Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular hydrogen from z = 0.0963 DLA towards the QSO J1619+3342

We report the detection of H2 in a zabs= 0.0963 Damped Lyman-{\alpha} (DLA) system towards zem = 0.4716 QSO J1619+3342. This DLA has log N(H I) = 20.55 (0.10), 18.13 < log N(H2) < 18.40, [S/H] = -0.62 (0.13), [Fe/S] = -1.00 (0.17) and the molecular fraction -2.11 < log f(H2) < -1.85. The inferred gas kinetic temperature using the rotational level population is in the range 95 - 132 K. We do not detect C I or C II* absorption from this system. Using R- and V-band deep images we identify a sub-L* galaxy at an impact parameter of 14 kpc from the line of sight, having consistent photometric redshift, as a possible host for the absorber. We use the photoionization code CLOUDY to get the physical conditions in the H2 component using the observational constrains from H2, C I, C II* and Mg I. All the observations can be consistently explained if one or more of the following is true: (i) Carbon is underabundant by more than 0.6 dex as seen in halo stars with Z ~ 0.1 Z_sun, (ii) H I associated with H2 component is less than 50% of the H I measured along the line of sight and (iii) the H2 formation rate on the dust grains is at least a factor two higher than what is typically used in analytic calculations for Milky Way interstellar medium. Even when these are satisfied, the gas kinetic temperature in the models are much lower than what is inferred from the ortho-to-para ratio of the molecular hydrogen. Alternatively the high kinetic temperature could be a consequence of contribution to the gas heating from non-radiative heating processes seen in hydrodynamical simulations.
Ionospheric signatures of ultra low frequency waves

Ionospheric Signatures of Ultra Low Frequency Waves James David Borderick Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) waves have been studied for many years and the observation and modelling of such phenomena reveals important information about the solarterrestrial interaction. Being ubiquitous in the collisionless terrestrial space plasma environment, ULF waves represent important physical processes in the transfer of energy and momentum. This thesis comprises three distinct studies to observe, model and analyse ULF phenomena. The first two studies focus on ULF wave observations at high-latitudes in the terrestrial ionosphere using a collection of both spaceand ground-based instruments. The first study provides a detailed analysis of the time evolution of a ULF wave using the characteristics of the observed ULF wave as input-parameters to a 1-D numerical model. As the wave signature evolves towards a Field Line Resonance (FLR) a change in the incident wave mode from a partially Alfvénic wave to a purely shear Alfvénic wave is observed. The second study presents statistics of 25 large spatial-scale ULF waves with observations from a high-latitude Doppler sounder and ground-based magnetometers, complemented by model results. The third and final study describes the implementation of a well established radar technique ("double-pulse"), which is new for the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN), which aims to provide an unprecedented temporal resolution for ULF wave studies. The new pulse sequence increases the temporal resolution of SuperDARN by a factor of three. Preliminary findings suggest this technique yields impressive results for ionospheric scatter with steady phase values but that the method cannot be used for data when the phase is rapidly changing or if the data originates from slowly decorrelating plasma irregularities. The running of two independent pulse sequences on the stereo channels of the Hankasalmi radar has also enabled, for the first time, the observation of cross-contamination between the radar channels.
The Impact of Environmental Regulation on China’s OFDI: From the Perspective of Home Country

Since China entered the stage of high-quality development, how to promote economic development and high-level protection of the ecological environment in a coordinated manner and implement the new development concept of “innovation, coordination, green, openness, and sharing” is the country’s problem need to break through. Based on the connotation of the evolutionary logic of environmental regulation, this paper attempts to build a more scientific indicator of China’s environmental regulation and discusses the environmental regulation motivation of China’s OFDI from the home country’s perspective. The results show that the impact of environmental regulation on China’s OFDI presents a significant inverted U-shaped relationship, and there are significant regional differences. The types of environmental regulation have different impacts on OFDI. Porter’s hypothesis exists in the influence path of environmental regulation on OFDI. The research in this paper can help coordinate the development of high-quality economic development, environmental protection, and the new pattern of wide opening up in China.
Continuous NPWT Regulates Fibrosis in Murine Diabetic Wound Healing

