Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New mass-loss rates of B supergiants from global wind models

Massive stars lose a significant fraction of mass during their evolution. However, the corresponding mass-loss rates are rather uncertain, especially for evolved stars. To improve this, we calculated global line-driven wind models for Galactic B supergiants. Our models predict radial wind structure and particularly the mass-loss rates and terminal velocities directly from basic stellar parameters. The hydrodynamic structure of the flow is consistently determined from the photosphere in nearly hydrostatic equilibrium to supersonically expanding wind. The radiative force is derived from the solution of the radiative transfer equation in the comoving frame. We provide a simple formula that predicts theoretical mass-loss rates as a function of stellar luminosity and effective temperature. The mass-loss rate of B supergiants slightly decreases with temperature down to about 22.5 kK, where the region of recombination of Fe IV to Fe III starts to appear. In this region, which is about 5 kK wide, the mass-loss rate gradually increases by a factor of about 6. The increase of the mass-loss rate is associated with a gradual decrease of terminal velocities by a factor of about 2. We compared the predicted wind parameters with observations. While the observed wind terminal velocities are reasonably reproduced by the models, the situation with mass-loss rates is less clear. The mass-loss rates derived from observations that are uncorrected for clumping are by a factor of 3 to 9 higher than our predictions on cool and hot sides of the studied sample, respectively. These observations can be reconciled with theory assuming a temperature-dependent clumping factor that is decreasing toward lower effective temperatures. On the other hand, the mass-loss rate estimates that are not sensitive to clumping agree with our predictions much better. Our predictions are by a factor of about 10 lower than the values currently used in evolutionary models appealing for reconsideration of the role of winds in the stellar evolution.
A Two-Stage Wavelet Decomposition Method for Instantaneous Power Quality Indices Estimation Considering Interharmonics and Transient Disturbances

As the complexity increases in modern power systems, power quality (PQ) analysis considering interharmonics has become a challenging and important task. This article proposes a novel decomposition and estimation method for instantaneous PQ indices (PQIs) monitoring in single- and three-phase systems with interharmonics and transient disturbances. To separate the interharmonic components, a set of new scaling filter and wavelet filter with narrow transition bands is designed for the undecimated wavelet packet transform (UWPT). Furthermore, a two-stage decomposition method for multitone voltage and current signals is proposed. The Hilbert transform (HT) is applied to calculate the instantaneous amplitude and phase of each frequency component, which accordingly allows the monitoring of different PQI parameters. Numerical tests are conducted to check the performance of the proposed method. The test results show that, compared to other conventional approaches, instantaneous PQIs estimated by the proposed method present significant advances for tracking transitory changes in power systems and could be considered as a helpful tool for high-accuracy PQ detections.
Asymptotically Optimal Sampling-Based Motion Planning Methods

Motion planning is a fundamental problem in autonomous robotics that requires finding a path to a specified goal that avoids obstacles and takes into account a robot's limitations and constraints. It is often desirable for this path to also optimize a cost function, such as path length. Formal path-quality guarantees for continuously valued search spaces are an active area of research interest. Recent results have proven that some sampling-based planning methods probabilistically converge toward the optimal solution as computational effort approaches infinity. This article summarizes the assumptions behind these popular asymptotically optimal techniques and provides an introduction to the significant ongoing research on this topic.
ChemNODE: A Neural Ordinary Differential Equations Approach for Chemical Kinetics Solvers

The main bottleneck when performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of combustion systems is the computation and integration of the highly non-linear and stiff chemical source terms. In recent times, machine learning has emerged as a promising tool to accelerate combustion chemistry, involving the use of regression models to predict the chemical source terms as functions of the thermochemical state of the system. However, combustion is a highly nonlinear phenomenon, and this often leads to divergence from the true solution when the neural network representation of chemical kinetics is integrated in time. This is because these approaches minimize the error during training without guaranteeing successful integration with ordinary differential equation (ODE) solvers. In this work, a novel neural ODE approach to combustion modeling, ChemNODE, is developed to address this issue. The source terms predicted by the neural network are integrated during training, and by backpropagating errors through the ODE solver, the neural network weights are adjusted accordingly to minimize the difference between the predicted and actual ODE solutions. It is shown that even when the dimensionality of the thermochemical manifold is trimmed to remove redundant species, the proposed approach accurately captures the correct physical behavior and reproduces the results obtained using the full chemical kinetic mechanism.
Two-Step Formation of Gallium Droplets with High Controllability of Size and Density

