Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simulation of cavitation bubbles in a convergent–divergent nozzle water jet

A model for simulating the process of growth, collapse and rebound of a cavitation bubble travelling along the flow through a convergent–divergent nozzle producing a cavitating water jet is established. The model is based on the Rayleigh–Plesset bubble dynamics equation using as inputs ambient pressure and velocity profiles calculated with the aid of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) flow modelling. A variable time-step technique is applied to solve the highly nonlinear second-order differential equation. This technique successfully solves the Rayleigh–Plesset equation for wide ranges of pressure variation and bubble original size and saves considerable computing time. Inputs for this model are the pressure and velocity data from CFD calculation. To simulate accurately the process of bubble growth, collapse and rebound, a heat transfer model, which includes the effects of conduction plus radiation, is developed to describe the thermodynamics of the incondensable gas inside the bubble. This heat transfer model matches previously published experimental data well. Assuming that single bubble behaviour also applies to bubble clouds, the calculated distance from the nozzle exit travelled by the bubble to the point where the bubble size becomes invisible is taken to be equal to the bubble cloud length observed. The predictions are compared with experiments carried out in a cavitation cell and show good agreement for different nozzles operating at different pressure conditions.
Gender difference in the association between gout at diagnosis and metabolic syndrome in African population: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction few studies have specifically investigated the link between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and gout in sub-Saharan Africa. This report aimed to evaluate in patients with gout the association between gout at diagnosis and MetS and to assess the gender difference. Methods we performed a single-centre retrospective cohort study on all outpatients seen in the Rheumatology Unit of the General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon. We included records of patients with a recent diagnosis of gout according to the American College of Radiology (ACR) criteria. MetS was defined according to the harmonized criteria. Results we included 511 patients (415 men), with a mean age at diagnosis of 55.9 ±10.8 years. Women were older than men. The mean serum uric acid was 8.24±2.23 mg/L, with hyperuricemia found in 394 patients (77.1%). MetS was present in 101 patients (19.7% [95% CI: 16.8%-22.1%]), significantly more common in men compared to women (23.6% vs. 10.8%; p<0.001). The main components of the MetS were: increased waist circumference (217 patients, 61.3%), obesity (256 patients, 52.2%), hypertension (208 patients, 40.7%), and diabetes mellitus (52 patients, 10.2%). Furthermore, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and increased waist circumference were more frequent in women (p<0.001). There was no difference in dyslipidemia according to gender. The combination of components of the MetS was more frequent in men than women (p<0.001). Conclusion MetS are common in newly diagnosed Cameroonian patients with gout, with increased waist circumference, obesity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus being the main components. These components are more common in women, but their combination was more frequent in men.
Polish Cryobanks: Research and Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources

To date, the use of liquid nitrogen (LN) in plant gene banks is relatively limited. Globally, in 2021, approximately 10,000 accessions were cryopreserved, and their explants were derived from in vitro plants. In Europe, out of 500 banks, only 20 use cryogenic temperatures to store plant germplasms. The implementation of seven conservation projects in Poland starting in the 1990s meant that the gene banking system in this country began to gradually develop. Plant gene bank is mainly based on the collection of seeds and makes little use of plant tissues, including those from in vitro culture. From the point of view of systematics, plant material belonging to spermatophytes dominates in Polish gene banks, while spore plants are rarely represented. This review represents the first summary of gene cryobank activities and resources in Poland. It contains a brief overview of the ex situ plant protection programs aimed at the use of LN and presents the characteristics of four existing gene cryobanks in this country. Special attention is devoted to the presentation of studies on the cryopreservation of seeds, as well as of plant tissues, such as embryonic axes and plumules of trees, and fern gametophytes, that make a permanent contribution to gene bank resources.
The Microtubule Destabilizer Eribulin Synergizes with STING Agonists to Promote Antitumor Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Models

