Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assimilation of oceanographic observations with estimates of vertical background‐error covariances by a Bayesian hierarchical model

A new method to estimate the vertical part of the background‐error covariance matrix for an ocean variational data assimilation system is presented and tested in the Mediterranean operational daily analysis system. The operational, seasonally varying error covariances are compared with high‐frequency estimates from a Bayesian Hierarchical Model (BHM) which estimates distributions for the vertical error covariances from two data‐stage inputs: model anomalies and differences between model background and observations, i.e. so‐called misfits. It is found that the posterior mean BHM‐error covariance estimates that vary on 5‐day time‐scales reduce the misfits root mean square of the analysis vertical profiles of temperature and salinity by 10–20% versus analyses arising from covariances that vary on seasonal time‐scales or those from the BHM given only model anomalies as data stage inputs.
Hierarchically Interacting Fleming-Viot Processes With Selection and Mutation: Multiple Space Time Scale Analysis and Quasi-Equilibria

Genetic models incorporating resampling and migration are now fairly well-understood. Problems arise in the analysis, if both selection and mutation are incorporated. This paper addresses some aspects of this problem, in particular the analysis of the long-time behaviour before the equilibrium is reached (quasi-equilibrium, which is the time range of interest in most applications).
SDHB immunohistochemistry for prognosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: A retrospective and prospective analysis

Introduction Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PCC/PGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors and can secrete catecholamine. Previous studies have found that SDHB immunohistochemistry (IHC) can predict SDHB germline gene mutation, and SDHB mutation is closely associated with tumor progression and metastasis. This study aimed to clarify the potential effect of SDHB IHC as a predictive marker for tumor progression in PCC/PGL patients. Methods We included PCC/PGL patients diagnosed in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from 2002 to 2014 for retrospective analysis and discovered that SDHB (-) staining patients had poorer prognoses. Then we examined SDHB protein expression by IHC on all tumors in the prospective series, which was composed of patients from 2015 to 2020 in our center. Results In the retrospective series, the median follow-up was 167 months, and during follow-up, 14.4% (38/264) patients developed metastasis or recurrence, and 8.0% (22/274) patients died. Retrospective analysis revealed that 66.7% (6/9) of participants in the SDHB (-) group and 15.7% (40/255) of those in the SDHB (+) group developed progressive tumors (OR: 10.75, 95% CI: 2.72-52.60, P=0.001), and SDHB (-) was independently associated with poor outcomes after adjusting by other clinicopathological parameters (OR: 11.68, 95% CI: 2.58-64.45, P=0.002). SDHB (-) patients had shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (P<0.001) and SDHB (-) was significantly associated with shorter median DFS (HR: 6.89, 95% CI: 2.41-19.70, P<0.001) in multivariate cox proportional hazard analysis. In the prospective series, the median follow-up was 28 months, 4.7% (10/213) patients developed metastasis or recurrence, and 0.5% (1/217) patient died. For the prospective analysis, 18.8% (3/16) of participants in the SDHB (-) group had progressive tumors compared with 3.6% (7/197) in the SDHB (+) group (RR: 5.28, 95% CI: 1.51-18.47, P=0.009), statistical significance remained (RR: 3.35, 95% CI: 1.20-9.38, P=0.021) after adjusting for other clinicopathological factors. Conclusions Our findings demonstrated patients with SDHB (-) tumors had a higher possibility of poor outcomes, and SDHB IHC can be regarded as an independent biomarker of prognosis in PCC/PGL.
Pole Orientation and Shape of 12 Asteroids

