Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Considerations in caseous calcification of the mitral annulus: a case report

Abstract Background Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus is an extremely rare variant of mitral annulus calcification occurring in <1% of cases. The degeneration of caseous masses could act as a source of embolic strokes and a nidus for infective endocarditis (IE). Case summary A man in his sixties presented with transient left arm weakness. His history was pertinent for bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement secondary to endocarditis and recent pneumococcal pneumonia complicated by empyema and bacteraemia. He was still on intravenous antibiotics when he presented. Evaluation including magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, transoesophageal echocardiography, and computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed multifocal embolic strokes, degenerative bioprosthetic aortic valve dysfunction, mitral annular calcification with mobile calcific masses, and persistent empyema. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography–CT showed indeterminate activity across a portion of the posterior mitral leaflet and no activity on the bioprosthetic aortic valve. The patient was deemed high risk for surgery and was treated with 6-week course of antibiotics both for the empyema and the possible IE of the native mitral valve. Repeat echocardiography 40 days later showed stable mitral masses. At 4 months of follow up, the patient had no evidence of recurrent clinical strokes. Discussion Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus is a rare but an increasingly recognized predisposing factor for embolic strokes and IE. Treatment ideally involves surgical resection of the calcified masses in such cases.
Real-Time Experimental Demonstration of Hybrid FSO/Wireless Transmission Based on Coherent Detection and Delta-Sigma Modulation

For the fronthaul link in the fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks, optical fiber is one of the most widely used medium, owing to its large bandwidth and low transmission loss. However, in some scenarios, especially the dense urban areas, the installation of fiber optic cables is costly and difficult to establish. Alternatively, the free space optical (FSO) link can be installed easily and spans complex terrain. In this context, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a hybrid FSO/Wireless transmission system based on bandpass delta-sigma modulator and real-time coherent transponder. Advantage of the proposed technique is twofold. Firstly, coherent detection is applied to improve the system sensitivity compared to conventional direct detection. Secondly, delta-sigma modulation (DSM) is utilized to greatly simplify the wireless transmitters and to enhance the bandwidth flexibility. Over a 50-m FSO and 1-m wireless link, a 64-QAM wireless signal at 1 GHz with 500 MHz bandwidth is successfully transmitted. With 16 wavelength division multiplexing channels, the total throughput of the system is up to 24 Gb/s. Meanwhile, the error vector magnitude (EVM) of all channels is around 2.68% and 6.51%, which are demonstrated after FSO and FSO/Wireless transmission, respectively. The results meet the requirement of the third-generation partnership project release 15 with EVM value of 8% for 64-QAM. Moreover, sensitivity of the real-time coherent receiver is lower than −48 dBm under the 7% forward error correction limit with bit error rate of 3.8e-3.
Bayesian Mixed Effects Model Estimation under Informative Sampling

When random effects are correlated with the response variable of interest, the usual approach of employing survey weights (constructed to be inversely proportional to the unit survey inclusion probabilities) to form a pseudo likelihood no longer produces asymptotically unbiased inference. We construct a weight-exponentiated formulation for the random effects distribution that achieves unbiased inference for generating hyperparameters of the random effects. We contrast our approach with frequentist methods that rely on numerical integration to reveal that only the Bayesian method achieves both unbiased estimation with respect to the sampling design distribution and consistency with respect to the population generating distribution. Our simulations and real data example for a survey of business establishments demonstrate the utility of our approach across different modelling formulations and sampling designs. This work culminates recent developmental efforts in combining traditional survey estimation approaches with the Bayesian modeling paradigm and provides a bridge across the two rich but disparate sub-fields.
Schubert duality for SL(n,R)-flag domains

This paper is concerned with the study of spaces of naturally defined cycles associated to SL(n,R)-flag domains. These are compact complex submanifolds in open orbits of real semisimple Lie groups in flag domains of their complexification. It is known that there are optimal Schubert varieties which intersect the cycles transversally in finitely many points and in particular determine them in homology. Here we give a precise description of these Schubert varieties in terms of certain subsets of the Weyl group and compute their total number. Furthermore, we give an explicit description of the points of intersection in terms of flags and their number.
Self-Attention Graph Pooling

