Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Groundwater dilution and flow conditions in sulfuric acid caves: the case study of Frasassi (Italy)

This study analyzes the dilution process of the sulfidic groundwater in the Frasassi caves due to the recharge of O2-rich freshwater and its influence on the sulfuric acid speleogenesis and morphogenesis. The drainage pattern and the seasonal changes of the chemo-physical characteristics of the groundwater through a year-long monitoring and the measurements of the groundwater levels are presented. The inflow of water infiltrating from the karst surface influenced the sulfidic groundwater parameters, reflecting the seasonal meteoric cycle. On the contrary, the Sentino River, which represents the local base level, directly influenced the groundwater only in the most external part of the cave. The water level measurements evidenced a low hydraulic gradient (~3‰), due to the high karstification, and also some differences in the permeability depending on the drainage direction. Most cave pools are isolated on the surface and connected to each other through a network of submerged passages. In the present conditions, a surface layer of bicarbonate water forms above the sulfidic water in a large part of the cave, where it impedes subaerial corrosion by released acidic gases. Conversely, the distribution of residual gypsum deposits and corrosional wall features in the upper old cave levels demonstrate that large interfaces between sulfidic water and cave atmosphere existed during some periods of the cave history. Here, the release of acidic gases (CO2 and H2S) and the production of H2SO4 from H2S oxidation caused the widespread subaerial corrosion which significantly contributed to the morphogenesis. The comparison between these residual morphologies and the active processes shows that morphogenesis in the cave has evolved through time, influenced by hydrodynamic conditions, in turn depending on the general morphological and hydrogeological setting of the whole karst area.
Metal Organic Frameworks: Current State and Analysis of Their Use as Modifiers of the Vulcanization Process and Properties of Rubber

The interest in and application of metal organic frameworks (MOF) is increasing every year. These substances are widely used in many places, including the separation and storage of gases and energy, catalysis, electrochemistry, optoelectronics, and medicine. Their use in polymer technology is also increasing, focusing mainly on the synthesis of MOF-polymer hybrid compounds. Due to the presence of metal ions in their structure, they can also serve as a component of the crosslinking system used for curing elastomers. This article presents the possibility of using zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8 or MOF-5 as activators for sulfur vulcanization of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), replacing zinc oxide in conventional (CV) or effective (EF) curing systems to different extents. Their participation in the curing process and influence on the crosslinking density and structure, as well as the mechanical and thermal properties of the rubber vulcanizates, were examined.
Quantitative estimates of anthropogenic contributions to extreme national and State monthly, seasonal and annual average temperatures for Australia

Extreme event attribution studies can provide valuable information for assessing the risks and costs of future climate change. However, the utility of such information for adaptive decision-making depends on reliable information being provided in a timely manner. Here, we present pre-computed Fraction of Attributable Risk (FAR) tables for various Australian temperature records, as an estimate of the change in likelihood of exceeding defined temperature thresholds that can be attributed to anthropogenic influences, such as long-lived greenhouse gases. Australian and State-based area-average mean, maximum and minimum temperature anomalies are considered. The likelihoods of extreme annual, seasonal and monthly temperatures occurring in a suite of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) simulations incorporating only natural forcings (solar and volcanic aerosols) are compared with the likelihoods from simulations including both natural and anthropogenic (greenhouse gases, aerosols and ozone) forcings. This approach provides a simple tool for the timely assessment of the contribution of anthropogenic factors to record-setting temperatures for different Australian regions. In the case when an existing national or State-wide temperature record is exceeded, the FAR ‘look-up’ data tables presented here provide an immediate source of information about the change in risk of such an event occurring that can be attributed to anthropogenic influences. In all regions, the FAR values demonstrate that the likelihood of warmer conditions on various timescales has increased due to anthropogenic forcings. The FAR values presented here will be most useful if updated to reflect future changes in anthropogenic forcings and using new record-setting temperature anomalies.
An Efficient GADI Method With Unstructured Grids for Transient Thermal Analysis of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

In this article, an efficient generalized alternating direction implicit (GADI) method with unstructured grids is proposed for transient thermal simulation of AlGaN/gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). To deal with the multiple feature sizes within GaN devices, locally refined grids are employed in the critical regions, ensuring the accuracy of results while reducing computational resources significantly. Based on the unstructured grids, the GADI method is developed by introducing two additional directions in the time-stepping process. By this means, the confinement of the traditional alternating direction implicit (ADI) method induced by the structured grid is successfully released. The proposed GADI method has advantages of linear complexity and unconditional stability. The accuracy and efficiency of this algorithm are verified by several numerical examples.
Accuracy of Umbilical Cord Complete Blood Count in Detecting Early-Onset Neonatal Thrombocytopenia

