Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systemic Treatment with Pioglitazone Reverses Vision Loss in Preclinical Glaucoma Models

Neuroinflammation significantly contributes to the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases. This is also the case in glaucoma and may be a reason why many patients suffer from progressive vision loss despite maximal reduction in intraocular pressure. Pioglitazone is an agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) whose pleiotrophic activities include modulation of cellular energy metabolism and reduction in inflammation. In this study we employed the DBA2/J mouse model of glaucoma with chronically elevated intraocular pressure to investigate whether oral low-dose pioglitazone treatment preserves retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival. We then used an inducible glaucoma model in C57BL/6J mice to determine visual function, pattern electroretinographs, and tracking of optokinetic reflex. Our findings demonstrate that pioglitazone treatment does significantly protect RGCs and prevents axonal degeneration in the glaucomatous retina. Furthermore, treatment preserves and partially reverses vision loss in spite of continuously elevated intraocular pressure. These data suggest that pioglitazone may provide treatment benefits for those glaucoma patients experiencing continued vision loss.
Genetic Influences of Blank Temperature Distribution on Radial-axial Ring Rolling Deformation

Radial-axial ring rolling is an advanced metal plastic forming technique to manufacture large size seamless rings with as-forged microstructure. The deformation degree and heat transfer condition of different blank parts are different during blank forging. As a result, the temperature distribution of blank is not uniform, which produces different genetic influences on deformation and microstructure of rolled ring in radial-axial ring rolling process. However, most present researches ignore this factor. Thus, an analog simulation method is adopted to study the genetic influences of blank temperature distribution on radial-axial ring rolling deformation. A reliable 3D coupled thermo-mechanical-micro finite element(FE) model of radial-axial ring rolling is established under SIMUFACT software environment, and six different conditions of blank temperature distribution are realized by using cooling model before ring rolling. Through simulation and analysis, the genetic influence laws of the six different blank temperature distributions on strain, temperature and grain size of rolled rings are investigated. The results show that in the case of lower temperature distribution of the blank upper and lower surface, the axial average values of strain, temperature and grain size of rolled rings are decreased respectively, the axial uniform value of strain is increased, and the axial uniform values of temperature and grain size are decreased respectively. In the case of lower temperature distribution of the blank inner and outer surface, the radial average values of strain, temperature and grain size of rolled rings are decreased respectively, the radial uniform value of strain is increased, and the radial uniform values of temperature and grain size are decreased respectively. The research results will provide a scientific guidance for reasonable control of the blank temperature distribution to improve the quality of rolled rings in actual radial-axial ring rolling process.
Analysis and control of flapping flight: from biological to robotic insects

This dissertation explores flapping flight as an effective form of locomotion for unmanned micro aerial vehicles (MAVs). Flapping flight is analyzed from three different perspectives: biological, technological and control-theoretic. To the author's knowledge, this dissertation is one of the first attempts to study flapping flight from a control theory perspective. From a biological perspective, the extraordinary maneuverability of many flying insects is the result of two main factors: (1) their ability to generate and control the production of large aerodynamic forces and torques from unsteady state aerodynamic mechanisms unique to flapping flight, and (2) a hierarchical architecture for their sensory and neuromotor systems. Inspired by real insects, this dissertation proposes a similar hierarchical architecture for the design of a control unit for micromechanical flying insects (MFIs). By combining averaging theory and biomimetic principles, it is shown that flapping flight allows the independent control of five degrees of freedom out of a total of six, as suggested but never experimentally confirmed by many biologists. From a technological perspective, it is shown that a simple proportional feedback is sufficient to stabilize a wide range of flight modes such as hovering, cruising and steering. This is done under the assumption of the linearity of the wing-thorax dynamics and that the feedback's gain is a periodic function with the same period as the wingbeat. This is vital to the successful implementation of flight controllers given the limited computational resources available on MFIs. Moreover, the controller design methodology developed here is not limited to the mathematical models of aerodynamics considered in this thesis, but can be easily adapted to experimental data as it becomes available. Finally, from a control-theoretical perspective, flapping flight is proposed as a compelling example of high-frequency control of an underactuated system present in nature. Averaging theory and separation of timescales is applied rigorously to ground the controller design approach and to highlight trade-offs between mechanical efficiency and overall responsiveness of the body dynamics.
Assessment of the Family Context in Adolescence: A Systematic Review

