Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exposures to multiple environmental chemicals (lead, methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls) among childbearing-aged women in the U.S.

It is estimated that 5 to 20% of neurodevelopmental disabilities in children are caused by environmental toxic exposures. Lead, methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known to have neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental consequences in animal models and human population studies. Bioaccumulation and exposures during gestation transfer from mother to fetus via the placenta and to an infant and young child through lactation. Little is known about multiple environmental chemical exposures, especially among childbearing-aged women. This descriptive and exploratory study involved analysis of existing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a national probability sample. Lead, methylmercury and the summed value of four lipid-adjusted PCB congeners (118, 138/158, 153, 180) were measured in the blood or serum of childbearing-aged females aged 16 to 49 of diverse races and ethnicities who were living in the U.S. 1999 to 2004, including a subset of pregnant women. Exposure was defined as two or more xenobiotic blood levels at or above the geometric mean. Sexton, Olden and Johnson’s modified environmental health paradigm (1993) guided the selection of 62 measures of vulnerability (susceptibilityand exposure-related attributes, socioeconomic factors and race-ethnicity). Findings were reported for weighted (adjusted) data. The prevalence of exposures was widespread among childbearing-aged women, one fifth of whom had xenobiotic blood levels at or above the geometric mean for all three chemicals. Overall, pregnant women had lower prevalence rates. Best-fit logistic regression exposure model contained 13 variables. Three were notable. Any fish consumption in past 30 days tripled the risk. A non-linear relationship was demonstrated with increasing age, exponential at ages 40 to 49. Past and current breastfeeding was protective for these women. Current pregnancy was protective with regard to individual chemical exposures only. Statistically significant two-way interactions were identified even though the paradigm could not be fully tested. Further research on exposures to multiple environmental chemicals using the modified environmental health paradigm is needed. Xenobiotic biomonitoring in conjunction with risk communication among childbearing-aged women is encouraged. Precautionary level interventions aimed at eliminating or minimizing exposures are urgently needed. Bioaccumulation and transgenerational consequences of exposures should be addressed in public health policy.
Peat as a Potential Biomass to Remove Azo Dyes in Packed Biofilters

Azo dyes represent a broad group of environmental pollutants that comprise between 60 and 70% of all the dyes and pigments used. The conventional processes are not efficient in treating effluents from the textile industry. Biofiltration emerges as an unconventional, easy-to-use, effective, and low-cost technology for the treatment of textile effluents. Biofiltration uses microbial consortia that form a biofilm on a filter medium. Peat is an organic matter with the ability to retain high moisture content and represents an attractive option to treat these effluents due to its high porosity, sorption capacity, availability, and low cost. The packing materials used were: peat as an organic biomass, perlite as an inorganic material, and a mixture of peat and perlite. Sorption processes in the biofilter peat-packed material and perlite are discussed dealing with its treatment capacity and as potential removers of azo dyes, their advantages and disadvantages compared with other traditional methods, and a review of operating parameters and design criteria that allow its large-scale application as a possible nonconventional treatment technology. The biofilter with the highest removal capacity was the peat-perlite mixture that achieved a 91% for the organic matter (measured as COD), and a 92% for the color removal (Direct blue 2 dye). with a retention time of 1.18 days.
Fatty acid composition in Ocotea caudata (Nees) Mez (Lauraceae) fruits from Colombia

The genus Ocotea of the Lauraceae family has species whose wood is employed in construction and for other purposes including as biofuel, for disinfection, cosmetics, and in the treatment of various diseases. Studies regarding Ocotea caudata’s phytochemical and pharmacognostic uses are scarce, thus, this work is the first to study its fruits. O. caudata (Nees) Mez fruits from Colombia were investigated for their oil content. Heptane extraction from O. caudata fruit oil yielded 54.9 % of total lipids, where the fatty acid composition was determined. The oil analysis by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) demonstrated that lauric acid was the most abundant fatty acid (51.7 %, C12:0). In addition to lauric acid, oleic acid (23.6 %, C18:1) and palmitic acid (16.6 %, C16:0) were found. The fatty acid composition was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). O. caudata can be considered as a species that accumulates medium-chain saturated fatty acids (C12) and long-chain unsaturated fatty acids (C18). In conclusion, many of its health benefits may be due to its high content of lauric acid. Therefore, this oil is highly regarded for its nutritional and health properties.
A Bio-Inspired Arched Foot with Individual Toe Joints and Plantar Fascia

