Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultraviolet to near-infrared spectral distributions of star-forming galaxies: Metallicity and age effects

Spectral distributions from the UV to the near-IR of a sample of 44 star-forming galaxies are used to calculate the metallicity (O/H), star-formation rate (SFR) and age of the starbursts. The oxygen abundance covers the range 8.3 less than O/H less than 9.4 and nitrogen (N) is found to be mostly a product of secondary nucleosynthesis for O/H greater than 8.4. Due to its secondary origin, N/O ratios up to approximately equals 4 times the solar value can be obtained for metal-rich starbursts. The SFR ranges 0.01 to 100 solar mass/year. The lower metallicity galaxies seem to be experiencing an instantaneous burst of star formation, with ages ranging from under 5 x 10(exp 6) to 10(exp 7) yr. The highest metallicity galaxies are most probably experiencing a continuous burst. Correlations between the calculated quantities and several spectral features are investigated. We found a highly significant correlation between the equivalent width W(C IV lambda 1550)-a stellar (absorption) feature- and the oxygen abundance of the emitting gas (O/H). Thus we show for the first time that the stellar metallicity is well correlated with the gas metallicity in star-bursting galaxies. The equivalent width W(Si IV lambda 1400) and the emission line ratio (N II) lambda lambda 6548.84/H(sub alpha) also correlate well with O/H, and all three features can be used as metallicity indicators for star-forming galaxies. The continuum color between lambda 1400 and lambda 3500 (C(14 - 35)) is shown to correlate with O/H, although it is better correlated with E(B - V). It was not possible to disentangle the metallicity from the reddening effect in C(14- 35). We estimate that the reddening affecting the UV continuum is about half the one derived from the Balmer decrement of the emitting gas. The SFR correlates well with the galaxy luminosity and there is no dependence of the continuum color on the SFR. The higher metallicities are only found in the more luminous galaxies, while low metallicities are found over the whole luminosity interval (-16 less than M(sub B) less than -23, H(sub 0) = 50 km/sec/Mpc) covered by the sample.
Detailed electrical characterisation of the deep Cr acceptor in GaAs

DLTS and ODLTS measurements in p-type and n-type LPE GaAs have been used to characterise the deep Cr acceptor level. Both its electron and hole emission rates have been determined separately. Together with previous determination of electron and hole capture cross sections, these measurements lead to a coherent description of the deep Cr level, which is shown to correspond to the Cr3+ or Cr2+ states according to its electronic filling. The Fermi function of the level has been deduced from these experimental results without any approximation. Furthermore, it is shown that the concentration of the Cr level can be determined not only in p-type GaAs, but also in n-type material from ODLTS measurements using only a Schottky diode. Comparison with results of chemical analysis allows us to conclude that most, if not all, the Cr atoms are electrically active in GaAs.
Depression moderates the association between pregnancy and suicidal ideation among pregnant and non-pregnant reproductive age women in Brazil

Background Maternal mental health problems are a serious public health concern. Previous data reported that pregnancy might have a protective effect against suicide. In contrast, more recent studies suggested that the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) is higher among pregnant women compared to the general population. Using a nationally representative population-based sample of Brazilian reproductive-aged women, this study aims to assess whether SI is more prevalent among pregnant women in comparison with nonpregnant woman. Methods We used data from the Brazilian National Health Survey (PNS) of 2019, a cross-sectional study that comprised a representative sample of residents in private households in Brazil. For the analysis of this study, we selected women aged between 15 and 49 years old who have answered the questionnaire of the Selected Resident of the PNS, which comprised a sample of 27,249 women. Logistic regression models were performed to obtain crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for the association between pregnancy status and SI. Results The prevalence of SI during pregnancy was 6.8% (95% CI: 6.2–7.4). The association between pregnancy status and SI was modified according to the recent clinical diagnosis of depression (interaction term: OR = 41.72, 95% CI: 5.64–308.45, p < 0.001). Our findings indicated that among nondepressed women, pregnancy status seems to decrease the probability of SI. Additionally, SI is associated with a vulnerable profile that includes being an adolescent, having an unpartnered/not married status, lower family income, lower education, and a recent clinical diagnosis of depression. Conclusion SI is a common problem for reproductive-age women. In the presence of a recent depression clinical diagnosis, pregnancy increases the risk of SI. Management of SI among pregnant women should correctly identify sociodemographic risk factors and the presence of a recent clinical diagnosis of depression.
Relationship between fish assemblage structure and predictors related to estuarine productivity in shallow habitats of a Neotropical estuary

