Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overcoming Treatment Challenges in Posterior Segment Diseases with Biodegradable Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems

Posterior segment eye diseases present a challenge in treatment due to the complex structures in the eye that serve as robust static and dynamic barriers, limiting the penetration, residence time, and bioavailability of topical and intraocular medications. This hinders effective treatment and requires frequent dosing, such as the regular use of eye drops or visits to the ophthalmologist for intravitreal injections, to manage the disease. Moreover, the drugs must be biodegradable to minimize toxicity and adverse reactions, as well as small enough to not affect the visual axis. The development of biodegradable nano-based drug delivery systems (DDSs) can be the solution to these challenges. First, they can stay in ocular tissues for longer periods of time, reducing the frequency of drug administration. Second, they can pass through ocular barriers, offering higher bioavailability to targeted tissues that are otherwise inaccessible. Third, they can be made up of polymers that are biodegradable and nanosized. Hence, therapeutic innovations in biodegradable nanosized DDS have been widely explored for ophthalmic drug delivery applications. In this review, we will present a concise overview of DDSs utilized in the treatment of ocular diseases. We will then examine the current therapeutic challenges faced in the management of posterior segment diseases and explore how various types of biodegradable nanocarriers can enhance our therapeutic arsenal. A literature review of the pre-clinical and clinical studies published between 2017 and 2023 was conducted. Through the advances in biodegradable materials, combined with a better understanding of ocular pharmacology, the nano-based DDSs have rapidly evolved, showing great promise to overcome challenges currently encountered by clinicians.
A Stable and Computationally Efficient Spatial Harmonic Model for Predicting the DC Winding Induced Voltage in WFSF Machine

In order to predict the DC winding induced voltage under pulse width modulation excitation in the wound field switched flux (WFSF) machine with consideration of the impact of magnetic coupling among d-, q-axis and the DC winding, lamination magnetic saturation and current harmonics in both AC and DC windings, the field-circuit coupling method based on the high-fidelity spatial harmonic (SH) model is applied in this paper, including the inductance-based SH model and flux-linkage-based SH model. However, it is found that the inductance-based SH model of the WFSF machine suffers from numerical instability in dynamic operation due to the high condition number of the inductance matrix caused by the magnetic coupling among d-, q-axis and the DC winding, resulting in prediction errors of the d-, q-axis flux-linkages, and that of the DC winding. To solve this problem, a flux-linkage-based SH model is proposed for the WFSF machine in this paper, and it shows that the proposed flux-linkage-based SH model is numerically stable during the dynamic operation. In addition, the calculation speed of the flux-linkage-based SH model is 147 times faster than the inductance-based one, due to the exemption of the calculation of the partial derivation equations. Finally, the analyzed 24-stator-slot/10-rotor-pole WFSF machine is built and tested to validate the flux-linkage-based SH model, and the experimental results agree well with those of the SH model.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymeric Particles Created Using Droplet-Based Microfluidics: Preparation and Applications

Recent years have witnessed increased attention to the use of droplet-based microfluidics as a tool for the fabrication of microparticles due to this method’s ability to exploit fluid mechanics to create materials with a narrow range of sizes. In addition, this approach offers a controllable way to configure the composition of the resulting micro/nanomaterials. To date, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in particle form have been prepared using various polymerization methods for several applications in biology and chemistry. However, the traditional approach, that is, the production of microparticles through grinding and sieving, generally leads to poor control over particle size and distribution. Droplet-based microfluidics offers an attractive alternative for the fabrication of molecularly imprinted microparticles. This mini-review aims to present recent examples highlighting the application of droplet-based microfluidics to fabricate molecularly imprinted polymeric particles for applications in the chemical and biomedical sciences.
A Control Bandwidth Optimized Active Damping Scheme for LC and LCL Filter-Based Converters

