Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring Spatiotemporal Patterns of Expressway Traffic Accidents Based on Density Clustering and Bayesian Network

Exploring spatiotemporal patterns of traffic accidents from historic crash databases is one essential prerequisite for road safety management and traffic risk prevention. Presently, with the emergence of GIS and data mining technologies, numerous geospatial analysis methods have been successfully adopted for traffic accident analysis. As characterized by high driving speeds, diverse vehicle types, and isolated traffic environments, expressways are confronted with more serious accident risks than urban roads. In this paper, we propose a combined method based on improved density clustering and the Bayesian inference network to explore spatiotemporal patterns of expressway accidents. Firstly, the spatiotemporal accident neighborhood is integrated into the DBSCAN clustering algorithm to discover multi-scale expressway black spots. Secondly, the Bayesian network model is separately employed in both local-scale black spots and regional-scale expressway networks to fully explore spatially heterogenous accident factors in various black spots and expressways. The experimental results show that the proposed method can correctly extract spatiotemporal aggregation patterns of multi-scale expressway black spots and meanwhile efficiently discover diverse causal factors for various black spots and expressways, providing a comprehensive analysis of accident prevention and safety management.
Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles as Effective Drug Delivery Systems—A review

Chitosan-based nanoparticles (chitosan-based nanocomposites; chitosan nanoparticles; ChNPs) are promising materials that are receiving a lot of attention in the last decades. ChNPs have great potential as nanocarriers. They are able to encapsulate drugs as well as active compounds and deliver them to a specific place in the body providing a controlled release. In the article, an overview has been made of the most frequently used preparation methods, and the developed applications in medicine. The presentation of the most important information concerning ChNPs, especially chitosan’s properties in drug delivery systems (DDS), as well as the method of NPs production was quoted. Additionally, the specification and classification of the NPs’ morphological features determined their application together with the methods of attaching drugs to NPs. The latest scientific reports of the DDS using ChNPs administered orally, through the eye, on the skin and transdermally were taken into account.
Observations of Cyclopropenylidene (Cyclic-C3H2) in the External Galaxies NGC 253 and M 82

Several transitions of the cyclopropenylidene (cyclic-C3H2) molecule have been observed in the 83–218GHz region toward NGC 253 and M 82. Assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium, the rotational temperatures were determined to be 10.8 ± 2. 4K and 11.5 ± 3.0 K for NGC 253 and M 82, respectively, where the errors indicate three standard deviations (3 σ). The column densities of cyclic-C3H2 were determined to be N(NGC 253) = (2.7 ±1.1) ×10 13 cm −2 and N(M 82)=(1.9±0.9)×10 13 cm −2 . Large velocity gradient calculations were applied to estimate kinetic temperatures of around 60K for NGC 253 and M 82. Considering the present result and recent observations of NH3 in both galaxies, molecular production mechanisms are discussed.
Optical properties of fluorescent zigzag graphene quantum dots derived from multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which are edge-bound nanometer-size graphene pieces, have fascinating electronic and optical properties due to their quantum confinement and edge effect. In this paper, GQDs were synthesized by using acid treatment and chemical exfoliation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The structure of the GQDs was investigated by transmission electron microscope. The GQDs have a uniform size distribution, zigzag edge structure and two-dimensional morphology. The results indicated that the GQDs have bright blue emission upon UV excitation. The highly fluorescent GQDs exhibited high water solubility and good stability. It is shown that the acid treatment of MWCNTs leads to the formation of the functional group in zigzag sites, which results in the pH-dependent fluorescence of the GQDs.
Sensitivity analysis of a dual excitation synchronous wind generator design model

A sensitivity analysis is performed on the parameters of an offshore dual excitation synchronous wind generator (DESG) with a nominal power of 15MW. The results reveal that the nominal voltage, the normalized permeance, the saliency ratio, the number of pole pairs and the ratio between the joule excitation losses and the joule losses of the armature have the strongest influence over the design model outputs. These five parameters are thus the main parameters for an optimal design of the DESG.
STEM education in early primary years: Teachers’ views and confidence

Pre-school and first years of primary school provide the basis for future learning in STEM, and teachers’ views-confidence are important for effective classroom practices. This study investigated teachers’ views and confidence in implementing STEM education in early primary years. The participants were 140 Greek teachers who completed an online 35-item questionnaire. Teachers expressed positive-strong perceptions and confidence in implementing STEM education in early primary years. Over 80% of the sample expressed agreement in that they feel comfortable-confident when they facilitate inquiry-based learning activities within mathematics or science topics. The practical obstacles of resources-material and time to explore STEM topics and implement learning activities were reported. The findings have implications for educational policy and practice.
Numerical Solution of Coupling Between Two Collinear Parallel-Plate Waveguides

