Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Studies on the Toxicity of Chromium (VI) to Pistia stratiotes L. Plant and its Removal

Rapid growth of industrialization leads to pollution due to waste water. Many countries have experienced pollution hazards due to toxic metals. Industrial waste effluents containing toxic metals are creating water pollution problems. The present paper reports on the systematic studies of the uptake of Cr (VI) and the effect of the metal on some biochemical constituents of the plant Pistia stratiotes L. The biochemical parameters were : Chlorophylls, protein, free amino acid, RNA, DNA, dry weight and the activities of Protease, Peroxidase, Catalase and Acid/Alkaline Pyrophosphatase. The effects on the biochemical parameters differed from those in control experiments. The absorption of the metal by the plants gradually increased with increase in concentration of Cr (VI) in the culture medium. The aquatic plant species may be regarded as Cr (VI) accumulators. So, the plant Pistia stratiotes L. can serve the mankind as the scavenger of Cr (VI) from waste water.
Advances in Conservation Biogeography : Towards Protected Area Effectiveness under Anthropogenic Threats

This study endorses the main findings of a PhD thesis (Hoffmann 2020) and the manuscripts included intend to advance the success of protected areas in biodiversity conservation mediated through effective and efficient protected area management. The manuscripts provide missing scientific evaluations that modern conservation planning over large geographical extents requires: the comprehensive quantification of species diversity within and between protected areas; the development and application of efficient and effective in-situ monitoring and remote sensing of species diversity; and the assessment of anthropogenic climate change threats to protected areas. Moreover, the manuscripts aim at spreading conservation-minded data and knowledge by means of publishing open-access papers, open-source software and open data. This thesis synopsis is to stimulate a growing scientific and public debate on the effectiveness of protected areas and nature conservation under anthropogenic threats, which is necessary to stop nature’s decline and thus guarantee a sustainable future for the welfare of generations to come.
An Overview of the Photocatalytic Water Splitting over Suspended Particles

The conversion of solar to chemical energy is one of the central processes considered in the emerging renewable energy economy. Hydrogen production from water splitting over particulate semiconductor catalysts has often been proposed as a simple and a cost-effective method for large-scale production. In this review, we summarize the basic concepts of the overall water splitting (in the absence of sacrificial agents) using particulate photocatalysts, with a focus on their synthetic methods and the role of the so-called “co-catalysts”. Then, a focus is then given on improving light absorption in which the Z-scheme concept and the overall system efficiency are discussed. A section on reactor design and cost of the overall technology is given, where the possibility of the different technologies to be deployed at a commercial scale and the considerable challenges ahead are discussed. To date, the highest reported efficiency of any of these systems is at least one order of magnitude lower than that deserving consideration for practical applications.
Edge computing based ice‐snow data analysis with NDN paradigm support

In the era of big data, different data types have emerged as the introduction of new applications. Under this context, the data analysis becomes more and more significant, especially in the field of uncertain trajectory prediction. On the occasion of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, this paper pays attention to the ice‐snow data analysis so as to provide the support for the uncertain trajectory prediction. In terms of the enormous and redundant ice‐snow data, the edge computing framework is exploited to offload such data into the edge computing server for computing. Meanwhile, in order to satisfy the fast and efficient computing, the ice‐snow data is classified into different application types according to the named feature. For such purpose, this paper uses the inherent name space of Named Data Networking to differentiate different application types. Furthermore, regarding edge computing, this paper adopts Particle Swarm Optimization to perform the tasks offloading. For the proposed ice‐snow data analysis scheme, this paper carries out the real experiment environment deployment, and the results show that it can be used to provide the reference for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
Maize yield loss risk under droughts in observations and crop models in the United States

