Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuro-anatomical and neuro-molecular markers in salience network and their integration in machine learning-based prediction of cognitive dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment

Recent studies indicate disrupted functional mechanisms of salience network regions, especially right anterior insula (RAI), left AI (LAI), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the underlying neuro-anatomical and neuro-molecular mechanisms in these regions are not clearly understood yet. It is also unknown whether integration of multi-modal neuro-anatomical and neuro-molecular markers could predict cognitive impairment better in MCI. Herein we quantified neuro-anatomical volumetric markers via structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and neuro-molecular amyloid markers via positron emission tomography with Pittsburgh compound B (PET PiB) in SN regions of MCI (n = 33) and healthy controls (n = 27). We found that neuro-anatomical markers are significantly reduced while neuro-molecular markers are significantly elevated in SN nodes of MCI compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). These altered markers in MCI patients were associated with their worse cognitive performance (p < 0.05). Our machine learning-based modeling further suggested that the integration of multi-modal markers predicts cognitive impairment in MCI superiorly compared to using single modality-specific markers. Overall, these findings shed light on the underlying neuro-anatomical volumetric and neuro-molecular amyloid alterations in SN regions and show the significance of multi-modal markers integration approach in better predicting cognitive impairment in MCI.
Fabrication of GaAs MISFET with nm-thin oxidized layer formed by UV and ozone process

A gate insulating layer with single nm-order thickness for suppressing gate leakage current is one of the key factors in extending downsizing limits, based upon the scaling rule, of field-effect-type transistors. We describe the fabrication and characterization of GaAs MISFETs with a nm-thin oxidized layer as the gate insulating layer, which is formed by an ultraviolet (UV) and ozone process. The UV and ozone process forms oxidized GaAs layers near the surface, which effectively suppress the reverse leakage current by several orders of magnitude. The fabricated GaAs MISFET can operate not only in the depletion mode, but also in the accumulation mode up to 3 V gate voltage for 8-nm-thick oxidized layers due to the current blocking effect of the oxidized layer. A current cutoff frequency of 6 GHz and a maximum oscillation frequency of 8 GHz are obtained for a GaAs MISFET with 1-/spl mu/m gate length and 8-nm-thick oxidized layers.
Ideas underlying quantification of margins and uncertainties(QMU): a white paper.

This report describes key ideas underlying the application of Quantification of Margins and Uncertainties (QMU) to nuclear weapons stockpile lifecycle decisions at Sandia National Laboratories. While QMU is a broad process and methodology for generating critical technical information to be used in stockpile management, this paper emphasizes one component, which is information produced by computational modeling and simulation. In particular, we discuss the key principles of developing QMU information in the form of Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty, the need to separate aleatory and epistemic uncertainty in QMU, and the risk-informed decision making that is best suited for decisive application of QMU. The paper is written at a high level, but provides a systematic bibliography of useful papers for the interested reader to deepen their understanding of these ideas.
Gigantol Improves Cholesterol Metabolism and Progesterone Biosynthesis in MA-10 Leydig Cells

In aging males, androgen production by testicular Leydig cells decreases at a rate of approximately 1% per year. Phenolic compounds may enhance testosterone biosynthesis and delay the onset of male hypogonadism. Gigantol is a bibenzyl compound isolated from several types of orchids of the genus Dendrobium. This compound has various biological activities, including antioxidant activity. However, its capacity to regulate gene expression and steroid production in testicular Leydig cells has never been evaluated. We investigated the effect of gigantol on MA-10 Leydig cells’ gene expression using an RNA-Seq approach. To further investigate the structure-function relationship of the hydroxy-methoxyphenyl moiety of gigantol, experiments were also performed with ferulic acid and isoferulic acid. According to transcriptomic analysis, all genes coding for cholesterol biosynthesis-related enzymes are increased in response to gigantol treatment, resulting in increased lipid droplets accumulation. Moreover, treatments with 10 μM gigantol increased StAR protein levels and progesterone production from MA-10 Leydig cells. However, neither ferulic acid nor isoferulic acid influenced StAR protein synthesis and progesterone production in MA-10 Leydig cells. Thus, our findings indicate that gigantol improves cholesterol and steroid biosynthesis within testicular Leydig cells.
New uniplanar coplanar waveguide hybrid-ring couplers and magic-T's