Background: Bearing in mind that the characteristics of the family system have a significant influence on the positive development of adolescents and considering that there are different measuring instruments, the main objective of this work is to review studies on the instruments for evaluating the family context, to determine which instruments are validated or adapted by researchers between 2010 and 2020 and which variables in the family context are valued during the adolescent stage. Methods: The academic search engines consulted have been Scopus, Redalyc and Web of Science. Following the criteria contemplated in the PRISMA Declaration, once duplicates were eliminated, a total of 101 studies were identified. A critical reading of the titles, summaries and a large part of the complete articles was carried out, and 56 studies were excluded. Finally, a systematic review of 45 studies that contrasted the psychometric properties of self-report measures (questionnaires, inventories, scales), between original papers and adaptations was carried out. Results: The results obtained reveal that the instruments measure different aspects of the family system: the family dynamics (variables such as parental competence, resilience, social support, parenting style and practices of leisure and free time); family functioning (variables such as problem solving, communication, roles, affective response capacity, affective participation, behavior control, cohesion, adaptability and family satisfaction); family adjustment (variables referring to parental stress, parental conflict, family health and family protection; and the parent–child relationships (variables such as quality, family effectiveness, family atmosphere and attachment). Conclusions: The most used psychological tests are: Parental Bonding Instrument, Family Assessment Resources, Social Support Scale, Parental Stress Index and Scale of Adaptation, Participation, Gain, Affection and Resources. Parental Bonding Instrument shows excellent psychometric properties. The rest of the self-report measures present acceptable reliability indices. The psychometric properties of some Family Assessment Resources, Social Systems Assessment Scale and Protective Factors Survey scales are more questionable, so new validation studies of these instruments are required. Affect (quality of relationships, manifestation, attachment bond), communication between members of the family group and parental control (behavioral and psychological) have been the main dimensions of the family context studied in adolescence. Along with these variables, others have been incorporated, such as parental resilience, family leisure and free time routines, family health or family strengths and weaknesses. The related instruments used in different psychological and cultural environments may help us to better understand the educational and parenting practices based on family dynamics, functioning, adjustment and parent–child relationships.
Stability and Stabilization of Takagi–Sugeno Fuzzy Second-Fractional-Order Linear Networks via Nonreduced-Order Approach

The extensively studied fractional-order dynamical networks only contain a uniform fractional derivative, which restricts the scope of fractional-order investigation. One type of Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy second-fractional-order linear networks is established in this article. First, by defining a novel Lyapunov functional, a sufficient criterion is offered to ensure global asymptotic stability of the addressed networks with time delay. Second, a fuzzy state-feedback control scheme is designed for the Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy second-fractional-order delayed linear networks to achieve global stabilization. Third, considering that only a few scholars have worked on adaptive control of fractional-order networks, an adaptive control method is also designed to realize the global stabilization of the Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy second-fractional-order linear networks, which does not contain the sign function and chattering problem can be averted. All results, given as algebraic criteria, are proved directly from the Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy second-fractional-order networks without utilizing the reduced-order approach. Three simulation examples are conducted to show the validity of the theoretical results at last.
Reducing Treatment Burden Among People With Chronic Conditions Using Machine Learning: Viewpoint (Preprint)

UNSTRUCTURED The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated multiple challenges within the health care system and is unique to those living with chronic conditions. Recent advances in digital health technologies (eHealth) present opportunities to improve quality of care, self-management, and decision-making support to reduce treatment burden and the risk of chronic condition management burnout. There are limited available eHealth models that can adequately describe how this can be carried out. In this paper, we define treatment burden and the related risk of affective burnout; assess how an eHealth enhanced Chronic Care Model can help prioritize digital health solutions; and describe an emerging machine learning model as one example aimed to alleviate treatment burden and burnout risk. We propose that eHealth-driven machine learning models can be a disruptive change to optimally support persons living with chronic conditions.
Multiple trend tests on air temperature and precipitation anomalies in Vietnam

