Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Far-Advanced Otosclerosis: Stapedotomy Plus Hearing Aids to Maximize the Recovery of Auditory Function—A Retrospective Case Series

Far-advanced otosclerosis (FAO) refers to severe otosclerosis with scarce auditory functions. The identification of the best method to correctly listen to sound and speech has a large impact on patients’ quality of life. We retrospectively analyzed the auditory function of 15 patients affected by FAO who were treated with stapedectomy plus hearing aids independent of the severity of their auditory deficit before surgery. The combination of surgery and hearing aids allowed excellent recovery of the perception of pure tone sounds and speech. Four patients, because of poor auditory thresholds, needed a cochlear implant after stapedectomy. Despite being based on a small sample of patients, our results suggest that stapedotomy plus hearing aids could improve the auditory capacities of patients with FAO independent of their auditory thresholds at T0. The careful selection of patients is fundamental to obtain the best outcomes.
Small-scale transition in a plane mixing layer

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the’ generation process of random small-scale turbulence in an originally laminar mixing layer. The evolutions of the two types of deterministic structures, the spanwise and streamwise vortices, were first clarified in order to determine their roles in the transition process. A scaling rule for the streamwise distance from the trailing edge of the splitter plate to the vortex merging position was found for various velocity ratios. After this streamwise lengthscale was determined, it became clear that the spanwise wavelength of the streamwise vortices doubled after the merging of the spanwise structures which nominally doubled streamwise wavelengths. The most interesting finding was that the random small-scale eddies were produced by the interactions between the merging spanwise structures and the streamwise vortices.
Tests for a change-point

SUMMARY The problem considered is that of testing a sequence of independent normal random variables with constant, known or unknown, variance for no change in mean versus alternatives with a single change-point. Various tests, such as those based on the likelihood ratio and recursive residuals, are studied. Power approximations are developed by integrating approximations for conditional boundary crossing probabilities. A comparison of several tests is made.
Evaluation of Two Methods for Estimating Item Response Theory Parameters When Assessing Differential Item Functioning

Recent legal developments appear to sanction the use of psychometrically unsound procedures for examining differential item functioning (DIF) on standardized tests. More appropriate approaches involve the use of item response theory (IRT). However, many IRT-based DIF studies have used Lord's (1968) joint maximum likelihood procedure, which can lead to incorrect and misleading results. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of two other methods of parameter estimation: marginal maximum likelihood estimation and Bayes modal estimation. Sample size and data dimensionality were manipulated in the simulation
Aluminum Nitride Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer Arrays for Non-Invasive Monitoring of Radial Artery Stiffness

An aluminum nitride (AlN) piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (PMUT) array was proposed and fabricated for non-invasive radial artery stiffness monitoring, which could be employed in human vascular health monitoring applications. Using surface micromachining techniques, four hexagonal PMUT arrays were fabricated within a chip area of 3 × 3 mm2. The mechanical displacement sensitivity and quality factor of a single PMUT were tested and found to be 24.47 nm/V at 5.94 MHz and 278 (in air), respectively. Underwater pulse-echo tests for the array demonstrated a −3 dB bandwidth of 0.76 MHz at 3.75 MHz and distance detection limit of approximately 25 mm. Using the PMUT array as an ultrasonic probe, the depth and diameter changes over cardiac cycles of the radial artery were measured to be approximately 3.8 mm and 0.23 mm, respectively. Combined with blood pressure calibration, the biomechanical parameters of the radial artery vessel were extracted using a one-dimensional vascular model. The cross-sectional distensibility, compliance, and stiffness index were determined to be 4.03 × 10−3/mmHg, 1.87 × 10−2 mm2/mmHg, and 5.25, respectively, consistent with the newest medical research. The continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure was also estimated using this model. This work demonstrated the potential of miniaturized PMUT devices for human vascular medical ultrasound applications.
Block-matching 3D transform based multi-focus image fusion

