Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Approach Towards Global Optimality of Optimal Power Flow Using Quadratic Convex Optimization

Optimal Power Flow (OPF) can be modeled as a nonconvex Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Program (QCQP). Our purpose is to solve OPF to global optimality. To this end, we specialize the Mixed-Integer Quadratic Convex Reformulation method (MIQCR) to (OPF). This is a method in two steps. First, a Semi-Definite Programming (SDP) relaxation of (OPF) is solved. Then the optimal dual variables of this relaxation are used to reformulate OPF into an equivalent new quadratic program, where all the non-convexity is moved to one additional constraint. In the second step, this reformulation is solved within a branch-and-bound algorithm, where at each node a quadratic and convex relaxation of the reformulated problem, obtained by relaxing the non-convex added constraint, is solved. The key point of our approach is that the lower bound at the root node of the branch-and-bound tree is equal to the SDP relaxation value. We test this method on several OPF cases, from two-bus networks to more-than-a-thousand-buses networks from the MAT-POWER repository. Our first results are very encouraging.
Adaptation and Implementation of a Mobile Phone–Based Remote Symptom Monitoring System for People With Cancer in Europe

Background There has been an international shift in health care, which has seen an increasing focus and development of technological and personalized at-home interventions that aim to improve health outcomes and patient-clinician communication. However, there is a notable lack of empirical evidence describing the preparatory steps of adapting and implementing technology of this kind across multiple countries and clinical settings. Objective This study aimed to describe the steps undertaken in the preparation of a multinational, multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test a mobile phone–based remote symptom monitoring system, that is, Advanced Symptom Management System (ASyMS), designed to enhance management of chemotherapy toxicities among people with cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy versus standard cancer center care. Methods There were 13 cancer centers across 5 European countries (Austria, Greece, Ireland, Norway, and the United Kingdom). Multiple steps were undertaken, including a scoping review of empirical literature and clinical guidelines, translation and linguistic validation of study materials, development of standardized international care procedures, and the integration and evaluation of the technology within each cancer center. Results The ASyMS was successfully implemented and deployed in clinical practices across 5 European countries. The rigorous and simultaneous steps undertaken by the research team highlighted the strengths of the system in clinical practice, as well as the clinical and technical changes required to meet the diverse needs of its intended users within each country, before the commencement of the RCT. Conclusions Adapting and implementing this multinational, multicenter system required close attention to diverse considerations and unique challenges primarily related to communication and clinical and technical issues. Success was dependent on collaborative and transparent communication among academics, the technology industry, translation partners, patients, and clinicians as well as a simultaneous and rigorous methodological approach within the 5 relevant countries.
Mechanism of Alkali-Activated Copper-Nickel Slag Material

A copper-nickel slag-based alkali-activated cementing material (CNSCM) for backfilling was prepared using copper-nickel slag as a raw material and sodium silicate (SS) as an activating agent. The effects of SS content (6%, 8%, and 10%) and curing humidity on the compressive strength of CNSCM were investigated using an electronic universal testing machine. Types of hydration products and microstructures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that by increasing the SS content, the compressive strength of the CNSCM exhibited an increasing trend, followed by a decreasing trend. The optimal content was 8%. Humidity was identified as another factor affecting compressive strength, which reached 17 MPa after curing for 28 d under standard conditions. A decrease in humidity could improve the compressive strength of the material. The main hydration reaction products of the CNSCM were C-S-H gel, Fe (OH)2 or Fe (OH)3 gel, and CaCO3.
Active Disturbance Rejection Based Robust Trajectory Tracking Controller Design in State Space

This paper proposes a new active disturbance rejection (ADR) based robust trajectory tracking controller design method in state space. It can compensate not only matched but also mismatched disturbances. Robust state and control input references are generated in terms of a fictitious design variable, namely differentially flat output, and the estimations of disturbances by using differential flatness (DF) and disturbance observer (DOb). Two different robust controller design techniques are proposed by using Brunovsky canonical form and polynomial matrix form approaches. The robust position control problem of a two mass-spring-damper system is studied to verify the proposed ADR controllers.
Eight biomarkers on a novel strip for early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction

Accurate detection of markers in human serum is important in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This work presents a novel eight biomarker strip, which combines dry chemistry with a fluorescence lateral flow assay. Eight AMI markers were employed simultaneously for sensitive detection, including cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), uric acid (UA), myoglobin (Myo), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The strip offers the advantages of simple fabrication, convenience, time-saving detection and accurate assessment for AMI. Moreover, the strip possesses acceptable applicability for human serum. This proposed strategy establishes a remarkable platform for the construction of a multi-target detection strip that is feasible for accurate detection for real human serum samples.
Accessing From the Sky: A Tutorial on UAV Communications for 5G and Beyond

