Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation of Nano Crystalline Titanium Dioxide by Microwave Hydrothermal Method

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles due to their exclusive physical, chemical and electrical properties are widely used as a heterogeneous catalyst and catalytic support in the chemical reactions, a semiconductor for photocatalysis reactions and additives in the membrane processes. The TiO2 nanoparticles are also utilized in solar cells, gas sensors, pigments and etc. Efficiency of these nanoparticles in various applications is dramatically dependent on their size. Various techniques such as combustion flame synthesis and conventional hydrothermal methods have been used to prepare TiO2 nanoparticles, but few synthesis techniques can reproducibly produce particles below 10 nm. In this study, the TiO2 nanoparticles in rutile phase were synthesized by microwave assisted hydrothermal method by controlling the crystallization time and temperature. Titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) was used as a titanium precursor. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis. The XRD pattern showed that the rutile phase of the TiO2 nanoparticles was successfully synthesized by the proposed method with the average crystal size of 4nm. Finally, the prepared Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were as a hydrophobic additive in the polymeric ultrafiltration membranes in order to reduce the membrane fouling.
Learning to steer a locomotion contact planner

The combinatorics inherent to the issue of planning legged locomotion can be addressed by decomposing the problem: first, select a guide path abstracting the contacts with a heuristic model; then compute the contact sequence to balance the robot gait along the guide path. While several models have been proposed to compute such a path, none have yet managed to efficiently capture the complexity of legged locomotion on arbitrary terrain. In this paper, we present a novel method to automatically build a local controller, or steering method, to generate a guide path along which a feasible contact sequence can be built. Our reinforcement learning approach is coupled with a geometric condition for feasibility during the training, which improves the convergence rate without incurring a loss in generality. We have designed a dedicated environment along with an associated reward function to run a classical reinforcement learning algorithm that computes the steering method. The policy takes a target velocity and a local heightmap of the terrain around the robot as inputs, and steers the path where new contacts should be created. It is then coupled with a contact generator that creates the contacts to support the robot movement. We show that the trained policy has an improved generalization and higher success rate at generating feasible contact plans than previous approaches. As a result, this policy can be used with a path planning algorithm to navigate complex environments.
Improving the Quality of Electricity in Installations with Mixed Lighting Fittings

The issues that are presented in the article concern the broadly understood parameters of the operation of lighting fixtures in mixed systems and the improvement of the quality of electricity, considered in two aspects: as receivers of the energy consumed, determining and generating reactive power, influencing the asymmetry of currents and the production of higher harmonics, determined by the parameters of current and supply voltage (independent of the consumers connected at the connection point), which are influenced by the consumers that are connected at the connection point. After the tests, in order to improve the quality of energy, a proprietary program for the design of passive resonance filters was developed. A wide range of measurements of various types of lighting devices was carried out in single, complex, and mixed systems. Luminaires with discharge and LED sources were selected for the analysis of energy parameters. The tests were carried out in accordance with the IEEE 1459-2010 standard for single-phase circuits with distorted waveforms.
Socio-economic and environmental barriers to increased agricultural production: New evidence from central Thailand

Thailand’s agricultural production has played a major role in enhancing the sustainability of domestic food supplies and successful international exports. However, agricultural production and farm productivity remain relatively low, especially in rapidly ageing high out-migration areas and among small-scale farmers. In this study, we use new household survey data from Prachinburi Province to examine the probability of facing six specific barriers to agricultural production. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a series of logistic regressions to identify the determinants. The results show that age of household head, off-farm income, farm size, and farm type were all associated with the likelihood of different productivity barriers. Gender of household heads was found to be associated with the probability of farm labour shortage, with female-headed households being at a disadvantage. We recommend that policies should be formulated to address these significant factors in order to overcome or circumvent the different barriers and enhance the livelihoods of the local population.
Efeitos da agilidade organizacional no comprometimento organizacional: o papel mediador do empowerment psicológico