Block matching 3-D transform (BM3D) is an excellent image denoising algorithm, the success of this algorithm is that it makes full use of the image self-similarity. Profiting from the superior performance of the BM3D, this paper propose a multi-focus image fusion algorithm. A pair of the original images are both implemented BM3D respectively, averaging their low frequency coefficients can get the low frequency coefficient of the result image, the bigger high frequency coefficient in these two transforms is chosen as the high frequency coefficient of the result image; Implementing inverse 3-D transformation can obtain the fused image. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is better than the existing multi-focus image fusion algorithms on both the subjective visual and the objective evaluation.
Pengaruh Kepemimpinan, Pelatihan Dan Motivasi Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) Badan Keuangan Kabupaten Lima Puluh Kota

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis Pengaruh Kepemimpinan, Pelatihan Kerja dan Motivasi Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) Badan Keuangan Kabupaten Lima Puluh Kota. Jenis Penelitian yang penulis gunakan adalah kuantitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Jumlah populasi 65 orang dan sekaligus menjadi sampel dalam penelitian ini dengan menggunakan metode sampel jenuh artinya seluruh populasi jadi sampel. Data dikumpulkan melalui penyebaran kuesioner dengan model skala likert kemudian diuji ke validan dan kehandalan dari kuesioner tersebut. Teknik analisa data yang digunakan adalah metode Regresi Linear Berganda dengan menggunakan program SPSS 23.00. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah a). Kepemimpinan (X1), Pelatihan Kerja (X2) dan Motivasi Kerja (X3) memiliki pengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) Badan Keuangan Kabupaten Lima Puluh Kota baik secara parsial maupun secara simultan.
Polarization-dependent confocal Raman microscopy of an individual ZnO nanorod

In this study, polarized-Raman scattering measurements of an individual ZnO nanorod were carried out by using a confocal microscope together with a high-resolution piezoelectric stage. A predominant A1 (TO) mode at 378cm−1 in the parallel polarization (E∥) configuration and a predominant E2 (high) mode at 438cm−1 in the perpendicular polarization (E⊥) configuration demonstrate the strong polarization dependent Raman scattering signals of an individual ZnO nanorod. The Raman intensity images of the individual ZnO nanorods with different orientation configurations can also be obtained, which reflect the interplay between the local phonon behavior and geometric anisotropy.
Monitoring Moroccan Honeys: Physicochemical Properties and Contamination Pattern

The physicochemical traits and an array of organic and inorganic contaminants were monitored in monofloral honeys (i.e., jujube [Ziziphus lotus], sweet orange [Citrus sinensis], PGI Euphorbia [Euphorbia resinifera] and Globularia alyphum) from the Moroccan Béni Mellal-Khénifra region (i.e., Khénifra, Beni Méllal, Azlal and Fquih Ben Salah provinces). Moroccan honeys were in line with the physicochemical standards set by the European Union. However, a critical contamination pattern has been outlined. In fact, jujube, sweet orange, and PGI Euphorbia honeys contained pesticides, such as acephate, dimethoate, diazinon, alachlor, carbofuran and fenthion sulfoxide, higher than the relative EU Maximum Residue Levels. The banned 2,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) and 2,2′,3,4,4′,5,5′-heptachlorobiphenyl (PCB180) were detected in all samples and quantified in jujube, sweet orange and PGI Euphorbia honeys; while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as chrysene and fluorene, stood out for their higher contents in jujube and sweet orange honeys. Considering plasticizers, all honeys showed an excessive amount of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), when (improperly) considering the relative EU Specific Migration Limit. Furthermore, sweet orange, PGI Euphorbia and G. alypum honeys were characterized by Pb exceeding the EU Maximum Level. Overall, data from this study may encourage Moroccan governmental bodies to strengthen their monitoring activity in beekeeping and to find suitable solutions for implementing more sustainable agricultural practices.
Prehomogeneous vector spaces and varieties

