Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Enhanced Colloidal Stability of Cationic Gold Nanoparticles using Polyethyleneimine and Carbon Dioxide

Employing green methods in the design and synthesis of functionalized metallic nanoparticles poses significant challenges in terms of maintaining product integrity (size, shape, dispersity, and colloidal stability). In this study, the direct synthesis of cationic gold nanoparticles (GNPs) capped by low molecular weight (Mw ∼ 600) polyethylenimine was investigated. Specifically, three separate HAuCl4 reduction pathways were used to produce robust GNPs with sizes ranging from 4 to 20 nm in diameter with excellent size control. The inclusion of carbon dioxide as a nontoxic, nonflammable, and inexpensive component led to decreases in particle size and an increase in the colloidal stability of the GNPs. Furthermore, the thermally reversible reaction of CO2 with amines provides means to control the solvent pH through carbamate structures and, hence, the controllable formation of particle aggregates. The effects of pH, PEI concentration, and reduction method on the particle core size and stability were determine.
Short and Medium Range Irrigation Scheduling Using Stochastic Simulation‐Optimization Framework With Farm‐Scale Ecohydrological Model and Weather Forecasts

Despite the remarkable improvements in skillful weather forecasts, their uses in irrigation water management at a farm scale are still limited. This is attributable to the scale mismatch between weather and hydrologic models as well complexities in farmscale ecohydrological processes. Here, we have developed a simulation‐optimization algorithm for minimizing irrigation water application using short to medium range forecasts by determining the conditional probability density functions of the rainfall and subsequently the soil moisture for the days in forecast range. With the forecasted soil moisture information, the model ensures that the probability of crops undergoing water stress is less than a prescribed threshold. The optimization model includes a farmscale ecohydrological model, which computes daily evapotranspiration, runoff, and leakage based on a probabilistic description of rainfall through Monte‐Carlo simulations. After calibrating and validating the ecohydrological model with past data obtained from the farmers, this proposed optimization framework was employed to test the outcome for two pilot sites in Nashik, Maharashtra, India. We found that using the proposed framework, irrigation water use can be reduced by 10%–30% as compared to that resulting from the conventional strategies used by the farmers, without significant loss in crop yields, by almost always maintaining the soil moisture at or above the prescribed threshold. Considering that irrigation accounts for over 80% of the total water use worldwide, the value of such an approach as a decision‐support tool for irrigation optimization is self‐evident. We also posit that the co‐production of this tool with the farmers increases its usability and credibility.
The Concept of Ocean Sustainability in Formal Education—Comparative Ocean Literacy Coverage Analysis of the Educational Standards of India and the USA

The concept of marine environmental sustainability is essential, and ocean literacy is currently at the core of its development. Comparing ocean literacy principles in curriculum standards is an important thing to do. Ocean literacy (OL) is a key and emerging topic, and its study has adopted a qualitative approach and follows the content analysis approach. It was observed that, on average, OL concepts covered in the educational standards of the USA (Next Generation Science Standards, NGSS) are higher than those of India (Indian National Standards, INSs). The study revealed that the 6th principle is highly accentuated in both countries’ educational standards out of the seven essential principles. Moreover, the results indicate variation in OL alignment across India’s grade bands and the USA’s educational standards. Based on the results mentioned above, the proposed study intends to provide references to marine education researchers, curriculum developers, and educational policymakers in India to suitably adjust OL coverage concepts in schools to cultivate ocean-literate citizens.
UAV ranging method based on monocular vision

