Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling plastic fluxes with INCA-macroplastics in the Imus catchment: impacts of long-term accumulation and extreme events

Plastic environmental pollution is threatening water resources, aquatic ecosystems, and human wellbeing but is still highly uncertain with global fluxes to sea of 0.4–13 Mt\yr, and up to 517 Mt of mismanaged plastics on land. Catchment modelling tools are required to challenge current knowledge, simulate impacts of management initiatives, and complement global and observation-based studies. Here we present the first spatiotemporally explicit model for mismanaged plastic mobilization and transport from land to sea from the INtegrated CAtchment (INCA) family. INCA-Macroplastics encompasses all components of the catchment, is driven by available data (weather, population, solid waste) and enables calibration and validation against diverse observations (river monitoring, household surveys). INCA-Macroplastics was applied to the Imus River, Philippines, one of World’s most polluted rivers. Given large uncertainties on catchment plastic retention, two calibrations and two emission scenarios were developed to describe catchment plastic fluxes, residence time and stocks over 1990–2020. Plastic fluxes to the sea are highly variable over years and seasons (55–75% exported during the wet season) and have increased exponentially over 1990–2020 from 5–100 to 2000–15000 tons\yr. INCA-Macroplastics is the first model handling plastic accumulation on land and highlights the importance of extreme flooding events in mobilizing and transporting legacy plastics. Model outputs explicitly show that current land plastic pollution can impact fluxes to the ocean for up to 30 years into the future. INCA-Macroplastics is useful to provide tailored recommendations for local monitoring, testing waste management scenarios and pointing towards future research avenues.
Au- and Ag-nanoparticles interaction with fibrin protein molecules

The interactions of Au- and Ag-nanospheres with fibrin molecules have been investigated using Monte Carlo, density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations. The negative adsorption energies were recorded whenever fibrin molecules got adsorbed onto either Au- or Ag-nanospheres. Au(55) and Ag(55) nanospheres recorded the most energetically stable adsorption energies of -3.00 and -3.27 eV respectively. Binding distances between the terminal functional group atoms and either Au- or Ag-nanospheres were estimated using the radial distribution functions. Au-H showed shortest bond lengths of 2.37, 2.47, 2.57, and 2.37 Å respectively for Au(19), Au(38), Au(55), and Au(79) nanospheres. Likewise, Ag-H registered the shortest bond lengths of 2.11, 2.45, 2.57, 2.47 Å respectively for Ag(19), Ag(38), Ag(55), and Ag(79) nanospheres. The mean square displacement and diffusion coefficient constants were also used to probe the possibility of H, C, N, and O atoms diffusion into the Au- and Ag-nanospheres matrices. All H, C, N, and O atoms were found to diffuse readily in Au-nanospheres compared to Ag-nanospheres. Au(55) recorded the highest diffusion coefficient constants for the H, C, and N atoms. Ag(79) registered the highest diffusion coefficient constants for H, C, N, and O atoms.
Full-Resolution Lung Nodule Localization From Chest X-Ray Images Using Residual Encoder-Decoder Networks

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and early diagnosis is associated with a positive prognosis. Chest X-ray (CXR) provides an inexpensive imaging mode for lung cancer diagnosis. Computer vision algorithms have previously been proposed to assist human radiologists in this task; however, leading studies use down-sampled images and computationally expensive methods with unproven generalization. In contrast, this study localizes lung nodules from CXR images using efficient encoder-decoder neural networks that have been crafted to process full resolution input images, thereby avoiding signal loss resulting from down-sampling. Encoder-decoder networks are trained and tested using the Japanese Society of Radiological Technology dataset. The networks are used to localize lung nodules from an independent CXR dataset. These experiments allow for the determination of the optimal network depth, image resolution, and pre-processing pipeline for generalized lung nodule localization. We find that more subtle nodules are detected in earlier training epochs. Therefore, we propose a novel self-ensemble model from three consecutive epochs centered on the validation optimum. This ensemble achieved a sensitivity of 85% in 10-fold internal testing with false positives of 8 per image. A sensitivity of 81% is achieved at a false positive rate of 6 following morphological false positive reduction. This result is comparable to more computationally complex systems, but with a sub-second inference time that is faster than other methods presented in the literature. The proposed algorithm achieved excellent generalization results against a challenging external dataset with a sensitivity of 77% at a false positive rate of 7.6.
The impact of organizational compliance culture and green culture on environmental behavior: The moderating effect of environmental commitment

