Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radio-Frequency Pulsar Observation using Small-Aperture Antennas

Recent research on pulsar based navigation and timing by organizations such as NASA and ESA has primarily focused on X-ray measurements as opposed to previous research which instead focused primarily on radio-frequency (RF) measurements. X-ray based systems offer the potential for greater accuracy than RF based systems and do not require the large antenna apertures historically considered to be necessary for adequate performance of an RF system. However, recent RF studies have suggested the feasibility of 1-10 microsecond timing performance using an antenna with an effective aperture on the order of 10 square meters, which is more optimistic than many previous results. This level of performance may be sufficient to prove useful for both terrestrial and space applications, particularly in deep space or even cislunar space where navigation and timing performance requirements are typically more relaxed. Such a radio-frequency based solution would not require the large, heavy, complex hardware required to receive X-ray signals and could be particularly advantageous for small spacecraft where size, weight, and cost are of higher concern. This paper serves as a literature review of radio-frequency pulsar observation, timing, and navigation systems. It examines the theoretical relationship of system parameters such as antenna size, amplifier noise figure, observation time, and processing techniques to overall system signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and measurement performance. It then details the design of a terrestrial experiment to observe pulsars in the radio-frequency band using two small-aperture observing stations and low-cost hardware with the goal of determining experimentally the minimum practical antenna size for radio-frequency pulsar measurements as a function of signal-to-noise ratio, measurement performance, and observation time. Additionally, experimental results of pulsar observations performed by amateur radio operators are discussed and used to provide context to the theoretical results.
Rethinking Multilingual Experience through a Systems Framework of Bilingualism: Response to Commentaries

Abstract In Rethinking Multilingual Experience through a Systems Framework of Bilingualism (Titone & Tiv, 2022), we encouraged psycholinguists and cognitive neuroscientists to consider integrating social and ecological aspects of multilingualism into a collective understanding of its cognitive and neurocognitive bases (i.e., to rethink experience). We then offered a framework – the Systems Framework of Bilingualism – and described empirical challenges and potential solutions with applying this framework to new research. Since the paper's publication, several eminent colleagues read and commented on our Keynote, noting both its strengths and areas for improvement. We read each commentary with enthusiasm and gratitude. Here, we briefly respond to several salient points raised, which led us to clarify and improve our theoretical approach. We first address what the commentaries agreed were strengths of the framework. We follow this with a discussion of what the commentaries stated could be improved or extended. We conclude with ways that we modified our model to collectively address concerns raised in the commentaries.
In This Together? Exploring Moderating and Mediating Effects of Shared Racal Fate on the Predictive Role of Racial Socialization and Discrimination on Black Activism

This study examined the predictive role of reported racial socialization (i.e., preparation for bias and promotion of mistrust), racial discrimination, and shared racial fate on sociopolitical activism in a sample of 353 Black Americans. In addition, we examined the moderating and mediating role of shared racial fate as a variable by which the other contextual factors predict sociopolitical activism. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that preparation for bias and racial discrimination were the only unique predictors of sociopolitical activism. Results also indicated that shared racial fate significantly moderated the relationship between reported racial discrimination and sociopolitical activism. Finally, shared racial fate significantly mediated the relationship between promotion of mistrust and sociopolitical activism. These findings are timely as we are at a critical point in U.S. history where there are widespread calls for social justice. We provide insight into factors that may contribute to sociopolitical engagement. Implications for culturally responsive pedagogy, curricula, and interventions are discussed.
Why do journals discontinue? A study of Australian ceased journals

Little is known about why journals discontinue despite its significant implications. We present an analysis of 140 Australian journals that ceased from 2011 to mid‐2021 and present the results of a survey of editors of 53 of them. The death age of journals was 19.7 (median = 16) with 57% being 10 years or older. About 54% of them belonged to educational institutions and 34% to non‐profit organizations. In terms of subject, 75% of the journals belonged to social sciences, humanities and arts. The survey showed that funding was an important reason for discontinuation, and lack of quality submission and lack of support from the owners of the journal also played a role. Too much reliance on voluntary works appeared to be an issue for editorial processes. The dominant metric culture in the research environment and pressure for journals to perform well in journal rankings negatively affect local journals in attracting quality submissions. A fifth of journals indicated that they did not have a plan for the preservation of articles at the time of publication and the current availability of the content of ceased journals appeared to be sub‐optimal in many cases with reliance on the website of ceased journals or web‐archive platforms.
Urinary Mass Spectrometry Profiles in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

