Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current Status of Outdoor Lifetime Testing of Organic Photovoltaics

Performance degradation is one of the key obstacles limiting the commercial application of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. The assessment of OPV stability and lifetime are usually based on simulated degradation experiments conducted under indoor conditions, whereas photovoltaic devices experience different environmental conditions under outdoor operation. Besides the intrinsic degradation of OPV devices due to the evolution of optoelectronic and morphological structure during long‐term operation, outdoor environmental changes can impose extra stresses and accelerate the degradation of OPV modules. Although outdoor studies on long‐term OPV stability are restricted by the long data collection times, they provide direct information on OPV stability under mixed degradation stresses and are therefore invaluable from the point of view of both research and practical application. Here, an overview of the current status of outdoor lifetime studies of OPVs is provided. After a summary of device lifetime extrapolated from indoor studies, outdoor lifetime testing platforms are introduced and the operational lifetime of various OPV devices are reviewed. The influence of climate and weather parameters on device performance and burn‐in phenomena observed during the degradation of OPVs is then discussed. Finally, an outlook and directions for future research in this field are suggested.
Substrate Integrated Waveguides for mm-wave Functionalized Silicon Interposer

This paper presents D-band mm-wave SIWs, which are embedded in a high-resistivity silicon interposer. Thanks to the interposer thickness equal to $\pmb{70\ \mu} \mathbf{m}$, high-performance SIW were obtained, with measured attenuation constant between 0.4 and 0.6 dB/mm from 110 GHz to 170 GHz. These first results pave the way for the realization of high performance passive circuits and antennas embedded in the interposer. Also, by using a fully shielded waveguide highly insensitive to adj acent wave-guiding and radiating structures, this topology provides significant advantages for packaging solutions at mm-wave frequencies. Such a functionalized interposer could offer lower cost, higher electrical performance as compared to standard CMOS technologies.
Evidence‐based pharmacotherapies used in the postdischarge phase are associated with improved one‐year survival in senior patients hospitalized with heart failure

AIM Hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients have a poor prognosis postdischarge. We determined whether renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASI) and β-blockers dispensed to patients within 60 days post-HF hospital discharge are associated with improved 1-year survival. METHODS A retrospective population-based study was conducted in 4897 seniors, aged 65-84 years, alive at 60 days postindex HF hospitalization in Western Australia over 2003-2008. Dispensing of RASI and β-blocker dispensing was identified from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme claims database linked to hospital admission and death records. RESULTS At 1-year posthospital discharge, the all-cause mortality and all-cause death or HF rehospitalization rate was 13.5% (n = 663) and 24.4% (n = 1193), respectively. Postdischarge RASI and β-blocker were dispensed in 77.4% and 53.0% of patients, respectively. Their use was associated with a lower inverse probability treatment weighted (IPTW) HR for 1-year mortality of 0.70, 95% CI 0.61-0.81 and 0.79, 95% CI 0.68-0.92, respectively (both P < 0.0001), with a survival advantage most evident in the subgroup (70.1%) of patients with ischemic HF. In the overall cohort, these therapies were also associated with reduced IPTW HRs for all-cause death or HF rehospitalization (both P < 0.005) but not for HF rehospitalization exclusively. Use of a β-blocker was associated with a reduced IPTW HR for HF rehospitalization in the ischemic HF subgroup only. CONCLUSIONS In a cohort of senior patients hospitalized with HF, dispensing of a RASI or β-blocker within 60 days postdischarge is associated with a 1-year survival benefit. Early postdischarge support programs after recent HF hospitalization should include measures to optimize adherence to evidence-based medications.
Comparative study of teaching natural delivery benefits and optimism training on mothers’ attitude and intention to select a type of delivery: an educational experiment

Background Despite advantages of normal vaginal delivery (NVD) and disadvantages of caesarean section (C-section) and the increasing C-section rate Iran, appropriate training is essential in reducing this trend. Optimism is one of the important psychological determinants which is a combination of positive desire and attitude in people. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of optimism training as well as training the benefits of natural childbirth on attitude and intentions to choose the type of delivery. Methods In this experimental study, 96 primiparous women referring to health centers in Mashhad (Iran) in 2014 with pregnancy duration of 30 to 34 weeks and without indication of C-section, were selected and randomly divided into two training groups and one control group. Optimism training was provided during six 60-minute sessions, whereas training the benefits of NVD was conducted in four 60-minute sessions. Pre-test and post-test were performed using valid and reliable questionnaires, researcher-made questionnaire, attitude-measuring questions on NVD and C-section, and optimism-measuring standard questionnaires (LOT-R). Data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS version 22, using Kruskal-Wallis, Chi square, paired-samples t-test, Independent-samples t-test, Man-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Result There was a significant difference between the mean scores of attitudes towards natural delivery in the group that received both optimism and natural delivery advantages trainings compared with the group receiving only the latter (p>0.001). Frequency of intentions to choose the type of delivery after optimism and natural delivery advantages trainings compared with training the benefits of natural childbirth only, did not show a significant difference (p=0.135). Conclusion Optimism training combined with training the benefits of natural childbirth is more effective in creating positive attitude towards natural delivery in comparison with only the NVD advantages education, but it has no effect on selecting the type of delivery. Probably one of the most important reasons of failure of achieving a proper result is the low sample size. Trial registration The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (http://www.irct.ir) with the Irct ID: IRCT2015063022995N1. Funding This trial is funded by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in collaboration with the Evidence-Based Research Center (Ref: research/930321/1/172).
Modulation of hydroxyl variability by ENSO in the absence of external forcing

