Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geochemistry of peridotitic clinopyroxene from the diamondiferous Mbuji-Mayi and Tshibwe kimberlites (DRC): insight into the compositional and thermal state of the SCLM beneath the eastern Kasai craton

The composition of clinopyroxenes from heavy mineral concentrates of the diamondiferous Mbuji-Mayi and Tshibwe kimberlites in the DRC have been studied to constrain the thermal and compositional state of the lithospheric mantle underlying the northeastern section of the Archaean Kasai craton of central Africa. Clinopyroxenes from Mbuji-Mayi fall into two populations, a larger subcalcic group (group 1; with Ca# between 41 and 45) and a smaller calcic group (group 2; with Ca# between 45 and 47) with group 2 cpx showing overall lower Al2O3 values and a trend of decreasing Al2O3 with increasing Ca# (Fig. 1). The group 1 cpx show an increase in Al2O3 contents with increasing Ca#. Both groups are relatively Cr-rich (Cr# ranging between 17.7 and 69.1) with group 1 having higher Cr contents, but they both show a broad increase of Cr# with increasing Mg#, and both groups display a broad range of Mg# (from 88.5 to 94 with group 2 cpx having higher Mg# on average than group 1). Both groups have high Na2O contents (ranging between 1.5 to 3.6 wt %) with group 1 extending to higher Na2O contents.
Navigating Early Career Management: Workplace Experiences and Career Impact

This article explores the workplace experiences of young professionals during their early integration into management roles and their implications for career development. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study conducted one-on-one interviews with 61 participants. The findings reveal a diverse range of workplace experiences that can either facilitate or complicate the integration process. Notably, the study sheds light on the persistence of gender-related issues in these early career stages. The research offers practical insights for organizations and guidance counselors and underscores the need for further exploration in this field.
New Economic Geography: perspectives, multiple regions and individual heterogeneity.

This dissertation focuses on the role of regions and heterogeneity as determinants of the spatial distribution of economic activities. The first essay provides a prospective assessment of some new avenues of research for New Economic Geography. We also identify new possible directions along which the field could develop. In the second essay, we study the Footloose Entrepreneur (FE) model with a finite number of equidistant regions, focusing on the qualitative properties of the following equilibria: agglomeration, dispersion and partial dispersion. We find that the tendency for agglomeration increases with the number of regions, whereas numerical evidence suggests that partial dispersion is always unstable. Locational hysteresis appears to be a persistent feature with an arbitrary number of regions. Finally, we introduce exogenous regional heterogeneity in the model and conclude that having more (less) farmers on the core (periphery) region improves the likelihood of a core-periphery pattern. In the third essay, we extend the FE model with quasi-linear log utility to multiple regions. We show that industry cannot disperse evenly among regions if there is at least one other region with no industry. We find that a spatial distribution where industry is evenly distributed among all regions except one requires that one region is considerably more industrialized than the others. As transportation costs decrease: (i) if inter-regional mobility is low, there is catastrophic agglomeration once dispersion becomes unstable; (ii) if it is high, the transition towards agglomeration is smoother. Finally, we find that the welfare of mobile workers is highest at agglomeration, whereas the welfare of the immobile workers is highest at dispersion. For the society as a whole, however, there is a tendency towards over-agglomeration of economic activities. In the last essay, we study a New Economic Geography model where all consumers are inter-regionally mobile and have Hotelling-type heterogeneous preferences for location. This heterogeneity produces a dispersive home-sweet-home effect. We demonstrate that different functional forms of preferences for location induce different spatial distributions in the longrun. We also find that a higher trade integration leads to less spatial inequality.
The Influence of Adding Glycerol and Spirulina on The Characteristics of Starch-Based Bioplastics Film from Potato Peel Waste

The development of bioplastic films is one of the efforts to reduce plastic waste. The polymer used as the basic material for making bioplastic films is starch. Potato peel waste can be repurposed by extracting its starch content. This research has the purpose to investigate the influence of adding glycerol and spirulina on the characteristics of bioplastic films made from potato peel starch, and to ascertain the optimum composition of raw materials. Bioplastics were produced by casting method from potato peel starch with variations of glycerol and spirulina. The bioplastic composition in this research includes K0 (0 ml glycerol and 0 grams spirulina), K1 (2.5 ml glycerol and 0.3 grams spirulina), K2 (1.25 ml glycerol and 0.3 grams spirulina), K3 (2.5 ml glycerol and 0.15 grams spirulina), and K4 (1.25 ml glycerol and 0.15 grams spirulina). The characteristics of bioplastic films include thickness testing, tensile strength, elongation at break, and degradation. The results from the characterization of bioplastic films indicate that the addition of glycerol and spirulina is inversely proportional to the tensile strength produced, meaning it decreases. However, the addition of glycerol and spirulina is directly proportional to the percentage of elongation produced, meaning it increases. The addition of spirulina has an impact on the degradation time of bioplastic films. The optimal raw material ratio in this research is found in sample K4, with a tensile strength value of 23.038 MPa, elongation at break of 4.385%, thickness of 0.1367 mm, and complete degradation occurring on the sixth day.
Risk factors of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer: a prospective cohort study

