Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liquid Metal-Based Tunable Linear Phase Shifters With Low Insertion Loss, High Phase Resolution, and Low Dispersion

A linear, tunable, and self-compensating phase shifter based on liquid metal (LM) is proposed in this article using a half-mode substrate-integrated waveguide (HMSIW). The key phase shifting element is a via-pad-slot (VPS) structure where a thru via is attached to a pad surrounded by an annular slot. This is equivalent to a shunt capacitance and inductance loaded on the HMSIW. Phase shift is achieved when the annular slot is covered by the LM that runs in microfluidic channels on the surface of the HMSIW. This allows easy implementation and convenient manipulation of the LM without incurring excessive losses. A self-compensation structure, based on multiple rows of VPSs, is proposed to achieve a low phase deviation with frequency (low dispersion). The design method to ensure a linear and small phase step over a large phase range is presented. Two phase shifters have been designed and experimentally verified. Phase shifter-I, with two VPS rows, provides a phase shift from 0° to 41° with ±1° phase deviation with frequency over 9.5–12.5 GHz. The average phase resolution is 1°. The measured insertion loss (IL) is 0.8 ± 0.1 dB, with a figure of merit of 45.6°/dB. Phase shifter-II uses three VPS rows to provide a phase shift from 0° to 180° with a phase resolution of 1.68°. The achieved phase deviation with frequency is within ±2° over 10–12.5 GHz and within ±5° over 9–13 GHz. The measured IL is 1.1 ± 0.1 dB with a competitively high figure of merit of 163.6°/dB. Unlike many other phase shifters, the loss of the proposed phase shifters does not increase with the phase shift. The measurements are in very good agreement with the circuit analysis and simulations. The proposed linear phase shifter has demonstrated high performance and very attractive features such as low IL that does not strongly depend on the phase shift, linear phase change, high phase resolution, and low phase dispersion with frequency. Compared with other LM-enabled phase shifters, it has the advantage of easy implementation and control. This LM-based phase shifter also potentially has high power handling capability.
Evaluation of a Single Determination of Gluten Immunogenic Peptides in Urine from Unaware Celiac Patients to Monitor Gluten-Free Diet Adherence

Introduction and aim: Usually, adherence to the gluten-free diet (GFD) in celiac patients is indirectly assessed through serological analysis, questionnaires, or invasive methods such as intestinal biopsy. The detection of gluten immunogenic peptides in urine (urinary gluten immunogenic peptides—uGIP) is a novel technique that directly evaluates the ingestion of gluten. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of uGIP in the follow-up of celiac disease (CD). Methods: From April 2019 to February 2020, CD patients reporting complete adherence to the GFD were prospectively enrolled but were unaware of the reason for the tests. Urinary GIP, the celiac dietary adherence test (CDAT), symptomatic visual analog scales (VAS), and tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) titres were evaluated. Duodenal histology and capsule endoscopy (CE) were performed when indicated. Results: A total of 280 patients were enrolled. Thirty-two (11.4%) had a positive uGIP test (uGIP+). uGIP+ patients did not show significant differences in demographic parameters, CDAT, or VAS scores. The tTGA+ titre was not related to the positivity of uGIP (14.4% vs. 10.9% in patients with tTGA+ and tTGA−). Regarding histology, 66.7% of the GIP+ patients had atrophy compared to 32.7% of the GIP patients (p-value 0.01). However, the presence of atrophy did not correlate with tTGA. Mucosal atrophy was detected in 29 (47.5%) out of 61 patients by CE. With this method, no noticeable dependence on uGIP results (24 GIP− vs. 5 GIP+) was observed. Conclusions: The single uGIP test was positive in 11% of CD cases referring a correct GFD adherence. Furthermore, uGIP results significantly correlated with the duodenal biopsy, formerly considered the gold standard for assessing CD activity.
Intranuclear Cascade Calculation of High-energy Heavy Ion Collisions: Effect of Interactions Between Cascade Particles