An informed decision on building climate resilience and adaptation requires a deep understanding of long-term changes in temperature and precipitation, especially for most vulnerable countries to climate extremes like Vietnam. Hence, this study aimed to comprehend spatiotemporal trend possibilities of temperature and precipitation in Vietnam by employing multiple non-parametric statistical trend tests. This study also suggested a modified procedure, represented as a Hovmöller-like diagram, for enhancing the characterization of long-term spatiotemporal trends by applying multiple monotonic trend tests to all latitude coordinates through all possible 30-year periods. The superiority of multiple trend tests over a single one is that this methodology can assess the sensitivity of trend test results to the beginning years, ending years, and record lengths, thus emphasizing the necessity of performing monotonic trend tests repeatedly. The results show consistent warming trends in all climate sub-regions over the last 4–5 decades, with the estimated trend slopes varying from approximately 0.010–0.042 °C/year. Precipitation anomalies in most climate sub-regions, especially in the southern part, experienced significant increasing trends at the rate of around 0.29–2.76%/year during the last 3–5 decades. These findings are expected to contribute more insights into the spatiotemporal trend patterns of temperature and precipitation in Vietnam.
Preliminary numerical solutions of the evolution of free jets. IMECE2012-86730

The present paper presents preliminary numerical solutions of the flow evolution of a two dimensional rectangular free jet. The numerical simulations in a two-dimensional domain are carried out with Open-FOAM, the open-source code, and compare the numerical results with the experimental visualizations performed in the same laboratory with the shadowgraph technique. The evolution of a two-dimensional submerged free jet is reported in the literature by the presence of two regions of flow: the potential core, where the centerline velocity maintains equal to that on the slot exit, and the turbulent or mixing region, where the centerline velocity decreases with the distance from the exit. Previous anemometric measurements, carried out in this laboratory with an air jet emerging from a rectangular channel, showed the presence of a region of flow, just outside the exit and before the potential core, where velocity and turbulence remain almost equal to those measured on the exit, and it has been called “undisturbed region of flow” because is present also in turbulent conditions. Previous and present shadowgraph visualizations show a jet which has the same height along the undisturbed region of flow and increases its height afterwards. The length of the undisturbed region depends on the Reynolds number of the flow and on the presence of turbulence promoters, e.g. metallic grids, at the exit of the slot. The undisturbed region is becoming nil with the increase of the Reynolds numbers, in agreement to the literature. The present two dimensional numerical solutions, carried out at Re numbers equal to 25,000 and 60,000 confirm the results obtained with the shadow visualizations.
Global determinants of insect mitochondrial genetic diversity

Understanding global patterns of genetic diversity (GD) is essential for describing, monitoring, and preserving life on Earth. To date, efforts to map macrogenetic patterns have been restricted to vertebrates, which comprise only a small fraction of Earth’s biodiversity. Here, we construct the first global map of predicted insect mitochondrial (COI) GD, derived from publicly available data. We calculate the mitochondrial GD mean (GDM) and evenness (GDE) of insect assemblages across the globe, identify their environmental correlates, and make predictions of mitochondrial GD levels in unsampled areas based on environmental data. Using the largest single-locus genetic dataset yet assembled, we find that mitochondrial GDE follows a quadratic latitudinal gradient peaking in the subtropics. Both mitochondrial GDM and GDE positively correlate with seasonally hot temperatures, as well as climate stability since the last glacial maximum. Our models explain 27.9% and 24.0% of the observed variation in mitochondrial GDM and GDE in insects, respectively, making an important step towards understanding global biodiversity patterns in the most diverse animal taxon.
Complexity of chaos in three cascaded vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

The complexity of chaos generated in two systems has been studied experimentally. The complexity of the chaos is quantified by calculating average normalized permutation entropy (HS(P)). In the first system, a chaotic output from a master laser (ML) is injected into a CW slave laser (SL). The results show that the complexity of chaos generated in the SL decreases with absolute value of the frequency detuning Δf1, which means the complexity of the chaos is compromised with enhancing the bandwidth, as Δf1 is increased. The second system comprises three vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs); the first VCSEL (used as ML) was rendered chaotic by optical feedback, the second VCSEL is used as intermediate laser (IL), which is rendered chaotic when it is subject to optical injection from the chaotic ML and the third VCSEL is used as a SL and is a subject of optical injection from the chaotic IL, thus entering chaotic dynamics. In this three-VCSEL system, small, intermediate and wide bandwidths of the injecting chaos signals, have been used to study the effect of the bandwidth of the injecting chaos on the complexity of chaos generated in the SL. The results show that the bandwidth of the chaotic injection beam does not impact the complexity of the chaos generated in the SL for positive frequency detuning; however, for large negative frequency detuning, the complexity of the chaos in the SL has been reduced significantly for the intermediate and lower bandwidth of the chaotic injection beam.
Joint Energy and Performance Aware Relay Positioning in Flying Networks

