Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adsorption Mechanism of Hexavalent Chromium on Biochar: Kinetic, Thermodynamic, and Characterization Studies

The adsorption mechanism of Cr6+ on biochar prepared from corn stalks (raw carbon) was studied by extracting the organic components (OC) and inorganic components (IC). Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the properties of three kinds of carbon. Kinetic and thermodynamic experiments were performed. The results showed that the experimental data were fitted well by the Freundlich model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the adsorptions on the three kinds of carbon were all spontaneous, endothermic processes. The adsorption of Cr6+ by biochar was in accordance with a chemisorption process. The adsorption contribution rate of the OC was 97%, which was much higher than that of the IC. Electrostatic attraction and redox reaction were the main mechanisms of adsorption, and among them, the contribution rate of the redox reaction accounted for 61.49%. The reduced Cr3+ could both exchange ions with K+ and dissociate into solution by electrostatic repulsion; the amount of Cr3+ released into the solution was approximately 17.07 mg/g, and the amount of Cr3+ ions exchanged with K+ was 0.29 mg/g. These results further elucidate the adsorption mechanism of Cr6+ by biochar.
Comparison of dexmedetomidine with midazolam for dental surgery

Abstract Introduction: Dexmedetomidine and midazolam have become important approaches for the sedation of dental surgery. However, the comparison of these 2 drugs for the sedation of dental surgery has not been well established. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus midazolam for dental surgery. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials are searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the influence of dexmedetomidine versus midazolam on dental surgery are included. Two investigators independently have searched articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. Meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model. Results: Five RCTs and 420 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Compared with midazolam intervention for dental surgery, dexmedetomidine intervention has similar lowest SpO2, lowest heart rate and lowest systolic blood pressure, duration of surgery, and total volume of local anesthetic, but is associated with stable and reduced lowest diastolic blood pressure. Conclusions: Similar benefits of dexmedetomidine and midazolam intervention are observed for the sedation of dental surgery in terms of SpO2, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and the volume of local anesthetic, but dexmedetomidine may result in more stable diastolic blood pressure.
Association between frailty and vitamin B12 in the older Korean population

Abstract Frailty is a common geriatric condition due to aging and defined as a decline in strength and a decrease in the physiologic ability to maintain the homeostasis. Vitamin B12 (B12), water-soluble vitamins, are a cofactor in DNA synthesis and involved in the metabolism of every cell in the human body, including the central nervous system. Demyelination neuromuscular symptoms observed in the peripheral nervous system, along with signs of significant damage to nerve fibers, often cause weakness, numbness in distal limbs, impaired balance, gait ataxia, and even physical frailty. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between frailty and B12 level in community-dwelling Korean older adults. Using the data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study, 2938 participants (1400 men and 1538 women) were recruited in this study. To evaluate frailty, we compared the frail group and not-frail group based on the modified Korean version of the cardiovascular health study frailty index developed by Fried. SARC-F is used to screen for sarcopenia. The short physical performance battery (SPPB) timed up and go (TUG) test and activities-specific balance confidence scale used to evaluate the physical function and fall risk of participants. B12 concentrations were classified into clinically relevant categories: insufficient (<350 pg/mL) and sufficient (≥350 pg/mL). Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between frailty and B12 levels. The mean age of the frail group was 77.8 (standard deviation = 3.7) years, while that of the not-frail group was 76.7 (SD = 4.0); of which the frail group's mean age was significantly high. In the unadjusted model, frailty was highly prevalent in the B12 insufficient group (odds ratio = 1.298). In the model fully adjusted for demographic data and comorbidities, these associations were attenuated. The B12 sufficiency group showed better total SPPB and TUG test scores. However, they were not statistically significant in the fully adjusted model. In this cross-sectional study, low B12 increased the incidence of frailty and affected physical performance, but it does not increase the incidence of frailty when considering the confounding factors. Frailty is caused by several factors rather than 1 factor, and B12 is one of these factors.
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Blood to Distinguish Lung Cancer Patients from Healthy Subjects