Interactions between cascade particles were included in our intranuclear cascade calculation for high energy heavy ion collisions. This leads to better agreement between the calculated and experimental results for the inclusive pion cross sections and for two-nucleon correlations, without changing appreciably the calculated inclusive proton cross sections. The ''single knockout'' nucleons are shown to be a small fraction of the inclusive spectra.
Genetic Algorithm for Solving the No-Wait Three-Stage Surgery Scheduling Problem

In this research, we consider a deterministic three-stage operating room surgery scheduling problem. The three successive stages are pre-surgery, surgery, and post-surgery. The no-wait constraint is considered among the three stages. Surgeries are known in advance (elective). Multiple resources are considered throughout the surgical process: PHU (preoperative holding unit) beds in the first stage, ORs (operating rooms) in the second stage, and PACU (post-anesthesia care unit) beds in the third stage. The objective is to minimize the makespan. The makespan is defined as the maximum end time of the last activity in stage 3. Minimizing the makespan not only maximizes the utilization of ORs but also improves patient satisfaction by allowing treatments to be delivered to patients in a timely manner. We proposed a genetic algorithm (GA) for solving the operating room scheduling problem. Randomly generated problem instances were tested to evaluate the performance of the proposed GA. The computational results show that overall, the GA deviated from the lower bound (LB) by 3.25% on average, and the average computation time of the GA was 10.71 s. We conclude that the GA can efficiently find near-optimal solutions to the daily three-stage operating room surgery scheduling problem.
The Study of Optimal Adsorption Conditions of Phosphate on Fe-Modified Biochar by Response Surface Methodology

A batch of Fe-modified biochars MS (for soybean straw), MR (for rape straw), and MP (for peanut shell) were prepared by impregnating biochars pyrolyzed from three different raw biomass materials, i.e., peanut shell, soybean straw, and rape straw, with FeCl3 solution in different Fe/C impregnation ratios (0, 0.112, 0.224, 0.448, 0.560, 0.672, and 0.896) in this research. Their characteristics (pH, porosities, surface morphologies, crystal structures, and interfacial chemical behaviors) and phosphate adsorption capacities and mechanisms were evaluated. The optimization of their phosphate removal efficiency (Y%) was analyzed using the response surface method. Our results indicated that MR, MP, and MS showed their best phosphate adsorption capacity at Fe/C ratios of 0.672, 0.672, and 0.560, respectively. Rapid phosphate removal was observed within the first few minutes and the equilibrium was attained by 12 h in all treatment. The optimal conditions for phosphorus removal were pH = 7.0, initial phosphate concentration = 132.64 mg L−1, and ambient temperature = 25 °C, where the Y% values were 97.76, 90.23, and 86.23% of MS, MP, and MR, respectively. Among the three biochars, the maximum phosphate removal efficiency determined was 97.80%. The phosphate adsorption process of three modified biochars followed a pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic model, indicating monolayer adsorption based on electrostatic adsorption or ion exchange. Thus, this study clarified the mechanism of phosphate adsorption by three Fe-modified biochar composites, which present as low-cost soil conditioners for rapid and sustainable phosphate removal.
The Renormalization Method in Quantum Electrodynamics

A new technique has been developed for carrying out the renormalization of mass and charge in quantum electrodynamics, which is completely general in that it results not merely in divergence-free solutions for particular problems but in divergence-free equations of motion which are applicable to any problem. Instead of using a power-series expansion in the whole radiation interaction, the new method uses expansions in powers of the high-frequency part of the interaction. The convergence of the perturbation theory is thereby much improved. The method promises to be especially useful in applications to meson theory.
THE SECOND FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE CATALOG OF GAMMA-RAY PULSARS

This catalog summarizes 117 high-confidence ⩾0.1 GeV gamma-ray pulsar detections using three years of data acquired by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi satellite. Half are neutron stars discovered using LAT data through periodicity searches in gamma-ray and radio data around LAT unassociated source positions. The 117 pulsars are evenly divided into three groups: millisecond pulsars, young radio-loud pulsars, and young radio-quiet pulsars. We characterize the pulse profiles and energy spectra and derive luminosities when distance information exists. Spectral analysis of the off-peak phase intervals indicates probable pulsar wind nebula emission for four pulsars, and off-peak magnetospheric emission for several young and millisecond pulsars. We compare the gamma-ray properties with those in the radio, optical, and X-ray bands. We provide flux limits for pulsars with no observed gamma-ray emission, highlighting a small number of gamma-faint, radio-loud pulsars. The large, varied gamma-ray pulsar sample constrains emission models. Fermi's selection biases complement those of radio surveys, enhancing comparisons with predicted population distributions.
A stress-state-dependent damage criterion for metals with plastic anisotropy

