Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lactate Dehydrogenase/Albumin To-Urea Ratio: A Novel Prognostic Maker for Fatal Clinical Complications in Patients with COVID-19 Infection

Objective: To investigate lactate dehydrogenase/Albumin to-urea (LAU) ratio as a potential predictor for COVID-19-induced fatal clinical complications in hospitalized patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study involving blood analyses from 1139 hospitalised COVID-19 infection survivors and 349 deceased cases post-COVID-19 infection. Laboratory tests included complete blood picture, inflammatory markers, and routine organ function tests. Results: The non-survivor group showed lower haemoglobin (p < 0.001), platelet (p < 0.0001) and higher mean corpuscular volume, neutrophil count, neutrophil/lymphocytes ratio (NLR), and LAU (p < 0.001, p < 0.0013, p < 0.001, p < 0.0126) than the patients who survived the infection. The non-survivors also exhibited higher markers for infection-related clinical complications, such as international normalized ratio (INR), D-dimer, urea, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALK), creatinine, c-reactive protein (CRP), and serum ferritin levels (all p < 0.05). In addition, LAU ratio was positively correlated with infection prognostic parameters including INR (r = 0.171), D-dimer (r = 0.176), serum urea (r = 0.424), total bilirubin (r = 0.107), ALK (r = 0.115), creatinine (r = 0.365), CRP (r = 0.268), ferritin (r = 0.385) and negatively correlated with serum albumin (r = −0.114) (p ≤ 0.05). LAU ratio had an area under receiver operating characteristic of 0.67 compared to 0.60 with NLR. Conclusion: Patients with a high LAU ratio are at increased risk of mortality due to COVID-19 infection. Therefore, early assessment of this parameter, intensive intervention and close monitoring could improve their prognosis.
THE EFFECTS OF DUST IN H II REGIONS.

The materials of which dust is composed are not known very precisely, but a general theorem in physics (the Kramers-Kronig relations) provides sufficient restraints regarding the cross section of dust in the ionizing ultraviolet. The large far-infrared luminosity of H II regions shows that dust absorbs most of the ionizing photons in them. However, models show that dust has little effect on the nebular spectrum, although of course it does tie up some heavy elements in the solid phase. For nebulae with very high excitation parameters the effect is potentially larger, but dust is strongly depleted, relative to the solar neighborhood, in such objects. Furthermore, the effects of large densities quenching the forbidden cooling lines, and thereby affecting the optical emission lines, is probably more important.
CLIMATIC CHANGES MAY NOT AFFECT THE DISTRIBUTION RANGE OF SOUTH AFRICAN ENDEMIC ENCEPHALARTOS SPECIES (CYCADALES)

In recent decades climate change has emerged as one of the major forces driving biodiversity loss and species extinction. Cycads are highly threatened species and previous studies have revealed they are also being affected by climate change. In this study we tested the possible response to climate change of four rare cycad taxa (Encephalartos species) endemic to South Africa, displaying a low but reasonable number of natural occurrences. Maximum Entropy model (MaxEnt) was used in carrying out the predictions based on eight environmental variables. Our results revealed no range contraction but a slight spread in the distribution of these taxa. Temperature seasonality, vegetation types and landforms are by far the most important predictors of the species modelled. On the contrary, the mean annual temperature and precipitations showed very low contributions in all models. We conclude that climate change may not determine a reduction in range size of the Encephalartos species studied. Possible decline in South African cycads may still occur through anthropogenic influences.
AIRFLOW EVALUATION IN CLASSROOM DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic that hit Indonesia caused transition of the education process to online in 2020. The government seeks to improve the quality of student education in this pandemic era by preparing limited face-to-face learning. It is crucial to conduct a study on air because it is one of the mediums used to transfer viruses. This research took one sample of a classroom at SDN 27 North Pontianak. This research uses a Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation to display the air flow conditions of a room. The results showed that the fastest wind speed in the class ranged from 0.12 m/s to 0.44 m/s with green, yellow and red parameter color. The slowest wind speed was 0.01 m/s to 0.12 m/s with blue and green parameter color. The parameter shows levels are within limits suggested by ASHRAE and the effect of the availability of smooth air circulation for the classroom and stable air change. They were limiting the virus ability to spread by improving airflow. Rapid air exchange in the classroom lowers the risk of infection for students and teaching staff.
UY Ursae Majoris: A W-subtype W UMa system with a small mass ratio

