Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phytoextraction as a tool for green chemistry

Abstract The unique chemical and physical properties of metals mean that they are extensively utilized by industry in a huge variety of applications, including electronics, materials, industrial catalysts and chemicals. The increased consumer demand from a growing population worldwide with rising aspirations for a better life has resulted in concerns over the security of supply and accessibility of these valuable elements. As such, there is a growing need to develop alternative methods to recover them from waste repositories, current or historic, both for hazard avoidance and potentially, as a new source of metals for industry. Phytoextraction (the use of plants for the recovery of metals from waste repositories) is a green and novel technique for metal recovery, which, if done with the goal of resource supply rather than hazard mitigation, is termed “phytomining”. The ability for plants to form metallic nanoparticles as a consequence of phytoextraction could make the recovered metal ideally suited for utilization in green chemical technologies, such as catalysis. This review focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to elemental sustainability and highlights important aspects of metal lifecycle analysis, metal waste sources (including mine tailings), phytoextraction and potential green chemical applications that may result from the integration of these approaches.
Monitoring of mirror and sensor soiling with TraCS for improved quality of ground based irradiance measurements

Meteorological stations for solar irradiance measurements are mainly utilized for resource assessment of possible sites for future solar power plants and for thermal efficiency calculation and control of operating power plants. These stations consist of a solar tracker, two pyranometers and a pyrheliometer (MHP) for irradiance measurements. The accuracy of the MHP instrumentation is usually specified to be better than 2 % if cleaned on a daily basis. However, soiling frequently exceeds other error influences significantly, reducing irradiance values and accuracy. Due to the high sensitivity to soiling shown by pyrheliometers, especially DNI measurements are affected. Reductions of measured DNI values exceeding 25 % in only a few weeks are not unusual. In order to improve this situation, the soiling level of each individual sensor can be determined by following a special sequence of sensor cleaning and brief breaks combined with a close examination of the sensor responses. This allows for an approximate post processing correction of the irradiance data measured since the last cleaning (if recent). The corrections applied are crosschecked by means of an improved version of the TraCS asset. It can be used to control the sensor soiling correction procedure. The TraCS’s improvement consists in rotating the mirror within its plane with the pyrheliometer thus scanning its surface instead of just viewing the same small spot on the mirror. Hence, a better accuracy of the mirror soiling level is achieved by deriving more reliable average values. Finally, the results of an examination of sensor soiling rates at several meteorological stations set up in the MENA region and cleaned following the described protocol is presented. This gives an idea about the range of regional differences in soiling rates to be expected in the North African region. © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer review by the scientific conference committee of SolarPACES 2013 under responsibility of PSE AG. * Corresponding author. Fabian Wolfertstetter, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Tel: +34950611877, Fax: +34 950 365313 E-mail address: Fabian.Wolfertstetter@dlr.de © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/). Selection and peer review by the scientific conference committee of SolarPACES 2013 under responsibility of PSE AG. Final manuscript published as received without editorial corrections. F. Wolfertstetter et al. / Energy Procedia 49 ( 2014 ) 2422 – 2432 2423
The validity of PPP: evidence from Lagrange multiplier unit root tests for ASEAN countries

The univariate and panel Lagrange Multiplier (LM) unit root tests with one and two structural breaks proposed by Lee and Strazicich (2003, 2004) which are considerably more powerful than traditional tests are employed to investigate whether the purchasing power parity (PPP) theory holds true for ASEAN countries by using both black market and official exchange rates. We find strong evidence in favour of long-run PPP for six ASEAN countries namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
GREEN FLUORESCENT PROTEIN ( GFP ) , A QUANTITATIVE REPORTER FOR MONITORING CELL PROLIFERATION GREEN FLUORESCENT PROTEIN ( GFP )

Many cell culture experiments involve large number of samples to be analyzed, either for monitoring cell growth or evaluation of the toxicity of compounds to the cells. GFP is a protein which is naturally fluorescence and has been used in a wide range of application such as for gene expression marker, quantitative reporter of heterologous protein production and analysis of transfection efficiency. This study was aimed to compare accuracy, reliability, and reproducibility of GFP signals with a direct counting method, trypan blue exclusion during cell growth. Standard curve was made by loading serially diluted CHO-K1-EGFP cells into a 96 well plate. The cell number was correlated with GFP fluorescence signals. With initial density of 1 x 10 3 cells/well, the cell growth of CHO-K-EGFP cells was monitored either using trypan blue exclusion method or fluorescence for certain period of time (n=3). GFP fluorescence signals showed a good correlation with cell number and gave a r 2 value of 0.9866 in the range of 1250 to 1 x 10 5 cells/well. Similar growth profiles were obtained when the two method were compared for monitoring the cell growth (standard error maximum of 11%). GFP allows direct measurement of fluorescence signals, reducing manipulation or preparation procedures which may influence the accuracy of the data obtained. Once the stable clones have been obtained, GFP can be used in a wide range of application.
Dark energy-like stars from nonminimally coupled scalar field

