Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AlgaeTraits: a trait database for (European) seaweeds

Abstract. The analysis of biological and ecological traits has a long history in evolutionary and ecological research. However, trait data are often scattered and standardised terminology that transcends taxonomic and biogeographical context are generally missing. As part of the development of a global trait database of marine species, we collated trait information for European seaweeds and structured the data within the standardised framework of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). We collected 45 175 trait records for 21 biologically and ecologically relevant traits of seaweeds. This resulted in a trait database for 1745 European seaweed species of which more than half (56 %) of the records were documented at the species level, while the remaining 44 % were documented at a higher taxonomic level and subsequently inherited at lower levels. The trait database for European seaweeds will serve as a foundation for future research on diversity and evolution of seaweeds and their responses to global changes. The data will contribute to developing detailed trait-based ecosystem models and will be an important tool to inform marine conservation policies. The data are publicly accessible through the AlgaeTraits portal, https://doi.org/10.14284/574 (AlgaeTraits, 2022).
Cell-scale hemolysis evaluation of intervenient ventricular assist device based on dissipative particle dynamics

Most of the existing hemolysis mechanism studies are carried out on the macro flow scale. They assume that the erythrocyte membranes with different loads will suffer the same damage, which obviously has limitations. Thus, exploring the hemolysis mechanism through the macroscopic flow field information is a tough challenge. In order to further understand the non-physiological shear hemolysis phenomenon at the cell scale, this study used the coarse-grained erythrocytes damage model at the mesoscopic scale based on the transport dissipative particle dynamics (tDPD) method. Combined with computational fluid dynamics the hemolysis of scalarized shear stress ( τ ) in the clearance of “Impella 5.0” was evaluated under the Lagrange perspective and Euler perspective. The results from the Lagrange perspective showed that the change rate of scaled shear stress ( τ˙ ) was the most critical factor in damaging RBCs in the rotor region of “Impella 5.0”and other transvalvular micro-axial blood pumps. Then, we propose a dimensionless number Dk with time integration based on τ˙ to evaluate hemolysis. The Dissipative particle dynamics simulation results are consistent with the Dk evaluation results, so τ˙ may be an important factor in the hemolysis of VADs. Finally, we tested the hemolysis of 30% hematocrit whole blood in the “Impella 5.0” shroud clearance from the Euler perspective. Relevant results indicate that because of the wall effect, the RBCs near the impeller side are more prone to damage, and most of the cytoplasm is also gathered at the rotor side.
A study to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding breast feeding and its benefits among post-natal mothers in selected community area Hubballi

Background: India is the country with the highest number of underweight children, and around one-third of under-five deaths in the world. Inadequate and suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices are the key determinants of malnutrition. A descriptive approach was adopted and descriptive survey design was used for the study. Postnatal mothers from community area, Hubballi were sample and sample size was 60. Postnatal mothers were selected by Non probability purposive sampling technique. Method: In this study the structure questionnaire and 5 point LIKERT attitude scale was used to collect data. Results: Finding of the study depicts that 44 (73.33%) of subjects had average knowledge, 11 (18.34%) of subjects had good knowledge and 05 (08.33%) of subjects had poor knowledge. On assessment of attitude, 02 (03.34%) of subjects had positive attitude, 53 (88.33%) of subjects had neutral attitude and 05 (08.33%) of subject had negative attitude. The findings denotes that there was positive correlation between the level of knowledge and attitude scores. Conclusion: The study findings showed that the postnatal mother’s knowledge was good and attitude was neutral about breastfeeding and its benefits.
Scaling limits and phase transitions for nematic liquid crystals in the continuum

We discuss effective theories for thermotropic nematic liquid crystals. In the first part of this article, we rigorously carry out two physically different scaling limits of the fundamental statistical mechanical model of a system of $N$ rod-like particles as $N\to\infty$, which we call the mean-field and the Gross-Pitaevskii limit. Each of them yields an effective 'one-body' free energy functional. In the second part, we study the associated Euler-Lagrange equation, with a focus on phase transitions for general axisymmetric potentials. We prove that the system is isotropic at high temperature, while anisotropic distributions appear through a transcritical bifurcation as the temperature is lowered. Finally, as the temperature goes to zero we also prove, in the concrete case of the Maier-Saupe potential, that the system converges to perfect nematic order.
Do audits serve as an external risk oversight tool to boost firm performance?

