Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Lagrange–Laplace Integration Scheme for Weather Prediction and Climate Modelling

A time integration scheme based on semi-Lagrangian advection and Laplace transform adjustment has been implemented in a baroclinic primitive equation model. The semi-Lagrangian scheme makes it possible to use large time steps. However, errors arising from the semi-implicit scheme increase with the time step size. In contrast, the errors using the Laplace transform adjustment remain relatively small for typical time steps used with semi-Lagrangian advection. Numerical experiments confirm the superior performance of the Laplace transform scheme relative to the semi-implicit reference model. The algorithmic complexity of the scheme is comparable to the reference model, making it computationally competitive, and indicating its potential for integrating weather and climate prediction models.
A theoretical estimate of intrinsic ellipticity bispectra induced by angular momenta alignments

Intrinsically aligned galaxy shapes are one of the most important systematics in cosmic shear measurements. So far theoretical studies of intrinsic alignments almost exclusively focus on their statistics at the two-point level. Results from numerical simulations, however, suggest that third-order measures might be even stronger affected. We therefore investigate the (angular) bispectrum of intrinsic alignments. In our fully analytical study we describe intrinsic galaxy ellipticities by a physical alignment model, which makes use of tidal torque theory. We derive expressions for the various combinations of intrinsic and gravitationally induced ellipticities, i.e. III-, GII- and GGI-alignments, and compare our results to the shear bispectrum, the GGG-term. The latter is computed using hyper-extended perturbation theory. Considering equilateral and squeezed configurations we find that for a Euclid-like survey intrinsic alignments (III-alignments) start to dominate on angular scales smaller than 20 arcmin and 13 arcmin, respectively. This sensitivity to the configuration-space geometry may allow to exploit the cosmological information contained in both the intrinsic and gravitationally induced ellipticity field. On smallest scales (l ~ 3000) III-alignments exceed the lensing signal by at least one order of magnitude. The amplitude of the GGI-alignments is the weakest. It stays below that of the shear field on all angular scales irrespective of the wave-vector configuration.
Estimation of Humidity Variation and Electric Resistivity in Hardened Concrete by Means of a Stainless Steel Voltammetric Sensor

Reinforced concrete structures’ (RCSs) ageing and early deterioration are some of the main challenges faced by the building sector today, and steel bar corrosion is one of the main problems. In this phenomenon, water and concrete’s electric resistivity play a fundamental role. Therefore, developing sensor systems capable of estimating any variations in these parameters in real time and remotely would represent considerable progress in sustainably maintaining RCSs. Many types of sensors capable of estimating humidity variation and electrical resistivity in concrete currently exist, but the variability of these sensors’ sensitivity can be extreme depending on several factors; for example, temperature or presence of ions and their incorporation into smart monitoring systems, which is difficult. As an alternative to today’s sensors, this study centered on developing two estimation models by means of the response of a novel voltammetric stainless steel (SS) sensor. The estimation models were one of humidity variation and another of concrete’s electric resistivity. These models were calibrated, fitted and validated. In the validation, both these models explained a percentage of variance over 80%.
NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF OPTICALLY THICK ACCRETION ONTO A BLACK HOLE. I. SPHERICAL CASE

Modeling the radiation generated by accreting matter is an important step toward realistic simulations of black hole accretion disks, especially at high accretion rates. To this end, we have recently added radiation transport to the existing general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic code, Cosmos++. However, before attempting to model radiative accretion disks, we have tested the new code using a series of shock tube and Bondi (spherical inflow) problems. The four radiative shock tube tests, first presented by Farris et al., have known analytic solutions, allowing us to calculate errors and convergence rates for our code. The Bondi problem only has an analytic solution when radiative processes are ignored, but it is pertinent because it is closer to the physics we ultimately want to study. In our simulations, we include Thomson scattering and thermal bremsstrahlung in the opacity, focusing exclusively on the super-Eddington regime. Unlike accretion onto bodies with solid surfaces, super-Eddington accretion onto black holes does not produce super-Eddington luminosity. In our examples, despite accreting at up to 300 times the Eddington rate, our measured luminosity is always several orders of magnitude below Eddington.
PLANETESIMAL DYNAMICS IN INCLINED BINARY SYSTEMS: THE ROLE OF GAS–DISK GRAVITY