We and others have shown that patients with different severity stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have distinct plasma metabolomic profiles compared to controls. Urine is a biofluid that can be obtained non-invasively and, in other fields, urine metabolomics has been proposed as a feasible alternative to plasma biomarkers. However, no studies have applied urinary mass spectrometry (MS) metabolomics to AMD. This study aimed to assess urinary metabolomic profiles of patients with different stages of AMD and a control group. We included two prospectively designed, multicenter, cross-sectional study cohorts: Boston, US (n = 185) and Coimbra, Portugal (n = 299). We collected fasting urine samples, which were used for metabolomic profiling (Ultrahigh Performance Liquid chromatography—Mass Spectrometry). Multivariable logistic and ordinal logistic regression models were used for analysis, accounting for gender, age, body mass index and use of AREDS supplementation. Results from both cohorts were then meta-analyzed. No significant differences in urine metabolites were seen when comparing patients with AMD and controls. When disease severity was considered as an outcome, six urinary metabolites differed significantly (p < 0.01). In particular, two of the metabolites identified have been previously shown by our group to also differ in the plasma of patients of AMD compared to controls and across severity stages. While there are fewer urinary metabolites associated with AMD than plasma metabolites, this study identified some differences across stages of disease that support previous work performed with plasma, thus highlighting the potential of these metabolites as future biomarkers for AMD.
The impact of trade liberalisation on mining sector total factor productivity: Evidence from developing countries

While the paradox of plenty is given much weight on raging debates on resource endowment and growth path of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries. The study seeks to establish the effect of trade liberalisation on mining total factor productivity. The study employed panel data of selected seven countries from the SADC for the period 1990–2017. The countries in the sample include Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Zambia, and were chosen based on data availability. Hicks-Moorsteen productivity index was applied to generate the total factor productivity change. A panel auto regressive distributed lag model (PARDL) and pooled mean group (PMG) are the estimation techniques used. The inquiry is crucial to SADC because mining production is a source of foreign exchange that directly contributes to economic growth. However, with open economies of SADC study expects the easy flow and diffusion of technology to aid productivity in the mining sector (Griffith, Redding, & Van Reenen, 2014). Results indicate a positive and statistically significant long-run relationship between trade openness and total factor productivity change in the mining sector. The study recommends progressive trade openness in the mining sector, human capital development, research and development to augment technology transfer.
Antibacterial Properties of TMA against Escherichia coli and Effect of Temperature and Storage Duration on TMA Content, Lysozyme Activity and Content in Eggs

Studies on trimethylamine (TMA) in egg yolk have focused on how it impacts the flavor of eggs, but there has been little focus on its other functions. We designed an in vitro antibacterial test of TMA according to TMA concentrations that covered the TMA contents typically found in egg yolk. The change in TMA content in yolk was analyzed at different storage temperatures and for different storage durations. The known antibacterial components of eggs, including the cuticle quality of the eggshell and the lysozyme activity and content in egg white, were also assessed. The total bacterial count (TBC) of different parts of eggs were detected. The results showed that the inhibitory effect of TMA on Escherichia coli (E. coli) growth increased with increasing TMA concentration, and the yolk TMA content significantly increased with storage duration (p < 0.05). The cuticle quality and lysozyme content and activity significantly decreased with storage time and increasing temperature, accompanied by a significant increase in the TBC on the eggshell surface and in the egg white (p < 0.05). This work reveals a new role for trace TMA in yolks because it reduces the risk of bacterial colonization, especially when the antibacterial function of eggs is gradually weakened during storage.
Study of Seasonal Acoustic Properties of Sea Water in Selected Waters of the Southern Baltic

Abstract Climate Research of the globe is a current task, in particular to confirm the general hypothesis of global warming associated with an increase in average temperature. The sea acoustic climate is derived from the concept of climate and refers to the conditions of propagation of acoustic waves in a particular basin. In this paper, the results of systematic measurements of temperature, salinity and velocity distributions of sound in the area of the southern Baltic will be present. The focus will be on the results of extensive measurements carried out „in situ” in particular.
Capturing convection in the northwest Mediterranean Sea: using underwater gliders to assess the performance of regional forecast models

Ocean models require independent datasets to verify forecast accuracy. Glider data, within an appropriate reference frame, can satisfy this constraint. In the present paper, profiles from the northwest Mediterranean Sea are re-gridded to allow evaluation of modelled deepwater formation episodes. Time-series analysis of temperature, salinity, mixed-layer depth and ocean heat content show that the simulated response to surface flux is consistent with observations and the evolution of convective events is well represented. However, discrepancies in the distributions of the simulated Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) and western Mediterranean deep water (WMDW) remain. A new ‘sweep’ methodology, developed in the present paper, indicates that the location and duration of the simulated convective events are consistent with that observed, but spatial variability is underrepresented. Variogram analysis ascribes integral scales similar to those observed for the mixed-layer depth, but suggests that simulated scalar fields are too diffuse. The ability to maximise the separation of temporal and spatial variability, inherent in this new methodology, confirms that glider data is suitable for validating high-resolution ocean models.
Eating Speed Is Associated with the Presence of Sarcopenia in Older Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study of the KAMOGAWA-DM Cohort