Control bandwidth and damping performance are two key specifications for high-order LC and LCL filter-based converters. The damping of high-order filter-based converters has been extensively studied. However, the control bandwidth issue was ignored. The quantitative relationship between the control gains and bandwidth is still unclear. Moreover, the delay compensator was designed independently without considering the interactions with the main controller. This paper proposes a control bandwidth-optimized active damping control strategy for the LC and LCL filter-based converters to overcome these shortcomings. With the proposed generalized controller, the close loop transfer function of the $\text{N}^{\mathrm {th}}$ order filter-based converter can be simplified to an $\text{N}^{\mathrm {th}}$ order low pass filter with an adjustable cutoff frequency. This greatly simplifies the control bandwidth optimization. To alleviate the negative influence of the computational delay on the control bandwidth, a novel delay compensator is proposed. To reach an overall optimized control performance, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method is used to optimize the controller and delay compensator parameters simultaneously to realize both high control bandwidth and good damping performance. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed novel controller.
1.5 cm long single mode fiber laser made by femtosecond exposure of heavily doped erbium-ytterbium fiber

The fabrication of a very short fiber laser made in heavily doped (0.23 wt% Er3+, 2.5 wt% Yb3+) Erbium-Ytterbium silica fiber is presented. The laser cavity is built by inscribing two identical Bragg gratings 8 mm apart as cavity mirrors using ultrafast femtosecond radiation from an infrared regenerative amplifier and the phase mask method. The fiber Bragg gratings have a 6.4 mm Gaussian distribution of the refractive index modulation and a 99.9% reflectivity. The evaluation of the broadband loss induced during the ultrafast laser exposure resulted in < 0.1 dB at the resonant wavelength. The fiber laser efficiency and the influence of thermal effects of the pump dissipation on the grating Brass resonance is also presented. Major advantages of ultrafast IR laser inscription of Bragg gratings for fiber lasers cavities will also be discussed.
Features of Engorgement of Ixodes ricinus Ticks Infesting the Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog in an Urban Park

In this work we exploited the parallel dense tick and hedgehog populations of an urban park in Budapest, Hungary as a good host–parasite model to obtain detailed data about this physiological relationship. Over a 27-week period from April to October, 57 hedgehogs were captured in an urban park and kept for 10–14 days in animal house. All dropped off ticks were sampled, which allowed us to draw more a detailed picture of Ixodes ricinus–hedgehog relationships. The results indicated that the hedgehog is an effective host for ticks (prevalence: 100%) and the mean intensity of infestation was 83.25. Of the male ticks, 68.42% dropped off dead; 1.56% of the dropped off nymphs and 11.4% of the larvae finished their bloodmeal with red cuticles, while 5.79% of the females could not finish their blood meal, and dropped off dried, dead, or shrunken. We applied novel statistical methods of survival analysis of prevalent cohorts to estimate the whole attachment times of ticks from the observed attachment times, having no information about when the ticks attached to their hosts. Mean attachment times were 4 days for larvae, 5 days for nymphs, 10 days for females, and 8 days for males. On the first day after capture of the hosts, fewer females, nymphs, and larvae detached engorged than had been predicted, but this was not true for males. Mean intensity of infestation per host was 1.4 for males, 6.7 for females, 45.0 for nymphs, and 29.3 for larvae. As regards seasonality, the activity of all stages of ticks consisted of several smaller peaks and considerably differed by season. Studies of the dense tick–host populations of this natural habitat could provide further valuable data about tick–host relations, the data of which cannot be drawn from most other hedgehog habitats.
A Manifold Unfolding Method Based on Boundary Constraints