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have found numerous applications and are expected to bring fertile business opportunities in the next decade. Among various enabling technologies for UAVs, wireless communication is essential and has drawn significantly growing attention in recent years. Compared to the conventional terrestrial communications, UAVs’ communications face new challenges due to their high altitude above the ground and great flexibility of movement in the 3-D space. Several critical issues arise, including the line-of-sight (LoS) dominant UAV-ground channels and induced strong aerial-terrestrial network interference, the distinct communication quality-of-service (QoS) requirements for UAV control messages versus payload data, the stringent constraints imposed by the size, weight, and power (SWAP) limitations of UAVs, as well as the exploitation of the new design degree of freedom (DoF) brought by the highly controllable 3-D UAV mobility. In this article, we give a tutorial overview of the recent advances in UAV communications to address the above issues, with an emphasis on how to integrate UAVs into the forthcoming fifth-generation (5G) and future cellular networks. In particular, we partition our discussion into two promising research and application frameworks of UAV communications, namely UAV-assisted wireless communications and cellular-connected UAVs, where UAVs are integrated into the network as new aerial communication platforms and users, respectively. Furthermore, we point out promising directions for future research.
Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Tumor Board Connecting Eight General Hospitals in Japan via a High-Security Communication Line

PURPOSE The complexity of lung cancer treatment is rapidly increasing, necessitating the use of multidisciplinary approaches for improving outcomes. Although it is common for institutions to have their own tumor boards, tumor boards connecting several general hospitals, and therefore allowing for more diverse opinions, are not prevalent. MATERIALS AND METHODS A tumor board connecting eight hospitals was formed to discuss patients for whom formulating a treatment strategy was difficult. Physicians and hospital staff accessed a high-security communication line via LiveOn ( Japan Media Systems Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), which is completely isolated from the Internet and password protected, that enables each hospital to share the electronic medical records and images of relevant patients at other hospitals on desktop computers in real time. The lung cancer tumor board began in April 2017 and has since been held every Tuesday evening for 1 hour. Preparatory records containing the age, sex, histology, TNM classification, background, and discussion points for each patient are created before each tumor board meeting. After the tumor board discussion, all conclusions and related articles used in the board are added to the minutes, which are finalized as Microsoft Word files, consolidated, and archived. These files can be retrieved later using key words. RESULTS From April 2017 to June 2018, 202 patients were discussed. Although TNM classification was not changed for any patient, diverse opinions led to a change in the proposed strategy for 49 of 202 patients. CONCLUSION The multidisciplinary tumor board was useful in obtaining various opinions from the perspectives of different experts. This should be evaluated in a prospective study.
MR‐based treatment planning in radiation therapy using a deep learning approach

Abstract Purpose To develop and evaluate the feasibility of deep learning approaches for MR‐based treatment planning (deepMTP) in brain tumor radiation therapy. Methods and materials A treatment planning pipeline was constructed using a deep learning approach to generate continuously valued pseudo CT images from MR images. A deep convolutional neural network was designed to identify tissue features in volumetric head MR images training with co‐registered kVCT images. A set of 40 retrospective 3D T1‐weighted head images was utilized to train the model, and evaluated in 10 clinical cases with brain metastases by comparing treatment plans using deep learning generated pseudo CT and using an acquired planning kVCT. Paired‐sample Wilcoxon signed rank sum tests were used for statistical analysis to compare dosimetric parameters of plans made with pseudo CT images generated from deepMTP to those made with kVCT‐based clinical treatment plan (CTTP). Results deepMTP provides an accurate pseudo CT with Dice coefficients for air: 0.95 ± 0.01, soft tissue: 0.94 ± 0.02, and bone: 0.85 ± 0.02 and a mean absolute error of 75 ± 23 HU compared with acquired kVCTs. The absolute percentage differences of dosimetric parameters between deepMTP and CTTP was 0.24% ± 0.46% for planning target volume (PTV) volume, 1.39% ± 1.31% for maximum dose and 0.27% ± 0.79% for the PTV receiving 95% of the prescribed dose (V95). Furthermore, no significant difference was found for PTV volume (P = 0.50), the maximum dose (P = 0.83) and V95 (P = 0.19) between deepMTP and CTTP. Conclusions We have developed an automated approach (deepMTP) that allows generation of a continuously valued pseudo CT from a single high‐resolution 3D MR image and evaluated it in partial brain tumor treatment planning. The deepMTP provided dose distribution with no significant difference relative to a kVCT‐based standard volumetric modulated arc therapy plans.
The Relationship between NDVI and Climate Factors at Different Monthly Time Scales: A Case Study of Grasslands in Inner Mongolia, China (1982–2015)

