Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Weathering, Emulsification, and Chemical Dispersibility of Mississippi Canyon 252 Crude Oil: Field and Laboratory Studies

ABSTRACT Field observations at the Mississippi Canyon 252 spill suggested that the MC252 crude oil, though very light and non-viscous when fresh, formed viscous emulsion upon weathering. The weathering and emulsification rates of this oil were critical in determining a) the fate and impact of the spill and b) the potential effectiveness of oil spill countermeasures (e.g, chemical dispersants). In order to understand these processes for MC252 oil the following studies were completed. MC252 crude oil, collected from the Discoverer Enterprise marine riser collection system on May 22 was weathered in the laboratory under standard conditions. Changes in spill-related oil properties of this oil and its propensity to form emulsion were measured at various stages during weathering. In order to assess the potential effectiveness of oil dispersants on MC252 emulsion, 15 separate patches of MC252 oil and emulsion were sampled near the spill site from July 10 to 19, and their properties were measured. Physical proper.
PD-L1-related IncRNAs are associated with malignant characteristics and immune microenvironment in glioma

Background: The expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) can function as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for tumors. This research explores the role of PD-L1-related lncRNAs in affecting malignant characteristics and the immune microenvironment of glioma. Methods: Downloading gene expression profiles and clinicopathological information of glioma from TCGA and CGGA databases, 6 PD-L1-related lncRNAs were identified through correlation analysis, Cox and LASSO regression analysis, establishing the risk score model based on them. Bioinformatics analysis and cell experiments in vitro were adopted to verify the effects of LINC01271 on glioma. Results: Risk scores based on 6 PD-L1-related lncRNAs (AL355974.3, LINC01271, AC011899.3, MIR4500HG, LINC02594, AL357055.3) can reflect malignant characteristics and immunotherapy response of glioma. Patients with high LINC01271 expression had a worse prognosis, a higher abundance of M1 subtype macrophages in the immune microenvironment, and a higher degree of tumor malignancy. Experiments in vitro confirmed its positive regulatory effect on the proliferation and migration of glioma cells. Conclusions: The risk score model based on 6 PD-L1-related lncRNAs can reflect the malignant characteristics and prognosis of glioma. LINC01271 can independently be used as a new target for prognosis evaluation and therapy.
Effects of Infection Control Education Program Using Flipped Learning Based on the ARCS Model for Nursing Students: A Mixed Method

This study was conducted to verify the effect of an infection control education program, using flipped learning based on the ARCS model, for nursing students. The study was a mixed-method study, composed of a nonequivalent control group, a pretest-posttest design, and focus group interviews. The total number of participants was 37, with 18 in the experimental group and 19 in the control group. The mean age of the participants was 24.32 ± 5.60 years, consisting of three males (8.1%) and thirty-four females (91.9%). The collected data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects method. The data regarding experiences of participation were analyzed using conventional content analysis. The experimental group had a higher degree of learning motivation, self-directed learning ability, and confidence in infection control practice than the control group. In the results of the focus group interviews, the themes were derived from ‘Engaging learning experience, although difficult, in new ways of learning’. It was confirmed that the infection control education program, using flipped learning based on the ARCS model, was an effective intervention for improving nursing students’ self-directed learning ability. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to use the educational program developed in this study for infection control education for nursing students and new nurses.
Implanted Guard Ring Edge Termination With Avalanche Capability for Vertical GaN Devices

Edge termination is the key building block in power devices to enable near-ideal, avalanche breakdown voltage (BV). This work presents the design, fabrication, and physics of a GaN guard ring (GR) edge termination formed by selective-area nitrogen implantation through an epitaxial p-GaN layer. The fabrication of this termination only includes a single implantation step that does not require precise control of implant depth, rendering a large process latitude. The selective-area implantation produces p-GaN rings that are separated by the implanted, semi-insulating regions. The number and spacing of the p-type rings are found to determine the BV of the vertical GaN p-n diode. The 16-ring structure enables a BV of 1800 V, being 88% of the theoretical 1-D parallel-plane limit. Avalanche characteristics are observed in devices with a large variety of GR designs. Finally, we present a comprehensive survey on the efficiency, fabrication complexity, real estate, and avalanche capability of various edge termination techniques that have been reported in vertical GaN devices. The high efficiency (among the highest reported in avalanche-capable GaN terminations), simple and robust fabrication process, and uniform avalanche capability make this implanted GR a promising edge termination for high-voltage GaN devices.
Development and Use of the Stochastic Climate Change Scenario Generator

of climate change scenarios representing the multivariate probability distribution function of the changes in relevant climatic characteristics: the generator reproduces mean annual cycle of changes in climatic characteristics, correlations between them as well as the intermonthly correlations. The scenarios consist of changes in monthly means and variabilities, and are easily linked with the stochastic weather generator MR Dubrovsky et al, 2009). The experiment is made for a set of 10 European and 11 U.S. stations. The monthly weather generator (M&Rfi) is used to produce 90-year series of TEMP and PREC for present and future climates. In the latter case, the WG parameters are modified according to the climate change scenarios.
Efficacy, Safety and Economic Evaluation of Wolbigachul-Tang for Chronic Cough Due to Upper Airway Cough Syndrome (UACS): A Study Protocol for Randomized, Double-Blind, Active-Comparator Controlled, Parallel, Exploratory Clinical Trial

Upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) is a common cause of chronic cough characterized by upper airway symptoms, including nasal discharge and throat discomfort. Empirical treatments for UASC-induced chronic cough, such as first-generation antihistamines, have been used; however, the long-term use of these medicines has adverse effects. Therefore, we evaluate the efficacy, safety, and economic feasibility of Wolbigachul-tang (WBGCT), an herbal medication for UASC-induced chronic cough. This is a randomized, double-blind, active-comparator-controlled, parallel, and exploratory clinical trial. Thirty patients with UASC-induced chronic cough will be recruited and randomly allocated to the WBGCT and control groups in a 1:1 allocation ratio. The investigational medicine will be administered three times per day for 2 weeks (3 g of WBGCT at a time). The primary outcome measure is the cough symptom score measured at screening, before starting the trial, and after 2 and 4 weeks. Secondary outcome measures include the cough visual analog scale, nasal discharge score, questionnaire of clinical symptoms of cough and sputum, Leicester cough questionnaire-Korean version, integrative medicine outcome scale, integrative medicine patient satisfaction scale, and 5-level EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire, which will be assessed before starting the trial and after 2 and 4 weeks. This study aims to investigate the efficacy, safety, and economic feasibility of WBGCT in the treatment of chronic cough. Therefore, the results of this trial provide evidence for the application of WBGCT in the treatment of UACS-induced chronic cough.
Editorial: Tracing Actors, Actants and Relational Dynamics in Environmental Education Research

This edition of the EEASA Journal provides insight into a range of relationships in the field of environmental education, and the complexities that exist around them, as reflected in the combination of papers. This Editorial picks up on the methodological ‘note’ (or is it a challenge? ) provided by Godwell Nhamo in his paper in this edition of the journal. He provides a description of the possibilities that actor network theory provides for describing and explaining environmental policy processes, and recommends that environmental educators consider this methodology in their analyses. In particular, he refers environmental educators to applications of actor network theory for tracing relational dynamics between actors (i.e., environmental education practitioners) and actants which are non-human referents (e.g., the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and UNESCO’s (2005) International Implementation Scheme). In response to his paper, I have chosen to ‘pick up’ on this methodological discussion in this Editorial, by considering aspects of this theoretical perspective in describing the ‘happenings’ that occur across the pages of this edition of the EEASA Journal. In doing so, I highlight (in part) the diversity of actors and actants that are influencing the field of environmental education, their subject matter and contexts, and I highlight the relational dynamics that become evidentwhen one accepts a methodology that aims to trace such dynamics. In particular, this Editorial considers how ‘The language of actors, actants and actor/actant-networks brings to the fore the relationships and complexities that exist around them’ (Nhamo, this edition).
Hybrid Decoupling Controlled Active Power Compensator for the Ultralow-Frequency Pulse Load With Reversed Power Application

In the application of ultralow-frequency pulse load with reversed power, the pulse load is directly supplied by the battery. However, the random and multistate instantaneous output power results in voltage fluctuation across the battery. The uncontrollable reversed power will cause irreversible damage to the battery. To satisfy the requirements for voltage fluctuation, the active power compensator (APC) is introduced to provide pulsed power and absorb reversed power. The hybrid decoupling control scheme composed of linear current control and nonlinear voltage control is proposed for the APC, which can suppress the voltage overshoot and undershoot effectively when pulse repetition frequency or instantaneous output power changes. To improve the stability of the system at the mode transitions, several methods are proposed in the control scheme. The methods of updating integral error directly and the step control aim to accelerate the process during mode transients. Finally, to verify the effectiveness and viability of the proposed control scheme, a prototype is fabricated in the laboratory with pulsed power at 2250 W, reversed power at 1350 W, and pulse repetition frequency at 1.6–1.8 Hz.
Regional Method to Assess Offshore Slope Stability

The slope stability of some offshore environments can be evaluated by using only conventional acoustic profiling and short-core sampling, followed by laboratory consolidation and strength testing. The test results are synthesized by using normalized-parameter techniques. The normalized data are then used to calculate the critical earthquake acceleration factors or the wave heights needed to initiate failure. These process-related parameters provide a quantitative measure of the relative stability for locations from which short cores were obtained. The method is most applicable to offshore environments of gentle relief and simple subsurface structure and is not considered a substitute for subsequent site-specific analysis. Four sites off California and Alaska contain acoustically defined sediment failures. Calculated critical earthquake factors in these failed areas are typically lower than in adjacent unfailed areas, a result lending credence to the method.
Analysis of forest parameters and agricultural field structure from high resolution PolInSAR X band data