Scarring is associated with significant morbidity. The mechanical signaling factor yes-associated protein (YAP) has been linked to Engrailed-1 (En1)-lineage positive fibroblasts (EPFs), a pro-scarring fibroblast lineage, establishing a connection between mechanotransduction and fibrosis. In this study, we investigate the impact of micromechanical forces exerted through negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on the pathophysiology of fibrosis. Full-thickness excisional dorsal skin wounds were created on diabetic (db/db) mice which were treated with occlusive covering (control) or NPWT (continuous, −125 mmHg, 7 days; NPWT). Analysis was performed on tissue harvested 10 days after wounding. NPWT was associated with increased YAP (p = 0.04) but decreased En1 (p = 0.0001) and CD26 (p < 0.0001). The pro-fibrotic factors Vimentin (p = 0.04), α-SMA (p = 0.04) and HSP47 (p = 0.0008) were decreased with NPWT. Fibronectin was higher (p = 0.01) and collagen deposition lower in the NPWT group (p = 0.02). NPWT increased cellular proliferation (p = 0.002) and decreased apoptosis (p = 0.03). Western blotting demonstrated increased YAP (p = 0.02) and RhoA (p = 0.03) and decreased Caspase-3 (p = 0.03) with NPWT. NPWT uncouples YAP from EPF activation, through downregulation of Caspace-3, a pro-apoptotic factor linked to keloid formation. Mechanotransduction decreases multiple pro-fibrotic factors. Through this multifactorial process, NPWT significantly decreases fibrosis and offers promising potential as a mode to improve scar appearance.
Tumor Treating Fields Combine with Temozolomide for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: A Retrospective Analysis of Chinese Patients in a Single Center

Introduction: TTFields plus Temozolomide (TTFields/TMZ) extended survival versus TMZ alone in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) patients in the EF-14 trial. We have reported a retrospective analysis of newly diagnosed Chinese GBM patients who received TTFields/TMZ treatment and TMZ treatment from August 2018 to May 2021 in Huashan hospital in Shanghai. Methods: Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) curves were constructed using the Kaplan–Meier method. A Cox proportional hazards regression model, propensity score matched data, and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) based on propensity score were used to assess the effect of TTFields and account for confounding factors. Results: In the preliminary analysis, the median PFS in TTFields/TMZ group was 16 months (95% CI, 9.6–24.6) versus 11 months (95% CI, 9–12) in TMZ group (p < 0.05). Median overall survival was 21.8 months (95% CI, 17.4-NA) with TTFields/TMZ versus 15 months (HR = 0.43; 95% CI, 13–18) with TMZ alone. The multivariate analysis identified surgery type, STUPP scheme, IDH status, and TTFields use as favorable prognostic factors. After PSM adjustment, the variate among the groups was similar, except that the methylation rate of MGMT promoter remained high in the TMZ group (12 v 32 months; p = 0.011). Upon IPTW Survival analysis, TTFields was associated with a significantly lower risk of death (HR = 0.19 in OS; 95% CI, 0.09–0.41) and progression (HR = 0.35; 95% CI 0.14–0.9) compared with TMZ group. Conclusion: In the final analysis of our single-center Chinese patients with glioblastoma, adding TTFields to temozolomide chemotherapy resulted in statistically significant improvement in PFS and OS.
Cosmological imprints of frozen-in light sterile neutrinos

