Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental use of TRMM precipitation radar observations in 1D+4D−Var assimilation

This paper presents a new application of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) observations for indirect assimilation into the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model. The PR reflectivities are first processed using a one‐dimensional variational (1D‐Var) method to adjust model temperature and specific humidity. The retrieved Total Column Water Vapour (TCWV) is then assimilated into the operational four‐dimensional variational (4D‐Var) system. The applicability of the 1D+4D−Var approach to the radar observations is discussed in detail.
Moisture-Dependent Physical-Mechanical Properties of Maize, Rice, and Soybeans as Related to Handling and Processing

Knowledge of physical and mechanical properties of cereal grains is important for designing handling and processing equipment. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on the influence of moisture content on the physical-mechanical properties as related to machine design. The aim of this study was to investigate and describe the changes in select physical-mechanical properties of maize, rice, and soybeans at various moisture content (10%, 14%, 18%, 22%, 26%; wet basis) and their compression behavior at two loading rates of 1.25 mm/min and 125 mm/min. The measured physical and mechanical properties include size, shape, and breakage force of single kernels. It was found that an increase in moisture content increased the kernel size, altered the kernel shape, and decreased the bulk density. The effects of moisture content and loading rate on breakage force, stress, and energy varied depending on the grain type. Our results indicated that an increase in moisture content changed the mechanical behavior of grain kernels from brittle to viscoelastic. To prevent kernel damage during processing and handling, the measured force and stress during compression can be used as the limit value for designing equipment.
Case Report: Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis led by empagliflozin: A case report and literature review

Introduction: Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a new class of medications that have been approved for the treatment of heart failure (HF) in patients with and without type-2 diabetes mellitus. It is important to be aware of the likely side effects of SGLT2i for their optimal use and enhanced patient safety. One such rare but potential side effect is the development of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EDKA). Objective: We present a case report of EDKA, in a patient who was started on empagliflozin – one of the SGLT2i – highlighting its presenting signs and symptoms, pertinent laboratory findings, differential diagnosis, treatment and outcome. To strengthen our findings and hypothesis, we conducted a literature review of other cases that used SGLT2i and found similar complications. This case report with review can help recognize the serious, potentially life-threatening complications of the new class of medication SGLT2i that has been incorporated into the current practice, and also help to take appropriate steps to mitigate its adverse effects and improve overall health outcomes in our patients. Conclusions: SGLT2i are increasingly used because of their favorable effects on mortality in the chronic HF patients along with its benefits of weight loss and blood pressure reduction. A potential underdiagnosed adverse effect of SGLT2i use is diabetic ketoacidosis in a setting of normal blood glucose levels. Thus, it is reasonable to be cognizant of its side effects to prevent any untoward events in a timely manner.
The impacts of free‐roaming cats cannot be generalized and their role in rodent management should not be overlooked

Cats, Felis catus L. (Carnivora: Felidae), were domesticated because of their role in rodent control around human settlements. Free‐roaming cats (henceforth, referred to as “cats”) can predate on a wide variety of small‐ to medium‐sized animals and affect biodiversity. The impact of cats on biodiversity varies from country to country, region to region, and habitat to habitat. Depending on the location and context, the overall impact of cats on biodiversity can be negative, neutral, or positive. Management of cats should take into account the complex interactions that occur between cats, rodents, and the species they prey upon.
The Issuance and Design of Sustainability-linked Loans

Sustainability-linked loans (i.e., syndicated loans for which pricing is linked to a sustainability performance indicator) have rapidly evolved into a significant private debt product. We find that sustainability-linked lending has been available mostly to borrowers with low ESG risk profiles. We show that borrower’s ESG risk is associated with the use of aggregate (e.g., ESG score) rather than granular (e.g., carbon emissions) performance indicators and the monitoring by a reputable sustainability verifier. Further, ESG risk is unrelated to sustainability indicator materiality and target restrictiveness. Overall, we provide evidence consistent with the sustainability-linked lending market acting as a signaling mechanism of ESG credentials and being at the early stages of contract design sophistication.
Microbial Fuel Cell as a Future Energy Source: A Review of Its Development, Design, Power Generation, and Voltage Reversal Control Mechanism

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising technology that use microorganisms to generate electrical energy from chemical energy. However, ultralow-power production and high-cost materials have become significant drawbacks in MFC development. Therefore, various methods have been proposed for increasing the output power of MFC. Among them, stacking multiple cells in a series has been suggested as the most promising method for generating high power in MFC. However, voltage reversal (VR) has become an issue that limits the electrical power generation in stacked MFC. Thus, this study investigates and discusses the actual cause of the voltage reversal phenomenon in a series-stacked MFC from the perspective of electron and proton transfer mechanisms. This paper also discusses the electronic control methods used to eliminate VR and challenges in MFC development. Furthermore, this review also briefly explains the evolution of MFC development stages and the factors influencing MFC performance. It is found that solving the VR issue in a series of stacked MFC is a significant factor in boosting MFC technology in the commercial world. In addition, reducing material and operational costs will promote future implementation of MFCs.
IMPROVEMENT OF GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF CLAY SOIL USING METAKAOLINE