Abstract We present the results of photometric observations of 12 asteroids, performed from 1985 through 1989 at the Astronomical Observatory of Teramo (Italy), Astronomical Observatory of Turin (Italy), and European Southern Observatory (ESO, La Silla, Chile). Using the EA pole determination method described in G. De Angelis ( Planet. Space Sci. , 41, 285-290, 1993), we have obtained the first spin and shape solution of 85 to and 360 Carlova and an improvement of the previous determinations for 12 Victoria, 192 Nausikaa and 423 Diotima, for which we determined for the first time the sidereal period and the sense of rotation. We have checked the determinations obtained by other authors for the asteroids 3 Juno, 6 Hebe, 20 Massalia, 43 Ariadne, and 52 Europa, and suggested a very rough estimate of the spin and shape parameters of 115 Thyra.
Two-photon excitation-ionization of the 1s shell of highly charged positive atomic ions

The non-relativistic absolute values and shapes of the cross sections for the process of two-photon one-electron excitation-ionization of the 1s shell of highly charged positive atomic ions Ne6+ and Ne8+ are calculated using second-order quantum-mechanical perturbation theory, taking into account the many-particle effect of relaxation of the ion residue in the field of the virtual vacancies created. The many-particle effect of stabilization of the deep vacancy when changing target from the neutral atom to the highly charged positive ions is also taken into account. The calculations are fulfilled for both linearly and circularly polarized incident photons.
Excitation of high-n toroidicity-induced shear Alfvén eigenmodes by energetic particles and fusion alpha particles in tokamaks

The stability of high-n toroidicity-induced shear Alfven eigenmodes (TAE) in the presence of fusion alpha particles or energetic ions in tokamaks is investigated. The TAE modes are discrete in nature and thus can easily tap the free energy associated with energetic particle pressure gradient through wave particle resonant interaction. A quadratic form is derived for the high-n TAE modes using gyro-kinetic equation. The kinetic effects of energetic particles are calculated perturbatively using the ideal MHD solution as the lowest order eigenfunction. The finite Larmor radius (FLR) effects and the finite drift orbit width (FDW) effects are included for both circulating and trapped energetic particles. It is shown that, for circulating particles, FLR and FDW effects have two opposite influences on the stability of the high-n TAE modes. First, they have the usual stabilizing effects by reducing the wave particle interaction strength. Second, they also have destabilizing effects by allowing more particles to resonate with the TAE modes. It is found that the growth rate induced by the circulating alpha particles increase linearly with toroidal mode number n for small {kappa}{sub {theta}}{rho}{sub {alpha}}, and decreases as 1/n for {kappa}{sub {theta}}{rho}{sub {alpha}} {much gt} 1. The maximum growth rate is obtained atmore » {kappa}{sub {theta}}{rho}{sub {alpha}} on the order of unity and is nearly constant for the range of 0.7 < {upsilon}{sub {alpha}}/{upsilon}{sub A} < 2.5. On the other hand, the trapped particle response is dominated by the precessional drift resonance. The bounce resonant contribution is negligible. The growth rate peaks sharply at the value of {kappa}{sub {theta}}{rho}{sub {alpha}} such that the precessional drift resonance occurs for the most energetic trapped particles. The maximum growth rate due to the energetic trapped particles is comparable to that of circulating particles. « less
Web-based psychometric evaluation of image quality

The measurement of image quality requires the judgement by the human visual system. This paper describes a psycho-visual test technique that uses the internet as a test platform to identify image quality in a more time-effective manner, comparing the visual response data with the results from the same test in a lab-based environment and estimate the usefulness of the internet as a platform for scaling studies.
Recombination along the tracks of heavy charged particles in SiO2 films

Measurements of recombination along the tracks of 2‐MeV alpha particles and 0.7‐MeV protons in thermally grown silicon dioxide are presented. The results agree quite well with the columnar recombination model at applied fields above about 1 MV/cm if one assumes an initial Gaussian column radius b=3.5 nm. The agreement between theory and experiment at high fields is accomplished even if the excess carriers are assumed to reach instantaneous thermal equilibrium with the lattice. At fields below 1 MV/cm, the agreement between the columnar model and the experiment is improved if one assumes that the carriers remain hot for a finite time before reaching thermal equilibrium with the lattice. The discussion of the details of the thermalization process is intended to be only rough and qualitative because the process is very difficult to model. However, the model and the experiment agree fairly well at low fields if one assumes that the carriers have an energy on the order of 1 eV for a time on the order of 10−13 .
Porous silicon microcavities as optical chemical sensors

