Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Child-Langmuir flow with periodically varying anode voltage

Using the Lagrangian technique, we study settled Child-Langmuir flows in a one dimensional planar diodes whose anode voltages periodically vary around given positive values. Our goal is to find analytically if the average currents in these systems can exceed the famous Child-Langmuir limit found for the stationary current a long time ago. The main result of our study is that in a periodic quasi-stationary regime the average current can be larger than the Child-Langmuir maximum even by 50% compared with its adiabatic average value. The cathode current in this case has the form of rectangular pulses which are formed by a very special triangular voltage modulation. This regime, i.e., periodicity, shape of pulses, and their amplitude, needs to be carefully chosen for the best performance.
Direct numerical simulation of two-dimensional turbulent natural convection in an enclosed cavity

A two-dimensional direct numerical simulation of the natural convection flow of air in a differentially heated square cavity was performed for a Rayleigh number of 1010. The simulation was commenced from isothermal and quiescent conditions and was allowed to proceed to a statistical steady state. Two-dimensional turbulence resulted without the introduction of random forcing. Good agreement of mean quantities of the statistically steady flow is obtained with available experimental results. In addition, the previously proposed (George & Capp 1979) −$\frac{1}{3}$ and $+\frac{1}{3}$ temperature and velocity variations in the buoyant sublayer are confirmed. Other statistics of the flow are consistent with available experimental data. Selected frames from a movie generated from the computational results show very clearly turbulence production via the sequence from initial instability, proceeding through transition, and eventually reaching statistical steady state. Prominent large-scale structures are seen to persist at steady state.
Performance Comparison of Procalcitonin, Delta Neutrophil Index, C-Reactive Protein, and Serum Amyloid A Levels in Patients with Hematologic Diseases

(1) Background: We compared the diagnostic and prognostic performance of serum amyloid A (SAA), procalcitonin (PCT), delta neutrophil index (DNI), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with hematologic diseases; (2) Methods: We retrospectively collected the remaining serum samples from patients with hematologic diseases, analyzed their clinical data, and measured the levels of PCT, DNI, CRP, and SAA. Performances for infection diagnosis were evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and 90-day mortality was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier estimation; (3) Results: The levels of all markers were significantly higher in the infected group (N = 27) than those in the uninfected group (N = 100) (p < 0.0001 for all markers). The areas under the curve for diagnosing infection for PCT, DNI, CRP, and SAA were 0.770, 0.817, 0.870, and 0.904, respectively. Increased PCT levels were associated with higher mortality (p = 0.0250); this association was not observed with other examined markers; (4) Conclusions: CRP and SAA exhibited greater discriminative power for infection than PCT. However, only PCT levels were positively associated with 90-day mortality. Herein, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of the four markers. Additional studies are needed to confirm the findings of the present study and validate the potential of these markers in clinical practice.
Current evidence shows no influence of women's menstrual cycle phase on acute strength performance or adaptations to resistance exercise training

Introduction The bias towards excluding women from exercise science research is often due to the assumption that cyclical fluctuations in reproductive hormones influence resistance exercise performance and exercise-induced adaptations. Methods Hence, the purpose of this umbrella review was to examine and critically evaluate the evidence from meta-analyses and systematic reviews on the influence of menstrual cycle phase on acute performance and chronic adaptations to resistance exercise training (RET). Results We observed highly variable findings among the published reviews on the ostensible effects of female sex hormones on relevant RET-induced outcomes, including strength, exercise performance, and hypertrophy. Discussion We highlight the importance of comprehensive menstrual cycle verification methods, as we noted a pattern of poor and inconsistent methodological practices in the literature. In our opinion, it is premature to conclude that short-term fluctuations in reproductive hormones appreciably influence acute exercise performance or longer-term strength or hypertrophic adaptations to RET.
Mathematical Modelling and Simulations of Brain Cell Swelling Under Ischaemic Conditions

