Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge-based sizing of cogeneration plant in buildings

Cogeneration is now accepted as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly means of meeting some of a building`s heating and power needs. Cogeneration plants have been installed in many buildings throughout the United Kingdom. Because of commercial pressures, building owners and cogeneration companies are keen to reduce the time and money involved in sizing units, and a decision support tool has been developed to aid the engineer in selecting the unit size. An initial assessment of the sizing can be made with only knowledge of the building`s type, size, and location, which enables the model to be used in new build situations. For an existing building, the accuracy of the predictions can then be progressively improved by providing more information about the building`s energy use, enabling the optimum unit to be identified. This paper briefly describes the model and demonstrates its use through an example feasibility study.
Hindered Trench Migration Due To Slab Steepening Controls the Formation of the Central Andes

The formation of the Central Andes dates back to ∼50 Ma, but its most pronounced episode, including the growth of the Altiplano‐Puna Plateau and pulsatile tectonic shortening phases, occurred within the last 25 Ma. The reason for this evolution remains unexplained. Using geodynamic numerical modeling we infer that the primary cause of the pulses of tectonic shortening and growth of the Central Andes is the changing geometry of the subducted Nazca plate, and particularly the steepening of the mid‐mantle slab segment which results in a slowing down of the trench retreat and subsequent increase in shortening of the advancing South America plate. This steepening first happens after the end of the flat slab episode at ∼25 Ma, and later during the buckling and stagnation of the slab in the mantle transition zone. Processes that mechanically weaken the lithosphere of the South America plate, as suggested in previous studies, enhance the intensity of the shortening events. These processes include delamination of the mantle lithosphere and weakening of foreland sediments. Our new modeling results are consistent with the timing and amplitude of the deformation from geological data in the Central Andes at the Altiplano latitude.
Meningiomas in Ancient Human Populations

Simple Summary Meningiomas are the most common tumor of the central nervous system but are rare in the paleopathological record. Although they are technically a soft tissue phenomenon, they do leave various lesions on the skeletons, including thickened bone adjacent to the tumor and vascular impression changes. A review of the literature of health in past populations revealed some 43 cases of lesions identified by the original authors as meningioma. These cases are considered in terms of the appearance of the lesions as well as alternative diagnoses. The age distribution fits modern demographic patterns for meningioma patients but the sex distribution is roughly opposite of current patterns. It is suggested that meningiomas should be considered more often in differential diagnoses in ancient people. Abstract Meningiomas are the most common tumor of the central nervous system and can result in skeletal manifestations, including hyperostosis of the adjacent cranial bone, enostoses, depressions, and enhanced vascular impressions. However, their identification in the paleopathological literature has been rare and few cases have received broad acceptance of the diagnosis. A review of the literature identified some 43 cases in which individuals were argued to have suffered from meningiomas. Most were seen in older individuals but were more likely to affect males. Eleven individuals exhibited hyperostosis, the most easily recognized indicator, usually located on the parietal bone; the hyperostotic region averaged 8 cm in diameter and 3.0 cm in height. Seven displayed lytic lesions with areas much smaller in size than the hyperostosis, and many had vascular changes. The other cases had indicators that varied greatly in terms of location and expression and included both sclerotic lesions and hollow areas. Several authors also suggested other possible causes of the lesions. The findings reflect the non-pathognomonic nature of the effects of meningiomas. However, given their likely frequency and potentially severe effects in ancient people, it is argued that they should be taken into consideration more frequently when performing differential diagnoses.
Accelerated Mobilization of Organic Carbon from Retrogressive Thaw Slumps on the Northern Taymyr Peninsula