In this research, we aim to examine the moderating effect of environmental commitment on the relationships between organizational compliance culture and green culture on environmental behavior, under the theoretical stream of the Resource Based Theory (RBT) of the firm, and the Value-Belief-Norm theory (VBN). The research used a quantitative research approach, with a non-experimental transactional design. The sample consisted of 148 Mexican companies with a corporate value system that has implemented environmental sustainability practices, most of them incorporating the GRI guidelines, the SDGs and the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into their strategies, policies, procedures, and initiatives. This study contributes to the literature in the field of environmental sustainability, with a first theoretical PLS-SEM model that studies moderating and control variables, through organizational compliance on environmental behavior. Our proposed PLS model is a complex hierarchical component model that brings together and simultaneously maps a higher-order construct combined with three lower-order constructs, with moderation effects, multi-group analysis and predictive performance assessment. The major research findings are both the positive impacts between the proposed higher-order construct, organizational compliance culture, and green culture, on environmental behavior, and the moderating effect of environmental commitment on the relationship between green culture and environmental behavior. The insights obtained enhance the understanding of the factors that determine the environmental behavior through organizational compliance culture and green culture, with the moderating effect of environmental commitment, and help senior management in making strategic decisions to align their environmental objectives in compliance with the 2030 agenda in the area of environmental sustainability. This study highlights the need for companies to strengthen the role of environmental commitment to improve the environmental sustainability and it mentions practical implications both for managers of organizations that are responsible for meeting the objectives of sustainable development, specifically in the environmental field, and for policymakers and authorities that guide environmental policies.
Unveiling Ineffectiveness: Exploring Indicators of Failed Coaching Education Systems

Effective coaching education (CE) systems are paramount for producing competent coaches, yet not all CE systems achieve this goal. This paper examines signs of CE system failure. We establish CE's importance, outline a theoretical framework for a successful CE system, and identify indicators of inefficiency. These indicators include limited skill transfer, low engagement, outdated content, cultural insensitivity, insufficient practical training, absence of professional development, and inadequate feedback mechanisms. Recognizing these signs is crucial for early intervention. Recommendations stress the need for practical, inclusive, and regularly evaluated CE programs, highlighting trends in CE enhancement. This paper offers a comprehensive exploration of potential CE system failures, charting a course for improved coaching education, benefiting coaches, athletes, and the sports field. As the coaching landscape evolves, a forward-looking perspective presents anticipated trends in enhancing CE systems, ensuring that coaches are equipped to succeed in the dynamic world of sports.
Fugitive Emission Characteristics of Fume and Dust from Short-Process Electric Furnace Tap Hole and Optimization of Dust Hood

Due to the advantages of a short cycle, low investment and low energy consumption per ton of steel, short-process electric furnace steelmaking is about to welcome a golden period of rapid development in China. During the operation of the electric furnace, a large amount of smoke and dust is generated. Most studies focus on organized emissions, and the impact of unorganized emissions in workshops on the environment cannot be ignored. This paper evaluates the thermal environment in the electric furnace steelmaking workshop based on the analytic hierarchy process and obtains the influence weight of the fugitive emission location. The mass concentration of dust at each measuring point increased by 1.17 mg/m3 on average, and the concentration of unorganized emission dust near the outlet was 23.572 mg/m3. The numerical simulation calculation model is established by the CFD method, a fixed initial jet velocity is set, the initial velocity of the ladle soot plume is changed, and the inclination angle, arrangement height and dust removal air volume of the dust hood are respectively adjusted in different tapping periods. The impact of simulation on the efficiency of dust collection for different dust removal hood configurations was investigated, considering variations in inclination angle, arrangement height and dust removal airflow. The optimal structural parameters for the dust removal hood were determined to be an inclination angle of 60° and an arrangement height of 2.4 m, and an optimal dust removal airflow was determined to be 110,000 m3/h. This study provides a theoretical foundation for engineering practice.
Joint Scheduling and Routing Optimization for Deterministic Hybrid Traffic in Time-Sensitive Networks Using Constraint Programming

