Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Axisymmetric motion of a file of red blood cells through capillaries

The axisymmetric, pressure-driven motion of red blood cells through cylindrical capillaries is investigated by numerical simulation. The mathematical formulation takes into consideration the nearly incompressible and elastic properties of the cell membrane with respect to shearing and bending deformation from the unstressed shape of the biconcave disk. In the theoretical model, the cells are arranged in a periodic file that is coaxial with the capillaries, and the evolution from the equilibrium to a highly deformed steady shape is computed using a boundary-integral method for axisymmetric Stokes flow. The results illustrate the significance of the capillary radius and cell spacing on the discharge hematocrit and apparent viscosity of the one-dimensional suspension, and validate the assumptions of approximate solutions based on the lubrication approximation for tightly fitting cells developed by previous authors.
Clustering Denoising of 2D LiDAR Scanning in Indoor Environment Based on Keyframe Extraction

In the indoor laser simulation localization and mapping (SLAM) system, the signal emitted by the LiDAR sensor is easily affected by lights and objects with low reflectivity during the transmission process, resulting in more noise points in the laser scan. To solve the above problem, this paper proposes a clustering noise reduction method based on keyframe extraction. First, the dimension of a scan is reduced to a histogram, and the histogram is used to extract the keyframes. The scans that do not contain new environmental information are dropped. Secondly, the laser points in the keyframe are divided into different regions by the region segmentation method. Next, the points are separately clustered in different regions and it is attempted to merge the point sets from adjacent regions. This greatly reduces the dimension of clustering. Finally, the obtained clusters are filtered. The sets with the number of laser points lower than the threshold will be dropped as abnormal clusters. Different from the traditional clustering noise reduction method, the technique not only drops some unnecessary scans but also uses a region segmentation method to accelerate clustering. Therefore, it has better real-time performance and denoising effect. Experiments on the MIT dataset show that the method can improve the trajectory accuracy based on dropping a part of the scans and save a lot of time for the SLAM system. It is very friendly to mobile robots with limited computing resources.
Bifurcation of the metric type II radio emission associated with the giant solar flare of April 2 2001

On April 2 2001, following one of the largest flares of the present solar cycle, intense and complex metric type II radio bursts were recorded by the Hiraiso Radio Spectrograph. Metric type II emission is a typical signature of the propagation of a coronal shock. The dynamic spectra of this event present a clear bifurcation of the radio emission lanes, which is very rare in the metric domain and requires a proper interpretation. We model this bifurcation as the result of the interaction of a piston-driven spherical shock with a vertical current sheet located above the active region where the X20 flare occurred. The geometry of the expanding transient and the coronal electron density, necessary to derive the type II dynamics, are constrained through analysis of data obtained from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) instruments. The model replicates successfully the observed bifurcation, supporting our interpretation. Furthermore, we propose that magnetic reconnection was triggered in the current sheet by the shock passage.
Timing of ICSI with Respect to Meiotic Spindle Status

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of using meiotic spindle (MS) visibility and relative position to the polar body (PB) as indicators of oocyte maturation in order to optimize intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) timing. This was a cohort study of patients younger than 40 years with planned ICSI, the timing of which was determined by MS status, compared with those without MS evaluation. The angle between PB and MS and MS visibility were evaluated by optical microscope with polarizing filter. Oocytes with MS evaluation were fertilized according to MS status either 5–6 h after ovum pick-up (OPU) or 7–8 h after OPU. Oocytes without MS evaluation were all fertilized 5–6 h after OPU. For patients over 35 years visualization of MS influenced pregnancy rate (PR): 182 patients with MS visualization had 32% PR (58/182); while 195 patients without MS visualization had 24% PR (47/195). For patients under 35 years, visualization of MS did not influence PR: 140 patients with MS visualization had 41% PR (58/140), while 162 patients without MS visualization had 41% PR (66/162). Visualization of MS therefore appears to be a useful parameter for assessment of oocyte maturity and ICSI timing for patients older than 35.
Psychological Wellbeing and Perceived Fatigue in Competitive Athletes after SARS-CoV-2 Infection 2 Years after Pandemic Start: Practical Indications

