Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Lifelong Changes of Interaction between Cingulo-Opercular Network and Other Cognitive Control Related Functional Networks Based on Multiple Connectivity Indices.

BACKGROUND The cingulo-opercular network (CON) has been proposed to play a central role in cognitive control. The lifetime change mechanism of its integrity and interaction with other cognitive control-related functional networks (CCRNs) is closely associated with developing cognitive control behaviors but needs further elucidation. METHODS The resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were recorded from 207 subjects, who were divided into three age groups: age 4-20, 21-59, and 60-85 years old. For each group, multiple indices (cross-correlation, total independence, and Granger causality) within CON and between CON and other cognitive control-related functional networks (dorsal attention network, DAN; central executive network, CEN; default mode network, DMN) were calculated and correlated with age to yield maps that delineated the changing pattern of CON-related interaction. RESULTS We found three main results. (1) The connectivity indices within the CON and between CON and the other three CCRNs showed significant enhancement from childhood to early adulthood (age 4-20 years), (2) mild attenuation within CON from early adulthood to middle age (age 21-59 years), and (3) significant attenuation within CON and between CON and DMN in the elder group (age 60-85 years). CONCLUSIONS The results indicated the prominently increased integrity of within-CON and CON-CCRNs communication, mildly weakened within-CON communication, and significantly attenuated within-CON and CON-DMN communication, characterizing distinct changing patterns of CON-interaction at three different stages that covered a life-long span.
Comparison of Factors Affecting Water Transfer in a Cultivated Paleotropical Grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) Field and a Neotropical Savanna during the Dry Season of the Orinoco Lowlands

Abstract Partitioning of available energy into sensible (H) and latent (LE) heat exchange was simultaneously measured in a closed Brachiaria field and an open neotropical savanna during the dry season of the Orinoco lowlands. These communities, differing in canopy coverage and aerodynamic forcing conditions, had major effects on the radiation and energy budgets. Thus, in the Brachiaria canopy, seasonally averaged daily LE was 55% (6.635 ± 0.92 MJ m−2 day−1) of the seasonally averaged daily available energy. In the savanna, it was 30% (2.841 ± 0.65 MJ m−2 day−1). The high degree of coupling between the Brachiaria and savanna surfaces to the prevailing weather of the dry season, as expressed by the seasonally averaged daily omega factor (Ω = 0.056 ± 0.005 and 0.042 ± 0.003, respectively), indicates that LE depended on the atmospheric driving potential and the canopy conductance (gc) to vapor diffusion. Consequently, daily LE was proportional to the imposed evapotranspiration rate. The hourly LE measured/LE .
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Outcomes of Post-Acute COVID-19 Patients during Different Waves of the Pandemic

(1) Background: Between the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and summer 2022, we distinguished four pandemic waves, with different characteristics of the affected patients. This study investigated the impact of patient characteristics on the outcome of inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). (2) Methods: Using a prospective approach, the characteristics of post-acute COVID-19 patients of the different waves who participated in inpatient PR were compared based on their assessments and results collected as part of PR (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), six-minute walk test (6-MWT), Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT), and Functional Independent Measurement (FIM). (3) Results: A total of 483 patients were included in the analysis (Wave 1 n = 51, Wave 2 n = 202, Wave 3 n = 84, Wave 4 n = 146). Compared to Wave 3 + 4, patients of Wave 1 + 2 were older (69 vs. 63 years; p < 0.001), had a significantly lower CIRS (13.0 vs. 14.7 points; p = 0.004), had significant better PFT (FVC: 73 vs. 68%pred; p = 0.009; DLCOSB: 58 ± 18 vs. 50 ± 17%pred; p = 0.001), and showed significantly more comorbidities (2.0 vs. 1.6 n/pers.; p = 0.009). Wave 3 + 4 showed significantly greater improvements according to the 6-MWT (147 vs. 188 m; p < 0.001) and the FIM (5.6 vs. 21.1 points; p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Patients of the COVID-19 infection waves differed significantly according to their anthropometric data, incidence of comorbidities, and impact of the infection. All cohorts achieved clinically relevant and significant functional improvements during PR, with significant higher improvements in Wave 3 + 4.
Health Service Protection vis-à-vis the Detection of Psychosocial Risks of Suicide during the Years 2019–2021