Real-time communications characterized by low-latency, deterministic, and reliable behavior are crucial for the advancement of emerging technologies. Consequently, Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) has been developed to address the distinct demands of sectors such as automation and autonomous vehicles applications. This is currently achieved through various methods that emphasize the scheduling of critical data traffic. However, many of these methods determine routes independently, potentially impacting the schedulability of transmissions. Additionally, there is a noticeable lack of emphasis on the scheduling and routing of low-priority transmissions within TSN. In this paper, we introduce the Optimized Hybrid Deterministic Scheduling and Routing (OHDSR) approach. This method takes into account the priority of communications to jointly optimize the scheduling and routing of Time-Triggered (TT) communications, while also catering to low-priority Best-Effort (BE) communications. Extensive experimental evaluations show the high efficiency of our proposed method. It ensures not only the prompt delivery of TT communications but also the delivery of BE communications within suitable time frames, with a maximum difference of 14.29% from TT communications, meeting their respective deadlines. Moreover, the evaluation demonstrates the high scalability of the proposed approach, providing improved response times compared to the latest work for both routing and scheduling.
Inhaled Medicines for Targeting Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Throughout the years, considerable progress has been made in methods for delivering drugs directly to the lungs, which offers enhanced precision in targeting specific lung regions. Currently, for treatment of lung cancer, the prevalent routes for drug administration are oral and parenteral. These methods, while effective, often come with side effects including hair loss, nausea, vomiting, susceptibility to infections, and bleeding. Direct drug delivery to the lungs presents a range of advantages. Notably, it can significantly reduce or even eliminate these side effects and provide more accurate targeting of malignancies. This approach is especially beneficial for treating conditions like lung cancer and various respiratory diseases. However, the journey towards perfecting inhaled drug delivery systems has not been without its challenges, primarily due to the complex structure and functions of the respiratory tract. This comprehensive review will investigate delivery strategies that target lung cancer, specifically focusing on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)—a predominant variant of lung cancer. Within the scope of this review, active and passive targeting techniques are covered which highlight the roles of advanced tools like nanoparticles and lipid carriers. Furthermore, this review will shed light on the potential synergies of combining inhalation therapy with other treatment approaches, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The goal is to determine how these combinations might amplify therapeutic results, optimizing patient outcomes and overall well-being.
Design of transdermal patch of ketoprofen by full factorial design for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Oral therapy of NSAIDs for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis causes gastric irritation and ulceration. In the present study transdermal patch of ketoprofen was developed using hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose E5 and Eudragit S100. Patches were prepared by solvent evaporation method. Optimization was carried out by 32 factorial design with polymer concentration (HPMC E5) and plasticizer concentration (propylene glycol) as independent variables. Patches were evaluated for folding endurance, surface pH, drug content, percent moisture content, water uptake and swelling studies. Ex vivo permeation studies of optimized patch was performed using Franz diffusion cell while bioadhesion force and tensile strength were measured by using texture analyzer. Hydrophilic nature, swelling ability and wettability of polymer and plasticizer were responsible for increase in flux and bioadhesion with increase in their concentrations in the factorial batches. Swelling index of all formulations was in the range of 17.3 ±1.2 to 65.29 ±4.78 up to 3h. Flux obtained from all batches was in the range of 3.37±0.23 to 5.43±0. 13µg/h/cm2. Anti-inflammatory studies using carrageenan-induced rat paw edema showed greater paw swelling reduction in case of ketoprofen patch. Cumulative percent drug permeation of optimized patch through nylon 66, Wistar rat skin and cadaver skin was found to be 92.3% >86.28 %>63.42% in 8h, while flux order was 6.073> 5.442 > 2.219 µg/h/cm2 respectively. The study concludes that transdermal patch of ketoprofen will be more efficacious with absence of gastric irritation observed in oral formulations. Keywords: Ketoprofen, Bioadhesion, HPMC E5, Flux, Backing membrane
Qualitative Characterization of Lead–Acid Batteries Fabricated Using Different Technological Procedures: An EIS Approach

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques were applied in this work to nine industrially fabricated lead–acid battery prototypes, which were divided into three type/technology packages. Frequency-dependent impedance changes were interpreted during successive charge/discharge cycles in two distinct stages: (1) immediately after fabrication and (2) after a controlled aging procedure to 50% depth of discharge following industrial standards. To investigate their state of health behavior vs. electrical response, three methods were employed, namely, the Q-Q0 total charge analysis, the decay values of the constant-phase element in the equivalent Randles circuits, and the resonance frequency of the circuit. A direct correlation was found for the prediction of the best-performing batteries in each package, thus allowing for a qualitative analysis that was capable of providing the decay of the batteries’ states of health. We found which parameters were directly connected with their lifetime performance in both stages and, as a consequence, which type/technology battery prototype displayed the best performance. Based on this methodology, industrial producers can further establish the quality of novel batteries in terms of performance vs. lifespan, allowing them to validate the novel technological innovations implemented in the current prototypes.
Calculation of Rainwater Harvesting Potential by Using Mean Annual Rainfall, Surface Runoff and Catchment area

Water is essential for the environment, for ensuring agriculture growth and for ensuring food security. Rainwater harvesting is a technique to utilise and store precious water that otherwise would go waste. We estimate the quantity of water that can be harvested by Indira Paryavaran Bhawan which comes out to be 26,37,230 Litres. The research use Mean Annual Rainfall, Catchment area and Rainfall run-off coefficient to calculate the rainwater that can be harvested.
Composition and Anti-Acetylcholinesterase Properties of the Essential Oil of the Ecuadorian Endemic Species Eugenia valvata McVaugh

