Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effective removal of hexavalent chromium with magnetically reduced graphene oxide bentonite

Abstract Water pollution by hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is widespread and problematic. As a result, more research into economic Cr(VI) removal is needed. In this study, we created and employed an adsorption–reduction mechanism to remove Cr(VI). Magnetically reduced graphene oxide bentonite (MrGO-BT) is acid resistant and can undergo magnetic separation. The hydroxyl group of chitosan (CS) condensed with the functional groups on the surface of bentonite (BT), and the MrGO-BT sandwich has been fabricated and constructed from an Fe3O4 core layer sandwiched by reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and a BT shell, with CS acting as a crosslinker. Cr(VI) elimination by MrGO-BT was exothermic and spontaneous according to thermodynamic analyses. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms were characterized by the pseudo-second order kinetic theory and the Langmuir model, respectively. Regarding the elimination of Cr(VI), the greatest adsorption ability for Cr(VI) elimination achieved was 91.5 mg g–1. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggested that Cr(VI) was reduced by C–O–H on MrGO-BT to produce Cr(III) and H–C=O, and that Cr(III) chelated with amino groups or exchanged with BT after intercalation. In addition, the introduction of Cu2+ increased the positive charge of MrGO-BT and amplified the electrostatic interaction between Cr2O72− and HCrO4–, which is what caused Cr(VI) to be eliminated. Cu2+ and reduced Cr(III) combined with -NH2 on the surface of MrGO-BT to form -NH-Cr(III) or -NH-Cu2+, and Cr(VI) elimination via chelation and ion exchange was confirmed. MrGO-BT is shown to be an adsorbent with high acid resistance and good magnetic responsiveness and stability.
Self-consistent field model for condensed matter

A model for condensed matter is described in which the ions surrounding a particular atom are replaced by a constant density positive charge background outside of a spherical cavity. Electrons provide sufficient negative charge to neutralize the atomic nucleus at the center of the cavity and the positive charge outside. The orbital functions of the electrons, both bound and free, are obtained as solutions of the Dirac equation and are used to self-consistently determine the potential function. A prescription is given for separating the total volume and the total free energy of the system into parts associated with the atom and the surrounding medium. The Wigner-Seitz sphere radius at which the atomic free energy is lowest was found for each of 14 elements including the 5d transition metals. They differ from the sphere radii based on measured densities by from 2 to 8 percent. It is expected that results will improve in the high pressure region for which this model is mainly intended.
The Integration of Biopolymer-Based Materials for Energy Storage Applications: A Review

Biopolymers are an emerging class of novel materials with diverse applications and properties such as superior sustainability and tunability. Here, applications of biopolymers are described in the context of energy storage devices, namely lithium-based batteries, zinc-based batteries, and capacitors. Current demand for energy storage technologies calls for improved energy density, preserved performance overtime, and more sustainable end-of-life behavior. Lithium-based and zinc-based batteries often face anode corrosion from processes such as dendrite formation. Capacitors typically struggle with achieving functional energy density caused by an inability to efficiently charge and discharge. Both classes of energy storage need to be packaged with sustainable materials due to their potential leakages of toxic metals. In this review paper, recent progress in energy applications is described for biocompatible polymers such as silk, keratin, collagen, chitosan, cellulose, and agarose. Fabrication techniques are described for various components of the battery/capacitors including the electrode, electrolyte, and separators with biopolymers. Of these methods, incorporating the porosity found within various biopolymers is commonly used to maximize ion transport in the electrolyte and prevent dendrite formations in lithium-based, zinc-based batteries, and capacitors. Overall, integrating biopolymers in energy storage solutions poses a promising alternative that can theoretically match traditional energy sources while eliminating harmful consequences to the environment.
On some consequences of the canonical transformation in the Hamiltonian theory of water waves

We discuss some consequences of the canonical transformation in the Hamiltonian theory of water waves (Zakharov, J. Appl. Mech. Tech. Phys., vol. 9, 1968, pp. 190–194). Using Krasitskii's canonical transformation we derive general expressions for the second-order wavenumber and frequency spectrum and the skewness and the kurtosis of the sea surface. For deep-water waves, the second-order wavenumber spectrum and the skewness play an important role in understanding the so-called sea-state bias as seen by a radar altimeter. According to the present approach but in contrast with results obtained by Barrick & Weber (J. Phys. Oceanogr., vol. 7, 1977, pp. 11–21), in deep water second-order effects on the wavenumber spectrum are relatively small. However, in shallow water in which waves are more nonlinear, the second-order effects are relatively large and help to explain the formation of the observed second harmonics and infra-gravity waves in the coastal zone. The second-order effects on the directional-frequency spectrum are as a rule more important; in particular it is shown how the Stokes-frequency correction affects the shape of the frequency spectrum, and it is also discussed why in the context of the second-order theory the mean-square slope cannot be estimated from time series. The kurtosis of the wave field is a relevant parameter in the detection of extreme sea states. Here, it is argued that in contrast perhaps to one's intuition, the kurtosis decreases while the waves approach the coast. This is related to the generation of the wave-induced current and the associated change in mean sea level.
Division polynomials and multiplication formulae of Jacobian varieties of dimension 2