We present light curves and photometric solutions of the contact binary UY UMa in this paper. The light curves appear to exhibit a typical O'Connell effect, with Maximum I being 0.034 mag(V) and 0.030 mag(B) brighter than Maximum IS, respectively, and Maximum I shifting to phase 0.26. The light curves are analyzed by means of the latest version of the WD program. The results show that UY Uh la is a W-subtype contact binary with a small mass ratio q = 0.134. The asymmetry of the light curves is explained by star spot models. From the collected data of 9 UMa contact systems with a smaller mass ratio than 0.20. the nature of the secondaries is analyzed. The results show that the luminosities and densities of the secondaries could be controlled by the primaries and that the smaller the mass ratio; the stronger the control.
Tempol differential effect on prostate cancer inflammation: In vitro and in vivo evaluation

Tempol is a redox‐cycling nitroxide that acts directly on inflammation. However, few studies have reported the use of tempol in prostate cancer (PCa). The present study investigated the effects of tempol on inflammation related to NF‐κB signaling, using hormone‐dependent or hormone‐independent cell lines and the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate PCa animal model in the early and late stages of cancer progression.
MPC-Based Virtual Energy Storage System Using PV and Air Conditioner to Emulate Virtual Inertia and Frequency Regulation of the Low-Inertia Microgrid

Grid-connected large-scale power converter-based intermittent renewable energy sources (RES) reduce system inertia, increase frequency fluctuation, and increase the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF). An energy storage system (ESS) is an indispensable component of a smart grid, and is used to overcome low-inertia problems. However, the capital and maintenance costs of ESS are high and high RoCoF events are less frequent in power systems. Therefore, the introduction of a virtual energy storage system (VESS) to provide the function of a conventional ESS for power system ancillary services is an innovative and cost-effective method. This study investigated a VESS using photovoltaic (PV) generators and inverter air conditioners (IACs) to provide virtual inertia and frequency regulation for a low-inertia microgrid. A model predictive control (MPC)-based VESS regulates indoor temperature, microgrid frequency, and RoCoF. The impact of parameter variation, that is, the microgrid frequency weight, indoor temperature weight, virtual inertia gain, and number of IACs, was studied and selected by considering the ability of the parameters to provide virtual inertia and frequency regulation. Finally, the efficiency and robustness of the proposed MPC-based VESS technique are compared with those of a conventional VESS. Simulation results revealed that the proposed MPC-based VESS can improve the virtual inertia, reduce the frequency deviation, and reduce the RoCoF of the studied microgrid. In addition, the proposed method is robust to variations in the system parameters.
Minimization of fixed pattern noise in photon event counting imaging

Low light-level ultraviolet and optical imaging with a photon counting image intensifier coupled to a charge coupled device camera generally results in varying levels of fixed pattern noise in the image. Here, we demonstrate that this can be minimized by the appropriate choice of photon event centroiding algorithm. We compare the fixed pattern noise generated by a center of gravity centroiding algorithm, a Gaussian centroiding algorithm, and a hybrid centroiding algorithm which uses center of gravity centroiding when one wing is zero, and Gaussian centroiding otherwise. This approach yields the best image quality with a lower fixed pattern noise parameter (9.99%) than the sole use of Gaussian centroiding (16.4%), and there is no need for a look-up table correction. In addition, the hybrid algorithm also yields maximum detective quantum efficiency by overcoming small pulse centroiding failure associated with Gaussian centroiding. The digitization error when recording the events is modeled with a Monte Carl.
A Revisit of Motives for Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment: The Role of the Institution in Host Countries

