Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
222Rn,226Ra and 238U concentration in water samples for some marshes in Dhi-Qar governorate, Iraq

Radon (222Rn), radium (226Ra) and uranium (238U) concentration in the samples of marshes' water have been measured. The samples were collected from various places at the marshes, in Dhi-Qar governorate. The method that used in the present study is the can technique by Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTDs) with CR-39 detectors. Also, it was determined the average internal effective dose risk (AED), with lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of 222Rn and 226Ra in drinking water. The average values of 222Rn, 226Ra and uranium 238U concentration in water samples were found to be 288.02 ± 31.21 Bq/m3, 0.45 ± 0.04 Bq/L, and 0.60 ± 0.06 ppm respectively. The average values of AED (in mSv/y unit) caused by ingestion of 222Rn and 226Ra in the samples of the study were found to be 0.019 ± 0.002 and, 0.093 ± 0.01, respectively. The average values of total AED and lifetime cancer risk values were calculated to be 0.11 ± 0.01 mSv/y and (4.34 ± 0.47) × 10−4, respectively. The average concentration values of 222Rn and 226Ra were found to be within the global average limitations (0.4 Bq/L), and (1 Bq/L) that are recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) 1993 and 2011, while the average of 238U concentrations were higher than that of global average limitation (0.566 ppm) that was recommended by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When some results of AED due to 222Rn and 226Ra concentrations, in the samples under study, were compared with the worldwide median value, that is recommended by WHO (2011); it was found that the lifetime cancer risk in all samples of the present study were higher than the safety limit for the healthy drinking water. Therefore, consuming the water of Marshes in the Dhi-Qar governorate- Iraq, for cooking and drinking (which is contaminated with alpha emitters like; 222Rn, 226Ra, and 238U) may lead to a considerable variation in the internal effective dose. HIGHLIGHT In this manuscript, I have been affording in a truly innovative way the issue to put the basis towards the realization for the first time of a baseline for assessment of the exposure of Iraq's people to lifetime cancer risk and annual effective dose assessment due to alpha emitters concentrations in water of Marshes in Dhi-Qar Governorate, Iraq. The results show that the cancer risk in samples is higher than the world.
Influence of grazing on the structure and biological activity of dry steppe soils of the southern Russian Plain

A comparative analysis of physicochemical and biological properties of Kastanozems and Solonetzes, the two most common soil types in the Caspian region of the post‐Soviet territory was carried out. The carbonate, salt, Corg, mineral N (NH4+ and NO3−) contents, microbial biomass (measured by ds‐DNA and phospholipids), and activity of 17 hydrolases involved in the C, N, P, and S cycles were measured along the grazing attenuation gradient near a typical sheep farm with year‐round grazing. Heavy grazing increases the number of Solonetz areas, they occupy up to 70% of the soil cover. Further away from the farm the areas decrease, and Kastanozems dominate there instead. Both in Kastanozems and Solonetzes, heavy grazing leads to soil salinisation, accumulation of carbonates and nitrates, decrease in ammonia and Corg content, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activity. At moderate grazing, a significant increase in microbial biomass and enzymatic activity throughout the soil profile, particularly in the 0–10 cm layer was found; at light grazing, it was observed mainly in deeper soil layers, not in the upper 0–10 cm. The microbial biomass and enzymatic activity of soils did not directly follow grazing load and was maximal at moderate grazing, where negative effect of reducing phytomass is compensated by large inputs of animal excreta, stimulating development of soil microbial community. Compared to Kastanozems, Solonetzes were more resistant to pasture load, and under heavy grazing, their properties changed to a lesser extent.
Valeriana wallichii root extract as a green & sustainable corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in acidic environments: experimental and theoretical study

Corrosion inhibition analysis and the adsorption behaviour of Valeriana wallichii root extract for mild steel in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution has been investigated utilizing weight loss, electrochemical impendence spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization, SEM, AFM UV-visible spectroscopy, FT-IR, and quantum chemical calculations. Both the electrochemical and weight loss estimations indicated that the root extract of Valeriana wallichii shows excellent inhibition performance of up to 93.47% for mild steel at 500 mg L−1 concentration in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution at 298 K. Naphthoic acid, iridoid and an iridoid analogue are the major phytochemical constituents in the extract of Valeriana wallichii, which possess oxygen atoms (lone pair electrons) and π electrons that facilitate adsorption onto the metal surface. The adsorption of this extract obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Polarization investigations confirmed that the root extract of Valeriana wallichii acts as a mixed type of inhibitor. The surface studies confirm corrosion retardation in the presence of the extract due to the formation of a protective layer on the surface of mild steel.
Cumulus and granulosa cell biomarkers: a good predictor for successful oocyte and embryo developmental competence in human in vitro fertilization

