Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Enhanced Ultrasonographic Image Diagnosis of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) from follicular epithelial cells is the most common form of thyroid cancer. Beyond the common papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), there are a number of rare but difficult-to-diagnose pathological classifications, such as follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). We employed deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to facilitate the clinical diagnosis of differentiated thyroid cancers. An image dataset with thyroid ultrasound images of 421 DTCs and 391 benign patients was collected. Three CNNs (InceptionV3, ResNet101, and VGG19) were retrained and tested after undergoing transfer learning to classify malignant and benign thyroid tumors. The enrolled cases were classified as PTC, FTC, follicular variant of PTC (FVPTC), Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC), or benign. The accuracy of the CNNs was as follows: InceptionV3 (76.5%), ResNet101 (77.6%), and VGG19 (76.1%). The sensitivity was as follows: InceptionV3 (83.7%), ResNet101 (72.5%), and VGG19 (66.2%). The specificity was as follows: InceptionV3 (83.7%), ResNet101 (81.4%), and VGG19 (76.9%). The area under the curve was as follows: Incep-tionV3 (0.82), ResNet101 (0.83), and VGG19 (0.83). A comparison between performance of physicians and CNNs was assessed and showed significantly better outcomes in the latter. Our results demonstrate that retrained deep CNNs can enhance diagnostic accuracy in most DTCs, including follicular cancers.
Water sensitive residential developments: Application of LIUDD principles and methods in the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand

One method of enhancing the health of receiving water ecosystems is to ensure that local plans and practices guiding urban development are underpinned by appropriate design principles. This paper reports on a policy and practices framework developed in New Zealand, and investigates the uptake and implementation of Low Impact Urban Design and Development (LIUDD). A hierarchy of LIUDD principles has been developed as a foundation for policy development in statutory and non-statutory plans and guidelines. Each principle is accompanied by practical implementation methods using sustainable technologies in a local context. Greenfield developments in urban growth areas in the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand are assessed with respect to elements of the framework. The assessments show that the LIUDD principles are relevant internationally across greenfield developments of similar town and catchment scales. Application of the principles can inform decision makers so that they become more critically aware of .
Improved sound transmission loss in an automotive component using piezoceramic patches and dissipative shunt circuits

Noise in a vehicle is generally caused by the vibration of various automotive components, such as the dashboard, door panels, and roof. For example, vibrations caused by the engine may cause a dash panel to vibrate leading to noise in the vehicle cabin. The control of such noise and vibration may be achieved by placing a viscoelastic or other suitable damping material on the automotive component; however, conventional damping materials usually have a high density, which can lead to significant increases in the overall mass of the sound insulation system. A lightweight alternative employs piezoceramic patches connected to a resistor–inductor circuit, where the mechanical vibration, converted into electrical energy by the piezoceramic, is dissipated in the form of thermal heat through the resistor. The presence of an inductive element allows the system to perform in the vicinity of a mode of the vibrating structure, in an effect similar to a resonant vibration absorber. In this work, the damping capacity of this resonant electrical circuit is demonstrated in a dash panel installed between coupled reverberant and anechoic rooms for assessments of sound transmission loss. Finite element simulation and theoretical analysis are used to support the choice of the electrical component values and the correct placement for piezoelectric patches. The resulting sound transmission control is compared to baseline measurements with conventional viscoelastic material thermally bonded to the panel surface. The work is concluded with a discussion on the achieved results and mass saving benefits of the proposed damping technique.
Loss-of-mains detection for small generators

A new loss-of-mains detection method for use with very small generators is proposed. A known load is repeatedly switched on to the supply, and the resulting voltage changes used to estimate the source impedance, and hence to detect loss of mains. Correlating the load switching with the voltage change prevents false operation arising from random load changes. Experiments and simulations are discussed which demonstrate the principles of the technique. Test results are presented which show that the technique operates correctly, and can reliably detect a loss of mains without being susceptible to false tripping.
A Flexible Miniaturized Wideband Branch-line Coupler Using Shunt Open-stubs and Meandering Technique

This article presents a flexible miniaturized wideband branch-line coupler printed on a biodegradable paper substrate. The proposed design consists of a combination of series transmission lines and shunt open-stubs along with the meandering technique as a substitute to the conventional quarter-wavelength transmission line (QWTL). The horizontal QWTLs of the traditional three-section branch-line coupler are replaced by a proposed equivalent structure, and the vertical QWTLs have been meandered. The developed prototype occupies an area of 0.04 λg2, and it has been tested where the measurements agree well with the simulations, and the obtained fractional bandwidth is greater than 60% at 0.9 GHz operating frequency. In addition, for flexibility analysis, the prototype is bent in different directions, and the tested results are obtained and compared to the flat design. The proposed device can be used in antenna feeding networks, microwave and conformal applications that require both compact size and frequency wideband response simultaneously.
Explaining the problems faced by Iranian housewives during the COVID-19 quarantine period, and their adaption strategies: A qualitative study