Aiming at the problem that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) cannot complete the positioning and ranging in the complex background and the signal is interfered, we proposed a monocular measurement scheme of assigning 4 LED fiducials (also called landmarks) with 3 colors in total on the target UAV. Firstly, feature areas are screened out by using high saturation, high brightness and specific hue range of LED in HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) color space. After morphological processing, the background that does not meet the features is removed. Then, the mapping relationship between target LED fiducials and image fiducials is established by using the average hue of connected domain and special geometric layout. The improved Lambda-Twist is used to find the distance from the target UAV to the center of the camera, and the performance of the UAV recognition and ranging from 90m to 245m is tested. The experimental results show that the method can quickly and accurately measure the distance to the target, and can be used for UAV auxiliary measurement.
Constraining Suprathermal Electron Evolution in a Parker Spiral Field With Cassini Observations

Suprathermal electrons in the solar wind consist of the “halo,” present at all pitch angles, and the “strahl” which is a field‐aligned, beam‐like population. Examining the heliospheric evolution of strahl beams is key to understanding the in‐transit processing of solar wind suprathermal electrons, in particular, to identify electron scattering mechanisms and to establish the origin of the halo population. Not only does this have significant implications with regard to the kinetic processes occurring within the solar wind but also its thermodynamic evolution, as the suprathermal electrons carry the majority of the solar wind heat flux. In this investigation, an established model for suprathermal electron evolution in a Parker spiral interplanetary magnetic field is adapted from its original use. The model is constrained using solar wind strahl observed by the Cassini mission on its interplanetary journey to Saturn. The effects of large scale IMF geometry due to different solar wind velocities and application of different electron scattering factors are examined. It is found that slow solar wind speeds provide the closest match to the strahl width observations, both in terms of radial distance and electron energy trends, and that predominantly slower solar wind speeds were therefore likely observed by the Cassini mission en‐route to Saturn. It is necessary to include a strahl scattering factor which increases with electron energy in order to match observations, indicating that the strahl scattering mechanism must have an inherent energy dependence.
The Extracellular Matrix of the Human and Whale Cornea and Sclera: Implications in Glaucoma and Other Pathologies

The cornea is the transparent part of the eye that allows light to enter into the eye and reach the retina, thereby activating the neurons that will send messages to the brain. The sclera is the hard-white part of the eye, and its main function is to provide structure and form to the eye, and to support the retina. Indeed, while the cornea best performs its main functions when transparent and it is capable of adapting its curvature to allow the eye to focus, the sclera must be opaque and hard to function correctly. Both structures are mainly composed of collagen, some elastic fibres and ground substance, all components of the Extracellular Matrix. The disposition of the collagen fibres and the amount of ground substance around the fibres is responsible for the differences in the aspect of both these structures. In this chapter, for the first time we have compared the structure and ultrastructure of the cornea and sclera in humans and the whale adult (18mts) Balaenoptera physalus, the second largest animal on the planet. We will discuss how the differences in their structure may be related to the maintenance of intraocular pressure in their distinct environments, which is of particular clinical interest as increased intraocular pressure is one of the main causes underlying the development of open angle glaucoma.
Predicting owner-occupied housing values using machine learning: an empirical investigation of California census tracts data

ABSTRACT In this paper, we introduce machine-learning (ML) methods to evaluate one of the key concepts of real estate analysis – the prediction of housing prices in the presence of a large number of covariates. We use several supervised ML tools that are based on regularisation methods – notably Ridge, LASSO, and Elastic Net regressions – and discuss their relative performance in comparison to conventional OLS-based methods. Our empirical results show that the supervised ML methods provide a comprehensive description of the determinants of owner-occupied housing values in the census tracts of California. We find that, compared to the familiar worlds of OLS and WLS, the Ridge, LASSO, and Elastic Net regressions provide relatively better out-of-sample predictions. Among the benefits of shrinkage-based ML methods are their ability to resolve such issues as variable selection and overfitting.
Dissolution behavior of the barrier layer of porous anodic films formed on aluminum studied by pore-filling technique.

