Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Numerical Assessment of Mitigation Strategies to Reduce Local Oxygen and Proton Transport Resistances in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

The optimized design of the catalyst layer (CL) plays a vital role in improving the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The need to improve transport and catalyst activity is especially important at low Pt loading, where local oxygen and ionic transport resistances decrease the performance due to an inevitable reduction in active catalyst sites. In this work, local oxygen and ionic transport are analyzed using direct numerical simulation on virtually reconstructed microstructures. Four morphologies are examined: (i) heterogeneous, (ii) uniform, (iii) uniform vertically-aligned, and (iv) meso-porous ionomer distributions. The results show that the local oxygen transport resistance can be significantly reduced, while maintaining good ionic conductivity, through the design of high porosity CLs (ε≃ 0.6–0.7) with low agglomerated ionomer morphologies. Ionomer coalescence into thick films can be effectively mitigated by increasing the uniformity of thin films and reducing the tortuosity of ionomer distribution (e.g., good ionomer interconnection in supports with a vertical arrangement). The local oxygen resistance can be further decreased by the use of blended ionomers with enhanced oxygen permeability and meso-porous ionomers with oxygen transport routes in both water and ionomer. In summary, achieving high performance at low Pt loading in next-generation CLs must be accomplished through a combination of high porosity, uniform and low tortuosity ionomer distribution, and oxygen transport through activated water.
Implications of LDH in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia

Objective The objective of this study was to explore the value of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of pneumonia associated with the novel coronavirus infection. Methods A total of 101 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia were included in the study. According to the severity of the initial chest computed tomography (CT), the patients were divided into the ordinary pneumonia group and the severe pneumonia group and then divided into the remission group and the nonremission group according to the changes of the chest CT after medication treatment. The differences in general characteristics, underlying diseases, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and imaging examination outcomes between groups were observed retrospectively. To analyze the diagnostic performance of LDH, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Results Compared with ordinary pneumonia patients, patients in the severe group presented with significantly higher LDH, neutrophil count, high-sensitivity troponin T (HS-TnT), C-reactive protein (CRP), human serum amyloid A (SAA), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP), and D-dimer. Compared with remission patients, non-remission patients presented with significantly higher LDH, neutrophil count, HS-TnT, CRP, SAA, procalcitonin (PCT), creatine kinase–MB mass (CKMB_M), NTproBNP, and D-dimer. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that LDH [odds ratio (OR), 1.015; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.006–1024; p = 0.001] and neutrophil count (OR, 1.352; 95% CI, 1.008–1.811; p = 0.044) were independently associated with exacerbation in COVID-19 patients. For ROC analysis, the AUC was 0.833 (95% CI, 0.729–0.936; p < 0.001) when we use the LDH value of 256.69 U/L to discriminate the ordinary pneumonia and severe pneumonia patients. The AUC was 0.759 (95% CI, 0.603–0.914; p = 0.008) and the sensitivity is 92.3% when we combined the LDH (cutoff value 258.46 U/L) and the neutrophil count (cutoff value 6.76 × 109/L) to discriminate remission and non-remission patients. Conclusion The level of LDH is associated with the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and can be used as important indicators to evaluate the prognosis of patients.
Use big data to leverage customer need diversity for radical innovation

ABSTRACT Despite the growing diversity of customer needs, little empirical evidence would guide managers to leverage customer need diversity (CND) for radical innovation. Building on the knowledge-based view and dynamic capabilities, the authors explore relationships among CND, strategic flexibility, big data analytics capabilities, and radical innovation performance. With 308 survey responses from innovation managers, the authors find that CND impacts radical innovation performance via (1) mediation through strategic flexibility and (2) moderation by volume, variety, and velocity capabilities associated with big data analytics. The moderation effects of volume and velocity capabilities are positive and negative simultaneously, depending on the purpose for which CND is utilised. Therefore, to leverage customer need diversity, firms need to build strategic flexibility and exercise caution when utilising big data analytics capabilities.
Body Shape Comparison of Kura Bleak ( Alburnus f ilipp i i ) in Aras and Ahar-Chai Rivers Using Geometric Morphometric Approach

