Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transformation Kinetics of LiBH4–MgH2 for Hydrogen Storage

The reactive hydride composite (RHC) LiBH4–MgH2 is regarded as one of the most promising materials for hydrogen storage. Its extensive application is so far limited by its poor dehydrogenation kinetics, due to the hampered nucleation and growth process of MgB2. Nevertheless, the poor kinetics can be improved by additives. This work studied the growth process of MgB2 with varying contents of 3TiCl3·AlCl3 as an additive, and combined kinetic measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to develop a structural understanding. It was found that the formation of MgB2 preferentially occurs on TiB2 nanoparticles. The major reason for this is that the elastic strain energy density can be reduced to ~4.7 × 107 J/m3 by creating an interface between MgB2 and TiB2, as opposed to ~2.9 × 108 J/m3 at the original interface between MgB2 and Mg. The kinetics of the MgB2 growth was modeled by the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK) equation, describing the kinetics better than other kinetic models. It is suggested that the MgB2 growth rate-controlling step is changed from interface- to diffusion-controlled when the nucleation center changes from Mg to TiB2. This transition is also reflected in the change of the MgB2 morphology from bar- to platelet-like. Based on our observations, we suggest that an additive content between 2.5 and 5 mol% 3TiCl3·AlCl3 results in the best enhancement of the dehydrogenation kinetics.
A-Scan Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Patients with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Comparison of Optic Nerves

Background: To evaluate the interocular optic nerve diameter (ONDs) asymmetry in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) utilizing the A-scan ultrasound technique. Methods: Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with IIH were recruited from outpatients referred to the University Eye Unit between June 2014 and December 2021. Patients with optic disc pseudoedema or edema caused by other conditions were excluded. All patients with negative neuroimaging for intracranial space-occupying masses underwent standardized A-scan measurement of the OND in the primary gaze and lateral position (30 degrees test). Results: Mean, median, standard deviation, the minimum and maximum value of the two eyes at 0 degrees and the difference between the left and right thicker and thinner ONDs were measured. The two-tailed paired student t-test between the two eyes was performed using SPSS software. A statistically significant difference (p-value <0.001) between the two eyes, without a side prevalence, was found. Conclusions: Due to the differences between the ONDs of both eyes, we propose to use the mean of the ONDs between the left and right eyes at 0 degrees with the standardized A-scan diagnostic technique for a better follow-up of patients with IIH.
Smoking Is a Risk Factor of Colorectal Advanced Adenomas Compared to Nonadvanced Adenomas

Background: It is uncertain that whether smoking is a risk factor of colorectal advanced adenomas compared to nonadvanced adenomas, so we pe-formed the case-control study to explore this issue. Material and Methods: The cases were defined as patients with advanced adenomas and the controls were patients with nonadvanced adenomas. Clinical data were extracted from the hospital information system. Missing data were imputed with the multiple imputation of chained equations method, and the effect of smoking on the risk of advanced adenomas was calculated by binary logistic regression models to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval. Results: Current smoking rate in patients with advanced adenomas was significantly higher than that in patients with nonadvanced adenomas (31.6% VS 23.1%), the OR of advanced adenoma for current smoking compared with nonsmoking was 1.54 (1.09, 2.18), P = 0.013, and the weighted ORs ranged from 1.50 (1.01, 2.23) to 1.58 (1.09, 2.30), and the results of sensitivity analyses were still con-sistent. Conclusion: In adults with Han ethnicity in South China, current smoking is a risk factor of colorectal advanced adenomas compared to nonadvanced adenomas.
High-amplitude Delta Scuti stars in the Galactic bulge from the OGLE-II and MACHO data

Searching for main-sequence pulsators, we analyzed photometry of ~200,000 variable star candidates from the OGLE-II Galactic fields, finding 193 high-amplitude Delta Scuti stars. This doubles the number of known stars of this type. The MACHO data, available for half of stars, were also analyzed. In our sample of the HADS stars, we found 50 multiperiodic objects, including 39 that have period ratios in the range of 0.76-0.80, an indication of the radial fundamental and first-overtone pulsation. We discuss the resulting Petersen diagram for these stars in view of the period ratios predicted by models. Except for stars showing pulsations in the radial fundamental mode and first overtone, we find the evidence for higher radial overtones and non-radial modes in the analyzed sample of multiperiodic HADS stars.
Scaling Binary Data Using a Factor Model

SUMMARY A simple method for scaling a set of binary responses is proposed using the logit factor model of Bartholomew (1980). It is shown that individuals may be ranked on the basis of a linear combination, foaixi of the responses (xi = 0 or 1) where the oil's are the appropriate factor loadings. This completely avoids the need to calculate the y-scores suggested in Bartholomew (1980) and hence the heavy numerical integration which that method involves.
An investigation of the relationship between impact force attenuation in landing and isokinetic strength of knee muscles in individuals with different training backgrounds

