Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wall Shear Stress Topological Skeleton Analysis in Cardiovascular Flows: Methods and Applications

A marked interest has recently emerged regarding the analysis of the wall shear stress (WSS) vector field topological skeleton in cardiovascular flows. Based on dynamical system theory, the WSS topological skeleton is composed of fixed points, i.e., focal points where WSS locally vanishes, and unstable/stable manifolds, consisting of contraction/expansion regions linking fixed points. Such an interest arises from its ability to reflect the presence of near-wall hemodynamic features associated with the onset and progression of vascular diseases. Over the years, Lagrangian-based and Eulerian-based post-processing techniques have been proposed aiming at identifying the topological skeleton features of the WSS. Here, the theoretical and methodological bases supporting the Lagrangian- and Eulerian-based methods currently used in the literature are reported and discussed, highlighting their application to cardiovascular flows. The final aim is to promote the use of WSS topological skeleton analysis in hemodynamic applications and to encourage its application in future mechanobiology studies in order to increase the chance of elucidating the mechanistic links between blood flow disturbances, vascular disease, and clinical observations.
The influence of nozzle design in the cold spray process

Publisher Summary One of the major characteristics of the cold spray process is the high-speed gas jet, which is governed by gas dynamics. In gas dynamics, supersonic flows are obtained with Convergent-Divergent [“CD”] nozzles (or de Laval nozzle), which are used for rocket motors. While the principal purpose of the design of a rocket motor nozzle is to maximize the thrust, in thermal spraying, the main purpose is to obtain better coating quality. The studies on thermal spraying show that the coating properties are principally determined by the thermal and kinetic energy states of particles upon impact with the substrate. To have a balance between these two states, various changes in the design of the High-Velocity Oxygen Fuel [“HVOF”] gun nozzle have been attempted. However, works concerning the influence of nozzle geometry on the thermal spray process are sparse. The effects of throat diameter and exit divergence of the gun nozzle on the HVOF process have been considered. The combustion gas flow (such as pressure, velocity, temperature and expansion state of gas jet from the nozzle exit), the particle behavior and, therefore, the nature of coatings were found to be significantly influenced by these nozzle parameters. In addition, the effect of the expansion state of the combustion gas jet on the HVOF process was investigated using a diverging nozzle exit.
Role of Wide Bandgap Materials in Power Electronics for Smart Grids Applications

At present, the energy transition is leading to the replacement of large thermal power plants by distributed renewable generation and the introduction of different assets. Consequently, a massive deployment of power electronics is expected. A particular case will be the devices destined for urban environments and smart grids. Indeed, such applications have some features that make wide bandgap (WBG) materials particularly relevant. This paper analyzes the most important features expected by future smart applications from which the characteristics that their power semiconductors must perform can be deduced. Following, not only the characteristics and theoretical limits of wide bandgap materials already available on the market (SiC and GaN) have been analyzed, but also those currently being researched as promising future alternatives (Ga2O3, AlN, etc.). Finally, wide bandgap materials are compared under the needs determined by the smart applications, determining the best suited to them. We conclude that, although SiC and GaN are currently the only WBG materials available on the semiconductor portfolio, they may be displaced by others such as Ga2O3 in the near future.
Foliar Thidiazuron Promotes the Growth of Axillary Buds in Strawberry

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) can be easily propagated with daughter plants or through crown division, which are developed from the axillary bud at the axils of leaves. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different cytokinins, auxins, and their combinations on the axillary bud growth in strawberry. Four cytokinins (6-benzyladenine, kinetin, zeatin, and thidiazuron (TDZ)) and three auxins (indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, and naphthaleneacetic acid) at a concentration of 50 mg·L−1 were sprayed on the leaves three times in 10-day intervals. The expression levels of cytokinin, auxin, and meristem-related genes in the crowns were also investigated. The results showed that TDZ was the most effective hormone for the axillary bud growth, and also promoted plant growth. However, chlorophyll, soluble sugar, and starch contents in the leaves were lower after TDZ. TDZ activated the cytokinin signal transduction pathway, while repressing the auxin synthesis genes. Several meristem-related transcription factors were upregulated, which might be essential for the growth of the axillary buds. These results suggested that TDZ can improve the cultivation of strawberry, while further research is needed to explain the effect on phytochemistry.
Insertion of Calcium Ion into Prussian Blue Analogue in Nonaqueous Solutions and Its Application to a Rechargeable Battery with Dual Carriers

