Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surface Reaction Kinetics of Titanium Isopropoxide and Water in Atomic Layer Deposition

In atomic layer deposition processes (ALD), surface reactions of adsorbed precursor species lead to the formation of thin films. In order to achieve a well-controlled, self-limiting process, the substrate is sequentially exposed to different precursor molecules, each one until the surface is completely saturated. The necessary time of exposure depends on precursor transport and on surface kinetics of which the latter are determined by the respective activation energies for the surface reactions. In this contribution, we apply a surface kinetic model and surface reaction rates to describe the ALD process for the deposition of titanium dioxide utilizing titanium isopropoxide and water as reactive precursor combination. We examine in detail precursor surface coverages and investigate the influence of substrate temperature and exposure time on the hydrolytic decomposition of the adsorbed titanium precursor. In this way, we can quantify the deposition rate in each deposition cycle and examine the contribution .
Morphological traits of reef corals predict extinction risk but not conservation status

Aim The current assessment of extinction risk in reef corals by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been criticized, because coral life-history traits associated with resilience are not reflected in the conservation status. We aimed to carry out a quantitative assessment of the link between reef coral traits and species extinction risk informed by extinctions of reef corals observed in the fossil record.Location Global.Time period Plio-Pleistocene and present day.Major taxa studied Scleractinian reef corals.Methods We used morphological traits, phylogenetic information and evidence of extinction during the Plio-Pleistocene to predict the extinction risk of contemporary reef corals. Our model was trained using 138 Caribbean fossil coral species and an automatic machine learning algorithm. We then used this model to predict the extinction risk of 674 modern coral species.Results Model validation confirmed 77% accuracy in predicting extinction risk of fossil corals. Extinction risk predicted by our model showed a near-random (57%) match with the IUCN conservation status. Our model also suggested that corals in the Least Concern or Near Threatened categories might be at higher risk of extinction than currently believed.Main conclusions Morphological traits of fossil corals linked to their extinction risk in the Plio-Pleistocene Caribbean Sea are known to reflect the vulnerability of extant corals. However, the results from our fossil-calibrated model do not match the IUCN assessment of reef corals, with increased overall extinction risk. This does not necessarily indicate near-future extinction risk, because fossil extinctions are spread over thousands of years. However, we show the applicability of using fossil data to inform the extinction risk of modern corals and recommend that future assessments of extinction risk of reef corals should consider incorporating the relationship between morphological traits and resilience, calibrated by fossil data, to maximize the utility of the extinction risk assessment.
Checkpoint inhibition in immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC): Data from prospective CemiplimAb-rwlc Survivorship and Epidemiology (C.A.S.E.) study.