Significance The hydroxyl radical (OH) is central to tropospheric chemistry, but current measurements are insufficient to assess its effects on year-to-year changes in atmospheric methane. We use a 6,000-y control simulation in a global coupled chemistry-climate model to study the natural variability of OH. We find that natural OH variability can produce (unforced) methane trends as large as the observed changes in methane over the last few decades. Additionally, we find a link between OH and La Niña. While we cannot directly measure annual global mean OH, we can use what we know about La Niña to improve our understanding of OH. This may, in turn, improve our understanding of recent methane trends. The hydroxyl radical (OH) is the primary oxidant in the troposphere, and the impact of its fluctuations on the methane budget has been disputed in recent years, however measurements of OH are insufficient to characterize global interannual fluctuations relevant for methane. Here, we use a 6,000-y control simulation of preindustrial conditions with a chemistry-climate model to quantify the natural variability in OH and internal feedbacks governing that variability. We find that, even in the absence of external forcing, maximum OH changes are 3.8 ± 0.8% over a decade, which is large in the context of the recent methane growth from 2007–2017. We show that the OH variability is not a white-noise process. A wavelet analysis indicates that OH variability exhibits significant feedbacks with the same periodicity as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). We find intrinsically generated modulation of the OH variability, suggesting that OH may show periods of rapid or no change in future decades that are solely due to the internal climate dynamics (as opposed to external forcings). An empirical orthogonal function analysis further indicates that ENSO is the dominant mode of OH variability, with the modulation of OH occurring primarily through lightning NOx. La Niña is associated with an increase in convection in the Tropical Pacific, which increases the simulated occurrence of lightning and allows for more OH production. Understanding this link between OH and ENSO may improve the predictability of the oxidative capacity of the troposphere and assist in elucidating the causes of current and historical trends in methane.
A Virtual Tactile Sensor with Adjustable Precision and Size for Object Recognition

This paper presents a framework for intelligent tactile object recognition with focus on the influence of the size and precision of tactile sensors on the recognition rate. To avoid probing the entire surface of objects which is a time-consuming task and considering the fact that psychological studies seem to support the idea that visual salient points are also salient by touch, we have determined the probing locations using an enhanced model of visual attention. A virtual tactile sensor based on the working principle of piezo-resistive sensors is simulated to capture tactile information. Four classifiers are then trained to learn the tactile properties of virtual objects belonging to four classes and are tested over new objects belonging to the same categories. The K-nearest neighbors algorithm outperforms all the other tested classifiers when the imprints are captured using large sensors of size 32 × 32 with low precision. An accuracy of 95.18% is achieved for this case.
Differential Evolution and Analytic Programming in the case of Trigonometric Identities Discovery

The paper deals with the discovery of trigonometric identities of four functions via Analytic Programming and four strategies of Differential evolution (canonical DE/Rand/l/Bin, chaos-based DE/Rand/l/Bin-Lozi, DE/Rand/l/Bin-Burgers and SHADE). The results showed that all four strategies were comparable for this specific task.
Prospective cross-sectional multicenter study on domiciliary noninvasive ventilation in stable hypercapnic COPD patients