The optical properties of porous silicon microcavities are strongly dependent on the environment. For highly luminescent samples, both the luminescence intensity and the peak position are affected by organic substances, giving the possibility to obtain dual-parameter optical sensors. While the peak position depends on the organic compound refractive index, luminescence intensity depends on its low-frequency dielectric constant. This allows the discrimination between different organic substances. This sensor is particularly interesting for solvents with low dielectric constant, where the response of electrical sensors is very weak.
High-throughput and high-precision laser micromachining with ps-pulses in synchronized mode with a fast polygon line scanner

To be competitive in laser micro machining, high throughput is an important aspect. One possibility to increase productivity is scaling up the ablation process i.e. linearly increasing the laser repetition rate together with the average power and the scan speed. In the MHz-regime high scan speeds are required which cannot be provided by commercially available galvo scanners. In this work we will report on the results by using a polygon line scanner having a maximum scan speed of 100 m/s and a 50 W ps-laser system, synchronized via the SuperSync™ technology. We will show the results concerning the removal rate and the surface quality for working at the optimum point i.e. most efficient point at repetition rates up to 8.2 MHz.
Efficient Algorithm for Analyzing Microstrip Antennas Using Fast-multipole Algorithm Combined with Fixed Real-image Simulated Method

The discrete complex image method (DCIM) is usually used to evaluate the Sommerfeld integrals for the spatial domain Green's function. For solving large scale problems, the far-zone interactions in the method of moments (MoM) can be simplified using a far field approximation with the plane wave expansion. Therefore, the combination of DCIM and Fast Multipole Method (FMM) could not achieve high efficiency due to the poor convergence of the addition theorem. An efficient algorithm combing FMM and fixed real-image simulated method (FRISM) is presented for analyzing microstrip structures in this paper. The fixed images locations lead to fast and convenient computations comparing with complex images such that can be used for wide-band applications. The accuracy and efficiency of the novel method are verified by numerical examples.
Plasma-Assisted Atomic Layer Growth of High-Quality Aluminum Oxide Thin Films

Thin aluminum oxide (Al2O3) films were grown by the plasma-assisted atomic layer controlled deposition (PAALD) method using Dimethylethylamine alane [(CH3)2(C2H5)N:AlH3] (DMEAA). Al was deposited by the PAALD method, then the Al films were oxidized into Al2O3 by plasma oxidation in the same chamber without breaking the vacuum. Al2O3 thin films of 15 nm thickness were prepared by repetition of this process. Thus prepared Al2O3 thin films exhibited a refractive index of 1.68. The thickness and the refractive index fluctuation of the film over a 4 inch wafer were ±2.3% and ±1.9%, respectively, for the deposited films. The leakage current density and breakdown field were measured to be about 10-8 A/cm2 at 1 MV/cm and 7 MV/cm, respectively. Considerable improvement of the electrical properties was realized by the post oxygen-plasma annealing at 200°C.
Food as Medicine Clinic: Early Results and Lessons Learned

Introduction: Hospital-based food pantries are commonly used to address food insecurity. However, few studies have examined the impact of these food pantries on patients with chronic health conditions. In this study, we sought to assess the effect of a hospital-based food pantry clinic on self-reported dietary changes, health outcomes, and resource utilization. Methods: This study included food insecure participants with suboptimally controlled congestive heart failure, hypertension, or diabetes who visited a Food as Medicine (FAM) clinic at an academic healthcare system between October 2018 and November 2019. The clinic provided a three-day supply of food for participants and their families up to two times per month for up to 12 months. Baseline, three-month, and six-month surveys were used to assess dietary behaviors, and electronic health record (EHR) data were used to assess health outcomes and utilization. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to explore variables associated with FAM clinic use. Results: At three months, participants self-reported improved dietary behaviors, including increased consumption of fruits and vegetables as snacks and an increased variety of fruits and vegetables consumed. There were no statistically significant changes in clinical or healthcare utilization measures, despite small absolute improvements in systolic blood pressure (SBP), hospitalizations, and emergency department (ED) visits. There was a weak association between FAM clinic visit frequency and changes in dietary behaviors. Conclusion: Among patients with chronic diseases, the use of the FAM clinic was associated with improved self-reported dietary behaviors and a nonsignificant improvement in health outcomes and resource utilization.
Microclimate in hollow trees and how it affects an inhabiting beetle species, Osmoderma eremita

