Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automating laser scanning of 3D surfaces for reverse engineering

Application of current 3-D laser scanning systems to reverse engineering is limited by two obstacles. The meticulous guidance of the laser scanner over the surface of the object being scanned and the segmentation of the cloud data which is collected by the laser scanner. Presently, both obstacles are being manually solved. The guidance of the laser scanning sensor at the correct surface to sensor distance is dependent on operator judgement and the segmentation of the collected data is reliant on the user to manually define surface boundaries on a computer screen. By applying a 2-D CCD camera, both of these problems can be resolved. Depth information on the location of the object surface can be derived from a pair of stereo images from the CCD camera. Using this depth information, the scanner path can be automatically calculated. Segmentation of the object surface can be accomplished by employing a Kohonen neural network into the CCD image. Successful segmentation of the image is conditional on the locations selected to start neural nodes as well as the prevention of the neuron connectors from bleeding onto neighboring patches. Thus the CCD camera allows for the automatic path planning of the laser scanner as well as the segmentation of the surface into patches defined along its natural boundaries.
A high-speed, low-power Hi-CMOS 4K static RAM

A high-speed low-power CMOS fully static, 4096 word by 1 bit random-access memory (RAM) has been developed, which contains a bipolar-CMOS (BCMOS) circuit on the same chip. The device is realized using low-power-oriented circuit design and high-performance CMOS technology utilizing 3-µm gate length. The fabricated 4K static RAM has an address access time of 43 ns and a power dissipation of 80 mW.
Simplified digital acquisition of microdischarge pulses

A new concept of the measurement of the height of microdischarge pulses is proposed and implemented on a special hardware assembly. The concept utilizes the highly asymmetric shape of microdischarge pulses, i.e. the sharp rise edge and slowly decaying tail that forms an almost 'horizontal' plateau. The maximum height of a pulse can be determined by imposing a certain time delay in saving sample points. The time delay must be equal to or longer than the time necessary for the full rise of the front edge of the pulse. The new concept completely removes time-consuming procedures seeking for signal local maxima used in current digitizers with logic circuits. This makes the system very fast and brings it to the very limit of the underlying natural process itself which represents the main advantage compared with other existing methods. A certain disadvantage of the new concept is in its restriction to asymmetric pulses only, but, however, this class of pulses comprises the broad spectrum of pulsating phenomena appearing in various branches of science and technology. This gives the proposed concept good applicability not only in the field of electric microdischarges but also in many other experimental domains.
Wavefront sensor testing in hypersonic flows using a laser-spark guide star

The flight environment of next-generation theater missile defense interceptors involves hypersonic speeds that place severe aero-thermodynamic loads on missile components including the windows used for optical seekers. These heating effects can lead to significant boresight error and aberration. Ground-based tests are required to characterize these effects. We have developed methods to measure aberrations in seeker windows using a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. Light from a laser or other source with a well known wavefront is passed through the window and falls on the sensor. The sensor uses an array of micro-lenses to generate a grid of focal spots on a CCD detector. The positions of the focal spots provide a measure of the wavefront slope over each micro-lens. The wavefront is reconstructed by integrating the slopes, and analyzed to characterize aberrations. During flight, optical seekers look upstream through a window at 'look angles' angles near 0 degrees relative to the free stream flow. A 0 degree angle corresponds to large angles approaching 90 degrees when measured relative to the normal of the window, and is difficult to simulate using conventional techniques to illuminate the wavefront sensor during wind tunnel tests. For this reason, we developed a technique using laser- induced optical breakdown that allows arbitrary look angles down to 0 degrees.
“They created a team of almost entirely the people who work and are like them”: A qualitative study of organisational culture and racialised inequalities among healthcare staff

Racially and ethnically minoritised healthcare staff groups disproportionately experience and witness workplace discrimination from patients, colleagues and managers. This is visible in their under-representation at senior levels and over-representation in disciplinary proceedings and is associated with adversities such as greater depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, low job satisfaction and sickness absence. In the UK, little progress has been made despite the implementation of measures to tackle racialised inequities in the health services. So, what is it about the health service organisational context which shapes and maintains such inequities, and what role does discrimination, bullying and harassment play? Drawing on qualitative interviews with 48 healthcare staff in London (UK), we identify how micro-level bullying, prejudice, discrimination and harassment behaviours, independently and in combination, exploit and maintain meso-level racialised hierarchies. Within teams, the high diversity–low inclusion dynamic shaped and was perpetuated by in- and outgroup inclusion and exclusion processes (including “insidious dismissal”) often employing bullying or microaggressions. These were linked to intersecting factors, such as race, ethnicity, migration, language and religion, and could increase segregation. For racially and ethnically minoritised groups, ingroup maintenance, moving teams or leaving were also ways of coping with organisational inequities. We discuss implications for tackling racialised workplace inequities.
A novel L-band multiwavelength mode-locked semiconductor fibre laser