The uniplanar coplanar waveguide (CPW) and slotline on a dielectric substrate have many applications to MIC and MMIC designs. A new reverse-phase CPW hybrid-ring coupler and a uniplanar CPW magic-T were developed. Experimental results showed that the hybrid-ring coupler has a 60% bandwidth centered at 3 GHz and the magic-T has a bandwidth of one octave from 2 to 4 GHz with 0.4 dB amplitude imbalance and 3.5/spl deg/ phase imbalance. Also, this paper presents theoretical analyses of CPW-slotline transitions using the transmission line models. Accurate modeling of nonuniform CPW and slotline radial stubs was developed using tandem connected uniform lines. Measured results of various CPW-slotline transitions agree very well with calculation. Design curves of the transitions are given for practical applications. To fully use the advantages of uniplanar structures, a 180/spl deg/ reverse-phase CPW-slotline back-to-back balun and a tee junction are described. Both circuits provide good amplitude and phase characteristic over a broad bandwidth due to the phase change of the circuits being independent of frequency. >
Impedance Matching in Dielectrophoresis Experiments

In this paper the importance of correct impedance matching is discussed in dielectrophoresis (DEP) experiments with commercial signal generators. An uncompensated and a 50 Ω terminated setup are compared to an approach utilizing an active in-line buffer with low output impedance. The losses in effective signal amplitude are simulated for different electrode areas with saline fluids. A separation experiment is performed using a single electrode pair with 10 µ m polystyrene microspheres. The separation capability decreases drastically for larger electrode areas for the uncompensated and the 50 Ω terminated setups but proper and constant behavior is found for the active buffer configuration.
Customer‐supplier integration forms in the air‐conditioning industry

Purpose – This paper explores what suppliers and customers do in order to integrate their operations across the supply chain. It also identifies on what contextual factors these specific CSI practices are contingent.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses the multiple case study methodology as a basis for theory formulation. Insights from nine cases of OEM‐supplier relationships in the Italian high precision air conditioning industry are used to address the research questions and formulate theoretical propositions.Findings – The paper develops four theoretical propositions derived from a framework that identifies four CSI forms contingent on two contextual variables – the value impact of goods purchased from each supplier and the degree of purchasing goods customization.Research limitations/implications – This paper provides a framework that advances the understanding of effective supplier relations management in two ways. Firstly, it gets over the traditional dichotomy between arm's length relations.
DID WE ALL JUST AGREE? PROBING JOINT DECISION MAKING IN RELATIONAL PROJECT DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS

Joint decision making is a central part of relational project delivery arrangements and often contractually enabled in projects. When project participants are contractually more equal, they also have a say on many issues that would be out of their influence normally. This process and dynamics of joint decision making between different companies in relational projects, resembling organized anarchy, is not well understood. We studied joint decision making in various managerial levels in a single Project Alliancing project in Finland. We tried to uncover how joint decisions are made between companies, and what elements influence the outcome of joint decision making. With a visual grounded theory approach and using the garbage can model as a framework, we analyzed over 11 hours of video data and found 18 distinct joint decision making processes with three types of decision making; rational, rule-based and mixed. Furthermore, five different roles emerged that had significant impact on the outcome of joint decisions; expert, payer, manager, impugner, and customer. The roles and types of decision making did not form any clear patterns but there was a clear link between the contract structure and having the last say on a joint decision.
Silicon Photonic Microring-Based 4 × 112 Gb/s WDM Transmitter With Photocurrent-Based Thermal Control in 28-nm CMOS