This study explores the relationship between audits, concentrated managerial power, and firm performance in the Chinese manufacturing industry. Analyzing 1,264 publicly listed manufacturing firms over the five-year period (2017–2021), this study provides evidence that heavily concentrated management control hurts firm performance. The finding that heavily concentrated management control hurts firm performance is consistent with existing research on emerging markets (Debnath et al., 2021). Furthermore, consistent with existing research on audits protecting shareholder interest (Beneish, 1999) and improving firm earnings (Baxter & Cotter, 2009), the results of this study demonstrate that audits have the potential to operate as a risk oversight mechanism, reducing the likelihood of concentrated management control and therefore improving firm performance overall. This role of audits in corporate governance may be especially important in China, where the protection of minority shareholder interests may be more crucial (Chen et al., 2013), and in fact, the current study shows that audits mitigate the negative effects of concentrated management control on firm performance. However, the current research also demonstrates that the effects of audits on firm performance depend critically on how audits are identified. While longer-term, more stable auditing relationships decrease the likelihood of concentrated management power and mitigate the negative impact of concentrated power on firm performance, higher auditing fees, on the contrary, are associated with more concentrated management power, exacerbating the damage concentrated power does to firm performance. The empirical results are robust when replicated using propensity score matching (PSM) and entropy balancing techniques. Overall, the results demonstrate the effectiveness of audits as a tool in corporate governance but suggest the existence of conflicts of interest in fee-based auditing, which exacerbate agency costs.
Expansivity implies existence of Hölder continuous Lyapunov function

The Lyapunov function is a very useful tool in the theory of dynamical systems, in particular in the study of the stability of an equilibrium point. In this paper we construct a locally Holder continuous Lyapunov function for a uniformly expansive set for a map f in a metric space X . In the construction a basic role is played by the functions defining the stable and unstable cone-fields. As a tool we also use the approximately quasiconvex functions.
Research of algorithm for single gray-scale image haze removal

The gray-scale image is widely used in remote sensing image and high-resolution image. The resolution and the contrast are declining, also the image quality is seriously damaged under haze weather. Non-model image enhancement mainly uses targeted image processing methods to improve the contrast and details, while the image degradation is considered in model image restoration. Considering the lack and the necessity of research on the gray-scale image haze removal, a method of single gray-scale image haze removal based on dark channel prior is proposed. This paper extends the method of dark channel haze removal to the gray-scale image. The method reduces the amount of calculation by sampling down the input single gray image. At the same time, different measures are taken on the edges, the flat areas and the noise points of the image to remove the block effect. In addition, a refined transmission is obtained by coefficient modulation. By comparing the experiments and the quality evaluation with other methods of haze removal, including guided filtering, gray stretch and adaptive histogram equalization with limited contrast. It fully shows that the proposed method can be effectively applied to the gray image haze removal.
Band sums of links which yield composite links. The cabling conjecture for strongly invertible knots

We consider composite links obtained by bandings of another link.It is shown that if a banding of a split link yields a composite knot then there is a decomposing sphere crossing the band in one arc, unless there is such a sphere disjoint from the band. We also prove that if a banding of the trivial knot yields a composite knot or link then there is a decomposing sphere crossing the band in one arc. The last theorem implies, via double branche covers, that the only way we can get a reducible manifold by surgery on a strongly invertible knot is when the knot is cabled and the surgery is via the slope of the cabling annulus
The antisickling effect of stem extracts of Costus afer

This research was geared towards investigating the antisickling effect of stem extracts of Costus afer. The antisickling effect of the stem extracts of Costus afer was investigated to determine and declare its potentiation. This work was approached by partitioning the extracts of Costus afer stem into; stem fat-soluble fraction (SFSF), stem ethanol-soluble fraction (SESF) and stem methanol-soluble fraction (SMSF). The phytochemical screening was qualitatively and quantitatively determined using standard GC-MS methods. The result shows the presence of twenty (20) different secondary metabolites with a wide range of functions. The amino acid profiles of the extracts revealed the presence of Phenylalanine, Arginine, Lysine, Serine, Methionine and others. Haemoglobin polymerization inhibition and the relative percent inhibition were estimated. The ethanol-soluble fraction (SESF), methanol-soluble fraction (SMSF) and fat-soluble fractions (SFSF) are 74.68 % ±0.00, 26.58 % ±0.00 and 22.78 % ±0.00 inhibition on HbSS polymerization, respectively. The percent improvement on Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio are: 96.64 ± 0.12, 66.14 ± 0.11 and 47.24 ± 0.03 for the fat-soluble fraction, methanol-soluble fraction and ethanol-soluble fractions, respectively. The total free amino acid values range from 776.15 ± 2.15 mg/50 g for the SMSF to 1,188.00 ±12.12 mg/50 g for the SFSF. The total vitamin C concentration of the samples expressed in mg/100 g is 297.59 ± 33.26. The results of this work show that stem extracts of Costus afer can be effectively used as phytomedical therapy for sickle cell disease management.
Análisis espectroscópico de estrellas enanas y gigantes en los cúmulos abiertos IC 2391 y NGC 6475