Background: Housewives have several problems during the quarantine phase; so, the current study was designed to describe the challenges faced by Iranian housewives during the quarantine period in relation to COVID-19 and compatibility measures for it. Methods: The current research employed a qualitative methodology and a traditional content analysis method on 34 quarantined women in Tehran. Purposive sampling and snowballing were used to find participants, and semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. The Guba and Lincoln criteria were also employed to assess the quality of the study findings. Results: After analyzing the data, 4 main categories and 18 subcategories were extracted, including (1) individual problems (personal health problems, life with fear and anxiety, low mental health, lifestyle imbalance, Internet addiction); (2) family problems (violence and conflict in the family, tension in managing family members, disruption of the educational and economic situation of family members, intensification of domestic tasks and roles); (3) social problems (social isolation, disregard for social customs, restricted access to cyberspace); and (4) compatibility strategies (spirituality, strengthening family relationships, division of tasks between family members, optimal use of leisure, positive use of cyberspace, development of individual skills). Conclusion: Their problems can be ameliorated by providing contraception to housewives, improving their mental health and reducing their worries and fears, modeling a healthy lifestyle during quarantine, offering solutions that reduce violent behavior and manage family conflict, and expanding their access to virtual communications.
Strength of Cold Formed Steel Shear Diaphragms

The design of light-gage steel corrugated shear diaphragms is not yet covered by the structural codes of many countries, including Canada. The shear capacity of steel diaphragms may be predicted by various approaches currently available, namely, those proposed by: (1) the American Iron and Steel Institute; (2) the Manual of seismic design of buildings, published by the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force; and (3) the recommendations outlined in the current British code. In this paper, a rational method is proposed and the application of all the above methods is illustrated with reference to a specific example. Finally, the shear strengths of many diaphragms are predicted by the new approach developed by the authors and the results are compared to test data.
Rheological Characterization of Hydraulic Fracturing Slurries

Few studies have dealt with the flow behavior of concentrated suspensions or slurries prepared with non-Newtonian carrier fluids. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to present experimental results obtained by pumping various hydraulic fracturing slurries into a fracture model and gathering data on differential pressure vs. flow rate. Several concentrations of hydroxypropyl guard (HPG), a wide range of proppant concentrations, and three test temperatures were studies. The effects of such variables as polymer gelling-agent concentration, proppant concentration, test temperature, and fracture-flow shear rate on the rheological properties of slurries were investigated. The correlations for predicting the relative slurry viscosity for these HPG fluids are presented. Substantial increases in viscosity of fracturing gels were observed, and results are discussed in light of several affecting variables. Results also are compared with those available for Newtonian and non-Newtonian concentrated suspensions. Applications of these correlations to estimate the hindered particle-settling velocity in the fracture caused by the presence of surrounding particles also is discussed. The correlations presented can easily be included in any currently available 2D or 3D fracture-design simulators; thus, the information can be applied directly to predict fracture geometry and extension.
Pyridazinone Derivatives Limit Osteosarcoma-Cells Growth In Vitro and In Vivo

Simple Summary There is a dire need for novel therapeutic interventions to treat osteosarcoma. Pyridazinone derivatives have proven some efficacy in several cancer models, but their effect on osteosarcoma is yet to be evaluated. Our goal was to synthesize and evaluate, both in vitro and in vivo, some pyridazinone derivatives to provide a proof of concept of their potential as anti-osteosarcoma molecules. We demonstrated that our newly synthesized pyridazinone scaffold-based molecules might be hit-candidates to develop new therapeutic avenues for multi-therapy purposes. Abstract Osteosarcoma is a rare primary bone cancer that mostly affects children and young adults. Current therapeutic approaches consist of combining surgery and chemotherapy but remain unfortunately insufficient to avoid relapse and metastases. Progress in terms of patient survival has remained the same for 30 years. In this study, novel pyridazinone derivatives have been evaluated as potential anti-osteosarcoma therapeutics because of their anti-type 4 phosphodiesterase activity, which modulates the survival of several other cancer cells. By using five—four human and one murine osteosarcoma—cell lines, we demonstrated differential cytotoxic effects of four pyridazinone scaffold-based compounds (mitochondrial activity and DNA quantification). Proapoptotic (annexin V positive cells and caspase-3 activity), anti-proliferative (EdU integration) and anti-migratory effects (scratch test assay) were also observed. Owing to their cytotoxic activity in in vitro conditions and their ability to limit tumor growth in a murine orthotopic osteosarcoma model, our data suggest that these pyridazinone derivatives might be hit-candidates to develop new therapeutic strategies against osteosarcoma.
Metabolic engineering of Vibrio natriegens for anaerobic succinate production