We investigate the effects of gas–disk gravity on planetesimal dynamics in inclined binary systems, where the circumprimary disk plane is tilted by a significant angle (iB) with respect to the binary disk plane. Our focus is on the Lidov–Kozai mechanism and the evolution of planetesimal eccentricity and inclination. Using both analytical and numerical methods, we find that, on one hand, disk gravity generally narrows down the Kozai-on region, i.e., the Lidov–Kozai effect can be suppressed in certain parts of (or even the whole of) the disk depending on various parameters. In the Kozai-off region, planetesimals would move to orbits close to the midplane of the gas–disk, with the relative angle (i′) following a small amplitude periodical oscillation. On the other hand, when we include the effects of disk gravity, we find that the Lidov–Kozai effect can operate even at arbitrarily low inclinations (iB), although a lower iB leads to a smaller Kozai-on region. Furthermore, in the Kozai-on region, most planetesimals' eccentricities can be excited to extremely high values (∼1), and such extreme high eccentricities usually accompany orbital flipping, i.e., the planetesimal orbit flips back and forth between anterograde and retrograde. Once a planetesimal reaches very high orbital eccentricity, gas drag damping will shrink the planetesimal orbit, forming a “hot planetesimal” on a near circular orbit very close to the primary star. Such a mechanism, if replacing the planetesimals and gas drag damping with Jupiters and tidal damping respectively, may lead to a frequent production of hot Jupiters.
Status of Ethiopian durum wheat varieties for the stem rust disease resistance under field condition

Production of wheat in Ethiopia is under danger from wheat stem rust, which is brought on by the disease Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici and has resulted in a yield loss of 100%. An investigation was conducted in a hotspot area (Debere Zeit, Ethiopia) to evaluate the status of Ethiopian durum wheat cultivars for their level of stem rust resistance in the field. During the main seasons of 2017, 2020, and 2021, 34 durum wheat varieties with three susceptibility checks were examined. Terminal Rust Severity (TRS), Coefficient of Infection (CI) and Area under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) were used to measure stem rust field resistance. Analysis of all disease parameters was carried out using R studio. Due to their low levels of AUDPC, ACI, and TRS values combined with MR infection type, two commercial varieties (Oda and Tob-66) may have a significant resistance gene(s) and seven varieties (Boohie, Kilinto, Ginchi, Robe, Toltu, Lelisso, and Bekelcha) showed a moderate level of field resistance with MR to MRMS responses and may have adult plant resistance mediated by minor resistance genes. Stem rust was found to affect 73.5% of the Ethiopian durum cultivars. Therefore, this study suggests that the national breeding effort should focus on local durum cultivars rather than the ones that were imported. progress curve (r.AUDPC) were used as parameters. Using R studio, one-way ANOVA was used to test the significance of the difference in the TRS, ACI, and r.AUDPC.
Inhibitory effects of D-ribose on biofilm development of Escherichia coli

Inhibition of biofilm formation can promote the operation of water system such as membrane bio- reactor. This paper investigated the effects of D-ribose on biofilm development of Escherichia coli . The results showed that the D-ribose could arrest biofilm formation of E. coli . The decrease in attached biofilm biomass reached 17.95% with 100 µM D-ribose. Bacterial attachment experiments indicated that the attachment of E. coli to polyvinylidene fluoride membrane was inhibited with D-ribose (10 µM to 5 mM). And the attachment was weak with the addition of D-ribose. Further research showed that 10 µM–5 mM D-ribose could inhibit the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) secretion of E. coli . The inhibition was obvious at 100 and 500 µM D-ribose. Moreover, the addition of D-ribose increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, which might be the reason of EPS reduction.
The RAVE harvest: from the relation between abundances and kinematic of the Milky Way stars to tools for the abundance analysis of the spectra