This study explores how the institution of the host countries affects the natural resource-seeking and strategic asset-seeking motives of the Chinese outward foreign direct investment. Using the system GMM estimation method and data of the Chinese outward foreign direct investment during the period from 2003 to 2020, the study shows that the search for strategic assets by the Chinese outward foreign direct investment is directed toward the host countries with well-established institutions, while the search for natural resources is driven by poor institutions of the host countries. Findings from this study provide empirical evidence for policymakers to formulate appropriate foreign investment policies given the dynamics of Chinese foreign direct investment worldwide.
Evaluation of InGaPN and GaAsPN materials lattice-matched to Si for multi-junction solar cells

We compare the potentiality of bulk InGaPN and GaAsPN materials quasi-lattice-matched to silicon (Si), for multi-junction solar cells application. Bandgaps of both bulk alloys are first studied by a tight-binding model modified for nitrogen incorporation in diluted regimes. The critical thicknesses of those alloys are then calculated for various compositions. For the same lattice-mismatch and nitrogen amount, the bandgap of bulk GaAsPN is found to be closer to the targeted gap value of 1.7 eV for high efficiency tandem solar cell. GaPN and GaAsPN epilayers are then grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaP substrate and studied by photoluminescence and X-ray diffraction. A GaAsPN bulk alloy emitting light at 1.77 eV at room temperature is obtained, demonstrating promising properties for further use in III-V/Si photovoltaic multijunction solar cells.
Morphological, histopathological and secondary structure analysis of second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) region of Gigantocotyle explanatum (Trematoda: Paramphistomidae) in buffaloes of Pakistan

Liver infections due to amphistomes in buffaloes cause significant economic losses in livestock sector. The present study investigated the classical morphological features of adult amphistomes combined with histopathology and molecular identity in slaughtered buffaloes from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Adult amphistome were collected and morphologically characterized as Gigantocotyle explanatum. Morphometric measurement (n=50) were obtained with 12.05±1.68 mm in length and 5.77±0.81 mm in width, and the values of sagittal section was 6.35±1.03 x 2.98±0.50 mm in size. Severe bile duct pathology was observed with fibrosis of the duct wall with an irregular epithelial border, hyperplasia and inflammatory response with numerous neutrophils and eosinophils. The molecular identity of G. explanatum within Paramphistomidae was confirmed by ITS-2 rDNA sequences phylogenetic analysis based on maximum likelihood method. The genetic data based on ITS-2 secondary structure of G. explanatum consisted of four helix, Helix I, II and IV were conserved as compared with other closely related reference taxa of family Paramphistomidae and Gastrothylacidae. Helix III expressed some variations. The study concluded that rDNA ITS-2 and secondary structure information provides a guide for other researchers to determine the molecular taxonomic position of Paramphistomidae trematodes, data will support future clinical studies and control measures to reduce the amphistomiasis in buffaloes.
SUPERVISED LEARNING BASED APPROACH FOR TURBOFAN ENGINES FAILURE PROGNOSIS WITHIN THE BELIEF FUNCTION FRAMEWORK

Recent developments in maintenance modeling, powered by data-driven approaches such as Machine Learning (ML), have enabled a wide range of applications. For example, industrial systems coming with a huge operating database make ML an ideal candidate for their predictive maintenance (PdM). PdM is the process of predicting malfunctions using data from equipment monitoring and process performance measurements. Indeed, PdM and ML have developed a very strong connection. However, it is not always easy or straightforward to perform effective predictive maintenance for several reasons such as imperfect data. Therefore, we aim, during this paper, to manage uncertainty and/or imprecision during learning, using an evidential supervised learning approach built on a powerful framework called the belief function theory. This research work is applied on NASA’s C-MAPSS dataset for turbofan engines failure prognosis.
The derived population of luminous supersoft X-ray sources