To determine the relationship between eating speed and the presence of sarcopenia in older patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), in this cross-sectional study, patient eating speeds were classified as “fast-”, “normal-” and “slow-speed eating. ” A multifrequency impedance analyzer was used to evaluate patient body compositions. Sarcopenia was defined as having both low muscle strength, a handgrip strength <28 kg for men and <18 kg for women, and low skeletal muscle mass as a skeletal muscle mass index <7.0 kg/m2 for men and <5.7 kg/m2 for women. Among 239 individuals, the frequencies of fast-, normal-, and slow-speed eating were 47.3%, 32.2%, and 20.5%, respectively; and the prevalence of sarcopenia was 15.9%. Patients with a slow eating speed had greater prevalence of low skeletal muscle mass, low muscle strength, and sarcopenia than those with a fast or normal eating speed. After adjusting for covariates, compared to slow eaters, the odds ratio of having sarcopenia among fast- and normal-speed eaters was 0.31 [95% CI: 0.12–0.80] and 0.18 [95% CI: 0.06–0.53], respectively. Having a slow eating speed is associated with a heightened risk of sarcopenia in older patients with T2D.
Parental Perceptions of Cerebral Palsy and Expectations of the Operation Outcomes in Greece and in Italy

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are often hospitalized and have long stays, as they need surgeries and operations. The perioperative period can be perplexing for the people involved. This study investigates parents’ perceptions of CP and expectations of operation and surgery outcomes in Greece and in Italy during this crucial perioperative period. A total of 120 married parents participated in the study: 60 mothers and 60 fathers who had a biological child with CP. All children had operable CP and were under continuous medical/surgical treatment. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. Parents expressed diverse perceptions of CP whilst they had almost the same perceptions of it in both countries. They mainly represented CP as a medical problem affecting the whole family, including the child. Parent's expectations on orthopaedic surgeries concerned improving the child's quality of life, the level of its functional impairment and the rehabilitation of its movement and gait. There were no statistically significant differences as regards country of origin and parents’ gender on perceptions of CP and expectations of operation and surgery outcomes. This study suggests that parents outline a variety of perceptions of the condition of CP and of expectations concerning operation and surgery outcomes.
Predictors of cognitive functioning in presentations to a community-based specialist addiction neuropsychology service

Abstract Introduction: Cognitive impairment is common in individuals presenting to alcohol and other drug (AOD) settings and the presence of biopsychosocial complexity and health inequities can complicate the experience of symptoms and access to treatment services. A challenge for neuropsychologists in these settings is to evaluate the likely individual contribution of these factors to cognition when providing an opinion regarding diagnoses such as acquired brain injury (ABI). This study therefore aimed to identify predictors of cognitive functioning in AOD clients attending for neuropsychological assessment. Methods: Clinical data from 200 clients with AOD histories who attended for assessment between 2014 and 2018 were analysed and a series of multiple regressions were conducted to explore predictors of cognitive impairment including demographic, diagnostic, substance use, medication, and mental health variables. Results: Regression modelling identified age, gender, years of education, age of first use, days of abstinence, sedative load, emotional distress and diagnoses of ABI and developmental disorders as contributing to aspects of neuropsychological functioning. Significant models were obtained for verbal intellectual functioning (Adj R2 = 0.19), nonverbal intellectual functioning (Adj R2 = 0.10), information processing speed (Adj R2 = 0.20), working memory (Adj R2 = 0.05), verbal recall (Adj R2 = 0.08), visual recall (Adj R2 = 0.22), divided attention (Adj R2 = 0.14), and cognitive inhibition (Adj R2 = 0.07). Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of careful provision of diagnoses in clients with AOD histories who have high levels of unmet clinical needs. They demonstrate the interaction of premorbid and potentially modifiable comorbid factors such as emotional distress and prescription medication on cognition. Ensuring that modifiable risk factors for cognitive impairment are managed may reduce experiences of cognitive impairment and improve diagnostic clarity.
PLGA-Based Composites for Various Biomedical Applications

Polymeric materials have been extensively explored in the field of nanomedicine; within them, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) holds a prominent position in micro- and nanotechnology due to its biocompatibility and controllable biodegradability. In this review we focus on the combination of PLGA with different inorganic nanomaterials in the form of nanocomposites to overcome the polymer’s limitations and extend its field of applications. We discuss their physicochemical properties and a variety of well-established synthesis methods for the preparation of different PLGA-based materials. Recent progress in the design and biomedical applications of PLGA-based materials are thoroughly discussed to provide a framework for future research.
PARP Inhibitors and Radiometabolic Approaches in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: What’s Now, What’s New, and What’s Coming?

