Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
$\alpha$ Centauri revisited: 2nd epoch ALMA observations

The observational study of stars in the sub-millimetre regime has only rather recently begun and was made possible mainly by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The emission mechanisms of this radiation from normal MS stars and its physical significance for the outer atmospheric layers is the topic of intense contemporary study. Our previous ALMA observations of the alpha Centauri binary system detected the submm emission originating in the chromospheres of these solar-type stars. Observations at another epoch are aiming at further characterising these atmospheric layers and their behaviour with time. The comparison of data from two epochs should present the basis for more advanced theoretical modelling. In Cycle 4, both stars were again detected in the same bands as in the earlier Cycle 2. These early data suggested a flattening of the SED towards longer wavelengths. Now, the SEDs exhibit a single spectral slope over the entire frequency range (90 to 675 GHz). The SEDs from Cycle 4 can be fit by power laws of the form S(f)~f^a with a=1.76+/-0.01 for alpha Cen A and a=1.71+/-0.02 for alpha Cen B. In addition, we were aiming at clarifying the status of the recently discovered U source and its relation to the alpha Cen system. Proper motion data of the U source should establish its relation to the alpha Cen system, and the submm SED of U should provide information about its physical nature. For the U source, the upper limits on its proper motion are much smaller than the pm of alpha Cen, which essentially excludes any physical relationship with the binary. For the the ALMA-SED of U applies a=2.55+/-0.14. If this emission from U is due to dust, its opacity exponent b=a-2 would be about 0.5, indicative of particle sizes that are larger than those of the interstellar medium, where b(ISM)~2), but comparable to those found in circumstellar discs.
A hardware system for real-time decoding of in vivo calcium imaging data

Epifluorescence miniature microscopes (‘miniscopes’) are widely used for in vivo calcium imaging of neural population activity. Imaging data are typically collected during a behavioral task and stored for later offline analysis, but emerging techniques for online imaging can support novel closed-loop experiments in which neural population activity is decoded in real time to trigger neurostimulation or sensory feedback. To achieve short feedback latencies, online imaging systems must be optimally designed to maximize computational speed and efficiency while minimizing errors in population decoding. Here we introduce DeCalciOn, an open-source device for real-time imaging and population decoding of in vivo calcium signals that is hardware compatible with all miniscopes that use the UCLA Data Acquisition (DAQ) interface. DeCalciOn performs online motion stabilization, neural enhancement, calcium trace extraction, and decoding of up to 1024 traces per frame at latencies of <50 ms after fluorescence photons arrive at the miniscope image sensor. We show that DeCalciOn can accurately decode the position of rats (n = 12) running on a linear track from calcium fluorescence in the hippocampal CA1 layer, and can categorically classify behaviors performed by rats (n = 2) during an instrumental task from calcium fluorescence in orbitofrontal cortex. DeCalciOn achieves high decoding accuracy at short latencies using innovations such as field-programmable gate array hardware for real-time image processing and contour-free methods to efficiently extract calcium traces from sensor images. In summary, our system offers an affordable plug-and-play solution for real-time calcium imaging experiments in behaving animals.
Using a Loneliness Measure to Screen for Risk of Mental Health Problems: A Replication in Two Nationally Representative Cohorts

Background: Loneliness co-occurs alongside many mental health problems and is associated with poorer treatment outcomes. It could therefore be a phenomenon of interest to clinicians as an indicator of generalised risk for psychopathology. The present study tested whether a short measure of loneliness can accurately classify individuals who are at increased risk of common mental health problems. Methods: Data were drawn from two nationally representative cohorts: the age-18 wave of the UK-based Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study and the age-38 wave of the New Zealand-based Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study. In both cohorts, loneliness was assessed using the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale, plus two stand-alone items about feeling alone and feeling lonely. Outcome measures consisted of diagnoses of depression and anxiety and self-reports of self-harm/suicide attempts, assessed via a structured interview. Results: ROC curve analysis showed that the Loneliness Scale had fair accuracy in classifying individuals meeting criteria for all three outcomes, with a cut-off score of 5 (on a scale from 3 to 9) having the strongest empirical support. Both of the stand-alone items showed modest sensitivity and specificity but were more limited in their flexibility. The findings were replicated across the two cohorts, indicating that they are applicable both to younger and older adults. In addition, the accuracy of the loneliness scale in detecting mental health problems was comparable to a measure of poor sleep quality, a phenomenon which is often included in screening tools for depression and anxiety. Conclusions: These findings indicate that a loneliness measure could have utility in mental health screening contexts, as well as in research.
Deep Skin Cancer Model based on Knowledge Distillation Technique for Skin Cancer Classification