Abstract. With climate change, Arctic hillslopes above ice-rich permafrost are vulnerable to enhanced mass wasting and organic carbon mobilization. In this study we use TanDEM-X-derived digital elevation models to document an approximately 43-fold increase in thaw slumping and concomitant 28-fold increase in carbon mobilization on the Taymyr Peninsula from 2010 to 2021. The available observations allowed us to compare two time-periods, from 2010/11 to 2016/17 and from 2017/18 to 2020/21, and contrast Retrogressive Thaw Slump (RTS) activity between these periods. We find that all quantities describing RTS activity increased in the observed period. The total volumetric change per year increased from about 0.17 · 106 m3 yr−1 to 7.4 · 106 m3 yr−1, a 43-fold increase. The observed surge in RTS activity is mainly driven by the initiation of new RTS, indicated by the 17-fold increase in active RTS numbers from 82 to 1404 and the relative low average volumetric change rate per RTS increase of 2.3. In annual Sentinel-2 imagery, the number of detected RTSs in a subregion increased 10-fold in 2020. This coincides with a severe heatwave that occurred in northern Siberia in 2020. The area-to-volume scaling of the RTSs varied only slightly over time, despite the 2020 heatwave, indicating a robustness of the relationship to such an event. To estimate the slump-mobilized organic carbon, we intersected the elevation changes with a soil organic carbon (SOC) map, with contrasting assumptions about the deep carbon pool and massive ice content. We estimated that the SOC mobilization rate increase 28-fold. The normalization of the SOC mobilization rate to our study region yields values of 11 gC yr−1 m−2 with a confidence interval of 5 to 38 gC yr−1 m−2. Comparison to an independent estimate of the Net Ecosystem Exchange of 4.1 ± 13.0 gC yr−1 m−2 illustrates the importance of RTS activity to the carbon cycle. These results underscore that mass wasting is an important but commonly neglected component of the Arctic carbon cycle, and particularly sensitive to extreme events.
The Rise of Peripheral Actors in Media Regulation in South Africa: An Entry of Social Media Mob(s)

ABSTRACT This article discusses the nature of social media mobs as an informal regulation of journalism by exploring selected cases. To a limited degree, social media mobs are already in practice without standardisation and compliance. It is therefore essential to study and theorise about the informal regulation of journalism by social media mobs than to dismiss them as useless trolls. This paper is theoretically grounded by media accountability systems and the fifth estate. The paper discusses the practical applications of the fifth estate in the informal regulation of journalism by describing mobbing cultures towards journalists such as trolling, digital vigilantism, cybermob censorship and social media mobs as the fifth estate and media accountability systems in practice. Astroturfing is presented as a challenge to these initiatives. The article zones in on social media mobs and presents four South African case studies. It was found that social media mobs are not always a unitary mass; they are as divided as the public interests that mobilise them. Four journalistic transgression categories that social media mobs respond to are (a) the quality of journalism, ethics and professional convention; (b) media independence and bias; (c) universal moralisation: hate speech, racism and classism; and (d) disinformation and fake news. These parameters are context- and time-bound.
Design and Experimental Evaluation of a Peptide Antagonist against Amyloid β(1–42) Interactions with Calmodulin and Calbindin-D28k

Amyloid β1–42 (Aβ(1–42)) oligomers have been linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Intracellular calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis dysregulation with subsequent alterations of neuronal excitability has been proposed to mediate Aβ neurotoxicity in AD. The Ca2+ binding proteins calmodulin (CaM) and calbindin-D28k, whose expression levels are lowered in human AD brains, have relevant roles in neuronal survival and activity. In previous works, we have shown that CaM has a high affinity for Aβ(1–42) oligomers and extensively binds internalized Aβ(1–42) in neurons. In this work, we have designed a hydrophobic peptide of 10 amino acid residues: VFAFAMAFML (amidated-C-terminus amino acid) mimicking the interacting domain of CaM with Aβ (1–42), using a combined strategy based on the experimental results obtained for Aβ(1–42) binding to CaM and in silico docking analysis. The increase in the fluorescence intensity of Aβ(1–42) HiLyteTM-Fluor555 has been used to monitor the kinetics of complex formation with CaM and with calbindin-D28k. The complexation between nanomolar concentrations of Aβ(1–42) and calbindin-D28k is also a novel finding reported in this work. We found that the synthetic peptide VFAFAMAFML (amidated-C-terminus amino acid) is a potent inhibitor of the formation of Aβ(1–42):CaM and of Aβ(1–42):calbindin-D28k complexes.
The Influence of Social Support, Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy on Academic Achievement

Academic achievement is a prominent indicator of studentâ€™s learning success. However, not all students can meet this goal. Therefore, this study analyzed the influence of social support, self-esteem, and self-efficacy on the academic achievement of MAN 5 Cirebon students. As many as 70 students from grades X and XI were selected using purposive sampling technique. Their data were collected using instruments such as the scales of social support, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. It was revealed that social support, self-esteem, and self-efficacy had a positive influence on academic achievement. These findings emphasize the importance of the development of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and the reinforcement of social support to help students improve their achievement
Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Thin Film Deposited by Reactive RF Sputtering under Oxygen-Rich Conditions

