Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vortex interaction between two tandem flexible propulsors with a paddling-based locomotion

Schooling behaviours among self-propelled animals can benefit propulsion. Inspired by the schooling behaviours of swimming jellyfish, flexible bodies that self-propel through a paddling-based motion were modelled in a tandem configuration. This present study explored the hydrodynamic patterns generated by the interactions between two flexible bodies and the surrounding fluid in the framework of the penalty immersed boundary method. The hydrodynamic patterns produced in the wake revealed flow-mediated interactions between two tandem propulsors, including vortex–vortex and vortex–body interactions. Two tandem flexible propulsors paddling with identical amplitude and frequency produced stable configurations as a result of the flow-mediated interactions. Both the upstream and downstream propulsors benefited from the tandem configuration in terms of the locomotion velocity and the cost, compared with an isolated propulsion system. The interactions were examined as a function of the initial gap distance and the phase difference in the paddling frequency. The equilibrium gap distance between two propulsors remained constant, regardless of the initial gap distance, although it did depend on the phase difference in the paddling frequency.
Some contributions to stochastic control and backward stochastic differential equations in finance.

In my Phd thesis, I give some stochastic control approaches to some financial problems. In the first chapter, we consider a mixed investment-sell problem. This problem consist in studying the behavior of an agent who possesses one unit of an indivisible asset to be sold, and continuously trades on some given risky assets. In the second chapter, we study first order and second order BSDEs with convex constraints. In each case, we prove the existence of a minimal solution together with a stochastic representation formula for this problem. In the last chapter, we study a stochastic volatility model where the instantaneous volatility depends on the forward volatility curve. We give an asymptotic expansion for an option price for small variations of the volatility.
The Problem of Measure Sensitivity Redux

Fitelson demonstrates that the validity of various central arguments within Bayesian confirmation theory depends on which confirmation measure is adopted. This article adds to the results set out by Fitelson, expanding on them in two principal respects. First, it considers more confirmation measures. Second, it shows that there are important arguments within Bayesian confirmation theory and that there is no confirmation measure that renders them all valid. Finally, the article reviews the ramifications that this “strengthened problem of measure sensitivity” has for Bayesian confirmation theory and discusses whether it points at pluralism about notions of confirmation.
Using qualitative study designs to understand treatment burden and capacity for self-care among patients with HIV/NCD multimorbidity in South Africa: A methods paper

Background Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including South Africa, are currently experiencing multiple epidemics: HIV and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), leading to different patterns of multimorbidity (the occurrence of two or more chronic conditions) than experienced in high income settings. These adversely affect health outcomes, increase patients’ perceived burden of treatment, and impact the workload of self-management. This paper outlines the methods used in a qualitative study exploring burden of treatment among people living with HIV/NCD multimorbidity in South Africa. Methods We undertook a comparative qualitative study to examine the interaction between individuals’ treatment burden (self-management workload) and their capacity to take on this workload, using the dual lenses of Burden of Treatment Theory (BoTT) and Cumulative Complexity Model (CuCoM) to aid conceptualisation of the data. We interviewed 30 people with multimorbidity and 16 carers in rural Eastern Cape and urban Cape Town between February-April 2021. Data was analysed through framework analysis. Findings This paper discusses the methodological procedures considered when conducting qualitative research among people with multimorbidity in low-income settings in South Africa. We highlight the decisions made when developing the research design, recruiting participants, and selecting field-sites. We also explore data analysis processes and reflect on the positionality of the research project and researchers. Conclusion This paper illustrates the decision-making processes conducting this qualitative research and may be helpful in informing future research aiming to qualitatively investigate treatment burden among patients in LMICs.
Strong Prediction: Language model surprisal explains multiple N400 effects

Theoretical accounts of the N400 are divided as to whether the amplitude of the N400 response to a stimulus reflects the extent to which the stimulus was predicted, the extent to which the stimulus is semantically similar to its preceding context, or both. We use state-of-the-art machine learning tools to investigate which of these three accounts is best supported by the evidence. GPT-3, a neural language model (LM) trained to compute the conditional probability of any word based on the words that precede it, was used to operationalize contextual predictability. In particular, we used an information theoretical construct known as surprisal (the negative logarithm of the conditional probability). Contextual semantic similarity was operationalized by using two high-quality co-occurrence-derived vector-based meaning representations for words: GloVe and fastText. The cosine between the vector representation of the sentence frame and final word was used to derive Contextual Cosine Similarity (CCS) estimates. A series of regression models were constructed, where these variables, along with cloze probability and plausibility ratings, were used to predict single trial N400 amplitudes recorded from healthy adults as they read sentences whose final word varied in its predictability, plausibility, and semantic relationship to the likeliest sentence completion. Statistical model comparison indicated GPT-3 surprisal provided the best account of N400 amplitude and suggested that apparently disparate N400 effects of expectancy, plausibility and contextual semantic similarity can be reduced to variations in the predictability of words. The results are argued to support predictive coding in the human language network.
Comparison of performance of object-based image analysis techniques available in open source software (Spring and Orfeo Toolbox/Monteverdi) considering very high spatial resolution data