The body shape of two populations of Kura bleak (Alburnus filippii Kessler, 1877) from Aras and Ahar-Chai rivers was compared by geometric morphometric method. A total of 63 specimens of Kura bleak were collected from mainstream of Aras and its tributaries Ahar-Chai. Then, the lateral face of their left side were photographed and 13 landmark-points defined and digitized using TpsDig2 software. The obtained data were analyzed using multivariate analyses. The results revealed a significant difference in the body shape of the studied populations associating with body depth and the tip of the snout. The results also showed a higher morphological variation among the specimens of mainstream of Aras River compared to Ahar-Chai ones indicating availability of more diverse habitats. Thus, in a morphological comparative study of different populations of a single species in different habitats, the morphological variation of every population should be considered as a criterion and application of an exploratory multivariate analysis such PCA can help to better understand the phenotypic variations.
Cellular Changes in the Thymus Gland induced by Hyperthyroidism and Melatonin Administration

Keywords The current research aimed to evaluate the effects of L-thyroxine-induced hyperthyroidism and melatonin administration on the histopathology of the thyroid and thymus glands and Bax immunoreactivity. The rats were divided into four groups, comprising ten rats each. Rats were given the following treatments for four weeks: Group I served as the control group; Group II received melatonin; Group III received L-thyroxine; and Group IV received both L-thyroxine and melatonin. The serum levels of total T3 (tT3) and total T4 (tT4) were assessed, as well as histological examinations of the thyroid and thymus and analysis of Bax immunoexpression in both organs. The obtained results showed that in rats with hyperthyroidism, melatonin administration caused a noticeably lower level of thyroid hormones. According to the histopathological examination, hyperthyroidism induced various deteriorating changes in the thyroid and thymus glands, while melatonin therapy reduced these adverse effects. The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that hyperthyroid rats displayed a substantial elevation in Bax expression in the thyroid and thymus glands. However, melatonin treatment in hyperthyroid rats resulted in a marked reduction in Bax expression. Thus, it could be concluded that hyperthyroidism induced a range of degenerative changes and markedly elevated Bax expression in thyroid and thymus tissues. However, melatonin intervention ameliorated these negative effects.
Soil Dehydrogenase Enzyme Activity in Natural and Mine Soil - A Review

2 Abstract: Soil enzyme activities are very sensitive to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances and show a quick response to the induced changes. Soil dehydrogenase enzymes are one of the main components of soil enzymatic activities participating in and assuring the correct sequence of all the biochemical routes in soil biogeochemical cycles. Dehydrogenase activity is measured by two methods using the TTC and INT substrate; however, various authors reported poor results when TTC is used as substrate. Different biotic and abiotic factors such as incubation time and temperature, pre-incubation, soil aeration and moisture content have significant effect on dehydrogenase activity in soil. Highest dehydrogenase activity is reported from forest soil in autumn seasons while the disturbed soil from coal mines soils containing lowest dehydrogenase activities along the soil erosion gradient of experimental slopes. Least value of enzymes activity is reported from polluted sites than restored and undisturbed sites. Dehydrogenase enzyme is often used as a measure of any disruption caused by pesticides, trace elements or management practices to the soil, as well as a direct measure of soil microbial activity.
Sleep Quality in Older People: The Impact of Age, Professional Activity, Financial Situation, and Chronic Diseases During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Background The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic negatively affected health and social life, notably deteriorating sleep quality in older adults. Studies report inconsistent findings on sleep disturbances during this period, influenced by various physiological, emotional, and sociodemographic factors. This study aimed to identify these determining factors. Material/Methods The study was conducted among 342 people 60 years of age or older participating in online classes of randomly selected Senior Clubs and the University of the Third Age in the southern regions of Poland. Results Sleep problems (PSQI >5 points) were diagnosed in 250 subjects (83.6%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the quality of sleep significantly depends on: age, as people aged 66–70 were more likely to have better sleep quality than people aged 60–65 (OR=3.07), and those over 70 scored better than people aged 60–65 (OR=2.87); current job – employed people have a better chance of better sleep quality (OR=3.08) than unemployed people; financial situation, people assessing their financial situation as very good/good had a better chance of better sleep quality (OR=2.00) compared to people assessing their financial situation as very bad, bad/average; chronic diseases, people without chronic diseases had a chance of better sleep quality (OR=2.45) than people with chronic diseases. Conclusions Age, financial situation, current job, and chronic disease were the most important factors determining sleep quality in older people. The identification of factors affecting sleep quality can be used as important data to develop interventions and programs to improve sleep quality.
Usability of pre-flight planning interfaces for Supplemental Data Service Provider tools to support Uncrewed Aircraft System Traffic Management