Simple Summary Microtubule-targeting agents are a class of chemotherapeutics used to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). These include drugs such as eribulin that depolymerize microtubules, as well as microtubule stabilizing taxanes such as paclitaxel. TNBC is a relatively immunogenic form of breast cancer and one strategy to further increase immunogenicity is through activation of the cGAS-STING innate immune sensing pathway. We demonstrate that eribulin enhances interferon production in combination with STING agonists undergoing clinical development in immune and TNBC cells. This phenotype is shared with other microtubule destabilizers, but not with stabilizers, suggesting a mechanism downstream of microtubule depolymerization. We determined that eribulin also enhanced immunogenic responses in vivo and improved antitumor efficacy in a spontaneous murine mammary tumor model when combined with a STING agonist. These findings highlight important mechanistic distinctions between microtubule targeted chemotherapeutic drugs and provide an opportunity to improve the efficacy of immunotherapies using a compound currently used in TNBC. Abstract Eribulin is a microtubule destabilizer used in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Eribulin and other microtubule targeted drugs, such as the taxanes, have shared antimitotic effects, but differ in their mechanism of microtubule disruption, leading to diverse effects on cellular signaling and trafficking. Herein, we demonstrate that eribulin is unique from paclitaxel in its ability to enhance expression of the immunogenic cytokine interferon beta (IFNβ) in combination with STING agonists in both immune cells and TNBC models, including profound synergism with ADU-S100 and E7766, which are currently undergoing clinical trials. The mechanism by which eribulin enhances STING signaling is downstream of microtubule disruption and independent of the eribulin-dependent release of mitochondrial DNA. Eribulin did not override the requirement of ER exit for STING activation and did not inhibit subsequent STING degradation; however, eribulin significantly enhanced IRF3 phosphorylation and IFNβ production downstream of the RNA sensing pathway that converges on this transcription factor. Additionally, we found that eribulin enhanced the population of activated CD4+ T-cells in vivo when combined with either a STING agonist or tumor, demonstrating the ability to function as an immune adjuvant. We further interrogated the combination of eribulin with ADU-S100 in the MMTV-PyVT spontaneous murine mammary tumor model where we observed significant antitumor efficacy with combination treatment. Together, our findings demonstrate that microtubule targeted chemotherapeutics have distinct immunological effects and that eribulin’s ability to enhance innate immune sensing pathways supports its use in combination with immunotherapies, such as STING agonists, for the more effective treatment of TNBC and other malignancies.
Self-esteem and behavioral problems of adolescents: the mediating role of school adjustment

Identifying factors that affect emotional and behavioral difficulties in adolescents is crucial for ameliorating these conditions and their negative impact as well as reducing the prevalence of these disorders. Self-esteem and school adjustment are two crucial but understudied factors that may significantly influence adolescents' sense of self and propensity to behavioral problems. In this study, 519 adolescents were examined for self-esteem and school adjustment in relation to emotional and behavioral difficulties, using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, School Adjustment Scale, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The majority of students in this study had average or high self-esteem. Multiple regression analysis revealed significant relationships between self-esteem, school adjustment, and behavioral disorders. Furthermore, path analysis showed that school adjustment mediated the association between self-esteem and behavioral problems. Keywords: emotional and Behavioral difficulties, behavioral disorders, self-esteem, school adjustments, adolescents.
Quantifying Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability dynamics observed in noctilucent clouds: 1. Methods and observations

Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) have been imaged during two nights in summer 2009 from northern Germany (Kühlungsborn, 54°N) and middle Norway (Trondheim, 64°N). For the first time a horizontal resolution of 10 to 20 m at the altitude of the clouds (about 83 km) and a temporal resolution of about 1 s was achieved. Additional imaging using a coarser resolution provided monitoring of the larger‐scale (~100 km) structures observed in the clouds. Two series of NLC images are described that reveal apparent Kelvin‐Helmholtz (KH) billow structures having very different morphologies and apparent transitions to turbulence and mixing. One series exhibits deep KH billows and apparent secondary instabilities in the billow exteriors having streamwise alignment (and spanwise wave number), suggesting a small initial Richardson number (Ri). A second series of images suggests a larger and less unstable Ri, a slower KH billow evolution, shallower billows, and turbulence and mixing confined to the billow cores. We suggest that systematic exploration of these dynamics employing NLC imaging may enable characterization and quantification of KH instability occurrence statistics and of their contributions to turbulence and mixing in the summer mesopause environment with unique sensitivity to their small‐scale dynamics.
Signal Extraction for Nonstationary Time Series