53 Introduction 55 Methods 57 Approach to the Problem 57 Subjects 57 Procedures 58 Statistical Analyses 61 Results 61 Discussion 67 Practical Applications 73 vii References 74 Acknowledgements 76 Appendices 77 Appendix A: Informed consent 78 Appendix B: Physical Activity Survey 82 Appendix C: Definitions of variables 86 Appendix D: Descriptive Characteristics and Landing Heights 88 Appendix E: Vertical jump and isokintic strength data 90 Appendix F: Individual and group vertical ground reaction force data 92 Appendix G: Individual and group knee angular measures data 95 Appendix H: Individual and group knee angular velocity data 98 Vita 101
Design and Assessment of an Urban Circular Combined Truck–Drone Delivery System Using Continuum Approximation Models and Integer Programming

The analysis of tandem truck–drone delivery systems has recently attracted the attention of the research community, mainly focused on extending classical operational research problems such as the multiple traveling salesperson or the vehicle-routing problem. In this paper, we explore the design of an urban massive combined delivery system using a continuum approximation (CA) method for a circular city characterized by a certain density of customers. Starting from a set of parameters defining the main characteristics of trucks and drones, a sectorization of the delivery area is first determined. Then, for a given truck capacity, the optimal number of trucks is obtained considering different scenarios using three integer programming models. We propose several performance indicators to compare the tandem approach with the alternative solely truck delivery system.
How Do Fast-Fashion Copycats Affect the Popularity of Premium Brands? Evidence from Social Media

The erosion of high-end fashion brands by fast-fashion copycats (e.g., Zara, H&M) has stirred controversies and unceasing legal attempts to copyright fashion designs. Despite the purported negative impact of copycats, the effect of fashion copycats on high-end brands remains empirically unclear. Research on this topic has been impeded by the absence of a modeling framework to quantify fashion and by the lack of consumer-level data on fashion choices. The authors collect data on the posting behaviors of consumers on a fashion-specific social media platform and develop a dynamic structural model with deep learning image analytics to characterize consumers’ choices of brands and styles. Results suggest that fast-fashion copycats can both harm high-end brands (a cannibalization effect) and help them (a market expansion effect). The authors also identify both static and dynamic mechanisms that contribute to the market expansion effect: The affordability of mixing copycats with high-end brands boosts the number of high-end items featured in posts by financially constrained consumers (a static mechanism). In addition, good styles from copycats enable users to build their popularity on social media over time, which may increase the users' valuation of high-end brands and reduce the users' future costs via sponsorship opportunities (dynamic mechanisms). The results could inform policy makers about the potential consequences of prohibiting fashion copycats.
A Paper-Based Analytical Device Integrated with Smartphone: Fluorescent and Colorimetric Dual-Mode Detection of β-Glucosidase Activity

In this work, indoxyl-glucoside was used as the substrate to develop a cost-effective, paper-based analytical device for the fluorescent and colorimetric dual-mode detection of β-glucosidase activity through a smartphone. The β-glucosidase can hydrolyze the colorless substrate indoxyl-glucoside to release indoxyl, which will be self-oxidized to generate green products in the presence of oxygen. Meanwhile, the green products emit bright blue-green fluorescence under ultraviolet–visible light irradiation at 365 nm. Fluorescent or colorimetric images were obtained by a smartphone, and the red-green-blue channels were analyzed by the Adobe Photoshop to quantify the β-glucosidase activity. Under the optimum conditions, the relative fluorescent and colorimetric signals have a good linear relationship with the activity of β-glucosidase, in the range of 0.01–1.00 U/mL and 0.25–5.00 U/mL, and the limits of detection are 0.005 U/mL and 0.0668 U/mL, respectively. The activities of β-glucosidase in a crude almond sample measured by the fluorescent and colorimetric methods were 23.62 ± 0.53 U/mL and 23.86 ± 0.25 U/mL, respectively. In addition, the spiked recoveries of normal human serum and crude almond samples were between 87.5% and 118.0%. In short, the paper-based device, combined with a smartphone, can provide a simple, environmentally friendly, and low-cost method for the fluorescent and colorimetric dual-mode detection of β-glucosidase activity.
Mortality and malformation effects of boric acid against larval stage of Aedes aegypti (Culicidae: Diptera)

