Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Space-Based Sub-THz ISAR for Space Situational Awareness—Concept and Design

The concept of sub-terahertz (sub-THz) imaging and recognition of space objects by a satellite-based inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) is proposed and analyzed in this article. Operation at sub-THz frequencies in the band 200–400 GHz benefits from wide available bandwidth, high sensitivity to surface texture, and very small target features, and requires an antenna of small physical size. A feasibility study is presented based on use case scenarios of the relative motion of monitoring satellite and observed objects. Expected resolutions, power budget, and oscillator stability requirements in this frequency band are discussed. Image formation methods are proposed and evaluated with simulations. A simple electromagnetic modeling capability is proposed to create a comprehensive dataset of sub-THz ISAR images, with the orientation and aspect angles seen by the sensors, which can be used to train semantic classifiers.
Finite-Element Modeling and Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Box Culverts

There have been several controversies with regard to the true behavior of reinforced concrete box culverts in recent years. To be able to conduct a parametric study to develop design equations, a complete three-dimensional verified finite-element model of culverts is essential. This study presents the development of an analytical program to investigate the shear capacity of precast reinforced concrete box culverts. To simulate the experimental results, complete and detailed three-dimensional finite-element models (FEMs) of the test specimens were developed and analyzed. Three-dimensional shell and solid elements were used to model the culvert systems. The welded wire fabrics were modeled by using the rebar elements placed on the surface elements provided by the ABAQUS software. The contact surface between the outside face of the bottom slab and reaction floor was modeled by using a nonlinear node-to-surface contact analysis procedure. The analysis procedure consisted of an incremental loading history to c.
Novel Platform for Regulation of Extracellular Vesicles and Metabolites Secretion from Cells Using a Multi-Linkable Horizontal Co-Culture Plate

Microfluidics is applied in biotechnology research via the creation of microfluidic channels and reaction vessels. Filters are considered to be able to simulate microfluidics. A typical example is the cell culture insert, which comprises two vessels connected by a filter. Cell culture inserts have been used for years to study cell-to-cell communication. These systems generally have a bucket-in-bucket structure and are hereafter referred to as a vertical-type co-culture plate (VTCP). However, VTCPs have several disadvantages, such as the inability to simultaneously observe samples in both containers and the inability of cell-to-cell communication through the filters at high cell densities. In this study, we developed a novel horizontal-type co-culture plate (HTCP) to overcome these disadvantages and confirm its performance. In addition, we clarified the migration characteristics of substances secreted from cells in horizontal co-culture vessels. It is generally assumed that less material is exchanged between the horizontal vessels. However, the extracellular vesicle (EV) transfer was found to be twice as high when using HTCP. Other merits include control of the degree of co-culture via the placement of cells. We believe that this novel HTCP container will facilitate research on cell-to-cell communication in various fields.
Dispositional Self-Consciousness and Hypnotizability

ABSTRACT The abeyance of self-consciousness (SC) during hypnosis has been discussed as a central aspect of hypnosis, yet dispositional SC has been very rarely evaluated as a correlate of hypnotizability. In this study (N = 328), the authors administered the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS), the Inventory Scale of Hypnotic Depth (ISHD), and the Self-Consciousness Scale-Revised (SCS-R). Women tended to score higher than men on the HGSHS, besides experiencing greater ISHD automaticity. The Discontinuity (with everyday experiences) subscale of the ISHD correlated with the Public Self-Consciousness scale of the SCS-R and with the Private Self-Consciousness subscale (using simple, quadratic, and cubic regressions). Being concerned about the perception of others related to experiencing hypnosis as discontinuous with everyday life, which also related to being more introspective and interested in subjectivity at the middle range of scores. The article concludes with suggestions on how to pursue the implications of these results, including testing for nonlinear relations.
Comparison of embryonic competence and clinical outcomes between early and late cumulus cell removal for in vitro fertilization

Objective The impact of early mechanical removal of cumulus cells on fertilization and embryonic development is not yet precisely known. This study aimed to investigate the effects of early and late cumulus cell removal on fertilization, polyspermy, embryonic development potential, blastocyst development, and clinical outcomes. Methods A prospective study was conducted of patients who underwent in vitro fertilization between September 2019 and October 2020. Sibling oocytes were randomly allocated after insemination to early cumulus cell removal at 6 hours (group I) and late cumulus cell removal at 16–18 hours (group II). If total fertilization failure (TFF) was determined to have occurred at early cumulus cell removal, rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was performed. Fertilization, embryonic development, and pregnancy outcomes were compared. Results A total of 912 oocytes were assigned to group I (458 oocytes) and group II (454 oocytes). Fertilization, polyspermy, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcomes were not significantly different between both groups. Rescue ICSI enabled fertilization of 79.2% of the TFF oocytes. Conclusion Early cumulus cell removal at 6 hours had no significant difference in fertilization, polyspermy, embryo development, or obstetric and perinatal outcomes compared to late removal. Early cumulus cell removal combined with early rescue ICSI may have the potential to help couples with TFF.
Electrically Evoked Torque at Rest Is Strongly Related to Quadriceps Muscle Size in Individuals with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