D. Grant gave a set of defining equations and the addition formulae on the Jacobian varieties of hyperelliptic curves of the form $y^2=x^{5}+\cdots$, using the $\sigma$-function and hyperelliptic functions. In this paper, using these functions, we give the n-multiplication formulae on the Jacobian varieties of hyperelliptic curves of the form $y^2=x^{5}+\cdots$.
Mass-loss rates of H-rich central stars of planetary nebulae as distance indicators?

If the mass loss rate, _ M, or the modied wind momentum, , of central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPN) is strictly related to the luminosity, the study of their winds can be used to derive their distance as suggested in the literature. However, the mass loss rates and modied wind momenta of a sample of 13 CSPN published in the literature show a separation into two groups, which dier by a factor 10 to 10 2 in . This is partly, but not completely, due to dierences in the adopted methods for mass loss determinations, and partly due to dierences in the adopted stellar parameters, mainly the eective temperature. We have adopted a homogeneous set of stellar parameters, based on the Zanstra method, the dynamical ages of the nebulae and on evolutionary tracks, and scaled the mass loss rates accordingly. The revised data show that there is a large jump in _ M and near Te' 60 000 K, with _ M and being larger by a factor 10 to 10 2 for the cooler group of CSPN of spectral type Of, than for the hotter group of type O. This discontinuity is most likely due to a bi-stability jump. The revised data do not show a clear relation between and the luminosity. The consequences are discussed in terms of the post-AGB evolution theory and the radiation driven wind models.
Online Health Information-Seeking Behaviours and eHealth Literacy among First-Generation Chinese Immigrants

Due to linguistic and cultural barriers, immigrants often have limited access to health information. Online health information is popular and accessible, but quality is questionable and its benefits dependent on an individual’s eHealth literacy. This study examined online health information-seeking behaviours, eHealth literacy and its predictors among first-generation Chinese immigrants. A sample of 356 Chinese immigrants living in Australia completed an anonymous paper-based survey, including sociodemographic, clinical data, English proficiency, health literacy, online health information-seeking behaviours, and eHealth literacy. Linear regression models analyzed predictive factors of eHealth literacy. Participants were aged mean 59.3 years, female (68.3%), 53.1% completed university, and their English proficiency was rated fair/poor by 75.1%. Participants perceived online health information as useful (61.6%) and important (56.2%) to their health. Health information accessed was often related to lifestyle (61.2%), health resources (44.9%), diseases (36.0%), and medications (30.9%). Inadequate health literacy and eHealth literacy occurred in 48.3% and 44.9%, respectively. Age, number of technological devices used, education, and health status were independently associated with eHealth literacy. While most Chinese immigrants used online health information, many had inadequate eHealth literacy. Healthcare authorities and providers should support older immigrants, those with lower education and poorer health, and those less engaged with technology in online health information use by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate information, directing immigrants to credible websites, and involving them in health material development processes.
An Approximate Method for Population Toxicokinetic Analysis With Aggregated Data

Standard statistical models for analyzing inter-individual variability in clinical pharmacokinetics (nonlinear mixed effects; hierarchical Bayesian) require individual data. However, for environmental or occupational toxicants only aggregated data are usually available, so toxicokinetic analyses typically ignore population variability. We propose a hierarchical Bayesian approach to estimate inter-individual variability from the observed mean and variance at each time point, using a bivariate normal (or lognormal) approximation to their joint likelihood. Through analysis of both simulated data and real toxicokinetic data from 1,3-butadiene exposures, we conclude that given information on the form of the individual-level model, useful information on inter-individual variability may be obtainable from aggregated data, but that additional sensitivity and identifiability checks are recommended.
The Roles of TRAF3 in Immune Responses

Seven tumor necrosis factor receptor- (TNFR-) associated factors (TRAFs) have been found in mammals, which are primarily involved in the signal translation of the TNFR superfamily, the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, and the retinoic acid-inducible gene I- (RIG-I-) like receptor (RLR) family. TRAF3 is one of the most diverse members of the TRAF family. It can positively regulate type I interferon production while negatively regulating signaling pathways of classical nuclear factor-κB, nonclassical nuclear factor-κB, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). This review summarizes the roles of TRAF3 signaling and the related immune receptors (e.g., TLRs) in several preclinical and clinical diseases and focuses on the roles of TRAF3 in immune responses, the regulatory mechanisms, and its role in disease.
On the limitations of comparing mean square forecast errors

