Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Grazing-incidence imaging spectrograph for solar observations in the XUV domain

The design of an imaging spectrograph operating at grazing incidence and stigmatic in a large field-of-view is presented. It is realized coupling a double telescope and a spectrometer. The instrument may be used for XUV space observations of extended sources, and is particularized to the Sun observation from the Earth. The performances of a laboratory prototype are presented. This instrument covers the 4-20 nm (310-62 eV) spectral region, with a spectral resolution of 0.1% at 10 nm and a spatial resolution of 3.5 arcsec over a field-of-view of 0.5 deg, within a total envelope of 1.2 m. The design and the characterization of the instrument in the whole spectral region of operation are presented.
Snowstorms over the Puget Sound Lowlands

Abstract Snowfall over the Puget Sound lowlands is the product of complex interactions between the synoptic-scale flow and the mesoscale topography of the region. Although heavy snowfall is relatively infrequent in this region, when it does occur it severely impacts transportation and commerce. The typical synoptic evolution of such snowstorms is characterized by high-amplitude middle- and upper-tropospheric ridging over the northeast Pacific Ocean and the passage and/or development of a short-wave trough over the northwest. United States and southwest Canada. At the surface there is an intense arctic anticyclone over the interior of British Columbia and a coastal trough (and often coastal cyclogenesis) along the British Columbia and Washington coasts. Significant snowfall can also accompany the overrunning of entrenched arctic air by the southwesterly flow in advance of an approaching Pacific cyclone or the passage of a low center to the immediate south of the region during periods of marginal temperatur.
Micromachined microstrip patch antenna with controlled mutual coupling and surface waves

Silicon micromachining has been used to demonstrate the possibility of building high performance microwave and millimeter-wave antennas. To suppress higher order substrate modes and increase the bandwidth of a patch antenna, silicon substrate has been used and material has been selectively removed under the patch area. In addition, the effect of etched grooves around a patch element has been studied for performance improvement, it has been shown that micromachined substrate structure can effectively suppress unwanted surface wave modes resulting in improved radiation efficiency. Moreover, effective dielectric constant curves for the shielded micromachined substrates are provided for accurate design of patch antennas. We have demonstrated that mutual coupling between the radiating patch elements due to surface waves can be controlled using various micromachined substrate configurations.
Supercontinuum generation in irregularly microstructured elliptic core fibers

We have investigated the supercontinuum spectra generated in an irregularly microstructured elliptic core fiber, a fiber with an elliptic core surrounded by irregularly arranged air holes. The supercontinuum spectra are strongly dependent on the polarization direction of the linearly polarized input pulse because of the large ellipticity of the core caused by the irregularity of air holes. From the simulation results obtained by solving numerically the generalized nonlinear Schrodinger equation with the adaptive split-step Fourier method, we show that the supercontinuum spectra can be analyzed as the sum of two supercontinuum spectra for the respective fundamental modes of the elliptic core. The polarization-dependent supercontinuum spectra could be useful in the implementation of a tunable broadband source. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.77. 035804
A ferroelectric model for the generation and propagation of an action potential and its magnetic field stimulation

Action potential generation and propagation in axon membrances are discussed in the framework of the concept of a ferroelectric first-order phase transition. The model modifies Leuchtag's hypothesis of the ferroelectric origin of the gating mechanism in sodium ion channels. The propagation of the action potential represents the polarization kink-soliton describing the motion of the interphase boundary between closed and open gate states associated with different values of polarization. We show that the measured value of the action potential velocity in a squid axon and its temperature dependence can be obtained using typical values of protein relaxation times, channel densities and dielectric quantities as theory parameters. We discuss also the effect of magnetic field on stimulation and propagation of nerve impulse.
PIEZOTHERMOELASTIC ANALYSIS OF A CROSS-PLY LAMINATE CONSIDERING THE EFFECTS OF TRANSVERSE SHEAR AND COUPLING

In this study, we treat the behavior of a piezothermoelastic composite plate taking into account the effects of transverse shear and coupling among mechanical, thermal, and electrostatic fields. As an analytical model, we consider a rectangular laminate composed of several fiber-reinforced laminae and a piezoelectric layer. All the laminae are assumed to exhibit 2-mm symmetry and the principal axes of anisotropy to coincide with coordinate axes, that is, a cross-ply laminate is considered. We assume that the laminate is subjected to mechanical, thermal, and electrical loads with all edges simply supported and treat the problem as a coupled piezothermoelastic one. Numerical calculation is carried out to examine the effects of transverse shear and coupling on the behavior of the laminate. Moreover, the control of the deflection by applied voltage is examined.
Hot-spot dynamics and deceleration-phase Rayleigh–Taylor instability of imploding inertial confinement fusion capsules

