Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study of the Chemical Processes of Combined Sulfate-chloride Attack on Low-carbon Cementitious Materials

In marine environments, concrete structures are not only exposed to sulfate ions but also to chloride ones, from an early age. This leads to concrete expansion and cracking as well as steel reinforcements corrosion. However, the coupling effect of sulfate and chloride is still not widely studied. When addressed, some researchers showed that chloride ions mitigate the effect of sulfate while others concluded that it accelerates it and vice versa. Therefore, one of the objectives of this study is to observe both the combined and individual effects of chloride on sulfate attack. The second objective is to perceive the resistance of selected additives (fly ash, blast furnace slag, and metakaolin) to a combined attack. Then, powders of pure cement, binary, ternary, and quaternary blended pastes were immersed in sulfate, chloride, and sulfate-chloride solutions at an early age. Results of the characterization showed that the ettringite formation was delayed due to the presence of chloride. However, the presence of sulfate ions accelerated the chloride effect. The incorporation of more than one additive enhanced the samples’ durability.
Climate change effects on lowland stream flood regimes and riparian rich fen vegetation communities in Denmark

ABSTRACT There is growing awareness that an intensification of the hydrological cycle associated with climate change in many parts of the world will have profound implications for river ecosystem structure and functions. In the present study we link an ensemble of regional climate model projections to a hydrological model with the aim to predict climate driven changes in flooding regimes in lowland riparian areas. Our specific aims were to (1) predict effects of climate change on flood frequencies and magnitudes in riparian areas by using an ensemble of six climate models and (2) combine the obtained predictions with the distribution of rich fen communities to explore whether these are likely to be subjected to increased flooding by a climate change induced increase in river runoff. We found that all regional climate models in the ensemble showed increases in mean annual runoff and that the increase continued through the two scenario periods, i.e. 2035–2065 and 2070–2099. We found concomitant increases in flood levels and flood frequencies. Flood levels and frequencies increased at sites both where the maximum water level was governed directly by river water runoff and where it was governed by river flow roughness (weed cover). We did not find evidence that the present flooding regime was an overall key factor determining the distribution of fen vegetation. However, with the predicted changes in flooding frequencies in the investigated areas we expect to see changes in species compositional patterns within the fen areas under a future climate that may affect the conservation value of these. EDITOR Z.W. Kundzewicz ASSOCIATE EDITOR T. Okruszko
Global trends in surface ocean pCO2 from in situ data

Ocean carbon uptake substantially reduces the rate of anthropogenic carbon accumulation in the atmosphere and thus slows global climate change. In the interest of understanding how this ocean carbon sink has responded to climate variability and climate change in recent decades, trends in globally observed surface ocean partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2s.ocean) are evaluated over 16 gyre‐scale biomes covering the globe. Trends from decadal to multidecadal timescales between 1981 and 2010 are considered. On decadal timescales, pCO2s.ocean trends have been of variable magnitude and sensitive to the chosen start and end years. On longer time frames, several regions of the tropics and subtropics display pCO2s.ocean trends that are parallel to or shallower than trends in atmospheric pCO2, consistent with the ocean's long‐term response to carbon accumulation in the atmosphere and with the supply of waters with low anthropogenic carbon from the deep ocean. Data are too sparse in the high latitudes to determine this long‐term response. In many biomes, pCO2s.ocean trends steeper than atmospheric trends do occur on shorter timescales, which is consistent with forcing by climatic variability. In the Southern Ocean, the influence of a positive trend in the Southern Annular Mode has waned and the carbon sink has strengthened since the early 2000s. In North Atlantic subtropical and equatorial biomes, warming has become a significant and persistent contributor to the observed increase in pCO2s.ocean since the mid‐2000s. This long‐term warming, previously attributed to both multidecadal climate variability and anthropogenic forcing, is beginning to reduce ocean carbon uptake.
Variation parameters for heat tolerance index of wheat