The paper discusses the effect of stress state and of loading direction on the onset and evolution of damage in anisotropic ductile metals. A series of experiments with uniaxially and biaxially loaded specimens covering a wide range of stress states and different loading directions is used in combination with corresponding numerical simulations to develop damage criteria. The underlying continuum damage model is based on kinematic definition of damage tensors. The strain rate tensor is additively decomposed into elastic, plastic and damage parts. The anisotropic plastic behavior of the investigated aluminum alloy sheets is governed by the Hoffman yield condition taking into account the strength-differential effect revealed by uniaxial tension and compression tests. Based on this yield criterion generalized anisotropic stress invariants as well as the generalized stress triaxiality and the generalized Lode parameter are defined characterizing the stress state in the anisotropic ductile metal. A damage criterion formulated in terms of these anisotropic stress invariants is proposed and damage mode parameters allow adequate consideration and combination of different damage processes on the micro-level. At the onset of damage the anisotropic stress parameters are determined. With these experimental-numerical data the damage mode parameters are identified depending on stress state and loading direction.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors modulate the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma cells

Immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has significantly improved survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and ICIs are increasingly used in combination with cytotoxic treatments, such as chemotherapy. Although combined treatments are more effective, not all patients respond to the therapy; therefore, a detailed understanding of the effect of treatment combinations at the tumour level is needed. The present study aimed to explore whether ICIs could affect the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy on lung adenocarcinoma cell lines with different PD-L1 expression levels (high, HCC-44; low, A-549). Using the resazurin-based assay, the efficacy of seven chemotherapeutic agents (cisplatin, etoposide, gemcitabine, pemetrexed, vinorelbine, docetaxel and paclitaxel) was compared in the presence or absence of the individually chosen single doses of four ICIs (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab and durvalumab). The results revealed that different ICIs can exhibit either potentiating or depotentiating effects, depending on the chemotherapy agent or lung adenocarcinoma cell line used. Durvalumab was the most promising ICI, which potentiated most chemotherapy agents in both cell lines, especially in the case of high PD-L1 expression. By contrast, nivolumab, exhibited depotentiating trends in several combinations. The immunostaining of γH2AX in treated cells confirmed that the potentiation of the chemotherapeutic cytotoxicity by durvalumab was at least partially mediated via increased DNA damage; however, this effect was strongly dependent on the chemotherapy agent and cell line used. Our future studies aim to address the specific mechanisms underlying the observed ICI-induced potentiation or depotentiation.
Electrosprayed Particles Loaded with Kartogenin as a Potential Osteochondral Repair Implant

The restoration of cartilage damage is a slow and not always successful process. Kartogenin (KGN) has significant potential in this space—it is able to induce the chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells and protect articular chondrocytes. In this work, a series of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based particles loaded with KGN were successfully electrosprayed. In this family of materials, PLGA was blended with a hydrophilic polymer (either polyethyleneglycol (PEG) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)) to control the release rate. Spherical particles with sizes in the range of 2.4–4.1 µm were fabricated. They were found to comprise amorphous solid dispersions, with high entrapment efficiencies of >93%. The various blends of polymers had a range of release profiles. The PLGA-KGN particles displayed the slowest release rate, and blending with PVP or PEG led to faster release profiles, with most systems giving a high burst release in the first 24 h. The range of release profiles observed offers the potential to provide a precisely tailored profile via preparing physical mixtures of the materials. The formulations are highly cytocompatible with primary human osteoblasts.
Large‐scale structures at various stages of separated boundary layer transition

