysis in Scapteromys Taxa

SUMMARYSouth American rodents of the genus Scapteromys, are know to exist in a number of different chromosomal forms. S. tumidus has 2n = 24 from Uruguay while three different Brazilian taxa, all referred to as S. tumidus have respectively 2n = 36,34 and 24. S. aquaticus from Argentina has 2n–32. By G- band comparisons we find that the 2n = 24 S. tumidus from Uruguay and Brazil are chromosomically more closely related to S. aquaticus from Argentina than to alleged S. tumidus with 2n = 34–36 from Brazil. These results suggest that the latter may represent a new, still undescribed, species.
Long-term effects of logging residue addition and removal on macroarthropods and enchytraeids

The long-term effects of logging residue addition and removal on soil macroarthropods and enchytraeids were examined in a Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. stand in central Sweden. The study was performed 15-18 years after the treatments had been applied after clear-cutting in 1976. In comparison with plots receiving roughly twice the normal amount of residues, removal of logging residues (above-ground whole-tree harvesting) resulted in decreases in the total numbers of Collembola (springtails), gamasid mites, spiders, predatory insects and dipterous larvae, whereas no significant effects on enchytraeids and diplopods could be detected. Few effects on single species of Collembola and Gamasida were found. The composition of the soil fauna community, as well as food web structure, were significantly affected by whole tree harvesting, but the effects were quantitative rather than qualitative-most organism groups decreased, but the relative importance of different groups did not change markedly. Over the 4 years studied, community predictability (specifically, constancy) at the levels of higher taxa, functional groups and species did not differ substantially between the treatments. Predictabilities of higher taxa and functional groups were higher than predictability of species of Collembola and gamasid mites. Values of community predictability were similar to those found in other studies of forest soil fauna. It is concluded that whole tree harvesting may result in long-term decreases in the abundances of many soil animal groups. The possible impact of decreased abundances of fungivores and predatory arthropods on nutrient cycling and site productivity is discussed. It is argued that the direct effects of these changes on nitrogen mineralization are likely to be small. However, the possibility that the soil fauna may be involved in a positive feedback loop towards lower site productivity means that the observed long-term decreases in several organism groups should be of concern, at least on sites dominated by internal nutrient dynamics.
Spatial and Temporal Downscaling of TRMM Precipitation with Novel Algorithms

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite products constitute valuable precipitation datasets over regions with sparse rain gauge networks. Downscaling is an effective approach to estimating the precipitation over ungauged areas with high spatial resolution. However, a large bias and low resolution of original TRMM satellite images constitute constraints for practical hydrologic applications of TRMM precipitation products. This study contributes two precipitation downscaling algorithms by exploring the nonstationarity relations between precipitation and various environment factors [daytime surface temperature (LTD), terrain slope, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), altitude, longitude, and latitude] to overcome bias and low-resolution constraints of TRMM precipitation. Downscaling of precipitation is achieved with the geographically weighted regression model (GWR) and the backward-propagation artificial neural networks (BP_ANN). The probability density function (PDF) algorithm corrects the bias of satellite precipitation data with respect to spatial and temporal scales prior to downscaling. The principal component analysis algorithm (PCA) provides an alternative method of obtaining accurate monthly rainfall estimates during the wet rainfall season that minimizes the temporal uncertainties and upscaling effects introduced by direct accumulation (DA) of precipitation. The performances of the proposed downscaling algorithms are assessed by downscaling the latest version of TRMM3B42 V7 datasets within Hubei Province from 0.25° (about 25 km) to 1-km spatial resolution at the monthly scale. The downscaled datasets are systematically evaluated with in situ observations at 27 rain gauges from the years 2005 through 2010. This paper’s results demonstrate the bias correction is necessary before downscaling. The high-resolution precipitation datasets obtained with the proposed downscaling model with GWR relying on the NDVI and slope are shown to improve the accuracy of precipitation estimates. GWR exhibits more accurate downscaling results than BP_ANN coupled with the genetic algorithm (GA) in most dry and wet seasons.
A Fully Isolated N-Way Radial Power Combiner