Objective Inflammation-driven markers play a crucial role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in blood are systemic inflammatory response markers. Some reports have showed that NLR and PLR are related to a poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer. However, little studies have reported whether NLR and PLR can be diagnostic markers for lung cancer. The aim of the current study is to investigate the roles of NLR and PLR in diagnosing lung cancer. Methods This study analyzed data from lung cancer patients and healthy individuals in Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University. The Mann–Whitney U test was performed to compare differences between the lung cancer group and the control group. Based on white blood cell (WBC) counts, both lung cancer patients and healthy individuals were divided into the low-level group, moderate-level group, and high-level group. The Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare differences of NLR and PLR among those groups with different WBC counts. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess correlations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed to determine diagnostic accuracy. Results 210 patients diagnosed with lung cancer and 261 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Levels of NLR and PLR increased in the lung cancer group compared with the control group (P < 0.001). For the lung cancer group, NLR levels could rise with the increasing of WBC levels (P < 0.001) while PLR levels had no significant variation with the increasing of WBC levels (P = 0.206). For the control group, NLR levels could rise with the increasing of WBC levels (P < 0.001) while PLR levels would decline with the increasing of WBC levels (P < 0.001). In the lung cancer group, both NLR and PLR had no significant correlations with aspartate transaminase, urea, and glucose. The area under the curve (AUC) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of NLR and PLR to distinguish lung cancer patients from healthy subjects was, respectively, 0.684 (0.634-0.735) and 0.623 (0.571-0.674). When NLR and PLR were combined, AUC (95% CI) increased to 0.691 (0.642-0.740). Conclusions NLR and PLR alone have moderate ability to distinguish lung cancer patients from healthy subjects. Furthermore, combination forms of NLR and PLR can improve diagnostic ability.
Dynamique de l'aimantation de nano-oscillateurs micro-ondes à transfert de spin

Cette these s'inscrit dans la thematique de l'electronique de spin et concerne plus particulierement la dynamique radiofrequence de l'aimantation sous courant polarise en spin. Dans les nanostructures magnetiques, le transfert de spin permet de soutenir une oscillation entretenue de l'aimantation a grande amplitude. Ces oscillations suscitent un interet fondamental pour l'etude de la dynamique de l'aimantation dans le regime fortement non-lineaire. Les oscillateurs a transfert de spin sont egalement tres prometteurs d'un point de vue applicatif, du fait de leur taille nanometrique et de leur forte accordabilite en frequence. Neanmoins, leur signal de sortie devra etre ameliore et l'origine de leur purete spectrale comprise. Dans cette optique, nous avons etudie experimentalement la reponse dynamique de deux types d'oscillateurs complementaires. Nous nous sommes d'abord interesses a une structure vanne de spin basee sur une couche polarisante a aimantation perpendiculaire. Nous avons demontre la possibilite d'induire une precession de l'aimantation de forte amplitude autour de son maximum d'energie. Le renfort de simulations micromagnetiques fut necessaire pour decrire precisement les observations experimentales. Dans un second temps, nous avons developpe un banc de mesure temporelle ainsi qu'un protocole d'analyse original pour etudier la purete spectrale d'oscillateurs a jonction tunnel magnetique MgO. Ces mesures nous ont permis d'observer certains des mecanismes d'instabilite limitant la coherence du signal micro-onde de l'oscillateur, comme par exemple des fluctuations de frequence sur l'echelle de la dizaine de nanosecondes.
Shipping emissions in the Iberian Peninsula and the impacts on air quality

Abstract. Marine traffic has been identified as a relevant source of pollutants, which cause known negative effects on air quality. The Iberian Peninsula is a central point in the connection of shipping traffic between the Americas, Africa, and the rest of Europe. To estimate the effects of shipping emissions inland and around the Iberian Peninsula, the EMEP/MSC-W model was run considering and not considering shipping emissions (obtained with STEAM3). Total estimated emissions of CO, CO2 , SOx , NOx , and particulate matter (subdivided into elementary carbon – EC, organic carbon – OC, sulfate, and ash) for the study domain in 2015 were respectively 49, 30 000, 360, 710, 4.5, 11, 32, and 3.3 kt yr −1 . Shipping emissions increased SO2 and NO2 concentrations, especially near port areas, and also increased the O3 , sulfate, and particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10) concentrations over the entire Iberian Peninsula coastline (especially in the south coastal region). Shipping emissions were responsible for exceedances of WHO air quality guidelines for PM 2.5 in areas far from the coastline, which confirms that shipping emissions can contribute negatively to air quality, both in coastal and inland areas.
The Effect of Dipping Tobacco on Pulse Wave Analysis among Adult Males