Abstract. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for remote sensing applications is becoming more frequent. However, this type of information can result in several software problems related to the huge amount of data available. Object-based image analysis (OBIA) has proven to be superior to pixel-based analysis for very high-resolution images. The main objective of this work was to explore the potentialities of the OBIA methods available in two different open source software applications, Spring and OTB/Monteverdi, in order to generate an urban land cover map. An orthomosaic derived from UAVs was considered, 10 different regions of interest were selected, and two different approaches were followed. The first one (Spring) uses the region growing segmentation algorithm followed by the Bhattacharya classifier. The second approach (OTB/Monteverdi) uses the mean shift segmentation algorithm followed by the support vector machine (SVM) classifier. Two strategies were followed: four classes were considered using Spring and thereafter seven classes were considered for OTB/Monteverdi. The SVM classifier produces slightly better results and presents a shorter processing time. However, the poor spectral resolution of the data (only RGB bands) is an important factor that limits the performance of the classifiers applied.
Systems Approach in Telemedicine Adoption During and After COVID-19: Roles, Factors, and Challenges

Telemedicine applications have received increasing attention with significant effects on the traditional mechanism of health care services, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article investigates the values and barriers influencing the adoption and acceptance of telemedicine services during COVID-19 by a systems approach combined with a quantitative analysis. We developed a casual loop diagram showing the interactions between the factors, including technology, policymaking, patient, and care provider in the context of COVID-19. The feedback loops were thematically synthesized from the literature to demonstrate the attitude of adopting telemedicine services while considering the connections and causality of different factors. To further quantify how COVID-19 impacted the adoption of telemedicine, a National Electronic Health Record Survey 021 was utilized to test the usage, barrier, and trend of telemedicine. The results indicate that factors including ease of use, utilization, available tools, facilitating conditions, technology access, and quality of care influence the adoption and acceptance of telemedicine. The results also suggest that the challenges and opportunities associated with telemedicine adoption and use should be explored holistically from multiple perspectives and shed light on various stakeholders at different levels.
Modal collapse in Gödel's ontological proof

After introductory reminder of and comments on G¨odel’s ontological proof, we discuss the collapse of modalities, which is provable in G¨odel’s ontological system GO. We argue that G¨odel’s texts confirm modal collapse as intended consequence of his ontological system. Further, we aim to show that modal collapse properly fits into G¨odel’s philosophical views, especially into his ontology of separation and union of force and fact, as well as into his cosmological theory of the nonobjectivity of the lapse of time. As a result, modal collapse should not be conceived in G¨odel so much as a deficit, but rather as a kind of the rise of modalities to the “perfect” being. We further show that, in accordance with G¨odel’s ontology, the concepts of modality and time should be derived in terms of the “fundamental philosophical concept” of cause. To give an example of how a formalization of such causative G¨odelian ontology and ontological proof might look, we propose the transformation of GO into a kind of causally re-interpreted justification logic
Diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy computed tomography-based nomogram for differentiating papillary thyroid microcarcinomas from micronodular goiters

Background The misdiagnosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and micronodular goiter (MNG) may lead to overtreatment and unnecessary medical expenditure by patients. This study developed and validated a dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)-based nomogram for the preoperative differential diagnosis of PTMC and MNG. Methods This retrospective study analyzed the data of 366 pathologically confirmed thyroid micronodules, of which 183 were PTMCs and 183 were MNGs, from 326 patients who underwent DECT examinations. The cohort was divided into the training (n=256) and validation cohorts (n=110). The conventional radiological features and DECT quantitative parameters were analyzed. The iodine concentration (IC), normalized iodine concentration (NIC), effective atomic number, normalized effective atomic number, and slope of the spectral attenuation curves in the arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP) were measured. A univariate analysis and stepwise logistic regression analysis were performed to screen the independent indicators for PTMC. A radiological model, DECT model, and DECT–radiological nomogram were constructed, and the performances of the 3 models were assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve, DeLong test, and a decision curve analysis (DCA). Results The IC in the AP [odds ratio (OR) =0.172], NIC in the AP (OR =0.003), punctate calcification (OR =2.163), and enhanced blurring (OR =3.188) were identified as independent predictors in the stepwise-logistic regression. The areas under the curve with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the radiological model, DECT model, and DECT-radiological nomogram were 0.661 (95% CI: 0.595–0.728), 0.856 (95% CI: 0.810–0.902), and 0.880 (95% CI: 0.839–0.921), respectively, in the training cohort; and 0.701 (95% CI: 0.601–0.800), 0.791 (95% CI: 0.704–0.877), and 0.836 (95% CI: 0.760–0.911), respectively, in the validation cohort. The diagnostic performance of the DECT-radiological nomogram was better than that of the radiological model (P<0.05). The DECT-radiological nomogram was found to be well calibrated and had a good net benefit. Conclusions DECT provides valuable information for differentiating between PTMC and MNG. The DECT-radiological nomogram could serve as an easy-to-use, noninvasive, and effective method for differentiating between PTMC and MNG and help clinicians in decision-making.
Trimeric metasurfaces for independent control of bright and dark modes of Fano resonances