The problem of coupling between two collinear parallel-plate waveguides is investigated numerically using moment methods. The exciting mode in the waveguide is assumed as the incident field, and the integral equation for the induced current is expressed in terms of the reflected, transmitted, and evanescent currents on the waveguides. The integral equation is then solved numerically by a point-matching method and the reflection and the transmission coefficients and the radiated fields are obtained. To examine the accuracy of the results, the special case of a semi-infinite exciting waveguide coupled to a finite coupled waveguide is also considered and is solved numerically by treating the singularities of the induced currents using a transformation method. For a TE/sub 0,1/ excitation of the exciting waveguide, the results of both numerical methods are compared with the analytical results obtained previously using the Wiener-Hopf technique, and are found to be in good agreement. The methods are then used to study the effect of the coupled waveguide on the radiation field.
Spatial Variability of External Egg Quality in Vertical Naturally Ventilated Caged Aviaries

Simple Summary The external quality of eggs is an essential factor to consider in the poultry production sector since economic losses are directly related. This study evaluated the spatial variability of external egg quality in naturally ventilated vertical caged aviaries, with variability in quality hypothesized to be caused by hen age differences and by variability in thermal and light conditions within the aviary. Both winter and summer conditions in a tropical region were examined. The spatial variability of external egg quality was found to be greater in summer than in winter, regardless of hen age. Egg weight and shell quality values were lower in the upper level of cages located in the center of the aviary. The light intensity in the aviary presented tremendous spatial variability, but its effect on external egg quality was not significant. Egg external quality spatial distribution determination is shown to be a useful indicator of economic loss and an aid in hen nutritional and thermal management, as well as in egg collection and classification, by deploying a differentiated management of collection in the area where hens produce eggs with lower external egg quality. Abstract External egg quality is an essential parameter of egg production as it relates directly to economic losses. This study evaluated the spatial variability of external egg quality in five naturally ventilated caged vertical aviaries. Differences caused by bird age and thermal and luminous variability within aviaries during winter and summer were analyzed. Data on aviary air temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, and external egg quality were collected at evenly distributed points along the aviary length within three levels of cages. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme. In the summer, the highest air temperature and lowest relative humidity were found in central cages, mainly in upper center cages; hens produced eggs with a lower weight and shape index in this area. Similar results were obtained in the winter. In the summer, eggs with lower shell weight and thickness were also produced by hens housed in the central cages, but in the winter, the opposite result was obtained. This study of the spatial variability of external egg quality proved efficient in detecting areas within an aviary with poor quality eggs; improvements to design and management in these areas could help management improve production efficiency and contribute to a sustainable egg supply.
A Comparative Analysis of Modulated Multilevel Converter at Variable Arm Inductance

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) is an efficient converter due to its use in medium and high-power applications. In this manuscript, the output performance of modular multilevel converter is presented by varying the arm parameter (such as arm inductance and arm capacitance) as well as modulation index. This paper has also shown the comparative analysis of MMC by using different multicarrier modulation techniques at different modulation index. The total harmonic distortion (THD) analysis is shown here. It has been observed that the THD is improved by using phase shifted modulation technique as compared to phase disposition modulation technique. The phase shifted modulation approach is more efficient than other modulation techniques. The output performance of voltage and current analysis have been obtained.
The phases and amplitudes of gravity waves propagating and dissipating in the thermosphere: Application to measurements over Alaska

[1] In a companion paper, we derived the high-frequency, compressible, dissipative polarization relations for gravity waves (GWs) propagating in the thermosphere. In this paper, we apply the results to nighttime thermospheric observations of a GW over Alaska on 9–10 January 2010. Using a vertically-pointed Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) at Poker Flat that measured vertical wind perturbations (w′) and two FPIs that measured the line-of-sight (LOS) velocities in four common volumes, we inferred a GW ground-based period ∼32.7 ± 0.3 min, horizontal wavelength λH = 1094 ± 408 km, horizontal ground-based phase speed cH ∼ 560 ± 210 m/s, and propagation azimuth θ ∼ 33.5 ± 15.8° east-of-north. We compared the phase shifts and amplitude ratios of this GW with that predicted by the GW dissipative polarization relations derived in the companion paper, enabled by the ability of the FPIs to measure fundamental GW parameters (wind and temperature perturbations). We find that GWs with λH ∼ 700–1100 km, λz ∼ −500 to −350 km, θ ∼ 15 to 50°, and cH ∼ 350–560 m/s agree with the observations if the primary contribution to the 630-nm emission was near the upper portion of that layer. The source of GW was likely thermospheric given the large intrinsic phase speed of the wave. Possible sources are discussed, the most likely of which are related to the onset of auroral activity near the time that the wave was initially observed.
SMALL CARBONACEOUS MOLECULES, ETHYLENE OXIDE (c-C2H4O) AND CYCLOPROPENYLIDENE (c-C3H2): SOURCES OF THE UNIDENTIFIED INFRARED BANDS?