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as suitable platforms for transporting and positioning communications nodes on demand, including Wi-Fi Access Points and cellular Base Stations. This paved the way for the deployment of flying networks capable of temporarily providing wireless connectivity and reinforcing coverage and capacity of existing networks. Several solutions have been proposed for the positioning of UAVs acting as Flying Access Points (FAPs). Yet, the positioning of Flying Communications Relays (FCRs) in charge of forwarding the traffic to/from the Internet has not received equal attention. In addition, state of the art works are focused on optimizing both the flying network performance and the energy-efficiency from the communications point of view, leaving aside a relevant component: the energy spent for the UAV propulsion. We propose the Energy and Performance Aware relay Positioning (EPAP) algorithm. EPAP defines target performance-aware Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) values for the wireless links established between the FCR UAV and the FAPs and, based on that, computes the trajectory to be completed by the FCR UAV so that the energy spent for the UAV propulsion is minimized. EPAP was evaluated in terms of both the flying network performance and the FCR UAV endurance, considering multiple networking scenarios. Simulation results show gains up to 25% in the FCR UAV endurance, while not compromising the Quality of Service offered by the flying network.
Development of a test protocol for industry to predict and optimise flow behaviour of blended powders utilising particle to bulk scale models

Reformulation of blended particulate materials has been always a problem for powder industry because formulators have difficulty in measuring, controlling and/or modifying the bulk flow properties of powders. A recently developed powder flow tester (PFT) by The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, University of Greenwich is now available for industry to measure quickly and accurately the flow behaviour of single and blended particulate materials. This new powder flow tester helps to characterise quantitatively the blends which show good flow behaviour in the industrial process lines and define the desirable standards for blends with poor flow behaviour. However, the current process of reformulation is basically a trial and error procedure based on the prior experience of the formulator with other blends reformulated. There is clearly a lack of practical understanding of the links between the particle and bulk scale of powders and how changes in the particle properties and/or blend compositions would affect the flow behaviour of blended powders. The aim of this research work was to develop an “empirical understanding” of the links between the particle properties and bulk flow properties in order to predict the bulk flow properties of blended powders based on changes to the particle properties or blend components. This has been achieved evaluating analytical well-established models found in the literature linking particle and bulk scale for practical purposes in industry, developing new empirical models to predict the flow behaviour of single and blended powders based on the experimental work undertaken in this research and identifying methods or techniques that formulators in industry could use to predict the flow behaviour of their blended powders. The solution provided is a test protocol which in combination with the standard characterisation tests commonly used in industry and the prediction tool called Virtual Powder Blending Laboratory (recently developed by The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology using the experimental and modelling work undertaken in this work) will help formulators and process engineers to formulate the composition of blended powders with the desirable flow behaviour in industrial process lines.
InfoSecurity 2008 Threat Analysis

An all-star cast of authors analyze the top IT security threats for 2008 as selected by the editors and readers of Infosecurity Magazine. This book, compiled from the Syngress Security Library, is an essential reference for any IT professional managing enterprise security. It serves as an early warning system, allowing readers to assess vulnerabilities, design protection schemes and plan for disaster recovery should an attack occur. Topics include Botnets, Cross Site Scripting Attacks, Social Engineering, Physical and Logical Convergence, Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS), Voice over IP (VoIP), and Asterisk Hacking. Each threat is fully defined, likely vulnerabilities are identified, and detection and prevention strategies are considered. Wherever possible, real-world examples are used to illustrate the threats and tools for specific solutions. * Provides IT Security Professionals with a first look at likely new threats to their enterprise * Includes real-world examples of system intrusions and compromised data * Provides techniques and strategies to detect, prevent, and recover * Includes coverage of PCI, VoIP, XSS, Asterisk, Social Engineering, Botnets, and Convergence