An affine algebraic group G over an algebraically closed field k of characteristic 0 is said to act prehomogeneously on an affine variety W over k if G has a (unique) open orbit o(G) in W. When W is the variety of points of a vector space V, G C GL( V) and G acts prehomogeneously and irreducibly on V (We say an irreducibly prehomogeneous pair (G, V). ), the following conditions are shown to be equivalent: 1. the existence of a nonconstant semiinvariant P in k[V] S(V*), 2. (G' V) is not a prehomogeneous pair (G' is the commntator subgroup of G, a semisimple closed subgroup of G.), 3. if X E o(G), then GX C G'. (GX is the connected identity component of GX, the stabilizer of X in G.) Further, if such a P exists, the criterion, due to Mikio Sato, "o(G) is the principal open affine U if and only if GX is reductive" is stated. Under the hypothesis G reductive, the condition "there exists a Borel subgroup B C G acting prehomogeneously on W" is shown to be sufficient for G\W, the set of G-orbits in the affine variety W to be finite. These criteria are then applied to a class of irreducible prehomogeneous pairs (G, V) for which G is simple and three further conjectures, one due to Mikio Sato, are stated. Introduction. We shall investigate pairs (G, V) where V is a finite dimensional vector space over an algebraically closed field k of characteristic zero and where G C GL(V) is a linear algebraic group with a dense orbit in V. The principal results generalize the phenomena which can be witnessed in the following classical example. Let P be a nondegenerate quadratic form on V. Denote by O(P) the corresponding orthogonal group and let G = GO(P) be the group (k*Idv) O(P), the full group of similitudes for the form. The orbits of G in V can easily be determined with the aid of Witt's Theorem. One finds that G has the following three orbits: (1) Up X IP(X) O} = the set of nonisotropic vectors for P, (2) z(P) 10} = IX |P(X) = 0, X ; 0}, the set of nonzero isotropic vectors, and (3) 101. Received by the editors September 13, 1971. AMS (MOS) subject classifications (1970). Primary 20G05; Secondary 57E25.
Characterization of a pulsed electron beam with a planar charge collector

Pulsed electron beams produced by a photocathode source in the 1–10 keV energy range have been experimentally characterized by means of an electrostatic diagnostic system. A Malmberg–Penning trap in an open configuration, equipped with a planar charge collector has been used for the experiments. The relevant physical properties of the beams and their dependence on the injection conditions have been inferred through the numerical analysis of the electric signal measured across the overall load impedance of the charge collector. The indirect measurement technique presented here gives a general method to overcome the resolution limits of capacitive charge collectors.
High-order stimulated Raman scattering in CVD single crystal diamond

We report on the first observation of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in single crystal diamond synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). An efficiency of 45% of energy conversion from the pumping Nd3+:Y3Al5O12 laser radiation to all Stokes and anti-Stokes components is achieved. This makes single crystal CVD diamond an attractive χ(3) nonlinear crystalline material as a Raman laser converter.
Characteristics analysis of the one-dimensional pulsating dynamics of chain-branching detonations

The nonlinear pulsating mechanism of one-dimensional detonations was studied numerically using a simple two-step chain-branching model with separate induction and reaction zones. Numerical simulations were performed for a wide range of parameters, which revealed four distinct pulsating regimes classified according to the mechanism controlling the frequency of the pulsations. The dynamics of these regimes were clarified by reconstructing the characteristics, representing the trajectory of pressure waves and particle paths. The high and low frequency regimes of oscillation previously observed in one-step and realistic chemistry simulations were clarified. Under some parameter range, simultaneous low and high frequency pulsations were observed. A novel regime was also found with a pulsation period smaller than the induction time. It involves coupling between the acoustic and the reactivity disturbances propagating, respectively, along the C− and C0 characteristics. These are generated at successive lead shoc.
Adaptation and Validation of the Lithuanian Version of the Sport-Specific Doping Self-Regulatory Efficacy Scale