The negative drought impacts on crop yield are well recognized in the literature, but are evaluated mainly in a deterministic manner. Considering the randomness feature of droughts and the compounding effects of other factors, we hypothesize that droughts effects on yields are probabilistic especially for assessment in large geographical regions. Taking US maize yield as an example, we found that a moderate, severe, extreme and exceptional drought event (based on the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index) would lead to a yield loss risk (i.e. the probability of yield reduction lower than expected value) of 64.3%, 69.9%, 73.6%, and 78.1%, respectively, with hotspots identified in Central and Southeastern US. Irrigation has reduced yield loss risk by 10%–27%, with the benefit magnitude depending on the drought intensity. Evaluations of eight process crop models indicate that they can well reproduce observed drought risks for the country as a whole, but show difficult in capturing the spatial distribution patterns. The results highlight the diverse risk pattern in response to a drought event of specific intensity, and emphasize the need for better representation of drought effects in process models at local scales. The analysis framework developed in this study is novel in that it allows for an event-based assessment of drought effects in a risk manner in both observations and process crop models. Such information is valuable not only for robust decision-makings but also for the insurance sector, which typically require the risk information rather than a single value of outcome especially given the uncertainty of drought effects.
Designing injectable colloidal silica barriers for waste isolation at the Hanford Site

Injectable barriers can be formed from colloidal silica, a gelling colloidal suspension. A particular problem associated with emplacement of colloidal silica barriers is uncontrolled rapid gelling due to chemical interactions between the grout and divalent ions in the soil. The authors discuss three techniques for solving this problem. Gel-time control can be achieved in Hanford sand by displacing the divalent ions away from the injected grout. This can be done by preceding the grout injection with a preflush of 4% NaCl brine. For cases where preflushing is not permitted, displacement of divalent ions can also be achieved by starting the grout injection with diluted colloidal silica, which eventually gels due to its colloid content and accumulation of displaced divalent ions. Preliminary laboratory results support this strategy. A 13% solids colloid displaced divalent ions and did not gel during the injection period, while colloids with 20% or greater solids content gelled too rapidly. A second strategy to avoid preflushing is to use NaF, rather than NaCl, brine (or a mixture) to cause gelling of the first grout injected. The sodium ions caused displacement of divalent cations. The fluoride ion precipitates or complexes the major divalent cations, preventing premature gelling, but leavingmore » enough cations to gel slowly. Hanford sand accelerates gelling of colloidal silica grout that has been prepared with NaCl, but preliminary laboratory results show that if NaF is used instead of NaCl, the Hanford sand delays gelling. « less
Trend Analysis of Annual and Seasonal River Runoff by Using Innovative Trend Analysis with Significant Test

This study investigated the temporal patterns of annual and seasonal river runoff data at 13 hydrological stations in the Lake Issyk-Kul basin, Central Asia. The temporal trends were analyzed using the innovative trend analysis (ITA) method with significance testing. The ITA method results were compared with the Mann-Kendall (MK) trend test at a 95% confidence level. The comparison results revealed that the ITA method could effectively identify the trends detected by the MK trend test. Specifically, the MK test found that the time series percentage decreased from 46.15% in the north to 25.64% in the south, while the ITA method revealed a similar rate of decrease, from 39.2% to 29.4%. According to the temporal distribution of the MK test, significantly increasing (decreasing) trends were observed in 5 (0), 6 (2), 4 (3), 8 (0), and 8 (1) time series in annual, spring, summer, autumn, and winter river runoff data. At the same time, the ITA method detected significant trends in 7 (1), 9 (3), 6(3), 9 (3), and 8 (2) time series in the study area. As for the ITA method, the “peak” values of 24 time series (26.97%) exhibited increasing patterns, 25 time series (28.09%) displayed increasing patterns for “low” values, and 40 time series (44.94%) showed increasing patterns for “medium” values. According to the “low”, “medium”, and “peak” values, five time series (33.33%), seven time series (46.67%), and three time series (20%) manifested decreasing trends, respectively. These results detailed the patterns of annual and seasonal river runoff data series by evaluating “low”, “medium”, and “peak” values.
A Self-Powered Rectifier-Less Synchronized Switch Harvesting on Inductor Interface Circuit for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