We show that even a rather minimal extension of the Einstein–Hilbert action by a nonminimal coupling of the scalar field to the Ricci curvature scalar results in configurations that resemble more the dark energy stars than the ordinary boson stars. Even though many of those configurations are endowed by negative principal pressures, the strong energy condition, as a signal of repulsive gravity, is not significantly violated in these configurations. When imposing restrictions on matter from energy conditions we find that the maximally allowed masses are shifted to the lower values due to the violation of the weak and dominant energy conditions. We also calculate the effective compactness and show that its maximum value is attained in the region of negative pressures, and is greater than that in ordinary boson stars. Moreover, we develop a universality technique which allows us to efficiently map small configurations that are easily solved by numerical methods, to large astrophysical objects.
THE LISTING OF GERMAN FIRMS ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE: A CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE

Throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, this German bank dominated system (along with the Japanese corporate governance system) was frequently described as being superior to the AngloAmerican corporate governance system - a market oriented system with widespread public ownership of common stock and a focus of shareholder concerns. The German and Japanese systems were touted as a solution for curing the perceived ills of the American economy, thought to arise from the myopic behavior of investors forcing Anglo-American managers to adopt a shortterm perspective and forgo the long-term interests of the firm for the immediate gratification of public investors in order to fend off hostile takeovers (Porter, 1992). Bank ownership of debt and equity was seen as a way of reducing agency costs associated with bondholder-shareholder conflicts of interest leading to a lower cost of capital for German firms. Banks were touted as delegated monitors who had superior information about a firm ’s financial situation and could intervene early and selectively when firms encountered financial problems. And, cross ownership of companies by other companies was seen as a means for developing relational contracting and reducing the agency and moral hazard costs associated with making firm specific investments in the manufacturing supply chain. So, with all of these so-called advantages of the German system, why have some of the largest German corporations chosen to discard the German bank-oriented governance structure in favor of a market-oriented governance structure and, as part of the transformation process, listed themselves on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)? Our paper examines the reasons why the German firms chose to leave the German system for the American system and compares their market and operating performance before and after their NYSE listings. In Section 2 we review the reasons commonly offered for using ADRs and assess the governance and organizational implications of these explanations for firms operating in a bank dominated governance structure. We describe the seven German firms who chose to issue ADRs and list themselves on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Section 3. A detailed analysis of each company follows in Sections 4 through 10. Section 11 contains our overall analysis and Section 12 our conclusions. We find that the German firms chose to list themselves on the NYSE for primarily organizational architecture reasons. These reasons include the ability to engage in major restructuring transactions
Conversational Arguments in Small Group Decision Making : Reasoning Activity and Perceived Influence over the Decision are Keys for Success

This study explored decision making in small groups. There were 81 participants forming 21 ad-hoc groups of about four members each with the aim of reaching a joint decision. Correlations between participants’ evaluations of satisfaction and group efficiency on the one hand, and perceived equality in the influence over the discussion and the decision on the other hand, revealed associations especially with regard to influence over the decision. Those perceiving equal influence over the decision experienced more satisfaction and efficiency. Conversational patterns in three successful versus three unsuccessful groups (based on the group mean level of evaluated satisfaction and group efficiency) were analyzed by use of Conversational Argument Coding Scheme. Successful groups had more reasoning activities, especially responses and justifications, than did unsuccessful groups.
Saving-Investment Relationship, Financial Crisis and Structural Changes in East Asian Countries

In this article, the impact of the Asian crisis on the saving-investment relationship of selected East Asian countries with the rest of the world is examined using a Markov switching regression on East Asian countries. As a first result, estimates of the saving retention coefficients show that for most Asian countries, the Asian crisis period marks a shift from high saving retention coefficients during the pre-crisis period to low ones up to the end of the sample period. Low saving retention coefficients are also observed during the 1980s decade. For some countries, these coincide with certain phases of their development. A second result of interest is that periods with relatively low coefficient estimates, implying relatively higher capital mobility, are associated with current account surpluses. This result can be more explained by high and stable domestic saving rates than by low investment rates.
Learning about Distributed Systems