A model for the deceleration phase of imploding inertial confinement fusion capsules is derived by solving the conservation equations for the hot spot. It is found that heat flux leaving the hot spot goes back in the form of internal energy and pdV work of the material ablated off the inner shell surface. Though the hot-spot temperature is reduced by the heat conduction losses, the hot-spot density increases due to the ablated material in such a way that the hot-spot pressure is approximately independent of heat conduction. For direct-drive National Ignition Facility-like capsules, the ablation velocity off the shell inner surface is of the order of tens μm/ns, the deceleration of the order of thousands μm/ns2, and the density-gradient scale length of the order a few μm. Using the well-established theory of the ablative Rayleigh–Taylor instability, it is shown that the growth rates of the deceleration phase instability are significantly reduced by the finite ablative flow and the unstable spectrum exhibit.
PARL: A Dialog System Framework with Prompts as Actions for Reinforcement Learning

: The performance of most current open-domain dialog systems is limited by the (training) dialog corpora due to either generation-based or retrieval-based learning patterns. To circumvent this limitation, we propose PARL, an open-domain dialog system framework using P rompts as A ctions for R einforcement L earning. This framework requires a (ﬁxed) open-domain dialog system as the backbone and trains a behavior policy using reinforcement learning to guide the backbone system to respond appropriately with respect to a given conversation. The action space is deﬁned as a ﬁnite set of behaviors in the form of natural language prompts. Preliminary results show that with the guidance of the behavior policy, the backbone system could generate more engaging and empathetic responses.
Inverse Rendering Based on Compressed Spatiotemporal Infomation by Neural Networks

: This paper proposes a method for simultaneous estimation of time variation of the light source distribution, and object shape of a target object from time-series images. This method focuses on the representational capability of neural networks, which can represent arbitrarily complex functions, and efficiently represent light source distribution, object shape, and reflection characteristics using neural networks. Using this method, we show how to stably estimate the time variation of light source distribution, and object shape simultaneously.
Demoralization and Suicidal Ideation in Chronic Pain Patients

Abstract The literature has clearly stressed that patients suffering from chronic pain are at high risk of suicidal behavior (SB). Hence the need to improve the characterization of this behavior risk profile in these patients. Some findings indicate a possible relationship between demoralization and pain, with functional disability found to be correlated with demoralization. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between demoralization and suicidal ideation (SI) in patients with chronic pain. The secondary objective was to verify whether demoralization can occur independently of depression in these patients. Inclusion criteria were patients with chronic pain, with SI or not, matched for age and gender, aged > 18 years. Seventy patients with SI and 70 patients without SI were included. Between-group difference was statistically significant (F=1.064; t= 7.21, p<0.001, d=1.22), confirming the presence of numerous and intense depressive symptoms in the patients of the SI group. Regarding the Demoralization Scale (DS), the difference between the two groups was statistically highly significant (F=1.49; t=9.44; p<0.001, d=1.6). There was also a strong positive correlation between DS and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) (R=0.749; p<0.001 for the study group and R=0.704; p<0.001 for the control group). Furthermore, there was a strong positive correlation between the DS and the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) in the SI patients group, meaning that high demoralization is associated with higher suicidal ideation as well. Our findings did not allow us to distinguish between the notions of depression and demoralization, since the two constructs show almost the same strong positive correlation with suicidal thoughts, the two also being strongly correlated with each other.
Addressing an Unfulfilled Expectation: Teaching Students With Disabilities to Write Scientific Arguments

Students with disabilities (SWD) in general education science classes are expected to engage in the scientific practices and potentially in the writing of arguments drawn from evidence. Currently, however, there are few research-based instructional approaches for teaching argument writing for these students. The present article responds to this need through the application of an instructional model that promises to improve the ability of SWDs to write scientific arguments. We approach this work in multiple ways. First, we clarify our target group, students with high incidence disabilities (learning disability, ADHD, and students with speech and language impairments), and discuss common cognitive challenges they experience. We then explore the role of argumentation in science, review research on both experts’ (scientists’) and novices’ (students’) argument writing and highlight successful cognitive strategies for teaching argument writing with neurotypical learners. We further discuss SWDs’ general writing challenges and how researchers have improved their abilities to comprehend and evaluate scientific information and improve their domain-general writing. Cognitive apprenticeships appear advantageous for teaching SWDs science content and how to write scientific arguments, as this form of instruction begins with problem solving tasks that connect literacy (e.g., reading, writing, argumentation discourse) with epistemic reasoning in a given domain. We illustrate the potential of such apprenticeships by analyzing the conceptual quality of arguments written by three SWDs who participated in a larger quantitative study in which they and others showed improvement in the structure of their arguments. We end with suggestions for further research to expand the use of cognitive apprenticeships.
Absolute and convective secondary instabilities in spatially periodic shear flows

