Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and Validation of a Handheld Optical Polarization Imager for Preoperative Delineation of Basal Cell Carcinoma

Simple Summary Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in humans. The goal of this study was to design, implement, and clinically test a novel handheld optical polarization imaging (OPI) system for rapid and noninvasive detection of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) margins. The device is compact, lightweight, and can be operated with minimal training. To validate the handheld imager, 10 subjects with biopsy-confirmed BCC were imaged prior to Mohs surgery. The optical images were processed using a spectral encoding method to increase the accuracy of the tumor boundary delineation. Preoperative margin assessment results from the OPI were compared to the surgeon’s clinical evaluation and to the gold standard of histopathology. Our findings indicate that OPI may be a valuable tool for optimizing surgical treatment of skin cancer. Abstract Background: Accurate removal of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is challenging due to the subtle contrast between cancerous and normal skin. A method aiding with preoperative delineation of BCC margins would be valuable. The aim of this study was to implement and clinically validate a novel handheld optical polarization imaging (OPI) device for rapid, noninvasive, in vivo assessment of skin cancer margins. Methods: The handheld imager was designed, built, and tested. For clinical validation, 10 subjects with biopsy-confirmed BCC were imaged. Presumable cancer margins were marked by the study surgeon. The optical images were spectrally encoded to mitigate the impact of endogenous skin chromophores. The results of OPI and of the surgeon’s preoperative visual assessment were compared to clinical intraoperative histopathology. Results: As compared to the previous prototype, the handheld imager incorporates automated image processing and has 10-times shorter acquisition times. It is twice as light and provides twice as large a field of view. Clinical validation demonstrated that margin assessments using OPI were more accurate than visual assessment by the surgeon. The images were in good correlation with histology in 9 out of 10 cases. Conclusions: Handheld OPI could improve the outcomes of skin cancer treatments without impairing clinical workflows.
Expansion of the clinical and neuroimaging spectrum associated with NDUFS8‐related disorder

Biallelic pathogenic variants in NDUFS8, a nuclear gene encoding a subunit of mitochondrial complex I, result in a mitochondrial disorder characterized by varying clinical presentations and severity. Here, we expand the neuroimaging and clinical spectrum of NDUFS8‐related disorder. We present three cases from two unrelated families (a girl and two brothers) homozygous for a recurrent pathogenic NDUFS8 variant [c.460G>A, p.(Gly154Ser)], located in the [4Fe‐4S] domain of the protein. One of the patients developed auto‐antibody positive diabetic ketoacidosis. Brain MRIs performed in two of the three patients demonstrated diffuse cerebral and cerebellar white matter involvement including corticospinal tracts, but notably had sparing of deep gray matter structures. Our report expands the neuroimaging phenotype of NDUFS8‐related disorder to include progressive leukodystrophy with increasing brainstem and cerebellar involvement, with relative sparing of the basal ganglia. In addition, we describe autoimmune diabetes in association with NDUFS8‐related disorder, though the exact mechanism of this association is unclear. This paper provides a comprehensive review of case presentation and progressive neuroimaging findings of three patients from two unrelated families that have an identical pathogenic NDUFS8 variant, which expands the clinical spectrum of NDUFS8‐associated neurological disease.
Association between periostin and bone minerals in osteoporosis and osteopenia Iraqi patients

Background: osteoporosis is characterized by a reduction in bone mineral density, skeletal microstructure breakdown, increased bone fragility, and fracture susceptibility. Osteopenia is the preceding step to osteoporosis because it causes a decrease in bone mass, osteoporosis reduces a person's quality of life. Periostin (encoded by Postn), its name is derived from the fact that it was first detected in periosteal osteocytes and osteoblasts. Periostin deficiency has been linked to osteoporosis and weak bones. Study objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine periostin levels in serum of Iraqi patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia, and it is also possible to consider periostin as a diagnostic factor to follow the progression of osteopenia to osteoporosis. Subjects & Methods: This study was conducted between October 2021 to March 2022 in Medical City of Baghdad /Teaching Hospital. The current study included 78 individuals (females and males) aged 40-65 years’ old, 53 of them are patients and 25 as a control. The lumber spine's bone mineral density was determined using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)scan to diagnose these patients. Patients divided into (27) person as osteoporosis patients and (26) as osteopenia patients.
Relationship between IL-20 and diabetic nephropathy in AL Anbar governorate

