Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A recent find of Ophrys insectifera (Orchidaceae) in Ukraine – will it survive another 100 years?

Here I report the first find of Ophrys insectifera in Ukraine since 1920. A single individual was found at its last recorded site, Chortova Hora near Rohatyn (Ivano-Frankivsk Region). The species occurs in a steppe meadow habitat situated in the lower part of a steep northern slope. Local vegetation may be classified to a broadly circumscribed association Brachypodio pinnati-Molinietum arundinaceae from the alliance Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati (class Festuco-Brometea). I discuss possible causes of the long-term neglect of O. insectifera at the site, its habitat conditions and suitable conservation management. To ensure the continued occurrence of this poor competitor and other rare species, it is necessary to prevent accumulation of litter and successional changes of the grassland. Mowing, low-intensity grazing, controlled early spring burning or their combination may be suitable ways to achieve this.
Release of thymol from plasticized poly(vinyl chloride)

The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of using thymol as a potential modifier of the bioactive properties of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). For this purpose, a test of releasing the active substance – thymol – from modified plasticized PVC to water was performed. The higher the thymol concentration in the polymer matrix, the more substance was released during the first days of storage. The ability of the produced materials to gradually release thymol was found, which qualifies them as materials that can be useful for the production of active packaging.
Assessment of selected metal trace elements from industrial activities in the agricultural surface soil of Menzel Bourguiba (Tunisia)

Abstract In this article, we assess the levels of nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) in 28 soil surface samples around Elfouledh Iron and Steel Factory, the old discharge area and the wastewater treatment plant (domestic wastewater treatment) which are considered the direct discharge sources of various types of waste into the soil. The concentrations of these metal trace elements (MTEs) were 678 mg/kg for Pb, 447 mg/kg for Zn, 435 mg/kg for Ni, 181 mg/kg for Cr, 27,106 mg/kg for Fe, 645 mg/kg for Cu, and 2.225 mg/kg for Cd. In fact, in many sampling points, the concentration of MTEs was higher than the critical values of the AFNOR U44041 soil quality standard, especially those collected near the industrial facilities. The principal component analysis revealed two possible anthropogenic origins for the MTEs in the soil: industrial (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ni) and agricultural activities (Cd). The values of the pollution index (PI) and the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) indicate that these soils are deeply contaminated with these trace elements. Accordingly, these results show that installing industrial facilities near agricultural zones could have serious and damaging effects on the soil. Metals resulting from industrial activities can affect soils, water sources and thus the environment and human health. Overall, this study provides a broad understanding that will help take active measures in terms of environmental protection.
The maturation of digital objects in innovation projects: the role of interpersonal networks and team sharing atmosphere

ABSTRACT Innovation projects rely increasingly on digital objects as a means of developing and sharing knowledge within an organisation. The maturation of a digital object is important because only those objects that mature lead to actual products. There is, however, a catch 22. For objects to mature, they have to be shared; conversely, only mature objects tend to be shared. This interplay between the functional and social dimensions of object maturation and its role in product development has not been researched. Building on the relational view of objects, we theorise product development as an ensemble of myopic maturation processes of objects that recursively move between formal and informal networks in the organisation using sharing systems such as Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). Investigating patterns, i.e., sequences of events, in these maturation processes is a way to understand how firms overcome this catch 22 situation. We study four product innovation projects in a home appliances company, tracing the maturation and sharing processes of three types of digital objects, namely marketing specifications, technical specifications and virtual prototypes. We find that sharing – maturation patterns are affected by interpersonal networks and by team sharing atmosphere. We also find that sharing and object maturation interactions are coordinated informally through interpersonal networks and formally through PLM systems and stage-gate mechanisms.
On the Convergence of the Benjamini–Hochberg Procedure