Abstract The variability of fish assemblage structure with respect to seasonality in salinity and productivity remains to be elucidate to many Neotropical estuaries. In this study, we hypothesized that salinity gradient and a set of variables related to ecosystem productivity drive community parameters in the shallow-water fish assemblage of the north-south axis of the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (Southern Brazilian coast). Samples were taken with beach seine monthly from May 2000 to April 2001. Supporting our hypothesis, richness and abundance increased with turbidity, warmer waters of the rainier summer seasons, which are more productive. This environmental setting favors reproduction, as well as juvenile recruitment and growth, whose intensities are highest in this period. Highest abundance was found in inner areas, which may be explained by greater food and habitat availability. Richness was higher in more saline waters, due to the proximity of the rich pool of marine fish species. We suggest that local human interventions (e.g., dredging) should be avoided during the rainy seasons that are critical for species life cycles. Salinization, low estuarine productivity, and warmer waters, which are expected with climate change and human impacts in the local watershed, could affect the integrity of the local fish assemblage.
Hard-Candy Consumption Does Not Have an Effect on Volume and pH of Gastric Content in Patients Undergoing Elective Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose This study aimed to determine the effect of hard candies on gastric content volume and pH in patients undergoing elective esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy. Additionally, the study evaluated the difficulty of the procedure, complications, and satisfaction levels of the endoscopist and patient. Patients and Methods A randomized controlled study equally recruited 108 outpatients to candy and control groups. The patients in the candy group could consume sugar-free candies within 2 hours before anesthesia, while the controls remained fasted. The endoscopic procedure began under topical pharyngeal anesthesia and intravenous sedation. A blinded endoscopist suctioned the gastric volume through an endoscope. A blinded anesthesia provider tested the gastric pH with a pH meter. The primary outcome variables were gastric volume and pH. The secondary outcome variables were complications, the difficulty of the procedure, and endoscopist and patient satisfaction. Results The characteristics of both patient groups were comparable. The mean gastric volume of the candy group (0.43 [0.27–0.67] mL/kg) was not significantly different from that of the control group (0.32 [0.19–0.55] mL/kg). The gastric pH of both groups was similar: 1.40 (1.10–1.70) for the candy group and 1.40 (1.20–1.90) for the control group. The procedure-difficulty score of the candy group was higher than that of the control group. The satisfaction scores rated by the endoscopist and the patients in both groups were comparable. In addition, most endoscopists and patients in the candy and control groups reported being “very satisfied”. No complications were observed in either group. Conclusion Hard candies did not affect gastric volume or pH. Elective gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures in adult patients who preoperatively consume candies could proceed to prevent delays and disruption of workflows.
Repurposed Edaravone, Metformin, and Perampanel as a Potential Treatment for Hypoxia–Ischemia Encephalopathy: An In Vitro Study

