Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcomes in Lower Pole Kidney Stone Management Using Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Compared With Retrograde Intra Renal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Because of the anatomical properties of the inferior calyx, lower pole stones are difficult to remove through the ureter, even if the stones are fragmented. Retrograde intra-renal surgery (RIRS) is typically employed to treat the smaller lower pole stones (1.0-2.0 cm) while percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is primarily used to treat the larger diameter stones or when RIRS has failed to clear the stones. This study was conducted to compare mini-PCNL and RIRS for the management of lower pole kidney stones in terms of stone clearance. Material and methods This randomized control trial was conducted in the Department of Urology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from October 2020 to December 2022. A total of 150 patients between the ages of 18 and 80 years with a kidney stone size of 10-20 mm at the lower pole were included. Patients with positive urine culture, anatomical abnormalities, uncontrolled diabetes (hemoglobin{Hb}A1c >9%), and undergone previous renal surgery were excluded. Group A patients were treated with mini-PCNL, while group B patients were managed with RIRS. Follow-up visits were planned four weeks postoperatively with CT KUB (computed tomography of kidneys, ureters, and bladder) plain to assess stone clearance. Results The mean age in group A was 43.27 ± 13.86 years, while in group B was 45.32 ± 14.14 years. Out of 150 patients, 102 (68.0%) were males and 48 (32.0%) were females. Mean size of the stone was 15.30 ± 2.21 mm. Stone clearance after mini-PCNL was found in 69 (92.0%) patients and after RIRS in 59 (78.67%) patients (p-value = 0.021). Mean hospital stay after RIRS was 1.1 ± 0.09 days, while it was 2.3 ± 0.64 days after mini-PCNL (p-value < 0.001). Two (2.67%) patients in the mini-PCNL group developed bleeding postoperatively. The stone clearance rate in older patients (51 to 80 years) was significantly higher in the mini-PCNL group than RIRS group. Similarly, the stone clearance rate in female patients and in patients with larger stones (16 to 20 mm) was found to be higher in mini-PCNL group as compared to the RIRS group. Conclusion This study concluded that both mini-PCNL and RIRS are safe and efficient techniques for treating lower pole kidney stones with a size of 11-15 mm. However, mini-PCNL has a higher stone clearance rate compared to RIRS in the treatment of stones larger than 15 mm in size. This study further suggested that patients treated with mini-PCNL had a longer hospital stay compared to patients treated with RIRS.
Comparison of the diversity and structure of the rhizosphere microbial community between the straight and twisted trunk types of Pinus yunnanensis

Background Pinus yunnanensis is a major silvicultural species in Southwest China. Currently, large areas of twisted-trunk Pinus yunnanensis stands severely restrict its productivity. Different categories of rhizosphere microbes evolve alongside plants and environments and play an important role in the growth and ecological fitness of their host plant. However, the diversity and structure of the rhizosphere microbial communities between P. yunnanensis with two different trunk types—straight and twisted—remain unclear. Methods We collected the rhizosphere soil of 5 trees with the straight and 5 trees with the twisted trunk type in each of three sites in Yunnan province. We assessed and compared the diversity and structure of the rhizosphere microbial communities between P. yunnanensis with two different trunk types by Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. Results The available phosphorus in soil differed significantly between P. yunnanensis with straight and twisted trunks. Available potassium had a significant effect on fungi. Chloroflexi dominated the rhizosphere soils of the straight trunk type, while Proteobacteria was predominant in the rhizosphere soils of the twisted trunk type. Trunk types significantly explained 6.79% of the variance in bacterial communities. Conclusion This study revealed the composition and diversity of bacterial and fungal groups in the rhizosphere soil of P. yunnanensis with straight and twisted trunk types, providing proper microbial information for different plant phenotypes.
Extremely low inductance thin-film single-pole head on flying slider

A novel single-pole head on a flying slider is presented as a high frequency writing head. The main pole of the head is driven with three thin-film conductor layers to have a short magnetic circuit path. Thus, a low inductance of around 10 nH and a high writing sensitivity of less than 0.03 AT/sub pp/ is obtained. The writing field distribution is shown to be the same as a regular single-pole head by computer simulations. The recording performance of the head is examined and the high writing sensitivity is demonstrated.
Field-Object Design of a Numerical Weather Prediction Model for Uni- and Multiprocessors