Linear models are invariant under non-singular, scale-preserving linear transformations, whereas mean square forecast errors (MSFEs) are not. Different rankings may result across models or methods from choosing alternative yet isomorphic representations of a process. One approach can dominate others for comparisons in levels, yet lose to another for differences, to a second for cointegrating vectors and to a third for combinations of variables. The potential for switches in ranking is related to criticisms of the inadequacy of MSFE against encompassing criteria, which are invariant under linear transforms and entail MSFE dominance. An invariant evaluation criterion which avoids misleading outcomes is examined in a Monte Carlo study of forecasting methods.
Cdc14 phosphatase contributes to cell wall integrity and pathogenesis in Candida albicans

The Cdc14 phosphatase family is highly conserved in fungi. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Cdc14 is essential for down-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase activity at mitotic exit. However, this essential function is not broadly conserved and requires only a small fraction of normal Cdc14 activity. Here, we identified an invariant motif in the disordered C-terminal tail of fungal Cdc14 enzymes that is required for full enzyme activity. Mutation of this motif reduced Cdc14 catalytic rate and provided a tool for studying the biological significance of high Cdc14 activity. A S. cerevisiae strain expressing the reduced-activity hypomorphic mutant allele (cdc14hm) as the sole source of Cdc14 proliferated like the wild-type parent strain but exhibited an unexpected sensitivity to cell wall stresses, including chitin-binding compounds and echinocandin antifungal drugs. Sensitivity to echinocandins was also observed in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Candida albicans strains lacking CDC14, suggesting this phenotype reflects a novel and conserved function of Cdc14 orthologs in mediating fungal cell wall integrity. In C. albicans, the orthologous cdc14hm allele was sufficient to elicit echinocandin hypersensitivity and perturb cell wall integrity signaling. It also caused striking abnormalities in septum structure and the same cell separation and hyphal differentiation defects previously observed with cdc14 gene deletions. Since hyphal differentiation is important for C. albicans pathogenesis, we assessed the effect of reduced Cdc14 activity on virulence in Galleria mellonella and mouse models of invasive candidiasis. Partial reduction in Cdc14 activity via cdc14hm mutation severely impaired C. albicans virulence in both assays. Our results reveal that high Cdc14 activity is important for C. albicans cell wall integrity and pathogenesis and suggest that Cdc14 may be worth future exploration as an antifungal drug target.
New Challenges in the Management of Cholangiocarcinoma: The Role of Liver Transplantation, Locoregional Therapies, and Systemic Therapy

Simple Summary Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly lethal neoplasia, which incidence has steadily increased in the last years. Although surgical resection remains the cornerstone treatment for CCA, complete resection is only achieved in one third of patients, and the risk of recurrence exceeds 60%, which impacts the long-term outcome. In this context, the use of other therapeutic strategies such as liver transplantation in selected candidates, locoregional treatments or new chemotherapy schemes based on immunotherapy or targeted therapies may contribute in improving the overall survival of patients with CCA. The development of new treatment strategies forces us to redouble collaborative efforts to conduct prospective, high-quality studies that shed light on their use and applicability. The purpose of this review is discussing the actual controversies and future perspectives in the management of CCA. Abstract Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a neoplasm with high mortality that represents 15% of all primary liver tumors. Its worldwide incidence is on the rise, and despite important advances in the knowledge of molecular mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment, overall survival has not substantially improved in the last decade. Surgical resection remains the cornerstone therapy for CCA. Unfortunately, complete resection is only possible in less than 15–35% of cases, with a risk of recurrence greater than 60%. Liver transplantation (LT) has been postulated as an effective therapeutic strategy in those intrahepatic CCA (iCCA) smaller than 3 cm. However, the low rate of early diagnosis in non-resectable patients justifies the low applicability in clinical practice. The evidence regarding LT in locally advanced iCCA is scarce and based on small, retrospective, and, in most cases, single-center case series. In this setting, the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy could be useful in identifying a subgroup of patients with biologically less aggressive tumors in whom LT may be successful. The results of LT in pCCA are promising, however, we need a very careful selection of patients and adequate experience in the transplant center. Locoregional therapies may be relevant in unresectable, liver-only CCA. In iCCA smaller than 2 cm, particularly those arising in patients with advanced chronic liver disease in whom resection or LT may not be feasible, thermal ablation may become a reliable alternative. The greatest advances in the management of CCA occur in systemic treatment. Immunotherapy associated with chemotherapy has emerged as the gold standard in the first-line treatment. Likewise, the most encouraging results have been obtained with targeted therapies, where the use of personalized treatments has shown high rates of objective and durable tumor response, with clear signs of survival benefit. In conclusion, the future of CCA treatment seems to be marked by the development of new treatment strategies but high-quality, prospective studies that shed light on their use and applicability are mandatory.
Liquid Rope Coiling