This work presents a hybrid-integrated 4-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda $ </tex-math></inline-formula> micro-ring modulator-based wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) optical transmitter (OTX) in the O-band, suitable for co-packaged optics. It supports up to 112 Gb/s per wavelength using high-bandwidth micro-ring modulators (MRMs) together with nonlinear equalization in the driver electronics. A thermal control scheme using MRM photocurrent to sense process and temperature variations is implemented, enabling <0.05 dB TDECQ penalty over 10 °C. This compact photocurrent-based control method significantly reduces the hardware and packaging overhead required for ring-based WDM transceivers. Measurements from a 4-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda $ </tex-math></inline-formula> OTX with 28-nm CMOS electronic IC (EIC) and custom silicon photonic IC (PIC) show the OTX supports 112 Gb/s with <0.7 dB TDECQ across all four channels while dissipating 5.8 pJ/bit in the electronics.
Energy Aware Design Strategies for Heterogeneous Sensor Networks

A sensor network is an interconnection of sensor nodes, each equipped with sensor(s), a micro-processor, some memory, and a wireless transceiver. Data from sensor nodes are usually collected at a central entity known as the base station or sink. Sensor nodes are powered by lightweight batteries, and it is often not feasible to replace or recharge these batteries. Therefore, the lifetime of a sensor network is considered to be over as soon as the batteries of critical nodes are depleted. For scalability and efficient data gathering, a hierarchical two-tier architecture has been proposed in the literature, where the sensor nodes constitute the lower-tier. The network is organized as a number of clusters, and, in each cluster, one node is assigned the role of the cluster head. The cluster heads constitute the upper-tier of the network. Each cluster head receives data from the sensor nodes in the corresponding cluster and communicates the data to the base station. The cluster heads may communicate with the base station either directly, using single-hop communication, or by forming a network among themselves using multi-hop communication. In recent years, a special node, provisioned with higher initial energy and communication capabilities, called the relay node, has been proposed in the literature to act as a cluster head in hierarchical sensor networks. The three major subproblems when designing this type of network are (i) to find a suitable placement of the relay nodes within the network, using the minimal number of relay nodes, so that each sensor node can communicate effectively with its cluster head, and the upper-tier network can tolerate fault(s), (ii) to assign sensor nodes to clusters in an energy efficient manner, and (iii) to compute a routing scheme for the relay nodes, such that the network lifetime is maximized. In this dissertation, we present two strategies for the placement of relay nodes, and five energy-aware strategies for the clustering and routing in a hierarchical, heterogeneous, two-tiered sensor network using relay nodes as cluster heads.
A COMPACT TUNABLE DUAL-STOP-BAND FILTER BASED ON DMS AND DGS

In this paper, a compact tunable dual-stop-band fllter is proposed. The proposed fllter is based on the combination of double H-shaped defected ground structure (HDGS) and E-shaped defected microstrip structure (EDMS). The loaded HDGS/EDMS varactor diode is introduced to realize the tunable dual-stop-band fllter. The equivalent-circuit models and theoretical analysis of the proposed structure are presented; also its performance evaluation is compared with traditional structure. The proposed fllter has the characteristic of two independently adjustable stopbands and wide tuning range. EDMS also shows size reduction up to 38% compared with the T- shaped defected microstrip structure. The measured performance of the tunable dual-stop-band fllter agrees well with the simulation results.
Evaluation of a two-way SMS messaging strategy to reduce neonatal mortality: rationale, design and methods of the Mobile WACh NEO randomised controlled trial in Kenya