Studies of species' responses to microclimatic conditions have increased our understanding of their habitat requirements and possible responses to climate warming. However, little is known about the role of microclimate for insects inhabiting hollow trees. We explored the relationship between tree characteristics and microclimate, and analysed how the microclimate in tree‐hollows affects the occurrence and body size of an endangered beetle species, Osmoderma eremita. We placed temperature data‐loggers in wood mould (= loose material in tree‐hollows) and surveyed O. eremita in 47 hollows in oak pastures in south‐eastern Sweden. We found that tree characteristics previously known to be associated with occurrence of beetle species confined to tree‐hollows (larger diameters, more wood mould, entrances higher up, and not directed upwards) tend to decrease moisture and moisture variation, while their effects on temperature and temperature fluctuations differ during different seasons. This indicates that microclimatic conditions are important for beetles in hollow trees, and many specialised species seem to avoid conditions that are too moist. O. eremita occurred more frequently in trees with a warmer and more stable microclimate, while adult body size decreased with a warmer microclimate. A positive effect of a warmer microclimate was expected, since the study was done near the northern margin of the species' range. O. eremita is confined to living in hollow trees, which may be due to the microclimate there being more stable in comparison to both the ambient climate and the microclimate in standing and downed dead wood.
Influence of Donor Thickness on Visual Acuity in Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty

Abstract Purpose Conventional Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) is a corneal transplantation procedure where the patient's inner dysfunctional layer is replaced with donor lamella. The data currently present in the literature about the correlation between lamellar thickness and visual acuity is sometimes contradictory and lacks clarity. Methods Study included 55 eyes that underwent the conventional DSAEK procedure. Patients had no other comorbidities that could affect visual acuity. Data about lamellar thickness and visual acuity were measured six months after surgery with anterior segment optical coherent tomography (A5-OCT). Results The results show that visual acuity before surgery improved from 0.82 to 0.25 logMAR after surgery. Better visual acuity of 0.20 logMAR was achieved with postoperative lamellas thinner than 124 μm, while statistically significantly lower visual acuity of 0.29 logMAR was gained with postoperative lamellas thicker than 124 μm. Conclusion Our results suggest that the goal after conventional DSAEK is to have postoperative lamellas thinner than 124 μm in the eye, as this will result in better postoperative visual acuity. This value represents the optimal thickness for conventional DSAEK surgery that could minimize tissue loss for eye banks and surgeons may experience fewer problems during surgery, while obtaining good final visual acuity.
A projection FEM for variable density incompressible flows

Abstract This work describes a new finite element projection method for the computation of incompressible viscous flows of nonuniform density. One original idea of the proposed method consists in factorizing the density variable partly outside and partly inside the time evolution operator in the momentum equation, to prevent spatial discretization errors in the mass conservation to affect the kinetic energy balance of the fluid. It is shown that unconditional stability in the incremental version of the projection method is possible provided two projections are performed per time step. In particular, a second order accurate BDF projection method is presented and its numerical performance is illustrated by test computations and comparisons.
Electron cloud effect on current injection across a Schottky contact

