Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ability of Black-Box Optimisation to Efficiently Perform Simulation Studies in Power Engineering

Abstract In this study, the potential of the so-called black-box optimisation (BBO) to increase the efficiency of simulation studies in power engineering is evaluated. Three algorithms (“Multilevel Coordinate Search” (MCS) and “Stable Noisy Optimization by Branch and Fit” (SNOBFIT) by Huyer and Neumaier and “blackbox: A Procedure for Parallel Optimization of Expensive Black-box Functions” (blackbox) by Knysh and Korkolis) are implemented in MATLAB and compared for solving two use cases: the analysis of the maximum rotational speed of a gas turbine after a load rejection and the identification of transfer function parameters by measurements. The first use case has a high computational cost, whereas the second use case is computationally cheap. For each run of the algorithms, the accuracy of the found solution and the number of simulations or function evaluations needed to determine the optimum and the overall runtime are used to identify the potential of the algorithms in comparison to currently used methods. All methods provide solutions for potential optima that are at least 99.8% accurate compared to the reference methods. The number of evaluations of the objective functions differs significantly but cannot be directly compared as only the SNOBFIT algorithm does stop when the found solution does not improve further, whereas the other algorithms use a predefined number of function evaluations. Therefore, SNOBFIT has the shortest runtime for both examples. For computationally expensive simulations, it is shown that parallelisation of the function evaluations (SNOBFIT and blackbox) and quantisation of the input variables (SNOBFIT) are essential for the algorithmic performance. For the gas turbine overspeed analysis, only SNOBFIT can compete with the reference procedure concerning the runtime. Further studies will have to investigate whether the quantisation of input variables can be applied to other algorithms and whether the BBO algorithms can outperform the reference methods for problems with a higher dimensionality.
A Proposed Demand Forecasting Model by Using Machine Learning for Food Industry

Demand forecasting is one of the biggest challenges in supply chain management, especially in the food industry, due to the various variables that affect people's needs, continuous changes in prices, and overall economic factors. Many variables affect product sales and demands, such as promotional offers, seasons, holidays, and cultural events, among many others. Despite the difficulty, supply chain processes can be enhanced by using machine learning, which typically produces better predictions than conventional approaches. This paper proposes a model to improve demand forecasting accuracy for the food industry. More specifically, the model focuses on chocolate products, using data from a local chocolate distributor in Saudi Arabia. The proposed model will take data from sales at normal times of the year and promotional sales, in holiday times for example, and use cutting edge machine learning techniques to accurately forecast supply and demand levels in the chocolate industry.
A systematic mapping study of using artificial intelligence and data analysis in digital marketing: Revealing the state of the art

The use of cutting-edge technologies in the market is actively drawing the attention of marketing scholars because of its huge advantages in business such as sustainable competitive and financial outcomes. The digital marketing literature is prolific with works focused on artificial intelligence and data analysis in different aspects of marketing such as customer loyalty and brand management. As the number of research publications for integrating artificial intelligence and data analysis in digital marketing is steadily growing, a need to systematically identify, analyze, and classify the state of the art of this research field emerges. Inspired by this need, this paper aims to provide scholars with a comprehensive overview of the state of the whole research in the digital marketing field including artificial intelligence and data analysis applications. By systematically analyzing literature based on search strategies and classification framework, an overview of the central research themes and main findings were retrieved from the bodies of knowledge in the years from 2016 to 2022. The main contributions of the systematic mapping study include a reported portfolio of key publications, a systematic map of comparing, classifying, and evaluating existing knowledge of the digital marketing field, an overview of the central research topics and findings, and future research agenda. Finally, from the systematic mapping research of the studies, the state of the art of the whole research of digital marketing and the cutting-edge technologies integrated field and theoretical & practical implications are revealed.
Ebbs and flows of metropolitan authorities: Supra-local spatial planning and impact on land-use patterns

In this study, I propose an analytical approach to describe the institutional trajectory of metropolitan authorities by using theory-based institutional models that, like ‘ebbs’ and ‘flows’, alternate over time. By employing a comparative, qualitative case-based approach, I empirically validated this analytical approach by reconstructing the divergent institutional trajectories of the metropolitan authorities in Barcelona, Spain and Milan, Italy over a period of 70 years. Furthermore, I examine to what extent the different institutional trajectories of both metropolitan authorities have had an indirect impact on land-use patterns by comparing longitudinal datasets (1950s-2010s) at different territorial scales. Results show that the different institutional models characterizing both metropolitan authorities cannot be clearly associated with a higher or lower proportion of urbanized areas. Rather, findings suggest that it is the inter-mediating role that metropolitan authorities routinely perform that can promote efficient land-use development and sustainable use of land as a scarce resource (equifinality).
Theory of strong-field attosecond transient absorption

