Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anatomy of a deformed upper crust fragment from western Alpine Corsica (France): insights into continental subduction processes

ABSTRACT In Corsica Island (France), a belt of metamorphic continental units derived from the European margin is exposed at the western rim of the Alpine Corsica. This study provides a complete anatomy of one of these units (Tour de Valletto Unit) consisting of a Palaeozoic basement covered by an Early Jurassic – late Eocene sedimentary succession. This unit records a polyphase tectono-metamorphic history acquired during the late Eocene – lower early Miocene convergence processes involving the Adria and Europe continental plates. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we reconstructed in detail the P-T path of the Tour de Valletto Unit. The path shows a metamorphic climax at blueschist facies conditions suggesting that the unit was accreted at c. 40 km of depth. After its accretion, the Tour de Valletto Unit was exhumed up to the Earth surface following a path characterized by an increase of temperature and a decrease of pressure. The reconstructed tectono-metamorphic history of the Tour de Valletto Unit is compared with those of the other continental units located in western Alpine Corsica to discuss the exhumation processes active during continental subduction.
Machine Learning–Based Short-Term Mortality Prediction Models for Patients With Cancer Using Electronic Health Record Data: Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal

Background In the United States, national guidelines suggest that aggressive cancer care should be avoided in the final months of life. However, guideline compliance currently requires clinicians to make judgments based on their experience as to when a patient is nearing the end of their life. Machine learning (ML) algorithms may facilitate improved end-of-life care provision for patients with cancer by identifying patients at risk of short-term mortality. Objective This study aims to summarize the evidence for applying ML in ≤1-year cancer mortality prediction to assist with the transition to end-of-life care for patients with cancer. Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE to identify relevant articles. We included studies describing ML algorithms predicting ≤1-year mortality in patients of oncology. We used the prediction model risk of bias assessment tool to assess the quality of the included studies. Results We included 15 articles involving 110,058 patients in the final synthesis. Of the 15 studies, 12 (80%) had a high or unclear risk of bias. The model performance was good: the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranged from 0.72 to 0.92. We identified common issues leading to biased models, including using a single performance metric, incomplete reporting of or inappropriate modeling practice, and small sample size. Conclusions We found encouraging signs of ML performance in predicting short-term cancer mortality. Nevertheless, no included ML algorithms are suitable for clinical practice at the current stage because of the high risk of bias and uncertainty regarding real-world performance. Further research is needed to develop ML models using the modern standards of algorithm development and reporting.
A high‐order weighted essentially nonoscillatory scheme based on exponential polynomials for nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations

In this research the numerical solution of nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations is investigated by a new sixth‐order finite difference weighted essentially nonoscillatory (WENO) based on exponential polynomials. In smooth regions, the new scheme, named as EPWENO6, can achieve the maximal approximation order while in critical points it does not lose its accuracy. In order to better approximation near steep gradients without spurious oscillations, the EPWENO6 scheme is designed by the exponential polynomials that are incorporated into the WENO reconstruction. In design of nonlinear weights that play a very important role in WENO reconstructions, a global smoothness indicator using generalized undivided differences is introduced. To analyze the convergence order of the EPWENO6 method in full detail, the Lagrange‐type exponential functions have been used. By comparing the EPWENO6 scheme and other existing WENO schemes for solving degenerate parabolic equations, it can be seen that the new scheme offers better results while its computational cost is less. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, a number of numerical experiments are considered.
A Study examining the relationship between Gender and Personality

Background: Several studies have pointed out the relationship between gender and personality in its various facets. The current study investigates if the personality traits of a person is associated with their gender. The rationale of the study is to understand what impact gender has on one’s personality. Methodology: A standardised survey was distributed to a sample of adolescents belonging to the age group of 16-21 years from Mumbai. Each person completed a different measure on the Big Five Personality traits. Women reported themselves to be higher in Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Warmth, and Openness to Feelings, whereas men were higher in Assertiveness and Openness to Ideas. The sample comprises of 50 men and 50 women each from the age group of 16-21 years. Results: Women scored comparatively higher on all the three scales which denotes women are more open to new experiences and new ideas, they are most likely to put others’ needs ahead of their own and cooperate rather than compete with each other. They experience negative emotions like fear, anxiety, guilt and shame intensely. Whereas men on the other hand are practical, conventional and focus on the concrete, they tend to avoid the unknown and follow traditional ways. They experience less empathy and are described as hostile, competitive and antagonists. Conclusion: Further studies on gender and personality are needed to elucidate the findings of the current study.
Magnetic Field Action on Limnospira indica PCC8005 Cultures: Enhancement of Biomass Yield and Protein Content

