Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulation of a two-dimensional internal wave attractor

Internal (gravity) wave attractors may form in closed containers with boundaries non-parallel and non-normal to the gravity vector. Such attractors have been studied from a theoretical point of view, in laboratory experiments and using linear numerical computations. In the present paper two-dimensional numerical simulations of an internal wave attractor are reported, based upon the nonlinear and non-hydrostatic MIT-gcm numerical code. We first reproduce the laboratory experiment of a wave attractor performed by Hazewinkel et al. (J. Fluid Mech. Vol. 598, 2008 p. 373) and obtain very good agreement with the experimental data. We next propose simple ideas to model the thickness of the attractor. The model predicts that the thickness should scale as the 1/3 power of the non-dimensional parameter measuring the ratio of viscous to buoyancy effects. When the attractor is strongly focusing, the thickness should also scale as the 1/3 power of the spatial coordinate along the attractor. Analysis of the numerical data for two different attractors yields values of the exponent close to 1/3, within 30%. Finally, we study nonlinear effects induced by the attractor.
Two types of flare-associated coronal mass ejections

Aims. Here, we study the relationship between flares and CMEs. Methods. For this purpose a statistical analysis of 578 flare-associated CMEs is presented. We considered two types of flare-associated CMEs: CMEs that follow and precede flare onset. Results. We shown that both samples have quite different characteristics. The first type of CMEs tends to be decelerated (median acceleration = –5.0 m s −2 ), faster (median velocity = 519 km s −1 ), and physically related to flares (a correlation coefficient between the energy of the CME and the peak of the X-ray flare = 0.80). The CMEs preceding associated flares are mostly accelerated (median acceleration = 5.4 m s −2 ), slightly slower (median velocity = 487 km s −1 ), and poorly related to flares (a correlation coefficient between the energy of the CME and the peak of the X-ray flare = 0.12). Conclusions. These two types of flare-associated CMEs demonstrate that magnetic reconnection, which influences the CME acceleration, could be significantly different in the two types of events.
Chemo-Radio-Immunotherapy for NSCLC III: ESR/ATS Thresholds for DLCO Correlate with Radiation Dosimetry and Pneumonitis Rate

Simple Summary Since the approval of durvalumab for the treatment of unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer UICC stage III, the 5-year overall survival rates have risen from below 20% to 50%. Although the validity of lung function testing has been questioned, for long-term survivors, residual pulmonary capacity after treatment is very important in terms of quality of life. The clinically most widely used lung function parameters are forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO). As the latter represents the alveolar compartment, it seems more suitable in the radiotherapy context. In the current analysis, we can show that DLCO correlates with radiation dosimetry and the incidence of pneumonitis. Hence, from a clinical point of view, peri-treatment lung function testing is indispensable as it helps to optimize radiation treatment planning and predicts pulmonary toxicity. Abstract Introduction: Durvalumab following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for non-small cell lung cancer stage III has become the standard of care (SoC) in the past few years. With this regimen, 5-year overall survival (OS) has risen to 43%. Therefore, adequate pulmonary function (PF) after treatment is paramount in long-term survivors. In this respect, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), which represents the alveolar compartment, seems to be a suitable measure for residual lung capacity. The aim of the current analysis was to correlate DLCO with pneumonitis and radiation dose. Patients and methods: One hundred and twelve patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC III treated between 2015/10 and 2022/03 were eligible for this study. Patients received two cycles of platinum-based induction chemotherapy followed by high-dose radiotherapy (RT). As of 2017/09, durvalumab maintenance therapy was administered for one year. The clinical endpoints were based on the thresholds jointly published by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS). Pre-treatment DLCO of 60% was correlated to the incidence of pneumonitis, whereas the post-treatment DLCO decline of 10% was related to radiation dose. Results: Patients with a pre-treatment DLCO < 60% had a higher probability of pneumonitis (n = 98; r = 0.175; p-value 0.042), which could be reproduced in the subgroup of patients who did not receive durvalumab (n = 40; r = 0.288; p-value 0.036). In these individuals, the decline in DLCO ≥ 10% depended significantly on the size of the lung volume receiving between 45% and 65% (V65–45%) of the total radiation dose (r = 0.354; p-value = 0.020) and V20 Total Lung (r = 0.466; corrected p-value = 0.042). Conclusions: The current analysis revealed that DLCO is a predictor for clinically relevant pneumonitis and a monitoring tool for post-treatment lung function as it correlates with radiation dose. This underlines the importance of peri-treatment lung function testing.
Unravelling the truth: A bibliometric analysis of earnings management practices