Background: Diabetic syndrome is characterized by increase blood sugar and resistance to insulin. It is linked to macrovascular and microvascular complication such as nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. The aim of this study to investigate the relationship between Interleukin 20 and diabetic nephropathy. Material and Methods: The study was include 36 of them with type 2 diabetes, 23 of them with diabetic nephropathy, and 25 healthy controls population , all of whom were over the age of 40. ELISA was used to calculate the Interleukin 20 concentration. fasting serum sugar, Glycated Hemoglobin, Urea, Creatinine, Total protein, Albumin, and globulin were all found. Body mass index was also calculated. Result: this study shown that decrease level of Interleukin 20 and chronic kidney disease patient comparing to Healthy controls group , and this also associated with increase in fasting serum sugar , Glycated Hemoglobin , Urea , Creatinine and body mass index in patients group compared to Healthy controls group. Conclusion: serum Interleukin 20 level show significance difference between patients and Healthy controls groups. that’s lower in patients groups.
Pathophysiology of Coagulation and Emerging Roles for Extracellular Vesicles in Coagulation Cascades and Disorders

The notion of blood coagulation dates back to the ancient Greek civilization. However, the emergence of innovative scientific discoveries that started in the seventeenth century formulated the fundamentals of blood coagulation. Our understanding of key coagulation processes continues to evolve, as novel homeostatic and pathophysiological aspects of hemostasis are revealed. Hemostasis is a dynamic physiological process, which stops bleeding at the site of injury while maintaining normal blood flow within the body. Intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathways culminate in the homeostatic cessation of blood loss, through the sequential activation of the coagulation factors. Recently, the cell-based theory, which combines these two pathways, along with newly discovered mechanisms, emerged to holistically describe intricate in vivo coagulation mechanisms. The complexity of these mechanisms becomes evident in coagulation diseases such as hemophilia, Von Willebrand disease, thrombophilia, and vitamin K deficiency, in which excessive bleeding, thrombosis, or unnecessary clotting, drive the development and progression of diseases. Accumulating evidence implicates cell-derived and platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), which comprise microvesicles (MVs), exosomes, and apoptotic bodies, in the modulation of the coagulation cascade in hemostasis and thrombosis. As these EVs are associated with intercellular communication, molecular recycling, and metastatic niche creation, emerging evidence explores EVs as valuable diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in thrombotic and prothrombotic diseases.
High-efficiency SiO2:Ce3+ glass scintillators

We present the effect of a rapid thermal treatment (RTT) at high temperature (1800 °C) on the radio-luminescence properties of Ce-doped SiO2 glasses prepared by the sol–gel method and previously densified at 1050 °C. Cerium concentrations ranging from 0.05 up to 1 mol % were considered. We found that, for all concentrations, the RTT induces a strong increase of the Ce3+ radio-luminescence efficiency; the x-ray-induced luminescence intensity of the SiO2:0.1% Ce is about twice that of Bi3Ge4O12. The decay time of the scintillation response, evaluated as ≈50 ns, is not affected by RTT. Infrared absorption measurements indicate that the luminescence increase cannot be related to significant release of OH groups during RTT. The conversion of Ce4+ ions into Ce3+ ions can also be ruled out since an increase of about 20% of the intensity of the 4.8 eV optical absorption band related to Ce4+ was observed after RTT. The occurrence of dissolution of rare-earth aggregates is suggested.
Effect of dietary protein on lipid profile and testosterone of Karadi male lambs

The experiment was conducted at a private farm located in Shakal village belonging to Kalar district, 150 kilometers South-East of Sulaimani city, from the 1st of September 2021to to the 1st of December 2021, and used 12 individual karadi male lambs. were used to study biochemical changes in blood parameters (lipid profile and testosterone). as affected by concentrate diets containing two different levels of dietary crude protein (CP) ( sunflower and soybean meal), two-level (low, high). Concentrate diets were offered to lambs at a rate of 3% of live Body weight (BW) in addition to barley straw add liptum, Results showed that Increasing and decreasing levels and sources of dietary protein had no significant dif¬ference (P>0.05) on lipid profile(low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, triglyceride (TG)), were not affected by the addition of sunflower and soybean meal in feeding lamb. but the testosterone significantly different levels and source (P<0.05). at the first period . first time The lambs of the (T2) and (T4) showed significantly (0.257 ± 0.118 b), (0.146 ± 0.075 b) Respectively as compared to(T1) (1.533 ± 0.156 a). At the second time, the lambs of the (T3) showed significantly (0.177 ± 0.087 b) compared to (T1) (1.525 ± 0.294 a).
Advantages, Limitations, and Clinical Considerations in Using Cystatin C to Estimate GFR