We suggest that small carbonaceous molecules (SCMs) may be the sources of the unidentified infrared bands (UIRs) and the underlying continuum. We show that the IR spectroscopy of ethylene oxide (EO, c-C2H4O) and cyclopropenylidene (CP, c-C3H2) closely correlates with the major UIR bands at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.2 μm, the often seen strong bands at 12.7 and 16.4 μm, as well as many minor features. The differences in band locations and shapes between laboratory EO absorption spectra and astrophysical UIR emission spectra are attributed to vibrational anharmonicity, Fermi resonance splitting of nearly degenerate vibration levels, and rotational envelope narrowing due to the low temperatures in space. The excitation mechanism is absorption of UV radiation, primarily Lyα, by SCMs. Photon trapping for this very optically thick transition enhances the absorption by several orders of magnitude. Our abundance analysis for NGC 7027 reveals that the SCM abundance, relative to H2, is ∼3 × 10−9 which compares well to radio measurements of the CP abundance range of ∼10−9–10−7. The origin of the UIR continuum is discussed in terms of emission from vibrationally and rotationally hot SCM UV photodissociation products and UV excitation of rotationally hot SCM species. Radio lines of CP have been seen in numerous astronomical objects, most displaying the UIR bands. EO is also seen, but in fewer objects, none displaying the UIR bands. We theorize that in UIR objects, EO is formed on, and primarily resides on, carbonaceous grains, precluding radio detection of rotational lines. We suggest laboratory experiments, astronomical observations, and theoretical investigations to further evaluate the SCM mechanism for the UIR bands and continuum.
Platelets Facilitate Wound Healing by Mitochondrial Transfer and Reducing Oxidative Stress in Endothelial Cells

As a critical member in wound healing, vascular endothelial cells (ECs) impaired under high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) would hamper neovascularization. Mitochondria transfer can reduce intracellular ROS damage under pathological condition. Meanwhile, platelets can release mitochondria and alleviate oxidative stress. However, the mechanism by which platelets promote cell survival and reduce oxidative stress damage has not been clarified. Here, first, we selected ultrasound as the best method for subsequent experiments by detecting the growth factors and mitochondria released from manipulation platelet concentrates (PCs), as well as the effect of manipulation PCs on the proliferation and migration of HUVECs. Then, we found that sonicate platelet concentrates (SPC) decreased the level of ROS in HUVECs treated with hydrogen peroxide in advance, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced apoptosis. By transmission electron microscope, we saw that two kinds of mitochondria, free or wrapped in vesicles, were released by activated platelets. In addition, we explored that platelet-derived mitochondria were transferred to HUVECs partly by means of dynamin-dependent clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Consistently, we determined that platelet-derived mitochondria reduced apoptosis of HUVECs caused by oxidative stress. What is more, we screened survivin as the target of platelet-derived mitochondria via high-throughput sequencing. Finally, we demonstrated that platelet-derived mitochondria promoted wound healing in vivo. Overall, these findings revealed that platelets are important donors of mitochondria, and platelet-derived mitochondria can promote wound healing by reducing apoptosis caused by oxidative stress in vascular endothelial cells. And survivin is a potential target. These results further expand the knowledge of the platelet function and provide new insights into the role of platelet-derived mitochondria in wound healing.
Formulations in rates and increments for elastic-plastic analysis

Minimum principles in velocities, stress rates and plastic strain rates are extended in order to derive formulations for finite increments of displacement, stress and plastic strain fields defining complete numerical methods. Kinematical, statical and mixed principles are developed from a new variational formulation of the elastic-plastic work-hardening constitutive relation. The consequences of this time discretization are discussed independently of any discretization of the continuum. In particular, the incremental formulations derived from extended rate principles account for local elastic unloading and produce stress field approximations complying with equilibrium and plastic admissibility without any additional procedure, at least for piecewise linear yield functions. These properties are not fulfilled when the incremental analysis is based on direct discrete versions of classical rate principles. Finally, FEM approximations are formally introduced and the solution of the resulting finite dimensional quadratic optimization problem is considered.
Molecular dynamics of He encapsulation in the C20H20 cage at the threshold energy