In the spectral methods of manifold learning, the manifold unfolding tasks are formulated as optimization problems. The optimal solutions to these problems will embed all samples into one point. To avoid the degenerate solutions, the spectral methods impose a unit covariance constraint to the embedding coordinates. However, this constraint usually causes highly distorted embeddings. A new manifold unfolding method is proposed in this paper, which discards the unit covariance constraint completely. The central idea is to embed the manifold boundary at first, then the inner regions. The embedding positions of inner samples will be pulled out by the embedded boundary to avoid collapsing into one point. The embedding of inner samples is obtained by solving a linear system that reffects local isometry requirement, using the embedding of boundary as a boundary condition. The embedding of boundary is determined by a simplified version of manifold, and a manifold boundary detection algorithm and a manifold graph simplification algorithm are thus also proposed. Experimental results on synthetic and real data sets demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, which results in less mapping distortion than spectral methods.
Solving Some Physics Problems Involving Fractional-Order Differential Equations with the Morgan-Voyce Polynomials

In this research, we present a new computational technique for solving some physics problems involving fractional-order differential equations including the famous Bagley–Torvik method. The model is considered one of the important models to simulate the coupled oscillator and various other applications in science and engineering. We adapt a collocation technique involving a new operational matrix that utilizes the Liouville–Caputo operator of differentiation and Morgan–Voyce polynomials, in combination with the Tau spectral method. We first present the differentiation matrix of fractional order that is used to convert the problem and its conditions into an algebraic system of equations with unknown coefficients, which are then used to find the solutions to the proposed models. An error analysis for the method is proved to verify the convergence of the acquired solutions. To test the effectiveness of the proposed technique, several examples are simulated using the presented technique and these results are compared with other techniques from the literature. In addition, the computational time is computed and tabulated to ensure the efficacy and robustness of the method. The outcomes of the numerical examples support the theoretical results and show the accuracy and applicability of the presented approach. The method is shown to give better results than the other methods using a lower number of bases and with less spent time, and helped in highlighting some of the important features of the model. The technique proves to be a valuable approach that can be extended in the future for other fractional models having real applications such as the fractional partial differential equations and fractional integro-differential equations.
Extraction of image features for an effective CBIR system

In this paper, we propose a content-based image retrieval system based on an efficient combination of both color and texture features. According to HSV (Hue, Saturation, and Value) color space, we quantified the color space into non-equal intervals, and then construct a one dimensional feature vector and represented the color feature. Similarly, the work of texture feature extraction is obtained by using Gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) or Color co-occurrence matrix (CCM) and then we combine color features and GLCM as well as CCM separately. Depending on the former, image retrieval based on multi-feature fusion is achieved by using normalized Euclidean distance classifier. Experiments reveal that the use of both color and texture based on CCM has better effective performance and advantage.
Learning Process-Based Therapy: A Skills Training Manual for Targeting the Core Processes of Psychological Change in Clinical Practice (2021) by Stefan G. Hofmann, Steven C. Hayes, and David N. Lorscheid. New Harbinger Publications. ISBN: 9781684037551

Rather than continuing the standardised “protocol-for-psychological disease” approach of the last few decades, process-based therapy (PBT) centres the client and the processes which are most helpful for their particular needs. Regardless of what type of therapy a practitioner uses, PBT focuses on personalising evidence-informed interventions. This revolutionary training manual offers the practitioner useful examples, case studies, tools, tables, and worksheets. Reviewed by one of the world’s top scientists, Learning Process-Based Therapy: A Skills Training Manual for Targeting the Core Processes of Psychological Change in Clinical Practice is written by PBT’s founders.
The Value of Additional Central Flyway Wetlands in Nebraska's Rainwater Basin Wetland Region