A new passively isolated $N$ -way radial combiner design is proposed. The design incorporates low-loss partially filled radial combiners with a passive peripheral isolation network, where coaxial termination loads are used as isolation resistors. To confirm real-world performance, a 16-way combiner operating at 4 GHz was manufactured and tested. The minimum isolation measured among peripheral ports is better than 27 dB over more than 30% fractional bandwidth (BW), and the average asymmetric peripheral port input reflection is below −15 dB over 50% BW. Simulation analyses show that such excellent peripheral port isolation and matching has a significant value in improving the graceful degradation of a system utilizing such combiners. The prototype also achieves a center port reflection coefficient magnitude below −18 dB over 45% BW, and the measured signal balances are ±0.2 dB and ±2°. The structure that forms the radial cavity and PCB housing was manufactured exclusively on manually controlled machinery, so the measured 1-dB insertion loss BW is approximately 25%.
Late‐pregnancy nutrition differentially affects the birthweight of lambs born to ewes from divergently selected plasma IGF‐1 lines

Abstract Three insulin‐like growth factor (IGF‐1) sheep genetic selection lines (Low, Control and High) based on phenotypic IGF‐1 concentrations post‐weaning have previously shown a negative relationship between IGF‐1 concentration and lamb birth‐weight. The present study was designed to determine if dam nutritional regimen in late pregnancy affected this relationship. Nineteen Low, 66 Control and 51 High IGF‐1 selection line pregnant ewes were either offered a restricted or ad‐lib nutritional regimen from day 91 of pregnancy. The ewe nutritional regimens resulted in differences (P < 0.05) in ewe liveweight and condition score in late pregnancy. IGF‐1 concentrations of High and Low line ewes differed (P < 0.05) throughout the late‐pregnancy period with Control line concentrations being intermediate. In late pregnancy, ad‐lib ewes had higher (P < 0.05) IGF‐1 concentrations than restricted ewes. Neither IGF‐1 selection line or nutrition regimen consistently affected ewe glucose, non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β‐hydroxybuterate or lactate concentrations. Under ad‐lib nutritional conditions the birthweights of High line lambs were lighter (P < 0.05) than Control lambs. This relationship was not observed under the restricted nutritional regimen. The interaction between IGF‐1 selection line and dam nutrition for lamb birthweight may explain the previously reported variability in the birthweight response between IGF‐1 selection lines. We speculate that under conditions of ad‐lib dam pregnancy nutrition, High IGF‐1 selection line ewes partition resources away from the placenta resulting in poorer foetal nutrition.
La segmentación laboral durante la recuperación económica: empleo atípico y rotación

espanolEn este trabajo se aborda el estudio de la evolucion del empleo entre 2005 y 2018 en la economia espanola utilizando el marco teorico de la Teoria de la Segmentacion Laboral (TSL). En primer lugar, se cuantifica el empleo atipico en el 50% del total de la afiliacion, tras una caida transitoria provocada esencialmente por la crisis economica se produce un fuerte auge, especialmente entre los jovenes. En segundo lugar, se comprueba que la inestabilidad de los contratos temporales se ha incrementado, al caer la duracion media de los contratos, lo cual parece ir asociado a al aumento de los contratos de muy corta duracion (7 dias o menos). Estos cambios se explican esencialmente porque cuatro subgrupos profesionales, caracteristicos del segmento secundario, tienen un mayor peso en la estructura de contratacion. Lo cual puede ser atribuido a una mayor rotacion como resultado de las politicas de “flexibilizacion” laboral introducidas en la ultima decada. EnglishThis paper tackles the employment growth between 2005 and 2018 in the Spanish economy using the theoretical framework of the Theory of Labour Market Segmentation. Firstly, atypical employment is quantified at 50% of total affiliation. During the economic recovery, there is a strong boom of non-standard employment, especially among young people, despite the transitory fall caused essentially by the economic crisis. Secondly, the instability of temporary contracts has increased, given the fall in average duration of contracts, which seems to be associated with the increase in very short-term contracts (7 days or less). These changes are essentially explained by the fact that four professional subgroups, characteristic of the secondary segment, have a greater weight in the recruitment structure. This can be attributed to higher turnover as a result of the labour “flexibilization” policies introduced in the last decade.
A Framework for Self-Enforced Optimal Interaction Between Connected Vehicles