This paper presents the “state of the art” about di stributed systems and applications and it’s focused on teaching about these systems. It present s different platforms where to run distributed applications and describes some development toolkit s whose can be used to develop prototypes, practices and distributed applications. It also pre sents some existing distributed algorithms useful for class practices, and some tools to help managing distributed environments. Finally, the paper presents some teaching experiences with d ifferent approaches on how to teach about distributed systems.
Behavior-oriented Parallelization

Many sequential applications are difficult to parallelize b ecause of problems such as unpredictable data access, input-depende nt parallelism, and custom memory management. These difficulties led us to build a system for behavior-oriented parallelization (BOP), which allows a program to be parallelized based on partial in formation about program behavior, for example, a user reading j ust part of the source code, or a profiling tool examining merely o ne r few inputs. The basis of BOP is programmable software speculation, wher e a user or an analysis tool marks possibly parallel regions in the code, and the run-time system executes these regions specul atively. It is imperative to protect the entire address space during s peculation. The main goal of the paper is to demonstrate that the gen ral protection can be made cost effective by three novel techniq ues: programmable speculation, critical-path minimization, a d valuebased correctness checking. On a recently acquired multi-c ore, multi-processor PC, the BOP system improved the whole-prog ram performance by integer factors for a Lisp interpreter, a dat a compressor, a language parser, and a scientific library.
VARIATION IN THE ENERGY AND MACRONUTRIENT CONTENTS OF TEXTURE MODIFIED HOSPITAL DIETS VARIACIÓN EN LA ENERGÍA Y CONTENIDO DE MACRONUTRIENTES DE DIETAS HOSPITALARIAS CON TEXTURA MODIFICADA

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the nutritional content of the main meals of a normal hospital diet with those of texture modified diets (soft, pureed and liquid). Methodoloogy: The ash, moisture, macronutrient and energy contents of the foods comprising the main meal of the hospital diets were determined. The values were calculated per capita for each food item comprising the diets and then added up in order to estimate the total amount of energy and macronutrients supplied by main meal. Results: Compared with the normal diet, the pureed and liquid diets presented higher moisture content as well as reduced content of energy (31.4% and 39.9%, respectively), protein (45.4% and 79.8% ,respectively) and lipid (41% and 76%, respectively). Conclusion: Texture modified diets exhibit lower energy and macronutrient content, the main changes being detected for the liquid diet, which might imply an insufficient micronutrient supply. Key words: hospital diets, nutritional composition, hospital undernutrition, texture modified diets, hospital food service.Este trabajo fue recibido el 24 de Mayo de 2011 y aceptado para ser publicado el 10 de Noviembre de 2011.
Envisioning the Concept of Emotions for Theory Development and Testing in Information Systems Research: A Study of One Positive Emotion - Enjoyment

There is a significant and growing trend to apply affective phenomena into information systems research for theory development and testing. Yet, the concept of emotions a multiple-component affective phenomenon has not been well studied in the information system realm, and thus it is not well understood for formulating the theoretical research context. To redress the gap in the literature, this study sets out to provide a review of the literature in order to lend insights into our understanding of the linkages between human emotions and information system research. This paper begins by conceptualizing emotions based on the psychology theories and laying the groundwork for examining the emotional concepts in the information systems literature. We select one positive multi-dimensional emotion, namely enjoyment, as the current research target. From our analysis, we elicit a number of aspects for considering the future information systems study, especially when researchers would like to form their theoretical models with the concept of emotions. We then conclude with the particular research challenges posed in this line of inquiry.
Extracolonic findings at virtual colonoscopy screening

Extracolonic findings at virtual colonoscopy screening Objective. To analyze the presence and type of extracolonic findings (ECFs) at virtual colonoscopy screening, and to evaluate the proper management after diagnosis. Materials and Methods. A total screening of 100 Virtual Colonoscopy (VC) cases were retrospectively analyzed in search of ECF, regardless of the VC outcome. The studied population consisted of 62 women and 38 men, mean age 63 years. Patients were examined due to different reasons. Thus, the study included asymptomatic patients under screening, those with suspected diagnosis of neoplastic con- dition, and those due to incomplete optical colonoscopy. Tests were performed using a Philips Brilliance 64-detector- row CT scanner, using a protocol especially designed for VC. All patients underwent intestinal cleansing and barium staining of residue. ECFs were classified as being of low, moderate or high importance. Findings of low or null impor- tance include those benign disorders that rarely require fur- ther examination. Findings of moderate importance are defined as disorders that do not require immediate treat- ment, but will probably need further research or treatment in the future. Findings of high importance are those requir- ing surgical procedure, medical treatment or additional workups in the short term. Results. Over 100 studied patients 66 evidenced ECF. A total of 122 ECFs, classified as low importance in 61% of cases, mod- erate importance in 26%, and high importance in 13% cases. Conclusion. Extracolonic testing may be considered a clear benefit or a weakness of the method, based on the arguments for and against this procedure. Notwithstanding that, it is an unavoidable responsibility that requires judicious han- dling by both the interpreting physician and the referring physician. ECFs must always be managed on the basis of the patient's general situation.
Peninsulas Publications Huxley College on the Peninsulas 2012 Facilitation of American Chestnut ( Castanea dentata ) Seedling Establishment by Pinus virginiana in Mine Restoration