We investigate observable cosmological aspects of sterile neutrino dark matter produced via the freeze-in mechanism. The study is performed in a framework that admits many cosmologically interesting variations: high temperature production via annihilation processes from higher dimensional operators or low temperature production from decays of a scalar, with the decaying scalar in or out of equilibrium with the thermal bath, in supersymmetric or non-supersymmetric setups, thus allowing us to both extract generic properties and highlight features unique to particular variations. We find that while such sterile neutrinos are generally compatible with all cosmological constraints, interesting scenarios can arise where dark matter is cold, warm, or hot, has nontrivial momentum distributions, or provides contributions to the effective number of relativistic degrees of freedom Neff during Big Bang nucleosynthesis large enough to be probed by future measurements.
TIP VORTEX ROLL-UP AND CAVITATION

Experiments conducted in three cavitation tunnels with elliptical planform hydrofoils, of area ratio 3.8 and mid-span chord ranging from 40 to 475 mm, allowed the investigation of the effects of Reynolds numbers, between 4x105 to 6.8x106, on tip vortex cavitation. The hydrodynamic forces of the hydrofoil were measured for Reynolds numbers ranging from 2.5x105 to 2.4x106. The tangential velocity profiles were measured in each one of the cavitation tunnels for numerous stations situated between the tip of the foil and the trailing edge at mid-span and some other stations beyond the trailing edge. Axial velocities and turbulence levels were also measured. The critical cavitation numbers were determined in the two largest cavitation tunnels. From the values of the tangential component of the velocity, the local intensity of the vortex and the radius of the inner, solid body rotation region are determined. Using their values at the position corresponding to the minimum pressure along the vortex path, the minimum pressure coefficient is computed and its absolute value compared to the desinence cavitation number for several flow situations. This comparison is very satisfactory and sheds new light on tip vortex cavitation interpretation.
Commissioning of a Geant4 based treatment plan simulation tool: linac model and dicom-rt interface

A Geant4 based simulation tool has been developed to perform Monte Carlo modelling of a 6 MV VarianTM iX clinac. The computer aided design interface of Geant4 was used to accurately model the LINAC components, including the Millenium multi-leaf collimators (MLCs). The simulation tool was verified via simulation of standard commissioning dosimetry data acquired with an ionisation chamber in a water phantom. Verification of the MLC model was achieved by simulation of leaf leakage measurements performed using GafchromicTM film in a solid water phantom. An absolute dose calibration capability was added by including a virtual monitor chamber into the simulation. Furthermore, a DICOM-RT interface was integrated with the application to allow the simulation of treatment plans in radiotherapy. The ability of the simulation tool to accurately model leaf movements and doses at each control point was verified by simulation of a widely used intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA) technique, the chair test.
Numeracy of prospective elementary school teachers with low self-efficacy: A case study

Numeracy can develop the self-capacity of prospective elementary school teachers in the 21st century. One of the factors that influence success in numeracy is self-efficacy. Those with low self-efficacy will often avoid tasks and quickly give up when encountering problems. This study aims to describe the numeracy of prospective elementary school teachers with low self-efficacy. This study was qualitative research with a case study. Samples were selected using the purposive sampling technique, in which they were students majoring in Elementary School Teacher Education with low self-efficacy. The employed research instruments were valid and reliable numeracy tests and self-efficacy questionnaires and interview guidelines. Qualitative data were collected through tests and interviews. Furthermore, the validity of the obtained data was examined by source triangulation, researchers’ persistence, and attendance extension. The collected data were then analySed using the interpretative method, consisting of data condensation, data presentation, data validity checking, and verification. The results show that the numeracy of prospective elementary school teachers with low self-efficacy had been in the stage of being able to identify problems according to context and present problems even though they still made conceptual errors, calculation, and had difficulty in re-communicating the solution to the numeracy problems in context. Keywords: Elementary school teacher, numeracy, self-efficacy.
Granular Brownian motion with dry friction