The existence of a new class of astrophysical object, luminous supersoft X-ray sources, has been established through ROSAT satellite observations and analysis during the past approximately 3 yr. Because most of the radiation emitted by supersoft sources spans a range of wavelengths readily absorbed by interstellar gas, a substantial fraction of these sources may not be detectable with present satellite instrumentation. It is therefore important to derive a reliable estimate of the underlying population, based on the approximately 30 sources that have been observed to date. The work reported here combines the observational results with a theoretical analysis, to obtain an estimate of the total number of sources likely to be present in M31, the Magellanic Clouds, and in our own Galaxy. We find that in M31, where approximately 15 supersoft sources have been identified and roughly an equal number of sources are being investigated as supersoft candidates, there are likely to be approximately 2500 active supersoft sources at the present time. In our own Galaxy, where about four supersoft sources have been detected in the Galactic plane, there are likely to be approximately 1000 active sources. Similarly, with about six and about four (nonforeground) sources observed in the Large (LMC) and Small Magellanic Clouds (SMC), respectively, there should be approximately 30 supersoft sources in the LMC, and approximately 20 in the SMC. The likely uncertainties in the numbers quoted above, and the properties of observable sources relative to those of the total underlying population, are also derived in detail. These results can be scaled to estimate the numbers of supersoft sources likely to be present in other galaxies. The results reported here on the underlying population of supersoft X-ray sources are in good agreement with the results of a prior population synthesis study of the white dwarf accretor model for luminous supersoft X-ray sources. It should be emphasized, however, that the questions asked in these two investigations are distinct, that the approaches taken to answer these questions are largely independent and that the findings of these two studies could in principle have been quite different.
Direct Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles in Polymer Matrix

We report an original method for directly fabricating gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in a polymer matrix using a thermal treatment technique and theoretically and experimentally investigate their plasmonic properties. The polymeric-metallic nanocomposite samples were first prepared by simply mixing SU-8 resist and Au salt with different concentrations. The Au NPs growth was triggered inside the polymer through a thermal process on a hot plate and in air environment. The Au NPs creation was confirmed by the color of the nanocomposite thin films and by absorption spectra measurements. The Au NPs sizes and distributions were confirmed by transmission electron microscope measurements. It was found that the concentrations of Au salt and the annealing temperatures and durations are all crucial for tuning the Au NPs sizes and distributions, and, thus, their optical properties. We also propose a simulation model for calculations of Au NPs plasmonic properties inside a polymer medium. We realized that Au NPs having large sizes (50 to 100 nm) play an important role in absorption spectra measurements, as compared to the contribution of small NPs (<20 nm), even if the relative amount of big Au NPs is small. This simple, low-cost, and highly reproducible technique allows us to obtain plasmonic NPs within polymer thin films on a large scale, which can be potentially applied to many fields.
A quadratic step‐up dc‐dc converter with high gain, reduced voltage stress, and component counts

It is safe to say that the topic of step‐up dc–dc converters is one of the most popular issues in power electronics. Since the demand for high‐gain and high‐efficiency converters with optimal component counts has increased drastically, more new step‐up topologies have been innovated. Continuing past efforts, the paper proposes a new single‐switch non‐isolated step‐up dc–dc converter based on the basic quadratic boost converter (QBC). High boost factor, high efficiency, continuous input current, reduced voltage stresses on the switch and power diodes, and an appropriate required number of elements compared to the obtained boost factor are the most significant achievements of this topology, which satisfy most of the essential design goals. Compared to the basic QBC, the voltage gain has been increased five times further by integrating a new coupled inductor–capacitor‐based impedance network into the basic quadratic circuit. In this article, the theory and operating principle of the topology for both continuous and discontinuous current modes (CCM and DCM) are discussed in detail. To verify the theory, experimental results are also presented. Results show that the converter has reached 12 times gain, about 95% efficiency, and up to one‐third less voltage stresses on semiconductors.
Flexural properties of wooden nail friction welding of laminated timber