Background: Use of banned performance enhancing substances in sport is one of the most widely recognized anti-doping rules violation. Research evidence suggests that self-regulatory efficiency is one of the key psychosocial processes related with doping. Therefore, aiming to generate more insights on the self-regulatory efficacy, sport-specific doping self-regulatory efficacy scale was proposed. The aim of the present study was to adapt and validate the Lithuanian version of the sport-specific doping self-regulatory efficacy scale. Material and Methods: The scale construct validity and reliability was tested using a sample of 453 athletes (mean age 20.37, SD = 2.29; 46% male). Structural validity was assessed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, convergent and discriminant validity of the scale were evaluated by assessing average variance extracted and also via correlational analyses. Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability values were used for reliability analysis. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the one factor structure of the sport-specific doping self-regulatory efficacy scale. The results also indicated that the scale had sufficient convergent and discriminant validity. The results showed an excellent level of internal consistency. Conclusions: This study makes a contribution by confirming the validity and reliability of the Lithuanian version of the sport-specific doping self-regulatory efficacy scale.
Risk factors for hospital mortality in intensive care unit survivors: a retrospective cohort study

Background Deaths can occur after a patient has survived treatment for a serious illness in an intensive care unit (ICU). Mortality rates after leaving the ICU can be considered indicators of health care quality. This study aims to describe risk factors and mortality of surviving patients discharged from an ICU in a university hospital. Methods Retrospective cohort study carried out from January 2017 to December 2018. Data on age, sex, length of hospital stay, diagnosis on admission to the ICU, hospital discharge outcome, presence of infection, and Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) III prognostic score were collected. Infected patients were considered as those being treated for an infection on discharge from the ICU. Patients were divided into survivors and non-survivors on leaving the hospital. The association between the studied variables was performed using the logistic regression model. Results A total of 1,025 patients who survived hospitalization in the ICU were analyzed, of which 212 (20.7%) died after leaving the ICU. When separating the groups of survivors and non-survivors according to hospital outcome, the median age was higher among non-survivors. Longer hospital stays and higher SAPS III values were observed among non-survivors. In the logistic regression, the variables age, length of hospital stay, SAPS III, presence of infection, and readmission to the ICU were associated with hospital mortality. Conclusions Infection on ICU discharge, ICU readmission, age, length of hospital stay, and SAPS III score increased risk of death in ICU survivors.
Cardioprotective Effects of a Selective c-Jun N-terminal Kinase Inhibitor in a Rat Model of Myocardial Infarction

Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) is involved in myocardial injury, left ventricular remodeling (LV), and heart failure (HF) after myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of a selective JNK inhibitor, 11H-indeno [1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one oxime (IQ-1), on myocardial injury and acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in adult male Wistar rats. Intraperitoneal administration of IQ-1 (25 mg/kg daily for 5 days) resulted in a significant decrease in myocardial infarct size on day 5 after MI. On day 60 after MI, a significant (2.6-fold) decrease in LV scar size, a 2.2-fold decrease in the size of the LV cavity, a 2.9-fold decrease in the area of mature connective tissue, and a 1.7-fold decrease in connective tissue in the interventricular septum were observed compared with the control group. The improved contractile function of the heart resulted in a significant (33%) increase in stroke size, a 40% increase in cardiac output, a 12% increase in LV systolic pressure, a 28% increase in the LV maximum rate of pressure rise, a 45% increase in the LV maximum rate of pressure drop, a 29% increase in the contractility index, a 14% increase in aortic pressure, a 2.7-fold decrease in LV end-diastolic pressure, and a 4.2-fold decrease in LV minimum pressure. We conclude that IQ-1 has cardioprotective activity and reduces the severity of HF after MI.
Pulsating pipe flow with large-amplitude oscillations in the very high frequency regime. Part 2. Phase-averaged analysis