This paper proposes a decision-making framework for Connected Autonomous Vehicle interactions. It provides and justifies algorithms for strategic selection of control references for cruising, platooning and overtaking. The algorithm is based on the trade-off between energy consumption and time. The consequent cooperation opportunities originating from agent heterogeneity are captured by a game-theoretic cooperative-competitive solution concept to provide a computationally feasible, self-enforced, cooperative traffic management framework.
Scoparic acid E: A New Labdane Diterpenoid on Attenuating Palmitate Induced Viability in MIN6 Cells from Scoparia dulcis

: A new labdane diterpenoid, named Scoparic acid E ( 1 ), was obtained from the medicinal plant of Scoparia dulcis L. The structure of Scoparic acid E ( 1 ) was elucidated and characterized through detailed physical analyses of its NMR spectroscopic data and HRMS. Scoparic acid E ( 1 ) was tested for its effect on attenuating palmitate-induced viability at 25 and 50 μM. The results showed that compound 1 significantly attenuated palmitate-induced viability in MIN6 cells
Comparison of the diets of goats and sheep on a Casuarina cristata–Heterodendrum oleifolium woodland community in western New South Wales

The diets of sheep and feral goats grazing a semi-arid woodland in western New South Wales were assessed using oesophageal fistulated animals. The diet of the goats consisted largely of browse, with the leaves of Heterodendrum oleifolium (rosewood) a consistent component, although a large proportion of herbaceous material (mainly Bassia spp.) was eaten on occasions. The sheep showed a preference for the pasture species Stipa variabilis (spear grass) and Bassia spp. (copper burrs). When these plants were not available they were replaced in the diet by a higher proportion of browse, mainly of the tree Casuarina cristata (belah). Nitrogen contents of the diets ranged from 1.6 per cent to 3.0 per cent, with that of the goats generally being greater than that of the sheep. In vitro digestibility data indicated comparable values for both animal species, with lower values occurring under higher stocking pressures. The woody weed Eremophila sturtii (turpentine) was ignored by both sheep and goats at all stocking rates. Another weed shrub Cassia eremophila var. platypoda (punty) was browsed very sparingly. This indicates that the use of goats in an attempt to eliminate established stands of these species is unlikely to be successful at low to moderate stocking rates.
Reproductive performance of carp, Catla catla (Ham.), reared on a formulated diet with PUFA supplementation

Summary Effect of dietary supplementation of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on reproductive performances in both sexes of an Indian major carp, Catla catla (Ham.), were investigated in terms of sperm quality, spawning response, fecundity and spawn recovery over a consecutive 2-year period. Sperm count and spermatocrit value were in the range of 3.2–3.8 · 10 7 ml )1 and 80–82%, respectively, in fish fed the PUFA-enriched test diet, and significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in fish fed control diet (2.3–2.5 · 10 7 ml )1 and 64–70%). Spawning response in the test diet group was quite high (96%) compared to 76% in the control. Egg and larval quality were superior in the test diet group as evidenced by the significantly higher fertilization rate and larval survival in the range of 91–92% and 93.3%, respectively. Fatty acid profile of fertilized eggs and larvae showed that the quantities of 18:3 (n-3), 20:5 (n-3) and 22:6 (n-3) were significantly (P < 0.01) increased in the test group while 18:1, 18:2 (n-6) and 20:4 (n-6) remained at higher levels in control. The results indicated that enrichment of n-3 PUFA in the broodfish diet not only improved the quality of eggs and larvae in terms of recovery, but also enhanced the physiological response of broodfish to induced spawning. Oil enrichment in the broodfish diet should therefore be mandatory to ensure the optimum n-3 PUFA content for warmwater carp for quality seed production.