Cystatin C has been shown to be a reliable and accurate marker of kidney function across diverse populations. The 2012 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recommended using cystatin C to confirm the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) determined by creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and to estimate kidney function when accurate eGFR estimates are needed for clinical decision-making. In the efforts to remove race from eGFR calculations in the United States, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Joint Task Force recommended increasing availability and clinical adoption of cystatin C to assess kidney function. This review summarizes the key advantages and limitations of cystatin C use in clinical practice. Our goals were to review and discuss the literature on cystatin C; understand the evidence behind the recommendations for its use as a marker of kidney function to diagnose CKD and risk stratify patients for adverse outcomes; discuss the challenges of its use in clinical practice; and guide clinicians on its interpretation.
Averaging and chaotic motions in forced oscillations

We review the averaging theorem of Krylov–Bogoliubov, which allows one to establish the local existence of periodic orbits in certain forced oscillation problems. We then consider some global features, in particular the existence of hetero- and homoclinic orbits, and describe a method, originally due to Melnikov, by which such orbits can be detected in the case that the averaged equation possesses a saddle connection. We give a number of examples and discuss the chaotic motions resulting from the presence of such orbits.
Unprecedented Arctic sea ice thickness loss and multiyear-ice volume export through Fram Strait during 2010–2011

The satellite-observed sea ice thickness (SIT) records from 2003 to 2020 identify an extreme SIT loss during 2010–2011. Ice thickness budget analysis demonstrates that the thickness loss was associated with an extraordinarily large multiyear ice (MYI) volume export through the Fram Strait during the season of sea ice advance. High cloudiness led to positive anomalies of net longwave radiation, and positive net surface energy flux anomalies supported enhanced sea ice melt from June to August. Due to the MYI loss, the Arctic sea ice became more sensitive to subsequent atmospheric anomalies. The reduced surface albedo triggering a positive ice-albedo amplifying feedback and contributed to the accelerating loss of ice thickness. These tightly coupled events highlight that the increasingly younger and thinner Arctic sea ice is becoming more vulnerable to external forcing and created the precondition for the rapid reduction in sea ice extent in 2012.
Non-Compliance of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) During Movement Control Order (MCO) for COVID-19 in Malaysia A Conceptual Framework

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of Malaysian citizens as a whole. When the pandemic outbreak happened back in the year 2020, the Government and the policymakers took preventive steps and directive measures to sustain the social movement and curb the infection among the citizens. The Malaysian government issued large-scale social restrictions (called Movement Control Order or MCO), starting on 18 March 2020 to control the spread of COVID 19 across the country. Citizens’ compliance poses a cha llenge when implementing large-scale social restrictions, and various factors have contributed to public noncompliance with the regulation. The purpose of this study is to examine a relationship between non-compliance and three independent factors in this study which are citizen attitudes and behaviour, weaknesses of law enforcement and misinterpretation of information with non-compliance being the dependent variable.
Prevalence of orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorder among violin and viola players: a pilot study

Prevalence of orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorder was evaluated among violin and viola players, having as control group other string players (cello and double base players). We found a high prevalence and more severity on violin /viola players. We also found that it is not related to the number of hours performing the instruments. Violin and viola players are more prone to headache and more aware of their parafunctional behavior.
Trigonometric solution for an exponentially graded thick plate resting on elastic foundations

This article investigates the solution of exponentially graded (EG) thick rectangular plates resting on two-parameter elastic foundations according to a trigonometric plate theory (TPT). This theory includes the effect of both shear and normal strains thickness without needing to any shear correction factor. The displacement fields contains initial terms of a power series across plate thickness as well as additional trigonometric terms. The material properties of plate is graded such that Lamé’s coefficients convert exponentially in a given constant orientation. Equilibrium equations according to the EG plate resting on Pasternak’s foundations are derived. The solution is obtained by using Navier’s technique. Numerical results for the EG thick plate on elastic foundations are presented, and compared with those available in the literature. The influences of Winkler’s and Pasternak’s parameters, side-to-thickness ratio, inhomogeneity parameter and aspect ratio on the bending responses of EG plates are investigated.
Growth and Evolution of Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves in the Presence of Multiple Ion Species in the Earth's Magnetosphere

