Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Finite-time mean-nonovershooting control for stochastic nonlinear systems

The problem of finite-time mean-nonovershooting control is investigated for a class of stochastic nonlinear systems in this paper. For general stochastic strict-feedback nonlinear systems, a new controller is designed, which uses the framework of the backstepping technique, to assure that the mean of overshoot can be adjusted arbitrarily small (by changing controller gains) while all the states of the closed-loop system in finite-time to get bounded in probability. In contrast with corresponding deterministic systems, it has better performance that control gains did not rely on the initial conditions of system states and derivatives of the reference trajectory. Finally, a simulation example is showing the appealing performance of the proposed scheme.
Prevalence of Comorbidities and Associated Factors among HIV Patients Attending Antiretroviral Clinics in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a chronic infectious disease, and without antiretroviral therapy (ART), it is associated with comorbidities. The prevalence of comorbidities, adherence to ART and quality of life (QoL) of HIV patients were studied. A cross-sectional study design involving 360 HIV patients from two ART clinics across the Tamale metropolis was employed. Socio-demography, adherence to therapy, and QoL data were taken with the help of a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 24. The prevalence of comorbidities was 30.3% (109), with Hepatitis B infection (73, 20.3%) being the most prevalent. Adherence levels were high (192, 53.3%), moderate (108, 30.0%) and low (60, 16.7%). Overall, QoL was excellent amongst 149 (41.4%), good in 169 (46.7%), and poor in 42 (11.7%) respondents. Marital status, presence or absence of HIV symptoms, adherence level to ART and overall QoL, especially Physical, Psychological, and independence domains (p < 0.05), were factors associated with the presence of comorbidities. There is a high level of comorbidities among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in the Tamale metropolis influenced by QoL and adherence to ART. We recommend a multifaceted approach to the management of PLWH.
On the Efficient Interpolation of Stochastic Band-Limited Signals*

ABSTRACT Interpolation of stochastic band-limited signals is of relevance both from the theoretical point of view and application purposes. It is well-known that the classical interpolation method for band-limited signals, which follows from the Whittaker-Kotel'nikov- Shannon sampling theorem, provides the appropriate answer to exactly reconstruct them. Unfortunately, whenever an open domain is in question, only truncated versions of cardinal series expansions can be employed and this generates artifacts on the interpolated data. In particular, the quality of the interpolation scheme affects the data statistics and is a relevant issue which must be carefully examined. An interpolation scheme, which minimizes statistical artifacts, is therefore of great interest. In this paper we propose the use of two efficient interpolation schemes and demonstrate that they provide much better results than the truncated cardinal series expansion.
Identification of Optimal Fermentation Temperature for Dry-Fermented Sausage Using Strains Isolated from Korean Fermented Foods

This study aims at identifying the optimal fermentation temperature for dry-fermented sausage using strains isolated from Kimchi (GK1, Pediococcus pentosaceus-GK1; NK3, P. pentosaceus-NK3), Doenjang (D1, Debaryomyces hansenii-D1), and commercial fermented sausage (S6, spontaneously generated Penicillium nalgiovense-S6). The microbial population, pH, moisture content, color, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), and electronic nose (E-nose) were analyzed to identify the optimal fermentation temperature. The dry-fermented sausages were inoculated with three types of starter cultures [CS (commercial starter culture), GD (GK1 + D1 + S6), and ND (NK3 + D1 + S6)]. The fermentation was performed for 3 days at 20 °C and 25 °C, and dried for 28 days. The Lactobacillus spp. plate count and TBARS showed significantly higher values in the 25 °C group than in the 20 °C group (p < 0.05). The Staphylococcus spp. plate count of GD and ND were significantly higher than CS group at all temperatures. On day 31, the moisture content and VBN values of all groups were less than 35 % and 20 mg%, respectively. According to E-nose, the highest amount of acetoin was detected at the GD group fermented at 25 °C. Thus, the optimal fermentation temperature is expected at 25 °C after using GD in the manufacturing of dry-fermented sausages.
Gender disparities between young and adult NEETs: do we need a more refined policy approach?