The generic problem of the spatiotemporal instability of a periodic basic flow (Stuart vortices) is considered in order to interpret the sequence of bifurcations observed in open shear flows. Using a novel numerical technique, we show that the more concentrated the vortices, the smaller the backflow needed to trigger absolute instability. These results allow us to propose an alternative interpretation for the subharmonic resonance observed in forced shear flows, which is classically attributed to an acoustic feedback
Post-COVID-19 syndrome and related dysautonomia reduce quality of life, and increase anxiety and depressive symptoms: evidence from Greece

Background: Post-COVID-19 syndrome affects a significant number of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals even asymptomatic cases causing several neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms and signs. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional study with a convenience sample was conducted in Greece from November 2022 to January 2023. We measured demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, post-COVID-19 dysautonomia, quality of life with the EQ-5D-3L, and anxiety and depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Results: Study population included 122 patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. One out of four patients (27.8%) manifested post-COVID-19 dysautonomia, while mean duration of COVID-19 symptoms was 11.6 months. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were worse after the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p<0.001 in both cases). A statistically significant reduction in quality of life was observed among patients after the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p<0.001 for both EQ-5D-3L index value and EQ-5D-3L VAS). Post-COVID-19 dysautonomia increased depression symptoms after the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p=0.02). We found a negative relationship between duration of COVID-19 symptoms and quality of life (p<0.001). Moreover, our results showed that depressive symptoms were more often among females after the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p=0.01). Also, quality of life was lower among females than males (p=0.004 for EQ-5D-3L index value, and p=0.007 for EQ-5D-3L VAS). Conclusions: Our results suggest that post-COVID-19 syndrome causes a tremendous impact on patients quality of life and mental health. In addition, we found that the groups most psychologically affected were patients with post-COVID-19 dysautonomia, females, and patients with longer duration of symptoms. Policy makers should attach priority to vulnerable groups in future psychiatric planning. Policy measures should focus on mental health of post-COVID-19 patients who seem to be particularly vulnerable.
Waveguide-fed parallel plate slot array antenna

A novel planar antenna in which radiating slots are arrayed on one side of a square parallel plate waveguide and coupling slots occupy the other side is proposed. The antenna is excited via the coupling slots by a rectangular waveguide. In order to suppress unwanted reflections and to assure the purity of the transverse electromagnetic traveling-wave mode in the parallel plate waveguide, all the slots are arrayed in pairs. An X-band model antenna was fabricated, and uniform aperture illumination was demonstrated with 48% antenna efficiency. These results demonstrate the feasibility of antennas of this type. >
Density-functional calculations of the liquid deuterium Hugoniot, reshock, and reverberation timing

The principal Hugoniot of liquid deuterium is calculated with density-functional methods. Particular attention is paid to the convergence of thermodynamic quantities with respect to the plane-wave cutoff energy and other simulation constraints. In contrast to earlier density-functional calculations, it is found that the principal Hugoniot results are in very good agreement with gas-gun data at lower pressures and compression ratios. The results at higher pressures are in very good agreement with data from magnetically launched flyer plates and show slightly less compression than earlier density-functional calculations. In addition to the principal Hugoniot, reshock states from a sapphire anvil and third-shock reverberation timings are also calculated. The latter are found to be in very good agreement with recently published results from magnetically launched flyer-plate experiments.
Novel finite pulse‐width correction in flash thermal diffusivity measurement

A new method for obtaining correct thermal diffusivity values in flash measurement has been developed. This consists of two steps: (1) adjustment for an ’’effective’’ irradiation time using the center of gravity of pulse, and (2) the correction for the deviation in the parameter K from the ideal value, 0.1388. We have found that after the adjustment for the ’’effective’’ irradiation time, no further correction is needed for any form of pulse, even for very short t1/2 such as t1/2 = 2 τ.
Introduction to Circle Packing: The Theory of Discrete Analytic Functions

Part I. An Overview of Circle Packing: 1. A circle packing menagerie 2. Circle packings in the wild Part II. Rigidity: Maximal Packings: 3. Preliminaries: topology, combinatorics, and geometry 4. Statement of the fundamental result 5. Bookkeeping and monodromy 6. Proof for combinatorial closed discs 7. Proof for combinatorial spheres 8. Proof for combinatorial open discs 9. Proof for combinatorial surfaces Part III. Flexibility: Analytic Functions: 10. The intuitive landscape 11. Discrete analytic functions 12. Construction tools 13. Discrete analytic functions on the disc 14. Discrete entire functions 15. Discrete rational functions 16. Discrete analytic functions on Riemann surfaces 17. Discrete conformal structure 18. Random walks on circle packings Part IV: 19. Thurston's Conjecture 20. Extending the Rodin/Sullivan theorem 21. Approximation of analytic functions 22. Approximation of conformal structures 23. Applications Appendix A. Primer on classical complex analysis Appendix B. The ring lemma Appendix C. Doyle spirals Appendix D. The brooks parameter Appendix E. Schwarz and buckyballs Appendix F. Inversive distance packings Appendix G. Graph embedding Appendix H. Square grid packings Appendix I. Experimenting with circle packings.
Marginal Maximum Likelihood Estimation of a Latent Variable Model With Interaction