This paper presents the design and testing of an arched foot with several biomimetic features, including five individual MTP (toe) joints, four individual midfoot joints, and plantar fascia. The creation of a triple-arched foot represents a step further in bio-inspired design compared to other published designs. The arched structure creates flexibility that is similar to human feet with a vertical deflection of up to 12 mm. The individual toe joints enable abduction–adduction in the forefoot and therefore a natural pronation motion. Adult female bone data was obtained and converted into a CAD model to accurately identify the location of bones, joints, and arches. An analytical model is presented that gives the relationship between the vertical stiffness and horizontal stiffness of the longitudinal arches and therefore allows the optimization of stiffness elements. Experimental tests have demonstrated a vertical arch stiffness of 76 N/mm which is similar to adult human feet. The range of movement of the foot is similar to human feet with the following values: dorsi-plantarflexion (28°/37°), inversion-eversion (30°/15°), and abduction–adduction (30°/39°). Tests have also demonstrated a three-point contact with the ground that is similar to human feet.
Cyclic ductile and brittle deformation related to coseismic thrust fault propagation: Structural record at the base of a basement nappe (Preveli, Crete)

The structural record at the base of a basement nappe (Preveli nappe, Crete, Greece) thrust upon sedimentary rocks is investigated, aimed on understanding mechanisms which result in decoupling of the thrust sheet from its original substratum. We identify several superimposed deformation stages, each with characteristic structural style and indications of episodic deformation at initially high differential stress. The final stage involves formation of a matrix supported breccia transected by pseudotachylytes, comprising the lowermost 30 m of the nappe. Brecciation and pseudotachylyte formation occurred in a single event, and structures were not modified afterward. Complete induration of breccia and composition of phengite crystallized during devitrification of pseudotachylytes place the sequence of events into the middle crust. We propose a model relating episodic deformation and cyclic stress history to propagation of a thrust fault in a limited number of seismic events. Terminal brecciation and frictional fusion record passage of the fault front beneath the site of observation and decoupling of the thrust sheet. Absence of discernible further deformation is consistent with negligible basal friction during transport as a nappe. Brecciation and pseudotachylyte formation mark the switch from a history of repeated coseismic loading and postseismic stress relaxation in the plastosphere, driven by seismic events on the approaching thrust fault, to passive transport with deformation localized in a weak thrust plane. For a sequence of superimposed ductile to brittle structures, our model provides an alternative to progressive cooling and exhumation concomitant with deformation over millions of years.
The comparative study of multi‐site uncertainty evaluation method based on SWAT model

With the recent development of distributed hydrological models, the use of multi‐site observed data to evaluate model performance is becoming more common. Distributed hydrological model have many advantages, and at the same time, it also faces the challenge to calibrate over‐do parameters. As a typical distributed hydrological model, problems also exist in Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) parameter calibration. In the paper, four different uncertainty approaches – Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) techniques, Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE), Sequential Uncertainty Fitting algorithm (SUFI‐2) and Parameter Solution (PARASOL) – are taken to a comparative study with the SWAT model applied in Peace River Basin, central Florida. In our study, the observed river discharge data used in SWAT model calibration were collected from the three gauging stations at the main tributary of the Peace River. Behind these approaches, there is a shared philosophy; all methods seek out many parameter set to fit the uncertainties due to the non‐uniqueness in model parameter evaluation. On the basis of the statistical results of four uncertainty methods, difficulty level of each method, the number of runs and theoretical basis, the reasons that affected the accuracy of simulation were analysed and compared. Furthermore, for the four uncertainty method with SWAT model in the study area, the pairwise correlation between parameters and the distributions of model fit summary statistics computed from the sampling over the behavioural parameter and the entire model calibration parameter feasible spaces were identified and examined. It provided additional insight into the relative identifiability of the four uncertainty methods Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Glyphosate: A Unique Global Herbicide

Glyphosate is a popular global post-emergent perennial herbicide. This volume is a comprehensive review of glyphosate's history, properties, chemistry, biology, formulation, technology, enzymology, and structure/activity relationship. The discussion covers glyphosate's unique environmental properties, broad range of application, soil inactivity, soil and plant metabolism, low toxicity, and uptake and transport in plants. It also covers the syntheses of hundreds of analogs and derivatives and clarifies glyphosate's molecular mode of action and its effect on the target enzyme EPSP synthase.
Longwave radiation budget in the Mediterranean Sea

Direct measurements of infrared budget and meteorological parameters at sea were carried out in the western Mediterranean Sea during different seasons in the years 1989–1992. The spatial and time distribution of this data set allows us to perform an exhaustive test on the most widely used infrared budget bulk formulas. An underestimation of about 30 W/m2 is systematically observed, confirming previous results obtained by a limited data set. This discrepancy is independent of the time of the year and location of measurements, indicating an inability of the bulk formulas to reproduce the infrared Mediterranean budget. The completeness of the data set enables us to determine a new relation between infrared budget and meteorological parameters. Alternative expressions, to be used accordingly with the available data sets, are presented here.
The Effectiveness of Mentalization-Based Treatment on Mindfulness and Perceived Social Support in Adolescents