Attosecond transient absorption is one of the promising new techniques being developed to exploit the availability of sub-femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses to study the dynamics of the electron on its natural time scale. The temporal resolution in a transient absorption setup comes from the control of the relative delay and coherence between pump and probe pulses, while the spectral resolution comes from the characteristic width of the features that are being probed. In this review we focus on transient absorption scenarios where an attosecond pulse of XUV radiation creates a broadband excitation that is subsequently probed by a few cycle infrared (IR) laser. Because the attosecond XUV pulses are locked to the IR field cycle, the exchange of energy in the laser–matter interaction can be studied with unprecedented precision. We focus on the transient absorption by helium atoms of XUV radiation around the first ionization threshold, where we can simultaneoulsy solve the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for the single atom response and the Maxwell wave equation for the collective response of the nonlinear medium. We use a time-domain method that allows us to treat on an equal footing all the different linear and nonlinear processes by which the medium can exchange energy with the fields. We present several simple models, based on a few-level system interacting with a strong IR field, to explain many of the novel features found in attosecond transient absorption spectrograms. These include the presence of light-induced states, which demonstrate the ability to probe the dressed states of the atom. We also present a time-domain interpretation of the resonant pulse propagation features that appear in absorption spectra in dense, macroscopic media. We close by reviewing several recent experimental results that can be explained in terms of the models we discuss. Our aim is to present a road map for understanding future attosecond transient absorption experiments in more complex systems.
Cultural heterogeneity, acquisition experience and the performance of Chinese cross-border acquisitions

Abstract Using data over the 2010-2015 period, we investigate the effect of cultural heterogeneity and cross-border acquisition experience on post-acquisition performance of Chinese publicly listed companies (PLCs). We find that between and within cultural heterogeneity has a negative and statistically significant effect on post-acquisition performance, but the effect of acquisition experience on post-acquisition performance is positive. We find that the dynamic marginal effects of cultural heterogeneity and acquisition experience on post-acquisition performance of Chinese PLCs are contingent on the scale of acquisition. Chinese PLCs can improve their post-acquisition performance by overcoming the issues arising from cultural heterogeneity, accumulating acquisition experience, and exploiting economies of scale. However, in the case of state-owned PLCs, prior cross-border acquisition experience can adversely affect the performance of new cross-border acquisitions.
Mesoscale simulation of biomembranes with FreeDTS

We present FreeDTS software for performing computational research on biomembranes at the mesoscale. In this software, a membrane is represented by a dynamically triangulated surface equipped with vertex-based inclusions to integrate the effects of integral and peripheral membrane proteins. Several algorithms are included in the software to simulate complex membranes at different conditions such as framed membranes with constant tension, vesicles and high-genus membranes with various fixed volumes or constant pressure differences and applying external forces to membrane regions. Furthermore, the software allows the user to turn off the shape evolution of the membrane and focus solely on the organization of proteins. As a result, we can take realistic membrane shapes obtained from, for example, cryo-electron tomography and backmap them into a finer simulation model. In addition to many biomembrane applications, this software brings us a step closer to simulating realistic biomembranes with molecular resolution. Here we provide several interesting showcases of the power of the software but leave a wide range of potential applications for interested users. In this work, the authors report the FreeDTS software to simulate biomembranes at the mesoscale. The software provides various membrane simulations, focusing on protein organization and shape remodeling. A versatile tool propelling realistic membrane studies and diverse applications.
A longitudinal single-cell therapeutic atlas of anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment in inflammatory bowel disease

Precision medicine in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) requires an understanding of how cellular networks change following therapy. We describe a therapeutic atlas for Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) following anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. We generated ~1 million single-cell transcriptomes, organised into 109 cell states, from 216 gut biopsies from 38 patients and three controls, revealing disease- and therapy-specific differences. A systems-biology analysis identified distinct spatially-resolved cellular microenvironments: granuloma signatures in CD and interferon (IFN)-response signatures localising to T-cell aggregates and epithelial damage in CD and UC. Longitudinal comparisons demonstrated that disease progression in non-responders associated with myeloid and stromal cell perturbations in CD and increased multi-cellular IFN signalling in UC. IFN signalling was also observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium with a lymphoid pathotype. Our therapeutic atlas informs drug positioning across IMIDs, and suggests a rationale for the use of janus kinase (JAK) inhibition following anti-TNF resistance.
Altered Brain Dynamics in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder: Implications for a continuum from prodromal to overt alpha-synucleinopathies