Background The current study investigated the effect of dipping tobacco (DT) use on arterial wall stiffness which is a known marker of increased risk of cardiovascular events. Methods A case-control study which included 101 adult males was carried out in Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital. Blood pressure and pulse wave analysis parameters were recorded in 51 DT users (study group) before and after 30 minutes of placing tobacco and in 50 nontobacco users (control group). Anthropometric measurements were collected using data collection sheet. Data were entered into a computer and analyzed by using the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results At baseline measurements, heart rate (HR) was significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group (66.15 ± 9.21 vs. 72.87 ± 10.13 beats/min; P value ≤ 0.001). Subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) was significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group (203.44 ± 30.34 vs. 179.11 ± 30.51%; P value ≤ 0.001). Acute effects of DT compared to pretobacco dipping showed significant increase in HR (72.50 ± 10.89 vs. 66.15 ± 9.21 beats/min; P value ≤ 0.001) and significant decrease in augmentation pressure (AP) (4.30 (2.30-8.00) vs. 3.30 (0.60-6.3) mmHg; P value ≤ 0.001), ejection duration (ED) (271.65 ± 19.42 vs. 279.53 ± 20.47 ms; P value ≤ 0.001), and SEVR (187.11 ± 29.81 vs. 203.44 ± 30.34; P value ≤ 0.001). Linear regression analysis for AP predictor showed that only HR and AIx@75 affect and predict the values of AP (Beta ± SE; −0.242 ± 0.019, P value ≤ 0.001; 0.685 ± 0.014, P value ≤ 0.001). Conclusions Long-term use of DT was not associated with permanent changes in heart rate and blood pressure. Acute tobacco dipping caused an acute increase in heart rate and oxygen demands of myocardium.
Case report: fatal pneumonia caused by new sequence type Legionella pneumophilia serogroup 1

Abstract Introduction: Legionnaires’ disease is caused by Legionella bacteria, and commonly manifests as pneumonia and has a high fatality rate. Patient concerns: This case study reports on the fatal incident of a patient, initially diagnosed with pneumonia, and subsequently diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease caused by a new sequence type (ST) of Legionella. Diagnosis: It is speculated that the patient acquired Legionnaires’ disease from a contaminated water source. Legionnaires’ disease was diagnosed using the Legionella urinary antigen assay and bacterial cultures of respiratory secretions; Legionella pneumophilia Type 1 was also identified through serological testing. Sequence-based typing of the cultured bacterium revealed it to be a previously unidentified species, and it was named ST2345 new-type. Interventions: In addition to the treatment of Legionnaires’ disease, blood samples taken on the second day of admission showed a co-infection of Candida tropicalis, which was treated with anti-fungal treatment. The patient improved after a week, however, on the seventh day of administration lower respiratory secretions showed the growth of Klebsiella pneumonia, indicative of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Outcomes: Despite active treatment, the patient passed away due to multiple organ failure. As this was a fatal case, further research is needed to determine whether the critical condition of this case was related to the virulence of the novel Legionella strain. Conclusion: A key finding of this study is that treatment for suspected Legionnaires’ disease must be administered rapidly, as infection with Legionella may give rise to secondary pathogenic infections.
Forecasting Multinomial Stock Returns Using Machine Learning Methods

Abstract In this paper, the daily returns of the S&P 500 stock market index are predicted using a variety of different machine learning methods. We propose a new multinomial classification approach to forecasting stock returns. The multinomial approach can isolate the noisy fluctuation around zero return and allows us to focus on predicting the more informative large absolute returns. Our in-sample and out-of-sample forecasting results indicate significant return predictability from a statistical point of view. Moreover, all the machine learning methods considered outperform the benchmark buy-and-hold strategy in a real-life trading simulation. The gradient boosting machine is the top-performer in terms of both the statistical and economic evaluation criteria.
Open weather and climate science in the digital era

Abstract. The need for open science has been recognized by the communities of meteorology and climate science. However, while these domains are mature in terms of applying digital technologies, these are lagging behind where the implementation of open science methodologies is concerned. In a session on Weather and Climate Science in the Digital Era at the 14th IEEE International eScience conference domain specialists and data and computer scientists discussed the road towards open weather and climate science. The studies presented in the conference session showed the added value of shared data, software and platforms through, for instance, combining data sets from disparate sources, increased accuracy and skill of simulations and forecasts at local scales, and improved consistency of data products. We observed that sharing data and code is important, but not sufficient to achieve open weather and climate science and that here are important issues to address. At the level of technology, the implementation of the FAIR principles to many datasets used in weather and climate science remains a challenge due to their origin, scalability, or legal barriers. Furthermore, the complexity of current software platforms limits collaboration between researchers and optimal use of open science tools and methods. The main challenges we observed, however, were non-technical and impact the system of science as a whole. There is a need for new roles and responsibilities at the interface of science and digital technology, e.g., data stewards and research software engineers. This requires the personnel portfolio of academic institutions to be more diverse, and in addition, a broader consideration of the impact of academic work, beyond publishing and teaching. Besides, new policies regarding open weather and climate science should be developed in an inclusive way to engage all stakeholders, including non-academic parties such as meteorological institutions. We acknowledge that open weather and climate science requires effort to change, but the benefits are large. As can already be observed from the studies presented in the conference it leads to much faster progress in understanding the world.
Improved Constraints on Northern Extratropical CO2 Fluxes Obtained by Combining Surface‐Based and Space‐Based Atmospheric CO2 Measurements