ABSTRACT Italy has the highest rate of individuals Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) in Europe, and its NEET has the highest gender bias in Western Europe. A marked heterogeneity, however, accompanies the age sub-groups, and women’s conditions become systematically worse with advancing age. Using data from 2019, we investigate the association between the probability of being NEET and a set of individual and regional (socioeconomic and institutional) characteristics, examining whether and to what extent the role of these determinants varies depending on gender within two distinct age groups: young (15–24) and adult (25–34) NEETs. In general, we find clear evidence that women are at a relative disadvantage compared to men and, as age increases, both positive and negative determinants show relations that tend to weaken for men and to worsen for women. The results of our analyses also suggest that social/family obligations affect men and women differently, to the detriment of women, and that this disparity widens with age. The contrast between the position of men and women within marriage is empirically confirmed and perfectly captured by marginal effects with opposite signs. The policy implications of our analysis are discussed in the concluding section of this paper.
Obesity Paradox among Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background and Objectives: There is consensus on the negative effects of obesity on the development of heart failure. However, several studies have suggested that obesity may have paradoxical survival benefits in heart failure patients. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether the obesity paradox exists in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients in Jordan. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were retrieved from electronic hospital records of heart failure patients admitted to King Abdullah University Hospital between January 2010 and January 2020. Patients were divided into five BMI (kg/m2) subgroups: (1) Less than 25.0, (2) Overweight 25.0–29.9, (3) Obese Class I 30.0–34.9, (4) Obese Class II 35.0–39.9, and (5) Obese Class III ≥40.0. Changes in patients’ clinical and echocardiographic parameters over one year were analyzed. Results: Data of a total of 297 patients were analyzed to determine the effect of obesity on heart failure. The mean age was 64.6 ± 12.4 years, and most patients (65.7%) were male. Among several co-morbidities, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were the most common and were present in 81.8% and 81.1% of patients, respectively. Over all patients, there was no significant change in EF after 1 year compared to baseline. However, only patients in the Obese Class I group had a statistically significant improvement in EF of 38.0 ± 9.81% vs. 34.8 ± 6.35% (p = 0.004) after 1 year. Importantly, among non-diabetic individuals, only Obese Class I patients had a significant (p < 0.001) increase in EF after 1 year compared to other BMI subgroups, a feature that was not observed among patients with diabetes. On the other hand, only Obese Class I patients with hypertension had a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in EF after 1 year compared to other BMI subgroups, a feature that was not observed among patients without hypertension. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates an inverted U-shaped relationship between BMI and EF such that patients with mild obesity (i.e., Obese Class I) had significant improvement in EF compared to those having a lower and higher BMI. We, therefore, suggest the existence of the obesity paradox among HFrEF patients in Jordan.
Parametric decay of circularly polarized Alfvén waves in the radially expanding solar wind

[1] We present a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation study of the parametric decay of the circularly polarized Alfven waves propagating in the radial outflow of the solar wind. Assuming the transonic wind solution as an initial condition, we continuously injected monochromatic circularly polarized Alfven waves from the inner boundary at the lower corona, and simulated the wave propagation. The injected Alfven waves are subject to the parametric decay, and density fluctuations in the solar wind plasma grow rapidly at a specific region. The location of the most unstable region depends on the amplitude and frequency of injected Alfven waves. We found that the unstable region of simulation results can be well estimated by considering a localized dispersion relation in the frame of reference moving with the background solar wind.
Nickel reduces blossom-end rot even under calcium deficiency conditions; evidence from physiological responses of the NI - CA interaction

Abstract The isolated study of calcium (Ca) as a cause of blossom-end rot (BER), has not demonstrated advances in the knowledge of this physiological disorder. Recent studies have shown that the Ni-Ca interaction can increase tomato yield and reduce the incidence of BER. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of nickel (Ni) and Ca interaction on the physiology of tomato plants focusing on nutrient balance, gas exchange and activity of urease and glyoxalase I and II enzymes. Tomato plants were grown in pots with substrate. A random design was used in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme. Two Ca doses (sufficient Ca - Ca S = 0.35; and deficient Ca - Ca D = 0.70 g kg−1) and four Ni doses (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg dm−3) was used. The activity of the glyoxalases I and II were used as an indicator of a stress condition. In plants grown under Ca S, the Ni application showed an increase in leaf content of nitrogen, phosphorus, Ca, iron, zinc, boron, copper and Ni, as well the gas exchange enhanced. The urease activity increased as a function of the Ni doses increase. Plants grown with Ca S and Ni doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg dm−3 showed the lowest glyoxalase activities. The use of Ni at the mentioned doses should be considered in tomato fertilization programs focused on BER reduction.
H I absorption measurements over the Galactic center Radio Arc region

The compact array of the VLA was used to study H I absorption in a 100-pc region in the center of the Galaxy. An absence of gas was observed at 40-50 km/s across the Radio Arc, suggesting that the '40 km/s molecular cloud' possibly associated with Sgr A is placed behind the Arc. At +20 km/s, the observations show absorption by material which could be depolarizing much of the synchrotron emission from the Arc filaments. The kinematic structure revealed by high-resolution molecular and radio recombination line observations is confirmed by the distribution of H I gas at -10 to -60 km/s. 29 refs.
Energy balance for turbulent flow around a surface mounted cube placed in a channel