There has been considerable interest in nonlinear latent variable models specifying interaction between latent variables. Although it seems to be only slightly more complex than linear regression without the interaction, the model that includes a product of latent variables cannot be estimated by maximum likelihood assuming normality. Consequently, many approximate methods have been proposed. Recently, a maximum likelihood method of estimation based on the expectation–maximization algorithm has been suggested that is optimum if the distribution assumptions are true. In this article, the authors outline an alternative marginal maximum likelihood estimator using numerical quadrature. A key feature of the approach is that in the marginal distribution of the manifest variables the complicated integration can be reduced, often to a single dimension. This allows a direct approach to maximizing the log-likelihood and makes the method relatively straightforward to use.
Hemostasis-on-a-chip / incorporating the endothelium in microfluidic models of bleeding

Abstract Currently, point-of-care assays for human platelet function and coagulation are used to assess bleeding risks and drug testing, but they lack intact endothelium, a critical component of the human vascular system. Within these assays, the assessment of bleeding risk is typically indicated by the lack of or reduced platelet function and coagulation without true evaluation of hemostasis. Hemostasis is defined as the cessation of bleeding. Additionally, animal models of hemostasis also, by definition, lack human endothelium, which may limit their clinical relevance. This review discusses the current state-of-the-art of hemostasis-on-a-chip, specifically, human cell-based microfluidic models that incorporate endothelial cells, which function as physiologically relevant in vitro models of bleeding. These assays recapitulate the entire process of vascular injury, bleeding, and hemostasis, and provide real-time, direct observation, thereby serving as research-enabling tools that enhance our understanding of hemostasis and also as novel drug discovery platforms. Plain Language Summary The human body’s response to stop bleeding after a vascular injury involves a complex but finely tuned cascade of interactions between the blood, the blood vessel wall, and the physical flow of the blood. Accordingly, in vitro models that incorporate those aspects that occur in vivo are highly needed for research and clinical purposes. Here, we review the state of the art of these technologies, hemostasis-on-a-chip devices that aim to achieve those goals. These physiologically relevant “microchips” mimic the bleeding process as well as the cessation thereof, and can be leveraged as research-enabling tools, platforms for drug discovery, and clinical testing.
Chromosome-Scale Assembly of the Complete Genome Sequence of Leishmania (Mundinia) procaviensis Isolate 253, Strain LV425

Leishmania (Mundinia) procaviensis is a parasitic kinetoplastid that was first isolated from a rock hyrax in Namibia in 1975. We present the complete genome sequence of Leishmania (Mundinia) procaviensis isolate 253, strain LV425, sequenced using combined short- and long-read technologies. This genome will contribute to our understanding of hyraxes as a Leishmania reservoir. ABSTRACT Leishmania (Mundinia) procaviensis is a parasitic kinetoplastid that was first isolated from a rock hyrax in Namibia in 1975. We present the complete genome sequence of Leishmania (Mundinia) procaviensis isolate 253, strain LV425, sequenced using combined short- and long-read technologies. This genome will contribute to our understanding of hyraxes as a Leishmania reservoir.
NUMERICAL COMPUTATION OF FILM BOILING INCLUDING CONJUGATE HEAT TRANSFER

This article presents a numerical method and simulations of film boiling including conjugate heat transfer. A volume-of-fluid (VOF) interface tracking method is augmented with a mass transfer model and a model for surface tension. The bulk fluids are viscous, conducting, and incompressible. We explore film boiling on a horizontal surface and we consider the effect of the energy exchange between a solid wall and the boiling fluid during saturated horizontal film boiling.
Diffraction analysis of slanted finger interdigital transducers

For analysis, Slanted Finger Interdigital Transducers (SFIT) are usually divided into many channels in parallel to the propagation direction. Every channel is considered to be a subfilter. This procedure neglects the diffraction completely. The present paper introduces the diffraction in the SFIT analysis by use of the Angular Spectrum of Plane Waves (ASPW) approach. The analysis is based on a one component bulk wave model. The model is used for analyzing a unidirectional SFIT filter, the transducers of which are composed of SPUDT cells on 37/spl deg/ YX quartz. The simulated transmission behavior is compared with experimental results. Good agreement is found.