Abstract RAVE is a spectroscopic survey of the Milky Way which collected more than 500,000 stellar spectra of nearby stars in the Galaxy. The RAVE consortium analysed these spectra to obtain radial velocities, stellar parameters and chemical abundances. These data, together with spatial and kinematic information like positions, proper motions, and distance estimations, make the RAVE database a rich source for galactic archaeology. I present recent investigations on the chemo-kinematic relations and chemical gradients in the Milky Way disk using RAVE data and compare our results with the Besançon models. I also present the code SPACE, an evolution of the RAVE chemical pipeline, which integrates the measurements of stellar parameters and chemical abundances in one single process.
Phytochemicals in Skeletal Muscle Health: Effects of Curcumin (from Curcuma longa Linn) and Sulforaphane (from Brassicaceae) on Muscle Function, Recovery and Therapy of Muscle Atrophy

The mobility of the human body depends on, among other things, muscle health, which can be affected by several situations, such as aging, increased oxidative stress, malnutrition, cancer, and the lack or excess of physical exercise, among others. Genetic, metabolic, hormonal, and nutritional factors are intricately involved in maintaining the balance that allows proper muscle function and fiber recovery; therefore, the breakdown of the balance among these elements can trigger muscle atrophy. The study from the nutrigenomic perspective of nutritional factors has drawn wide attention recently; one of these is the use of certain compounds derived from foods and plants known as phytochemicals, to which various biological activities have been described and attributed in terms of benefiting health in many respects. This work addresses the effect that the phytochemicals curcumin from Curcuma longa Linn and sulforaphane from Brassicaceae species have shown to exert on muscle function, recovery, and the prevention of muscle atrophy, and describes the impact on muscle health in general. In the same manner, there are future perspectives in research on novel compounds as potential agents in the prevention or treatment of medical conditions that affect muscle health.
Weak equivalence principle for self-gravitating bodies: A sieve for purely metric theories of gravity

We propose the almost-geodesic motion of self-gravitating test bodies as a possible selection rule among metric theories of gravity. Starting from a heuristic statement, the "gravitational weak equivalence principle", we build a formal, operative test able to probe the validity of the principle for any metric theory of gravity, in an arbitrary number of spacetime dimensions. We show that, if the theory admits a well-posed variational formulation, this test singles out only the purely metric theories of gravity. This conclusion reproduces known results in the cases of general relativity (also with a cosmological constant term), and scalar-tensor theories, but extends also to debated or unknown scenarios, such as f(R) and Lanczos-Lovelock theories. We thus provide new tools going beyond the standard methods, where the latter turn out to be inconclusive or inapplicable.
Density functional theory of graphene sheets

We outline a Kohn-Sham-Dirac density functional theory (DFT) scheme for graphene sheets that treats slowly varying inhomogeneous external potentials and electron-electron interactions on equal footing. The theory is able to account for the unusual property that the exchange-correlation contribution to chemical potential increases with carrier density in graphene. The consequences of this property and advantages and disadvantages of using the DFT approach to describe it are discussed. The approach is illustrated by solving the Kohn-Sham-Dirac equations self-consistently for a model random potential describing charged pointlike impurities located close to the graphene plane. The influence of electron-electron interactions on these nonlinear screening calculations is discussed at length in light of recent experiments reporting evidence for the presence of electron-hole puddles in nearly neutral graphene sheets.
Influence of the Heterogeneity of the Core Material on the Local Instability of a Sandwich Panel

The problem of local instability in the compressed facing of a sandwich panel is considered in the paper. The case of a facing resting on an infinite core is examined, but the validity of such a simplification has been discussed in detail. An energy approach is used to solve the problem. The general procedure for considering the influence of the core parameter variability on the value of stress causing the facing instability is presented. Expressions allowing us to calculate the wrinkling stress were derived, which was the main aim of the research. The heterogeneity of the core material is taken into account by using continuous functions describing the variability of the core material parameters. In the examples illustrating the theory, the exponential and polynomial functions were used. The examples are based on the actually measured elastic modules of the core. The presented considerations were extended to the analysis of strain energies, which confirmed that the properties of the layer adjacent to the facing (up to 2 cm thick) determine the value of the wrinkling stress. The paper presents an example of the optimization of core material parameters in which a change in the distribution of the core parameters led to an approximately threefold increase in the wrinkling strength of the sandwich panel.
Low-ionization galaxies and evolution in a pilot survey up to z = 1