Results of an experimental investigation of the inhomogeneous, three‐dimensional flow around a surface mounted cube in a channel are presented. LDA measurements of single‐point velocity correlations are used to determine the production, convection and transport of the turbulence kinetic energy, k, in the obstacle wake. The turbulence dissipation rate is obtained as a closing term to the balance of the k‐transport equation. The results provide some insight to the evolution of the turbulence dissipation rate from the near field recirculation zone to the asymptotic wake. Also presented is a comparison between measured and modeled transport terms.
Ratiometric Fluorescence Immunoassay Based on Carbon Quantum Dots for Sensitive Detection of Malachite Green in Fish

Malachite green (MG) is a synthetic poisonous organic compound that has been banned in many countries as a veterinary drug for aquaculture. An efficient, fast and sensitive method is urgently needed for monitoring the illegal use of malachite green (MG) in aquaculture. In this study, a novel ratiometric fluorescence immunoassay was established. Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots were used as ratiometric fluorescent probes with a fluorescence peak at 450 nm. Horseradish peroxidase was employed to convert o-phenylenediamine to 2,3-diaminophenazine, with a new fluorescence peak at 580 nm and a strong absorption at 420 nm. The inner filter effect between N-CQD fluorescence and DAP absorption was identified. It allows for the ratiometric detection of MG using a fluorescent immunoassay. The results demonstrated a linear ratiometric fluorescence response for MG between 0.1 and 12.8 ng·mL−1. The limit of detection of this method was verified to be 0.097 μg·kg−1 with recoveries ranging from 81.88 to 108%, and the relative standard deviations were below 3%. Furthermore, this method exhibited acceptable consistency with the LC-MS/MS results when applied for MG screening in real samples. These results demonstrated a promising application of this novel ratiometric fluorescence immunoassay for MG screening with the merits of rapid detection, simple sample preparation, and stable signal readout. It can be an alternative to other traditional methods if there are difficulties in the availability of expensive instruments, and achieve comparable results or even more sensitivity than other reported methods.
Lévy processes, polynomials and martingales

We study an unusual connection between orthogonal polynomials and martingales. We prove that all classical orthogonal polynomials from the Meixner class, when evaluated at a corresponding Levy process, are martingales. This result is well known for the case of Hermite polynomials evaluated in Brownian motion. Our results provide similar analogues for the Poisson process, for the Gamma process and for two less familiar processes related to Meixner polynomials
Conducting Polymers as Versatile Tools for the Electrochemical Detection of Cancer Biomarkers

The detection of cancer biomarkers has recently become an established method for the early diagnosis of cancer. The sensitive analysis of specific biomarkers can also be clinically applied for the determination of response to treatment and monitoring of disease progression. Because of the ultra-low concentration of cancer biomarkers in body fluids, diagnostic tools need to be highly sensitive and specific. Conducting polymers (CPs) are particularly known to exhibit numerous features that enable them to serve as excellent materials for the immobilization of biomolecules and the facilitation of electron transfer. Their large surface area, porosity, and the presence of functional groups provide CPs with binding sites suitable for capturing biomarkers, in addition to their sensitive and easy detection. The aim of this review is to present a comprehensive summary of the available electrochemical biosensors based on CPs and their composites for the ultrasensitive detection of selected cancer biomarkers. We have categorized the study based on different types of targeted biomarkers such as DNAs, miRNAs, proteins, enzymes, neurotransmitters and whole cancer cells. The sensitivity of their detection is enhanced by the presence of CPs, providing a limit of detection as low as 0.5 fM (for miRNA) and 10 cells (for the detection of cancer cells). The methods of multiplex biomarker detection and cell capture are indicated as the most promising category, since they furnish more accurate and reliable results. Ultimately, we discuss the available CP-based electrochemical sensors and promising approaches for facilitating cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“We were like Zoom beings”: Insider perspectives on student learning during the initial shift to online classes in Sweden at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Universities worldwide transitioned to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a digital revolution in higher education. The aim of this study is to give a unique insider’s perspective of how students experienced the shift to online learning within a Qualitative Methods course at the beginning of the pandemic. Our data is comprised of a thematic analysis of three focus group discussions (FGDs) with the Master’s in Public Health Sciences programme students at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, on their experiences of learning and applying qualitative methods online. The findings showed different processes of adaptation to the learning environment at the early stages of the pandemic. Use of digital technologies for online education were learnt and re-embodied by students, to the point they eventually defined themselves as “Zoom beings”. An overarching theme describes the process of students’ re-embodiment of their student-researcher role in a dematerialized online classroom. The adaptation to the learning process resulted in growing pains, but also enabled student to foresee complementarity of online and physical worlds. Understanding the students’ experiences of the sudden switch to online learning can guide the adaptation for potential future disruptions of campus-based teaching.
A Case of Peripartum Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Woman With a History of Obesity