The Benjamini–Hochberg procedure is one of the most used scientific methods up to date. It is widely used in the field of genetics and other areas where the problem of multiple comparison arises frequently. In this paper we show that under fairly general assumptions for the distribution of the test statistic under the alternative hypothesis, when increasing the number of tests, the power of the Benjamini–Hochberg procedure has an exponential type of asymptotic convergence to a previously shown limit of the power. We give a theoretical lower bound for the probability that for a fixed number of tests the power is within a given interval around its limit together with a software routine that calculates these values. This result is important when planning costly experiments and estimating the achieved power after performing them.
Assessment of DNA Damage on Adult Albino Rats Induced by Dermal Exposure to P-Phenylenediamine (PPD)

Hair dyes are widely used as cosmetic agents to color the grey hair around the world. Pphenylenediamine (PPD) induced genotoxicity due to dermal application was investigated in this study. 90 rats conducted this study and were classified into main 4 groups. Negative control group, positive control group. In-addition, two toxicity groups; short term toxicity group and long term toxicity group. Both toxicity groups were further subdivided according to PPD dose into 10 and 15 mg/kg subgroups. The results showed that repeated dermal exposure to PPD induced significant DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes in dose and time dependent manner.
Optimization of dual energy computed tomography post-processing to reduce lower limb artifacts in gout.

Background In gout, several types of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) artifacts have been described (nail bed, skin, beam hardening, submillimeter and vascular artifacts), which can lead to overdiagnosis. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal DECT settings for post processing in order to reduce the frequency of some common artifacts in patients with suspected gout. Methods Seventy-seven patients hospitalized for suspected gout (feet/ankles and/or knees) who received a DECT imaging were included (final diagnosis of 43 gout and 34 other rheumatic disorders). Different post-processing settings were evaluated using Syngovia software: nine settings (R1 to R9) were evaluated with a combination of different ratio (1.28, 1.36 and 1.55) and attenuation coefficient (120, 150, 170 HU). Results Among the nine settings tested, the R2 setting (170 HU, ratio =1.28) significantly reduced the presence of knee and foot/ankle artifacts compared to the standard R1 setting (85% and 94% decrease in beam hardening and clumpy artifacts in the ankle and foot, respectively (P<0.001); a decrease of 71%, 60% and 88% respectively of meniscal beam hardening, beam hardening and submillimeter artifacts in the knee (P<0.001). Compared to standard settings, the use of R2 settings decreased sensitivity [0.79 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.88) versus 0.90 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.96)] and increased specificity [0.86 (95% CI: 0.71, 0.93) versus 0.63 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.77)] (P<0.001). Settings using an attenuation coefficient to 120 HU and/or a ratio to 1.55 were all associated with a significant increasing of artifacts, especially clumpy and beam hardening artifacts. Conclusions Applying a ratio of 1.28 and a minimum attenuation of 170 HU in DECT post-processing eliminates the majority of artifacts located in the lower limbs, particularly clumpy artifacts and beam hardening.
Engineered exosomes for co‐delivery of PGM5‐AS1 and oxaliplatin to reverse drug resistance in colon cancer

Oxaliplatin resistance inevitably occurs in almost all cases of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), and it is important to study the roles of lncRNAs and their specific regulatory mechanisms in oxaliplatin resistance. Exosomes are increasingly designed for drug or functional nucleic acid delivery due to their properties, thereby improving the effectiveness of cancer therapy. The results of this study show that the low expression of PGM5 antisense RNA 1 (PGM5‐AS1) in colon cancer is induced by transcription inhibitor, GFI1B. PGM5‐AS1 prevents proliferation, migration, and acquired oxaliplatin tolerance of colon cancer cells. Exosomes encapsulating oxaliplatin and PGM5‐AS1 can reverse drug resistance. For identifying differentially expressed target genes regarding PGM5‐AS1, RNA transcriptome sequencing was performed. The mechanism by which PGM5‐AS1 regulates its target genes was explored by performing experiments such as fluorescent in situ hybridization assay, dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation. The results show that by recruiting SRSF3, PGM5‐AS1 activates alternate splicing to downregulate PAEP expression. For hsa‐miR‐423‐5p, PGM5‐AS1 can also act as a sponge to upregulate the NME1 expression.
Differentiating Soils from Arable and Fallow Land Using Spectrometry