Simple Summary Prostate cancer still represents an important health problem in men, considering its high frequency. Over the last decade, novel treatment options have emerged, leading to notable clinical benefits. These recent scientific acquisitions are creating the basis to widen the treatment scenario of this tumor, evolving from targeting the androgen receptor axis or the traditional chemotherapy approach. Abstract In recent years, the advances in the knowledge on the molecular characteristics of prostate cancer is allowing to explore novel treatment scenarios. Furthermore, technological discoveries are widening diagnostic and treatment weapons at the clinician disposal. Among these, great relevance is being gained by PARP inhibitors and radiometabolic approaches. The result is that DNA repair genes need to be altered in a high percentage of patients with metastatic prostate cancer, making these patients optimal candidates for PARP inhibitors. These compounds have already been proved to be active in pretreated patients and are currently being investigated in other settings. Radiometabolic approaches combine specific prostate cancer cell ligands to radioactive particles, thus allowing to deliver cytotoxic radiations in cancer cells. Among these, radium-223 and lutetium-177 have shown promising activity in metastatic pretreated prostate cancer patients and further studies are ongoing to expand the applications of this therapeutic approach. In addition, nuclear medicine techniques also have an important diagnostic role in prostate cancer. Herein, we report the state of the art on the knowledge on PARP inhibitors and radiometabolic approaches in advanced prostate cancer and present ongoing clinical trials that will hopefully expand these two treatment fields.
U-Net-based DFU Tissue Segmentation and Registration on Uncontrolled Dermoscopic Images

: Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) are aggressive wounds with high morbimortality due to their slow healing ca-pacity and rapid tissue degeneration, which cause complications such as infection, gangrene, and amputation. The automatic analysis of the evolution of tissues associated with DFU allows the quick identiﬁcation and treatment of possible complications. In this paper, our contribution is twofold. First, we present a new DFU dataset composed of 222 images labeled by specialists. The images followed the healing process of patients of an experimental treatment and were captured under uncontrolled viewpoint and illumination conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the ﬁrst DFU dataset whose images include the identiﬁcation of background and six different classes of tissues. The second contribution is an U-Net-based segmentation and registration procedure that uses features computed by hidden layers of the network and epipolar constraints to identify pixelwise correspondences between images of the same patient at different healing stages.
Evaluations of Deep Learning Approaches for Glaucoma Screening Using Retinal Images from Mobile Device

Glaucoma is a silent disease that leads to vision loss or irreversible blindness. Current deep learning methods can help glaucoma screening by extending it to larger populations using retinal images. Low-cost lenses attached to mobile devices can increase the frequency of screening and alert patients earlier for a more thorough evaluation. This work explored and compared the performance of classification and segmentation methods for glaucoma screening with retinal images acquired by both retinography and mobile devices. The goal was to verify the results of these methods and see if similar results could be achieved using images captured by mobile devices. The used classification methods were the Xception, ResNet152 V2 and the Inception ResNet V2 models. The models’ activation maps were produced and analysed to support glaucoma classifier predictions. In clinical practice, glaucoma assessment is commonly based on the cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) criterion, a frequent indicator used by specialists. For this reason, additionally, the U-Net architecture was used with the Inception ResNet V2 and Inception V3 models as the backbone to segment and estimate CDR. For both tasks, the performance of the models reached close to that of state-of-the-art methods, and the classification method applied to a low-quality private dataset illustrates the advantage of using cheaper lenses.
Girls Outperform Boys in Early Syntactic Development? Negative Evidence from Mandarin-speaking Preschoolers

This study aimed to verify the sex differences in early syntactic development among Cantonese-speaking children by Tse et al. (2002), with the same corpus design but a different Chinese language: Mandarin. The utterances produced during half-hour play activities by 192 Beijing children, ranging from 3 to 6 years, were collected in the Early Child Mandarin Corpus (Li &amp; Tse, 2011) and analyzed for this study. Their syntactic development was measured in terms of mean length of utterance (MLU), sentence type and structure, syntactic complexity, and verb pattern. The statistical analyses indicated significant age differences in MLU, sentence types and structures, and syntactic complexity. However, no sex or age-by-sex differences were found. This negative evidence indicates that sex difference is neither universal nor cross-language. The implications for early childhood education and future studies are discussed.