Skin cancer is more treatable in the early stages since it spreads slowly to other parts of the body. Early detection is essential due to the rising number of cases of skin cancer, as well as the high fatality rate and high expense of medical treatment. Deep Learning algorithms have lately been used to improve the performance of a variety of biomedical image processing modalities. Their structures have been developed to solve classification challenges that are suffering from a lack of training data in skin cancer infections (actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, dermatofibroma, melanoma, nevus, pigmented benign keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma, and vascular lesions are skin infections). In this work, we propose a Deep Skin Cancer (DSC) model depending on the Knowledge Distillation technique and some optimization algorithms. The experimental results based on the used benchmark datasets from the International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC) show superior performance in skin cancer diagnosis. According to the reported results, it has been empirically achieved that a sensitivity value of 99.16% has been empirically achieved, a specificity value of 99.57% with the Adamax optimizer, and a lack of labeled input image data. Furthermore, the results assist in diagnosing some COVID-19 cases due to the similarity between the skin cancer infection and the black fungus found in some COVID-19 survivors, particularly those with co-morbid conditions similar to skin cancer infection.
Metformin versus glyburide in treatment and control of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review with meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Objective To compare the major outcomes of use of metformin and glyburide in treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods Studies published in English, in the last 10 years, in the databases MEDLINE®, SciELO, LILACS and Cochrane Library were analyzed, and randomized controlled trials were selected. Health Sciences Descriptors were used to compose the search phrase, and the keywords “Gestational diabetes”, “Glyburide”, “Metformin” and their variations were searched in the Medical Subject Headings. PRISMA systematization was used to prepare this review, and a meta-analysis was conducted aiming to mathematically show the results of fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, birth weight and weight gain during pregnancy after using metformin and glyburide. Results The studies evaluated birth weight, neonatal hypoglycemia, mode of delivery, need for intensive care, Apgar score, macrosomia, fasting glucose, postprandial glucose and weight gain during pregnancy. In 60% of studies, there were no statistically significant differences regarding safety and efficacy of administration of metformin and glyburide. Meta-analysis demonstrated the absence of statistical differences between these drugs in fasting blood glucose (p=0.821), postprandial blood glucose (p=0.217) and birth weight (p=0.194). However, significant differences were shown in weight gain during pregnancy (p=0.036). Conclusion The methods are effective, but the adverse effects of glyburide are more common; therefore, the use of metformin should be recommended, if in monotherapy.
Simulation of multiple blunt-body flows with a hybrid variational multiscale model

The present investigation is motivated by the simulation of high-Reynolds number massively separated flows, a challenging problem of prime interest in industry. The turbulence model is based on a hybridization strategy which blends a vari-ational multiscale large-eddy simulation (VMS-LES) equipped with dynamic subgrid scale (SGS) models and a two-equation RANS model. The dynamic procedure (Germano) allows the adaptation of the constant of the SGS model to the spatial and temporal variation of the flow characteristics, while the VMS formulation restricts the SGS model effects to the smallest resolved scales [1]. The hybridization strategy uses a blending parameter, such that a VMS-LES simulation is applied in region where the grid resolution is fine enough to resolve a significant part of the turbulence fluctuations, while a RANS model is acting in the regions of coarse grid resolution [2]. The capability of the proposed hybrid model to accurately predict the aerodynamic forces acting on a circular cylinder in the supercritical regime and on tandem cylinders are investigated.
Development of Starter Culture for the Improvement in the Quality of Ogiri, a Food Condiment

The objective of the present study was to isolate Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) from ogiri, a Nigerian fermented vegetable product, with the primary focus of selecting suitable isolates as candidates for starter cultures for use in possible improvements in the quality of the product. LAB was isolated from ogiri using phenotypic methods and then subjected to technological tests to evaluate suitability as starter cultures. Based on their considerable technological properties, two isolates of LAB were selected as candidates for starter cultures. The starter cultures were inoculated at 103 CFU/g during the production of ogiri, while un-inoculated samples served as a control. The ogiri samples were stored over nine days, within which samples were taken for microbial and proximate analyses. Four LAB isolates were isolated and identified phenotypically from ogiri procured from a commercial market, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Enterococcus sp. and Lactobacillus plantarum. The species of Lactobacillus displayed the usual cell shapes of rods when examined under the microscope, which is typical of most members of the genus. The cells of the Enterococcus sp. were, however, cocci in shape, and this is also typical of members of the genus. The basis of the identification of the LAB isolates was their ability to utilize a wide range of carbon sources in their physiological and biochemical activities. Among the LAB isolates, L. acidophilus, L. fermentum produced less than 0.35 and 0.024 mg/l of acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide respectively, and were therefore chosen as starter cultures for production of ogiri. Inoculated ogiri samples showed reduced counts of coliforms, yeast, and moulds in comparison with their un-inoculated counterparts during storage. Coliform counts increased beyond 105 CFU/g in the un-inoculated control samples, whereas counts were lower in samples inoculated with L. acidophilus and L. fermentum. Yeast and mould count of 8.1 106 CFU/g was recorded as the highest value in the un-inoculated control samples, but count was generally below 106 CFU/g in the starter culture inoculated samples. Inoculation with LAB did not have significant difference (p > 0.05) in the proximate compositions of the fermented product. The LAB cultures L. acidophilus and L. fermentum demonstrated considerable control of coliforms and fungi in ogiri. Storage of the fermented product should not exceed 5 days for safety concerns, as increase in counts of coliforms was recorded beyond this period. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was recorded in the proximate compositions of starter culture inoculated ogiri and un-inoculated samples. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2022-03-01-04 Full Text: PDF
The Role of Glucocorticoids in the Treatment of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C)—Data from POLISH MIS-C Registry