The oocyte quality is of great importance in infertility as it reflects the follicle developmental potential and further affects the embryo development, clinical pregnancy outcomes. The analysis of gene expression in somatic cells is an important study to better clinical in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in embryo selection reflecting the appropriate communication between the oocyte and somatic cells. Specifically, somatic cell transcriptomic technology can help assess biomarkers of oocyte and embryo ability. The present article aims to overview the basic aspect of folliculogenesis and review studies involving changes in candidate gene expression of cumulus or granulosa cell related to clinical outcomes in human IVF.
Effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching on Pain, Hip Joint Range of Motion, and Functional Disability in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Objective: We aimed to identify the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain. Randomized controlled trial Methods: In total, 45 patients with chronic low back pain were randomly divided into a conventional stretching group (n=22) and a PNF stretching group (n=23). Both interventions were performed three times per week for 6 weeks. Assessments were made using the visual analog scale, Flexion ‐ Abduction ‐ External Rotation test, modified Thomas test, prone hip extension test, and Oswestry disability index before and after the 6-week intervention period. We conducted a paired t-test to compare the within-group findings before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used to compare the between-group differences. The statistical significance level was set at α =0.05, for all variables. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability after the intervention (p ＜ 0.05). A significant difference was observed in pain, hip range of motion, and functional disability in patients belonging to the PNF stretching group (p ＜ 0.05). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that the application of PNF stretching can effectively reduce pain and improve hip range of motion and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain.
Fracture toughness measurements of soft sediments based on gas injection tests

Abstract The gas in soft cohesive sediments tends to transport through fractures or cracks, and the study on fracture toughness of soft soil is an important component of the research on gas migration. A method for measuring fracture toughness of soft sediments is proposed in this paper. The gas injection tests on soft soil at constant flow rate were conducted, and the fracture toughness of soft soil could be calculated combined with the theory of linear elastic fracture mechanics based on the gas pressure and the orifice diameter. Through direct observation of the bubble growth in Laponite RD transparent soil, the law of gas pressure variation and the mechanism of bubble fracture growth in soft soil were further verified. The methods and instruments proposed in this paper are convenient and easy for operating, which are suitable for measuring fracture toughness of soft soil in laboratory. The fracture toughness of soft soil obtained by the method presented in this paper is consistent with the measurements of the in-situ soft clay proposed in the literature, which suggests that the fracture toughness measurement method of soft soil proposed in this paper is reasonable.
Effects of social evolution on terminology policy in South Tyrol

This paper illustrates the challenges of terminology policy in the legal domain in South Tyrol, Italy, i.e. within a minority community whose language (German) is an official language in other countries. In this context terminology planning becomes necessary mainly in relation to legal and administrative concepts, due to the system-bound nature of legal language. The method applied in South Tyrol is micro-comparison with other German-speaking legal systems. Based on South Tyrol’s example, we show how changes in society have affected approaches, methods and tools for terminology planning and practical terminology work. South Tyrol’s autonomy model is often considered a best practice for the resolution of ethnic conflict. Its long-lasting experience in terminology planning may equally serve as a model for minority language communities that have only recently been granted extensive language rights.
Structural Optimization of Reciprocating Seal with Magnetic Fluid Based on Orthogonal Test Design

In order to improve the pressure capability of reciprocating sealing structure with magnetic fluid, the L 16 (4 5 ) orthogonal test design and the numerical simulation with the finite element method. were combined to optimize the sealing structure. In the process of orthogonal test design, five factors, four levels and the corresponding orthogonal table were selected. The magnetic field distribution of each orthogonal test was calculated and analyzed by finite element method. The results of orthogonal test were statistically analyzed by using range analysis and variance analysis and it shows that the simulation result of pressure capability of the optimal scheme is the best result in the test simulation analysis. The results showed that the pressure capability of the optimal scheme is about 0.91 MPa higher than that of the initial reciprocating seal with magnetic fluid.
High-Throughput Computation of New Carbon Allotropes with Diverse Hybridization and Ultrahigh Hardness