Abstract The performance of a numerical weather model constructed from scalar, vector, and tensor field objects is evaluated on several workstation computers and on a message-passing multiprocessor. The motivation is to achieve high performance in mesoscale modeling at a low cost in both hardware and programming effort, by making models easier to develop and maintain and by simplifying parallel implementation. The design of this model helps achieve these goals by providing portability of Fortran or C++ code between workstations and fast message-passing multiprocessors and by coding with abstract datatypes to mimic a mathematical description of the model. The overhead of calling operators on field data types was found to be insignificant. Rather, performance on workstations was limited by high cache-memory turnover due to repeated applications of simple operators on an entire 3D grid, and this cache turnover rate was limited in turn by the memory subsystems of the workstations tested. However, parallel pro.
(No) Eternal Inflation in the Starobinsky Inflation Corrected by Higher Curvature Invariants

The swampland criteria in string theory assert the no eternal inflation scenario. This work studied the impact of generic gravitational quantum corrections on eternal inflation. In particular, we find that the Starobinsky model of inflation should receive higher-order corrections stemming from quantum gravity. In this work, we studied the effect of the R3/2 and R4 corrections on the eternal inflation conditions for the Starobinsky model.
Model-independent mapping by optical aperture synthesis : basic principles and computer simulation

The basic concepts of optical interferometric imaging through the atmosphere at a low light level are applied to the case of the Calern High Angular Resolution Optical Network (CHARON) stellar interferometric array. The numerical simulation that was implemented to create the interferometric data is presented. The processing algorithms used to process the raw data, to extract the object parameters, and to restore the initial map are pointed out. The multiresolution approach provides an objective way of analyzing the reconstruction procedure. Reconstructed maps under different conditions of brightness and turbulence are shown and discussed. The advantages and the drawbacks of the different steps of the computer simulation are analyzed.
THz Wave Defect Detection Technology Based on Attention Autoencoder and Semisupervised Ladder Network

Insulation equipment plays an important role in mechanical support and electrical insulation in the power grid. When there are defects in the insulation equipment, the safe operation of the power grid will be seriously threatened. Non-destructive testing (NDT) is an important means to timely find hidden dangers. In view of the low reliability of defect recognition in the case of insufficient sample marks, based on autoencoder feature extraction and semisupervised networks, combined with a terahertz (THz) wave detection device, this article studies the nondestructive detection method of insulator internal defects. First, the spectrum signal of the THz wave is obtained by continuous wavelet transform. Then, for THz time-domain and frequency-domain data, autoencoders incorporating a soft attention mechanism and a channel-spatial attention mechanism are used to automatically extract features, and time–frequency domain cognition is spliced to form fusion features. Finally, a semisupervised ladder network classification model is constructed to train the algorithm efficiently and classify reliably when it is difficult to obtain labels of defective samples. Compared with other networks oriented to 1-D and 2-D data that are trained in the common supervised way, the method in this article has a better performance in classification accuracy and recall rate, which is helpful to improve the detection effect of internal defects of insulation equipment based on the THz wave.
The Protective Role of Cognitive Reserve in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review

Cognitive reserve (CR) represents the ability to optimize performance and functioning to cope with brain damage or disease. CR reflects the capability to adaptively and flexibly use cognitive processes and brain networks to compensate for the deterioration typical of aging. Several studies have investigated the potential role of CR in aging, especially from the perspective of preventing and protecting against dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This systematic literature review aimed to investigate the role of CR as a protective factor against MCI and associated cognitive decline. The review process was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. For this purpose, ten studies were analyzed. The results of this review show that high CR is significantly associated with a reduced risk of MCI. In addition, a significant positive relationship between CR and cognitive functioning is observed when comparing subjects with MCI and healthy subjects and within people with MCI. Thus, the results confirm the positive role of cognitive reserve in mitigating cognitive impairment. The evidence from this systematic review is consistent with the theoretical models of CR. Indeed, previous research hypothesized that specific individual experiences (such as leisure activities) allow a person to acquire successful neural resources over the years to cope with cognitive decline.
Distinct Neuropsychological Correlates of Apathy Sub-Domains in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Apathy is relatively frequent and significantly associated with clinical and cognitive outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), even if previous research has produced mixed results. This varied picture could be due to most studies treating apathy as a unitary construct, despite the evidence showing that apathy is a multifaceted syndrome including three different sub-domains (i.e., cognitive, affective, and behavioral). This study aims to investigate the neuropsychological correlates of apathy fractionated into its three sub-domains in participants with MS. Methods: Eighty-five participants with MS underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. The severity of apathy symptoms was assessed by the self-report version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale. Results: Correlational analysis showed that cognitive apathy sub-domain scores had a high correlation with the performances obtained at cognitive tests tapping into inhibitory control (i.e., IML and Strop test-interference task), whereas the affective apathy sub-domain scores had a high correlation with the performances obtained at cognitive test tapping into the use of executive functions in visuospatial abilities (i.e., Clock Drawing Test). Moreover, linear regression analysis results showed that the cognitive apathy sub-domain scores predicted executive functioning domain scores and that the cognitive and affective apathy sub-domains scores predicted visuospatial abilities domain scores. Conclusion: These results confirm that apathy is a multidimensional concept with important neuropsychological correlates, visible only when it is fractionated into its sub-domains.
A converging flux model for the formation of an X-ray bright point above a supergranule cell