Abstract This bibliometric analysis of earnings management (EM) literature work published between 2000 and 2022 sheds light on the growth of knowledge and research in the field. The study analyzed 1383 papers from the Scopus Core Collection database and evaluated various factors such as year of publication, journal, author, institution, nation, affiliation, subject area, and term analysis. The findings showed that EM is a heavily studied topic, with a significant growth in publications in 2020 (162). Most research was centered in the United States, China, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The study provides a comprehensive review of the EM literature and identifies broad research trends in the field. The findings highlight the most pressing concerns in this field and suggest new avenues for exploration. It enlighten on the social and intellectual structure of the domain, which may benefit policymakers in the field of EM. The findings also draw attention to the growing interest among researchers in studying earnings management and suggest opportunities for exploring the dynamics of EM in emerging economies. This study aims to provide a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners by demonstrating on the current state of EM research. Findings shows that early study focused on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, but later studies included issues like earnings smoothing, earnings with societal effect, corporate governance, audit quality, stock returns and corporate social responsibility, which affect earnings quality. The findings of this study can inform future research by highlighting areas in need of further exploration and gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the field of EM.
Scattering by a rotating dielectric sphere

The scattering of a plane wave by a rotating dielectric sphere of arbitrary radius, \epsilon_{r} and \mu_{r} is investigated. A relativistically correct solution is found for the scattered fields and the fields inside the sphere. This solution is valid in the limit of "small" angular velocities. Attention is focused on the fields at large distances. The depolarization of the backscattered signal and the scattering in the low frequency limit are treated in some detail.
Endothelial glycocalyx shedding during active COVID-19 infection and its effect on disease severity

ABSTRACT Background COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that was thought to be associated with microvascular endothelial injury. This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of COVID-19 on markers of endothelial shedding and its effect on patient morbidity and mortality. Settings and design This was a prospective cohort study. Methods This study was conducted at the isolation hospital at Alexandria Main University hospitals on 40 adult patients infected with COVID-19. Patients were divided according to the severity of the presenting symptoms into two groups; moderate and severe. Serum levels of Syndecan-1 and Heparan sulfate were measured at hospital admission and at the end of the first week. Clinical and demographic data along with laboratory investigations and outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results Our results indicated that patients with severe symptoms of COVID-19 had notably high levels of syndecan-1 and Heparan sulfate compared to patients with moderate symptoms on day 1 and day 7. Further investigations revealed that D-dimer, CRP, and IL-6 levels in patients with severe symptoms were higher in patients with severe symptoms. Our results also indicated that IL-6 increased on day 4 and gradually decreased on day 7 in both groups. Furthermore, serum levels of Syndecan-1, Heparan sulfate, D-dimer, and CRP decreased gradually from day 1 to day 7 in both groups. There was an association between markers of endothelial shedding with thrombotic and cardiovascular complications. It seems that the serum Syndecan-1 and Heparan sulfate might be good candidates to monitor COVID-19 activity. Conclusion Patients with severe symptoms of COVID-19 have high serum levels of syndecan 1 compared to patients with moderate symptoms and have higher mortality and more prolonged hospital stay due to more endothelial injury and inflammatory reaction. Syndecan-1 may be used to monitor disease progression and severity.
Free classification as a method for investigating the perception of nonnative sounds

Abstract Our study proposes the use of a free classification task for investigating the dimensions used by listeners in their perception of nonnative sounds and for predicting the perceptual discriminability of nonnative contrasts. In a free classification task, participants freely group auditory stimuli based on their perceived similarity. The results can be used to predict discriminability and can be compared to various acoustic or phonological dimensions to determine the relevant cues for listeners. The viability of this method was examined for both a segmental contrast (German vowels) and a nonsegmental contrast (Finnish phonemic length). Perceptual similarity data from the free classification task accurately predicted discriminability in an oddity task and separately provided rich information on how the perceptual space is shaped. These results suggest that a free classification task and related analyses are informative and replicable methods for examining nonnative speech perception.
Entrepreneurial Leadership and Entrepreneurial Success: The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition and Innovation Capability

Micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in the economic growth of emerging markets. This study examines the effect of entrepreneurial leadership (EL) on the entrepreneurial success (ES) of MSMEs in Malaysia through the mediating effect of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition (EOR) and innovation capability (IC). To examine the proposed mediation model, we utilized a structured questionnaire to collect data for this quantitative research. Partial least square-structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesis on a sample of 401 micro-business owners/managers in Malaysia. The findings reveal that an EL has a significant positive effect on ES but is conditional on the mediating role of EOR and IC. However, the results show that EOR and IC partially mediate the link between EL and ES. Additionally, EOR and IC serially mediated the relationship between EL and ES. This research has valuable contributions to MSMEs by explaining EL, EOR, and IC’s critical role in gaining competitive advantage and achieving success. This research develops a theory-based mediation model to demonstrate how the EL and ES of MSMEs are related. Further, the model in this study adds to the body of knowledge by examining whether or not serial mediation occurs through EOR and IC. Hence, this research sheds new light on the relationship between EL and ES.
The role of objectively recorded smartphone usage and personality traits in sleep quality