We present a multiwavelength mode-locked fiber ring laser incorporating a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and a Fabry-Perot semiconductor optical amplifier (FP-SOA). SOA is mode-locked by an injected external optical signal, act as loss modulator, and FP-SOA serves as a tunable comb filter. Our laser source can generate 19 synchronized wavelength channels with the extinction ratio of about 21 dB, each mode-locked at 10 GHz, and modelocked pulse width is about 40 ps. Oscillation wavelengths band and wavelength spacing can be tuned by adjusting bias current and a tunable optical delay line (ODL) or a temperature controller, respectively. Polarization insensitive devices ensure that the output power is rather stable.
Consumer willingness to pay for plant-based foods produced using microbial applications to replace synthetic chemical inputs

Analysis of consumer preferences and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for sustainable foods produced using new agri-food technologies is required to enhance the uptake of innovations that accelerate the transition towards sustainable food systems. Consumers’ willingness to buy new food products, with no or limited consumption experience, mainly depends on their food choice motivational orientations (promotion- vs prevention-orientation). The objective of this study was to elicit consumers’ WTP for foods that are produced with microbial applications during the plant production phase with the aim to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals in crop farming, as well as to understand the associations of food choice motives, personal and socio-demographic factors with the WTP. We used contingent valuation to elicit consumers’ WTP for three food products (wheat bread, consumer potatoes and tomato sauce) through online surveys. Data were collected from 291 consumers, primarily from Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. Descriptive statistics, latent variable modelling and logistic regression were used to analysis data. Results show that more than two-third of the respondents are willing to pay premiums of at least 0.11 euro per kg of food products for reductions in synthetic chemical use by at least 50% due to microbial applications. The amount of WTP increases with the level of reductions in synthetic chemical use. The majority of the respondents are promotion-oriented consumers in relation to their food involvement, and are more likely to pay premiums for the sustainably produced food products. Environmentally concerned consumers are also more likely to pay premiums, whereas health concerned consumers are not. This study contributes to understanding of consumers’ attitude and perceived health risks towards foods obtained using microbial applications, and the heterogeneity of their preferences. Results provide insights for identifying potential buyers of foods produced using microbial applications, and to set prices according to the levels of consumers’ WTP.
FD-TD synthesis and resonance based identification of GPR returns from buried land-mines

Numerical electro-magnetic methods are quickly gaining popularity in the design and optimisation of real world sensors that require complex and expensive testing. Most steppedfrequency GPRs synthesise a defined pulse in the time domain per frequency step. The FDTD method is well suited to modelling pulse propagation and computing scattering information from objects over a wide bandwidth. The Body-of-Revolution expansion to the FDTD method reduces the dimensionality of the algorithm and significantly reduces the computation time and resource load of the simulations. The rotional symmetry requirement still allows the inclusion of a wide variety of land-mine target shapes and stratified media. The BOR FDTD simulator is used to provide time domain data from buried scattering targets modelled to resemble real world conditions as closely as possible. Natural resonance information is extracted from this data using Linear Predictive Coding. Different land-mine targets will have different natural resonance signatures associated with them and these are used as feature vectors for the training and testing of artificial neural networks. Identification is then performed on a set of land-mines in the presence of ground cutter. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Development and Validation of an HPLC-UV Method for Quantitation of Linezolid: Application to Resistance Study Using in vitro PK/PD Model

Background Linezolid (LNZ), an oxazolidinone antibiotic, has 100% oral bioavailability and favorable activities against gram-positive pathogens. The in vitro PK/PD model was developed based on concentrations obtained with routine doses in humans can be used to guide dose optimization in the clinic. Methods In this study, we employed an in vitro PK/PD model to simulate the changes in the plasma concentration of linezolid in the human body against a clinical isolate of MRSA in vitro. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV method was applied to measure the concentration of linezolid. Bacterial samples were collected at different times from the central compartment for count. Results The chromatographic separation was carried out with an AichromBond-AQC18 column(250mm×4.6mm, 5μm), using a mobile phase of water with 0.1% formic acid:acetonitrile 70:30 (v/v), followed by detection at 254 nm, and a single detection run was completed within 10 min. The method was validated by estimating the precision and accuracy for the inter- and intra-day analyses in the concentration range of 0.25–32 mg/L. The method was linear over the investigated range of 0.125–32 mg/L, with all correlation coefﬁcients R2 = 0.9999. The intra-day and inter-day precisions were within 7.598%, and the method recovery ranged from 90.912% to 106.459%. In vitro PK/PD model, both the absorption and elimination of linezolid being simulated can be precisely controlled by computer. In the control group, the bacterial reached 7.9 Log10CFU/mL in the ﬁrst 48h and maintained until the end, indicating that the colonies grew well in vitro PK/PD model. In the linezolid 600 mg q12h administration group, the colony decreased to 2.39 Log10CFU/mL at 24h, showing a good bactericidal effect; however, the colonies resumed growth to the initial level in 48h, indicating an emergence of resistance. Conclusion We successfully established an in vitro infection PK/PD model and developed an HPLC-UV method to determine linezolid concentration for resistance investigation. The results suggest that the 600 mg q12h dosing regimen may no longer be applicable and requires optimization.
Efficacy and safety of single-step transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy with the all-surface laser ablation SCHWIND platform without mitomycin-C for high myopia: A retrospective study of 69 eyes