A thin stream or rope of viscous fluid falling from a sufficient height onto a surface forms a steadily rotating helical coil. Tabletop laboratory experiments in combination with a numerical model for slender liquid ropes reveal that finite-amplitude coiling can occur in four distinct regimes (viscous, gravitational, inertio-gravitational, and inertial) corresponding to different balances among the three principal forces acting on the rope. The model further shows that the onset of coiling has distinct viscous, gravitational, and inertial modes that connect smoothly with the corresponding finite-amplitude regimes. In addition to steady coiling, slender liquid ropes falling onto surfaces can exhibit a remarkable variety of nonstationary behaviors, including propagating spiral waves of air bubbles, supercoiling, the leaping-shampoo (Kaye) effect for non-Newtonian fluids, and the fluid-mechanical sewing machine in which the rope leaves complex stitch patterns on a moving surface.
Diagnosing and Treating Infertility via Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery versus Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery: A Retrospective Study

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in the treatment of female infertility. Materials and methods: This study includes 174 female patients with a history of long-standing female infertility. We retrospectively reviewed 41 patients who underwent hysterolaparoscopy (HL) via transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) and 133 patients who underwent laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS). Demographic data, operation records, and pregnancy outcomes were collected and analyzed. The deadline for postoperative follow-up was June 2022. All the included patients were followed up for at least 18 months after surgery. Results: Compared with the LESS group, the vNOTES group had a shorter postoperative bowel movement time and less pain at 4 and 12 h (p = 0.004 vs. 0.008); no differences were found in other perioperative indicators. The clinical pregnancy rates of the vNOTES and LESS groups were 87.80% and 74.43% (p = 0.073), respectively. Conclusions: vNOTES represents a new, less invasive approach for infertility diagnosis and treatment that is particularly suitable for women who have special esthetic requirements. vNOTES is safe and practical and may be an ideal choice for scarless infertility surgery.
Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity

Rickettsia amblyommatis is a potentially pathogenic species of Rickettsia within the spotted fever group vectored by ticks. While many studies have been published on this species, there is debate over its pathogenicity and the inhibitory role it plays in diagnosing illnesses caused by other spotted fever group Rickettsia species. Many publications have recorded the high infection prevalence of R. amblyommatis in tick populations at a global scale. While this species is rather ubiquitous, questions remain over the epidemiological importance of this possible human pathogen. With tick-borne diseases on the rise, understanding the exact role that R. amblyommatis plays as a pathogen and inhibitor of infection relative to other tick-borne pathogens will help public health efforts. The goal of this review was to compile the known literature on R. amblyommatis, review what we know about its geographic distribution, tick vectors, and pathogenicity, assess relatedness between various international strains from ticks by phylogenetic analysis and draw conclusions regarding future research needed.
Fitting the optical constants of gold, silver, chromium, titanium, and aluminum in the visible bandwidth

Abstract. The fitting of metal optical properties is a topic that has applications in advanced simulations of spectroscopy, plasmonics, and optical engineering. In particular, the finite difference time domain method (FDTD) requires an analytical model of dispersion that verifies specific conditions to produce a full spectrum in a single run. Combination of Drude and Lorentz models, and Drude and critical points models, are known to be efficient, but the number of parameters to be adjusted for fitting data can prevent accurate results from simulated annealing or Nelder-Mead. The complex number relative permittivities of Au, Ag, Al, Cr, and Ti from either Palik or Johnson and Christy experimental data in the visible domain of wavelengths are successfully fitted by using the result of the particle swarm optimization method with FDTD constraint, as a starting point for the Nelder-Mead method. The results are well positioned compared to those that can be found in the literature. The results can be used directly for numerical simulations in the visible domain. The method can be applied to other materials, such as dielectrics, and to other domain of wavelengths.
Incorporation of diffuse interface in smoothed particle hydrodynamics: Implementation of the scheme and case studies

An algorithm is proposed to incorporate diffuse interface (DI) modelling in the Lagrangian smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) for the simulation of interface and its evolution. The model assumes a smooth variation of properties across the interface of two immiscible fluids. The conventional Cahn–Hilliard equation has been adopted to take care of the property variation across the DI. However, it has been recast to be compatible with the particle‐based formulation. The momentum equation has also been modified to account for the surface energy. Three different case studies namely evolution of gas bubbles at submerged orifice, drop deformation in shear flow and deformation of droplets in parabolic flow have been selected for the application of DI‐based SPH (DI‐SPH) method of solution. For the sake of comparison the predictions have been made for all the cases by DI‐SPH as well as by the basic SPH without incorporating DI. Results of these two simulations have been compared with those already reported in the literature. In all the cases DI‐SPH shows a definite improvement in the prediction of the complex interface and their dynamics. The present work demonstrates the strength of the technique in the simulation of diverse multiphase flow problems with evolving interfaces. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.