Hypoxia–ischemia encephalopathy results from the interruption of oxygen delivery and blood flow to the brain. In the developing brain, it can lead to a brain injury, which is associated with high mortality rates and comorbidities. The hippocampus is one of the brain regions that may be affected by hypoxia–ischemia with consequences on cognition. Unfortunately, clinically approved therapeutics are still scarce and limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to test three repurposed drugs with good pharmacological properties to evaluate if they can revert, or at least attenuate, the deleterious effects of hypoxia–ischemia in an in vitro model. Edaravone, perampanel, and metformin are used for the treatment of stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, some forms of epileptic status, and diabetes type 2, respectively. Through cell viability assays, morphology analysis, and detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, in two different cell lines (HT-22 and SH-SY5Y), we found that edaravone and low concentrations of perampanel are able to attenuate cell damage induced by hypoxia and oxygen-glucose deprivation. Metformin did not attenuate hypoxic-induced events, at least in the initial phase. Among these repurposed drugs, edaravone emerged as the most efficient in the attenuation of events induced by hypoxia–ischemia, and the safest, since it did not exhibit significant cytotoxicity, even in high concentrations, and induced a decrease in ROS. Our results also reinforce the view that ROS and overexcitation play an important role in the pathophysiology of hypoxia–ischemia brain injury.
Antiepileptic Effect of Neuroaid® on Strychnine-Induced Convulsions in Mice

NeuroAid II, a folk Chinese Medicine, is currently used in Asia for the treatment of stroke. An experimental study demonstrated that NeuroAid enables neuronal cells to be more resistant to glutamate toxicity. This research was constructed to evaluate the efficacy of NeuroAid in the prevention of epilepsy (EP). Forty healthy adult male mice were used and divided into four groups (10 mice/group): normal control group; positive control group; NeuroAid-treated group (10 mg/kg); topiramate-treated group (10 mg/kg). The treatment continued for 7 days, and on the last day, EP was induced using strychnine at a dose of 2 mg/kg via intraperitoneal (ip) administration. Seizure severity, latency to the seizure onset, the number of seizures, and the duration of each seizure episode were observed for one hour. The death and protection rates over the next twenty-four hours were recorded. Brain specimens from surviving animals were extracted and examined pathologically for quantification of glutamate receptor (GluR) gene expression in the isolated hippocampus employing real-time PCR analysis. Treatment with NeuroAid resulted in a significant reduction in seizure severity, prolonged the onset of seizures, decreased the number and duration of episodes, reduced brain insult, and decreased mortality rate. Reductions in the gene expression of GluRs in the hippocampus with minor histopathological changes were observed in the NeruoAid- and topiramate-treated groups. It is concluded that NeuroAid has a potential antiepileptic effect (EP) with the ability to prevent convulsion through its effect on the glutamate receptor.
Surface shear viscosity of Gibbs and Langmuir monolayers

In this paper, we present a new two-dimensional viscometer, and the hydrodynamic calculations used to obtain the surface viscosities from the measurements. In order to interpret the experiments, performed with solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and also with monolayers of insoluble surfactants, we develop various hydrodynamic models of soluble Gibbs monolayers and of incompressible Langmuir monolayers, that describe well the experimental results. In the case of SDS solutions, the calculations allow the determination of the surface shear viscosity, and its value is in good agreement with previous studies.
Microbiome of the Aphid Genus Dysaphis Börner (Hemiptera: Aphidinae) and Its Relation to Ant Attendance

Simple Summary Many organisms are supported by cooperative bacteria, the so-called microbiome, which enhance their survival abilities. Aphids also have many bacterial symbionts, providing them with nutritional components as well as protection against environmental conditions and pathogens or natural enemies. Similar relation connects aphids with ants, so the mutual reliance of bacteria and ants may be exclusive to aphids. Also, the relationship of aphids with their host plants may be decisive in shaping the aphid microbiome. Here we showed, that aphids attended by ants have less but more diverse bacterial symbionts while aphids on their primary host plant, where they reproduce sexually, have fewer symbionts than on secondary host plants. The results suggest that symbiosis with ants may serve aphids to replace some functions of bacterial symbionts. However, it seems that the relationship between aphids and host plants is a much stronger trait influencing the composition of the aphid microbiome. Abstract Among mutualistic relationships of aphids with other organisms, there are two that seem to be of major importance: trophobiosis with ants and endosymbiosis of bacteria. While the former is well studied, the latter is the subject of an increasing amount of research constantly revealing new aspects of this symbiosis. Here, we studied the possible influence of ant attendance on the composition of aphid microbiota on primary and secondary hosts exploited by the aphid genus Dysaphis. The microbiome of 44 samples representing 12 aphid species was studied using an Illumina HiSeq 4000 with the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA. The results showed a higher abundance of common facultative symbionts (Serratia, Regiella, Fukatsuia) in aphid species unattended by ants, but also on secondary hosts. However, in colonies attended by ants, the general species composition of bacterial symbionts was more rich in genera than in unattended colonies (Wolbachia, Gilliamella, Spiroplasma, Sphingomonas, Pelomonas). The results indicate a huge variability of facultative symbionts without clear correlation with ant attendance or aphid species. The possibility of multiple routes of bacterial infection mediated by ant-made environmental conditions is discussed.
The dependence of phase functions of large transparent particles on their refractive index and shape