Advanced methods of applying deep learning to structured data such as graphs have been proposed in recent years. In particular, studies have focused on generalizing convolutional neural networks to graph data, which includes redefining the convolution and the downsampling (pooling) operations for graphs. The method of generalizing the convolution operation to graphs has been proven to improve performance and is widely used. However, the method of applying downsampling to graphs is still difficult to perform and has room for improvement. In this paper, we propose a graph pooling method based on self-attention. Self-attention using graph convolution allows our pooling method to consider both node features and graph topology. To ensure a fair comparison, the same training procedures and model architectures were used for the existing pooling methods and our method. The experimental results demonstrate that our method achieves superior graph classification performance on the benchmark datasets using a reasonable number of parameters.
How Students Respond to Critical Feedback from Teaching Assistants: The Effect of Instructor and Feedback Characteristics on Perceptions of Credibility, Efficacy, Affect, and Self-Esteem

This study (N = 788) investigated experimentally how students respond to critical instructor feedback by manipulating teaching assistant (TA) cultural background and experience, and feedback wording and detail. Open-ended responses were also elicited to learn about students’ reactions to such feedback. Results indicated that instructor competence and trustworthiness differed based on TA background, experience, and feedback wording. Instructor goodwill differed based on feedback wording and detail. Finally, feedback wording lowered students’ self-efficacy and increased students’ negative affect when worded negatively vs. affirmatively. Open-ended data revealed students respond to critical feedback by implementing it, seeking further clarification but also reacting affectively, or figuring out alternatives.
Equivariant motives and geometric representation theory. (with an appendix by F. H\"ormann and M. Wendt).

We consider categories of equivariant mixed Tate motives, where equivariant is understood in the sense of Borel. We give the two usual definitions of equivariant motives, via the simplicial Borel construction and via algebraic approximations of it. The definitions turn out to be equivalent and give rise to a full six-functor formalism. For rational \'etale motives over a finite field or the homotopical stable algebraic derivator arising from the semisimplified Hodge realization, the equivariant mixed Tate motives provide a graded version of the equivariant derived category. We show that, in sufficiently nice and clean cases, these categories admit weight structures; moreover, a tilting result holds which identifies the category of equivariant mixed Tate motives with the bounded homotopy category of the heart of its weight structure. This can be seen as a formality result for equivariant derived categories. We also discuss convolution functors on equivariant mixed Tate motives, and consequences for the categorification of the Hecke algebra and some of its modules.
Is Hepatitis E Virus a Neglected or Emerging Pathogen in Egypt?

Though Egypt ranks among the top countries for viral hepatitis and death-related liver disease, Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a neglected pathogen. Living in villages and rural communities with low sanitation, use of underground well water and contact with animals are the main risk factors for HEV infection. Domestic animals, especially ruminants and their edible products, are one source of infection. Contamination of water by either human or animal stools is the main route of infection. In addition, HEV either alone or in coinfection with other hepatotropic viruses has been recorded in Egyptian blood donors. HEV seropositivity among Egyptian villagers was 60–80%, especially in the first decade of life. Though HEV seropositivity is the highest among Egyptians, HEV infection is not routinely diagnosed in Egyptian hospitals. The initial manifestations of HEV among Egyptians is a subclinical infection, although progression to fulminant hepatic failure has been recorded. With the improvement in serological and molecular approaches and increasing research on HEV, it is becoming clear that HEV represents a threat for Egyptians and preventive measures should be considered to reduce the infection rate and possible complications
The Dilemma of C-Rate and Cycle Life for Lithium-Ion Batteries under Low Temperature Fast Charging

Electric vehicles (EVs) in severe cold regions face the real demand for fast charging under low temperatures, but low-temperature environments with high C-rate fast charging can lead to severe lithium plating of the anode material, resulting in rapid degradation of the lithium-ion battery (LIB). In this paper, by constructing an electrode–thermal model coupling solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth and lithium plating, the competition among different factors of capacity degradation under various ambient temperatures and C-rates are systematically analyzed. In addition, the most important cause of rapid degradation of LIBs under low temperatures are investigated, which reveal the change pattern of lithium plating with temperature and C-rate. The threshold value and kinetic law of lithium plating are determined, and a method of lithium-free control under high C-rate is proposed. Finally, by studying the average aging rate of LIBs, the reasons for the abnormal attenuation of cycle life at lower C-rates are ascertained. Through the chromaticity diagram of the expected life of LIBs under various conditions, the optimal fast strategy is explored, and its practical application in EVs is also discussed. This study can provide a useful reference for the development of high-performance and high-safety battery management systems to achieve fine management.
HIGHER-ORDER FRACTIONAL LAPLACIANS: AN OVERVIEW LAPLACIANI FRAZIONARI D’ORDINE SUPERIORE: UNA PANORAMICA

We summarize some of the most recent results regarding the theory of higher-order fractional Laplacians, i.e. , the operators obtained by considering (non-integer) powers greater than 1 of the Laplace operator. These can also be viewed as the nonlocal counterparts of polylaplacians. In this context, nonlocality meets polyhar-monicity and together they pose new challenges, producing at the same time surprising and complex structures. aim and reader friendly, by carefully avoiding by to fascinating
Wild oscillations in a nonlinear neuron model with resets: (I) Bursting, spike-adding and chaos

