Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scattering of electromagnetic waves from an inhomogeneous magnetoplasma column moving in the axial direction

The problem of the scattering of an obliquely incident plane electromagnetic wave by a radially inhomogeneous magnetoplasma column of infinite length moving uniformly in the axial direction is discussed with the aid of the polarization current model based upon the Minkowski formulation in which a plasma medium is treated as a dispersive dielectric. For the analysis of the problem, a radially inhomogeneous plasma column is subdivided into a number of thin homogeneous coaxial layers, and the easier problem of the scattering by the stratified plasma column is solved instead of directly treating the wave equations for an inhomogeneous plasma column. For parabolic electron density profiles, the scattering properties of the moving inhomogeneous magnetoplasma column are investigated quantitatively with the aid of numerical examples.
Noise Exposure in Palestinian Workers Without a Diagnosis of Hearing Impairment: Relations to Speech-Perception-in-Noise Difficulties, Tinnitus, and Hyperacusis

Purpose: Many workers in developing countries are exposed to unsafe occupational noise due to inadequate health and safety practices. We tested the hypotheses that occupational noise exposure and aging affect speech-perception-in-noise (SPiN) thresholds, self-reported hearing ability, tinnitus presence, and hyperacusis severity among Palestinian workers. Method: Palestinian workers (N = 251, aged 18–70 years) without diagnosed hearing or memory impairments completed online instruments including a noise exposure questionnaire; forward and backward digit span tests; hyperacusis questionnaire; the short-form Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12); the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory; and a digits-in-noise (DIN) test. Hypotheses were tested via multiple linear and logistic regression models, including age and occupational noise exposure as predictors, and with sex, recreational noise exposure, cognitive ability, and academic attainment as covariates. Familywise error rate was controlled across all 16 comparisons using the Bonferroni–Holm method. Exploratory analyses evaluated effects on tinnitus handicap. A comprehensive study protocol was preregistered. Results: Nonsignificant trends of poorer SPiN performance, poorer self-reported hearing ability, greater prevalence of tinnitus, greater tinnitus handicap, and greater severity of hyperacusis as a function of higher occupational noise exposure were observed. Greater hyperacusis severity was significantly predicted by higher occupational noise exposure. Aging was significantly associated with higher DIN thresholds and lower SSQ12 scores, but not with tinnitus presence, tinnitus handicap, or hyperacusis severity. Conclusions: Workers in Palestine may suffer from auditory effects of occupational noise and aging despite no formal diagnosis. These findings highlight the importance of occupational noise monitoring and hearing-related health and safety practices in developing countries. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.22056701
A Revisit of Sample Size Decisions in Confirmatory Trials

When designing a phase III superiority trial, we often compute the sample size to detect a treatment effect observed in a previous trial. In this article, we propose to take into account uncertainties around the estimated treatment effect and the estimated variability in patients’ responses jointly. We argue that it will be better to base the sample size decision for a confirmatory trial on the probability that the trial will produce a positive outcome than the traditional statistical power. We show that sample sizes computed under the traditional method are often too small to yield a desirable success probability. We extend this argument to the “conditional probability” concept that is often the basis for futility decision and sample size reestimation in an adaptive design. We argue that in the latter case, the concept of predictive power is likely to provide a more realistic measure on the prospect of the trial. In our opinion, a trialist should be concerned when the required sample size for a confirmatory trial based on the chance of a positive trial is substantially higher than that calculated under the traditional approach, either at the design stage or at the interim sample size reestimation decision point.
Transcriptomic Responses to Polymyxin B and Analogues in Human Kidney Tubular Cells

Polymyxins are last-line antibiotics for the treatment of Gram-negative ‘superbugs’. However, nephrotoxicity can occur in up to 60% of patients administered intravenous polymyxins. The mechanisms underpinning nephrotoxicity remain unclear. To understand polymyxin-induced nephrotoxicity, human renal proximal tubule cells were treated for 24 h with 0.1 mM polymyxin B or two new analogues, FADDI-251 or FADDI-287. Transcriptomic analysis was performed, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using ANOVA (FDR < 0.2). Cell viability following treatment with polymyxin B, FADDI-251 or FADDI-287 was 66.0 ± 5.33%, 89.3 ± 3.96% and 90.4 ± 1.18%, respectively. Transcriptomics identified 430, 193 and 150 DEGs with polymyxin B, FADDI-251 and FADDI-287, respectively. Genes involved with metallothioneins and Toll-like receptor pathways were significantly perturbed by all polymyxins. Only polymyxin B induced perturbations in signal transduction, including FGFR2 and MAPK signaling. SIGNOR network analysis showed all treatments affected essential regulators in the immune system, autophagy, cell cycle, oxidative stress and apoptosis. All polymyxins caused significant perturbations of metal homeostasis and TLR signaling, while polymyxin B caused the most dramatic perturbations of the transcriptome. This study reveals the impact of polymyxin structure modifications on transcriptomic responses in human renal tubular cells and provides important information for designing safer new-generation polymyxins.
Sliding mode control of photovoltaic systems