ABSTRACT Electrically evoked torque at rest (i.e., the torque produced from supramaximal stimuli applied to a resting muscle) has been shown to be related to muscle size in healthy adults, but this relationship has not been evaluated in pathological populations where atrophy is present. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the electrically evoked torque at rest and vastus lateralis cross-sectional area (CSA) in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Eighteen individuals with ACL reconstruction participated. Quadriceps electrically evoked torque at rest was elicited bilaterally via sex-specific, standardized supramaximal triplet stimulations. Vastus lateralis CSA was measured at 50% of thigh length using ultrasound. Pearson’s r and partial correlations were used to evaluate associations between outcomes. Evoked torque at rest was positively associated with vastus lateralis CSA in the ACL reconstructed limb (r = 0.865, partial r = 0.816, P < .01), non-reconstructed limb (r = 0.628, partial r = 0.575, P < .05), and side-to-side ratios (r = 0.670, partial r = 0.659, P < .01). These results indicate that electrically evoked torque at rest may indirectly assess side-to-side differences in quadriceps muscle size after ACL reconstruction.
Effect of Sowing Dates, Tillage and Establishment Methods on Growth and Yield of Mustard

This experiment was conducted at College Farm, Agricultural College, Polasa, Jagtial in Rabi, 2019-20. The experiment was laid out in strip-plot design with T1-Zero tillage with direct sowing, T2-Zero tillage with transplanting, T3-Conventional tillage with direct sowing and T4-Conventional tillage with transplanting in 4 horizontal strips and D1-15 November, D2-25 November and D3-5 December sowing dates in 3 vertical strips. Nursery was prepared 15 days earlier to sowing date for transplanting. Direct sowing and transplanting was carried out on same date. Among tillage practices with establishment methods, significantly the highest performance of growth parameters was obtained with T4 and lowest response under T1. Significantly higher values of growth parameters were recorded under early sowing date (15 November) followed by 25 November and lowest was registered on 5 December. The number of siliqua plant-1, seeds siliqua-1 was significantly higher under T4 which resulted in higher seed yield (754.38 kg ha-1), stover yield (1815.40 kg ha-1) and was comparable with T3. Higher number of siliqua per plant-1 and number of seeds per siliqua-1 resulting in higher seed yield (944.55 kg ha-1) and stover yield (1943.12 kg ha-1) were recordeed on 15 November followed by 25 November and lowest was registered on 5 December.
Recombinant human erythropoietin attenuates hepatic dysfunction by suppressing hepatocellular apoptosis in lipopolysaccharide-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation in rats

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on a rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Experimental DIC was induced by sustained infusion of 5 mg/kg LPS for 4 h. EPO or LMWH was then administered to the LPS-induced DIC model. LPS-induced consumption coagulopathy, hemostatic activation and plasma TNF elevation remained unaltered in the LPS+EPO group, except for the D-dimer levels, and these abnormalities were significantly improved in the LPS+LMWH group. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were markedly reduced in the LPS+EPO group, accompanied by a significant suppression of hepatocellular apoptosis. In the LPS+LMWH group, plasma creatinine levels and glomerular fibrin deposition were significantly attenuated, along with plasma ALT levels and hepatocellular apoptosis. Thus, a single administration of EPO may improve hepatic dysfunction by primarily exerting an anti-apoptotic, not anticoagulant, effect in the LPS-induced DIC model.
Numerical analysis of corrugated steel plate bridge with reinforced concrete relieving slab

