Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Solutions for control of nitrogen discharges at mines and quarries: Miniman project final report

The growth of Finnish extractive industry increases the need to study and monitor different environmental impacts and to integrate the environmental issues more tightly into the overall framework of the activities. Nitrogen released from explosives or from mining processes and ending up in the water system can have negative environmental effects. The MINIMAN project, financed by the Tekes Green Mining Programme and the industry aimed at comprehensive understanding on the nitrogen issue in the extractive industry. The project collected essential data on nitrogen compounds present in the environments of mines and quarries, and developed technologies for the treatment of nitrogen containing mine water. Based on a technology review, selective sorption, electrochemically assisted membrane separation and biological treatment were selected to be studied and developed in the project. Denitrification and nitrification studies on synthetic mine wastewater in laboratory scale revealed that denitrification was possible at low pH (2.5) and temperatures as low as 7°C. Nitrification was more pH sensitive. Both processes tolerated metals (Fe, Ni, Co and As). In the adsorption tests with zeolite, complete ammonium removal from real mine wastewater was achieved with a hydraulic retention time of 2 minutes, with complete regeneration. In addition, a novel electropervaporative nitrogen capture technology was developed. Further larger scale testing and development of all technologies is required to ensure their feasibility in a real mining site. A follow-up period in lysimeters showed that the explosives originated nitrogen content of left over stones from natural stone quarrying is relatively low and ca. half of the nitrogen is leached within the first weeks after detonation. The main sources of nitrogen are process and dewatering waters, irrespective of the scale of extractive activity. The total potential nitrogen load to the environment depends on the scale and type of the activity as well as the type of explosives used. In addition to factors related to the activity itself, the overall nitrogen management should take into account the background concentrations and sensitivity of the local ecosystem. ISBN, ISSN ISBN 978-951-38-8319-5 (URL: http://www.vttresearch.com/impact/publications) ISSN-L 2242-1211 ISSN 2242-122X (Online)
Neuronal Correlates of Goal-Based Motor Selection in the Prefrontal Cortex

Choosing an action that leads to a desired goal requires an understanding of the linkages between actions and their outcomes. We investigated neural mechanisms of such goal-based action selection. We trained monkeys on a task in which the relation between visual cues, action types, and reward conditions changed regularly, such that the monkeys selected their actions based on anticipated reward conditions. A significant number of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex were activated, after cue presentation and before motor execution, only by particular action-reward combinations. This prefrontal activity is likely to underlie goal-based action selection.
Phosphorus release with carbonate dissolution coupled to sulfide oxidation in Florida Bay seagrass sediments

We hypothesized that CaCO3 dissolution, coupled to sulfide oxidation, is an important mechanism by which solid‐phase inorganic P (iP) becomes available to seagrass in tropical carbonate sediments. To examine this supposition, we measured field sulfate reduction rates and simulated the acidity (10‐50 µmol H2SO4 cm−3 sediment) generated by subsequent sulfide oxidation from high (western) and low (eastern) total P (TP) sediments in Florida Bay. Dissolution experiments were conducted using sediment slurries at field pH (pore‐water pH ~6.5‐7.5). While CaCO3 dissolution (maximum 1.3% of sediment dry weight) was evidenced at all sites by leaching of Ca2+ into slurries, at three of the four sites PO43‐ was primarily recovered in the sediment exchangeable pools and at a lower P : Ca ratio than observed in source sediments. In contrast, no PO43‐ was recovered from an eastern bay site with the lowest TP and finest‐grained sediments, suggesting that PO43‐ was either tightly adsorbed or incorporated into the carbonate matrix post‐acidification. The potential for tight PO43‐ resorption by sediment from the low‐TP site was also supported by the rapid rate of isotopic exchange of 33PO43‐ into the sediment matrix. These adsorptive and incorporation processes may explain the low PO43‐ in pore waters in the eastern vs. western regions of Florida Bay, even upon dissolution of carbonates. Carbonate dissolution coupled to sulfide oxidation could potentially provide 1.8 and 23.5 µmol iP m−2 d−1 at eastern and western bay sites, respectively, meeting 5% of eastern and 29% of western bay seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) P requirements.
Online Multi-Task Gradient Temporal-Difference Learning