Small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUASs) operate in low-altitude, uncontrolled airspace – where support services for their operators (UASOs) are not currently provided. NASA’s System-Wide Safety (SWS) project is identifying the potential risks and hazards to sUAS operations to provide, inform, and improve the designs of In-time Aviation Safety Management Systems (IASMS). The IASMS will include a suite of data-driven tools that compile and analyze data collected from aviation systems and environmental sources to predict hazards, and provide information to allow operators to mitigate these risks (Young et al., 2020). These risk and hazard services can be run and displayed to operators on graphical user interfaces (GUIs), as they relate to a vehicle(s)’ route of flight. These interfaces offer both a means to present hazard service output and offer an opportunity to test user understanding of the information, user decision making, and the best ways to present such data to an operator. Based on these future technologies and intended missions, it is important to investigate interface requirements and evaluate how operators might use these tools. Presenting salient and meaningful risk assessment information to operators is necessary to increase situation awareness and ultimately safety. Building on previous research (Feldman et al., 2022), a usability study comparing two GUIs was conducted to explore how individuals interacted with different styles of information displays. A series of pre-flight hazard and risk-assessment tasks were developed to evaluate participant performance using the Supplemental Data Service Provider Consolidated Dashboard and the Human Automation Team Interface System interfaces. Participants were trained to use both GUIs and their performance was analysed across different scenarios involving multiple sUASs. Performance on simple tasks and the System Usability Scale scores were reported by Feldman et al., 2023. Additional analyses and evaluations on more complex tasks (e.g., risk assessment, prioritization), workload and response times are examined in this paper.
Temperature-Controlled Disinfection System Using Microwave and Plasma

Temperature-controlled disinfection using microwave and plasma energy is a novel method that has the potential to revolutionize the way we combat infectious diseases. This method presented here utilizes the combined power of microwave energy and plasma to effectively eliminate harmful microorganisms from treated specimens. One of the problems facing disinfection methods that use microwaves is that they utilize high temperatures that could alter or destroy the material which is addressed in this design. The design of the system is demonstrated, and the parts are explained. Experimental results to deactivate pathogens are also presented, where E. Coli bacteria samples were treated by the system using different combinations of microwave and plasma energy levels and exposure times to illustrate the effectiveness of the system. According to the results, the system is very effective at deactivating pathogens in a short period of time.
Opening the Black Box of Virtual Education: Medical Students’ Learning and Study Strategies