Objective Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and severe adverse reaction in taxane-based chemotherapy. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors of peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy to provide a reference for the early prevention of CIPN. Methods We included 350 patients with breast cancer who received chemotherapy for the first time at the Tangshan People’s Hospital between August 2022 and June 2023 and were followed for at least 3 months after the end of chemotherapy. The incidence of CIPN in patients with breast cancer was calculated, and risk factors for CIPN were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results The incidence rate of CIPN was 79.1%. Multifactor logistic regression analysis indicated that age ≥45 years [odds ratio (OR)=5.119, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.395–18.780] and ≥60 years (OR=9.366, 95% CI=1.228–71.421), history of hypertension (OR=3.475, 95% CI=1.073–11.250), cumulative dose of chemotherapy drugs >900 mg (OR=4.842, 95% CI=1.961–5.946), vitamin D deficiency (OR=6.214, 95% CI=2.308–16.729), abnormal alanine aminotransferase (OR=3.154, 95% CI=1.010–9.844), anemia before chemotherapy (OR=2.770, 95% CI=1.093–7.019), infusion duration of chemotherapy drugs >30 min (OR=3.673, 95% CI=1.414–9.539), body mass index ≥24 kg/m2 (OR=8.139, 95% CI=1.157–57.240), mild depression (OR=4.546, 95% CI=1.358–15.223), and major depression (OR=4.455, 95% CI=1.237–16.037) increased the risk of CIPN. Having a regular caregiver (OR=0.223, 95% CI=0.087–0.573), high levels of physical activity (OR=0.071, 95% CI=0.008–0.647), and strong social support (OR=0.048, 95% CI=0.003–0.682) were protective factors against CIPN. Conclusion Clinical attention should be paid to patients with these risk factors, and active and effective preventive measures should be taken to reduce the occurrence of CIPN and improve the quality of life.
Portal Vein Thrombosis: State-of-the-Art Review

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a rare disease with an estimated incidence of 2 to 4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The most common predisposing conditions for PVT are chronic liver diseases (cirrhosis), primary or secondary hepatobiliary malignancy, major infectious or inflammatory abdominal disease, or myeloproliferative disorders. Methods: PVT can be classified on the basis of the anatomical site, the degree of venous occlusion, and the timing and type of presentation. The main differential diagnosis of PVT, both acute and chronic, is malignant portal vein invasion, most frequently by hepatocarcinoma, or constriction (typically by pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma). Results: The management of PVT is based on anticoagulation and the treatment of predisposing conditions. The aim of anticoagulation in acute thrombosis is to prevent the extension of the clot and enable the recanalization of the vein to avoid the development of complications, such as intestinal infarction and portal hypertension. Conclusions: The treatment with anticoagulant therapy favors the reduction of portal hypertension, and this allows for a decrease in the risk of bleeding, especially in patients with esophageal varices. The anticoagulant treatment is generally recommended for at least three to six months. Prosecution of anticoagulation is advised until recanalization or lifelong if the patient has an underlying permanent pro-coagulant condition that cannot be corrected or if there is thrombosis extending to the mesenteric veins.
Tectonic tremor and LFEs on a reverse fault in Taiwan

We compare low‐frequency earthquakes (LFEs) from triggered and ambient tremor under the southern Central Range, Taiwan. We apply the PageRank algorithm used by Aguiar and Beroza (2014) that exploits the repetitive nature of the LFEs to find repeating LFEs in both ambient and triggered tremor. We use these repeaters to create LFE templates and find that the templates created from both tremor types are very similar. To test their similarity, we use both interchangeably and find that most of both the ambient and triggered tremor match the LFE templates created from either data set, suggesting that LFEs for both events have a common origin. We locate the LFEs by using local earthquake P wave and S wave information and find that LFEs from triggered and ambient tremor locate to between 20 and 35 km on what we interpret as the deep extension of the Chaochou‐Lishan Fault.
Cost of Production, Cost of Operation, and Net Sales to Net Profit

This research aimed to assess the impact of production costs, operating costs, and net sales on the net income of metal and comparable manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the period 2016–2020, whether individually or collectively. The data collection employed a purposive sampling method. The findings revealed that production costs had a partial impact on net income, whereas operating costs exhibited an influence on net income, while net sales did not. Collectively, the variables of production costs, operating costs, and net sales exerted a significant effect on net income. The R2 test indicated a value of 0.359. These results substantiate that production costs, operational costs, and net sales jointly contribute to the net income of metal and similar manufacturing companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2016-2020 period, accounting for 35.9%. This implies that profit in this study is influential, while the remaining 64.1% is influenced by other factors not considered in this research
Is current floodplain management a cause for concern for fish and bird conservation in Bangladesh's largest wetland?