Background: Neonatal thrombocytopenia (NTCP) is a common hematological disorder whose platelet count falls below the normal limit of 150 x 109/L. NTCP can cause late complications if left untreated. The current study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the umbilical cord complete blood count (UC CBC) in detecting early-onset neonatal thrombocytopenia (EO-NTCP). Further, the prevalence of NTCP was also investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a matched control was conducted on all newborns delivered at a tertiary care center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between May 2016 and 2019. After exclusions, 40 neonates with EO-NTCP (cases) and 80 without EO-NTCP (controls) were included. The case-to-control ratio was 1:2. The results of UC CBC were compared with those of follow-up CBC, performed within 72 hours. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. All data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 28 for Windows (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results: The prevalence of NTCP was approximately 1.02% (111/10,936). Lack of antenatal care was found in 12 (30%) neonates with EO-NTCP vs. 10 (12.5%) neonates without EO-NTCP (p = 0.02). Neonates with EO-NTCP were more likely to have experienced intrauterine growth restriction (5 (37.5%) vs. 5 (6.3%), p < 0.001) and oligohydramnios (5 (12.5%) vs. 0 (0%), p = 0.003). Neonates who developed EO-NTCP were more likely to be admitted to the NICU (34 (85%) vs. 35 (43.8%), p < 0.001) and receive antibiotics (22 (55%) vs. 25 (31.3%), p = 0.012). Also, neonates with EO-NTCP were more frequently diagnosed with neonatal sepsis (7 (17.5%) vs. 3 (3.8%), p = 0.015) and more likely to receive platelet transfusions (15 (37.5% vs. 1 (1.3%), p < 0.001). They also had a higher median length of hospital stay (13 (interquartile range (IQR) 3-28) vs. 4 (IQR 2-9) days, p = 0.006). The mortality rates of neonates with EO-NTCP and those without were 6 (15%) vs. 2 (2.5%) neonates (p = 0.016). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of UC CBC were 62.50%, 97.50%, 20.40%, and 99.61%, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of EO-NTCP in King Abdulaziz Medical City is comparable to international and national figures, and it is associated with preceding maternal comorbidities, serious neonatal morbidity, and even mortality. Therefore, proper antenatal care is vital in preventing maternal and neonatal morbidities, including the risks of NTCP and its related complications. With high NPV, using UC CBC as a universal screening method could assist in safely discharging newborns. However, because of its low sensitivity, a comprehensive clinical examination with confirmatory laboratory tests are still the cornerstone in diagnosing EO-NTCP. Future trials should aim to study the cost-effectiveness of universal UC CBC and the long-term outcomes of infants diagnosed with EO-NTCP.
Optimization Method to Predict Optimal Noise Reduction Parameters for the Non-Local Means Algorithm Based on the Scintillator Thickness in Radiography

The resulting image obtained from an X-ray imaging system depends significantly on the characteristics of the detector. In particular, when an X-ray image is acquired by thinning the detector, a relatively large amount of noise inevitably occurs. In addition, when a thick detector is used to reduce noise in X-ray images, blurring increases and the ability to distinguish target areas deteriorates. In this study, we aimed to derive the optimal X-ray image quality by deriving the optimal noise reduction parameters based on the non-local means (NLM) algorithm. The detectors used were of two thicknesses (96 and 140 μm), and images were acquired based on the IEC 62220-1-1:2015 RQA-5 protocol. The optimal parameters were derived by calculating the edge preservation index and signal-to-noise ratio according to the sigma value of the NLM algorithm. As a result, a sigma value of the optimized NLM algorithm (0.01) was derived, and this algorithm was applied to a relatively thin X-ray detector system to obtain appropriate noise level and spatial resolution data. The no-reference-based blind/referenceless image spatial quality evaluator value, which analyzes the overall image quality, was best when using the proposed method. In conclusion, we propose an optimized NLM algorithm based on a new method that can overcome the noise amplification problem in thin X-ray detector systems and is expected to be applied in various photon imaging fields in the future.
Characterising Transit Oriented Development in the Paris metropolitan region: what type of TOD are they?