TiO2 thin films are promising as photocatalysts to decompose organic compounds. In this study, TiO2 thin films were deposited by reactive radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering under various flow rates of oxygen and argon gas. The results show that the photocatalytic activity decreases as the oxygen-gas ratio is increased to 30% or less, while the activity increases under oxygen-rich conditions. It was observed that the crystal structure changed from anatase to a composite of anatase and rutile, where the oxygen-gas ratio during RF sputtering is more than 40%. Interestingly, the oxygen vacancy concentration increased under oxygen-rich conditions, where the oxygen-gas ratio is more than 40%. The sample prepared under the most enriched oxygen condition, 70%, among our experiments exhibited the highest concentration of oxygen vacancy and the highest photocatalytic activity. Both the oxygen vacancies and the composite of anatase and rutile structure in the TiO2 films deposited under oxygen-rich conditions are considered responsible for the enhanced photocatalysis.
New Erodibility Parameterization for Applying WEPP on Rangelands Using ERMiT

HighlightsA practical parameterization approach to estimate erodibility was developed for WEPP applications on rangelands.Soil texture had a greater effect on rill erodibility than vegetation cover.Vegetation cover had a greater effect on interrill erodibility than soil texture.A new set of erodibility input parameters was defined for ERMiT applications on rangelands.Abstract. The USDA Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) is a process-based soil erosion prediction model. WEPP uses three soil erodibility parameters: rill erodibility (Kr), interrill erodibility (Ki), and critical hydraulic shear stress (tc). In this study, a new parameterization approach for estimating erodibility was developed for WEPP applications on rangelands. Data from overland flow experiments on disturbed and undisturbed rangelands were used to develop empirical equations to predict rill erodibility variation as a function of vegetation cover and soil texture. Data from rainfall simulation experiments were analyzed by piecewise regression to develop empirical equations for predicting the variability of interrill erodibility before and after disturbance and across a wide range of soil textures as a function of vegetation cover and soil texture. Critical shear values corresponding to the developed rill and interrill erodibility parameters were proposed. Our results show that the new erodibility approach predicts erosion at the plot scale with a satisfactory range of error (PBIAS =35.6 and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency = 0.49). The new approach was used to provide soil erodibility values for the Erosion Risk Management Tool (ERMiT), which uses WEPP as the runoff and erosion calculation engine. Keywords: ERMiT, Erosion, Interrill, Rangeland management, Rill, Shrub, Soil burn severity, WEPP.
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Infection: A Literature Review

Hemophagocytic lymphocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening, underdiagnosed syndrome caused by the excessive release of inflammatory mediators. Primary lymphocytosis is usually seen in young children and is associated with genetic defects, while secondary lymphocytosis is presented in adults due to malignancy, rheumatic disease, or infection. The aim of this study is to describe the infectious agents that trigger HLH in the adult population and provide diagnostic and treatment guidelines for this life-threatening syndrome. We conducted a literature review using PubMed as our basic database. We collected papers from the past six years that studied infectious agents that triggered HLH and described the most recommended treatment options for this serious condition. A total of 32 studies were included for this literature review.HLH is considered a syndrome with variable symptoms, and clinicians should be familiar with its complexity and the pathologies that could contribute to its presentation. Collaboration between physicians and awareness are basic steps for the management of patients with HLH.
Brain network topology early after stroke relates to recovery

Abstract Analyses of alterations of brain networks have gained an increasing interest in stroke rehabilitation research. Compared with functional networks derived from resting-state analyses, there is limited knowledge of how structural network topology might undergo changes after stroke and, more importantly, if structural network information obtained early after stroke could enhance recovery models to infer later outcomes. The present work re-analysed cross-sectional structural imaging data, obtained within the first 2 weeks, of 45 acute stroke patients (22 females, 24 right-sided strokes, age 68 ± 13 years). Whole-brain tractography was performed to reconstruct structural connectomes and graph-theoretical analyses were employed to quantify global network organization with a focus on parameters of network integration and modular processing. Graph measures were compared between stroke patients and 34 healthy controls (15 females, aged 69 ± 10 years) and they were integrated with four clinical scores of the late subacute stage, covering neurological symptom burden (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), global disability (modified Rankin Scale), activity-related disability (Barthel Index) and motor functions (Upper-Extremity Score of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment). The analyses were employed across the complete cohort and, based on clustering analysis, separately within subgroups stratified in mild to moderate (n = 21) and severe (n = 24) initial deficits. The main findings were (i) a significant reduction of network’s global efficiency, specifically in patients with severe deficits compared with controls (P = 0.010) and (ii) a significant negative correlation of network efficiency with the extent of persistent functional deficits at follow-up after 3–6 months (P ≤ 0.032). Specifically, regression models revealed that this measure was capable to increase the explained variance in future deficits by 18% for the modified Rankin Scale, up to 24% for National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and 16% for Barthel Index when compared with models including the initial deficits and the lesion volume. Patients with mild to moderate deficits did not exhibit a similar impact of network efficiency on outcome inference. Clustering coefficient and modularity, measures of segregation and modular processing, did not exhibit comparable structure–outcome relationships, neither in severely nor in mildly affected patients. This study provides empirical evidence that structural network efficiency as a graph-theoretical marker of large-scale network topology, quantified early after stroke, relates to recovery. Notably, this contribution was only evident in severely but not mildly affected stroke patients. This suggests that the initial clinical deficit might shape the dependency of recovery on global network topology after stroke.
Perception of issues by factory workers in Malaysia : the role of media