We observed the first electrochemical insertion of Ca2+ into Prussian blue analogue, MnFe(CN)6, in nonaqueous solutions of Ca(CF3SO3)2 and various solvents including ionic liquid at 60 °C. The kinetics for the Ca2+ insertion reaction were studied by cyclic voltammetry, and were compared to those of Na+ intercalation. By coupling this phenomenon with metallic anodes, two energy storage devices were made. Ca anode produced a primary cell that operated at a voltage of around 2.0 V. When Mg plate was used as an anode, the negative active material associated with CF3SO3–, which we have already reported was newly formed at the surface of Mg plate. By combining the negative active material, we have fabricated a novel rechargeable battery using dual ion transport species of Ca2+ for the cathode and CF3SO3– for the anode, and demonstrated that the battery showed repeated discharge/charge performance.
Relational load: Implications for executive functioning, mental health, and feelings of unity in romantic relationships

ABSTRACT This study examined how ongoing relationship maintenance and communal perspectives influence relational load and executive functioning immediately after a stressful conversation in the laboratory in a sample of predominantly white romantic partners. It also explored the aftermath of relational load on partners’ communal perspectives and mental health five consecutive days following the conversation. Receiving greater maintenance from one’s partner before the conversation was associated with increased unity and less conflict, which reduced relational load. This was particularly true for men. Women’s communal perspectives were also associated with better executive functioning for themselves and their partners. Finally, greater relational load diminished feelings of unity and mental health in the days after the laboratory, but the effect on mental health was short-lived.
EVALUATING ENTREPRENEURS’ MOTIVES FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR IN EUROPE

Informal entrepreneurs have been viewed variously as reluctant participants in such endeavors doing so out of economic necessity because of their exclusion from formal work and welfare (structuralist theory), or as willing entrepreneurs who voluntarily exit the formal economy either as a rational economic decision (neo-liberal theory) or as social actors who do not agree with the formal rules and regulations of the state (neo-institutional theory). The aim of this paper is to evaluate these competing theorizations of entrepreneurs’ motives for participating in the informal sector. Reporting evidence from a 2019 Eurobarometer survey involving 27,565 face-to-face interviews in 28 European countries, the finding is that five percent are reluctant participants, twenty percent are willing participants doing so as a rational economic decision, 21 percent are willing participants doing so because of their disagreement with the rules and 54 percent do so for a mixture of these motives. A logistic regression analysis reveals who is more likely to engage in informal entrepreneurship and who is significantly more likely to do so for each motive. The theoretical and policy implications are then discussed.
Enhancement of dissolution rate and intestinal stability of candesartan cilexitil

The objective of this work was to improve the dissolution rate of candesartan cilexitil, a poorly water soluble prodrug and to reduce its premature degradation in the intestinal lumen. Binary and ternary solid dispersions (SD) of the drug with Pluronic F68, Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) and Tween 80 were prepared using the solvent evaporation method. The dissolution rate of the drug was monitored and the prepared SD systems were characterized using thermal analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The stability of candesartan in extracted rabbit intestinal fluids was monitored. This was conducted in absence and presence of tested excipients. SD of the drug with PVP resulted in significant enhancement in the dissolution rate of drug even at the lowest drug to polymer weight ratio. Similarly, SD with HPMC showed enhanced dissolution rate. SD with Pluronic F68 showed promising dissolution enhancement but this was recorded at higher polymer concentrations. Formulation of ternary SD of the drug and PVP with either Pluronic or Tween 80 resulted in rapid drug dissolution. The enhanced dissolution was mainly due to amorphousization of the drug with possible contribution to the micelle formation as reflected from thermal analysis. Incubation of pure candesartan in intestinal fluid resulted in rapid degradation of the drug. This degradation was not affected by 0.1% Pluronic. In presence of Tween 80 the rate of drug degradation was reduced significantly with the efficacy of Tween 80 depending on its concentration. The study developed a system for enhanced dissolution rate of candesartan with better stability in the intestinal lumen.
Engram: A Systematic Approach to Optimize Keyboard Layouts for Touch Typing, With Example for the English Language

Most computer keyboard layouts (mappings of characters to keys) do not reflect the ergonomics of the human hand, resulting in preventable repetitive strain injuries. We present a set of ergonomics principles relevant to touch typing, introduce a scoring model that encodes these principles, and outline a systematic approach for developing optimized keyboard layouts in any language based on this scoring model coupled with character-pair frequencies. We then create a keyboard layout optimized for touch typing in English by constraining key assignments to reduce lateral finger movements and enforce easy access to high-frequency letters and letter pairs, applying open source software to generate millions of layouts, and evaluating them based on Google’s N-gram data. We use two independent scoring methods to compare the resulting Engram layout against 10 other prominent keyboard layouts based on a variety of publicly available text sources. The Engram layout scores consistently higher than other keyboard layouts.
A prelude to the molecular systematics and diversity of combtooth blennies (Teleostei: Blenniidae) in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