Problematic soils pose a serious challenge to geotechnical engineers when construction activities are to be carried out in/on them. Therefore this paper aims at studying the improvement of the geotechnical properties of this type of soil using Metakaolin through laboratory studies. The soil samples used were mixed with 0% to 20% Metakaolin at an interval of 5%. The prepared samples were subjected to Atterbarg limits, Compaction, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests. The results obtained have shown that the maximum addition of the Metakaolin upon which a maximum stabilization was observed was 5% and above which there was no significant changes in the soil properties. A decrease in the liquid limit and plastic limit of the soil from 26.8% and 21% for the control to 25.7% and 20.8% were respectively observed at 5% Metakaolin. The Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) and Maximum Dry Density (MDD) of the clay soil also changed from 13% and 1.84 Mg/m 3 at 0% Metakaolin to 8.2% and 2.18 Mg/m 3 at 5% Metakaolin. The soaked CBR value increased from 12.73% to 15.33% and the un-soaked CBR value also increased from 16.56% to 17.77%. The UCS of the soil increased with an increase in curing period up to 28 days, with a maximum value of 624 kN/m 2 which was obtained at 5% Metakaolin. This has therefore shown that the improved soil could be used in the preparations of soil sub-grade and sub-base road constructions, especially in low traffic roads as the results obtained have met the specifications of such roads in Nigeria.
The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) on Cardiometabolic Health Biomarkers: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

ABSTRACT Objectives To assess the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) on cardiometabolic health biomarkers. Method Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, Medline, and PsycINFO were searched, and records were screened by two independent reviewers. Inclusion criteria were adult population, delivery of CBT-I, randomized controlled trial design, ≥1 cardiometabolic health outcome, and peer-review. Hedge’s g effect sizes were calculated, and the quality of the evidence was appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Results After screening 1649 records, 15 studies were included (total N = 2067). Inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α), blood pressure (SBP, DBP), and glycemic regulation (HbA1c) were most frequently reported (in ≥3 studies each). HbA1c and CRP were reduced in the CBT-I group compared to the control group (in 3 studies each). Effects varied or were null for IL-6, TNF-α, SBP, and DBP. Six studies were judged as low, four as moderate, and five as high risk of bias. Conclusion CBT-I was most consistently associated with improved HbA1c and CRP, which are relatively temporally stable, suggesting influences on enduring habits rather than short-term behavior changes. High risk of bias limits the interpretation of findings. Methodologically adequate studies are needed to better understand cardiometabolic effects of CBT-I.
The natural frequencies of composite Profiled Steel Sheet Dry Board with Concrete infill (PSSDBC) system

This paper aims to measure natural frequencies of Profiled Steel Sheet Dry Board (PSSDB) with Concrete infill (PSSDBC) system. For this purpose, experimental tests by estimation of Frequency Response Function (FRF) and a numerical method by development of Finite Element Model (FEM) are used. The connection stiffness between Peva45 as Profiled Steel Sheet (PSS) and different concrete grades of 25 (C25), 30 (C30), and 35 (C35) are measured by push-out tests to be used in the FEM. The effect of presence of concrete in the PSSDB system on the natural frequencies such as Fundamental Natural Frequency (FNF) of the system is investigated. The variability in the FNF of the studied system under different parameters such as concrete grades, thicknesses of PSS and Dry Board (DB), and boundary conditions is determined. In a wide numerical study, the FNF of the PSSDBC system with practical dimensions is revealed for different lengths, widths, and boundary conditions. The results help designer predict serviceability and design criteria of the studied panels.
Teacher Competencies and School Improvement Specialist Coaching (SISC+) Programme in Malaysia as a Model for Improvement of Quality Education in China