This study aims to examine the effect of organizational agility on organizational commitment mediated by psychological empowerment. The research was developed based on a questionnaire that raised the perception of 87 employees of a Hospital of excellence attendance at cardiological emergencies in Florianopolis/SC. Three hypotheses were tested and the data were analyzed using the Structural Equations technique. Among the results obtained, it was confirmed that there is a positive and significant relationship between organizational agility and organizational commitment, besides that psychological empowerment is directly related to organizational commitment and positively mediates the relationship between organizational agility and commitment. It is inferred that employees perceive that their organization is agile when it adopts policies that allow it to adapt to the changes in the organizational environment. This perception increases the psychological empowerment of employees and consequently affects their sense of attachment to the organization.
Reduced‐order observer‐based controller design for quasi‐one‐sided Lipschitz nonlinear systems with time‐delay

In this article, the problem of reduced‐order observer‐based controller design for a class of nonlinear time‐delay systems is addressed. First, we present sufficient conditions for the existence of the reduced‐order observer of nonlinear time‐delay systems. Then, a state feedback controller is designed to stabilize the systems. Furthermore, it is shown that the separation principle holds for stabilization of the systems based on the reduced‐order observer‐based controller. When the nonlinear part of systems satisfies the quasi‐one‐sided Lipschitz condition, the reduced‐order observer and feedback controller can be designed separately even though the parameter (A, C) of systems is not detectable and parameter (A, B) is not stabilizable. Finally, a numerical example is presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Thermal boundary resistance at Si/Ge interfaces by molecular dynamics simulation

In this study, we investigated the temperature dependence and size effect of the thermal boundary resistance at Si/Ge interfaces by non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the direct method with the Stillinger-Weber potential. The simulations were performed at four temperatures for two simulation cells of different sizes. The resulting thermal boundary resistance decreased with increasing temperature. The thermal boundary resistance was smaller for the large cell than for the small cell. Furthermore, the MD-predicted values were lower than the diffusion mismatch model (DMM)-predicted values. The phonon density of states (DOS) was calculated for all the cases to examine the underlying nature of the temperature dependence and size effect of thermal boundary resistance. We found that the phonon DOS was modified in the interface regions. The phonon DOS better matched between Si and Ge in the interface region than in the bulk region. Furthermore, in interface Si, the population of low-frequen.
Chromophore‐Free Sealing and Repair of Soft Tissues Using Mid‐Infrared Light‐Activated Biosealants

Poor strength, infection, leakage, long procedure times, and inflammation limit the efficacy of common tissue sealing devices in surgeries and trauma. Light‐activated sealing is attractive for tissue sealing and repair, and can be facilitated by the generation of local heat following absorption of nonionizing laser energy by chromophores. Here, the inherent ability of biomaterials is exploited to absorb nonionizing, mid‐infrared (midIR) light in order to engender rapid photothermal sealing and repair of soft tissue wounds. In this approach, the biomaterial simultaneously acts as a photothermal convertor as well as a biosealant, which dispenses the need for exogeneous light‐absorbing nanoparticles or dyes. Biomechanical recovery, mathematical modeling, histopathology analyses, tissue strain mapping using digital imaging correlation, and visualization of the biosealant‐tissue interface using hyperspectral imaging indicate superior performance of midIR sealing in live mice compared to conventional sutures and glue. The midIR‐biosealant approach demonstrates rapid sealing of soft tissues, improves cosmesis, lowers potential for scarring, obviates safety concerns because of the nonionizing light used, and allows adoption of a wide diversity of biomaterials. Taken together, the studies demonstrate a novel advance both in biomaterials for surgical sealing along with the use of nonionizing midIR light, with high potential for clinical translation.
‘No! I’m going to school, I need to speak English!’: Who makes family language policies?

ABSTRACT Schools in the United States have historically conducted language policing in favor of standardized American English. The current study examines links between language policies in eight immigrant families in relation to educational language policies of two public elementary schools operating under an English-only policy in Massachusetts. The study places a focus on the agency of children and parents expressed through interviews, while paying attention to the institutional power of schooling. The participating families spoke Cape Verdean Creole, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish as their heritage languages. Two theoretical frameworks informed our findings. Firstly, we use “family language policy” to define language decisions in families as a multifaceted construct. Secondly, we analyze family language beliefs and practices through a “language ideology” lens to unveil power structures influencing them. Our findings showed that the participants’ spoken beliefs positioned bilingualism and heritage language maintenance as valuable. However, family language decisions showed an increasing preference for English that inherently aligned with the English-only educational policies and practices and alienated heritage languages. Our study contributes to the existing body of literature on family language policy by adding more nuance to the contextual and fluid nature of language decisions in bilingual families.
Does biochar improve all soil ecosystem services?