In this article, a rectifier-less synchronized switch harvesting on inductor (ReL-SSHI) interface circuit for piezoelectric energy harvesting is presented. The proposed circuit works in two different modes: at the positive peak of the open-circuit voltage of the piezoelectric transducer (PZT), the switch in series with the load is turned on, and is operated in the series synchronized switch harvesting on inductor mode; at the negative peak of the open-circuit voltage of the PZT, the switch in parallel with the load is turned on, and is operated in voltage synchronous inversion mode. The ReL-SSHI circuit does not need a rectifier bridge so that the power loss of the circuit is reduced, and hence the piezoelectric energy harvesting efficiency of the circuit is improved. Theoretical analysis and simulation verify the effectiveness of the ReL-SSHI circuit.
A Backwards-Tracking Lagrangian-Eulerian Method for Viscoelastic Two-Fluid Flows

A new Lagrangian–Eulerian method for the simulation of viscoelastic free surface flow is proposed. The approach is developed from a method in which the constitutive equation for viscoelastic stress is solved at Lagrangian nodes, which are convected by the flow, and interpolated to the Eulerian grid with radial basis functions. In the new method, a backwards-tracking methodology is employed, allowing for fixed locations for the Lagrangian nodes to be chosen a priori. The proposed method is also extended to the simulation of viscoelastic free surface flow with the volume of fluid method. No unstructured interpolation or node redistribution is required with the new approach. Furthermore, the total amount of Lagrangian nodes is significantly reduced when compared to the original Lagrangian–Eulerian method. Consequently, the method is more computationally efficient and robust. No additional stabilization technique, such as both-sides diffusion or reformulation of the constitutive equation, is necessary. A validation is performed with the analytic solution for transient and steady planar Poiseuille flow, with excellent results. Furthermore, the proposed method agrees well with numerical data from the literature for the viscoelastic die swell flow of an Oldroyd-B model. The capabilities to simulate viscoelastic free surface flow are also demonstrated through the simulation of a jet buckling case.
Rural-Urban Differences in Characteristic and Lipid Profile Among Javanese Ethnic of Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Background: Urbanization has led to changes in human health with the inception of non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes mellitus (DM). This is generally due to the adaptation to unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles, with poor diet patterns. The purpose of this research is to identify the rural and urban differences in characteristics and lipid profile among the Javanese ethnic of Type 2 Diabetes patients. Method: This was an observational analytic study, with the cross-sectional approach used to obtain data from 102 T2DM patients in Gunungpati (rural), Pandanaran and Purwoyoso Health Centers (urban). The characteristics assessed included age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, blood sugar levels and lipid profile. The BMI was calculated by dividing body weight in kg by body height in meters squared, based on the Asia Pacific criteria. The blood pressure was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer, then the levels of FPG and lipid profile were taken after the patients fasted for the previous 8 hours. Furthermore, the Mann Whitney U test was used to test the characteristics differences with a significance value of p ≤ 0.05. Results: There were significant differences between FPG control (p = 0.032) and HDL levels (p = 0.006). Meanwhile, characteristic data such as age (p = 0.214), gender (p = 0.790), BMI (p = 0.196), and blood pressure (p = 0.123) did not have significant differences. Furthermore, insignificant results were also obtained at various levels of FPG (p = 0.917), cholesterol (p = 0.436), triglycerides (p = 0.724), LDL (p = 0.188), and Chol / HDL ratio (p = 0.297). In urban areas, the average cholesterol levels (185.59 ± 52.59) , HDL (62.60 ± 16.69 mg / dl), LDL (201.16 ± 59, 36 mg / dl), were higher than those in the rural areas. Conclusion: In the urban group, FPG control was significantly worse than rural. Furthermore, cholesterol, HDL, LDL of Javanese T2DM patients in urban areas are higher than those in rural areas. However, only HDL is significantly different
Prevalence and patterns of musculoskeletal pain among undergraduate students of occupational therapy and physiotherapy in a South African university