Adolescence is a critical period marked by significant changes in social relationships and emotional development. In light of the importance of promoting mental health in this age group, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a mentalization-based treatment intervention on mindfulness and perceived social support among female adolescents aged 12-15 years in Tehran. A pretest-posttest control group design was employed, with participants randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which received the mentalization-based treatment, or the control group, serving as a comparison for evaluating the intervention's effectiveness. The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (MSPSS) were used to measure mindfulness and perceived social support, respectively. The mentalization-based treatment intervention focused on enhancing the participants' ability to understand and interpret their own and others' mental states, fostering empathy, and improving interpersonal relationships. Data analysis was performed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) to assess the impact of the mentalization-based treatment on mindfulness and perceived social support in female adolescents. The results indicated a significant improvement in both mindfulness and perceived social support after the intervention (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the findings suggest that mentalization-based treatment holds promise as an effective approach to enhance mental health outcomes, particularly in promoting mindfulness and perceived social support in female adolescents. Future attention should be given to the implementation of this intervention to support the well-being of adolescents during this critical developmental stage.
Wildﬁre smoke exposures and adult health outcomes

Health outcomes attributable to wildﬁre smoke pollution exposure are an increasingly important global health issue especially as wildﬁres are increasing in frequency and intensity with climate change. In this chapter, we present an up-to-date overview of the literature regarding the health consequences of wildﬁre smoke pollution exposure experienced by adults, identify research gaps, and propose possible areas for future epidemiological studies. We also discuss existing interventions to reduce the negative health outcomes associated with wildﬁre smoke pollution exposure.
Enhancing Ultimate Bearing Capacity Prediction of Cohesionless Soils Beneath Shallow Foundations with Grey Box and Hybrid AI Models

This study examines the potential of the soft computing technique, namely, multiple linear regression (MLR), genetic programming (GP), classification and regression trees (CART) and GA-ENN (genetic algorithm-emotional neuron network), to predict the ultimate bearing capacity (UBC) of cohesionless soils beneath shallow foundations. For the first time, two grey-box AI models, GP and CART, and one hybrid AI model, GA-ENN, were used in the literature to predict UBC. The inputs of the model are the width of footing (B), depth of footing (D), footing geometry (ratio of length to width, L/B), unit weight of sand (γd or γ′), and internal friction angle (ϕ). The results of the present model were compared with those obtained via two theoretical approaches and one AI approach reported in the literature. The statistical evaluation of results shows that the presently applied paradigm is better than the theoretical approaches and is competing well for the prediction of qu. This study shows that the developed AI models are a robust model for the qu prediction of shallow foundations on cohesionless soil. Sensitivity analysis was also carried out to determine the effect of each input parameter. The findings showed that the width and depth of the foundation and unit weight of soil (γd or γ′) played the most significant roles, while the internal friction angle and L/B showed less importance in predicting qu.
Cut Elimination for Extended Sequent Calculi

We present a syntactical cut-elimination proof for an extended sequent calculus covering the classical modal logics in the \(\mathsf{K}\), \(\mathsf{D}\), \(\mathsf{T}\), \(\mathsf{K4}\), \(\mathsf{D4}\) and \(\mathsf{S4}\) spectrum. We design the systems uniformly since they all share the same set of rules. Different logics are obtained by “tuning” a single parameter, namely a constraint on the applicability of the cut rule and on the (left and right, respectively) rules for \(\Box\) and \(\Diamond\). Starting points for this research are 2-sequents and indexed-based calculi (sequents and tableaux). By extending and modifying existing proposals, we show how to achieve a syntactical proof of the cut-elimination theorem that is as close as possible to the one for first-order classical logic.In doing this, we implicitly show how small is the proof-theoretical distance between classical logic and the systems under consideration.
A Mass-Change Model for the Estimation of Debris-Flow Runout

We analyzed the runout potential of debris flows using a simple mathematical model based on the principle of conservation of momentum. This model is unique in that it evaluates the effect of a change in mass of a debris flow over the distance the flow travels. The model is used to examine the influence of viscous resistance alone, the paired influence of a change in mass of the flow with travel and viscous resistance, and finally, the combined effects of mass change, viscosity, friction, and slope angle on the longitudinal velocity distributions and runout distances of debris flows. Evaluations of the model with the combined influences of each of the variables indicate that a gain in mass by the flow with travel will result in longer total runout distances, and that the flow will maintain lower velocities over the distance traveled. A loss of mass with travel will result in shorter total runout distances, and the flow will maintain higher velocities over the distance traveled. Increasing slope angles allow for longer runout distances, but when frictional resistance to flow is greater than the influence of the slope angle, shorter runout distances result. In its present state, the model cannot be calibrated with data from actual debris flows. However, the model does provide a framework for further study.
The Integration of Fintech and Banks: A Balancing Act Between Risk and Opportunity

