Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AVIFAUNAL COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS MICROHABITATS OF SOUTHERN NAGAUR (PARBATSAR, KUCHAMAN, NAWA AND MAKRANA), RAJASTHAN

Present study comprises a comprehensive dataset about the Avifaunal diversity of one of the climatic transition zone i.e., Southern Nagur, Rajasthan. The Study was conducted under the classified six different microhabitats i.e., Agricultural Field Plains, Sambhar Lake and Other Waterbodies, Aravalli Hill Patches, Urban Settlements, Scrub Thorn Forest and Open Grasslands & Wastelands. The key aspect of present study is to provide well structured and extensive information on the avian diversity, their distribution and their habitat association at the study area. A total of 191 Avifaunal species belonging to 21 Orders and 61 Families were recorded from study area. A total of 7 Feeding Guilds were observed in the study area viz., Carnivores, Frugivores, Granivores, Herbivores, Insectivores, Nectivores and Omnivored. The Migratory status and IUCN status of the observed species was also assessed. Jaccard and Sorenson index’s was highest for the Agricultural and Grassland Microhabitats.
Computational Electrochemistry: The Aqueous Ru3+|Ru2+ Reduction Potential

We present results of density functional calculations for the standard reduction potential of the Ru3+|Ru2+ couple in aqueous solution. The metal cations are modeled as [Ru(H2O)n]q+ surrounded by continuum solvent (q = 2, 3; n = 6, 18). The continuum model includes bulk electrostatic polarization as well as atomic surface tensions accounting for the deviation of the second or third hydration shell from the bulk. After consideration of 37 density functionals with 5 different basis sets, it has been found that hybrid and hybrid meta functionals provide the most accurate predictions for the [Ru(H2O)n]q+ geometries and for the corresponding reduction potential in comparison with available experimental data. The gas-phase ionization potentials of [Ru(H2O)n]2+ calculated by density functional theory are also compared to results of ab initio computations using second-order Moller−Plesset perturbation theory. The difference in solvation free energies of Ru3+ and Ru2+ varies from −10.56 to −10.99 eV for n = 6 and .
Reliability Evaluation in Distribution Networks with Microgrids: Review and Classification of the Literature

Modern power systems must provide efficient, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy. Recently, the inclusion of Microgrids (MGs) has allowed us to overcome some difficulties and face important challenges in this direction, especially related to the use of alternative energy sources. Increased and probabilistic demand, as well as limited energy supply, pose the need to evaluate the reliability of any distribution system (DS) when MGs are introduced. Here we reviewed and classified the state-of-the-art of reliability assessment (RA) in MGs. Initially, we contextualize RA in distribution systems. Next, each of the MGs subsystems components are introduced and the questions (1) why is it important to evaluate the reliability in Microgrids? (2) how do Microgrids influence the reliability of distribution systems? and (3) how does each of its subsystems influence the reliability of the Microgrids? are addressed. A total of 1395 research studies were published between 2002 and 2020. Using the PRISMA model, 147 met the inclusion criteria (71% correspond to research papers and 29% to reviews; 62% were published in journals, 34% were conference papers and 4% were books). The first study dates from 1971. Despite immense advances in MGs, we identified that (1) real test systems constitute an emerging trend; (2) although new MG configurations sound promising, the development and application of new RA techniques are a necessary step towards the identification of potential pitfalls of such architectures; (3) new RA methods or variations of the existing ones, whether analytical or simulation-based, are constantly being proposed, but their comparison for a particular DS, including MGs, are yet to be performed; and (4) more research studies are needed to assess how new control strategies and information and communications technology impact MGs reliability. Future lines of research could build upon these gaps to enhance reliability, especially when alternative energy resources are available.
Satellite Monitoring of Global Surface Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics Using the SMAP Level 4 Carbon Product

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important metric of soil health and the terrestrial carbon balance. Short‐term climate variations affect SOC through changes in temperature and moisture, which control vegetation growth and soil decomposition. We evaluated a satellite data‐driven carbon model, operating under the NASA Soil Moisture Active‐Passive (SMAP) mission, as a means of monitoring global surface SOC dynamics. The SMAP Level 4 Carbon (L4C) product estimates a daily global carbon budget including surface (0‐ to 5‐cm depth) SOC. We found that the L4C mean latitudinal SOC distribution is generally consistent with alternative assessments from static soil inventory records and dynamic global vegetation models (r ≥ 0.89). Within forest systems, based on inventory data, L4C SOC is most similar in magnitude to litterfall but is correlated with coarse woody debris ( r=0.86 ) and total SOC ( r=0.81 ). L4C SOC is sensitive to seasonal and annual climate variability, with mean residence times that range from 1.5 years in the wet tropics to 17 years in the cold tundra. Incorporating soil moisture retrievals from the SMAP L‐band (1.4 GHz) microwave radiometer within the L4C algorithm provides enhanced soil moisture sensitivity under low‐to‐moderate vegetation cover (<5 kg m−2 vegetation water content). The L‐band soil moisture had the greatest impact on the L4C carbon budget in semiarid regions, which span almost 60% of the globe and account for substantial variability in the terrestrial carbon sink. The L4C operational product enables prognostic investigations into effects of recent climate trends and anomalies (e.g., droughts and pluvials) on shallow soil carbon dynamics.
Kinetic Analysis of Rate Data for Dry Reforming of Methane