We demonstrate the two-step formation of Ga droplets, which consists of the first formation at a high temperature followed by the second formation at a low temperature. The first droplets provide the Ga-richest surface, on which the second droplets start to nucleate almost immediately after deposition. This facilitates precise control of the amount of second droplets, leading to the reproducible formation of small Ga droplets with low density. These Ga droplets are crystallized into GaAs quantum dots by irradiating As flux, which allows single-dot spectroscopy without sample fabrication.
Antimalarial Activity of Fagaropsis angolensis (Rutaceae) Crude Extracts and Solvent Fractions of Its Stem Bark Against Plasmodium berghei in Mice

Background A current challenge in malaria control and elimination is the progressive resistance to most antimalarial drugs which necessitates the discovery of new options. Hence, the current study was initiated to investigate the antimalarial activity of the stem bark of Fagaropsis angolensis in mice. Methods The test material was extracted using 80% methanol in a cold maceration technique and further fractionated in solvents of varied polarity. Acute oral toxicity was assessed following the OECD guideline no. 425 protocol. Then, the antimalarial activities of the crude extract and the fractions were evaluated in a 4-day suppression test. Rane’s test was also used to evaluate the curative potential of the n-butanol fraction that showed the highest effect during the 4-day suppressive test. Parameters such as parasitemia suppression, mean survival time, packed cell volume, rectal temperature, and body weight were determined to establish the activity. Results The acute oral toxicity test indicated that the plant did not cause any signs of behavioral changes or mortality at 200 mg/kg limit dose. In a 4-day suppression test, a significant dose-dependent reduction in the parasitemia level and prolongation of survival time were observed (p<0.001) in all three doses of the crude extract compared with the negative control. The crude extract also exhibited a significant (p<0.001) protective effect in packed cell volume and rectal temperature decline in all three doses in a dose-dependent fashion compared with the negative control. Among all fractions, the n-butanol fraction displayed the highest effects in all parameters in the 4-day suppression test. In addition, the n-butanol fraction also showed a significant percentage of parasitemia suppression effects at all doses in Rane’s test. Furthermore, higher free radical scavenging activity was observed in the n-butanol fraction and the 80% methanol extract. Conclusion This study established that Fagaropsis angolensis had shown potential antimalarial activity as evidenced by the significant effects in the different parameters, upholding its traditional use for the treatment of malaria and laying the foundation for further investigations.
Autophagy related protein 9A increase in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma and the role in apoptosis

The majority of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases are associated with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Autophagy related protein 9A (ATG9A) is a transmembrane protein required for autophagosome formation. In order to investigate the role of ATG9A in HBV-associated HCC, ATG9A protein expression was determined in tumor liver tissues and compared with adjacent nontumor tissues from HCC patients with or without HBV infection. In HBV-associated HCC tissues, ATG9A protein level was increased in tumor liver tissues, but not in cases of non-HBV HCC. Our findings suggested that ATG9A might be involved in HBV and cancer cell survival. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the function of ATG9A in HBV replication using RNA interference to evaluate the HBV DNA level using real-time PCR. In the present study, there were no significant differences between shATG9A-transfected HepG2.2. 15 cells and the mock control. However, we found that silencing ATG9A affected apoptosis in HepG2.2. 15 and HepG2 cell lines. Our results indicated that ATG9A might be partly involved in the survival of HCC. Thus, the inhibition of ATG9A together with other targets might be a potential drug target for HCC treatment.
Barriers and Facilitators for HIV Testing Practice Among Ethiopian Women Aged 15-24 years: Analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey

Background In developing countries, youth women are most at risk of HIV infection. Center for Disease Control recommends that people who participate in high-risk behaviors get tested for HIV at least annually. In 2016, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health set goals to identify 90% of the people living with HIV by 2030. But undiagnosed HIV infections are still high in the country. To alleviate the problem, it is vital to identify the factors that hinder HIV testing practice. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the facilitators and barriers of HIV testing practice among Ethiopian youth women. Methods The analysis was done on 6401 women aged 15–24 years using data from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic Health Survey (EDHS). The main outcome variable was self-reported HIV testing practice. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the facilitators and barriers of HIV testing practice. Results In this study, 37.7% [95% CI: (33.6, 39.1)] of youth women were tested for HIV in their life. Being married (AOR=4.7; 95% CI: (3.67, 6.01)), divorced [AOR=6.2; 95% CI: (3.98–9.54)], having primary level of education [AOR=2.4;95% CI: (1.79–3.13)], and secondary level of education [AOR=4.0; 95% CI: (2.87–5.63)], being rich [AOR=2.3;95% CI: (1.39–3.91)] and being in the highest wealth index catagory [AOR=2.6;95% CI: (1.30–5.16)] increase the odds of HIV testing. However, lack of media acccess [AOR = 0.7; 95 CI %: (0.54–0.87)], lack of comprehensive HIV knowledge [AOR = 0.68; 65% CI: (0.53–0.86)] and having discriminatory attitude towards PLHIV[AOR=0.79;95% CI: (0.64–0.97)] decrease the odds of HIV testing. Conclusion The practice of HIV testing among youth populations was low as compared to national recommendations. Lack of media access, lack of comprehensive knowledge about HIV, and having discriminatory attitudes were the barriers to HIV testing practice. Marriage, secondary or higher education attainment, and high wealth index category were the facilitators for HIV testing. Improving HIV-related knowledge, improving media access, and minimizing discriminatory attitudes are strongly recommended to promote HIV testing practice.
Disinfection of Stethoscope and Non-Infrared Thermometer: Practices of Physicians in Ethiopia in the Era of COVID-19

Background Stethoscopes and non-infrared thermometers are the customary medical equipment used by the physicians on a daily basis, among various patients. With the rise of potential infections in the healthcare facilities and the transmission nature of the current COVID-19 pandemic, consistent and correct disinfections of these devices after each use should not be pardoned. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the level of stethoscope and non-infrared thermometer disinfection practices among physicians involved in direct patient contact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among physicians working in Ethiopia to assess their practice of stethoscope and non-infrared thermometer disinfection. The online survey was circulated using an anonymous and self-reporting questionnaire via Google form with a consent form appended to it. The developed Google form link was shared with physicians through their email addresses and social media pages. A descriptive summary was computed and presented by tables and figures. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated stethoscope and non-infrared thermometer after every use. Results The proportion of stethoscope and non-infrared thermometer disinfections after every use was 13.9% (95% CI: 10.9–17.6) and 20.4% (95% CI: 16.7–24.5), respectively. Taking COVID-19 training (AOR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.29–4.92) and the availability of stethoscope disinfection materials at the workplace (AOR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.29–7.10) were significantly increased the odds of stethoscope disinfection after every use. The odds of stethoscope disinfection after every use was significantly decreased for those who reported the use of shared stethoscope (AOR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12–0.92). Conclusion Only a wee share of the respondents reported that they have disinfected their stethoscopes and non-infrared thermometers after every use – possibly jeopardizing both patients and clinicians safety, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Impact of Different Induction Immunosuppressive Therapy on Long-Term Kidney Transplant Function When Measured by Iothalamate Clearance