Abstract The many complex regions of positive and negative flux that thread the surface of the Sun are mainly grouped around the edges of supergranule cells. These cells have large concentrations of magnetic flux on their boundaries and very little flux inside, with the magnetic fragments that appear in the centre of the cells swept to the boundaries by convective motions. Thus, a small bipolar pair of magnetic fragments (such as an ephemeral region) emerges inside a cell and moves towards the cell boundary as it grows. On reaching the boundary the fragments encounter unipolar regions of network flux with which they may merge or cancel. When cancellation takes place there is often an associated X-ray bright point in the overlying corona. Here, the emergence and interaction of an ephemeral region in a quiet-region or active-region super-granule cell is considered. It is found that there are three possible scenarios for the evolution of an ephemeral region in a supergranule cell and these are all investigat.
Interphase characterization of glass/epoxy composite using peridynamic method and micro tensile test

ABSTRACT In this paper, a novel procedure is developed to characterize the interphase region using the nonlocal peridynamic method and micro tensile tests of glass/epoxy specimens with a single fiber of glass. For this purpose, micro tensile tests are performed by an accurate tensile test device and high-quality camera imaging for data sampling. The obtained displacements are analysed by the image processing method and used as target values in the peridynamic analyses. Multiscale mass points from macro to micro scale are generated to model the interphase region in single fiber specimens using the state-based peridynamic method. With the coupling of peridynamic and multivariate optimization codes, the program is automatically executed by the prediction of thickness and elastic modulus of interphase to achieve the desired displacements similar to micro tensile test results. In this innovative method, unlike nanoindentation tests, where the results are limited to a specific section or point, the interphase characterization gives an overall elastic modulus value along the examined length of the sample. The obtained results from the presented procedure show that the interphase elastic modulus is between 20.8 and 28.86 GPa and the interphase thickness is between 1.149 and 1.986 microns. The obtained results are in the range of nanoindentation tests results presented in the literature, and the difference could be due to the manufacturing conditions, epoxy properties, and quality of the fiber silane coatings. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Artificial intelligence for fish behavior recognition may unlock fishing gear selectivity

Through the advancement of observation systems, our vision has far extended its reach into the world of fishes, and how they interact with fishing gears—breaking through physical boundaries and visually adapting to challenging conditions in marine environments. As marine sciences step into the era of artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning models now provide tools for researchers to process a large amount of imagery data (i.e., image sequence, video) on fish behavior in a more time-efficient and cost-effective manner. The latest AI models to detect fish and categorize species are now reaching human-like accuracy. Nevertheless, robust tools to track fish movements in situ are under development and primarily focused on tropical species. Data to accurately interpret fish interactions with fishing gears is still lacking, especially for temperate fishes. At the same time, this is an essential step for selectivity studies to advance and integrate AI methods in assessing the effectiveness of modified gears. We here conduct a bibliometric analysis to review the recent advances and applications of AI in automated tools for fish tracking, classification, and behavior recognition, highlighting how they may ultimately help improve gear selectivity. We further show how transforming external stimuli that influence fish behavior, such as sensory cues and gears as background, into interpretable features that models learn to distinguish remains challenging. By presenting the recent advances in AI on fish behavior applied to fishing gear improvements (e.g., Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), coupled networks), we discuss the advances, potential and limits of AI to help meet the demands of fishing policies and sustainable goals, as scientists and developers continue to collaborate in building the database needed to train deep learning models.
Virtual acoustic reproduction of historical spaces for interactive music performance and recording