The kinetics of the CO2 reforming of methane was investigated on a Ni−Rh−Al2O3 catalyst. Twenty-seven mechanistic models were considered and fitted to the experimental data by numerically integrating the rate equation of the dry reforming of methane reaction. A thermodynamic analysis showed that the reverse water gas shift reaction operates in or very close to thermodynamic equilibrium. A strategy of model discrimination and parameter estimation led to a model that considers CO2 molecular adsorption, CH4 dissociative adsorption, and its surface chemical reaction as the rate-determining step. The parameter estimates in the resulting model are statistically significant and thermodynamically consistent.
Optimum power of a nonlinear piezomagnetoelastic energy harvester with using multidisciplinary optimization algorithms

Energy-harvesting devices have been widely used to generate electrical power. Through the use of energy harvesting techniques, ambient vibration energy can be captured and converted into usable electricity in order to create self-powering systems. In the present study, to further improve the efficiency of energy-harvesting devices, a nonlinear piezomagnetoelastic energy harvester is proposed in two different configurations that is parallel and series. In order to optimize the generated electrical power, the physical parameters of the harvester are chosen as the design variables. Classical and Metaheuristic algorithms, namely, random search, genetic algorithm, and simulated annealing are applied to optimize the output power regarding the stress and displacement constraints and feasible variable bounds. Finally, the results of the applied algorithms are compared together. The results demonstrate that most of the implemented algorithms converge to the similar objective function value. The constrained random search methods with SQP and active set algorithms converge faster with small iterations. However, the genetic algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm are more capable to find the global optimum. The obtained results revealed that, before the optimization, the average extracted power in specified time was 3.121 W in parallel configuration and 3.156 W in serial configuration. By using the optimization approaches, the power converged to 4.273 W in parallel configuration and 4.296 W in serial configuration that means the power is increased by 36.9% and 36.1% approximately.
Clot activators and anticoagulant additives for blood collection. A critical review on behalf of COLABIOCLI WG-PRE-LATAM

Abstract In the clinical laboratory, knowledge of and the correct use of clot activators and anticoagulant additives are critical to preserve and maintain samples in optimal conditions prior to analysis. In 2017, the Latin America Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI) commissioned the Latin American Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE-LATAM) to study preanalytical variability and establish guidelines for preanalytical procedures to be applied by clinical laboratories and health care professionals. The aim of this critical review, on behalf of COLABIOCLI WG-PRE-LATAM, is to provide information to understand the mechanisms of the interactions and reactions that occur between blood and clot activators and anticoagulant additives inside evacuated tubes used for laboratory testing. Clot activators – glass, silica, kaolin, bentonite, and diatomaceous earth – work by surface dependent mechanism whereas extrinsic biomolecules – thrombin, snake venoms, ellagic acid, and thromboplastin - start in vitro coagulation when added to blood. Few manufacturers of evacuated tubes state the type and concentration of clot activators used in their products. With respect to anticoagulant additives, sodium citrate and oxalate complex free calcium and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelates calcium. Heparin potentiates antithrombin and hirudin binds to active thrombin, inactivating the thrombin irreversibly. Blood collection tubes have improved continually over the years, from the glass tubes containing clot activators or anticoagulant additives that were prepared by laboratory personnel to the current standardized evacuated systems that permit more precise blood/additive ratios. Each clot activator and anticoagulant additive demonstrates specific functionality, and both manufacturers of tubes and laboratory professional strive to provide suitable interference-free sample matrices for laboratory testing. Both manufacturers of in vitro diagnostic devices and laboratory professionals need to understand all aspects of venous blood sampling so that they do not underestimate the impact of tube additives on laboratory testing.
Prognostic factors for pyrrolizidine alkaloid-induced hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome: a multicenter study in China