Health services are especially relevant in suicide prevention and intervention, representing a favourable environment in which to implement specific strategies to detect and address suicidal behaviours. Indeed, a significant proportion of people who die by suicide (DBS) present at primary care and mental health services during the last year, month, or even days before committing suicide. The objective of this descriptive and cross-sectional study of all registered cases of death by suicide (N = 265) in Extremadura (Spain) was to determine which of those people who died by suicide had mental health problems (MHP) and what type of assistance they had requested. Diagnoses, previous suicide attempts, type of health service, and last visit before death were explored with univariate analyses and logistic regressions. The proportion of people without MHP was found to be high, and these people had hardly visited the health services at all in their last year. People with MHP, between the ages of 40 and 69, and with previous suicide attempts were more likely to have visited the mental health service in the three months prior to their death. It is, thus, necessary to provide health professionals with tools and training in the prevention of and approach to suicide. Efforts must be directed towards effectively assessing mental health and the risk of suicide since a large proportion of people who die by suicide may go unnoticed.
Effective Speed: Factors That Influence the Attractiveness of Cost Effective and Sustainable Modes of Transport in Cities

Background: People invest hours of their working day to pay for their vehicle. Is this a worthwhile use of their time? Wouldn’t public transport be a more economical solution for those on low income? Which demographic group typically chooses the most effective mode of transport? Aim: The two studies presented in this paper answer those fundamental questions based on the effective speed concept. This is calculated by dividing the distance travelled by time (i.e., minutes spent travelling and earning the money to afford it). Methodology: A digital model of the residents in Berlin is created to calculate the ‘effective speed’ for everyone. In the second study, based on a survey of residents in New York City, the best mode of transport for each respondent based on their effective speed has been identified and compared to the mode chosen. Results: The results of the Berlin case study show that the mode share for cars would be less than 6% if people choose the mode of transport with the highest effective speed. A similar picture is seen in NYC. Factors that significantly affect whether people who should use public transport, do so, include: age, gender, education, place of work or home.
Bounds on Harbourne indices

We continue our study of the Bounded Negativity Conjecture from the point of view of Harbourne constants. We focus our attention on configurations of smooth curves having transversal intersection points only. Generalizing previous work of the authors, we give a bound on the so-called Harbourne indices of such configurations on any surface of non-negative Kodaira dimension. We also study in detail configurations of lines on smooth surface in $\mathbb{P}^3_\mathbb{C}$, and we provide a sharp and uniform bound on the Harbourne constants, which only depends on the degree of the surface. Finally, we move on to considering configurations of pseudolines in the real projective plane, and we deduce a uniform bound for their Harbourne constants.
Enhanced broadband light absorption of ultrathin PtSe2 in metal–insulator–metal structure

The enhancement of light absorption in an ultrathin two-dimensional material is critical for its optoelectronic and photonic applications. In this work, we investigated the enhanced light absorption of layered PtSe2 by engineering the optical impedance and the attenuation of the PtSe2-based metal–insulator–metal (MIM) absorber. For a monolayer PtSe2-based MIM absorber, the undesirable impedance mismatch can be compensated for using the top patterned metal array in the MIM structure to achieve near-perfect absorption (99.95%), and the absorption of monolayer PtSe2 is enhanced by 8.6 times in the visible spectra. For a few-layer PtSe2 MIM absorber, the self-impedance of the PtSe2 layer becomes an important factor in modulating the optical absorption and the PtSe2-based absorbers show excellent features with broadband absorption, insensitive to the incident angle and polarization. Our results improve the viability of the PtSe2-based optoelectronic and photonic devices and shed light on the design of absorbers with hybrid 2D materials.
Magnetic properties of martensite in metamagnetic Ni–Co–Mn–Ga alloys