Author(s): Lee, Justin H | Advisor(s): Angelopoulos, Vassilis | Abstract: Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are generated by a fundamental plasma instability and interact with multiple particle populations in the Earth's magnetosphere. This dissertation describes the application of spacecraft data and linear theory of electromagnetic waves to investigating the evolution of EMIC wave properties in the presence of multiple magnetospheric ion species. In particular, the role of the low-energy heavy ion species on the wave properties is explored. A case study describes spacecraft measurements of EMIC wave activity, the multiple ion species (hot protons, cold protons, and cold He+) present during the wave activity, and the methods for performing thorough characterization and analysis of the wave observations. I show that the observed wave characteristics are not typical of such waves as established from linear cold plasma theory. By using the full range of the observations and applying them to modeling of linear wave growth, I then show that wave properties evolve in the presence of sufficient free energy (low density hot protons), high density cold protons, and warm He+ (~10 eV). Parametric study of linear wave growth using the observed multiple ion properties as a reference point implies that EMIC waves evolve due to these warm plasma effects of the heavier ion species, and may also evolve due to non-local generation and propagation. This motivates a global multi-spacecraft magnetospheric study of the dominant cold/warm ions (H+, He+, and O+) to establish their typical properties (composition, densities, and temperatures) at different magnetospheric locations and to determine where such cold/warm ions can lead to similar evolution of warm plasma EMIC waves assuming the hot proton free energy is available. I then apply these results to successfully explain typical growth rates and properties of EMIC waves observed in each MLT sector. The results show how our findings on cold/warm ion properties can be used in future studies of EMIC wave generation and properties, including the effect of the waves on scattering of relativistic radiation belt electrons, cold ion heating, and hot ion precipitation to the ionosphere resulting in the proton aurora.
Less Conservative Stability Criteria for Discrete‐Time Nonlinear Stochastic Singular Systems with Mixed Time‐Delay

The problem of delay‐dependent robust stability and stabilization for discrete‐time nonlinear stochastic singular systems with mixed time delay is discussed in this paper. Based on a delay partitioning technique, a new description of the system is obtained first. Then, considering each subinterval, a novel delay‐dependent Lyapunov functional is established. In terms of the linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique, the delay‐dependent conditions are proposed for the system to be regular, causal, and mean‐square stable. Moreover, a suitable robust state feedback controller is designed, and the regularity, causality and stability of the closed‐loop system are guaranteed. Finally, numerical examples are given to show the results derived from the proposed method are less conservative than the existing ones.
Wide-Area Line Outage Monitoring by Sparse Phasor Measurements

Timely identification of transmission line outages is key to situational awareness and preventing the propagation of disturbed system conditions. Although a line may get disconnected from both ends simultaneously, sequential tripping of the opposite ends of the line is more common regardless of whether the outage is planned or administered by protective relays. This paper proposes a method for line outage monitoring and identifying the sequence of events that a line is undergoing before getting disconnected from both ends. Using the bus impedance matrix, a transfer function is derived to relate the line outage to the variations of phasors collected in the control center. A closed-form solution is put forward to identify the disconnected line based on the weighted sum of squared residuals concept. The proposed method does not require the network to be fully observable, nor does it count on the reception of any fixed set of measurements. As opposed to existing solutions, the method does not rely on power flow derivations, a feature that highly reduces its decision time. High speed, along with the robustness against partial communication network failures and losses of the time synchronization signal, makes the method suitable for real-time applications. Extensive simulations conducted on the IEEE 39-bus and 118-bus test systems demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method compared to existing ones.
A Photochemical Overview of Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage

The design of molecular solar fuels is challenging because of the long list of requirements these molecules have to fulfil: storage density, solar harvesting capacity, robustness, and heat release ability. All of these features cause a paradoxical design due to the conflicting effects found when trying to improve any of these properties. In this contribution, we will review different types of compounds previously suggested for this application. Each of them present several advantages and disadvantages, and the scientific community is still struggling to find the ideal candidate suitable for practical applications. The most promising results have been found using norbornadiene-based systems, although the use of other alternatives like azobenzene or dihydroazulene cannot be discarded. In this review, we primarily focus on highlighting the optical and photochemical aspects of these three families, discussing the recently proposed systems and recent advances in the field.
Configuration space methods and time ordering for scalar propagators in (anti and) de Sitter spacetimes

In this master thesis a configuration space method presented by C. Dullemond and E. van Beveren for computing all propagators of a scalar field (Wightman, Hadamard and Schwinger functions,retarded, advanced and Feynman propagator) is reviewed for four-dimensional Minkowski and Anti de Sitter spacetime AdS_4. This method is then applied for AdS_d as well as de Sitter spacetime dS_d of arbitrary dimension d, obtaining results in agreement with the literature. The advantages of the method are that it needs neither mode summation nor analytic continuation from euclidean time, while delivering the propagators above including (i-epsilon)-prescription, plus as a nice bonus the conformal dimension of a corresponding CFT field. General properties of the considered spacetimes (namely various coordinate systems and their metrics, chordal distances, relations between conformal dimensions \Delta and the mass m of the scalar field, geodesics and the invariance of time ordering) are also examined and compiled from various sources, providing an overview of geometrical properties of AdS and dS spacetimes.