Background Domiciliary noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use in stable hypercarbic COPD is becoming increasingly widespread. However, treatment compliance criteria and factors related to compliance remain to be defined. Methods This research was designed as a prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter real-life study. Chronic hypercapnic COPD patients who were using domiciliary NIV for at least 1 year and being followed up in 19 centers across Turkey were included in the study. The patients who used NIV regularly, night or daytime and ≥5 hours/d, were classified as “high-compliance group,” and patients who used NIV irregularly and <5 hours/d as “low-compliance group. ” Results Two hundred and sixty-six patients with a mean age of 64.5±10.3 years were enrolled, of whom 75.2% were males. They were using domiciliary NIV for 2.8±2 years. Spontaneous time mode (p<0.001) and night use (p<0.001) were more frequent in the high-compliance group (n=163). Also, mean inspiratory positive airway pressure values of the high-compliance group were significantly higher than the low-compliance group (n=103; p<0.001). Cardiac failure (p=0.049) and obesity (p=0.01) were significantly more frequent in the high-compliance group. There were no difference between 2 groups regarding hospitalization, emergency department and intensive care unit admissions within the last year, as well as modified Medical Research Council dyspnea and COPD Assessment Test scores. With regard to NIV-related side effects, only conjunctivitis was observed more frequently in the high-compliance group (p=0.002). Conclusion Determination of the patients who have better compliance to domiciliary NIV in COPD may increase the success and effectiveness of treatment. This highly comprehensive study on this topic possesses importance as it suggests that patient and ventilator characteristics may be related to treatment compliance.
The study of driver's reaction for traffic information on actual driving and DS using fNIRS

Central Nippon Expressway Company limited has been investigated the more effective evaluation method for traffic safety measures using fNIRS and DS in order to consider the improvement plan of traffic safety measures from now on. Because the fact that it is impossible to avoid the occurrence of a variety of biases has remained an issue to be solved by this method. However, the actual road test has much difficulty to measure a driver's reaction and to ensure safety. Then we reevaluated the effectiveness of DS test in the neuroscience aspect. In this study, we measured the driver's reaction by the brain activity related with “recognition” and “judgment” out of 3 elements of driving for the traffic information on the actual driving and in the DS. As a result of analyzing driver's reaction on the actual driving and in the DS, we could confirm the similarity part of drivers' reaction. Then we could confirm that it was suitable to the evaluation of traffic safety measures by the DS test.
Vetting Single Sign-On SDK Implementations via Symbolic Reasoning

Encouraged by the rapid adoption of Single Sign-On (SSO) technology in web services, mainstream identity providers, such as Facebook and Google, have developed Software Development Kits (SDKs) to facilitate the implementation of SSO for 3rd-party application developers. These SDKs have become a critical foundation for web services. Despite its importance, little effort has been devoted to a systematic testing on the implementations of SSO SDKs, especially in the pub-lic domain. In this paper, we design and implement S3KVetter (Single-Sign-on SdK Vetter), an automated, efﬁcient testing tool, to check the logical correctness and identify vulnerabilities of SSO SDKs. To demonstrate the efﬁcacy of S3KVetter, we apply it to test ten popular SSO SDKs which enjoy millions of downloads by application developers. Among these carefully engineered SDKs, S3KVetter has surprisingly discovered 7 classes of logic ﬂaws, 4 of which were previously unknown. These vulnerabilities can lead to severe consequences, ranging from the snifﬁng of user activities to the hijacking of user accounts.
Nortriptyline Compared to Amitriptyline for the Treatment of Persistent Masticatory Myofascial Pain.

AIMS To evaluate and compare the pharmacotherapeutic efficacies of two tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) drugs for masticatory myofascial pain (MFP): nortriptyline (NOR) and amitriptyline (AMI). METHODS Fifty patients with chronic MFP were included in the study; 30 were medicated with AMI only, and 20 took NOR after discontinuing AMI due to adverse effects. Pain diaries recording verbal pain scores (VPS) were utilized to compare posttreatment scores to baseline scores. Chi-square and t tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS Across both groups, the mean ± standard deviation VPS score at the end of treatment (2.92 ± 3.2) was significantly lower compared to baseline (6.4 ± 1.75; P < .0001) and was a clinically meaningful (≥ 50%) difference. Initial VPS scores were similar in the AMI and NOR groups (6.27 ± 1.92 and 6.78 ± 1.98). At the end of the study, NOR patients reported a lower final VPS compared to AMI patients (2.83 ± 3.06 vs 4.55 ± 2.92; P = .039). The 50% improvement rate with NOR treatment was better than with AMI treatment (P = .036). The same maximal dosages were used by the patients who achieved a ≥ 50% success rate (20.96 ± 5.036 mg) than those who did not (21.667 ± 5.036 mg). CONCLUSION TCAs are effective in reducing pain in patients with chronic MFP. NOR seems more effective and better tolerated than AMI, but due to study limitations, more data are needed to confirm these results.
Improving the Health of Older Prisoners

This qualitative article presents and compares the views of older prisoners and expert stakeholders on the topic of nutrition and exercise. The study highlights measures for improving the health of older prisoners. Older prisoners report the need to improve quality of meals provided in prison. They note that prison food is of poor quality and not adapted to their needs. With regard to exercise, they point out the lack of proper opportunities to engage in exercise and sports, and describe several factors that make physical activities either unsuitable or unfeasible. Expert stakeholders see prison as an opportunity to improve the health of those convicted of crimes. In light of the increasing number of older prisoners, age-appropriate nutritional and exercise interventions should take priority in prisons.
Does degree of work task completion influence retrieval performance?