Ni50−xCoxMn30Ga20 (x = 6–9) alloys show metamagnetic behaviour, undergoing martensitic transformation (MT) between ferromagnetic austenite and weak magnetic martensite. The temperatures of the structural and magnetic transitions depend on composition and L21 order degree, in such a way that combined composition and thermal treatment allows for MT between any magnetic state of austenite and martensite. For these alloys, mutual influence between atomic and magnetic order has been widely studied. However, the type of magnetism of martensite remains unclear. In this work, the magnetic state of martensite in a Ni43Co7Mn30Ga20 alloy has been studied in detail. Its evolution as a function of post-quench ageing time indicates that improved atomic order enhances the ferromagnetic character of the weakly magnetic martensite. The most important changes occur when austenite switches from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic. The magnetic behavior of martensite is consistent with the presence of ferromagnetic clusters inside a paramagnetic matrix.
Chronic Stimulation Improves Motor Performance in an Ambulatory Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this proof-of-concept feasibility study was to determine if spike-triggered intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS), a form of activity dependent stimulation (ADS), results in improved motor performance in an ambulatory rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS Experiments were carried out in adult male Sprague Dawley rats with moderate thoracic contusion injury. Rats were assigned to one of two groups: Control or ADS therapy. Four weeks post-SCI, all rats were implanted with a recording microelectrode in the left hindlimb motor cortex and a fine-wire stimulating electrode in the contralateral lumbar spinal cord. ADS was administered for 4 hours/day, 4 days/week, for 4 weeks. During therapy sessions, single-unit spikes were discriminated in real time in the hindlimb motor cortex and used to trigger stimulation in the spinal cord ventral horn. Control rats were similarly implanted with electrodes but did not receive stimulation therapy. RESULTS Motor performances of each rat were evaluated before SCI contusion, once a week post-SCI for four weeks (prior to electrode implantation), and once a week post-conditioning for four weeks. Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scores were significantly improved in ADS rats compared to Control rats at 1 and 2 weeks after initiation of therapy. Foot fault scores on the Horizontal Ladder were significantly improved in ADS rats compared to pre-therapy ADS and Control rats after 1 week of therapy and recovered to near pre-injury scores after 3 weeks of therapy. The Ledged Beam test showed deficits after SCI in both ADS and Control rats but there were no significant differences between groups after 4 weeks of ADS therapy. CONCLUSIONS These results show that chronic stimulation after spinal cord injury using a methodology of spike-triggered ISMS enhances behavioral recovery of locomotor function as measured by the BBB score and the Horizontal Ladder task. However, it is still uncertain if the behavioral improvements seen were dependent on spike-triggered ISMS.
Comparison between the Behavior of Low-Yield Holstein-Friesian and Brown Swiss Cows under Barn and Pasture Feeding Conditions

Simple Summary Cows are usually kept in indoor housing. They receive daily feed of similar composition at fixed times. A regular daily routine means that the cows’ behavior during the day is usually similar and does not vary from day to day. Cows grazing on pasture, however, must adapt their behavior to the changing composition of the grasses. The study was conducted on 64 Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows and 54 Brown Swiss (BS) cows between August 2016 and October 2017. The animals were equipped with sensors measuring the time spent on feed intake, rumination, physical activity, and rest. In winter, the cows were fed mainly on hay, while in summer, they took forage from pasture or freshly cut forage distributed in the barn. The study also showed behavioral differences between the HF and BS breeds. HF cows, regardless of location or forage type, spent more time foraging and chewed less than BS cows. A similar relationship was observed across all the lactation groups being studied. Abstract Cow pasturing poses many logistical and nutritional problems. Animals have more difficulty accessing pasture feed and require more time to consume the equivalent amount of dry matter compared to total mixed ration (TMR) feed from a feed table. The study was conducted during August 2016–October 2017 on 64 Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows and 54 Brown Swiss (BS) cows. All animals were equipped with CowManager sensor devices, and the cows’ behaviors were recorded: time spent on feed intake, rumination, physical activity, and rest. In winter, cows were mainly fed hay, while in summer, they took forage from the pasture or freshly cut forage provided in the barn. The study showed that the time of day had a significant (p < 0.001) effect on the cows’ feeding behaviors. The study also showed behavioral differences between HF and BS breeds. HF cows, regardless of the location and type of feed provided, spent more time on feed intake and chewed less compared to the BS breed. These differences were observable in all studied lactation groups. Animals were most willing to take forage two hours before sunrise and two hours before sunset and showed an increased willingness to take feed immediately after leaving the milking parlor.
Modification Approaches of Polyphenylene Oxide Membranes to Enhance Nanofiltration Performance