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) is a condition related to COVID-19. It’s most significant feature is cardiac involvement. Methods: We have analyzed data from 42 hospitals in the Polish MIS-C Registry. To compare the effect of GCS on fever, we formed two groups: the first treated with IVIG and the second treated with IVIG+GCS. Results: There were 111 boys and 56 girls; the mean age was 8.57 years. All the patients were treated with IVIG: 76 patients with IVIG only, and 91 patients with IVIG+GCS. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding age, gender, BMI, or inflammatory markers. Methylprednisolone was the most common drug (80%). Echocardiographic abnormalities on admission were more prevalent in the IVIG+GCS group. Mean time from IVIG infusion to subsidence of fever was 1.1 days, and 1.5 for those in the IVIG+GCS group. Conclusions: GCS are commonly used in the treatment of MIS-C patients in Poland. Various GCS regimens are used, from a single dose to a month-long therapy. Children with lower lymphocyte levels and cardiac abnormalities on an echocardiographic examination performed on admission were more likely to receive GCS+IVIG. The effect of GCS is difficult to access as patients were not randomly assigned to receive the treatment.
The role of religion in female labor supply: evidence from two Muslim denominations

This paper investigates the association between religion and female labor market outcomes using new micro-level data on two distinct Muslim denominations in Turkey: Sunni and Alevi Muslims. We find a positive and significant association between being an Alevi Muslim and female labor force participation and employment, whereas there are no significant differences in male labor market outcomes between the two denominations. We provide evidence that Alevi Muslims have more gender-equal views regarding the role of women in the labor market and consider themselves as more modern. Both Sunnis and Alevis consider themselves as believers in religion (Islam). However, Sunnis are more likely to abide by the rules of religion. We argue that differences in views on gender roles and self-identity regarding modernity between the two denominations drive the results on female labor market outcomes.
Moving Object Detection over Wireless Visual Sensor Networks using Spectral Dual Mode Background Subtraction

Wireless Visual Sensor Networks (WVSN) play an essential role in tracking moving objects. WVSN's key drawbacks are storage, power, and bandwidth. Background subtraction is used in the early stages of target tracking to extract moving targets from video images. Many standard methods of subtracting backgrounds are no longer suitable for embedded devices because they use complex statistical models to manage small changes in lighting. This paper introduces a system based on the Partial Discrete Cosine Transform (PDCT), reducing the vast dimensions of processed data while retaining most of the important information, thereby reducing processing and transmission energy. It also uses a dual-mode single Gaussian model (SGM) for accurate detection of moving objects. The proposed system's performance is to be assessed using the standard CDnet 2014 benchmark dataset in terms of detection accuracy and time complexity. Furthermore, the suggested method is compared to previous WVSN background subtraction methods. Simulation results show that the proposed method consistently has 15% better accuracy and is up to 3 times faster than the state-of-the-art object detection methods for WVSN. Finally, we showed the practicality of the suggested method by simulating it in a sensor network environment using the Contiki OS Cooja Simulator and implementing it in a real testbed using Cortex M3 open nodes of IOT-LAB. Keywords—Background subtraction; discrete cosine transform; embedded camera networks; Gaussian mixture models; wireless visual sensor networks
Investigation on a Flow Coupling Rudder for Directional Control of a Low-Aspect Tailless Configuration with Diamond-Shaped Wing

