Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulation of the breakdown process of micro-discharge sustained by field emission

Micro-discharge is the process that gas breakdown occurs on a small spatial scale to generate plasma. With the decrease of the discharge scale, the high electric field makes the field emission (FE) play a leading role in the breakdown process of the micro-discharge, which is one of the reasons that the breakdown voltage deviates from the Paschen curve in a small gap. A one-dimensional implicit particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collision model is used to simulate the whole breakdown process of direct current micro-discharge sustained by FE in argon. The results show that the discharge after breakdown is in arc mode, the breakdown process can be divided into three stages: the pre-breakdown stage, the breakdown stage, and the post-breakdown stage. In the pre-breakdown stage, the sheath and plasma are not formed, the external electric field can penetrate the entire gap. In the breakdown stage, gas breakdown occurs. As the sheath is formed, the rate of change of plasma parameters increases rapidly and the discharge gap changes from capacitive to resistive. In the post-breakdown stage, the anode sheath gradually becomes thinner, but the region where the field is reversed still exists. The particle and energy balance gradually reach equilibrium, and the entire discharge evolves to a quasi-steady-state.
Techniques to Improve the Performance of Planar Microwave Sensors: A Review and Recent Developments

Planar microwave sensors have become increasing developed in recent decades, especially in material characterization (solid/liquid) as they provide regions highly sensitive to the surrounding medium. However, when it comes to deciphering the content of practical biological analytes or chemical components inside a host medium, even higher sensitivities are required due to their minute concentrations. This review article presents a comprehensive outlook on various methodologies to enhance sensitivity (e.g., coupling resonators, channel embedding, analyte immobilization, resonator pattern recognition, use of phase variation, using coupled line section, and intermodulation products), resolution (active sensors, differential measurements), and robustness (using machine learning) of arbitrary sensors of interest. Some of the most practical approaches are presented with prototype examples, and the main applications of incorporating such procedures are reported. Sensors with which the proposed techniques are implemented exhibit higher performance for high-end and real-life use.
A 140-GHz FMCW TX/RX-Antenna-Sharing Transceiver With Low-Inherent-Loss Duplexing and Adaptive Self-Interference Cancellation

This article presents a 140-GHz frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar transceiver featuring transmit/receive (TX/RX) antenna sharing that address a TX/RX beam misalignment problem when large-aperture lenses/mirrors/reflectarrays are used for pencil beam forming. A full-duplexing technique based on circular polarization and geometrical symmetry is applied to mitigate the 3 dB + 3 dB insertion loss inherent to conventionally adopted directional couplers, while still maintaining high TX-to-RX isolation. In addition, a self-adaptive self-interference cancellation (SIC) is implemented to suppress extra leakage due to antenna mismatch from a desired frontside radiation scheme. The TX/RX antenna sharing enables the pairing with a large 3-D printed planar lens and boosts the measured effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) to 25.2 dBm. The measured total radiated power and minimum single-sideband noise figure (SSB NF) including antenna and duplexer losses are 6.2 dBm and 20.2 dB, respectively. The measured total TX-RX isolation is 33.3 dB under 14-GHz wide FMCW chirps. Based on a 65-nm complimentary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) technology, the chip has a die area of 3.1 mm2 and consumes 405 mW of dc power. Among all reported sub-THz transceivers with TX/RX antenna sharing, this work demonstrates the highest total radiated power and is the only work that has >30 dB of TX-RX isolation while mitigating the inherent 6 dB coupler loss.
Towards Hard Real-Time and Energy-Efficient Virtualization for Many-Core Embedded Systems

In safety-critical computing systems, the I/O virtualization must simultaneously satisfy different requirements, including time-predictability, performance, and energy-efficiency. However, these requirements are challenging to achieve due to complex I/O access path and resource management at the system level, lack of support from preemptive scheduling at I/O hardware level, and missing an effective energy management method. In this paper, we propose a new framework, I/O-GUARD, which reconstructs the system architecture of I/O virtualization, bringing a dedicated hardware hypervisor to handle resource management throughout the system. The hypervisor improves system real-time performance by enabling preemptive scheduling in I/O virtualization with both analytical and experimental real-time guarantees. Furthermore, we also present a dedicated energy management unit to adjust I/O-GUARD's dynamic energy using frequency scaling. Associated with that, a frequency identification algorithm is proposed to find the appropriate executing frequency at run-time. As shown in experiments, I/O-GUARD simultaneously improves the predictability, performance and energy-efficiency compared to the state-of-the-art I/O virtualization.
Impact of Cellulolytic Fungi on Biodegradation of Hemp Shives and Corn Starch-Based Composites with Different Flame-Retardants