Biochar is considered to sequester C and deliver other soil ecosystem services, but an overview that synthesizes the current knowledge of biochar implications on all essential soil ecosystem services is difficult to find in the ample biochar literature. Most previous research and review articles on this topic focused on a single ecosystem service and did not integrate all essential soil ecosystem services. This overview paper (1) synthesizes the impacts of biochar on water and wind erosion, C sequestration, soil water, nutrient leaching, soil fertility, crop yields, and other soil ecosystem services based on published literature and (2) highlights remaining research areas. Literature indicates that, in addition to sequestering C, biochar can reduce N2O emissions, nitrate leaching, and runoff; increase soil microbial biomass, plant available water, and crop yields (particularly in tropical regions), and CO2 emissions; and have small or no effects on water and wind erosion. Biochar benefits can be in this order: C sequestration > N2O emissions > Nitrate leaching > Available water > Soil biology > Soil fertility > Crop yields > Runoff. However, literature also indicates that biochar does not always improve all ecosystem services. Its benefits depend on biochar feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, application rate, biochar properties, soil properties, climate, and other factors. For example, biochar can enhance crop yields more in degraded and low fertility soils than in highly fertile and fine‐textured soils. Long‐term (>3 years) field‐scale studies under different soil types, management conditions, and climates are needed for a determination of optimum levels of application, comprehensive life‐cycle analysis, and assessment of agronomic and environmental tradeoffs. Overall, biochar can improve most soil ecosystem services, but the extent of such improvement is highly dependent on biochar properties and soil and climatic conditions.
Gut Microbiome: A Potential Modifiable Risk Factor in Biliary Atresia.

ABSTRACT Biliary atresia (BA) is a fibro-obliterative condition of the biliary tree, presenting in infancy. The bilioenteric conduit formed at Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE), achieves restoration of bile flow in approximately 60% of infants. Even if the operation is successful, cirrhosis and its associated complications are, however, common. BA remains the leading cause for liver transplantation (LT) in children. Antibiotic, choleretic, and steroid therapy post-KPE have not convincingly reduced LT rates. Advances in molecular technology have enabled characterisation of the encoded genes of the gut microbiota (gut microbiome). The gut microbiome plays an important role in host metabolism, nutrition, and immune function, with alterations in its diversity and/or composition, known as dysbiosis, being described in disease states, including liver disease. Liver-gut microbiome exploration in adulthood largely focuses on nonalcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis (mainly alcohol- or viral-based aetiology) and cholestatic liver diseases (eg, primary sclerosing cholangitis), with microbial signatures correlating to disease severity. Investigation of the gut microbiota in BA had been limited to culture-based methodology, but molecular studies are emerging, and although in their infancy, highlight a potential pathogenic role for Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcus, and a potential beneficial role for Bifidobacteria. Bacterial translocation, and the production of gut microbiome-derived metabolites, are key host-microbiome-mechanistic pathways in liver disease pathogenesis. Microbiome-targeted therapeutics for liver disease are in development, with faecal microbiota transplantation showing promise in cirrhosis. Could the gut microbiome be a novel modifiable risk factor in BA, reducing the need for LT?
Functionalized carbonaceous fibers for high performance flexible all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors

Fiber based supercapacitors are promising energy storage devices for flexible electronics because of their integration of lightweight, high flexibility and tiny volume. Here, a facile yet effective method is developed to synthesize two types of functionalized carbonaceous fibers, i.e., carbon fiber@reduced graphene oxide@manganese dioxide (CF@RGO@MnO2) and CF@thick RGO (CF@TRGO), by dip coating and subsequent electrochemical strategies. The assembled asymmetric supercapacitor device using CF@RGO@MnO2 as the positive electrode and CF@TRGO as the negative electrode can be operated with a high voltage region of 1.6 V and exhibits a high volumetric energy density of 1.23 mW h cm−3. Additionally, our device has an excellent long-term cycling stability with more than 91% retention after 10 000 cycles. To demonstrate potential applications of our prepared fiber based all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors, we successfully use them to power a flexible integrated copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) photodetector and a light-emitting diode.
Blockchain Enabled Space Traffic Awareness (BESTA): Discovery of Anomalous Behavior Supporting Automated Space Traffic Management