Motivated by the ischaemic brain stroke research, this work is devoted to the description of the osmotic swelling of a brain cell due to the absorption of the extracellular fluid during the formation of the cytotoxic (cellular) oedema. A physically motivated mathematical model describing the interaction between a single swelling cell and the extracellular fluid surrounding it is developed. In particular, the dynamics of the interaction is approximated by the coupled Biot-Stokes equations, resulting in a free boundary interaction problem. The Biot equations derived using homogenization techniques are considered and it is shown, that for the relevant data range, the temporal pressure derivative term of the Biot equations is negligible. Filtering effects of the cell membrane and the driving force of the transmembrane osmotic pressure difference are reflected in the Biot-Stokes coupling condition relating the normal fluid flux to the total pressure difference across the membrane. The analysis of the relevant experimentally obtained data for the considered biological system suggests that certain effects and processes included into the developed general coupled model can be neglected. As a result, a simpler (reduced) mathematical model is obtained and numerically implemented. The reduced Biot-Stokes coupled problem is discretized using FEMs (in space) and the implicit Euler scheme (in time), and solved following an operator-splitting approach. The numerical implementations of the (pure) Biot problem are verified by comparing the analytic and numerical solutions, and are available for two and three dimensions. The simulation results for the reduced mathematical model parametrized with the estimated experimental parameters showed good agreement with the experimental observations. The sensitivity of the Biot problem solution to the variations of the key parameters and domain geometry, as well as the overall effect of the Stokes domain solution on the solution of the coupled Biot-Stokes problem are tested and analysed.
Nonlinear Vibration Models for Extremes and Fatigue

Hermite moment models of nonlinear random vibration are formulated. These models use response moments (skewness, kurtosis, etc.) to form non‐Gaussian contributions, made orthogonal through a Hermite series. First‐yield and fatigue failure rates are predicted from these moments, which are often simpler to estimate (from either a time. history or analytical model). Both hardening and softening nonlinear models are developed. These are shown to be more flexible than the conventional Charlier and Edgeworth series, with the ability to reflect wider ranges of nonlinear behavior. Analytical moment‐based estimates of spectral densities, crossing rates, probability distributions of the response and its extremes, and fatigue damage rates are formed. These are found to compare well with exact results for various nonlinear models, including nonlinear oscillator responses and quasi‐static responses to Morison wave loads.
Fabrication and Characterization of Functional Biobased Membranes from Postconsumer Cotton Fabrics and Palm Waste for the Removal of Dyes

Textile industries currently face vast challenges for the active removal of colored wastewater. Indeed, sustainable, recyclable, and green approaches are still lacking to achieve this aim. Thus, the present study explored the utilization of highly functional, green, recyclable, fully bio-based, and cost-effective composite membranes from post-consumer cotton fabrics and palm waste for wastewater treatment purposes. Highly functional cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were produced from waste cotton fabrics and filter paper using an acid hydrolysis technique. The yield of nanofibers extracted from waste cotton fabrics and filter paper was 76.74 and 54.50%, respectively. The physical, chemical, and structural properties of nanofibers were studied using various advanced analytical techniques. The properties of isolated nanofibers were almost similar and comparable to those of commercial nanofibers. The surface charge densities were −94.0, −80.7, and −90.6 mV for the nanofibers of palm waste, cotton fibers, and filter paper, respectively. After membrane fabrication using vacuum and hot-pressing techniques, the characteristics of the membrane were analyzed. The results showed that the average pore size of the palm-waste membrane was 1.185 nm, while it was 1.875 nm for membrane from waste cotton fibers and filter paper. Congo red and methylene blue dyes were used as model solutions to understand the behavior of available functional groups and the surface ζ-potential of the membrane frameworks’ interaction. The membrane made from palm waste had the highest dye removal efficiency, and it was 23% for Congo red and 44% for methylene blue. This study provides insights into the challenges associated with the use of postconsumer textile and agricultural waste, which can be potentially used in high-performance liquid filtration devices for a more sustainable society.
Purple Wheat: Food Development, Anthocyanin Stability, and Potential Health Benefits

Colored wheats such as black, blue, or purple wheat are receiving a great interest as healthy food ingredients due to their potential health-enhancing attributes. Purple wheat is an anthocyanin-pigmented grain that holds huge potential in food applications since wheat is the preferred source of energy and protein in human diet. Purple wheat is currently processed into a variety of foods with potent antioxidant properties, which have been demonstrated by in vitro studies. However, the health impacts of purple wheat foods in humans still require further investigations. Meanwhile, anthocyanins are vulnerable molecules that require special stabilization treatments during food preparation and processing. A number of stabilization methods such as co-pigmentation, self-association, encapsulation, metal binding, and adjusting processing conditions have been suggested as a means to diminish the loss of anthocyanins in processed foods and dietary supplements. The present review was intended to provide insights about purple wheat food product development and its roles in human health. In addition, methods for stabilizing anthocyanins during processing were briefly discussed.
Preharvest melatonin foliar treatments enhance postharvest longevity of cut tuberose via altering physio-biochemical traits

