Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Process evaluation of a SOx and NOx exhaust gas cleaning concept for marine application

Maritime transport accounts for about 80% of all commercial cargo transport. The maritime sector is a large emitter of greenhouse gases, sulphur oxides, and nitrogen oxides. Since 1997, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) set regulations (Marpol Annex VI) requiring maritime transport vessels to reduce exhaust emissions. Today vessels are required to fulfil stringent emission targets for SO2 (Regulation 14 in Annex VI) and for NOx (Regulation 13). A common method of reducing SO2 emissions is by absorption of exhaust gases derived from the marine diesel engine, through wet scrubbing while NOx is commonly reduced by SCR. Studies have shown that, under certain pH conditions and exhaust gas compositions, SO2 and NO2 can react in liquid phase to form stable compounds The objective of this work is to investigate a process for simultaneous absorption of SO2 and NO2. A steady-state simulation model is constructed in Aspen Plus, of a scrubber developed by Yara Marine Technology, which utilises the surrounding seawater in order to efficiently scrub SO2 from exhaust gases. The simulation was performed in a packed RateSep model, with two configurations: one open loop (once-through liquid stream) model, and one closed loop (recycled liquid stream) model. Parameter data from a real life case is used to construct the model, and operational data from the absorber is used to verify the model. The results show that the process removes NOx efficiently from the flue gas stream. There is also an overall improvement of the SO2 removal compared to today’s process. In open loop configuration, the formation nitrogen and sulphur is mainly bound as HADS. In the closed loop configuration, due to the recirculation, there is a risk of N2O formation that must be considered. The oxidation of the NO present in the flue gas requires an oxidizing agent. The process would requires around 119 kg ClO2/h or 180 kg H2O2/h in order to oxidise all NO. In summary, there is a potential in utilising oxidation of NO to NO2 combined with wet scrubbing in order to meet maritime regulations for both SO2 and NOx emissions, which can compete with the current combination of SCR and wet SO2 scrubbing.
Virus diseases of the grapevine in a Sicilian herbarium of the past century

Z u s a m m e n f a s s u n g . Getrocknete Exemplare von Reben, die zwischen 1880 und 1886 in Sizilien für ein von Dn. FnANCEsco MINA PALUMBO, einem Arzt aus Castel­ buono (Palermo), begründetes Herbarium gesammelt worden waren, zeigten verschie­ dene morphologische und farbliche Modifikationen. Die noch sichtbaren Symptome an den Herbarexemplaren erlauben zusammen mit den erläuternden Originalnotizen eine Diagnose auf Befall durch Reisigkrankheit, Gelbmosaik und Blattrollkrankheit.
In Silico Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum and P. yoelii Translocon and Exoribonuclease II (RNase II) Identified in the Merozoite Rhoptry Proteome

In this study, we characterize Plasmodium falciparum proteins, exoribonuclease II (RNase II) and Translocon (PTEX150); encoded by genes PF3D7_0906000 and PF3D7_1436300, respectively, and selected from proteomic analysis of the P. yoelii merozoite rhoptries. The proteins were characterized bioinformatically using PlasmoDB, ExPasy and NCBI portals. The strategy for characterization was established on the basis of protein alignment for sequence identity, domain analysis and transcriptome analysis of the genes PF3D7_0906000 and PF3D7_1436300 among Plasmodium species and members of the phylum apicomplexa. The protein translocon (PTEX150) is a subunit of transport complex in the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) involved in protein export from the intracellular parasite into the host erythrocyte cytoplasm. The role of the translocon in P. yoelii is unknown. The ribonuclease binding (RNB-like) domains in RNase II are predicted to be highly conserved among Plasmodium sp. and other apicomplexans with different host cell specificities
Austerity in 2009-2013