The power generated by the photovoltaic generator varies continuously with the solar illumination and the temperature, allowing to continue the maximum power point by interposing one or more controlled static converters between the generator and the receiver.This article presents the modeling and hardware implementation of the MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) algorithm of extremal research by control in slip mode in the conversion chain of a photovoltaic system. To optimize conversion efficiency, the control algorithm is applied directly to the output of the module and connected to the DC-DC conversion step. The selected converter is a DC-DC amplifier converter. We present the control method in sliding mode. An optimal choice of control parameters enables system-wide performance. The simulation results show the efficiency and performance of this proposed system.
What Happens in Initial Interactions Forecasts Relationship Development: Showcasing the Role of Social Behavior

We do not know what happens in initial interactions to spark platonic or romantic relationships. This requires data on relationships from their inception, tracked over time. Building on theory about relationship promotion, we identified three exemplar behaviors to test novel hypotheses about relationship development. When starting college, a greenhouse for relationship initiation, first-year undergraduates (N = 143) reported initial interactions with potential friends and romantic partners, and then 129 of them reported back about those 591 people over the semester. As predicted, reports of each behavior—affectionate touch, shared laughter, and partner’s gratitude expression—were associated with immediate interest in affiliating with the new person, beyond their perceived warmth, competence, and attractiveness; theoretically derived social perceptual mechanisms explained these links. Critically, although not all potential connections blossomed into relationships, these behavioral precursors to relationship promotion predicted relationship development via post-interaction interest in affiliating. Findings are contextualized within attraction literature with implications for relationship development.
The community relations of sports tourism destinations and pro-sports tourism behavior: the multiple mediating roles of benefit perception

ABSTRACT The high-quality development of sports tourism cannot be achieved without the active participation of residents in sports tourism destinations, and the benefit perception is an important reference system for the formation of pro-sports tourism behaviour. Based on the previous studies, this study aims to explore the relationship between community relations of sports tourism destination and pro-sports tourism behaviour. The empirical test was conducted with the help of structural equation modelling using data from a sample of 590 survey respondents. The results have shown that the hypothesised paths proposed in the theoretical framework are all validated, revealing a positive relationship between the community relations of sports tourism destinations and pro-sports tourism behaviour, and that the perceived economic, social, and environmental benefits of sports tourism play multiple mediating effects between community relations and pro-sports tourism behaviour. Conclusion: These research findings provide theoretical guidance for the development of sports tourism behaviour and the development of sports tourism, based on which future development of sports tourism should always be closely linked to the needs of the people and establish good community relations; Pay attention to the acquirement of community residents’ interests, and give full play to the intermediary role of its benefit perception.
Genomic Islands Identified in Highly Resistant Serratia sp. HRI: A Pathway to Discover New Disinfectant Resistance Elements

Molecular insights into the mechanisms of resistance to disinfectants are severely limited, together with the roles of various mobile genetic elements. Genomic islands are a well-characterised molecular resistance element in antibiotic resistance, but it is unknown whether genomic islands play a role in disinfectant resistance. Through whole-genome sequencing and the bioinformatic analysis of Serratia sp. HRI, an isolate with high disinfectant resistance capabilities, nine resistance islands were predicted and annotated within the genome. Resistance genes active against several antimicrobials were annotated in these islands, most of which are multidrug efflux pumps belonging to the MFS, ABC and DMT efflux families. Antibiotic resistance islands containing genes encoding for multidrug resistance proteins ErmB (macrolide and erythromycin resistance) and biclomycin were also found. A metal fitness island harbouring 13 resistance and response genes to copper, silver, lead, cadmium, zinc, and mercury was identified. In the search for disinfectant resistance islands, two genomic islands were identified to harbour smr genes, notorious for conferring disinfectant resistance. This suggests that genomic islands are capable of conferring disinfectant resistance, a phenomenon that has not yet been observed in the study of biocide resistance and tolerance.
A shared ‘vulnerability code’ underpins varying sources of DNA damage throughout paternal germline transmission in mouse