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is a planning model that was introduced by Calthorpe (1993) in the United States. However, it has been applied in different international contexts: in high density urban environments (Asia) but also in medium density urban environments like in Australian cities (Perth, Brisbane) and in Canadian cities (Vancouver). The TOD concept is understudied in Europe. In this paper we analyse TOD-like projects using TOD criteria measurement – like the density of the built environment, the quality of public spaces, accessibility to public transport, the mix of land-uses – to determine the kind of TODs they are. Those criteria have been selected according to the literature on the topic. For this analysis of TOD projects, we use geospatial data for the Paris metropolitan region. After the identification of typical Transit Oriented projects, the objective is to analyse recent TOD case studies (e.g., ZAC Pleyel project in St-Denis). The aim is to understand why some criteria are more challenging than others to implement in practice. The qualitative data has been collected through semi-structured interviews with urban stakeholders. The overall aim of the paper is to provide planning recommendations for best practices of TODs in a high density environment such as the Paris metropolitan region.
Research on the Data Collection and Scenario Generation Method for Automated Vehicles

Automated vehicles should be tested before they can be driven on the road, and the data collection and scenario generation is of great significance for the functional verification and development of automated vehicles. This research focuses on the methods for data collection and scenario generation. The data collection system is established to form industry recognized standards for the data collection. The data collection platform uses vehicles which are equipped with sensors. Based on functions of automated vehicles, functional scenarios, logical scenarios and specific scenarios are established in sequence. Specific scenarios are obtained by Monte Carlo random sampling with the probability density distribution to improve the efficiency of simulation testings. Results show that the method of data collection and scenario generation is reasonable and the scenarios based on the real world can be generated to verify the effectiveness of the automated vehicles.
Genome-Wide Association Analysis Identifies the PMEL Gene Affecting Coat Color and Birth Weight in Simmental × Holstein

Simple Summary Coat color and birth weight are important traits in beef cattle and have a significant impact on breed identification and adult body weight. In this study, genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) of Simmental × Holstein (F1) crossbred cattle revealed that calves with lighter coat color had higher birth weight. Further analysis indicated that mutations in the premelanosome protein (PMEL) gene resulted in a lighter coat color, while the birth weights of individuals heterozygous for this gene were significantly higher than those of the pure genotype. Therefore, mutations in PMEL can result in a lighter coat color, and lighter coat color may, thus, have a selective effect on calf birth weight. Abstract Coat color and birth weight, as easily selected traits in cattle, play important roles in cattle breeding. Therefore, we carried out a genome-wide association study on birth weight and coat color to identify loci or potential linkage regions in 233 Simmental × Holstein crossbred beef cattle. The results revealed that nine SNPs were significantly associated with coat color (rs137169378, rs110022687, rs136002689, Hypotrichosis_PMel17, PMEL_1, rs134930689, rs383170073, rs109924971, and rs109146332), and these were in RNF41, ZC3H10, ERBB3, PMEL, and OR10A7 on BTA5. Interestingly, rs137169378, rs110022687, rs136002689, Hypotrichosis_PMel17, and PMEL_1 showed strong linkage disequilibrium (r2 > 0.8) and were significantly associated with coat color. Notably, Hypotrichosis_PMel17 and PMEL_1 were located in the gene PMEL (p = 2.22 × 10−18). Among the five significant SNPs associated with coat color, the birth weight of heterozygous individuals (AB) was greater than that of homozygous individuals (AA). Notably, the birth weight of heterozygous individuals with Hypotrichosis_PMel17 and PMEL_1 genotypes was significantly greater than that of homozygous individuals (0.01 < p < 0.05). Interestingly, the two loci were homozygous in black/white individuals and heterozygous in gray/white individuals, and the birth weight of heterozygous brown/white individuals (43.82 ± 5.25 kg) was greater than that of homozygous individuals (42.58 ± 3.09 kg). The birth weight of calves with the parental color (41.95 ± 3.53 kg) was significantly lower than that of calves with a non-parental color (43.54 ± 4.78 kg) (p < 0.05), and the birth weight of gray/white individuals (49.40 ± 7.11 kg) was the highest. Overall, PMEL appears to be a candidate gene affecting coat color in cattle, and coat color may have a selective effect on birth weight. This study provides a foundation for the breeding of beef cattle through GWAS for coat color and birth weight.
Hospital admission and the occurrence of delirium in older adults with physical frailty: cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the relationship between hospitalization and the occurrence of delirium in older adults with physical frailty. Method Cross-sectional study carried out in a public hospital in southern Brazil. Hospitalized older adults aged ≥ 60 years participated. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, physical frailty phenotype tests were performed and the Confusion Assessment Method was used. Descriptive analyzes were carried out and odds ratio values were estimated for the frailty and delirium variables. Results Of the 320 older adults evaluated, 21.14% presented delirium, 49% were identified as pre-frail and 36.2% as frail. Of those affected by delirium, 71.6% were classified as frail and 28.3% as pre-frail (p < 0.001). An association was observed between the occurrence of delirium and frailty (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.38), age ≥ 80 years (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.32), epilepsy (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.76), dementia (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.37 to 1.82), and history of stroke (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.26). Conclusion There was a high frequency of pre-frail and frail older adults, and the occurrence of delirium in frail was significantly higher. Special attention should be paid to frail older adults to prevent the occurrence of delirium during hospitalization.
Potential implications of shortened rotation length for forest birds, bryophytes, lichens and vascular plants: An example from southern Swedish production forests