Purpose The proliferation of smartphones, accompanied by internet facilities, has contributed to a decrease in sleep quality over the last decades. It has been revealed that excessive internet usage impacts the physical and mental health of smartphone users, while personality traits (PT) could play a role in developing internet addictions and preventing their negative effects. The objective of the present study is to assess the role of PT and smartphone usage in sleep quality. Method The sample comprised 269 participants, 55% females, within the age range of 15–64 years. We objectively collected one-week smartphone apps usage data from the participants. They also responded to demographics and the PT (BFI-10) questionnaires. The usage data of smartphone apps were processed to calculate smartphone usage amounts and sleep variables, including sleep duration, sleep distraction, sleeping time, and wake-up time. The data were analyzed using the correlation coefficient and regression analyses. Results The results indicated that more smartphone usage was associated with reduced sleep duration, increased sleep distraction, and later bedtime. Furthermore, smartphone users with the conscientiousness trait had a longer sleep duration, earlier sleeping time, less sleep distraction, and earlier wakeablity. Sleep distraction was positively associated with openness. Extraversion and neuroticism were found to be positive predictors of early wakeablity. Neuroticism had a negative association with early wakeablity. Finally, the implications of the study have been discussed. Conclusion Our study’s usage of data that was acquired objectively has strong methodological qualities. The present study is the first to contribute to the literature on the role of PT and objectively measured smartphone usage in the prediction of sleep quality. We found that smartphone use and sleep variables are associated with PT. Other scholars can use our dataset for benchmarking and future comparisons.
LSNCP: Lightweight and Secure Numeric Comparison Protocol for Wireless Body Area Networks

Wireless body area networks (WBANs) have been deployed in numerous applications, where the most common communication technology is Bluetooth. Bluetooth uses the numeric comparison protocol (NCP) to negotiate session keys based on the elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) and Out-of-Band (OoB) channels. However, the scalar multiplication of ECC is a heavy computing operation for devices in WBANs. To address this issue, we propose the lightweight and secure NCP (LSNCP) which requires less scalar multiplication than the NCP in Bluetooth. New logic expressions and rules are proposed to verify the security of LSNCP in GNY logic. The proof shows that LSNCP is secure. We conduct a provable security analysis by integrating the commitment scheme and short hash function. The result shows that LSNCP is secure in the modified Bellare–Rogaway model. Finally, we conduct theoretical analysis and experiments to evaluate the performance of LSNCP. The results confirm that LSNCP has less computation cost than NCP and other benchmark protocols. LSNCP has many potential application scenarios, such as healthcare, Metaverse, and blockchain.
Gas Dynamics of Sublimed Nanoclusters in High-Fluence Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Incandescence

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the discrepancy between high-fluence time-resolved laser-induced incandescence (TiRe-LII) measurements and model predictions, including back flow of sublimed species and the formation of shock waves. This is the first study to use transient Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) to investigate these phenomena. Simulations verify the back flow of sublimed species, which should be included in analytical models. On the other hand, shock waves were not observed for the fluences and nanoparticle temperature decay curves typical of laser-induced incandescence.
A High-Precision LiDAR-Inertial Odometry via Kalman Filter and Factor Graph Optimization

For simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) in large-scale scenarios, the influence of long-distance and high-speed motion cannot be ignored because the risk of huge odometry drift will increase. To solve this problem, we propose the LiDAR -inertial odometry (LIO) method via Kalman filter and factor graph optimization (LIO-FILO), which provides real-time, high-frequency, and high-precision odometry. The LIO system consisting of three modules is established to fit various application scenarios. The state estimation module provides the pose states to be optimized and receives timely feedback from the pose optimization module. In the loop closure module, LIO-FILO constructs a multilayer structure loop closure detection method, including different schemes of detection, and the loop closure factor is constructed by the pose transformation matrix calculated by ICP. In the pose optimization module, the fast-build adjacent constraint factors and the loop closure factors are added to the factor graph to get the optimized result based on the GTSAM library. The real-world experiments show that LIO-FILO can mitigate the odometry drift to achieve accurate mapping results and obtain higher precision odometry compared with the existing advanced SLAM methods.
ASHRAE RP-1814: Actual energy performance of secondary schools designed to comply with ASHRAE 90.1-2010, Part I – energy use and cost indices comparison