The interplay between Coulomb friction and random excitations is studied experimentally by means of a rotating probe in contact with a stationary granular gas. The granular material is independently fluidized by a vertical shaker, acting as a “heat bath” for the Brownian-like motion of the probe. Two ball bearings supporting the probe exert nonlinear Coulomb friction upon it. The experimental velocity distribution of the probe, autocorrelation function, and power spectra are compared with the predictions of a linear Boltzmann equation with friction, which is known to simplify in two opposite limits: at high collision frequency, it is mapped to a Fokker-Planck equation with nonlinear friction, whereas at low collision frequency, it is described by a sequence of independent random kicks followed by friction-induced relaxations. Comparison between theory and experiment in these two limits shows good agreement. Deviations are observed at very small velocities, where the real bearings are not well modeled by Coulomb friction.
Perturbation theory for string sigma models

In this thesis we investigate quantum aspects of the Green-Schwarz superstring in various AdS backgrounds relevant for the AdS/CFT correspondence, providing several examples of perturbative computations in the corresponding integrable sigma-models. We start by reviewing in details the supercoset construction of the superstring action in $AdS_5 \times S^5$, pointing out the limits of this procedure for $AdS_4$ and $AdS_3$ backgrounds. For the $AdS_4 \times CP^3$ case we give a thorough derivation of an alternative action, based on the double-dimensional reduction of eleven-dimensional super-membranes. We then consider the expansion about the BMN vacuum and the S-matrix for the scattering of worldsheet excitations in the decompactification limit. To evaluate its elements efficiently we describe a unitarity-based method resulting in a very compact formula yielding the cut-constructible part of any one-loop two-dimensional S-matrix. In the second part of this review we analyze the superstring action on $AdS_4 \times CP^3$ expanded around the null cusp vacuum. The free energy of this model, whose computation we reproduce up to two-loops at strong coupling, is related to the cusp anomalous dimension of the ABJM theory and, indirectly, to a non-trivial effective coupling $h(\lambda)$ featuring all integrability-based calculations in $AdS_4/CFT_3$. Finally, we extensively discuss the comparison of the perturbative results and the integrability predictions for the one-loop dispersion relation of GKP excitations. Our results provide valuable data in support of the quantum consistency of the string actions - often debated due to possible issues with cancellation of UV divergences and the lack of manifest power-counting renormalizability - and furnish non-trivial stringent tests for the quantum integrability of the analyzed models.
Optimal control for biological movement systems

Optimal control model of biological movement provides a natural starting point for describing observed everyday behavior, and is so far the most successful model in motor control. However, in their present form, such models have a serious limitation--they rely on Linear-Quadratic- Gaussian formalism, while in reality biomechanical systems are strongly non-linear, the disturbances are control- dependent, muscle activations are nonnegative, and performance criteria are rarely quadratic. In order to handle such complex problems, we develop an iterative Linear-Quadratic-Gaussian method for locally-optimal control and estimation of nonlinear stochastic systems subject to control constraints. The new method constructs an affine feedback control law, obtained by minimizing a novel quadratic approximation to the optimal cost-to-go function. It also constructs a modified extended Kalman filter corresponding to the control law. The control law and filter are iteratively improved until convergence. Finally, the performance of the algorithm is illustrated in the context of reaching movements on a realistic human arm model. The second focus of this thesis is on the integration of optimality principles with hierarchical control scheme. We present a general approach to designing feedback control hierarchies for redundant biomechanical systems, that approximate the (non-hierarchical) optimal control law but have much lower computational demands. This hierarchy has two levels of feedback control: the high level is designed as an optimal feedback controller operating on a simplified plant; the low level is responsible for transforming the dynamics of the true plant into the desired virtual dynamics. The new method will be useful not only for modelling neural control of movement, but also for designing Functional Electric Stimulation systems that have to achieve task goals by activating muscles in real time. Another contribution of this thesis is to present an estimation design method for multiplicative noise system using linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) approach. Sufficient conditions for the existence of the state estimator are provided; these conditions are expressed in terms of LMIs and the parametrization of all admissible solutions is provided. We show that a mild additional constraint for scaling will make the problem convex
Comportements asymptotiques des processus stationnaires et des processus empiriques dans des systèmes dynamiques