Background: This study explains learning and study strategies in virtual education among medical students during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and analyzes its relationship with their academic performance. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 298 medical students in preclinical disciplines in the medical curriculum at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran, within June 2020 to June 2021, the beginning of COVID-19 prevalence and virtual education. The data were collected from students who completed the learning and study strategies inventory (LASSI) within 2 weeks, from the 10th of June 2021 to the 24th of June 2021. This questionnaire measures three variables related to skill, self-regulation, and will. The data were analyzed using independent t-test, correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey post hoc tests by SPSS software (version 23). Results: The highest and lowest mean scores of the LASSI questionnaire were related to information processing (28.54 ± 4.10) and study aids (22.41 ± 4.07), respectively. Each scale’s possible score range was from 8 to 40 points. The results indicated significant statistical differences between different genders of students in anxiety, attitude, motivation, time management, and self-testing (P < 0.05). In all areas of the LASSI, except self-testing and study aids, the students’ mean scores with a grade point average (GPA) - range of 0 to 20 - higher than 17.5 were significantly higher than those with GPAs lower than 14.85 and those with GPAs between 14.86 to 17.50 (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Since learning and studying strategies contribute to student’s academic success and facilitate the learning process, they can be improved using educational involvement. Embedding learning and study strategies interventions in curriculum design and learning content could help promote academic performance.
Analysis of the optimal duration of behavioral observations based 1 on an automated continuous monitoring system in tree swallows 2 ( Tachycineta bicolor ) : is one hour good enough ? 3 4

4 Ádám Z. Lendvai, Çağlar Akçay, Jenny Q. Ouyang, Roslyn Dakin, Alice D. 5 Domalik, Prianka S. St John, Mark Stanback, Ignacio T. Moore, Frances Bonier 6 7 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA 8 2 Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, 9 Debrecen, Hungary 10 3 The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, the Netherlands 11 4 Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada 12 5 Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada 13 6 Department of Biology, Davidson College, NC, USA 14 #a Current address: Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University 15 of Debrecen, Hungary. 16 17 Word count (excluding tables): 5115, 3 Figures, 2 Tables 18 19 *corresponding author: lendvai@vt.edu 20
Terrace stratigraphy, ages, and incision rates along the Rio Ojo Caliente, north-central New Mexico

We present new tephrochronologic and radiometric data that constrain the ages of terraces along the Rio Ojo Caliente. Draining the southern Tusas Mountains, the Rio Ojo Caliente is a tributary of the Rio Chama in the northwestern Española Basin. The highest terrace, labeled Qtoc1, has a strath located 107-134 m above the modern river. Qtoc1 contains ash and pumice-lapilli tephra probably correlative to the Guaje Pumice Bed of the Otowi Member of the Bandelier Tuff (1.61-1.63 Ma), although correlation to the Tsankawi Pumice Bed of the Tshirege Member of the Bandelier Tuff (1.22-1.26 Ma) is permissible. The second highest terrace, labeled Qtoc2, is 95-103 m above the modern river and correlates to terraces along the Rio Chama that contain the Lava Creek B ash (640 ka). The strath of the most laterally extensive terrace lies 19-30 m above the modern river. Called the 20-40 m terrace (labeled Qtoc6 in this study), it is older than 103 ka and probably younger than 210 ka based on stratigraphic relations and three U-series ages of an adjacent travertine mound complex. Both the Qtoc6 terrace and the next higher terrace level (Qtoc5) are characterized by having two straths (erosional terrace bases) separated by 2-7 m. Quartzite-rich gravel that overlies these strath couplets is generally 3-6 m-thick. Overlying these basal gravels is a 10-18 m-thick sequence of alluvium with higher sand content and higher amounts of locally derived alluvium. This sedimentologic trend indicates that fol$ % & '* ' $ + % / % ' & : % +% < ' ' $ % * = by input of detritus derived from nearby hillslopes and low order drainages; this locally derived alluvium was deposited as allu& % '* > % & '* ? '* V X/ % 'Z ' % ' % ' * % also occurred. Using this comparison, we agree with previous interpretations along the lower Rio Chama that locally derived, sand-dominated alluvium in the middle and upper parts of the terraces, best exposed in Qtoc6 and Qtoc5, were also deposited in interglacial climates or at the glacial/interglacial transition, and that strath formation and deposition of the quartzite-rich, basal gravel occurred largely during glacial climates (possibly at the glacial/interglacial transition). We use this process-response model to infer a preferred age of 130-160 ka for the Qtoc6 terrace deposit and its lowest strath. Consideration of terrace ages and their relative heights indicates an increase in incision rates after 640 ka, consistent with earlier interpretations.
Predicting the ignition of crown fuels above a spreading surface fire. Part I: model idealization