9547 Background: Immunosuppressed and/or immunocompromised patients are at increased risk for solid tumors and cutaneous malignancies. Limited data exist on the safety and effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in these patients because they are frequently excluded from clinical trials. Here, we describe the safety and effectiveness results from the initial cohort of immunosuppressed and/or immunocompromised patients with advanced CSCC enrolled in the C.A. S.E. study (NCT03836105). Methods: C.A. S.E. is a prospective, real-world, multi-center, longitudinal study evaluating the effectiveness, safety, quality of life, and survivorship in patients with advanced CSCC treated with cemiplimab. Patients received cemiplimab 350 mg intravenously every 3 weeks per routine standard of care. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, immunosuppression, and relevant medical history were collected. Immunosuppressive regimens varied amongst patients. Investigator assessment of objective response rate (ORR), safety, and tolerability was conducted. Data from 26 immunosuppressed and/or immunocompromised patients with advanced CSCC treated with cemiplimab are presented. Recruitment is ongoing. Results: As of November 17, 2020, 121 patients were enrolled in the C.A. S.E. study, of which 26 patients (median age: 74 years [IQR: 71-84]; 85% male; 89% Caucasian) were designated as immunocompromised or immunosuppressed due to a history of solid organ transplant (n = 6), autoimmune disorder (n = 11), or hematologic malignancy (n = 9). Median duration of cemiplimab exposure was 14 months (IQR: 9.1–42, range: 0, 67). Among 19 immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients who enrolled in C.A. S.E. prior to their third dose of cemiplimab, ORR per investigator assessment was 47% (95% CI: 24–71); 1 (5%) patient had complete response; 8 (42%) had partial response. One patient had a treatment-related serious adverse reaction of organ transplant rejection. One (3.8%) patient discontinued treatment due to increased alanine aminotransferase (not treatment-related). Immune-related AEs (irAEs) occurred in 23% of patients. No treatment-related AEs led to death. Conclusions: The safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of cemiplimab in this initial cohort of immunosuppressed and/or immunocompromised patients with advanced CSCC appear to be consistent with those observed in clinical trials that excluded these patients. Further follow-up and additional data would add to our general understanding of safety and effectiveness of anti-PD1 therapy in immunocompromised and/or immunosuppressed patient populations overall. Clinical trial information: NCT03836105.
BEGONIA: Phase 1b/2 study of durvalumab (D) combinations in locally advanced/metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)—Initial results from arm 1, d+paclitaxel (P), and arm 6, d+trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd).

1023 Background: Chemotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors can improve outcomes vs chemotherapy alone in patients (pts) with metastatic TNBC; however, many still have poor clinical outcomes. BEGONIA is an ongoing 2 part, multicenter, multiarm, open-label platform study evaluating safety and efficacy of D (anti–PD-L1)+P and D±P combined with novel therapies as first-line (1L) treatment for metastatic TNBC (NCT03742102). We report initial results from Part 1 of Arm 1, D+P, and Arm 6, D+T-DXd, an antibody-drug conjugate comprising an anti-HER2 antibody, tetrapeptide-based cleavable linker, and topoisomerase I inhibitor payload. Methods: Eligible pts had untreated unresectable locally advanced or metastatic TNBC. Pts with HER2-low–expressing tumors (IHC 2+/ISH–, IHC 1+/ISH–, or IHC 1+/ISH untested) per local testing were assigned to the D+T-DXd arm. Pts received D (1500 mg IV Q4W)+P (90 mg/m2 IV Day 1, 8, 15 Q4W) in Arm 1 and D (1120 mg IV)+T-DXd (5.4 mg/kg IV) Q3W in Arm 6, until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary objectives are safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints include objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR), and progression-free survival (PFS). Tumors were assessed Q8W (D+P) or Q6W (D+T-DXd). The first 6 pts treated with D+T-DXd were evaluated for dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), with additional pts enrolled if D+T-DXd was tolerated. Study arms are noncomparable due to differing eligibility criteria, treatments, and data maturity. Results: Arm 1 D+P (data cutoff Sep 2020): 23 pts received D+P (7 ongoing); 2 discontinued D+P due to AEs. Median follow-up time was 16.6 (range 8.5–19.8) mos. Any Grade 3/4 AEs and SAEs were experienced by 10 (44%) and 1 (4%) pts, respectively. D dose was delayed for 7 (30%) pts. Confirmed ORR was 13/23 (57%) with 54% of those remaining in response at 12 mos (median DoR not reached). Median PFS was 7.3 (95% CI 5.4–13.8) mos in the D+P arm. Arm 6 D+T-DXd (data cutoff Nov 2020): 11 pts received D+T-DXd to date (all ongoing). Median follow-up time was 2.3 (0–6) mos. Any Grade 3/4 AEs and SAEs were experienced by 4 (36%) and 1 (9%) pts, respectively. Pts who received D+T-DXd had no DLTs and 1 had a Grade 1 troponin increase. D dose was delayed and T-DXd dose reduced for 2 (18%) pts each. Confirmed ORR was 4/4 (100%; only 4 pts had the opportunity to complete 2 on-treatment disease assessments) with all 4 remaining in response at data cutoff (median DoR not reached). Conclusions: D+P demonstrated a tolerable safety profile and response rate as expected for a 1L TNBC IO/taxane combination. D+T-DXd showed promising early safety and efficacy in 1L HER2-low–expressing TNBC; pt evaluation and enrollment for D+T-DXd are ongoing. D+T-DXd data will be updated and the impact of PD-L1 expression in both arms will be examined. Clinical trial information: NCT03742102 .
How Hayekian is Sunstein's behavioral economics?