Top‐down estimates of CO2 fluxes are typically constrained by either surface‐based or space‐based CO2 observations. Both of these measurement types have spatial and temporal gaps in observational coverage that can lead to differences in inferred fluxes. Assimilating both surface‐based and space‐based measurements concurrently in a flux inversion framework improves observational coverage and reduces sampling related artifacts. This study examines the consistency of flux constraints provided by these different observations and the potential to combine them by performing a series of 6‐year (2010–2015) CO2 flux inversions. Flux inversions are performed assimilating surface‐based measurements from the in situ and flask network, measurements from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON), and space‐based measurements from the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), or all three data sets combined. Combining the data sets results in more precise flux estimates for subcontinental regions relative to any of the data sets alone. Combining the data sets also improves the accuracy of the posterior fluxes, based on reduced root‐mean‐square differences between posterior flux‐simulated CO2 and aircraft‐based CO2 over midlatitude regions (0.33–0.56 ppm) in comparison to GOSAT (0.37–0.61 ppm), TCCON (0.50–0.68 ppm), or in situ and flask measurements (0.46–0.56 ppm) alone. These results suggest that surface‐based and GOSAT measurements give complementary constraints on CO2 fluxes in the northern extratropics and can be combined in flux inversions to improve constraints on regional fluxes. This stands in contrast with many earlier attempts to combine these data sets and suggests that improvements in the NASA Atmospheric CO2 Observations from Space (ACOS) retrieval algorithm have significantly improved the consistency of space‐based and surface‐based flux constraints.
Learning Tableau: A data visualization tool

Abstract “Doing economics” is an important theme of undergraduate economics programs. Capstone courses increasingly include instruction in “data literacy” and the STEM-related skills of quantitative and empirical methods. Because the professional discipline has moved in this direction and because of greater employer demand for these skills, data visualization is a key component of data literacy. Tableau is a free data visualization software widely used in the data analytics industry. In this article, the authors introduce an exercise that teaches the fundamental Tableau concepts and commands needed to create charts, assemble them in a dashboard, and tell a story of patterns observed in the data. The exercise assumes no prior experience in Tableau and is appropriate for undergraduate upper-level economics courses or an empirical methods course.
Characterisation of the impacts of autonomous driving on highway capacity in a mixed traffic environment: an agent‐based approach

The current planning and operational analysis tools utilised by researchers and practitioners for transportation facilities evaluation purposes are limited in their relevance to evaluate the future impact of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). Since CAV technologies are becoming more prevalent on the market, the adaptation of the conventional methodologies to estimate highway performance is becoming essential to accommodate these technologies. This study tries to fill up this gap in the literature by formulating capacity analysis model estimate the potential impacts of CAVs on the capacity of highways at different market penetration (MP) levels of CAVs. The developed analytical model would present itself as a guideline to transportation agencies while developing CAV-based transportation infrastructure. Later, this study proposes an agent-based modelling and simulation framework to address the heterogeneity of drivers behaviour and the potential impact of CAVs on highway traffic performance under different MP levels. Results showed that deploying CAVs in the traffic stream has the potential to double the capacity of the highway corridor at high MP levels. The results show CAV operation and implementation readiness for both public agencies as well as state Departments of Transportation or private industries in the future.
Effect of quantum confinement on the defect-induced localized levels in 4H-SiC(0001)/SiO2 systems

In the present study, we characterize the nature of interface states in silicon carbide (SiC) metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) systems by analyzing the electrical characteristics of MOS field effect transistors (MOSFETs) based on the results of numerical calculations. In the calculation, the potential distributions and energy sub-bands were calculated by solving Poisson and Schrodinger equations, respectively. As a result, we demonstrate that the defect-induced localized levels in the bandgap are subjected to quantum confinement at the inversion layer, leading to the increase in their energy levels. The result implies that the conventional interface defects (e.g., near-interface oxide traps), which create defect states at certain energy levels measured from the vacuum level, are unlikely to be the major origin of the interface states in SiC MOS systems. The interface state density is almost uniquely determined by the oxide formation process (as oxidation or interface nitridation) and independent of the acceptor concentration (3 × 1015–1 × 1018 cm−3). It is also suggested that the drain current decrease observed in heavily doped MOSFETs is mainly due to the decrease in the drift mobility rather than that in the free carrier density.