We develop an online multi-task formulation of model-based gradient temporal-difference (GTD) reinforcement learning. Our approach enables an autonomous RL agent to accumulate knowledge over its lifetime and efficiently share this knowledge between tasks to accelerate learning. Rather than learning a policy for a reinforcement learning task tabula rasa, as in standard GTD, our approach rapidly learns a high performance policy by building upon the agent's previously learned knowledge. Our preliminary results on controlling different mountain car tasks demonstrates that GTD-ELLA significantly improves learning over standard GTD(0).
Reduced Efficacy of 8-OH-DPAT's Inhibition of Lordosis Behavior by Prior Estrogen Treatment

The effects of bilateral VMN infusion with the 5-HT1A receptor agonist, (+/-)-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT; 200, 1000, or 2000 ng), on lordosis behavior were examined in hormonally primed ovariectomized rats. When rats were given a single injection with 25 microg estradiol benzoate followed 48 h later with 500 microg progesterone, inhibition of lordosis behavior was evident at all doses of 8-OH-DPAT. However, when rats were treated with 25 microg estradiol benzoate followed 7 days later with a second injection of 25 microg estradiol benzoate and then progesterone, none of the doses of 8-OH-DPAT effectively inhibited lordosis behavior. In some rats, cannulae were located near the most rostral portion of the VMN. In these rats, there was no effect of the second estrogen treatment on the response to 8-OH-DPAT. Therefore, a second experiment was performed to specifically evaluate the effects of two estradiol benzoate treatments on the response to bilateral 8-OH-DPAT infusion in the rostral VMN. In contrast to the reduced effectiveness of the 8-OH-DPAT infusion in the mid to caudal VMN in rats given two injections with estradiol benzoate, 2000 ng 8-OH-DPAT continued to effectively inhibit lordosis behavior following the 5-HT1A receptor agonist's infusion into the more rostral areas. These findings are discussed in relation to earlier studies in which the potency, but not the efficacy, of 8-OH-DPAT was reduced following systemic treatment with the 5-HT1A receptor agonist.
Subtyping binge eating disorder.

Cluster-analytic studies of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder (BED) have yielded 2 subtypes (pure dietary and mixed dietary-negative affect). The authors aimed to (a) replicate the subtyping with BED, (b) consider alternative approaches to subtyping, and (c) test the stability in individual differences in the subtyping. Cluster analyses of 101 patients revealed a dietary-negative affect subtype (33%) and a pure dietary subtype (67%). The dietary-negative affect subtype was characterized by greater eating-related psychopathology and psychological disturbance. Cluster analysis produced different results from alternative subtyping approaches (by major depression or by binge eating frequency). Cluster-analytic subtyping of data at 2 time points 4 weeks apart for a subset of 73 patients demonstrated significant consistency (kappa = .55). Findings suggest that moderate dieting is characteristic of BED and that affective disturbances occur in a subset of cases that represent a more disturbed variant. The subtypes may represent reasonably stable individual differences.
Infants’ Discrimination of Consonants: Interplay Between Word Position and Acoustic Saliency

ABSTRACT Research has shown that young infants use contrasting acoustic information to distinguish consonants. This has been used to argue that by 12 months, infants have homed in on their native language sound categories. However, this ability seems to be positionally constrained, with contrasts at the beginning of words (onsets) discriminated earlier. This study explores whether English-learning 12- and 20-month-olds discriminate coda consonants in word-final and word-medial positions. The 12-month-old group successfully discriminated place of articulation contrasts for voiced stops in word-final position, though not voiceless stops in either position, while the older infants discriminated place of articulation contrasts for both voiced and voiceless stops in both positions. This indicates that voiced stops may be more acoustically salient than voiceless, and that position influences discrimination. Our findings support the claim that infants build speech sound categories starting with more salient contrasts in strong positions, which expand to other positions over the course of development.
Optimization of the composition of fat systems of new generation