For the most authentic and successful musical result, a performer engaged in recording pianoforte pieces of Haydn needs to hear the instrument as it would have sounded in historically typical room reverberation, such as that of the original room’s in which Haydn taught his students to play pianoforte. After capturing the acoustic response of such historical room’s, as described in the companion presentation, there remains the problem of how best to reproduce the virtual acoustical response of the room as a performer moves relative to the instrument and the rooms boundaries. This can be done with a multichannel loudspeaker array enveloping the performer, interactively presenting simulated indirect sound to generate a sense of presence in the previously captured room. The resulting interaction between live musical instrument performance and the sound of the virtual room can be captured both binaurally for the performer’s subsequent evaluation, readjusted to provide the most desirable acoustic feedback to th.
Fluorinated Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Coated Separator Mitigates Polysulfide Shuttle in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Li-S batteries still suffer from two of the major challenges: polysulfide shuttle and low inherent conductivity of sulfur. Here, we report a facile way to develop a bifunctional separator coated with fluorinated multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Mild fluorination does not affect the inherent graphitic structure of carbon nanotubes as shown by transmission electron microscopy. Fluorinated carbon nanotubes show an improved capacity retention by trapping/repelling lithium polysulfides at the cathode, while simultaneously acting as the “second current collector”. Moreover, reduced charge-transfer resistance and enhanced electrochemical performance at the cathode-separator interface result in a high gravimetric capacity of around 670 mAh g−1 at 4C. Unique chemical interactions between fluorine and carbon at the separator and the polysulfides, studied using DFT calculations, establish a new direction of utilizing highly electronegative fluorine moieties and absorption-based porous carbons for mitigation of polysulfide shuttle in Li-S batteries.
Academic entrepreneurship: work identity in contexts

ABSTRACT Through the qualitative analysis of 81 semi-structured interviews of academics from the STEM fields, working in UK, Australia, and Italy, we support and challenge the previous literature on academic entrepreneurship. On the one hand, our research supports previous studies which suggest that some academics find compatibility between their academic roles and forms of science commercialization and knowledge transfer. The findings suggest that such an alignment of roles takes place in contexts (disciplinary, proximal) which stimulate and support academic entrepreneurship. At the same time, we argue against of the idea of fusion of academic-entrepreneur role identity and we suggest whilst the two roles may coexist, they are separate, as the academic identity remains the central salient identity. Continuity of core academic values is linked to ‘supranational’ factors such as norms and values of the academic profession and of disciplinary fields, which influence perceptions of alignment or misalignment with various activities, including the entrepreneurial one. We offer a redefinition of academic entrepreneurship through the lens of social entrepreneurship which could constitute the bridge between two worlds which are typically considered difficult to connect.
Penalty formulation for postfilling analysis during injection molding

We propose an approximate method that can simulate the packing stage during the injection molding using the penalty parameter method. In order to account for the compressibility effect, an update scheme based on similarity between the slightly compressible and the penalty formulations is proposed. The method allows for solving the entire injection molding process using a single algorithm with the penalty method in spite of the transition from the incompressible regime during the filling stage into the compressible regime for the packing stage. Several test cases have been presented to prove the validity of the method. It has been shown that the accuracy of the proposed method is identical to that of the mixed method. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationships between Molecular Characteristics of Novel Organic Selenium Compounds and the Formation of Sulfur Compounds in Selenium Biofortified Kale Sprouts

Due to problems with selenium deficiency in humans, the search for new organic molecules containing this element in plant biofortification process is highly required. Selenium organic esters evaluated in this study (E-NS-4, E-NS-17, E-NS-71, EDA-11, and EDA-117) are based mostly on benzoselenoate scaffolds, with some additional halogen atoms and various functional groups in the aliphatic side chain of different length, while one compound contains a phenylpiperazine moiety (WA-4b). In our previous study, the biofortification of kale sprouts with organoselenium compounds (at the concentrations of 15 mg/L in the culture fluid) strongly enhanced the synthesis of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates. Thus, the study aimed to discover the relationships between molecular characteristics of the organoselenium compounds used and the amount of sulfur phytochemicals in kale sprouts. The statistical partial least square model with eigenvalues equaled 3.98 and 1.03 for the first and second latent components, respectively, which explained 83.5% of variance in the predictive parameters, and 78.6% of response parameter variance was applied to reveal the existence of the correlation structure between molecular descriptors of selenium compounds as predictive parameters and biochemical features of studied sprouts as response parameters (correlation coefficients for parameters in PLS model in the range—0.521 ÷ 1.000). This study supported the conclusion that future biofortifiers composed of organic compounds should simultaneously contain nitryl groups, which may facilitate the production of plant-based sulfur compounds, as well as organoselenium moieties, which may influence the production of low molecular weight selenium metabolites. In the case of the new chemical compounds, environmental aspects should also be evaluated.
Character extraction method without prior knowledge on size and position information

The authors have proposed a method for extracting characters from given images without prior knowledge of their position and size in the images. Based on an assumption that characters have line-type shapes locally and blob-type shapes globally, scale space analysis is used to detect both local and global shapes. In the scale shape analysis, given images are blurred by Gaussian filters at various scales. As the scale increases, images are more and more blurred, and more global shapes appear in the image. Their proposed method detects the scales at which global shapes appear by referring to normalized principal curvatures of the gray-level image profiles.