Wheat is important rabi crop in Chhattisgarh, which is grown mostly under irrigated condition. The late sowing and early rise in the temperature during winter season are the major causes of the lower productivity. One hundred genotypes were evaluated on two dates of sowing under late sown conditions and Heat Tolerance Index (HTI) was calculated for seed yield and seven component characters. Most of the characters recorded high coefficient of variation for HTI except days to maturity. HTI for days to flowering ranged from 0.12 (EBWYT 524) to 0.76 (CG 8047). Forty three genotypes have negative index indicating high grains per spike in second sowing date, moreover, genotypes Raj 4187, LBPY 06-14, ESWYT 104 and CG 8040 have zero HTI and YCSN 102(09), Raj 4174 have near stable grains per spike in two sowing dates. Three genotypes IBWSN 1156, EIGN 8-83 and HD 2932 (C) recorded the zero HTI for tillers per plant. The average 1000 seed weight was 33.49 percent higher in first sowing date as compare to second date. The minimum index value is 0.04 for EGPY 5, CG 8017, moreover SBR-48, EBWYT 519 and ESWYT 528 recorded less than 0.10 index, indicating stable seed weight over different sowing dates. The seed yield per plot ranged from 260 g for IBWSN 1156 to 1100 g for CG 8046 with average yield of 608.5 grams per plot first date of sowing. Under January sown conditions, mean seed yield was 357.7 gram per plot resulting in 70 percent reduction in seed yield. The seed yield per plot ranged from 180 grams for Lok 1 to 575 grams for IBWSN 1133. The HTI ranged from 0.00 (tolerance) to 0.72 (Susceptible). CG 8020, CG 8038 and LBPY 6-13 recorded the 0.00 index, but these varieties are poor yielder than the check, hence can only be used as parent for heat tolerance.
Physically Based Green Roof Model

A green roof is a multilayered vegetated roof covering consisting of a root barrier, a waterproof membrane, an under drainage system, and a layer of growing medium covered by plants. The physical principles governing the primary hydrologic and hydraulic processes in the growing medium by infiltration, drainage and recession are described. Contrary to conventional infiltration modeling approaches in which all rain water is used to advance the wetting front, the model suggests that a portion of rain water will directly drain through the growing medium to the under-drain after the field capacity is exceeded but before the growing medium is completely saturated. The model has been tested successfully using more than three years flow survey data from the green roof of Hamilton Building of Portland, Oregon.
Immunomodulatory Potential of Fungal Extracellular Vesicles: Insights for Therapeutic Applications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous vesicular organelles that perform a variety of biological functions including cell communication across different biological kingdoms. EVs of mammals and, to a lesser extent, bacteria have been deeply studied over the years, whereas investigations of fungal EVs are still in their infancy. Fungi, encompassing both yeast and filamentous forms, are increasingly recognized for their production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing a wealth of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. These EVs play pivotal roles in orchestrating fungal communities, bolstering pathogenicity, and mediating interactions with the environment. Fungal EVs have emerged as promising candidates for innovative applications, not only in the management of mycoses but also as carriers for therapeutic molecules. Yet, numerous questions persist regarding fungal EVs, including their mechanisms of generation, release, cargo regulation, and discharge. This comprehensive review delves into the present state of knowledge regarding fungal EVs and provides fresh insights into the most recent hypotheses on the mechanisms driving their immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore, we explore the considerable potential of fungal EVs in the realms of medicine and biotechnology. In the foreseeable future, engineered fungal cells may serve as vehicles for tailoring cargo- and antigen-specific EVs, positioning them as invaluable biotechnological tools for diverse medical applications, such as vaccines and drug delivery.
NAVIGATING THE FUTURE: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE'S GROWING INFLUENCE ON DECISION MAKING

Purpose: The purpose of this study article is to investigate the impact of AI (system capability, user behavior, training and development, and expert availability) on decision making in Bahrain telecommunications company. Theoretical framework: The deployment of AI systems has expanded tremendously in recent years, and decision making is no exception to its disruptive potential (Jones et al., 2022). AI algorithms and technologies are being used by organizations and individuals to assist and improve decision-making processes. To fully reap the benefits of AI, however, a thorough knowledge of the intricate interplay between AI and decision making is required. Design/methodology/approach: In this study, a quantitative research design is utilized since it permits statistical tools to be used to assess the association between variables. This quantitative study's research approach will be cross-sectional, with the goal of examining the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in decision making. Data were collected by questionnaire from a sample of 195 employees from a Bahraini telecommunications company. Findings: The results show that there was an association between all the artificial intelligence components and decision making. This finding is consistent with the previous studies, which claims that artificial intelligence lead to decision making (Prasanth, et al., 2023; Ferreira & Monteiro, 2021; Jarrahi, 2018). Research, Practical & Social implications: The AI has . the potential to totally revolutionize the way organizations make decisions. However, in order to preserve customer confidence and prevent unforeseen repercussions, enterprises must use AI responsibly and transparently. The use of AI for decision-making, both for businesses and consumers, is undeniably the way of the future. Originality/value: The value of the study understanding the impact of AI on decision making is becoming increasingly crucial as the technology advances. AI system integration can improve decision-making abilities, increase efficiency, reduce risks, offer access to expert information, and raise ethical concerns and obstacles in organizations.
Wage adjustment in efficient long-term employment relationships