I comment on Sunstein's paper proposing ‘Hayekian behavioural economics’. In essence, Sunstein is merely renaming a familiar approach to normative economics, initiated in Sunstein and Thaler's seminal 2003 paper. I argue that this approach cannot fairly be described as in the spirit of Hayek's work. Sunstein's approach is based on a ‘constructivist’ conception of rationality that Hayek consistently criticized. Although both Hayek and Sunstein address ‘knowledge problems’, the two problems are fundamentally different. I develop what I claim are truly Hayekian critiques of Sunstein's claim that fuel economy mandates can be more Hayekian than carbon taxes.
Integer-valued polynomials satisfying the Lucas property

The classical theorem of Lucas states that the binomial polynomials, which form a basis for integer-valued polynomials, satisfy a congruence relation related to their integer parameters. We consider here three problems connected with this result in the setting of discrete valued structures. The first problem asks for the shapes of Lagrange-type interpolation polynomials which constitute a basis for integer-valued polynomials and satisfy the Lucas property; the result so obtained extends a 2001 result of Boulanger and Chabert. For the second problem, we show that the Carlitz polynomials, which form a basis for integer-valued polynomials in a function field, satisfy the Lucas property, and derive criteria guaranteeing that Carlitz-like polynomials, which constitute a basis for integer-valued polynomials, enjoy the Lucas property. The third problem is to find conditions on general polynomials which form a basis for integer-valued polynomials ensuring that they satisfy the Lucas property.
Immunohistochemical Expression Patterns of Tight Junction Proteins, Pro-Apoptotic and Anti-Apoptotic Factors on Progression of Intestinal Mucositis of Onco-Hematological Patients under Epirubicin-Based Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy and radiation are often accompanied by complications such as intestinal mucositis. The aim of this study was to assess by immunohistochemical assay the consequences of epirubicin-based therapy applied to onco-hematological patients, on the mucosal cells that undergo apoptosis and on the tight junction proteins, immediately before and after a short time of chemotherapy administration. We assessed the protein expression and distribution of the pro-apoptotic Bax, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and effector Caspase-3 as key proteins in apoptosis pathways and the changes in immunopositivity of Claudin-1 and ZO-1 tight junction proteins. Results show that the Bcl-2 family is involved in intestinal damage via Caspase-3 dependent apoptosis of epithelial cells. Additionally, the intestinal mucositis activates other injurious pathways through a dramatic drop in Claudin-1 and ZO-1 expressions, contributing for a while to a structural and functional integrity disruption of the intestinal epithelium.
Indigenous management practices of highland bamboo (Yushania alpina) in West Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract This research was designed and conducted to explore indigenous management interventions and experiences carried out by farmers west Amhara, Ethiopia. Therefore, we choose Farta, Banja, Dega Damot, and Sinan districts purposively based on the existence of highland bamboo production to study indigenous management practices applied. A total of 180 farmers were interviewed to collect information on the management of bamboo. Key informants survey, focus group discussions, and field visit observations were taken to support, validate and triangulate interview data collected for identifying and documenting indigenous management interventions applied by farmers. Quantitative data were analyzed in descriptive statistics by using SPSS and Microsoft Excel while quantitative data were summarized and narrated by texts. Farmers in west Amhara, study areas grow two to four landraces of highland bamboo. Vegetative propagation is a common propagation technique. Farm boundary, homestead, riverbank, roadside, and woodlot plantations were common growing niches of highland bamboo. Farmers harvest culms older than two years with different harvesting season. Drying of new shoots (shoot abortion) and lack of training and extension services were identified as bottlenecks of highland bamboo production. Whereas, its adaptive nature, sustainability of yield, increased demand for products, upholding the capacity of several stakeholders in its production and marketing are taken as opportunities for them. Promotion of good experiences of one area to the other localities plays a vital role in enhancing productivity and secure sustainability of bamboo resource.
Radioiodine Geochemistry in the SRS Subsurface Environment