Mosquitoes, the disquieting insect, can transmit pathogens more than any other insect, and they can cause fatal diseases to both humans and animals in their environment. With the increasing problem of pesticide resistance spreading in the field, substantial efforts are being made at the international level to develop environmental insecticides to reduce these mosquito populations or limit their potential to transmit disease. In this preliminary study, mortality and malformation effects of seven concentrations (700, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 2500, and 3000 ppm) of boric acid were evaluated against the 4th larval stage of Aedes aegypti after 24 h of exposure. Malformed and dead larvae were photographed under the microscope with a digital camera connected to a computer stereo-dissecting microscope. Our results showed that the lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) were 1312.49 and 2578.26, respectively. Also, the results showed malformation effects against treated larvae with boric acid compared to the control group. These malformations manifested in albino pupa, Pigmentation, Larval-pupal intermediate, Black coloration at the posterior end, Opaque swelling on the thorax, Segment contraction, Deformed cuticles, black coloration at the posterior end, and nick elongation. Boric acid is less toxic than synthesized insecticides, and in low concentrations, it causes mortality and malformation effects against larval stages of A. aegypti. Further, the use of boric acid as a safe method for controlling larval stages of A. aegypti can be recommended as it is available, cost-effective, and less harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.
Exploration and Prediction of the Elderly Travel Behavior Based on a Novel GR-GA-BP Hybrid Model

With the aging trend in megacities, the travel behaviors of the elderly have attracted much attention. Accurate prediction of the travel behaviors of the elderly is a key link to meet the traffic demand and public facilities’ optimization. The aim of this paper was to explore the link between the travel characteristics and variables of the daily activities of the elderly. Based on a stratified sampling survey, the internal relationship between the characteristics of the elderly and their travel behavior was studied and discussed in this work. A novel grey correlation degree–genetic algorithm–back propagation (GR-GA-BP) hybrid model was proposed to predict the travel behavior of the elderly. Then, a grey correlation degree module was established and used to analyze the correlation between the individual elderly characteristics and their travel behavior. The results showed the following: (1) Both the times of weekly trips (y1) and average round-trip travel time (y2) were highly sensitive to the external environment, especially buses, subway stations, and recreational facilities. The size of the family was less sensitive to the travel behavior. (2) Referring to prediction of the times of weekly trips, the MRE of the proposed model was 23.12%, which was 15.22% less than the baseline models. (3) In terms of the prediction of round-trip travel time, the MRE of the proposed model was 7.13%, which was 14.00–69.41% lower than the baseline models. (4) The times of trips per week were 3.5. In summary, this paper provides technical support for formulating traffic demand policies and facilitates the configuration of cities for an aging society.
Language Use in Embodied Action and Interaction in Knowing Fractions.

This essay is based on observation and interpretation of the mathematical language of children while they engage in situations involving fractional numbers. This interpretation includes the consideration of various levels of language use, informal metamorphic and metonymic uses of fractional number language, and the interplay between language use and the children's mathematical construct use. (Contains 10 references.) (DDR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. LANGUAGE USE IN EMBODIED ACTION AND INTERACTION IN KNOWING FRACTIONS Thomas Kieren University of Alberta tom.kieren @ualberta.ca If one takes an embodied view of language use in mathematics knowing then one needs to consider not only the mathematical sign and its referent, but also the person using the language in mathematical knowing actions. But this person's knowing coemerges with a cospecified environment and in particular, with others in that environment. 'The individual can be viewed as being involved in a number of simultaneous conversations which he or she shapes through action and language use and in which her or his language use is occasioned. This essay is based on the observation and interpretation of use of mathematical language of children, primarily eight years old, as they engage in situations involving the use of fractional numbers. This interpretation includes the consideration of various levels of language use, particularly informal metaphoric and metonymic uses of fractional number language, of the interplay between language use and the children's mathematical construct use, of the roles of interaction in and with environmental features as well as the relationship of language use and mathematical understanding
Thiamine Supplementation Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Triggered Adaptive Inflammatory Response and Modulates Energy State via Suppression of NFκB/p38 MAPK/AMPK Signaling in Rumen Epithelial Cells of Goats

Studies have shown that exogenous thiamine (THI) supplementation can alleviate inflammation and promote rumen epithelial development in goats and cows. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of THI supplementation on LPS-induced inflammation and energy metabolic dysregulation in RECs of goats. Cells were stimulated with either 5 μg/mL THI for 18 h (THI group) or with 5 μg/mL LPS for 6 h (LPS group). The CON group was stimulated with DMEM/F-12 medium without THI for 18 h. The LPTH group was pretreated with THI for 18 h, followed by LPS stimulation for 6 h. THI supplementation decreased the ROS content (p < 0.05), as well as the ratios of phosphorylated (p)-p65 to p65 (p < 0.05) and p-AMPKα to AMPKα (p < 0.05). Interestingly, when the p38 gene was overexpressed in the LPTH group, the ratio of p-p65 to p65 and p-AMPKα to AMPKα proteins significantly increased, and ATP content decreased (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that THI possesses anti-inflammatory and metabolic-modulatory effects in RECs. The mechanism is largely related to the suppression of the NF-κB/p38 MAPK/AMPK signaling pathway. Additionally, we also revealed that THI supplementation can inhibit LPS-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis to protect mitochondrial function in RECs.
Effects of Sanitizers on Microbiological Control of Hatching Eggshells and Poultry Health during Embryogenesis and Early Stages after Hatching in the Last Decade