Abstract During mammalian spermatogenesis, the paternal genome is extensively remodelled via replacement of histones with protamines forming the highly compact mature sperm nucleus. Compaction occurs in post-meiotic spermatids and is accompanied by extensive double strand break (DSB) formation. We investigate the epigenomic and genomic context of mouse spermatid DSBs, identifying primary sequence motifs, secondary DNA structures and chromatin contexts associated with this damage. Consistent with previously published results we find spermatid DSBs positively associated with short tandem repeats and LINE elements. We further show spermatid DSBs preferentially occur in association with (CA)n, (NA)n and (RY)n repeats, in predicted Z-DNA, are not associated with G-quadruplexes, are preferentially found in regions of low histone mark coverage and engage the remodelling/NHEJ factor BRD4. Locations incurring DSBs in spermatids also show distinct epigenetic profiles throughout later developmental stages: regions retaining histones in mature sperm, regions susceptible to oxidative damage in mature sperm, and fragile two-cell like embryonic stem cell regions bound by ZSCAN4 all co-localise with spermatid DSBs and with each other. Our results point to a common ‘vulnerability code’ unifying several types of DNA damage occurring on the paternal genome during reproduction, potentially underpinned by torsional changes during sperm chromatin remodelling.
Vertical Structure of Martian Dust Measured by Solar Infrared Occultations from the Phobos Spacecraft

Solar occultation observations of the Martian atmosphere from the Phobos spacecraft resulted in nine vertical profiles of volume extinction coefficient at 3.7 and 1.9 μm in the altitude range of 12-35 km. Interpretation of the profiles in terms of the Mie scattering theory, with the adopted refraction index 1.5-0.01i and particle size distribution of gamma-type, gives vertical profiles of the particle number density and the effective radius (weighted-mean extinction cross-section). The number density (n) is found to be typically 0.2-1 cm-3 between 15 and 25 km; the effective radius (reff) varies from 0.8 μm near 25 km to 1.6 μm at 15 km. Average values of these parameters are n = 0.32 ± 0.15 cm-3 and reff = 1.26 ± 0.2 μm. The dependence of these parameters on the refraction index and an effective variance of the size distribution is also studied. The data can be interpreted by a one-dimensional dynamic atmospheric model with a source of aerosol of 3 · 10-12 g/cm2/sec near 22 km. The derived mixing coefficient, K = (1.1 ± 0.5) · 106 cm2/sec found to be independent of height between 15 km and 30 km (d log K/dz ≤ 0.025 km-1). The width of the particle size distribution, veff, is estimated with the modeling from the vertical profiles of particle number density assuming it is independent on height: veff = 0.2 ± 0.1. Mean value of the total optical thickness obtained by extrapolation of the extinction profiles to the surface, assuming dust scale height equal to that of gas, is 0.24 ± 0.06 at 1.9 μm.
LncRNA PANTR1 is Associated with Poor Prognostic and Suppresses Apoptosis in Glioma

Glioma is the most common tumor in the central nervous system. High-grade gliomas confer a poor prognosis, being a serious health and economic burden. Current literature suggests the important role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in mammals, especially in tumorigenesis of various tumors. The functions of lncRNA POU3F3 adjacent noncoding transcript 1 (PANTR1) have been investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma but remain yet unclear in gliomas. We evaluated the role of PANTR1 in glioma cells using published data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), then validated it by ex vivo experiments. To investigate the potential cellular mechanism of different levels of PANTR1 expression in glioma cells, we used siRNA-mediated knockdown in low-grade (grade II) cell lines and GBM (grade IV) cell lines (SW1088 and SHG44, respectively). On the molecular level, low expression of PANTR1 caused significantly reduced glioma cell viability and enhanced cell death. Moreover, we identified the importance of PANTR1 expression for cell migration in both cell lines, a critical foundation for invasiveness in recurrent gliomas. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence that PANTR1 has a relevant role in human glioma by influencing cell viability and cell death.
EEG Features in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Retrospective Analysis in a Cohort of Preschool Children

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that can be associated with intellectual disability (ID) and epilepsy (E). The etiology and the pathogenesis of this disorder is in most cases still to be clarified. Several studies have underlined that the EEG recordings in children with these clinical pictures are abnormal, however the precise frequency of these abnormalities and their relationship with the pathogenic mechanisms and in particular with epileptic seizures are still unknown. We retrospectively reviewed 292 routine polysomnographic EEG tracings of preschool children (age < 6 years) who had received a first multidisciplinary diagnosis of ASD according to DSM-5 clinical criteria. Children (mean age: 34.6 months) were diagnosed at IRCCS E. Medea (Bosisio Parini, Italy). We evaluated: the background activity during wakefulness and sleep, the presence and the characteristics (focal or diffuse) of the slow-waves abnormalities and the interictal epileptiform discharges. In 78.0% of cases the EEG recordings were found to be abnormal, particularly during sleep. Paroxysmal slowing and epileptiform abnormalities were found in the 28.4% of the subjects, confirming the high percentage of abnormal polysomnographic EEG recordings in children with ASD. These alterations seem to be more correlated with the characteristics of the underlying pathology than with intellectual disability and epilepsy. In particular, we underline the possible significance of the prevalence of EEG abnormalities during sleep. Moreover, we analyzed the possibility that EEG data reduces the ASD clinical heterogeneity and suggests the exams to be carried out to clarify the etiology of the disorder.
The effect of a standardized capsule of Aloe vera gel on the quality of life in patients with systolic heart failure: A randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial

This trial was designed to evaluate the effect of a standardized capsule of Aloe vera gel (AVG) on the quality of life (QOL) in patients with systolic heart failure (HF). Forty‐two patients were randomly divided into two groups to receive either AVG 150 mg or harmonized placebo capsules twice a day for 8 weeks. The patients were evaluated before and after the intervention using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, six‐minute walk test (6MWT), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and STOP‐BANG questionnaires. Post‐intervention, AVG group indicated a significant reduction in the total score of MLHFQ (p < 0.001). The changes in MLHFQ and NYHA class were statistically significant after taking medication (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). The change of 6MWT in the AVG group was more advanced; however, it was not statistically significant (p = 0.353). Moreover, in the AVG group, the severity of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea decreased (p < 0.001, p = 0.01 respectively) and the sleep quality improved as well (p < 0.001). There were significantly fewer adverse events reported in the AVG group (p = 0.047). Therefore, AVG combined with standard medical therapy could provide more clinical benefits for patients with systolic HF.
An Expandable Yield Prediction Framework Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Semiconductor Manufacturing

Enormous amounts of data are generated and analyzed in the latest semiconductor industry. Established yield prediction studies have dealt with one type of data or a dataset from one procedure. However, semiconductor device fabrication comprises hundreds of processes, and various factors affect device yields. This challenge is addressed in this study by using an expandable input data-based framework to include divergent factors in the prediction and by adapting explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), which utilizes model interpretation to modify fabrication conditions. After preprocessing the data, the procedure of optimizing and comparing several machine learning models is followed to select the best performing model for the dataset, which is a random forest (RF) regression with a root mean square error (RMSE) value of 0.648. The prediction results enhance production management, and the explanations of the model deepen the understanding of yield-related factors with Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) values. This work provides evidence with an empirical case study of device production data. The framework improves prediction accuracy, and the relationships between yield and features are illustrated with the SHAP value. The proposed approach can potentially analyze expandable fields of fabrication conditions to interpret multifaceted semiconductor manufacturing.
A Thermal Model for Near-Earth Asteroids

Abstract It has become common practice in studies of the thermal emission from near-Earth asteroids to employ thermal models developed on the basis of infrared observations of large, main-belt asteroids. However, near-Earth asteroids are relatively small and are expected to have less dusty, “rockier,” surfaces with higher thermal inertias than main-belt asteroids. Furthermore, they tend to have irregular shapes and are often observed at large solar phase angles, compared to main-belt objects. Therefore, the applicability of the commonly used asteroid thermal models to these objects is not self-evident. Radiometric data in the 4–20-μm range of several near-Earth asteroids are compared with model predictions of the thermal emission. For all the objects considered both the “standard” and “fast rotating” thermal models produce poor fits to the observational data. Simple modifications to the standard thermal model are described that lead to significantly improved fits to the data. Revised estimates of the albedos and sizes of a number of near-Earth asteroids are derived using the resulting new thermal model with an empirically derived calibration parameter and compared with existing data from other sources. The new model is proposed as a default simple thermal model for estimating albedos and diameters of near-Earth asteroids.
Glucagonoma-induced Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Young Woman

Abstract A 27-year-old woman presented with an epigastric mass, accompanied by emesis and weight loss. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a pancreatic head-body mass and liver metastasis. Biopsy revealed well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, grade 3. Chromogranin and synaptophysin stains were positive, with a Ki-67 index of 33.6%. Increased frequency of episodic emesis with incomprehensible speech and right-sided weakness prompted admission. A cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed a subacute cerebrovascular infarct. Serum glucagon was markedly elevated. On the third hospital day, neurologic symptoms progressed, with repeat cranial MRI demonstrating acute lacunar infarcts. Two-dimensional echocardiography was consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy. Because of her fragile condition, she was not a candidate for surgery and chemotherapy. She was treated with long-acting octreotide every 4 weeks for a total of 10 doses. Posttreatment, a 2-dimensional echocardiogram and an abdominal CT scan showed no significant change. We report a rare case of glucagonoma with associated prominently dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic stroke.