Iodine-129 is one of the key risk drivers for several Savannah River Site (SRS) performance assessments (PA), including that for the Low-Level Waste Disposal Facility in E-Area. In an effort to reduce the uncertainty associated with the conceptual model and the input values used in PA, several studies have recently been conducted dealing with radioiodine geochemistry at the SRS. The objective of this report was to review these recent studies and evaluate their implications on SRS PA calculations. For the first time, these studies measured iodine speciation in SRS groundwater and provided technical justification for assuming the presence of more strongly sorbing species (iodate and organo-iodine), and measured greater iodine sediment sorption when experiments included these newly identified species; specifically they measured greater sorption coefficients (K{sub d} values: the concentration ratio of iodine on the solid phase divided by the concentration in the aqueous phase). Based on these recent studies, new best estimates were proposed for future PA calculations. The new K{sub d} values are greater than previous recommended values. These proposed K{sub d} values reflect a better understanding of iodine geochemistry in the SRS subsurface environment, which permits reducing the associated conservatism included in the original estimates to account for uncertainty. Among the key contributing discoveries supporting the contention that the K{sub d} values more » should be increased are that: 1) not only iodide (I{sup -}), but also the more strongly sorbing iodate (IO{sub 3}{sup -}) species exists in SRS groundwater (average total iodine = 15% iodide, 42% iodate, and 43% organoiodine), 2) when iodine was added as iodate, the measured K{sub d} values were 2 to 6 times greater than when the iodine was added as iodide, and perhaps most importantly, 3) higher desorption (10 to 20 mL/g) than (ad)sorption (all previous studies) K{sub d} values were measured. The implications of this latter point is that the iodine desorption process would be appreciably slower than the (ad)sorption process, and as such would control the rate (and the PA K{sub d} value) that iodine sorbed to and therefore migrated through the subsurface sediment. High desorption K{sub d} values would result in the “effective K{sub d}” for a reactive transport model being closer to the desorption K{sub d} value (the rate limiting value) than the (ad)sorption K{sub d} value. In summary, our understanding of {sup 129}I geochemistry has greatly improved, reducing the uncertainty associated with the PA’s conceptual model, thereby permitting us to reduce the conservatism presently incorporated in PA input values to describe {sup 129}I fate and transport in the SRS subsurface environment. « less
Inference for a constant-stress model under progressive type-I interval censored data from the generalized half-normal distribution

In this paper, we discuss the problem of constant-stress accelerated life test when the failure data are progressive type-I interval censored. Both classical and Bayesian inferential approaches of the distribution parameters and reliability characteristics are discussed. In the classical scenario, the maximum likelihood estimates are approximated using the EM algorithm and the mid-point approximation method. Furthermore, the model's parameters are estimated by method of moments. Next in the Bayesian framework, the point estimates of unknown parameters are obtained using Tierney-Kadane's technique and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. In addition, both approximate and credible confidence intervals (CIs) of the estimators are constructed. For illustration purpose, a Monte Carlo simulation is conducted to investigate the performance of the proposed estimators and a real data set is analysed.
Comparison of knowledge and practice regarding colostrum feeding among mothers in rural and urban area