A new, fast ray tracing code for calculating local optical characteristics of light-scattering media with large particles was created. The dependences of phase functions of nonabsorbing particles on their shape and refractive index were investigated. It was found that the position of the primary rainbow can be used to retrieve the aspect ratio of spheroidal particles.
Using power priors to improve the binomial test of water quality

To assess violations of water quality standards, measurements of water quality are collected on a regular basis over a period of time, and are then analyzed to evaluate the percentage of samples exceeding the standard. The challenge to the assessor is that often only a limited amount of data are used to determine if the stream is violating standards. Current assessment uses just the data for a period of two years. To address this issue, we present a Bayesian approach using power priors to incorporate historical information in decision-making. We demonstrate a modified power prior approach and discuss its properties under a binomial model. Exact error probabilities are compared using three approaches: a power prior approach to the binomial test, a Bayesian binomial test with noninformative prior, and a frequentist binomial test. Two examples are presented to illustrate the implementation of the power prior and its differences with alternative binary methods in water quality assessment.
Female students’ perception of m-learning in the higher education institutions of Palestine during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract To understand the viability of utilizing m-learning as the principal facilitation channel of education, the present study aims at identifying the Palestinian female students’ perceptions of using mobile phones in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Gaza Strip to investigate the influence of using mobile phones on the female students’ academic achievement. For the purpose of the study, a questionnaire was designed by the researchers to collect the data from a sample of (156) second-level diploma female students who were selected from the Departments of Child Education and Midwifery at the University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS), and the quantitative descriptive analytical approach was followed. The results indicated that the use of mobile phones improved the UCAS female students’ skills, enhanced their academic achievement, made the learning experience more enjoyable, and improved their use of mobile devices. Additionally, there is no statistically significant relationship between the students’ perception of using mobile phones in the learning process and their academic specialization and their academic achievement. Upon the results of the study, the researchers recommend implementing m-learning in the educational process effectively and conducting future studies to measure the impact of courses’ content design and educational programs using smartphone applications.
The Lasso and the Factor Zoo-Predicting Expected Returns in the Cross-Section

We investigate whether Lasso-type linear methods are able to improve the predictive accuracy of OLS in selecting relevant firm characteristics for forecasting the future cross-section of stock returns. Through extensive Monte Carlo simulations, we show that Lasso-type predictions are superior to OLS when type II errors are a concern. The results change if the aim is to minimize type I errors. Finally, we analyze the predictive performance of the competing methods on the US cross-section of stock returns between 1974 and 2020 and show that only small and micro-cap stocks are highly predictable throughout the entire sample.
Three-Dimensional Bio-Printed Cardiac Patch for Sustained Delivery of Extracellular Vesicles from the Interface