In this study, we analyse soil system responses—in particular, the colours of soils resulting from different types of land use (arable land and residential areas) caused by the construction of an ancient boundary rampart near a multilayer monument dating from between prehistory and the Middle Ages within the boundaries of the Bosporus Kingdom (Eastern Crimea)—in an area of modern and ancient (4th–2nd centuries BC) land use (Northwestern Crimea). These differences are of interest because they offer the chance to decipher different types of ancient land use and systems of land surveying, incorporating data from colour aerial photographs obtained with the help of unmanned aerial vehicles. Soil samples displaying different types of anthropogenic transformation were taken from the ancient boundary ramparts and adjacent land. The soil colour coordinates in the CIE L*a*b system were measured with the help of an AvaSpec-2048 spectrometer. Differences in colour coordinates were analysed using analysis of variance (NPMANOVA) based on the permutation test, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and the Mann–Whitney test, corrected according to multiple comparisons carried out as per the Bonferroni method. The results of this statistical analysis show that there are statistically significant differences in soil colour coordinates between samples collected on the ramparts and under various other types of land use. These differences are more pronounced in the samples characterised by the agrogenic transformation of soil. This makes it possible to use remote sensing data to detect traces of ancient boundary ramparts, even if the ramparts are partially destroyed by ploughing.
Can occupant voting systems provide energy savings and improved occupant satisfaction in buildings?—a review

Occupant voting system(s) (OVS) are digital tools used to collect continuous and real-time feedback on occupants’ perception of and desired changes to the indoor environmental quality. Occupant feedback acquired with OVS is typically used together with indoor environmental measurements for room temperature control. Additionally, OVS has been used to collect occupant satisfaction data for post-occupancy evaluation and complaint data used in fault detection and diagnostic of building operation. The present paper presents a review of sixty scientific publications on research studies using tools denoted as OVS. The review identified a median energy saving of 22% and a median improvement in occupant satisfaction of 34% for the reviewed OVS studies. Across the reviewed studies, a single occupant voted on average one vote per day. The review suggests that the studies using OVS interfaces that were easier to use by the occupants, such as wearable devices, obtained a higher voting frequency than OVS interfaces accessed via websites. Moreover, the review identified that the study design, such as the duration and number of participants or whether energy savings were estimated using simulation or measurement, affected the voting frequency and the obtained energy savings.
Polyethenetetrathiolate or polytetrathiooxalate? Improved synthesis, a comparative analysis of a prominent thermoelectric polymer and implications to the charge transport mechanism

1,1,2,2-Ethenetetrathiolate (ett4−) coordination polymers, such as poly[Kx(Ni-ett)], have been known for decades for their excellent thermoelectric properties. However in reality, ett4− is neither a “true” comonomer which participates in the polymerization, nor represents a “true” repeat unit of the target polymer. Indeed, poly[K2(Ni-ett)], which is formally the product of Ni-induced polymerization of ett4−, has a poor conductivity and needs to be oxidized to show attractive thermoelectric characteristics. The polymerization and oxidation processes are poorly controllable which causes irreproducibility of the polymer properties. To improve the synthesis reproducibility, we studied polymerization of potassium tetrathiooxalate (K2tto), the convenient synthesis of which was developed in our recent work. Because K2tto is the “true monomer”, and not its precursor, a high quality product is reproducibly formed simply by mixing K2tto with NiCl2 at room temperature. The procedure does not require additional components (bases), or special conditions (prolonged heating), which are usually needed for the preparation of this polymer from the monomer precursor 1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene-2,5-dione (TPD). Furthermore, as tto2− is formally the product of two-electron oxidation of ett4−, the poorly controllable oxidation process is avoided and poly[Ni-tto] almost free from K is directly formed upon the complexation of Ni2+ and tto2−. Thus-obtained poly[Ni-tto] possesses conductivity in the range of 27–47 S cm−1 and a Seebeck coefficient in the range of −38 to −55 μV K−1, which are superior thermoelectric properties compared to poly[Kx(Ni-ett)] samples obtained by the previously reported methods. Redox and structural properties of poly[Ni-tto] were compared with those of poly[Kx(Ni-ett)] obtained by the reported methods. Furthermore, DFT calculations were performed to shed more light on generally promising properties of this class of materials. Particularly, possible packing models have been predicted for polymers, and the molecular dynamics simulations have been used to simulate the molecular arrangements under ambient conditions.
Direct Synthesis of Sodalite from Kaolin: The Influence of Alkalinity