Dissolution behavior of the barrier layer of porous anodic films formed on aluminum after immersion in sulfuric acid has been studied using re-anodizing (pore-filling) technique. The higher a forming voltage is, the higher the dissolution rate of a film. The barrier layer of films formed in phosphoric acid was divided into three layers according as dissolution rate and was dissolved most rapidly in a middle layer. The defects were detected after the dissolution of an outer layer as fine pores which passed through the barrier layer. The volume of the defects increased with increasing forming voltage. In films formed in oxalic acid, however, no such defects as above but thickness unevenness were detected in the middle of the barrier layer which was divided into two layers. The dissolution rates of inner layers of films formed in two electrolytes at different voltages were low and almost same. The dissolution rate is suggested to depend on both contents of incorporated anions and defects.
Low serum IgG4 level: a potential diagnostic biomarker for IgA nephropathy

Background In contrast to intense investigations of galactose-deficient immunoglobulin A (IgA)1 specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), little is known about the IgG subclasses in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Low IgG4 levels in IgAN were noticed in our preliminary experiment. We aimed to verify the low IgG4 levels and investigate the related immune mechanism in IgAN. Methods A total of 112 healthy controls (HC) and 112 newly diagnosed IgAN patients were enrolled in this study. Patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), minimal change disease (MCD), or lupus nephritis (LN) were selected as disease controls (DC) (n=122). Serum IgG4 and IgG levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The IgG4+ B, T helper 1 (Th1), and Th2 cells were measured by flow cytometry. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of IgG4. Results Both IgG4 levels and IgG4/IgG in IgAN were lower than HC and DC (all P<0.001). Severe IgAN displayed lower IgG4 levels than mild IgAN (P=0.039). Patients with higher risk of renal progression (>50%) demonstrated lower IgG4 levels than lower-risk (≤15%) patients (P=0.019). The cutoff value of IgG4 in differentiating IgAN from HC and DC was 0.26 mg/mL [sensitivity 98.2%, specificity 82.4%, area under the curve (AUC): 0.941, P<0.0001] and 0.17 mg/mL (sensitivity 90.2%, specificity 85.2%, AUC: 0.937, P<0.0001), respectively. IgG4/IgG displayed similar diagnostic and differential ability. The IgG4+ B/B cells (P<0.0001) and Th2/Th (P=0.042) of IgAN were lower than HC. Conclusions Serum IgG4 levels were low in IgAN. Lower IgG4 levels indicated more severe disease conditions and higher risk of renal progression. Low serum IgG4 seemed to be a potential diagnostic biomarker for IgAN. Decreased IgG4+ B cells and Th2 cells may contribute to the low IgG4 levels in IgAN.
Search‐free direction‐of‐arrival estimation for transmit beamspace multiple‐input multiple‐output radar via tensor modelling and polynomial rooting

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Number: 61860206012,61671065,31727901; Higher Education Discipline Innovation Project, Grant/ Award Number: B14010; China Scholarship Council Abstract In order to improve the accuracy and resolution for transmit beamspace (TB) multiple‐ input multiple‐output (MIMO) radar, a search‐free direction‐of‐arrival (DOA) estimation method based on tensor modelling and polynomial rooting is proposed. In the proposed method, a 3‐order tensor is designed to model the received signal of TB MIMO radar on the basis of the multi‐linear property. The factor matrix with target DOA information is obtained by tensor decomposition via alternating least squares algorithm, and subsequently the DOA estimation is converted to independent minimisation of the virtual transmit beampattern for TB MIMO radar. By exploiting the Vandermonde structure of the transmit steering matrix, a polynomial function is constructed to solve the minimisation problem via polynomial rooting. The proposed method can fully take advantage of the TB technique and tensor modelling, and it requires no spectrum searching, which is different from the existing DOA estimation techniques for TB MIMO radar. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulations.
A Comparative Numerical Analysis on the Effect of Welding Consumables on the Ballistic Resistance of SMAW Joints of Armor Steel