Background Improvement in short-term outcomes after kidney transplant has been achieved by using different induction and maintenance therapeutic approaches. Long-term outcomes have not matched the expectations of the transplant stakeholders. Our study aimed to address the early impact of induction agents on long-term outcome of kidney transplant when measured by iothalamate clearance. Methods All adult kidney transplant recipients between January of 2012 and December of 2016 were reviewed. Six hundred forty-nine patients were divided into three groups based on the induction agent (basiliximab, alemtuzumab, and thymoglobulin). Protocoled 4 months and 48 months kidney allograft function evaluations with iothalamate clearance test were compared among the three groups. Results Patients who received basiliximab were significantly older with no difference among African American and Caucasians. The 48 months assessment showed significant decline in median iothalamate clearance in basiliximab group at 49 mL/min vs. alemtuzumab group 64.8 mL/min and thymoglobulin 60 mL/min with P = 0.007. The basiliximab group developed a significant higher proteinuria measured by spot urine to creatinine ratio at 48 months. Conclusions The use of basiliximab as an induction agent for kidney transplant is associated with significant decline in kidney function 4 years post transplantation when measured by iothalamate clearance.
DPPG2-Based Thermosensitive Liposomes with Encapsulated Doxorubicin Combined with Hyperthermia Lead to Higher Doxorubicin Concentrations in the Bladder Compared to Conventional Application in Pigs: A Rationale for the Treatment of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Purpose Current treatment options for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) are associated with substantial morbidity. Local release of doxorubicin (DOX) from phosphatidyldiglycerol-based thermosensitive liposomes (DPPG2-TSL-DOX) potentiated by hyperthermia (HT) in the bladder wall may result in bladder sparing without toxicity of systemic chemotherapy. We investigated whether this approach, compared to conventional DOX application, increases DOX concentrations in the bladder wall while limiting DOX in essential organs. Materials and Methods Twenty-one pigs were anaesthetized, and a urinary catheter equipped with a radiofrequency-emitting antenna for HT (60 minutes) was placed. Experimental groups consisted of iv low or full dose (20 or 60 mg/m2) DPPG2-TSL-DOX with/without HT, iv low dose (20 mg/m2) free DOX with HT, and full dose (50 mg/50 mL) intravesical DOX with/without HT. After the procedure, animals were immediately sacrificed. HPLC was used to measure DOX levels in the bladder, essential organs and serum, and fluorescence microscopy to evaluate DOX distribution in the bladder wall. Results Iv DPPG2-TSL-DOX with HT resulted in a significantly higher bladder wall DOX concentration which was more homogeneous distributed, than iv and intravesical free DOX administration with HT. Specifically in the detrusor, DPPG2-TSL-DOX with HT led to a >7- and 44-fold higher DOX concentration, compared to iv free DOX with HT and intravesical DOX, respectively. Organ DOX concentrations were significantly lower in heart and kidneys, and similar in liver, spleen and lungs, following iv DPPG2-TSL-DOX with HT, compared to iv free DOX. Intravesical DOX led to the lowest organ DOX concentrations. Conclusion Iv DPPG2-TSL-DOX combined with HT achieved higher DOX concentrations in the bladder wall including the detrusor, compared to conventional iv and intravesical DOX application. In combination with lower DOX accumulation in heart and kidneys, compared to iv free chemotherapy, DPPG2-TSL-DOX with HT has great potential to attain a role as a bladder-sparing treatment for MIBC.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Cervical Cancer Screening and Associated Factors Among Women Aged 15–49 Years in Adigrat Town, Northern Ethiopia, 2019: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background Cervical cancer, mainly attributed to persistent infection with a high-risk oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), is one of the most common types of women’s cancer globally, with more than 90% of new cases occurring in developing and resource-limited countries. In Ethiopia, cervical cancer ranks as the most frequent cancer among women and cause for 4732 deaths annually. Objective To assess knowledge, attitude, practice towards screening on cervical cancer and associated factors among women aged 15–49 years in Adigrat town, northern Tigray Ethiopia. Methods A community based quantitative study design was conducted among 617 samples in Adigrat town, northern Tigray Ethiopia. Data were collected using a structured, semi-structured, and pre-tested questionnaire. Associations between dependent and independent variables were tested using logistic regression with the assumptions of p-values <0.05 and confidence interval 95% and considered to be statistically significant. Results This study indicated that 46.4%, 53.3%, 38.1% of participants had knowledge, positive attitude, and screened on cervical cancer, respectively. Diploma and above [AOR=3.7, 95% CI (1.443, 9.433) were significant factors associated with knowledge of cervical cancer screening utilization. Primary school (1–8) [AOR=2.7, 95% CI (1.297, 5.699)], greater than 500 ETB household income [AOR = 4.8, 95% CI (2.783, 8.577)] were significant factors associated with attitude of cervical cancer screening utilization. Secondary school (9–12) [AOR = 3.4, 95% CI (1.565, 7.458)], not knowledgeable of cervical cancer [AOR = 1.8, 95% CI (1.156, 2.698)] were significant factors associated with practice of cervical cancer screening utilization. Conclusion Factors like age, educational status, anyone knowing with cervical cancer and ever received cancer information had a significant association with knowledge of cervical cancer screening utilization. Educational status and perceived income of the household had a significant association with an attitude of cervical cancer screening utilization. Educational status perceived income of the household, anyone knowing with cervical cancer, ever received cancer information, and knowledge of cervical cancer screening utilization were predictors of cervical cancer screening practice.
Determination of apparent quantum yield spectra for the formation of biologically labile photoproducts