Abstract This paper is the follow-up of a previous study (Manna, Vacca & Verzicco, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 700, 2012, pp. 246–282) that numerically investigated the effects of a harmonic volume forcing on the turbulent pipe flow at a bulk Reynolds number of $\simeq 5900$ . There, the investigation was focused on the time- and space-averaged statistics of the first- and second-order moments of the velocity, the vorticity fluctuations and the Reynolds stress budgets in order to study the changes induced on the mean current by the oscillating component. The amplitude of the latter was used as a parameter for the analysis. However, as the flow is inherently unsteady, the phase-averaged statistics are also of interest, and this is the motivation and subject of the present study. Here, we show the variability of the above quantities during different phases of the flow cycle and how they are affected by the amplitude of the oscillation. It is observed that when the ratio of the oscillating to the time-constant velocity component is of the order of one ( ${\it\beta}\simeq O(1)$ ), the phase-averaged profiles are appreciably influenced by the pulsation, although only small deviations of the time-averaged counterparts have been documented. In contrast, when that ratio is increased by one order of magnitude ( ${\it\beta}\simeq O(10)$ ) the phase- and cycle-averaged quantities differ considerably, especially during the decelerating part of the cycle. In more detail, the amplitude and the phase of all turbulence statistics show significant variations with ${\it\beta}$ . This variability has important implications in the dynamics and modelling of these flows. Since the data have been obtained by direct numerical simulations and validated by comparisons with experimental studies, the results could be used for validation of codes, testing of turbulence models or measurement procedures.
Low-frequency detection of two-dimensional buried objects using high-order extended Born approximations

Linear inverse scattering method based on the Born approximation has found wide applications in the on-site detection of buried objects, such as in diffraction tomography. However, the Born approximation becomes invalid when the contrast of targets is high, in which the multiple-scattering effect within the target is more important. To avoid solving the nonlinear inverse scattering problem for large-contrast objects, quasi-linear and modified quasi-linear approximations are proposed based on the extended Born approximation. In this paper, new formulations are derived for the inversion of large-contrast dielectric objects buried in a lossy earth using the idea of backconditioner and lumped-mass approximation. We have shown that the zeroth-order form of such formulations is just the well-known Born approximation, and the first-order form is completely equivalent to the extended Born approximation-based quasi-linear approximation. Hence, high-order approximations are proposed in this paper, which are given in closed forms. Using such approximations, good resolution images can be obtained for large-contrast objects by only solving a linear inverse scattering integral equation. Reconstruction examples show the validity and efficiency of the proposed formulae.
The world wide web of carbon: Toward a relational footprinting of information and communications technology's climate impacts

The climate impacts of the information and communications technology sector—and Big Data especially—is a topic of growing public and industry concern, though attempts to quantify its carbon footprint have produced contradictory results. Some studies argue that information and communications technology's global carbon footprint is set to rise dramatically in the coming years, requiring urgent regulation and sectoral degrowth. Others argue that information and communications technology's growth is largely decoupled from its carbon emissions, and so provides valuable climate solutions and a model for other industries. This article assesses these debates, arguing that, due to data frictions and incommensurate study designs, the question is likely to remain irresolvable at the global scale. We present six methodological factors that drive this impasse: fraught access to industry data, bottom-up vs. top-down assessments, system boundaries, geographic averaging, functional units, and energy efficiencies. In response, we propose an alternative approach that reframes the question in spatial and situated terms: A relational footprinting that demarcates particular relationships between elements—geographic, technical, and social—within broader information and communications technology infrastructures. Illustrating this model with one of the global Internet's most overlooked components—subsea telecommunication cables—we propose that information and communications technology futures would be best charted not only in terms of quantified total energy use, but in specifying the geographical and technical parts of the network that are the least carbon-intensive, and which can therefore provide opportunities for both carbon reductions and a renewed infrastructural politics. In parallel to the politics of (de)growth, we must also consider different network forms.