Financial technology is a widely discussed issue in industrialized countries, although it is relatively new in underdeveloped ones. With the emergence of financial technology (fintech), the banking sector has undergone significant changes. This paper investigates the impact of fintech, both inside and outside the industry (startups), on the profitability of the banking sector. Using a panel of eighteen Egyptian banks over the period 2017 -2021, the study employs a panel fixed effect, a generalized method of the moment and robust least squares models to examine the relationship between fintech and bank profitability. Our findings reveal a significant relationship between fintech and bank profitability, suggesting that the adoption of fintech inside the banking sector has a negative effect on bank profitability, while the adoption of fintech outside the banking sector has a positive and significant effect on bank profitability. These findings have significant implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders as they navigate the evolving financial landscape.
Compact AFSIW Antenna With Integrated Digitally Controlled Impedance Tuner for Smart Surfaces

For unobtrusive smart-surface integration, an air-filled substrate-integrated waveguide (AFSIW) antenna for the [5.15-5.85]GHz band is co-designed with a tunable matching network and a cavity-integrated biasing circuit. It features a reconfigurable matching network to mitigate impedance mismatch due to objects in its reactive near field. A digitally controlled biasing circuit with switched-mode power supply is seamlessly integrated inside the air-filled antenna cavity to accurately control the matching network through a serial interface. The proposed impedance-tunable antenna covers an impedance bandwidth from 4.64 GHz to 6.09 GHz with a peak gain of 4.51 dBi at its center frequency. Measurements show that the cavity-integrated circuitry has negligible influence on the antenna performance, yielding novel integration potential. The impedance-tunable antenna is tested in a smart surface desktop integration scenario where it corrects detuning by objects placed on top, improving the wireless link for IEEE 802.11ac bands.
Myocarditis as a cause of neonate’s circulatory failure during delivery - case study

Myocarditis (MCI) is a heart pathology characterized by its rare occurrence and a possible fatal course. In the natural history of the disease inflammatory cell infiltrates are present. There are subtypes of MCI depending on the predominant cell type in the biopsy sampls. One of them is eosinophilic myocarditis. In eosinophilic myocarditis more that 50% of the cells are eosinophils. In the later phases of the disease the myocardium is infiltrated by fibrous tissue and the heart vessels are often affected by thrombosis. Cardiomyopathy is a common long-term complication of the MCI. Reported case presents a death of a male neonate. The neonate was delivered by vaginal delivery. Both prenatal development and all the prenatal tests indicated proper development of the fetus. At the delivery the neonate weight was 3900 grams and was evaluated with only 1 point on the Apgar score. Moreover, the neonate presented a complete acute cardiorespiratory failure at birth. Despite the 2 hour-long cardio-pulmonary resuscitation no return of spontaneous circulation was observed. The neonate’s remains were pathologically as well as histologically examined. The microscopic examination of the neonate’s heart samples contained many inflammatory cell infiltrations. Microabscesses with Charcot-Leyden crystals inside were also observed. Furthermore, the presence of atypical, polynuclear cells was noted. On the basis of the morphological image, it was recognized as an eosinophilic MCI.
Response of the Water Cycle of West Africa and Atlantic to Radiative Forcing by Saharan Dust

The responses of the atmospheric water cycle and climate of West Africa and the Atlantic to radiative forcing of Saharan dust are studied using the NASA finite volume general circulation model (fvGCM), coupled to a mixed layer ocean. We find evidence in support of the "elevated heat pump" (EHP) mechanism that underlines the responses of the atmospheric water cycle to dust forcing as follow. During the boreal summer, as a result of large-scale atmospheric feed back triggered by absorbing dust aerosols, rainfall and cloudiness are enhanced over the West Africa/Easter Atlantic ITCZ, and suppressed over the West Atlantic and Caribbean. region. Shortwave radiation absorption by dust warms the atmosphere and cools the surface, while long wave has the opposite response. The elevated dust layer warms the air over Nest Africa and the eastern Atlantic. The condensation heating associated with the induced deep convection drives and maintains an anomalous large-scale east-west overturning circulation with rising motion over West Africa/eastern Atlantic, and sinking motion over the Caribbean region. The response also includes a strengthening of the West African monsoon, manifested in northward shift of the West Africa precipitation over land, increased low-level westerlies flow over West Africa at the southern edge of the dust layer, and a near surface energy fluxes, resulting in cooling of the Nest African land and the eastern Atlantic, and a warming in the West Atlantic and Caribbean. The EHP effect is most effective for moderate to highly absorbing dusts, and becomes minimized for reflecting dust with single scattering albedo at 0.95 or higher.