AbstractThe paper presents a numerical analysis of corrugated steel plate (CSP) bridge with reinforced concrete (RC) relieving slab under static loads. Calculations were made based on the finite element method using Abaqus software. Two computation models were used; in the first one, RC slab was used, and the other was without it. The effect of RC slab to deformations of CSP shell was determined. Comparing the computational results from two numerical models, it can be concluded that when the relieving slab is applied, substantial reductions in displacements, stresses, bending moments and axial thrusts are achieved. Relative reductions of displacements were in the range of 53–66%, and stresses of 73–82%. Maximum displacements and bending moments were obtained at the shell crown, and maximum stresses and axial thrusts at the quarter points. The calculation results were also compared to the values from experimental tests. The course of computed displacements and stresses is similar to those obtained from exp.
Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy with Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure and Recurrent Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN), formerly known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), is the most common inherited neuromuscular disease. It is characterized by a heterogeneous inheritance pattern and variable age of onset of symptoms and disease severity. HMSN primarily affects long peripheral nerves, leading to distal weakness and muscle atrophy involving lower and upper extremities, culminating in various degrees of disabilities. Phrenic nerve involvement resulting in diaphragm dysfunction and respiratory failure has been described in advanced HMSN disease. We describe a 39-year-old woman with HMSN and recurrent episodes of rhabdomyolysis who presented with hypercapnic respiratory failure. Her symptoms were thought to be due to diaphragm paralysis. She required intubation and mechanical ventilation and was extubated successfully and transitioned to noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). She was discharged home after recovery with NIPPV at night in addition to physical and occupational therapy.
Broadcaster Choice and Audience Demand for Live Sport Games: Panel Analyses of the Korea Baseball Organization

This study investigated the determinants of television viewership and its relation to broadcasters’ choices of matches for live telecasts. Also, factors driving the broadcasters’ choices were examined. A panel data set from the 2018 Korea Baseball Organization league pennant race was analyzed. Broadcasters’ choice order of matches and the actual television ratings of each match were regressed on a series of antecedent factors related to the game characteristics and audience preferences. It was found that the broadcasters’ choice order of matches positively affected the television ratings, suggesting that the broadcasters’ decisions were well reflected in the actual viewership. It also appeared that broadcasters’ choices were based on popularity and team performance/quality, whereas viewers showed preference for current games’ on-field performance. There was no evidence of audience preference for games with higher outcome uncertainty, whereas the broadcasters tended to choose games with more certain, rather than uncertain, outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings were discussed.
Development of converters for improving efficiency and achieving both power factor correction and fast output regulation

Development of converters for improving efficiency and achieving both fast regulation and power factor correction (PFC) is presented in the paper. A general configuration is first introduced, and, then, the degenerated configurations are derived according to the variation of power-split ratios. With these configurations, not only the converter systems discussed in literature can be developed alternatively, but novel converters can be synthesized. In addition, power-split and power-combination configurations are introduced to help the development of converter systems, resulting in more physical insights into the system configurations. With the concept of energy partial processing, overall conversion efficiency is improved, while PFC and fast regulation can still be achieved effectively.
Effect of Jerk and Acceleration on the Perception of Motion Strength

In a flight simulator, the calculated aircraft motions are scaled down and filtered to fit within the envelope of the simulator motion system. A number of recent flight and ground simulation studies have reported that the simulator motion was too strong, when in fact, the motion was scaled down and filtered. This paper puts forth the hypothesis that this could be due in part to the motion drive algorithm and vehicle model exaggerating the jerk. To test the plausibility of this hypothesis a paired-comparison experiment was run to determine if the subjective impression of motion strength is a function of both the acceleration and jerk of the motion. The experiment found that the level of jerk and acceleration contributed to the perceived strength of motion, with larger jerks and accelerations leading to increased motion strength. In addition, the duration of the acceleration had a significant effect on the perceived motion strength, with longer durations leading to increased motion strength. Although the relationship between jerk and motion strength suggests that exaggerated jerk in the simulator could lead to the preference for scale factors less than one, the strength of the relationship strongly suggests that it does not entirely account for the preference.
Field study of the indoor environments for preventing the spread of the SARS‐CoV‐2 in Seoul

Abstract Despite the prolonged global spread of COVID‐19, few studies have investigated the environmental influence on the spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA with a metropolitan scale, particularly the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 after disinfection at multi‐use facilities. Between February 2020 and January 2021, 1,769 indoor air samples and object surfaces were tested at 231 multi‐use facilities where confirmed cases were known to have occurred in Seoul, to determine whether SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA could be detected even after disinfection. Samples were collected by air scanner and swab pipette and detected by real‐time RT‐PCR. As a result, 10 (0.56%) positive samples were detected despite disinfection. The common environmental features of all 10 were surfaces that contained moisture and windowless buildings. With the aim of preventing the spread of COVID‐19, from January to February 2021, we next conducted 643 preemptive tests before the outbreak of infections at 22 multi‐use facilities where cluster infections were frequent. From these preemptive inspections, we obtained five (0.78%) positive results from two facilities, which enabled us to disinfect the buildings and give all the users a COVID‐19 test. Based on the study purpose of finding and investigating cases of positive detection even after disinfection in the field through long‐term environmental detection in a large city, our preemptive investigation results helped to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by confirming the potential existence of an asymptomatic patient.
The Use of Nanosilica for Improving of Concrete Compressive Strength and Durability