Background Studies suggest that transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TransPRK) with the all-surface laser ablation (ASLA)-SCHWIND platform is effective and safe for both low-moderate myopia and high myopia. In most studies, mitomycin-C is administered immediately after surgery to prevent corneal opacification (haze), which is a significant complication of photorefractive keratectomy in general. However, there is evidence that adjuvant mitomycin-C induces endothelial cytotoxicity. Moreover, a recent study showed that omitting adjuvant mitomycin-C did not increase haze in low-moderate myopia. The present case-series study examined the efficacy, safety, and haze rates of eyes with high myopia that underwent ASLA-SCHWIND TransPRK without adjuvant mitomycin-C. Methods All consecutive eyes with high myopia (≤-6 D) that were treated in 2018–2020 with the SCHWIND Amaris 500E® TransPRK excimer laser without adjuvant mitomycin-C in a tertiary-care hospital (France) and were followed up for 6 months were identified. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), and spherical equivalent (SE) were recorded before and after surgery. Postoperative haze was graded using the 4-grade Fantes scale. Efficacy rate (frequency of eyes with 6-month UCVA ≤0.1 logMAR), safety rate (frequency of eyes that lost <2 BSCVA lines), predictability (frequency of eyes with 6-month SE equal to target SE±0.5 D), efficacy index (mean UCVA at 6 months/preoperative BSCVA), and safety index (BSCVA at 6 months/preoperative BSCVA) were computed. Results Sixty-nine eyes (38 patients) were included. Mean preoperative and 6-month SE were -7.44 and -0.05 D, respectively. Mean 6-month UCVA and BSCVA were 0.00 and -0.02 logMAR, respectively. Efficacy rate and index were 95.7% and 1.08, respectively. Safety rate and index were 95.7% and 1.13, respectively. Predictability was 85.5%. Grade 3–4 haze never arose. At 6 months, the haze rate was zero. Conclusions ASLA-SCHWIND TransPRK without mitomycin-C appears to be safe as well as effective and accurate for high myopia.
Design of a Single Phase Power Factor Corrector

This paper designs a novel single phase high power factor rectifier with IR1150 as its main control chip, which main circuit uses boost topology. The fundamental principle of the proposed rectifier is introduced. The IR1150 control IC based on one cycle control is intended for boost converters for power factor correction operating at a fixed frequency in continuous conduction mode (CCM). The use of the IC will make the PFC circuit design easily, the volume of the rectifier small and the efficiency enhancing. The modules of the proposed rectifier such as current loop and over-current protection, voltage loop and over-voltage protection, soft start, and so on, are analyzed and designed respectively in detail. Experimental results of the designed 600W prototype prove that the boost high power factor rectifier designed is rational and reliable, its power factor can reach 0.994.
Opioids in cancer: The κ-opioid receptor

The κ-opioid receptor (KOR) is one of the primary receptors of opioids and serves a vital role in the regulation of pain, anesthesia, addiction and other pathological and physiological processes. KOR is associated with several types of cancer and may influence cancer progression. It has been proposed that KOR may represent a new tumor molecular marker and provide a novel basis for molecular targeted therapies for cancer. However, the association between KOR and cancer remains to be explored comprehensively. The present review introduces KOR and its association with different types of cancer. Improved understanding of KOR may facilitate development of novel antitumor therapies.
Error analysis of mast mounted electro-optical stabilized platform based on multi-body kinematics theory

Error analysis of target location for Mast Mounted Electro-Optical Stabilized Platform based on multi-body kinematics theory is presented in this paper. Firstly, a typical structure of OMS, which is mounted on the reconnaissance vehicle, is introduced briefly and Multi-body kinematics theory is used to illustrate the topology structure and coordinates relations. Accordingly, target location equations between target and OMS are derived. Secondly, the characteristics and compensation methods are discussed in detail for the error analysis, which influence the system target location accuracy, such as imaging sensors errors, stabilized platform errors and equipments errors. Finally, simulation results based on Monte Carlo and experiment results are presented, showing that axis zero bit, consistency, verticality errors and equipments alignment errors are the primary factors, which influence system target location accuracy. After the compensation, the accuracy has been improved 2 orders and reached 5m/0.060.
Use of a new device for gasless endosurgery in a laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair ex vivo canine model: A pre‐clinical study