The electron cloud that is formed in the narrow gap material in a modulation-doped heterostructure affects the Schottky contact made to the wide gap material. It also influences absorption and collection of the optically generated carriers. Photocurrent spectra, current–voltage, and current–temperature measurements show that the increase in electron cloud density decreases dark current flow while increasing photoresponsivity. We propose that the Coulombic interaction between the confined electron cloud and the emitted electrons from metal to the wide gap material increases the barrier height. The electric field in the direction of growth due to modulation doping accounts for the increase in photoelectron collection efficiency. Implementation of this effect increases efficiency of photodetectors while, simultaneously, reducing the noise due to dark current.
Identifying and managing radiation damage during in situ transmission x-ray microscopy of Li-ion batteries

Radiation damage is a topic typically sidestepped in formal discussions of characterization techniques utilizing ionizing radiation. Nevertheless, such damage is critical to consider when planning and performing experiments requiring large radiation doses or radiation sensitive samples. High resolution, in situ transmission X-ray microscopy of Li-ion batteries involves both large X-ray doses and radiation sensitive samples. To successfully identify changes over time solely due to an applied current, the effects of radiation damage must be identified and avoided. Although radiation damage is often significantly sample and instrument dependent, the general procedure to identify and minimize damage is transferable. Here we outline our method of determining and managing the radiation damage observed in lithium sulfur batteries during in situ X-ray imaging on the transmission X-ray microscope at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource.
Strengthening legislation, weakening collective bargaining? Two faces of trade union strategies in Czechia and Slovakia

The paper studies how unions used two types of resources, namely, access to national legislation/policy and to collective bargaining, to improve working conditions in healthcare and in agency work in Czechia and Slovakia. It examines how these two types of institutional resources interact, whether they are potentially in competition and how this affects union revitalization. Unions’ post-2008 strategies in the two sectors converged towards political action due to their preference for legislative regulation of issues previously bargained about or unregulated. The paper argues that extensive use of institutional safeguards contributes to improving working conditions; however, prioritizing political action may weaken other types of union strategies and undermine future access to collective bargaining. In other words, extensive utilization of one institutional resource (legislation) may gradually weaken other types of resources (collective bargaining) and thereby undermine the overall revitalization capacity of trade unions.
Option Pricing Under the Normal SABR Model with Gaussian Quadratures

The stochastic-alpha-beta-rho (SABR) model has been widely adopted in options trading. In particular, the normal ( β = 0) SABR model is a popular model choice for interest rates because it allows negative asset values. The option price and delta under the SABR model are typically obtained via asymptotic implied volatility approximation, but these are often inaccurate and arbitrage-able. Using a recently discovered price transition law, we propose a Gaussian quadrature integration scheme for price options under the normal SABR model. The compound Gaussian quadrature sum over only 49 points can calculate a very accurate price and delta that are arbitrage-free.
Generalized Tate curve and integral Teichmüller modular forms

In this paper, we establish a higher genus version of the Tate (elliptic) curve, i.e., for a given degenerate curve, we construct its universal deformation defined over the ring of formal power series of certain deformation parameters whose coefficients are in a finitely generated Z- algebra described by the dual graph of the degenerate curve. Further, we study automorphic forms on the moduli space of algebraic curves (which we call Teichmuller modular forms) by evaluating these forms on the generalized Tate curve. In particular, we show that integral Teichmuller modular forms of given degree make a finitely generated ring, and we describe the structure of this ring in degree 2 and 3 cases. Introduction. The aim of this paper is to construct a higher genus version of the Tate (elliptic) curve over a nonlocal base ring, and to study integral automor- phic forms on the moduli space of algebraic curves of genus 2 by evaluating these forms on the generalized Tate curve. As will be stated below, our results extend earlier results of the author in (10), (11), (12), (14), and are obtained especially by using excellent works of Mumford, Faltings, and Chai (22), (21), (3), (4). The periods and 1-forms of the generalized Tate curve were used in (13) to construct universal and p-adic solutions of the KP (Kadomtsev-Petvyashvili) hierarchy. In (10), Section 2, the author obtained universal power series for multiplica- tive periods of curves of fixed genus g, which combined with the results of (21) and (4), Chapter III, allowed us to deduce the existence of a universal Jacobian (semi-abelian) scheme J univ of relative dimension g over the ring