Introduction Melatonin (MLT) is a bioactive molecule involved in the physiological functioning of plants. Reports related to preharvest applications of melatonin on the postharvest performance of cut flowers are not available in the literature. Materials & methods This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of exogenous MLT [0 mM (MT0), 0.5 mM (MT1), 0.7 mM (MT2), 1 mM (MT3)] applied preharvest on the physiological characteristics and postharvest performance of cut tuberose, a globally demanded cut flower. Results & discussion The results revealed that all treatments increased postharvest vase life by up to 4 d. The MT1, MT2, and MT3 treatments increased total soluble proteins (TSP) by 25%, 41%, and 17%, soluble sugars (SS) by 21%, 36%, and 33%, an+d postharvest catalase (CAT) activity by 52%, 66%, and 70%, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decreased in all preharvest treatments by up to 23% and 56%, respectively. Proline concentration decreased in all treatments, particularly MT3 (38%). These findings suggest that preharvest MLT treatment is a promising strategy for improving the postharvest quality of cut tuberose.
Analyzing continuous coach education courses in Portugal: Implications for youth development

Continuous coach education courses (CCEC) are considered a crucial vehicle for exposing coaches to topics (e.g., nutrition, mental health, positive youth development) not addressed in their initial coach training. CCEC can help coaches develop well-rounded coaching practices based on youth's physical, social, emotional, and psychological needs. The purpose of the study was to analyze the distribution of CCEC offered in Portugal between 2014 and 2020. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze (a) the number of CCEC offered; (b) hours devoted to each topic; (c) the types of organizations who delivered CCEC; (e) the format of CCEC (i.e., online or in-person); (f) the geographical distribution of CCEC throughout Portugal; (g) the number of coach participants per topic. The results indicate that courses addressing mental health, social justice, positive youth development, and sleep hygiene are seldomly delivered in Portugal, meaning that coaches have few opportunities to be exposed to and learn about these important topics. Thus, our results suggest CCEC in Portugal may not be extending coaches’ knowledge much beyond topics covered in their initial coach training. The lack of breadth in training may help perpetuate the emphasis on the technical, tactical, and physical development of youth with the Portuguese youth sport system. Based on the results, implications for youth development are offered.
Constitutive Modelling of Concrete and Nonlinear Computational Dynamics

ABSTRACT The computational modelling of failure in concrete/geomaterials is analysed. Beyond a critical load level deformation may localise in small bands or cracks dependent on the load condition and the properties of the material. The localisation process and fracture have been studied in a finite element framework. The virtual work equation that describes the motion of an inelastic body is discretised and explicit and implicit time integrators for nonlinear problems have been treated. This computational procedure can be used in combination with simple models to describe fracture in concrete as plasticity, damage and crack models. Localisation is analysed by means of a simple bar analysis and the problem of mesh sensitivity has been explained. To solve this problem enhancement of the plasticity theory is proposed by means of higher-order time derivatives (viscoplastic model) or higher-order spatial derivatives (gradient model). An extensive algorithmic elaboration of all models has been given.
Calculations of the morphology dependent resonances

∗Dipartimento di Matematica, Universita di Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy †Institut Computational Mathematics, TU Braunschweig, Pockelsstrasse 14, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany ∗∗Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica ‘E. De Giorgi’ , Universita del Salento, Via per Arnesano, I-73047 Lecce, Italy ‡Vienna University of Technology, Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing, Wiedner Hauptstrasse 8–10, A-1040 Wien, Austria
Assessment of Service Quality and Innovation in Developing Customer Loyalty; The mediating role of Customer Commitment and Satisfaction

The study's objectives were to investigate the nexus of service quality and innovation in developing customer loyalty, with customer commitment and satisfaction as mediating. To address this issue, a quantitative investigation was carried out by a researcher in Pakistan. The primary study material was assembled through a survey questionnaire, with a sample population of approximately 369 individuals, which included Pakistani citizens who made online purchases. SEM (Hypotheses testing) showed a strong positive correlation between the variables service quality, service innovation, market orientation, customer commitment, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Limitations and future implications, as well as practical and theoretical implications, are discussed at the end of this paper.
Spitzer mid-infrared spectra of type II quasars using infrared photometric observations