We present galactic spectroscopic data from a pencil beam of 10.75΄×7.5΄ centered on the X-ray cluster RXJ0054.0-2823 at z = 0.29. We study the spectral evolution of galaxies from z = 1 down to the cluster redshift in a magnitude-limited sample at R ≤ 23, for which the statistical properties of the sample are well understood. We divide emission-line galaxies into star-forming galaxies, Low Ionization Nuclear Emission line Regions (LINERs), and Seyferts by using emission-line ratios of [OII], H β , and [OIII], and derive stellar fractions from population synthesis models. We focus our analysis on absorption and low-ionization galaxies. For absorption-line galaxies, we recover the well-known result that these galaxies have had no detectable evolution since z ~ 0.6 - 0.7, but we also find that in the range z = 0.65 - 1, at least 50% of the stars in bright absorption systems are younger than 2.5 Gyr. Faint absorption-line galaxies in the cluster at z = 0.29 also had significant star formation during the previous 2 - 3 Gyr, but their brighter counterparts seem to be only composed of old stars. At z ~ 0.8, our dynamically young cluster had a truncated red-sequence. This result seems to be consistent with a scenario where the final assembly of E/S0 took place at z < 1. In the volume-limited range 0.35 ≤ z ≤ 0.65, we find that 23% of the early-type galaxies have LINER-like spectra with H β in absorption and have a significant component of A stars. The vast majority of LINERs in our sample have significant populations of young and intermediate-aged stars and are thus not related to AGNs, but to the population of 'retired galaxies' recently identified by Cid Fernandes et al. in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Early-type LINERs with various fractions of A stars and E+A galaxies appear to play an important role in the formation of the red sequence.
Assessment of Anti-microbial and Anti-oxidant Activities of Modified Guar Gum

Apart from drug delivery potential of polysaccharides or their chemical derivatives, some chemically modified polysaccharides particularly sulfated polysaccharides showed significant biological property. In this study, guar gum was sulfated by reacting with various ratios of CSA (chlorosulfonic acid) and pyridine to obtain the product with different degree of sulfation (DS). The sulfated guar gum derivatives were examined by FTIR, NMR and degree of sulfation analysed and were further evaluated for their potential antibacterial activity by agar diffusion method. Results obtained from the study indicated that derivatives having higher degree of sulfation exhibited moderate activity against the selected bacterial strains at 200 µg∙ml −1 . However, the sulfated guar gum did not show any significant antifungal activity at any concentration studied. The sulfated guar gum demonstrated dose-dependent DPPH and H 2 O 2 scavenging activity with maximum activity noted at 2 mg∙ml −1 concentration. The sulfation of partially oxidized guar gum caused significant improvement of antioxidant activity to that observed for non-oxidized sulfated guar gum derivative. This study revealed that the extent of sulfation and molecular weight had significant impact on antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of guar gum.
VISCOUS BOUNDARY LAYERS OF RADIATION-DOMINATED, RELATIVISTIC JETS. II. THE FREE-STREAMING JET MODEL

We analyze the interaction of a radiation-dominated jet and its surroundings using the equations of radiation hydrodynamics in the viscous limit. In a previous paper we considered the two-stream scenario, which treats the jet and its surroundings as distinct media interacting through radiation viscous forces. Here we present an alternative boundary layer model, known as the free-streaming jet model—where a narrow stream of fluid is injected into a static medium—and present solutions where the flow is ultrarelativistic and the boundary layer is dominated by radiation. It is shown that these jets entrain material from their surroundings and that their cores have a lower density of scatterers and a harder spectrum of photons, leading to observational consequences for lines of sight that look “down the barrel of the jet. ” These jetted outflow models may be applicable to the jets produced during long gamma-ray bursts and super-Eddington phases of tidal disruption events.
LOW-MASS AGNs AND THEIR RELATION TO THE FUNDAMENTAL PLANE OF BLACK HOLE ACCRETION