Introduction Globally, approximately half of the estimated 6.3 million under-5 deaths occur in the neonatal period (within the first 28 days of life). Kenya ranks among countries with the highest number of neonatal deaths, at 20 per 1000 live births. Improved identification and management of neonates with potentially life-threatening illness is critical to meet the WHO’s target of ≤12 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births by 2035. We developed an interactive (two-way) short messaging service (SMS) communication intervention, Mobile Solutions for Neonatal Health (Mobile women’s and children’s health (WACh) NEO), focused on the perinatal period. Mobile WACh NEO sends automated tailored SMS messages to mothers during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks post partum. Messages employ the Information-Motivation-Behaviour Skills framework to promote (1) maternal implementation of essential newborn care (ENC, including early, exclusive breast feeding, cord care and thermal care), (2) maternal identification of neonatal danger signs and care-seeking, and (3) maternal social support and self-efficacy. Participants can also send SMS to the study nurse, enabling on-demand remote support. Methods and analysis We describe a two-arm unblinded randomised controlled trial of the Mobile WACh NEO intervention. We will enrol 5000 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy at 4 facilities in Kenya and randomise them 1:1 to receive interactive SMS or no SMS (control), and conduct follow-up visits at 2 and 6 weeks post partum. Neonatal mortality will be compared between arms as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include care-seeking, practice of ENC and psychosocial health. Exploratory analysis will investigate associations between maternal mental health, practice of ENC, care-seeking and SMS engagement. Ethics and dissemination This study received ethical approval from the University of Washington (STUDY00006395), Women and Infants Hospital (1755292-1) and Kenyatta National Hospital/University of Nairobi (P310/04/2019). All participants will provide written informed consent. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences. Trial registration number NCT04598165
Compact Wideband Balun Using Hybrid Folded Substrate Integrated Waveguide/Slotline Resonator

In this paper, based on hybrid folded substrate integrated waveguide (FSIW)/slotline resonator, a compact wideband balun is proposed. Such hybrid FSIW/slotline resonator can support waveguide and quasi-slotline modes in a compact size. Simultaneously, electromagnetic fields of the hybrid FSIW/slotline resonator are anti-symmetrically distributed along the slotline. Thus, it is suitable to provide good passband phase difference for wideband baluns. To further extend the passband bandwidth, two E-shaped slotline resonators are inserted to the hybrid FSIW/slotline resonator. To verify such mechanisms, a compact wideband balun is designed, fabricated, and measured. It operates from 2.6 to 4.9 GHz (61.3%) with in-band amplitude- and phase-imbalances of ±0.5 dB and ±6.5°, respectively. Meanwhile, the core circuit-size is only $0.90 \lambda_{g}\times 0.45 \lambda_{g}$.
Dynamic Parameter Identification of a Human-Exoskeleton System With the Motor Torque Data

The objective of this paper is to identify dynamic parameters of the human-exoskeleton system (HES) with the motor torque data considering modeling the passive elastic joint torque of the user. Based on a lower limb exoskeleton prototype we recently developed, the dynamics of the joint actuators and two degrees of freedom link-based swing leg are firstly modeled. The passive elasticity of the human joint is modeled by double-exponential equations. Systematic experiments are then conducted, during which the motor current is measured to compute the motor torque for identification. Finally, the dynamic parameters of the joint actuators, the exoskeleton leg and the human-exoskeleton leg are successively identified. The identification is implemented through the off-line inverse dynamic model simulation with the measured motor torque data. A consistent tendency is found between the simulated motor torque after identification and the measured one. This demonstrates the validity of the identification method proposed. This paper provides a systemic method of identifying the HES with the motor torque data and enriches the experimental proof that the double-exponential model is feasible to describe the passive elastic joint torque.
Lower Voltage for Higher Security: Using Voltage Overscaling to Secure Deep Neural Networks