Los cúmulos abiertos son objetos muy útiles en astrofísica; se han utilizado para estudiar la teoría de la formación y la evolución estelar, así como la estructura de la vía láctea. En ese contexto, se analizaron estrellas enanas y gigantes pertenecientes a los cúmulos abiertos IC 2391 y NGC 6475. Los espectros de alta resolución se obtuvieron de la base de datos ESO/Archive. Para obtener los parámetros atmosféricos (Teff, log g, ε, [Fe/H]) y las abundancias químicas, se aplicó la hipótesis del equilibrio termodinámico local (local thermodynamic equilibrium, LTE). Nuestros resultados corroboraron el comportamiento de las abundancias químicas en el disco galáctico.
Magnetization reversal mechanism in patterned (square to wave-like) Py antidot lattices

The effects of shape and geometry of antidot (square, bi-component, and wave-like) lattices (ADLs) on the magnetization reversal processes and magnetic anisotropy has been systematically investigated by magneto-optical Kerr effect based microscopy. Our experimental results were reproduced by micromagnetic simulations, which highlight the qualitative agreement with the experimental results. We have demonstrated that a small antidot in the center of a unit cell in the square ADL is sufficient to induce additional easy axes with large coercive fields. In wave-like patterns, narrow channels connecting smaller and larger antidots (bi-component ADL) further drastically change the anisotropy map, creating the high coercive fields along a wide angular range (90°) of directions parallel to the channels. In simulated results, we have observed formation of periodic domain structures in all ADLs, however, in the case of a wave-like pattern it is most regular and moreover two different periodic patterns are stabilized at different applied magnetic field values. The formation of 360° domain walls were also observed in wave-like ADL where these domains are formed along the lines connecting adjacent larger and smaller antidots, perpendicular to the channels. These findings point out the possibility of exploiting ADLs with complex unit cells in magnonic or spintronic applications.
Recent Advances in the Development of Drug Delivery Applications of Magnetic Nanomaterials

With the predicted rise in the incidence of cancer, there is an ever-growing need for new cancer treatment strategies. Recently, magnetic nanoparticles have stood out as promising nanostructures for imaging and drug delivery systems as they possess unique properties. Moreover, magnetic nanomaterials functionalized with other compounds can lead to multicomponent nanoparticles with innovative structures and synergetic performance. The incorporation of chemotherapeutic drugs or RNA in magnetic drug delivery systems represents a promising alternative that can increase efficiency and reduce the side effects of anticancer therapy. This review presents a critical overview of the recent literature concerning the advancements in the field of magnetic nanoparticles used in drug delivery, with a focus on their classification, characteristics, synthesis and functionalization methods, limitations, and examples of magnetic drug delivery systems incorporating chemotherapeutics or RNA.
Generalization of the Cayley transform in 3D homogeneous geometries

The Cayley transform maps the unit disk onto the upper half-plane, conformally and isometrically. In this paper, we generalize the Cayley transform in three-dimensional homogeneous geometries which are fiber bundles over the hyperbolic plane. Obtained generalizations are isometries between existing models in corresponding homogeneous geometries. Particularly, constructed isometry between two models of SL(2, R) geometry is nontrivial and enables comparison and transfer of known and even future results between these two models.
Impacts of Board Quality on Financial Performance in Conventional and Participatory Banks During and after the Covid-19 Crisis: Evidence from Emerging and Developing Countries

Going back to the governance literature, we found two equates on the correlation between the bank board and financial performance (FP). Firstly, we noticed that, in previous studies, the impacts of board quality on the financial performance of conventional and participatory (Islamic) banks were mixed, unstable, and sometimes contradictory. Secondly, we noticed a total absence of comparative studies showing the importance of the impact of the board composition quality on the financial performance of conventional and Islamic banks during and after the covid-19 crisis. To clarify the ambiguity, in this study, we compared in depth the impact of the board of directors (BOD) on the FP in two cited bank types. FP measures and board quality determinants are collected from 30 countries. The data concern 112 banks of each type that have published their reports regularly. Panel regressions were used to solve the ambiguity of the board quality’s impact on the FP of conventional and participatory banks in the agency theory framework during the period (2019-2022), giving us 448 observations in each sub-sample. Empirical results showed that the BOD negatively affects the FP of conventional banks (CBs), while that of participatory banks (PBs) has an ambiguous impact on their FP.
The Coagulopathy of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: An Updated Review of Pathophysiology, Risk Stratification, and Clinical Management