In this paper, we present a simple trimeric metasurface consisting of three dipolar resonators in each unit cell, to achieve the independent controlling over both the broad bright mode and the sharp dark mode of Fano resonances. Through both the finite difference time domain simulation and microwave experiment, we find that spectral positions of the bright and dark modes are linearly dependent on, respectively, the global spacing between adjacent unit cells and the local spacing between adjacent dipoles within each unit cell. The dependence of the spectral position of bright (dark) mode on the global (local) spacing is independent without mutual influence, which provides a facile pathway to control the Fano resonance with large flexibility. Our proposed scheme to control Fano resonance is highly desired in various fields including lasing spaser and biosensing with improved performance.
Simultaneous resection of colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases: what determines the risk of unfavorable outcomes? An international multicenter retrospective cohort study

Background: The use of a simultaneous resection (SIMR) in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases (sCRLM) has increased over the past decades. However, it remains unclear when a SIMR is beneficial and when it should be avoided. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was therefore to compare the outcomes of a SIMR for sCRLM in different settings, and to assess which factors are independently associated with unfavorable outcomes. Methods: To perform this retrospective cohort study, patients with sCRLM undergoing SIMR (2004–2019) were extracted from an international multicenter database, and their outcomes were compared after stratification according to the type of liver and colorectal resection performed. Factors associated with unfavorable outcomes were identified through multivariable logistic regression. Results: Overall, 766 patients were included, encompassing colorectal resections combined with a major liver resection (n=122), minor liver resection in the anterolateral (n=407), or posterosuperior segments (‘Technically major’, n=237). Minor and technically major resections, compared to major resections, were more often combined with a rectal resection (29.2 and 36.7 vs. 20.5%, respectively, both P=0.003) and performed fully laparoscopic (22.9 and 23.2 vs. 6.6%, respectively, both P = 0.003). Major and technically major resections, compared to minor resections, were more often associated with intraoperative transfusions (42.9 and 38.8 vs. 20%, respectively, both P = 0.003) and unfavorable incidents (9.6 and 9.8 vs. 3.3%, respectively, both P≤0.063). Major resections were associated, compared to minor and technically major resections, with a higher overall morbidity rate (64.8 vs. 50.4 and 49.4%, respectively, both P≤0.024) and a longer length of stay (12 vs. 10 days, both P≤0.042). American Society of Anesthesiologists grades ≥3 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.671, P=0.015] and undergoing a major liver resection (aOR: 1.788, P=0.047) were independently associated with an increased risk of severe morbidity, while undergoing a left-sided colectomy was associated with a decreased risk (aOR: 0.574, P=0.013). Conclusions: SIMR should primarily be reserved for sCRLM patients in whom a minor or technically major liver resection would suffice and those requiring a left-sided colectomy. These findings should be confirmed by randomized studies comparing SIMR with staged resections.
Length-scale dependence of elastic strain from scattering measurements in metallic glasses