The development of construction materials technology, particularly concrete is growing very rapidly in the presence of nanotechnology. One material that deserves the attention of researchers is nanosilica. Silica has been used on concrete, starting from silica sand as a filler to microsilica (silica fume) as a reactive pozzolan. Based on previous research, silica fume is proven effective to improve the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. A novel nanotechnological process allows producing amorphous nanosilica with high reactivity from locally available silica sand. In this study a locally available nanosilica is used on mortar and concrete thereby limiting the use of commercial nanosilica materials from semiconductor industry waste. To obtain sustainable concrete, the mix is design to have high strength as well as low permeability using as much possible local sources. This study also make use of commercial, regular silica fume combined with the locally produced nanosilica. The results show that combined use of nanosilica with silica fume can increase the compressive strength and durability.
Effects of overall low-beam intensity on seeing distance in the presence of glare

Previous studies have demonstrated that current low-beam headlamps do not provide adequate seeing distance for safety. Could this situation be improved by providing more total light from low-beam headlamps, leaving the relative distribution of light unchanged? Although such a proposal is probably not the best practical solution, it is important to consider some of the visual consequences of a general increase in light to analyze the overall problem of low-beam headlighting. In a nighttime field study we measured seeing distance in the presence of glare as a function of headlamp intensity, always varying the intensity of the seeing light and glare light by the same proportion. Increasing intensity by a factor of about 3.8 increased seeing distance by about 17% for both young and old drivers. This result is consistent with predictions from quantitative vision modeling using veiling luminance to represent the disabling effects of glare. We also collected subjective estimates of discomfort glare and found, as expected, that the higher intensities produced substantially more discomfort. Our findings suggest that, if objective visual performance is the only criterion, there is no clear upper limit to how intense low-beam headlamps should be. However, there may be a level at which people simply will not tolerate the subjectively discomforting effects of glare, or at which glare indirectly affects objective performance through its effects on subjective comfort. Because subjective discomfort, rather than objective visual performance, may be the limiting consideration for setting maximum glare levels, more research should be done to understand the nature and consequences of discomfort glare, including possible effects of subjective comfort on objective visual behavior.
Seasonal Prediction of Summer Precipitation in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Valley: Comparison of Machine Learning and Climate Model Predictions

The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley (YRV), which are among the most densely populated regions in China, are subject to frequent flooding. In this study, the predictor importance analysis model was used to sort and select predictors, and five methods (multiple linear regression (MLR), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), backpropagation neural network (BPNN), and convolutional neural network (CNN)) were used to predict the interannual variation of summer precipitation over the middle and lower reaches of the YRV. Predictions from eight climate models were used for comparison. Of the five tested methods, RF demonstrated the best predictive skill. Starting the RF prediction in December, when its prediction skill was highest, the 70-year correlation coefficient from cross validation of average predictions was 0.473. Using the same five predictors in December 2019, the RF model successfully predicted the YRV wet anomaly in summer 2020, although it had weaker amplitude. It was found that the enhanced warm pool area in the Indian Ocean was the most important causal factor. The BPNN and CNN methods demonstrated the poorest performance. The RF, DT, and climate models all showed higher prediction skills when the predictions start in winter than in early spring, and the RF, DT, and MLR methods all showed better prediction skills than the numerical climate models. Lack of training data was a factor that limited the performance of the machine learning methods. Future studies should use deep learning methods to take full advantage of the potential of ocean, land, sea ice, and other factors for more accurate climate predictions.
Selected life history traits of Leptaxis simia (Gastropoda: Hygromiidae) established in the laboratory

Among ten adult specimens of the Madeiran endemic land snail Leptaxis simia kept in the laboratory, a single clutch of 110 eggs was reared, and the mortality, growth and reproductive capacity of hatchlings over a 1240- day period were monitored. Of 70 hatchlings, 34 survived to complete shell growth at around 640 days. Growth was rapid, and mortality high in the early stages; growth slowed and mortality was very low as full size was approached. Snails kept singly failed to lay any eggs. Among those with potential mates, only three clutches were produced, one of which yielded no hatchlings. Clutches were produced at least five months after shell growth was complete. Mortality increased sharply after the onset of sexual maturity, and the oldest snail survived for three and a half years. The apparently very strictly semelparous mode of reproduction, delayed sexual maturity and relatively long period of juvenile growth are discussed in relation to other species, and to the practical problems of rearing potentially endangered species in captivity.