Biocomposite boards (BcBs) composed of hemp shives and corn starch are known as thermal insulating or structural building materials. Therefore, they must be stable during exploitation. However, BcBs are exposed to microorganisms present in the environment, and it is of great interest to investigate the biodegradation behaviour of these materials. This work identified microorganisms growing on BcBs that contain either Flovan CGN or expandable graphite as flame retardants and selected fungi such as Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus fumigatus to test the way they affect the materials of interest. For this purpose, the enzymatic activity of cellulases and amylases produced by these organisms were determined. In addition, the apparent density as well as compressive strength of the affected boards were evaluated. The results showed that apparent density and compressive strength deteriorated in BcB composition with the Flovan CGN flame retardant. At the same time, the level of deterioration was lower when the expandable graphite was used, suggesting that it also acts as an antimicrobial agent. A scanning electronic microscopy analysis was employed to monitor the growth of microorganisms in the BcBs. Such analysis demonstrated that, regardless of BcB composition, fungi easily penetrate into the middle layers of the material.
Standardization of Epidemiological Surveillance of Group A Streptococcal Impetigo

Abstract Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the superficial layer of skin. Impetigo is caused by group A Streptococcus (Strep A) and Staphylococcus aureus, alone or in combination, with the former predominating in many tropical climates. Strep A impetigo occurs mainly in early childhood, and the burden varies worldwide. It is an acute, self-limited disease, but many children experience frequent recurrences that make it a chronic illness in some endemic settings. We present a standardized surveillance protocol including case definitions for impetigo including both active (purulent, crusted) and resolving (flat, dry) phases and discuss the current tests used to detect Strep A among persons with impetigo. Case classifications that can be applied are detailed, including differentiating between incident (new) and prevalent (existing) cases of Strep A impetigo. The type of surveillance methodology depends on the burden of impetigo in the community. Active surveillance and laboratory confirmation is the preferred method for case detection, particularly in endemic settings. Participant eligibility, surveillance population and additional considerations for surveillance of impetigo, including examination of lesions, use of photographs to document lesions, and staff training requirements (including cultural awareness), are addressed. Finally, the core elements of case report forms for impetigo are presented and guidance for recording the course and severity of impetigo provided.
Molecular Mechanism of Blood Pressure Regulation through the Atrial Natriuretic Peptide

Simple Summary Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a cardiac peptide hormone that was identified by Kangawa and Matsuo in 1984. In Japan, ANP has been used as an intravenous drug for the treatment of acute heart failure since 1995. Because ANP has a hypotensive effect, it is important to avoid excessive lowering of blood pressure when ANP is used. Recently, a compound that inhibits neutral endopeptidase, the enzyme that degrades ANP, has been developed (angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI)). ARNI has been approved worldwide for the treatment of chronic heart failure and has been authorized in Japan as an antihypertensive drug. However, it is not understood exactly how ANP exerts its hypotensive effect. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanism of the blood pressure-regulating effects of ANP, focusing on our recent findings. Abstract Natriuretic peptides, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), have cardioprotective effects and regulate blood pressure in mammals. ANP and BNP are hormones secreted from the heart into the bloodstream in response to increased preload and afterload. Both hormones act through natriuretic peptide receptor 1 (NPR1). In contrast, CNP acts through natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) and was found to be produced by the vascular endothelium, chondrocytes, and cardiac fibroblasts. Based on its relatively low plasma concentration compared with ANP and BNP, CNP is thought to function as both an autocrine and a paracrine factor in the vasculature, bone, and heart. The cytoplasmic domains of both NPR1 and NPR2 display a guanylate cyclase activity that catalyzes the formation of cyclic GMP. NPR3 lacks this guanylate cyclase activity and is reportedly coupled to Gi-dependent signaling. Recently, we reported that the continuous infusion of the peptide osteocrin, an endogenous ligand of NPR3 secreted by bone and muscle cells, lowered blood pressure in wild-type mice, suggesting that endogenous natriuretic peptides play major roles in the regulation of blood pressure. Neprilysin is a neutral endopeptidase that degrades several vasoactive peptides, including natriuretic peptides. The increased worldwide clinical use of the angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor for the treatment of chronic heart failure has brought renewed attention to the physiological effects of natriuretic peptides. In this review, we provide an overview of the discovery of ANP and its translational research. We also highlight our recent findings on the blood pressure regulatory effects of ANP, focusing on its molecular mechanisms.
Bioreactor Production of Alfalfa Somatic Embryos