The focus for Chinese citizens to pursue study in Malaysia is based on quality improvement in the Malaysian education system, especially in the teacher quality and school improvement specialist coaching (SISC+) program implemented in the Malaysian school system. The role of teacher’s competencies, such as teacher enthusiasm, which involves the invoking of passion and excitement in students and the participation of teachers, are the most positive teaching activity associated with the gratification of specific lessons. As a model to attract foreign students, especially from China, it is important to review the Ministry’s SISC+ plan and determine if teaching competencies among teachers can positively impact the system. The purpose of this study is to examine how teacher competencies influence the SISC+ Coaching program (Guidance) in rural high schools in Malaysia. The novelty of this research lies in measuring teachers’ competencies in three dimensions: communication skills, skills in teaching strategies, and methods and teaching-involvements skills within a framework. This study employed a quantitative method consisting of a questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. The instruments were taken from a questionnaire developed by the Malaysia Ministry of Education (MOE) for the coaching of SISC+ (16 questions), while the measurement of teachers’ competencies (22 questions) was performed using a questionnaire from past literature. A total of 186 teachers from six Malaysia secondary schools were involved in the study and the data were analyzed using SEM PLS. The findings revealed that out of all the three competency dimensions (communication, policy, process, and methodology, and student involvement), only teacher communication skills with learners had a major effect on the SISC+ coaching program. The findings also showed that the contact capabilities with students appeared to favor the SISC+ method. Thus, the study contributes to the creation of new knowledge with empirical tests, along with several practical implications for research on teaching competency development.
Role of Transabdominal Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Pediatric Patients With Daytime Wetting

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a frequent cause of admission to pediatric nephrology outpatient clinics. The aim of this study was to determine whether anatomical changes in lower urinary tract structures (retrovesical angulation [RVA] and bladder neck position [BNP]) are associated with UI in pediatric patients with daytime‐wetting in comparison to healthy children.
Self-consistent GW approach for the unified description of ground and excited states of finite systems

Ab initio methods provide useful tools for the prediction and characterization of material properties, as they allow to obtain information complementary to purely experimental investigations. The GW approach to many-body perturbation theory (MBPT) has recently emerged as the method of choice for the evaluation of single-particle excitations in molecules and extended systems. Its application to the characterization of the electronic properties of technologically relevant materials – such as, e.g., dyes for photovoltaic applications or transparent conducting oxides – is steadily increasing over the last years. The GW approximation is typically introduced as a first-order perturbative correction (G0W0) to density-functional theory (DFT) or Hartree-Fock (HF). However, this also introduces a severe initial-state dependence that affects the G0W0 solution. Due to its non-perturbative nature, self-consistent GW (sc-GW ) ameliorates several shortcomings of the G0W0 scheme, such as the violation of the particle-number conservation and the dependence on the initial reference ground state. Nevertheless, the suitability and overall accuracy of sc-GW has often been questioned, mostly because of numerical problems with previous implementations and the lack of systematic studies for a wide range of systems. In this doctoral work, the sc-GW approach for total energies and spectroscopic properties has been implemented in the Fritz Haber Institute ab initio molecular simulations code (FHI-aims) in an all-electron numeric atom-centered orbital framework. With this implementation I then performed a systematic assessment of groundand excited-state properties of atoms and molecules. In this work, sc-GW has been employed to study the excitation spectra of organic molecules, molecules of interest for photovoltaic applications, and prototypical donoracceptor systems. At self-consistency, the quasi-particle energies are in good agreement with experiment and, on average, more accurate than G0W0 based on HF or semi-local DFT. For covalently bonded dimers, the capability of DFTand MBPT-based approaches to describe the correlated electronic ground state at dissociation was investigated. Static and local approximations of exchange-correlation potentials – as opposed to non-local, frequency dependent self-energy approximations – are shown to be more effective in describing the dissociation regime. sc-GW calculations for ground-state properties (as, e.g., binding energies, bond lengths, vibrational frequencies, and dipole moments) are presented. For ground-state properties, I show that sc-GW achieves a comparable performance to exact-exchange plus correlation in the random-phase approximation (EX+cRPA) which is, however, not as good as that of renormalized second-order perturbation theory (rPT2). Finally, the correct distribution of the electron density in prototypical donor-acceptor compounds suggests that sc-GW is a promising method for the description of electronic excitations in charge-transfer systems.
A Study of the Mutual Interaction between the Monoceros R2 Outflow and Its Surrounding Core