In the present investigation, a comparative study of ballistic impact behavior of Armox 500T (base metal) and its weldments prepared by low hydrogen ferrite (weldment-1) and austenitic stainless steel (weldment-2) consumables against 7.62 AP bullet has been performed with the help of finite element analysis code Abaqus 2017. Further, the result is validated with the experimental results. The experiment has been performed on the base metal, weldment-1, and weldment-2 against 7.62 AP bullet. Further, a two-dimensional explicit model has been developed for given purpose to simulate the bullet penetration at such high strain rate (103 s−1). Both bullet and plate are considered as deformable. Experimental results revealed that the depth of penetration in the base metal, weldment-1, and weldment-2 is 10.93, 13.65, and 15.20 mm respectively. Further computational results revealed that the depth of penetration of base metal, weldment-1, and weldment-2 is 10.11, 12.87, and 14.60 mm, respectively. Furthermore, weldment-1 shows more resistance against 7.62 AP bullet than weldment-2 in experimentation as well as FEA results. The percentage difference between experimental and FEA results are less than 10% which shows the prediction capability of FEA models. A feasibility analysis has been presented for using the welding consumables to weld the Armox 500T plate. Finally, in terms of ballistic resistance, the low hydrogen ferrite consumables are more appropriate than austenitic stainless-steel electrodes.
EVALUATION OF QTC INTERVAL IN CIRRHOSIS PATIENTS WITH VARICEAL HEMORRHAGE

Objective: In this study, we investigated the effect of the QTc interval in cirrhosis patients on mortality and morbidity in esophageal variceal hemorrhages. Material and Method: It was retrospectively scanned in a single-centred design. The QTC intervals before and during the bleeding were calculated. The demographic characteristics and mortality status were recorded. Results: Bleeding was detected in 117 of the 156 patients. A total of 83% of these were male, and 17% were female. The QTc interval in these patients measured at the time of bleeding was longer than that measured before bleeding (p<0.001). The QTc interval of the patients who died due to bleeding was found to be 509.9 ms. It was calculated for males as 520.6 ms, and 487.4 ms for females. In the ROC analysis that was conducted for the QTc in terms of mortality, the sensitivity was 82.4% and specificity was 79.7% for 464.0 ms in males (AUC:0.785; 95% CI 0.724-0.825). The sensitivity was 77.8% and the specificity was 90.0% for QTc’s 454.0 ms cutoff value for females (AUC:856; 95% CI 0.812-0.862). Conclusion: The QTc interval is prolonged in the case of esophageal variceal hemorrhage in patients diagnosed with cirrhosis. A prolonged QTc interval is associated with mortality and morbidity of patients.
The Initial Fundamental Of Terminological System For Metagressive Function Of Manufacturing Basis

At present, economic development's primary condition is scientific and technological progress, which determines the economy's functioning. Innovative activity defines an enterprise's technological limits, revealing the qualitative and quantitative parameters for developing its economic system that sets at the bifurcation point the direction of subsequent movement. There is an objective need to form a fundamentally new economic relation, and consequently, the transformation of the types of economic activities that constitute a new combination of economic growth sources under conditions of becoming of our country's national economy. The principled question which constitutes the scientific problem of the research is the development of the economic mechanism of the apagogical (tropomorphic) functioning at an industrial enterprise level, which includes, in particular, the formulation and decision of the objective for constructing of the metagressive system at an economic entity level, based on the development of the method of the consequent primary factor, the discovery of the categories of the eliminating ability of the metagressive system, an ascertainment of the traductive attribute of the sequence of elements of the metagressive system, the calculus of the endogenous variable of the ability for the distinguishing of the elements of the metagressive system, the formation and measurement of the aggregate of involution of a kind of compound of the elements of the metagressive system, that constitutes the readiness of the manufacturing basis of an industrial enterprise to eliminate its functional threshold in order to forestall a technological gap.
Peach, Apple, and Pear Fruit Quality: To Peel or Not to Peel?