We present a model in which efficient long-term employment relationships are sustained by wage adjustments prompted by shocks to idiosyncratic productivity and the arrival of outside job offers. In accordance with casual and formal evidence, these wage adjustments occur only sporadically, due to the presence of renegotiation costs. The model is amenable to analytical solution and yields new insights into a number of labor market phenomena, including: (1) key features of the empirical distributions of changes in pay among job stayers; (2) a property of near-“memorylessness” in wage dynamics that implies that initial hiring wages have only limited influence on later wages and allocation decisions; and (3) a crucial role for nonbase pay—specifically, recruitment and retention bonuses—in sustaining efficient employment relationships.
Outcomes of elective liver surgery worldwide: a global, prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study

Background: The outcomes of liver surgery worldwide remain unknown. The true population-based outcomes are likely different to those vastly reported that reflect the activity of highly specialized academic centers. The aim of this study was to measure the true worldwide practice of liver surgery and associated outcomes by recruiting from centers across the globe. The geographic distribution of liver surgery activity and complexity was also evaluated to further understand variations in outcomes. Methods: LiverGroup.org was an international, prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study following the Global Surgery Collaborative Snapshot Research approach with a 3-month prospective, consecutive patient enrollment within January–December 2019. Each patient was followed up for 90 days postoperatively. All patients undergoing liver surgery at their respective centers were eligible for study inclusion. Basic demographics, patient and operation characteristics were collected. Morbidity was recorded according to the Clavien–Dindo Classification of Surgical Complications. Country-based and hospital-based data were collected, including the Human Development Index (HDI). (NCT03768141). Results: A total of 2159 patients were included from six continents. Surgery was performed for cancer in 1785 (83%) patients. Of all patients, 912 (42%) experienced a postoperative complication of any severity, while the major complication rate was 16% (341/2159). The overall 90-day mortality rate after liver surgery was 3.8% (82/2,159). The overall failure to rescue rate was 11% (82/ 722) ranging from 5 to 35% among the higher and lower HDI groups, respectively. Conclusions: This is the first to our knowledge global surgery study specifically designed and conducted for specialized liver surgery. The authors identified failure to rescue as a significant potentially modifiable factor for mortality after liver surgery, mostly related to lower Human Development Index countries. Members of the LiverGroup.org network could now work together to develop quality improvement collaboratives.
Functional Tests and Their Reliability for Return to Sport After Shoulder Injuries: A Review Study

Background: Understanding the relationships between exercise and performance tests is crucial for the sports rehabilitation expert. Objectives: To comprehensively review functional tests and their reliability for return to sport (RTS) after shoulder injuries. Methods: During this research, a comprehensive review of the functional tests for RTS after shoulder injuries was performed by searching the Web of Science, PEDro, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, and CINAHL databases with the keywords shoulder RTS, return to play, upper limb and shoulder functional tests from 2000 to June 2021. English was used in this search. After gathering the research results, first, the titles and then the summary of the research papers were studied. If the research papers meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria, their results will be utilized in the study of review otherwise they will be excluded. Results: When searching the texts, 123 research papers were found, after deleting 11 identical titles, 112 abstracts were chosen for review. After analyzing the abstracts, 79 research papers were removed and 33 research papers were selected for full study. After reviewing the full-text research papers, 21 research papers were removed and 12 research papers were selected from among the research papers that were very closely related to the subject under study. Many functional tests exist, but few have been studied to evaluate the RTS after a shoulder injury. Conclusion: Functional tests can assist in estimating when an athlete will RTS or exercise without restrictions. Therefore, according to the results of the current research, functional tests can be an effective tool to assess RTS after shoulder injuries, but due to the limitations and lack of information in this area, further studies are required to be conducted. Therefore, caution should be taken and a general rule should not be drawn for all shoulder injuries.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING OF THE LOWER HUDSON RIVER AND ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS LIMITING BACTERIAL GROWTH ON IBUPROFEN ANALOGS