Forest parameters extraction (height and mean extinction coefficient) has been evaluated successfully at L band using RVoG model. The first part of this work relates the investigation of a pine forest on a high resolution X band SAR data set. Using ground truth measurements of forest height, the mean extinction is estimated with its precision. In the second part, observations on orientation effect occurring at X band on some agricultural fields (wheat, hay and high grass) are related.
Enhancing Upland Rice Growth and Yield with Indigenous Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) Isolate at N-Fertilizers Dosage

Upland rice farming plays a crucial role in ensuring food security in Indonesia. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates on the growth of upland rice. The bioassay and pot experiments were conducted to select the capable isolates of PGPR and to investigate the effect of the PGPR inoculant on the N fertilizer efficiency and agronomic traits of upland rice. The bacterial isolates were identified through a biochemical analysis and tested under controlled greenhouse conditions. The selected PGPR inoculant was formulated as a liquid biofertilizer (LB). The three capable isolates were obtained to fix nitrogen, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), organic acid, and nitrogenase activity and were identified through a biomolecular analysis as Delftia tsuruhatensis strain D9, Delftia sp. strain MS2As2, and Bacillus sp. The application of the LB into the soil at a dose of 10 L ha−1 and 50 kg ha−1 N resulted in a grain yield of 29.81 g pot−1 and a relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) value of 235.08%, signifying a significant improvement over the conventional method. Several variables, including the number of grains, number of panicles, root length, 1000-grain weight, population of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and nitrogen uptake exhibited a strong correlation with the grain yield, accounting for 97.80% of the observed variation. These findings show the enormous potential of PGPR isolates, specifically of Delftia tsuruhatensis strain D9, Delftia sp. strain MS2As2, and Bacillus sp. , in significantly enhancing the upland rice output in Indonesia. Furthermore, the use of an LB as a biofertilizer in conjunction with nitrogen fertilization provides a viable and sustainable way to increase yields and enhance the overall sustainability of the region’s upland rice farming systems.
Performance of Portable Sparse Matrix-Vector Product Implemented Using OpenACC

The aim of this paper is to study the performance of OpenACC implementations of sparse matrix-vector product for several storage formats: CSR, ELL, JAD, pJAD, and BSR, achieved on Intel CPU and NVIDIA GPU platforms to compare them with the performance of SpMV implementations using the BSR storage format provided by Intel MKL and NVIDIA cuSPARSE libraries. Numerical experiments show that vendor-provided BSR is the best format for CPUs but in the case of GPUs, the pJAD storage format allows to achieve better performance.
Relative role of dynamic and thermodynamic processes in the development of the Indian Ocean dipole: An OGCM diagnosis

The relative role of oceanic dynamics and surface heat fluxes in the initiation and development of the Indian Ocean dipole was investigated by analyzing results from an oceanic general circulation model. The model was forced by observed surface wind stress and heat flux fields for 1958–1997. The results show that it was capable of reproducing observed dipole events over the tropical Indian Ocean. The diagnosis of the mixed‐layer heat budget indicates that the SST anomaly (SSTA) in the east pole is primarily induced by anomalous surface latent heat flux and vertical temperature advection, whereas in the west pole it is mainly caused by meridional and vertical temperature advection anomalies. In both regions shortwave radiation anomalies tend to damp the SSTA. The ocean Rossby waves are essential in linking the anomalous wind and SST off Sumatra and subsurface temperature variations in southwest Indian Ocean.
Rectified Linear Units and Adaptive Moment Estimation Optimizer on ANN with Saved Model Prediction to Improve The Stock Price Prediction Framework Performance

A stock is a high-risk, high-return investment product. Prediction is one way to minimize risk by estimating future prices based on past data. There are limitations to solving the stock prediction problem from previous research: limited stock data, practical aspects of application, and less than optimal stock price prediction results. The main objective of this study is to improve the prediction performance by formulating and developing the stock price prediction framework. Furthermore, the research provides a stock price prediction framework that can produce better prediction results than the previous study with fast computation time. The proposed framework deals with data generation, pre-processing and model prediction. In further, the proposed framework includes two prediction methods for predicting stock closing prices: stored model prediction and current model prediction. This study uses an artificial neural network with Rectified Linear Units as an activation function and Adam Optimizer to predict stock prices. The model we have built for each forecasting method shows a better MAPE value than the model in previous studies. Previous research showed that the lowest MAPE was 1.38% for TLKM shares and 0.81% for BBRI. Our proposed framework based on the stored model prediction method shows a MAPE value of 0.67% for TLKM shares and 0.42% for BBRI. While the current model prediction method shows a MAPE value of 0.69% for TLKM shares and 0.89% for BBRI. Furthermore, the stored model prediction method takes 1.0 seconds to process a single prediction request, while the current model prediction takes 220 seconds.
Incidence, Bacterial Profile and Predictors of Surgical Site Infection After Cesarean Section in Ethiopia, A Prospective Cohort Study