The properties of single shear specimens connected by wooden nail frictional welding and twist nails were studied. The single shear properties of the specimens connected by wooden nail welding were lower than that of the twist nail specimens. The single shear capacity of the wooden nail welding specimen was determined by calculating the method of design value of the bearing capacity of the pin connection. Furthermore, the flexural properties of the wooden nail welding laminated timber were analyzed. Due to the larger diameter of the wooden nails compared with the twist nails, the wooden nail welding laminated timber in the elastic phase had higher stiffness. The elastic modulus of the wooden nail welding laminated timber exceeded the average elastic modulus of the constituent lumber pieces by 9.46%. The number of wood lumbers in wooden nail welding laminated timber had little effect on the elastic modulus of laminated timber, but the nail spacing had a certain effect. Therefore, in future research, it is recommended to use the construction method of twist nail connection to design the wooden nail welding laminated timber. In addition, the nail spacing should refer to the GB 50005 (2003) standard and the wood structure design manual.
Neutron Star Mergers and the Quark Matter Equation of State

As neutron stars merge they can approach very high nuclear density. Here, we summarized recent results for the evolution and gravitational wave emission from binary-neutron star mergers using a a variety of nuclear equations of state with and without a crossover transition to quark matter. We discuss how the late time gravitational wave emission from binary neutron star mergers may possibly reveal the existence of a crossover transition to quark matter.
Irregular grids in seismic tomography and minimum-time ray tracing

SUMMARY Tomographic inversion of traveltimes is often carried out by discretizing the Earth as a grid of regular pixels. This choice simplifies the related ray-tracing algorithms, but contributes significantly to the non-uniqueness of the estimated velocity distribution. A singular value decomposition of the tomographic matrix enables one to recognize the causes of this mathematical ambiguity in the model space. This is more intuitive than introducing arbitrary damping factors and spatial filters, and allows one to control the non-uniqueness of solutions by modifying the pixel distribution or the acquisition geometry. This approach lends itself to the adoption of irregular grids and to the definition of a new ray-tracing algorithm, based on Fermat's principle of minimum time, which is able to simulate transmitted, reflected, refracted and diffracted waves. The joint tomographic inversion of these different types of waves potentially provides an additional improvement to the quality and reliability of the estimated velocities.
$\mathrm{AdS}_7$/$\mathrm{CFT}_6$ correspondence and matrix models of M5-branes

We study the large N limit of matrix models of M5-branes, or (2,0) sixdimensional superconformal field theories, by making use of the Bulk/Boundary correspondence. Our emphasis is on the relation between the near-horizon limit of branes and the light-like limit of M-theory. In particular we discuss a conformal symmetry in the D0 + D4 system, and interpret it as a conformal symmetry in the discrete light-cone formulation of M5-branes. We also compute two-point functions of scalars by applying the conjecture for the AdS/CFT correspondence to the near-horizon geometry of boosted M5branes. We find an expected result up to a point subtle, but irrelevant to the IR behavior of the theory. Our analysis matches with the Seiberg and Sen’s argument of a justification for the matrix model of M-theory. E-mail address: awata@yukawa.kyoto-u.ac. jp E-mail address: hirano@yukawa.kyoto-u.ac. jp
Reduced Potential Barrier of Sodium-Substituted Disordered Rocksalt Cathode for Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts

Cation-disordered rocksalt (DRX) cathodes have been viewed as next-generation high-energy density materials surpassing conventional layered cathodes for lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology. Utilizing the opportunity of a better cation mixing facility in DRX, we synthesize Na-doped DRX as an efficient electrocatalyst toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This novel OER electrocatalyst generates a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential (η) of 270 mV, Tafel slope of 67.5 mV dec−1, and long-term stability >5.5 days’ superior to benchmark IrO2 (η = 330 mV with Tafel slope = 74.8 mV dec−1). This superior electrochemical behavior is well supported by experiment and sparse Gaussian process potential (SGPP) machine learning-based search for minimum energy structure. Moreover, as oxygen binding energy (OBE) on the surface closely relates to OER activity, our density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Na-doping assists in facile O2 evolution (OBE = 5.45 eV) compared with pristine-DRX (6.51 eV).