There has been a great deal of interest recently in the development of artificial seed as a cloning method for plants (1, 6, 9). The idea is intriguing, since it proposes clonal propagation of plants by somatic embryogenesis without recombination of the genome that normally occurs in zygotic embryo formation. Once a suitably developed embryo is achieved, a delivery system composed of gels, nutrients, and a membrane can be used to encapsulate and protect the embryo prior to planting in the greenhouse or field. Efficient and economical manufacture of somatic embryos and surrounding matrix must be achieved in order to make this system work like true seed. To be of commercial importance, this delivery system should satisfy a number of criteria, including high production volume, high genetic fidelity, and good germination of the embryo from the gel.
Etiology Study of Acquired Developmental Defects of Enamel and Their Association with Dental Caries in Children between 3 and 19 Years Old from Dolj County, Romania

Background: Developmental defects of enamel (DDE) are frequently encountered in primary and permanent teeth, yet their etiology is not completely known. Enamel hypoplasia is considered a predisposing factor for early caries. The objective of this study was the evaluation of several risk factors potentially causing DDE and the possible association between DDE and dental caries. Methods: This study was performed on a group of 213 rural children from Romania. It combined a thorough dental examination for all children, and a questionnaire filled in by their mothers, regarding the evolution of their pregnancy and the child’s health status in the first years of life. Results: There was no statistically significant association between DDE presence and data regarding the evolution of pregnancy, mothers’ health status or children’s conditions during early childhood. There was a significant association between the use of amoxicillin, ibuprofen, and cephalosporin during the period of formation of permanent teeth, and one environmental factor (water source), and the presence of DDE (Chi Square, p < 0.05). Also, DDEs were associated with the presence of caries (Fisher, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Children who consumed water from private wells and children who received medication during early childhood developed more enamel defects, presenting a higher risk of caries development.
Multi-Dimensional Exploratory Factor Analysis of TED talks

This article conducts Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) on a corpus of TED talks (2463 talks, across 427 topic tags) to create a new Multi-Dimensional model. The resultant model contained seven dimensions: i. ‘Spontaneous involved versus edited informational discourse’, ii. ‘Abstract informational versus narrative discourse’, iii. ‘Human-world oriented versus object-oriented discourse’, iv. ‘Subjective perspectives’, v. ‘Persuasive stance’, vi. ‘Expert elaboration’, and vii. ‘Change and inspiration’. When the model was compared to prior research, similarity with MD models based in academic texts was observed. However, some dimensions were found to be indicative of the unique nature of TED talks, such as expert elaboration and change and inspiration. When the EFA model was mapped onto the TED corpus’s subcorpora (defined by topic tags), individual disciplines were characterised in terms of the dimensions and some traditional academic groups were observed.
Quality in Higher Education: Defining the Conceptual Contents and their Relative Predominance

The purpose of this study is to investigate the conceptual content of the term “quality” in higher education, as it emerges from the descriptions and discussions of authors, researchers, and experts in 22 scientific publications. The analysis of the qualitative data is based on the methodology of grounded theory. From the analysis, 21 major dimensions or characteristics of quality in higher education emerged due to their high frequency of occurrence, were subdivided into five broader categories: “learning environment”, “learning content”, “processes”, “students”, and “teachers”. According to the main findings, from the "learning environment" category, the dimension concerning psychosocial elements predominated in the literature. From the category "learning content", two dimensions prevailed (student-centred teaching and learning) and the dimension concerning taking an interest in and caring about students. From the "processes" category, the dimension concerning assessment prevailed. In the category "students", the dimension of improved learning outcomes was the most frequently observed, and finally, from the "teachers" category, two dimensions prevailed over the others, one concerning pedagogical skills and the other termed skills: emotional, management, reflection.
A technique using a one-dimensional mapping for vector quantisation of images

The main problem for vector quantisation is the codebook generation. The LBG method solves it with an iterative approach. This algorithm needs a long training sequence and an initial approximation of the codebook. These problems may be overcome by using space filling curves, also called Peano's curves, which are mappings from the unitary interval (image point) to the unitary hypercube. By using this kind of mapping the generation of the codebook, is reduced to the computation of the one-dimensional (optimum) quantiser associated to the probability density function (pdf) of the image points on the Hilbert curve. The paper describes the way of applying these mappings: a new algorithm is derived, generating codebooks for vector quantisation, and experimental results on image coding are provided.
Relationship between Body Composition and Cardiac Autonomic Regulation in a Large Population of Italian Olympic Athletes