Alzheimer’s disease is a global health problem due to the scarcity of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, the basis for symptomatic treatment of this disease; this requires new approaches to drug discovery. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and anticholinesterase activity of Eugenia valvata McVaugt (Myrtaceae) collected in southern Ecuador, which was obtained as an essential oil (EO) with a yield of 0.124 ± 0.03% (w/w); as a result of the chemical composition analysis, a total of 58 organic compounds were identified—representing 95.91% of the total volatile compounds—using a stationary phase based on 5% phenyl-methylpolysiloxane, as analyzed via gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The main groups were hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes (37.43%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (31.08%), hydrocarbon monoterpenes (24.14%), oxygenated monoterpenes (0.20%), and other compounds (3.058%). Samples were characterized by the following compounds: α-pinene (22.70%), α-humulene (17.20%), (E)-caryophyllene (6.02%), citronellyl pentanoate (5.76%), 7-epi-α-eudesmol (4.34%) and 5-iso-cedranol (3.64%); this research was complemented with an enantioselective analysis carried out using 2,3-diethyl-6-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin as a stationary phase chiral selector. As a result, α-pinene, limonene, and α-cadinene enantiomers were identified; finally, in the search for new active principles, the EO reported strong anticholinesterase activity with an IC50 of 53.08 ± 1.13 µg/mL, making it a promising candidate for future studies of Alzheimer’s disease.
Identification of apolipoprotein A-I as a "STOP" signal for myopia Molecular Cellular

High Density Lipoprotein; LDL; Low Density Lipoprotein; LDLR, Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor; LIM, Lens Induced Myopia; LIH, Lens Induced Hyperopia; LRP, LDL Related Receptor Protein; LT, Lens Thickness; MMP, Matrix Metalloproteinases; PPAR, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor; SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; TGF, Transforming Growth Factor; VCD, Vitreous Chamber Depth; VLDL, Very Low Density Lipoprotein.
FAIR SAMPLING OF TAXONOMIC RICHNESS AND UNBIASED ESTIMATION OF ORIGINATION AND EXTINCTION RATES

Paleobiologists are reaching a consensus that biases in diversity curves, origination rates, and extinction rates need to be removed using statistical estimation methods. Diversity estimates are biased both by methods of counting and by variation in the amount of fossil data. Traditional counts are essentially tallies of age ranges. Because these counts are distorted by interrelated factors such as the Pull of the Recent and the Signor-Lipps effect, counts of taxa actually sampled within intervals should be used instead. Sampling intensity biases can be addressed with randomized subsampling of data records such as individual taxonomic occurrences or entire fossil collections. Fair subsampling would yield taxon counts that track changes in the species pool size, i.e., the diversity of all taxa that could ever be sampled. Most of the literature has overlooked this point, having instead focused on making sample sizes uniform through methods such as rarefaction. These methods flatten the data, undersampling when true diversity is high. A good solution to this problem involves the concept of frequency distribution coverage: a taxon's underlying frequency is said to be “covered” when it is represented by at least one fossil in a data set. A fair subsample, but not a uniform one, can be created by drawing collections until estimated coverage reaches a fixed target (i.e., until a “shareholder quorum” is attained). Origination and extinction rates present other challenges. For many years they were thought of in terms of simple counts or ratios, but they are now treated as exponential decay coefficients of the kind featuring in simple birth-death models. Unfortunately, these instantaneous rates also suffer from counting method biases (e.g., the Pull of the Recent). Such biases can be removed by only examining taxa sampled twice consecutively, three times consecutively, or in the first and third of three intervals but not the second (i.e., two timers, three timers, and part timers). Two similar equations involving these counts can be used. Alternative methods of estimating diversity and turnover through extrapolation share some of the advantages of quorum subsampling and two-timer family equations, but it remains to be shown whether they produce precise and accurate estimates when applied to fossil data.
Encapsulation of Olive Leaf Polyphenol-Rich Extract in Polymeric Micelles to Improve Its Intestinal Permeability

In the present study, polymeric micelles were developed to improve the intestinal permeability of an extract of Olea europaea L. leaf with a high content of total polyphenols (49% w/w), with 41% w/w corresponding to the oleuropein amount. A pre-formulation study was conducted to obtain a stable formulation with a high loading capacity for extract. The freeze-drying process was considered to improve the stability of the formulation during storage. Micelles were characterized in terms of physical and chemical properties, encapsulation efficiency, stability, and in vitro release. The optimized system consisted of 15 mg/mL of extract, 20 mg/mL of Pluronic L121, 20 mg/mL of Pluronic F68, and 10 mg/mL of D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS), with dimensions of 14.21 ± 0.14 nm, a polydisersity index (PdI) of 0.19 ± 0.05 and an encapsulation efficiency of 66.21 ± 1.11%. The influence of the micelles on polyphenol permeability was evaluated using both Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) and the Caco-2 cell monolayer. In both assays, the polymeric micelles improved the permeation of polyphenols, as demonstrated by the increase in Pe and Papp values.