We put active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with low-mass black holes on the fundamental plane of black hole accretion—the plane that relates X-ray emission, radio emission, and mass of an accreting black hole—to test whether or not the relation is universal for both stellar-mass and supermassive black holes. We use new Chandra X-ray and Very Large Array radio observations of a sample of black holes with masses less than 106.3 M☉, which have the best leverage for determining whether supermassive black holes and stellar-mass black holes belong on the same plane. Our results suggest that the two different classes of black holes both belong on the same relation. These results allow us to conclude that the fundamental plane is suitable for use in estimating supermassive black hole masses smaller than ∼107 M☉, in testing for intermediate-mass black holes, and in estimating masses at high accretion rates.
Maximum entropy econometrics: robust estimation with limited data

The Classical Maximum Entropy Formalism: A Review. PURE INVERSE PROBLEMS. Basic Maximum Entropy Principle: Formulation and Extensions. Formulation and Solution of Pure Inverse Problems. Generalized Pure Inverse Problems. LINEAR INVERSE PROBLEMS WITH NOISE. Generalized Maximum Entropy (GME) and Cross-Entropy (GCE) Formulations. Finite Sample Extensions of GME-GCE. GENERAL LINEAR MODEL APPLICATIONS OF GME-GCE. GME-GCE Solutions to Ill-conditioned Problems. General Linear Statistical Model with a Non-scalar Identity Covariance Matrix Statistical Model Selection. A SYSTEM OF ECONOMIC STATISTICAL RELATIONS. Sets of Linear Statistical Models. Simultaneous Equations Statistical Model. LINEAR AND NON-LINEAR DYNAMIC SYSTEMS. Estimation and Inference of Dynamic Linear Inverse Problems. Linear and Non-linear Dynamic Systems with Control. DISCRETE CHOICE-CENSORED PROBLEMS. Recovering Information from Multinomial Response Data. Recovering Information from Censored Response Data. COMPUTATIONAL NOTES. Computing GME-GCE Solutions. Epilogue. Selected Reading. Index.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a biodegradable polymeric anticorrosive material: A review on present advancements and future directions

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a water-soluble biodegradable polymer with many industrial and biological applications. Because of its polymeric nature, reasonably high aqueous phase solubility and biodegradable properties, the use of PVA and its suitably modified derivatives as aqueous and coating phase corrosion inhibitors have acquired great recent attention. PVA and its derivatives are associated with a proper combination of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, essential for effective anticorrosive activity. The present review aims to describe the past and present advancements in using PVA and its derivatives as aqueous and coating phase corrosion inhibitors. Bonding of PVA with the metallic surface in anodic, basic and neutral electrolytes has also been proposed along with their orientation. They become effective by adsorbing on the metal surface. They act as mixed-type inhibitors and create a barrier to the charge transfer process. Various experimental and computational techniques are used to describe their corrosion inhibition property.
School leadership practices, challenges and opportunities in Spain from key agents’ perspective

Abstract Research on school improvement and effectiveness has marked the development of educational reforms to decentralise educational systems, professionalise the management function, increase training programmes for leaders, and develop skills profiles and standards across the globe. This preliminary study explores the practices, challenges and opportunities for school governance and educational leadership in Spain. A qualitative exploratory approach was utilised involving 17 semi-structured interviews with national and internationally recognised key education agents from different sectors. The results show a common view regarding the lack of real school autonomy and the persistence of an excessively bureaucratic leadership model. Participants fully agree on the need to promote pedagogical and distributed leadership and, consequently, the personal, social and professional competences required to exercise it. The opportunities envisioned by key education agents to achieve it refer to flexibility, accountability and the provision of more material and human resources for an effective leadership. Additionally, challenges and opportunities for using frameworks or standards systems that define effective school leaders’ functions and skills are identified. Schools must become learning organisations by creating spaces for reflection and continuous improvement, and by involving different agents of the educational community to enhance school governance.