Presently, water pollution poses a serious threat to the environment; the removal of organic pollutants from resources, especially dyes, is very important. Nanofiltration (NF) is a promising membrane method to carry out this task. In the present work, advanced supported poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) membranes were developed for NF of anionic dyes using bulk (the introduction of graphene oxide (GO) into the polymer matrix) and surface (the deposition of polyelectrolyte (PEL) layers by layer-by-layer (LbL) technique) modifications. The effect of PEL combinations (polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride/polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyethyleneimine (PEI)/PAA, and polyallylamine hydrochloride/PAA) and the number of PEL bilayers deposited by LbL method on properties of PPO-based membranes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements. Membranes were evaluated in NF of food dye solutions in ethanol (Sunset yellow (SY), Congo red (CR), and Alphazurine (AZ)). The supported PPO membrane, modified with 0.7 wt. % GO and three PEI/PAA bilayers, exhibited optimal transport characteristics: ethanol, SY, CR, and AZ solutions permeability of 0.58, 0.57, 0.50, and 0.44 kg/(m2h atm), respectively, with a high level of rejection coefficients—58% for SY, 63% for CR, and 58% for AZ. It was shown that the combined use of bulk and surface modifications significantly improved the characteristics of the PPO membrane in NF of dyes.
Application of Modelling and Simulation Approaches to Predict Pharmacokinetics of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies in Pediatric Population

Ethical regulations and limited paediatric participants are key challenges that contribute to a median delay of 6 years in paediatric mAb approval. To overcome these barriers, modelling and simulation methodologies have been adopted to design optimized paediatric clinical studies and reduce patient burden. The classical modelling approach in paediatric pharmacokinetic studies for regulatory submissions is to apply body weight-based or body surface area-based allometric scaling to adult PK parameters derived from a popPK model to inform the paediatric dosing regimen. However, this approach is limited in its ability to account for the rapidly changing physiology in paediatrics, especially in younger infants. To overcome this limitation, PBPK modelling, which accounts for the ontogeny of key physiological processes in paediatrics, is emerging as an alternative modelling strategy. While only a few mAb PBPK models have been published, PBPK modelling shows great promise demonstrating a similar prediction accuracy to popPK modelling in an Infliximab paediatric case study. To facilitate future PBPK studies, this review consolidated comprehensive data on the ontogeny of key physiological processes in paediatric mAb disposition. To conclude, this review discussed different use-cases for pop-PK and PBPK modelling and how they can complement each other to increase confidence in pharmacokinetic predictions.
The host galaxies of Seyfert type 1 nuclei

This paper is part of a series in which we study a hard-X-ray-selected sample of AGN, mainly optically classified as Seyfert 1 nuclei. In this paper, we use our optical and infrared imaging data of the sample to study the properties of the host galaxies. We separate the non-stellar and stellar components of the nuclear light, on the basis of the results from Papers I and III. The stellar colours in the nucleus are generally much redder in B−V and V−K indices than normal spiral galaxy bulges, and can be reproduced using stellar evolution models modified by ∼1 mag of reddening in A V and/or reradiation from hot dust
A DRL Strategy for Optimal Resource Allocation Along With 3D Trajectory Dynamics in UAV-MEC Network