Fats are an integral part of human nutrition. The increased content of trans-isomers in their composition causes a number of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. A promising approach to solving the problem of minimizing the content of trans- isomers of fatty acid in the composition of food products is the creation of a new generation of fat systems – the oleogel, which is the subject of the presented research. As the dispersion medium of the oleogel, high-oleic sunflower oil is used, in contrast to the oil of traditional varieties, it is possible to obtain systems with enhanced oxidation resistance. The dispersed phase of these fat systems is beeswax, tripalmitin and monoacylglycerols. The choice of a complex of these components is based on their properties to create in oleogels a three-dimensional structure with desired thermomechanical characteristics. At present, there is not enough information about the dependence of the main characteristics of the oleogel on the ratio of ingredients of dispersed phase. In particular, one of the most problematic places in the oleogel technology is its thermal stability, which significantly affects the parameters of production, transportation, as well as storage conditions and periods. To solve this problem, the methodology of the response surface is used in the work. The determination of the unknown values of the parameter vector is carried out by applying regression analysis algorithms. The minimization of the deviation functional is performed by finding the appropriate combinations of experimental predictor series. As a result of research, a mathematical model is developed, which allows, based on data on the component composition of the oleogel, to predict its thermal stability. Reasonably rational mass fractions of the components of the dispersed phase of the oleogel: the content of beeswax is 3.27 wt. %; content of tripalmitin is 3.07 wt. % and the content of monoacylglycerol is 4.70 wt. %, at which the maximum value of the response function is reached. The results will serve as a scientific basis for the development of technological parameters of the industrial production of fat systems of the new generation, the conditions and terms of their storage and transportation.
Exportpotentiale für die österreichische Wirtschaft: Eine Analyse relevanter Angebotsfaktoren

Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden wirtschaftspolitisch beeinflussbare Angebotsfaktoren untersucht, die erfolgreiche Exportlander kennzeichnen und masgeblich zur Verbesserung der Wettbewerbsfahigkeit von Volkswirtschaften beitragen konnen. Im Zentrum der Untersuchung stehen Masnahmen zur Steigerung der F&E Intensitat, der (offentlichen) Ausgaben im tertiaren Bildungsbereich sowie die Umsetzung einer nachhaltigen Energiepolitik. Unter der Annahme, dass Osterreich den konstanten Aufwartstrend fortsetzt und in diesen drei Wettbewerbsindikatoren zu den skandinavischen Landern (Danemark, Finnland und Schweden) aufschliesen konnte, lassen sich mogliche Exportpotentiale dieser unterschiedlichen Politikmasnahmen fur den osterreichischen Waren- und Dienstleistungshandel quanti-fizieren. Die empirischen Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass eine Erhohung der Ausgaben fur F&E sowie fur tertiare Bildung positive Exportimpulse induzieren konnen. Daruber hinaus deuten unsere Ergebnisse darauf hin, dass eine allfallige Forcierung einer nachhaltigen Energiepolitik im Sinne einer Steigerung des Anteils erneuerbarer Energien am gesamten Energiekonsum nicht im Widerspruch zu einer erfolg-reichen Exportperformance stehen muss.
A cognitive architecture for modular and self-reconfigurable robots

The field of reconfigurable swarms of modular robots has achieved a current status of performance that allows applications in diverse fields that are characterized by human support (e.g. exploratory and rescue tasks) or even in human-less environments. The main goal of the EC project REPLICATOR [1] is the development and deployment of a heterogeneous swarm of modular robots that are able to switch autonomously from a swarm of robots, into different organism forms, to reconfigure these forms, and finally to revert to the original swarm mode [2]. To achieve these goals three different types of robot modules have been developed and an extensive suite of embodied distributed cognition methods implemented [3]. Hereby the methodological key aspects address principles of self-organization. In order to tackle our ambitious approach a Grand Challenge has been proposed of autonomous operation of 100 robots for 100 days (100 days, 100 robots). Moreover, a framework coined the SOS-cycle (SOS: Swarm-Organism-Swarm) is developed. It controls the transitions between internal phases that enable the whole system to alternate between different modes mentioned above. This paper describes the vision of the Grand Challenge and the implementation and the results of the different phases of the SOS-cycle.
Prognostic value of positive cytology findings from abdominal washings in patients with gastric cancer