Background In China, one of the major causes of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) is the intake of herbals containing pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA). However, prognostic factors for PA-induced HSOS are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify the independent prognostic factors for PA-induced HSOS using a multi-center study. Methods A total of 117 PA-induced HSOS patients were enrolled for data collection in three university hospitals from November 2003 to September 2018. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis were used to determine prognostic factors for PA-induced HSOS. Results The median age of the PA-induced HSOS patients was 61 years (range, 21–88 years), and 64% of them were male. The survival rates at 1, 3, and 36 months were 89.71%, 72.60%, and 69.19%, respectively. Significant differences in prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio, total bilirubin, severity grading [new criteria for severity grading of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)-related HSOS in adults] were found between patients who survived and those who died. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis using Cox’s regression model demonstrated low serum albumin (<35 g/L), elevated serum urea (>8.2 mmol/L) and severe or very severe HSOS (European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation 2016 criteria) were independent prognostic factors of survival. Conclusions Serum albumin, serum urea, and severity grading were independent prognostic factors for patients with PA-induced HSOS, and can contribute to identifying potentially high-risk patients for early effective intervention. Trial registration ChiCTR-DRD-17010709 (www.chictr.org.cn).
Methodology for optimising the hull shape of a vessel with restricted draft

Increasing transport volumes on Europe's inland waterways is a major reason for improving the quality and reliability of internationally important waterways. Continued navigation restrictions due to restricted draft (draught) led to the search for new design solutions. Such solutions enable navigation even under critical navigation conditions. Restricted draft is one of the most important limitations that hinder navigation, especially in the summer. The main objective of the construction of an inland vessel is to obtain a shape that will achieve optimum performance with as little resistance as possible. A shape that will be able to navigate at a limited depth. Presently, there is no clearly defined methodology as a procedure for optimising the hull. When solving theoretical problems of shipbuilding character and ship calculations, it is necessary to consider the basic theory of the ship with special regard to the latest methodological procedures of related scientific disciplines. This paper presents a methodology that considers all the basic aspects of optimisation tasks in ship design and construction.
Experimental study of the impact of passenger behavior on the aircraft cabin environment

An aircraft cabin environment is affected by many factors during flights. To investigate the impact of passenger behavior on indoor air quality, three passenger behaviors, adjusting the seatback, turns on the gasper and exhale, were studied separately. An aircraft cabin mockup was used to obtain experimental measurements. The air velocity and contaminant distribution are important considerations in the cabin. The results show that the longitudinal airflow is enhanced after the occupant adjustment of the seatback angle, and this increases the risk of longitudinal transmission of contaminants. The result of the present work implied that the middle passengers turn on the gasper, which can reduce the risk of infection for passengers near the sidewall of the cabin. The concentration of sources released by passengers' sinusoidal exhale is higher than constant release sources. The passenger behavior has a great influence on the surrounding flow field and the microenvironment of pollutant distribution.
Driving force for water migration in frozen clayey soil.

Abstract A theory relating to the driving force for water migration is proposed. The following conclusions are derived from the theory. i) The driving force, which is calculated by the Clapeyron equation, for water migration in the frozen part consists of three components—gradients of concentration, pressure, and electric displacement. ii) The driving force for water flow from the unfrozen part to the freezing front is largely dependent on not only the supercooling temperature of the water in the unfrozen part in contact with ice at the freezing front but also the thickness of the transition layer between the supercooled water in the unfrozen part and the unfrozen water in the frozen part. iii) The maximum potential heaving pressure does not depend on the texture of the soil but depends on the temperature gradient in the frozen part.
Characterization of an Isoprene Synthase from Leaves of Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl.

: Biogenic emission of isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) by many plant species plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry. Its rapid breakdown in the atmosphere substantially affects the oxidation potential of the atmosphere. Leaves of Quercus petraea were found to contain an enzyme which catalyses the conversion of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) to isoprene. A standard enzyme assay was established and the isoprene synthase activity was characterized in purified leaf extracts. Optimum enzyme activity was observed at pH 8.5. The enzyme had an apparent Km of 0.97 mM for its substrate DMAPP, but isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), the isomeric form of DMAPP, was not converted to isoprene by the enzyme extract. The temperature optimum of the enzyme activity was 35 °C. Isoprene synthase activity was strictly dependent on the presence of bivalent cations, with magnesium being most effective. Molecular weight determination by FPLC revealed the presence of a single protein with a native molecular weight of approximately 90–100 kDa.
A new reading mode based on balanced pre-charging and group decoding

In this paper, the balanced pre-charging and group decoding are presented to realize in-memory computing which can achieve continuous read operations after only one pre-charge operation. Compared with the analog computing of multi-row parallel reading, this structure adopts digital domain computing, which improves the accuracy of computing; compared with the non multi-row in-memory computing, it improves the computation speed. The simulation results of noise margin, read times, and read speed show that the proposed method can improve memory performance. The maximum stability can be improved by 13.8%, the read speed can be improved by 75%, and the power consumption can be reduced by 11.58%. Besides, it can be widely used in a variety of memory structures. The proposed method is applied to the existing in-memory computing structures to verify the effectiveness.
Performance of lightweight mortar reinforced with doum palm fiber