The COVID-19 pandemic deeply affected sports and athletes, influencing performance and psychological wellbeing. In order to provide useful guidelines for coaches, a web-based survey was conducted. Three web-based questionnaires were administered during the last phase of the Omicron wave to a total of 204 Italian athletes (age 24.96 ± 9.82): an informative questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data and infection symptoms information, the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). No differences between infection sequels of different variant typologies were found over the long term after the infection. The most frequently declared symptoms included cough (50%), muscular skeletal impairments (48%) fatigue (43%) and fever (43%). Results showed that female athletes have a higher risk of developing post-COVID-19 symptoms, GHQ-12 worse results (p = 0.005) and greater fatigue (p = 0.0002) than males. No significant difference in infection incidence between high- and low-level athletes was found. Endurance athletes showed greater perceived fatigue than anaerobic sports athletes (p = 0.045). Conclusions: These results suggested the need for specific approaches and continuous updating to differentiate training programs for different athletes during the return to play. Medical controls and daily monitoring of athletes of all levels after the infection could be advisable.
Photo-induced dissociation of electrospray generated ions in an ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Laser photo-induced dissociation (PID) is an attractive alternative to collision-induced dissociation (CID) in probing structural features of biomolecules, such as peptides, by mass spectrometry. We report a new experimental setup for PID studies of biomolecules. It involves the use of an ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometer for the detection of PID products. The intact molecular ions are produced by electrospray ionization and introduced into a quadrupole ion trap. The ions stored in the trap are then dissociated by using a 266 nm laser beam from a pulsed Nd:yttrium–aluminium–garnet laser. After a short delay, all the fragment ions are extracted out of the trap and mass analyzed by a linear time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The applications of this instrument for the PID studies of several peptides are demonstrated. The PID spectra are compared to those obtained by CID in the same instrument. It is shown that the amount of photoenergy deposited for fragmentation can be controlled by laser abso.
Differences in the functional brain architecture of sustained attention and working memory in youth and adults

Sustained attention (SA) and working memory (WM) are critical processes, but the brain networks supporting these abilities in development are unknown. We characterized the functional brain architecture of SA and WM in 9- to 11-year-old children and adults. First, we found that adult network predictors of SA generalized to predict individual differences and fluctuations in SA in youth. A WM model predicted WM performance both across and within children—and captured individual differences in later recognition memory—but underperformed in youth relative to adults. We next characterized functional connections differentially related to SA and WM in youth compared to adults. Results revealed 2 network configurations: a dominant architecture predicting performance in both age groups and a secondary architecture, more prominent for WM than SA, predicting performance in each age group differently. Thus, functional connectivity (FC) predicts SA and WM in youth, with networks predicting WM performance differing more between youths and adults than those predicting SA.
Effects of genotype, sex, and feed restriction on the biochemical composition of chicken preen gland secretions and their implications for commercial poultry production

Abstract Preen gland secretions spread on the feathers contain various chemical compounds dominated by fatty acids (FAs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals may significantly affect plumage condition, microbial and ectoparasitic load on feathers, and chemical communication of birds. However, how chemical composition of preen secretions varies in commercially produced chickens with respect to their genotype, sex, and feeding regime remain largely unknown, as well as the welfare implications for farmed poultry. We found that while polyunsaturated fatty acids in chicken preen secretions differed significantly with genotype (P << 0.001), saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids varied with genotype-dependent preen gland volume (P < 0.01). Chickens of meat-type fast-growing Ross 308 genotype had reduced preen gland volume and lower proportions of all FA categories in their preen secretions compared with dual-purpose slow-growing ISA Dual chickens. A total of 34 FAs and 77 VOCs with tens of unique FAs were detected in preen secretions of both genotypes. While differences in the relative proportion of 6 of the 10 most dominant VOCs in chicken preen gland secretions were related to genotype (P < 0.001), only 1 of the 10 most dominant VOCs showed a sex effect (P < 0.01), and only 2 of the 10 most dominant VOCs showed a genotype-dependent effect of feed restriction (P < 0.05). Feed restriction had no effect on the relative proportion of any of the FAs in chicken preen gland secretions. Moreover, we found that meat-type Ross 308 preen secretions were dominated by VOCs, which are proven attractants for poultry red mite and may also increase infestation with other ectoparasites and negatively influence overall odor-mediated intraspecific communication and welfare. This study shows that no feeding management, but long-term genetic selection in commercial breeding may be the main cause of the differences in the biochemistry and function of chicken preen secretions. This might have negative consequences for chemosignaling, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial potential of preen secretions and can lead to increased susceptibility to ectoparasites, plumage care disorders, and can affect the overall condition, welfare, and productivity of commercially bred chickens. Selection-induced preen gland impairments must therefore be considered and compensated by proper management of the chicken farm and increased care about animal well-being.
CO fluorescence in the extreme-ultraviolet solar spectrum

Emission lines in the fourth positive system of CO have been identified in the extreme-ultraviolet solar spectrum 1540-1660 A. These lines are excited by the C IV transition-zone lines at 1548 and 1551 A. They are strong in the spectrum of a sunspot and in parts of the adjacent active region. Some of them appear as weak, broad emission features in the quiet sun.
Simulation of stationary non-Gaussian translation processes