Background: Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) conditions are common in the educational leaning environment and are often associated with poor ergonomic conditions. Objective: This study investigated the prevalence, pattern and possible risk factors of MSP among undergraduate students of occupational therapy and physiotherapy in a South African university. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using an internet-based self-designed electronic questionnaire was used to obtain information about participants’ socio-demography, ergonomic hazards, MSP, and relevant personal information. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and logistic regression were used in analyzing the data. Results: There were 145 participants (females 115 (79.3%); physiotherapy (74) 51.03%), making 36.7% of the present undergraduate student population in the two departments. The most prevalent ergonomic work hazards were prolonged sitting (71.7%) and repetitive movements (53.8%). The 12 months prevalence of MSP among the students was 89.7%. The pattern of MSP revealed that pain on the neck region was most prevalent (66.2%) followed by pain in the low back region (64.4%). Duration of daily travels and participation in regular exercise activities were significantly associated with the prevalence of MSP. Logistic model explained 23.6% of the variance in prevalence of MSP and correctly classified 94.1% of cases (χ2=13.73, p=0.03). The right-handed students were 0.13 times more likely to present with MSP than left-handed students. Also, students who exercised regularly were 9.47 times less likely to present with MSP. Conclusion: MSP is highly prevalent among health science undergraduates and is significantly associated with sedentary postures and inadequacy in structured physical activity participation.
Quantitative Behavioral Analysis of Thermal Nociception in Caenorhabditis elegans: Investigation of Neural Substrates Spatially Mediating the Noxious Response, and the Effects of Pharmacological Perturbations

Quantitative behavioral analysis of thermal nociception in Caenorhabditis elegans: investigation of neural substrates spatially mediating the noxious response, and the effects of pharmacological perturbations. Aylia Mohammadi Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Physics University of Toronto 2013 The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans possesses a relatively simple nervous system of only 302 neurons, but is able to perform an impressive range of complex behaviors. This dissertation aims to understand the neurobiology of behavior by quantifying, at the systems-level, the sensorimotor response to carefully controlled stimuli. Through neuronal or genetic perturbations to the system, we can begin to uncouple the behavior from the underlying circuitry. The behavior studied here is thermal nociception, an escape response designed to protect an organism from potential tissue damage or harm from noxious heat. Vertebrates and invertebrates alike possess sensory neurons called nociceptors that detect noxious stimuli and relay the stimulus information to elicit an appropriate escape response. C. elegans is known to perform a reversal or forward response when presented with noxious stimuli at the head or tail, respectively. In this work, we develop a novel thermal stimulus assay with precise spatiotemporal control of an infrared pulse that targets small regions along the worm to spatially dissect the noxious response. We comprehensively quantify the nociceptive behavior, and identify key metrics that scale with intensity, such as speed in the escape state and the probability of certain behavioral states after the stimulus. Furthermore, we have mapped the behavioral receptive field of the worm along its body, and show a previously unreported probabilistic midbody behavior distinct from the head and tail responses. Surprisingly, the worm is able to differentiate localized
A Computational Study on the effects of Temperature and Osmotic Pressure on Water Extraction on Microalgae using Big Multipole Water - Martini Forcefield on GROMACS Simulation