Idiopathic/isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is considered a prodromal stage of alpha-synucleinopathies. Cortical and sub-cortical brain modifications begin years before the emergence of overt neurodegenerative symptoms. To better understand the pathophysiological process impacting the brain from the prodromal to the overt stage of alpha-synucleinopathy, it is essential to assess iRBD patients over time. Recent evidence suggests that the human brain operates at an operating point near a critical phase transition between subcritical and supercritical phases in the system’s state space to maintain cognitive and physiological performance. In contrast, a deviation from the critical regime leading to altered oscillatory dynamics has been observed in several pathologies. Here, we investigated if the alpha-synucleinopathy produces a deviation of the operating point already evident in the prodromal phase and if this shift correlates with biological and clinical disease severity. We analyzed a dataset of 59 patients with iRBD (age 69.61 ± 6.98, 50 male) undergoing resting-state high-density EEG, presynaptic dopaminergic imaging, and clinical evaluations. Thirty-one patients (age 72.41 ± 7.05, 31 male) also underwent clinical and instrumental follow-up (mean follow-up period 25.85 ± 10.20 months). To localize the individual operating points along the excitation-inhibition (EI) continuum, we assessed both measures of neuronal EI balance and measures of critical brain dynamics such as long-range temporal correlation (LRTCs) and neuronal bistability in spontaneous narrow-band oscillations. Finally, we correlated critical brain dynamics and EI balance metrics with phase synchronization, nigro-striatal dopaminergic functioning, and clinical performances. Compared to 48 healthy subjects (age 70.25 ± 10.15, 23 male), iRBD patients showed higher values of LRTCs and bistability in the 2-7 Hz band at diagnosis. Patients who eventually phenoconverted to overt alpha-synucleinopathy exhibited a more excitation-dominated (fEI > 1) condition than stable iRBD patients in 5-7 Hz. This higher excitation also directly correlated with phase synchronization in 2-7 Hz, further suggesting a shift of the operating point toward a supercritical state with the disease progression. Moreover, excitation-dominated state and low bistability were associated with deterioration of the nigro-striatal dopaminergic function and tended to correlate with stronger clinical symptoms. In conclusion, this study shows for the first time a deviation of the working point from inhibition-to excitation-dominated states along the continuum from prodromal to overt phases of the disease. These cortical brain dynamics modifications are associated with nigro-striatal dopaminergic impairment. These results increase our knowledge of the physiopathological process underlying alpha-synucleinopathies since prodromal stages, possibly providing new clues on disease-modifying strategies.
Research Career Persistence for Solar and Space Physics PhD

Results from a recent graduate student survey found unsurprisingly that Solar and Space Physics (S&SP) PhD graduate students almost all aspire to have research careers in Solar and Space Physics. This study reports on the research career persistence over the first decade of the new millennium for S&SP PhDs. We used publication of science citation indexed articles as the indicator for persistence in a research career. We found that nearly two thirds (64%) of PhDs who graduated between 2001 and 2009 published refereed papers in 2012 or 2013, while 17% of PhDs never published another paper beyond the year they received their PhD. The remaining 19% of PhDs stopped publishing within three years of receiving their PhD. We found no gender difference between research persistence. We also found that though there is statistically no difference on persistence of publishing research between graduates of the largest programs compared to all other programs, there are significant differences between individual programs. This study indicates that a majority of S&SP PhDs find research careers but that a significant fraction pursue careers where publishing in science citation indexed journals is not required. Graduate programs, advisors, and potential graduate students can use these data for career planning and developing mentoring programs that meet the career outcomes of all of their graduates.
Evolution in abiotic environments shapes coexistence between two spider mite species

Adaptation to novel environments have been documented at the population, phenotype and genotype level. However, the ecological consequences of this process are often ignored. For example, recent evolutionary history in different environments is expected to lead to increased growth rates and competitive abilities. These traits have been identified as key ingredients underlying species coexistence, which suggests that adaptation to new environments may shape species coexistence patterns. However, this hypothesis remains untested. To tackle this issue, we performed experimental evolution of two herbivorous spider mite species (Tetranychus urticae and T. evansi) feeding on tomato plants grown under high or low cadmium concentrations. We combined phenotypic analyses with structural stability theory to show that both the cadmium environment and evolution in it changed the coexistence patterns of the two species by increasing niche differences. In fact, the presence of cadmium reduced interspecific competition and led to facilitation between the two herbivores, entailing stable coexistence independently of the previous evolutionary history. Evolution in the cadmium environment also reduced interspecific competition in the ancestral environment, producing stable coexistence. These results show that evolution in a new environment, even in absence of interspecific competitors, affects long-term species coexistence. Importantly, it highlights that biotic interactions (within or between populations) should be accounted for when describing adaptation to novel environments.
Antidepressant-like activity of a brain penetrant HCN channel inhibitor in mice