We analyzed nine water samples taken from three locations during three seasons from the Lower Hudson River for 82 common pollutants, and detected 25 of them using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Caffeine, a common indicator of human waste, was detected at an average of 186 ng/L. 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-γ-2benzopyran (HHCB), a musk that is a bioaccumulative, persistent endocrine disruptor, was detected at an average of 80 ng/L. Several other compounds including waste indicators, personal care products, pesticides, flame retardants, detergents, and aromatic hydrocarbons were detected, but at levels below our limits of quantification (LOQs). Six water samples were also assessed for endocrine activity using the in vitro Chemical Activated LUciferase eXpression (CALUX) assay. All samples activated the estrogen receptor (94-701 pg 17b-estradiol Eq/L), two samples activated the progesterone receptor (1.6-4.08 ng/Org2058 Eq/L), one sample activated the androgen receptor (1.15 ng DHT Eq/L), but no glucocorticoid receptor activation was observed. The compounds and endocrine activities detected are discussed with respect to their potential fates and biological impacts. 1 This was a collaborative project in which CALUX testing was coordinated under Peter A. Behnisch at BioDetection Systems, Science Park 406, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The analytic chemistry was coordinated by Patrick J. Phillips U. S. Geological Survey, Albany, NY, United States and conducted at U. S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory, Denver, CO, United States.
Dynamics of phytoplankton community composition in the western Gulf of Maine

This dissertation is founded on the importance of phytoplankton community composition to marine biogeochemistry and ecosystem processes and motivated by the need to understand their distributions on regional to global scales. The ultimate goal was to predict surface phytoplankton communities using satellite remote sensing by relating marine habitats--defined through a statistical description of environmental properties--to different phytoplankton communities. While phytoplankton community composition is governed by the interplay of abiotic and biotic interactions, the strategy adopted here was to focus on the physical abiotic factors. This allowed for the detection of habitats from ocean satellites based on abiotic factors that were linked to associated phytoplankton communities. The research entailed three studies that addressed different aspects of the main goal using a dataset collected in the western Gulf of Maine over a 3-year period. The first study evaluated a chemotaxonomic method that quantified phytoplankton composition from pigment data. This enabled the characterization of three phytoplankton communities, which were defined by the relative abundance of diatoms and flagellates. The second study examined the cycles of these communities along with environmental variables, and the results revealed that the three phytoplankton communities exhibited an affinity to different hydrographic regimes. The third study focused on the implementation of a classifier that predicted phytoplankton communities from environmental variables. Its ability to differentiate communities dominated by diatoms versus flagellates was shown to be high. However, the increase in data imprecision when using satellite data led to lowered performance and favored an approach that incorporated fuzzy logic. The fuzzy method is well suited to characterize the uncertainties in phytoplankton community prediction, and provides a measure of confidence on predicted communities. The final product of the overall dissertation was a time series of maps generated from satellite observations depicting the likelihood of three phytoplankton communities. This dissertation reached the main goal and, moreover, demonstrated that improvements in the predictive power of the method can be achieved with increased precision and more advanced satellite-derived products. The results of this research can benefit present bio-optical and primary productivity models, and ecosystembased models of the marine environment.
Glycerol-based liquefied palm kernel shell product and its blend with citric acid as bio-based wood adhesive

Concerns for the environment and for human health have become critical factors that motivate creating bio-based wood adhesives. Therefore, this study proposes replacing toxic chemicals with alternative adhesives. In the first step, glycerol was added to the natural phenolic compounds from liquefaction of palm kernel shell (PKS), having a high content of lignin. The obtained glycerol-based liquefied PKS, and its blend with citric acid, were tested for bonding in a study on the effects of hot-pressing conditions (temperature and time). The results revealed that the liquefaction system in this study achieved an 83% conversion of the PKS components into glycerol-based liquefaction. According to the Fourier transform infrared and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance analyses, the glycerol-based PKS contained lignin derivatives and furan products. This accounted for its great performance in bonding rubberwood veneers. The tensile shear strength was improved by blending with 15% citric acid, especially when applying the high 190 °C pressing temperature for 15 min.
The seismogenic zone of the continental crust in Northwest Iberia and its relation to crustal structure

The distribution of seismicity at the western end of the Cantabrian mountain range (NW Iberia), reflecting current crustal dynamics, is investigated integrating seismically active structures, long‐term structures, and the topographic features at the surface. The thickness of the seismogenic zone within the continental crust is established in 20 km. Two crustal domains can be distinguished in the study area in terms of the seismicity pattern, the style of Alpine structures and the relief. The presence of crustal fluids arises as a very likely contributing factor to the excessive thickness of the seismogenic zone in the study area. More importantly, a switch in tectonic style at the transition between crustal domains in coincidence with the lateral termination of orogenic frontal thrusts is envisaged as involving sufficient stress heterogeneity and amplification to explain the current concentration and characteristic pattern of historical seismicity in the region. Overall, the distribution of seismicity in the crust is sensitive to the type and style of crustal structures.