Cardiac tissue engineering has emerged as a promising strategy to treat infarcted cardiac tissues by replacing the injured region with an ex vivo fabricated functional cardiac patch. Nevertheless, integration of the transplanted patch with the host tissue is still a burden, limiting its clinical application. Here, a bi-functional, 3D bio-printed cardiac patch (CP) design is proposed, composed of a cell-laden compartment at its core and an extracellular vesicle (EV)-laden compartment at its shell for better integration of the CP with the host tissue. Alginate-based bioink solutions were developed for each compartment and characterized rheologically, examined for printability and their effect on residing cells or EVs. The resulting 3D bio-printed CP was examined for its mechanical stiffness, showing an elastic modulus between 4–5 kPa at day 1 post-printing, suitable for transplantation. Affinity binding of EVs to alginate sulfate (AlgS) was validated, exhibiting dissociation constant values similar to those of EVs with heparin. The incorporation of AlgS-EVs complexes within the shell bioink sustained EV release from the CP, with 88% cumulative release compared with 92% without AlgS by day 4. AlgS also prolonged the release profile by an additional 2 days, lasting 11 days overall. This CP design comprises great potential at promoting more efficient patch assimilation with the host.
Investigations of interface spin asymmetry and interfacial resistance in FexCo100−x/Ag interface

We investigated current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) magnetotransport parameters of FexCo100−x/Ag interfaces: interface specific resistance (ARF/N), extended interface resistance (AR*F/N), and spin scattering asymmetry (γ). We also investigated the dependence of interfacial parameters on the giant magnetoresistance effect with CPP geometry. For measuring these parameters, we prepared magnetic multilayers and pseudo spin valves (PSVs), combining the ferromagnetic (F) alloys Fe, Co, Fe50Co50, and Fe30Co70 with the nonmagnetic (N) metal Ag. In all cases, the largest ARF/N value was found to be ∼0.68 mΩ μm2 with an enhanced AR*F/N value of ∼1.9 mΩ μm2 for a (001)-oriented Fe/Ag interface, which suggests that spin-up and spin-down electrons on the Fermi surface have very different transmission probabilities. Such an interface can act as a spin filter through which only one type of electrons can pass.
A counterexample to Euler’s sum of powers conjecture

collectively, for all k. This has been done by Lavrik [5], and results have been obtained there concerning "almost all" k. If the generalization suggested in (A) is carried out successfully, it seems to us that Lavrik's techniques applied to our (3) should suffice to prove that there are infinitely many Mersenne composites, and probably also stronger results concerning a lower bound on their number. Further, one would then also have an upper bound on the number of Mersenne primes.
Bibliometric Analysis of Green Finance and Climate Change in Post-Paris Agreement Era

Climate change is undeniably one of the long-term challenges confronting humanity across the globe. Various nations have taken initiatives that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the environment as well as accelerate financial flows to clean and sustainable projects. The paper provides an overview of green finance after the Paris Agreement by adopting a bibliometric analysis of the selected literature. The study reviewed the literature from the Web of Science database between 2015 and 2022. Data cleaning, formatting, and analysis was performed using VOSviewer and R-studio. Our study indicates increased scholarly interest on the issue of green financing. Most scientific research has been published in climate policy and sustainability journals but lacks mainstream interest in economic and finance journals. Based on our results, it is recommended that further studies on green financing be carried out from the economic and financial perspective using quantitative approaches to supplement the existing literature and provide a wider view to policy makers and regulators.
Thermally excited spin-disorder contribution to the resistivity of LaCoO 3

We have investigated the effect of the thermally induced spin-state transition on the electronic conduction mechanism in the perovskite ${\mathrm{LaCoO}}_{3}. $ The magnetotransport properties of this material are greatly influenced by this well studied spin-state transition. In fact, the excitation to a finite Co ion spin results in a thermal activation of spin disorder. This spin disorder is induced by thermal population of the nonzero spin states of the Co ions in zero magnetic field. The disorder is suppressed by a magnetic field leading to significant negative magnetoresistance effects, which are in effect thermally excited. We suggest that this material is an ideal testing ground for colossal magnetoresistive phenomena in a system where the complicating effects of lattice and magnetic phase transitions are not present.