The nutritional value of the peeled and unpeeled fruit (peel plus flesh tissues) was studied using four peach (Prunus persica L.; Red Heaven, Maria Blanca, Big Top, and Queen Giant), two pear (Pyrus communis L.; Santa Maria, Pyrus pyrifolia N.; Nashi), and three apple (Malus domestica Borkh.; Gala, Granny Smith, and Red Chief) cultivars. Based on principal components analysis (PCA) models, there was a clear differentiation among the cultivars’ and the peeled fruits’ nutritional characteristics in comparison to the unpeeled ones. Increased antioxidant capacity and content of total phenols and flavonoids of peaches (Red Heaven and Maria Blanca) versus nectarines (Big Top and Queen Giant) were recorded. In contrast, nectarines were characterized by higher hydroxycinnamates and dry matter. The apples’ cultivar Granny Smith exhibited a high level of titratable acidity (TA), while the Gala displayed a high level of soluble solids concentration (SSC), carotenoids, dry matter, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonols at the unpeeled fruit, whereas the Red Chief by increased anthocyanins, antioxidant capacity, total phenols, and flavonoids. Nashi pears with peel were more beneficial due to the strong skin contribution in the fruits’ beneficial compounds content. The peel of the Granny Smith cultivar was associated with an increased level of P, K, Ca, and Mg, whereas that of Red Chief with increased anthocyanins and Mg content.
Modified moment estimators based on non-conventional measures for the power function distribution

Power function is amougst the most suitable probability models for survival or failure times analysis, particularly of electronic components and product reliability. The article proposes some new modified moment estimators for parameter estimation of the power function distribution. The proposed estimators are based on some non-conventional descriptive measures like harmonic mean, quartile deviation, Shannon entropy and Gini index. The performance of the proposed estimators is compared with the traditional moment and existing modified moment estimators. Performance is assessed through the Monte Carlo simulation and three real-life data sets representing failure and survival times of components and infected animals, respectively. Some common accuracy measures are used as performance indicators. From both, Monte Carlo simulation and all real-life applications, the results show better performance of proposed modified moment estimators based on the Gini index and harmonic mean. Hence, the use of these modified estimators is recommended for parameter estimation of the power function distribution.
Engagement with Female-oriented Male–Male Incest Erotica: A Comparison of Sinophone and Anglophone Boys’ Love Fandom

ABSTRACT Boys’ Love (BL) is a global by-and-for women genre of youth culture focused on male-on-male sexuality and romance. Incest relationships are not uncommon in BL yet there is no research on what kinds are of most interest to the audience, and with which sub-demographics, and none offer an intercultural comparison. We address this lacuna analyzing data from the largest BL audience survey to date in both Anglophone (N = 1715) and Sinophone (N = 1922) regions. CATPCA reveals a strikingly similar component structure across the two cultures with a preference hierarchy descending from non-blood relationships, blood intergenerational, then brothers. For both regions, it is the avid fans who tend to consume incest material while, for the Sinophone, it is the less socially empowered who appear most engaged: women, the other-gendered, and the nonheterosexual. Moreover, Sinophone fans are more concerned about legal issues than are Anglophone. Other subtle cultural differences suggest Sinophone BL fans focus on family rules and roles and the Anglophone on the intimacy of brotherly bonds. As young women have increasing opportunity to create and consume sexuality explicit material geared to their particular tastes and needs, our study provides important information to inform debates about the forms, functions, and legislative context around pornography.
High-precision motion control method for permanent magnet linear synchronous motor

In this paper, aiming at the known or unknown uncertainties in permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM) servo system, an intelligent backstepping terminal sliding mode control (IBTSMC) method is proposed for accurate position tracking of the servo system. The designed controller makes use of the advantage of backstepping terminal sliding mode control theory to ensure fast convergence and robustness. Finally, the stability analysis is carried out by using Lyapunov stability theory, and the effectiveness of the designed control scheme is proved by experiments.