The conventional wisdom is (i) that fiscal austerity was the main culprit for the recessions experienced by many countries, especially in Europe, since 2010 and (ii) that this round of fiscal consolidation was much more costly than past ones. The contribution of this paper is a clarification of the first point and, if not a clear rejection, at least it raises doubts on the second. In order to obtain these results we construct a new detailed "narrative" data set which documents the actual size and composition of the fiscal plans implemented by several countries in the period 2009-2013. Out of sample simulations, that project output growth conditional only upon the fiscal plans implemented since 2009 do reasonably well in predicting the total output fluctuations of the countries in our sample over the years 2010-13 and are also capable of explaining some of the cross-country heterogeneity in this variable. Fiscal adjustments based upon cuts in spending appear to have been much less costly, in terms of output losses, than those based upon tax increases. The difference between the two types of adjustment is very large. Our results, however, are mute on the question whether the countries we have studied did the right thing implementing fiscal austerity at the time they did, that is 2009-13. Finally we examine whether this round of fiscal adjustments, which occurred after a financial and banking crisis, has had different effects on the economy compared to earlier fiscal consolidations carried out in "normal" times. When we test this hypothesis we do not reject the null, although in some cases failure to reject is marginal. In other words, we don't find sufficient evidence to claim that the recent rounds of fiscal adjustment, when compared with those occurred before the crisis, have been especially costly for the economy.
Evaluation of anti-ulcer activity of Pluchea indica (L) Less in various ulcer models in rats

Pluchea indica (L.) Less (PIL) also known as ‘beluntas’ is one of indigenous plant that is readily available and has been traditionally used to improve gastrointestinal disorder. In the present study, the ethanolic extract of Pluchea indica leaves (PIL) was investigated for its in vivo anti-ulcer activity in various experimental ulcer models; i.e 30 mg/kg indomethacin, 80% ethanol, 25% NaCl, 0.6M HCL, 0.2M NaOH and pyloric ligation model. The extract in dose of 40 and 160 mg/kg body weight had a significant anti-ulcerogenic activity against gastric ulcer induced by NaOH and indomethacin. At lower dose, the extract also significantly increased the gastric wall mucous content in pyloric ligated rats. The results were substantiated with histopathological findings. Evaluation agreed with the folkloric use of Pluchea indica as anti-ulcer tool.
VARIABLES EFFECTING DRUG ENTRAPMENT EFFICIENCY OF MICROSPHERES: A REVIEW

Microspheres are characteristically free flowing powders consisting of proteins or synthetic polymers which are biodegradable in nature and ideally having a particle size less than 200 μm. A well designed microsphere can overcome such problems by enhancing the loading efficiency of a particular drug and minimizing the wastage of drug. A well designed controlled drug delivery system can overcome some of the problems of conventional therapy and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of a given drug. For success of microspheres as drug delivery system its necessary to obtained desired particle size, maximum drug entrapment, mucoadhesion, swelling index and drug release. This can be obtained by optimizing the formulation as well as process variables but before designing the microspheres formulation deep understanding the effect of various variables on characteristics of microspheres is necessary. The intent of the paper is to highlight the reported study on various formulation variables those are might be useful to encountered several problems which is reason for low drug entrapment efficiency
Canonical basis twists of ideal lattices from real quadratic number fields.

Ideal lattices in the plane coming from real quadratic number fields have been investigated by several authors in the recent years. In particular, it has been proved that every such ideal has a basis that can be twisted by the action of the diagonal group into a Minkowski reduced basis for a well-rounded lattice. We explicitly study such twists on the canonical bases of ideals, which are especially important in arithmetic theory of quadratic number fields and binary quadratic forms. Specifically, we prove that every fixed real quadratic field has only finitely many ideals whose canonical basis can be twisted into a well-rounded or a stable lattice in the plane. We demonstrate some explicit examples of such twists. We also briefly discuss the relation between stable and well-rounded twists of arbitrary ideal bases.
What do dung beetles eat?

Abstract 1. Most adult coprophagous beetles feed on fresh dung of mammalian herbivores, confining ingestion to small particles with measured maximum diameters from 2–5 to 130 μm, according to body size and kind of beetle. This study explores benefits and costs of selective feeding in a ‘typical’ dung beetle with a maximum diameter of ingested particles (MDIP) of 20 μm.
Effect of the Operation Mode and Distance on the Electromagnetic Radiation Emitted by Mobile Phone Devices in Greece: A Pilot Study

The electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by mobile phone devices (n=52) has been monitored as a function of the operation mode and the distance from the device. Measurements (electric field, V/m) were administered in the metropolitan area of Athens, Greece and involved a total of 52 mobile phone devices operating in the 1.5 GHZ-2.1 GHz frequency range. Five distinct operation modes of the device (“long term inactivity”, “ringing/call effort”, “usage”, “right after the end of the call”, “short term inactivity”) and a total of two distances from the device (0 m and 1 m) were employed. Depending on the intensity of the individual peaks observed in the experimental spectra at 0 m, the mobile devices were shown to cluster into three subgroups as follows: Subgroup 1 (n1=24, peak intensities>1 V/m), Subgroup 2 (n2=9, peak intensities in the range of 0.1 V/m - 1 V/m), Subgroup 3 (n3=19, peak intensities<0.1 V/m). Statistical analysis via repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) provided evidence for a statistically significant effect of the operation mode on the emitted EMR by the mobile device. The effect was more prominent at the shortest distance (0 m) and for the devices of one specific subgroup (Subgroup 1). The transition between operation modes which shows the largest effect (increase) in the emitted EMR is the one from “long term inactivity” to “Ringing/Call effort” irrespective of device subgroup. Examination of the effect of the distance on the emitted EMR resulted to the following findings: At the longer distance employed (1 m), the devices belonging to Subgroups 2 and 3 continue to exhibit mean EMR intensity similar to the one at 0 m under all operation modes. On the other hand, upon distance increase, the emitted EMR intensity of the devices belonging to Subgroup 1 displays a statistically significant decrease in all operation modes except the one of ‘long term inactivity”.
Numerical simulation of the steam-water flow instability as a mechanism of long-period ground vibrations at geothermal areas

SUMMARY We present a model for the excitation of continuous ground vibration at geothermal areas and active volcanoes, which is based on the instability of water/steam two-phase flow. Through a series of numerical experiments, we evaluate the amplitude and period of ground vibrations excited by density wave oscillation (called ‘DWO’), one of the flow-instability phenomena, which is known in the nuclear reactor engineering to occur under a wide variety of boundary conditions. We consider a vertical cylindrical pipe buried underground and 1-D flows through it driven by the lithostatic pressure gradient. Water flows into the pipe from below and is evaporated by the heat supplied from outside. When the heating rate is low, after a perturbation such as a change in heating rate is given to the flow system, a decaying oscillation of pressure, flow velocity and void fraction occurs being followed by a stationary flow. On the other hand, when the heating rate exceeds a threshold, the perturbation grows to a continuous oscillation with a fixed amplitude, forming a limit cycle DWO. We investigate how various parameters such as pipe length, pressure and heating rate, affect the stability of the two-phase flow. We then estimate the amplitudes of seismic waves excited by DWO, assuming that the pipe is embedded in a elastic half-space. We find that a longer pipe can excite a DWO of longer period and of larger maximum amplitude. For a pipe of length of 100 m with its bottom at the depth of 150 m, the DWO period is nearly 10 s. In this case the maximum pipe diameter for the excitation of limit cycle DWO for reasonable rates of stationary conductive heat supply from country rocks to the two-phase mixture inside the pipe (less than about 35 MW m−3) is 0.02 m. The maximum amplitudes of ground displacement due to DWO are of the order of 7 × 10−8 m and 4 × 10−9 m at epicentral distances of 200 and 1000 m, respectively. Typical geothermal areas and active volcanoes can supply heat and discharged water mass, which are required to excite DWO larger than typical background noises. Therefore, DWO due to a shallow water/steam flow could excite ground motions with periods longer than 10 s which is large enough to be observed with suitably designed broadband seismic experiments at geothermal fields.
Cyclin A and Cyclin D1 as Significant Prognostic Markers in Egyptian Patients with Colorectal Carcinoma