Quantum yield spectra for the photochemical formation of biologically labile photoproducts from dissolved organic matter (DOM) have not been available previously, although they would greatly facilitate attempts to model photoproduct formation rates across latitudinal, seasonal, and depth‐related changes in spectral irradiance. Apparent quantum yield spectra were calculated for two coastal environments from the southeastern United States using postirradiation bacterial respiration as a measure of total labile photoproduct formation and a cutoff filter method to model spectral dependence. As has been the case for previously studied classes of DOM photoproducts (i.e., dissolved inorganic carbon, CO, and H2O2), ultraviolet (UV)‐B irradiance was significantly more efficient at forming labile photoproducts (i.e., compounds readily assimilated by marine bacterioplankton) than UV‐A and visible irradiance. Calculations of DOM photoproduct formation in southeastern U.S. coastal surface waters indicate a formation ratio for biologically labile photoproducts :CO of 13 : 1. The slope of a natural log plot of the apparent quantum yield spectrum obtained for biologically labile photoproducts was similar to that for CO (0.028 nm−1 vs. 0.034 nm−1). Modeled kinetic rates therefore indicate that the production ratio of these photoproduct classes is approximately maintained despite variations in the solar spectrum that occur with depth in a water column or distance from shore. Application of the apparent quantum yield to coastal regions worldwide predicts an annual formation rate of biologically labile photoproducts in coastal waters of 206 × 1012 g C.
Cancer T-cell therapy: building the foundation for a cure

T-cell cancer therapy is a clinical field flush with opportunity. It is part of the revolution in immuno-oncology, most apparent in the dramatic clinical success of PD-1/CTLA-4 antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-Ts) to cure certain melanomas and lymphomas, respectively. Therapeutics based on T cells ultimately hold more promise because of their capacity to carry out complex behaviors and their ease of modification via genetic engineering. But to overcome the substantial obstacles of effective solid-tumor treatment, T-cell therapy must access novel molecular targets or exploit existing ones in new ways. As always, tumor selectivity is the key. T-cell therapy has the potential to address target opportunities afforded by its own unique capacity for signal integration and high sensitivity. With a history of breathtaking innovation, the scientific foundation for the cellular modality has often been bypassed in favor of rapid advance in the clinic. This situation is changing, as the mechanistic basis for activity of CAR-Ts and TCR-Ts is backfilled by painstaking, systematic experiments—harking back to last century’s evolution and maturation of the small-molecule drug discovery field. We believe this trend must continue for T-cell therapy to reach its enormous potential. We support an approach that integrates sound reductionist scientific principles with well-informed, thorough preclinical and translational clinical experiments.