The discovery of new carbon allotropes with different building blocks and crystal symmetries has long been of great interest to broad materials science fields. Herein, we report several hundred new carbon allotropes predicted by the state-of-the-art RG2 code and first-principles calculations. The types of new carbon allotropes that were identified in this work span pure sp2, hybrid sp2/sp3, and pure sp3 C–C bonding. All structures were globally optimized at the first-principles level. The thermodynamic stability of some selected carbon allotropes was further validated by computing their phonon dispersions. The predicted carbon allotropes possess a broad range of Vickers’ hardness. This wide range of Vickers’ hardness is explained in detail in terms of both atomic descriptors such as density, volume per atom, packing fraction, and local potential energy throughout the unit cell, and global descriptors such as elastic modulus, shear modulus, and bulk modulus, universal anisotropy, Pugh’s ratio, and Poisson’s ratio. For the first time, we found strong correlation between Vickers’ hardness and average local potentials in the unit cell. This work provides deep insight into the identification of novel carbon materials with high Vickers’ hardness for modern applications in which ultrahigh hardness is desired. Moreover, the local potential averaged over the entire unit cell of an atomic structure, an easy-to-evaluate atomic descriptor, could serve as a new atomic descriptor for efficient screening of the mechanical properties of unexplored structures in future high-throughput computing and artificial-intelligence-accelerated materials discovery methods.
Application of fuzzy c-means algorithm as a novel method to predict density of mixtures of Athabasca bitumen and heavy n-alkane

Abstract The significant number of oil reservoir are bitumen and heavy oil. One of the approaches to enhance oil recovery of these types of reservoir is dilution of reservoir oil by injection of a solvent such as tetradecane into the reservoirs to modify viscosity and density of reservoir fluids. In this investigation, an effective and robust estimating algorithm based on fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm was developed to predict density of mixtures of Athabasca bitumen and heavy n-alkane as function of temperature, pressure and weight percent of the solvent. The model outputs were compared to experimental data from literature in different conditions. The coefficients of determination for training and testing datasets are 0.9989 and 0.9988. The comparisons showed that the proposed model can be an applicable tool for predicting density of mixtures of bitumen and heavy n-alkane.
The Dynamics of Cooperation in Society. The ECHO-EGN Model

Understanding the dynamics of cooperative behavior of individuals in complex societies represents a fundamental research question which puzzles scientists working in heterogeneous fields. Many studies have been developed using the unitary agent assumption, which embeds the idea that when making decisions, individuals share the same socio-cultural parameters. In this paper, we propose the ECHO-EGN model, based on Evolutionary Game Theory, which relaxes this strong assumption by considering the heterogeneity of three fundamental socio-cultural aspects ruling the behavior of groups of people: the propensity to be more cooperative with members of the same group (Endogamy), the propensity to cooperate with the public domain (Civicness) and the propensity to prefer connections with members of the same group (Homophily). The ECHO-EGN model is shown to have high performance in describing real world behavior of interacting individuals living in complex environments. Extensive numerical experiments allowing the comparison of real data and model simulations confirmed that the introduction of the above mechanisms enhances the realism in the modelling of cooperation dynamics. Additionally, theoretical findings allow us to conclude that Endogamy may limit significantly the emergence of cooperation.
Impact of In-School Suspension on Black Girls’ Math Course-Taking in High School

Black girls are more likely to receive in-school suspension (ISS) in comparison to their non-Black peers. However, research on the effect of in-school suspension on students’ academic achievement, specifically math achievement of Black girls, is still very limited. Mathematics is an important foundational component of science, technology, and engineering fields, which are domains in which Black girls are underrepresented. Using the nationally representative Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002), this study explores the relationship between in-school suspension and the highest math course completed in a multi-level analysis of 860 Black female participants from 320 high schools. Our findings revealed that in-school suspension was associated with lower mathematics course-taking. Implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed.
Validity of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for Older Amputees with Leprosy

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) estimates body composition by using electrical conductivity to detect impedance from different biological tissues. [1] BIA measures total body water (TBW) by obtaining the impedance index (Z index=height/Z [impedance]). The “Z” value was obtained by dividing the impedance, generated by applying weak alternating currents to the body through conductive materials such as water and electrolytes, by the squared value of height Surg Metab Nutr 2021;12:7-15 https://doi.org/10.18858/smn.2021. 12.1. 7 pISSN 2233-5765, eISSN 2465-8383
Volatile and Non-Volatile Characterization of White and Rosé Wines from Different Spanish Protected Designations of Origin