The poor prognosis of patients with gastric cancer with free abdominal tumour cells on cytological examination has been described in Japan. In a randomized trial in the Netherlands comparing D1 and D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer, patients were subjected to cytological examination of abdominal washings on an optional basis; findings were of no consequence for scheduled treatment. Cytology results in 535 patients were obtained, in 457 (85·4 per cent) after curative resection and in 78 (14·6 per cent) after palliative operation. There was a clear association of positive cytology results with serosal invasion (12 per cent positive cytology) and lymph node infiltration (7·5 per cent positive cytology). Survival of those with positive cytology results was significantly lower than that of those with negative findings, irrespective of the procedure employed (curative or palliative). Cytological examination of abdominal washings increases the accuracy of staging and improves the selection of patients suitable for curative or palliative resection.
MR detectability and appearance of small experimental intracranial hematomas at 1.5 T and 0.5 T. A 6-7-month follow-up study.

PURPOSE To investigate the detectability and appearance of small experimental intracranial hemorrhages on MR at 0.5 T and 1.5 T in a long-term follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS Autologous blood (1 ml) was injected into the brain of 7 rabbits to create intraparenchymal hematomas. The injected blood leaked partially into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces. MR imaging at 0.5 T and 1.5 T were performed immediately before and after hematoma creation, at 2 weeks and monthly up to 6 or 7 months using T1-, proton density- and T2-weighted (w) spin-echo (SE), FLAIR and T2*-w gradient echo (GE) pulse sequences. RESULTS Blood was detected both in the brain and in the CSF spaces of all animals during the first hours after hematoma creation at 1.5 T. In the last examination after 6-7 months, the T2*-w GE sequences still showed residues of the intraparenchymal hematomas in all the rabbits at 1.5 T, but the signal pattern was not specific for the age of the hematomas. SE and FLAIR sequences were insensitive. The histopathology revealed iron deposits in all brains. CONCLUSION Residues of small intraparenchymal hematomas can be seen for months with T2*-w GE sequences on brain MR imaging at 1.5 T. The age of the microhematomas cannot be estimated with MR imaging.
Relation of olfactory acuity to nasal membrane function.

The relationship between olfactory perception threshold and accompanying degrees of nasal obstruction, swelling, color and wetness was studied in eight subjects over a prolonged period. Olfactory acuity was impaired in two situations: a) in the presence of high degrees of nasal obstruction so that relatively little of the odorant-containing air could be brought into the nose, and b) in the absence of obstruction when the mucosa was relatively pale, dry and shrunken. During intermediate degrees of nasal obstruction when substantial amounts of air could be drawn into the nose relatively high degrees of swelling, redness and wetness favored olfactory acuity. Thus smelling was best performed in the presence of a red, swollen, wet mucosa as long as swelling and secretions were not of such a degree as to substantially block air passage. The evidence suggests that contact of odorant with nerve endings is facilitated by the greater warmth and humidifying effect of nasal engorgement during hyperfunction of the ‘air-conditioning’ apparatus of the nose. Submitted on March 14, 1960
A simple blue light pulse generator with GaN/SiC light emitting diodes for the time response testing of PMTs

A simple and cost-effective integrated synthesizer of fast light pulses has been designed, analyzed and tested for the characterization of the time response of photo-multipliers (PMT). This synthesizer consists of an integrated pulse generator based on Schmidt Trigger Inverters, a broadband matching network and a high speed LED. It enables the generation of pulses as short as less than 10 ns with variable pulse width, amplitude and repetition frequency. In order to accurately know the shape of the pulses applied to the PMT under test, a circuital model of the LED has been developed and verified at frequencies up to 2 GHz. This model accounts for the nonlinear behavior of the LED capacitance as well as the package parasitics. The influence of the mismatch at the different frequency components of the synthesized pulse has been investigated. The pulse transmitter has been used to test the time response of MAGIC telescope pixels.
Unidirectional, intermittent rotation of the flagellum of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