Alkalinity is one of the most important factors that influence the crystallization process of zeolite and the product properties. The influence of alkalinity on the synthesis of sodalite from kaolin without calcinations was reported in this research. The synthesis of sodalite using molar ratio of Na2O/Al2O3 = x, H2O/Na2O = 128/x and SiO2/Al2O3 = 2/x, where x was the variation of molar ratio of alkalinity: 10, 20, 30, and 40. The synthesis has done by stirring for 6 h, without aging, and the crystallization time was 24 h under hydrothermal method (100 °C). The products were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). The X-ray diffraction pattern and infrared spectroscopy shown that pure sodalite was formed by using molar ratio of alkalinity 10, 20, and 30. The crystallinity and particle size increase along with increasing of alkalinity. Quartz was formed by using molar ratio of alkalinity 40.
New Dependence of NO Emissions on the Equivalence Ratio in Moderate or Intense Low-Oxygen Dilution Combustion

The dependence of NO emissions on the equivalence ratio (Φ) is a classic problem in combustion science. In many combustion textbooks, as Φ increases from 0.5 to 1.0, the NO formation generally increases first and then decreases, with the maximum NO emission obtained on the lean side of stoichiometry. However, through experiments and data mining of the literature, we found that there is a new trend of NO emissions in moderate or intense low-oxygen dilution (MILD) combustion. Specifically, with an increase in Φ from 0.5 to 1.0, the NO emission may decrease first and then increase, with the minimum NO emission also occurring on the lean side of stoichiometry. Systematic experiments are conducted to investigate the NO emission under MILD combustion. The experiments are conducted in a 20 kW furnace of firing methane. Detailed in-furnace thermal and species fields and exhaust NO emissions are measured. A series of MILD combustion experiments indeed record a decreasing trend of NO emissions, with an increase in .
Diversified firms: existence and behaviors

We propose a micro-founded theory of diversified firms. The theory suggests that diversified firms exist because they allow better deployment of factors that, because of sub-additive contracting costs, are hard to trade in fractions. Firms diversify into industries in which these factors are more productive than any alternatives available in the factor market. Like markets, diversified firms allow specialization by enabling factors to be used on a larger scale. The individual businesses making up a diversified firm exhibit specific similarities in behavior.
Preparation of Electrostatic Spinning Composite Film Loaded with Polyvinylpyrrolidone for the Detection of Free Radicals in Polluted Air

An electrospinning system was used to elongate the prepared radical-scavenging antioxidant compounds into a fibrous-structured nanomaterial under the action of electrostatic force, and its structure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The trapping performance of the electrospun membrane was evaluated by comparing the sampling results of two membranes, and the integral peak areas were used for the detection of free radicals also obtained. The experimental results show that the electrospun membrane can effectively trap free radicals in polluted air, and the changes in the integral peak areas of free radicals are related to volatile organic compounds, particulate matters, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monooxide, ozone, sampling time, temperature, and humidity. Subsequently, the nanomaterial was used for outfield sampling, and the sampling performance was measured using a fluorescence spectrophotometer.
Determination of Some Trace Elements in Air Samples from the Study Environment of Alasala National Colleges and Study of Irradiated Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Film: Electrical Properties and Determination of Some Trace Elements