Simple Summary Poultry systems, especially conventional comprehensive production systems to meet the global demand for eggs and meat, are constantly challenged by pathogens, requiring intense sanitary practices. Operations, including the sanitization of hatching eggs, can employ synthetic chemical sanitizers as well as natural plant extracts to minimize the microbial challenge. As the application of formaldehyde sanitizer in hatching eggs cannot be justified in terms of safety for embryonic and human health, studies are underway to assist the industry in adopting new alternative sanitizers. This review aims to evaluate the effects of different sanitizers on the microbiological quality of hatching eggshells and poultry health during embryogenesis and early stages after hatching. Abstract The sanitization of hatching eggs is the backbone of the hygienic–sanitary management of eggs on farms and extends to the hatchery. Poultry production gains depend on the benefits of sanitizers. Obtaining the maximum yield from incubation free of toxic sanitizers is a trend in poultry farming, closely following the concerns imposed through scientific research. The toxic characteristics of formaldehyde, the primary sanitizer for hatching eggs, are disappointing, but it is a cheap, practical and widely used antimicrobial. To overcome this shortcoming, multiple synthetic and natural chemical sanitizers have been, and continue to be, tested on hatching eggs. This review aims to evaluate the effects of different sanitizers on the microbiological quality of hatching eggshells and poultry health during embryogenesis and early stages after hatching.
Simulation of meshes and tori in an asymmetric faulty incrementally extensible hypercube with unbounded expansion

The paper considers the problem of finding meshes and tori in a Faulty Incrementally Extensible Hypercube if any. We develop novel algorithms to facilitate the embedding job when the Incrementally Extensible Hypercube (IEH) contains faulty nodes. We present strategies for reconfiguring a mesh or tori in an IEH with unbounded expansion. These simulation approach shows a mesh or torus can be embedded into a faulty IEH Gn(N) with load 1, congestion 1 and dilation 3 such that O(n2-⌊log2m⌋2) faults can be tolerated. Furthermore, the technology can be apply in grid computing and cloud computing.
The Impact of Seasonality of Agricultural Production on Product Prices in Romania

"This paper aims to determine the possible impact of the seasonality of agricultural production on the prices of these products. Three main products were analysed, the majority of which are wheat, maize and sunflower production. With the help of national databases, product prices were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively, as well as statistically, over the last 5 years by calendar month. A series of researches have been carried out on the data, such as: analysing the dynamics of both annual and monthly prices, as well as determining the correlations between the price level for these products and the calendar month to which these prices refer. Following this analysis, the third-degree polynomial regression equations were determined, showing that product prices follow a sinuous trend, with high prices in the first part of the year, when supply is running out, then, during the harvesting period, there is a drop in price, given the sudden increase in supply on the market, and in the last months of the calendar year, the highest prices are recorded, given the additional cost of storing production following the harvesting campaign. "
Using the evolution of clusters to constrain Omega

The population of rich galaxy clusters evolves much more rapidly in a universe with critical density than one with low density, thus offering the possibility of determining the cosmological density parameter, Omega_0. We quantify this evolution using the Press-Schechter formalism which we extend to flat models with a cosmological constant. Using new large N-body simulations, we verify that this formalism accurately predicts the abundance of rich clusters as a function of redshift in various cosmologies. We normalise the models by comparing them to the local abundance of clusters as a function of their X-ray temperature which we rederive from data compiled by Henry & Arnaud. This gives values of the rms density fluctuation in spheres of radius 8 Mpc/h of sigma_8 = (0.50+/- 0.04) Omega_0^{-0.47+0.10 Omega_0} if Lambda_0=0 and sigma_8 = (0.50 +/- 0.04) Omega_0^{-0.53+0.13 Omega_0} if Lambda_0=1-Omega_0. These values depend very weakly on the shape of the power spectrum. We then examine how the distributions of mass, X-ray temperature and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich decrement evolve as a function of Omega_0. We present the expected distributions at z=0.33 and z=0.5 and the predicted number counts of the largest clusters. We find that even at z=0.33, these distributions depend very strongly on Omega_0 and only weakly on Lambda_0. For example, at this redshift, we expect 20 times as many clusters per comoving volume with M>3.5 10^{14} Msol/h and 5 times as many clusters with kT>5 keV if Omega_0=0.3 than if Omega_0=1. The splitting in the integrated counts is enhanced by the larger volume element in low Omega_0 models. There is therefore a real prospect of estimating Omega_0 from forthcoming surveys of intermediate redshift clusters that will determine their masses, X-ray temperatures or SZ decrements.