Nebraska’s Rainwater Basin wetland region is recognized internationally as a significant wetland complex for migratory waterfowl habitat. A contingent valuation study was undertaken to determine Nebraskan’s willingness-to-pay for government acquisition/management programs for this resource. The study consisted of a double bounded referendum format. A censored regression model was utilized for data analysis. Name, Mailing Address, and phone Number for Contact Person: Joan Poor, Dept. Of Agricultural Economics, 305 H.C. Filley Hall, P.O. Box 830922 Linclon, NE 68583-0922 Ph. (402) 472-9143. E-mail: agec100@unlvm.unl. edu Name and Biographical Sketch of Presenting Author: P. Joan Poor is currently a doctoral candidate and research assistant at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has a B.S. in agricultural economics and a Master of Natural Resources Management for the University of Manitoba. Prior to entering a Ph.D. program she worked for seven years in government and private environmental and agricultural consulting jobs. Topic Codes: Indicate below the two-digit topic area code(s) that match the paper’s contribution most closely. This will determine who reviews the paper. 01-Production economics and farm management 07-International trade and development 02-Resource and environmental economics 08-Consumer and household economics 03-Agri marketing, demand and price analysis 09-Food agricultural policy 04-Agricultural business 10-community and regional economics 05-Agricultural finance 11-Teaching, extension and professional affairs
Noncircular jet dynamics in supersonic combustion

The mixing characteristics of circular, small-aspect-ratio elliptic and rectangular jets were studied in subsonic, sonic, and supersonic flows. The experiments were carried out in both cold and hot flows using hot-wire anemometry, thermocouples, and photography. The elliptic and rectangular jets had similar features, with a slightly better mixing performance of the elliptic jet in the subsonic and supersonic flows. The elliptic and rectangular jets had a higher spreading rate relative to the circular jet, epecially at the minor axis plane. In the subsonic jet, the spreading rate was limited to the first five equivalent diameters (De) from the nozzle. In the supersonic underexpanded jet, the spreading rate was three times higher in the entire range (30£>e) measured. The minor axis plane was also characterized by high intensity of near-field pressure fluctuations. The two phenomena can be related to each other when an acoustic feedback occurs. Nomenclature & = aspect ratio D = circular nozzle diameter De = equivalent diameter E = energy of the fluctuating pressure components in the power spectrum / = frequency M = Mach number r = radial coordinate Re = Reynolds number, U0De/v R05 = half-width of the jet; r at with U= U^ /2 Rw 5 = half-width of the reacting jet; r at which
Defense Inducer Compounds Up-regulated the Peroxidase, Polyphenol Oxidase, and Total Phenol Activities against Spot Blotch Disease of Wheat

Spot blotch disease of wheat caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoem is considered as an economically important disease which affects all the growing stages of wheat crop. Therefore, it is important to search some effective management strategies against the spot blotch pathogen. Some synthetic elicitor compounds (salicylic acid, isonicotinic acid, and chitosan) and nano-particles (silver and aluminum) were tested against the pathogen to observe the change in biochemical activity and defense action of wheat plant against spot blotch disease. All the tested elicitor compounds and nano-particles showed a significant increase in activity of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and total phenol over control. The highest increase in activity of peroxidase was recorded at 72 h from chitosan at 2 mM and 96 h from silver nano-particle at 100 ppm. Maximum PPO and total phenol activity were recorded from chitosan at 2 mM and silver nano-particle at 100 ppm as compared to pathogen-treated and healthy control. The lowest percent disease index, lowest no. of spots/leaf, and no. of infected leaves/plant were found in silver nano-particle at 100 ppm and chitosan at 2 mM, respectively. The use of defense inducer compounds results in significantly up-regulated enzymatic activity and reduced spot blotch disease. Therefore, chitosan and silver nano-particle could be used as alternative methods for the management of spot blotch disease.
Oblique-mode breakdown and secondary instability in supersonic boundary layers