There are currently only two methods (the within-growing season method and the inter-growing season method) used to analyse the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)–climate relationship at the monthly time scale. What are the differences between the two methods, and why do they exist? Which method is more suitable for the analysis of the relationship between them? In this study, after obtaining NDVI values (GIMMS NDVI3g) near meteorological stations and meteorological data of Inner Mongolian grasslands from 1982 to 2015, we analysed temporal changes in NDVI and climate factors, and explored the difference in Pearson correlation coefficients (R) between them via the above two analysis methods and analysed the change in R between them at multiple time scales. The research results indicated that: (1) NDVI was affected by temperature and precipitation in the area, showing periodic changes, (2) NDVI had a high value of R with climate factors in the within-growing season, while the significant correlation between them was different in different months in the inter-growing season, (3) with the increase in time series, the value of R between NDVI and climate factors showed a trend of increase in the within-growing season, while the value of R between NDVI and precipitation decreased, but then tended toward stability in the inter-growing season, and (4) when exploring the NDVI–climate relationship, we should first analyse the types of climate in the region to avoid the impacts of rain and heat occurring during the same period, and the inter-growing season method is more suitable for the analysis of the relationship between them.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of Wnt Family Genes in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

Wnt is a family of conserved glycoproteins that participate in a variety of important biological processes including embryo development, cell proliferation and differentiation, and tissue regeneration. The Wnt family is a metazoan novelty found in all animal phyla. Studies have revealed that the number of Wnt genes varies among species, presumably due to reproduction and loss of genes during evolution. However, a comprehensive inventory of Wnt genes in Lepidoptera is lacking. In this study, we identified the repertoire of Wnt genes in the silkworm and seven other species of Lepidoptera and obtained eight Wnt genes (Wnt1, Wnt5–Wnt7, Wnt9–Wnt11, and WntA) in each species. Four of these Wnt genes are clustered in two orientations (5′-Wnt9-Wnt1-Wnt6-Wnt10-3′ and 5′-Wnt10-Wnt6-Wnt1-Wnt9-3′) in both moths and butterflies. Transcript analysis of Wnt in silkworm embryonic stages showed that each BmWnt gene had a unique expression pattern during embryological development. Analysis of a larval stage revealed differential expression of Wnt family members in diverse tissues. Our study provides an overview of the Wnt family in Lepidoptera and will inspire further functional study of the Wnt genes in the silkworm.
Overlapping Limitations for ps-Pulsed LIFT Printing of High Viscosity Metallic Pastes

Laser‐induced forward transfer (LIFT) technique has been used for printing a high viscosity (250 Pa∙s) commercial silver paste with micron‐size particles (1–4 μm). Volumetric pixels (voxels) transferred using single ps laser pulses are overlapped in order to obtain continuous metallic lines. However, interference problems between successive voxels is a major issue that must be solved before obtaining lines with good morphologies. The effects of the laser pulse energy, thickness of the donor paste film, and distance between successive voxels on the morphology of single voxels and lines are discussed. Due to the high viscosity of the paste, the void in the donor film after a printing event remains, and it negatively affects the physical transfer mechanism of the next laser pulses. When two laser pulses are fired at a short distance, there is no transfer at all. Only when the pulses are separated by a distance long enough to avoid interference but short enough to allow overlapping (≈100 μm), is it possible to print continuous lines in a single step. Finally, the knowledge obtained has allowed the printing of silver lines at high speeds (up to 60 m/s).
Eight Weeks of Aerobic Interval Training Improves Psychomotor Function in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease—Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: This study examined the generalized effects of cycle ergometer aerobic interval training (AIT) on psychomotor behaviors in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), including bimanual motor control, cognitive function, and neurological motor and non-motor parkinsonian signs. Methods: Twenty mild to moderate PD patients were randomly allocated to the following groups: (1) trained group (PD-TR, n = 10), which besides receiving usual care, underwent an 8-week moderate intensity AIT program; or (2) control group (PD-CO, n = 10) which received usual care, including participation in conventional physical therapy. Both groups were tested before and after the 8-week AIT program period with the following assessments: (1) laboratory analyses of bimanual motor control, (2) psychological evaluation of cognitive function, and (3) an evaluation of neurological parkinsonian signs. Results: The PD-TR group exhibited improved (1) bimanual motor control, reflected by a decreased time (p = 0.013) and increased rate of grip force development (p = 0.013) in the manipulating hand and a decreased time delay between grip force initiation in the manipulating and stabilizing hand (p = 0.020); (2) executive function, reflected by decreased performance time in part II of the Stroop Test (p = 0.007); and (3) neurological parkinsonian signs, reflected by an amelioration of upper-extremity bradykinesia (p = 0.015) and improvement in daily life manual functions (p = 0.004), mood, and intellectual function (p = 0.005). Conclusions: Following an 8-week moderate intensity AIT program, patients with PD exhibited improved psychomotor behaviors, reflected by bimanual motor control, executive function, and neurological parkinsonian signs.
Assessment of Educational Inhaler Technique Interventions Among Community Pharmacists: A Systematic Review