Simple Summary Outcomes for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) have improved over the past 40 years due to the development of targeted treatment regimens and an expanded understanding of the unique complications arising from both the disease and its treatments. Despite these advances, clinically significant bleeding and/or thrombosis in the first 30 days of treatment remain the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. Moreover, there is a lack of large clinical trials investigating approaches for the prevention and treatment of these complications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview and update on the coagulopathy associated with APL, compile current best practices for optimal management, and establish areas of potential future investigation to further improve outcomes for patients with APL. Abstract Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has a well-established mechanism and a long-term prognosis that exceeds that of any other acute leukemia. These improving outcomes are due, in part, to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO), two targeted and highly active agents in this disease. However, there remains a considerable morbidity and mortality risk in APL secondary to clinically significant hemorrhagic and/or thrombotic events. Prevention and treatment of these coagulopathic complications remain significant impediments to further progress in optimizing outcomes for patients with APL. Moreover, the relative rarity of APL hinders adequately powered randomized controlled trials for evaluating APL coagulopathy management strategies. This review draws from peer-reviewed works falling between initial descriptions of APL in 1957 and work published prior to January 2023 and provides an updated overview of the pathophysiology of hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications in APL, outlines risk stratification parameters, and compiles current clinical best practices. An improved understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms driving hemorrhage and thrombosis along with the completion of well-designed trials of management strategies will assist clinicians in developing interventions that mitigate these devastating complications in an otherwise largely curable disease.
HIPEC in Ovarian Cancer Is the Future… and Always Will Be? Results from a Spanish Multicentric Survey

Simple Summary Treatment with intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been criticized in ovarian cancer due to the lack of prospective and randomized clinical trials demonstrating its efficacy in improving outcomes. However, the publication of the Dutch clinical trial five years ago has not changed the usual clinical practice within the Spanish peritoneal oncologic surgery group. In this paper we analyze and reflect on the future of this technique in patients with peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer. Abstract Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death due to gynecological tumors in the female population. Despite optimal first-line treatment, including cytoreduction and platinum-based systemic chemotherapy, recurrences are frequent. The use of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been criticized, especially because of the lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with convincing results to support the use of HIPEC in patients with ovarian cancer with peritoneal dissemination. In 2018, the clinical trial published by Van Driel et al. reported improved outcomes in favor of HIPEC treatment with cisplatin. In this study, we conducted a national survey within the Spanish group of peritoneal surgical oncology (Grupo Español de Cirugía Oncológica Peritoneal, GECOP) to explore the impact of the results of this RCT on clinical practice. A total of 33 groups completed the survey. Routine clinical practice was not changed in 28 of the 33 groups (85%) based on the results of the Van Driel trial. Despite the results of this RCT, most groups considered that more RCTs are needed and that, in the future, HIPEC may become the standard of care. In conclusion, the results from RCTs evaluating HIPEC treatment in patients with ovarian cancer has not been transferred to clinical practice.
Novel High-Gain Narrowband Waveguide-Fed Filtenna using Genetic Algorithm

Filtenna is an antenna with filtering feature. There are many ways to design a filtenna. In this paper, a high-gain narrowband waveguide-fed aperture filtenna has been proposed and designed. A patterned plane, which is designed using genetic algorithm has been used at the open end of the waveguide fed, mounted on a conducting ground plane. To design the patterned pattern, magnetic field integral equation of the structure has been derived, so it has been solved using method of moments. The proposed filtenna has been simulated with HFSS that confirms the results obtained by method of moments. Finally, an unprinted dielectric as a superstrate has been used to enhance the gain of the filtenna. The filtenna bandwidth is 1.76% (160 MHz) which has the gain of 15.91 dB at the central frequency of 9.45 GHz.
Electron-hole balance and the anomalous pressure-dependent superconductivity in black phosphorus

The influence of carrier type on superconductivity has been an important issue for understanding both conventional and unconventional superconductors [1-7]. For elements that superconduct, it is known that hole-carriers govern the superconductivity for transition and main group metals [8-10]. The role of hole-carriers in elements that are not normally conducting but can be converted to superconductors, however, remains unclear due to the lack of experimental data. Here we report the first in-situ high pressure Hall effect measurements on single crystal black phosphorus, measured up to ~ 50 GPa, and find a correlation between the Hall coefficient and the superconducting transition temperature (TC). Our results reveal that hole-carriers play a vital role in developing superconductivity and enhancing TC. Importantly, we also find a Lifshitz transition in the high-pressure cubic phase at ~17.2GPa, which uncovers the origin of a puzzling valley in the superconducting TC-pressure phase diagram. These results offer insight into the role of hole-carriers in developing superconductivity in simple semiconducting solids under pressure.