In a series of two papers, we investigate the mechanisms by which complex oscillations are generated in a class of nonlinear dynamical systems with resets modeling the voltage and adaptation of neurons. This first paper presents mathematical analysis showing that the system can support bursts of any period as a function of model parameters, and that these are organized in a period-incrementing structure. In continuous dynamical systems with resets, such structures are complex to analyze. In the present context, we use the fact that bursting patterns correspond to periodic orbits of the adaptation map that governs the sequence of values of the adaptation variable at the resets. Using a slow-fast approach, we show that this map converges towards a piecewise linear discontinuous map whose orbits are exactly characterized. That map shows a period-incrementing structure with instantaneous transitions. We show that the period-incrementing structure persists for the full system with non-constant adaptation, but the transitions are more complex. We investigate the presence of chaos at the transitions.
A convex extension of lower semicontinuous functions defined on normal Hausdorff space

We prove that, any problem of minimization of proper lower semicontinuous function defined on a normal Hausdorff space, is canonically equivalent to a problem of minimization of a proper weak * lower semicontinuous convex function defined on a weak * convex compact subset of some dual Banach space. We estalish the existence of an bijective operator between the two classes of functions which preserves the problems of minimization.
An Enhanced Approach for Solar PV Hosting Capacity Analysis in Distribution Networks

With the falling cost of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and the shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy in many countries, the integration of DERs is expected to grow. This can lead to a wide range of problems in the power system, such as voltage violations, overloading of distribution lines, reverse power flow, etc. Therefore, it is imperative to account for these adverse effects of the integration of DERs on the distribution network and minimize their impact when calculating the Hosting Capacity (HC). Two algorithms are presented in this study derived from a novel modified iterative method and a novel Repeated Particle Swarm Optimization (RPSO) method for determining the HC for multiple DER units simultaneously or a single DER unit integrating into radial or mesh networks. These algorithms calculate the optimal HC based on six scenarios of annual load and DER generation profiles. The developed algorithms were tested on the IEEE 123 bus network, and their results were compared. For a large-scale DER case, the modified iterative method significantly outperforms both the PSO and the normal iterative method in terms of computation time (30 minutes versus 3 hours versus 6 hours, respectively). In the case of multiple DERs, the RPSO method is the only option, as the other two methods cannot simultaneously optimize multiple DERs. As a result, it has been concluded that it is necessary to select HC calculation methods carefully and in accordance with the application, as each method has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Literature review on the application of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technologies in e-Government

Governments are spending a considerable amount of resources to digitalize their many services. The purpose of this research was to conduct a systematic review of e-Government acceptance papers that used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technologies (UTAUT) as the theoretical background. From the 1529 articles using UTAUT (from 2003 to 2019), we selected the 41 most cited papers that were related to e-Government acceptance. All 41 articles were fully read to understand research gaps. We found that only a few studies have been faithful to the original UTAUT model. Although improving the theory with new variables is important, the validation of the original model also is. Constructs such as trust, quality of information, quality of service, and quality of the system, despite not being original from UTAUT seminal paper, were often integrated into the model to predict individuals’ behavioral acceptance. Our findings are important to understand that as different technologies have different users and different purposes, different constructs might help to explain the individual behavior about using or not those technologies. By highlighting the research gaps, our paper guides future work on the use of UTAUT as a theoretical lens for the acceptance of e-Government.
Prescribing of inhaled corticosteroids-containing and non-inhaled corticosteroids therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at a Malaysian tertiary care center

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are a common pharmacotherapy option for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, previous reports showed that ICS have been overprescribed. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of and factors associated with the prescribing of ICS-containing and non-ICS therapy among a sample of COPD patients at a Malaysian hospital and to examine the patterns of COPD inhaled therapy prescriptions among the patients in the years 2017–2020. The study also aimed to determine the proportion of ICS-containing therapy users that were suitable for ICS withdrawal. In total, 153 COPD patients who were using an ICS-containing or a non-ICS therapy within the study period (2017–2020) were included. Most patients were male (91.5%) and Malays (96.1%). Overall, 45.1% of the patients had been prescribed an ICS-containing therapy. A history of moderate exacerbations, presence of concurrent asthma, and eosinophilia were significantly associated with ICS-containing therapy prescribing. A decreasing trend in ICS-containing therapy prescribing from 2017 to 2020 was observed. During the most recent clinic follow-up, 77 patients were ICS users and 26% of them could benefit from ICS withdrawal. Measures to improve ICS-containing therapy prescribing and de-prescribing are warranted.
Experimental Demonstration of Staggered CAP Modulation for Low Bandwidth Red-Emitting Polymer-LED Based Visible Light Communications