Objective Community pharmacists are the last point of contact before patients are provided with an inhaled asthma device and are expected to adequately educate and train patients on its use. Evidence has shown that pharmacists lack the knowledge and skills required to appropriately counsel patients on these devices. The aim of this systematic review was to focus on evaluating the effects of educational interventions on community pharmacists knowledge of inhaler technique. Methods A literature search was conducted using the databases Pubmed and Embase with no applied time restrictions. The databases were searched from inception to December 2018. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they reported outcomes evaluating the improvement in pharmacists knowledge of inhaler technique after an educational intervention and provided details of the intervention. Pharmacists working in settings other than community pharmacies and inhaler devices used for conditions other than asthma were excluded. Results Five studies met the eligibility criteria. Workshops and one-on-one instruction were the main educational strategies used in these studies to augment the pharmacists knowledge of asthma inhaler devices. A checklist was utilized by all studies to evaluate the pharmacists improvement of inhaler technique after an educational intervention. All studies showed an improvement in inhaler technique of pharmacists post-intervention. Conclusion Studies identified in this systematic review have shown that an educational intervention produced positive outcomes related to the pharmacists knowledge on the steps involved in using asthma inhaler devices. However, the study findings focused on short-term retention of knowledge of inhaler technique and did not address the application of these results in clinical practice.
Optical Wave Guiding and Spectral Properties of Micro/Nanofibers Used for Quantum Sensing and Quantum Light Generation

Subwavelength optical micro/nanofibers have been widely used as basic building blocks in the field of quantum sensing and quantum light source by virtue of their properties which include pronounced evanescent field, large surface area, and small optical mode area. This paper presents theoretical studies on the propagation properties of the guided optical wave and the spectral properties of entangled photons from spontaneous four-wave mixing in micro/nanofibers. We first analyze numerically single-mode propagation, field distribution, fraction of power, and group-velocity-dispersions by solving Maxwell’s equations with boundary conditions in cylindrical coordinates. Then, optical wave guiding properties of micro/nanofibers are applied to estimate the spectral properties such as central wavelengths and bandwidths of the created photons via spontaneous four-wave mixing that can be tailored by controlling diameter and length of micro/nanofibers. This theoretical work provides useful guidelines to design micro/nanofiber-based quantum sensing and quantum light sources for quantum technologies.
Antipsychotic treatment – a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of qualitative studies

Abstract Background: The literature on antipsychotic medication in psychosis lack systematization of the empirical knowledge base on patients’ subjective experiences of using antipsychotic drugs. Such investigations are pivotal to inform large-scale trials with clinically relevant hypotheses and to illuminate clinical implications for different sub-groups of individuals. Aims: To re-analyze and summarize existing qualitative research literature on patient perspectives of using antipsychotic medication. Method: A systematic literature search was performed in September 2018 (Protocol registration no. CRD42017074394). Using an existing framework of meta-analyzing qualitative research, full text evaluation was conducted for 41 articles. Thirty-two articles were included for the final synthesis. Results: Four meta-themes were identified: (1) short-term benefits; (2) adverse effects and coping processes; (3) surrender and autonomy; (4) long-term compromise of functional recovery. Conclusions: While largely positive about acute and short-term use, patients are more skeptical about using antipsychotic drugs in the longer term. The latter specifically relates to processes of functional and social recovery. The clinical conversations about antipsychotic medication need to include evaluations of contexts of patient experience level, patient autonomy processes, patient values and risk preferences, and patient knowledge and knowledge needs in addition to assessing the severity of symptoms of psychosis.
Wild opportunities with dedomestication genetics of rabbits: Rabbit dedomestication genetics

After domestication, wild progenitors, such as the aurochs and the wild horse, became extinct. For the European rabbit, however, ancestral, domestic, and feral populations exist. During domestication of the rabbit, very few alleles have been fixed for selective traits, and thus, the ancestral genotypes have been preserved in lowered frequencies. This facilitates investigations on genetic processes involved in domestication as well as dedomestication, that is, where domestic strains are “rewilded. ” The acquired knowledge may be useful in the search for genotypic, phenotypic, and, perhaps most importantly, ecotypic equivalents that could assist in the restoration of extinct fauna and its ecosystem functions. Such efforts could provide novel evolutionary trajectories useful in nature restoration, management, and conservation.