Background: Basic food of infant is mother’s milk. Breast feeding should be initiated within the first half an hour of birth. The first milk is the most suitable feed for the newborn. Colostrum is very important for growth, development and protection from infections in infants. The importance of colostrum is still not known to many mothers and caregivers. This study aimed to compare the knowledge and practice regarding colostrum feeding among mothers in urban and rural area.Methods: A descriptive approach and comparative survey design was adopted for the study. Data was collected from 150 mothers (75 each from urban and rural area) having infants of birth to 6 months age. Data was collected using a performa with items on socio-demographic varibles, a structured questionnaire to assess knowledge and a practice questionnaire regarding colostrum feeding.Results: 46.7% urban and 48% rural had moderate level of knowledge and 22.7% mothers from rural had poor knowledge. The urban mothers were more aware about colostrum feeding and its importance than rural mothers. Majority of the mothers (92% urban, 89.3% rural) practiced colostrum feeding. Comparison of knowledge and practice showed statistically significant difference between mothers of urban and rural area.Conclusions: Knowledge regarding colostrum feeding was inadequate and improper breast feeding practices were found in both urban and rural area. Urban area mothers had more knowledge and better feeding practices compared to mothers of rural area. There is an ongoing need for individual and community awareness programmes regarding importance of colostrum feeding.
Dynamic Processes in Functionalised Perylene Bisimide Molecules, Semiconductor Nanocrystals and Assemblies

S ingle emitter spectroscopy techniques have become standard methods in physics, chemistry, biology and especially in interdisciplinary research. Heterogeneities inaccessible through ensemble experiments may be resolved and discriminated on the single particle level. Especially the investigation of donor–acceptor systems benefits strongly from these methods, since the fractional labelling and the type and strength of interaction can be extracted directly from single assemblies. Therefore, in optical spectroscopy the PL intensity, PL lifetime, polarisation and the PL spectrum are exploited to discriminate between different species and to characterise each component. Ensemble observations may subsequently become comprehensible from single emitter experiments. In the following section, technical details will be provided on optical wide-field and confocal microscopes allowing for single emitter detection.
Management‐mediated predation rate in the caribou–moose–wolf system: spatial configuration of logging activities matters

Landscape complexity can determine the population dynamics of interacting predators and prey. Yet, management plans are commonly developed from aspatial predictive models. This oversight may result in unexpected outcomes or the loss of opportunities to make spatial interventions that would increase a plan ’ s effectiveness. The management of the threatened woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ), boreal population, provides an example of such shortcomings when using an aspatial approach. Currently, the most in ﬂ uential management recommendation is to maintain at least 65% of undisturbed forests in areas occupied by caribou populations, regardless of the spatial con ﬁ guration of the forest cover. Using a spatially explicit individual-based model (IBM), we evaluated the effects of the spatial con ﬁ guration of cuts and roads on the mortality of boreal caribou living in sympatry with wolves ( Canis lupus ) and moose ( Alces alces ), an apparent competitor. Starting with a real forest landscape, we created forest management scenarios of the speci ﬁ c spatial distribution of cuts (mosaic, small, or large agglomeration) with increasing disturbance levels. We then ran the IBM with simulated agents, representing individuals of the three species, moving according to movement rules determined from radio-collared individuals. We found that movement responses to land cover types and roads differed among species. For example, caribou and moose generally avoided areas close to roads, contrary to wolves. Those differences in ﬂ uenced the mortality of caribou agents, which not only depended on the levels of disturbance but also depended on the spatial distribution of cuts and roads. After controlling for disturbance level, wolves were more successful when forest management required an extensive road network resulting in relatively high habitat fragmen-tation. Caribou agents experienced lower mortality in landscapes with low densities of road and disturbance-related edges. The effect remained much stronger, however, for the level than the spatial con- ﬁ guration of human disturbances. Still, our IBM demonstrated how landscape management could be used to manipulate species interactions, with the intent of either increasing or decreasing predation rates on speci ﬁ c populations, depending on management goals.