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with a high prevalence in young pregnant females. A 38-year-old female with a history of morbid obesity status post-bariatric surgery presented with chest pain. The electrocardiogram (EKG) revealed ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads as well as slightly elevated troponin. Urgent cardiac catheterization showed SCAD, and she was subsequently managed with medical therapy. We hypothesize that the history of obesity leads to a compromise in the coronary vasculature, thereby predisposing the patient to SCAD.
Near-infrared imaging polarimetry of NGC 1068

We present near-infrared polarization images of the nuclear region of NGC 1068. For the first time, extended reflection nebulosity from the south-western cone, which is obscured at optical wavelengths, is detected. Polarized flux images show the region of enhanced scattering, or polarized knot, '" 4.5 arcsec north-east of the nucleus. Our photometry of the nucleus shows an increase in luminosity compared with earlier observations, which is consistent with the brightening recently reported by Glass. We have successfully adapted the nuclear aperture model of Young et al. to fit the polarized flux images. We find that the basic geometrical parameters of inclination (43°), position angle (PA, 34°) and opening half-angle (40°) of the scattering cones are entirely consistent with our earlier model, with the north-eastern cone having the same PA as the large-scale radio structure. However, an inner scattering cone of inclination 34°, PA 10° and opening half-angle of 15° is required to fit the observed polarized flux distribution to the north-east of the nucleus. This inner cone has the same PA as that of the small-scale (subarcsec) radio jet between sources Sand C, implying that source S is the radio source closest to the central engine. Such a cone to the south-west of the nucleus is presumably obscured by the torus.
Measuring Musical Consonance and Dissonance

Most combinations of musical tones are perceived as either consonant, “pleasing” to the human ear, or dissonant, which is “not pleasing. ” Despite being largely subjective in nature, sensations of consonance and dissonance can be quantified and then compared to the judgments of human subjects. The following is a description of several simple studies that can be carried out in the classroom of a physics of music or science of sound course.
Impact of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes Mellitus on Breakthrough Mucormycosis Outcomes in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies—Complex and Intriguing Associations

Mucormycosis (MCR) is frequently associated with diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemia, as well as hematologic malignancies (HMs) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, little is known about the effect of hyperglycemia on MCR outcomes in patients with HMs. We therefore conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients hospitalized with MCR and HM or HSCT (n = 103) at MD Anderson Cancer Center from April 2000 through to April 2020. Twenty-three patients (22%) had documented episodes of severe hyperglycemia. Sixty patients had >5 serum glucose measurements within 28 days prior to MCR symptom onset; of those, 14 (23%) met the criteria for persistent hyperglycemia. Sixteen patients (16%) received insulin prior to admission. The crude mortality 42 days from the onset of MCR symptoms in our cohort was 31%. Neither severe nor persistent hyperglycemia were associated with excess mortality. Insulin use prior to index admission was associated with decreased 42-day mortality on univariate analysis (p = 0.031). In conclusion, in a setting of high crude mortality, severe and/or persistent hyperglycemia do not appear to be associated with excess mortality in patients with HM or HSCT developing MCR. Insulin use prior to MCR diagnosis may be associated with decreased mortality, although further research is needed to validate this effect and to study its mechanistic underpinnings.
Multiple transition points for the contact process on the binary tree

The contact process on Z d is known to have only two fundamental types of behavior: survival and extinction. Recently Pemantle discovered that the phase structure for the contact process on a tree can be more complex. There are three possible types of behavior: strong survival, weak survival and extinction. He proved that all three occur on homogeneous trees in which each vertex has d + 1 neighbors, provided that d ≥ 3, but he left open the case d = 2. Since d = 1 corresponds to Z 1 , in which weak survival does not occur, d = 2 is the boundary case. In this paper, we complete this picture, by showing that weak survival does occur on the binary tree for appropriate parameter values. In doing so, we extend and develop techniques for obtaining upper and lower bounds for the critical values associated with strong and weak survival of the contact process on more general graphs.
An algebraic condition to determine whether a knot is prime

A quandle is the algebraic distillation of the second and third Reidemeister moves, on unframed links. Quandles have been studied by many people including Kauffman[K], Fenn and Rourke[F-R] and Joyce [J]. Joyce defines the fundamental quandle, which is a classifying invariant of irreducible, unframed links. Fenn and Rourke, who study generalised quandles or racks in [F—R], show that the natural map from the fundamental quandle of a knot K to the knot group is never injective if K is a connected sum. We now prove that the natural map from the fundamental quandle to the fundamental group of the complement of a link in S3 is injective if and only if the link is prime.