Type II quasars are luminous active galactic nuclei with the optical spectra of type II Seyfert galaxies, and their central regions are obscured by large amounts of gas and dust. In this paper, we present Spitzer spectra of eight type II quasars using infrared photometric observations. It is found that almost all the sources in this paper show features of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and silicate in absorption, which indicate strong star formation activities. All the sources show significant highly ionized atomic emission features, such as [Ne V] and/or [S IV], in the mid-infrared, which indicate that their properties are similar to those of type I Seyfert galaxies. Furthermore, our results reveal that, similar to type II Seyfert galaxies, there might be two types of type II quasar: the 'true' type II quasars and those that have the properties of Seyfert I galaxies in the infrared. Therefore, the classifications of quasars that are based only on their optical spectra are not perfect if their infrared properties are considered.
Ruby, metals, and MgO as alternative pressure scales: A semiempirical description of shock-wave, ultrasonic, x-ray, and thermochemical data at high temperatures and pressures

perature range from 10– 20 K up to the melting temperature and to compression x = V / V0 = 0.5– 0.7. The comparison of the calculated room-temperature isotherms for these metals with quasihydrostatic measurements supports recently proposed ruby pressure scales. We recommend a new ruby pressure scale in the form P = A /0 1+ m /0 with parameters A = 1884 GPa and m = 5.5. The cross check on independent data confirms the obtained PVT equations of state of Ag, Al, Au, Cu, Pt, Ta, W, MgO, and diamond. The equations of state of these materials obtained here provide accurate and versatile means for calibrating pressure at all temperatures below the melting point. Furthermore, they can be used for accurate tabulation of thermodynamic properties heat capacities, entropies of these reference substances in a wide P-T range.
Firefighters’ exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as an occupational hazard: A review

The term “firefighter” and “cancer” have become so intertwined in the past decade that they are now nearly inseparable. Occupational exposure of firefighters to carcinogenic chemicals may increase their risk of developing different types of cancer. PFAS are one of the major classes of carcinogenic chemicals that firefighters are exposed to as occupational hazard. Elevated levels of PFAS have been observed in firefighters’ blood serum in recent studies. Possible sources of occupational exposure to PFAS include turnout gear, aqueous film-forming foam, and air and dust at both the fire scene and fire station. Preliminary discussion on PFAS includes definition, classification, and chemical structure. The review is then followed by identifying the sources of PFAS that firefighters may encounter as an occupational hazard. The structural properties of the PFAS used in identified sources, their degradation, and exposure pathways are reviewed. The elevated level of PFAS in the blood serum and how this might associate with an increased risk of cancer is discussed. Our review shows a significant amount of PFAS on turnout gear and their migration to untreated layers, and how turnout gear itself might be a potential source of PFAS exposure. PFAS from aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), air, and dust of fire stations have been already established as potential exposure sources. Studies on firefighters’ cancer suggest that firefighters have a higher cancer risk compared to the general population. This review suggests that increased exposure to PFAS as an occupational hazard could be a potential cancer risk for firefighters.
Effect of band anisotropy on electronic structure of PbS, PbSe, and PbTe quantum dots

We have calculated the electronic structure of spherical PbS, PbSe, and PbTe quantum dots using a four-band envelope-function formalism that accounts for band anisotropy. By comparing our results with an ana-lytical calculation that assumes a spherical approximation of the k W (cid:149) p W Hamiltonian, we show that the effects of band anisotropy are more pronounced for the excited states and increase with the conﬁnement. We also show how the same technique can be applied to ellipsoidal quantum dots.
The physics of evaporative instability in bilayer systems: Weak nonlinear theory

A weak nonlinear method of dominant balance is used to describe the fluid dynamics in a bilayer system in the vicinity of phase-change instability. The calculations are performed for a case where gravity and Marangoni effects are ignored. They give us an estimate of the enhancement of heat transfer and, equally importantly, lend credence to physical arguments on the effect of vapor dynamics on the instability.
Research on the Application of BRBs in Seismic Resistance of Bridge

The beneficial effects of buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) in bridge engineering have attracted widespread attention in recent years. Firstly, this paper introduces the basic working mechanism of traditional BRBs, and the new forms and new materials of BRBs are also being studied. Secondly, the responses and performances of BRBs applied to (piers) girder bridges, cable-stayed bridges, and arch bridges are systematically studied. Besides, studies on the connection nodes between BRBs and structures have been paid more and more attention. By comparing and analyzing the damping effect of BRBs alone and that of BRBs with other seismic isolation devices on a bridge, it is determined that a reasonable BRB layout can effectively improve the seismic performance of the bridge with better energy dissipation capacity and load-carrying capacity than other components, but they are less used in practice and do not have mature specifications to be applied on different bridges. Finally, the following trends in BRB development in bridge research are discussed: the diversity of BRB forms, applications of BRB, node connection security, and combined damping measures. These areas should be explored through in-depth theoretical and experimental research.