In this contribution we investigate the potential influence between assessors' perceived completion of their work task at hand and their actual assessment of usefulness of the retrieved information. The results indicate that the number of useful documents found by assessors does not influence their perception of task completion. Also, with the exception of full text records and across all document types, both measured at rank 10, no statistically significant correlation is observed with respect to retrieval performance influenced by degrees of perceived work task completion or individual types of documents.
A high sensitivity photonic frequency discriminator for low phase noise tunable micro/mm wave synthesis

A novel high sensitivity photonic frequency discriminator is implemented for a low phase noise tunable micro/mm wave synthesizer. In a proof-of-concept demonstration, a low phase noise tunable opto-electronic oscillator (6 – 18 GHz) and a low phase noise tunable heterodyne beat from two independent cw lasers (10 – 30 GHz) are demonstrated via locking to the photonic frequency discriminator.
Capacity Achieving Distributions and Separation Principle for Feedback Gaussian Channels With Memory: the LQG Theory of Directed Information

A method is developed to realize optimal channel input conditional distributions, which maximize the finite transmission feedback information (FTFI) capacity, often called $n$ -block length feedback capacity, by information lossless randomized strategies. The method is applied to compute closed form expressions for the FTFI capacity and feedback capacity, of nonstationary, nonergodic, unstable, multiple input multiple output Gaussian channels with memory on past channel outputs, subject to average transmission cost constraints of quadratic form in the channel inputs and outputs. It is shown that randomized strategies decompose into two orthogonal parts-an deterministic part, which controls the channel output process, and an innovation part, which transmits new information over the channel. Then a separation principle is shown between the computation of the optimal deterministic part and the random part of the optimal randomized strategies. Finally, the ergodic theory of linear-quadratic-Gaussian stochastic optimal control theory, is applied to identify sufficient conditions, expressed in terms of solutions to matrix difference and algebraic Riccati equations, so that the optimal control part of randomized strategies induces asymptotic stationarity and ergodicity, and feedback capacity is characterized by the per unit time limit of the FTFI capacity. The method reveals an interaction of the control and the information transmission parts of the optimal randomized strategies, and that whether feedback increases capacity, is directly related to the channel parameters and the transmission cost function, through the solutions of the matrix Riccati equations. For unstable channels, it is shown that feedback capacity exists and it is strictly positive, provided the power exceeds a critical threshold.
From text to RDF triple store: An application for biodiversity literature

In this system demonstration two software applications will be shown. One application turns plain text biodiversity literature (using Flora of North America as an example) into semantically annotated documents in XML. The second application turns the XML annotations to a RDF triple store and provides query capabilities to allow a user to search a volume of Flora of North America by biological characters and not simple keywords. For example, a user can find taxa that are a member of Asteraceae family with conservation concerns, grow along ditches in Arizona, and with pink flowers and toothed leaves.
Hierarchical 2-D Feature Coding for Secure Pilot Authentication in Multi-User Multi-Antenna OFDM Systems: A Reliability Bound Contraction Perspective

Due to the publicly known and deterministic characteristic of pilot tones, pilot authentication (PA) in multi-user multi-antenna orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing systems is very susceptible to the jamming/nulling/spoofing behaviors. To solve this, in this paper, we develop a hierarchical 2-D feature (H2DF) coding theory that exploits the hidden pilot signal features, i.e., the energy feature and independence feature, to secure pilot information coding which is applied between legitimate parties through a well-designed five-layer hierarchical coding model to achieve secure multiuser PA (SMPA). The reliability of SMPA is characterized using the identification error probability (IEP) of pilot encoding and decoding with the exact closed-form upper and lower bounds. However, this phenomenon of non-tight bounds brings about the risk of long-term instability in SMPA. Therefore, a reliability bound contraction theory is developed to shrink the bound interval, and practically, this is done by an easy-to-implement technique, namely, codebook partition within the H2DF code. In this process, a tradeoff between the upper and lower bounds of IEP is identified and a problem of optimal upper and lower bound tradeoff is formulated, with the objective of optimizing the cardinality of sub-codebooks such that the upper and lower bounds coincide. Solving this, we finally derive an exact closed-form expression for IEP, which realizes a stable and highly reliable SMPA. Numerical results validate the stability and resilience of H2DF coding in SMPA.
Silica-Based Packaging Structure for D-band RF module

This paper presents a packaging structure in D-band, which is a stacked structure of a silica-based substrate, a print wiring board, and a metal chassis. Key structures, which are transition structures in RF transmission paths and band-pass filters, are designed. The fabricated transitions show good frequency responses due to silica with excellent electrical characteristics. The fabricated three-resonator filters show small deviations in frequency responses among samples along with good filter performances.