K-12 school buildings constitute a substantial portion of commercial buildings in the U.S. and are responsible for significant energy consumption. This paper presents a nationwide study to investigate the actual energy performance of secondary school buildings constructed per the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – 2004 and − 2010. A total of 73 building candidates are included in the analysis after careful screening and inspection, which covers eight ASHRAE climate zones. A Python-based Change Point Model (CPM) is developed to normalize the energy consumption data of the selected 73 buildings following the ASHRAE procedure. The energy use indices (EUI) and energy cost indices (ECI) of single buildings and the aggregated average of all buildings are computed to evaluate the actual energy performance of secondary school buildings. The results suggest that the actual national aggregated average EUI of secondary school buildings is 61 and 41 kBTU/(sq. ft. yr) for buildings designed per ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – 2004 and − 2010, respectively. This indicates a 20% saving in EUI and ECI for the update from the 2004 standard to 2010 one in real buildings, compared with a 38% saving-ratio obtained by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in a nationwide simulation study.
The moderating role of COVID-19 pandemic on the relationship between CEO characteristics and earnings management: evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract This research uses accrual and real earnings management strategies in an emerging economy to evaluate how CEO characteristics (i.e. CEO nationality, duality, and compensation) affect earnings management and how the COVID-19 pandemic modifies this connection. The empirical investigation used annual reports from 2011 to 2021 of 118 listed enterprises in thirteen sectors of non-financial organizations in Bangladesh. The study divided the sample further into COVID-19 pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. Findings show that firms tend to engage less in real earnings management during the COVID-19 pandemic period compared to pre-pandemic period. CEO nationality significantly negatively affects accrual-earnings management, but CEO dualism positively affects real-earnings management. CEO compensation significantly impacts accrual and real earnings management. Finally, COVID-19 moderates the association between CEO compensation and real-earnings management positively. The study’s findings contribute to the corporate governance literature by providing insights into the influence of CEO characteristics on earnings management. This is the first study to consider the moderating role of the COVID-19 pandemic on the relationship between CEO traits and earnings management.
Oxidants and Cardiorenal Vascular Remodeling—Insights from Rare Genetic Tubulopathies: Bartter’s and Gitelman’s Syndromes

Two human genetic tubulopathies, Bartter’s (BS) and Gitelman’s (GS) syndromes, have normo/hypotension and absent cardiac remodeling despite their apparent angiotensin system (RAS) activation. This seeming contradiction has led to an extensive investigation of BSGS patients, the result of which is that BSGS represents a mirror image of hypertension. BSGS’s unique set of properties has then permitted their use as a human model to probe and characterize RAS system pathways and oxidative stress in cardiovascular and renal remodeling and pathophysiology. This review details the results using GSBS patients that provide a deeper understanding of Ang II signaling and its associated oxidants/oxidative stress in humans. By providing a more complete and complex picture of cardiovascular and renal remodeling pathways and processes, studies of GSBS can inform the identification and selection of new targets and therapies to treat these and other oxidant-related disorders.
Matrix-exponent formulations for wave radiation and propagation in anisotropic stratified ionosphere

A matrix-exponent method is developed to treat wave radiation and propagation in anisotropic stratified ionosphere. By using matrix-exponent formulations, the present approach is relatively compact for expressions and reliable for computations. As an example, the method is used to calculate the ELF excitation of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide by an equivalent dipole resulted from heating the lower ionosphere with modulated HF waves. Simulation results are presented and compared for different latitudes.
On the Convergence of Adaptive Non-Conforming Finite Element Methods

We formulate and analyze an adaptive non-conforming finite-element method for the solution of convex variational problems. The class of minimization problems we admit includes highly singular problems for which no Euler–Lagrange equation (or inequality) is available. As a consequence, our arguments only use the structure of the energy functional. We are nevertheless able to prove convergence of an adaptive algorithm, despite using refinement indicators which are not reliable error indicators.
Autoimmunity and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: From Laboratory Study to Clinical Practice

Abstract Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a group of neurodegenerative diseases with heterogenous clinical, genetic, and pathological characteristics that show similar impairment of areas in the frontal and/or temporal lobes. Prime doctors’ lack of awareness of this complex disease makes early identification and accurate intervention difficult. Autoimmune diseases and autoantibodies are manifestations of different levels of autoimmune reactions. This review presents research findings examining the relationship between autoimmunity and FTLD in terms of autoimmune diseases and autoantibodies with a focus on identifying potential diagnosis and treatment approaches. The findings indicate that the same or similar pathophysiological mechanisms may exist from clinical, genetic, and pathological perspectives. However, the existing evidence is not sufficient to extract substantial conclusions. On the basis of the current situation, we propose future research patterns using prospective studies on large populations and combined clinical and experimental research. Autoimmune reactions or, more generally, inflammatory reactions should receive increased attention from doctors and scientists of all disciplines.