The rotation lengths of intensively managed production forests may be altered to achieve a variety of goals, with correspondingly implications for biodiversity. Here we consider the potential implications of shortened rotation times for biodiversity in planted monocultures of the two most common production tree species in Sweden, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies). To do so we surveyed bird, bryophyte, epiphytic lichen and vascular plant diversity in 80 and 55-year-old stands; stand ages which approximate present-day and potential future rotation lengths in this region respectively. We found clear differences in the species communities of the 55 compared to the 80-year-old stands for both understory species and epiphytes, but not for birds. Nevertheless, bird species richness was still highest in the 80-year-old Norway spruce dominated stands. Dead wood amount was also highest the 80-year-old Norway spruce stands. Highest species richness of epiphytic lichens was found in 80-year-old Scots pine stands. However, 55-year-old Scots pine stands had a higher understory species richness and diversity than the older Scots pine stands, including a larger number of open land species. The 80-year-old forest stands examined may be considered old with respect to production forest rotation lengths in Sweden but are relatively young when comparing stand ages of unmanaged natural forest stands. Nevertheless, our results indicate that shortening the rotation time of Scots pine and Norway spruce, in this part of Sweden from 80 to 55 years, could have important consequences for forest biodiversity. These consequences are primarily inferred from the likely implications from shortened rotations for lichens community composition and diversity in both Norway spruce and Scots pine stands, as well as impacts on understory plant species in Norway spruce stands.
Comparison of diffuse correlation spectroscopy analytical models for measuring cerebral blood flow in adults

Abstract. Significance Although multilayer analytical models have been proposed to enhance brain sensitivity of diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) measurements of cerebral blood flow, the traditional homogeneous model remains dominant in clinical applications. Rigorous in vivo comparison of these analytical models is lacking. Aim We compare the performance of different analytical models to estimate a cerebral blood flow index (CBFi) with DCS in adults. Approach Resting-state data were obtained on a cohort of 20 adult patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Data at 1 and 2.5 cm source-detector separations were analyzed with the homogenous, two-layer, and three-layer models to estimate scalp blood flow index and CBFi. The performance of each model was quantified via fitting convergence, fit stability, brain-to-scalp flow ratio (BSR), and correlation with transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) measurements of cerebral blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Results The homogeneous model has the highest pass rate (100%), lowest coefficient of variation (CV) at rest (median [IQR] at 1 Hz of 0.18 [0.13, 0.22]), and most significant correlation with MCA blood flow velocities (Rs = 0.59, p = 0.010) compared with both the two- and three-layer models. The multilayer model pass rate was significantly correlated with extracerebral layer thicknesses. Discarding datasets with non-physiological BSRs increased the correlation between DCS measured CBFi and TCD measured MCA velocities for all models. Conclusions We found that the homogeneous model has the highest pass rate, lowest CV at rest, and most significant correlation with MCA blood flow velocities. Results from the multilayer models should be taken with caution because they suffer from lower pass rates and higher coefficients of variation at rest and can converge to non-physiological values for CBFi. Future work is needed to validate these models in vivo, and novel approaches are merited to improve the performance of the multimodel models.
Response of pollinator taxa to fire is consistent with historic fire regimes in the Sierra Nevada and mediated through floral richness†

Abstract Many fire‐prone forests are experiencing wildfires that burn outside the historical range of variation in extent and severity. These fires impact pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide, but how the effects of fire are mediated by burn severity in different habitats is not well understood. We used generalized linear mixed models in a Bayesian framework to model the abundance of pollinators as a function of burn severity, habitat, and floral resources in post‐fire, mid‐elevation, conifer forest, and meadow in the Sierra Nevada, California. Although most species‐level effects were not significant, we found highly consistent negative impacts of burn severity in meadows where pollinators were most abundant, with only hummingbirds and some butterfly families responding positively to burn severity in meadows. Moderate‐severity fire tended to increase the abundance of most pollinator taxa in upland forest habitat, indicating that even in large fires that burn primarily at high‐ and moderate‐severity patches may be associated with improved habitat conditions for pollinator species in upland forest. Nearly all pollinator taxa responded positively to floral richness but not necessarily to floral abundance. Given that much of the Sierra Nevada is predicted to burn at high severity, limiting high‐severity effects in meadow and upland habitats may help conserve pollinator communities whereas low‐ to moderate‐severity fire may be needed in both systems.