Cette these se consacre a l'etude de theoremes limites pour des suites de variables aleatoires stationnaires (en particulier issues d'un systeme dynamique). Nous nous concentrons sur deux resultats importants, notamment par leurs applications en statistiques. Nous etudions tout d'abord le comportement limite des sommes de variables aleatoires, plus precisement le theoreme limite central et son principe d'invariance. Ensuite nous considerons le principe d'invariance pour les processus empiriques. Dans le cadre du principe d'invariance faible de Donsker, plusieurs resultats s'obtiennent au travers d'approximations par des martingales et plus generalement par des criteres projectifs. Nous comparons quatre de ces criteres et montrons leur independance mutuelle. Les criteres etudies sont la decomposition martingale-cobord (Gordin, 1969), la condition de Hannan (1979), le critere de Dedecker et Rio (2000) et la condition de Maxwell et Woodroofe (2000). En ce qui concerne le comportement asymptotique des processus empiriques, nous etablissons un principe d'invariance dans le cas des automorphismes du tore. Cela permet de sortir du cadre hyperbolique connu et d'obtenir un premier resultat pour une transformation partiellement hyperbolique. Nous proposons egalement une nouvelle approche, basee sur des methodes d'operateurs, permettant d'etablir un principe d'invariance empirique. Cette methode s'applique en particulier aux cas ou l'on a de bonnes proprietes pour une classe de fonctions ne contenant pas les fonctions indicatrices. C'est en particulier le cas de certains systemes dynamiques dont l'operateur de transfert admet un trou spectral. En dernier lieu, suivant une question de Burton et Denker (1987), nous nous interessons a la classe des processus pour lesquels le theoreme limite central a lieu. En reference au cadre des processus empiriques, nous etudions en particulier les suites de sommes partielles des iterees d'une fonction indicatrice.
Exploration of Clove Bud (Syzygium aromaticum) Essential Oil as a Novel Attractant against Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Its Safety Evaluation

Simple Summary Bactrocera dorsalis is among the most economically harmful pests. The lure-and-kill approach is an environmentally friendly and innovative method that offers an opportunity for sustainable surveillance and control of B. dorsalis. However, such a strategy requires highly effective pest attractants. In the current study, we compared the attractive activity of twelve flower essential oils against B. dorsalis adults via the indoor trapping assay. Meanwhile, we studied the attractive features of clove bud essential oil (CBEO) for males under laboratory conditions. Further, we also investigated CBEO’s attractancy to their natural predator, the ladybirds, and its cytotoxicity against non-target organisms’ cells. In particular, sexually mature males were dramatically attracted to the CBEO. Furthermore, the CBEO exhibited no significant attractancy to ladybirds nor cytotoxicity against normal human and mouse cells. The results revealed that CBEO shows potential for development as an eco-friendly and novel attractant agent for the control of B. dorsalis. Abstract The oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) is a destructive polyphagous species that targets many economically important fruits and vegetables. The primary control of B. dorsalis relies mainly on the use of synthetic chemicals, and excessive use of these chemicals has adverse effects on both the environment and human health. Environmentally friendly management of pests involving plant essential oils is useful for controlling the populations of pests responsible for decreasing the yields and quality of crops. In the present study, we demonstrate that clove bud essential oil (CBEO) is strongly attractive to sexually mature males. Mature males responded to the CBEO differently throughout the day; the strongest response was elicited during the day and decreased at dusk. Virgin and mated mature males did not respond differently to CBEO. No obvious response behaviour to the CBEO was observed in two species of beneficial natural predator ladybirds. In addition, a cytotoxicity assessment demonstrated that CBEO is nontoxic to normal human and mouse cells. Based on our laboratory experiments, CBEO may serve as a promising, sustainable, and environmentally friendly attractant for B. dorsalis males; however, field experiments are needed to confirm this hypothesis.