The nonstationary signal extraction problem is to estimate $s_t$ given observations on $z_t = s_t + n_t$ (signal plus noise) when either $s_t$ or $n_t$ or both is nonstationary. Homogeneous or explosive nonstationary time series described by models of the form $\delta(B)z_t = w_t$ where $\delta(B)$ has zeroes on or inside the unit circle and $w_t$ is stationary are considered. For certain cases, approximate solutions to the nonstationary signal extraction problem have been given by Hannan (1967), Sobel (1967), and Cleveland and Tiao (1976). The paper gives exact solutions in the forms of expressions for $E(s_t\mid\{z_t\})$ and $\operatorname{Var}(s_t\mid\{z_t\})$ (assuming normality) under two sets of alternative assumptions regarding the generation of $z_t, s_t$, and $n_t$. Extensions to signal extraction with a finite number of observations, to the nonGaussian case, and to the multivariate case are discussed.
The effect of rim-shroud gap on the spiral rolls formed around a rotating disk

In this paper, we use the numerical and empirical approaches and investigate the flow around a finite size disk in a finite size outer cylindrical casing. The disk is located at the center of the stationary casing and it is supported by a driving shaft through the disk and the casing. The disk rotates with the driving shaft. Five sizes of disks with different thicknesses and radii are used. The main purpose of this paper is to estimate the effect of the radial gaps on the entire flows. The combination of the thickness of the disk with smaller radius and the inner side of the casing with larger radius forms Taylor–Couette-like vortex flow in the radial gap. The supercritical instability makes the unsteady wavy vortex flow around the disk rim. When the axial gap between the disk surface and the end-wall of the casing is wide, the unsteady wavy flow is convected along the end-wall of the casing and it makes spiral rolls with negative front angles. When the axial gap is narrower and the Reynolds number is sma.
Sn-based type-VIII single-crystal clathrates with a large figure of merit

Single-crystal samples of type-VIII Ba8Ga16−xCuxSn30 (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.15) clathrates were prepared using the Sn-flux method. At room temperature the carrier density, n, is 3.5–5 × 1019 cm−3 for all the samples, the carrier mobility, μH, increases to more than twice that of Ba8Ga16Sn30 for all the Cu doping samples, and consequently the electrical conductivity is enhanced distinctly from 1.90 × 104 S/m to 4.40 × 104 S/m, with the Cu composition increasing from x = 0 to x = 0.15. The Seebeck coefficient, α, decreases slightly with the increases in Cu composition. The κ values are about 0.72 W/mK at 300 K and are almost invariant with temperature up to 500 K for the samples with x = 0 and x = 0.03. The lattice thermal conductivity, κL, decreases from 0.59 W/mK for x = 0 to 0.50 W/mK for x = 0.03 at 300 K. The figure of merit for x = 0.03 reaches 1.35 at 540 K.
Preparation of Atorvastatin Calcium-Dipicolinic Acid Multicomponent Solids by Liquid-Assisted Grinding Method to Increase Solubility