The biotechnological production of succinate bears serious potential to fully replace existing petrochemical approaches in the future. In order to establish an economically viable bioprocess, obtaining high titre, yield and productivity is of central importance. In this study, we present a straightforward engineering approach for anaerobic succinate production with Vibrio natriegens, consisting of essential metabolic engineering and optimization of process conditions. The final producer strain V. natriegens Δlldh Δdldh Δpfl Δald Δdns::pycCg (Succ1) yielded 1.46 mol of succinate per mol of glucose under anaerobic conditions (85% of the theoretical maximum) and revealed a particularly high biomass‐specific succinate production rate of 1.33 gSucc gCDW−1 h−1 compared with well‐established production systems. By applying carbon and redox balancing, we determined the intracellular flux distribution and show that under the tested conditions the reductive TCA as well as the oxidative TCA/glyoxylate pathway contributed to succinate formation. In a zero‐growth bioprocess using minimal medium devoid of complex additives and expensive supplements, we obtained a final titre of 60.4 gSucc l−1 with a maximum productivity of 20.8 gSucc l−1 h−1 and an overall volumetric productivity of 8.6 gSucc l−1 h−1 during the 7 h fermentation. The key performance indicators (titre, yield and productivity) of this first engineering approach in V. natriegens are encouraging and compete with costly tailored microbial production systems.
Exploring the molecular targets and mechanisms of [10]-Gingerol for treating triple-negative breast cancer using bioinformatics approaches, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments

Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive among breast cancer subtypes with the worst prognosis. Ginger is widely used in pharmaceuticals and as food. Its anticancer properties are known, but the mechanism is still unclear. [10]-Gingerol is one of the main phenolic compounds isolated from ginger. Studying the biological effects of [10]-Gingerol is of great significance to understand the efficacy of ginger. Methods In this study, the therapeutic effects of [10]-Gingerol on TNBC cells were studied using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments, and the target and mechanism of action were explained. Results A total of 48 targets of ginger for the treatment of TNBC were found. These targets might interfere with the growth of TNBC by participating in many pathways, such as endocrine resistance, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, estrogen signaling pathway, and cellular senescence. Prognostic analyses indicated that the JUN, FASN, ADRB2, ADRA2A, and PGR were the hub genes, while molecular docking predicted the stable binding of ADRB2 protein with drug compounds. Additionally, [10]-Gingerol could induce apoptosis by regulating the caspase activation. Conclusions [10]-Gingerol affects the growth of TNBC through multiple action targets and participating in multiple action pathways. ADRB2 and apoptosis pathways might be important target pathways for [10]-Gingerol in the treatment of TNBC.
The Computational Enhancement of Automated Non-Destructive Inspection

In industrial NDE it is increasingly common for data acquisition to be automated, driving a recent substantial increase in the availability of data. The collected data need to be analysed and currently this is largely done manually by a skilled operator a rather painstaking task given how rarely defects occur. Moreover, in automated NDE a region of an inspected component is typically interrogated several times, be it within a single data channel due to multiple probe passes, across several channels acquired simultaneously or over the course of repeated inspections. The systematic combination of these diverse readings is recognised to o er an opportunity to improve the reliability of the inspection, for example by enabling noise suppression, but is not achievable in a manual analysis. Hence there is scope for the inspection reliability to be improved whilst reducing the time taken for the data analysis by computational means. This thesis describes the development of a software framework providing a partial automation capability, aligning then fusing the available experimental data to declare regions of the component defect-free to a very high probability whilst readily identifying indications, thereby optimising the use of the operator's time. The framework is designed to be applicable to a wide range of automated NDE scenarios, but the focus in development has been on two distinct, industrial inspections: the ultrasonic inspection of power station turbine rotor bores and the ultrasonic immersion inspection of aerospace turbine disks. Results obtained for industrial datasets from these two applications convincingly demonstrate the bene ts of using the developed software system.
Face recognition with transmissive liquid crystal panels

A technique for facial‐image recognition, based on the nonzero‐order joint‐transform correlator constructed with liquid‐crystal spatial light modulators (LCSLMs), is introduced. The method of Lagrange multipliers is utilized to design the reference function. We also add some noise in training images to investigate the performance. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 42: 31–34, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20197
NLR Genes Related Transcript Sets in Potato Cultivars Bearing Genetic Material of Wild Mexican Solanum Species