Worldwide, water regulatory structures have impacts on aquatic ecological connectivity. This study determined the effects of current sluice management on the fish community in the Baral River, a major connection to the largest wetland (Chalan Beel) in Bangladesh. It also examines wider problems for biodiversity conservation (particularly waterbirds) in that wetland, which has shrunk to 30% of its former dry-season size in 50 years. During the flood period, the peak breeding time for native floodplain fishes, sluices were in undershot operation (open by 16–60% of water depth). During this time, fish abundance and species richness were 229% and 155% higher respectively at sites upstream of the sluices, despite similar habitat upstream and downstream. Outside this period, when sluices were fully open, abundance and species richness were similar upstream and downstream. Fish samples were dominated by fry, which are susceptible to damage by sluices. Twenty (41.7%) of 48 fish species captured in this study are classed as threatened in Bangladesh and their abundance was significantly lower downstream of the sluices. Two alien species, Aristichthys nobilis and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, were recorded, probably escapees from local aquaculture activities. Twenty-five species of wetland birds were recorded in the Chalan Beel. From interviews, 64% of these species appear to have decreased in the last 20 years, together with 11 more species that may have become locally extinct over this period. This suggests that widespread ecological disruption is occurring. Improved water management (e.g. gate opening height and duration) or modification (e.g. fish pass) of the Baral sluices is needed, to meet biodiversity and fisheries needs, rather than just for flood control and crop production. Improved hydrological and ecological connectivity and habitat protection are needed, as are a cessation of destructive fishing and seasonal fish ranching practices that currently provide synergistic pressures.
Enabling circular economy practices in regional contexts: Insights from the UK Southwest

While much research has focused on embedding circular economy (CE) practices in urban contexts, there is growing interest in the opportunities and challenges of rural settings. Adopting a regional lens can account for local knowledge, collective practices and community memory, yet CE conceptualisations often lack both a place-based dimension and a consideration of regional stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to explore the role of various stakeholders, in driving the adoption and implementation of CE practices at a regional level. We do this through engagement with 31 participants from business, governance and community groups in a peripheral region situated in the Southwest of the UK. Using stakeholder theory and thematic analysis of interviews, participant observation and workshop scripts, we identify ‘influencers’ as a key stakeholder group leading the implementation of regional CE goals and practices. Furthermore, we highlight key barriers and enabling factors which underpin interactions among different stakeholder groups and discuss their implications for regional CE transition.
Proving a landslide: ground behaviour problems at Pissouri, Cyprus

The residential area of Limnes in Pissouri, SW Cyprus has experienced significant ground behaviour problems since heavy winter rainfall in 2011/2012. These problems have comprised cracking and displacement to the ground, pavements, roads, walls and buildings, leading to the abandonment of the most seriously-affected houses. Nicosia marl comprises the underlying lithology, a material that is associated with volume change upon wetting and drying and has led to foundation problems elsewhere in the country. Various explanations have been given to account for the observed phenomena at Limnes, including the effects of underground water, settlement, slope instability, cyclical shrink–swell, seepage erosion and dissolution. Raised water tables, caused by residential waste-water discharges, applied loads from residential buildings, and inadequate ground investigation and foundation design, are other contributory or causal factors that have been cited. A geomorphological study was undertaken in 2017 and early 2018 that combined field observations with aerial photograph interpretation, and a review of available ground investigation data, to yield an explanation and develop a preliminary ground model. The conclusion drawn was that the Limnes area had been affected by ancient (possibly late Pleistocene–early Holocene) deep-seated failure and that slope instability had subsequently been reactivated at a shallower depth within the failed material as a result of loss of material strength and high water tables. The properties of the Nicosia marl, while important in controlling the behaviour of the ground on a site-by-site basis, were considered to be aggravating factors in the context of the landslide displacement(s) affecting the slope as a whole. InSAR satellite movement monitoring data were analysed for the Limnes area and the outcome vindicated the geomorphological interpretation and helped strengthen the ground model that embodied slope failure as the underlying cause of damage.
An experiment in statistical prediction of tropical cyclone intensity change