Atorvastatin calcium is a cholesterol-lowering drug that is very potent but difficult to dissolve in water, so its bioavailability is low. In this study, atorvastatin calcium-dipicolinic acid multicomponent solids were prepared using the liquid-assisted grinding method to improve atorvastatin calcium's solubility. Characterization of multicomponent solids was carried out using powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Solubility test was carried out by shaking method using distilled water media. The results showed that the particles of atorvastatin calcium - dipicolinic acid multicomponent solids had an irregular shape with rough and porous surface topography. The multicomponent solids have a diffractogram with specific peaks of 2θ at 8.8, 9.9, 11.5, 16.7, 19.1, 21.2, 22.4, 23.4, and 27.7°. The DSC thermogram of multicomponent solids showed a sharp endothermic peak at 181.9 °C (∆H=17.69 J/g), indicating its melting point. The FTIR spectra of atorvastatin calcium-dipicolinic acid multicomponent solids indicated an intermolecular interaction that was thought to be a hydrogen bond between the molecules of atorvastatin calcium and dipicolinic acid. The results of the solubility test showed that the atorvastatin calcium-dipicolinic acid multicomponent solids had a significantly increased solubility (p<0.05) compared to the solubility of pure atorvastatin calcium.
The inherent instability of axisymmetric magnetostrophic dynamo models

Recent studies have demonstrated the possibility of constructing magnetostrophic dynamo models, which describe the slowly evolving background state of Earth's magnetic field when inertia and viscosity are negligible. Here we explore the properties of steady, stable magnetostrophic states as a leading order approximation to the slow dynamics within Earth's core. For the case of an axisymmetric magnetostrophic system driven by a prescribed α-effect, we confirmed the existence of four known steady states: , , where is purely dipolar and is purely quadrupolar. Importantly, here we show that in all but the most weakly driven cases, an initial magnetic field that is not purely dipolar or quadrapolar never converges to these states. Despite this instability, we also show that there are a plethora of instantaneous solutions that are quasi-steady, but nevertheless unstable. If the dynamics in Earth's core are reasonably modelled by a strongly driven α-effect, this work suggests that the background state can never be steady. We discuss the difficulties in comparing our magnetostrophic models with geomagnetic timeseries.
Differences in Pulmonary Function Improvement after Once-Daily LABA/LAMA Fixed-Dose Combinations in Patients with COPD

This real-world study evaluated the efficacy of once-daily long-acting β2-agonist (LABA)/long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) for improving lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with COPD who were treated with once-daily LABA/LAMA FDCs for 12 months were included. We evaluated their lung function improvement after 12 months of treatment with different LABA/LAMA FDCs. A total of 198 patients with COPD who were treated with once-daily LABA/LAMA FDCs were analyzed. A total of 114 patients were treated with umeclidinium/vilanterol (UMEC/VIL); 34 patients were treated with indacaterol/glycopyrronium (IND/GLY); and 50 patients were treated with tiotropium/olodaterol (TIO/OLO). The forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was significantly increased in the patients treated with all three once-daily FDCs (55.2% to 60.9%, p = 0.012 for UMEC/VIL, 58.2% to 63.6%, p = 0.023 for IND/GLY, and 54.1% to 57.7%, p = 0.009 for TIO/OLO). The treatment of COPD patients with TIO/OLO resulted in a significant improvement in both forced vital capacity (FVC%) (71.7% to 77.9%, p = 0.009) and residual volume (RV%) (180.1% to 152.5%, p < 0.01) compared with those treated with UMEC/VIL (FVC%: 75.1% to 81.5%, p < 0.001; RV%:173.8% to 165.2%, p = 0.231) or IND/GLY (FVC%: 73.9% to 79.3%, p = 0.08; RV%:176.8% to 168.3%, p = 0.589). Patients treated with UMEC/VIL or TIO/OLO showed significant improvement in FVC. In addition, those receiving TIO/OLO also showed significant improvement in RV reduction.
Coupling and Coordination Relationship between the Tourism Economy and Ecosystem Service Value in Southern Jiangsu, China