This study included two objectives, firstly determination of some trace elements in air samples from the study environment of Alasala National Colleges and secondly study of Irradiated Poly (vinyl alcohol) Film: Electrical Properties and Determination of Some Trace Elements, in the same Environment. The investigate the level of trace elements including Lead [Pb], Copper [Cu], Zinc [Zn] in air samples collected from Alasala National Colleges in Dammam, KSA. The samples were analyzed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). The enrichment factors relative to average soil and crustal rock were done of these trace elements to predict the possible sources of these elements in air. The study revealed that the analysis that is scholarly is wholly free from Pb. The ratio that is average of Zn is 0.0006 and Cu is 0.0003 ng/m 3 . Also the determination of some trace elements by thin film x-ray fluorescence and study of electrical properties of Poly (vinyl alcohol) using ion/electron beam. After preparing of the PVA films the trace elements are determined on thin-film samples by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The limits of detection on the thin film are 0.05-0.7 μg, depending on the element being measured. This study reports on the effect of nitrogen and electron beam irradiation on the electrical properties of ﬁlms. Films of 3 mm were exposed to a charged (ion/electron) beam for different treatment times; the beam was produced from a dual beam source using nitrogen gas with the other ion/electron source parameters optimized. The real () and imaginary ( ) parts of the dielectric constant decreased with frequency for all irradiated and non-irradiated samples. The AC conductivity showed an increase with frequency for all samples under the inﬂuence of both ion and electron irradiation for different times.
2D Images of Astrocytes in the Human Principal Olivary Nucleus: Monofractal Analysis of the Morphology

Introduction: Current knowledge postulated glia as active participants in various metabolic processes within nervous tissue. The most numerous glial cells were astrocytes, and qualitative analysis divided them into two types based on their anatomical locations: fibrous and protoplasmic. The main goal of this research was to examine the morphological difference between types, analyzing four features of the image. The secondary objective of this research was to explore their morphology through maturation and aging. Materials and Methods: The material originated from bilateral sections of the human principal olivary nucleus, without disorders in the central nervous system. The brains were taken from 30 human cadavers (35 - 90 years) and cut into samples corresponding to dimensions of the principal olivary nucleus. A light microscope digitized the histological preparations. The selection of 294 images was analyzed by monofractal parameters derived from the box-counting. These parameters quantified four image properties (size, shape, complexity and homogeneity) of the glial body or whole glial cell. Results: The first results showed that images of two types of astrocytes were significantly different (p < 0.05 and higher) in all properties of whole cells. The second results examined the differences between three age groups in both types of astrocytes. The differences between groups were more evident for protoplasmic than fibrous (nine vs. three parameters). Conclusions: The main limitation of this study lies in the fact that the quantification was performed only by fractal analysis techniques. Nevertheless, a detailed monofractal analysis of astrocytes was performed for the first time. Thus, although this study can be seen as an improvement of the previous qualitative results, future research will provide the complete procedure of the image analysis.
A Review of Recent Developments and Advanced Applications of High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for PEM Fuel Cells

This review summarizes the current status, operating principles, and recent advances in high-temperature polymer electrolyte membranes (HT-PEMs), with a particular focus on the recent developments, technical challenges, and commercial prospects of the HT-PEM fuel cells. A detailed review of the most recent research activities has been covered by this work, with a major focus on the state-of-the-art concepts describing the proton conductivity and degradation mechanisms of HT-PEMs. In addition, the fuel cell performance and the lifetime of HT-PEM fuel cells as a function of operating conditions have been discussed. In addition, the review highlights the important outcomes found in the recent literature about the HT-PEM fuel cell. The main objectives of this review paper are as follows: (1) the latest development of the HT-PEMs, primarily based on polybenzimidazole membranes and (2) the latest development of the fuel cell performance and the lifetime of the HT-PEMs.