Today, satellite launches, on-orbit operations, and deorbiting by space faring countries is manual-intensive and safe. However, projected increases in number of space faring nations, and volume of space traffic, will strain Space Traffic Management (STM) processes and operations, requiring increased automation. STM processes and operations require timely space object data for all objects, in the context of clear and unambiguous understanding of the current agreements and intents for maneuvering and operating active space objects. However, the volume, types, and complexity of space object data is steadily increasing, for example (a) increasing number space objects including from mega constellations; (b) increasing number of types of data beyond TLE such as intent to maneuver and health/status; (c) increasing number of sources of data from commercial and national sources, and; (d) increased need for cross-domain information sharing and integration across space, air space, land, and maritime domains. The increase in number, types, and complexity of space object agreements is driven by a growing number of spacefaring and space interested nations who enter into agreements which describe increasingly complex ranges and constraints of operational behavior. The ability to discover
Sounds like a fit! Wording in recruitment advertisements and recruiter gender affect women's pursuit of career development programs via anticipated belongingness

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Sustainable Production of Levulinic Acid from the Cellulosic Fraction of Pinus Pinaster Wood: Operation in Aqueous Media Under Microwave Irradiation

The fractionation of the structural components of lignocellulosic biomass (cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin) and the separate utilization of the resulting fractions for specific purposes, according to the philosophy of biorefineries, enables the development of sustainable processes for biomass utilization. In this work, Pinus pinaster wood was subjected to aqueous processing to remove water-soluble extractives and hemicelluloses, and the resulting solid was subjected to pulping with HCl-catalyzed acetic acid solutions (Acetosolv method). The pulp was employed as a substrate for levulinic acid manufacture by reaction in acidic media under microwave irradiation. The effects of the major operational variables (temperature, reaction time, and acid concentration) on the levulinic acid yield were established by statistical modeling of experimental data. Operating under the best reaction conditions (at 191.2°C for 18.9 min in aqueous media containing 1.10% HCl), the levulinic acid yield accounted for 56.4% of the stoichiometric value.
A Data Augmentation Method for Deep Learning Based on Multi-Degree of Freedom (DOF) Automatic Image Acquisition

Deep learning technology is outstanding in visual inspection. However, in actual industrial production, the use of deep learning technology for visual inspection requires a large number of training data with different acquisition scenarios. At present, the acquisition of such datasets is very time-consuming and labor-intensive, which limits the further development of deep learning in industrial production. To solve the problem of image data acquisition difficulty in industrial production with deep learning, this paper proposes a data augmentation method for deep learning based on multi-degree of freedom (DOF) automatic image acquisition and designs a multi-DOF automatic image acquisition system for deep learning. By designing random acquisition angles and random illumination conditions, different acquisition scenes in actual production are simulated. By optimizing the image acquisition path, a large number of accurate data can be obtained in a short time. In order to verify the performance of the dataset collected by the system, the fabric is selected as the research object after the system is built, and the dataset comparison experiment is carried out. The dataset comparison experiment confirms that the dataset obtained by the system is rich and close to the real application environment, which solves the problem of dataset insufficient in the application process of deep learning to a certain extent.
Evaluation of a Dynamic Bioremediation System for the Removal of Metal Ions and Toxic Dyes Using Sargassum Spp.

This work presents the results obtained in the design and manufacture of a simple, economic and ecological filter based on Sargassum spp. (Sspp), consisting of the species S. natans and S. fluitans, for the elimination of organic and inorganic toxic substances. The main objective is to make use of Sspp, as the massive amounts of this alga arriving at the Mexican Caribbean coast have caused serious problems over recent years. The toxic substances treated were organic dyes (methyl blue, methyl orange and methyl red) and the metal ion, lead (II). To obtain optimal removal conditions, grinding of the Sspp used, its mass and humidity were evaluated. In the design of the filter the area, flow rate and the number of layers were evaluated. Removal rates of almost 100%, 65% and 25% were obtained for methylene blue, methyl red and methyl orange respectively, and in the case of lead (II), values up to 95% were obtained. After the tests, the Sspp was characterized, using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, showing the presence of the dyes and the ionic species. These results demonstrate the efficiency of the dynamic Sspp-based filtration system proposed, which can be industrially scaled for the treatment of water contaminated with these kinds of substances.