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are shown to be vulnerable to adversarial attacks—carefully crafted additive noise that undermines DNNs integrity. Previously proposed defenses against these attacks require substantial overheads, making it challenging to deploy these solutions in power and computational resource-constrained devices, such as embedded systems and the Edge. In this paper, we explore the use of voltage over-scaling (VOS) as a lightweight defense against adversarial attacks. Specifically, we exploit the stochastic timing violations of VOS to implement a moving-target defense for DNNs. Our experimental results demonstrate that VOS guarantees effective defense against different attack methods, does not require any software/hardware modifications, and offers a by-product reduction in power consumption.
Deep Learning in the Classification of Stage of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B with Magnetic Resonance ADC Images

Liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B is the pathological repair response of the liver to chronic injury, which is a key step in the development of various chronic liver diseases to cirrhosis and an important link affecting the prognosis of chronic liver diseases. The further development of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B can lead to the disorder of hepatic lobule structure, nodular regeneration of hepatocytes, formation of a pseudolobular structure, namely, cirrhosis, clinical manifestations of liver dysfunction, and portal hypertension. So far, the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B has been made manually by doctors. However, this is very subjective and boring for doctors. Doctors are likely to be interfered with by external factors, such as fatigue and lack of sleep. This paper proposed a 5-layer deep convolution neural network structure for the automatic classification of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. In the 5-layer deep convolution neural network structure, there were three convolution layers and two fully connected layers, and each convolution layer was connected with a pooling layer. 123 ADC images were collected, and the following results were obtained: the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1, MCC, and FMI were 88.13% ± 1.47%, 81.45% ± 3.69%, 91.12% ± 1.72%, 80.49% ± 2.94%, 80.90% ± 2.39%, 72.36% ± 3.39%, and 80.94% ± 2.37%, respectively.
Software radar echo synthesizer

This paper introduces a software tool able to synthesize raw radar echo signals. Application was created to support radar signal processing block designers. For given set of objects, radar location and probing parameters it produces signal received by radar antenna for each probing. Signal is stored in a file for future usage. Signal synthesizer works in MATLAB environment, but to improve efficiency most time consuming parts are written in C++ programming language.
The relationship between material service life and the life cycle energy of contemporary residential buildings in Australia

Energy use and related greenhouse gas emissions of buildings have a significant effect on the environment. To reduce energy consumption in buildings, it is important to understand energy use occurring across the building life cycle. While previous studies have shown the significance of both the energy required for building operation as well as the energy embodied in initial building construction, an understanding of the total energy embodied in replacement materials over a building's life is not as well developed. One of the key factors affecting this ‘recurring’ embodied energy is the service life of materials. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the service life of materials and the life cycle energy demand associated with contemporary residential buildings in Australia. The initial embodied energy, operational energy and recurrent embodied energy of a detached residential building were calculated with material service life values based on average figures obtained from the literature. These values were then varied to reflect the extent of service life variability likely for a selection of the main building materials and recurring embodied energy recalculated for each scenario. Selected materials of the building were then replaced with commonly used alternatives and the building's initial and recurrent embodied energy recalculated for a range of materials service life scenarios. The results from this initial study indicate that the service life of materials can have a considerable effect on total energy demand associated with a building over its life. This demonstrates the need for further clarity around the service life of materials and the importance of considering the durability of materials when designing and managing buildings for improved energy efficiency. Results from this study also suggest the importance of including the recurrent embodied energy of buildings in building life cycle energy analyses, which in this case represented between 19 and 31% of the life cycle energy of the building as built and 21 and 34% with the use of alternative materials.
ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY REPORT ON CETP USING PHYSICO- CHEMICAL PROCESS-A CASE STUDY

The present study is focused on a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) located at Umaraya, District Baroda. Waste water from about thirty five small and medium scale industries majorly comprising of chemical manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries are treated in this CETP. The study here is aimed for providing economic feasibility report of the proposed physicochemical process replacing the conventional biological treatment in the CETP. It has been suggested to replace by advanced oxidation and filtration units. The cost estimation consisting of capital cost, materials cost and operation and maintenance cost were carried out for the proposed structure. The feasibility studies conducted shows that replacement with the proposed treatment system is technically feasible but expensive.