Changes in Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated (HCN) channel function have been linked to depressive-like traits, making them potential drug targets. However, there is currently no peer-reviewed data supporting the use of a small molecule modulator of HCN channels in depression treatment. Org 34167, a benzisoxazole derivative, has been patented for the treatment of depression and progressed to Phase I trials. In the current study, we analysed the biophysical effects of Org 34167 on HCN channels in stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells and mouse layer V neurons using patch-clamp electrophysiology, and we utilised three high-throughput screens for depressive-like behaviour to assess the activity of Org 34167 in mice. The impact of Org 34167 on locomotion and coordination were measured by performing rotarod and ledged beam tests. Org 34167 is a broad-spectrum inhibitor of HCN channels, slowing activation and causing a hyperpolarising shift in voltage-dependence of activation. It also reduced I h-mediated sag in mouse neurons. Org 34167 (0.5 mg/kg) reduced marble burying and increased the time spent mobile in the Porsolt swim and tail suspension tests in both male and female BALB/c mice, suggesting reduced depressive-like behaviour. Although no adverse effects were seen at 0.5 mg/kg, an increase in dose to 1 mg/kg resulted in visible tremors and impaired locomotion and coordination. These data support the premise that HCN channels are valid targets for anti-depressive drugs albeit with a narrow therapeutic index. Drugs with higher HCN subtype selectivity are needed to establish if a wider therapeutic window can be obtained.
Different phenotype of left atrial function impairment in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hypertension: comparison of healthy controls

Background The impairment of atrial function and atrial-ventricular coupling in diseases with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy has been increasingly recognized. This study compares left atrium (LA) and right atrium (RA) function, as well as LA-LV coupling, in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hypertension (HTN) with preserved LV ejection fraction (EF), using cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT). Methods Fifty-eight HCM patients, 44 HTN patients, and 25 healthy controls were retrospectively enrolled. LA and RA functions were compared among the three groups. LA-LV correlations were evaluated in the HCM and HTN groups. Results LA reservoir (LA total EF, ɛs, and SRs), conduit (LA passive EF, ɛe, SRe), and booster pump (LA booster EF, ɛa, SRa) functions were significantly impaired in HCM and HTN patients compared to healthy controls (HCM vs. HTN vs. healthy controls: ɛs, 24.8 ± 9.8% vs. 31.3 ± 9.3% vs. 25.2 ± 7.2%; ɛe, 11.7 ± 6.7% vs. 16.8 ± 6.9% vs. 25.5 ± 7.5%; ɛa, 13.1 ± 5.8% vs. 14.6 ± 5.5% vs. 16.5 ± 4.5%, p < 0.05). Reservoir and conduit functions were more impaired in HCM patients compared to HTN patients (p < 0.05). LA strains demonstrated significant correlations with LV EF, LV mass index, LV MWT, global longitudinal strain parameters, and native T1 in HCM patients (p < 0.05). The only correlations in HTN were observed between LA reservoir strain (ɛs) and booster pump strain (ɛa) with LV GLS (p < 0.05). RA reservoir function (RA ɛs, SRs) and conduit function (RA ɛe, SRe) were significantly impaired in HCM and HTN patients (p < 0.05), while RA booster pump function (RA ɛa, SRa) was preserved. Conclusions LA functions were impaired in HCM and HTN patients with preserved LV EF, with reservoir and conduit functions more affected in HCM patients. Moreover, different LA-LV couplings were apparent in two different diseases, and abnormal LA-LV coupling was emphasized in HTN. Decreased RA reservoir and conduit strains were evident in both HCM and HTN, while booster pump strain was preserved.
Blue Carbon Stock in Zostera marina Meadows in the Ría de Ferrol (NW Iberian Peninsula)

The increase in greenhouse gases (GHG) has been constant since the Industrial Revolution. For this reason, different international organizations have devoted special attention to GHG sinks such as terrestrial soils and ecosystems. However, the initially estimated balances did not include the carbon stock associated with ocean waters, coastal soils and sediments, known as blue carbon. Currently, blue carbon sinks are the subject of numerous studies due to the limited information available, especially on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. We studied the organic C stock present in soils and in Zostera marina biomass in the two main meadows in the Ría de Ferrol (O Baño and Castelo de San Felipe). The carbon stock associated with biomass was 0.37 Mg C ha−1, with 0.18 Mg C ha−1 corresponding to the epigeal portion and 0.19 Mg C ha−1 to the hypogeal portion. Soil carbon stock was much higher: 4.11 Mg C ha−1 at a depth of 5 cm and 82.14 Mg C ha−1 at a depth of 1 m. Together with carbon values in biomass, a stock of 82.5 Mg C ha−1 was obtained for the whole Ría de Ferrol. Z. marina accounted for 8.25% of total C in the Ría de Ferrol. These values were higher than those found in other regions. Isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N) and C/N ratios indicated that the organic C stock in the O Baño soil may receive important organic matter inputs of terrestrial origin, while in San Felipe, it seems to have a marine origin.