Despite being labelled as impoverished, with low species richness for many taxonomic groups, beta diversity of the northern marginal waters of the Indian Ocean is found to be high. To facilitate future investigation of near-shore marine fish diversity in this region, we established a COI reference database for intertidal combtooth blennies (Blenniidae) and document the results of the first molecular taxonomic inventory of this group along the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. A combined use of various molecular species delimitations, phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses was employed on a final library including this local database and archived sequences to define phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries, and to compare the results to the existing morphology-based taxonomy. The absence of reciprocal monophyly between two species, Istiblennius lineatus and I. pox, and the presence of deep phylogeographic breaks in another two widely distributed species, Antennablennius bifilum and Omobranchus punctatus was documented, indicating the potential existence of hidden taxonomic diversity in both taxa. Distinct phylogeographic patterns were discovered between different species of blenniid within the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, which are discussed in reference to regional paleoclimate and life history. Establishment of this local database for the blenniids of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea not only can serve as a reliable database for accurate specimen identification, but also is highly relevant to conservation programs, further taxonomic works and advanced evolutionary analyses on the blenniids of the Indo-Pacific.
Hydroclimate variability during the last two millennia from the mudflats of Diu Island, Western India

The climate variability over western India has been significantly influenced by the perturbations in the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and thus, provides a crucial platform to investigate the paleomonsoon variations, weathering intensity, and sediment source. The mudflats of southern Saurashtra, western India are deprived of perennial rivers, but the region receives terrestrial contribution exclusively due to activation of seasonal rivers during the monsoon. In the present study, an attempt has been made to investigate the paleomonsoon and palaeoweathering using various geochemical proxies (detrital, productivity, redox, and weathering) on the mudflat sediment core of southern Saurashtra, western Gujarat. The core is chronologically constrained by 14C, 210Pb, and 137Cs dating techniques. The study suggests ISM strengthening during 2000–1800 cal yr BP with intermittent marginal ISM weakening during 1950–1970 cal yr BP and 1930–1890 cal yr BP associated with the reduced solar irradiance. Further, ISM weakening has been invoked during Dark Age Cold period (1800–1300 cal yr BP) and Little Ice Age (800–200 cal yr BP) interrupted by a marginal ISM strengthening during Medieval Warm period and the last two centuries witness climate warming. Based on historical rainfall data and Al2O3, an intermittent strengthening of ISM during 90–30 cal yr BP has been suggested while a gradual increase in the weathering intensity synchronous to the rise in sea surface temperature (SST) during the last 200 cal yr BP revealed the role of temperature on the intensity of chemical weathering in the study area. In spite of changes in the geochemical proxies as a function of ISM fluctuations, the palaeoweathering intensities has remained nearly consistent wherein the chemical weathering was less operative and accompanied by the deposition of texturally immature sediments. The sediments of Diu mudflat indicate mafic signatures thereby underscoring a major contribution of the Deccan basalts along with other variable sources.
Diversity and Toxigenicity of Mycobiota in Grain Corn: A Case Study at Pioneer Grain Corn Plantations in Terengganu, Malaysia

Malaysia has begun to locally mass-cultivate grain corn to reduce import dependency for animal feed industries. Since the Malaysian tropical climate constantly exposes grain corn to fungal colonization and mycotoxin production by mycotoxigenic species, it is, therefore, important to investigate the presence of fungal species, especially the mycotoxigenic strains in the Malaysian grain corn agroecosystem. In the present work, corn kernel, tassel, plant debris, and soil were collected from two pioneer grain corn farms (Kampong Dadong, KD; Rhu Tapai, RT), and morphological and molecular identifications were conducted. A total of 131 fungal isolates from 30 fungal species were recovered. Both KD and RT yielded log 4.7–6.7 CFU/g total fungal loads. Fusarium verticillioides was predominant in both farms, followed by the phytopathogenic Lasiodiplodia theobromae and the mycotoxigenic Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, F. incarnatum, and F. proliferatum. Mycotoxin analyses by high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that among 30 mycotoxigenic isolates tested for aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, HT-2, T-2, ochratoxins A, and zearalenone, approximately 25 of the isolates could produce at least one mycotoxin in vitro. The present work serves as a baseline for more comprehensive research to better predict and control fungal contamination and the subsequent mycotoxin accumulation in Malaysian grain corn agroecosystems.
A Model Predictive Control for the Dynamical Forecast of Operating Reserves in Frequency Regulation Services