Abstract Objectives To test the feasibility of a new device for gasless laparoscopy in providing working space for diaphragmatic hernia repair in an ex vivo canine model as a pre‐clinical study. Study design Technical feasibility study. Animal Eight beagles and two greyhound cadavers (not client‐owned). Methods The new device was used for abdominal traction in gasless laparoscopic reconstruction of diaphragmatic hernias produced in dog cadavers. It consists of three main parts (vertical and horizontal rods, a three‐piece structure, and a 3D‐printed unit that incorporates slots for haemostatic forceps). Composite hernias (two incisions of about 4 cm) were closed by an intra‐corporeal suture [suture group (GS), n = 5] or by a central suture and a polypropylene mesh [mesh group (GM), n = 5]. Surgical steps were T1 (primary port access up to third port placement), T2 (defect development), and T3 (diaphragmatic reconstruction). Total surgical time (TT) was also recorded. Results The defect was successfully developed and reconstructed in all cadavers. To close the defect, 7.0 ± 0.7 crossed mattress sutures were required in the GS, and 15.2 ± 1.9 hernia staples and one intra‐corporal suture were used in the GM. T3 was longer (p = 0.0076) in GS (50.00 ± 16.46 min) than in GM (23.24 ± 5.25 min). TT was 87.22 ± 19.23 min in GS and 66.45 ± 6.38 min in GM (p = 0.0547). Conclusions Gasless laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair using the developed device is feasible in the canine cadaver model. Both suture and mesh graft techniques for experimental diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy can be performed using this new device in this pre‐clinical model. Clinical significance This new device for gasless laparoscopy allows diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy by intra‐corporeal suture or mesh implantation in ex vivo canine model. The device demonstrates potential for future use in clinical cases.
Visualizing polymeric components that define distinct root barriers across plant lineages

ABSTRACT Hydrophobic cell wall depositions in roots play a key role in plant development and interaction with the soil environment, as they generate barriers that regulate bidirectional nutrient flux. Techniques to label the respective polymers are emerging, but are efficient only in thin roots or sections. Moreover, simultaneous imaging of the barrier constituents lignin and suberin remains problematic owing to their similar chemical compositions. Here, we describe a staining method compatible with single- and multiphoton confocal microscopy that allows for concurrent visualization of primary cell walls and distinct secondary depositions in one workflow. This protocol permits efficient separation of suberin- and lignin-specific signals with high resolution, enabling precise dissection of barrier constituents. Our approach is compatible with imaging of fluorescent proteins, and can thus complement genetic markers or aid the dissection of barriers in biotic root interactions. We further demonstrate applicability in deep root tissues of plant models and crops across phylogenetic lineages. Our optimized toolset will significantly advance our understanding of root barrier dynamics and function, and of their role in plant interactions with the rhizospheric environment.
Effectiveness of a Videoconferencing-Delivered Psychological Intervention for Mental Health Problems during COVID-19: A Proof-of-Concept Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Anxiety and depression have increased markedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a lack of evidence-based strategies to address these mental health needs during the pandemic. Objective: We aim to conduct a proof-of-concept trial of the efficacy of a brief group-based psychological intervention delivered via videoconferencing for adults in Australia distressed by the pandemic. Methods: In this single-blind, parallel, randomised controlled trial, adults who screened positive for COVID-related psychological distress across Australia were randomly allocated to either a 6-session group-based program based on behavioural principles (n = 120) or enhanced usual care (EUC, n = 120). Primary outcome was total score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS) anxiety and depression subscales assessed at baseline, 1 week posttreatment, 2 months (primary outcome time point), and 6 months after treatment, as well as secondary outcome measures of worry, sleep impairment, anhedonia, mood, and COVID-19-related stress. Results: Between May 20, 2020, and October 20, 2020, 240 patients were enrolled into the trial. Relative to EUC, at 2 months participants receiving intervention showed greater reduction on anxiety (mean difference, 1.4 [95% CI, 0.3 to 2.6], p = 0.01; effect size, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.1 to 0.7]) and depression (mean difference, 1.6 [95% CI, 0.4 to 2.8], p = 0.009; effect size, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.2 to 0.7]) scales. These effects were maintained at 6 months. There were also greater reductions of worry, anhedonia, COVID-19-related fears, and contamination fears. Conclusions: This trial provides initial evidence that brief group-based behavioural intervention delivered via videoconferencing results in moderate reductions in common psychological problems arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. This program may offer a viable and scalable means to mitigate the rising mental health problems during the pandemic.