The quality of wines has often been associated with their geographical area of production, as well as the grape variety used in their elaboration. Many research studies have been carried out to characterize and differentiate between red wines labeled with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) from different geographical areas, but very few have been carried out on white and rosé wines. The objective of this work was to characterize white and rosé PDO wines from different geographical areas of Spain very close to each other elaborated with different grape varieties and select the variables that most contribute to their differentiation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used as statistical methods. The ethanol content was the nonvolatile variable that most contributed to differentiating between some of the white and rosé wines according to their PDO. The white wines from RD (Ribera del Duero) and BI (Bierzo) were characterized by a high terpenic content (floral notes) while the wines from RU (Rueda), TO (Toro) and CI (Cigales)by a high content of ethyl esters and alcohol acetates (fruity aromas). The rosé wines elaborated with the Mencía grape variety from BI were characterized by their highest polysaccharidic content, which could have a positive sensory effect on the mouthfeel. The rosé wines from CI were characterized by their volatile profile complexity, having the highest content of volatile compounds from the oak wood, terpenes and C6 alcohols which provide pleasant woody, floral and herbaceous aromas. On the contrary, the RD wines were richest in alcohol acetates responsible for fruity aromas.
Reliability of ERA5 Reanalysis Data for Wind Resource Assessment: A Comparison against Tall Towers

The reliability of ERA5 reanalyses for directly predicting wind resources and energy production has been assessed against observations from six tall towers installed over very heterogeneous sites around the world. Scores were acceptable at the FINO3 (Germany) offshore platform for both wind speed (bias within 1%, r = 0.95−0.96) and capacity factor (CF, at worst biased by 6.70%) and at the flat and sea-level site of Cabauw (Netherlands) for both wind speed (bias within 7%, r = 0.93−0.94) and CF (bias within 6.82%). Conversely, due to the ERA5 limited resolution (~31 km), large under-predictions were found at the Boulder (US) and Ghoroghchi (Iran) mountain sites, and large over-predictions were found at the Wallaby Creek (Australia) forested site. Therefore, using ERA5 in place of higher-resolution regional reanalysis products or numerical weather prediction models should be avoided when addressing sites with high variation of topography and, in particular, land use. ERA5 scores at the Humansdorp (South Africa) coastal location were generally acceptable, at least for wind speed (bias of 14%, r = 0.84) if not for CF (biased by 20.84%). However, due to the inherent sea–land discontinuity resulting in large differences in both surface roughness and solar irradiation (and thus stability conditions), a particular caution should be paid when applying ERA5 over coastal locations.
Modeling, Analysis, and Control Design of a Single-Stage Boost Inverter

A single-phase, single-stage, differential boost inverter comprises two independently-controlled boost DC-DC converters, with the load connected between their outputs. The net voltage on the load is sinusoidal and has a controllable frequency and magnitude that is larger than that of the DC source. The present work first derives steady-state and small-signal models of the inverter with parasitic elements. The results obtained from the line-to-output transfer function, control-to-output transfer function, open-loop input impedance, and open-loop output impedance models are compared with that of the ones obtained from the experimental testbed. Using the new models, a voltage mode controller is designed in the synchronous reference frame. The regulator design is explored through the use of an example. The results are verified against the small-signal model, then PLECS simulations, and finally a laboratory experiment. The results indicate excellent agreement between the model and experiment during transients in voltage reference, input source voltage, and output load. A sensitivity analysis is performed based on the inverter model considering the parameter variation. Finally, loss and efficiency estimations are provided in this work.
A review of self-organising 2,5- and 2,4-disubstituted 1,3-thiazole-containing materials: synthesis, mechanisms and tactics

ABSTRACT 2,5- and 2,4-disubstituted 1,3-thiazoles have been incorporated as core units in thermotropic liquid crystalline materials. However, synthetic approaches to these systems have been somewhat limited, and this is reflected in the relatively few reports of these mesogenic systems. This paper highlights both recent and well-established synthetic approaches to these systems using ring closure (Gabriel- and Hantzsch-type approaches) methodology and modifications of an intact 1,3-thiazole ring. The scope and limitations of each of these approaches are discussed. Graphical Abstract
Multilevel Dynamic Twin Modeling

ABSTRACT Recent developments in the collection and modeling of intensive longitudinal data have enabled us to fit dynamic twin models, in which within-person processes are separated into genetic and environmental components. A well-known dynamic twin model is the genetic simplex model, which is fitted to a few repeated measures for many twins. A more recently developed model is the iFACE model, which is fitted to many repeated measures for a single pair of twins. In this paper, we introduce a missing link between these two models – a multilevel extension that allows for making both population-level and twin-level inferences. We provide a proof-of-principle simulation study for this model, and apply it to an experience sampling data set on 148 monozygotic and 88 dizygotic twins. We use the multilevel model to examine the overlap and differences between the dynamic genetic twin models and the classic twin models, as well as their interpretation.