Abstract The encapsulation of He inside C20H20 cage has been investigated in the framework of molecular dynamics for incident atom energy in a range close to the threshold value, corresponding to the projectile passing through the pentagonal carbon ring. The entrance of He atom into dodecahedrane is analyzed in terms of static and dynamic potential barriers. The details of helium capture inside the molecular box is revealed by using geometric and energetic parameters, being associated with the response of the atomic configuration near the collision site on the C20H20 cage. The energy transferred from the incident atom to deformation, vibrations, and recoil of the molecule target, was calculated as a function of the distance between the projectile and the collision site on C20H20 cage. The calculations show that the noble gas atom, encapsulated at the threshold of 315.62 Å/ps, oscillates across the void of the dodecahedrane with frequencies of 2.5, 22.5, and 25.0 THz, monitored for a time interval of 10 ps starting at helium penetration into C20H20. Molecular dynamics calculations are based on ab-initio Hartree-Fock method, considering an adiabatic process. This study reveals advantageous features of helium encapsulation in dodecahedrane molecules in designing super-molecular structures for advanced nano sensors in the field of THz detectors.
Tuning the Extracellular Vesicles Membrane through Fusion for Biomedical Applications

Membrane fusion is one of the key phenomena in the living cell for maintaining the basic function of life. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have the ability to transfer information between cells through plasma membrane fusion, making them a promising tool in diagnostics and therapeutics. This study explores the potential applications of natural membrane vesicles, EVs, and their fusion with liposomes, EVs, and cells and introduces methodologies for enhancing the fusion process. EVs have a high loading capacity, bio-compatibility, and stability, making them ideal for producing effective drugs and diagnostics. The unique properties of fused EVs and the crucial design and development procedures that are necessary to realize their potential as drug carriers and diagnostic tools are also examined. The promise of EVs in various stages of disease management highlights their potential role in future healthcare.
Pore Structure and Gas Content Characteristics of Lower Jurassic Continental Shale Reservoirs in Northeast Sichuan, China

The Jurassic shale in the northeastern Sichuan Basin is one of the main target intervals for continental shale gas exploitation. Research on the pore structure and gas-bearing properties of shales is the key issue in target interval optimization. Through core observation, geochemistry, bulk minerals, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, and isothermal adsorption experiments, various lithofacies with different pore structure characteristics were clarified. In addition, the factors that control gas-bearing properties were discussed, and a continental shale gas enrichment model was finally established. The results show that the Jurassic continental shale in the northeastern Sichuan Basin can be classified into six lithofacies. Organic pores, intergranular pores, interlayer pores in clay minerals, intercrystalline pores in pyrite framboids, and dissolution pores can be observed in shale samples. Pore structures varied in different shale lithofacies. The contact angle of shales is commonly less than 45°, leading to complex wettability of pores in the shales. Free gas content is mainly controlled by the organic matter (OM) content and the brittleness in the Jurassic shale. The adsorbed gas content is mainly controlled by the OM content, clay mineral type, and water saturation of the shales. The enrichment mode of the Lower Jurassic continental shale gas in the northeastern Sichuan Basin is established. Paleoenvironments control the formation of organic-rich shales in the center part of lakes. The “baffle” layer helps the confinement and high pressure, and the complex syncline controls the preservation, forming the enrichment pattern of the complex syncline-central baffle layer.
Understanding the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinx emerging adults

There is growing evidence about the potential negative psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ethnoracially minoritized young adults. Emerging adulthood is a developmental stage (ages 18-29 years old) that is characterized by identity exploration, instability, self-focus, feeling “in between” and having a sense of possibilities. Latinx emerging adults have reported significant socio-emotional consequences as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to explore the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinx emerging adults (N = 31; ages 18-29) in California and Florida through online focus group interviews. A qualitative constructivist grounded theory approach was used in an effort to develop empirical knowledge, as research on the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinx young adults is limited. This method served to capture the richness of the experiences of participants by allowing analytic codes and categories to drive theory development. In total, seven focus groups were held and participants attended a virtual focus group with other Latinx emerging adults from their state. The focus groups were transcribed verbatim and coded using constructivist grounded theory. Five themes were identified from the data concerning the impact of the pandemic on Latinx emerging adults, which centered around mental health experiences, navigating family factors, pandemic-related communication, career and academic disruptions, and systemic and environmental factors. A theoretical model was constructed to generate an understanding about factors influencing psychosocial functioning for Latinx emerging adults during the pandemic. The study has implications for advancing science on the consequences of pandemics on mental health and cultural considerations that may influence disaster recovery. Examples of these cultural considerations that emerged from this study include multigenerational values, heightened responsibilities, and mediating pandemic information. Results can inform efforts to increase support and resources for Latinx emerging adults in order to address the psychological difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.