Large‐eddy simulation is employed to investigate separated boundary layer transition induced by a change of curvature of the surface. The geometry is a flat plate with a semi‐circular leading edge. The Reynolds number based on the uniform inlet velocity and the leading edge diameter is 3450. The simulated mean and turbulence quantities compare well with the available experimental data. The LES data have been comprehensively analysed to elucidate the transition process leading to breakdown to turbulence. Large‐scale structures have been observed at various stage of the transition process. Understanding the formation of these large‐scale structures, their evolution and eventual break‐up into smaller structures may help to shed light on the transition mechanism. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Circumstellar material associated with GL 490

L'observation du continuum millimetrique dans la region de GL 490 a permis de mettre en evidence une grande quantite de poussiere s'etendant sur environ 2000 UA. Cette structure est associee a la source IR centrale de GL 490 et est probablement responsable a l'emission IR moyenne et lointaine ainsi que de l'extinction lumineuse dans le domaine optique. L'emission de la raie 13 Co a pu etre detectee a la meme position angulaire que la source continuum
Setting controller parameters through a minimum strategy with a weighted least squares method

This paper presents a feasible real time self-tuning of a controller. The main contribution of this paper consists of presenting a minimum variance control strategy together with a weighted least squares method to adapt the parameters of this approximated controller. Robustness in the proposed loop control is achieved. For that the technique is quite general and can be applied to any kind of system.
Estimation for Partially Nonstationary Multivariate Autoregressive Models

Abstract For an m-variate (“partially”) nonstationary vector autoregressive process {Y t }, we consider the autoregressive model Φ(L)Y t = e t , where Φ(L) = I − Φ1 L − … − Φ p L p and det{Φ(z)} = 0 has d < m roots equal to unity and all other roots are outside the unit circle. It is also assumed that rank {Φ(1)} = r, r = m − d, so that each component of the first differences W t = Y t − Y t − 1 is stationary. The relation of the model to error correction models and co-integration (Engle and Granger 1987) is discussed. The process {Y t } has the error correction representation Φ*(L)(1 − L)Y t = −P 2(I r − Λ r )Q 2 1 Y t-1 + e t , where Q(I m − Φ(1))P = J = diag(I d , Λ r ) is in Jordan canonical form and Q' = [Q 1, Q 2]. It follows that the transformation Z t = QY t = [Zt 1t , Z2 2t ] t is such that the d × 1 process Z 1t is nonstationary with Z 1t − Z 1t-1 stationary while Z 2t is stationary. Asymptotic distribution theory for least squares parameter estimators of the model is first considered. A Gaussia.
Repurposing Verapamil to Enhance Killing of T-ALL Cells by the mTOR Inhibitor Everolimus

New therapies are needed for patients with T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) who do not respond to standard chemotherapy. Our previous studies showed that the mTORC1 inhibitor everolimus increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, decreases the levels of NADPH and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and induces apoptosis in T-ALL cells. Studies in T-ALL-xenografted NOD/SCID mice demonstrated that everolimus improved their response to the glucocorticoid (GC) dexamethasone. Here we show that verapamil, a calcium antagonist used in the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, enhanced the effects of everolimus on ROS and cell death in T-ALL cell lines. The death-enhancing effect was synergistic and was confirmed in assays on a panel of therapy-resistant patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and primary samples from T-ALL patients. The verapamil-everolimus combination produced a dramatic reduction in the levels of G6PD and induction of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Studies of NOD/SCID mice inoculated with refractory T-ALL PDX cells demonstrated that the addition of verapamil to everolimus plus dexamethasone significantly reduced tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, our results provide a rationale for repurposing verapamil in association with mTORC inhibitors and GC to treat refractory T-ALL.
ASYMPTOTIC EFFICIENCY OF THE ORDINARY LEAST SQUARES ESTIMATOR FOR REGRESSIONS WITH UNSTABLE REGRESSORS