Microalgae as a biofuel has been the interest of researchers because it is one of the sources of renewable biodiesel that is capable of meeting the global demand for transport fuel without competition on human food consumption. Drying the microalgae down to ten percent (10%) of its weight in large scale production that is cost and energy efficient has been the challenge for researchers in order to fully utilize its oil content and without producing soap. In this study, GROningen MAchine for Chemical Simulations (GROMACS) is utilized to provide a theoretical explanation on the mechanism of water extraction from the microalgae using the latest Big Multipole Water (BMW) - MARTINI Coarse-grained forcefield which gives more fundamental membrane properties and improved energetics when compared to the original MARTINI forcefield for the interactions at the membrane-water interface. To represent the Chlorella Vulgaris microalgae in molecular dynamics, Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) was used which is the dominant lipid in a microalgae excluding membrane proteins. In this study, the temperature was varied from 300 K to 410 K with 10 K increment to verify the effects of temperature on the thickness and layer structure of the DOPC which provided a deeper explanation on the traditional method of drying by introducing thermal energy. Moreover, a minimum osmotic pressure of 150 MPa was determined that exhibits extraction of water from the microalgae by applying acceleration on water in our simulation on non-walled periodic system.
Early Onset Favipiravir Saves Lives

Background Favipiravir, an antiviral recommended for use in patients with tachypnea (respiratory rate 30 / min) in COVID-19 pneumonia, with SpO2 level below 90% in room air and with bilateral diffuse pneumonia on chest X-ray or tomography, or patients with treatment-resistant fever, is a new type of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitor. After the administration of Favipiravir, it contributed significantly to reducing mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 positive disease. We performed this study to determine the start time in Favipiravir's covid pneumonia. Material and Method: We evaluated the effect of a total of 5 days of oral treatment as a 2 × 1600 mg loading dose and a 2 × 600 mg maintenance dose of Favipiravir added to the standard COVID-19 treatment received by patients with laboratory-radiology-clinical findings who have advanced or severe COVID 19 pneumonia. Results 180 patients hospitalized at Tuzla State Hospital and given Favipiravir treatment between 20/3/2020 and 30/5/2020 were examined. As of hospitalization, 17 of 101 patients (17%) who were given Favipiravir treatment in ≤ 3 days died, 30 of 79 patients (38%) who were given Favipiravir treatment for in > 3 days died (p:0.002). 33 of 47 patients (70%) who died were > 65 years old. Only 5 of the 47 (11%) patients who died had no comorbid disease. 35 had two or more comorbid diseases. Conclusion Patients with radiological findings indicating that COVID-19 will be severe and laboratory findings at the time of the first 3 days should be initiated with an effective dose of Favipiravir treatment without waiting for the clinical worsening.
Ambulatory physicians’ electronic health record self-efficacy

Abstract Ambulatory providers were administered an EHR skills self-assessment survey to assess their confidence in learning about and using the electronic health record (EHR). Seventy-one providers participated. Only 35% of respondents felt that they had strong EHR skills, 92% felt confident that they could learn new skills, and 90% felt they could improve with practice. Forty-five percent of faculty physicians felt confident that they could use the EHR in a time-efficient manner and 52% felt could keep up with advances but 16% felt apprehensive about using the EHR. Ninety-four percent of faculty would welcome opportunities to learn more. These results suggest that most providers view using the EHR as a clinical skill they can master with training and practice and that physicians may be engaged by EHR training programs that focus on the use of the EHR as a clinical skill. This work has informed new training programs at our institution.
Parametric Study of the Corrosion of API-5L-X65 QT Steel Using Potentiostat Based Measurements in a Flow Loop

Low-carbon steel is widely used in industrial pipelines, and corrosion studies are focused mostly on erosion-corrosion, its prediction and control. In this paper, the corrosion rate in pipelines is modeled using a flow loop and measured by linear polarization resistance method (LPR) using a 3-electrode corrosion setup for API-5L-X65 QT steel. Optical microscopy and SEM studies are conducted to examine the surface of the sample and the corrosion products. The effect of NaCl concentration on the corrosion rate is studied at different pH, temperature range, and flow velocities with dissolved oxygen content in the solution maintained at 6 mg/L (6ppm). The corrosion rate is found to be varying from 1 mil per year (0.0254 mmyr−1) to 10 mils per year (0.254 mmyr−1), and the corrosion rate increases with the flow velocity and reaches a maximum at Reynolds Number above 10,000. Further increase in fluid velocity shows corrosion is flow insensitive, and uniform corrosion is predominant in the region.