Advances in Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) technology have paved a way for numerous configurations and applications in communication systems. However, UAV dynamics play an important role in determining its effective use. In this article, while considering UAV dynamics, we evaluate the performance of a UAV equipped with a Mobile-Edge Computing (MEC) server that provides services to End-user Devices (EuDs). The EuDs due to their limited energy resources offload a portion of their computational task to nearby MEC-based UAV. To this end, we jointly optimize the computational cost and 3D UAV placement along with resource allocation subject to the network, communication, and environment constraints. A Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) technique based on a continuous action space approach, namely Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) is utilized. By exploiting DDPG, we propose an optimization strategy to obtain an optimal offloading policy in the presence of UAV dynamics, which is not considered in earlier studies. The proposed strategy can be classified into three cases namely; training through an ideal scenario, training through error dynamics, and training through extreme values. We compared the performance of these individual cases based on cost percentage and concluded that case II (training through error dynamics) achieves minimum cost i.e., 37.75 %, whereas case I and case III settles at 67.25% and 67.50% respectively. Numerical simulations are performed, and extensive results are obtained which shows that the advanced DDPG based algorithm along with error dynamic protocol is able to converge to near optimum. To validate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm, a comparison with state-of-the-art Deep Q-Network (DQN) is carried out, which shows that our algorithm has significant improvements.
Parameterized Slantwise Convection in a Numerical Model

Abstract A convective parameterization that mimics the theoretical effects of slantwise convection initiated by the release of conditional symmetric instability (CSI) is tested in a three-dimensional primitive equation model. Great positive impact is noted. The scheme is simplest to consider as a Kuo-type convective scheme that operates along (slanted) momentum surfaces. Because of the longer time scales associated with slantwise convection, the slantwise parameterization initiates only in vertical columns where the normal upright convective scheme does not. The slantwise parameterization activates frequently in the area where CSI has been suggested to have been released on the date tested. This is in an area of strong convection observed in an area that is stably stratified in the vertical. It is also the most unstable area as measured by thermodynamic variables along momentum surfaces. Other aspects of the parameterization are in line with theoretical expectations. When compared (early in the forecast p.
Ecological and reproductive parameters of the seabob shrimp, Xiphopenaeus spp. (Heller, 1862) on the southern coast of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil: potential use of less sampling effort

The study investigated the population parameters of the shrimp Xiphopenaeus spp. (commonly known as seabob shrimp) in Anchieta, south coast of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, focusing on reducing the sampling effort. Shrimp were collected between February 2013 and February 2015. Individuals were measured, analyzed for sex and stage of reproductive development. In total, 1,564 individuals were analyzed in Anchieta, 534 males (74 juveniles and 460 adults) and 663 females (88 juveniles and 575 adults), and 367 individuals were not identified to sex or maturity. Significant differences were observed in shrimp abundance, with higher catches at the shallowest sampling point and associated with the type of substrate (silt+clay), while in the rainy season (September to March) and dry season (April to August) there were no significant differences. Despite this, greater abundances were found in the rainy season. The sex ratio was 0.80 ♂ : 1 ♀ . Carapace length ranged from 5.7 to 28.9 mm, with larger sizes recorded for females, as well as a larger size at first maturation than males, 12.86 and 11.60 mm respectively. All stages of development of the seabob shrimp were observed at the sampling points and periods, which represents a pattern of continuous reproduction and recruitment of the species in the area. Considering the sample size used, which is comparatively smaller than other studies, all estimates confirm current knowledge about the biology of the species and provide robust data on the seabob shrimp off the Anchieta coast, which are necessary for management and conservation.
General necessary conditions for partially observed optimal stochastic controls

The partially observed control problem is considered for stochastic processes with control entering into the diffusion and the observation. The maximum principle is proved for the partially observable optimal control. A pure probabilistic approach is used, and the adjoint processes are characterized as solutions of related backward stochastic differential equations in finite-dimensional spaces. Most of the derivation is identified with that of the completely observable case.