To solve the issues of directional control and aerodynamic moment coupling for a low-aspect tailless configuration with a diamond-shaped wing, we herein propose the concept of a flow coupling rudder (FCR). The FCR was composed of two basic control surfaces: a spoiler slot deflector (SSD) on the upper surface of the wing and the corresponding elevon. With the constraints of the fixed area and spanwise position of the SSD, the effects of the leading-edge sweep angle, chord position of the SSD, and collocating deflection angles of the SSD and elevon on the control characteristics of the configuration were analyzed using a numerical method. Based on the analysis, the selection principle of the key parameters for designing the FCR for the configuration was proposed. This proves that the leading edge of the selected SSD should be swept back instead of being parallel to the trailing edge of the wing to design an FCR with favorable aerodynamic performance for such a configuration. By accurately adjusting the parameters of the SSD and elevon, the FCR on the one-side wing could supply an effective yawing moment while simultaneously weakening or even eliminating the coupling pitching and rolling moments of traditional drag-type control surfaces. In this study, we provide a method for the directional control surface design of a low-aspect tailless configuration with a diamond-shaped wing.
Strategic Planning Model for Private Hospitals with Delphi Method: a Study in Khatam Alanbia Hospital

Introduction: Nowadays, in the changeable environment, the organizations try to achieve the long-term purposes by the strategic planning process. This process usually is begun with an analysis of internal and external environmental factors and will be terminated with a well-organized implementation and assessment. Since, all the missions, purposes, opportunities, threats, strengths, and weakness of each organization are different with others, the components in the planning of the process and strategy should be determined individually for each organization. The present study was aimed to design and develop a strategic planning model for Khatam Alanbia Hospital. Materials and Methods: To achieve the mentioned objectives, Delphi technique, a qualitative method, has been selected to perform the investigation. Delphi’s group is consisted of 20 experts in the field of strategic planning, managers, and supervisors of Tehran’s private hospitals. Results: The final model of strategic planning for Khatam Alanbia Hospital with 12 components was designed after 4 Delphi rounds. The most remarkable points of the new model are adding two components of balanced scorecard and designing the strategic map in order to link between strategy development and implementation. Conclusion: This model facilitates and accelerates the achievement of the objectives of a strategic plan in private hospitals.
Studies on Characterization and Optimization Parameters of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesis

Introduction: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are metal oxide nanomaterials and are widely used in a variety of sectors due to their peculiar physicochemical properties. In the present work, the zinc oxide nanopowder was first chemically synthesized and then detailed characterization is done by various analytical techniques, such as UV-Vis spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). Aim: Studies on Characterization and Optimization Parameters of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesis Methods: In the current study, nanoparticles of zinc oxide were synthesized by a wet chemical process with the help of precursors zinc nitrate and sodium hydroxide the properties of starch were used as a stabilizing material. The powder form of zinc oxide nanoparticles that appeared white in color was purified through the centrifugation process and was stored in Eppendorf tube at 40C for further work. Results: Synthesis conditions of zinc oxide nanoparticles were optimized using different parameters are metal ion concentrations (0.1M to 0.8M), contact time variations (0.5hr to 4hr), the effect of pH (4 to 9), and effect of temperatures (55 to 850C). The resultant ZnO NPs powder was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy and FTIR analysis. Conclusion: This research work was showed the best results of ZnO NPs synthesis and further part will continue on antimicrobial activity.
Mimicking Multiorbital Systems with SU(N) Atoms: Hund’s Physics and Beyond

The physics of many interesting correlated materials can be captured by multiorbital Hubbard models, where conduction electrons feature an additional orbital degree of freedom. The multiorbital characteristic is not a mere complication, but it leads to an immensely richer landscape of physical regimes. One of the key features is the interplay between Hubbard repulsion and Hund’s exchange coupling, which has been shown to lead to orbital-selective correlations and to the existence of correlation-resilient metals (usually called Hund’s metals) defying Mott localization. Here, we show that experimentally available platforms of SU(N)-symmetric ultracold atoms can indeed mimic the rich physics disclosed by multiorbital materials, by exploiting the internal degrees of freedom of multicomponent atoms. We discuss in detail the SU(N) version of interaction-resilient Hund’s metal and some other interesting regimes.
TID and Displacement Damage Resilience of 1T1R

RRAM memory cells demonstrate resilience to ion- izing dose and displacement damage, despite the presence of a non- hardened access transistor. Degradation in RRAM performance was not observed until large displacement damage doses and com- plete functionality was regained by cycling. A significant reduction in both the high and low resistance memory states and a complete collapse of the resistive window was observed for large proton flu- ences in RRAMs tested. Degradation in resistance states is asso- ciated with the generation of additional vacancies, which leads to (an)additionalfilament(s)inparalleltotheexistingconductivefila- ment.Additionalvacanciesfromdisplacementdamagein theoxide of the resistive element do not permanently degrade device oper- ation. The low resistance state is recovered to the pre-irradiation resistance through cycling at nominal high-speed switching condi- tions. Recovery of the resistive window to pre-irradiation values is obtained by applying longer write pulses which migrate remnants of radiation-induced filaments.