The effects of a magnetic field (MF) on the cyanobacteria Limnospira indica PCC 8005 growth rate and biomass composition were investigated. A device to apply the MF during the cultivation was built and the cyanobacteria were exposed to a steady 11 mT transverse MF. The growth increased with MF application, and when it was applied for 1 h per day, 123% more biomass was produced than in the control group. The protein content in the biomass cultured under this condition increased, achieving 60.4 w/w, while the Chl-a increased by 326%. The MF application for 1 h per day was found to be more efficient than when applied continuously for 24 h per day, in addition to being more economical and sustainable. This study showed an inexpensive and non-toxic way to enhance biomass concentration, leading to amounts more than 100% higher than those obtained in the control group. Furthermore, the high protein content in the biomass gave us several possibilities to increase the nutritional value of food.
Green Synthesis of TiO2 Nanoparticles Using Acorus calamus Leaf Extract and Evaluating its Photocatalytic and In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity

Here, we present an innovative and creative sustainable technique for the fabrication of titania (TiO2) using Acorus calamus (A. calamus) leaf extract as a new biogenic source, as well as a capping and reducing agent. The optical, structural, morphological, surface, and thermal characteristics of biosynthesized nanoparticles were investigated using UV, FTIR, SEM, DLS, BET, and TGA-DSC analysis. The phase formation and presence of nanocrystalline TiO2 were revealed by the XRD pattern. FTIR analysis revealed conjugation, as well as the presence of Ti–O and O–H vibrational bands. The nanoparticles were noticed to be globular, with an average size of 15–40 nm, according to the morphological analysis, and the impact of size quantification was also investigated using DLS. The photocatalytic activity of bare, commercial P-25 and biosynthesized TiO2 (G-TiO2) nanoparticles in aqueous solution of rhodamine B (RhB) dye was investigated under visible light irradiation at different time intervals. The biosynthesized TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited strong photocatalytic activity, degrading 96.59% of the RhB dye. Different kinetic representations were utilized to analyze equilibrium details. The pseudo-first-order reaction was best suited with equilibrium rate constant (K1) and regression coefficients (R2) values 3.72 × 10−4 and 0.99, respectively. The antimicrobial efficacy of the prepared nanoparticles was investigated using the disc diffusion technique. Further, biosynthesized TiO2 showed excellent antimicrobial activity against the selected gram-positive staining (B. subtilis, S. aureus) over gram-negative (P. aeruginosa, E. coli) pathogenic bacteria in comparison to bare TiO2.
Optimization of element length for imaging small volumetric reflectors with linear ultrasonic arrays

A 3D ultrasonic simulation study is presented, aimed at understanding the effect of element length for imaging small volumetric flaws with linear arrays in ultrasonically noisy materials. The geometry of a linear array can be described by the width, pitch and total number of the elements along with the length perpendicular to imaging plane. This paper is concerned with the latter parameter, which tends to be ignored in array optimization studies and is often chosen arbitrarily for industrial array inspections. A 3D analytical model based on imaging a point target is described, validated and used to make calculations of relative Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) as a function of element length. SNR is found to be highly sensitive to element length with a 12dB variation observed over the length range investigated. It is then demonstrated that the optimal length can be predicted directly from the Point Spread Function (PSF) of the imaging system as well as the natural focal point of the array element from 2D beam profiles perpendicular to the imaging plane. This result suggests that the optimal length for any imaging position can be predicted without the need for a full 3D model and is independent of element pitch and the number of elements. Array element design guidelines are then described with respect to wavelength and extensions of these results are discussed for application to realistically-sized defects and coarse-grained materials.
Influence of multi-timescale precipitation indices on primary tea production in Baoshan, Yunnan, China

The regional economy in Yunnan, Southwest China, relies heavily on tea production. Both the quality and amount of tea production are sensitive to extreme climate events, but exactly how different timescale climate events influence tea production remains unknown. In this study, we explore the dynamic responses of tea production indices in Baoshan, Yunnan to 6 multi-timescale precipitation indices (MPIs) at lags of up to 20 years. The results are as follows: (1) Wet injury caused by precipitation during summer and autumn is a prominent threat to annual tea production in Baoshan, which leads to negative impacts on annual tea yield and raw tea price, with the impact on the latter mainly reflected in tea quality during the primary processing for black tea and green tea. (2) Annual tea yield and raw tea price are negatively correlated with CDD (consecutive dry days) and R20 (very heavy precipitation days) at lags greater than one year. (3) Spring tea yield and raw tea price are negatively correlated with spring precipitation, but positively correlated with days in the winter-spring dormancy period of tea plant (WSDP) and precipitation in WSDP; the positive correlation of days in WSDP is the most prominent with spring tea production of the 3 MPIs. (4) Unlike other famous tea areas, lower R20 frequency in Baoshan is not associated with high rates of soil erosion, but the lack of drainage ditches in the tea garden still means that continuous precipitation or heavy rainfall are a risk to Baoshan tea production. The insights provided by this study will help farmers and other decision-makers to understand the mechanism of MPIs’ influence on tea production, inform regional responses in tea plantation management to the observed different precipitation trends, and improve future management decisions under a changing climate.
Trajectory planning on pre-tactical and tactical level in air traffic management