Media have the ability to shape people’s opinion on many important issues of a country. The public’s exposure to media is likely to change their opinions towards certain issues that are widely discussed in the media. Factory workers’ perception on major issues of a country is important as it entails strong participation in the government’s programmes. In light of this concern, a study was conducted to examine the influence of media on factory workers’ opinion concerning the issues of importance that take place in Malaysia. Among objectives of the study are: a) to examine the usage of media among factory workers; b) to find out the relationship between media and their perceptions about main issues of the country; and c) to determine the relationship between media and the Prime Minister’s leadership. Using purposive sampling, findings of the study were obtained from a survey conducted among 615 factory workers in Klang Valley which was carried out few months before the Malaysian 13th. General Election in 2013. Findings drawn from the survey data indicate that factory workers are high users of media particularly the new media. The findings also indicate that issues from the main media did not solely influence the factory workers in their decision making of whom to vote in the general election. Since they were high users of the new media, they also have the new media as their alternative source of information. Moreover, the findings also show that credibility and reliability of the media play an important role. The respondents would only believe the news only when the sources of information were from reliable sources.
Automatic GNSS-enabled harvester data collection as a tool to evaluate factors affecting harvester productivity in a Eucalyptus spp. harvesting operation in Uruguay

Uruguay has adopted cut-to-length (CTL) machines in forest harvesting operations, especially in large scale, fast-growing plantations. The majority of modern CTL machines have on-board computers that capture individual tree data and can be coupled with global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). This provides the opportunity to collect data for research purposes and to improve operations. In this study, we retrieved data (StanForD stm and drf files) from a GNSS-enabled harvester working in CTL operations in Eucalyptus spp. plantations in Uruguay. With two thirds of this data we fitted a mixed effects model to evaluate harvester productivity as a function of stem diameter at breast height (DBH), species, shift (day/night), slope, and operator. A slope surface derived from a digital terrain model was overlaid with GNSS stem records. Slope values were assigned to each stem using the Spatial Analyst toolbox in ArcGIS. The reserved third of the data were used to validate the model. DBH was the most influential variable in harvester productivity, showing a positive correlation and a R2 value of 0.73 in the validation model. Operator and species also had significant effects. There was no significant slope effect, whereby the study area only had flat and mildly sloping terrain. Shift did not have a significant effect, indicating there was no drop in night shift productivity. The model developed constitutes the first published harvester productivity model in South America based on data automatically collected by harvesters. In addition, the forestry company may benefit from using the model for operator management.
Rise of Social Media Influencers as a New Marketing Channel: Focusing on the Roles of Psychological Well-Being and Perceived Social Responsibility among Consumers

This empirical research investigated the structural relationships between social media influencer attributes, perceived friendship, psychological well-being, loyalty, and perceived social responsibility of influencers, focusing on the perspective of social media users. More specifically, this study conceptually identified social media influencer attributes such as language similarity, interest similarity, interaction frequency, and self-disclosure and examined the respective effects of each dimension on perceived friendship and psychological well-being, consequently resulting in loyalty toward social media influencers. The authors collected and analyzed data from 388 social media users in the United States via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk with multivariate analyses to test the hypothesized associations among the variables in this study. The findings indicated that perceived friendship was significantly influenced by language similarity, interest similarity, and self-disclosure, but did not have a significant impact on psychological well-being. Additionally, perceived friendship significantly affected psychological well-being and loyalty, and psychological well-being significantly influenced loyalty. Lastly, social media influencers’ social responsibility moderated the path from psychological well-being to loyalty. Based on these findings, this study proposes theoretical and managerial implications for the social media influencer marketing context.