We present high-resolution (12''-24'')12CO(J = 2-1),13CO(2-1), CS(2-1), CS(3-2), and CS(5-4) maps of the central 4' × 4' of Mon R2 and study the bipolar outflow, the dense core, and their mutual interaction. The high-velocity 12CO and 13CO emissions that trace the bipolar outflow show that the outflow lobes are limb-brightened shells of accelerated gas that have the Mon R2 IR cluster near their apex and extend approximately toward the north and south. These shells of gas are clumpy, and their emission at the highest velocities arises from discrete condensations that move with the flow but each has a slightly different speed. The CS data, on the other hand, trace the ambient core at low velocities, but also trace the accelerated gas of the outflow at higher speeds. The ambient CS emission shows that the core has a cavity along the path of the outflow, and that the walls of this cavity coincide in position and orientation with the shells of the bipolar flow. The accelerated CS emission concentrates along the cavity walls and arises from the same clumpy shells of gas that form the outflow lobes in 12CO and 13CO. This outflow material, therefore, is rather dense, and a solution of the CS radiative transfer shows that it is as dense as the gas in the core (≈ 4 × 105 cm-3), suggesting that what we see as outflow is in fact gas from the dense core that has been set into motion. With the same radiative transfer analysis of the CS lines, we estimate that from a total of 1000 M☉ of dense gas in the core, more than 170 M☉ have been accelerated and incorporated into the bipolar flow. In addition, the CS spectra show a systematic enhancement of the line width toward the IR cluster that suggests the outflow has increased the gas turbulence in its vicinity. The amount of kinetic energy contained in both the bipolar and turbulent motions is comparable to the total binding energy of the dense gas, and this shows that the action of the outflow on the core can be strong enough to affect the distribution of dense gas in the core. We therefore propose that the cavity in the dense gas is the result of the evacuation of a channel by the outflow, and that the material initially filling its volume has been accelerated and incorporated into the flow. The Mon R2 system, therefore, illustrates how bipolar molecular outflows form through the acceleration of ambient molecular gas and that the process of molecular outflow formation is accompanied by a partial destruction of the dense gas environment of the newly formed star.
A matrix-dependent transfer multigrid method for strongly variable viscosity infinite Prandtl number thermal convection

Abstract We apply a two-dimensional Cartesian finite element treatment to investigate infinite Prandtl number thermal convection with temperature, strain rate and yield stress dependent rheology using parameters in the range estimated for the mantles of the terrestrial planets. To handle the strong viscosity variations that arise from such nonlinear rheology in solving the momentum equation, we exploit a multigrid method based on matrix-dependent intergrid transfer and the Galerkin coarse grid approximation. We observe that the matrix-dependent transfer algorithm provides an exceptionally robust and efficient means for solving convection problems with extreme viscosity gradients. Our algorithm displays a convergence rate per multigrid cycle about five times better than what other published methods (e.g., CITCOM of Moresi and Solomatov, 1995) offer for cases with similar extreme viscosity variation. The algorithm is explained in detail in this paper. When this method is applied to problems with temperature and strain rate dependent rheologies, we obtain strongly time dependent solutions characterized by episodic avalanching of cold material from the upper boundary layer to the bottom of the convecting domain for a significantly broad range of parameter values. In particular, we observe this behavior for the relatively simple case of temperature dependent Newtonian rheology with a plastic yield stress. The intensity and temporal character of the episodic behavior depends sensitively on the yield stress value. The regions most strongly affected by the yield stress are thickened portions of the cold upper boundary layer which can suddenly become unstable and form downgoing diapirs. These computational results suggest that the finite yield properties of silicate rocks must play a vitally important role in planetary mantle dynamics. Although our example calculations were selected mainly to illustrate the power of our multigrid method, they suggest that many possible exotic behaviors in planetary mantles have yet to be discovered.
Multiparameter Estimation in a Transient Conduction-Radiation Problem Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method and the Finite-Volume Method Coupled with the Genetic Algorithms

This article deals with the exploration of the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and the finite-volume method (FVM) in conjunction with the genetic algorithms (GA) for estimation of unknown parameters in an inverse transient conduction-radiation problem. The conducting-radiating planar participating medium is absorbing, emitting, and scattering. Its boundaries are diffuse gray. In both the direct and inverse methods, the energy equations are solved using the LBM, and the FVM is employed to compute the radiative information. In the inverse method, the optimization is achieved using the GA. For a given set of parameters, first a direct problem is solved using the LBM-FVM, and temperature fields are estimated at various time levels, which, in the inverse problem, are taken as exact. Effects of measurement errors are also considered. With temperature fields known from the direct method, in the inverse method, too, the LBM-FVM combination is used to solve the energy equation involving volumetric radiation, and the GA is used to optimize the objective function. The LBM-FVM-GA combination in the inverse method has been found to provide correct estimates of the unknown parameters in a transient conduction-radiation heat transfer problem.
The effect of small-wave modulation on the electromagnetic bias

The effect of the modulation of small ocean waves by large waves on the physical mechanism of the electromagnetic (EM) bias is examined by conducting a numerical scattering experiment which does not assume the applicability of geometric optics. The modulation effect of the large waves on the small waves is modeled using the principle of conservation of wave action and includes the modulation of gravity-capillary waves. The frequency dependence and magnitude of the EM bias is examined for a simplified ocean spectral model as a function of wind speed. These calculations allow us to assess the validity of previous assumptions made in the theory of the EM bias, with respect to both scattering and hydrodynamic effects. We find that the geometric optics approximation is inadequate for predictions of the EM bias at typical radar altimeter frequencies, while the improved scattering calculations provide a frequency dependence of the EM bias which is in qualitative agreement with observation. We also find that, for typical wind speeds, the EM bias contribution due to small-wave modulation is of the same order as that due to modulation by the nonlinearities of the large-scale waves.