The long history of potato breeding includes the numerous introgressions of resistance genes from many wild species of South and Central America as well as from cultivated species into the breeding genepool. Most R genes belong to the NLR family with nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat. The aim of this research concerns an evaluation of NLR genes expression in transcriptomes of three potato cultivars (Evraziya, Siverskij, Sudarynya), which combine genetic material from wild and cultivated potato species, and each bears intragenic markers of RB/Rpi-blb1/Rpi-sto1 genes conferring broad-range resistance to late blight. The transcriptomes of the cultivars were compared before and 24 h after the Phytophthora infestans inoculation. The induction of RB/Rpi-blb1/Rpi-sto1 transcript after 24 h of inoculation was detected in the resistant cultivars Siverskij and Sudarynya but not in susceptible cv. Evraziya. This demonstrates the importance of transcriptomic assay for understanding the results of marker-assisted selection and phenotyping. Interestingly, assembling the transcriptomes de novo and analysis with NLR-parser tool revealed significant fractions of novel NLR genes with no homology to the reference genome from 103 (cv. Siverskij) to 160 (S. stoloniferum, 30514/15). Comparison of novel NLRs demonstrated a relatively small intersection between the genotypes that coincided with their complex pedigrees with several interspecific hybridization events. These novel NLRs may facilitate the discovery of new efficient R genes.
Autonomous docking for a satellite pair using monocular vision

Autonomous rendezvouz and docking is seen as an enabling technology. It allows, among others, the construction of larger space platforms in-orbit and also provides a means for the in-orbit servicing of space vehicles. In this thesis a docking sequence is proposed and tested in both simulation and practice. This therefore also requires the design and construction of a test platform. A model hovercraft is used to emulate the chaser satellite in a 2-dimensional plane as it moves relatively frictionlessly. The hovercraft is also equipped with a single camera (monocular vision) that is used as the main sensor to estimate the target’s pose (relative position and orientation). An imitation of a target satellite was made and equipped with light markers that are used by the chaser’s camera sensor. The position of the target’s lights in the image is used to determine the target’s pose using a modified version of Malan’s Extended Kalman Filter [20]. This information is then used during the docking sequence. This thesis successfully demonstrated the autonomous and reliable identification of the target’s lights in the image, and the autonomous docking of a satellite pair using monocular camera vision in both simulation and emulation.
SPICE evaluation of the S/N ratio for Si microstrip detectors

SPICE simulations of ac-coupled single-sided Si microstrip detectors connected to the PreShape 32 read-out chip have been performed in order to determine the geometrical characteristics (i.e., the strip pitch p and width w) which maximize the signal-to-noise ratio. All of the resistive and capacitive elements of the detector have been determined as a function of the w/p ratio by considering experimental and simulated data available in literature. The SPICE model the authors propose in this work takes into account all the main noise sources in the detector and read-out electronics. The minimum ionizing particle current signal shape has been introduced in the simulations. Two readout configurations (every strip or every second strip) have been investigated for 6.4- and 12.8-cm-long detectors. The equivalent noise charge as determined by the simulations has been compared with analytical calculations, in order to determine the limits and the corrections to a simplified analytical noise model. Finally, general guidelines for the detector design have been proposed, based on the simulation results.
A Prospective, Randomised, Controlled, Split-Face Clinical Trial to Assess the Safety and the Efficacy of Cold Atmospheric Plasma in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris

The increase in antibiotic resistance requires effective non-antibiotic therapies for acne. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) inactivates bacteria and improves wound healing, but its effect on acne has not been investigated. The objective of this controlled split-face study was to assess safety and efficacy of CAP in moderate acne. One side of the face received 8–10 treatments with cold helium plasma within 4–6 weeks; follow-up was two and four weeks thereafter. Acne lesions were counted, followed by global acne severity ratings. Of the 34 patients included, 29 completed the study. No serious adverse events occurred. The two facial sides did not significantly differ in the number of inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions. An interaction effect of number and type of treatment was found for inflammatory lesions. Lesion reduction after 10 treatments was significantly higher on the treated than on the untreated side. Percentage of patients reporting improved aesthetics was higher for the treated than for the untreated side after treatment completion (79% vs. 45%) and at the two- (72% vs. 45%) and four-week follow-up (79% vs. 52%). In conclusion, CAP was safe with excellent tolerability, showed moderate reduction in acne lesions and led to higher patient-based ratings of aesthetics than non-treatment.