The relationship between the tourism economy and the ecosystem service value (ESV) is crucial for sustainable regional development. This study takes southern Jiangsu as a research object. Firstly, the development level of the tourism economy and ecosystem service value in southern Jiangsu from 2000 to 2020 are evaluated with the entropy method, ecosystem service value is estimated and the dynamic degree of land use is computed. Secondly, the coupling coordination degree model is used to explore the coupling coordination degree between the two systems. Finally, the interaction mechanism between the tourism economy and ecosystem service function is elaborated. The result shows that: (1) There are disparities in the levels of a comprehensive tourism economy in different cities, and the overall development level of the tourism economy in southern Jiangsu shows a cyclical fluctuation pattern. (2) Spatial variation of ecosystem service value exists in different cities in southern Jiangsu, with an overall trend of increasing in the beginning followed by a decline. (3) The coupling coordination degree between the tourism economic system and ecosystem service functions in southern Jiangsu demonstrates an inverted U-shaped development pattern from 2000 to 2020, evolving from mild disorder to intermediate coordination and then back to mild disorder, and the development of two subsystems is unstable and imbalanced. Within the region, Nanjing, Suzhou and Zhenjiang have experienced a rise in coupling coordination degree followed by a decline. This study also reveals the coupling mechanism between ecological service functions and the tourism economic system, and provides suggestions for ecological preservation and sustainable development of tourism industry in southern Jiangsu. This research can be a reference for tourism and regional development in southern Jiangsu and the whole Yangtze Delta region.
OXTR Gene mRNA Expression is Correlated to Prosocial Behavior of Children in the Golden Generation Program of Nusa Tenggara Barat

BACKGROUND: Cases of undernutrition, such as stunting and wasting, in Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), Indonesia, was found to be relatively high. Therefore, local government launched a golden generation program called GEN NTB to improve the quality of human resources by achieving a healthy, intelligent, devout, and productive generation in 2045. One of the genes known to be related with prosocial behavior is the oxytocin transferase (OXTR) gene. This study was conducted to determine the association between OXTR gene mRNA expression and prosocial behavior of the GEN NTB children.METHODS: This was an analytical observational case-control study involving 25 children as GEN NTB samples and 26 children as controls. Blood samples were tested for OXTR protein level with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and OXTR mRNA expression with real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Prosocial behavior was characterized and determined by using a rating method, which valued from 1 to 4 for poor to very good behavior.RESULTS: The average OXTR protein levels of the GEN NTB group was 88.28 ng/mL, which were higher than the average OXTR protein levels of control group (2.41 ng/mL). According to fold change analysis, the OXTR mRNA expression in GEN NTB group was also higher than the control group (10.91 vs. 6.40). Interestingly, observations on the prosocial behavior of the GEN NTB group showed significantly higher rate values compared to the control group (17.3 vs. 8.0, p=0.034). Hence, these findings showed that the OXTR protein level and OXTR mRNA expression was correlated with the better prosocial behavior.CONCLUSION: Higher rating of prosocial behavior of the GEN NTB children is related to the higher OXTR mRNA expression levels. This might be attributed to the interventions of GEN NTB program that may elevate children's quality of life since early childhood.KEYWORDS: GEN NTB, OXTR protein, mRNA expression, prosocial behavior, children
Structure and Evolution of Baroclinic Waves as Inferred from Regression Analysis.

Abstract The structure of transient disturbances with periods shorter than a week is documented an the basis of one-point regression maps and longitude–height sections derived from the National Meteorological Center (NMC) operational analyses for nine winter seasons. The reference time series for the regression coefficients is highpass filtered, normalized 500-mb height at a grid point in the Pacific stormtrack. The field variables that were regreesed on the reference time series were not filtered. The regression statistics yield quantitative estimates of the amplitudes of the high-frequency fluctuations in the geopotential height, temperature, wind, ageostrophic wind, vorticity, divergence, vertical velocity, and outgoing longwave radiation fields. The observed high-frequency fluctuations exhibit a vertical and meridional structure suggestive of baroclinic waves evolving through the mature phase of their life cycle. Most of the results are in qualitative agreement with previous studies, but the ageostrop.
Heavy fermion semiconductors

The heavy fermion semiconductors, or Kondo insulators, are very narrow gap semiconductors in which the properties show unusual temperature dependencies. We shall review their properties and show how they can be interpreted in terms of an electronic band structure, with a temperature dependent hybridization gap together with temperature dependent quasi-particle lifetimes. The properties of these semiconductors are very sensitive to impurities, which can enhance the incipient antiferromagnetic correlations and precipitate a magnetic instability.