Several recent studies have reported that the elastic strain in metallic glasses, as measured from peak shifts in the pair correlation functions of samples under load, increases with distance from an average atom, approaching the macroscopic strain at large distances. We have veriﬁed this behavior using high-energy x-ray scattering on metallic glasses loaded under uniaxial compression, uniaxial tension, and pure shear, and show that the apparent length-scale dependence of elastic strain is not an artifact of the assumption of structural isotropy in the data analysis. Molecular dynamics simulations of a binary Lennard-Jones glass loaded in uniaxial tension reproduce, qualitatively, the behavior observed in the experiments when the elastic strain is calculated from the shifts in the peaks of the pair correlation function. Under hydrostatic loading, however, the length-scale dependence of elastic strain observed in the simulations is greatly reduced. This suggests that non-aﬃne atomic displacements, which are smaller under hydrostatic loading than under uniaxial loading, may play a key role in the length-scale dependence of elastic strain. Furthermore, no length-scale dependence is observed in simulations, for either uniaxial or hydrostatic loading, when the elastic strain is calculated from the average local deformation gradient tensor. We explain this apparent contradiction and show that the atomic displacements resulting from elastic loading are largest in the low density regions between atomic shells around an average atom. Finally, we present an analysis of length-scale dependence of elastic strain calculated from the pair correlation function for the case of homogeneous deformation, which is in good agreement with the simulations conducted under hydrostatic loading. For uniaxial loading, however, the analysis diverges from both the experimental and simulated results in the ﬁrst two near-neighbor atomic shells. This suggests, in agreement with our observations from the molecular dynamics simulations, that the observed length-scale dependence of elastic strain from scattering measurements reﬂects the nature of the non-aﬃne atomic displacements in the glass.
Determination of the diffusion coefficient of unattached radon progeny with a graded screen array at the EML radon/aerosol chamber

Diffusion coefficients of unattached radon progeny were measured with a graded screen array at the EML radonlaerosol chamber. The measurements were made under different environmental conditions. The particle concentration in the radon chamber was around <1 cm -3 throughout the whole experiment. The temperature and the relative humidity were set at 20°C, and 20, 40 and 75%, respectively. The influence of relative humidity on the diffusion coefficient was investigated, however only minor differences were found. Consequently, the average diffusion coefficient of unattached 218 Po was estimated to be 0.065 ± 0.010 cm 2 . s -1 .
Determination of Correlation Among 9-Hole Peg Test Scores and Preclinical Performances of Second-Year Students of a Faculty of Dentistry

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the scores obtained by the 9-hole peg manual dexterity test of the second-year students of the Faculty of Dentistry at Süleyman Demirel University and the grade point averages that they received from the preclinical practical course tasks. Material and Methods: The study involved 121 dentistry students (46 males and 75 females). A 9-hole peg test (BASELINE Evaluation Instruments, LOT: 120536) was applied to each student twice for dominant and non-dominant hands, and the obtained average scores were recorded in seconds. At the beginning of the education period, Black II. cavity preparation assignments were given for model teeth numbered 15, 26, and 46. The assessment and evaluation criteria of the students' weekly preclinical practice tasks were shared before each assignment, and the same instructor evaluated the tasks given to the students for three weeks. The relationship between 9-hole peg test scores and preclinical course grades was analyzed with Pearson correlation analysis and the change in 9-hole peg test compared to grade point average with one-way ANOVA. Results: Both the 9-hole peg test scores and grade point averages of female students participating in the study were significantly higher than male students (p<0.05). It was determined that there was a negative and high-level correlation between the nine-hole peg test scores and grade point averages (p<0.05, r:-0.712). Conclusion: Although the nine-hole peg test is not used to assess student skills and predict success, it can validate and calibrate educators' grades.
On the one-dimensional recovery and microstructural evaluation of shocked alumina

A technique has been developed in the previous work for determining dislocation interaction mechanisms in metals by shocking, unloading, then decelerating and catching part of the target for subsequent examination. This proceeds by using a system of partial momentum traps around the sample. This technique is further refined here, and is then applied to recover brittle targets that, in three-dimensional loading, would fail into a series of fragments. A number of hydrocode design simulations are presented to illustrate the technique, and the results of the experiments are presented. Sectioned targets indicate fracture, and X-ray tomography gives an overview of the volumetric damage. The response of the alumina above and below the elastic limit is highlighted.
Field-Effect Josephson Diode via Asymmetric Spin-momentum-locking States

Recent breakthroughs in Josephson diodes dangle the possibility of extending conventional non-reciprocal electronics into the realm of superconductivity. While a strong magnetic field is recognized for enhancing diode efficiency, it concurrently poses a risk of undermining the essential superconductivity required for non-dissipative devices. To circumvent the need for magnetic-based tuning, we propose a field-effect Josephson diode based on the electrostatic gate control of finite momentum Cooper pairs in asymmetric spin-momentum-locking states. We propose two possible implementations of our gate-controlled mechanism: (i) a topological field-effect Josephson diode in time-reversal-broken quantum spin Hall insulators; and (ii) semiconductor-based field-effect Josephson diodes attainable in current experimental setups involving a Zeeman field and spin-orbit coupling. Notably, the diode efficiency is highly enhanced in the topological field-effect Josephson diode because the current carried by the asymmetric helical edge states is topologically protected and can be tuned by local gates. In the proposed Josephson diode, the combination of gates and asymmetric spin-momentum-locking nature is equivalent to that of a magnetic field, thus providing an alternative electrical operation in designing nonreciprocal superconducting devices.