A model was developed to predict the ignition of forest crown fuels above a surface fire based on heat transfer theory. The crown fuel ignition model (hereafter referred to as CFIM) is based on first principles, integrating: (i) the characteristics of the energy source as defined by surface fire flame front properties; (ii) buoyant plume dynamics; (iii) heat sink as described by the crown fuel particle characteristics; and (iv) energy transfer (gain and losses) to the crown fuels. Fuel particle temperature increase is determined through an energy balance relating heat absorption to fuel particle temperature. The final model output is the temperature of the crown fuel particles, which upon reaching ignition temperature are assumed to ignite. CFIM predicts the ignition of crown fuels but does not determine the onset of crown fire spread per se. The coupling of the CFIM with models determining the rate of propagation of crown fires allows for the prediction of the potential for sustained crowning. CFIM has the potential to be implemented in fire management decision support systems.
IMPACT OF PLANTING DENSITY AND P-FERTILIZER SOURCE ON THE GROWTH ANALYSIS OF MAIZE AMANULLAH

Phosphorus (P) is one the most important factor affecting maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield in the wheat-maize cropping system. To investigate the impact of P sources (control, DAP = Diammonium phosphate, SSP = single super phosphate, and NP = nitrophos) and planting densities (D1 = 4, D2 = 6, D3 = 8, and D4 = 10 plants m) on maize growth analysis (cv. Azam), field experiment was conducted at the New Developmental Agricultural Research Farm of NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, during summer 2006. Among all the parameters studied, P source had significant effects on CGR (crop growth rate), LAI (leaf area index), PER (plant elongation rate), LER (leaf expansion rate), DM (dry matter) and grain yield, but had no significant effects on AGR (absolute growth rate), NAR (net assimilation rate), RGR (relative growth rate) and LAR (leaf area ratio). Plots applied with DAP or SSP had maximum AGR, CGR, RGR, LAI, LER, DM and grain yields as compared to plots applied with NP and with zero-P control plots. Increase in planting density had negative effects on AGR, NAR, RGR and grain yield plant (D1 > D2 > D3 > D4) and had positive effects on LAI, LAR, LER and PER (D1 < D2 <D3 < D4). Growing maize at D3 (8 plants m) had highest CGR, DM and grain yields m (D3 > D4 > D2 > D1). The findings suggest that growing maize at D3 applied with SSP or DAP could be more beneficial in the wheatmaize cropping system in the study area.
A Review Of Factors Influencing Physician's Prescribing Behaviour

The pharmaceutical industry is at a growing phase with medical practitioners playing a pivotal role in the system. Various factors can influence prescribing behaviour which successively will have a pronounced effect on the healthcare expenditures and the population as a whole. The purpose of this study was to evaluate various factors that influence physician prescribing behaviour (PB). The study is a qualitative review and is descriptive and interpretive. Five inclusive criteria were determined for preparing, abstracting and presenting the data. An electronic database including Google scholar, Emerald insight, PubMed, Mendeley and Nepal Online Journal were searched to identify the factors influencing the prescribing decision of the physician from 2017 to 2022. 16 studies met the inclusion criteria from 82 search results. A total of 16 factors were identified that influenced the physician's prescribing behaviour. The frequent occurring factors were: Detailing of Medical Representative (MR), Sales promotion, Quality of Medicines (QoM) and Price of the medicines. The findings suggest that PB are not only influenced by personal benefits but is also directed towards fostering the good health of the patient. Thus, a further study on the identified factors and physician prescribing behaviour in the Nepali pharmaceutical market may be an interesting research area.