Background Surgical site infections (SSI) after cesarean section are common in Ethiopia and result in maternal morbidity, mortality, hospitalization, and medical costs. This study aimed to determine the incidence, bacterial profile, and associated factors of surgical site infection after cesarean section (CS) in public and private referral hospitals. Methods A prospective observational cohort study was conducted on 741 pregnant women who underwent CS from July to September 2022. Women who had CS were followed up for at least 30 days. Infected wound specimens from those who had SSIs were collected and bacteriologically analyzed. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 25. The logistic regression model assessed the relationship between the independent variable and the outcome with 95% confidence interval. Results The incidence of post-cesarean surgical site infection was 11.6% (95% Cl: 9.4, 13.6). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacteria in CS wounds 10 (21.2%). Two to three antenatal care visits (ANC) (AOR: 3.11, 95% CI: 1.69, 5.75), delayed antenatal booking (AOR: 6.99, 95% CI: 2.09, 23.32), membrane rupture (AOR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.24), multiple vaginal examinations (AOR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.35, 6.92) and public hospitals (AOR: 11.1, 95% CI: 1.48, 45, 14) were associated with increased risk of SSI after CS, in contrary shorter hospital stays (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.91) and transversal incisions (AOR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.91) were associated with lower risk SSI after CS. Conclusion The incidence of SSI after CS was high. Delayed antenatal booking, two to three antenatal visits, multiple vaginal exams, membrane rupture, vertical incision, longer postoperative hospital stays, and procedures in public hospitals were associated with increased risk of SSI after CS. Therefore, intervention programs should focus on post-discharge surveillance and identification of risk to reduce and prevent SSI after CS rate.
Paleomagnetism of mid-Paleozoic subduction-related volcanics from the Chingiz Range in NE Kazakhstan: The evolving paleogeography of the amalgamating Eurasian composite continent

The tectonic and paleogeographic evolution of the Ural-Mongol belt between the cratons of Baltica, Siberia, and Tarim is key to the formation of the Eurasian composite continent during Paleozoic time, but the views on this complicated process remain disparate and sometimes controversial. A study of three volcanic formations of mid-Silurian, Lower to Middle Devonian, and Middle Devonian age from the southwestern boundary of the Chingiz Range (NE Kazakhstan) yields what are interpreted as primary paleomagnetic directions that help clarify the evolution of the belt. A single-polarity characteristic component in mid-Silurian andesites yields a positive intraformational conglomerate test, whereas dual-polarity prefolding components are isolated from the two Devonian collections. Post-folding, reversed-polarity overprint directions have also been isolated and are likely of Permo-Triassic age. These new data can be evaluated together with previously published paleomagnetic results from Paleozoic rocks in the Chingiz Range, and allow us to establish with confi dence the polarity of each result, and hence to determine the hemisphere in which the area was located at a given time. We conclude that NE Kazakhstan was steadily moving northward, albeit with variable velocity, crossing the equator in Silurian time. These new paleomagnetic data from the Chingiz Range also agree with and reinforce the hypothesis that the strongly curved volcanic belts of Kazakhstan underwent oroclinal bending between Middle Devonian and Middle Permian time. A comparison of the Chingiz paleolatitudes with those of Siberia shows, insofar as the sparse data allow, similarities between the northward motion of the Chingiz unit and that of Siberia, which imposes important constraints on the evolving paleogeography of the Ural-Mongol belt.
Changes in insight throughout the natural four-year course of obsessive-compulsive disorder and its association with OCD severity and quality of life

Objective Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and poor insight show higher symptom severity, lower quality of life (QoL), and a reduced treatment response compared to patients with good insight. Little is known about changes in insight. This study explored the course of insight and its association with OCD severity and QoL among 253 patients with OCD participating in the prospective naturalistic Netherlands Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Association (NOCDA) Study. Results In 70% of the participants with available insight data, the level of insight changed during the four-year course. Insight was most variable in participants with poor insight. Improvement of insight scores was statistically significantly associated with improvement of Y-BOCS scores (r = 0.19), but not with changes in QoL scores. Change in insight in the first 2 years was not statistically significantly predictive of OCD severity or QoL at four-year follow-up. Conclusion These findings suggest that patients’ levels of insight may change during the natural four-year course of OCD and that improvement in the level of insight have a positive association with improvement in OCD severity.