The single flagellum of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides was found to be medially located on the cell body. Observation of free-swimming bacteria, and bacteria tethered by their flagellar filaments, revealed that the flagellum could only rotate in the clockwise direction; switching of the direction of rotation was never observed. Flagellar rotation stopped periodically, typically several times a minute for up to several seconds each. Reorientation of swimming cells appeared to be the result of Brownian rotation during the stop periods. The flagellar filament displayed polymorphism; detached and nonrotating filaments were usually seen as large-amplitude helices of such short wavelength that they appeared as flat coils or circles, whereas the filaments on swimming cells showed a normal (small-amplitude, long-wavelength) helical form. With attached filaments, the transition from the normal to the coiled form occurred when the flagellar motor stopped rotating, proceeding from the distal end towards the cell body. It is possible that both the relaxation process and the smaller frictional resistance after relaxation may act to enhance the rate of reorientation of the cell. The transition from the coiled to the normal form occurred when the motor restarted, proceeding from the proximal end outwards, which might further contribute to the reorientation of the cell before it reaches a stable swimming geometry.
Smoking and physical activity: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES To better understand the co-occurrence of smoking and physical inactivity. METHODS A review of 5 databases identified 50 articles reporting empirical relationships between smoking and physical activity (PA). RESULTS Almost 60% of the articles reported a definitely negative association, but this relationship was often attenuated or reversed among adolescents and males and for moderate (vs vigorous) exercise. Stages of change for smoking and PA were relatively unrelated. CONCLUSION Smoking and PA are largely incongruent behaviors. Potential explanations for the observed relationships are described. These ranged from physiological (eg, lung function) to psychological (eg, depression) to socio-demographic (eg, education) factors.
Evasão de estudantes universitários: diagnóstico a partir de dados acadêmicos e socieconômicos

Educadores e gestores das instituicoes de ensino superior tem se preocupado com os altos indices de evasao de seus estudantes. Dessa forma, meios para o diagnostico precoce de estudantes propensos a evasao sao desejados, de forma a evita-la. Neste trabalho, propoe-se uma abordagem para auxiliar as instituicoes nas tomadas de decisao para combate desse fenomeno, a partir do uso de dados academicos e socioeconomicos dos estudantes. A viabilidade do modelo foi estudada com base em registros de alunos do curso de Ciencia da Computacao, da UFPB. Os resultados obtidos foram relevantes, com taxas de acerto de mais de 85% na classificacao dos estudantes
Achieving stringent climate targets : An analysis of the role of transport and variable renewable energies using energy ‐ economy ‐ climate models

Anthropogenic climate change is threatening the welfare of mankind. Accordingly, policy makers have repeatedly stated the goal of slowing climate change and limiting the increase of global mean temperature to less than 2°C above pre‐industrial times (the so‐called “two degree target”). Stabilizing the temperature requires drastic reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to nearly zero. As the global system of energy supply currently relies on fossil fuels, reducing GHG emissions can only be achieved through a full‐scale transformation of the energy system. There are many possible paths to realize such a decarbonization, resulting in a variety of distinct energy‐economy systems. Different transformation paths require different technologies and system changes, and will result in different socio‐economic and environmental impacts.
Thiel soft embalmed Porcine Kidney Perfusion Model for focused ultrasound therapy

Thiel soft embalmed porcine kidneys have been used to study the effect of artificial blood flow on focused ultrasound (FUS) therapy. A significant temperature drop is observed when a perfusion is established within the porcine kidneys, compared with the no-flow condition FUS leads to a 2 ~ 4 °C higher temperature rising. The influence of Thiel soft embalmed Porcine Kidney Perfusion Model for Focused Ultrasound Therapy e effect from blood flow must be considered.