Global air traffic demand is continuously increasing, and it is predicted to be tripled by 2050. The need for increasing air traffic capacity motivates a shift of ATM towards Trajectory Based Operations (TBOs). This implies the possibility to design efficient congestion-free aircraft trajectories more in advance (pre-tactical, strategic level) reducing controller’s workload on tactical level. As consequence, controllers will be able to manage more flights. Current flow management practices in air traffic management (ATM) system shows that under the present system settings there are only timid demand management actions taken prior to the day of operation such as: slot allocation and strategic flow rerouting. But the choice of air route for a particular flight is seen as a commercial decision to be taken by airlines, given air traffic control constraints. This thesis investigates the potential of robust trajectory planning (considered as an additional demand management action) at pre-tactical level as a mean to alleviate the en-route congestion in airspace. Robust trajectory planning (RTP) involves generation of congestion-free trajectories with minimum operating cost taking into account uncertainty of trajectory prediction and unforeseen event. Although planned cost could be higher than of conventional models, adding robustness to schedules might reduce cost of disruptions and hopefully lead to reductions in operating cost. The most of existing trajectory planning models consider finding of conflict-free trajectories without taking into account uncertainty of trajectory prediction. It is shown in the thesis that in the case of traffic disturbances, it is better to have a robust solution otherwise newly generated congestion problems would be hard and costly to solve. This thesis introduces a novel approach for route generation (3D trajectory) based on homotopic feature of continuous functions. It is shown that this approach is capable of generating a large number of route shapes with a reasonable number of decision variables. Those shapes are then coupled with time dimension in order to create trajectories (4D).
Fatty Pancreas and Pancreatic Cancer: An Overlooked Association?

Background: fatty pancreas (FP) is an old observation, but a new disease with clinical implications and several associated comorbid conditions, ranging from mild to life-threatening diseases. Herein, we aimed to assess the association between FP and pancreatic cancer (PC) development. Methods: we performed a retrospective cross-sectional study including all patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for hepatobiliary indications. The study cohort was divided into patients with and without PC. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to assess the association of several parameters with PC. Results: overall, 519 patients were included in the study. Of them, 48 had PC (PC group), and 471 did not (non-PC group). In univariate analysis, age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01–1.07, p = 0.004), congestive heart failure (CHF) (OR 3.89, 95% CI 1.72–8.79, p = 0.001), ischemic heart disease (IHD) (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.59–7.05, p = 0.001), hypertension (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.33–4.41, p = 0.004) and fatty pancreas (FP) (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.23–5.57, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with PC. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only FP kept its association (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.04–5.33, p = 0.04). Conclusion: FP was significantly associated with PC. A follow-up plan should be considered for individuals with FP.
Identification of Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type VI: A First Case Report from a Pakistani Family

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta type VI (OI type VI) is a rare autosomal recessive disease of bone mineralization characterized by multiple bone fractures after six months of age, without a history of other extra-skeletal complications. SERPINF1 (serpin inhibitor clade F1) is the causative gene for this abnormality, having a chromosomal location 17p13. Many cases have been reported from different populations of the world. No case has been reported from the population of Pakistan related to this deformity. Case Presentation: In the current study, we presented a case of Osteogenesis imperfecta type VI. The patient's clinical findings indicated her with short stature and progressive distortion of the skeleton, without the record of other complications like hearing problems, dental anomalies, and abnormal vision. She was 16 years old, could not walk due to deformation and weakness of lower limbs. At the time of Patient’s radiological examination, history of multiple fractures of long bones was reported. The radiological findings showed the condition of kyphoscoliotic impairment in the cervicodorsal spine. Long bones showed bowing and relatively decreased bone mineralization. Patients' sequencing data indicated a new homozygous frameshift mutation c. 262_263insCCCTCTC (p. Ala91Profs*23) in SERPINF1 responsible for splice site changes in PEDF protein. Conclusion: This identified mutation was the first report from Pakistan, and an increase in the pathogenic variants in SERPINF1 caused OI type VI.
Flights-to-and-from-Quality with Islamic and Conventional Bonds in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: ICEEMDAN-Based Transfer Entropy