For regression models with general unstable regressors having characteristic roots on the unit circle and general stationary errors independent of the regressors, sufficient conditions are investigated under which the ordinary least squares estimator (OLSE) is asymptotically efficient in that it has the same limiting distribution as the generalized least squares estimator (GLSE) under the same normalization. A key condition for the asymptotic efficiency of the OLSE is that one multiplicity of a characteristic root of the regressor process is strictly greater than the multiplicities of the other roots. Under this condition, the covariance matrix Γ of the errors and the regressor matrix X are shown to satisfy a relationship (ΓX = XC + V for some matrix C) for V asymptotically dominated by X, which is analogous to the condition (ΓX = XC for some matrix C) for numerical equivalence of the OLSE and the GLSE.
Titanium elastic nails vs locking plate in pediatric subtrochanteric femur fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective Titanium elastic nails (TENs) and locking plates (LPs) are currently the main internal fixation for treating pediatric subtrochanteric femur fractures, and the optimal choice of internal fixation is controversial. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TENs and LPs in treating subtrochanteric fractures in children to provide a theoretical basis and reference for clinical treatment. Methods The literature related to TENs and LPs for treating subtrochanteric fractures in children was searched using the CNKI, PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science, and the search time frame was from the establishment of the database to October 2022. Two evaluators screened the literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and extracted relevant data. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata14.0 software. Results A total of 9 studies with 407 patients with subtrochanteric femur fractures were included in the final screening, including 210 cases with TENs and 197 cases with LPs. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the locking plate, TEN had a shorter operative time [WMD = −1.3, 95%CI(−1.94,-0.66), p < 0.01], less intraoperative bleeding [WMD = −84.45, 95%CI(−111.09, −57.82), p < 0.01], shorter fracture healing time [WMD = −1.3, 95%CI(−1.94,−0.66), P < 0.01], shorter hospital stays [WMD = −2.80, 95% CI(−4.63,−0.98), p < 0.01], and earlier full weight bearing [SMD = −0.48, 95% CI(−0.91,−0.04), p < 0.05] but more intraoperative fluoroscopy [WMD = 28.23, 95% CI(15.22,41.25), p < 0.05]. The overall complication rate was high [OR = 3.52, 95% CI(1.96,6.34), p < 0.05], and the postoperative period was prone to angulation, rotation, and inversion deformity [OR = 3.68, 95% CI(1.40, 9.68), p < 0.05]. No significant difference in the incidence of lower limb inequality between the two types of internal fixation [OR = 0.83, 95% CI(0.38, 1.85), p > 0.05] and no significant difference in the Harris score of the hip at the last follow-up between the two types of internal fixation [WMD = −0.67, 95% CI(−2.01,0.67), p > 0.05] were found. Conclusion In comparison to LPs, TENs have a shorter operation time, less intraoperative bleeding, and a shorter fracture healing time, and the child can be fully weight-bearing earlier. Locking plates can reduce the operator's x-ray exposure, and the incidence rate of postoperative angulation, rotation, and inversion deformity is low. Therefore, TENs and LPs are the best internal fixation methods for treating subtrochanteric fractures in children.
Segregation by choice? School choice and segregation in England

ABSTRACT School choice can segregate schools by academic ability, income or ethnicity, but is this because of households’ choices, or constraints in access to good schools? We examine whether segregation is by choice, finding that households’ school choices are segregating in most areas. Through counterfactual simulation, we find that implementing a policy of ‘neighbourhood’ schools would, in contrast, reduce segregation in most areas, under the assumption that each household’s location is fixed. Policymakers require further evidence to weigh up the effects of school choice systems on sorting across schools and neighbourhoods, relative to potential efficiency benefits of school choice.
Rayleigh scattering of polarized photons by molecules

The scattering of polarized light by molecules is discussed in terms of a polarization density matrix. Particular attention is paid to scattering out of the direction of the incident beam, and the formalism enables the polarization characteristics of the non-forward scattered beam to be predicted for any polarization condition of the incident beam. Both Rayleigh and Raman scattering processes are contained in the formalism, although most attention is given to the former. Explicit expressions for the polarization of the scattered beams are obtained in terms of the polarizability and gyration tensors of the molecules by the application of diagrammatic perturbation theory, and it is demonstrated that a determination of the precise polarization state of the scattered beam can provide useful molecular information which is additional to that obtained from depolarization ratios alone. This is because the depolarization ratio depends on only the diagonal elements of the polarization density matrix and so does not.