In this paper we experimentally demonstrate, for the first time, staggered carrier-less amplitude and phase (sCAP) modulation for visible light communication systems based on polymer light-emitting diodes emitting at ∼639 nm. The key advantage offered by sCAP in comparison to conventional multiband CAP is its full use of the available spectrum. In this work, we compare sCAP, which utilises four orthogonal filters to generate the signal, with a conventional 4-band multi-CAP system and on-off keying (OOK). We transmit each modulation format with equal energy and present a record un-coded transmission speed of ∼6 Mb/s. This represents gains of 25% and 65% over the achievable rate using 4-CAP and OOK, respectively.
DEGREE PROFILE OF m-ARY SEARCH TREES: A VEHICLE FOR DATA STRUCTURE COMPRESSION

We revisit the random m-ary search tree and study a finer profile of its node outdegrees with the purpose of exploring possibilities of data structure compression. The analysis is done via Pólya urns. The analysis shows that the number of nodes of each individual node outdegree has a phase transition: Up to m = 26, the number of nodes of outdegree k, for k = 0, 1, …, m, is asymptotically normal; that behavior changes at m = 27. Based on the analysis, we propose a compact m-ary tree that offers significant space saving.
Helical states of nonlocally interacting molecules and their linear stability: a geometric approach

The equations for strands of rigid charge configurations interacting nonlocally are formulated on the special Euclidean group, SE(3), which naturally generates helical conformations. Helical stationary shapes are found by minimizing the energy for rigid charge configurations positioned along an infinitely long molecule with charges that are off-axis. The classical energy landscape for such a molecule is complex with a large number of energy minima, even when limited to helical shapes. The question of linear stability and selection of stationary shapes is studied using an SE(3) method that naturally accounts for the helical geometry. We investigate the linear stability of a general helical polymer that possesses torque-inducing nonlocal self-interactions and find the exact dispersion relation for the stability of the helical shapes with an arbitrary interaction potential. We explicitly determine the linearization operators and compute the numerical stability for the particular example of a linear polymer comprising a flexible rod with a repeated configuration of two equal and opposite off-axis charges, thereby showing that even in this simple case the nonlocal terms can induce instability that leads to the rod assuming helical shapes.
Devising a method for estimating the share of electricity consumption by a given consumer, which is provided from renewable energy sources

One of the tools to confirm the origin of electricity sold in the retail market are the so-called Guarantees of Origin. They are the basis for calculating greenhouse gas emissions and reporting on carbon emissions and are the most sought-after by European enterprises. The object of this study is the mechanism of labeling guarantees of the origin of electricity in electrical networks with renewable energy sources, taking into consideration their location and schemes of connection to the power grids. Existing solutions for electricity labeling based on the certificates of Guarantees of Origin have a number of problems. They often do not accurately reflect carbon emissions, do not provide transparency and verifiability for end users because they do not take into consideration the physical processes of electricity transmission in the labeling system. To solve this problem, a method has been developed that makes it possible to isolate from the flow of energy in each power transmission a component due to each connected energy source. As a result, the proportion of the load of each node of the electrical network supplied by a certain source of electricity is determined. To take into account the nonlinearity of the ratio between voltages in the nodes of electrical networks and flows in power transmissions, piecewise-linear approximation is used. The algorithm for issuing guarantees of the origin of electricity has been improved. It takes into consideration not only indicators of the balance of electricity but also the results of assessing the volume of electricity supply to each consumer from renewable sources. Thus, the volume of sales of guarantees of origin is limited depending on the placement of consumers and their connection to the power grid. Directing proceeds from the sale of guarantees of origin to the guarantors of «green» subsidies will provide them with additional financial support to compensate for the costs of the «green» tariff
On Spectral N-Bernoulli Mmeasure

For $0 1$ an integer, let $\mu$ be the self-similar measure defined by $\mu(\cdot)=\sum_{i=0}^{N-1}\frac 1N\mu(\rho^{-1}(\cdot)-i)$. We prove that $L^2(\mu)$ has an exponential orthonormal basis if and only if $\rho=\frac 1q$ for some $q>0$ and $N$ divides $q$. The special case is the Cantor measure with $\rho =\frac 1{2k}$ and $N=2$ \cite {JP}, which was proved recently to be the only spectral measure among the Bernoulli convolutions with $0<\rho<1$ \cite {D}.