Background: Colon cancer is becoming a common cancer in Egypt. It also has unique characteristics that differ from those reported in the western society. Aberrations in the cell cycle checkpoints are common features of several tumors and many have been shown to be of prognostic significance in colorectal carcinoma. Material and Methods: In the present study, four components of the cell cycle regulator proteins [cyclin D1, cyclin A, histone H3 and the Ki-67] were examined in 60 cases of well-characterized colorectal adenocarcinomas, 47 colon and 13 rectal carcinomas, to ascertain co-regulation and impact on survival. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the expression level of Ki-67, cyclin A and cyclin D1 while Southern blot was used to assess cyclin D1gene status, and in situ hybridization was used to study histone H3 mRNA expression. Immunoreactivity was evaluated semi quantitatively using a scoring system that calculates the staining index (SI). Results: There was a significant correlation between cyclin D1 gene amplification and its protein overexpression (concordance = 63.6%). However, some cases revealed protein overexpression without gene amplification indicating that there should be other mechanisms for aberrant accumulation of the protein. The expression of Ki-67 significantly correlated with the other 3 proteins as well as with cyclin D1 amplification. The SIs for Ki-67, cyclin A and cyclin D1 were higher in large-sized, poorly differentiated tumors. Furthermore, the SIs of Ki-67 and histone H3 were higher in patients > 50 years of age. The SI of cyclin D1 was significantly higher in cases with deeply invasive tumors and those with positive lymph node metastasis. The overall survival was significantly lower in patients whose tumors showed cyclin A overexpression as well as those with cyclin D1 amplification and/or overexpression. Multivariate analysis showed that up-regulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin A were two independent prognostic factors in colorectal carcinoma patients.
A mathematical model for a comprehensive approach to the dynamics of human colonic aberrant crypt foci

In this paper, we propose mathematical models for the growth dynamics of aberrant crypt foci in the human colon, as well as for some of their characteristics, namely the apoptosis and proliferation indices. The models rely on logistic type differential equations and clinical observations at different times, and can arguably be used as an auxiliary screening tool for colon cancer. We report several results using available medical data.
Effect of potassium fertilizer and different fertilization methods on the growth of tuberose

An appropriate fertilization method is an important topic in nutrition of ornamental plants for obtaining suitable quality and quantity yield. This study was conducted in Farvardin greenhouse of Mashhad Township, Khorasan province, Iran, in summer and autumn 2011 to find appropriate fertilization method on the growth of tuberose as the test plant. The experiment was performed by 21 treatments and 3 replications in a randomized completely design. Different methods of fertilization by different fertilizers in three levels of basic potassium were evaluated. The treatment containing 100 kg potassium as base + one-third N and P as base and two-third N as two equal divided + half phosphorus as base, half phosphorus as two equal divided + 3 times potassium foliar spray + N foliar spray had the most length of branch (119 cm) in compared to control (71.5 cm). Treatments with nitrogen and divided phosphorus in different parts of plant growth had more weight.
Wirkung von Gallensäuren als Neurosteroide am GABAA Rezeptor

Zusammenfassung Neurosteroide sind steroidale Molekule des Cholesterinmetabolismus, welche im Nervensystem ebenso wie in peripheren Organen (Testes, Ovarien, Nebennierenrinde) synthetisiert werden und im Gehirn neuronale Wirkungen entfalten. Nach der Klassifikation von Morrow (2007) unterteilt man Neurosteroide in inhibitorische (z.B. Allopregnanolon), welche die GABAerge Transmission verstarken und sedativ oder hypnotisch wirken und exzitatorische Neurosteroide (z.B. Pregnenolonsulfat), welche die GABAerge Hemmung antagonisieren und dadurch erregend wirken. Die Gallensauren aus der Leber sind fur den Verdauungsprozess essenziell, erreichen aber soweit bekannt nicht das Zentralnervensystem in relevanten Konzentrationen. Einige dieser Gallen-Steroide (G-S) werden allerdings auch im Gehirn synthetisiert. In dieser Arbeit wird gezeigt, dass diese Substanzen Liganden-gesteuerte Ionenkanale im Gehirn von Maus und Ratte modulieren und die synaptische Ubertragung verandern konnen: Inhibition des GABAA Rezeptors fuhrt zu Erregung und verstarkter Synchronisation. Verschiedene Steroide zeigen dabei unterschiedliche Wirksamkeit (halb-effektive Konzentrationen, IC50) fur den GABAA Rezeptor-Block: Ursodeoxycholat, UDCA Neuronale Netzwerkaktivitat wurde an Primarkulturen auf Mikroelektroden-gittern (microelectrode array, MEA) gemessen. Ferner wurden an einzelnen, akut aus Hirnschnitten isolierten Neuronen Ganzzell-Strome als Antwort auf kurze (1-2 s) GABA-Exposition registriert. Spontane GABAerge synaptische Strome, die durch GABA-Freisetzung aus anhaftenden Boutons resultieren, konnten ebenfalls analysiert werden. Eine dosisabhangige Abnahme der Abfallzeitkonstante (Tau) der spontanen Strome bei stabiler Amplitude belegt eine postsynaptische Modulation der GABAergen Transmission durch die Steroide. Eine positive Modulation mit gegenteiliger Wirkung, wie sie fur andere Steroide beschrieben ist, haben wir hier nicht beobachtet. Ferner konnten wir eine Verminderung der erregenden Ubertragung durch Blockierung des NMDA-Rezeptors nachweisen (Cholat, Chenodeoxycholat). Die Untersuchungen wurden an hypothalamischen Neuronen und Netzwerken durchgefuhrt, die in vivo die Vigilanz kontrollieren. Die resultierende Voraussage einer Vigilanz fordernden Wirkung dieser Steroide lies sich an frei beweglichen Nagern bestatigen. Damit konnen wir die untersuchten Gallensteroide prinzipiell der Klasse der Neurosteroide zuordnen und das schon bekannte breite Wirkungsspektrum dieser Signalmolekule erweitern.
On independent times and positions for Brownian motions