A simulation algorithm is developed for generating realizations of non-Gaussian stationary translation processes \iX(\it) with a specified marginal distribution and covariance function. Translation processes are memoryless nonlinear transformations \IX(t)=g[Y(t)]\N of stationary Gaussian processes \iY(\it). The proposed simulation algorithm has three steps. First, the memoryless nonlinear transformation \ig and the covariance function of \iY(\it) need to be determined from the condition that the marginal distribution and the covariance functions of \iX(\it) need to be determined from the condition that the marginal distribution and the covariance functions of \iX(\it) coincide with specified target functions. It is shown that there is a transformation \ig giving the target marginal distribution for \iX(\it). However, it is not always possible to find a covariance function of \iY(\it) yielding the target covariance function for \iX(\it). Second, realizations of \iY(\it) have to be generated. Any algorithm for generating samples of Gaussian processes can be used to produce samples of \iY(\it). Third, samples of \iX(\it) can be obtained from samples of \iY(\it) and the mapping of \iX(\it)=\ig[\iY(\it)]. The proposed simulation algorithm is demonstrated by several examples, including the case of non-Gaussian translation random field.
Effects of Growth Hormone on Muscle and Bone in Female Mice: Role of Follistatin

Abstract The interactions between muscle and bone are noted in the clinical relationships between sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Myokines secreted from the skeletal muscles play roles in muscle-bone interactions related to various physiological and pathophysiological states. Although numerous evidence suggests that growth hormone (GH) influences both muscle and bone, the effects of GH on the muscle-bone interactions have remained unknown. We, therefore, investigated the influences of GH administration for 8 weeks on muscle and bone, including myokine expression, in mice with or without ovariectomy (OVX). GH administration significantly increased muscle mass in the whole body and lower limbs, as well as tissue weights of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles in mice with or without OVX. Moreover, it markedly increased grip strength in both mice. As for femurs, GH administration significantly increased cortical thickness and area in mice with or without OVX. Moreover, GH significantly blunted the decrease in the ratio of bone volume to tissue volume at the trabecular bone in mice with OVX. GH administration significantly decreased follistatin mRNA levels in the EDL, but not the soleus, muscles in mice with or without OVX, although it did not affect the other myokines examined. However, GH administration significantly elevated serum follistatin levels in mice. In conclusion, this study indicates that GH administration increases skeletal muscle mass and grip strength and cortical and trabecular bone-related parameters obtained by micro-computed tomography analyses in mice. However, myokine regulation might not be critical for the effects of GH on muscle and bone.
Phase diagram of the Z(5) model on a square lattice

A general five-state model, which contains the five-state Potts model and a solid-on-solid model as special cases, is studied. The authors find that the high-temperature paramagnetic and the low-temperature ordered phases are separated either by a line of first-order transitions or by an intermediate phase with algebraic decay of correlations. The phase diagram is proposed on the basis of general considerations and Monte-Carlo simulations.
No country for old men? Microsimulation effects of activating pensioners on the labour market

Being a pensioner in Croatia carries certain risks of poverty and inequality compared to the rest of the population. Low level of average pension compared to the minimal wage is just one case in point. On the other hand, the labour market shortage is not negligible and there is also a poor track record when it comes to pension system reforms in the last two decades. This paper investigates a possible path of the future pension system reform aimed at increasing household income levels -- focused on the labour market participation of people aged 65+ who are willing and able to solve labour shortages present in the market. The general aim of the paper is to analyze the effects that the establishment of the Pensioners Service Center might have on market income, mean household income by decile groups, poverty and inequality indices. It fills the research gap by conducting the first microsimulation of the pension system reform in Croatia focusing on market income. The hypothetical reform is simulated using the tax--benefit microsimulation model EUROMOD based on EU--SILC 2019 data for Croatia. Results confirm market income as the main cause of income inequality as well as that the second decile is the target group of the proposed intervention. Pensioners have a clear monetary incentive to increase their labour supply, which in return decreases all poverty and inequality indices.
Patient Selection and Clinical Indication for Chronic Total Occlusion Revascularization—A Workflow Focusing on Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging

Percutaneous coronary intervention of chronic total occlusion (CTO PCI) is a challenging procedure with high complication rates and, as not yet fully understood long-term clinical benefits. Ischemic symptom relief in patients with high ischemic burden is to date the only established clinical indication to undergo CTO PCI, supported by randomized controlled trials. In this context, current guidelines suggest attempting CTO PCI only in non-invasively assessed viable CTO correspondent myocardial territories, with large ischemic areas. Hence, besides a comprehensive coronary angiography lesion evaluation, the information derived from non-invasive cardiac imaging techniques is crucial to selecting candidates who may benefit from the revascularization of the occluded vessel. Currently, there are no clear recommendations for a non-invasive myocardial evaluation or choice of imaging modality pre-CTO PCI. Therefore, selecting among available options is left to the physician’s discretion. As CTO PCI is strongly recommended to be carried out explicitly in experienced centers, full access to non-invasive imaging for risk-benefit assessment as well as a systematic institutional evaluation process has to be encouraged. In this framework, we opted to review the current myocardial imaging tools and their use for indicating a CTO PCI. Furthermore, based on our experience, we propose a cost-effective systematic approach for myocardial assessment to help guide clinical decision-making for patients presenting with chronic total occlusions.
Augmenting environmental flow information with water temperature: case study in Eastern Canada

Abstract The increasing global water demand and climate change put freshwater resources and riverine ecosystems at risk of increasing scarcity and conflict in water usage. Stream biota may be confronted with increasing stressful aquatic habitat conditions due in part to increasing water temperatures. In response to these issues, environmental flows play a crucial role in flow assessment, water resource management and the protection of aquatic biota. Environmental flows (eflows), also known as instream flow requirements, refer to the amount of water needed in rivers to maintain a balanced aquatic ecosystem. Recently, the inclusion of river temperature in the assessment of eflows has raised interest, especially in the context of climate change and dam operations, which are altering the river thermal regimes and affecting aquatic habitat. This study focuses on hydrological metrics that can be used to prescribe eflows in Atlantic Canada and Quebec (Eastern Canada). Eflow analyses were conducted jointly with the analyses of river temperatures at 61 sites. The results show that summer environmental flow metrics can be associated with relatively high water temperatures during a period when water withdrawals may be important. Classifying rivers according to their thermal regime during summer low flow periods prior to prescribing an eflow target is therefore recommended.
Factors that Affect the Intention to Use E-learning among University Lecturers

University lecturers are one among many people who have been affected by the pandemic. Lecturers were forced to use a learning management system, grapple with video conferencing software, and cope with various unpredictable technical issues. In short, external forces seem to pressure lecturers to refine their digital skills and use e-learning as the only way to deliver the materials whenever they were unable to meet face-to-face with students. This study investigates what factors determined lecturers’ intention to use e-learning in their classes. The results of this study suggest that technology literacy and attitude have positive correlations with lecturers’ intention to use e-learning. Keywords: intention to use e-learning; attitude; self-efficacy; technology; literacy; technology comfort level
The discrimination of self from other as a component of empathy.

Despite the centrality of empathy in human social life, there is no widely agreed definition or characterization of the concept of empathy. A common thread in many of the proposed definitions, however, is that empathy presupposes the discrimination of self and other on the grounds that, to empathize with another individual, the mental state of the target individual must first be distinguished from the empathizer's own mental state. The purpose of this study is to investigate this proposal empirically. We employed a paradigm in which participants rated the emotional valence and degree of arousal of 93 facial expressions of mental states. We asked participants to infer the mental state represented by each facial expression (the Other condition) as well as to describe the effect of the expression on their own mental state (the Self condition). An absolute difference score between the Other and the Self conditions was used as an index of a capacity for self-other discrimination. Empathy was measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Results show that individuals high in trait empathy discriminate between self and other to a significantly greater degree when judging mental states than individuals low in trait empathy. This suggests that the capacity for self-other discrimination may be a component of the capacity for empathy and that future investigations of the concept of empathy ought to retain it. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Laser-induced damage threshold of silicon in millisecond, nanosecond, and picosecond regimes

Millisecond, nanosecond, and picosecond laser pulse induced damage thresholds on single-crystal are investigated in this study. The thresholds of laser-induced damage on silicon are calculated theoretically for three pulse widths based on the thermal damage model. An axisymmetric mathematical model is established for the transient temperature field of the silicon. Experiments are performed to test the damage thresholds of silicon at various pulse widths. The results indicate that the damage thresholds obviously increase with the increasing of laser pulse width. Additionally, the experimental results agree well with theoretical calculations and numerical simulation results.
Light emission spectra of columnar-shaped self-assembled InGaAs/GaAs quantum-dot lasers: Effect of homogeneous broadening of the optical gain on lasing characteristics

We examined the current–output power characteristics and light emission spectra for columnar-shaped self-assembled InGaAs quantum-dot lasers with a room temperature lasing threshold of 6 mA. Lasing threshold currents became obscure as temperature decreased below 180 K. While lasing occurred with one line including a series of longitudinal modes at room temperature, spectra at 80 K showed broad lasing emission over a range of 50–60 meV. We conclude that dots with different energies start lasing independently at low temperatures due to their spatial localization, while at room temperature the dots contribute to one-line lasing collectively via homogeneous broadening of optical gain.