The development of a family of statistical models of tropical cyclone intensity change as a function of climatology, persistence, and synoptic variables is described. The climatological sea surface temperature (SST) distribution and the effects of proximity to land are explicitly included in the climatology-persistence (CP) model, which is developed from National Hurricane Center (NHC) best track data from 1962-1985. This model performs nearly as well as the current operational SHIFOR model over water and produces results consistent with the official forecast track over and near land. Output from the CP model is used along with pre-selected predictors from lowerand upper-tropospheric wind analyses to produce synoptic (SY) and combined (CO) models. Synoptic predictors are statistically significant when used alone, but do not yield a significant improvement to the CP model. Suggestions are made regarding the direction of future attempts at intensity change prediction.
TGF-β Signaling Pathways in the Development of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus affecting a significant portion of the global population, has long been viewed primarily as a microvascular disorder. However, emerging evidence suggests that it should be redefined as a neurovascular disease with multifaceted pathogenesis rooted in oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products. The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling family has emerged as a major contributor to DR pathogenesis due to its pivotal role in retinal vascular homeostasis, endothelial cell barrier function, and pericyte differentiation. However, the precise roles of TGF-β signaling in DR remain incompletely understood, with conflicting reports on its impact in different stages of the disease. Additionally, the BMP subfamily within the TGF-β superfamily introduces further complexity, with BMPs exhibiting both pro- and anti-angiogenic properties. Furthermore, TGF-β signaling extends beyond the vascular realm, encompassing immune regulation, neuronal survival, and maintenance. The intricate interactions between TGF-β and reactive oxygen species (ROS), non-coding RNAs, and inflammatory mediators have been implicated in the pathogenesis of DR. This review delves into the complex web of signaling pathways orchestrated by the TGF-β superfamily and their involvement in DR. A comprehensive understanding of these pathways may hold the key to developing targeted therapies to halt or mitigate the progression of DR and its devastating consequences.
Sentinel‐3A Views Ocean Variability More Accurately at Finer Resolution

This is the first multiplatform evaluation involving data from the new Sentinel‐3A altimeter. An experiment was undertaken in the Algerian Basin, employing an ocean glider and a ship mission, along the same track and synchronous with an overpass of the Sentinel‐3A mission. This provided three independent views of the ocean velocity field, along a section that encompassed three different oceanographic regimes. The results demonstrate the capacity of Sentinel‐3A to retrieve fine‐scale oceanographic features (~20 km). The intercomparison with in situ platforms showed a significant improvement, order 30% in resolution and 42% in velocity accuracy using a synthetic aperture radar mode with respect to lower‐resolution mode of conventional altimetry. In addition, the three‐platform view provided valuable insight into the variability of evolving oceanographic features, in an area of the Mediterranean that remains chronically under sampled.
A Non-Coronary, Peripheral Arterial Atherosclerotic Disease (Carotid, Renal, Lower Limb) in Elderly Patients—A Review PART II—Pharmacological Approach for Management of Elderly Patients with Peripheral Atherosclerotic Lesions outside Coronary Territory

Background: Aging is a key risk factor for atherosclerosis progression that is associated with increased incidence of ischemic events in supplied organs, including stroke, coronary events, limb ischemia, or renal failure. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and major disability in adults ≥ 75 years of age. Atherosclerotic occlusive disease affects everyday activity, quality of life, and it is associated with reduced life expectancy. As most multicenter randomized trials exclude elderly and very elderly patients, particularly those with severe comorbidities, physical or cognitive dysfunctions, frailty, or residence in a nursing home, there is insufficient data on the management of older patients presenting with atherosclerotic lesions outside coronary territory. This results in serious critical gaps in knowledge and a lack of guidance on the appropriate medical treatment. In addition, due to a variety of severe comorbidities in the elderly, the average daily number of pills taken by octogenarians exceeds nine. Polypharmacy frequently results in drug therapy problems related to interactions, drug toxicity, falls with injury, delirium, and non-adherence. Therefore, we have attempted to gather data on the medical treatment in patients with extra-cardiac atherosclerotic lesions indicating where there is some evidence of the management in elderly patients and where there are gaps in evidence-based medicine. Public PubMed databases were searched to review existing evidence on the effectiveness of lipid-lowering, antithrombotic, and new glucose-lowering medications in patients with extra-cardiac atherosclerotic occlusive disease.
The right job pays: Effects of different types of work on study progress of pre-service teachers

Teacher shortages are a significant concern in many countries. Hiring pre-service teachers could help to alleviate this problem while providing students an opportunity to develop skills in a real-work context. However, being employed alongside full-time studying might compete with attendance or self-study and, thereby, hinder study progress. This study analyzed the effect of student employment on the study progress of 132 pre-service teachers, using 25 repeated measures over 4 years (n = 3,245). Employment hours, remuneration, domain-relevance, and timing (year of college) were taken into account. Multilevel growth analyses showed that students who spent more time on a paid teaching job in year 3 or 4 obtained significantly more study credits compared to those who were not paid or got paid for a job outside of education. Overall, student employment did not relate to less study progress and depending on domain-relevance, timing and remuneration, the effect can even be positive.