The intermittent and uncontrollable power output from the ever-increasing renewable energy sources, require large amounts of operating reserves to retain the system frequency within its nominal range. Based on day-ahead load forecasts, many research works have proposed conventional and stochastic approaches to define their optimum margins for reliability enhancement at reasonable production cost. In this work, we aim at delivering real-time load forecasting to lower the operating-reserve requirements based on intra-hour weather update predictors. Based on critical predictors and their historical data, we train an artificial model that is able to forecast the load ahead with great accuracy. This is a feed-forward neural network with two hidden layers, which performs real-time forecasts with the aid of a predictive model control developed to update the recommendations intra-hourly and, assessing their impact and its significance on the output target, it corrects the imposed deviations. Performing daily simulations for an annual time-horizon, we observe that significant improvements exist in terms of decreased operating reserve requirements to regulate the violated frequency. In fact, these improvements can exceed 80% during specific months of winter when compared with robust formulations in isolated power systems.
Polymer/quantum dot nanostructures in remarkably stabilized photovoltaics based on polymers having benzodithiophene/naphthothiadiazole constituents

Supramolecular structures were developed by the graphene and carbon quantum dots (GQD and CQD) and poly[benzodithiophene‐bis(decyltetradecyl‐thien) naphthothiadiazole] (PBT‐DNT) short/long chains. The pre‐developed quantum dot (QD)/conjugated polymer‐based supramolecules were used as promoting agents of efficacy and stability in the PBT‐DNT:[6,6]‐phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) photovoltaics. Air aging experiments were carried out in 38% humidity at 36°C within the time periods of 0 to 90 days with 1 month intervals. The CQD and GQD nanoparticles and their associated structures by PBT‐DNT long backbone did not conspicuously alter the performance and stability of PBT‐DNT:PC71BM systems. Within 3 months aging, the power conversion efficiencies fell down from 3.81% to 0.18% for CQD/PBT‐DNT long chain and from 4.33% to 0.17% for GQD/PBT‐DNT long chain‐based systems. In contrast, the patterned GQD/PBT‐DNT short chain and CQD/PBT‐DNT short chain supramolecules properly played their roles and reflected the best non‐aged (5.57% (342 Ω cm2) and 4.59% (486 Ω cm2)) and 90‐day aged (2.01% (764 Ω cm2) and 1.00% (835 Ω cm2)) photovoltaics. Shorter backbones had a better chance to be arranged onto the QD nanoparticles. The GQD‐based nano‐hybrids acted better than the CQD‐based ones. It could be assigned to the flat and disc‐like structure of GQDs, which facilitated assembling of the conjugated chains via π stacking.
The influence of a surfactant on the rate of phenanthrene mass transfer into water

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are hydrophobic pollutants found in contaminated soils at many sites in the U.S. One method proposed to improve remediation of PAH contaminated soil is to add surfactants to help mobilize these and other poorly soluble compounds. Previous work on the effects of surfactants on PAH and other pollutants has focused on equilibrium phenomena. The influence of a surfactant on the rate of dissolution of phenanthrene, a model PAH, was determined in this study. Phenanthrene dissolution kinetics depended on the observed mass transfer coefficient and the apparent saturation concentration, both of which depended on surfactant concentration. A simple two-step mass transfer model was developed to describe the relationship between dissolution rate and surfactant concentration. This approach may be useful in estimating effects on mass transfer kinetics for a variety of surfactants using data that are either available in the literature or are readily measured.
Examination of Genre-based Strategy Instruction in Middle School English Language Arts and Science

Abstract The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of an instructional intervention and its professional development (PD) on the opinion and argumentative writing of middle school students and on teachers’ instructional delivery. The study utilized a design-based methodology and collected qualitative and quantitative data in order to identify revisions needed. Participants were 17 English Language Arts (ELA) and eight science teachers in a rural setting. Students’ writing was assessed in ELA and science (n = 563 and n = 159, respectively) and teachers were interviewed at posttest. Results showed that writing quality improved overall from pretest to posttest (p < 0.001) and teachers found feasible and effective the instructional approach and commented positively on the PD components. Inhibiting factors and revisions from Cycle 1 to Cycle 2 are described while implications for research and practice on PD and curriculum design are further discussed.
Evaporation from arbitrary nanoporous membrane configurations: An effective evaporation coefficient approach

Thin-film evaporation from nanoporous membranes is a promising cooling technology employed for the thermal management of modern electronic devices. We propose an effective one-dimensional analytical approach that can accurately predict the temperature and density jump relations, and evaporation rates, for arbitrary nanoporous membrane configurations. This is accomplished through the specification of an effective evaporation coefficient that encompasses the influence of different system parameters, such as porosity, meniscus shape, evaporation coefficient, and receding height. Our proposed approach can accurately predict all the typical output evaporation parameters of interest like mass flux, and temperature and density jumps, without the need to carry out computationally demanding numerical simulations. Several exemplar cases comprising of nanoporous configurations with a wide range of parameters have been considered to demonstrate the feasibility and accuracy of this analytic approach. This work thus enables a quick, efficient, and accurate means of aiding the design and engineering analysis of nanoporous membrane-based cooling devices.