This study evaluated the influence of planting sites on the establishment and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) colonization of American chestnut (Castanea denetata (Marsh.) Borkh. ) on an abandoned coal mine in an Appalachian region of the United States. Root morphotyping and sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region were used to identify the ECM species associated with the chestnut seedlings. Germination, survival, ECM root colonization, and growth were assessed in three habitats: forest edge, center (plots without vegetation), and pine plots (a 10-year-old planting of Pinus virginiana). Seedlings in pine plots had higher survival (38%) than the other plot types (center 9% and forest edge 5%; P = 0.007). Chestnuts found colonized by ECM within the pine plots were larger (P = 0.02), contributed by a larger root system (P = 0.03). Forest edge and pine plots had more ECM roots than seedlings in center plots (P = 0.04). ITS fungal sequences and morphotypes found among chestnut and pine matched Scleroderma, Thelephora, and Pisolithus suggesting these two plant species shared ECM symbionts. Results indicated that the presence of P. virginiana had a greater facilitative effect on growth and survival of chestnut seedlings.
Critical Linkages: Assessing Connectivity Restoration Potential for Culvert Replacement, Dam Removal and Construction of Wildlife Passage Structures in Massachusetts

The University of Massachusetts Amherst, working in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and state agencies, has integrated data related to landscape connectivity and human development and completed a comprehensive analysis of areas in Massachusetts where connections must be restored to support biodiversity and minimize vehicle-wildlife collisions. The Critical Linkages project has been developing spatially explicit tools, including maps and scenario-testing software, to mitigate impacts of roads on the environment and help inform the design of new roads. The project built on the existing Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System (CAPS), a computer model developed by UMass that incorporates biophysical and anthropogenic data to develop an index of ecological integrity. Within the framework of CAPS the connectedness and aquatic connectedness metrics were used to model various scenarios and quantify the differences among them. Using this approach the authors conducted a comprehensive statewide assessment of restoration potential for 1) dam removals, 2) culvert replacements and 3) construction of wildlife passage structures on roads and highways. A baseline assessment of connectedness and aquatic connectedness provided a statewide base scenario for comparison of restoration options. Scenario-testing software was developed to efficiently assess restoration potential for large numbers of possible restoration projects and then applied statewide to identify road segments, road-stream crossings and dams that currently obstruct aquatic and terrestrial wildlife movement and that offer the greatest opportunity for restoration of landscape connectivity in Massachusetts.
Sea-temperature anomalies and population dynamics variations : effects on growth and density of three bivalves

The demographic structure of stable population s is usually modelled by a simple exponential decay mode! For 3 mollusc species, this model has been improved by taking inlo aecount monthly sea-temperature anomalies ealculated on a 20 yr daily tempe rature ehronicle. For the 3 species examined, Tapes rhomboides, Glycymeris glycymeris and SpisuJa ovalis, from the southern part of the Western English Channel, only temperature anomalies during the 2 mo following the major spawning period were positively eorrelated with density anomalies, probably in eonneetion with larval stage sensitivity. Comparison of temperature anomalies and mean annual growth variability suggests an apparent positive effeet of te mperature during autumn or winter months, signifieant for T. rhomboides only. ln spring and summer, te mperature anomalies were negatively correlated with annual growth; although this phenomenon did not reach statistieal significanee, it may be linked with the well-known competition between gonadie development and somatie growth.
Credit Risk Models, Capital Standards and Self-Regulation

Credit risk models seek to characterize, quantify, forecast and evaluate the consequence of non-fulﬁllment of contractual obligations. In banking contexts, this typically refers to default onloans (including bonds) and payouts under credit guarantees. However ﬁnancial innovationsof the past two decades extends it to counterparty risk on derivatives, cash ﬂows on stratiﬁedsecuritizations, and contingent payments on credit derivatives.
Identificación de comunidades a través del lenguaje

En este trabajo desarrollamos una metodoloǵıa para identificar comunidades en redes sociales exclusivamente a través de su jerga, es decir por el lenguaje que utilizan. Presentamos resultados preliminares de nuestros experimentos en los que logramos una accuracy del 80% mediante modelos de PLN.