Natural fibers are increasingly used in composites because of their low cost and good mechanical properties. Cement reinforced with natural fibersis contemplates as a new generation of construction materials with superior mechanical and thermal performance. This study of three sizes’effect of Doum palm fiber explores the mortar’s behavior reinforced with different fiber ratio. The aim is to determine the optimal addition to improve mechanical and thermal properties of natural fiber reinforced cements. Physical, mechanical and thermal properties of composite are examined. Tensile properties of Doum fibers are verified to determine their potential as reinforced material. Findings prove that the use of alkali-treated Doum fiber as reinforcement in cement mortar composite leads to the upgrading of the mechanical properties including thermo-physical properties against composites reinforced with raw fibers and control cement mortars. While, the compression and flexural strength of the cement mortar reinforced with alkali-treated Doum fiber with diameter 0.3 mm (CT3) are metered to be 11.11 MPa, 5.22 MPa, respectively for fiber content 0.5%. Additionally, based on thermo-physical tests, it is assessed that the thermal conductivity and diffusivity decrease for cement mortar reinforced with Doum fiber with diameter 0.2 mm (CT2).
Structure factors effects in small-angle scattering from block copolymer micelles and star polymers

Expressions for the form factor of a block copolymer micelle model with a spherical core and Gaussian polymer chains attached to the surface have previously been given by Pedersen and Gerstenberg [Macromolecules 29, 1363 (1996)]. In the present work the inclusion of particle interference effects in the intensity expression in terms of a structure factor is described. The results are derived assuming that the effective interaction between the particles is known, i.e., the structure factor related to the center–center distribution is assumed to be known. The derived expression for the intensity is not a simple product of the form factor and the structure factor, which has the important consequence that the effective structure factor depends on the relative scattering contrast of the core and the corona of polymer chains. The structure factor effects for Gaussian star polymers are described by the same expression for a vanishing core radius. The influences of chain self-avoidance and chain–chain interactions.
High BRCA1 Gene Expression Increases the Risk of Early Onset Distant Metastasis in ER+ Breast Cancers

BackgroundMore than 30% of ER+ breast cancer patients developed distant metastasis after adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. It has been shown that decreased BRCA1 protein function confers anti-estrogen “resistance. ” Since the functional status of BRCA1 protein auto-regulates its own gene expression, BRCA1 transcript level should possibly be used to assess its active protein levels. Thus, it is interesting to explore the potential links between BRCA1 gene expression status and the prognosis of ER+ breast tumors.MethodsEarly-staged ER+ Breast cancer microarray samples were selected from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The aggressiveness of these tumors was evaluated based on molecular subtypes or patients’ distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) time found in associated GEO datasets. In survival analysis, the optimal threshold to define high and low transcript levels was assessed by the logistic-accelerated failure time mixture regression model in a pooled data set, which simultaneously envisages the lifetime risk of distant metastasis and the distribution of the DMFS time from the surgery of a patient susceptible to distant metastasis. ResultsOn the basis of molecular subtyping, the relatively aggressive Luminal B tumor cells expressed significantly more BRCA1 transcripts than the less aggressive Luminal A tumor cells. This observation was supported by DMFS time analysis. When the upper 10% of the high BRCA1 expression patients was compared with the rest of the patients, the result was quite drastic. In patients susceptible to distant metastasis, the median onset time of distant metastasis for high BRCA1 expression group (2.2 years) was about one-fifth of the BRCA1 low expression group (10.5 years). Conclusions﻿High BRCA1 transcript level does not increase the incidence of distant metastasis, but increases the risk of early onset distant metastasis in ER+ breast cancers. As new therapeutic drugs have been developed for tumors with BRCA function loss, our findings suggest that BRCA1 gene expression test not only is useful for predicting patients’ outcome but also can be used in treatment decision.
Surface analysis on discharged MnO2 cathode using XPS and SIMS techniques

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) appears to be an effective cathode material for a battery system. No studies on lithium insertion in aqueous media are known to the best of our knowledge. However, in one of our previous papers we reported that lithium could be intercalated into a MnO2 host compound using an aqueous LiOH electrolyte; however simple chemistry suggests that it should not. It is found that a battery with LiOH electrolyte functions quite differently from the cell that uses Li2SO4. This paper describes the surface modifications that accompany the electrochemical behavior of MnO2 during redox (discharge) processes in the lithium hydroxide and sulfate media. XPS and SIMS techniques were used to study the resultant surface of the MnO2 cathode and the spectra reveal that the formation of an insoluble layer of Li2CO3 precedes the process of reduction. SEM was used to study the microstructure of the MnO2 cathode. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.