Let (Bt ; t ≥ 0), ( resp. ((Xt, Yt) ; t ≥ 0) ) be a one (resp. two) dimensional Brownian motion started at 0. Let T be a stopping time such that (Bt∧T ; t ≥ 0) ( resp. (Xt∧T ; t ≥ 0) ; (Yt∧T ; t ≥ 0) ) is uniformly integrable. The main results obtained in the paper are: 1) if T and BT are independent and T has all exponential moments, then T is constant. 2) If XT and YT are independent and have all exponential moments, then XT and YT are Gaussian. We also give a number of examples of stopping times T , with only some exponential moments, such that T and BT are independent, and similarly for XT and YT . We also exhibit bounded non-constant stopping times T such that XT and YT are independent and Gaussian.
Structural behavior of Al3+ in peralkaline, metaluminous, and peraluminous silicate melts and glasses at ambient pressure

Abstract Peralkaline and peraluminous glasses close to the metaluminous join in the systems Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2 (NAS), CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CAS), and MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (MAS) have been examined with Raman spectroscopy. At least three different SiO2 contents in each of the systems (NAS, CAS, and MAS) have been studied. Each series of glasses spans the metaluminous join at constant silica content. The spectra of glasses in all three systems show changes consistent with a continuous decrease in abundance of depolymerized species and an increase in fully polymerized species as compositions change from peralkaline to peraluminous. There is no evidence for maxima or minima of these abundances across the metaluminous joins for any of the studied series. These observations confirm previous suggestions that non-bridging O atoms are a general feature of . fully polymerized. glasses, and that a population of Al exists in the melt structure that is not associated with a charge-balancing cation, even in peralkaline compositions. With decreasing peralkalinity, new components appear in the Raman spectra of peraluminous NAS and CAS glasses, but such changes are much less obvious in the MAS system. These additional components are most likely related to the presence of “excess” Al (i.e., Al not associated with a chargebalancing cation). The structural role of this “excess” Al could be in the form of (Al, Si)-triclusters with different Al/Si-ratios depending on composition, but simple distorted AlO4-tetrahedra and possibly higher-coordinate Al3+ cannot be ruled out from the Raman spectra alone. The implications of these results for isothermal variations in viscosity are considered. It is concluded that the diversity and complexity of viscosity variations observed in different aluminosilicate systems may be a consequence of the fact that the difference in bond strength between bridging and non-bridging O atoms in the Ca and Mg-bearing systems is small compared to that in the Na-bearing system.
THE ROLE OF COMMODITY TERMS OF TRADE IN DETERMINING THE REAL EXCHANGE RATES OF MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether there exists a long run relationship between the real exchange rate and the commodity terms of trade in the so-called ? Mediterranean? or MENA countries. These economies are good candidates for this type of formulation, as they can be considered commodity exporting countries. Using cointegration techniques, we find long run relationships linking the real exchange rate and a commodity-based measure of the terms of trade. Thus, commodity terms of trade are a potential explanation for the apparent non-stationarity of MENA countries real exchange rate previously found in the empirical literature.