We revisit the flight-to-quality (FTQ) and flight-from-quality (FFQ) occurrences vis-à-vis the stock-bond nexus across differing investment time scales in the COVID-19 era, using a novel technique hinged on a denoised frequency-domain transfer entropy. Our findings divulge that flights, both FTQ and FFQ, could be attained during stress periods. Generally, in the intermediate term of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Islamic and conventional bonds could act as safe havens, diversifiers, and hedges for international equities, and the same could be observed for international equities. We reiterate empirically that flights may improve the financial system’s stability and robustness by allowing diversity to be effective when it is most required. The findings have financial and portfolio implications for investors considering how to deploy their investments in the COVID-19 era. Our findings may impact policymakers’ responses to changes in various asset classes, allowing them to better monitor financial markets and adjust macroeconomic policies.
Elites on Equality: Room for Gender Balance and Ethnic Diversity in Leadership Positions?

Access to resources, wealth, and power positions varies systematically with membership in social categories. This article asks what role the elites themselves – as holders of power and regulators of access to influential positions – can play in maintaining, but also changing, the demographic composition of elites. Drawing on a unique survey among the entire Norwegian elite, we investigate what holders of elite positions believe are the main causes of gender imbalance and lack of ethnic diversity, and whether their beliefs influence their willingness to implement measures to promote gender equality and ethnic diversity. In line with expectations drawn from the literatures on policy representation and critical frame analysis, we find a strong, positive relationship between the belief in the importance of institutionalized causes of inequality and the willingness to introduce ameliorative measures to increase diversity. Conversely, we find a negative relationship between the belief in individualized explanations, such as the lack of qualifications, and the willingness to introduce measures. As elites are key holders of power, the findings imply that how elites view the causes of categorical inequality has strong bearings on the room for structural change.
ASSESSING PERCEIVED RISK IN MOBILE MONEY ADOPTION UNDER COVID-19: A COMBINED SEM-ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK TECHNIQUES

The introduction of social distancing measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and support the stabilization of the social economy has motivated consumers to do contactless activities, including mobile money service (MMS). Although this service remains beneficial to consumers, the adoption rate is still at its formative stage in Togo. The socio-economic background and peoples' inclination are hesitant for such rising digital transactions, seemingly due to risk perception. Therefore, the study develops a model to capture multidimensional perceived risk regarding the adoption decision. A total of 275 respondents were tested using a hybrid structural equation modeling (SEM) and artificial neural network (ANN) approach through a multilayer perceptron (MLP) with feed-forward back-propagation (FFBP) algorithm. The ANN model is found to seize better performance and high prediction accuracy than SEM regarding nonlinearity and linearity. Our results suggest that perceived privacy risk (PRR) stands out as the most critical antecedent of the perceived overall risk (POR), in which the latter negatively affect the behavioral intention (BI) to use MMS. This research remains one of the first to test the acceptance of MMS empirically during the COVID-19 crisis and contributes both theoretically and practically toward understanding factors influencing its widespread adoption. To promote citizen's trust, service providers must provide instructions on using MMS safely and coping with privacy breaches and security problems if they arise. The SEM-ANN methodology will aid fulfill the current literature gap of MMS acceptance and provide practical guidance for evidence-based decision-making.
Synthesis of 5, 6, 11, 12-tetrahyroindolo[3,2-b]carbazole-based dicarboxylate acid for MOFs fabrication via in-situ oxidative dehydrogenation

The indolocarbazole derivatives has been shown great potentials as one of the key important compounds in the field of organic electronics owing to their attractive structural and electrical properties. However, studies that directly and systematically introduce indolocarbazole unit into MOFs are still lacking. Herein, we reported the synthesis of 6,12-di(hetero)aryl substituted 5,6,11,12-tetrahyroindolo[3,2-b]carbazole synthetic motifs in a facile way. The potential of these synthetic motifs as building block for porous materials fabrication is unveiled through the preparation of Zn-MOF-ICZ and UiO-68-ICZ by using 5,6,11,12-tetrahyroindolo[3,2-b]carbazole terminated with dicarboxylate acid. The resultant Zn-MOF-ICZ and UiO-68-ICZ feature 5,11-dihyroindolo[3,2-b]carbazole unit as a result of in-situ oxidative dehydrogenation, which was confirmed by 1H NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The successful construction of these MOFs indicated the powerful of 6,12-di(hetero)aryl substituted 5,6,11,12-tetrahyroindolo[3,2-b]carbazole unit for porous materials synthesis and this provides a broad platforms for potential applications investigation considering their fine optical properties.