Athletic performance is determined by many factors, such as cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and psychological features, which all interact simultaneously. The large Italian National Olympic Committee database of Olympic athletes offers a unique healthy population to verify the strength of the interplay among a number of major elements of training, including autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation, biochemical indicators and body composition, in a system medicine approach. This observational, retrospective study involved 583 individuals. As part of the yearly precompetitive examination, cardiac autonomic (heart rate variability), psychological, physical (cycloergometer stress test), biochemical and body composition (BOD POD) evaluations were performed. In subsequent analysis, we first considered the relationship between body composition and single individual variables in a simple correlation matrix, including a multitude of variables; then, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) restricted the information to six latent domains, each combining congruent information in relation to body composition. Finally, we employed a multiple quantile regression model to evaluate possible relationships between ANSIs (index capable of synthetizing ANS regulation) and the latent domains indicated by EFA reflecting body composition. We observed a clear relationship between ANS and body mass composition parameters, as indicated by both bivariate correlations and the quantile regression result of ANSIs versus the latent domain aggregating mainly body composition data expressed in % (p = 0.002). In conclusion, these results suggest that specific training may elicit parallel adaptation of ANS control and body composition. The analysis of Olympic athletes’ data allowed us to obtain a better understanding of the complex, multidimensional factors involved in determining sport performance. The latter appears to be determined by the simultaneous interaction not only of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and psychological features, but also of ANS cardiovascular modulation and body composition.
Multifaceted Work-to-Life Negative Spillover and Depressive Symptoms among Working Women: The Moderating Effect of Social Activities Satisfaction

This study aims to examine how work-to-life negative spillover is associated with depressive symptoms among working women and to explore moderating effect of social activities satisfaction on the relationship between work-to-life spillover and depression. This was a secondary data analysis from a sample of 2869 employed women from the 7th Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families. The results showed that work-to-life negative spillover was positively associated with depressive symptoms. Additionally, there was a significant moderating effect of social activities satisfaction on the relationship between work-to-life negative spillover and depressive symptoms (β = 0.176, p < 0.05). It was found that the low social activity group showed fewer depressive symptoms induced by the negative work-to-life spillover than the high social activity group. Based on the results of our study, effective strategies and policies for work-family compatibility and interventions aimed at reducing the work induced stress and depressive symptoms are recommended.
An Evaluation of the Application of Mixed Research Methods in Educational Research

: For a long time, research methods can be roughly divided into two categories: qualitative research methods and quantitative research methods, because the two types have different research processes and methods, so there are different advantages. However, both research methods also have certain drawbacks. This article explains and demonstrates the effectiveness of applying mixed methods in educational research through a paper called “Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies in Research on Teachers’ Lives, Work, and Effectiveness: From Integration to Synergy”. It detailed analyzes the research design and methodology, sampling and other parts to give readers a clear understanding of applying mixed research methods in appropriate studies.
Gut Bacteria and Neurotransmitters

Gut bacteria play an important role in the digestion of food, immune activation, and regulation of entero-endocrine signaling pathways, but also communicate with the central nervous system (CNS) through the production of specific metabolic compounds, e.g., bile acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT) and histamine. Afferent vagus nerve (VN) fibers that transport signals from the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) and gut microbiota to the brain are also linked to receptors in the esophagus, liver, and pancreas. In response to these stimuli, the brain sends signals back to entero-epithelial cells via efferent VN fibers. Fibers of the VN are not in direct contact with the gut wall or intestinal microbiota. Instead, signals reach the gut microbiota via 100 to 500 million neurons from the enteric nervous system (ENS) in the submucosa and myenteric plexus of the gut wall. The modulation, development, and renewal of ENS neurons are controlled by gut microbiota, especially those with the ability to produce and metabolize hormones. Signals generated by the hypothalamus reach the pituitary and adrenal glands and communicate with entero-epithelial cells via the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA). SCFAs produced by gut bacteria adhere to free fatty acid receptors (FFARs) on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and interact with neurons or enter the circulatory system. Gut bacteria alter the synthesis and degradation of neurotransmitters. This review focuses on the effect that gut bacteria have on the production of neurotransmitters and vice versa.
An Improved Technique for Counting Chromosomes in Grapes

Various procedures were compared to identify a technique that would produce clear countable chromosomes in grape (Vitis L.) root tip squashes. Harvesting roots at 1100 hr from greenhouse-grown plants, pretreating with 0.02 m 8-hydroxyquinoline at 18°C for 6 hr, fixing in Farmer's Fluid at 26° for 24 hr, hydrolyzing in 1 n HCl at 60° for 1 hr, and staining with an altered form of carbol fuchsin gave the best results.