Laminar–turbulent transition mechanisms for a supersonic boundary layer are examined by numerically solving the governing partial differential equations. It is shown that the dominant mechanism for transition at low supersonic Mach numbers is associated with the breakdown of oblique first-mode waves. The first stage in this breakdown process involves nonlinear interaction of a pair of oblique waves with equal but opposite angles resulting in the evolution of a streamwise vortex. This stage can be described by a wave–vortex triad consisting of the oblique waves and a streamwise vortex whereby the oblique waves grow linearly while nonlinear forcing results in the rapid growth of the vortex mode. In the second stage, the mutual and self-interaction of the streamwise vortex and the oblique modes results in the rapid growth of other harmonic waves and transition soon follows. Our calculations are carried all the way into the transition region which is characterized by rapid spectrum broadening, localized (unsteady) flow separation and the emergence of small-scale streamwise structures. The r.m.s. amplitude of the streamwise velocity component is found to be on the order of 4–5 % at the transition onset location marked by the rise in mean wall shear. When the boundary-layer flow is initially forced with multiple (frequency) oblique modes, transition occurs earlier than for a single (frequency) pair of oblique modes. Depending upon the disturbance frequencies, the oblique mode breakdown can occur for very low initial disturbance amplitudes (on the order of 0.001% or even lower) near the lower branch. In contrast, the subharmonic secondary instability mechanism for a two-dimensional primary disturbance requires an initial amplitude on the order of about 0.5% for the primary wave. An in-depth discussion of the oblique-mode breakdown as well as the secondary instability mechanism (both subharmonic and fundamental) is given for a Mach 1.6 flat-plate boundary layer.
A haplotype resolved chromosome-scale assembly of North American wild apple Malus fusca and comparative genomics of the fire blight Mfu10 locus. Genome of the Pacific Crabapple Malus fusca

The Pacific crabapple (Malus fusca) is a wild relative of the commercial apple (Malus × domestica). With a range extending from Alaska to Northern California, M. fusca is extremely hardy and disease resistant. The species represents an untapped genetic resource for development of new apple cultivars with enhanced stress resistance. However, gene discovery and utilization of M. fusca has been hampered by the lack of genomic resources. Here, we present a high-quality, haplotype-resolved, chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation for M. fusca. The genome was assembled using high-fidelity long-reads and scaffolded using genetic maps and high-throughput chromatin conformation capture sequencing, resulting in one of the most contiguous apple genomes to date. We annotated the genome using public transcriptomic data from the same species taken from diverse plant structures and developmental stages. Using this assembly, we explored haplotypic structural variation within the genome of M. fusca, identifying thousands of large variants. We further showed high sequence co-linearity with other domesticated and wild Malus species. Finally, we resolve a known quantitative trait locus associated with resistance to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora). Insights gained from the assembly of a reference-quality genome of this hardy wild apple relative will be invaluable as a tool to facilitate DNA-informed introgression breeding.
Adaptive Evolutionary Programming

AbstractPrevious work has shown that evolutionary programming is an effective method for constructing skillful forecast ensembles. Here, two prototype adaptive methods are developed and tested, using minimum temperature forecast data for Chicago, Illinois, to determine whether they are capable of incorporating improvements to forecast inputs (as might occur with changes to operational forecast models and data assimilation methods) and to account for short-term changes in predictability (as might occur for particular flow regimes). Of the two methods, the mixed-mode approach, which uses a slow mode to evolve the overall ensemble structure and a fast mode to adjust coefficients, produces the best results. When presented with better operational guidance, the mixed-mode method shows a reduction of 0.57°F in root-mean-square error relative to a fixed evolutionary program ensemble. Several future investigations are needed, including the optimization of training intervals based on flow regime and improvements to.
A Generalization of Using an Adjoint Model in Intermittent Data Assimilation Systems

Abstract A generalized setup is proposed for the poor man’s 4D variational data assimilation system (PMV) of Huang et al. The new scheme is referred to as a generalization of PMV (GPV) and has the same basic idea as that of PMV, that is, to use an adjoint model to improve an optimum interpolation (OI)–based assimilation system. In addition, GPV includes the possibility of using different forecast models in the original OI-based assimilation system and in the variational component of the scheme. This generalization leads to three advantages over the original setup: 1) a wider application of an adjoint model developed for a particular forecast model; 2) an implementation flexibility due to its incremental nature; 3) considerable CPU savings when the variational component is run on low resolutions. A detailed comparison is made between GPV and PMV. The steps of a practical implementation are also given. A 5-day period characterized by intense cyclone development is chosen for testing different data assimilat.